Marriage Builders
Posted By: AskMe Devotionals - 11/08/05 01:03 PM
PSALM 55 (NIV)
1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 at the voice of the enemy, at the
stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in
their anger. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail
me. 5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said,
"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest- 7 I would
flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah 8 I would hurry to my place of
shelter, far from the tempest and storm."

A PSALM of David as he reflects upon the things which are about to happen, have
happened, and that which is happening. He is grieved, afraid, and fearful of
life. He is calling out to God in prayer looking for peace, for rest, for
strength, for knowledge life will be ok. He wishes he could be a dove and fly
away to a shelter far away from the storm pursuing him.

The fight or flight syndrome is a psychology term to describe a response to
fear. The muscles tighten up, the heart beats faster, the palms and face may
sweat, and the body and mind feels like they have gone totally out of control.
It is the body's way of responding to a perceived fear or threat. Throughout
the Bible God is always reassuring His people by saying, "DO NOT BE AFRAID".
When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they said, "do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people". Jesus said, "do
not let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT BE AFRAID". God does not want us to
fear life, yet so often we allow fear to take over. When you feel fear starting
to take hold of your life stop and pray that God would remove that fear and
give you peace. Pray for His comforting touch and love to take hold in your
life. Let the peace of God rule in your heart and claim victory over the fear
that tries to control you. Remember anxiety is nothing more than fear of events
that have not even happened yet. Why be afraid of the future when God is on
your side?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/05 01:04 PM
Joshua 6:2-5 (NIV)
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands,
along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all
the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of
rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city
seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound
a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the
wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight
in."

The people of Jericho had been fierce fighters, but God had allowed the
Iraelites to push them back into the fortified city walls. Now pent up inside
the city God gave Joshua a plan. It was a plan that would not sound sane to any
general ready to fight a war. Yet God was giving His word to Joshua to carry
out. It was the plan God expected Joshua to fulfill if Joshua planned to
defeat the city.

We go through life wondering about God's will and direction. We often question
what it is we are suppose to do and how we are suppose to proceed. Yet God has
already given us a plan to follow. He has given us His word, has taught us how
to live, has shown us through His son how to sacrifice, and the meaning of
grace. If we become imitators of our Savior then we are fulfilling God's will
and purpose for our lives. As imitators of our Savior Jesus Christ, God can
use us where ever we are and in what ever we are doing. Pray that God will
continue to make you more Christ like in your walk with Him. Look to His word
for guidance just as Joshua did even if sometimes it does not make sense. God
will take His word and use it in your life at times when you least expect it to
make His plan known to you. God bless you and may his plan for your life be
revealed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/05 01:04 PM
1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you
welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Paul is writing to Thessalonians who Paul always gave thanks for in their
witness. They had shown an outstanding faith in the gospel by becoming not only
imitators of those who shared, but also of the Lord. And in their suffering
they had experienced a joy given to them by the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever thought about the words suffering and joy being used to describe
a persons condition;. they just don't seem to mix. It's like trying to mix fire
and water. But yet Paul said the Thessalonians found joy in their suffering.
God is able to do the impossible. Even in our moments of suffering He is able
to produce joy if we look to see what He is doing in our lives. God is
transforming us through our trials and suffering into something more wonderful
that pleases Him. And in it we find joy that goes beyond anything we can
measure. Pray that God lets you see the joy He has in store for you. Let Him
show you the promises of His word.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/05 01:05 PM
Matthew 16:21-23 (NIV)
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised
to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he
said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get
behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the
things of God, but the things of men."

Jesus had been preparing the disciples for His death. And now He was explaining
how He would suffer, be killed and raised to life on the third day. Earlier
Peter had told Jesus that Jesus was the Christ and now Peter is saying never
shall this happen to you. Jesus just said He will be raised back to life, yet
Peter is saying "this shall never happen to you". No wonder Jesus calls out
Satan and says to Peter that he is a stumbling block. Peter is thinking of
himself and not God's purpose, which was revealed to him earlier.

Have you ever started out on a shopping trip to buy something for another
person and ended up buying something for yourself? The purpose of the trip was
for the other person, but somehow the priority changed and you focused on
yourself and ended up taking home something for you instead? We do that with
God's purpose for our lives. He reveals what He wants us to obtain for our life
and then we buy into something else. We end up following our temptations. Pray
that Christ would protect you from satan's temptations. Follow His purpose for
your life and not your own priorities. Let His will, His love, His care, His
work flow in your life. God bless you and have a wonderful day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/05 01:05 PM
Deuteronomy 32:15-18 (NIV)
15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek.
He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior. 16 They
made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable
idols. 17 They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear. 18 You deserted
the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

These people had been an upright and seeing people, but they had lost their
reputation. They had abandoned God, their rock, their salvation. And instead
had traded God for idols and demons. These gods their fathers had not feared
because they had only feared the one true God who protected them. God reminds
them and says, you forgot who gave you birth. In other words, you forgot who
put you here.

Even the most upright Christian person can fall and loose their way, loose
their reputation, loose their friends, maybe even loose their family. They
forget their Rock, their Savior, their God that placed them where they are and
they let sin lead them away. Some may wander so far from God that they find new
gods in their life and desert the God who always kept them safe. But our God
never leaves us. He is always there calling to us, reminding us of our
misdeeds. He wants us to return to Him and give up the powerless demons for a
powerful God. Pray that if you are slipping away you will return to your God.
Pray that Christ will strengthen you and walk with you in your journey. He is
your ROCK, your SALVATION.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/05 12:56 PM
2 Samuel 7:8-9 (NIV)
8 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I
took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my
people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut
off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the
names of the greatest men of the earth.

The Lord said He took David from a place of loneliness, where he had been
rejected by his family, left to care mostly for himself and the sheep to make
him ruler of God's people. But he was never alone, for God was always there
with him protecting him. And now God was going to make him great, a name that
would be remembered forever. Just think how many people know King David , the
Temple of David, the Star of David, or the story of David and Goliath. What
child hasn't heard the story of the boy who felled the giant with the sling?
The Lord kept his promise and made his name great.

Darlene Rose was a missionary in New Guinea when the Japanese took her as a POW
during WWII. Starving, alone, beaten, all she had was God. She knew that He was
there with her where ever she was. Having lost considerable weight she prayed,
"God, you know I'm thankful for the rice porridge and worms, but I would like a
banana, not a bunch, just one." The next day she just knew the guards were
coming to beat her after forgetting to bow to them, but instead the guard
opened the door and laid a bundle of bananas at her feet, 92 of them, not just
one. God never left Rose, He was always there with Her. In fact as it says in
Psalms, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.", God
truly prepared a banquet for Rose because of her prayer and His desire to care
for her. Do you realize that God is always with you too? He cares for you just
like He cared for Rose. Pray and let God know what is on your heart. Let him
know about your loneliness, your pains, your hurts, and your needs. God is
listening because He is always close to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/05 12:20 PM
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and
has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep
warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two
can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The wisdom of Solomon as he reflects on the unity of those under God's love and
grace. These have formed an alliance, a bond, a friendship that is bound by
God's love. They help and rescue one another, they comfort and sooth one
another, and they protect one another.

I am sure you have seen geese in the shape of a "V" flying in the sky. By
flying in formation they work together to reduce the wind drag. When one bird
tires, another rotates to the front where the wind drag is the greatest. The
birds in the rear honk to encourage the others in the front to keep flying. If
one bird falls out of the group, several others will fall out with him to
ensure his protection. Working together they reach where they are going. Are
you reaching where you are going in your marriage or your friendships? Perhaps
you are missing your mark because you have neglected to include God. God's love
is what binds the marriage or brings friends closer together. Pray for God's
endless love to fill your life. Pray that the loneliness, despair, turmoil,
hopelessness will empty as His love overflows in your life. God bless you and
may you find His blessing in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/05 12:47 PM
Matthew 16:1-4 (NIV)
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show
them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will
be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be
stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the
appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A
wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be
given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were always out to get Jesus, so they asked him to
produce a sign from heaven to prove who He was. He gave a response they already
looked for signs that were not even of God to predict the weather. And yet they
had the word of God that showed an unrighteous city turned to God for their
sins and they were ignoring the sins of the present day.

There is an old adage that says, "Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky
in morning, sailor’s warning." In Shakepears play, VENUS and ADONIS there is a
line, "Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to
the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to
herdmen and to herds.” There is "some" amount of scientific truth around the
2000 year old idea to predict the weather by the red sky. The problem is many
people will take the "old adage" as truth to their heart and ignore the truths
of God. It's exactly what Jesus was telling the Pharisees and Sadducees. They
were looking for the wrong things. They should have been looking for what God
was to change their hearts and the hearts of others. They should have been
looking for a revival, a cleansing of sin, but instead they just wanted to see
miracles. Pray that God would start a revival in your heart and that it would
spread to others. Pray to seek God and know He is real and living; and that you
would not need signs or miracles to know of His existence.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/05 12:16 PM
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—
yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.

In these verses just as the high priest of the temple would pass through the
curtain into the Holy of Holies Jesus has gone through the heavens as our high
priest to the throne of God. There He knows our weaknesses, our temptations,
our faults, and He is able to sympathize and speak with the Father. Because we
have someone who understands our infirmities, Jesus can speak on behalf of our
sin that we may receive abundant mercy and grace.

The other day I was walking through a home building supply store and I saw a
man struggling to load concrete board on a cart. The cart was rolling away as
he attempted to place the board on top of the cart. I knew what the struggle
was like, because I had loaded those same board by myself. The boards were
heavy, awkward to hold and the cart doesn't stay still, so I stopped to help
him. The man was grateful for the help, since no one else in the store had
stopped to help him. It makes a difference when someone understands the
struggle you are going through. Fortunately we have a savior who understands
all of our struggles. Jesus knows our pains, our heartaches, our hurts and our
needs. Better yet he understands our failures, our sins, our infirmities, and
our temptations and He lets us receive mercy and grace abundantly from Him.
Pray and give thanks to Jesus for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for his love,
for his understanding, for his friendship, and for being there when you need
him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/05 12:44 PM
1 John 1:8-10 (NLT)
8 If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to
accept the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just
to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 10 If we claim we have not
sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our
hearts.

John is being straightforward in his writing. He says there is no way we can be
without sin and we are only lying to ourselves if that is what we believe.
John gives us two options: claim our sin and confess it; or lie and make God
the liar. If we confess our sin then God will cleanse us from every wrong we
have committed, but to call God the liar eliminates Him from our heart.

Have you ever been driving your car down the road and suddenly heard a strange
noise. My first thought is I hope that stops. I start to ignore I even hear the
noise. The noise might even quit for a while and I keep thinking it's "going
to go away". But, eventually the car breaks down and I have to take the car to
the shop. I was fooling myself and I had to accept the truth something was
broke. Sometimes we can fool ourselves in the same way about sin. We fool
ourselves into thinking what we are doing is not sin until we find ourselves
broken, hurt, damaged and in need of help. It's all because we have ignored
God's truth and turned it into a lie. Pray the word of God may shine as truth
in your heart. Let it illuminate the sins hidden there and confess them to God.
God so much wants to cleanse and heal you from each and every one that has hurt
you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/05 01:16 PM
Genesis 1:27-31 (NIV)
27 So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself;
male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and told them, "Multiply
and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all
the animals." 29 And God said, "Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants
throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given
all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their
food." And so it was. 31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that
it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.

God created us in his image. One may be physically male and the other
physically female, but we all fully possess the attributes of God. Males are
given to the masculine nature of God, while females are given to the feminine
nature of God. Therefore we are all patterned after God. God blessed us with a
wonderful world to live in that he created for us. He filled the world with
amazing creatures and told us to be masters over them. And God looked back and
saw everything as excellent.

David said it best in 2 Samuel 7, when he said, "who am I". God had just
blessed David, but he realized in this big world, why him? And David had to
think who am I to even understand God's reasoning, God's plans, God's
judgement, God's wisdom, God's love. God that created everything, "who are we"
that He would even give any of us a second thought. Someone so big, so
powerful, so awesome, does he even have time for me? Think of Donald Trump, or
any movie star, wouldn't they ignore our call? Yet the God of the universe is
waiting with out reached arms. He longs to talk with you. He created you just
so you could fellowship with Him that is how much He loves you. Pray and thank
God for creating you in His image and His desire to fellowship with you. Let
Him know you need a friend and He will respond to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/22/05 01:08 PM
Psalms 143:10 (KJV)
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me
into the land of uprightness.

The words for land of uprightness are literally "an even land". David was
looking for a place to do God's will where he could spiritually walk on flat
pastures.

In the new testament Paul told us to go through life as though we were running
a race. He said we were to run a good race always looking ahead to the prize
that was before us. If you have ever run in a race or watched one you probably
know the ground does not stay flat. In the San Francisco Marathon imagine all
the hills rolling up and down the course as the marathon winds through the
city. Runners struggle with each breath going up hills and they ease back as
they run down the hills. As they approach flat ground they can stretch out full
and run. David was looking for that flat ground where spiritually he could wind
out in full stretch living for God. David didn't want to struggle with the sins
going uphill and he didn't want to ignore God by living too freely and easily.
David wanted to be on flat ground, in the land of uprightness, living for God,
doing His will. Pray that God would place you in the land of uprightness doing
His will and living according to His word. Pray that as you race for the prize
you will keep your eyes focused on Jesus. May God bless you and care for you
always.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/23/05 12:32 PM
Ezra 3:10-12 (NIV)
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests
in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with
cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of
Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good;
his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of
praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the
former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being
laid, while many others shouted for joy.

The temple of the Lord was being rebuilt after having been destroyed. There
were two sets of feelings present as the foundation was finally laid in place.
Those who had never seen the temple were elated with joy and thanksgiving that
mercy had been given to provide them a place to worship. But there were some
living in the past regretting the sins that had befallen them and they knew the
glory of the new temple would not match the glory of the old temple.

Each year we have a day of Thanksgiving to remember the things we are thankful
for in our lives. It is a time of gathering of family and friends. It is a
holiday based on religious freedom and a celebration of a bountiful harvest. We
have been given great mercy in this nation that we have a place to worship and
call upon the name of the Lord. But in the news a teacher in Saudi Arabia was
given 750 lashes and placed in prison for teaching about our Bible. Mohammad al-
Harbi was charged with advancing a “dubious ideology, mocking religion, saying
the Jews were right, discussing the gospel and preventing students from leaving
class to wash for prayer.” We have much to be thankful for. Do we live in the
past remembering hurts, sins, and things that weight us down? Or do we trust
God to rebuild the sins that have been torn down and start our lives fresh each
day. Pray and give thanks to our Lord. Let your voice be praises of
thanksgiving to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/28/05 01:46 PM
Romans 15:1-6 (The Message)
1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a
hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us.
Strength is for service, not status. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the
good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
3 That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding
people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles
of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. 4 Even if it was written in
Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the
combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in
Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do
next. 5 May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in
you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us
all. 6 Then we'll be a choir--not our voices only, but our very lives singing
in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

These verses are written as directions on how we are to respond to those who do
not have the strength to carry forward in life. Jesus is given as our example
that we should follow. He never avoided the problems of the people, but was
willing to face them.

Can you imagine a choir if they did not work together to sing their parts of a
song? What if one person decided to sing one song while another person chose
something else. Or the tenors decided they wanted to act like they had bass
voices, but all that was coming out was broken notes. As Christians God calls
us to work together in harmony just as a choir is to work together to produce
beautiful music, each performing their part, each using their own talent. We
are to use our strengths together to help those in need. And as God uses your
strength He will develop you and use you that you may join with others in
helping His family. Pray that God use you in His service to others, ministering
as Jesus ministered. Pray that He blends you into His family where you become
stronger and stable and mature, able to love others, and always reaching out.
God bless each and everyone one of you and may you be strengthened and
encouraged.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/05 12:44 PM
Job 2:7-10 (NLT)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with
painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job
took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the
ashes. 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity?
Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman.
Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin
in what he said.

Little is said of Job's wife, but here we find her telling Job to curse God and
die. We need to remember she has lost all of her possessions and all of her
children with Job and now her husband who had been in good health suddenly has
been afflicted with a horrible disease. The only person who could comfort her
is sitting in the ashes with no one to comfort him. Only the dust of the ashes
and the scraping of the pottery helps relieve any of the suffering he is
enduring. She is watching him suffer in excruciating pain while Job is still
being the backbone of the family by acknowledging that God has the right to
effect His plan in our lives.

I'll ask the question Job's wife asked, "Are you holding on to your integrity?"
When God implements His plan in your life and you are faced with a trial are
you able to make the same statement as Job? Can you say, "Shall we accept good
from God, and not trouble?" It's easy to take the good parts of life, but it's
difficult when God allows the rough parts of life to come along. Yet Job
endured and so can the rest of us because God is faithful and will be with us
until the end. Pray that God will maintain your integrity and never allow you
to weaken. Pray that you will be faithful to Him. Accept good or trouble
because there can be blessings in both as long as God is with you. God bless
you and may Christ comfort, love and bless you each and every day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/05 12:37 PM
1 John 2:1-2 (KJVR)
1 My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if
any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous; 2 and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but
also for the sins of the whole world.

John affectionately writes to those he has lead to Christ to let them know they
are free from sin, but if sin enters their life they have Christ to plead their
case in heaven. Who better that the one who made atonement for all the sins of
the whole world.

If you were choosing a lawyer to represent you, wouldn't you want one that had
seen every possible problem and knew how to deal with it? Then there would be
no surprises at the trial. Well we have an advocate in Jesus who took on every
sin of the world and felt every single pain that came with them. As one of His
children He represents us with all His vigor and love so we can avoid the
sentence of death that comes with the penalty of sin. If you have placed your
faith in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior then you are one of his children
who he gladly represents. Pray that His love will always be evident in your
life and that you understand His forgiveness. Know that He is by your side
taking up for you with each and every sin you confess. Even now He is standing
before the Father ready to ask for your forgiveness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/01/05 12:57 PM
2 Kings 22:10-13 (NIV)
10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given
me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 11 When the
king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave
these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of
Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 13 "Go and
inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is
written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns
against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they
have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."

During the rule of King Josiah he had ordered the rebuilding of the temple
because he was a good king like David, unlike the previous kings who worshipped
idols. The appointed priest found the Book of the Law hidden away in the temple
and sent it to the king. When Joshiah heard the words he torn his robes in
anguish knowing the people had been disobedient to God.

One has to wonder how a temple that once was magnificent and glorious to behold
lost treasured words, laws, commandments of God. The problem was they were
never lost, but instead set aside because the people did not want to obey them
any longer. They had hidden them away in hopes God would not notice their
actions. They thought they could remove God from their lives and face no
penalty, yet they had lived in corruption for years. King Manasseh who lived
prior to Josiah built pagan temples, bowed to other gods, scarified his son in
the fire, consulted with psychics and mediums, and left a trail of innocent
peoples blood from one end of Jerusalem to the other. And today in our lives if
we are not careful we will allow God's word to once again be hidden away. Look
at the efforts to take Merry Christmas out of the Christmas holiday. There are
debates as to whether the National Christmas tree should be put up because it
represents a religion. The Pledge of Allegiance is under attack. Prayer has
been removed from schools. Slowly we are being attacked by the enemy. Pray God
would raise up leaders to defend God's work. Pray you would be bold in your
witness and your stand for God's kingdom. Don't let His word slip away from
your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/05/05 12:46 PM
John 19:38-42 (NLT)
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus
(because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take
Jesus' body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body
away. 39 Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing
about seventy-five pounds[g] of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
40 Together they wrapped Jesus' body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as
is the Jewish custom of burial. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden,
where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the
day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.

Upon the death of Christ, two people who had followed Christ in secret stepped
forward to take care of His body. These were two men of influence and power.
Yet they feared what would happen if everyone else knew they followed Jesus, so
they had remained silent in their acknowledgment of Him up until now. In His
death and their grieving they felt a sense of loss for the one who cared for
their soul and the one who loved them more than anyone else. Secrecy no longer
mattered. It was time to make a statement about the one who cared for them.

I want to pass along some words from Zig Ziglar the motivational speaker. {In
this Christmas season we hear people using the term "happy holidays." Needless
to say, when Muslims are celebrating Ramadan, nobody says to them, "Happy
Holiday," and when my Jewish friends are celebrating Yom Kippur, nobody says to
them, "Happy Holiday." However, at Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of
Christ (without which there would be NO Christmas), more and more people are
sending "Happy Holiday" cards. When I'm greeted with "Happy Holidays!", I smile
(and I encourage you to do the same thing), thank them, and then say, "I'll go
you one better. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas, since this is the celebration
of the birth that had the most impact of any birth since the history of
mankind." When the Babe in Bethlehem was born it was announced that He was the
Savior of the world. When He made the supreme sacrifice on the cross, He simply
said, "It is finished," because when He arose three days later He had triumphed
over the grave. Christianity is not a "religion." It is a relationship with
Christ as Lord. All "religions" require that you work your way to Heaven with
your good deeds. In Christianity, we believe our way into Heaven. The Bible
clearly says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe
in our hearts that God raised Him from death, we will be saved.} In this
Christmas season don't forget Christ who lived and died for us. Pray and
remember a child born in manger one lonely night who grew to be a man that was
willing to pay for your sins. Don't let this season pass by without reminding
others it is CHRISTmas.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/05 01:19 PM
Luke 1:49 (NLT)
49 For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me.

These are the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she greets her cousin
Elizabeth. According to Luke, an angel of God foretold Mary of the birth of
Jesus and that she was to become pregnant and her cousin Elizabeth in her old
age had become pregnant as well. Mary left within a few days to visit Elizabeth
and when Elizabeth saw her she said, "You are blessed by God above all other
women, and your child is blessed." Mary who should have been scared, panicked,
frightened, fearful, because she could have been stoned to death for being an
unwed mother was instead praising God.

Fear is an emotion we have that is a response to stresses in our life. It can
be a normal part of our life in that it prepares us for survival. Most of us as
we approach the edge of a cliff become more cautious from the fear of falling
knowing the danger that lies close to the edge. On the other hand some of us
might get behind the wheel of a car and head down the interstate on a rainy day
at 70 mph. However there is real danger in that situation and yet most of us
have no fear at all in driving a car. And some of us might be in a place where
we are fearful of many things going on around us. Things may feel out of
control and our thoughts are constantly running away with fears. Where ever
you are remember the great things God has done for you. If its driving fast
down the highway, remember the protection He has given when you should have
been fearful. And for those living in undue fear, remember God is able to
overcome problems, for He is the Mighty One. Pray and remember the great and
good things God has done in your life. Always give thanks to God and His Son
for the good in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/05 01:13 PM
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day
and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful.

Moses has died and the Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan River into
the promised land. God is speaking to Joshua who is ready to lead the people.
God tells Joshua to obey the Book of the Law that Moses gave him and to
meditate on it and to follow it in order that he might be prosperous and
successful.

A company will spend thousands of dollars on advertising to come up with a
slogan that represents their product. Barry Manilow wrote many advertising
jingles for companies. Some of them are; "You deserve a break today, so get up
and get away, to McDonalds", "I am stuck on Band-aid, and Band-aid's stuck on
me", "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there". All you need to do is hear
the words and they bring to mind the thought of the product. God's word is more
powerful and is living. When we commit God's word to our minds and soul we are
putting in place a plan that in times of need those words will return to us
like a familiar jingle. They will be clear and evident in our lives giving us
hope and wisdom to keep us touch with our Lord. God will come to our mind and
we will never forget what He has done for us. Have you read God's word today?
Pray that you might find more time to spend reading about Him. Find out who our
Lord is and what our Savior has done for us. Look for the blessings He has
provided. May God bless you always.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/12/05 12:14 PM
Joshua 6:21-23 (NIV)
21 They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living
thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. 22 Joshua
said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house
and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to
her." 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out
Rahab, her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. They
brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of
Israel.

Joshua and his men had surrounded the city of Jericho. When the trumpets
sounded the walls fell and the men rushed in killing every living thing in
sight, except the family of Rahab. Rahab had been a prostitute of the city, but
she felt the calling of the Lord to help the men who spied out the city so she
and her family were spared.

Rahab, was probably considered one of the least of the city and probably also
considered one of the least by her family. Yet, she survived because she
believed in what God could do, and she redeemed her family because of her
faith. We never know what God will do with us when we turn to Him, despite the
sins we have had in our past. In Matthew 1 where it gives a genealogy of Jesus
it lists Rahab in the lineage of Christ. Never give up and believe God can't
use you. God is always looking to use those who put their trust in Him. Pray
God use me and let me trust You more. Let my faith be evident in life my that
others may see and know You.
Posted By: ladysheep Re: Devotionals - 12/12/05 01:23 PM
AskMe, thankyou for the wonderful devotions. I look forward to reading them each day. The Lord Bless You!!

Lady
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/05 12:53 PM
1 Kings 19:3-4 (NIV)
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah,
he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the
desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might
die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my
ancestors."

Elijah was on the run from Jezebel. Jezebel had sworn she would kill Elijah, so
he feared for his life and ran into the desert almost the distance a marathon
runner would run, around 20+ miles. Tired, exhausted, thirsty, he sat down
under a tree and prayed that he might die. Elijah had turned to pity. He let
his problems and his fatigue tear down his attitude. Instead of asking the
Lord for strength he asked that he might die with all the others who Jezebel
had put to death.

For some reason most of us presume the outcome of our problem before we even
give God a chance to deal with it. Some people will try to run from their
problems thinking if they can get far enough away their problems will vanish.
But notice the problem was still there for Elijah. He was 20 miles away and the
problem was still there. Later he even walks for 40 days and 40 nights and the
problem was still there. You can't run away from problems, because eventually
you have to deal with them. God is there to help us with our problems. In
Jeremiah 29, 12-13, it says, "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and
pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Instead of running away we
need to be running to God. We need to be seeking Him out and going to Him in
prayer to let Him handle the outcome of our situations. Pray and turn your
problems over to God. Let Christ work in your life to heal and fix the places
that need mending. Pray and seek out our Lord and Savior instead of running
away from things you can't fight. May God bless your day. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/05 12:41 PM
Joshua 5:13-15 (NIV)
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in
front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked,
"Are you for us or for our enemies?"
14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now
come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him,
"What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the
LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are
standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Joshua and his men were walking up to the walls of Jericho when they
encountered a man with his sword prepared. Joshua challenged him to identify
himself as being for them or against them, but the man said he was the
commander of the army of the Lord. The preincarnate Christ was there to lead
the battle for God and take Joshua to victory.

Every day Christians go into battle. Just do a search on the internet for
words, "Christian battles" and see the battles that are taking place. There are
struggles with persecutions; restrictions on where scriptures can be read;
battles in schools over what children can be taught; Christian principles over
doctrine; sexual temptations; Gays calling out for church marriages; Keeping
Christmas a holiday. And that is just a small list in comparison to the
battles taking place in the lives of individuals. The one comforting fact to
know is that God is there with us in our battles. And we can rest assured for
those really big important battles that God has an army of angels there
defending us. Joshua 1:9 says, " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God
will be with you wherever you go." Pray for peace remembering God is there in
the battles of life. Pray knowing God was already at work in your life
preparing a defense to the war. Give thanks to Lord for his mercy and
salvation, great is His holy name.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/05 12:41 PM
Mark 11:15-18 (NIV)
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to
drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the
money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped
everyone from bringing in merchandise. 17 He taught them, "The Scriptures
declare, `My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,' but you
have turned it into a den of thieves." 18 When the leading priests and teachers
of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill
him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so enthusiastic about
Jesus' teaching.

Jesus had been to the temple the previous day and had carefully observed
everything taking place in the temple. When He arrived the next day Jesus began
to remove the merchants and customers from the temple. The temple had become a
place of routines and customs instead of a place of genuine prayer and
repentance. Jesus expressed a righteous anger over the things taking place in
the temple. The people listened closely to Jesus, but the religious leaders
planned to kill Jesus for his actions, perhaps because He had cost them their
income.

I'm sure you have seen the TV shows where the parents go away for the weekend
leaving the teenager at home and the next thing that happens is a party is
being planned at their house. Before the teen knows it the party is out of
control, kids are all over the house, music is blaring, drinks and food are
being spilled, cars are parked everywhere, and the police are on their way.
Jesus probably felt like the parent returning home just to wonder what was
going on. I'm sure God looks at our churches today and wonders what we are
doing. Churches are meant to reach out to others and yet on Christmas day when
there are so many that could use a reaching hand churches are going to close
because Christmas will fall on Sunday. Our Lord's birthday falls on His day of
worship and there are those who will lock their doors to the world because of
inconvenience . Pray that there might be those who will open their doors to the
needy, the helpless, the homeless and poor on Christmas day. Pray that God's
word may be preached on the day of His birth to everyone who wants to hear. May
the word of His salvation be available to all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/19/05 01:34 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the grace of love. He had told them you can have the gift of knowledge or the faith to move mountains, but without someone to show people the love of Christ, it's meaningless. So he goes on to describe what love is not and what love is.

There is a phrase people use that misrepresents love, "He says he loves me, but he is not in love with me." First off what is love: patience, kindness, protectiveness, trusting, hopeful, truthful, preserving, never failing. Those are some strong words, which show a lot of faith in a person. Second, look at what love is not. It's not envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered or evil. In order to love a person there are some very strong commitments that take place. Love is just not about feelings, it's about a relationship, commitment and your determination to honor Christ. But for a person to say they love someone, but THEY ARE NOT IN LOVE WITH THEM means it's just about how they feel at the moment. I love my wife, but if we are having a disagreement at the moment I'm not feeling very loving at that second. If I just went on those feelings then I would never feel like I loved her. So love cannot be just about how you feel at the moment. Look at Paul's words and see that love is about commitments as well. Pray for God's understanding of Love that He would make your love in relationships stronger. May He allow your love to be Christ like and more than just a feeling.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/20/05 12:54 PM
Deuternomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The Israelites were about to cross into Jordan. Moses had read to the people the laws, along with the blessings and the curses the Lord was to give for obedience or their rebelliousness. But the message was for them to choose a life for God. They were to love the LORD, always listening, ,always holding on to Him, always keeping His word. And the fruit was a blessed life, not only for them, but also for their children.

Have you chosen life? If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you have chosen life. Life in Christ means receiving a full, abundant, eternal life. 1 John 5:12 says, "He who has the Son has life". But there is also a blessing here on earth as we listen to the Lord and follow His words. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Satan is the thief who seeks to steal away our abundant life. When we become rebellious, when we turn from God, when we seek after our own desires we allow the thief to start stealing our abundant life here on earth. And while our eternal life is secure, we can damage our witness to others, and even loose a blessed life for our children. Pray that you continue to seek after God's abundant life here on earth. Look for His goodness and follow His will for your life. Always praise His holy name and give thanks for the salvation through His son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/21/05 12:59 PM
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary
for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your
faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and
purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if
your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you
much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the
whole world.

Peter is writing to Christians who have been scattered throughout the nations.
Peter is preparing them for the hardships they will possibly face as they live
out their Christian faith. He tells them there will be trials of faith that
will take place, but these are to purify their faith, to make it stronger. And
if their faith remains strong it will be something to celebrate when Christ
returns.

If someone walked up to you and said, "Be joyful! Distress, suffering and pain
is about to come your way.", wouldn't you think they had lost their mind? How
can a person even think about joy when they are about to face horrible
problems? James tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance." So the joy to be found is that God is maturing us,
completing us and shaping us to be more like the person he wants us to be. The
trials we go through may not be pleasant or desired, but God has a purpose for
putting us through those trials. Maybe you have experienced or are experiencing
a test of faith. Pray that God would strengthen your faith in Him and help you
endure whatever trial you face. Look for the joy of things to come, knowing
that he is building and molding who you are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/22/05 02:52 PM
Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT)
29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always
complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30It is the
one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31Don't let
the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. 32For in the end it bites
like a poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper. 33You will see
hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34You will stagger like a sailor
tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35And you will say, "They hit me,
but I didn't feel it. I didn't even know it when they beat me up. When will I
wake up so I can have another drink?"

The wisdom of Solomon spoken through the words of proverbs in regards to
drinking alcohol. He speaks of the effects it has on the body when a person
over indulges. And he talks about the long term affects of the addiction. It's
not a pleasant drink as first thought, but one that is like a deadly snake
lingering to kill the person who takes it.

What Solomon doesn't talk about is the effect alcohol has on many families.
There are families this Christmas who are celebrating without loved ones
because someone drove under the influence and killed someone dear to them. Or
there are families without husbands or wives present because their addictions
have caused them to go down the wrong road due to their alcohol use. If you
know someone who has an alcohol addiction or maybe you are struggling yourself
do what it takes to get help. Pray that God would intervene and provide help.
Pray for deliverance that another person can be turned from an addiction that
ruins families and tears down a person. May Jesus Christ repair, rebuilt and
strengthen those in need. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/06 12:23 PM
1 Timothy 1:8-11 (NLT)
8We know these laws are good when they are used as God intended. 9But they were not made for people who do what is right. They are for people who are disobedient and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who murder their father or mother or other people. 10These laws are for people who are sexually immoral, for homosexuals and slave traders, for liars and oath breakers, and for those who do anything else that contradicts the right teaching 11that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

Paul is writing to Timothy about those in Ephesus who are teaching incorrectly. Their teaching have been causing speculations and arguments instead of creating a Christian life filled with love and sincere faith. So Paul lists out who these laws are intended for so the teachings might be made known to them.

There are always those who try to pervert God's teachings, Hollywood being one of biggest offenders. The movie "Family Stone" is one such example. The movie is about a family that gathers for Christmas. One of the sons brings home a potential fiancee, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who is mistreated by the entire family. Another son who is gay has brought home his gay lover. At the dinner table the mother says, "I wish all my sons had been gay". Sarah Jessica Parker replied, "you don't mean that, do you?", and she got a stern yes from the mother, which ensued a debate and harsh words from the mother and father. Frustrated and unsupported by her boyfriend, Sarah Jessica Parker leaves the table. The mother then looks over at the gay son and says, "you are more perfect than any "*obscenity*" at this table and I love you". SOMEHOW the words "more perfect" just don't fit. Hollywood is saying being gay is more perfect than being heterosexual. Once again they are perverting God's teachings. We need to see clearly the lies being given to us and understand how God's word is being twisted to influence our lives. Pray that you see where the media, Hollywood and other sources are trying to influence your mind against God. Ask God to give you clear guidance on what is right and wrong. Ask that he might guide you in His teachings that your wisdom might grow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/06 12:51 PM
Proverbs 18:24 (NASV)
24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks
closer than a brother.

The wisdom of Solomon providing a contrast of a multitude of friends who do
nothing for the individual but bring them to ruin, versus the single friend who
sticks close by. Solomon more than likely reflected on the stories he heard his
father tell of his friendship with Jonathan.

Emotional loneliness can occur in the midst of a crowd. It's when we feel there
is no one we can share our feelings with or take our deepest concerns to. Some
people will go to the extreme of developing many superficial friendships trying
to mask their feelings. They think by having many friends and keeping life at a
superficial level they will never have to deal with the tough issues in life.
But by never dealing with the problems in life the problems eventually become a
disease that eats away at the heart and brings a person to ruin. Jesus said to
His disciples in John 15:15, " Henceforth I call you not servants; for the
servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all
things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Jesus wants
to be our closest friend, sharing with us the wisdom of God. He sticks close to
us, guiding us, leading us, protecting us, comforting us, and loving us. Pray
and thank Jesus for His friendship and genuine love. Know that no other person
cares for you as a friend as Jesus does.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/06 11:31 AM
John 8:4-9 (NIV)
4"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of
adultery. 5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" 6They were
trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus
stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7They kept demanding an
answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who
have never sinned throw the first stones!" 8Then he stooped down again and
wrote in the dust. 9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by
one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the
crowd with the woman.

Pharisees and teachers of the law came forward as accusers bringing a woman who
had been caught in adultery. These who knew the law presented their accusations
to Jesus hoping He would say something they could use against Him. But Jesus
stooped to the ground and started writing in the dust. While no one knows what
Jesus wrote, it's possible Jesus wrote out the 10 commandments to remind the
"teachers of the law" all 10 commandments instead of just the 1 they were
focusing on. One by one the accusers left, the oldest first perhaps because
life's experience gave them more wisdom to see their own faults and accept
their sin.

The book of Revelation tells us the Devil stands before God accusing God's
faithful day and night. But Jesus said of Satan in John 8, "When he lies, it is
consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." Jesus
our savior knows the truth. Satan can accuse all day long, but the truth is
Jesus paid the price for our sins and Jesus will stand up for us all day and
night defending us. Jesus is our greatest friend and we should never, never
forget. If you have ever felt the weight of the accuser against you, remember
his character. Then remember the character of your Lord and Savior, His
greatness, His love, His kindness, His truthfulness, His mercy, His grace, His
understanding, His compassion, His peace. Pray and acknowledge the Lord for who
He is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/06 03:12 AM
Proverbs 18:19 (Amplified Bible)
19 A brother offended is harder to be won over than a strong city, and [their]
contentions separate them like the bars of a castle.

The wisdom of Solomon speaks to quarrels among brothers and close friends.
Once a brother or close friend is offended it can be difficult to reconcile the
problem. The arguments that ensue can separate each other like the bars of a
castle keep the people apart.

Charles Dickens stories included family harmony and fireplace scenes with
gatherings of family and friends. But in Dickens real life his extended family
constantly put a drain on his finances, which left him uncomfortable and
anxious. Dickens demanded loyalty from his friends, but when he separated from
his wife Catherine those not sympathetic to him felt his wrath. Dickens lost
friends and it would often be years before he would reconcile with them. In one
case it took a grave side gathering of a common friend for Dickens to reconcile
with one friend. The Bible tells us if we expect God to forgive us, we need to
learn to forgive our brother. We should not harbor resentment but offer God's
loving grace. Are there broken relationships in your life between family or
friends? Pray that God would give you the strength to extend mercy and grace to
those who might have offended you. Ask that you might be able to reach out to
them in order to heal your relationship. And if you have offended someone go to
that person and ask their forgiveness. Ask God for his loving grace to be with
you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/06 12:30 PM
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (The Message)
11 These are all warning markers--DANGER!-in our history books, written down so
that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel--
they at the beginning, we at the end--and we are just as capable of messing it
up as they were. 12 Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt.
You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-
confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

The apostles were trying to convince the Corinthians not to have communion with
idolaters. Examples of the past were set before them as reminders of what had
happened before for ignoring the Lord. They were told history serves as
reminders not to repeat mistakes. No one is exempt and it's easy for every to
fall to sin. It's not self confidence that keeps one from sin, but confidence
in God.

The mistakes and concerns the apostles were addressing over 2000 years ago are
still being made today. We are just as capable of messing up as they were. They
were back at the beginning of history and now we are towards the end. And just
like those in the past we are not exempt from falling on our face for being
overly self confident. The problem is when we become reliant on self our need
for God diminishes. As the words of The Message says, we need to CULTIVATE GOD-
CONFIDENCE. We need to let God work in our lives to the point we have full
confidence in everything He will do. Where are you with your confidence in God.
Pray that God will show you how confident you are in Him. Pray that God will
cultivate your confidence in Him. Look for opportunities for God to show you
what He can do in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/11/06 11:54 AM
Genesis 38:24-26 (NIV)
24 About three months later Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is
guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant." Judah said,
"Bring her out and have her burned to death!" 25 As she was being brought out,
she sent a message to her father-in-law. "I am pregnant by the man who owns
these," she said. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and
staff these are." 26 Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous
than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with
her again.

Judah's first born son Er died and left his widow Tamar. Custom allowed the
brothers to father a child in order that there might be an heir. Onan, Judah's
second son was put to death by the Lord because he purposely kept from
impregnating Tamar. Judah then sent his daughter-in-law back to her father
because he worried his youngest son Shelah might die having to fulfill his duty
when he was old enough. Then Judah thinking he had met a prostitute along the
road gave Tamar his seal, cord and staff for credit for her services. Tamar
became purposely pregnant with Judah's child because she saw that Judah had not
fulfilled his promise of sending Shelah to her when he was grown. And in the
end Judah recognized Tamar's purpose was more right than his own.

Proper leadership in families is important. Judah was responsible for choosing
Tamar as Er's wife. Judah assigned Onan the duty of fathering a child. Judah
promised Tamar a child by Shelah, but did not keep his promise. Judah chose to
sleep with his daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute. Judah was quick
to condemn Tamar without the facts. Judah's leadership was failing because in
all that he did you never see him spending time with the Lord. Men are you
spending time with the Lord learning how you should lead your home? If not you
are on the same dangerous path as Judah. Pray that God will make you the leader
of your home. Ask for guidance in decisions that affect your family. Let Christ
walk with you keeping you on the paths away from sin so your family prospers
and grows under the Lords guidance.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/06 12:30 PM
Genesis 11:5-9 (NIV)
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

God being a just and fair god went down to the city of Babel and saw what the people were doing. They were building a city, 1) to make a name for themselves, 2) not to be scattered across the earth, 3) with a tower to reach the heavens. God had already told Noah he and his sons were to multiply and fill the earth so these descendants of Noah were violating God's desire. Next they were committing idolatry by wanting to make a name for themselves and building a tower to reach the heavens. Instead of destroying everyone God created different languages for everyone to speak and scattered the people all over the face of the earth. If the people were unwilling to move as God said, God was willing to move them.

God made King Solomon the wisest man to have ever lived. God imparted to Solomon knowledge and understanding directly from God Himself. As the 1st book of Proverbs starts out it says, "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; ". God taught Solomon the importance of doing what is right, just and fair and Solomon passed that on for the rest of us to apply in our lives. At the tower of Babel God let the punishment fit the crime and was right, just and fair in His discipline of the people. We need to make sure we treat others in the same way and that we are always right, fair and just. Pray and thank God that as a sinner God was fair and just to offer His son Jesus as a sacrifice to you that if you believed in Him you would not perish, but have ever lasting life. Pray that God would let you have mercy on others that you might be fair and just, never condemning someone unjustly. Always asking God for His will to be done, His grace and mercy to be extended and His love to abound.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/06 12:47 PM
Galatians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then
you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The old sinful nature
loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And
the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature
desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices
are never free from this conflict. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy
Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.

In Galatians Paul writes that a person has a new life in the Holy Spirit and
they should live according to that new life. Living according to the Holy
Spirit is in conflict to the sinful nature of the flesh. The two oppose each
other and create conflicts in the choices that are made in life. But one
reassurance is if we are directed by the Holy Spirit, then we are not subject
to the law.

The battle between good and evil has always been a favorite subject of authors.
Usually good triumphs over evil and we find the hero victorious. But Galatians
tells us our choices are never free from the conflict of our sinful nature
pulling against what the Holy Spirit would choose. But unlike stories where the
hero triumphs, sin can win out in the choices we make. That is why it is
important we live according to the Holy Spirit so that we make the right
choices. We need God's guidance so that our own sinful lusts and desires don't
influence our choices. It's so easy for us to follow what the world would have
us to do without God in our lives. Pray that the Holy Spirit would direct your
paths. Thank Jesus that because of His blood you are no longer subject to the
law that once held you in slavery. Know that no matter what choice you make
Jesus loves you and will always be there with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/24/06 02:42 PM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you
need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience
God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Paul writing to the Philippians he was close to encourages them not to worry,
but instead to pray about everything. He tells them God's peace comes from
asking for what you need and thanking Him for what you have received. God's
peace is more wonderful than one can understand and will guard one's heart and
mind as they live in Christ.

What can be gained by worry? If you worry more will anything change? Of course
the answer is no. No matter how much we worry about something the result is
going to remain the same. However when we pray we can be at peace because we
know God will be in control of the result no matter what that result might be.
As we give our life to Jesus His peace will rule in our life and the worries we
might normally have will lessen. Pray that God will take away your worries and
meet your needs. Pray for His peace to rule in your heart and mind. Allow Jesus
to live in you so that you become more like Him with each passing day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/06 12:19 PM
Isaiah 53:10-12 (NLT)
10 But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet
when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of
children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will
prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous
servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will
bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and
great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were
sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.

Long before the arrival of Jesus Isaiah wrote about the saving grace of the
Lord. He described Christ's death and those who would be saved through his
death. Christ who suffered for ALL and bore ALL sins was satisfied to see what
He accomplished. While he did not sin, he was counted among sinners and
interceded for those same sinners.

There is a saying that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. If you have ever
had to run a complicated project or put together something with many parts you
probably understand the need for a plan. God in His infinite wisdom understood
the need for a plan. So God put a plan in place for Christ to bare the sins of
many sinners and for them to be counted righteous. They become children, heirs
to God's kingdom and they prosper according to His plan. Aren't you thankful
for a God who plans for your future, who has had you in mind from long ago.
Pray that God continues to unfold His plan for your life. Thank Him for all
that He has done so far. Thank Him for His plan of salvation that He so freely
gave us all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/06 12:46 PM
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions
with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was
heard because of his reverent submission.

In Gethsemane Jesus lifted up His prayers not once, but three times with loud
cries and tears. Yet those who were close to Him did not even support Him, He
was alone in His moments with God. He feared His separation from the Father,
but yet submitted to the Father's will. And His prayers were heard, not that
the cup of spiritual death was taken from Him, but that His will was
strengthened, that his faith might be unwavering and that He could hold fast
until His final cry.

Christ is our intercessor in prayer. Who better understands prayer than our
Lord. The book of Romans says Jesus is at the right hand of God making
intercession for us. There is no one that will separate us from His love
because He understands and knows our weaknesses and infirmities. When we pray
and make our requests He pleads for what is best for us. We may not have our
exact desires met, but God will meet our needs and strengthen us for the
journey ahead. God wants to keep our faith unwavering, He wants us to be
strong and faithful, He wants us close to Him, but unlike Jesus we will never
have to go through being separated from God as long as we are one of His
children. Christ paid that price for us. Pray and thank Christ for his
unwavering faith even through his tears. Know that His spiritual death was in
obedience to the Father. Give thanks to the Lord and bless His name. Know that
your prayers are heard when you submit in obedience to the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/30/06 12:32 PM
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

These verses in Ephesians show Pauls affection for God and his love for the Ephesians. He knows God has a plan for their lives. Paul understands God's love for them and how deep that love goes. And he tells them that the love of Christ is so great a person cannot fully understand it. But in trying one will be filled with the fullness of life and the power that comes only from God.

We should take Paul's prayer and commit it to our own lives. First be humble and reverent to almighty God for his plan of salvation, and His greatness as the Creator of everything. Then pray that the Holy Spirit will give you mighty inner strength to face your daily spiritual battles. Next, ask Christ to help you trust in Him that He might become more and more a part of your heart, filling it more each day. Pray that God's love fills you from heart to sole, that it takes root and makes you grow as a Christian reaching out to others in Christ's name. Ask God for understanding to know Him, to know His love, to know the depth of his love for you. Pray for the power of Christ to bring you fullness of life. Don't wait on God, seek him out today in pray.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/06 11:25 AM
John 4:28-30 (NIV)
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the
people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be
the Christ?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

Jesus had met a Samaritan woman at the well and asked her to draw water for Him
to drink. The woman was surprised because Jews did not associate themselves
with Samaritans. Then Jesus surprised her further by telling her that He could
have given her living water, eternal life, if she had asked. Not understanding,
she asked for the living water because Jesus had told her she would never be
thirsty again. Jesus then told her to go get her husband to which she responded
that she had no husband. He then told her she spoke the truth that the man she
was living with was not her husband and that she had five prior husbands. It
was then that she left her jar, went back to the town and invited people to
come see this man who knew her. On her testimony they made their way towards
Jesus.

There are two important points about the verses above. First Jesus did not have
a problem associating himself with the Samaritan woman although any other Jew
would have had nothing to do with her. Second Jesus knew all of her sins. Not
only was she considered below the social class of the Jews, but she had many
sins against her. Yet Jesus overlooked both her social status and her sins in
order to talk with her. What He looked for was her truthfulness of heart and
eagerness to accept His word. The Samaritan woman believed He was the Christ
and brought out the entire town to meet Him. Jesus always wants to meet us
where we are no matter what our sins are. Jesus wants us to place our trust and
faith in Him just as the Samaritan woman did. Have you placed your trust in
Him? Pray and acknowledge that Jesus knows every sin, every detail of your
life. Nothing is hidden from Him. Pray that Christ will meet with you and
provide forgiveness for those sins because He loves you and understands your
weaknesses. Thank Jesus for His grace and His mercy. Know that His love is
greater than anything we can understand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/06 11:53 AM
Psalm 32:1-11 (NIV)
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose
spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my
groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my
strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I knowledged my sin
to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my
transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely
when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding
place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of
deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should
go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the
mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or
they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's
unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and
be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

First David states how blessed a person is when their sins are forgiven for not
holding back from God what they have done. Yet David goes on to say he is
burdened because he did not confess his sin, but when he finally did God
forgave him. David encourages others to pray while they can, before it's too
late. Then the Lord speaks telling how he will instruct, teach, counsel and
protect. He warns not to be stubborn, but to trust and follow.

If David knew how blessed a person would be for confessing their sins to God,
then why was he holding on to his own sins? Doesn't it seem like it would be
easier to just confess them and let them go than hold on to them? Yet he
struggled over his sins before he finally confessed them to God. But we do that
in our lives. We make all kinds of excuses before we get around to finally
confessing our sin to God. We say it's not that bad, to everyone does it, to
I'll stop tomorrow. WE NEED TO GET REAL WITH OURSELVES. Sin in our lives is
sin. We can't whitewash it and make it anything else. Pray that God would help
you to see the sins in your life. Ask Him to reveal them and see them for what
they are. Pray and confess each sin as God makes it known to you. Experience
God's love and feel the burden lift. Jesus does not want you to carry that sin
alone.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/06 12:52 PM
John 11:33-37 (NIV)
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Lazarus a friend of Jesus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died when Jesus arrived. Jesus saw their grief and was moved by their tears. The next thing he wanted to know was the location of the body. Jesus had something in mind none of them expected. Jesus knew the minds of those around him wondering why He had not kept Lazarus from dying. So Jesus was going to perform a miracle no one had seen, He was going to bring Lazarus back to life. Verse 35 says Jesus wept, He wept in compassion, but he also wept because He was going to take Lazarus from the presence of the Father and the splendor of heaven. Jesus knew that one He too had to face separation from the father and understood what this miracle was costing Lazarus for the sake winning others to God.

There can be a cost to being a Christian. We might realize that we need to give up a certain life style or friends who have influenced us in a negative way in the past. It's not always easy to pay the cost it might even mean sacrificing for the sake of others. Maybe we give up time of ourselves to help the needy. Jesus understood sacrifice and the price that had to be paid. It grieved Him to know what had to be done, but yet He was faithful to follow God's plan. And Jesus was human and had emotions and shed tears just like us. No one understands our fears, our pains, our hurts, our depths of depression better than Christ himself. Pray and share what is on your heart with Jesus. Let Him know the emotions you are feeling and He will weep with you. Pray that His love will embrace you. Ask Him to strengthen you and help you endure each hardship in your life. God loves you. Thank Him that He loves you. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/06 12:32 PM
Luke 22:31-33
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed
for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you
to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the
rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Just like the conversation Satan had with God about Job, Satan had been
discussing Peter with God. He had asked permission to shake Peter's faith just
like shaking wheat to separate the wheat from the chaff. If all that remains is
the chaff, then it's worthless. But Peter in his bold arrogance as usual said
he was ready to go to prison and face death if necessary, even after Jesus had
told him that he prayed for him that his faith might not fail. What should have
made Peter cautious in his enthusiasm is that Jesus called him Simon, not once,
but twice instead of Peter. Then Jesus told him that he would deny him three
times.

For those of you who are parents, you probably understand what it is like to
speak up proudly about your son or daughter. Or there may have been times where
you have had to speak up on behalf of your children in their defense. Most of
the time your children never hear these conversations take place. They don't
realize what you have even done for them as a parent. We have a perfect Father
in heaven where there are conversations taking place about us, His children.
Satan has probably come before the Father and accused us and asked permission
to put us through tests of faith. Our heavenly Father knowing what is best at
times allows those tests of faith to strengthen us, to build our character, to
shape us and to mold us. We may not always be perfect at the task, but if our
faith remains with God then we have succeeded. Pray that when the time comes
for you test of faith that you will stand firm. Ask Christ to strengthen you
and be with you through every trial. Pray that you may be alert and watchful
for the schemes of Satan and that you may know the temptations when you see
them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/06 01:30 PM
James 5:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him
back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

In these verses we find James, the half brother of Jesus telling Christians
that if anyone turns to sin, someone should attempt to turn them back. And by
turning back the sinner they could possibly save them from death and even save
them from a multitude of other sins.

There is no one who is exempt from wandering away from the truth. Years of
experience or work in the church provides no exclusion from temptation. Based
on everything the bible tells us about the devil just as soon as we deceive
ourselves into thinking we are safe and secure he seeks an opportunity to
destroy us. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands
take heed lest he fall". So if any of us can fall from grace, then we need to
ensure when we see a Christian brother or sister struggling with sin that we do
what we can to help. So often people want to turn their backs immediately, but
the bible tells us that we should first go and confront their sin and try to
lead them out of the sin. We should never leave them wandering alone on a path
to destruction. Therefore pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ that
they may withstand the temptations of sin. For those who have fallen pray that
Christ would turn them from their sin and give them grace and mercy. Pray that
you may help in their restoration. Ask God what you might do to help another
who has fallen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/08/06 12:04 PM
Isaiah 9:1 (NJKV)
9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have
become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Isaiah is speaking of the vision he had concerning Judah. The Lord reviewed
their sins for they had forsaken the Lord. Their country laid desolate. They
were bruised and wounded. There were a remnant of people left, those who God
had chosen to remain.

Elijah ran away to a cave to escape Jezebel. There he was alone and overwhelmed
with depression. He feared for his life for he knew of the murders of the other
prophets. He told God they have killed all the prophets, torn down the altars,
and now they seek my life. But God answered Elijah and said that He had
reserved seven thousand men who had not bowed their knee to Baal. God keeps a
remnant of those faithful to Him. Romans 11:5 says, "5 Even so then, at this
present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Think of
all the people in the world and then think of how many have been saved by the
grace of Jesus Christ. It's only a remnant in comparison to all the people that
exist. There is only a remnant of the world that has been saved by God's grace.
Are you a part of that grace? Did Jesus die for your sins? If so, give thanks
to the Lord Jesus for His sacrificial love that you became a part of the chosen
to be called heirs of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/06 11:36 AM
John 17:20-26 (The Message)
20 I'm praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me. 21 The goal is for all of them to
become one heart and mind-- Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So
they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that
you, in fact, sent me. 22 The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they'll
be as unified and together as we are-- 23 I in them and you in me. Then they'll
be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you've sent
me and loved them In the same way you've loved me. 24 Father, I want those you
gave me To be with me, right where I am, So they can see my glory, the splendor
you gave me, Having loved me Long before there ever was a world. 25 Righteous
Father, the world has never known you, But I have known you, and these
disciples know That you sent me on this mission. 26 I have made your very being
known to them-- Who you are and what you do-- And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me Might be in them Exactly as I am in them.

These verses are one of the final prayers of Jesus. Jesus had started by
praying for himself, then for the disciples and finally here in these verses
Jesus is praying for all who will believe in Him. The greek word pisteuo,
"which shall believe", is in future tense and indicates the contemplated or
certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred. In other words, it's
the future looked at in the present.

Long before you were born, The Savior of the world prayed for those who would
come to believe in Him. If you are a Christian who has placed your faith in
Jesus then you are one of those Jesus prayed for. He asked that believers would
be in one heart and mind with Him and the Father. He asked they might mature,
carrying through to the end and give evidence to the existence of God and of
Himself. He wanted them to know they were loved by the Father just as Jesus
was loved by the Father. And most important He asked that the love of the
Father would fill them through Him who loves them and lives in them. So pray
for those who have not come to know Jesus. Pray they might come to know the
love of the Father and the Son. Thank Jesus for His love, His faithfulness,
and His caring devotion to intercede on our behalf. Remember how He cared to
pray for you so long ago.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/15/06 12:35 PM
2 Corinthians 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace. 3 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

The apostle Paul is writing to the church of Corinth with Timothy by his side. He reminds them we are children of God, yet not in the same sense as Jesus is the Son of God. We are children, by election, not by nature; by adoption, not by ancestry; by redemption not by right. God extends to us as our father mercy and comfort. And because God comforts us we are able to reach out and comfort others who are in need of comfort.

The Greek word for comfort above is parakleseos. It comes from para , "to the side of," and kaleo , "to call." It means "to call to ones's side." Think of someone coming up along someone to help. They are working side by side with them. They are not there to push or to pull, but to encourage showing that they are willing to work as an equal along side them. They are willing to wrap their arms around them and let them know they love them and give them the support and comfort they need. It is what our Lord and God does for us and it's what He wants us to do for others. God is the God of ALL comfort. He gives us ALL we will ever need to make it through this life. Pray that God will comfort you in times of need. Thank Him for His mercies and ever lasting love. Know that His grace is abundant and sufficient for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/16/06 12:08 PM
Ezekiel 33:3-7 (NLT)
3 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the
people. 4 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action--well, it is
their own fault if they die. 5 They heard the warning but wouldn't listen, so
the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could
have saved their lives. 6 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't
sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths. They
will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman accountable. 7 "Now, son
of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen
to what I say and warn them for me.

God is speaking to Ezekiel and is appointing him as watchman over Israel. As
watchman, God gives him a specific duty to warn others of the enemies
approach. It then becomes the responsibility of the person hearing the warning
to take action. However, if Ezekiel fails in his duty to give the warning he
becomes responsible for the deaths and those people die with their sins.

On March 7, 1928, the St. Francis Reservoir was completely filled for the first
time., Tony Harnischfeger, the damkeeper discovered leaks, but Chief Engineer
William Mulholland was convinced they were relatively minor. On the morning of
March 12, Harnischfeger discovered a new leak and called for Mulholland, his
son Perry, and assistant Harvey van Norman to investigate. Perry thought the
leak looked serious, but Mulholland felt it was a typical concrete dam leak and
declared the dam safe. Three minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928 the St.
Francis Dam catastrophically failed and swept through the Santa Clara Valley
towards the Pacific Ocean. Over 500 people were killed. When the flood was
over, parts of Ventura County lay under 70 feet of mud and debris. Had
Mulholland only WARNED the people in Santa Clara Valley lives could have been
SAVED. There is a point to the story. People die every day without being warned
about the sin in their lives. Romans 6:23 gives us a WARNING, "FOR THE WAGES OF
SIN IS DEATH". But they also miss what the verse tells them and that is "the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". Have you been a
watchman and given the warning to anyone lately? Pray that God would lead you
to share your testimony of faith in Jesus Christ with someone and warn them of
the dangers that are approaching. Pray for strength against the enemy to share
the good news of Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/20/06 01:27 PM
Proverbs 20: 9-11 (NLT)
9Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin"? 10The
LORD despises double standards of every kind. 11Even children are known by the
way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.

Solomon’s proverbs offer words of wisdom to the reader. The first question is
rhetorical in that it asks can a person cleanse themselves from sin. It becomes
a lamentation of the corruptness of mankind to say they are not pure and free
from sin, because there is no one who can make that statement. Then Proverbs
says the Lord hates double standards. The Greek words refer to unequal weights.
A lighter weight is used for buying and a heavier weight is used for selling
therefore there is a double standard in the way things are handled. And versus
11, parents watching their children can see their conduct from the beginning
and know if it is pure and right.

We are all born with sin and there is no escaping it. Take a bottle away from a
child who is feeding, it does not take long before there is an angry response
demanding the bottle back. Watch as a mother picks up one young child, suddenly
the other child will start to demand the attention of the mother as sibling
jealousy sets in. What happens when one child has a toy the other wants? It’s
not long before the other child it taking it away because of greed. Leave out 1
candy bar for 3 kids, usually a war ensues over the candy bar. Sin is part of
our nature, and if we claim as adults we have no sin then we are thinking in
double standards. For God allows us to see the sin in children. How much
greater is the sin in our adult lives where we have learned to plot and plan
with our flesh. The good news is Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross for all
those sins that who so ever believe in Him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life. A wonderful, everlasting life with Jesus in heaven just for
placing your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior of your life. If you
haven’t done that pray now that Jesus would save you from sin. If Jesus has
saved you from sin, pray and thank Him for the wonderful gift He has given you
and everyone else you know that has trusted Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/06 12:08 PM
Acts 8:1-4 (NLT)
1 Saul was one of the official witnesses at the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria. 2(Some godly men came and buried Stephen with loud weeping.) 3Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail. 4But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus.

Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul, witnessed Stephen being stoned to death. It was a beginning of the persecution of the church with Saul leading the way. Saul personally went house to house throwing those in jail who had come to believe in Jesus. But it caused the Good News to spread as believers fled to other areas and Christianity began to grow.

Amazing how a single man so bent on the destruction of the Christian church became one of the greatest contributors to the church. Paul’s words on Christ are well known to many. Many of his words were penned while chained in prison because of his belief in Christ. This man changed from someone ready to destroy the church to someone ready to build and preserve the church. It all happened because Jesus Christ entered his life one day. Do you believe change can take place in your life? It can if you allow Christ to work in your life. Colossians 1:6 says, “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God's great kindness to sinners.” Pray that Christ would change your life and renew it each day. Pray that He would make you into the person you need to be, not a person after your desires, but after His desires.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/06 01:06 PM
Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT)
22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Here in these verses the apostle lists out the results of what the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the Christian: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Notice some would be blessings for the believer, while other fruits would be used to serve others. When it mentions there is no conflict with the law, it is talking about “all” the Mosaic Law, which would be showing love for God. All of these fruits allow for the love of others through Christ. We have become the executioners, denying our passions and desires, nailing them to the cross with Jesus. If we have accepted Christ into our lives we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work freely, unhampered by sin.
Who desires more for ourselves than our own self? The bible tells us there is a constant battle taking place where our flesh is always against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells inside our bodies, our fallen, imperfect, unsanctified human bodies. Jesus is Lord over our hearts, but still the Holy Spirit battles for mastery over the evil power within our members that is bend on mischief. It is our body, but His temple. He remains to battle for us even though He is under attack. The Holy Spirit is the Author of all the holy works in us. We need to learn to hold back the flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to do its work freely in our lives. Pray that God would give the Holy Spirit freedom in your life. Pray that fleshly desires would be bound and put side. Thank Jesus for His love and kindness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/06 12:41 PM
Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)
3At harvesttime Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, 4while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, 5but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected. 6"Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him. "Why do you look so dejected? 7You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it."

Cain, the oldest brother, and Able brought forward offerings to God. Able had given careful consideration to what he was giving God and selected the best. God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. God could see the anger in Cain. God asked him why he felt the way he did and instructed him to respond correctly the next time and he would be accepted. God warned Cain sin was waiting to overtake him and he needed to subdue it. This is the first time sin was directly mentioned in the bible.

We know the result of God’s warning to Cain. Cain did not listen to God and became jealous of Able and killed him. Sin did exactly what God said it would do and Cain was given fair warning. The irony of it all is the consequence Cain received. God told him; no longer will the ground yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work. What Cain was so prideful of was taken away from him in just a short matter of time. We have to be careful that we are not so prideful that we don’t listen to God. When God warns us of sin in our lives we need to take heed. We need to stop and listen. When God gives advice we should follow His word. God is looking out for our best interest, but for some reason we just don’t always want to listen to what he has to say. Pray that you will be more open to listening to God. Ask that His words fill your heart. Pray for His instruction and guidance in your life that you may know Him and His ways.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/27/06 01:28 PM
Proverbs 27 (NLT)
17As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.

The Greek work barzel is used for iron in both references in the verse in proverbs. It could be translated to mean “a tool of iron that sharpens iron”. The idea is something of equal strength is being used to sharpen something of equal strength. When used as a comparison in the second half of the verse we then see that a friend sharpens a friend’s countenance. Or in other words a conversation between friends sharpens up the face.

This proverb teaches we need friends who can help us in our daily life and we also need to be friends to others. Without a good solid friend in our life we can become like a dull piece of metal because there is no one to help keep us sharp in our thoughts. There is no one to challenge us or provoke us to think differently. We can get wrapped up in our own thoughts of the flesh with no one to pull us away. But a friend who cares will sharpen our thoughts against fleshly desires and evils that lurk after us. Pray that God would give you a Godly friend to sharpen you. Pray that you might befriend someone else and guide them in Godly and righteous ways. Pray you might sharpen each other as friends always giving glory to God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/06 01:06 PM
Job 42:1-3 (NLT)
1Then Job replied to the LORD: 2"I know that you can do anything and no one can stop you. 3You ask, `Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me.
Job had lost everything, his family, his possessions, and his health. His friends felt as though he had a great sin to hide and Job was finally at an end, justifying himself to his friends and God. His patience through his suffering had not given itself to perfect work, but his repentance for his impatience had. Job had seen the folly in his unadvised speaking and here he admits that he talked about things he did not understand and that they were far too wonderful for him. Job submitted to the Lord knowing that the Lord was right.


Job just did not understand God’s plan and in his suffering was starting to question if he knew whether God was going to come through. Job had no reason to justify himself to his friends, because he had done nothing wrong. They were under the belief blessings came with good works and curses came with sin. And their thought was surely all the calamity that had befallen Job was a curse from God and therefore he must have sinned. Had Job only know about God’s conversation with Satan, I’m sure Job’s outlook on life would have been different. Could you image if he could have told his friends, “Hey God’s letting Satan put me through the test, man all I have to do is hang in there. I know God’s not going to let me down after what He said about me.” If we only knew about those conversations that were taking place about us in the heavenly realms. You know maybe God’s been having conversations about you too. Maybe He comments on the way you shared your faith with others, or the way you help those in need or the way you minister to those who are struggling with various issues. Pray you know God’s plan and direction for your life. Ask God to clearly give you direction and focus on the things you need to do. Ask for his guidance in life’s daily struggles. Let his blessings fill your very soul.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/01/06 01:05 PM
Philippians 4:2-5 (NLT)
2And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. And they worked with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. 4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Paul was requesting that 2 women, Eudoia and Syntyche, more than likely deaconesses of the church, were to put aside whatever disagreement they had. It doesn’t say specifically who Paul asked to help, but he wanted intervention. These 2 women had worked hard for the gospel and they were now at risk of destroying the good work they had done. He mentions they had worked with Clement, who more than likely was the Bishop of Rome after the death of Peter and Paul. There are actual writings and documents left behind by Clement. Then Paul goes on to remind them to be full of joy in the Lord and rejoice for what they have. And they should be considerate in the things they are doing.


Christians are new creatures in Christ, but guess what? They still have some of those old fleshly ways left inside. Personalities between people will still come into conflict and if left unchecked feelings become hurt, and anger follows. It’s not so much the conflict that is the sin, but how the conflict is handled. For instance, pride steps in and says the other person insulted me; I am going to stay hurt until they apologize. Or bitterness finds its way into the heart because someone felt excluded. Someone takes an important position before you had a chance, so jealously rears itself. Disappointment harbors resentment because no one recognized you for your hard efforts. What we need to remember is that we ALL belong to the Lord and our work is for Him. It’s about rejoicing over the Good News we are sharing on behalf of the Lord and not what we are obtaining for ourselves. We need to rejoice and be full of joy in the Lord and remember when He returns He will give us credit for being good and faithful servants. Pray that conflicts between God’s people might be avoided. Pray for harmony and peace between God’s servants. Always be ready to serve the Lord and do so being full of joy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/06 01:10 PM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.


Paul says we are given a command not to worry about anything. To do so we are trying to place ourselves as the one in charge and not allowing God to take charge. We are also to turn “all” areas of our life over to God in prayer, not just some. We are to tell Him what we need and thank Him for what He has fulfilled. From God we will experience His peace, which comes as a gift through Jesus. His peace is a part of the relationship we enter into with God. And God’s peace is something beyond what our human mind can understand. As our prayers are lived out through Christ His peace will stand guard like a military force over our hearts and minds protecting us from the sin that wants to enter.


How many of you worry? Maybe you worry because of problems or stresses in your life. Sometimes worry will just take over and trigger arguments, disagreements and other problems. Paul may have been writing these verses because of the problems between two women, Euodia and Syntyche. There is no description of their problem other than it was a disagreement, but obviously it was causing concern and worry, since it was called to Paul’s attention. What was Paul’s solution to the problem: 1) Put aside worries; 2) Pray about everything; 3) Tell God your needs; 4) Thank God for all He has done. George Muller once said, “ One can only expect to obtain answers to prayers which are according to the mind of God; and even then, patience and faith may be exercised for many years, even as mine are exercised, in the matter to which I have referred; and yet am I daily continuing in prayer, and expecting the answer, and so surely expecting the answer, that I have often thanked God that He will surely give it, though now for nineteen years faith and patience have thus been exercised.” George Muller was a man of faith who prayed earnestly without worry. So, why not turn your worries over to God? You know what to pray for; don’t linger in your requests.
Posted By: tunk Re: Devotionals - 03/03/06 02:55 AM
Thanks, I knew it and needed to see it again...God's awesome!!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/06 12:46 PM
Ruth 1:19-22 (NLT)
19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was stirred by their arrival. "Is it really Naomi?" the women asked. 20"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?" 22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.


Naomi had originally lived in Bethlehem, but due to a famine she had moved with her husband and two sons to Moab. There her sons had taken Moabite women for wives, but then her husband and sons died leaving her only with her daughter-in-laws. One daughter-in-law, Ruth, remained with Naomi and traveled back with Naomi to Bethlehem where she was greeted by those who knew her. The name Naomi meant “my delight” and Naomi felt no delight in her return, only bitterness. She left with everything and returned with nothing. And in her bitterness felt as though God had forsaken her.


From Naomi’s words it sounded as if God had totally forsaken her. Bitterness can make a person exaggerate their situation and look for nothing but fault and blame. And she was bitter as she admitted. But Naomi missed that she still had life, and that the trials she was facing was just a new beginning. Naomi had opportunity for a fresh start. She had the support of her old friends who were gathering around her, she was home with relatives, and God had provisions there waiting on her. Naomi had Ruth who was a blessing from the Lord. And God would use Ruth in Naomi’s life, because Ruth had come to trust the Lord and follow Him because of Naomi. And Naomi would soon realize the blessings coming forth from the Lord. Eventually Naomi did see God’s work and His plan. And symbolic of the new start in Naomi’s life was the fact they arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest. God was giving Naomi a new start in life even though she couldn’t see it at the time. Maybe it’s time to let God give you a new start. Is there something causing you bitterness in life? God always has a plan for you. If you let go of the bitterness and seek out God He will open that plan up to you. Pray that His will be made known. Ask God to turn any bitterness back to delight and joy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/06 01:05 PM
Jeremiah 17:5-8
5This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 6They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives.
7"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.

In Jeremiah it says the Lord is the source of our trust. From the Lord comes our hope and confidence. For a person who trusts in the Lord they are like trees planted along a river. They are able to bear fruit, not because they want to, but because they are able to. This is in contrast to those who trust merely in people. They are more like someone planted in the desert. They have no hope or confidence. They cannot bear fruit if they wanted to because they have chosen a barren wilderness to live in.

Have you ever trusted someone just to find out they broke your trust? And sometimes the way the world is filled with sin, a person can be completely innocent and you may still feel they let you down. Think about Joseph in the Bible when it said, Potiphar’s wife began to desire him and invited him to sleep with her. But Joseph refused. "Look," he told her, "my master TRUSTS me with everything in his entire household. Then we know she lied (sin) to her husband and after hearing his wife’s story, Potiphar was furious, lost TRUST in Joseph and threw Joseph in prison. Where we all make our mistake is our trust first must be in the Lord and what He desires for us and not in man. Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Joseph had every right not to trust anyone after his experience. But Joseph had faith and trust in God, so much so that he made the sons of Israel swears an oath that when God “came to lead them back to Canaan” they would take his body with them. And so in Hebrews it says they carried his bones with them when they left Egypt. Joseph placed his faith first in God. Where have you placed your trust? Did you place it first in God? Pray and ask God to lead you to the river bank where you can find trust, hope and confidence. Ask that He might produce fruit in your life and take away the barren ground.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/08/06 12:45 PM
Revelation 21:10-27 (NLT)
10So he took me in spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11It was filled with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious gem, crystal clear like jasper. 12Its walls were broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on each side--east, north, south, and west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, it was in the form of a cube, for its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.17Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (the angel used a standard human measure). 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve gems: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. 25Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night. 26And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter--no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21:10-27 is the description of the City of Jerusalem reformed in Heaven as John saw it through the revelation made known to him. God and Jesus formed the Temple in the city and illuminated it with their glory. Only those known by Jesus will be allowed to enter here.

There is a final destination after life and it is true for every religion. It may be to live eternity in a beautiful place like heaven for a well lived life. And there is usually an opposite side to heaven called ****** where those go who did not deserve the richness of heaven. And in some religions people may just vanish after death or return possibly as someone else (reincarnation). But Jesus told us, don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. So my question is, where do you want to be? It’s the question I ask anyone who discusses their religion and all of its customs, because there is the day you die and you want to know the answer, “where do you want to be”? Most often the answer is HEAVEN. Next question, how do you get there? Most religions don’t have a good answer. But with confidence and certainty I saw my Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and the sins of others, and because of my faith and trust in Him, He has told me He has gone to prepare a place for me in heaven that I might be with Him, so I am willing to repent of my sins and allow Him to be the Lord and Savior of my life. I know when I get to heave Jesus will be there to say I know him and his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Are you that confident? It’s great if you are. Pray that those who aren’t as confident may be strengthened in their faith. Let them know that heaven is real and Jesus waits for them there. He has a placed prepared for us all and he is just waiting for some to accept him on faith.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/06 01:30 PM
1 Corinthians 14:23-25 (NLT)
23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting and hear everyone talking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. 25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is really here among you."


Paul was writing to the church of Corinth. People there were arguing over which spiritual gifts were the greatest among them. Some felt as though speaking in tongues was the greatest gift. But Paul told the people until they were able to reach an unbeliever and help him understand the unbeliever might think they are crazy to be talking in an unknown way. He said you want to convict them of their sin, you want them to understand their wrongs, and as they listen you want their SECRET THOUGHTS be laid bare. This will bring them to repentant, and readiness to worship God.

Have you ever been in a situation where you have tried to keep a secret for a period of time, but you were not exactly sure what details were to remain a secret? Every now and then you might slip and catch yourself because you suddenly realized one of the people present didn’t know the whole truth. When you hide sins in your own life you start doing the same thing. You start compartmentalizing parts of your life. Maybe these people know nothing about these sins. And these groups over here, it’s ok for them to know about those sins, because they were with you. And this person knows about these sins, because they went out with you that night you committed them. Maybe you told your spouse about these sins, but your Sunday school class doesn’t know any of these sins. After a while you are nothing but a bunch of SECRETS placed in a bunch of boxes, each labeled with different friends, different groups, and even different family members. The question starts to become, “HOW CAN I KEEP THESE STRAIGHT?” Some people can’t, which makes some people start develop emotional problems, stress, anxiety, depression. They may start avoiding those groups. As they keep the truth from others the SECRECTS start killing relationships. Are you in a place like that, in little small boxes? The only way to pull yourself back together is to confess your sins to God and start learning to be real about who you are. You have to get HONEST and TRUST GOD to see you through the healing process. Are you ready to lay bare your secret thoughts? Pray God, HELP ME, I want to confess the sins in my life and lay them bare for all to see. I not longer want to hold on to secrets in my life, but I want to get honest and real. I want to heal the pains and be genuine. God break the little of boxes of secrecy and heal me back into a solid, whole person of honesty.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/06 12:13 PM
PSALMS 51:1-19 (NLT)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my shameful deeds-- they haunt me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner--yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me-- now let me rejoice. 9 Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. 14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. 15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. 16 You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices and with our whole burnt offerings; and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

This is the Psalm of David after being confronted by his friend Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba and then placing Bathsheba’s husband in the path of death to cover his sin.

In PSALMS 51 David pours out his feelings to God for the sinful acts he has committed. David talks about his guilt, his lack of joy, his desire for forgiveness, and the longing to praise God. David says his heart is broken and repentant and he knows that is more pleasing than sacrifices. David admits to being a sinner and says he was born a sinner. He knows God wants honesty and so now he is finally being honest with himself and with God in revealing his sins. David feels the shame of his sins as he tells God not to keep looking at them, but to remove the guilt and create a clean heart and a renewed spirit. David says, RESTORE TO ME AGAIN THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION AND MAKE ME WILLING TO OBEY YOU. Sin breaks the joy of our salvation. Have you felt that broken joy? Is it time to pour out your feelings to God? Or maybe you know someone you can pray for that needs joy in their life again. Today is a day just like everyday where you can make your feelings known to God. Why not stop and pray and let Him know what is on your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/06 01:10 PM
John 10:10 (NLT)
10The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

Prior to this verse Jesus had told a parable. Jesus said he could assure the people anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheep pen must be thief, because the shepherd always enters through the gate. The gatekeeper will always open the gate for the shepherd and the sheep will know the shepherd by his voice. The only purpose of the thief is to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus was alluding to Satan and his desire to take our joy of life, life itself and our souls. Jesus said of himself, His purpose was to give life in all it fullness.

Once my mother went out of town only to come back to find her home had been burglarized. If you can imagine the fear of finding someone has been in your home uninvited and gone through your possessions and you are not even sure what they have taken. My mother eventually found out a box of household documents that contained titles, deeds, personal notes, family information, and other information, some of which could not be replaced was stolen. This thief created fear where there was joy and this thief had stolen what could not be replaced. But isn’t that what Satan is out to do? He is out to steal our joy by introducing us to sin. Proverbs 29:24 says, “If you assist a thief, you are only hurting yourself.” He wants to take our life both in this world and eternally by keeping us away from God and Jesus. And if he can steal our eternal soul then it cannot be replaced. Remember that Jesus came to give life in all its fullness. Faith and trust in Jesus wins the battle over Satan. 1 John 2:14 says, “I have written to you who are young because you are strong with God's word living in your hearts, and you have won your battle with Satan.” Give thanks for what Jesus has done in your life and give praise to God for his magnificent glory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/16/06 01:01 PM
Matthew 25:1-12 (NLT)
1"The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept. 6At midnight they were roused by the shout, `Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!' 7"All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, `Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.' 9But the others replied, `We don't have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, `Sir, open the door for us!' 12But he called back, `I don't know you!'

Jesus is telling a parable to his disciples. In this illustration he is comparing how people enter into heaven using a story of 10 bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. It is thought the custom was for the bridegroom to arrive at night to celebrate the wedding. Upon notice, the bridesmaids were to go out and light the way for the bridegroom into the house with a formal ceremony. These bridesmaids were usually the witnesses to the ceremony as the custom generally required 10 witnesses present as in Ruth 4:2, where Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. But in the parable the bridesmaids all fell asleep, 5 had enough oil to light the way, while the other 5 had no oil. It was the 5 that did not have oil who were left out of the party because they did not have what they needed when the time came.

Jesus often related parables in which an even number was chosen and left behind. In this parable we found 5 chosen and 5 left behind. The five who were chosen represented those who found the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. The oil represents the grace of Jesus and it allows His light to shine through those who believe in Jesus. When the time arrived for the bridegroom to approach, the foolish bridesmaids asked the others for oil. Those who do not have Jesus as their savior are in the dark and in times of desperation they see the light of those doing the will of Jesus and will desire what they have. Like Noah who entered the ark and the doors were shut and the rain started to fall, those on the outside wanted in. Just like those it was too late, the bridegroom had already arrived. The ones who were too foolish to not bring oil were left out of the celebration. Those would be the ones who have not placed their faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He is the oil, the light, and the grace. Is Jesus burning as a light within you? Does the oil of his grace overflow in your soul? If you can yes, you are blessed with His grace and mercy. If you are not sure, it’s never too late to place your faith in Jesus. Pray that Jesus will be the light of your light of life. Pray that others will see Him through you. Love your God will all your heart and give Him praise for the great things He has done in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/06 12:51 PM
Proverbs 21:9 (KJV)
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Here in this verse of Proverbs is says it would be better to live in a small corner of an attic space than share a large house with a contentious wife (Hebrew 'ishshah means woman or wife).

Solomon who gave us most of the Proverbs was a man of great wisdom, but he was also a man of many wives. It says in 1 Kings 11:1-4, “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” With so many wives Solomon surely knew from first hand experience the verse he so clearly stated. But he gave the verse in Proverbs as a caution to both husbands and wives for their mutual benefit. For it better that husband and wife live in harmony than to have discord when one spouse causes strife against the other. There is a more modern day quote similar to what Proverbs 21:9 expresses, “If momma isn’t happy, no one is happy.” Peter says in 1 Peter 3:8-9, “Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.” Instead of unkind words towards one another, we are to love with tender hearts, never throwing back evil words for evil words. We are to stop and with humble minds and tender hearts look for a way to bless the other that they might be comforted. Have there been times you have dealt with strife and anger in your relationship with another? Pray that God might bring about a humble mind and tender heart. Pray that he might make you a blessing and not something to be cursed. Ask God to bless you all with peace and harmony.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/06 12:56 PM
Romans 8:33-37 (NLT)
33Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. 34Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. 35Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? 36(Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") 37No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

In these verses Paul declares there is none who will accuse or condemn us; and those who have the power to, which are God and Jesus, have given us the right to be with them. Jesus is sitting in honor next to God pleading for us, since he died for each of our sins. Paul goes on to list out problems in life and then asks the question, is there anything that can separate us from the love of Christ? The answer is NO; we have overwhelming victory in our daily life because of Christ who loves us so.

There have been Christian men and women, committed to God, walking in faith for years who one day found they had a struggle they had to deal with. They may have carried this struggle for years, an area of life where sin ruled over them. For some it might be an addiction that nearly consumed them and their marriage. Then a realization there needs to be a change, a daily renewed life in Jesus Christ, choosing not to play with the fire of sin. In Christ we can be victorious and not bound to sin. Romans 6:16-18 says, “Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.” Jesus gives us victory over sin and leads us to righteousness where we can find the freedom to remove our struggles. Do you have a struggle you are battling? Are you looking for victory in your life? Turn your life over to Jesus. Let Him lead the battle against the struggle for you. Let Jesus refresh and renew you each and every day. Pray and ask Jesus for a fresh start. Ask him to lead, protect and guide you on your daily walk with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/23/06 11:31 AM
Galatians 2:11-16 (NLT)
11But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. 12When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don't bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say. 13Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy. 14When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned? 15You and I are Jews by birth, not `sinners' like the Gentiles. 16And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ--and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.”

Prior to eating with the Gentiles Peter a vision all food was clean and proper for eating. So Peter sat among the Gentiles although they did not observe the Jewish laws. But when other Jewish friends arrived Peter suddenly stopped eating with the Gentiles for fear of what the other Jews might say. His hypocrisy spread to other Jews who also abandoned the Gentiles. Paul rebuked Peter and said if you can put away the Jewish laws to be with the Gentiles, why do you feel the Gentiles need the Jewish laws to be around Jews? Paul then went on to remind Peter it’s not about following the law, but it because of faith in Christ God accepts us.

Peter’s mistakes were letting peer pressure take over and win out against his best judgment. Peter was already doing the right thing, but he started to doubt himself when friends showed up. Peter allowed his relationship with his friends to become more important than his relationship with God. And once he did that their friendship began to sway his opinion, which led him as a leader to sway others opinions. It wasn’t long before he was harming the Gospel of Christ for the sake of his own self. How committed are you to your beliefs and values when it comes to Jesus? 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.” In other words be ready to defend what you believe in and don’t give up easily due to peer pressure. So often God has placed something on out heart and we give it up without questioning it because we are not confident enough to trust in the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.” Keep a close guard on your relationship with the Lord. Don’t let others easily pull you away. Pray that the Lord would keep you close and help you to trust in all that He would lead you to do. Pray for a close relationship with God and Christ. Ask that they might make your belief in them stronger each and every day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/06 12:04 PM
Acts 22:17-23 (NLT)
17"One day after I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple, and I fell into a trance. 18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, `Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't believe you when you give them your testimony about me.'
19" `But Lord,' I argued, `they certainly know that I imprisoned and beat those in every synagogue who believed on you. 20And when your witness Stephen was killed, I was standing there agreeing. I kept the coats they laid aside as they stoned him.'
21"But the Lord said to me, `Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!' "
22The crowd listened until Paul came to that word; then with one voice they shouted, "Away with such a fellow! Kill him! He isn't fit to live!" 23They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Paul, while he had been praying in the temple, had been given a divine commission to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was told the people in Jerusalem would not believe his testimony. And as Paul related his testimony to the people he finally got to the point where he said he was to give the message to the Gentiles. And with that one word, “Gentiles”, the crowd became boisterous and ready to kill Paul.

One word can sometimes change the whole atmosphere of a conversation. One word can set the tone of a meeting where people are relaxed and comfortable or put on edge and unsure of what is to take place. One word can mean the difference in letting someone know you care about them versus whether you have forgotten about them all together. One word makes the difference in letting someone know you are sorry. One word lets someone know that you love them. James 3:2 says, “We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way.” Have you learned to use care in controlling the words you use towards others? Have you thought about the effects they might have? Pray that God would help you understand the impact your words might have in this world. Ask for guidance when you speak to others that you might not offend or hurt others unknowingly. Pray you will always be uplifting and honoring to the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/04/06 11:51 AM
Psalms 118:13-21 (NLT)
13 You did your best to kill me, O my enemy, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is strength and my song; he has become my victory. 15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 16 The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 17 I will not die, but I will live to tell what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not handed me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD. 20 Those gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there. 21 I thank you for answering my prayer and saving me!

In Psalms 118 David reflects on a believing expectation of a promised Messiah. David is encouraging himself and others that the Lord is his VICTORY. And he sings songs of joy to that victory. He praises the strength of the Lord and His power. And while David has faced adversity and discipline, God has not forsaken him and handed him over to death. David knows the gates of heaven will open for him and he will go into the presence of the Lord, so he gives thanks to God for saving him from eternal spiritual death.

A student at a seminary observed an elderly janitor reading the bible. Curious about what he was reading the student stopped and said, “Can I ask what book of the bible you are reading?” The elderly janitor said, “Oh, I’m reading the book of Revelation, it’s my favorite.” Surprise the student asked if he understood it. “Oh yes”, replied the man. “It means that Jesus is going to have victory in the battle.” What better commentary to sum up the ending to the bible that to say Jesus has the victory. Does Jesus have the victory in your life? Have you turned you life over to Jesus to let Him take control? Pray that Jesus will let you live a victorious life. Ask that He will let you see the gates of heaven leading to Him just as David saw. Sing praises and be joyful for what He has done for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/05/06 11:49 AM
John 16:26-27 (NLT)
26Then you will ask in my name. I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.

Jesus is talking to the disciples and He had just told them "In just a little while I will be gone, and you won't see me anymore. Then, just a little while after that, you will see me again." Jesus was going to depart through his death, but rise again that he might be with them in spirit. They would then be able to pray in Jesus name, being filled with the Holy Spirit, even though Jesus was not there with them physically to pray for them. Jesus reassured them God loves them dearly because they loved Jesus and believed in who He was.

There was a story where a man was talking about his children. He said he had the most beautiful children in the world. His work associates whom he was talking to were impressed listening to the proud father as he boasted about his kids. So the father asked if everyone would like to see pictures of the kids. Of course after hearing the description of how beautiful these children were everyone said yes. Then out came the pictures and everyone sat frozen as they looked at the most homely looking children they had ever seen. But there sat the proud father gleaming back at them with delight. God your Father sees you through those same type of eyes. He overlooks the imperfections we see and sees something totally different. 1 Peter 3:4 says, “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” God loves you dearly as His child. Have you trusted in Jesus and given your life to Him? Pray and let Jesus know how thankful you are for a savior who allows you to enter into the presence of God. Thank Him for listening to your prayers and interceding when you need Him. Give all honor glory and praise to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/06/06 02:45 AM
Malachi 2:14-16 (NLT)
14You cry out, "Why has the LORD abandoned us?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her, though she remained your faithful companion, the wife of your marriage vows. 15Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard yourself; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16"For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "It is as cruel as putting on a victim's bloodstained coat," says the LORD Almighty. "So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife."

Malachi continues to present his message, which is a call of faithfulness from God. Here God declares He is displeased marriage vows have been broken, when it was the Lord’s intent for couples to remain faithful to one another. Through their faithfulness to one another they were to procreate and raise Godly children. The husband is charged to stand guard and remain loyal to his wife, which maintains a home to raise Godly children. Then God declares he hates divorce and equates it to wearing the bloody clothes of a person just murdered.


God challenged husbands over 2000 years ago to be faithful husbands and fathers of their households. It was a call many Israelites realized they had been negligent in. So they repented and turned back to God. Yet here we are in present times with the same problems. When our welfare system was created, if fathers resided in the household, benefits were reduced. The result was children living in fatherless homes rose from 5.1 million in 1960 to 16.5 million in 1995. A 1988 study, published in the Journal of Research on Crime and Delinquency found that the best predictor of violent crime and burglary in a community was the proportion of households without fathers. US Department of Health and Human Services found that 70% of all juveniles in long-term correctional facilities did not live with their father while growing up. Fathers strongly influence their children’s sex-role identities, so fathers who model a faithful, Godly life is important. We need to be praying for families around the world and that God becomes the center of the home. Once again we need to repent and return to God. Pray we never forget the lessons learned in the past. Pray for our families and the faithfulness of husbands and wives.
Posted By: dancer2006 Re: Devotionals - 04/07/06 10:29 PM
THank you for your words of encouragement, AskMe. I am a co-dependent, and my WH is an SA in denial. I was in denial, too, until it was too late. He's having an EA with a co-worker, (or maybe now it's a full fledged A--I don't know), and moved out 3 months ago and I am heartbroken. WE're married 9 years, in our 40's.

He still attends our church--sits in the back alone. THe pastors have all been tough on him, rebuked him, but he's not listening. He still goes to men's church sporting events (softball, football, golf, etc.)--alone--but not to BIble sudies in years. He was a strong CHristian, went to seminary for two years to go into ministry, but God lead us to helping the pastor, not being the pastor.

Everyone is baffled by him, especially me. He knows better. I don't know what to do. We were both leaders in out church. I'm not in Plan B, but not in Plan A either because he no longer lives at home. Should I change churches and go to Plan B? Most of my friends are there at that church and that would be tough on me. I love my pastor and his wife. My WH has gone to our pastor several times for counsel, but comes away still wanting a divorce and rejecting the Word of God.
All I can do now is pray. Any words of wisdom and your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Dancer
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/06 12:10 PM
You are more than welcome.....
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/06 12:10 PM
Genesis 9:19-25 (NLT)
18Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah, survived the Flood with their father. (Ham is the ancestor of the Canaanites.) 19From these three sons of Noah came all the people now scattered across the earth. 20After the Flood, Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. 21One day he became drunk on some wine he had made and lay naked in his tent. 22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers. 23Shem and Japheth took a robe, held it over their shoulders, walked backward into the tent, and covered their father's naked body. As they did this, they looked the other way so they wouldn't see him naked. 24When Noah woke up from his drunken stupor, he learned what Ham, his youngest son, had done. 25Then he cursed the descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham: "A curse on the Canaanites! May they be the lowest of servants to the descendants of Shem and Japheth."

From the 3 sons of Noah we are all descended. After the flood Noah became a farmer and kept a vineyard. After consuming to much wine, possibly in celebration, Noah fell asleep naked in his tent. Noah who had always kept sober in drunken company had now fallen drunk in sober company. Noah’s shame was his nakedness as he laid there in his sin. Ham saw his father and instead of being concerned for his father, Ham went out to rejoice in his father’s iniquity and o share it with his brothers. It’s those who also fall to sin who often rejoice in the fall of others. Hams brothers took a dim view of what happened and went in to discreetly cover their father’s shame. Noah having learned Ham’s indiscretion cursed him and those who would be Canaanites.

Noah placed a curse upon Ham that became a generational curse. It’s interesting when you look at Ham’s future history. It says one of Ham’s descendant’s was Nimrod, who was a mighty heroic warrior in the Lord’s sight. He built the foundation for his empire in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. From there he extended his reign to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen--the main city of the empire, located between Nineveh and Calah. Many of these cities are well known in the Bible, especially Babylonia, Assyria, Babel and Nineveh. The Babylonians became the enemies of the Israelites and took them into captivity. Ham’s son Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. Eventually the territory of Canaan spread from Sidon to Gerar, near Gaza, and to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha. Again, these were many enemies to the Israelites and the lands such as Sodom and Gomorrah were filled with wickedness. Ham who had lived sinfully in his lifetime had also spread sin for generations. Did you realize sin can be a generational curse? Did you know sins can be passed to children, then to their children and it continues on and on? Pray that the curses of generational sin stops. Pray parents will take a stand to identify the sins in their lives and hold them self accountable. Pray the sin stops here and continues no more.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/11/06 11:30 AM
Ezekiel 20:15-17 (NLT)
15But I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth. 16I told them this because they had rejected my laws, ignored my will for them, and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols. 17Nevertheless, I pitied them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.


The Bible can be specific in many ways. It says on August 14, during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the LORD. Part of the answer was given above to Ezekiel, which reviewed the rebellion of Israel before they entered the land of Canaan. God says it was the most beautiful place on the earth, flowing with milk and honey. God was ready to hand it over to them. Yet the people had violated His laws, had given their hearts to idols, and ignored what He had planned for their lives. God could have destroyed them, but He pitted them and gave hope for their children to be obedient to Him.

In the book of Numbers, men were sent out to explore the land flowing with milk and honey and they returned with wonderful fruit to prove how great the land was. But many of the men reported the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns were fortified and very large. They said, “We also saw the descendants of Anak who are living there! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley. And some of the men said we even saw giants there.” Caleb stood alone before Moses and said, "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!" Then Joshua stood with Caleb. But everyone else was ready to stone them in fear, because they did not trust the Lord. God told them those who were 20 years and older would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. God gave hope to the children that they might learn to walk in God’s ways and not follow the ways of their parents and elders. What examples are you setting in your life? Are they Godly ones others can follow? Pray that God would show you how to live your life in Christ. Pray for Jesus to lighten sin’s burden. Ask for guidance that would show others the right path to follow towards God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/06 11:01 AM
1 Timothy 5:5 (NLT)
5But a woman who is a true widow, one who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. Night and day she asks God for help and spends much time in prayer.

Paul was writing about the care of widows within the church. Here in verse 5 he makes a statement about the widows. He says a true widow is alone in this world. In other words there is no one available to care for her; she has no family, no relatives close at hand. Her only hope is in the Lord and so night and day she seeks God out in prayer.

Have you ever said, “I just quit.” Maybe you have reached a point where you just feel hopeless about a situation. You feel all alone as though there is no one to help. God doesn’t want us to give up; He wants us to turn to Him. I heard a pastor once tell a story about his younger days in seminary. He said he left one morning for seminary knowing he and his wife had bills to pay. He was discouraged, but he knew God had always been faithful. But still felt as though he was alone in his financial struggles. When he went by the office at the seminary there was an envelope with a $500 check made out to him. He called his wife all excited to say there was a donation someone anonymously had left for them. She said, “I know, it’s for $500.” Puzzled, he asked her how she knew. She said, “I knew once you told me there was a check. I had been praying to God for $500 to help pay our bills.” How faithful is our God to answer to our prayers when we are in need. We are not alone in our struggles. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Have you felt hopeless and alone in your struggles? God doesn’t desire that for you. Pray for God to give you hope. Pray your struggles may be eased and your burdens lifted. Look to God for your answers and praise Him for the goodness to come.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/06 12:13 PM
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (NLT)
6So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. 7Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. 8But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Paul in speaking to the Thessalonians says the generality of man is to be off guard and careless. Some are letting their natural desires take control of them. He is warning them to stay sober in spirit and in body that their mind might be on the Lord and be a witness for Him. And they can do so with the confidence of their salvation, protected by faith and love.

I have a high regard for those who protect our cities and states. Of course sometimes I am a little unnerved when I become their target on the highway. My commute to work each morning takes around 45 minutes so I leave early in the mornings to avoid traffic. Many people are probably still in bed or are just waking up. I drive through one town where the sheriffs are always present. This morning as I was going through this town one sheriff was in the median. As I approached he pulled out along side me up to the RED traffic light where we both stopped. There were hardly any cars out this time of the morning on this 6 lane road. It was just me, the sheriff and few cars behind us. When the light turned green, the sheriff raced off from the traffic line at a rapid pace without his blue light. I could tell the sheriff’s car was accelerating beyond the speed limit as my car increased speed. Of course my flesh cried out, “WHY DON’T YOU SPEED UP AND SEE WHERE HE IS GOING TO?” There was hardly any traffic; the road in front of me was open and no stop lights ahead. But there was the 45 MPH speed limit sign and I knew God called me to obey the law, although I have to admit there have been times I have fallen to the temptation “of a the leaden foot”. The good news, because I was on guard and followed the law I soon realized another sheriff had fallen in behind me and was monitoring my speed. I was being tempted by the other sheriff to see how I would react and the other sheriff was behind me ready to turn on his blue light had I let down my guard. HOW QUICKLY WE CAN SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN IF WE ARE NOT ON GUARD. Pray that God will keep you on guard. Thank Jesus for his salvation and protection. Remember Jesus died for you to be the guardian of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/17/06 12:05 PM
John 21:20-22 (NLT)
20Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them--the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who among us will betray you?" 21Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" 22Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."

After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to the disciples on the shore. They hurried there where Jesus prepared for them breakfast. Jesus once again asked Simon Peter if he loved Him 3 times. Peter was grieved as usual by Jesus response instead of looking how he could relate to Jesus. Then he saw John approaching and Peter asked Jesus, if he was the one who was going to betray him? Jesus replied that it was between Him and John, just as His relationship with Peter was between Him and Peter. Jesus looked at Peter and reminded him to follow Him.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10). My hope is in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, true God and true man, crucified for my sins, raised from the dead and seated upon his throne. My trust is in God and not in mankind. God will never disappoint me. My hope is in him: Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV) Is this how you feel about God and Christ? Do you really want to know them and place your faith in them? There is a hymn that says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. Jesus said follow Him. If we keep our eyes on Him and follow Jesus we can avoid many of the pitfalls of temptation and sin. Pray Jesus will help you to keep your eyes on Him. Pray that you may be able to follow on His paths of righteousness. Know that God is your hope, your salvation, and your trust. Praise God for His son the risen Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/06 11:39 AM
Colossians 2:20-23
20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 21"Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch." 22Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. 23These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires.


The apostle Paul lets the Colossians know the world does not hold them captive to evil. The rules men created trying to show discipline does not have to regulate their lives because they are free with Christ. These rules actually can be put into practice, but they become repetition and have no effect in actually stopping sin in a person’s life. It is Christ alone who frees us from sin.


A man was standing along side the highway one day observing two highway department workers. One of the workers would dig a hole. Then when he was finished the other worker would wait for a little while and then he would start filling in the hole the worker had just dug. This routine went on for a little while until the man observing just could not stand the curiosity any longer. He walked over and asked, “Why are you digging the hole, and why does he fill it up?” The first man replied, “Oh, you see, the guy who plants the trees is out sick today.” Sometimes people do things out of habit and repetition and they are not even thinking about what they are trying to accomplish. Paul was speaking to such things. People were following religious rules, but did not understand the sins they were trying to conquer in their lives. Do you understand what it is God requires from you? Maybe you are being too hard on yourself? Maybe you need to spend more time in His word to have a fuller understanding of God’s desires? Pray and spend time with God that you might know what He desires. Pray that God may reveal what sin you need to turn over to Him. Praise Him always for His love and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/19/06 12:34 PM
Proverbs 21:15 (NLT)
15Justice is a joy to the godly, but it causes dismay among evildoers.

It is a pleasure and satisfaction to good men to see justice administered by the government they live under, rights upheld and iniquity suppressed. They do justice with pleasure and for love of virtue. For a wicked man it is terror to see laws put in execution. It is destruction to them and a fear of punishment.


A well known actor and comedian had one of the top rated sitcoms in America. He was famous for several movies. His humor and wit is well known to many. In 1979 at the Kalamazoo, Michigan airport he was arrested for over 650 grams of cocaine he was trying to sell to an undercover police officer. The prosecutor called him “an intelligent, personable, and remorseful individual.” Because he was charming, entertaining and willing to testify against others, authorities choose to prosecute him under federal law where he would only receive a 5 year sentence. The state court opposed no additional time. Circuit Judge Patrick Macauley told him: "You have the unique ability to get on the stage and perform and make people smile, laugh and be happy. That's an unusual talent. Don't waste it. You can perfect your talents while in prison. When you come out, I expect to see you very, very successful as a comedian. I expect to see your name in magazines. You are going to be a very successful young man." Tim Allen served about 2 1/2 years in prison, and then was released. What about people? Of course they are serving life sentences in prison. Ask Michael Ward, 128627, of the Saginaw Correctional Facility of Freeland, Michigan, named along with Tim Allen in the federal indictment. Ward is serving life in prison because of his state court conviction for drugs. Although Ward was no guiltier, Ward stayed in prison while Allen enjoyed a successful Hollywood career. To some there seems justice, while to some there seems injustice. Pray God will watch over our nation and keep justice alive. Pray God restores leaders who respect justice and know how to preserve laws which are right and just. Keep our leaders in your prayers and praise God who He is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/20/06 11:33 AM
Proverbs 20:19 (NLT)
19A gossip tells secrets, so don't hang around with someone who talks too much.

Solomon points out there are some types of people you have to take care in associating with. One such type is a tale bearer who goes about carrying stories they are entrusted with. They may have gained their information by fair or unfair means, under the pretence of guessing men’s intensions and sometimes modifying the truth to fit their own needs. It can be certain any secret or truth which may be told in privacy or confidence will be revealed to others. There are also flatters who pick out of person something with which they can build upon for their own gain. They praise and put false confidence into the person and reveal secrets to gain trust so the person falls to their side. Solomon *warns* us beware of such people.

When our son was young and playing sports there was a mother present at the games who was constantly gossiping about the latest news she had heard in the community. She was always talking to someone about something that was happening with someone. Well the end of the season came and the team was having its final team banquet. This woman called my wife and asked for a ride to the banquet, which my wife offered her. But on the way to the banquet my wife made the mistake of asking a question. She said, “I noticed the mother of the coach’s son is pregnant, but they don’t ever come or leave together. Are they separated?” It was a simple curiosity question of concern my wife was asking, but she asked the wrong person. The woman responded, “I don’t know; I hadn’t noticed; are they separated; is it his baby; when did she get pregnant before or after”. You can see where her mind was headed. No sooner did we arrive did the woman make a beeline to the coaches wife and pointing to my wife, “she said you were separated, is the baby his or someone else’s? Are you planning to keep it? So what is the story?” I can’t describe how embarrassed my wife from the actions of this woman and how much she apologized to the coaches wife. Fortunately the coach’s wife knew this particular woman was the type to talk about people and she was very forgiving. James said, “We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way.” Take care in what you say because it can create great impact on those around you. Pray that God teaches you the words to say, the thoughts to have and the heart to act. Pray you learn to listen before you speak and learn to discern what you hear before you act.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/06 11:54 AM
Jude 1:22-23 (NLT)
22Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins.


Jude was the half brother of Jesus and the brother of James. There are some people you just yank out of sin and yet there are others you can gently lead away from sin with love. Some are so close to the fire that the only way to get them away is with a harsh rebuke. Jude finally warns us not to allow others to contaminate ourselves with their sin.


Not everyone gets a chance to take a look at the inside of an electrical nuclear reactor generation building. So when employees were given the opportunity to tour the contamination building I jumped at the chance for a tour. There were strict procedures that had to be followed. No nylon material could be worn that would attract nuclear particles. No touching of any of the areas being worked on. Rubber boots had to be worn to keep water off shoes that could contain radioactive particles. No contact with workers who could contaminate you coming out of the reactor area. All of these rules were for your own safety to prevent contamination with radioactive material, which could harm you or cause death. Jude was providing similar instructions for living, but his included not being contaminated by sin. Sin leads to harm and possible death and without Christ as savior leads to a spiritual death. It’s why Jude was telling Believers to snatch people from the flames. If you know people who do not know Christ, isn’t it time to tell them about Jesus? If you have allowed yourself to be contaminated by sin, isn’t time to ask Jesus to be washed off and cleansed? Jesus longs to help non-believer and believe alike. Pray for Jesus that he might cleanse your sin. Pray that you sins would be removed far away. Thank Jesus for His love and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/25/06 12:09 PM
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJVR)
7 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul dealt with some type of temptation, though the temptation was not specifically specified. God will often bring good out of evil and with Paul God used the temptation as a means to keep him humble. The Lord reminded him that His grace was sufficient and that in our weakness we are made strong through the power of Christ. Paul realized because of Christ he could be content with the difficulties he faced.

We like to be strong, healthy and able to accomplish our work. We want others to recognize we are able and fit. I can remember a friend once saying he worked out daily because he felt he needed to be the protector of his family. And if he weren’t strong enough to challenge others then he felt like he might be a failure to protect his family. The truth is our ability ultimately counts for nothing. A sudden illness and we are no longer strong. A harsh injury and we cannot accomplish our work. Even my friend who wanted to protect his family cannot protect them when he is not there and he cannot protect them from forces greater than himself. We falsely believe we are something that we are not. So it is important we admit our weakness and be willing to allow God to make perfect His strength in our lives. For then we can boast of God’s work and what God has done instead of what we have done. Pray and give God praise for His strength and his power and his might. Thank Him for helping you to endure the hardships, the weaknesses, the calamities and persecutions. Give praise to a mighty God who cares for your smallest concerns.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/26/06 12:05 PM
Phillipians 3:6-9 (NLT)
6And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault. 7I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ 9and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me.

Paul was describing to the Phillipians how in his past he was zealously following Jewish law. He followed it so closely that it was difficult for anyone to accuse him of doing anything wrong. In other words he was a very strict follower of the law. Paul was so strict he began to persecute others, which so often happens when someone believes they have risen above the integrity of others. But Paul goes on to say that once he met Christ and gained the knowledge and wisdom of Him, everything else became garbage or as some translations say “dung”. Paul realized he could not count on his own goodness or his ability, but he had to trust Christ for his salvation.

Many of us have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and by doing so we have placed our faith in Him. Our sins have been redeemed by His blood and we have been justified through our faith in Him that we may be with God in heaven. As Paul said we can trust Jesus to save us. Yet some of us even after placing our trust in Christ still carry a score card with us tallying up our failures. Each time we sin down goes a mark on the card. Then when there are enough marks we start to feel bad about the things we have done, sometimes even doubting our own salvation. When Jesus reappeared to the disciples, he even asked them, “why do you doubt who I am”. Even in Matthew it says, “they worshipped him, but some of them still doubted him.” Doubt is powerful feeling and one the Satan uses against us. In Psalms when David had doubt he said, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” We need to seek God in our times of doubt and ask for renewed hope and cheer. Pray that God would remove any doubt you have about your salvation. Pray for a renewed hope and cheer in your life. Ask that Christ would strengthen you and prepare you for each days journey. Give thanks for the joy of your salvation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/27/06 12:01 PM
Matthew 21:28-32 (NLT)
28 "But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, `Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 29 The son answered, `No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, `You go,' and he said, `Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. 31 Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, "The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.


Jesus was telling the leading priests and Pharisees of the temple a parable. The parable was intended to show who was doing right. To some it appears what is right is that which is first seen and acknowledged, but it is actually the actions taken in the proper manner that is right. Jesus goes on to rebuke the leaders by saying that corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into heaven before they do, because they refused to take action and do what was right.


There is a commercial for a popular brand of foot care products where one car runs into the back of another. The car that gets hit is severely damaged. Both guys get out and it is like no one needs to take care of the problem because the foot care product has them so relaxed about the situation. Now how would you feel if someone ran into the back of your car and got out and said, “Hey, see you have a bad dent there? We are just chill’ in right? Sorry about the car, hope you have a good day.” Now you are standing there with your car a total wreck and this guy wants to say sorry and walk off. Does sorry take care of the problem? If the person was truly sorry they would have taken the action to make things right. In 2 Corinthians 7:10-12 it says, “For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right. My purpose was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could show how much you really do care for us.” Taking action and making things right is what is important to God. Is there someone you need to make things right with? Pray that God might reveal areas in your life where things need to be made right. Pray you will strive to take action to make those areas in your life pleasing to God. Ask for Christ’s help when you are weak.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/06 12:06 PM
Titus 2:1-2 (NLT)

1But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. 2Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience.

Paul was speaking to Titus and giving him instruction for the older men of the church. These older men were to set examples for the younger men to follow. He said these older men needed to exercise self-control, have strong faith and be filled with love and patience. The object was to be worthy of respect and live out their lives wisely.


Peter gave a very good point that is useful to the concept Paul was trying to teach Titus in 2 Peter 1:6-7, “Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter explains there is a growing process that starts with knowing God. As you start to who God is, you gain self-control of your flesh that always wants to take over and lead you towards sin. Once you know you are capable of self-control, and then you find endurance to persevere and weather through the trials to become godlier in your walk with God; your Christian walk becomes stronger and your love for people reaches out and becomes real. You then fulfill your purpose that Christ called you to as one of His own. Have you started to walk in self-control with the Lord? Are you growing in godliness? Pray that the Lord may give you the self-control you need in your life to make it through each day. Ask Him to strengthen you that you may be an example to others. Pray that the flesh may not grow weak when temptations come. Praise God for the victories in battle against sin.
Posted By: Welderboy Re: Devotionals - 05/02/06 12:32 AM
Thank you...for today's reading...it really fits thr bill for where I'm at in my life at the time. God Bless!!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/06 12:03 PM
Jude 1:9 (NLT)
9But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.)


Whatever Satan’s contention, Michael the archangel did not rail accusations back against Satan. Even though Michael is known to be the mightiest of angels and leads the other angels in battle, he knew there was no good cause in arguing because God had already made known the truth. So Michael’s statement to Satan was God would rebuke Satan for what he was saying, because Michael knew it to be false.


The truth is hard to know. I started out writing a devotional this morning believing I knew the truth in what I was writing. As I put down the facts and got towards the end of the devotional I came to realize I wasn’t sure if I knew the truth or not. I had facts I obtained from what I considered sources that seemed reliable, but because I had not personally verified them and read the information myself I suddenly became uncomfortable. I was actually calling out an author’s name and his words in book, but I only had quotes, and opinions from others who had read the book. I personally had never read the book or knew anything about it before I had read the opinions. It began to feel as though I had gathered gossip and I deleted every line I had already written. I was writing about the author’s truth and then I realized I had to review my own truth and make sure I was accountable. Michael the angel when he rebuked Satan knew there was one real truth in this world and that was God’s truth. It’s a truth to live by. It’s a standard for our lives. We need to remember that standard and go back to that truth. Pray for God’s truth to be in your life. Pray that His word may flow fully in your life permeating your soul. Let His words be sweet and tender mercy to your ears.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/03/06 11:52 AM
Isaiah 1:18
18"Come now, let us argue this out," says the LORD. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.

Through Isaiah, the Lord is presenting His case against Israel. In verse 10 God has just told the leaders that the people have acted like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Anyone familiar with those cities would know their ultimate fate and should be fearful for their own destiny. Yet the Lord calls out to them and says they can argue out their problems with him. He is willing to listen and struggle with them in coming to a resolution. And He says if they will argue it out with Him they can become clean and white even though they are stained with sin.


If you have ever had a nice white shirt and dropped tomato sauce, blueberries, or mustard on the shirt and then tried to wash them out later you know how difficult it is. Once they have set in on the shirt for a while the stain just locks in. Imagine if you did that time after time after time. Eventually the shirt would be nothing but one big stain. God was looking at His people and saying your sins have stained you so much all I see is one red crimson stain. Sin stains a person’s life and blots their reputation. Each sin just taints a person’s life discoloring the life they could have had. God is calling us to a holy life, a life possible though Jesus Christ. Have you put your faith in Jesus to wash away your sins and make them white as snow? Maybe there are some current sins in your life Jesus would be willing to help remove? Pray for the faith in Jesus Christ to remove the sins in your life. Pray that as new sins creep in He will remove each one far away and keep you white as the fallen snow. Thank God for willingness to reach out and even argue your sins with you. Know that you have a God that loves you deeply.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/06 11:19 AM
Psalm 147:4 (NLT)
4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

David is singing praises to God for his mightiness. He is recounting how God is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing back His people. So David starts to dwell on the awesome and innumerable powers of God. David says in Psalm 147:4 that God is able to count all of the stars in the heavens and call each one of them by name.


Man has only yet to begin to explore the vast reaches of the universe. Through modern technology such as the Hubble Telescope scientists have been able to peek out into parts of space that once were just darkness to the eye. And still there is so much we have not seen and so much we do not know. Yet God knows where each star is placed and He has given each one a name. Even more amazing is what God knows about us. In Luke 12:6-7 Jesus says, “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” God knows us so intimately He has even numbered each hair of our head. Of course some of us might not have too many to number these days, but God still loves us. He is a God concerned with every little detail of our lives. Have you stopped to praise your God this morning? Have you given the Lord praise and glory for the things He has done in your life? Pray and give thanks for the good things God has blessed you with. Give praises to the one who knows you intimately. Praise God for His loving kindness, His mercy, His grace, His gentleness, His mighty power, His compassion, His patience, His salvation. Always remembering the hope the Lord brings to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/06 12:27 PM
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
24"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Jesus is teaching about money and possessions. A servant was to follow his master and pay attention to his needs. So if a servant was following after one master; the other master would soon be jealous and unleash punishment upon the servant. Soon the servant would have to choose to be devoted to one and hate the other.

The question to ask from Matthew 6:24 is who or what will you let rule your life? And what are you willing to give up? You might be forced to decide to leave everything behind. Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.” The choice comes down to be is Jesus the one you are willing to serve? Or do you look for one of the many things that are available in the world to choose from. There is only one correct answer according to Jesus; that one true answer is our Father in heaven. Giving our devotion to anything else or to anyone else, means that what we pursue on earth is destined for decay, death, or destruction. In the strongest terms possible, Jesus reminds us that money can't be our god if we want to serve the Lord God Almighty. Pray and let God know that you want to serve Him. Let God know that you desire to follow His ways and be obedient to Him. Pray that your heart will learn devotion to Him and not seek after foolish ways. Ask for His guidance that your footsteps may be secure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/06 12:07 PM
Job 7:11-21 (NLT)
11"I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. I must complain in my bitterness. 12Am I a sea monster that you place a guard on me? 13If I think, `My bed will comfort me, and I will try to forget my misery with sleep,' 14you shatter me with dreams. You terrify me with visions. 15I would rather die of strangulation than go on and on like this. 16I hate my life. I do not want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for these few remaining days. 17"What are mere mortals, that you should make so much of us? 18For you examine us every morning and test us every moment. 19Why won't you leave me alone--even for a moment? 20Have I sinned? What have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why have you made me your target? Am I a burden to you? 21Why not just pardon my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone."

Here in these verses we find Job in torment. He has lost his family, his possessions, and his skin is covered in sore, painful boils causing him much misery. In his bitterness he complains to God. He says he finds no comfort in sleep and he feels as though he has been bound and confined by his affliction. Job feels he is under a test that will not go away for he is not aware of any sin that he has committed.

I can remember the first time my children grabbed a lemon and put it up to their mouth. There was this surprised reaction on their face. They jerked the lemon away, pulled back and shook their head with an astonished look. They had just experienced the bitterness of the lemon. Sometimes we experience bitterness in life and we just want to pull back and run away. We want to retreat from those things that cause us severe pain, grief or regret. But we can’t let bitterness take over our lives. Lamentations 3:19-25 says, “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.” God is our hope, our mercy, our grace and our salvation. Ephesians says get rid of all bitterness. Are you holding on to bitterness in your life? Pray that God will help you release that bitterness. Pray for his mercies to be fresh in your life. Let each day start new, fresh and clean. Ask God daily for a renewing of your spirit that you might rejoice with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/06 11:55 AM
Romans 1:20 (NLT)
20From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.


In Romans Paul is writing about Christ and the good news God has proclaimed. In verse 20 Paul says the earth and the sky have been visible to all people. The things God has made can clearly be seen. And because there is clear evidence of God’s creation, His invisible qualities of eternal power and divine nature are also evident that no one is without excuse not to know God.


In Genesis 3:21 it says, “And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” For ages man has clothed himself with furs from animals that came from creation. Nature also gives us other materials like silk and cotton. Cotton makes up 33% of the material used in clothing today. It comes from a plant that grows wild in many places on the earth. Its use has been discovered in ancient India, Mexico, Egypt, Peru and the American Indians. God had provided for man from the beginning and continues to provide for his needs today. The clothes man wears everyday, so simple, but clearly seen as evidence that God exists. If you have ever passed a factory that makes synthetic material for clothes and seen the enormity and scale of the building to support the function and then thought about the simple cotton plant how could God’s work not be evident? Do you see God’s work before you? Pray that the work God is doing in your life may become evident. Look for His work in all of creation and praise Him for His eternal power and divine nature. Praise Him for the Holy God that He is and for providing for your needs.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/18/06 12:33 PM
Luke 4:32-36 (KJV)
32 And they were astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, who had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee and who Thou art -- the Holy One of God!" 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him!" And when the devil had thrown him in their midst, he came out of him and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word is this! For with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."


Jesus had recently spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. During the temptation Satan had said, “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them; for this has been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.", but Jesus responded, “Get thee behind Me, Satan! For it is written: `Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'" Jesus knew where His strength and power came from. It was from His Father God. And God’s power was mightier than any power Satan had to offer. His power even controlled the demons that Satan led.

James the half brother of Jesus asks the question, “Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!” Jesus had demonstrated His power over the demons more than once during His life. They were fearful of the power that He held to control them. Even Satan was aware of the power Jesus had and was trying to tempt Him in order that He might sin and fall from grace with God. Jesus had even said, “The Father loves his Son, and has given Him authority over everything.” Jesus had the authority to forgive the sins of anyone who placed their faith in Him as their savior. It was more than just believing He existed and had power; knowing He had the power to change them and save them and take away the sins that had stained their life made the difference. Many people believe there is a god or one god, yet like the Satan and the demons they choose not to follow God. The power of Jesus and God might be evident to them, but for whatever reason they choose not to put their trust and faith in the one who could save them from sin. Pray that those who don’t know Jesus might come to know him. Pray that He might enter their lives so they may be filled with His glory. Praise God for His Son who died for your sins. Thank Him for His loving kindness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/06 11:55 AM
Jude 1:3-8 (NLT)
3Dearly loved friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the truth of the Good News. God gave this unchanging truth once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5I must remind you--and you know it well--that even though the Lord rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. 6And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. 7And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil. 8Yet these false teachers, who claim authority from their dreams, live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the power of the glorious ones.

In these verses we find Jude writing about false teachers; those who are trying to turn the people away from the Christian beliefs. Jude reminds his dearly loved friends that both man and angel have fallen due to false beliefs. And because there have been those who have chosen to turn away from God; God severely punishment them. He says we must defend the Good News of Salvation that these false teachers try to rewrite with their own authority, scoffing at the power of God.

As news reporters stood outside the theaters of the newly opened movie The Da Vinci Code they were stopping people to ask them how they liked the movie. I had just watched an interview with Ron Howard who said, “Again: This is suppose to be entertainment, its not theology” defending his reason to do the movie. But those who watched the movie seemed to be convinced it was more than fiction. One man said to the reporter, “the movie really makes you stop and think.” Another person said, “It made me question some things.” So if this is fiction, what are these people stopping to think about or what are they questioning? Obviously it had to have created some doubt or confusion about what they have heard about Christianity. Maybe it’s time we defend the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray about how you can spread the Good News and defend His name. Pray that His name may always be upheld. Pray that the world may know the true Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/06 11:16 AM
Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
4And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.

God has given fathers the power over their children, but they must not abuse that power. They are to train their children in the ways of the Lord so they might know Him. Paul is giving these words to the Ephesians as guidelines for Christian living and for family growth.


Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is a reassurance to parents that if they teach their children about the Lord their children will continue to seek the Lord in their life. There has to be care given in the way discipline and training is given. Dr. Lloyd-Jones once said, “When you are disciplining a child, you should have first controlled yourself …. What right have you to say to your child that he needs discipline when you obviously need it yourself?” So it’s important for you as a parent to first understand what the Lord requires and follow what the Lord desires of you. Do you have that understanding? God’s word reveals His desire for you. Pray that He will reveal the things He would have you do. Ask how you might grow as a parent. Pray for wisdom and knowledge to be the parent you need to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/25/06 12:08 PM
Proverbs 25:14 (NLT)
14A person who doesn't give a promised gift is like clouds and wind that don't bring rain.

Solomon provided this piece of wisdom to live by. He said a person who promised a gift and then did not follow through with that gift was like a cloud in the wind that did not bring rain to the land. It brought promise to the land, but then the hope vanished.

On one of the popular afternoon court TV shows a man was suing his niece claiming she did not pay him back for her mother’s funeral. This was horrible case in which the distraught young woman was counter suing the uncle because he had kept a ring of her mothers. She said she had not paid her uncle because he had kept her mother’s ring she had promised to her. The uncle said he had not given her the ring because he said his mother had promised it to him, but had given it to his sister, who was her mother. Finally the judge asked, “Sir, do you have this ring”, and the man showed he had it on a chain around his neck. This promised gift that was never given had burdened this man so strongly he had stolen it from a dead woman. He kept it from the rightful owner, his niece, which was the only remaining memory she had of her mother. Maybe if someone had read the above Proverb and applied it to their life, maybe some of these pains might not have occurred. The Bible is full of wisdom to guide us in our life and direct us each and every day. Have you taken a moment to take God’s word into your heart and apply His wisdom? Pray and ask God for the wisdom from His word. Look to Him for knowledge and truth. Seek His ways that you might know what is good and true.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/30/06 11:47 AM
Proverbs 30:32 (NLT)
32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, don't brag about it--cover your mouth with your hand in shame.

King Solomon provides a wise proverb to think about. He starts out saying if you have been a fool, a fool for being proud or plotting evil then don’t brag about it, but cover your mouth in shame.

It’s bad enough when a person falls into sin. The person becomes tempted and instead of seeking God’s help to resist they fall to the temptation. They become entrapped and participate in whatever short lived pleasures the sin has to offer. Then they find themselves filled with the shame sin always brings in the end. Sin is deceptive in that it is alluring, but afterwards all of its appeal is lost. Yet someone will relive their moments of sin; recounting every second in detail. They will provide you with descriptions of their lustful nature, their state of debauchery and every other sinful detail when as King Solomon says they should be covering their mouth with their hand in shame. And what makes someone speak out this way is pride and the thoughts they harbor in their mind, which is what Jesus said in Mark 7:20-23, “And then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God."” What thoughts are you harboring in your mind that you need to turn over to the Lord? What can you give to Him to keep you from speaking out in shame? Pray that the Lord may help you to see what you might turn over to Him and let Him be in control of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/31/06 11:24 AM
Judges 19:26-29 (NLT)

26 At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light. 27 When her husband opened the door to leave, he found her there. She was lying face down, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said, "Get up! Let's go!" But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home. 29 When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine's body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe of Israel. 30 Everyone who saw it said, "Such a horrible crime has not been committed since Israel left Egypt. Shouldn't we speak up and do something about this?"

A man of the tribe of Levi had a concubine who had been unfaithful and had returned to her father’s home. The Levi had gone to persuade her to come home and her father welcomed him. Her father provided meals and celebration and enticed him to stay a while, but eventually he said he had to return with her back home. On his way back he stopped with her and his servants in the town of Gibeah. While he was asleep the men of the town there took his concubine and abused her and left until she died on the door step. The husband in rage and anger cut up her lifeless body and sent a piece to each tribe of Israel to say shouldn’t something be done about the sin that is taking place in this day and time?

Vaccinations are given to make people immune to certain types of viruses. If you give someone just enough of a weaken virus they become exposed and will eventually not feel the effects when exposed to the stronger virus. It seems like sin goes after us in the same way. We keep getting exposed to sin in small amounts, but sin keeps growing in our society where like the virus when it becomes big we just don’t feel the big impact. Things that happen today just did not happen 40 or 50 years ago and would probably shock people who are no longer alive. Then go back another 40 or 50 years and it would shock that generation of people, because even the thoughts of rock & roll were horrifying. Maybe somebody does need to stand up and ask the questions, has such horrible crimes been committed since America became a country? Pray that God would move in the life of His people and that each one would commit their lives to Him. Pray they would stand up to do right in His sight. Pray for your own committed life to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/01/06 11:49 AM
Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT)

16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau. He traded his birthright as the oldest son for a single meal. 17 And afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he wept bitter tears.

The apostle is saying in Hebrews to not trade away eternal salvation for even the smallest thing like Esau did. He gave away an entire birthright just for a meal and then wept over what he had done, not for the sin, but for the penalty of the sin.

From one generation to the next fathers pass on blessings to their children. Sometimes there are hopes and dreams that are passed on. Maybe a father or a grandfather has a dream of building a business and it finally comes true in a son or a grandson. Years ago many an immigrant left their country seeking the new land of American in order to find a blessing for a new generation of people. The Bible says, "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth" (Psalm 127:4 NASB). In other words there reaches a point where children have been safe and secure like arrows kept in a quiver. But at some point you have to take them from a quiver, point them in the right direction and let them go. And hopefully you have blessed them enough with the Lord’s teachings that they know the right path to follow. Pray for your children that they might know the Lord’s wisdom. Pray for those who teach. Ask the Lord to lead our nation and bless it. Let Him be a blessing to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/06 12:08 PM
Isaiah 39:5-8 (NLT)
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to this message from the LORD Almighty: 6 The time is coming when everything you have--all the treasures stored up by your ancestors--will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7 Some of your own descendants will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon's king." 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "This message you have given me from the LORD is good." But the king was thinking, "At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime."

Isaiah relays a message to Hezekiah from the Lord that all the possessions he will leave to his ancestors will one day be carried off to Babylon due to his vanity and pride. Then Hezekiah responds knowing the Lord has just revealed his sin saying “the message is good”. For God could have brought destruct in the present time for Hezekiah’s sin, but God chose to wait until a future date and remove the objects so precious to Hezekiah. For instead of leaving a legacy of blessing, Hezekiah is leaving a path to destruction.

Matthew 6: 21 says, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Hezekiah obviously had his thoughts on his earthy treasure and not God. He opened his doors to the enemy and let them walk in and look at everything he had. He allowed them free access to roam around and do their will. Hezekiah had done the same with sin. He had opened the door to sin and let sin come into his life. Sin had come in and was allowed to roam freely and take control. Even when it was acknowledged, Hezekiah wasn’t overly grieved about his sin, but instead thought it good his sin was found out, but that another generation was going to pay the debt. Where are your treasures? Here on earth or are they being stored up in heaven? Pray that your may find your treasures in heaven with God. Seek to find the treasures God has in store for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/06/06 12:04 PM
Ecclesiastes 10:11 (NLT)
11It does no good to charm a snake after it has bitten you.

Solomon provides much wisdom throughout Ecclesiastes in his own search to understand the world and humanity. The enchantment should come first, because trying to charm afterwards does no good.

There are positive lessons which can be learned from the verse above. A person can learn they should be charming in order to gain the approval of others. It does no good to walk in with criticism and harsh words and then expect others to follow you. It’s like a snake that bites them and then expects them to be charmed. The Bible teaches us to respect others and to love them. There are many good words in the Bible on how we should live our daily lives. Take some time and spend it with God when you can. God will bless those moments with Him. Pray that you might learn His lessons of life for you. Pray that His blessings will be abundant and help you touch others lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/06 11:50 AM
Mark 13: 31-37 (NLT)
31Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. 32"However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33And since you don't know when they will happen, stay alert and keep watch. 34"The coming of the Son of Man can be compared with that of a man who left home to go on a trip. He gave each of his employees instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35So keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when the homeowner will return--at evening, midnight, early dawn, or late daybreak. 36Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch for his return!"

Jesus is talking to the disciples about His return. He lets them know no one knows when it will happen but God the Father alone. And He warns them not to be idle, but to kept watch for His return.

Another day passes in history when man has decided it might be the end of the world. Even Hollywood movie makers took note of the date 6/6/06 to release some of their movies to play upon the biblical numbers. But God has told us no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen. Instead we are to be like the gatekeeper staying alert. We want to follow Christ so that we know where He is when He returns. John 10: 3-5,”The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice." Isn’t wonderful to have a savior we know? Give praise to our Lord. Remember He will return in Glory and Honor. Pray for those who don’t know Him and give thanks for your own salvation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/08/06 12:04 PM
Genesis 39: 22-23 (NLT)
22 Before long, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The chief jailer had no more worries after that, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him, making everything run smoothly and successfully.

Joseph had been blessed by the Lord and was serving in Potiphar’s house after being sold into slavery by his brothers. But Potiphar’s wife had accused Joseph falsely of making advances towards her, which had caused Joseph to be placed in prison. Instead of falling into despair and misery Joseph made the best of his situation and allowed the Lord to work through him even in prison. There he took care of everything where even the jailer didn’t have to worry.

We have choices in life where we can either let life defeat us or we can choose to be victorious in Christ. From the moment Joseph got into Egypt he could have taken the attitude, “my brothers sold me in slavery I might as well give up”. But instead he allowed the Lord to encourage him and he served the Lord with all his heart and faithfulness. Even in a prison where there is usually hopelessness Joseph was put in charge of everything, which also meant he became accountable for any problems that occurred. Any disorderly conduct by the prisoners would have meant swift punishment for Joseph. Yet Joseph took care of everything and the Lord was with him and he was successful. Joseph counted on God to help him through the difficult moments of his life. Are you counting on God to see you through to make everything run smoothly and successful? Pray God will be there to help you in your moments of need. Pray for success in your life and that struggles will vanish and life with become like a calm lake. Turn to God instead of turning to the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/06 12:20 PM
1 Corinthian 5:9-13 (NLT)
9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people. 12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."

Paul is writing about those who practice certain sins and who they should avoid, but he wasn’t talking about unbelievers, he was talking about people right there in the church. For he goes on to say if we avoided the other sinners everyday we would have to leave the planet in order to avoid them. God judges the non-believer, but the church is to police their own. Even the scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

Not all church discipline results in restoration, even though we call it church restoration, in some cases it does not, and then after some time, sometimes it’s years, that the person realizes the sinfulness of their behavior and they repent. People come back years later saying, “When you put me out of the church, I was wrong. I was in sin, I was deceived. I was wrong. A woman named Gwen was in a church, but she was sinning openly. The whole community knew of it. The church went through various steps of trying to restore her and went all the way to the step of putting her out of the church. She turned around and sued the church for defamation of character and for bringing her name into disrepute. And juries, as juries are want to do, rule in favor of the parishioner and awarded her $205,000 in actual damages, an $185,000 in punitive damages and $45,000 in interest. That’s quite a blow for a small church Churches have a constitutional right to discipline members, statements made to the church members about disciplined members are conditionally privileged. Churches have broad authority to discipline clergy. Churches have constitutionally protected rights to discipline a former member, who has withdrawn from the membership, if the former member has effectively waved his or her right to withdraw from membership. That’s why many teach church discipline in their new member classes. The purpose of disciple is restoration, not punishment. But many view it as punishment they seek to do more vengeance towards the church. When you see a brother or sister who has fallen, help to seek restore them in case regarding yourself. Pray for God’s wisdom to heal and restore. Pray for God’s wisdom to understand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/06 11:42 AM
Luke 14:31-33 (NLT)
31 "Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counselors and discussing whether his army of ten thousand is strong enough to defeat the twenty thousand soldiers who are marching against him? 32 If he is not able, then while the enemy is still far away, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace. 33 So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.

Jesus is talking to a great crowd that is following him and He starts to explain the cost of being one of His disciples. He provides several examples along with this one about a king planning to go to war. Jesus asks the question, what king would match 10,000 soldiers against 20,000 soldiers without sitting with his counselors and discussing the chances of winning the battle. If the counselors see the possibility of defeat then they can hope for a peace term before battle. Jesus said no one can be His disciple without giving up everything for Him.

What if you had been in charge of the battle and your commander said I want you to take these 10,000 men to lead the fight. And as you start to gather your intelligence about the enemy you find out there are 20,000 of the enemy waiting ahead for you. You now know that you are outnumbered 2 to 1. What do you do? You call in your advisors, your counselors and ask their advice on a plan, the best strategy, the best possible plan of attack, or the best solution you might choose. Is our life not just the same? Every day we face the enemy. We face a battle with sin. We face tough decisions and need plans and strategies and counsel to get us through. Who better to give us the advice than the Lord Jesus Christ? Pray for the wisdom and counsel or Jesus. Pray He would lead you through the battles of life. Let Him give you the strategies to plan your life to its fullest.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/14/06 11:47 AM
James 3:6 (NLT)
6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by ****** itself.

James is telling us that we should give care to the words we use. The words that come from your mouth can change the whole course of your life. They can cause destruction and ruin. He compares the tongue to fire, which once let loose in a forest, will run out of control until finally there is nothing left that it can burn. He says the fire comes from ****** itself.

Have you ever known a small child that bites defensively? Maybe an older sibling starts to push or hold back the child and it feels defenseless so it attacks the only way it knows by biting back. Most parents try to correct the behavior because they know it can damage and harm the other children and it’s not a behavior to be rewarded. Many times people strike out defensively with words when they should have held back, but it was all they knew to do at the moment. It was a behavior they never learned to correct and it’s one that could set their entire life on a course of destruction. Words can bite and be more painful than a physical wound. James is right when he says the tongue is full of wickedness, but the good news is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can help us control what we do and say. We just need to remember to stop and allow Him to work in our lives and give Him the reins and let go of our need to be in control. Pray that Christ might be in control of your life, managing it day by day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/15/06 11:49 AM
Lamentations 1:19 (NLT)
19 "I begged my allies for help, but they betrayed me. My priests and leaders starved to death in the city, even as they searched for food to save their lives.

In Lamentations the miseries of Jerusalem are being laid out before God. The city is laid in ruins as most of the people have been taken as prisoners. The few who are left wander around looking desperately for food. They have begged their allies for help, but they have deserted them in their time of need.

Proverbs holds some wise verses for living, “People curse those who hold their grain for higher prices, but they bless the one who sells to them in their TIME OF NEED; A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in TIME OF NEED; Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own TIME OF NEED.” Like those in Lamentations there comes a time when everyone has a time of need. And when those they count on desert them in that time of need, it is called betrayal. It is as though the ones they could count on have become their traitors. You can see in today’s world as people look at the cost of rising gas prices they feel the gas companies and government are becoming traitors to the common people. But are we also failing others in our own lives to help and reach the needy? Do we minister to those in need or those seeking out Christ? Pray that we may not betray those who have a time of need. Pray we may give time of ourselves to help others and share the love of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/06 11:24 AM
Ezekiel 16:30-34 (NLT)
30 "What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign LORD, to do such things as
these, acting like a shameless prostitute. 31 You build your pagan shrines on
every street corner and your altars to idols in every square. You have been
worse than a prostitute, so eager for sin that you have not even demanded
payment for your love! 32 Yes, you are an adulterous wife who takes in
strangers instead of her own husband. 33 Prostitutes charge for their services--
but not you! You give gifts to your lovers, bribing them to come to you. 34 So
you are the opposite of other prostitutes. No one pays you; instead, you pay
them!

God is letting Israel know where they have come from. He found them from
nothing but a pool of blood and brought them to glory. And now they are doing
shaming and despicable things. They are acting as an adulteress, which carries
the penalty of capital punishment. But instead of receiving gifts they are
giving gifts to bribe their lovers. God tells them what a sick heart they
have.

God had taken Israel from nothing and built them into something mighty. The
verses reminded me of the movie Bruce Almighty as Bruce becomes angry with God.
God allows Bruce to see what it’s like to have power and exist like a god for a
while. As he is given much and allowed control over many things he finds life
is not as easy as he thought. Bruce quickly looses control and cannot ever
contain his own temptation. He uses his power in wrongful ways and calls
himself Bruce Almighty as thought he has risen above God. His temptations cause
all kinds of misdeeds to occur, including the separation of his wife. Yet all
of us are so similar in that when God provides us with things we have for daily
living we sometimes forget when it comes from. We sometimes ignore The One who
blessed us and has gotten us through life. Let’s not be like Israel paying for
sin, but let’s return to God and ask his forgiveness for departing from Him.
Pray that your heart may be repentant and filled with love for the Father. Let
us long for His love and return to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/06 11:24 AM
John 2:23-25 (NLT)
23Because of the miraculous signs he did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many people were convinced that he was indeed the Messiah. 24But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew what people were really like. 25No one needed to tell him about human nature.

The same Greek word that said people were convinced Jesus was the Messiah is the same Greek word that said Jesus did not trust the people. While He showed them signs and people were convinced, Jesus knew their hearts and knew their intentions. It would only take a gathering of a mob to hand him over to the authorities.

There is no one who understood more about human nature than Jesus. Think about an architect as he walks through a building he designed. The architect spent months, maybe years on the design and layout of each feature in the building. He knows where every hallway, every door, every room, every closet is placed. Jesus is our architect and designer and intimately knows each one of us. He comes to live in us and be a part of our lives. In Revelations it says, “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.” Isn’t it human nature to want to be friend and share intimate and close times together? Your savior loves you and longs to be with you. He even says, “I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.” Who knows us better that Christ Himself? He knows this world and the good and bad that it is filled with. Pray that the door to your heart may be open when Christ knocks. Allow him to enter those places that need to be filled. Ask Christ to share with you in times in of quiet and stillness. Pray that His blessing might be upon you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/06 10:57 AM
PSALMS 78:36-39 (NLT)
36 But they followed him only with their words; they lied to him with their tongues. 37 Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant. 38Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and didn't destroy them all. Many a time he held back his anger and did not unleash his fury! 39 For he remembered that they were merely mortal, gone in a moment like a breath of wind, never to return.

The people followed God, but their hearts were not into following Him as they should. They only spoke words that made it seem as though their intent was to follow God. Their actions gave them away as they did not follow God’s covenants. Yet God was merciful too them. He could have destroyed them at anytime, yet he chooses to forgive them of their sins knowing that they were weak in the flesh, corrupted by their evil nature. God knew their life on earth was short and so he was merciful and showed compassion towards the people and did not destroy the ones He had created.

When life stops, it’s gone in a moment like a breath of wind, never to return. I once visited with a friend from church a few days before he died from cancer. Several of us went to share a bible lesson with him one Sunday morning as we knew it might be the last opportunity to have one with him. When we first arrived his wife had just given him his medications to knock out the pain, but he found the strength to sit up and share God’s word with us and fellowship and pray. It was a sweet time as we understood the love and grace and mercy God had prepared for this dear man. He was ready to be with the Lord and had no fears about it. He knew his sins were forgiven and that Christ had died on the cross for Him. He knew God could have unleashed his fury on him as a sinner, but instead has chosen to give him grace and mercy. And now it so close to the time to meet his maker he had a peace that was indescribable. Pray God give us all the strength to be prepared when our day comes near. Pray for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ to be abundant in our lives. Let our life be a testament to Him and let us serve Him while we are able. Praise Him with our lives in daily devotion to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/22/06 11:53 AM
Ester 10:1-3 (NLT)
1 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout his empire, even to the distant coastlands. 2 His great achievements and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Media and Persia. 3 Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he worked for the good of his people and was a friend at the royal court for all of them.

Mordecai had a cousin Esther who was a very, beautiful woman. She married King Xerxes and Mordecai became an appointee in the king’s court. Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king and because of saving the king he was granted special privileges. Mordecai a Jew and Xerxes a King of Persia, the two worked together for the good of the people.

Kings Xerxes had reached a point in his leadership where he could have chosen to allow evil to continue or allow good to have a chance. Certain members of his royal court sought to destroy the Jews and had requested the king to issue and order to the effect. But King Xerxes did not realize Queen Esther was included in the order and therefore ordered those who created the plan to die. Then he allowed the Jews to defend themselves against those who sought to kill them, because his order could not be rescinded. But many others became loyal Jews and followed Mordecai as their leader deciding to follow good rather than evil. Their hearts turned to do what was right instead of wrong. Only a handful of enemies remained and the Jews and those who became loyal to them destroyed their enemies. In the end those who were to destroy became the destroyed. God had given his people a plan to raise them up and deliver them when before everything had looked hopeless. The beauty and grace of Queen Ester saved these people from destruction. God has a plan for your life. He wants you to live a full and abundant life with Him now and eternally. Jesus Christ offers Eternal Salvation to all who seek Him. Praise Christ for the blessings of his Salvation. Praise Him for His greatness, His mercy and love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/06 11:24 AM
Luke 10:38-40 (NLT)
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Jesus had stopped in the village of Mary and Martha to visit with them. Mary was the same one who had poured the perfume on Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Mary sat listening intently to Jesus while Martha scurried about trying to make preparations. Martha then went to Jesus out of frustration and asked Him if he didn’t care that Mary had left her to do all the work. She said, TELL HER TO HELP ME.

Some of us can identify with Martha. We live our lives rushing about trying to get things accomplished. It seems we have no time for ourselves. We wished there were more hours in a day so we could get more things done, yet it seems like things just keep overwhelming us. It is as though life were trying to drown us with everything that has to get done. And like Martha we probably miss something else very important, Martha looked at Jesus and ask Him for Mary’s help. If only she had asked for Jesus to help. She could have known the internal peace Jesus would have offered Martha she could have settled down, relaxed, and enjoyed the moment instead of being so concerned on the presentation of the everything. We forget our Lord is there to help is our moments of frustration, hurrying around, work, and daily life. Isn’t it time to slow down and call upon the Lord? Pray for the Lord to bring calm and stability into your life. Pray for the peace and relief of stress you need to handle daily life. Pray that the Lord would minister to your needs.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/06 11:22 AM
1 Kings 19:1-2 (NIV)
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

Elijah had shown the people the one true God. And because they had once again come to believe they killed all the prophets of Baal. Jezebel a worshiper of Baal was angry with Elijah for what he had done and was out to seek his life. Her statement was, may “the gods deal with her, be it ever so severely” if she did not deal with Elijah. Jezebel died by being thrown to the ground from her palace by her eunuchs and then she was eaten by the dogs before they could recover and bury her body.

Unfortunately this world forgets who the creation is and who the creator is. Elijah knew, but the prophets of Baal and Jezebel did not understand. Elijah turned to his God and allowed Him to demonstrate great powers in front of all the people, while the prophets of Baal were powerless to do anything. Jezebel made the statement that she wanted her gods to deal with her, but it was the Almighty Lord and God, the Creator of the Universe, the One who sits on High, The Name Above All Names, the Alpha and the Omega, who Jezebel ultimately had to deal with. He was the one in control and no other god. In Psalms 97:1 it says, “The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.” Do you know that the Lord reigns in your life? Do you acknowledge Him and give Him credit? Pray that the world may know God and not the false gods of this world. Seek a more intimate, personal relationship with God. Pray that you might know Him more.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/06 11:10 AM
Romans 11:33-34 (NLT)
33 Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! 34 For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be his counselor?

Paul has often written on the grace of the Lord, but here he writes on God’s wisdom and knowledge. Something so great none of us can understand, nor has anyone been able to understand from ages ago.

When a couple is having marriage problems the best place to go is a marriage counselor. However, many couples walk into the counseling session to fix the other spouse. Before the counselor even gets a chance to speak, one of the spouses may have already rattled off all the reasons why the other spouse needs to change this or that. They haven’t even begun to listen to the words or advice of the counselor before they have arrived at a solution. Often we do the same with God. We have a great and mighty counselor, but instead of listening, we try to tell God what we want, what we need, where we want to go in life. We don’t stop to think just maybe He has a better plan for us. So take time to ask your personal counselor, God, what the best plans are for you life. I’m sure He has some good answers for you. Pray that God will counsel you on life and give you direction. Pray that God will give you discernment and understanding to follow through with His plans.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/29/06 11:35 AM
1 Ch 22:5 (KJV)
22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

David had wanted to build a temple to honor God, but because David had been a warrior, God felt a man of peace needed to build the temple. So God promised David a son who would be able to take on David’s desires. So David started planning for the future knowing that one day he would die, but also knowing God would keep His promise. David had a vision of what he was going to do and he set out on a mission to complete that vision.

In proverbs 29:18, it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This is illustrated in Lamentations where Zion, Jerusalem, is being talked about. It says her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD. These people had lost their purpose for living, their goal for life, their joy to come, their richness to be fulfilled, the happiness ever after, their spiritual redemption, their cleansing from sin, their newness in life, and so many more good things that came with having a vision to live for God. They missed the fullness of God’s blessings as they drew further away from God. Are you preparing for things God wants to bring to you and your children in the future? Are you investing in places of worship so your children will have a place to call church when they are grown? Pray and ask God how you can prepare for your future with Him. Pray that you might not miss out of having what you need for future opportunities when God calls you to action. Pray you always have a vision to do God’s work.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/03/06 11:10 AM
Galatians 5:13 (NLT)
13 For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

Paul tells the Galatians they have been called by God to live in, “eleutheria”, a liberty or a license to do a one pleases, but not in regards or relationship to salvation. But they must be careful not to let that same freedom satisfy their sinful nature, which is always hostile towards God according to Romans. Romans 8:7 says, “It never did obey God’s laws and it never will.” Instead they should take their freedom and use it to serve one another in love.

July 4th, Independence Day is our only holiday celebrating the freedom of the United States as a whole. The day is marked by patriotic displays, parades, banners and family gatherings for picnics and festivities. It is a day where people take off work to celebrate their freedom and go out to ballgames, and watch public displays of fireworks. Some have created special traditions like hot dog and watermelon eating contests as a way of settling disputes as to who is most patriotic. It is freedom being celebrated by everyone to acknowledge their independence. But there is a greater freedom to be found in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and many people celebrate His death, burial and resurrection during Easter. They are two different holidays. One is a holiday to remember those who fought to win our freedom to live free in this wonderful country of the United States of America. The other holiday is to remember our Savior Jesus Christ who died to win our freedom for eternal life with Him. Pray and remember the fallen heroes who died for us that we might be free and ask that this country may continue to be protected. Pray and give thanks to our Savior for His grace, mercy and love that gives us eternal freedom to be with Him. Give praise and blessing to the Father and Son who so richly bless us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/05/06 11:52 AM
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
43 "You have heard that the Law of Moses says, `Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus is teaching to the crowds on the mountainside. The verse Jesus refers to is Leviticus 19:18, which says, “18"Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Notice it says nothing about hating your enemy, but Israel had grown to hate its enemies due to their captivity from their own disobedience to the Lord. They used other laws to justify their thoughts. But Jesus said God sends sunshine and rain both to the just and the unjust, to both evil and good. The crowd was to understand they should love all people, for even the most corrupt knew how to love. Jesus wanted them to be different from the world so they could be more like the Father in heaven.

If the most corrupt can love someone, why can’t the most loving love everyone? That is the question Jesus was posing to the crowd and it is the question that remains today. As those who love the Lord we are to reach out to everyone in a loving manner. We are to pray for those who are against us. We are to treat and respect our enemies with kindness. Those who might disregard our feelings, ignore us, wish ill will towards us, we are still to care for them as the Lord would care for them. After all, the Lord cares for us and He cared for us when we were sinners. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Is there someone you need to reach out to? Maybe there is someone you should have reached out to long ago? Pray the Lord helps you to heal the past. Pray as you go forward in life you can touch people’s lives in loving ways. Let people know you have the love of Christ living inside of you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/06/06 11:43 AM
Colossians 1:27 (NLT)
27 For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.

Just as God has shared everything of this world with all people, He also shared His son Jesus Christ with all people. The Bible says it pleases God to tell you the riches and glories of Christ are for YOU. The Greek word musterion, pronounced moos-tay’-ree-on, means religious secret, hidden thing, mystery, something hidden from ungodly and wicked men. We find the next part of verse 27 saying, “for this is the secret: Christ lives in you”. So Christ is hidden from ungodly and wicked men and they lack assurance of Christ’s salvation. But since Christ is hidden away inside of those who trust Him, He gives them assurance that they will be with Him.

In Luke 17:20-21 it says, “And when the Pharisees had demanded of Him when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not with outward show. Neither shall they say, `Lo, it is here!' or `Lo, it is there!' For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." Jesus was letting them know the Kingdom of God would start with a change from the inside out, with Christ living in them. We must confess our sins and pour them out. We must empty our own will and give ourselves to Christ and let Him be in control. A pair of empty gloves does nothing, but once filled they are controlled by the person who placed their hands inside. Once we allow Christ inside and give Him control then He controls the actions in our life. Are you ready to empty yourself and let Christ fill your life? Jesus wants to make your life abundant and full. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Pray that Jesus would give you an abundant life. Pray that your sins may be emptied and you would turn control over to Him. Thank Christ for His presence dwelling inside of you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/11/06 12:25 PM
Job 9:33 (NLT)
33 Neither is there any mediator between us who might lay his hand upon us both.

God was testing Job, only Job did not know a test was taking place. For him it was like being on Candid Camera and everything bad around him was happening. Job had lost family, he had lost wealth, he had lost herds, he had lost servants, and he had lost the ability to even enjoy life. So Job is reflecting upon his situation and his relationship with God and he says, “There is no mediator who might lay his hand upon us both.” It was up to Job to deal with God and determine what he should do.

In reference to Jesus Hebrews 8:6-13 says, “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, and then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith, "Behold, the days come," saith the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." In that he saith “a new covenant," He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Jesus didn’t have to lay his hands upon us, because He lives inside of us putting God’s law on our minds and onto our hearts. Pray that God would open up your mind and heart to His laws and let Jesus show you the way. Pray Jesus would be the mediator of your life guiding you and leading you along life's difficult paths.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/12/06 11:37 AM
Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" 22 "No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!

Peter is asking Jesus how often he should forgive someone, knowing he should forgive, but he sets a limit of seven times. In Luke 17:4, Jesus tells the disciples, “Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him." And here in Matthew we find Jesus telling them to forgive seventy times seven. In other words Jesus is telling Peter there is no set limit on forgiveness

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” If you have been in church most of your life then you have probably prayed that prayer many times. Have you ever thought seriously about the words? You are asking God to forgive you for your sins against Him as you forgive others for the wrongs they have done against you. In other words we are to be imitators of God. There is another lesson to be learned in those words. God wants us to learn to forgive, so we learn His forgiveness. Most of us think when we sin God couldn’t possibly forgive us or love us again. Yet we have the words coming from the Lord Himself telling us how He would forgive. In Luke 24:47 it says, “With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: `There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'” Jesus forgives over, and over, and over again. There is no limit to His grace and love for us. Did you think Jesus was limited in His love for you? Have you ever wondered if your sins kept Him pushed away? Pray and tell Him you want His forgiveness because Jesus is always willing to forgive you. He longs to be your friend, your comforter, your companion, your counselor, and your God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/06 11:38 AM
1 John 5:21 (NLT)
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

As John closes his writing he uses the words “dear children” or in the Greek, “little children” as a kindly address by teachers to his disciples. But it’s even more fitting in the context of the verse as most little children talk about having God in their heart. They know it is a special place where God resides within them and nothing else should take His place.

I remember as a child sitting in church and saying to my mother, “Jesus wants me to tell the preacher I want Him in my heart”. Jesus was calling me to salvation. Unlike someone who waits until near death to accept Christ, a child has a long future with Christ. And because there is a long journey ahead many people struggle at times along the way wondering if they were saved when they placed Jesus in their heart. Remember what John says, “keep away from those things that might take God’s place in you heart”, that is one reason doubt creeps in about salvation; we allow other things to creep in besides God. And when doubt shows up remember Jesus calling to you, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Was there a time you heard Jesus and you were following Him? Don’t surrender to doubt if you have heard Him, return back to His voice. Keep in mind it is the work Christ does in you and not the work you do. We are not saved by works or deeds so we may boast of our accomplishments, but by grace are we saved so we might praise our Lord and Savior. It’s all God’s work, it’s because of Christ’s sacrifice that grace and mercies have been given to us. Has anything been trying to take God’s place in your heart? Maybe doubt has entered in before and you need to hear Jesus speaking to you again. Pray that God would pull you close and remove doubts and fears. Let the voice of Jesus speak clearly through God’s word that He might comfort you as the shepherd watching over his flock. Pray your heart will be filled with God’s love and joy so you can extend it to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/17/06 11:17 AM
Proverbs 17:24 (NLT)
24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Like a GPS unit a sensible person keeps wisdom directly in front of them to lay out a course of life for themselves. But the fool allows his eye to wander freely in his mind and so it becomes temporarily fixed on whatever pleases him for the moment.

In Luke 15:11-16, it says “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” This young man had taken his eyes off wisdom and placed his on foolishness. His eyes were on the distant land and the wild living. His Brother even testifies to his father against him as he returns home, saying, “'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'” Then the father replies, “" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " It is easy to fall off track when we are not following the wisdom God gave us. And we may pay consequences for it. The younger son lost all of his processions. But the Father still loved the younger son with all of his heart to welcome him back home with his arms open wide. Maybe there were no more rewards to be given, but there was always the benefit of being returned to the family and finding peace, fellowship, love and a never ending relationship. Where are your eyes focused? Do you have relationships to heal? God the father is always there waiting to help. He has His arms wide open calling to you His child. Pray and answer Him today.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/06 11:46 AM
Luke 19:41-44 (NLT)
41 But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to cry. 42 "I wish that even today you would find the way of peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from you. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you. 44 They will crush you to the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you have rejected the opportunity God offered you."

As Jesus was heading toward the city of Jerusalem he cried for the city knowing that it would one day lay in ruin. The Bible always shows the tenderness of Jesus and His compassion. Hidden from Jerusalem is the way of peace, because they have rejected what God has offered them.

Luke 8:4-8 says, “One day Jesus told this story to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: ‘A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. This seed began to grow, but soon it withered and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted.’ When he had said this, he called out, ‘Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!’” Jesus is talking about the seed of salvation. For some it never takes root in their life and they perish. For others it starts to grow, but they loose their enthusiasm and it withers. Some will accept salvation and then the pleasures of the world come along and start to choke out the joy of salvation just like weeds choking out a good crop. But for some they have taken what God has offered and allowed it to grow and develop. They allowed God’s will to flourish in way that brought them peace and grace. Are you allowing the salvation of Christ to grow in your life to bring you peace and joy? Don’t let the world choke out what God has intended for your life. Pray for God’s will daily in your life. Ask that His desires might be made known to you. Pray for a daily renewing of thought and transformation that you may be more like Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/06 11:47 AM
Job 40:15-19 (NLT)
15 "Take a look at the mighty hippopotamus. I made it, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox. 16 See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly. 17 Its tail is as straight as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are tightly knit together. 18 Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron. 19 It is a prime example of God's amazing handiwork. Only its Creator can threaten it.

God had humbled Job and now in these verses He was going to deeply challenge him. God wanted to let Job know exactly who the Creator of the Universe was. God goes on to describe a great creature He created and asks who can threaten it except the Creator Himself? Obviously it was known to Job and the rest of men for its power and might.

Proverbs 29:23 says, “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” Many people have so much pride they are unwilling to face the fact they just might not have all the answers. They will push forward on a project, they will try to assemble something without instructions, they will try to repair what they do not understand and end up in failure. Pride takes hold and like an obsession they will try to prove to others they are something they are not. Instead of being humble and asking for help they end up costing themselves in various manners. We need to realize only God is capable of handling every situation. God is the only one who can create and manage what He makes. God is also capable of handling our needs, our problems, our concerns, our worries, and the answers to our unknown questions. We need to let go of our pride and be humble unto God. Pray that pride would no longer be a barrier in our life. Walk in humility with the Lord Jesus who showed us how to be humble. Pray and acknowledge God is capable of all things.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/06 11:44 AM
Ecclesiastes 3:8 (NLT)

8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

These are words from King Solomon as he reflects on what man gets for all of his hard work. It seems man is always in conflict; he tries to seek out love and finds hate. After the torments of war and unrelenting devastation eventually there is peace.

There is a war taking place and rockets are falling on the town of Nazareth, the town where Jesus lived. Israel is striking back with warplanes loaded with bombs. Those accused of being the enemy deny the claim of destroying a mosque where prayer is held. A Christian community was struck believing there was a missile launcher present in the area. Ironically a UN peacekeeper’s main headquarters was struck by an Israeli artillery shell after a rocket was launched nearby. As Solomon said, “there is a time for war and a time for peace”. God has a purpose for all things. Solomon goes on to say, “And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose in this is that people should fear him.” Somewhere God is delivering someone from the tragedy of war and they have come to “fear” Him. Today someone has come to know the value of Christ’s grace and mercy. Somewhere someone is seeking out God because all other hope is lost. Ephesians 3:10 says, “God's purpose was to show his wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in his church. This was his plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” God has a purpose for all of us; do you know His purpose for your life? Pray and ask God today what your purpose might be. Ask how you can serve Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/06 12:15 PM
Revelation 2:2-7 (NLT)
2 "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But there is this about you that is good: You hate the deeds of the immoral Nicolaitans, just as I do. 7 "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

John is writing his revelation as Jesus is speaking to the Church of Ephesus. Jesus says He knows the church and the things they do and He commends them on their good qualities. But Jesus also rebukes them for also turning to sin and falling away from Him. They have grown cold in their passion for Christ to follow Him, to grow and to reach out to others. Jesus does give them hope in saying they abhor the deeds of those claiming to follow as Christians, but who act out with hatred and are truly against the nature of Christ.

If your spouse walked in and looked you in the face and said, “I have a complaint. You don’t love me as you did at first?” how would you react? Depending upon the look on their face it may not help to react in a jovial manner. We certainly would want to hear what was on their mind. And if we cared for them no doubt we would respond in a positive and affirming manner. Jesus left His message not only for the Ephesians, but to remind us also not to loose our love for Him. Even though the Ephesians had good qualities, they were slipping away from Jesus and He wanted them back. Jesus always wants us close to Him, following in the work He started. Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.” Christ started a good work in you with His love; let Him finish a good work in you with His love. Pray that you never forget the love for Christ. Pray that He always remains close to your heart leading you in your daily life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/06 12:03 PM
Revelation 2:8-11 (NLT)
8 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who died and is alive: 9 "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren't because theirs is a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will throw some of you into prison and put you to the test. You will be persecuted for `ten days.' Remain faithful even when facing death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be hurt by the second death.

Izmir is the Turkish name for Smyrna and is the current city of Smyrna. Izmir is in Turkey and is the third largest populated city and largest port of the country. A city so rich once was suffering in physical poverty. But Jesus was telling the church even though they were poor; they were rich in their spiritual blessings for enduring the suffering that was hurled against them. Jesus takes note of their suffering, warns them of the suffering to come, and gives them comfort He will remain faithful to them and reward them for their faithfulness. Then he lets others know they should be willing to listen and they can overcome the spiritual death that follows the death of the body.

What does it mean to be rich? If you ask various people, each one will give you their own definition of what it would mean. Some would love to own big houses, new cars, and maybe even their own private jets. Yet others are just satisfied if they have enough money to live comfortably in a nice home, take care of their family, and pay their bills. But there are riches beyond physical items. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 says, “We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” Paul understood the hardship of having nothing and living close to death. Yet even in his hardship he experienced the richness and fullness of life with Christ. There was a rich life immeasurable when compared to anything else he could have. Are you experiencing a rich and full life with Christ? Pray Christ would come before the worldly things in your life. Pray the richness He would bring would be evident in your life. Allow Christ to make your life joyful and blessed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/06 11:46 AM
Revelation 2:12-17 (NLT)
12 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one who has a sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained loyal to me. And you refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you by Satan's followers. 14 And yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you--people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins. 16 Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

With a sword in hand, Jesus is prepared for battle if necessary to fight the hard heartedness of the church of Pergamum. But like Jesus so often does He first extends His care and love to compliment them on the things they have done right; you have remained loyal; you have refused to deny me. Then Jesus offers His complaints, which includes the people tolerating worshiping idols, and sexual sin. Jesus calls for these Christians to repent. Those who are victorious will eat of the manna reserved in heaven for the saints and angels. The white stone represents absolution from guilt, where there was a custom that a white stone meant innocent and a black stone meant guilty in a trial. The same custom has even made it to modern times where a black marble pulled instead of a white marble means you have been chosen for the unwanted task. And the new name is the new name given for the adoption into the family of God.

Here is the problem with some churches of today; they want to tolerate what others are doing because they don’t want to offend others. It’s the same problem the church of Pergamum was having; they were tolerating people who were not following the principles set forth by Christ. They were following the principles of the Nicolatians, which meant they were teaching and committing the same sins. Jesus was calling the church of the past into repentance and He still calls churches to repent even today. But repentance starts with each of us as individuals. As Jesus works within each of us we are able to stand up and acknowledge what is sin and stand against it. Jesus made Peter a promise, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of ****** shall not prevail against it”. Pray for our churches that they would stand against sin. Pray for yourself that sin might be revealed and repentance would come from your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/27/06 12:11 PM
Revelation 2:18-29 (NLT)
18 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: 19 "I know all the things you do--your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. 20 But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. 22 Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds. 23 I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. 24 But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (`deeper truths,' as they call them--depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 "To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. 27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Christ has eyes with piercing judgment to see the truth and feet weighted with bronze to stand firm against sin. Christ tells the Church what He appreciates about them and He even sees improvement in their ways. But they are permitting a woman to lead followers astray, as they are being tempted by sexual sin, and allowing idolatry to enter their lives. There is a call to repentance for those who have followed in her ways and suffering for those who do not. And for all others they are asked to hold fast to their beliefs in Christ until His coming. Christ has the authority over all nations and He gives authority as He desires. And those who obey He will give authority over all nations.

Are there people who love Christ, who serve in the mission field, who demonstrate their faith by waiting on Him to provide, and patiently endure whatever He has planned for them? Yes, there are many servants of God actively serving around the world who can make this claim. There are even many faithful men and women in this country who love Jesus, are faithful in their service, and patiently endure trials and hardships to serve their God. But like those in the time of the Church of Thyatira, there are also those who are lead astray by sins. Christ encourages us to be faithful, to press forward, to make improvements in ourselves and love Him with all our hearts. But He also warns us not to sin, and be lead astray by those who might tempt us. Do you face temptation in you life? Pray God would help you face temptation and defeat it. Jesus knew the pain of temptation; let him walk with you and lift your burdens. Ask Jesus for His help.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/06 12:02 PM
Proverbs 23:29-25 (NLT)
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Don't let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, "They hit me, but I didn't feel it. I didn't even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can have another drink?"

The Wisdom of Solomon portrayed in the words of proverbs. Here Solomon speaks about those who allow themselves to be controlled by the temptation of alcohol. He lists off some of the long term repercussions; hallucinations, crazy talk, staggering, being involved in fights, addiction to the drink. And for this there is always anguish, sorrow, and regrettably fighting, complaining, bruises and bloodshot eyes.

This wisdom in these verses probably could have been reviewed by one famous actor this past week as his drinking got out of control. Mel Gibson had been at a restaurant in Malibu Beach where pictures were taken showing him in an inebriated state. He later was stopped by a law enforcement officer and arrested under a DUI charge, during which he supposedly made derogatory ethic comments. He is not the first actor to have charges like these brought against him, but he is a Christian actor who put the movie “The Passion of Christ” in the forefront of communities as a testimony of God’s salvation. He is an actor who struggled with sin and lost the battle at a time when it would be helpful to see Christian actors stand firm in their faith. In Revelations 14:8 it says, “Then another angel followed him through the skies, shouting, "Babylon is fallen--that great city is fallen--because she seduced the nations of the world and made them drink the wine of her passionate immorality."; its easy to taste of immorality, any of us can do it at anytime. And once the taste of immorality has touched us, we need to beware the consequences, just as Solomon spelled them out above for those who pursue an addiction of alcohol. Beware temptations and call upon Christ to save you from them. Are you living in Christ’s power or trying to handle things your way? Pray that Christ would step in when you are tempted and turn you from sin. If it’s a struggle with addiction, pray that Christ would reveal the pains and emotions driving the addiction. Pray for a healing only Christ can provide.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/03/06 11:49 AM
Mark 2:15-17 (NLT)
15 That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.) 16 But when some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?" 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."

Levi, known as the disciple Matthew, is called to follow Jesus. Because of his gladness of heart he has thrown a banquet and invited fellow tax collectors and publicans to meet Jesus. But the Pharisees questioned why Jesus would eat with such people. Jesus said he had come to call sinners. Calling down the Pharisees he said, “He was not there for those who think they are already good enough.”

When someone becomes important to you, don’t you want others to meet them? Matthew did exactly that when he met Jesus; he called his friends together to meet someone special. Matthew knew Jesus was about to change his life radically and he wanted others to know about it. Jesus didn’t hesitate to meet each and every one of them. It didn’t matter who they were, where they came from, or what others said about them; Jesus was there to meet and fellowship with them. But the Pharisees, ministers and teachers of the religious law, saw these tax collectors and publicans as low class, scum. How easy it was for the Pharisees to judge these people from their religious positions. How quick they were to call others scum when the others sins were considered so visible, yet their own sin was hidden by false works. People are quick to call down the sins of others without giving consideration to themselves, or asking how they can help carry others burden, or even stopping to pray for the person in need. Jesus said, “How can you think of saying, `Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.” We all need to take a moment and think of what we can do to help those who have fallen to sin. Jesus came to call the sinners. We can at least share our love for Him with others. Pray that God may extend your love for Him to others. Pray that others would see Christ in your actions. Learn to see that each person is fallible to and needs the grace of Christ in their life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/08/06 01:33 PM
Revelation 3:7-13 (The Message)
7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True—David's key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open—speaks:
8 "I see what you've done. Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough. 9 "And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they're forced to acknowledge it's you that I've loved. 10 "Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I'll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test. 11 "I'm on my way; I'll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown. 12 "I'll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I'll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God's City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name. 13 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

Jesus is telling the church of Philadelphia He holds the keys to allowing doors to open or close. In other words Jesus is in control of the kingdom of God and no one passes in or out without His permission. Jesus says the church of Philadelphia has been faithful not to deny Him. There are some who have pretended to be Christians, but Jesus will strip away all their false pretense away for all to see. The pillar each was to receive was not one to support the building, but a memorial pillar as was often erected to honor Roman emperors and generals.

There was a video game where part of the object of the game was for the character to obtain keys hidden throughout the game. Once the character had a key they could open doors to treasures and riches. Or if an enemy was in pursuit a key could be used to open an escape path that closed behind protecting them from the enemy. Jesus said, “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven." This statement was made to Peter and the other disciples as Jesus was revealing to them he was the Messiah. Jesus was giving them the keys to perform miracles, bind demons, and heal the sick all in order to show Christ’s glory and power. Those who own businesses don’t hand the keys over to the store to just anyone; it has to be someone they have faith and trust in. Jesus is ready to provide the keys to those who are faithful. He wants to bring opportunities where the church and individuals can grow. He wants to open doors where others can be led to Him. But Jesus can also close doors and keep them shut to those who deny Him and are unfaithful to him. Pray to God your faith may be strong enough for Jesus to open doors for you. Ask doors to be shut when sin attacks and there is no escape except through Jesus. Jesus can open and close doors where you don’t see any that exist.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/06 12:24 PM
Revelation 3:14-22 (NLT)
14 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler[c] of God's creation: 1 5"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. 2 0"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. 21 I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
Jesus, the one who is the amen, gives a final message to the churches; this time to the church in Laodicea. Amen is a unique word, it was transliterated from Hebrew to Greek, then into Latin and then into English and many other languages. The word “amen” has been called the best known universal word in human speech. It’s fitting Christ would choose a word that would be known to all to make Himself known to the church. The Laodiceans were an unmotivated group of Christians not really caring if God was there in their life or not. In a similar situation Elijah said to the Israelites, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” God won’t let you stay in a place trying to pick between Him and something else. No wonder the people couldn’t answer Elijah, they knew in theirs hearts what they were doing was wrong. And now we have the Laodiceans thinking “I don’t need anything from God”. It’s back to the same old stinking thinking that we can handle things on our own. Jesus even lovingly tells them He corrects and disciplines those He loves. And He encourages them that He wants them to open the door to their hearts in order for Him to fill those places that have been void for so long. Jesus just wants to take time with them and work on their problems with them and fill those empty and lonely spots.

What is the difference between owning a brand new car and a very used older car? More than likely you will be able to depend on the new car; but the older used car is going to need a lot of attention in order to get your where you are going. The old car may fail along the way and you have to come up with alternatives to get you where you are going. The old car may even stop completely leaving you stranded and desperate. It’s at that point you have to turn to someone for help if you really need to make it to your destination. The Laodiceans were prosperous and lived in a wealthy society; but their prosperity gave them a false sense of security. Just like we know the new car is more dependable does not mean it won’t fail us and when it does we are as in just as much need as we were with the older used car. We can’t count on prosperity, wealth, or even our health at the moment and think we can make it through life unscathed. There are no guarantees, except one. We have a guarantee if we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and repent of our sin, and acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior or our lives we will be with Him in heaven one day for eternity. Where is the best place to make your investment, in the world or with a Savior who will never fail you? Pray that Christ would be your storehouse where you return to gather your strength. Open your heart to Christ and let Him in to fill those places material items cannot touch. Only Christ can fill the voids in our life in a rich and meaningful way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/06 01:22 PM
Psalms 51:1-3 (NLT)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my shameful deeds--they haunt me day and night.

David is recounting his sin with Bathsheba and asking God to have mercy on him; for David knows the sins he committed and the sin weights heavily on his heart as shame and guilt.

Imagine holding a map of your life in your hand; you are ready to move forward, make new decisions and do things for the Lord. However, sins in your life have left shame not deal with; those sins and shame become like a compass helping direct life. In one direction there is withdrawal. Our sin seems too great for others to know so if we just withdraw they won’t find out about my sin. But once we withdraw and disconnect we have lost touch with God, and people who could listened and help. We miss opportunities to grow because we are afraid to proceed with our shame and guilt. The next direction we could turn is towards attacking our self. We limit the pain of guilt and shame by accepting we are defective and not worth loving. Because you want to be the looser, there will always be someone who goes along with you on your journey as long as they remain the winner. Another direction people will head is to find someone to accept them for the loser they are. Then the person is still carrying the shame, but they are no longer isolated, and the other person reminds them of their shame and guilt. The problem in this relationship the sin and shame intensifies for the person and the one trying to help by accepting them and loving them as they are not aware their reinforcement of the shame and guilt is causing the person to explode when they cannot control their emotions any longer. The last direction we could head is to attack others. We don’t like the loneliness of shame, we don’t like the associated pain, or any of the feelings we are having. Here we reduced the self esteem of someone else. We will use bullying, verbal/physical abuse to control the person. This person cannot deal with shame, so the one taking on the shame for them ends up with the majority of the abuse. There is one last option and that is for the person to take responsibility for their shame. God loves you no matter what and He is willing to take the shame from you by forgiving you and extending mercy. In Philippians is says , “I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Let Christ keep from you the shame Satan tries to sell us a lie that we are unworthy to be loved by anyone. Know that God and Christ love you. Pray that God would help remove any hidden shame you might have. Confess that shame to God. Don’t let the enemies trick of making you feel guilty and shameful over sin win you away from the truth that God loves you no matter what you have done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/06 12:05 PM
Isaiah 43:10-13 (NASV)
10 "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 "I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. 12 "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. 13 "Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?"

