local Daily Devotions
 

guy here in town writes these, i will try & post them, because some of them are really good. here's the one for yesterday:

Subject: Devotion: A Mother's Work

A MotherÔÇÖs Work

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3).

One of the great tragedies of society today is the minimizing of the work performed daily by stay-at-home moms. Women who decide to stay home to raise their kids are a rare breed indeed. They must overcome the stigma of comparison to others who pursue careers outside the home. They fail to get the feelings of accomplishment that can come from a career. They are the unseen missionaries of our day. There will be a special reward for these selfless servants.

Without the commitment of our stay-at-home moms we would not have some of our greatest leaders. "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother," said Abraham Lincoln.

Though poor, Ida Stover was determined to go to college. She scraped together enough money to attend Lane College in Lecompton, Kan., where she met fellow student David Eisenhower. She was known as a firm but gentle disciplinarian and was deeply religious. It is said she once won a prize for memorizing 1,365 Bible verses. As a pacifist, she was not in favor of her son attending West Point but decided to let him go. She was the mother of Dwight David Eisenhower, one of the greatest U.S. presidents.

Mary Litogot grew up on a farm, and met her future husband, William Ford, when he came to work on their farm. She was 12 and he was 26. They married nine years later. Mary was self-sufficient and a diligent worker. Henry later attributed his clean factories to her belief in cleanliness. She encouraged his interest in machines early on. He later said, "I have tried to live my life as my mother would have wished. I believe I have done, as far as I could, just what she hoped for me." She was the mother of Henry Ford.

Has God called you to be a stay-at-home mom? Know that your obedience and sacrifice will be recognized by the Lord.

THANK GOD FOR ALL OUR MOTHERS AND TO EVERY MOTHER READING THIS, ÔÇ£HAPPY MOTHERÔÇÖS DAYÔÇØ

Today:

Praying for Wisdom


"If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1.5 – 7



This promise is one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox of a business owner or business leader running his company or organization for Christ or our personal lives. Do you lack wisdom? I do - daily. There are so many issues involved in running a company that we are continually operating beyond our knowledge and experience base. In fact, God intentionally arranges circumstances and events to force us to operate well beyond our personal capabilities. One of the reasons lies with this verse.



When there is a change in the marketplace and it is unclear whether that change will be beneficial or detrimental to the company, and it is unclear how to respond to it - we need to simply go and ask God what to do next. He has promised to respond. Especially if we have yielded control of the company to Him, then He will show us how to run His company, and if we yield control of our lives He will do the same. When we come up against a technical issue that we do not know how to solve, then we need only to go and ask God what to do and He will tell us without reproach. (After all, He is the master engineer who created all this and knows how it works.) When we are having difficulty with an employee, and do not know how to respond in a way that would be beneficial to the employee, beneficial to the company, and honoring to Christ - this promise tells us to simply go ask God and He will tell us what to do, and also in our daily lives we should do the same.



But the basis of this asking is faith - believing that what God has said is true. This is a common characteristic of all of God's promises; we must believe the promise to be true for us to receive what is promised. Verses 7 and 8 explicitly tell us that unbelief indicates instability and such a man should not expect to receive anything from God. Faith is the key to the Kingdom: "for without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11.6). Therefore, before we ask for wisdom we must ask ourselves: "Do I believe this promise to be true?” If I do, then I should ask, fully expecting to receive the wisdom I have sought. If I do not believe the promise to be true, then I need to examine my heart and my relationship with God to see where the problem lies.

Wisdom is probably the greatest asset that we can have as businessmen serving Christ in the marketplace and in our personal lives. It is to be prized above all else (Proverbs 3.13-18). Seek it frequently. Build a relationship with God so strong that your natural response to any issue is to go ask God what to do, to seek His wisdom. Then, be sure to thank Him for what He has done. Make it a habit to continually praise Him and thank Him for the wisdom He has given each day.


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he sends them out with a picture, if you want the email & the pic, LMK and I will send you his info

If you have the time just post them on here like you're doing, I'll read them.

ok Jake, ...do you play golf? Glenn might have wrote this one for you..


Failing Forward




"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).



Back in the 1970's, Tom Watson was the up and coming golfer on the PGA Tour. But time after time, when Tom led a tournament coming into the last round, he would choke, bogey a few holes, and finish in the middle of the pack. Soon, the media began calling him a "choker." That kind of criticism only increases the pressure and the tendency to choke.



In an interview with Guy Yocom for Golf Digest, Watson said, "Everybody has choked. In the 1974 U.S. Open, I kept hitting the ball right to right. My nerves wouldn't allow me to adjust. That's what choking is being so nervous you can't find a swing or a putting stroke you can trust."



How did Watson overcome his tendency to choke? "Byron gave me the best cure for it," Watson recalled, referring to Byron Nelson, the legendary golf pro of the 1930s and '40s. "[Byron said], 'Walk slowly, talk slowly, deliberately do everything more slowly than you normally do. It has a way of settling you down."* That advice helped Tom Watson overcome his nervousness. He went on to win many tournaments, including five British Opens.



Everybody fails. It's part of the process that leads us to maturity and success. Most successful entrepreneurs have been through a number of failures in life, but they usually don't think of their failures as defeats. They think of them as lessons.



My failures have served to help many people who are also experiencing failure in their lives. God will always have a redeeming value in our failures if we let Him reveal His life through them.


If you hope to succeed, learn everything you can from your failures.



*Os Hillman, Upside of Adversity, Regal Books, Ventura, CA p. 195, 2006

Fruitful Suffering

..."It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." - Genesis 41:52

Joseph named his second son Ephraim. Ephraim was given to him after he had been delivered from his suffering of 13 years. Joseph said that he named him this because God had made him fruitful in the land of his suffering. Ephraim means "twice fruitful."

