HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE GOD?

ACTS 7:32 "'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look."

God doesn't have an identity problem -- He knows who He is. The problem is: Do we know who He is? Because what He represents to us in our lives (not as some nebulous principle), is how we will define Him to our friends, families, business associates, etc. Do we respect Him? Are we in awe of Him? Do we fear Him?

I think it's funny how the world defines God: God is love (as if that's all He is -- all warm and cuddles -- does that mean He stops loving as in a divorce?); God is in the smile of a child (what about when the child frowns or misbehaves -- is God still there or does He leave?); God is in nature (what they're talking about is a flower or a waterfall -- but what about a flood or a hurricane that cost hundreds of lives and millions of dollars -- is God in that part of nature as well?). Describing God in those terms only reveals how much you don't know about God. It's like someone saying they know you -- when they've only seen you in the distance, or defining your profession and all of your ability by a bird cage you built when you were 5 years old. It's ridiculous.

Here's what God tells Moses about Himself: "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." What do you think was God's point in that statement? I think He's reminding Moses, "I have written an autobiography about myself -- remember what I've said and what I've done throughout history -- then you know something about Me and will be ready to understand the meaning and intent of this personal experience."

I believe God speaks to us all the time through personal "burning bushes." The problem is: We don't recognize who He is because we aren't familiar with Him. When my son Ryan played football -- from the distance of the stands, I could recognize him when he ran on the field (without seeing the number on his jersey). Why? Because I'm familiar with him and I know a lot about him. I know how he runs; I know how he stands; I know what position he plays; I know how tall he is; I know what style of helmet and face mask he wears. But my friends may not be able to recognize him. Why? -- Because they don't know Ryan as well as I do.

How well do you know God? Can you name 5 things God says about Himself? 10? How about 20? In Scripture, God has described Himself to us in great detail. How can you recognize or understand God's meaning in an experience if you are unfamiliar with who He says He is? What can you do today to begin to know God better?

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REASONS TO GIVE THANKS

By Dr. Charles F. Stanley

What motivates us to express gratitude to God?

We often remember to thank Him when something positive happens in our life. But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to give thanks in all things, which includes difficult times as well as happier circumstances. Of course, thanking God for something painful may seem illogical—but it is not. There are a number of reasons why, no matter what we are going through, it truly is “good to give thanks to the Lord” (Psalm 92:1 niv).

The first reason is stated in Psalm 107:1, which tells us to “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good (emphasis added).” Even though life may be difficult, our hope and joy remain because we serve the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent God of love.

Second, our gratitude magnifies the Lord. He is glorified when we acknowledge His goodness and thank Him for His continual blessings. God is also pleased when, even in difficult times, we obediently thank Him.

Third, thankfulness reinforces our faith. When we remember how God has met our needs, protected us, and answered cries for help, our trust in Him is strengthened.

Recalling His faithfulness in the past equips us to face the future. In addition, our spirit rejoices when we dwell on who the Lord is, what He has done, and what He will do.

It’s easy to be grateful when we receive something we have desired for a long time. But God wants us to express thanksgiving in everything. Meditate on His goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, and sure promises—and offer Him your thanks.

Scripture Of The Day: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

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QUESTIONS

"Mom, what will I be when I grow up?"... "Will I find a job; will I get married and have a home?"... "Do you think I'll have children?"

"What if I can't get through school?"
"What if no one hires me?"
"What if I don't find someone to love and marry?"
"What if I don't have a place to live?"

Fortunately, most children have a buoyant confidence in themselves and in their ability to achieve life goals. Most are too busy enjoying the present to have serious worries about the future. Many early learn to pray and trust in Jesus.

However, as adolescence approaches, latent worries, fears, and anxieties may just begin to surface. Young people frequently go through a series of job choices until they settle on what they believe is the one right choice. Problems with dating in contemporary times begin to develop, and confident children begin to sense responsibilities and limits. Alternative lifestyles may tempt them; moral ambiguities may make relationships difficult. High costs of living may seem to present almost insurmountable obstacles.

Many will need to develop a resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and strength of character to match the challenges they will face. Many will have to realize that they will need to train and re-train a number of times to compete in today's job market. Many will have to make sacrifices to achieve a marriage and a home. Flexibility and faith will go hand in hand.

Through all the challenges young people face to achieve adulthood, independence, and confident maturity, the loving Lord Jesus will walk with them if they have been brought up in the Christian faith. God loves and cares for each child, each person.

The Bible promises His guidance and love. Nothing can separate them from Him. In times of darkest doubt, He is there making a way. The power of prayer sustains and blesses. The Bible is a constant source of strength.

One Bible verse always stands out for me as I recall my own struggles toward adulthood and watch my son do the same:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Certainly the Israelites in exile had their share of problems and needed God's help and hope. Every time and generation has its share of trials. Another passage from the New Testament comes to mind:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us." Romans 5: 1-5 NIV


May we remember to be strong in faith and to pray fervently for the young people we know.

.....Eternal Ink (eternal_ink@associate.com) Mary-Ellen Grisham (meginrose@gmail.comby way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net

THE UPHILL ROAD

1 Cor. 10:13 God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)

As a teenager when I first came to know Christ, I told myself that living a Christian life would become much easier as I grew older. How mistaken I was. I found it to be uphill all the way.

When I was much older, I visited Israel and at last understood why people always referred to ‘going up to Jerusalem ’. There’s no way to get there except up. It is built on a hill and all roads lead upward. In fact, uphill would describe most of the Holy Land .

How mistaken I was. I found the Christian way to be uphill all the way. Every age has challenges, emotions and disciplines to be conquered.
Sometimes we slide back down that hill and have to climb it once more.

Some things I have learned on the climb, God never asks me to tackle
anything that he did not give me the strength to handle through his Holy Spirit.

God is faithful. I found I could always count on him, but sometimes he tests me severely before showing his faithful side.

Once I learned that God had given me the power to transform myself through the renewing of my mind. I found that when my self control is tested, I allow my mind to fill with the promises of God.

He has given us this wonderful method of transformation, but often we fight, struggle and scream in anguish before we realize that he has already given us the power, we must use it before it will change us.

.....Ivie Bozeman (Ivie@rose.net) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

HOLY PARTNERS

Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? — Genesis 18:23-24

Sometimes, things happen in life that leave us bewildered. Recently, a friend of mine, a 38-year-old mother of three children, suffered a massive heart attack, went into a coma, and is not coming out. Another friend tells me of a young man, still in high school, who lost his father to kidney disease three years ago, and just now lost his mother to cancer.