Those who know God should easily be able to attest to His presence. These people are witnesses to what He has done. God states He is the Alpha and Omega, the only God in the beginning and the only God that will be there in the end. God provides salvation. And once someone has fallen into the hands of God they are His to do with as He pleases.

In a court system witnesses are important in that they backup and support the truth. Their presence during the event that took place gives credence with supposedly unbiased opinion to the facts. The witness becomes a testimony, someone who can demonstrate what happened, and are counted as favorable and reliable evidence, unless something is presented to taint their character. As witnesses for God, our daily lives become a testimony to everyone who sees us. They hear from us and they watch our actions to see the evidence of God in our life. What if the person who proclaims God to be their savior, who says they depend on God, and who even speaks His truth is found to be questionable in their character. Maybe the bus driver just handed back too much change and the believer in God put it in their pocket instead of returning it. What if the Sunday school teacher of a local church walks out of a bar drunk and accosts a man’s wife? And what about the person who lives one life at work, another life at home, and another life in private while proclaiming to others his faith in Jesus? How will those who witness these failures react? In other words if sin taints our witness, then those who witness our relationship with God become tainted. What is your relationship with God and Jesus? Are you trusting and obeying God and Jesus or are you doing things which cause others to see a false witness? Pray to God others will always see a faithful witness. Ask God to keep you clean, holy and pure and away from the temptations of sin. Learn to be a faithful witness that shows our savior Jesus Christ how much you love him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/17/06 10:36 AM
Proverbs 17:14 (NLT)
14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.

Solomon points out all it takes are one wrong word, a negative reaction, a spiteful comment, an angry demand and the beginning of a quarrel starts. It’s like a dam with a slow leak that escalates into a bigger leak until finally the stability of the dam is lost and it bursts.

Another verse similar to Proverbs 17:14 is Proverbs 26:21, “A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.” The quarrel begins with something small and turns into something much bigger. We all have probably found ourselves in the middle or a quarrel. It may have started with something innocent, but then came a response with passionate flames of anger. I listened once as someone said, “thank you”, but the person hearing the words, already embittered by some situation, misheard the words and thought something spiteful was said. They flew into a rage with the other person. The one who spoke caught off guard by the angry response didn’t know how to respond back in kindness. So they responded back with their own flaming words until there was a heated quarrel that could have been prevented. Colossians 3:12-13 says, “Therefore, holy and beloved, as the elect of God, put on hearts of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against another: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Be ready when quarrelsome words come at you to respond as Christ would have you do. Prepare yourself knowing how you will handle the next time someone speaks to you in a way that can start the flames of a quarrel. Pray God would give you wisdom to return words back in a kind, meek and humble manner. Pray you might control your own anger so as not to respond with words of sin. Think about how Christ would want you to handle yourself and speak out of love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/06 11:07 AM
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17 It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

The words of the Bible are words penned by men, but inspired by God. The Greek word theopneustos, which means “inspired by God”, is a derivative of the word peno, which means to breath or to blow. Therefore the scriptures are words that came from the breath of God. These words are there to direct our lives, guiding us in what is right and wrong. God didn’t just leave man to think on his own how he should relate to God, but God left instructions. It was His way of preparing us to do His will.

Have you tried any of the new phone technology, such as blue tooth or VoIP? Gone are the simple days of just plugging a phone into your wall. Now you have to be able to setup the phone and make sure it is compatible with other devices. In one report it said 40% of people trying to setup a VoIP phone could not do it. Of course if those 40% are like other people I know; they probably never opened the instruction booklet and read it page by page. Most people are looking for the easy, quick solution without having to read through all the material. They think they are taking a shortcut, but often it ends up taking longer because they missed a critical step in the configuration and they created problems along the way. But that is how a lot of us follow The Bible. We read through quickly just trying to find a quick answer without understanding God’s intent or purpose. Some people just look for a verse to justify what they are doing, but never spend time with God and reading His word to understand the full content of His instruction. God gave us an instruction manual on life with Him and it’s something we need to read. Not reading The Bible is just like trying to setup technology without instructions, you might not end up with the desired results. Pray that you will learn from God’s word that He spoke to man. Ask God for help in applying His word to your life. Take in the full content of His word so that you may fully know about Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/23/06 11:36 AM
Galatians 2:19-21 (NLT)
19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Paul is speaking to Peter letting him know it is Christ who he trusts in. He has come to realize he could not meet God’s approval even in keeping the law as he knew how. But now Christ lives in him. And while he is still made up of flesh and blood, the spiritual flesh which cries out for sin is no longer in control. He states if we could be saved by keeping all the laws there would have been no need of God’s plan of salvation.

For most of us since we were children had this core belief developed in us that says, “If I work hard, if I am good and do what I need to do I will receive a reward”. There were the times we might have been told if we get a good report card then money or an activity will be the reward. Or maybe you were told clean your room and we can go off. Around vacation time it might have been said, behave or we won’t go to Disney. And even songs would repeat this message, such as, “you better not pout, you better not cry, you better be good” letting us know our actions controlled the future outcome of gifts under the tree. It’s no wonder some have a hard time believing the gift of salvation is handed to us freely?? Through faith, belief and love of Christ we find salvation as a free gift. There is nothing we must do first; there is nothing we have to finish; and it’s not dependant upon how good we are at the moment. The song verse says it best, “Just as I am, without one plea,But that Thy blood was shed for me, and Thou biddst me come to thee, O-Lamb of God I come, I come.” CHRIST WANTS US JUST AS WE ARE. No need to go back to those childhood beliefs. No need to follow each law perfect to the letter. No need for reliance upon ourselves. All He wants from us is to come to Him. Have you gone to Jesus? Have you asked Him to be your savior? Or maybe you need to go to Him to let Him carry your problems and burdens, He says he will. Pray that your heavenly Father will open your eyes to the grace and mercy of His love. Ask for an understanding of how He would so freely give His love to us. Pray you will do your best for Him, not because of gains to be made, but because of your love for the one who paid your debt to sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/06 11:34 AM
Genesis 35:1-3 (NLT)
1 God said to Jacob, "Now move on to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to worship me--the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau."
2 So Jacob told everyone in his household, "Destroy your idols, wash yourselves, and put on clean clothing. 3 We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has stayed with me wherever I have gone."

God was moving Jacob, because his sons Levi and Simeon had killed all the men of the nearby town in revenge of their sister who had been raped by Shechem who lived in the town. God told Jacob to move back to Bethel where Jacob had committed himself to God. Jacob ordered everyone to clean out their idols and cleanse themselves to prepare for the journey. Jacob knew God was with him wherever he went and he knew God was moving him because of his concerns for his son’s actions.

At this point in his life Jacob was confident God was with him wherever he had gone. God had blessed him with a family and possessions. And now Jacob was ready to follow God again without question. Jacob had matured in his belief of God. For when Jacob first met God at Bethel, “Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the LORD my God.” Jacob had a lot of conditions about forming a relationship with God. Jacob wanted protection, he wanted clothing and food, and he wanted to return safely to his father. Without these conditions being met Jacob wasn’t sure if he was going to accept God. But God proved to Jacob to be faithful even though Jacob lacked in faith. There is a hymn that says, “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, but to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” How many of us have sang that song and then went on not realizing the truth in those words. Some who have just started growing in their faith think it takes a spiritual experience to learn happiness. But happiness comes from trusting in God. Proverbs 11:23 says, “The godly can look forward to happiness, while the wicked can expect only wrath.” Are you trusting and obeying God? Do you look forward to the happiness He brings? Pray your faith will be strengthened. Ask God to let the happiness into your life that comes from obedience to Him. Be ready always to trust and obey when God calls.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/06 12:02 PM
Proverbs 28:23 (NLT)
23In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery.

A person who flatters another may do so and win their favor for a period of time. But eventually the one being flattered may come to the truth and be convicted of sin for their pride and vanity. Under conviction they will find displeasure in the words they have hurt and turn against the flatterer. Those who are frank do so with the pain of being rejected. They may find their honesty is not immediately well received. But once again as the person is convicted of their sin the one who is honest is appreciated for their reproof.

There is a story call the King’s New Clothes, which is about a King who buys some new clothes from a tailor. But the tailor makes up a story about this magnificent set of invisible clothes. Anyone who is wise will see the king dressed in splendor. But those who are fools will see the king just as he is without a stitch of clothing on. Everyone heard of the king’s new clothes, and instead of admitting they saw nothing, they flattered the king about his new clothes so they would not appear to be a fool. Eventually one child spoke up and told the king he had no clothes on. The king quickly realized he had been the fool with everyone around him. We can be covered in sin thinking there is nothing wrong. Some will even go along with you to tell you the sin is ok and you are justified for participating. But there are some who choose “the truth” and state the wrongness of the sin. And eventually just like the king realized he was a fool, the person will realize the foolishness of the sin and despise those who allowed them to continue in it. It might be difficult to confront sin in a persons life, but it’s better for the sin to be confront than for the person to be like the king walking around as a fool. Pray God will give you the boldness to confront sin. Speak up when sin is evident around you and don’t let others fall prey to it.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/06 12:35 PM
Psalms 34:4-8 (NLT)
4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. 7 For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he rescues them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Here in these verses we find David reflecting upon his prayers to the Lord. Fear can torment a person. But it is our unbelieving distrustful fear that is our sin. The Lord can provide relief from that fear and replace it with joy. God can even remove the shame of sin that recreates fear and makes one live with uncertainty in their lives. And the Lord provides his angels who like body-guards are there to protect from the malice and power of evil that comes our way. There is delight in trusting in the Lord and rewards of joy for those who trust.

There was a TV show that put people in situations of unusual fear. In one show “friends” drove their pal out into the desert where UFOs were supposedly spotted. Once there they pretended the car broke down and would not restart, as if the battery had died mysteriously. It was dark and hard to see, but those in on the prank got out checking on why the car would not start. Of course the person who the prank was being played on also got out. Then from the shadows of the dark rocks came menacing alien like creatures. The friends responded in fear, running and fleeing, which left the victim of the prank to create his own hysterical fear. Fear is the anticipation of things yet to happen. Once the prank was revealed the fear quickly disappeared. But the fear was so great in anticipation the creature was real and sure to hurt the victim of the prank; the victim ran screaming and shaking. Fear drives us in many other ways. Out of fear we may respond to loved ones harshly and in negative ways. Fear can even cripple daily life to where a person becomes depressed about their situation. Fear can even affect a person physically to the point they become sick. Fear may even make us fail and repeat failures. It’s no wonder David sought God to remove the fear from his life. Is fear holding you back or causing you to respond the wrong way to others? Pray to the Lord about your fears, telling Him what they are. Ask for joy to replace those fears and let God work in your life. Remember you are protected by God and His angels and there is nothing greater than can protect you from anything that comes your way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/06 12:08 PM
Jeremiah 7
8" `Do you think that because the Temple is here you will never suffer? Don't fool yourselves! 9Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all those other new gods of yours, 10and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, "We are safe!"--only to go right back to all those evils again? 11Do you think this Temple, which honors my name, is a den of thieves? I see all the evil going on there, says the LORD.

Jeremiah has been commissioned to reprove the people of Israel for their sins in God’s name. The people have fooled themselves into believing going to the Temple will rid them of the sins they continue to hold on to. Jeremiah reminds them the Lord sees all that goes on and nothing goes pass Him that they will not be judged for.

As a kid, we played a version of dodge ball where you ran to avoid being hit by the persons who were in control of the ball. But there were safe zones, and if you made it to one of the safe zones, even if you got hit by the ball it did not count against you. This is exactly what the people of Israel were thinking. They thought they could run to a safe zone, the Temple, and no longer face consequences. Even though sin had fallen on them, they felt a false sense of safety being in the Temple. They had forgotten their relationship with the Lord. It wasn’t the temple protecting them; it was God. It seems the further people get away from their relationship with God, the more they trust in “things” of God. Things won’t save us, things won’t help us in our time of need, things do not provide grace and nor do they provide mercy; only a relationship with the Living Lord provides salvation, comfort, grace and mercy. What about your relationship with the Lord? Do you feel safe because you are surrounded by ‘things’ of God or do you feel safe because God surrounds you? Pray for a growing relationship with the Lord. Pray that you will seek Him out and not trust in false hope. He is your power, strength and comfort. Turn to Him, always turn to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/31/06 12:02 PM
Psalms 19:12-13 (NLT)
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

David acknowledges even he does not know all the sins he has committed. So David asks God that those sins he is unaware of might be cleansed from him. But then there are those sins he knows he has committed willfully. He knows at times some of those sins take control of him and he does not stop in his sinful nature. But he knows if God cleanses him and restores him he will be free of the sin that has left him feeling guilty.

Have you ever let your car just get to the point where it needed to go to the carwash? The sparkle and luster of the car was hidden by the dirt and grime that had accumulated over time. What started out as a bright shiny car gradually over time became dull. In a way that is a representation of sin in our life. When we come to Christ we get polished up, taking on a new attitude and living for Him. But gradually over time sin creeps in and starts to build up. We may not even notice at first the sins we are committing because we are blind to them. Or we may allow ourselves to fall into sin because the flesh lures us there. After a while we are tarnished and tainted by the sin in our life just like the car that eventually looses its sparkle. But we can go to God and repent and ask forgiveness for our sin. 1 John 1;9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Have you been cleansed by God? Pray God would remove the sins from your heart that are known and unknown. Ask Him to restore you and cleanse you. Look forward to a renewed life in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/06 12:26 PM
Romans 14:11-12 (KJV)
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

These verses in Romans say that a person is accountable to God the creator. No one is excluded from their life’s account.

In the movie Flatliners, Keifer Sutherland meets the new day’s sun as it’s starting to rise and says, “Today is a good day to die.” In the Star Trek series, the Klingon warriors as they prepare to do battle will often use that same quote. Apache warriors were probably the start of this motto as they used something similar in their language to say this is a good day to die. But the question arises; it is really a good day to die? I remember someone once saying, “What if Jesus showed up right now, would you be proud of where you are or would you be ashamed?” Our days should be filled with the idea of living for God and being accountable to Him. King David wrote the words, “Who is the man that is delighting in life,That is loving enough days to see what is good?” Not all of us see the good in life, but Christ can change that. As we give our lives to Him and allow ourselves to be accountable we can see the good that takes place. Life is good and we should be using it to share our love of God with others until God says come home. If we are going to be accountable to God in the end, we should start living as someone who is accountable to Him now. Pray that you would love life and seek to do God’s will while you are here on this earth. Pray He would hold you accountable to follow Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/06 11:50 AM
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NLT)
11 It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. 13 There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

Paul is telling us children do not have the comprehension and knowledge as that of an adult. They only partially and incompletely understand the meaning of things given them. In the same way we only partially understand and comprehend the wonders of heaven. Not until one has arrived in heaven will they fully know all God has done and planned. This is in comparison to God who knows ALL and knows everything there is to know about us. Then Paul summarizes his thoughts by saying three things will endure; faith, hope, and love. These are the 3 components of grace, but without love, grace could never exist.

How often when you were a child did you wish you were grown up? In Jr. High everyone wanted to be in High School. In High School everyone wanted to be in college. And in college everyone couldn’t wait until they had their first job. And unlike Peter Pan who remained a kid we matured and grew older. Yet in our spiritual walk with God we are often still children, learning, trying to understand who God is, and how to perform His will. In Ephesians 4:11-13 it says, “It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.” God wants us to grown in spiritual knowledge and has given us tools to do so. He also gave His son Jesus Christ as an example of a person fully mature in His spiritual walk. The question is, are you still maturing or have you remained an infant? Pray God will continue to develop you spiritually. Ask Him for a deeper understanding of His grace, mercy and love. And while you learn let His love be evident in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/07/06 12:24 PM
Isaiah 59:9-15 (NLT)
9It is because of all this evil that deliverance is far from us. That is why God doesn't punish those who injure us. No wonder we are in darkness when we expected light. No wonder we are walking in the gloom. 10No wonder we grope like blind people and stumble along. Even at brightest noontime, we fall down as though it were dark. No wonder we are like corpses when compared to vigorous young men! 11We growl like hungry bears; we moan like mournful doves. We look for justice, but it is nowhere to be found. We look to be rescued, but it is far away from us. 12For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us. Yes, we know what sinners we are. 13We know that we have rebelled against the LORD. We have turned our backs on God. We know how unfair and oppressive we have been, carefully planning our deceitful lies. 14Our courts oppose people who are righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth falls dead in the streets, and fairness has been outlawed. 15Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who tries to live a godly life is soon attacked. The LORD looked and was displeased to find that there was no justice.
Isaiah is addressing the people on the issues of sin. These words show sin is against us. Even when things should be right and perfect, sin corrupts. We expect light and yet the darkness of sin shadows the light of this world. Like a bear coming out of hibernation we desire to be fed with righteousness and justice. We know we ourselves have been sinners and have turned away from God at times. Even trying to live a godly life is difficult because of the sin in this world. Even God is displeased there is no justice.
Three pastors were at a conference; one of them suggested sharing their secret sins with each other. The first pastor said, “I’ll start, my secret sin is gambling. I love listening to the sound of money go into the slot machine and eventually hearing the cha-chine of winning.” The second pastor said, “My sin is that I am lazy. I don’t do my own sermons, because I copy what I can from others.” The third pastor said, “I’m a gossip and I can’t wait to repeat what I have heard.” While it’s meant to be humorous there is truth in the joke. There are those living as Christians, even pastors who we respect, that hold onto the sin in their lives. As Christians we are to be the light of the world, but when we allow ourselves to walk in darkness there is no light to be found. The world remains dark in sin waiting for someone to shine. Are you shining as a Christian? Have you removed the sins covering your light? Pray to God in repentance asking Him to forgive you of your sins. Ask that you might shine in this world as a testimony to Him. Pray for strength and endurance that you may keep away from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/06 12:05 PM
Ezekiel 33:17-20 (NKJV)
17 “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair! 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. 19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

Ezekiel is speaking for the Lord and is challenging the Israelites on their statement “the way of the Lord is not fair.” He said the Lord allows the righteous to turn from their righteous ways, but the consequence is death. On the other hand he allows them to turn from their sinful ways and the reward is life. Because the Lord is fair and just they are receiving a warning about what happens. Then the Lord says they will each be judged for their own ways, not as a group, but independently.

Anyone who has been around children enough will eventually hear the words, “it’s not fair.” These words are usually heard when a child feels the parent is not giving consideration to their desires and wants. Instead of listening to the reason of the parent, the child just wants what they have their mind set on. And without listening to reason they say the parents are not fair in their actions. Usually it is the desires of the flesh driving them to their wants and that is why the parent says “no” and is trying to guide them in the right way. The Israelites were children spiritually and it was their own desires they were interested in. They wanted to be able to do wrong and at the same time have the rewards of doing right. And it’s the same way today, people want to do wrong and receive the rewards for doing right. Look at how many people cheat in athletics by using illegal substance and then still want to keep the rewards they obtained. Have you ever done the same in your life? If so pray and tell God and let Him know it was wrong and burdens you. Pray that you learn to do right and ignore the desires of the flesh.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/12/06 11:54 AM
Colossians 4:2
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Here we find the apostle speaking on prayer. Prayer is something that is not just for us, but for the sake of others. In devoting yourself to prayer the apostle says a person should be able to focus their attention on God by having an alert mind. Distractions should be put out of the way so that time with God will be uninterrupted. Prayer should always be done with a thankful heart, knowing God will fulfill his promises.

There are jobs in this world that demand a persons complete attention. The person cannot for one second take their eyes off the task or their life will be at risk. For instance those who work with cutting machinery need to remember at all times where the blade is in relation to the material. Iron workers keep their eyes on the hot materials to make sure it does not come in contact with them. Those working under the guidance of a crane lifting heavy materials have to be alert at all times. And yet while people watch carefully the things which may affect their life, they do not always keep alert in their prayers; or devote themselves to guarding their life, their family, and their friends with prayer. Prayer is the greatest resource in our life. It keeps us in contact with God. It opens our hearts to minister to others. It asks for safety for our family. And most of all it lets us ask for salvation from God. How devoted are you in your prayers? Are you always thankful for what God brings, even if it’s not what you expected? Pray God would help you to understand His blessings with a thankful heart. Pray when you can communicate with God and give Him your full attention. Love the Lord for what he has done for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/06 11:41 AM
Psalms 83:18 (21th Century KJV)
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

yada` shem [email]Y@hovah[/email] 'elyown 'erets is the Hebrew phrase this is translated from. God is triumphant over his enemies and those who would oppose His church. He is by His name self sufficient and self existent. He is above all gods, above all rulers, above all kings and presidents of this world. His final proof to all this will be the day every knee bows before Him. JEHOVAH our God is in control.


We have a God who desires a personal relationship with us. He has given us his name JEHOVAH that we might remember He is real and identifiable. Abraham called Him JEHOVAH HJIREH, for he said “In the mount of the Lord it might be seen.” Moses called him JEHOVAH HNISSI, for he said, “Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” When Gideon built and alter he called it JEHOVAH HSHALOM, for unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. God was very real to these people and they acknowledged Him as JEHOVAH. How real is God to you? Is He someone you talk with, someone you admire and love? Do you know he provides for you, cares for you, loves you and wants you close with Him? Pray you would know God’s true love for you and His desire for a personal relationship. Know that when you are in the family of Jehovah it is as real as the family you were born into.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/06 11:57 AM
Isaiah 40:27-30 (NLT)
27O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? 28Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. 30Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. 31But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

The prophet Isaiah reproves the people because they do not see God at work. These people are perhaps captive by the Babylonians by their own fault and now they grumble because of their troubles. Isaiah reminds them of who God is and His love for them. He says everyone will grow weary without Him; even the youth, but God can strengthen all. They need to wait on the Lord, wait on his renewing strength and then they can fly like eagles and new grow weary in their walk.

All of us hit points in our life where we just feel exhausted from having to deal with everything thrown at us. There are times when it just seems everything hits at one time; maybe the car breaks down; maybe someone is ill; maybe it’s just an accumulation of things gone wrong. Life can wear us down, because when man fell in the Garden of Eden God said life would be difficult. But God also did not leave us alone; He is right here with us all the time. God watched over Adam and provided for His needs even after he told Adam about his labors and toils. God does the same for us; we just need to remember to ask for His help and wait on His answer. Let God renew you as you pray to Him and cast your toils upon Him. Pray for strength only the Lord can bring. Pray yours burdens will be lifted and eased.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/06 11:30 AM
Ephesians 4:25-31 (The Message)
25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. 26 -27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. 28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work. 29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. 30 Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. 31 -32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

The apostle Paul is writing to the Ephesians. In the verses he is talking about our character, which comes from God. God is not one to lie, and because of Christ we should not lie either; we are to tell the truth. And God does not get angry for unrighteous reasons, so we too are to watch our anger and ensure it is not used for revenge or allowed to give a foothold to Satan. If our anger is continuing into the night we should immediately resolve that anger and not let it continue. Honest work should be a way of life as opposed to stealing. The words of our mouths should honor God. Our words should build people and not tear them down; therefore it becomes a gift. And we do all of this so we don’t break God’s heart. We do it because we love the one who created us. And we learn to forgive just as God forgave us through Christ.

What if a group of people worked in a company and were hostile, angry, liars, stole from the company and talked filthy? How long do you think they would last as employees? Most companies would not put up with this behavior for long. Yet some people display this type of behavior and they ignore God. Maybe they think God should just put up with this type of behavior. But when we follow Christ we are given a new life and we should exhibit a new nature. In Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Are you becoming new in your walk with Christ? Do you allow Him to show you the life He wants to give you? Pray that you might be able to abandon the old ways of life. Ask that you might reflect God ways instead of showing your old nature. Look forward to your renewed life in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/06 12:10 PM
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
8God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

As Paul writes to the Ephesians he tells them what God has done for them. Every changed sinner is a saved sinner. And it is a gift, not a reward that is given by God. Rewards are earned, but gifts are something received from another without indebtedness. God created us to do good things; that was His plan. But sin led us away from that plan, so God through His saving grace created us new in Christ so that we may live out the plan we were destined for.

Many of you have probably attended someone’s wedding. You receive an invitation in the mail and many times it has the notation R.S.V.P. The term R.S.V.P. comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please respond". The person inviting us wants to know: are we going to be a part of the ceremony; or are we going to decline the invitation. So we respond back with either our decline or acceptance of the invitation. What is the cost to us? There is no cost. The wedding is open to us. The celebration at the reception is free and we are given full entrance as honored friends and family. But if we decline the invitation we aren’t a part of the ceremony, we loose the privilege to enter the celebration, and we are not considered a part of the honored guests. If God invited you to salvation, did you accept the gift or did you decline? It is our acceptance of His gift that brings us to salvation. If we decline then we have lost the right to be a part of the celebration, to be a part of the family of honored guests, and to partake of anything that is freely given us. Pray and give thanks for God’s free gift of salvation that he offers. Thank God for allowing us to be a part of what He has chosen to so freely offer us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/06 12:07 PM
Romans 15:1-4 (NLT)
1 We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. 2 We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn't please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me." 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.

In theses verse the apostle is saying there may be something a strong Christian understands not to be wrong, but a new Christian may find it to be unacceptable; therefore consideration should be given to not discourage the new Christian. We don’t want to cause the new Christian to fall away because of the things we might prefer to do. The strong Christian is encouraged even Christ didn’t do things for himself because of others; and Christ goes on to say that “those who insult you are also insulting me.” It gives us hope for the future knowing what God has promised us.

Here is a question to ponder, “What keeps our hearts fixed on Christ, our hope?” If we are to restrain ourselves and deny things we want for the sake of others, how do we maintain this hope we are to have? Paul gave us the answer in these words from Ephesians, “I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.” Paul is saying prayer is the answer. Through prayer we can gain wisdom and understand the future God holds for us. With that understanding we realize the promises, the hopes, and the rewards we are to receive. Realizing what God is giving us through Christ makes it easier to give up what we can obtain in this world. Christ gave himself up for us; do you realize what you will gain because of Him? Pray for God’s wisdom that you might now the riches of Christ and the hope we have. Pray you see the future with Christ more rewarding than anything we have here on this present earth.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/26/06 11:36 AM
Genesis 33:1-4 (NLT)
1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

Here in these verses Jacob reunites with his Brother Esau after many years. Esau had threatened to kill Jacob. Now the two brothers meet again; Jacob with his family and Esau with his 400 men. The meeting turned out to be one of reconciliation with all the emotions that surrounded their reuniting.

The account of Jacob reuniting with Esau shows how God can intervene and restore a relationship that was broken. At first it seems reconciliation might be impossible. Jacob lines up his family: women and children. Esau approaches with 400 men. If Esau were to decide to kill Jacob he definitely had the upper hand. Here was Jacob, with only the weakest with him, who had gained the birthright and was therefore to have dominion over Esau. Esau who had given up everything stood there in great power with his 400 men. Isn’t it strange how God works? Here was Jacob weak in power and Esau was mighty in power; yet God soften the heart of the strong Esau that he might reconcile with his brother. We might think there is no chance of ever reconciling with someone; but with God all things are possible. Is there someone you need to reconcile with? Pray God would move in your heart to open the door that would allow reconciliation to take place. Pray God would bring joy because of the relationship that is restored.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/06 12:19 PM
Romans 9:13-16 (KJV)
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

In these scriptures the apostle refers to Jacob and Esau. He goes back to the Old Testament where God says He loved Jacob and rejected Esau. The theme in these verses is that God is in ultimate control, choosing who He desires. So it is impossible for man to say this is what I want or to say I have earned this through my hard efforts.

How many of you have had the opportunity to teach a teenager to drive? You let the teen sit behind the wheel. You allow them to start the car with a key. Then you watch as they put the car in drive and start moving down the street. If you remember the first time out there was probably concern for every mailbox along the road as you came precariously near. Stop signs were right there in front of you, but for some reason they seemed to be oblivious to the driver. All this time you have had to sit over to the side, squirming in the seat, helplessly out of control because you have put the control of the car into the teen’s hands. Maybe it was uncomfortable being that much out of control. But later as the driver improved you put more confidence in them and trusted their driving skill and began to relax. How does it feel to give control over to God? At first it might feel uncomfortable knowing you have no power, and cannot do anything of your own self. But as time goes on you learn to trust God and know He is in control and that His decisions are right and just. Are you willing to trust God and let Him be in control? Pray God will always be in control of your life. Ask that His mercy and compassion may be shown towards you. Praise Him for the righteous and holy God that He is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/28/06 12:01 PM
Psalms 105:19-22 (NLT)
19 Until the time came to fulfill his word, the LORD tested Joseph's character. 20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. 21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household; he became ruler over all the king's possessions. 22 He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers.

Joseph had been made a slave for life. No other position in life could be any lower or more devastating to a person. Yet Joseph’s character held. Eventually Joseph was freed from slavery and put in charge of the king’s men and all his possessions.

On the TV show Everyone Hates Chris, Chris Rock the comedian said, “If you want to be of good character, then you have to watch your reputation.” In Ecclesiastes King Solomon said, “A good reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume”. And the wisdom from Proverbs says, ‘Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold’. Even God when choosing men to lead said, “Choose some men from each tribe who have wisdom, understanding, and a good reputation”. If Joseph had not been the friend he was to others in prison and if he had not been the model prisoner watching over others; it’s possible he would have been overlooked. His reputation stood out as noble and good even though he had been accused unjustly. Joseph was sold into slavery unfairly by his brothers. Definitely he was someone who deserved to be bitter and full of hate; yet his life showed his godly character. In a way Joseph was the foreshadowing of Christ. He was a man living by God’s’ word but living as the lowest of low. He was unjustly accused. And yet he came up from the prison, anew in life and was given rule over the kingdom and all its possessions. Has your faith been tested? James said, “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything”. Pray you may endure the tests and trials which come at you. Pray God would strengthen you in everyway. Pray for a good reputation that your character may be known in a good and holy way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/06 11:46 AM
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (NLT)
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you. Our hearts are open to you. 12 If there is a problem between us, it is not because of a lack of love on our part, but because you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am talking now as I would to my own children. Open your hearts to us!

In these verses the apostle Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church. He wanted them to know there is a great love for them. In the King James it says their heart is enlarged for them. In other words their love is overflowing. Paul then requests because his love is great for them, he desires they open their hearts to him.

NO TRESSPASSING, KEEP OUT!!! That was the sign I saw when I was a kid on a private piece of land that had a fishing pond near our house. All the kids in the neighborhood were always tempted to sneak onto the land and try to fish. Except there were these signs posted all around that said, no trespassing, keep out. It made everyone fearful to go onto that property; and to risk being out in the open near the pond was out of the question. It was even rumored the owner would come out with a shotgun to chase anyone away. There was something about knowing you had been told to stay off the land and the signs made it clear you should not trespass. Sometimes some of us make it clear we don’t want others trespassing against our heart. We put us signs so people know they should stay away. It may be looks of anger, disgust or moodiness. But people are able to read the signs and recognize our heart is not open to them. As God’s people are hearts should be open to others to show love and compassion. They should not see signs that say “NO TRESPASSING”, but instead should see an open heart that extends itself in love. Is your heart open to others or have you put up a no trespassing sign? Pray God would open hearts of those who need His love. Pray we would reach out and touch others lives. Ask that we may never close our hearts to those in need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/06 11:47 AM
Romans 8:31-39 (The Message)
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

In Romans 8 the apostle is writing of God’s love for us. It is a reminder of how God sacrificed His most precious gift for our sakes. The apostle understood the life of a person who follows Christ is not always a trouble free life. There are hardships and problems to face, but Christ who understands is taking up for us. And in our own limited thinking we may only think Christ takes up for us here on earth, but he is also taking up for us in the heavenly realm.

Have you ever faced a situation where you needed to speak up to someone, but you needed others to stand with you? Maybe the problem is with a boss, friend or relative and everyone seems to be in favor of discussing the problem. You feel confident everyone is behind you as you go to discuss whatever the issue is. You go and state the issue to the person, but as you do everyone else suddenly falls silent. They leave you totally alone to face the other individual and never once back you up on anything you are saying. Christ will never do that to us. He is there standing up for us as we face our difficulties. Stephen as he was about to be stoned saw Christ standing up for him. Acts 7:55 says, “55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God”. Normally the scriptures refer to Christ as sitting at the right hand of God, but here He was standing. Christ does not give up on us, but is always supporting us and loving us. Aren’t you glad Christ does not give up on you? Pray and give praise to Christ who loves you deeply. Praise Him for His faithfulness and support. Thank Him for all the times He was there and stood up for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/06 11:20 AM
Matthew 15:32 (Holman Christian Standard)
32 Now Jesus summoned His disciples and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry; otherwise they might collapse on the way."

A crowd had come to Jesus along the hilltop next to the Sea of Galilee. There he healed the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many other problems brought before Him. He healed them all and they stayed there with Him for 3 days. These people had run out of food in their desire not to depart from Jesus. Jesus knowing their needs felt a deep concern for the people and told the disciples He didn’t want to send them away without feeding them.

Take a poll sometime about the needs of people around you. Ask them to share what is really on their heart so you might pray for them. After a while you will probably feel overwhelmed as people bring request after request. There are so many people with genuine infirmities, problems and needs it may become impossible after a while to pray for everyone. Yet Jesus remained in a crowd for 3 days healing person after person. Not a one was overlooked. Any of us would be ready to quit and go home, but Jesus saw another need for the people. He wanted to nourish and sustain their physical bodies. The disciples even sounded a little short when Jesus told them what He wanted to do. Yet Jesus performed a miracle once again to care for the people by feeding those who followed Him. Even today Jesus watches over our needs and He wants to nourish and sustain our spiritual bodies. In John 6:35, “Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst.” Have you looked to Jesus to sustain you through life? Pray that Jesus will meet your needs; for He knows the things you need. Praise Him for His understanding, grace, mercy and blessings. Wait on the Lord to bless you and feed you with His spiritual blessing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/06 12:17 PM
Proverbs 9:1-6 (The Message)
1 -6 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: "Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I've prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning."

Wisdom is very magnificent and very generous. She has prepared for those who will come to her. She offers an invitation and waits for them to accept her wonderful treat.

God’s word is the start of our wisdom. Contained in the scriptures are lessons for life. The verses show the rewards of a life dedicated to God and they also show a life of those who fall away from God. Christ should be included as a part of gaining wisdom, as He is the true bread of life. In John 6:35 Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus is also the wine, the blood which covered our sins. Wisdom accepts Christ, folly rejects Him. In Matthew 21:42 Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’ The cornerstone is the strong foundation of the building. Rejecting a strong foundation does not show wisdom, but God through His grace revealed Him to all for everyone to gain wisdom, grace and mercy. Have you accepted God’s wisdom? Pray God would lead you in a life of wise decisions. Ask Christ to be there guiding you every step of the way. Depend on His strength as the cornerstone of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/10/06 12:08 PM
1 John 3:18-20 (The Message)
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

In these verses John reaffirms that the quality of love is an indication of our love for God. He also states love is also a way to shutdown our own condemnation. We may have something we feel condemned over, but the condemnation is not from God. God knows what is going on inside of us and it’s His love that is drawing us to Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life. John 3:16 is a verse familiar to many. It shows God’s love for us. God loved us so much He gave His son’s life for us. Now the question to ask is “If God loves us to the point of sacrificing Christ for us, why would we feel God would want to condemn us?” Following John 3:16 it says in verse 17, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” God wants to save us to be with Him. It stands to reason someone who wants to be close to us would not condemn us. He instead shows His love, His grace, His mercy and draws us close. It is ourselves who feel condemned by our own sins, but we placed those there ourselves, not God. Christ also said in Luke 6:37, “"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” If we learn to love and not condemn then we can find God’s love and loose the condemnation we place against ourselves. Do you feel condemned by your sins? Look for the love, the grace and mercy God extends to each of us through Jesus Christ. Pray and accept His love. Ask that the feelings of condemnation would vanish and that only His love would be present.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/06 11:40 AM
Romans 14:1-4
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

The apostle refers to Christians who have various degrees of faith. One may have a strong enough faith to realize they are free in Christ while another depends on following strict guidelines. One may have realized there are certain rules man has made trying to please God, while the other follows man’s rules because they are too weak to determine their path. In either case one is not to judge the other for God has accepted them. Those who have accepted Christ are His and who is anyone else to challenge His authority.

What is the freedom given in Christ? It is the freedom to enjoy whatever choices we make not addressed by the scriptures. The things God commands: We should do. The things God condemns: We should stay away from. We should be able to make these choices without fear or punishment from other believers; but that is not always the case. Proverbs 16:2 says, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.” Again in Proverbs 21:2, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.” These verses show sometimes people fool themselves into their own beliefs, but God knows their true intent. Even Proverbs 20:6 says, “Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?” Isn’t it true some who say they live as God would have them are not always reliable and loyal? So we cannot go by the criticism of others but by God’s desire. Are you listening to the desires of God? Pray God would open your heart to listen as He speaks to you. Pray you will know the right choices to make in life. Ask the Lord to keep you on a path that keeps you free from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/06 12:02 PM
Matthew 5:43-47 (NLT)
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

There were crowds around Jesus on the mountainside as He was preaching to them. Jesus tells them they should love all people and not just their neighbors. Their enemies are especially to be prayed for in hopes they may become friends. He points out the Father gives rain and sunlight to everyone. So the Father cares even for those who are against Him. Then Jesus makes His point by saying even those who are ungodly love those they are close to. Jesus encourages everyone to be perfect, just as God is perfect.

Draw a line at the top of a piece of paper. This line represents God’s perfect and holy nature. Let’s say God is at the 100% mark. Think of people you know ministers, deacons, friends, family and place them on the page where you think they rank in relationship to the 100% mark. You probably will end up with people all over the page. Some may exhibit some holiness and righteousness, while others may have rejected God’s principles all together. Now place yourself on the page where you think you fall. No one should at the 100% mark except God. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So the Bible tells us there should be no one at the 100% mark except God. Then how is it we are made perfect so that we can be with God, these verses following Romans 3;23 gives us the answers, “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26) Are you right in God’s sight? Do you know Christ personally as a friend and savior? Pray for those who may not know Christ that they may understand His love and sacrifice. Give thanks for the redemption of sin through faith in Jesus. Praise God for His holiness and righteousness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/06 11:58 AM
Galatians 5:19-21 (The Message)
19 -21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

In these verses the apostle writes about the acts of flesh, or those inward desires of man. These desires if left unchecked grow and build into many sins. Many of these sins lead to uncontrollable and insatiable pursuits, such as addictions and never finding peace because of the pursuit of desires. The apostle gives a warning these are not the ways of someone who is seeking a relationship with Christ.

In Mark 7:20-23 Jesus spoke about the nature of original sin: "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." It’s amazing when people are faced with the sins in their life the first reaction is to blame the environment they are in. One might say something like, “if it weren’t for my wife I would not have had the affair.” Or they may blame their job and family to justify they stole for their family. But if someone were put in the ideal conditions, does it change the man? No because there are those with perfect wives who still cheat. There are those who are rich, yet they steal due to their own desires. And there are those who ignore God as gracious, loving and merciful as He is, because they seek their own idols. Given what is good and perfect man will mess it up because of the sin within his life. Only Christ can cleanse us from that sin and restore us back to a proper relationship with God. Are you letting Christ be a part of your life? Is Jesus guiding you along the path of life? Pray God will subdue the desires hidden in you that seek to satisfy fleshly sins. Ask for Christ to help you and guard you from those pursuits. Repent for the times you have allowed your flesh to take over and lead you on a path away from God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/17/06 11:57 AM
James 1:22-25
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James writes to say attentive listening to God’s word is not taking us anywhere in our lives. Those who think they can listen and not respond are just fooling themselves. It’s like staring in a mirror trying to remember every detail of your face, but as soon as you walk away you start to forget. You may look at sin that blemishes your life, but if nothing is done the blemish remains and sin soon fades in your mind. God blesses those who respond to him and put into practice His desires.

Everyone knows the phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind.” We use it to say once we are no longer looking at something we soon forget it. God’s word reflects our life back to us. When we read the scriptures, God reveals to us our nature and our purpose for life. He shows us the sin that wants to dominate us. He also shows us His will so we know how to avoid sin’s domination. But if we walk away and do not put His word into practice then His words become out of sight, out of mind. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” The natural man is one who has not searched the depths of God, but relies upon himself. It’s like the person who looks in the mirror and ignores what they see because it’s all they know. But the person who puts into practice what God desires will see something different. They will see the sin in their life, but most of all they will see God standing with them, loving them, and offering His mercy and grace. What do you see in your life? Do you see God’s work taking place? Pray God will give you a clear picture of your life. Pray you will understand His desires. Pray for strength to carry out His perfect and glorious will.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/06 11:57 AM
Romans 16:25 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.

The apostle’s Good News is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News overwhelmed Paul who had to give glory to God just to think about what God had done for him. It is a plan God established from the beginning of man for the redemption of man. And now it was being made known to the Gentiles of the population.

The King James Version of the scriptures says God’s plan was a mystery revealed. To man the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross does not make sense. How could one man who died save the entire world from sin? It is not something easily understood. Romans 9:20 helps us in that is says, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'” Who are we to question what God has done? He is the creator, the designer of us all. What He has done is a mystery, something far beyond our understanding. Many of us have computers at home, which perform amazing feats of calculations. Do we understand how they work or can we question the engineers who designed them? Most of us cannot. Yet we sit down with faith every day that those computers will produce the results we wish. And yet a computer is just a machine designed by man. God’s design and plan for our lives is far greater than man can imagine. God created a perfect plan for our salvation from sin. It is by faith in His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins, who rose again to life and established His kingdom for all those who believe that we shall be saved. Have you confessed Jesus Christ as your savior? If you have, give all glory to God and praise Him for His wonderful plan; for God has revealed to you a mystery. Pray and give praise to the Lord. Bless His name as the Almighty King. Give thanks for His free gift of salvation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/06 12:32 PM
Jeremiah 16:19-21 (NLT)
19 Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, “Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols. 20 Can people make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!” 21 The Lord says, “Now I will show them my power; now I will show them my might. At last they will know and understand that I am the Lord.

This is a prayer of Jeremiah to the Lord. He acknowledges the strength and power of God. He acknowledges God provides for him a place of refuge in times of trouble. Then Jeremiah turns his attention on others to say they will come to recognize what God has done for them. They were misled by family before them. Their families worshiped idols, but they now see the idols are not gods. Then God acknowledges He will show them His might so they may understand He is Lord.

When I was a teenager, a friend of mine knew the manager of the downtown auditorium. He went to church with the man’s children and was good friends with them. Even back then one of the popular things to do was to go watch the wrestling matches. While they were mostly show instead of competition it was fun to watch everyone in attendance and how they reacted. But the best part was walking up to the back door of the auditorium to the manager my friend knew. There the man would open the door wide and welcome us in because He knew us. We walked in free of charge, no cost to us just because of my friend’s relationship with this man. The manager included me because I was a close friend of his son’s friend. God includes those who are close friends of His son Jesus. He welcomes them just as he would any other close friend or member of the family. As Jeremiah prayed he knew God’s love for him and he welcomed God bringing others close to him. Acknowledge God and the power of his might and pray for those who need God in their lives. Pray God will bring others close to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/24/06 12:01 PM
1 John 2:15-17 (Holman Christian Standard)
15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world— 16 the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains forever.

John states those who believe in Christ should not love the ways of the world, but should put them aside. God made the world and admired what it was. But man brought sin into the world that was not from God. John says there are three classes of worldly love; there is our flesh, which cries out for fleshly pleasures; there are our eyes, which look upon riches, possessions, and covetousness of others; and finally our own pride, which places importance on ourselves and not God. If a person holds onto to God’s purpose they will not notice the world as it vanishes. But for those who partake in the world they will see its vanishing glory.

The world is forever changing. The television has expanded from the days of black and white pictures to high resolution color pictures. The telephone has transformed from a heavy wooden box with a crank to lightweight cellular phones with every conceivable feature. The little red wagons children coveted are now ignored in favor of X-Box and Nintendo games. Computers were once housed in room after room, but now they can be carried in your pocket. Watches, which were once bulky and had to be wound are miniaturized and can do everything from taking your pulse to recording your voice. The world is changing constantly and things of today pass away in favor of something new. We can love the world and all its inventions, but they will fade away from our life. We can desire things or others, but they too will pass away. The only thing constant is God, who is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. Where do you want to place your love; on “The One” who is here to stay; or on a fading world? Pray God will be a constant part of your life. Pray the world will never replace your love for God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/25/06 12:27 PM
1 Samuel 12:18-22 (NLT)
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel. 19 “Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.” 20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. 21 Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! 22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.

Israel in their fear had requested a king to rule over them. Samuel had reminded them the Lord was their king and there was no need for an earthy king. God had granted their request and now they must live with that choice. The people had sinned by looking for another to rule over them, but Samuel reassured them that if they turned back to God, God would not abandon them. It is not in God’s nature to abandon those who belong to Him.

In the verses above the people looked to Samuel to pray for them. They felt their prayers would go unanswered if there was not someone taking up for them. They knew Samuel had always prayed before and God would listen to him; so they pleaded for his help. In Romans 8:26-27 it says, “ In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Those who have accepted Christ on faith have been given the Holy Spirit, which intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray. And Christ himself takes up for us according to the will of God. Unlike those who needed Samuel to pray we have everything we need. Turn your hearts to God in prayer. Open up yourself and let God know your deepest feelings, your thoughts, your burdens and cares. God is waiting to hear from you and there is no need to fear prayer. You have help with you to assist in your prayers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/06 11:59 AM
1 Samuel 18:18 (21st Century KJV)
18And David said unto Saul, "Who am I? And what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

Saul had made an offer to David to give his eldest daughter Merab to him if David would fight in battle. Saul had planned on David being killed, but that did not happen so Saul gave his daughter to another man. Later Saul made another offer for his second daughter Michal, which David also fulfilled. This time David was given Michal who loved David dearly. With Saul’s plans defeated, Saul became an enemy of David.

Who am I? It is a question some may have asked themselves along the way of life. When God asked Moses to speak for Israel to the Pharaoh, he responded “"Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" We should remember Moses was raised in the home of a Pharaoh. He had been treated as royalty; had access to the best education of the time; and was groomed to speak with those of importance. Yet Moses, like David was defining himself. God finally responded to Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” God wanted Moses to know He created Moses and God was capable of anything in a person’s life. Moses should have been asking, “Who am I to define myself when the Lord God Almighty created me?” In Isaiah 45:11-12 it says, “This is what the Lord says—the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.” Are you defining yourself by your own works or the works of God? Let God show you who you are in Him. Pray that God might reveal your true self. Pray to acknowledge you are His creation, His clay that He molded.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/06 01:00 PM
Psalm 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

In these verses David wrote there is no indication of anything externally taking place. For whatever reason he feels as though he has sunk to the depths of despair. David knows to call upon God in his time of need. And once he does God comes and comforts him and steadies him in his faith. David knows others will be surprised at David’s new joyfulness and they will come to also put their trust in God.

Sometimes in our distress we want things fixed now. We want whatever is troubling us to go away right then and there. Yet David learned he had to be patient. God was using the troubles David had brought upon himself as a reminder of his dependence on God. And by David placing his trust in God, the Lord was able to take David from the sinking ground he was standing on to a sturdy and firm foundation. There is a hymn that says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” The choice is ours to either stand on a firm foundation by trusting patiently in Christ. Or we can sink to depths of despair trying to rely on ourselves. Where do you stand today? Are you on a solid foundation? Pray God will move you from the places in life where you are sinking to a place solid and firm. Pray your troubles will turn to joy as God sees you through each and every one.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/31/06 02:30 PM
Matthew 13:45-46 (21th Century KJV)
45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Jesus had sent away a multitude of people who had been listening to Him preach. The disciples were alone with Jesus inside a house they came and asked Him to explain the parables. He explained the parable of the wheat and tares and then proceeded to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.

Recently in the news a man was in an Arkansas park where searching for diamonds was permitted. The man found a flawless 4.21 carat, canary yellow diamond. Because of its value it captured the attention of many and the news spread. In Christ we have a perfect pearl that is flawless, since He committed no sin. The pearl is as white as fresh snow, because sin did not stain Him. The merchant sought out the pearl until he was able to obtain it. There are many who seek out Christ and obtain in Him an everlasting salvation. A relationship with Christ is worth more than anything here on this earth. Are you willing to give up all you have for Christ? What are you holding on to that you should let go of? Pray that God will examine your heart and ask what is keeping you from the pearl. Ask God what you might give up that is of the world. Thank Him for His saving grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/06 12:42 PM
Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Tax collectors during this period of time were considered corrupt. Many would add additional taxes for their own gain. Here in this parable Jesus tells us about a religious leader and a tax collector. The religious leader was praising himself for his good acts, while the tax collector humbled himself because of his sins. Jesus said it was the humble tax collector who stood justified before God.

John Grisham wrote a book called The Testament. The story is about a missionary living in the depths of the Brazilian jungle who inherits a large sum of money. Nate O’Reilly is a disgraced lawyer with a personal life of failures. It is O’Reilly’s job to ensure the missionary gets her inheritance. John Grisham reveals O’Reilly’s character as Nate stands alone in a church one night: “With both hands, he clenched the back of the pew in front of him. He repeated the list [of his weaknesses], mumbling softly every weakness and flaw and affliction and evil that plagued him. He confessed them all. In one long glorious acknowledgment of failure, he laid himself bare before God. He held nothing back. He unloaded enough burdens to crush any three men, and when he finally finished Nate had tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to God. “Please help me.”As quickly as the fever had left his body, he felt the baggage leave his soul. With one gentle brush of the hand, his slate had been wiped clean. (…) He heard the guitar again. He opened his eyes and wiped his cheeks. Instead of seeing the young man in the pulpit, Nate saw the face of Christ, in agony and pain, dying on the cross. Dying for him.” Not only did John Gresham portray a man with a repentant heart, he also pointed to the face of Christ, dying for the sinner. Have you looked towards Christ in your moment of sin? Have you repented and asked for His forgiveness? Pray God would forgive you of past sins. Pray your heart would be clean and justified before God. Thank Christ who died for your sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/02/06 12:43 PM
Genesis 43:29-34 (NLT)
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept. 31 After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!” 32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them. 33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 34 And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

Joseph had been sold into slavery at a young age by his older brothers. Because of lies he had been thrown into prison. Because of his faithfulness to God he was given freedom and ruling power by Pharaoh. And now in these verses his brothers have come to him seeking food, but they do not recognize Joseph. Joseph invites them to eat with him. And his younger brother Benjamin is given special treatment. The other brothers all have the same father, but not the same mother. Benjamin is special in that he is a full brother to Joseph, both born of Rachel their mother.

Jeremiah 30:22 says, “And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” God created us to have a desire for relationships. He first wants us to have a relationship with Him so we may know His desires for our lives. Then He wants us to extend our relationship to family and then to friends. Joseph had a strong desire to be reunited with his brothers even after they had plotted his death and sold him into slavery. And he desired a close relationship with Benjamin who was his younger brother. This was his brother, born of his mother who died giving birth to Benjamin. What joy Joseph felt to see his family and be reunited in his relationship with them. What joy Christ feels when we return to Him in our relationship. Joseph put aside the sins of his brothers for the sake of a relationship with them. Christ puts aside our sins so that we may be a part of His family. Are you seeking a relationship with Christ who loves you greatly? Pray you might understand Him more. Pray as your relationship with God strengthens your relationship with others might grow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/06 01:15 PM
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NLT)
6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The apostle Paul speaks to boasting of prideful things and says while he could do so he chooses to focus on his weaknesses. In particular there is one weakness he has considered to be a thorn in his life. Three times he asked God to remove the problem, but God told Paul grace was all he needed. For Paul to be weak meant God could be strong in Paul’s life. Paul learned what it meant to surrender to God and allow Him to take care of his problems.

Have you ever prayed and felt like God was not responding? It might have been a prayer for something you felt you desperately needed. In an interview with Ted Turner, he said he prayed for his sick sister an hour each day. Obviously distraught over what his sister went through, Ted didn’t get the answers he wanted. He abandoned his relationship with God, because God didn’t give him the answer he wanted. The problem we all have is we want things our way. It’s why Burger King’s ad slogan is so popular. The truth is our way is not always the right or best way. There is a movie called Mr. Destiny, which is excellent demonstration of this principle. In the movie Jim Belushi keeps wishing he could have hit a homerun in the final game of his senior year of high school. He thought if he had his life would be so different; he would have become popular; he would have run the sports company; he would have married Mary Jo; he would have been rich. But Jim soon found out fulfilling his dream would have given him a life of misery and nothing would have been as he expected. God knows what is best for us and our future. We need to trust our creator who has our best interests in His hands. Are you praying God will answer you according to His will? Pray God’s will be done in your life. Accept the grace of God and ask Him to work His power in you. Let His strength meet your every need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/06 12:52 PM
Psalms 101:2 (Holman Christian Standard)
2 I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will live with integrity of heart in my house.

David wrote Psalms to God to praise Him and to also dedicate his life to God. Here in verse 2 David proclaims his intention to lead a life of integrity and that he will demonstrate that intent to his family. But David also recognizes he cannot do this without God’s help, so he longs for God to come to him.

There are many of us who recognize the sin in our lives and we think, “This is something I need to stop.” We go about listing all the problems we encounter and each time come up with an action to prevent its reoccurrence. David did something different. David had a fore thought of a plan of action instead of an after thought. He said he was going to pay attention to the way of integrity and this was going to be a way of life for him. It wasn’t going to be something he just did in public, but it was the way he was going to live in private as well. The plan also included God because David knew he could not fulfill his plan alone. Have you made a plan to live life for God? Pray you will live life according to God’s desire. Ask for His help in fulfilling your plan. Pray you would live in victory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/06 12:37 PM
1 Kings 12:6-11 (NLT)
6 Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”
7 The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” 8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. 9 “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” 10 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11 Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

Rehoboam was the son of the wisest man who ever lived, yet he did not have the wisdom of his father King Solomon. The people requested their burdens be eased. Rehoboam first listened to the advice of his fathers counselors. These older men had wisdom and advised he should go easy on the people. Yet Rehoboam rejected their advise and went with the advice or his friends, whose interest was on themselves instead of others.

1 King 12:6-11 presents an easy lesson, choose your advisors carefully. There are plenty of people who are willing to give you free advice. You can mention a problem standing in line somewhere and someone will speak up with their solution to your problem. They have good intentions, but often they don’t know the entire scope of your plight. Also there are those who give ungodly advice because they lack a relationship with God. So be warned to take care in seeking advice that may impact your life. As Job said, “true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.” Look to God first and then choose those who are also looking to Him for answers. Pray God would lead you in correct decisions. Pray for His counsel and understanding. Ask He would bring those to you who are wise and knowledgeable.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/06 01:31 PM
Romans 5:6-11 (NLT)
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Here in Romans the Apostle gives a testimony that Jesus Christ died for us. We were in a very bad spiritual condition with no way of being justified before God. But at the right time Jesus came into this world, willing to die for each and every person. Jesus justified us even as sinful as we were by dying on a cross as a sacrifice for us. Who would be willing to die for someone else, not many? But because Christ gave Himself for us we can be restored to a right relationship with God by having faith in Christ. Christ lives a glorious eternal life and because of Him so can we.

The twin towers were filled with people when two jets struck the building on September 11, 2001. Hundreds of people were trapped; condemned by terrorist who decided these people must die. The intent of the attackers was cruel and heartless. Brave souls rushed into the burning buildings in an attempt to rescue those who were alive. They put aside their own fear of death trying to help others live. There is an attacker who every day tries to take the physical and spiritual lives of people. Jesus told Simon Peter, "Simon, Simon! Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Satan wants to do the same to all of us. But Christ rushed in to save us from the burning fires of ******. Christ led us to a way of escape and helped us find freedom. He gave us a guide in the Holy Spirit that we may continue to find our way. And He returned us to God that we may once again have fellowship with Him. Praise Christ for His sacrificial love. Give thanks for His unfailing love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/06 12:55 PM
1 Samuel 13:8-13 (NLT)
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

King Saul’s men were quickly slipping away in fear from the Philistines. Saul had been told to wait seven days on Samuel the prophet before taking any action. Yet Saul could not wait as he had been instructed. He felt as though it were up to him to take action. He put aside the plan that had been given by Samuel. What Saul offered in offerings was not for God, but for his own sake. Therefore Samuel told Saul he had not obeyed God and his kingdom would come to an end.

As the Christmas season draws nearer there will be presents given requiring assembly. Now as many will do they will unload everything out of the package and start putting it together without reading the instructions. They may get to the end realizing there are parts missing or they have made a mistake in putting the product together. Because they were not patient to stop and read the instructions they lost valuable time and even possibly damaged what they were working on. God wants us to stop and take time to read and understand His instructions. He gives us His plans for life in His word, the Bible. But many of us will hurry through life and not take the time to read about the things we should do. Because of it we end up missing blessings God has provided just as Saul did. Stop and take time to read God’s word. Pray God would help you in the understanding of the scriptures. Pray His words you read can be applied to your life. Look to God for wisdom and understanding.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/06 12:50 PM
Philippians 1:3-6 (NLT)
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in my every prayer for you all making request with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.

At Philippi Paul was scourged and put in confinement; and yet he remembers the Philippians in a joyful way. Paul remembers who his God is and thanks Him for allowing these people to find salvation. The Gospel is the good news of Christ dying for our sins and being resurrected to life that we may live freely. Paul says he is confident Jesus Christ has started a life changing work in the lives of the Philippians and will continue that work until they meet Jesus eternally in heaven.

What things are you confident in when it comes to this world? Are you confident your car will start this morning so you can go to work? Are you confident the lights in your house will always come on? Are you confident your job is secure and will never be taken away? Just how confident are you in life? Paul said there was one thing he was confident of and that is Jesus Christ changes lives and continues to change lives. This is something we can be assured of and confident in. Once you have Christ in your life there is no need to doubt; He is working inside of you to create a new person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT translation)” Are you thankful for the new life Christ has given you? Praise God for His Son who died for the sins of the world. Praise the Son for His loving sacrifice that we may life eternally. Pray and give thanks for the gift of salvation that God has provided.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/06 01:17 PM
2 Kings 2:15-18
15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.” 17 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.

Elijah the prophet had just vanished because he was taken by God into heaven by a chariot of fire. Those around Elijah and Elisha had just seen what happened. So they approached Elisha and asked if they should go look for Elijah. Although Elisha already knew what happened to Elisha he was shamed into agreeing with the men. When they could not find Elijah the men returned to tell Elisha and Elisha’s response was a “I told you so.”

Shame is a powerful negative motivator. Peer groups will use shame to cause a person to do something they are uncomfortable with. A person may feel shame after a sinful act. The shame can leave them burdened and ridden with guilt. In an addiction cycle shame will cause negative emotions to build until a person is triggered into acting out again. Webster’s dictionary says shame is a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. 1 John 3:19-20 says, “Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.” God knows what we have done and He forgives us when we repent of our sin so we do not have to feel shame. In Hebrews it says, “For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Romans 14:22 says, “Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.” And Romans 5:16 says, “For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.” There is no need to feel shame because of Christ dying for your sins. Instead move forward knowing the grace of God is with you. Pray and repent of your sins. Ask God to remove the shame that goes with them. Ask God for peace in your life that you may no longer feel shame, but instead feel victory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/06 12:55 PM
1 Kings 13:15-19 (NLT)
15 Then he said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.” 16 “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17 For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are here, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’” 18 But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him. 19 So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home.

A man, known only as a man of God, was traveling alone towards Judah. Hungry, because the Lord had told him not to eat in that area he was about to face temptation. An older prophet had heard of this man from his sons. The older prophet went to meet the man of God to invite him to his home. Apparently the older prophet wanted so much to talk with the man of God he lied in order to gain the man of God’s trust to come eat with him. Against the instructions of God, the man of God ate and drank in the older prophet’s home.

When are you most tempted to sin? The term “HALT” indicates critical moments when a person should stop and realize they are vulnerable to be tempted by sin. HALT represents hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. These words reflect mental and physical conditions of a person. They are often triggers that might lead a person into temptation. A hungry person may be nervous and excitable because their body needs food. An angry person reacts out of their emotions. A lonely person is desperate for company and will seek out others in desperation. A tired person responds bitterly out of exhaustion. What if the man of God had stopped to realize God had not told him he could eat with the older prophet? Instead the hunger, the loneliness and tiredness clouded his judgment. 1 Kings 13:20-22 goes on to say; Then while they were sitting at the table, a command from the Lord came to the old prophet. He cried out to the man of God from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.” The man of God was killed along his way to Judah. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Pray God will always show you the escape to your temptations. Pray you might endure in those critical moments when you are tempted.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/20/06 12:53 PM
1 Peter 3:9-12 (NLT)
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

In these verses Peter gives instruction on how to behave toward those who are against you. A person is not to repay an evil deed with evil, but instead should offer the person something which blesses them. Peter reminds us this is God’s request and He will in return give back blessings for the blessings you offer.

There is an old saying; two wrongs don’t make a right. How many times have you ever seen someone doing something wrong and you become overwhelmed with the feeling it just isn’t right? Then moments later you start thinking, well if they can do it, why can’t I? It could be something as simple as watching others break in line and then deciding you are going to do the same. Or you may choose to call them down in a harsh way, not realizing they needed the love of Christ in their life. What example did you just set by your reaction? We do not have to build our happiness on the unhappiness of others. When we take our own actions against someone else we take control out of God’s hands. Our bitterness, hatred, vindictiveness all become our own self induced misery. Eventually God may take disciplinary actions on us. In Matthew 7:1-2 it says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” The next time someone does something to you which causes anger, stop and pray that God would help you to understand others and the hurts they may have in their life. Pray you would be a witness of His love and not of your own anger. Pray retribution would be taken from your hands and placed in the loving hands of the Lord who knows how to deal with another’s sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/06 12:54 PM
Mark 10:42-45 (NLT)
42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The disciples had become indignant towards James and John for making a request to be seated on each side of Jesus when He came into His kingdom. James and John did not understand the request they were making and neither did the other disciples understand the cost of the request. So Jesus explained to them to be a leader in His kingdom they must first be a servant to others. Jesus had come to serve and offer Himself as a sacrifice. Life was not about ruling, it was about serving.

In the movie STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan, the spaceship Enterprise is nearing a catastrophic explosion. The only way for the crew to be saved is for someone to enter a chamber being bombarded with radiation to perform repairs. Mr. Spock, knowing death will be the result of entering the chamber goes in to make repairs. In his dying breathe he tells the captain, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one”. This is the point Christ was making to the disciples; a willingness of self sacrifice for the sake of others. They had to learn to be willing to go to the point of sacrificing their own life to care for others if they wanted to lead in His kingdom. How willing are you to give of yourself for others? Pray that you might be a servant to others. Ask God to strenthen your faith to give of yourself. Ask that you might be a blessing to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/27/06 12:42 PM
1 Peter 3:18 (Holman Christian Standard)
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.

Peter makes the point Christ was not immune from suffering, although Christ could have bypassed all pain and suffering. Christ chose instead to suffer for the sins of al” men by substituting Himself for our iniquities that we might be able to stand justified before God. And although there is a physical death, there is an eternal spiritual life after death with God.

After attending a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Queen Victoria asked the chaplain if there was a way to be absolutely sure of an eternal life after death secure with God. The chaplain responded he didn’t know if anyone could be “absolutely” sure. The response was published in the Court News. John Townsend, a friend of George Muller who was a great man of faith, read the quote and after giving the question consideration and praying, responded to the queen.

To Her Gracious Majesty, our beloved Queen Victoria, from one of her most humble subjects:

With trembling hands, but heart-filled love, and because I know that we can be absolutely sure even now of our eternal life in the Home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most Gracious Majesty to read the following passages of Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9,10? These passages prove there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe and accept His finished work.

I sign myself, your servant for Jesus' sake.
John Townsend

Many prayers were made on behalf of this letter and two weeks later a response came.

Mr. John Townsend:

Your letter of recent date received, and in reply would state that I have carefully and prayerfully read the portions of Scripture referred to. I believe in the finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God's grace to meet you in that Home of which He said, 'I go to prepare a place for you.

Victoria Guelph

Salvation through faith in Christ is repeated over and over in the scriptures. It is a gift we can presently possess and is not just a mere promise in the future. Our faith does not depend on our goodness, but instead our trust in the Son of God. God’s word is true, infallible and reassuring that we can spend eternity with Him no matter what we have done. Give thanks for God’s Son who died for your sins and the sins of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/28/06 12:50 PM
Luke 11:2 (KJV)
2 And He said unto them, "When ye pray, say: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so on earth.

These are the words of Jesus who was showing the disciples to pray. The disciples had come to Jesus and asked Him to show them how to pray as John the Baptist had taught his followers to pray. Jesus starts by saying God’s name is hallow or greatly respected; set apart for holy use. As Jesus continues He asks God’s will be done on earth in the same way that it is done in heaven.

In this world there are names people quickly recognized. If someone says “George W. Bush” most will instantly recognize it as the name of the president of the United States. You can watch as a known movie star walks though a crowd and everyone stares because of who they are. Often these people set themselves apart, away from the rest of us. We have a God who is magnificent in every way. His name is holy and to be set apart from all other names. Yet God asks us to call Him Father, a very close and endearing term. God’s name may be set apart, but God desires to be close to each and every one of us. Maybe you feel alone in this world or need someone close you can talk to. God is always there waiting for you to come to Him in prayer. And as your heavenly father He wants you to talk to Him about your life, your needs, your future and your love for Him. Pray Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so on earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/06 12:33 PM
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

In this proverb from King Solomon the Hebrew word for heart is “leb”. It refers to the inner most part of a person, their soul, their mind, knowledge, conscience, desires, emotions, passions, and their courage. It is a word that represents the person. King Solomon said the heart should be guarded for those inner most parts determine a person’s course of life.

How many of you as a child was given the responsibility to watch after an item but either misplaced it or broke it? Most children are not mature enough to handle major responsibility. It is why many of the proverbs speak to parents about guiding their children in the proper way of life. But what happens when a child is not guided through life? What happens when the home is full of dysfunction or sin? The child cannot guard their heart because they have not been taught how. The course of life the child should have followed gets off course. Maybe they fall into sins that will affect them throughout adulthood. Maybe they bear the scars of pain that keeps them from the right relationships. Romans 6:16 tells us that we become a slave to that which we choose to obey. As a child we often had no choice, but as adults we do. Maybe we need to examine our past and seek what God wanted us to be instead of where sin led us. Pray for God to reveal your course of life. Ask Him to help guard your heart from future sins. Pray that you would become the person God desires you to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/06 12:56 PM
Mark 12:28-31
28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

The religious leaders of the law had been coming to Jesus asking questions. They hoped they might be able to trap Him in some answer where they could accuse Jesus of breaking religious law. One leader had been listening and so he asked Jesus a question out of his own desire to learn. The man asked what the most important commandment is. Jesus responded with two, to love God fully, and to love your neighbor as you would yourself.

Around Thanksgiving and Christmas there are holiday parties taking place. People invite others from all around to come and enjoy the festive occasion. They entertain their guests in their homes as though there were a part of their family. Jesus said we should love our neighbors as ourselves. The word used for love is the Greek word agapao, which means to welcome, entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly, and to be content and well pleased with. How would you feel about inviting a neighbor who had questionable character? What if you knew they participated in certain sins you disapproved of? If you disregard the commandment Jesus gave to love your neighbor are you subject to sin? Pray that you will learn to distinguish the sin from the sinner. Pray that you can love the sinner just as Jesus would.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/06 12:32 PM
1 Kings 1:5-6 (NLT)
5 About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. 6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.

David had 19 sons and 1 daughter born to his wives. There were other children no listed which were was born to his concubines. The fourth son of David was Adonijah, who was born in the land of Hebron. Adonijah decided he was going to take over as King because David had become old. David had never participated much in the care of his children, in fact it says in the verses above he had never disciplined Adonijah at anytime. Even something as simple as asking, “why are you doing that?” had been overlooked. Like David it was said that Adonijah was a handsome man. And maybe too it was because of his outside appearance that David favored this son.
In Hebrews 5:7-9 it says, “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” Even Christ was subject to the obedience of His Father God. Yet in the verses above we find David being emotionally detached from Adonijah’s behavior. In fact David was so consumed with the affairs of the kingdom, battle plans, and his own adulterous affairs he had never spent the time properly training and disciplining his children. Because of David’s absence in dealing with his children they grew up with very dysfunctional lives. Children need their parents involved in their lives. They need nurturing, teaching correction and disciple. And they need to learn about God and His love for them through their parents. Pray for families to become healthy, Godly families. Pray for the members of your own family to understand God’s desire for their lives. Pray you would be attached and involved with your family, guiding them always in the principles of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/05/06 12:38 PM
Jeremiah 3:12 (21st Century King James)
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: "`Return, thou backsliding Israel,' saith the LORD, `and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful,' saith the LORD, `and I will not keep anger for ever.

God’s anger is ready to fall on those who are in sin, but His preference is for the sinner to repent of their sin and return to Him. And when the sinner rejects the sin in their life and seeks out God, He is merciful and His anger fades. God does not hold His anger towards the repentant person, but instead forgives and forgets the sin ever happened.

Have you ever tried to make it to the top of a steep roof on your own? You may start out thinking it is going to be simple as you try to slide yourself slowly up the roof, but then you loose your footing and you slide back down. No matter what you try you find you just cannot keep the proper grip to keep you from sliding backwards as you attempt to make your way up. But then you attempt the climb with someone holding you steady with a rope. As the other person keeps a hold on you the effort to move towards the top becomes easy. With their help you finally reach your goal. Our life is like that in when we attempt to go through life on our own we slide backwards into sin. We have it in our mind we are invincible and can accomplish everything on our own, but that is not the truth. We need God in our lives to hold us firmly in place. We need to return to Him and ask Him for His help. And when we do God is merciful and gracious to help us through life. Are you sliding backwards through life? Pray and ask God to step in and help. Tell God you are tired of the sins in your life and you want to turn away from them. Pray God will minister to you and hold you firmly away from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/06 12:12 PM
2 Peter 2:20-22 (NLT)
20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

Peter had just finished an exhortation about those who indulge in sexual immorality. He said they promise a freedom and liberty, but like the pit they have fallen into are actually in bondage to sin. He then continues in these verses to discuss those who have found the grace of Christ and then fall away to sin. They become even more enslaved to the sin they once rejected. Peter says it proves out the proverbs that a dog returns to his vomit and that a washed pig returns to the mud.

In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus is speaking, “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” Peter probably remembered these words of Christ as he wrote about those who find grace and then fall back into sin. The misery for those who desert Christ is more unavoidable and intolerable than for others. Their sin becomes more inescapable as Satan keeps a closer guard on those he has pulled back into his control. In Revelation 3:10 Christ says, ““Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.” Looking at the consequences of sin we must persevere; never returning to our previous filthiness, but instead living by the righteous and holy commandments of Christ. Pray Christ will lead you away from sin. Pray Satan will not have the opportunity to pull you back to him. Thank God for His mercy and grace found in His son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/06 12:43 PM
Isaiah 1:15-18 (NLT)
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 18 "Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

In these verses God is speaking against Israel through the prophet Isaiah. God lets the people know their prayers are being hindered because of their sins. Then He goes on to tell them to do the right things and quit sinning. They were to repent and therefore wash themselves of the sin. God says He is even willing to debate the issue, because He knows if they listen to Him their sins will be removed; their soul will be clean once again as the snow and the fresh sheared wool of a sheep.

In a commercial a newly wed husband is talking to his new father-in-law on a cell phone. The father-in-law insists the son-in-law call him by his first name of Jim. The son-in-law then starts saying, “Ok, Jim, Jimmy, Jimmy Boy” and then goes into a rendition of the song Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care. Just after he says all these things, which could be either humorous or insensitive, the phone goes silent as the cell phone call is dropped. The son-in-law does not hear his father-in-law respond in a positive way. With no communication the son-in-law is left wondering where he now stands. Isaiah talks about our prayers not being heard because of sin. If we want to keep open communications with God we need to be willing to repent of our sin and turn back to Him. Unless we do our prayers are like silent words and we won’t hear what God is saying to us. Pray to the Lord and repent. Call upon His name and confess your sins. Listen and wait as the Lord responds to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/11/06 12:32 PM
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)
5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength, and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. 7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

There verses have no particular reference to any sin in the Israelites life. Instead they are a reminder not to put all trust in a person, but to instead put your full trust in the Lord. People are just instruments of God and it is God who supplies all needs. The Lord compares those who trust in people to those who trust in Him. Those trusting in Him are like flourishing trees, producing fruit and staying rooted firmly. Those not trusting in God are like the shrubs in the dessert, which barely survive.

We see it in the movies all the time. A person trusts someone just to find out they let down or betrayed by them. Some movies are even based on true facts where someone important in a person’s life let them down. But we don’t need a movie to tell us people will let us down. If you are counting on people to be perfect and fill your needs they are going to fail you. This is where trust in the Lord is needed. Even when someone fails us we can trust the Lord that He will use the opportunity to grow us and produce fruit in our lives. God is a never ending supply of fresh water that nourishes us and builds strength in is. Trust in the Lord today with all your heart and soul. Pray God will teach you about His love and faithfulness. Pray you might see the truth that only God is perfect and humanity is flawed. Thank God that he will be with you even when people let you down.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/12/06 01:06 PM
1 Samuel 22:1-4
1 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.
3 Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.

King Saul had threatened to kill David because of his jealousy. David fled to escape from Saul, so he hid himself in a cave that was easily defendable. Other men joined David, because David was a great military leader and they knew of his problem with Saul. David sought out shelter for his mother and father. Rarely is David’s mother mentioned in the bible, but here we see David honoring his mother and father by protecting them.

Hard times reveal what is under the surface of a person’s faith. David faced a hard life on the run from Saul. He had to live off the land and hide away in the darkness of a cave. David’s entire life had been filled with difficulties. It seems David was often neglected and left alone to tend the sheep of the field. His brothers mocked him. Saul took him into his courts at a young age so that David could play music to sooth him, but at the same time Saul sought to harm David. In all of this we never see his mother or father coming to the aid of David. In fact when Samuel was to choose David as king, David’s father did not even include him with the rest of the brothers. Psalm 27:10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” David feared the abandonment from his parents. David even says in Psalm 69:8, “Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.” In his desperate times his whole family abandoned him. Yet David knew God would hold him close in moments of fear. He knew God would rescue him and come to his assistance when no one else would. David’s troubles ran deep, but his faith ran even deeper. How deep is your faith in God? Pray that God would strengthen your faith. Pray God will create in you a faithful heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/06 01:06 PM
Galatians 2:6 (Holman Christian Standard)
6 But from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)—those recognized as important added nothing to me.

In this verse the apostle Paul is referring particularly to James, Peter and John. These apostles had been with Christ in person and followed Him. Paul admits these men had a reputation that set them apart from others in the view of man. They were considered the support and pillars of the church. Yet even though these men appeared to have an advantage, Paul says there is no favoritism with God. Paul was called by God just as much as these men had been. And each was serving in their capacity as they had been purposed.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy sets out to find the mysterious wizard because he has a reputation for being able to help others. When Dorothy, the lion, the scarecrow and the tin man finally stand before the wizard they are greeted by an awe inspiring floating head of a man amidst smoke and fire. When they later return after their adventure to obtain the broom of the wicked witch, they find out the wizard is nothing more than a mere man behind the curtain who is really powerless to do anything. Sometimes we set expectations of others believing they are something more special than us. We may believe a pastor or deacon of a church is a man with great reputation who might even be better than some. Yet the truth is they are mere men just like the wizard. They have nothing more special than what we each have from God. God gives us each a purpose in life and shows no favoritism as it says in Romans 2:11, “For God does not show favoritism.” Those who sin are accountable. Those who do right in His eyes are praised. Give praise to God the Father who loves each of His children with equal passion.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/06 12:26 PM
Amos 3:3
3 Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?

In this book of Amos God is calling the people to take notice of how they have been acting. They are given warnings about judgments which could take place if they do not repent and reform their ways. This verse is about being in fellowship, which is impossible to do if two people are going in opposite directions.

Generally I work on our company computers early in the morning when no one is using them. Recently I went into work driving on I-75/I-85 through Atlanta about 4am on a Sunday morning. I suddenly realized another car was on the same side of the interstate with me heading in the completely opposite direction. The car was coming almost straight at me just as fast as I was heading towards it. In those situations it is difficult to know what to do. You are not sure about the rational of the other person. You don’t know whether to move out of their way. But the worst part is you are traveling in opposite directions meeting each other at a speed around 110 mph which provides a great potential for error. It becomes a very chaotic moment. When a relationship is headed in opposite directions it creates chaos. Fellowship is difficult because someone is at odds with the other. And when it is the Lord you are at odds with it can only be one person in the wrong - you. Just like the car heading in the wrong direction you are heading for catastrophe. In those times you may think you are the only one who matters, but Isaiah 47:10-11 has these words, “You felt secure in your wickedness. ‘No one sees me,’ you said. But your ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ have led you astray, and you said, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.’ So disaster will overtake you, and you won’t be able to charm it away. Calamity will fall upon you, and you won’t be able to buy your way out. A catastrophe will strike you suddenly, one for which you are not prepared.” Are you heading in the wrong direction? Pray and repent of your sins. Ask God to help you turn around and walk with him. Seek a fellowship with God that will add purpose to your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/06 02:15 PM
Proverbs 17:1 (NLT)
1 Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

This is a wise verse from King Solomon. Solomon states that it would be better for a person to eat alone with a dry piece of bread crust than to eat in a household filled with feasting and with conflict. This is a simple lesson for many to understand.

If you have ever seen Christmas Vacation you probably remember the family gathering for a Christmas meal. One member has gotten senile and brings a cat wrapped up in a box. Cousin Eddie has arrived with his RV and is causing the Griswold’s all kinds of grief and concern. There are many negative comments thrown back and forth at each of the family members. Because of the way Clark handled getting a tree, a squirrel gets loose in the house and caused chaos. The whole family gets into an uproar. And Cousin Eddie who is unpredictable, kidnaps Clark’s boss because he didn’t pay out a bonus this year. It is a feast filled with conflict. No one is getting to enjoy Christmas because of all the events that are taking place. It is putting a strain on everyone’s relationships. And this is not the first year for their problems; it seems it has become a tradition where problems are repeated each year. Family gathering are meant to be joyful! They are a time to renew fellowship with each other. And Christmas in particular is a time when joy and peace should abound. Yet there are families who will continue to have Christmas family gatherings knowing the day will end in conflict and bitterness. The problems have gone on so long it is just expected someone is going to get angry, someone is going to fuss, someone is going to get their feelings hurt, and someone will walk way with broken fellowship. Instead families should seek to resolve conflict. They should do their best to put away differences, put away their dislikes, put away their hatred and come to terms with it in a way they can participate in a family dinner without problems. Christmas should be a time of joy and peace. Are there family conflicts you need to resolve? Pray that God would lead you with the words to say to family members. Put away your pride and be humble and accepting of other family members. Ask that God would make this year a new year filled with joy and peace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/19/06 12:56 PM
Matthew 1:1-6 (NLT)
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

The book of Matthew starts out describing the parentage of Christ. This is important information in as it confirms prophecies made throughout the Old Testament. The words are given to prove a claim in history. It details a genealogy from Abraham through David and then onto Christ. For the promises of the future inheritance were given to Abraham and David.

God had a plan for the salvation of man. Both Abraham and David understood God would send a savior to deliver people from the sins of the world. And in these verses we see some of the people God used along the way. Judah had not been faithful in keeping his promise to give his widowed daughter-in-law a son who through his youngest son. So Tamara posed as a prostitute in order to sleep with Judah to become pregnant. Rahab was a prostitute who by faith helped the spies of Israel in Jericho. And David had Bathsheba’s husband Uriah killed so David could cover Bathsheba’s pregnancy resulting from his adultery with her. These were not perfect people, but they were used by God to bring about a perfect Savior, Christ Jesus. God is looking for us to submit out lives to Him no matter what we have done or where we currently are. God wants to use us just like those He has used in the past. Are you ready to let go of your life and turn it over to God? Pray God would use you in whatever means He desires. Pray that you can be a future blessing. Thank God that He can take a sinner and turn them into a useful purpose.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/21/06 12:43 PM
John 2:18-22 (NLT)
18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." 20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus had been outraged over the way the temple was being used. The Jews demanded a sign from Jesus to prove He had authority. Jesus didn’t immediately give them a sign, but told them of a sign to come; “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews thought Jesus was referring to the temple they were in, but Jesus was referring to His death and resurrection. In either case they did not believe in His miraculous power.

The base of the temple where Jesus and the Jews were having their discussion still stands today. The temple structure on the base was destroyed by the Romans and has never been rebuilt. The base which remains is massive and is built from carved stone. It stands 9 stories tall and covers an area of 30 football fields. So when Jesus said He would raise up the temple in 3 days the Jews were in disbelief because they knew it had taken 46 years to move the massive stones to build the temple. If they would have had any belief in Jesus they would have known He could even put the temple together one stone at a time in 3 days. Yet Jesus was talking about how He would die and then 3 days later he would be raised to life; which was a great miracle many still did not believe. Jesus is capable of many miracles. He waits on each one of us to come to Him in faith so that He can give us the miracle of eternal life. He wants to transform us in a miraculous way to a new way of living here on earth so that we have joy and peace in our lives. Have you asked Jesus to perform a miracle in your life? Pray that whatever you need your life would be touched in a miraculous way. Pray Jesus would bless your life with a renewed spirit. Pray for the mercy and grace He desires to bestow on each of us. And always praise His holy name.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/07 12:29 PM
3 John 1:11 (NLT)
11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

John was writing to a friend, Gaius, who faithfully took care of traveling teachers passing through the area. These teachers did not accept money from those they were ministering to and therefore Gauis’s help was well appreciated. However, there was a leader in the church, Diotrephes, who opposed helping the traveling teachers. John wanted to make sure his negativity did not affect Gaius. John reminded Gaius actions prove out those who love God.

In 79 A.D. Mt. Vesuvius erupted destroying the city of Pompeii. Some people tried to flee from the city. Others tried to hide in buildings or underground areas, all of which soon became their burial site. No matter where they turned they were unable to escape their impending fate. Until it was excavated, the city lay preserved in ash for hundreds of years. Uncovered in the ash was a Roman sentinel standing at the city gate with his weapon still in hand. This soldier stood at his post, ground shaking and hot ashes falling; following the orders of his captain to remain steadfast. God calls us to remain steadfast in our faith. The sentinel proved by his actions that he was trustworthy and faithful; God wants the same from us. Are you committed to being a soldier of God? Are you willing to follow your leader Jesus Christ wherever he commands? Pray for steadfast faith to carry out God’s commands. Pray you would be found a faithful and trustworthy servant of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/07 12:53 PM
Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)
17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Here in Isaiah God says He is the Holy One of Israel. God wants His people to know He does not deceive them when He says He is their redeemer, teacher and leader. And God does this with everyone’s best interest in mind.

Everyone at one time or another asks themselves, “What is my life’s purpose?” It is a self-fulfilling question because we always look for answers to satisfy self needs. We may run down to the bookstore picking up the latest and greatest self help book. Or there is a seminar that will teach me how to be who I am. Most of these, even with good intention, offer the same advice: dare to dream, set goals, write expectations, aim high, believe in you, and never give up. These ideas can even bring success and recognition, but it’s not the same as life’s purpose. Our life’s purpose is given to us by God and we cannot fulfill it by our own self. We have to look to God to direct, lead, and teach us. It might even mean we do less, have less or loose our successful life to fulfill that purpose; but in the end Christ will welcome us as a good and faithful servant. Have you asked God what your purpose in life is? Have you waited on His answer? Pray God will direct, lead, and teach you. Thank Him that He knows what is best for your life. Praise His holiness that He is always faithful and will never lead you astray.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/07 12:41 PM
James 2:10-13
10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

James tells us a person who breaks one law God has given is in contempt of breaking all His laws. And while each law has its own earthly consequences, the contempt of breaking even one law bears the same punishment as breaking one or all laws. It is vanity for one to think they can do a good deed or deeds to make up for the failure to follow the law. Knowing one has broken God’s laws by failure to follow one law; they should extend grace and mercy to others. For those that extend mercy, God will extend mercy back to them.

The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, sets us free in liberty. There is no difficult burden with the Gospel as there was under the law. For Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Those who place their faith in Christ are no longer tied to the chains of sin that weigh them down. We will all be judged according to the Gospel and our eternal condition set by it. As each person stands before God the Book of Life will be opened and there they are judged. There will be no mercy for those the Gospel condemns; nor there any accusation against those who have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore our lives should be lived according to the Gospel. Our conversations should be that of the Gospel, our temperaments should follow the Gospel, and our extension of mercy and grace to others should be a Gospel love for others. For we are being judged with grace and mercy even though we have not measured up to God’s standard; therefore do not hold back mercy lest God hold back mercy from you. Pray the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a part of life. Pray you extend it to others who are in need of mercy and grace. Pray that you look upon people the same way Christ would with love, grace and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/07 12:29 PM
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

In most of David’s Psalm’s there is always an element of complaint, but in Psalm 23 it all about being comforted by God. David knew from his youth sheep needed a shepherd to guide and watch over them. Here he compares himself to a sheep that is taken to the best pastures, that finds peace by the quiet waters and his soul is able to rest. He has no fear for He knows God his shepherd is watching steadfastly over him, protecting him and ready to rescue him from any trouble. David acknowledges the bountiful provisions of God in which he confidently counts on God’s blessings.

On the TV show COPS, the police stopped a man wanted in connection to the gang sale of drugs. On his shoulder was the tattoo “PSALM 23”. The police said some of the gang members would have the tattoo because of the words in PSALM 23, “I will fear no evil.” This criminal should also have read the words of Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”, for he believed in himself and turned to evil. It is the reverence, the understanding of God’s great power, His wisdom, and all His other attributes that bring a respectful fear and a desire to avoid evil. Instead this man who the police caught stood on his own saying he did not fear evil while he committed evil acts himself. Let us pray for those who do not understand God. Pray they might come to believe in a Savior that can turn them from evil.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/07 01:15 PM
1 Corinthians 13:11-12
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

The apostle is talking of the things to come when we have an eternal life with God. Our present thoughts are childlike and clouded in our understanding of what eternal life will be like. There is no clear picture, but only a glimmer of our future life. But one day we will fully understand, just as God completely understands us.

There is a difference between growing old and growing up. Some may grow old in life, but never grow up in their maturity. Growing old means your body will physically change. What use to be a youthful body slowly ages. Growing up is a positive change in understanding and spiritual growth. As one grows up they mature, become wiser about life and gain discernment of things they once did not understand. As one grows up spiritually they gain a greater understanding of God. They develop a relationship that is full and meaningful. Even their life reflects a mature understanding of who God is. Have you grown up as well as grown old? Pray God would continue to mature you spiritually. Pray your life would reflect a positive and mature lifestyle. Pray you might clearly see what God’s plans hold for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/11/07 01:14 PM
Romans 3:23-26 (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

The apostle makes it clear there is NO ONE that meets God’s standards for holiness. Because of God’s righteousness, He had a plan in Jesus that those who placed their faith in Him would be declared righteous. Even though they are sinners; in God’s sight they are justified because of their faith in Jesus.

A very wealthy man had a wife who died earlier in his life giving birth to their son. The man came to love his son deeply. He was an ordinary boy who one day went off to war for his country. The boy died giving his life for his country. The man was grieved at the loss of his son. The wealthy man eventually died leaving behind his vast fortune. The will said his fortune was to be auctioned off. The first item was a painting of his son by an unknown painter. When the bidding started everyone had their eyes set towards the other priceless items and so no one bid on the son’s portrait by the unknown author. Finally the butler of the wealthy man stepped forward and offered what little money he had to buy the portrait; for he had loved the son. After the butler received the portrait the next part of the will was read that said “whoever buys the portrait of my son obviously cares for him; therefore my entire fortune is left to this person.” God’s son died for a purpose. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then obviously you care for the son and God will reward you with an inheritance in His kingdom. Praise God who planned for your salvation and left you an inheritance of eternal life in heaven. Love the son and show how much you care for Him by following His example in life. Honor both with a good testimony of how you live for them.
Posted By: stillhurts Re: Devotionals - 01/11/07 02:20 PM
Well said!!!
SH
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/16/07 01:01 PM
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT)
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

Paul is writing to the Corinthians to make clear some things others were calling into question. In these verses he said the most important thing is Christ died for our sins. This was passed on to Paul and now he is passing it on to others. Then he states Christ was buried and then raised from the dead. It seemed there were those who did not believe in the resurrection and Paul wanted to make it clear Christ was indeed resurrected.

If you have ever had the opportunity to discuss religion with others you will find there are many beliefs in life. Even if you are discussing Christian beliefs there are those with different views. There are interpretations of what heaven and ****** may be like. Some will want to debate what happens immediately after death. And there are those who want to question the specific meaning of various scriptures. But there is one important statement that stands firm, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS. He died for you, he died for me, he died for others that they would be set free from sin. You can debate every topic, but the most important personal question is, “are you free from sin where you can live eternally with God in heaven?” If you can say yes, praise God who gave up His only Son for you. Pray for those who might not know Christ as the one who can set them free from sin. Give praise to Christ who gave Himself sacrificially. Thank God always for His love, His Mercy and His Grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/07 01:02 PM
Numbers 14:18 (NLT)
18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’

God has control over His own anger such that He is still capable of forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. There are consequences for being in a continued state of sin and those consequences are passed on to the third and fourth generation. But God is also merciful in that the consequences do not continue forever and that families are not forever destroyed.

At seven years old I remember asking my mother why my name was different from hers and my grandparents. I had finally put together the clues I was living in a fatherless home. My father was an abusive alcoholic and his choice to continue in his behavior left us abandoned. Unfortunately there are many more children in America wondering like I did, “where is my father?” And some of the answers they get back are: your father was a jerk; your father was a drug addict; your father was a deadbeat; your father was uncommitted; your father was just a one night stand. This trend creates impacts upon families that take generations to heal. There are indicators of this trend that appear over the decades. In 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990 respectively: Percentage of births outside of marriage 5.3%, 10.7%, 18.4%, 28.0%; Divorced males per 1000 males 27.4, 33.3, 76.2, 112.5; Male prisoners per 100,000 230, 191, 274, 574; Percentage of children living apart from their fathers 17.5%, 22.4%, 32.2%, 36.3%. These are alarming trends as you watch the numbers increase over the decades. Even between 1970 and 1990 the number of women on welfare services doubled so they could take care of their children. And unless these families turn to God the problems only continue to multiple. God makes a promise that He is the father to the fatherless. If you or you know someone who has been hurt by the abandonment of parents, just know God is there stretching out His hand to take care of the fatherless. Pray for the healing of families. Pray that family sin will not continue. Pray for repentance and restoration of the relationship with the Lord. Pray families will not have to endure suffering more than they need to.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/07 01:05 PM
Ecclesiastes 8:6 (Holman Christian Standard)
6 For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man's troubles are heavy on him

King Solomon expresses it doesn’t matter who you are; you can be surprised anytime by sudden change. We are in the dark when it comes to our future, but our Lord God knows all that will take place. And God in His Wisdom has appointed the right time and purpose for events to occur.

In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, actor Will Smith finds life is not quite what he expected. He invested in medical equipment that he hoped to sell, but found it was difficult to make the sales to provide an income for his family. He decided to make a change in career to become a stockbroker only to learn as a trainee he did not earn an income. It seemed every corner he turned had more and more problems. What he had a difficult time seeing was life was going to take a turn for the better. We can’t see the plans God has for us. We are like the blind; not seeing what waits around the corner. But Psalms 33:4 tells us, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” We must trust God that He will lead our steps. We must have faith in Christ to know that we can endure suffering heartache. And we must have hope in the right time God will act in our lives. Pray God will always lead your steps. Acknowledge your trust and faith in Him. Know the suffering Christ endured was not in vain, but was to set you free.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/07 01:40 PM
Proverbs 23:17 (NLT)
17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.

King Solomon provides two thoughts in this proverb. First he states what not to do and then second he states how we should maintain high thoughts of God in order not to carry out the stated sin. Quna’ is the Hebrew word for envy, which Webster’s defines as, “painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage”.

According to the Associated Press, Brian Barrett was a 22 year old, aspiring industrial arts teacher who was possibly murdered due to jealousy. It is a strange case involving an internet fantasy. The fantasy surrounded what appeared to be an 18 year old marine headed off to war and a girl who sent him flirtatious pictures and gifts to his house. But the 18 year old marine was actually Thomas Montgomery, a 47 year old co-worker and friend of Barrett. He was a former marine and married father who perhaps was trying to relive events of his past. It seems both Barrett and Montgomery were pursuing the same 18 year old girl. What neither knew was the 18 year old girl was actually a 40 year old mother using her daughter’s identity. The problem started when Montgomery’s wife intercepted one of the gifts and wrote back to the women telling her Montgomery was married and obviously not 18. The West Virginia woman remembered Barrett as a co-worker friend of Montgomery and found enough information to write him about the wife’s allegations. The emails lead the woman and Barrett to stay in contact, but at the same time she was also staying in contact with Montgomery. Not knowing the woman was in contact with Montgomery, Barrett talked about his internet romance at work turning Montgomery to jealousy. Montgomery, although pleading not guilty, is believed to have approached Barrett and shot him in the parking lot. Envious of a relationship conceived in sin Montgomery should have turned to the Lord instead of turning to envy.

Pray your heart may not desire to follow the sin of others. Pray your eyes will be set upon the Lord and you will have a desire to follow him. Pray the spirit will be strong and that the flesh will not overcome.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/24/07 12:37 PM
Proverbs 24:23-25 (NLT)
23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. 24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations. 25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.

As people are required to use good judgment to follow the law, judges are also expected to use good and wise judgment in administering the law. They are not to be swayed unjustly by those in front of the court. Just as the church deals with the wicked, so too a judge must deal with the wicked. To excuse the wicked is like saying they are righteous and it will bring condemnation from those looking for justice.

A child in the third grade walks into the school lunch room with a lunch that was prepared at home. As they are unpacking the lunch on the table they notice a butter knife included in the lunch box. The child knows knives are not allowed at the school so they take the knife up to the teacher who immediately sends them to the principal. The principal calls the sheriff who handcuffs the child and escorts them to juvenile detention to await the arrival of their parents. This was a true story showing how rules can be made inflexible because there is a lack of wise judgment. Instead of being able to review the individual problem in a wise and discerning way an inflexible rule was set in place to handle all problems the same way. A child who may have brought a knife to school with the intent of harming someone gets the same punishment as a child who had a butter knife packed in their lunch box. Because there are hard and fast rules and no wisdom in judgment those with innocent motives receive the same punishment as those with evil and wicked motives. We all must be careful to elect those who are wise and live by God’s standards. We must pray understanding, grace and mercy are applied when called for. And we must pray laws do not become the judge of people, but instead serve as rules, which must be abided by. Pray for our leaders that they would have the wisdom to create fair rules and laws which convict the guilty, but allow room for fair judgment.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/07 12:50 PM
Romans 4:4-8 (NLT)
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

The theme of the apostle’s message is righteousness and the forgiveness of sin that comes from faith and not works. When a person works they are given a set amount as wages for the service they perform. If one believed they could earn their way to heaven then God would be indebted to them. But instead God freely gives grace which provides forgiveness of sin and puts joy into the life of the one who has faith in Christ.

We learn in the verses above a person cannot earn grace. Grace is freely given and to earn something requires a debt to be paid. Consequently Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of our participation in sin we earned a spiritual death. Many will say why would a loving God send someone to ******? It is because a loving God allows freedom to choose and if a person chooses to follow in sin then death is the required payment. Most of us have probably seen a movie or read a book where Satan appears and makes a deal with a person for their soul. But if you think about it when man choose sin the deal was made and our souls were given as payment. Christ though redeemed us and made full payment for all our sin. Have you found the joy in having your sins cleared? We were going down a road to destruction and because of our faith in Christ he led us to a road of freedom. Praise God for His Son Jesus Christ. Pray joy may fill your heart as you acknowledge His redeeming love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/07 12:54 PM
Jeremiah 5:1 (Holman Christian Standard)
1 Roam through the streets of Jerusalem. Look and take note; search in her squares. If you find a single person, anyone who acts justly, who seeks to be faithful, then I will forgive her.

God makes a challenge to those in Jerusalem, find just one person who is just and faithful; and He will forgive the city of its wrongs. God had made a similar statement to Abraham about the city of Sodom. It shows how ready God is to provide grace and mercy. And God is ready to extend mercy to many for the sake of the few who stand with Him.

Intercessory Prayer is praying with sincere faith and hope God would step in on the behalf of a specific person, persons or other entity. It is not praying about your own needs, but having concern for the needs of others. When Jesus was dying on the cross He prayed, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Jesus showed us He was concerned for those mocking God even at a time when all of us would have turned our thoughts to our own predicament. Intercessory prayer is our reminder we alone are incapable of doing things in our own power. It draws our attention back to God as we seek Him and look fervently for His answers. When you intercede you bring yourself before God so that He might use your talents, your gifts, your abilities to minister to others. Martin Luther said, “Therefore faith prays in such a manner that it commits everything to the gracious will of God; it lets [God] determine whether it is conducive to his honor or to our benefit.” God said in Jeremiah 5:1 that he was looking for a single person to intercede for Jerusalem. By continually surrendering yourself to God, who knows, you could become the one person God is looking for. Pray for the needs of others who need God in their life. Pray God might touch our leaders and lead them in Godly directions. Pray for your family that they would be strong in the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/30/07 01:26 PM
2 Peter 2:6-9 (NLT)
6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

Peter explains how God passed judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities became an example of those who do not believe in God. Lot who did believe in God and tried to keep God commands was constantly being tested. The Hebrew word basanizo meant to test as an assayer rubbing a touchstone against a supposed precious metal to see if it was indeed pure. And while Lot remained in a place that tormented him, God rescued him from the punishment the others received.

When most of us think of Sodom and Gomorrah we think of the destruction of those cities. But before their destruction, Sodom was a wealthy city. The city itself sat on fertile ground near the Jordan River. There was commercial trade there and the city prospered. History says Sodom only accepted the wealthy. Lot was a man of great wealth and he decided he wanted to live in Sodom. In Genesis 13:5 the bible says, “Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep, goats, herds of cattle and many tents.” Lot saw Sodom as a place where his wealth would let him fit in with others. The only problem was the city’s morals did not fit with what God desired for Lot; so Lot was tormented by being pulled towards the riches of the city and the desires of God. Pride held Lot captive because he wanted to be with those who were wealthy. It’s ironic when Lot was rescued from Sodom by the angles he had to leave behind all of his wealth. Everything he valued was lost as the city was destroyed. But this was not the first time Lot had lost everything. Genesis 14 recounts the story of Lot being carried off from the city of Sodom with all his possessions after it was attacked by foreign kings. Only because he was rescued by his uncle Abraham did he gain back his wealth and return to Sodom. Lot had been given one opportunity to see what his wealthy living could cost him. It took a second time for him to understand the true cost. Do you have to be warned more than once about sin? Do you realize there will be a cost for continuing in sins path? Pray God would remove the hindrances from your life that would separate you from Him. Pray God would take away pride that holds you captive to sin. Pray you would listen when God speaks.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/07 12:48 PM
Luke 17:28-29
28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

These are the words of Jesus to the disciples. He is laying out for them examples of people who in the past ignored the warnings of God and what happened to those who did. In these verses He said the people in Sodom were going about their usual business up until the moment fire and sulfur rained down on the city and destroyed it.

The phrase “business as usual” is familiar to many. If you do a “Google Search” over a million entries are returned for the phrase. The topics include things like: corruption in government, theft of software and other technology resources, politicians caught in moral dilemmas, CEO’s taking large sums from corporations, illegal stock profits, ignoring the poor, and bribery. These are things considered “business as usual” by those writing about these stories. People continue to go about their lives as though they will be not need to account for their deeds. They continue in their daily routines ignoring God because they are too busy, too self indulged, too self centered, too proud. Are we any less guilty as we do business as usual? Have you stopped today to take a moment from your business as usual to thank God for his grace and mercy? Have you stopped to praise His name? If the answer is no, take a moment and give praise to the creator, the sustainer of life, the merciful one, the holy of holiest. Pray and thank Him for Christ who died for each sin that we burdened upon Him. Praise His holy name.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/07 12:44 PM
Matthew 17:20 (NLT)
20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

Jesus is talking to his disciples. They asked Him why they could not cast out a demon that possessed a boy. He explained to them that they did not have enough faith. The disciples had full commission to remove demons, but this particular demon was out of the ordinary for them so they distrusted themselves. Christ tells them if they just kept a small amount of their faith they could move mountains.

What if someone walked up to you and said nothing is impossible for you? Would you tend to believe them or would you have your doubts? Most of us would probably doubt that statement because we would start thinking about our insecurities and places where we have failed in the past. Jesus let the disciples know they could perform things they had not imagined, but their strength had to come from faith in God and not from their own selves. Jesus lived a life perfectly trusting in God the Father. His spiritual faith kept maturing from the time He was a child. And for those reasons His abilities could not be compared equally to those of His disciples, but He assured them with just a little faith they could accomplish great things. The closer we move to Christ the more our faith strengthens and our prayers become more effective. Even if we can’t move mountains now our Lord says we can develop the faith to do so. Pray you can let go of your doubts in God. Pray that you would trust in Him no matter what the circumstance. Pray you would be obedient to God’s word.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/07 01:13 PM
Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Jesus had been teaching all day along the shore from a boat. There had been a large crowd there listening to Jesus as he told parables to them. As the end of the day approached Jesus was ready to move to the other side of the lake. Perhaps Jesus wanted to rest before teaching to more crowds; because we find in these verses he had lain down in the back of the boat with a cushion to go to sleep. A storm came up and the boat started filling with water from the waves. The disciples woke up Jesus who then calmed the storm.

There is a book called “Ninety-Three”, written by Victor Hugo the same author of “The Hunch of Notre Dame”. In the book Hugo tells of a ship caught in a fierce storm. In the midst of the storm the sailors heard a horrible crashing sound below deck. They realized the cannon had broken loose and was hurling back and forth against the internal walls. Knowing the irrepressible damage about to be caused, two sailors volunteered to face the rolling cannon over the fierce sea. They knew the chance of being shipwrecked was greater from the damage being done on the inside of the ship than from the storm on the outside of the ship. The disciples faced a similar storm. It was their internal lack of faith that overpowered them. Even though Jesus was present they feared the worst was going to happen. And they when Jesus demonstrated His power over nature they feared who He could be. Even though the external events appear to be severe it was their internal turmoil that had them frightened. If only they had waited Jesus would have responded at the appropriate time. For obviously the storm had not gotten so bad to have awakened Jesus from His sleep. Do our internal fears make us rush to solutions? Do we want the answer to our problems sooner than they need to arrive? Pray your fears would be calmed and that you would learn to depend on Christ. Wait on His timing to care for you and your problems. Pray and acknowledge that you know Christ is there with you ready to deal with the problems in your life when the time is appropriate.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/07 12:32 PM
Jonah 1:9-16 (NLT)
9 Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” 10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?” 12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.” 3 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
Jonah knew the Lords intent as He was running from his purpose. God had commanded him to go to Nineveh and he was heading the opposite direction. Jonah was even willing to pay to board a ship to keep from fulfilling the Lord’s purpose. So Jonah slept in the hold of the ship at peace knowing the Lord would do with him as He wished. When the sailors became of aware Jonah may be the reason for the storm they pleaded to God. They didn’t want to throw Jonah over, but they finally had no choice. And when they did the storm stopped and they acknowledged God’s power and vowed to serve Him.

Casting Crowns has a song “Does anybody hear her” that starts out with these verses:

She is running, A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction, She is trying But the canyon's ever widening, In the depths of her cold heart. So she sets out on another misadventure just to find, She's another two years older, And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Or does anybody even know she's going down today, Under the shadow of our steeple, With all the lost and lonely people, Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me, Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

It’s a story of a woman running from God just as Jonah ran. The further she runs the more difficult life becomes and her heart grows colder. And she keeps running only to find out life is passing by and she is not gaining any ground. The question becomes does anyone see the desperation in this woman and recognize she needs someone to bring her back to the love of Jesus. There are so many people running from God because they have hit difficult areas in their life. Are you running from God and His plan for your life? Pray someone will reach out and lead you back to the Lord. Pray that God ministers to His people leading them in the direction they should go.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/07 12:33 PM
1 John 5:18-21
18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

John writes about the privileges of being a true believer in Christ. He says Satan cannot bring death upon such a person and God is with them. He tells us as believers we understand we are God’s and God is in control of everything around us. God has opened the believer’s mind to understand and discern God’s true self. God has also placed us in fellowship with Him and His son where we receive both favor and love. John reminds us to keep away from anything that might cause us to forsake these privileges.

Some of you have probably joined a discount club before like Sam’s Club, Costco or something similar. When you obtain a membership they give you a brochure that lists out the privileges. Anything on the list is yours to obtain because you decided you wanted to be a member. On the other hand anyone who is not a member is denied entrance at the door. They do not receive the privileges available to members. For those who have placed their faith in Christ they have gained a membership to God’s family. They receive all the privileges John discussed and more. Take a look at all the privileges God provides you and thank Him for each one. Pray for those who don’t know Christ that they may become members of the family of God. Praise Christ who brought you in as a member by freely giving Himself as payment for your membership.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/12/07 01:41 PM
Proverbs 12:10 (Holman Christian standard)
10 A righteous man cares about his animal's health, but [even] the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

In these words of Solomon he declares a righteous man is concerned for more than just human life; he extends his concerns too even animals that he cares for. In comparison to a righteous man a wicked man is cruel and his actions are wicked.

A person can commit acts which are against God’s word, yet they may not be seen by others. These acts can be hidden from many, even though God always sees what is taking place. Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” God’s creatures knew what it meant for sin to be unleashed upon the world. They knew man’s heart could be cruel in secrecy and they would not be able to speak out against the injustice. Animals are God’s creatures and the extent to which one shows mercy to them shows how much they respect God. Balaam beat his donkey even though it was trying to save his life. When given the power to speak by God the donkey said, “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times? But I am the same donkey you have ridden all of your life. Have I eve done anything like this before?” Even man’s most tender mercies can be cruel. Pilate’s made this clear in his statement concerning Christ, “I will chastise him and let him go.” How can one be cruel and yet pretend to be kind? Pray the righteous prevail in life. Pray for those who are cruel that they might know Christ. Pray sin which delights in wickedness will be replaced by the love of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/13/07 12:49 PM
John 9:35-39 (NLT)
35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

Jesus had healed a blind man in the presence of others. Now Jesus was asking him “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man could not even see Jesus at the time of the healing because Jesus told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash off the mud from his eyes; yet all the others around Him saw the miracle. The Pharisees did not believe in the miracle, yet they were angry Jesus had healed someone on the Sabbath. The parents were afraid to even speak about the incident, blinded by fear. Yet this man said, “Yes, Lord, I believe!”

Is this world blind in regards to Christ? When Jesus is presented to the world, many are unwilling to put aside their “lifestyles” to follow Him. The story of the rich young man illustrates this as Jesus told him to give away all his possessions and follow Him. The rich young man walked away disappointed, still hanging onto his earthly wealth, and spiritually poor. There are many who will stand in a church hearing a call to repentance and faith in Christ, but they hang on to what they have because they are blind to the greater rewards Christ offers. They don’t see their sinful life as nothing to hold on to. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” Is there more for all of us to see? Christ offers us more that we could ever imagine yet we often turn Him down because we don’t see what He is offering us. Pray our eyes will be open to what Christ has in store for us. Pray our spiritual blindness will be removed that we may understand the glory of God. Pray God’s light shine unto others so they may also see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/07 12:54 PM
Genesis 3:6-10 (NLT)
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

These verses recount the fall of man to sin. The same desire that caused Satan to fall from God’s grace caused the fall of man; it was a desire to be like God. Adam also participated with Eve; and as sin entered into their lives they felt shame. They were exposed and vulnerable to the damage sin wrought. They tried to hide from God the things they had done, but God was there calling them unto Him. Shame caused Adam and Eve to hide their sin from God.

Steps of transgression lead us away from God. First one turns their eyes toward the temptation looking upon it with pleasure. The sin seems pleasing and desirable. Like Job, Eve should have made a covenant with her eyes not to look upon sin. The second step of sin is to take hold of it. The temptation may be present, but nothing is there forcing the sin to take place. Satan did not place the fruit in Eve’s hand, nor did he force it towards her mouth. After taking hold of the sin, the third step is when the person takes the sin into their life. There may have been no intent on Eve’s part to sin when she looked at the fruit, nor when she went to take hold of it; but she did eat and that is where sin entered. But sin does not end there, it propagates itself to others. Sin is like water poured out on the ground and a person trying to say “stop here and come no further”; it continues to move forward. So the fourth step of sin was Eve involving her husband. Eve shared Satan’s temptation with Adam and even added to the temptation by her admission of eating the fruit, giving it to him and encouraging him to eat. You have to wonder if Eve wanted Adam to share in her misery of sin; for this was a great unkind act. The last step of sin is leaving the person with shame where they want to hide from God. Instead of turning to God for help, Adam and Eve hid hoping their sin would not be exposed. Shame and fear entered the world with sin and is still present with us today. Pray your eyes would be turned from the temptations of the world. Make a covenant before God you would move from the temptations that are easily available. And when you do sin, pray God would forgive you and restore you to fellowship with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/15/07 12:39 PM
Matthew 11:18-19 (NLT)
18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

John the Baptist was in prison and heard about the things Jesus was doing. So the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus to ask if He was the Messiah or should they expect someone else. Jesus told them to take back word of what they had observed to John and then He began to speak to the crowd about the work of John the Baptist and compliment him. Then Jesus turned in his conversation and explained it didn’t matter what was seen on the outside of someone’s life there would always be someone critical of their actions.

We should not be quick to judge others for we cannot clearly see the goodness or faults of our own self. Conversely we should not be so quick to judge ourselves by the words of others because they also have been clouded in their perception. John the Baptist and Christ demonstrated two different ways of serving God. John held to strict disciplines; he lived in the wilderness; he isolated himself; and his dress did not keep in style with others. There were people who accepted his teachings and there were those who did not. Jesus conversed with many types of people and did not display a cold and hard nature like John. Instead Jesus was easily accessible, not afraid to be in the company of others, and would attend feasts with either the strict religious leaders or the politicians of the day. Yet there were those who accepted his teachings and there were those who did not. Jesus, the Son of God, complimented John for his work, because Jesus understood both were doing the will of The Father. It is more important to follow the will of God than to follow the desires of others. Who have you been following? Have you been trying to live by others opinions or by what God would have you do? Pray you would not focus on what others say about you, but instead focus on God’s desire for your life. Pray to do God’s will and live a life pleasing to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/07 01:19 PM
John 3:1-3 (NLT)
1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

An important man of Jerusalem, Nicodemus was a religious leader and teacher. Nicodemus sought Jesus out in private so that he might be able to talk with him freely and not have other leaders enraged at Christ because of him. He called Jesus Rabbi, speaking honorably about Him as a great man. Going against what other leaders thought, Nicodemus realized the miracles performed by Jesus was genuine and could only be performed if God were with Him. Jesus then responded to Nicodemus that unless he was born again he could not see the Kingdom of God.

My wife saw a disturbing bumper sticker the other day on the back of a car. The bumper sticker read, BEING BORN ONCE WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. If you have faith Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again to life you are born again. Any denial of this is a statement against the salvation God so freely offers. 1 Peter 1:3-5 tells us “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.” This is an eternal life, a priceless inheritance with Christ. Yet there are many who deny this eternal life and choose to ignore it. Peter goes on to tell us, “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” Pray for those who deny Christ and His gift of eternal life in a place that is pure and undefiled. Pray for those who attempt to hinder the Kingdom of God that they might see the real truth.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/20/07 12:54 PM
Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)
1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. 7 As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! 8 I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

Psalms 119 is a special psalm in that it is twice as long as many of the others. Its contents reflect David’s thoughts over a period of time. It is though he amassed links of a chain and then properly fit them all together in this psalm. David expresses in these verses the joy that comes from following God’s commands. David desires his own actions would reflect the obedience of those commands. There is no shame for the righteous. David’s desire is to be righteous in God’s sight. David then asks God not to give up on him for he knows he is not perfect and needs God’s help.

Shame is a powerful emotion caused by the consciousness of guilt. One therapist once said shame is the emotion that lets us know we are finite. It is possible to feel shame and no one else around you even know the pain you are going through. When shame is revealed there can also an associated feeling of embarrassment. But shame and embarrassment differ in that shame relates to morally wrong qualities, while embarrassment can be morally neutral, but socially unacceptable. Genuine shame is a reflection of our own guilt knowing others will not approve. For those who believe in God shame comes from knowing God does not approve and our actions are in opposition to His commands. There is a false shame or toxic shame that comes from the sin of others but is passed on to another person. The false shame creates the feeling of guilt for a sin not committed, but endured by the hands of another. An example of false shame is the feeling of shame created in a victim by an abuser. The person feels as though they did something to cause the abuse and are therefore ashamed of what happened. How can a person who was following in the path of God and then abused be responsible for the shame of another? They are not. David says those who walk in God’s ways have joy and therefore have no need to be ashamed. And even if we turn from God for a moment, God is not going to give up on us. We may feel the shame of our sin, but God forgives, heals, and removes the shame. Is there a shame in your life you are not responsible for? Ask God to release you from it and place it on the person responsible. And if you have sinned, ask God to release you from the shame of sin and restore you through His grace and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/07 01:12 PM
Job 31:35-37 (NLT)
35 “If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. 36 I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. 37 For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.

Job was speaking out about his misery and that it was undeserved. He had recounted all the good he had done and denied all that wrongly accused him. Job was ready to stand proud before a judge and jury knowing in his heart his own innocence.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 says, “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.” God had listened patient and quietly to Job and his friends. They did not even know God was present as they went through their discourse. Job may have even felt like his cry for charges to be presented before him was going unheard, but God was listening. His friends tried to convince Job there was sin in his life he just didn’t want to recall it. They made their case and their attempt was to push him towards the Lord. But it was not their work to perform; it was God who needed to talk to Job. Sometimes we think we have to be the ones to push a person back towards God; but God is fully capable of handling the situation, He does not even need us. We can become arrogant in our belief that without us a person will not find the hope in God they need. But as God later points out, who are we to question God and His works. Pray the arrogance of our heart will be removed. Pray and acknowledge there is none like God and that He is fully capable to handle everything. Pray we might examine our own hearts and be honest before God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/07 12:58 PM
2 Timothy 1:8-11 (NLT)
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

Paul says no one should be ashamed of what Christ did for them and they also should not be ashamed of those who are suffering because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A person should always be ready to face suffering for the sake of Christ. Our salvation so freely given yet so undeserved, but it was always God’s plan to make it available. Death gave way to life and Paul was chosen to be a preacher, an apostle and teacher of this great salvation.

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.” For those who have faith in Christ they are no longer wretched, lost, unfearful of the consequences of sin and blind to its power over us. If there should be any shame, the shame should have existed prior to the amazing grace we accepted. There is no shame in Christ who set us free, unchained us from sin and gave us life eternal. God saved us and called us to live a holy life. No longer does one failure mean we are condemned to sin. No longer does the weight and guilt of sin hold us back from what we need to accomplish for God. We are free due to the amazing grace placed upon us once and for all by our coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Be ready to share the Good News with others and if necessary become teachers and preachers of God’s Holy Word. There is Good News in Christ, do not be afraid to share it. Do not hold back the power of life over death for those who are awaiting the fires of ******. And live your life grateful, without shame because you are no longer facing the same punishment. Praise God and His Son Jesus Christ. Praise His mercy, love and amazing grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/07 12:39 PM
PSALMS 111 (KJV)
1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the godly and the congregation. 2 The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them. 3 His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever. 4 He does amazing things that will be remembered; the Lord is merciful and compassionate. 5 He gives food to his faithful followers; he always remembers his covenant. 6 He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people, giving them a land that belonged to other nations. 7 His acts are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all his precepts are reliable. 8 They are forever firm, and should be faithfully and properly carried out. 9 He delivered his people; he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. His name is holy and awesome. 10 To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.

David wrote this psalm as a psalm of praise. The title it was given is “Hallelujah – Praise you the Lord”. It is a psalm that was to reflect the hearts of those who used it during solemn feasts and times of worship. It was a reminder of God’s holiness, to be obedient to his commands and to praise Him always.

David encouraged others through his words in the psalms he wrote. Some of them were very personal to David and expressed his fears and distress. Yet others he wrote expressed gladness, joy, and acknowledged the blessings he had received from God. David always voiced there should be a respectful fear of the Lord because of His holiness and awesome power. The words were always a reflection of where God was in David’s life and David’s relationship with God. Have you thought lately about where you are in your relationship with God? Have you looked over the past and seen the awesome works of God? Have you acknowledged and given praise for what God has done in your life? Take time to pray and praise God and let Him see what is on your heart. Open up your life and share it with an awesome God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/27/07 12:28 PM
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NLT)
15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Paul was writing to Timothy about the evils of man. He had described how people would fall to sin and that their nature should be avoided. So in these verses, Paul confirms the words Timothy heard all of his life from the scriptures. He reassures him the scriptures are from God and they teach us what is right or wrong.

When an auto mechanic wants to know more about how to repair a particular type of car they turn to a service manual for that make and model of car. A programmer who is trying to understand the internal programming for a computer will turn to the manual written for that specific computer and program. Even appliances in our home come with user manuals explaining their installation and operation. These manuals are often written by the company that designed and produced the item for which they are associated. God who created us, gave use a manual for living called the Bible. Its purpose is to help us realize what is broken in our lives. It provides a way for those problems to be healed through salvation in Jesus Christ. The words of God teach us and correct us. It is standard equipment for our lives to prepare us for the good work we should perform. Have you been reading the service manual for your life? Have you identified the broken areas and found the solutions for living? Read God’s word and pray He will open your eyes with understanding and wisdom. Pray God would reveal through His scriptures the things you should do in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/07 12:50 PM
Isaiah 53:4-6 (NLT)
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Isaiah had previously described how the Gentiles would gladly receive Christ when He appeared. In these verses Isaiah is now talking about the amazing unbelief of the Jews who knew Christ was coming. He describes how Christ will carry the sorrow of the people to the point others thought it was His own punishment. He describes how Christ was punished, pierced on the cross, and crushed by the rejection of the Father as He took on all our sins. Like sheep the Jews wandered away and in doing so also led others astray. Yet God was still willing to give up His son for the hope of all to find salvation.

Sheep are interesting in they have strong flocking instincts. They will gather in the numbers of a 1000 or more without a single leader of the flock. If one dominant sheep decides it is going to move for whatever reason, the rest of the crowd follows. There is one recent report of 400 sheep dying because one sheep tried to cross a 15 meter ravine and failed. The rest followed to their death. Sheep become highly agitated if they are separated from the flock. Sheep have a strong desire to be fed. If a sheep is not eating it is a good indicator it is sick. Sheep have keen senses to detect danger, but they will often put their heads in a corner so they can’t see the danger hoping it will go away. It is no wonder the Bible refers to people as sheep. We try to ignore the dangers of sin by reasoning if we just don’t think about it; the sin will go away. We want to be fed by things of this world, but we need to be fed by the word of God. We huddle around each other waiting for anyone to show us the way. Often it’s the wrong way and we follow them to sin. We should be following the only one that counts and that is the Lord. We become agitated if we can’t have our way of being with the crowd. And yet we should be apart from this world and be lights for others to follow. If you have been a sheep, it is ok. The Lord Jesus Christ is there to be your shepherd. He is there to lead you, to protect you, to show you the right ways. Praise the holy name of Jesus. Praise him for the grace He bestows and the mercy He has provided.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/01/07 12:36 PM
Isaiah 5:11-12 (NLT)
11 What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol
and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. 12 They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing.

Through Isaiah the Lord talks about Jerusalem and Judah as though they are a vineyard He planted. The caretaker cleared the land of stones; and planted the best of vines. He built a tower to watch over the vineyard and keep it safe. The wine press was put in place ready to take in the full and mature grapes. Yet the vineyard produced a bitter crop, useless for the purpose intended. And now the people who should have been the sweet, delectable wine were filling themselves with alcohol until they were drunk. They partied and carried on in their embittered state never taking notice of God or what He could have done in their lives.

Sensuality is defined as relating to or consisting in the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of appetite. The fleshy desires become the ruler of a person’s life. As sensuality takes hold, a person becomes preoccupied with filling their senses in such a manner they become deficient in moral, spiritual, and intellectual issues. Nothing matters but the high; and the path God desires for the individual is abandoned to recklessness. Sensuality is often fed from bitterness, envy and self ambition of the heart. “For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.” But he who follows the wisdom of the Lord shows “his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. But the wisdom from above is pure, peace loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. And the fruit of peace is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Those are the words of James as he spoke of wisdom from above. So the question remains, are you wise in your sight or are you wise in the eyes of the Lord? Pray God would grant you wisdom to avoid sensual desires of the heart. Pray God would strengthen you and keep you from temptation by your own flesh. Praise Christ who dwells within for His mercy and grace that you for the life you can live abundantly and free.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/07 01:02 PM
1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)
10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Peter quotes the verses from Psalms 34:12-14 as he states a way for a happy life in this world that is quarrelsome and ill natured. It is a responsibility of those who have faith in Christ to subdue their words and turn from evil practices; and they are to seek out peace. Peter’s encouragement is meant to show the Lord will be with them in their goodness, while He opposes those who have evil intent towards them.


The world does not understand the ways of God. Roderick Green, a 6’1”, 245lbs, linebacker for the Baltimore Raven’s was stabbed in July 2006 as he exited from a bowling alley. A 5’10” man with a thin body had bumped into Green inside the bowling alley, which lead to a confrontation by the man. The man then followed Green into the parking lot where he stabbed him in the stomach. Green, who runs a 4.58 in the 40 yard dash, can bench press 350lbs, and squats 500lbs, chose to run from the assailant. After a surveillance video of the attack was released, his teammates made him an endless source of jokes. Even the writers of articles about the attack made jokes, such as saying the NFL should provide self defense courses along with their line defense. But according to God Green did the right thing. Instead of turning to attack his assailant, which he could have easily done, Green decided to turn and move away from evil and worked to maintain peace. He diffused the situation instead of committing battery or even homicide. The man didn’t deserve the compassion Green gave him, but then neither do we deserve the compassion God offers us. Our God is so merciful and gracious He offers us hope of salvation in Jesus Christ instead of returning our offenses against Him. God could easily choose to strike us down, but instead He holds out His hands in love. Do you realize how compassionate the Lord is towards us? Pray you would learn God’s ways and turn to others in peace and love instead of retaliation. Pray your words would honor God and not give Satan a chance to act. Praise God for the wonderful salvation of Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/07 01:06 PM
2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (NLT)
9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

There are three points Paul is making in these verses: one, to remain obedient and stand against tests that might come your way; two, learn to forgive; three, remember Satan’s schemes when we fail to follow God’s word.

Resist and rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus. There are several verses which indicate we should do this:
“Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil…dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:9

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you…your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” -1 Peter 5:6-9

“… I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” -2 Corinthians 2:9-11

God wants you and I to understand the scheme’s of the devil so we can have victory in life. Think of Job who dealt with the loss of possessions, the loss of family, and then the loss of his health. Job had no clue Satan was against him. But we have been warned and we must be on guard. Satan can use our unforgiving hearts against us. When we don’t forgive bitterness is brought upon us. The bitterness wells up within until we reach a point where we might reach out and sin. We must be willing to confess our bitterness and our need to forgive to the Lord. Pray Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I agree with you word that I need to forgive and remove the bitterness from my heart. I ask for your strength to obey and not fall victim to Satan or my own flesh. It is in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/07 01:17 PM
1 Kings 19:11-13 (Holman Christian Standard)
11 Then He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD's presence." At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard [it], he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah had been on the run from Jezebel after he had ordered the priests of Baal to be slaughtered. He had run to the point of exhaustion. Then he got up again and continued on his journey until he found a cave to hide in. In the verses above Elijah has been called by God to come listen to Him. He looks all around trying to seek out where God is. Then God asks him for the second time, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

There are times in life where we are just on top of the world. Everything is going our way and life is running smoothly. It’s during those times we find contentment and peace. But eventually life takes a turn and we find ourselves faced with circumstances which seem beyond our control. Suddenly we go from the contentment and peace to depression and loneliness. Where it seemed like God was taking care of everything, it now seems as though God is absent. Elijah felt that way as he hid alone in the cave. But God is always present and called to Elijah, not once, but twice. God wasn’t going to let Elijah forget He was with him. Then gently God came and spoke to Elijah, because He knew the struggles Elijah had been dealing with. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” It was God’s way of asking why you are letting a difficult situation take over when I am here. Have you stopped lately to ask yourself where you are? Have you been in a place where you forgot God was there? Pray God would take over when circumstances are difficult. Pray God would take you out of the cave of despair and bring joy back to your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/12/07 12:30 PM
Romans 9:20-24 (NLT)
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

The apostle is pointing out we were the ones created by God; God therefore has the right to do with each of us as He pleases. Any creator makes the object of their trade and then chooses whether to keep it, change it or discard it. Paul is saying we have it backwards when we try to argue with God about our lives.

Have you ever taken time to look through all the various clay pots at a pottery shop? There are short pots, tall pots, skinny pots, and wide pots, each of them serving a specific function. Some pots are created with indoor plants in mind, while others are made to standup under the stresses of the outdoors. There are even specialty pots for herbs, tropical plants, and window casement flowers. As unique and different as they are, our creator made each of us very unique and designed each of us for a specific purpose in life. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” Paul goes on to tell us in Romans 14:17-18, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” Even Christ said he had a purpose He was called to, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” So our faith in Christ gives us a rich and satisfying life, which leads to living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit just as God intended. Pray Christ would fulfill His purpose in you. Pray that you would live out a life pleasing to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/07 12:28 PM
Romans 15:3-4 (NLT)
3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

These verses are about learning to please others and not just ourselves. Paul quotes Christ in saying the insults meant for God fell onto Him. it was to show Christ dealt with them and still gave of Himself for us in spite of the torment He went through. It gives up hope and encouragement so that we can endure today and tomorrow.

Jesus endured much harshness through his life. When He would expose the sin of the religious leaders their hatred would vent towards Him; but Jesus was only following the will of The Father in His teaching. As Jesus went from city to city telling others about the Kingdom of God, insults were always present. There were comments like what good can come out of small town or He is out of His mind. People would demand signs from Him to prove He was from God. His reputation for miracles preceded Him, but people still doubted. Even the religious leaders acknowledged His miracles, but denied the possibility He was God. Pilate could find no wrong with Him as He waited for death. What if Jesus had decided He was tired of the insults, tired of the criticism, and tired of the abuse He received as He stood there for God? What if Jesus had saved Himself, he could not have saved us. Praise God for Jesus who put us before Himself. Give thanks for the eternal life and hope He gave us. Pray that we might be able to follow His example.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/07 11:43 AM
Matthew 5:33-37 (NLT)
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

These verses are a part of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave to all the people gathered there. Jesus was validating the law in that He had not come to abolish the law, but that He might fulfill the law. The law was something, which should be taught and practiced. Jesus reminded the people to keep their promises that were made to God. He went on to say a person should not swear by God or the creations of God. Instead the person should give a response that is straight forward.

God is holy because of who He is, not what He does. Jesus said He came not to abolish the law; instead he lived it for others to witness and follow. The law was no longer words to point out righteousness, but was righteousness in the flesh of Jesus Christ. His life pointed back to a perfect and holy God. Men had corrupted their practices of the law using God’s name and creation as their witness. They were likely to take an oath and then break their promise. Jesus wanted everyone to consider what true righteousness meant. It is deep, real, more solid than imagined and takes in every aspect of our life, including our words and thoughts. But only Jesus could fulfill the law and His righteousness far exceeded anything the Pharisees or Scribes could even dream of. The sermon Jesus gave was not to weight down and condemn us; but it was to give us hope that God’s intent is for us to become righteous and holy in His sight. God wants us to have a holy life so He gave His son Jesus to share with us His true righteousness. Praise God Jesus came to fulfill the law and though faith in Him lives in our lives that we might be seen holy and pure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/07 11:26 AM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Paul uses the same expression, meµden merimnate, for “don’t worry about anything” as Jesus used when he spoke in Matthew 6:25 saying, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” There should be care and diligence in our service as Christians, but distrust and worries are only perpetuations of our sin. It is not until we turn our problems over to God that we experience true peace. He is able to guard our hearts and minds as we follow the example Christ set for us.

Worry is the thief that steals the joy from our lives. Worry can take a small problem and magnify a mole hill into a mountain. It causes us to loose sight of the important issues in life. In Matthew 6 Jesus said we worry about so many things we miss out on life. If you start worrying about how well you are dressed for a party you miss the fun of the party. If you worry about all the details of a trip, the trip becomes a burden instead of a delight. Our thoughts become skewed and they begin to consume us. We loose sight of who we belong to and what He is capable of. Jesus told us how God cares for the birds and the flowers of the field. Our worry tells God we believe we are less important than those. And what do we gain by worry? It is wasted effort that cannot add a single moment to our life, but instead takes away from our life. It paralyzes us, hinders us and keeps us from moving forward. Because of our human nature we talk internally to ourselves until the problems overrun our mind. Here is where we should stop and talk to the one who can take care of our problems and needs. It is here we need to pray to God and tell Him our concerns. We must ask God for help and we must do so with thanksgiving realizing God gives us what we need and not what we want. God gives us a promise at the end of verse 7, “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Have you turned your worries over to God? Maybe it’s time to stop and pray.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/19/07 10:13 AM
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James, the half brother of Jesus, says things which cause you trouble in life should be considered an opportunity to find great joy. The trials and temptations may be numerous and varied so it is up to us to put on the armor of God to protect ourselves. And like any soldier when his combat skills are put to the test and he survives, he grows in the wisdom that he can endure adversity. We may also grow in our confidence of God as we win each battle that comes towards us.

There are some people in this world who have a dreaded fear of things, such as spiders, driving, dogs, heights, etc. One approach a doctor will use to help calm these fears is to introduce the person slowly over a period of time to the object that frightens them. As they build confidence there is nothing to fear they can approach their phobia more secure and sure of themselves. One lady who was scared of spiders inched closer every day with the encouragement of her doctor until she could be within a close range of a tarantula. Finally she was able to pick up the tarantula and hold it in her hand. In a similar way God allows trials and temptations to enter our life. God never gives us more than we can endure and He is there with us helping us through each trial and temptation. He gently guides and leads us so that we might not bear the burdens alone. The more confident we become we are able to take on more difficult situations and even help others through their storms in life. Pray that you might develop full, perfect and complete in the Lord. Pray for joy even in the midst of difficulties know the Lord is building your character.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/20/07 12:32 PM
Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

In this writing Paul acknowledges he is in a state of imperfection. Paul was under a conviction to press forward, to perfect himself like Christ, leaving behind the failures and sorrows. There is happiness and salvation waiting ahead as we move closer to our heavenly prize. And the ways of heaven is where Paul kept his mind focused.

There is a 40 year old woman named AJ that lives in California. AJ has a unique problem called hyperthymestic syndrome. It’s a big name that means she has a perfect memory. Using no special tricks to help her memorize, she can recall events in detail that happened on particular dates. Pick a date between 1974 and present and she will tell you what day of the week it occurred on. Her recall capability is instant and deeply relates to her life or the lives of those who interested her. She once was asked to write down all the dates for Easter from 1980 to present and she did so, writing all 24 in 10 minutes along with everything she was doing on those days. But even with what seems like a perfect memory, she missed one of the dates. A year later when she was asked to perform the same task she got all the dates right. While we can strive to be perfect in our Christian life, there are times when we just won’t get things right. There are times we mess up, fail, do the wrong thing, and wished we had done something differently. We move towards the perfection God wants for us, but there will be times when we stumble and we just have to get up and try again. What if AJ had said I missed a date, I’m not going to try any more? But instead the next time she was able to make the correction and get things right. It’s why we keep running the race, when we fall, God lifts us up and we keep running the race looking forward to that day of perfection.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/07 12:30 PM
Hebrews 11:32-40 (The Message)
32-38 I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more— Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets....Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world. 39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

Paul points out those who proved their faith in God. They were able to accomplish many things in God’s power. Some were protected, while others who stood firm were tortured and killed. And some had to live apart from everyone because of their faith. And as great as these were, our faith and their faith comes together because of the salvation, grace and mercy offered by Jesus Christ.

Imagine a parade of past great heroes marching by as you stand along the side of the road. You recognize them for all the great things they have done and you applaud and cheer out for each one that passes. These people had great faith and accomplished much. Then one of them steps over to where you are and invites you to walk in the parade with them. You hesitate thinking you are not worthy to be with these great heroes. Then he looks at you and says, “We had to look forward to the hope and promises of God, but you have already received them through faith in Christ. Because of Him you are worthy to walk with us.” The book of Revelation says, “And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Christ is worthy and His victory has given us salvation over sin. Praise God for His son Jesus, the one who is worthy!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/07 11:58 AM
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Paul tells the Gentiles they are saved by Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Christ are given the Holy Spirit to live and dwell within them. The Holy Spirit is a promise, a guarantee of our eternal life with God. We were all made to praise and glorify God, but because of the salvation we were given it should motivate us even more.

There once was a Japanese emperor who commissioned an artist to render a painting of a bird. After several years the artist had not delivered a painting so the emperor went to the artist and demanded an explanation. The artist took out a blank canvas and proceeded to paint. In no time the artist had created a masterpiece. Confused, the emperor asked why there had been such a delay when he was able to create such a beautiful piece of work. The artist pulled out armloads of drawings depicting feathers, wings, heads, and feet. The artist explained he could not complete the painting until all of the pieces were properly made and they could come together into a single painting. God said we were predestined to be conformed to the image of His son. The artist in our life is the Holy Spirit who leads us to spiritual maturity and growth. We are transformed bit by bit from pieces of God’s love and perfection until the day where we are complete. Our transformation takes patience and time to complete and not until we enter into the holy presence of God’s kingdom will the work be finished. One day we will be like the image of Christ, a completed masterpiece of God’s work. Praise God for Jesus whose death on the cross brought us life. Praise Him for His holy spirit who transforms us into the likeness of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/26/07 02:14 PM
Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

As Jesus talks to the crowd he is encouraging them to pray privately so their prayers don’t become public spectacles. Prayer is about the relationship with God and not about showing off for others. If we are to let God tend to our prayers we must be humble in attitude, not proud or given to vainness. The problem Jesus saw were people praying publicly for their own honor and recognition. It’s not man who should be pleased with our prayers, but God.

This is a part of a children’s song that you may know:
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say (repeat)
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love.
So, be careful little mouth what you say!

The words in the song relate to what Jesus was saying in Matthew. We need to be careful of our words we speak in front of others, whether its prayers we are praying, or our Christian testimony or anything that might bring shame and disrespect to the Lord. Our lives are not like TIVO where we can rewind and start back at another point. Once we say something or perform an action it is there for everyone to see. And if it brings dishonor, it dishonors our testimony to God. Pray your words will always give honor to God. Speak to God privately so that others do not think you are trying to call attention to yourself. Carefully choose words so you will not have to worry about taking them back.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/27/07 11:46 AM
Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Here we find the apostle stating a principle he has discovered; when he tries to do right, eventually he does wrong. And it can’t be argued he isn’t trying, because he says he loves God’s law with all his heart, so the motives are correct. But he finds his sinful nature still wants to make him a slave to sin. It causes him misery, but he finds hope in Jesus, because Jesus will free him from a life dominated by sin and death.

From 1861-1865 the Civil War was fought in the United States. What was a single country was suddenly pulled into two different directions. And even though many of the same goals, many of the same beliefs, and many of the same dreams and hopes were there, the country fought against itself. Its members warred against each other, one part struggling for dominion over the other. Sin can be pictured much the same way. A person suddenly finds themselves at war with themselves. Their goals, hopes, dreams and beliefs are still there, but sin is fighting within them trying to gain its independence. Sin is looking to defeat the person and bring death and destruction. It is a war the person feels taking place and if it were not for Christ it would be a hopeless battle. But Christ has already had victory over sin, He has won the battle and we can rejoice with Him. So while the battle still takes place the victory has been given and we have hope. Have hope in Jesus Christ. Pray God will strengthen you against the attacks of sin. Praise God that sin has already been defeated. And while it still feels the battle is taking place, praise God for His Son who has given us victory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/28/07 11:39 AM
Jeremiah 33:23-26 (NLT)
23 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 24 “Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The Lord chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation. 25 But this is what the Lord says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky. 26 I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them.”

God gave Jeremiah a prophecy about Judah and Israel. The people had broken their covenant with God and they were feeling as though God had abandoned them. Yet it was the people who had abandoned God. God gave His reassurance to Jeremiah that He would not reject His people. God said just as He would not change the rules governing the universe, neither would he change His promises to His people.

As the people were about to go into the promised land Moses spoke to them and said, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” What an encouraging word that God would not fail them or abandon them. But God also gives us an encouraging word out of 2 Corinthians 4, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” How wonderful it is to know God will always be with us no matter what the circumstance. Pray and give praise to God that he will not forsake or abandon you. Thank Him for always being there with you providing His love, mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/29/07 11:42 AM
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)
1 -3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

Paul tells Timothy we should pray for everyone we know and that it is important to pray for our leaders. We need to pray for the leaders so that our lives do not become chaotic and take away from our time with God.

As I was driving into work and listening to the radio, a woman called the radio station to ask if they would pray for her brother-in-law who is going in for brain surgery. He has a tumor in a place near the spinal cord and it is threatening his life. It was obvious this is a very serious operation. This woman was reaching out, asking everyone to pray. It’s exactly what Paul said we should do. We should look for opportunities to pray for others. We should pray by whatever means we have. Pray for this man and the doctors ministering to him. Pray for his family as they fear what could happen. Pray for those who know him that this could be an opportunity for God to speak to them. Pray even though this is difficult that someone will be blessed. Pray God would let you see the blessings of your prayers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/02/07 11:21 AM
John 12:2-3 (KJV)
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

The time for the death of Jesus was coming near. It was 6 days before Passover and in these verses we find Jesus eating with his close friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Martha was serving the food. Lazarus was sitting with Jesus at the table. But Mary was taking the time to anoint the feet of Jesus.

In a previous story about Mary and Martha we find the following verses in Luke, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."” So once again in John we find Martha busy serving those around her, while Mary anoints the feet of Jesus where she had sat previously listening to Jesus talk. It was not long until Jesus was to die and Martha is still going about doing busy work, while Mary is taking the time to be with Jesus and show her love and appreciation to Him. Many of us are no different than Martha, we spend a lot of busy time, but we aren’t spending quality time with out Lord. We feel it more important to be performing tasks than just sitting, listening and talking with out Lord. Pray we find more time to spend with our savior. Pray we show Him the love and respect he deserves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/07 12:13 PM
Exodus 12:21-23 (NLT)
21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.

In these verses Moses is giving instructions about the Passover that is to take place. The people are told to follow a few simple steps and the lives of those inside of the home would be spared. But for those who did not follow these steps the death angel was to strike dead the first born male of every family and every flock. A later verse said, “Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.”

Every day we make choices in life. We choose when to cross a street. We choose whether we are going to following the rules for crossing the street that are set in place for the safety of our life. For instance if we choose to cross the street, but choose to ignore the sign flashing in front of us that says, “WAIT – DO NOT CROSS” we take our lives into our own hands. The people in Egypt were given the chance to live by following the instructions Moses set forward from God. Those who choose to take their own lives into their hands and disobey; they suffered the consequences for their decision. But those who choose to follow God’s word lived. The bible says there was not a single Egyptian home where someone had not died; but we need to understand there are many dying a spiritual death in homes today. These people have chosen not to follow God’s word, and reject His plan of salvation for us all. God allows us to choose life or choose death and because many reject His Son Jesus Christ they have chosen death. Pray that you can be a witness to those who need Jesus in their lives. Pray for your family, neighbors and friends that they might come to know the saving grace of God and choose life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/05/07 10:08 AM
John 18:12-14 (NLT)
12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

The death of Jesus is approaching. He has been taken captive by the religious leaders and quickly led away. They stopped at the home of Annas perhaps as a place they could gather away from everyone and ensure the backing of the leadership. Quoted here was the son-in-law of Annas, the chief priest Caiaphas. His previous words indicate He desired to see Christ die to put down what he considered a rebellion. The irony of his words is that through the death of Jesus, Christ did die for the people.

In the Star Trek movie the Wrath of Khan Spock gives his life to repair the warp engines so desperately needed to retreat from an impending explosion. His sacrifice saves the crew, but results in his death. His final words were, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” In the verses above Christ is nearing the point where he will give his life willingly for the many putting aside Himself and His own needs. Christ knew he was about to be beaten, tortured, and mocked. He knew the painful future as nails were about to be driven into His flesh. Worst of all He knew all of man’s sin would be placed on Him and the Father would abandon Him in His final moments of agony. This man Jesus Christ knew He was putting aside the needs of the one because the needs of the many outweighed all the pain and torture He would go through. Jesus Christ did this for you, me and the rest of the world past, present and future. Praise Jesus who sacrificed himself for us. Praise Him for choosing our needs over His own. Praise Him for loving us so much that He gave His life for ours.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/07 11:57 AM
Hebrews 3:3-6 (NLT)
3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God. 5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

The people are familiar with Moses, so Paul is pointing out the greater glory and excellence of Christ above Moses. Christ is the maker of the house and all belongs to Him whereas Moses only shared in God’s glory and owned nothing. God drew out the ground plans for the church. He placed everything in its proper place. And everything of His church is His.

I have a miniature dachshund at home named Lucy. Lucy is a fairly good natured dog, but there is one thing I have learned about her. If I give her a special dog treat she will take it to her bed and hide it there with her. If I attempt to reach in and pick her up and she has a treat hidden she will respond with a growl and enough of a snap to let me know she wants me to back off. Now you would think the dog could reason that I gave her the treat so I no longer want it, but instead desire for her to have it. But when I get near it she jealously guards it as though I never had a part in helping her obtain the treat. Unfortunately we are the same way with God. God hands us everything that is His for us to use and care for. Then we jealousy protect it as if it was ours all long. We forget about returning a portion of it to God or even giving Him thanks for what He has provided. Instead we want to snap back and complain that we don’t have enough. Stop and think about all that God has given you. Even your life is His. Pray and praise God for all his gifts. Thank Him for providing abundantly in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/07 11:58 AM
Romans 9:19-23 (NLT)
19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
Here in these verses the apostle discusses how God uses people differently for his own purpose. As the creator it is His right to create those as He wishes. The argument arises that if God creates someone for His purpose haven’t they simply done as He willed them? But the apostle argues that while God has the right to show His anger and power, He also has the right to be patient with those on whom his anger falls. We do not know all the facts as God knows; therefore who are we to question God.

Life is sometimes hard. Even King Solomon in his writings acknowledges that fact. We have to realize it was sin that made life difficult. It is sin that brought about the fall of man and changed a course of history. It is sin that leads people to do things contrary to God’s nature. It’s often said sin takes people further than they want to go, and keeps them there longer than they want to stay. There are some God has set aside to be examples of holy living. There are others God has chosen to illustrate the pain and suffering of sin. God does this that we might see sin and recognize its devastating effect. And God in his mercy shows patience more abundantly to those who He has chosen to illustrate the suffering of sin. God as the creator has all rights to do as He wills. He creates a purpose for our lives and sets that purpose in motion. Job realized as he argued with God who are we to decide we are more righteous than Him? Who are we to question His works when He designed every little detail of the universe? Jesus told a parable about workers paid to labor in the fields. Some arrived early in the morning to work, while others arrived later in the day. It seemed unfair those who came early received the same pay as those who arrived late in the day. When the owner of the fields was questioned about the money he asked were they not told they would receive a certain amount of money to which they responded yes. Then he asked them, was it unlawful to do as he pleased with what was his? Do you question if God has a right to do with your life as He pleases? Pray God will help you to understand His purpose for your life. Praise God that He is in control and has a plan.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/07 11:52 AM
Jeremiah 32:37-41 (NLT)
37 I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.

God’s people had continued to sin in ways He had never taught them about. They worshiped other gods; they even sacrificed their children to gods. God was angry with their behavior. But here we see God making them a promise of restoration. He will pour out His grace and love and favor upon them. They will be brought back to one land and He will give them a purpose to worship Him.

Moses had spoken to the people in Deuteronomy 28:64-66 saying, “For the Lord will scatter you among all the nations from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship foreign gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods made of wood and stone! There among those nations you will find no peace or place to rest. And the Lord will cause your heart to tremble, your eyesight to fail, and your soul to despair. Your life will constantly hang in the balance. You will live night and day in fear, unsure if you will survive.” These words held true over the course of history. The Jewish people were brutally tortured and put to death in concentration camps by those under Nazi rule. Even long before that the Romans took over their land scattering the people in many directions. The siege by Rome was one of the most terrible incidents of bloodshed and violence in history. But God keeps His promises and in 1948 Israel declared its independence as a separate country and brought back many of its people. In 1967 during the six day war Israel took back all of the city of Jerusalem. In 1980 Israel declared Jerusalem to be the capital, since it was complete and unified. But all of this is only part of the promises; for God also promised the coming of the Kingdom of Christ. It is a promise we can all hold onto. It is a promise of hope because just as the other promises were fulfilled, Christ will come and reign. Praise God that He is a God who keeps His promises. Praise Him for the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. Praise Him for the events yet to take place that He has already foretold.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/07 12:21 PM
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NLT)
17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Moses is speaking to the people to remind them to obey the commands of God. Here in these verses he tells the people to be careful of not taking credit for the blessings that come in life. Instead they should remember it is God who gives them success.

There are those times in our life where the storms come and we have to deal with the difficulties and hardships of life. These trials often turn us to God and strengthen our character and bring us closer to Him. James tells us these are to make us mature and complete, not lacking anything. But we are not always fighting the storms, for there are victories in life too. It is so much easier to turn to God when we are struggling than it is when things are going great. However God is even teaching us in those moments of success to count on Him that He will bless our lives. We should never become as arrogant as to think the victory is ours, for the victory is God’s. God desires for us to continue our close relationship with Him in good times as well as bad. Continue to trust God through the storms, but praise and trust Him through the victories. Pray and give God thanks for the victories and success in your life. Thank Him for all He has provided. Give Him praise for always being there no matter what the circumstance.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/07 12:12 PM
Ecclesiastes 9:12 (NLT)
9:12 People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

In this verse King Solomon tells us that we never know when tragedy will come in life. We never know what hardships we may be facing or that even death is near. These are not things for us to know as God has kept them from us. When they happen they are sudden and without warning.

At Virginia Tech many people from many backgrounds fell quickly to the random shootings of a student who was troubled. Some people died while their heroic actions saved others. Others were caught totally off guard and never knew what happened. Thirty three people died in what has been called this nations deadliest shooting spree. While there were possible indications of the impending tragedy, those who died never knew that is how their day would end. For as King Solomon reminded us people cannot predict the hard times that are to come. So we must all be prepared to face an end to our life. Jesus told us “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Be ready to give the hope of Jesus Christ to others. Be ready to face eternal life knowing Christ is your savior. Be ready to face difficulties knowing God is watching over you. Are you ready? Pray and ask God to fill your life with His hope. Thank Him for the Salvation offered in His Son Jesus Christ. Pray for those who need God’s hope and understanding so they may too be ready.
Posted By: hurt2004 Re: Devotionals - 04/19/07 09:06 AM
I knew that when my husband and I had this infidelity, I accepted that God awakened to go back to Him. I was a devout Catholic, but had always to make excuses for my Christian duties because my husband is not a Christian. And then, I came back to God through many different ways and accepted that God knocked so that I will return to the Father again. I cried so hard because "God has been so wonderful to forgive me of being a prodigal daughter! God is so great that He will do everything just for me to realize I need Him." Although, I'm still not fully recovered and is still hurt, I know that God is always with me, helping me carry my cross.

Yes, people learn to pray when we're in trouble. Let us not wait to be troubled. Let's not change our hearts in Him. Because He never does. He's always here with us...
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/23/07 11:39 AM
Galatians 5:16-22 (NLT)
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The apostle Paul explains to the Galatians how the sinful nature inside of us desires to do just the opposite of what the Holy Spirit desires for us to do. There is a constant battle taking place that does not allow the freedom to do every good deed. In the verses Paul gives examples of what the sinful nature desires and he also gives examples of what the Holy Spirit directs us towards.

There are TV shows that have captured videos of criminals breaking into places and robbing what they can. Some of them are even humorous, such as the guy who broke into a store by climbing through an air vent in the roof. He didn’t think about the fact he would be hanging 12 feet above the floor as he dropped from the ceiling. Nor did he think about how he would escape once inside because the front door was made of non-breakable glass. Our sinful nature is like a thief that robs us of our joy in life. And unlike the humorous videos this seriously affects our life. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” We can either give into the thief who will rob us or we can follow the Holy Spirit who will give us a rich and rewarding life. Pray the Holy Spirit would always lead you. Pray the sinful nature which tries to rob you will be captured and held in place. Pray for God to produce spiritual fruit in your life that brings you closer to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/07 11:29 AM
James 2:14-18 (NLT)
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

James, the half brother of Jesus, is writing to the tribes of Israel. He talks about a faith that was accepted without investment. The person “says” they have faith, but their actions do not follow their words and therefore men see their actions are not reconciled with their faith. God judges by knowing a person’s heart. Man judges by seeing what another does. So faith in Christ is necessary to find acceptance by God and ones good deeds are necessary to find acceptance from man.

Suppose you are sitting at a stop light and someone runs into the back of your car. Both you and the other person get out inspecting the damage and the other person says, “I’m a Christian, how about you?” You respond you are and as soon as you do the other person says, “that’s great, I guess all if forgiven?” They get back into their car and they drive off leaving you there looking at the dents and scrapes on your car. It seems the other person was only saying they were a Christian to get out of their responsibility to pay for the damages. They didn’t take responsibility nor were they repentant in any way. The driver of the damaged car is now left to feel they could not be a Christian or they would have taken responsibility for their actions. But God knows both of their hearts and He alone is the judge of their faith. But what good does it do for others to have faith, and not follow God’s word? It leaves a bad impression for the person who has been wronged. Therefore faith needs good deeds to be evident. How can one show their faith to others if there are no good deeds? Pray the good deeds of your life will be evident to others. Pray your faith will be strengthened as you practice the word of God. Give praise to a God who knows our hearts and knows where our faith lies.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/14/07 11:13 AM
Proverbs 22:6 (21st Century King James)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

King Solomon provides a piece of wisdom. Parents who take time to teach their children the correct ways to live will at some point return to what they have learned. The wisdom given by the parent is something which will return and guide them through their life.

As God’s children, God teaches us and trains us in the directions we should go. He has given us His word in scriptures so that we would know the paths of righteousness to follow. God has given us examples of those who strayed from His word so that we might know the consequences of our actions when we also stray. And once we have taken His words to heart they are always with us. There is story after story of soldiers taken captive and in their hopeless moments the words of God came back to them as reassurance He was there with them. In our desperate moments God comes and comforts us with reminders from His words. So encourage your children and pass on to them the wisdom, the love, the grace and the mercy that comes from our Lord. Pray that God would give you the wisdom and words to speak.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/07 11:17 AM
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Here in Jeremiah God states He has good plans for Israel. God knows His thoughts and His actions agree with them. He does according to His will, His plan, and His desire. And for Israel God reassures them His plan is to provide them a future and a hope.

Which is more true for you, 1) you fear God concerning your future because you feel He is against you due to your sins, or 2) or you understand God’s love is so great that He has thoughts of love towards you and not evil. His thoughts, His actions are working towards an intended purpose. What we sometimes consider evil, God has purposed for good. Joseph was sold into captivity by his brothers. Joseph was falsely accused of wrongful actions and placed into prison. Yet Joseph understood God’s love for Him. As Joseph stood reunited with his brothers he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” God had a plan to save many lives through Joseph, which even included his brothers who sought to harm Joseph. God’s plans are for the good of us all. And while we may face suffering, hardships and pains, He is faithful and just. Praise God for loving you. Praise Him that He has a plan for your life. Praise Him for His mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/07 11:51 AM
Matthew 26:40-41 (NLT)
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Jesus and the disciples are in the garden of Gethsemane. It is the final moments before Jesus will be taken captive to face torture and execution. Jesus had gone off to pray alone, but He had asked the disciples to pray also. But each time He came back to check on them they were asleep. Even Peter who was always so quick to act was asleep as Jesus woke him to tell him he should pray not to give into temptation.

James tells us “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” Satan may tempt us, but it is our own desire which reaches out and takes hold of the sin. Satan never forced Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Instead they reached out and took hold of the fruit of the tree on their own. They gave into their desires that enticed them and they were pulled away from God into eternal sin. In the verses above Jesus had warned the disciples they were going to face temptation. Jesus himself had faced many temptations, but He was always able to overcome them. It says in Luke 4:13, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time." Satan is always looking for an opportunity to tempt us. It is why we must stand vigilant, defended by prayer and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said in Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Are you praying against the temptations you might be faced with? Pray God would strengthen you and protect you from the temptations that come your way. Ask God to help you endure against your own desires. Pray always so that Satan may not have an opportunity to come against you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/07 11:27 AM
Titus 3:4-7 (NLT)
4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

The apostle Paul is writing to Titus to say everyone should show gentleness and humility. They are to be obedient to the laws and follow the officials who lead the government. But Paul also gives the reminder that Christ saved us because of His mercy and not the good things we had done.

Let’s say you died and arrived at the gates of heaven. God is standing there with Jesus. You look upon the beautiful city wondering if you will be allowed to enter. Then God looks at you and says, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” For years you have hear every explanation anyone has ever given. Some have said they were good enough to enter heaven. Some said they never mistreated anyone so surely God would open the gates for them. But as you look towards Jesus His hand is reaching out in your direction. It is then you remember His mercy and grace. You remember the love and compassion Jesus has always shown you. You remember your faith in the one who loved you so much He died for your sins. You turn to God and say, “I believe Jesus paid the price for me to enter heaven. He paid the debt of my sin. He poured out His Holy Spirit on me when I accepted Him on faith. And because of His grace he declared me to be righteous and gave me the confidence heaven will be where I spend my eternal life.” God looks towards Jesus as He motions for you to come forward and you hear God say, “Welcome home my child.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/07 11:36 AM
Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)
27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

Here the Apostle Paul is writing to the Hebrews to encourage them in their faith of God. Paul provides examples of people who exhibited faith as a means for understanding. In the verse above Moses was once such example of great faith as he led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Because of sin that entered the world, Man believes he must do something to deserve salvation. Many of the religions of the world encourage their followers to perform duties in order to gain “God’s” approval. The problem becomes that the person who does the work is the person who receives credit. So if Man performs what he thinks is necessary for salvation then he gets the credit and not God. Jesus says in John 8:54, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me”. God has provided what is needed for salvation through Jesus Christ. Everything necessary for justification and freedom from sin is found in Him. We receive this free gift of salvation through faith. Faith is accepting the testimony of the invisible God as truth. Faith is not the same as trust in that trust follows faith. Faith is the acceptance of what God has done, while trust is the expectation of what God will do. Faith is not the same as believing, because one can believe facts and then never trust. James 2:19 says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” So when one has faith they follow God trusting what He will do in their lives. Do you trust what God can do in your life? If so you are following in faith. Praise God for the precious salvation of Jesus Christ. Keep your faith in what Christ has done and not of yourself. Walk in trust proving your faith.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/24/07 11:49 AM
Ephesians 2:17-18
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

The apostle Paul is writing to the Ephesians about salvation, which has also been offered to the Gentiles. The Jews were the first to receive the word of salvation, but those who didn’t know about it were now offered it as well. Paul tells us because of Christ’s work the Holy Spirit will indwell within us to draw us near to God.

There are some in this world who don’t agree God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all God. It is a mystery hard for man to understand. In our limited understanding we even might ask the question, “How can 3 things be 1?” But we can look to the basic egg as an answer. We can hold an egg in our hand as one object. But while it is one egg, the egg is made up of a shell, a white, and a yoke; three separate parts, but all one egg. So as man we can believe a simple object like an egg as being uniquely one, but with three distinct parts. Jesus Christ is God; He had all the powers of God, He is righteous and holy as God is; and He has the awareness of God. He is the Son of God, fully God, but limited in some ways by His earthly form. The Father has all knowledge and revealed that knowledge as He chose. Because of faith in Christ the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within the believer. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit is in direct communication with God and makes intercession on our behalf. The Bible also says Christ makes intercession on our behalf. As unique as each is, God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit is all God. 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6, “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” All three are always present working together in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/25/07 12:06 PM
Matthew 12:41
41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

The city of Nineveh had been at a sinful high. The Lord had planned to destroy the people of the city, but was giving it a change to repent through the preaching of Jonah. Jesus was telling these Jews that the city of Nineveh did repent because of Jonah’s preaching and now He, the Son of God, was there preaching and they were refusing to repent.

God rejoices over those who repent of their sins. In Luke 15:7 Jesus says, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” When a person repents they change their mind for the better and place it in agreement with God. They feel sorrow and remorse for their actions. It’s only through genuine sorrow and remorse one is able to accept the grace and mercy of God. But a person can also be sorrowful without repentance. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” So those who continue to say they are sorry, but never change their attitude, never changing in their hearts due to their sins will slowly die a spiritual death. They continue to keep walking the opposite direction from God and never come to agree with Him about their sins. But the Lord is gracious and gives ample opportunity for repentance. It says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” God is loving, merciful and kind. He is patient towards us and wants us to change and agree with Him on the sins in our life. Pray and confess your sins to God. Agree with Him that your sinful nature is the wrong direction to go and turn in His direction.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/04/07 11:31 AM
Psalms 139:23-24 (NLT)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalms 139 is David’s meditation on the omniscient power of God. He recognizes God is everywhere, He knows all. He made us therefore He knows us. In these verses He points out that those who walk in righteousness can take comfort as God observes them and knows their heart.

In the 1983 sci-fi movie Brainstorm researchers developed the Brainstorm System of recording and playing back the actual experiences in the mind of someone else. Every sense was recorded: smell, taste, sight, hearing, touch. These thoughts were then played back and relived by whoever the recorded session was being played for. At one point in the movie Christopher Walken was trying to understand his estranged spouse played by Natalie Wood, so he recorded a segment of her thoughts as she was angry at him. As he played them back in his own mind he finally understood her feelings. Just think we have a God who is able to know and understand all of our thoughts. He knows everything we are feeling and He knows everything we have done. What a blessing it is to have a God who so intimately knows us and cares about us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/07 11:20 AM
Proverbs 27:12 (The Message)
12 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

The Message translation gives a clear illustration of King Solomon’s words. A prudent person will move away from temptation, but for those that don’t, they walk into sin and get clobbered by it. There are consequences for sin and the person who falls into the temptation will eventually face the consequences.

When I was a teen, a man I knew came into the gas station where I worked wearing a bandage on his head. I asked him what happened and he said he had just left a movie and was walking down Main Street during the evening; suddenly a man stepped out of the alley and hit him over the head with a 2x4 board. The next thing this man remembered was waking up in the alley at 3am and his wallet was gone. I’ll never forget his next words, “I knew things like that happened, but I wasn’t expecting it to happen to me. I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.” It’s a good illustration of the temptation of sin. We know people can be tempted by sin. We have even seen others who have been tempted and fallen into sin, but we thought it wouldn’t happen to us. Then because we are not paying attention we fall into the temptation and sin whacks us over the head with a 2x4. Are you paying attention to the temptations that are coming at you? Pray God will open your eyes to see the dangers of sin that await you. Pray He will preserve you in those moments of temptation. Pray that you will endure and stay strong in the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/07 12:04 PM
Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)
32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

Here in these verses we find Jesus speaking to the disciples. Jesus is sending them out with the authority to cast out demons and heal illnesses. He has given them some practical advice to carry along with them concerning people in the cities where they will go. Then Jesus goes on to say those who deny His existence, His presence as God, His right as Lord, they will not be recognized before God the Father when they have died.

There was a Charlie Brown Christmas special cartoon written by Charles Schultz that had Charlie Brown looking for the meaning of Christmas. After Charlie Brown had searched and searched for the meaning of Christmas, he finally threw up his hands and exclaimed, “Everything I do is a disaster, I guess I don’t know what Christmas is all about. Is there any one here who knows what Christmas is all about?” Everyone was quiet. And then Linus, with his blanket, came forward and said, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” And then the camera backed up to show Linus standing alone at center stage, and from memory he recited the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2. Then Linus concluded, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” That’s what Christmas is all about. It was in 1965 when that cartoon was made and it almost didn’t make it to TV because the producers were afraid someone would be offended by Linus reading the Christmas Story from the gospel of Luke. They even wanted Charles Schultz to rewrite the ending, but he refused and said the scripture must stay in. Charles Schultz refused to deny Christ. We should be so bold as Charles Schultz, refusing to deny Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/07 11:30 AM
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

In these verses we find the Apostle Paul encouraging the church to conduct their actions in a way that does not cause those outside of the church to think wrongly of the church. They were to take every opportunity to do well and make use of their time in a proper manner. The King James Version says our speech should always be with grace and seasoned with salt. Our words should be such that we preserve others and allow them the grace to come to know Christ.

Contained within the undergraduate catalog of Charleston Southern University is a list of “Life Preparation Concepts” for the students attending the college. One of those concepts cites Colossians 4:4-5 and gives these words of wisdom. “The term "communication” refers primarily to the exchange of ideas orally, visually, or in writing. People associated with a Christian institution should concern themselves with ethical and practical qualities of communication. They should dedicate themselves to an ideal which stresses not only clarity and persuasiveness, but also accuracy and truth. Effective communication should take place in the classroom, within the University family and between the University and the public.” This is the concept Paul was trying to get across to the church. Our words, our actions, our speech should reflect the body of Christ and extend grace to all those who need Christ in their lives. Our life is to be truth in the midst of darkness and deceit. Our words are to attract others to Christ and not turn them away. Like salt we are to preserve others and turn them from a life of destruction. Pray God will use you to be salt, preserving others you come in contact with. Pray your words will show them Christ in your life. Pray you would extend grace and mercy to those in need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/07 11:36 AM
Lamentations 3:40-42 (NLT)
40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. 41 Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say, 42 “We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us.

Jeremiah has been lamenting over God’s displeasure with the people and the fruits lacking in their lives. Here in these verses he says we should look carefully at why God brings afflictions upon and when we recognize those afflictions we should pray to God expecting His answer of mercy and grace. He says sin should be acknowledged. While they felt their sins unforgivable, God was always willing to forgive.

Jesus tells the story of a son who demanded his inheritance before his father died. So the father divided his wealth among his two sons. The rebellious son left and wasted all of the money he had on wild living. The son finally realized the mess he had placed himself into when even the slop meant for the pigs appeared appetizing. At this point he decided to return to his father and accept punishment for his deeds in order that he might eat. But instead of punishment, his father welcomed him back; dressed him in fine clothes; and put on a celebration because he had returned. The punishment the son thought he would receive was instead met with thanksgiving and joy of his return. And while there was no punishment, the consequences of his actions still remained because he had spent all he had, while his brother still retained his father’s property. God welcomes us back with joy when we return to him from our sins. We still have to deal with the consequences of our actions, but the belief God will be displeased with us for our return is false. He opens His arms with love and welcomes us back just as the father welcomed his son back from his wild ways. Have you examined your life and recognized the sins that are present? Pray God will forgive those sins and accept His grace and mercy as He forgives each one.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/18/07 12:05 PM
Isaiah 29:15-16 (NLT)
15 What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The Lord can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!” 16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?

These verses from Isaiah show the folly in man’s thoughts. He believes since he can potentially hide his sins from man by performing the actions in the dark; God can’t see what is taking place. Isaiah says God is the potter, the creator, the one who formed us and yet we want to believe we are smarted than Him.

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” In other words our thoughts are to be placed on God first and then ourselves. God is our source of wisdom. He knows us intimately down to the last hair on our head. Jesus even reminds us in Matthew 10:30, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” So God knows us at every level of our life; from our creation, to who we are and what we are at this very moment. Yet many want to pretend God does not know they exist or that He is blind to their actions. They discount the role God has had all throughout their lives and they give Him no credit for being their creator. They try to hide their actions of sin thinking surely God won’t know. Yet our Lord sees everything. While we try to discount His presence He is pursuing us, calling us to be close to Him. Praise God that He loves us so dearly He is always extending His mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/07 11:47 AM
Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The Law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

The apostle says there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus. He has given life over death to those who believe in Him. Unable to do so ourselves because of our weak sinful nature, we could not fulfill The Law of Moses. So God provided His son as the final sacrifice that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled.

When Christ comes into our lives we are given the desire to please God; for Christ also wanted to please the Father. Philippians 2:8 says, “he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Christ who was obedient even unto death lives inside the heart of the Christian calling them closer to the Father. It is no wonder those who take their Christian walk seriously feel the struggle taking place inside them. Their old sinful nature is at odds with the Spirit and for some it becomes overwhelming. They desire so much to please God, but they also see their own failures and Satan takes advantage of that to attack those feelings and destroy their self-image as a Christian. Galatians 5:17 says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” But we have to remember what Romans 8:1 said, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ.” We may want to condemn ourselves for our sinful nature, but God has already forgiven us. There is no condemnation so we need to learn not to let Satan grab a foothold and trick us into believing we are condemned.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/07 11:54 AM
2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NLT)
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul recounts to Timothy that he had gone on appeal to Caesar and no man came to stand with him in court. As good a man as Paul was, respected by many only, a Christian, a Roman citizen, the Lord was the only one there with him. But Paul knew it was a matter of weakness that one might not come to another’s defense so he asked that others may pardon those who should have come. Then Paul gives the glory to God for all He had done.

The movie Drumline is about a college band playing at Atlanta A and T university. As the highlights for the movie states, “Like a quarterback leading his team to victory, the drumline, a group of talented percussionists, whose cadenced rhythm rocks the rafters of any dome, bring crowds to their feet with their daring feats of music and athleticism.” The synchronization and the unity of the band are shown as being critical. One person out of tune, one person performing alone, and the entire band suffers. Along comes Devon a very talented drummer, but also very undisciplined. During the first half-time show the band starts out as they practiced, but at the end young Devon decides to steal a solo from another player and does it where he gains attention from everyone. Of course the attention he gains from the director is not very pleasant, but condemning. In the verses above Paul was saying Christians should work together like a band in harmony. Their duty was to stand together helping one another and not thinking of their own self. Their work was to be directed to the glory of God and not glory for themselves. But no matter what happens, God is always there to provide deliverance and mercy. Pray that God might help you work in harmony with others. Pray your work will be for His glory and not your glory alone.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/22/07 11:22 AM
Acts 2:22-28 (NLT)
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 26 No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. 27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. 28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

God had just poured out the Holy Spirit on the believers that were present for Pentecost. As each spoke in their own language, God made it possible for everyone to understand the other as they declared how wonderful God was. The devote Jews were amazed and perplexed and others looked on and declared the people drunk. So Peter steps forward to preach to the crowd. And in the verses above, Peter tells them how their sins had nailed Jesus to the cross, but it was all in God’s plan. He quotes King David to let them know that David understood the salvation God had in mind and that there was a way of life waiting for them filled with the joy of God. There were 3,000 that came to believe in Christ that day.

Today there are many people who will tell you, “do this and you will find the way to happiness.” People start to think if I can just follow that secret I’ll know the way; but they keep looking and seeking never quite finding the joy and happiness. They may find the way to stay busy or the way to keep their mind occupied. Still something lacks and that something is a relationship with God. King David knew God had shown him the way to joy and happiness through a relationship with Him. David knew God could meet His every need and fill the voids of His life. His relationship was so close with God he knew that God was right there with him and he was delighted. He knew the hope of eternal life because of God’s promise of salvation and that promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. So if anyone knew the way, it was David. Do you know the way? Have you created a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? If you have then look for Him to fill you with the joy of His presence. Give praise to God and let your heart be filled with His love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/25/07 12:34 PM
Job 31:9-12 (NLT)
9 “If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,
10 then let my wife belong to another man; let other men sleep with her. 11 For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. 12 It is a fire that burns all the way to ******. It would wipe out everything I own.

Job is going back through his life looking for some place of failure that may have caused his current condition of suffering. But Job states his integrity in several matters and one of those is his faithfulness to his wife. Even in a time when having a concubine was accepted, Job said another woman never seduced his heart. He felt adultery was a shameful sin, a crime that required punishment. And there Job sat with his friends; haunted by an afflicting illness; feeling as if he were being punished for something he had done.

Job had remained pure in his life. It was said of Job that he was blameless; was a man of complete integrity; that he feared God and stayed away from evil. God said of King David that he was a man after His own heart. God blessed Job with much and made him richer than he ever had been. And while God also blessed King David, David allowed himself to fall to the temptation of adultery. David tried to self-maximize his own life by analyzing what benefit or gain he would receive. Maximizers are looking for what they think will bring them happiness and contentment. They see an affair as an opportunity to love when they feel a spouse has forgotten what love is about; to find passion when a marriage seems dull; to find richness in life where life seems stifled. God had given a commandment for every one to follow including David, which was “thou shall not commit adultery”. What David had done was turn away from God’s commandment to follow his own desires. The question which comes about is do we want to be a covenant keeper like Job or one who tries to maximize our own lives like David. Our goal should be to follow the desires of God and keep His commandments.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/07 11:17 AM
Matthew 27:3-7 (NLT)
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.

Judas fell to the temptation of the love of money as he accepted thirty pieces of silver to betray the location of Jesus. But then Judas saw Jesus was going to be condemned to death, which he had not expected. All the other times Jesus had been confronted by the religious leaders they were unable to hold anything against Him. But now God’s plan was being fulfilled and there was no stopping the plan of salvation. Judas remorseful, but not repentant tried to return the money. The leaders, who should have been leading a person away from sin, instead left Judas to face his own conscience. And they ignored their sin as they acknowledged it was blood money. Judas distraught over his actions committed suicide and the religious leaders took his money to buy a potters field.

If you have ever lived in a new subdivision you may have watched as a building supply truck dropped off supplies for a new home to be built. There on the lot they will place mortar, lumber, nails, roofing material and sheathing for the house. Eventually a builder who has a plan shows up at the site with his workers and he starts to direct how all the parts of the home will come together. Without the builder and his plan, the materials would just sit in the yard unused. Like a builder, God has a master plan. Some of it was revealed to the prophets, such as Zechariah. In Zechariah 11:12-13 it says, “And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter]”—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord.” God knew all along what Judas was going to do and it was a part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world. Even Jesus knew when Judas got up to leave the dinner table that he was going to betray Him. We don’t always understand the plan and how it’s going to unfold, but God does. Like a builder God has everything set in place and ready to be put together. Trust in God and the plan He has put in place. Pray God would let you see His work unfold in front of your eyes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/07 12:21 PM
2 Samuel 18:33
33 The king was stunned. Heartbroken, he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he wept he cried out, O my son Absalom, my dear, dear son Absalom! Why not me rather than you, my death and not yours, O Absalom, my dear, dear son!

David weeps over the loss of his son Absalom after being killed in battle against David’s army. David is heartbroken over the news and wishes it had been his own death and not the death of his son.

