GROW IN THE DUMP

By Milan Ford

Warning: the following devotional may RADICALLY change our water cooler conversations at work. So please, read at your own risk.


I am often asked by younger (and sometimes older) leaders what they should do when they feel like their boss is no longer delegating responsibilities to them, but rather dumping them in an effort to remain in charge and void of responsibility. It seems that nothing can frustrate a lower level leader more than when he or she has come to the realization that his or her boss or team leader has begun to take advantage of them.

Now more than ever before, one of the most common mistakes any leader can make when given the opportunity to lead or manage a new project or team, is confusing the art of delegating with the art of dumping. With this in mind, my response to this complex challenge is actually quite simple:

If you truly believe you have been called, gifted, and uniquely assigned to your place of employment or ministry…then the time has come for you to learn how to GROW IN THE DUMP.

My wife will attest to the fact that on any given day of the week, if asked, I probably will claim a different passage of scripture as my all-time favorite. Quite recently, I have two that are running neck and neck.

The First: Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. – John 12:24-26

And The Second: But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:42-45

In my opinion, one of the most unwanted, neglected and underutilized spiritual gifts within the Body of Christ today is the call to serve. Many of us, out of what I believe at times is a sincere desire to be recognized and rewarded for our various gifts and talents, have sadly embraced a 'survival of the fittest' attitude when it comes to serving within the workplace God has planted us in. Especially to those who lead and ‘rule’ over us.

Many of our attitudes (if I may speak plainly) just stink. From the unnecessary stomping of our feet down the hallway, to the magnetic pull of our ears to gossip, many of us as believers have forgotten that we are the living representation of Christ in the earth.

Our ability to get ‘lost’ in serving others, is the determining factor in ‘finding’ the kind of life God has designed for us all to live.

Now, for those of you reading this, who still have some reservations about serving your boss or team leader at your job with excellence, I’ll let you in on a little secret. (Shhhh…let’s just keep this between us two)

I am thoroughly convinced that we are living during a time when many of today’s leaders will delegate themselves right out of leadership. I encourage you to take the time to discover what burdens (if delegated or dumped upon you from another leader) you can adequately handle, and most importantly, are aligned with the kind of responsibilities you believe you should be leading in anyway.

While I do not believe in conquering giants without a reward, there are times when you can serve someone above you (who is not fit for the position they’re in) RIGHT OUT of that position. Or even better: you can acquire the skills (and experience) to apply elsewhere for that same position. That is why service is not something you are to avoid. But something you are to lean into.

This week, take your eyes off what’s coming down on you, and refocus yourself on what has the potential to come out of you. It’s time for many of us to grow in the dump. Now is the time to serve.

Scripture Of The Day: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:43-45

SILENT SERMON

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday'.

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name's sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God is crazy about you!

THE SPARROW AT STARBUCKS

It was chilly in Manhattan, but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square . Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth. For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right.

Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing. It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me.. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?" To my delight, she accepted my invitation. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"

"Well. ... do you know any hymns?" Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."

"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one."

"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one." She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing,

"Why should I be discouraged? Why should the shadows come?"
The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me."

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendo to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!"

But the ovation continued.. I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.

"Why is that?"

"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."

"Really!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual.. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week."

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.. Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it. God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rehab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer....
AND Lazarus was dead!

No more excuses now!! God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger. God bless. Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like. There is NO LUCK attached. If you delete this, it's okay: God's Love Is Not Dependent On E-Mail.

STEPPING INTO THE DARKNESS

By Alan Riley

Have you ever heard the story of the man who slipped off the edge of a cliff and was desperately hanging on to a rope to keep from falling? The man screamed at the top of his voice, "IS THERE ANYONE THERE WHO CAN HELP ME?" A calm, reassuring voice answered back, "It is the Lord. Let go of the rope."


The man thought about it for a moment, looked down to see how far he would fall. Then he yelled out again even louder, "IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THERE WHO CAN HELP ME???"

Have you ever been at a place in your life where you felt the Lord was telling you to let go of the rope, but all you could see was how things looked from a logical, human perspective? I know I have, and I was really tempted to ask for a second opinion like the man in the joke.

Everything about our human nature wants to see it first and then respond based on what we see. We want to see it then believe it. We want to know where we are going before we agree to start the trip. That is our human nature. And it flies in the face of what God calls us to do and who God calls us to be.

Look at the heroes of the faith and you will see people who believed it before they saw it. You will see people who went when God said 'go' even though they didn't know where they were going or what it would be like when they got there. You will see people who walked by faith and not by sight.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He allowed and encouraged Thomas to experience what he had said he needed to see to believe that Jesus was alive. Thomas physically saw and felt the wounds in Jesus' hands, feet and side. When he did so, Thomas fell down on His face and declared, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus responded by saying, "Thomas, you believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). The New International Version translates that verse this way: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Far too often, I find myself walking only by sight. But I know it is those times when I step out into the darkness in obedience to God's call that He blesses me, and grows me, and stretches me.

What is God calling you to do that will require you to step into the darkness?

Scripture Of The Day: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Kingdom Citizenship

Matthew 25:31-46 (New King James Version)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him,[b] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Perhaps you’re a citizen of one of the other great nations of the world. No matter where you live, if you believe in Christ, then we’re fellow citizens. You see, we share a citizenship in the kingdom of God.

The word kingdom simply means “rule.” So kingdom of God refers to the Lord’s complete rule and authority. He certainly reigns in the hearts of His devoted followers.

