local Daily Devotions

[04ctd]

a man in Ladson was at the Waffle House reading a wore out Bible, and a friend sat down by him. the Man asked my friend: "what would your life look like if you were truly devoted to God"

that's a tough question to answer honestly.

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The Door of Full Surrender

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10

I was sitting with the leader of a workplace organization as he described a question he poses to workplace believers. "What if there were two doors to choose from; behind one door was the complete will of God for your life and behind the other door was how life could be according to your own preference. Which door would you choose?"

The struggle for most lies in the desire to follow God completely and the fear of what might be behind the door of full surrender. Most of us desire to follow God, but few of us will do it at any cost. We do not really believe that God loves us to the degree that we are willing to give Him complete permission to do as He wills in us.

If we desire to fully walk with Christ, there is a cost. We may give intellectual assent and go along with His principles and do fine; however, if we are fully given over to Him and His will for our life, it will be a life that will have adversity. The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken. This process is designed to create a nature change in each of us, not just a habit change. The Bible calls it circumcision. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal.

If God has plans to greatly use you in the lives of others, you can expect your trials to be even greater than those of others. Why? Because, like Joseph who went through greater trials than most patriarchs, your calling may have such responsibility that God cannot afford to entrust it to you without ensuring your complete faithfulness to the call. He has much invested in you on behalf of others. He may want to speak through your life to a greater degree than through another. The events of your life would become the frame for the message He wants to speak through you.

Do not fear the path that God may lead you on. Embrace it. For God may bring you down a path in your life to ensure the reward of your inheritance. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17)

[04ctd]

Sold Out

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7

George Mueller was a man known for building orphanages by faith in the mid-1800s. He raised literally millions of dollars for his orphanages, yet died with little in his own bank account. When asked about his conversion experience he commented,

"I was converted in November of 1825, but I only came into the full surrender of the heart four years later, in July 1829. The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was gone, and the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God, God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him; I wanted nothing else. And by the grace of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God.

I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing with which you have taken up irrespective of God? I read a little of the scriptures before, but preferred other books; but since that time the revelation He has made of Himself has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely Being. Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, God is an infinitely lovely Being!" [Basil Miller, Man of Faith and Miracles (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bethany House Publishers, n.d.)]

Many will never get to the place where George Mueller was in his spiritual life, because we are unwilling to release control of these areas of which he speaks.

If we do release control, it usually is due to a process that God brings us through. Paul got knocked off a horse and was spoken to personally before he was willing to listen and follow completely. Peter had to live with Jesus three years and he still denied Him. It was only later, after he denied Jesus and realized how weak he was in his own faith, that he became fully committed to the Savior.

What will it take for you to fully surrender? You will know that you have given full surrender when power, money, and position no longer have meaning in your life. Paul said he came to a place where his life was the life of Christ only. It is a sacrificial life, but it is also a life of freedom, purpose, and meaning. Let God take full control and see His life lived fully through you.

[04ctd]

Second Chances


..."I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Jonah 4:2

Have you ever gone through a time of disobedience with God? Jonah was a prophet of God who decided he didn't want to prophesy for the Lord. God wanted him to deliver a message to Nineveh to warn them against impending destruction if they didn't turn from their ways. Jonah had developed a hardened heart toward the people of Nineveh. He didn't really care if they repented or not; so rather than travel to Nineveh and deliver the message, he hopped a boat in the opposite direction. You probably know the rest of the story. He was eaten by a fish and spent a few days thinking about his decision.

There is a place where we all will obey. What circumstances must take place for us to become obedient? For some of us, it requires a good shakeup. For Jonah, it required a big shakeup because he was God's man to save 120,000 people. He was chosen by God to be used by God, and God didn't give up on him.

God understands our disobedient heart. He sees what we really are; yet He gives second chances. God gave Jonah a second chance. He gave the people of Nineveh a second chance. It is a lesson of love from a heavenly Father who specializes in second chances. Have you blown it? Have you disappointed someone close to you? God is the God of second chances. All we have to do is acknowledge our waywardness. He will restore. He will give grace. Ask Him.

[04ctd]

Remedy for Depression


"To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:2-3 NKJV).