David was sometimes slow to realize the impact of his own sin. Just like his actions with Bathsheba, it wasn’t until he was confronted by Nathan did he grieve over the extent of his sin. It was then that he lost the son born of Bathsheba. And now he has lost even another child as he failed to carry out his responsibilities as king. It has brought extreme grief once again into his life. The problem David had with Absalom is that instead of following God and depending on Him for guiding David’s family, David instead took his own course of action. David should have been following God and dealt wisely with all of his children, but instead he allowed issues that should have been addressed to pass. Look to God for answers concerning your family and lean not on your own understanding. God will give you the wisdom if you seek Him and ask for the wisdom you need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/29/07 12:24 PM
Job 1:6-8
6 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” 8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

In a rare glimpse of the heavenly realm, Satan approaches God and God asks Satan if he has noticed His servant Job. God then goes on to create what would seem like an impeccable resume for Job: the finest man in all the earth; blameless; complete integrity; fears God; and stays away from evil. God was saying Job was a good man.

Sometimes people ask, “WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?” We see in the book of Job God allowed Satan to test Job. “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. Satan went on to kill all of the animals on Job’s farm, along with all of Job’s servants and workers. Satan even took the lives of Job’s children, whom Job cherished. Job’s response was to fall down and worship saying, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Wow, praising God in the midst of extreme adversity. How many of us could do what Job did? Job realized whatever he had was the Lord’s and the Lord had the right to take it away from Him. Job even spoke out about his misery to his friends saying, “But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful? One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots. “Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me. You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins. But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth. Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster. No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done. When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb. A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose. Job is saying, it doesn’t matter, good or evil, it seems unjust things happen, but everyone will eventually go to the grave. Even King Solomon said, “I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” Indeed a time will come for every man to be judged. And it won’t matter if the person was rich or poor, good or evil, healthy or sick, each will be judged fairly by God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/09/07 11:19 AM
Job 23:10-13 (NLT)
10 “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. 11 For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. 13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. 14 So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

Job says God knows him. Job’s friends had judged him without even knowing what was taking place. They accused Job of things he had not done, but Job understood God knew the truth of his actions. God is justly right in His sovereignty and no man can contest his plans, not even Job. For he knows God ultimately is in control of his life.

Job had lost everything he owned. He lost family he loved. Bankrupt and broken he had to sit and listen to his friends as they unfairly accused him of wrongful actions. Even Job’s wife didn’t have sympathy as she told Job that he should curse God and die. Although Job was suffering he knew God had a right to do as He willed. The troubles brought into Job’s life had a purpose and God knew what was best. The suffering had been approved by God and Job was to draw his strength from his faith in God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” Do you find your comfort in God or are you looking elsewhere? Pray God may comfort your suffering. Draw close to Him and draw upon His strength knowing Christ also suffered.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/10/07 11:47 AM
John 3:16 (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The word for love above is “agapao” meaning, “to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly.” God greatly loved all those in the world and His love was magnified even more by His willingness to give His son’s life for others. God’s intent was to provide everlasting life and fellowship with Him and put aside the law.

Someone once asked what one word would sum up my life? How do you describe the whole of someone’s life with just one word? If you pick a word you might leave out the other good qualities of that person. Or it may be the intent to leave out all the undesirable things by only focusing on the good. But no matter how you look at it a person is the sum of all their good and bad qualities. So when God looks at us to sum up our lives in one word, the word would be LOVED. God loves us despite our failures and weaknesses. God loves us in the good moments and the bad. In fact the Bible says there is nothing that can separate us from His love. So how would you sum up your life? Do you know you are loved by our heavenly father? Thank God for His love that He gave His son Jesus so we could have eternal life with God, always loved by Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/12/07 12:15 PM
2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)
6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

King Jotham assumed the role as king when he was 25 years old and reigned for 16 years. Jotham followed the good examples set by his father. Because of his obedience to God he became a powerful king.

The Star Tribune in South Dakota reported the execution of a 25 year old man, Elijah Page. He had been convicted for torture and slaying of a teenager who was forced to drink hydrochloric acid during a robbery of the victim’s home. “After the execution, the victim’s mother, Dottie Poage, who witnessed Page’s death, stood before a row of TV cameras and displayed photos of her son at various stages in his life. She spoke of the dreams he had for his life. I told him a friend, a real friend, you have to earn through time and to have trust, she said. He evidently didn’t listen to her on that one, she said. He supposedly came across three guys that he wanted to make a friendship with, she said. Who would ever do something like this to a friend? I never dreamt that I would be dealing with what I’ve dealt with this last seven years.” Two men both 25 years old. One who becomes a good king by following God and the other who followed his friends and fell into trouble that cost him his life. We need to help others see the need to follow God and not follow in the wrong footsteps. Pray for those who are troubled, those who need someone in their life, and those who feel abandoned. Pray others may follow God and not follow the paths of evil.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/07 12:33 PM
Mark 12:1-9 (NLT)
1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.

Jesus tells a parable about a man who owned a vineyard and then trusted to leave it in the hands of tenant farmers. Jesus was relating how God had given to the Jews in order to build His church, but they had not believed the prophets and others who had been a witness for God. Then Jesus said even the son came, but they murdered him too. He then asked what you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do. Actually He was asking, what should God do since you have rejected his prophets, and are now rejecting His son? And His reply was they would die and the vineyard given to others.

Stewardship is defined as the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. In the parable above the owner entrusted the care of his vineyard into the hands of others, but he was rejected as though he had no ownership of the land. In the end Jesus said the owner will come and kill the farmers and give the land to someone else. God entrusts each of us with all our possessions and we are only stewards of what He has given us. We need to wisely follow God and carefully use what He has entrusted us with. And we should always recognize if not for God we would have nothing. God wants us to use our resources to draw others close to Him and build a relationship with Him. Are you a good steward of what God has given you? Pray and ask God how you can be more obedient to manage what He has entrusted you with.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/16/07 12:02 PM
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NLT)
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In these verses the apostle marks out step by step the path a Christian should take to grow in their productivity and closeness to God. They are to add moral excellence, self-control, enduring patience, godliness and love for all. He said if you fail to add these things then you are blind to what God wants for you forgetting what He has already done for you. For those who do not forsake their obligations the apostle says God will provide a grand entrance into heaven to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Maybe you have seen the movie Castaway where Tom Hanks becomes marooned on an island after the cargo plane he is flying on crashes into the sea. For one of the Super-Bowl games FedEx made a commercial spoof on Castaway. A man shows up at a door of a customer and delivers a package he said he had kept 5 years while castaway on an island. As a FedEx employee he wanted to make sure she got the package. As he started to leave he asked what was in the package. The woman replies, just silly things, a satellite phone, a GPS locator, a fishing rod, a water purifier and some sun seeds. All along the man had the tools he needed in order to return to a productive life. But he allowed himself to be blinded by what he thought was the correct thing to do. Often we have the tools God has given us to do what He has planned for us. But we look and see other things in the future that are our own desires. And because we focus on the wrong things we miss using what God has laid out for us. Pray that you might see the tools God has in front of you to perform His calling. Pray God will show you how the live your life fully and not be blinded by your own desires.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/17/07 11:41 AM
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Here the apostle tells the Hebrews there are many people who are always watching their every action. They are told they must prepare to face the race that is before them by putting aside the sins, which can so easily burden a person. Then they are to live as if in a race keeping their eyes focused on Jesus who has already so perfectly lived by faith.

Many years ago I was in a car accident. As I was traveling down the road to my home I saw a lady with 2 small kids in her car starting to pull out to the road from the convenience store where she had just stopped. She was looking at her children in the back seat as she moved out onto the road. I started slamming on brakes hoping to avoid the car. I could tell the woman was still focused on her children in the backseat. I kept thinking if she will just look my direction and put on her brakes I can swerve around her, but she never looked my way. The accident was unavoidable. Had she only kept her eyes focused ahead where they should have been, an accident could have been avoided. Like the story of the accident if we keep our eyes on Jesus we can avoid many sins. We can then see clearly where we are headed and avoid the dangers lying in front of us. Pray and ask that your focus will always be toward the Lord and away from sin. Pray for His strength and guidance.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/07 11:48 AM
Colossians 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

The apostle Paul is writing to the Colossians asking for prayer that he would be given opportunities to speak about God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul understood being in prison was a part of God’s plan, which has given him the opportunity to share the gospel with others. He again asks for prayer as he speaks to others about the gospel that the message will be clear to others to understand.

There is a story of Duncan Campbell a minister and friend of Wesley Duewel the missionary and author. In the book Let God Guide You by Wesley Duewel, Duewel speaks of his friend who suddenly felt God saying he needed to go to the island of Berneray. In fact Duewel left from where he was suppose to speak so he might go to this island. He knew no one there, had never been before and knew nothing much about the island. It took some effort for him to get to the island, since there were no airports, nor were there any commercial boats traveling to the island. Finally he arrived and saw a farmer. He asked if he could speak to the minister of the church there, but he found there was no minister at the present time; He did find there was an elder of the church who was waiting to speak to him. It turned out the elder had been praying for revival on the island. He was holding onto God’s word and knew God would provide if he prayed. He was so sure his prayers were going to be answered he had already made arrangements to use the church and make announcements of the services that were going to be held. And he knew God was going to send Duncan Campbell because he had already led other revivals throughout Scotland. What if this elder had never prayed, what would have happened, we don’t know. But we do know because he prayed his prayer was answered and revival came to the island of Berneray. What can God do? You won’t know until you seek Him out in prayer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/07 10:09 AM
Romans 4:1-3 (NLT)
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Here the apostle is saying Abraham believed God. And because of Abraham’s unwavering faith, God counted him as righteous. Abraham was not trusting in good deeds he performed, but trusted instead in God. Abraham was a man of faith and demonstrated that faith when he went to sacrifice his only son because God had told him to. He knew God had given him a son, and he knew it was God’s right to take or give back his son. If only we could have the faith of Abraham just think what we could accomplish.

The following passages come from Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, “It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.” “While my attention was taken up and care employed in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another. Habit took the advantage of inattention. Inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded at length that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous was not sufficient to prevent our slipping, and that the contrary habits must be broken and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method.” So, what was it in his quest for moral perfection that Dr. Franklin quickly discovered? Basically, that it wasn’t all that easy to simply make a decision and have the results happen just because you want them to. As human beings we get used to doing things in a certain way. Those ways – those traits – become habit-forming. And, once they become a habit, whether positive or negative, they become very difficult to break. Perhaps impossible to break without a method or system. Dr. Franklin apparently thought he could, through superior will-power, simply get rid of bad habits or character traits, and take on good ones instead. He found, however, that it didn’t quite work that way. And most of us have discovered that same thing at one time or another. If the wise Benjamin Franklin had difficulty grabbing hold and keeping moral perfection, why do we think we can do the same? God wants us instead to place our faith and dependence in Him. We need to let him guide us and strength us as He sees fit. Pray God will build your faith in Him. Pray you will humble yourself before Him knowing that He knows what is best for your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/23/07 12:45 PM
Luke 10:30-37 (NLT)
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

A Jewish scribe or lawyer was testing Jesus by asking Him how to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked the man what the law of Mose’s had said. He replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” He was looking to justify his own actions. The man then asked who his neighbor was, because he knew in his heart there were people he did not treat fairly. So Jesus told him the parable of the Good Samaritan above.

The man answering Jesus did not focus on the first part of his answer, which was that a person should love God with all their heart. That was easy enough to hide and leave open to interpretation. After all, one person cannot see another’s heart. Instead he focused on what everyone else could see and that was how he treated his neighbors. So he wanted to ensure who his neighbor was. Jesus instead showed him his flawed thinking. Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to point out how someone that would not be considered a neighbor was the only one who helped a Jewish man in distress. While the man thought he would always be the one giving, there are actually times when a person needs the love, grace and mercy of another. And if their heart has never been open to helping others they cannot see how another might be able to help them. It’s like us; we need to open our hearts so Christ can work through us to reach others. And because of Christ reaching to help us we can do that.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/07 11:27 AM
Galatians 3:1-5 (NLT)
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

In these verses Paul is writing to the Galatians who had accepted Christ as their savior. Paul was calling them down for still trying to justify their sins by practicing the Law of Moses. Paul asks some pointed questions, such as did they receive the Holy Spirit. Did it come while they were following the law or after they accepted Christ? It was through faith in Christ, acknowledged by the receiving of the Holy Spirit that they received true justification. And now they were perverting that justification by attempting to become perfect through the law, which would only lead them to disappointment and shame. Paul reminds them a second time it is because of Christ that their lives are different.

Paul understood there are none of us perfect in life and perfection cannot come from our own attempts. Many of us want to believe we can reach a perfect state of marriage, a perfect state of morality, a perfect state of ministry or perfect ourselves in such a way that we do not feel inadequate. Isaiah clearly tells us why we can’t reach this perfection we so desperately want. In Isaiah 64:6 it says, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” God’s intent from the beginning was for us to become perfect, but sin prevented that from happening. So God gave His son Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, who provided a perfect cleansing for those who believe in Him. It is through Christ that we become perfect to enter into heaven. It is because of Christ we are justified. It is because of Christ we have hope in an eternal life with God. We couldn’t become perfect on our own, but God made us perfect through Jesus. Praise God for the work He is doing in your life. Praise Him for the perfection you will receive through Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/27/07 12:03 PM
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 (NLT)
15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. 16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17 On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? 18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

Solomon tells us when the wicked prosper we should not become dishearten, nor when the innocent and young die. In some translations Solomon says all that he has seen here on earth is vanity, because while Solomon’s thoughts are this world; there is a greater place waiting for him in heaven. Solomon calls for a balance in life knowing God wants our life to be enjoyable, but enjoyable without sin. He says if we understand and respect God then we can avoid the extremes of life.

The story of Job is an illustration of what Solomon was trying to tell us. Job served God and feared God in a respectful way. Yet Job lost his possessions, his workers, his children, and even his enjoyment of life itself. He sat miserable and worried in ashes to comfort his sores. Then Job’s friends came around and accused him of offending God; saying he did something that was so wrong he was being stricken with affliction. But the truth is life does not come with rose-colored glasses. The world is not a perfect place and neither are our lives that are in it. Solomon even says in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, “So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.” Can you relate to those restless nights where your mind is troubled? Solomon also came to another conclusion; God provides for us in this world whether it is food or drink. So there is no escaping the fact that there is nothing we can do apart from God. God is there involved in our lives during the times of hardship and during the times when there is plenty. Seek the wisdom of God to understand and find comfort in Him. Pray God will be with you during the rich times of your life as well as the difficult times. Praise Him that he is always there concerned for you as one of His precious children.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/07 11:43 AM
Philippians 1:20-26 (NLT)
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

Paul starts these verses by saying he wants to honor Christ and he expects never to be ashamed of his beliefs. Paul is torn between death and life. He knows death will bring him an eternal reward with Christ in heaven. But Paul also understands his time here on earth has a purpose far beyond his own and that is to do the work of Christ.

Jesus was speaking to the crowd and said the following, “Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?’And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Christ is telling the people the ministries they are to perform. They are ministries of attending to the poor and hungry; providing shelters and clothes; watching over the sick and distressed; and visiting those who are bound in prison. These areas are where we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ while we minister to the needs of others. Jesus often took care of peoples needs and then He took care of their spiritual needs. He set an example and gave us the words to follow Him. Think about what you can do for Christ and don’t be ashamed to live according to His word; to live ministering to others; and live showing how you love your saviour!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/31/07 11:23 AM
Colossians 2:6-8 (NLT)
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

In these verses the apostle is telling the Colossians they need to be firm in their beliefs about Christ. They are to let their faith grow strong and not be caught by the thoughts that come from this world. Instead their thoughts are to be on Christ.

Memories are powerful in our lives. The smell of cooked popcorn can fill the room and it will bring back childhood thoughts of walking into a movie theater. The pleasant memories of going with your parents to the movie and watching as they buy you popcorn, a drink and a candy bar so easily return. But memories can also bring back unpleasant feelings. When I was a child I had a prank played on me where a plastic spider was put on my shoulder and then I was told to look. It scared me at first because I thought it was real. Then a few days later a real spider crawled out from the sheets of my bed. It took a while before I felt comfortable getting into my bed because of the fear that had been created in me. Even though it has been over forty years ago those memories are still vivid. The world creates in us many thoughts, many memories, and many ideas that are sometimes just nonsense as Paul said. Some of us have had memories built because of our own sin or the sin of others. These thoughts weight heavy on our minds. Each time the memory is triggered it just spins us out of control with fear, guilt or shame. But as we are reminded by Paul so often, we need to be firmly rooted in the understanding of Christ so we are not attacked by our own mind. Even in 2 Corinthians Paul says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” We have to let Christ be in control of those memories that are painful and hurtful. We have to turn loose of the things we were wrongly taught and focus instead on what Christ would have us do. Maybe your thoughts and memories have been corrupted by the world? Pray God would free you from the thoughts that hold you captive. Pray instead you can take hold of the painful memories and give them to Christ. Let Christ be firmly rooted in your life so nothing can pull you away from Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/07 12:12 PM
Colossians 3:5-11 (NLT)
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

In these verses the apostle Paul is encouraging the Colossians to mortify the sin that lives inside them. Paul lists out sins which he said brings God’s anger against the world. He encourages them to know God so they can be more like Him. And he wants them to put aside prejudices and judgments because Christ lives in all who have placed their faith in Him.

There are many people who have been on diet programs. One person may get motivated to loose weight; so they go out and buy the best exercise equipment. But instead of changing their old self they continue in their previous eating habits. Later the exercise equipment they purchased is just sitting there because they gave up hope. There are also people who know they must change themselves in order to loose weight. They understand they need to take on good habits and follow good plans that have been laid out for them. They understand the struggles of others and they encourage and motive each other by their positive attitude to change. As Christians we should be willing to throw off the old self and take on the new habits and practices that eliminate sin from our lives. We should be an encouragement to others with a positive attitude letting them know they can move forward in life too. Pray that God would help you see the areas of life you need to throw away and change. Pray that as God helps you with your struggles that you can help others with their struggles.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/06/07 11:28 AM
Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

In these verses from Isaiah God reminded the people His ways and His thoughts are beyond comparison and beyond anything they could comprehend. He tells them their thoughts are on this world verse His thoughts which are on the entire universe. Then God compares His words and scriptures to rain and snow. The rain and snow fall from heaven and help product grain and seed for those who want to eat. God’s word falls from heaven to feed those who desire God and His word produces fruit in their life.

God is marvelous, wonderful and amazing. I had an opportunity to share the gospel with a cab driver in Washington, D.C. I was there to teach a class. On the morning of the class I had been up studying a course on witnessing from our church. I left my hotel and walked up to the corner of the street and flagged down one of the thousands of taxis looking for passengers. A cab stopped and picked me up. Immediately I could tell the cab driver was not in a good mood, so I asked how he was doing. The driver replied he was just having a bad day and wondered how I could be happy so early in the morning. I told him I had been up a while reading my bible and studying and it just encouraged me. Then he said something that let me know God had arranged this cab ride. The taxi driver said, “I don’t know about me and God. I don’t know if I would go to heaven if I died. I have been playing in a church band a bit, but I just don’t understand some things.” I could feel God nudging me as though He were saying that was my chance to speak up. So I started sharing the gospel of Jesus with this man as he drove me to my location. Just as I finished he pulled up in front of the building I was going to. Then he turned around and said he didn’t know what he had to do to have Jesus in his life, but he wanted Him. So I prayed with the man to receive Jesus and to reassure him Jesus would always be a part of his life. The man said, “I know God sent you today.” I even got his business in case I could ride back with him later or send him some information. Well I tried to ride back that afternoon, but he had customers on the other side of town so I told him to expect some Bible brochures, and have a blessed day in the Lord. I figured I would never see Walter Brown the taxi driver again. Over a year later I was back in Washington, D.C. to teach another class. I walked up to a corner to flag down a taxi as I had done many time before. I got in the taxi and the ID picture for the drive said, Walter Brown. It was the same cab driver from the year before. I was somewhat shocked to be back in his cab, so I said, “Mr. Brown, do you remember me?” He looked back in his mirror and said, “YES I DO, you are that man that told me about Jesus and now I know I am going to heaven.” God let me come back and see this man to witness the fruit of His word. I got to see how the man had grown in God’s word and now was so happy about it. It was an event I could not have arranged had I wanted to, but God who is so great setup that meeting a second time to encourage me. Be encouraged in God’s word and know that His word sows fruit into the lives of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/07 12:02 PM
Romans 8:9-11 (NLT)
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

In these verses the apostle Paul talks about the Spirit of Christ that indwells in those who have accepted Christ on faith. He refers to one’s own sinful nature and how if Christ does not dwell within they do not belong to Christ. The Greek word for dwells, used in the King James, means to belong to a particular place of being. So Paul is saying if Christ dwells within you then you are free to live according to what God would desire from you.

Romans 8:9-11 is an excellent example of seeing God, Christ and the Holy Spirit together as the trinity. Paul mentions the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit. We find that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all working to subdue the sin that wants to destroy our lives. God did not free us so that we might indulge in sin without regard to the future. Instead God gave His son Christ so that we would know the love He has for us. And He placed His Spirit within us to guide us away from our sinful nature. If you believe in Christ then as Paul says to each of us, we are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. Pray you would walk with God and not let sin hold you back. Pray whatever sin you have in your life that God will help you overcome it. Praise Christ who has already taken away the sins of the world through His own sacrifice.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/07 11:37 AM
Ephesians 6:6-11 (NLT)
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul talks about his privilege to be able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Paul refers to it as a privilege because he understands the grace and mercy shown towards him because like everyone else he didn’t deserve the mercy and grace. Paul was given a mission to tell others about God’s grace and mercy found in Jesus Christ. Paul was to prepare the church so that the church might show the glory of God to others. All of this was a part of God’s plan brought about in Jesus Christ.

Out of the book of Acts it says, “The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Saul began a life of persecution of Christians until one day Jesus came to him and asked why he was persecuting Him and His people. All of this changed who Saul was. The name Saul meant desired, but Saul took on a new name as he started to serve Christ, it was Paul. Paul meant small or little. He realized in God’s eyes he was a small person who needed salvation just like everyone else. So Paul’s new mission was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who he would have earlier prosecuted and stoned to death. God can change people’s lives. God desires to change your life for the better. Allow God to work in your life and listen to His calling.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/07 10:55 AM
Mark 5:25-34 (NLT)
25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”
31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

This is a familiar story about an ill woman who had been sick for years. She saw Jesus as her only hope because she had tried all the scientific methods of the day to be healed. She believed and had faith if she could just touch Jesus she would be healed of her illness. So in a crowd of people she managed to touch the robe of Jesus and was instantly healed. Jesus knew what happened and kept asking “who touched me?” Finally the woman fell at the feet of Jesus and admitted it was her. In response to her Jesus told her it was her faith that made her well and her suffering was now over.

Webster’s says the following about faith. It is an allegiance to duty or to a person. Faith is a sincerity of intentions. It is a belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Faith is a firm belief for something which there is no proof. It is complete trust. It is something that is believed especially with strong conviction. The woman in the story had a strong conviction Jesus could cure her, but the only proof she had was the testimonies of others. She had lost hope in everything else, but when it came to Jesus her faith was firm and committed. Faith is intangible. It is something which one possesses without firm foundation of proof. What happens when you are somewhere and you decide to rest by sitting down? You may be walking at the mall and see a comfortable bench to sit on. Without hesitation you walk over to the bench, you sit down, and you never give a second thought to the fact the bench could have collapsed; that is faith. When we trust God and believe He will take care of our lives in the best manner that also is faith. In the bible James says, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called a friend of God.” So are you looking for proof God exists? Start by not trying to prove it and place your unproved faith in Him. Trust God, be loyal to Him and keep your faith firm that He will be real in your life. And while I can only offer testimony of God in my life, and I can offer no proof other than what I believe, there is a God who cares so much for us that He gave the life of His son Jesus Christ as a Holy sacrifice. And the bible tells us, for whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Take hold of that everlasting life through faith and let God change you into what He wants you to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/07 12:04 PM
Romans 8:38 (NLT)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [Greek nor rulers.] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of ****** can separate us from God’s love.

In these verses the apostle Paul expresses the love God has for us. He gives reassurance God’s love is not conditional and cannot be taken away. Even when we have fear and worries that might cause us to think God couldn’t love us, He still loves us. God’s love is unconditional.

It is hard to understand the depths of God’s love. Every day children are abandoned; divorce is prevalent; and families dissolve. If you are an abandoned child whose father and mother left, what would your concept of love be? Would it be easy to relate to a God who loves unconditionally? What about a spouse who is angry and bitter and you are doing all you can do to make things work? Is it is easy to grasp unconditional love when you feel the day to day pains that fall on you. What about families that break apart and no longer talk to each other over small issues? Won’t people ask how can God love me when no one else will? It’s no wonder some people think they have to work hard, put forth an effort, or to try and earn love. Maybe if I could just change this about me, if I could just get that job, if I could just make myself more loveable. The problem is we see love as something to be earned, but love is an unselfish and benevolent concern for the good of another. It’s not something to be bought or earned. It’s freely given by another because they have a desire to love. Our God loves us and He loves us just as we are. He offers His love freely just as He offers salvation freely to those who accept it. Pray and thank God for his unconditional love. Thank Him that even when you might not feel loved, He still loves you. Thank Him that when you feel everyone around you has deserted you God still loves you. May God bless your day and fill it with His love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/16/07 11:43 AM
1 John 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

The apostle has been urging Christians to show love. Here in the beginning of this chapter he talks about those who love God should also love His children as brothers and sisters. Love is action that comes by obedience to God’s commands. The believer is ready to defend against evil and is able to do so because of faith in God and Christ.

When I get in my car and place the key in the ignition every morning I have faith the car will start. There have been a few times in my life where my faith was weak because the car just wasn’t working as I thought it should. And there were other times I felt let down by my car because it didn’t start. But then the battery would get replaced, the car recharged and once again I had faith it would start. Faith is trusting when we have no way of knowing what will happen when we put that key in the ignition. Faith in God trusts when we put our hand in His hand; God will do what He says He will do. There are times our life just doesn’t seem right and our faith gets weak. We become fearful our life is just not going to go where we want it to go. Then things get better and we can see God at work recharging us, restoring us, and strengthening us. Once again we fell the confidence of God at work in our lives ready to carry us forward. It is in those strong moments we are able to defend against the enemy and show our love for others. Are you due a recharge in your faith? Pray God will strengthen you and show you He is there with you. Pray in your fear, in your desperation, in your loss of hope that when you are weak your faith will be made strong. God bless you and may we love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/17/07 11:32 AM
Matthew 14:15-20 (NLT)
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

There were 5,000 men present listening to Christ preach and probably an equal amount of women, plus children. The disciples had bread and fish they might normally carry to feed themselves, but it would hardly feed the crowd in attendance. The disciples wanted to send away the people, but Jesus told them they could feed the people. Jesus blessed the food and broke it up and the disciples gave it to the people. Afterwards there were twelve baskets of food left over.

This is an amazing story of a miracle, but even more so it was a lesson for the disciples. The disciples were probably tired and probably wanted to quit for the day so they could get something to eat; so they were ready to send everyone away. But Jesus thought about the people and their needs. Jesus told the disciples to feed the others. He wanted them to be thinking about the needs of everyone else and not just their own. Of course they immediately wondered where they were going to get the food from. They had already told Jesus they only had a small portion and the people needed to go back to the village to find food. Somehow the disciples forgot who they were with. They forgot how God had provided manna to the Israelites in the wilderness. They forgot the miracles Jesus had performed around them. Twelve baskets and twelve disciples, they were quickly reminded of God’s provisions when there was a leftover basket for each one of them. Each was holding a reminder of how God provides. Have you forgotten how God provides for our needs? Look around and count the blessings in front of you and then praise God for what He has done in your life. Praise His son for caring about us and wanting to meet our needs.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/07 11:38 AM
Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT)
4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Here we find the apostle encouraging others to pay attention to their behaviors, actions and attitudes. Those who are able to complete the tasks in a good manner will find they do not have to compare themselves to anyone else for they have followed what God would have them do. It is each person’s responsibility to understand God’s desires and hold true to them in their life as we strive to be holy representatives of Christ.

I remember one day a teacher passed out a surprise test to all of us in our class. It was a multiple choice test. We were told we were not look on anyone else’s papers, nor were we to look up answers from our papers or books. She made it clear cheating was not acceptable. She told everyone to be prepared by having a pencil out on the desk. Then she walked around and placed the test on each person’s desk and told us to begin. It was a moderately difficult test of material we had been covering. You could tell some were looking around hoping they could see answers or perhaps find the answers on one of the wall charts in the room. Some struggled as they tried to recall answers to the questions. Eventually the teacher called time on the test. But instead of turning in the papers she said we would grade our own. We were to look up the answers and mark the ones wrong we had missed or omitted and circle the correct answer in red. Again some students took advantage of this by correcting their papers as they went. When everyone was finished the teacher said, “I passed out those tests so you could measure yourselves to know how much you understood the material we have been going over. There are some of you who cheated themselves by looking on others tests, or correcting your mistakes where now you don’t know what you forgot. The purpose in the test was that I wanted you to use this test for a study guide to remember what you didn’t know.” What a lesson the teacher taught about the satisfaction of your own work and not comparing yourself to others, but measuring yourself on your knowledge and character. God wants us to read His word, live our lives, and then go back and measure ourselves to His word on how well we are doing. Then we can study the parts we don’t understand and grow in our wisdom, correcting our mistakes along the way and not cheat our way through life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/07 11:12 AM
1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLT)
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

In these verses Peter is teaching how a person should live in harmony with others. They are to be tenderhearted, keep a humble attitude. They should avoid repaying evil for evil, insults with insults and speaking lies against others. They are to do what is right, what brings and maintains peace. Peter says God is watching over the faithful and just, but He turns from those who do evil.

Today there is an article on Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith on the CNN news page. The article expresses the care and love she gave for others. In one point of her life she said, “"It is not enough for us to say, 'I love God, but I do not love my neighbor,'" she said, since in dying on the Cross, God had "[made] himself the hungry one — the naked one — the homeless one." Jesus' hunger, she said, is what "you and I must find" and alleviate.” When she spoke of the Christmas holiday she would say, “remind the world "that radiating joy is real" because Christ is everywhere — "Christ in our hearts, Christ in the poor we meet, Christ in the smile we give and in the smile that we receive." But the article goes on to show the points in Mother Teresa’s life where she struggled with her faith in God. At one point she said, “Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love — and now become as the most hated one — the one — You have thrown away as unwanted — unloved. I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone ... Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them — because of the blasphemy — If there be God — please forgive me — When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me — and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?” As the article suggests, some may think her faith is lacking, but in actuality her faith is strong. She pours out her heart to a God she cannot physically feel or hear. She lets Him know she struggles and she needs Him. She kept on in her life, serving God faithfully even though she questioned why at times. Peter said we must do what is right, which Mother Teresa did. And even though she might have questioned her faith even in prayer, God’s ears were open to her because she did right in His eyes. King David often struggled in the same way with his faith. Yet God said David was a man after His own heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/07 11:43 AM
Micah 2:11 (NLT)
11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!

This is a warning about those who follow their own hearts to instruct others. Instead of looking to God for the answers they propose their own. In this verse the false prophet says there is joy in wine and alcohol. They forget to mention the problems and sins that could follow from the abuse of drinking alcohol. Mocking the statement, Micah says, “that’s just the kind of prophet you would like.”

Pyromania is when a person is obsessed with fire and its related effects. It is also an obsession with starting fires intentionally and waiting to see the effects. For the pyromaniac they feel it as a natural compulsion. It would seem unreasonable for anyone to encourage such a person to follow their passions to set fires. For most of us it would seem incomprehensible anyone would lead such a person in the wrong direction towards sin. Yet there are teachers and preachers in this world who would condone things which are wrong just because it seems the majority of people want to follow that path. It’s the same problem Micah had in his day. Prophets would speak favorable of things and not mention the sin that went along with it. Starting a fire might not be a problem, but burning down someone’s home definitely would be. So those problems need to be pointed out. Wine and alcohol in moderation might not be a problem. But for those addicted to alcohol there is a risk of addiction and destruction of family and job. Care must be given in telling people what is right and what is wrong. Pray God would send people committed to telling His truth. Pray people would speak up boldly and defend God’s word when others are ready to let things slide.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/07 11:26 AM
Galatians 3:19-22 (NLT)
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham. 21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Paul writes to the Galatians about the Mosaic Law and why it was given to the people. It was given as a mirror to show people their sins and their need for something greater. Moses was the mediator of the law. Mediators are used when there are two parties with different views and opinions and they need to be drawn together in agreement. But God made Abraham a promise without the need for a mediator. God’s promise was greater than the law and designed to bring freedom from sin.

It seems like anytime you turn on the news there is someone being charged for a crime. The law reflects the fact they have committed a crime that is identifiable. Most of those who are accused understand the laws and the consequences that go along with them, yet they continue in their actions. God gave man His laws and man continued to sin even though he was told what God expected. There is a judgment that comes for failing to follow the law. There is a judgment for sin. But God in his infinite mercy and grace provided salvation for sin. It was a promise made to Abraham. When we accept Christ as savior, Christ speaks up on our behalf saying He has paid the debt of sin and He justifies us before God. We are no longer held accountable. We don’t have to be on probation. We are pronounced free from the guilt of sin and set free. Praise God who loved us so much that He kept His promise to free us from the sins He knew we would follow. Praise Him for His Son Jesus and the debt He paid on our behalf.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/07 12:39 PM
Hebrews 13:1-3(NLT)
1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

The apostle reminds everyone they should love their brothers and sisters in Christ. Also, just by showing hospitality and love to others they could have taken care of angels watching over them; just as Abraham received angels who saved Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. The apostle reminds them to remember those who are incarcerated as if they were in prison themselves.

Chuck Colson was the chief counsel to President Nixon. Because of his involvement with Watergate he was jailed. Once Chuck Colson was released he began a prison ministry called Prison Fellowship. The ministry reaches out to prisoners and their families. It also attempts to make reforms in the justice system. In 1993 he was awarded the Templeton Prize with a cash gift over a million dollars for his work to advance the causes of religion. The prize money was donated to the Prison Fellowship ministries and he has continued to donate all of his speaking engagement money to the ministry as well. Colson’s work came as a result of his own incarceration. He came to understand Hebrews 13:3, because he had been in prison. We all need to learn to reach out to others and share the love of Christ. We need to love our brothers and sisters who have fallen and show them grace and mercy as God shows each of us grace and mercy. God may have plans for many of those who are in prison. He may take others just like He did Chuck Colson and use them for His glory. Pray for those in prison and ask God to bring blessings into their lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/31/07 12:32 PM
Proverbs 31:4-7 (NLT)

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.

Some believe Lemuel is King Solomon, but there is no solid proof. However Lemuel, means one belonging to god. So we have someone hopefully following God and giving advice about alcohol. He warns rules should not crave strong drink nor drink excessive amounts of wine. A ruler is to judge fairly, and give commands when necessary, but if impaired by alcohol they may not be able to do so properly. Their views on the law may become distorted, and anger may prevail as it does in some who drink and then the oppressed will not find justice. Strong drink was permitted for those dying and in pain. There should be compassion to those who are suffering and allow for that which can give them peace and comfort. Even those in bitter distressed are not discredited for using wine to help in their comfort. Christ gives freedom and even Peter learned there are things which might not seem acceptable that at times are accepted and ok to do. So Lemuel says allow the suffering to find some peace. It’s a word even for our modern medications that help those with depression and anxiety. God gave us wisdom, and knowledge that we can use as long as we use it the proper way and in a way that honors Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/07 11:10 AM
Proverbs 4:7 (NLT)
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

King Solomon who asked God for wisdom said obtaining wisdom was the wisest thing one could do. And from wisdom one should develop good judgment. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 Solomon said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.” In order to keep God’s commandments one has to first know them and second they must understand them.

People today confuse information with wisdom. There are great computers holding vast amounts of information. Search engines like Google can scour the internet and provide references to just about anything. You may have even heard someone say, “INFORMATION IS POWER”. But information in the hands of the unwise can go wasted. The wrong information can lead people astray. There is a requirement to discern good information from bad information and understand the difference. One cannot do that without wisdom. King Solomon had two women appear before him, each claiming a child to be their own. King Solomon had all the information about the child and two women, but it was his wisdom that was able to discern the truth from the falsehoods. It is like those who have information on Jesus. You can pass out a Gospel track that lists facts from the Bible. It puts information into a person’s hand. They hold there answers to questions they may have been seeking, but unless they allow wisdom to work in their lives to truly understand what Jesus has done for them all they hold is paper with information. Unless a person seeks for the deeper meanings in God’s word, they hold information but not the understanding of it. Pray God would fill you with wisdom to understand as you hear what He has to say.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/07 11:52 AM
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)
16 There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

To emphasis the point of his wise words, Solomon says there are six things the Lord hates, but then he adds – no, seven things he detests. The listed sins affect other lives and not just the life of the person committing the sin. God hates sin, every sin, but these sins are hated by God in a special way for the impact they cause.

There have been many celebrities in the news who have committed crimes or offenses towards others. Yet there are those who will step up and justify the reasons for their sin. God doesn’t ask for us to justify sin. He asks that we acknowledge our sins and repent. Proverbs clearly points out some sins that cause pain to others: conceit for others, creating lies that hurt others , murdering another, the imagination of sin towards another, eagerness to sin towards another, making false statements about others, and one who causes discord in their own family and other families. A short list, but a list that includes some sin for which we are all are guilty. Pray people would see sin the same way God does. Pray we all would repent and turn towards God instead of hiding from our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/07/07 11:54 AM
Amos 5:10-13 (NLT)
10 How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth! 11 You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them. 12 For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. 13 So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time.

Amos has been telling the people how they must prepare to meet their God. In these verses the corruption of the people is identified. They have gotten to the point of being unable to judge fairly because of their sins. There are those who scheme to become rich off others, but they will they will not get to enjoy their riches. Justice is lost and the poor and good people suffer. Those who are wise will learn to remain silent as they are wronged because honest answers and complaints will only make things more difficult.

In the news adjustable mortgage rates rise, delinquency in payments rise and new highs are seen in home repossessions. Those who became rich from lending to the poor at rates they knew would eventually become unbearable are finding themselves without a job and their companies folding. People have lost their ability to discern good intents from evil intents. Recently high school students have been arrested for innocently carrying knives in their vehicles they forgot was there. They face the possibility of loosing their future dreams as they receive felony charges. A 4th grade child arrested and handcuffed after handing over a knife to her teacher that her mother packed in her lunch to prepare her sandwich. It would have been better for her to have remained silent than to try and do what was honest and right. A state arrests 11 of its public officials for taking bribes and promoting fraudulent insurers. As you look at the events that are unfolding are they much different from the ones Amos described? Pray God would bring revival to this nation. Pray justice and discernment might once again prevail. Pray for the poor, the injured and the suffering that God would be with them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/07 12:15 PM
Jeremiah 16:19-21 (NLT)
19 Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, “Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols. 20 Can people make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!” 21 The Lord says, “Now I will show them my power; now I will show them my might. At last they will know and understand that I am the Lord.

Jeremiah has spoken to the people about the coming disaster of Judah and the punishment they will face. They have been told happy days will come to an end. Even the normal gaiety found at weddings will be no more as people mourn the loss of their freedom. Then in the verses above Jeremiah offers a pray of hope and confidence for the people. Jeremiah admits the people worshipped idols carved by their own hands. The he questions the nonsense by asking can people make their own gods. Jeremiah looks forward to when God will reveal His might and people will understand he is Lord of all.

As you pause to think about our time in history, has man found the harmony and peace has always been seeking? It’s something he desires in his heart, yet there are those who interrupt the peace, who bring chaos, death, and poverty to an area. Even in the good parts of the world people struggle with addictions and other problems which are the gods they have placed in their life to follow. The world struggles with war trying to fight off those who may be the captors or conquerors. Yet like Jeremiah we can count on God to prevail. We can trust God in that He has our best interest at heart. Pray like Jeremiah for the sins of those who have gone before us and have lead us to sin today. Pray God will reveal Himself to others and those others will spread His word.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/07 01:25 PM
Ecclesiastes 3:15 (NLT)
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

Prior to this verse Solomon recognizes we must acknowledge God is in control of His universe. The sun rises and the sun sets. The moon changes it phases. There is a certainty in God one can count on. So Solomon says whatever the past or the future, God at some point will call the past into account.

The past is something we cannot escape from. Even if we may have forgotten parts of it there are others who don’t forget. Watch TV shows like Dr. Phil where you will see those who were hurt in their youth confronting the tormentor of their past. As they weave the tale of their youthful hurts they find out the other person does not even recall the events. One person spent their life tormented by things which happened, while the other moved forward never knowing the hurts even existed. How often have you had an argument with someone and suddenly you are remembering all the past hurts that have been inflicted upon you? Some of those hurts were not even caused by the person you are arguing with yet each painful memory comes back. And those painful moments drive the argument even more. Our past is a part of us we cannot escape. But there are things we can do to make the past better. We can forgive those who wronged us. We can repent from sins and acknowledge our faults to God. We can apologize to those we wronged and tell them we understand the hurt we caused even if we don’t remember the pains we caused. God at some point will call our past into account. We will be reminded of our sins. But Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will step forward and say I suffered all the temptations, and I paid the price when you failed. I offer you my grace and my mercy and you are forgiven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/07 11:51 AM
Philippians 1:27-30 (NLT)
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

The apostle concludes Philippians with these observations: One must live for the Gospel of Jesus Christ as if they were already in His presence; and one should not be intimidated by others, but should instead realize there will be struggles as they trust Christ. He concludes to say they have seen his struggle and he is still in the midst of it.

Maybe she was trying to humorous and thought she was just joking, but the censors for E! Telecasts have found Kathy Griffin’s comments during an interview for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences offensive. She was quoted to say, “a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus." She went on to hold up her Emmy, make an off-color remark about Christ and proclaim "this award is my god now!" While her comment offend many Christians there are others in the news recently that have offended ethnic groups and other groups with their comments. If we are to live as a person conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of Christ there is no room for crude and offensive comments about anyone. The Good News is to be preached in order that people may understand the love of Christ. How can others see the love of Christ if they don’t see love in us? There will always be those who will offend our savior and God. Even towards the end of time the book of Revelation says in 16:9, “Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.” As Christians we need to be careful in our speech to always honor God and Christ. We must understand others who are offensive that we might win them over to understand the mercy and grace of God. Let us live as though Christ we present with us as reach out as He did to those who needed to hear from Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/07 12:05 PM
Proverbs 14:9 (NLT)
9 Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Vince Lombardi was one of the most successful football coaches in history. He has often been quoted from some of his inspiring speeches. One such quote was, “Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” It relates well to the proverb above. A person can fall into the habit of ignoring their sin or they can fall into the habit of acknowledging it and seek to reconcile with God. It’s a choice each person can make. So do you want winning to be a habit or do you want to be defeated by sin? Pray and acknowledge the sins in your life. Ask God for His forgiveness for He is merciful and gracious to forgive.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/17/07 12:22 PM
Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

In these verses Paul says that he has identified a key principle in life. He says, “when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.” Then Paul goes on to describe the struggle of trying to accomplishing the law, but finding that he fails because of the sin within him. He states a rhetorical question, “who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death” and then he gives his answer, “Jesus Christ”.

The key principle Paul learned uses the word “I” twice: when “I” try to do what is right; “I” inevitably do what is wrong. Paul has identified when he relies only on his own will, his own mind, his own body, his own power that he is not able to accomplish the good he desires to do. There is a power indwelling within him that makes him follow sin. He refers to this struggle as a war, as a battle that takes place in his mind. This battle is the desire to be what God intended for him to be versus the sin that compels him to do what he desires instead of what God desires. He really wants to be what God called him to be, but he finds his life is a struggle. But Paul has hope because he knows that while he is unable to keep all of the law, Jesus Christ did. And because of his belief, his faith in Jesus Christ he knows his life will not be dominated by sin. Note that he does not say his life will be free from sin, but that it will not be dominated by sin. People will continue to sin, but those who follow Christ, who hold tight to God cannot continue in their sins. Their life is not a habit of sin. Habits are formed after repeating things over and over again until it is no long a conscious action. Those who are of God the Holy Spirit speaks to them and convicts them of their sin. Like Paul he knows the sins he has committed. He has been convicted of them, but he has not made them a habit because he has learned to turn to Jesus Christ in his time of need. Pray we all depend on Our Savior Jesus Christ to get us through the sinful times in our life. Pray the Holy Spirit will continue to convict you and let you know Jesus Christ is there to help you overcome your sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/07 11:50 AM
Nahum 3:7 (NASV)
7"And it will come about that all who see you Will shrink from you and say, 'Nineveh is devastated! Who will grieve for her?' Where will I seek comforters for you?"

The city of Nineveh had been spared when Jonah spoke to them of God’s judgment and they had repented from their sins. But the city had fallen back into its evil ways, repenting of their repentance. The city had once again become an enemy of God and Nahum was warning the people of its destruction. God had trouble getting Jonah to plead to the city, and now God was saying where will I find comforters for you when the city is devastated?

The great city of Nineveh had been given a chance by God to repent and begin a new life. Even though Jonah did not want to preach to Nineveh because of its great sin, God sent Jonah to preach about their imminent fall from grace. The people realized their sins and turned to God and were spared the destruction Jonah wanted to see fall on the people. Jonah knew how great their sin was and he did not want to see God’s grace given to them. And here they were once again, another prophet speaking to them as they were about to be destroyed. This time the people had hardened their hearts against God and this time they were not willing to repent. In verse 19 Nahum speaks for God and says, “There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty?” God desires to give grace. God desires to see everyone repent of their sins and follow him. But God will not be mocked by those who receive His grace and then abuse it. Remember the words of the great hymn below:

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/07 11:16 AM
Proverbs 2:12-17 (NLT)
12 Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. 13 These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. 14 They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. 15 Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong. 16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. 17 She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God.

King Solomon says follow wisdom if you want to stay from evil. Wisdom lets one know what is right and keeps one away from the things that are wrong. Lack of wisdom causes one to ignore their relationship with God. Lack of wisdom also causes one to follow evil ways that can lead them into immoral acts.

There is a billboard in Hollywood California that is promoting an internet dating website for those who are married. The billboard promotes adultery in marriage and there are some who justly want to see the advertisement removed. Even in a town that glamorizes affairs in movies it seems this promotion of immorality has gone a little too far. The website for the company says, “When monogamy becomes monotony.” Those who run the website make no apologies and even try to claim they are just trying to help people express who they really are. Their view is there are people with marital struggles who remain silent and this provides a place for them to come together with others to date outside of their marriage. King Solomon obviously had it right. There are those who enjoy evil and twisted ways and try to lead others down the same path. This website is saying, abandon your spouse, ignore your covenant with God and take the dark path ignoring wisdom. Pray God will open people’s hearts and let them be filled with wisdom. Pray they will see the truth and not the lies Satan has laid before them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/07 12:09 PM
Romans 5:18-21 (NASV)
18So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adam’s disobedience to God resulted in the condemnation of all men. Through one act sin was unleashed upon the world. Then Moses mediated with God to put forth The Law, which revealed man’s transgressions. But as transgressions were made fully known, the grace of God became more known. For people still committed sin, but God still provided grace to those willing to repent of their sin. Through the obedience of Christ grace was extended that all might be made righteous and grace became even greater.

Man has always tried to explain in his own way the ways of God. Ancient Greek Mythology says Pandora was created as the first woman. Her creation was to punish man. Out of curiosity she opened that which she was told not to open and released evils upon the world and left hope sealed in the box. But the truth is Adam understood what God had commanded him. Adam knew he was not to take of the fruit of the tree and his instruction should have been given to Eve. Eve was enticed with what she thought was going to make her equal to God and Adam followed her by committing his own sin; disregarding God’s command to him. But there was still hope and grace to be given by God. While Pandora may have left hope sealed away, God gave hope through his son Jesus Christ. It’s not a hope locked away, but a hope, a gift that is free to all willing to receive it. Thank God for the hope found in Jesus Christ. Praise Him that He extends grace even to those who do not deserve it in man’s eyes. But fortunately God is not man and His love for us is great.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/07 11:37 AM
Proverbs 5:1-4 (NLT)
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. 2 Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned. 3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. 4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.

King Solomon speaks to his son as well as all young men. He wants to give them a wise understanding of life so they may be able to follow the right course of action when the time comes. He tells them of those who may try to seduce them with words that flow smoothly from their mouth. But he also warns the experience may be like that of bitter poison or a double-edge sword, which is capable of cutting in all directions.

Proverbs 5 addresses matters to the son of Solomon; the matter could have been addressed as a mother to a daughter. The words of wisdom is the temptation seems to hold promises sweet as honey, but that is not what it delivers. A young man named Hugh Hefner worked for Fortune magazine in the 1950s and left to start his own magazine. His magazine company opened a floodgate of pornography. Eventually cable TV and the internet brought more and more sexual content into homes. The message was it is ok to act out on sexual impulses without thought to consequences. Then people started to wonder why their lives were falling apart. The business Hugh Hefner started was not about educating people, or trying to enrich their lives, it was about making money. He had learned well how to build a fortune and make a profit off the temptations of others. The true agenda was hidden and there is a lesson with that, “THE TEMPTATION TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF GOD’S DESIRE FOR US IS COLORED TO LOOK GOOD, BUT LEAVES US EMPTY AND DAMAGED.” We buy the lie that the illusion is real. And once we have bought the first lie we buy another until we find ourselves in distress. Pray God would keep you from the temptations of the world. Ask that you would see sin uncolored, raw and exposed to God’s light.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/07 11:37 AM
Romans 13:12-14 (NLT)
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

In these verses the apostle reminds those he is writing not to waste any time living in immorality. Instead they are live as though Christ were present with them. Their lives are to be shining reflections of Christ. They are to remove the dirty sins of their life and turn their thoughts away from indulging sinful desires.

Vladimir Villisov survived a heart attack at age 65. After his heart attack he designed his own special coffin to hold him and what he considered his prize collection of pornographic magazines. To quote the unmarried Vladimir, “The girls in those magazines have been my companions, and I want them to accompany me to the next life.” It is sad Vladimir allowed himself to trade the reality of life with an illusion of the mind. A 44 year old woman in Germany called the emergency phone number and in a weeping voice told police there was an emergency at her home. When the police arrived they found her pacing the floor and her husband sitting in front of a TV watching an x-rated movie. She told the police, “nothing will move him, not even if I offer the real thing.” Of course there was nothing the police could do but refer her to counseling. When the Apple iPhone went on sale, thousands lined up to pay whatever the price to have the phone. Excited people stood in line all evening for their purchase. But weeks later they were disappointed when the price was cut $200. Their desires for instant gratification had cost them. Some of us will pay whatever the price, and go to extreme measures to indulge in our evil desires. But what we will find is disappointment. So take the apostles words to heart and live decent lives because we belong to Christ and not the darkness of evil. Guard your thoughts as though Christ were present with you. Pray for His strength, His mercy and His love to abound in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/07 11:46 AM
Jeremiah 5:20-25 (NLT)
20 “Make this announcement to Israel, and say this to Judah: 21 Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. 22 Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence? I, the Lord, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. 23 But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. 24 They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’ 25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.

The prophet Jeremiah has warned the people of their sins and the judgment, which will come. Now Jeremiah makes a statement to the people that they need to fear God. As he speaks for God Jeremiah reminds them of God’s great creations and how He is in control. They have even forgotten to give thanks for the rain, which brings the harvest at the right time of the year. Their sins have robbed them and taken them away from God.

The Atlanta Constitution and Journal reports Atlanta’s main source of water, which comes from Lake Sidney Lanier, has about 3 months supply left. The seriousness of it is 3 months are left of water for homes, 3 months left for hydro generation from the lake, and 3 months before the river below dries up in parts. The drought has been so bad the Environment Protection Center Director, Carol Couch, said “We’ve never experienced this situation before.” Companies are being affected as they are now starting to face restrictions on the use of water. Companies such as Pepsi and Coke are looking at contingency plans. Could it be we have forgotten to praise God for those things we have taken for granted? Should we listen to Jeremiah who said, “Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall.”? Maybe we need to examine ourselves and take time to praise our God and give Him the respect He is due.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/07 12:15 PM
Proverbs 12:24 (NLT) Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

King Solomon had applied his own words of wisdom to his life. In 1 Kings 11:28 it says, “Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.” King Solomon saw Jeroboam work hard and that he was capable of doing the tasks he needed, so he was put as a leader. God saw his leadership and was willing to take away ten of the tribes of Israel from King Solomon and give them to Jeroboam. For it says in 1 Kings 11:33, “For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.” So Jeroboam was recognized as a hard worker who deserved to be a leader.

The proverb also says a lazy person will become a slave. Those who do not work and run up debt become a slave to their lazy ways. The debts they accumulate begin to control them and eventually cause them financial ruin. They are subject to their creditors and will spend hours in labor trying to repay their moments of laziness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/15/07 12:23 PM
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Through the verses King Solomon has been examining life. He has pondered the many conditions of life and he now comes to a point where he considers the companionship of marriage. He says two are better off than one, for is one person falls there is no one to pick the other up. Two people can provide comfort to each other, but loneliness brings none. Two people are able to defend themselves against others. One watches the front, while one watches the back. And if God is included as a third their bond is even stronger than the two of them standing alone.

Scientifically this world is turning into a virtual world. It is now possible to hold meeting on computers instead of seeing someone face to face. Even Dr. Phil will frequently use a webcam and “chat software” to communicate with others who are far away. It is something familiar to many people. People have started working more from their homes and communicating over phone, pc, wireless and other methods. The bonds people once created from working side by side are becoming lost. Even in dating people are searching for others on the internet, because it is easier not to interact with a real person. They have found a virtual world where have the comfort of their home and still talk to someone. There once was a science fiction story where a war was talking place on a planet by the use of virtual reality. What the people didn’t know is there were only two of them left alive and everyone had had died. Solomon tells us we need relationships, and we need relationships that include God. We need to be close to others and bond with other whether it is for friendship or marriage. Pray God would help you make your relationships with others meaning and lasting.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/07 10:56 AM
Daniel 2:27-29 (NLT)
27 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed. 29 “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. 30 And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to understand a dream that was disturbing him to the point that he could not sleep. He called all the wisest of men, magicians, astrologers, enchanters, and sorcerers; yet none of them could discern the dream nor reveal its meaning. The frustrated king decided to execute all those who were wise men, because obviously they did not hold wisdom. When the commander of the king’s army came for Daniel, Daniel asked why the king would issue such a harsh decree. Once Daniel knew the king was looking for an answer to his dream, Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. And Daniel was able to tell King Nebuchadnezzar about his dream because God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to understand what was in his heart.

We all have had dreams. Some of us dream of a perfect life. Some dream and see nothing but nightmares of reality that face them. Some dream and are disappointed their dreams did not come true. But no matter what dream you have God wants you to understand what is in your heart. God wants to grant you understanding about yourself and who you are. Daniel stopped to take the time to pray with his friends that God might reveal the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. Have you stopped to pray and ask God about your life and where it is headed? If not, take the time to ask God. And when God reveals the secrets of your life give Him praise for the wisdom He provides. Praise God because He is in control.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/07 12:13 PM
1 Peter 1:17-20 (NLT)
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

In these verses the apostle says when it comes to salvation God has no favorites. For those who have chosen God as Father, Judge and Savior, we should be living in respect of Him knowing we are not where we are suppose to be. The apostle also reminds us Christ gave His precious and sinless life so we could be freed from the sins which captured us.

When Adam and Eve took from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they sinned. God says in Genesis 3, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil.” Man suddenly knew both good and evil where he had only known good before. Man had been capable of sin, but did not know anything about it. But now like God, man could now distinguish the difference between what was good and what was evil. There was a difference though between God and man: God was without sin; man had already sinned in his actions. Forever on man would know the difference between good an evil, and he would also be tempted to follow evil in favor of good. Sin holds us captive until we place our faith in Jesus Christ. Christ paid the debt to ransom us from sin by giving His life on the cross. Like man Christ knew the difference between good and evil. Like man Christ could be tempted by evil, but unlike man Christ never fell to the temptation of evil. And because Christ was a perfect sacrifice He was able to pay the debt of sin. We need to always praise Christ for being able to do what we could not do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/19/07 12:25 PM
Proverbs 19:2
2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

Throughout Proverbs King Solomon provides good wisdom on relationships, life, and ethics relating to morals and work. In this verse King Solomon discusses running off to perform a task before you have even thought about it. In most businesses today there is a reinforced effort for people to plan. Project plans are created to show details of work, people needs, material needs and critical paths. There are even sayings related to King Solomon’s quote, such as “failure to plan is planning for failure.” People do see the truth in the words of wisdom God gave him. Unfortunately they do not always apply them in all the ways they can. While Proverb 19:2 could be about work, it could also be about relationships. Maybe you have a little bit of information or just an assumption, but it is enough to create emotions like anger or rage towards someone. Without a plan and without proper information you run to the person because you want to express your emotions with this little bit of knowledge you have. You angrily confront them and make accusations towards them. Then suddenly they stop you as their anger has risen and fill in the details you didn’t know and desperately needed to hear before coming to a conclusion. Now with all the information in front of you there is a realization you have made a mistake. It’s time to apologize, but you have already caused injury and pain. So next time take the time to gain complete knowledge of something before you act. Understand what you need to know, because in your haste you may make mistakes you regret. Pray for wisdom, understanding and grace to lead you ahead.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/22/07 11:32 AM
1 Peter 3:13-17 (NLT)
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Peter reminds the believers he is writing that those who are eager to do good are less likely to be harmed than those who continue in evil ways. And even if there is some suffering for the sake of doing good, God himself will provide a reward. He reminds everyone to be ready to explain the hope of salvation that is in them. The sharing of the gospel should be done in a gentle and respectful manner to others. And believers should try to keep themselves free from sin so their lives become a testimony to those who witness their lives. Peter once again emphasizes, “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong.”

Doing the right thing is sometimes difficult. Recently I read about a woman walking along a waste dump road where she worked and found a bag filled with over $85,000. When she picked it up she saw many pictures of Franklins and Grants staring back at her. Just one wrapper was marked that it contained $10,000. She called the sheriffs department and deputies found the money had somehow fallen from an armored car. Her other co-workers said Ms. Cole was the type of person who would do the right thing. They were not surprised she would return the money even though there was no reward. Her supervisor said she was a good woman and while she was a government employee and could not receive cash compensation they were going to provide her with some time off for her good deed. The money was more than two years of a salary for Ms. Cole, she could have kept it, but instead she did the right thing. We all are tempted to NOT do what we should. Sin pulls us in and holds us captive. We may even try to hide sins we have done. We may take what is not ours or talk about others in gossiping ways. But God is watching and He is pleased when we choose to walk in righteousness. Pray that all believers may walk in the ways of Christ. Always trying to obey, always trying to do the right thing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/07 11:15 AM
Proverbs 23:22-25 (NLT)
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old. 23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. 24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. 25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.

This proverb is a reminder of the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) Fathers were considered the leaders, the one to guide the family and direct them in the ways of the Lord. Mothers were caregivers who watched over the family. Therefore a child who followed wisdom, discipline and good judgment brought honor to their parents, because it was a reflection of the parent’s lives. And if the parents followed God then the children also become a reflection of God’s character from generation to generation.

As an example of how people are not reflecting God in their lives, in 2001 a prestigious day school in Manhattan’s Upper West Side sent a letter to the homes of the parents of the children in the school. The content of the letter explained Mother’s Day would no longer be celebrated at school. The letter went on to discuss how families were changing and that homes were not always made up of a father and a mother. Now there were homes with 2 dads, 2 moms or just a single mom or dad. Because they felt there were so many different make ups of families, celebrating Mother’s Day might be a bad experience for some children. Somewhere the idea of honoring one’s father and one’s mother was lost in sin. Pray God will strengthen and rebuild families. Pray mothers and fathers will once again take their place of honor. Pray their lives will reflect God and be a reflection in their children.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/25/07 11:47 AM
John 4:46-54 (NLT)
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” 49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” 50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. 51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

In these verses we find Jesus being asked to heal the son of an official, someone probably of great importance and wealth. This story is only recorded here in John, but it referred to in Matthew as it says Jesus healed the sick. The boy was dying and more than likely this man of great wealth had tried everything. And now he was asking Jesus to come and heal his son.

It does not matter who you are in this world there is no one who can escape the infirmities of this world. Sickness and death abound and everyone in this world is subject to it. The official above saw Jesus as his last hope. But he lacked the full understanding and faith in Jesus; for he asked Jesus to go with him to heal his son. This man came as a beggar looking for help, willing to take whatever help was given, but he did not realize the full power and authority of Christ. So Christ gently rebuked the official by asking if he needed to see miraculous signs and wonders. Again the man pleaded with Jesus to come to his home. But Jesus told him to go back home and he would find his son alive and well. The man believed and in faith he started walking towards home. Even though Christ rebuked this man who was as a beggar before him, Christ showed tenderness, compassion and love. The man’s faith first had to be healed and then Christ healed the son. And the healing extended even to the man’s family as his entire household became to believe in Jesus. We need to remember Christ has all authority. Ephesians 1:21 says,
“Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.” Never forget what Christ can do. Always humble yourself before Him and ask in faith for what you need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/07 12:22 PM
Nehemiah 13:17-18 (NLT)
17 So I confronted the nobles of Judah. “Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?” I asked. 18 “Wasn’t it just this sort of thing that your ancestors did that caused our God to bring all this trouble upon us and our city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!”

Nehemiah was the king’s cup bearer and he was given news about the city of Jerusalem. The city lay in ruins and things were not going well for the people. Nehemiah mourned for the city and the people, but he had a vision for restoration. And so he went to Jerusalem and led the rebuilding of the city and the restoration of the people. After time Nehemiah returned to the king as promised. But once again the people of Jerusalem had begun to fall to sin so Nehemiah took leave and returned to confront those in charge.

On October 31st of a certain year, a group of people gathered. They separated themselves from those they considered to be foreign as they drew together. They clothed themselves in very unusual dress. They covered themselves in the dust of the earth as they came together for this unique day. They stood in silence for over three hours as one person read to them and then they stood for another three hours as they cried out in loud voices. No, these people were not celebrating Halloween; this was the account of the people of Jerusalem gathering to hear the Book of the Law of their Lord God read to them. They heard their trespasses and confessed openly to God about their sins. They committed to once again to worship and follow God. This was the account told in Nehemiah 9; but as seen in Nehemiah 13 the people had once again started to fall away from God. Nehemiah did what should be done; he confronted to leadership for their failure to keep their word. He reminded them of their promises and helped them understand their failures. Pray we might be able to confront our leaders when they fall away from their promises. Pray they will be the leaders they need to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/07 11:59 AM
Proverbs 29:1 (NLT)
1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

These are the words of King Solomon as he points out how stubborn those are who turn themselves over to wicked ways. Often there have been attempts by parents, friends, courts, pastors and even God to turn them from their destructive paths. Yet as the Hebrew words say, they have hardened their neck against the warnings placed against them by their sins. Those who continue in this way should expect a destruction of their lives and no hope for recovery.

Over many years there were warnings about the inadequacy of the levees protecting New Orleans from flooding. For years the Army Corp of Engineers, state and federal officials ignored the potential risks. Appropriations for the levee system had been cut multiple times because the government considered the costs outweighed the risks. Even as people were being warned the city might not be safe many elected to stay and some even partied through the night thinking with Hurricane Katrina behind them the worst was over. Although warnings were repeated over and over many lost their lives and the city was devastated to a point almost beyond recovery. Often warnings are given to us about our personal lives. We hear someone telling us the disasters which wait ahead, but we ignore them thinking our sinful enjoyment outweighs the risks. Then disaster takes place and we realize we should have heeded the warnings we were given, but now it’s too late. Pray you will be open to hear the reproofs and rebukes of others. Pray you will consider God’s words and apply them as a guide to your life. Pray that you might not harden your neck, but instead be ready to flex when needed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/07 01:26 PM
Proverbs 30:33 (NLT)

33 As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.



This chapter of Proverbs was said to be penned by Agur Ben Jakeh. Some say Agur is not his name, but his character. It indicates he was a gatherer, a collector. He possibly did not write proverbs of his own, but instead collected words of wisdom. In this proverb he presents and he lists things which are commonly known, such as churning cream makes butter and being struck in the nose will cause it to bleed. He then goes on to say stirring up anger causes troubles. In other words you know what causes the other actions to take place, you must also understand the cause of quarrels.



According to police reports, an incident occurred 02/29/2004 at the Spring Haven Retirement Center in Winter Haven, Florida. Senior Citizen Lee Thoss, was playing in the greens at the salar bar where others were waiting to fix their salads. William Hocker, one of the residents, told Thoss others would not want to eat the food he was playing with. Thoss then became verbally aggressive and proceeded to strike Hocker. Arlene Thoss, Lee Thoss’s mother, intervened trying to help stop her son, but was also hurt in the incident. Allen Croft, a 79 year old resident, was bitten by Thoss as he tried to intervene and stop the fight. Another man who was in the area was also struck as Thoss flailed his arms. A few words of asking for the respect of others turned to anger, and then into an embittered quarrel. Even at an age where wisdom should be abundant, angry words still held the proverb true.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/07 11:46 AM
Numbers 20:1-5 (NLT)
1 In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried. 2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! 4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”

In these verses we find the sister of Moses has died. The people were not far off from where they started when they began their journey 38 years prior. They had watched God supply water when there was no water, and they had water when it was available in the land. Now they were complaining, asking why they left Egypt where they had been in slavery in order to be in a place where they feared what was going to happen to them. They had already forgotten the hardships they had endured in Egypt and now they were looking for someone to complain to.

When we endure hardships in life it is so easy to want to blame someone. Instead of looking to God for answers we complain about our situation. For 38 years God had watched over the people of Israel and taken care of them. Yet they continued to forget what God had done for them. We all have a nature to desire and want from this world; but we must learn that wherever we are there will be hardships and times that life is inconvenient. Even in our lives today we sometimes find the inconvenience of not having enough water to do all the things we want. But usually we have enough to take care of the things that are important. Thank God for His mercy and gifts in our lives. Praise Him for meeting our needs and reminding us of His mercy when He meets those needs in our desperation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/02/07 11:18 AM
Proverbs 2:3-5 (NLT)
3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

The Hebew word used for “cry out” is qara’ which means to cry out in such a way to summon, invite or call. In other words dedicate prayer to God asking for insight and understanding to live daily. They are gracious gifts and valuable to life. And with insight and understanding comes a reverence and respect of God.

Famous lead guitarist for the Beatles George Harrison died at the age of 58 in November of 2001 from throat cancer. He was named one of the greatest guitarists of all times by Rolling Stone magazine. When he died his family made this statement, “He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends. He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another.'” Harrison wrote the song, MY SWEET LORD. The song starts out as if it is a praise to Christ, but turns into a Hare Krishna mantra. In his 1982 interview with the Hare Krishna organization he said, "I wanted to show that Hallelujah and Hare Krishna are quite the same thing. I DID THE VOICES SINGING 'HALLELUJAH' AND THEN THE CHANGE TO 'HARE KRISHNA' SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE CHANTING THE MAHA-MANTRA BEFORE THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON! . . . My idea in 'My Sweet Lord,' because it sounded like a 'pop song,' was to sneak up on them a bit. The point was to have the people not offended by 'Hallelujah,' and by the time it gets to 'Hare Krishna,' they're already hooked, and their foot's tapping, and they're already singing along 'Hallelujah,' to kind of lull them into a sense of false security. And then suddenly it turns into 'Hare Krishna," and they will all be singing that before they know what's happened, and they will think, 'Hey, I thought I wasn't supposed to like Hare Krishna! . . . It was just a little trick really"

In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 Paul said, “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” Pray God will always lead you along the right paths. Pray for insight and understanding that you would know and fear the true God, and the true Christ. Pray you would be influenced by God alone and not the ways of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/05/07 01:44 PM
Titus 2:6-8 (NIV)
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Here we find the apostle giving Titus charge as to how he should direct younger men to behave. Proper examples should be set by older leaders for the younger men to follow. It is hard for someone to oppose those who are living righteously. They become examples that are unashamed.

A church was ordered to pay 11 million dollars in damages to the family of a soldier killed in battle. The church had sent protesters to stand outside the funeral of the fallen soldier, a young man, a father’s son, someone who believed in protecting our country in order to shout words of hate. Their belief is those who die have been judged for their sin. They shout harsh words and wave anti-gay banners saying God is judging American’s for its sins. This behavior has been going on for years by the 75 member congregation as they use funerals of soldiers as a platform to criticize homosexuals as immoral and damned. While God may be judging those in America for their sins, people should be encouragers to those who need direction in their lives. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.” There need to be men who are willing to reach out to other men and show them masculinity in a loving manner. There needs to be leaders who stand firm on God’s word, but can be good examples to others. Instead of hate, reach out to those who are different and love them as Christ would love you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/07 12:01 PM
Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

This is the account of the temptation of Jesus. During a time of fasting Satan came to Jesus. His first offer was to satisfy his hunger. The second time Satan tempted Jesus by saying if you will jump from this highest point, God will send angels to protect you. And the third time Satan offered something not even his; he offered Jesus the world.

Jesus said, “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Temptations are something each of us will experience. James tells us temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. As Jesus taught the disciples to pray he said, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” Paul said, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more that you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so you can endure.” Temptation is not sin. There are many people who probably think when they are tempted by the thought of power, by the thought of fulfilling desires, or any other self serving thought they have sinned. But Jesus was tempted and did not sin. Jesus had to think about his hunger and the bread being offered Him, but he refused to use His power to meet His own need. In his weakness He undoubtedly thought about how the angels could minister to Him, but he waited on God to send them. James also tells us “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life God has promised to those who love Him.” Pray you might be able to pass by the temptations of the world. But also pray when you do face temptations that God will see you through. Pray you would find strength in knowing you did not give into temptation and did not consider it to be a sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/07 12:29 PM
Proverbs 8:8 (NLT)
8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

This verse speaks about wisdom which God has founded. The wisdom of God is right, just and vindicated. There is nothing twisted, or distorted about it. Wisdom can form advice which is wholesome and useful to a person’s life.

Have you ever tried to assemble something complicated without instructions? I have seen people make the attempt to do so only to find themselves part way through the assembly and they have to go back to the instructions and start over. Once they start following the instructions pieces are found easier and other parts just seem to fall into place. God gives us wisdom in His words for our lives. If we fail to read the words He has given us then it is like trying to assemble the complicated item without instructions. We might start in the wrong place; we might have the wrong conceptual view; we might just really make a mess of things. But when we take God’s wisdom to heart we have a sure way of knowing what is right and what is wrong. And the more we study God’s word, the more wisdom we gain about Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/07 01:05 PM
Proverbs 12:15
15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

Solomon says fools follow in their own ways believing their actions to always be right. But those who are wise listen to the advice of others and reconcile it with the lives to see if they are living a wisely.

Paul wrote the following in Romans 14:10-18, “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘‘as surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Paul says we are to live a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are wise we search for the happiness he describes and learn to love Christ with all our heart. And the things we often believe right we may find are only right at times or that we have been mistaken as we allow God to guide and correct us. Pray that you might be wise and be able to discern what God would have you do as opposed to the world. Learn to live by the Spirit of God and not the desires of man.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/07 12:37 PM
Hebrews 11:24-32 (NLT)
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. 29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned. 30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. 31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.

The apostle writes about those whose faith lead them forward in life. Moses had the temptation to be a powerful ruler of Egypt, but instead he chose to share the oppression of God’s people having faith God would provide something greater. By faith the people of Israel walked through on a dry seabed with walls of water all around them. Jericho fell by faith, yet Rahab and her family who lived there were spared because of their faith.

Many of the people listed in the verses above faced hard times during their lives. Moses was nearly put to death as a child. He was raised apart from his family as a part of the Pharaoh’s household. But then he gave all that up as he saw one of his own people being mistreated. Rahab lived as a prostitute. She had heard of the God of Israel and at a critical time she trusted Him and she became a part of the linage of Christ. Many others placed their faith in God to take care of them in moments of desperation. Webster’s dictionary says faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. We may not immediately see the work God is doing, but when we have a firm belief in Him, He is faithful to prove He is there with us. Let your faith in God grow. Trust Him and believe in His promises.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/07 12:23 PM
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 (NLT)
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

The Apostle Paul refers to Kind David when he said, “I have believed, and therefore have I spoken”. It is faith, belief in Christ that keeps them motivated to tell others about The Savior. They know that even through their suffering their work is a benefit for all. For as God’s word reaches people and more people accept Christ as savior there will be great thanksgiving and God will be glorified.

John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He is quoted as saying, “What shall we be known for? Let it be that we are willing to die for Christ and, even more, that we are willing to live for him in loving his people—and his enemies.” Secondly, “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him. This is the motor that drives my ministry as Pastor. It affects everything I do.” We must go beyond our faith and find satisfaction in what God has given us. We must let Christ rule in our heart and be our motivation to reach out to others. And as others find Christ through our work God will be glorified and praises of thanksgiving will ring out in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/07 01:12 PM
Revelation 7:9-12 (NLT)
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

In the verses above it says the number of people saved from all nations was too great to count. They stood before Christ clothed in white, symbolizing their justification, their holiness and victory in Him. In their hands were palm branches used to symbolize triumph and victory. They shouted out their praise of Salvation and all the angels fell before God to worship him. Their attitude was one of thanksgiving to God for all He had done.

John 12:12-13 says, “The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” People greeted Jesus with palm branches the symbol for peace and victory. Perhaps many of the same who John saw in his Revelation were present the day Christ came to Jerusalem. They hailed Jesus as King and gave praise to Him. During this Thanksgiving season take time to praise the one who brought Salvation to the world. Give glory, honor and praise to the Lord. Without God there would be nothing to be thankful for, because all that has been created is His.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/26/07 12:20 PM
Proverbs 26:3 (NLT)
3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

In this versus Solomon compares the wicked to a horse and donkey, which can be unruly so a whip and bridle are required to guide them back on the right path. Even Solomon’s father David said men should not be as horses and donkeys, which have no understanding. Like so, a fool to sin will sometimes feel as through they have had a rod to their back to move them back into a place of doing right.

Henry Frederick Cope, author and major contributor to the rise of the Religious Education movement in the 20th century wrote these words, which are found in “Our Father and our Fellows”: “Men in the days of the great Teacher were as we-are-today, prone to compound for the neglect of duties near at hand by the adoration of spiritual delights far off. They talked about getting right with God while they continued to do wrong with men. The problem of the hypocrite who is so thrilled with the delights of heaven that he scorns earthy duties and decencies is not a new one. How easy it is to substitute syllogisms for service, to think that we do our duty by describing it, so to exhaust oneself in pleasant and seductive dreams of a distant heaven that we have no power left to apply to the problems of a needy present day world. The mockery of religion today is that men and women are going to churches, singing themselves into ecstatic complacency and imaginary harmony with their God while their greed is crushing the hearts of the helpless and they are blinding themselves to the world’s gloom and pain that unhindered they may enjoy spiritual delights. Things cannot be made right in our relations to the Father of Spirit’s until they are made right in our relations with our brothers in the flesh.” Has God been leading you back to a place of service or to a place to do what is right? Pray God will open your eyes to those place you have resisted like the horse and donkey and let God free you to do His work.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/27/07 11:53 AM
James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James instructs those who hear God’s word that they should also follow His word. It is not just enough to hear and remember, but to also practice what is heard. Just as a mirror shows us who we are, God’s word also shows us who we are. It reflects back those areas of our life containing sin and shows us our imperfection.

The word compartmentalize means to cut up or separate into isolated compartments or categories. Compartmentalization is a psychological term for figuratively taking parts of one’s life and placing it into different containers and then believing those parts can remain separated. For instance President Clinton was highly disciplined, highly motivated, charming and at ease speaking to others. Yet Bill Clinton stood in front of a camera, pointed his finger at American and said, “I did not have sex with that woman.” Bill Clinton thought he could separate off the part of his life that would bring disgrace and humiliation from the rest of his life. He was trying to be multiple people to multiple situations. But as America witnessed those pieces Clinton had separated eventually came together. This is what James is talking about. When we hear God’s word we should practice what we hear to the point we are one person. If someone sees us at church we are the same person seen out in the public or at work. But when we allow sin to take over parts of our life we suddenly find ourselves being different in different situations trying to hold a reflection of our life together. No matter how hard we try to keep it separate it is all there reflected back at us. James starts out in chapter 1 saying, “3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” Pray that you might be perfect, complete and whole in Christ. Pray sin might not separate your actions and words from others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/07 01:23 PM
Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)
27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

These words were spoken by Jesus to all who are willing to listen. They are very similar in nature to the words recorded in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus tells everyone they should learn to love their enemies. They are to pray for those who have hurt them. In addition to the prayers there are also personal actions to be taken. The person is not seeking revenge against their enemies, but instead trying to do what is right to reconcile. They should examine themselves to understand what they would want to happen if the roles were reversed.

Norman Rockwell, an artist known for painting pictures depicting American life, included in his artwork a painting called “The Golden Rule”. The painting contains many people of varying ages from varying nationalities and cultures. They are all posed in very solemn, very reflective and prayerful poses. Included in the center of the painting are the words, “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.” Rockwell was referring to the words spoken by Christ, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” He wanted to show most people could agree on this principle regardless of their religion, belief or culture. Christ said the words for all to hear. We should learn to forgive those who have hurt us and take steps to reconcile. We should not be bearers of grudges or hatred. Instead we should learn to forgive as God forgave us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/07 12:23 PM
Numbers 16:42-46 (NLT)
42 As the community gathered to protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of the Lord appeared. 43 Moses and Aaron came and stood in front of the Tabernacle, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from all these people so that I can instantly destroy them!” But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Quick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them and make them right with the Lord. The Lord’s anger is blazing against them—the plague has already begun.”

Korah, a son of a Levite, one of the priesthood, conspired with Dathan, Abriam and On. They incited a rebellion against Moses and led 250 other prominent men to oppose and challenge Moses’ authority. Moses told them it was not him they were rebelling against, but God. He asked Korah if it was insignificant Korah had been chosen to serve the Lord. But Korah and the others continued to challenge Moses and refused to move forward with him. God moved against these men and the ground swallowed them. Now others started protesting against Moses even after seeing God’s punishment and God’s presence around the Tabernacle. As a result people started to die from a plague. Moses prayed for them and sent Aaron to purify them, but 14,700 still died.

Romans 12:20-21 says, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” The world sometimes can be a hopeless place. The first time turning on the news in a large metropolitan city many people will be confronted with robbery, murders and many other heinous crimes. Most Christians know they cannot overcome evil alone, but instead must humbly trust in God and Christ. It is God who can take evil and turn it into something good. Joseph understood that as he said the following to his brothers who had sold him into slavery; “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” God is able to change lives and circumstances and bring good out of something started as evil. Therefore we must submit ourselves to the Lord. We must be willing as Moses did to fall before God and pray for those who might attack us. Our actions need to agree with our prayers in that we would reach out to extend God’s grace to those who have hurt us. Pray God would give you a spirit of mercy that you could reach out in grace as God has reached out to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/07 12:29 PM
Lamentations 3:31-33 (NLT)
31 For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. 33 For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

This chapter is a continuance of the two preceding chapters. Its poet style has changed from long verse to short verse. It reflects a sad complaint of God’s displeasure and the fruits of it. The Lord says the sufferer is not abandoned. Even though we may fallen, we have not become outcast. Whatever sorrow we are in the Lord has allotted and he is in control. And because God is in control we can be assured the sorrow that has been given us will only last for a portion of time.

The bible tells us that Satan is the prince of this world. In one of his parables Jesus said, “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.” Satan is ready to rob each of us of our joy in life. What Satan takes he wants to hold onto. Jesus said, “For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.” But because of Christ there is hope and the Lord promises us he will not abandon us forever. Zechariah had a vision of Jeshua as the Lord saw Jeshua with his sins. He said, “Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.” Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.” Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by. Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.” Filthy and dirty from the sins that had captured him; Jeshua was renewed and made clean by the Lord. What a great God we have who patiently waits to bring us back to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/07 12:39 PM
Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

The apostle started chapter 13 of Romans by saying people should submit to the authority of those who govern and those who lead. Then he moved into other not to do, such as commit adultery, murder and theft. Then here in these verses he is urging believers to put aside their sins and refers to them as dirty clothes. Instead he encourages them to put on the shining armor of pure living and to eliminate the immoral living that causes them to be filthy.

When I was a teenager I worked in a gas station. Twice a week a garbage truck would come to the gas station and the men would get out and empty the waste containers. These men wore protective covers over their clothes. They came in contact with many things like grease, oil, and every imaginable thing that drips from a trash can. Their clothes were always soiled and I am sure they appreciated a good bath at the end of the day. The men were always friendly and would stop for a few minutes and talk to my boss. On hot days he would buy them something to drink, because he appreciated the hard work they did. One day a nicely dressed man in a suit came into the gas station asking my boss if he would cash a check. My boss looked at him and said I don’t cash checks for people I don’t know. The man quickly replied, you know who I am. I’m Ed the guy who comes in each week from Jones garbage to empty your waste cans. Because he had removed the filthy clothes he was usually wearing and had cleaned up and put on a suite it was as if he had become a new person to us. Like in Romans, strip off that which makes you filthy and dirty and clothe you with the presence of Jesus Christ and people will see someone different. They will see someone in shining armor living the good and right life. Let Christ transform you and remove the dirty sin from your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/07 01:15 PM
Matthew 28:11-15 (NLT)
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had gone to the tomb of Jesus early Sunday morning after his crucifixion. A great earthquake took place and an angel appeared who rolled back the stone on the temple. The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb fell faint from fear. The women were told to go tell the others Jesus was raised from the dead. Some of the guards who had seen what took place went to the religious leaders. The leaders offered these guards a bribe to lie about what happened and they took the bribe. It became a wide spread story that the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus.

Years ago I was sitting at a stoplight waiting for it to turn green. As I looked up into my rearview mirror I saw a car about to ram into mine. The other car impacted and knocked me so hard the drink I had in my hand went flying into the dashboard. As I got out of the car to see what happened the man in the other car jumped out with a gallon of brake fluid and starting filling up his master brake cylinder. Then he turned to me and said he was sorry and wondered if I could just forget the accident. Looking at the back of my car it wasn’t going to be easy to forget with the rear smashed in. So I called the highway patrol to the dismay of the other person. When the office asked my story I said, “I was sitting at the traffic light waiting for it to turn green. I looked up in my rearview mirror just about the time he ran into me. I guess his car must have brake problems because he immediately jumped out and started filling the car up with brake fluid.” The officer said, “Now if the brakes are bad on that car we are going to have to tow it, so what is your story?” The other man said, “I thought his car was moving. The light was green so I assumed he wasn’t stopped, but as I got up close to him I saw he was stopped at a green light and I ran into him.” I was stunned. This man told a lie to keep from admitting to a brake problem and having his car towed. Relating to the verses above the guards changed their story to protect their interests. They lied to keep the truth silent. And because there were two stories some came to doubt the resurrection of Christ, while others believed fully with their hearts. But the truth of the evidence was still there for anyone who would have believed to look.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/07 12:46 PM
Colossians 1:6 (NLT)
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

There is great mercy in hearing the news of the salvation that came through Jesus Christ. It was Christ who commanded us to go out into the world and tell others of His love. The Good news provides the hope waiting in heaven, but also provides for grace and mercy here on earth.

Zack Hunter was a student at Christian Fellowship School in Virginia when he started to raise awareness of slavery that existed in the world. In seventh grade, he along with his church youth group and fellow students raised $8,500 to assist those who had been oppressed. Zach started a program called Loose Change for Loose Chains. He began to educate others about the slavery and oppression that exists in other parts of the world. Now at 16 he is actively speaking to groups, has written a book on the subject and is motivating others to aid in this cause to free those who are bound. Zack’s book Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World points out how there is more slavery in the world now than any other point history. Zack has gained support from others such as the Christian music artists like Jon Foreman and Leeland Mooring. Zack is actively trying to spread the love of Christ through his actions around the world. There is Good News in the salvation of Christ. It frees us from the bounds of sin here in this world. And it allows us to free others who are bound in oppression throughout the world. Pray for Zack’s efforts and that he will have an impact on the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/07 12:54 PM
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

God who has the power and capability has said he will preserve the throne of David until the Prince of Peace is seated there to rule. And in these verses Isaiah expresses the birth of Christ, who is a wonderful counselor, Mighty God himself, everlasting Father of all creation and the one who brings peace to all. God’s desire is to advance the kingdom of Christ among all.

The Olde English word for Christmas is Cristes Maesse, which means The Mass of Christ. The word has been noted back to 1038. There were feasts dating back to 200 A.D. in celebration of Christ’s birth. Throughout history in the cities of Alexandria, Cyprus, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Asia Minor, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, Rome, there were notations of the celebration of Christ although celebration dates varied from one area to another. As history is explored there are many traditions that created themselves along with the celebration of the birth of Christ. Some pagan customs which were centered on other traditions migrated to those of a celebration of Christmas. Hand written cards and presents became part of the tradition of remembering Christ. The Christmas trees developed out of celebrations which included greenery. The first noted Christmas Tree was in Strasburg in 1605. But no matter where the origin, no matter how the event was first celebrated, the celebrations were born to commemorate the birth of Christ into this world. Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, Christmas Trees, Christmas meals, all of those were put in place to recognize Christ and the miraculous birth which took place. There may be some who try to remove Christ from Christmas. They may try to remove traditions which have become a part of the celebration. But Isaiah reminds us the passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will preserved the throne of David through Christ and His kingdom will be established. Remember what Christ has done for you and give Him Honor, Praise and Glory this Christmas.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/11/07 01:10 PM
Proverbs 11:1 (NLT)
11:1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

God extends His righteousness towards men. Therefore those who take righteousness to heart and spread it to other men are following God’s desire. In His holiness, fraudulent practices, dishonesty in dealing with others, and deceitfulness are abominations to God. We find in the verse above that God detests those who try to deceive others for their own profit and gain. When it comes to money men often justify their decisions because of their love of money. But God wants it understood that stealing from another by dishonesty is a sin. He delights instead in those who use fairness and equality of trades.

In many court rooms around our nation are modern day statues of Lady Justice. She is blindfolded to indicate justice should be dealt with fairly and objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, power or weakness. Lady Justice also holds a double edged sword in her right hand representing the power of reason and justice. The double edge sword can be swung in two directions either for or against the parties present. In her left hand is a set of evenly balanced scales with which the strengths of support are weighted against those of opposition. There is justice and rightness in fair scales that weight correctly. God wants us to see that we must always be just and fair. The balance scales are not only used in ways that affect us monetarily, but also affect the circumstances of our life. Pray men would be righteous and just in dealing with all people. Pray God’s righteousness would be extended to others throughout the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/07 01:31 PM
Matthew 1:18-21 (NLT)
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

This is the beginning of the story of the birth of Jesus. Mary was espoused to Joseph when she conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a good man Joseph was going to quietly send Mary away so she would not be humiliated or stoned as they would in those days for such a sin. But God appeared to Joseph and told him to go through with the marriage for a son would be born that would be The Savior of the world.

Can you imagine the turmoil Joseph must have felt when he found out Mary was pregnant? We are talking about a time in history where the woman would have been considered a harlot and stoned to death had Joseph rejected her. This was Joseph’s bride to be. This was the woman he was contracted to marry. He had faith and trust in Mary and suddenly that faith and trust were being called into question. Most of the religious people would have been ready to punish Mary. They would have spoken out about her pregnancy, and called her morality into question. And Joseph being one to follow the law could have easily done the same. But Joseph was willing to forgive, have mercy and quietly send Mary away where she would be safe. Joseph had taken the matter as far as he could in his own mind. Then God intervened and spoke to Joseph. Because Joseph had his heart open to doing the right thing, God was able to work in Joseph’s life and direct him on a path to follow. God reminded Joseph he was a descendant of David and gave him hope in a son who would save the people from their sins. Jesus became the “son of a carpenter” and not the son of a harlot because Joseph was willing to listen to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/07 11:49 AM
Proverbs 14:29 (NLT)
29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

A mild patient man is to be counted as one with intelligence and wisdom. They understand how to express themselves and keep emotions under control. But there are some who are provoked at the simplest spark of provocation. Their anger flares as they attempt to place fear in others and stand in awe of themselves. But the hot tempered person is only fooling themselves because instead of others standing in awe they come to distrust, and not respect the individual.

There was a great Super Bowl commercial where a man walked into a convenience store talking on his cell phone. Oblivious to the rest of the world the man continued to talk back and forth on the phone as he approached the clerks behind the cash register. As the man continued his cell phone conversation he blurted out “YOUR GETTING ROBBED” in response to something said on the other end of the cell phone. Upon hearing that statement the clerks pulled out cans of pepper spray and started to attack the man talking on the phone. They lost their cool because they thought they were being robbed. They reacted to emotion instead of understanding the situation taking place. If they had taken the time to think about the man talking on the cell phone they could have realized it was a part of his conversation that they misinterpreted. But how often do we misinterpret things because we don’t take the time to understand. How often will we react in anger before we grasp the feelings of the other person? Pray for understanding that you may control your response to anger. Pray God will help you to be slow to react, slow to speak, and fast to understand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/17/07 01:23 PM
2 Timothy 3:1-9
1 Here is what I want you to know. There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will love themselves. They will love money. They will brag and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won't be thankful or holy. 3 They won't love others. They won't forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good. 4 They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God. 5 They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God's power. Have nothing to do with those people. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into the homes of silly women. They get control over them. Women like that are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil longings. 7 They are always learning. But they never come to know the truth. 8 Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I'm talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn't accept them. 9 They won't get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.

As Paul writes to Timothy he wants him to know that it is not strange to find those committing sin within the confines of the church. The gospel is thrown like a net unto fish and it pulls in with it all kinds of life. Some give their lives to the gospel, while others pull away to escape. Jesus taught even when gold is found it also contains dross which must be burnt off. He even talked about the chaff among the wheat of the harvest floor. Many may enter into a church, some will be changed, some will start to listen and one day accept what they hear and there will be others who act as though they are serving God, but they are serving themselves.

As Christmas approaches think about who you are serving. Are you trying to do what pleases God or are you trying to bring joy to yourself. Seek out the truth of the birth of Christ and why he came into the world. Pray God would show you what is right and just. Pray for those who need His healing to be upon their lives. And pray that you can discern the truth and know right from wrong. May your Christmas be blessed in all ways.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/07 01:45 PM
Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

God proclaimed a sign through Isaiah that a child will be born to a virgin woman. It is a sign of divine power and divine purity. The child is to be an extraordinary person and given the name Immanuel to represent God is with us. God came to us, lived at peace with us and formed a covenant of salvation with us. And although this sign took place 500 years later it showed God’s mercy, His love, and His faithfulness to fulfill a promise. For if God had not been with us He could not have been Jesus, a savior and blessing to many.

Isaiah 7:14 is a verse that joins Jewish tradition and Christian beliefs, but also causes a point of contention. Christians see this verse as the prophecy of Christ, which was fulfilled through Mary. Others of Jewish belief find the Old Testament translation lacking in its explicit meaning. The translation for some means a young woman of marrying age as opposed to a virgin who would have an immaculate conception. They content the Hebrew word bethulah should have been used if this verse were truly referring to a virgin. However, Matthew clearly writes about Christ and makes reference to this same verse in Isaiah, “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.” Later in Jesus’ life he asked the disciples an important question, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The question for us is who do we say Jesus is? Is He our savior, our God, our hope or just an ordinary person?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/02/08 12:22 PM
Genesis 8:15-22 (NLT)
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Leave the boat, all of you—you and your wife, and your sons and their wives. 17 Release all the animals—the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.” 18 So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat. 19 And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

Noah has waited on God for Him to say leave the boat. Then the Lord gave Noah a vision for the world that the animals would be released and man and animal would once again populate the world. Knowing all life had been extinguished on earth Noah willingly offered a sacrifice from the animals that had been set aside for such purpose. Some men may have feared to give up these animals lest they not eat, but Noah trusted God to provide for his needs. Noah and his family had been on the boat for a long period and God had taken care of him and his family from the time they had boarded. Now was a time to continue that trust and show appreciation to God.

It Genesis 8:13 it says, “Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the New Year, ten and a half months after the flood began; the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.” Noah saw hope in the New Year that had come. He saw God fulfilling His promise to care for Noah and his family. The New Year was the beginning of new life and world to spring forth once again. As this New Year begins remembers the blessings of God and look forward to the hope He brings. May each person be blessed as the Lord works in the lives of His people.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/08 11:49 AM
Matthew 6:25 -34 (NLT)
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Jesus gives these words to His disciples. In them He points out the things in this life that are disheartening, disquieting, distracting and distrustful. Jesus wants the disciples to think about where their treasure and their hearts lie. Is it here with the earth or is it with the heavenly realm of God.

Those who have taken time management courses learn some key principles to managing time more effectively. Some of those principles are: lay out a solid plan for your life; focus on each day and what needs to be accomplished; don’t be discouraged, but look for the positives in your accomplishments. God already has that kind of plan for us. He wants us to have a solid, Christ like life focusing on the eternity of heaven, but living here in the moment on earth. Jesus tells us not to worry about others days yet to come, but focus on today and what God will provide. For instance the Israelites had to gather manna each day to eat while they were in the wilderness. Every day there was enough and every day their need was met. So we must live today doing what we need to do, putting aside the fears of the future. And we must always remember God will take care of us if our hearts are with Him. For our treasure and our hope is in the eternity of life with Christ in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/08 11:21 AM
Proverbs 4:14-16 (NLT)
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. 15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. 16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.

As Solomon reflects on the words of his father King David, he cautions about the path of the wicked. Previously Solomon has said wisdom is the path to seek and to follow. One must take heed to avoid the ways of sin and everything that leads in the direction of sin. His words of caution are to stay clear of those committing evil for fear of falling into sin ourselves.

Job 22:26-30 says, “Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.” These words go well with the Wisdom of Solomon. As we take delight in God and take His word to heart, and we fellowship with God through prayer; we find ourselves wanting to do as the Lord has asked. We become a reflection of the light of God. Our deeds reach out to others; those who need help and those who are in sin. Keeping away from sin keeps our hands pure and as we walk in righteousness others can be rescued from sin. We must heed Solomon’s warning not to walk in the way of the wicked or we will fail to lead others from sin. Ask God that you might walk in purity and holiness. Ask that you would succeed in following the path of wisdom and righteousness, always avoiding the temptations of evil.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/08 12:10 PM
2 Peter 2:4-9 (NLT)
4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into ******, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

Simon Peter writes these words of truth and encouragement. He states God did not spare the angels who sinned and followed Satan’s path. Nor did he spare the men of the world who had totally turned away from God. Water removed all those but Noah; and fire removed all those from Sodom and Gomorrah except Lot. These men and their families were saved because of their righteousness; while others fell because of their total wickedness against God.

Romans 5:19 says, “Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” The bible tells us one person brought sin upon us. The sin has been carried forward from generation to generation. And while there have been righteous men who have endured and fought against the temptations of sin, only one man, Jesus Christ was without sin. No one has ever been able to live a holy and righteous life, without sin, without flaw, other than Jesus Christ. Because God had a plan of Salvation, which he promised to Abraham, and to King David; He fulfilled that promise through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The verse from Romans says many will be made righteous because of Christ. It has been the righteousness of some men who have preserved others. Even when Abraham pleaded with God over saving Sodom and Gomorrah, he asked God if righteous men could be found would He spare the cities. God replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” But there were not 10 righteous men in either of the cities. Pray that you may be able to live a righteous and holy life. Ask God to keep you from temptation and ask that you might be able to lead others from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/08 12:01 PM
Proverbs 8:1-2 (NLT)
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.

The Hebrew word for wisdom in these verses means, skilled in war, wise in administration, shrewdness, prudence in religious affairs, wise of ethical and religious values. It is a word that shows belief towards God and His values. The proverb says WISDOM takes a stand where all paths cross. Wisdom is there calling out to those who will listen as they make their choices of the pathway they will choose to head down.

In the poem the ROAD LESS TRAVELED by Robert Frost he writes, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler, long I stood, and looked down one as far as I could.” In life we all come to a place of decision. We stand at an intersection sometimes looking multiple directions at a time. But we must decide on one direction to take. We try to look as far ahead as we can, hoping for a glimmer of something to tell us which way to go. Some ways seem more appealing and more frequently traveled. Other ways may be safer, but more difficult to follow. As Robert Frost pointed out in his famous poem, “Yet, knowing how way leads onto way, I doubted if I should ever come back”. Sometimes there is no turning back once we have chosen a road to follow. The road may lead one way with no hope of return. Therefore we must choose wisely the way we will travel. We must listen to the reason of wisdom as Wisdom calls out at the intersection of life. Choose this way, Wisdom says. Follow me and I will lead you safely through the journey of life. Listen to God’s wisdom. Listen as His words speak out to you telling you which paths to follow. Give praise to God who leads us forward.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/08 12:26 PM
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)
29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.

Through Ecclesiastes chapter 7 Solomon has defined things to do in life that show wisdom. For instance he points out the person who thinks about death, its meaning, its purpose, and the inevitability of surrendering to death is better off than the person who foolishly goes through life thinking of only having a good time. Solomon also points out these are those who are just wiser than others, just like there are those who are strong while some are weak. Then he summarizes his thoughts at the end of the chapter and says, “But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

The Hebrew word used for virtuous is yashar, which means to be straight, upright, correct, and right. It is a person who follows a straight path, they are level, just, straightforward, proper and pleasing to others. Proverbs tells us “The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.” As Isaiah spoke to the rebellious people of Judah he said, “Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions. They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’” Those trying to corrupt were enticing the people to walk a crooked path and not stay on the one that was straight and narrow. God made us to be virtuous people. He made us to walk the straight and narrow path. Unfortunately the world calls us from that path and we find the path begins to wear crooked as we repeat each faulty step. Pray God would make you a person of virtue and keep you on the straight path of wisdom.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/11/08 12:43 PM
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Paul starts his writing by identifying that he is in prison and even though he is a prisoner, he continues to serve God. He then calls on those he is writing to live a life honorable to God. There should be unity of those who love Christ for there is one faith and one God who is over all the living; therefore we all should serve God and follow his word.

The Associated Press had an article on Yale University’s Infant Cognition center where they were able to demonstrate an infant’s ability to distinguish right and wrong actions. In the article babies as young as 6 to 10 months old showed crucial judgment skills even before they were capable of talking. Researchers showed babies toy dolls trying to climb over a roller coaster mountain. Another doll would come by to either help or push the other doll down. When presented the toys to see which they would choose to play with, nearly every baby picked the helpful toy over the bad one. God put in us the knowledge to know how to help and encourage others. And through His word He has warned us about falling prey to sin, which pulls us away in anger, creates resentment, and continuous finds fault with others. Pray God would help you to live with all people. Pray He would help you to overlook faults and express His love towards others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/08 12:48 PM
Proverbs 14:29 (NLT)
29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

This proverb speaks to those who control their anger versus allowing their anger to flare and explode. Those who take the time to understand an emotional situation and examine it carefully are more likely to control their temper. But the person who allows their temper to run wild without examination shows great foolishness.

During World War II the US submarine Tang surfaced in the dark waters of night near China to fire upon a Japanese convoy. The Tang was down to eight torpedoes and the captain wanted to make sure each found its mark. The first seven torpedoes were released and each one found their target. However, the 8th torpedo suddenly veered off course and headed back directly at the US submarine Tang. Before the sub had a chance to submerge the torpedo struck the Tang and sank it to the bottom of the ocean. When we use hostility toward others we can up destroying our own selves. Holding grudges and anger towards another can have devastating effects. It’s been shown holding in anger can cause physical problems, such as headaches, ulcers, and high blood pressure. The Lord tells us that “vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord!” Instead of taking anger into our own hands let us learn to turn it over to God to handle. Learn to control your anger through understanding of what the Lord would have you to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/15/08 12:55 PM
Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

As king, Solomon was tasked with keeping the peace. Here he tells how peace may be kept and our role in keeping it. If anger is like the beginning of a raging storm, a soft answer can push it away like soft winds that blow the storm clouds elsewhere. Answer gently to those who become angry and seek to reason with them. There is nothing that stirs up anger like name calling, insults, and foul words. And when someone inflames another, it does nothing more than return the fire and creates a flame that is more furious between both parties.

As a teen, my son umpired youth baseball games to earn money during the summer. I enjoyed watching the games he umpired so I would go and sit with the parents in the stands. It was interesting listening to their complaints about the coaches and umpires. It was especially interesting when you know one of the umpires is your son. I remember one game where a play resulted in a player being forced out. The parents were questioning the call, but my son walked over and gently explained the rule book to everyone as to why the boy was called out. Later on in the game what looked like a very similar play for the opposing team left the player safe on the base. You could hear the dissention among the parents of the other team. They were arguing over why the player was forced out in one situation, but in this similar situation the other team remained safe on base. My son sensing the dissention quietly walked over to the fence and said, “I know everyone might think the play you just saw was the same as the one that occurred earlier where I called the player out. And you are probably wondering why this instance is different. The player that caught the ball this time was slightly behind the base line so it was not considered an infield catch. In the case of the first player who was called out the catch was made slightly within the baselines of the field.” Then my son walked back to his position and resumed the game. The crowd now understanding the ruling quieted down and started complimenting my son for taking the time to explain things to everyone. My son’s gentle words to the parents deflected the anger they were feeling and helped them to understand the situation. In fact it brought respect to my son and for the remainder of the game the parents and coaches did not question his calls. If we all could remember a gentle answer deflects anger there would probably be a lot less arguments in this world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/08 12:44 PM
John 2:1-10 (NLT)
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Jesus was attending a wedding; possibly for one of his relatives, since His mother was also in attendance. Jesus had not performed any miracles up to this point; reserving them for His ministry. But this was a wedding, a special and honorable occasion so His mother asked for help when the wine had run out, possibly to save the honor of the groom. Jesus responded with “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” It was a reminder that Jesus, while Mary’s son was also Mary’s Lord and Savior and that His power was for a greater purpose. Mary knew Jesus would still respond, so she instructed the servants to do whatever He asked.

In the book of Revelation, an angel tells John “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The groom is Christ and His church is the bride. The angel then takes John away to the top of a great mountain to show him the city where all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of life will be. The city was described as beautiful and magnificent place. The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. Just like the story of Jesus turning the wine into water the best of what we are to experience is still yet to be seen. One day the best will be ours to experience and behold.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/18/08 12:41 PM
Proverbs 18:5 (NLT)
5 It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.

Here we find Solomon speaking about justice. The just will seek to reprove those who administer justice in perverted manners. Solomon says it is not right to acquit the guilty, because then the innocent are robbed of their justice.

Imagine if you were held up at gun point by a robber and were told to hand over all your money. Because you don’t see anyone coming to assist; you decide the best option is to comply with the robber. You pull out your wallet; hand over the money to him. Then you watch as he runs away. Later the police apprehend the robber and you go to court hoping to find justice. After all your life was put in peril and you did loose the money you had worked hard to earn. The defense attorney calls you to the stand and asks you, “When this man asked for your money did you just hand it over to him and put it in his hand?” You reply, “yes” not getting a chance to explain. The judge then orders that because you handed the money to the robber he is not guilty, because it could have been the same as helping a homeless person. The case is then dismissed. Now I ask, would you feel denied justice? Would you feel the robber had victory? I am sure you agree the answer would be yes. Now think about the many people who are hurt by others every day and no one turns to help them. The innocent start to believe they must be the guilty party because no one is taking a stand to make things right. As Christians we are to love and forgive, but we are also to uphold justice and make sure the innocent are not denied their rights. Pray just and right leaders will be put in places of authority where they can help the innocent. Pray these people might have wisdom to apply justice as God would have them do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/08 12:07 PM
Chronicles 33:7-13 (NLT)
7 Manasseh even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple, the very place where God had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. 8 If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws, decrees, and regulations given through Moses—I will not send them into exile from this land that I set aside for your ancestors.” 9 But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. 10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. 11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. 12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

These verses are about the reign of Manasseh who ruled from the age of 12 until the age of 67. This chapter of Chronicles documents his movement away from God, his turning to idols and all the wickedness that took place during his reign. Then he fell from the grace of God and Manasseh was led off like an animal after ignoring all of God’s warnings. But the good news is that it shows the mercy and grace of God who watched as Manasseh humbled himself; repented; and returned to God. God restored his rule and Manasseh realized that God alone is the Lord.

Manasseh surely thought all was hopeless as he was bound in chains and a led off with a ring in his nose like an animal. It says he was in deep distress during this time. 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 tells us, “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” Manasseh returned to the teaching of the Lord and he sought after God with a humble and repentant spirit. God had grace upon Manasseh as he stood strong in God’s word. And God comforted him and restored him to a place where he could carry out God’s word. God’s love for Manasseh was evident as He waited on Manasseh to return to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/24/08 11:37 AM
2 Kings 18:31-36 (NLT)
31 “Don’t listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well. 32 Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death! “Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, ‘The Lord will rescue us!’ 33 Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria? 34 What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power? 35 What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?” 36 But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”

The Assyrian chief of staff, Sennacherib, was taunting the people of Jerusalem. He was speaking out against their king and their God. He boldly boasted how the Assyrians had overthrown other people who had trusted in their gods. He tried to convince them Assyria was invincible. But King Hezekiah had told the people do not respond to his taunts.

What if those you trusted and the God you believed in were called into question by someone else? What if someone tried to persuade you by intimidation and threats that you could loose everything and you should turn away from God? This was the situation King Hezekiah faced as the people of Jerusalem listened to taunts and threats from the Assyrian chief of staff. And while Hezekiah understood the situation to be of great concern, the actions he took showed his trust in God. First he warned the people not to respond, for this was going to be the Lord’s battle. Second it says when Hezekiah received the written demands from the chief of staff he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.” Hezekiah was honest with his fear and let God know that he knew He alone was the only true God who could rescue them. The same night an angel of the Lord struck 185,000 Assyrian soldiers dead and those who remained woke up to find dead corpses all around them. The Assyrians packed up and left; defeated by the true living God. The next time your faith and trust are called into question, spread out your concerns before the Lord. Pray and let God know your fears and ask for His help. He is always waiting to listen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/08 01:30 PM
Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 (NLT)
19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

In these verses Solomon says one should reflect on the good parts of present life and forget about the misfortunes of the past. He says God will keep these people busy, doing well and enjoying life so their time is lessened to think of the past.

There have been people who have said something to the effect of, “If I could just have that I would be happy.” They finally obtain what they desire and again they find themselves unhappy longing for something new. Others look for the happiness in their circumstances. When things are going great; the world is a happy place. But when things go bad; the world is sad and exhausting. Some look for their happiness in others. As long as someone around them is happy they too are happy. But when anger or sadness arises in the other person; it turns into their own displeasure with life. Sometimes people escape to be happy. They turn to alcohol, drugs or other sinful pleasures just for a moment of happiness that soon fades away. These are all moments of false happiness. True happiness can only come from the inside when a person accepts their life for what it is. They allow God to show them their purpose and they learn to accept what is good around them. They find contentment and joy that fills their heart. They are satisfied with the love of God and what He offers in life. So take time each day and look at the good things God has given you and you will soon find the happiness God meant for you to have.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/08 11:44 AM
Job 8:8-10 (NLT)
8 “Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors. 9 For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow. 10 But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old.

These are the words of Bildad the Shuhite as he replied to Job during his time of suffering. He gives a discourse on hypocrites and sinners who have fallen. Bildad even discloses he does not know everything about God and God’s love. They did not have all the wisdom of God’s words that have been passed to us in present age. And he acknowledges time passes quickly in life therefore we should learn from the wisdom of others.

I was reminded last night how fleeting our days on earth are. Our lives here are nothing more than shadows that exist for a period of time and then fade away from the earth. Our family dachshund died last night due to congestive heart failure. One moment she was here, laboring with her breathing and looking up contently with her brown eyes as she was being held. In the moment of a split second her head collapsed and she was gone. I have heard many a sermon say death is but one heart beat away. We are always closer to death than we realize. God graciously and mercifully gives us our time here on earth. Our time needs to be lived searching out the wisdom of God and applying it to our lives. For we too are but shadows that exist for a moment in time and then we are gone. Hopefully we have placed our faith in the salvation God has provided. Hopefully we realize that salvation comes from a great love for us and a grace and mercy that are beyond bounds.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/08 11:27 AM
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

The Hebrew word for trap is mowqesh, which means to bait lure or snare. The word has been used as a rope to lead an animal away. In Psalms it was used to indicate an iron ring placed in the nose of an animal to keep it held firmly in place. Here in Proverbs it says to fear someone can become a dangerous trap, but trusting God always brings safety.

In Romans Paul writes “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. Either as a parent of child you know what it is like for a parent to watch over and be concerned for their children. Parents would do anything to protect their children and keep them safe from harm. Our loving God and Father greatly cares about as His children. He wants to protect us and keep us safe from the sins of world and temptations that lead us astray. Fear is one of the greatest dangers we can face. It can erode our confidence and beliefs to the point where we feel trapped in our own existence. It can cause us to abandon our beliefs. Fear is a great motivator and has at times driven people to desperate measures. Soldiers defect because of fear. People give up on life because their fears consume them. So we must remember God is our fortress; He is our protector. He is our safety and salvation and He alone is capable of protecting us when others cannot. As Paul said, “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Pray that God would take away your fears and give you a feeling of security and safety. Trust God that He is watching over you and protecting you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/08 12:33 PM
Proverbs 31:4-7 (NLT)
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. 5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.

These words were written by King Lemuel, which he learned from his mother. Many believe this could have been King Solomon, because the name Lemuel means one who is “for” or “devoted” to God. Here he states rulers should not give themselves over to much alcohol. They are not to disgrace their position by drunkenness and unruly behavior. Strong alcohol is better reserved as medication for the dying and light alcohol, such as wine, for those who are grieving.

Senator Ted Kennedy has always been a man of public interest because of an incident where a young woman died in his car beneath a bridge in Chappaquiddick after possibly drinking at a party. It is as though he compartmentalized his off-duty behavior from his responsibilities as Senator. Some have said his drinking has not impaired him professionally, while others have played upon it as a weakness and a problem. Because he is a Kennedy he is watched over very closely by the press and constituents. During the hearings for Clarence Thomas to be appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court, Senator Kennedy made a sharp comment towards now Justice Thomas. It was at that moment his past came back to haunt him. The speaker turned and looked at Senator Kennedy and said, “Senator if you believe that statement; I have a bridge in Chappaquiddick I’ll sell you.” With that Senator Kennedy remained silent for the remainder of the session. Leaders should give thought to the words of King Lemuel. Keep yourself from those things which can cause your character to be called into question. Even a witness on a court stand is discredited if they acknowledge to have been drinking during an incident. Their testimony is disputable and the their memory may not be accurate. Pray for those who have addictions to alcohol and pray also for the leaders of our country.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/08 12:06 PM
Proverbs 1:1-6 (NLT)
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

These words of Solomon start out the beginning of Proverbs as if Solomon is laying out a modern day action plan. He starts with a purpose to his proverbs and that purpose is to teach people wisdom, discipline, and gain understanding. He continues by pointing out how this purpose will impact their daily lives, they will become disciplined, successful, just, fair and one who does the right things. Then Solomon points out some additional benefits that those who listen and practice this wisdom will be able to provide insight and knowledge to others to guide others through life.

There is an expression used in counseling that says, “People can only do the best they know how to do.” It does not mean they are performing at their best; it does not mean they are exceeding above others; it does not mean they are not trying to do well. It just means they can only respond and act accordingly to the wisdom they have learned in life. If they have not grown in their wisdom, then they are limited in how well their best can become. A good example from the Bible is a story about Abraham where he tells his wife Sarah, “Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” Instead of trusting in God, Abraham feared for his life and sought after a lie. Abraham had been a faithful follower of God. He had gone where God had sent him, but he still lacked wisdom to help him through the difficult trials. It was the best he knew how to do at the time. His lack of wisdom carried forward to his son Isaac. In Genesis 26:7-10 says, “When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." Isaac was doing the best he knew how to do, because it was what his father had taught him. Neither had expanded their wisdom to understand how the Lord was watching after them. Abraham’s fear was passed on to Issac and Issac followed the wisdom of his father. Job said the following about wisdom, “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/08 12:06 PM
Philippians 4:10-14 (NLT)
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

In these verses the Apostle Paul gives thanks and praise for those who have supported him while he is in prison. He is very grateful for what they have contributed, but he also says he would be content with whatever he received. For he knows Christ can get him through any situation. For it is Christ who gives him strength to make it from one day to the next.

There was a period of time one hundred years ago where the average American could name about 70 items they desired. One hundred years later people were naming around 500 items they wanted. Man is not content with his life and continues to seek out more and more as each day passes. One day as Lord Congelton was passing by one of the cooks he heard her say, “If only I had 5 pounds, it would be enough to make me content.” Shortly Lord Congelton walked over and handed the woman a 5 pound note. She thanked him and Lord Congelton waited quietly outside the door to see if the woman would give thanks to God for her new found money. But as soon as she realized he was gone she said, “Why didn’t I ask for 10 pounds?” Paul found contentment in life, not from the external things of the world; these come and go; Paul found contentment from the internal blessings of Christ who indwelled within him. It is through Christ Paul found contentment no matter how good or bad the circumstance. Have you ever said you could be happy if only??? Maybe it’s time to stop and pray, giving Christ thanks for the blessings you do have and those he is waiting to bestow upon you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/12/08 11:43 AM
Luke 18:1-7 (NLT)
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

In these verses Jesus tells the disciples a parable about a widow who never gave up on her request for justice. The judge who ruled over the matters was not a man who feared God or regarded justice for men. Yet this woman because of her persistent was able to move the judge to give her the justice she requested. This was a message to the disciples to be persistent in pray and not grow faint facing the struggles of life.

Have you ever thought seriously about your prayers to God? In the verses above the woman was making a specific request. She wanted justice in her dispute with her enemy. How often do we make requests to God in such a way that we ourselves don’t believe our own requests to God? Maybe we say Lord bless my family, but we don’t state our real request that says Lord my family needs me to be a strong, faithful follower of God so that I can bestow blessing from You upon them. Maybe we just request “God will be with us today”, but knowing He has already told us He will never forsake or leave us, what are we really asking? Instead maybe we should ask, God I need You today to protect me from the sins of the world. God I need You to encourage me and strengthen me today when I grow weak with temptation. Lord I need You in my life today as a companion, as friend, as one who looks after my best interest. Lord I need You because you care about me, and love me and I want to walk with You. And because Christ taught us to never give up on our prayers, be consistent, persistent and insistent by placing our trust in God through our prayers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/08 10:47 AM
Deuteronomy 13:6-11 (NLT)
6 “Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend—and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known. 7 They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. 8 But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them. 9 You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in. 10 Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery. 11 Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again.

These verses refer to someone close to you who may try to lead you away from God and the beliefs you have in Him. Satan used Eve to tempt Adam and cause him to fall. Even one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Peter, tried to tempt Christ. We must therefore stand guard against temptations, even from those who are closest to us. The world is full of temptations and we may even be told by our closest companions, relatives, and friends that the rest of the world is doing this, so why not you? This continued behavior requires expulsion of the person because they have become enemies instead of friends. In the time of Moses it required the tempter to be stoned to death if they continued in their ways. It was to show that wickedness had no place in the lives of those who trusted God.

The Old Covenant Civil laws were designed for the people of Israel as they were to grow in their understanding of God. These laws do not always apply to our modern day civil laws, yet we have retained many of the principles given to us by God. And here in Deuteronomy we find a principle for us all to live by; it teaches our delight for our spouse has limits. We are to love the Lord our God with all our soul and heart. We are to obey and follow His teachings and excuse ourselves from the sins of the world. You may have heard a preacher or teacher speak to the fact; the Lord comes first, then your family, then those around you. If Adam had only followed God’s words and not the words of his wife Eve he would not have fallen from grace. God blesses the relationships with our spouses, friends and family; but that relationship can come to a screeching halt when one of those chooses to side with the enemy. This is when it becomes the time to take your stand with God, trust in Him and cast your soul to Christ avoiding the temptations hurled at you. Take delight in God’s righteousness and turn to him for strength to follow Him. James gives us two pieces of advice about temptation: 1) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 2) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Don’t allow temptation to drag you away to sin. Pray that God will strengthen you and know that He is faith not to allow any temptation to be greater than you can stand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/15/08 12:35 PM
Proverbs 15:14 (NLT)
14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.

This proverb addresses two people. First there is the knowledgeable, intelligent person who seeks to further themselves with knowledge. Such a person would be one to grow in grace as they gain a greater understanding of Christ. The second person is one who desires sensual pleasures. They fill themselves with worldly delights. Their carnal mind feasts with an appetite of gratification.

Jeff Foxworthy, a successful comedian, has made a living with his catchy phrase, “you might be a redneck if _____?” Of course the term redneck is usually a disparaging word to describe a white member of the Southern rural labor class. The term is used often to make fun of their lower class standards and lack of understanding. Following Jeff Foxworthy’s humor, he might say something like “you might be a redneck if you understand the following medical terms:”

Barium - what you do with dead people
Benign - what you wanted when you were eight
Carpal - a group that drove together to school
Cauterize - what a guy does before he winks at a girl
Chiropractor - an Egyptian doctor
Dilate - to die late in life, live long
Elixir - what a dog does to his master when it is given a treat

While these phrases are meant to be cute and funny, it does show people understand there are those who lack wisdom in this world. Although these jokes are directed towards one group of people there are many people in this world who lack understanding and wisdom. They have grown complacent. They express apathy at the events of the world. They blindly watch television and are lead by the comments of those who themselves do not have God’s wisdom. Remember that Solomon said, “Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Spend time seeking the wisdom of God. Pray that He would grant you understanding. Ask that you might grown in knowledge and spend time doing so. Take hold of wisdom and be hungry for the knowledge it provides.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/08 12:10 PM
Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)
3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

The proverb points out two of man’s senseless behaviors. The first deals with how man handles his own affairs in life. Their own foolishness causes them not to succeed and they become disappointed in their failures. They do not take account to ask the Lord to guide their ways and lead them in proper directions. The second point is that man then becomes angry at the Lord for something they did not include Him in to begin with. They place their blame on God instead of placing their blame on their own folly. They blame God as though He did something wrong and He was never included from the start.

It is much easier to fix blame on a person than it is to accept responsibility for fixings one’s own problems. You may hear people say things like:

- It’s entirely their fault; if they had helped I would not be having this problem.
- They always leave if for me to do and then something happens and I get blamed.
- I was just trying to help and now they are angry with me for messing up.
- Just because I broke something I borrowed from a friend they expect me to pay.
- God always let’s me down. It seems He is never there when I need Him.
- If only God hadn’t allowed me to get myself into this situation.

It’s easy to blame, but it’s more difficult to correct the real problems. Maybe we need to stop and look at our reasons for the things we do. Most importantly we need to include God in our lives so His wisdom can guide us. Maybe if we listened to God’s wisdom we would learn there are things we should not do and also learn there are things we should do. Hopefully we will come to understand our own faults and make corrections accordingly. Pray and include God on your life decisions. Ask Him for guidance and then when things don’t turn out as expected, praise God that He took you in a different direction for a purpose you may not yet understand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/08 12:20 PM
2 Kings 7:18-20 (NLT)
18 The man of God had said to the king, “By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.” 19 The king’s officer had replied, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” And the man of God had said, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 20 And so it was, for the people trampled him to death at the gate!

Samaria was in desperate need of rescue; Ben-hadad the king of Aram had gathered his forces and besieged the city Samaria. The siege lasted so long a famine swept over the city. A donkey’s head sold at the Markey for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. There was such a hardship some had turned to cannibalism. One woman told the King, “This woman said to me: ‘Come on, let’s eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.’ So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, ‘Kill your son so we can eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.” The hard times had many discouraged including the King, but the prophet Elisha said the Lord would change their situation to one that was incredibly good. The king’s officer mocked Elisha’s comments and the Lord and said there was no way the Lord could help them. He died before he had a chance to partake of the bountiful supply of food, which was suddenly left behind by the Arameans.

Life is not always easy and hard times can come upon us just as it did during the Great Depression. The depression had devastating effects in industrial and exporting countries. Trade amounts sharply declined. There was a sharp decline in personal income, tax revenue, prices and profits. Farmers were hit hard as prices for their crops fell 40-60%. Severe drought hit the heartland of America in 1930, the year following the stock market fall. Those farmers who were already hit hard were now faced with devastating times. Facing plummeting demand with few alternate sources of jobs, areas dependent on primary sector industries such as farming, mining and logging suffered the most. Although the country faced financial ruin, the leadership of our great country continued to acknowledge the thankfulness of what we had and gave credit to Almighty God for watching after us. In his Presidential Thanksgiving proclamation of 1932, President Hoover quoted George Washington saying, “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." We all need to remember the blessings of our God. We need to praise Him for taking us through the difficult times. We need to acknowledge His establishment of our great nation and government that has given us safety and peace. May the Lord bless us all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/08 11:57 AM
Mark 15:33 (NLT)
33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Darkness fell on the people as the sins of humanity were being placed upon Christ. At a time when the sun should have been its brightest, it was dark. Joel 3:14-16 says, “Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.” As God turned away from His own Son to place the sins of sinners upon Christ Jesus yelled out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

The Book of Martyrs by John Fox was first published by John Day in 1563. The book also known as “Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, touching Matters of the Church” gives an account of the persecution of Protestants. The book focused on those who became martyrs under Mary Tudor, queen of England, who was given the nickname “Bloody Mary” for the many executions that took place under her reign. One such martyr written about in Mr. Fox’s book was Dr. Hunter. It is said that as Dr. Hunter was being fastened to the stake to be burnt alive, he uttered a short prayer, “Son of God shine upon me.” Immediately at that moment the sun shone out of a dark cloud so full and bright in his face he had to look away. His prayer was answered and the comfort of Christ came to him just before his death. On the contrary Christ was denied any light. The light of God was removed and the sky’s darkened. Christ did not complain on the cross of those who were torturing Him or of those who denied Him or the disciples who had abandoned Him. Yet Christ cried out as He felt God abandon Him to the sins of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Praise God that He has given His light of redemption to us. Thank Him for the light of Christ which lives in us and can shine on others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/25/08 12:22 PM
Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)
28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

In ancient to modern times walls have been used to defend cities from potential aggressors. The walls provided boundaries. Beyond their defensive nature they were important symbols of the status and independence the city held. As the proverb indicates a person without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken-down. They lack the boundaries they need. They have become defenseless against the battles of life. They have lost their independence because they no longer rule over their own spirit. Their self-esteem is broken down as their lack of self-control leads them places they do not wish to go.
In a Wall Street Journal Article by Alexandra Alter, she describes the life of a married man in a quiet suburb of east Phoenix. She describes his wife, Sue, watching television in the living room, as Mr. Hoogestraat chats online with what appears on the screen to be a tall, slim redhead. He's never met the woman outside of a computer game, a well-chronicled digital fantasyland with more than eight million registered "residents" who get jobs, attend concerts and date other users. He's never so much as spoken to her on the telephone; but their relationship has taken on curiously real dimensions. The woman he's legally wed to is not amused. "It's really devastating," says Sue Hoogestraat, 58, an export agent for a shipping company, who has been married to Mr. Hoogestraat for seven months. "You try to talk to someone or bring them a drink, and they'll be having sex with a cartoon." Mr. Hoogestraat plays down his online relationship, assuring his wife that it's only a game. While many busy people can't fathom the idea of taking on another set of commitments, especially imaginary ones, this game of second life and other multiplayer games are moving into the mainstream. With some 30 million people now involved world-wide, there is mounting concern that some are squandering, even damaging their real lives by obsessing over their "second" ones. It may be wise to follow King Solomon’s proverb. Establish boundaries, have self control, don’t let the walls of your life come tumbling down by following foolish and careless thoughts. Remember 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” When our faith is in God, our city is strong!We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation, Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/08 11:52 AM
2 Kings 17:13-17 (NLT)
13 Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.” 14 But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.
16 They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. 17 They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.

The King of Assyria besieged the city of Samaria. The city fell and the people were forced to live among the other Assyrians. The bible says the disaster fell upon the people because they began to follow the pagan practices of other nations. They had performed sacrifices and worshiped other idols in secrecy. Now they were living among those who had shown them such things. They began to sacrifice sons and daughters by fire. They consulted fortune-tellers, practiced sorcery, and gave themselves completely over to evil. God once again was trying to turn the people back to Him. He sent prophets to warn the people of Israel and Judah. He asked them to turn away from their sin; but they continued in their evil ways forgetting the commandments of the Lord.

For the Lord had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them. But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him. Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.” But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. So while these new residents worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same.” The Bible recounts how the people continued in sin. Their descendants followed their parent’s ways and became like those who lived before them. Our country, The United States, was founded on the principles of being able to worship God freely, but it seems those rights are being taken away from some to let others have their own way. If we are not careful one day it may be recorded our descendants also followed the practices of those around us, because we gave into those practices ourselves. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/29/08 12:22 PM
Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In these verses we find someone known to be a religious expert, someone who would be expected to have the answers, and someone who others might perceive as wise asking Jesus a question. The question, “What should I do to inherit eternal life?” The real intent behind his question, “what laws should I follow in this present life so that I might have eternal life.” Jesus knew where the expert’s heart was so he allowed him to use “the law” as a standard of measurement for righteousness. He quickly stated Moses’ law and then to justify himself as someone who should receive eternal life he asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor.

Samaria had been overrun by Assyrians years before Christ was born. The people had mixed the Assyrian beliefs with their Jewish beliefs. They intermarried and carried on the values of both cultures. Even modern date genetic studies show the current day people of Samaria are descendants of Israelites and Assyrians. There was an ill relationship between Jews and Samaritans because of their past history. The Samaritans were well aware of the Jews bitterness towards them. The Bible says Jesus was sitting by the well, when a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” The Samaritans knew how deeply they were despised by Jews. It is why Jesus used the parable of The Good Samaritan to answer the religious expert. Jesus described how two Jewish religious leaders had passed a Jewish man robbed and beaten. Yet a Samaritan stopped to help the Jew and take care of him. Jesus knew the man asking him the question would have despised the Samaritans, just as most of the Jews did. So when Jesus asked him, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Jesus knew for the religious expert to show kindness to a Samaritan that there would have to be a change in his life. He knew the man would have to find something deeper than his beliefs in the law if he were to extend kindness to a Samaritan. How do you justify yourself in life? Do you try to say you are doing the right things, but then realize you are not? Paul says in Romans, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. It is faith in Christ that justifies us and gives us eternal life. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Praise God and praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/08 11:39 AM
Ephesians 4:17-19 (NLT)
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

The apostle Paul had just completed writing to the church they should be one in unity, and in concord with each other and their lives should be pure. He now tells them to be conscious of what they do and not to wander far from God or harden their hearts toward Him. He says those who do not know God have done this and they have no sense of shame for they are eager to live for lustful pleasures and practice many sins.

Shame is defined as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming or impropriety. It is also the susceptibility to having such emotion. Before Adam and Eve had committed sin it says they were able to walk through the garden naked because they had no shame. They had not experienced sin and they were comfortable in the environment in which they were living. But at the moment of their sin it says their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. In chapter 3 of Zephaniah it says this about the city of Jerusalem, “No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God. Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey. Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain. Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions. But the Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.” Why do the people know no shame? These people had fallen away in their relationship with God. They had distanced themselves from God, although He was there in the city handing down justice day by day. Because they lacked in their relationship with God they felt no shame for their actions, unlike Adam and Eve who had been so close to God. Shame has its purpose to motivate us to recognize our sin and move away from it. But we should never let our shame move us away from God; instead we need to move close to God. We need to confess to God our faults, our temptations, and our sins. Then instead of shame we will see we have a God and Savior who loves us despite our imperfections. Are you letting the shame of sin keep you away from a closer relationship with God? Pray and ask today that you may be forgiven. For the Lord promises if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. God wants us close to Him and if we let the shame of sin rule in our lives it does nothing but to push away when He wants to draw us closer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/08 12:40 PM
PSALM 119:137-144 (NLT)
137 O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. 138 Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. 139 I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. 141 I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments. 142 Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. 143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. 144 Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.

David writes from his heart about God. He recognizes there is nothing missing or amiss about God. He is perfect in His nature, righteous and holy, fair and impartial. His laws can be trusted by all and they are perfect in their influence on man. David speaks to God that some have forgotten God’s words. They disregard the things they should be doing and it overwhelms David that men would do such a thing. Yet David remembers he is nothing without God. As the pressures of life bear down on David he finds joy in following God’s commands for they direct him.

In Psalms 38 David said, “My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.” Have you ever felt like David? Have you felt overwhelmed with life? Have the sins of life crushed you and weighed you down? Most of us have experienced those feelings at one time in our life. You may even be experiencing them now. David’s words are a cry for help to God. It is obvious he was depressed and the mental stress was taking a toll on his physical life. David remembered God had always kept His promises to him. David looked to God for answers and he found joy in the comfort of God’s word. We too can find comfort in God’s world. Christ said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” What a magnificent promise from our Savior that He will give us rest. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/08 01:05 PM
2 Kings 2:15-18 (NLT)
15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.” 17 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.

Elisha was following in the footsteps of Elijah to become a great prophet. Both men knew God was about to take Elijah away. So Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted before he was to go with God. Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” Suddenly Elijah was taken away by a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire. It swept between the two men and carried Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven. And while everyone saw what happened, the prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked if they should search for Elijah, but he kept telling them no there was no need. Finally Elisha gave into their persistence and 50 men searched for 3 days but could find no trace of Elijah. They finally returned and Elisha said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Elisha was accepted as the new leader of the prophets. As he departed with Elijah, Elijah folded his cloak, struck the river and the river separated and allowed them to walk across on dry ground. When Elisha returned alone he had Elijah’s cloak, he folded it as Elijah had done, struck the river and it separated just as it had done before. The other prophets witnessed these events which led them to believe Elisha had been blessed with Elijah’s spirit. Rven though they had witnessed the events that had taken place they wanted to search for Elijah. Elisha kept telling them “no”, because he knew Elijah was with God. They continued to ask over and over. Shame finally caused Elisha to give into their requests. Slight doubts probably came into Elisha’s mind making him wonder; what if they did find Elijah; then he would be at fault for not letting them go. Yet the men returned 3 days later and Elisha who had been shamed into letting them go rebukes them saying, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” Shame works for good, but can also work for evil as well. Shame is good when it helps us to realize our sins and it motivates us to do right. But if we let shame generate fear in our life; then shame starts taking us in new directions of sin. Elisha’s shame was a result of fear that maybe he was wrong. Maybe he didn’t see the miracle God had performed. Maybe he was inadequate and these other men knew what they were talking about when they said they should go search. Shame became Elisha’s enemy and then Elisha felt as though he had to justify himself when the men returned. James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this: that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. Be patient even with yourself, understanding the choices you make in life and not giving in wrongly due to shame.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/08 12:26 PM
Proverbs 7:6-20 (NLT)
6 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, 7 I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. 8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. 9 It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell. 10 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. 11 She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.12 She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, 14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.15 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! 16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. 17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, 19 for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. 20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month.”

In these verses King Solomon tells a story he witnessed as he looked through his curtain towards the streets. He saw a young man who was out at night; a dangerous time to be alone walking. A married woman who made her rounds with men came up to seduce the young man. She tempted him and gave him excuses to ease his mind. She laid a romantic trap speaking of fine linen, perfume and spices. Then she told him how her husband was away and would not be back for a period of time.

Sin has not changed its ways. If you were to read Matthew Henry’s commentary on the above verses the following words would be found: “Such a story as this would serve the lewd profane poets of our age to make a play of, and the harlot with them would be a heroine; nothing would be so entertaining to the audience, nor give them so much diversion, as her arts of beguiling the young gentleman and drawing in the country squire; her conquests would be celebrated as the triumphs of wit and love, and the comedy would conclude very pleasantly; and every young man that saw it acted would covet to be so picked up.” Matthew Henry lived from 1662 until 1714 yet his words could describe current times. In 1995 a movie called the Bridges of Madison County was a hit in the theaters. The movie was about a married woman whose husband and children were away from home. The woman met a photographer looking for directions to a covered wooded bridge he wanted to photograph for a magazine article. A four day love affair ensues but the wife decides in the end to remain with her family. She documents her lost love in a 3 volume dairy, which her children find upon her death. Her request is to have her ashes spread near an old covered bridge where her former lover’s ashes had also been placed. Her children are left to deal with the request, which they finally submit to believing their mom sacrificed her happiness for them. Whether it was real life, a movie or a play, it was still a description of sin. Since Adam and Eve sin has remained all around us; tempting us and leading us away from God. We have fantasized about sin and glamorized it to make it more acceptable. But we have a God who wants us free from sin and listens to our pleas for help. King David wrote, “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/08 11:38 AM
Proverbs 10:24-25 (NLT)
The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted. When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

In Ecclesiastes King Solomon looked at good and evil. His conclusion was, to the righteous it shall be well with them, but to the wicked woe to them. The wicked have a fear of punishment for their sin, but they lack the wisdom to take their fears and turn from their sins. The righteous also have fears, but they look to God to solve their problems so they live according to their faith and not their fear. The prosperity of the wicked will come to an end, but those content in God have a strong immovable foundation that preserves their hope.

The book of 1 Samuel recounts the story of Hanna. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children. So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” As the story of Hanna unfolds the Bible says Hanna prayed she might have a son who she could dedicate to God. Even though she had been taunted for years she still had faith in God. Hanna’s husband, Elkanah, was not an encouragement as he gave the greater portions of offering to Peninnah and her children; and lacked understanding of her pain, saying, “you have me, isn’t that better than having ten sons?” But Hanna’s foundation of faith was in God. She prayed to God because she knew He could answer her prayers. She eventually gave birth to Samuel and prayed this prayer, “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Because of Hannah’s faith the Lord gave Hannah three sons and two daughters. Praise God who listens to the prayers of those who are down trodden and fearful. Praise Him for being the foundation of our hopes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/08 11:43 AM
Galatians 3:1-7 (NLT)
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

Here in these verses the apostle Paul is speaking to Galatians who have accepted Christ as their Savior. They foolishly have fallen back to believing their eternal life depends on their good works instead of their faith in Christ. Paul reminds them they received the Holy Spirit because of their belief in what God had done through Christ and not through their own efforts. He reminded them how God’s word had said, “Abraham believed God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

All through Psalms David speaks about the love of God. Over and over he says God’s love is unfailing and endures forever. David says when one of his loved ones dies, God cares. In the times of David’s sin he realized God did not withdraw from him, it was he who withdrew from God yet God still loved him. Jonah in his anger towards the Ninevites said, “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” In Jeremiah, “Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love, With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” John said, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” If God is always showing His love towards us, doesn’t it make sense God wants us to show our love towards others? Jesus told us we should love one another just as He loved us. 1 John 3:23 says, “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” And if we are to love one another, we are to show it by the truth of our actions. Our acts of love towards others demonstrate our faith in Christ and our belief He loves us. Pray your love for others will be bountiful. Pray you may touch other lives as Christ has touched your own life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/08 11:25 AM
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NLT)
1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians about one of the challenges they were facing. It was a custom among those who worshiped idols to prepare great feasts from their animal sacrifices. They would invite friends to participate; or take leftovers to them; or sell the meat in the market. Paul was warning the Corinthian church to be care in their knowledge. Some had come under the opinion because they knew the idols were false they could enjoy the feasts anytime. Others because they knew the meat was sacrificed to idols refused to eat the meat their friends offered. Paul was saying, we all have answers we think are right, but we are not always right. Our love for God is what strengthens our relationship with God and also strengthens the church. Knowing too we should love others, we need to be careful in the conclusions we reach because we also love God.

How often have you formed a quick opinion about the actions of others? Have you ever felt you had the answers that were right while others around you were wrong? What about times when you were undecided what was right and what was wrong because something did not match up to your beliefs? The questions which should be asked before these conclusions are formed: “Did you consider your love for God?” and “Did you consider how God wants you to show love to others as He has shown you love through mercy and grace?” There needs to be a balance where we respect and love God, but we also extend our love and respect to those around us. Some Corinthians probably offended their neighbors and friends by strongly refusing to eat sacrificial meats. Other Corinthians participated so freely in the sacrificial feasts their neighbors and friends could not see a difference in their lives from anyone else. They needed to consider their liberty in Christ carefully. They were not to let their beliefs move them to believing they were better than their friends and neighbors, but neither were they to indulge so freely in their liberty that they forgot about God. Pray God will show you what is right in His eyes. Pray for His wisdom to do the right things without becoming prejudice or arrogant in your actions. Let God’s love shine through to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/08 11:12 AM
Acts 13:34-39 (NLT)
34 For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’ 35 Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’36 This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. 37 No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.
38 “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.

Paul and Barnabas were on the island of Antioch of Pisidia. It was the Sabbath and as the custom the books of Moses and the prophets were read from in the synagogue. The leaders asked Paul and Barnabas if they had any encouraging words for those who were gathered. Paul stood and began speaking to both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. His words of encouragement were “We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God.”

Jesus used this illustration: "If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away! The good news Paul shared is God wants to rescue those lost in sin. Even if there is one lost person, God is willing to save them and bring them back to Him. This is accomplished through Jesus Christ who was not left in the grave to rot, but was raised back to life. It was through Jesus forgiveness of sin was made available to all who believe in Him. Those who believe are declared right with God, justified and forgiven. Heaven rejoices over the sinner who believes in Christ for they have received forgiveness that could never be found through ones own religious efforts. Praise God Christ was willing to give of himself so that we could live eternally with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/08 11:15 AM
Psalm 119:1-6 (NLT)
1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.

Psalm 119 is one of the longest Psalms David wrote. David put much of his heart into this psalm. In it are many pieces of wisdom just as David’s son Solomon provides many pieces of wisdom in Proverbs. These verses focus on the joy and consistency a person finds when they follow the Lord. Their life is not filled with duality, but is a single life living for God in which they find no shame.

In one episode of Everyone Loves Raymond, Ray’s older brother Robert pretends he is Ray after a woman he just met assumes him to be Ray Barone, the famous sports writer. She makes the assumption after hearing someone call Robert, “Mr. Barone”. Robert convinces Ray to play along with the deception. So Ray pretends to be Robert and Robert pretends to be Ray. Robert lies because he feels the woman will not like him as just being Robert, the brother of Ray Barone. He hopes the deception will buy him time where he can eventually tell her the truth after she comes to like him for who he is. All goes well until the woman shows up at Ray’s home looking for who she thinks is Robert, but instead meets Ray’s wife Deborah. After several moments of confusion it becomes evident Ray and Robert have been deceptive about their identities. Robert’s girlfriend storms off angry after learning about the lie and Deborah is angry with Ray for playing along with Robert’s deception. Robert was living two lives, his real life and his deceptive life. He gave up his integrity and in the end gave up his joy. Had he only been consistent in living the truth, Robert would not have been ashamed over his deception. David’s request to God was that his actions would be consistent with God’s desire and because of that consistency he could compare his life to God’s desires and not be ashame.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/27/08 11:41 AM
Matthew 22:15-22 (NLT)
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.

In these verses we see how the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, meet to plot against Christ. After planning they did not go themselves, but instead sent disciples with supporters of the government to question Jesus. The leaders thought it would be easier to trap Jesus if he believed He was talking to those who wanted to learn. These men used flattery to tempt Christ; calling Him honest; saying He teaches truthfully; and He is fair and impartial. Yet these men were being dishonest in their intent; they did not know how to be fair in what they did; nor were they impartial about their judgment. Jesus saw through their dishonesty and replied with an answer that amazed them and left them unable to say anything else.

After paying large fees to a dating service, a woman said she had paid for honesty, but instead got dishonesty. The company told her they performed thorough back ground checks on each potential date. They said they went to great lengths to make sure couples were compatible and each date would meet her expectations. After the first date, this woman found out the man she dated was married. She felt betrayed by the man and also by the dating service. She obtained more details when she called the man’s wife. The wife revealed the husband had a sex addiction and was in treatment for the problem. Later it was revealed this dating service had similar problems throughout their offices across the country. We all want honesty. Sometimes we are even willing to pay for it if we think that is what we will get. But there are those dishonest in their ways and they plot how they can entrap gain from others. Pray God will give you the wisdom to see dishonesty and how to respond in a proper manner. Pray for your own honesty that others may find integrity in you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/28/08 11:27 AM
Acts 5:38-39 (NLT)
38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Peter and the apostles were spreading the message of the gospel to the crowds of people and healing many who were sick. The Sadducees were filled with jealousy. They had the apostles placed in public jail. An angel of the Lord secretly released the men from jail and told them to go back to the temple to preach the message of life. Surprised the men were no longer in jail the religious leaders found them once again preaching in the temple. They confronted Peter and the apostles and after the apostles spoke of how Christ died by the hands of those claiming to be law abiders they threatened to put the apostles to death. One Pharisee named Gamaliel who was an expert in the law and well respected spoke to the leaders and gave the advice in the verses above.

Gamaliel is the Greek from of the Hebrew word meaning “reward of God”. Obviously respected, no matter how unwelcome his recommendation may have been, the other leaders acted upon Gamaliel’s word. When the apostle Paul spoke in Jerusalem he said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under “Gamaliel”. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs.” Paul had learned from Gamaliel and had respected him for his teaching. Jewish accounts of Gamaliel say he died a Pharisee and when he died the honor of the Law ceased along with purity and piety. Early church history says he remained a part of the Sanhedrin, the ruling authority, but embraced Christianity and secretly helped Christian believers. While not much more is know about Gamaliel, his own words show he strongly believed in God’s authority. He understood God was in control and if God was with these men to preach the gospel then the battle would be against God. Do you acknowledge the control of God in your life? Daniel said it is God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny. Are you allowing God to control your destiny or are you trying to get through life on your own?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/31/08 11:26 AM
Gar theos houto agapao kosmos hoste didomi autos monogenes huios hina pas pisteuo eis autos apollumi me apollumi alla echo aionios zoe. Gar theos apostello ou autos huios eis kosmos hina krino kosmos alla hina kosmos dia autos sozo.

You have probably seen these words many times, but not in this form. These are the English phonetics for the Greek words written over 2000 years ago. John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Sometimes as we look at the modern day translations of the Bible it can be easy to forget the words that were penned so we would have the privilege of reading them. They are living breathing words of God, meant to inspire and encourage us in life. They have been carefully preserved through our history. Not just one copy, but many copies, so many people could hear the good news. These words have great prominence in history and have validated other historical events. Their history tells us about God and His love for us. They are God’s words of hope to life eternal with Him. “For God so loved the world”, He didn’t just love one person, He didn’t just love one race of people, and He didn’t love just one gender……GOD LOVED THE WORLD. God didn’t want people to perish because of sin; He wanted them to live eternally with Him. But there was a price to be paid for sin, and that price was death. So people died to their sins. God provided a gift of eternal love and life everlasting; He gave payment of His son’s life for the price of sin. God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son as evidence of love for God. And Abraham willingly was ready to do so until God intervened. He stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, and God made a promise to Abraham that through him would come one to bear the sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world. He came to show how sin had taken root in the world and that through Him we could be saved. What God didn’t ask Abraham to do of his own son, God did with His son. He made a sacrifice for sin that we may all be able to believe and have everlasting life. Do you know God loves you? Do you know God gave up His son for you? And did you know His son could have stopped His own death at any time, but Jesus willingly died for you? Even mocked and ridiculed by others while he hung on the cross, Jesus had nothing to prove except His love for us. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. And Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/08 12:24 PM
Job 6:24:30 (NLT)
24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong. 25 Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to? 26 Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation? 27 You would even send an orphan into slavery or sell a friend. 28 Look at me! Would I lie to your face? 29 Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong. 30 Do you think I am lying? Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?

In these verses we have Job speaking to his friends who have been trying to understand why he has been afflicted with devastation and physical pain. They feel maybe Job is being cursed for something he has done. Job tells them he is ready to yield to conviction and listen to honest words that may show him if he has problems and where they might lay. Honest men tend to want their mistakes rectified. Job says he is crying out in desperation for the truth. But his friends have been critical and reaching for possible answers by making assumptions.

Sometimes we need advice from others. But the advice we get can come in many forms. Some people will respond critically. They point out as many negative things as they can, but they never offer any genuine advice or answers. Others try to comfort us, but instead of answers they falsely give us words that provide false hope. True friends have a person’s best interest at heart. They will be truthful; not making assumptions; taking fact and presenting it no matter how painful it may be to say or hear. While the honest words may be hurtful, they lead to healing. They lead to understanding the truth and they provide an objective view. Let God speak to you on how the truth should be presented. Pray for wisdom to deal with hard and difficult situations. Above all be a friend that is honest, respected and has integrity.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/04/08 10:34 AM
1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.




In these verses the Apostle John tells us love comes from God. It is God who put his love into our lives so that we might reflect His laws and hope of salvation. John says God displays real love because He first loved us. God has no hidden motive or agenda. He reached out to us in love before we knew we were capable of returning love. God loved us so much His Son Jesus became a willing sacrifice for our sins. Therefore we should show our love to others because God’s love is in us.




In 1970, the movie "Love Story" was in theaters across the nation. A single line was repeated twice in the movie, once by Ali McGraw and once by Ryan O’Neal. The line "love is never having to say your sorry" became the thirteenth most popular movie quotation in 100 years of movie making. In a 1972 movie, "What’s up Doc" with Ryan O’Neal and Barbara Streisand, Barbara Streisand looks at Ryan O’Neal with flirtatious eyes and says, "love is never having to say your sorry." Without emotion Ryan O’Neal responds, "that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard." The writers were playing on the humor everyone does not have the same understanding of love. The Apostle Paul gives us these words about love: love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude; love does not demand its own way; love is not irritable; love keeps no record of being wronged; love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out; love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Paul also says, "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his (God’s) love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Take time to understand God and you can understand what love is and what love is not, because God is love. May God’s love be ever present in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/08 11:04 AM
Luke 1:57-64 (NLT)
57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. 59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” 61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

This is the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Zachariah his father was a priest serving in the temple. One day as he entered the most holy portion of the temple an angel appeared to him. This angel told him his wife would give birth to a boy and his name would be John. As strong as his faith was to serve in the temple, it wasn’t strong enough to believe the angel. John questioned the angel and said how could this be so, my wife and I are too old….something so similar to what Abraham said. For his unbelief he was told he would be unable to speak until John was born. In the verses above we find John born and Zechariah finally being able to say John’s name.

Webster’s dictionary defines faith as a firm belief and trust in something for which there is no proof. Faith towards God is a belief of strong conviction that God can be completely trusted. Trust is about what the future holds. If you see a chair and you trust the durability of the chair you believe you can sit down safe and securely in it. Now I have some friends who don’t like to fly, but occasionally they must get on an airplane and have to belief both in the mechanics of the planes and the in pilot. If they could not muster up the faith necessary they would find themselves standing in the airport as the plane leaves them behind. Many of us think we have complete faith when we might not. I remember asking my wife once, “Do you completely trust God?” I knew I was going to say more, but I wanted to see what her first response was. Her answer was, “Yes, I trust God.” Ok, now what if God told you that your daughter must die in order to fulfill a plan. What if he said she was going to die slowly from a disease so others could see her faith in Him? My wife quickly responded, “I don’t think I would want to trust God in that case.” But that is what faith is about, we must trust completely in all cases. We believe God without doubt, even though we know there may be hardships, and painful things to come our way. We have to believe God knows what is right and holy for the sake of everyone and not just a few. Jesus had faith in His Father as He prayed He might not have to suffer on the cross and have God turn His back on Him as He took on the sins of the world. But Jesus trusted God and while his request was not given, God gave Jesus the strength to endure the hardships. Many men died under the flogging of a Roman soldier, Jesus did not. Many died trying to carry the weight of the cross up a hill after their sever beating, but Jesus did not. Many gave into the temptations and ridicule as they hung on the cross, but Jesus did not. God had strengthened Jesus to endure the hardships up until the end. It fulfilled a plan put in motion ages before Christ arrived. How strong is your faith in God? Do you trust Him unconditionally?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/08 11:32 AM
John 7:1-5 (NLT)
1 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

Jesus was staying in Galilee, his hometown, because Jewish leaders were plotting to kill him for healing a man on the Sabbath. It was not out of fear he wished to stay, but it was not the right time for his death, which he knew was eventually coming. The Jewish Festival of shelters was a holy holiday, one of three, which Jewish men were required to attend. His brothers encouraged Jesus to attend, but they were doing so for their own reasons. They wanted to see if their brother could really be famous with the miracles he could perform. But they doubted him and so were they pushing Jesus to go prove himself.

The Great Debaters was a movie produced by Oprah Winfrey. Denzel Washington directed and starred in the movie. Denzel was a teacher who wanted his students from a historically southern black college to debate against white colleges in the 1930s. Oprah and Denzel took a few moments to reflect on the movie and talk about their own life moments. Oprah said, “When I was going through a hard time once, a woman handed me a note that said, “We’re praying for you.” I’ve never forgotten that. Denzel replied, “I walked in the house one day and—feeling full of myself, a movie star—I said to my mother, “Did you ever think this was all going to happen?” She was like, “Please. First of all, go wash the windows for me. You have no idea how many people have been praying for you when you were being a knucklehead.” These two had something in common; people had prayed for them. Oprah remembered the hard time she was having and how prayer became an encouragement. Denzel remembered the high feeling he had becoming famous, but his mother quickly reminded him people had prayed for him to get him where he was. The brothers of Jesus were hoping Jesus could somehow make the family famous, but Jesus was about doing what God required of Him. We all need to remember as Job learned, God can give and God can take away. Someone could be famous today and forgotten tomorrow. Always be in prayer for each other. Pray for your brothers and sisters that they would follow the will of God. Always be ready to pray for their encouragement.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/08 11:37 AM
Numbers 24:1-4 (NLT)

1 By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, 2 where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, 4 the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

King Balak had summoned Balaam, known for his ability to conjure curses. Balaam used divination which is a process of looking for omens and signs. But Balaam had been told by God twice to bless Israel and he had done so against the orders of King Balak. Balaam had seen God’s power at work and he knew there was no need to refuse. So Balaam is asked a third time to curse Israel. Realizing God was determined to bless Israel, Balaam didn’t even try to seek out omens or turn to demons for curses. Instead he walked out to the people of Israel and in boastful vanity magnified himself as the one delivering the blessing from God.

There is a commercial with business men sitting around a table with their boss. One of the men makes a statement to the effect, “maybe we should use this company to handle our shipping!” The boss repeats back the same phrase and immediately gets applause from all the other men. The man who first made the comment looks shocked and says, “I just said that.” The boss looks at him and says, “No, you didn’t move your hand like this.” The other man just sits there frustrated knowing he gave the idea, but his boss took the credit for his thoughts. Balaam tried to take the credit for God’s words by saying he was the one who could clearly see God’s desires; he was the one who could hear God; he was the one who got the vision; and he was the one who bowed down. People are often ready to take credit for God’s work. But there will be a time when there is no denying who God is. In the book of Revelation John writes the following, “They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"” Are you giving God the credit he deserves or are you trying to take credit for yourself? Heavenly Father we humble ourselves before you acknowledging you are Lord and Savior. Lord you alone are worthy of our praise. Keep us away from the temptation to praise ourselves for the works of your hands.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/11/08 11:01 AM
1 Samuel 12:20-22 (NLT)
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. 21 Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! 22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people

Samuel had led the people with his sons following in the ways of the Lord. However, Samuel’s sons did not have the integrity of Samuel. The people decided they wanted a king to rule over them like other nations. They wanted someone they thought would protect them, although God had always been their protector. The Lord told Samuel, it is not you they are rejecting. It is Me they are rejecting and displeased with. So God granted their request for a king. In the verses above Samuel is bidding farewell as leader. He tells the people even though they have sinned they should not turn their back on God; for God will not abandon His people.

Brennan Manning is an author, friar, priest, speaker and educator; but most of all a sinner saved by grace. It was May of 1963 when he graduated from seminary and was ordained as a Franciscan priest. In the late sixties he joined the order of Little Brothers of Jesus of Charles de Foucauld in Spain. There he committed himself to a life among the poor. Brennan carried water by donkey to the poor villages. He was a mason’s assistant; he shoveled mud and straw; he was a dishwasher; and he became a voluntary prisoner in a Swiss jail to understand the prisoners’ conditions and minister to them. He returned to the United States and continued to minister following the simple life of the Franciscans. In the mid seventies he began to teach, but fell into alcoholism. It was at this point he sought recovery and emerged wanting everyone to accept and embrace the news of God’s unconditional love in Jesus Christ. He began to write and speak to others about God’s love. One of his famous quotes was, “"The Greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." He also asked these questions, “What saddened you this past month? Was it the realization that you do not love Jesus enough? That you did not seek his face in prayer often enough? That you did not care for his people enough? Or did you get depressed over a lack of respect, criticism from an authority figure, your finances, a lack of friends, fears about the future, or your bulging waistline? Conversely, what gladdened you the past month? Reflection on your election to the Christian community? The joy of saying slowly, "Abba, Father"? The afternoon you stole away for two hours with only the gospel as your companion? A small victory over selfishness? Or were the sources of your joy a new car, a Brooks Brothers suit, a great date, great sex, a raise, or a loss of four inches from your waistline?” Good questions to consider as we examine ourselves and our love for The Lord. I pray Heavenly Father we would allow your love to overflow in our lives. I pray we would pass the love of Jesus Christ on to those who need him. And in our own lives I pray we would accept the love of Christ when we stumble and fall.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/14/08 12:05 PM
Proverbs 14:15 (NLT)
15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.

This proverb from King Solomon says one should not heed every report to be credulous; ignore the improbably of a situation; or depend upon a person’s statement of friendship as proof of truth. King Solomon said only simpletons believe in everything they are told, because in comparison to God there is no man without fault that cannot lie or bend the truth. The prudent man will carefully weight out the reliability of information, comparing it to other sources and looking for the probability of the testimony of truth.

The show Myth Busters puts myths to the test and decides if they are Confirmed, Plausible or Busted. In one episode a myth was presented that a person will end up drier running in the rain rather than walking. The Myth Buster Team setup an artificial rain test to make the determination. The original test showed running faster results in getting wetter. So the myth was considered busted. But those watching the show were not convinced. They wrote in saying the test wasn’t a true test of a real rain storm. So the Myth Busters team set out again to prove or disprove the myth. This time they actually waited for a real storm to take place. When retrying the test in actual rain it was conclusively proven that the running test subject got less wet than the walking test subject. The use of artificial rain in the original test led to a false negative. See even those we might trust for accurate results should not be taken for granted. The evidence should be weighted and if necessary the stated facts called into question. Sometimes we think we have all the answers, but the truth is only God has all the answers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/08 11:22 AM
Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Eleven disciples gathered to go where Jesus had told them to go. There had been twelve disciples Jesus had fellowshipped with right up until the time of His appointed death. Judas was not among those heading off to see Jesus; for Judas had taken his own life out of grief of his sin. Jesus gives the remaining disciples a command to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus assures them he will be with them always.

I wonder what these eleven men thought about Judas as they walked to meet Jesus. Obviously Matthew in his writing acknowledged there were only eleven of them now. Judas had fellowshipped with them. He had been a close friend and even treasurer of their funds. In Acts Luke writes the words of Peter as Peter speaks about Judas. “During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”” Some of the disciples probably grieved the lost fellowship with Judas, while others were more than likely angry over his betrayal of Christ. Peter understood what happened had been in God’s hands. Prophecy was fulfilled and the fulfillment of salvation through Christ came for the 120 new believers that were present. Had Christ not died there would not have been 120 new believers present with the disciples. Remember Christ called us to share the good news of Salvation. Christ asked us to go and seek out others to tell. But the rest of the work is left in God’s hands. We are just to be obedient tools that God can use to perform His work. And if we fail, God will always find someone else to fulfill His mission.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/17/08 10:28 AM
1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT)
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

In these verses the apostle Peter says Christ is an example we should follow. He suffered for us; therefore we should be willing to do good for others, even if it means suffering to do so. Christ was not a sinner, a deceiver, a retaliator, insulter, or one who took revenge. He left matters in God’s hands to resolve. Christ is an example we should follow. He suffered for our sakes and because of Him we can be dead to sin and live to what God desires. We were once lost sheep, but now Christ our Shepherd watches over us and guards our souls.

This passage is taken from “God is Closer than You Think”, by John Ortberg, Zondervan 2005: “Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to Kalawao—a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony. For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity. Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope. Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him. Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: "We lepers…."Now he wasn't just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn't just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together. One day God came to Earth and began his message: "We lepers…." Now he wasn't just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together.” Praise our Lord Jesus for living as one of us, understanding our sorrows and pains. Praise Him for the care He has given us, and the love He has demonstrated. May we always give thanks to God for His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/08 11:53 AM
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT)
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

These are the words of the apostle Paul. He was writing to the Ephesians about God’s gracious plan of salvation. As Paul reflects on these thoughts he says he just wants to fall to his knees and pray to God. He has a desire for Christ to indwell the hearts of others that they may tap into God’s gracious love.

Arthur Frank Burns was an economist who served under the Nixon administration. Although Jewish, burns attended informal Christian prayer groups held at the White House. Because the Christians did not know exactly how to include Burns because of his Jewish beliefs he was passed by each week when someone was assigned to pray. Then one week a fairly new person leading the prayer group did not know Burns was Jewish and asked him to pray. Some who had been attending the group for a while glanced around wondering how Burns would react. But without hesitation Burns reached out and held hands with others in the group and then prayed this prayer. “Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen.” Burns startled some with the refreshing directness of his prayer. But it was a reminder Christians also need to deepen their understanding of Christ. They need to understand who Christ is and what He has done for them. They need to walk the road with Christ and follow Him in all that they do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/25/08 12:15 PM
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

The apostle Paul gives praise to God, the Father of Christ, and also our Father who provides comfort in our times of need. Paul said when we suffer and seek out God’s comfort we learn how to later comfort those who are also suffering.

When a person has never had to experience grief it is hard to relate to a person who is dealing with a grievous issue. We might have sympathy for the situation, but without having experienced the same problem it is hard to be empathetic. Webster’s Dictionary says empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present. In other words that person has been where the other person is and knows what the experience was like and they relate fully to their suffering. Christ came to this world and fully experienced our life. He understood heartache, pain, suffering, abuse, torture and many other hardships. It is why Christ understands and can relate to our feelings when we are suffering. It is why Christ wants to reach out and offer His comfort to us during those times. It is also why Christ wants us to reach out to others, because many of us understand the difficulties of life and have been there before. Pray the Lord would help you to see the needs of others and reach out to them with understanding. Pray God can use the difficulties of your past to bring strength to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/28/08 12:11 PM
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

As King Solomon reflects on life he says two people are better off together than one. He says if one falls into trouble then the other person can reach out for help. Two people can assist each other in ways one person cannot. Then Solomon says, three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. In other words, the bond of two can be strong, but it can be even stronger when God is included as a part of their life.

The March of the Penguins is a documentary film on the breeding season of the emperor penguins of the Antarctica. At five years and older the penguins leave the ocean and walk inland to their breeding grounds, an area chosen for it’s protection and firm solid ice. The penguins will walk 70 miles to reach their destination. Once there they select a mate for the breeding season. The female will lay an egg which she transfers it to the feet of the male, where he will protect and keep the egg warm. The female then returns to the ocean to eat, having lost a third of her body weight. She has not eaten for two months so this is her time to eat for herself and for the chick. The mother returns and now the father heads to the sea so he may also eat. The mother shares food with the chick and bonds with the young one. The father returns to watch over the chick as the mother once again goes on the search for food. The parents take turns watching over the chick, going to get food from the sea and bring it back to feed the young bird. The young birds depend on the two parents, but unfortunately at times a parent is lost on the long journey from the sea. The chick is then left alone, depending on the return of one parent. Nature recognizes two together can make a difference in the life of another. And the Bible tells us that including God makes us even stronger in the things we can do. Pray your relationships with others will be strong. Pray for marriages that couples may become stronger in the grace of the Lord. Pray for unity in families knowing that God wants peace and for each to draw on the others strength.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/29/08 11:55 AM
Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT)
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

As the Apostle Paul writes the Ephesians he tells them there is more to God’s love than we can ever understand. God’s love goes beyond out comprehension, our imagination and out ability to reason. Paul as in a prayer state says, “May you experience the love of Christ, thought it is too great to full understand.” The more intimately we know Christ’s love for us, the more our love for Him will be revealed to ourselves and those who are to drawn to Him.

Webster’s defines pride as the quality or state of being proud; inordinate self esteem to the point of conceit. For one to be proud they find they are pleased with themselves. Sometimes pride becomes excessive, which is why synonyms for proud include arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious and disdainful. The book of Proverbs tells us pride leads to disgrace; it leads to conflict; it is a precursor to a downfall; and it ends in humiliation. Twice in Isaiah 2 it says, “Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.” And while many may say they are not prideful, many of those same also believe their sins are greater than God’s love. They believe the things they have done are unforgivable. But the truth is God wants to reconcile us to Himself. God wants to forgive our sins. God wants to have a relationship with us. It is pride that stands in the way saying, how can God forgive my sin BECAUSE IT IS SO GREAT? But our God is greater than any of our sin and our God loves us beyond our comprehension. So pray your pride might be put aside to accept the love of God and Christ. Pray you will come to understand the depths of His love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/08 11:39 AM
2 Samuel 12:8-9 (NLT)
8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.

These verses follow Nathan’s confrontation of David’s sin with Bathsheba. Nathan told a story David could clearly see as unjust and wrong. Yet David had not identified his own sin and did not recognize the story was about him. David was ready to punish the man in the story, but David was quickly humbled when Nathan said “you are that man”. Nathan then tells David what the Lord has revealed to him in the verses above.

Sometimes it is difficult to see your own sin of the sin becomes so habitual a person will justify their wrongs and see no problem. This same person can hear about the sins of others and be quick to point them out; yet they remain blind to their own sin. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, but he was also responsible for the murder of her husband. David was so consumed with covering up the sin of adultery that he was oblivious to the fact he was responsible for murder. God used Nathan to point out David had received many things from God, but David with his selfish desires took something that did not belong to him. David had stolen the wife of Uriah the Hittite, but even more serious David had taken the life of Uriah to cover his sin. In the book of John Jesus healed a blind man. “Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” David thought he was blind to his sin, but he clearly saw it when he was confronted. David was guilty of the sin he pretended not to see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/08 11:36 AM
2 Corinthians 8:10-15 (NLT)
10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

In speaking to the Corinthians, Paul has asked they give generously to those in neeed. He says while they are capable of giving they should give in order to help others. Later there may come a time when they are in need and others can help them. Then he quotes a part of Exodus, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.

Many are familiar with Steve Martin and his comedic humor. In the rags to riches movie, “The Jerk”, Steve Martin started out as an adopted member of a poor family. For him life seemed good and simple. At one point he leaves his adopted family to explore the world. Having lived a poor life he seems able to get along on a meager existence. He always seemed to have a place to sleep and food to eat no matter how unaccommodating the situation may have been. Steve Martin invents a device for a man who was having trouble with his glasses staying on. He named the invention Opti-grab and the man kindly offered to market the device and share the profits. Steve Martin receives the first check of $250,000 and then a second one for $750,000. In the movie he then marries Bernadette Peters and moves into a luxurious mansion where he lives life frivolously. Suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a lawsuit and having to pay back 10,000,000 people $1.09 each bankrupting him and taking away his exuberant lifestyle. Despondent he decides to walk away from home in a robe and shorts. As he is leaving he picks up an item and says, “I only need this one thing.” Then he picks up another, “I only need this one thing too.” And then he continues to pick up items saying it is the only thing he needs. Steve Martin had gone from a penniless man, to a rich man, to a bankrupt man now desiring the things he had. We never know when similar problems might befall us. Paul says we should be content, sharing with others as we can. And when problems fall our way maybe others will be kind enough to help us. Pray God will give you the wisdom to use money wisely. Pray you might be able to help those who are needy in order to share the love of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/08 11:20 AM
James 4:13-16 (NLT)
13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

In these verses James is cautioning about the presumptive confidence of our life and against forming our own plans that might not agree with God’s desires. James reminds us our life is short in comparison to the life waiting for us in eternity. We should reflect on our present life and look for what God would have us do as opposed to the plans we might make for ourselves.

The actor James Dean said, “Dream as if you will live forever, and live as if you will die tomorrow.” We all need dreams and hope to live for; but we need to evaluate them in the light our next day could be our last. In a commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford College, Apple computer founder Steve Jobs said, “Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward (at his life), You can only connect them looking backward, so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” We can look back in life and see our achievements and our failures. We can see how they connect in some manner to each other. We may even be able to realize how a mistake took us in a completely different direction. But we cannot see into the future and if we want the dots of our life to connect in a meaningful manner then we must trust God and his plan for our life. Steve Jobs spoke at the commencement about a year after being diagnosed with a rare curable form of cancer. Doctors first gave him six months to live. Steve has continued to recover and he learned a lesson from life, which he shared with the graduates. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” God has given us a life to use wisely. Don’t waste the time He has given you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/08/08 11:29 AM
John 9:30-34 (NLT)
30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

The disciples had pointed out a blind man to Jesus and asked Jesus this question, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” Then Jesus told them “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” Then Jesus placed mud on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go to the pool of Siloam to wash it off. The blind man did as he was told and could suddenly see. No one could believe the miracle, not even the religious leaders.

Christ touched the life of the blind man in a miraculous way. This man had been blind from birth and had spent most of his life begging. Neighbors and others who knew the man kept asking, “Isn’t this the man who use to sit and beg?” They could not believe this was the same man they had seen earlier on the street. Yet he kept telling them, “YES, I am the same one!” The religious leaders of the synagogue questioned the validity of what happened. They questioned the parents of the blind man. The leaders commented even if this is true, Jesus is a sinner. The parents were afraid to respond for fear of being put out of the synagogue. They said to the leaders, “He is old enough. Ask him.” The man who could now see then professed his faith in Jesus and said, “Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” The leaders mocked the man as a sinner and threw him out of the synagogue. Are you willing to stand up and profess your faith in Christ when the times get difficult? Pray you will always have the courage and strength to profess Jesus as Lord and Savior. For Christ has done something great in our lives; He paid for our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/09/08 11:02 AM
Luke 18:35-43 (NLT)
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

In these verses we have a blind beggar who calls out to Jesus. And although others tried to stop his attempt to get the attention of Jesus he continued to call out to Christ. Jesus then had the man brought to him, and while Christ could see the man was a blind beggar; he asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man said, “I want to see” and Jesus healed his blindness.

In the story above Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted from Him. The blind man was acquainted with asking others for help with food or possibly money. But this man was excited about the question he wanted to ask Jesus. While others tried to hold him back, the man kept calling out to Jesus. Jesus heard the repetitious calls and asked the man to be brought to him. Upon hearing his request Jesus healed the man and told him it was his faith that saved him. There are those in this world that will try to hold you back from faith in Christ. But as we saw the blind man was persistent in his pursuit of Jesus. Jesus wants us to bring our requests to Him and as we ask and He answers it strengthens the faith we have in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/08 11:24 AM
Amos 5:21-27
21 “I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. 22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. 25 “Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? 26 No, you served your pagan gods—Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god—the images you made for yourselves. 27 So I will send you into exile, to a land east of Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of Heaven’s Armies.

Amos is speaking to the people of Israel on behalf of God. God is trying to call the people back into repentance showing them the places they have gone wrong. God says he doesn’t need their showy festivals, offerings, or hymns of praise. Instead He wants justice and righteousness overflowing. God also reminds them of the other God’s they served; images made by their own hands.

Have you ever been in a grocery store and opened a bag of crackers or something else just because you were hungry and wanted a snack. You knew you would be paying for the item when you went to check out, so it didn’t seem like a big deal. I remember when our kids were little. We would be in the grocery store; sometimes the only way to keep them happy was to grab a box of Vanilla Wafers off the shelf and give them a few and then pay for the open box at the checkout. Did you know what seems like such an innocent act is actually against the law in some states? It is called the Law of Concealment; because you are opening and eating items to conceal what you took. It does not matter if your intent is to pay for the item or not. The employees don’t know, the manager doesn’t no, neither does the police offer who shows up to make the arrest. How can they see our intent was righteous and good versus intent to steal? Fortunately we have a God who can see the intent of our heart. He does know when we try to do what is right. But God also knows when we are turning from Him and He calls us back, correctly us in ours ways hoping we will return. Pray you will always seek God’s will to follow Him in justice and righteousness. Pray the same justice you receive you will extend to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/08 10:34 AM
Proverbs 13:10, 13-14, 18
10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. 13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. 14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. 18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.

These proverbs from King Solomon present a common theme: that listening to and accepting advice from another is a good thing. One has to be willing to put aside their pride and respect the words they hear. Having a willingness to listen to advice does not mean it is always accepted, but there are times that accepted advice can provide wisdom and guidance.

There are several ways we can learn about something. One way is to listen to the teachings of another and gain insight from what they have learned in life. Another is to set out on our own trials and efforts in order to find an answer. We can also put both to use, listening to the wisdom of others and drawing upon our own knowledge. I can remember being told as a child certain things were hot, like an iron, the stove, a heater. I didn’t quite understand what hot meant, but I knew it sounded bad. It only took once for me to get burned to realize what bad hot really was. And because of the advice of others I knew what not to touch and what to stay away from. We can grow in wisdom by listening to those who have experienced trials and hardships. We can listen to how they endured. We can gain hope hearing the testimonies of others and how they made it through the difficult times. And for those big problems in our life if we take time to listen, put away pride, accept the valid criticism of others, and follow their wise instruction it will be like a life-giving fountain. Pray you would open to the Godly advice of others. Pray you would grow in wisdom as you listen to what others have to say.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/08 12:09 PM
Deuteronomy 10:12-21 (NLT)
12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. 14 “Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. 15 Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. 16 Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. 17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. 21 He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.

Moses is speaking to the people of Israel asking to remember the past and where they are today. Then after asking them to recall the past he asked them, “What does the Lord your God require of you?” and he gave a response. Then again he reminded the people how God had chosen them and how God had showed His love to them. Moses talked about the Lord’s greatness, His justice and His care for all people. Then he says, “He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise.”

Justice is defined by Webster’s as the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments. Our God is a just God who defends those who have no one else to defend them. King David said the Lord is a father to the fatherless. In the verses above we see God takes care of orphans and widows. In the book of Kings the prophet Elijah meets a widow who only has a handful or flour and oil left to feed herself and her son. Elijah asks if he could have a glass of water and a piece of bread and the woman responds by saying, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die." This poor woman was afraid of giving up what little she had for fear her and her son would starve to death. Elijah told her not to fear that the Lord would not allow the flour to be used up or the oil to run dry and the woman’s faith was validated. Our God is a mighty and powerful God who is always watching out for us and all that He asks of us is to love Him, serve Him and follow His commandments.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/08 11:21 AM
Job 11:1-6 (NLT)
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job: 2 “Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking? 3 Should I remain silent while you babble on? When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed? 4 You claim, ‘My beliefs are pure,’ and ‘I am clean in the sight of God.’ 5 If only God would speak; if only he would tell you what he thinks! 6 If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!

The bible says Job was a man blameless, complete of integrity, fearing God, and staying away from evil. Even God pointed Job out to Satan saying he was the finest man in all the earth, blameless and complete of integrity. Yet in the verses above one of Job’s friends, Zophar, accuses Job of having done something evil that God is punishing Job.

