Settling Disputes TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman 06-29-2010
"Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart." Proverbs 18:18
We prayed about it. We discussed it. My friend had one desire; I had a different one.
"Okay, let's settle the issue the way the early Church settled matters when an agreement could not be achieved. Let's flip a coin."
"You must be joking!" my friend lamented.
"No, the early Church cast lots often to determine a course of direction or even select the disciple who would take Judas' place."
"Okay," my friend agreed.
We flipped the coin and the matter was quickly settled.
In the Old Testament there are many examples of casting lots for determining a decision. We hear little of this method today. Most of us do not want to release the decision process to this seemingly "flippant" process; yet the Lord says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Prov. 16:33).
Flipping a coin is the equivalent to casting a lot. It removes our own opinions and leaves the final outcome to the Lord. Pray before you take such an action. It will surprise you who is willing to submit a decision to the Lord and who isn't. It removes the element of control from both parties.
I believe the Lord would first have us make decisions through agreement and continued prayer for the decision. However, there are times when this approach can be the quickest and simplest. It removes each person's temptation to lord it over the other. Cast the lot and settle the dispute.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders
Today's Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank you for this new summer day. Thank you for the beautiful sunshine, fluffy clouds, and fresh rains. I am in awe of Your works. The thunderstorms that send lightning and thunder crashing, the wind that comes to dry up the heavy rain, the bumblebee that flies in spite of being too big and heavy for those little wings, the lightning bugs that flicker at night and send children chasing through the yard, the crickets that chirp, and the frogs and birds that sing, the oceans that roar and the mountains so tall, the ant that is so busy and the handicapped who smile and don't even recognize their inabilities. God, you are awesome and you are good. Thank you for happy memories and even the sad ones, for they have helped shape me and increase my trust and dependence on you. With love and faith, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Meeting Social and Spiritual Needs Pastor Adrian Rogers
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." John 6:35
Sometimes people in large churches get a lot of grief from "the world" because of the great expenses of building and maintaining their church. I've heard, "Why didn't they take that money and feed the poor?"
Here's my answer, "People need Jesus." The social gospel thinks that all men need is food. If I had five billion dollars and bought everybody on earth a snack; in several hours, they'd all be hungry again. There's nothing wrong with feeding the poor. We ought to do that. But the social gospel puts an emphasis on what is temporary. The true gospel puts the emphasis upon what is eternal. Folks need more than soup and soap, they need salvation.
Think about ways that you can get involved with the needs to feed, clothe, and house the homeless. Then also find the open door to feed them with the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit http://www.lwf.org/.
Pleasing to the Lord TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman 06-28-2010
"Prepare it with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord." Leviticus 6:21
There is a requirement to be blessed at a deeper spiritual level by God. Christ requires it of each of His servants. He required it of Paul when He struck him down on the Damascus Road. He required it of Joseph when he was left in the pit and then sold into slavery. He required it of Jacob when he left his homeland penniless and needy. He required it of most every major leader that He used significantly - brokenness.
Brokenness cannot be achieved on your own. It is something God does Himself. We cannot determine that we are going to be broken, but we can refuse to become broken. When God begins this deeper work in our lives, we can kick and scream and refuse the process. We can manipulate and strive to stay on top, but this only delays His work.
Pride and mammon are ruling strongholds of the workplace. Brokenness is considered a weak position in the workplace. However, God says until we are broken we cannot be an aroma pleasing to the Lord. God wants you to be an aroma in the workplace. In order for this to happen, you and I must be a broken vessel in His hand. Pray that God would allow you to become a pleasing aroma to Him no matter the cost.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36
Daniel Chapter 11: 29-33
"At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands [d] will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33 "Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Life Application Bible Study Notes
Those who are wise will teach many, but they will also face great persecution. Difficult times remind us of our weaknesses and our inability to cope. We want answers, leadership, and clear direction. During these times, God's word begins to interest even those who would never look at it. We should be ready to use our opportunities to share God's Word in needy times. We must also be prepared to face persecution and rejection as we teach and preach.
God's message describes a time of trail when even wise believers may stumble. This could mean (1) falling into sin (2) being fearful and losing faith (3) mistakenly following wrong teaching, or (4) experiencing severe suffering and martyrdom. If we persevere in our faith, and such experiences will only refine us and make us stronger. Are you facing trails? Recognize them as opportunities to strengthen your faith. If we remain steadfast in these experiences, we will be stronger in our faith and closer to God.
Sometimes people perceive a desire as a necessity. The heart can become so consumed with a craving that fulfilling it feels critical to well-being. Then, when God does not meet the "need," anger and frustration result.
Believers wondering why they have been neglected should honestly answer one question: "Is my petition essential to accomplishing God's purpose, or is it only for my enjoyment?" Beyond basics like food and shelter, necessities might include counseling for a troubled marriage or money for a mission trip. If we can't complete the Lord's plan without something, then it is a need, and He will answer when we pray for Him to fulfill that requirement (Phil. 4:19).
