Devotion: Hebraic Thought
 

Hebraic Thought


"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follows his precepts have good understanding" (Psalms 111:10).

Education is a high priority in any society that wants to advance. Education should be sought after by every believer in Jesus Christ in order to better understand God's ways. However, education that is not mixed with faith and obedience will result in programmatic religion.

In the early Hebraic church, wisdom was gained by obedience. Hebrews learned that wisdom was gained by knowing and doing the will of God and that it often did not line up with logic. However, as the church became impacted by the Greek culture through the influence of scholars like Socrates and Aristotle, knowledge-based systems became more influential in the way education was taught and applied. Greeks believed that the way to gain knowledge was based on reason and analysis.

When Joshua walked around the city of Jericho seven times blowing his trumpets, he was exhibiting a Hebraic model of decision-making - pure obedience. Logic and reason played no part in this decision. When Elisha instructed the army general to go wash in a lake in order to be healed of leprosy, it confronted his intellect. This was Hebraic thought rooted in obedience.

The Church has moved into a more knowledge-based and programmatic system of operation over the centuries, rather than obedience-based methods that are motivated by a heart fully devoted to following God. We've replaced obedience with reason, logic, and slick marketing for attractive programs to entice people into our churches.

Ultimately, God desires us to take the Hebraic approach when making decisions. He wants us to make decisions based on our heart's desire to follow Him.

Devotion: Faithfulness in Our Calling
 

Faithfulness in Our Calling


"He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.'" - 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he put away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.

However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God's blessing was no longer on his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles 16:8-9).

There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God's grace that we can be faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from God. Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven –
A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 (NASB)

Devotion: From Pain to Destiny
 

From Pain to Destiny


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-5).

God often allows pain to ignite destiny in our lives. Without motivation, many of us would never fulfill the purposes for which God created us. Oftentimes a measured assault invades our life and creates a depth of pain that all we know to do is press into God with all our being.

At first, our motivation is to alleviate the pain. After a season of extreme emotional and sometimes physical pain, a second phase begins. This phase moves us to discover a new and deeper relationship with God. We begin to discover things about ourselves and about God that we never would have discovered without this motivation. Gradually, our heart changes our motivation from pain to loving obedience because there is a transition of the heart that takes place. No longer do we seek God for deliverance from the pain; we seek God because He is God. We seek His face and not His hand.

When we move to the second phase we often find ourselves moving into a new destiny and calling for our lives because God often separates us from the old life in this process. No doubt Joseph and Peter felt the pain of their individual crises. However, later they could realize God's purposes in their crisis. Like Joseph, we are able to say, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."

Today let God move you from the place of pain to the place of destiny. Let God show you the secret things He has reserved for you as a result of the crisis you may find yourself in.

Devotion: Moving Ahead of God
 

this is a repeat, but that is Okay, because i think we all feel this way about cars/trucks/boats. we all WANT it so bad, we can't hear God telling us to wait/stop/listen because God has something better:

Whenever we want something strongly, it is a dangerous place because we no longer look at the matter objectively with a willingness to change our viewpoint. We have to approach a matter as being "dead" to the issue in order to fully see God's perspective.


i think this is important too, to have a friend who is close enough & blunt enough, to see what you WANT and to tell you what you NEED:
be in an accountable relationship with your spouse and close associates who know you well,

a friend was telling of an acquaintance who left his wife to go chasing after a younger woman, and he lost two multi-million dollar businesses, and the respect of everyone who knew him.

he focused on what he WANTED instead of what he NEEDED,


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Moving Ahead of God


"The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her" (Gen 16:2).

Have you ever felt that you were supposed to receive something from God but it just hasn't materialized? You wait and wait until finally you decide that maybe God wants you to help out the situation. This is exactly what happened in the case of Abraham and Sarah.

God had promised them a son, but as years passed by they were still without a child. They took their eyes off the One who had made the promise and decided to take matters into their own hands. So, Abraham lay with Sarah's maidservant, Hagar, and she bore a son, Ishmael (see Genesis 16). The son of promise, Isaac, came later through Sarah, just like God had promised. However, the modern day conflict between the Arabs and Israelis is the fruit of this act of disobedience that occurred centuries ago.

I recall a time when I launched a business enterprise only to fall on my face. It had all the hallmarks of a Godly venture, but I was premature and guilty of presumption instead of faith. The resulting financial losses are lasting reminders of a decision that was based on a horizontal choice instead of a vertical dependence that required patience until God said, "Go."

The way to avoid making "Ishmael" decisions is to seek God fully on the matter in prayer, be in an accountable relationship with your spouse and close associates who know you well, and gain agreement through two or more people. The Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"(Jeremiah 17:9).

Whenever we want something strongly, it is a dangerous place because we no longer look at the matter objectively with a willingness to change our viewpoint. We have to approach a matter as being "dead" to the issue in order to fully see God's perspective.

Devotion: When Planting Yields No Fruit
 

When Planting Yields No Fruit


"You have planted much, but have harvested little...." - Haggai 1:6

Have you ever worked and worked only to yield very little from your efforts? Such was the case for the workplace believers during the time of the prophet Haggai. Finally, God spoke through the prophet Haggai to inform the people why their efforts were not yielding any fruit. There was a specific reason this was happening.

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands" (Haggai 1:9-11).

God had finally had enough. His priorities were not His people's priorities. So, He withheld in order to get their attention. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah at the time. He was a godly man who sought to do God's will. He listened as the prophet gave these words; then he responded.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord (Haggai 1:12).

Sometimes God has to stir up the spirit of one man to initiate needed change. Zerubbabel was that man. Scriptures say, "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel" (Haggai 1:14). God is stirring up the spirit of a remnant of workplace believers throughout the world today. They are seeing what breaks God's heart, and they're responding. Has God placed the spirit of Zerubbabel in you? Are you one who will make a difference for the Kingdom, or are you concerned about building bigger and better barns? The Lord is calling forth His people in these last days to make a difference. Ask Him what He wants to do through you.