Zophar attacked Job with venom. He portrayed Job as a man who loved to hear himself talk; although Zophar had no evidence to backup such a claim. You have to wonder what type of friend Zophar was to attack Job as he sat depressed from the loss of family, friends and property; and miserable from the pain he was suffering. Yet Zophar said, “God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!” Zophar was quick to use God to backup his claim. Zophar was quick to condemn saying if only God would speak, he would tell you what he thinks. How often have people done that towards others? Have you ever had someone accuse you of something without knowing the truth? Or maybe you heard someone say, wait until God judges that person? Wait until God shows them what the truth is! It was Zophar who was wrong! God had already proclaimed Job to be a man of integrity. God was the one who had judged Job and found him to be blameless. We must be careful in our views of people that we don’t make claims for God that God himself has not made. We are not the judge, God is and God knows every mans heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/08 11:49 AM
Romans 8:38 (NLT)
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

The apostle wants to reassure his readers nothing can separate a person from God’s love. He goes on to list powerful things like death, angels, demons and the power of hell. But included right in the middle of all his words he says, “Neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow.”

Fear and worry are powerful emotions. They can actually cripple a person to the point of not being able to function. Fear and worry produces both anxiety and depression, which cause a person to spiral even further downhill. Fear and worry holds people back and keeps them from moving forward. Fear and worry can even cause a person not to be truthful because they worry about and the consequences that might proceed. Fear is worry about something which has not happened or may not even happen. The presence of fear can change how someone even relates to others. We can become so focused on our worries and fear we forget God is with us. We forget God is there with us, watching over us and protecting us. God is just waiting for us to lay our fears out to Him so that He can comfort us and reassure us. God’s love for us is great and is stronger than any fear or worry. Place your trust in God and let Him handle the problems you are facing. Lord we pray your love will be abundant in our lives. Lord we ask you to calm our fears and worries and move us forward in life. Let us depend upon you God and give us peace to live comfortably in your grace and love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/08 10:45 AM
Luke 8:16-18 (NLT)
16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. 18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

Jesus tells a parable about how one does not light a lamp and then cover it with a bowl. What purpose would it serve? In the same way many have God given talents, which should be put to use and not hidden away. We are to serve others, praying for them and ministering to them. If we don’t do these things it is like hiding the light God gave us to help others find their way in the world.

A doctor goes to school for years to gain an education in medicine. After years of study the doctor completes their work by putting it to practice. Their job is to help others who are sick, lame or close to death. What if the doctor decided to quit and put all those talents away, never helping anyone, never ministering to the ill, never healing the sick? The gift received from years of learning would be wasted and hidden from others. God has given us many gifts to help others. Some have been put in positions where they can influence others. Some have talents that allow them to speak publicly about the love of God and Christ. There are others who have a gift for ministering and caring for people. What if all these gifts were put aside and hidden away from view? There would be many who would miss out on vital care they may need. If you have gifts you know God gave you to use put them to use for God. Don’t let them be like a light hidden under a bowl that has no use.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/08 10:55 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul is writing to the Thessalonians. In these verses he is giving some final advice as he completes his letter. He tells them to always look for joy in their life; never stop praying; and be thankful for all circumstances.

In 2007 fires swept through southern California as far as from L.A. to the Mexican border. Five hundred thousand acres of land was destroyed. The blaze destroyed over 2000 homes as the fire raged across the state. Over 500,000 people were displaced from their homes as they awaited the outcome of what the fires might do to their properties. Although the fire destroyed the homes and belonging of many, worshipers in a Presbyterian Church in Rancho Bernado met to give thanks. They realized the important things were not lost, such as the lives of family and friends. As a husband and wife were salvaging what they could from their burned out home, the wife found a sundial her husband had given her as a present. The message on it said, “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to come.” The two of them had lost their possessions, but they still had each other. It was something they could be thankful for in the midst of a difficult time. Paul said we are to be joyful and give thanks in all circumstances because that is God’s will for us. Pray God will show you the joy in life and help you to give thanks even when you might not feel thankful.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/27/08 10:34 AM
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NLT)
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter writes to believers who share their faith in Christ. He points out they should make every effort to trust in God’s promises and put their faith into action. They should not forget how Christ has cleansed them of their sins and how they should work hard for God to show others they are believers in Christ.

On June 19 of 2007 the Catholic Church released a statement on the Ten Commandments of driving. The commandments are as follows:

01. You shall not kill.
02. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
03. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
04. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
05. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
06. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
07. Support the families of accident victims.
08. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
09. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

It brings to mind a story about a patrolman who observed a woman blowing her horn, swearing, and making obscene gestures to the car in front of them for not moving the instant the light turned green. The patrolman stopped her, arrested her and took her to jail. Later he came back to talk to the woman. “I apologize for arresting you, but when I saw your car with the “I LOVE JESUS’ sticker and the fish emblem and the “I LOVE BEING A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER” I thought surely the car had to be stolen the way you were acting towards the person at the stoplight. If we don’t act different in this world, how will others know we have the love of Christ inside of us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/29/08 09:55 AM
Acts 18:24-28 (NLT)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

The apostle Paul met Aquila and his wife Priscilla in Corinth. Because they were tentmakers as Paul, Paul stayed and worked with them. No doubt they carried on many conversations about Christ as they worked together. Every Sabbath Paul would go to the synagogue to reason with the Jews as this couple listened. This couple went on the first missionary trips with Paul. In Ephesus they met a man named Apollos. Apollos was educated, an eloquent speaker and had a desire to tell others about Christ, but he was limited in his knowledge. He possibly had heard the preaching’s of John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of Christ. He may have even been baptized by John the Baptist and picked up more information along the way, but he was incomplete in his knowledge of the Lord. So Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos to their home to explain the way of God more adequately.

A letter written by a woman in South Africa to Marriage Missions International, www.marriagemissions.com:

“I want to share with you a wonderful testimony. My husband and I had been going through a rough patch because we had allowed the devil to come in between us through a VERY minor issue. This issue grew so much that we both had resentment for each other and we always fought for no apparent reason.
“One day I was complaining to God about this marriage, my innocence in the whole matter, and how unfair all this was to me. God suddenly said something that left me stumped. As I was repeatedly claiming my innocence, God reminded me of the verse that says that we have all fallen short of his glory. That was an awesome revelation for me and I realized how I had totally missed it.
“Soon after that I sent my husband a message (as I couldn’t wait till I saw him in the evening) and confessed that I was also responsible for the situation in our marriage. I think God was also working on him because when we met in the evening, we both let go of our hurt and we forgave each other. For a moment the devil had blinded us to the truth that God wants us to have a happy marriage, to enjoy and not endure every moment we share together. I so love my husband, but I have learned that I can never love him enough with my human love because I am limited as a person, but I surrender my love to God and he will work through us in an amazing way.”
God wants husbands and wives to be one in marriage. He wants marriage to be a blessing and illustrate the love of Christ to others. This woman’s testimony showed how God revealed to her difficulties she had to also accept responsibility for. Satan wants to destroy marriages because then there would be no one like Aquila and Priscilla to tell others the full truth about Christ. Pray your marriage might be strengthened and take responsibility for your actions and confess your sins to God. May God bless you and keep you whole unto Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/30/08 11:20 AM
Colossians 2:16-19 (NLT)
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

These are the words of the apostle Paul to those in Colosse. Although Paul was not a founder of the church; Paul cared for the people as though they were special to him. In these verses he warns of those who try to impose rules which become yokes of burden. He warns of those who would say only angels could be mediators with God when Christ is due full honor as our savior and mediator. Paul also warns of those who would think highly of themselves; sinning due to their pride. He reminds them it is Christ who holds together those who are in Him.

Urban Legends are stories, mostly false, people have come to believe. Many baby boomers still remember the show Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. There was an Urban Legend he was once bitten by a venomous snake on one of the shows and rushed to the hospital. Perkins wrote in his autobiography about this belief: “An interesting after-reaction to this episode is the fact that even today I meet people who in all seriousness tell me that they sat there in front of their television receivers and watched that rattlesnake sink his fangs into my finger. At first, I used to correct them and explain I wasn't on the show that day that the bite occurred before we were on the air. But these people are so sure in their own minds that they have seen this thing happen that I now just let it pass and don't try to correct them. Perhaps this shows the power of suggestion.” As Paul warned those in Colosse we must be careful in accepting urban legends as trust. Instead we must seek out God and Christ on a very personal level where we know them intimately.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/08 10:45 AM
Mark 6:18-26 (NLT)
18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. 21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” 24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” 25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” 26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.

Herod a powerful King misguided by his wife and daughter executed John the Baptist because of a promise to do anything for his daughter if she would dance for the guests. Even John’s faithfulness of pointing out Herod’s faults had not swayed Herod to kill John, but those fears became a threat to his wife and what she might loose. Herod having made his promise in front of his guests felt compelled to follow through on his daughters request to have John the Baptist beheaded. But it was something he deeply regretted.

Herod felt regret over his promise. The feeling of regret can be strong. It is a feeling of sorrow for an action made in the past. It can lead to severe shame and sorrow over the choices that were made. In 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 Paul said, “I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.” We can let the regrets of our past either destroy us or lead us forward. Paul almost regretted speaking out against the sins of the Corinthians, but once he saw the change they made he was overjoyed. Instead of letting regrets pull you down let them motivate you to have a desire to follow God even more closely. Regret can separate you from God or you can let it pull you closer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/03/08 10:38 AM
Proverbs 3:27-29 (The Message)
27 -29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person. Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time" or "Try me tomorrow" when the money's right there in your pocket. Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

The Message Translation of the Bible puts this proverb into simple English, help those who need help, because our hands are God’s hands. We are to look for opportunities to serve others when possible and we are not to take advantage of their trust.

Recently a college softball game made the news as one team demonstrated unprecedented sportsmanship. There were two girls already on base as Sarah Tucholsky walked up to the plate. She took the first pitch as a strike, but on the second pitch she did something she had never done before. She hit the ball over the fence for what looked like a 3 man homerun. As she ran towards first base she missed placing her foot on the bag as she watched the ball sail way beyond the fence. Knowing she had to touch first base she stopped quickly to turn around and that is when she twisted her knee and collapsed to the ground in pain. The rules of the game state no one from the player’s own team can assist the player around the bases. So everyone watched as Sarah crawled through the dirt and pain back to first base. The umpire’s only option was to state a substitute could be placed on first base, but the home run would be lost. Sarah’s first and only homerun would become non-existent. Then the first baseman asked the umpire a question, “What if the opposing team carried her around the bases?” The umpire responded there was not rule regarding the other team helping. In a selfish act the other team picked up Sarah, carried her to each base, and allowed her to touch the base to redeem her homerun. The field became silent and the fans filled with tears as they watched such a selfish act take place. “Those girls did something awesome to help me get my first home run," Sarah said. "It makes you look at athletes in a different way. It is not always all about winning but rather helping someone in a situation like that." Christ put Himself aside for the sake of others. Selfishly He could have avoided the cross, but He reached out to us to help carry us into heaven. When others need help we need to reach out with the hands of Christ just as Christ reached out to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/08 10:18 AM
Romans 5:18-19 (The Message)
Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.

In these verses the apostle compares Adam to Christ. The one sinful act of Adam brought death to everyone. However the one righteous act of Christ brought life for everyone.

In the September 2006 edition of Readers Digest, comedian and actor Bob Newhart tells about a part of his life upon finishing college. He had attended Loyola College and received a management degree so he took a job as a bookkeeper. Part of his responsibility was handling the petty cash drawer. As salesmen turned in their expense receipts during the day, Bob would exchange them for cash. At the end of the day he would have to reconcile the cash with the receipts, but he found it never seemed to balance. So he got creative; if the drawer was short $2, he would put in $2 of his own personal money. If the drawer was over by $3, he would take $3 out. His boss finally caught on and lectured him on not following sound accounting principles. We became out of balance in our relationship with God when Adam sinned. Many have believed if I do this right thing then I am making up the difference, but the truth is we all have fallen short of the glory of God. We all continue to sin and we can never put things back into balance on our own. Our methods are wrong when we think we can balance good deeds versus sins. You can’t do a little more good today and if things work out tomorrow maybe you receive a little bit back. It is why Christ stepped in and paid the debt in full. Christ restored the balance of our relationship with God. We can be with God because Christ made right, what Adam made wrong.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/08 11:34 AM
John 8:1-11 (The Message)
1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. 3 -6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 6 -8Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. 9 -10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" 11 "No one, Master." "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

One of the Ten Commandments given to Moses and the people of Israel is that one should not commit adultery. In Leviticus 20: 10 it says, “If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.” Note that according to the law both the man and woman should be put to death. The words are clear in John she was caught in the midst of the adulterous act, yet the man had not been presented as an offender. According to the law the witnesses to the act were to be the first to throw the stone for the guilt would be laid on them if the had not been truthful.

There are those in this world who are ready to condemn the actions of others. They are zealous in their efforts to bring condemnation for what they feel is wrong. Yet they are just as guilty of many sins themselves and they are not any better than those they self condemn, for all have sinned. They act as the judge and jury passing sentence and executing it. Jesus pointed this out to the accusers of the woman. It was true they had caught her in adultery. It was true according to the law they had the right to stone her for her actions, but the witness had to go first and the witnesses were the religious leaders. They didn’t want to be the first to stone the woman. They would rather incite others to have hate and bitterness towards her. As soon as Jesus said let the sinless among you throw the first stone their own sins were exposed from their hearts. They began walking away one by one until no one was left but Jesus and the woman. Instead of condemning her Jesus sent told her to go on her way and not to sin again. In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus had this to say, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” In others words, show compassion and compassion will be granted to you, but show contempt and contempt will find you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/10/08 10:34 AM
James 5:10-11 (NLT)
10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

James speaks of those who endured suffering. He mentions the prophets who spoke out for God in the face of adversity. The Lord honored them for enduring the suffering they went through. James then mentions Job who was a good and honorable man. He was a man God found to be worthy. But God allowed Job to suffer at the hands of Satan to show His glory. Because in the end God restored Job’s health and gave back to him double that which he had for Job endured his suffering patiently.

According to Webster’s, perseverance is to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement. The counterinfluence in Job’s life was Satan as he attacked his possessions, family, and life Although Job had done nothing wrong Satan hoped Job would fail because God saw Job as a worthy and honorable man. God knew Job’s heart. God knew Job would hold fast even in the midst of his suffering. It was those around Job watching his suffering who could not face what they were watching. His wife told Job to curse God and die. His friends accused him of wrong doing and spoke of him in contempt. There will be some who face adversity head on and depend on God to get them through. There will be some who turn away because they fear the suffering they see. And others will show the love and mercy of God as they reach out to those afflicted. As I watched the news this weekend a woman who was engaged to be married was dying quickly from cancer. Her last wish was to be married to the man she loved. Her fiancée stood with her in the midst of her pain and suffering. Through what almost seemed like a hopeless effort he secured the documents to marry her before she passed away and he did so. He stood with her in her suffering just as God stands with us. God is full of tenderness and mercy if we just allow Him into our lives as we endure the sufferings of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/08 11:24 AM
Genesis 3:11-19
11 God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" 12 The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" 13 "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." 14 -15 God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." 16 He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." 17 -19 He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, “Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."

From these verses in Genesis we find the fall of mankind. God had made it clear to Adam what Adam should not do. But we find Adam saying to God it was this woman you gave me. We see Eve saying it was the serpent who seduced me. Neither one wanted to take responsibility for their sin. Because of the sin there were consequences for Adam and Eve that also reached out to all future generations.

When life is going wrong who do you blame? Do you take responsibility for your past actions which may have led you to where you are or do you try to place the blame on someone else? Have you ever heard someone blame God for their difficult circumstances and the pain and suffering they are going through? Whose fault is it? Surely someone is to blame, right? All the pain, suffering and death came through the actions of Adam and Eve. Man is to blame for his own actions. But through Christ came mercy, grace and the hope of eternal life. God gave His son to redeem man’s sins. God is watching out for us and while we still experience pain, suffering and death Christ fully understands what we are going through. He experienced the same for our sake although Christ did not deserve such treatment. So if you hear someone want to blame God for their problems, help them remember where the real problem came from man and the resolution came from Christ. Remember these words from James, “Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/08 11:24 AM
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (NLT)
5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

Paul writes to the Corinthians about how they are fragile jars of clay containing the great treasure of Christ. He further explains we have received from God and not of ourselves. He talks about our struggles, our pains, and our frustrations, but that God never abandons us. It is through our death we receive an eternal life through Christ. And even though we are in constant danger, at risk of dying, and facing death we can count of a life that is eternally lasting because we are not abandoned.

If you are familiar with the TV sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond; there is an episode where Robbie is performing ventriloquism with his Police puppet. He starts out trying to demonstrate the driving class he was teaching, but as his family mocked him the Police puppet started to speak out for Robbie. The puppet asked him mom, what do you do when you get into a car. She responded, that is easy, you buckle your seatbelt, check the mirrors, and look before you start driving. The puppet asked what else. She said I think that is it. The puppet turns to Robbie and says she thinks that is all. The puppet then yells, “what about making sure your son is still not in the restroom at a New Mexico truck stop before you drive off and its 2 hours before you return to get him!” Obviously Robbie was expressing the frustration of his abandonment through the puppet that hurt him deeply as a child. Abandonment is a wound that is often hard to heal. But God will never leave us nor forsake us. He never abandons us to be on our own. We may suffer, we may have to endure, but He is there watching over and strengthening us. Let us praise a God who cares about us and never leaves us defeated even in the face of death.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/16/08 11:19 AM
Amos 2:4-8 (NLT)
4 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors. 5 So I will send down fire on Judah, and all the fortresses of Jerusalem will be destroyed.” 6 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way. Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy name. 8 At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security. In the house of their god, they drink wine bought with unjust fines.

Amos was a shepherd during the reign of Uzziah over Judah. Amos had visions from the Lord, which he proclaimed to the people. In chapter 1 of Amos he announces the Lords intent to punish the neighbors of Israel. He calls out the sins of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. But then the words of the Lord are turned towards Judah and Israel for the sins they have committed.

Imagine as the people of Israel listened to Amos speak the words the Lord had given him. He starts out with Damascus and says the following, “This is what the Lord says: “The people of Damascus have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They beat down my people in Gilead as grain is threshed with iron sledges. So I will send down fire on King Hazael’s palace, and the fortresses of King Ben-hadad will be destroyed. I will break down the gates of Damascus and slaughter the people in the valley of Aven. I will destroy the ruler in Beth-eden, and the people of Aram will go as captives to Kir,” says the Lord. He then continues on one by one speaking out against the others who have opposed Judah and Israel.” The people of Judah and Israel were probably thinking, ALRIGHT! IT IS ABOUT TIME GOD GOES AFTER OUR ENIMIES. However, I imagine they got pretty quiet when the words turned on them as Amos proclaimed the sins of Judah and Israel. Suddenly they were faced with the things they had done and the punishment they would receive. Are we no different today? We see the sins of others and become glad when consequences strike. But we loose sight of our own sins and the consequences we deserve. Jesus said, “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/17/08 11:27 AM
Galatians 6:7-10 (NLT)
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

In the final chapter of his writing, Paul encourages the Galatians to watch after those who have been led to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In the verses above Paul starts out by saying, “you cannot mock the justice of God.” This is a reminder not to be deceived by ones own sin. Some people may have believed they had no great sins to account for and therefore did not have any responsibility for others within the church. As Paul continues he reminds the Galatians not to tire and give up on the work they are doing for God. He tells them, “whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.” Our service to God should be from our faith and wanting to please God.

In Christianity today there was a story of a woman who enjoyed bargain shopping at garage sales and selling her items on EBAY. One day she came across a saxophone being sold for $20. Not knowing the value of the instrument she called her husband and asked him to search for similar items. He told her he could not find anything. Reluctantly she bought the sax and as she was leaving an older man stopped her to ask how much she paid for the saxophone. When she told him, he said he would give her $40 for the saxophone, which she quickly took. When she got home she searched for the saxophone to see if she had made a good deal, but quickly found out similar items were selling for $500 and up. She showed her husband and found out he had searched incorrectly. Suddenly the blessing of selling the sax for a profit turned into disappointment. She began to harbor ill feelings towards the man thinking surely he knew what the sax was worth. She worked hard searching for bargains and wondered why this opportunity was stolen from her. She was worn out and tired trying to stretch the family’s budget with the extra income. Her thoughts even turned to searching for the man to offer him $60 to buy the sax back. Why did I loose this good deal, she asked herself? As she was reading Galatians 6, God gave her an answer, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.” As she thought about the verse she also thought about 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you.” She let go of the burden knowing she had sold the sax to the man fairly. She even let go of her anger towards her husband for his mistake. Months later at another garage sale she saw the man who had purchased the sax from her looking at some items. She tried to avoid him, but he recognized her and asked her if she had found any good treasures. Wanting to be gracious, she said no in a kind manner. The man then took hold of her arm and said he wanted to thank her; she had given him back his love for the saxophone. He was retired and was now volunteering to teach kids how to play. She realized he didn’t make the purchase to take from her, but to give back to others. A blessing had been given back to her. It was not money, but the joy of knowing she helped someone who was helping others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/08 10:41 AM
Ephesians 6:1-4 (NLT)
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

In this chapter of Ephesians the apostle Paul proceeds to direct family members in their duties to each other. Children should obey their parents following the Lord’s directive to do so. Good relationships bring peace and harmony. When there is a need, there will be a place to fall back to if relationships have not been severed. Parents, especially fathers are not to be harsh towards their children. Parents are to participate in their children’s lives in order that the child may grow in wisdom of the Lord. The father as leader of the home should set a godly example for their children.

Proverbs says a child should be directed down the right path so when they face difficult circumstances in their life they are able to go the right way. This means as parents we have the responsibility to make time for our children and teach them lessons about life. We must have clear plans for our children that follow God’s will and not our own. We should seek to instill a love for God by demonstrating our own love for God. Proverbs also tells husbands to let your wife be a fountain of blessing and for them to rejoice in the wife of their youth. Fathers by demonstrating love for your wife and children you teach your children the love of God by example. You instill in them values that remain for a lifetime. In our busy lives we often neglect the things we should do. Sometimes we are just selfish and forget our children need time from us. Can you imagine if you were in need of God and His answer came back, “sorry I am too busy for you now?” Make time for your children so they are not provoked by the way you treat them. Spend enjoyable time with them. They need to see the good in life. They need to know we care. It is much easier for a child to accept discipline when they know the parent cares deeply for them. Most of all pray for your family. Pray they would understand who God is. Pray they would understand the salvation of Jesus Christ. Pray for God’s protection in your family’s life. Pray God watches over your family and directs them on the right path. Fathers stand firm as leaders for your children and you will be rewarded.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/08 11:36 AM
Philippians 4:10-14 (The Message Bible)
10 -14 I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

Paul writes to the Philippians about contentment. He starts out by thanking them for all they have done. Then he goes on to say he appreciates what they did, but that he has also learned to be happy with what he has. Even imprisoned Paul is able to deal with it and remain content about his situation. Paul points out that Christ is the one who makes him what he is and because of Christ he can patiently wait and be content in any situation.

Webster’s says contentment is the state of feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation. Socrates said that contentment is natural wealth whereas luxury is artificial poverty. If you are able to be content then you can experience happiness in circumstance others might dread. And while some people have all the luxuries of life they sometimes find no contentment, but a desire to have more. Through Christ Paul was able to find contentment in his circumstances. Then when something special came his way he was able to see the beauty in what another did for him. Many people today are in debt beyond their means because they lack contentment. The problems seen in the housing and mortgage business today are because people wanted more than they could afford. Pray the Lord will provide contentment in your life. Pray you will find joy in those things you have without the need to have more.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/08 12:29 PM
1 John 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

As this chapter of John begins he lays out the idea that because of the eminent relationship we have with God and Christ we are to follow God in our love for others. John reminds us keepings God’s commandments are not there to place burdens on us, but instead help us through life. This world is full of sin and the only way to victory is through our faith in the Father and in the Son.

In a battle the enemy plots how they might overrun those they are attempting to overtake. There are strategies for war and how it will proceed. The enemy attempts to create snares and paths of resistance in order to move those they oppose to the place they want them to be. Surrounded they become captive to the enemy and those who remain become fewer in their fight. We have an enemy named Satan. Satan is out to overtake us and our lives. He plans strategies that bring temptations into our lives that we may fall into snares. He attempts to lure us away from God in hopes there will be fewer and fewer who stand up for God and Christ. But John tells us through faith we can have victory. Through faith in Christ we can stand firm to defeat the evil in this world. And through faith in Christ we can will the battle against the world. Pray God will help you to stand firm. Pray Christ might strengthen you and keep you from temptation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/24/08 11:07 AM
PSALM 19:12-13 (NLT)
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

In this psalm King David asks God a question, “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?” David was familiar with sin in his life, but he didn’t always recognize the sin even when it was in front of him. However once David understood his sin he was quick to confess it to God. But this question is a valid question, how does he know all the sins? God gave laws and commandments, but even then a person does not always recognize their own faults. So David asks God not to let those hidden sins make him deliberately sin. David wants to be free from the guilt of sin, but realizes that is only a task God can help him with.

Luke 5 has the following story about Jesus: “Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Jesus was saying there are people who know they have sin hidden away in their lives, but they don’t know how to deal with it. They want to be free and they want to repent. So Jesus said I have come for those people and not the ones who think they are religious and think there is any need for repentance. I have come to heal those who know they are sick. Do you have sin in your life hidden away that you know you need to repent from. Christ the Lord is waiting with open arms to accept you, show you His love, His mercy and His grace. Don’t wait, turn to Christ today!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/08 10:53 AM
Acts 11:4-10 (NLT)
4 Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. 5 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. 6 When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. 7 And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’ 8 “‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.’ 9 “But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ 10 This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

These verses recount a vision Peter had from God. As he was praying he saw a blanket let down from the sky and on it were all types of animals, reptiles and birds that would have been considered unclean by Jewish standards. God told Peter to go take from the animals, kill and eat. Peter refused saying he had always followed Jewish law and had never partaken of something considered unclean. But a voice from heaven said, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

What we believe is right versus what is right according to God are two different things. In the verses above Peter believed he knew the correct answer when he heard the voice tell him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” Peter had followed Jewish tradition all of his life eating only food that was considered to be kosher and now he was being told to do something totally contrary to his belief. He even protested to God and said, “NO, LORD” it wasn’t something he wanted to do. Peter was acting according to his previous beliefs, but God had revealed something new to Peter. He was letting him know we must act according to Christ working in us and not be so wedded to our own opinions that we prejudice ourselves against what God has revealed to us. God spoke to Peter 3 times to convince him it was ok to eat that which was laid out for him. It also meant Peter was to go to others who were different, such as the Gentiles to spread the message of the gospel. The sheet with all the animals was even pulled back up to heaven as a sign that what was there was acceptable before God. We need to take the time to listen to God and not ourselves. We need to hear what God is telling us and be open enough to let it into our hearts. Pray God will speak to you about your life and allow Christ to work in you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/08 11:23 AM
Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

In his letter to the Colossians the apostle Paul lists some qualities a Christian should have. They should be merciful, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and loving towards others. He reminds them to let Christ rule in their hearts so all can live in peace and be thankful towards each other.

One very cold day I was walking out of my office building to grab some lunch. As I walked out the door a man who appeared to be homeless stopped and asked me if I could give him some money for something to eat. I usually won’t give money because sometimes there are alternate purposes for the money, such as drugs or alcohol. In fact I once witnessed a man trying to return a meal someone bought him because he wanted to buy cigarettes. So I asked this man if I could walk with him to buy him something to eat instead of giving him money. The man quickly said yes and I pointed to a few of the restaurants around and asked which one he wanted to go to. He said he wanted to go to the chicken place because he saw they had a sign up for a chicken wing special. I walked with the man to the restaurant and when we got to the door he didn’t want to go in. He just stopped and froze at the door. I asked him why he didn’t want to go in and he said usually they would kick him back out on the street, especially when he was just going in to get warm. So I told him I would walk in with him, pay for his meal and tell the people in the restaurant he was a welcome customer who could take his time eating. I let the man order and I knew when he asked for 8 biscuits along with his wing special that he was hungry and was going to save a few biscuits for later. I told him to get some warm coffee, find a place to sit and enjoy his meal in the peace and comfort of the warm restaurant. I was ensured by those who worked in the restaurant they would give him plenty of time to eat and warm up. For me it was one of those eye opening experiences that we need to be patient and gentle with people. There are people with real needs and problems who are looking for help. They need someone to be kind, gentle and patient. I even got to tell him Christ loved him because I knew Christ was using me to help that man. What a blessing I gained and how thankful I was I didn’t just pass the man by.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/30/08 12:07 PM
Colossians 2:8-10 (NLT)
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

The apostle speaks about those who try to deceive the believer. Satan spoils the souls of individuals by deceiving and misleading their thoughts. Satan is a master of confusion. He influences others who try to corrupt others with their human thoughts instead of the words that come from God. Paul reminds the Colossians that Christ dwells in those who believe in Him. Therefore Christ being the head over all can lead us correctly. So we should seek to listen to Christ and not depend upon man.

Proverbs 10:1 says, “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! King Solomon understood the deceit of man and the influence Satan directs through man. This is a warning to all of us to make sure we seek out what God desires and not what man desires. In Acts 11:4-10 it says the following about Peter: So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: "Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in. Then I heard a voice: 'Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.' I said, 'Oh, no, Master. I've never so much as tasted food that wasn't kosher.' The voice spoke again: 'If God says it's okay, it's okay.' This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.” Over time the Law of Moses had developed into rules. Here we see Peter saying I have followed the rules of Moses all my life and I’m not ready to change what I have been taught. But God tells Peter 3 times “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay!” Peter wasn’t listening to God; he was listening to what he had been taught by others. But if God tells us what to do then it is God we should follow. Notice the blanket with animals Peter thought was unclean was taken back up into heaven by God. He was even showing Peter by example that it was ok to do what He had said. Pray you will follow God and His word and not the word of man. Pray Christ will direct you and lead you in the proper directions of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/07/08 11:11 AM
Malachi 2:13-16 (NLT)
13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. 14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. 15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

In these verses from the Prophet Malachi he tells the people that they spend their time crying and groaning over problems in their life. They have brought the problems upon themselves by breaking their marriage vows they made before God. God wants godly children from a strong and pure marriage and in a broken marriage that becomes a difficult task. So God says he hates divorce and to divorce one’s wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty.


Back in May of 2007 a billboard peered down into a trendy bar section of Chicago. The billboard was sponsored by an all female law firm specializing in divorce. The sign read, “LIFE’S SHORT. GET A DIVORCE” The ad campaign was defended by one of the firm’s partners saying, “Law firm advertising is boring…Everything's always the same. It is lawyers in libraries with a suit on and the law books behind them. They don't say anything. What, I should hire you because you have a law degree? C'mon. So we wanted to try something different." A clinical social worker speaking out against the sign stated how the billboard trivialized divorce. He said in his work they try to help people go through divorce with some integrity, try to help restore it if possible and help them grieve their loss when it is inevitable. One lawyer challenged the ad through the Attorney Disciplinary Committee of the courts saying it was a perversion of the image of marriage. He said sure the female lawyer drew a lot of attention with the billboard, but it is like the guy who spits on your table. He draws a lot of attention, but what kind of attention is it? Somewhere in America we have lost what it means to make a vow before God and commit ourselves to marriage. Then when things fall apart we cry before God asking why, when deep down we know the reasons for the failure of the marriage. Pray God will help you to see where you can make a difference in your marriage. Pray for the Lord’s guidance that you might maintain your vows in a godly manner.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/08/08 10:59 AM
Psalm 130:1-4 (NLT)
1 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. 2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. 3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

In these verses David tells us whatever condition we are in, whatever the circumstance may be, no matter how terrible the problem, no matter the depth of our sin we are to call upon God for help. We are to continue calling so we might not slip deeper into the pit of despair and hopelessness. We cry out for the Lord knowing He offers forgiveness and puts our sins aside. We are to look for the hope of the Lord, for His love, mercy and grace.

William True Sleeper, born February 9, 1819, served 30 years as pastor of the Summer Street Congregational Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. Although he was not well known he took the words of David to heart and wrote the words to the song “Out of My Bondage, Sorrow and Night.” The words to the hymn are:

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

There may be some who read these words and relate to the despair and plea for help. For those who do, know you are not the first and won’t be the last to face difficulties, temptations and trials. Man has been facing these feelings for years, as far back as David and even in the thoughts of William Sleeper. Just remember there is hope in Jesus who waits with open arms for us to come to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/11/08 12:58 PM
2 Corinthians 2:5-7 (NLT)
5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. 8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.


In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 the apostle Paul had written to the Corinthians saying, “I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn't be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you're so above it all that it doesn't even faze you! Shouldn't this break your hearts? Shouldn't it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn't this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?” In the verses above Paul acknowledges the hurt that was caused by this situation. But he goes on to say now is the time to forgive and comfort the man so he might not become discouraged. More than likely the man had repented of his sin and now was the time to show the same love, grace and mercy Christ shows.

I started reading a biographical article on Author Ann Lamott, which said “Anne Lamott writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus. But armed with self-effacing humor – she is laugh out-loud funny – and ruthless honesty, Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment. Actually, she writes about what most of us don’t like to think about.” As I searched for more information some referred to Anne as a hard core liberal. There are some who disagree strongly with her beliefs. She does not always agree with right-wing conservative evangelists who have southern accents. But what Ann Lamott does that stands out is she always speaks about the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. People may not always agree with her view and she definitely does not always agree with others. In fact she has received hate mail and threats for some subjects she has written and spoken out on. However, Anne keeps going back to grace and mercy. She is willing to forgive and love those who have differing opinions and beliefs because of her love for Christ. So like Paul I urge you to reaffirm your love for others knowing Christ loved you. If some has hurt you in the past maybe it is time to forgive.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/08 11:55 AM
1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Peter is talking about the suffering of Christians in this world. He has told them they will go through trials they sometimes might not understand. He reminds them their suffering identified them with Christ who suffered greatly for our sins. But he also reminds them some suffering, consequences, is brought about by sin, such as murder, stealing, making trouble and prying into others business. So for those suffering for the right and just reasons they should keep on doing what is right and trust God who never fails us.

CIPA is also known as congenital analgia. It is a rare genetic condition where a person cannot feel and has never felt physical pain. For the most part cognition and touch remain normal to the extent the person can interact with the world. At first this sounds like something that could have its benefits. Instead of experiencing the excruciating pain of childbirth a woman could be exempt from the pain. A person could go to the dentist without fear of feeling the sensitivity of the drill. But never feeling pain means there are lessons that will never be learned. But there are serious drawbacks. A person can break their foot and not realize it. They can pick up a scalding pot and until blisters appear they didn’t know the pot was hot. They get injured in some serious, but they never feel the pain to know how to deal with it. Christians are not exempt from pain. They do suffer and feel the hurts and sorrows that come their way. But they grow from those experiences and learn to deal with the pain and learn how to heal from it. Without pain there is no realization of the damage sin causes and no remorse for wrong actions. So give thanks to God who created you to be able to feel the pain for sin to learn to move away from it. Just like touching a hot iron we learn that it is not a good thing to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/15/08 12:14 PM
1 Peter 2:21-25 (The Message)
21 -25 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

In these verses the apostle Peter, a disciple of Christ, someone who knew Him well describes some attributes of Christ’s life. Christ is our example to follow. He showed us how to live and how to bear suffering in life. He was mocked, yet he held no anger towards anyone. Instead the wounds Christ took upon His body became our healing from sin. We were lost in sin, but now we have Christ to guard over our souls and lead us to righteousness.

I have had people ask me before, if God is such a loving God why does he allow suffering? Where is God in the midst of my suffering an injustice that I am experiencing? Why won’t God do something, I prayed and prayed and prayed, yet I got no response? Our problem is we think we are in control of God; instead God is in control of everything. Jesus understood God had His purpose and His plan. As Jesus was about to face death He prayed to God, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?" Jesus knew the torture and pain he was about to face, but He knew God had a plan for all of man. While Jesus asked out of His humanity to be spared, Jesus also knew whatever God had planned was far greater that the fear He was facing. We have been invited to the life of Christ. There is fulfillment and joy in following Christ. There are blessings untold as we love and reach out to others. But there will always be suffering, the same suffering Christ experience because of sin. Sin is what we should be angry at when we are in distress. And in those times we should praise God that we know what ever happens is in the best interest for all. May God bless you and may the wounds and suffering Christ faced for your sins comfort you in your time of need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/17/08 02:24 AM
Philippians 3:17-21 (NLT)
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

The apostle Paul wants to make the point to the Philippians their life here on earth should reflect their citizenship in heaven. Paul gives a passionate plea for them to understand there are enemies of Christ who by their actions show they want no part of God. They do not desire the salvation He provides out of love, grace and mercy. He knows many are waiting for Christ, and there will be a time when our mortal bodies will be glorious, transformed bodies; citizens of heaven.

Can you imagine life as a citizen of heaven? The book of Revelation has these words, “All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God.” Citizens have a responsibility. It was the citizens of this country we love that stood up for their beliefs and desire for freedom. It was citizens of this country who came together to pass laws providing rights to vote and equalities that had been neglected once too often. Those who believe the salvation God has provided will be citizens with Him in heaven. But while we are here on earth we are to live as though we are already living with God. We are to take our citizenship seriously knowing that it will never fade away. We are to act accordingly showing the same love, mercy and grace God showed us. Pray God will lead you to be the citizen on this earth that he desires you to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/08 11:20 AM
Luke 16:19-31 (The Message)
19-21"There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man's table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores. 22-24" Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.' 25-26 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It's not like that here. Here he's consoled and you're tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.' 27-28 "The rich man said, 'Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won't end up here in this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham answered, 'They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.' 30 "'I know, Father Abraham,' he said, 'but they're not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.' 31 "Abraham replied, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they're not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.'"

Jesus tells a story of two men; one who lived by the world and the other who lived by any means possible. When death came upon these men they received two very different eternities. The rich worldly man, who was never named, but only referred to as a rich man found himself in hell. The poor man, named Lazarus was shown to be in the comfort of heaven with Abraham. The rich man pleaded with Abraham to have mercy on him, but Abraham could not help him. The man even realized if there was no mercy for him then maybe his family could be warned. But Abraham told him if they didn’t listen to the words of Moses and the Prophets who spoke the Lord’s word and performed miracles, why should they listen to a dead man?

Hell is not a place many of us like to think about. In fact in some religions hell is non-existent. A person dies either to a good life or they become non-existent. But Jesus let us know there is a place called hell. In hell there is a separation from God for eternity. It is a place where all the wrongs and regrets are remembered. It is a place where there is suffering and torment that is ever lasting. In heaven though there is peace and comfort. Lazarus was no longer living a painful and suffering life, but instead he was consoled. It is a place where everyone is in the presence of God and there are no regrets. Jesus Christ died for the salvation of all men. He was beaten, tortured mocked, and hung on a Roman cross to die. It was God’s plan to provide salvation for all those who had faith to believe that His Son Jesus paid the price for sin. The apostle James said this, “And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God.” We know Abraham was in heaven and believed God and the plan for salvation. Do you believe? If so God bless you that you will live a life eternal in the comforts of heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/21/08 11:09 AM
Luke 7:44-50
44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Jesus has been invited to eat dinner with a religious leader, a Pharisee. When a certain immoral woman hear Jesus was there she entered and began crying at his feet, kissing them and anointing them with oil. The Pharisee became outraged and began to say if Jesus was a prophet He would know what kind of a woman was touching Him. Jesus did know; Jesus knew her every sin. Yet Jesus saw the sorrow and desire for forgiveness and it was this woman’s faith which caused Jesus to say to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

I think we sometimes forget God and Christ can see our every sin. I think we believe we can hide those sins from God. But the truth is we have a difficult enough time hiding them from people around us. Others see our actions and know what sins we have in our lives. And if mortal man knows those sins, then the eternal father of heaven who created us knows them all. While God knows each and every hideous sin, He is more willing to forgive than anyone else. All we have to do is have faith in His love, mercy and grace that He provides through His son Jesus. Just think of your most horrible sin and remember Jesus still loves you, Jesus still finds you precious, and Jesus is willing to forgive whatever you ask Him to forgive. Pray that you may understand the loving forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Thank Him for his mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/22/08 11:03 AM
PSALM 103:8-12 (NLT)
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

King David describes the nature of God. The Lord is not one to be harsh in His judgment, but is instead compassionate and merciful towards us. God does not get angry quickly with us, but instead allows us time so we can repent. God does not hold all our sins against us for He understands our human nature and so He deals with us as we deserve. God’s love never fails us and is greater than our understanding. When the Lord forgives us as He promises to do when we repent; the Lord forgets our sins as though they have been moved to a place of infinity.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch impressionist artist whose paintings are some of the best known and most expensive. What some don’t know about van Gogh is that for a period of time he served as a missionary. Vincent chose to live as those around him; he bore the same hardships as those he ministered to; he slept on straw in a hut behind a baker’s house. Appalled church leaders dismissed van Gogh after learning about his to choice to live in poverty feeling it was undignified. Even as a missionary he had a desire to be an artist and so he started his new career. He once said, “to try to understand the real significance of what the great artists, the serious masters, tell us in their masterpieces, that leads to God; one man wrote or told it in a book; another in a picture." Vincent dealt with mental illness and feel into depression often, which eventually lead him to commit suicide. His pain and grief were often expressed in his works of art. In the painting “The Resurrection of Lazarus” he placed his own face on Lazarus showing his own hope for resurrection. In one of his darkest and depressed moments he painted “The Starry Night”. It showed swirls of yellow representing God’s love all around the sky, which looked down on a dark empty church. Vincent may have felt deserted by the church. Vincent van Gogh expressed a great love for Christ, but he become hardened to the teachings of the church. He once said, “Oh, I am no friend of the present Christianity, though its founder was sublime." Vincent van Gogh loved the Lord, but he saw the failure of man. And like many of us his resentments of humanity took hold of his life, while the love of God was waiting on him. Pray you never forget God’s love for you. Pray man will not be your influence, but God alone. Praise God who removes our sins as far as from the east to the west and gives us hope of eternal life with Him.
Posted By: StillLovingHim Re: Devotionals - 07/22/08 09:40 PM
I enjoyed this one! Keep up the good work -- it is an inspiration and something to look forward to every day we check in!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/08 11:53 AM
Thank you for those blessed words of encouragement.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/08 12:01 PM
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (The Message)
9 -13 I wrote you in my earlier letter that you shouldn't make yourselves at home among the sexually promiscuous. I didn't mean that you should have nothing at all to do with outsiders of that sort. Or with crooks, whether blue or white-collar. Or with spiritual phonies, for that matter. You'd have to leave the world entirely to do that! But I am saying that you shouldn't act as if everything is just fine when a friend who claims to be a Christian is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends, gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can't just go along with this, treating it as acceptable behavior. I'm not responsible for what the outsiders do, but don't we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers? God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house.

The apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about a problem where a member of the church was committing immoral acts. The issue was everyone accepted what was happening as normal. Paul said the church members had a responsibility to confront those inside the church who sin. But he also made it clear those who were outside the church were to be treated with grace.

I want to focus on the church in these verses for a moment. The church members found the behavior of a church member committing blatant sin acceptable. They had not confronted the man or dealt with the issues he was causing. Instead they were apathetical about the situation. Paul reminded them he had written them once to tell them to not make themselves at home with those who were sexually promiscuous. Then he explains they weren’t to be harsh towards those outside the church, but to take care with those who were in the church. If disciple was necessary then disciple should be given. They were not to ignore the sins of a church member. The church should not tolerate sin committed by those who placed their faith in Christ. It does not mean they are not to draw sinners into the church. It does mean they should correct and teach people about sin and its consequences. It does not mean they are to condemn someone as if to pass judgment; for God is the only true judge. It does mean if someone is a Christian in the church and committing blatant sin it should be confronted. Confrontation of sin does not mean that love, grace and mercy are not given. In fact Paul later writes the church to say extend this man the love, grace and mercy Christ extended; bring him back into the church and restore him. Confronting sin should always be done out of motivation of love for the sinner. More mercy and grace should always be extended to those who do not know better. But for those who know and understand they are sinning; they should not be allowed to do so within the church without someone speaking up. Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/08 11:18 AM
Romans 15:1-2 (The Message translation)
1 -2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

The words of the apostle here in Romans is to remind us our goal is not to seek out that which can be lawfully done, but instead focus on our conduct and how it may affect others. The grace of Christ allows us freedom from the law, but we must be mindful of those we are weaker and look to us for direction. The strength God gives us allows us to help others, but we must remember not to allow pride to step in and push aside our good works. We all need to be helpers to one another, caring and loving those around us and asking how we can serve.

I read an impressive story of a university chaplain who picked up an author from the airport in his new pickup truck that would be providing a keynote speech at a leadership conference. The author had just traded away a similar truck and the two began to bond over their truck stories. They laughed at the bumper sticker humor that said, “Nothing is more beautiful than a man and his truck.” There are probably some of you who can relate to owning a truck and keeping up its appearance. The next day the chaplain was back to pickup the author to carry him back to the airport. As the author went to step into the chaplain’s new truck he realized dents and scrapes down the side of the truck. Curious he asked, “What happened to the truck?” The chaplain replied that his neighbor’s basketball goal had fallen over and damaged the side of the truck. The author said that was terrible; you can still smell the newness of the truck. The chaplain responded, “It’s even worst. The neighbor does not feel responsible for the damage.” Jumping to his new friend’s defense he asked the chaplain wasn’t he going to contact the neighbor’s insurance or try to recover the damages. No was the response of the chaplain. “After a lot of soul-searching and discussions with my wife about hiring an attorney, it came down to this: I can either be in the right, or I can be in a relationship with my neighbor. Since my neighbor will probably be with me longer than this truck, I decided that I'd rather be in a relationship than be right. Besides, trucks are meant to be banged up, so I got mine initiated into the real world a bit earlier than I expected." Wow! If only all of us could learn the importance of maintaining relationships over just being right. Proverbs says, “Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/31/08 12:01 PM
Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

This proverb is an encouragement to those who follow God. Any man is subject to sin, but when the righteous fall they recover by the grace of God. Maybe they fall seven times to sin and the sins of iniquity; but the just through wisdom repent and find the mercy and grace of God. Those who do not follow God fall into disaster of their own making and it is enough to lead them to ruin.

Some countries have different driving qualifications from others. In South Korea it took one man 5 years to pass his driving test. The 69 year old repairman said he had been illiterate most of his life and could not read the required driving manual. There was not an option for an oral exam, so he kept going back trying to pass the written portion of the test. In the five years of testing he attempted to obtain a license 271 times. Even when they finally offered oral exams it was difficult not being able to read the driving handbook. But Mr. Seo was determined and kept trying until he was able to finally pass the exam. The exam office said Mr. Seo was such a frequent visitor he felt like family. They rejoiced with him after he passed his test. For those who love God they may face many trials and many failures. They may fall, but because they know the love and grace of God they are able to stand again. They know God’s mercy and they repent and accept God’s grace. And the people of God rejoice knowing the person finally passed the test.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/08 12:01 PM
Nehemiah 1:5-9
5 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. 8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

This is a prayer of Nehemiah referencing all the other prayers he had been praying day and night for the people of Jerusalem. In his prayer he confesses his own sins and the sins of his family. He remember’s God’s promise and prays that the promise will be realized.

If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior then you have been blessed by the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Romans, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” While we may not always know what to pray for or how to pray our prayers are heard and the Holy Spirit expresses what needs to be made known. Jesus also is there pleading for us. It also says in Romans, “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” So when you pray remember not only is God listening to your prayer, but the Holy Spirit is praying for you and Jesus is pleading for the forgiveness of your sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/04/08 11:00 AM
Mark 13:1-8 (NLT)
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.” 2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” 3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

As this chapter of Mark starts we see the disciples are amazed at the great buildings they saw around the temple. Christ was quick to tell them the buildings would one day be demolished so He might bring them back to reality that even something so amazing in present times does not have lasting substance. Some of the disciples began to wonder when the temple building would be destroyed. Jesus told them not to be panicked or disturbed over the things that would take place. Instead they were to keep their focus on the true Messiah and not those who claimed to be.

A person once said, “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” Life ticks away second by second. While people were going on with their lives during the 1950’s, it was the start of the cold war. It brought about uneasy feelings and even a new term, MAD, mutually assured destruction. While many people thought this might be the end of the world the Soviet Union collapsed and the Berlin wall came down. There were even two great buildings that many admired and visited. Remembering the words of Jesus as the disciples admired the great buildings around them He said, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” On September 11, 2001 the great majestic towers of the World Trade Center fell from the act of terrorism. Plans that were made suddenly ceased and many had to take a new course in life. Many have suffered from such terrible personal crisis they wonder how life can go on. Yet life continues to tick away second by second. If you walk through Washington, D.C. there are many reminders of past wars. These wars have come and gone and all that remains are the memories. Yet we ask the question when will the end of time come? In some ways it is the continuance of man’s sin to want to know as much as God knows. What is something far worst than disasters, the possibilities of war, and the potential devastation of mankind? Not trusting God, not placing faith in the Salvation of Christ and not believing that nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even personal crisis, wars, terrorist acts or even economic recession. Do not fear the future, but instead place your faith and trust in God who will carry you through even in the difficult times.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/05/08 12:16 PM
James 5:13-18 (NLT)
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

In these verses James focuses on the power of prayer. There are various conditions in this world we must deal with and it is up to us to submit ourselves to God in prayer about these conditions. James focuses on sin and says we need to confess those sins to righteous others who can help us deal with them and also pray for us. James reminds us of the power of prayer. Elijah prayed there would be no rain and none fell for three and a half years. Then he prayed again and the rains came yielding crops.

There have been times some of us have asked God for a miracle to take place in our lives. Maybe a loved one is sick or maybe we have fallen on hard times. God is always listening to our prayers and wants to answer them in ways that follow His will. Christ for instance grieved at the thought of taking on the sin of the world and the horrible death He had to face. Jesus even prayed if the situation could be taken away, please let it be so. But God answered by strengthening Christ to help Him fulfill the plan of Salvation. It might not have been the answer Christ was looking for, but it was an answer to Christ’s prayer and it was an answer to man’s prayers as well. In my personal life there are times I know God listened as I prayed and His response even surprised me. Those surprises lead me to believe if I had more faith maybe I wouldn’t be so surprised by God’s answer. Yet God is faithful and He wants to meet our needs. Are there issues in your life you are dealing with? Take the time and pray to God about them. Don’t make prayer something difficult; make it a natural conversation with the Father who loves you. Pray for others and watch the wonders that take place.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/08 04:21 AM
Revelation 22:1-6 (NLT)
1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. 6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

These verses are a part of the single revelation made known to John by an angel sent from the Lord. A paradise is described, one which replaces the paradise lost by man to sin. Here in this paradise exists not only the tree of life, but a river of life; eternal life never ending. The original paradise also included the tree of life, which God had to guard man against so that he would not live eternally with sin. God and Christ are present. They are served and worshiped by those who bear their name. It is those who faithfully trusted God and His plan for the salvation of man from sin. Their service is given in freedom and honor; fully illuminated by the Lord.

When man fell to sin the tree of life was secured by God such that man could not return to it. The words “tree of life” was used seven times in the Old Testament. Three times it was mentioned as the tree in the Garden of Eden. Four other times it was mentioned in proverbs as the fruit of a righteous and holy life. The remainder of the references is found in the book of Revelation. Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.” The tree of life was so precious God had to protect man from it once he fell into sin. Yet here we find God saying those who have washed their robes; those who have taken on the blood of Christ; those who have placed their trust in Christ; those who bear His name; those, yes those will be able to take from the tree of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/08 09:49 PM
ISAIAH 50:10-11 (The MESSAGE)
10 -11Who out there fears God, actually listens to the voice of his servant? For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in God. Lean on your God! But if all you're after is making trouble, playing with fire, Go ahead and see where it gets you. Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames, But don't expect me to just stand there and watch. I'll hold your feet to those flames.

God speaks through Isaiah in these verses to those who at the moment feel out of touch with God. It is as though they are walking in darkness, groping around, searching for the answers they need. There are two possible things the person can do: 1) continue to trust in God, or 2) head off in their own direction, frustrated and letting their emotions run wild like a forest fire.

A missionary once told a story of his travels through Africa. One night as the missionary and a companion were making a trip to another city the lights on their jeep suddenly went out. The two found themselves fearfully alone in total darkness, on a dirt road in the African wilderness. The companion remembering there was a flashlight in the glove box groped around until he found it. He then got out of the jeep and sat on the hood with just enough light from the flashlight to see the edges of the road and a few feet ahead. He told the missionary to drive forward as he vigilantly watched ahead. The missionary listened to his companion, who he could not even see, as the companion said steer left or right. It took a while, but they eventually arrived safely at their destination. Our lives are sometimes similar to this story. We can be traveling along in life and suddenly find ourselves surrounded in darkness, unsure of what to do, alone and fearful of the road ahead. We can stay there in our fear trying on our own to deal with the problems or we can trust God will lead us even though He seems out of sight. We can listen for His voice as He directs us along the proper path. Then finally we can arrive at the place God wanted us to go. Those who trust God are not assured the path ahead can be easily traveled, but He does promise not to leave or forsake us. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/08 11:25 AM
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (The Message)
1 -2 Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire. 3 -5 In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral. 6 -7 Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

These verses may have been written by Solomon in his older age as he reflected upon his past life. He says one should honor the creator while they are young, before the years of life takes a toll on their body. The further along you are in life the closer you are death, closer to the eternal life God has waiting. Life as beautiful as it is lasts like a flower on a plant, its beauty only remains for a short period of time and then it returns to the ground from which it came.

A study found that those who won silver medals during the Olympics were often disappointed, while those who won bronze medals were often happier. It comes from a view of perspective. For the silver medallist they came close to receiving the gold medal, but fell slightly short in their attempts. They became disappointed because they thought with a little more effort maybe they could have gotten the gold. The bronze medallist focused on how close they come to failure and they were happy to be acknowledged for their efforts. In the youth of our life we see the things we can do and we start to believe with just a little more we could accomplish must. What happens though is we become reliant on ourselves and not our God who created us. But as the years pass and we become weaker, we become happy just to survive here on earth. We start seeing our need and dependence on the Lord and the life He will give us after our death. Change your perspective now and focus on what the Lord can do for you in your life. Learn to be content and happy and enjoy the good things you have been given. For one day the body will not be able to enjoy what its youth had to offer. Give praise to the Lord for the good things He has provides. And always honor and praise the Lord for watching over you life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/12/08 11:03 AM
Acts 26:9-18 (NLT)
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ 15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

The apostle Paul speaks to King Agrippa about how he personally persecuted those who believed in Christ. He sent some to prison, some he condemned to death. Paul was even present at the stoning of Stephen. Paul had made it his mission to destroy Christianity, but then as he walked down a road to Damascus a voice called out to him. It was the voice of Jesus asking Paul why he was persecuting him. Jesus took this very man who was against him and used him to reach the Gentiles that they might turn from darkness to light and turn from Satan to God. For by their belief they would receive forgiveness for their sins and would become a part of God’s family.

What road have you been walking down in life? Maybe you have been walking down a road of self destruction. Maybe it was a road leading you away from God and to the sinful pleasures of the world. Maybe you have been lost on the road seeking for something, but not knowing what it was. What if Christ suddenly called out to you would you be ready to listen? Paul was out to destroy those who wanted to know Christ. In fact Paul put many to death who proclaimed the name of Christ as their savior. They were willing to die for the salvation of sin they believed in. If Christ is calling out to you; take the time to listen. Christ himself will lead you down the road you were meant to follow. Just think as Christ frees you from the sins in your life He gives you the opportunity to help free others. May you can be a blessing to our Lord and follow His light instead of the darkness in the world. May God bless you and bring you closer to the family of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/13/08 11:17 AM
1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Here the apostle Peter warns those who have placed their faith in Christ to take care and abstain from the sins of the world. Even the best of men, those who appear to be faithful to God, and live honorably are subject to the temptations of the world; therefore each must be careful as temporary citizen of earth to live righteously. He encourages them to live a pure life among the unbelievers of the world. Even the best of Christians have been subject to words of evil spoken of them by unbelievers. But by keeping pure when those same people come to believe in Christ they will change their opinion and glory God by commending those who lived properly among them.

Red Jacket was a Native American Seneca Indian orator and chief of the Wolf clan. He participated as a signatory at the Treaty of Canandaigua confirming peace with the United States. In the summer of 1805 a number of American Indians met in New York to listen to a Boston Missionary, Mr. Cram, present a Christian sermon. After the sermon Red Jacket made this statement, "Brother, you say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the Book? "Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said." Even thought Red Jacket did not know the words from 1 Peter 2:11-12, he understood the concept that ones beliefs should be agreeable with their actions. Are you living according to your faith in God? Do you practice honesty even in those moments you have the opportunity to do otherwise? Pray God might keep you honorable among all men and set you apart as a good example to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/08 10:53 AM
Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

The apostle says we have heard the Good News of the salvation that comes from Christ, but we must do more than just hear; we must let Christ fill our lives with the richness He offers. We should take the wisdom we have been given and share it with others. We need to be thankful for the new lives we have been given in Christ and let ourselves be joyful that this world is temporary compared to the eternal life with Christ. We are agents, representatives of Christ, our lives should express the love that has been given to us.


The Reverend Sam Duree is a retired United Methodist pastor. Even thought he is 77 years old, he spends 4 hours a day making bird houses to sell. The money is not used on him or his family; instead he donates it to the Russian United Methodist Theological Seminary to train pastors. Sam has sold over 3,000 of his bird houses, which many are designed to look like churches. The sales of the bird houses have generated over $85,000 for the seminary. When Russia collapsed in 1991 there was not one Methodist Church inside of Russia. Today there are 120 Methodist Churches each with a trained pastor from the seminary. The Lord can use us in many ways to teach and counsel others. He gives us wisdom to put our talents to work and share with others. Like Sam we should be thankful for the days we have been given here on earth and use them wisely to help others. Let us represent Christ in the best ways we can showing our love and concern for others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/08 11:22 AM
Mark 11:20-21(NLT)
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Previously in Mark 11:14 Jesus found a fig tree without any fruit upon it. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. The next day Jesus and the disciples are passing by the same tree. Peter yells out in surprise to Jesus to look at the tree, “The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” It was as though Peter couldn’t believe it had happened. Jesus then later goes on to explain about faith and prayer. This was also a lesson for the disciples about the present day state of the church. The church was not producing the fruit it should so it might have as well withered up and died too.

David Harrison was a mechanic in Chicago who worked on Volkswagen Beetles. WGN-TV reported one day as he was working on a car the support jack gave way and pinned him underneath the car. The steering linkage had fallen across his neck and the accident was becoming very serious, very quickly. Four women who were nearby saw the accident and lifted the car off of Harrison. One woman said she guessed it must have been an adrenaline rush because she didn’t really think about what she was doing, she just lifted the car and it came off him. Had someone asked these women if they could have lifted the car their answer would probably have been no. But their sudden determination to save this mechanic gave them the strength they needed. Peter had a hard time believing the tree Jesus cursed had died. Yet he had seen many miracles take place. We often have a hard time believing God can do things beyond our expectations. Just like lifting the car off someone might have been beyond the women’s expectations they did it. We have a God and Savior who are mighty and powerful. We need to believe our Lord can accomplish anything and not be surprised when He does. Have faith in God, believe with all your heart and watch for things to happen in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/18/08 11:22 AM
John 3:16-21 (NLT)
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

Jesus is talking to a Jewish leader, Nicodemus, who had slipped away under the cover of darkness to visit Jesus. Jesus explained how Moses had put a bronze snake up on a staff and told anyone who looked at it that they would live after being bitten by a deadly serpent. God how now sent His son into the world that anyone who would place their faith in Him would live an eternal life without the judgment of sin. Those who want to do right will step out into God’s light, but those who want to continue in their evil ways will ignore God’s redemptive gift of life.

A survey found that 10% of American drivers are driving around with their CHECK ENGINE light illuminated. Half of those same drivers had been driving with the light on for more than 3 months. People offered many excuses for not attending to their car: they didn’t have time; it would be too costly; it’s not really a problem; it’s not as serious as it sounds. These people are in denial that the warning could lead to even a more serious problem. Unfortunately many people are like that about their spiritual lives. They offer excuses as to why they could not take the free gift of life God offers in His son Jesus. There is a denial of their sin and their need for forgiveness. They just don’t see how serious the problem really is and that their lives are headed for failure and destruction. Pray for those who do not know Christ and His free gift of Salvation. Pray your own lives would be the light that provides a warning signal to others. Pray your life would be a testimony of the goodness of Christ for others to see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/20/08 10:53 AM
Genesis 4:4-9 (The Message)
6 -7 God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it." 8 Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him. 9 God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?"

Able took a select offering to the Lord, while Cain had just taken what was available. The Lord accepted Able’s gift, but did not accept his Brother Cain’s gift. Cain, the younger brother, became very angry. And so the Lord spoke to him in the verses above saying if you do correctly you will be accepted, but sin is waiting to pounce. God says that sin is even out to get Cain. Cain ignored the warning and killed his brother Able out of jealousy. When God confronted Cain instead of telling the truth he lied.

I recently watched a war movie which reminded me of the way sin is ready to attack. A soldier was trying to watch out for the enemy, but could not see them. He had been warned the enemy was nearby as shots rang out. He started to walk forward, alone, through a cemetery carefully looking each direction to ensure the enemy was not close by. But the soldier let him guard down and the enemy came up from behind and killed him. While his friends attempted to come to his rescue, it was too late. The enemy had already done the damage and left. Sin does the same things in our life. Sin draws us into the battle field where we must keep alert. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Sin is ready to attack the moment we let our guard down. Our guard starts to come down as we walk alone into sins territory. We forget if we keep the Lord close by we have protection from the enemy that looks to defeat us. Even our friends who are close by cannot help if we choose to walk alone into sins territory. So be vigilant against sin and when God warns you, listen to the warnings. Don’t ignore them like Cain and fall into even deeper sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/08 11:06 AM
Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

In these verses the apostle says when we face problems and trials we can rejoice. When we depend upon God and work through our problems we develop character that has strength and confidence. Our endurance leads us to the hope of salvation; for the Holy Spirit speaks to us about the deep love God has for us.

Steven Curtis Chapman, Grammy winning singer and song writer, and his family faced one of the most difficult moments in their lives when his 17 year old son accidentally ran over their 5 year old daughter in the driveway of their home. It was a tragic accident talking the life of one child and placing a great burden on another. The words from his hit song Cinderella speaks of the love for his daughter. “It’s been a long day and there is still work to do. She’s pulling at me saying , “Dad, I need you. There’s a ball at the castle and I have been invited and I need to practice my dancing, oh please, daddy, please?” So I will dance with Cinderella while she is here in my arms, ‘cause I know something the prince never knew. Oh I will dance with Cinderella, I don’t want to miss even one song. ‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight and she’ll be gone.”” The Chapman’s have faced their grief knowing God always has a purpose as difficult as it might be. Chapman said the accident made the family question their faith in God. "My son said the other day that, you know, 'Yeah, we are family.'... But we're a family with a lot of questions," Steven Curtis Chapman said. "But that's what faith is. It's living with the questions. That doesn't mean you have the answers. That's exactly what faith is." There will always be questions and doubts when struggles come into our life, but faith is continuing to believe in the unwavering love of God and the salvation of His Son Jesus Christ. We can endure and we do grow stronger as we face the problems and trials with God by our side.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/08 11:18 AM
Jude 1:3-4 (NLT)
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

In this epistle from Jude he speaks of the common salvation given to Jews and Gentiles. He planned to write more on the salvation shared by all, but instead he turned to the issues of immorality slipping into the churches. The point made was grace was not given to live immoral lives, but instead was given to have freedom in living. He reminded them of people of the past who were condemned for failing to place their faith in God and follow Him.

Webster’s dictionary defines grace as unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. Regeneration is a spiritual renewal. It is a revival of what was meant to be. It is a restoration to the original state. Through salvation God restored man to a state of being free from sin. He restored the fellowship of man with God. Sanctification is the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment. It is freedom from sin. It is God imparting His holiness upon us. Sacredness is laid upon us as a gift. The grace that comes through salvation delivers us from the power of sin and its effects. It is liberation and preservation from destruction or failure. There are people in this world who mistake grace for a license to sin. We are all subject too the weight and effects of sin upon our lives. Grace gave us freedom from sin, not the open opportunity to sin. Grace says when you fail its ok, but grace does not say go out and attempt to fail. We should take the grace of God in our lives seriously and live to please God. When we do fail because of our human nature, we should repent and move forward knowing God has forgiven us and blessed us with the grace of salvation from Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/25/08 11:57 AM
Titus 2:1-8 (The Message)
1 -6Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. 7 -8But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

Here in these verses we find the apostle writing to Titus how he should carry out his ministry to others. He is told to speak about things which are solid doctrine and not deviate from the word of God. He is told to guide older men, older women and instruct them that they might become leaders to a younger generation. Most of all the apostle wants to every to lead a life faithful to God so that no one can find anything misguided about their preaching or their lives.

Rider founded the, American Combat Veterans of War, which is a growing trend to treat the mental toll war takes on its participants. Their mission involves older combat veterans encouraging recent combat veterans to get help for the psychological effects of war. The Warrior Transition program was established by Col. Darcy Kauer, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's headquarters group at Camp Pendleton. Kauer estimates that 1,200 to 1,500 Marines participated during the first six months of it’s foundation. Kauer began the program to help Marines successfully re-enter civilian life and others to manage mental stress before they are sent into battle again. Kauer said he was moved by the plight of some Marines struggling with failed marriages, substance abuse and other problems after they had been in combat. Marines have gather to hear a stark message: Mental stress from combat, including post-traumatic stress disorder, can ruin lives and even end them when symptoms are left untreated. Months and years after a Marine returns from combat, the stress of war can result in irritability, sleeping disorders, substance abuse, thoughts of suicide and domestic violence. Had there not been such a program their might not have been hope for these young men. Yet they are able to relate to the older men and see how they have successfully come through the difficulties of war. The apostle wanted older men and woman to understand this concept so they might reach others and provide encouragement and hope through their faith in Christ. Are you reaching out to others who need your help? Pray God can use you to lift the burdens of those around you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/08 11:16 AM
Romans 1:16-17 (NLT)
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Paul speaks boldly to the Romans saying he is not ashamed of the message of Salvation which comes through Jesus Christ. For this good news comes from God. It is His plan of redemption for everyone who believes in His plan of salvation. The key to accepting this plan of salvation is faith, as it is said, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

To be ashamed is to have a feeling of shame, guilt or disgrace. It is a thought of feeling inferior or unworthy in regards to something. Most people who are ashamed of something are restrained in their actions to express any thoughts about what they feel. Yet Paul boldly says, “I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THIS GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST.” But there are many Christians today who are afraid of speaking up about Christ because they are ashamed of offending someone. Think about this, you probably have someone in your life that you love dearly. Can you imagine if you had the opportunity to say something good about them, but held back because of fear of what others might think? It should not matter what others think when you know the person you are talking about is one of your closest, dearly and most intimate friends. Jesus Christ gave His life for you that though faith in Him you could have eternal life and freedom from sin. That is not something to be ashamed about, but it is something to be proud of. When you have a chance to speak about Jesus, speak boldly of Him as a personal friend of whom you are not ashamed. As others observe your love for Christ they may also want that same relationship. Isn’t it sad we can be ashamed of the sins we commit, but we can also be ashamed of the one who freed us from those sins?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/08 11:58 AM
John 20:24-29 (NLT)
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

This is the story of Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. Thomas was not present when others had seen Christ who was now alive even after death. Thomas was not quick to believe their stories instead he laid out the proof he would need. Thomas wanted to see nail wounds and the wounds in Christ’s side and be able to touch them and know they were real.

There are two parts to faith: belief and trust. Out of the two parts that make up faith, trust is the most difficult. James says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” The demons believe in God, but they don’t trust God to follow Him. Why is belief easier than trust? Belief does not take a commitment, but trust requires one. Abraham a man of faith was told to take his son to the top of the mountain as a sacrifice. Abraham was prepared to follow through with what God had asked him to do although God stopped him as he drew the knife towards his son. Abraham was making a commitment to follow God even at a great cost to himself. Our daughter was very ill several years ago. Talking with my wife I asked her if she had faith in God. She said yes, I believe he can heal our daughter. Then I asked the tougher question, but what if God wants to take her life for a greater purpose. Do you still trust Him? She hesitated for a moment and said, “I don’t like that question?” It was a question requiring commitment and to vocalize faith in God’s purpose was difficult for her when she realized God’s purpose may not fit her desire. Faith is not easy, but the more we trust God the easier it becomes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/08 11:46 AM
Hebrews 9:24-28 (NLT)
24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

The sacrifice made by Christ for all who eagerly desire His salvation was carried into the very presence of heaven. There Christ appears before God as an intercessor for our sins. Christ rebukes Satan the accuser as he comes to make accusations against us before God. But in the presence of God Christ intercedes for us, preparing our place in heaven. Christ died once for all time to take away sin and in the same way our acceptance of Christ removes our sin away for all time.

In 1947 a symbolic clock, called the Doomsday Clock, was created that represents how close our world is to a nuclear and environmental holocaust. The closer the hands are placed towards midnight, the closer the representation of destruction. The clock represents the degree of nuclear, environmental, and technological threats to mankind and is periodically corrected; currently, the clock reads: five minutes to midnight, having advanced two minutes on 17 January 2007. Since its inception the clock has been at 2 minutes before midnight when the hydrogen bomb was tested in 1953. It fell back to 17 minutes with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. While these setting are arbitrary they do show mans concern about a time when the world will end. Yet there are many who are not concerned about when their life will end. They ignore the salvation offered by God through Christ even though there will be a time that is a definite end to their life. Christ wants to rescue us from an eternal destruction. He wants to give hope of a wonderful life after death. Some of you may have already accepted Christ’s precious gift of life; if so, God bless you. Others may be waiting and for those I pray they will not wait too long. For like the Doomsday Clock we never know when it will move to midnight, neither do we know the time our death will come.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/08 11:54 AM
Luke 12:39-40 (NLT)
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Jesus is speaking to the disciples and those around Him about His return. No one knows when that time will be except the Father. So those who follow Jesus should always be prepared; not being careless with sin or not believing in God’s salvation.


Preparation can be very important. For instance, if you are giving a Presidential speech in front of the nation you might want to have some thoughts prepared in advance. What if you were giving a large party for the guests of a wedding, you might want to be prepared by having a place to gather, food, drink, and other required items. It is difficult enough to prepare when you know the time of an event, but what if you don’t know when that event will occur? What if someone asked you have you come to a point in your life where you know you have eternal life and you would go to heaven if you died? Death is but a heartbeat away and in most cases comes unexpectedly. Are you prepared? How do you know you are prepared? What if you were standing before God and he asked, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” do you have an answer you can give? If you can say you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world and then rose again to life; you are prepared. What if you have fallen into habitual sin and find yourself doing things and going to places you shouldn’t? What if right in the midst of that sin that one last heart beat took place? Would you be comfortable with everyone knowing what you were doing and where you were, especially your Lord and Savior? Are you prepared to account for those sins? Jesus said, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.” Be prepared because you never know when the last moment will come. I think about a quote I once heard where someone said, “You need to make sure you have good clean underwear on just in case something happens.” Isn’t it is more important to have a good clean repentant soul just in case something happens?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/02/08 11:30 AM
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.


Jesus is warning against worldly thoughts which can be a common symptom of hypocrisy. Satan is able to use our desires and secretly turn them in professions of faith only used to serve ourselves. Therefore we should carefully choose the treasures we build up for ourselves. Better to do things we can cherish than to build physical possessions which will go to ruin or be passed on to someone else.

W. M. Kiplinger in 1920 founder a successful company focused on financial issues. The Kiplinger letter was created in 1923 and is still today one of the longest continuously published newsletter. Right in the heart of Washington, D.C., they also created the nations first personal finance magazine. They have also expanded onto the internet where they offer financial advice. In a February 2008 article titled, “The Virtues of Vice Stocks - Worried about the growing risk of recession? Use sin stocks to gin up your portfolio.” by Thomas M. Anderson, Associate Editor. The quote was “hard times won't stop gamblers from betting, partygoers from drinking and smokers from puffing. In fact, economic turbulence might give them even more reason to indulge. That makes so-called sin stocks, or shares of alcohol, gaming and tobacco companies, a safe bet as the U.S. economy slows.” The question is does anyone stop to think of the impact to those addicted to these problems. Do they think what will happen if the government makes a judgment against these companies causing their stocks to drop. God wants us to invest in people’s lives. God looks to us to care for others and support them when they need help. He doesn’t want us investing in things to cause others to fail and fall. Put your heart in the right place and that is where your treasures will follow. Let your treasures be stored in heaven instead of letting them be siphoned away.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/03/08 12:11 PM
Romans 8:18-23 (NLT)
18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

Here the apostle writes about the suffering believers face today versus the future of a glorious life with God. Presently our souls are tormented by suffering and sin. Even with the Holy Spirit testifying our future hope; we still eagerly wait for what God has promised. All of creation looks forward with hope the freedom from death and decay.

One of the news networks covering the Republican National Convention interviewed Miles McPherson, a black pastor who spoke and led the convention in prayer. Miles was formerly a defensive back for the San Diego Chargers. As Miles talked he gave a personal testimony of how he came to know Jesus Christ and then went on to be a pastor. Two years into his pro career he was battling a drug problem and an immoral lifestyle. His life was spiraling out of control. In April of 1984, after being up all night long doing cocaine he remembered the gospel of Jesus Christ that had been shared with him months earlier. Realizing his life was empty he gave his life to Jesus Christ. There is nothing more powerful that listening to someone whose life has been transformed by Christ into a new and meaningful life. Here in this world we battle against sin and all the curses brought with it. We might face death, we might face pain, but we have the hope of living eternally with Jesus Christ. That life will be glorious and our eternal life with Christ will out weight any pain, struggle, or feeling of hopelessness we have ever had. Praise God for changed lives and the hope given us through Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/08 02:36 PM
Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

The apostle speaks of the special benefits and privileges we have being justified through the Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God. Sin is the barrier between us and God and Jesus broke that barrier when He died on the cross for our sin. We have been put into a privileged place, and undeserved place, where we can be confident of being with God in all His glory. We have also been given a hope that allows us endurance through life’s trials. Because the Holy Spirit testifies that God is in our lives and loves us dearly we have hope to endure and become strengthened by our trial.

A man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania put great hope in a plan he created to obtain money. His idea, pass off a counterfeit $1,000,000 bill at a grocery store for some purchased items and receive the change back. This man placed his hope and trust in his own plan to obtain money fraudulently. Surely he had high hopes of buying the car he wanted or a house, or other luxuries. Most of us can see probably see where this plan was headed. First problem, there isn’t a $1,000,000 bill in circulation. Second problem, most grocery store clerks don’t have change for a million dollars even if there was such a bill. So when the man presented the bill it was immediately confiscated; he was refused any change; the police were called and he was arrested. The hope he had placed in his plan had failed. This is a good example of why our hope needs to be in Jesus instead of ourselves. Our own plans often fail, but God says His hope in Christ will never lead to disappointment. Where do you place your hope?
Posted By: MadeInNY Re: Devotionals - 09/04/08 08:57 PM
Thank you for taking time to type these devotionals.

I am depressed today, beyond words. I smile, play with my little boy, but I needed a good Word today to keep me afloat.

Thank you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/08 11:15 AM
Dear sweet heavenly Father,
Even though I don't know the name Lord, You do, so I pray for MadeInNY. Lord I ask for your mercy, grace and love to be evident to them. Lord I pray for their depression that it would be replaced with joy and hope. Lord you know our struggles and the trials we go through and Lord you are right there with us. Lord you gave your life in suffering and pain, so I know you understand their emotions. Lord your words are sweet unto our ears. They tell us of Your love for us and how precious you find each one of us. I pray for your safety over this person and the care of their son. Lord I give thanks for these precious lives. Lord bless them, and let Your love shower over them.

In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/08 11:15 AM
Luke 22:19 (NLT)
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

Jesus asked Peter and John to go ahead of Him to prepare the Passover meal. They went to a home where they had been instructed to go by Jesus. They found a room prepared for them then they gathered together in the room where Jesus would eat His last supper with His disciples. It was a close and intimate gathering. It was a time where everyone could bond in friendship and enjoy their time together. When they all sat down to eat Jesus told them how eager He was to eat this meal with them before His suffering was to begin. Jesus told them to drink the wine and eat the bread. Then he said, “Do this to remember me.”

Apollo 11 landed on the surface of the moon on Sunday, July 20, 1969. Many probably remember the words of Neil Armstrong as he stepped out of the Lunar Lander, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was there with him during this historic event. Buzz Aldrin was a Presbyterian Elder and brought with him a Communion kit his pastor had given him. After landing on the moon, Aldrin radioed earth with these words: "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way." Buzz wanted to remember his Lord and Savior during this historic moment. He received the Lord’s Supper on the surface of the moon. However, Buzz was asked to keep his Communion a secret because of a lawsuit brought by Madalyn Murray O’Hair against NASA for the reading of Genesis on Apollo 8. Buzz Aldrin remembered the creator; the one who placed the moon and hung the stars; the one who gave His life for others to live. The last meal with the disciples was the first meal on the moon. Jesus said, “Do this to remember me.” We should never forget Christ who remembered us and gave His life for our sins. Remember Jesus always and always give thanks for the sacrifice He made.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/08 12:13 PM
1 Peter 1:18-21 (The Message Translation)
18 -21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.


In these verses the apostle Paul writes to Christians who have been scattered across the lands due to the persecution of the church taking place. Peter urges these Christians to pass their time by staying close to God in thought and prayer. He reminds them of the sacrifice Jesus made for their lives; something God knew would come and pay for the sins of man. It is because of Christ who died, who rose again to life, who was glorified in heaven that we have a hope and future with God.



In May of 2006, the Associated Press reported a top New York heart surgeon was in El Salvador performing charity mercy operations. In the midst of a heart operation on an eight year old boy; Dr. Samuel Weinstein scrubbed out in order to donate his own rare blood type to the boy. Dr. Weinstein said the procedure was going well, but they didn’t have the medications to stop bleeding and the boy was in need of blood. Weinstein said. "After a while they said they couldn't give him blood because they were running out and he had a rare type.'' "We realized he might bleed to death, so I asked what blood type he was and they said he was B-negative and I said, "You know, I'm B-negative.'' Dr. Robert Michler, founder of the group, was standing next to Dr. Weinstein and said, "I support you.'' So he laid down in the midst of what he was doing just long enough to give blood so that the boy would live. Weinstein ate a Pop Tart, drank some water and returned to work. With the approval of the Father, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. Jesus gave His own blood on the cross at Calvary so we would have the hope of eternal life. The sin released on the world by man demanded a pure, unblemished sacrifice and Jesus made it for you and me. Jesus said, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/09/08 11:44 AM
Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”



Jesus has been speaking to the crowds of people who have followed Him to hear his teachings. Jesus is trying to explain that people are cheating themselves when they claim to be religious, yet they do not follow God by placing their faith in Him. He says those people are like someone who builds a house without a foundation. When troubled times come the house comes crashing down. For those who believe in God, who trust God, who are willing to follow God; they have built a solid foundation. When troubled times come they are able to stand firm. Their lives will not collapse into ruin because they have God as their foundation in life.


Edward Mote was a pastor and a hymn writer. Edward was born on January 21, 1797 and died November 18, 1874. Edward lived a tough life as a child. His parents ran a local pub and often left him to tend to himself. It is fitting that he later worked as a cabinet maker, because he followed Christ into the ministry as a pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church., where he served for 26 years. As pastor he wrote the hymn “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”, which contains the refrain “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other Ground is Sinking Sand.” Edward understood the words spoke by Christ. Christ is a solid rock of faith we can turn to anytime and in any situation. Christ is standing there defending us, taking up for us and keeping our feet firm even when we are about to fall. Those who turn away from God and the hope He has given us through Christ do not have a firm foundation to stand on. It is as if they are in quick stand. The harder they attempt to struggle on their own; the deeper they go into the sand. And if they never call out for help or do not patiently wait on rescue their reliance upon self to struggle free will eventually sink them to the depths of death. Remember these words of Edward Mote as you go through your daily lives:

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. 'On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.' When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/08 11:49 AM
Psalm 18:30-36 (NLT)
30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. 31 For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? 32 God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. 33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. 35 You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. 36 You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.

God, known as Jehovah, was the author of creation and continues to perfect it. God perfected the path for David to follow and gave him solid ground to walk upon. Man is not perfect, so God made life’s path wide enough to keep David from slipping. God is the one who strengthens him and reassures him of the victory that is ahead. God is a shield against the sin that comes at man and He is there to support us when there is a need for help.

The apostle James made this observation, “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” In other words we can’t even control the words that come out of our mouths, much less our actions; for if we could do so we could become perfect on our own. But God has a plan to perfect our lives. The apostle James said also, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” God tests our faith through trials in life. While each trial may bring suffering, tests of faith, annoyances, or even painful experiences; God strengthens us and teaches us how to depend on Him. Like a runner who runs each day to run greater and farther distances; our trials strength and make us more perfect as we lean on God. Our Lord is a solid rock. His feet are planted firmly in perfection and our Lord is our shield to victory. David knew this when he said, “You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.” Believe and trust in God for He wants to make your life a life of victory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/08 12:20 PM
Revelation 2:2-5 (NLT)
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

The apostle John writes according to God’s command about the current state of the church of Ephesus. There are commendations given for the good work they have done and then a rebuke for those areas they have neglected, fallen short in or have turned away from. Ephesus did not tolerate evil and they closely examined the claims of those who tried to say they were apostles of Christ, but were not. The rebuke to the church was their falling away from Christ and the values they had in the beginning of their relationship with Christ. They were beseeched to repent and return back to their love for Christ.

The book of revelation revealed the church of Ephesus had not tolerated evil people. They had no tolerance for those who performed evil against God’s word. In the world we live in today there is a continual push for tolerance. There are organizations which promote teaching tolerance. The apologist Josh McDowell realized how engrained tolerance was in our education system when he asked his son, a senior in high school, what absolute truth he had learned. The response from his son was “tolerance”. Tolerance is being preached in the school, in the media, and from our government officials. Tolerance meant to simply recognize and respect others beliefs or practices without the necessity of agreeing with them. Today the definition of tolerance leans more towards not only does everyone have a right to their beliefs, but their beliefs are equal in value to all other beliefs. The apostle Peter told us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” There is a difference between extending God’s love to others and tolerating every new belief to the point of acceptance. The Church of Ephesus did not tolerate evil in it’s beginning, but it had started to slip towards the tolerance of acceptance. Tolerance says I must approve of what you do; love says I will do something more difficult by loving you even when you behavior offends me. Tolerance says, you must allow me to have my way; while love says I will do something that is harder and plead with you to follow what is right because I think you are worth it. Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks to the point of being offensive. Tolerance glorifies division; love seeks unity. Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Are you a person who loves or a person who tolerates?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/12/08 02:28 PM
Colossians 4:12-13 (NLT)
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

The apostle Paul writes about Epaphras, a member of the church of Colossae. Paul says Epaphras sends his greetings and that he is always earnestly praying for those in the church. Then Paul mentions what Epaphras prays for: that God will make them strong; that God will make the perfect; and that God will make them confident they are following God’s will. Paul even says that he prays hard for them and for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Our desire in life should be to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. It should also be our desire, as it was Epaphras’s, that others follow the will of God. And we should be willing to pray diligently and earnestly to understand God’s will for our life and also pray for others that God’s will may be done in their lives. Recently the news has been creating controversy over Governor Palin saying she wanted to see God’s will done. In an interview with Charley Gibson, Palin rebuted, “But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln's words when he said -- first, he suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words. But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that's a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side. That's what that comment was all about, Charlie.” And that is what we want to ensure when it comes to God’s will. We want to pray to understand what God would have us to do and not act out of our own will. God is a loving, gracious, and merciful God. To know God and His will means we know who to correctly show our love, mercy and grace to others because we understand how God wants to do the same. We can’t assume what God wants, nor can we make judgment for Him. But to know God’s desire is to know the path for our life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/17/08 11:18 AM
Ezekiel 44:10-14 (NLT)
10 And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness. 11 They may still be Temple guards and gatekeepers, and they may slaughter the animals brought for burnt offerings and be present to help the people. 12 But they encouraged my people to worship idols, causing Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign Lord. 13 They may not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detestable sins they have committed. 14 They are to serve as the Temple caretakers, taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.

In this chapter of Ezekiel he is brought once again to survey that which he has looked at before. It is a lesson we should learn to continuously review what God puts in front of us over and over again. Here we find a reproof send to the men who had served God but had fallen away. God says they must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Their position of rank has changed and they are not longer able to minister as priests to God. They are requited to server the Temple caretakers, so they are not excluded, but instead can witness how others perform their duties before the Lord.

The Greek words nasa’ and ‘avon together indicate the consequences the Levites were to carry. The words literally mean to carry and continuously bare their perversity, depravity, shame, iniquity, and guilt as a consequence of their actions. God is more than willing to forgive our sins. In fact God still allowed the Levites to serve in the temple, but instead of being the leaders they became servants to others so they may once again learn how to carry out the duties of the Lord. So while God does forgive sin; there are still earthly consequences for our failures. A popular TV game show that ran from 1941-1988 was called Truth or Consequences. The object of the game was to answer a given question correctly or face the consequences of having to perform a zany embarrassing stunt. Ralph Edwards the creator of the show said, “From the start most contestants preferred to answer the question wrong in order to perform the stunt.” While the show had its humor if God told you there would be consequences for disobeying His commands, would you try to do things wrong to face the consequences or would you try your best to do what was right? Well the truth is the Bible does tell us there are consequences for sin, some which even bring death. Yet we continue on as though we would rather chance the consequences instead of following. Consequences can be devastating, so meditate on God’s word that you might know what is right and just to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/08 11:17 AM
Genesis 15:4-6 (NLT)
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

The Lord told Abraham he will be greatly blessed, but Abraham has a concern his possessions will not be passed on because he does not have a son. In chapter 12 of Genesis it indicates Abraham was 75 as he set out on his journey and even more time had passed. But the Lord tells him that he will have a son and as many descendants as there are stars before him in the sky. It then says Abraham believed the Lord and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

The apostle Paul says in Romans, “Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” In other words having faith in the promises of God and following those promises makes us righteous. Attempting good deeds on our own, trying to find our own way of pleasing God is not what God desires. God desires we believe and trust in Him to the point we are willing to go wherever He says go and do what He says do. The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God has a plan for our lives and that plan includes salvation that came through the death of Jesus Christ. Have faith in God. Trust God loves you and has your best interest at heart even when times seem difficult. The apostle Paul struggled through life. He said, “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Have faith in God and let the grace of Christ work through you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/08 12:23 PM
Revelation 3:20-21 (NLT)
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

In these verses of Revelation, Jesus gives John a message for the Christians of the church of Laodicea. He tells them He knocks at the door of their heart and if they open themselves up He comes and has fellowship with them. Christ is expressing His love for those He loves even when they sin. Having a meal with someone was an intimate way to get to know them and talk about life. Christ wants to know what is going on in the lives of those He died for. For those who are victorious He even invites them to sit with Him on His throne, just as God placed Him at God’s right hand.

The Toys for Tots program has a mission statement that says, “The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.” Surprisingly the Toys for Tots program initially rejected 4,000 new packaged toys heading into the 2006 Christmas season. The toys rejected were battery-operated, talking representations of Jesus Christ. According to the website of the dolls' manufacturer, One2Believe, the button-activated, bearded Talking Jesus doll is dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals. It also recites Scripture verses, such as, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." The vice president of the Toys for Tots program, said the charity chose to reject the dolls. As a government entity, the Marines "don't profess one religion over another. We can't take a chance on sending a Talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family." It seems they forgot these were Christmas presents. The Marines took a public-relations hit from both Christian and secular organizations after the Daily News reported that the toy charity had rejected a donation of 4,000 battery-operated Jesus, Virgin Mary, David, Moses and Esther dolls for its holiday giveaway. Later on the Toys for Tots website they posted, "The talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved "Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction." Jesus said, “But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.” Always be ready to open your heart to Christ when the opportunity knocks.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/22/08 10:56 AM
Acts 12:20-23 (NLT)
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!” 23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Herod Agrippa reigned as the King of Judea. He had imprisoned the Apostle Peter and had beheaded the Apostle James who was the brother of John. Here in these verses we find the people of Tyre and Sidon sending a peace delegation to Herod to make a request for food. They had won the favor of Herod’s personal assistant and were granted an appointment. The people listened to his eloquent speach and looked upon the splendor of Herod’s clothing. They yelled out that he must be a god and not a man. It was at that point an angel of the Lord struck Herod with an illness and he died.

Many of you may have been recently impacted by the shortage of gasoline at your local gas stations. Yesterday before my son could get his truck back to a place we saw open they had already ran out of gas and closed down. I took a spare can of gas and probably drove for 40 minutes before finding a station open selling gas. Cars were backed up out into the street waiting for their chance at the pumps. This country needs to be careful that its dependence for oil does not turn into a situation like those of Tyre and Sidon. They were so dependent upon Herod for food they were willing to look up to him as a god. We need to remember to look towards the true God to meet our needs. We need to be in prayer for our country that God will lead us in the right direction to find the alternatives we need. And we should never bow to another as god just because they hold what we need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/23/08 11:07 AM
Psalm 119:116-118 (NLT)
116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. 117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. 118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.They are only fooling themselves.

King David prays for the sustaining grace that is sufficient to carry him through life. David is at a turning point in life where he needs the comfort of the Lord. He looks to God to keep Him from failing and to keep him from tiring against the evil which wants to crush his spirit. He pleads for God’s intercession in his life that God will fill him with what he needs to survive. Then he acknowledges that those who fall away from God to other hopes are only fooling themselves.

What is it in life that you have placed your hope in? In other words, where do you run when times get tough and you feel there is no hope just as David felt? Many find their comfort in the pleasures of the world. They think if I could just have this one thing it would bring happiness into my life. I remember my daughter saying, I would be happy if I could just have a dog. Well she has a dog, but happiness did not come with it. There are others who think if I could be successful in my job and obtain all the things I want; then life would be good. But what those people find at the end of life’s journet is they have given up time with family, lost time with friends and have ignored the Lord. Some seek out other ways to sustain their lives when hope seems to be lost. They turn to drugs, alcohol or other pleasures of this world. As David’s son King Solomon noted everything is vanity and does not satisfy what we are was looking for. He said in Ecclesiastes, “I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered.” There is only one secure place for your hope in life and that is in God. So as you look for things to fill the voids in your life remember God who can fill all your needs. And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/08 11:11 AM
Ephesians 3:8-11 (NLT)
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Ephesians explaining the purpose in life God gave to him. Paul said he had the privilege of telling the Gentiles about Christ and the wondrous treasures Christ brings into our lives. He explains how God had this purpose planned out. It was to use the church to show God’s wisdom and glory to all those who abide in the heavenly places. This eternal plan He carried out through His son Jesus Christ.

During World War II one of the most inspiring events was not a battle, but a retreat. In June of 1940, from the northern beaches around Dunkirk France 338,682 men were evacuated. Two thirds of them were British troops while the other third were allied soldiers. Winston Churchill called it a “miracle of deliverance”. These men were surrounded by Hitler’s army, pushed back to the ocean and facing certain death or capture. The large battleships were unable to come close enough to rescue these men. Their defeat would mean the overrun of England by the Germans. Suddenly there appeared a fleet of the most unlikely rescuers. From the streams of Kent and Dover appeared trawlers, tug boats, scows, fishing boats, lifeboats, pleasure craft, coasters, ferries and other various crafts all manned by civilian volunteers. This strange ragtag armada ferried thousands of men to the destroyers which could not enter the shallow waters. Each unusual vessel was able to fulfill the purpose of rescuing these men. Think about this in reference to the church. God has pulled together various people, some weak, some limited, some strong, some very different from others to carry out His purpose of salvation. We should never underestimate the purpose which God has given the church. Like the unusual armada that rescued the soldiers the diversity of the church is able to step out and rescue many who are backed up against sin. We all are like the civilian volunteers, we are a part of the purpose to rescue others from the hands of Satan.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/08 11:23 AM
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Throughout Habakkuk there is a correspondence between God and his prophet. Habakkuk In the first chapter spoke to God and God spoke back; then he to God again. In the second chapter God spoke wholly to Habakkuk by the Spirit of prophecy; now, in this chapter, he speaks wholly to God by the Spirit of prayer, for Habakkuk did not want his conversation with God to end. In these verses we find Habakkuk saying no matter what bad circumstances might come his way he will still find joy in God who grants him salvation. We can find joy in the moments of our greatest distresses because our salvation cannot be hindered and we move closer to God.


In the final years of my wife’s grandmother’s life she fell ill to a stroke and heart attack. She was a Christian who looked forward to the day when she could be with the Lord. During one of her attacks the doctors revived her and brought her back from a near state of death. As she looked up at the doctors she said, “I was this close to being with Jesus in heaven and you had to bring me back.” She was ready to be with the Lord and looked forward to an eternal life with him. Through her final days she suffered with poor circulation which caused terrible pain. She became unable to eat and even drinking water was difficult. But she continued to hold onto the hope of being with the Lord, which is where I believe she is today. Terrible distresses may come our way, but they only place us closer to God. There is great hope and joy in the salvation the Lord provides. Like Habakkuk always be joyful over that hope.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/08 01:44 PM
Proverbs 30:3 (NLT)
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. 2 I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. 3 I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

This proverb is a reflection on one’s own inadequacies. The person says they are weary and worn out. They say how can there be a God when they look at their own humanity and find themselves not feeling much more than an animal that lacks wisdom and the knowledge of God.

I understand being weary and worn out. This past week our company migrated another company’s computer system into our computer system. It was a year of planning and a weekend of hard work to get everything accomplished. After working from Saturday night at 7pm until Monday midnight , then back again Monday at 6am and staying to 7pm; I realized just how weary and worn out I can be. But the good part about my life is I understand the remaining words in proverbs where it says in verse 5, “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Even in my weariness I leaned on God and Christ and they were a comfort as they always are. I was too tired to even to sleep; so I prayed for others until the Lord brought sweet sleep. Be glad to know God is a shield of protection to us and He comforts us in our worn out states. And for those who do not know God and Christ pray they may know their love, comfort and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/08 11:22 AM
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (NLT)
24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

The Old Testament helps us to understand what is to come in the New Testament. In Genesis Joseph is sold into slavery where he is treated unfairly, yet he continues to do what is right. Later in Genesis the Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Joseph was not the ruler, nor could he override the Pharaoh, but in every other way he was in control over all things in Egypt. Christ has been given the authority and power over all things earthly and heavenly. There is nothing that is not under the authority of Christ. Most important death with be destroyed and man will live be able to live eternally as God had planned.

In this world evil has highly exalted itself. The force behind the continuance of evil is Satan who is vastly superior in his capability and abilities to mankind. He became proud of his own superior abilities and led other angels with him away from the rule of God. 1 Timothy 3:6 mentions this pride, “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Pride and arrogance of his superiority and mighty abilities God Himself had given to Satan was Satan’s undoing. After being cast down from heaven he highly exalted himself here on this earth. Through temptation, Satan lured the original parents of this world to sin and God had to move them away from an eternity of life in sin. The result was death for man. Satan and the fallen angels were able to lead the world into corruption; a corruption so universal and extreme that God sent flood waters against the earth leaving only Noah and his family. When Christ came he warned of Satan’s temptations. Christ himself was tempted by Satan, but refused to fall away from the love of His Father God. Yet he was betrayed by one of his own disciples and denied by one who dearly loved Him. With sin came guilt. Its power was to hold one captive to sin; to make one feel unworthy; and to believe there could be no forgiveness from God himself. Christ wanted to make know the forgiveness and salvation of God. Christ endured the misery, the torture, the unfair treatment and even death. Christ won out over death and lives with the Father with all the power and authority of the Father. Because of Christ’s authority over death, we too can have eternal life with Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/08 12:32 PM
Matthew 7:1-6 (NLT)
1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

Christ points out that we should not act as magistrates over others. It is not for us to assume authority which is not ours for we would not allow authority over us from someone who is not appointed to do so. When one judges outside of their authority they can expect others to judge them in return outside of their authority. There is allowance for reproof or pointing out of a fault when we have learned to search out our own sins and make corrections in our own lives. We can then share our experiences of overcoming sin to help others overcome their own. Christ points out there are those who we would waste time with trying to help when they must first turn their lives over to Christ. Christ was always tender to those he reproved and we should also act accordingly.

Perhaps you have read or seen the movie Charlotte’s web. In the story is a pig named Wilbur who is scared about the end of the season because he has come to realize he might become the meal on the dinner table. Wanting to help Wilbur and make sure this does not happen Charlotte spins webs with messages calling attention to the pig’s virtues. Spun into the webs were messages like Outstanding Pig, Wonderful Pig, and Radiant Pig. These messages brighten up Wilbur and brought attention to the possibility this was a pig worth keeping. Our words to others should be like the words of Charlotte. Our words should lift up the spirits of others. We should identify with others and realize they sin just as we too sin. Our words should provide the encouragement to do the right things. We can point out faults, but we do it in a way that is positive and brings about restoration. We should not be quick to judge the actions of others because we too may find ourselves in a place of judgment. Which is more encouraging to you? Words of condemnation or words of encouragement on how to move forward and do what is right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/08 12:22 PM
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

The apostle Paul writes to the Thessalonians regarding the hope of the resurrection. There may be times we grieve the loss of someone close to us; but even in our grief we have the hope of being rejoined with them. Christ died and was raised back to life to give us an example of what we have to look forward to. The hope we have in Christ is a comfort we can depend upon, an encouragement to our faith so that we can be an encouragement to others.

The reverend Billy Graham witnessed death along his journey of being an evangelist. Often he comforted others who lost loved ones. When his wife Ruth Graham died, Billy Graham said, “No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock, and it still hurts very deeply.” Graham realized a special part of him had been taken away when Ruth died, but it gave him a new compassion for those who mourn the loss of a loved one. . "Over the years I've seen people lose a spouse and then withdraw and lose interest in life," he says, "and I believe we need to resist that." But it has become clear that a man who spent his life teaching people how to live is now in a position to show people how to die, with hope for an eternal kingdom that is no longer a theological abstraction to him. Heaven is where Ruth is. "Someday soon I will join her," he says. "Most of all, I take comfort in the hope we can have of eternal life in Heaven because of Christ's death and resurrection for us. I've preached this message almost all my life, and it means more to me now than ever before." Isn’t it good to know we can have eternal life through Jesus Christ and be reunited with those we have loved.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/06/08 11:43 AM
Romans 3:9:20 (NLT)
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” 13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “They rush to commit murder. 16 Destruction and misery always follow them. 17 They don’t know where to find peace.” 18 “They have no fear of God at all.”19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

The apostle Paul explains that all have sinned. The Jews are not better than the Gentiles; or the Gentiles better than the Jews. Paul then quotes the scriptures to say there are none who are righteous. The law was given to show the entire world is guilty before God. Paul says no one can ever be made right with God doing what the law commands for it is just a mirror to reflect our sin.

Many of us are familiar with Adolf Hitler and the atrocities he ordered to be carried out. Needless to say many of the things done were horrendous, inexcusable, and horrific. What some might not know is that Hitler was raised by Roman Catholic parents. Hitler even professed a faith in Jesus Christ and gave praise to Germany’s Christian culture. Hitler took Christianity and twisted it to meet his needs. He used Christianity as a motivational reason for anti-Semitism. Hitler often gave statements related to his belief in Christianity, “As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for justice and truth.” “May God Almighty give our work His blessing, strengthen our purpose, and endow us with wisdom and the trust of our people, for we are fighting not for ourselves but for Germany.” “The judgment whether a people are virtuous or not virtuous can hardly be passed by a human being. That should be left to God.” It is hard to believe a man who committed atrocities that left a mark on humanity could even be a Christian. There are those who have their doubts based on the observation of Hitler’s life. But what if someone was reviewing our life? Would if they took all of God’s laws would they find us guilty of many wrongful acts? Galatians says when you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Are there any of these sins you might be guilty of? We can thank God for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Therefore those of us who hold Christ as our savior are not held by the laws of sin. By God’s love, grace and mercy the work of the Holy Spirit living in us we can bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/08 11:15 AM
Psalm 118:5-9 (NLT)
5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? 7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

King David starts Psalm 118 by saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” David understands God has always been there with him, loving him, and watching over him as he endured the storms of life. David often prayed in his times of need and he acknowledges God answered him and took care of him. He continues with his praise of God knowing it is better to trust in God than to trust men or even powerful men. David had been thrown onto the battlefield of life and God saw him through it.

Our lives are a journey. We each walk down a road of purpose God has laid out before us. As we walk down that road we may find ourselves at different seasons of life. Sometimes like winter; life is desolate and cold. The sun appears only for a while and then quickly moves to darkness. Other times life is full of hope like the rays of light glistening from the summer sky. Maybe we know we are moving into desperate times as fall approaches showing us changes taking place that seem cold and uncertain. But there is always the hope of summer as spring emerges bringing new life. We all go through periods of desperation in life. As we sense desperation we feel hopelessness; we feel abandoned; and we feel a sense of urgency. God can use desperation in our lives in a powerful way to change us and mold us into something stronger. In the Old Testament Pharaoh faced one desperate moment after another as each plague was brought against his country; and yet he continually turned his heart away from God. He would have rather seen one more night of misery, one more night of infestation, one more night of suffering than to turn his heart over to God. Maybe you are holding onto desperation and worries instead of turning them over to God? Maybe today is the right time to say, “GOD I TRUST YOU AND I TURN ALL MY WORRIES OVER TO YOU. I WANT TO END THE DESPERATION IN MY LIFE AND LET YOUR HOPE ABIDE WITH ME.”

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for those who might be feeling desperate and hopeless. Times are difficult. Jobs are disappearing. People are losing the homes they dreamed of having. Retirements are vanishing and there is just a sense of desperation from many people. Lord I pray for those feeling desperate that you Lord will reassure and affirm you Lord are with them every step of their journey. Bring hope when there is hopelessness and let us trust in You. AMEN
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/08 11:24 AM
Ecclesiastes 9:1-3 (NLT)
1 This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. 2 The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t. 3 It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. 4 There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”

Solomon reflects on death and how it comes to all people. There are no favorites. There are none protected. Death is a fate for everyone. Solomon ponders why it is that way. He reasons people go their careless way because they will face death eventually. His thoughts are it is better to be alive as a dog than to be a mighty lion and dead; for only the living have hope.

The apostle tells us in Romans, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” The consequence of choosing sin was to face death. No one was spared from that consequence. It is why God gave His Son Jesus to the world to pay the debt of sin. God in His loving mercy wanted us to have eternal life, a rich, full, and meaningful life; a life that would be different from Solomon’s description of meaningless and hopeless existence. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us, “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/10/08 11:33 AM
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (NLT)
13 Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

Solomon contemplates God’s awesome abilities and power. He questions who can straighten out something God has intended for His own purpose. God may put forth desolating judgment and because of His power no one can stop them. Solomon points out there may be times of prosperity, but there may also be hard times. In this world there will be those with prosperity and those with adversity. Those who are prosperous may one day find themselves grieving for the things they lost. Prosperity and adversity can strike the same person at the same time so that nothing in life is certain.

The words of Solomon were written thousands of years ago, yet the truth revealed to him by God still remains today. There are times when there seems to be a general prosperity among man. Yet there will still be those who remain homeless and in poverty even with prosperity all around them. Those who live in prosperous times must realize prosperity can suddenly end and they can find themselves in the positions of others not so fortunate. Look around at this world today. The country of Iceland seized control of its banking system to force mergers or bankruptcies because of the financial failures taking place. This small country has been put in the position of having to negotiate a loan with Russia in hopes of bringing some stability. World economy is such that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has started work on emergency plans stating no country will be safe from the credit crunch that is taking place. The European Union has started to leave countries to themselves to face their financial crisis. Our own government is taking new financial roles as panic sweeps through the markets. Retirement plans are failing as stock markets fail. However, even with the turmoil all around us our God is in control. The book of Revelation tells us, “For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes.” Phillipians says, “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Daniel said, ““Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” So we have an awesome God who has a plan, who is in control and knows what will happen although everything seems like chaos to us. Praise God in every situation for He is with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/08 11:33 AM
Isaiah 65:1-7 (The Message)
1 -7 "I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask. I'm here, ready to be found
by those who haven't bothered to look. I kept saying 'I'm here, I'm right here'
to a nation that ignored me. I reached out day after day
to a people who turned their backs on me, People who make wrong turns,
who insist on doing things their own way. They get on my nerves,
are rude to my face day after day, Make up their own kitchen religion,
a potluck religious stew. They spend the night in tombs
to get messages from the dead, Eat forbidden foods
and drink a witch's brew of potions and charms. They say, 'Keep your distance.
Don't touch me. I'm holier than thou.' These people gag me.
I can't stand their stench. Look at this! Their sins are all written out—
I have the list before me. I'm not putting up with this any longer.
I'll pay them the wages They have coming for their sins.
And for the sins of their parents lumped in,
a bonus." God says so. "Because they've practiced their blasphemous worship,
mocking me at their hillside shrines, I'll let loose the consequences
and pay them in full for their actions."

The prophecy given by Isaiah is later told by the Apostle Paul as the calling of the Gentiles and the falling away of Jews who had rejected God. God speaks out as he says, “I kept saying, ‘I’m here, I’m right here’ to a nation that ignored me.” God was tired of those who had become obstinate and followed their own ways, their own beliefs and their own pride. God was ready to let loose the consequences on a nation that had turned away from him.

In 2 Corinthians the Paul says the following, “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.” The apostle is spreading the gospel of Christ. There are some who reject the message just as those who in Isaiah rejected God. But there are also those who accept the message of Salvation and to them it is a sweet perfume. Senator Obama make this statement in 2007, “Whatever we once were, we're no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. We should acknowledge this and realize that when we're formulating policies from the state house to the Senate floor to the White House, we've got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community.” The Senator is correct in some aspects; this country has moved away from its roots of Christianity. There are those who are protected to worship as they please and that is ok. But maybe we as Christians haven’t been vocal enough in our beliefs. Instead we have let the media and other organizations push us aside. Christ commanded us to reach out to others and love them. So we should not sit back and allow others to trample over our beliefs. Some declare we should be tolerant, but where is the tolerance for Christianity. Even the Christmas Holidays have become a target where Christmas has become X-mas and X=anything but being Christian. Pray for the healing of this nation that many would turn back to the God of our forefathers and exhibit the love, grace and mercy Christ intended us to show even in the face of adversity. We are told to be proud that we are Americans, but also be proud we are Christians.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/08 11:51 AM
Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.






Paul encourages the believers in Ephesus to pray against the spiritual warfare they face by praying as often as possible. He tells them to pray for all believers seeking and asking for God's favors to abound in those seeking to do God's will. Following this verse Paul says, "And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should" Paul knew he needed the prayers of others.





Prayer is something that should be taken seriously. It is something to be done when there is a need, an occasion for celebration, when one is looking for hope or there is need to fellowship with our Lord. While we should have the mindset of prayer without ceasing we still have the duties of our perspective place in this world where God has placed us. Prayer can be many things: public or private; in a group or in solitude; spontaneous or planned. In our prayers we should confess our sins. We should ask for grace and mercy, not just for ourselves, but others. There is prayer offered in times of need, but our moments of happiness and thanksgiving should also be shared with the Lord. Our prayer should acknowledge God and our Savior for what they have done in our lives. The book of Acts tells us, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." So make sure we pray for others who are facing trials and tribulations.





Dear most gracious and loving Heavenly Father,

Lord you have placed us here in this world for your purpose to serve and honor you. Father we pray our lives would reflect the future hope of life we have with you in heaven. Lord I pray for the many believers who have needs; some which are common to all and some which are unique. Lord for each person I ask their need would be examined and with your gracious loving mercy respond to their needs according to your will. Provide hope where hope is needed. Father God, provide mercy and grace to those who have fallen away from you and let your love pull them back close to you. Thank you for the salvation you have provided through your son Jesus. Lord thank you for the forgiveness of sin. Father you know our hearts and the secret places where we hide the things we don't want examined; but examine us Lord and let us confess with joy our sin knowing it is forgiven. Lord let us learn to forgive as you have forgiven us. Let us live holy lives pleasing to you; but when we fail let us acknowledge our weakness and find glory in your strength. Lord keep us from the temptation of sin and lead us towards a life that honors you. Lord you are mighty, great, awesome, powerful and can do beyond our expectations or wisdom. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers we commit them to you.


In the precious name of your son Jesus Christ,

Amen

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/08 11:51 AM
Matthew 11:25-30 (NLT)
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

In these verses we find Jesus offering a prayer of thanksgiving for those who see the blessing of salvation that has come. Jesus calls God Father and also Lord, something we should also do. Jesus also acknowledges God plan pleased God. We must too remember God has a plan for all of us that please Him. When we assert our own will we deviate from that plan and may find consequences for our actions. Jesus then acknowledges His commission as savior and then prays that the burdens of others may fall upon Him.

There are those in this world who believe they have all the answers. The arrogance of their intelligence is such they do not seek out God to explain their daily lives or to seek direction for things they do not understand. As Solomon told us there is many a man who is wise in their own sight but the true wise are willing to listen to others and that includes God and Christ. Isaiah said, “What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think to themselves so clever.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” There is nothing wrong with seeking wisdom to understand God, but to believe we are wise without critique is foolishness. Christ offers to carry our burdens with us. Christ offers rest to the weary souls. Christ offers the teaching of wisdom that brings about gentleness and humility. Pray for Christ to carry your burdens with you and let Him ease the struggles of life. Be humble yourselves and let the love of Christ be with you.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/17/08 10:59 AM
Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Here we find the apostle giving instruction on how Christians should relate to one another. There is not to be pretence of love towards others, but a genuine love that shows care and concern. When we turn from those things that are wrong and hold onto what is good and just our love can be genuine and we find delight in honoring each other according to God’s will.

Are you willing to break the bonds that hold you back from caring and good relationships? There are people in life walking around holding onto anger, bitterness, and resent that are unwilling to let go. You may have seen it in families where an event takes place disrupting relationships; instead of holding on to what is good and trying to mend the relationship the fellowship remains broken. There are relationships with friends so broken friends have not spoken in years. There are husbands and wives on the brink of divorce because they are unwilling to soften their hearts and really love the other person for once. Are you allowing the love of Christ to work through you where you genuinely reach out to love others? 2 John 1:6 says, “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” The Christian musician Don Francisco had a song that said, “Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of your will.” Let the words of Christ resonate in your heart, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/08 11:16 AM
Proverbs 20:5 (NLT)
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

Most of us have the capacity to reason and to determine the proper course in life we must take. Good advice lies deep within our hearts often suppressed by fears and misunderstanding. But a person who take time to understand and grabs hold of that advice will draw it out for their use and purpose.

I remember as a child visiting my grandmother’s sister’s farm. On the farm was an old well surrounded by a rock wall to keep anyone from falling in. There was a roof above the well with a hand crank for lowering down a bucket. Looking down into the well you could not see anything but darkness. As I watched, my grandmother lowered the bucket deep into the well and when it came back up the bucket was full of water. The King James Version of the bible says this about Proverbs 20:5, “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Thinking about that old well it took some patience to lower the bucket, wait a little bit and then draw it back up to the surface. There are times when we are just not patient enough with ourselves. When we are thirsty enough we might find ourselves diving in head first for the cool water only to find once we have satisfied ourselves we are not at the bottom of a well hopelessly trapped. If only we had taken the time to gain clear reason and understanding we could have been patient and used the bucket like so many of those before us. When it comes to sin we are much the same way. There is something that appeals to us and instead of waiting we become like the wild animal that rushes forth without thought or reason to find itself trapped. Before you fall to sin stop and take the time to reason through your actions and you will be able to pull wisdom from deep within your heart. May God be with always pointing you to the wisdom that lies within your soul.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/21/08 10:50 AM
1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLT)
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

These verses are addressed to all Christians. As Christians we are to love those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to be sympathetic, tenderhearted and humble towards others. Our mindset should not be one of payback for wrongs done towards us, but instead we should be willing to seek out what is good. Peter reminds us to be careful of the words we speak and always tell the truth.

In a sermon on prayer, Bruce Wilkinson said: On my first trip to Israel I was on a ship that docked on the Isle of Patmos, where John wrote Revelation. I was so lonely for my family I didn't even go back up to the cave where he wrote it. I wanted to be by myself so I walked the streets of Patmos until I found a coffee shop. I sat down and prayed. "Lord, I'm in the middle of nowhere. I don't know anyone. Send someone who needs you." The guy at the next table said, "Do you want some coffee? I'll buy. Are you off that ship?"
"Yes," I said. I moved over to his table and he bought me a cup of coffee. "What's the matter?" He said, "What do you mean what's the matter?" I said, "I don't know. What's the matter?" "I just left my wife, and I'm not going back. I'm going to try to go on the ship to get to the next island so I can fly out of here." "Would you believe I'm all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, for one reason—to get you back to your wife?"
"Impossible," he said. "Let me return the favor of the coffee." And for the next hour God broke through and that young man came to know Christ. I told him, "If you make it up with your wife before the boat leaves, you come wave." "It'll never happen." "You're a miracle. Give God a chance." I got on the boat, and was praying like crazy. I went to the back of the boat overlooking the harbor and will never forget what I saw. Down off the rocky cliff came this young couple holding hands and waving! I'm convinced that if I hadn't prayed, that man would have never said a word to me.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/22/08 11:23 AM
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NLT)
8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

The apostle Paul had confronted the Corinthians on an issue taking place in the church they had not confronted. Now Paul is writing to express his joy at the repentance taking place in the church. He explains how he knew what he wrote was harsh also to the point of feeling sorry for what he had to say. But because of his words the church repented and they changed direction on what they were doing. He said their repentance brought them to sorrow, but it is the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience to lead us away from sin. Paul goes on to say there is no regret for that sorrow. Regret only comes when there is worldly sorrow resulting from a lack of repentance.

According to Webster’s, regret is a sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one’s control or power to repair. Because we cannot control or repair what has happened in the past many of us continue to live as though there is no hope for our past sins. We stay focused on the sin we committed to the point it grieves us, holds us emotionally captive, and causes us to continue in our sorrow. And while it is true the sins of the past are beyond our control, it is not beyond God’s control. Our continued regret of sin is self centered, because we are saying God cannot help. Christ died for those sins of the past allowing us to live in freedom from sin in the present, the future and even the past. We can take the experiences of our past failures and let them bring us joy knowing we have repented and been freed from that sin. We can use our experiences to help others and show them God is in control and does have the power to repair the past. Our God lives beyond the boundaries of time and can heal our wounds no matter when they took place. Is there something you regret? Maybe it is because you realized you have no control to change the past, but remember God can. Pray God will free you from the regrets that bind you and let His forgiveness bring you joy and healing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/08 11:05 AM
1 John 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

The apostle John describes the life of a person who believes in Christ. Their battle is already won for Christ has defeated sin and brings hope to those who believe in Him. The believer shows love for God by wanting to fulfill his commandments. These commandments are not burdensome as those imposed by the Pharisees and Scribes; for Jesus said they burdened the people with laws they themselves could not keep. As believers we are God’s children and we are to love all those who are a part of the family of God.

When times are difficult, who, what or where does your instinct tell you to turn to? There is a constant battle going on in this world. There is a struggle against what is right and what is wrong. In those difficult times some choose to turn to the world for answers. They reach out to those who might seem to have the answers they are looking for, but in actuality those people are only looking out for themselves. Others may turn to things such as drugs or alcohol to help them cope with the problem. But instead of coping they introduce a whole new set of problems. John tells us it is belief in Jesus that can help us overcome our battles. King David said we should give our burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you. Jesus said he was willing to share our burdens. Likewise God asks of us to share the burdens of others of believe in Christ out of our love for God. The apostle Paul warned Timothy in his letters, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” So remember to turn to God and Christ when times are difficult. Don’t lose your love for God or for those who believe as you do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/24/08 01:19 PM
Job 38:1-3 (NLT)
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

Job, lamenting over his situation of the loss of family, possessions, and servants, was being taunted by his friends who thought surely he deserved this punishment for something he did. Job was becoming frustrated with his replies when finally the Lord spoke. First God asks, “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words.” Secondly God says, “Brace yourself like a man because I have some questions for you.”

When we think we have all the answers in life we need to remember our God who does hold the answers. As God demonstrated to Job and his friends their knowledge was limited. God ask some of the following questions:
• Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
• Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
• What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
• “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
• “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
• Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
• Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
• “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
• “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail? (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)
• Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Even today we are unable to answer many of those questions. No one knows for certain the laws of the universe and what regulates everything. Who knows for sure how the earth and seas were formed. There are theories, but that is all. The next time you have questions about life, stop, pray, and then listen for God’s answers. Give the Lord time to respond and help you to understand the life you are facing.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/08 11:05 AM
Titus 2:1-7 (NLT)
1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. 3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

In these verses from Titus, the apostle Paul encourages believers to promote right teaching. Men and women, old and young are encouraged to live wisely and teach wisdom to others. They should also live lives that are examples for others to follow so no shame can come upon them.

When you open up yourself to God, God uses you in ways you can never expect. Before I went out of town on a business trip I had read some Christian material on how a believer should take the time to listen to others and be good examples to them. Usually when I was out of town I was alone and ate alone. So I went to a place I had been told about called Hamburger Hamlet. They supposedly had some of the best hamburgers in the area. When I went inside the waitress asked if I was alone and I said yes. She said there was a 30 minute wait unless I didn’t mind eating at the bar. I thought I might be one of the few eating and not drinking, but it was better than waiting. As I sat down I noticed a glass that maybe had an inch of beer left in the bottom. As the barkeep wiped up my area he removed the almost finished glass. It probably wasn’t 3 minutes later this man came up angrily protesting his beer was gone. Now remember there was just a small amount left, but he wanted it. The barkeep wanting to calm the man down said, “Listen, I’ll just give you another glass on the house.” I sensed God wanting me to say something to this man. I could tell he was bitter about something in life. So I said, “You sound a little frustrated.” The man surprised me when he started telling me how he had just gotten out of jail and he couldn’t find a job. As I sat there with my meal I continued to talk to the man and asked him where he was staying. He told me his grandmother was letting him live with her that she was a decent church going woman. So I asked him, “What about you, do you go to church?” No not really was the response, being in jail and such I just haven’t had time. So I asked him if he knew if he was going to heaven and his answer was this, “While I was in jail a chaplain came to see me with a bible that he gave me. I knew my grandmother went to church so I figured it couldn’t hurt to listen to this man. He told me how Jesus died for my sins and how I could live eternal life with Jesus in heaven if I would just trust Jesus.” I asked, “Well did you?” He said, “Yes, I got saved, I want to trust Jesus, but life is so hard.” I talked with him about his situation and his difficulties. I talked about the jobs he could possibly look for and that maybe his grandmother knew someone at the church who could help him. The man listened intently and said, “You know, my grandmother said about the same things you did. I think I’ll go home and talk with her some more to see if she can let me talk to someone at the church.” The man got up. He thanked me for talking with him and he said, “God must have placed you here today, because I just needed someone to listen to me.” The man walked away. Still sitting there on the counter was the full glass of beer the barkeep had given him. The man just needed some guidance and someone to listen who cared. His anger wasn’t about the inch of beer he lost, but it was about being frustrated with life and not knowing where to turn. You never know how God can use you if you just make yourself available to be used. And the time I took talking with the man became a blessing to me that I still remember.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/28/08 11:15 AM
Romans 16:17-19 (NLT)
17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. 19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.

In this final chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes a request to those who are receiving his letter. He asks them to watch out for those who teach contrary to God’s word. He goes as far as to say “Stay away from them” knowing these people are only looking out for themselves and not the interest of others. Their words are smooth talk and polished language that take over the minds of the innocent.

In the KJV of the bible verse 16 says, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” The word for “fair speeches” is the Greek word eulogia. Our modern day English word “eulogy” is derived from this word. As defined by Webster’s a eulogy is a commendatory oration or writing especially in honor of one deceased; high praise. There is an episode of Everyone Love Raymond where Ray was practicing what he might say at his father’s potential funeral. Even though the father in the show has his flaws and imperfections Ray was concentrating on the just the good parts of his father’s life. His father found out about the eulogy and got angry. His anger didn’t come from Ray writing a kind eulogy; it came because Ray didn’t say he was a tough, mean, son of a gun. Some of the real truth was being hidden with kind and sweet words. I have never attended a funeral where I have heard someone say anything in regards to “this was mean person, an evil person, a wicked demented individual.” No, usually the words are smooth, pleasant and commending. With those thoughts in mind remember “glowing words” and “fair speeches” at times purposely hide the truth. The words are meant to sway opinion and lead innocent people astray. As the election for President of the United State approaches, pray God reveals the true character of each man. Don’t let fair speeches and glowing words win your heart. Instead look for a leader who will lead with God as his leader.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/08 11:59 AM
Galatians 5:19-23 (NLT)
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

In this chapter of Galatians the Apostle Paul discusses our freedom in Christ and how we should let the Holy Spirit guide our lives. Paul explains we still have a sinful nature that wants to be in control and perform evil. But he goes on to say the Holy Spirit gives us desires which are the opposite of the sinful desires. Paul wants us to know we can have a choice either to be led by that which wants to consume us or that which wants to free us. So in the verses above Paul points out what is sinful and what the Holy Spirit wants to lead us towards.

Paul has given us two check lists. The first check list is an inventory of that which our sinful nature wants to follow. Carefully look at the items that follow; are there any in the list you can see in your own life?

- Sexual immorality
- Impurity
- Lustful pleasures
- Idolatry
- Sorcery
- Hostility
- Quarreling
- Jealousy
- Outbursts of anger
- Selfish ambition
- Dissension
- Division
- Envy
- Drunkenness
- Wild parties
- And other like sins

When Christ died on the cross we were set free. Our sinful passions and desires were nailed to the cross with Christ. Because we have been set free we can follow the desires of the Holy Spirit. Those desires are:

- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self control

These are the good things the Holy Spirit will guide us towards if we surrender our self desires. Have you surrendered to the love of Jesus? Check the lists above and discover for yourself.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/08 10:47 AM
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

In this verse the Apostle Paul says there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who belong to Jesus. Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus is free from the proclamation of the damnation of sin.



Who belongs to Jesus? The bible gives us answers to this question.

Romans 1:6 “And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:9 “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Galatians 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”

1 Peter 3:16 “But do this in a gentle and respectful way. [ Some English translations put this sentence in verse 15.] Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

There is a calling by God to give up self and belong to Jesus Christ. The invitation is open to everyone. Those who accept this calling will find they are not controlled by their sinful nature, but instead are led by the Holy Spirit. Sin still exists, but its power has been rendered useless. Because the person is no longer a slave to sin they are free to begin a new life apart from sin. As they come to know Christ their old life passes away and they become a person renewed in their ways and thoughts. These people have taken their passions and desires of sin and left them with Christ at the cross. Christ paid for each of those sins through His sacrifice there. And the life of those who belong to Christ, while not always sin free, should look towards keeping a clear conscience of their actions so they will not fall to shame. Those who belong to Christ should be examples to others; light that reaches out and shares the Good News of Jesus Christ. These are the ones free from condemnation; those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/31/08 11:37 AM
Revelation 7:9-10 (KJV)
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

These verses are a part of the revelation given to John. Here we find that John saw people from all over the world standing before God and Christ. The number standing there was so great no man could count the individuals that were present. The NLT translation makes verse 10 easier to read, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

Today is known to many of us as Halloween. It comes from a Christian celebrated holiday call Hallows Day, Hallowmas, or All Saints Day. So today is the eve of Hallows day, the start of a remembrance of those who stood for the church and are now with God and Christ in heaven. John had the privilege of seeing all those who would be there in heaven. He saw the great saints and multitude of people too great to count. Those verses were to reassure us of our place in heaven. In the early church Christians would celebrate the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ. There would be an all night vigil leading up to the celebration of their remembrance. Around 270AD a celebration of All Martyrs began. It was a remembrance of all the saints who had died defending Christ and the Church. Today many have forgotten this tradition. The holiday has become mixed with other festivals to accommodate those from many cultures. Along the way some pagan traditions were introduced. Many have also turned the holiday into a dark and gloomy imagery of death instead of the celebration of life after death. James tells us, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The Halloween holiday can be a day of fun if our mindsets are correct. It can be a celebration of those who died for the church. But if we allow ourselves to focus on the evil and allow Satan to have credit then we are dishonoring the intent of the holiday. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 says, “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.” So how do you celebrate Halloween? Do you focus on the dark side or do you stand in the light with Christ. There is nothing wrong with celebration and fun, but make sure you do it wisely. Remember Christ in all that you do and let your love for Him shine through.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/03/08 12:12 PM
1 Peter 3:13-17 (NLT)
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

In these verses the Apostle Peter reminds us to do good. He questions who would want to harm someone who does good in the lives of others; but acknowledges there are times when it might happen. In those times do not fear for God will be with you. And if you are questioned about your Christian faith, be firm, yet gentle to defend what you have learned from God. It is better to suffer for doing good that it is wrong, so speak up and be heard. Yet show love for everyone even those who might seek to do you harm.

Last night I watched Governor Mike Huckabee as he interviewed Bill Maher. Mr. Maher is a standup comedian, television host, social and political commentator and author. He is an outspoken critic of religion even going as far once to say it’s a neurological problem that justifies crazies and stops people from thinking. Maher opposes religious monuments, such as The Ten Commandments being placed in or near court houses, pointing out that this would violate the separation of church and state. He has countered the assertion of conservative Christians who claim that American law is based on the Ten Commandments by saying that of the ten, only two (the prohibitions on murder and theft) apply to American law. The other commandments, he argues, such as honoring no god before the Judeo-Christian God, keeping theSabbath holy, or honoring thy mother and thy father, are not American laws at all. In answer to the suggestion that a divine moral authority is necessary, he suggests "Couldn't we just get together and agree on the few basic Commandments that are laws? What I personally have to say is that I admired Governor Huckabee during this interview. The governor kept very composed, never raising his voice, but did defend his stance on Christianity. There were times Maher had looks of puzzlement on his face as Huckabee explained his Christian views. Maher challenged him saying if God is so loving why are there so many problems in this world? Why were children born deformed? Mike Huckabee responding again very calmly said this is a world that is filled with sin and God allows choices and struggles we must deal with. It is a way of growing our faith. He went as far to say that if he pushed his beliefs on someone that didn’t want to hear them it would be in his mind equivalent to rape. With that Maher looked shocked as though he could not understand that concept. I think Mike Huckabee did an excellent job defending Christianity, yet remaining loving and humble. As you engage others in discussions of religion remember the words of Peter, “be gentle, be respectful.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/08 11:45 AM
Jeremiah 32:17-19 (NLT)
17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! 18 You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation’s sin upon the next. You are the great and powerful God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.

In this prayer from Jeremiah, Jeremiah states some principles of God we should all be reminded of. First the Lord God is sovereign and has authority over all. Second, there is nothing too difficult for God to accomplish. He made the heavens and the earth and therefore has dominion and control of them. Third, His love is unfailing, but the Lord is ready to disciple so that sin does not continue its course one generation after another. Fourth, the Lord is wise, capable of many miracles and He watches over the people allowing their actions to dictate what they deserve; good or bad.

Genesis 1:1&31 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” God created a good world for us. He provided a place where we could fellowship with one another and also fellowship with God himself. It was a perfect place where man had what he needed and could live out his life with all he needed. But then woman and man ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil all that changed. God in his unfailing love had to protect man. In Genesis 3:22-24 it says, “Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Adam and Eve received what they deserved for their disobedience. And what they received was the love, mercy and grace of God to keep them from living in eternal sin. God offers that same love to us today through Jesus Christ. While we may live in a world corrupted by sin, there is hope of eternal life with God. An abundant and joyful life just as we were meant to have. You might hear people say, if God so loves why does He allow bad things to happen? God gives us choices and by our own hands we receive what we deserve. And sins are passed from generation to generation until one day someone stands against the sin meant to destroy them. May you all stand firmly against sin and pray God will help you overcome the desires of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/08 01:05 PM
1 Peter 1:23 (NLT)
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

The apostle Peter reminds us that we have an eternal life through Jesus Christ. God’s word, His promises, His wisdom, His living and breathing scriptures tell us of our new life.

There are times you think things are impossible, but God’s word says “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” His word is used for correction, reproof and purification. When you are tired and weary and the struggles of life are a constant battle remember Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” When you feel as though no one cares that no one loves you, don’t forget God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. Whenever things are difficult and you think you can’t go on, remember what Paul said, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” Let Christ carry your burdens when you feel there is no more hope. And when you think you can’t do it, remember from His word that Paul said, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them, so do not think you are not worth it for God finds you precious in His sight. Don’t believe you are unforgivable for God tells you there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. It is Satan’s lies that discourage and trouble you. When you believe things cannot be managed remember Paul said, “God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches” When you are worried, give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. When fear overtakes you and you begin to dread what will take place, remember God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. And if you aren’t convinced God is with you, remember these words; For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” May God bless you through His Living Word and may you find the peace and joy you were meant to have.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/08 12:44 PM
Matthew 20:20-23 (NLT)
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

In these verses we have the mother of James and John coming to Jesus with a request for her sons. She had faith in the kingdom Jesus would establish, but misunderstood how it was to come about. Her request was for each of the sons to take a place of prominence next to Jesus. But Jesus rebuked them and asked if they knew what they were asking for? In order for Jesus to come into His kingdom he had to die. There would also be many who would die for Jesus and He said the Father is the one who would prepare the places of honor.

A young construction worker bragged about his strength. He told the other workers he could out perform any of them when it came to his strength and abilities. He even taunted some of the older workers trying to force them into competition with him. Finally one of the older construction workers had enough. He walked over to the young man and said, “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is. I’ll bet you a week’s wages I can haul something over to that building in a wheelbarrow and you won’t be able to do the same thing. “The young worker feeling confident he could outperform the older man said, “You are on old man!” The older construction worker grabbed the handles of the wheel barrow, looked at the younger man and said, “Ok stupid, climb in.” Sometimes we all think we are capable and better than others. James and John in some sense felt they deserved to sit next to Christ when his kingdom came, but Jesus let them know God would look at their life and make that decision. Instead of bragging about what we can do, we should let actions speak for us. We should let others see our love for Christ by the works we do and not the words we use. We may think we deserve what others might receive and even deceive ourselves into believing it. God knows our hearts and our intent. Pray God would show you the true intent of your heart and may you serve Him faithfully out of love and respect.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/08 12:33 PM
1 Samuel 23:13-18 (NLT)
13 So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. 14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him. 15 One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. 16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” 18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

David has been on the run from King Saul who was seeking to kill him. David had been in the area of Keilah with his men defending them against the Philistines. Saul was still on the search for David, so Saul’s son who was a friend of David’s came to warn David and encourage him to stay strong in his faith in God.

Around the holidays it seems some people go through difficult times. It is during this time people reflect on the past; remembering lost loves ones; failed relationships; or economic problems. I want to encourage each and everyone as Jonathan did to stay strong in your faith in God. For Jonathan it was such an important message to deliver to David he risked his relationship with his father in order to maintain his relationship with his friend David and God. In Ephesians Paul said, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” In second Timothy he said, “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” So my friends I encourage you to also be strong in the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. When sadness comes, remember God can bring joy. When times are desperate, God provides hope. When you are anxious, cast your worries upon Jesus. When friends fail and family disappoints, remember God will never let you down. When you are lonely, remember Jesus lives within you. When you are afraid, don’t forget Jesus holds your soul securely in His hands. My friends stay strong in the Lord for He will see you through any difficulty. May God bless each and everyone keeping you safe and secure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/08 12:08 PM
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

The words of the Apostle Peter remind us we inherited an empty life. God had planned a full and rich life for man, but when man fell to sin we were robbed of that richness. The rich life is not one paid for with gold or silver. It is a rich life free from sin paid with the ransom of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Red Cross frequently calls me asking if I would be willing to donate blood. I was always curious why they called until one day the lady on the phone asked me that very question, “Do you know why we call you so frequently to give blood?” I told her no and she explained I have what is called CMV negative blood. CMV stands for Cytomegalovirus. It is an extremely common infection most of our population has been exposed to. Once a person is infected with CMV the virus remains in the body. For most people the virus poses little problems, or shows no obvious symptoms. However for those with weak or compromised immune systems the virus can be deadly. The lady from the Red Cross went on to tell me because I never acquired the virus my blood was used for neo-natal babies, burn patients and cancer patients who had compromised immune systems. She then told me, “Did you know your blood has saved 37 lives?” Jesus Christ who never acquired sin gave His blood for our lives. He was free from the sin everyone had inherited and because of His pure blood Jesus was able to save all of us infected with sin. No one else’s blood would have worked; it was His alone. Praise Jesus who gave His blood to save our lives from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/08 12:46 PM
Luke 2:8-12 (NLT)
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

This is the Bibles birth announcement of Jesus being born. It was given to shepherds out in the fields protecting their flock of sheep that were first in darkness and suddenly surrounded by light from the radiance of the Lord’s glory. The angels brought “good news” of the birth of a savior. The message was brought to the common people and not those who were in high position or power. The shepherds were given instructions for finding the baby Jesus so they could look upon the baby born to be their savior.

Cristes mæsse a word found in 1038 is where the word Christmas comes from. It means the Mass of Christ. While the date of December 25th is the celebrated date of Christmas there is no official determination of the day when Christ was actually born. Throughout history the Christmas Holiday has included many traditions. Some we are familiar with such as nativity scenes placed about showing Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus. Many people send out warm welcomes of Christmas cards. Greenery is used for decoration, which includes items such as mistletoe, wreaths and spruce trees. Celebrations or parties are often given around Christmas and gifts are handed out. Hymns and carols are sung by choirs recognizing the Christmas holidays. Some recognize Christ while others just provide merry entertainment. The celebration of Christmas has been questioned through history. In 1644 it was forbidden by an act of Parliament. Some of the traditions because of their pagan origins were stopped at times or made more suitable for the holiday. As we begin to enter what we know as the Christmas season I encourage everyone to remember the true reason for the holiday. It is to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is recognition of Him who saved us from the death of sin being born into this world. There are many trying to tear the true meaning of Christmas away from us. Just this week there was a published news article saying an organization in Washington, D.C., our country’s capital, will be placing signs on buses that say, “Why believe in god? Just be good for goodness sake.” The American Humanist association is putting out this ad because they say, “Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion." So let’s stop here a second and ask this question, “WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?” Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; PERIOD. Other religious holidays don’t seem to be attacked like those of Christians. The Apostle Peter said, “So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” Be prepared for those who attack your faith with a sound answer that recognizes Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Remember to put Jesus first for He put you first by dying for your sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/08 03:27 PM
James 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

The Apostle James reminds us temptation does not come from God. God is above sin and temptation and therefore does not tempt us nor lead us towards sin. It is our own sinful nature which draws us close to sin and if we partake of the sin it drags us away from God.

The Flip Wilson show appeared weekly on NBC from September 1970 until June 1974. For the first two years the show was rated second from the top following “All in the Family”. Flip Wilson was a successful comic who created entertaining characters for his show. One such character played by Flip Wilson was Geraldine. Geraldine was a liberated, married woman whose clothing was designer in nature, but contrasted with her own mixed flair of colorful stockings. One of the lines Flip Wilson made popular with Geraldine was “The devil made me do it.” It seems we need someone to blame for our failures and Geraldine would point to the devil as being responsible for hers. Is Satan at fault for our failures or is it our own sinful desires? Adam blamed God for falling into sin. Eve turned to the serpent as her excuse. Even in this world today you will hear many people ask the question, why did God allow this to happen to me? When Jesus was alone in the wilderness for 40 days Satan placed many temptations in from of Jesus, but it was Jesus who refused them. He said, “Get out of here, Satan,” “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. Satan may show us the temptations, but it is our own desires that entice us and drag us away from God. The next time you are faced with temptation remember to reach out to God, because it is not His desire for us to sin, but instead lead us away from the sin which so easily tempts us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/24/08 12:34 PM
Matthew 2:1-10 (The Message Translation)
1 -2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him." 3 -4When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
5 -6They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."

7 -8Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." 9 -10Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! 11They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

After traveling for about two years the wise men seeking Christ arrived in Bethlehem. They thought surely King Herod would know where the future leader of Israel lived. But this became a threat to Herod for he felt his rule was in jeopardy. The wise men went on as instructed and found the home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. They entered the home and kneeled in the presence of Jesus. They presented three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Warned by God these men did not return to Herod, but took a different route to return to their homeland.

God reminds people of His promises. Herod was reminded of what the prophet Micah said. Verses following those above reminded the people of what Jeremiah said when Herod decided to kill all male children 2 years old and under. Most of all God reminded Mary and Joseph who their child was; a future leader, a savior, one to be honored and sought after. Something else to remember is to separate tradition from God’s actual word. The wise men arrived at the home of Mary and Joseph 2 years after the birth of Jesus. Modern mangers always show the wise men present offering their gifts, but only the shepherds the angels spoke to went to the manger. Also we don’t know the number of wise men. It is assumed there were 3 because there were three gifts, but there could have been more or less. Make sure to know God’s word, its truth and the promises He makes to us all. His word will lives and is there to lead us through our daily lives.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/02/09 11:58 AM
Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

A proverb written by King Solomon; a man given the wisdom to understand great things. Yet a man who failed at times himself, because He did not respect God as he should have. The word fear in Hebrew is yir’ah which has several meanings.
1) fear, terror, fearing
a) fear, terror
b) awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)
c) fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety
d) revered
Out of these c and d are the most appropriate when we think of God. He is to be respected with an amount of reverence. God is to be revered for He is worthy of great honor. Learning to fear God by giving respect and honor is the beginning of knowledge. But those who despise what God has to offer usually fall to the consequences they themselves create.

Yesterday I watched Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel as he covered several different religions and their belief about angels. The Bible tells us there are angels. Hebrews tells us that angels are spirits sent to care for those who will inherit salvation. One question was asked of a priest, “Are there people that are angels?” The reply was there is a difference between angels and people. God elected to give salvation to man, while the angels that fell from grace from God with Satan will be condemned for eternity. God obviously has chosen man for salvation because He understands the weakness of man in regards to sin. God reaches out in love providing us with wisdom to live our lives. Sometimes the wisdom is found in His Holy Words. Sometimes wisdom comes as a revelation planted as a seed by God. Other times God uses angels or man to send messages we may need to hear. Learn who God is; His love, His Grace, and His mercy He demonstrated through Jesus Christ and you will start on a path of wisdom. Pray for wisdom that God would give you insight to living your life. Seek out the wisdom of Christ for He understands mans hardships and suffering. May God be with you, leading you and granting wisdom day by day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/09 12:17 PM
James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The apostle James points out we are not only to listen to God’s word, but also apply it to our lives. God’s word should be taken to heart so we might see our shortcomings and sin. But we also see the mercy and grace provided to us. With God there is always a blessing that comes with obedience to His word.

From Kenton C. Anderson, Choosing to Preach (Zondervan, 2006), p. 58:
“I recently toured the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, famous as the location of the prime meridian. It is a remarkable location. I was able to take a picture of my children straddling the meridian, each standing with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other foot in the Western Hemisphere.

As delightful as that might be, I would have to add that the prime meridian itself is not physically impressive. In fact, you would not realize it was there at all if it were not for a bold line cut across the pavement. The demarcation is, in fact, of human invention. Prior to the International Meridian Conference of 1884, each local region kept its own time, a system that, if continued, would have rendered impossible our current arrangements for trade and commerce. While the meridian is humanly derived, its relation to the stars is not, and that heavenly correspondence allows us to find our place on the map and in the world.
The prime meridian came about through the work of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, who made it his life mission to produce a proper navigational chart of the heavens, mapping the location of thousands of stars. Eventually, based on Flamsteed's work, scientists were able to help people find their position on the planet, allowing them to answer that fundamental question of philosophy and physics: Where am I?

The power of the prime meridian is that it is a fixed position through which our knowledge of time and place can be understood. This is a metaphor for the effect of the Bible in human life. The Scripture is our meridian. It is the fixed position, given by God himself, through which we can understand who we are, where we are, and where we must go from here.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/09 01:08 PM
John 11:37-44 (NLT)
37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

This is the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary back to life. We find Jesus going to the cave where Lazarus was buried. In verse 35 it said “Jesus wept.” It is the shortest verse in the Bible and the only time the Greek word dakryo, meaning shed tears, was used in the New Testament. The Greek word klaio was not used, which meant to weep and lament while mourning for the dead. Klaio was the same word used as Mary and Martha wept for Lazarus. It was also the word used when Mary expressed her grief at the tomb over the death of Jesus. And klaio was the word used to describe how Peter wept as he realized he denied Jesus. Verse 38 goes on to say Jesus was groaning almost angry as He approached the grave. Jesus knew Lazarus was about to return from the glory of heaven to continue life on this earth. Why a different word to describe the tears of Jesus? Jesus was not weeping as to mourn a loss, but instead to show His understanding of Lazarus being taken back from his eternal place in heaven. Lazarus stepped forward from the grave bound in burial garments. Jesus told those who were there mourning to set him free from the clothes that bound Him.

Our belief in Christ gives us a second life. Our second life will be a new life; free from the sins that bound us like death for so long. It must have been very emotional for Jesus to bring Lazarus back from his eternal life. He brought him back into a world filled with sin. Lazarus came back into a world where even his physical needs were dependent upon others to help him. The new body he was to receive was lost as his old body stepped out of the grave. How sad this demonstration of power must have been for Jesus. He was sad for the pain of others, the loss of a friend and also for taking a friend back from a promised reward. Jesus longs for us to be free from this world of pain and be with Him in His heavenly abode. Yet we are here for the present to serve God and carry the message of Christ to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/09 01:39 PM
Proverbs 11: 5 (NLT)
The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

Verse 5 of Proverbs goes along with verse 3which precedes it; “Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.” Our direction, when unsure and doubtful is to say; this is the right way and I will follow it. For those who fail to follow the right way they fall beneath the load of sin they have piled upon themselves.

Have you ever caught someone in a lie and then find they try to reason their way out with more lies? The victim of the lie stays confused trying to sort out what is truth and what is fiction. Even if there is truth in the story it has been so marred by dishonesty even the truth becomes unbelievable. Those who persist with their lies find sin loads guilt upon them. The load becomes so heavy at times people fragment their lives with mixed truth and lies. Maybe at home there is one set of lies to cover a problem. Maybe at work another set of lives covers an inappropriate action. Maybe with friends lies are told to make life seem more exciting and bigger than it is. Eventually like most sin God does not allow us to linger there forever. God reveals the sin to others and suddenly the nice neat packages of lies that were built come crashing together into a confusing state of reality. Suddenly the person finds themselves looking at the multiple lives they have created for each situation. Can you imagine the stress of trying to keep the lies straight and then the stress of explaining the lies? No wonder there are people who feel as though they are living stressful lives because of their wicked ways. The right course is to be honest. The right course is to face head on the consequences that may come for telling the truth; but be rest assured those consequences will be less than those mixed with lies. Being honest can also put aside many problems. People tend to want to help those who honestly admit a fault. Their admission says I know I did wrong and I need help to correct my actions. May you always be honest in all that you do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/13/09 11:47 AM
Matthew 28:11-15 (NLT)
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Guards who were to have watched over the crucified body of Christ went to the leading priests to let them know what happened at the tomb of Jesus. They knew the body of Jesus was gone and they were fearful for what could happen to them. The elder priests offered the soldiers a large bribe to say the disciples came and took the body. The priests understood if the body of Jesus was missing it meant He was resurrected. The story spread like wildfire among the Jews leaving doubts as to what happen.

Report Says Firm Sought to Cover Up Iraq Shootings
By JOHN M. BRODER
New York Times
Published: October 2, 2007
“WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 — Employees of Blackwater USA have engaged in nearly 200 shootings in Iraq since 2005, in a vast majority of cases firing their weapons from moving vehicles without stopping to count the dead or assist the wounded, according to a new report from Congress.The report describes Blackwater’s role in Iraqi casualties and property damage: In at least two cases, Blackwater paid victims’ family members who complained, and sought to cover up other episodes, the Congressional report said. It said State Department officials approved the payments in the hope of keeping the shootings quiet.”

Bribes and cover ups have taken place throughout history. We see in this report money was offered to keep the truth hidden. Families were paid off to keep the stories of the dead quiet. Yet the truth of the stories still surfaced. Around 2000 years ago men were paid off to keep the truth of the resurrection of Christ quiet. While rumors spread about the disciples stealing the body of Christ; the truth remained, Christ rose from the dead. People attempt to cover up what they know is true, but the story of Christ could not be held back. The truth has been revealed and has been so evident to some skeptics they have come to believe in Christ and His resurrection. There are many still trying to cover up the truth of Christ today. Stand firm and be a witness for the Savior who loved you unto death. Go and make disciples and tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/09 12:23 PM
James 3:2 (NLT)
2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

James affirms all of us in this world make mistakes; not just one or two, but many. He gives a simple example saying if we could just control the words we say then we might have the power to control other things. But we cannot always control the thoughts we put into words, which shows our weakness and humanity.

The book of Hebrews tells us, “It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.” These people faced difficult circumstances refusing to turn from God; yet none of them were perfect. They all had their flaws and their sins that had to be dealt with. The Apostle Paul tells us we cannot be perfect by our own human power. Hebrews 12:23-24 says, “You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.” While some of us worry we are not perfect enough or as perfect as another; those who surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior will all be equally perfect when we meet Him in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/15/09 12:20 PM
James 4:7-10 (NLT)

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

In James chapter 4, James starts out by talking about the things that pull us away from God. Mainly we forget to ask God to meet our needs and instead turn to the world for answers. The world is influenced by Satan and sin which runs rampant. James says we should humble ourselves before God drawing closer so that God will draw closer to us. We are to move away from our sins, purifying our hearts; showing God we really do want to serve Him instead of the world. There can be sorrow for the sins committed, but God will remove those sins as far as the east is from the west and bring you back to a place of honor.

Thomas Merton (31 January 1915 – 10 December 1968) was a 20th century Catholic writer. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, in the U.S. state of Kentucky, Merton was a poet, a social activist, a student of comparative religion as well as the author of numerous works on spirituality. He wrote more than 60 books, scores of essays and reviews, and is the subject of several biographies. There is a quote I want to use of his, “As soon as you are really alone, you are with God.” Take away the distractions of the world. Take away the influences of others who might lead you astray. Find solitude where you are completely alone and God will be there; that is His promise. Christ said He would never leave us nor forsake us. It is a promise we can count on. Sometimes we are forced to be alone because of circumstances. For example those who were locked away in isolation as prisoners of war; in those times they found the comfort of God. For some who have been deserted by family, God is there to offer hope. Find solitude, humble yourself before God seeking Him and God will seek you, find you and be with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/16/09 01:31 PM
2 Peter 2:17-22 (NLT)
17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

The Apostle Peter talks about false teachers who lure others back into sin, while they themselves are controlled by sin. He makes it clear that those controlled by sin are not free, but slaves to the sin that holds them. He points out there are those who have heard of Christ, know about the salvation of Christ, but instead of giving themselves over to Christ they have returned to the sin that holds them.

A 2008 survey by The Barna Group asked adults which, if any, of eight behaviors with moral overtones they had engaged in during the past week. The behaviors included looking at pornography, using profanity, gambling, gossiping, engaging in sexual intercourse with someone to whom they were not married, retaliating against someone, getting drunk, and lying. Of those surveyed:

-Twenty-eight percent had used profanity.
-Twenty percent had gambled.
-Nineteen percent had viewed pornography.
-Twelve percent had gossiped.
-Twelve percent had gotten drunk.
-Eleven percent had lied.
-Nine percent had engaged in sexual intercourse with someone to whom they were not married.
-Eight percent had retaliated against someone.

The results of the survey also indicated that younger generations are twice as likely to engage in immoral behavior than Baby Boomers. Younger participants were nine times more likely to engage in sex outside of marriage, six times more likely to have lied, three times more likely to have gotten drunk, three times more likely to have gossiped, twice as likely to have viewed pornography, and twice as likely to have engaged in some form of retaliation against someone.

It seems there are false teachers among us today saying these wrong behaviors are correct to engage in. It seems Christians would see the increase in sins against God and speak out on what is right and just. How long will it be before God judges those who lead others astray as He did those in Sodom and Gommorah?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/09 12:25 PM
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NLT)
3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

These words are written by Moses to the Israelites. He emphasizes the name of God and the glorious nature of His works. Moses wants to remind the people who the real God is for the people have testified they have exchanged Him for a false God. Keeping high and honorable thoughts of God is a way to remember He is the one true God; one who will not tolerate sin. God is a rock for He is immutable; an unchanging God that can always be relied upon. God’s works are perfect. He created man to be good and in justice and fairness God grants redemption and salvation. He makes perfect that which has become imperfect. God is upright and just allowing consequences but having mercy when mercy can be granted.

Faithful, just and upright those are qualities which should be sought after. King David spoke often of the faithfulness of God. He said it extended to all generations; it reached higher than the clouds; and it is enduring with unfailing love. Faithfulness keeps close those who are loved. Unfaithfulness breaks vows; fades away from duty; and rejects an allegiance of heart. Proverbs tells us the memories of the just are blessed. Those who are just bring forward abundant trust in the decisions they make. The just are regarded as wise and are often sought out for their wisdom. David said of God, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” The just will seek out truth in order to make the right decisions. A person who is upright has a strong moral integrity. They are able to hold their heads high knowing they have done no wrong. Solomon questioned why someone would leave the path of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness where men hide their ways. The integrity of the upright will guide them. Better is to hold onto integrity than to perverse one’s ways. Soloman said, “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way (of God) is abomination to the wicked.” Seek to be faithful, just and upright and you will be blessed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/09 12:17 PM
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Peter reminds us God paid the ransom for the empty life of sin through the death of Jesus. When man fell into sin it left an empty void in our lives. Our fellowship with God was broken and left us with a void wanting to be filled. The emptiness has been passed down from generation to generation to each and every one of us.

Read through the lyrics of Voice of a Savior by Mandisa taken from the album True Beauty. It talks about how people try to fill the voids in their lives. It is a beautiful song with a beautiful message.

Some people try to listen to the bottom of a bottle
Some people try to listen to a needle in their arm
Some people try to listen to the money in their pocket
Some people try to listen to another’s arms

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we’re just trying to fill it up
With something that will give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We’d give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior

Some people try to find it with blind ambition
Some people try to find it where no one else has gone
Some people try to find it in the crowns of victory
Some people get defeated and lose the strength to carry on

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we’re just trying to fill it up
With something that will give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We’d give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior

Some people try to find it in the shadow of a steeple
Some people try to find it in the back row pew
Some people try to find it in the arms of Jesus
That’s where I found it, how about you?

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we’re just trying to fill it up
With something that will give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We’d give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/09 12:19 PM
John 12:44-50 (NLT)
44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

Here Christ speaks to the crowds asserting honor to himself and also God. Jesus makes reference to the fact that He and God are one in the same. Christ follows the commands of the Father knowing that what is to happen will bring eternal life. The rejection of Christ will be the rejection of salvation. So Christ is present in the world as a light leading those who trust Him out of the darkness of sin.

In John 21 Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection and prepares breakfast for them. After breakfast Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” Jesus asked Peter twice do you love me as much as God. Peter replied twice he loved him as a close friend. The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him even as a friend. It was difficult for Peter to express his love for Christ. Even knowing Christ loved him it was difficult. Even knowing Christ came back to them after death it was still difficult to express his feelings. Sometimes Christ is asking us do we trust Him? Yet we are weak in our response. We say things such as: I would like to; I hope I can; I’m not sure, but I want to. Jesus asks us to trust Him. We are to trust that wherever He leads it was for a good purpose. If Jesus is asking do you trust Him, say “Yes Lord I trust you and will follow where you lead.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/09 12:07 PM
Proverbs 16:25 (NLT)
25 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

This is a repetition of Proverbs 14:12. Obviously it was an important thought to King Solomon; the wisest of all men. It is a warning to take caution in not deceiving ourselves to believe something is right when it is wrong. It is self delusion, a jealousy of our own desires, and a false examination of our own thoughts that lead us down this destructive path.

I have known some smart people in my life; but these intelligent, well educated, informed people have done some right stupid things. This isn’t anything new. In fact King Solomon, the wisest of all men, followed destructive paths. His wisdom was given to him by God, but God allowed Solomon to follow his own paths. Some of those paths were very wrong and led him away from God. 1 Kings 11 tells us “King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.” Even with wisdom, even with instruction and warnings from God, Solomon continued to follow his own path. Everything seemed right to Solomon. It seemed right to disobey God for his own pleasures. It seemed right to turn to other gods because the women he loved followed other gods. Repeated twice through proverbs Solomon obviously reflected on his own decisions to follow his own ways and the troubles it brought him. Follow the words of Isaiah, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/09 01:00 PM
Psalm 94:17-19 (NLT)
17 Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. 18 I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. 19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94 is an appeal to God for help in the wake of persecution. This Psalm was written when God’s church was being oppressed and persecuted. The relief they could find only came from God. All others had failed them, but the Lord lifted their spirits and supported them. Even under the most difficult conditions God was able to comfort them and renew their hope.

From the book of Matthew: “Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?””

Peter had seen the difficult situation they were in with the storm. Waves were battering the boat, which the disciples had to fight to keep the boat from sinking. Jesus came to them and told them not to be afraid for He was with them. Impulsively Peter called to Jesus that he wanted to join him and Jesus responded, “Yes come.” But Peter’s fears grew and doubt set into his mind. As the doubt took hold he started to slip into the water. Terrified he yelled out, “Save me, Lord!” Jesus grabbed Peter and lifted him up and supported him. Then he asked Peter, “Why did you doubt me.” Many of us are like Peter. We know Jesus will be with us in difficult times, but when we are in the midst of the problem doubt fills our minds and we start to sink in despair. We still know Jesus is there because we cry out wanting His help, but we doubt what He can do. In these times remember the answer a father gave Jesus, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/09 12:31 PM
Psalm 86:1-7 (NLT)
1 Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. 2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. 4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. 6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry.7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

This Psalm was a prayer of King David’s. David asks God who is above all to come down to him to listen to his prayer. He knows God will respond and he desires God’s help. David knows we are defective creatures who are in often need of help and he asks for mercy in the many requests that are made. He prays for happiness during his need for help. David also acknowledges the unfailing love of God and His attention towards us.

From Christianity today, February 2004, Vol. 48, No. 2, Page 44 comes the story of Lindsay O’Connor who slipped into a 47 day coma after severe childbirth complications. She laid in a coma unable to communicate as her family considered their options for her survival and her death. Her dad touched her feet and said, "I taught these feet how to walk." Then he comforted her husband Tim as he was about to make life decisions. She remembers Tim holding one of her hands, a neurologist the other, and telling me to squeeze their hands. Unable to do so or to speak, she felt her brain screaming, "Why can't I do this? Maybe I'm dying." Later, her inability to use the call button left her banging a spoon on the bedside table for an hour and a half. No one came. They thought it was the repetitive motor response of a brain-damaged woman.” Can you imagine the frustration of wanting to call out for help? Maybe there are times we feel frustrated thinking our calls for help are not heard. The good news is God is always listening. Because of His unfailing love He will answer in our times of need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/09 12:11 PM
James 1:14 (NLT)
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

James, the half brother of Jesus teaches where the temptations in our life come from. Temptation comes from our own desires. While Satan is called the tempter there is no one to blame but ourselves when we are drawn away by our own lusts, because the true origin of temptation comes from our hearts. If we do not take care our desires will pull us away from God and lead us straight to sin.

If we knew where a thief would enter our home; would we take precautions to thwart those efforts? The most common entry points are through the front door or a first floor window. Those would be easy guesses for most of us. Why smash a window and risk cuts if the front door can be forced open? Why take a ladder to climb in the second floor window when the first floor is easily available. Yet a research study for State Farm showed many people seem to not think about those possibilities:

Left windows open: 49 percent
Left front door unlocked: 37 percent
Left back door unlocked: 33 percent
Hid key outside: 26 percent
Left inside garage open: 22 percent

The temptation of sin is much the same way. We know where sin may come from because there is not a temptation that is not common to us all. Yet knowing there are temptations awaiting us we don’t prepare for them. Instead we leave the window of opportunity open. We leave the doors unlocked to our heart that allow those temptations wander in. Temptation is not a sin, but is common to all man. Knowing temptation exists we should closely guard ourselves and watch out for those entry points where sin may choose to enter.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/03/09 12:24 PM
John 21:20-22 (NLT)
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” 22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

John the disciple writes in these verses calling himself “the disciple Jesus loved”. John did not arrogantly list his name but instead placed value as being one (of many) Jesus loved. During the Lord’s Supper, John had asked Jesus who would betray him after Peter urged John to ask. Now Peter walking with Christ was distracted by John. Instead of talking with Jesus he turned to asking about John. Jesus gave Peter an answer, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” Peter’s concern should have been for own his relationship with Christ and Christ reminded Peter that he was to follow Him.

There have been times I have walked into a store not knowing the location of an item I was seeking. Knowing I might be wandering around aimlessly; I usually walk up to one of the employees and ask, “Where can I find this item?” Often the employee will say, “Follow me” and I follow as they walk me through the store to the item I am searching for. They know the store so I trust to follow them as they lead me to the item I am searching for. Jesus knows and understands every detail of our lives. Jesus tells us to follow Him and He will lead us to that which we need to find. Don’t wander aimlessly in your life; instead let Jesus take you where you need to go.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/09 12:35 PM
Galatians 6:1-3 (NLT)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

In the previous chapter of Galatians the apostle Paul gave plea for Christians to serve one another out of love. Here he continues that thought encouraging Christians to help other Christians overcome by sin. They are to do so delicately and in such a manner to lead the person back towards God. A believer should always be aware they are also subject to temptation. Dealing with the temptation of another they could also fall prey to the same temptation. We all must remember we are servants of God and if do not submit to the service of loving others; someone else can always take our place.

A problem many Jews faced prior to the coming of Christ was the strict rules and regulations placed upon them by religious leaders. Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.” The law was established to reflect sin and show man reproof and how to live life. Paul said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The law was not to a burden, but a course of direction for man to pursue towards God. The Pharisees and Sadducees had distorted that meaning and placed burdensome tasks on people instead of trying to help their problems. Our responsibility as Christian brothers and sisters is to love and help others. We are to point out failures in a loving way. We should allow the grace of Christ to work through us extending grace where grace is required. And we should allow room for understanding of those who have fallen to sin because we are also subject to the same temptation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/09 01:00 PM
Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Christ explained to his disciples how he must suffer for the sake of all. Now he tells them they too will suffer for the sake of what they believe in. They were to follow the shepherd as sheep turning their lives over to the one who was going to guide them. Christ reminded them there was no benefit in enjoying what the world had to offer is the cost was the eternal loss of their soul. Christ reiterates this point by asking “Is anything worth more than your soul?”

There was a story I read from Decision Magazine about a young boy who loved to play marbles. He had one favorite cracked blue marble; it had won him many matches. As he walked along with his pocket of marbles he met a girl eating chocolate candies. He put together a plan in his mind and stopped to offer the girl all his marbles for all of her chocolate. Carefully searching out his pocket he managed to feel the cracked blue marble he cherished and pushed it deep into his pocket. He pulled out the other marbles and handed them to the girl in exchange for the chocolates. As he began to walk off he turns back to the girl and asks, “Hey, you did give me all the chocolates, didn’t you?” Our fallen nature makes us want to hang onto to that which we feel is a prized procession. We don’t want to give up ourselves to Christ in the same manner. We want to hold on to a part of our life we found satisfying. But holding on just makes us suspicious of others and whether they could be as corrupt as we ourselves are. We don’t want to surrender full control to Christ because we fear in doing so we may be missing out on something.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/12/09 01:15 PM
James 1:19 (NLT)
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

In this verse James provides some words of wisdom for us all. First we are to listen carefully to things said to us. We should be attentive so as not to miss the intent of what is being said to us. If we give a response we should think carefully about the response before speaking out. In taking our time to listen and speak it gives us an opportunity to keep our anger at bay.

Anger is a secondary emotion caused by one or many other emotions. Initially a person does not feel anger, what they feel is a series of emotions that triggers anger. For instance a person can feel abandoned, left out of the plans, put to the side and as those emotions fester they turn to anger because they have not expressed how they truly feel. Speaking in anger does not give us a chance to express our feelings. Instead anger enrages. Ephesians says, “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” There is nothing wrong with being angry, but the way we express anger can lead to sin. So instead of focusing on the emotion of anger, go back to the first emotions and express them in a way that honors Christ. For instance if someone said something hurtful you could respond by saying, “I makes sad to hear you felt that way.” It sounds a lot different than, “You made me really angry by saying that!” placing the hearer on the defensive. Be honest with your feelings and express them in a way that is understandable. Never give anger a foothold by speaking without thought.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/17/09 12:01 PM
Job 21:22-26 (NLT)
22 “But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful? 23 One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, 24 the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. 25 Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. 26 But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.

Job discusses the plight of man. Some people have riches and live in the security of their wealth. Some have good health and are able to enjoy vigorous lives. On the other hand some people die from poverty never feeling safe and secure. The fate of both is the same; death comes and life on this world ends.

Our Lord Jesus gave us a view into the life of a beggar and a rich man. The beggar was always willing to eat the scraps the dogs did not eat. The rich man enjoyed life and gave no thought to the blessings that had been bestowed upon him. Upon death the poor man’s faith in God placed him in heaven at the bosom of Abraham. The rich man when he died found himself in hell for he never sought God or thought about his eternal life. In the years ahead some will be blessed with wealth while others live in poverty. It is not wealth that shows we stand in God’s favor nor is it poverty that shows we are out of favor with God. It is a lot each is dealt in life. For God works through both the rich and the poor. In our wealth we should seek God and use our resources to help others. In our poverty we should count on God to bring joy and peace into our lives. Rich or poor our fate is death, but the outcome of our eternal life is the faith and trust we have placed in God. For His salvation comes through His son Jesus Christ who shed His blood freely for our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/18/09 12:56 PM
Luke 11:24-26 (NLT)
24 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. 26 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

In these verses Jesus tells us of a person who was overcome by an evil spirit of sin. Leaving briefly the person found a moment of peace from the sin that had departed. But the sin returned and found the person was trusting in their own confidence. The person was spiritually empty. They had hoped by trying to order their life they could become free of the sin. But when the sin overcame them again it was stronger and brought with it more temptations of sin.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a preacher and wonderful man of God, was one day walking along the street. A drunken man came up to him. He began to use inappropriate language; he saw Spurgeon and recognized him. "Ah," said he, "is that you Mr. Spurgeon?" "It is," said Mr. Spurgeon, "That is my name. What do you want?" "Oh," said the man, mocking, "I am one of your converts." This man had gone to the church where Spurgeon preached. The power of the Gospel had, for a time, temporarily influenced this man’s decisions about life. He had sobered up, but he had never really accepted Christ as his Savior and so he fell back to his drunken state. He said to Spurgeon, "I am one of your converts" - as much as to say, "So much for your religion. It did nothing for me." Spurgeon's answer was very clever. "Yes," he said, "I am sure you are one of my converts. The Lord would have made a better job of it." We must be careful not to fill our lives with anything else except the love, grace and mercy of God. We should let God lead our lives and be careful of following others as a substitute for following God. And we should not rely solely on ourselves for we are flawed in our nature of reasoning. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/09 01:03 PM
Psalm 19:12-13 (NLT)
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

David asks God how he can know sin in his life. He understands there is sin that is obvious, but there is also sin the person does not recognize, has ignored or even deceived them about its affect. David asks God to reveal the hidden sins and to keep him from deliberately sinning. David’s seeks a life free of guilt that comes from sin.

Our own desires entice us to sin. Often we justify or hide the sin so that we do not feel the shame of these desires. The Bible is clear God does not tempt us to sin. "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. We are the reason why we sin. Unfortunately sin was handed down to us when Adam and Eve sinned against God. We are not directly responsible for their sin, but we do live with the consequences of their sin. For example you damage a piece of furniture and then you sell the furniture to someone else. The person who bought the furniture did not damage it, but they have to live with the consequences of the damage already done. Since we live with the consequences of sin, we live in an imperfect world where sinful desires lurk in our heart. We need to ask God to help us seek out those sins so we can ask forgiveness and be free of the guilt that comes with sin. We cannot rid ourselves of sin for sin was passed on to us, sometimes unrecognizable; Jesus gave us hope when He said “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” God has made a way to free us from sin through His son Jesus Christ. Give God praise for His mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/20/09 12:22 PM
Haggai 1:3-6 (NLT)
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

The minor prophet Haggai shares a message from God concerning the peoples work towards the building of the temple. The people are made aware of the misuse of what they have; living in luxurious homes while the house of God laid in ruins. They were told they had much, but they had little to show for what they did have.

Some of you may have experienced putting change in your pants pocket only to find there is a hole that it escapes through. The next thing you know money is rolling all over the floor in different directions. Some, who probably won’t admit to it, have probably picked up the change, put it back in the same pocket and once again watched it roll away. We live in a time where we need to be careful with God’s resources. Many have been blessed with good things, but it is so easy to let those blessings slip away on the wrong things. We need to make sure we don’t keep using the resources we have been given incorrectly. God wants us to use His resources in a way that impacts the church in a positive manner. Plant your resources such that they bring a full harvest that satisfies many.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/09 01:38 PM
James 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Here James draws out what heavenly wisdom is like. This gift of wisdom was given to Solomon. It does not come from study or the words of man, but it comes from above. This wisdom is pure, guiding one towards gentleness and love for others. Peace is obtained by wisdom, not by covering up the actions of others, but by confronting wrong with a heart of righteousness.

On a college application was a question, “Do you have what it takes to become a leader?” The young woman filling in the application started to feel hopeless as she thought about the question. She wanted to be honest, but she also felt the question implied the college was looking for people who were leaders; she did not consider herself a leader. So she gave an honest, sincere answer with no favoritism towards herself, “No”, she replied, “I am a follower not a leader.” She submitted the application expecting the worst. To her surprise she got a reply, “Dear Applicant: A study of the applications received shows there were 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it imperative they have at least one follower.” The young woman found her answer out of honesty and trust. She fought against the temptation to say what she thought was expected and her wisdom won out. We all need to follow righteous wisdom, applying honesty, love, mercy, no favoritism, sincerity and peace. Righteous wisdom is above all other wisdom and will plants sees of peace and a harvest that is bountiful.
Posted By: imagine Re: Devotionals - 02/24/09 06:46 AM
Thank you for your time writing these devotionals!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/24/09 12:02 PM
2 Kings 22:18-20 (NLT)
18 “But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: 19 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20 So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’”

When King Josiah was 26 years old he ordered the money at the Lord’s Temple to be counted and assigned to pay workers to restore the Temple. As the temple was being restored the Book of the Law was found. Upon hearing the words written King Josiah tore his clothes in despair for he realized the people had turned away from God. The message sent to the King was one of temporary hope; for the king had humbled himself before God. God promised there would not be disaster in the city until after the king’s death.

We have a nation in the middle of a rebuilding process. Money is being appropriated and spent in an attempt to lift up the economy. In some cases the money is not being used wisely. In some cases the money is going against the word of God. Leaders are not standing firm on God’s principles, but instead turning to their own desires. They say one thing to the people, but do not follow through in their own actions. Those who should be managing the money and guarding it are the ones who have been stealing and avoiding payments to the government. Is there any wonder God is not blessing this country as a whole? Where are those who would humble themselves before God in despair? Not humbling themselves because they have ruined their own lives or the financial stability for many; but humbling themselves before God realizing how they have fallen away from God. David said about God in Psalm 18:27, “You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/09 12:31 PM
Genesis 24:12-21 (NLT)
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. 16 Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. 17 Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” 18 “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
21 The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission.

Abraham sent one of his servants to search out a wife for his son Isaac. He wanted Isaac to marry a woman from his homeland and not one of the local women who worshiped other gods. The servant started his search with prayer. He asked the Lord to show him who should be Isaac’s wife by a test. He would ask for water; if she gave him water and offered his camels water she would be the one he knew God selected. But even when his conditions were met we see the servant wondering if God had given him the answer.

Often we ask of God, we receive and then we question the answer. The servant in the verses above is not alone in his doubt. There have been many more who doubted God. Gideon asked God for a sign and then questioned the answer. Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

For these men it was as if they were saying, God I believe, but help me with my unbelief. They wanted to trust God, but their fears made them doubt. They wanted some confirmation God was hearing their request. As one man begged Jesus to help his child he said to him, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” We all have unbelief and doubt God will answer us. Pray you will hear God’s answers plainly and clearly. Pray God will help your unbelief and strengthen your faith.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/27/09 12:31 PM
Jonah 1:1:3 (NLT)
1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.

Amittai was Jonah’s father’s name. His name meant truth; so Jonah was the son of truth to be sent to the people of Nineveh. God’s words to Jonah were clear; go to Nineveh and announce God’s judgement. But Jonah bought a ticket and headed off in the opposite direction towards Tarshish hoping to escape God.

When you look at a historical map you can see Joppa on the coast of Israel. Tarshish was far to the west across the Great Sea. It was as far away as all your money and a boat could take you. Nineveh on the other hand was north east from Joppa along the Tigris River. Why would Jonah want to head so far away from where God wanted him to go? Nineveh was in the nation of Assyria. The book of Nahum tells us some about those in Nineveh. Murdered bodies lay on the street and there were so many dead that people had to step over the bodies. The city was wealthy, but the people were wicked indulging in sins of the flesh. They would take enemies captive and dash the heads of their children against the rocks. They were godless; practicing magic and witchcraft among themselves. These people tried to act god like showing they power, displaying their wealth and overpowering their enemies. Jonah did want the Lord to give these people a chance. He didn’t want God to tell them about their wickedness and give them a chance to repent. Instead he wanted to run the other direction. How often do we do the same thing? We make judgments against people without even trying to tell them about the love of God and the life they could find in Christ. Instead we want to turn the other way. We forget God extends his mercy and grace to all; even those who we think don’t even deserve it. The irony is Jonah needed to hear he was heading the wrong direction just as much as the people of Nineveh needed to hear they were headed away from God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/09 12:58 PM
James 15:16 (NLT)
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James says Christians should confess their faults to one another and join in prayer for one another. Confession brings reconciliation both to man and to God. Therefore be earnest in your prayers and release sin through yours prayers that you might see the wonderful results God can bring.

King David was a man of prayer. Throughout PSALMS we can see how he poured his heart out to God in confession of sin, cries for help, and to acknowledge God and give praise. Hosea said, “Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord.Say to him,“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,so that we may offer you our praises.” Jesus told us that if a person sins against us we should go privately and point the sin out so that we can bring the person back closer not only to ourselves, but also to God. John tells us if we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Imagine a person in church walking up to you and saying, “I have to admit this to someone, I am really struggling with some addiction problems and need some help and someone to pray with me.” What would your response be? Would it be to ignore them? Would it be to say, I’ll keep you in my prayers, and then never remember their need? Or would you ask them, how can I pray right now and how can I help? When we pray for one another we have the chance to see God in action. We can watch as God moves in a person’s life that is struggling as they find answers they could not find before. Without praying for one another we miss out on the opportunity to see what God can do.