Today, we understand this in a spiritual sense. But Matthew 25:46 proclaims that the Enemy will be defeated in the future and the enemies of God will be removed from the world forever. At that point, Christ will establish His physical kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth. And, as kingdom citizens, all believers will reside there together.

Nations and nationalities are important. But they are not eternal. To be an effective citizen of God’s kingdom, you must look beyond your country’s borders and view the world through the eyes of God. Then, you’ll see your brothers and sisters, friends, and countrymen in the new kingdom, the realm where we’ll all celebrate together.

Charles Stanley In Touch

Encouraging the Pastor

2 Timothy 1:1-6 (New King James Version)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Do you attend church? If so, God has placed a person in your life who wants to train you in righteousness and speak the truth. He does this even when you don’t want to hear it. You’re blessed to have a pastor who loves you and cares about your spiritual well-being. He needs to know you care about him, too.
Many churchgoers neglect to encourage the pastor. But caring for him is part of being in the body of Christ. In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul models the way we’re to encourage those who minister:
First, tell your pastor you appreciate him. There’s nothing more uplifting to a person’s heart than to know someone else cares. Words are certainly valuable. But actions speak even louder. So look for ways to demonstrate love for your preacher.
Second, express confidence in the pastor. Let him know you recognize the sincerity of his faith and appreciate his commitment to speak scriptural truths.
Third, affirm the call of God on his life. Work with your pastor. Respond to him in a way that shows you understand he’s been called to minister and has God’s hand upon him. And when you experience the Lord working through him, let him know.
Above all, pray for your pastor. Don’t assume that others in the church are praying or that a spiritual leader doesn’t need prayer. The opposite is true. The Devil wants to prevent effective ministering. You can help defend the minister who loves you.

Charles Stanley In Touch

THE SIMPLE

Descriptive of true believers:

Ps 19:7
The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.

The Holy Scripture is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun. To recover man out of his fallen state, there is need of the word of God. The word translated law, may be rendered doctrine, and be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion. The whole is perfect; its tendency is to convert or turn the soul from sin and the world, to God and holiness. It shows our sinfulness and misery in departing from God, and the necessity of our return to him. This testimony is sure, to be fully depended on: the ignorant and unlearned believing what God saith, become wise unto salvation. It is a sure direction in the way of duty. It is a sure fountain of living comforts, and a sure foundation of lasting hopes.

Ps 116:6
The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

He grants that no pleasure is so great as to feel God's help in our need, neither that anything more stirs up our love toward Him.

Prov 1:4
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The lessons here given are plain, and likely to benefit those who feel their own ignorance, and their need to be taught. If young people take heed to their ways, according to Solomon's Proverbs, they will gain knowledge and discretion. Solomon speaks of the most important points of truth, and a greater than Solomon is here. Christ speaks by His word and by His Spirit. Christ is the Word and the Wisdom of God, and He is made to us wisdom.

Prov 19:25
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.

A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding. That is, the simple and ignorant men learn when they see the wicked punished.
Scorner - An obstinate and impudent transgressor. Simple - Who sin thro' ignorance, being possibly drawn to it by the scorner's evil counsel or example. Reprove - A verbal reproof will be more effectual for his reformation, than the severest punishments will be to a scorner.

Mat 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Christ addresses God as his Father, not as His Lord. The obedience He yields is that of a Son, not of a subject. Four more times, in deep emotion, Christ thus addresses the Father (Joh 11:41 12:28 17:01 Lu 23:34).

From the worldly wise Pharisees and Jews. God had hid these things from this latter class through the natural operation of their own corrupted hearts and perverted minds.

Babes. The simple and believing. It is used also of those who are weak in Christian faith and knowledge (1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13; 1 Peter 2:2).

It becomes children to be grateful. When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that He is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to Him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good.

Rom 16:18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

The word which he uses signifies a promising which accomplishes nothing, and if you hear any such, you may assure yourself that he who promises to you is more concerned about receiving from you than he is concerned about giving to you.

These men, like many other false teachers, were more devoted to their own appetites than to Christ.

The simple. Innocent in the Revised Version. The unsuspecting.

Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving Him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart; perverting the judgments by winding themselves into the affections. We have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. It has been the common policy of seducers to set upon those who are softened by convictions. A pliable temper is good when under good guidance, otherwise it may be easily led astray. Be so wise as not to be deceived, yet so simple as not to be deceivers.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

SOURCE: King James Bible, Easton's Bible Dictionary

THE KINGDOM'S OPEN DOOR

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(New King James Version)

Have you ever heard the saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”? This statement has practically become a cliché, a rallying cry of soapbox preachers and street-corner prophets. In fact, we may hear it so much that we’ve stopped listening to it at all.
The kingdom of heaven is real. The Bible contains more than 100 references to the “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God.” So why aren’t we taking this idea seriously?
Earlier this week, we saw that the kingdom of heaven is the realm where God reigns in absolute sovereignty. We understand this in a spiritual sense now. But we also recognize that the kingdom of heaven will be a physical reality in the future. This will happen when Christ establishes his rule in the new heaven and new earth. At that point, there will be no turning back. Satan will have been defeated. Matthew 25:31-34 says God’s enemies will have been separated from the faithful.
A place in the kingdom is secured for those of us who’ve trusted Christ as our personal Savior. But what about unbelievers? Simply put, the King has thrown open the gates. The invitation is still open to those who’ve yet to receive Christ as Lord.
Who in your life needs to hear this call? The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Nobody knows how long a window of opportunity will stay open. So under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make the most of every chance you get to deliver God’s invitation.

