SUNDAY EDITORIAL

The Fruit of the Spirit: A Blossom that Eternally Blooms!
Posted by Paula White

A good way to determine how steadfast your faith in Christ is, and how completely you have given your life over to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, is to consider the joyous message we are given in Galatians 5:22 – 25:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

These verses offer an awesome, inspiring, and deeply comforting revelation of how the Christian believer’s life, spirit, and actions should transform and manifest when truly “spirit-filled” and “delivered.”

I can find no better description in the Bible of what a believer experiences, shares and expresses, when listening to, acting out of, and sharing the Spirit of God.

In other words: our lives should “bloom” with the fruit – the “blossom”—or living proof, of the Holy Spirit within us! And people should be able to see our fruit – in our actions, our words, our lives…as clearly as we might see a juicy, ripe orange hanging from a branch as we pass by…or smell the delicious fragrance of beautiful tulip in spring.

In the verses from Galatians, the words “love,” “joy,” “peace,” “gentleness,” and “goodness,” immediately fill us with a gratitude to the Creator for His deep and abiding devotion to us. He is GOOD…and His Spirit fills us with His goodness, wraps us in His love, comforts us with His peace, and calms us with His gentleness – and define what true, lasting, and eternally accessible “joy of the Lord” is made up of.

“Longsuffering,” “meekness,” “faith” and “temperance,” are words that describe the characteristics we should display to the world as mature, Spirit-filled Christian believers. Hard won, steadily nurtured, carefully tended virtues – these are the sometimes painfully cultivated fruits of a harvest that the Spirit reveals through our patient, passionate, and persistent commitment to getting the best of what God has to offer!

There is another vital reason for nurturing the Holy Spirit within: it is only through the guidance of that “small, still voice” that we will be able to reap the sustenance of God’s grace, power, strength and fortitude during the darkest and most difficult seasons of our lives. His fruits within us are nourishing, empowering, and life-transforming characteristics that will show the world God’s omnipotence – as in our weakness, but through His strength, even while shaken, we stand…when everything around us tumbles.


So seek to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit that God reveals in Galatians…and in every season of life, you will be a walking testimony of God’s glory on our earth today – truly “a blossom in eternal bloom!”

PaulaWhite.org

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Conflict Resolution
by James and Betty Robison

James: Confrontation Is Inevitable

Many couples see confrontation as fighting, but to Betty and me, confrontation is a positive word. The key, I think, is that we don't confront each other; we confront the problem or the attitude that would otherwise hinder or stop the flow of open, honest communication. Instead of letting ourselves stew silently in our frustration, hurt, or doubt, we confront those feelings by thoroughly addressing them with each other. We rely on the trust and goodwill we have built in our relationship over the years to be the oil that keeps the gears of communication meshing smoothly, even when the heat is on.

This is especially true when it comes to confrontation, which inevitably will occur in your marriage. The fact is this: confrontation must be adopted as a necessary practice. The word confrontation often brings up mental images of war and strife, heated quarrels and painful conflict, but we want you to see it in a different way. Betty and I think of confrontation as a way of taking the bull by the horns to ensure we are being heard in the way we want to be heard and as a step toward abiding peace.

Too often, confrontation is seen as an attempt to set the other person straight. Instead, we are suggesting that it is a way of honest communication. There is a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Assertiveness means speaking the truth in love: saying what you need to say directly and in a loving manner. Aggressiveness tries to take a piece out of the other person while communicating thoughts and feelings in an inappropriate manner. When confrontation is done right, it will preserve both the relationship and the message you want to convey.

Betty and I try, in particular, to confront any attitudes of selfishness and blame-shifting. We go to war against our human tendency to avoid responsibility and our natural unwillingness to admit wrongdoing. We fight against frustration and anger, not against each other. And we do this by taking a stand while sharing our hearts with each other. We talk openly and listen attentively. We deal with what we know to be necessary in healthy confrontation.

If your spouse has hurt you or disappointed you enough that it sticks in your mind (or even in your craw), then the situation must be confronted. But keep in mind, how you confront is every bit as important as what you confront.

Betty: Confront With Care

Being confronted or confronting a problem or person was never easy for me. But I thank God I came to understand its importance. A vital step in confronting each other is developing a willingness to listen. And when I say "listen," I don't mean just hearing the other person's words. I mean really listening to hear the depth of the other person's heart. For open and honest communication to work, we must treat our spouse's thoughts, words, and feelings with the same respect we want for our own.

It is very important that we never put down what our spouse says, because this will only close off the desire to share whatever hurts or concerns she or he might be feeling. Instead, when you and your spouse are talking things out, do your best to put aside whatever anger or frustration you may be feeling and really listen, the same way you want her or him to listen to your heart.

Another important step in confrontation is prayer. Ask God to give you ears to hear the intentions of your spouse's heart. And ask Him to bless your marriage and help you protect the relationship you so deeply desire and cherish.

In my initial confrontations with James, I felt really lost. James is a gifted communicator, but he didn't handle everything well when it came to conflict resolution. Thankfully, he was wise enough to know the importance of dealing with the real issue. So, for example, I was able to look past his mistakes and see his basic conviction about not letting the sun go down on our anger. Even if I might be really angry about something, I knew it was important to our relationship for us to stay in communication to work things out satisfactorily. On the other hand, I believed I was not a very good communicator because I wasn't quick with words. Learning how to share my heart and my inner fears with my husband not only felt difficult, but intimidating. I had to practice and work hard at it. Although direct confrontation came naturally to James, it was a style of communication I had not experienced.

I had a tendency to withdraw, to let things fester while I pouted. When we got into a heated discussion or James did or said something I did not agree with, my natural reaction was to get tight-lipped and solitary. I would quietly stew, hoping things would just go away. Instead, the opposite happened. My frustrations did not dissipate; they built up inside me, ready to explode.

Fortunately, James encouraged confrontation. He knew that his gift of authoritative communication could have steamrolled my naturally shy and tender heart. He could've seen my timidity and pounced on it, trying to become the lord over our home. He could've easily bruised me and hurt my heart deeply with his strong personality, but God gave him the grace to grow in tenderness and patience. James recognized my weakness and encouraged me to verbalize everything I was already saying with my pouty face and posture. All my frustrations needed to come out verbally in conversation.

I didn't get there right away, but seeing James honor and validate my thoughts and opinions, even when we disagreed, helped me immensely in this critically important area. I began to realize what was going on inside my heart when I wasn't telling James what I felt about things, and we began to look at dealing with it as a necessary relationship builder. It was, and still is, one of the greatest things we have ever done for our marriage.

Today's "Words of LIFE" comes from James and Betty's new book, Living in Love (Waterbrook Press). It is available in bookstores and at www.lifetoday.org.

WHAT SHALL WE DO

Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

The most natural reaction to an encounter with God is asking the question: "What shall we do (previously verse 37)?" I find this response interesting -- after someone is "Cut to the heart," the first thing they want to know is what action they need to take -- "What do I need to do?" Do you have an answer to this question? Peter did, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

It's really very simple, although it's definitely not easy. Here's the sequence:
1) The Spirit calls (or convicts) us;
2) We respond -- "what shall I do";
3) Then we get the answer "repent and be baptized."

But what does this mean? Repenting is acknowledging you have a problem and you want to change. Baptism is the act of that change.

We as believers have an understanding of these concepts relating to our conversion experience, but what do they mean to us after we've become a Christian? The answer is in definition of the "re" portion of the word "re-pent." "Re" means to do it over, "pent" means to be sorry or regretful over something we've done. So really "pent" is for new believers (the first time they acknowledge they are a sinner and need a savior); "repent" is for we Christians who have "fallen short" (in other words sinned) and need to do it (pent) over again. I don't know about you but I am always re-re-re-repenting!