God is also pleased to satisfy desires that fit within the confines of His purpose and will (Ps. 37:4). The things we long for bring pleasure, entertainment, or a sense of joy. Many are good and worth pursuing, but they become troublesome when we deem them essential for our plans. God isn't obligated to grant wishes or fulfill any plans but His own. However, He says that those who seek Him won't lack any good thing (34:10). Pursuing the Lord above all else means making our desires subject to His will. And when we "delight in the Lord" (37:4), He'll also shape our desires to be most beneficial.
The heavenly Father wants to be His children's greatest delight—the One in whom fulfillment and satisfaction are found. When that is true in a believer's life, then he or she does not require a lot of "stuff," entertainment, or people in order to be happy. Joy is in the Lord.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit In Touch Ministries
My God Shall Provide
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
06-25-2010
"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Have you ever gone through a time of complete dependence on God for your material needs? Perhaps you lost a job and could not generate income on your own. Perhaps you got sick and could not work. There are circumstances in our lives that can put us in this place.
When God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt through the desolate desert, they had no ability to provide for themselves. God met their needs supernaturally each day by providing manna from Heaven. Each day they would awake to one day's portion of what they needed. This was a season in their lives to learn dependence and the faithfulness of God as provider. By and by, they entered the Promised Land. When they did, God's "supernatural provision" was no longer required. "The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan" (Josh. 5:12). In both cases God was the provider of the need.
For most of us, we derive our necessities of life through our work. Like the birds of the fields we are commanded to go out and gather what God has already provided. It is a process of participation in what God has already provided. Sometimes it appears it is all up to us; sometimes it appears it is all up to God. In either case we must realize that the Lord is our provider; the job is only an instrument of His provision. He requires our involvement in either case.
"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today" (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have today. He is a faithful provider. Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
My days are gone, and my plans have been destroyed, along with desires of my heart. These men think night is day; when it is dark, they say, 'Light is near.' If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in darkness, if I say to the grave, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother' or 'You are my sister,' where, then, is my hope? who can see any hope for me? Will hope go down to ther gates of death? Will we go down together into the dust? Job 17: 11-16
JUNE 24
Uprooting Toxic Bitterness Pastor Adrian Rogers
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
Bitterness is an emotional cancer that consumes many a person who once had the bloom of eternal springtime in his heart. Where does it come from? Usually from being hurt. Perhaps you were abused as a child, rejected by someone, fired from a job, or even bypassed at church.
Bitterness sets in when the hurt goes unresolved. There is a solution. If you've been wronged and bitterness has become so strong that you can almost taste its bile within your mouth, then it's time to pursue it with a holy vengeance. With the Spirit's spade, root it out. Draw a circle that takes in those who have wronged you. Forgive them for Christ's sake!
Bow before the Lord this morning and ask for grace and power to uproot the bitterness that has taken hold in your heart and is robbing you of the joy you desire .
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
The Choice by Max Lucado
IT’S QUIET. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.
In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love . . .
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy . . .
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace . . .
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience . . .
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness . . .
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness . . .
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness . . .
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness . . .
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control . . .
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
From When God Whispers Your Name Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1999) Max Lucado
The Cleansing, Healing Work of the Holy Spirit Pastor Adrian Rogers
"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise." Jeremiah 17:14
There are two kinds of wounds to the human psyche. One is sorrow; the other is guilt.
Sorrow is a clean wound. Somehow your heart will heal as the Holy Spirit applies His healing balm. He will pour in "the oil of gladness." Time and the grace of God will heal.
But guilt is dirty and will never heal until it is confessed and cleansed by the antiseptic of Calvary. A slave only fears his master's whip, but a son fears his father's displeasure.
Are you suffering under a load of guilt? Allow the Holy Spirit to expose your sin. Then confess it and experience the joy of forgiveness in Christ.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org
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Reflections Of The Father's Heart Glenn H. Jackson June 23rd 2010
+ Ungodly [unrighteous] counsel ALWAYS has its root in the pride and selfishness [self-serving ways] of the one administering the "counsel" - and leads one further away from My Will rather than into the fullness of it.
...."How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish".... Psalms 1:1-6 NASB
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Ignoring the Conscience Dr. Charles Stanely 1 Timothy 1:18-19; 4:1-2
Are you making certain choices today that your conscience would not have allowed in the past? If that's the case, you may have become desensitized over time. This is a dangerous place to be.
As we discussed yesterday, God uses our internal "moral compass" along with the Holy Spirit's guidance to direct our daily choices. The conscience serves as an "alarm system," intervening when a Christian is about to take part in ungodly behavior. In that way, it offers protection. But sin can throw off the system's sensitivity.
The insidious process begins if we choose to disobey and then refuse to deal with our rebellion. The conscience warns us repeatedly, but it will eventually become "gummed up" and ineffective if we persist in ignoring the distress signal. When that happens, there are no longer any signals from the heart to point us back toward godliness. In other words, the conscience has become seared.
This situation is akin to removing all traffic lights from a busy intersection: it is a recipe for disaster. If you are at this place, get on your knees and repent, immersing yourself in God's Word and bathing your life in prayer. Pursue accountability and fellowship with other believers. A healthy conscience is worth the effort.
Are your internal signals in good working order, or have they become muffled? Don't delay. Scripture warns us that we have a real Enemy who desires to lure us away from godliness and into destruction. God uses a clear conscience to guide, protect, and lead us into His light and peace.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
SITUATION Jesus looked toward the Passover and his death. He prepared his disciples by teaching them and spending time alone in prayer.