Charles Stanley In Touch

EVILDOERS NOT

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

As we think so we are. Let us not think against those that we know and even those we do not know evil in our hearts. Each one of us has to answer for our selves to the Lord. We cannot answer for another. Why should we suffer for things that we do not need to suffer? Set yourselves free; watch the words that come from your mouth, and the thoughts that you think. In all things let yourselves line up with the Word OF God.

God's Blessing to all,
rECj/LJG

GOD IS OUR LIGHT

Exodus 10:23 (King James Version) 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

When the darkness covered the nation of Egypt it was so dark that the Egyptians could not see each other or move for three days. [In Rev. we are told this will happen again.] All the children of God had light in their dwelling.

That same promise is to us, we can have light , protection in the middle of the most dangerous thing happening in the world. Is it handed to you on a silver platter? Of course not, 2 Corinthians 4:13 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The spirit of faith believes. That is the catch. We have to believe, no matter what. Romans 10:17 faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God.

What do we want to see in our faith? Faith is what connects us to the blessings of God. Faith is what reaches past what we can think, or see. Faith will grasp the promises of God and brings those things that are not to be, to be.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We have access by faith into the grace of God. To receive the grace of God we have to do it by faith.

We have to open the door for God to be able to bless us. HE wants to respond to our faith. He doesn't force himself on us, He waits for us to give Him an opening by believing in His Word. In 2 Cor 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. If you want things to change you must have faith in two places your heart and your mouth.

We have to go back to the beginning and look at the way God did things. HE SPOKE THINGS INTO BEING. We have to start speaking things as though they are. We are not in darklness, we are in the light. Let the light guide you to be all you can be in Christ.

IF You don’t like the mess you are in, then stop looking at it. I know that is hard, if you are doing it in the natural with your own eyes. But you have been bought and paid for and are now in the light. This is not to say ignore the bills or close your eyes to those problems, but they are temporary and if you get in the light of the word and stay there you will see changes. Only believe.

Abraham did not look at his old wrinkled body, God told him that He would give him a son and Abraham believed. Not only did Sarah have that baby, Abraham had 6 more childen by another wife after Sarah died. That is what you call victory. That is what you call walking into the light.

Think about that walk into the light.

God's Blessings to all,
rECj/LJG

WHY I CAME

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Christ will refuse none who come to him; all such are given by the Father and he came to do the Father's will. To play an independent part in showing to world the divine and the human side of salvation. The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come, and to give up every thing which hinders coming to Him for salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by Him. No one will come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out.

The gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy manner, made known therein; but God draws with His word and the Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say, to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise.

Once we accept Christ, the grace and all His promises are ours. They are not only for our use but are to be used by sharing all He has given us with others. They will do us no good by just plain keeping them all to ourselves. Our lives should reflect what has been taught to us by God's Holy Word. If they see no difference in us once we say we have accepted Christ then why should they want to accept Him?

Remember Jesus didn't come to do His will, but the will of Him who sent Him. So let's start doing the will of the One who is sending us.

God's Blessing to all,
rECj/LJG

WHY I CAME

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Christ will refuse none who come to him; all such are given by the Father and he came to do the Father's will. To play an independent part in showing to world the divine and the human side of salvation. The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come, and to give up every thing which hinders coming to Him for salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by Him. No one will come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out.

The gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy manner, made known therein; but God draws with His word and the Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say, to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise.

Once we accept Christ, the grace and all His promises are ours. They are not only for our use but are to be used by sharing all He has given us with others. They will do us no good by just plain keeping them all to ourselves. Our lives should reflect what has been taught to us by God's Holy Word. If they see no difference in us once we say we have accepted Christ then why should they want to accept Him?

Remember Jesus didn't come to do His will, but the will of Him who sent Him. So let's start doing the will of the One who is sending us.

God's Blessing to all,
rECj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

A Greater Love

One of the most beautiful things the Bible says is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (see Rom. 5:8). He did not wait for us to deserve His love. He loves us unconditionally. To be honest, that’s hard for many of us to comprehend because we are so accustomed to having to earn everything in life.

Because of His great, wonderful and intense love for us, God poured His life out for us freely (see Eph. 2:4). That is revolutionary love! Real, revolutionary love must give itself because it can never be satisfied doing anything less.

Just as it is God’s unconditional love that draws us to Him, so it is our unconditional love toward others in His name that draws others to Him. He wants us to love people the same way He would if He were here in bodily form.

It’s impossible for human love to be unconditional, like God’s love. But as believers in Jesus Christ we have the love of God in us. We can let that love flow freely, without conditions. Our love fails, but God’s does not. Our love comes to an end, but God’s does not.

Sometimes I find that although I can’t love a person in my own strength I am able to with God’s love. I was hurt repeatedly for years by someone. Recently, this person asked me how I felt—if I loved them. I was honestly able to say that although I didn’t have the fond feelings for them I could have had if things had been different, I did love them as a child of God and would help them in their need.

The true love of God doesn’t depend on feelings—it’s based on decision. I will help those who need help, unless helping them would ultimately hurt them. They don’t have to deserve help. In fact, sometimes the less they deserve it the more beautiful the act of extending love is. It is absolutely freeing to be able to love people without stopping to ask if they deserve it.