We probably all know of similar stories that leave us wondering: Where is God in these circumstances? Does He still love us? Does He even care about what's going on?

Certainly, there are times in our lives when we question God's presence, His justice, even His love. There are times we beseech God for help, for an answer to prayer, and the answer comes back "No." The Jewish view is that it's OK to question God, to challenge His justice and fairness. It's OK to ask why.

Remember when God announced His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? Abraham challenged God, saying, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?" (Genesis 18:23-24). After God responds that He would spare the city for 50 innocent people, Abraham amazingly continues to bargain with God. What about 40? 30? 20? And to each, God says, yes, He would spare the city. Finally, Abraham asks if God would destroy the city if there were only 10 righteous people.

At this point, I'm waiting for God to really give it to Abraham. But He doesn't. In His graciousness and in His mercy, God respects Abraham's questions, and says yes, He would spare the entire city for 10 righteous people.

Through this exchange, God showed Abraham — and us — that asking for anything is allowed, with the understanding that God's answer comes from His perspective and not ours. In the Jewish view, we are holy partners with God, not just His subjects. We have the right to question His justice and love just like Abraham did — but then we must accept God's will as sovereign.

God welcomes your questions, your doubts. Trust His answer, even if it is not in harmony with your expectations.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET YOUR ATTENTION

Acts 7:30b-31"…an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice…."

Moses had spent 40 years in the desert during his period of self-imposed exile. Now the Lord decided it was time to get Moses attention -- to place him back in service. Notice the sequence of Moses' experience: he saw the burning bush, he was amazed at the sight, and he went over to look more closely.

Many times when we are in our own desert, we don't hear the Lord's voice because we are too consumed with our own thoughts -- so the Lord needs to get out attention. In Moses' case it was a burning bush -- something ordinary (a bush), that became extraordinary. It was amazing to him (after all it's not every day you see a burning bush in the middle of the desert), so he went over to check it out (the Lord got his attention).

Watch what came next: "he heard the Lord's voice." Once the Lord had Moses' attention -- Moses then heard the Lord's voice. This is a really important point to me. Many people think the key to this story is the burning bush (the miracle); I think the more important point is that God is always speaking to us -- it's just sometimes He needs to use rather dramatic means to get our attention so we hear him.

When I am watching a sporting event on television, my wife believes the house could be on fire, and it wouldn't be until the heat melted the remote control that it would get my attention. We men certainly have the ability to concentrate (my positive spin on her critique), and block out all distractions. Unfortunately, this same ability to insulate ourselves can also hurt us when God is trying to talk to us.

How does God get your attention? Does the house have to burn down? Sometimes the life changing events we experience (loss of a job, health issue, financial setback, family problem, etc.) are only necessary because we haven't been listening to God -- we've blocked Him out. Are you at all blocking God out of your life? Does He currently have your attention? What is He trying to tell you?

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7 STEPS TO A MIRACLE

Acts 9:40-42"Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, 'Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord."

Previously, in Acts 9:36-39, we learned that Tabitha (also called Dorcas), a much loved and valued female disciple had become ill and died. The disciples in Joppa (where she lived) learned Peter was visiting the nearby town of Lydda, so they sent for him. Peter arrived and after hearing them express their grief, now (verse 40) asks them to leave the room. I think we can learn a lot from the sequence of Peter's actions and God's response -- so let's look at each of these a little closer from the beginning:

1. Peter stopped what he was doing and responded (verse 38-39). All too often we are not used by God to participate in the miraculous -- not because we are incapable, but because we don't respond to the request.

2. Peter didn't try to talk them out of what they wanted him to do -- he didn't consider raising Dorcas from the dead to be preposterous or ridiculous. Many times the greatest obstacle to God's healing is our own skepticism.

3. Peter paid attention to the intensity of their grief -- he heard them. Our tendency is to want "just the facts." Her life (what she meant to them) was more important than the circumstances around her death.

4. Peter removed distractions (verse 40). Many times our emotions (and the emotions of those around us) greatly influence our ability to see and hear God -- a good place to start is to first remove all outside distractions -- find a quiet place -- both physically and emotionally.

5. Peter got down on his knees and prayed. When I am on my knees I have the right orientation in my relationship with God -- He is in control, I am not -- I can ask, but it is always His decision.

6. Peter assumed God had answered his prayer despite what his eyes told him -- he turned and asked the "dead woman" to open her eyes. Ask yourself this question: what would have happened if Peter had not asked Tabitha/Dorcas to open her eyes?

7. Peter finished strong -- he trusted in the strength of the miracle. Peter didn't run downstairs when Tabitha opened her eyes and ask everyone to come and see. Instead he helped her to her feet so everyone could see there was not just life but also strength in God's miracle.

Most of us can get through the first five steps without much of a problem -- it's the last two that can be the most challenging. When it comes right down to it, it is our faith that is tested and displayed when we say "open your eyes" or "take my hand and get up." When there is no one else around, how strong is your faith? When Peter spoke, "Open your eyes" he professed his faith and belief that God could and would answer his prayer.

Think back to the last time you prayed over someone who was ill or hurt -- did you ask for them to "open their eyes"? In other words, did you assume they were healed and begin to act accordingly, or did you continue to pray and grieve, hoping they would eventually get better? Do you truly believe in the strength and immediacy of God's healing power? I think God answers prayers when we not only ask but act as if He has done so -- that is real faith -- Peter kind of faith!

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THE DESERT OF SELF EXILE AND PUNISHMENT

Acts 7:30a "After forty years had passed…"

Have you ever wondered what Moses was thinking about over those 40 years? 40 years is half a lifetime, and the years we're talking about typically represent a man's most productive years, yet Moses remained in the desert. Look at where Moses had been, he was the son (adopted) of Pharaoh's daughter, who had killed an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew worker -- and he had run away -- fearing for his life.

We know in our time the privilege and leniency displayed to those who have position and power. Egypt was no exception. Had Moses been willing to go back to Pharaoh's household (with a reasonable explanation of the circumstances), chances are pretty good his life would have gone back to normal. But Moses had answered the call of God (though in the wrong way), and he knew that he could never go back to his old life. Yet he also thought he had wasted or misunderstood his purpose -- the one God had given him.

So what did Moses do? He imposed upon himself self-exile (he went to a foreign land and took a foreign wife -- verse 29), and began his time of self punishment. When you self-exile yourself and are consumed with self-punishment and regret -- do you hear God? I don't think so -- I certainly don't. If you are focused on yourself you can't see God, you only see yourself -- and in most cases, you won't like what you see.