In what area of your life has the Spirit spoken to you about today? What do you need to re-repent? Will you take a moment right now and re-repent? If you are having trouble with this, ask the Lord to reveal to you why you are having difficulty letting go and surrendering to Him.

pocketpower.org

SUCCESS DEFINED

By Bishop Vashti McKenzie


Success tends to defy a simple definition. It can mean the ability to achieve what you desire to achieve. It can mean making things work out for the best in spite of the opposition. It can mean to do well doing most things, do well at everything, or do the right things well.

Ross Perot once said that success is being the best at whatever you do. Andrew Carnegie believed the definition of success is not how much you get, but how much you give away. Marva Collins says that success doesn't come to you...you go to it. Benjamin Disraeli notes that the secret of success is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.

Our humanity often defines success in terms of power, prestige, acquisition, achievements, wealth, or security on many levels including financial, physical or emotional. Success is often measured by money - how much or how little. However, money can build bombs, and it can build schools. It can buy a house, but it cannot make a home. It can purchase a bed, but it cannot guarantee rest. Thus, success defined only in tangible terms goes wanting; while Jesus says lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth.

God's ways are not our ways. God looks beyond external distinctions and uniqueness, and goes straight to the heart. If we commit our ways to the Lord, trusting Him every step of the way, God will bring it to past. If we seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, the things we are looking for will be added unto us after all God gives according to writer in Deuteronomy, give us the ability to create wealth.

Peter Gomes writes in The Good Life that success is not surmounting tribulation of all times; it is the capacity to better cope with tribulation as its strategies increase in proportion to our strength. He says the secret lies not in depending upon our strength, but on the strength of God.

Joseph was in such as position. Sibling rivalry interrupted family life. He was sold into slavery and made a life for himself in Potipher's house. He was falsely accused of sexual advancement toward Potipher's wife and sent to Pharaoh's prison. The jailer put all the prisoners under Joseph's oversight. All matters are under his influence, and the Lord caused everything he did to succeed.

There was no accumulation of a massive amount of wealth. There were no mansions, Bentleys, swimming pools, stock options or slush funds. Yet, the Lord was with Joseph. Success then was not what you get for yourself, notes Gomes. Success appears to be blooming where you are planted, as the lily of the fields.

Success demands a complex definition -- one that goes beyond the tangible to the intangible and beyond the secular to the sacred. Keep in mind, it was the Lord that caused Joseph to be successful in whatever he did.

Scripture Of The Day: "Wisdom brings success." - Ecclesiastes 10:10

StreamingFaith.com

GROWTH SPURTS

I remember as a child my legs would hurt and my mom and grandmother would say "Aw, that's just growing pains." At first I believed them and had aspirations of being TALL and being able to play basketball! I really did! I would day dream of being tall and slim and moving through the air like warm metal slicing through butter! Well, needless to say my dreams didn't come true. I am 5 foot 2 and have been since the seventh grade! Even though maybe mom and mawmaw were believing that my pains were growing pains or just pacifying me, they were real. They really did hurt! And I have come to realize that most of them were just that growing pain. While some were just exhaustion from over doing myself during the day or some were from a little accident or mistake I had done that day and strained a muscle. Needless to say Pain is Pain and it hurts flesh! We deal with it and move on!
Well,Pain is real physically and mentally as well. As Christians we sing that hymnal "Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand." This is true! Trials come through our life while some are unexplainable at first, some really are growing pains! Spiritually we go through some pain. Attacks from Satan and really take its tole on us. Persecution causes us to suffering and confusion. The pain in our hearts and pain from worry or stress of it all is real. You knowGod does allow many of the trials in our Lives to grow us in Him. Do they hurt? Yeah!!!
But once you press on in Faith and Worship and you are through it, you can look back and see how God has grown you, How He has lead you and ministered to you. It is amazing! And If you stay connected with Him through each Trial through devotions, prayer and reading His Word. You will see How He places His Word in Your heart and mind and how it brings you relief. A Word of the Lord in season is like little Peace Droplets in your heart that bursts open and spreads through your whole being. I can take a deep breathe and the air feel cooler and moister bring me a moment of relief in His Spirit! The funny thing is each growth spurt can last as long as years or as little as a day! I know for certain that God will take You through, each being a test of faith. Trust in God and He will see You through. Be open to His leadership and not only will He give you strength, He will heal your heart like the trial never happened! I can't explain it, the memory is there but the pain is gone! Only God, Our God Can work such a miracle! And you will be able to look back and thank GOD for the many things you've learned about Him and yourself through this trial. You will Praise Him for taking down the strongholds that needed to be removed for new growth in Him; in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. God will Grow You, stay focus on Him. Don't look to the left nor to the Right keep Your focus on Him and His Word. Be strong in Him in faith. Never Give up. Oh! It's okay to cry. Crying is showing God your humbled heart and need for Him. And shows those watchng you, you are human! And When God is Done and His Light is Shining through the work He has done in You, He Will Recieve the Glory for Everything! When Everything falls apart, God has your heart, and He will see and carry You through. He will pick up the pieces and when His light shines through You, it will be like sunlight shining through a Stain glass window. His Glory Will outshine the the pain of the trials you have been through.


So Take notes if you must, Get your Bible Open, get prayed Up and Saddle Up in Faith, because you never know if your next growth spurt could be around the next corner. OH!! Recently, God revealed to me through my pastor's message that these growth spurts are making room for expansion! Look, at Job's! How God blessed Him at the end of his trial and doubled everything he had lost. God is amazing Being and His ways are supernatural. Trusting in Him will certainly bring about the Peace that surpasses all understanding and will provide the strengh we need to press on in pain while placing Hope in our hearts that our Joy is coming in the morning!

Angel
http://gramisheart.blogspot.com/

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.


Read more: http://charismamag.com/index.php/blogs/joyce-meyer/26351-a-greater-love#ixzz13HMtyoxE

WHAT BETTER COUNTRY

This speech was given by a new H. S. principal somewhere here in Florida (I wish I knew where).

To the students and faculty of our high school:

I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people. I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against your teachers and against our country.

First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, Asian or European, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on slave ships. The only identity I care about, the only one this school will recognize, is your individual identity -- your
character, your scholarship, your humanity. And the only national identity this school will care about is American. This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans.

If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity-, race- and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America, one of its three central values -- e pluribus Unum, "from many, one." And this school will be guided by America's values.

This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a society divided by political correctness. Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic, racial or other physically defined ties. Those clubs just cultivate narcissism -- an unhealthy preoccupation with the self -- while the purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So we will have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music, astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interesting in are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that little outside of yourself really interests you.

Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English language has united America's citizens for over 200 years, and it will unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here -- it is deplorable that most Americans only speak English -- but if you want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this is not your school.

Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in this school will reflect learning's elevated status. This means, among other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly. Many people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for church or school. These people have their priorities backward. Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school.

Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school's property -- whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If you can't speak without using the bf-word, you can't speak. By obscene language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications Commission, plus epithets such as "Nigger," even when used by one black student to address another black, or "bitch," even when addressed by a girl to a girlfriend. It is my intent that by the time you leave this
school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene.

Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem will be attained in only one way -- the way people attained it until decided otherwise a generation ago -- by earning it. One immediate consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight.

Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away from politics and propaganda. No more time will be devoted to scaring you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately lucky -- to be alive and to be an American.

Now, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country. As many of you do not know the words, your teachers will hand them out to you.