Human love depends on feelings. We love people because they have been good to us or they loved us first. They make us feel good about ourselves, or they make our life easier, so we say we love them. Or we love them because we want them to love us.

But that type of love is based on what they do, and if they stop doing it, we will probably stop loving them. That kind of love comes and goes. Many marriages and other personal relationships are based on that kind of love. We love ice cream because it tastes good, and we love people because they give us nice Christmas gifts.

God’s love is totally different. It isn’t based on anything except God Himself. And when we receive Christ as our Savior the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 5:5).

When we become partners with God, He expects us to be His representatives and equips us with the love we need to do the job He asks us to do. When human love ends, which is often, God’s love is still available to finish what needs to be done.

I heard about a teenager who was drinking and caused an accident that killed a man’s wife and child. The man knew God wanted him to forgive the young man who caused the accident, and through much prayer he was able to let the love of God flow through him. That man was a love revolutionary!

We should learn also to look at what people have done to themselves instead of looking just at what they have done to us. Usually, when a person hurts someone else, he probably has hurt himself at least as much and is suffering some fallout as a result. That’s why Jesus said, “‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’” (Luke 23:34, NKJV).

The love of God can’t be grasped with the mind—it is a matter of the heart. There is no reason for Him to love us while we are sinning, but He does. God’s love is unconditional.

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-selling author and one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers.

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Guilty as Charged

Acts 2:22-28

[Peter speaking] "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.' "

Peter said in verse 23, "and YOU, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." I take this very personal -- he's talking to me -- as if he's singled me out and is pointing his finger at me with the accusation -- "YOU!" I know some of you may be thinking, "No, he's not talking to me, he's talking to the people in the crowd." But Jesus died for all of us and all of our sins, even the ones that haven't been committed. How does that change Peter's statement for you today?

Every time we ignore Jesus, we are "helping wicked men" put Him to death. Have you ever noticed how the more you become involved in the world and what the world considers right, the less Jesus influences you. You may not have called for His execution, but when you ignore Jesus you are "helping wicked men put him to death." In other words, you are allowing the world and its seductive nature to place Jesus in the back seat of your life -- He becomes "dead" in your life. Your sin is once again "nailing Him to the cross." Remember, the term is not "nailed," as if it happened in the past and only one time. The term used is "nailing," which is in the present tense -- meaning it continues on to this day.

Romans 6:6-7 teaches us that our sinful nature died with Jesus, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin would be done away with, and that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died is freed from sin." What Paul is telling us is we no longer have to sin -- our sinful nature no longer controls us (we died with Christ and therefore are free from sin). The message is: Although your sin is nailing Jesus to the cross, you don't have to sin anymore -- you have a choice.

What sin do you still hold on to that you need to let go of? What choice will you make?


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RADICAL SALVATION

by David Platt

I remember sitting outside a Buddhist temple in Indonesia. Men and women filled the elaborate, colorful temple grounds, where they daily performed their religious rituals. Meanwhile, I was engaged in a conversation with a Buddhist leader and a Muslim leader in this particular community. They were discussing how all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different. "We may have different views about small issues," one of them said, "but when it comes down to essential issues, each of our religions is the same."

I listened for a while, and then they asked me what I thought. I said, "It sounds as though you both pictured God (or whatever you call God) at the top of a mountain. It seems as if you believe that we are all at the of the mountain, and I may take one route up the mountain, you may take another, and in the end we will all end up in the same place."

They smiled as I spoke. Happily they replied, "Exactly! You understand!"

Then I leaned in and said, "Now let me ask you a question. What would you think if I told you that the God at the top of the mountain actually came down to where we are? What would you think if I told you that God doesn't wait for people to find their way to him, but instead he comes to us"

They thought for a moment and then responded, "That would be great."

I replied, "Let me introduce you to Jesus."

This is the gospel. As long as you and I understand salvation as checking a box to get to God, we will find ourselves in the meaningless sea of world religions that actually condemn the human race by exalting our supposed ability to get to God. On the other hand, when you and I realize that we are morally evil, dead in sin, and deserving of God's wrath with no way out on our own, we begin to discover our desperate need for Christ.

Our understanding of who God is and who we are drastically affects our understanding of who Christ is and why we need him. For example, if God is only a loving father who wants to help his people, then we will see Christ as a mere example of that love. We will view the cross as just a demonstration of God's love in which he allowed Roman soldiers to crucify his son so that sinful man would know how much he loves us.

But this picture of Christ and the cross is woefully inadequate, missing the entire point of the gospel. We are not saved from our sins because Jesus was falsely tried by Jewish and Roman officials and sentence by Pilate to die. Neither are we saved because Roman persecutors thrust nails into the hands and feet of Christ and hung him on the cross.

Do we really think that the false judgment of men heaped upon Christ to pay for the debt for all of humankind's sin? Do we really think that a crown of thorns and whips and nails and a wooden cross and all the other facets of the crucifixion that we glamorize are powerful enough to save us?

Picture Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he kneels before his father, drops of sweat and blood fall together from his head. Why is he in such agony and pain? The answer is not because he is afraid of crucifixion. He is not trembling because of what the Roman soldiers are about to do to him.

Since that day countless men and women in the history of Christianity have died for their faith. Some of them were not just on crosses; they were burned there. Many of them went to their crosses singing.

One Christian in India, while being skinned alive, look at his persecutors and said, "I thank you for this. Tear off my old garment, for I will soon put on Christ's garment of righteousness."