A 1988 article in Psychology Today reported on an experiment involving 1700 women under stress. The women participated in various projects that involved helping other people. Within 30 days, 85 percent of the women reported that they had been relieved of stress symptoms that included "stress-related disorders such as headaches, voice loss and even pain accompanying lupus and multiple sclerosis."*

I suspect many people could save thousands of dollars on therapy and antidepressants if they would just take time to serve others. The best way to get beyond our pain is to get outside of it. I discovered this in my own journey through a particular dark time. I decided to serve others even though I was in great emotional pain. This had a remarkable positive effect on my emotional state.

When we refocus our attention on the needs of others when we ourselves are in turmoil, it allows the burden of our circumstance to be removed from us. The more one focuses on their own problem the more likely you are to become depressed.

Isaiah understood a principle that is still valid today. If you find yourself depressed because of a circumstance in your life, take Isaiah's advice-begin to praise the Lord in spite of the circumstances you see. Then you will see the spirit of heaviness begin to be lifted.



*Allan Luks, "Helper's High: Volunteering Makes People Feel Good, Physically and Emotionally," Psychology Today, October 1988. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...v22/ai_6652854 (accessed April 2006).

[04ctd]

Wrestling With God

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." - Genesis 32:24

All that Jacob had lived for was coming down to one event - his reunion with Esau. More than 20 years had passed since Jacob had manipulated his father's blessing away from his brother Esau. During these years God had been changing Jacob from a controller and manipulator to a man who was learning to trust God. He was now ready to meet Esau. However, he was fearful that Esau might take revenge on him and his family for his past sin, so he sent a gift ahead, while he retreated and sought mercy from God.

As an angel appeared to Jacob, he realized the only hope he had was in God. Only if God blessed him would he survive this ordeal. In the past, Jacob would have sought to solve his problem his way. Now, he wanted only God's way. He wanted Him so badly that he wouldn't let go of the angel. He was striving with God, but it was the right kind of striving.

Jacob was striving to have all God's blessing on his life. He was seeking God with all that he had. "When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man" (Genesis 32:25). The only way to overcome the strong will of this man was to physically immobilize him. The angel touched the socket of Jacob's hip.

It was painful; it broke him. This was the final stage of removing the old nature from Jacob. It was the place of complete brokenness and surrender. No longer would Jacob walk in his own strength. He would now have to lean on a cane, symbolic of his leaning on God alone.

It was the final act from God in Jacob's life that was celebrated with a new name - Israel. No longer would he strive with God or man. The process was now complete. God could now bless this man abundantly. He gave him favor with Esau and restored their broken relationship.

What does God have to do in our lives to remove the controlling and manipulative nature that so often is part of a workplace believer's life? Perhaps it will require a time of immobilizing, loss of a job, loss of income, loss of health, and loss of a close relationship.

These are His methods of preparation. Your new nature will not be complete until you've stopped striving with God through your own self-efforts. If God is taking you through this process, be encouraged; it is because of the inheritance He has prepared for you. However, the inheritance can only be received when God brings us to total dependence on Him.

[04ctd]

Loving God Word



Let us now turn our attention to Psalm 119 and see what God has to teach us about the benefits of loving His word.

Probably the greatest need that we have is for understanding.
Whether the issues are personal or business conditions, we are just little children before God, deeply and profoundly needing His wisdom. Look what Psalm 119 has to say about God's word as a source of wisdom:

18. ÔÇ£Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in your law."
24. "Your decrees are my delight and my counselors."
32. "I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding."
45. ÔÇ£I will walk freely in the open place because I seek your precepts.ÔÇØ
66. ÔÇ£Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on your commands.ÔÇØ

Verse 32 tells us that pursuing the way of God's commands leads to a broadening of our understanding. I donÔÇÖt know about you, but my understanding needs to be broadened. This verse tells us that pursuing God's word will lead to a broadening of our understanding, which I desperately need.

Verse 24 amplifies that need for understanding, telling us that God's commands - His decrees - are our counselors. God's Holy Spirit will take the Scriptures and apply them to the particular problems we are facing. The Holy Spirit will counsel us through God's Scriptures.

In verse 18, we are asking God to open our eyes that we might see wonderful things in the Scriptures. As we see those wonderful things, the Scriptures become our delight as discussed in verse 24.

Verse 66 teaches us that relying on God's commands (His Scriptures) is an avenue for Him to teach us good judgment and discernment. Again, we see the Holy Spirit working through the Scriptures to teach us good judgment and discernment.