Devotion: The Response of Faith
 

The Response of Faith


..."Everything is all right".... 2 Kings 4:26

The prophet Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time he came through town, he had a place to stay. He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked the wife what he could do for her. His servant Gehazi later informed Elisha that the woman was barren and her husband was old. ÔÇ£ÔÇÿAbout this time next year,' Elisha said, 'you will hold a son in your arms' " (2 Kings 4:16). A year later the son arrived.

One day the father was working in the field, and the son became ill and died. The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seemed almost unnatural. "Everything is all right," she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle. (See 2 Kings 4.)

Faith looks at situations through God's eyes, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic, for she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may be God's plan to bring glory to Himself by demonstrating His power. When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed, "It's a ghost!" (see Mt. 14:26)

First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome in the situation.

Devotion: Making Decisions by Hearing God
 

Making Decisions by Hearing God


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God speaks to his children in many varied ways. God has said that His ways are not our ways. If left to our reasoning, we will fail to fully walk in the full counsel of God, which leads to poor decisions.

Thus, our goal is to avoid being deceived and to develop a listening ear that hears the voice of God with confidence. Our goal is to have such intimacy with God that we can walk in the full blessing of our decisions and to be assured they are not based on our own reasoning alone. This does not mean that we do not use the intellectual and logical skills that He has equipped us with.

A.W. Tozer said that the man or woman who is wholly and joyously surrendered to Christ can't make a wrong choice - any choice will be the right one. J. Oswald Sanders explains his method of receiving guidance from God for decisions; "I try to gather all the information and all the facts that are involved in a decision, and then weigh them up and pray over them in the Lord's presence, and trust the Holy Spirit to sway my mind in the direction of God's will. And God generally guides by presenting reasons to my mind for acting in a certain way."

The apostle Paul said, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13). God has equipped us with everything we need to make good decisions. Hearing His voice is the first step toward making right choices in life.

Do you have a decision to make? Submit that decision to the Lord, ask God for clarity. Ask Him to make the desires of your heart the same desires that He has for you in this matter. Await His perfect timing on the matter. Then you can be assured of making the right decisions.

Devotion: The Art of Waiting
 

The Art of Waiting


"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them...." Exodus 13:21

How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward? Many workplace believers make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has given them the green light. Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord.
It is important to do three things before you make a decision on a matter.

First, you should gather facts. Fact gathering allows you to determine all the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive your decision, but it can put a stop to it. For instance, if you were planning to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space was to rent to a porn shop; your decision would be made. God would not lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.

Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? "If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm" (Psalm 37:23). George Mueller cites that the steps are also "by the Lord." God puts hedges around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the guise of tenacity and perseverance. This too is unrighteousness. One wise workplace believer stated that the greatest success one can have in business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.

Third, has your decision been confirmed? God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Corinthian 13:1b). This is God's way of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.

"Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."

Devotion: Setting the Boundary in Advance
 

how many of you guys read your Bible everyday? :hide: i know i have been falling behind on that. i try to do better, but i am usually exhausted & late.
why or why not?


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Setting the Boundary in Advance


“Even the wind and the waves obey Him.” (Mark 4:31)

The same applies to our personal lives before God. The Scriptures teach us some personal minimums: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, do not take the Lord's name in vain, and so forth.

The issue is not one of knowing those verses, the issue is deciding in advance, before the situation arises that we are going to obey them. If we wait until we are in the middle of an emotion-charged situation to decide what our response is going to be, we may very well make the wrong decision.

The key is to make the decision to obey what the Lord has laid out in advance. When we read the scripture "do not commit adultery," we make the decision that we are NOT going to place ourselves in a situation where we would be tempted to commit adultery. And, if we are tempted, we will turn and run away, as Joseph did.

To be very crisp about our personal minimums, we have to start with an internal decision of whether God is trustworthy. Does He really love me? As I look at Jesus Christ hanging on the cross because of my sin, do I really believe He loves me? Is that sufficient proof from God of His love for me? If so, then I can trust that His commandments to me are for my good.

We need to continually study the Scriptures to know the mind of Christ, to see what God’s commands and injunctions are for us. Then, through prayer, we build the structure of our life around the things God would have us do. We must let the Holy Spirit to help us carry out those decisions.

We need the fence of deciding in advance to obey His commandments. The structure of personal minimums before God is key to our relationship with Him and the effectiveness of our lives here on earth

Devotion: Resurrected Faith
 

Resurrected Faith


"Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son" (Gen 22:10).

There are times in our lives when God brings a test to see if we are ready to put to death the very thing that God promised we would have. Such was the case in the life of Abraham with Isaac. Isaac was the promised son. Yet, God said to raise the knife to sacrifice him in obedience to God.

When God brings such a test into our lives we usually have a choice. Neither choice is attractive. One choice will often salvage some aspect of the vision. The other choice will totally kill the vision from our perspective. However, that is the faith decision. That is the only decision from God's perspective.

If we choose the faith decision that kills the vision - we will witness the resurrection of the vision supernaturally by God. Our own faith will be launched into a whole new dimension. He will raise us up in order to speak through our lives in that experience. God often brings that person into a very public ministry.

However, if we choose the lesser decision, we will reside in a lesser walk with God. God will accept the decision but there will be consequences to our faith journey. He cannot trust us with a bigger vision because He sees our obedience is moveable based on our perceived consequences.

If we choose the lesser decision then God will often orchestrate other events in our lives that are designed to develop our faith to a level that will allow us to make the right decision the next time.

Do you have resurrection faith that will trust God to raise your situation from the dead?

Devotion: Knowing the Risk and Rewad
 

Knowing the Risk and Reward

"David asked the men standing near him, 'What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?'" (1 Samuel 17:26).

Every entrepreneur must determine the risk and reward before entering a venture. This is not the only consideration. We must determine if God is leading us after we consider all factors. We also must consider if the timing is right to proceed.