As he prepared to head to his execution, Christopher Love wrote a note to his wife, saying, "today they will sever me from my physical head, but they cannot sever me from my spiritual head, Christ." As he walked to his death, his wife applauded while he sang of glory.

Did these men and women in Christian history have more courage than Christ himself? Why was he trembling in that garden, weeping and full of anguish? We can rest assured that he was not a coward about to face Roman soldiers. Instead he was a Savior about to endure divine wrath.

Listen to his words: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." The "cup" is not a reference to a wooden cross; it is a reference to divine judgment. It is the cup of God's wrath.

This is what Jesus is recoiling from in the garden. All God's holy wrath and hatred toward sin and sinners, stored up since the beginning of the world, is about to be poured out on him, and he is sweating blood at the thought of it.

What happened at the cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus hands and feet, but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ himself. Some say, "God looked down and could not bear to see the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting on Jesus, so he turned away." But this is not true. God turned away because he could not bear to see your sin and my sin on his Son.

One preacher described it as if you and I were standing a short hundred yards away from a dam of water 10,000 miles high and 10,000 miles wide. All of a sudden that dam was breached, and a torrential flood of water came crashing toward us. Right before it reached our feet, the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed it all. At the cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, "It is finished."

This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever.


From the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. Published by Multnomah.

THE WICKER BASKET

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?' The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.
'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible.. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.'

Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.

Thought for Today: God's Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings but not its end.

I really like this story because I don't remember things like I used to....but then I think God isn't concerned about my brain anyway, He's more concerned about my heart

SHARING

A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table..
In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew,
which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.

They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell. They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, 'I don't understand.

'It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill.

You see, they have learned to feed each other.
The greedy think only of themselves.'

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you.

Remember that
I will always share my spoon with you.

FIX YOUR EYES

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. — Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

If you are like me, you have been familiar with the phrase "Fix your eyes on Jesus" for some time, but you may wonder what it means, what it looks like. When I was a teenager I was stumped by Christ’s command to pick up my cross every day and follow him. I had no idea how to do that. Did it mean that I should carve up the breakfast table and drag it around the neighborhood? As I studied and prayed, I became convinced that it means that every time my will crossed God’s will, I dragged my will back in line with his. It means doing the things that I know are good and true, whether I feel like it or not. It means setting my face and heart toward heaven just as Jesus did. But what about "Fix your eyes on Jesus"?

I believe that phrase means that we study how Jesus lived, how he loved, and follow his example. When we find ourselves in a difficult place, we do what he did: we turn to our Father. Faith is not wishful thinking or theatrics. Faith is born in us as we fix our eyes on Jesus and as we recognize the fingerprints of God the Father all over our lives.

— Sheila Walsh

MOTIVATED BY LOVE

I wash and clean, not because its my job but because I love you.

I prepare and cook a hot meal for you not because I am hungry, but because I love you.

I manage things in our home so that you are able to do the things you have chosen to do and go where you need to go, because I love you.

I forget about the things I would like to have and get what you have asked for, because I love you.

I put aside money and save so that we can give you the things you think you need in this life, while knowing its only to bless you with something you would like to have.

I watch you grow up, sometimes make mistakes even though you didn't heed the warnings, I watch you grow and learn from those mistakes, often wishing I could carry the burden for you, but knowing in order for you to learn you must experience the consequences, because I love you.

I used to rock you to asleep after a long day of cleaning house, fixing supper, washing and folding clothes, tending to everyones needs, all because I loved you.

My heart holds so much love for you, my child, more than you could ever know, well until you hold your child in your arms one day. Then you will understand how everyday Daddy and I were motivated by our love for you, to get up early to go to work, to clean house, to organize life in an orderly way so that you may be comfortable. Why? Because we see how Christ was motivated by His love for us, in order that we may have a more abundant life. So my prayer for you today is that you understand Christ's Love for You, and how His Love can motivate our hearts to serve each other in Love. Please My child, rest assure and know I love you.

mama
Angel @ gramiesheart.com

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Words of LIFE: Small Things, Big Blessings

by Dwayne Weehunt

Sometimes it is hard to wonder how people can live in the kind of suffering that we encounter in the slums of the world. We ask God, “What do you want us to do? The need is so great.”
Sometimes we see pictures of children smiling and laughing amidst all of this, but God revealed something to my heart once -- and this is the miracle of working in the nations: God will increase any gift given in His name.
Years ago on a trip to Haiti (with Terry and Rhonda Redmon, James' son-in-law and daughter), we spent some time with our interpreter, who grew up in Cité Soleil, one of the largest slums in Port-au-Prince. It was a massive slum and because it was under sea level, it filled with water when it rained. It was just nasty.
All week long, as we were out doing small crusades, our interpreter kept telling me over and over how God had given him a new house and how blessed he was. He described it in a similar way that you or I might describe it if someone had given us a house in a very affluent area. He was so, so blessed.
On the last day of our trip He invited us to come visit his house. We went to a large mansion compound that once belonged to some kind of land baron. But instead of leading us into the big, beautiful house, he lead us to this jail area where, in times past, they locked up their slaves. He was staying in one of these rooms and it still had bars on the door!
This guy stood in front of his home with his arms spread and the biggest smile on his face. He said, “Brother, welcome to my home!” I am not kidding you, it was like God invaded my heart and said to me, “You know, Dwayne, you could live here, but you would be suffering for me. He lives here and he worships me. He’s blessed.”
I was so impacted by this and thought, “God, do you really want me to live in a place like this?”
We have seen time and time again how people in India are so blessed by even the smallest gesture of love. It is not about what you give them, but about the heart with which you give it. It is all about the Father’s heart and the expression of the Father’s heart. How much more will they not be blessed when they realize that Jesus did something far greater than just giving them a meal, providing fresh water or educating their children, but that He loves them and cares about them personally!
We know that God wants to do something about the suffering. That is why He makes every outreach possible despite persecution and through the challenges the enemy devises to discourage His church.
I firmly believe the scripture in Psalm 12:5 where the Lord says, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” And I firmly believe John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
God wants to bless all nations beyond our wildest expectations, and He wants us to be a blessing to others.