Joseph was fruitful in two instances. He was fruitful during his time of adversity and in his prosperity. When God brings us into a time of suffering, it can be a fruitful time. It's rare for us to see the fruit during the suffering period. But know that the roots are going deep into the spiritual soil of our soul because of our pressing in to God during our time of suffering. This is producing a work in our character that cannot be seen until it finishes the process. Such was the case for Joseph.

It was not until several years after such a time of suffering that I began to see the fruit of the trials that the Lord allowed me to experience. How grateful I am to understand some of the "why" that has led to a new life in Him that I would never have had without this period.

Samson had great anointing but lacked character. We see many today who have great anointing yet lack character. But God is rising up Josephs who not only have great anointing for these days but also great character. Suffering produces character.

If you find yourself in a time of suffering, now is the time to press into God. Let your roots grow deeper. Whenever there is a famine, tree roots are forced to drive deeper into the soil to find water. These times are designed to create such a deep-rooted faith that our natures will be changed forever.

If I do not trust Him with all, I will eventually not trust Him at all.
 

there should be a video of this, for the 5/18 service:
http://newspring.cc/watch


If I do not trust Him with all, I will eventually not trust Him at all.


Proverbs 3:5-6
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Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.



#1 ÔÇô Financially
===============
Financially.

Proverbs 3:9-10
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Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
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Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.



#2 ÔÇô Relationally
===============
Relationally.

Philippians 2:3-5
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Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:



#3 ÔÇô Spiritually
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Spiritually.

2 Chronicles 33:2-6
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2 Chronicles 33:2-6 (NIV)
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He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.
He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, ÔÇ£My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.ÔÇØ
In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts.
He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.



2 Chronicles 33:9-13
===============
2 Chronicles 33:9-13 (NIV)
---------------
But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.
And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.


If I do not trust Him with all, I will eventually not trust Him at all.
===============

Some Proven Weapons in the Fight for Holiness
A great article from Desiring God



For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

When Paul says to put to death the deeds of the body ÔÇ£by the SpiritÔÇØ (Romans 8:13), I take him to mean that we should use the one weapon in the SpiritÔÇÖs armor that is used to kill. Namely, the sword, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

So when the body is about to be led into a sinful action by some fear or craving, we are to take the sword of the Spirit and kill that fear and that craving. In my experience, that means mainly severing the root of sinÔÇÖs promise by the power of a superior promise.

So, for example, when I begin to crave some illicit sexual pleasure, the sword-swing that has often severed the root of this promised pleasure is: ÔÇ£Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GodÔÇØ (Matthew 5:8). I recall the pleasures I have tasted of seeing God more clearly from an undefiled conscience; and I recall the brevity and superficiality and oppressive aftertaste of sinÔÇÖs pleasures, and with that, God has killed the conquering power of sin.

It is a beautiful thing to be the instrument of GodÔÇÖs word-wielding power to kill sin.

Having promises at hand that suit the temptation of the hour is one key to successful warfare against sin. But there are times when we donÔÇÖt have a perfectly suited word from God in our minds. And there is no time to look through the Bible for a tailor-made promise.

So we all need to have a small arsenal of general promises ready to use whenever fear or craving threaten to lead us astray.

trying to catch up after some vacation,

Accepting My Design





"Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:21).

Have you ever wished that God made you differently? Perhaps you wished you were more athletic or could have a totally different career. Or perhaps you wished you were prettier or taller or even have a different nose.



God made every person differently and for different purposes. Not everyone is made to be in the public eye. Some are made to serve behind the scenes. It is important to know and be at peace with how and why God made you.



Paul tells us in Romans that we are all crafted out of the same clay. There is no one molded and shaped like you, No one has the exact personality as you. Your DNA is one of a kind.



God uses the common to produce the uncommon. No matter how inferior you may feel you are in a particular area, God desires to use you for His purposes. Your unique qualities are made to fit with the way He plans to use you for His purposes. This is why we must accept our uniqueness. We want His power to be manifested in our uniqueness.



Thank God today for the way He made you.

i like it when someone can do a short devotion, he did good on this one:

Truth



Romans 3: 3 - 4 “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou art judged."

What is Truth? Truth is God's Holy Word. Anything other than that is a Lie! Many say they are standing on Truth, but the fact is many are standing on the lies of MAN! I ask you today, where are you standing? Are you standing on every word of God or are you standing on the lies, the Ways of mankind. Oh dear friends, believe me, there is a way that you may think that is the way of TRUTH, but if it does not line up with the Word of GOD, it is the way, the lie of mankind. Proverbs 14: 12 clearly tell us, "There is a WAY which seemeth RIGHT unto a man, but the ends thereof are the WAYS OF DEATH."

everyone i have talked to lately has a problem running off at the mouth, me included, preacher preached on this sunday morning, and I reread it twice this AM while cooking sausage egg & pepper jack cheese biskets.


James 3

New International Version (NIV)


Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...+3&version=NIV

The Final Battle





I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war (Revelation 19:11-12).



I used to love old western movies growing up. So often the main characters would get into trouble and just in the nick of time the cavalry would show up blowing their trumpet and riding their horses to announce their arrival to save those in trouble.



Throughout our lives a battle is waged between satan and God's Kingdom. There is a final battle coming that will see Jesus and His army invades the enemies of His kingdom. It is the great climax to thousands of years of warfare.



"He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:12-16).



We are all moving toward a day in which we will be judged: "The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12-13). Ultimately, we will all reign with Christ in a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21). How you live your life now will determine your role in the new heaven and earth.



Your life on earth is a mere blink on the scale of time. Whatever hardships you've faced on earth will pale in comparison to the glory that is to be revealed when the marriage of the Bride of Christ takes place on that final day.