Do we lack wisdom in dealing with our life and business situations? Do we need understanding as to how to navigate the shoals in front of our ship? Do we need God's discernment to teach us how to choose the best? These passages teach us that God's Scriptures are the source for the understanding that we so desperately need.

God's Holy Spirit takes the Word of God to teach us the things of God to transform us into the image of Christ, so that we can serve Him effectively in the marketplace and our homes. Be sure to spend time in God's Word every day. ItÔÇÖs critical.

[04ctd]

Seeing the Ordinary as Extraordinary


"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Our Lord never saw the mundane activities as ordinary. Whether He healed the sick or sat around the fire with the disciples, He did not see one activity as spiritual and the other non-spiritual. Life was lived as a holy service to His Heavenly Father.

Many times we fall prey to a spiritual hierarchy mentality. We believe certain activity is more blessed by God because it is done under a spiritual guise. We conduct our Christian meetings and conclude one is blessed by God based on attendance. We work to give money to ministry when we fail to recognize the very work we do is ministry.

God's glory can be expressed in the most common task. Whether washing the dishes or changing diapers or driving to the grocery store. When we begin to assign spiritual value to activities we begin to give greater importance to those activities we deem spiritually higher in the hierarchy.

Philip was in the midst of a major crusade when the Holy Spirit abruptly instructed him to stop and go to a desert road.

"Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said." "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.

This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it'" (Acts 8:26-29). We see in this story that neither activity was more important than the other. Philip's job was to live in communion with the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His promptings
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Today, view every activity you do with an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus.

[04ctd]

Originally Posted by 04ctd

we fail to recognize the very work we do is ministry.

Today, view every activity you do with an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus.

i think an example of this is Griffin Transmission, when I tell someone to go there, or they have been there, Robert has taken care of them in such a way to be a blessing to them.

[04ctd]

To Know My Ways


"That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest'" (Hebrews 3:10-11).

Technology is supposed to make our ability to accomplish things easier and make us more productive. I love the technology gadgets available to us today. In twenty years these will seem as old and archaic as the eight track player. (See, some of you don't know what that is.)

Research reveals that the average person is working much longer hours today because we literally can work from anywhere. Our technology allows us to stay in constant contact with others, which means we are always on call. Unless we intentionally set boundaries, we will never rest from our work.

God got angry with the people of Israel because they did not know His ways. They failed to recognize the boundaries He had set for them that would ensure a spiritual and physically successful life. They chose to disregard His ways. This disobedience led to their inability to enter God's rest.

God's rest means that we can actually do our work and still be refreshed through His Spirit in our inner man. It is the opposite of sweat and toil. It means that the fruit of our work comes as a result of abiding in the vine of His grace and power. Jesus said you can do nothing (worthwhile) unless you are connected to the vine.

In order to do this you and I must do two things. We must understand His ways and we must do His ways. When we follow these two things, we will begin to experience His supernatural rest in all of our endeavors.

[04ctd]

The Marketplace Psalm


"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1).

In February 2001 Sales and Marketing magazine did a survey and found that among those surveyed:

58% cheat on expense reports
50% work a second job on company time
36% rush closed deals through accounting before they were really closed
22% list a "strip bar" as a restaurant on an expense report
19% give a kickback to a customer

If Psalm 15 were the core value of every business plan and purpose statement and reviewed with every employee before hiring, the workplace would be a very different place. What type of person can live in the presence of God? The psalmist tells us:

"He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken" (Psalm 15:2-5).

Are you blameless in your approach to your work life? Are you truthful in all your dealings? Do you treat customers, vendors and fellow employees as your neighbor? Do you say what you do truthfully and do what you say? Do you follow through even if the outcome may not be positive? Will you lend money without usury to a friend and refuse a bribe? If you can say yes to these questions then you are a Psalm 15 man or woman and you can dwell on God's Holy hill.

Friend, pray that God makes this psalm a part of your life and begin to ask God to show you how to live this chapter in all you do. Amen.

[04ctd]

When God Seems Far Away


"Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" - Psalm 10:1

One of the great mysteries of God is His ways. Some of His ways almost appear to bring us into the most difficult places, as if He were indifferent to our circumstances. It would appear that He is turning His head from our sorrows. These events in our lives have a particular objective to perform for us. That objective is to bring us to the end of ourselves that we might discover the treasure of darkness. "Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness" (Job 30:26).