David was a young shepherd when he was bringing food to his older brothers in the army. He had already killed a lion and a bear during his days as a shepherd. David understood the risk/reward principle. When he heard about Goliath and that no one was willing to fight him he was angry.

However, he didn't just respond out of pure emotion. He asked a very important question. "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?" He got the answer he was hoping for: "The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel." (1 Samuel 17:25).

Do you see the reward? He gets financial wealth, a wife, and no longer has to pay taxes! What more motivation does a young Jewish boy need? Does this take away from the spiritual significance of the story, absolutely not?

The religious spirit always tries to make the business side of faith evil. Money and profit is not evil. It is the love of money and the pride of life that gets man into trouble. David understood the proper balance of these co-existing to accomplish God's purposes. To avoid getting into trouble simply ask this question of yourself: "What is the true motive of my heart?" If it does not have the spiritual element balanced with the business element, you may be in trouble.

Ask God four questions before you proceed in any venture:

1) Is the Holy Spirit leading me?
2) Is this the time to be involved?
3) Is the risk and reward worth it?
4) Do I have what is necessary to be successful in the venture with God's help?

After you've asked these questions go about your task with all your heart.

Devotion: Seeing Thorns as Blessings
 

to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective
to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective
to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective

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Seeing Thorns as Blessings

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me" (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Have you ever had something in your life you wish was not there? If God gave you one wish, perhaps it would be to change that one thing. Perhaps it is the source of pain or challenge in your life. You seek God continually for relief from it, but He seems strangely silent.

Paul also experienced an ongoing burden that he called a "thorn in [his] flesh." Bible scholars have speculated as to what this thorn might have been, but no one knows for sure. We do know that it was so hurtful to Paul that he asked God on three different occasions to remove it from his life:
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corithians12:7-10).

Paul had a great calling on his life. The revelations and faith experiences that God gave him would have been too much for any man's humility. So God, in order to insure His investment in Paul's life, allowed this man a thorn in his flesh to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective.

Perhaps God has given you such a thorn designed to allow you to place greater trust and reliance upon Him. Ask God to reveal to you the blessing of the thorn He has placed in your life.

The bloom of a rose is beautiful, but the thorn of a rose produces only pain. Thorns hurt us yet they humble us. That is the blessing of thorns.

Devotion: Judah's Integrity Test
 

JudahÔÇÖs Integrity Test


"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl" (Job 31:1).
In Genesis 38, we read how Judah, one of Joseph's brothers, allowed his purity - and the staff that represented his stature and position in the community - to be taken from him.

Tamar was deprived by Judah of having children in memory of her husband which was the custom of the day if a husband died. Under the law, Judah did a great injustice to his daughter-in-law. Although Tamar lived in Judah's house, Judah withheld his son from her.

So Tamar devised a plan. Hearing that Judah planned to go to the town of Timnah, she disguised herself with a veil and hurried to the village of Enaim. She posed as a Canaanite prostitute and waited for Judah to pass by. Soon, Judah came up, saw a prostitute sitting at the gate, and propositioned her and promised a goat for payment.

Tamar asked for a pledge - the personal seal and the staff in his hand. The staff was the symbol of Judah's position in the community. So Judah gave her the staff and the seal with its cord. He slept with Tamar, and she became pregnant.

Time passed and Judah discovered Tamar was pregnant. He knew that there was only one way this could have happened - she had prostituted herself! Enraged, Judah said, "Bring her out and have her burned to death!"

As the people brought Tamar out to be executed, she cried out, "I am pregnant by the man who owns these!" She held in her hands the seal and staff of Judah. Seeing them, Judah knew he stood convicted. He broke down and confessed, "She is more righteous than I am!"

Sexual sin can take everything away from a man or woman; their reputation, their career, and even their family. No matter how strong we think we are, no one is immune from temptation. Pray that God's grace keeps you pure.

Devotion: Gideon's Staff
 

Gideon's Staff


"With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread" (Judges 6:21).

Gideon was a farmer who threshed wheat for a living using a staff. This was commonly used in his day to beat out fitches and cummin (Isaiah 28:27), but now it was being used for wheat.

He was busy doing his work when an angel of God appeared to him. The angel told him that he was going to be used to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianites who had been ravaging their land and crops for seven years. God was calling Gideon to do a new type of threshing. Instead of threshing wheat, he was being called to thresh the Midianites.

God often calls men and women when they are in the middle of their workplace activities. Like Moses, Gideon received this word from God with reluctance and feelings of insecurity, citing that his family was of no stature to accomplish such a task. Nevertheless, God addressed Gideon as a "mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12).

God often sees us for what we will become, not what we think we are. Once Gideon determines through a series of fleeces that it truly is God speaking to him he does an interesting thing. He prepares an offering to the Lord of meat and bread. Once this offering is prepared, the angel uses the tip of his staff to consume the offering.

Here God uses another symbol of his work to consummate a partnership to accomplish one of God's purposes in the nation of Israel. This time the staff is used to receive the offering presented to the Lord by touching the offering with the tip of his staff. God used the symbol of his work to ignite the fire that consumed the offering.

Be watchful for times when God orchestrates events during the commonplace activity of work. He may be orchestrating something through you for His purposes.


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references:
Isaiah 28 Listen to the Teaching of God

23 Give ear and hear my voice,
Listen and hear my speech.
24 Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow?
Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
25 When he has leveled its surface,
Does he not sow the black cummin
And scatter the cummin,
Plant the wheat in rows,
The barley in the appointed place,
And the spelt in its place?
26 For He instructs him in right judgment,
His God teaches him.
27 For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge,
Nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin;
But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick,
And the cummin with a rod.
28 Bread flour must be ground;
Therefore he does not thresh it forever,
Break it with his cartwheel,
Or crush it with his horsemen.
29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts,
Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.

here's the significance of this lesson, Gideon was a little bitty ole fellow, and he had TO HIDE to thresh his stuff. even his Tribe was the least & smallest.

no matter where you start from...God can hit your nitrous button and make you roll out..hanging the tires & lighting fires..