Be faithful. Stand firm. And see the glory of the Lord. Amen.

these guys live here in Ladson, too, theres alot going on in our town :)

LMK what you think of todays:

http://e-biblestudy-philandpattimoor...-that-god.html

Proverbs 24:28-29 let us know that God is not happy with the phrase, "I don't get back, I get even." Revenge is not a good thing.

Prov 16:11
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
God judges according to His standard. When we stand before the throne at the judgment, He will balance the scales. It will make no difference how much or how little our sins may be on our side of the scales; Jesus balances them by His shed blood. What an amazing Savior we have!

Prov 22:28
Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
Ps 16:6
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Praise God, He has set boundaries for us. To know where those boundaries are, we only need to go to the "ancient paths"
Jer 6:16
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'If only we would learn to walk in the "good way" and ask for the ancient paths.

Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
We couldn't help but think of the Holocaust victims being led away to death or the abortion clinics, doctors, and technicians. But also think about those people who do not know Jesus. They are being led away toward eventual slaughter, to eternal death. We can't plead ignorance. We must be willing to share our faith at all times to all people.

--
Posted By Patti to 3 - e-bible study - phil and patti moore at 5/22/2014 06:00:00 AM

John, Do you know them? Just wondering.

yeah, sent you a PM.

back to Glenn:


Pray for Those in Authority





"I urge, then, first of all, requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all men; for kings and those in authority" (1 Timothy 2:1).



In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul exhorts his young prot?®g?® to make prayer and intercession for those in authority the first work of the church.



Whereas we once thought of those in politics, military, religion, and economics as controlling the earth, today we recognize the enormous influence wielded by those in the workplace. Our mindsets are changing; those in the workplace, including business leaders, we now include as those in authority. They, too, are among those Paul exhorted Timothy to cover in prayer.



God is transferring His anointing to be placed upon all saints to get the job done. This is requiring the local church to give more focus on equipping men and women to live out their faith in the workplace. The modern day Church is in a major shift! It is not surprising that the Lord would begin to move in this way. If we are going to see a major harvest in the last days, it will have to come through the largest segment of the body of Christ - those who are Christ's representatives in government, business, and education.



The book of Acts records Lydia, a businesswoman, as God's instrument to introduce the gospel to Europe. The Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of Candace, "Queen of the Ethiopians", introduced the gospel to Africa. Peter launched the gospel into the gentile world through Cornelius, a Roman centurion. And three "workplace ministers" reached Europe, Africa, and the gentiles. These examples indicate the importance of the workplace influence and why intercession is so important for leaders in places of authority.



Today, pray for those leaders in government, business and education

Whenever & Wherever



And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)



There is a great scene in the movie Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Indiana is searching for the Holy Grail, following cryptic instructions in a journal developed by his father and others from years of research. As he approaches the end of the search, he is faced with a “bottomless” gorge that must be crossed. The only instruction for dealing with the challenge is “It takes a step - or leap - of faith”.



The Bible is full of stories of men and women who were challenged to take a step of faith: Noah to build a boat – a huge boat – before he had ever seen rain; Abram left his home without knowing where God was going to lead him; Peter stepped out on the water … and a whole lot of other stories in between.



Can you identify? God may not have taken you to the edge, but I can’t imagine if you are in the business world that you haven’t heard His challenge to step out in faith – to trust Him with your business, to become more bold in standing for Christ in your marketplace, to take your business skills into the world for Kingdom purposes … perhaps He even asked you to trust Him enough to let Him sell your / His company.



I’ve heard all of those … and every time that step into the “unknown” has led to solid footing, and to even greater opportunity to trust and obey.



Of course, there is the other side of that decision – hearing God’s challenge but – for whatever reason – choosing not to follow. I’ve done that, too, and experienced the disappointment of realizing I missed God’s best.



That’s a great reason to periodically remind each other of the ways God most frequently speaks to you and me:



The Bible– A love letter, an instruction manual, a road map … all of the above and more … but most importantly an eternal resource that is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12) and all of which is God-breathed, inspired by Him for teaching, correction, training and equipping (2Timothy 3:16).



Prayer – Since a real, vital prayer life includes two-way communication, learning to listen for God’s voice – for His Spirit speaking to your spirit – what He says to you and me as we seek direction is an essential part of knowing His will.



Other Believers – Especially your spouse! In a multitude of counselors there is wisdom (Proverbs 15:22; 20:18).



Circumstances – Always note that this is the last on the list. Just because something looks good, or it seems to make sense – even good business sense – that does not mean it is from God! My experience is that the “open door” approach to discerning God’s will is risky – God is not the only one who opens doors and creates circumstances that can look tempting. The best way to evaluate whether God is in the circumstances is if they line up with the first 3 resources.



The bottom line is that, when you hear God – however He chooses to speak into your life – the best course of action is to take that step of obedience and trust Him. Trust His promises, trust His character, trust His sovereign ability to work all things together for good because you love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). You don’t want to go through life asking yourself “What if ….” questions. I know I certainly don’t.



That is why I have chosen to follow God’s challenge once again, and step out, even when the next step is not as clear as my personal and business mind would like it to be. Never-the-less, especially as I move toward the last chapters of my life, I don’t want to risk missing God’s best. He’s been building into me for decades, and every step has been preparation for the next … and, I just can’t wait to see what that will be this time!!



To every man and woman whom God has called to the vision of leading your life or company for Christ – now is the time to listen for God’s challenge, and to take that step of your own – whatever that may look like – you won’t regret it … and God will be smiling.



Stepping out with Confidence!

You Have an Anointing





"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him" (1 John 2:27).



Do you know your anointing? An anointing is a gift that functions easily when it is operating in you to benefit others and the Kingdom of God. If one has to "work it up" one has probably gone outside one's anointing.