True or False? I have no clue. Came over the internet. But the principal theme is a really good idea. LJG/rECj

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Jesus said that we will be known for our love for one another. His unconditional Love that draws us to the Father and draws us in Faith into a confident relationship with God our Father and Jesus Christ His Son. This love bares all things, this love motivates us to serve Him with a renewed passion daily and to share His love with others. Jesus spoke over and over again about relationships throughout the New Testament from the Prodigal Son, to Lazarus, Mary and Martha, to addressing His mother at the wedding and so many parables where Jesus is laying the foundation of Love! Even before and after Peter denied Him, Jesus refered to Peter as His brother and one He loved. Jesus Knew Peter would sin against Him, yet He let Him stay at the feast of the Last supper, and then after Jesus rose from the dead and spent days with the apostles, He asked and Told Peter, "Peter do you Love me? Then Feed my sheep." Encouraging Peter to Press On in Faith extending His love to others. Christ saw Peter's heart. Christ could of casted Peter out of His presence, but He didn't, Jesus Christ saw the potential of His Love manifested and working through Peter, and Wow! Look at the ministry for Christ, that Love motivated Him to accomplish even to His death he proclaimed the Love of Christ. So, today, as I look at my life, and around me, I Thank GOD for His Amazing Love, His Love drew me from the depths of sin, into His Loving Grace and Salvation. And His Love has drawn some of the best loving friends in my life bringing Joy and reminding me constantly of the Hope we have in Christ, encouraging each other in love and God's Peace. Witnessing God at work around us brings us so much Hope for our future. And Hearing How God is bringing others through difficult situations brings me JOY in knowing, that what He is doing for others and He can and will do for me. He will complete the GOOD Work in me until the Day of Christ Jesus! [Phil.1:6] I so Thank God that He has placed loving caring Christian Ladies in my life that are real with me and I can be real with, and share our disappointments, our hurts, and most importantly our Praise Reports when God answers our prayers or moves mountains like Only His Love Can! Thank You Lord, for my friends who I call Treasures of Love!

Angel
http://gramisheart.blogspot.com

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

God’s Way
By Pastor Paula White

I believe a life of success is built on those things that are of great value in the eyes of God. A life of success will exhibit signs of inner spiritual maturity – not outward signs of material acquisition.

The Bible repeatedly describes the behavior, beliefs and actions that will lead to a successful life. Some of the most notable marks of spiritual maturity and a level of true success in life include:

An Ability to Love. Love is giving. Love flows from having received love and value from the Lord. Spiritually mature people are givers. They are motivated to help others succeed, even more than they want to benefit themselves.

A Joyful Outlook on Life. True joy is not rooted in the material trappings money can buy. Spiritually mature and successful people realize that, often, the “things” we think will make us happy don’t. True joy is rooted in an awareness of the greatness of God and the many blessings He showers on us on a daily basis. Joy flows from the inside out, and is not based on external things, people, or situations.

A Peaceful Spirit. Striving for “outward success” can keep us restless, always on the hunt for something to satiate our anxiety, fears, or unsatisfied yearnings of the heart. Genuine peace is a feeling of wholeness and calm that stems from knowing one is in right relationship with God. Spiritual mature people have a genuine peace that stays with them even when the world outside is falling apart.

Patience. Spiritually mature people realize that true success in anything is very rarely gained overnight. Success comes from being able to persevere, and when necessary, wait for the desired result. Spiritually mature people have learned that long-lasting fixes and cures take time, slow-cooked meals are generally far better than fast food. Rewarding relationships require patience and take time to build. Often, success is sweeter and more sustainable when it comes slowly!

Attitude of Kindness and a Humble Stance. True success carries an attitude of humility, courtesy, and respect for others. A spiritually mature person allows others to express their opinions and make their own choices -- while still being strong enough to express and make best decisions for their own good. Before God, the successful person meekly carries the attitude, “Not my will, but Your will, be done.”

Faith in God. The spiritually mature person leads a life of success by putting their trust solely in God. They realize that to trust oneself is folly, and to trust others without question is naïve. They recognize the sovereignty, wisdom, and divine direction of God, and apply His Holy Word to their life on a daily basis.

Self Control. The successful, spiritually mature person has developed willpower and restraint, seeking what is best for all involved, in the ways and times that are most beneficial and appropriate.

When we seek to develop these godly characteristics, we are well on our way to creating a life of success – God’s way!

Scripture Of The Day: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Streamingfaith.com

CUT TO THE HEART

Acts 2:29-37

[Peter speaking] "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'' Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Scripture is like that -- it "cuts to the heart" (verse 37). So often I think I'm the one who needs to speak fine and eloquent words to witness effectively, as if my words are the main factor in someone's decision to come to know Christ. I've got news for you -- my words and your words don't matter much.

If you look at our story, it appears Peter has done a scholarly job of interpreting Scripture as well as prophesy relating to the Messiah. His words are convincing and convicting, so therefore it was Peter who led three thousand people to Christ that day, right? Wrong. Just the opposite is true. Peter was a fisherman; he wasn't a scholar (like Paul); so where did he get the words? Answer: he was fully surrendered to the power of the Spirit. The Word (Scripture) was in him and the Spirit was upon him -- he was simply an instrument.

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that "All Scripture is God breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." Do you think a person has to be a believer before Scripture can "cut them to the heart"? The Word of God (Scripture) speaks to everyone no matter who they are or what they profess to believe. Scripture cuts to the heart then begs to answer the next question: "Brothers, what shall we do?"

pocketpower.org

IN POSITION FOR PROMOTION

By Pastor Marvin Moss

Being in a particular position brings with it responsibility. Whether it is the position as an employee, a parent or an employer; whatever the position might be, there is responsibility. How we handle the position that we have been assigned, may bring success-- a reward in the form of a promotion. God has watched us in this thing called life to see how we’re handling our jobs. How are we dealing with adversity? How are we dealing with conflict? How did we handle going through one setback after another? Was our prayer life consistent even though it seemed like there was no answer?

God is also asking: Did they continue to serve me even in the time of trouble? Did they start thinking that they were above calamity and turmoil? Did they think they would not be subject to trial and tribulation? God is saying I haven’t forgotten about you. Just stay in position. I know that it’s been a while, but just stay in position. Yes, yes it looks like everyone is climbing faster and farther, but just stay in position. Your promotion is coming. But how do we stay in position when life seems so uncertain?

The Life Application Study Bible states that the purpose of the book of Hebrews was to present the sufficiency and superiority of Christ. It is in the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews that we find the FAITH CHAPTER. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.

In our daily living, our faith in Jesus will keep us in position until God says it’s time for us to be promoted. He’s watching. He knows. Jesus cares. We’ve got to stay in position for a promotion. Life has a way of nudging us out of position. But it is our hope in Christ Jesus that keeps us engaged. Hope is essential to the Christian walk. There should be persistency in looking at the brighter side of things, quickness to discern every sign and possibility of God, and skill to nourish it into expression and strength. We can’t get mad at God and quit. We can’t give up because things have not happened within our time frame. Just stay in position for a promotion. You may not be promoted yet on that job. You’ve got to come outside of your comfort zone to be in position for your promotion. Fear might be holding you back. Complacency might be holding you back. A false sense of security might be holding you back. Let God put you in position for a promotion.

Now there can be the negative side of the promotion--one which deals with “self.” All too often a promotion comes at the expense of a friendship or relationship. All too often one who receives the promotion forgets from whence he or she came. All too often a promotion causes the recipient to get a new attitude. Can’t speak to you anymore; can’t have lunch with you anymore; you don’t get together like you used to. But the promotion that God gives is predicated upon unity. The promotion that God gives is preceded by love for one another and humility. The promotion that God gives lets others know that they too can be promoted; they just have to be in position.

Hebrews 6:12 tells us, You will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and patience.
They watched you. You kept praying.
They watched you. You kept going to church.
They watched you. You sang with tears in your eyes.
They watched you. You gave God thanks when it didn’t seem like you had anything to be thankful for. You didn’t become spiritually dull and indifferent. But you walked on with your head up and your shoulders back.
You had a look about you like you knew you were going to inherit God’s promises.
Your patience and your faith kept you. You stayed in position for a promotion.
You fought the good fight of faith – PROMOTION
You ran the race with patience – PROMOTION
You endured till the end – PROMOTION!

My brother, my sister--stay with God. Study to show thyself approved. Get ready, get ready, get ready for your promotion!