OBSERVATION Jesus willingly obeyed God during the events leading up to his death. This obedience made salvation possible.
INSPIRATION Consider the holiness of Christ. We need this first of all to be firmly grounded in our security in Christ . . . It is important therefore that we understand the righteousness of Christ, and the fact that His righteousness is credited to us.
On numerous occasions the Scriptures testify that Jesus during His time on earth lived a perfectly holy life. . .
But the holiness of Jesus was more than simply the absence of actual sin. It was also a perfect conformity of the will of His Father.
It is possible to do the right action from the wrong motive, but this does not please God. Holiness has to do with more than mere acts. Our motives must be holy, that is arising from a desire to do something simply because it is the will of God.
Consider the holiness of Christ, because His life is meant to be an example of holiness for us . . .
Consider then His statement. "I always do what please Him." Do we dare take that as our personal goal in life? Are we truly willing to scrutinize all our activities our goals and plans, and all of our impulsive actions in the light of this statement: "I am doing this to please God"? . . .
This is the example we are to follow in all of our thoughts, all of our actions, in every part of our character, the ruling principle that motives and guides us should be the desire to follow Christ in doing the will of the Father. This is the high road we must follow in the pursuit of holiness. (From The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges)
APPLICATION Do you really want to follow Christ's example by doing the will of the Father? As you ready and willing to submit your plans, thoughts, and behavior to him? If submitting is difficult for you in a particular area, pray specifically that God will help you.
EXPLORATION Loyalty and Obedience -- Joshua 22:2-5; Psalm 119:33-37; John 21:15-17; Philippians 4:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16.
The Devotional Bible - Max Lucado General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, New Century Version
Jesus Identifies with Our Needs Dr. Charles Stanley
Hebrews 4:14-16
We often forget that during His stay on earth, Jesus identified with us—not only in meeting our needs but also in experiencing His own. Although Christ was fully God, He was at the same time completely human, with all of humanity's weaknesses except for sin.
When Jesus had finished a 40-day fast in the wilderness, He experienced physical hunger and an onslaught of temptation from the Devil (Matt. 4:1-2). Later, after an exhausting day of healing, teaching, and feeding a crowd of more than 5,000, the Son of God required time alone with His Father for spiritual refreshment (Matt. 14:23). And in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ was under tremendous spiritual and emotional pressure as He faced the ordeal of paying for the sins of mankind through His death on a cross (Matt. 26:38-39).
In each weakness, Jesus turned to His Father. The Word of God was His defense in temptation, prayer was His source of strength for ministry, and submission to the Father's will was His pathway to victory over sin and death. By passing through every difficult situation without sin, He became our High Priest, who intercedes for us and invites us to draw near to the God's throne for help in time of need.
Whatever your needs may be, you can follow Christ's example and experience the Father's provision. The Word of God is your protection, prayer is your strength, and submission to the Father is the way to victory over sin. Draw near with confidence, and let the Lord shower you with His grace.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
Today's passage presents an interesting paradox. Paul promises the Philippians that God will supply all their needs (v. 19) yet admits that he has experienced times of want (v. 12). To reconcile these two statements, let's consider God's divine viewpoint.
Paul wrote these words from a prison cell—a place of great physical discomfort. From a human perspective, we would all agree that God should have provided for Paul by relieving his suffering. But instead, the Lord taught him contentment in this difficult situation. Although his physical discomfort remained, a greater need for a changed attitude was met.
A change of heart toward ongoing suffering is a huge challenge. On our own, it's impossible, but the Lord promises to strengthen us through Christ. By living in dependence and submission to Him, we gain His power to overcome our negative, sinful attitudes and learn contentment in all kinds of situations.
Our problem is not that the Lord won't provide for us, but that we so often fail to understand what our deepest needs are. God sees from an unlimited perspective and works for our eternal good, providing for us according to His good purposes from the limitless supply of "His riches in glory."
Instead of merely pleading with God to take away your difficulty, try asking Him to strengthen you through it. Although He may not always deliver you from trials, you can count on Him to work in you to produce contentment, no matter what your external needs may be.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org
God's Authority TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman 06-21-2010
"I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on Me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me...." - John 14:30-31
There is a constant war going on between our flesh and the Spirit. As Christians, the Spirit seeks to move us under the authority of His domain in order for us to fulfill all that we were created for. Every person was designed to be under some form of authority. Jesus modeled this in His own life. He lived under the authority of His heavenly Father. He made no independent decisions. He, unlike us, was sinless and always remained under His Father's authority. He acknowledged that the prince of this world has a hold on many, but did not have a hold on Jesus.
The prince of this world does have his hold on many in our world, even among our brothers and sisters. The one thing most of us want the greatest is the freedom to make our own decisions. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when the decision was made to exercise a personal right: freedom to decide, freedom of choice, freedom from hindrances, freedom from pain. However, Jesus chose to live under the authority of the Father's desire for His life. He was the ultimate model of a man under authority.