One area that I have a God-given anointing is in networking. I have never sought to develop such an anointing. But I know a LOT of people. Despite being an introvert by nature, God has connected me with people all around the world. Many times people call me about something and my natural response is, "Oh, you need to contact so and so. He can help you with that." A mentor once said to me, "Your inheritance is in relationships." What he was saying is that my anointing is in relationships and networking.



Where do you move naturally in your life? What do you do that you don't have to work at it? Chances are that is your anointing. God wants you to walk in the anointing He has given to you.

I like the thought of this, that you were put SOMEWHERE to do SOMETHING that will make a "forever" difference in someone's life:

Esther, For Such a Time as This





"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14-15).





Esther was a Jewish orphan living in the land of Persia after her people were taken into captivity from Jerusalem. Raised by her cousin Mordecai, she lived during the time of King Xerxes who reigned over Persia that stretched from India to Ethiopia. An edict was sent out to bring all the virgins to the king's palace from the surrounding regions to replace Queen Vashti who found disfavor with the king and was deposed. Esther was one of the young women taken and was ultimately selected to be the next queen.



Mordecai had a high ranking position in the government that allowed him to learn of a plot by Haman, an official of the king, to kill all of the Jews.



Now, the only way this edict would not be carried out was if Esther asked for an audience with the king to request that the plot be abandoned on her behalf. However, to request an audience before the king was a serious matter. If he refused to give her audience, the penalty was immediate death.



It was at this time she made her famous statement, "If I die, I die." Esther realized this could be the reason God created her - to save her people from destruction. However, out of concern for Esther, Mordecai explained the situation to her, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish." Mordecai was giving her a choice. Either she will be used by God or someone else will be used to save their people.



Everyday you and I are given a choice in our workplace and our lives. Are we willing to be the person God uses to impact the future destiny of a people? Many of us are silent Christians simply letting the status quo reign while we sit quietly by watching. Who knows that you were created for such a time as this to be a catalyst to stand in the gap for some situation in your workplace or community or nation.



Be faithful to your calling.

Follow Him in Humility


by Dr. K.P. Yohannan




"You learn from Me. And My qualification for being your example is that I am humble" (see Matthew 11:29).

A well-known preacher flies into town for a citywide crusade. He expects to be greeted at the airport by a delegation of prestigious pastors. Instead, an old taxi driver holding a piece of cardboard with the preacher's name misspelled waits at baggage claim and then drops him off at a second-class hotel. The room is small, the bed uncomfortable, the service lousy, and there is not even a fruit basket or welcome note. When no one calls or takes him out to dinner, he feels deeply offended and says to himself, "How dare they treat me like this? Don't they know who I am? They don't deserve my ministry. That's the last time I'm coming to this place."

The next morning, however, all his honor and good fortunes are quickly restored after the organizers discover that their guest speaker had become a victim of miscommunication.

Could it be that this incident was not an unfortunate mix-up, but rather the Lord testing His servant's humility? After all, He had sent this man to represent Himself, the Christ of the New Testament. And in the Gospels, we see so clearly that Jesus was genuinely humble in His dealings with others.

The Greatest Glory

Before Jesus went to the cross, the most important thing on His mind was to train up a handful of disciples so they could communicate the Gospel to the whole world. But His approach was not based on fantastic plans, schemes, committee meetings or mega-Madison Avenue strategies. He basically said to His disciples, "You learn from Me. And My qualification for being your example is that I am humble" (see Matthew 11:29).

So Christ alone must be our example of humility. Philippians 2:7-8 describes very well just how humble He was: ". . . but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. . . . He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

What was the key to Christ's humility? It was deeply rooted in His understanding and accepting the truth that the greatest glory in heaven and on earth, is to be the servant of all. That's the reason why prophetic passages like Isaiah 53 portray Him as a servant, and Psalm 40:8 describes Him saying: "I delight to do Your will, O my God."

A Positive Thing

If there is no greater glory than being a servant of all, then much of our 21st-century Church is miles away from the pattern Christ left us. Our worldly view of glory is precisely where we need to get our understanding set straight.

The moment we realize that it is God's will for us to follow Christ's humility, we often get this negative feeling that we are about to become a broken, selfless creature everyone can trample on.

However, the humility God calls us to is far more than being broken from our pride and sin. It is something entirely positive and wonderful. It is participating in the very nature of Jesus.

Pride caused Lucifer, the most beautiful, powerful and intelligent angel, to fall and become satan, who led man into sin. And it was Christ's humility that saved and lifted fallen man from the pit of hell to sit on His throne with Him. Shouldn't that be the reason for our desire to follow Christ's humility above all else?

It Begins with One Step

When we seek to become like Christ, we often start by making a long list of spiritual exercises we plan to do to make it happen. However, the foundation of becoming like Christ in humility—as well as in all other virtues—begins with this one step: "Take My yoke upon you" (Matthew 11:29).

If I carry a yoke on my neck, it means that I no longer stand up straight. I once saw a postcard with the words "Not I, but Christ" written on it. To illustrate, the artist had drawn a man standing up tall inside the letter "I." Then he drew the same man inside the letter "C," but now the man had to bend over to fit.

This humility of Christ will not become a reality in my life by accident, by wishing for it, by studying about it or by fasting and praying for it. It only comes by my deliberate willingness to obey what Jesus told me to do: to take His yoke upon me. That means from now on, Jesus and I are yoked together. Where He goes, I go; where He turns, I turn; when He stops to comfort a widow, bless a child or wash His disciples' feet, I do the same.

As I learn from Him how to walk under His yoke, I discover that the yoke is easy and my heart is at peace. And by submitting to His yoke and imitating Him, His gentleness and humility will become mine.

My dear friend, will you take this first step today and decide to take His yoke upon you? There is no other way to develop the humility that represents the Lord Jesus

Seekers of God





"God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God." Psalm 53:2



Are you a man or woman who is a seeker of God? The Lord delights in seeing those children of His who truly understand the meaning of life and why there is only one thing worth seeking, God Himself.