Dwayne Weehunt is LIFE's mission partner to India. He gave his life to the Lord in James Robison's office in November 1981. He and Leslie, his wife of 25 years, have 4 children.

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Fueled by the Spirit

Acts 2:1-4

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.

What an incredible experience that must have been -- to actually see tongues of flame resting on each of them as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Many of us feel that access to that kind of power is no longer available. In fact we can sometimes feel our faith becoming dry and lifeless, as if the energy we once had for service has left us. Yet the Holy Spirit is available to you today as He has always been, waiting for you to ask for His presence and power. This example has been given to us throughout the Bible -- in both the Old and New Testaments.

One story that comes to mind, involves the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel (37:1-14) who was given a vision in which the Lord instructed him to prophesy to a valley full of bones.

"So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them."

The bones came together, but there was no life -- they rattled together. The same is true for us when we try to work for the Lord in our own power without the Holy Spirit's power or enabling -- there's no life in us either. Verse 9 continues,

"Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet a vast army."

The Bible often uses the words "wind" or "breath" to indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is this breath of God, His Holy Spirit that comes upon us and into us -- powers and empowers us for service. The key to our receiving this power is obedience. In verse 10, Ezekiel says, "So I prophesied as he commanded me." In other words, he obeyed. In Acts 1:12, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and waited in the upper room as Jesus had commanded (Acts 1:4). They were obedient as well.

If you are feeling spiritually dry, or maybe you're just going through the motions of Christian life without any significant purpose or direction, then it's time to ask God through His Spirit to reveal to you in what area of your life you need to obey. Ask God's Holy Spirit to fill you as you are obedient and empowered to humbly serve Him.

pocketpower.org

THINK ON THIS

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

It is a wonderful feeling when someone comes up to you and
asks if you are a Christian, because there is something
'special' about you. Has this ever happened? If not,
ask yourself, "Can others tell that I am a Christian
by the way I live my life?"

God Bless You!

Annie

TODAY'S WORD

from Joel and Victoria

The Lord has crowned your year with bounty and goodness! That means there is an abundant supply for whatever you may need—spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. He has also set up a system so that you can access His blessings. It's the system of seedtime and harvest. If you have a need in your life, sow a seed. For example, if you're lonely and need friends, sow a seed by being a friend to someone. If you have a financial need, pray and ask the Lord where you should sow a financial seed. The Bible says to give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. That's God crowning your year with bounty and goodness. Do you need mercy? Sow seeds of mercy. The more you sow, the more you will reap a harvest from God's abundant bounty.
Remember, He's already crowned your year with His goodness. Take a step of faith today and believe that God is ready to pour out His abundant blessing on you all the days of your life.


A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for supplying all my needs according to Your riches in glory. I submit my resources to You today and ask You to show me where I can sow seeds and be a blessing to those around me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
- Joel & Victoria Osteen

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. — Ecclesiastes 2:10 niv

I saw Anderson Cooper (of CNN) give an interview recently, and in it he responded to a question regarding the best advice his mother (Gloria Vanderbilt) ever gave him. He responded that she advised him to follow his bliss and the money would come. He had a dream to be a reporter and he now anchors each weeknight with his own news show. I don’t know what your “bliss” might be, but I urge you to find a calling in life and attach it to your work.

Whether you have a job and wish you didn’t, or don’t have one and wish you did, or if you wish you had different people to work with or report to, the dailyness of your workplace can become a mental drag if you don’t choose to see it as a place of purpose and mission. The Bible gives us clear principles regarding whatever labor we undertake. Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto me;, Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God., Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that are ordained of God., Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets..

These scriptural principles allow us to see that we are working for more than a paycheck, that we are committed to endurance and excellence in any undertaking, and that our Real Boss doesn’t inhabit the corner office, but has it all in his hands.


— Anita Renfroe
From Women of Faith

FINDING OURSELVES THROUGH OTHERS

By Sara Esther Crispe

There is a story of a teenage boy who was suffering from typical teenage angst and went to the Rebbe for advice. He was having a difficult time and kept slipping back into situations that he knew were not right for him. He asked the Rebbe: How come God didn't just create us as angels? If He had, we would be perfect and we wouldn't make such mistakes and create such problems.

God wants us to be unique individuals The Rebbe explained to him that God doesn't want us to be perfect, He wants us to be unique individuals who grow and learn from our experiences and mistakes. He asked the boy if he understood the difference between a photograph and a portrait.

When you want to capture a perfect replica of something you see, you take a picture. The picture can be beautiful and is exact to what you witnessed with your eye. Yet the typical photograph costs pennies to reproduce. A portrait on the other hand is something that is always filled with inaccuracies. It can never be a perfect reproduction of something like a photograph can. If anything, the better the portrait, the more creative license that went into it to bring out the meaning and color and beauty that does not always exist in the surface look.