Scripture Of The Day: "Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and patience." - Hebrews 6:12

Streamingfaith.com

WHY IS PRIDE SUPPOSED TO BE A SIN?

I don't see what's wrong with taking pride in your work, or in your children, or things like that.

You're right up to a point; it's not necessarily wrong, for example, to take pride (or satisfaction) in a job well done. In fact, the Bible urges us to work hard so we'll be satisfied with the results. It says, "The diligent man prizes his possessions" (Proverbs 12:27).

But even this kind of pride can become wrong -- if we end up taking credit for what we've done instead of thanking God for helping us. In other words, the kind of pride the Bible condemns is a pride that puts ourselves first, and leaves God out of the picture. When that happens, we take credit for everything we accomplish, and we live only to please ourselves. This is why pride is at the root of almost every other sin.

Do you remember Jesus' parable of the rich fool, who was wealthy in things but poor in soul? (You can read it in Luke 12:15-21.) He was proud of his wealth, and all he was concerned about was himself: "I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry'" (Luke 12:19). But that night he died -- and it was too late to turn to God. His pride became his downfall.

Don't let this happen to you. Instead, realize that you are a sinner and need Christ, and then humbly turn to Him in repentance and faith. Then make it your goal to live for Christ every day. The Bible says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

Dr. Billy Graham http://www.billygraham.org/

GET READY TO GROW IN FAITH

Titus 2:11-14

By John Chasteen

God’s grace gives us the power to change

Imagine the very best gift you’ve ever received. Maybe it was a special present for a birthday or a totally unexpected gift received just because the giver wanted you to have it. God’s grace is like that—a precious gift that is totally undeserved.

The Fire Bible: Global Study Edition note about Titus 2:11-14 says this: “Verses 11-14 describe the character and purpose of God’s saving grace (i.e. the unearned and undeserved favor, love, help and spiritual enablement) and the effect it should have on believers.”

It is through God’s grace that we recognize and realize God’s gift of salvation and love. He opens our eyes and softens our hearts. Verse 11 says it is the grace of God that brings salvation to all men.

Grace for salvation would be enough of a gift to make the receiver grateful and thankful forever, but God’s grace is so great that it doesn’t stop at salvation. Verse 12 states, “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and [helps us] to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (NIV).

Through God’s grace we have the power to live in the world and not be consumed by it. Through God’s grace we can cease our unhealthy behaviors and addictions. Through God’s grace we are empowered to grow in our faith. And through God’s grace we experience the hope of Christ’s glorious return.

God’s grace can be seen in the story of a pastor in the Appalachian region who believed God wanted him to start an outreach to a small university campus in a nearby town. His church purchased a piece of property across from the campus, but it was not large enough to build on, nor did they have the resources to start construction.

Instead, the pastor set up an “office” on the property to avoid delaying the outreach. He put a desk under a tree, connected the telephone and power to a utility pole, and made himself available to passersby. Within 45 minutes a man stopped to talk. He poured out the sorrows of his life to the pastor and in turn received God’s grace and salvation. God used the pastor’s obedience to provide grace to a desperate person.

God’s grace did not stop there. The repentant man was the owner of the property next door, and he donated it to the church so the members could fulfill their outreach to the university. God’s unmerited favor was big enough for the church and the students it would reach.

Though the grace God gives is bestowed freely, we should not take it for granted. We are warned by Scripture that this happens, as the article “Faith and Grace” in the Fire Bible: Global Study Edition points out. It states that “God’s grace can be resisted and rejected (Heb. 12:15), received in vain and without effect (2 Cor. 6:1), set aside and disregarded (Gal. 2:21) and abandoned by people who at one time, truly believed and accepted Christ (Gal. 5:4).”

This month, purpose to actively pursue and embrace God’s gift of grace with a thankful and accepting heart.

Read more: http://charismamag.com/index.php/bible-study/digging-deeper/29342-get-ready-to-grow-in-faith#ixzz12cgmasNU

AFRAID OF FEAR?

Don’t be. God is with you.

There are many types of fear we could name or count, but they all have the same source and the same purpose. They all are from Satan and they all are intended to steal the life Jesus died to give us.

We often think fear is simply an emotion or feeling, but it also affects us physically. In Who Switched Off My Brain? author Caroline Leaf notes, “[Fear] triggers more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses, and activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters.” Fear, she says, is at the root of all stress. When fear causes a stress reaction, it actually “marinates” the body in toxic chemicals. This, of course, is terribly unhealthy and threatening to our physical well-being.

There are many ways Satan uses fear to steal from us. For example, the fear that we will not be accepted as we are causes us to develop phony personalities that stifle our true selves and hide who God has made us to be. The fear of failure prevents us from ever trying new things or stretching ourselves to do more than we feel comfortable doing. The fear of the future can cause us not to enjoy today. Even something like the fear of flying can prohibit our being able to discover and enjoy the beauty and excitement of places we would like to visit.

Fear can absolutely paralyze us, and in its more advanced stages can drive us to do things that are completely irrational. It can even cause mental and emotional problems.

Time magazine printed a story in August 1989 that shows how utterly destructive and controlling fear can be. It reported that Charles Bodeck, a retiree who had received several tick bites during fur-trapping expeditions, grew fearful that he had contracted Lyme disease. He was also concerned he had transmitted it to his wife.

Despite many medical tests and repeated assurances from doctors that he was not infected and passing the disease to his wife was impossible (because he didn’t have it), Bodeck remained terrified. His fear so completely controlled him that he eventually killed his wife and himself with a shotgun. When police searched his mailbox after the incident, they found it crammed with information on Lyme disease—and a note confirming yet another doctor’s appointment for a test.

Fear can be a powerful influence in our lives. I fully believe it is the devil’s tool to keep us miserable and out of the will of God. It drains our courage, presents everything from a negative viewpoint and prevents us from making progress. Destinies are destroyed because of fear—fear of pain, fear of discomfort, fear of lack, fear of sacrifice, fear that life is going to be too hard, fear of losing friends, fear of being alone, fear of losing your reputation, fear that no one will understand you, fear that you’re missing God, and on and on.

Fear is the enemy’s perversion of faith. He says to us: “Believe what I’m telling you. This is not going to work. Your prayers aren’t any good. You don’t have right standing with God. You are a failure.”

Fear always tells you what you’re not, what you don’t have, what you can’t do and what you’ll never be. But Romans 8:15 says: “For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!” (AMP).

You do not have to live in bondage to fear or allow fear to control your life. You can be bold, courageous and adventurous.

The word Abba was a term little children used in addressing their fathers. It would be similar to our word Daddy. It is less formal than Father and denotes a comfortable closeness between a child and his or her father.

Jesus said we could call God “Abba” because He had delivered us from all fear. He will always take care of His beloved children, and we can approach Him without fear of rejection. When we run to Him with any problem or pain, He’s waiting with open arms to comfort and encourage us.

Read more: http://charismamag.com/index.php/blogs/joyce-meyer/29341-afraid-of-fear#ixzz12ciBhNyt

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Looking Unto Jesus
by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

Let’s go back to the first century and take another look at our Lord. “Come and behold Him.” We bless and are blessed as we simply “behold Him,” not as we boast of talents or do great things, but as “we look full in His wonderful face.” Everyday “beholding” releases Jesus, especially when that beholding is done by a community.

Watch Him at a wedding in Cana. According to the custom of that day, the bridegroom was responsible for supplying the food and wine. You know the story. The wine ran out. This represented a social disgrace – a grave oversight on the part of the bridegroom.

Behold your Lord’s first miracle. He turns water into wine – but no ordinary wine. He creates a wine that is finer than the wine that had run out. In one brilliant stroke, Jesus Christ removes the bridegroom’s shame. He supplies the lack. He covers the mistake. He removes the disgrace. He reverses the failure. And He makes the bridegroom look like a champion.

What a Christ.