If you were Moses friend, had been with him from the good times to the bad times, what advice would you give him when he was in the desert? What would you tell him to do in order to get back in the game? Have you ever felt that you just needed to be punished for something you did or didn't do? Have you taken it upon yourself the responsibility to punish, instead of leaving it to God? Is it time to stop? What can you do to bring your self-exile to an end?

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REMEMBERING TO SAY THANKS

By Greg Laurie

In the Old Testament, we find an interesting story of how King Jehoshaphat took an uncommon approach when his enemies waged war against him. Instead of sending in his army first, he sent the choir and musicians.

Imagine the scene: "All right, guys, here's the plan today. An army is out there, armed to the teeth. So we are sending in the choir and the musicians." If I had been a choir member or musician, I might have wondered whether the king liked our music.

But God had directed Jehoshaphat in this unusual battle tactic. We read that Jehoshaphat appointed people to sing to the Lord, praise the beauty of holiness, and go out in front of the army saying, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever" (2 Chronicles 20:21).

So that is exactly what they did. The Bible tells us that when they began to sing and praise, God sent an ambush against the enemy, and they were destroyed. God's people were able to go into this situation giving thanks, because He was in control.

In approaching God to ask for new blessings, we should never forget to thank Him for the blessings He has already given.

Have you recently come to God for help and He came through for you? Did you come back to say "thank you"?

If we would stop and think how many of the prayers we have offered to God have been answered and how seldom we come back to God to thank Him, it just might amaze us. We should be just as deliberate in giving thanks to God as we are in asking for His help.

Scripture Of The Day: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" - Psalm 107:8

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A HEART OF THANKFULNES

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

A five-year-old girl was asked to say the blessing at Thanksgiving dinner. She began by thanking God for all her friends, naming them one by one. Then she thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, Brother, Sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all her aunts and uncles. Finally, she gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes. Then she paused. After a long silence, the young girl looked up at her mother and asked, “If I thank God for the broccoli, won’t he know I’m lying?”

Have you ever felt that way? We know we’re supposed to cultivate a heart of thankfulness. But let’s be honest: there’s a bunch of broccoli in our lives that is really hard to give thanks for.

Amazingly enough, by cultivating thankfulness for God’s work in me as I try to glean the lessons of loss, I’ve even come to be thankful for the trials I’ve experienced. I know that through them God has made me into the person I am today, a new and hopefully improved version, full of much more grace and love.

Being thankful for everything—intentionally nurturing a heart of gratitude—is a way to bolster your faith on a daily basis. And (broccoli notwithstanding) I guarantee it will keep you in a better mood.

— Sandi Patty
Women of Faith

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

By Alan Riley

There were ten of them in all. They were friends who were bound together by a shared tragedy: they all had leprosy--a horrible, disfiguring disease. There's really no way to explain the horror of watching your body slowly rot away. But that was only half of the heartache. Because it was thought that leprosy was contagious, those who suffered from it had to not only endure the ravages of disease, but also to face scorn, disgrace and loss of all dignity. They were made to live apart from the rest of society, apart from their family and friends with only fellow lepers to lean on for support and encouragement.


Lepers in Jesus' day were not only forced to live in colonies, they also had to yell out "Unclean!" whenever they approached anyone. Sometimes they were made to wear bells on their clothing to warn others of their approach.

At the leper colony, they heard stories of this man named Jesus who not only spoke of God's love for everyone, but He healed all those who came to Him. I can imagine the stories of miraculous healings came in one after the other... Jesus opened the eyes of a man blind since birth; He told a lame man to rise up and walk; He even stopped a funeral procession and gave a woman her child back. I can imagine them hearing the story of the centurion's servant who was healed. They must have thought if Jesus healed a Roman centurion's servant, certainly He would heal us, after all, we are children of Abraham!

At some point the ten came up with a plan. They would travel in a group to find Jesus. Together they would ask Him to heal them.

Finally, the moment came when they stood before Jesus. They asked Him to make them whole. "Go and show yourselves to the priests," Jesus told them. As they turned to go, they realized for the first time that their dream had just come true. They stared at their hands in disbelief. Where a moment ago there was decay and stubs, there now were fingers and hands free from leprosy. They walked their first couple of steps, then they began leaping in the air, shouting praises to God! They ran off quickly to establish their healing with the priests so they could return to their homes and families.

But one of the ten stopped in his tracks and realized he'd forgotten something very important. While his nine friends ran down the road, he turned and ran back to Jesus, falling on his face in front of the Lord. Sobbing and laughing at the same time, he kept saying it again and again... Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?" Jesus asked. The man didn't know what to say. He couldn't answer for them. He just knew the immense sense of gratitude that was swelling up inside him. This man has just given him his life back.

Then Jesus told him, "Go your way, your faith has made you whole."

Far too often, you and I are like the nine who ran down the road leaping and praising. We receive God's grace and mercy, we experience His healing touch on our lives. He restores what the devil has caused to decay. And off we run, leaping, shouting and praising, but forgetting to simply say "Thank you."

I want to be like the one who turned and ran back to Jesus, falling on his face and saying thanks. Lord, give me the attitude of gratitude!

Scripture Of The Day: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

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RIGHT REASON, WRONG RESULT

Acts 7:20-29 "At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?' But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, 'Who made you ruler and judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons."

Stephen now begins to recite the familiar story of Moses. Previously, Stephen had recounted the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph -- the purpose -- to illustrate that God does not live in a place. The secondary point Stephen is making is how the Jews have a history of rejecting their savior: first Joseph -- who was sold by his brothers into slavery; now Moses -- who (in this passage) was "just trying to help."

Many times, like Moses, we have the right intent, but do the wrong thing. Moses knew God had a special purpose for him -- to save His people. The only problem was he did it his way not God's way. We can get ourselves in trouble like this as well. We see a problem, but rather than rely on God's timing and wisdom, we throw ourselves into the situation -- maybe even doing something we consider heroic (at great personal risk) -- only to be misunderstood, criticized and condemned. What was Moses' solution? Run away from Egypt.

This is great story (perhaps one we can relate to). Here was a guy who was spared by God; raised and educated in Pharaoh's household by Pharaoh's daughter -- as her son; then gets in trouble and runs for the hills. We don't know every event in Moses life up to this point, but I find it interesting that he would completely quit on life -- because of one mistake. Yet we can find ourselves doing the same thing. We mess up at work, in a ministry, a witness opportunity, or display a poor example to someone -- and we give up on our value. We think we've blown it and we can't or won't be used again. Are you ever guilty of this kind of thinking?