Unlike a photograph, the portrait can sell for millions. People pay for the portrait because it is a reflection not only of the subject, but of the artist as well. That person's creativity is part and parcel with the portrait. The Rebbe explained that the angels are God's photographs. We, however, are God's portraits.

God Bless,
LJG/rECj

WHY BOTHER TO PRAY

One reason we pray is because God has commanded us to pray -- and we ought to take that command very seriously. We may not know what the outcome will be -- but we don't need to know. All we need to do is obey His command to pray. The Bible says, "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

And this includes praying even about seemingly hopeless situations! After all, God is all-powerful, and He is able to do far, far more than we can even imagine. Why, then, should we limit Him by refusing to pray about something that seems impossible to us? The Bible reminds us that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power" (Ephesians 3:20).

Does this mean God always answers our prayers in the way we wish He would, or the way we think He should? No, He doesn't -- and sometimes this is hard for us to accept or understand. But remember: We see only part of the picture, while God sees the whole. He knows what is best for us, and He can be trusted to do what is right, even if we can't understand.

Prayer is a great privilege -- and it is possible only because Jesus Christ tore down the barriers between us and God when He died on the cross for our sins. He did this because God loves us -- and because He loves us, we know He hears us when we pray.

Dr. Billy Graham

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Prayer is one of the most complex and highly-debated topics. Let’s explore some principles of God when it comes to praying. The more in tune we get with the heart of God through the study of His Word, the more effectively we can pray according to His will.

By Joy Allmond

Pray According to the Bible

In our human nature, it is very easy to pray with selfish motives or for things to happen which God prohibits in the Bible. For example, there are Christians who have prayed for God to bring specific people, who were not Christians, with them in a romantic relationship. God clearly tells us in Scripture that he intends for believers to be yoked only with one another (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Or, let’s suppose someone does not get along with his brother-in-law and he prays that his sister will divorce him. Here again, this is not in the will of God. He has expressed His hate of divorce (Malachi 2:16).

1 John 5:14 says that we can be confident “if we ask anything according to His will, then He hears us.” How can we know we are praying His will? When we spend time getting to know Him through the Scriptures. The more in tune we get with the heart of God through the study of His Word, the more effectively we can pray according to His will. Oftentimes, prayer will change us.

Pray for Change
Many of us have heard the phrase, “prayer changes things.” And it is true. Throughout the Bible, we see God move greatly throughout circumstances based on someone’s plea. One example is David’s plea, which moved God to withhold a plague in Israel, despite His anger (2 Samuel 24:25). Another example is Isaac’s intercession for his barren wife Rebekah, Isaac prayed for her to conceive and the Lord allowed it (Genesis 25:21).

There are many more instances such as this recorded in the Bible. As you can see, God allowed Himself to be moved by the prayers of people. It is important to know that God never changes, and He is all knowing; He knows how He is going to answer prayers and He knows how we are going to pray about something. While He may adjust His actions, His purposes stay the same. He knows what is best for us.

Pray for Eternal Life
The most important prayer you can ever pray is when you ask Jesus Christ to become Lord and Savior of your life. Every human being is born sinful, and sin separates us from God. Jesus died on a cross and rose from the grave to defeat sin, which is ultimate death, and offers reconnection between God and us.

When Christ comes into your life, you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you. This allows you to pray with discernment and pray according to His perfect, pleasing will.

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

In Acts 1: 4-5 Jesus tells the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. He goes on to tell them they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

While the disciples were waiting on the Spirit, Peter stood up and suggested the 12th Apostle position should be filled. Personally, I think this was a mistake on his part. "Wait a minute," you say, "Didn't you just point out the positive attributes of Peter's leadership?" Yes I did, however, I believe God intended the 12th Apostle to be Paul. Matthias (the one chosen by the Apostles) is never mentioned again. Yet we all know the tremendous influence of Paul in the New Testament.

Think about how comical this must appear from the Lord's perspective. The apostles (led by Peter) decide the 12th position is empty and therefore it needs to be filled (appropriately reasoned). The only problem is - it is they who chose the two men; cast lots; then declare it must be the Lord's will. Clearly, the Lord had a different man in mind that wasn't offered as an option. How often are we guilty of asking the Lord, "Should I go here or there?" What if the Lord's intent for my life is neither of those two choices? So what's my point? My main point is: When the Lord tells you to wait, you should wait on all decisions, not just the major ones. My secondary point is: No matter how badly we mess up when we're trying to "help" the Lord, He is always in control.

www.pocketpower.org

UNEMPLOYMENT

Many people struggle with feeling useless and hopeless after a job loss—especially an extended one. But, as Mr. Graham says, “God has not forgotten you. He knows all about you, and He cares about you and wants to help you.”

I urge you to turn to Him and commit this problem—and your whole life—into Christ's hands. Right now you may be wondering if God loves you—but He does, and the proof is that He was willing to send His only Son into the world to die for you.

One of the Bible's greatest promises is found in Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Pause right now and thank Him for this truth, and for His love for you.

Then ask God to show you the next step He wants you to take. Perhaps He wants you to renew your search for a job; perhaps He wants you to enroll in a job retraining program. Or perhaps He wants you to use the time you have right now to help others—volunteering in a local food bank, for example, or working in a community program through your church.

In addition, let this be a time when you grow closer to your family—and to God. In other words, see this time not only as a problem, but also as an opportunity—an opportunity to grow in your relationships with others and with God. If you do, once this time of unemployment is over you'll be able to look back and thank God for being with you, even in the midst of life's hard times.