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Judges 6

Gideon

11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

13 Gideon said to Him, “O my lord,[a] if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord,[b] how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

16 And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

17 Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.”

And He said, “I will wait until you come back.”

19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. 20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.

21 Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

23 Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace.[c] To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage...6&version=NKJV

Devotion: Drawing Near to Darkness
 

Drawing Near to Darkness

The people remained at a "distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was." Exodus 20:21

Like the nation of Israel, we are each called to the mountain of God, but few are willing to pass through the darkness to get there. God wanted to reveal His glory to the children of Israel, but they were afraid to enter into His presence. They only wanted to know about God, rather than know him personally like Moses did. This grieved the heart of God.

Why wouldn't the people of Israel risk entering the darkness if it meant being in the presence of God? What did the people fear?

Perhaps they had fears like each of us. The fear of the unknown. The fear of what might happen. The fear that God might not like what He sees. Or, perhaps even the greatest fear: the fear of darkness itself and what lies behind that darkness.

Many of us have been satisfied to hear about God from God's messengers. But there is a greater calling for each of you - a calling to enter into His presence. Sometimes entering into His presence means we enter through an unexpected door, a door that appears to have nothing good behind it.

We do not need to fear entering the presence of God even if it means entering through a period of darkness. Above all else we must believe that God is a God of love. If He calls us into darkness in order to enter His presence, then that darkness will become an entry to new levels of relationship with a God who longs for fellowship with you and me.

Devotion: Perception is Not Reality
 

Perception Is Not Reality

"The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken." - Job 4:10

In the advertising business they often say that "perception is reality" for the person who views their advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.

The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we believe only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.

Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.

The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always reality.

Devotion: Only Him
 

ONLY HIM


Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me. (Psalm 63:7-8)

It is part of my belief that God wants to get us to a place where we would still be happy if we had only Him! We donÔÇÖt need God and something else. God does give us Himself and lets us have other things, too, but there is that inner loneliness until we reach the place where it is only God that we desire.

Most of us are too social to be lonely. When we feel lonely, we rush to the telephone and call Mrs. Yakkety. So we use up thirty minutes, and the buns are burned in the oven. With many, it is talk, talk, talk, and we rush about looking for social fellowship because we cannot stand being alone.

If you will follow on to know the Lord, there comes a place in your Christian life when Mrs. Yakkety will be a pest instead of being a consolation. She wonÔÇÖt be able to help you at all. There will not be a thing that she can do for you.

It is loneliness for God; you will want God so badly you will be miserable. This means you are getting close, friend. You are near the kingdom, and if you will only keep on, you will meet God. God will take you in and fill you and He will do it in His own blessed and wonderful way.

Lord, bring me to the place of inner loneliness that David knew, so that when all else is stripped away, I might find satisfaction in YouÔÇöonly You. Amen.

Devotion: Miraculous Signs
 

Miraculous Signs


"The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade" (Acts 5:12).

When is the last time you saw a miracle in your workplace? Perhaps you prayed for a co-worker and they were instantly healed. Perhaps you prayed for a co-worker's financial problem and it was resolved. Perhaps you led a co-worker to Christ. Or maybe God gave you an answer to a major problem at work that benefited your organization.

The disciples were working people. They turned the world upside down not because of their knowledge of Jesus, but because of their outflow of the power of Jesus through them to others. And this was done in the public square, where all could see.

Workplace Bible and prayer groups are great, but you must transition to action if you want to change the spiritual climate in an organization. There is a risk - God might actually show up in a powerful way.

A friend taught a lunch-time Bible study in an insurance company for two years. God began to move powerfully in the meetings. People were coming to Christ. Some experienced healing. Word was getting out and non-believers came to check us out.

When is the last time someone saw something happen through your life that could not be explained other than God working in your life? When you begin to see this happen, you will be modeling ministry as Jesus modeled it. You will be bringing the Church to the people, not the people to the church.

Pray that God makes you a vessel of His power, not simply a vessel of words.

Devotion: Running Persistently
 

i apologize for being late on these, but we went to NC for vacation, and i been busy.

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Running Persistently
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 2 Samuel 22:33-34

When God puts a desire in your heart to achieve a specific goal, you can have the confidence that He will give you the strength and the ability to accomplish it.

Every person has their own obstacles to overcome in life. We all face difficulties and challenges on the road to success and the difference between those who succeed and those who fail is simply persistence.

Life is not a level, smooth path, but rather a series of hills and valleys. There are times spent on the mountain top, when everything seems clear and perfect. Then there are those times when we feel like weÔÇÖre wandering around in a dark cavern, feeling our way along and trusting God for every step of faith.

A runner gets a ÔÇ£second windÔÇØ after forcing himself to go on when he feels like he canÔÇÖt. We feel the joy of GodÔÇÖs Spirit lift us up and carry us on when we choose to continue in faith, no matter how we feel or whatÔÇÖs going on around us.

Take a moment and set your heart to be persistent in your faith, faith in God to lead you, pick you up when you have fallen, give you strength to go on, and ultimately bring you victory. Be blessed, God is there and He loves you.

Devotion: Seeing Through God's Eyes
 

Seeing Through God's Eyes


"They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword." - 2 Samuel 1:12

How would you respond if you heard something bad happened to someone who had been trying to cut off your head for several years? King Saul had been seeking to kill David for many years before Saul was thrust into battle against the Amalekites. In this final battle, a sword killed Saul. When the news reached David, instead of rejoicing that his enemy was no longer a problem for him, he responded in a totally different manner. He mourned. Imagine that; he mourned for the one who sought to kill him.

This is a sign of one who can look past an individual who is the source of pain and consider how God views him. God looks on that individual and sees his needs and knows why he responds the way he does. When we begin to see people as God does, we'll no longer look at them as enemies, but as souls in need of grace. This is how Jesus could give of His life for us. He saw our great need, not what we did to Him. When someone wrongs you, do you seek to retaliate, or do you pray to understand the need behind the offender's actions? For several years a person was a source of constant pain and retaliation toward me. There was nothing I could do to change it. God allowed me to go beyond the person's actions to understand what the source of his need was. When I gained that understanding, God gave me a picture of this person inside a prison cell and in bondage. This bondage made him respond to life in this way. I was able to pray for him and genuinely love him in spite of the fact that he persecuted me. This is the kind of love Jesus wants us to have when He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us.