Each day we must determine if we'll willingly choose to be under the authority of the Father and the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is a choice each of us must make. It is a choice that actually leads to freedom, not bondage. Choosing to live under the authority of our heavenly Father frees us to gain the greatest fulfillment in life-His mission and the purposes He has for us. It is the little decisions of daily life that reveal whether we truly live under His authority.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders
This weekend is Father’s Day when hopefully earned appreciation is expressed for meaningful and positive contributions on the part of dads. I don’t think anyone questions the fact that missing fathers is the major reason for many of society’s failures. You don’t have to examine the inner city or areas of poverty without readily noticing the absence of men in their rightful place within the family unit. This is one reason I have such great appreciation for pastors and church leaders like my good friend Dr. Tony Evans at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship who has put in place very effective mentoring programs that affect public school students who are so often in homes where dad is missing.
I understand the negative effect and the sadness in a child’s life when the father is nowhere to be found. Some of you are familiar with the fact that the man who forcefully impregnated my 41-year-old mother Myra was an alcoholic. To say I never knew him is no exaggeration. I know that even at age 66 I still deal with challenging issues related to his absence.
I always felt I would have been a good “best little buddy” for a dad who simply wasn’t there. I must add very quickly, however, that somehow perhaps with the few years of exposure to Rev. H.D. Hale, a pastor who welcomed me into his home and gave me the privilege of calling him “daddy,” I did come to know the ultimate Father. This Father, who is God Almighty, invites all of us to know Him personally and in such an intimate fashion that we can call Him “Abba, Father” which is another expression for “daddy.” I have developed a very meaningful and transforming relationship with my heavenly Father. He is without a doubt my very best friend, and yes, I know He loves me and He makes me aware of it on a daily basis.
I do believe that the absence of my earthly father has led me to an understanding of the importance of dads in the home, but also how imperative it is that we have a personal relationship with God the Father. When I look at the fruit of my marriage to Betty and look back over my life as a father, I can honestly ask if I did many things really right, especially when I didn’t have the parental guidance in my own life that is so important. I can easily find areas where I know I absolutely missed the mark. Yet when I look at the beautiful lives our children live and the loving leadership they provide for their children, I have to think we must have done something right. One thing I know beyond any doubt is that during our journey as parents, our children were inspired or motivated through some wonderful influence to look beyond me and see theFather, the One who is perfect in every way. They not only saw Him, they were drawn to Him and fell in love with Him. They have imparted that love to our grandchildren and it is beautiful to behold.
I share this with the hope that anyone who faces seemingly impossible challenges can see that through the grace and power of a loving Father you can still have a stable, secure and joyful life. I know this beyond any doubt firsthand.
There are a few experiences with my father I think might be important to share. During my late teens Joe Bailey Robison (my earthly father) spent several years in prison for various crimes. When Betty and I knew we were to marry, my birth mother would not sign consent papers. At the time of our marriage in 1963 parental consent was required for anyone under 21 years of age. My father signed the consent papers while in prison. There was no doubt Betty and I were to marry even at age 19. I’ve often said, “Thank God my father finally did something meaningful for me by enabling me to marry the beautiful, precious person I have spent my life with.” You can read our story in a book to be released in September relating our 47 years of marriage entitled Living in Love. I believe you will find it very inspirational, and especially enjoy hearing Betty express her heart, as so many friends have shared the desire to know her better and hear her more often and more fully.
After Betty and I had been married a few years and had a beautiful little girl, Rhonda, my alcoholic father suddenly entered our lives. He moved to the Houston area and I tried to get him help with a ministry working with addicts. He did not make positive progress. One day as I drove home from San Jacinto Junior College where I was attending, I saw a man lying in the gutter face down. I pulled my car over to see if I could help and as I knelt down and rolled the man over looking into his face, I realized it was my own father. He was in such a drunken stupor, he had fallen face down by the curb. With the help of another passerby, I was able to get him into the car. I took him to the house (a mobile home that Betty and I were living in) and I put a chair in front of the trailer, because I could not trust my own father in the house with my wife and little girl while I was in school. That is a very sad reality and tragically I sense that it is the story of many today.
A few days later I put him in a room and provided the money for food and asked for someone to look after him while I took care of my family and attended classes. One afternoon when I dropped by to see him, I found that he had coerced some of the people near the complex to go and buy him some alcohol. He had gotten so drunk he couldn’t get out of bed, and he had actually thrown up all over his shirt. I remember as though it were yesterday dropping down on my knees by the bed and pulling my alcoholic father, a man I had never known, who had never told me he loved me, never bought me a bite of food, a pair of shoes, or provided anything in my behalf. I pulled his chest up against mine and looked in his eyes and bearded face and said, “I don’t know you, but I love you and I really want the best for you.”
I told him about Jesus and how much God loved him. Over the coming months and years, I never saw a change in my father. I actually witnessed to him a few days before he put his head on the pillow, fell asleep and died that night. He had scleroses of the liver and diabetes from extreme alcoholism.
I have often hoped that some day when I get to heaven and see the throngs around Jesus, there will be a hand waving through the crowd and a voice shouting, “Son, look here! It’s your dad!” and discover that somehow in the last days or hours after I had witnessed to him, he actually invited Jesus into his heart and came to know God the Father. Yes, I believe that’s possible because we have a God so full of amazing grace. That would be one of the joyful surprises in heaven if my father was there.