Watch Him as He encounters a battered, abused, shamed, and forgotten woman. She’s a Samaritan of ill repute – a five-time divorcée. Your Lord breaks all social conventions by talking to her in public. But that’s not all. He shares with her one of the greatest truths that a human being can know. In addition, He breaks Jewish custom by using her utensils and eating with her friends in a Samaritan village (something Jews were forbidden to do). Here is a Lord who embraces a dejected woman and woos her and her friends to Himself.

What a Christ.

Watch Him as He allows a prostitute to love Him in the house of a Pharisee. She pours expensive perfume on His feet, unbinds her hair and uses it as a towel to anoint his feet. Such an act is scandalous (for a woman to unbind her hair in that day was akin to publically removing her bra in our day). The Pharisees move into high-octane-judgment mode toward Jesus and the woman. And what does the Lord do? He accepts this woman’s extravagant act of love and adoration and rebukes the finger-pointing Pharisee for his self-righteousness, saying, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” To the woman He said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”1

What a Christ.

Watch Him as He sits before a woman caught in the act of adultery. See her with bleeding cuts on her body, dragged like a rag doll before a hungry mob of judgmental men, waiting for the first stone to crush her head and bring her to a death that she justly deserves. Behold your glorious Lord. He asks one question, a question that pierces the heart of every man who is ready to send this woman to her grave. Mesmerized by the Lord’s words, each man drops his stone and walks away. Christ’s parting words to the guilty woman? “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”2

What a Christ.

As we read the Gospel accounts, we cannot help but be awestruck by the wonderful person they present. Yet the startling reality is that this same Radiance that we marvel at in the pages of our New Testaments has come to continue His life in and through us.

Genuine Christianity is learning to live by an indwelling Christ. Consequently, the Christian life should be reframed as God’s life come to earth and displayed visibly through human beings. The Christian life is the outflow of “Christ in you,” the breaking forth of God’s uncreated, indwelling life – the radiating of God’s own energy in fallen, human vessels.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.3

Seeing Christianity from this perspective changes everything.

Excerpted from Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, © 2010 Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (Thomas Nelson).

1 Luke 7:47,50
2 John 8:11
3 2 Cor. 4:7

WORDS OF LIFE devotional@loi.org

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Ten Before Eleven
By Milan Ford

I made a startling discovery not too long ago. My oldest daughter, now four, asked me late one afternoon to read the brand new Dr. Seuss book her grandmother had just sent to her in the mail. Being a big fan of Dr. Seuss ever since I was a kid, and even a bigger fan of the sparkle in my daughter's eye whenever she would ask me to read to her, I quickly obliged.


So I sat my daughter next to me on the couch, opened the new book, and began to read. But just before I was about to turn over the first page of the book, it happened.

On page 4, it happened. On page 9, it happened.
And on page 14 and 15, it happened again.

I stopped reading and asked my daughter if it was okay if we could take a little break. Puzzled as to why I stopped so suddenly, she slowly and (as any four year-old would) reluctantly agreed. I put the book down and went into bedroom where my wife was sleeping, and frantically tried to wake her up, something I wouldn't normally do.

After she woke up and turned to me with that 'this-really-better-be-good' look on her face, she asked me what was wrong. I took a deep breath, and then told her...

"...I keep SKIPPING words."

I explained how while reading to my daughter, I kept skipping over certain adjectives and prepositions as if I had already read the book before, making many of the sentences I was reading to her incomplete and at times, confusing. It was though my eyes were in a race to the finish each page, which caused me to have to go back at times and reread certain words.

While my reaction to this newfound discovery was one of fright, my wife's reaction was totally different. She burst into laughter and told me in a very calm and reassuring tone...

"...I've known THIS (about you) for some time now."

Overjoyed that my wife was not going to send me to the local psychiatric ward, I began to wonder if I was the only one with this problem. But after flipping through a few religious television channels later that evening, I realized it wasn't me at all. This is a problem most in the Body of Christ have today.

I would argue that over the past five, perhaps even ten years, when it comes to providing the Body of Christ with a renewed hope and faith in God, no passage of scripture has been referenced and recited more than Jeremiah 29:11. I'm sure you've heard of it:

"For I know the plans that I have towards you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Sunday after Sunday, and at times, channel after channel, millions of believers all over the world are encouraged with the message of an all-knowing, all-powerful God who loves us and has plans to give us a successful and bright future in Him. To know that God, despite all of our shortcomings, would be mindful of us in such a way is truly incredible.

However, what is interesting about this particular passage of scripture is not the words that are found within it, but rather in the words that come BEFORE it.

Take a look now at VERSE 10: "For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place..."

Did you catch that? If not, allow me to help you.

The entire 29th chapter of Jeremiah consists of a letter that was delivered to the King of Judah by the prophet Jeremiah; a letter that prophesied that the land of Jerusalem (all 10,000 of its citizens) would be taking captive by the infamous tyrant and ruler of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. I dare you to do a background check on him; he's got quite the record.

Within this letter, God shares with Jerusalem that while He indeed has thoughts and plans to prosper them, their future successes will only come AFTER a period of great trial and pain.

A period that lasted seventy years.
(So why is that important to remember on today, you ask?)

Simply because I want you to know that SUCCESS, while something we all desire and often dream of, does not happen overnight. True success (in God) comes through process.

Now more than ever before, we as believers must exercise patience not only with the reading of God's word, but also when it comes to our personal lives and goals. Our desire to get to the end of our struggle must not be at the expense of truly appreciating our struggle.

You are in the middle of a great story. One that is marked for great success.
Just remember, as it is with math, or the pages of a children's book, so it is with scripture:

TEN always comes before ELEVEN.

Scripture Of The Day: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

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?

Pocketpower.org

START TO DO GOOD

Famed philosopher and orator Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It’s true. Doing nothing is easy, but it’s also dangerous. Where there is no opposition to evil, evil will multiply.

We all fall into the trap of complaining about the things that are wrong. But complaining does nothing except discourage us even more. It changes nothing because there is no positive power in it.

Imagine what a mess the world would be if all God did was complain about everything that has gone wrong since He created it. But the Father doesn’t complain. He continues to be good and work for justice. Evil is powerful, but good is more powerful.

We need to stop and realize that God has chosen to work on this earth through His children—you and me.

It’s humbling to realize that He could do so much more if we would be committed to love and do good at all times. We need to remember Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 5:16, “ ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ ” (NKJV).

The more we respond to evil with evil, the more it increases. I am reminded of a movie titled El Cid, the story of the man who united Spain and became a great hero using the principle I’m talking about.

For centuries the Christians had fought the Moors. They hated and killed each other. In battle, El Cid captured five Moors but refused to kill them because he realized that killing had never done any good. He believed that showing mercy to his enemies would change their hearts, and then both groups could live in peace.

Although he was initially labeled a traitor for his actions, they eventually proved to work, and he was honored as a hero.

One of the Moors he captured said, “Anyone can kill, but only a true king can show mercy to his enemies.” Because of El Cid’s one act of kindness, his enemies offered themselves to him as friends and allies from that point on.

Jesus is a true king, and He is good, kind and merciful to all. Can we do any less than follow His example?

Right now, can you think of anyone to whom you could show mercy? Is there someone who has treated you wrongly that you can be good to? Being merciful and good, especially to your enemies, may be one of the most powerful things you have ever done.

Imagine how different the world would be if each one of us who claims to know Christ would do one kind thing for someone else every day. The results would be astonishing. The world would change rapidly because we really could overcome evil with good if we all made a commitment to live the way Jesus tells us to live.

I have three friends with whom I sometimes go to lunch or have coffee.We often talk about things God has put on our hearts to do for others, or creative ideas for fresh ways to be a blessing. I believe conversations like this are very pleasing to God.

I would like to challenge you to take a lead role in the “love revolution.” Enlist people you know and invite them to a planning session on practical ways to meet needs. Find someone who needs help and make a group effort to help them.