Jesus does know what you are going through. He knew what it was to be poor, and even homeless. On one occasion, He said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (Luke 9:58).

He understands your fears and your heartaches, because He experienced them in His own life. And that's why you can turn to Him for the strength you need to face the future with hope.

DR. BILLY GRAHAM

FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM

by James Robison

In the spiritual realm there are two kingdoms in conflict: the kingdoms of light and darkness, life and death, truth and deception. Those influences are calling out to you, not only for your attention, but your devotion. They seek to control every aspect of your life. Sadly, most people tune in the wrong signals. Eventually, rather than you merely having thoughts, those thoughts take hold of you.

From the time man was created and placed in a garden, God fully intended to fellowship with us. He wanted to bless all the earth through the stewardship and oversight of those who knew Him as father, walked in His will according to His ways and fulfilled His purpose. But in that garden there was a deceiver, more subtle and crafty than any beast of the field. You know what happened – they bought the lie. From that moment on, a tragic cycle of defeat began.

God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. That commandment expresses His will for those created in His image. The effect of the fruitfulness of our life will be multiplied. We are continually sowing seeds with our words, deeds and influence. God designed us to have a positive and profound impact on everyone we encounter. But instead, many of us live a life of continuous defeat.

Psalm 78 chronicles the Israelites’ cycles of defeat. These events illustrate a spiritual truth – a life lesson that speaks to us today. Throughout history, the people of God have cycled through blessings of God – forgiveness, fruitfulness and restoration – and the curses of sin – arrogance, self-centeredness and bondage. The Old Testament repeatedly recounts how God made His people to walk in his will, but the enemy took them captive, then He set them free. Sadly, the cycles of defeat were foolishly repeated.

Jesus, the promised Messiah, walked in and announced, "What the prophet said is fulfilled. I have come to set the captives free, to restore sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are oppressed." The Jewish people looked at him and said, "We have never been in bondage to anyone. We're descendants of Abraham!" If you read Psalm 78, as well as the minor and major prophets, you will find these people continually lived as slaves. Yet they said to Jesus, "We're not in defeat. We're not in bondage."

We are all born in this world as the children of wrath because of mankind’s fall. We must be born again to become the children of God. But from the moment you're born again, the kingdom of deception and destruction seeks to take you captive. When we turn away from the spiritual battle between these two kingdoms and do not walk the path of victory that the Lord has laid out for us, we fall back into bondage. Consider this account of God’s chosen people:

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.

He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.

But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the desert? When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?"

When the Lord heard them, he was very angry; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.

(Psalm 78:9-24)

Do you see the similarity today? God does great things in our lives, but we wander from His ways, His truth, His life and His love. We pay the price for our rebellion, yet God remains faithful, pouring out “the grain of heaven.” We deserve His wrath, yet He opens the doors of heaven.

God wants to break every bondage in our lives. He longs for us to live in fellowship with Him, hearing His voice and responding to His love. Only through intimacy with God can we receive freedom, fullness and fruitfulness that He wants for us.

We spend our time going to church, but God desires us to become the church. It is not a place; it is a people. We are to live to pierce the darkness, to bring about a transformation of everything we come in contact with because we have been undeniably set free.

Say to the Lord, “God, I'm in your hand. What's your purpose for me?” He wants to shape Christ-likeness in you. All things work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. That’s you. He wants to shape Christ in you.

The starting point for this process is His word. The word is alive! And I make you this promise – it’s really God's promise – if you will get His word out of that leather binder and bind it up in your heart, it will be like a fire in your bones. It will be like honey, gold and silver tried in a fire, reflecting the beauty of the purified work He has accomplished in your life. When you look at your life, you will see Jesus. And when God looks at you, He will see Himself in you, refined like silver.

God’s word is true. He is faithful to forgive and restore you to His freedom. So make the choice today and every day to live according to His ways, so that you can receive His life and impact those around you for His kingdom.

Adapted from the series “Living Free” with James Robison and Robert Morris

GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

One of the more frequent emails we keep receiving from people is how can they get victory over some of the heavier sin areas they have been caught up in and bound up in for quite some time like pornography, drugs, alcohol, homosexual lifestyle, etc.

Over the years, I have seen God roll up His sleeves and get right down there into the trenches with those Christians who were having a hard time in pulling out of some of these heavier types of sin areas. I have seen God do this so many times, that I now have a slang expression for it when I see it occur, and that slang expression is "trench warfare."

God will not turn His back on you and forsake you if by chance you are still bound up in a heavier type of sin area. If you keep seeking and praying for His deliverance and help, He will move in to pull you out of these addictive type behaviors.

For those of you who are still caught up and bound up with some of these heavier types of sins, this article will give you a very basic and simple three step process you can take with the Lord that should end up giving you the victory over your stronghold areas. These three steps may seem simple and basic, but I have seen them work time and time again with the Lord over the years.

If either you or someone else you know is bound up in a certain sin area, and either you or they still have not been able to break completely away from it, here is the link to this new article if you would like to see our commentary on this part of our walk with the Lord.

http://www.bible-knowledge.com/god-will-help-you-with-your-sin-areas/

Again, God will not give up on you and leave you to fend for yourself. God will roll up His sleeves and get right down there with you in the trenches as long as you stay in the battle with Him. And God will stay with you no matter how long it will take to get the job done as long as you do not quit and give up on Him.