Our Father in heaven who is full of mercy and grace,
I pray for someone who may be struggling this morning. I pray for someone who needs your help. Maybe they are struggling with the loss of a loved one. Maybe their physical sickness is overwhelming them. Maybe they just need your reassurance. But I know someone needs you, because I know I need you Lord. I confess Lord I am not perfect and I sin, but I have a perfect Savior who never sinned. It is my savior Jesus who reconciles me and those in need back to you Heavenly Father. I pray your mercy and grace would be abundant. I pray you would ease the pain of the burdened.

In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/09 12:41 PM
Matthew 19:16-22 (The Message)
16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you." 18 -19 The man asked, "What in particular?" Jesus said, "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself." 20 The young man said, "I've done all that. What's left?" 21 "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." 22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.

In these verses the young man used the Greek word didaskale agathe to address Jesus. It is a very honorable title meaning – Good Master. It shows respect and it is an acknowledgement of Christ’s wisdom. Even though he was young; he was concerned about his eternal life. Jesus tries to direct him in understanding there is no one who matches up to the goodness of God. Jesus gave the young man commandments he was familiar with. But one must keep all of God’s commandments if one is to live by the law and not faith in Christ. The young man looked to Christ to question what law he needed to fulfill. The answer Christ gave him disheartened him for he was told to give up everything and follow Jesus. The young man’s heart needed to be set on heavenly treasures and not the treasures of this world. He needed to be devoted to God; following Christ fully. Just giving up possessions was no enough for he needed to follow Christ and place his faith in Him.

The word self centered means to be concerned solely with one’s own desires, needs or interests. Sometimes our desires get in the way of how we should live our life. We place ourselves first instead of making an investment in God’s kingdom. When things get tough we want to give up because it means we might lose those things we desire. Yesterday the stock market plunged and many saw their investments falling away. Look at some of the words used to describe reasons for the fall of our economy: greed, need for moderation, need for integrity and need for trust, theft, and selfishness. Christ said a wise man should build his house upon a rock where it can withstand floods and great wind. For those who have invested in Christ they see a future kingdom where their treasures are stored. Store up your treasures in heaven for you will not be disappointed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/09 12:15 PM
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 (NLT)
3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

In these verses the Apostle Paul speaks about the hardships he has endured. The list includes: being beaten, put in prison, facing threats, overworked, exhausted and hungry and being ignored by those who know him. Yet Paul lives in such a way that he demonstrates his faith in God. He tells others about God and how God is working faithfully in his life. No matter what the circumstance righteousness defends him as he serves God. Paul knows he lacks worldly possessions, yet he has everything he needs.

We can respond to our circumstances in life in many different ways. We can live life through the power of God and defend ourselves against the attacks that come at us from many directions; or we can surrender to bitterness, hate and anger and just give up. Jesus asked, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Some worry over finances to the point they want to give up on life. Recently one man in my neighborhood did just that; he shot himself in his driveway after losing his job. Sadly his teenage daughter was the one who found him. We can let desperation make us believe life is intolerable; Satan would love for us to ignore what God can do. Yet we have Christ who can work in our lives to help us through all these situations. We can demonstrate our faith and courage to others and inspire them to walk steadfastly with Christ. When we stand strong in our faith we encourage others to do the same. Pray God will take away the fears of the world and allow you to live a victorious life no matter what circumstance you face.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/09 01:19 PM
Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

In Matthew 6 Jesus speaks of prayer as a commanded duty to which we are to honor God. There Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer which starts with, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” showing how we should be respectful of God in our prayers. In the verses above Jesus continues to talk about effective prayer. In Revelation Jesus says he knocks at the door to our heart and if we open the door He will come in. In the same manner when we knock at God’s door He opens His heart to listen to our requests. We should ask as children for the good things. God will not hand out that which will harm us or works against His purpose. We must make it our business to pray and seek from God what we cannot accomplish alone.

Ruben Archer Torrey was an American pastor, writer, and evangelist, educator; akin to D.L. Moody and Billy Graham in style. He was a Christian apologist giving appeals to those who were in denial of the scriptures. He joined with D.L. Moody and became superintendant of the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society now known today as Moody Bible Institute. During his college years he fell to sin, was agnostic at times in his belief, eventually followed liberal Unitarianism, but then came to a strong faith in Christian doctrine. He became a man of prayer with a belief the Word of God could transform people. He is quoted as saying, “We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services, but few conversions; much machinery, but few results.” He understood prayer brought results into his life. Being busy and neglecting God just brought more busyness. Slow down. Take time and pray to God understanding who God is and what He desires for our lives. Pray without ceasing, always knocking at His door; answering when He knocks at the door to our heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/09 12:32 PM
1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

The Apostle Paul writes Timothy about where the true riches in life come from. They do not come from a desire or a love for money that pulls people into sinful desires. True riches are found in the love of God and the contentment we can find in Christ.

Verse 10 is often misquoted as “money is the root of all evil”. Money itself is not evil. It is the desire, the thirst and the love for money which we should avoid. King Solomon said, “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.” What makes the love of money wrong? It turns us away from our love of God. Possessions can become idols in our life that are given to all our attention. We move from loving God to loving the things God has given us. God wants us to love Him not the things He created. Remember to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/09/09 11:20 AM
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

God’s word is powerful and provides answers for the intents of God. We know God gave order to the world. He created the rains to water the crops, and snow to run off the mountains to provide reservoirs of water for the purpose of producing food. God’s word in the same way produces results accomplishing the plan He started.

What fruit is God’s word producing in you? The first question one has to ask, “Am I reading God’s word so that I might understand Him?” Next question, “Am I following God’s word so that the purpose and plan for my life is revealed.” And lastly, “Am I closer to God each and every day from listening to what He has to say.” Most Americans believe the Bible is the word of God yet they don’t apply it to their lives. Stop and take time to see what God has to say to you. Read His word and open your hearts to God. Let His word produce fruit in your lives that feeds many and takes care of many souls.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/09 11:24 AM
James 4:11 (NLT)
11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

James, the half brother of Christ, warns against speaking evil of others. Katalaleite is the Greek word used in this passage for speaking evil; it signifies speaking anything which may hurt or injure another. One should not to speak out of ignorance or falsehood; nor should one seek to defile or defame another for their own pleasure. We are not to raise the persecution of the world against another, but instead we are to turn them from sin with the love of God. But first one must examine themselves and be not quick to look at the faults of others without looking at their own faults. We should obey God understanding we are not the ones to make judgments as to whether God’s justice applies to us.

Maybe you remember the Super Bowl commercial for Ameriquest Mortgage Company. A man walks into a convenience store talking on his cell phone. The man is wearing an earpiece so others are not easily aware of his conversation. He tells the person on the phone they are paying way too much for a deck. As he approaches the clerk at the counter he says on the phone, “you are getting robbed, you hear me, you are getting robbed” as he reaches for his wallet to pay for his drink. The clerk hearing his words and observing him reaching into his coat pocket turns and sprays the man with pepper spray, beats him with a bat, while his wife stuns him with a cattle prod. On the screen flashes the words, “Don’t judge too quickly”. Sometimes we think we have all the facts, but we jump to quick to a conclusion. We create our own judgment of a situation instead of letting God lead us. There is no harm in pointing out when someone is falling away from God as long as we understand the complete picture and we are lead by God to speak up and point out the obvious fault. We do it in love, not attempting to hurt someone, but to move them away from sin and back towards God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/09 11:31 AM
Numbers 21:4-9 (NLT)
4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” 6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

The people of Israel were on their 40 year journey through the wilderness. God has been with them, taking care of their needs, and defending them. While they didn’t have the best of conditions they were living life in safety and freedom. Yet they complained about what God was providing them and they began to speak out against God blaming Him for not having the life they desired. Poison snakes were sent among the people. If bitten they would die. Moses confessed the sins of the people and God told Moses the following, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” Even though it sounded strange, it was a test of faith. Those who trusted God and did as He said lived, while those who disobeyed God died.

Trust is defined as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; it is a dependence on something future or contingent. Trusting God means we recognize His righteous and holy character. We understand God’s ability has no boundaries or limitations. God is strong and powerful beyond all measure. The truths of His word are infallible. And God is always looking out for our needs; those which are immediate and those which are in the future. Sometimes it is hard to see how God is going to meet our future needs, but we must trust He will do so. We may not understand His methods, His plan or His goal, but still we must listen, trust and obey. I’m reminded of the lyrics of the song Trust and Obey: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/16/09 11:11 AM
Philemon 1:4-7 (NLT)
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

The Apostle Paul gives credit to God; thanking God for the good works of others. Paul mentions Philemon, a brother in Christ and how he keeps hearing about Philemon’s love for others. Philemon has put his faith into practice. The love he has shown Paul has refreshed him, given him comfort and joy which lead to him being able to refresh the hearts of others.

Like Paul we are to pray for others and acknowledge when they do good works that strengthen the kingdom of God. We are to take our faith in Christ seriously and apply it to our lives so others may benefit. We are encouraged when others bring joy and comfort to others. It brings also joy and comfort to us seeing the good which is being done. Refresh the hearts of others with kind words, generosity, and living your faith that others may see your love for God. ------- Heavenly Father I thank you this morning for the encouragement of friends and family. I thank you Lord for the love others show through the kindness of their hearts. Lord I am encouraged by those who do acknowledge you and proclaim Jesus as Your Son and Savior. Lord Thank you for those who put your words into action and bless many by doing so. Bless them Lord that they might bless others. ----- Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/26/09 12:13 PM
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians about the grace of God. It was grace obtained by faith when they believed God’s word of salvation in Jesus Christ. It was a free gift, nothing no one but God can boast about. For God gave us a new life in Jesus so we can accomplish God’s will, which is good and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

The Pharisees were always quick to point out the immorality of others while believing their moral compass was intact. It seems out politics of today are about the same. People are so busy pointing out the faults and failures of others they don’t see their own faults and failures. One person stands and lectures on the problems in the economy, who is to blame, and who should take responsibility. Yet the same person later admits to failing to pay attention to their own economics and the missing tax dollars they failed to pay. God knew people would fail so He gave His Son Jesus Christ that we can boast of the good work God has done. Yes, we might fail, but God has a plan for us to succeed. “For the Christian, moral discourse begins by focusing not on the sins of the other but on one's own failures."O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." It is the publican's humble prayer that is accepted by God, and it is the Pharisee—who is confident of his morality and the other's immorality—who is condemned.” (Mark Galli, Christianity Today, 4/04/2007)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/27/09 12:05 PM
Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)
3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

The prophet Jeremiah had prayed for answers from God. Here in this verse God reveals Jeremiah should be humbly honest and continue to pray about his concerns if there are to be more answers. It shows the lesson that we must call upon God for Him to hear and respond.

There is a prayer many children are taught and it goes like this - "God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us Lord Amen.” The good thing about the prayer is it reminds us God is both great in power, but also good in His nature towards us. I think we don’t often grasp how great and loving our God is. I have heard people say before, “I told God if he could come through on this one prayer I wouldn’t ask for anything else.” Or, “I told God if He would answer my prayer I would do this for Him.” God delights in answering our prayers. He doesn’t need coercion to accomplish our requests. It is our faith and willingness to ask that draws us close God so that He listens and answers. Matthew 13:58 says, “And he (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” I’m convinced our faith is often weak and we do not pray as we should because of that weakness. George Muller was a man of faith and prayer. During the 1800’s he raised over seven million dollars for orphans without asking a single person. He prayed for orphanages and 100 were opened to care for more the 2000 children. Day by day he prayed long hours for the needs of the children and those needs were met with clothes and food. The bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Pray so that you may hear what God has to say.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/30/09 11:26 AM
Philippians 2:12-18 (NLT)
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

The apostle Paul writes to the Philippians that they should be like a bright shining star. They should live clean, innocent, and non-argumentative lives so they might stand out as a beacon for Christ. They should use the examples given them in the scriptures to live their life and make it pleasing to God. The world is full of those who are crooked and perverse; those who belong to Christ should outshine their deeds.

Sometimes there are stories we read which have an important message to share. The following is one such story which demonstrates how living for Christ can have a spreading impact on others.

In 1972, a young Egyptian businessman named Farahat lost an $11,000 watch. He was stunned when a garbage man dressed in filthy rags found it and returned it to him. Farahat asked him why he didn't just keep the watch. The garbage man said, "My Christ told me to be honest until
death." Farahat later told a reporter: "I didn't know Christ at the time, but I told [the garbage man] that I saw Christ in him. I told [him], 'Because of what you have done and your great example, I will worship the Christ you are worshiping.'"Farahat studied the Bible and grew in his faith. Two years later he visited the garbage man's village outside Cairo, where between 15,000 and 30,000 people were living in poverty and squalor. There was no electricity or running water. Alcohol, drugs, and gambling were pervasive. Men, women, and children sifted through huge mountains of garbage, looking for something of value that could be sold for cash or traded for food. Farahat found himself reflecting on the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." He also remembered the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:13: "We have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things." It was soon thereafter that Farahat and his wife began
ministering to people's spiritual and material needs. They preached the gospel throughout Egypt, and thousands of people turned to Christ.In 1978, Farahat was ordained by the Coptic Orthodox Church and became known as Father Sama'an. Now, about 10,000 believers meet in a large cave outside the garbage village. It is the largest church of believers in the Middle East. In May of 2005, a day of prayer was held for Muslims to turn to Christ. More than 20,000 Arab Christians gathered. The event was also broadcast on a Christian satellite TV network, where millions were watching. All this, because one garbage man chose to humbly return a watch that would have made him the richest man in town. (Jerry DeLuca, Montreal West, Canada; source: Joel C. Rosenberg, Epicenter, Tyndale House
Publishers (2006), p. 206)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/31/09 11:36 AM
John 16:23-33 (NLT)
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” 29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

For Jesus these are some of the parting words to the disciples. He is letting them know He is returning to the Father in heaven. He also lets them know there is a time where they will be scattered to go their own way to let others know about the things which have taken place. He reminds them God is with them, yet here on earth there are many pains and sorrows they will go through. But they are to remember even though they face such challenges; Christ has defeated the sin of the world.

Christ died for the sins of the word. In doing so he overcame the world so we might live eternally with Him in heaven. While we live out our lives here on earth waiting for our time of death there are pains and sorrows we each face. But Christ is always there to strengthen us and see us through any trial. There are some people who think being accepted into heaven is like a bank. Good deeds are deposits and the bad deeds are the withdrawals made from the account. As long as the account has a positive balance they think they are heaven bound. However if they believe the account is overdrawn then it is off to hell. The truth is when a person has accepted Christ the bank account is closed out. There are no deposits or withdrawals to be made. Christ took care of the account and supplies all our needs. Praise our Savior who gave His life for us. What better friend than one who gives their life for another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/01/09 11:55 AM
PSALM 19:7-11 (NLT)
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

David reflects on the greatness of God. In the earlier verses of Psalm 19 he has expressed how the heavens proclaim the glory of God. Even His creations show His magnificent power, such as the sun; how it is brilliant in light, set in its place, and is constant in the way it performs. Then David reflects upon the instructions we are given from God. They are just as glorious and wonderful as God’s other works.

If there had to be one gift greater than all gifts from God; it would be the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. God allowed His Son to die a horrible and tortured death to pay for sin and provide salvation. The gift of salvation is a free gift available to all who are willing to take it. Another gift from God was instilling in us how to live. God gave us the Holy Spirit to lead and help us understand. God gave us HIS HOLY SCRIPTURES so we could gain wisdom, find joy, have peace, and know how to live a sweet and fulfilling life. These gifts are great rewards and are not to be taken lightly. Praise God who cares about us and provides for our every need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/02/09 12:03 PM
Matthew 16:26 (NLT)
26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

As Jesus speaks to His disciples he asks the questions in verse 26 What if you gain the world, but in the process of trying to do so you lose your soul. The second question emphasizes the point, what in the world is worth more than your eternal soul? When death comes worldly goods are lost, but the soul remains.

How much is your soul worth to you? In the movie Bedazzled, Brendan Fraser signs a contract with the devil to receive 7 wishes in an attempt to win over the girl of his dreams. Elizabeth Hurley plays the devil who grants the wishes in very mischievous ways. Brenden soon learns each fantasy comes with the devils own little twist that leaves the fantasy less desirable than originally thought. Every wish he gets fulfilled has massive disadvantages as well, and soon Elliot wants to get out of the contract. The only thing that matters to him now is being able to take his life back and his chances by himself. In a way we are a lot like the character Brendan played. We obtain a desire for something and want to seek it at all cost, even if that cost means disaster to our life. He was willing to lose his soul for the price of his desire, but as he learned the devils plan was not right for him. Pray God would lead you to seek that which benefits your soul for it is a highly prized possession. Ask yourself as Jesus asked the disciples, “Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/09 12:00 PM
Isaiah 45:21 (NLT)
21 Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.

In summary God is saying in this verse; bring on everyone; bring on your idols; bring on all the things you worship. For once you have done this see who or what among you can rival the Lord God? Then God gives His reply, “For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.”

Romans 1:18-32 tells us, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. “ GOD’S WORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF…..and has much changed today?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/06/09 10:49 AM
2 Timothy 1:5-7 (NLT)
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Timothy’s mother and grandmother both had a faith in God and Christ, but Timothy’s father did not. (Acts 16:1 there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.) These women passed a along a strong faith in God to Timothy. Paul wanted to remind Timothy of that faith and the gifts God had given him. Then Paul told Timothy fear and timidity are abandoned with faith in God.

There is a peace that comes from abiding in the love of God. Our worst fear should be that of living an eternal life apart from God. Yet God put that fear aside by giving His Son Jesus to die for our sins. God does not want us to live a life of fear. Instead he wants us to have a confident life. We can find confidence when we believe God can meet our needs. Lately the news has had many stories of people ending their life and the life of others out of desperation. Pray those who are desperate will place their trust in God and Christ. Be a person who reminds others like Paul did Timothy that we were not handed a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/09 11:43 AM
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NLT)
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

Paul writes to the Corinthian church about our physical and spiritual bodies. The physical body is broken, corrupted by sin. They are weak and will eventually be put in the ground. But our spiritual bodies will live forever.

Apologetics are a systematic argumentative discourse in defense or a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity. They are many apologists who defend the Christian faith giving reason, truth and facts to substantiate the Christian faith. A point often made is to say to an unbeliever, OK, what if you are right. What if there is no eternal life? What if there is no redemption for sin? What if there is no heaven or hell? What if there is no God? After asking these questions it can be said, “If those are the truths, then dead is dead; there is no afterlife; there is no need to worry about sin.” Both the unbeliever and the believer receive the same fate. Both die, are buried never to live again.

Then the apologist turns the questions. But what if there is an eternal life? What if there is a God who judges sin? What if there is a heaven for the redeemed and a hell for those who refused God’s salvation? What if you are wrong about your stance and I am right about mine? Then you are rejecting God, rejecting His salvation brought through Jesus, rejecting the idea that God is just, rejecting the idea there are consequences for sin. It then seems to reason the unbeliever does not receive the same gift as the believer. The unbeliever finds out there is a God who has said sin is unacceptable and the consequence is eternal life in hell, while the believer redeemed through Christ receives an eternal life in heaven. A Christian faith is hard to live because there is the realization some will not accept Christ and the grace and mercy that is provided. It is tough to realize there are those who will be condemned when we hope as God that all would be saved from eternal damnation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/09/09 10:43 AM
1 John 4:20-21 (NLT)
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

The Apostle John is speaking on the subject of genuine love for others. Prior to these verses he has iterated how God gave His Son Jesus Christ out of love for us. God did this when many had not even sought God or thought about showing love towards God. Yet God loved us even though we may not have reached out to Him in love. God is perfect love and our love grows when we spend time with Him in prayer and the reading of His scriptures. As our love grows for God it pours over onto others around us. We cannot hate those who love God and say we love God, for the two are not consistent.

We learn to love like God by accepting the way God loves us. There are some who see themselves as unlovable and therefore God could never love them. But the reality is God is love and God loves us and wants us to learn to love ourselves and others in the same way He does. God’s grace and mercy demonstrate His love towards us. It is a grace undeserved and often unappreciated. Maybe you have seen the movie Pay it Forward where a young boy takes on a school project that expands into a personal experience. Instead of waiting for someone to do him a good favor he goes out and does good things for others. When he is asked what he wants he tells them he only wants them to show the same kindness to someone else. Then something marvelous happens; those who were shown love show love to others. God wants us to express our love in the same way. We are not to sit back and wait for someone to do something good for us before we can love, we are to show love to others first just as God has first shown us His love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/09 10:46 AM
Mark 15:16-39 (NLT)
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. The Crucifixion 21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) 22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.
24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign was fastened to the cross, announcing the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him. The Death of Jesus 33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!” 37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

A Roman officer accustom to death and watching those around him die observed as Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. The Roman officer saw there was something special about Jesus; something about Jesus and the dignity of his death made him believe Jesus was the Son of God. Others acknowledged the wonders he had performed, but they mocked Him as He died for the sins of all.

Today is Good Friday, the remembrance of the death of Jesus who died that we might live eternally free from sin. He went through a torturous death, but even more painful was God The Father turning away from Him as sin was placed upon him. Stop today and remember the Lord Jesus and the sacrifice He made for our lives. Give praise to the holy name of Jesus. Praise Him for loving us before we ever knew to love Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/09 11:06 AM
Mark 16:5-6 (NLT)
5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

This is the Apostle Mark’s account of the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome had gone to buy burial spices after the Sabbath day was over. They wanted to anoint the lifeless body of Jesus with these spices. When they arrived they were shocked to find the tomb open. An angel told them the crucified Jesus was not there, but instead was alive. His proof to them was there was no body where it once had lain.

The women in the verses above were expecting to prepare the dead body of Jesus. They had been a witness to his death and in their minds they believed Jesus was no longer alive. The angle points out to them, “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” In other words he acknowledged they were looking for the body of Jesus. Then the angel said, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead.” It was a kind way of saying, “Look you can looking for the wrong person. You came looking for a dead Jesus. However, the real Jesus is alive and this is nothing but an empty tomb.” Our Jesus is alive! He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death. He is alive working in our own lives. Remember the words from Hebrews, “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/14/09 10:50 AM
Luke 19:2-7 (KJV)
2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

This is the story of Zacchaeus, a rich and prominent man in charge of tax collectors, who sought to see Jesus as he approached in the city of Jericho. A small man in stature, he put aside his prominence to climb a tree like a little boy where he could get a better view of Jesus as He passed by. Jesus knew the enthusiasm Zacchaeus had and gave an invitation for Zacchaeus to come to Him that he might abide with him at his home. We know others thought how Jesus could go to be a guest of a man who collected taxes. In those days there were many greedy tax collectors who took more than their portion. But Jesus wanted to be with the man others considered a sinner. He wanted to be with Zacchaeus.

I once toured Paramount studios in California. We were given a warning that if we saw anyone famous, any stars we were to remain quiet and in our group. However as we were transitioning from one place to another, Henry Winkler, The Fonz, from Happy Days walked close by. It was amazing watching people as they moved in his direction to get a better glimpse of this famous actor, director and producer. It is natural to want to seek out someone we have heard much about. Zacchaeus did exactly that; he sought out someone he heard could change his life. I remember a song from Sunday School as a kid, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed him by, He looked up in the tree, and he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down from there; For I'm going to your house today, for I'm going to your house today" Zacchaeus came down from that tree, as happy as he could be, He gave his money to the poor, and said: "What a better man I'll be."” Not only did Zacchaeus seek out Jesus, he sought Jesus out for a life changing experience. Jesus impacted the life of Zacchaeus in such a way he was ready to payback those who were cheated with interest. He was ready to give to those in need instead of making demands for money. Has Jesus changed your life? If so give praise to our Lord and Savior who wants to reach out to all sinners and pull each and every sinner closer to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/09 10:57 AM
Titus 2:1-8 (NLT)
1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. 3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

The Apostle Paul gives guidance to Titus about his course of ministry and several of the groups of persons he is to direct. Each one, including Titus, is to live in a wise manner such that their lives encourage others.

There is a story I always think about when I am reminded we are to live our lives in a positive and wise way to encourage and give good examples for others to follow. The story goes that there were several cars at a traffic light. When the light turned green the lead car wasn’t paying attention, so the lady in the car behind them started blowing her horn repeatedly; then she leaned out the window and started yelling in an attempt to get the other driver to move. After a few moments of yelling words such as stupid, idiot, and moron the lead car moved through the light just in time for it to turn red again and trap the woman at the light. Once again she leaned out to yell a few more phrases as the car was driving off ahead of her. She then heard a police siren and behind her was a patrol car with the blue lights on. The officer walked up to the car and asked her for her license and registration. She politely handed them over. After checking them he handed them back to the woman and told her she could go. She said, “Wait, what was that all about?” The officer said, “Well I saw all the commotion taking place and then noticed the Christian sticker on the back of your car. There for a moment I thought perhaps the car had been stolen because you sure weren’t acting like I thought the owner of the car should be acting.” Others are watching our lives and we should live our lives in a way that gives good testimony to the name of Jesus who died for our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/16/09 12:01 PM
Psalm 34:1-22 (NLT)

1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. 12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. 16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. 17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. 20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! 21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34 is interesting in that each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Considered an acrostic poem; it is David’s psalm regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech who sent him away without threat.

We can learn a lesson from David. David feared King Saul who was making threats against David’s life. David decided to run. First he went to Ahimelech, a priest where he obtained bread and the spear of Goliath by not telling the full truth.. It cost Ahimelech and his family their lives for helping David. Second, he continued his run from Saul by going towards the Philistines to King Achish of Gath. But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. Can you imagine there is David carrying the sword of Goliath the Philistine he killed? These officers knew David as a great soldier. The officers said, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. In David’s moment of desperation and distress instead of trusting in the Lord he was trusting in his own plan. David later remembers this in his praise to God as he says, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Remember the Lord when you are brokenhearted, down trodden or in need. The Lord will hear you and come to your aid.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/21/09 11:15 AM
Proverbs 21:16 (NASV)
16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.

Solomon talks about the sinner who wanders away from common sense towards the dangers of sin. They break out of the hedges of protection following the conduct of the world. They become deluded in their own thoughts and are swept away towards the same destruction Sodom and Gomorrah faced.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease control 36 people die every day and approximately 700 more are injured in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol impaired driver. In 2006 13,470 people died in alcohol impaired driving crashes accounting for 32% of the traffic related deaths in the United States. Drugs other than alcohol are involved in about 18% of the other deaths. Sometimes the deaths are overlapped with the use of alcohol. Half of the 306 child passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol crash related accidents in 2006 were riding with passengers of a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. In 2006, 45 children age 14 years and younger were killed as pedestrians or bicyclists who were hit by alcohol impaired drivers. Those who drank and drove left common sense behind. They made tragic mistakes which cost their lives and lives of others. They ended up in the company of the dead because they strayed from common sense. They gave up the hedge of protection God had for them and traded it for the pleasures of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/09 10:59 AM
Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT)
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Paul tells the Ephesians Christ taught us how we should live. They learned their sinful nature comes from their own desires. They also learned they deceive themselves into believing what they do wrong is right. Paul encourages them to let the Holy Spirit work in their lives. They were created to be like God so let that nature shine through as the old sinful life is thrown off.

A phrase that has emerged with the troubled economy is “toxic assets”. Banks make money by providing loans with secured transactions that guarantee them a return on money. When the borrower defaults; they reserve the right to take ownership of the asset in order to regain the loaned amount. However due to the recent sharp decline in home prices loans are no longer guaranteed by the principle in the home. Instead these loans have become toxic and can affect the banks profit because there is no principle to back the loan. We can also have toxic assets in our spiritual lives. We might think we have gained an asset only to find out it is hurting us spiritually. If we bring something into our life that pushes us away from God that is a toxic asset. Money, family, education, work, church all can be good things, but if they take away from our time with God or lead us astray then they have become toxic to our lives. Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;” Are there any gods (toxic assets) in your life that need to be put aside?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/23/09 11:57 AM
Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

This exchange between Jesus and a religious leader led to the parable of the Good Samaritan. The leader was trying to justify himself by asking Jesus who was his neighbor. Jesus told the parable of A Good Samaritan. A Jewish man, was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A Jewish temple assistant and a Jewish priest both saw the man but continued their journey without stopping. A friend recently shared maybe these men were on their way to perform religious duties and to touch the beaten man would have rendered them ceremonially unclean. Instead of helping they chose to continue with their obligations. They justified their actions just as the religious leader was trying to justify his.

It seems these days everyone is trying to justify their actions, right or wrong. For instance, the party was planned; it was a reward for those who worked hard; why shouldn’t we use bailout money to pay for the party? Or we need to pay these executives top dollars in order to keep them, which is why we used the bailout money. We can’t help it if they decided to quit. Or I was entitled to take part of that money; after all I worked hard too. There is no justification for wrong actions. We can give excuses, we can come up with stories, but how can one justify what is wrong. Job said, “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Jesus said, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” If your actions are wrong take responsibility; own up to the problems and put aside self justifications.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/09 12:20 PM
Proverbs 24:21-22 (NLT)
21 My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, 22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?

In this proverb from King Solomon he gives advice that one should respect God’s commandments and stay clear of those who are out to destroy what God desires. They face a potential disaster and by associating with them one may also face that disaster with them.

The best illustration I can give of this proverb comes from the Bible itself. Lot, who was the nephew of Abraham, sought out to live in the city of Sodom. Sodom was a city where the people followed their own desires and lusts. Lot was a good man, but he had come to tolerate the wickedness of Sodom because of all the other pleasures of the city. God decided to destroy Sodom and had not angels intervened to take Lot and his family from the city they too would have been destroyed. Lot and his family were told not to look back on what was to take place, but Lot’s wife disobeyed and she too was destroyed. Disaster hit Sodom and all those who were there in the city. Take care in who you associate with. We are to reach out to people, but we must also take care not to fall to the sins around them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/27/09 11:35 AM
Acts 4:16-22 (NLT)
16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” 21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God 22 for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

Peter and John were confronted by the religious leaders of the temple. Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and placed in confinement over night. The leaders questioned what they should do with them because they were preaching about Jesus and were performing miracles. When the leaders heard Peter and John they were amazed how ordinary men could speak so powerfully about the scriptures. The council threatened them not to continue their preaching, but they let them go for everyone was praising their healing of a lame man.

This week I am having a second surgery on my right wrist. The first surgery was what the doctor thought was a hopeless attempt to save my wrist. When the accident first occurred the doctor told me I might not be able to use my wrist again. Several visits back and the doctor was telling me that more than likely I would need to have the bones in my wrist fused and more metal plates added to support my wrist. However on the last visit the doctor walked in after looking at my x-rays; bent my wrist around; then just looked puzzled and said that is amazing. He continued to say he couldn’t believe what he had seen on the x-rays and that my wrist had really healed well. He had expected my bones to turn to mush, but they were solid and healing. He wanted to remove the existing metal plate and reconnect a tendon in my thumb and he thought I would have most of the use of my wrist. I just looked at him and said, “There have been many people praying for that wrist.” My mother had her church praying. Other relatives and friends were praying. The church I attend was also praying for my healing. I have to stop and praise God and all the faithful brothers and sisters I have in Christ. I have to say the Lord heard the prayers of many and answered them. Like Peter and John cannot sit idle and not tell others about what I call a miracle. I am thankful for a Savior who cares and helps in our moments of need. I may not be able to write for a few days; so I wanted to let all who read these devotions that I am thankful for those who believe in God, those who believe in Christ, and those who believe in the power of prayer. May God bless each and every one of you for your faithfulness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/28/09 11:53 AM
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

The Hebrew word for conceal is kacha, which means to cover over, such as one might cloth themselves, Tsalach is the word for proper, which means to bring success, or to show or experience properity. King Solomon was conveying those who keep sin secret will not find success, but when the reveal their sin they will receive mercy.

There is an inconvenience about sin. In order to own it we have to admit to it. Most often we would rather keep it a secret; filed away where no one can see it. The problem is that once we hide one sin, we learn can hide others; at least for a while. One example I can think of is a woman who was on the run from the law for years. She had settled into a normal life, but always carried the fear she one day would be found out. Eventually law enforcement caught up with her and she had to face her charges even though she had started a new life. When we place our faith in Christ we are given a new life; one that is free from the penalty of sin. There is no reason to hide, except we fear the earthly consequences of our actions. If we hide a sin that fear increases with each new sin we choose to hide. Eventually those sins may be found out and what did we gain but years of fear and the sin was still exposed. The Bible tells us we should confess out sins to one another and to God. There is accountability in the confession of sin and it keeps us from hiding that which will destroy us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/09 09:58 AM
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. In the letter Jeremiah told the people to plan to stay where they were for a while. They were to make the best of where they were: building homes, planting gardens, marrying and having children. They were not to be dismayed but instead they were to know the Lord had good plans for them that would give them a hopeful future. When they prayed and sought God He would be there where they could find Him.

Our God wants to give us a future with hope. While life around us seems chaotic, God is still is still God: perfect, powerful, all knowing, loving, merciful, gracious, holy, ever-present, omniscient and more. God wants us to come to Him in our moments of joy, distress, happiness, sadness and seek Him out for answers. God tells us if we look for Him wholeheartedly we will find Him. I am sure there are many today who needs answers only God can provide. Stop today, pray, and then listen for God to speak in your life. He is there waiting on you to come to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/09 11:01 AM
Romans 6:12-14 (NLT)
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

In the first part of Romans 6 Paul addressed those who believed they would be blessed more by grace by continuing to sin and receive more grace for each sin. He asked the question, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?” His response was, “Of course not!” Grace was given to free us from the control of sin. No longer could one say, “I might as well keep sinning, I have already sinned once.” No the purpose of being free was to stop sin and to live a life pleasing to God. God’s grace provided freedom, freedom to live a new life no longer held back by past actions.

The grace of God in our lives is unmerited. God gives us His grace to set us free from sin. For God so loved, cherished, valued, endeared, found precious the people of the world that God Himself gave the only perfect sacrifice for sin; His son Jesus Christ. The salvation from sin is a gift of grace from God because of His love for us. No longer does one have to give up because they fear the failure in their lives from sin. No longer does sin hold the controlling power. No longer does one have to believe they must earn God’s grace. Grace is a gift, a free gift for all those who will accept it. Have you accepted God’s free gift of grace? If you have accepted God’s grace does your life reflect the grace you have been given? There was a man who had a servant that attended to him faithfully. The servant was not a slave, nor was he indebted to the man he served. Instead the man had given the servant freedom from his enemies who sought to kill him. The servant served because of his appreciation for what had been done for him. God gave us freedom from our enemy Satan so that we might live an eternal life with God. How should we serve the God who loves us?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/07/09 09:53 AM
Luke 6:32-34 (NLT)
32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

Luke chapter 6 offers many lessons from Jesus. One such lesson is on loving those who may be considered enemies in some cases. Jesus asks some questions for thought about who one should love. His final statement to those who are listening is “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

The movie Fireproof is about a young couple struggling in their marriage. The marriage reaches a breaking point when the wife is ready to divorce the husband. The husband seeks the guidance of his father who offers him a plan to follow in hopes of rescuing his marriage. The husband commits to follow his father’s plan for 40 days. Each day the husband is given a new thought, a new task, and a new Bible verse that will help him show love for his wife. However, his wife rejects his good attempts time after time. Frustrated he returns to his father and poses the question to him about how does a person love someone who rejects them time after time. The father stands by a cross and reminds his son Jesus always loves us even when we reject Him time after time. We are to go and do likewise.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/08/09 11:04 AM
Proverbs 2:6
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Hebrew tabuwn, understanding in that one has the skill or the intelligence to understand. Hebrew dah’ath,, knowledge, which is gained through perception or skill. Hebrew chokmah, wisdom, which is administered as a skill with prudence. Understanding, knowledge and wisdom are each different. One builds upon the other, with wisdom being granted from the Lord.

1 Kings 4 it says, And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. The verses continue saying, “Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” Man has the capacity to learn. He can take that capacity to learn and gain understanding of many things. Yet to apply them correctly he must seek wisdom from God. There are some intelligent people in this word, yet they can give some very bad advice. Wisdom is divinely from God given to lead with good purpose.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/09 09:24 AM
Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 (NLT)
12 But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. 13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

These are the concluding words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes as he pondered life, its meaning and its purpose. He sums up by saying there is a lot that can be done in life, but we should have fearful respect for God; obeying what God commands. One day every secret, good or bad, will be revealed when God’s judgment is pronounced.

In 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul gives us these words, “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” The words of Paul are just as sound today. There are those who are not listening to or obeying God. Instead they long to hear someone tell them words that are pleasing to their ears and justify their sinful actions. They want to believe in their own truths and not the truths of God. God will look at our deeds secret or otherwise and will judge us for our actions. But the Good News is that God offers grace and mercy through Jesus Christ and provides salvation for our sins. Give thanks to Christ who died that we might be free from the penalty that sin brings.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/09 09:16 AM
Matthew 20:20-23 (NLT)
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

The question posed by the mother of James and John came right after Jesus had told the disciples of his future death. Jesus said to them, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” Understanding Jesus would come back to claim His kingdom the mother ask favored places for the sons. But Jesus responded to the sons and not the mother asking if they would be able to endure the suffering Jesus was about to endure. Even with their answer of YES, Jesus let them know there was a place for them, but the Father alone would choose the places that were prepared.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer. His murders were gruesome, involving rape, torture, dismemberment, and cannibalism. His first victim was beaten to death with a barbell from his home. Dahmer then buried his victim in the back yard. In 1994 Dahmer was beaten to death by another inmate. A question I have often heard is, “If someone like Jeffrey Dahmer placed his faith in Jesus Christ as His savior, even after all the horrible acts he committed; would Dahmer go to heaven?” In the book of Acts the Apostle Peter spoke to a crowd of people. Their hearts were touched by the message of salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The people asked the apostle, “What must we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” That day 3,000 people turned to Christ. Peter didn’t say, now those who have committed these sins can’t be forgiven and those who have committed these sins are ok. No, the message was repent, turn to God and be baptized because of your faith in Jesus Christ. According to Minister Roy Ratcliff, Jeffrey Dahmer appeared to sincerely follow those actions prior to his death. He repented of His sins, he placed his faith in Christ, and he had a desire to be baptized to show his commitment to Jesus. Dahmer did exactly what the Apostle Peter said should be done for salvation. Has a place been prepared for Dahmer in heaven, according to God’s word it has; but only the Father knows the place he will be given.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/14/09 09:17 AM
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Paul tells us that our salvation is not the product of any natural abilities, but instead is a gift of God. The salvation gained from God excludes any boasting we might do about ourselves, but instead points to the love, mercy and grace of God. God created us a new person in Jesus Christ that we might be able to live out the good things God planned for us from the beginning.

There are those who believe life is like a bank account. When good deeds are performed deposits are made and when sin is committed withdrawals are made and at the end of life the bank account will be reviewed. For me that would be a very frustrating life. How does one know if the good deeds outweigh the sins? How does one know how much good must be performed? How does one know if the wrong sin might put them in spiritual bankruptcy? How does one know if it there might be a need for 10 atta boys to make up for one oops, I sinned? It becomes a self judging way of life where one might even start to delude themselves. They will begin to believe they are doing good just to feel like the balance of good and sin is working out. The words of Ephesians tell us salvation is a gift of God and not something we can earn by carrying a bank account of deeds. Our only option is a faith in Christ that wipes clean any sin, past, present or future. The same faith allows us to carry out the good works God intended us to perform. Are you living by faith or by works? I pray you read the words of Ephesians 2:8-10 to see how God wants you to live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/18/09 08:08 AM
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

In these verses the apostle reminds us God has given us His word expressed through the lives and writings of many men and women. The words are able to dissect our lives to help us see what is right and what is wrong. While many may fool themselves into thinking no one will know if they follow God’s desires; their life is always open and exposed to God.

A man once told me he had a habit of visiting web sites at work that he knew was inappropriate. He said anytime someone passed by he would quickly flip the screen so no one could see what he was looking at. In his mind he thought no one knew the things he was doing. Then one day he was called into his boss’s office and asked to explain the websites he had visited. It seems the company had recorded the history of his computer after suspecting he was doing something inappropriate. Plenty of times we think we are hiding our sins from others, but often we are deceiving ourselves. God always sees our sin and sometimes it is revealed to others to see. Take God’s word to heart and use it as a guide to live your life and let it be open for others to observe. Alcoholics Anonymous as a part of their recovery process says a person should be willing to be open about their faults and also be willing to take a fresh inventory of those things they need help with. May God help keep you accountable in your life so that you live a pleasing and good life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/09 07:26 AM
Luke 23:39-43(NLT)
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus was in a great amount of pain after being beaten, tortured and suffering nailed to a cross. A criminal being crucified next to Jesus started tormenting Him, but the other criminal who was also being crucified took up for Jesus and asked the other man if he didn’t fear God? The man asked for Jesus to remember him. In the midst of Jesus’ pain and suffering Jesus gave comfort to the God fearing criminal by saying, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

There were three different men suffering and dying on a cross. One criminal wanted to lash out at Jesus because of his own pain. It is so easy to strike out when we are in pain. We want to inflict on others the same suffering we are going through. Much like an animal who has been wounded they turn on anyone who might be trying to help them. The other criminal wanted to comfort Jesus because he realized Jesus was sharing his pain. The man asked Jesus that He might remember him showing his faith in Christ. Jesus in His suffering and pain gave comfort back to the God fearing criminal. Jesus gave him the promise and hope of being in paradise with Him. There are many groups that come together to share pain. AA has members who support each other in their alcohol struggles. Cancer groups give each other comfort as they share the same affliction reminding each other they are carrying the same burden in hope. Paul gave us several words on encouraging each other through pain. Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” 1Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are also doing.” And finally in Romans 15:5, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.” Instead of letting your pain torment you and others let it be an encouragement to those who need to hear words of comfort.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/09 12:11 PM
Zechariah 10:2 (NLT)
2 Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd.
Matthew Henry Suggests, �Gracious things and glorious ones, very glorious and very gracious, were promised to this poor afflicted people in the foregoing chapter; now here God intimates to them that he will for these things be enquired of by them, and that he expects they should acknowledge him in all their ways and in all his ways towards them�and not idols that were rivals with him for their respects.� Their gods were not able to predict rain, not the source of weather. Those who were diviners propagated the lies and told false stories hoping to encourage the listener. The people followed blindly fortune tells, sorcerers, magicians and the like because they comforted themselves with vanities instead of following the one true God who was their shepherd.
Every day I pass several locations advertising Psychic Readings. These Psychic Readers are able to lure in customers, because the customer does not know where to turn for help. The more the person believes, the more the gypsy knows the customer is hooked. She will to try to get as much information out of you as possible, and then decide how much you've bought into her scam and how bad you perceive your own problem. Once hooked you may become a victim of the �you've been cursed" scam, which goes a little something like this: "You've been cursed, and because I do God's work I need to use my powers to lift this curse off of you once and for all so that you can enjoy the life and love that God meant you to enjoy," Darkness has kept from you this love. I'm going to reunite you with your love, this love that's separated by this darkness. But I'm going to have to do some very special work and prayer on this in order to remove this darkness..." and then they go on to tell you how much this will cost. The Bible tells us to stay away from such people. We should instead look to God and Christ for answers to life�s questions. For they are our true shepherd who protect, and lead us to the green pastures of our life..
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/09 11:13 AM
Ezekiel 44:10-14 (NLT)
10 And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness. 11 They may still be Temple guards and gatekeepers, and they may slaughter the animals brought for burnt offerings and be present to help the people. 12 But they encouraged my people to worship idols, causing Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign Lord. 13 They may not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detestable sins they have committed. 14 They are to serve as the Temple caretakers, taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.
In regards to the Temple, the Lord is master of the house. The Lord is ready to setup the temple again and is taking an inventory of His servants, priests, and workers to determine who will continue in the positions they had and who will find themselves placed somewhere else accordingly. The consequences of their sin changed the roles of their ministries.
In December of 2005, 19-year-old Jonathan Baldino was caught while attempting to buy electronic merchandise from retail stores at extreme discounts. Police say he downloaded a program from the Internet that allowed Baldino to print out barcode labels for a $24.99 CD player, and then attached them to more advanced music systems retailing for $249.99. He was eventually caught when a security guard noticed him paying $4.99 for an iPod worth $149.99. After his arrest, Baldino pleaded with police for his release. In a written statement, he said: "Please let me go, for I am terribly sorry! I'm only a kid, help me out � I just want to go home! I did this not knowing the serious penalty that lies behind it. Please!" His plea was ignored by police, who charged him with a class 5 felony for forgery and two counts of misdemeanor theft. (FoxNews.com, 12-6-05) You can be sorry for your sin and ask for forgiveness, but it does not remove the consequence of the sin. There may still be pain to endure once confession is made and forgiveness received. God is true and just and will forgive our sins, but as Ezekiel says, �They must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign Lord.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/28/09 12:13 PM
Mark 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, �Hold out your hand.� So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
Jesus had gone into the synagogue on the Sabbath, the holy day of the week. Jesus noticed a man who needed his hand healed. Knowing it was the Sabbath Jesus was waiting for the religious leaders to attack Him for performing works. Jesus turned to his critics and asked, �Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?� But they wouldn�t answer him. Jesus became angry and sad that those who were suppose to help others would deny good acts even on a day meant to worship God.
Jesus was fully God and fully man. Jesus had all the emotions each of us carry. In these verses we find Jesus was angry towards the religious leaders for their strict rules, which placed burdens and hardships on people. Yet even in anger Jesus points out the truth without allowing the anger to overtake Him. He asked questions and waited on answers, but never once was His words driven by sin. Many of us experience anger in our lives. Anger is an emotion God gave us to recognize when injustices are being committed. Righteous anger allows us to speak out for the good of others. Paul wrote, �Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.� King Solomon said, �Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.� So anger has its place, but it is something to keep in check so that it does not result in sin. Pray God would show you the difference between righteous anger and anger which is provoked by our own flesh.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/09 11:13 AM
Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)
14 The Lord says, �I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.�

Some believed Moses wrote this psalm while others feel it was written by King David. The nature of the psalm is a writ of protection for those who love and believe in the Lord. It was a resolution by the psalmist to remember the Lord�s protection in times of trouble. It was also a reminder of an eternal life with God through His gracious salvation.

Salvation is the deliverance from the power of sin. The Bible tells us sin brings about a death that is physical as well as spiritual. So for God to deliver us from sin through the salvation offered through His son Jesus we are given a reward of a long life spent with God. And God promises this reward saying He will rescue those who love Him and place their trust in Him. Even when fighting through the difficulties of life, God says He will be there to rescue us. Give thanks to our Lord who protects, rescues and saves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/02/09 12:13 PM
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don�t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

These are the words of Paul to the Corinthians. He later speaks of us as fragile jars that hold great treasure. Those treasures come from following Christ. We give up deeds which bring us shame. We dispose of methods that are underhanded and designed to bring wrongful gain. We tell the truth without deceit, trickery or distortion. We do this because we want to be truthful and honest before God.

A friend shared a sign someone had hand written and left attached to a bus stop. The sign read, �IF YOUR PRODUCT WAS ANY GOOD YOU WOULDN�T NEED SEXISM TO SELL IT.� There is a lot of truth to that sign. A good product does not need distorted words or trickery to sell the product. A good product is known by its reputation and will sell. If we live Christian life the way it is meant to be then we don�t need deceitful tactics to prove anything to others. Our honest life before God shows the worth of our faith. We can tell the truth and others listen because they know we are being honest before God. Remember when people would say, �Swear to God you are telling the truth!� There is something to be said about being honest before our Lord and Savior. People know a commitment of honesty to God is a commitment of honesty to all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/03/09 12:03 PM
Ezekiel 33:30-33 (NLT)
30 �Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, �Come on, let�s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!� 31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don�t act on it! 33 But when all these terrible things happen to them�as they certainly will�then they will know a prophet has been among them.�

These words were spoken to Israelites held captive in Babylon. These people were a testament to God�s grace and sparing mercy. Yet they had not fully given themselves to the Lord. These verses are rebukes to help them understand they were only pretending to follow religious ways, because they were not sincere about living out God�s desire for their lives. They were reminded that one day something terrible would happen and then they would recall the words of the prophet who spoke for God.

Police investigators will often sift through trash of a suspect trying to determine their actions. They will open up their bank accounts and look where money has been spent. They will examine the suspects� actions to see what type of life they are living. What if God opened up your trash; what would he find? What would God think about where you have been spending your money? Are you letting the words of God entertain you or are you serious about what he desires for your life? Don�t just listen to God�s words, act upon them so that good fruit will be produced in your life. Don�t wait until sometime terrible happens to ask yourself, �Where is God?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/09 12:17 PM
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NLT)
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people�s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ�s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, �Come back to God!� 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

As these verses talk about reconciliation they speak of an undeniable privilege as well as a duty. Reconciliation assumes there has been a breach of friendship that has caused separation. Sin is the object which causes the breach between God and man. God the creator justly has a right to be offended by the sin filled heart of the creation. Yet God reaches out through Christ to reconcile us, the world, to Him. It is that reconciliation that is an undeniable privilege which we can accept or reject. If we accept the wonder message of reconciliation then it becomes out duty to plead with others to return to God.

Billiy Graham said, �The number one problem in our world is alienation, rich versus poor, black versus white, labor versus management, conservative versus liberal, East versus West . . . But Christ came to bring about reconciliation and peace.� Our sinful hearts set us against God and also set us against one another. God sought reconciliation with the world. It was not the world trying to return to God, but God offering forgiveness that we might return to Him. God gave His Son Jesus to bring about reconciliation and peace so we could also reconcile and find peace with others. Do you know the loving grace of God�s reconciliation? If you do, share it with someone who needs it. Share it with someone who needs to be reconciled to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/05/09 12:31 PM
Psalm 33:4 (KJV)
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psalm 33 is a psalm of praise to the Lord. The exact author is not known. Whoever the penman their purpose was to give praise to the Lord and recognize God�s wonderful qualities. In verse 4 the penman states the word of the Lord is right, which is the Hebrew word Yashar. Yashar means that which is straight, level, right, pleasing, correct, straightforward, upright, fitting, proper and righteous. The qualities of God�s word bring truth into all that He does.

If you were standing before God having a conversation one thing you could count on is there would be no deception or lies. What God says is true and the actions He brings forth out of His words are also true. How often do you have conversations with others where you question their intent or wonder whether their words are true? What about their actions, do they line up straight with the truth of their words? Have you ever sat in a sales presentation listening to all the wonderful adjectives describing a product only to find out the product doesn�t live up to the quality of the words? People may let you down because their words do not always lead to acts of truth. People may make promises they do not keep. People may even deceive with clever words which sound truthful, but upon examination those words lead in false directions. It is why like the psalmist we should give praise to the Lord for His truthfulness in both words and actions. The word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth! Give praise to the Lord for He is just, right and holy!!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/09 01:21 PM
Luke 6:28 (NLT)
28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

These are the words of Jesus reminding us not to bring hatred into our hearts. Instead bless those who might curse us and pray for those who would hurt us.

These are difficult words to live by. If someone hurts us often we want to hurt them back. If someone is unkind, we don�t want to show kindness. Instead we usually return what we receive. Yet Jesus told us to pray for those who hurt us. Our sinful flesh wants to follow the rule an eye for an eye. Jesus even told us �You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: �An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.� But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.� Thinking of recent tragedies that have taken place these are very hard words indeed. We need to remember the wisdom of God is greater than our wisdom. Pray for those who have been hurt, but also pray for those who have inflicted the pain.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/09 11:49 AM
James 2:5-11 (NLT)
5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn�t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren�t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn�t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren�t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: �Love your neighbor as yourself.� 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God�s laws. 11 For the same God who said, �You must not commit adultery,� also said, �You must not murder.� So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

Written by James, the half brother of Jesus, James points out how some favor the rich while ignoring the poor. James also points out that Jesus said the poor will be the ones to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. He notes this action as sin and points out if a person commits even one sin they have broken God�s law and therefore considered a sinner. By committing the sin they have been judged by God a sinner, just as adulterers and murderers have also been judged sinners.

It is sad to say that even in the Christian church there are those who will show partiality to some while placing condemnation on others. These people judge by their own standards. They make statements to support their own beliefs. Instead of following God�s word they fail to see their own sin, their own flaws, and their own need for grace. They believe their good deeds to be superior to others; yet they fail to remember God said all our good works are but filthy rags. There are none of us who measure up to God; nor are there any of us without sin. We all need understanding. We all need love. We all need grace and mercy. Christ offers this to all who believe in Him. Make sure we are following Christ by extending love, grace and mercy to others who are also in need.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/09 12:19 PM
1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (NLT)
9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you�with your �superior knowledge��eating in the temple of an idol, won�t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live�for I don�t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about whether it was right to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and then prepared as a meal. While there were Christians strong in their faith who understood there was only one God in this world; there were also some Christians who did not have that same strong faith. In their weakness they might struggle as to whether this practice was right or wrong. Paul contended the struggle might lead them away from Christ. Paul warned those with a strong faith not to let their liberty in Christ be taken for granted that they might influence the thoughts of others who were weak.

Responsibility is essential when freedom is abundant. In the United States we are granted freedom of speech, but that does not mean we are free to say any and everything. For instance a person cannot stand up on a plane and yell out �There is a bomb on the plane�. While they are granted freedom of speak; their words could cause great fear and panic. People may get hurt as they try to escape. So freedom comes with responsibility to choose wisely. We have a freedom in Christ from sin and we do not want to take that freedom lightly. Choose carefully your actions such that they would not have a negative impact on others and hurt their walk with Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/11/09 12:13 PM
2 Samuel 11:26-27 (NLT)
26 When Uriah�s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

The wife of Uriah was Bathsheba. King David had an affair with Bathsheba prior to her husband being killed and she became pregnant. Uriah was one of the King�s trusted me and was gladly serving the King for his nation. Uriah was so faithful to his country he would not even return to his home when he had the opportunity. Instead he wanted to rejoin the men who were in battle. David planned Uriah�s death, which allowed him to take Bathsheba as a wife and hide her pregnancy.

Veterans Day is an annual holiday celebrated the 11th of November. The holiday commemorates the brave and heroic efforts of veterans. These men and women have served proudly for our country. They are ready to give their lives to protect the freedom we have. In some wars these Veterans have been taken for granted because politics came before the honor of these soldiers. Our country must not put these heroic men and women in harm�s way just so politicians can accomplish their own political agenda. Instead they should be allowed to fight with dignity. Christ also died to protect our freedom. God knew the hearts of men and God fulfilled His plan of salvation through politics of the day. Selfish men, leaders who wouldn�t stand firm allowed Christ to die. While that was God�s plan we need to be careful man�s plan doesn�t allow selfishness to put our soldiers in harm�s way. Pray for our soldiers on this Veteran�s day remembering some have given their lives so we can be free, while other are also willing to do the same.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/09 12:08 PM
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
In this verse Paul tells Christians to encourage each other by building each other up. The Greek word used is oikodomeo, which means to erect or built a house from the foundation up or to restore by building and repairing. Paul wanted the readers to understand they were not to just encourage those strong in their faith, but also encourage those who were weak.

There is a problem prevalent among the churches today. The problem is heresy in regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which stands firmly on mercy and grace. The problem is humanity�s persistence to justify themselves before God by their works and performance. It is a battle fought in every human heart. It is a battle fought against the grace and mercy extended by God through His son Jesus. It is a battle that causes people to tear down those around them instead of building them. For you see if we allow works to rule in our life instead of grace then we want to make ourselves look and feel better. And how do we do that? By tearing down others and building ourselves up. Remember the grace you have been given and extend that grace to others. Do not let the need to justify our actions cause us to stumble and neglect the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged that we might encourage each other.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/23/09 01:43 PM
Job 2:7-9 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job had proven himself a faithful and just servant to God so much so that God pointed him out to Satan. God�s comment about Job was �there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.� Yet Satan wanted to prove God wrong and tested God by saying if Job lost family, possessions or even his health he would turn away from God. In the verses above we see as Job suffers at the hand of Satan that even his wife said Job should curse God for his afflictions.

When something spectacular happens I often hear someone say something to the effect of �Praise God�, �Yes Lord�, or �Thank you Jesus�. It is easy when things are going right to give praise. King David often praised God throughout the book of Psalms. The apostle Paul wrote these words �Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.� Our God is to always be praised for our God is the same today, yesterday and today. If God is always the same then our praise for Him should always be the same. What happens though when something goes wrong? There are some like Job�s wife who are ready to give up and curse God. Yet God has not changed. It is our heart that has changed so we move from being ready to praise God to being ready to curse Him. Are you always ready to praise God even in the difficult times? If you have found yourself ready to curse God stop and remember the good he has done and will continue to do in your life. Let your words be words of praise for our God is concerned for you and wants to bless your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/24/09 12:43 PM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV)
16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
In these verses the Apostle Paul writes short exhortations that are to direct our lives. First we must learn to rejoice ever so more; for our earthly days are limited and the time we have should not be spent on grievous concerns. We are to look to God for our joy even in the times when the world brings us sorrow. Second we are to pray without ceasing expressing our joy over God�s grace and mercy. The hindrances in our life will seem insignificant as we continue to pray giving thanks for that with which we have been blessed. Third we are to always give thanks for whatever situation comes our way. Even in the times that seem gloomy we should continue to pray and thank God for the good things we have been given.
To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be thankful for all our lives � the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections � that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let�s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God. (Henri J. M. Nouwen, Bread for the Journey (HarperOne, 1996), p. 12)

May each of you have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and may you find time to seek God and give thanks for the true blessings you have received.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/09 11:58 AM
1 Peter 4:8-9 (ESV)
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

There are words from the Apostle Peter. Christ said of Peter, �That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.� Peter the foundation of the church reminds those who have come to know Christ to keep loving one another earnestly. For love can forgive many faults, sins and errors. Hospitality should be added to love and should be given with a peace of mind that does not reflect upon past faults.

An act of hospitality is a self-sacrificing act. It is an act where one gives without intention of receiving back. If one is to be hospitable to another then it should be done without grumbling, without complaint, and without a desire for self gain. Love can be shown through hospitable acts. God being hospitable towards us offers a free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. God does so out of love and has no complaint about the gift offered. This holiday season show your love and hospitality towards others. Show others the love that God shows you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/01/09 12:56 PM
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The verses above were spoken by Jesus. The first light of the day was always welcome as it brought the world out of darkness. The light gave warmth, reassurance, and comfort. A light out in the open can be seen by all and even influences the atmosphere of one�s home. Jesus reminded us our good deeds are like a light that can seen by all of man. These good works are to give honor God the Father.

Our actions in this world shine brightly like a light. They are beacons of a lighthouse shining brightly through the darkness. Imagine a ship approaching a dangerous rocky harbor. The only warning is the beacon coming from the lighthouse showing where the dangerous rocks are located. Suddenly just as the ship approaches the rocks where waves crash violently the light goes out. Most likely the ship would be in peril. What if we hide our good works from others? What if we have the capability and ability to help someone and we hide those talents? Maybe we could have saved someone from a terrible experience, but instead we chose to turn off our light and let them crash. Don�t hide the gifts God has given each and everyone one of us to touch someone else�s life. Let your good works shine so others might be saved from the perils of this world. May God be glorified in all that you do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/02/09 12:19 PM
Ezekiel 33:1-6 (NLT)
1 Once again a message came to me from the Lord: 2 �Son of man, give your people this message: �When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman. 3 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. 4 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. 5 They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. 6 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn�t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.�

Ezekiel reveals a message from the Lord that those who hear the watchman cry out and fail to respond is responsible for ignoring the warning. However, if the watchman fails to warn the people then he is the one responsible for their deaths.

As Christians we each have a responsibility to be a watchman. We are to alert others to the perils of sin and show them the mercy and grace of Christ. Our mission is to convey the message of The Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. If they fail to listen that is their responsibility. However if we fail to share The Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are perishing then we bear the responsibility. Have you let others know where you stand in your walk with Christ?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/09 12:48 PM
Song of Solomon 3:1-5 (ESV)
1 On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not.2 I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. 3 The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?" 4 Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother�s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. 5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
The Song of Solomon presents a dialog between the lost and the found lover. It is a story of God�s plan for marriage and also a story of God�s church. The woman seeks out her love desiring to be with him. She looks through the streets of the city even stopping to ask the watchmen where her love might be. Even though they don�t have the answer she continues to seek after her love. Then she finds him and returns him to her home where her desire is for him to stay with her.
Those who love Jesus will have a thirst for Him. They will have a desire to seek Him out and commune with Him. They will go to great lengths to look for Him. They will search on their own. They will turn to those who might know Jesus for help. Yet it is their continued search, the desire and longing for Jesus Christ that brings them close to Him. And when they find Jesus they want to hold and keep Him close. Are you seeking Jesus? Don�t give up your search to find and know Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/09 12:24 PM
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

These are the first of several sentences spoken by Christ on the cross as he was dying in agony. Christ interceded for the sinners hoping for their repentance. The crucifiers were acting in ignorance, blinded by sin. Christ came to remove sin so instead of condemnation His plea was for forgiveness.

I heard a person say if the constitution of the United States is the standard for our government then as you move far to the left you become a radical liberal; however if you move far to the right you become an extreme conservative. There is currently an effort in place to make a translation of the Bible that promotes some extreme conservative views. God�s Scriptures are our standard and if we are not careful we can move too far to the right or left in our thought on how the bible should be translated to conform to our thoughts. Quoting from http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project the web page says, �The Conservative Bible Project is a project to render God's word into modern English while removing liberal distortions.� The page then goes on to say, �First Example - Liberal-Promoted Falsehood - The earliest, most authentic manuscripts of the Gospel According to Luke lack this verse fragment set forth at the start of Luke 23:34:Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Is this a corruption of the original, perhaps promoted by liberals without regard to its authenticity? This does not appear in any other Gospel, and the simple fact is that some of the persecutors of Jesus did know what they were doing. This quotation is a favorite of liberals, although it does not appear in the earliest and best manuscripts of the Gospel of Luke. It should not appear in a conservative Bible, because in point of fact Jesus might never had said it at all.�

Didn�t Jesus die for all sinners? Didn�t Jesus preach forgiveness? Why would someone think Jesus asking the Father for the forgiveness of those in sin was a theological liberal view? In fact Jesus now stands before the Father according to the scriptures making intercession on our behalf. We are warned in the Bible there will be those who will distort the truth. Pray God will always reveal the truth to you and others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/09 11:38 AM
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
8 �My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,� says the Lord. �And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

A plea has been given to the wicked in this chapter of Isaiah. An invitation to the Lord�s Salvation has been presented. The people have been encouraged to seek The Lord while there is time; for one never knows the appointed time of their death. Then the Lord gives encouragement in the above verses stating His thoughts are not like man�s thoughts. Where man would be unforgiving God in His infinite mercy does forgive.

From Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place, Spire Books, 1971, pg 26-27, Corrie tells of her father�s wisdom after reading a poem that contained the phrase, sex sin. ��Sex,� I was pretty sure, meant whether you were a boy or a girl, and �sin� made Tante Jans very angry, but what the two meant together I could not imagine. And so, seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, �Father, what is sex sin?� He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor. �Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?� he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. �It�s too heavy,� I said. �Yes, he said. �As it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It�s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.� I was satisfied. More than satisfied-wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions�for now I was content to leave them in my father�s keeping.��

If an earthly father can give such wisdom what greater wisdom can our Heavenly Father provide? Seek the wisdom of God in all you do remembering His thoughts rise above our own.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/08/09 12:01 PM
Revelation 3:19 (NLT)
19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

In the revelation to John, John is instructed to write a letter to the church of Laodicea. In the letter the church is told their actions are neither hot nor cold. At times they do good works and at other times they slip into sin. They believed they had everything they needed spiritually, yet they were being warned they were blind and poor as far as their relationship with God. The message to them was God corrects those He loves and they needed to turn away from their indifference to God�s prompting and focus instead on what they should be doing.

Jack Abramoff, once a powerful lobbyist, pleaded guilty to fraud tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Standing before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle in Washington, Abramoff looked sheepish and sad. "Your Honor, words will not be able to ever express how sorry I am for this, and I have profound regret and sorrow for the multitude of mistakes and harm I have caused," he said softly. "All of my remaining days, I will feel tremendous sadness and regret for my conduct and for what I have done. I only hope that I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and from those I have wronged or caused to suffer."(1) Later Abramoff also said, �I had lost a sense of proportion and judgment. God sent me 1,000 hints that He didn�t want me to keep doing what I was doing. But I didn�t listen, so He set off a nuclear bomb.�

Has God given you hints that have ignored? Don�t be indifferent towards God instead be diligent and seek His corrective, loving words of discipline.

(1) Washington Post, by Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/09 12:22 PM
Hebrews 6:10 (KJV)
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

The apostle writes that God remembers the good works we do for others out of love for Him. He rewards justly those acts of kindness. When those same acts are done for those who have come to God in faith through Jesus Christ they are counted as if they were done for God Himself.

A Christian life comes about because of a person�s faith in Jesus Christ and their love for Him and The Father. We are able to express our love for Christ by doing for others. Our good works do not result in salvation from sin, but instead our good works are motivated by the salvation we freely received. Jesus paid a high price to set us free from sin. Let us use what we have available to show our love for Christ by doing for others. God tells us that work will not go unnoticed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/09 11:53 AM
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven�s Armies will make this happen!

The prophecy of Isaiah that God Himself was to preserve the promises made to King David. This would be accomplished through His son Jesus who would be sent into this world to die in order to establish a heavenly kingdom. God made a passionate commitment to this and promised it would be made to happen.

The life of Jesus was a model of humility. He was born in a stable with the animals and placed in a trough where they fed. Even though Jesus was in command of the heavenly angels who would obey His every command; Jesus worked and lived as a humble carpenter with His father. As Jesus began His ministry He often humbled himself to others; whether it was the woman at the well, foreigners or His own disciples. And lastly Jesus humbled himself in death to pay the penalty of our sins Jesus never committed. This child Jesus was born for us, given to us, and died for us. Remember our humble Savior, the loving kindness of His heart and the gift of salvation He freely gives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/09 12:13 PM
Galatians 3:1-4 (NLT)
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ�s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatians about their misunderstanding of the Christian life. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, faithful believers receive the Holy Spirit. Christ said the Holy Spirit would be a helper to those who believed in Him. Paul said the Holy Spirit prays for us when we don�t know how to pray for ourselves. So the Holy Spirit is our link to God and Christ, teaching us, helping us, and offering pray for us. The Galatians were moving away from this understanding. Instead they were trying through their own efforts to become perfect in their own manner.

Many people putting up their Christmas decorations put them on a timer so that at just the right time every night the lights come to life. But if someone lost confidence in the way their timer works they might just be out there every night trying to ensure the lights will turn on at the proper time. When we lose confidence in our Christian faith often we try too hard to ensure things are working just right. We start believing God can�t do in us what He has set out to accomplish so we start taking actions into our hands. Paul said in Ephesians, �Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.� God is able to handle anything that comes our way. Allow God to work so that the right time His desires for our life will be accomplished.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/09 12:05 PM
Isaiah 47:12-15 (NLT)
12 �Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.13 All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. 14 But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.15 And all your friends, those with whom you�ve done business since childhood, will go their own ways, turning a deaf ear to your cries.

These words from Isaiah predict the fall of Babylon. Babylon held captive Israel; the people of God. They lived among the Babylonians and the Babylonians knew of Israel�s God. Yet Babylon followed astrologers, magicians, fortunetellers and others who gave advice, but not advice about the Holy God of Israel. For not listening and turning to God the nation was going to fall.

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. In a survey they conducted it showed Americans seeking out fortunetellers, communicating with the dead and having diverse supernatural beliefs. Information about this survey is can be found on the web at http://pewforum.org under the heading Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths. It shows America is prone to the same faults of ancient Babylon. Instead of turning to God for answers some turn to other sources. Pray America will remember the one true God and seek His answers. God�s wisdom is above all others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/17/09 11:22 AM
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

The words of the Apostle Paul teach us that people need to hear the truth and ministers must resign themselves to speaking the truth. If not people will gratify themselves with their own beliefs and turn from the truth of God. They will look for those willing to tell them what they want to hear instead of hearing the truth as it should be presented

From Mark S. Wheeler, �Marks of a Servant�, Discipleship Journal (Nov/Dec 1987), �When the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius destroyed the city [of Pompeii in A.D. 79], many people were buried in the ruins. Some took cover underground, and the place became their burial chamber. Those who chose a high hiding place were also unable to escape destruction. But a Roman sentinel was found at the city gate, his hands still grasping his weapon. That was where he had been placed by the captain. While the earth shook beneath him, while the flood of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he stood at his post; and it was there he was found a thousand years later.� Are you willing to stand firm in your faith of Jesus Christ? Let others know the truth and never let it be hidden by false myths or false stories.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/09 12:50 PM
Isaiah 44:19-20 (NLT)
19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, �Why, it�s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?� 20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can�t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, �Is this idol that I�m holding in my hand a lie?�

There are the words of God to Isaiah about the foolishness of idols. God has given examples of why it is so foolish for someone to worship these idols. In this example God questions why a person would worship a wood idol made from their own hands that they also burn for heat and to cook with.

One of the definitions from Webster�s for the word god is �a person or thing of great value�. Obviously there are many gods in this world today because many place great important on people or things ignoring the God that created us. Some will place more importance on riches while others will place more importance on a spouse. They ignore God in favor of that which they have created as their idol. As God tells us we need to stop and ask, �Is this idol that I�m holding in my hand a lie?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/29/09 12:05 PM
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT)
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord�who is the Spirit�makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

The reference to the veil in these verses is from the book of Exodus in which Moses meets with God. His face reflected the radiance of God and continued to glow for a period. In humility Moses covered his face. The apostle Paul tells the Corinthians that when someone accepts salvation from the Lord the Spirit of the Lord is with them and they reflect his glory which is for all to see.

There are ways to reflect God in our lives. Smile as you pass others. Be polite and courteous to those who might be gruff. Say something kind and encouraging. Offer to help when help is in need. Share with those who are less fortunate. Use kindness even when someone has been unkind. Speak affirmations instead of condemnations. Give praise for accomplishments. Let others see you are the light of the Lord shining brightly, reflecting His glory and giving honor to Him through all you do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/30/09 11:29 AM
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
19 Don�t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The Apostle Paul spoke out to the Corinthians about sexual sin. Some believed their freedom in Christ allowed them to commit immoral acts. So Paul reminded them their bodies were a temple for the Lord showing to God�s glory. They belonged to God therefore they must give Him the respect He is due.

Have you ever seen an abandoned building decline over time? If the building is not kept up weeds begin to grow up through the parking lot. The outside starts to deteriorate and even crumble. Passersby disrespect the building by throwing trash upon the grounds or spray painting the walls. Eventually the inside starts to decay. This could be a description of someone�s spiritual life. If we allow ourselves to be empty and don�t fill our lives with the presence of God we begin to deteriorate as well. Sin will take root. Our lives can start falling apart. Respect is lost for who we are. Don�t forget your bodies; your lives are for the living Lord. Fill your life daily with God�s holy word.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/10 12:04 PM
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, �Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.�

Jesus was speaking to those who complained of ceremonial law as undue burdens upon their lives. Jesus offered rest to these so instead of living in slavery to the law they could live in freedom for the One who set them free.

A GPS is a very useful device. Plug in an address and step by step it will direct you to your destination. If you fail to follow the directions you will hear �RECALCULATING� and a new course is plotted for you. If you have ever tried using a map for a complicated trip you really begin to appreciate the easy process of following a GPS. Life can also be complicated. However, Jesus can make navigating life much easier. Trust Him for the directions and when you make the wrong turn in life let Jesus help you get back on the right path.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/10 11:33 AM
Psalm 62:1 (KJV)
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

In Psalm 62 David writes to express his pleasure, confidence, dependence and trust in the Lord. David reaffirms to himself that he, David, will wait upon God. David knows grace, mercy and salvation abounds from God and so for everything he will wait upon God to direct him.

Some of you may have experienced this with a friend, one of your children or even a spouse. They call for help and you say, �I�ll be there shortly, wait on me.� When you arrive you find they have started without your help. The problem has grown larger because the fix they were attempting wasn�t working and now that mess also has to be straightened out. We often do the same to God. We call for the Lord�s help and instead of waiting we proceed on our own making a bigger mess of things. We need to learn to be patient and wait on the Lord. If we can wait for the eternal life the Lord has provided, surely we can wait on the small things in this life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/10 12:09 PM
Titus 2:14-15 (NLT)
14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. 15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don�t let anyone disregard what you say.

In Titus 2 the apostle Paul writes to Titus about teaching others by example. Whether old or young, man or woman, free or in bondage they were to live out their lives according to God�s word. Not only were they to live for God, but they were also instructed to teach others. Paul reminded Titus Jesus gave His life to make people His own people, freeing them from sin and allowing them to do good deeds. He also reminded Titus he had the authority to correct others when necessary.

American composer, writer, singer and evangelist wrote the beautiful words for �Hallelujah! What a Savior!� - Man of Sorrows! what a name for the Son of God, who came ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood; sealed my pardon with his blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was he; full atonement can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior! Lifted up was he to die; "It is finished!" was his cry; now in heaven exalted high. Hallelujah! What a Savior! When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

If these are the words of your heart give praise to our Savior and shine as a good example for others to follow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/11/10 11:43 AM
Mark 14:66-72 (NLT)
66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, �You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.� 68 But Peter denied it. �I don�t know what you�re talking about,� he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. 69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, �This man is definitely one of them!� 70 But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, �You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.� 71 Peter swore, �A curse on me if I�m lying�I don�t know this man you�re talking about!� 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus� words flashed through Peter�s mind: �Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.� And he broke down and wept.

Jesus was arrested and Peter followed Jesus and the crowd into the priest�s courtyard. Peter listened as the priests hurled accusations against Jesus, spat on Jesus, beat Jesus and insulted Him. Peter remained to the back of the crowd because he did not want to be identified as one of the disciples. He denied knowing Jesus 3 times just as Jesus told Him would happen.

It is interesting Peter was willing to risk being identified as a disciple of Jesus because he wanted to be close to Jesus to see what would happen to Him. Peter loved Jesus. Often Peter said he would die for Jesus, yet fear overcame him and he distanced himself from the Lord. How often do we let troubles put distance between us and God? We love the Lord. We might be willing to serve Him. But there are just times when our fears put us at a distance. Pray God will always keep you close and always be ready to give a bold witness for our Lord and Savior!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/10 12:04 PM
Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)
12 I don�t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

In writing to the Philippians the Apostle Paul states it was Christ who first possessed or as the KJV says, apprehended him. The Greek word means to lay hold of, obtain, and to make one�s own. Paul recognizes it is Christ�s love for him that moves him forward. Paul knew he was not perfect, but because of Christ he was able to put the past behind him and move forward towards a day of eternal perfection.

Years ago I ran in the New York Marathon race. I wasn�t the fastest runner. My goal was to finish and not be last. After I completed the race, I returned to my hotel room where I listened to the news about a woman with Multiple Sclerosis who was still out there on the streets of New York and had been there for over 12 hours. She had to walk the 26.2 miles with crutches and the disease that inflicted her made every step labor intensive. However she was determined to finish the race even if she was the last person. About twenty four hours later out the hotel window we could see a crowd of people encouraging this woman the final steps to the finish line. It took her over a day to complete the New York Marathon, but she never gave up on the race and the finish line was her reward. The Bible tells us to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Even if you are struggling, don�t give up the race; hang in there until the finish line.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/13/10 11:40 AM
Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT)
1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

The psalmist reflects on the almighty God. God is both a place of refuge and strength in times of trouble. Events may occur that we might fear but God is still in control. Earthquakes, falling mountains and surging waters are not enough to remove the psalmist�s trust in the Lord.

Today I ask we might pray for those in Haiti. The people of Haiti have experienced a devastating earthquake yet we know God is in control. Lord God we ask for your mercy upon the people of Haiti. We pray for victims that aid and relief would become available son. We pray for those who have lost loved ones that you Lord would give them comfort. Lord we pray the people would seek you for answers and find hope in Your promises. Lord we give praise for your strength, mercy and grace. In Jesus name, Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/10 11:44 AM
Psalm 40:17 (ESV)
17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

This is from a psalm of David who recognizes God is his helper and deliverer. It is a message for those in distress and affliction to trust in God and find comfort in Him as well.

Matthew Henry, a Presbyterian minister and Bible commentator said of David�s psalm. David himself was one of these: I am poor and needy (a king, perhaps now on the throne, and yet, being troubled in spirit, he calls himself poor and needy, in want and distress, lost and undone without a Saviour), yet the Lord thinketh upon me in and through the Mediator, by whom we are made accepted. Men forget the poor and needy, and seldom think of them; but God�s thoughts, towards them are their support and comfort. They may assure themselves that God is their help under their troubles, and will be, in due time, their deliverer out of their troubles, and will make no long tarrying; for the vision is for an appointed time, and therefore, though it tarry, we may wait for it, for it shall come; it will come, it will not tarry.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/20/10 12:07 PM
Proverbs 20:9 (NLT)
9 Who can say, �I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin�?

In this proverb King Solomon challenges anyone to prove them self sinless. At the time he is also questioning if there is anyone who is even capable of doing so. For King Solomon reasons there are none who can say, ��I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin�.

Searching one�s own soul and heart can prove difficult. There are many who may say they are good and just, but let someone else examine their life. When someone else is watching the sins which might go unnoticed are revealed. I think about those with addictions. An alcoholic for example will deny they have a problem with drinking. They will even be intoxicated and say �I�m not drunk. I just had a few.� They deny their own sin. Then there are those who tell lies big or small to gain favor, self esteem, or defend against what they should know in their heart it is wrong. How can we who are corrupted by sin remove our own sin when often we don�t even see it? It is why we have a Savior Jesus Christ who forgives our sin and cleanses us that we might become righteousness. There is hope of a sinless eternal life where we can be pure and free from sin and it is given to us by the mercy and grace of our Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/21/10 12:16 PM
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

The words of the Apostle Paul remind us to imitate God in everything we do. Not just some things, but everything. God loved us so much that He gave His son Jesus as a sacrifice to atone for sin. The sacrifice fulfilled its purpose and was pleasing to God that all men might be saved. Therefore we should live life showing God�s love to others.

The Reverend Matthew Henry commented on how we should love that �this godlike grace should conduct and influence our whole conversation, which is meant by walking in it. It should be the principle from which we act; it should direct the ends at which we aim. We should be more careful to give proof of the sincerity of our love one to another. As Christ also hath loved us. Here the apostle directs us to the example of Christ, whom Christians are obliged to imitate, and in whom we have an instance of the most free and generous love that ever was, that great love wherewith he hath loved us. We are all joint sharers in that love, and partakers of the comfort of it, and therefore should love one another, Christ having loved us all and given such proof of his love to us; for He hath given Himself for us. The apostle designedly enlarges on the subject; for what can yield us more delightful matter for contemplation than this? Christ gave himself to die for us; and the death of Christ was the great sacrifice of atonement: An offering and a sacrifice to God; or an offering, even a sacrifice�a propitiatory sacrifice, to expiate our guilt, which had been prefigured in the legal oblations and sacrifices; and this for a sweet-smelling savour.� Without a doubt God loves us and we should love ourselves and others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/10 12:06 PM
James 3:17 (NLT)
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

James is urging believers to take hold of the wisdom of God and put it to use in daily living. This wisdom should be used to help others and not to be hoarded in a jealous manner. This wisdom James talks about is pure, peace loving, gentle, compromising, merciful, good, shows no partiality and is always sincere. It is wisdom that comes from a holy and great God.

In the night God appeared to King Solomon and said to him, �Ask what I shall give thee.� King Solomon responded, �Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people that is so great?� King Solomon wanted a wisdom that would benefit the people of his country. He wanted to be able to respond as though God were responding to others. So God granted him wisdom and much more. We all need to seek after the wisdom of God. In that wisdom we find how to love others in the right way. In that wisdom we provide mercy and grace when it is needed. Remember it is not human wisdom we seek, but the wisdom of a holy God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/10 12:37 PM
Luke 10:17-20 (KJV)
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Seventy disciples returned from a long journey to proclaim they cast out demons in the name of Jesus. They were excited about what had taken place. Jesus reminded them to rejoice not that the demons were subject to them, but rather they were going to enjoy the eternal life of heaven. Jesus confirmed the preaching of the gospel broke down the kingdom of Satan. In some way it was also a warning to not let pride take hold as it did with Satan.

In Matthew 12:29 Jesus said, �How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then He will spoil his house�. Without the power of Christ it is impossible to struggle against the powers of Satan. Without the salvation of Christ, Satan had free reign over this world. It is through the power of the gospel, which is the good news of God�s merciful salvation in Jesus Christ, that Christians can work feely to do the will of God. Satan, the serpent, caused Adam and Eve to fall to sin. For that God said, �And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.� This was an indication of the struggle that would pursue between Satan and man. Yet we see Jesus telling the disciples that He will give them the power to tread on serpents and scorpions. Through Jesus Satan and his demons lose their power to hold us through sin. No long is it Satan who holds the power to the world, instead it is Christ who reigns.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/10 12:00 PM
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The apostle tells us death is due us as wages for the sins we have committed. In God�s eyes there is no one sin greater than another or one of lesser importance. Any sin committed goes against the holy nature of God. All that are servants to sin must expect to be paid and that payment is death - eternal separation from God. Yet God in his loving mercy and grace offers a free gift of eternal life through His son Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus and Jesus only that we can gain eternal life with God.

The Bible speaks of two different men named Lazarus. The first was a beggar, riddled with sores who would beg at the gates of a rich man for something to comfort him. This Lazarus died and went to be with God in heaven. There he was comforted by the promise given to Abraham about the coming of The Savior. Jesus clearly tells us this Lazarus was in heaven while the rich man ended up in hell. It was there the rich man suffered worst than the beggar ever experienced while alive. The rich man was separated from God, tormented by painful memories, and in physical distress. The second Lazarus was a friend of Jesus who was the brother of Martha and Mary. The second Lazarus died from an illness and was laid to rest in a tomb. Yet the Bible tells us Jesus brought Lazarus back to life and Lazarus emerged from the tomb where he lay. Jesus has the power over life and death, both physical and eternal. Because of His perfect sacrifice we are able to overcome death and live an eternal life with God. Give praise to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Thank Jesus for the suffering He endured to set us free from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/10 12:25 PM
Proverbs 29:7 (NLT)
7 The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don�t care at all.

In this verse King Solomon states there is a duty to watch after the rights of those who are less fortunate. Judges, juries, and witnesses should be fair to all; not just the rich or the influential. But sadly there are those who take advantage of the poor because they do not have the resources to plead their case properly.

We have seen court trials where the influential and rich are able to sway opinion through high price lawyers. Yet the poor must endure by the grace allotted them. Sadly financial resources can affect the outcome of a court decision. A person with limited resources may try to stand against a wealthy government, but they are often backed down as expenses grow. The poor generally receive less counsel than those who are rich. They suffer for their poverty. We should remember all are guaranteed a fair and reasonable trial in our country, which is a precious liberty. Yet there are some countries that oppress the poor. Pray for the less fortunate that godly people would stand up for their rights. Pray they would have equal and fair judgment in the courts. Pray God�s people would ensure justice is preserved.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/10 12:02 PM
Romans 7:14-17 (NLT)
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don�t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don�t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

When the apostle says the law is spiritual and good he reminds us we were to live a good life; a life free from sin. God�s spirit is always calling to us to do what is right. It forbids spiritual wickedness, murder, adultery and other sins. It commands spiritual obedience calling us to follow and worship God. Yet sin clouds our judgment. We want to do what is right. We hate it when we do the wrong things. So we must agree it is the sin living within us that causes us to move away from the desires of God; otherwise we would listen to what we know is right.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It is a tale of a dual personality that struggles against itself; one good the other evil. From chapter 10 of the book is this quote, �With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two." According to the bible the true is we should have been without sin; but sin entered our lived, corrupted our thinking, and we began to choose against our desires. To God we are a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde knowing what we should do, but then turning away from our true nature to something we are not. Pray Christ would open our eyes to sin and help us in the moments of our weakness. Pray we might obey God and follow His desires for our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/10 11:44 AM
Galatians 6:1 (NLT)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

This message from the Apostle Paul is about grace which should be extended to a Christian who has fallen into sin. Those in the church who have demonstrated their own godly behavior should humbly help and gently lead the person away from the sin. They should be strong enough in their faith that they too do not succumb to the temptation for which they are trying to assist.

�Becoming the first man to climb Mt. Everest proved to be a dangerous adventure for Sir Edmund Hillary. After scaling the mountain Hillary lost his footing on the way down, but his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, held the line taut and kept Hillary from falling by digging his axe into the ice. Tenzing later refused special credit for saving Hillary�s life by saying �Mountain climbers always help each other.�� (Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 11) As Christians we should be willing to reach out and keep another brother or sister in Christ from falling further into sin. Our first reaction should not be one of judgment, but of a desire to help the person overcome their problem. For if we push a person away from the church without helping them they become even more bitter and wonder if there really is such a thing as mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/03/10 12:39 PM
Proverbs 3:9-10 (KJV)
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs 3 gives advice on trusting in the Lord. One of the steps in trusting God is to rely upon Him. This proverb tells us we should honor God by returning the first portion of what we receive to Him. As we trust and obey His word the Lord reassures us there will be plenty for our needs.

You may have seen some docudramas or the show Hoarders about people who hang on to everything. They fear something will happen if they are not retaining their possessions. It is an OCD type problem where anxiety drives the person to feel out of control if they have to part with their belongings or do not have enough of something. They continue to fill their house until it is overflowing with endless clutter. They never have peace although they continue to keep item after item. While most of these people have dealt with life traumas and mental health issues there are others of us who refuse to even let go of a part of what the Lord has given us. The Lord shares His wealth with us so we might benefit others. Instead of trusting God to meet our needs we become hoarders for our own pleasure. We take and take what should have benefited someone else to give ourselves non-essential pleasures.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/10 12:32 PM
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The Apostle Paul is describing how order should be maintained within the church. He has given them specific instructions through this chapter of 1 Corinthians and he reminds them God is not the author of confusion. God brings peace and understanding; not chaos and confusion.

There are times we want to blame God for the confusion and mess taking place in our lives. Instead of accepting responsibility for our own actions we try to turn that responsibility over to God. After all God is suppose to handle everything in our lives, right? But The Bible tells us Satan is the one who deceives and creates lies. It wasn�t until Adam was tempted by Satan and fell into sin that he was ready to blame God for the woman that God gave him. Remember God doesn�t create the confusion in our lives; it is created by sin and Satan�s temptations. God wants to bring peace into our lives. It is why He gave his son Jesus to die for our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/10 12:32 PM
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The Apostle Paul is describing how order should be maintained within the church. He has given them specific instructions through this chapter of 1 Corinthians and he reminds them God is not the author of confusion. God brings peace and understanding; not chaos and confusion.

There are times we want to blame God for the confusion and mess taking place in our lives. Instead of accepting responsibility for our own actions we try to turn that responsibility over to God. After all God is suppose to handle everything in our lives, right? But The Bible tells us Satan is the one who deceives and creates lies. It wasn�t until Adam was tempted by Satan and fell into sin that he was ready to blame God for the woman that God gave him. Remember God doesn�t create the confusion in our lives; it is created by sin and Satan�s temptations. God wants to bring peace into our lives. It is why He gave his son Jesus to die for our sins.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/08/10 12:36 PM
Mark 2:15-16 (NLT)
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus� followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, �Why does he eat with such scum?�

Levi was a tax collector for the Roman government. When I think about those who were Roman tax collectors, I think about the more modern day crime syndicates who extort money for so called �protection� of a business. Most tax collections were greedy and often use their authority to take more than required as profit for themselves. Tax collectors were considered some of the most despised people because of the burdens they placed financially on people. Their wealth obtained them some of the most disreputable sinners as friends. In the verses above a dinner party gathered with Levi�s friends and tax collectors. Levi invited Jesus to attend dinner and Jesus accepted. The Pharisees, the religious leaders, could not believe Jesus, who intimately knew the law, would gather himself with such sinful scum.

How comfortable would you find yourself sitting with disreputable sinners? Would it be easy for you or difficult to sit down and have a conversation with those who might repulse most people because of their morals? Jesus came to heal the sick, not the healthy. Not just sick physically, but those who were sick due to sin in their lives. Jesus knew His purpose. Jesus knew he was God�s son. Jesus was not worried about what others thought, but instead cared about what His Father thought. Jesus determined to heal the sick reached out to them and was inclusive of them. May we be able to find in our own lives the strength and purpose to fulfill God�s will of ministering to others? Pray God will let you see people the way He sees them, broken, hurt, and in need of someone who cares. Be ready to share the good news of Christ and respond to others in love. Pray too you also know who you are as a child of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/10 11:47 AM
Matthew 20:29-34 (ESV)
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Two blind men desired to see. When they heard Jesus was near they cried out for His mercy because they knew of his miracles. Those following Jesus were more than likely listening to His teaching and when these men interrupted the crowd told them to be silent. Jesus knew the desire of the blind men, but He asked them a direct question, �What do you want me to do for you?� Jesus was testing their faith. They could have asked for money. They could have asked for food, but instead they asked that their eyes might be open to see.

These blind men give us an understanding of prayer. First the men cried out to the Lord that He might have mercy upon them. When they were told to be silent they cried out even more fervently. The answers to prayer become a cherished prize when they are sought earnestly in prayer. Second these men were humble. They cried for mercy even though they were rebuked. They could have cried out for alms or food, but they choose mercy. Third even in their blindness they had faith to believe in the miracles Jesus had performed. They had only heard, but never witnessed what Jesus could do. Still they called upon Jesus, Lord, Son of David to come to their aid. Their trust and faith was in the Lord. Fourth despite hindrances they persisted in crying out to the Lord. They didn�t give up, but desired for the Lord to hear them. Fifth upon gaining their sight they followed Jesus. In addition to their sight they desired a close relationship with Him and were willing to follow where Jesus went. So often we pray for our desires, but then we forget we should have a relationship with our Lord who loves us deeply. Ask the Lord to stand near and dwell on His love for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/10 12:21 PM
Judges 6:14-15 (NLT)
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, �Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!� 15 �But Lord,� Gideon replied, �how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!�

Because the Israelites had fallen into a sinful nature, God allowed the Midianites to rule over the Israelites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel the Israelites would hide out in caves, mountains or other secure places they could find. The Israelites fields were frequently raided leaving them with nothing to eat. Now we see the Lord telling Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the people who were overwhelming them. Gideon gives his reply, �But Lord how can I rescue Israel?�

Sometimes our �buts� get in the way. Gideon knew God was speaking to him, �but� he questioned God. Gideon even said, �If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me.� So again Gideon was thinking, ok you are going to help me God, �but� let me know you are real. How often do we start out with a phrase of good intention and then follow it with, �but�? For instance: I apologize, �but��. I am glad to help, �but��. Would love to donate, �but��. As Gideon later found out he needed to depend more on God and not himself. If our intentions are pure and we allow God to work in our lives there is no need to say �but�. When we need to apologize we do so without conditions. When we give we do so out of the goodness of our heart. When we help others we do so because we want to share the love of Christ. There usually are no reasons for �buts� except when we are not being fully honest with ourselves and others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/16/10 12:11 PM
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 (NLT)
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God�s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

King Solomon ponders life and the hard work man faces. Solomon knows it was a burden placed on man when sin entered the world. Yet Solomon also understood there was an eternal life that we have not yet seen. Solomon concluded we don�t understand all that God has planned for us so for now enjoy life by enjoying the gifts God gives us.

As I was walking down a street in Georgetown, Virginia a man who was singing and holding a shoe shining kit stopped me and asked if he could touch up the shine on my shoes. He said, �Just $5 and it helps me with food and shelter.� So I agreed and started to talk with him. He said he was out of a job and homeless. He bought the shoe shine kit so he could earn what he called honest money. He said he knew God would rather have him earn money honestly instead of hustling people or selling drugs. He said this way I can give a little something to earn a little something. Even though he didn�t have much he was content. How many of us have so much and yet we cannot be content with our lives? Instead of looking for happiness we burden ourselves. As King Solomon concluded, would it not be better to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can in this life?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/17/10 10:44 AM
Genesis 3:6-11 (NLT)
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, �Where are you?� 10 He replied, �I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.� 11 �Who told you that you were naked?� the Lord God asked. �Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?�

These verses describe the fall of man to sin. Adam and Eve took it upon themselves to disobey God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Suddenly they were aware of what was considered evil and what might be considered good. Feeling shame they felt it good to create clothing for them and hide their sinful act from God.

Up until the point where man fell to sin Adam had walked in the cool mist of the garden with God. Adam had listened to God�s words and followed God�s desires. Adam was asked to name all the animals of the world and he did so without hesitation. But now both Adam and Eve could see what was considered good and what was considered evil. They knew their act of disobeying God and eating from the tree he commanded them not to eat from was wrong. They felt shame for the first time because of their sinful act. They felt their nakedness to the world. For the first time man attempted to act on good by clothing himself and hiding their shame from God even though God had walked with them many times as they were naked. Adam and Eve were attempting good apart from God. They thought their actions to be good would cover the shame of their sin. Unfortunately we still do the same today. When we sin and feel the shame of our sin we try doing something good thinking it will please God when what God wanted was for us to walk with Him and learn from Him. Yet we have chosen to learn our own way forsaking the desires of God for what is right and what is wrong. Pray and ask God to show you what is truly good that you may be able to follow His will and desire for your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/10 12:27 PM
John 15:7 (NLT)
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

As Christ speaks He tells those listening our fellowship with Him is maintained by allowing His words to penetrate our hearts. We keep close in prayer desiring to be with Him and understand Him even more. As our hearts agree with His then as we ask according to His will those prayers will be heard and answered.

The following article was taken from Decision magazine, April 2007; � 2007 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; all rights reserved; David M. Howard, "An Answer to Prayer," Decision (April 2007); pp.34-35

He arrived at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, during my junior year, 1947-48. A German who had spent time as a prisoner of war, he was now working as a janitor, sweeping the halls and cleaning the restrooms of Blanchard Hall.

Many of my fellow students had served in World War II; some had even been prisoners of war themselves. We heard that this man had served in the German military forces, but we knew nothing else about him. Had he been a Nazi himself? Or was he one of those young men who were obligated to serve their country regardless of political opinions? We did not know. And since he spoke almost no English, we could not communicate well with him.
The janitor had a pleasant smile, and we enjoyed greeting him in the hallways as he carried out his duties. As far as we knew, he was not a Christian, so Jim Elliot (who would later be martyred, along with four other missionaries in Ecuador) got the vision to start praying for him. Jim rounded up several more of us and challenged us to pray that this young man would give his heart to Christ. We would get together from time to time and pray especially for this German, who remained a mystery to us.

After a time, he left Wheaton and we lost track of him. We only hoped that somehow the Lord would be working in his heart to bring him to salvation. After a while he faded from our thoughts and memories.

In 1978, I was invited by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization to help organize and direct a consultation on world evangelization, which eventually was held in Pattaya, Thailand, in 1980. In January 1978, I met for the first time with the full membership of the Lausanne Committee, composed of Christian leaders from all around the world under the leadership of Leighton Ford as chairman and Billy Graham as honorary chairman. Our meeting was held in Hamilton, Bermuda.

One afternoon we had some free time, so a number of us strolled around the streets of downtown Hamilton. I was standing at the waterfront with another committee member as we looked at some of the ships tied up in port. One was a large British submarine. My companion, who was from Germany, looked at the submarine and commented, "I served in Hitler's submarine corps." I was fascinated, so I asked for more details.

He said, "Toward the end of the war, as the Allies were sweeping across Europe and crossing the Rhine River into Germany, Hitler pulled most of us off the submarines and naval vessels, which were no longer of much use to Germany, and put us in the front lines as infantry.

"I was on the front lines in Holland, where I was wounded. This was the best thing that ever happened to me, as I was abandoned by our troops in retreat and was captured by the British. They sent me to a hospital in England. The rest of my contingent retreated eastward and was captured by the Russians. Most of them were never heard from again."

I asked him what happened next. He went on to explain that he had gone from England to the United States for a period of time. He said his name was Peter Schneider, and he was the chairman of the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Germany. He spoke perfect English, and so served as Billy Graham's interpreter whenever Mr. Graham preached in Germany.

Suddenly my mind began to spin, dredging up memories of 30 years earlier. Peter Schneider? That was the name of the janitor in Blanchard Hall for whom we had prayed!

I asked, "Peter, were you ever at Wheaton College in Illinois?"
"Why yes," he replied. "I worked there as a janitor, sweeping the halls and cleaning the restrooms in the main administration building."

My heart leapt with joy. I burst out, "Peter, were you a Christian at that time?"

"No," he said. "I became a Christian later, at a YMCA camp in Wisconsin. When I was at Wheaton I knew almost nothing of the Gospel."

My excitement continued: "Peter, you would have no way of knowing this, but I must tell you what happened during your time at Wheaton. Jim Elliot got a vision to pray for your salvation. He organized several other students, including me, to pray that you would come to know the Lord. We could not witness to you, because we spoke no German and you apparently had learned almost no English yet. But we prayed faithfully for you in those days. We used to greet you in the hallways, and you always responded with a pleasant smile and a nod."

My exhilaration knew no bounds. Here I was, standing at the waterfront in Bermuda with a key evangelical leader from Germany who was committed to proclaiming the Gospel to the world�and for whose salvation I had prayed!

As my mind harked back to 30 years earlier and the prayer meetings we used to have asking God for the salvation of Peter Schneider, I could only bow in humble thankfulness for the way God had so abundantly answered those prayers. We never could have dreamed where this young janitor and former prisoner of war would end up.

Peter was equally moved and grateful as he realized how a few young men, whom he never really knew, had played some role in his coming to salvation and to the profound ministry that he now had as a colleague of Billy Graham.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8�9).
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/10 12:21 PM
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

The Apostle writes the Colossians to inform them how God through His son Jesus rescued us from heathenish darkness and wickedness that dominated our lives through sin. Jesus purchased our freedom and forgave our sins so that we could move from a state of darkness to a state of light. Ephesians 5:8-9 states, �For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.�

Writer, Philip Yancey, recounts for Christianity Today, a story of prostitutes who were brought into the light and out of the darkness they were living in. �Juanita, for example, was sold into sexual slavery by her own mother at the age of four. While other children went to school, she worked in a brothel, earning for her mother the higher rates paid for young girls. Eventually she had two children of her own, whom her mother took from her. With no education and no other skills, she continued working in the brothel, in the process becoming addicted to alcohol and cocaine. One day a customer grew enraged when she wouldn't do what he asked, and hit her on the head with a baseball bat. She lay in a hospital bed, desperate. "I got on my knees and pled with God. I wanted somehow to escape prostitution, to become a real mother to my children. And God gave me a vision. He said, 'Look for Rahab Foundation.' I didn't even know the word Rahab." She found the organization's phone number, though, and a few days later Juanita showed up, bruised and bandaged, at Rahab's door. "I need help," she said, sobbing. "I'm dying. I can't take it anymore." A kindly woman named Mariliana took her in and told her about God's love. "I couldn't believe the hope on Mariliana's face," Juanita recalled. "She smiled and hugged me. She gave me a clean bed, flowers in the room, and a promise that no men would harass me. She taught me how to be a real mother, and now I am studying a trade to live for the glory of God."� [1] Praise God that He provides light even when we are surrounded by darkness.

[1] Philip Yancey, "Back From the Brothel," http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/january/24.80.html
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/24/10 11:59 AM
Ephesians 4:17-19 (NLT)
17 With the Lord�s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

The Apostle, speaking by the authority of Christ, tells the Ephesians to change the way they live. They should no longer live as not knowing God, but live as people who are close to God. Their minds and hearts should be open to God and not closed like those who do not know God. For those who do not know God allow the darkness of sin to harden their hearts so that they follow after their own desires.

In July of 1945, the battle cruiser USS Indianapolis was returning from the mission when it was hit by a torpedo. Quickly sinking, in 12 minutes three hundred of the twelve hundred men died. The remaining 900 were left in the ocean without food or water; 316 survived. Many died from the temptation to drink the ocean water. The chief medical officer recorded how he tried to stop the men from drinking the ocean water knowing they would quickly perish. He slapped those who became manic in an attempt to bring them back to a state of sanity. Yet men drank the ocean water thinking they were quenching their thirst only to find out they were hastening their death. Many today try to quench their thirst with sin. They think their indulgence will bring satisfaction; but in reality it only hastens death.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/10 12:40 PM
Galatians 6:10-17 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The Apostle reminds the Galatians they are to depend upon the Lord for their source of strength. Using the illustration of a Roman solider, Paul identifies the attributes needed to battle against sin. They were to be truthful, righteous, ready to share the gospel and keep their faith in God. Their salvation was their head gear, protecting their thoughts with the words of God.

A soldier would never enter the battle field without preparation to defend self against the attacks of the enemy. A soldier understands they must be prepared for attacks. They watch out for the tricks of the enemy who tries to deceive and lure them into a false confidence. They have to put aside their doubts and face the enemy with confidence that those who stand with them also support them. And while on the defense, no normal soldier who has seen battle wants to associate with death. Instead they hope for peace, for life, and for freedom from oppression. Standing against sin is a similar battle. One must prepare in order to defend. One must keep faith in the Lord knowing He stands firm with them. One must seek peace, desire life for others, and defend what they believe. So be strong in the Lord!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/01/10 11:54 AM
Deuteronomy 1:19-25 (NLT)
19 �Then, just as the Lord our God commanded us, we left Mount Sinai and traveled through the great and terrifying wilderness, as you yourselves remember, and headed toward the hill country of the Amorites. When we arrived at Kadesh-barnea, 20 I said to you, �You have now reached the hill country of the Amorites that the Lord our God is giving us. 21 Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don�t be afraid! Don�t be discouraged!� 22 �But you all came to me and said, �First, let�s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and which towns we should enter.� 23 �This seemed like a good idea to me, so I chose twelve scouts, one from each of your tribes. 24 They headed for the hill country and came to the valley of Eshcol and explored it. 25 They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, �The land the Lord our God has given us is indeed a good land.�

Moses reminded the people of Israel that God had lead them to the good land He promised them. Moses was trying to encourage them telling them not to be afraid or discouraged. Yet the people wanted to explore the land and see what they were about to occupy. So they sent scouts who returned with fruit and said, �The land the Lord our God has given us is indeed a good land.�

One of Israel�s problems was they often doubted God. God kept His promises to the people, but over and over again they would rebel against God. Yet God continued to watch after them, protect when He said He would protect, and provide when He said He would provide. But here again there was doubt among the people. Much like Thomas who had to see the wounds of Jesus, the people had to see the land God was giving them. How often today do we let ourselves become discouraged because we forget the promises God has made to us? How often do we question what God is ready to provide because we doubt His ability? Pray your faith in God would be strengthened and that you would clearly see what God is doing for you. Give praise to the Lord for all the blessing He bestows upon us. Be content in the Lord, always acknowledging what He has done for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/10 12:21 PM
Psalm 34:3-4 (KJV)
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Saul desired to kill David because of jealousy over David�s accomplishments. So David fled to Gath where the officers and King Achish feared David, for he had won many battles. Hearing their fear and fearing what they might do; David pretended to be insane. During this time it was wrong to kill an insane person so they set David free. In the Psalm above David praised the Lord for his greatness in giving him wisdom to escape from others who sought to kill him.

How often do we make God smaller than He really is? Is there anything He cannot accomplish? Is there any miracle He cannot make happen? Can God restore us when we have been broken? Can God heal those who we think they cannot be healed? God is able to accomplish far more than our expectations, but we need to have a relationship with the Lord, depend on Him and look to Him for answers. Instead of seeing God small let us magnify Him to the great and wonderful God He is. Let us exalt His name knowing He can deliver us from many troubles and pains. There have been times I thought there was no hope, but looking back God was able to do what was the impossible. Praise God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. May God attend to your needs and bless you as you walk with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/10 12:00 PM
Acts 28:7-10 (KJV)
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. 8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

The Apostle Paul was a prisoner and was being transported by boat when a storm ran the boat aground. The centurion allowed the men to swim to safety for Paul�s sake even though the standing order was to kill any who might flee. Once on the island, the people there witnessed Paul being bit by a viper as he gathered fire wood. Those who saw this thought surely Paul was cursed and would die. He was thrown into the water by the ship wreck and even surviving that he was bitten by a poisonous snake. Yet Paul lived and did not show any signs of being bitten. The people then believed Paul to be something special. They allowed Paul to pray and heal the father of the chief. Paul then went on to heal many others even though he was still a prisoner.

Paul had a purpose in life and that was to share the message of Christ with those who would listen. Even as a prisoner Paul reached out to many. Even as a prisoner Paul was willing to assist others in need. Paul understood his faith in God was his strength, his rock, his shield. He understood the power of prayer and its effective use. He prayed for those needing salvation. He prayed for those who needed healing. He prayed that God might be glorified. Paul prayed and gave praises to God. Christ changed Paul and gave him a clear understanding of who he was and his mission for God. Like Paul, reach out to others in the name of Christ. Pray for those who need healing. Give God praise for all that happens in your life knowing even the difficult times are meant to strengthen you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/10 12:21 PM
John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This verse comes from Jesus as He is praying on behalf of others. Jesus confirms the grand design of God�s plan and that is eternal life comes from knowing God and Christ. Jesus says there is only one true God and that is the one who sent Him as mediator for our sin.

If we closely examined our lives many of us would realize some of the sins we have committed over our life. If we had kept a journal of our sins over the course of life I am sure we would be surprised by the tally. Even keeping a journal we would miss many sins because of our failure to identify them or acknowledge them. I believe it would be a true statement to say we would find ourselves more sinful than we would ever dare believe. Jesus paid the price for each and every sin we have ever committed. God loved us so much that we are more loved by God than we ever dared to hope. Place your hope in Christ for He is The Redeemer of our sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/10 12:34 PM
Matthew 7:7-9 (NLT)
7 �Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 �You parents�if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

These words from Jesus come from His sermon on the mount. Jesus talks about effective prayer. He said to keep asking and seeking in order to find an answer. For if we on this earth understand how to answer our children when they make a request; our Holy and Heavenly Father is able to do so much more.

�Travel back 200 years in Christian history to John Newton, the slave-trader-turned-pastor and hymn writer. He would receive almost unbelievable answers to his prayers because he believed in what he called "large asking." When explaining what he meant, Newton would often cite a legendary story of a man who asked Alexander the Great to give him a huge sum of money in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage. Alexander agreed, and told the man to request of Alexander's treasurer whatever he wanted. So, the father of the bride went and asked for an enormous amount. The treasurer was startled and said he could not give out that kind of money without a direct order. Going to Alexander, the treasurer argued that even a small fraction of the money requested would more than serve the purpose. "No," replied Alexander, "let him have it all. I like that fellow. He does me honor. He treats me like a king and proves by what he asks that he believes me to be both rich and generous." Newton concluded: "In the same way, we should go to the throne of God's grace and present petitions that express honorable views of the love, riches, and bounty of our King." [1] God give out of love, but also holds back out of love when He knows our requests are wrong. Like a good parent God gives what we need, not always what we want.

[1] Passed along from Parables, an old newsletter that regularly featured illustrations for preachers
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/08/10 12:50 PM
Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

The psalmist writes asking God to help us number our days for the reason of learning to apply wisdom to our hearts. For when a person does not see the limitation to their life they frivolously waste the precious time they have. Knowing there is a set limit on our days of life helps turn us to wisdom so that we may enrich and increase our lives.

In the movie The Bucket List two men meet who have terminal cancer. Although they have nothing in common except their disease they develop a bond of friendship. They set out to fulfill a wish list of to-dos looking to accomplish things they had always dreamed about. Realizing they only had a short time to live the men worked through the list one item at a time. The Psalmist reminds us to look at our days as though each day may be our last. We are to use each and every day to the fullest to seek out the wisdom of God and apply it to our hearts. May we make the best use of our life so that others may see how we lived for God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/09/10 01:54 PM
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)
10 �The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

These are the words of God spoken through the prophet Isaiah. God informs the people like rain and snow which causes crops to grow the same is true for His word. God�s word produces the fruit He intends to reap. His word accomplishes what it was put in place to accomplish. And God�s word will prosper everywhere it is sent.

If you have ever had a chance to share verses from the Bible with someone who is searching for God it is amazing to watch God�s word prosper in the person as they listen. I once was in Washington, D.C. teaching a class. I flagged down a taxi, got in and the driver asked me how my day was going. I said, �Good, I was up early reading my Bible lesson for the week.� The driver then said something that surprised me. He said, �I don�t know about me and God. I wish someone could explain things to me.� So as we drove to where I was working I shared verses from the Bible explaining God�s plan for Salvation. I told the taxi driver how God loved us so much He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. I explained how the Bible says salvation is a free gift for those who accept it. About that time we pulled up in front of the building where I was working. The taxi driver turned around and looked at me and said, �I don�t know what I need to do, but I want the Jesus you were talking about.� He then asked, �Would you pray with me?� As other taxis blew their horns for his spot we prayed and he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. What a blessing it was to see God�s word in action. A year later I was working in Washington, D.C. again. I flagged down a taxi, got in and to my surprise it was the driver I had met a year earlier. I asked, �How is your day going?� He said, �Great, I have Jesus in my life.� Then he looked back and said, �Hey, you are the guy who told me about Jesus.� Once again God�s word prospered as it renewed my faith in what Christ does in the lives of people.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/10 12:10 PM
1 Corinthians 15:1-9 (NLT)
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you�unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I�m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God�s church.

The Apostle Paul states the Good News, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ died for our sins. Christ was buried. On the third day Christ rose from the dead defeating death all in accordance with God�s plan. There were witnesses who could testify Christ lived after death. Even Paul says he saw Christ, although he did not consider himself worthy to do so after killing those who were following the Gospel of Christ.

Can a person change, absolutely! As a young man Paul stood and watched the stoning of Stephen for testifying about Christ. The book of Acts says, �They rushed at him (Stephen) and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul (later named Paul).�Paul continued to persecute Christians believing they were acting against the law of God. But then he met Jesus and his life was changed. Paul finally understood the purpose of the law and how it showed man�s need for Jesus. Paul�s heart changed to one of compassion and he began to reach out to those he had persecuted and he also taught others about Christ. Never give up on the belief God can change a person. Pray for those who need Christ that their hearts might be changed and their life transformed into one that pleases God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/10 12:44 PM
Ephesians 4:7-13 (The Message Translation)
7-13 But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,
He climbed the high mountain,
He captured the enemy and seized the booty,
He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

The apostle emphasizes the gifts Christ has given us to use to glory Him. Some were meant to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist and some pastor-teachers to train others. It takes more than just a knowledge of Christ it takes faith to put these gifts into practice.

Proverbs tells us there is a difference between wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Knowledge is to know facts; black is black and red is red. Wisdom is the ability to discern knowledge and make practical use of it. Understanding applies wisdom and makes practical use of it. When I first started dating my wife she invited me to go skiing on the lake with her family. I had never been on skis in my life; so I read everything there was to know about the subject. I had practical knowledge. I knew how to put on the skis. I knew how to position myself in the water. When it came time for the boat to pull me out of the water it was a different story. My face planted itself into the water each time the boat took off. I lacked the wisdom to put all the knowledge into use. I had never practiced what I knew and therefore fell flat on my face. I learned about understanding in that if the two handles of the ski ropes are not perfectly aligned they will always pull you sideways. Seems my future in-laws had worked on the ropes the morning before I used them and one side was about 4 inches longer when it was pulled taught. So I did not understand why the things I knew was not working out until my wife�s brother took my place and understood what was wrong. He had the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to know the problem. We can have knowledge of God. We can learn all the rules, but unless we have wisdom and understanding which comes through faith we can never properly apply what God wants us to know. Pray for wisdom that God will show you how to use your knowledge of Him and understand His desires for your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/12/10 12:36 PM
Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

God speaking to Jeremiah approved of him as a chosen instrument, a prophet to speak to others. God had sanctified, or set apart Jeremiah. God was the creator of Jeremiah and God had established a purpose for him to speak to all nations so they might understand the true and living God.

Who do you let define you? Are you living for the purpose God created you for or have others defined you in some manner? I have known people who as a child that were told they were worthless. They lived in a dysfunctional family and it was how their grandparents taught their parents. These children lived with the stigma of feeling worthless until one day they realized that was not the truth. Unfortunately, some have never learned that truth. For God sees us as special and precious in his sight; to Him we are not worthless. I remember a friend telling me about a teacher who ridiculed him and made him feel stupid. He lived with that for many years. Yet I know him to be an intelligent person who has saved many lives. How precious is someone who devotes their life to saving others? My father was an abusive alcoholic whom my mom divorced when I was young. I never knew him, yet my mother had told me of his past. I thought of him as a horrible person who beat my mother and left his son. When I would get angry as a child my mother would say, �You remind me of your dad.� She was referring to my expressions of anger, but I took it to mean I was like my dad. Forty years later I meet a relative who knew my dad and he said the same words I had heard as a child, �You remind me of your dad.� Immediately I had horrific feelings overwhelm me. But then the relative went on to say, �You have a nose like he had.� My relative was talking about physical appearance and yet because of words I had let define me as a child I felt the fear of being like my father who had deserted me. We all need to look to God and let Him tell us who we are and what our purpose is. Seek answers from God and He will show you who you truly are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/10 11:59 AM
Proverbs 18:8
18 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one�s heart.


King Solomon compares rumors to dainty morsels which are easy to take in. But once the person has taken hold of the rumor it sinks deep into their heart where is lingers to cause trouble.


The word rumor is defined by Webster�s as talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source or a statement or report current without known authority for its truth. The Greek words used in the Bible indicate the words of a person who is a talebearer, a slanderer or backbiter. While rumors may contain some truth they are usually designed to distort the truth and hurt the person who is object of the rumor. When a person listens to rumors they are getting a false view of the truth. Some people will even believe rumors above a trusted friendship or family member; never once confirming the truth. King David said in Psalms, �Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.� There are powerful words from a man after God�s own heart. The next time you hear a rumor stop listening and instead confirm the truth. Do not participate in gossip that can hurt a neighbor or someone close to you. If you need to speak to a person about an issue, speak to them directly. Do not let rumors start by allowing your thoughts to be swayed by the rumor and opinions of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/16/10 11:05 AM
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (The Message)
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

The Apostle Paul teaches the Corinthians about the way of love. Without love he says there is so much he is missing. Then he goes on to elaborate what true love is.

Take the list above Paul gives us concerning love and use it as a checklist. Go through each item and think of someone you love. Carefully consider �Do I do these things?� and mark the ones where you know you fail. For the ones you mark pray and ask God to help you understand what you need to do and how to love deeper. 1 John 4:19 says, �We love because God first loved us.� Let us learn from The one true God who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Let us love others as God has loved us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/17/10 11:07 AM
Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The wisdom of King Solomon granted to him by God tells us love is able to prosper when a fault against someone is forgiven. Dwelling on the fault allows it to grow in the heart and builds resentment that is hard to overcome. Knowing this is true even for the closest of friends makes it so much more important to learn to forgive when we have the chance to do so.

Alexander Pope was a famous 18th century English poet. He was born into a Catholic family during a period of history where the English Church was at conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. Religious Catholic schooling was restrictive. It was a period of intense anti-Catholic sentiment in England, and at some point in Alexander's childhood, the Pope family was forced to relocate to be in compliance with a statute forbidding Catholics from living within ten miles of London or Westminster. Yet even with the religious turmoil in his life; Pope left us with a poetic quote many of us know today. It is a quote which reminds us of King Solomon�s words, �To err is human, to forgive is divine.� Humans make errors, have faults and sin. Yet God gives us the grace to forgive and release our anger. Christ said we should love one another and put aside faults. Christ even went further to give His own life to forgive our sins. Shouldn�t we learn to forgive and let love proper in our lives?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/18/10 11:11 AM
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 (ESV)
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

The apostle speaks to a Christian�s faith in Jesus Christ. Paul said as believers in Jesus Christ we have the same faith; Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose back to life to defeat death. God through His grace and Mercy provides salvation from our sins so that we may come into His presence when our earthly bodies die. God�s grace and mercy extends to all so we can be thankful we will have others, family and friends, with us in heaven who will be giving glory to God.

This week a friend of ours passed away as her 16 year old daughter held her hand. Her life was quickly taken by bone cancer. She no longer exists here on earth; but I know her life continues in heaven for she believed in Jesus Christ, God�s merciful plan of salvation. I know if she were standing at the gates of heaven and God asked her, �Why should I let you into my heaven?� she would have said, �Because I placed my faith and trust in your Son Jesus Christ who died not only for my sin, but for the sins of the world. I know Jesus rose again to eternal life and I know He said I would be with Him if I had faith to believe in Him.� I know she is there in heaven. I know she is there with other friends and family who trusted Jesus as their savior. As long as we are here on earth it is never too late to ask Jesus Christ into our hearts and follow Him by faith. Have you placed your faith in Christ?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/19/10 11:20 AM
1 Corinthians 13:11-12
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

The apostle relates to the Corinthians the process of maturing as a Christian. He gave an example that as a child he did childish things, but as he grew and matured he learned what the appropriate actions of a man were. Then he tells them we can only partially see what God has prepared us to be, but a time will come that we will fully know just as we have always been known by God.

The movie Peter Pan is about a boy who never grows up. He remains a child in a world of childish events. Unfortunately there are some who remain childish in their actions even though they should have matured and progressed. They have elected to remain somewhere in the past refusing to accept adult responsibility. God wants to show us who we can be when we fully mature in His grace. Pray God would allow you to see your childish ways and put them away so you can become who God intended you to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/10 10:55 AM
Ezekiel 13:1-3 (NLT)
1 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2 �Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, �Listen to the word of the Lord. 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits the false prophets who are following their own imaginations and have seen nothing at all!�

The people of Israel had allowed themselves to fall victim to vain visions and flattering prophecies from false prophets. This chapter of Ezekiel is levied against those prophets for soothing the sins of Israel when they should have been bringing the people back to God. The messages they delivered pleased themselves, coming from their own imagination while ignoring any concern for God.

Jeremiah 23:25-30 gives one of the best descriptions of how God feels against those who would declare prophecy in His name that did not originate from him. Jeremiah says, �I have heard these prophets say, �Listen to the dream I had from God last night.� And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say. By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal. �Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! Does not my word burn like fire?� says the Lord. �Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? �Therefore,� says the Lord, �I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, �This prophecy is from the Lord!� I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord have spoken!� We should all understand there will always be those who will try to lead us from God by proclaiming their own words in God�s name. It is our relationship with God, reading His scriptures, and praying for answers that will help us understand those who are for God and those who are against God. Pray for wisdom and insight that you may know the difference.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/23/10 11:18 AM
2 Corinthians 10:18 (NLT)
18 When people commend themselves, it doesn�t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.


In this chapter of Corinthians the Apostle Paul writes about his authority, the authority of others and how some misuse their authority for their own pride. Paul has acknowledged that those who say they belong to Christ have as much right as anyone else to make that claim. The problem enters when pride steps before God�s work and the person looks at their accomplishments for themselves rather than for God.


There is a memorable lesson from Chicago Daily News columnist Sydney J. Harris. He wrote: �I walked with my friend, a Quaker, to the newsstand the other night, and he bought a paper, thanking the newsie politely. The newsie didn�t even acknowledge it. �A sullen fellow, isn�t he?� I commented. �Oh, he�s that way every night,� shrugged my friend. �Then why do you continue to be so polite to him?� I asked. �Why not?� inquired my friend. �Why should I let him decide how I�m going to act?� As I thought about this incident later, it occurred to me that the important word was �act.� My friend acts toward people; most of us react toward them. He has a sense of inner balance which is lacking in most of us; he knows who he is, what he stands for, how he should behave. He refuses to return incivility for incivility, because then he would no longer be in command of his conduct� [�Do You Act�Or React?� condensed from the Chicago Daily News]. We want to behave such that God commends us for our behavior. Our actions should follow what the Lord would have us to do and not what others might think we should do. The Quaker�s friend thought why continue to be polite to a person who is rude; yet our Lord would have continued to love that person day after day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/24/10 11:28 AM
James 3:13-18 (The Message)
13 -16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom�it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats. 17-18 Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.


The Apostle James gives instructions on how to live wise and well. He speaks to us about what wisdom is and is not. It is not mean-spirited; it is not boastful; it is not wrapped in lies; it is not being prideful. Real wisdom comes from a holy life dedicated to God, learning to abide with others. Real wisdom is gentle, contains mercy and blessings for others and is always truthful.


There is something to be said about integrity. It is a set of carefully defined set of responsible moral values to which one adheres and lives their life by. Those values which we appreciate as integrity have been taught as wisdom for many years through the words of God. The Bible tells us things like treat people fairly; use honesty in business dealings; treat neighbors with respect; and love others in a way that you yourself would want to be treated. Integrity comes from the wisdom of God contained in each of us. It is up to us to follow that wisdom and not follow the desires of the world. Pray God will lead you in integrity so that you may treat all with dignity and honor. May God bless your day with many blessings and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/10 11:50 AM
Mark 11:11,15-17 (The Message)
11 He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve. 15-7 They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn't let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text: My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations; You've turned it into a hangout for thieves.

The bible tells us Jesus would go out early in the morning to pray. Mark 1:35 says, �Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.� In the verses above, Jesus had entered the temple of Jerusalem at evening and saw the terrible practices that were taking place. Yet Jesus took no action at that time. It wasn�t until Jesus had time to talk with God His Father in prayer that He returned to the temple to put a stop to the wrong deeds that were taking place. He let the people know God�s house was a place for worship and prayer; not a place to profit and steal from others.

What happens when most of us see something that angers us, we react. Instead of taking time to think through the situation, or search for answers from God and wait on wisdom; we react to anger and usually sin. The bible tells us we should not sin in anger. Jesus was obviously angry at the actions taking place in the temple, but he did not react nor did He sin. Instead He acted upon what He knew was the right actions to take. He knew those actions were right because He had sought wisdom and answers from God His Father. God gave us the emotion of anger, but God wants us to come to Him with that emotion so we may know how to properly handle it. Next time you find yourself angry realize it is a warning to seek God�s advice. Pray how you should act instead of reacting to your feelings of anger.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/26/10 11:20 AM
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NLT)
6 Remember this�a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don�t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. �For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.� 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, �They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.�

The apostle speaks to the church of Corinth explaining what is right and acceptable concerning charity. Those who give will find a good return on what they do. Those who are generous will find a greater abundance of favorable return. Yet each person must give out of the cheerfulness of their heart and not give begrudgingly because they felt enticed to do so. God says He himself will provide what is needed for those who share with others.

My wife�s grandmother loved the Lord and showed it through her charity to the church and her help to others. She lived on a very modest retirement from a mill where she retired. I was always amazed at how she would faithfully give her donations to the church; even sending them with someone else on those Sundays she could not attend church. She donated to other charities that were meant to serve the Lord. And while she didn�t possess riches or wealth; her needs were always met. She always seemed to have a little extra to help when someone needed something. She was content with life and gave cheerfully, which is what the Lord asks us to do. I know now that she is in heaven she has seen the fruit of her gifts and the harvest she help to produce.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/31/10 12:06 PM
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 (NASV)
12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

The apostle gives charge to the Christians at Thessaloniki. He describes they should appreciate those who work diligently for them and show love for the work they do. They should also encourage the unruly in the right direction that they may live in peace with others. They should watch over the actions of others to ensure evil is not repaid with evil. And they should always rejoice in the Lord, giving thanks for the work God and Christ perform in your life. He ends by says this is God�s will for those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Often we want to know God�s will for our life. The apostle has given us some thoughts towards this. We often look for what we think are difficult answers; but the apostle lets us know wherever we are our service is to the Lord. We are to love others, live in peace, encourage, and take care of the way we respond such that we seek good for all. We are to pray constantly to know how to perform these functions and carry them out in the name of Jesus. No matter where we are, prison, another country, away from home we know how to live our God�s will through these words. Pray that you may follow these words therefore fulfilling the will of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/05/10 11:06 AM
Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NLT)
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, �Don�t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.� For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 And Nehemiah continued, �Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don�t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!�

The people had completed rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. A census had been taken of the families. And now was to be a time of celebration as the words of God were once again available for the people to hear. As they listened they weep and mourned for the words reminded them of them failures. Yet Ezra reminded the people this was a day to celebrate for they had come back to God and the Lord was the joy of their strength.

Less than a week before Martin Burnham's abduction by Muslim guerrillas on the Philippine island of Palawan in May 2001, the New Tribes missionary gave the devotional at a Wednesday evening service at Rose Hill Bible Church in his small hometown outside Wichita, Kansas.
Some of Burnham's last words in the United States were also the last words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John, said Ralph Burnham, Martin's uncle, during yesterday morning's service at the church. "His very last words were, 'Follow thou me.'" Ralph Burnham said, his voice choking up. "Martin not only spoke of following him, but he took on that responsibility. Of course, at that time neither he nor any of us expected how far he was going to be required to go to. But he was willing to go."
Martin Burnham, 42, kept that attitude throughout the 376 days he and his wife, Gracia, 43, were held captive by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
Just before a Philippine military raid on the kidnappers that led to Martin's death and Gracia's freedom, the two huddled together in a hammock under a makeshift tent.
"Martin and Gracia had really been thinking that there would be a chance that they would not make it out alive," said Martin's brother, Doug, relying on a phone conversation with Gracia. "Martin said to Gracia, 'The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let's go out all the way. Let's serve him all the way with gladness.'"
The two then prayed in their hammock, recited Scripture verses to each other, and sang. They laid down to rest. Then the rescue assault began and bullets began to fly, puncturing Gracia's leg and Martin's chest.
"That was Gracia's last [memory] of Martin, that to the very end he served the Lord with gladness," Doug Burnham said. "And she was very proud of him for that." [Source: www.christianity.today, "Families, church eager for reunion with Gracia today" Ted Olsen | posted 6/01/2002 12:00AM]


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/06/10 12:20 PM
2 Corinthians 7:8:10 (NLT)
8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There�s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian Church about a previous letter he had sent. In the letter he had spelled out changes they needed to make within the church and in the lives of the people. Paul knew saying those things would cause regret and sorrow. However, in the long term it would lead to a sorrow God wants us to experience to lead us away from those sins which would harm us.

There are two ways to deal with regret and sorrow. The first is to allow the regret and sorrow take hold of your life; dominating your thoughts and leading towards more self destructive behavior. Take for instance a person on a diet. There are some who if they cheat once will begin to regret their failure. The sorrow turns into an excuse to binge and they fall away from the diet. The second is to allow the regret and sorrow to be a reminder of what not to do knowing God wants to teach us a lesson. In the same example a person cheats on their diet, but this time instead of binging they see their mistake and take actions to correct the problem. They face what they did head on and they allow the sorrow to lead them away from problems instead of being drawn to them. In the same way God wants our sorrow to lead us from sin and back towards Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/10 11:28 AM
James 2:25-26 (NLT)
25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

James uses the account of Rahab from the book of Joshua to illustrate how this woman had faith in God. She trusted God whom she had heard of and helped the Israelites. Her good works kept those who spied on Jericho safe until it was later destroyed by God. Because of her good works, which came by faith, she and her family were spared from destruction.

Rahab married Salmon and had a son Boaz who was a faithful man of God. Boaz married Ruth and had a son Obed who was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David who was promised by God that a Savior for all mankind would descend from his lineage. Amazingly Rahab, a former prostitute, became something all Israelite women would hope for and that was to be a mother in the line of the Messiah, our savior, Jesus Christ. Rahab�s past did not define who she was. Instead the faith she placed in God defined her. She is an example of God�s mercy and grace. She was saved from destruction when the walls of Jericho fell and given an honorable place in the history of God�s people. Let us all learn our past should not define us; but instead trust Christ and let Him be the one to transform us into who we should be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/10 11:13 AM
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Paul is making reference to the afflictions which still trouble the children of God. The Holy Spirit is always making intercession, yet some issues always seem to remain. There is a purpose and a reason God allows these things to continue so that good may prevail.

So often people think because a person has given their life to Christ life should get easy and simple. Yet it often proves to be just the opposite. Paul gave his life to Christ and yet was held a prisoner for no real crime. However as a prisoner Paul was able to minister to those around him, which brought about good. He was able to witness to Roman guards about Christ. He witnessed to men who were in powerful positions and because these men came to know Christ they were able to tell others Paul might not have reached. God has a plan and purpose and even in the course of our afflictions as we continue to love God; God uses those afflictions for good. Pray as you face afflictions in your life that God will provide you comfort knowing good will still be the result.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/09/10 12:13 PM
1 John 4:20-21 (NLT)
20 If someone says, �I love God,� but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don�t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

The Greek word miseo is used for hate. It means to hate, pursue with hatred, detest. The Apostle John tells us a person cannot both love God and hate another Christian who has the essence of God living in them. He says those who love God must also love their fellow Christian�s.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were both Founding Fathers of America and both believed in God and the Christian faith. They were both born on the same day and died on the same day. At one point the two men went from being good friends to becoming bitter rivals. There were long periods of silence between the two men in which they remained estranged from each other. Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father, a devote Christian and a friend to both Jefferson and Adams, helped reconcile the two men. Prior to the reconciliation of Jefferson and Adams, John Adams wrote the following to Rush, �My friend, there is something very serious in this business. The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a baptism, not a marriage, not a sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost, Who is transmitted from age to age by laying the hands of the Bishop on the heads of candidates for the ministry. . . . There is no authority, civil or religious � there can be no legitimate government � but what is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it � all without it is rebellion and perdition, or, in more orthodox words, damnation. . . Your prophecy, my dear friend, has not become history as yet. I have no resentment of animosity against the gentleman [Jefferson] and abhor the idea of blackening his character or transmitting him in odious colors to posterity. But I write with difficulty and am afraid of diffusing myself in too many correspondences. If I should receive a letter from him, however, I should not fail to acknowledge and answer it.� Rush encouraged the two men to write each other and finally in 1813 the two men were once again having friendly correspondence between each other that continued until their deaths. If someone says, �I love God,� but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don�t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? The two men found the love for their friendship once again because of their love for God. They acknowledged their differences of opinion and found a renewed appreciation for one another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/10 10:59 AM
Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

The Apostle Paul compares marriage to how Christ loved the church. Christ gave up his life so that God�s plan of salvation could be fulfilled for the church. In the same way a husband should be ready to give up any aspect of his life that hinders the love between him and his wife.

Christ spoke to many people while He was here on earth. Some people came to believe He was the Messiah, the Holy One, who would bring them salvation. Others chose not to believe in Christ; instead they rejected Jesus over and over again. Yet even as Christ was about to face death on the cross He prayed the following, �Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.� Jesus was praying for those who had rejected Him time after time again that they may know salvation. Jesus continued to love and reach out to others even though He knew people would spit in His face as He approached the cross. We might ask how we love someone who rejects us. How do I love a spouse when I keep giving and giving and they keep rejecting. The answer is,�The same way Christ did, time and time again even in the face of rejection�. Do not allow rejections in your life to control your actions and responses to your spouse. Instead do as Christ did and continue to love even in the face of rejection. Since Christ understands rejection, turn to him for help instead of turning to the world for answers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/10 11:37 AM
James 3:3-5 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything�or destroy it!

James, the brother of Jesus comments on how words can accomplish the task to benefit or to destroy. Words seem so small, but they are powerful and have a lot of control similar to the rudder of a boat, which guides a large ship�s destination. The wrong words no matter how small can destroy hopes, trust, dreams, faith and much more.

For the movie Fireproof, William Barfield wrote a song called �Love is not a fight.� Parts of the lyrics say, �No, love is not a fight but something worth fighting for. I would fight for you. Would you fight for me? It�s worth fighting for.� Many times our words can lead to intense fights with others. As more words are said, the more hurtful they become. Have you ever thought about stopping in the midst of an argument and saying, �This isn�t worth fighting about, but our love is worth fighting for?� Even though the tongue is small it can say powerful and hurtful words. Yet from the same mouth gentle, kind, caring, loving words can proceed. Choose today whether you wish to destroy with words or bring peace and healing. No one can choose the words you speak except for yourself. Ask God to help you choose wisely, giving you wisdom to know when to speak, when to remain silent and how to speak without destruction.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/14/10 11:23 AM
Ephesians 5:31:29-33 (The Message)
29 -33 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

The Apostle Paul tells us no sound man abuses his own body. Instead he takes care of it, feeding, nourishing, clothing and doing what is good for it. Because we are a part of the body of Christ�s church, Jesus loves us and cares for us. Similarly a man should love his wife because the two have become one through God. He should care for her as he would himself. He should love her as he would himself. The husband does this because he understands what Christ has done for him. And because of the love and respect a husband gives his wife; the wife will learn to honor her husband. This does not mean they neglect other relationships, but instead Christ comes first, the marriage relationship next, and all other relationships follow.

The marriages which sadden me most is where either the husband or the wife is doing all they can to make a marriage work while the spouse seems bent on destroying it. My first message is to husbands. Look at how Jesus continues to love you no matter how many times you sin; no matter how many times you fail; no matter how many times you reject Him. JESUS ALWAYS LOVES YOU. If you are following Jesus then love your wives as Christ loves you. When you are rejected by your spouse, keep on loving her. When your wife fails you, keep on loving her. When your wife sins guide her gently back to God. When your wife puts you last keep on loving; for you have often done the same to the Lord and He still loves you. And even though the Lord could overpower you he does not because of his love for you. In the same way be gentle towards your wife. The second message is for wives. Honor your husband by sharing your needs, expressing your feelings and praying for him asking the Lord to give you and him understanding. If your husband is honoring Christ through his actions of love for you, then wives should be able to honor, respect, love, cherish, and place their husband before themselves and all others. The Bible says for husbands and wives to submit to one another. The Bible says husband and wife are to honor God and then honor each other through their marriage. May God bless your marriage, restore the failures, and heal the wounds.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/10 10:46 AM
Job 22:21 (Amplified Bible)
21 Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you.

As Job was suffering at the hands of Satan, his friends believed it was because of a sins Job committed. While his friends gave good advice they were mistaken about the condition for which Job was suffering. Job�s faith was being tested because he was pointed out to be a good and righteous man by God. Yet Satan challenged God and God allowed Satan to test Job. His friends while trying to help were making it more difficult by placing blame where blame was not due.

Job 22:21 is true in that a person who conforms to God�s will and is at peace with God with prosper with good. At the end of Job�s suffering God restored all Job had lost plus increased what Job had. God found Job stood faithfully with Him and was at peace with God. Friends can have good intentions, but unless they understand everything taking place their advice is sometimes misappropriated. The Bible tells us not to judge others. We are not supposed to guess if they have sinned and if they did sin did that cause their problem. We are instead to reach out in love and understanding. Never should we guess about the condition of another, but instead turn it over to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/16/10 11:46 AM
Psalm 25:14 (KJV)
�The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.�

Jesus said in the book of John if any man does the will of God then he will know and understand the doctrine of God. David knew this from his relationship with God. If a person receives the truth of God, loves it, and experiences the power of it; they also best understand the mysteries around it. These know God�s purpose for their lives and what God is doing with them. In Genesis 18:17 God said, �Shall I hide these things from Abraham?� Yet because of Abraham�s commitment and love of God, God revealed what would take place through Abraham�s heirs.

King David continued in verse 15 of Psalm 25 by saying, �Mine eyes are ever towards the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.� While David did not always follow God�s desires for him, David was at least looking to God for answers. David knew God was always the one to take care of him and protect him. David had faith in God�s plan for his life and accepted what God had to say. For instance David had an affair with Bathsheba, which was out of God�s will. As a result Bathsheba became pregnant and David had her husband killed to cover his sin. When David and Bathsheba�s child was dying; David prayed but God did not answer. When the child died David accepted God�s decision. David loved God and knew even when God was not answering as he desired it was for his best interest. Because of David�s continued love for God, God revealed to him The Messiah would be born though his linage. God does not hold back secrets from those who fear Him in love and God shares his covenant faithful with those who accept His son Jesus Christ. If you know Jesus Christ then God has shared at least one promise with you and that is the hope of salvation. Continue to love God and He will show you even more.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/19/10 11:38 AM
Numbers 12:9-14 (NLT)
9 The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed. 10 As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened to her, 11 he cried out to Moses, �Oh, my master! Please don�t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Don�t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.� 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, �O God, I beg you, please heal her!� 14 But the Lord said to Moses, �If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn�t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.�

Miriam and Aaron, brother and sister of Moses, had been complaining to each other about the Cushite woman Moses had married. They began to think highly of themselves; even thinking maybe they should be the ones talking with God instead of Moses. God became angry with them for their lack of humility and called Moses, Miriam and Aaron together so they would all know what was taking place.

The example above of Miriam and Aaron is something that typically takes place in families. Family members may talk about another family member without that person present. They start drawing their own conclusions and ideas about the other family member. Then those who are gossiping start to come up with other beliefs that are just not true. God set things straight by bringing them all together. And Moses showed his forgiveness when he begged the Lord for mercy on Aaron and Miriam. If Miriam and Aaron had just gone and talked to Moses things could have been resolved peacefully. How do you handle these situations in your family? Do you come together to talk peacefully or do certain family members gossip about others and never resolve problems?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/20/10 11:12 AM
Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (NLT)
11 �But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

The people of Israel are reminded to not forget the Lord and all that He has done for them. God is ready to entrust them with land and prosperity. But in that prosperity it is easy to become complacent, proud and forget it was God and not yourself who brought about the rescue.

When times are easy it becomes easier to put God aside. We see the fruits of our efforts and come to believe we can accomplish much on our own. We become proud and put God aside thinking we can do things without Him. But then the hard times come and we see our failures. We suddenly realize we cannot make it on our own and that is when we usually cry out to God for help. We are to always remember the Lord in good times and bad times; always giving Him credit; and always giving Him praise.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/21/10 10:56 AM
Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT)
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

This psalm was written about the great deliverance of the people of God out of bondage their bondage and distress. Those who came out of captivity are to be thankful. Those who remain captive are prayed for with hope of bringing them home.

This psalm could apply to the church in the joy it feels when a person is freed from the bondage of sin by accepting Jesus Christ upon faith. It is also a reminder there are those who are still held captive to sin and have yet to be released. There is always hope God will reach out to them and deliver them from the sins that bind them. Reflect upon this song by Homer L. Cox as you give praise for the joy, the salvation and peace Christ has brought to your own life.

Oh, how well do I remember how I doubted day by day,
For I did not know for certain that my sins were washed away;
When the Spirit tried to tell me, I would not the truth receive;
I endeavored to be happy, and to make myself believe.

Refrain:
But it�s real, it�s real;
Oh, I know it�s real;
Praise God, the doubts are settled,
For I know, I know it�s real!

When the truth came close and searching, all my joy would disappear,
For I did not have the witness of the Spirit bright and clear;
If at times the coming judgment would appear before my mind,
Oh, it made me so uneasy, for God�s smile I could not find.
When the Lord sent faithful servants who would dare to preach the truth,
How my heart do so condemn me as the Spirit gave reproof!
Satan said at once, � �Twill ruin you to now confess your state;
Keep on working and professing, and you�ll enter heaven�s gate.�
But at last I tired of living such a life of fear and doubt,
For I wanted God to give me something I would know about,
So the truth would make me happy and the light would clearly shine,
And the Spirit give assurance that I�m His and He is mine.
So I prayed to God in earnest, and not caring what folks said;
I was hungry for the blessing; my poor soul, it must be fed;
Then at last by faith I touched Him, and, like sparks from smitten steel,
Just so quick salvation reached me, oh, bless God, I know it�s real!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/10 10:41 AM
Psalm 130:3-4 (NLT)
3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

The Psalmist calls to the Lord twice, first as Yahh and then as Adonay. It shows first the respect for the Lord�s name and then awe and reverence of who God is. The psalmist acknowledges the sin everyone partakes of and he thanks the Lord that God is not one to keep a record, but will forgive and forget each sin as we ask. It is because of that forgiveness that the psalmist respects and admires the Lord for both His patience and longsuffering towards us.

The book of Romans tells us Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God�s way. For the Scriptures tell us, �Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.� When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: �Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.� The Bible tells us also for grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. We cannot do enough good works to work away our sins, but we can place faith in God the salvation He gave through Christ His Son that our sins are washed away and remembered no more.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/03/10 11:31 AM
Genesis 3:1-4 (The Message)
1-4 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah and Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants out in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He led the way and, as he approached his brother, bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept.


Jacob returns to his homeland and sees Esau his brother approaching with 400 men. Worried about Esau�s intent he splits up his servants and family. When Jacob last saw Esau, Esau was angry with Joseph for taking his birthright from their father. Now many years later Esau runs up to his brother Jacob, hugs him tight, welcomes him with a kiss and both men weep over their joyful reunion. In Esau�s heart was forgiveness and it touched Jacob deeply.


Jacob had a close relationship with God. Through Jacob�s life we see where God has helped him along the way. Proverbs 16:7 says, �When a man�s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.� God blessed the reunion of Jacob and Esau in that it was a reunion of joy instead of sadness. God has the hearts of men in His hand can turn them for the benefit and good of others. In the case of Esau and Jacob we see that God has given Esau the ability to be at peace with Jacob and Jacob to be at peace with Esau. Pray if there are those you harbor ill feelings towards or them towards you that God might reconcile the differences and bring about peace in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/10 11:29 AM
Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)
25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. 27 Don�t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.


What lies before in this proverb is the kingdom of God. We are to fix our eyes upon the Lord and let the Lord be our guide in life. If our eyes are fixed on the Lord then our feet follow a straight and safe path. We should examine where we are in life to ensure we stay on course. We must be consistent in our actions, cautious in what we do, and steadfast in our obedience to the Lord. Wandering away from the Lord only leads to evil, so we should not get sidetracked in our attentions and miss out on what the Lord has to tell us.


Every wise man will conclude that the best way for a man is the way which God has made for him. He that made us knows what he made us for, and he knows by what means we may best arrive at that end. According to divine teaching, as gracious as it is certain, we learn that the way of eternal life is Jesus Christ. Christ himself says, �I am the way, the truth, and the life�; and he that would pursue life after a right fashion must look to Jesus, and must continue looking unto Jesus, not only as the author but as the finisher of his faith. It shall be to him a golden rule of life when he has chosen Christ to be his way, to let his eyes look right on, and his eyelids straight before him. He need not be afraid to contemplate the end of that way, for the end of the way of Christ is life and glory with Christ forever. �It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.� A friend said to me the other day, �How happy are we to know that whatever happens to us in this life, it is well!� �Yes,� I added, �and to know that if this life ends it is equally well, or better.� Then we joined hands in common joy to think that we were equally ready for life or death, and did not need five minutes� anxiety as to whether it should be the one or the other. Brethren, when you are on the King�s highway, and that way is a perfectly straight one, you may go ahead without fear and sing on the road.
With all my heart I invite any who have never yet begun to live after a right fashion, to take Christ to be the way of life to them; and then I entreat them to let their eyes look straight on, and their eyelids straight before them, and to follow Jesus without giving a glance either to the right hand or to the left till it shall be said of them, even in glory, �These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.�

[From a sermon by C. H. Spurgeon, number 2058, Eyes Right]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/10 11:37 AM
Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)
9 �And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jesus had just finished telling a parable of a friend who comes in the middle of the night to ask a friend for food for another friend who has come to visit. Asleep and tired the friend yells back the door is locked and everyone is asleep. Yet the friend persists in his request and finally the door is opened for him. For the friend saw this was important enough that his friend was not going to relent in his request. Jesus says in these verses keep seeking, keep knocking and God will open the door to the requests of prayers.


The objects of our prayers reveal a lot about us. Our prayers show where our concerns are, who our concerns are for and what we are hoping to obtain. In the parable mentioned above a friend was seeking food for another friend; which was the object of his request. Because of his persistence his other friend eventually opened the door to provide for his needs. Prayers are not just a ritual we have learned and repeat, but instead prayers are our direct communication with God. Through our prayers we can praise God, give thanks, and tell Him what is important to us. When God sees our honest pursuit for that which is good and holy He opens the door to listen and respond to our prayers.
Posted By: HEARTBROKEN77 Re: Devotionals - 05/06/10 06:06 AM
Originally Posted by AskMe
Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)
9 �And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jesus had just finished telling a parable of a friend who comes in the middle of the night to ask a friend for food for another friend who has come to visit. Asleep and tired the friend yells back the door is locked and everyone is asleep. Yet the friend persists in his request and finally the door is opened for him. For the friend saw this was important enough that his friend was not going to relent in his request. Jesus says in these verses keep seeking, keep knocking and God will open the door to the requests of prayers.


The objects of our prayers reveal a lot about us. Our prayers show where our concerns are, who our concerns are for and what we are hoping to obtain. In the parable mentioned above a friend was seeking food for another friend; which was the object of his request. Because of his persistence his other friend eventually opened the door to provide for his needs. Prayers are not just a ritual we have learned and repeat, but instead prayers are our direct communication with God. Through our prayers we can praise God, give thanks, and tell Him what is important to us. When God sees our honest pursuit for that which is good and holy He opens the door to listen and respond to our prayers.



This means a lot to me. Thank you very much for posting.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/10 12:23 PM
@HEARTBROKEN77, you are more than welcome. May God bless you as you seek His will and let your relationship with Him be your guide. May Christ strengthen you, give you peace and hope.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/10 12:23 PM
Luke 9:57-62 (NLT)
57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, �I will follow you wherever you go.� 58 But Jesus replied, �Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.� 59 He said to another person, �Come, follow me.� The man agreed, but he said, �Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.� 60 But Jesus told him, �Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.� 61 Another said, �Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.� 62 But Jesus told him, �Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.�


In these verses we have the account of three different people making a hasty decision to follow Christ. One was so bold to say he would follow Christ wherever he went, but Christ knew his heart and said be ready to live a life of poverty. Another wanted to bury his father, but Jesus answered he should be concerned about preaching to the living. Another said let me first say goodbye to my family, but Jesus said one does not look back; similar to Lot�s wife who looked back at the life she was leaving in Sodom.


Zac Levi, star of the TV series Chuck, seems to offer striking insight into the simplicity that can come from living out faith with trust in God's sovereignty and love. He described it clearly in an interview with Relevant Magazine. "If you're someone who puts their faith in Jesus, then trust Him in being led," Levi said. "To me, it's not rocket science. Go about your day putting your faith in God and standing on truth. It's pretty easy: are you a jerk or not? Are you doing things to benefit you, or others? Are you available to be part of the solution and not the problem? Walk in love and that opens some doors of dialogue. How about just starting to talk and see where it goes? I don't think there's any clock on it-your life is God's, so let Him do as He wills with it." We are all witnesses trying to strike the balance between living in the world while not being of it. We are all accountable, and we all fall short. Whether we make music, paint, or help people invest money, we are called to witness and to obey God and His word. There are no easy answers to questions like this. We all have to think carefully about what our intentions are as we move forward with our lives. Keep watching the fruit-our own first. This will tell us if our tree is planted in the right garden. [source: http://www.newdmagazine.com/]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/07/10 11:32 AM
James 4:7-10 (NLT)
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.


James, the half brother of Jesus, writes, �Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.� Humility takes away pride and arrogance and allows us to see our sins. It is then we find sorrow, grief and sadness for departing from God. Our sadness is short lived; for the Lord sees our humility and lifts us up in honor. James reminds us to resist the devil and he will flee from us for we have a divided loyalty between God and the world. Satan always offers the world, but in the end there is no reward in his offer.


In the book of Matthew, ��Jesus responded, �The Scriptures also say, �You must not test the Lord your God.�� Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. �I will give it all to you,� he said, �if you will kneel down and worship me.� �Get out of here, Satan,� Jesus told him. �For the Scriptures say, �You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.�� Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.� Jesus resisted the devil and the devil fled seeing he could not tempt Jesus. God then sent his angels to minister to Jesus. The words of James are a roadmap for staying close to God and also for repentance when we do pull away from God. God never flees from us, but instead is always willing to draw near as we truly repent in our hearts. The world will let you down, but God will lift you up in honor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/10/10 11:16 AM
Psalm 27:7-10 (NLT)
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! 8 My heart has heard you say, �Come and talk with me.� And my heart responds, �Lord, I am coming.� 9 Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don�t leave me now; don�t abandon me, O God of my salvation! 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.


This is a psalm of David. David has just expressed to the Lord how he wished he could dwell in the Lord�s house and remain safe from his enemies. There with shouts of joy he would sing to and praise the Lord. David knows God is the foundation of salvation from sin. So David asks if he cannot be there present with the Lord then hopefully the Lord would respond to him in prayer. David said he knows God longs to be with him because he has heard God say in his heart, �Come and talk with me.�


We all want our lives to be safe and secure. However there are times when that security seems out of reach or the security we are looking for seems to hide in darkness. David felt this way often when he was sought out by opposing enemies. It helps us to understand why David took such delight in the Lord; for the Lord was his strength; the Lord was his fortress; the Lord protected him as a parent even if his parents would have abandoned him. So David longed to be with the Lord. I believe the Lord calls to all of us just as he did to David, �Come and talk with me.� Have you spend time talking with the Lord? If you haven�t talked to God lately take some time to talk about your fears and then listen as the Lord speaks back to your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/11/10 11:43 AM
Proverbs 11:22 (NLT)
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig�s snout.


Beauty is often equated with as something valuable that might be associated with wisdom and stature. Yet beauty can be fleeting when a person�s integrity fails. A pig ring attempts to keep a pig from its natural behavior to root through the ground. Using ornate gold for such a dirty utility would not make sense because it would become defiled and dirty. Neither does it make sense for a person to corrupt their beauty by being indiscreet.



As of October 2006, there were three times as many professional tanning parlors in the U.S. as there were Starbucks. Each year, an estimated 2.3 million teenagers enter those parlors, which has helped indoor tanning become a $5 billion-a-year industry. On their own, these numbers may not seem surprising or even noteworthy. But they become dangerous when placed in the light of a recent medical discovery. Since 1975, the occurrence of melanoma�the most lethal form of skin cancer�has doubled in the United States among women ages 15-29. The World Health Organization is also taking notice. It estimates that 60,000 people die each year around the world because of excessive UV exposure, and urges youths under the age of 18 to avoid indoor tanning.

But many experts fear that teenagers will not change their behavior, even in the light of such dangerous consequences. In a Time magazine article from last August, two 16-year-old girls were interviewed. One girl said, �All the girls who are really tanned all through the year�they�re the popular girls. Guys are always complimenting girls on their tans.� Another girl who visits a tanning parlor several times a week acknowledged that she is willing to risk her health for short-term rewards. Her rationale, �It may make my skin wrinkle a little bit earlier, but I�m going to look good while I can.�

Short-term pleasure leads to long-term disaster. Nowhere is this truer than in the area of sexual immorality. For a few minutes of pleasure, countless men and women will throw their lives away. Just think for a moment about the potential consequences of sexual sin: loss of fellowship with God, divorce, disease, pregnancy, guilt, estrangement from family and friends, psychological and financial loss, damage to one�s reputation, and countless others. Indeed, there is no sin in this life with such brutal consequences. This reality ought to keep us from sexual sin. Yet, if we are honest, most of us assume that we will be the exception to these consequences. Honestly, we believe that these things will never happen to us. So we go on our own merry way, sinning. Therefore, the apostle Paul uses another approach in helping us overcome sexual immorality. He uses a positive affirmation: �Your body is God�s body.�

Remember discretion and apply wisdom to your life!

[sources: Bible.Org, God�s Bod, by Keith Krell; Preaching Today citation: Sam O�Neal, St. Charles, Illinois; source: �Why Teens Are Obsessed with Tanning,� Time Magazine (8-7-06), 54-55.]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/10 11:44 AM
Proverbs 12:15 (NLT)
15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.


This proverb states what keeps a person from being wise; they think they are right about everything and they are unwilling to listen to the advice of others. They let their own confidence and pride stand in the way of obtaining a greater understanding. Their thought is, �I will do what is right in my own eyes.� The wise keep from being the fool by listening to others and following the advice when it is sound and good.


It was a very cold Saturday morning and my daughter was going to take her driving test. We had been advised by friends to get to the DMV early because the line formed quickly. Some friends said the line had been so long at times you could be there all day. So two hours before the DMV opened we were standing in line with a thermos of coffee, warm clothing, and blankets. Several others were in line with us enduring the cold temperatures the best they could. I give God thanks we listened to our friends and the weatherman. It was a long cold two hours. Just as the doors were about to open a mother and her daughter got out of their car and tried pushing their way to the front of the line saying they had been on the car waiting before everyone got there. They felt entitled to the front of the line just because they were on the property; even though everyone else was on the property and braved the cold while they stayed in a warm car. A fight almost ensued until one of the DMV officers stepped out and talked to the lady and her daughter. He advised them it would be best to go to the end of the line, since others had patiently waited and endured the cold. The woman would not listen and after many threats and complaints the officer relented to letting the woman in line with her daughter. I can remember the officer�s words to the driving evaluator �Go ahead and let her take the test.� It wasn�t long before they returned and I could hear the woman complaining how they had failed her daughter�s driving test. Those who listened and waited seemed to fair well on their tests for the most part. But the ones who thought they were right in their own eyes were placed under greater scrutiny. Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/10 12:14 PM
Proverbs 13:10 (NLT)
10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.


Foolish pride can become the root of bitterness. Pride makes one impatient, envious, contentious, and hide from the truth. Pride has no humility and attempts to stand alone. Pride leads to revenge instead of forgiveness. But those who humble themselves to listen and act accordingly are the ones who gain wisdom.


Pride destroys relationships and keeps one from gaining the insight and wisdom of others. I have seen family members not speak to one another for years over a simple argument where both parties had too much pride to set aside a quarrel. Instead they allowed years to pass without speaking or trying to resolve the issue. If it is difficult for you to say, �I�m sorry� even when you are not wrong; that may be an indication you are harboring pride? Is it difficult for you to understand and accept the feelings of another even when you don�t agree with them; that may be another indication of pride? There is nothing wrong with telling someone you are sorry when their feelings have been hurt even if you don�t believe you were the cause. Just say, �I�m sorry and I understand how you feel.� You can leave it there knowing you might not agree or might not have been the cause of what they are feeling. It lets the other person at least know your pride is not holding you back from understanding them. Being right about facts does not win an argument, but letting loose of pride and being right about the feelings of another can end an argument. Be wise, listen, take advice, and keep humble. It will keep pride from separating you from others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/10 11:53 AM
Matthew 26:41 (NLT)
41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!�


Jesus returns from praying about his eminent execution on the cross. He had asked the disciples to remain awake with him and to pray with him. But he returns and finds them sleeping. Jesus gives them a warning to keep watch and pray so they would not give into temptation. For while there is willingness to avoid temptation our earthly body is prone to sin and easily ready to give in. It is only through the power of God that we are able to resist temptation.


A survey of 3,000 U.S. adults identifies the differences and similarities between what men and women say tempts them the most:

Sex: Men (50 percent) Women (22 percent)
Food: Men (29 percent) Women (56 percent)
Money: Men (14 percent) Women (15 percent)
Alcohol: Men (7 percent) Women (2 percent)
Power: Men (2 percent) Women (7 percent)

It is interesting two things which are natural for people to partake in; sex and food, create the most temptation. As Jesus said the body is weak and we must fight against the temptations which attack us almost daily. Money was the one temptation that seemed to be almost equal among men and women. It is easy for people to covet what others have and also desire to gain it by different means. So my friend keep watch over the temptations that come toward you and pray God would give you a means of escape.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/18/10 11:12 AM
Luke 22:24-28 (NLT)
24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, �In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called �friends of the people.� 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. 28 �You have stayed with me in my time of trial. 29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


This is an interesting conversation taking place among the disciples considering statements Jesus had just made. His previous words were, �But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.� Here Jesus tells them one of them is about to betray Him and that He is going to die. The disciples first question who would betray Jesus and then they switch to asking who would be the greatest among themselves. Jesus reminded them the greatest will be the least, the leader as a servant; saying �Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves?�


There are times when we quickly forget God and turn all the attention back on ourselves. Instead of praising God for what He has done in our lives we start to dwell on our miseries. Instead of thanking God for the meals on our tables, we wine instead about those things we do not have. Most of us are self centered in that we think of ourselves first. Even the disciples were guilty of this quickly turning their attention away from the pain Jesus was about to face to thinking about how great they could be. Yet Jesus did not scold them for forgetting the pain He was facing; instead he reminded them of what it meant to be a leader in His kingdom. A leader puts self last and serves those who are around them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/10 11:24 AM
Zephaniah 3:16-17 (NLT))
16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, �Cheer up, Zion! Don�t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.�


These are the words of God spoken to Jerusalem by the prophet Zephaniah. In chapter 3 God tells them there has been a strong stance and reproof against the sins they have participated in. Yet God in His mercy and love keeps His promises to reform them, cleanse them from their sins and bring them home to Him. In the verses above we are reminded God takes delight in our gladness. He loves us and desires to take fear from our lives that we may sing joyfully unto Him.


Tony Blair was the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In a 2008 article of Time Magazine, the following was said about him:

Blair is deeply religious�the most openly devout political leader of Britain since William Ewart Gladstone more than 100 years ago. He handles questions about religion deftly. He doesn't back down. His longtime press secretary and consigliere, Alastair Campbell, remembers Blair in 1996 at a school in Scotland where a gunman had killed 16 children and a teacher. In a bloodstained classroom, Campbell asked Blair, "What does your God make of this?" Blair, says Campbell, stopped and replied, "Just because man is bad, it does not mean that God is not good." [1]

Every day we watch sin take place all around us. Turn on the news and it is filled with stories of fraud, conspiracy, and murder. Yet these things are not from God they are from sin that lives in the world. God reminds us through His word not to fear; but take cheer for the Lord is a Mighty Savior living among us who delights in us and our gladness. He allows consequences of sin to take place in order to correct and reprove us. God�s desire is to bring us close to Him, by cleansing our sin and keeping His merciful promises to us.



[1] Time, Tony Blair�s Leap of Faith, by Michael Elliott/Bethlehem, Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1810020,00.html#ixzz0oN3sjetu
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/10 12:18 PM
Luke 8:16-18 (NLT)
16 �No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
18 �So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.�


Jesus often taught in parables, which was a story to illustrate in simple terms a principle. Here the parable is about a lamp. When covered or hidden it cannot be seen, but put out in the open it can be seen by all. Jesus was making the point if Biblical teachings are put away or the talents to use them was put aside; then no one benefits. It is like the lamp which is hidden; the light remains in the dark. Those who do not listen are like those in a room where the lamp is hidden. Something purposeful is given, but those who are close do not receive benefit and the benefit is taken away.


All around us are alarms to warn us. There are smoke detectors to alert us to fire and smoke. Backup sensors on cars alert us when something is behind the vehicle. But these alerts provide no protection if they are ignored. The Bible provides us with many warning about we should live life, but if we ignore them then it is as if we have hidden what we know. And if we don�t warn others who do not know better, then we also have hidden what we know. Let the Lord�s light illuminate your life and the life of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/10 12:11 PM
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 �Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.


These are the words of Jesus to the members of the church of Laodicea. Jesus had addressed them as lukewarm meaning they were not passionate about their beliefs. But they did have faith in Christ and His salvation. Their wealth made them think there was nothing they needed. Yet Jesus told them they did need His correction, discipline and love. In the verses above Jesus gives them an invitation to open themselves up to Him and He will be there with them as a close and intimate friend.


Imagine your door bell ringing or hearing a knock at your front door. You can look out to see who is there and you see a close and personal friend. Do you let the friend continue to ring or knock until they walk away or do you open the door for the friend? Some of us might open the door for our friend and invite them in. Others may choose not to be bothered and ignore the ringing and knocks at the door. This is what Jesus was referring to. If you want Him to fellowship with you then you must open the door to your heart and let Him in. But if you choose not to be bothered when He is calling out to you then eventually He is going to quit knocking and wait for another opportunity. Open your heart now that Jesus would fellowship with you, love you, encourage you, and lead you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/25/10 11:25 AM
Matthew 26:20-25 (NLT)
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 While they were eating, he said, �I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.� 22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, �Am I the one, Lord?� 23 He replied, �One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!� 25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, �Rabbi, am I the one?� And Jesus told him, �You have said it.�



As Jesus was celebrating the Passover meal with the disciples He made the statement to all of them that one of those close to Him would betray Him. Each one of them questioned whether it would be them for Jesus always understood their hearts. Then Judas came up to Jesus knowing he was the one who had already agreed to betray Jesus. Judas asks knowing the answer, �Rabbi, am I the one.� Jesus in His gracious way said, �You have said it.�



Jesus was a great teacher even in His actions. With everyone present He tells the disciples there is one who will betray Him. Jesus does say in front of them, �Judas is going to betray me.� He doesn�t point to Judas and say it is going to be Judas. Instead Jesus patiently waits for Judas to ask and Jesus acknowledges Judas. Jesus does not belittle Judas, nor does Jesus call out to the rest of the disciples saying, �Judas just acknowledged it is him.� Instead Jesus has said what needs to be heard by others and Jesus confirmed His comment only to the one who was betraying Him. So often when we are hurt by others we feel like it is necessary to tell the world. LOOK THIS PERSON HURT ME. Instead we should do as Jesus did and confront directly the one who has hurt us compassionately with mercy, grace and offer hope of forgiveness by the action of our words. Jesus could have stood up and put Judas down in front of all the disciples, yet he chose to handle the matter privately with Judas. Yet Jesus also informed the disciples so the one who was guilty could redeem themselves and also when actions came about they would not be surprised by what had taken place. Jesus did this with compassionate love. In your hurts are you talking directly to the person who hurt you? If not be careful of talking to others because it only prolongs the hurt.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/27/10 11:38 AM
Acts 15:36-41 (NLT)
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, �Let�s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.� 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord�s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.


Paul had proposed he and Barnabas tour the newly founded churches to see the progress which had been made and to see how The Gospel had spread. Barnabas wanted to take along his nephew as an assistant. It was common to take a younger man to accompany them so the younger man could learn as well as help the older men. Paul however did not want John Mark to go because on a previous occasion he had left them during their journey and returned to Jerusalem. Barnabas favored his nephew while Paul could not get past the previous incident. It became a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas to the point where Barnabas went on his way with John Mark and Paul went on his way with Silas.


Here in these verses we find a sharp disagreement between two Christians. Paul had made up his mind that John Mark was not going with them. This possibly offended Barnabas, since John Mark was his nephew. We see a principle here that when someone has made a decision the only person who can change their mind about the decision is themselves. Paul wasn�t changing his mind and neither was Barnabas. So often we want to mold someone to our will. We want them to perform to our desires. We want them to follow our actions. We desire they would follow our lead because we feel it is the right thing. THE TRUTH IS: YOU CANNOT MAKE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING THEY WISH NOT TO DO. No one can control another even though we may attempt with threats, coercion or avoidance (not speaking or visiting). All one can do is set boundaries and follow the boundaries they are comfortable with. Barnabas felt comfortable taking his nephew, while Paul did not. So Paul set a boundary he would go his separate way with Silas. However we do see Paul�s heart soften for John Mark in later years when he writes from prison to fellow Colossians to welcome and receive John Mark.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/28/10 11:12 AM
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)
3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.


In the previous verses the Apostle Paul asks, �Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?� Then he goes on to these verses to help encourage these traits. They were to put away selfishness and pride. Instead they were to humble themselves, looking out for the interests of others as well as their own. This was so they could learn to be like Christ in their actions and thoughts.



Author Ed Dobson wrote a book titled The Year of Living Like Jesus, in which he tells the story in diary form of how he tried to live as Jesus lived and as Jesus taught for a year. On day thirteen of month one, he records this story:

My wife and I drove to Key West. I decided to take a day off from reading. As we walked past a restaurant on Duvall Street, a man, who'd obviously been drinking, called from the steps: "Hey, could spare some change so I can get something to eat?"

I've heard that line a lot, and I know a number of responses. First, you can simply ignore such people. After all, he will most likely use whatever money you give him to buy more alcohol, and, therefore, you'd be enabling his habit. Second, you can offer to take him to a restaurant to buy him something to eat. In most cases the person will not go because he mainly wants the money to buy alcohol. Third, you can point him to an organization that provides meals for the homeless. Many such organizations exist in most cities.

What did my wife and I do? We walked past the man without doing anything, as we have done with so many other people over the years. After all, it's not our fault that he is where he is.
But after we'd walked on a little farther, he called after us, "Can you help a Vietnam vet?" My youngest son is a veteran, and I deeply respect those who have served their country in that way. So I stopped, walked back to him, and gave him a dollar. At that moment I remembered the words of Jesus: "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." It's as simple as that�give to the one who asks. He asked. I had an obligation to give.

As I walked down the street, a wonderful peace came over me because I felt I'd actually obeyed one of Jesus' teachings. I knew he'd probably use it to buy more alcohol and that I probably hadn't made the wisest choice. And I also knew that a dollar wasn't really going to help him. But I had no other choice. He asked and I was obligated.

Still, what caused me to give him the money was not really my responsibility to follow Jesus, but the fact that he was a veteran. So after my initial euphoria, I realized I had done the Jesus thing for the wrong reasons.

[Ed Dobson, The Year of Living Like Jesus (Zondervan, 2010), pp. 24-25]

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/01/10 11:45 AM
Matthew 9:9-13 (NLT)
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector�s booth. �Follow me and be my disciple,� Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, �Why does your teacher eat with such scum?� 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, �Healthy people don�t need a doctor�sick people do.� 13 Then he added, �Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: �I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.� � For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.�

In these verses the Apostle Matthew is called to be one of the disciples of Jesus. His profession was a tax collector, which was considered by many a disreputable job. Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home where Matthew�s friends gathered with them. The Pharisees challenged them being with what they called the scum of the earth. Then Jesus spoke Hosea 6:6. The New Living Translation says this, �I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.� Jesus was reminding them knowing God, knowing what God desires of us, and understanding God wants us to pass His love on to others, even sinners, is more important than superficial sacrificial living.

Scanning through some shows on TV I heard a question written to a pastor. The question was, �I am a Christian and I have a friend who is not. Others in my church tell me I should not associate with them because of some things they do. Should I stop being friends with this person?� Throughout the teachings of Jesus He tells us love is the most important thing we can do in the lives of others. We are to love those close to us. We are to love those we are in disagreement with. We are to love those who might seem unlovable. First though we must love God with all our heart, with all our soul and all our will. It is then we can freely love others in the appropriate ways; no matter who that person may be.

The question asked by the viewer shows there are those today who still believe as the Pharisees that it is more important how things look than fellowship and relationships built on love instilled by God. The Apostle John tells us one thing we should not love. �Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.� So it ok to associate with those others may deem as unlovable and sinful as long as we do not allow ourselves to be tempted by worldly pleasures.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/10 10:58 AM
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

In these verses the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy about being ready for special service to the Lord. God can use anyone for His purpose to perform good work. However, there are some because they have kept themselves pure and holy who are used for special service to serve the Lord. It is reassurance that while some falter and fail in their faith there are others who persevere.

A commentary by Matthew Henry on these verses says, �In the church there are some vessels of honor and some of dishonor; there are some vessels of mercy and other vessels of wrath. Some dishonor the church by their corrupt opinions and wicked lives; and others honor and credit it by their exemplary conversation. A man must purge himself from these before he can be a vessel of honor, or meet for his Master�s use. Every vessel must be fit for its Master�s use; everyone in the church whom God approves must be devoted to his Master�s service and meet for his use. Sanctification in the heart is our preparation for every good work. The tree must be made good, and then the fruit will be good.� We choose how we intend to live life. We can either be valuable vessels or vessels for everyday use. May we honor God by living our lives in a holy manner always ready to serve God when He calls.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/04/10 11:36 AM
Proverbs 4:4-7 (NLT)
4 My father taught me, �Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don�t forget my words or turn away from them. 6 Don�t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. 7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

In these verses we find Solomon teaching his own children what David his father had taught him. So cherished were the words Solomon took pleasure in repeating them to his own children. Even though Solomon himself was wise he did not put aside the words of his own father, but instead added them to his own wisdom.

In the comedic movie Groundhog day, an egocentric TV weatherman named Phil (Bill Murray) is assigned to cover the festivities of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Due to an unexpected snowstorm, Phil must spend an extra night in this little town with his producer and love interest, Rita (Andie MacDowell). When Phil awakens the next morning, he discovers it is still February 2nd. Soon he realizes he is stuck in a 24-hour loop of Groundhog Days. No matter what he does, he wakes up every morning as if nothing had happened the day before. Phil explores what life would be like if there were no consequences. People could do whatever they wanted. Along with some newfound friends, he lives recklessly, sparking a police chase. After leaving a swath of destruction, he's arrested. But when Phil wakes up, it is Groundhog Day once again. On this particular day Phil goes out to lunch with Rita. He orders most everything on the menu and lights up a cigarette. Curious about his strange behavior, Rita asks, "Don't you worry about cholesterol, lung cancer, love-handles?" "I don't worry about anything anymore," Phil responds. "What makes you so special?" Rita counters. "Everybody worries about something." Phil contends that his lack of concern over any consequences (including the wages of not flossing) is what makes him special. Rita responds by quoting a poem by Sir Walter Scott.

The wretch concentrated all in self
Living so forth with fair renown
And doubly dying shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.

Phil attempts to shrug this off, but he soon discovers that a world not governed by moral accountability is an empty one indeed. As Solomon said, �Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.� There are consequences in life when wrong choices are made, but there is hope in making the right choices.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/10 11:40 AM
2 Samuel 13:3-7 (NLT)
3 But Amnon had a very crafty friend�his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David�s brother Shimea. 4 One day Jonadab said to Amnon, �What�s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?� So Amnon told him, �I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom�s sister.� 5 �Well,� Jonadab said, �I�ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you�ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds you with her own hands.� 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, �Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish as I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands.� 7 So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon�s house to prepare some food for him.


These verses are about the assault and rape of King David�s daughter Tamar by her half brother and David�s son Amnon. We see his cousin, Jonadab, help craft and evil plan with Amnon to fulfill his desire to sin. We see King David, although unaware of what is to take place, give permission for Amnon�s request. And we see Amnon plotting and planning on his own to fake illness in order to achieve his sin.


These verses are the beginning of a reflection on King David�s failure to act as King. We see David become someone who enables another�s sin to go unresolved. First King David became an unknowing participant to his son�s plot. Then we see the family dysfunction in these following verses, �Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, �Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he�s your brother. Don�t you worry about it.� So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom�s house. When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.� While King David knew what happened, he never acted as King to resolve the matter. Instead it allowed the anger to fester inside of Tamar�s full brother Absalom until he was ready to kill Amnon. Absalom must have been taught these things should remain quiet for he told his sister to keep quiet about what had happened. David never confronted Amnon about his actions. Maybe it is because Amnon�s actions were too close to those of David�s past. Maybe David saw his own failures and allowed the failure of his son to proceed without consequences. Whatever the reason David enabled Amnon to go unpunished for his actions, while his other son Absalom took on the guilt and suffering of his sister.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/08/10 11:05 AM
Jeremiah 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: �Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. 4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.


These verses are a call to Judah and Jerusalem to repent and change. Their hearts have been hardened, but they can change. If they would only realize their sins then they could break up the hard ground of their hearts so it would be ready to receive God�s word and thrive.


Hard hearted is defined as lacking in sympathetic understanding. In the book of Exodus Pharaoh�s heart was hard against the Israelites. Pharaoh refused to listen to their plea to be released from the bondage of slavery. He was unsympathetic to the conditions under which they lived. He did not feel they deserved the same quality of life the rest of the Egyptians were privileged to. Instead he kept hardening his heart toward them no matter what was said or what was done. Has your heart ever been hardened towards someone? Maybe you were hurt by someone and shut them out of your heart. Maybe you were taught someone didn�t deserve what you have. Maybe just maybe you hardened your heart towards God. Fortunately God keeps His heart open to us. God is always willing to reconcile us to Him. God wants us to have conditions better than we have now, which is why he opened the opportunity to be with Him in heaven through His Son Jesus Christ. Open your heart to God and you will find it opening up to others as well. Let God soften your heart that you may love others the way He loves you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/10 11:23 AM
Mark 10:2-12 (NASB)
2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. 3 And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY." 5 But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7" FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." 10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. 11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."