Have you ever blown it when trying to serve God? What were the circumstances? Did you get back into His service or "run for the hills"? What would it take to get you to try again? What would you do differently?

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WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS -- ISRAEL'S SONG BOOK

For me, the Psalms have a wonderful way of putting things in perspective, of giving us a deeper, more complete view of the challenges we face in our day-to-day lives. Perhaps it's their honesty their willingness to address God personally in both good times and bad that has brought me back to these ancient Hebrew prayers time and again, as it has men and women of God for millennia.

The Psalmist sings praises to God's glory, cries out to Him from the depths of his despair, laments what he believes to be God's absence from his life, and even freely express his doubts before God. But what's powerful is that the Psalms don't just voice our emotions they remind us of God's character. In them, we come to know God as Creator, Sustainer, Healer, and Redeemer. We are shown His overwhelming power and sovereignty over the world.

The themes of God's power and sovereignty are especially evident in Psalm 76 and Psalm 8. They were meaningful in biblical times because then, as today, Israel was surrounded by fierce foes bent on her destruction. Psalm 76 serves as a sobering reminder of God's power. It leaves no question that it is God alone who rules the earth. David speaks of the invincibility of God in battle, and the futility of trying to stand against Him and His chosen people. Psalm 76 reassures the people of Israel that they can have confidence in God as their Defender.

In Psalm 8, David uses the personal name of God that He gave to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14): Ya-hweh, the God of Israel's covenant. God's majestic name is wonderfully appropriate to this psalm. God is personal in His interaction with His creation, being mindful of mankind and caring for us and yet, He is also transcendent, the Master of creation who rules over all.

This psalm reminds us to have a childlike sense of awe and wonder when it comes to the display of God's glory. His great love for mankind is shown in that He cared enough to place us just beneath the angels in rank of creation. Verse 9 ends the psalm the way it started, extolling the Lord's majesty.

Are we in awe of God's greatness? Do we sometimes forget that He is our ultimate defender and protector? Both of these psalms remind us to have the proper attitude when coming before God. It is both exhilarating and humbling to know that He goes ahead of us in our challenges, and that we are objects of His tender affection and care. May we always be awed by the things of God. And may we, like David, always be reminded of God's power, and his sovereignty over all things.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY

Acts 7:18-19"Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt. He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die."

A few years ago my father died, and as I went through his possessions following his funeral, I couldn't help thinking that the things he treasured most had more to do with a memory than its intrinsic value. An old ashtray from a hotel, a rusted pocket knife, a sales award -- evidence of a life, but without the memory -- what is the value?

I remember growing up as a boy; my father would come home from work and stop by the football field to watch practice, or on other days, pause for a moment to ask real questions (not superficial) about my day. He would take me to choir practice on Wednesday nights, church on Sunday morning and Youth Fellowship on Sunday night. What I am is evidence of who he was. It's not what he had that made his life (after all, one generation's treasures are the next generation's junk), but what he invested of himself in the people around him. The legacy of his values is what endured -- both positive and negative.

Joseph's memory and his accomplishments were forgotten by the Egyptians, but he lived on in the memories of his family and descendants (as recorded in the Old Testament). My life and your life will be forgotten by the world, but remembered through the life and action of our children and grandchildren. They may not have a written record of all we said or did, but when the day comes that my son stops by my grandson's baseball practice on the way home from work, and takes him to Core Fellowship on Thursday night -- my father by his example, will live on through this generation and the one to follow.

What legacy are you leaving to future generations? Solomon tells us that all possessions and accomplishments are vanity -- what we work hard for in our life only goes to the next generation who did nothing to earn it -- therefore we're doing it only for our own vanity or pride. Are you guilty of vanity? Are you leaving a legacy of obsession with material objects? What kind of a legacy do you want to leave? How are you investing in your family and in the people around you?

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MY SHEPARD

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. — Psalm 23:1

Even for those who are not well-versed in Scripture, the opening words of the 23rd Psalm are very familiar: "The LORD is my shepherd…" While the imagery of a shepherd may seem foreign to us today, this was an illustration people in Bible times could easily identify with. In fact, sheep and shepherds are mentioned about 200 times throughout the Bible — and sheep are mentioned more than any other animal.

People in biblical times understood what shepherding was all about. Shepherds were concerned about feeding their sheep, bringing them to good pasture lands and water, grooming and clipping them, delivering new lambs, leading the sheep and teaching them to stay together, protecting them in the field and in the fold, and often times, going after the wandering lost ones. The role of the shepherd was important in protecting what might be the family's only source of income.

The job of shepherding often went to the children of the family, and David, as the youngest of eight brothers, was given that task. According to Jewish tradition, as a young shepherd caring for his flock, David had such compassion for his sheep that when one tired, David would carry that sheep on his shoulders. So when it came to describe his relationship with God, David relied on an example that came from his experience — and his heart.

David, you see, knew God as his shepherd. He knew that God cared for him, protected him, provided for him, and guided him. David trusted his Shepherd to lead him through life's difficulties, to provide peace and rest when he needed it, and to protect him in the presence of his enemies. David had such confidence in his Shepherd that he willingly and obediently followed Him wherever God led. In doing so, David had the utmost faith that "surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life" (v. 6).

David found great comfort in knowing God as his shepherd — and we can, too. Just as God cared for David, we can trust that we, His people and His sheep, will be cared for also.

God is our shepherd. We will not want.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

HOW DO YOU MULTIPLY?

Acts 7:17b"….The number of our people in Egypt greatly increased."

Stephen is speaking before the Sanhedrin, recounting Jewish history. He has just finished the story of Joseph and the relocation of Jacob and his entire family to Egypt (which was necessitated by a great famine that struck the whole land).

When Jacob's family first entered Egypt it numbered 75 -- a large family. But now after years of proper nutrition, the number of people had greatly increased -- Ex 1:7 "the Israelites were fruitful, multiplied greatly, and become exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them." As you can see Stephen's statement "greatly increased" is a bit of an understatement -- from 75 to over 2 million people in 400 years -- is more of a miracle. Again, this is all part of God's plan, pattern and purpose -- with a place to live (despite it being a land not their own), proper food, nutrition, and safety -- God's people not only thrived, but multiplied.

The same is true for us as well. If we are fed properly we will thrive and multiply. But what is our food? Jesus tells us in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty."