I believe God does a special work of grace in those who go beyond the realm of normal response to persecution. He brings us to a level of grace we never thought possible. Describing how God worked in Joseph's life, Francis Frangipane reveals what happens when we tap into this grace:

God made him fruitful in the very things that afflicted him. In the land of your affliction, in your battle, is the place where God will make you fruitful. Consider, even now, the area of greatest affliction in your life. In that area, God will make you fruitful in such a way that your heart will be fully satisfied, and God's heart fully glorified. God has not promised to keep us from valleys and sufferings, but to make us fruitful in them.

Devotion: Appearing to the Little Child
 

Appearing to the Little Child


"At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure'" (Matthew 11:25-26).

It was a typical Sunday morning church service. Twelve-year old Jordan was deaf. She was the daughter of the pastor and took her regular first row seat opposite her mother across the isle. She liked to sit with her friend on the front row even though she could not understand the message without a sign language interpreter. On this day, there was no interpreter for the service. However, sitting next to her were her friend and her friend's mother, and they both knew sign language.

They often had visiting preachers at their church. This day, the visiting preacher asked people to come forward to be prayed for. The message that day was on "Getting into the River of God."

Jordan asked her friend if she saw what she was seeing. Jordan's friend asked, "See what?" Jordan replied, "The angels and Jesus!" The friend said, "Where?" Jordan again pointed to the platform. "There! By the guitar!" It was then that her mother saw the girls talking. Pattie knew her daughter was seeing something because of her face and her reactions.

Jordan never took her eyes off the platform. Jordan began describing what she was seeing to her friend's mother who then began telling Jordan's mother what she was seeing. Jordan was seeing Jesus on the stage and a host of angels surrounding Him. Jordan described the scene in every detail. As Jordan looked on the stage at Jesus who was standing behind the minister, Jesus looked back at her and signed to her, "I love you."

Jesus appeared often to the disciples after His resurrection. Over the centuries, there have been reports of personal appearances of Jesus to both believing and unbelieving individuals are you looking for Him.

well, somehow, my email deleted the text of a few, and just kept the pic,
and just in case a pic is worth a 1000 words, here ya go:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps24a27c7a.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...pse331f607.jpg

Devotion: Pride that Leads to Arguments
 

Pride that Leads to Arguments


"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned" (Titus 3:10-11).

Have you ever had to deal with a person that just wanted to argue with you, no matter which position they took? This person usually has a strong opinion and draws conclusions quickly, rarely giving credence to other's viewpoint.

The apostle Paul knew how to deal with such people. Once he saw this pattern, he confronted the person. If they continued, he cut off fellowship. However, if this person happens to be your boss, you will not be able to avoid the person.

The root stronghold of a person who is argumentative is pride and fear. This person is not secure in who they are as a person. They mask their inadequacies through a need to always be right.

I had a business partner once who was deeply hurt by lawyers in a corporate take-over. Ever since that time he was argumentative with every lawyer he had to deal with. One time, I had to confront him and tell him what was behind his behavior. Thankfully, he had the grace and humility to repent and renounce his stronghold of pride, insecurity and fear. We proceeded to finish our project.

When you run into this in the workplace, pray for understanding. Negative behavior is like the warning light on your car dashboard. It's telling you there is something going on under the hood. Realize this person is in a prison guarded by a root stronghold that has been a part of his/her life for a long time. Unfortunately, it usually takes a significant crisis for that person to examine themselves and become free.

Pray that God gives you grace to work with such a person and pray that God will deliver them

Devotion: Fostering the Right Environment
 

Fostering the Right Environment


"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herd" (Proverbs 27:23).

Janice was a high level executive who required excellence and exceptional performance from those under her leadership. She was the general manager of a credit card unit when five of her 2,000 employees were found to have deliberately hidden $24 million in losses that she was accountable for. Her "no failure" policy brought great pressure upon her employees and she failed to recognize how this leadership style affected others. It discouraged employees from bringing problems to her. She was an intense perfectionist whom others saw as intimidating and confrontational. She was extremely opinionated. Her subordinates were fearful of reporting any bad news so they lied about it.

Do you feel like what you accomplish is never quite good enough? Do projects have to be just right? Do you feel you must give more than 100 percent on everything you do or else you will be mediocre or even a failure?

Perfectionism refers to a set of self-defeating thoughts and behaviors aimed at reaching excessively high unrealistic goals. Perfectionism is often mistakenly seen in our society as desirable or even necessary for success. However, studies show that perfectionist attitudes actually interfere with success. The desire to be perfect can both rob you of a sense of personal satisfaction and cause you and others to fail to achieve as much as people who have more realistic strivings.

Janice lost her job over this situation but was later offered another chance to salvage one of the company's smaller businesses. She realized that she needed to be much more understanding of people around her. She learned from her experience and succeeded in her next assignment with the company. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us. This is the only way we will avoid perfectionism. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to input.

What would others say about your management style? Do you foster dialogue and encourage others to bring issues to your attention? Are you willing to work with your team to solve problems together?

Devotion: Understanding the Roadblock
 

Understanding the Roadblock


"And Joshua said, 'Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!'" - Joshua 7:7

Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? This was how Joshua felt.

The Lord had been with the people of Israel as they entered the Promised Land. They defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and protection. They had just taken the city of Jericho. The next battle was the city of Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require only 3,000 men to defeat them. They attacked, and soon the reports came back that they were being routed. Joshua could not understand this. He cried out to God asking why this was happening.

The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" (Joshua 7:10-12).

Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable. God removes His protective shield from our lives in order for the sin in our lives to be purged out. He often uses the enemy of our souls to accomplish the task. If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem.