In these verses the Pharisees asked Jesus a question; was it lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Interestingly the Pharisees only presented the case from the man�s side. Instead of answering yes or no, Jesus told them God�s original intent for marriage. Man and woman were to marry and remain as one, period. Jesus added no one should try to separate those who are married when God was the one who joined them together. This includes family, parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, best friends or those who sinfully engage with another who is married. He also added leaving to marry another was adultery no matter if it was the wife or husband who left to marry another. Because God understands man�s weakness for sin, God allowed divorce in the Law of Moses. For God knew man�s heart would eventually grow hard, cold and bitter towards the other bringing about even more sin.


The CDC keeps statistics on marriage and divorce in the United States. For 2008 the number of marriages was 2,162,000. The marriage rate was 7.1 in 1000 and the divorce rate was 3.5 in 1000. In other words almost 49+% of marriages ended in divorce across the United State. 1,065,775 of the 2,162,000 marriages are projected to fail. Marriage should be taken seriously. It is a commitment based upon actions and not feelings. Jesus and Paul both said it is best for some not to marry. It is best to remain single than fall into a wrong relationship. However, God in His Love, Mercy and Grace knows the sins of man. God knows there will be those who do not listen to His word and turn to divorce. God knows man is not capable of forgiveness and love to the degree God Himself can extend. So God understands when divorce takes place, but divorce is never what God intended for any couple. God�s words are strong in book of Malichi where he says, �For I hate divorce.� Carefully consider your relationships for marriage and if you are marriage carefully consider how God can help resolve issues in your marriage.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/10 11:46 AM
Genesis 19:30-33 (NLT)
30 Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. 31 One day the older daughter said to her sister, �There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can�t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. 32 Come, let�s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.� 33 So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.


Lot and his daughters were hiding out in the mountains after the Lord saved them from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Fearing there were no people left Lot�s daughters plotted to become pregnant by their father. They got Lot drunk to the point where he was not thinking rationally or clearly. Then while he was unaware they laid with him.

This story about Lot and his daughters shows the dysfunctions within a family. Lot had been willing to give his virgin daughters to the men of Sodom and Gomorrah to protect the men (angels) who had come to protect him. This is not the reasonable action of a father. Then we see the danger of alcohol as it is introduced by his daughters as a means to put aside their fears. His daughters plotted to become pregnant by their father out of fear they would have no children; so they used alcohol to seduce their father. Here we clearly see the danger of alcohol as Lot acts inappropriately and isn�t even aware of what he has done. This story is a reminder to look at our families and ensure we are teaching God�s lessons to them. We need to teach them to act out of respect to God and not out of fear.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/14/10 11:36 AM
John 18:3-11 (NLT)
3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. 4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. �Who are you looking for?� he asked. 5 �Jesus the Nazarene,� they replied. �I Am he,� Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said �I Am he,� they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, �Who are you looking for?� And again they replied, �Jesus the Nazarene.� 8 �I told you that I Am he,� Jesus said. �And since I am the one you want, let these others go.� 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: �I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.� 10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest�s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, �Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?�


These verses show the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the leading priests and Pharisees. Soldiers and Temple guards were accompanying Judas to arrest Jesus. Jesus was asked if he was Jesus the Nazarene. He answered, �I Am he�. Just the power of His name and His presence forced His enemies to fall back in awesome fear of His name. Acting out of impulse Peter went on the offensive and attacked one of the high priest�s slaves. Once again Jesus reminded Peter this was what He was sent to do.


In the 8th Book of Mark, Mark tells us this about Peter, �Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. �Get away from me, Satan!� he said. �You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God�s.�� Suddenly Peter found himself opposed to God�s plan. Peter begins to realize things are not going to happen as he assumed. Jesus wasn�t setting up an earthly kingdom; instead Jesus was preparing Himself for sacrifice. Had Peter been with Jesus praying instead of sleeping maybe he would have understood what was to take place. But again we find Peter lashing out to protect Jesus fearing the plan he knew God had in store. How often do we fear the plan God has for our life? God starts leading us on a walk with Him and then when we realize things aren�t going the way we desire. It is then we want to change the plan instead of trusting God. Read the words of the song Trust and Obey by John H. Sammis and Marc Hedlin (Copyright) as you think about your walk with Jesus.


When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
(chorus)

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
(chorus)

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear only trust and obey.
(chorus)

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/15/10 11:28 AM
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (NLT)
18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life�this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.


The words of the wise King Solomon reminding us of what God has given to each of us. We are to enjoy life and accept what we have been given. For we have been blessed by God. Solomon also tells us God gives us the work of the present, the anticipation of the future and the enjoyment of life so that we do not concentrate on the shortcomings of the past.


Our life is the sum total of our past. Every positive or negative emotion we have ever dealt with will influence our life. Sometimes negative feelings can be good. For instance if you learned a stove was hot when you touched it you probably held onto that unpleasant feeling as a reminder not to touch the stove again. Just as feelings are healthy they can also be unhealthy. Maybe you were accidentally hurt as a child; and now that experience causes fear and distress in similar circumstances. If you have unhealthy feelings that were never resolved in the past they will find their way to the present. A similar situation of the past will often trigger an old unpleasant emotion. An example I have used from my life is when I would get angry as a child my mother would tell me, �You remind me of your father�. My mother was divorced, so I only knew my father from what I had been told; he was an abusive alcoholic who had hurt my mother and loved alcohol more than he loved us. So while my mother may have been trying to state she could see the expressive anger on my face like my father�s; I internalized it as I was a bad, mean, worthless child. In more present times I met a cousin from my father�s side of the family. He knew my father and when he saw me said, �You remind me of your father.� Those were the very same words my mother use to tell me and suddenly unpleasant emotions flooded over me. The cousin continued to say, �I can see the resemblance around your eyes and nose.� Suddenly I realized how the past had influenced my present, because the cousin meant no harm in his words. My mother meant no real harm, unwittingly though her words produced unhealthy emotions in me because of the limited knowledge of my father. God does not want us brooding over the past. Instead God wants us to pay attention to the present and let the issues of the past go. Do you have resentment, hurt or sorrow from the past? Maybe it is time to ask God to help you let it go because it may be influencing your present in the wrong way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/18/10 12:51 PM
John 4:16-18 (NLT)
16 �Go and get your husband,� Jesus told her. 17 �I don�t have a husband,� the woman replied. Jesus said, �You�re right! You don�t have a husband�18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren�t even married to the man you�re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!�


Jesus had been talking to a Samaritan woman. While Samaritans knew about God they were limited in their knowledge. Jesus talked to the woman about living water; a metaphor for eternal life. The words seem to have had only a mild impact on her need for Christ. Jesus graciously opened her awareness of sin by asking her to bring her husband. She shifted her conviction by saying she had no husband. Jesus then brings the conviction to light by saying, �You�re right! You don�t have a husband for you have had five husbands and you aren�t even married to the man you are living with now.�


Proverbs says, �Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?� A rhetorical question, for if the person could not prevent the sin in the first place how can they clean themselves from the sin. Jesus realized this woman�s need for grace, mercy and forgiveness, but He wanted her to realize it too. She needed to understand there was sin in her life that she was covering up. So Jesus opened her awareness to the sin and it was then she understood who Christ was. The woman said she knew of the Messiah and Jesus told her it was Him. She went to her village where she told everyone about Jesus and how intimately He knew her. The bible then goes on to say, �Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, �He told me everything I ever did!� When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, �Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.�� Have you opened your heart to Jesus or are you still trying to hold back the sins He knows about and wants to forgive? Jesus loves you and because He loves you He wants a deep and meaningful relationship with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/10 11:39 AM
Romans 8:26 (NLT)
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don�t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.


The apostle tells us the Holy Spirit that dwells within us is present to help us when we are weak and tempted by the world. At times when we do not even know how to pray for ourselves the Holy Spirit cries out to God with words that cannot even be expressed. We have a great desire to follow God, but we are also burdened with the temptations of the world. God understands this and hears our needs even when we are unsure of our needs.


From "The Wounded Warrior" Men of Integrity (entry 3-11-10 from the March/April, 2010 issue); Brian Doerksen, Make Love, Make War (David C. Cook, 2009) --- Worship songwriter Brian Doerksen's son, Isaiah, suffers from fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition which results in physical, intellectual, emotional, and behavioral limitations. In his book �Make Love, Make War�, Brian reflects on the day he and his wife first received medical confirmation of Isaiah's condition. In the midst of his heartache, as Brian considered turning away from worship ministry altogether, God taught Brian a lesson that instead carried him further into his ministry:

[After receiving the test results], I stumbled around our property weeping, confused, heartbroken. At one point I lifted my voice to heaven and handed in my resignation: "God, I am through being a worship leader and songwriter �"

When I was able to be quiet enough to hear, I sensed God holding out his hand and inviting me: "Will you trust me?" Will you go even with your broken heart�for who will relate to my people who are heartbroken if not those like you who are acquainted with disappointment?"
Reflecting further on this word from God, Brian writes:

I use to think people were most blessed by our great victories. But now I know differently: People are just longing to hear [others] speak of how they have walked through the deepest valleys. The world lifts up the victorious and the successful, but God lifts up the brokenhearted. �-

Isn�t it a blessing God hears us even when we are not sure what to pray for? The greater blessing is that God has answers with far greater blessings than anything we could ask for.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/22/10 11:20 AM
1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT)
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.


Writing to the Church of Corinth the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians not to become slaves of men. But Paul was not talking about physical slavery; instead Paul was talking about being enslaved by the words of man. For some were already indentured slaves. Some had been bought to work the fields. Their freedom in Christ was not to change what God had called them to, but instead to renew their minds and transform them into someone who could share the Good News of Jesus Christ where ever they were. They may have been indentured to man, but Jesus had bought their freedom from sin.



Man has a way of interpreting things to meet his own needs; often taking words out of context trying to convince another they are right. The teachers of the law during Paul�s life were hung up on following their tradition and rules. They twisted God�s word to enslave men to their rules. It didn�t matter what God meant; it mattered how they interpreted God�s word. They failed to let the Holy Spirit work in their lives. Often Jesus would call the religious leaders out when they tried to force their traditions upon others. Jesus was God and had established the law. If anyone understood The Law it was Jesus. In the book of Matthew we find these words, �Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. �Teacher,� they said, �we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don�t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?� But Jesus knew their evil motives. �You hypocrites!� he said. �Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.� When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, �Whose picture and title are stamped on it?� �Caesar�s,� they replied. �Well, then,� he said, �give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.� His reply amazed them, and they went away.� Funny how the leaders who sought to control through their rules didn�t even go to confront Jesus. Instead they sent those who had been fooled by man�s word to confront Jesus and they were amazed that they could be wrong. Jesus paid your debt for sin. Don�t let man�s word hold you in slavery, but instead allow the Holy Spirit to work freely in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/10 12:14 PM
Titus 3:4-8 (NLT)
4 But��When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.� 8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.


We find the Apostle Paul writing to Titus. His name would indicate he was a Gentile Greek. Titus found grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul reminded Titus that because of God�s love for us He saved us. Not because of anything we had done, but because of His generous love, mercy and grace for us. By His grace through our faith in Jesus Christ; God has declared us righteous and promised us an eternal life with Him. We live to do good out of our love for God, but our goodness had no impact on the grace imparted to us.


The Bible tells us, �For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.� No matter who we are; everyone falls short of God�s holiness and righteousness. This would include our local pastor, Sunday school teacher, mother, father, brother, spouse, friend and anyone else we know. The Bible also says in Isaiah that �We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.� 1 John 1:10 says, �If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.� We need to understand there is nothing we could have done or could ever do on our own to meet God�s standard of righteousness and holiness. We are born sinners to this world. But out of God�s love for us He tells us in Ephesians, �For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.� It is God�s plan of Salvation - faith in Christ that saves us from eternal death. It is not how good we have been, not the charities we donated to, nor the kindness we might have shown another. These are good things, but these good things are meant to serve others out of our love for God. King David wrote, �You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.� What God desires most from us is a humble spirit that admits our sin and will accept His free gift of salvation. Are you trying to live by faith or by works? If you are trying to live by works you will fail on your own. If you live by faith in Jesus Christ and fellowship with God then you will find the desire to do what is right and good.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/24/10 11:32 AM
Acts 2:36-41 (NLT)
36 �So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!� 37 Peter�s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, �Brothers, what should we do?� 38 Peter replied, �Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles�all who have been called by the Lord our God.� 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, �Save yourselves from this crooked generation!� 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day�about 3,000 in all.


The Holy Spirit had come to dwell in those who believed in Jesus. These people began speaking out in many languages and it created such a commotion many came to witness what was taking place. The Apostle Peter spoke to the crowd. He proclaimed if they wanted the Holy Spirit to come upon them they should repent of their sin and be baptized proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. Three thousand people claimed Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. This day is known as Pentecost and is the beginning of The Church that would proclaim the name of Jesus.


Scott Bowles, "Hesitation Is a Fatal Mistake As California Firestorm Closes In," USA Today (10-30-03)

In the fall of 2003, a string of Southern California wildfires eventually claimed two-dozen lives. The flames moved at a speed faster than people could flee. Responding to complaints that some residents did not receive enough warning, Sgt. Conrad Grayson said, "We're begging people to leave, and they don't take us seriously. They want to pack some clothes, or fight it in the backyard with a garden hose. They don't seem to understand that this is unlike any fire we've seen. If people don't move fast, they're going to become charcoal briquettes." Jon Smalldridge frantically warned his neighbors, only to have some disregard him or respond too casually. He told of those who tried to save their televisions and computers before escaping. "They looked like they were packing for a trip. The ones who listened to me and left the area, lived. The ones who didn't, died."

The church should be like Jon Smalldridge and Sgt. Grayson calling out to people who need the love and grace of Jesus. The church needs to see those who do not know Jesus as being in a place danger, ready to be consumed by the fire of their sin. There will be some who will listen to the pleas, but there will also be those who don�t heed the warning. Pray for those who do not know Jesus that they may come to believe in His precious saving grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/25/10 12:16 PM
1 John 5:2-5 (NLT)
2 We know we love God�s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.


In these verses we find the Apostle John telling those who have faith in God and Christ how they can discern the truth of their belief. They should love God, which also means loving and obeying His commandments. His commands are not like the burdensome rules placed on people by the religious leaders. What God commands to obey He also gives strength through Christ to follow.


A person who establishes a home is also the one who makes the rules about the home. For instance my children know there are certain rules they should follow when entering the house. Because of their love for my wife and I they follow those rules and obey to the best of their ability. For instance we have a rule, leave your dirty shoes at the door. For the most part my son and daughter always listened and followed that rule. Sometimes when they were in a rush they might have chosen not to obey, but if they realized they were tracking in mud they also knew they had to go back and clean up the mess. God created this world and God is ultimately in charge. God guides us on what we need to do through the Holy Spirit. God convicts us when we don�t follow what He desires and if we love Him we will repent and clean up what we messed up. Like a good parent God will help when He knows the task is difficult to do alone. And He is there to remind us when we start going astray.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/10 11:10 AM
Genesis 3:1-6 (NLT)
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, �Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?� 2 �Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,� the woman replied. 3 �It�s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, �You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.�� 4 �You won�t die!� the serpent replied to the woman. 5 �God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.� 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.


These verses are the well known story of Adam and Eve. The verses recall when they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Satan came to them in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve. Adam who had been directly commanded by God not to eat, the fruit took it from Eve and freely ate. This was a sad story for man because it marked the loss of grace and favor from God along with the loss His beautiful creation; something which was very, very good.


God himself said man has become like one of us, knowing both good and evil. But that is where God stops with His comparison. God does not say man is now like us knowing good and evil and abstaining from evil. God knew man was incapable of handling the knowledge of good and evil. For man gives in to the temptation of evil and seeks aimlessly after good. The Bible tells us only God knows what is in the hearts of man. For man can�t honestly recognize the evil that exists in life and instead man focuses on an attempt to become good. Yet all of man�s attempts to remain good are like dirty rags when compared to the holiness of God. God told Adam he could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for God knew man could not deal with such knowledge.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/29/10 10:42 AM
Proverbs 29:24 (NLT)
24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.


This proverb shows one of the results of being enticed by sin. The receiver of stolen goods, the one who receives stolen goods or the one who assists someone in stealing is as guilty as the one who stole the item. They have been drawn into the commission of a sin and now they cannot escape joining in the concealment of the sin. When questioned they should tell the truth, but the fear of their own participation keeps them from doing so.


The show COPS documents police activity in various cities. In one episode police arrived on the scene after an argument was reported. It seems one person had sold a car to a couple. The person selling the car had disclosed to the husband some of the issues around the car. The husband wanted a break on taxes so he had asked for the title transfer information to remain blank and he would fill it in later. The wife learned of the cars issues and wanted a refund not knowing what the man and husband had discussed. When the police looked at the title and saw the transfer information blank they told the seller he had a choice, accept the car back and give back the money, or pay the fines associated for not filling out the title transfer and still have someone complaining to him. Reluctantly the man took back the car and refunded the money because he knew he was in the wrong for trying to help the other individual for his own profit. It does not pay to participate in sin. In fact it can be very costly and leave a person with options they may not have chosen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/01/10 11:23 AM
Numbers 13:27-33 (NLT)
27 This was their report to Moses: �We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country�a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.� 30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. �Let�s go at once to take the land,� he said. �We can certainly conquer it!� 31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. �We can�t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!� 32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: �The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that�s what they thought, too!�


Leaders of each of the tribes of Israel had been sent to spy out the land God had promised them. These leaders saw a land pleasing to live in and bountiful with food. Even with all God had done to care for and protect them they still feared those who lived in the land. Caleb tried to put their fears aside, but other leaders began to speak out about the giants in the land saying, �We felt like grasshoppers, and that�s what they thought, too!� These men were giving up before they even got started and their fear influenced those around them to give up as well.


Our world is full of violence, murder, theft, abuse, hatred and prejudice. Just turning on the news can begin to instill fear in anyone. Yet we must not let fear overtake us for our own sake and the sake of our children. We must place our faith and trust in God that He will protect us. Not that we should ignore prudence for God does not want us standing at the edge of a cliff temping Him to save us from a fall. Instead we must trust the Lord to lead us and give us wisdom in our daily lives. We find wisdom in prayer. We find strength in the Lord for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Instill in yourself and your children to be watchful. While we live in this word, God tells us not to be of this world. Wisdom, courage, peace and love should guide. God is with us always so remember not to fall and not to give up. We fight with the armor of God and stand in His strength knowing we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Don�t let the giants in life intimidate you for you will pass that fear to your children. Instead pass on faith in the Lord remembering that during trials, troubles, and tribulations we can depend upon the strength of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/02/10 11:23 AM
Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV)
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"


In these verses the apostle states a commitment we should follow in our Christian lives: We are not to covet money or the possessions of others. This is sin that should have no place in our lives for it lurks in our heart and if not subdued will enter into our thoughts and even our actions. The grace we receive from God is so contrary to covetousness because we forget what has been given to us and the pleasing moments of the past. Instead we long for more forgetting God has been the provider of good things all along. Because the Lord is our helper we should not fear and therefore not long for what we cannot obtain.


Years ago I bought an outdoor grill with a lifetime warranty. All was good until several years later when some parts failed and I tried to use the lifetime warranty. It seems the company that manufactured the grill had gone bankrupt and the company name was sold to another manufacturer. The warranty was no longer valid and what I thought was a promise disappeared with the company. In a world where we can't always depend on guarantees, there is one promise we can trust. Throughout Scripture we find the Lord's pledge to be with His people. In Deuteronomy 31 we read Moses' assuring words to Joshua: "The Lord . . . will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" Hebrews repeats this promise, �I will never leave you nor forsake you.� In a world where we can�t depend upon guarantees there is one promise we can trust and that is the Lord will never walk away to leave us on our own. Man�s guarantees and promises fade over time. God however is eternal and His promises live forever. It is because of God�s faithfulness that we can live a confident and content life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/10 11:28 AM
John 14:6-9 (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, �I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!� 8 Philip said, �Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.� 9 Jesus replied, �Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don�t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don�t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.


As Jesus talks about God the Father, Philip asks Jesus to show them The Father. The response from Jesus was that the Father was present in Him just as He is present in God the Father. Therefore anyone who has seen Jesus has also seen the Father.


John 14:20-21 says, �When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.� Just as Jesus told the disciples that The Father was in Him and He was in The Father, Jesus said He would be present in those who love Him and we would be present in Him. If we believe this then we need to be having fellowship with Jesus because He is right there with us. Take time to talk with Christ and get to know Him as a close an intimate friend. When you can�t count on anyone else you can always count on the one who is always with you and you are always with them�..Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/10 12:00 PM
Mark 10:2-6 (NLT)
2 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: �Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?� 3 Jesus answered them with a question: �What did Moses say in the law about divorce?� 4 �Well, he permitted it,� they replied. �He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.� 5 But Jesus responded, �He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But �God made them male and female� from the beginning of creation. 7 �This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8 and the two are united into one.� Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.�


In these verses we find Jesus doing something He so often did. Instead of quickly responding to a question, Jesus would first ask the questioner to state what they felt. The Pharisees asked should a man be allowed to divorce his wife. Jesus then asked them for their understanding of the Mosaic Law showing Jesus respected what was taught in the law. Once they gave an answer Jesus then replied. Moses had mediated with God on the law and because Moses and God knew man�s heart could harden from sin. God conceded to Moses to allow divorce, however God�s intent for marriage was the permanent joining of a couple. Marriage is a beautiful picture of God�s grace to us through Jesus Christ. Marriage is not an invention of man, but instead a divine institution put in place by God.


Jesus continues this conversation with the disciples later in private when they brought it up. Jesus told them �Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.� In other words wisdom, grace, holiness and love abiding in the heart can resolve sinful issues and hopefully preserve a marriage. But for those whose minds are set on the sins of the world, their hearts harden, and marriage becomes a heavy yoke leading to divorce. Divorce is not a resolution to sin, but instead follows with more sin. Fortunately the Lord Jesus Christ never divorces us, but instead holds on to us with grace holiness, and love. Jesus never lets go and He always forgives the sin we ourselves might not be able to forgive.


To those couples who have faced the tough moments of life in their marriage and persevered, may the grace of God continue to be with you always.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/15/10 11:37 AM
Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.


As King, Solomon�s charge was to keep peace among the people. In this proverb he shares one way to maintain peace. Give gentle answers and leave out harsh words that make tempers flare. Grievous and foul words do nothing more than to stir the embers within men�s hearts and bring their temper to a flare. Even words meant in jest when used harshly can stir up angers causing one to make an enemy even out of their friend.


The Apostle James said, �Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.� These words agree with those of King Solomon. When we listen carefully to what is said we are less likely to react with a quick judgment. If we are not listening then our mind starts to plot a response even before we have heard the full statement being made. It is the quick leap to an opinion that can make us respond in a harsh manner. Sometimes we need to take a deep breath before we speak. Maybe we just heard something that triggers us emotionally. Suddenly overwhelmed by emotions we are more likely to speak out rashly than we are to speak logically. Taking a timeout from a conversation can even be healthy if we feel our response is going to be said in anger. It is best to pause, collect your thoughts and even ask if the matter can be discussed later when you have had time to process your thoughts. People usually respect someone who wants to say what is right, but they will quickly disapprove of those who speak without thought.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/16/10 12:23 PM
John 20:24-29 (NLT)
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, �We have seen the Lord!� But he replied, �I won�t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.� 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. �Peace be with you,� he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, �Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don�t be faithless any longer. Believe!� 28 �My Lord and my God!� Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, �You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.�


We see in these verses the Apostle Thomas struggled to believe Jesus was raised from the dead. Thomas desired proof. He wanted to see the nail and spear wounds on Jesus and to be able to touch those wounds. Jesus knew the struggle Thomas was going through so when he appeared again to the disciples he said to Thomas, �Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don�t be faithless any longer. Believe!� With the proof Thomas required he exclaimed, �My Lord and my God!�


Many have called the Apostle Thomas, �Doubting Thomas�, because he doubted the testimony of the other disciples. Thomas had neglected to gather previously with them and now he doubted these men who had been called to testify as witnesses for the Lord. At least Thomas was honest about his feelings. He had no problem stating he did not believe even at the insistence of all the others. In the book of Mark another man faces a moment of unbelief. Even though he went to Jesus for his son to be healed he said, �Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.� �What do you mean, �If I can�?� Jesus asked. �Anything is possible if a person believes.� The father instantly cried out, �I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!� Jesus then went on to heal the man�s son; not only to help the man believe, but also those who were watching. If you find yourself doubting or struggling with your faith know others have also doubted. Be honest with your feelings. If you find yourself doubting tell the Lord and ask Him to help you overcome your unbelief.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/10 11:29 AM
Genesis 2:18 (NLT)
18 Then the Lord God said, �It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.�


In this verse God states it was not good for Adam to be alone. God had made man relational so man could fellowship with God. God knew it was a burden for man to be without another being like himself so God created woman. God could have created an entire world of men or women, but instead God chose to allow man the privilege of building family and societal relationships. God perfectly knows our desires and He is perfectly able to supply our needs.


In humor it is said God asked Adam to name Eve and upon seeing her for the first time Adam exclaimed, �WO MAN� and hence she was named woman. God had placed man at the head of creation. Out of dust God made man, but out of man God created woman. She was the crowning glory to creation; doubly refined from the dust of the earth. Woman was to be a helper alongside man; not a slave, not a dependent, not in servitude towards, but an equal partner to experience fellowship with God. Many may know the line from the movie Jerry Maguire where Tom Cruise says, �You complete me.� While the statement is a very romantic idea, the truth is, God completes us. Where we fall short on our needs the Lord says He will fill those needs, just as He did in establishing men and women to be with one another. Philippians 4:19 says, �And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.� Sometimes we falsely believe a spouse will supply our needs. We have the misconception they complete us is some manner. Some will marry out of this idea that where they are lacking in their life they will suddenly be made whole. The truth is only God can fill the holes in our life. Our family, our friends, our spouses are there to assist us in life, but only God can truly complete us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/10 11:28 AM
Luke 22:39-46 (NLT)
39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, �Pray that you will not give in to temptation.� 41 He walked away, about a stone�s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 �Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.� 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 �Why are you sleeping?� he asked them. �Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.�


Jesus prepares for His death by going to a place to pray. He asks the disciples to pray also that they may not give into temptation. Jesus is struggling against the flesh which wants to live, but He knows that He must face death in order that those who believe in Him will live an eternal life. Jesus prayed in great agony knowing what He was about to face. Upon returning to the disciples He finds them asleep and He asks why they are sleeping. Then He encourages them to get up and pray so they may not fall into temptation.


When you pass a fire house or a fire hydrant do you feel shame that you cannot put out a major fire by yourself? Do you look at firemen and think they are not needed and they serve no purpose? Most of us would say no to these questions. Most of us would say the fireman who risks his life to save people is important and needed. Yet there are some who struggle to believe in Jesus because they feel admitting their need for a savior makes them weak. They believe they can handle life on their own and there is no need for someone to step in and help. Yet every day we watch heroic firemen save the lives of others and we never once think the people they are saving are weak and incapable. We know the fire is greater than what they can handle and these brave men are there to assist. Jesus is always ready to step into our lives to help us avoid temptation. For He well understands the temptations of life and the great power it has. With the help of Jesus we are able to defeat the fires that pop up in our life. It is not a sign of weakness but an understanding that sin is a power greater than we can handle by ourselves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/21/10 11:40 AM
Proverbs 21:23 (NLT)
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.


King Solomon shares this wisdom with us, not saying anything will keep one out of trouble, whereas saying the wrong thing can lead to arguments and other woes.


When a person is arrested they are told they can remain silent, but it may be wise to do so even before the arrest. There are several reasons for this. A person may give information which may connect them to a crime for which they had no direct knowledge. Giving false information, which is considered obstruction, leads to more charges. A person who is overly vocal about their anger will find it can lead to charges of disorderly conduct. Lawyers follow the wisdom of King Solomon by telling their clients �Keep your mouth shut!� We see how saying the wrong thing can have its consequences and this is true even in our private personal lives. Lying to a spouse will bring distrust. Trying to justify ourselves when another�s feelings are at issue only leads to further confrontations and debates. Therefore it is in our best interest we remain silent at times. Silence gives us an opportunity to listen and process our thoughts. Silence keeps us from speaking rashly out of emotion. There are times when we do need to speak up, but there are times when silence is our best option.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/22/10 11:28 AM
John 16:5-11 (ESV)
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.


The disciples were distressed as Jesus foretold what was to happen in the near future. Jesus reassured them this was for the best. While the Jews had the law; the world did not understand sin. After the death of Jesus the Holy Spirit was to come upon the world as a helper to convict those who did not believe in Jesus, to show those who did believe what was right, and to once and for all judge Satan.


A school crossing guard had tried everything to get speeders to slow down. The law was posted, but that did not seem to have any affect. People still continued to speed through the school zone. The crossing guard then took a hair dryer and wrapped it in black electrical tape to mask its identity. As speeders approached the school zone he gave them a gentle reminder by pointing the hair dryer at their car. Instantly they would apply their brakes thinking a radar gun was staring at them. The world knows what sin is, but they often fail to identify their actions with sin. But when the Holy Spirit comes upon them they are shown where they fall short of God�s righteousness. The book of Hebrews says in chapter 101:5-16, �And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, �This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/10 01:22 PM
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


King Solomon tells us by faith we must trust the providence of God. We must learn to depend upon God even when our own reasoning does not seem secure. We must trust with all our heart and acknowledge God in faith and prayer that He is more that capable to lead us in the right direction.


For 45 years, Pat Summerall's voice and face spelled football. He anchored CBS and FOX's NFL telecasts (often alongside John Madden) and broadcast 16 Super Bowls (and served as a CBS Radio analyst or pregame reporter for 10 more). This is the part of Pat Summerall's story that most people know. In the Christian sports magazine Sports Spectrum, reporter Art Stricklin tells the rest of Pat's story:

Pat was an only child whose parents divorced before he was born, leaving him feeling empty and alone. He became an alcoholic, living from drink to drink as his body broke down. During the 1994 Masters tournament�[Summerall also did voiceover work for high-profile golf tournaments]�he faced up: "I'd been getting sick a lot, throwing up blood�and I got sick again at 4 a.m. I looked in the mirror, saw what a terrible sight I was, and said to myself, This isn't how I want to live."

Pat spent 33 days in the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California. This helped alleviate his alcohol problems but didn't address his spiritual vacuum. Then he bumped into [Tom Landry, his old football coach from his days as a star kicker]. [Landry] explained about [Pat's] spiritual need and connected him with Dallas Cowboy's chaplain John Weber. Pat's life was transformed, and he was baptized at age 69.

Art Stricklin closes his article with a few words chaplain John Weber offered to sum up Summerall's journey: "[Pat] was once the life of every party with a drink in his hand. Now he gets his power from another source."

Art Stricklin, Sports Spectrum, as paraphrased in the October 27, 2009, entry of Men of Integrity (September/October, 2009)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/28/10 11:36 AM
Mark 7:20-23 (NLT)
20 And then he added, �It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person�s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.�

Jesus earlier had made the statement �It�s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.� The disciples were now trying to understand so they asked Jesus to explain. Jesus explained following rituals did not keep one pure. For sin emanates from the heart of man in many forms taking away that which is righteous.

The Lord Jesus Christ died for each and every sin listed in Mark 7:20-23 that we would have eternal life with Him in heaven. Speaking for God, Isaiah foretold the forgiveness of our sins, saying �I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.� The price for freedom came with a dear cost. The cost was the death of His son Jesus. We must remember God does forgive our sins; yet we may face consequences for our actions here on earth. A person who murders another may serve time in prison, but if they ask the Lord Jesus Christ into their heart even though they face the consequence of a long prison term they are forgiven by God. Because of pride some may think because the consequences of some sins are so small they do not need the Lord�s forgiveness. Yet there is no one I know that have not fallen a victim to their own pride, greed, deceit, envy, and foolish desires. It is why we need the Lord Jesus so that we might be forgiven and learn to understand the wickedness of our heart. Without the Lord we follow our own desires; but with the Lord present in our lives we find ourselves wanting to do that which is right even when we want to do what is wrong. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/29/10 11:27 AM
Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT)
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.


The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians about their Christian duties. In these verses Paul points out a specific disagreement between two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul asks them to settle their difference and makes an invitation for another to step in and assist in resolving the issue. The women are fellow Christians who have worked for the Lord and are now being distracted by their disagreement.


In the verses above Paul asks for a peacemaker to step in to resolve the argument between Euodia and Syntyche. A peacemaker steps into the middle of an argument, whereas a peacekeeper tries to head off an argument. A peacemaker faces the problem directly, whereas a peacekeeper tries to keep the problem from appearing. A peacemaker is concerned about people and bringing about sound character growth. The peacekeeper is concerned about issues getting out of control, not the people involved. It takes more effort to be a peacemaker than a peacekeeper. The peacemaker has to actively engage those who are in disagreement. The peacemaker works to resolve the issues while the peacekeeper works to keeps the issues from being presented. Jesus said, �Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.� God wants to bring real peace to our lives and not hide the issues. When the issues are hidden they are just left to fester and appear again and again. Do you face issues head on or do you want to hide them? A real peacemaker wants the issues resolved and will do what it takes to make it happen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/10 11:33 AM
1 Samuel 18:10-13 (NLT)
10 The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice. 12 Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.


David, as a child, served King Saul by playing the harp for Saul whenever he was troubled. Growing jealous of David�s popularity rage suddenly filled Saul and he became like a madman. Saul threw the spear he held at David. In his rage Saul made another attempt to strike David, but David managed to escape Saul�s rage



As a young boy David was asked to live in Saul�s house so he might play harp music to calm Saul. In the verses above we see Saul would fly into fits of rage. On this one occasion Saul made an attempt to take David�s life. Imagine how confusing it must have been for David. One moment Saul was trying to take his life and the next moment he was appointing David as commander over an army of men. Even being the target of Saul�s anger David was determined to please Saul by faithfully leading the troops. Hopefully you recognize David lived a dysfunctional life. He was given up by his father to serve Saul. As a boy he was tasked to calm Saul whenever he was out of control. Even being the object of Saul�s anger David faithfully served. This life would drastically affect anyone; and later we see the dysfunction in David�s life was carried forward to his own family. There are many who have been affected by family dysfunction. Some may not even see it because it appears normal to them. David probably thought it was normal for someone to fly into rage. Yet when we look from the outside we know that not to be true. May God grant us the wisdom to see the dysfunctions in our life and make changes before we impact our own family.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/10 12:02 PM
John 13:12-15 (NLT)
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, �Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me �Teacher� and �Lord,� and you are right, because that�s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other�s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.


During this period of history people traveled dusty roads wearing sandals. A host would often have a menial servant wash the feet of his guests so they could enjoy the comfort of his home. Yet we find Jesus has just completed the washing of the disciples� feet. While the disciples would have been glad to have washed the feet of Jesus they found it inconceivable he would wash their feet. Jesus said to them, �I have given you an example to follow.� This was a great lesson for the disciples because it was teaching them Christian humility and the responsibility of giving an example, a pattern, for others to follow.


Our life is a living example. At issue is whether we are good or bad examples. The preference is to be a good example. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, �Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.� In the verses above Jesus pointed out we should humble ourselves as an example to others. The Apostle Jude showed us a bad example when he said, �Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.� We choose to be either a good or bad example to others who are watching us. Our actions influence our friends, our spouse, our children, and others. Pray God would lead you to be a good example for others to follow. Pray you will resist the temptation to follow bad examples so as not to lead other astray of suffer the negative consequences for such actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/03/10 11:39 AM
Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
46 �So why do you keep calling me �Lord, Lord!� when you don�t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it�s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn�t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.�


Jesus asks the question, �Why do you keep calling me Lord?� He asked the question because referring to someone as Lord meant the person was in servitude to the master. The slave was therefore under obligation to follow the orders and directives of his master. And while many were ready to call Jesus Lord their actions did not agree with their statements. So Jesus gave them some words of wisdom. Those who build upon His principles and follow Him will find a solid foundation in their life to live on. But those who listen and ignore his words will find the foundation week and ready to be swept away at a moment�s notice.


Robert Kupferschmid was an 81-year-old with no flying experience. However, due to a tragic emergency, he was forced to fly an airplane. On June 17, 1998, he and his 52-year-old friend, Wesley Sickle, were flying from Indianapolis to Muncie, Indiana. During the flight, the pilot slumped over and died at the controls. The Cessna 172 single-engine plane began to nose-dive and Kupferschmid grabbed the controls. He got on the radio and pleaded for help. Nearby were two pilots heard the call. Comfort was the closest airport, and the two pilots gave Kupferschmid a steady stream of instructions of climbing, steering, and the scariest part --- landing. Witnesses said the plane�s nose nudged the center line and bounced a few times before the tail hit the ground. The Cessna ended up in a patch of soggy grass next to the runway. Fortunately Kupferschmid was not injured. [Citation: Gregg Donnelly, Maple Plain, Minnesota]


Imagine what might have taken place had Kupferscmid not followed the instructions of the other pilots. Instead he listened knowing his life depending upon their words of wisdom. Imagine what would take place in our lives if we listened to Christ with the same intent?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/05/10 11:23 AM
Colossians 3:5-11 (NLT)
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don�t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don�t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn�t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.


In these verses the apostle is encouraging those who believe in Christ to put aside the old habits of sin, which our flesh is naturally drawn towards, and instead renew our lives and learn how to live as God created us to live. While some hold onto religious rituals to help secure their faith that is not what is important; Christ is all that really matters for he lives in all of us who believe.


Carbon is a nonmetallic element found usually in coal, petroleum and asphalt. Other variations of carbon include carbon black, lampblack, activated carbon, and charcoal. For the most part these items are not clean or pleasant to deal with. Yet carbon can be transformed into something wonderful. When placed in the proper environment to change it becomes a beautiful and shining diamond. When our lives are given to Christ and we are placed in Him and Him in us our lives are transformed. We are no longer that dirty sinful person, but we because a beautiful diamond reflecting the love of Jesus. We still have the nature of sin in us just as a diamond still has carbon in it; but we have been changed where we no longer have to feel like a dirty sinful person. So remember your beauty in Christ and let Him always shine in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/10 12:09 PM
1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT)
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.


In the beginning of 1 Peter 2, the Apostle Peter tells those of the church to put aside their evil behavior. He continues on in verse 21 to say we should do what is right even if we suffer to do so for Christ suffered on our behalf to do what was right. Christ never deceived, never retaliated, and never sought revenge. He left the determination of what would happen in the hands of God the Father. Christ was wounded so we might be healed from sin. He became our Shepherd to lead us from our nature desire to wander away from what is right, good, just and holy.

A bible course professor asked a football player named Steve, if he would be willing to do 30 sets of 10 pushups for an experiment the next day. The football player said he had done 200 pushups in a row, so he thought could do that. The next day the professor came to class with donuts, which excited the students being that it was Friday and the last class of the day. It seemed they were getting a break today. The professor asked the first boy, �Would you like a donut?� The boy said yes and the professor turned to Steve and said, �Steve would you do 10 pushups so Mike can have a donut.� Steve proceeded to do 10 pushups and Mike received his donut. The professor continued to do this for each student until he reached another athlete who said, �I can do my own pushups.� The professor responded, �No, Steve has to do them for you.� The student replied, �Then I don�t want a donut.� �Very well said the professor, Steve would you do 10 pushups so Bob can have a donut available even though he doesn�t want it.� Struggling Steve managed another set of 10 pushups. It was apparent Steve was physically getting exhausted. Even though Bob protested the professor placed the donut in front of him and said it was there if he wanted it. Seeing Steve�s exhaustion the rest of the class proceeded to decline the donut; but again the professor would ask Steve to do the pushups and place the donut on the student�s desk in case they changed their mind. Five other students had come into the class and were observing what was taking place. The professor asked, �Steve there are 5 others here who are not members of this class; would you be willing to do pushups for them as well?� Steve replied, �Do I have to touch my nose all the way to the floor?� The professor replied, �Steve they are your pushups you do what you need to do.� Again asking the next person if they wanted a donut they declined and the professor asked Steve again for his 10 pushups. Sweat was pooling under Steve and he was barely able to push up from the floor. Everyone kept saying how unfair this was, but the professor said this was something Steve must do on his own. As with the others, the last student declined, Steve did his final 10 pushups and then collapsed to the floor. Students rushed to help pick him up and then turned to the professor to ask what this was all about. The professor said, �You see Steve is the only one with a perfect grade this semester. He is the only one who has been faithful to attend every class and follow every assignment. There was no one else worthy as Steve so I chose him to take on the responsibility for everyone else. Keep this in mind when you think about Christ for He was the only one who could take on the responsibility to pay our debt for sin and He paid a dear cost for it.� Without complaint Christ died for us. He is our Shepherd showing us how we should live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/10 11:35 AM
1 Peter 3:3-5 (ESV)
3 Do not let your adorning be external�the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear� 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God�s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.


The apostle tells us in the verses above that one should give preferred treatment to their internal thoughts over their external adornment. Concern for external behavior should be given preference over external appearance. A gentle and quiet spirit is what makes one beautiful before God; for God finds those qualities precious. Matthew Henry said of verses 5-6, "You can pretend nothing of excuse from the weakness of your sex, but what they might. They lived in old time, and had less knowledge to inform them and fewer examples to encourage them; yet in all ages they practiced this duty; they were holy women, and therefore their example is obligatory; they trusted in God, and yet did not neglect their duty to man: the duties imposed upon you, of a quiet spirit and of subjection to your own husbands, are not new, but what have ever been practiced by the greatest and best women in the world.��


Some husbands may read the verses above and say, �Alright! The Bible says my wife must submit to me.� Not so fast guys. Chapter 1 Peter 3 goes on to say in verse 7, �Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.� Christian husbands and wives have obligations to one another. The wife maintains a gentle and quiet spirit while allowing her husband to make final decisions critical to the family. The husband in turn should make his decisions with an understanding heart, showing his wife honor, and recognizing he should not allow his physical size or his intimidating voice to rule over his wife. The apostle then goes on to tell everyone, �Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.� Guys if you want a blessing have a humble mind and a tender heart given to sympathy. You will then find it difficult to lord over your wife in a dominating way. Instead you will consider her feelings and you give honor to her by making decisions that reflect your sympathy and unity of mind. You will also find it much easier for your wife to honor you with a gentle and quiet spirit when you follow what God desires you to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/10 11:29 AM
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities�all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.


In these verses we find the apostle honoring Christ speaking of Jesus as God. The apostle stated Christ existed before creation of heaven and earth. Christ is the heir of all creation just as the first born son of a family would become heir of all that a father owned. It is through Christ that creation exists and is through Christ that creation is held together.

Matthew Henry said of the verses above, �The whole creation is kept together by the power of the Son of God, and made to consist in its proper frame. It is preserved from disbanding and running into confusion.� Changing subjects a second, Meriam Webster�s dictionary says the following about Laminin --- it is a glycoprotein component of connective tissue basement membrane that promotes cell adhesion. Without it the cells of life would not bond together. Without it the correct formation of tissues would be impossible. Now I didn�t get the comparison of Laminin to Christ until I saw a picture of Laminin and then I got excited. The shape of the glycoprotein module is in the shape of a cross. The same shape of a cross we have come to know that Jesus died for our sins on also holds the structure of our bodies together. David said in Psalm 139:14, �I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.� Our bodies are a wonderful creation created by God, held together by Christ in order that we may exist.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/10 11:13 AM
Psalm 51:5-6 (NLT)
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.


In these verses David acknowledges the sinful nature of man. One must first acknowledge there is an issue before they are able to deal with that issue. Then David goes on to talk about the grace of God. God delights in seeing us understand the truth and taking that truth to heart. Finally the truth stored away in the heart matures and from it comes wisdom to avoid temptation and the willingness to ask for forgiveness when sin does take place.


In the 2008 movie Vantage Point the President of the United States is addressing a public gathering in Spain. Shots ring out, The President falls and then an explosion takes place. A plain clothes cop, a man and his girlfriend, an American tourist with a video camera, a mother and child, and a Secret Service agent just back on duty are all witness to the events. Each sees something different and each have a different perception of what happened. Events are replayed from the perspective of each person until the real truth of the story unfolds. In life what we might consider truth is often obscured by our own life experience filters. We perceive according to events that have taken place in our lives and we reach conclusions based upon those perceptions. A couple can go through the same experience and yet each may have a different view of the outcome based upon their beliefs, their prejudices, their sins, their grief, and their own emotions. Both will believe what they have experienced is the truth but each truth may conflict with the other person�s belief. This problem can often cause conflicts in marriage. This is when we need to pray for God to grant us the wisdom to see beyond our own misconceptions and see the truth through God�s eyes. Pray God will teach you the wisdom to see reality without blurred and filtered vision.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/25/10 11:48 AM
Proverbs 25:26 (ESV)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.


This proverb speaks of the righteous person who falls to sin. Public sinful actions grieve some and lead others to corruption. Giving into sinful action before the wicked discourages good men and further pollutes the sinful man.


The Mosaic Law was given so that man could understand his sinful actions. Without a gauge for sin man could not even begin to understand the depths of his sin. So the law made sin evident. Man now had the knowledge whether to choose sin or choose righteousness. The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 5:18-21, �Yes, Adam�s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ�s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God�s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God�s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God�s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.� We have a choice to do what is right and just or a choice to follow sin. But sin leads to grief and corruption which pollutes others and gives those who continue to sin justification to continue in their sin. Therefore we should love Christ enough to protect His good name by reflecting His righteousness to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/10 12:04 PM
Acts 10:39-43 (NLT)
39 �And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all�the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.�


Peter testifies for the apostles who were with Jesus that Jesus was put to death; was raised back to life by God on the third day; and Jesus appeared to those whom He had chosen. The apostles spent time with Jesus after His resurrection where they were told to preach to the world that Jesus is the Savior; the one appointed to judge all sin. Peter says for those who believe in Him they will have their sins forgiven because of their fellowship with Him.


John writes in 1 John 2:1-2, �My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins�and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.� Like Peter, John wants us to know we have a savior in Jesus. John also tells us we should avoid sin. In other words we should seek after God�s heart and know what is holy versus what is sinful. There will be times when we fail and sin, but the loving grace of Jesus holds firm in that He is the propitiation for our sin. Jesus made the atoning sacrifice so when we do sin Jesus brings peace and restoration between us and God. We do not have to bear the shame and burden of sin before God for Jesus has already made atonement for that sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/10 12:42 PM
Proverbs 27:18 (NLT)
18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer�s interests will be rewarded.


Matthew Henry writes of this verse, �This is designed to encourage diligence, faithfulness, and constancy, even in mean employments. Though the calling be laborious and despicable, yet those who keep to it will find there is something to be got by it. 1. Let not a poor gardener, who keeps the fig-tree, be discouraged; though it require constant care and attendance to nurse up fig-trees, and, when they have grown to maturity, to keep them in good order, and gather the figs in their season, yet he shall be paid for his pains: He shall eat the fruit of it. 2. Nay, let not a poor servant think himself incapable of thriving and being preferred; for if he be diligent in waiting on his master, observant of him and obedient to him, if he keep his master (so the word is), if he do all he can for the securing of his person and reputation and take care that his estate be not wasted or damaged, such a one shall be honoured, shall not only get a good word, but be preferred and rewarded. God is a Master who has engaged to put an honour on those that serve him faithfully.�


Jesus said, �Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.� Similar to Proverbs 27:18 Jesus is saying that those who faithfully attend to him as servants will be honored. They will be able to gleam honor from their work for the Savior. They will protect the name of Jesus and serve Him as Lord. While the work may be difficult at times there is a great reward to be received. Jesus goes on to say in the book of Luke, ��If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won�t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people�s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? �No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.�� Therefore we should turn our hearts to Jesus and serve others as He served those around Him. Jesus often displayed the role of the servant so that others could follow Him as an example. Now let us fellowship with Jesus as His servant so that we may be honored for the work we do in Christ�s name.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/10 11:24 AM
James 4:7-8 (ESV)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.


In the Greek language the words �submit yourselves� means to arrange in a military fashion under the command of a leader. When used outside of military purposes it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden. James says we should have a voluntary attitude of cooperating with God so that we might resist the temptations of the devil and instead draw near to God and away from Satan.


The New American Standard Translation of Isaiah 29:13-14 says, �Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.� While the people of Israel thought they were drawing near to God with words and other actions their hearts were resisting God. They thought they understood God, but they were only following tradition and rote behavior. God let them know He was going to show them wonderful things if they would submit to Him. -- Two farmers prayed for rain, but only one plowed the fields. One farmer was resistant to his faith but the other farmer submitted his faith to God doing what he knew he should do even though he had to wait on the results. Are you doing what you should be doing and following through on your faith? Or are you just going through the motions with God?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/31/10 11:40 AM
1 Samuel 17:32-37 (NLT)
32 �Don�t worry about this Philistine,� David told Saul. �I�ll go fight him!� 33 �Don�t be ridiculous!� Saul replied. �There�s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You�re only a boy, and he�s been a man of war since his youth.� 34 But David persisted. �I have been taking care of my father�s sheep and goats,� he said. �When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I�ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!�


These passages begin the story of David preparing to battle Goliath the Philistine. Goliath was a giant among men. His size alone imposed fear on those who saw him. He was an experienced man of war who had fought since he was a youth. David was just a young boy with a fair, ruddy complexion; but he was ready to face a giant of a man. David explains that �When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.� He might have been just a boy, but he had been dealing with the responsibilities of a man and now he was ready to put His trust in God to fight against someone no one else would dare fight.


David was alone to himself most of the time as a young boy tending the family sheep. David had learned to defend against lions and bears that would attack the sheep. David knew God was the only one he could turn to in desperate times for no one else was there. David was a young boy seeking after God for his wisdom and his protection. The prophet Samuel referred to David when he said, �The Lord has sought out a man after His own heart� and yet David was a child. So this young boy had become a man before his time, but he was able to do so because he placed his trust and faith in God. By trusting God David was able to face the giants in his life. From reading the history of David we know David wasn�t perfect, nor did he always do what was right; but David was always seeking after God because he knew God was the one who he had to turn to in time of need. Whatever David could not do he counted on God to do. Do you trust God to do the same in your life?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/01/10 11:50 AM
1 Kings 1:11-16 (NLT)
11 Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon�s mother, and asked her, �Haven�t you heard that Haggith�s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn�t even know about it? 12 If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. 13 Go at once to King David and say to him, �My lord the king, didn�t you make a vow and say to me, �Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne�? Why then has Adonijah become king?� 14 And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.� 15 So Bathsheba went into the king�s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.) 16 Bathsheba bowed down before the king.


Adonijah, a son of David, claimed title as king without consideration of his father. In disobedience Adonijah thought by keeping others ignorant of his intents he would succeed in his actions. Nathan, David�s friend and prophet, knew God desired Solomon to be king so he sent Solomon�s mother Bathsheba to speak to King David. David was now 70 years old and physically weak. Caring for him was a secondary wife Abishag obtained by court members for his comfort.


Adonijah was allowed to rise to king because no one was contesting the action. Solomon was the true king appointed by God and his advisers should have known this. Yet his advisers were more interested in seeking out a wife for David to give him comfort; enabling David with the same past failures. They were concerned about looking out for their welfare instead of following God�s intent. As Christians we must rightfully put Jesus on the throne as our Lord and Savior. We must submit to His authority as obedient children and we must not waste our lives by ignoring His word. Stay concerned about God�s desires and not the desires of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/02/10 11:57 AM
1 Kings 2:1-4 (NLT)
1 As the time of King David�s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: 2 �I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. 4 If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, �If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.��

As David was near death he gave charge to his son, Solomon, the following: Be a man, observe the requirements of the Lord, and follow in the ways of the Lord. He also wanted to let Solomon know of God�s promise that one of David�s descendants would always sit on the throne of Israel as long as the leaders observed God�s decrees, commands, regulations and laws.

Interestingly David�s first charge to Solomon was to be a man. The Hebrew word means a male. So Solomon was to show what David considered to be the attributes of a man. We know David relied upon himself most of his life without a good role model and now David is trying to insure Solomon will seek out how a man should act. Unfortunately Solomon carried forward some of David�s behaviors, such as having many wives. Even though Solomon was granted wisdom beyond anyone else he did not see how the impressions upon his life had caused him to fall away from God�s decrees. Solomon tried to be a man like David while keeping God�s laws. Yet Solomon should just have been a man following God and not following in past footsteps of his father.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/03/10 11:56 AM
James 4:17 (NLT)
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.


James reminds the Christian that a person who does not do what they ought to do is sinning against God. The Greek word for sin is hamartia, which means to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to be mistaken, to go and do wrong, or to wander from God�s law. So a person can sin not only in what they do, but also in what they do not do. So an act of omission can be a sin just as much as an act of commission.


We become involved with sin in two different ways. First, if we know what we should not do and we do it is counted as a sin towards us. Second, if we know what we should do, and we fail to do those acts then it is counted as sin towards us. In John chapter 9, �Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.� The Pharisees were good at following rules, but they were weak in their ability to do what was right for others. Their sins of omission weighed just as heavily on them as their sins of commission. Fortunately we have a savior in Jesus Christ who died for the penalty of our sins. Because of Christ the Holy Spirit guides us to know what is right and good. Yet our sinful nature still calls and we find at times we don�t do what is right or we fail to do well. It is in our failures we find strength in Jesus. It is because of Jesus we have hope to overcome our sins. It is because of Him we will have eternal life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/07/10 12:06 PM
1 Kings 2:5-10 (NLT)
5 �And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. 6 Do with him what you think best, but don�t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace. 7 �Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 �And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. 9 But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.� 10 Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.

These verses are the final words of King David to his son Solomon right before his death. Memories of rights and wrongs come to David in his final moments. David gives charge to Solomon to care for those who have been good to the family and to take justice as Solomon saw fit against those who had done evil. David acknowledged Solomon was wise and that he would know what to do.

These last words of a father to his son played an important role in Solomon�s duties as King. David gave three instructions; one of peace and two to ensure justice. When Solomon wrote Proverbs 27:10 he may have thought of his Father�s instruction; for his words say,�Never abandon a friend�either yours or your father�s. When disaster strikes, you won�t have to ask your brother for assistance. It�s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.� And while Solomon remembered that thought he also remembered the orders of his father to seek justice upon Joab and Shimei. Solomon went on to carry out plans which lead to their death. As King, Solomon was tasked to carry out justice. While some may view Solomon�s actions as vengeance they fell under the duty of the king and Solomon acted properly in his authority as king. Often we do not agree with the justice our government applies, but it is a responsibility given by God. For the bible tells us that government exists because of God. Even Christ respected the government of his time although the government�s actions lead to his innocent death. Pray for our leaders that they may use justice wisely and apply it with wisdom. Pray God would lead them to do all that is right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/10 11:23 AM
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.


The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy letting him know that he is remembered in Paul�s prayers. Paul remembers Timothy for his faith, and the faith he shared in God with his mother and grandmother. Paul wanted to remind Timothy to use the gifts God gave him that he would share the Gospel of Christ with others. Then Paul wrote the words above to encourage Timothy not to be afraid, but instead keep a sound mind that depended on the love and power of Christ.


Fear is a powerful emotion. Fear can be both healthy and destructive to our lives. The healthy benefit of fear is to let us know when we need to be alarmed. Fear motivates us to avoid harmful situations and keeps our senses aware of pending danger. However fear without reason can be unhealthy in our lives. This type of fear comes from the depths of our imagination. We begin to believe unsubstantiated thoughts that we do not turn over to God. As we dwell on these thoughts alone to ourselves they begin to grow until fear starts to overwhelm us. I�ll use myself as an example. There was a time I went for a medical test. I got a call from the doctor�s office saying they wanted me to come in and talk to the doctor about the results. My mind started to imagine all the possibilities of what could be wrong. When I finally saw the doctor he said nothing was wrong, but he did want to run a couple of more tests just to make sure there were no other problems. In my mind I had already imagined the worst because I was not trusting God to see me through the experience. I learned a lesson, wait on the facts and keep a sound mind until those facts are understood. In the mean time ask God to take away the fear and allow God to love you through the emotions you are feeling. God wants to take away your fear.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/09/10 11:59 AM
James 1:20 (NLT)
20: Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.


These words from the Apostle James follows his words that every man should be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. The anger James refers to is impulsive, exhibits a temper and violent emotion. It was associated with punishment inflicted in misery upon those found guilty by a magistrate. This type of anger was sinful in God�s eyes and did not lead to righteous behavior.


King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 9:17, �The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.� If your words will lead to angry confrontations it is better to remain silent; for the wise know when to speak and when not to speak. The anger of men is not the same as the anger of God. For man�s wrath of anger leads him away from the righteousness of God. The Apostle Peter who himself was easy given to anger said in 1 Peter 2:1, �So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.� Even when we raise concern for what seems just and right we must not let anger stand in pretence of our cause to serve God; for we only fool ourselves. God is more than capable of handling problems without our angry actions. The Apostle Paul tells us our anger will give the devil a foothold in our lives and we should rid ourselves of such behavior. Anger is a secondary emotion driven by such emotions as hurt, fear, bitterness, guilt, self judgment, jealousy, and frustration. From many different emotions anger builds and erupts into abusive behavior whether the abuse is words or actions. Take time to examine the emotions which may be leading you to anger and pray God would give you wisdom to deal with your emotions. Pray He would bring healing to your life and help you remain silent and calm during the moments of an emotional storm.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/10 11:22 AM
1 Kings 3:7-9 (ESV)
7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

King Solomon sleeping and in prayer acknowledged the great responsibility he had as king and that he required God�s wisdom to see through his duties. Solomon asked God for the wisdom and discernment he needed to govern the people and to know what was right and wrong. From a just request God granted Solomon his desire and so much more.

The apostle James tells us, �If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.� God desires to hear our requests that are a requisite to our service for Him. We should ask with confidence, not looking to the world for an answer, but instead depending upon God for His blessing. We should not be as King Ahaz when Isaiah spoke to him saying, �Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want�as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.� But the king refused. �No,� he said, �I will not test the Lord like that.� Instead we are to pray like Solomon, asking in confidence and asking for that which aligns itself with the will of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/10 11:45 AM
2 Peter 2:20-22 (NLT)
20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: �A dog returns to its vomit.� And another says, �A washed pig returns to the mud.�

Peter speaks of those who have learned of the saving grace God offers through Jesus, but then turn away from the truth which sets them free to return to the burdensome slavery of sin. These people are worst off than before for their lives are now in conflict to the righteousness God calls them to follow. Instead of following God they have returned to their previous sinful ways.

Perhaps Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he wrote the verses above. Jesus said in Matthew, �When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, �I will return to the person I came from.� So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.� Jesus was telling those listening that a person cannot leave themselves empty and without purpose to live for God or their emptiness will be filled with more sin than they previously experienced. The abandonment of living for Christ is worst than the ignorance of not knowing Christ for it is condemning a way of righteousness and pours contempt on God�s grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/10 10:46 AM
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

The Apostle Paul accounts for the sufferings endured as they have followed Christ. But even in those troubles there was always hope; for God was always with them. While enemies may attack and friends let us down we are never forsaken by God.

King David understood God was always with him even in moments of discouragement and despair. In Psalm 138:7 he wrote, �"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me; Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me." There are times when life can be discouraging. Many times our discouragement comes from focusing on the problem instead of trying to see what God wants to show us. For instance when the Israelites heard there were giants in Canaan they began to weep because they saw their limitations instead of seeing God�s awesome power. Job faced the misery of physical illness and in his bitterness he declared God wasn�t fair, but God was showing Job something special about himself. Rachel was bitter and discouraged about not having children and even said to Jacob, �Give me children or I will die!� Rachel was letting a situation she had no control over discourage her. Yet God had the power to answer Rachel�s prayers and He did so. Elijah came to a point of wanting to die after the emotional and physical exhaustion of running from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. Ironically what he was trying to avoid he was desperate to seek because he wasn�t paying attention to what God was ready to do; for God had 4,000 other men who would stand with Elijah against Jezebel. Like those before us instead of focusing on our problems we need to focus on God�s ability. We need to remember His promises, see His awesome power, and understand that which we can�t change, God can.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/15/10 11:13 AM
John 5:43-45 (ESV)
43 I have come in my Father�s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.


Jesus is speaking to the Jewish religious leaders. These leaders continue to reject Jesus, while accepting the false teachings of others. They had great respect for Moses and claimed to follow the law given by him by God. But Jesus tells them Moses would be a witness against them for not obeying what God commanded.


The Jewish leaders were Bible scholars of their time. They knew all the words, but failed to know the Author. They practiced religion. They knew the laws. They knew the stories, but they had such pre-conceived ideas and failed to see the Author when He was standing in front of them. These men were witnesses to miracles performed by Jesus; yet they claimed the good done by Christ was of the devil. God had manifested Himself right in front of them, but they failed to recognize the one they claimed to know so well. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, �'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.� Jesus wants to fellowship with us. He wants us to know His miracles come from Him and not by chance or science. We receive grace from our sins because of Jesus dying on the cross, yet we too turn back to rules for our religion. Open the door of your heart to Jesus and take time to get to know Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/16/10 11:08 AM
Deuteronomy 1:41-43 (NLT)
41 �Then you confessed, �We have sinned against the Lord! We will go into the land and fight for it, as the Lord our God has commanded us.� So your men strapped on their weapons, thinking it would be easy to attack the hill country. 42 �But the Lord told me to tell you, �Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.� 43 �This is what I told you, but you would not listen. Instead, you again rebelled against the Lord�s command and arrogantly went into the hill country to fight. 44 But the Amorites who lived there came out against you like a swarm of bees. They chased and battered you all the way from Seir to Hormah. 45 Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but he refused to listen. 46 So you stayed there at Kadesh for a long time.


The Israelites had sent spies into the Promised Land. When they returned the spies who saw the land said two things; the land the Lord was providing was indeed good and there are giants there who were mightier and taller. Moses tried to reassure the people God was with them, but their lack of faith and trust caused the hand of God�s blessings to be removed. Instead of repenting for their sin they decided to take their own actions. In arrogance they went into the land to fight and the Amorites who were indeed larger and more powerful defeated them. The Israelites then cried to the Lord over their sorrow, but God refused to listen for He had told them not to go.


Abraham Lincoln said, �Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them. To deny it, however, in this case, is to deny that there is a God governing the world.� When we grasp hold of an opinion without looking to God for guidance we often find there is a difference of purpose between God and ourselves. In our arrogance we pursue our own purpose just to find out we lack the understanding and wisdom to see what lies ahead. Our plans often will fail and it is then we seek God because we are miserable in our failure. Learn to seek out God�s purpose and plans before executing your own. Let God be your guide to wisdom and understanding. Let God fight your battles and trust that His results are for the best benefit of all. Remembering King Solomon�s words, �Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/17/10 11:10 AM
Revelation 2:7 (NLT)
7 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

This verse is repeated several times in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 as Christ speaks to the various churches. It was given at the end of the verses directed to the specific churchs. The purpose was to remind them of what had been just said and to also remind the church to listen to the Spirit of God as He speaks to them instead of listening to their own thoughts and voices.

Is it important to listen to God? Of course, but many of us think we are listening when instead we are busy doing other things. In Jeremiah 25:3-4, the prophet Jeremiah declared the following, �For the past twenty-three years�from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until now�the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened. Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.� Jeremiah was the last major prophet to speak to the Israelites for God. Jeremiah passed on message, after message for 23 years; yet no one was listening. The culture these people knew was about to be removed from existence and yet they were not hearing the message God prepared for them. Twenty three years and no one was listening! To those who believe in Christ STOP and LISTEN. It is time to hear what God has to say and act accordingly. Do not be like the churches listed in Revelation who needed to be reminded they should listen to the Spirit of God as He spoke to them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/10 11:51 AM
Mark 9:17-18;21-22 (The Messenger)

17 -18 A man out of the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn't." 21 -22 He asked the boy's father, "How long has this been going on?" "Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!" 23 Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." 24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!"

These verses follow Jesus approaching a crowd gathered around some of His disciples. The disciples had been trying to cast a demon out of a young boy, but they had failed. The crowd grew excited as they saw Jesus for many knew all things were possible with him. Jesus questioned the belief of the father and the father�s response was, �� I believe. Help me with my doubts!�

I often come back to the verses above as a reminder of the weakness of my faith in God and Christ. I do believe God and Christ can do all things in my life. I believe, but at times I have doubts. Philippians 4:13 says, �For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.� And I know from Ephesians 1:22 the Apostle Paul said, �God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.� So there is nothing Christ is not subject over; there is nothing He can�t change. I have the knowledge to believe, but sometimes like the disciple Thomas I wish I could just reach out and touch Jesus to know how real and close He is. I hear someone pray for something which seems impossible and I have my doubts it will be fulfilled. Yet a man like George Mueller prayed the impossible for the orphanages he ran in the 1800s and God answered his prayers. So like the man who wanted his son healed, I believe but I need help with my doubt. I confess those reading and to God I believe; but I doubt and I don�t want to doubt. Many of you may feel the same way. Maybe you feel God is not answering your prayers. Maybe you doubt God�s ability to do the impossible. God is more than able; we are the ones who place a limit on what He can do. Let us all pray God would take away our doubt.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/21/10 12:25 PM
Romans 14:22-23 (The Message)
22 -23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe�some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them�then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

The apostle talking to Christians tells them to build a relationship with God so they understand what God desires of them. God has a purpose for each person and only through fellowship with our Lord and Savior can we know our purpose. More than just knowing God we understand who we are as a child of God. There is freedom and liberty in knowing Christ as Lord and Savior, but individual liberty should not impose itself on others either to persuade them or to discourage them. Let your conscience be free of guilt knowing that your life is consistent with what you believe.

Freedom is not a license for abuse. In our country we have many freedoms, but those freedoms do not allow us to act without responsible thought. For instance our freedom of speech is cut short when its intent leads to harmful disruption. Try yelling in a crowd of people �I have a gun and I�m going to shoot� and see how quickly your moment of freedom comes to an end. We have a freedom to enjoy the pursuit of happiness, but we cannot take from another person in order to secure our happiness. With freedom comes responsibility. 1 Peter 2:16 says, �Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God..� Our pursuit of freedom should lead to righteousness, peace, joy and fellowship with our Lord. Our freedom was not given to ignore what God desires from us, but instead it was given to help us fulfill His desires for out life. Romans 15:3-6 tells us, �For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME." For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.� Live as Christ did, not living to please yourself, but living to please God and you will find freedom.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/22/10 12:36 PM
Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)
3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

There is a benefit to wisdom and taking wise thoughts into consideration. For the wise will see dangers heading their way and they take the necessary precautions to prevent those dangers from affecting their life. The wise are aware of the temptations they face and they put on God�s armor for defense. In the face of a storm the wise retreat to His strong tower for protection. The simple believe all things which flatter them and they are na�ve to the dangers awaiting. The simple thrown their selves into danger ignoring the warnings they have been given. Blindly they walk into sin and only repent after their consequences have been dealt.

There are many different addictions: alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, shopping. It is difficult to estimate the number of Americans with these addictions, but it is safe to say they number in the millions. An addiction is a behavior that functions to bring about momentary pleasure to escape internal discomfort. Addictions are characterized by recurrent failure to control the behavior even though the individual faces significant negative consequences due to the behavior. Addictions alter brain areas over time that is critical to decision making, learning, memory and behavior control. This may help to explain the compulsive and destructive behaviors of addicts. In a survey by the Gallup Poll the words emotional, devastating and horrible were most often chosen by family members to describe the addiction of a loved one. People are led into addictions by many issues, whether genetic, mental issues, childhood trauma or social environments. It is not uncommon for a person with an addiction to have co-occurring addictions and disorders. But for all who are involved in an addiction the first step was making a choice that did not foresee the dangers ahead. The person was so intent on getting a fix for one problem they foolishly introduced themselves to a new set of problems. They just didn�t take precaution to prevent the addiction and they didn�t seek out wise counsel or ask for help. Instead the addict chose their own path leading to danger. A person can recover from an addiction, but successful long term recovery requires a lifetime commitment to healthy decisions and actions. Relapse can occur and all involved should prudent in the evaluation of their actions. Turn to the Lord for wisdom and let Him walk with you on your journey.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/23/10 11:18 AM
1 Kings 11:1-3 (NLT)
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh�s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. 2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, �You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.� Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

Solomon out of his love for God had built a temple dedicated to God. Now in Solomon�s old age his attention had turned from his love of God to his love of women. Solomon began to build shines for his wives dedicated to their foreign Gods. Solomon began to follow the practices of his wives worshiping gods other than the true God. God had warned Solomon what would happen, but Solomon still allowed his love of women to turn his heart away from God to follow the practices of his wives.

Romans 8:38-39 tells us, �And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God�s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow�not even the powers of hell can separate us from God�s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below�indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.� God loves us and there is nothing that can get in the way of His love for us. Yet we allow things of this world to get in the way of our love for God. Solomon allowed his love for women to separate him from God. The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy said it is our �love� of money that is the root of all evil. When our attention is turned to loving something more that we love God we lose sight of God�s purpose for us. In the book of Revelation Jesus says to the church of Ephesus, �But I have this against you, that you have left your first love�, for even while they did good deeds their affection for Christ and God had grown cool. Put your love for God first and don�t let your heart grown cool in your love for Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/10 11:37 AM
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, �Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.�

Jesus invites those weary and laid with the burdens of trying to fulfill the law to come to Him for rest. In Luke 11:46 Jesus said, ��what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.� The religious experts taught how to follow rules and laws, but they failed to properly teach God�s love and His desire for a repentant heart. So Jesus offers something not offered before, rest from a heavy burden by helping to carry the burden�s placed on the people.

Without a doubt there is someone reading this message that is carrying a heavy burden. Life has overwhelmed them and they cannot see the hope that has been placed before them. They feel failure and distress. They wish there was something that would ease their pain. They may already know Christ, but they have forgotten the words He gave us above, �Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.� There is nothing Christ cannot handle, but one has to turn over those problems to Christ so He can help shoulder the burden. We may believe there are things we must do to make life successful, but Christ will show us instead that maybe we should rest. Remember to turn to Christ in your times of need and Christ will teach you how to find rest for your soul.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/10 12:22 PM
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

To covet is to have an over eager desire to obtain items of the world while envying those who have more than we ourselves have. The Lord reminds us to be content with what we have for His presence is always with us and He is our helper in times of need. We should have a bold attitude, not fearful, for there is nothing man can do that stands against God. And God will stand with you when you trust and depend upon Him.

God provides many promises for us in His word. Above we are told God will never leave or forsake us, never ,ever. How many friends or relatives can we say that about? We are told there is full forgiveness for those who have faith in Jesus. Who do you know that will forgive you unconditionally once you ask them to? God tells us the Holy Spirit indwells within us to set us free from sinful habits. Many of us fall into habits of sin and think there is no hope, yet God has said there is hope for us to be free from sin. Our eternal future is secure. God has promised if we place our faith in His Son Jesus our sins are forgiven and our eternal life in heaven is secure. God promises His love for us is greater than any we have known. When we feel unlovable, remember God loves us beyond measure. When we feel hopeless, remember with God there is hope. When we feel our sin and shame is too great to carry remember Christ said He will carry them with us. Everyone else may let you down in life, but God will not let you down. Give thanks for a God who ands to fellowship with you and demonstrate His deep love for you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/28/10 11:20 AM
Mark 10:17-22 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, �Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?� 18 �Why do you call me good?� Jesus asked. �Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: �You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.�� 20 �Teacher,� the man replied, �I�ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.� 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. �There is still one thing you haven�t done,� he told him. �Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.� 22 At this the man�s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

In these verses we find a young rich man running up to Jesus calling him �Good Teacher� and asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied with a question and a statement before following up with the answer the man was expecting. Jesus first asked �why do you call me good� and then he replied �only God is truly good.� Jesus was good and Jesus was God. Jesus never denied those facts, but He was testing the man�s faith to see if he understood who Jesus really was. Then Jesus quoted the Mosaic commandments and the man said he had obeyed them all. A pious answer considering the statement Jesus just made saying Only God is truly good. Had the man understood how unjustly he saw himself he would have seen his need for the loving grace and salvation of Christ. Jesus gave the man another action; one to give up what he owned and follow Him. The man walked away sad for his desire for possessions was greater than his desire for salvation.

Proverbs 3:7 says, �Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It is so easy for us to get wrapped up in the idea that we are without fault. It doesn�t matter how righteous we think we are or how good our actions have been. The truth is we are unable to see the extent of our sins even if they are right in front of us. The Bible tells us for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is no one exempt from sin. Therefore �ALL� of us are sinners and need the loving grace and salvation provided through Jesus. So before we look at the actions of another and say, �That person is living a sinful life.� We must first stop and consider our own life. When the woman was accused of adultery by the religious leaders Jesus calmly said to them, �He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.� With those words each man realized how sinful they were and could no longer pursue their desire to punish this woman for they knew they also deserved punishment. Praise God for His Son Jesus Christ who takes away the sins of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/29/10 12:14 PM
James 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, �God is tempting me.� God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

The Apostle James reminds us the temptation to sin does not come from God. Logically James states if God is never tempted to do anything wrong; then how could God tempt someone to do wrong? God does not promote that which He Himself considers evil. Therefore temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and call us to follow.

The comedian Flip Wilson was responsible for creating popular cultural phrases, such as �What you see is what you get�. It was so popular Xerox used WYSIWG (What You See Is What you Get) as an acronym to describe viewing and printing. Another famous quote Flip Wilson coined was, �The devil made me do it!� Often in Wilson�s comedy routines the character Geraldine Jones would explain to her husband, the reverend, she was not to be blamed for her actions because �the devil made her do it�. If she bought a dress, wrecked a car, gambled, etc, her excuse was always �the devil made me do it�. The bible calls Satan the tempter, but nowhere in the bible does it say Satan controls our thoughts or our response to temptation. The truth is our sinful nature wants to blame someone else when we sin. I really don�t need any help to sin. I sin just fine by myself. Satan may point out opportunities to sin, he may place the enticement in front of me, but he does not and cannot make me sin. If I sin it is my own fault and I bear the responsibility for my sin, not Satan, not God, not my wife, and not my friends. We may be tempted, but we are not forced to sin. I thank God he does not leave us alone to our own demise. God gave us His son Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for sin. It is Christ who gives us strength to resist that which we wrongly desire.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/10 12:29 PM
1 John 3:18-20 (The Message)
18 -20 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

The Apostle John writing to those who believe in Christ tells them to practice demonstrating real love in their life towards others. By doing so one knows they are fulfilling God�s purpose to show His love through them to others. Yet there are times when failure to do so hinders our thoughts and makes us critical of ourselves. The apostle reminds us that God is greater than our worries and already knows what is going on with us. So we can confidently come to God knowing He is ready to ease our fears.

The American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, �No man can for any considerable time wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which one is true.� People will often deceive themselves and others by putting on different masks to hide their inward emotions. They do this to hide self doubt, fear, anxiety, depression, hurt, resentment, guilt and shame. These masks are uncomfortable to wear because we fear we might not be wearing the right mask for the right group. Relationships are false because we present a false image to others. Eventually we even begin to believe in our false self putting aside problems, difficulties or sins we are dealing with. And thought we might fool others and fool ourselves; God is not fooled. God knows who we are. God knows the motives behind our actions. God knows our heart and all of our ways. God knows our every thought. He is aware of our faults, our pains, our joys, our hurts, our happiness and our worries. God is not and cannot be fooled by the masks we were. Taking off the masks can be painful. It means being honest, it means being vulnerable, it means showing others our inward emotions. For most of us the masks have held back pain and kept it hidden inside of us. You may think you have it �all together� but in reality everything is falling apart. It is nice to know that God even seeing through our false masks loves us unconditionally. You might not believe that, but God is the only one who knows everything about you and loves you despite your flaws. God delights in us and finds us precious in His sight. It is time to let God help us take off our masks and stop pretending. It is time to let God enable us to see who we are and to be real with others.

Pray, Heavenly Father I want to be real to You and others. I am tired of trying to be someone I am not. Father please help me to be the person You called me to be. Remove these false masks I wear so I know who I really am in Christ. Help me to be honest with myself and others. Guide me where I need guidance. Most of all Lord thank you for loving me when I find myself not lovable. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/10 11:27 AM
1 Timothy 5:19-20 (NLT)
19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

The Apostle Paul gives advice to his beloved friend Timothy concerning the administration of the church. Paul states one should take the time to listen to several people before jumping to a conclusion concerning another. It is best to have at least 2 or 3 who can independently confirm an accusation and not just depend upon the voice of one person. Paul also says those who have been confronted and continue in their habitual sin while professing Jesus Christ should be reprimanded before the church so others will know those actions are inappropriate.

This is a story written by Pastor Matthew Woodley, �Evangelized by the Pizza Man�, from his blog dated 08/13/09. It demonstrates how uncontrolled sin in the church affects those around us.

My friend Emilio owns a tiny pizzeria that makes the best New York pizza on Long Island. Emilio hates �organized religion.� Above the stove where he sticks the orders he also collects small newspaper clippings about flawed and fallen ministers. I call it his �rack of shame.� Every time I come in for pizza he leans over the counter, slides a few clippings on to the counter and whispers, �Hey, look at this. This padre walked off with $80,000. This pastor slept with three church members. This guy abused little boys for twenty years. Okay, do you get why I don�t need your church?� Then with a triumphant flair he sticks the articles back on his �rack of shame.�

A few months ago, fed up with his clergy-bashing, I blurted out, �What does this prove, Emilio? So priests and pastors do despicable things. What if I started a rack of shame for people in your profession and then declared that I will never eat pizza?� Actually, over the next few weeks I tried rummaging through newspapers looking for articles about pizza guys doing nasty things � spitting in the bread dough, using cheap Ragu instead of homemade sauce � but apparently pizza guys live pretty clean lives.
Finally, after a month or two of bickering back and forth I came to Emilio and said, �I need to order two slices of cheese and I need to ask your forgiveness.� He bristled and shot back, �Is this a joke or a trick?�
�No, really, Emilio, I�m truly sorry for being a jerk and for arguing with you � and I want the cheese slices too. The truth is that ministers do screw up. We can be pretty decent people; but sometimes we�re frauds and hypocrites. Sometimes I�m a sham.�

Emilio immediately softened (and we�ve actually become friends), but I didn�t say this as an evangelism strategy. I said it because it�s true and it�s the Gospel. I love the line that summarizes the Gospel this way: We are more flawed than we�d ever dare to admit; we�re more loved than we�d ever dare to imagine. I�m not sure why it�s so hard to get this simple truth. I qualify for the cosmic rack of shame, but then through God�s infinite mercy, Jesus took my place on the rack and set me free.

Emilio, my outraged, anti-clerical, unchurched, pizza-making friend helped me see the Gospel again. I guess he evangelized me. Gosh, I have to be more careful: Jesus keeps sneaking up on me. I never know where he�ll pop up next.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/10 11:56 AM
2 John 1:10-11 (NLT)
10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don�t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

The Apostle John tells us we should take care about who we invite to speak to our family and friends. There are those who speak as if teaching religious truth, but they are deceived and they try to deceive others with false claims about Christ.

The other day I saw a couple driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Convertible with a new car tag. This car easily stands out in the traffic. People were rolling their windows down to speak to this couple and tell them how much they loved the car. After all, this car is valued around $270,000 and is designed to impress. But I noticed a highway patrol staying back a few cars following this vehicle. This couple may have been out for a test drive; they may have just bought the car; or they could have taken it illegally. Either way the officer appeared suspicious about this couple driving this car and taking the time to ensure they were not in false ownership of the car while others were praising them about their car.

The Bible offers us some warnings about those who do not teach the truth concerning God and Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13 says, �For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ.� These people claim a special knowledge of Christ, but they twist and warp the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:14 goes on to say, �And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; who end shall be according to their works.� Satan is a deceiver. He presents what appears to be the truth, but he has warped the truth to conform to his desire to lead people from the truth of God. In the same way Satan has tempted others to follow in his footsteps. These people preach what appears to be the word of God, but the principles do not line up with God�s purpose and will. Take care in listening to such people. Remember Jesus said such people come to you in sheep�s clothing, but inwardly they are ravaging wolves. So be vigilant and watch out for those who are false in their teachings. We need to ensure the words spoken by others line up with the word of God and present the gospel in truth The gospel is Christ was beaten, tortured and executed on a cross for our sin; then he rose to life on the third day; and because of Christ�s sacrifice God has given grace and forgiveness of sin to all who believe.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/10 11:16 AM
Hebrews 10:1-2 (NLT)
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

The apostle tells us the Old Testament law had a purpose to show us the reality of a good, just and holy life. The law was just a shadow, just a slight image of the greater eternal life to be lived with God in heaven. But first there had to be a cleansing of sin. This cleansing came in the form of sacrifices, but it was only temporary and required repeated cleansing in order to properly worship God. It was not until Christ died as the perfect sacrifice that we were made right and justified before God once and for all time. Knowing there was always the need for cleansing left those under the law guilty for there was always another sin to follow another day.

Two different fathers instruct their child to clean up their room and then they will go get ice cream. Each child goes to work putting things in order, placing toys upon the shelves, and straightening what had become a mess. At the end of cleaning their room each child knows they have done what they should do; so they decide to play with one of their favorite toys. The first father walks in and the child begins to fear. He knows the father will see the room is no longer straight. Other toys have been pulled down and been put on the floor. The child feels guilt and waits on his father to scold him. The second father comes in to check on the progress of his child and finds the child playing with their favorite toy. The child knows his father understands he has done their best to clean the room, but has taken a moment to rest and play. Which father do you see God as? Do you see Him as one ready to scold you or do you see Him as one who understands? Never was it said the first father scolded the child or didn�t take them for the ice cream. It may have been the child�s own feeling of guilt and not understanding his father�s expectations that caused the fear. We have a God who loves us, who no longer requires us to perform a perfect cleansing. For God gave His son as the pure sacrifice for sin and we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/06/10 11:27 AM
Ruth 2:21-22 (NLT)
21 Then Ruth said, �What�s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.� 22 �Good!� Naomi exclaimed. �Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you�ll be safe with him.�

Naomi had lost both her husband and sons. Ruth was one of Naomi�s daughter-in-laws who had chosen to stay with her and care for her. Ruth had said to Naomi, �"Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.� Ruth was determined to be with her mother-in-law in order to help her. Naomi encouraged Ruth to work in the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of hers. Naomi knew Ruth might be harassed or assaulted in other fields, but the field of Boaz was a safe and refreshing place to be.

Unfortunately harassment and assaults of many types have taken place throughout history. In The Bible King David was familiar with harassment when he said in Psalms 119:161, �Powerful people harass me without cause.� Christ understood harassment as Jewish leaders persecuted Him for His acts of mercy towards others. Harassment in any form is wrong. Read the news and you will see many different reports of harassment today. There are teens driven to suicide by harassment from classmates. Politicians have been investigated for their harassment of assistants. It seems there is no place safe, but we know Ruth was offered a safe place where she could feel comfortable and protected. The church needs to be a safe place, a place of protection and free from harassment. And the church should understand this well for the church itself has been persecuted and harassed throughout history. Pray God�s people would provide a safe tower of refuge for those who are in need. Pray for those who have faced harassment that the Lord himself would heal their wounds.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/07/10 12:02 PM
Romans 3:23-26 (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God�s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

The apostle gives a reminder there is NO ONE without sin. Everyone has fallen short of God�s standards, short of His righteousness, short of His glory, short of His compassion, short of His fairness, short of His justice and short of His mercy and love. Yet God declares those who believe in Jesus Christ justified and made right in His sight. It is not through keeping rules and laws that we are justified, but instead we are made right by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

The apostle has some additional words that are helpful in Romans 9:30-33, �Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God�s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, �I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.�� If we could take an inventory of those in heaven we might be surprised because of our own arrogance. The list would include those who had been thieves, liars, prostitutes, drunkards, adulterers and murderers. Their lives may have been met with disapproval and we would have condemned them. Some would be believe it was impossible for them to be in heaven. However, when they placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they become justified in God�s sight. They may have been imprisoned for their deeds, but even in prison they were able to receive God�s mercy and grace. They may have been put to death, but they received eternal life in heaven because of their faith. You see Jesus Christ came for sinners, not just some, but for ALL sinners. So no matter what your past, no matter what you have done you can come just as you are to Jesus and be forgiven for all your sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/10 11:40 AM
Colossians 2:20-23 (NLT)
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 �Don�t handle! Don�t taste! Don�t touch!�? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person�s evil desires.

The apostle was pointing out rules established by man had no intrinsic worth and corrupted Christian faith. For there were those who tried to follow both Christ and follow Mosaic law thinking they would be wiser in doing so. Following these rituals did nothing more than to hinder their fellowship with Christ and tighten the yoke of sin.

In the film The Shawshank Redemption, Ellis "Red" Redding has spent his prime wasting away in prison because of a reckless act of violence he committed as a teenager. After 40 years of incarceration, Red finally receives his release to enjoy the freedom for which he's longed. However, he can't free himself from the habit of asking for permission each time he wishes to use the men's room. He's become "institutionalized." This newfound life scares him, because he's grown accustomed to the structure behind bars. Imprisonment had become safe for Red. He didn't have to exercise his own decision-making. Someone else did the thinking for him, and now, on the outside, he faces a prospect more daunting and terrifying than incarceration: freedom. Red confesses that he contemplates various ways to break his parole and return to the security of his prison cell. He sums up his dilemma in one line: "It is a terrible thing to live in fear." People caught up in legalism are no different than Red�scared to death of the freedom grace brings. It's much easier to retreat to our cells of dos and don'ts, of black and white categories. But the church should not protect people by erecting legalistic walls. Instead it can release people by equipping them to discern godly choices on their own. [Graham Johnson, Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-First Century Listeners; Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/10 11:19 AM
Acts 15:7-11 (NLT)
7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: �Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people�s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.�

There were Pharisee Christians teaching Gentiles they needed to follow Mosaic laws along with their Christian belief in order to be saved. A meeting was convened and the apostle Peter addressed the group. The content of his message was the good news of salvation was given to all men without a distinction between them. Therefore it was unreasonable to impose laws and rules upon the Gentiles that even the Jews who lived under God�s hand were not able themselves to keep.

Margaret Thatcher in her October 1988 speech to The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said the following: �Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians, to take counsel together their purpose is not (or should not be) to ascertain what is the mind of the majority but what is the mind of the Holy Spirit�something which may be quite different.�

Sometimes we forget a Christian life is not about our rules, judgments or impositions we place on ourselves or others. A Christian life is about receiving the underserved grace of our Lord Jesus. It is about letting the Holy Spirit guide our individual lives and having a close fellowship with our Lord and Savior. A Christian life contains forgiveness and love towards each other as God has extended His merciful love towards us. And while we desire to live a righteous and holy life, perfection is impossible. So we to stop trying to impose rules on others which we ourselves cannot keep.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/10 11:58 AM
Matthew 8:5-10 (NAS)
5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." 7 Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.

The man coming before Jesus was a Roman Centurion. These men were gentiles, professional soldiers in command of 80-100 men. They led other soldiers from the front of the battle, occupying a position at the front right of the century formation. They inspired their men by example. Centurions were highly respected and educated men. Yet even with all his respect and power this centurion humbled his self to Jesus to ask for grace upon his servant. The centurion went further in his faith saying all Jesus needed to do was �say this and it will be done�.

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked an important question to His disciples. He asked, �Who do you say that I am?� It is a question relevant for us today. Who is it we believe Jesus to be? Do we really and truly believe He is Savior, King of Heaven, Lord above all Lords or do we place limits on him? Can we go to Jesus, ask what we need and believe He will answer in our best interest? Like the Centurion we need to be able to ask in confidence and have genuine faith Jesus will answer our request. The Centurion understood the power and authority of Jesus. Sadly the response to Israel, who knew God, who had witnessed the miracles of God and Christ, was there was no one who had such faith as this Roman Gentile. Pray we may put aside our doubts, put aside our feelings and learn to have to total faith in Christ. Pray we really know and believe who Jesus said He was.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/10 11:26 AM
Isaiah 5:21 (KJV)
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

In this chapter of Isaiah the prophet speaks to the people of Israel about their sins and the consequences to follow. One of their transgressions is founded in self-conceit and pride. The people believe they have a clear insight into their own ways of life. They believe they can disprove the reproofs of God against them. They believe themselves superior to others because they fail to see their own sinful ways. They think they are wise, but actually they are foolish in their thoughts.

Which would you prefer to eat, �Patagonian toothfish� or �Chilean sea bass�? Most people probably find Chilean sea bass sounds more appetizing; but actually they are the same fish. The Patagonian toothfish was cheaply sold in Chile because the Chileans considered it too oily. However, it was marketed in the United States as Chilean sea bass. It became so popular it has been overfished and to the point where it has been put on the Seafood Red List. It seems in this case one man�s trash became another man�s treasure.

What may be right in the mind of one person is sometimes wrong in the mind of another. Unfortunately it is the way most of us look at life. We see the actions of another and say that is wrong, but we often do not see what is wrong with ourselves. We are ready to judge and condemn, but we have failed to look at our own actions because we believe we are right and just. We pick and choose morals to uphold, while we allow other morals in our life to go unchecked. We think �I am better than they are�, but we have obvious faults which prove us wrong. God is the only one who sees the world clearly and understands the minds of man. King Solomon said, �People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.� Listen to the Lord and ask for wisdom that you might understand your own failures and flaws. Give mercy and grace to others knowing that you also need mercy and grace for the sins you do not see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/14/10 11:26 AM
Revelation 3:8 (KJV)
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Christ speaks to the Church of Philadelphia to let them know what He has done for the church. Christ is the one who placed liberty and opportunity before them. It is a door which has been opened and no one apart from Christ can shut. Christ acknowledges the church has not denied Him nor failed to follow Him. It is the reason for their liberty and opportunity to reach out to others. Those against God would love to do nothing more than shut this door, but as long as Christ is not provoked the door will remain open.

In the phrase from Revelation 3:8, �no man can shut it�, the Greek word for �can� is dynamai, which means having the ability, strength or power to do something. It is the word from which dynamite is derived. So let�s think about the verse this way, �Once Jesus has opened a door of opportunity no person has enough dynamite to affect the door.� It cannot be blow shut, it cannot be destroyed, and it cannot be made impassable. Jesus has opened the door and it will remain open until Jesus decides to shut it. So if you have been given an opportunity by Christ don�t let the opportunity pass. The door is being held open for you to accomplish want needs to be done. And when your task is through give Jesus the honor, praise and glory He deserves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/10 11:48 AM
Genesis 32:11
11 O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children.

Esau had carelessly given away his birthright to Jacob to satisfy his physical hunger for food. Jacob in turn, with the help of his mother, fooled his father into blessing him instead of Esau in order to obtain Esau�s birthright. Jacob fled because he feared Esau and the issues between them went unresolved. It was now many years later and Jacob was about to face Esau who he had feared for so many years.

Unresolved conflict will affect us until the conflict is resolved. Jacob fled home because he feared retaliation from Esau for tricking his father into blessing him instead of Esau. Jacob lived in that fear and many years later the fear still controlled him. Often we wonder why someone will keep bringing up a past argument in the midst of another argument. Most often it is because the person felt the issue was unresolved and they still live in their own fear. They never felt as though their feelings were heard and acknowledged. They are in conflict and fear pulls at their weakest emotions. The easiest way to help someone resolve that conflict is to ask them to talk about their past anger and intently listen to them. Confirm what you heard them say by repeating back in your own words. It is not important whether you agree with them or not; this is about how they feel, not how you feel. So put aside any discussion you may want to bring up for a later time. Express your sorrow for their pain and suffering. Let them know you care and help remove their fear. Once they know their fears have been acknowledged it will be easier for them to let go of the past. Remember you don�t have to agree with someone to acknowledge their feelings and express sorrow over their emotions. Feeling as though we have to defend ourselves is a problem we ourselves need to work on. Let go of your defensive feelings and listen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/19/10 11:30 AM
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

The apostle writes to the Philippians to encourage them in their Christian duties. He exhorts them to be more like Christ by humbling themselves before others. They should put aside selfishness and pride. They should attend not only to their own interests, but also to the interests of others. Paul is encouraging them to do as Christ said, �Love one another.�

Richard Manning and Ray Brennan had been friends since Marine training school in Quantico, VA. During the Korean War, the unit in which the two Marines served arrived in Pusan in the fall of 1951. It was a little after midnight, and a light snow was falling. Huddled in the bunker, the two were passing a cigarette back and forth when a hand grenade landed squarely between them. Ray Brennan spotted it first. He nonchalantly flicked the cigarette butt aside and fell on the grenade. It detonated instantly, but Brennan's stomach absorbed the explosion. He winked at Manning and rolled over dead. Four years later, Manning entered the priesthood. When he took his vows, he took a new name to symbolize his new life in Jesus Christ. He changed his given name to Brennan Manning in memory of his friend. One summer, Father Brennan Manning dropped in on Ray Brennan's widowed mother in Chicago. After dinner, they were reminiscing about the days when Ray was alive. Unexpectedly, the priest asked, "Ma, do you think Ray really loved me?" "Oh, Brennan," she laughed, "You can't ever be serious." "I am serious," Brennan replied. She looked at him in disbelief. She stood up and screamed in her Irish brogue, "Good Lord, man, what more could he ha' done fer ya?" I've been thinking about that question. Sometimes when I am disappointed; disillusioned; or doubting Jesus Christ--I need to ask myself: "what more could He have done for me?"

[Richard Anderson, Christ Presbyterian Church, quotes from The Importance of Being Foolish by Brennan Manning]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/10 12:13 PM
Proverbs 18:2 (ESV)
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

King Solomon has several proverbs relating to the wisdom of opinion. In 12:23 he says, �A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.� And in 15:2 Solomon says, �The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.� There are basically two types of people: 1) There are those that have knowledge, use it wisely and only speak of it only at proper times; 2) There are those that think they are wise, but foolishly proclaim their opinions only for the sake of their own beliefs.

Opinions are common. There are opinion polls to show averages of people�s opinions on a subject. Rarely, if never will you see a single opinion at 100% for everyone is different. News commentators give personal opinions in addition to factual information; so in essence they mix fact with founded or unfounded personal belief. Letters to the Editor are opinions, individual points of view. Even someone selling you something will say, �In my OPINION this is a good buy.� Everyone has an opinion, but that does not mean their opinion is valid. Many opinions are not based on fact, not founded in wisdom or shown to be true. They are what they are; the personal belief of an individual. An important lesson to remember is when someone confronts you with their opinion, remember �it is just their opinion�. You have an opinion of yourself that counts too. Even greater is God�s opinion of you - He calls you precious and dear to Him. When a loved one or someone we respect gives us an unfavorable opinion of ourselves it can hurt. Maybe they got pieces of facts, heard rumors, or listened to lies and they presented a foolish opinion. Again, remember it is their opinion, you don�t have to agree, you don�t have to defend your own opinion of yourself, and you don�t have to respond in anger. Thank them for their opinion and keep your opinion of them to yourself. Seek God�s wisdom and let God speak to you on what is true and what is not to see if there is any truth in their opinion. Hand your emotions over to God and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart so that you may know the truth. Pray God would show you His opinion of you matters more than the opinion of others or even yourself.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/25/10 11:08 AM
Genesis 31:22-30 (NLT)
22 Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead. 24 But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, �I�m warning you�leave Jacob alone!� 25 Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob�s. 26 �What do you mean by stealing away like this?� Laban demanded. �How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war? 27 Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you steal away? And why didn�t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. 28 Why didn�t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly! 29 I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, �Leave Jacob alone!� 30 I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father�s home. But why have you stolen my gods?�

Jacob had been told by God to leave the land of his uncle and father-in-law, Laban, and return to his homeland. Over the years, Laban had taken advantage of his son-in-law Joseph; but God prospered Joseph in everything he did. Joseph and his family secretly left. Laban chased after Joseph and his family. One reason it was thought he was in such hot pursuit of Joseph was that Rachel had stolen her father�s idols; perhaps not for the rich metals or what they represented, but that it gave her a right to establish a future claim to the headship of the family and the possessions of the family. Labal perhaps thought Joseph was trying to take all Laban had.

Laban goes through a long list of complaints. He complains to Joseph about slipping off secretly, taking away his family, not giving a proper farewell, and not allowing him to say goodbye to his family. Then Labon gets to the heart of his complaint, �Why have you stolen my gods?�

Is this scenario familiar to you: a complaint is made, but it is not what the real issue is about? Then finally after some arguing and confrontation the true problem is revealed? Most people are afraid to address an issue straight on so they attack other things close to the issue. None of them are the true problem and so the confrontation grows even hotter because more than one complaint is lodged. Each of us has probably been at fault for this somewhere in our life. Pray we would learn to be honest with others in a way that is non-threatening. Pray we could learn to live through the power of God and not out of the fear we have for others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/10 12:19 PM
Proverbs 26:18-19 (NLT)
18 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon 19 is someone who lies to a friend and then says, �I was only joking.�

This proverb speaks of the person who commits a willful sin pretending to be polite with their words, but in reality they are cunning, malicious and deceitful. They give a frivolous excuse for their behavior and then try to play it off as humorous fun. But there is no fun for the victim of a lie and valuable truth is being sold off as a joke.

Webster�s Dictionary says when a person lies they make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; or the intent is to create a false or misleading impression. A lie is deliberate; it is calculated and meant to intentionally cheat a person from the truth. The book of Jeremiah tells us a person that tells lies practice with their tongue and wear themselves out sinning. The Bible tells us Satan is the master of deception. Through a lie Satan encouraged Adam and Eve to sin. Through deception Satan has led people away from Christ so they may not know the truth of mercy, grace and salvation. St. Augustine said, �For a person is to be judged as lying or as not lying according to the intention of his own mind, not according to the truth or falsity of the matter itself�.In reality, the fault of the person who tells a lie consists in his desire to deceive in expressing his thoughts.� Lies are separate from falsehoods and omissions. A falsehood is where one believes a statement to be true, but their facts have not been confirmed. Omissions can be contested as a lie if the intent is to harmfully deceive; but omission by itself without intent to do evil is not always a lie. Omission may be for the purpose of protection, such as withholding information when it is known the truth will cause harm. Omission can just be the fault of a person to not include facts they did not think about and therefore they had no intent to lie. Generally there are four conditions to a lie: 1) a person makes a statement, 2) the statement is untruthful and the speaker understands the statement to be false, 3) the statement is purposefully directed to another person, and 4) there is intention of the speaker for the listener to believe the untruthful statement. We all must take care not to lie for the purpose of deception and evil. We are all sinners and all prone to lie in some manner; therefore we must take care in our judgment of others. Pray for discernment from God that you may know the intent of individuals and whether their intent is to harm. Pray also that you would follow truth and use it wisely.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/10 12:07 PM
Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)
1 Don�t brag about tomorrow, since you don�t know what the day will bring.

King Solomon offers a caution about presuming what the future may bring. We should not make promises to ourselves about our life and its continuance for we cannot make promises to ourselves we cannot keep. For God does not reveal to us future events, but wisely reserves the knowledge for Himself. Therefore we prepare for tomorrow knowing we must be willing to submit to the will of God. And we should not linger in worry about the events of the future, but instead place our trust in the hands of God.

In the movie Life or Something Like it, an ambitious TV anchorwoman, Lanie Kerrigan (Angelina Jolie) decides to change her destiny when a homeless man tells her she'll die within a week. Lanie is perfect; engaged to Seattle Mariners star Cal (Christian Kane), the famous host of a popular TV show, and adorned in a perfect wardrobe enhanced by her trademark Marilyn Monroe-inspired blonde buffont. To top it all off, her boss recommends her for her dream job, a network position in New York City. In order to increase her chances, he sends her to do field work with the renowned, but difficult, cameraman Pete (Edward Burns). On an assignment, Prophet Jack (Tony Shalhoub), tells Lanie three predictions: that the Seattle Seahawks will beat the Denver Broncos 19-13, that it will hail the following day, and that she'll be dead by next Thursday. When the first two predictions come true, Lanie reevaluates her life and realizes she's missing out on the smaller things because of her ambition.

What would you do if you found out you only had one week to live? Would you stop and change your priorities in life? Would you continue the same routine or would you take advantage of the time that was left? None of us are guaranteed another second of life. Our lives can end with a single heart beat; yet we presume to know what tomorrow holds and fail to see the important parts of life. Pray God would give you wisdom to see the purpose of your life and what you should be doing. Give praise to God for what you have and pray He would meet your needs for those things you do not have.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/28/10 11:31 AM
Amos 3:3 (NLT)
3 Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?

After exposing the sins of the people in the various surrounding areas and proclaiming God�s judgment upon those people Amos now speaks to Israel. The first question Amos asks is, �Can two people walk together without agreeing on a direction?� If the people are at odds with God there can be no fellowship with Him. To walk with God they must first accommodate that which is in difference to God. Amos expresses the idea that one cannot expect God to be present with us or act with us unless we have reconciled ourselves to God through repentance and alignment with God�s will.

The Rev C H Spurgeon delivered this message as a portion of his Oct, 30, 1864 sermon at Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Yet again, dear friends, are we agreed this day as to our utter helplessness in this work? I caught a good sentence the other day. Speaking with a Wesleyan minister, I said to him, "Your denomination during the past year did not increase: you have usually had a large increase to your numbers. You were never so rich as now; your ministers were never so well educated; you never had such good chapels as now, and yet you never had so little success. What are you doing?�knowing this to be the fact, what are you doing? How are the minds of your brethren exercised with regard to this?" He comforted me much by the reply. He said, "It has driven us to our knees: we thank God that we know our state and are not content with it. We have had a day of humiliation, and I hope," he said, "some of us have gone low enough to be blessed." There is a great truth in that last sentence, "low enough to be blessed," I do fear me that some of us never do go low enough to be blessed. When a man says, "Oh! yes, we are getting on very well, we do not want any revival that I know of," I fear me he is not low enough to be blessed; and when you and I pray to God with pride in us, with self-exaltation, with a confidence in our own zeal, or even in the prevalence of our own prayers of themselves, we have not come low enough to be blessed. An humble Church will be a blessed Church; a Church that is willing to confess its own errors and failures, and to lie at the foot of Christ's cross, is in a position to be favoured of the Lord. I hope we are agreed, then, with God, as to our utter unworthiness and helplessness, so that we look to him alone.

Pray our nation would look to God for His thoughts and that we, His people, would follow Him. Pray that our minds may be one in agreement with God and give thanks always for God�s generosity, grace and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/10 12:23 PM
Proverbs 29:11 (NLT)
11 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

It is a weakness when a person throws open the gates of their frustrations and they act upon whatever thoughts may come to mind. Any thought whether helpful or harmful is spewed forth and vented unfairly upon another. The reflections and thoughts might not even be pertinent. They are quickly mouthed without counsel and will usually lead to greater distress. But those who are wise have learned the proper ways to express anger and not allow it to build to a point of rage. They hold back their thoughts, often seeking out advice and listening closely to others to reserve their words for a proper time and place.

A wife gave her husband a list of items for a Halloween party. She said to be sure to get everything on the list and nothing more. Before getting to the store, the husband misplaced the list and thought instead of calling his wife he would just pick up some items. After all, how hard is it to plan a party? Walking through the aisles he became distracted with the costumes. He thought, maybe I�ll buy one of these, wear it home and surprise the wife. After putting on the costume and parking his truck away from the house, and then walking down the street to his house the husband rang the doorbell. He could hear his wife approaching the door, but before the door opened he heard, �You better not be my husband dressed in a stupid Halloween costume without bringing back those items on the shopping list.� Sometimes it is just prudent not to respond for you know you have done wrong. And while the attempt was to surprise his wife; the husband forgot about the feelings of the wife, the need to bring back her complete list, and not make her feel let down. It was time to be sympathetic to her feelings and acknowledge his wrong and return to buy what she asked for.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/10 10:25 AM
2 Chronicles 7:19-22 (NLT)
19 �But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, �Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?�
22 �And the answer will be, �Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.��

God had promised King David his son Solomon would build a great temple to honor Him. Now the temple was complete and had been dedicated to the Lord. In these verses the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream after the dedication. God tells Solomon as long as the people obey and follow Him the temple will remain great, but if the people abandon God then God will abandon them and the temple built to honor Him.

As we read the Old Testament we find that God�s people did abandon the Lord and follow the ways of other gods. Just as God promised the temple was destroyed. Assyrian and Babylonian invasions overtook the people which lead to the destruction of the temple. In America we need to remember God has given us a country and we have shown Him honor for it in the past. But slowly we have allowed ourselves to follow things which do not honor or praise the true God. As we have an opportunity to vote tomorrow do so with God in mind that we should vote for those who place Him first in their lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/02/10 10:54 AM
1 John 3:20-21 (NLT)
20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don�t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

The apostle writes about when we reflect upon ourselves and we find a court of conviction that passes judgment on our relationship with God. This reflection acts as witness, judge, and executioner. We will either accuse ourselves or excuse ourselves. We will condemn the actions we have taken or we will justify them. Our conscience is a spotlight showing our guilt. However, God already knows our guilt and he wants us to come to Him in bold confidence knowing that He will forgive whatever we confess to him.

Robert Webber writes in his book, Who Gets to Narrate the World, he was traveling on a plane reading Christian material. A man sitting next to him from an Eastern culture asked if he was a religious man. The man responded he was religious also. Robert asked him to sum up his belief in one sentence and the man said, �We all are a part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution. After talking for a bit Robert asked the man if he would like to hear a one-liner to sum up Christianity and man responded he would. Robert said this, �We all are a part of the problem, but there is only one man who is the solution and His name is Jesus Christ.�

God sent His son Jesus to die for our sin. God wants us to confess that sin to Him. However, God does not want us to carry around a burden of guilt for that sin. Instead God wants us to remember He already knows our sin and that is why He gave up His Son Jesus. When guilt comes upon us for sin it is a reminder of our sin, but we should not let that guilt hold us down. We should approach God in confidence knowing He forgives us and reachs out to us in love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/03/10 12:04 PM
1 Corinthians 10:27-30 (NLT)
27 If someone who isn�t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, �This meat was offered to an idol.� Don�t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

The apostle speaks to Christians about dining with non-Christians in their homes. There were times meat offered in sacrifice would be eaten as a part of the meal. The apostle encourages those who eat in the home of these infidels not to raise questions about the food and to eat it in freedom. The exception would be if the food was presented in a way that says �eat of this sacrificial food and honor our gods with us.� In Christ there is freedom to eat the food for which we give praise, but we must also take care not to give honor to anyone but the true God in what we do. So while we give peaceful consideration to others, we must also be alert to stand strong on our convictions with unwavering posture.

It seems Christians are still stuck on religious rules almost 2000 years after the death of Christ. I remember my grandmother saying dancing and movies were forbidden when she was a teen. There are some who even try to impose self made rules upon others. Yet we have to remember it is our relationship with Christ that guides our lives. If we are reading God�s word, praying, and really taking the time to listen to the Lord; the Holy Spirit speaks to us confirming or condemning our actions. Most of us might say it is our conscience speaking, but it is God showing us the right path and that path has no shame associated with it. We must also take caution if we are not maintaining a relationship with Christ then we are subject to sin and follow in that sin; for apart from Christ we can do nothing on our own. So when you act according to what God would have you do. Remember not to carry ideas conceived by men, instead listen to Christ. An action itself it not sinful unless we know it is what God would not have us to do or we fail to do what He is telling us to do. Back to my grandmother, dancing is not sinful, but it can be made sinful by inappropriate behavior. Movies are not sinful, but they can be when they defile God. So remember to live according to God and not according to the religious rules of man.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/10 11:36 AM
Ephesians 2:14-16 (NLT)
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

In these verses the apostle expresses the great privileges both Jews and Gentiles receive from Christ. He shows there were a system of laws and commandments separating Jew and Gentile, but now those laws have been put aside in order to bring reconciliation to all. The Gentiles had never been allowed to enter into the court of God�s temple, but now they could enter into the presence of God�s holiness. The death and resurrection of Christ took away the binding of the ceremonial law and placed a law that was much greater upon the hearts of man. The law that lives through Christ in the hearts of man brings conviction and a desire for repentance.

The famous Will Rogers had a quote that said, �Live so that you wouldn�t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.� Many of us try to cover up and hide the sin present in our life. We can be driving to church having an argument with our kids or spouse and as soon as the car doors open we are smiling at the unsuspecting. We can present one image to our coworkers or friends, but then be living a complete lie away from them. The reason this happens is because we are powerless over sin. We try to manage the sin and cover it up as best as possible by our own strength and power. God�s intent is for us to let Christ live through us. Corinthians tells us Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. We know through Christ comes the power of salvation. To quote the first item from the 12 step program, �We must admit we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable.� Addiction is just one sin, and there are many sins we are powerless over. Admit to God you are powerless over sin and you need Christ to take control of your life and guide each and every decision. Walk closely with Christ so that you may know how to live life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/10 11:54 AM
Genesis 3:1-4 (NLT)
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, �Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?� 2 �Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,� the woman replied. 3 �It�s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, �You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.�� 4 �You won�t die!� the serpent replied to the woman. 5 �God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.�

This story recounts the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. The temptation offered by the serpent was �AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.� Satan understood this temptation well for he himself had fallen to it and so had the angels who fell supporting Satan. Their desire was to be like God and their desire cost them the rewards of heaven.

Let�s take a moment to reflect upon our original purpose. We were created in the image of God, to be with God, to have a relationship and fellowship with God. Our lives were to be unobstructed by the view of sin and our wisdom was to be directed by God. Our lives would have been free from pain and misery. Our burdens would have been simple. God our creator was ready to watch over us and take care of all our needs. Yet man decided he wanted to be like God. Man without thought took on the responsibility of trying to be God without having the power to be God. Man was incapable of dealing with sin, afflictions, suffering, pain and burden, but his choice cost him exactly that. Even now we try to handle problems our own way and seek out our own solutions without God�s help. Overpowered by the burdens of the world we turn to things other than God hoping they will give us support or relief from our suffering. Yet it is all in vain unless we humble ourselves before God, admit our sin, admit our flaws, and seek His wisdom. God still cares about us and wants us with Him in heaven, but God has also given us the freedom to choose because we wanted that choice. And yet that choice cost us dearly and cost Christ even much more. Pray you will turn over the areas of your life where you are trying to act as God. Maybe you are trying to control others or situations. Maybe you are taking on more than you can handle thinking you can do it all. Jesus told us his yoke was easy and his burden was light. Let�s fully turn our lives over to Jesus and live as close to God as He intended.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/10 12:29 PM
1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (NLT)
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord�s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

The Apostle Paul writes to the church of Corinth about the distractions of life. In these verses Paul does not discourage marriage, but instead encourages to do what is best to serve the Lord with the fewest possible distractions. In Christ there are no restrictions and in our devotion to the Lord we must always choose what is best to serve Him.

Later in the book of Corinthians the apostle gives an example of keeping focused. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 he says, �Don�t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.� Paul kept his life focused on the Lord so as not to get distracted. He saw the goal of eternal life with Christ. He intently served the Lord knowing one day he would be with the Lord in heaven. What distracts you from serving the Lord in this short life here on earth? Some allow life itself to become a distraction. Some allow objects to become their desire that distracts them from God. Some give into addictions because it is a distraction from painful feelings, but also distracts them from connecting with the Lord. So pray with me that we may remove the distractions of life and see the purpose God has given us. Let us serve with intent and keep our eyes on Christ in heaven. May God bless you always.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/10 02:20 PM
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NLT)
1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that �we all have knowledge� about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn�t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

The Apostle Paul goes on further in Corinthians to explain this comment. So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. Paul recognizes there are some new Christians practicing old rituals. There is however those who knew the one true God and now know Christ that understand the truth in regard to this matter. It is not the food that defiles, but sin. Later Paul cautions about using this liberty of understanding so as not to tempt weaker Christians.

There was a story of a faithful priest who helped the mentally challenged. The priest had gotten a young man into a health facility to help him with his mental challenges. Later the priest wanted to visit this young man and the staff at the facility was excited to hear of the upcoming visit. When the priest arrived he was taken to the Golden Room for lunch. The young man he came to see was not there so he inquired where he was. The staff responded, �Oh, patients are not allowed in the Golden Room.� At that point the priest said he would have to eat elsewhere so he could visit his friend. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to hear this priest speak the staff arranged for the young man to eat in the Golden Room. Isn�t it amazing how rules can be broken when it seems appropriate to do so? In Christ we have full freedom and while we are encouraged not to sin there are rules man has made. These rules often dominate us and we forget that Christ has called us to serve Him and not rules. Make sure Christ is leading you to do what is right, what is necessary, and what is just.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/11/10 12:43 PM
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice�the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

In these verses the apostle leads us to our duty to God. We surrender ourselves to God. We must be willing to give up who we are in the world and allow Christ to work through us to transform us into a living and holy sacrifice. We allow God to work in our lives to bring a close and intimate fellowship with Him. Allowing Christ to work in our lives we learn from Him instead of copying behaviors and customs from the world.

In the New Living Translation version of The Bible, it says in Mark 2:15, �Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus� followers.) � From this verse we know Jesus did not separate himself from the sinners of the world. Jesus was around many people who the Jewish leaders considered to be very immoral. However, we also know Jesus was without sin so even though Jesus was in a setting with many immoral people, Jesus was Himself, behaving as He would and not committing sin. He was there to minister to sinners and where else could He minister if He was not right in their midst. As Christians we are called to minister to sinners. We cannot separate ourselves from them, but we can keep from following behaviors of the world. Some of us are at different points in our Christian walk. Some have matured and can restrain from sin. Other may be weak and may need to keep a distance from certain situations. For instance I met a man whose internet company filters out adult material as a service. It is his job to review a website and decide if the site needs to be blocked by the service. There are some people who may not be able to do that job. In the same way there are some Christians who may not be ready to minister to certain people. But as Christ matures us and transforms us we gain the confidence to minister without being a part of the world. Pray God would continue to transform you away from the behaviors of the world and you more towards being like Christ. Minister to those in need and do not look down on sinners, but instead graciously see their need to be removed from the sin they live in.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/10 11:50 AM
Luke 15:1-7 (NLT)
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people�even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 �If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won�t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, �Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.� 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven�t strayed away!

In these verses we find the religious leaders complaining about Jesus associating with noted sinners. They could not believe Jesus would even sit down and have a meal with such people. Jesus responded to them that a shepherd would do all he could to rescue one lost sheep and then rejoice when it was found and brought back to the herd. How much greater is it when a lost sinner is sought after, found, and then brought to fellowship with God. There Pharisees were shepherds of people, but they were not interested in rescuing sinners. Their interest was in condemning them for their sinful actions.


Let's suppose that on your way to work each morning, you usually stop at a Starbucks. You tend to get to the store at the same time each morning, and you usually see a young girl who gets there about the same time you do. On many mornings you find yourselves standing next to each other in line. In fact, you both order the same thing�double espresso with skim milk.

She seems to be into the gothic culture�black hair, black clothes, knee-high jackboots, black fingernails, black lipstick, piercings in the nose, lips, ears, and eyebrows, and scattered tattoos. She usually has a backpack that she has to take off to get her money, and sometimes it seems hard for her to hold the backpack, get the money, and pay for the coffee all at the same time.

She doesn't make too much eye contact with others. You wonder whether you should strike up a conversation with her�maybe offer to hold her backpack while she pays. You're not sure what to do with the whole gothic bit, and you don't know whether she'd give you a dark look and not say anything.

Should you try to be friendly? Maybe find out what brings you both to the same Starbucks each morning? See if she ever tries any of the other specialty coffees? Move toward greeting her each morning? Learn about other parts of her life? Yes! By all means! Move into her world. Make a comment one day about how the barista probably already knows both of your orders as soon as you walk in the door. Offer to hold her backpack while she pays. A couple of days later, tell her your name and ask for hers. If she misses a few days, tell her you hope she wasn't sick the next time you see her.

Why move into her world? Because with the eyes of a doctor, you see a hurt that God can heal. You see an anger and alienation. Maybe it's because of sexual abuse from a stepfather, a brother, or an old boyfriend. But you see the heaviness, the sadness. With the eyes of a doctor, you see a hurt that God can heal.

There's a man at work that everybody shakes their head at. He's been divorced a couple of times, and both of his ex-wives are suing him for past child support. He's a deadbeat dad�way behind on his support, sending them just a little bit, every so often. He's been living with another woman and her small child, but a couple of weeks ago, he slapped her around pretty hard. She called the cops, he spent a couple nights in jail, and she kicked him out and now has a restraining order against him. He's currently living in one of the cheap motels that rents by the month.

Every day at lunch, he goes out by himself to get a hamburger or a burrito, always coming back with mustard or chili on his shirt. Nobody talks very much to him, because he's too quick to complain about how everybody's taking advantage of him, everybody's pushing his buttons, everybody's squeezing him dry. Who wants to listen to that?

You've often wondered about being nice and offering to go to lunch with him. You like the same fast food he does�Burger King and Taco Bell and Subway. And you know Subway has a sale going on�three foot-long sandwiches for $10. You couldn't possibly eat that much, but it seems like a shame not to take advantage of such a bargain.

Should you invite him along one day? Yes! By all means! Move into his world. Go to lunch with him. When you get to Subway and you both sit down with your sandwiches and chips and drinks, ask him if he's watched any of the baseball playoffs. Who's he rooting for in the World Series? Mention that it's been just about the worst umpiring you've ever seen.

Why move into his world? Because with the eyes of a doctor, you see a hurt that God can heal. You see a bitterness at life, failing at relationships, blaming others instead of knowing how to change himself. You sense his fear of the future�no money, a criminal record on the books�and his desperation over being all alone in the world. With the eyes of a doctor, you see a hurt that God can heal.

Your company has a co-ed softball team that competes in the city league, and they're looking for a couple of extra players. You like softball. You like the feel of connecting on a pitch, running down a fly ball, making a clothesline throw on one hop to home plate to nail a runner trying to score. The first game is next Tuesday, and they're pushing you to join them.

But you're not sure. You like softball, but you don't know about playing with the people in the office. You went to a company picnic a couple of months ago, where there was a pickup softball game, and some of the guys were drinking a lot of beer, getting pretty raunchy in their comments about some of the women on the other team. Some of the wives of your coworkers were loud-mouthed, and they flirted with other husbands. The parents yelled mean things at their children but did nothing to control them. And in the parking lot, one of the married men from the office who had come to the picnic by himself was behind his pickup truck going at it pretty heavy with one of the single moms in the office. Do you want to deal with all that every week? Should you join the team? Yes! By all means! Move into their world. Get to the park, shag those balls, and run those bases. Bring some Cokes to put in with their beers. When one of the women on the other team lines it into a gap between center and left for a stand-up double, instead of questioning her sexual preference, shout out, "Great hit! Did you play in college?" Buy a cheap glove for the single mom's kid, ask if he wants to be batboy, have him sit beside you on the bench, and teach him the strategies of the game.

Why move into their world? Because with the eyes of a doctor, you see their hurts that God can heal. You see that the machismo and the raunchiness merely disguise insecurity and failure. You see marriages where there's no love and children that don't have the security of boundaries. You see the single mom's loneliness and vulnerability that puts her at risk of being deeply hurt. With the eyes of a doctor, you see the hurts that God can heal.

In life we can have the eyes of a judge or we can have the eyes of a doctor. The eyes of a judge see a gothic girl, a deadbeat dad, and a foul-mouthed team, leave us thinking, Why have anything to do with them? The eyes of a doctor see the hurts that God can heal. [Donald Sunukjian, in the sermon "The Eyes of a Doctor," PreachingToday.com | posted 7/12/2010]

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/10 12:06 PM
Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ�s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation�the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ�for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

In these verses the apostle speaks of his prayers for the Philippians. He prays their love for others will grow. He prays their knowledge and understanding of Christ will grow. He prays their lives will be lived out in purity and be found blameless. He prays that the Holy Spirit will be at work in their lives developing their character which give God the glory.

In his book, Connecting (Word, 1997), Larry Crabb writes: A friend of mine was raised in an angry family. Mealtimes were either silent or sarcastically noisy. Down the street was an old-fashioned house with a big porch where a happy family lived. My friend told me that when he was about ten, he began excusing himself from his dinner table as soon as he could without being yelled at, and walking to the old-fashioned house down the street. If he arrived during dinnertime, he would crawl under the porch and just sit there, listening to the sounds of laughter. When he told me this story, I asked him to imagine what it would have been like if the father in the house somehow knew he was huddled beneath the porch and sent his son to invite him in. I asked him to envision what it would have meant to him to accept the invitation, to sit at the table, to accidentally spill his glass of water, and hear the father roar with delight, "Get him more water! And a dry shirt! I want him to enjoy the meal!"

God our Father wants the same for us. He wants us to grown in our understanding of Him and to know we are loved. He wants us to become more like his Son and live a good a pleasing life. Pray God will continue to give you wisdom and bring you closer to Him knowing that one day you will be dining and fellowshipping in His presence.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/10 12:21 PM
Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)
6 So we can say with confidence, �The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?�

The apostle summarizes the book of Hebrews with some advice. He has told the people of the church to love others, show hospitality, honor marriage, remain faithful, and to be satisfied with what they have. Then he goes on to remind them of God�s words, �I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.� So next we see the verse above that reminds us we should have confidence in the Lord; for God is our Helper and there is nothing to fear from others when we are with God.

I like the acronym for fear that says, �False Emotions Appearing Real.� So often our fears are based on our emotions and not facts. It may be we had one encounter in life with fear and it defined a part of us for the rest of our lives. Let�s say you share something very close and personal with another person and then you find out they spread that information as gossip. What will you fear the next time you have something you need to share? You know the answer; you will fear your intimate and personal information will be spread as gossip to other people. Even if you trust the person you are sharing with you may be hesitant to share a deep and intimate feeling. Fear of what will happen is what holds you back from connecting in your fellowship with another. But God tells us not to fear and that He can handle any situation that comes our way. Ok, so maybe someone will betray your trust, but God can handle that. Maybe you fear the emotions you want to express, but God can show you someone who will listen. Do not let fear be a hindrance to your life. Instead turn that fear over to God remembering that he will never fail you nor forsake you. In fact God just might show you how strong you are at handling fear if you allow Him to.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/10 12:50 PM
1 John 2:16 (NLT)
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

The world is used by the apostle to describe the aggregate of earthly desires. The world is a place corrupted by sin and gives man the desire to crave that which is forbidden. In this verse the apostle lists some of man�s faults, a craving for pleasure, a craving for what we see, and pride that places us and our possessions before God.

I remember the first time I tried out a weight machine at a health club. The gym instructor was showing me how to set the machine. Without paying much attention to the weight or my capabilities he made some adjustments. He said, �Go ahead and give it a try�, and as much as I wanted to I could not push up the weights. The instructor said, �I think I set the weight just a little bit high, let�s start low and work up.� With a lighter setting I was easily able to accomplish the task of lifting the weights, but as the instructor continued to raise the settings I got back to the point where I could not lift them again.

We often think we can handle sin on our own; but the world is continuously making us crave what it offers. As we try to do good to obey God the weight of sin builds up against us. Suddenly we find ourselves trying to lift a burden we cannot handle. It becomes difficult to sustain the heavy lifting of obedience and we find ourselves suddenly unable to budge the burden. It is why Jesus said for us to count on Him. For He tells us �my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.� When you find yourself craving the world turn to Jesus and ask Him to carry the load with you. Pray Christ would always give you the strength to do what is right and good in God�s sight.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/22/10 12:31 PM
Romans 14:12-13 (NLT)
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let�s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

The apostle wrote the church about the dangers of criticism. Christians were engaged in various arguments from what day was best to worship; what foods should be eaten and which should not; and how one was to honor the Lord. The apostle said we should quite condemning each other and instead consider ourselves and how we live out our Christian life. The apostle said we should do so in a way that keeps other believers from falling away.

A grocery store check-out clerk once wrote to advice-columnist Ann Landers to complain that she had seen people buy "luxury" food items�like birthday cakes and bags of shrimp�with their food stamps. The writer went on to say that she thought all those people on welfare who treated themselves to such non-necessities were "lazy and wasteful." A few weeks later Lander's column was devoted entirely to people who had responded to the grocery clerk. One woman wrote: I didn't buy a cake, but I did buy a big bag of shrimp with food stamps. So what? My husband had been working at a plant for fifteen years when it shut down. The shrimp casserole I made was for our wedding anniversary dinner and lasted three days. Perhaps the grocery clerk who criticized that woman would have a different view of life after walking a mile in my shoes. Another woman wrote: I'm the woman who bought the $17 cake and paid for it with food stamps. I thought the check-out woman in the store would burn a hole through me with her eyes. What she didn't know is the cake was for my little girl's birthday. It will be her last. She has bone cancer and will probably be gone within six to eight months. [Terrie Williams, The Personal Touch (Warner Books, 1994)]

Sometimes we are quick to criticize because we have created beliefs that are ours and not God�s. We see things only through the eyes of the world and miss out on what God has to say to us. Next time before being critical of someone ask God how your criticism might affect that person and what their criticism of you might be. Live in such a way that you will not cause other believers to stumble and fall.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/23/10 12:33 PM
Romans 14:17-18 (The Message)
17 -18 God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

The apostle speaks to the heart of Christianity; the Christian Life is not about trivial rules or laws; it is about allowing God to work in their life through Christ. The Christian should have one purpose in mind and that is to serve Christ. In serving Christ one not only pleases God, but also proves themself to those who see and hear their actions.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:10, �In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.� Propitiation is not a word commonly use in everyday language so I refer to the Webster�s dictionary. Webster�s says propitiation is the act of propitiating, which does not help much. So look a little further to see propitiate is - to gain or regain the favor of goodwill. When man sinned we lost favor with God. Our sin made us unacceptable. However God loved us so much He gave His son Jesus Christ to die as a perfect and holy sacrifice so we could regain the favor of God�s goodwill and be made acceptable once again.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/24/10 12:39 PM
Revelation 7:9-12 (NLT)
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, �Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!� 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang, �Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.�

In the revelation given to John, John sees a crowd to vast to number or count. There are people from every country and different races all standing before The Living Christ. They give praise and thanksgiving to God and Christ for the salvation they have received. Their shouts of praise turned to song as they worship God and Christ, praising them for who they are.

Today is the day before our national holiday of Thanksgiving. However let�s be real for a moment and say there are some people who feel they cannot enjoy giving thanks. They have been wounded and hurt. They have been devastated or grieved by the loss of loved ones. They are overwhelmed by the situations of life and feel no hope. The apostle said in Romans 15:13 NLT translation, �I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.� I offer that pray today. May God restore your joy, may God restore your hope, and may God heal and restore whatever has been broken. May we once again lift our voices in giving thanks to you?

Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with your son Jesus who is our hope of salvation. Let us start there to give thanks. Let our hope continue in Jesus that He would bring joy, peace and trust into our lives. God encourage us to give thanks because you have poured your love, mercy, grace and salvation upon us. Provide hope, a light to show the way, and a smiling, caring face who understands. Lord I thank you for hearing our prayers. Bless us Lord and restore the joy of our salvation. In Jesus name, Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/10 12:24 PM
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

The apostle speaks in a metaphor about those who maintain and persevere in their faith and those who have allowed their faith to fall. Either can be used by God, but those who maintain and persevere in their faith can be used for special occasions and are called to perform honorable tasks for God.

While salt is used as a preservative, it is used mainly in present times to add flavor to food. Some foods just do not taste right without the presence of salt. Salt is meant to enhance the taste of food, but it is not used to take away or call attention to the salt. When something is salted properly we don�t say, �Yum that salt tastes good�, but instead we comment on the flavor of the food we salted. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, �You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.� As Christians we are to be salt to others. We are to enhance other Christian lives. We are to bring out the best in them by being the best we can. Be salt to others by maintaining your faith in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/10 01:00 PM
Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 (ESV)
10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Quoting Matthew Henry, �Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are abundance of accidents that concur to make it more so; even that which pretends to increase the vanity and make it more vexatious��. Thoughtful people are in care to do everything for the best, if they knew it; but as it is an instance of the corruption of our hearts that we are apt to desire that as good for us which is really hurtful, as children that cry for knives to cut their fingers with, so is it an instance of the vanity of this world that what, according to all probable conjectures, seems to be for the best, often proves otherwise; such is our shortsightedness concerning the issues and events of things, and such broken reeds are all our creature-confidences. We know not how to advise others for the best, nor how to act ourselves, because that which we apprehend likely to be for our welfare may become a trap. �

Ever since Adam and Eve took from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, man has been searching in vain to understand what is good and what is evil. In fact most of what we call religion is based on man�s search to understand the difference and to establish good in the lives of people. What we forget is God was right there with Adam and Eve to explain the difference. In their walks with God they had the opportunity to listen to God and hear directly what we might tell a child, �Don�t touch that or you will get burned.� Sin burns when we can�t see it for what it is. We need to stop trying to find out for ourselves what is good and what is evil and instead turn to God for the answers. We need to fellowship with God, listen to what He says and put His words into action. The Bible like a diary does not replace teaching us who a person is, but tells us about their thoughts. If we want to know them intimately then we need to spend time with them and grow in our relationship with them. We need to do that with God so we understand His will for our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/02/10 12:45 PM
Proverbs 2:11 (NLT)
11 Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

Solomon writes on the virtues of wisdom and in this verse points out wisdom will watch over and preserve those who seek it. Wisdom keeps us from the paths of sin that lead to ruin. God is the originator and provider of wisdom and wisdom should be used to guide our life and arm us against the temptations of the world.

In the Autobiography of George Muller the following quote is given on wisdom. �I need not despair because the living God is my partner. I do not have sufficient wisdom to meet these difficulties, but He is able to direct me. I can pour out my heart to God and ask Him to guide and direct me and to supply me with wisdom. Then I have to believe that He will do so. I can go with good courage to my business and expect help from Him in the next difficulty that may come before me.� On the show Who Wants to be a Millionaire the host of the show will ask the contestant, �Is that your final answer?� It is the contestants last opportunity to get the answer right before making a commitment to it. They have an opportunity to ask a friend for the answer, to ask the audience or narrow the choices down. When we face temptation in life God has given us the wisdom to stop and ponder what we are about to do. If we are uncertain we can ask God, we can ask wise friends, or ask those who are wise in the church for guidance. We have the wisdom to face sin and make the right choices if only we make that choice. Pray for God�s wisdom and put it to use in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/10 01:18 PM
Philippians 2:14 (KJV))
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

The apostle starts this passage with the thought that all of God�s commands should be done without complaint or argument. This is done so that others may see you as �.(v. 15) blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

A parrot named Charlie could not fly because its wings had been clipped. The owner would put Charlie out in their garden to enjoy the outdoors, but one day a brisk gust of wind helped Charlie take off. According to the news report Charlie was found a day and a half later. It took 30 people with a boom truck to rescue Charlie from a tree. The reaction of the African Grey parrot as soon as it was rescued was telling everyone to �**** off.� The owner said those were his favorite �swear words�, undoubtedly the owners too. The actor, speaker Will Rogers once said, �Live so that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.� Through Christ God has shown us how to live. In His word we have been told to do so without argument or complaint. What would your family,your parrot, say about the way you live?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/10 01:35 PM
Romans 5:1-2 (KJV)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The sacrifice of Jesus brought about justification of our sin, which by our faith in Jesus Christ brings peace with God and reconcilement unto Him. Also with our faith in Christ we have access to the grace of God, and we will be able to stand boldly in front of God to rejoice in the glorious life He has reserved for us.

When we move away from God we lose peace in our lives. I�m not saying we won�t ever have struggles or difficulties when we are close to God. What I am saying is that moving away from God will cause us to miss out on the peace He gives us to handle very difficult situations. When Paul was in jail, bound in chains, sitting in a dark, damp cavern; Paul still found peace because he was close to God. He was able to express joy through song because He understood God was with him. For you see God is peace and without God we lose sight of what peace should look like. Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith. In our relationship with God He provides us with the tools to cope with life even under difficult circumstances. When you find yourself not feeling very peaceful, take a moment to think about what might be moving you away from God. Are you harboring resentment towards another? Are you involved in sinful actions that move you further from God? Whatever it might be God will restore you if you repent and turn back to Him. Rest on God�s peace and find the happiness you need in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/10 12:58 PM
James 4:1-3 (NLT)
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don�t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don�t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can�t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don�t have what you want because you don�t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don�t get it because your motives are all wrong�you want only what will give you pleasure.

The Apostle James gives an explanation for quarrels, fights and wars that break out among people. These wars come from a jealous desire to have what others have which leads to a desire to take it from the person who has it. There are two problems, one they probably have not consulted with God before acting to do so; two their motives are entirely self-motivated without regard for others.

December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called this day �A day which will live in infamy.� On this day we observe the ultimate sacrifice of many Americans in the Pacific on Dec. 7 and mark the moment that we committed ourselves to fight the good fight. Fighting is never pleasant, never desired, but is necessary to defend against those who attack in war. We pray God will bring peace and that God will deliver this country safely through the battle. The Bible tells us there are many wars yet to be fought so let us not turn from God, but always ask God for the right direction and causes to pursue. Let not our motives for war be out of jealous desire, but rightly justified in God�s eyes. For those who have served this country faithfully, God bless you. For those who have lost loved ones who have served I pray God grant you peace and mercy. And for all other I pray God will watch over this country and we would follow Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/08/10 12:28 PM
Proverbs 8:22-31 (The Message)
22 -31 God sovereignly made me�the first, the basic� before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start. I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn; Long before God stretched out Earth's Horizons, and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, And set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said no trespassing, And then staked out Earth's Foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company, Delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family.

Wisdom is given personal properties and actions in these verses and is spoken of as in reference to Christ. Jesus was with God from the beginning of creation until He was sovereignly brought into this world as man. Jesus, just as The Father, delighted in the creation of man and He also celebrated mankind.

As parents when our children come into this world we delight in them, want the best for them, and want to protect them. When they are small and dependent upon us they easy give us hugs and eagerly want to be with us. As they grow older the hugs come less frequently and we find they don�t want to be with us as much. Most of this is from the awkwardness of adolescence, but it is also because they are trying to find their independence. The parental rules given out of love to protect and preserve start being viewed as a jail sentence. They want to be free of us and free of these rules forgetting that what we do is because of our love for them. The question is how do we react to God�s delight and love for us? When God places His hand of discipline upon us do we feel comforted or do we want to resist. When God is walking with us do we want to pull away or do we want to pull close? We can be just like a teenager wanting our independence from God, but that independence can and will pull us away from God. Remember God is pursuing you out of love. Remember God delights in you. Instead of looking for independence from God look for dependence upon God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/10 11:42 AM
Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

The apostle starts by asking several rhetorical questions. He wants them to see how Christ has changed their life for the good of one another. Then he encourages them to work together, being humble and taking interest in others. For each believer is a member of the body of Christ and serves a purpose to help others.

The Investigative Discovery Cable Channel launched a new show last night called Hookers: Saved on the strip. This show is about a Christian ministry, Hookers for Jesus, started by Annie Lobert in Las Vegas to help women get out of the adult business that has ensnared them. Her husband Oz Fox of the Christian Heavy Metal Band, Stryper, supports her in this ministry. You see Annie was once in the adult business herself, but Jesus saved her and set her free. Her family thought she would never be able to find a husband who could love her because of her past, but Oz Fox loves her for who she is and accepts her past. Jesus is a big part of their lives. Because of Annie�s past and the love of Jesus she is able to relate to other women in the adult business and love on them with a tender and compassionate heart. She takes on the interest of others by helping them get out of the adult business, providing them housing, food, and other needs as they make the transition away from their previous lifestyle. It is a tough journey for some; jobs are hard to find and the jobs that are available pay a lot lower than what they were earning. God bless those who support this ministry for they partner with Annie in showing compassion to those who are in desperate need of it. Pray God would open your heart to love others, put aside self to serve others, and look out for others who need help.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/10 12:39 PM
Matthew 2:16-20 (The Message)
16-18 Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He determined that age from information he'd gotten from the scholars.) That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled: A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried. 19-20 Later, when Herod died, God's angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: "Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead."

King Herod upon hearing about the birth of Jesus had all boys 2 years old and under put to death. For Herod was trying to ensure no other king would take away his position. His fear, jealousy and arrogance brought about the slaughter of innocent children. Yet God had already known this was going to occur and that Jesus would return. Hosea 11.1 said, �Out of Egypt have I called my son. �

Parents once asked their young child where Jesus lives. The response was �in our basement�. They asked further and the 3 year old said that is because we keep the baby Jesus there with the wise men. The basement was where the manger scene was stored each year. The verses above tell the story of what happened after the wise men visited Herod. It was now almost 2 years after the birth of Jesus and Herod learned of this king who would one day lead the people of his nation. Out of arrogance, fear and jealousy he killed the young boys. Some might say God allowed these children to be killed. It could be said a cruel and unjust king killed innocent children. Or it could also be said the people had placed their faith above God in a king who was unjust and they received the consequences of their decision. I believe it was the consequences for allowing an unjust king to rule over them. We need to be careful in our choice of leaders for we never know what rules they may impose upon us.

And as a point of trivia, the Wise Men were never at the manger where Jesus was born, but instead went to the home of Joseph and Mary years later. Only shepherds, the most common of man was there to witness the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/10 11:56 AM
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can�t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

In this section of 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul speaks to Timothy about false teachings and true riches. His main point is godliness and contentment by itself is a great wealth to be treasured. Paul reminds Timothy we come into this world with nothing and we depart from this world with nothing. So as long as our basic needs are met we should learn to be content with life.

C.H. Spurgeon once said, �You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. �� Our sin nature causes us to always want that little bit more that we don�t have. It often drives us to buy beyond our limits. It will cause use to covet what another may have. If we can�t be happy with what we have, surely we will not be happy when we gain more. Are you content in life? Then you have received that contentment by trusting in God to meet your needs. However, if your heart is filled with covetousness then you are worshiping yourself with the riches you supply with your own greed. Pray God would give you peace and contentment with life. Build heavenly treasures that are lasting and not earthly treasures that will perish.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/10 12:29 PM
Proverbs 14:15 (NLT)
15 Only simpletons believe everything they�re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.

Solomon tells us it is foolish to believe everything we hear, to trust what seems so probable, to always count on a friend�s recollection, and to give credit to everyone who would make a vow of truth. Wisdom lends itself to caution and discernment. The prudent person will weigh the credibility of what they hear. They will examine who and how something is related to them. They will carefully weigh the facts giving judgment to what is known and to suspend judgment when facts are not present.

Henri J. M. Nouwen in The Inner Voice of Love said, �As a child of God, you need to be prudent. You cannot simply walk around in this world as if nothing and no one can harm you. You remain extremely vulnerable. The same passions that make you love God may be used by the powers of evil.� In life we need to carefully examine everything put before us without jumping to a quick conclusion. Often we look at life through filters created by our own experiences. These filters affect the way we perceive and review facts. The problem is that because of these past experiences the filters we create may cause us to jump from step A to step D without understanding what took place at step B and C. For example if you lived with someone who as soon as they got angry became abusive you might jump to the conclusion that anyone who expresses anger will turn to abusive aggressive, which is not always true. You may have a friend that repeats rumors and 90% of the time they are true. But what happens if there is a negative rumor against someone and it falls into the 10% false category. You will make a false judgment based on false fact. So be prudent and carefully consider all things, asking yourself do you really know or are you basing your information on hearsay, rumor, unsubstantiated facts or your own false beliefs. Pray God would give you the wisdom to live cautiously using discernment as your guide.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/10 12:12 PM
Revelation 2:14-16 (NLT)
14 �But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. 16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus reproves the Church of Pergamam in these verses. The Christians there were following in corrupt doctrines leading to corrupt worship and corrupt teachings. They were being drawn into sin just as Balaam had drawn the Israelites into sin. [Though the church, as such, has no power to punish the persons of men, either for heresy or immorality, with corporal penalties, yet it has power to exclude them from its communion; and, if it do not so, Christ, the head and lawgiver of the church, will be displeased with it. ~ Matthew Henry]

Desmond Tutu � the Nobel peace prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South African � famously said in a 2008 speech that, �There�s nothing more radical, nothing more revolutionary, nothing more subversive against injustice and oppression than the Bible. If you want to keep people subjugated, the last thing you place in their hands is a Bible.� For you see God�s Word is a first step in beginning to understand who God is. In Acts chapter 8 Philip met a man reading scripture and God�s spirit moved him to want to know more. So Philip shared the message of Jesus dying for our sin with this man. The man responded he believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The man declared he wanted to be baptized and had the chariots stopped immediately so Philip could so. When God�s Word and Spirit move you there is a desire for an immediate response. As God�s Word speaks you become closer and begin build a relationship with the Lord. This relationship is not based on man�s ideas or how the world tells you to act, but based upon what the Lord would have you do. Yes, let men build a relationship with the Lord and their submission will be to Him and not the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/16/10 01:46 PM
2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV)
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

The apostle reminds us to stop to consider our Christian faith and the prospect of a new life with Christ in heaven. It is then we can be comforted from the troubles of this life. While we are here on earth we live to serve the Lord, but when we face our last enemy, �DEATH�, we can take courage in knowing we will be home with the Lord. When it is God�s will one should go home we can rejoice for they have left this painful world to go unto the comfort of Christ.

As Stan Caffy prepared for married life, he and his bride-to-be cleaned out their respective garages and sold everything to Goodwill. Between the two of them, they sold an assortment of clothes, bicycles, tools, computer parts, and a tattered copy of the Declaration of Independence that had been hanging in Stan's garage for the last decade. Stan's trash turned out to be another man's treasure. That particular version of the Declaration of Independence was a rare copy made in 1823. A man named Michael Sparks spotted it, and he purchased the document for $2.48. Sparks later auctioned it for $477,650. Not a bad profit. Caffy, the previous owner, was later quoted as saying, "I'm happy for the Sparks guy. If I still had it, it would still be hanging here in the garage, and I still wouldn't know it was worth all that.� [Associated Press, "Sold! One Declaration of Independence Copy," MSNBC.com (3-23-07)]

The question we should ask ourselves is do we know what the worth of our salvation is? It is a valuable treasure we don�t cash in on until we are at home with the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/17/10 12:52 PM
Galatians 6:1-3 (The Message)
1 -3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

In previous chapters the apostle has encouraged Christians to love and serve one another. Paul talked about how an angry temper would hinder our lives and keep us from showing the appropriate love for others. Paul continues to teach in the verses above about ministering to others. When someone falls into sin it is the duty of the Christian to help restore that person in a forgiving manner. Criticism should be reserved to examine one�s own self. For we are all sinners and we never know when we might need the same forgiveness granted to us. We should never think of ourselves above others; for we are sinners whose best of works to God are like filthy rags.

Imagine being in a restaurant and observing an individual nicely dressed ready for their next business appointment. Then you happen to see them drop some food on their clothes and as they get up to leave they are unaware of the stain. What should you do? The nice thing would be to make them aware of the problem. It would be embarrassing though if you tell them about the food on their clothes and then you find out you there is a glob of potato salad on your pants, which they tell you about. So we need to take care not only what we say to someone, but also how we present a problem someone. We should never think of ourselves as better for we might also have some stains on us called sin. Learn to extend grace, mercy and love to others just as Christ has done for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/20/10 01:05 PM
Galatians 5:24 (NLT)
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

The apostle gives a summary of his previous words in this verse. He has talked about the sinful nature of man and what it consists of: immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. He has also talked about the Holy Spirit working in our lives and the good qualities that are produced: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The apostle reminds us in verse 24 that those who have placed their faith in Christ had their sinful nature hung on the cross with Christ that He bore our sin in sacrifice that we may enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

December 25th we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus. There have been debates as to the actual date of Christ�s birth, but the point is we have chosen a date to remember the birth of Christ and what that has meant to us. A small baby came into the world with tiny hands, tender feet, and the delicate body of a new born. The same body was tortured for our sin. His hands were nailed to a Roman cross along with His feet. This baby, the son of God, Immanuel or sometimes spelled Emmanuel, was God with us. The name of Jesus means, Jehovah is salvation. God because our salvation through His son Jesus Christ. On Christmas think of the tiny baby in the manger, this baby who gave His life for your sin as the son of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/11 12:21 PM
Proverbs 4:14-15 (NLT)
14 Don�t do as the wicked do, and don�t follow the path of evildoers. 15 Don�t even think about it; don�t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

King Solomon gives instruction to his son about wisdom and making wise choices. He tells his son not to follow in the way of those who are wicked and perform evil acts. Instead the thoughts should be put out of his mind and he should continue past them never looking back or thinking about following in their footsteps.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Selena Roberts wrote in the New York Times of a heated controversy that threatened the integrity of the games:

About 10 yards past a security checkpoint along the path of a cinder-block hall inside the Salt Lake Ice Center, a panel of nine judges filtered into a room for a standard post-competition meeting last Tuesday morning. Twelve hours removed from the controversial moment when gold medallions were draped over Russia�s Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze instead of Canada�s Jamie Sal� and David Pelletier, the judges assembled for a review of the decision under Ron Pfenning, the head referee.

At first, it was business as usual as the judges sat around a table, pouring over marks for several skaters, according to two high-ranking figure skating officials who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity. Then the meeting took a bizarre turn. Pfenning, known as a gentle and meticulous caretaker of skating, handed each judge a piece of paper with a passage about honesty and integrity, officials said. As each person passed back the pieces of paper, the judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne began to sob, officials said.

�It was a rambling avalanche of words,� Pfenning said when reached by telephone. �I hadn�t asked her a question. She had been teary-eyed through a lot of the meeting. It was an outburst: �You don�t understand. You don�t understand. We�re under an awful lot of pressure. My federations, my president Didier, I had to put the Russians first.� Didier Gailhaguet is the president of the French Figure Skating Federation. Pfenning said that when Le Gougne called out Gailhaguet�s name, he knew he had to report the incident to the International Skating Union. �I never gave it a second thought,� Pfenning said.

For several minutes, the wail from Le Gougne grew so loud, one official said, that a person in the room stripped tape over the crack in the door in an apparent soundproofing effort. The two high-ranking skating officials said no one embraced Le Gougne, the stylish 40-year-old Frenchwoman, as she cried out. Many of the judges, officials said, saw her as a pathetic figure. They already knew why Le Gougne was distraught, they said: her conscience had caught up to her.

What do we do when our conscience catches up with us? How does a commitment to Integrity of heart and life save us from disastrous relationship crises? [Selena Roberts, "Early Tears: Sign of Scandal to Come," New York Times online (2-17-02)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/11 12:27 PM
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

The apostle explains the fruits of our justification in Christ. Though we will still face problems and trials in our Christian walk these are meant to develop us and mold us. As we work through these problems we build character that comes from endurance and confidence in our salvation. Our character becomes who we are in Christ and we understand how deeply God loves us.

Our character contains many qualities and traits. Our character defines who we are and is the aggregate of features and traits that form our individual nature. We may have a high standard of moral and ethical quality that says we are a great people of honorable character. We may live by traits such as integrity, honesty and courage that are deeply rooted in who we are. Character is not the same as reputation. Character is the truth we know about ourselves while reputation is what others know about us. A reputation is seen by the public, while character is consistent even in the most hidden places. God knows our character and He strengthens us so our character may match the reputation we have in front of others. Pray God would continue to develop our character through all trials and troubles so that our reputation may also stand firm.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/06/11 12:50 PM
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NLT)
8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There�s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

The Apostle Paul had previously written the church of Corinth concerning an issue taking place in the church. At first he was sorrowful for having to write such a letter, but the sorrow turned to joy. The church had repented and made a change for the good.

�I am sorry.� For some those are difficult words to say. A person may be so entrenched in their problems they refuse to examine the feelings of anyone else. The words �I am sorry� acknowledges to another person that you understand their feelings and you can relate sympathetically to them. �I am sorry� says I understand you were hurt and in the future I will try not to hurt you in that same manner. However, there are some who abuse the words �I am sorry� as an excuse for their behavior. They do not relate to how the other person is feeling, nor do they care. They just want to provide a quick escape, an excuse that might move them past where they are. The apostle tells us �the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin�. It is the same type of sorrow that brought to salvation realizing how our actions have hurt others including God. With this sorrow comes a desire for change, a desire to make things right, and a desire not to repeat past actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/11 01:27 PM
James 4:11-12 (NLT)
11 Don�t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God�s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

In these verses the apostle tells us to carefully consider the rashness of our judgment against others. Those judgments are to be carefully avoided for God is the judge of people�s hearts and it is up to each individual to follow as God would lead them. The Greek word used by James for speaking of someone harshly is katalaeite, which signifies speaking anything that may hurt or injure another. Krino is the word for judge, means to pronounce an opinion of right and wrong. It is a choice, a preference, and opinion. James wants us to understand we are not to give an opinion that hurts someone, but instead love the person while understanding what God desires.

A bank robber, nicknamed the �Gentleman Bandit�, would rob banks while apologizing for his actions. So gentlemanly was this robber that his notes to the teller were always kindly written. Unfortunately there was a Catholic priest who resembled the robber. A woman came forward saying the priest was her lover and he may have been the robber. At first the church stood behind the priest, but as the prosecutor continued to press the case people began to believe he was actually the perpetrator. They conceived a priest might be a mild manner gentleman robber. During the midst of his trial the real robber came forward and confessed to the crimes. The Catholic priest was innocent and was set free after the confession by the other man proved true. People need to be careful about their judgments of others. It is best to remain silent than to speak of a person in a way that hurts them. Our words should be motivated out of love and not out of harsh emotion.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/13/11 01:11 PM
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (NLT)

11 I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn�t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn�t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don�t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. 12 People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

The preacher of these words reminds us all our works are in the hands of God. The most likely to win the race does not always win. The strongest does not always triumph in battle. There are those who are wise and skilled yet they end up hungry and without wealth. Trying to predict the outcome of the future is like trying to predict fish being caught in nets or birds caught in snares. One never knows what the day might bring.

In 2007, the Boon family was on their way to their mountain cabin when they were swept off the mountain by an avalanche of snow. It only took a second for the avalanche to strike their car and send it hurling down the mountain. In their younger years the Boons did a lot of mountaineering. They even named their daughters after some of the mountains they had scaled. They knew all about avalanches, the danger, but never in their wildest dreams did they ever think about an avalanche pushing their car down the mountain. Fortunately no one was hurt, but it just reminded the family how quick catastrophe can be upon you. Solomon taught we cannot predict when sudden tragedy will strike for only the Lord knows. Therefore we should submit to the Lord and always ask for his guidance and protection.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/11 01:23 PM
Hebrews 11:35-40 (NLT)
35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

In this chapter of Hebrews the apostle has given many examples of faith. The apostle tells us in verse 1 �Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.� Faith is untouchable, faith is not logical; faith is only found within the depths of a person�s soul. There have been many who have suffered for the sake of their faith in Christ. They gained a good reputation and commendation from God who declared the world is not worthy for them. These faithful have been taken to a better place where they have found rest and freedom from abuse.

When Detroit sportswriter Mitch Albom heard his favorite college professor, whom he hadn't seen in 20 years, was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease, he renewed their friendship through weekly meetings. In his best-selling book, Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom describes their visits, focusing on his old professor's wit and insights. During one of their conversations, Mitch asked Morrie Schwartz why he bothered following the news since he wouldn't be around to see how things would turn out anyway. In response, Morrie offered a brilliant insight into empathy: It's hard to explain, Mitch. Now that I'm suffering I feel closer to people who suffer than I ever did before. The other night on TV I saw people in Bosnia running across the street, getting fired on, killed, innocent victims�and I just started to cry. I feel their anguish as if it were my own. I don't know any of these people. But�how can I put this?�I'm almost drawn to them. [Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, Illinois] Jesus is drawn to us because he knows our struggle. He knows all of our struggles including yours.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/18/11 12:42 PM
Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT)
6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

The apostle Paul writes to the Galatians saying they have allowed the truth about God�s salvation to become twisted. What was the Good News of mercy and grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was being put aside for Jewish law. Where Christ sets us free from the law, there were those in the church insisting the law should be mingled in with the doctrine of Christ, which added back the guilt and shame always reflected by the law. Paul refers to it as another way of justification and salvation different from the Gospel of Christ.

I believe a person who becomes a Christian is always a Christian. The Bible tells us that it is faith in God and Christ that saves us from sin. It goes on to say there are no good works we can do on our own to save us from the judgment of sin. Christ became the propitiation for sin, justifying those who believe in Him once and for all. To give an example, let us assume without Christ God�s requirement of holiness and righteousness should be equal to His. If God�s holiness and righteousness is 100%, where does everyone else fall on the scale? I can guarantee without a doubt there is no one on this earth who would measure 100%. Some will be at the 10% mark, maybe some at the 25% mark, but no one can say they are without sin. Therefore we all have sin in our lives, varying degrees for various people, but there is no one without sin. There is no one who can live up to God�s standard so God allowed His Son Jesus to be sacrificed to atone for the sin of man. Through faith in Christ we have forgiveness from sin and we are able to enter into God�s presence. Now with acceptance of Christ there begins a change, a desire to move away from sin. But sin still remains in the world, always tempting, always trying to cause a person to feel shame and guilt for their actions. For if sin can pull a person away from their relationship with God and Christ it has marked a victory. Therefore understand when you place your faith in Christ you will still be tempted to sin, but Christ will always be there reminding you that you are forgiven and that you do not have to give into sin, not linger on the shame and guilt if you do. Instead confess your sin and let God forgive, grant you mercy and love on you with all His heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/19/11 11:59 AM

Proverbs 19:2 (NLT)
2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

There are two things this proverb points out that lead to negative consequences. The first is reacting in ignorance. A person can become enthusiastic thinking they have a clear perception, but all the while they are ignorant of the truth set before them. The second part is reacting quickly without having the right information. The person jumps to conclusions because they do not have all the facts and find themselves making a mistake.

�Four-year-old Jason was visiting his grandparents. Grandpa was in his study intently reading. Jason walked in carrying a peach, said something Grandpa didn�t catch, and handed the peach to him.
�Thinking his wife had sent him a snack, Grandpa took it and ate it. Just as he swallowed the last bite, Jason, with lip quivering, said, �But, Pap, I didn�t want you to eat it. I just wanted you to get the worm out��. [(Edward K. Rowell & Leadership Journal, 1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996, 1997), 435)]

Often we are too quick to react without understanding. We see or hear partial facts and reach a conclusion because we make assumptions and are ignorant of the full truth. Many a person has been judged this way by people because they only saw the external facts and did not know the internals of what was taking place in the person�s life. Pray God would give you the wisdom to wait and discern properly the things taking place around you. Pray you would not move in haste, but allow God to give you the patience to see and react with full knowledge of the truth.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/20/11 12:49 PM
1 John 4:21 (NLT)
21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

In this chapter of John the Apostle has spoken of God�s love for us. God loved us before we could love Him. God loved us enough to give His Son as a sacrifice for our sin. God has communicated His love for us and because God loves each of us we should respect His desire and love our Christian brothers and sisters as He loves us.

In the 19th century Charles Bradlaugh, a prominent atheist, challenged a Christian man to debate the validity of the claims of Christianity. The Christian was Hugh Price Hughes, an active soul-winner who worked among the poor in the slums of London. Hughes told Bradlaugh he would agree to the debate on one condition. Hughes said, "I propose to you that we each bring some concrete evidences of the validity of our beliefs in the form of men and women who have been redeemed from the lives of sin and shame by the influence of our teaching. I will bring 100 such men and women, and I challenge you to do the same." Hughes then said that if Bradlaugh couldn't bring 100, then he could bring 20. He finally whittled the number down to one. All Bradlaugh had to do was to find one person whose life was improved by atheism, and Hughes�who would bring 100 people improved by Christ�would agree to debate him. Bradlaugh withdrew! [D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (Thomas Nelson, 1997)] When we know God�s love we can reach out to others when we see them through God�s eyes. However, when we are focused on self we only see others through our own understanding of love and often our efforts to love fail. Let God�s love for you allow you to see how God loves others and love them as God would.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/21/11 12:41 PM
Romans 15:7 (NLT)
7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

The apostle points out Christ accepted believers into His family. The Greek word for accepted (received in the King James) means to take in addition to as ones companion, into ones home with kindness, and to give access to one�s heart. Before Christ we could have been counted strangers or enemies of God. As His accepted children we are no longer strangers and we have been given the privileges of a family member. We therefore should accept others and glorify God through our actions.

What do we do when we don�t like a characteristic of someone close to us? There are several choices we can make. We can reject that characteristic and hold a grudge against the person. We can try to get the person to change the characteristic. We can accept the person for who they are.

Holding a grudge against someone does not help us and sure hurts us especially when God says we should love one another. We can try to change the other person, but the problem with that option is if the person does not want to change they won�t. However if we accept the person for who they are then it gives them the freedom to also accept you for who you are. As acceptance of each other grows there will be things we can let go of and things the other will let go of. We can also learn to hold each other accountable without fear of rejection. God accepts us with all our flaws and sin. And while God wants us to follow and obey Him, He allows us to do so by our own free will. Learn to accept others and share the grace of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/11 12:41 PM
Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift�the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. 6 �Why are you so angry?� the Lord asked Cain. �Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.�

This is the story of Adam and Eve�s children, Cain and Able. Both brought offerings to the Lord, but Able brought the best of what he had. God accepted Able�s gift but rejected Cain�s. God could see the dejection in Cain and warned him sin was already within him waiting to take control. God�s word to Cain about his sin was �you must subdue it and be its master�.

The movie The Straight Story is based on a true story and chronicles the pilgrimage of a 73 year-old man to mend a broken relationship with his brother, whom he hasn't seen or spoken to in over ten years. Alvin Straight (played by Richard Farnsworth) lives in Laurens, Iowa. Alvin has lost his driver's license because of impaired vision. When a call comes indicating that Lyle, Alvin's estranged brother, has had a stroke, Alvin determines to find a way to visit his brother and make things right. His only solution is to hitch a makeshift trailer to his 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower and set out on a 500-mile trip that will take him in excess of six weeks. Camping out in fields and backyards made available by hospitable people he meets along the way, Alvin Straight slowly but surely makes his way toward his destination. After crossing the Mississippi River and entering into Wisconsin, Alvin camps out in a church cemetery, kindling a campfire between tombstones. The pastor of the adjoining church sees Alvin from his office, has pity on the "homeless" man, and brings him a plate of hot meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A conversation ensues. "I can't help but notice your rather unlikely mode of transportation," the pastor says eyeing the riding mower. Alvin makes mention of his brother who lives in the area. The pastor recalls having met a man by that name while making calls in the hospital, but admits that he didn't recall the man making mention of having a brother. "Neither one of us has had a brother for quite some time," Alvin explained. "Lyle and I grew up as close as brothers could be. We were raised in Morehead, Minnesota. We worked hard.� Me and Lyle would make games out of our chores.� He and I used to sleep out in the yard most every summer night. We talked to each other till we went to sleep. It made our trials seem smaller. We pretty much talked each other through growing up." The pastor asked, "Whatever happened between you two?" Alvin's eyes tear-up as he explains. "The story's as old as Cain and Abel. Anger. Vanity. Mix that together with liquor, and you've got two brothers who haven't spoken in ten years." Alvin's manner and voice indicates the depth at which he is grieving the barrier that exists between him and Lyle. He adds, "Whatever it was that made me and Lyle so mad, it doesn't matter anymore. I want to make peace and sit with him and look up at the stars like we used to do."

Like Alvin, many of us have someone with whom we deeply long to be reconciled. Do not let bitterness, envy, jealousy, anger or whatever other sin may be harbored in your heart keep you from reconciling with another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/11 12:25 PM
Titus 3:3-7 (NLT)
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. 4 But��When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.�

The Apostle Paul writes Titus saying many had been misled by the law and had become slaves to sin. People in their attempt to be righteous would envy the good acts of others, while being full of evil. They became to hate each other instead loving each other as God commanded. So God out of love for us gave Jesus as our savior that we would be declared righteous because of belief in Him and not because of religious laws. It is our faith in Christ as Savior that gives us confidence in our eternal life with God.

Martin Luther wrote, �Christ is the kind of person who is not ashamed of sinners�in fact, he even puts them in his family tree! Now if the Lord does that here, so ought we to despise no one � but put ourselves right in the middle of the fight for sinners and help them.� As Christians we need to take in those wounded by sin and not leave them stranded on the battle field. We must never put our righteousness above others, but instead humble ourselves knowing Christ died for all. Through His death we are redeemed and have the hope of eternal life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/11 01:12 PM
Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)
2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth� a stranger, not your own lips.

This proverb tells us we should do good works that can be seen, but the good works should not be done for the purpose of being seen. When we commend ourselves it is evidence of pride, self-love, and can even lessen ones reputation. There are times in which we must vindicate or prove ourselves, but those times are not for self-applause.

A church organist was practicing a piece by Felix Mendelssohn. It was a difficult piece and very hard to play. Frustrated he was ready to leave when he noticed a stranger sitting on a rear pew. The stranger came forward and asked if he could play the piece, maybe as a means to help. Prideful the church organist replied �I never let anyone touch this organ!� After two more polite requests by the stranger the church organist reluctantly gave him permission. The stranger sat down and filled the sanctuary with a beautiful, flawless rendition of the musical piece. When the stranger finished the organist asked, �Who are you?� The man replied, �I am Felix Mendelssohn.� Because of pride the organist almost missed the opportunity to learn from the creator of the song. How often does pride keep us from learning from Our Creator? We tell ourselves may lies such as I can handle this on my own when clearly we need God�s assistance.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, Cost you more than you want to pay, And keep you longer than you want to stay.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/11 12:06 PM
Acts 2:43-47 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord�s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity�47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. As a deep sense of awe came upon the people they sold their property and possessions and shared with those who were in need all the while praising God.

St. Basil the Great, a man of great charity once said, �There is your brother, naked and crying! And you stand confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.� In other words there is someone without anything crying out for help and you are confused whether to spend money on this item or spend money on that item instead of being charitable. Jesus once told his disciples, �When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.� Everyone who has been blessed with plenty should be alert to help those who are in need. They should be ready to reach out and help when possible and give freely out of the goodness of their heart. I am proud to say I work with many people who volunteer to give their time, collect goods for the needy, or send packages to the soldier fighting for our freedom. Be on the lookout to help those in need and even be willing to give up something you don�t need to help another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/11 12:39 PM
Malachi 3:16-18 (NLT)
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. 17 �They will be my people,� says the Lord of Heaven�s Armies. �On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.�

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and from this point it will be another 500 years before God speaks again to His people. But here in these verses we find a reassurance from God about the salvation to come. A scroll is prepared to remember those who reverently feared and honored God. Then God proclaims on the Day of Judgment these people will be His own special treasure. They will be spared as a father who would give his life for his child. God will do this to show the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who served Him and those who did not.

Mike Erre, in the December 7 entry of Men of Integrity dated November/December 2008 said, �My wife and I refinanced our house and cashed out what was (for us) a large sum of money. I spent several weeks dreaming of ways to spend it. It was near Christmas, and I had been studying the birth of Jesus and what it would have meant to those who heard about it first. As I was praying and prepping for the messages I would teach in the weeks of December, God brought into my mind that to take this whole "love thy neighbor" thing seriously, my wife and I should give away more money than we spend on ourselves this Christmas. (Although I didn't realize it at the time, God had placed the same message in my wife's heart.)� Mike said he and his wife had a wonderful time giving away the money and they celebrated what Paul called �a gift too wonderful for words!� God gives us opportunities to honor Him and show Him that we care for our fellow man. The couple above found their own blessings by giving money away to others in need. There are many people struggling today. Take the time to reach out to those you know are struggling and help in any manner possible. Whether it is to listen and give advice, or donate what you have, or offer money when appropriate to help someone in dire need. God remember s those who fear and honor Him and helping others is one way of bring honor to God. May God bless you for your generosity as you let your heart cheerfully give to those in need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/11 11:44 AM
James 1:5 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

The Apostle James tells us if we have a need for wisdom we should ask God and He will generously provide that wisdom to us because He is listening. He does not rebuke, but instead hears us out and then offers us what we need. There is a condition that follows in verse 6 and that is we must place our total faith in God.

In Life Together, his classic book on Christian community, Dietrich Bonheoffer says that listening is the first service we owe one another in the Christian community: �The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening.�

We have relatives, friends and acquaintances that are facing overwhelming and heart breaking circumstances. Often we want to help, but we can�t even comprehend the depth of the problem or where to start to help. There are some things only God can accomplish. However, we can listen and we can ask God for wisdom. Instead of trying to hand out advice, stop, listen and have faith that God will answer.
Posted By: Fred_in_VA Re: Devotionals - 02/01/11 03:54 PM
I just wanted to thank you, AskMe, for your daily devotionals.

A year ago I wouldn't have thought to spend any time on the Word or Faith Study.

Today, I begin every day with a devotional, I am working a plan to read the Bible in a year, and am a member of a church small group Bible study.

Reading your posts has also become part of my daily routine. smile
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/11 12:08 PM
Originally Posted by Fred_in_VA
I just wanted to thank you, AskMe, for your daily devotionals.

A year ago I wouldn't have thought to spend any time on the Word or Faith Study.

Today, I begin every day with a devotional, I am working a plan to read the Bible in a year, and am a member of a church small group Bible study.

Reading your posts has also become part of my daily routine. smile

Fred I started writing devotionals for some men in my church group. What I came to realize is I benefited just as much or more from writing them, because I learned from my studies. May God bless your study of His word and give you wisdom for your life. I pray He would greatly bless you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/11 12:09 PM
James 2:1-4 (NLT)
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, �You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor��well, 4 doesn�t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

The Apostle James, half-brother of Jesus, is speaking to Christians about favoritism. He tells them that just based on external appearance there are those who would give preference to someone who looks rich, while ignoring a person who looks poor. They do so in hopes of gaining good favor from the individual. His conclusion is favoritism is guided by evil and selfish motives of the heart.

When we see ourselves as "pretty good," we misunderstand the gravity of sin and our desperate need for grace. We place ourselves above others, become their judges, and give them the power to disappoint us. A physicist � uses this analogy: Each of us is like a light bulb. One shines with 50 watts of holiness, another has only 25 watts. Maybe the most stellar Christians are 200 watts. But these comparisons become trite in the presence of the sun. In the face of God, our different levels of piety are puny and meaningless. It makes no sense to compare ourselves with one another because we are all much more alike than we are different. ["Dr. Jekyll..." Men of Integrity, March/April 2005]

Do not place yourselves above others; for we are all sinners. We must not look at the external appearance of a person, but their internal relationship with God. We are reminded in Isaiah 64:6 �We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.� Fortunately God sees past our poor state of righteousness and bestows love, compassion, mercy and grace to us all. Aren�t you glad God doesn�t show favoritism?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/03/11 12:14 PM
Romans 14:1-3 (NLT)
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don�t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it�s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don�t. And those who don�t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

In these verses the apostle gives his thoughts towards the differences of people. There are people who have different levels of faith. There are people who believe one thing is wrong while another believes something is right. The apostle gives an example that because of different beliefs some eat only vegetables, while others eat anything. Whatever the difference, as believers in Christ, we should not condemn another for doing what they believe is right. God has accepted them as they are and it is God who will motivate all men�s hearts in the right direction.

Paul said, �There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul was looking at a diverse group of people who had come together to form the church after Pentecost. The church had removed barriers of gender, race, and social class. Author Philip Yancey quoted a pastor in India, where they have a strong caste system: "Most of what happens in Christian churches, including even the miracles, can be duplicated in Hindu and Muslim congregations. But in my area only Christians strive, however ineptly, to mix men and women of different castes, races, and social groups. That's the real miracle." Christians for the most part graciously accept one another for who they are. Each person has a special ministry they can perform and it often takes variety of talents to accomplish the work of Christ. If God can accept us then we also need to learn to accept each other so that together we can serve the cause of Christ.
Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 02/04/11 03:25 AM
Quote
Each person has a special ministry they can perform
And I do believe this is one of yours. Thank you for your steadfast contribution to this thread, AskMe.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/04/11 12:17 PM
Originally Posted by maritalbliss
Quote
Each person has a special ministry they can perform
And I do believe this is one of yours. Thank you for your steadfast contribution to this thread, AskMe.

The Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." I pray my encouragement will be an encouragement to others. And I thank you for your encouragement to me. God bless you.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/04/11 12:17 PM
Matthew 21:22 (NLT)
22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.�

The Disciples has just witnessed Jesus say to a fig tree, ��May you never bear fruit again!� And immediately the fig tree withered up. The Disciples were amazed and Jesus responded to their amazement by telling them anything was possible with faith.

In the movie Evan Almighty, Morgan Freeman�s character personifies God. There is a quote he uses in the movie that is valuable in teaching about prayer. Morgan Freeman said, �Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?� We pray sometimes thinking the results should be a certain way; yet God has His own plans for answering our prayers. We must have the faith and trust in God that He will answer our prayers appropriately. And it is through that faith that our prayers are answered.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/11 12:06 PM
Proverbs 7:21-23 (NLT)
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. 22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.

King Solomon observed this young man while looking out the window of his House. He referred to him as a na�ve young man and especially one who lacked common sense. This young man walked past an area he should not have gone and as he did a sly, seductive woman greeted him. She tempted him, physically, emotionally and spiritually by the words she used. She led the young man off unaware of the trap she had set for him.

Years ago, the story goes, a San Diego bank hired a private investigator to track down a bank robber and retrieve stolen funds. The search led to Mexico. The investigator crossed the border and then, realizing he would need a Spanish interpreter, opened up the telephone book and hired the first interpreter listed in the Yellow Pages. After many days, he finally captured the bandit and, through the interpreter, asked him, "Where did you hide the money?" In Spanish, the thief replied, "What money? I have no idea what you're talking about." With that, the investigator drew his pistol, pointed it at the suspect, and said to the interpreter, "Tell him that if he doesn't tell me where the money is, I will shoot him where he stands." Upon receiving this message, the bank robber said to the interpreter, "Se�or, I have hidden the money in a coffee can, under the fourth floorboard, in the second-floor men's room of the Palacio Hotel on Via Del Rio in La Paz." "What did he say?" the investigator asked the interpreter. "Se�or," said the interpreter as he thought for a moment, "he says he is prepared to die like a man!"

Temptation comes at us from many directions. Even when we have the best intentions; if we are na�ve in our thoughts and not reasoning with common sense we can fall into the sin handed us by temptation. There is no one who is above temptation so we must always be informed and understand how the enemy attacks our lives wanting to destroy us, whether it�s physically, emotionally or spiritually. If the enemy can take us down they he also takes with us those we could have helped.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/08/11 12:27 PM
Proverbs 11:3
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Honestly is most likely a virtue David passed on to his son Solomon. Often through Psalms David would speak of integrity and honesty of heart. David even said God�s desire was that we have honestly from our most inward parts. Here we see Solomon reflecting on honesty and that it guides the lives of good people, but dishonestly destroys those who use it.