Are you in the middle of a famine? Is your Christianity dry, barren and lifeless? Do you go to church and Bible study but still don't feel any different? Stephen is making the point that God is not in a place (the "promised land," Egypt, Israel or church), He is with them. Jesus says to "come to me." What does that mean?

What does Jesus statement: "come to me" mean to you? Where are you? Where do you need to go? Are you experiencing a famine? Will you go to Jesus?

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GOD'S ETERNAL LIGHT

Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come." — Exodus 27:20-21

Throughout the world, the eternal light, or flame, is universally recognized as a symbol to honor and remember a person or a group of brave and noble people connected to some event. We're probably most familiar with the eternal flames that can be found at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or at President John F. Kennedy's gravesite. In Israel, an eternal flame at Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims, honors those who perished during that horrific time.

The symbol of light is part of the language of our faiths as well. In Psalm 18:28, the psalm writer rejoices in God's light in his life: "You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." God's light is seen as our guide: "Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me" (Psalm 43:3).

Since biblical times, an eternal flame was lit before the altar, first in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple, as a sign of God's eternal presence with His people. Today, you will find in any synagogue worldwide the sanctuary lamp, or ner tamid, hanging or standing in front of the ark, representing the continuously burning light of the Temple menorah. Even if the ner tamid is just a light bulb, these lights are never allowed to dim or go out. In the event of a power outage, often alternate emergency sources are used to prevent them from going out. As God commanded, "This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come" (Exodus 27:21).

This tradition is carried on in the Christian church as well. In the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, the sanctuary lamp signifies that the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. In the Lutheran churches, the light represents God's presence.

Whatever your faith tradition, the eternal light is a wonderful reminder not only of God's presence with us always, but also of our call as people of faith to be God's light in the world. We are called to bring His love and His grace to those around us through our acts of kindness, compassion, and charity. As we do so, we share God's presence with those around us.

How are you sharing God's light in your corner of the world?

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

PRAY AS JESUS PRAYED

By Pastor Andre Butler

When Jesus was on earth, His message was that the Kingdom of God was at hand, repent and believe. He went about preaching the good news of the Kingdom everywhere He went. He was the King, and He had to come to the planet to bring the Kingdom into being.

While He was on the Earth, Jesus showed the disciples how to pray, teaching them to pray as He prayed, because they had asked Him to do so. His life, including His prayer life, was an example to them and to us. Now only did He show them how to pray but also He taught them what to pray for. The prayers of Jesus, along with those of His disciples, helped the Kingdom of God to actually come about.

Prayer does several things.

First: Prayer Brings Manifestation. This means that even though you are in a season of breakthrough, you are going to have to put some time in prayer before you get the full manifestation. For you to walk in breakthrough--whether in your church or in your personal life--you are going to have to help usher it in through your prayers.

Second: Prayer Brings Direction. Jesus was getting wisdom from God about the twelve that He would call to be His apostles, and God gave Him that direction. Obviously, God was calling him to a special time of prayer; He was saying, "Come up here." Whatever your station in life, you'll always find reasons not to pray. If you're a parent with young kids, they'll keep you awake at night and tired during the day.

If you have a demanding job, that job will require all the energy you give it. There will always be some reason that you can't find time to pray. Satan, of course, is behind all those reasons not to pray, because when you pray you receive more power, and more power means he is in trouble. There will always be turbulence when you fly from one level to a higher one.

Third: Prayer Brings Anointing. How did Jesus get that anointed? He prayed. Prayer brings forth the anointing. Prayer causes the anointing to manifest in your life. Now, holiness helps, too, because sin will short circuit the anointing, but if you live holy and then spend time with God in prayer, that anointing will rest on you like a coat. You can resonate with the anointing because you spend time in prayer. When you get in God's presence, God rubs that Holy Ghost anointing on you.

The more you stay in prayer, the more the anointing stays on you. Prayer opens the door for breakthrough in your life and in the lives of those whom you touch!

So be like Jesus and pray as He prayed!

Scripture Of The Day: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." - Mark 1:35

THE PURPOSE OF TIME ALONG WITH GOD

By Brent Barnett

The ultimate purpose of spending time with God is to commune with God. Man is made for relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and thus, in order to have fullness of joy and to be what God wants him to be, he needs to cultivate that relationship. How this is done will make all the difference for making our devotional time a meaningful, edifying, and truly purposeful time.

James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.

When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.

A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.

Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.

Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."

We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.

Scripture Of The Day: "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." - Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

DO YOU TRUST GOD -- CAN YOU BE TRUSTED

Acts 7:17a"As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham…"

Sometimes I have difficulty with the idea that I might not experience the resolution of a problem in my lifetime. Abraham certainly didn't see God's promise fulfilled in his lifetime, or for many generations to follow, but God was faithful nonetheless. Abraham knew God; and God knew Abraham.

As I watched football last weekend, one of the commentators was talking about how the receiver had "read the defense." I thought how interesting that not only does the quarterback read a defense but the receiver does the same thing, and as a result the receiver's route is adjusted and the pass play is completed. The quarterback "knows" what the receiver will do, and the receiver "knows" what the quarterback will do in any given situation. How does this happen? It happens after years of working together, countless hours of practice and study, and lot's of experience.

What do you "know" about God? Do you live according to this knowledge? Do you trust Him? Sometimes it seems so much easier to trust in a quarterback -- with the game on the line -- to throw the ball to the correct spot at just the right time, yet do we have the same kind of faith in God, the creator of the universe? How do we get that kind of faith? I believe it comes from -- "years of working together, countless hours of practice and study, and lot's of experience." You get to know God by spending a lot of time with Him.

What does God know about you? He certainly knows how much you trust Him, but can you be trusted? When God has a mission, will He throw you the ball? Will you have run the proper pass route? If not, how can you begin spending more time with God today?

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GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR BURDENS

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. — Philippians 4:6 NRSV

In 1991 I spent some time with Ruth Graham in her lovely mountain home in North Carolina. On that evening, I asked Ruth how she handled the tough days as a young wife and mother. How did she respond when she was, at times, pushed into an unsolicited spotlight? Her answer was simple yet profound.

“Worship and worry cannot exist at the same time in the same heart,” she said. “They are mutually exclusive.”

Ruth then told me about a time when she awoke in the middle of the night, concerned about one of her children. Unable to sleep, she got out of bed and picked up her Bible. Ruth soon realized that the missing ingredient in her heart at that time was thanksgiving, so she began to thank God for this son, for his life, for the joy he had brought to their home. Her burden lifted.