Adversity is not always due to sin, but it can be. Ask Him. He will show you. As with Joshua, God immediately answered this prayer when Joshua asked. He desires for His children to live in a right relationship with Him.

Devotion: Just Finish It
 

ÔÇ£Just Finish ItÔÇØ

By Scott Hunter



Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, ÔÇ£What do you see?ÔÇØ I answered, ÔÇ£I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.ÔÇØ 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, ÔÇ£What are these, my lord?ÔÇØ 5 He answered, ÔÇ£Do you not know what these are?ÔÇØÔÇ£No, my lord,ÔÇØ I replied. 6 So he said to me, ÔÇ£This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ÔÇÿNot by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,ÔÇÖ says the Lord Almighty.7 ÔÇ£What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ÔÇÿGod bless it! God bless it!ÔÇÖÔÇØ8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 ÔÇ£The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.10 ÔÇ£Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?ÔÇØ (Zechariah 4:1-10)

In Zechariah 4:1-10, there is a great account of what needs to be done to finish what God intends for your life. The prophet gives details of his encounter with the angel of God and his message to Zerubbabel. In his vision he sees several things. He sees a lamp stand made of gold with a bowl on top, seven lamps with seven pipes, and also seven lamps. Beside this, were two olive trees. In this season, I believe that this is the interpretation for us. The lamp stand represents our foundation, and gold represents purity.

I believe that God is allowing us to be shaken to our very foundation and His fire is removing all things that would hinder our growth. The bowl represents the place to receive and to pour out. We have to be willing to receive everything that God has for us, good or bad, so that we can be the vessel that He desires us to be. The lamps represent light. We are called to be a light in this world, but if we are not refined, our light is tainted. The pipes represent flow. God desires to flow through us, but if the previous steps are not met, this will not happen.

Finally, the olive trees represent being planted and fruitful. This has been a season where the enemy has tried to remove you from the place that God planted you. Remain planted and bear fruit until the times comes that God Himself moves you. He then goes on to say that Zerubbabel will finish what he started by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that mountains will become plains because of greater grace. I believe we are entering into a season of greater grace and That Himself is stepping in to fight our battles for us. Do not grow weary in this season.

Stand still and watch God move. Your faithfulness to stand will arrange a funeral for your mountains. That which has stood before you, will stand no more. Whatever the Lord has had you to start, you will finish!



Check out Scott new You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/CFGMUSA and you can go to his website at www.compassionfireandglory.org and see all that God is doing through his life.

Devotion: The Cost of Broken Covenants
 

The Cost of Broken Covenants

"During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord." - 2 Samuel 21:1a

There was a famine in the land, and David equated that famine to the blessing or lack of blessing from God. He sought God to know why there was a famine. The Lord did not take long to answer: "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death" (2 Samuel 21:1b). Many years earlier, when Joshua entered the Promised Land, the Israelites were tricked by the Gibeonites into believing they were travelers when they were actually enemies of Israel. The Gibeonites tricked Israel into making a peace treaty with them. It was one of the first major mistakes Israel made after entering the Promised Land. As a result of the peace treaty, the Gibeonites were kept as slaves to Israel. This was never God's intention for Israel. He had wanted Israel to destroy all their enemies, but they made an error in judgment that required that they honor a covenant with the Gibeonites.

Saul made a decision to disregard this covenant with the Gibeonites and sought to annihilate them. David sensed there was something preventing God's blessing on Israel. As a nation they had violated a covenant made before God. Now they were reaping the consequences.

There are two things we can learn from this story.

First, when we make a covenant, God expects us to fulfill it. God is a covenant maker. He made one with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He made one with each of us through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are numerous regarding the importance of honoring our commitments.

Second, God is a very longsuffering God. He gave Israel many years of grace before He exercised judgment for their sin. However, there always comes a day when God must uphold His standard of righteousness.

Are you failing to walk in God's blessing due to some failed commitment? Calamities can befall us for many reasons; sin can be one of them. In the case of Israel, David had to make things right with the Gibeonites. When he did this, God removed the famine, and Israel again was prosperous. When you feel you lack God's blessing on your life, ask the Lord if there are any past - generation sins that you may need to repent of. He may be waiting on us before He can release His blessing on our lives.

Devotion: A Vast Difference
 

A VAST DIFFERENCE


Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

It is possible to grow up in a church, learn the catechism and have everything done to us, within reason. But after we have done all that, we may not know God at all, because God isnt known by those external things. We are blind and cant see, because the things of God no man knows but by the Spirit of God

We imagine that we can handle it by the flesh, and we do handle it by the fleshÔÇöthe Lord lets us do it. We can hold the creed and not know God in His person at all. We can know the doctrine and not know spiritual things at all. The fearful consequence is that many people know about God but donÔÇÖt know God Himself. There is a vast difference between knowing about God and knowing GodÔÇöa vast difference!

So it is that the human being can know about God, can know about ChristÔÇÖs dying for him, can even write songs and books, can be the head of religious organizations and hold important church officesÔÇöand still never have come to the vital, personal knowledge of God at all. Only by the Holy Spirit can we know God.

Lord, it is humbling to consider the possibility that I could know all about You, and yet not know You personally. Impart Your Spirit, Lord, that I may truly know You. Amen

Devotion: He Keeps me Singing
 

He keeps me Singing

1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

Oh what Joy it brings my heart by knowing Jesus! I once was on my way to hell, but now, since Jesus came into my heart and life I rejoice and am forever thankful for the Love that Jesus has for me. What a joy it is to read Romans 5: 8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

WOW, now that is something to be happy about! Even when we did not love Jesus, JESUS LOVED US! You know, with all the awful things that is happening around the world and in America, I am glad that I still have something to REJOICE ABOUT!

I love the Hymn, "Everybody will be happy over there," but I am so glad that God's people can be happy over HERE! There is a Hymn that I can remember from a child that the church still sings today, "He keeps me Singing." There is a very encouraging story behind that song. The writer of the Hymn is "Preacher Luther B. Bridgers. He accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky in the year 1910, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law and made the trip to Kentucky.