I wish there had been a dad in my life, but I am so grateful to know the Father that anyone can know. He is so indescribably awesome, so full of love and mercy. He offers forgiveness and life to every person on earth and I want everyone to know that with all the gratitude we should have for fathers who were in place and did their best, we must recognize that if somehow they helped point us to the Father, it’s the greatest gift a parent can offer a child. This grace gift is available to you and everyone you know.
I pray that you have a father you can express some form of gratitude and appreciation for on this special weekend. But above all, give thanks to God the Father for His love and the fact that regardless of our background or the painful experiences of a childhood, we can all know a heavenly Father in the most personal way.
Dads, may I close by saying one of the greatest expressions of security you can give your child is to show them how much you love their mom? Thanks to God and thanks to every father seeking to love their spouse and their children in a meaningful way.
May God help all of us to know the Father more fully and express His love more freely. Have a blessed Father’s Day and live to share the blessings of the heavenly Father with others.
Perhaps you will appreciate and be encouraged by the following truths from “Father God’s Love Letter” (www.fathersloveletter.com):
Father God’s Love Letter to You
These words come from the very heart of God. He loves you, and He is the One you have been looking for all your life. Celebrate His love…
My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you - Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up - Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways - Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered - Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image - Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being - Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring - Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived - Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation - Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book - Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live - Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14
And brought you forth on the day you were born - Psalm 71:6
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you - 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father - 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could - Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father - Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand - James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs - Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope - Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love - Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore - Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing - Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you - Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession - Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul - Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things - Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me - Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart - Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires - Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine - Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you - Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart - Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes - Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth - Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus - John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed - John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being - Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you - Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you - 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love - Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me - 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again - Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen - Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father - Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is - Will you be my child? - John 1:12-13
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
Did you know that there is a difference between your mind and your brain? The brain is what the mind thinks with. The relationship of the mind and the brain is very similar to the relationship of a pianist and a piano. The piano is the brain and the pianist is the mind.
The most dangerous thing in the world is a man with a bad mind and a good brain. He is a clever devil.
When you get saved, you don't get a new brain. You get a new mind. And the god of this world will do all he can to distort your mind. Why? Because Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
Dwell today on the true, the honest, the just, the pure, the lovely—think on virtue and praise. Pray for missionaries serving the Lord in other countries - that they will dwell on the truths of the Lord and that their walks will be strong and undeterred from the Lord's mission.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
The Father's Good Gifts Dr. Charles Stanley
Matthew 7:7-11
Today's passage contains one of God's most generous assurances to us. Not only are we granted permission to come to Him with our requests, but He also promises to answer our prayers. However, you may be thinking, If this is true, why hasn't He given me what I asked?
Verses 9-11 hold the key to understanding this passage: "What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? . . . If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Think in terms of parenting. A child may want the latest video game, but his parent knows that a different gift would be better for him. In the same way, the God who made us is more keenly aware of our needs than we are (Matt. 10:30).
Because of spiritual immaturity or the limitations of our humanity, we may ask for what we perceive as good and necessary, when it isn't truly in our best interest. But our loving Father gives what He knows is more beneficial. Many of His gifts are the intangible qualities of a Christlike character, which develops through trials and testing. We may feel He's given us a snake instead of a fish, but the problem is with our lack of understanding, not with God's goodness.
When it seems that the Lord isn't answering your requests, remember that He's a loving Father, and consider what good gifts He is giving instead. Although it may take years to gain an adequate perspective, in time you'll say, "Lord, You were right. Thank You for giving me exactly what I needed."
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org
"And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Psalm 37:6
One preacher was in a church where he felt God had led him. But nothing seemed to be working out, so he wanted to go to another church.
He told a friend, "I know where God put me, and I know God put me here, but I just wonder if He remembers where He put me."
Yes, God remembers! He has not forgotten. He is never late. Don't rush God. Don't think He has abandoned you because your prayers are not answered. He will turn your midnight into a sunrise and your mourning into dancing.
Read Psalm 37:4-7 and rejoice in the hope of God's providence and provision in your life.
photo Tom Curley AP Supporters of the North Korea team cheer during the World Cup match with Brazil in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday
STILL TORTURED IN NORTH KOREA By Dr. Chuck Missler Koinonia House
The images are familiar; listless, skeletal faces of starving adults and children; broken bones and burned flesh; forced labor in barren government prisons; entire families tortured, experimented on and publicly executed for the flimsiest of suspicions of disloyalty to the regime. Yet, these are not pictures from Auschwitz or Dachau 65 years ago. These are images that leak to the outside world from present-day North Korea, the domain of Kim Jung-Il.
One June 14, 2010, a number of human rights organizations issued a joint letter to the European Union urging a "comprehensive, strategic, persistent and well coordinated approach" toward promoting human rights to the North Korean government. North Korea's reign of terror is well known around the world, yet it continues.
The North Korean Freedom Coalition reports that up to 300,000 people have fled North Korea to escape the starvation and absence of basic human rights. An estimated 200,000 more men, women and children are imprisoned in seven political prison and forced labor camps. Two million or more individuals are estimated to have died from lack of food since 1995, and one in five North Korean children under the age of five is said to suffer from malnourishment. When a government denies its people basic rights like food when that food has been offered by international rescue organizations, it is obvious that government has no respect for human life. One can imagine the personal and religious freedoms the people of North Korea are denied.