We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf. It is an Aesop fable about a shepherd boy who became bored tending the sheep so he would cry out to the villagers that a wolf was attacking. The villagers would come to the rescue only to find the boy was lying in order to pull a dishonest prank on them. Finally confronted by a wolf the boy cried out as usual, but no one came to the rescue as the wolf ate the flock and in some versions of the story the boy also. The moral at the end of the story says, �Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie, once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth�. People lie for many reasons. They want to cover something they are fearful of. They lie in order to increase their low self-esteem. They lie hoping to gain favor. They lie as it has become their nature because their moral fiber has withered and faded away. Dishonesty eventually destroys the confidence of others and even the person themself.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/11 12:20 PM
Matthew 5:33-37 (NLT)
33 �You have also heard that our ancestors were told, �You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.� 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, �By heaven!� because heaven is God�s throne. 35 And do not say, �By the earth!� because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, �By Jerusalem!� for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, �By my head!� for you can�t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, �Yes, I will,� or �No, I won�t.� Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

There are the words of Jesus as He preaches The Sermon on the Mount. The important lesson Christ is teaching here is not to make promises that might be kept or might be broken. Instead understand your own limitations and boundaries and either say, �Yes I will or No I won�t�.

Good personal boundaries serve a purpose in our life. In fact God had a boundary with Abraham when He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham kept pleading, �What if I find this number of righteous people?� When God said NO that was His final answer. Until then God allowed interaction with Abraham. So God wants us to interact with Him through prayer just as we are to interact with people in conversation on boundaries. It is a part of building a relationship with another person. The Bible tells us to give cheerfully from the heart, but if we are unsure when to say no, then it makes saying yes confusing and leads to resentment, bitterness and anger. Imagine saying YES to every request that comes along. Eventually you would be burned out from giving too much of yourself or broke from giving everything away. There should be a healthy balance where we can give cheerfully from the heart and say NO without confusion. Sometimes people will have differing boundaries, and each should respect the boundaries of the other and compromise when proper and suitable. But always make sure your Yes is a firm Yes and your No is a firm No when you reach a decision. Pray God will help you see healthy boundaries in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/10/11 01:35 PM
Mark 10:17-22 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, �Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?� 18 �Why do you call me good?� Jesus asked. �Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: �You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.�� 20 �Teacher,� the man replied, �I�ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.� 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. �There is still one thing you haven�t done,� he told him. �Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.� 22 At this the man�s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

This is the story of the rich young man. The man was seeking the answer to eternal life from Jesus. The man in his heart was good and had worked to obey the commandments since a young age. It was in his goodness where his faith rested. Then out of love Jesus gave him an instruction which he was unwilling to follow.

In the verses above it says about the young rich man that �Jesus felt genuine love for him�. The young man Jesus was speaking with was not someone He was having a confrontation with; but instead Jesus was offering the young man a chance to find faith in God. The young man had a boundary he was unwilling to cross and that was to give up all his possessions. While it might not have seemed an unreasonable boundary to some the boundary was keeping him from faith in Jesus. We know Jesus loved the man and Jesus was willing to help him find what he was seeking, but Jesus also respected the young man�s boundary and did not try to coerce or push him into a decision. Jesus let the young man walk away sad. In life we need to learn to respect each other�s boundaries and realize and individual chooses to follow their own boundaries. The young man had a choice and his choice was to stick to what he had even though it cost him. And Jesus did not waver and say, wait, come back and let me give you another offer. No, Jesus held to His boundary as well.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/11 12:57 PM
Philippians 1:29-30 (NLT)
29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

The apostle encourages the church to keep consistent in their profession of Christ to others. He says there are privileges that come with knowing Christ, but there are also times of suffering. The apostle states they should have seen his past struggles and suffering; and even though Paul is still suffering he continues to write and encourage other believers about faith in Christ.

There are those who believe the Christian life is always a smooth road to follow; which is a false belief. Christians are subject to suffering and struggles just like anyone else. There are difficult times they may face. They may be tempted by sin and fall into its trap. They may be persecuted for their belief in Christ. They may be subject to ridicule for trying to live a good and faithful life. Paul reminds us we have a reward in Christ. And while we suffer in this life, we have an eternal life ahead that is will take away the suffering, pain and tears. We must always remember we are standing on a solid foundation when we believe in Christ. We can always turn to Christ, always trust, always share our needs and always know that Christ has what is best for us in store. Also know your fellow Christians stand with you in this suffering and many will reach out in love to help and support you. May God bless each of you and ease the burden of your suffering.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/11 11:57 AM
Luke 9:51-55 (NLT)
51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, �Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?� 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

Jesus had a clear foresight of his eminent death. So he set out with the disciples to travel towards Jerusalem. They were going to pass through a Samaritan village so they sent messengers ahead to let them know of Christ�s arrival. But the people did not welcome Jesus for He was on His way to Jerusalem with many followers including His disciples. Jews and Samaritans were at odds so it many have been the overwhelming amounts of Jews with Jesus was troublesome. James and John heard the reply and expressed their resentment. They were ready to exterminate the city such as Sodom and Gomorrah had been devastated. Jesus turned and rebuked John and James; for even in his confrontation with Pharisees and other Jesus never brought a threat of death to any of them. His was always a message of repentance and love.

In the book Mastering Monday: a guide to integrating faith and work, by John D. Beckett, Beckett talked about a day in a dentist chair when the dental assistant said, You are John Beckett, aren�t you?� The only thing he could do at the time was grunt a yes. �I want to thank you for firing my husband.� There he sat unable to move, unable to talk wondering what would come next. She said, �It happened ten years ago. He was hired then notified he failed a drug test and had to be terminated. You may not recall�, she continued, �but you called him into your office before he left. You said, �You realize I don�t have any choice but to terminate you. But I want to tell you something; you are at a crossroads. You can keep going the way you are, and the results will be very predictable. Or you can take this as a wakeup call�and decide you are going to turn your life around.�� With beads of sweat forming on his head the assistant then said, �I want you to know, my husband took your advice. Today he is a good father, a good husband, and has a good job. Thank you for firing my husband!� Lemon became lemon-aide, refreshing and quenching. It was a rebuke that had to be given, and it was given in love. Sometimes for the care of others we must do what is right even when it is difficult to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/15/11 11:52 AM
Psalm 18:20-24 (The Message)
20 -24 God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review he ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

In these verses David reflects upon his integrity God has restored in his life. David tells us his life was in pieces. He gave what he had to God so God could restore him and give him a fresh start. With a new beginning David longs to seek God and not miss anything God is trying to do in his life. He feels restored as if all the pieces of his life have been glued back into one piece. Yet David watches his step for he knows sin could cause him to fall and once again shatter his life. David acknowledges it was God who rewrote the text of his life and open his eyes and heart to his purpose.

In November 2010, a wedding party in Glenelg, Australia, was unexpectedly called into action right after the wedding ceremony. While they were posing for pictures on a scenic ledge, a woman unrelated to the wedding fell into the water and started drowning. Dressed in his tuxedo, the best man jumped in and brought the woman back toward shore. Then the bride, a trained nurse, waded into the water and started administering CPR. By the time the Surf Life Saving volunteers had arrived, the woman had regained consciousness. But according to one safety official, "[The victim] was very lucky that the bridal party was there and they acted quickly and got her to the shallows." After the daring rescue operation, the drenched but heroic best man and the bride happily rejoined the wedding reception and continued with the festivities.

In some ways, this unusual event serves as a great image for the calling of every local church: we're dressed up for a party (celebrating worship), but at the same time we're also prepared to dive into mission, even when it's inconvenient and dangerous. Worship and mission, loving God and loving others, praising and serving�these combinations aren't opposites; they form the dual nature of our calling as the church. [Best man jumps off Glenelg Jetty to save woman, News.com.au (11-29-10)]

God has called each of us for a purpose in life. Give the broken pieces of your life over to God and let Him put you back together as one who is ready to serve Him. May God bless and tough the depths of your soul and heal every wound.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/16/11 01:17 PM
Exodus 34:14 (NLT)
You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

God was establishing a covenant with Moses and his people. The covenants or Ten Commandments were chiseled onto stone for the people to read and adhere to. In verse 14 God stated the people must not worship any other form of god for the living God is jealous about his relationship with us.

From Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster? (Baker Books, 2011, pg 35) he says, �The Bible frequently describes God as a jealous lover. In his book titled Is God a Moral Monster? Paul Copan asks the question, "When can jealousy be a good thing?" Here's part of his answer: In God's case, it's when we're rummaging around the garbage piles of life and avoiding the source of satisfaction. It reminds me of a comic strip I once saw of a dog who had been drinking out of a toilet bowl. With water dripping from his snout, Fido looks up to tell us, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Instead of enjoying fresh spring water, we look for stagnant, crummy substitutes that inevitably fail us.�

Are you trying to fill a need in your life with something other than God and Christ? If you think the only way to achieve happiness is to have something specific you may just be doing that. For instance if you think you could not exist without your spouse, then you are saying no one else can meet my needs, not even God. Or maybe you think unless you have a wealthy job position you just could not be happy. In that case money has become your idol and God is no longer your reassurance and comfort. Examine your life and ask what is it I must have to be happy? Then really look to see how true that answer really is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/17/11 11:57 AM
Proverbs 17:9
9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The best way peace can be preserved is to make the best of everything. Let go of faults and not pass on the problem to others when it doesn�t involve their safety or wellbeing. And for the sake of yourself, let go of a fault. Repeating the problem to others over and over does not help, but instead causes people to distance themselves from the issues. So forgive and let love grow.

Amy Sutherland communicates some interesting ideas about husbands and wives in an article she wrote for the New York Times called, "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage." Sutherland begins by explaining that, after 12 years of marriage, she became dismayed that her husband still exhibited several irritating habits. Her reaction to this realization is shared by many women today: These minor annoyances are not the stuff of separation and divorce, but in sum they began to dull my love for Scott. I wanted�needed�to nudge him a little closer to perfect, to make him into a mate who might annoy me a little less, who wouldn't keep me waiting at restaurants, a mate who would be easier to love.
So, like many wives before me, I ignored a library of advice books and set about improving him. By nagging, of course, which only made his behavior worse: he'd drive faster instead of slower; shave less frequently, not more; and leave his reeking bike garb on the bedroom floor longer than ever. A breakthrough came when Amy began traveling to a school for exotic animal trainers in California in order to research a book she wanted to write: I listened, rapt, as professional trainers explained how they taught dolphins to flip and elephants to paint. Eventually it hit me that the same techniques might work on that stubborn but loveable species, the American husband. The central lesson I learned from exotic animal trainers is that I should reward behavior I like and ignore behavior I don't. After all, you don't get a sea lion to balance a ball on the end of its nose by nagging. The same goes for the American husband. Back in Maine, I began thanking Scott if he threw one dirty shirt into the hamper. If he threw in two, I'd kiss him. Meanwhile, I would step over any soiled clothes on the floor without one sharp word, though I did sometimes kick them under the bed. But as he basked in my appreciation, the piles became smaller.

What are you focusing your attention on: the things that irritate you or the things you enjoy? Learn to forgive the faults, accept them and love the good things a person has to share.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/18/11 12:27 PM
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

In these verses the apostle uses an illustration to help Timothy understand the purpose of living a Godly life. He says in the home there are utensils, some which are everyday use items and some which are used for special occasions. Paul said keep yourself pure and you will be like a special utensil ready for honorable use.

Clean House is the name for a TV show on the Style Channel where experts in cleaning, organizing, remodeling, and painting sweep into a cluttered home with the purpose of leaving it more comfortable, attractive, and livable. The experts face the challenges of clothes strewn across the floor, bulging cabinets, closets filled from top to bottom, filled counter tops, and overflowing kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms�not a clean room in the house! The experts� first step is to take an inventory of all the "stuff." Then, decisions are made about what to sell at a yard sale and what to keep. The home�s inhabitants hesitate and hold on to favorite clothes from years gone by, childhood keepsakes, space-taking trivia, but then they yield. The sale is held, and money comes in to help with the makeover. Then the family leaves, and the work begins. Rooms are cleaned out, redone for more efficiency and attractiveness, and repainted. Curtains are hung, cabinets set in, and walls decorated. A transformation takes place, and when the family returns, what a difference it makes! Any nervous anticipation quickly gives way to excitement and laughter when the family sees what�s taken place. "Thank you, thank you," the family says often amid smiles and tears.

In life we need to take an inventory and clean up our hearts. There are some repairs and remodeling to be done. And fortunately like the families above we have an expert in our life to help, Jesus Christ, who can transform us in a marvelous way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/11 12:48 PM
Mark 14:66-71 (NLT)
66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, �You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.� 68 But Peter denied it. �I don�t know what you�re talking about,� he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. 69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, �This man is definitely one of them!� 70 But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, �You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.� 71 Peter swore, �A curse on me if I�m lying�I don�t know this man you�re talking about!� 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus� words flashed through Peter�s mind: �Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.� And he broke down and wept.

Jesus has already told Peter he would Deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice and Peter did exactly that. When questioned, Peter denied knowing Jesus or anything about him. Then he remembered the words of Jesus, �Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.�

When we are in an uncomfortable setting it becomes so easy to deny the truth when others around us are not sure what the truth is. We become like Peter denying the truth or even lying about it to make things easier. Yet this was truth Peter should have been proud to share, but he was afraid for his own sake. The other night on TV a celebrity news reporter was with her fellow peers. One of them made a comment to her that she didn�t know what the Big Bang theory was. They teased her a bit but she knew enough to respond in a bold way. She said, �God said bang and the universe appeared.� Even though she was being teased and picked on she still held onto her faith and shared it with others. Man can conceive many theories and ideas how something happened, but for those who have faith they know however it happened it was a result of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/11 12:24 PM
Romans 2:17-24 (The Message)
17 -24 If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away.

The apostle writes that it is not religion that saves a person. For even though the law was preached to many those responsible for preaching the law did not uphold it themselves. The same people who said, don�t steal, don�t commit adultery, part of God�s commandments, did so anyway causing others to stumble on this religious hypocrisy.

John Ortberg , in the sermon The Way of Wisdom recalls, �My friend, Jimmy, and his son, Davey, were playing in the ocean down in Mexico, while his family�his wife, daughters, parents, and a cousin�were on the beach. Suddenly, a rogue riptide swept Davey out to the sea. Immediately Jimmy started to do whatever he could to help Davey get back to the shore, but he, too, was soon swept away in the tide. He knew that in a few minutes, both he and Davey would drown. He tried to scream, but his family couldn't hear him. Jimmy's a strong guy�an Olympic Decathlete�but he was powerless in this situation. As he was carried along by the water, he had a single, chilling thought: My wife and my daughters are going to have to have a double funeral. Meanwhile, his cousin, who understood something about the ocean, saw what was happening. He walked out into the water where he knew there was a sandbar. He had learned that if you try to fight a riptide, you will die. So, he walked to the sandbar, stood as close as he could get to Jimmy and Davey, and then he just lifted his hand up and said, "You come to me. You come to me."
If you try to go the way your gut tells you to go�the shortest distance into shore�you will die. If you think for yourself, you will die. God says, "If you come to me, you will live." That's it�death or life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/25/11 01:13 PM
Genesis 40:1-4 (NLT)
1 Some time later, Pharaoh�s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. 2 Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, 3 and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. 4 They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them.

In these verses we find the Pharaoh�s chief cup-bearer and chief baker have offended the Pharaoh in some manner. We could speculate the offense was anything from trying to take the Pharaoh�s life to just allowing him to be served bad food and drink. Whatever the offense; they were assigned to Joseph for him to look after him. Interestingly it says they were assigned by the captain of the guard. The Bible says the captain of the guard was Potiphar who had Joseph wrongly thrown into prison.

Amazing how pride steps in the way of Potiphar�s life. Joseph was a trusted servant to Potiphar until Potiphar�s wife accused Joseph of wrong doing. Yet even in prison Potiphar still trusts Joseph enough to put people under his charge. Because of pride Potiphar could not let himself consider that he may be wrong about his wife�s accusations. Instead Joseph remained imprisoned, but as a trusted servant. We all should be careful not to let pride keep us from doing what is right. Pride destroys relationships and often the person themselves. Pray God would remove pride as an obstacle and allow you to clearly see your life for what it is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/11 12:13 PM
Isaiah 53:4-6 (NLT)
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God�s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Before the birth of Christ the prophet Isaiah spoke of Him. The prophet tells us that it was out weaknesses and sorrows that he carried. He goes on to say Christ took the punishment we should have endured for our sin. While we tend to want to follow our own paths, pursuing our own way; God in His mercy laid on Christ the sins of us all.

A principal at a parochial middle school asks, "How many times have you been to my office?" The boy says, "Not enough, I guess." "You've gotten the belt each time." "Yeah, and I can take whatever you dish out." The principal pauses for a moment to think and then quietly says, "Today you learn about grace."
The boy asks, "You gonna let me walk?" The principal replies, "Yes, I'm going to let you walk." The boy studies the face of the principal. "No punishment at all?" "Oh, there has to be punishment," says the principal. "What you did was wrong, and there are always consequences to our actions." "I knew it," says the boy as he holds out his hands. "Go ahead." The principal takes hold of a belt, folds it in two, and then hands it to the boy's teacher. He tells the boy, "I want you to count the blows." The principal then extends his own hands toward the teacher and says, "Ten strokes." The belt snaps across the outstretched hands of the principal. Shock registers on the boy's face. By the fourth stroke, tears well up in the boy's eyes. "Stop! That's enough!" the boy yells. But the belt continues to crack across the principal's hands. The boy counts out loud, "Five�six�seven�eight�nine�ten." The principal stands with sweat glistening on his forehead, his hands swollen and red. He reaches over, puts his swollen hand on the shoulder of the boy, and says just one word: "Grace."

The greatest consequence for sin was death, eternal separation from God. Yet God sent His son Jesus to take the punishment for our sin extending the greatest love He could offer, His own death to give us Life. Grace! It is a word we should all remember.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/01/11 12:54 PM
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
43 �You have heard the law that says, �Love your neighbor� and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus tells us in these verses we are to love our enemies just as much as we love our neighbors. We are to pray for them and act kind towards them. Those who do not know God show kindness to their neighbors; so those who know God should imitate Him and love all, friends and enemies.

A mother went to Napoleon pleading with the emperor for her son�s life. She asked for a pardon, but Napoleon pointed out this was his second offense and justice demanded death as the consequence. The women still begged, �I plead for mercy.� Napoleon responded her son did not deserve mercy. The mother then said, �It would not be mercy if my son deserved it.� With that comment Napoleon granted the pardon. When we pray for our enemies and seek their best interest, we are not giving them what they deserve. Neither does our God in heaven hand out the punishment we deserve. So we like God should show mercy and grace to others just as God has shown us. The unlovable might not deserve love, but love is what they need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/11 01:26 PM
Psalm 34:3-4 (KJV)
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

In this psalm we find David giving praise and worship to the Lord God. We cannot make God greater than He is, but we can glorify His name to others and to ourselves. When we all do so and join in the praise our praises raise to God in glorious harmony. In praising God David�s fears were eased. David knew God would handle his fear and see him through the difficult times.

If we give fear a chance it will consume our lives. If we stop to take in all the world�s events and let the evil sort through our minds we may allow evil to grab hold of our thoughts and place terror there. Fear can consume a person to the point of rendering them stalled and unable to move forward. Fear can keep someone from facing a decision that needs to be made. Fear can make us walk away when we need to be standing up for an issue. But our Lord God is greater than any fear we can possess. There is nothing in our lives God cannot handle if we are willing to leave our fears with God. Start praising God for who He is and watch as your fears melt away. God bless you and give you peace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/11 12:28 PM
Jeremiah 5:3 (NLT)
3 Lord, you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention.You crushed them, but they refused to be corrected.They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent.

The prophet acknowledges God is looking for honesty. God wants His people to be honest and truthful with their thoughts and words. Yet they have set their faces like stone refusing to be honest. Their dishonesty keeps them from acknowledging their sins and repenting.

I want to examine the life of an addict for a moment. An addict continues in a wrongful behavior despite the consequences they will face. The addict continues to tell themselves and others around them there is no problem. Even when their actions blatantly acknowledge there is an issue in their life their words will continue to say �I do not know what you are talking about; I can handle this�. We have seen this modeled in celebrities before the camera. While everyone notices their corrupt actions the person still refuses to admit the truth. Most of the time the addict knows what they are doing is wrong, but has a difficult time admitting it. To admit a failure in their life it to admit they are flawed and that is the last thing they want to hear. Jesus knows every action we take and can see the truth in our heart. Jesus understands the temptation and battles we face, but He wants us to be honest with ourselves and with Him. He always knows our flaws, yet He is willing to accept and love us. If was cannot admit our sin, our failures, our temptations then it leaves Christ little room to help. We are covering up our sin in order to preserve it and it keeps us from revealing the truth.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/11 12:58 PM
Deuteronomy 29:29 (NLT)
29 �The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.�

This verse tells us that God has knowledge that is not known to others. It is because of His greatness God is able to make decisions without us and shares what he chooses to share with us. For God has the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of things we do not understand. We are accountable for what God reveals to us so that we may obey him. But there are some things God withholds to reveal at the proper time and place.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are camping. They pitch their tent under the stars and go to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, Holmes wakes Watson. "Watson, look up at the stars and tell me what you deduce." Watson says, "I see millions of stars, and if even a few of those have planets, it's quite likely there are some planets like Earth, and if there are a few planets like Earth out there, there might also be life." Holmes replies, "Watson, you idiot, somebody stole our tent!" [Tom Kuntz, "The World's 'Funniest' Jokes," N.Y. Times (1-27-02)]

Watson missed the obvious being he was looking for something more important. Watson was missing the obvious truth which Holmes gladly shared with him. It is so easy for us to miss the obvious because we are trying to seek out what God has not revealed to us yet. Ask God for patience that all things might be revealed in their proper time. Let God speak to you instead of making your own assumptions about life. Micah 7:7 says, �Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/11 12:44 PM
Philippians 3:17-21(NLT)
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Paul closes this letter to the Philippians warning them there are enemies who will always attack their belief. Paul tells us the character of these people; they love to brag about shameful things; and they only think about their life here on earth. Then Paul exhorts the Philippians to live life as though it were meant for heaven, because that is where we all will be one day; living our eternity with Christ.

Research on young adults leaving Christianity by Drew Dyck, "The Leavers,"Christianity Today (November, 2010), p. 40; shows Among young adults in the U.S., sociologists are seeing a major shift taking place away from Christianity. Recent studies have brought the trend to light. Among the findings released in 2009 from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), one stood out. The percentage of Americans claiming "no religion" almost doubled in about two decades, climbing from 8.1 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2008. The trend wasn't confined to one region. Those marking "no religion," called the "Nones," made up the only group to have grown in every state, from the secular Northeast to the conservative Bible Belt. The Nones were most numerous among the young: a whopping 22 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds claimed no religion, up from 11 percent in 1990. The study also found that 73 percent of Nones came from religious homes; 66 percent were described by the study as "de-converts." Other survey results have been grimmer. At the May 2009 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, top political scientists Robert Putnam and David Campbell presented research from their book American Grace, released last month. They reported that "young Americans are dropping out of religion at an alarming rate of five to six times the historic rate (30 to 40 percent have no religion today, versus 5 to 10 percent a generation ago)."

There is a race ahead of us all. There are many dropping out and giving up. There are some who are tired and would like to stop, but they keep hearing the encouragement of others. Be an encourager and tell people about Christ. Share your struggles and how Christ has helped you to overcome to most difficult situations. Share your faith with you children and lead them to understand the rewards God has for the faithful. Most of all keep your faith in Christ and look forward to what is in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/11 12:56 PM
Romans 11:11 (NLT)
Did God�s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

The apostle states salvation was made first available to the Jews, yet many refused to accept the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. So God in His divine plan made salvation available to the Gentiles so they might be saved from their sin. God wanted the Jews see others accept Christ and become jealous and claim salvation for themselves. For God always had a plan of salvation prepared for the Jews, but because of His mercy and grace He made it available to all.

In Matthew 22 Jesus tells the following parable, ��The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! �So he sent other servants to tell them, �The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!� But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. �The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, �The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren�t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.� So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. �But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn�t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. �Friend,� he asked, �how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?� But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, �Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.� �For many are called, but few are chosen.��

God first gave the invitation of salvation to His chosen people, but because they rejected it God gave salvation to those who would properly accept it. The man who was at the banquet improperly dressed did not understand his responsibility or duty. He could not answer the king. If God asked, �Why should I let you into my heaven, what would your response be?� Hopefully you could say, �I have faith Jesus Christ died for my sin and rose to life that I might also live.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/11 11:40 AM
1 Peter 4:12-14 (NLT)
12 Dear friends, don�t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad�for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people�s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

In these verses the apostle Peter tells us there will be angry and serious trials that come against Christians. He tells us to be glad when we face trials due to our belief in Christ for we have become partners with Christ in His suffering for us. However our suffering is not to be self-inflicted. We should not pursue things of this world that bring troubles to us, such as murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into the business of others. We should always find joy to be known by the name of Christ even when the trials of suffering come our way. Praise God that you are called a Christian for you have Christ and you have eternal salvation.

As Christians we are not to be ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ and we are not to be ashamed to be called Christians. Yet for being a Christian we may face those who want to ridicule and belittle the name of Christ and their hate is railed towards us. Yesterday I read a message that said the following, �DON'T donate to Christian charities for Japan quake. We need blankets & food, not bibles & Fundamentalist propaganda.� There are many Christian charities that hand out food, clothes and even blankets. I think of Jesus saying about fathers, �If a child asks you for a fish do you hand them a snake?� Similarly when people ask for food and blankets that is the priority in which a Christian reacts. Meet a person�s needs first and explain later when asked why you desire to meet their need. I know Christians ministering in parts of the world where they are forbidden to say they are Christian unless someone asks. Yet it seems like Christians are the only ones attacked, the only ones mentioned in a negative way. So I encourage everyone to stand firm in their faith knowing Christ understands the suffering you will endure for His Namesake.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/11 11:53 AM
Romans 3:23-26 (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God�s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

The apostle expresses that everyone in the world falls short of God�s standard for righteousness. Yet God by His grace and mercy had a plan to make right the sin of the world. God looking ahead planned to give His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for sin. Those who believe in God�s plan are made right in His sight when they believe in Jesus Christ.

There is a concept some often do not understand: There is no one in this world that can live up to God�s glorious standard. The Ten Commandments was the simplest form of the laws given. These laws include not having any type of idol, keeping a love for God and His law, not taking God�s name in a vain in any way for self-purpose, keeping a holy day of worship, honoring your mother and father, not murdering, not stealing, being truthful, and not desiring what does not belong to you. If you are like me there is at least one or more of those laws that have been broken. By those laws alone I fall short of God�s standard for righteousness. I miss the 100% mark and if I were only judged by the law I would be found guilty and condemned. Fortunately Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world that we might be found justified and righteous in God�s sight. All of us will continue to sin in this world and some sins will have greater consequences in this world than others. But those who have faith in Jesus Christ know they are justified and made righteous by Christ. We no longer fear missing God�s mark; for Christ has redeemed us in God�s eyes. Our love for God and Christ gives us a desire to follow His ways, but yet there will be times we will still fail. However, God in His loving mercy and grace always forgives even if those in the world cannot forgive us for our sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/17/11 11:28 AM
Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him�but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, �I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.�

Jesus after His resurrection told the remaining disciples to go to Galilee. In faith they went even through some were weak in their faith and doubted. Jesus appears to them as He said He would and gave them what is known as the Great Commission; they were to go out into the world to make new disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to teach them what Christ had taught them. Jesus gave them assurance he would always be with them.

St. Patrick�s Day is a religious holiday celebrated on March 17th. It is a day many have associated with wearing the color green, which originally referred to wearing a shamrock. The shamrock was supposedly used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity. God is represented in the Holy Trinity as one, but also three distinct individuals � Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So the entire shamrock was used to show the unity of a Godhead and the three separate leaves was used to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever attributes and power God the Father has, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have as well. Thus, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are also eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely loving, and omniscient. St. Patrick used this illustration to help explain God, Christ and the Holy Spirit to the pagan Irish. In doing so he was able to win many over to Christianity. Isn�t it comforting to know that the Holy Spirit is always with you, which means God the Father and God the Son is always present with you too?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/18/11 12:12 PM
Proverbs 18:1 (ESV)
1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

This verse refers to a person who takes pride in separating themselves from the sentiments of others. They seek to contradict what has been said before them in order to advance their own ideas and notions. These people are driven by vanity, lust or desire and they often will meddle in what does not concern them. They are often opinionated and conceited and to others they become a thorn. They create animosity which separates them from those with sound judgment.

Reading this verse reminded me of an event from my past. I was at a drive-thru window waiting on a breakfast item. The cashier said it might be a few minutes and could I pull forward as possible so that they could serve other customers. Well there was only so much room to move forward without blocking the parking lot, but I moved as forward as possible. A few customers had been served and managed without problem to pull around my waiting car. Then a customer driving a new, very expensive car refused to go around me and started blowing his horn for me to move. I was held captive waiting on my food and now I was becoming frustrated by the individual behind me. It wasn�t long that in addition to the horn the man started using finger gestures and I could hear the vulgar profanity as he yelled for me to move out of his way. With nowhere to move I got out of my car to explain I was waiting on my food, but I was insulted with some of the most vulgar language I had ever heard. So I left my car and walked into the store and said I either needed my food or a refund because there was an irate customer at their window refusing to pull around my car. They assured me they would be out in a second with my food so I returned to my car where the man continued to hurl insults. Then as I waited he finally pulled around my car and again demonstrated the versatility of his fingers.

The problem was not with me, the man in the expensive car owned the problem. Everyone else had used sensible judgment to pull around my car; but this man refused. It may have been vanity, pride or his own desires, but he refused to do what other sensible people had done. His rudeness, his demeanor, his actions and his words were enough to separate and isolate him from anyone watching or listening. Make sure to always use sound judgment in dealing with people so as not to separate you from other as this man did.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/11 11:27 AM
Proverbs 21:29 (NLT)
29 The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.

This proverb compares two different people those who plan evil in their hearts and those abstain from evil keeping morally pure hearts. This proverb tells us the wicked person becomes hard in their ways so that a lie doesn�t even faze them. No rebuke, no reproof, nothing will hinder this person from committing their acts of evil and keeping a stone cold face about their actions. The virtuous however need not bluff their way because they have remained pure at heart. There is no need to cover up something which has not been committed.

You may have done this at some point in your life. You do something you know is totally wrong and then you find yourself lying to cover up what you have done. This relates back to the proverb above for when someone does what is wrong they begin to guard those actions. They begin to justify the wrong to themselves and even try to convince others of their innocence. The truth is they have sinned and what they are trying to hide is the sin God already knows about. We sure try to hide the truth from others, but we can�t hide it from God. However for those who take seriously a temptation and think through the consequences; they can see if they choose what is right there is no need for lies. What is to hide when you have done what is right?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/11 11:46 AM
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NLT)
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people�s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ�s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, �Come back to God!� 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

These verses are about the reconciliation of God to man. God through Christ brought us back to Him. Christ was the propitiation for our sin. Christ redeemed our sin and made us once again presentable to God who no longer counted or held our sins against us. Christians therefore should be willing to share this wonder message of reconciliation with others. We are to be ambassador�s speaking on behalf of God and Christ encouraging others to �come back to God�.

In Decision magazine, Peggy DesNoyers writes in the article �Silent No More�:

My job as a psychiatric home-health nurse brought me in touch with many people who were hurt or angry and who were searching for answers to problems in their lives. I knew that Jesus was the answer, but I couldn't bring myself to talk to them about him. I was the master of excuses. [Until] one patient changed my life. Wanda was a 56-year-old widow in chronic depression. All of her family had died, some of them tragically, within a span of 16 years. The loss and her grief overwhelmed her until life for her became a burden she was unable to bear. One day she quit her job, went home, pulled the curtains, and refused to leave her house. Eventually she stopped eating, and even the smallest of tasks became too difficult for her to do. An observant neighbor had noticed the changed in Wanda's behavior, and that neighbor made arrangements for her to be taken to a hospital where she was admitted to the psychiatric ward. At the end of her hospital stay, when she went home, I was assigned to be her home-health nurse. I visited her weekly to make sure she was taking her medication and was eating and taking care of herself. Over the course of six months Wanda continued to recover. Although I knew she needed to meet Jesus as her Savior, I reasoned that she would soon be attending church and would hear about him there. One day I went to Wanda's house for my regular visit, and I was surprised to find the door ajar. I knocked and when there was no response, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The living room was vacant, so I went to her bedroom and found her lifeless body on the bed. There were several empty medication bottles beside her, and in her hand she held a noted addressed to me.
I sat on the bed beside her and took the note. I read: "Dear Peggy, I'm so sorry. I tried it your way, but I got tired. Please forgive me. I tried. I just couldn't do it. I got tired."
I slid off the bed onto my knees and cried my heart out to my loving, forgiving Father: "Lord Jesus, she tried it my way. I gave her the best that I had. But it was my way. I didn't tell her about you. I didn't tell her about your way." On my knees beside [Wanda's] lifeless body I promised God that I would never pass by another opportunity to tell someone about him.

Never forget we are ambassadors for Christ and we have been given the privilege of sharing the Good News of Salvation with others who may not now Christ. Never wait until it is too late to do so.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/23/11 11:09 AM
Hebrews 1:14 (The Message)
14 Isn't it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?

In the early church there were those who would argue that angels were given a higher importance than Jesus Christ. The apostle quoted scriptures saying, �But he says to the Son, You're God, and on the throne for good; your rule makes everything right. You love it when things are right; you hate it when things are wrong. That is why God, your God, poured fragrant oil on your head, marking you out as king, far above your dear companions.� God calling The Son, God shows Jesus was truly God and truly man. And now Christ reigns as God over all the angels who are His servants to help those lined up to receive salvation.

Anne Rice, whom the media has called the Queen of the Occult, has sold millions of novels about vampires and witches. Several of her books have also been made into movies, even starring Hollywood big-shots like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. But since a near-death experience in 1998, Anne has had a change of heart�she's turned to Christ. In 2005, she stunned her fans by declaring, "I promised from now on that I will only write for the Lord." Her November 2005 release, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, portrays Jesus as a 7-year-old, and the veteran author worked painstakingly to avoid contradicting Scripture in her interpretation of Jesus' life. The book was released in November 2005, and as of December 7, 2005, it remained on the New York Times bestsellers list at #8. In the afterword of Christ the Lord, Rice summarizes what she has found in Jesus, calling him "the ultimate supernatural hero" and "the ultimate immortal of them all." In an interview with Christianity Today in December of 2005, Rice said, "Christianity achieved what it did because Jesus rose from the dead." [Jennie Yabroff, "Anne Rice Has Gone from Goth to God," Newsday.com (11-21-05);]

God came to this world as Jesus Christ giving up all His titles as God in order that we could find salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God ruling over everything, including angels.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/24/11 11:45 AM
John 12:44-50 (NLT)
44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, �If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don�t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don�t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.�

Jesus gives an account of His mission to the world. The mission was to bring true comfort, joy and hope to the people where before there was always an affliction of darkness. Christ came to be the light of truth to show the world how to find God and eternal life.

Many watched the news as Chilean miners were trapped deep underground in a dark cave. There was no light to guide them other than the flashlights that would not last. There was a loss of hope, joy and comfort as they remained there in the dark helpless to do anything about their situation. In the same way the sin of the world has trapped people in darkness. Sin has cut off hope, comfort and keeps a person in the dark about the joy they could have. We feel hopeless to overcome the darkness of sin. People try on their own to overcome sin, but like the miners flashlights it is only a matter of time before sin covers them again. Christ is our light in this world. Jesus came so that we could find salvation in His sacrifice for us. Jesus did not come to judge, but instead to rescue us from the judgment of sin that is to come. Place your faith in Christ so that you may walk in joy, comfort and hope instead of a dark path of sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/11 11:19 AM
Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

The apostle describes the condition of the world when Christ came; the world was nothing but utterly helpless sinners. Then he puts Christ�s sacrifice in perspective for us. A person might be willing to die for someone worthy though it would be unlikely. Yet Christ died for us who were unworthy. God showed us His great love and mercy by sending His Son Jesus, our Savior, while we were yet sinners.

Tony Campolo, in the sermon "The Year of Jubilee," said - I went to my first black funeral when I was 16 years old. A friend of mine, Clarence, had died. The pastor was incredible. From the pulpit he talked about the Resurrection in beautiful terms. He had us thrilled. He came down from the pulpit, went to the family, and comforted them from the fourteenth chapter of John. "Let not your heart be troubled," he said, "'You believe in God, believe also in me,' said Jesus. Clarence has gone to heavenly mansions."
Then, for the last 20 minutes of the sermon, he actually preached to the open casket. Now, that's drama! He yelled at the corpse: "Clarence! Clarence!" He said it with such authority. I would not have been surprised had there been an answer. He said, "Clarence, there were a lot of things we should have said to you that we never said to you. You got away too fast, Clarence. You got away too fast." He went down this litany of beautiful things that Clarence had done for people. When he finished�here's the dramatic part�he said, "That's it, Clarence. There's nothing more to say. When there's nothing more to say, there's only one thing to say. Good night. Good night, Clarence!" He grabbed the lid of the casket and slammed it shut. "Good night, Clarence!" Boom! Shock waves went over the congregation. As the preacher then lifted his head, you could see there was this smile on his face. He said, "Good night, Clarence. Good night, Clarence, because I know, I know that God is going to give you a good morning!" The choir stood and starting singing, "On that great morning, we shall rise, we shall rise." We were dancing in the aisles and hugging each other. I knew the joy of the Lord, a joy that in the face of death laughs and sings and dances, for there is no sting to death.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/11 10:52 AM
Proverbs 12:1 (NLT)
1 To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

This proverb makes the point that one should enjoy the wisdom discipline brings to a person. For when one hates to be corrected they miss out on the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes.

The proverbs were given to us in the Bible so that we would learn how to live in a wise manner. They allow us to live well in this world that God has created for us. The major theme in this proverb is we all need to be open to advice. There are some who will close off the thoughts of others before they even speak. There are some who will pretend to listen while ignoring the wisdom being shared. I once heard a parent say I did the best I could do, when in actuality they �did the best they knew how to do.� There is always room to learn and grow in God�s wisdom. Be quick to listen and slow to speak so that you can hear the wisdom in the words of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/11 11:19 AM
Revelation 2:24-25 (The Message)
24 -25"The rest of you Thyatirans, who have nothing to do with this outrage, who scorn this playing around with the Devil that gets paraded as profundity, be assured I'll not make life any harder for you than it already is. Hold on to the truth you have until I get there.

In these verses Jesus is speaking to the Thyatira church. He notes there are many who are doing impressive work and are persistent in their love and faith for Him. Yet there are some who have allowed immoral acts to be brought into the church. Jesus tells those who are faithful to hold on.


In his book The Unexpected Journey, Thom Rainer shares the story of Kathi, a woman who left behind a life of witchcraft and Wiccan paganism to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Immediately after her decision to become a Christian, she describes to Thom how God delivered her from the powers of evil in her life, as well as her physical deafness (Kathi had been suffering progressive hearing loss for years).

That next day [after I accepted Christ], we left on our family vacation, camping on the beach. I found a small � church for us to attend. Most of the time when I lip read, I am able to follow less than half of what someone is saying. But I was able to understand every word of the preacher at this church.

When the service was over, I spoke to him and asked him how he was able to speak so well for lip readers. He was puzzled, as he had done nothing special. I explained to him my condition of deafness, and he asked to pray for me. No one had ever done that before, but he did pray for my hearing to be restored.

After Kathi and her family returned to their camp site, Kathi fell violently ill. She was confined to the camp site's bathhouse for hours, vomiting to the point of dehydration. "It was at that point that I sensed God was speaking to me again," she says. "He told me that the other gods I had been worshiping had to go. Up to that point, I had seen my conversion as a lateral move. I still had my other gods. I wasn't convinced they were evil or that paganism was wrong. But now God said they had to go. I hesitated at first because I had become so comfortable with these other gods. They had been with me for many years."

Thom writes an account of what happened next for Kathi:

Kathi soon obeyed. She started calling each of the gods by the Egyptian names she knew and telling them in Jesus' name they had to go. There were many of them, because the ancient Egyptians had a deity to represent every facet of life. Kathi also told anything she had worshiped as a Wiccan and anything she had remembered from the folklore of her childhood that it had to go, too. "They resisted at first," she said. "But once they heard the name of Jesus, they left. As each god left, I saw them as they were, no lovely masks anymore. Instead, they had horrible, evil faces. It scared me witless. I knew then that these were no gods at all, but demons."

Immediately after they were gone, Kathi felt better. She left the bathhouse and went to her family and began to tell her husband what had happened. When he responded, she heard every word he said�but she did not have her hearing aids in her ears. She was able to hear everything�the ocean, the birds, and her children's voices. Kathi has never stopped thanking God for what he did for her.

[Thom S. Rainer, The Unexpected Journey (Zondervan, 2005), pp. 121-122]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/11 11:36 AM
Proverbs 21:3 (ESV)
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

King Solomon reminds us it is better for a person to do what is right, to live by godly laws, and exhibit justice as the Lord would show. Trying to say I gave up this or I gave up that only promotes self, but doing what is right towards others lifts other�s lives up as well.

2 Chronicles tells us the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes. God desires to see justice properly administered, not twisted and perverted. King David said God would judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The same justice would be given to orphans, widows, the poor and the afflicted. David knew God loved justice and hated evil. Solomon his son said it was not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. Solomon also encouraged us to speak up for justice and to ensure it is administered properly. In Ecclesiastes Solomon said, �Don�t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. �

Think about today, who seems to receive pardon when justice is put away, the rich or the poor, the famous or the unknown? Man has forgotten how to administer proper justice. We can even see it in our laws. There was a time a judge could hand down a proper sentence for the crime committed, but now judges are required to hand down a sentence based upon a strict law (red tape and bureaucracy). A student who innocently takes a knife to school in their lunch box is punished just as harsh as someone who takes a knife with the intent to cause harm. We have watched as the rich and famous manipulate the court systems, which the poor face harsh times. We all need to be praying God would restore the justice of the land so that all might receive that which is fair and just. May God extend His love, mercy, grace and justice to all!
Posted By: Fred_in_VA Re: Devotionals - 04/15/11 07:47 PM
Welcome back, AskMe. I have missed your devotionals and prayed that no ill had befallen you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/11 11:45 AM
Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

Some people take pride in being quick trying to give a response before they even understand the full point of what is being said. They think the matter to be so plain they give no consideration to the person speaking. They miss the point of the words spoken and in the end they will feel both shameful and foolish.

[Sun Sentinel, November 08, 1998|ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist]
�Dear Ann Landers: I have enjoyed your column for a long time and always thought it would be nice if I could send something as sort of a "payback." Well, I have found what I've been looking for. The Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers Journal printed the following questions actually asked of witnesses during a trial. The responses to some of the questions were given by insightful witnesses. This is not a put-on. It's for real. -- Ronita in Center Line, Mich.

Dear Ronita: What a thoughtful friend you are. My thanks for sending it on:
1. Now, doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
2. The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?
3. Were you present when your picture was taken?
4. Were you alone or by yourself?
5. Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?�

Often we react before thinking through the things we are about to say. It becomes even worst when emotions are tense and angry. Instead of stopping and listening even to themselves the person blurts out a statement. Watch someone in a tense argument sometimes and you may see a person answering before they even hear the complete statement from the other person. They are letting emotions irrationally drive their statements and they are not taking time to consider the feelings or the words of the other person.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/11 11:49 AM
Originally Posted by Fred_in_VA
Welcome back, AskMe. I have missed your devotionals and prayed that no ill had befallen you.

Thank you Fred. I was on an extended vacation with family out of the country. As Dorothy said, there is no place like home. So thank you for the welcome back.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/19/11 11:44 AM
Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)
11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

There are two rules a wise man will follow. The first is that one should control their anger until they understand all the merits of the provocation. The philosopher Plato said to his servant, "I would beat thee, but that I am angry.�� Give it time, and it will cool. When a person takes time to reflect upon and understand their feelings often the anger they are feeling will subside and reason will return to them. Second a person should not be over critical in their resentments. The person who can hold back their anger and express their emotions on pleasant terms will gain much more respect. Calmness and peace is endured much more greatly than strife and anger.

Fighting rush-hour traffic from suburban Maryland to Washington D.C., can cause its share of near misses and irritating moments. One morning, a young lady darted her compact car from a side street into the stream of traffic immediately in front of a driver, forcing him to brake sharply. He avoided hitting her by inches and was obviously furious. Within seconds, traffic stopped at a red light, and I watched him pull up behind the offender, leap from his car, and stride angrily toward hers. Clearly, he intended to give her a royal bowling out. Seeing him coming, the very attractive young lady jumped from her car and ran to meet him--a big smile on her face! Before he could say one word or know what was happening, she had thrown her arms around him, hugged him tightly, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips! Then she was back in her car and driving away, leaving her antagonist standing in the middle of the street still speechless and looking somewhat confused and embarrassed--but no longer angry! [B.R. Holt, Caldwell, ID. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."}

Perhaps the woman�s actions were a little drastic on both accounts, but she knew she was in the wrong and wanted to defuse the situation. And while her approach was a little extreme it did leave the man wondering about his anger. It is better to defuse the anger in our hearts rather than to let it fester and create damage to our hearts and character.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/20/11 11:46 AM
Numbers 22:27-31 (KJV)
27 And when the [censored] saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the [censored] with a staff. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the [censored], and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the [censored], because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30 And the [censored] said unto Balaam, Am not I thine [censored], upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

God had given Balaam specific instructions to follow, yet Balaam was intent on following his own desires. As he rode off on his [censored] to meet others to go against God; angels of the Lord were placed in front of him as a warning. Had Balaam been able to hear and see God as he thought he could he would have been able to see the angels, but he did not. It was his [censored] that finally lay down and refused to go further. Even when the [censored] spoke to Balaam he did not see the wonder in its speech. Instead he had to admit he didn�t understand the actions of the [censored]. The God allowed Balaam to see he angel with sword drawn ready to strike and it was then he fell to his face in humility.

1 Corinthians 1:27 says, �But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;� Balaam, a supposed wise man could not see the wrong or danger before him. It took an [censored] to explain the consequences that lay before him. Most would be amazed an animal would talk and give reproof, yet Balaam was so fixed on obtaining what he desired he couldn�t even see the reality before him. God gives us plenty of warning signs to help us move away from sin, but like Balaam we are so wrapped up with our own desires that we would miss God�s direction even if an [censored] spoke to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/21/11 12:29 PM
Proverbs 21:10 (NLT)
10 Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.

The character of a wicked person has a strong inclination to perform mischief. His soul desires not only having the evil in hand, but also in seeing it and having pleasure in it. This comes from the root of sin, wickedness lying deep within ones soul and its lust conceives sin and brings it forth. There is a strong aversion against doing what is right and no man is spared that stands in his way. His neighbors find no favor and they stand closest to the path of his sinful nature.

Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister, George McDonald said, "Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best, and man will not take it." Man always seems to think he wants the best of everything, but the problem is man does not want what is really best for him. His desires turn evil and the extremes he takes to gain what he thinks he desires hurt other people; even close neighbors and friends. But God understand exactly what we need and we need to be asking God to direct us. We need to let God intervene and change our hearts so that we desire good instead of evil. Turn your life over to God and see where He will lead you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/11 11:59 AM
John 16:9 (NLT)
9 The world�s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.

These are the spoken words of Jesus. Jesus speaking to the disciples about His impending death Jesus knows they are grieved; but he encourages them it is for the best so that the Holy Spirit may come. The sin Jesus refers to in the verse above is the disbelief in His Holy Salvation through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave to follow. He tells them the Holy Spirit will convict the world of its sin, and of God�s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

The world has a wide host of people with various beliefs. Some do not believe God exists. Some are so strongly opposed to God they have created their own belief system to prove God does not exist. Some just do not care one way or the other, while some may not have even pondered the question of God�s existence. There are those who believe in various gods while others believe they are part of a universal god. There are many beliefs, but Jesus said the world�s sin is that it refuses to believe He is God. The mathematician, philosopher, and physicist Blaise Pascal suggested even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. Pascal formulated his suggestion uniquely on the God of Jesus Christ as implied by the greater context of his Pens�es, a posthumously published collection of notes made by Pascal in his last years as he worked on a treatise on Christian apologetics. This theorem is often referred to as Pascal�s Gambit. Pascal believed why ignore the possibility there is a God when there is so much to gain than to ignore God and loose what he has to offer. And what does God have to offer, eternal salvation through His son Jesus Christ, along with his mercy, love and grace!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/25/11 11:44 AM
Luke 24:44-48(KJV)
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Christ appeared to the disciples again after his resurrection to strengthen their faith. They first feared His appearance but they gained confidence it was Christ as He spoke with them and dined with them. Christ then opened their minds to understand the meaning of the scriptures and that what must have happened did happen. Christ rose from the dead and now repentance and remission of sins was to be preached to all nations. These disciples were the witnesses to His words.

Chuck Swindoll, in Embraced by the Spirit (Zondervan 2010) wrote:

One of my most unforgettable moments happened when I was about ten years old. My father served our country during World War II in a plant in our hometown, building all sorts of interesting equipment for the massive tanks, fighter planes, and bombers that defended us in lands far away. Dad worked too long and too hard. As a result he suffered a physical breakdown. And on its heels came an emotional trauma that puzzled everyone, including the doctors.

I was convinced in my heart that my dad was going to die. He may have had such thoughts too, because one night he called me into his room for a somber father-son talk �. I remember leaning hard against his bed, listening carefully to a voice that was hardly more than a whisper. I thought I was hearing him for the last time. He gave me counsel on life�how I should live, how I should conduct myself as his son. The counsel wasn't long, and then I left and went across the hall to the room that I shared with my older brother. All alone, I lay across my bed and sobbed, convinced that I would never see my dad alive again.

That scene still haunts me. Even though my dad recovered to live � I still remember the night he talked to me. Something very significant is wrapped up in our final words. Consider the night in Jerusalem when the Lord and his disciples gathered for � what we call "The Last Supper." Less than twelve hours after [that meal], Jesus was nailed to a cross; a few hours later, he was dead. Jesus understood the significance of those moments and the importance of his last counsel. And so he gave them exactly what they would need to carry them through the rest of their days.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/26/11 11:23 AM
Hebrews 3:13 (NLT)
13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still �today,� so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

The apostle advises believers they should give warning to each other about sin which encroaches into their lives. Believers should be doing this on a constant basis for each day we have on earth is a blessing from God. Because we do not know if tomorrow will come then today is our day for improvement, our day to dispose of sin, and our day to focus on God.

Maybe you have had this experience before. You go to leave a department store, but the clerk forgot to remove the security tag. As you walk through the door the alarm suddenly goes off. People look towards you wondering if you are going to run or wait to have the tag disarmed. You stand there feeling somewhat awkward as if maybe you are guilty of something you did not do. You know you are innocent and wonder what people are thinking. Just remember Christ stood before Pilate beaten for a crime He never committed. When the people were given the choice to set Jesus free or let a hardened criminal free, the people cried out �Free Barabbas�. Jesus was totally innocent, yet He was crucified, a man without sin. His innocent blood was the sacrifice for our sin. Thank God even when we feel guilty our guilt and shame has already been paid for in full by Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/27/11 11:19 AM
Ephesians 5:28 (NLT)
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.

God intended the husband and wife to be as one; unified in their thoughts; unified in their beliefs and unified in their dependence upon each other. So the apostle directs husbands they should love their wives and treat them with respect as though they were tending to themselves.

The following song lyrics are LEAD ME by Sanctus Real. They are strong words about the duty of a husband to lead his family. Read through the words and see if you can identify with what the writer is trying to express.

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying

"Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone."

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying

"Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone."

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I am called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't you lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing dreams that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this out home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone




Christian lyrics - LEAD ME LYRICS - SANCTUS REAL
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/28/11 12:11 PM
Mark 14:3-5 (NLT)
3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 4 Some of those at the table were indignant. �Why waste such expensive perfume?� they asked. 5 �It could have been sold for a year�s wages and the money given to the poor!� So they scolded her harshly.

This story starts in the home of Simon in Bethany. Simon previously was a leper. Leprosy is caused by the organism Mycobacteriumleprae. It is not very contagious and has a long incubation period, which makes it difficult to determine where or when the disease was contracted. Leprosy has two common forms, tuberculoid and lepromatous, and both forms produce sores on the skin, but the lepromatous form is most severe, producing large, disfiguring lumps and bumps. All forms of the disease eventually cause nerve damage in the arms and legs, which causes sensory loss in the skin and muscle weakness. People with long-term leprosy may lose the use of their hands or feet due to repeated injury resulting from lack of sensation. Leprosy was misunderstood for years and people with the disease were placed in isolated leper colonies.

Usually the focus of these verses is on the woman pouring the perfume over the head of Jesus. Many who were there became upset that the perfume could have been sold to help the needy. They forgot or misunderstood Jesus was more than capable of tending to those in need. This woman did a good deed by pouring out her possessions for Her Savior who would pour out His life for her. But we need to remember Simon the leper. Without modern antibiotics leprosy was not curable and yet we find these people sitting and eating with a man who had been a leper. Usually the leper had to announce they were diseased and had to move away from those without the disease. Maybe because Jesus was present these people were not fearful of what they had seen Jesus heal. It is very reminiscent of modern times where HIV was not understood. At first people weren�t sure how it was acquired. Some cast blame on certain groups. People were isolated and separated from friends and families. The medical community has learned a lot more about HIV and AIDs. There are more and more people who are surviving, some who are even symptomatic free. We need to remember God commands us to love all people and care for them. Even while we may not understand a problem we need to trust God and allow Him to take care of the needs of others without imposing our judgment or criticism. We need to act out of love and let those in need know they are loved no matter what the circumstance. May each of us seek to love others as God loves us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/29/11 12:06 PM
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT)
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

The apostle closes this chapter of Ephesians with praise to God for what He is able to accomplish in our lives. He gives notice of God�s inexhaustible capability to do more than we may ever imagine or ask for. The praise God receives comes from the collective church of believers in Christ Jesus and will carry forward for generations to come.

Skye Jethani, from the sermon "Church: The Wisdom of God on Display," said: A few weeks ago I was in Cape Town, South Africa, for a gathering of world Christian leaders from 200 countries. One of the speakers was the Anglican archbishop of Jos, Nigeria. His name is Benjamin Kwashi, and he shared a story that was horrific and inspiring at the same time. Jos, this city in Nigeria, has been rocked by sectarian violence for years now, primarily between Christians and Muslims. There have been endless cycles of violence and vengeance and hundreds of people killed. In March of 2009, a gang of people broke into the bishop's house to kill him. He wasn't home, but his wife was. They did unspeakable things to her, and they beat her and left her for dead. He found her, and she was still alive, but she spent most of the following year in recovery. A year to the day after this gang beat her, in March of 2010, they came back. They broke into his home again, and this time they did find Benjamin. They dragged him out of his house, and they were about to kill him. They had machetes and clubs. Benjamin asked for just a moment to pray before they began. So he knelt there on the dirt and began to pray.

A moment later he felt someone holding his hand. He looked up, and it was his wife. I still can't believe the courage of that woman. She could have run, but instead she broke through this line of the same people who had attacked her a year ago and knelt with her husband to pray with him, knowing that her life was over as well. And then a moment later, he felt someone holding his other hand. He looked, and it was his teenage son. Benjamin begged his son to leave so that he wouldn't be killed as well. And his son said, "Father, they've all left. They're all gone."

Why did they leave? Benjamin said he has no idea. And he knows they'll be back. I'd like to believe that the reason they left is that when this bishop and his wife were kneeling in the dirt in prayer, the manifold wisdom of God was put on display before the powers and authorities in the heavenly realm. There was wisdom and power there that these people could not comprehend, and they became afraid and they fled.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/11 11:53 AM


Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

The apostle writes the Philippians saying they always followed Paul�s instructions when he was with them. But now that Paul is apart from them he instructs them that they are to continue on their own to take to heart their salvation and work on the results of that salvation. In doing so they are to obey God, keep a deep reverence for Him and also show respect for His awesome power which deserves a reverential fear.

Bill White, pastor of outreach at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California tells us Craig C. had been an alcoholic for more than a dozen years. He'd lost everything he had, including his wife and son, due to his selfishness and addiction. Things began to change after he gave his life to Christ, but he still fell regularly into his old habits. It didn't help that he'd lost his well-paying job and was clerking at a local grocery store that was well stocked with all his favorite drinks. After a few years of going back and forth between Christ and the bottle, he finally cut the ties, and, out of obedience to Christ, quit his job.

With no income and hope only in Christ, he was in desperate condition. After an interview with a sheet metal company down the street from his new church, he cried out to God. "God, if you give me this job I will give you my first paycheck." Surprisingly, he got the job.

He clearly remembers the day when he got his first paycheck. Stacks of bills needed to be paid. Penniless but determined, he endorsed it over to the church and walked it to the church office without waiting for the Sunday offering. That was the moment, he says, that changed his life because now he understood what it meant to trust God.

As of today, Craig has been sober for 25 years, he's a manager at that sheet metal company, and he serves as an elder at his local church.

Craig didn't need someone to take instructions from; instead he allowed Christ to work in his heart. He allowed Christ to help him work out the purpose of his salvation and Craig gave his life for the life Christ gave him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/03/11 11:19 AM
Galatians 1:11-20 (NLT)
11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion�how I violently persecuted God�s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord�s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.

Paul declares his salvation to the Galatians and that it was a salvation given to him through a direct revelation from Jesus. Paul heard and knew The Gospel for he had persecuted those following Christ for their beliefs. Paul did not believe the gospel of Christ, but instead put to death those who did. Then The Gospel was marvelously revealed to Paul and Paul believed. Christ was sufficient enough for Paul to give him a clear understanding of the Good News of Salvation. He had not even yet heard directly from any of the apostles. Instead Christ alone touched Paul�s life he believed.

Paul�s strength came from his faith in Christ. Paul had a genuine, believable conversion to Christianity. As Paul grew in his faith he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, �And he [Christ] said unto me, My grace [Christ�s grace] is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I [Paul] rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.� Paul accepted the fact his strength to endure came from Christ. When Paul failed to do what was right, Paul knew Christ would renew and strengthen him. Paul was dependent upon Christ and gave Christ credit for it. Do you know where your strength and power to endure comes from? It comes from Christ who eases your burdens. Your joy comes from Christ who sees you through hardships. Your hope comes from Christ when things seem hopeless. Stop and give praise to Christ who is your Lord, Savior and provider. For in Christ all of your needs can be met.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/11 12:17 PM
Matthew 27:34 (NLT)
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 �I have sinned,� he declared, �for I have betrayed an innocent man.� �What do we care?� they retorted. �That�s your problem.�

After Judas betrayed Jesus by leading the religious leaders to Him he was given thirty pieces of silver as his reward. But Jesus began to feel remorse after he understood his betrayal would mean the death of Jesus. So Judas trying to clear his guilty tried to return the silver, but the priests looked at him and said �that�s your problem.�

Sometimes you take the wrong action in life and you find yourself remorseful over the situation. It may not be genuine repentance, but you feel guilty for your actions. Like Judas you want to say, �Can we forget this and start over?�, but unfortunately it�s too late. The actions have been done and whoever was hurt was hurt. There is no going back to undo what has been done and as the priests stated, �it�s your problem.� Fortunately we have a God of grace who forgives when we repent. So we repent and then it is up to us to rebuild any damaged relationships. It is not the other person�s fault, it�s our problem. But again the good news is we can ask Christ to help and he will be there with us in our struggle to make things right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/11 11:35 AM
Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT)
10 This is what the Lord says: �You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,� says the Lord. �I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.�

In these verses Jeremiah assures Israel that God would mercifully restore them to their own land again, at the end of 70 years. We often don�t understand our own thoughts or the plans we want to accomplish, but God assures us He knows the purpose of His plans. God tells the people His plans are to bring about a lasting future that is backed by hope. There is a condition to His words the people are to seek Him out and when they do He will make his presence known to them. Then He will end their captivity and restore them to their own land.

In a 2008 adaptation of Pinocchio, Bob Hoskins as Geppetto looks at Pinocchio the puppet he created and says, �"You're alive! Do you understand? You're alive!" Geppetto turns to look at a portrait of his late wife that hangs on the wall. "If only you were here! You could see him, too! He is alive!"
Pinocchio happily repeats Geppetto's verdict: "I'm alive!" Then a pensive look comes over the face of the puppet-turned-boy. "What do you mean 'I'm alive'?" "What does it mean? Well, unless I'm going mad, and this isn't just a dream, it means you have a life to live," says Geppetto."And what do you have a life for?" Pinocchio asks in return.� Geppetto falls silent, unable to find an answer.� Fortunately God who created us knows the purpose for our lives. God has set that purpose in motion and knows the exact plans we are to follow for our life. Our only response is to seek out God so that He can share that purpose with us. Pray God shows you the purpose for your life and let Him lead you to your own land where your purpose can be fulfilled.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/09/11 12:17 PM
Proverbs 9:9 (NLT)
9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

This proverb tells us the wise can learn to be even wiser when they are instructed and the righteous can learn to be even more righteous when they are taught the proper things. God�s word is intended to minister, to reprove, to correct and to instruct.

The other day I was watching a Dr. Phil segment where a dad admittedly was verbally abusive and physically abusive at times towards his children. The dad stated he was doing the best he could. But I want to rephrase his words. The dad was doing the best he knew how to do. It definitely was NOT the �best� he could do or the abusive behavior would not have been present. Dr. Phil offered him help through counseling and he agreed to accept it. One of the grown sons who no longer lived in the home was asked, �Was your dad ever physically abusive towards you?� The son responded, �Yes, when I deserved it.� It was a really sad answer because it meant the son now believed abuse what acceptable and would most likely follow that behavior in his own family. But again, the son only knew what he was taught. It was not the best he could have been taught and therefore he was never going to do the best possible. So ensure you follow the proverb above and take instruction and righteous and learn more for your own sake and the sake of your family. Pray that God would give you wisdom to live life as you should.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/10/11 11:11 AM
Deuteronomy 6-11:9 (NKJV)
(6) "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (7) The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; (8) but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (9) "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (10) and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. (11) Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.

These words are a reminder from God to the Israelites that God choose them as the people He would lead from captivity. God loved them because He made a promise to do so. God made a promise to keep His covenants with the people and have mercy upon them. God loves those who love Him. But God also judges those who turn against Him and He repays their hate back to them.

God had expectations for the people of Israel who He chose to model His love, His mercy, His kindness, His love, and all of His other wonder attributes. God also expected them to provide disciple when all else failed. God wanted to create an abundant nation of people who would model themselves before others. God wants those who know and love Him today to be the same faithful witnesses and models for Christ. God wants us to share the same love, mercy and grace He bestows upon us. If you find yourself praying for someone, put your words into action and do what God calls you to do. If your heart desires to minister; minister to others. If God says go love the unlovable that is your ministry. God has chosen you, a special treasure with a special purpose. Don�t ignore Him but be faithful to do what God calls you to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/11/11 11:20 AM
Proverbs 11:9 (NLT)
9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

The hypocrite with his own mouth uses words to destroy the integrity of friends and others. They may flatter a person only to gain information to be used to mislead others. They may decoy someone into sin by false pretenses all the while knowing they are laying a trap. The Apostle Paul says in Romans, �Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. � Those who are obedient to God�s word have nothing to fear for they shall be found innocent by their own righteousness.

It is said it takes a person two years to learn to talk and seventy years to learn how to control the words coming out of their mouth. The Apostle Paul told us, �Everything is permissible��but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.� Words matter and they can do a lot of good or harm. The news media will often quote �FREEDOM OF SPEAK� when expressing their thoughts; even if those thoughts are twisted or not beneficial to others. How often do we see the news media come down harshly on the actions of a celebrity, but we never hear them build them back up with honest truth? Pray God would always lead you to use words for good and not evil. Pray the truth would be spoken or written by others in such a way that the intent is honest and good. There is nothing wrong with speaking truth to help build a person. However falsehoods and warped truth should not be used to tear others down.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/11 11:31 AM
Mark 6:30-34 (NLT)
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, �Let�s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.� He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn�t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

In these verses we find Jesus and the disciples are performing a large ministry for others. There were so many people Jesus sought a quiet moment with His disciple. They were in need of something to eat and rest. But the people kept seeking out Jesus and He had compassion for them. So even though Jesus needed to eat and rest He stopped to once again teach the people.


Mother Teresa gave her life serving others in overwhelming conditions. She had words of wisdom for all of us. �Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own. One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.� Jesus saw the need of people and reached out to them even when He was tired and hungry. Are you taking the time and effort to love and care for others?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/11 11:26 AM
1 Kings 8:23 (NLT)
�O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

Solomon, the king of the people of Israel, prayed this prayer in front of the people. He gave recognition to God for being a God greater than any could imagine. The people were capable of creating a false god or gods, but this was the true God who was above any thought or creation. Solomon thanked God for the completion of the temple which God promised His father David. Solomon lets the people know God is a God who fulfills his promises.

Some forget it was because of God�s promise to Israel that we have a savior named Jesus Christ. God made promises to both Abraham and King David about future events that would take place. One event was the completion of a temple to worship God. The greatest promise was there would be a savior who would take away the sins of the world. The prophets who followed even reminded the people of God�s promise to deliver them from sin. I think it is important to point out that the wisest king who ever lived acknowledged the promises of God in front of the nation. Today we need leaders who will stand up for God and recognize the promise of salvation given through Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/11 11:22 AM
John 4:27-30 (NLT)
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, �What do you want with her?� or �Why are you talking to her?� 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 �Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?� 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

Jesus had been sitting by a well when a Samaritan woman approached. Jesus had asked her for water and as she started to question Him He started revealing things about her life. The disciples were shocked Jesus would be talking to a woman, much less a Samaritan woman, but none were about to question his authority. The woman then ran to the village to tell everyone to come see who she believed was the Messiah for Jesus knew everything about her and everything she ever did.

If you want to make a bet that is a sure winner, you can bet there are people who enter into the sanctuary of a church every day and never reveal any issues, sins, or problems in their life. People are afraid to admit their problems because of a fear of rejection. Yet we see Jesus did not reject this woman. Instead He talked with her when no one else would. Jesus listened to her and then pointed out the problem areas of her life. But Jesus did not condemn her instead He was trying to heal her from the sin she had been suffering through. Our churches need to be a refuge for people who have sin in their lives and need a place to remove it. As Christians we need to be open to everyone ready to listen, ready to comfort, ready to restore those who have fallen into sin. Yet I�m afraid to say too often we are ready to push away and criticize those in sin. Ask the Lord to give you a compassion heart such as His own so that you may love people the way He did. Love those in sin in order that they might see the hope of salvation, mercy and forgiveness. For salvation starts with justification by Jesus, followed by sanctification as we allow Jesus to work in our lives and glorification when we finally are united with Jesus in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/11 12:04 PM
Psalm 95:6-11 (NLT)
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, 7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! 8 The Lord says, �Don�t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. 9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,�They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.� 11 So in my anger I took an oath: �They will never enter my place of rest.��

This psalm was a reminder to give praise to the Lord. It is also a reminder to the people God had been with Israel through their trials after departing Egypt. Even though God took care of them and met their needs the people still turned from God. So God said for hardening their hearts and turning away from Him they would not enter the Promised Land.

This psalm is a good reminder for us. We can cry out to God to meet our needs, but if we are not humbling ourselves before God the blessings will stop. Why should God continue to hand us what we ask for when we don�t acknowledge where we received it from? Why should God continue to poor blessings out when we are not thankful for the ones we received? Take time to give God praise and thank Him for what you have. Consider His blessings and be thankful for each and everyone one. By doing so we demonstrate our dependence on God and we give Him the glory He deserves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/18/11 11:31 AM
1Timothy 1:8-11 (NLT)
8 We know that the law is good when used correctly. 9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy telling him some people have missed the point of God�s love, grace, mercy and salvation. They wanted to be teachers of the Mosaic Law; however they forgot the debt of sin paid for by the blood of Christ. A new covenant with God was established through Christ�s death. Christ became our propitiation for sin. These teachers dwelt on arguments and speculation, but they missed out on being filled with God�s love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and genuine faith in Christ. They pointed to the law and said,�Look at what these people are doing� while forgetting they were also sinners. The Law was to give us a reflection of right and wrong, but The Law was something no man could live up to, except Jesus Christ.

The list of sins given in 1 Timothy 1:8-11 include those who: hold nothing sacred, defile what is holy and ignore Gods commandments, murder, practice immoral sexual acts, force various forms of slavery upon people, lie, break promises, and lastly they go against the Good News of Salvation itself. There is no one in this world without sin. Even when the most holy religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus who committed adultery; Jesus said to them �He who is without sin cast the first stone.� Everyone then left for they knew they were all filled with sin. If the most holy religious leaders of The Law could not stone this woman; what about the rest of us? Remember the Bible tells us there is no one without sin. There are people in our world today who attack different groups of people because of their sin. Gays become a target when they announce their sin. Those who commit adultery are abandoned as if they are lepers. Those in jail are forgotten for they too must be horrible sinners. And those who lie and gossip are avoided. Yet we must remember the truth - Christ died for all our sins; not just the pastor�s, not just your friend�s, not just your parent�s, not just the best of the best, but for ALL. Let�s not act like the people of Timothy�s time and engage in meaningless discussions. Instead let us promote the love of Christ, God�s mercy and grace and the glorious eternal life He holds for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/11 12:08 PM
Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT)
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14 But Jesus said, �Let the children come to me. Don�t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.� 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

In these verses we find followers of Jesus bringing their children to be blessed. They did this because of their respect for Jesus. It was also out of kindness for their children they brought them to be blessed; for they saw the blessings of Jesus as precious. They wanted Jesus to lay hands on their children, such as the blessing of a father given to a son. The disciples not wanting Jesus to be bothered scolded the parents, but Jesus openly welcomed the parents to bring the children to Him.

The parents in Matthew 19 wanted their children blessed for protection and prosperity. It is a parent�s duty to protect and guard over their children. Most of us know Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie. She is a founder and board member of PROTECT.ORG founded as an advocate organization for children. Abused herself she found this a high priority in her life. Protect is founded on the belief that their first and most sacred obligation as parents, citizens, and members of the human species is the protection of children from harm. They are committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect. As parents this should be our goal to make our children a priority and protect their rights and lives. There are many children who have suffered either by neglect or because parents were unaware of circumstances. (Sugar Ray Leonard's autobiography will be in stores next month. Leonard details his troubled home life as a child and tells, for the first time, of being sexually abused by a boxing coach. When first writing the book, he wasn't going to tell the whole story. Even telling his co-author Michael Arkush part of his experience was difficult to do. Leonard then said, "But last year, after watching the actor Todd Bridges bare his soul on Oprah's show about how he was sexually abused as a kid, I realized I would never be free unless I revealed the whole truth, no matter how much it hurt." Source: Protect.org)

Parents take part in your children�s lives and ensure they are protected, safe, and secure. Support organizations that help safeguard your children such as Protect.Org. Keep a vigil watch for problems and issues and communication openly with your children. Children are a blessing from God; make sure that blessing is preserved.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/11 11:40 AM
1 Samuel 16:6-12 (NLT)
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, �Surely this is the Lord�s anointed!� 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, �Don�t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn�t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.� 8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, �This is not the one the Lord has chosen.� 9 Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, �Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.� 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse�s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, �The Lord has not chosen any of these.� 11 Then Samuel asked, �Are these all the sons you have?� �There is still the youngest,� Jesse replied. �But he�s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.� �Send for him at once,� Samuel said. �We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.� 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, �This is the one; anoint him.�

These passages describe God�s selection of David as the future king of Israel. God gave instructions to Samuel to select one of Jesse�s sons, but he did not know which one until the Lord spoke to him. At first Samuel went by appearances thinking Eliab should be king, but Samuel was wrong. God was looking at the heart and soul of the person He was going to select as king, while Samuel was looking at the outward appearance.

God knew David�s character even saying that He sought out David because he was a man after His own heart. God wanted a king that desired to follow God. Yet David was not a perfect man. David lived under some tough conditions as a child, which affected his life. He was often left as a young child to defend the sheep against wild animals. His older brothers were always put ahead of him. Even above we see that Jesse his own father failed to include him in the selection for king. David was mistreated by King Saul and Saul even attempted to kill David. These trials are traumatic events in any child�s life. And while these trials made David stronger they also weakened some areas of his life. David did not do well with relationships. He committed adultery. He failed his children in several areas. Yet God understood the true nature of David�s heart despite the impacts made upon David�s life. Often we see someone who commits a moral failure and we are quick to believe they have no morality and they are unscrupulous. However God sees the whole person. God knows what the person has been through in their life. God sees their heart and knows if they are committed to Him even though they fell to the temptation of sin; for they will repent and ask God for forgiveness. When we see those who fail us in life try to see them as God sees them. Are they normally someone who is seeking God? Have they been through difficulties and challenges which made life challenging? Are they willing to repent and seek help and guidance for their failure? These are some ways we can know the heart of a person. Look past appearances and use the wisdom of God to understand others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/11 11:38 AM
Psalm 51:17 (NLT)
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba the prophet Nathan came to him and confronted him about what David had done. David was blind to his sin, but when Nathan called it out to him David immediately realized what he had done and the consequences he would have to day. This psalm reflects David�s thoughts at that moment. We see in verse 17 David knew he had to humble himself and get past pride. David understood God was quick to forgive those who were repentant in their heart.

Psalm 17 says God desires a broken spirit. The Greek word for broken, means crushed, shattered, broken to pieces. In other words God wants us to see the devastation sin has caused in our lives and admit to it. God wants us to understand the sin we committed has shattered opportunities, shattered relationships, and shattered even our own emotional health. God does not want us stay there though for He is a forgiving God who loves us and shows us mercy and grace when we repent and turn to him. Think about the sins you have committed and humble yourself to God admitting you need Him in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/24/11 11:10 AM
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

This was a reminder from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church that for those who did not understand the message of salvation it seemed like something crazy or foolish. Many of the Jewish of the time were looking for an earthly king that would bring about a peaceful life here on earth. What they missed is God had a better plan and that was to live eternity in the comforts of heaven with Him.

I was reminded of this verse as I watched a TV show last night and the commentator said, �There are crazy people who believe in this rapture nonsense.� He went on to say that even beyond the claims of a rapture, which was supposedly to take place this past Saturday, on May 21th, there were still people who believe in �the rapture nonsense�. Sorry, but I happen to be one of those people believe in the rapture because it is written in the Bible. Jesus told us there would be a rapture, but Jesus also said no man would know the day or time of the event. When the Israelites were in the wilderness and committed serious sin against God, God sent poisonous snakes upon the people. Moses was told to place and image of the snake upon a pole and those who looked upon the image would live if bitten, but those who refused would die. It doesn�t seem to make sense, look at a snake on a pole and live, but that was the solution God gave. God has given us answers to many of our problems, yet we fail to listen. And God have given us a solution to Salvation through Jesus Christ that by His Death on the cross and through His resurrection if we have faith and believe then we too can be saved. I pray you have that faith and I ask you pray for those who you know still think salvation is foolishness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/25/11 11:30 AM
Galatians 2:17-21 (NLT)
17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law�I stopped trying to meet all its requirements�so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Matthew Henry writes of these verses, �With the practice of the Jewish Christians themselves: "Wewho are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles , knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. And, if we have thought it necessary to seek justification by the faith of Christ, why then should we hamper ourselves with the law? What did we believe in Christ for? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? And, if so, is it not folly to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified either by the merit of moral works or the influence of any ceremonial sacrifices or purifications? And if it would be wrong in us who are Jews by nature to return to the law, and expect justification by it, would it not be much more so to require this of the Gentiles, who were never subject to it, since by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified?��

The Jews considered their selves righteous people and considered the Gentiles sinners who did not know God�s law. Yet the death of Christ abolished the law and set man free from sin. Paul reminds us it is not good works we should return to, but instead it is Christ who we should turn to. Christ will guide us to do what is right in our lives as long as we maintain our relationship with Him. Sin has been put to death and the law or good works and deeds no long applies. Let your faith in Christ be strong by giving your life over to Him and letting your weaknesses fade as Christ rules in your life. Stop hanging on tightly to your good works as a way of pleasing God and instead please God by admitting your sin and giving Christ your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/26/11 11:50 AM
Psalm 106:41-47 (NLT)
41 He handed them over to pagan nations, and they were ruled by those who hated them. 42 Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power. 43 Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. 44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. 45 He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. 46 He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness. 47 Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.

The Israelites kept falling away from God. They knew God. They had witnessed the miracles of God. They had passed along stories of what God had done for them, yet they continued to sin and move away from God to their own gods and idols. So God allowed what they asked for and handed them over to nations who worshiped other gods. There they were mistreated by their captors until God would hear their cries for mercy and He would relent because of His unfailing love for them. He caused the captors to treat them with kindness and the captors would learn of God�s love. Yet they desired to be back home, back to the land they were promised, back to what they could call their country.

The current nation of Israel declared independence May 14, 1948 and within a day they were invaded. But they have managed to hold onto their country and clam it as they always desired to do. The other day President Obama called Israel a great nation. Israel�s leader made a different statement. Netanyahu the leader of Israel said, �I'm the leader of an old nation. The president said a great nation. I said he is the leader of a great nation, the American people. And I have the greatest respect for America and for the office of the presidency.� America is a great and powerful nation, while Israel is small, lacking in resources but does what it needs to do to protect itself. It is an old nation one separated thousands of years ago by the hand of God and by the miracle of God brought back again just as the psalmist asked. We must remember while our nation is great God can take His hand away from us and we too will be scattered around the world. Pray for our country and pray the people will listen to and follow the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/31/11 11:24 AM
Matthew 5:6 (ESV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Preaching the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave this verse as one of the beatitudes describing those who were blessed. Jesus said those who seek after righteousness will be blessed for they will be satisfied with what they find. The pursuit of righteousness leads one into contentment where they will be satisfied with what God provides them.

Kary Oberbrunner, author of Your Secret name, shared a story about his encounter with an older man named Bob. While Kary was at the local gym, trying to stay focused on his exercise routine, he noticed an elderly man fumbling with an MP3 player and headphones. At first, Kary tried to ignore the man, but as the man was becoming more frustrated with the technology, Kary reluctantly introduced himself and asked if he could help. The man dejectedly explained, "Hi, I'm Bob, and I love jazz, but I can't get it on this dumb player." When Kary asked Bob if he had heard of iTunes, Bob shot back, "'I' what?" It slowly dawned on Kary that God had placed Bob in his path for a reason. So they set a date when they could spend some more time unraveling Bob's MP3 troubles.

Kary continues the story:
Against his initial wishes, I visited him at his apartment. Turns out his wife had died a couple years before, and all his earthly possessions were crammed into a small apartment. She had been their main breadwinner, so the bank repossessed his house when he was unable to make payments.
Bob and I made a makeshift space in his back room near his desktop computer. One at a time I imported his jazz CD collection onto his hard drive, intending to transfer the MP3s eventually to his player. While importing his music, Bob and I talked about life, his wife, and God. The weeks following I checked in on Bob often. Kind of funny how two guys who are complete opposite can become the best of friends, all because of an MP3 player. Bob is 71. I am 32. Bob is black. I am white. Bob doesn't have much money. I have more than I need. Bob is an ex-convict. I've never been to jail. Bob is a widower. I'm married. [In short], we're opposites. A short time later I invited Bob to church, deeply desiring for him to meet Jesus. After a few invitations, he eventually accepted and sat with my wife and me last spring. If he felt awkward sitting in our mostly white church, he didn't let on. After the service � [we] knelt near the altar, and Bob told Jesus that he wanted to follow him. Bob confessed that he wanted to stop trying to control his life and invited Jesus to take over �. Bob wept and when I looked into his eyes I noticed the distinct peace that now defined his face. Bob changed my life and the life of my church. I get more joy from him than he'll ever understand. Whenever I say goodbye to him at the YMCA or hang up the phone after talking with him, he always tells me to "give his love to my family." He wants me to baptize him this June at our next baptism. I'm saddened by the reality that I almost missed Bob simply because I was too engrossed in my own little world. [Kary Oberbrunner, "'What About Bob?' How That Question Changed My Life," New Man. eMagazine (4-14-09)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/01/11 12:23 PM
2 Corinthians 5:2-5 (NLT)
2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it�s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

The apostle reminds us at times we grow weary with this earthly life and long for the heavenly life waiting for us. He states it is not that we desire to die to be in heaven, but that we are being called there by the Holy Spirit with the guarantee of salvation given to us by Jesus Christ. It is in heaven we will receive new bodies, perfect, without flaw and without pain or suffering. But here in our earthly bodies we wait, serving God while feeling the pain of the sin left on this world.

May 31th, 1985 tragedy struck the Smith family in Lexington, SC. Shari Smith was abducted and later found murdered by Larry Gene Bell. Larry Gene Bell allowed Shari to write a letter of farewell to her family. She wrote, "Please don't let this ruin your lives. Just keep living one day at a time for Jesus. Remember, everything works out for the good to those that love the Lord. Some good will come of this." Difficult words to endure as a family knowing the fate of your loved one. One has to wonder how �good� could come of this.

Shari�s sister, Dawn a former Miss South Carolina, took Proverbs 3:5-6 and committed them in her heart, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" It seems hard to trust when you have been through a difficult time, but God says trust me and I will help you walk straight through this pain. Dawn has been a bold witness for Jesus sharing her testimony of a painful and healing walk with the Lord. Dawn has reached out to others in the name of Christ to share God�s mercy and grace. From Dawn�s website it says, �In 1989 Dawn received a letter from the man that killed her sister, and while on Death Row, he claimed to have met Jesus Christ, asking Dawn to forgive him for what he had done. Dawn shares how God brought her to the place of understanding how true healing from the hurts of life cannot take place apart from the supernatural act of forgiveness in our own lives. Later she would learn to not only forgive the murderer, but to daily choose forgiveness as a path to healing and wholeness. The brightest future will always be based not on a forgotten past, but on a forgiven past.�

We may desire at times to give up this painful life and be with the Lord, but God has a purpose for our lives here on earth. While the process may be painful God builds us up and prepares us to share His word to bring others to Jesus. All my sympathy goes to the Smith Family for their loss, but I also rejoice in knowing they will be reunited with Shari in the heavenly realms with Christ. May God bless those who knew Shari and may her loss bring gain and hope to others through Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/11 11:19 AM
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)
10 But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

The apostle gives a statement he said he obtained directly from Christ, �A wife must not leave her husband and a husband must not leave his wife. But we see there is also a condition that says if someone does leave they should remain single or be reconciled to the person they left. These words affirm marriage is a commitment where each party must be responsible for their actions.

Today marks the 32nd anniversary of marriage for my wife and me. She was 15 and I was 17 when we met so marriage was a little ways off. When I figure the percentage of years I have known my wife Robin it is 67% of my life. While that seems like a long time I remember our wedding day as clear as yesterday. Some might ask has marriage been easy. The answer I would give is marriage has been a full and real commitment to each other. It is not always easy, but no relationship is. It takes work and a willingness to love the other person for who they are just as God loves us for who we are. We joined in marriage with all our faults, dysfunctions and problems and yet we have worked through many of the issues we have faced in life. I am thankful Christ has been a part of marriage for He has carried the burdens of life when we could not. We have had some serious trials and temptations in our life that could have ended a marriage, but God�s grace and mercy was upon us and lead us through those difficult times. I am in no way perfect; only Christ was perfect. I know my wife would love hearing me admit this right now, but it is the truth. I have my problems and still do. My life was filled with dysfunction and it still bites me in the rear at times. There have been times I have messed up royally. I am just thankful God�s grace is sufficient to help me deal with my problems. I am thankful Christ releases me from my sin so shame does not hinder our marriage. For those entering marriage understand the baggage you carry with you has to be dealt with if you are committed to making your marriage work. If you have not dealt with the baggage and jump from one marriage to the next, guess what? You carry the same baggage again and again to the next marriage until that baggage has been dealt with. So today I honor my wife as I quote from Proverbs 31, �Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.� I thank God for my wife Robin who I love and who has complimented my life where I am lacking and enriched it greatly.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/06/11 12:08 PM
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes to all the Israelites. In these verses he tells them to look for opportunities of joy when problems rise up against them. These problems and afflictions are trials that test faith and prove that one can endure with God�s help whatever comes their way. There should be a desire to welcome these trials so ones faith might develop leading one to a greater perfection and completeness.



In a Leadership Journal article, John Ortberg argues that sometimes stressful and painful situations can actually help us grow. Ortberg creates the following scenario:

Imagine you're handed a script of your newborn child's entire life. Better yet, you're given an eraser and five minutes to edit out whatever you want. You read that she will have a learning disability in grade school. Reading, which comes easily for some kids, will be laborious for her. In high school, she will make a great circle of friends, then one of them will die of cancer. After high school, she will get into her preferred college, but while there, she will lose a leg in a car accident. Following that, she will go through a difficult depression. A few years later she'll get a great job, then lose that job in an economic downturn. She'll get married, but then go through the grief of separation.

With this script of your child's life and five minutes to edit it, what would you erase? Psychologist Jonathon Haidt poses this question in this hypothetical exercise: Wouldn't you want to take out all the stuff that would cause them pain?

If you could erase every failure, disappointment, and period of suffering, would that be a good idea? Would that cause them to grow into the best version of themselves? Is it possible that we actually need adversity and setbacks�maybe even crises and trauma�to reach the fullest potential of development and growth?

Ortberg contends that God doesn't always erase all our stress and pain before it starts. Instead, God can use the failures, disappointments, and periods of suffering to help us grow. Ortberg writes, "God isn't at work producing the circumstances I want. God is at work in bad circumstances to produce the me he wants." [John Ortberg, "Don't Waste a Crisis," Leadership Journal (Winter, 2011)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/11 11:13 AM
Proverbs 10:28
The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

God desires for our lives to be filled with happiness. There is nothing wrong with having hopes and dreams as long as they match up with God�s desire for our lives. However those who turn from God create expectations instead of hopes. The difference being an expectation has a demand with it and the want should be met as desired.

It seems like there are a lot of men in the news these days that say, �My wife was not meeting my needs which was not helpful to our marriage.� The truth is the person had an expectation and not a need. They expected to receive something that may not have even been available to them. Expectations also are not often communicated in a loving way, but instead a demand is made without love or without God�s blessing. True intimacy is being able to be open and honest with a spouse and everyone still feel safe and secure. When demands are made the security and safety vanish and usually the spouse rejects what is uncomfortable. Husbands and wives listen for a moment. Instead of making demands, instead of having expectations of your spouse learn to give to each other out of love. Learn to openly communicate and have an intimate relationship where love flourishes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/08/11 11:27 AM
1 John 1:8-10 (NLT)
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

The apostle warns us of deceiving ourselves, which also leads to deceiving others. When we put honesty aside we are not living our life truthfully. We should instead be ready to be honest and confess our sins to God and to those we have harmed or offended. God is just and fair and He will forgive our sins when we are honest with Him. If we continue to sin and say we have no sin then our own dishonesty is calling God a liar.

William Shakespeare said, �Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honor, I lose myself.� Many of us remember the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. In jest the boy dishonestly yelled out for help several times and each time people ran to his rescue just to find he had lied. Then when real trouble came along no one listened for they believed his call for mercy was nothing more than a dishonest lie once again. Lies separate us from our spouses, friends, relatives and others because they begin to realize they do not know the true person. I have listened this week as a public official stated lie after lie and then finally broke down and told the truth. The evidence had become greater than his capacity for dishonesty and he could no longer compartmentalize his lies. If you are familiar with Dr. Drew and his work for addiction recovery, he said one of the strongest points they try to get across to patients is to �be honest�. If the patient cannot be honest they deny the addiction and problems. Doesn�t that sound like the verse above? Honesty builds a character of integrity. Lies and deceit tear down a person�s character in an instant. It is better even to pause for a moment to gather your thoughts when confronted with the truth than to express a lie. Stop and think what is right and what needs to be made known and honestly make a statement. It doesn�t even hurt if you say, �right now I cannot comment on that statement, but I will give an answer that is honest.� Honesty is your best policy in the long. Learn to be honest and also teach those under you the importance of having an honest character.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/11 11:26 AM
Proverbs 11:3
3 Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

This proverb asserts God will guide the upright. The proverb also states dishonesty will destroy those who turn to evil purposes. Integrity, honesty and sincerity will guide a good person in the way of duty and safety. Their principles are clear and they can walk with an upright conscience. However, iniquity leads a person to ruin so their own perverseness will be their pit of destruction. They falsely believe their dishonesty will protect them, but in the end it will lead to ruin.

Shame is a powerful motivator. Shame is a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. When a person commits an act they know is seriously wrong shame begins to overwhelm them. Often to handle the shame a person will begin to lie to cover up their shameful trail. As lies continue their life becomes compartmentalized. Take a person who appears to have a wonderful marriage. Then assume they start seeking out inappropriate relationships and involving themselves in self-destructive behaviors; eventually they have to admit their faults or do like some and lie to cover up their shame. There is a saying that honesty heals and secrets kill. It is so true and like the proverb above dishonesty will destroy. Even when sin is committed; honesty will bring about healing for the person. They may still have to deal with the shameful feelings and the consequences, but at least they are on the right track to recovery. The people around them know what they are dealing with and can help in ways the person did not imagine. If the person lies about an affair or problem they are having; they start building boxes to hold their lies. This is when compartmentalization begins. They may tell their spouse they are working, which in fact they are meeting their affair partner. Then they may tell lies to their affair partner to make the lies to their spouse feel more comfortable. They may have to lie to their friends who see them out with the affair partner. As the lies grow and grow the person is now trapped into maintaining those lies for different groups. The only way to bring about healing is honesty. Honesty destroys the compartmentalized boxes and makes the person whole again. Their anxiety reduces and they can work on their problem with the help of those who understand their failure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/10/11 11:19 AM
Proverbs 10:31-32 (NLT)
31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. 32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Here in this proverb we find people are either justified or condemned by their words. It is both the proof and the praise of a person�s wisdom and goodness that they speak wisely and well. A good and wise person will be of benefit to others as their wisdom has been rewarded by God. The good person will lift up many, praising them for their accomplishments; giving advice that edifies and is agreeable to the listener. Sin however becomes the ruin of the wicked. Their words are displeasing and they provoke controversy. They speak when they should remain silent and they give advice that is often unheeded.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer gives the following perspective on the Ministry of Listening. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter. [Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), pages 97-8.]

There is an appropriate time to speak and give wisdom and there are times when we should just listen. Proverbs 29:20 tells us �There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/11 11:42 AM
Mark 2:15-17 (NLT)
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus� followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, �Why does he eat with such scum?� 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, �Healthy people don�t need a doctor�sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.�

Jesus had called out to Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him and be one of His disciples. Levi in response invited Jesus and His disciples to his home. Being a tax collector was a scrupulous job for many tax collectors took advantage of the people for their own gain and profit. We notice in the verses Levi had invited many others to his home, tax collectors and those who sinned. The �religious� leaders saw what was taking place. Instead of directly confronting Jesus they went to His disciples and asked, �Why does he eat with such scum?� The Pharisees were making their own judgment about these people. Jesus overheard them and responded, �I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.�

In his book The Kingdom of God Is a Party (Word 1990), Tony Campolo relates an experience he had late one night in Hawaii. I see in it a parable of the kind of life Church Union Church needs to embrace in 2010. Up a side street I found a little place that was still open. I went in, took a seat on one of the stools at the counter, and waited to be served. This was one of those sleazy places that deserves the name, "greasy spoon." I did not even touch the menu. I was afraid that if I opened the thing something gruesome would crawl out. But it was the only place I could find. The fat guy behind the counter came over and asked me, "What d'ya want?" I said I wanted a cup of coffee and a donut. He poured a cup of coffee, wiped his grimy hand on his smudged apron, and then he grabbed a donut off the shelf behind him. I'm a realist. I know that in the back room of that restaurant, donuts are probably dropped on the floor and kicked around. But when everything is out front where I could see it, I really would have appreciated it if he had used a pair of tongs and placed the donut on some wax paper. As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee at 3:30 in the morning, the door of the diner suddenly swung open and, to my discomfort, in marched eight or nine provocative and boisterous prostitutes. It was a small place, and they sat on either side of me. Their talk was loud and crude. I felt completely out of place and was just about to make my getaway when I overheard the woman beside me say, "Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm going to be 39." Her "friend" responded in a nasty tone, "So what do you want from me? A birthday party? What do you want? Ya want me to get you a cake and sing 'Happy Birthday'?" "Come on," said the woman sitting next to me. "Why do you have to be so mean? I was just telling you, that's all. Why do you have to put me down? I was just telling you it was my birthday. I don't want anything from you. I mean, why should you give me a birthday party? I've never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?" When I heard that, I made a decision. I sat and waited until the women had left. Then I called over the fat guy behind the counter, and I asked him, "Do they come in here every night?" "Yeah!" he answered. "The one right next to me, does she come here every night?" "Yeah!" he said. "That's Agnes. Yeah, she comes in here every night. Why d'ya wanta know?" "Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday," I told him. "What do you say you and I do something about that? What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her�right here�tomorrow night?" A cute smile slowly crossed his chubby cheeks, and he answered with measured delight, "That's great! I like it! That's a great idea!" Calling to his wife, who did the cooking in the back room, he shouted, "Hey! Come out here! This guy's got a great idea. Tomorrow's Agnes's birthday. This guy wants us to go in with him and throw a birthday party for her�right here�tomorrow night!" His wife came out of the back room all bright and smiley. She said, "That's wonderful! You know Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind, and nobody does anything nice and kind for her." "Look," I told them, "if it's okay with you, I'll get back here tomorrow morning about 2:30 and decorate the place. I'll even get a birthday cake!" "No way," said Harry (that was his name). "The birthday cake's my thing. I'll make the cake."
At 2:30 the next morning, I was back at the diner. I had picked up some crepe-paper decorations at the store and had made a sign out of big pieces of cardboard that read, "Happy Birthday, Agnes!" I decorated the diner from one end to the other. I had that diner looking good. The woman who did the cooking must have gotten the word out on the street, because by 3:15 every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. It was wall-to-wall prostitutes�and me! At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open, and in came Agnes and her friend. I had everybody ready (after all, I was kind of the M.C. of the affair) and when they came in we all screamed, "Happy birthday!" Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted�so stunned�so shaken. Her mouth fell open. Her legs seemed to buckle a bit. Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her. As she was led to sit on one of the stools along the counter, we all sang "Happy Birthday"' to her. As we came to the end of our singing with "happy birthday, dear Agnes, happy birthday to you," her eyes moistened. Then, when the birthday cake with all the candles on it was carried out, she lost it and just openly cried. Harry gruffly mumbled, "Blow out the candles, Agnes! Come on! Blow out the candles! If you don't blow out the candles, I'm gonna hafta blow out the candles." And, after an endless few seconds, he did. Then he handed her a knife and told her, "Cut the cake, Agnes. Yo, Agnes, we all want some cake." Agnes looked down at the cake. Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said, "Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I�I mean is it okay if I kind of�what I want to ask you is�is it O.K. if I keep the cake a little while? I mean, is it all right if we don't eat it right away?" Harry shrugged and answered, "Sure! It's O.K. If you want to keep the cake, keep the cake. Take it home, if you want to." "Can I?" she asked. Then, looking at me, she said, "I live just down the street a couple of doors. I want to take the cake home, okay? I'll be right back. Honest!" She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door. As we all just stood there motionless, she left. When the door closed, there was a stunned silence in the place. Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, "What do you say we pray?" Looking back on it now, it seems more than strange for a sociologist to be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes in a diner in Honolulu at 3:30 in the morning. But then it just felt like the right thing to do. I prayed for Agnes. I prayed for her salvation. I prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her. When I finished, Harry leaned over the counter and with a trace of hostility in his voice, he said, "Hey! You never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?" In one of those moments when just the right words came, I answered, "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for whores at 3:30 in the morning." Harry waited a moment and then almost sneered as he answered, "No you don't. There's no church like that. If there was, I'd join it. I'd join a church like that!" Wouldn't we all? Wouldn't we all like to join a church that throws birthday parties for whores at 3:30 in the morning? Well, that's the kind of church that Jesus came to create!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/14/11 12:04 PM
James 5:19-20 (NLT)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

James is writing to brothers and sisters in Christ; which are Christians within the church. He reminds them it is possible for them to wander off into sin. James is always exhorting Christians to live moral and Godly lives, but he also reminds them they are capable of following the path of sin. When a Christian wanders into sin they are prone to error and subject to consequences. Bringing a Christian back to the truth not only saves them from the consequences that could affect life, it also has a positive impact on the lives around them.

In an article for ChristianityToday.com entitled "Our Divine Distortion," Christian songwriter Carolyn Arends shared a personal story that shows how easy it is to view friends as enemies when we are racked by shame or guilt�a dangerous trait that can have an impact on how we view God. She writes:

Condensed from an on-line article by Christianity Today magazine Carolyn Arends states: When I found a brand new lap-top for half price on eBay, I told my friend and musical colleague Spencer about my bargain of a find. He was worried: "Usually when something's too good to be true �" "I know," I replied impatiently, "but the seller has a 100 percent approval rating." "Be careful," warned Spencer.
"Of course," I assured him, annoyed. I wasn't born yesterday. I sent the seller $1,300 and discovered in very short, sickening order that I had fallen prey to a classic scam. A fraudster had hacked someone's eBay identity in order to relieve easy marks like me of our money. I felt [like a] fool�and didn't want to tell Spencer. The next time I saw his number on my caller ID, I didn't answer. I could just imagine his "I told you so." Soon, I was avoiding Spencer completely. And I started to resent him. Why did he have to be so judgmental? Why couldn't he be on my side? Why was I ever friends with that jerk? Eventually, we had to fly together to perform at a concert. "Whatever happened with that computer thing?" he asked an hour into the flight. Cornered, I finally confessed my foolishness, dreading the inevitable response. But as soon as I told Spencer about my mistake, a strange thing happened. The enemy I had turned him into evaporated. Spencer turned into Spencer again, my teasing but deeply empathetic buddy. As embarrassed as I was by my eBay error, I felt even dumber about the way I had allowed my shame to distort my perception of a best friend. If my hand had not been forced, I would have remained estranged from him indefinitely. I've always considered myself perceptive, but the longer I live, the more I discover my susceptibility to misinterpretation. This is true of the way I view my friends, truer of the way I see my enemies, and perhaps truest of the way I perceive God. [Carolyn Arends, "Our Divine Distortion," ChristianityToday.com (12-18-09)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/15/11 11:19 AM
Hebrews 13:8-9 (NLT)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God�s grace, not from rules about food, which don�t help those who follow them.

The apostle tells us we can count on the fact Jesus Christ always remains the same. It doesn�t matter if it was yesterday, today or anytime in the future, Jesus remains the same. Jesus delivered us from sin by His death on the cross. It was an act of love, mercy and grace. Because of the grace extended to us we are not held by rules, but instead by the love of Christ.

This morning I am struggling, trying to understand how far the grace of Jesus extends. It is a struggle because most of my life has been set with rules. Even in my day to day life I find many rules I must follow. There are laws on how to drive. There are laws that govern my living. There are rules about the way work must be performed. Yet, my life is also covered by grace. So am I obeying rules out of fear or am I obeying rules out of love for my Lord and Savior; that is my struggle! In my life I want to know God and I want to understand His desires. God said King David was a man after His own heart. Obviously David understood and knew what God wanted, yet David was not a perfect man. While it is sad about the many flaws of David I am thankful for them. For if David had been perfect I know it would never be possible to be a man after God�s own heart. Yet I have hope through grace. I have hope because God gave me hope. I know there are others who struggle with understanding God�s purpose for them, so let us stand together in prayer that we may know God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit that leads our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/16/11 11:26 AM
Acts 12:1-5 (NLT)
1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John�s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration. 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

In these passages we find John�s brother James has been killed with a sword because of his powerful preaching about Christ. He was one of those sons of Zebedee whom Christ told that they should drink of the cup that he was to drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was to be baptized with. In other words they would follow in His death. One might think God would keep one of His from perishing, but the purpose of God may have been to awake the other apostles to the critical mission before them. For we find Peter is also imprisoned and placed under guard waiting for a trial. Peter may have thought it his duty to wait in prison for his trial, but the church was praying for him.

The next portion of Acts tells us this about Peter, �The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, �Quick! Get up!� And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, �Get dressed and put on your sandals.� And he did. �Now put on your coat and follow me,� the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn�t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came to his senses. �It�s really true!� he said. �The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!�

While the angel miraculously freed Peter from his bondage in chains it was up to Peter to put on his shoes, get dressed and walk out of the prison. Peter then made his way to the home of John Mark�s mother where people were gathered praying for him. They were so intent in prayer they could not believe it when Peter said it was �he� who was standing at the door. It would have been so easy to miss the answered prayers of God. Yet God knew what He was doing so that His purpose might be fulfilled.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/17/11 12:05 PM
Psalm 68:5 (NLT)

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows�this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

King David wrote the words in reflection that God watches over and protects those who have no one to protect them. He is a father to the fatherless teaching them His ways. For the widow is He is a defender ensuring the widow is cared for and protected. This is God�s nature that is holy and lives in a place of holiness.

In the US Father�s Day is held on the third Sunday of June. Father�s day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Sadly in life there are those without fathers. Some fathers live to a rich age, while others have died early in their life. However, some fathers abandon their families and leave them behind for their own selfish reasons as in my case. My father was an abusive alcoholic who could not or did not want to control his behavior. So when I was one year old my mother left and divorced my father and I never saw him again. It wasn�t until his family called to say he had died and there would be a funeral that I finally met him lying in a coffin. Because I am a junior, over the years I received calls from social workers saying they had found my father homeless on the street or he was in the hospital recovering from problems related to alcohol. It is sad that a father would put the importance of alcohol above his own children, but it was an illness he did not want to overcome. I say children because it turns out I have a younger half-brother I have never met, nor do I know where he lives. He was abandoned as well and from what I was told; he found my father and quickly sent him back because of the alcohol related issues. There were so many times it would have been nice to have had a father who cared and was available. He missed ballgames. He missed birthdays and celebrations. I needed someone when I was trying to learn how to be a man, but he wasn�t there.

Let me speak to fathers for a moment. Fathers you need to do everything possible for the sake of your children. You need to support, love and care for your family. Fathers you need to take time for your children and show them you love them. Be patient, kind and encouraging. Fathers, be present for your children and live as God would have you live.

For men and women without fathers let me say God has been with you always. God has been your protector. God has been there with you at those ballgames, dance rehearsals, while watching you celebrate life. You may not have had an earthly father, but you had a heavenly Father who cared deeply for you and found you precious. God is your Father and cares for you deeply and those blessings will continue to your family.

Children if you have fathers, who loved you and lived godly lives, show your honor and respect. You do not know what a blessing your father is until he is not present with you.

Happy Father�s Day to all fathers!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/11 12:19 PM
Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51 is David�s admission to God about the sin he committed to take Bathsheba as his own. Not only had David committed adultery and caused Bathsheba�s pregnancy; but to hide the fact he placed Bathsheba�s husband in a position during war that ensured his death. David was a man broken by sin. His spirit was shattered as he came to grips with how he had sinned against God. In the verses above David confesses there is no need to try an offer sacrifices for what he has done. Instead David understands his need for repentance. David says to God, �You will not reject a broken and repentant hear�.

In life there are many times we find ourselves broken by sin. Sin while it may be appealing slowly destroys the life of a person. David started with just a look at Bathsheba and it increased into a desire to have her. When David was finally confronted by a friend he felt like his life was shattered to pieces. As much as David thought he had hidden his sins, his sins were never hidden from God. Fortunately our God is quick to forgive and supplies grace and mercy to those who have repentant hearts. Maybe you have experienced brokenness in your life. Remember God is always prepared to heal and restore you once you turn your life back over to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/11 12:24 PM
Proverbs 21:23 (NLT)
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

This proverb speaks for itself. There are some things which just should not be said. Avoiding saying the wrong words will keep a person from trouble.

It never fails to amaze me how people try to reconcile their issues and then they will say something that just completely ruins any trust or confidence. I have been listening to several interviews of people in the media lately. It seems the ones in trouble just didn�t know when to say nothing. For instance you don�t stand up before the public and say, �I did not do this!� and then the evidence comes out that you did. Another one is you don�t say the problems in your family was your fault and then turn around and announce had your family been supportive maybe the problems would not have occurred. You can�t blame another for your actions, when you were the one at fault. Listen well to this proverb and remain silent at the appropriate times. Don�t blame others when the blame is yours. And don�t lie to cover up mistakes for it better to say nothing than to say something that will break trust.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/22/11 11:05 AM
James 5:16 (NLT)
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes we should be willing to confess our sins. We should also confess sins to those who we are close to so that they might pray with us to overcome those sins. James tells us that confession to a righteous person who prays for us will have great power within our lives and produce wonderful results.

Accountability is an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions. With accountability we are willing to disclose issues that affect us or others. We are willing to let someone look into our lives and see whatever problems may exist and guide us in correcting those issues. Many self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, take accountability serious. They tell the individual they need to seek out the forgiveness of those they have hurt, make themselves accountable, and make amends where possible with those they have hurt. This is where talking with someone is important and why AA includes a sponsor as a part of their program. The sponsor gives the individual someone safe they can trust to listen to their problems and help guide them in their recovery efforts. As Christians we need close, safe, and righteous friends we can discuss our sins with. We need to let these friends hold us accountable for our actions and pray with us when we fail. God is quick to forgive when someone confesses their sin so it is important to not hold back. We don�t always need to confess our sin to a person, but when we have hurt others we do and need the help and guidance from those who are safe, close and righteous friends.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/11 11:07 AM
Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT)
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Don�t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, �They hit me, but I didn�t feel it. I didn�t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?�

King Solomon passes along to his son the wisdom of not indulging one�s self with the pleasure of alcohol. For the person who gives into indulgence finds themselves facing anguish, sorrow, along with emotional and physical pain. Even with the suffering they face they continue to seek after the pleasure of alcohol while continuing to destroy their lives and the lives they are tied to.

1st Timothy 3:8 says for a person to qualify as a deacon of a church they should not be heavy drinkers of wine. Ephesians 5:18 says to the Christian �And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.� The Bible makes it clear as Christians we should avoid indulging ourselves with alcohol and instead we should be seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I know firsthand the pains caused by alcohol for my father was an alcoholic. My mother said when my father was not drinking he could be the kindest person, but when he drank he became out of control, much like the words in Proverbs. He complained. He got into fights. He found himself beat up after spending long hours in bars. From years of drinking mixed with amphetamines to pull him out of his drunken state; he was psychotic; had hallucinations and said things that were untrue and crazy. He found himself in the mental hospital on several occasions from his addiction. Amazing how the words from thousands of years ago are still so true. If you find yourself struggling with the use of alcohol seek out help and stay clear from its temptation. Don�t ruin your life and the life of others for something that destroys.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/24/11 12:13 PM
Proverbs 24:17-18 (NLT)
17 Don�t rejoice when your enemies fall; don�t be happy when they stumble. 18 For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.

King Solomon reminds us God does not want us to rejoice when those who trouble us fall from grace. God�s desire is to restore people and He allows the consequences of their choices to discipline them. It is at that time we should show mercy and grace in hopes they may be reconciled to God and with us.

In 1913, the Federal government held a fiftieth anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. It lasted three days. Thousands of survivors camped in the old battlefield, swapping stories, looking up comrades. The climax of the gathering was a reenactment of Pickett's Charge. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch as the Union veterans took their positions on opposite ridges and started toward each other. Philip Myers, [who witnessed the event as an 18 year old] wrote, "We could see not rifles or bayonets; nothing but canes and crutches. We soon could distinguish the more agile ones aiding those less able to maintain their places in the ranks." As they neared the battle line, they broke into one final, defiant rebel yell. "It was then," wrote Myers, "that the Yankees, unable to restrain themselves longer, burst from behind the stone wall, and flung themselves upon their former enemies...not in mortal combat, but re-united in brother love and affection." They came together, old enemies, and spent several moments in embraced hugs, hand shaking, and patting each other�s backs. [The Civil War, p. 412. From the files of Leadership.]

This was a time for reconciliation, not a time to start a new war. The broken and wounded were there where the battle had taken place and the enemy gave compassion freely and openly. God wants us to be compassionate and merciful to those who have been broken and wounded; not resentful and angry. We all need to learn to forgive for our own sake and let grace be our guide.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/11 12:17 PM
2 Samuel 13:20-23 (NLT)
20 Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, �Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he�s your brother. Don�t you worry about it.� So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom�s house. 21 When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. 22 And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister. 23 Two years later, when Absalom�s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king�s sons to come to a feast.

These verses show the dysfunction of a family. Amnon, son of King David, half-brother to Tamar and Absalom, raped Tamar. Absalom found out and wanted to hide Tamar�s shame and protect her. King David found out the details and while angry did nothing about the problem. Two years passed and still King David had done nothing about the rape of Tamar, which was his responsibility as king and even more of a responsibility as her father.

Can you imagine the turmoil Tamar lived in? First raped by her brother and then ignored by her father. Then the brother who cared so much for her made a choice to defend her honor and kill his half-brother, which later isolated him. Can you imagine being told to keep quiet through this turmoil? Unfortunately many people feel they must remain silent about their problems and secrets. Yet, God wants us to seek out safe and wise people who can help us with our struggles. God wants us to know there is someone we can share our burdens with and not have to hold back secrets. I have heard Dr. Drew say more than once that patients are told �You are only as sick as your secrets.� And it is true, hold back the secrets and you are holding back the emotional pain that needs to be released and dealt with. I pray if you have issues in your life you have not told anyone, seek out someone you can trust and someone who has the wisdom to lead you in the right direction. Please don�t let life�s issues overwhelm you to the point of seeking out solutions that destroy your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/11 11:12 AM
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

King Solomon shares this piece of wisdom that we must maintain a holy jealousy of ourselves and ensure that all areas of our soul are guarded. We are to not let our hearts hurt others, nor are we to let others hurt our heart. Our hearts should remain free from sin and not disturbed by the trouble that comes into our lives. We are to have a good conscience; keeping good thoughts and not bad ones. We must keep our hearts with more diligence than any other part of us, because all issues of life are directed by the heart. Our lives will follow the path of our heart making us comfortable or uncomfortable, rejoiceful or distraught.

We owe it to our husband or wife, our fellow workers, our children, our friends, indeed to everyone who comes into our lives, to be as happy as we can be. This does not mean acting unreal, and it certainly does not mean refraining from honest and intimate expressions of our feelings to those closest to us. But it does mean that we owe it to others to work on our happiness.... I once asked a deeply religious man if he considered himself a truly pious person. He responded that while he aspired to be one, he felt that he fell short in two areas. One of those areas, he said, was his not being a happy enough person to be considered truly pious. His point was that unhappy religious people reflect poorly on their religion and their Creator. He was right; in fact, unhappy religious people pose a real challenge to faith. If their faith is so impressive, why aren't these devoted adherents happy? There are only two possible reasons: either they are not practicing their faith correctly, or they are practicing their faith correctly and the religion itself is not conducive to happiness. Most outsiders assumer the latter reason. Unhappy religious people should therefore think about how important being happy is -- if not for themselves, then for the sake of their religion. Unhappy, let alone angry, religious people provide more persuasive arguments for atheism and secularism than do all the arguments of atheists. [Dennis Prager, talk show host, author, columnist , Happiness Is a Serious Problem (Regan Books, 1998), p.4]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/29/11 12:31 PM
Proverbs 29:1 (NLT)
1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

The Reverend Matthew Henry wrote, �The obstinacy of many wicked people in a wicked way is to be greatly lamented. They are often reproved by parents and friends, by magistrates and ministers, by the providence of God and by their own consciences, have had their sins set in order before them and fair warning given them of the consequences of them, but all in vain; they harden their necks. Perhaps they fling away, and will not so much as give the reproof a patient hearing; or, if they do, yet they go on in the sins for which they are reproved; they will not bow their necks to the yoke, but are children of Belial; they refuse reproof , despise it, hate it. They shall be suddenly destroyed, in the midst of their security, and without remedy; they have sinned against the preventing remedy, and therefore let them not expect any recovering remedy.

There are two types of criticism we usually deal with in life, negative criticism and constructive criticism. Negative criticism is when someone voices an opinion towards us with the purpose of showing that something is simply wrong, false, mistaken, nonsensical, objectionable, disreputable or evil. It is generally interpreted as an attack towards us. Constructive criticism aims to show that the intent or purpose of something is better served by an alternative approach. In this case, the target of criticism is not necessarily deemed wrong, and its purpose is respected; rather, it is claimed that the same goal could be better achieved via a different route. For some of us any form of criticism is painful because it is directed at our self-esteem which may make us feel devalued. However King Solomon says we should accept the words of criticism and not refuse it when it is given to us. In other words we should listen to others opinions, but use the wisdom God has given us to discern what is true and what is not. Listening never hurts. In fact the Bible tells us we should be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger giving time to weight the evidence before us and apply what is necessary to our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/30/11 11:28 AM
Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 �Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: �I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don�t cheat, I don�t sin, and I don�t commit adultery. I�m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.� 13 �But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, �O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.� 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.�

Jesus told this parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to teach us humility and for humiliation of sin revealed in prayer. Pharisees thought themselves to be strict followers of the law who did no wrong. The tax collector on the other hand was considered the lowest of the low by most people for having an unscrupulous character. In these verses the Pharisee boldly enters the holy temple and praises himself to God. The tax collector stood afar from the temple not daring to approach what was considered holy ground for he knew himself to be filled with sin. In truth we are all filled with sin and it was the tax collector who humbled himself as a sinner crying out for mercy from God. Jesus then states, �those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those humble themselves will be exalted.�

Let�s face the truth; there is not a single person alive on this earth that does not commit sin in some fashion or form. Romans 3:23 tells us, �For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.� So it doesn�t matter who you are or how religious you think you are; you are a sinner. Jesus proved that point when religious leaders brought a woman to him caught in the midst of adultery. He said to them, �He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.� What was the result? Everyone was convicted of their sin, even those who thought they were set apart as being holy and righteous. They all departed leaving Jesus alone with the woman they were so willing to destroy because they were suddenly humbled. There are many today who think they are holy and righteous and take up stances against those who �they� believe are sinners. We are told to be careful how we point out another�s sin because of our own sins. We are told we can reprimand a Christian who has fallen into sin, but we are also to lead them back, and forgive their sins. For the non-Christian we are always to act out of love and mercy so we might lead them to Christ. Humble yourself before God knowing you are a sinner saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Extend the grace and mercy God offers you to others and love them instead of condemning them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/05/11 11:26 AM
Luke 20:45-47 (NLT)
45 Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, 46 �Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.�

In these verses Jesus cautions his disciples about the ways of the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus wants them to understand they should not be drawn into their sinful ways. He describes the leaders prideful ways, and how they seek after admiration. They cheat those who are to be cared for. They pretend to show reverence for God by making lengthy prayers, but they do so only for show. Jesus said these leaders will be severely punished for their actions.


Author Ed Dobson wrote a book titled The Year of Living Like Jesus, in which he tells the story in diary form of how he tried to live as Jesus lived and as Jesus taught for a year. On day thirteen of month one, he records this story:

My wife and I drove to Key West. I decided to take a day off from reading. As we walked past a restaurant on Duvall Street, a man, who'd obviously been drinking, called from the steps: "Hey, could spare some change so I can get something to eat?"

I've heard that line a lot, and I know a number of responses. First, you can simply ignore such people. After all, he will most likely use whatever money you give him to buy more alcohol, and, therefore, you'd be enabling his habit. Second, you can offer to take him to a restaurant to buy him something to eat. In most cases the person will not go because he mainly wants the money to buy alcohol. Third, you can point him to an organization that provides meals for the homeless. Many such organizations exist in most cities.

What did my wife and I do? We walked past the man without doing anything, as we have done with so many other people over the years. After all, it's not our fault that he is where he is.

But after we'd walked on a little farther, he called after us, "Can you help a Vietnam vet?" My youngest son is a veteran, and I deeply respect those who have served their country in that way. So I stopped, walked back to him, and gave him a dollar. At that moment I remembered the words of Jesus: "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." It's as simple as that�give to the one who asks. He asked. I had an obligation to give.

As I walked down the street, a wonderful peace came over me because I felt I'd actually obeyed one of Jesus' teachings. I knew he'd probably use it to buy more alcohol and that I probably hadn't made the wisest choice. And I also knew that a dollar wasn't really going to help him. But I had no other choice. He asked and I was obligated.

Still, what caused me to give him the money was not really my responsibility to follow Jesus, but the fact that he was a veteran. So after my initial euphoria, I realized I had done the Jesus thing for the wrong reasons. [Ed Dobson, The Year of Living Like Jesus (Zondervan, 2010), pp. 24-25]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/06/11 11:17 AM
Luke 22:45-46 (NLT)
45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 �Why are you sleeping?� he asked them. �Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.�

Jesus had warned the disciples with these words, �Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.� Jesus had even looked at Simon Peter and said, �I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.� Jesus was directly telling Simon Peter he was going to sin, but he would repent and turn back to strengthen the other disciples. Even with this knowledge the disciples ignored the warning and slept as Jesus prayed. The response from Jesus was, �Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.�

Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God. Can you imagine having a relationship with anyone that you were not in communication with? Over time the relationship would decay as we lost the importance of whom the person is and who we are to that person. There must be communication in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Our relationship with God works the same way. We must spend time talking to Him in prayer. We need to express our feelings and talk about our life. We must also listen to His desires, which require us to remain silent at times. God wants the best for us, but we cannot know the best without knowing which direction God wants us to go. Follow the words of Jesus and �Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.� God is waiting for us as He always does.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/07/11 11:49 AM
Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Many of David�s psalms are filled with the problems he is facing in life. Usually David expressed the deepest pains of his heart and reflected upon how God was always with him even in the most difficult of times. In Psalm 23 David expresses nothing but his delights, comfort and the great goodness he finds in God. David understood his faith in God and how it was sufficient to meet the needs of his life. David recognized God for providing salvation and that he would spend eternity with the Lord in heaven because of his faith.

As a boy David was a shepherd and in Psalm 23 David uses metaphors related to his younger years. He said, �Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.� A pastor friend of mine spent time as a missionary in Africa. Living in Africa he was responsible for his family�s welfare, which included herding sheep. Sheep in remote countries are often used for meat, skins, milk and wool. Each day there were chores related to the sheep. He had to lead the sheep to food and water. Stubbornly sheep sometimes won�t move so the shepherd carries a rod, which is blunt stick, to prod the sheep along. A tap from the rod on the rear and the sheep gets moving. Sometimes the sheep would wonder into a ditch which they could not get out of. A staff, which was a long pole with a crook at the end to put around the sheep�s neck, was used to help pull the sheep up out of the ditch. David�s reference to God�s rod and staff was a reminder sometimes God has to give us a little push to get us going back on the right path. There are other times God has to rescue us from what we have done to ourselves. We should delight in the fact whether we are being disciplined or rescued God does so because He loves us. God wants to protect and comfort and that is something we can find great joy in.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/08/11 11:49 AM
Luke 23:18-25 (NLT)
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, �Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!� 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, �Crucify him! Crucify him!�22 For the third time he demanded, �Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.�23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

This is the account of Jesus after he had been arrested by the Roman guard. Jesus was brought before Pilate to be judged and Pilate found no wrong in Christ. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod who also found no wrong. It was then left up to Pilate as how to sentence Jesus, which he was opting for a flogging to satisfy the crowd. However the crowd shouted crucify him, crucify him. They even shouted to release Barabbas a prisoner who took part in an insurrection against the government in Jerusalem in exchange for the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate bowed to the will of the people and sent Jesus to be executed.

As I read this account of the people shouting out for the execution of Jesus I was reminded of recent media events. I watched as a mob of people stood outside the courthouse where Casey Anthony was being tried and shouted, �Justice for Caylee, Justice for Caylee� over and over again. I remember mobs of people standing outside the Anthony home shouting mean and cruel words. I saw people holding signs mocking Casey just as Jesus had a sign held against him to mock Him. Even with a mob of people calling out against Casey our justice system did what was right. The judge did not stop the trial and say, �You know there is a mob of people outside who would like to see Casey executed.� The judge did not hand her over to others for them to take action into their own hands. Instead the judge followed the laws this country lives by and is known for throughout the world. We are a country of grace when we do not have all the answers. Ultimately God does have all the answers and knows all the things that took place. Even though this family was called a family of secrets, there are no secrets to God. God knows the depths of each person�s heart and God will judge accordingly.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/11/11 11:36 AM
Proverbs 11:27 (NLT)
27 If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!

In this proverb King Solomon tells us those who endeavor to do good reap both the favor of men and God. This is a person of love and kindness. They search out opportunities to serve their fellow man and in doing so find the favor of others blanketed upon them. However there are also those who seek our evil. It does not take long to find evil for evil comes to them quickly.

A popular belief among doctors and social scientists has been that many teens begin drug use and sexual activity to deal with depression. However, a study published in the October 2005 edition of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reverses those beliefs. Health policy researcher Denise Dion-Hallfors comments: "Findings from the study show depression came after substance and sexual activity, not the other way around." The data was gathered from a national survey of 13,491 adolescents. A large group of these teens, about 25 percent, were called "abstainers." They had never had sex, smoked, drank alcohol, or taken drugs. Only 4 percent of these teens experienced depression. The study also reported that girls among the 75 percent who had taken drugs and experimented with sex were 2�3 times more likely to experience depression than abstaining girls. Boys who engaged in binge drinking were 4.5 times more likely to experience depression than boys in the abstaining group. Boys smoking marijuana were more than 3 times more likely to be depressed than those who abstained. Dr. Hallfors warns: "Parents, educators, and health practitioners now have even more reason to be concerned about teen risk behaviors, and to take action about alcohol, drugs, and sex." [Taunya English, "Teen Sex and Drug Use May Be Cause of Depression, Not the Effect," Health Behavior News Service (September 2005)]

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/12/11 11:51 AM
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NLT)
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Corinth about love and the importance of it. The church was focused on too many other things and the apostle wanted to get them on the right track. One of Paul�s most well-known statements to the church which comes from this chapter is: �Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.� Then Paul reminds them as a child we think as a child, but one hopes to mature and put away the childish thoughts. It was his hope they would grow up and see the important need for love.

I am sure you have heard the phrase, �QUIT BEING CHILDISH�. People often say it during the midst of an argument from one adult to another when one adult sees the other responding in a childish manner. Truthfully there are times some of us do respond like a child because we never got past a hurt in our lives. The love and nurturing we needed was missed, which left us stuck with childish thoughts. We did not learn how to express ourselves clearly and hence our response is very childish in nature. I was reminded of our need to be loved and nurtured as I watched Dr. Drew�s Celebrity Rehab. One of the celebrities being treated for addiction had painful memories of the past flash back into their mind. They said it made the feel small, helpless and like a child. The thing is as adults we are no longer children and we must assume the responsibilities of an adult. We have an imperfect vision of our lives because of our hurts and pains. The cloudy mirror we look into shows us pains and hurts of our childhood past. We feel incomplete and just a partial piece of what we should be. We need the love for ourselves, the love from others and the love of God to see us through to difficult times. We need to move past our childish thoughts and mature in the way we handle problems. Allow God and others to work in your life so that you might become complete as God has intended for you to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/11 12:02 PM
Genesis 27:41-46 (NLT)
41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: �I will soon be mourning my father�s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.� 42 But Rebekah heard about Esau�s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, �Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?�46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, �I�m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.�

Rebekah was the mother of Esau and Jacob who were fraternal twins. Esau was technically the older brother because he was born first and would have inherited the blessings of his father. Yet their mother Rebekah preferred Jacob more than Esau and she helped Jacob receive the blessing from his father under false pretense. Isaac was too old to see so Rebekah helped Jacob appear to be Esau, who Isaac preferred. This outraged Esau and he sought in his heart to kill his brother. Rebekah knowing Esau�s intent once again plotted to help Jacob. She planned for him to go to her brother who lived far away and did so by telling her husband Isaac she wanted Jacob to marry a woman from his homeland.

Family dysfunction is seen when family members inconsistently attempt to fulfill their family responsibilities. Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau were living in a dysfunctional family. There were two parents with different preferences for their children. Esau was what we might call a man�s man, while Jacob was reserved and stayed close to home. There was a constant battle between the two brothers most likely fueled by the parents. Their battle finally led Jacob to unrightfully acquire his father�s blessing (inheritance). This caused bitterness, jealousy and contempt towards Jacob. Many of you have probably lived with some type of dysfunction and did not even know it. You may not have seen your family was dysfunctional because to you the life you lived was normal; well normal to you at least. But normal for one person or family does not mean what took place in the home was really normal or good. It does not mean there were people without flaws, problems and errors. More than likely most were doing the best they knew how, but they were not doing the best they could. Instead they were most likely following generations of dysfunctional behaviors; not realizing there was a problem. God gives us the wisdom to seek out answers and in doing so we can learn to recognize dysfunctional behaviors. We can learn to change those behaviors for the better so future generations can learn from our progress instead of our mistakes. Pray God would give you the wisdom to see the dysfunction of your family and grant you the knowledge to make life better for the entire family.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/11 11:54 AM
Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)
12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

King Solomon gives us an account of those who have become deluded in their judgment of themselves. The way they are conducting their life seems fair or reasonable to them. They feel their opinions and practices are good from what they know. Matthew Henry said, �The way of ignorance and carelessness, the way of worldliness and earthly-mindedness, the way of sensuality and flesh-pleasing, seem right to those that walk in them, much more the way of hypocrisy in religion, external performances, partial reformations, and blind zeal; this they imagine will bring them to heaven; they flatter themselves in their own eyes that all will be well at last.� The problem becomes those who deceive themselves also destroy themselves.

�Florence Foster Jenkins, a soprano, loved to sing�especially the great operatic classics. She inherited money when she was in her 50s, which funded her musical career. It wasn't long before her popularity skyrocketed, holding annual recitals at the Ritz-Carlton in New York throughout the 1930s and 40s. But as one writer puts it, �History agrees, with hands held over its ears, that she couldn't sing for sour apples. Jenkins' nickname, behind her back, was 'the Tone-Deaf Diva,' or 'The Terror of the High C's.' The writer adds that if you ever hear one of her old recordings, all that you'll hear will be �squeaks, squawks, and barks.� But get this: she didn't ever grasp that she was bad! When people laughed and hooted as she sang, she took it to be delirious enthusiasm for great music. She thought they loved her and her music.
["Florence Foster Jenkins: She played Carnegie Hall and she really couldn't sing a note?" Chicago Tribune (11-20-09)]

People may think it doesn�t matter what you believe about yourself as long as it seems right to you. But the truth is what you believe needs to match up with the reality of life. You can believe you don�t have issues or problems, but reality better prove it out or you may be quickly heading for defeat.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/15/11 11:09 AM
1 Peter 5:6-11 (NLT)
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

These words are from Peter who Jesus said would be the rock of the church. He tells us to keep humble in our ways and give our worries and problems to God. We are also to watch out for temptation which comes from the devil when we are at a low point in life. Peter reminds us we are not alone in our struggles. There are others who are struggling and who have struggled that understand our suffering. Peter says we will suffer, but that in time God will restore, support and strengthen us to a place that is solid.

Gregory Boyle retells the story of a 15-year-old gang member named Rigo. Rigo was getting ready for a special worship service for incarcerated youth when Boyle casually asked if Rigo's father would be coming. The following is a summary of their conversation: "No," he said, "He's a heroin addict and never been in my life. Used to always beat me." Then something snapped inside Rigo as he recalled an image from his childhood. "I think I was in fourth grade," he began, "I came home. Sent home in the middle of the day � . [When I got home] my dad says, 'Why did they send you home?' And cuz my dad always beat me, I said, 'If I tell you, promise you won't hit me?' He just said, 'I'm your father. Course I'm not gonna hit you.' So I told him." Rigo began to cry, and in a moment he started wailing and rocking back and forth. Boyle put his arm around him until he slowly calmed down. When Rigo could finally speak again, he spoke quietly, still in a state of shock: "He beat me with a pipe � with � a pipe." After Rigo composed himself, Boyle asked about his mom. Rigo pointed to a small woman and said, "That's her over there � . There's no one like her." Then Rigo paused and said, "I've been locked up for a year and half. She comes to see me every Sunday. You know how many buses she takes every Sunday [to see me]?" Rigo started sobbing with the same ferocity as before. After catching his breath, he gasped through the sobs, "Seven buses. She takes � seven � buses. Imagine."

Boyle concluded this story with an analogy. God, as revealed in the person of Jesus, loves us like Rigo's mother loved her son�with commitment, steadfastness, and sacrifice. According to Boyle, we have a God "who takes seven buses, just to arrive at us." All throughout Jesus' ministry�his birth on Christmas morning, his meals with sinners, his healing of the sick, his death on the cross for our sins�he showed us the heart of God, the God who will take a long journey of love to find us. [Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart (Free Press, 2010), pp. 26-27]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/11 11:14 AM
Proverbs 18:1 (NASV)
1 He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

This verse from proverbs speaks of a person who pulls away from the wisdom of all others to seek after their own thoughts and desires. Sound wisdom is put aside in favor of gratifying one�s self with their conclusions against what those with sound thoughts and principles reached.

In his book, Thinking For a Change, John Maxwell explains, �If you are successful, it becomes possible for you to leave an inheritance for others. But if you desire to create a legacy, then you need to leave something in others.� An inheritance leaves something for others. A legacy leaves something in others.
Adam, the first father of the human race, must have understood this. We do not know if Adam was a wealthy man who left a valuable estate to his children, but we are told that beginning with his son, Seth, and grandson, Enosh, �men began to call on the name of the LORD� (Genesis 4:26). Adam must have done something right. I believe he did. When his descendents looked back, they remembered how Adam lived, loved and left (Genesis 5:3-5). To pass down a godly legacy we must follow Adam�s example. When our children and future generations look back, they will remember how we lived [John Maxwell, Thinking for a Change (Warner Books, 2002)]

The question to ask yourself are you being real seeking out sound wisdom from God or are you counting upon yourself for answers to life? Adam obviously realized his flaw in counting upon himself when he brought sin into the world. So the advice he gave others was they needed to call upon God for their answers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/11 11:34 AM
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT)
24 Don�t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

The apostle is encouraging the Corinthians to live as if they are seeking a prize in a race. Paul uses the example of a race to explain the pains and hardships they will face. But while a runner receives a prize that fades away; the prize for the Christian is eternal salvation.

In my life I ran three marathons: San Francisco Marathon, New York Marathon, and the Kiawah Island Marathon. Each race had its uniqueness. The San Francisco Marathon was extremely hilly. Just as I thought it was getting easy I would turn a corner and a mountain of a hill would be facing back. Then there was the New York Marathon. This race had inclines and descents, but they were usually moderate. There were a lot of people out on the streets shouting words of encouragement; motivating everyone to keep going. The Kiawah Island marathon was isolated and flat. The ground was so flat the same muscles groups were used all the time, which made running more difficult. Plus there were no supporters, no one cheering you on.

This is a lot like life. There are times when we face hills that just overwhelm us and we want to give up. There are other times life is going along smoothly and there are plenty of people encouraging us. Other times we are running alone and the path before us seems easy; but deep down there is difficulties and pain. The goal however is to finish the race even if it takes longer than expected or is more challenging than we could have imagined. We are not to give up hope, but instead we are to stay the course in order to cross the finish life. Lord I pray each and every one will not give up on life, but press forward even in difficult moment. Lord I pray You would give strength and let us see the reward that is waiting.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/11 11:04 AM
Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)
24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

King Solomon tells us that everything we do depends upon God. All of our actions depend upon His Grace and His Mercy. We are unable to predict the future or even get a small glimpse of what it looks like. So how can man understand what he is to do when he doesn�t even know what is going to happen.

Every now and then you find yourself in a place where God has put you for a purpose. I am still amazed by a story I have told several times. I was out of town and went to a restaurant. The only place they had to sit at the moment was the bar and since I was alone I said why not. I sat down and noticed a beer mug next to me that was almost empty, which the bartender cleared off. A few minutes later a man came back arguing with the bartender that someone took his drink after he just stepped away for a minute (actually it was several). To calm an argument the bartender poured him another full glass. I sensed I needed to say something to this man so I said, �Having a bad day?� He responded, �You just don�t know. I just got out of prison. I don�t have a job. And then my beer was gone.� I started asking about his prison experience and I asked if anyone from his church ever visited him. He said yes. In fact he said that during a visit from a chaplain he came to know Christ, but that didn�t make life easy. I assured him no one�s life was easy and that being a Christian wasn�t always easy. At times we have to wait on God and see what He has planned for us. The man then said, �You sound like my grandmother who I am staying with. She said God has a job for me and she even knows some people who want to give me work. �I told him it was nice to have a grandmother who cared and he could count on the fact that God and Christ also cared about him. With that he said, �You know I think I will go talk to my grandmother about those jobs.� Then he thanked me for talking with him and got up and left. The surprising part is the beer he so craved and argued for was left there intact on the counter without a sip taken from it. This man wanted to drown his sorrows in beer when what he really needed was someone to show him some compassion and reassure him life would be ok and that God was in control. Remember God directs us and we don�t have to always understand why, but know that He cares for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/21/11 11:34 AM
John 17:20-21 (NLT)
20 �I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one�as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

In these verses we find Jesus not only praying for the disciples, but for all Christians who have come to have faith in Christ. The prayer was meant for those who had come to believe in Him and for those who were yet to believe in Christ. His prayer was all Christians would be united so those who have not believed in Him would come to believe in Him through the Christian�s actions.

Sadly I have heard it said Christians wound other Christians and leave them on the battlefield. Our purpose as Christians is to work as one; as Christ prayed we would do. We are not to put down another Christian for their sin, but instead we are to help that person see their failure and help restore them. Some we will say we are not to judge others, but we do know when someone is not following the will of God. God has instilled in us with His Holy Spirit the ability to discern right and wrong. The Bible tells us we are to reprove others so they can see the sin they have fallen into. But we are to also gently restore them by aiding them in their recovery. Instead of wounding others we should be like soldiers who defend each other and leave no one behind. Pray for those who have fallen to sin that you may be able to minister to them and help restore them to their proper relationship with Christ. Who knows, one day there may be a failure in your life and you will need someone to reach out to you. I hope God blesses each and every one of you keeping you close to Him and protecting you. I pray as Christ we all will be one in our effort to show the world Jesus and His merciful salvation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/22/11 11:03 AM
Matthew 22:34-40 (NLT)
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 �Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?� 37 Jesus replied, ��You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.� 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: �Love your neighbor as yourself.� 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.�

The Sadducees were distinct from the Pharisees in several ways. The Sadducees rejected the oral traditions that the Pharisees held to. The Sadducees believed only the first five books of the Bible written by Moses were authoritative. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and in angels and spirits; while the Sadducees rejected such beliefs. Two groups very different in their beliefs tried to show where the statements of Jesus were wrong. They were trying to humiliate Him, but in doing so created their own humiliation. The Pharisees were trying to pit Jesus against the Sadducees. They asked what the most important commandment was in the Law of Moses. The response Jesus gave was simple; love God with all your heart, soul and mind and also to love one�s neighbor. The proper relationship with God allows the proper relationship with others, which drives us to act responsibly towards God and each other.

In the Greek language there were separate words for love; there is a godly love, a friendly love, and a lustful love. Jesus was speaking of a godly love for both God and man. We are not just to love others as friends; we are to love others as God would love them. We need to avoid arguing over small differences in beliefs and focus on meeting the needs of each other. When we see our fellow man struggling we are to help and not hinder. When we have a difference we should seek to reconcile. When there is an injustice we are to seek justice. The proper motivation founded in godly love will always point us in the right direction. Let�s follow what Jesus said, �Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind; love (godly love) your neighbor as yourself.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/11 11:17 AM
John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus tells those around Him that is He the way, the truth and the life. It is through knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ that one comes to know salvation. Jesus is stating a clear truth, �No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. � Only because of Jesus is there access to salvation. Only because of Jesus is forgiveness of sin found. Only through Jesus is God�s love confirmed with His gift of eternal life in heaven. There is no other way to be found except in Christ.

I read an article the other day that said a great mistake many Christian Evangelicals make is trying to convert someone to Christianity instead of trying to lead them to Jesus. Now some may think it is the same thing, but Christianity is made up of various denominations. There are Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Catholic. All of these denominations have some things in common, but they also have many different beliefs. However the common theme for Christianity is:

- Christ is God�s son and was born of the Virgin Mary.
- Christ lived a sinless life.
- Christ was beaten, tortured and died on the Roman cross for our sin.
- Christ was placed in a grace.
- Three days later Christ rose from the grave defeating sin and death.
- Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will have eternal life in heaven.

Those are the common traits, after that each denomination and various offshoots of denominations have other religious sacraments and traditions. Each denomination has its beliefs about how different sins should be addressed. Even each church in a denomination may have a separate view as to how the church functions. We first need to leave behind the traditions of church and focus on people getting to know who Jesus is. If we can show them the love of Jesus and they accept Him on faith then Christ will lead the person to the proper place in life. We need to give up trying to do things in our power and instead let the power of Christ work in people�s lives.



Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/11 12:25 PM
Proverbs 26:4-5 (NLT)
4 Don�t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

There verses seem to contradict themselves, but in actuality they don�t. A person needs to know when to speak and when not to speak towards the foolish words of another. There are times a person should remain silent so as not to join in the foolish talk of another. Yet there are other times when a wise person should convict someone of their foolish words for the betterment of the one speaking or for those listening.

The futility of trying to impart wisdom to a fool is the basis of Proverbs 26:4-5, which tell us how to answer a fool. These seemingly contradictory verses are actually a common form of parallelism found in the Old Testament, where one idea builds upon another. Verse 4 warns against arguing with a fool on his own terms, lest we stoop to his level and become as foolish as he is. Because he despises wisdom and correction, the fool will not listen to wise reason and will try to draw us into his type of argument, whether it is by using deceit, scoffing at our wisdom, or becoming angry and abusive. If we allow him to draw us into this type of discourse, we are answering him �according to his folly� in the sense of becoming like him.

The phrase �according to his folly� in verse 5, on the other hand, tells us that there are times when a fool has to be addressed so that his foolishness will not go unchallenged. In this sense answering him according to his folly means to expose the foolishness of his words, rebuking him on the basis of his folly so he will see the idiocy of his words and reasoning. Our �answer� in this case is to be one of reproof, showing him the truth so he might see the foolishness of his words in the light of reason. Even though he will most likely despise and reject the wisdom offered to him, we are to make the attempt, both for the sake of the truth which is always to be declared, and for the sake of those listening, that they may see the difference between wisdom and folly and be instructed.

Whether we use the principle of verse 4 and deal with a fool by ignoring him, or obey verse 5 and reprove a fool depends on the situation. In matters of insignificance, it�s probably better to disregard him. In more important areas, such as when a fool denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1), verse 5 tells us to respond to his foolishness with words of rebuke and instruction. To let a fool speak his nonsense without reproof encourages him to remain wise in his own eyes and possibly gives credibility to his folly in the eyes of others.

In short, in negligible issues we should just ignore fools, but in issues that matter, they must be dealt with so that credence will not be given to what they say.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/27/11 12:21 PM
Proverbs 27:5-6 (NLT)
5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

It is good when our friends care enough about us to be open concerning our faults. It takes courage for a friend to bring forth our faults and sins. It is a lot easier to hide a problem fearing love will be lost than to give criticism for the fault. While the rebuke may be painful at first it is better than suffering at the hands of those who might despise us.

How do you respond when you have a close friend who knows you and cares for you tells you something about yourself that is unpleasant to hear. Do you stop and listen? Or do you push your friend aside so they are unwilling to talk to you?

If you are in the category of stopping to listen you must be commended for your willingness to listen to the reproof of a friend. Their words may hurt, but their intention is pure. They want to show you a fault in your life that needs correction. Imagine steering a boat into the fog. Blindly you are heading towards the shore, confident of your abilities, but lacking information. Suddenly you see a light house pointing the way to safe and secure waters. It is there you find safety because of the guidance of the lighthouse. Your friend is the light house showing you the safe path you need to follow. You have missed something, overlooked, ignored, or didn�t want to deal with a problem in your life. Your friend has brought the problem to light and their desire is to guide you to a place of safety. Listen and heed their advice.

On the other hand if you are in the category of pushing aside those who want to warn you of problems in your life you limiting your chances for success. You will miss the opportunities to make a correction. These missed opportunities will lead you down a wrong path where you will fall into the hands of the enemy. There you may find flattery and sweet words to allure you, but their motive is self-seeking and not in your interest. Be careful for your fall may be near.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/28/11 11:30 AM
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

The folly of sin is when one indulges them with sin, they excuse their actions, they ignore their self-inflicted problems, and even worst they blame their faults on others. Compassion will be shown to those who acknowledge their sin and confess it; to themselves, to God and to those who have been hurt.

Addiction is a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences that follow. This is reflected in an individual pursuing reward and/or relief either through the use of a substance or other behaviors. People with addictions usually dismiss their problem. If confronted often they will blame the confronter for the issues in their life. The addiction brings about impairment in behavioral control, craving, inability to consistently abstain, and diminished recognition of significant problems with one�s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. The prosperity in their lives diminishes as they lose control. They lose what they have and those close to them over the desire for the addiction. The addiction has become their new desire; their new love. They conceal it for their own self-gratification so others won�t attempt to take it from them.

The start of recovery from an addiction is the confession of the problem. The person must acknowledge they are no longer in control of their actions and that the addiction is controlling them. They should be willing to seek help and share their problem with others. In doing so they will gain mercy and grace from those who care to see them healed. No longer will they be pushed aside for their problem, but instead they will be comforted. I pray for those with addictions that they would no longer conceal them, but confess them to others in order to find help. I pray their lives will be blessed with mercy. I pray too that healing and restoration will come to them. May God bless your lives as you confess your faults to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/29/11 11:49 AM
Galatians 5:16-21 (NLT)
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won�t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God

The apostle instructs us to let the Holy Spirit guide our lives so we put aside our craving for sinful things. We have a sinful nature that drives us toward sin. We also have the Holy Spirit, from faith in Christ, which makes us aware of sin and directs us to do what is good.

The basic definition of sin is a willful and deliberate violation of a religious or moral principle. This holds true for most religions of the world. What becomes complicated is how we list out sins. We know one of the Ten Commandments says �thou shall not steal�. Most of us realize there is a difference between someone who robs another for their own pleasure and someone who takes food to feed their hungry family. The Bible also tells us �thou shalt not murder�. Again we know there is a difference between someone killing in cold blood and someone who kills to defend their family. Hebrews 10:13 says this, �This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them�. When Jesus died on the cross God made a new covenant and God laid on our hearts what is right and what is wrong. In fact the Bible tells us what may be a sin for one person may not be a sin for another. We ask how could that be and the answer is �God is righteous and just�. God gives mercy and grace where it is needed and holds accountable those who should know right from wrong. The Lord has given us the ability to recognize sin, to see the grey areas and to provide justice as needed. Jesus spoke often about this as the religious leaders tried hold Jesus to the letter of The Law. Jesus taught his disciples to let God�s will rule in their life instead of man�s interpretation of the law. They were then also to have faith in their convictions and follow those convictions. Place emphasis on what God has placed within your heart concerning sin and challenge areas of your life that are in violation of His will. While some sins may seem impossible to remove they will be easier to overcome as your walk with Christ remains on solid ground.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/11 11:16 AM
2 Kings 5:6-14 (NLT)
6 The letter to the king of Israel said: �With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.� 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, �This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he�s just trying to pick a fight with me.� 8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: �Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.� 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha�s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: �Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.� 11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. �I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!� he said. �I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12 Aren�t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn�t I wash in them and be healed?� So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, �Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn�t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, �Go and wash and be cured!�� 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child�s, and he was healed!

In these verses we find the story of Naaman being healed from leprosy. First he went to the King of Israel who became distraught over the message he received. Elisha upon hearing the story comforted everyone and said send him to me so I can show him there is a true prophet of God in Israel. At first Naaman did not want to listen to Elisha�s words, but he was convinced by others to follow the prophet�s orders and he was healed.

Sometimes we need encouragement from others to get us pushed in the right direction. The first encouraging words for Naaman came in verse 3 where it was said, �I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.� On faith he followed this advice and sought his king�s permission to go to Israel. I�m sure when he saw the King of Israel tear his clothes in anguish he probably thought that was the end of any chance to be healed. But then the message came from Elisha that he was willing to heal Naaman and Naaman went on faith to Elisha. Naaman had his own expectations as we often do; wanting things to happen a certain way. So Naaman turned away in anger and that is when he got another encouraging word from those close to him. They said, �Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn�t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, �Go and wash and be cured!�� Encouraged Naaman did as was told and found immediate healing. We need to remember God puts people in our lives to encourage us and push us in the right direction. May God bless your life with those who care enough to encourage.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/11 12:17 PM
Proverbs 2:9 (NLT)
9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

In chapter 2 of Proverbs Solomon speaks about the benefits of wisdom. The advice he gave was to honor God, to fear Him in reverence and to concentrate on understanding the knowledge imparted to man. In the verses above Solomon says the person who seeks wisdom and finds it will understand what is right, what is just and what is fair.

Do you know what is right, what is just and what is fair? When something is right we understand it is within normal, understood boundaries. For instance if our car holds 20 gallons of gas and we fill up the car and the gas pump registers 45 gallons we know something is not right. In life to understand what is right we must have understanding of a subject or situation. We must have sound opinions that are not based on assumptions, but based on fact that comes from wisdom. When we know what is right then we can determine what is just. In the example above if we know our car holds 20 gallons then we know we have been unjustly charged for more gas than we could have possibly received. We have to be able to look at the evidence before us and apply what is right to reach a judgment. It is then that we are able to determine fairness in matter. We know it is fair to pay for at most 20 gallons, but no more. If we are told we must pay for the 45 gallons we know that to be unfair.

There are many situations in life that require us to be right, just and fair. We should never take things for granted nor come to conclusions that may be wrong. Seek God�s wisdom and understand what is right, what is just and what is fair.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/03/11 11:29 AM
Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
46 �So why do you keep calling me �Lord, Lord!� when you don�t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it�s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn�t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.�

Jesus tells us that we can listen to Him, but that is not enough. We must also be willing to do those things He commands and leads us to do. We should make an effort to obey Him and not just profess a relationship with him. Jesus tells us that those who listen and obey stand on solid ground, while those who do not listen are on a foundation that falls away.




Ninety percent of the heart patients do not change. They remain the same, living the status quo. Study after study indicates that two years after heart surgery, the patients have not altered their behavior. Instead of making changes for life, they choose death. Change is that difficult. The majority of the heart patients choose not to change. They act as if they would rather die. (Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, Simple Church (B & H Publishing Group, 2006), p. 229)

As Christians we have been given a chance to live a joyous life. Just as the doctor has told the heart patient, Christ has told us what we need to do. The commandments Christ gave us were not to restrict our living, but were instead given that we would live a full, meaningful and joyful life, being complete, and looking forward to a future with Him. Place your foundation of living upon Christ that you would know Him, obey Him, and live according to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/04/11 11:34 AM
Proverbs 4:25 (NLT)
25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

In this verse Solomon tells us with undivided attention we are to keep focused on what is ahead of us. We should keep ourselves focused on the Lord and to approve ourselves to him. We are to look to the prize of the high calling of our Lord and Savior and direct our attention there.



From the book, The Words of Harry S. Truman, Harry Truman says, �If you�ve done the best you can---if you have done what you need to do---there is no use worrying about it, because nothing can change it, and to be in a position of leadership� you have to give thought to what�s going to happen the next day and you have to be fresh for�what you have to do the next day. What you�re going to do is more important than what you have done.�

We can�t change the past; but we can fix our eyes on what lies before us and focus on what the future will be. We need to look to the Lord for our guidance and keep a straight course. Leave the past behind and be ready to move onto the next day. The Lord wants us to look forward to our next step and not dwell on where our walk has been.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/05/11 11:38 AM
Proverbs 5:22
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.

Here we find Solomon talking about a person who habitually sins. The person is held captive, bound by their own sins which keep them from living freely. They hold the person and keep them from finding true job in life.



From The Associated Press, Cincinnati, May 29�A man wanted on a parole violation was returned to jail after his parole officer spotted him kissing his girlfriend in a live crowd shot on the scoreboard at a Cincinnati Reds game. David Horton and his parole officer attended the same May 7 game when the smooching couple was caught by the "Kiss Cam" at Great American Ball Park.The parole officer and a police officer arrested Horton, 24, at his front-row seat, and he was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center. "Out of all the coincidences, we had 20- or 30,000 people at the ballpark, and who do they put on the �Kiss Cam�? And then, who is there but his parole officer?" said Richard Goldberg, Horton�s attorney.

Sir Walter Scott wrote, �Oh what a tangled web we weave, When we first practice to deceive. Those who practice evil get tangled up in a web of lies, deceit and perpetual sin. There is no hiding from it. Eventually all are found out for no sin hides from the eyes of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/08/11 11:11 AM
1 John 3:20-22 (NLT)
20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don�t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

Most of us have a conscience that is a self-reflecting, judgmental power that takes account of our actions and deeds and acts as witness, judge and executioner against us. It is a candle of God�s presence in us that draws us closer to God like a moth to a flame. Yet God is greater and is nobler in His evaluation of us. God sees our weaknesses and understands them and begs us to come to Him to find grace and mercy. If we allow our doubts to rule in our lives then we come to believe there is nothing God can do for us. Yet the truth is when we put away guilt, shame and doubt we will receive from God what we need because we obey and do what pleases Him.


Most people know about the passion of Martin Luther King Jr. for racial justice and nonviolent resistance. However, some people aren�t as familiar with King�s deep personal faith in Christ. In his book Welcoming Justice, Charles Marsh describes one of King�s profound encounters with the Risen Christ. [In January 1956, Martin Luther King Jr.] returned home around midnight after a long day of organizational meetings. His wife and young daughter were already in bed, and King was eager to join them. But a threatening call�the kind of call he was getting as many as 30 to 40 times a day�interrupted his attempt to get some much-needed rest. When he tried to go back to bed, he could not shake the menacing voice that kept repeating the hateful words in his head. King got up, made a pot of coffee, and sat down at his kitchen table. With his head buried in his hands, he cried out to God. There in his kitchen in the middle of the night, when he had come to the end of strength, King met the living Christ in an experience that would carry him through the remainder of his life. "I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on," King later recalled. "He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone � He promised never to leave me, no never alone." In the stillness of the Alabama night, the voice of Jesus proved more convincing than the threatening voice of the anonymous caller. The voice of Jesus gave him the courage to press through the tumultuous year of 1956 to the victorious end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. More than that, it gave him a vision for ministry that would drive him for the rest of his life. [Copyright � 2011 by the author or Christianity Today International]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/11 11:57 AM
Colossians 3:8-10 (NLT)
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don�t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

In this chapter of Colossians the apostle starts out saying we should put away those things of the past and begin to live a new life in Christ. He warns us of the sins we will encounter and tells us to remove the sinful parts of our life. In the verses above the apostle tells us specifically to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, dirty language and lies. We are to look to Christ and become more like him, renewing our life and obtaining a new nature.

The Bible tells us anger is ok as long as we do not sin. But the moment we let rage, malicious behavior, slander, dirty language and lies follow our anger it is too late and we are deep into sin. I will be the first to admit there have been too many times in my life that I went from anger to sin. I, me, and myself - I let my emotions get out of control and entered into a state of rage and behavior that is unacceptable. I may have felt justified at the moment because I wanted to be heard. But there is no justification for sin other than our Savior Jesus Christ. It is Jesus I should have turned to in my moment of anger. It is Jesus I should have given control and allowed Him to show me how to express my anger. It is ok to express our emotions and say we have been hurt, but we can do it without the rage, and without all the negative behavior that goes along with being emotionally out of control. David wrote in Psalm 145:8, �The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.� It is the Lord�s behavior we want to model before others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/11 11:24 AM
Romans 6:1-4 (NLT)
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

The apostle, speaking to Christians, informed them just because they received grace from sin was not a reason to continue sinning. Some felt to keep sinning was to keep obtaining more grace, but they missed the reason for the grace; it was to give them freedom from sin so they could live new lives.



In the last days of the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city. Even though no one knew he was coming, slaves recognized him immediately and thronged around him. He had liberated them by the Emancipation Proclamation, and now Lincoln's army had set them free. According to Admiral David Porter, an eyewitness, Lincoln spoke to the throng around him: "My poor friends, you are free�free as air. You can cast off the name of slave and trample upon it �. Liberty is your birthright." But Lincoln also warned them not to abuse their freedom, saying, "Let the world see that you merit your freedom. Don't let your joy carry you into excesses. Learn the laws and obey them." [James L. Swanson, Bloody Crimes (William Morrow, 2010), p.46;]

The apostle in Romans 6:1-4 conveys a similar message - Jesus has liberated us and set us free from sin. However our freedom is not an excuse to disobey God. Freedom from sin was intended as our birthright and Christ gave it back to us. We should let the world see how we value the privilege of grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/11 11:33 AM
Proverbs 11:11 (NLT)
11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

Here Solomon observes good men are generally well liked by their community. For the most part they are liked; but there will be some who covet a good man�s power and prosperity. It is these who by their own wickedness become public nuisances. Their outcries become embittered voices trying to destroy the prosperity of the city. Their evil words can corrupt the goodness of a town and bring it�s virtue to ruin.



This past Saturday rioting began in Britain and as spurred on by protestors who said the police shot a man to death. As these voices of protest rose, so did the violence against innocent people. You would think those who were upset with injustice would avoid injustice against others, but that was not the case. The rioters began burning homes and businesses. It is estimated that in the four nights of riots that have ensued $161 million dollars in damages have been incurred.

"I lost my son," Jahan told a crowd of more than 1,000 that had flooded the neighborhood. "Blacks, Asians, whites. We all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? What started these riots, and what's escalated them? Why are we doing this? I lost my son. Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home. Please!" [CNN]

There were innocent people who lost their lives. There were businesses destroyed. If only the people could have listened to the words of King Solomon. If only they had pursued a course of righteousness instead of one of violence.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/11 11:26 AM
Mark 11:25 (NLT)
25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

In this verse Jesus is teaching the disciples about prayer. When we go to God in prayer we do not want to be hindered by our thoughts. When we hold a grudge against someone those thoughts fester and dwell in our mind. They keep us from relating to God freely for God forgives us and we too should learn to forgive others.



Desmond Tutu is a bishop in South Africa who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work against apartheid. In his book No Future Without Forgiveness, he shares stories and insights from his leadership role in South Africa�s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Two people who came before the commission were Mrs. Calata and her daughter. Mrs. Calata�s husband had been an advocate for black South Africans in rural communities. Because of his work, he�d been arrested, detained, and tortured by the police numerous times. But one day he disappeared. On the front page of the newspaper, Mrs. Calata saw a photograph of her husband�s car on fire. She cried so loudly during the hearing, describing the autopsy�s report about his torture, that the commission had to be adjourned. When they reconvened, Mrs. Calata�s daughter testified. Years had gone by, and she was now a young lady. She pleaded with the commission to discover who had killed her father. But she was not crying out because she wanted vengeance or justice. Instead she said to the commission, �We want to forgive, but we don�t know whom to forgive.� Eventually members of the police confessed to the crime. Rather than continue the endless cycle of hatred, Mrs. Calata and her daughter forgave the men who tortured and killed their husband and father�because that�s what Christ�s people do. [Skye Jethani, in the sermon "From Exclusion to Embrace," PreachingToday.com]

Forgiveness does not mean that we don�t care about justice or that our memories of a painful event will cease to exist. But it does mean we leave justice in God�s hands and we allow Christ to work in our lives to learn to forgive and heal from our pains.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/16/11 12:03 PM
Proverbs 16:33 (NLT)
33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.

While things may seem to us as casual or out of sheer luck divine providence directs and orders what is to occur. Nothing is left to chance nor is an event determined by the draw of the straw. God�s hand is upon our life directing, guiding and leading.



Great leaders are sure what they should do next. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became pro baseball�s first black player when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch Rickey was the Dodger�s baseball executive who eventually signed Jackie Robinson. Rickey�s pastor was Wendell Fifield, from the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn. (This church, at one time pastored by Henry Ward Beecher, had a history of working with the �underground railroad� to help free slaves.) While Rickey was trying to decide if he should sign Jackie Robinson, he paid a visit to Rev. Fifield. He barged into the pastor�s study and told Fifield, �Don�t let me interrupt. I just want to be here. Do you mind? According to Fifield�s wife June, the two men passed the time without words. The pastor continued his work and Rickey energetically paced the floor, stopping occasionally to look at the pastor�s window. For forty-five minutes he continued pacing, pausing, pacing, and then pausing. Finally, Rickey broke the silence by pounding his fist on the pastor�s desk as he shouted, �I�ve got it!� �Got what, Branch?� the minister asked. Rickey finally relaxed on a chair and told his pastor, �This was so complex, fraught with so many pitfalls but filled with so much good, if it was right, that I just had to work it out in this room with you. I had to talk to God about it and be sure what he wanted me to do. I hope you don�t mind.� �Wendell,� he said, �I�ve decided to sign Jackie Robinson.� Then Rickey straightened his bow tie, donned his hat, and left the room as he said, �Bless you, Wendell.� When a well-known journalist told Rickey that �all hell would break loose� when Jackson took the field, Rickey quietly countered, �I believe all heaven will rejoice.� [Jamie Crawford, "How church helped sign Jackie Robinson to Brooklyn Dodgers," CNN (4-14-11)]

Jackie Robinson didn�t make the Brooklyn Dodgers by luck. Jackie had worked hard to get where he was and Jackie made the team because the Dodger�s baseball executive took time to pray about what was then considered a tough decision. Are you attributing your life to luck or do you see where God is watching after you and answering prayer?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/19/11 10:44 AM
Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)
11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

A wise man will observe these two rules about his anger: 1. Not to be over-hasty in his resentments: Discretion teaches us to defer our anger, to defer the admission of it till we have thoroughly considered all the merits of the provocation, seen them in a true light and weighed them in a just balance; and then to defer the prosecution of it till there be no danger of running into any indecencies. Plato said to his servant, "I would beat thee, but that I am angry.�� Give it time, and it will cool. 2. Not to be over-critical in his resentments. Whereas it is commonly looked upon as a piece of ingenuity to apprehend an affront quickly, it is here made a man�s glory to pass over a transgression, to appear as if he did not see it (Ps. 38:13), or, if he sees fit to take notice of it, yet to forgive it and meditate no revenge. ~Matthew Henry



From Jane Schmidt, Dallas, Oregon. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom� comes the following story:
One Saturday morning I awoke to the delightful smell of waffles and the sound of our two small boys in the kitchen with my husband. Padding down to breakfast, I sat down on my husband's lap and gave him a big hug for his thoughtfulness. Later that day, we were having a heated "discussion" in our bedroom when our four-year-old, Jacob, stopped us in mid-sentence. Standing in the doorway, he said, "Mommy, try to remember how you felt when you were on Daddy's lap."

God teaches us a lot about anger through His word in the Bible and even by reflections in our life. A simple statement by a child calmed a heated discussion. If only we all could take a moment to find the good in life instead of reaching for anger.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/11 11:17 AM
Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)
24 Don�t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

These verses give good reason to be cautious with whom we associate with. In friendship we allow ourselves to be close to others, willing to serve, willing to listen and will to engage with them. But it is our folly if we associate with someone who draws us into their moments of anger and cause us to be outraged for no good reason. While we must be civil to all we can still use caution to decide who we call friend. If a person is easily provoked to anger, becomes touchy at the slightest of comments, and becomes passionate about his resentment of others and cares not what he says then such a person is not fit to be a good companion or friend. In his moments of anger he will expect us to be like him and if we follow that will be our sin.



In his autobiography, Number 1, Billy Martin told about hunting in Texas with Mickey Mantle.
Mickey had a friend who would let them hunt on his ranch. When they reached the ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked in with his friend. Mantle�s friend quickly gave them permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a pet mule in the barn who was going blind, and he didn�t have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him. When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry. He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn�t let them hunt. �I�m so mad at that guy,� Mantle said, �I�m going out to his barn and shoot one of his mules!� Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested, �We can�t do that!� But Mickey was adamant. �Just watch me,� he shouted. When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule. As he was leaving, though, he heard two shots, and he ran back to the car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle, too. �What are you doing, Martin?� he yelled. Martin yelled back, face red with anger, �We�ll show him! I just killed two of his cows!� Billy Martin was a great teller of tales, and many doubt that this event really happened, but it does illustrate a very real truth. Anger can be dangerously contagious. [Scott Bowerman, Bishopville, South Carolina. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 1.]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/23/11 12:02 PM
Micah 7:18 (NLT)
18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

In this verse the prophet Micah gives God the glory for His pardoning mercy. Micah sees God�s people as a remnant that having seen the consequences for sin still remains spotted by sin. Yet God is ready to pass by and pardon the iniquity and transgressions of His people upon their repentance and return to Him. And while God may let the people suffer from the consequences of their actions He cannot remain angry with them. Instead He delights in mercy and the salvation of sinners and not in their death and damnation. The glory of God is forgiving sin and there is no person, no judge, and no other god who forgives as God does. Those who have been pardoned cannot but help admire the grace and mercy they have received.



A teacher once told each of her students to bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to school. For every person they refuse to forgive in their life's experience, they chose a potato, wrote on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of their bags were quite heavy. They were then told to carry this bag with them everywhere for one week, putting it beside their bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to their desk at work. The hassle of lugging this around with them made it clear what a weight they were carrying spiritually, and how they had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget and keep leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty smelly slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and it clearly is for ourselves!

If God can forgive us for all our sin then surely we can learn to forgive ourselves as well as others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/11 11:55 AM
Psalm 51:6
6: Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

King David wrote this chapter of Psalm after his affair with Bathsheba. David tells us truth and wisdom go far to make a man a good man. It takes a clear mind and willing heart to follow the truth and the wisdom God establishes. David knew the truth of what he was doing when he had his affair and also placed Bathsheba�s husband in a position during war that caused Uriah�s death. However David had not allowed God�s wisdom into his heart to see the wrong in his actions. It took a wise friend to point out David�s failure. God was not the originator of David�s sin. It was David who committed the sin and it was David who knew he needed to repent of his actions. And while the consequences were set, God reconciled Himself to David out of grace and mercy.



Dr. Perry Buffington, a licensed psychologist and author, says this in his book, Playing Charades: [Universal Press Syndicate, September 26, 1999) - Research psychologists have found there are at least three situations when we are not ourselves. First, the average person puts on airs when he visits the lobby of a fancy hotel. Next the average person stifles emotions to bamboozle the salesman when entering the new-car showroom. And finally, the average person tries to fake out the Almighty about being good all week.�

Most of us are probably good most of the time, but not all the time. If we started to keep a journal of every time we felt like sin entered our life we would probably surprise ourselves. And if we let someone close to us who is Godly keep a journal about us I am sure we would be even more surprised at what they would tell us. God wants us to open up our hearts to Him so that we can let in His truth and wisdom. Unless we maintain a close relationship with God we might miss those opportunities to make a course correction in our life that would keep us from the consequences we might suffer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/25/11 11:34 AM
Exodus 18:13-18 (NLT)
13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people�s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses� father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, �What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?� 15 Moses replied, �Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God�s decrees and give them his instructions.� 17 �This is not good!� Moses� father-in-law exclaimed. 18 �You�re going to wear yourself out�and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.

Moses was given the task of leading the people out of Egypt. Now he has found himself in the position of being the lawgiver and judge. Moses acquainted people with God�s laws and when there were disputes among the people Moses gave rule to what was just and fair. And if the people were as quarrelsome among themselves as they were with God then there is no doubt there were many cases brought before Moses to settle. Jethro, a priest, and the father-in-law of Moses saw the problem Moses was facing and it was a difficult burden. Later in the chapter Jethro explains how Moses needs to delegate his work to others he can depend upon.



Loren McCune of Newnan Georgia said to help her Sunday school class of nine-year-olds understand the difficulty of Moses' job of settling disputes as leader of the Israelites, she asked the children to role-play. Zackery was given Moses' part while the others worked in pairs to come up with problems for him to tackle. The first duo, Jessica and DaNae, approached their leader and said, "We have no food." Moses thought for a minute and nervously answered, "Go kill some animals." The next pair were the Terrence children. The problem? "Someone's been killing our animals."

Moses did not have an easy job as leader. Many people sought his advice each day, from morning until evening, distracting Moses from the real task of leading the people to the Promised Land. Often we take too much upon ourselves and get distracted from our purpose in life. We need to learn we cannot do everything alone and that we have to place trust in others to help us accomplish our goal. We often call it delegating; it is entrusting others to perform what needs to be done while we watch over more important tasks. If you are one who feels they must do everything, ask God who in your life you can trust to help you. Ask how you might delegate tasks that help reach people for God�s purpose.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/11 11:29 AM
Romans 1:16 (NLT)
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes�the Jew first and also the Gentile.

The apostle tells us he is not ashamed to speak out about the Good News. Earlier in Romans Paul tells us the Good News is about God�s Son, Jesus Christ. He tells us in His earthly life He was born into King David�s family line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will obey and believe, bringing glory to His name.



In a Peanuts comic strip, Linus approaches his sister and innocently asks, �Do you ever pray, Lucy?� Lucy responds, �That�s kind of a personal question isn�t it? Are you trying to start an argument?� She then begins ranting with obvious irritation, �I SUPPOSE YOU THINK YOU�RE SOMEBODY PRETTY SMART, DON�T YOU? I SUPPOSE YOU THINK�� Linus wanders away. In the last panel, he is sucking his thumb, holding his blanket as he tells Charlie Brown, �You�re right� Religion is a very touchy subject!�

Like Lucy from the comic strip Peanuts, there are some who believe questions about religion are very personal. Religion should be personal, but it should be personal in a way that you are not ashamed or fearful to speak up about it. It should be personal in the sense that you understand your relationship with God. It should be personal enough that you can acknowledge you do pray to God and you do have a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. I admire those who are in the public eye and have no problem admitting Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. They are putting God and Christ before their fears of what others may think. I remember Pastor Tony Evans saying he was asked to pray before a professional football game, but those asking him to pray said they didn�t want him to mention Jesus if possible. What they wanted was a generic prayer suitable for many religions. Instead the pastor boldly spoke his prayer acknowledging what Jesus had done for him. He praised Jesus and gave Jesus the glory He deserved and in closing he said, �I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ, King above all Kings, my Savior and my Lord.� Are you ashamed to tell others of your love for Jesus? In Matthew 10:33 Jesus says, �But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/11 11:42 AM
Luke 12:39-40 (NLT)
39 �Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.�

Jesus explains to those listening they will not know when He will return, but they should be prepared in case of his return. A homeowner never knows when a burglar might come, but they take preparations to keep safe those treasures which are valuable to them. If they carelessly leave the home unattended it might be that opportunity for the burglar to strike. In the same way if people allow the state of their soul to remain unguarded then when Jesus returns they will be unprepared to go with Him. And for those who have committed themselves to Christ they may find themselves ashamed of their present condition.



English author H. G. Wells, famous for science fiction novels like The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds, once wrote a short story called "The Country of the Blind." It's about an inaccessible, luxurious valley in Ecuador where, due to a strange disease, everyone is blind. After 15 generations of this blindness there was no recollection of sight or color or the outside world at all. Finally a man from the outside�a man who could see�literally fell into their midst. He had fallen off a high cliff and survived, only to stumble into their forgotten country. When he realized that everyone else was blind, he remembered the old adage: "In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Wells writes: He tried at first on several occasions to tell them of sight. "Look you here, you people," he said. "There are things you do not understand in me." Once or twice one or two of them attended to him; they sat with faces downcast and ears turned intelligently towards him, and he did his best to tell them what it was to see. But they never believed him. They thought he was crazy. The man fell in love with a girl there and the girl's father, Yacob, went to talk to a doctor about him. A conversation ensued: [The doctor said]: "I think I may say with reasonable certainty that, in order to cure him complete, all that we need to do is a simple and easy surgical operation�namely, to remove these irritant bodies [his eyes!]."
"And then he will be sane?" [they asked]. "Then he will be perfectly sane, and a quite admirable citizen." "Thank Heaven for science!" said old Yacob. Wells goes on to point out that the man would not be allowed to marry Yacob's daughter unless he submitted to an operation that would blind him. So what would the man do? Wells writes: He had fully meant to go to a lonely place where the meadows were beautiful with white narcissus, and there remain until the hour of his sacrifice should come, but as he walked he lifted up his eyes and saw the morning, the morning like an angel in golden armour, marching down the steeps�It seemed to him that before this splendour, he and this blind world in the valley, and his love and all, were no more than a pit of sin. And the man who could see escaped the country of the blind with his life. That is where we live�in the country of the blind that is proud of its science, sure of its health, oblivious to the light. It is not only pitiful; it is deadly. Jesus said, "Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." Jesus had his own name for "the country of the blind." He called it "the world." In his last words to his disciples before going to the cross, Jesus warned them of the hostility they would face�just as he had�in this blind world. Yet rather than pulling his beloved followers out of this blind and hostile world, Jesus sent his own Spirit into his people to convince this world of its blindness. [Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: www.online-literature.com/wellshg/3/]


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/11 11:44 AM
Proverbs 30:10 (NLT)
10 Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.

An employee works usually because there is a need to provide for themself and or their family. They are already given to the affliction of work and therefore to slander a person only adds insult and injury. It may even influence the employer who may be severe with them for no cause. It�s becomes exasperating and blemishes the reputation of a person who may not deserve it. In the end the person may confront those who slander them and may end up causing them just as much or more pain and grief than they have received.



Many years ago without justification my wife�s supervisor wanted to discipline her for something which was undeserved. My wife was persistent in asking where the problem was coming from. Finally the supervisor admitted another employee had said something against my wife. So instead of directly confronting what the other employee had said the supervisor was attempting to correct my wife through disciplinary action. Once my wife heard what had been said she said the statement was completely false. She asked the supervisor to bring in the other person so she could confront the person making the statement. Reluctantly the supervisor gave in to her demand and when the person was questioned the truth came out. The employee had not really observed anything, but instead was repeating something someone else had said, who had their facts wrong. The supervisor then corrected the other person for saying things without the proof of fact.

We should not slander, gossip or defame others unjustly. If we do we could find ourselves with more grief than we inflicted on the other person.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/01/11 10:57 AM
Psalm 37:7 (NLT)
7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.

Through this Psalm David says we should trust in the Lord, committing everything we do to the Lord. For the Lord has our best interest at heart. There may be times we find ourselves under attack from others. There may be times we find ourselves angry and bitter about the situation we are in. There may be hard times ahead. But in this entire life God enjoys directing our steps and God delights in every detail of our life. If we can just learn to patiently wait for God before we act God will keep us on the right path and God will keep us from slipping and falling.



We live in an age of �I WANT IT NOW�. I have watched Apple introduce their newest iPhones and iPads and suddenly there is a line wrapping around the mall to get their newest gadget. I have seen those who obtain one video game while they talk about how they can�t wait for the next level to come out. There are commercials today where people who have received a long term settlement can instantly cash out. One of the company�s ads even say, �It�s my money and I want it now!� We are people who cannot wait.

Yet The Lord tells us to patiently wait on him. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, �Patience is better than Pride.� Pride drives us to want things now. We want to look good in the eyes of others, but instead we should be humble and appear righteous before God�s eyes. It is God we should be trying to please and not ourselves. Pray that you might patiently wait upon God and let Him guide your every step.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/11 11:17 AM
Ephesians 1:3-8 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Ephesian Church tells them they are blessed because they are united with Christ. He explains God always had a plan for salvation even when we ourselves failed at living the original life God planned for us. Through Christ�s redemptive act we became a part of the family of God. We can therefore praise God for His loving and merciful salvation that He pours out on all who place their faith in Christ.