There, two wonderful weeks of ministry resulted. The last service closed with great joy and he was excited to be called to the telephone. He couldn't wait to tell his wife about all the blessings. But it wasn't her voice on that long distance line. He listened in silence to the news that a fire had burned down the house of his father-in-law and his wife and all three of his sons had died in the blaze.

That distraught father leaned heavily on His Savior and expressed his faith in God during a tearful moment by penning words to the hymn, "He keeps me Singing." Hey, think how much the Lord has blessed you and me. Rejoice and be glad, JESUS IS ALIVE

Devotion: David Fulfilled His Purpose
 

David Fulfilled His Purpose

"For David...served the purpose of God in his own generation" (Acts 13:36 NASB)

Imagine for a moment that you have just died and you are about to come before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Jesus is speaking to His angel about you. He then says these words: "David served the purpose of my Heavenly Father for his generation." Will God be able to say you served your purpose in your generation? Imagine being able to say that. God was able to say this about the life of David, even though David made some incredibly bad choices in his life that led to long term consequences. However, because David repented each time he erred, his purpose was accomplished on earth as God had designed it.

One of the prayers I often pray for people whenever I'm asked to pray for them is this; "Lord, may You fulfill every purpose for which You made them. May there be no inheritance left on the table that he/she is entitled to."

That is really the definition of success. Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made you. It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life, or standard of living. It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when He made you and me.

In 1924, Eric Liddle, a Scottish Olympic runner whose life was chronicled in a movie entitled the Chariots of Fire, was challenged by his missionary sister to forego running in the Olympics in lieu of going to China with her as a missionary. He responded by saying, "When I run I feel His (God's) pleasure. I was made to run and I was made to be a missionary too." Eric understood his complete purpose for his generation. As a result, he brought glory to the Father through his running and his missionary service.

Today, ask God to fulfill His purposes for your life in your generation.

Devotion: It's Time for a Funeral
 

ItÔÇÖs Time for a Funeral


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

"There's nothing wrong with you that a good funeral won't solve," I said to the woman. "I'll even send you flowers!" She smiled in response. I was speaking figuratively to the woman who was stressing out about an issue in her life.

Her problem was the same problem most of us have - too much of "us" and not enough of Jesus and the cross. Many of the daily problems in life can be solved by coming to an end of ourselves so Jesus can take over. I believe this is what the psalmist meant when he said: "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalms 116:15).

The apostle Paul recognized the need for a funeral too when he penned these words: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:1-4).

Whenever we stress over a matter, get angry over a daily circumstance, or seek to have our own way, it is a sign there is still life in the grave. We need to fill it with dirt and smother the life of our flesh so that Christ may live freely, unhindered by the "old" man. Send yourself some flowers today. Have a good funeral.

Devotion: Our Labor n the Lord
 

Our Labor in the Lord


"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58

There is a paradigm shift going on among a remnant of workplace believers today. That paradigm shift is a focus on using our business and work life as a platform for ministry versus a platform solely for material success. There is a remnant of workplace believers throughout the world today who understand their birthright in the workplace is to reflect Christ fully in and through their work. It is reflected by a commitment to use their resources and skills to provide a product of excellence with the overall motive to affect people for Jesus Christ. The difference is that these individuals have an overriding ministry objective to their work.

When the apostle Paul tells us to fully work unto the Lord, he does not mean we must be working as missionaries in "full-time Christian effort." He understands that all of life is holy and sacred to God. If our motive is to serve God where we are, then our labor "in the Lord is not in vain."

As you begin your work today, ask God if you are working with the primary motive of reflecting His life and character through your work on this day. Let nothing move you from this motive being central to your activity. The Lord will reflect His power and leading in and through your life when this becomes your primary motive.

Devotion: Confessing Sin
 

Confessing Sin


ÔÇ£If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.ÔÇØ I John 1:9

I John 1:9 is a very powerful promise. It consists of two parts: our part and God's part. Our part is to confess our sins. Jesus Christ has paid the full price for our sins (Romans 5:15-19). That enabled our confession to be effective.

It is because of the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross that God is able to promise to forgive us our sins. The reason this is a continuing ongoing effort on our part is to maintain clear lines of communication with God. We do not want our sin to become a block in our relationship with God. Thus, taking advantage of this promise is something we need to do on a daily basis.

God's part is divided into two parts: "forgiving us our sins and purifying us from all unrighteousness". The first part, "forgiving us our sins", is somewhat expected. Jesus Christ paid a very high price to grant us this incredible privilege of being forgiven our sins. To have the incredible privilege of going before God and having Him forgive us of our sins is amazing, and not to be taken lightly.

The second part, "purifying us from all unrighteousness", is unexpected. God is promising that, upon confession, all of the unrighteousness that was related to that sin will be removed. He foretold that He would do this in Isaiah1:18 & 43.25. We are taught: ÔÇ£Be holy for I am holy"(I Peter 1:6). I John 1:9 is how that is achieved. When we confess our sins He not only forgives us but completely removes the unrighteousness is associated with that sin. That God would choose to do this is an example of the incredible breadth of His grace and His love for us, Praise God.

We cannot run our lives or companies for Christ with any effectiveness without the Holy Spirit doing the work through us. It is critically important that we remove all hindrances to that work. Therefore, the second major part of our prayer time in the morning is confessing sin, so that the unrighteousness is removed, and the Holy Spirit is free to work with us and in us to accomplish the FatherÔÇÖs purposes. In our prayer time, first adore God for who He is, and then confess sin. It's critically important.

Devotion: God's Timing
 

GodÔÇÖs Timing


"Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone'" (Mark 1:42-45).

Have you ever had a problem keeping a secret? Especially if that secret involves good news, we are sure to want to blurt it out to the wrong person at the wrong time.

There is a timing that is ideal for releasing information or moving forward with a project. Jesus understood the importance of timing. When He performed His first healing miracle He instructed the man he healed with leprosy to not tell anyone. Now that would be difficult - not to share being healed from leprosy with your friends who have known you and your condition. He could not keep the secret.