Four hundred thousand to one million people may have died in North Korea's forced labor prisons since 1972. Untold numbers have been tortured and interrogated over suspicions of holding Christian beliefs or having associated with Christians. Yet Christian insider organizations report that, based on former prisoners' stories of torture and confessions, as many as one in four North Koreans may hold to some sort of Christian belief system. They must conceal this belief from the government, neighbors, and families. In North Korea, even children are encouraged by their school teachers to turn over parents who express Western or Christian sympathies or are in any way disrespectful to the image of their "illustrious" leader.
North Korea's State Religion: According to the CIA, in North Korea "autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom."
The DPRK official website lists two state-sponsored Protestant churches in North Korea's capital of Pyongyang. Yet refugees and religious freedom organizations argue that these churches were built mainly as a showcase to appease international eyes. Free worship or gathering apart from the direct supervision of the government is absolutely forbidden. Possession of the Bible, or any literature resembling a Bible, is outlawed and can lead to immediate arrest and deportation to a prison camp. The sole theological seminary in the country, Pyongyang Divinity School, admits only 10 students every three years. This is Kim Jong-Il's idea of religious freedom.
North Koreans are required to worship Kim as a god. He is to be the object of all their worship. Since the slightest questioning of authority or disrespect for Kim is considered unacceptable, true faith in a God or admiration of any government beyond Kim and his provision is intolerable. To admit that anyone or anything might be greater than the Dear Leader would weaken the power he wields over a tiny, densely-populated country almost devoid of natural resources.
It is because North Korea is so physically isolated - by ocean on two sides, with the heavily patrolled borders of estranged South Korea below and China above - the DRPK's giant, nuclear-equipped military and state-run travel services can control all the comings and goings of citizens, tourists, humanitarian groups and supplies. Kim Jong-Il ensures that food and supplies are doled out first to his family, officers, the military, the police, and any others who are labeled the "loyal" sector of the population. He makes sure those who pledge obeisance in all matters, casual and formal, are served and cared for first. For the sake of their own preservation and the protection of loved ones, sufficient numbers of North Koreans do not question authority or admit allegiance to a religion, God, or ideology that allows for personal responsibility, free will, and mercy.
New Tension with South Korea and China: North Korea's foreign policy under the juche ideology, if it can be called foreign policy, has been a strategy of blaming all outsiders for past oppression, current international hostility and the DPRK's starvation and deprivation. North Korea has always had an aggressive no-outsiders policy toward its neighbors, and relations between North Korea, South Korea, and China have continually deteriorated.
Yet, the Chinese do not offer North Korean refugees any assistance. The Chinese police actively hunt down and return Korean refugees, viewing them as pariahs. Once returned, these refugees may be imprisoned and/or executed. Female refugees who do make it across the border into China have a 70 percent chance of being taken in and sold as brides or otherwise being used in human trafficking.
Recent reports coming from South Korean officials claim that they have forensic evidence which they say proves a North Korean vessel was responsible for the torpedoing and sinking a South Korean Naval ship in March, drawing harsh threats of retaliation from the South and appeals to the US and other international allies to intervene.
A Shift in Power: Kim Jong-Il is believed to have suffered a stroke two years ago, and the world believes he is preparing to publicly infuse his power and image into his 27-year-old son, Kim Jong-Un, who is already a leader in the ruling Worker's Party. Earlier this month, Kim Jong-Il oversaw his sister's husband, Jang Song-thaek, being installed as Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission. On April 15, 2012, North Korea will celebrate the 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the venerated, long-reigning father of both Kim Jong-Il and the current North Korean regime. The celebration will no doubt be a grand display of nationalistic fervor, and experts assume the event will provide a logical opportunity for Kim Jong-Il to present his son as successor to the throne.
What can we do? We can urge our government and humanitarian aid groups to be vigilant for opportunities to make a political impact on North Korea and on the administration of one of the world's cruelest dictators. We can donate to groups that work to bring first-hand help to these suffering people. Most importantly of all, we can pray.
Few of us can imagine the isolation and horror that faces North Korea's Christians. For the sanctity of life, for those who share our longing for a loving, sovereign God, for those who cannot escape - and for those who have yet to realize they should - we cannot give in.
"...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16
When we pray, we should rejoice and thank God that our prayers really do help our precious brother and sisters in chains. Spiritual chains can be broken in the lives of these dear people as we go to our knees. When we pray, they are comforted, protected, fed, healed. When we pray, things happen that promote the Gospel rather than hinder it. When we pray, the Spirit of God works those things behind the scenes that can make all the difference for these beloved people who follow Christ even in the most horrific circumstances.
"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." - Hebrews 13:3
I'm Looking . . . But Which Way? Dr. Rexella Van Impe
What is the first thing you notice about a person? Some would say the color of their hair, their stature or even their weight. I must admit that I am immediately drawn to the eyes. Perhaps this is why I like the statement; The eye is the window of the soul. It was Benjamin Franklin who related this good thought, Learn to be gracious with the eyes; look deep into their eyes, and say with your eyes, I like you.