The idea of encouraging others to be aggressive in doing good works is not new. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

We should actually study and think about how we can stir others to do good works and loving, helpful deeds. And remember, doing the right thing will require forming new habits and developing aggressive acts of love. The results will be wonderful!

Joyce Meyers
http://charismamag.com/index.php/blogs/joyce-meyer/26532-start-to-do-good#ixzz11xd9OVtZ

LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY

Acts 2:14-21

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

I am teaching my five year old daughter Amanda to read. She is really excited before every lesson, but most times she has far too much physical energy to concentrate effectively. So at the beginning of each lesson we talk about concentrating, sitting still, only discussing our lesson, and ignoring all other distractions. Her attention span is limited (usually about 20 to 30 minutes), so we have to go quickly, and when we come to the end of the time limit, it's usually a waste of energy to go on -- so I've learned to close on time. That's what Peter is offering to us in these verses, instructions on how to teach and how to learn.

The first example Peter gives us is to stand up and raise his voice. He did this to get everyone's attention. Correspondingly the initial step of learning is to set aside time for study of the Bible; then place all of your attention and focus on the Word; while making sure to eliminate distractions.

Next, he focused the crowd on his intent and what their benefit might be (understanding), "let me explain this to you." When you study Scripture, focus on understanding and application, don't read it like a novel. Sure there is a story, but behind the story is depth and richness. Take it in small bites, 2-4 verses at a time. When you read these verses, pray and ask how you might apply them in your life today.

Thirdly, the Bible is the Word of God. Don't take anything lightly and as Peter instructs, "listen carefully to what I say." Pay attention to sentence structure and context -- it was written this way for a reason -- God's reason. Finally, look up the cross references -- get a good Bible concordance. Peter models this concept when he tells us, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel." If you want to clarify something, find out what the Bible says about itself.

These are the keys to successful Bible study and understanding. I have one last comment I wanted to repeat based on my experience with Amanda: Set a time limit and finish on time. You will not look forward to your study time (nor will your children and spouse) if it is open ended or goes on and on (you will keep putting it off because you don't have the time). If you've set 20 minutes as your time limit, then say to your wife or husband, "I need 20 minutes of quiet time." Provided you finish on time consistently, setting aside 20 minutes will not be a problem even in the busiest of households. You and your family will all be richly blessed by following Peter's simple steps to a successful study.

What do you need to do to get started on a daily quiet time? What have been some of the obstacles in the past? Will you give this method a try for one week and see how it works for you? When will you start?

Pocketpower.org

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Jesus said over and over, "Love One another" it wasn't a suggestion it was a Commandment. Love motivates us to be kind to each other and to be concerned for each other's wellbeing. Love is not selfish. Love is not bitter. Jesus first loved me and you, before we even knew Him. He died for us on a cross for our sins and iniquities. Jesus said "Love the sinner, not the sin." So with that, I would say Jesus was the first one to speak against Bullying. He laid the foundation of love. To share His love. He knows our weakness and still loves us. He knows our hearts and still Loves us. So we are to share that love with others. Others mean People! All People. Everyone has a heart, has a mind filled with dreams of good things. Poor choices and circumstances lead people to do drastic things. And you know, I have failed many times, I have fallen, I have sinned, Yet, My Jesus was there with His love, Loving me and picking me back up and dusting me off, and setting my feet back on the path. My Jesus, tells me His mercies are new everyday. So let us love as Jesus Loved. He loved sinners, this is why He bore the pain of the Cross for all. His Love for us. Imagine, if all people knew how much Christ Loves them. His Love can change lives and the World. Love others. Be kind to others. Care for others as Christ has cared for you. Let us teach others to Love as Christ has Loved us. If they never receive that love of Christ, then that's their choice but at least we know that we extended His Love to others.

God's peace,
Angel

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

Many childhood memories come to mind and many saying My Mom use to tell us. But lately, I have been hearing one of Mom's favorites quotes, "This Too Shall Pass." She said it often when difficult times would occur. When I was little, and I would cut my foot or stepped on a nail, and I cried, She would hold me and tell me "This too shall pass." And it did! Then When I was a teenager and my heart was broken and I cried, she held me and talked to me, then told me, "This too shall pass." and it did!! When I was married and our kids were little, times were tough, and we were sick, Moma told me again, "This too shall pass." You know each level as the the trials intesified, Mom's advice seem to fit. Even though in the midst of the trial, her words didn't seem to comfort me all that much, but I knew she was right. Now as I face more difficult trials in life, and there are days where Peace is such a Valuable Commodity, I find myself repeating her words to comfort my hurting heart, "This Too Shall pass." Because now I understand in stating this short quote, I am professing Hope for my situation! Just as a rain storm moves into our city and pours out all it has to dump on us in a small time, then the storm moves on. Leaving behind many small droplets of shining lil pieces of evidence that the storm has passed. And then there is peace. So no matter what you are going through today, know that Our God says He will never leave you nor forsake you and know that This Too shall pass and there will be Peace.

God's Peace,
Angel

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Be Prepared

And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people…" After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day…." — Exodus 19:10–11, 14–15

In Exodus, as God was about to appear to the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai, He instructed Moses to have the people prepare themselves for that occasion. In the book of Numbers, the word "prepare" appears more than 30 times as God gave His people detailed instructions for how the people were to prepare the sacrifices and themselves for worship. Clearly, being prepared is important to God.

For Jews, the extensive, detailed preparation for the Sabbath and our anticipation of this special day are essential parts of its observance. Just as the Israelites prepared themselves physically and spiritually before receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, so we undergo a physical and spiritual preparation before experiencing the Sabbath.

Listen to what the Word of God says in the book of Exodus: "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work" (20:9). Physically, we plan to finish all our work in six days. If we embrace this mindset and plan for the week, then we are both physically and mentally ready for the Sabbath.

You're probably wondering how that is possible in today's demanding workplace, where, with today's technology, we are able to take our work with us wherever we are.

The rabbis take this passage to mean that we should feel as if all our work has been completed when the Sabbath arrives. Our work undoubtedly will still be there when the work week begins again, but we are to greet the Shabbat in a spirit of peace, without anxious thoughts of what has yet to be done. Our hearts and minds should be focused on Him and all that His grace provides for us.

Is that how you approach the Lord's Day? Individually, and then with your family, consider what steps you can take to prepare for your worship time. What can you do to ensure that you are greeting this day of worship in a true spirit of peace?

With prayers for shalom, peace,

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

How To Measure Success
By Brent Barnett

We live in a world where success is defined in innumerable ways, most of which are wrong. Sadly, even the professing church has been prone to increasingly err in its understanding of true, Biblical success.


Whether the pressuring voices come from within the church or without, we must not give in to their distortions and perversions of what God says success really is.

Paul says toward the very end of his life, writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Paul had achieved great fame and power very early on in his life, outdistancing many of his contemporaries in terms of Bible knowledge and understanding (Galatians 1:14). He was mentored by the best Jewish teacher of all (Acts 22:3), and he was considered a man of high rank. But these things he counted as loss (Philippians 3:7).

This was not because there was evil in leading or having status, but it was that he had pursued these kinds of things at the expense of pursuing God. Thus, he chose to abandon the "success" which he had experienced in persecuting Christ in exchange for service to Christ, choosing rather to suffer with Him (Romans 8:17).

Paul understood that success is not what we can achieve or gain in terms of worldly things. It is not a race for rank, money, publicity or power. Sometimes he had much, and sometimes he had little (Philippians 4:12).

But in all things he was content, and as he wrote to Timothy, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). Thus, Paul measured success by the state of his heart in relation to God. Godliness, faithfulness, and contentment were paramount in terms of how he wanted his life defined.