I can always tell when I have not been seeking God. The cares of this life, the urgent over the important, and the petty irritations, these are the symptoms of a life that has not been in the presence of God.



Do we understand, really understand? That is the question God raises to each of us today. If we understand, then why do we spend day after day toiling and fretting over what doesn't matter? Can we set proper boundaries in our lives that don't allow our time with Him to be continually stolen away? It is a challenge in a world that screams "activity, activity!"



Do you have a consistent time of seeking Him in your life? Are you committed to developing that intimacy with your Lord that He so desires? If not, ask Him today to help you. This is the longing of His heart. Ask Him to make it the longing of your heart. Then you will demonstrate to Him that you understand, and you will be a seeker of God.

Healing Before Ministry





"And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed." - Joshua 5:8



Before the nation of Israel could go into the Promised Land they had to be circumcised. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal. God requires each of us to be circumcised in heart before we are allowed to enter and receive the blessings that await each believer in the Promised Land.



This circumcision can often be very painful. Circumcision requires losing our old way of life. The process of spiritual circumcision may mean a loss in areas that have been a part of our lives in order to draw us to the Savior. God understands this. Consequently, like the people of Israel, we must wait until we are healed before we begin to be effective in our calling. If we launch out too early, we will be ineffective and may risk infection and disease and will not be at our full capacity. God wants each of us to walk in His healing grace.



The people of Israel fought only two battles when they were coming out of Egypt. In the Promised Land they fought 39 battles. Each of us must be prepared to enjoy the benefits of living in the Promised Land. However, we must also be prepared to wage war against the enemy of our souls. Make sure the Lord has provided the needed healing to your circumcision experience before you enter the Promised Land.

A FRIEND

Proverbs 18: 24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

My focus today is on "a friend." Are you a friend to anyone? How far would you go to help your friend? The Writer in Proverbs said that there is "A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." The phrase, "that sticketh closer" comes from the Hebrew word, (Dabeq) which is also translated to the English words, clinging, adhering, and cleaving. I believe that the Lord is telling us that HE will CLEAVE to us; HE is a true friend, a dear friend.

What a wonderful example the Lord is giving here in the Word of GOD of a true friend. Peter, a friend of Jesus writes in 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all you care upon him, for he careth for you." Peter knew the clinging of his friend Jesus Christ. Peter knew that even when I am bad, Jesus is Adhering to me. Peter knew that even when you are warming your hands in a backslidden condition, Jesus will still cleave to you.

I love the old Hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus," originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland. I can tell you, it has and still bring comfort to me to know that Jesus is not somewhere far off, but he is clinging, he is adhering, he is cleaving to me. Let’s find the many that are lost and broken hearted and let’s be a true friend

REJECTION



But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:7)



Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you (1 Peter 5:7)



…He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5)



Lord, help me to not base my job or happiness on what others thank about me. Let me not be resentful or offended toward others, no matter what they may say or do to me.



Help me to not be discouraged or become emotionally distraught because of a suffered wrong. Heal my heart and emotions, Lord. Fill my soul with Your love, joy, and peace.



I refuse to be bitter or angry; I choose to walk in love and forgiveness. I will pray for those who have hurt and rejected me. Lord, speak to their hearts and minister to them. I will not retaliate or hold a grudge, but I cast the care of this situation over on You. I will not speak evil of them or gossip about them.



I thank You, Lord, that You will never leave me or forsake me. You are my best friend. You uphold me, You sustain me, and You have accepted me. Even though I may have been rejected by an individual, I know that I am accepted by You. Thank You for accepting and loving me, in Jesus’ name, Amen

Marketplace Forgiveness





"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).



Bill had a partner in business who took advantage of their relationship and embezzled money from his firm. He was caught and convicted. However, Bill decided to drop the charges if he agreed to repay the money. This allowed both men to gain freedom from a wrong committed.



In business and life the opportunity to harbor bitterness for a wrong suffered is great. We are given plenty of opportunities to grow bitter from relationships that bring hurt and pain. The writer of the Hebrews passage above admonishes us not to miss the grace of God so that we won't take up bitterness as a response to life's pain. He cautions us against this because he knows that a bitter root grows and grows until it eventually defiles many others through a wake of bitterness. If bitterness is allowed to take root, we become imprisoned to it. God's grace will no longer have as great an effect in our lives. We become ineffective, insensitive, and spiritually dead. We can even become physically ill from it. God does not live in bitterness. He lives in grace. He has provided grace for every person to walk in.



One day I was challenged to deal with an individual who hurt me terribly. I was faced with a decision. Would I choose bitterness or would I choose grace? Oh, how my natural tendency wanted to choose bitterness. But God provided the courage to choose grace. With that grace came freedom - a freedom to love and even accept the person who was the source of such pain.


This is the real place where Christ's power is most revealed. We cannot live without His supernatural grace. Are you in need of grace today? It is there for the receiving. It will take courage to accept it and walk in it. This will be your step to freedom

Worship and Work





"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike" (Romans 14:5).



Avodah (Ah??-voe-dah) is a Hebrew noun used in the Bible that has two distinct yet intertwined meanings: worship and work. It is also derived from the Hebrew verb L'Avod which has two meanings; to work and also to worship. The dual meaning offers powerful wisdom for modern times for how we are to view our work lives.



Work, if done with integrity and unto God, is a form of worship in the biblical Hebrew context. There has never been a concept of segmenting our work from our faith life in the Bible. It is in the realm of the sacred to bring God into our everyday life. Hebrews did not set aside a "day of worship," such as Saturday or Sunday, but everyday is a place and time of worship. They did set aside a Sabbath day of rest.