I especially enjoy looking into the eyes of children. Often I find myself wanting to get down to their level since they, above all, have that gentle, yet intense and honest way of looking directly into our eyes. They have discovered a secret which sometimes gets lost as they move into adulthood - it is this, the eyes reveal so much. Perhaps it's the child in me, but conversation seems more personal when I am able to look into the eyes of the one with whom I am conversing. There seems to be an openness in communication when we can express our thoughts through our eyes as well as by our words.
The eyes also can be a barometer revealing the state of our health. Doctors, for instance, look into the eyes when one is sick, and ophthalmologists detect many bodily illnesses the same way. The Bible has much to say about the eyes. The writer of Proverbs speaks of the bloodshot eyes of those who drink (Proverbs 23:28, 29). In fact, there are 499 references to eyes, and 98 to the eye in God's Word. Since God has given such prominence and importance to the eye gate, Satan, with all of his sly and cunning ways brought sin into the world by persuading Eve to look and then partake of the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:5-7).
God often speaks of His own eyes. How comforting it is to know that His eyes are lovingly upon us. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9 - also notice Deuteronomy 11:12; Job 34:21; and Psalm 33:18).
Why are our eyes so important? It is because what we see goes into our emotions (the soul). The light of the soul is what gives understanding, sound judgment, and the ability to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. Jesus spoke of this: The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is single (a clear conscience), thy whole body is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness (Luke 11:34.35).
Walking Visuals
What do others see when looking at us? If they are to be rightly influenced, how important it is that what they see is God-like. We are walking visuals. The Apostle Paul cautioned that we should be careful how we walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15, 16).
I heard the story of a little girl who told her pastor she knew Jesus and was saved. Which one of my sermons brought you to Christ? he asked. It wasn't your preaching, it was my aunt's practicing, she responded.
Indeed! What we do and say is being noticed. Man looketh on the outward appearance (I Samuel 16:7). That's why we are to let our light so shine before mankind, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
On one occasion, when the Apostle Paul was accused of being a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews and a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, he stood before his accusers and Governor Felix saying, I strive to always have a conscience without offense toward God and man (see Acts 24:16). What a wonderful way to live!
With all the discouraging news in the world today, seeming inconsistencies in the lives of those around us, and despair on the faces of millions of people, which way can we look to find peace and satisfaction?
Three Different Directions
We can look in three different directions: (1) Backward, to be discouraged; (2) outward, to be disheartened; and (3) upward, to be delighted.
Backwards:
More often than not, looking back leads to defeat and discouragement and possibly self destruction like Lots wife. We have a good biblical example in the Apostle Paul, who said, Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13, 14).
God can be counted on to give a silver lining to our dark clouds if we'll begin looking forward. A friend has written: Let your life be a statement, more than your words, that Someone else is in charge. Let your demeanor reflect quality inner control, stability that comes from knowing and accepting that God is in charge. In God's perfect timing wrongs will be righted, circumstances will change, He will come to your rescue. To believe this is to move ahead and live with hope.
I have been asked, How do you forget the bad times, the hurts, the injustices? My response is that we can't blot out the past, but forgetting means not allowing the past to affect the present.
We can put whatever has hurt us under the blood of Christ. We can forget by imitating the way Christ forgives us - just as if it never occurred (Hebrews 8:12).
Outward:
As one looks around at the world today, he or she could become disheartened and disillusioned. The world is in a mess. Just pick up the newspaper, or turn on the evening news and it's enough to disturb any thinking person.
How do we avoid the disillusionment and anxiety? David the psalmist said, It will not fasten its grip on me (see Psalm 101:3). There you have it; don't allow it to grasp hold of your thinking.
What does God say? He tells us to cast our burdens on Christ (I Peter 5:7). We are human and feel concern, but we can turn it over to Him saying, God, this is too big for me to handle. By keeping our eyes on Jesus and the eternal truths of God's word, we will be focusing our attention on that which enables us to handle all the bad things happening around us (see Hebrews 12:2).
Upward:
Remember what David the psalmist said? I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help (Psalm 121:1). This is surely the only direction to look for help, comfort, and yes, for delight in our souls and lives. We can bring our thirsty and wilting minds and bodies to the everlasting well of water, Jesus Christ Himself (John 4). All He asks is that we keep looking up, and as we do, look forward to an eternity with Him. Let us pray this beautiful prayer of the psalmist, I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm 5:3).
I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS... -Psalm 121:1
When God Speaks TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman 06-15-2010
..."The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." - Judges 6:12
Has God ever spoken directly to you in such a way that you knew that it was actually His voice speaking to you specifically? I don't mean just an appropriate verse of Scripture, or a circumstance that seemed probable that it was God. I am talking about a situation that you know that you know it was the God of the universe speaking directly to you.
In the book Experiencing God, authors Henry Blackaby and Claude King say that one of seven important steps to experiencing God in everyday life is how God speaks to us. "God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways." [Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Experiencing God (Nashville, Tennessee: LifeWay Press, 1990), 225]
You can examine the life of every major character in the Bible and see this principle expressed in the way God worked in each of their lives.
One of the ways God speaks is through others. God often used others to speak to individuals, especially in the Old Testament when God often spoke through the prophets. This is still one of the ways He speaks today.