We can pray and make our requests known to God, but we have to trust that God will answer our prayers. Thanksgiving helps us do that. When we pray with thanksgiving, we are saying we believe he will answer us and provide for our needs or for the needs of those we love—and we will be happy with his provision.

— Sheila Walsh

IF WE LET IT

Of course, what we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us. For that which is born of the flesh - our human understanding and handlings - is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit - God's revelation of Himself and the power of that revelation to enliven us - is spirit.

The will of man will not ultimately prevail against the will of God. It is the will of God that we should know Him as He revealed Himself and that will has not only survived the arrogant attacks of scientific and “enlightened” men, it has (even more miraculously) thrived in spite of our best intended, though sadly misguided attempts at “rightly dividing” that seamless robe of revelation.

So, let us press on with no faith in our own understanding and nothing but faith in the Truth that is too great to be diminished by our feeble minds and too great to not transform us. Salvation comes from God, not from our cleverness. The Bible is a very great book. Let us submit to it so God may do the great work of making us into a great people.

.....Chap Notes (ChapnotesMail@aol.com) (http://www.chapnotes.org) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

TELL SOMEONE ABOUT JESUS

A woman of Samaria came to draw water... - John 4:7 NKJV

John records, 'A woman of Samaria came to draw water.' After five failed marriages her trust levels are demolished and her self-worth is zero, so she approaches Jesus cautiously. Brick by brick He takes down the wall she's hiding behind. When He gets through, she leaves transformed.

What a contrast: one chapter earlier, Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to Jesus by night, suggesting he didn't want to risk being seen with Him. After telling him he must be born again, Jesus said, '... Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light... ' (John 3:21 NIV). At that point, Nicodemus has to make a choice.

There are three lessons here:

1) Christ sees potential in you when others don't. '... The Pharisees... complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2 NKJV). They were right!

This woman was the first person Jesus introduced Himself to as the Messiah. Why didn't He do that when He called His disciples, baptized John, cleansed the temple, performed His first miracle, or interviewed Nicodemus? Because Jesus doesn't measure you by your past, He measures you by your potential.

2) Christ will change you, then use you to change others. Amazingly, she was the first person to preach the gospel in Samaria. ' Many Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified... ' (John 4:39 (NKJV).

3) Christ doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world"' (John 4:41-42 NKJV).

Today, tell someone about Jesus.

.....as seen in The Word For Today by way of Cup O'Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net

WHERE DO YOU SEE JESUS?

Acts 7:11-16"Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money."

Our experience with Jesus is a lot like this story. Something beyond our control happens ("Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan"), which brings great suffering to us. We can't solve the problem on our own, so we start to listen to other people and the solutions they have found ("Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt").

We check it out -- maybe by attending a Men's Breakfast, Easter program, or church on Sunday. Jesus then reveals who He is ("Joseph told his brothers who he was") -- and through Jesus -- God learns who we are ("Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family"). We accept Jesus and through us (our witness), our whole family is welcomed into the body of Christ ("Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all").

In the story of Joseph, Stephen has drawn a road map to Jesus, as well as painting a picture of His life and purpose on this earth. This is the point Stephen is making to the Sanhedrin and other Jewish leaders. The question remains -- are they paying attention and do they see themselves in their own history?

Sometimes suffering occurs to get us back on the path -- Jesus' path. The point of suffering is not the pain -- it's to focus us on Jesus -- maybe it's time for you to bring ALL of your focus to Him? Other times people we know are suffering and become open to solutions -- when someone you know is in trouble do you offer worldly advice, or do you offer Jesus? Is there anybody in your life who needs Jesus? What can you do to offer them Jesus?

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PREREQUISITES FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

By Brent Barnett

Here are five elements that the Bible says are essential to having God both hear and answer our prayers. If we do these things we can be sure that our prayers will be answered. That is not to say that we can use these principles as spiritual "magic charms" to make God accomplish our will on earth. The whole point is to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven. Thus, central to praying properly is the idea of aligning our hearts and minds with the heart and mind of God. He will then enable us to pray rightly, properly, and in accordance with His will.

1. Faith

Mark 11:22-24 says, "And Jesus answered saying to them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.'" The principle here is that we must have faith that we have received what we have asked of God in order to receive it. There is no room for doubt (see James 1:5-8). This kind of faith is not forced or contrived, but it flows from a heart and mind that is abiding in Christ (John 15:7).

2. Persistence

Luke 11:5-10 says, "Then He said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him"; and from inside he answers and says, "Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything." I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.'" The clear lesson in this story is that God honors persistence in prayer. If we want to see answers to our prayers, we need to tarry in prayer, not just one time, but over and over again, not losing heart all the while.

3. Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17 gives us another qualification for answered prayer. It says that we must "pray without ceasing." This command is echoed in Ephesians 6:18 which says, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." Since Jesus Himself wasn't literally praying constantly but only at certain times, it would be unwise to conclude that we should spend our entire lives actively praying. The idea here is that everything we do, say, and want in life must be filtered through the will of God according to the grid of Scripture. This will require that we are faithful to make time to pray because we will realize that prayer is inseparable from a lifestyle that depends fully on Christ.

4. Righteousness

James 5:16 says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." The principle which this passage exposes is that the church's prayer, as well as the individual's, is hindered by the presence of unconfessed sin. If we want to discern the will of God and pray rightly, we must first confess our sin to God and to those whom we have sinned against.

5. According to God's Will

1 John 5:14-15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." To pray according to God's will is to pray according to what God wants done. This is something the Spirit of God will enable us to do (see Romans 8:26-27) if we are humble and willing to listen and be changed according to the Scripture.

Answered prayer is possible and the desire of God, but we must do it God's way by His Spirit and according to His Word and guiding principles therein. May God make us effective and powerful prayers.

Scripture Of The Day: "And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." - 1 John 5:14-15

THE POWER OF PRAYER

By Tanya James

Recently I found myself very disappointed in someone I considered a good friend. They did something to me that I felt (and still feel) was totally unacceptable and it was hard for me to swallow. I knew that I needed to forgive them and let it go but I just couldn't wrap my head around it at the time.

Not wanting to hold a grudge, I began to quote any and every scripture I could remember (and maybe a few I made up) on forgiveness. But it seemed the moment I stopped quoting scripture, I got mad all over again.

Throughout that week, I kept rehearsing what happened and when I shared it with my husband and my sister, I got even more angry -- it was like every time I told the story, the fire was being fueled. So I decided that I needed to stop talking about it because that was not helping the situation.

I'm sure you have all been there before ...maybe it wasn't a friend, perhaps it was a sibling, a co-worker, a neighbor or even someone at church. Whoever it was, they crossed you in some form or fashion and raised your blood pressure. You found yourself on this never ending cycle of anger because you couldn't quite let it go.

In time, I realized that forgiveness is very hard in our own power ... and at some point, I cleared my head and took it to God in prayer ...and yet again, God amazed me with his ability to bring an inner peace in the midst of any situation.

Prayer is by far the greatest weapon we have. Prayer causes you to change your perspective on things.

While in prayer, God reminded me of the many times I had turned my back on Him. The many times I had disappointed Him. Yet, not once has He held back his forgiveness towards me.

He also reminded me that no one except Him is flawless, so I must not put people on a pedestal or expect them to never let me down. Yes, we expect certain things like respect from our friends, however at some point, we have probably all disrespected someone we cared about. How is it that we expect people to always be willing to forgive us but when the tables are turned -- watch out!

Through prayer, I realized it was alright for me to be hurt by the situation, but it wasn't alright for me to dwell there. God healed my wounds and gave me the courage to step back out and not allow this situation to dictate my mood, attitude or behavior towards the person who offended me.

There is something to be said about the power of prayer ... next time I won't wait so long to use it!

Scripture Of The Day: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25

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WHEN YOU PRAY, LISTEN

by James Robison

God has not only called me to preach, He has called me to prayer. It is important to note that Jesus commanded His disciples to preach, but He taught them to pray. The ministry God gave me was birthed and bathed in prayer and I am grateful that millions have heard the Gospel proclaimed and professed their faith in Christ.

But even while blessed in my ministry, I found myself out of the will of God. I was too busy preaching to spend necessary and important time in prayer. I once foolishly and almost arrogantly responded to a sincere woman’s question, “When you travel and preach so many places so many times a day, how do you have time to pray?” I looked at her and said, “I preach you pray!”

How sad. I had lost intimacy with God. I had unwittingly left my first love. I was burnt out, burned up and defeated. God in His grace broke my heart. I missed intimacy with Jesus. I am so grateful that 30 years ago the Lord accomplished a marvelous work of deliverance and fullness to restore me to my first love. Jesus made me a servant to others to ministers, missionaries, the church and the suffering around the world.

In the last two years, God has called me to meditate on His Word, research history and spend much time in prayer. When I pray, most of my time is spent primarily seeking to hear God’s heart. In my weekly commentaries and through the LIFE Today television program, I have been sharing the impressions, concerns and directions He has given me while praying. Hopefully you can hear God’s heart with supernatural enabling through what I share.

In this commentary and for the next few weeks, I will communicate the impressions and messages that come as I seek to know the mind of God. It will be up to you, along with me and other godly counselors I consult, to discern if what I hear is His heart and His word. I find what I hear consistent with scripture. If I could not, I would seriously question what I heard or thought I heard. Keep in mind, when we pray, we seek insight, instruction, wisdom and divine guidance related to every aspect of life. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice,” and I believe Him.

As I have prayed and listened, these are impressions that came to my mind:

I can be an answer and help others be an answer to Jesus’ prayers. It is important even imperative that we seek to become one with the Father’s heart just as Jesus was. Our Lord did not pray amiss. It is possible! As Christians we can be perfected in supernatural unity and heart harmony.
Love never fails, but is seldom fully received or freely released. Its eternal effect is not always revealed within our expected time frame. Last week the Spirit of God overwhelmed me as I sensed His joy over the possibility of believers coming together to put His arms around a suffering world.

During the past 12 months, God has made it very clear to me that our nation stumbles because the church slumbers. Our national freedom will be lost if Christians do not allow God in His power to set them free from the bondage of this present world and become light piercing the darkness and helping illuminate the way to restore freedom’s foundation. Only an act of God can give elected representatives the dedication, determination, tenacity and wisdom to hammer out the details necessary to correct national problems related to taxation, immigration, the economy, national security, social concerns, injustice and lawlessness.

Idolatry is the issue. Individually and nationally the first of the Ten Commandments is too freely cast aside. God is not first for many church goers, professing Christians or citizens of the United States, even as they carry money with “In God We Trust” written on it. All who hold to idols are fellowshipping with demons. Idolaters are jerked around like puppets on strings. Who is pulling the strings of your heart? Who is farming the field of your life?

Money is not our problem; the love of money is the problem. This leads to all manner of evil expressions and foolish trust in false gods. The fertile field of opportunity and freedom is not the problem. The farmer who does not understand that his own life is to be God’s cultivated field and His fruitful garden is the problem. We must give God the field of our lives and let Him root out any weeds that can hinder fruitfulness. God wants us to be rooted and grounded in love. He wants believers to be fruitful and multiply His blessings.

Government is not God and must never be presented as all-provident or foolishly perceived as such. Once God is not first and the primary pursuit of our heart, we will foolishly look to inappropriate sources and ineffective solutions. It is a crime to allow children to think anyone owes them a life or a living. There is not an affective charitable act on this planet apart from compassion in action hands out, not just hand-outs.

I will close with this clear and startling image: When I witnessed the rage and riots in Greece, God spoke to my heart very clearly: “What you see is a microcosm of what will happen here in the United States if we do not see a return to God and a spiritual awakening within the church. Businesses and corporations will be attacked and ransacked. Normal activity will be disrupted. Perceived luxury items (cars and houses) subject to damage. Anything giving the appearance of success or prosperity will be damaged. Darkness will prevail spiritually and energy sources will be short-circuited. Communication lines will be severed. All this organized by evil factions who are controlled by the powers of darkness and who are the enemies of liberating truth and true freedom.” God forbid that Islamic extremists should get their hands on nuclear weapons. The former Soviet threat pales in comparison with what these radicals desire to unleash on the United States and our allies.

Misguided media and manipulators of people will place blame on and accuse those who have dared to proclaim the truth as being a major cause of the riotous acts. People who are filled with love, compassion and truth will be blamed for the despicable acts perpetrated by those who seek to bring the United States and free nations under their control.

The only possibility of preventing such actions will be the love and power of God released through the people of faith. There will be no healthy redirection of this nation apart from God’s wisdom along with the influence and the bold witness of Spirit-filled God-loving Christians. The government and Marshall Law will not be adequate. God is the answer and His love expressed freely through His people is the only way to miss what will surely come our way apart from repentance and the return to truth and to the God of our fathers. Consider Nineveh! Repentance offers hope.

I have been sharing and will continue to share the impressions I have while praying and seeking God’s will with all my heart. When you spend much time with someone and get to know them well, it’s amazing how clearly you hear and recognize their voice. Because I do hear God’s heart, I am unable to hold back the release of the river of love, truth and concern that fills my heart to overflowing.

God has not just given me a sermon, He has given me a message. A sermon is often about something, but a message is to someone. A sermon is heard, but a message must be heeded. Sermons are preached. Messages are delivered. There is a difference. The latter demands a response and calls for immediate, appropriate action. As with hearing God, messages from Him will always be in perfect harmony with the Word of God.

The invitation of Jesus to come as little chicks to the shelter and shadow of His covering is the image I keep seeing and the clear word that I keep hearing. He offered this invitation while praying over Jerusalem and He could see clearly the coming desolation because God’s Word through the prophets had been spurned. If Christians will pray and listen and then stand boldly and fearlessly, faith and freedom will prevail. I am praying continually, “Oh Lord, let us hear and respond to Your invitation and not experience the desolation that can be avoided through your grace and our response to Your heart and Your Word.”

PANIC ATTACK

"In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain." — Psalm 11:1

When the very foundations of your world are shaken — whether it's from a broken relationship, a home destroyed by an unexpected disaster, the devastating news of an illness, the loss of a loved one — how do you respond? Is it an overwhelming desire to run and hide from reality? Is it a panic attack? Or do you weather the circumstance — trusting that God is in control?

In Psalm 11, David was facing his own crisis. Perhaps this was written when he was being hunted down by King Saul or under attack from his son Absalom. In any case, it appears that those around David are advising him to run and hide from those persecuting him. And David's answer? "In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to your mountain'" (v.1).

In fact, David did flee from his enemies for his own safety, but not in panic, not in fear. He never lost sight of Who was in control of his life. He never forgot Who was in charge of all his circumstances. And it was this faith in God that kept David from losing hope and succumbing to the fear and panic that seemed to have engulfed his advisors. While they could only see the alarming circumstances surrounding them, David instead focused on the God who was "My shield" (Psalm 7:10) and "my rock and my fortress" (Psalm 31:3).

David was not immune from life's troubles and difficulties. Neither are we. But we can learn from David's life and be encouraged by his example. Rather than hit the panic button, we need to remember the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. That despite what is happening in your life right now, God remains in control. His power is not diminished by what is going on.

When life's circumstances are causing you to run and hide, run instead to God. Remember, as David did, that "The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne" (11:4). He will preserve and protect you.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

TIME FOR A SPIRITUAL CHECKUP

By Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

We all know how important physical health is; here's a plan for keeping your soul in shape:

(a) Don't question your faith, question your doubts. We spend too much time dwelling on our misgivings, experiencing faith as an occasional flash-in-the-pan. God's promises are for 'believers.'

(b) Don't be a 'lone ranger.' It's no accident that the Old Testament contains the story of God's people, and that the Epistles were written to congregations. We grow as we relate -- not isolate!

(c) Guard your thought life. If your "thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if [it's] controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace" (Ro 8:6 NCV). Practice mind management!

(d) Fall asleep and wake up immersed in gratitude. It'll transform your day. "In every thing give thanks!" (1Th 5:18).

(e) Ditch anything that distracts you from God. Toss the junk reading material, and if you've got the guts, throw in the TV!

(f) Always err on the side of mercy. Philip Yancey writes: "I marvel at the humility of a God who descends to live inside...his 'flawed' creatures...Do I show that same attitude towards people of whom I disapprove?"

(g) Be specific and don't revert to generalities when discussing your faith. Paul wasn't "ashamed of the Gospel" (Ro 1:16); neither should you be.

(h) Be gracious to the people who irk you. God chose them too! Sometimes it's easier to be gracious to non-believers than to uptight, moralistic Christians. But that just makes you a different kind of judgmental.

(i) Forgive those who've hurt you. Harboring hatred hinders healing, so bring your hurts to God.

Scripture Of The Day: "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." - 3 John 1:2

pocketpower.org

CHANGING COLORS

Autumn this year in the mountains of my home has been truly spectacular. It is like an angel artist has been assigned to paint each tree in the most glorious colors imaginable. Perhaps it is the wisdom of age that has helped my eyes to see more clearly. Still, to me the leaves have never looked as beautiful as they do this Fall.

One tree in my backyard has especially caught my attention. Every year before this one its leaves had always turned to a rich, vibrant red in October. This year, though, the entire tree was bathed in the most outrageous orange. It was both delightful and amazing to watch this tree suddenly change its colors.

Looking at that bright, orange beacon in my backyard made me think too of how we can go about changing our own colors. I remember when cold, dark hues colored my own heart, soul, and mind. I remember when fear, apathy, and selfishness colored my life. I remember when my only thoughts were of my own wants, needs, and desires. It was an ugly picture indeed. One day, however, I am not sure exactly when, that picture started to change. It started with a single brush stroke, one kind act, and one loving thought. This was followed by another and another.

Each one brought a new dab of color and brightness into my heart, soul, and mind. Slowly, choice by choice, moment by moment, and day by day I began to turn the cold, dark, miserable November of my life into a warm, shining, and loving October.

God in His endless love never ceases to give us fresh chances to change our colors, change our lives, and change the world. Each day is full of new opportunities to paint our hearts, souls, and minds with the brightness of love. Each day is full of moments to bring the colors of joy to this often drab world. We are the artists of our own lives. May we forever color them beautiful.

…..Joseph J. Mazzella (joemazzella@frontier.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

ANOTHER LOOK AT LOVE

Publisher Note: Each time we read the Bible, we learn something new that we didn’t grasp or see earlier. God uses a variety of ways to get His word across, to make us better understand, and it makes the reading and learning of the Bible that much more interesting. And so, we will use the following "true" story to "get a thought across". The story really isn’t about Christmas – it’s about “love”. And, if you read it from the prospective that came to my mind when I read it, it isn’t about horses - it’s about young people not always fully understanding “love” or the need older ones have to be loved and not discarded simply because we’re old! Until Christ takes us home, we, too, still have a purpose here on earth. See what you think! …..Bob

BECAUSE OF LOVE!

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years, the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.

The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city
hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of the Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of new boots.

His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.

The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new year’s crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife.

Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift.

Because of love. Only Because of love.

Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again the peace of love filled their hearts.

…..Willy Eagle by way of Carolyn Smith (carolyn_smith42@msn.com) and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)