It is a western idea to segment one's faith life from our work life. In the Middle East and Asia, their cultures would never separate their faith from their work life even though their faith foundations might clearly contradict Christian beliefs. When someone comes to faith in Christ from this area of the world, they have an easier time of assimilating their faith into their work because they have always done so.



God calls us to do our work as an act of worship to Him. Our work is not to be a place of sweat and toil, but an expression of our love, faith and adoration of Jesus Christ. Today, before you work, ask God to help you see your work in a new way as worship to Him.

here are three verses that I have been using recently to keep myself in check:


John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


Psalm 27:14
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!


Psalm 46:10
10 Be still, and know that I am God;

Is there Hierarchy in Calling





"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27)."



All legitimate work matters to God. God Himself described himself as a worker. In fact, human occupations find their origin in His work to create the world. Work is a gift from Him to meet the needs of people and the creation. "You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas" (Psalm 8:6-8).



However, there is often an unspoken hierarchy that positions clergy (missionaries and evangelists, pastors and clergy) at the top, and occupations such as of the "helping professions" (doctors and nurses, teachers and educators, social workers) next, and "secular" workers (business executives, salespeople, factory laborers, and farmers) at the bottom.



So what determines the spiritual value of a job? How does God assign significance? The hierarchy assumes sacred and secular distinctions, and assigns priority to the sacred. But does God view vocations that way? No, He does not.



God creates people to carry out specific kinds of work in order to meet human needs. God uniquely designs each of us, fitting us for certain kinds of tasks. He distributes skills, abilities, interests, and personalities among us so that we can carry out His work in the world. That work includes "spiritual" tasks, but also extends to health, education, agriculture, business, law, communication, the arts, and so on.



Paul was a tentmaker by occupation, along with his friends, Aquila and Priscilla. Other church leaders practiced a wide variety of professions and trades. There's no indication that God looks at vocations in the form of spiritual hierarchy.



The next time you consider your vocation a second-class spiritual calling, consider what God says. Your work matters to God and is valued by God equally to other forms of work.

Road Construction





"The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together..."(Isaiah 40:4-5 NKJV).



I don't know about you, but I hate road construction. I live in a growing city and it seems like there has been ongoing road construction for years. Everything is a mess, you can never plan your trips because of delays, and sometimes you get caught off guard when traffic signs are placed in unusual places and the natural flow of traffic takes you off the main road onto bumpy surfaces.



Recently one of our main local roads discovered a sink hole in the middle of the road. The road was closed for more than a year. We had to take alternative routes that were inconvenient and it took longer to get places.



Sometimes God takes us through our own life re-construction project. Our lives get disrupted, we can no longer depend on the things we did before, and we don't have control over our circumstances or timetable. God is doing major construction.



However, even in the midst of the re-construction the glory of the Lord is revealed in that place. For some, it is the first time they've ever seen the hand of the Lord in their life to the degree that this process allows them to experience Him. It is a process they would never choose to go through voluntarily, but it is an experience they value for the rest of their lives because the glory of the Lord was revealed in the process.



Once the process is complete, things begin to flow better. Just as the new roads allow you to drive on a smooth, more spacious area, so too God paves a way for you to move into an expanded place with Him. Isaiah tells us: "He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows" (Isaiah 30:23-24).



Be patient with God's re-construction project. You will like the finished project.

Evaluate or Compare



Psalms 25: 8”Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."

I believe I would have plenty of support from everyone when I say, "THE LORD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!"I believe I could get a big AMEN right there. Not only is the Lord good, but the Lord has been, IS, and ALWAYS WILL BE GOOD AND UPRIGHT! The word, "Upright" here means JUST or Straight. I believe it was Rev. Charles Spurgeon that said something to this effect, the best way to tell how crooked something is, lay something straight beside it. Each and every Child of God should look everyday into their own heart and their own life and evaluate or compare it to the life of Jesus Christ. Now I know those standards are quite high, but your life will only be as good as what you try to live up to. I don't want to compare and evaluate my life to my friend’s life, nor my neighbor’s life, nor would I want them to evaluate their lives to mine. I pray that we look much higher, that we would look up to Jesus, and then pray Lord, help me to please You with my life today.

The Truth

Psalms 25: 5”Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

Many Christians and those lost today DO NOT WANT THE TRUTH! Because the truth is this, the Christians are not seeking the Truth of God, nor are the Lost seeking the Truth of GOD. The truth of God convicts and condemns the life style of the Lost and the Saved of today. It is a shame and disgrace how some Christians are living their lives today. There is no wonder that it is so hard to witness to the Lost today. I have had many lost people tell me that they are living just as good as many Church members. And the truth is, they are telling the truth, because some lost are living just as GOOD as the Church members.

So what will we do? Will we seek to have GOD teach us the TRUTH or will we continue to live ungodly lives. WE NEED REVIVAL!

i been busy, so here's some catch up:


Teach Us Your Path

Psalms 25: 3”Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths."

Folks as I look at America and the Church, I believe you will agree with me that we have gotten off the path of God. If there was ever a need for Revival, it is TODAY! Many may say, "Yes sir, this young generation is taking us all down!" Folks I am here to tell you that it is not all the young folks fault, I see a greater problem with the old saints of God. I see a lot of Senior citizens that have never been taught the WHOLE WORD OF GOD. Now, if the parents don't know the WAYS of the Lord, how can they TEACH the ways of the Lord? That is why our churches all across this land are so messed up and don't operate in the Way of God. My prayer is this, that God would somehow show us, America, the Church His Way. May God teach us His Paths.

looks like Glenn sent out two on Saturday, how bad have we been, that we need TWO devotionals?

Being an Overcomer





"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" (Psalms 13:1-2).



Have you ever heard someone jokingly say, "It's not easy being me?" This expression is poking fun at their unique personality or challenges they face in life. Well, it wasn't easy being King David

.