From Paul’s testimony, we can conclude that success contains the following elements:

1) living life as a sacrifice, pouring out the love of God to others in service and ministry for the sake of Christ

2) fighting the good fight of faith, continuing to preach the gospel and contending for truth without compromise no matter the cost (2 Timothy 3:14)

3) finishing the course, persevering in godliness and not being disqualified from effective ministry due to a lack of discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27)

4) keeping the faith, continuing to serve Christ and abounding in the work of the Lord, wherever He has called us, never growing weary of loving Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Interestingly, Paul didn’t measure his success by how many converts he had or by how many people read his letters; rather, he was concerned with faithfulness, holiness, and endurance. He didn’t judge himself based upon how much he suffered but upon how he suffered for Christ’s sake.

Paul’s criteria for success had nothing to do with what others of the day thought of him or even what people in times to come, people like us today, would think. He trusted Christ that he would be faithful to bear fruit and advance the kingdom if only he would be faithful and maintain obedience to the truth of the gospel (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

This impacted every area of his life so that Christ would be honored in each and every conversation, in each and every relationship, in each and every business venture, and in each and every message preached. No area of his life was exempted from needing to meet the Biblical criteria for true success.

Our hope should be that we can come to the end of our lives, whenever that may be, and look back as Paul did, with joy, hope, and exaltation because by faith we will have lived as holy sacrifices, having fought the good fight, having kept the faith, and having finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7).

We ought to want to hear our Savior say to us one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23). There is no clearer definition and affirmation of success than that.

Scripture Of The Day: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain" - 1 Timothy 6:6

StreamingFaith.com

VICTIMS OF TERROR AND WAR

Ofrah: "I Will Never Forget My Christian Friends"

Ofrah is a religious woman who lives with her husband and eight children in the Israeli southern city of Netivot. “Children are a blessing and God has been good to us,” smiles Ofrah. “We’ve done our best to instill in them the values of God, love of Israel, and respect for their fellow man.” Supporting a family of this size, however, has been a great challenge for Ofrah and her husband. They have trouble putting food on the table and Ofrah cries to see that her children have trouble concentrating because they are hungry.

Sadly, the family’s situation has gone from bad to worse. Ofrah lost her job in a clinic after Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, because most of the clientele that had lived in Gaza stopped coming in. More recently, Ofrah’s husband worked as security guard at a school in Netivot and received no paycheck during the time when terrorist rockets were falling on their community and the school was forced to close.

As difficult as it was for Ofrah to ask for charity, she knew she had no other option when she received a Notice to Disconnect from the electric company and had bills piling up that she simply could not pay. When Ofrah learned about The Fellowship’s Special Needs program to assist families like her own, she says she “couldn’t believe my good fortune.” The Fellowship provided Ofrah with a check to pay her electricity bills and money to buy groceries.

“I will never forget that it was Christians who helped me in my time of need,” she says gratefully.”It’s a great comfort to know that our Christian brothers and sisters care. Thank you.”

rabbieckstein@ifcj.org International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Acts 2:5-13

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

To this day, whenever the Holy Spirit makes His presence known, we describe our experience with words such as "utterly amazed," "bewildered," "perplexed," etc. When the crowd heard the disciples' speaking in tongues, some thought it was gibberish others were amazed they were speaking in their native language.

This reminds me of a story I read recently. There was a church conference held at the Lake Arrowhead Resort. The custom at the resort is whenever the conference room is open, the bar is too, even if it is not in use. During one of the sessions the bartender was quietly cleaning glasses in the back of the room, when a man stood up and began to speak in tongues -- words that no one understood. The moderator thanked the man and appropriately asked him to sit down as there was no one present who could interpret his words. Following the meeting the bartender who was from Iraq, came forward with tears streaming down his face and asked who the man was who had spoken of the great mysteries of God and the messiah in his native language. The man was saved that evening.

The Holy Spirit is like that -- nonsense to some ("They have had too much wine"), amazing to others. What is your response when the Holy Spirit speaks to you? Is it nonsense you ignore or do you go with it? The disciples went with it -- they gave themselves over to the power of the Spirit in faith. They didn't try to understand it first. This is the mistake we make in our dealings with the Spirit -- we try to understand and process logically first. You will never experience the full power of the Spirit unless you release control.

Is the Lord asking you to do something right now that seems a little illogical? Maybe it's to call someone you haven't talked to in a while; attend a gathering; help a stranded motorist; ask someone who looks lost if you can help with directions; etc. It can be and will be the most ordinary of circumstances that will yield the most amazing results -- because God is constantly at work, and when you answer His call you come to know His voice.


PocketPower.org

LIVING THE POWER OF THE WORD

By Joy Allmond

What does the Gospel mean to us between now and the time we go to Heaven? We are delivered from the strongholds of sin and experience the power of transformation in our lives. Let’s examine the life of the Peter the disciple, or Simon Peter, one of the first and most well-known converts of Christ Jesus.

In the first chapter of John, we can see that Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon as he became a Christ follower. Nothing is really said in this passage about the power of the Gospel in Peter’s life at this point, but this tells us that he did, indeed, choose to follow Christ. That is what we must first do in order to experience the power of the Gospel in our daily lives.

Before we look further into the life of Peter, let’s look at the word, “power,” as it is used in several instances in the New Testament.

The original Greek word for “power,” is dunamis, pronounced doo-nam-is. This means “able, capable of.” Although the English word, “dynamite,” was taken from the word, it doesn’t mean an explosive sort of power. It refers to an unleashed, reserved power – the kind that requires someone to utilize in order to be active. A power ready be tapped into.

Let’s see how Peter did that.

Power in Victory Despite Our Doubt

In Luke 5, we read the account of the disciples’ call. In this passage, Jesus began teaching them from the boat in the lake after disappointing results from a fishing trip. In verse 4, Jesus instructs Peter to let his net down in the water for a catch.

Skeptically, he did so. But, he was also respectful about it. Let’s look at verse 5 how he responds to Jesus’ instruction:

“And Simon answered and said, ‘Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets’.”

Notice that he was doubtful. He didn’t say, “Yes, Lord…let’s try that again.” His tone was more skeptical. He may as well have said, “Well, here goes nothing!”

Doubt. Skepticism. Complacency. They are all a part of the human condition. Even as believers in Christ, we sometimes choose to live in defeat. However, the difference between those of us who live in the defeat of doubt and those who tap into the power of the Gospel in our lives, like Simon Peter, is submission.

Notice that Simon Peter referred to Jesus as “Master,” acknowledging Christ for Who He is. He was also “real” with Jesus. In other words, he didn’t put up any pretenses. He was not too prideful to voice his weakness, that is, his doubt, to Jesus. However, he did so respectfully, and he yielded to Jesus’ command by letting down the nets.

And what happened once Peter got over himself and obeyed despite his doubt? He saw divine power unleashed in his life and in the lives of the others. Verses 6 and 7 tell us that they not only caught fish, they caught more than the boat could handle. Power…at work.

In verse 8, Peter was so overtaken with awe and repentance at the same time, that he fell at Jesus’ feet.

When was the last time you experienced the power of the Gospel in such a way that you fell before the Lord (either literally or figuratively)? If you know Jesus personally, you have access to that power. It’s time to tap into it!

Power to Redeem Despite Our Sin

Perhaps one of the most ominous stories in the New Testament is that of Peter’s denial of Jesus shortly before His crucifixion. Like many of us, Peter thought he wasn’t capable of such a sin. In the fourteenth chapter of Mark, Jesus warned him that he would deny Him three times. But Peter insisted he wouldn’t, saying, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

Read the account of the denial in Mark 14: 66-72. The last sentence conveys the conviction upon Simon Peter: “And he began to weep.”

Pause for a moment and let his feeling of remorse set in. How grieved must he have felt? If you have known Jesus personally, then chances are, you have felt that way – grieved over your sin.

Peter’s grief over his sin says something about the power of the Gospel – that it has the power to convict. While the records of Peter’s life throughout Scripture tell us he was quite imperfect and certainly fallible, it also tells us he loved his Lord. The Gospel does not bring guilt, but rather brings conviction.