Several years ago I was in a church on the west coast that I had never been in before. I was in the midst of a tremendous trial. Three people prayed for me, and as they did, they began to describe a picture that was reflective of my life since I was a young Christian. It was a very accurate picture of my life. About a year later a man from Virginia prayed with me in my office. After our prayer time, he began to describe what he had just seen as a picture of my life. It was the same picture that had been described a year earlier. A year after that I was on a trip overseas and a man from England whom I had never met before came to me. He and I had a time of prayer together, and at the end of our prayer time he described a picture he had just seen in his mind while we were praying. Again, it was the same type of picture as the two previous encounters. Only this time, one element was added that was important for me to know related to what God was doing in my life at that time. When God chooses to speak into our lives through others, it can be an incredible blessing. He speaks in many ways. This is just one of them.
God desires to encourage us by speaking to us. He does this in many ways. The next time someone speaks into your life, prayerfully consider whether God is using that person to convey something important He wants you to know.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, Your Word and acts of the past demonstrate to me Your desires to reflect Your nature and power through every individual--including me! I know that's because those who reflect Your glory affect the world. I pray that in all situations I face, I will be obedient and dependent upon You and give You all the praise and glory, so that You will demonstrate Your power that all people may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom. I'd like to be able to say, with the Apostle Paul, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Cor. 2:4-5). Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
A Clear Conscience Dr. Charles Stanley Acts 24:10-16
When facing hard decisions, do you pay attention to your conscience? And is it necessarily wise to trust this inner voice?
God gave everyone an internal "moral compass." In fact, reflecting His truth within all men is one way that He reveals Himself to mankind. The conscience is a divine alarm system that warns us of oncoming danger or consequences. Its primary purpose is godly protection and guidance.
But sin warps perception and can lead us astray. So it's important to understand the difference between following your heart and allowing a clear conscience to help with decisions. To make a determination, ask, What is the greatest influence on my morality? If the world's system of what is acceptable has infiltrated your heart, then your conscience cannot be trusted. But if you have allowed God's Word to permeate and transform your thinking (Rom. 12:2), that inner voice is likely trustworthy.
The Holy Spirit, along with a divinely informed conscience, guides believers. In order to maintain a healthy internal compass, we should continually meditate on Scripture. The Ten Commandments are a solid basis for morality, and we are wise to internalize them—especially the two Jesus highlighted: to love God above all else and to love others (Matt. 22:36-40).
What would you say has the greatest impact on your belief system? Is it the truth of Scripture? Or do the world's standards of right and wrong infect your heart? Almighty God knows what is best for you, His child—and He gave you a conscience to aid in making wise decisions.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
STRINGS by Misty Edwards
A song that speaks for its self, talking about intimacy with Jesus, He has our life and we are searching for Him, He knows us and we want to know Him. We want to play the strings of His heart, (tell Him how much we love Him) we want more of Him in our lives.
Perception Is Not Reality TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
"The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken." - Job 4:10
In the advertising business we often say that "perception is reality" for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.
The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we believe only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.
Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.
The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always reality.
Today's Prayer God, your ways are not our ways. Sometimes we hurt and don't understand why. Sometimes it seems we cannot go on. But we know that your ways are much higher than ours. Help us to trust You, the God of the universe, as You orchestrate the events of life when they seem the darkest. Thank you, God.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
The Privilege Corrupted Dr. Charles Stanley Romans 1:21-34
God has revealed Himself to mankind and provided all that is necessary for a relationship with Him. Yet many people foolishly refuse His offer.
By choosing to live without God, a person will spiral downward into sin and a skewed understanding about the truth that's evident all around. As ignorance overpowers the capacity for intelligent understanding, an ever-darkening heart develops. The individual hungers for something to fill his emptiness but fails to recognize that only the Lord can satisfy his longing.
Desiring to fill his spiritual void, the person will look for an idol to worship. It won't be a statue of wood or gold, but rather something on which to focus his affections. "Idols" occupy a person's passion, time, and energy; in today's world, they often take the form of money, prominence, and relationships. The "worshiper" begins to indulge in earthly pleasures and desires. Yet nothing can satisfy the emptiness. Eventually, as Romans 1:28 makes clear, the Lord will turn him over to a depraved mind—one that can no longer make right judgments.
Remember, the heavenly Father desires a relationship with us. He even gave His own Son to make this possible. It is man who rejects Him and begins the journey toward godlessness and emptiness.
Look around; notice the manifold evidence that points to a holy, loving God who desires an intimate friendship with you. Don't put off accepting His offer of relationship—the consequences of rejection are far too dangerous, and the benefits of saying yes are beyond what you can imagine (Eph. 3:20).
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
What will happen to those who have never heard the Gospel?" This is one of the most frequent questions I receive. People believe that God is just, and they cannot reconcile that belief with the idea that He might consign a person to Hell who never was given an opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Therefore, increasingly, many Christians are concluding that there must be many roads to God and that sincere Jews and Muslims and Buddhists and others will make it to Heaven.
Crucial Questions
What does the Bible have to say about this important issue? Are those who live and die without hearing the Gospel condemned to an eternity in Hell? And what about those who have put their faith in the god of some religion other than Christianity and who ....