As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. Jesus desired to do more things in that city, but because the man could not keep quiet, He could not do so.

How often has Jesus not been able to move in your situation because you have failed to honor the right timing of the situation? Perhaps you have moved ahead when you were not supposed to move. In the Old Testament, David was fighting the Philistines. He won the first battle, but they were coming against him again. He inquired of God and God said, "Go to battle, but not until you hear the marching in the balsam trees" (2 Samuel 5:23). There was a strategic timing associated with his actions.

Early in my writing career I wrote a book before I should have. I was called to write it, but my enthusiasm kept me from releasing it in the right timing. The premature release resulted in not having a complete understanding of the topic that I would gain later, had I waited on His timing for release.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven?" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Ask God for His timing in your projects or promises to be released.

Devotion: Selling Your Birthright
 

Selling Your Birthright


"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." Genesis 25:34

Esau was brother to Jacob. One day he came back from hunting in the fields. He was hungry and tired. His brother Jacob was preparing some stew and Esau asked Jacob for a bowl. Jacob used this time to negotiate for what seems unimaginable - the family birthright.

Why would Esau take his birthright so lightly? Because he did not understand its value. Every business day countless men and women exchange their birthrights for worldly goods, because they see what the world has to offer as more valuable than what God might offer.

This is not all their fault. Satan has blinded the minds and hearts of men and women for centuries. He does not want them to know the tremendous gold mine that awaits the child of God. Their inheritance is filled with meaning, purpose, and rewards that await them both here and in Heaven. Satan keeps men and women from seeing the real value of their own godly inheritance.

Your role as a workplace Christian is to be the key that unlocks this prison that keeps so many, in captivity. You may be the one to reveal the truth that allows them to enter into the inheritance God desires for them. Pray that God allows you to see each unsaved person you encounter as one who needs the key you hold in your hand. Then you will add to your own inheritance laid up for you in Heaven.

Devotion: Trust and Obey
 

Trust and Obey

Proverbs 3: 5 - 7 ÔÇ£Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."

Every Christian needs to Trust and Obey the Lord with their life.

One of the greatest problems with Christians is that we say we trust the Lord and Obey the Lord, but do we really? Many of our Christian marriages are ending in divorce because as long as couples have sufficient funds to live very High Cost lives everything is good. The problems come into the marriage when couples live HIGHER than their means and when the money runs out or runs low, that is when the trouble begins. Christians need to learn how to be content with what they have, trusting and obeying the Lord's will for our lives, will bring contentment. When Christians start truly trusting and obeying the Lord, it is then that Life at its fullest will begin!

Next, Trusting and obeying the Lord will lead to absolute Joy and Peace in one's life.

Jesus clearly tells all people in John 14: 27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not you heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." There is nowhere else to find Peace except the Lord! Money can't bring it, Houses can bring it, and BIG gains on your stock can't produce it. Only Trusting and Obeying Jesus can move us into a life of Absolute Joy and Peace!

Last, Trusting and obeying Jesus is the only way to be Born Again!

In Romans 10: 17, Paul said "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD!" It is by hearing the instructions of GODÔÇÖS WORD that mankind are saved! The Philippians Jailer cried out to Paul and Silas, "Sirs, What must I do to be saved?" Paul gave the Jailer THE biblical answer to his question, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED..." Trust and Obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!

Devotion: Peace
 

PEACE
Galatians 5: 22 - 23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Out of the nine Fruit of the Spirit, I would like to focus on one, PEACE. There are so many people today that are looking for Peace in their lives, but they are looking in all the wrong places for it. Some have looked so long for peace that they may even be asking, "Is there such a thing as peace?" I would answer that question with this, "Which peace are you looking for?"

You see, there are two types of peace, one that is temporary and one that is everlasting. Jesus pointed out in John 14: 27 that there are two types of peace which comes from two different sources. Look at this verse, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The peace that Jesus gives is the peace that is everlasting, it is fulfilling, it is the peace that calms our hearts and our minds in terrible situations of life. Satan and the World has a peace that it offers, but make sure everyone understands this fact, the peace that satan and the world gives is temporary and it leads to more despair.

There are many examples in the Bible of people that chose the Peace that Satan and the World gives, Lot, King David, Achan, and Elimelech, but how did that peace work for them? It was only temporary peace, which lead to the sorrows of death. The PEACE that Jesus gives is much greater than the peace that the World gives.

Paul said in Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The Peace of God is beyond any peace that this world can give. It is a peace that even in a time of sorrow and pain, a Child of GOD, that ask for the Peace of God, can have calm, a quietness, a tranquility that surpasses anything this would can imagine!

HOW CAN ONE OBTAIN THE PEACE OF GOD? Read Luke 9: 23 and focus on these three things; deny yourself, take up YOUR cross daily, and follow me. These three are the keys to a Peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus is where one will find REAL PEACE!

Devotion: We Begin With God
 

WE BEGIN WITH GOD

By Him were all things created, that are in Heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisibleand He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17)

Now, I know that some have said about me; ÔÇ£That man is always talking about God!ÔÇØ I can only say in reply that if that is the only charge that anyone can properly bring against me, I will be quite a happy man. I know that I talk a lot about GodÔÇöabout the triune God, because I still believe in God. I believe in Him as God Almighty; the Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son and our Lord; and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

We do begin with God here, where all truth begins, for God is the one true and absolute reality. Back of all, and underneath and supporting all things, He girds the universe and holds it up and guides it.

God does that. That is the only explanation for the universe and the only explanation of human life, for as Creator He gives to human life its meaning and significance.

He is the sacred meaning that gives validity to all meaning. Exclude God from your thinking and you will find yourself with no sense of moral valuesÔÇöyou will have no standard of right or wrong.

Lord, may I also talk ÔÇ£too muchÔÇØ about You. May I keep You first in everything I do, think or say today. Enable me by Your Spirits, I pray, in JesusÔÇÖ name. Amen