When we are taken into these dark periods, we begin to see light that we never knew existed. Our sensitivities become heightened and our ability to see through spiritual eyes is illuminated. Unless we are taken into these times, our souls never develop any depth of character. We do not gain wisdom, only knowledge. Knowledge is gained through understanding; wisdom is gained through the experience of darkness.

After we go through these periods, we discover that God was, in fact, with us throughout the entire time. It does not feel or appear that He is there when we are in the midst of the dark periods. However, He is there walking with us. He has told us countless times that He will never leave us. However, when we are in those dark periods, it does not feel like He is there because He does not rescue us from the circumstances.

He does this for our benefit in order that we might become more like Jesus. Jesus learned obedience from the things He suffered (see Hebrews 5:8). What does that say about how you and I will learn obedience? Embrace the dark times and gain the wisdom that God intends for you from these times.

[04ctd]

Passing The Test


The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors - to David. - 1 Samuel 28:17b

When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in the leader's life. God often takes each leader through four major tests to determine if that person will achieve God's ultimate call on his or her life. The person's response to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in God's Kingdom.

Control - Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer was a vessel God could use.

Bitterness - Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas' feet. Every anointed leader will have a Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we will respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass.

Power - Power is the opposite of servant hood. Jesus had all authority in Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community, "He who has the gold rules." Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the ultimate servant leader.

Greed - This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great blessing. Many leaders started out well - only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually under prosperity.

As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for God's grace today to walk through these tests victoriously.

[04ctd]

Sweating Outcomes


"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves." - Psalm 127:2

Coming into the Promised Land in business will change the way you and I view our work. No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God's way. Living in the Promised Land in work means we know that God is the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him. Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself. Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet. "Could this really be true?" you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision. Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief. We are saying that it is up to us to make things happen. Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision. If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need. This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented workplace believers.

I recall coming into this understanding. I had been a workaholic. Long hours were common. Then God shook up my world and I was challenged by a friend to examine my motives for working long hours. I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I'd never make things happen if I worked a normal work week. Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God's ways.

The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God's ways. Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.

[04ctd]

BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE

Psalms 112: 1 "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."
Everyone that fears the Lord must first have a understanding that there is a GOD to fear. One must understand that the Lord is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Immutable and ever caring for his Children.
I believe that those that fear the Lord will live a life that others can see a Lord Driven life. I ask myself many times, "Am I living a life that the Lord is recognized by the world? Is my life a witness of what the Lord is like?" If we are truly honest with our answer, we all probably find places in our daily walk that is not CHRIST LIKE.
Remember, the truth about us is not what people say about us, it is what God knows about us that is truth. The US Army once has a recruiting slogan they used that said, "BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE!" I would say that this should be a daily aim as we live our lives; we should have a desire to BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE FOR THE LORD. God bless you all as you walk with the Lord.

[04ctd]

a good rule of thumb: "money is never a good reason to do anything"
no matter wht, if you something just for money, your heart is not in it, and it always seems to back fire.
and it costs more to get OUT than you ever made/saved

do it right, do it once, don't have to do it over.


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Avoiding the Gibeonite Ruse


"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD" (Joshua 9:14).

When Joshua and the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they fought many battles. In fact, they fought 39 battles in the Promised Land compared to only two in their exodus from Egypt. God instructed them to wipe out all their enemies completely. The more battles they won, the more their reputation preceded them as they entered new territories. Such was the case when Joshua and the people came into the land where the Gibeonites lived. The Gibeonites knew they were as good as dead if they didn't do something. So, they dressed up in old, worn clothes and posed as foreigners passing through. They asked Joshua and the people to make a peace treaty with them. An interesting thing happened.

The scriptures tell us that Joshua and the people made a treaty with them because they did not inquire of God about these people. They assumed what they said was true. This turned out to be a very bad assumption. They were now forced to abide by this treaty after they discovered their true identity. They had been deceived. The Israelites were forced to make the Gibeonites slaves. This created a problem for Joshua and the people. The deception resulted because Joshua failed to keep a vertical focus with God. Joshua did not ask God about these people.

They now had to pay the consequences. Those consequences resulted in having to work to avoid cross-tribal marriages while they had to make an entire people their slaves. This was something God never intended them to have to do. The relationship was a source of compromise for the Israelites that made them susceptible to future compromises.

Many of us fall for the Gibeonite Ruse in our lives. It may be a great looking investment, a job that's going to pay more, or a relationship that you deeply desire. Sooner or later we all get entangled in our own Gibeonite Ruse because we fail to inquire of God.

[04ctd]

Knowing and Doing GodÔÇÖs Will


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

George Mueller was a pastor in England during the nineteenth century who knew what it meant to live a life that was focused on knowing and doing the will of God. God led him in a walk of faith that has become an incredible testimony to all who hear his story.

Whenever he lacked for something, he prayed for the resources. During his ministry in Bristol, England, George built four orphan houses that cared for 2,000 children at the time. When he died at the age of 93, over 10,000 children had been provided for through his orphanages, and he had distributed over eight million dollars that had been given to him in answer to prayer.

How did he know and do the will of God?

"I never remember a period that I ever sincerely and patiently sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been always directed rightly." Here is how George summed up the way he entered into a "heart" relationship with God and learned to discern God's voice:

1) "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.

2) Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3) I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined.

4) Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5) I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

Thus, (1) through prayer to God, (2) the study of the Word, and (3) reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly."*

Consider these five steps when discerning God's voice in your life.



*Henry Blackaby, Claude King, Experiencing God, Lifeway Press, Nashville, TN, p. 33, 34

[04ctd]

Christ Like


2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

What life are you living today, a godly life or a life that God cannot be seen? There are many today that claim to be Christian that they believe in God. Well, let me say that just because a person believes in God does not make them a Christian. If it did, the devil would be a Christian, because in James 2:19, the Word of God tell us, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." I believe one sure way to tell is someone is a Christian is seeing what they do for God.

A Christians is one that is Christ like, so with that being the definition of the word, "Christian," being Christ like letÔÇÖs look at the life of Christ and see just what did He do. He loved, unconditionally, He had concern for all, He witnessed of a life in Christ, and the Judgment of Sinners that chose not to accept Christ as Savior. He comforted many people, but greatest of all that Jesus did, He was a witness of God and for God the Father. Now because of all these good things that He did and what He stood for, HE SUFFERED PERSECUTION!

So I ask you this question, are you suffering persecution for your walk with the Lord. I believe we have a great indicator, something to show us just how much we are living for the Lord by the Suffering Persecution Meter. No persecution, very little or no godly life nor witness for the Lord. If your suffering persecution because youÔÇÖre a witness and live a godly life.

I love Matthew chapter 5, verses 11 through 13,
11 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 ÔÇ£You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

Hey, step up to the "Suffering Persecution Meter" today and see just how much youÔÇÖre living for God.

[04ctd]

Training for Obedience
By Bill Money


"... For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.ÔÇØ Hebrews 12:6

"No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Don Bell tells a story of a pack horse that was very self-willed (Guideposts, August 1992).

The horse was determined to do things his way. He gave Don a lot of trouble when Don was getting the pack on the horse. The other horses accepted the packs well, without fussing, but this horse was determined to get his way and fought Don putting on the pack.

The flies were bad that summer. They were climbing up a high narrow trail, about 100 yards above the river, cut into solid rock on the side of the mountain.

When the difficult bronco came to the narrowest place in the trail, he stopped and began kicking at the flies. Suddenly the broncoÔÇÖs hind foot slipped off the catwalk and over the cliff he went. Don figured he was dead.

After getting the rest of the horses to camp he went back to check on the horse. As he was going down the river, here the old bronco came toward him, glad to see him. Don checked him over and he looked okay. The next day the horse was stiff and lame, but nothing was broken. He never gave them any trouble after that. By the end of the season he was one of their top horses.

Sometimes you and I are like that horse. We are determined to get our own way. We fight and kick when God tries to put a pack saddle on us to carry a load that is important to Him, but perhaps we do not want or are afraid of.

We can get pretty obstinate. And sometimes, God lets us fall off a cliff where we get banged up a bit (or a lot) but not killed. If we are smart, we will use the fall as a wake-up call to change our attitude and change our behavior, like the horse did.

We can then become one of God's top servants. But wouldn't it be better to avoid the cliff in the first place? Wouldn't it be better to submit to God's authority the first time, instead of His having to let us fall off a cliff to bring us into submission?

You see, He is determined that we become like Jesus (Romans 8:29). And Jesus did not do anything except what He saw the Father doing. (John 5:19) Obedience is how we carry out the greatest commandment, which is to love God wholeheartedly.

Falling down a cliff is hard, and hurts a lot. I have gone down entirely too many of them because of my stubbornness and self-will. There is a better way: it is called choosing to obey, and prompt obedience is best

[04ctd]

Hebrew Word Pictures - Thirst
The Hebrew pictures for the word thirst are tsadik (hook), mem (water), and alef (strong). So the Hebrew word picture for thirst is ÔÇ£hooked by water stronglyÔÇØ.
We are reminded of those old cowboy shows on TV when the cowboy is stranded in the desert, his horse is gone, he is hot and sunburned, he turns up his canteen to try and get the last tiny drop of water. We can imagine the cowboy would understand perfectly the word picture for thirst, ÔÇ£hooked by water stronglyÔÇØ. We can certainly understand that literal concept of being thirsty. But what about the spiritual understanding of the concept of being thirsty.
John 4:14
But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life."
Jesus spoke these words to the Samaritan woman at the well but He is speaking to us today as well. He is saying to stop thirsting for your salvation somewhere else.
Jesus offers something infinitely better than Ponce de LeonÔÇÖs Fountain of Youth, Jesus offers us the Fountain of Eternal Life.
If the literal thirst means to be hooked by water strongly, how much more should we be spiritually thirsty and hooked on the living water? The well that never will run dry.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.
God has promised that if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, for the truth, for the living water, we will be filled to overflowing, filled in profusion, in abundance with knowledge of Him and His ways, then streams of living water will flow from deep within us
John 7:38
As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'"
Hebrew word picture for thirst, ÔÇ£hooked by water stronglyÔÇØ ÔÇô so simple and yet so deep!


--
Shalom Alechem B'Shem Yeshua HaMashiach.
(Peace be unto you in the Name of Jesus the Messiah)

Phil and Patti
www.philandpatti.com.
www.philandpatti.blogspot.com.

"We live by faith, not by sight."
2 Cor 5:7

[04ctd]

Training for Obedience
By Bill Money


"... For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.ÔÇØ Hebrews 12:6

"No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Don Bell tells a story of a pack horse that was very self-willed (Guideposts, August 1992).

The horse was determined to do things his way. He gave Don a lot of trouble when Don was getting the pack on the horse. The other horses accepted the packs well, without fussing, but this horse was determined to get his way and fought Don putting on the pack.

The flies were bad that summer. They were climbing up a high narrow trail, about 100 yards above the river, cut into solid rock on the side of the mountain.

When the difficult bronco came to the narrowest place in the trail, he stopped and began kicking at the flies. Suddenly the broncoÔÇÖs hind foot slipped off the catwalk and over the cliff he went. Don figured he was dead.

After getting the rest of the horses to camp he went back to check on the horse. As he was going down the river, here the old bronco came toward him, glad to see him. Don checked him over and he looked okay. The next day the horse was stiff and lame, but nothing was broken. He never gave them any trouble after that. By the end of the season he was one of their top horses.

Sometimes you and I are like that horse. We are determined to get our own way. We fight and kick when God tries to put a pack saddle on us to carry a load that is important to Him, but perhaps we do not want or are afraid of.

We can get pretty obstinate. And sometimes, God lets us fall off a cliff where we get banged up a bit (or a lot) but not killed. If we are smart, we will use the fall as a wake-up call to change our attitude and change our behavior, like the horse did.

We can then become one of God's top servants. But wouldn't it be better to avoid the cliff in the first place? Wouldn't it be better to submit to God's authority the first time, instead of His having to let us fall off a cliff to bring us into submission?

You see, He is determined that we become like Jesus (Romans 8:29). And Jesus did not do anything except what He saw the Father doing. (John 5:19) Obedience is how we carry out the greatest commandment, which is to love God wholeheartedly.

Falling down a cliff is hard, and hurts a lot. I have gone down entirely too many of them because of my stubbornness and self-will. There is a better way: it is called choosing to obey, and prompt obedience is best