His life was a life of extreme highs and extreme lows. He was a shepherd, a political leader, a builder, a prophet, a businessman, a warrior, a lover, a giver, a murderer and a worshiper. He must have been criticized by others as being hypocritical in his early career. In each of these roles he achieved things for God but he also failed God on many occasions. He had a creative-type personality, which is often very passionate with many mood swings. We see this side of him when he unabashedly danced before the Lord in front of his subjects almost naked (2 Samuel 6:14).



When David wrote his psalms he was honest about what he was feeling. When he feared his enemies he expressed it. When he could not understand why God was silent, he expressed it as in the psalm above.



However, David never stayed in the place of despair. He often ended his psalms like this one. "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (Psalms 13:5-6).



David chooses to focus on what God has done for him, and not on what He had not done. If you are waiting for a breakthrough with God, be honest with Him about your hopes and dreams. However, also affirm your faith and trust in Him to accomplish His purposes through your life. Be an overcomer.

sometimes, I think cars/bikes/boats are the idols of guys like us.





Worthless Idols





"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." - Jonah 2:8



Have you ever exercised your will over the will of God? Have you ever been so willful that you were going to go your own way no matter what God said? If so, you have been at the same place as the prophet Jonah. God called Jonah to deliver a message to God's people as a warning. Jonah flatly refused. It was Jonah's will over God's. Guess who won? Talk about willpower; Jonah had it! In fact, he was so rebellious toward God's will that he got on a ship to go the opposite direction. But he couldn't go far enough. The omnipotence of God caught up with Jonah, and he was hurled overboard when the seas became rough and the ship's crew figured Jonah was the source of their problems. Overboard he went and into the belly of that big fish.



God has a way of getting us to rethink our decisions, to reconsider our position. In fact, we see the extent of Jonah's willfulness by the amount of time he was willing to hang out in the belly of that fish - three full days. Then, Jonah decides enough is enough! Obedience is better than this fish belly and seaweed.



From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.



He said: "In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all Your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, 'I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord." And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh (Jonah 2:2-3:3a).



In the midst of realizing his own calamity, Jonah made a seemingly out-of-context statement: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah was thinking of the sailors who threw him overboard and how they prayed to worthless idols. In the business world, we rub shoulders with those who cling to worthless idols every day. How tragic.



But this story's primary message is for every believer. And I can identify with Jonah. There's been many a man placed in the "belly of the fish" to encourage him to fulfill the purposes of God for which He called him. Jonah's situation changed immediately upon his obedience. Obedience is a mysterious thing. Jesus had to learn it through the things He suffered (see Hebrew 5:8). If Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering, what does that mean for you and me? Sometimes willing obedience requires encouragement.

i had JURY DUTY one day, so that is one reason for me being behind...


What To Do In Uncertain Times





I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for

myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die (1 Kings 17:12).



The scripture above comes from a story in the Old Testament that demonstrates that God's provision sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. That is important to keep in mind as we are bombarded daily with bad news--the mortgage crisis, the Iraq War, the drop in home prices, the slowdown in home sales, and an American election that seems to give us few choices for godly leadership. News like this can depress the average person. However, as believers, we must see beyond the news reports and keep our eyes on God.



In the book of Kings, the Lord directed Elijah the prophet to a widow's house to receive provision. "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you" (1 Kings 17:9-10). And yet, when we discover her situation, we learn that she is ready to eat her last meal. My human logic says, "There is something wrong with this picture!"



The rest of the story….



Now if this isn't bad enough, read the instructions that Elijah gives the widow, who is probably in great emotional distress as she realizes this may be her last meal. "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son'" (1 Kings 17:13-14). It almost seems selfish of Elijah to make such a demand.



It all comes down to hearing and doing the will of God.



What we must see in this story is that Elijah had a dynamic walk with God. He heard God tell him what to do and how He was going to provide for the widow. "For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:14-16).



No matter how bad the situation, God has a solution!

I like this one, because everyone wants to be in the SPOTLIGHT and in CONTROL, POWER, and AUTHORITY in the church. But it cant be like that. Second Fiddle is where some of us do our best work. Just get in, fit in, and work hard for God



ROPE HOLDERS



Acts 9: 22 - 25 "But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."

How many Christians today only do things for the Lord and the Church when others are looking, just to look glorious in others eyes. Here in the Book of Acts, we find some ordinary godly Christians, the Bible calls them "disciples," that are helping the man of GOD. WOW, today there are very few that will HOLD THE ROPE for the man of GOD unless there is something in it for them.

The Jews wanted to kill Paul and these disciples knew it! So, they took their place on the ROPE, Paul climbed in the basket and those UN-NAMED disciples, those disciples that did not want any glory for themselves let Paul down by the wall. Paul was then able to go and win many souls to Christ because of those ROPE HOLDERS.

You know that I am telling the truth. Today, people are discussed, aggravated, just downright hating the position of a ROPE HOLDER! I wish rope holders of today had the understanding that those rope holders for Paul had. You see, it does not matter WHO IS IN THE BASKET, WE ALL WIN! It's not about who is holding the microphone, it's not about WHO is the leader, what matters is that JESUS CHRIST IS LIFTED UP! That is what the saints of old KNEW! Sure, we all know Paul, Peter, John, but did you know this, they did not do anything by themselves. There were MANY behind the scenes, many that took the Apostles food when they had no food. So the next time you get a chance to be a ROPE HOLDER, DO IT WITH A SMILE, with joy in your heart!

heres a diff version of the verse:

Ps 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech. (NIV)

PRIDE and ARROGANCY



Proverbs 8: 13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate."

The Fear of the Lord, in Job 28: 28 the Word of God says, "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Note that the fear of the Lord is wisdom. To have the wisdom is to live godly and accordingly to the Will of God. Notice also that to have a fear of the Lord is to have an understanding. A person departs from evil because they have understanding.