The difference? Guilt is what we feel when we’ve been caught and we're concerned about what it does to ourselves; Conviction is what we experience when we know we’ve offended a holy God. Feeling, versus experience.

For the believer, the power of redemption is available if we make the choices to act on that conviction.

One of the sweetest passages of restoration throughout Scripture is John 21:15-17. Post-resurrection Jesus showed at the Sea of Galilee, where the disciples were fishing. He repeated the fishing miracle discussed earlier so that He could reveal Himself to them.

A bit later in the morning, Jesus asked Simon Peter not once, but three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter had denied His Lord three times; now, he had the opportunity to proclaim his love for Him three times.

Once Peter was restored, he was then charged to feed the flock, and had an active role in the early church. He had the privilege of preaching the sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36) and ministered in the name of Jesus before his death. Peter did not let past failures keep him from experiencing the power of the Gospel in his life.

Don’t believe the lie that you cannot be used because of your past, or even your present. There is an endless Source of power, waiting to be tapped into. We just have to make the choice to experience it through submission and restoration.

PARTS WE LOVE

We should prostrate ourselves before Him and say, "Thank You that I can have a part in Your service. There are so many people in this world, yet I am chosen to have a part in it!" Consecration is our honor, not our sacrifice. It is true that we need to have the greatest sacrifice, but there is no sense of sacrifice in consecration. There is only the full sense of God's glory.

Blood is the mark of possession. It is also the symbol of love. Both the "price" spoken of in 1 Corinthians 6 and the "love" spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5 refer to this blood. Because there is blood, love, and possession, our entire being is not our own. The Lord has shed His blood, and we must acknowledge the rightful claim of this blood upon us. Because the Lord loves us, we will confess that our entire being belongs to Him alone.

You did not pass me by or reject me; You saved me. Now give me a part among the many who serve You; do not reject me."

"Lord, You have given me the opportunity and the right to come before You and to serve You." It is saying, "Lord, I am Yours. My ears were purchased by the blood; they belong to You. My hands were purchased by the blood; they belong to You. My feet were purchased by the blood; they belong to You. From now on I can no longer use them for myself."

We must see that having the right to be God's servant is the greatest honor of our life. It is a joyful thing for a man to be saved. It is a far more joyful thing for a man to have a part in God's service! Who do we think our God is? We have to see His greatness and His glory. Only then will we see the tremendous significance and honor of this service! What a tremendous thing it is for us to receive His grace and be counted worthy of serving Him!

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

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.

God's work in our life as well as usefulness in the kingdom is typically interrupted when we fail to obey a God directive. What was the last thing God told you to do or change that you haven't quite finished?

PocketPower.org

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ― Colossians 3:16 NIV

When something doesn’t go my way or come down the pike the way I want it to, I tend to gripe. It can be any number of things that irritate me—delayed flights, being put on hold, or having to wait in line. Traffic jams. Interruptions. People who don’t keep their word. You name it! (You have your own list, don’t you?)

At times like these when I’m tempted to gripe, I have to start talking to myself. And when I come to my senses, this is what I say: “Luci, if you can’t be content in this moment of inconvenience, be content that it’s not worse. Shut up and count your blessings.”

But there are times I can’t pull myself out of that morass until I start with a grateful heart. Our constant attitude should be gratitude. But it seems to be the rarest of virtues. God has given us thousands of reasons to celebrate life every day, even in the worst of times, if we just open our eyes, live in the moment, take in the beauty, and see the possibilities. It’s been said, “The worst moment for the atheist is when he feels grateful and has no one to thank.”

— Luci Swindoll

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

God's Grace in Our Weakness
Pastor Marvin Moss

There are some who have gone through so much that their prayers aren’t as eloquent as they used to be. There is no concern for subject verb agreement. The poetic prowess no longer captivates the listener as it once did. All that has happened has zapped the strength, the desire, the motivation. After all of this, it’s all that one can do to cry out the name of Jesus.


We’re supposed to be growing with each test, trial and/or tribulation that comes our way. God would desire that we “grow” through life and not just “go through life.” There are far too many Christians who are simply going through life and not growing through life. The situation is the same. The challenge is the same.

You’re still worried about the same things with the same people. There has been no growth; there has been no change; and this stage of weakness is not the stage of weakness that God can work with and work through.

We claim we’re children of God. We claim the anointing of God. We claim to operate with the power of the Holy Spirit. Then why, pray tell, is there no growth? Why are you still in the same state of weakness wherein you’re not able to lift any more weight today than you could when you started this faith walk?

In our text, the Apostle Paul asked Jesus three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. Jesus simply replied, My grace is sufficient for thee. In other words, you are where you are, it is what it is, now allow yourself to be broken to the point where it’s all about God and not about you. It’s not by your power nor might, but by the spirit of God.
God knows us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image; we’re brought to life because God breathed the breath of life and man became a living soul. God desires that we not live in a weakened state but have power to tread over scorpions and serpents. Power to overcome. Power to make it through. The word of God tells us that even in our weakness, that’s when his power works best.

So tell yourself-- I’m not giving up. I’m struggling but I’m not giving up. I’ve slowed down, but I’m not giving up. It’s taking me a little longer these days, but I’m not giving up. The vicissitudes of life have caused my vim and my vigor to wane, but I’m not giving up.

The apostle Paul was a man of great intellectual means, yet now a converted man of great spiritual means. There are many of us who could learn a lesson from Paul. He finally realized that it wasn’t about his intelligent quotient; it was about his spiritual quotient. He realized that his education didn’t matter, his economic status didn’t matter, his connections didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but his relationship with Jesus Christ.

In his moment of weakness Paul called on Jesus, who reminded Paul he must go through and must grow through. The message is the same for us today. Today, it’s an issue for you, but tomorrow new mercies you shall see. Today, in your weakness, you just want the pain to stop, but through that pain you’re growing. Today, in your weakness, you just want the problem solved, but through the problem you’re growing. Today, you just want peace, but through the turmoil you’re growing to understand that peace doesn’t mean the absence of conflict. Today, you just want the season of lack to end, but through the season of lack you’re growing to understand that the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.

There’s a whole lot of stuff to make you weak in the physical, but there’s a whole lot more to make you strong in the spiritual. So my brother, my sister, remember God’s grace is sufficient. There is power in your weakness.

Scripture Of The Day: "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness!" - II Corinthians 12:8-9

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. — Psalm 119:97–98

Sometimes a group of people gain a reputation for widely held practices or beliefs. For example, Southerners are known for their hospitality and friendliness, Midwesterners for being down-to-earth, and Easterners for their fast-paced, driven lifestyle. But did you know that we Jews, particularly Orthodox Jews, are known as the "people of the book"?

That reputation has been earned largely because of our long-standing belief that the Bible is eternally valid and utterly authoritative. We believe, like many of our Christian brothers and sisters, that the Bible is the actual embodiment of God's Word. We believe it was divinely transmitted and the primary source of God Himself. It is, in the words of the Jewish liturgy, "given to the children of Israel from the mouth of God through the hand of Moses."

And even though it was given at a particular time in history, God's Word is valid for all time and in every circumstance. Further, we believe that the Word of God is complete. Everything needed for life and our spiritual growth can be derived from it. Psalm 19:8 instructs, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." God's Word literally gives us the ability to see — His will, His laws, and His ways.

Still, we sometimes allow excuses to keep us from studying God's Word. We don't have enough time to fit it in, or we don't know how to get started. Or we fear we won't be able to understand everything we read. But as God told the people of Israel, "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach… No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it" (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14).

As "people of the Book," Jew and Christian alike, we really have no excuses: God's Word is clearly written in the Bible and evident in the world around us. It is not too difficult for us. All we need to do is obey.

What one step can you take today to earn a reputation as one of God's "people of the book"?

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein