Can You Help?
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Posted:Nov 20, 2014 4:00 am
Last Updated:Nov 22, 2014 3:44 am 6943 Views
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Read: James 2:14-20
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 14-15; James 2
The administrators of the high school in Barrow, Alaska, were tired of seeing students get into trouble and drop out at a rate of 50 percent. To keep students interested, they started a football team, which offered them a chance to develop personal skills, teamwork, and learn life lessons. The problem with football in Barrow, which is farther north than Iceland, is that it's hard to plant a grass field. So they competed on a gravel and dirt field.
Four thousand miles away in Florida, a woman named Cathy Parker heard about the football team and their dangerous field. Feeling that God was prompting her to help, and impressed by the positive changes she saw in the students, she went to work. About a year later, they dedicated their new field, complete with a beautiful artificial-turf playing surface. She had raised thousands of dollars to help some she didn't even know.
This is not about football or money. It is about remembering to do good and to share (Heb. 13:16). The apostle James reminds us that we demonstrate our faith by our actions (2.18. The needs in our world are varied and overwhelming but when we love our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus said (Mark 12:31), we reach people with God's love.
Open our eyes, dear Father, to those in need. Allow
us to find ways monetarily and otherwise to
help meet those needs. Help us to take the focus off
ourselves and place it on those who can use our assistance.
Open your heart to God to learn compassion and open your hand to give help.
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Goodbye
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Posted:Nov 19, 2014 5:04 am
Last Updated:Nov 19, 2014 5:06 am 7787 Views
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Read: Numbers 11:1-10
When the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. Numbers 11:1
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 11-13; James 1
When Max Lucado participated in a half-Ironman triathlon, he experienced the negative power of complaint. He said, After the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike ride, I didn't have much energy left for the 13.1-mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. He said, This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I've ever made. I said, Goodbye. Max knew that if he listened too long, he would start agreeing with him. So he said goodbye and kept running.
Among the Israelites, too many people listened too long to complaints and began to agree with them. This displeased God, and for good reason. God had delivered the Israelites from slavery, and agreed to live in their midst, but they still complained. Beyond the hardship of the desert, they were dissatisfied with God's provision of manna. In their complaint, Israel forgot that the manna was a gift to them from God's loving hand (Num. 11:6). Because complaining poisons the heart with ingratitude and can be a contagion, God had to judge it.
This is a sure way to say goodbye to complaining and ingratitude: Each day, let's rehearse the faithfulness and goodness of God to us.
Lord, You have given us so much. Forgive us for our
short memories and bad attitudes. Help us to
remember and be grateful for all that You have
provided. And help us to tell others of the good things You have done for us.
Proclaiming God's faithfulness silences discontentment.
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Rooted Love
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Posted:Nov 18, 2014 4:53 am
Last Updated:Nov 18, 2014 4:56 am 8386 Views
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Read: Hebrews 13.15-25
Do not forget to do good and to share. Hebrews 13.16
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 8-10; Hebrews 13
When I think of all the wonders of God's magnificent creation, I am especially awed by the giant sequoia tree. These amazing behemoths of the forest can grow to around 300 feet tall with a diameter that exceeds 20 feet. They can live over 3,000 years and are even fire resistant. In fact, forest fires pop the sequoia cones open, distributing their seeds on the forest floor that has been fertilized by the ashes. Perhaps the most amazing fact is that these trees can grow in just 3 feet of soil and withstand high winds. Their strength lies in the fact that their roots intertwine with other sequoias, providing mutual strength and shared resources.
God's plan for us is like that. Our ability to stand tall in spite of the buffeting winds of life is directly related to the love and support we receive from God and one another. And then, as the writer of Hebrews says, we are to do good and to share 13.16. Think of how tough it would be to withstand adversity if someone were not sharing the roots of their strength with us.
There is great power in the entwining gifts of words of encouragement, prayers of intercession, weeping together, holding each other, and sometimes just sitting with one another sharing the presence of our love.
Lord, thank You for entwining Your strength
into my life. Lead me today to someone
who needs the love of shared strength from
resources that You have given to me.
Let the roots of God's love in your life be entwined with others who need your support.
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Defeated Adversary
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Posted:Nov 17, 2014 3:38 am
Last Updated:Nov 18, 2014 4:53 am 8383 Views
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Read: Ephesians 6:10-18
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5.8
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 5-7; Hebrews 12
The roaring lion is the legendary king of the jungle. But the only lions many of us see are the lethargic felines that reside in zoos. Their days are filled with lots of rest, and their dinner is served to them without the lions having to lift a single paw.
In their natural habitat, however, lions aren't;at always living a laid-back life. Their hunger tells them to go hunting, and in doing so they seek the young, weak, sick, or injured. Crouching in tall grasses, they slowly creep forward. Then with a sudden pounce, they clamp their jaws to the body of their victim.
Peter used a roaring lion as a metaphor for Satan. He is a confident predator, looking for easy prey to devour (1 Peter 5.8. In dealing with this adversary, God's must be vigilant at putting on the whole armor of God and thus they can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might
Eph. 6.10-11.
The good news is that Satan is a defeated adversary. While he is a powerful foe, those who are protected by salvation, prayer, and the Word of God need not be paralyzed in fear at this roaring lion. We are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1.5. James 4.7 assures us: Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Lord, we know that our enemy seeks to devour us.
Please protect us from him. We believe Your
Word that He who is in us is greater than he
who is in the world.
No evil can penetrate the armor of God.
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Heartbreak And Hope
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Posted:Nov 14, 2014 2:27 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2014 3:43 am 8544 Views
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Read: Lamentations 3:1-6, 16-25
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. —Lamentations 3:25
Bible in a Year:
Lamentations 3-5; Hebrews 10:19-39
When American country singer George Jones died at the age of 81, his fans remembered his remarkable voice and his hard life and personal struggles. While many of his songs reflected his own despair and longing, it was the way he sang them that touched people deeply. Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot said, “His voice was made for conveying heartbreak.”
The book of Lamentations records Jeremiah’s anguish over the nation of Judah’s stubborn refusal to follow God. Often called “the weeping prophet,” he witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and saw his people carried into captivity. He wandered the streets of the city, overwhelmed by grief (Lam. 1:1-5).
Yet, in Jeremiah’s darkest hour, he said, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (3:21-23).
Whether we suffer for our own choices or from those of others, despair may threaten to overwhelm us. When all seems lost, we can cling to the Lord’s faithfulness. “‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul. ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” (v.24).
I’m thankful for Your faithfulness, Father, even
in the times when I am unfaithful. Help me to
remember, like Jeremiah, that my hope comes
from You, not from my circumstances.
The anchor of God’s faithfulness holds firm in the strongest storms.
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Creeping Christmas?
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Posted:Nov 13, 2014 5:26 am
Last Updated:Nov 14, 2014 2:28 am 8614 Views
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Read: Galatians 4:1-7
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Bible in a Year:
Lamentations 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-18
I love Christmas. The celebration of the birth of Christ and the beauty and wonder of the season make it the most wonderful time of the year for me. In recent years, however, the season has been accompanied by a growing irritation. Every year Christmas stuff comes out earlier and earlierâcreeping all the way back to early fall.
Christmas used to be limited to December, but now we find radio stations playing Christmas music in early November. Stores start advertising Christmas specials in October, and Christmas candy appears in late September. If weâre not careful, this growing deluge can numb us even sour us to what should be a season of gratitude and awe.
When that irritation begins to rise in my spirit, I try to do one thing: Remember. I remind myself what Christmas means, who Jesus is, and why He came. I remember the love and grace of a forgiving God who sent us rescue in the Person of His . I remember that, ultimately, only one gift really matters God's indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15).
I remember that the salvation Christ came to provide is both the gift and the Giver all wrapped up in one.
Jesus is our life all year long, and He is the greatest wonder. O come, let us adore Him!
Living God, I thank You for the unspeakable gift
of Your . Draw my heart to Your own, that my
worship to and gratitude for Your will never be
diminished by the distractions of the world around me.
Jesus is our life throughout the year.
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The Final Picture
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Posted:Nov 12, 2014 3:09 am
Last Updated:Nov 14, 2014 4:19 pm 8813 Views
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Read: Isaiah 40:21-31
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things.
Isaiah 40:26
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 9
What started as an empty 11-acre field in Belfast, Northern Ireland, ended up as the largest land portrait in the British Isles. Wish, by artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, is made from 30,000 wooden pegs, 2,000 tons of soil, 2,000 tons of sand, and miscellaneous items such as grass, stones, and string.
At the beginning, only the artist knew what the final artwork was going to look like. He hired workers and recruited volunteers to haul materials and move them into place. As they worked, they saw little indication that something amazing was about to emerge. But it did. From the ground, it doesn't look like much. But from above, viewers see a huge portrait the smiling face of a little girl.
God is doing something on a grander scale in the world. He's the artist who sees the final picture. We're His fellow workers (1 Cor. 3:9) who are helping to make it a reality. Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminded His people that it is He who sits above the circle of the earth and stretches out the heavens like a curtain (Isa. 40:22). We can't see the final picture, but we continue on in faith, knowing that we're part of an amazing work of art one that is being created on earth but will be best seen from heaven.
While sometimes I think I can see the big picture,
Lord, my heart knows it sees so little. Iâm
thankful that You are working out Your beautiful
will in this world, and I can trust You.
God is using us to help create a masterpiece.
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The Drinking Gourd
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Posted:Nov 11, 2014 4:59 am
Last Updated:Nov 11, 2014 4:22 pm 10550 Views
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Read: Philippians 2:12-18
Philippians 2:15-16
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8
Prior to the American Civil War (1861 1865), fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the Gourd. This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song Follow the Drinking Gourdâ to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.
Both the abolitionists and the drinking gourd served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. The apostle Paul says that believers are to shine as lights in the world to show the way to those seeking God's truth, redemption, and spiritual liberation (Phil. 2:15).
We live in a dark world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to shine forth God's truth so that others can be directed to the One who redeems and is the path to liberty and life. We point the way to Jesus, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life
(John 14:6).
Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving
me new life. Give me compassion for those who are
still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a light
that points others to You, the Light of the world.
Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus.
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The Drinking Gourd
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Posted:Nov 11, 2014 4:57 am
Last Updated:Nov 11, 2014 5:08 am 13958 Views
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Read: Philippians 2:12-18
Shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.
Philippians 2:15-16
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8
Prior to the American Civil War (1861 1865), fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the Drinking Gourd. This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song Follow the Drinking Gourd to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.
Both the abolitionists and the drinking gourd served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. The apostle Paul says that believers are to shine as lights in the world to show the way to those seeking God's truth, redemption, and spiritual liberation (Phil. 2:15).
We live in a dark world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to shine forth God's truth so that others can be directed to the One who redeems and is the path to liberty and life. We point the way to Jesus, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving
me new life. Give me compassion for those who are
still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a light
that points others to You, the Light of the world.
Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus.
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The Honor Of following
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Posted:Nov 10, 2014 5:00 am
Last Updated:Nov 11, 2014 5:05 am 15204 Views
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Read: Matthew 4:18-22
Then [Jesus] said to them, Follow Me.Matthew 4:19
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 48-49; Hebrews 7
While visiting Jerusalem, a friend of mine saw an old rabbi walking past the Wailing Wall. The interesting thing about the aged rabbi was the five young men walking behind him. They too were walking bent over, limping just like their rabbi. An Orthodox Jew watching them would know exactly why they were imitating their teacher. They were followers.
Throughout the history of Judaism, one of the most honored positions for a Jewish man was the privilege of becoming a follower of the local rabbi. Followers sat at the rabbi's feet as he taught. They would study his words and watch how he acted and reacted to life and others. A follower would count it the highest honor to serve his rabbi in even the most menial tasks. And, because they admired their rabbi, they were determined to become like him.
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him (Matt. 4:19), it was an invitation to be changed by Him, to become like Him, and to share His passion for those who need a Savior. The high honor of being His follower should show in our lives as well. We too have been called to catch the attention of the watching world as we talk, think, and act just like Jesus the rabbi, the teacher, of our souls.
Thank You, Lord, for the high honor of being
called to follow You. May my life so imitate
You that others will know that You are the
pursuit of my life and the rabbi of my soul.
Follow Jesus and let the world know He is your rabbi.
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