Now as I look at the rest of Proverbs 8: 13, a child of God that has a fear of the Lord, will hate evil, PRIDE, and ARROGANCY. These two characteristics should never be found in a child of God. Actually, an arrogant person is very hard for me to be around. I believe an arrogant person makes God sick on His Stomach. The true definition of a Prideful and Arrogant person is this; someone that is all BIG PANTS over what GOD has blessed them with. They say, LOOK WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, and all the time they are the only one that does not know the truth. Everyone else around them knows it is all about GOD and NOT ABOUT THEM.

The Fear of the Lord is to hate evil ways. I hate pride, I hate arrogance, and I hate a froward mouth. Not only do I stay away from those that possess them, I guard against those things coming into my life.
Search you heart, your life and make sure you don't possess something that GOD HATES.

Powerful statement:
"90% of church members believe they are not being taught how to apply the Bible to the complex world of work where they spend 60-70% of their time. It is not a question of them being taught the Bible; it is a question of making it relevant to their world."




Subject: Devotion: Are You Becoming Secularized?

Are You Becoming Secularized?


"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen" (Roman 1:24-25).

There is a story told about a frog in a kettle. The frog is placed in a kettle of warm water. The frog does not notice that the water temperature is being turned up gradually until it is too late. He dies from the heat of the water not realizing the danger he was in.

Societies are suffering from the "frog in the kettle" analogy. They make decisions that seem innocent enough, only to realize later the impact these decisions bring to their society. Whether the issue is gay rights, abortion, euthanasia, or simply a lack of spiritual influence over society, the changes seem logical to the unregenerate mind but reveals the moral compass of the nation has been removed.

In 1945, a book was written about the spiritual condition of England. "We are convinced that England will never be converted until the laity use the opportunities daily afforded by their various professions, crafts and occupations." During the time of this writing, 30% of England attended church. Today, less than 7% attend church in England. It has become a secularized nation.

During this same time more than 40% of America was attending church. Today, less than 30% attend church and it is rapidly declining. The reason is that more and more believers are seeing the local church as irrelevant to the world they live in. Surveys reveal that up to 90% of church members believe they are not being taught how to apply the Bible to the complex world of work where they spend 60-70% of their time. It is not a question of them being taught the Bible; it is a question of making it relevant to their world.

Treasures in Darkness





"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." - Isaiah 45:3



"I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me, and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area." Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. That day when I confessed those words, God led me to this passage of Scripture.



What we perceive as dark periods in our lives is designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often-accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God's viewpoint: "...so that you may know that I am the Lord...who summons you by name."



You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at God's mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God's faithfulness in those areas. We will never know how personal He is, or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are "summoned by name." Every hair of our head is numbered. He knows every activity we are involved in. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to us.



Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name.

“Atmospheres”

by Scott Hunter


6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:6-8)


You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3)

On a recent trip to the beach with my wife, the Lord spoke to me about how to protect our atmosphere. Too many times, we live in atmospheres of strife, confusion, division, jealousy and others instead of atmospheres of peace and joy. God’s desire is that we protect our personal atmosphere and then carry that atmosphere to those around us; but if we are not careful, we will absorbed into the negative atmospheres around us. Here are three important factors I learned that day at the beach. No matter how warm it is outside, there is always a refreshing breeze blowing at the beach. This breeze makes it bearable to be in the high temperatures. The breeze represents the wind of the Holy Spirit. Daily communion with the Holy Spirit makes it possible to handle whatever situations we face in life. Praying in the Spirit builds us up and gives us fresh perspective in our daily lives. Second, there are waves. Along with the breeze, these waves make a peaceful relaxing sound that causes us to be relaxed and enjoy ourselves no matter what is going on around us. While at the beach, there are always others around playing, talking and doing other things. The noise of the waves and the breeze drowns out the noise around us and gives us the ability to focus on the reason we are there. If you go out into the water, the current and the waves can easily overpower you. The waves are the love of God. If we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by His love, we can forget about the hardships and distractions around us. Gaining a revelation of His love will revolutionize your life. Lastly, there is the sun. If you are like me, you still want to look around to see what is happening around you. Fortunately, the sun is usually so bright that it affects your ability to see. The sun is the Son. If we will fix our eyes on Jesus, we will overpowered by His radiance and beauty, thereby remaining focused on what is important, and not that which a distraction. Put these three simple things into practice in your daily lives, and protect your atmosphere!



I encourage you to check out Scott’s new You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/CFGMUSA
<https://www.youtube.com/user/CFGMUSA> and to his website at www.compassionfireandglory.org http://www.compassionfireandglory.org

Living As If You Were Dead





"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." Romans 6:11



What are the things that arouse the strongest emotions in you? Perhaps it is a rude motorist who cuts you off in traffic. Perhaps it is the anger you feel when you are wrongfully accused. Perhaps it is frustration that results from not having enough money to meet perceived needs. When do emotions turn into sin? Anger itself is not sin. Jesus had righteous anger when they sold doves in the temple.



Whenever our peace is upset over events and circumstances in life, we have moved past emotions into sin. Sin says that circumstances of life now dictate anxiety, worry, fear, or anger. Consider the attributes of a dead man. He does not get angry when slandered. He does not worry about the future. He does not fear what can be done to him. Why? Because he is dead. Nothing can harm a dead man.



Christ said we are to live as if we are dead - dead to the temptation of responding to stimuli in our life that are designed to stir up the sinful nature that resides in each of us. We do not have to respond to that nature; we can consider it dead. Christ said He is enough. When He is our all in all, nothing can move us. If we are moved, then Christ is not our all in all. This does not mean we cannot have strong emotion about our circumstance, it means we do not sin. Christ had strong emotions in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet He sinned not.