The verses above tell us we have been adopted into God�s family. There is a story of a couple who had two sons but decided to adopt a young girl from Haiti. They walked with her to the airplane as she reached up and took their hand. At that moment they knew she was adopted into the family. During first meal the girl appeared afraid to eat as she let her food sitting on her plate. The mom then realized the problem. Food was so short and scare in Haiti usually there wasn�t enough for the next day so she was probably keeping a portion of the food for later or waiting to share with her new brothers. To reassure her, the mom took her to the bread drawer where there were several loaves of bread. Then she opened the refrigerator to show the milk, eggs and other food that was there. Then she opened up the cabinets and showed the bountiful reserve of can goods. The girl then went and gave thanks and ate as she had seen the abundance that was brought into her adopted life.

God brings an abundance of mercy and grace into our adopted lives. He showers kindness upon us and wants to show us the riches of life that comes with being a part of His family. Give thanks for what God has given you and remember His blessings are shared with each of us as though we are His only child to look after.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/11 12:23 PM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The apostle starts out in these verses by saying to always be joyful. Spiritually we should always rejoice in our hearts about whatever comes our way for we know God is there with us. Even though our lives may face pain and sorrow we can still rejoice in knowing God brings new mercies every day that help us deal with those painful moments. The way we find that joy is connecting to God and Christ through prayer. Prayer is the moments we give to God to build our relationship with Him. It is not that every moment should be dedicated in prayer but that prayer should not be hindered when it proper to do so. We should always be ready to pray whether it is to give praise, repent, or open up with our heartfelt desires. Whether in prosperity or adversity we should be thankful to God. We tend to immediately think things are for the worst when actually matters can always rise to much greater complaint. So be thankful God is with you to see you through the difficult moments in life.



Chris Downey, a 1984 graduate of NC State, was an architect in Oakland. In 2008 he noticed his vision was becoming blurred. A tumor had wrapped itself around the optic nerve and he needed surgery right away. When he woke up from surgery everything was blurry and five days later everything went black; Chris was blind. Chris could no longer read architectural plans. Chris scheduled a talk with the owner, to figure out how he could be more useful. He was at a workstation, up on a loft, when the owner came to see him. He could tell by the footsteps that it wasn�t going to be the kind of conversation he had been planning to have. San Francisco was full of laid-off architects. Chris could be pretty sure he was the only blind one.

Being blind turned out to be an interesting credential. SmithGroup and another firm, the Design Partnership, hired him as a consultant. Chris had found a blind computer engineer who had developed a tactile printer. He was able to see the plans laid in front of him by touch. Chris found himself designing buildings to accommodate the blind. Now he has an expertise that separates him from every other architect in the Bay Area.

Chris may have thought life was over as he knew it. But Chris overcame his problem and continued to live a prosperous life. At an architectural convention he was told to write �Why do you do what you do?� He then held up a piece of paper with the words, �I have been doing architecture so long I could do it with my eyes closed. REALLY, Chris Downey� Praise God that through his impairment Chris is able to give hope to others.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. For even in our desperate times we continue to do what we do because God wants us to give hope to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/12/11 12:48 PM
Song of Solomon 8:7 (NLT)
7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

The reigning love of God in the heart is constant and firm. There are no waters that can put out its fire. God�s love will let a person rejoice even in the face of tribulation. Christ died because of God�s love for us. There is no money, no wealth, and no treasure greater than what God did for us through Christ. It is with this love that we are to love others.

What happens in a marriage when one person places a greater importance upon themselves instead of their spouse? The love they intended to show the spouse is suddenly misplaced, misdirected and misused for their own need. If the person does not correct their actions the one they are married to can quickly become fed up. They begin to lose the love and respect they have for the one they loved. The spouse that placed the greater importance upon themself may face the fact their spouse has given up on them and is ready for divorce. It is usually at this moment that the offender wants to change, willing to give up everything in order to maintain the love they once knew. But man finds he cannot buy love with anything he owns for love comes from the heart and gives as Christ gave to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/11 11:40 AM
2 Samuel 11:1-5 (NLT)
1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, �She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.� 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, �I�m pregnant.�

These verses describe the events that led to King David�s affair with Bathsheba who was married to Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was out fighting a war, which is where David should have been. Instead David purposely stayed behind and fell into the consequences of his actions.


Veggie tales is a kid�s cartoon which teaches important life lessons. In Veggie Tales� �King George and the Duck,� an adaptation of the story of David and Bathsheba, Larry the Cucumber stars as King George and Bob the Tomato is his faithful servant, Lewis. The privileges of royalty�kingdom expansion, castles, power, and treasures�do not appeal to King George. But King George loves to bathe with his rubber duck. Splishing and splashing, he sings an ode to his rubber duck called�what else? �I Love My Duck.�
One day while standing on the royal balcony in his purple robe and golden crown, King George peers through binoculars, and his eyes grow wide with desire. He spies something wonderful�a rubber duck. But it belongs to Billy, who happens to be bathing with his rubber duck on his own balcony. Billy�s rubber duck looks exactly like King George�s rubber duck. Nonetheless, the King covets it, exclaiming, �I want it.� Lewis reminds the King that he already has a duck and that the other duck belongs to someone else. �Are you saying I shouldn�t have whatever I want?� asks the King. Lewis opens a large wardrobe overflowing with hundreds of identical rubber ducks and says, �If I could just jog your memory, you already have quite a few ducks.� King George�s rationale is simple. He shoots a condescending look at his unlearned servant and replies, �Those are yesterday�s ducks.� [King George and the Duck (Big Ideas, 2000), not rated, written by Jennifer Combs, directed by Mike Nawrocki]

When we seek to find fulfillment apart from God we fall into the trap of never finding satisfaction in the things we desire. We think it�s what we want, but the desire vanishes and we find ourselves seeking something new, something different that still won�t provide the fulfillment in our lives. The Tenth Commandment says, �Thou shall not covet.� Exodus 20:17 spells it out for us, �You must not covet your neighbor�s house. You must not covet your neighbor�s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.� Jesus said in Luke 12:15: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." The abundance of life exists in God and nowhere else.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/11 11:45 AM
Luke 6:36 (NLT)
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full�pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

This verse is part of a passage where Jesus tells us not to just others by what they have, by the condition of their life, or for who they are. We are to be forgiving and loving towards people. In verse 38 Jesus says we should give freely out of our hearts and in doing so a gift of full measure will be returned to us.

I love watching people at a self-serve soda fountain. People will stand there for the longest time trying to get their cup filled right up to the brim. They try to get as much as they can while waiting for the foam to die down before attempting to put more in the cup. Some will even go as far as taking a few drinks before finally settling for a full cup. This is a description of the gift you receive when you give to others. It may not be money that is returned or even something tangible. What you get though is a great reward that satisfies the heart. And it will feel as if your heart is packed down, overflowing with the joy of what you have done for another. What you give will be abundantly more satisfying than anything you could be handed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/15/11 11:55 AM
Proverbs 15:31 (NLT)
31 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.

Solomon tells us that it is the character of a wise person to listen to words of criticism that are good for one to hear. The verse also implies the person who gives ear to the criticizer also will love them in return for their constructive words. Those who listen well will learn well, follow well, and in time likely teach and manage others well.



Gordon MacDonald in his sermon, �Feeling as God Feels� tells the following. One time, twenty or so years ago, I was in Japan on a speaking tour with a close personal friend. He was a number of years older than I was. As we walked down the street in Yokohama, Japan, the name of a common friend came up, and I said something unkind about that person. It was sarcastic. It was cynical. It was a put-down. My older friend stopped, turned, and faced me until his face was right in front of mine. With deep, slow words he said, "Gordon, a man who says he loves God would not say a thing like that about a friend." He could have put a knife into my ribs, and the pain would not have been any less. He did what a prophet does. But you know something? There have been ten thousand times in the last twenty years that I have been saved from making a jerk of myself. When I've been tempted to say something unkind about a brother or sister, I hear my friend's voice say "Gordon, a man who says he loves God would not speak in such a way about a friend."

A genuine rebuke is a noble communication; its intention is to free a person for growth and effectiveness by speaking, as Paul puts it, "truth in love". Rebukes are often tough to give and for some even tougher to receive. I am sure it was difficult for Peter when Jesus said to him in Matthew 16:23, �You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men". But we know Peter listened to Jesus and went on to be the foundation of the church. A good rebuke is issue-specific. Words are not minced, and the hearer has no question about what is being said. A good rebuke does not normally come off the top of someone's head; rather it is thought through carefully. It is framed in prayer and sometimes in tears.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/16/11 12:44 PM
Leviticus 19:33 (NLT)
33 �Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 34 Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

This verse was God�s charge to the Israelites to show compassion to those who lived among them who were foreigners and did not know the Lord their God. They were to extend love to them as if they were one of their own remembering they once had lived in a land foreign to them. Except in the land of Egypt they were treated as strangers and slaves who had no freedom. Their past was to serve as a reminder of why they needed to show compassion.

There are many people around us who do not share our own views or have our own interests. There are people with different values and people of different religious beliefs. It is our responsibility as Christians to love these people despite their differences. We should treat them with the same respect as we would expect to be treated. Tolerance says we should have sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own. Tolerance does not mean we let go of our beliefs nor does it mean we do not speak up when we are attacked for what we believe in. Tolerance allows us to see the differences in other people and love them despite those differences.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/11 11:17 AM
Luke 24:1-7 (NLT)
1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn�t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, �Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn�t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.�

The event above follows the crucifixion of Jesus. Those who traveled to the tomb were doing so to anoint the body of Jesus with burial spices. When they arrived they were surprised His body was not there. Instead they were greeted by angles who asked them an important question, �Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?� For Jesus had told them that He would rise to life after his crucifixion.


I�m going to leave a simple question for those who read this to think about: Are you looking for Jesus somewhere besides where He told us He would be? In other words are you trying to fill your life with something besides Jesus?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/11 11:27 AM
Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT)
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God�s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Writing to the Ephesians the apostle hopes they will come to understand the depths of God�s and Christ�s love for them. He goes further to say while he hopes they can understand this love it is actually too great to fully understand and appreciate.


The other day I was annoyed with something. The sad part is I can�t even remember what it was about. It bothers me I can�t remember, because it just shows me how we get upset with something that is just not important - otherwise I would remember, right?

Anyway some of my venting ended up being directed towards my wife. And while I don�t remember what I was annoyed with, I do remember her response. She just looked at me and said, �I love you.� Of course I believe I responded with the famous, �Yeah, but��..� to which she just looked at me and said again, �I love you.� You know what? You can�t stay annoyed too long when someone keeps looking at you and telling you they love you. It didn�t take long for me to get over whatever I was annoyed with. I just smiled, went back to being my normal self and said, �I love you too.�

We vent an awful lot towards God. You can look all through the Bible and see people expressing their frustrations towards God. And what is God�s response, �I love you.� God keeps reminding us that He loves us no matter what we may throw towards Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/21/11 12:01 PM
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NLT)
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

In these verses the apostle tells the Corinthians that while we live life, our life is yet to be lived with the Lord for eternity. The privilege of living an eternal life in heaven comes from the faith we place in Christ. Unlike the disciple Thomas we were not a witness to the events that took place surrounding Jesus. Yet the Holy Spirit testifies to us Christ lives and that we should have faith in Him. Paul says we might want to be at home with God, but for now we live in earthly bodies and we have a goal to place God. For when the time comes to go home we must face how we lived out life, but the Christ steps up to say He has paid the debt for whatever wrong we might have done.



There is a vivid picture of Christ's sacrifice for sin in Mark Twain's novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The story tells the adventures of an ordinary man (the Connecticut Yankee) from the 19th century, who is transported back to the medieval world of King Arthur. At one point he convinces King Arthur to dress like a peasant and take a journey through his kingdom. The results are generally laughable as the king, completely oblivious to life in the trenches, tries to carry on with all the pomp of the court while those around him simply think he is crazy. But there is a touching chapter titled "The Smallpox Hut" describing how the king and his companion happen upon a beggar's hovel. The husband lies dead, and the wife tries to warn them away: "For the fear of God, who visits with misery and death such as be harmless, tarry not here, but fly! This place is under his curse...." The woman asks the king to go into the loft and check on their child. "It was a desperate place for him to be in, and might cost him his life," observes the Yankee, "but it was no use to argue with him." The king disappears up a ladder looking for the girl. "There was a slight noise from the direction of the dim corner where the ladder was. It was the king descending. I could see that he was bearing something in one arm, and assisting himself with the other. He came forward into the light; upon his breast lay a slender girl of 15. She was but half conscious; she was dying of smallpox. Here was heroism at its last and loftiest possibility, its utmost summit; this was challenging death in the open field unarmed, with all the odds against the challenger, no reward set upon the contest, and no admiring world in silks and cloth-of gold to gaze and applaud; and yet the king's bearing was as serenely brave as it had always been in those cheaper contests where knight meets knight in equal fight and clothed in protecting steel. He was great now; sublimely great. The rude statues of his ancestors in his palace should have an addition-I would see to that; and it would not be a mailed king killing a giant or a dragon, like the rest. It would be a king in commoner's garb bearing death in his arms."

There is Jesus on the cross; a king in commoner's garb bearing sinners in his arms. We are ambassadors for Christ. Let us share with others about our King who came from heaven to dwell among us and give His life so that we might live eternally with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/22/11 12:06 PM
Matthew 5:38-42 (NLT)
38 �You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: �An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.� 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don�t turn away from those who want to borrow.

In these verses Jesus basically repeals an individual�s law of retaliation. The Mosaic Law stated retaliation could take place equal to an offence, but no greater than the offence itself. There wasn�t a government in control, nor were there rulers or kings for the people; instead there were only leaders. So they needed a basis set of rules to guide them in their individual actions. The law stated if a man killed another man the family had the right to put the offender to death. If a person was hurt the wounded person could respond in the same manner back to the person who hurt them. It was a simple set of rules to help individuals understand how they could respond to sin. In the verses above Jesus tells us that as an individual we should go the extra mile, literally, when we are hurt or imposed upon. Roman Soldiers could demand a person to carry their armor for a mile. Jesus said if they demand you carry it a mile, carry it two.



The other day I saw a sign painted on a 4x8 piece of plywood and posted next to the road in front of a home. The sign read something like this: TO THE PERSON WHO BROKE INTO OUR HOME AND STOLE FROM US, NEXT TIME PLEASE RING THE DOOR BELL. WE DON�T MIND HELPING THE NEEDY, BUT WE DON�T LIKE HAVING OUR THINGS STOLEN.� No one really enjoys being inflicted with unhappiness, disappointment, pain and suffering by the hands of another. God established governments and allowed them to put laws into effect to restrain the sinful behavior of people. In America, government is established for the people and by the people. Many of the laws reflect the balanced beliefs of the people. There are some who are not happy with some laws and there are some who are not happy because there isn�t a law or punishment. Our government was designed so laws take time to be put in place and they are reviewed, debated and voted upon by those representing the people. We as individuals should follow what Jesus said and extend every courtesy we can to people. It is not our responsibility to retaliate, but the government which is there to protect and assign consequences for individuals. It is not our responsibility as an individual to enact our own consequences, but instead to love others as Jesus would have loved them. I was very mindful of this last night as Troy Davis was being executed. We the people should not have an individual desire to rejoice in the death of person, nor should we let bitterness rule our heart. We can however trust in God that He has put in place our government to administer the law in a just and fair manner even when it might seem unfair. Love like Christ and maybe we can change the hearts of some before they ever take things too far.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/26/11 11:19 AM
Romans 14:1-4 (NLT)
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don�t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it�s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don�t. And those who don�t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else�s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord�s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

In these verses the apostles tells us how we are to handle differences in belief between each other. There were some who had strong convictions it was ok to eat anything, while there were some who would only eat vegetables. The bottom line was one group should not condemn the other for God had accepted them. If we are God�s servants and responsible to the Lord; then we have no right to judge each other. In the end God will give his approval to those who are doing right.


Improvisation is the willingness to live within the bounds of the past and yet search for the future at the same time. Improvisation is the desire to make something new out of something old.� It is experienced in being open to letting the people around you�have impact on what you are creating. Wynton Marsalis is the artistic director of jazz at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. He's earned a Pulitzer Prize, written several books, and plays a mean trumpet. On a Tuesday evening late in August 2001 at the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, he was playing "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You" on his trumpet without accompaniment. As he neared the end of the song, the sound of a cell phone intruded into the drama of the moment. A jazz critic in the audience scrawled on a sheet of notepaper, "MAGIC, RUINED," and people began to chatter. Marsalis improvised. He played the notes of the cell phone ring tone�slow, fast, and in different keys�and when all ears were back on him, he seamlessly transitioned the silly cell phone tune back to the ballad and finished the song. In the words of the jazz critic, "The ovation was tremendous." [Robert Gelinas, Finding the Groove (Zondervan, 2008), pp. 33-34]

There are many of us called by Christ to perform His work within His church and yet many of us are different. We have different feelings about how things should be done. We have different thoughts about what is good for us and what is not. Yet we can bring all those differences together and use them as a great contribution to the Lord. For instance, in the verses above those who only ate vegetables could relate to those who followed the same manner of eating and could lead them to the Lord. Some enjoyed eating whatever they pleased and they too could appeal to a certain group. We should always be willing to embrace the differences of others as long as we are all following and serving our Lord and Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/11 11:39 AM
Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT)
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Don�t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, �They hit me, but I didn�t feel it. I didn�t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?�

In these verses King Solomon lays out the consequences for those who consume too much alcohol. The people he refers to are most likely alcoholics since he describes them having hallucinations and saying things that don�t make sense. They are unable to manage themselves physically as they stagger around trying to hold onto something to steady them. They even fall prey to others; victimized because they are unable to defend themselves in their stupor. Even with the consequences they don�t learn as they wake up looking to consume another drink.


At the Sundance Festival in Park City, Utah, Robert Downey Jr. said: Oh, I can't drink these days. I'm allergic to alcohol and narcotics. If I use them, I break out in handcuffs.

A recent study ranked alcohol as the "most harmful" drug among a list of 20 other drugs. The study, released in a British medical journal, claimed that alcohol was even more dangerous than crack and heroin�when assessed for its potential harm to the "drug-taker" and those harmed by his drug-taking. Hardcore drugs like heroin, crack cocaine, and crystal meth are the deadliest drugs. But when researchers analyzed other important categories�the addictive nature of the drug, how it harms the body, the drug's role on society (such as tearing families apart)�alcohol far exceeded all the other drugs in terms of overall harm.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has also noted the harmfulness of alcohol abuse. This institute places a whopping price tag�nearly $235 billion�on the annual bill in the United States for the medical, social, and economic cost of alcohol abuse. That's almost 80 percent more than the related costs for all other addictive drugs combined. In the United States, alcohol also claims more than 80,000 lives every year, and is responsible for or involved in about one-third of all fatal car crashes, half of all homicides, one-third of all suicides and one-third of all hospital admissions. [Sources: Maria Cheng, "Study finds alcohol most dangerous drug," Post and Courier (11-1-2010); "The Party's Over," Nature (11-25-2010)]

God�s purpose in warning us about issues such as alcohol is to prevent us from falling into a trap such as addiction. God loves us and wants the best for us. He doesn�t want us to fear that we will wake up, beaten and find ourselves in handcuffs because we chose sin over His words of wisdom.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/28/11 11:51 AM
Proverbs 28:23 (NLT)
23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

Matthew Henry gave the following comments regarding this verse. Note, 1. Flatterers may please those for a time who, upon second thoughts, will detest and despise them. If ever they come to be convinced of the evil of those sinful courses they were flattered in, and to be ashamed of the pride and vanity which were humoured and gratified by those flatteries, they will hate the fawning flatterers as having had an ill design upon them, and the fulsome flatteries as having had an ill effect upon them and become nauseous. 2. Reprovers may displease those at first who yet afterwards, when the passion is over and the bitter physic begins to work well, will love and respect them. He that deals faithfully with his friend, in telling him of his faults, though he may put him into some heat for the present, and perhaps have hard words, instead of thanks, for his pains, yet afterwards he will not only have the comfort in his own bosom of having done his duty, but he also whom he reproved will acknowledge that it was a kindness, will entertain a high opinion of his wisdom and faithfulness, and look upon him as fit to be a friend. He that cries out against his surgeon for hurting him when he is searching his wound will yet pay him well, and thank him too, when he has cured it.



The creator of Dennis the Menace, Hank Ketcham, once said, �Flattery is chewing gum. Enjoy it, but don�t swallow it.� We all enjoy flattering comments; it�s part of our nature. However, there are times when we need to hear constructive criticism. Criticism may be painful to hear, but if it helps us correct something in our lives for our benefit we need to hear it. In the end we will appreciate the honesty shared with us more than any flattering comment someone could make.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/29/11 11:12 AM
Proverbs 29:1
1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

This proverb tells us there are many who stubbornly refuse to listen to reason when it comes to their faults. They may be reproved by parents, friends, ministers, police, judges, or the consequences God has set in front of them. Yet they harden their hearts and will not give a thought to the reproof presented to them. There is a great consequence for these people in that their sins will take them to a point of destruction where there is no hope for recovery.



Anthony Mangione entered his plea in federal court Wednesday. The 50-year-old was indicted on charges of transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Mangione could face up to 20 years in prison. Each of the transportation and receipt charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of five years. [Associated Press, Sept. 28, 2011] The problem is that Anthony Mangione has been chief of the Federal Government�s ICE Miami-based office since 2007. ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is responsible for cybercrimes and child exploitation. The Child Exploitation Section employs the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups who sexually exploit children through the use of websites, chat rooms, newsgroups and peer-to-peer trading. If it is true Mr. Mangione is guilty of the crimes he is charged for then he has truly not listened to his own criticism or the criticism of others around him regarding these crimes against children. Proverbs 29:1 tells us those �whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/11 11:36 AM
Nahum 3:7 (NASV)

7"And it will come about that all who see you Will shrink from you and say, 'Nineveh is devastated! Who will grieve for her?' Where will I seek comforters for you?"



The city of Nineveh had been spared when Jonah spoke to them of God�s judgment and they had repented from their sins. But the city had fallen back into its evil ways, repenting of their repentance. The city had once again become an enemy of God and Nahum was warning the people of its destruction. God had trouble getting Jonah to plead to the city, and now God was saying where will I find comforters for you when the city is devastated?



The great city of Nineveh had been given a chance by God to repent and begin a new life. Even though Jonah did not want to preach to Nineveh because of its great sin, God sent Jonah to preach about their imminent fall from grace. The people realized their sins and turned to God and were spared the destruction Jonah wanted to see fall on the people. Jonah knew how great their sin was and he did not want to see God�s grace given to them. And here they were once again, another prophet speaking to them as they were about to be destroyed. This time the people had hardened their hearts against God and this time they were not willing to repent. In verse 19 Nahum speaks for God and says, �There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty?� God desires to give grace. God desires to see everyone repent of their sins and follow him. But God will not be mocked by those who receive His grace and then abuse it. Remember the words of the great hymn below:



Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary 's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/11 11:02 AM
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Peter is writing to Christians who have been scattered throughout the nations. Peter is preparing them for the hardships they will possibly face as they live out their Christian faith. He tells them there will be trials of faith that will take place, but these are to purify their faith, to make it stronger. And if their faith remains strong it will be something to celebrate when Christ returns.

If someone walked up to you and said, "Be joyful! Distress, suffering and pain is about to come your way.", wouldn't you think they had lost their mind? How can a person even think about joy when they are about to face horrible problems? James tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." So the joy to be found is that God is maturing us, completing us and shaping us to be more like the person he wants us to be. The trials we go through may not be pleasant or desired, but God has a purpose for putting us through those trials. Maybe you have experienced or are experiencing a test of faith. Pray that God would strengthen your faith in Him and help you endure whatever trial you face. Look for the joy of things to come, knowing that he is building and molding who you are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/11 02:16 AM
Genesis 39:5-9 (NLT)
5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master�s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar�s household for Joseph�s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn�t worry about a thing�except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar�s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. �Come and sleep with me,� she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. �Look,� he told her, �my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked
thing? It would be a great sin against God.�

This is the account of Joseph being held as a slave in Egypt after his brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph�s brother first sought to kill him out of jealousy, but then relented and sold him as a slave. As a slave, Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar�s house, the prison guard. Potiphar trusted him with everything. But Potiphar�s wife had lustful thoughts for Joseph and sought to seduce him.

Joseph understood the concept of trust. He understood he was given privileges that came with the trust he earned from Potiphar. Joseph even stated, �my master trusts me with everything in his entire house.� Joseph was responsible for all that went on in the home even the safety and integrity of his master�s wife. And even though Potiphar�s wife plotted to seduce Joseph, Joseph maintained his integrity. He knew ultimately God saw and knew everything he did. It was God Joseph was out to please by maintaining Potiphar�s trust. Yet The Bible tells us Potiphar lost trust in Joseph when Potiphar�s wife lied about Joseph. Joseph was thrown innocently into prison. God knew what happend and watched over and blessed Joseph. We might desire the trust of others, but it is God whose trust we should earn.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/11 01:11 AM
Psalm 91:9-16 (NLT)
9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won�t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, �I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.�

In these verses the psalmist assures those who believe in God they will receive rich and precious mercy from God. If they make God their refuge; God becomes their shelter and their protector. They find rest from threats and they are able to persevere. They become strong in the face of adversity knowing God will rescue and protect them; for salvation and long life is theirs to hold.



In Leadership Weekly, �God Winks� (12-18-02) , Joe McKeever writes: Late one night, a man in Slim Cornett's church was showing Slim around a county airport in rural Mississippi. "This switch lights up the runway," the man said as he flipped it. "Then, let's say there is a plane in distress up there. I would throw this switch and turn on the search lights." As the night skies lit up, a small plane materialized out of the darkness and landed. Slim and his friend watched in amazement as Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist, stepped off the plane. The pilot had been flying Franklin back to school in Texas when the electrical system shut down, leaving them stranded in the Mississippi night without lights or radio or any means of guidance. From out of nowhere, the search beam had come on and guided them to the landing strip. As Franklin's mother, Ruth, tells the story, earlier that evening before they left home, Billy Graham had prayed for the Father to protect and guide his son and the pilot.

God is our protector and hope in the face of fear. Out of the dark God shines brightly guiding us to a path of safety.
Posted By: ConstantProcess Re: Devotionals - 10/12/11 01:31 AM
AskMe, I stumbled onto these devotionals, and I just want to say thank you
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/11 11:02 AM
Originally Posted by ConstantProcess
AskMe, I stumbled onto these devotionals, and I just want to say thank you

You are more than welcome and thank you for the encouragement. Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/11 11:02 AM
Mark 12:13-17 (NLT)
13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 �Teacher,� they said, �we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don�t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us�is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn�t we?� Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, �Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin,[c] and I�ll tell you.� 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, �Whose picture and title are stamped on it?� �Caesar�s,� they replied. 17 �Well, then,� Jesus said, �give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.� His reply completely amazed them.

Matthew Henry wrote the following commentary about these verses above -- The persons (enemies of Christ) they employed were the Pharisees and the Herodians, men that in this matter were contrary to one another, and yet concurred against Christ, v. 13. The Pharisees were great sticklers for the liberty of the Jews, and, if he should say, It is lawful to give tribute to Caesar, they would incense the common people against him, and the Herodians would, underhand, assist them in it. The Herodians were great sticklers for the Roman power, and, if he should discountenance the paying of tribute to Caesar, they would incense the governor against him, yea, and the Pharisees, against their own principles, would join with them in it. It is no new thing for those that are at variance in other things, to join in a confederacy against Christ.


The religious leaders had tried to find anything wrong with Christ that they could and they had failed. Now they plotted to wage Jesus against both religion and politics by asking Him a tax question. However Jesus responded in a way that answered those who were religious and those who were political. Jesus knew where He stood both on religion and politics. God had established government and put it in power and Jesus knew to give an answer that was correct for both groups. In our everyday lives there will be those who try to find issue against us whether it be personal, religious or political. It is important to know who you are in Christ so that your decisions and answers reflect God to those who hear you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/14/11 11:10 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

In this verse and the prior verses the apostle encourages the church to do those things which are right in God�s eyes. Here we find the apostle saying to abstain not only from those things that are evil, but to also abstain from the things that might even appear evil. Corrupt affections indulged in the heart, and evil practices allowed in one�s life will tend to promote flawed thoughts in the mind. However a pure heart and integrity in life will move men towards the truth God has given them. Matthew Henry gave this observation, �He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin.�


In a September 20, 1998 segment of ABC's news magazine show "20/20," reporter John Stossel interviewed Dr. Roy Baumeister of Case Western Reserve University. Baumeister said, "If you look at the social and personal problems facing people in the United States�we're talking drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, unsafe sex, school failure, shopping problems, gambling�over and over, the majority of them have self-control failure as central to them. Studies show that self-control does predict success in life over a very long time."

The report included video of an experiment Stossel conducted at a nursery school. "By testing how well four-year-olds can resist temptation," Stossel explained, "researchers say they can predict what kind of adults they're likely to be. In the experiment, the kids are given a choice: They'll get five pieces of candy if they can wait ten minutes until the teacher comes back into the room�or just two pieces if they can't wait and give in to the temptation before the ten minutes are up.

"So the kids tried. It wasn't easy. Most fidgeted and looked as if they were being tortured. Some touched the candy. One boy counted the candy�maybe to remind himself that five is more than two. One girl looked heavenward as she waited, seeming to ask for God's help. Seven of the nine kids we tested lasted the full ten minutes. Most spent some time with their hand hovering over the bell." Ringing the bell meant the temptation to take the candy was too strong.

Stossel was recreating an experiment conducted thirty years earlier at Columbia University. Using a much larger group of children, the Columbia study found out which kids had the self-control to resist temptation and hold out for the full reward later�and which did not. The children were checked on over the next few decades to see which group tended to do better in life. The result of the study, Stossel said, was astonishingly clear-cut: "Kids who did well on this test years ago tended to do better in life. Better in lots of ways. Their SAT scores were higher. As teenagers, the boys had fewer run-ins with the law. The girls were less likely to get pregnant."

Self-control, then, is a key indicator of whether or not we will be successful. We can't control everything in life, but if there is one thing we can control and must control, it is the self. As Dr. Baumeister concluded on "20/20," "If we're concerned about raising children to be successful and healthy and happy, forget about self-esteem. Concentrate on self-control."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/11 11:08 AM
Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

Matthew Henry said of theses verses -- Some take a pride in being quick. They answer a matter before they hear it, hear it out, nay, as soon as they but hear of it. They think it is their honour to take up a cause suddenly; and, when they have heard one side, they think the matter so plain that they need not trouble themselves to hear the other; they are already apprized of it, and masters of all the merits of the cause. Whereas, though a ready wit is an agreeable thing to play with, it is solid judgment and sound wisdom that do business. Those that take a pride in being quick commonly fall under the just reproach of being impertinent. It is folly for a man to go about to speak to a thing which he does not understand, or to pass sentence upon a matter which he is not truly and fully informed of, and has not patience to make a strict enquiry into; and, if it be folly, it is and will be shame.


From Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), pages 97-8, come these words: The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. One who cannot listen long and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be never really speaking to others, albeit he be not conscious of it. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/19/11 11:39 AM
Philippians 4:15-17 (NLT)
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don�t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

The apostle Paul gives thanks to the Philippians for the financial support they offered him when he traveled through their area speaking on the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Philippians didn�t stop with the original gift, but also sent a second gift to meet Paul�s financial needs. Many might make an excuse they have given once and why should they give again? But that was not the case with the Philippians who were generous from the heart. Paul then went on to tell them he was thanking them, not begging for more financial assistance, but for the kindness they had already displayed.


C. H. Spurgeon once said, �You say, �If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.� You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. Jerry Bridges, an evangelical Christian author wrote, �The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God�s provision for his needs and the sufficiency of God�s grace for his circumstances. He believes God will indeed meet all his material needs and that He will work in all his circumstances for his good. That is why Paul could say, �Godliness with contentment is great gain.� The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.�

The very first temptation of the world was about contentment. Adam and Eve were tempted with being more than who they were and they fell into Satan�s trap of discontentment. When we are discouraged it is because discontentment tells us we are lacking something. Those who are content have gratitude in their hearts for what they have received and they bless others for their kindness. They don�t see themselves as one giving too much to God, nor do they see themselves as one who does not receive enough from God. Instead they are rich, for they know God will meet their needs and they need no more than what God provides.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/11 11:18 AM
Exodus 23:2 (NLT)
You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.

This was a call from God to follow justice and not the crowd. The people were being reminded they should not be swayed by opinion, but instead seek the truth in a situation. They were to seek God�s wisdom and speak on their own accord.


Stuart Briscoe told the following story in his book, Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People: One of my young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man's military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through the side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion.

It is so easy to follow the crowd, but it doesn�t mean we end up where we are supposed to be. This is why it is so important we have a solid foundation in our life from which we can make good choices.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/21/11 11:54 AM
Proverbs 21:2
2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

Matthew Henry writes, �Note, 1. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favourably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every way of a man, even his by-way, is right in his own eyes. The proud heart is very ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far from being so, to stop the mouth of conscience. 2. We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth. Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart. God looks at the heart, and judges of men according to that, of their actions according to their principles and intentions; and his judgment of that is as exact as ours is of that which we ponder most, and more so; he weighs it in an unerring balance, ch. 16:2 (All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.)�


First I want to make a confession about myself. There are many times I make statements which I truly believe, but it does not make them right. I know I have been guilty of thinking I know the facts, thinking I know the truth, and thinking I have the right understanding only later to be convicted I was slanted or wrong in my thoughts. Sometimes it is a friend who gives reproof and I see my error. Often it is God who convicts my heart there are other ways to see and view the truth. God is the one who examines the hearts of people and He alone knows what is right. I need to listen more to God and listen less to myself.

With that said I want to share a quote I read yesterday that said, �Those who try to enforce tolerance upon others need to be careful or they themselves will be found intolerant.� I find that often to be true. People try to make something so right they go beyond what is right and make their objective wrong. I have seen it happen in racial issues where one group says things should be this way to be fair, but then they go on to establish benefits slanted towards their own desires. We all need to stop trying to figure out what is right and fair for us and instead determine what God believes is just and fair for all.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/24/11 11:41 AM
Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT)
3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. 4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

We are always tempted by riches of the world thinking that wealth brings happiness to a home. Yet there are many who are rich and still painfully suffer the trials of everyday life. King Solomon recognized it is one who builds their family and home by honest means, with a good conscience, a good name, and a respect of God that will find their rooms filled with the precious riches of life. For each family member will possession a wealth of wisdom, a love of God, and a hope for eternal life.

Donald Miller relates in his book, To Own a Dragon, an interesting story goes like this: I lived for a time with my friend and mentor John MacMurray, where the first rule is to always tell the truth. John and I were sitting in the family room one night when he asked about my new cell phone. �I got it free,� I told him. �How did you get it for free?� he asked. �Well, my other one broke, so I took it in to see if they could replace it. They had this new computer system at the store and they didn�t have their records. They didn�t know whether mine was still under warranty. It wasn�t, I knew, because it was more than a year old. The guy asked me about it, and I told him I didn�t know, but it was right around a year. Just a white lie, you know. Anyway, the phone was so messed up they replaced it with a newer model. So, I got a free phone.� �Did you ever see that movie The Family Man with Nicolas Cage?� John asked. �There�s this scene where Nicolas Cage walks into a store to get a cup of coffee. And Don Cheadle plays the guy working at the counter. There�s a girl in line before Nicolas Cage, and she�s buying something for ninety-nine cents, and she hands Cheadle a dollar. Cheadle takes nine dollars out of the till and counts it out, giving her way too much change. She sees that he is handing her way too much money, yet she picks it up and puts it in her pocket without saying a word. As she is walking out the door, Cheadle stops her to give her another chance. He asks her if there is anything else she needs. She shakes her head no and walks out.� �I see what you�re getting at, John,� I say. �Let me finish,� he says. �So Cheadle looks over at Nicolas Cage, and he says, �Did you see that? She was willing to sell her character for nine dollars. Nine dollars!�� After a little while, I spoke up. �Do you think that is what I am doing with the phone? Do you think I am selling my character?� And to be honest, I said this with a smirk. �I do,� John said. �The Bible talks about having a calloused heart. That�s when sin, after a period of time, has so deceived us we no longer care whether our thoughts and actions are right or wrong. Our hearts will go there easily, and often over what looks like little things�little white lies. All I am saying to you, as your friend, is, watch for this kind of thing.� Miller concludes the story saying: I went back to the store the next day. It cost me more than nine dollars, but I got my character back.

Do you have friends you will confront you in love for your own good? It�s important to have friends who know God�s heart. When confronted do you react smugly or humbly? We need to humble ourselves and listen to those who have our best interest at heart. Could it be that something came to mind as you read this story and there is something you need to do? Maybe now is the time to act in order to get your character back.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/25/11 11:19 AM
Philemon 1:21 (NLT)
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

The book of Philemon is written by the Apostle Paul as a letter to a fellow Christian named Philemon whom Paul had the privilege of leading to Christ. The main purpose of Paul�s writing was to ask Philemon to reconcile with Onesimus, an indentured slave who had run away from Philemon. Paul wanted Philemon not only to reconcile, but also consider releasing Onesimus that he might serve the Lord freely.


William Culbertson in Listening to the Giants, Christianity Today writes, I find that discipleship means, first, truly living. It does not mean a joy ride to heaven; it does not mean that there are no trials and no burdens. But it does mean peace in your soul and joy in your heart, and a sense, a supreme sense, of the smile of the Lord upon you. It is living. And discipleship means that you are using your time on earth to the best possible advantage. The Lord Jesus says so.

The Apostle Paul lived under a tremendous burden of being imprisoned for following in the footsteps of Jesus. Paul suffered and faced painful trials in his life. Yet Paul had a strong faith in God that God would answer his prayers. In the midst of Paul�s difficulties, Paul still found it within himself to reach out and disciple others. Paul reached out to the churches and to individuals. Paul continued to love and support others even if his circumstances were dismal.

Considering the circumstances of your life are you using your time to the best possible advantage? Are you focused on yourself or are you looking to help the needs of others?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/11 12:30 PM
Galatians 5:14 (KJV)
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Matthew Henry wrote of this verse, �Love is the sum of the whole law; as love to God comprises the duties of the first table, so love to our neighbour those of the second. The apostle takes notice of the latter here, because he is speaking of their behaviour towards one another; and, when he makes use of this as an argument to persuade them to mutual love, he intimates both that this would be a good evidence of their sincerity in religion and also the most likely means of rooting out those dissensions and divisions that were among them. It will appear that we are the disciples of Christ indeed when we have love one to another.�


When our love for God comes first everything else just fits into place. We learn what a true relationship is like. We learn how God�s love for us is not dependent upon our actions. We learn mercy and grace is offered to us when we don�t deserve it. We find God loves us no matter what the circumstance. We find forgiveness for others as God forgave us.

As I watched the TV show �The Middle� last night, Patricia Heaton�s character, Frankie, was struggling with the issue of how people respond in happenstances. She happened to bump into one man�s shopping cart and he became very rude and disrespectful; even when she said she was sorry. Later while taking a group of her son�s classmates Trick-or-Treating the kids happened to be in the way and again Frankie said �I�m sorry�. But the words went unnoticed and the woman who couldn�t get by with her daughter made a rude comment about the kids. This time Frankie wanted to show the children people shouldn�t treat a person that way so she confronted the woman and gave her a lecture. At the end of the frustrated lecture the woman said, �I�m sorry� and Frankie replies, �It�s ok�, smiles and walks off.

We need to learn the words �I�m sorry� and say them when it is perceived we have done something wrong. We also need to let go of anger and replace it with love by saying, �It�s ok, I understand.� Most of us have wronged someone and there are those who have wronged us. Make it right by loving your neighbor instead of hating your neighbor and by forgiving as God would forgive.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/31/11 01:31 PM
Daniel 3:13-18 (NLT)
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, �Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?� 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, �O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn�t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.�

Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that at the time everyone heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, they must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Whoever did not fall down and worship the golden image would be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Three men who stood for God refused and were seen not bowing in public. The king gave them the chance to bow or be thrown into the fire. They chose to be thrown into the fire whether God saved them or not.



Johnny Cash had a song called The Forth Man in the Fire. It went like this:

Refrain: They wouldn't bend. They held on to the will of God so we are told. They wouldn't bow. They would not bow their knees to Idols made of gold. They wouldn't burn. They were protected by the Fourth Man in the fire. They wouldn't bend. They wouldn't bow, they wouldn't burn. Now the prophet Daniel tells about three men who walked with God Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Before the wicked king they stood and the king commanded them bound and thrown into the fiery furnace that day. But the fire was so hot that the men were slain that forced them on their way.

Refrain: Now when the three were cast in and the king rose up to witness this awful fate.
He began to tremble at what he saw in astonished tones he spake. Did we not cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire? Well, Lo, I see four men unhurt, unbound and walkin' down there; there's Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery coals they trod. But the form of the Fourth Man that I see is like the Son of God

Three men refused to do anything but God�s will in their lives. They were willing to die for what the believed. The fire was hot enough for it consumed the guards who threw them into the fire. These three men met the pre-incarnate Christ who was there in the fire with them, reassuring them they would survive. And they emerged untouched by the fire showing the true God was their protector.

We need to remember we should always stand for God no matter what the cost. For this world is a temporary place and if God still has plans for us here He will protect us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/11 11:54 AM
Proverbs 1:10-14 (NLT)
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! 11 They may say, �Come and join us. Let�s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let�s ambush the innocent! 12 Let�s swallow them alive, like the grave; let�s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.13 Think of the great things we�ll get! We�ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we�ll all share the loot.�

This proverb is the advice of a father to his child to acquire wisdom and stay away from those who might lead them away from wise action. We see the follies of those ignoring wisdom. They look for those they may attack and kill just for the pleasure of taking their riches.


The following is a true story from Dave Jackson written in Leadership magazine. "Our train rolled into Kansas City at 1 a.m. Dim lights came on to help the new passengers find seats. Many of us who had been riding home through the night had spread out to occupy two seats apiece. An attractive woman made her way down the aisle with her bags. She was looking from side to side, hoping for someone to move. I turned toward the window and watched her in the reflection. �May I sit here?� she asked. �Sure.� I looked up and smiled as I moved over. She threw her things into the rack above and sat down. Near the back of the car, only one of my colleagues from the church had managed to keep his extra space. �Lucky guy�. �My name's Kathy. What's yours?� I told her, and we talked quietly for a while. She was on her way to visit her mother after some rough spats with her husband. I was eager to get home and see my wife and family after an exhausting church leadership conference. Soon we both slipped off to sleep. At some later stop, I awoke to find Kathy cuddled next to me. 'You don't mind if I lean my head on your shoulder, do you?' she said sleepily. �Uh, no. I guess not.' She was just tired... wasn't she? And besides, I had a wonderful wife and a great marriage and would be home before noon. I looked around to see if anyone was noticing. She cuddled closer. I wondered what she really wanted&#8209;&#8209;or would allow. At first I couldn't believe what I was thinking. But then it was her fault. She knew exactly what she was doing. I might as well enjoy it. After all, what could happen on a train full of people? Nothing, nothing really... except what Jesus warned about happening in the heart. Finally, I excused myself so I could go back and talk with my friend&#8209;&#8209;the �lucky� one with the empty seat beside him. Or maybe I was the lucky one since that extra space was still available. I only knew I didn't need to stay where I had been.

We need to watch the circumstances we fall into and beware of those who might lead us into the temptation of sin. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 �If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/02/11 11:29 AM
Hebrews 10:1-2 (NLT)
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

In these verses the apostle explains how the Mosaic Law required a repeated cleaning for sin. Why? Because no matter how hard one tried they always fell back into repeating sin which required atonement. Had it been possible to provide a onetime permanent cleansing there would have been no need to repeat the process time after time.


Here's the gospel: you're more sinful than you ever dared believe; you're more loved than you ever dared hope. (Tim Keller) Christ gave His life to atone once and all for the sin of the world. Christ sacrificed himself so our repetition of sins would not require a repetition of cleansing. For every time a sin was repeated there was also the shame that came with the sin knowing the sin needed to be cleansed. But in Christ there is no shame for He paid your debt in full once and for all and for all time. Give thanks to Christ who took away the guilt and shame of sin that you could live a life to glorify God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/11 12:17 PM
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
For God has said, �I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.�

In these verses we find important promises from God. First God will never fail you. No matter what the circumstance is that you are going through God won�t fail to keep His promises towards you. Second, God will never abandon you. Whatever trial, whatever difficulty, whatever pain you face, God is there with you.



The word abandoned means to be given up. Someone abandoned has been left behind, forsaken. Whoever was responsible for providing care has failed. They have betrayed trust and left the person alone. My father was an abusive alcoholic. My mother had to divorce him because he continued to beat her. He shot at her, tried to run her over with the car and did many other abusive things. He abandoned us for the sake of his alcohol. My mother remarried and my step-father left just after my brother was born. He abandoned us because he didn�t want to face responsibility. The fear of abandonment can become overwhelming. I think back to all the times I was the responsible one for watching my brother, for cleaning the house, for taking care of the yard. I was abandoned to those duties because the men who should have been there to help were not. Thankfully my Father God has always been there to encourage me, watch after me, and lead me through difficult times. Thankfully I can say I never abandoned my children because my God never abandoned me.

Maybe some of you have been abandoned and because of that you have held on to bitterness in your life. Maybe your abandonment issues have caused you to abandon others. I pray God will heal your heart and fill it with His love. May you know God will never fail you nor will he abandon you.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/11 12:55 PM
1 Corinthians 1:20-23 (NLT)
20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world�s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it�s all nonsense.

The apostle tells us that all the wisdom of man put together cannot fathom the wisdom of God. The apostle says the teaching of the crucifixion of Christ is foolish to the Jewish religious scholars who look for signs. The Greek scholars are also baffled by why God does for it does not fit human wisdom. Yet Paul continues to preach the message of Christ crucified even when it offends or makes no sense to those who do not wish to believe.



Gary Thomas tells the following story in his book Holy Available about a friend of his who was on a business trip: After the sessions an attractive young woman knocked on his hotel door �. When he opened the door, she pushed through and walked right into his room. You can't be in here," he said.
"Why not?" she asked teasingly. "Are you scared?" The woman started acting seductively. She made it very clear that she was available for any favor of his choosing. When he insisted that she leave, she finally did something � [that] was over-the top provocative. Immediately afterward, my friend wisely told two business associates exactly what happened �. My friend is a godly man, but he's human. He admits he slept very little that night �. He couldn't get this woman's words or related images out of his mind. He tossed and turned, thankful he hadn't fallen but exhausted from being so provoked. Two months later, he returned to that city, working with the same company he had worked with on his previous visit�when the [same] young woman pulled him aside. "We have to talk," she said. My friend's heart started racing as he feared the worst �. Her first words put him at ease. "I can't thank you enough for being the first man who has ever cared about me more than my body." My friend learned that this woman had been abused earlier in life. She had been promiscuous ever since her early teen years, and because of her physical appearance no man had ever been willing to walk away from her advances. And so she kept reliving the moments of her deepest hurt. "I'm going back to church," she told him. "I need to get my life back together. When I finally met a man like you who was more interested in me than in my body, it showed me how messed up I had become." Sisters and brothers, how we live our lives makes a difference. We need to be the people that we already are in God�s eyes. We need to live in the light so that others will come to know Jesus. We need to teach our children by what we say and what we do, that the things of this world don�t compare to the glories we have in Christ. It�s time to stop living like we�re asleep.

Following Christ and living as Christ would have us live might seem foolish to some people, but it will change lives. Our mission is to show the love of Christ and not beat people down for the sins they are committing; that is God�s job move and motivate people in the right direction. This man did what was right and his devotion to God helped change a life. It may have even saved her life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/11 12:17 PM
Colossians 2:20-23 (NLT)
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 �Don�t handle! Don�t taste! Don�t touch!�? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person�s evil desires.

Matthew Henry said, �They thought themselves wiser than their neighbours, in observing the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, that they might be sure in the one, at least, to be in the right; but, alas! it was but a show of wisdom, a mere invention and pretence. So they seem to neglect the body, by abstaining from such and such meats, and mortifying their bodily pleasures and appetites; but there is nothing of true devotion in these things, for the gospel teaches us to worship God in spirit and truth and not by ritual observances, and through the mediation of Christ alone and not of any angels.� The apostle was pointing out it is our relationship with Christ that motivates us and moves us to do what is right, not traditions, not learned rules, but our love for our Lord and Savior.


The Apostle Paul asks an important question to the Christians he is addressing, �Why do you keep on following the rules of the world?� Everyone struggles with some temptation in their life. And then there are those, such as addicts, who let temptations take over their life. So an addict may set up boundaries that consist of rules as a safeguard. For instance someone addicted to gambling may decide to follow rules such as:

Not watching sporting events
Making sure to stay away from casinos
Keep away from friends who talk about making idle bets

And while those rules are good to help establish boundaries the person finds themselves always in a constant battle to follow those rules. They may even add new rules worried the current rules aren�t good enough to keep them away from temptation. So they become trapped worried about following the rules of the rules; how to measure up to the world; and how to live to other�s expectations. In truth it is Christ�s expectation we want to live up to. It is Christ who should guide us and set us free from rules. We should follow Christ in our hearts and trust that He will lead us to do what is right. Rules are good to start a boundary, but then let Christ take over so you no longer worry about those boundaries, but instead live a holy and righteous life for His sake.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/11 01:32 PM
Matthew 6:7-13 (NLT)
7 �When you pray, don�t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don�t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don�t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

In these verses Jesus was teaching those listening how to pray. He started by saying not to repeat chants over and over like some might do. Instead Jesus offered the listeners a direct prayer. There was no repetition. The prayer was spoken directly to God. Jesus praised God. He asked for God�s grace to be upon us. Jesus asked that our needs might be met; our sins forgiven; and protection from spiritual battles.

Our prayers are our conversations with God. Some of us learned as children to repeat prayers and that is appropriate when young and learning about God. Most of us should have matured such that we have a relationship with God where we are able to talk to God about our lives, our issues, our love for Him, and anything else that we desire. In Psalms King David would often express his anger, his fear, his hopelessness and other emotions he was feeling. David would also give thanks to God and praise Him for the work in His life. Often I will hear a Muslim speak and they say �thanks be to God� when something is good in their lives. As Christians we too should include God in our conversations and give thanks for what He has done for us. My pastor Johnny Hunt once said he was out at dinner with his wife and he thought how lovely she looked. So he stopped and said, �God I just want to thank for Janet. She looks lovely tonight, doesn�t she?� God wants our spontaneous thoughts and He wants us to express how we feel, what we need, and how He can help. Take time through your day to stop and pray for yourself, for your family and for others and see how God will bless you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/11/11 01:27 PM
Zechariah 7:9-10 (NLT)
9 �This is what the Lord of Heaven�s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.�

This is part of the message given by God to Zechariah to express to the people. It was a call for justice and mercy to be given to all. Zechariah said previous generations had refused to listen to this call, but God was once again calling the people to listen. God reminds the people in verse 13, ��Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven�s Armies.�


Whoever you are, whatever you might believe the idea to �judge fairly, show mercy and kindness to one another� is something we in the world should all do. We all should also avoid taking advantage of and oppressing widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor. And lastly we all should show love to one another, not scheming or plotting against each other; but instead seeing how we can benefit another person. If we were honest with ourselves the reason we might not do this is because we are selfish and self-center. We tend to put our desires first and sadly we neglect the needs of other people, even sometimes going to the extent of taking advantage of them.

Now speaking to Christians, Christ gave himself freely on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sin. His motives were not self-centered, they were not selfish; but instead were focused on mercy and grace for others. Christ showed kindness, He showed mercy and most of all He watched after those who could not defend themselves. Take the time to start focusing on others and see what you can do for them. Reach out and help in ways that no one else can help. Love like no one else has loved them before. And always give your heart to the Lord so that He can lead up in your mission to lead others to Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/11 12:24 PM
Proverbs 15:3 (NLT)
3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

This is a reminder from King Solomon that God sees everything that takes place in the world. God sees when people do well towards others and do so in an unselfish way. God also sees those who are evil, corrupt and look after only themselves.

It doesn�t matter what we are doing God is there with us. God is constantly watching over all good and all evil so He is there in the quiet moments of our life, the busy moments or our life, the frustrating moments of our life and even the sinful moments of our life. God is always present, always waiting for us to reach out to Him. There isn�t a moment we can�t bow our heads and ask God for help. There isn�t a moment we are tempted by sin that we can�t turn to God for an answer. Remember God is always with you in good times and rough times. Never forget He waits for us to turn to Him for what we need in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/11 11:40 AM
Proverbs 3:(1) Trust in the LORD with all your heart And (2) do not lean on your own understanding.

One definition in Websters says trust is "one in which confidence is placed". I am sure like most people you have had an experience where the confidence you had in someone was shattered. Maybe they did not keep a promise, maybe they did not tell the trust, or maybe their character came into question. Whatever the experience, it created your own understanding of what trust meant. Proverbs 3:2 says "do not to lean on your own understanding" when it comes to trusting God because our understanding of trust has been warped through life's experiences. For if we trust God the way we trust others, then are we really trusting God with all of our heart?

If you have had your trust shattered in the past, pray that God may restore your trust in Him. Ask God to take away those thoughts, those feelings that prevent you from completly trusting in Him. Lean not on your own understanding, but trust God with all of your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/11 12:37 PM
Ecclesiastes 1:12-15 (NLT)
12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless�like chasing the wind. 15 What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered.

In these verses we are privy to the wisdom of King Solomon who was reflecting upon life. He was trying to make sense of the lives we live. King Solomon though even being the wisest person to have lived still was frustrated in trying to understand life. He saw that life on earth was life chasing after the wind, which could never be caught, blew in many directions, and was an empty substance.



In the play Pinocchio a pensive look comes over the face of the puppet-turned-boy. "What do you mean 'I'm alive'?" "What does it mean? Well, unless I'm going mad, and this isn't just a dream, it means you have a life to live," says Geppetto. "And what do you have a life for?" Pinocchio asks in return. Geppetto falls silent, unable to find an answer. "And so is this a good thing or bad thing?" the puppet-turned-boy asks further. "No�it's a beautiful thing. A wonderful thing! What do you have it for? Uhhhhh." Geppetto still has a puzzled look on his face. He concludes, "I'll have to think about it."

Unless we understand what life is for it does become meaningless. It is why God gives us guidance on how we should live our lives through His Word. God gave us Christ, His Son, who showed us what it was like to live a sinless life. God has a desire that we use our lives to live for Him so that life will be a beautiful thing that can be shared with many.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/11 12:37 PM
Luke 22:31 (NLT)
31 �Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.�

In these familiar verses Jesus knows Peter's sin that is about to take place. Jesus has prayed on behalf of Peter and Jesus gives words to encourage Peter that once he has failed to use the failure as a way to build up others.


W. Paul Jones, a Roman Catholic priest said, �What one sees depends on where one sets up one's shop. Mine is at the entrance of the empty tomb.� Sometimes God allows us to fail in order that we may be disciplined and learn valuable lessons. It's then that we can take what we intended for evil and let God work in us to use it for good. So when you fail, remember God still cares about you and He has a plan to use your failure for His good purpose. We sitting in God�s shop where God is in control and God is watching over us. Trust God that He will lead you through any difficult circumstance, bring you to repentance, and give you encouragement that you can share joyfully with others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/11 12:55 PM
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 (NLT)
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, �I believed in God, so I spoke.� 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God�s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

In these verses we find it is faith that motivates the apostle and other believers to continue to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. The apostle states this was done that God�s grace might reach more and more people. The more people receive God�s mercy the more glory and thanksgiving that will be given to God.

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When I think of the generations of people who came before me, life on earth is short. Some get to enjoy a fruitful and long life, while others have their lives cut short in their early years. I have been praying for a young man, a childhood friend of my son, who is battling brain cancer. Hospice has been called and his life is potentially nearing an end. It is difficult for me to imagine what the family is going through on a week focused on Thanksgiving. I know this young man believed in an eternal life and he had accepted that Jesus Christ paid the debt for his sin. I am thankful that even in earthly death there will be eternal life. I am thankful for those who remain and can testify to the memories of his life. I am thankful the family has been there with him during these final precious moments. I am thankful for friends who have been praying and hoping for a recovery. I am thankful for those who love the family and have shown their support. Had these things not been true, then yes, there might not have been much to be thankful for.

I remember the story of a poor man who was distraught because he had no shoes. But when he met a man with no feet and no legs he bowed before God and gave thanks for his ability to walk. There is always something we can be thankful for even when we are facing grim and desperate moments. Like the man without shoes I too have been guilty of not giving God the praise as I should. But then I think of things that could be worst and I can�t help but praise God for what He has done.

This will be my only devotion for this week. If you wish to pray for this young man his name is Seth. God bless each and every one of you as you count your blessings this week.
Posted By: ConstantProcess Re: Devotionals - 11/22/11 05:49 AM
Am praying for Seth also.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/28/11 12:49 PM
Proverbs 28:27 (NLT)
27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

Matthew Henry writes the following in regards to Proverbs 28:27. Here is, 1. A promise to the charitable: He that gives to the poor shall himself be never the poorer for so doing; he shall not lack. If he have but little, and so be in danger of lacking, let him give out of his little, and that will prevent it from coming to nothing; as the bounty of the widow of Sarepta to Elijah (for whom she made a little cake first) saved what she had, when it was reduced to a handful of meal. If he have much, let him give much out of it, and that will prevent its growing less; he and his shall not want what is given in pious charity. What we gave we have. 2. A threatening to the uncharitable: He that hides his eyes, that he may not see the miseries of the poor nor read their petitions, lest his eye should affect his heart and extort some relief from him, he shall have many a curse, both from God and man, and neither causeless, and therefore they shall come. Woeful is the condition of that man who has the word of God and the prayers of the poor against him.


Unfortunately a lot of us have grown cold hearts from those asking for money on the streets. Often we believe they are seeking money to buy some form of drugs that will only bring more misery and ruin to their lives. We feel that in not helping we are helping; but there are people who legitimately need help. There are people who need someone to reach out to them with open eyes seeing their poverty and reaching back to them in love. I remember a man who stopped me out on the street on a very cold day and asked if he could have money for something to eat. I thought here we go again, someone just looking for drug money. I looked at him and said what if I take you somewhere to eat, would that be ok instead of giving you money? He responded with a desperate yes. We walked to one of the restaurants and as we went to enter he hesitated, stopped and said, �They have thrown me out of here before because I was just trying to stay warm.� I reassured him it would be ok. We went in and I paid for his meal, along with a few extra biscuits he wanted to take along for later. I spoke to the people behind the counter, �This man is going to sit over there and enjoy his meal and some warm coffee. Will that be ok if he remains a little while to stay warm?� They gave me their reassurance it would be ok. The man thankful me several times and I left him there warm knowing his need for food had been met.

During this holiday season remember the less fortunate and reach out to them in a positive way. Looks for ways to help that don�t enable a problem, but instead meet a need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/11 12:53 PM
Proverbs 29:22 (NLT)
22 An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

Matthew Henry comments, �See here the mischief that flows from an angry, passionate, furious disposition. 1. It makes men provoking to one another: An angry man stirs up strife, is troublesome and quarrelsome in the family and in the neighbourhood, blows the coals, and even forces those to fall out with him that would live peaceable and quietly by him. 2. It makes men provoking to God: A furious man, who is wedded to his humours and passions, cannot but abound in transgressions. Undue anger is a sin which is the cause of many sins; it not only hinders men from calling upon God�s name, but it occasions their swearing, and cursing, and profaning God�s name. �


From Andy Stanley�s sermon Let the Blames Begin he says - I used to do a lot of marriage counseling, and often one spouse would come in the office and start ranting and raving, "My husband does this �;" "My wife never will do that �;" and it would go on and on. I would sit there thinking, this counseling isn't going to be very effective, because the person who apparently needs to change isn't even in the room. So I would get a pad of paper, draw a circle on it, and say, "This is a pie that represents all the chaos in your marriage. Now, 100 percent of the blame is in that pie, because that's where all the chaos is." I would give them the pen and say, "I want you to draw a slice of pie that you think represents your responsibility for the chaos." The piece of pie that that client would draw was never very big, but I would say, "Okay. So why don't you and I talk about just this. Let's talk about this piece that is your responsibility. Let's talk about your slice." You know what? My approach never worked. I could never get anybody to stay on his or her slice of the pie.

So here is what I want you to do this week: As you experience relational conflict at work, at home, with your friends�any conflict of any sort, big or small�stop and think about your own slice of the pie. Ask yourself, what is in my slice of the pie? Have I taken responsibility for my life, really, or am I enjoying the blame game so much that it has allowed me to ignore what I am ultimately responsible for?

In any relationship, if you can ever get the two parties to own their piece of the pie, you can make progress. But if everybody is focused on the other person's slice of the pie, you will just have chaos.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/11 12:24 PM
Matthew 12:1-5 (NLT)

1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, �Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.� 3 Jesus said to them, �Haven�t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven�t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?



In these verses the Pharisees challenge Jesus about the law of the Sabbath. Their contention was there was to be no work done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were saying it was wrong to pick grain off the stalk to eat it. Had the grain been picked and available for eating there would not have been a problem. Jesus responded with examples of exceptions.





Even today like the Pharisees there are those who try to enforce strict religious rules upon people. I read a comment the other day about someone putting up a Christmas tree and the response they got was �why are you celebrating a heathen ritual?� I can agree there was a point in history where there were ceremonial trees for non-Christian rituals, but does that automatically make a Christmas tree bad? I would say the answer is no, because it the heart of a person that matters. If they are putting up decorations as a way of commemorating Christ then what is wrong with that action? There are some who believe in magical powers of crystals, but there are also people who just enjoy the beauty of a crystal that God formed. The laws were meant to guide people, but when Christ entered into the hearts of people He let them see what is right and what is wrong. Yes, worshiping a tree might be wrong, but allowing it to be a decoration cannot be held against a person. Let go of rules and let Christ instead rule within your heart.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/01/11 12:41 PM
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NLT)
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians there is a home waiting for us with the Lord once we leave our earthly bodies. We live for now in a body that will one day die and we have a purpose for our life given to us by God. But we long to be with the Lord and we can be confident that one day we will be with Him.

This morning I am both sad and comforted. A young man who was a friend of my son died last night from brain cancer. I am sad because death came early to this young man. This morning I have been reminded of the Bible verse that said, �Jesus wept� for I am weeping over the loss of a young man whose life has been cut short. I am comforted that I know he is no longer in pain and that he no longer has to suffer. I also find comfort in knowing that this young man went to be home with the Lord. I know he had faith in Jesus Christ and now he is resting comfortably with Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/02/11 12:01 PM
PSALMS 25:3-5
3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.

These words by King David are full of affection towards God, the out-going of holy desire towards His favor and grace and the faith in His promises.

Verse 5 above says, "For You I wait all the day" and then looking back at verse 3, "NONE of those who wait for You will be ashamed". When we wait on the Lord, waiting for the answers we need, waiting for the deliverance from sin, waiting on a word of hope, we will not be ashamed for the Lord is our salvation and He teaches us His ways. In those moments of temptation wait on the Lord, seek Him out and He will deliver you. Micah 7:7 says, �As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. �
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/11 01:43 PM
Esther 2:16-18 (NLT)
16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther�s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.

Esther was a Jew, an orphan, and a captive of the country she lived in. Yet she was raised up to be queen of the people. Her beauty stood out among other women and she did not have to flaunt it to impress the king. He recognized her beauty inside and out and loved her more than any of the other women. She became queen to help the Jewish people and in honor of becoming queen a holiday, a celebration was made.

There are many celebrations that take place this time of year. I know for Hindus there is the festival of lights. For the Jewish population Hanukkah is coming soon. For Buddhist the day of enlightenment is a few days off. For Christians there is the Christmas holiday. And after the beginning of the year comes the Chinese New Year. Celebrations have been and are a part of life.

As a Christian I celebrate Christmas, which includes the word Christ. X-mas takes Christ out of Christmas, which I refuse to accept. In my heart I am merry because of Christ and my celebration of Jesus who was born to give His life for me. People can tell me Happy Holidays, but I let them know my happiest holiday is Christmas by saying Merry Christmas. My doctor is Jewish and I had no problem telling him yesterday Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas. Jewish holidays are a part of our Christian heritage. I have friends who are Hindu and they always have brought me candy in celebration of their holiday, The Festival of Lights, which I gladly accept and tell them thank you and that I am most appreciative they have included me in their celebration. I am tolerant of other people and other religions, but that doesn�t mean I can�t profess my belief in Christ and let them know I�m celebrating Christmas. And it doesn�t mean I let someone else tell me I can�t celebrate or have to celebrate a different way because they are offended by Christ. December 25th is when we celebrate Christmas as Christians and I hope every Christian will be saying Merry Christmas this year. And if someone mentions another holiday, acknowledge them out of your love for Christ. For Christ loved all people and still wants to invite everyone to Him. How can you tell them about Christ unless you love them as Christ loved them?

Merry Christ and my love to all who live in this world!!! May everyone enjoy the holiday of their choosing and may all know that Christ loves you too.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/11 12:59 PM
Proverbs 15:29 (KJV)
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Matthew Henry writes: God sets himself at a distance from those that set him at defiance: The wicked say to the Almighty, Depart from us, and he is, accordingly, far from them; he does not manifest himself to them, has no communion with them, will not hear them, will not help them, no, not in the time of their need. They shall be for ever banished from his presence and he will behold them afar off. Depart from me, you cursed. 2. He will draw nigh to those in a way of mercy who draw nigh to him in a way of duty: He hears the prayer of the righteous, accepts it, is well pleased with it, and will grant an answer of peace to it.


The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:8-9, �Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.�

Faith in Christ makes us righteous before God. We know from Proverbs and the book of James that God listens to the prayers of those who are righteous. So those who have faith in Christ their prayers are heard without failure. In fact the Bible tells us Jesus provides intercession to God for us to ensure our prayers are known. With that knowledge we should do as the Bible says and always be in an attitude of prayer; praying for our families, our friends, ourselves and others. Let�s all pray for each other and thank God for all things done in our lives. Let�s lift up the needs of others to God that God may answer according to His will.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/08/11 01:11 PM
John 3:2 (KJV)
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night for fear other Jewish leaders might know he was meeting privately with Jesus. He wanted to speak to Jesus and acknowledge God had to be with Jesus because no man could perform the miracles Jesus performed unless God was with Him.



Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian engineer, worked for Thomas Edison in his New Jersey Laboratory. Fessenden was convinced the �wireless telegraph� which was used to transmit Morse code could carry a human voice. The wireless telegraph was used by the navy to transmit information to offshore ships, through dots and dashes. Suddenly on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1906 from Brant Rock, Massachusetts a voice was heard on the headsets of the wireless operators. Next was a woman�s voice singing as the crews of the ships intently listened. The wireless rooms on the ships were crowded as someone was heard reading a poem through the radio equipment. Then there was a violin solo of O, Holy Night. Fessenden read the Christmas story from the Book of Luke. A phonograph was played and prayer was given. The transmission then ended as Fessenden turned off the equipment.

The miracle of modern radio astounded sailors across the ocean. It is interesting Fessenden who performed this miracle gave testimony to Jesus Christ through music, Bible reading and prayer. This man knew his accomplishments could not have happened apart from God. For Reginald Fessenden before even turning on the switch to send his radio message bowed his head and prayed God would be with him. I think sometimes we have forgotten God has been with us. We don�t give God enough credit for the miracles in our lives. Take a moment today and pray; give God thanks for what He has done in each of our lives. God we give you thanks and we praise you. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/11 12:44 PM
James 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

The Apostle James, half-brother of Jesus, tells us we can make grand speeches, but it only takes a few incorrectly chosen words to create a spark that sets the forest on fire. It doesn�t take much for our thoughts and words to turn against us. We need to always guard our heart and keep it on the right path.


Ravi Zacharias writes in, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend (Thomas Nelson, 2007), pp. 258-261 that In 1981, Stuart McAllister was part of a mission whose primary task was to help the church in Eastern Europe by transporting Bibles, hymn books, and Christian literature to believers.

On one occasion, while attempting to cross the border from Austria into what was then Communist-ruled Czechoslovakia, Stuart and his colleague were arrested and thrown into prison after guards discovered their concealed cargo.

Without any idea when or if he might be released�it would be a two-week confinement�Stuart's empty time and restricted space began to bring to surface feelings, questions, and doubts.

"In such circumstances," Stuart writes [in retrospect], "we are forced to face what we mean when we speak of faith. Do we have to believe in spite of the evidence to the contrary? Do we believe no matter what? How do we handle the deep and pressing questions our own minds bring as our expectations and reality do not match? For me, in my time in prison, I expected God to do certain things, and to do them in a sensible way and time. I expected that God would act fairly quickly and that I would sense his intervention. My reading of Scripture, my grasp of God's promises, my trust in the reliability of God's Word, the teaching I had received, and the message I had embraced, had led me to expect certain things, and in a particular way. When this did not occur in the way I expected, or in the timing that I thought it should, I was both confused and angry." �

Stuart continues: "Since I had never given any conscious thought to worldviews in general, or mine in particular, I was unaware how many unexamined assumptions I was living by. I did not realize how little change had penetrated my heart, and under pressure the gaps were painfully revealed and felt. From the perspective of time, I can now answer these questions meaningfully, but I needed the experience of doubt and hardship to show me how much I did not know or was not rooted in the biblical answers to these core questions. A worldview that merely answers questions intellectually is insufficient; it must also meet us existentially where we have to live."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/12/11 11:48 AM
Lamentations 3:31-33 (NLT)
31 For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. 33 For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

Matthew Henry writes the following commentary on these verses. Therefore the sufferer is thus penitent, thus patient, because he believes that God is gracious and merciful, which is the great inducement both to evangelical repentance and to Christian patience. We may bear ourselves up with this, 1. That, when we are cast down, yet we are not cast off; the father�s correcting his son is not a disinheriting of him. 2. That though we may seem to be cast off for a time, while sensible comforts are suspended and desired salvations deferred, yet we are not really cast off, because not cast off for ever; the controversy with us shall not be perpetual. 3. That, whatever sorrow we are in, it is what God has allotted us, and his hand is in it. It is he that causes grief, and therefore we may be assured it is ordered wisely and graciously; and it is but for a season, and when need is, that we are in heaviness, 1 Pt. 1:6. 4. That God has compassions and comforts in store even for those whom he has himself grieved. We must be far from thinking that, though God cause grief, the world will relieve and help us. No; the very same that caused the grief must bring in the favour, or we are undone. Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit�The same hand inflicted the wound and healed it. he has torn, and he will heal us, Hos. 6:1. 5. That, when God returns to deal graciously with us, it will not be according to our merits, but according to his mercies, according to the multitude, the abundance, of his mercies. So unworthy we are that nothing but an abundant mercy will relieve us; and from that what may we not expect? And God�s causing our grief ought to be no discouragement at all to those expectations.



We have a hard time understanding it, but there is a purpose to the grief and suffering in our lives. We can recall in the Bible Job suffered greatly losing his family, his servants, and even his possessions. God allowed this to happen to show Job�s character, to prove Satan wrong and to Glorify God. God did not leave Job to his suffering, but instead brought healing due to God�s unfailing love. Job didn�t get back the children he lost, but we can be assured they went to be with God where Job would later be with them. Job was also blessed with more children who were raised in a Godly home. Job didn�t get back the servants he first trusted or the wealth he first possessed, but Job did get back more servants he trusted and more possessions than he ever lost.

Last night I saw the childhood actor Todd Bridges, who played Willis in the NBC/ABC sitcom Different Stokes. Todd was on Dr. Drew HLN talking about the abuse he suffered in his life as a child. Todd talked about the pain and grief the abuse cost him. Then he talked about how he survived and how he hopes his story will reach out to others and help them. I know there were those who had to be watching and thinking, �If Todd Bridges made it, I can too!� God doesn�t enjoy the hurting or sorrow we face. However, God is pleased when His people can turn to Him and realize He was always with them even in their moments of pain. God never abandons and His love is always there. He uses our pain to ease the pain of others. God bless Todd Bridges for speaking up and for Dr. Drew brings these painful situations to light to help others heal.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/11 12:58 PM
Genesis 50:20 (NLT)
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

This verse follows the death of Jacob, the father to Joseph and his brothers. The brothers of Joseph had committed evil - selling Joseph into slavery. In slavery Joseph had to serve others and was placed in prison for an offense he did not commit. Yet Joseph stayed committed to God and took on a positive outlook. Eventually Joseph was released from prison and put in a powerful position in Egypt. Even though his brothers committed an evil act, Joseph saw where God had used the opportunity to put Joseph in a position where he could help the people of Israel. So what others meant for evil, God used it for good.



Currently in the news we are hearing many allegations of abuse at colleges and other institutes. There have been many atrocities committed and many people wounded. This is not the first and probably the last we will hear of problems like this. These problems have been taking place throughout the course of history. I do believe God is bringing this evil to light for this nation and the world to see what happens when evil hides in secrecy. God is also doing another great work and bringing forward people who have been abused in their life, have dealt with their abuse and can now give hope and advice to others. We will always have evil things to face in this world, but God can take those evil moments and morph them into something that becomes good. Those who have been hurt and wounded are speaking out to help those who have been abused. They are the cheerleaders against abuse. They are the ones brings about laws to help the abused. Yes there was evil committed, but God is using that evil to setup something good for others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/11 12:22 PM
Romans 8b (NLT)
8b If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

The apostle asks a question of those he is writing to. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Those who know the true might, power and awesomeness of God know there is nothing He cannot do. God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. For God is aware of all that takes place. There is not a moment He does not have authority or control over what occurs. God is aware, God has authority and God is present in each and every moment of everyone�s life.


We have an enemy in this world who is always attempting to threaten the peace in our lives. This enemy hides out waiting for opportune times to attack and bring chaos into our lives. This enemy has a desire to see families destroyed. This enemy wants to take away any feeling of hope. This enemy doesn�t want you to know God. Instead he wants you to have a disbelief in God, to question God�s authority and might. This enemy wants you to think God never existed and has never been present in your life. This enemy is Satan and is just as real as God, but does not have any authority over God nor does Satan have God�s might and power. We are told often about Satan through the Bible. Satan stood up against Israel. Satan challenged God about the faithfulness of Job. Zechariah said Satan stands next to God accusing those who follow God, which would include you and me. Jesus was tempted by Satan and Satan often rose up against Jesus through His disciples. Satan works against God trying to hinder the work of His people, trying to pull them away from God towards sin. Satan even challenged Michael the Archangel through lies in an attempt to discredit God. If Satan would challenge God�s most power angel � Satan will challenge you.

Yes, we have an enemy, but we have God who is stronger and mightier than our enemy. It is why the apostle challenges us and says if God is for us, who can ever be against us? It is a reminder for us - as long as we turn to God, as long as we place our faith in God, we are always protected. For God even gave His only Son that we might have life eternal with Him in heaven. There is no greater love than the love of God. There is no greater power than God�s power. There is none like God and there are none who can defeat Him; not even Satan our enemy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/11 12:19 PM
Daniel 3:16-18 (NLT)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, �O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn�t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.�

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had refused the king�s orders to bow before the gods of Babylon and before the statue of the king himself. The king was angry because of their insubordination and wanted them thrown into a fiery furnace as punishment. Their response was, �we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.�


In 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her bus seat to a white man. Instead she followed what was right within her heart. In her book Quiet Strength, Parks writes: When I sat down on the bus that day, I had no idea history was being made�I was only thinking of getting home. But I had made up my mind. After so many years of being a victim of the mistreatment my people suffered, not giving up my seat�and whatever I had to face afterwards�was not important. I did not feel any fear sitting there. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. It was time for someone to stand up�or in my case, sit down. So I refused to move. In an interview about that historic day, Parks corrected some misconceptions: People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

God tells us to be strong in Him and in the power of His might. Rosa Parks held strong to her belief that the Lord would be with her just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had believed. She was willing to be punished to stand up or as Rosa says, �sit down� for her beliefs of what was right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/16/11 12:27 PM
Matthew 1:20-25
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

This is the beginning of the story of Christmas. Joseph was engaged to Mary and he has learned she is pregnant. An angel appears to tell Joseph to take Mary as His wife; for she will have a son that will be the savior of all. The angel said he would be known as Emmanuel that means �God with us.�


Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus into the world. The birth of Jesus fulfilled the prophecy and promises made to God�s people. Jesus was a gift of salvation for all men. God gave this gift that all men might believe in Jesus and have everlasting life with God in heaven. Most people are happy to receive a gift, but at times there are those who reject a gift for whatever reason. The same is true with Jesus; some will receive Him and be happy for the gift of salvation. But there will also be those who reject Jesus. It is sad to me someone would reject such a precious gift, but it happens. If you know someone who does not know Jesus Christ, share the good news of His birth and the salvation He brings. If you know those who have rejected Him pray their hearts might be open to understanding His love for us.

My devotions will be on hold until after the first of the year and then they will resume. I pray everyone will have a blessed and merry Christmas. God is always with us. Remember Jesus and be thankful for all you have been given.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/12 12:15 PM
Nehemiah 4:19-20 (NLT)
19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, �The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!�

These passages relate to the rebuilding of the wall around the city of Jerusalem. The wall had been destroyed by enemies of the Israelites. Nehemiah set out with the help of God and others to rebuild the wall. We see here Nehemiah recognizing the workers are few but they can come together to help each other when times become difficult.


God gave Nehemiah a vision to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so Nehemiah came up with a plan. As with all plans there are tasks to be performed and there are people required to perform the tasks. The success of the plan is not built on a single individual, but instead success is built on those who come together to see a plan through. As we live our lives include God. Include others who can help and those who have the knowledge and skills to perform specific tasks. When you bring everyone together with the love of God there will be success. Let this year be a year of success.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/12 12:34 PM
Matthew 14:28-31 (NLT)
28 Then Peter called to him, �Lord, if it�s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.� 29 �Yes, come,� Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong[d] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. �Save me, Lord!� he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. �You have so little faith,� Jesus said. �Why did you doubt me?�

This is the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water towards the disciples who are in a boat fighting the wind and waves. The disciples could not believe what they saw and feared it was an apparition coming towards them. But when Peter heard the voice of Jesus he went over the side of the boat and towards Jesus. However fear or loss of trust took hold of Peter and he began to sink.


Over the holidays my wife and I traveled to Savannah. We knew the address of where we were going and plugged it into the GPS. As it usually does, the GPS gave instructions we followed to arrive at our destination. This particular GPS has a feature that will route you around troubled traffic areas. Sometimes you wonder what the GPS is doing as it starts giving instructions to take a detour, but just about the time you start detouring you see all the traffic stopped ahead and you are glad the GPS knows what it is doing. As my wife and I were driving home listening to the GPS giving step by step instructions my wife said, �We sure place a lot of trust in the GPS getting us to where we want to go. We listen to what it says. We follow the directions. When it presents unexpected turns we listen and still follow.� Then she made the most important statement, �Isn�t it a shame we don�t always trust God to direct our lives like we trust our GPS.� What a true statement. Like Peter we know what we want to do or where we want to go but we don�t always look to God for the directions or listen when we hear what He has to say.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/12 12:07 PM
1 Kings 15:11 (KJV)
11 Asa did what was pleasing in the Lord�s sight, as his ancestor David had done.

Asa brought into the house of the Lord those things he vowed he would give to God out of the spoils taken from the Ethiopians. King David, his great-great-grandfather, had also made the same vow, but was unable to accomplish it in his lifetime. Asa was a good King who not only learned to avoid evil, but also sought after that which was good.


This verse illustrates the generational impact of family upon family. Asa sought to accomplish what his great-great-grandfather David was unable to do by conquering the Ethiopians and giving their possessions to the Lord�s temple . Asa followed the teaching of God which had been passed down through David. Asa was zealous in maintaining the traditional worship of God, and in rooting out idolatry, with its accompanying immoralities. Asa�s life was obviously impacted by His belief in God passed down through the generations.

Often we forget how much family impacts our lives, both in positive and negative ways. I have seen children following their parents; doing well for others. I have also seen children following their parents committing the same sinful acts of their parents. We need to remember to act as we would have our children act and not have the mentality of �do as I say and not as I do.� We need to remember to honor God and show future generations how to be respectful and reverent towards Him. Establish the good in your children that a good part of you may be passed down generation to generation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/12 11:55 AM
Romans 14:1 (NLT)
1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don�t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

In this verse the apostle addresses the church in the danger of criticism. New believers to the church are just beginning to understand their faith. This would be the time to guide them gently into understanding the teachings of God. When there is a difference of opinion it is not to be voiced in a strong argument, but instead time should be given for the new believers to seek answers from God that they may grow in their faith.


When we have a need to do so our arguments should voice factual statements and feelings that lend to a positive process of reasoning. Arguments should never be carried out in bitter and angry ways. These arguments do nothing more than to harm the credibility of the speaker. Also instead of bringing persuasion they tend to bring rejection because the listener tunes out factual evidence in response to negative feelings arising out of the hurtful argument. The apostle James wrote we should always be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Peter�s words tell us how an argument should be carried out. We should first listen to the feelings of one another. We should gain an understanding of how the other feels before we make our own interjections. Then we should be slow in our response as to give time to our own reasoning. We do not want to respond out of anger, but we should respond out of love to address one another�s feelings. Lastly we want to temper our arguments so they do not turn into angry battles. We do not want to let the emotion of anger get out of control and lead us into sin. When it does lead us to sinful rage instead of trying to understand feelings and gain facts we have a tendency to hurl insults and argue over insignificant facts. This again does nothing but harm the relationship between the people having the argument.

Lord I know there have been many times I have argued incorrectly and against the way You would have me present an argument. I pray for myself and so many others who have done the same. Father I pray you would help us to do as James taught us so that we would honor you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/12 11:34 AM
Psalm 119:165 (NLT)
165 Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

Psalm 119 is much different from the other psalms. Twice as long as any of the other psalms this chapter stands out within the book of Psalms. It is as though David took the journal of his life and reflected on God�s presence in his life and pulled together a digest of his thoughts. In this verse David tells us there is peace in following God and in doing so we can live a life without fault.


Thomas A Kempis in The Imitation of Christ wrote, �First put yourself at peace, and then you may the better make others be at peace. A peaceful and patient man is of more profit to himself and to others, too, than a learned man who has no peace.� How can we bring peace into other lives if we do not have peace ourselves? Thomas Edison said, �The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.� When a person is in a state of turmoil they do not bring out the best in themselves or the best in others. David reminds us to focus on God and follow His instructions that we might have peace in our lives. It is God�s peace that allows us to live a joyous life even in the face of difficulties. It is this peace that we can share with others to also bring them hope. It is this peace that reaffirms God in our lives and the hope we have for tomorrow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/18/12 12:20 PM
Matthew 13:47-51 (NLT)
47 �Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?� �Yes,� they said, �we do.�

Jesus spoke often in parables that were examples meant to give a simple explanation. As fishermen know, the net does not discriminate and catches many things. The contents of the net must be sorted out and that which meets the criteria for the catch is kept and the rest is tossed aside. Jesus makes a statement which should be noted, �Angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace�.



Christianity has the concept of an eternal life that is either spent in heaven or hell. From the Bible�s description heaven is beautiful place. It is a place where people worship and praise the Lord. It is a place where no sadness remains and no tear is shed. It is a place of comfort. It is a place where we are restored to what we were meant to have before the earth fell to sin.

Hell on the other hand is a place of suffering. Painful memories are recalled. Regrets are forever on the mind. It is a place where God�s presence does not exist and without God the pain of sin abounds.

There are religions that only have heaven or an afterlife of peace, but they do not have a hell. If a person is not rewarded with a heavenly afterlife they simply pass into non-existence. As a Christian I wish that were true. I wish those who do not receive heaven did not have to suffer the consequences of hell. I wish there was no required payment for sin, but that is not what the Bible tells us. And as Jesus clearly said above the wicked will be separated from the righteous and thrown into a fiery furnace.

Jesus however paid the price for sin for all those who place their trust in Him. Jesus paid our debt that we might reap the reward of heaven instead of hell. Jesus offers this gift freely to anyone who accepts it. As a Christian it is why it is important to share our belief in Christ so that others may believe in Him too and find the comfort of heaven instead of the pain of hell.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/19/12 12:28 PM
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT)
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There�s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about a specific incident that took place. The incident caused sorrow and pain for several because there was an issue of sin that had been neglected by the church. The church felt regret for not dealing with the sin. But the Apostle tells them there should be no regrets; for the pain and sorrow they experienced brought them closer to Christ.



The Webster�s dictionary tells us regret is a sorrow caused by circumstances beyond one�s control or power to repair. Regret is an emotion that dwells on the past. Regret makes us long for something different and is outside of our control to correct or repair. Regret will keep us bound to the past hurts, pains, wounds, sorrows and other negative emotions. There are many regrets in this world that range from experiencing pain and trauma as a child to making bad decisions as an adult that have severe consequences. The sad part is we cannot change those regrets. We cannot go back into the past and fix the abuse we may have experienced as a child by the hands of an adult. We cannot go back to change a decision that took us down a wrong road. We cannot undo a sin that hurt us and other loved ones in the process. Fortunately we have a God who can change those things because He doesn�t just exist in the present, but instead exists in the past, present and future.

God can take away our regrets and transform our sorrows into useful and meaningful works. For instance a person who abused others said God changed him and now he works to punish abusers and inform others about abusiveness. I have heard the testimony of criminals and how God changed their lives and put them in a position of ministry to serve others. Former drug abusers once addicted to drugs serve as counselors to lead others away from drugs. Abuse victims have used their pain to help others face the same pain they experienced. Cancer patients in recovery give hope to those with cancer. The widowed show others life goes on even in the face of death.

Sorrow may still be present, but God takes away the regret and lets others see how the trials they faced can be transformed into something good. God knew what was happening the past and He planned for good without regret to come from the sorrow. As Joseph said to his brothers who sold him into a miserable slavery, �You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/12 11:48 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NLT)
15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we should be careful not to avenge ourselves by harming those who have harmed us. We are to forgive as God has forgiven us and not dwell on the wrong done unto us. We are to always promote the welfare of others by doing good unto them and not evil. Our goodness should not just reach out to those who are Christians, but to everyone.



Mark Buchanan in the article �Messy, Costly, Dirty Ministry� wrote �The Tuesday night prayer meeting at Brooklyn Tabernacle felt like skydiving into a tornado, exhausting and exhilarating all at once. I'd read about the meeting in Pastor Jim Cymbala's book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, but nothing prepared me for the event itself: 3,500 God-hungry people storming heaven for two hours.

Afterward, my friend and I went out to dinner with the Cymbalas. In the course of the meal, Jim turned to me and said, "Mark, do you know what the number one sin of the church in America is?" I wasn't sure, and the question was rhetorical anyhow. "It's not the plague of internet pornography that is consuming our men. It's not that the divorce rate in the church is roughly the same as society at large."

Jim named two or three other candidates for the worst sin, all of which he dismissed. "The number one sin of the church in America," he said, "is that its pastors and leaders are not on their knees crying out to God, 'Bring us the drug-addicted, bring us the prostitutes, bring us the destitute, bring us the gang leaders, bring us those with AIDS, bring us the people nobody else wants, whom only you can heal, and let us love them in your name until they are whole.'"

I had no response. I was undone. He had laid me bare, found me out, and exposed my fraudulence. I was the chief of sinners. I had never prayed, not once, for God to bring such people to my church. So I went home and repented. I stopped sinning. I began to cry out for "those nobody wanted."

And darned if God didn't bring them. But then I found out why nobody wants them: they're messy and costly and dirty. They swear at you, lie to you, steal from you. Worse, they make you love them, and then often break your heart.�

Love usually costs us something. The Bible tells us in John 3:16, �For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.� God loved us even in our sin that He gave the life of His Son Jesus Christ to pay our messy debt of sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/12 10:25 AM
Titus 3:4-5 (NLT)
4 But��When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul writing to Titus explains how great God�s love is towards us. God�s redeeming salvation is not given to us because of what we do, but instead it is given to us because of who God is. God is merciful and He desires for our sins to be removed so that we may receive Christ into our lives to live the hope of present and eternal life free from sin.


Too many Christian�s constantly walk around feeling guilty about their sins. They become a burden and if carried long enough will bring about shame. God�s forgiveness is greater than any sin we can commit. Christ has already paid the debt for all of man�s sin. So who are we to place ourselves above God and say, �Surely God can�t forgive me for what I have done.� The truth is God will forgive, He does forgive and He forgets. It says of God in Hebrews 8:12, �And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.� Stop carrying the burden and shame of sin. Confess it to God knowing God will put it in the past forever.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/12 09:24 AM
Luke 8:17 (NLT)
17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.

Jesus was preaching to nearby towns and villages when he told the parable of the Lamp. The full parable reads as follows. �No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.� God has given each of us talents and purpose. Those talents and the purpose for which we are to use them should not be put away, but instead brought forth that we might glorify God.


It was 1965 a soft spoken man walked into the first public TV station to pitch a show to convey life lessons to children. For this man to be there was amazing for he disliked television due to much of the slap-stick comedy that demeaned others. Fearing this type of programming would become normative over time he decided he wanted to make a difference. He had a choice - he could be negative and against TV or he could create his own show and give TV a purpose. Fred Roger chose the latter and for over thirty years Fred Rogers ministered to children through the third longest running show on PBS, Mr. Rogers.

Fred Rogers could have hidden his light, the purpose and gift God gave him to minister to children, but instead Mr. Rogers shared his talents with others. Mr. Rogers was a devote Christian that rarely talked about his faith on the air, but you could see his Christ like ways. He would end the show saying, �You've made this day a special day by just your being you. There is no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are." Just like Christ tells us, Mr. Rogers was telling these children they were special, they had a purpose and there was no one else created like them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/12 10:47 AM
James 1:5-8 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

In these verses James, the half-brother of Jesus, tells us God is generous to give us wisdom when we ask for it. It�s not a request God turns down, but is a promise He keeps. There is a condition to our request. The condition is we must place our faith alone in God and not waver from it. We cannot be divided between God�s wisdom and the wisdom of the world.


We all have someone in our lives we love and yet they can do some small thing that makes us feel rejected. I love my mother. She is a kind and very sweet person. However, there are times when she will call for my advice, then go on to ask the advice of others and then make her own choice. I acknowledge most of us probably do the same thing. We seek out knowledge; then we reject sound ideas and choose something of our own pleasing. I remember a car my mother was purchasing. She called me with the details and asked my opinion whether it would be a good purchase. I enjoy researching so I found out everything about the car. The car was rated well, it had a great expected service life, and the asking price was below average. I called my mother and said it would be a really good purchase. Later on she calls me back to say she got the car. I�m feeling good I was able to give her some wisdom; but that feeling didn�t last long. She informed me it was a different car, not the one she called me about. She tells me about the used car she just bought. Then she asks, �Do you think it was a good purchase?� All I could say was, �I have no clue mom.� I didn�t know anything about the car, its reliability or its price. When I went back and looked everything up I had to tell my mom she could have gotten a new car for the price she paid for a used car. She got a good car, but the price was unreasonable. It was an �as is purchase� so the car was hers. She missed out on the knowledge I passed onto her.

Hopefully you can see God�s point in this story. If we are going to ask for His wisdom, His advice, His Knowledge we need to be ready to accept and follow it. We don�t need to be looking elsewhere and end up with something less than God planned for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/12 12:55 PM
John 8:31-32 (NLT)
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, �You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.�

Matthew Henry tells us the following about the verses above. �The truth and certainty of the promise, the liberty which the Jews boasted of was an imaginary liberty; they boasted of a false gift; but the liberty which Christ gives is a certain thing, it is real, and has real effects. The servants of sin promise themselves liberty, and fancy themselves free, when they have broken religion�s bands asunder; but they cheat themselves. None are free indeed but those whom Christ makes free.�



People often use John 8:32 incorrectly. How many times have you heard someone say, �The truth will set you free� and they are implying telling the truth will somehow relieve you of the consequences of sin. I want to say telling the truth is the right thing to do, but telling the truth is not a get out of jail free card. Telling the truth will begin to bring healing into your life, but the damage has already been done.

I remember a Cops episode on TV where the officer was telling the suspect if he would tell the truth it would set him free. Actually, when the suspect told the truth he was placed in a patrol car and arrested for theft by taking. The man may have felt a sense of freedom by telling the truth, but the consequence for stealing was still there.

You see telling the truth after a sin is not what Jesus is talking about. Jesus was telling us knowing the truth about sin, knowing the truth that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and knowing the truth about the promises of God will set you free. Jesus wants to keep you free from sin before you fall prey to it!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/12 10:57 AM
Galatians 2:11-16 (NLT)
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn�t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter�s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, �Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? 15 �You and I are Jews by birth, not �sinners� like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.�

The Apostle Paul recounts his confrontation of Peter, a pillar of the church, a strong leader, who gave into the peer pressure instead of relying on his faith in Jesus Christ. Peter made an error in allowing his thoughts to be guided by the criticism of others instead of being guided by Christ.



All of us are going to make mistakes in life. Most of us have a tendency to not want to admit our mistakes. We feel admitting our mistakes will make us less than perfect. The truth is we are less than perfect and the best thing we can do is admit our mistakes as soon as we are confronted. We need to express our regret, take responsibility, make restitution where restitution is due, and ask forgiveness. The last thing we want to do is cover up our problem, blame someone else or get angry when we are confronted. Adam and Eve attempted to handle their sin this way. They tried to hide from God, they tried to blame one another, and they resented being confronted. I wonder what might have happened if Adam and Eve had been honest, had admitted their sin to God, and taken responsibility for what they did. Instead they denied their sin and blamed God.

There is a saying that half of being smart is to know what half of you is dumb. Be willing to reach out for help and ask for guidance. Allow God to work in your life and show you how you can learn from your mistakes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/12 11:14 AM
1 John 5:14-15 (NLT)
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

The Apostle John starts this chapter with a call to continue keeping our faith in Jesus Christ. It is through our faith in Christ that we find our victories and win the battles we face in life. Through Christ we are given the bold ability to come to God with our honest and earnest requests. When we are humble, sincere and ask of God in accordance to His majesty and glory - Christ takes up petition for us with The Father. Knowing we want to give God the glory, knowing we desire to seek His will, and knowing Christ speaks for us gives us the confidence God will hear us and give and answer to our prayer.



In life there are certain expectations you come to believe in. If someone asked, �Has your wife ever misplaced her pocketbook� I could answer with a definite yes. After almost 33 years of marriage I would believe and expect that my wife has either left her pocketbook in the car, on the kitchen table, on the counter next to the stove, on the couch, or on the furniture in the bedroom and that she will spend some amount of time looking for that pocketbook. I have an expectation after looking she will find it in one of those places because that is where she usually leaves it.

Last night my wife ordered dinner out and was going to pick it up. As she would normally do, my wife went to look for her pocketbook in the above mentioned spots. This time however there was no pocketbook to be found. She started to become frantic looking under the cushions of the couch, looking in the trunk of the car, and looking just about any place where she thought she might have left it. All of us joined in the search, still 15 minutes later - no pocketbook. Since she was still looking I suggested I would go pick up the dinner she had ordered.

When I left she gave up looking and prayed for God to lead her to find her pocketbook. As I drove to the restaurant I prayed God would reveal the location of the pocketbook. I believe in prayer, but I must be honest and admit there are times when maybe I�m not so confident about the result.

I picked up our order and returned home. As I drove into the garage, hanging eye level straight before me from a shelf on the wall in the garage was my wife�s pocketbook. If I had asked someone I could not have asked them to put that pocketbook in a more obvious place. I walked in with it in my hand and my wife asked where did I find it and I said, �Right where God put it.� Three of us had walked by that spot several times to look in the car where we thought that pocketbook might be, but we never saw it. God listens and He hears our prayers. We just need to stop, pray and look forward to His answer. Most of all we need to have faith and believe.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/12 11:41 AM
Luke 9:22 (NLT)
22 �The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,� he said. �He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.�

After Peter confirms Jesus is the Christ, Jesus says the words above. Just affirmed and accepted by Peter as the Son of God, The Savior of men - Jesus says He will be rejected by those who should know God. He says the elders, leading priests and teachers will reject Him.



Rejection is a tough emotion to deal with. When someone rejects you there is a negative flood of emotions. You begin to wonder if you are good enough. Some people even start trying to change what they are to meet the others expectations. The issue -More than likely the other person is the problem.

Look at the life of Jesus. He ministered to people. Jesus had compassion for people. Jesus met the needs of people. Yet Jesus was rejected by those who should have known Him.

There are those who should know you, but have rejected you. They have said things that hurt and strike at the core of your heart. When that happens, remember Jesus. Jesus endured it all for our sakes. Jesus continued to be who He was. Jesus still reached out in compassion and love. Even today Jesus waits to give the gift of salvation to those who place their faith in Him. There are many who still reject Him and yet Jesus still loves them too, but He has to wait on them to come to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/12 10:16 AM
Genesis 6:5-6 (NLT)
5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Our creator, our God, our Lord, looked down on mankind and saw how sin had taken hold of man�s heart. Man�s thoughts and imaginations were forever looking towards evil. It broke God�s heart that He ever made man and was sorry He had made man that man would fall to sin.



There is a statement that says �The rain falls because the cloud can no long hold the weight. The tears fall because the heart can no longer handle the pain.� There is nothing heavier and sadder than a broken heart. A person with a broken heart is devastated with sorrow. There has been someone who has caused disappointment and caused great despair. Love never walks away; it is a person who walks away and abandons their love. Man abandoned God�s love and it broke His heart.

It may be that someone has abandoned you and broken your heart. It may be that you are still feeling the pain of a damaged relationship. David said in his psalms, �Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.� Jeremiah upon looking at the sins of Israel said, �My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.� In Lamentations God spoke of the people and said, �I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.� Many have understood the pain of a broken heart.

If the God of the universe can have a broken heart, let me assure you the Lord understands your pain. God wants to heal that pain. Throughout the Bible God says, �Let their hearts return to me and I will heal them.� God heals broken hearts and restores the joy it once had.

On this Valentine�s Day give your heart to God and He will give His heart to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/16/12 10:33 AM
Romans 7:18-20 (NLT)
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can�t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don�t. I don�t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don�t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

The apostle explains the corruptness that lives within all of us is called our �sinful nature� or as some Bible translations say, �the flesh�. The apostle believes there is nothing good which can come from us alone. He sees the struggle in that God has given him a desire to do what is right and he wants to do what is right - but he doesn�t. The opposite is also true, he wants to avoid what is evil, yet he finds himself doing the very thing he desired not to do. The apostle acknowledges that sin dwells within him and it is sin causing him to act against the desires of God.



When the Apostle Paul was writing the words above he was already a Christian. Paul knew he was a sinful man. Paul desired to walk away from sin, which showed his repentant nature. Paul had complete trust that Jesus died for his sin and that he would be reconciled with God to live an eternal life in heaven. We see that even though Paul was a Christian - Paul struggled with sin. Paul was not perfect and the truth is there are none of us who are.

For those who do not know Jesus Christ, I want you to know Jesus Christ loves you no matter what you have done, no matter who you are, no matter what sin you have committed. JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU! Jesus desires to give you the same gift of eternal life as he gave Paul and every other Christian.

For those who have placed their complete trust and faith in Jesus Christ, I pray you have the same desire as Paul to do well and to turn away from evil. As a Christian, sin is always present in our lives, but sin does not control us unless we give it control. 1 Corinthians 15:57 tells us, �But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.� The Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, but we receive God�s promise of freedom by believing in Jesus Christ. We had a passion for sin, but that passion was nailed to the cross when Jesus died. Our flesh still wants to rise up against us. As Paul put it, �I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from being proud.� We have to fight the temptation that comes at us, but we need Jesus to do it.

Maybe you have slipped and fallen into sin. Jesus can help you recover. Maybe sin has a tight grasp on you. Pray for mercy and grace and ask Jesus to take control. Maybe you want to do what is right and good but you are struggling. Ask Jesus to lead the way.

May God bless you, keep you close and pour His mercy and grace freely upon you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/17/12 02:01 PM
Matthew 9:9-11 (NLT)
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector�s booth. �Follow me and be my disciple,� Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, �Why does your teacher eat with such scum?�

Here we find the account of the Apostle Matthew being called by Jesus to be His disciple. Matthew left his place of business without hesitation to follow Jesus. Then Matthew invited Jesus to his home where he called friends and work associates to come dine. Many of these people considered disreputable sinners and yet Jesus dined with them while the religious leaders criticized his actions.



The Pharisees were critical of the people Jesus was dining with. They referred to them as disreputable sinners. Tax Collectors of the time often took advantage of others by collecting additional funds for their own follies. While the Pharisees would have never allowed themselves to associate with such people we find Jesus dining, having conversation and enjoying the company of those around Him.

The Pharisees in no way wanted to associate with the people they considered sinners. They would look from afar, passing their judgment and speaking critically of them. They made no attempt at friendship. They made no attempt to tell them about God. Instead they tossed them aside like trash.

Unlike the Pharisees Jesus was right there in the midst of the sinners. Jesus did not hesitate to be in an intimate setting to converse and share the love of God. These people were able to observe Jesus and get to know him. These sinners could see Jesus was different and they enjoyed His presence and took interest in Him. Jesus took interest in them because He knew the needs of their heart.

This is a lesson for Christians � We need to be like Jesus and not like the Pharisees. We need to hold firm to God�s word, but we need to share His word with others. If it takes dining with those who are different; for all sakes dine with them. If it requires taking time to talk with people who are not following God; stop and talk with them. Let your presence be the light of Christ in this world. Glorify Christ that others may see the hope of your salvation and the joy in your life.

I want to offer a word of caution - We all can fall to temptation especially when we are in setting where sin is bountiful. We should never place ourselves in a situation where we know there is a great potential to fall o sin. For if we fall we give reason to others to see sin as a freedom and that hurts the cause of Christ. So reach out to sinners, but be aware of your boundaries in doing so.

So with that said tell others about the love of Jesus and share His Good News of salvation. Reach out in love as Jesus would have done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/12 10:41 AM
Matthew 10:32 (ESV)
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven:

As Christians it is our duty to confess Jesus Christ before men. We should not be ashamed of our relationship with Jesus, our expectations of Jesus or our faith in Jesus. Through our words the name of Jesus Christ is glorified and we edify others by teaching them about Christ. However our stance for Jesus is not without exposure to the rejection Christ received. We too may be rejected, but the rejection is not of our fault or making, but of man who does not understand the love of God and Christ. When we acknowledge Christ before men, Christ acknowledges us before God in heaven.



Many of you are probably aware the famous singer Whitney Houston passed away. She had a beautiful voice that was loved by many. Whitney grew up in a Christian church where she learned about the love, the grace and the mercy God offers through Jesus Christ. Speaking to Oprah, Oprah asked Whitney, �Who do you love?� and Whitney responded, �The Lord!� The last song Whitney sang in public as a spontaneous act was, �Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.� Whitney loved The Lord. Whitney acknowledged Jesus. But we know too that Whitney struggled in life and occasionally fell to the temptations of addiction. It is during a fall away from Christ we are less likely to speak the name of Jesus because we fear bringing discredit to our Lord and to ourselves. So it is for that reason we must always keep Jesus close, avoid temptation and do what is right in His eyes.

Whitney�s death did not go without purpose. On Saturday for four hours her funeral was covered by national news networks. For four hours praise was lifted up to God and Christ as the life of Whitney was honored. For a period of time the actor, playwright, director, producer and songwriter Tyler Perry stood before a congregation of people and boldly spoke about the love of Jesus Christ and how it was present in Whitney�s life. Tyler was not ashamed speak about Jesus. Others sang beautiful songs that glorified Christ and God. As a remembrance to the last song Whitney sang, �Jesus loves me this I know� was sang to a nation of viewers.

One of Whitney�s songs was, �I will always love you.� Jesus Christ is always calling out to you saying that He will always love you. Are you showing your love to Jesus by telling others about Him and speaking His name proudly?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/12 11:08 AM
1 Samuel 25:29 (NLT)
29 �Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch!

David was known for his love of God. God loved David and in the Bible called David a man after His own heart. In these verses we find Abigail, the wife of Nabal, telling David his life is safe and secure in the care of The Lord. God had a close, intimate relationship with David and watched over him and protected him. We find in the book of Psalms David often opens his heart to God and speaks honestly to The Lord. David felt safe and secure in the arms of The Lord and others took notice of that.



Intimacy is when a person feels they can be open, honest and expressive and feel safe and secure at the same time. The idea can apply to emotional or physical intimacy, but let�s focus on the emotional aspect. Emotional intimacy is what David felt in his relationship with God. David could be expressive and feel safe and secure in the arms of God.

An important part of emotional intimacy is a need for honesty. When someone is open and honest with us it gives us a sense of security. We can understand what they desire, what they like, and what they dislike. It allows us to gain a sense of who they are and what they want. In a relationship most of us want to know the other person, what is taking place in their lives and what has happened in their past that might have affected them. This honesty brings us closer together in an intimate way.

Honesty and openness is a good thing for a relationship because it brings intimacy. What happens though when honesty is missing? When a person is not open and honest it begins to undermine a relationship. Dishonesty quickly destroys the feelings of being safe and secure. Those insecure feelings interrupt intimacy because the foundation of the relationship has been shattered. We can no longer trust our feelings about the other person because we no longer have a true sense of who they are.

There are many reasons why people may be dishonest. Sometimes it is what they learned from their parents. Sometimes it is because they are immature and don�t want to deal with reality. Maybe they have experienced dishonesty themselves so they learned to guard their feelings by being dishonest. Some may have been hurt in the past by their honesty so they choose to remain silent, which is a form of dishonesty. People will become desperate because of sin and they will start lying and deceiving to cover their tracks. There are some who are insecure and admitting to the truth heightens their insecurity. So there are many reasons and most reasons are the result of sin.

A person must accept the responsibility of being honest for themselves. A person must decide they will have integrity and tell the truth. We can however help in our relationships by ensuring we listen carefully and provide a safe and secure way for the other person to express themselves. If we ridicule, hurt, disregard feelings, putdown, belittle or we also are dishonest -- it is going to hinder honesty from the other person. Look to God to see how to make your relationship safe and secure just like God provides safety and security for you. Look to God on how to be honest, for God Himself cannot lie. God tells us throughout the Bible what is good about honesty and what is bad about dishonesty. Read His words of encouragement.

Let other others take notice of your intimate relationship for it honors your spouse and God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/24/12 11:35 AM
Proverbs 20:1 (ESV)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

In this verse King Solomon relates to us the issues of indulging in alcoholic drink. While intoxicated, some speak of things probably best left unsaid. They find themselves not holding personal opinions to themselves. At times they even toss insults to the innocent. The higher the level of drinking -- a person finds themselves out of control. They want to argue and cause strife. Some even go as far as starting a physical altercation. King Solomon finishes the verse by saying that a person who is led astray by the temptation of alcohol is not wise.




In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the Apostle Paul writes, �No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.�

There are many addictions in life common to man including alcoholism. Like any other addiction alcoholism destroys the life of a person. Families are often torn apart by the actions of the addict. My father was an alcoholic. My mother divorced my father shortly after I was 2 years old out of fear for my life and her life. My father�s drinking caused him to mock others and say horrid things. My father would start fights and became involved in fist brawls. My father would beat and abuse my mother because of his uncontrolled drinking. King Solomon was right on when he said the person who is led astray by alcohol is not wise.

My father passed away several years ago. I went to the funeral and it was the first time I had ever seen my father. It is odd seeing a person you know to be your father and yet you don�t recognize him or know much about him. I do know my father was married several times and the marriages ended the same way -- in divorce due to his drinking. I was contacted by a social worker once while my father was alive. He was found homeless on the streets. His uncontrolled drinking had left him disoriented. His clothing was tattered, he was without shoes and his feet were raw. More than likely he had been in a fight and lost by the condition he was found in. He was in a city where he did not live. He wasn�t lucid and could not provide details about himself. Oddly, he knew he had a son with the same name as his. It wasn�t difficult for the social worker to track me down, since my name isn�t common. Sadly I had to tell the social worker I knew knowing about my father, but I could put her in touch with one of his brothers or sisters. She then shocked me with her next question, �Could you tell me how I could locate your brother Luther?� It was the first time I knew my father had another son. There may even be more siblings, but I don�t know who they are.

The consequences of an addiction are great. The addiction affects the person, the family and friends. The person loses control of their life and it is handed over to the addiction. I can testify my mother lived out of fear. I can testify it was difficult growing up without a father. It was difficult when my mother repeated her mistake by marrying another alcoholic who left when my brother was born.

Yes, addiction has consequences and destroys people. If you know someone who has an addiction or if you face and addiction yourself, seek out help. May God be with you in your struggle and provide a way of escape.

Yesterday would have been my father's birthday.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/12 11:29 AM
Ephesians 4:25 (The Message)
25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

In this verse the Apostle Paul sums up the point he is trying to make to Christians. Stop lying to people. Stop trying to pretend you are something you are not. Be honest with those who are closest with you. For if you are not honest with others you will find yourself believing in your own lies.



I have known people to lie about all kinds of things. They lie to stay out of trouble. They lie because they don�t want to admit the pain in their life. They lie because they are struggling with sin. They lie because of pride. They lie because they are afraid.

You may have heard a Christian say, �I use to have a life where I did nothing but tell lies, cuss, drink, etc., but thank God Jesus changed all that.� I do believe Jesus changed that person and gave them freedom over those sins. I believed Jesus died to set each of us free from sin so that we might have a more abundant, fruitful and joyful life. I believe when we turn our lives over to Jesus and give Him complete control we are set free from the sins that controlled us.

I want to share a sobering thought; Christians will find themselves lying when they aren�t allowing Jesus into all areas of their life. I�ll give you an example. Let�s say you are struggling with sin or facing an overwhelming problem. You haven�t turned those problems over to Jesus. What happens when you pass a friend and they ask, �How are you doing?� In reality you are not doing well are you? But often the response will be, �Oh, I am doing great, thank you!� What did you just do? You lied, maybe you consider it a small lie, but still it was a lie.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to give up the lies and be honest with those around us. When we lie we might opportunities for help. When we lie we begin to believe we are ok, when we are not. I pray God would bring people into your life that you will be honest with. I pray God will let you share your heart with people who can help you with your struggle. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/01/12 12:08 PM
Mark 9:24 (NLT)
24 The father instantly cried out, �I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!�

A father brought his son to be healed by Jesus from an evil spirit. The boy would fall to the ground with what would be described in modern terms as a grand mal seizure. The father explained how the boy at times would fall into the fire or water from this problem. The father desperately wanted his son healed. He said to Jesus, �Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.� Jesus asked him, �What do you mean, �If I can?�� Jesus went on to say, �Anything is possible is a person believes.� At this point the father cried out, �I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!�



Blaise Pascal was a great philosopher and mathematician. Pascal questioned whether he should believe in an eternal life with God so he set out to prove an answer to his question. Paschal found his answer and today it is known as �Pascal�s Wager�. Pascal said the following about believing in God, �Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He (God) exists.�

Pascal put his doubt about God aside by noting that by believing there is a gracious and merciful God he would gain the rewards of his belief. For Pascal knew the Bible told him belief in Jesus Christ would allow him to live an eternal life in heaven. If Pascal chose not to believe in Jesus then he would lose all benefits God was willing to grant him. However if he believed and he was wrong he lost nothing. So why not put aside doubt when there was a greater benefit to believe than not to believe.

There are people today who do not believe in God or do not believe in Jesus. They are cheating themselves because God offers eternal life in heaven for believing in Jesus Christ. Why would one forfeit such a great gift offered so freely?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/12 12:07 PM
Ephesians 6:12; 18 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. --18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The Apostle Paul gives a warning to the church of Ephesians. The warning � our fight is not with the flesh-and-blood enemies of this world. Our fight as fearful as it might sound is against dark, evil, high powers which we cannot see. The Apostle then goes on to say in verses 13-17 what we must do to be prepared for this battle, �Therefore, put on every piece of God�s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God�s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.� Prepared with righteousness, truth, peace, faith, and God�s promises we must persist in praying on every occasion for those who stand firm in the faith of Jesus Christ.



In a 1960 Twilight Zone episode, �The Howling Man�, an American seeks shelter from a storm in a home belonging to a society of monks. Reluctantly the monks take the American in, but their reluctance is not without cause. In the home David discovers the monks are holding a prisoner locked behind a wooden door. The prisoner claims Brother Jerome is insane and is holding him captive. The prisoner pleads with the American for his release. The kind face and gentle voice of the prisoner eventually wins the confidence of the American. The American confronts Brother Jerome, who declares the prisoner is Satan, �the father of lies,� held captive by the Staff of Truth. The allegation convinces the American that Brother Jerome must be mad. Seeking an opportunity the American releases the prisoner who immediately is transformed into a hideous, horned demon and vanishes in a puff of smoke! The stunned American is horrified at the realization of what he has done. Brother Jerome responds sympathetically, �I am sorry for you, my son. All your life you will remember this night and whom you have turned loose upon the world.� �I did not believe you,� the American replied, �I saw him and did not recognize him,� to which Brother Jerome solemnly says, �That is humankind�s weakness and Satan�s strength.�

We cannot recognize the powers at work against us for they exist in a dark place, hidden from our eyes. There is a battle taking place in this world. It is a battle against that which is good. It is a battle against God trying to keep the world from knowing the truth about Jesus Christ. Unlike the Twilight Zone episode it is Satan who wants to hold us bondage to sin, but it is Christ who died on the cross and rose to life to release us from that bondage. Listen to the Apostle Paul�s words and take a firm stand in your faith.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/12 12:34 PM
Luke 6:27-28; 37 (NLT)
27 �But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. -- 37 �Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

These are the words of Jesus spoken to a multitude of people who had gathered to listen to His teachings. They were not words just for those who would come to believe in Jesus, but universal words that applied to all people. In these verses Jesus is speaking on two topics, love for your enemies and not passing condemning judgment but instead forgiving.



Let�s take a moment to grasp these words Jesus spoke concerning how we treat others -- Love your enemies. The Greek word used for love is agapao which means doing and caring for others in such a way that you express a deep love for them. In John 3:16 the Bible says, �For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.� The word love used in this verse is the same type of love we are to express. We are to love our enemies, those who are against us, those who we know, and anyone else -- just as God loved us. How did God love us? God showed us love, mercy and grace by giving His Son Jesus as a payment for our sin - that is how God loved us!

What about judgment of others? Are you able to put away judging condemnation and instead provide forgiveness as God provided forgiveness for us? When the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and took Him before Pilate, Pilate said to them, �Take Him away and judge Him by your law.� Pilate was telling the religious leaders to take Jesus to judge and condemn Him by their laws, their beliefs, and their rules. This is exactly what Jesus told us not to do � we are not to judge and we not to condemn.

Jesus associated himself with all types of people. Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus talked with prostitutes. Jesus talked among the poor and the sick Jesus gathered common people as His disciples. Jesus did not hesitate to take up for others who committed a sin, while at the same time lovingly telling them they should sin no more. Jesus protected the adulteress from bodily harm because He knew her sin was no greater that those who wanted to punish her. Jesus spoke to people about sin and how to live, but Jesus never condemned them. Jesus always loved.

Jesus did not go out into the crowds of sinners to point out an individual who was committing sin. Instead He spoke against sin and had His own boundaries against sin. You can have a boundary that says you won�t allow sin into your life, but you cannot impose that boundary upon others. You can speak to people about sin, but you should never judge or condemn them for their sin.

Too many people today whether Christian or non-Christian think because they have an opinion if another person doesn�t agree then they have the right to judge and condemn. Jesus spoke to all people and said this was unacceptable. Put away your judgment and condemnation and instead reach out to others in love just as Jesus did.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/08/12 12:22 PM
Psalm 90:12-17 (The Message)
12 -17 Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Come back, God�how long do we have to wait?�and treat your servants with kindness for a change. Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long. Make up for the bad times with some good times; we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime. Let your servants see what you're best at� the ways you rule and bless your children. And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!

In these verses we hear David�s petition of prayer to God. First David asks we learn to use wisely our days of life because they are limited. Second David asks for God to be with us and not stand away due to our sin, but instead hurry towards us because of our repentance. David looks for the joys and blessing of God knowing that he provides mercy. Lastly David asks that God�s work be confirmed in us.



As I turned 29 in life I suddenly sensed mortality and that my days of life were limited. Maybe it was because I was aware my next birthday would take me into another decade. There were things I had wanted to accomplish in my youth, but many of those dreams were slipping away. I dreamed of being a pilot in the Air Force. I had a scholarship to attend college under the Air Force ROTC program. I was looking forward to this dream. As I was about to turn in the scholarship papers I took an eye exam and found my vision was imperfect. The astigmatism in my eyes was going to prevent me from becoming a pilot and with that my dream slipped away.

I had friends in school that died at an early age for various reasons so I knew life wasn�t permanent. I had been a witness to those who passed away from disease, accidental events, suicides and even murders. I knew my days were numbers just like everyone else.

God helped me come to terms with my mortality by realizing I still had days to live. I could not dwell on the past and what had or had not happened. Instead I had to look to the future and trust God would be there with me. I had to keep moving forward doing what I was doing. I had to work and provide for my family. I realized God even had plans for me to work on.

God wants to confirm the work we are doing in our lives. God wants to show us we have a purpose. We need to pray as David did and ask God to be with us. God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/12/12 09:59 AM
1 John 3:20 (NLT)
20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Throughout the apostle�s writing, John has been giving reassurance God knows us and we know God because of His love. In this verse we are reminded God is greater than anything we can feel about ourselves. While our conscience condemns us for our actions, God is the great judge who provides mercy and grace because of His love for us.



The Greek word used in the verse above for guilty is katagin&#333;sk&#333;, which means to find fault, blame, accuse and condemn. In our daily lives we often feel the guilt of sin, but God has already promised us that when we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from that sin. We are not to carry that guilt for it will turn into shame and weigh heavily upon our shoulders.

In the Scarlett Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, �No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.� We often do this by showing the world we are ok when we really are not. We may walk around with a smile, but we carry around a bundle of guilt on our shoulders. The guilt could be from present actions or something from long ago.

The apostle John tells us God already knows the things we have done. We are not hiding anything from him that He does not already know. We need to realize in most cases we have done the best we could do. We make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes might even be very big. Making mistakes is a part of our humanity. It is how we learn about life and as a result we hopefully become wiser.

Guilt is not caused by what we do. Instead guilt is a burden we add in hindsight. We realize the consequences and then we apply guilt. We second guess ourselves and think, �I should have known better.� Yes, maybe you should have known better but for whatever reason you did not see the consequences that were ahead of you.

God does not want us to carry guilt; so are you willing to forgive yourself? Are you willing to realize maybe you did the best you could at the time?

One more important question, if God is willing to forgive you, do you think you are greater than God that you can�t forgive yourself? Let go of the guilt and let go of the shame.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/12 10:54 AM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

These are words of encouragement from the Apostle Paul telling the church not to worry about anything. Instead they were to pray for all their needs and give glory to God for the things they had already received in this life. For God give peace beyond measure which guards the hearts and minds of those who believe in Jesus Christ.



In Preaching with Sacred Fire, E. V. (Ed) Hill, who pastored Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, tells the story of how "Mama's" love and prayers changed his life. During the height of the Depression, Hill's real mother, who had five children of her own, didn't have enough food to go around, so she sent four-year-old Ed to live with a friend in a small country town called Sweet Home. Ed just called her Mama. As he was growing up in Sweet Home, Mama displayed remarkable faith which led her to have big plans for young Ed. Against nearly insurmountable obstacles, Mama helped Ed graduate from high school (the only student to graduate that year from the country school) and even insisted that he go to college.

She took Ed to the bus station, handed him the ticket and five dollars and said, "Now, go off to Prairie View College, and Mama is going to be praying for you." Hill claims that he didn't know much about prayer, but he knew Mama did. When he arrived at the college with a dollar and ninety cents in his pocket, they told him he needed eighty dollars in cash in order to register. Here's how Hill describes what happened next:

I got in line �, and the devil said to get out of line �, but I heard my Mama saying in my ear, "I'll be praying for you." I stood in line on Mama's prayer. Soon there was [another new student ahead of me], and I began to get nervous, but I stayed in line �. Just about the time [the other student] got all of her stuff and turned away, Dr. Drew touched me on the shoulder, and he said, "Are you Ed Hill?" I said, "Yes." "Are you Ed Hill from Sweet Home?" "Yes." "Have you paid yet?" "Not quite." "We've been looking for you all this morning," [he said]. I said, "Well, what do [you] want with me?" "We have a four-year scholarship that will pay your room and board, your tuition, and give you thirty dollars a month to spend." And I heard Mama say, "I will be praying for you!"
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/20/12 11:11 AM
James 5:13-16 (NLT)
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James the half-brother of Jesus writes on the power of prayer. He gives some of the reasons we might quickly seek to pray such as having a hardship, being unhappy, sickness, revealing sin and to give praise to God.



I once got to meet Pastor Dr. Tony Evans as he spoke to a group in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Evans is a respected leader in evangelical circles. The first African-American to graduate with a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), he served as an associate professor in DTS� Pastoral Ministries Department in the areas of evangelism, homiletics and black church studies. He also served as chaplain for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and presently serves as chaplain for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Dr. Evans has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 34 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now over 8,500 congregants with 100 plus ministries.

Dr. Evans spoke of a time when he was in college and married to his wife Lois. Like any young struggling couple attending college they were met with financial burdens. One morning Lois told her husband it was time to pay bills and she had been praying for their financial needs because she knew they were short on funds. As Tony left for school that morning he was praying about how God could provide to meet those needs. On the way to class Tony stopped to see if he had any mail. In the mailbox was an envelope and as he opened it he found a check for $500. Someone had anonymously left the money for Tony and his wife with the school. Excitedly he called Lois to tell her the good news. She then responded, �It was a check for $500, wasn�t it?� Tony asked, �How did you know?� $500 is what we needed and that is what I was praying for.

James said, �The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.� If we don�t pray God can never answer our prayers. Lois prayed because of their hardship and God responded with a generous gift to meet their needs.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/12 01:15 PM
Hebrews 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And God never said to any of the angels, �Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.� 14 Therefore, angels are only servants�spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

In this chapter of Hebrews the apostle writes about Jesus being greater than any angel. He wants to make the point that Jesus is God, with God and has the authority of God. For the apostle writes in verses 8-9, �But to the Son he says, �Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.� Jesus is not an angel, but God Himself.



What does the Bible tell us about angels? The Bible says they were created by God. Angels fall into two categories they either followed God or they followed after one of their own -- Satan. The angels who follow God serve Him, abiding by His will and doing what is good, just and right. Those who chose to follow Satan follow in the path of Satan to commit evil acts against mankind. These angels we know as demons.

Focusing on the angels that follow God we know the following about them from the Bible. We know they are protectors. They fight the spiritual battles we cannot see taking place against our world. Angels are comforters � bringing comfort in our times of need. Angels can express feelings of joy as they rejoice over sinners who come to know God through Christ. Angels have great power, but their power does not exceed that of God. Even Satan is under submission to God; although Satan would say otherwise for he is the author of lies. Angels bring messages of importance. They heralded the birth of Christ in praise and in heavenly song. Angels were said to have the appearance of men, yet they stood out among men as something special to behold. Angels follow God�s will to destroy evil where it exists in abundance. Angels watch over us and come to our rescue and defense. Angels are not people and people are not angels. God created mankind without the power of angels, but in return God loves mankind greatly. God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for sin that we might have eternal life in heaven.

Jesus is far greater that any angel. Jesus is God, our savior, our defender, our protector, our comforter, our assurance, our blessing, our helper, our Lord and more than we can fathom. Angels take care of us because God wills it. Jesus takes care of us because He is God and He loves us deeply.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/28/12 12:56 PM
Job 6:24 (NLT)
24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.

Job gives a response to his friend Eliphaz as he suffers from injuries placed upon him by Satan. Job differed in his opinion about the cause of his suffering, but he was willing to listen to reason. Matthew Henry said, �It is the undoubted character of every honest man that he is truly desirous to have his mistakes rectified, and to be made to understand wherein he has erred; and he will acknowledge that right words, when they appear to him to be so, though contrary to his former sentiments, are both forcible and acceptable.�



The wise person is willing to examine themselves and see if they are at fault. They are willing to listen to reasonable arguments against them. They are willing to remain silent while the opinions of others are voiced. The Bible tells us we often believe we are wise when it comes to the things we do and the thoughts we have, but God knows the real intentions of the heart. We may be thinking we are acting justly only to find out our thoughts are flawed.

Take the time to listen to all the views of others and examine your motives. Look to see if you are truly following God or following after your own views and desires. Be willing to say �show me what I have done wrong� and then remain silent to hear what is said.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/29/12 09:35 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul tells us we are to be thankful in all circumstances. We don�t get to pick and choose what we want to be thankful for; instead be thankful always in the good times and in the bad times.


Louis Szekely, known professionally as Louis C.K., is an Emmy and Grammy award winning American stand-up comedian, television and film writer, and actor. He is the star of the FX comedy series Louie, which he also writes, directs, and edits. Louis C.K. appeared with Conan O�Brien and presented a comedic routine that started with "Everything's amazing right and nobody's happy." It obviously grabbed the attention of many people. As of February 2009, just one clip had over 5.5 million views on YouTube. Comedians speak to a crowd in a way that the crowd wants to hear; so the transcript is edited for all audiences to read. Here is what Louis C.K. said to poke fun at our ingratitude and impatience:
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In my lifetime the changes in the world have been incredible. When I was a kid, we had a rotary phone. We had a phone you had to stand next to, and you had to dial it. Do you realize how primitive that was? You were making sparks. And you would actually hate people who had zeroes in their number because it was more [work]. And then if you called and they weren't home, the phone would just ring lonely by itself.

And then if you wanted money you had to go in the bank�and it was open for like three hours, and you'd stand in line and write a check. And then if you ran out of money, you'd just say, "Well, I just can't do any more things now."

Now we live in an amazing, amazing world, and it's wasted on [a] generation of spoiled [people] that don't care. This is what people are like now: they've got their phone, and they go, "Ugh, it won't [work fast enough]." Give it a second! It's going to space. Will you give it a second to get back from space? Is the speed of light too slow for you?

I was on an airplane, and there was high-speed internet �. And I'm sitting on the plane, and they say, "Open up your laptop, you can go on the internet." It's fast � it's amazing �. And then the thing breaks down. They apologize, "The internet's not working." And the guy next to me says, "[O, great] this [stinks]." Like how quickly the world owes him something, yes, he knew existed only ten seconds ago.

People come back from flights, and they tell you their story, and it's like a horror story �. [They say], "It was the worst day of my life. First of all, we didn't board for twenty minutes. And then we get on the plane, and they made us sit there on the runway for forty minutes." "O, really, and what happened next? Did you fly in the air, incredibly, like a bird? Did you partake in the miracle of human flight?" Everybody on every plane should be constantly [screaming], "WOW!" You're flying. You're sitting in a chair in the sky!

Here's the thing: People say there are "delays" on flights. Delays, really? New York to California in five hours! It used to take thirty years to do that, and a bunch of you would die on the way there and would meet a whole new group of people before you got there.
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Maybe, just maybe we have forgotten how to be thankful for what we do have. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/02/12 11:38 AM
Matthew 16:26 (ESV)
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

In this verse Jesus is speaking to His disciples. There are two questions asked, 1) what happens if a person gains all the worldly possessions they desire and then loose there life?; and then a question that is the reverse logic of the first question 2) what would you give up to keep your eternal soul?


According to a Gallup poll conducted in May of 2004, 90% of Americans believe in God or a universal spirit; the percentage has remained somewhat constant for the past 60 years. In the survey 81% of Americans said they believe in heaven, 10% are unsure, and 8% do not believe. Prior to 1974 the belief in hell ranged from 56% to 71%. The 2004 study showed overall 70% of Americans believed in hell, 12% were not sure and 17% did not believe in hell. It is apparent from the study that the majority of Americans believe in God and there is an eternal afterlife either in heaven or hell.

For a moment let�s assume you are part of the majority that has come to a point in their life they believe in God and they believe in an afterlife either in heaven or hell. If God asked you, �Why should I let you into heaven?� what would be your response? After searching the internet for answers to that question, here are some of the responses people gave:

-Because all my life I've done the best I can for myself and other people. I've never intentionally hurt anyone. And besides that, I've adopted lots of homeless cats and dogs and given them a home."

- I'm only 15 but I'd say I know I have done bad in my life, but please forgive? I've helped many in need.

- I've never been intentionally cruel and I never told anyone they weren't going to heaven because they held different beliefs.

- I would tell him that I don't deserve to enter heaven because I have sinned too many times to count.

- I would say "What makes you think you're in any position to be gatekeeper? You're the one who created this mess in the first place!"

Those are guesses by people, but what does The Bible say? The Bible says man sinned and brought the punishment of sin upon himself. God did not make the mess we are in; man did by his selfish act of sin. God is the creator of everything and as the creator He has the right to decide to do with what He has created. Because of God�s love and mercy towards us, God provided salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross as payment for sin. Jesus rose back to life defeating death to show us there is an eternal life. When a person places their faith in Jesus, Jesus stands before God making them right in God�s sight. The Bible says Jesus is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the world. It says, �This is real love�not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.� Because Jesus makes our sin right before God our faith in Jesus allows us into heaven. So if God asks, �Why should I let you into my heaven?� the answer is because I have faith in Jesus who died for my sin. If you are not sure you have ever placed your faith in Jesus tell God right now, �Father God, I know I am a sinner, I desire to change and I turn my life over to Jesus placing my faith in Him as savior and redeemer.� When you place your faith in Jesus know there is nothing that is not forgivable, not one thing. Jesus has redeemed you so you can live eternity in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/12 11:33 AM
Romans 6:1 (NLT)
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?

The apostle asks an important question to Christians which he gives a reply, �Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.� God�s grace is not an excuse to sin, but instead a reason to live.

Switzerland has a toll system that requires you to pay an upfront annual fee. Once you pay your fee a sticker is issued for your windshield that is good for the year. Traditionally, traffic police give motorists the whole month of January to purchase the sticker. There is no penalty for driving without it during that month�it is a month of grace. But when the first days of February come, expect to see the traffic police on the autoroute exit ramps checking for cars without the sticker. No more excuses are accepted; no more time is given. The grace period has ended.

God always provides us a time of grace, but eventually there are consequences for our actions. We should not take advantage of God�s grace for our own selfish purposes. Instead we should take the opportunity to make a correction in our life that aligns us with God�s will.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/04/12 12:08 PM
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

The apostle tells us Christ has purchased our freedom and taken us from the darkness of sin and brought us into His Kingdom to be free from sin.




New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof wrote about where he chose two Cambodian prostitutes and attempted to buy their freedom from their brothel owners in an article �Bargaining for Freedom�. He selected young women who were there against their will, willing to tell their story, and actually wanted to leave prostitution.

The first woman, Srey Neth, was a simple transaction. For $150, Kristof left with the girl and a receipt.

Her Mom�s situation proved more difficult, since the brothel owner demanded more money. Kristof writes: After some grumpy negotiation, the owner accepted $203 as the price for Srey Mom�s freedom. But then Srey Mom told me that she had pawned her cellphone and needed $55 to get it back. "Forget about your cellphone," I said. "We�ve got to get out of here."

Srey Mom started crying. I told her that she had to choose her cellphone or her freedom, and she ran back to her tiny room in the brothel and locked the door. With Srey Mom sobbing in her room and refusing to be freed without her cellphone, the other prostitutes�her closest friends�began pleading with her to be reasonable.

Even the owner of the brothel begged her to "Grab this chance while you can," but Srey Mom hysterically refused to leave. Srey Mom only stopped crying when Kristov agreed to buy back the cellphone too. Then she asked for her pawned jewelry to be part of the deal.

--- So often are we not the same? Christ has purchased our freedom and then we want to turn and run back to our sins. We find reasons, unjustly, to return to that sin. Yet we keep hearing Christ say, �We�ve got to get out of here!� Listen to Christ and flee from the sin holding you captive.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/12 12:31 PM
Mark 7:20-23 (NLT)
20 And then he added, �It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person�s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.�

In this passage Jesus was spoke to the crowd in response to a question asked by the religious leaders that were present, ��Why don�t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.� In response Jesus said, �All of you listen,� he said, �and try to understand. It�s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.� Then Jesus went on to list those things that defile a person that come from one�s own sin nature.



The Pharisees were worried about touching anything that was ceremonially unclean. They had rituals and rules for how everything should be deal with because they thought it might bring sin upon them. This was far from the truth. For Jesus pointed out it was not those things outside of man that defiled man, but instead the sin nature that lurks in the hearts of men. There is no one on this earth who does not have the potential to commit the acts of sin listed above. King Solomon gave us this word of wisdom in Proverbs 4:23, �Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.� Just think about the sins listed above the consequences that follow if one of those sins are committed. Each of those sins can have a great impact upon a life and will change the course of one�s life. For the person who murders they may find themselves in prison for a lifetime. For the person who deceives they may never be trusted. For the person who commits adultery they may lose their family and respect of others. Sin can impact your life greatly. Fortunately Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin and provides grace and mercy for what we may or might do. We may face earthly consequences for sin, but Jesus has forgiven us and made our sins right with God. Place your faith in Jesus and know He loves you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/12 12:08 PM
Psalm 103:6 (NLT)
6 The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

This psalm of David gives praise to the Lord. Matthew Henry said of verse 6, �Truly God is good to all: He executes righteousness and judgment, not only for his own people, but for all that are oppressed; for even in common providence he is the patron of wronged innocency, and, one way or other, will plead the cause of those that are injured against their oppressors. It is his honour to humble the proud and help the helpless.


I read the following from a friend I went to high school with concerning an attack on her son. I took it from her Facebook page for others to read so you might pray for her and her son:

�HELP>>> My son Warner was assaulted in 5pts (University of S.C. Campus area) last Thursday April 5/6 around midnight. It required extensive surgery. It has changed his life and he had just qualified for nationals 4 Olympics! PLS PLS help me. Pics b4 or after surgery are too graphic 4 here. He left Beys and crossed the street to Harpers. He was headed to car parked on Green St at Group Therapy. Investigation moving tooooooo friggin slow. THIS is my son...HELP! heartbroken�

Can you hear the urgent plea of a mother who is looking for justice for her son? Can you hear the worry and concern of the opportunities that might be taken away from this young man? Do you see a broken heart pleading for our help?

Recently there has been a lot of news coverage about the Trayvon Martin case. Their family sought justice for their son and rightly so. Had it been my son I would have been sitting in the police station and prosecutors office until some action was taken. When your child is harassed, bullied, harmed, hurt, beaten or murdered justice is demanded. They lost a child and there needs to be an explanation, an investigation and a process of justice to determine the facts.

I read an article from comedian Jon Lovitz who spoke out against the bullying of a friend�s daughter. Lovitz posted a picture of their handiwork, saying, �Swastikas in sh** left on my friend�s front porch were done by three 14-year-old girls, driven to the house by one of the girl�s mother.� Lovitz says the bullied girl�s grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. How can a parent allow this action to take place??

Actor/Comedian D.L. Hughley recently wrote a news post as a letter to Trayvon Martin sayin, �Like your parents, and countless other Americans, I want justice for you and the life that you will never get to live.� We all want justice for Trayvon and we want it done correctly.

Let us pray God will provide justice for all our youth. Let us be united as one people under God to see these issues addressed. Let us work together as friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, as neighbors, family and as a community to put an end to what are senseless attacks against our youth. I ask prayer for my friend Tami and her son Warner. I ask prayer for Trayvon�s family and the girl and her family that was bullied. Let us pray for all the innocent who have been wronged.

Father God we ask your love, mercy and grace to be upon these families. Lord we pray you would take up for our youth and bring about justice. Lord please bring us together as one people seeking to do what is right. Allow us to be your hands, your feet, your eyes and your mouth working for justice. AMEN
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/16/12 12:51 PM
Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: �Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?� 26 Jesus replied, �What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?� 27 The man answered, ��You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.� And, �Love your neighbor as yourself.�� 28 �Right!� Jesus told him. �Do this and you will live!� 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, �And who is my neighbor?�

In this passage Jesus is speaking with the religion leaders and one of them tested Jesus with a question about inheriting eternal life. Jesus knew they did not understand His purpose to bring salvation to all men. So Jesus asked the leader what the Mosaic Law said. The man gave a response that said love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said, �Right, do this and you will live�, for Jesus knew man was incapable of always loving God and his fellow man as he should. The religious leader knew it too and wanted to justify his actions by asking who his neighbor was.



It was at this point Jesus replied with a story: �A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. �By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. �Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, �Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I�ll pay you the next time I�m here.� �Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?� Jesus asked. The man replied, �The one who showed him mercy.� Then Jesus said, �Yes, now go and do the same.�

You can tell Jesus is speaking to the religion leader with this example by using two religious people, one a priest and the other a Temple assistant. Most likely both had gone through a ceremonial cleansing to perform their duties and therefore felt they would be defiled by touching this man. A Jewish man, one of their own laid hurt and they passed him by. In doing so they ignored the Mosaic Law of loving God and loving your neighbor. They failed and mostly likely would continue to fail. Yet a Samaritan who was a neighbor, despised by the Jewish people came to the rescue of this Jewish man.

This story shows how a person despised by the Jewish people felt compassion for a Jewish man who was in serious trouble which his Jewish neighbors passed him by. We are all to love like this man, but we are to also realize eternal life comes through Jesus Christ who gave His life for our sin, because all the good works we try to do will eventually fail.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/12 01:11 PM
Ezekiel 18:31b-32 (NLT)
31b For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don�t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!

These are the sovereign words of our righteous and just God who desires a good long life for people. God has good plans and wants to give us an expected end to our lives.


As I wrote above, God wants to provide us with an expected end to our lives, but often our choices interrupt God�s plans for us. God planned a wonderful, eternal life for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but that was interrupted after Adam and Eve made their own sinful choices. God planned the rescue of Lot and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah, but Lot�s wife refused to obey the warning given by the angels not to look back to their former life. She ignored the warning looked back and suffered the consequences of her actions.

Sometimes death comes at unexpected times, not by God�s plan, but as a result of Satan�s work of killing, stealing and destroying. Jesus said in John 10:10, �The thief�s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.� The thief is Satan who desires to take away what God has planned for or given to us. We can look at Job who loved and obeyed God. It was not God who went against Job, but Satan. Satan was the thief who took Job�s family, workers, possessions, and even his health. Job however proved his faith to God and God blessed and restored Job.

We must remember God�s will for us does not mean that His will is always the conclusive end. God�s will is that everyone would be saved through the salvation of Jesus Christ. But will everyone be saved? No, for some choose not to partake of God�s plan of salvation.

So why does God allow those who have placed their faith in Him to be persecuted and even killed for His sake? --- Because God wants to reach out to those who do not know Him. Our souls are already in His hands. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. God wants to reach out in love to those who don�t know Him for their worldly death means an eternal separation from Him. God is willing to sacrifice some of His own children, just as He allowed Christ to be sacrificed, to reach a lost and hurting world. Count our trials and tribulations as a blessing for God is using us to fulfill His purpose.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/12 12:13 PM
Psalm 75:9-10 (NLT)
9 But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 For God says, �I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.�

This is the Psalm of Asaph, son of Berechiach. Asaph was assigned by David to give prophecy through music. Matthew Henry tells us about Aspah�s proclamation: 1. He will praise God for his elevation, not only at first, while the mercy was fresh, but forever, so long as he lives. The exaltation of the Son of David will be the subject of the saints� everlasting praises. He will give glory to God, not only as his God, but as the God of Jacob, knowing it was for Jacob his servant�s sake, and because he loved his people Israel, that he made him king over them. 2. He will use the power with which he is entrusted for the great ends for which it was put into his hands.


Jesus spoke these words to us in Mark 12:29-31 - �The most important commandment is this: �Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.� The second is equally important: �Love your neighbor as yourself.� No other commandment is greater than these.�

These words are important for we know we must first love God beyond anything else. Next we are to take the love we have received from God and extend it to others. When we love others God uses the love He has given us to break the strength of the wicked. When we love hearts soften. When we respond to anger with compassion hearts begin to melt. When we show kindness to others they see the benefit of love.

As we love others God develops us and increases our capacity to love. We find ourselves ministering to others we might not have ministered to before. We find ourselves availed to help when possible. We find ourselves loving naturally as God intended.

Let us all give praise to God for what He has done in our lives so that we may be used to work in the lives of others. Let us sing praises and rejoice that we can love fearless because of our Lord and Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/12 12:12 PM
1 Timothy 1:5-11 (NLT)
5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the Law of Moses, but they don�t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently. 8 We know that the law is good when used correctly. 9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

In these verses we find the Apostle Paul writing Timothy about the law. Those who have faith in Christ should not become engaged in meaningless instructions concerning the law for the law was intended for the lawless. Instead believers in Christ should be filled with love that comes from their own pure heart, a clear conscience and genuine faith in the promises of God.



Jesus instructed those who followed Him that they should love one another. Jesus even went as far as saying, �If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.� In other words if a corrupt, unjust person can exhort money from individuals and love those who they are close to; how does that differ from a Christian only loving those they are close with. The commandment to us was to love one another. Not just some, but all people.

There is a quote I have often heard in Christian churches, �Hate the sin, love the sinner.� Search your Bible, Google the words, but you won�t find that quote in scripture. The quote originated from Mahatma Ghandi, Indian nationalist, non-violent civil disobedience leader and follower of Hinduism � the world�s third largest religion. I have to confess I have heard the words so much in church I believed them to be from God. Worldly quotes are fine if they can help us to understand life, but we should not confuse these quotes with what God has told us to do. We never find Jesus condoning sin or condoning the sinner. Instead we find Jesus loving those around Him and challenging them to move away from sin.

Take the adulteress who the religious leaders were ready to stone. In John 8 The Bible tells us the following about Jesus: �They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, �All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!� Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, �Where are your accusers? Didn�t even one of them condemn you?� �No, Lord,� she said. And Jesus said, �Neither do I. Go and sin no more.�

The Bible tells us there are certain things God hates, but God never tells us to hate. Instead God tell us to love always. We need to make sure we are following the words of God and not meaningless discussions as Paul stated. There are many people today who think they are righteous, but turn to hate as a means to correct others. This is wrong and instead we should follow Christ by loving, encouraging, and challenging people to do what is right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/11/12 11:26 AM
Philippians 3:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

The Apostle Paul writes in verses 4-6, �If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.� In other words if there was anyone who could boast about conforming to the law, being religious, coming from a background of people who loved God�s laws and was considered blameless in concern to the law � it would be Paul. However Paul knows he has lost his freedom, he has lost his status, he has everything he counted as meaningful and he is content having found faith in Jesus Christ. It is from his faith that he has found righteousness and now he considered everything else in his past dung.



Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a great preacher of Reformed theology at the Westminster Chapel in London posed a thought to his congregation. He said, "I want to talk to you today about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may call it what you want, but I want to know, have you experienced the fullness of the Spirit I know all of you listening to me come as I do from a Reformed background. But it's not good enough. I know that all of you would want to say to my question about the Holy Spirit, 'Well, we got it all at conversion; there's no need for any more experience.' Well", said Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "I have only one other question to ask you. If you got it all at conversion, where in God's name is it"

The questions to ask yourself � Are you holding on to things of the past or are you allowing God to work in your life? Are you depending upon yourself and what you are or are you depending upon your faith in Christ?

Let go of the former rubbish in your life and allow your faith in Christ to fill you with the righteousness of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/12 11:52 AM
Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Matthew Henry writes about the message the Apostle Paul is giving to the Galatians: In the former part of this chapter the apostle cautions the Galatians to take heed of the Judaizing teachers, who endeavored to bring them back under the bondage of the law. He had been arguing against them before, and had largely shown how contrary the principles and spirit of those teachers were to the spirit of the gospel; and now this is as it were the general inference or application of all that discourse. Since it appeared by what had been said that we can be justified only by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the righteousness of the law, and that the law of Moses was no longer in force, nor Christians under any obligation to submit to it, therefore he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and not to be again entangled with the yoke of bondage.


Years ago when I was dating my wife I took her to the State Fair. We went on a day where you could ride unlimited rides and the crowd happened to be light. We had been there for a little while when we came upon the Rock-O-Plane that had no riders. The operator was just waiting for someone to hop on and go for a ride. We thought great; we can ride and enjoy it for a while.

The Rock-O-Plane for those who don�t know has spinning cages attached to a large wheel. Each cage spins independently while the large wheel is also turning. Its shape is similar to that of a Ferris wheel, but with seats that are enclosed and rock and roll as the ride turns. If the rocking builds sufficient momentum the seats will flip upside-down and end-over-end.

At first the ride was fun. However, because no one was riding the operator let the ride continue to run and run and run. As we came around each time the operator reached out and spun the cage harder. Everything became a blur and we started yelling for the operator to let us off. Unfortunately our screams only encouraged the operator to spin the cage faster and faster. We became nauseous and disoriented. Instead of having fun we were miserable. We had no control over what was taking place and our lives were literally spinning out of control. Eventually the operator had mercy on us and stopped the ride. We staggered off feeling very ill on the inside. It took us a while for us to recover from that horrible experience.

Proverbs 5:22 says, �The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.� Sin is like the ride was to us, tempting because it looked fun. As we found out however, the fun only lasted for a short while and then it became misery and we had to deal with the consequences afterwards. We were trapped and spinning out of control, but finally grace and mercy appeared. We can thank God for the promise of His mercy and grace, because without it we could be on sin�s ride for a while.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/12 12:19 PM
Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.

The apostle tells us the love of Christ is too great to fully understand, but we can begin to understand His love by placing our faith in Christ. We can pray so that we might begin to know him. Christians can pray to have a closer fellowship with Him and grow in their knowledge of Him. On this side of heaven if may be impossible to fully understand the love of Christ. However, here on earth we can receive the grace of God granted to us by Jesus Christ, which brings us closer to God and Christ.


One weekend, author Paul Tripp gave his teenage son permission to spend the weekend at a friend's house. But during the weekend Paul got a call from the friend's mother, telling him that his son was not at her home. (Her son had felt guilty about covering for Paul's son and confessed to his mom.) Paul was truly grieving that the trust between him and his son had been broken. He went to his bedroom to pray for God's help, and then it hit him�Because of his love, God had already begun a work of rescue in his son's life. �Now, rather than wanting to rip into my son,� Paul wrote, �I wanted to be part of what this God of grace was doing in this moment.� After giving his son a couple of hours to relax upon his return, Paul asked if they could talk. "Do you ever think about how much God loves you?" Paul asked his son. "Sometimes," he answered. "Do you ever think how much God's grace operates in your life every day?" His son looked up but didn't speak. "Do you know how much God's grace was working in your life this weekend?" "Who told you?" his son asked. �Son, you have lived your life in the light. You've made good choices. You've been an easy son to parent, but this weekend you took a step toward the darkness. You can live in the dark if you want. You can learn to lie and deceive. You can use your friends as your cover�or you can choose to live in God's light. I'm pleading with you: don't live in the darkness; live in the light." "As I turned to walk away," Paul says, "I heard his voice from behind me saying, 'Dad, don't go�I want to live in the light. Will you help me?'" [Paul David Tripp, Forever: Why You Can't Live Without It (Zondervan, 2011), pp. 151-153]

What a beautiful story to illustrate Christ�s love for us! Can you imagine Paul turning down his son once he said, �Dad, don�t go�I want to live in the light. Will you help me?� I can�t, nor can I imagine Jesus our Advocate and Helper who has called us out of the darkness and into the light, would say anything but �Yes, I love you and want to help.� We can see man�s capacity to love, but the love of Christ goes further than anything we can imagine. Seek out the love of Christ and place your faith in Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/12 11:56 AM
Revelation 3:8 (NLT)
8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

These are the words of Christ to the church of Philadelphia. Christ tells the church He takes notice of their actions and has seen their faith at work. They have little strength in what they do, but Christ gives them grace for not denying Him and continuing to work even though they can accomplish more. So Christ Himself is holding open a door of opportunity no one else can close against Him.



In Matthew chapter 16 Jesus asks The Disciples a question, �But who do you say I am?� to which Simon Peter responds, �You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.�

Jesus is the Son of the living God. He is the Messiah � the one promised to Abraham. Jesus is the one prophesied by the prophets. Jesus is the Christ spoken about to Moses, Abraham, David, Isaiah and others through angels, man and God. He came to replace the covenant of the law by replacing it with His obedience to God the Father through His sacrifice for all sin. Jesus was the one the people had been waiting for. He was the Son of David and Abraham�s chosen seed, the one to deliver all from captivity, the goal of the Mosaic Law, Yahweh in the flesh, the one to establish God�s reign and rule, the one to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, freedom to the prisoners and proclaim good news to the poor. He is the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world.

There are many people who do not seem to know the real Jesus. Instead they know a Jesus they have formed in their own image. There is hippie Jesus who flashes a peace sign and appears on posters wearing tie-dyed tee shirts. There is the Jesus of politics who is either for or against gay marriage. There is open-minded, tolerant Jesus who loves everyone except those we can�t tolerate or love. There is Sports Jesus who is there on the field to help a football team win, while the other team loses. There is politically correct Jesus trying to make sure no toes are stepped on. There is Guru Jesus who inspires us, but we don�t listen to His warnings of sin. There is Eco Jesus who says we should protect the earth. There is good example Jesus who sets a good example to become a better you.

Jesus Christ is not an image of what we want nor is He a reflection of our current mood or desires. Jesus is Lord of Lords. He is King of Kings. He is our Lord and our God. He is the Father�s son. Jesus is the Savior of the world the appeasing substitute for the sins we have committed. He is more loving, more holy, and even more wonderfully terrifying that we can imagine.

So instead of creating a savior of your own imagination, embrace The Son of God for who He is, holy, right, just, loving, gracious, merciful and kind. Embrace the one who holds open the door of opportunity to do His will even when our faith is weak. Embrace the one who sets you free from sin so you can live in freedom because He died for your sins and made you right with the Father in Heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/12 12:51 PM
Luke 9:51-56 (NLT)
51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, �Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?� 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

From the words of Matthew Henry - This passage of story we have not in any other of the evangelists, and it seems to come in here for the sake of its affinity with that next before, for in this also Christ rebuked his disciples, because they envied for his sake. There, under colour of zeal for Christ, they were for silencing and restraining separatists: here, under the same colour, they were for putting infidels to death; and, as for that, so for this also, Christ reprimanded them, for a spirit of bigotry and persecution is directly contrary to the spirit of Christ and Christianity.



The Samaritans rejected Jesus because he was on His way to Jerusalem. The Samaritans were at odds with those in Jerusalem over the proper place to worship. The Samaritans were particularly incensed against Christ, who was a celebrated teacher for adhering to the temple at Jerusalem when the priests of that temple were such bitter enemies to Him. The disciples understanding this bitterness between the Samaritans and the Jews wanted to destroy them for the sake of Christ. Yet we see Jesus stopped, turned and rebuked them for their thoughts and then they continued on to another village that would accept Him.

Those who obstinately or intolerantly are devoted their own opinions lose sight of Christ�s purpose. God tells us that He so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus, that whoever places their faith in Him will have everlasting life. The ministry of Christ was to show people their need for redemption from sin. Often Jesus would go to a sinner, tell them of their sin, and then say to them �go and sin no more.� We never hear Jesus threatening people nor do we find Jesus condemning those who needed His love. In fact in the verses above we see Jesus rebuking His disciples for the thought of harming a town for His sake.

The ministry of the church is the same ministry of Jesus. The church should love people, reach out to them, teach them about sin, share with them the redeeming freedom from sin found in Jesus and encourage them to sin no more. Yet there are Christians who are devoted to their own opinions and are intolerantly attacking individuals. I have no issue with the church stating what sin is and taking up for moral causes; but their actions should be directed towards the sin and not the people. To hear a pastor in the news say a group of people should be rounded up and put behind electric fences is not in line with the ministry of Christ or the love of Christ. How can The Church reach out to people with love when they are voicing hatred?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/25/12 01:05 PM
Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT)
17 �Don�t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God�s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God�s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 �But I warn you�unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

In these verses Christ acknowledges the Law of Moses and the commentaries placed on the law by the prophets of the Bible. Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to amend it with grace and mercy. Christ did not come to destroy the principles of righteous which God set forth, but instead to destroy the strongholds of Satan against man. Christ honored the law of God. Christ in all respects yielded obedience to the law, honored his parents, sanctified the Sabbath, prayed, gave alms and did that which no one did - obeyed perfectly and never broke the law. Christ often rebuked the teachers for their overly pious attitude and harsh punishments; yet He commended their righteous ways. The law was meant to reflect man�s sinful nature and show a need for God�s love, grace and mercy which He gave through His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sin.



There are two types of truth � relative and absolute. Relative truth says each culture or individual discovers what is true for them. Since relative truth is invented individually there is no consistent or universal truth and the truth changes as the culture changes. Relative truth changes over time to meet opinions. Those who believe in relative truth believe there is no absolute truth one can hold to.

Absolute truth is discovered and not invented. Absolute truth holds true across individuals and cultures. Absolute truth is unchanging and stays uniform across time. A culture or individual cannot change absolute truth and the truth is unaffected by the person�s attitude professing it. Absolute truth is absolute and understood without a need for opinion.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us, �Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.� Malachi 3:6 says, �I am the LORD, and I do not change.� The Lord�s truth is absolute and not open to relativism. Today�s religious beliefs are not governed by opinions of our day but instead are discovered in God�s word. The value of righteousness God holds is the same yesterday, the same today and the same tomorrow. We cannot change what God has ordained nor can we bend His word to suit our need.

In the news there are some arguing Christianity must change to fit the times. I submit God does not change therefore the beliefs of the church must not change. The church must stand on the absolute truth of God and voice His word. America was based on the foundation the church has a right to its opinion and is separate from the control of the government. Likewise government is free from control of religion and is allowed to rule as it chooses. However, our government, a representative government, is also to listen to the will of the people, weight the issues and pass fair legislation.

Some groups of people are confusing the role of church. Some suggest the church has no right to speak up and voice an opinion. The truth is the individuals of the church have the same right and every other individual under our government. We all have the right to an opinion and for that opinion to be heard and represented.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/12 11:18 AM
Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT)
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

In these verses we find the Apostle Paul describing the desires of our sinful nature. Apart from God and allowing our sin to go unchecked we can fall into any one of these sins. Most people can find at least one or more sins they can identify with and know they are guilty of. For this reason Jesus could look at a crowd of people ready to stone an adulterous woman and say, �He who is without sin cast the first stone.� Of course no one did because each realized they had sin in their lives.



I�m going to say it straight out � you can�t whitewash sin and please God. I am going to include myself when I say I have heard people minimize the sin in their lives thinking it would make it better. I hate to think of how often I have minimized my own sin. I am not in a position to judge a person for their actions; God has done that already by pointing out what is sin. What I am in a position to do is to help hold others accountable in love while they hold me accountable so we all stay on the right course and avoid the temptations of sin.

Let�s see if you have heard these statements before. We went partying, but no one really got that drunk or out of control (wild parties, drunkenness). I had a right to get angry and show my temper � after all they got something I really deserved (outbursts of anger, hostility, quarreling, envy, jealousy). What�s wrong in going out with the guys to have a little fun at the clubs (lustful pleasure, impurity). People should have the right to physical love; after all sex is natural in our society (sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures). I only do those things for good luck (idolatry, sorcery).

Any of those sound familiar? I�m not trying to make you feel guilty, but I want you to understand we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. We can�t make excuses for sin and think God is going to agree with us. How can we say they are right when God says they are wrong? God is holy and just and God will not tolerate continuance in sin. God looked at the people of Noah�s time and was sick over man�s sin and only found favor in Noah. All other men perished except Noah and his family. God told Abraham he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinful sexual acts. Abraham begged they be spared if righteous people could be found, but they weren�t. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their uncontrolled sexual perversion. Only Lot and his daughter�s were spared. Lot�s wife looked back toward the sin she desired and died. And even afterwards Lot�s daughter perverted sex because of their desires.

So let�s not whitewash sin. Call sin out for what it is whether it is adultery, lust, gluttony, pride, homosexuality, gossip, drunkenness, hostility, murder, envy, jealousy, idolatry and as The Bible says, �other sins like these.� But remember God gave His Son Jesus Christ to pay the debt for these sins and write upon our hearts what is right and wrong to give us direction in life. Don�t hamper the efforts of the Holy Spirit trying to work in your life by covering up sin. Confess your sin and allow God to show you the steps you need to take in your life to overcome sin.

One final word, I love people and try to love people as Jesus did. I pray you are able to do the same as well and encourage people away from sin through love and not hate.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/12 11:58 AM
Jeremiah 13:15-17 (NLT)
15 Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom. 17 And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD�s flock will be led away into exile.

The prophet Jeremiah is attempting to awaken this secure and stubborn people to repentance, by the consideration of the judgments of God that were coming upon them. He calls upon them to repent and to humble their self before God by putting away their pride.



Jack Hayford, Midday Connection wrote that early in Matt Redman�s career, the popular Christian musician in Britain, was singing with his church's praise band when his pastor confronted them. They were proud of their musical performance, he said, but they were neglecting true worship. Insulted by the charge, the members of the band left the church�all, that is, except Redman. Shortly afterward, he wrote his hit song "The Heart of Worship," which included these words: "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, Jesus."

When someone speaks honestly to you there are two ways to respond. You can listen with either humility or pride. When you listen with humility you are open to hearing what others have to say. It allows you to reflect on your words through the eyes of another person. When you listen with pride your heart hardens and the only thing important is what you believe.

The Israelites were prideful and God was going to lead them away to exile for hardening their hearts. We think we are being strong when we are being prideful, but actually we are weak because we are not allowing God to work in our lives. Submit to God through humility and allow Him to lead you in your life!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/12 12:33 PM
Proverbs 13:21 (NLT)
21 Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.

King Solomon states two truths. 1) The person who engages in sin will be chased by trouble. It is like an enemy that pursues its prey waiting for the opportune time to strike. 2) Those that follow the path of righteousness will be rewarded with blessings, which consist of happiness, gladness, kindness, rightfulness, excellence and riches of life. Living a righteous life doesn�t mean one will not face trouble, but that in the face of trouble they will be able to count their blessings and face the adversity.


The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:34 said �Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning.� We should evaluate every step we take in life to ensure we are not following sin, but instead following the desires of God. When we follow sin trouble will eventually find us. I have talked with people who have said, �I just wish I had stopped what I was doing because I lost everything over my sinful desires.� So stop, think and ask � Am I following sin or am I following righteousness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/12 11:21 AM
Exodus 14:10-12 (NLT)
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD, 11 and they said to Moses, �Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren�t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn�t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, �Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It�s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!��

The Israelites have started their departure from Egypt for The Promised Land. They have been witnesses to the miracles God had performed to allow their freedom from Pharaoh. They were finally free of the slavery they had faced for decades. Yet as God was leading them away from the armies of Pharaoh they feared for their lives because they were at a place where they believed there was no escape.


When Joseph was the second command of Egypt - the Israelites prospered. However, when Joseph died it was not long before the Egyptians despised the Israelites and made slaves out of them. The Israelites performed some of the most arduous tasks. The Israelites cried out often to God in their distress, begging to be released from their bondage. God listened and brought them to a point where they were about to rid themselves of their Egyptian oppressors. All they could see was the Red Sea before them and the Egyptians behind them and they cried out to the LORD, and they said to Moses, �Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren�t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

Have you ever known anyone who was given an opportunity for a better chance in life and then they started giving excuses about why they wanted to go back to where they came from. I often watch a show on AETV called Intervention. On the show addicts are given a chance to become free from their addiction. The family comes together with the assistance of counselors to tell the addict they will get them the help they need to set them free. Yet instead of wanting to be free some of the addicts will reply with statements such as � Why are you doing this? Can�t you just let me live my life like I want? Why are you turning you back on me?

Just like the enslaved Israelites they want out of the bondage, but they don�t want to take the route given them. They would rather give up the help and keep going down a path of destruction. If you know someone like this reach out to them every chance you can. Reach out and share God�s love with them and show them there is hope. Maybe they will see like the Israelites that God is there to help and not to destroy them. There is a road of hope to follow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/12 12:01 PM
Hebrews 13:21 (NLT)
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

From the Commentary of Matthew Henry it says of verse 21 - Observe (1.) The perfection of the saints in every good work is the great thing desired by them and for them, that they may here have a perfection of integrity, a clear mind, a clean heart, lively affections, regular and resolved wills, and suitable strength for every good work to which they are called now, and at length a perfection of degrees to fit them for the employment and felicity of heaven. (2.) The way in which God makes his people perfect; it is by working in them always what is pleasing in his sight and that through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Observe [1.] There is no good thing wrought in us but it is the work of God; he works in us, before we are fit for any good work. [2.] No good thing is wrought in us by God, but through Jesus Christ, for his sake and by his Spirit. [3.] Eternal glory is due to him, who is the cause of all the good principles wrought in us and all the good works done by us. To this everyone should say, Amen.



God works in our lives to perfect us. Job of The Old Testament was a good and faithful man. Every morning he prayed for his family and offered sacrifices to God. Job remembered God and gave Him thanks. Satan wanted to destroy Job�s faith in God so he asked God to allow pain and suffering to enter into Job�s life. While Satan�s intent was to destroy Job, God�s intent was to work perfection into his life.

God won�t protect when His intention is to perfect your life. It is for God�s glory we face adversity and trials in our lives so that in the end we become more perfect. I can think of many examples of people who faced pain and suffering in their lives and became better because of it.

George Foreman who faced divorce after his wife could not cope with the new George said the pain was so fierce he told God, �If you'll take away this pain, I promise I'll tell people they can make it through anything.� George found the strength to move forward and he never forgot his promise to God.

When Evander Holyfield was in high school, he only weighed 110 pounds. He had an immeasurable tenacity but his football coaches felt he wasn�t tough enough to be on the field. Evander after that turned to boxing. Early on he wanted to quit boxing because he couldn�t beat a fighter named Caesar Colin in the junior Olympics, who he lost to twice. We know Evander succeeded and now he encourages others in their Christian walk.

Tyler Perry�s story is an excellent example of overcoming adversity. Perry went from being molested in a broken home to the president and founder of Tyler Perry Studios. Tyler has used his success to help others.

We may face problems but God is using those problems to perfect us and make us into something He can use for His Glory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/12 11:11 AM
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

The Apostle Paul said in verse 3, �If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn�t love others, I would have gained nothing.� In other words love is the most important thing when it comes to people. So the apostle continued in verses 4-7 to define love. The essence of love is summed up in the verses above.



Sadly there are many people in the world that don�t know love or love as it was meant to be. I remember a story a friend told about a neighbor who was knocking on their door at 1am in the morning. The neighbor�s husband had beaten her black and blue and she was pleading for help. My friend called the police while his wife tried to comfort her. She kept repeating, �He says he loves me, but what kind of love is this?�

I remember the testimony of a woman who had been a prostitute. Her pimp had rescued her from the street. He provided a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear and even a share of the money. He forced her into situations she was not comfortable with. Yet all the while he told her he loved her and if she loved him she would do these things for him. She did those things believing she was doing it out of love for him.

Even in the news lately we have heard and seen the results of the Sandusky trial. Perpetrators such as Sandusky will often reassure their victims they love them. They do things for them, which they say is out of love. Then they abuse and molest also saying that is part of love.

The examples above are not examples of love, but instead examples of sin. For The Bible tells us when we follow the desires of our sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.

Let�s put aside sin in all of our lives no matter how small it may be so that love may abound. Let us never think our sacrifices are enough, but let us understand the full extent of love and show love to others as it is intended to be shown.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/12 10:50 AM
Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life�that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God�s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God�s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Prior to these verse the apostle says, �And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can�t. I want to do what is good, but I don�t. I don�t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don�t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.� The Apostle wants to please God, but he knows sin is against him, dominating him and trying to hold him a slave. Thankfully he knows Jesus Christ is the answer to his struggle with sin. Jesus Christ provides the forgiveness, the mercy and the grace to move past the grip of sin and look to the love of God.



In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo Baggins passes on to Frodo a coveted ring. Gollum, one of the original owners of the ring, was twisted and monstrous, but he had not always been so. The longer he possessed the ring, however, the more the ring distorted his body, mind, and soul. He so loved the ring that he referred to it as "my precious." Bilbo Baggins steals the ring from Gollum. Bilbo does not fully appreciate the hold this ring has upon him until he attempts to turn it over to his cousin Frodo. Like Gollum, Bilbo has taken to referring to the ring as "my precious," and though he understands the danger and corrupting power of the ring, he is reluctant to let it go.

What happens is we are reluctant to let go of sin. Just like the ring, sin corrupts, ensnares, and even endangers the one that harbors it. Sin destroys and make our lives grotesque. Sin is hard to relinquish and that is why we need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Allow Jesus Christ to work in your life to remove the dominance of sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/03/12 11:00 AM
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is God�s will that His people should be comforted. In this verse the apostle reassures us there is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ Jesus, having repented of their sin and shown a desire to follow after the Spirit of God. The commentary of Matthew Henry tells us, �He does not say, "There is no accusation against them,�� for this there is; but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,�� for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. He does not say, "There is no cross, no affliction to them or no displeasure in the affliction,�� for this there may be; but no condemnation. They may be chastened of the Lord, but not condemned with the world. Now this arises from their being in Christ Jesus; by virtue of their union with him through faith they are thus secured. They are in Christ Jesus, as in their city of refuge, and so are protected from the avenger of blood. He is their advocate, and brings them off. There is therefore no condemnation, because they are interested in the satisfaction that Christ by dying made to the law. In Christ, God does not only not condemn them, but is well pleased with them.�


There are those who believed their sin is so horrendous God cannot forgive them. They believe even though Christ gave His life for their freedom from sin that it does not exclude them from God�s punishment. I have heard it and you may have heard it said, �God is punishing me for my sins.�

Satan wants us to believe that lie. If Satan cannot have us then he wants to render us ineffective to serve God by having us believe our sin is unforgivable. I heard a man recently say he once believed sin he had not confessed was so great God brought sickness upon one of his children. Let me clear this up, God does not punish us for our sin when we have placed our faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ.

I want to say one more time, �God does not punish us for our sin when we have placed our faith in salvation of Jesus Christ.� There are consequences resulting as of actions we take. We may commit a sin as a direct result we may suffer a consequence, but it is not God�s doing we suffer the consequence, but a result of the actions we took.

For instance if I steal, I may be arrested and imprisoned as a consequence, but God is not going to punish a member of my family for my actions. If anything my own actions would cause them harm. The sin I committed was forgiven long ago when Christ put sin to death upon the cross. Therefore God does not punish me, my family or anyone close to me. Instead I brought my own consequences, which is not punishment from God.

Hopefully you will see the truth in this message and allow yourself to feel the forgiveness, grace and mercy Christ offers. Hopefully you will no longer believe Satan�s lie, but instead trust in the loving grace of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/12 12:00 PM
James 1:3
1:3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (NLT)

James chapter 1 starts out with these 2 verses � (1) this letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations. Greetings! (2) Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. Then James leads into verse 3 to say when Christians face adversity, difficulties, pain, problems, issues, tough decisions, sickness, etc. � the endurance of your faith has an opportunity to grow.


I can relate very well to James 1:3 these past several months. I understand the struggles and adversity that come into life. Looking back at the past 3 months these are some of the issues our family has been dealing with.

My single mother had a mini-stroke.
I was in a car accident and totaled my car.
As a result of the accident I have been dealing with physical pain.
Medical bills have been pouring in one after another.
I had to purchase a new car � the other was paid for but the new one has payments.
My mother fell and started having dementia.
Our washing machine only 6 years old had to be replaced after it malfunctioned.
My future son-in-law, a chef, lost his job and is now trying to find a new one.
Our daughter is trying to obtain a home and now there are legal issues with the sale.
We have had to assist our daughter with the legal fees for an attorney.
My mother had to be moved from the hospital to assisted care � a costly expense.
My daughter has had to take time off work due to a chronic illness she has.

These are a handful of the most pressing issues we have dealt with as a family in recent months, but there are also the regular day to day issues we face as well. I won�t say I�m perfect at keeping a smiling face. I won�t say there aren�t nights where I don�t sleep well. And I can�t say there aren�t days when anxiety tries to overcome me. However I can say I know Christ is watching over me and encouraging me to face the trials. I am blessed to have Christian friends I can turn to and ask for prayer. I am blessed we are managing even though it�s a struggle. I am blessed I wasn�t killed in the auto accident, which would have left my wife to face these trials alone. I am glad even though it�s a struggle we can help our daughter and her future husband. God tells me I am to be thankful for all things that come our way, even the difficulties in life. And because of these trials I am learning I can endure and my strength to endure grows with my faith in Christ.

Let me encourage you! If you are facing the trials of life stay strong in the power of The Lord. You may be weak, but Christ is strong. Allow Christ to lead you, guide you and show you how to keep faith in Him. May God bless each and every one of you giving you the hope to face each new day that arises.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/12 11:20 AM
Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place--4 what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?

Psalm 8 dwells on the glory of God and His greatness. It acknowledges God�s creation of the universe and gives thanks that He allows us to watch over that which He has created.


When I was a young child my grandfather would wrap me up in a blanket on a cold night and take me out on the back porch to point out the constellations. It is a comfortable memory I still cherish. I loved looking at the heavens, observing the twinkling stars, and listening to my grandfather talk about the different ones. It�s been many years but I still look at the sky when the stars are out and think of those wonderful evenings just being there with my grandfather, sitting, looking and listening.

It is comforting to think God loves us so much that He gave us His creation to watch over, enjoy, and to use. God has blessed us with many things we often take for granted. Stop a moment today and give God thanks for the little things in your life. Praise God for the blessings and the good memories.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/12 11:53 AM
2 Peter 1:2-7 (NLT)
2 May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.3 As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! 4 And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.5 So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.6 Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.7 Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.

In these verses the Apostle Peter writes about living a godly and moral life. Moral excellence leads to a better understanding of God, which leads to one�s own self-control, which then leads to genuine love for others.


I think most people would like to say they try to live a godly and moral life, but what is that? A godly and moral life is where someone holds onto religious convictions and values of what they believe to be right or wrong. These values help us decide our actions in life. The Bible gives us some of the best examples of moral beliefs. The Bible also points out that which is considered to be against the nature of God, such as in Galatians 5:19-21 where it says, �Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such. If I am to hold onto a godly and moral life then I believe in what is right and I am opposed to what is wrong.

Even Ephesians 5 tells us to live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away our sins. It then goes on to say, let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes--these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Most of us know these are true moral values and they are meant to inspire each of us to live good lives. We hold them close to our heart so that we might learn how to love one another the way God intended. However there are some who try to distort this truth by saying when you hold onto a moral value you hate anyone else who does not hold that same value. That is so far from the truth. Remember the purpose of having godly and moral values is so we grow to have genuine love for everyone.

I believe it is wrong to lie, but I can be honest and say I know I have lied before. I know it is wrong to hate, but there have been times I could not control my feelings. I know it is wrong to talk about others and yet I have done that too. It is why I have compassion for those who struggle against what is considered to be godly and moral. We might know what is right, but we often don�t do it. We might know what is wrong, but we do it anyway.

When I hear someone standup and say, �This is a moral value I believe in�, I�m not hearing them say they hate anyone or wish to do them harm. I�m hearing them say this is what I believe best for me that I may learn to love in the manner my God wants me to love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/12 01:17 PM
Mark 10:7-12 (NLT)
7 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife 8 and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.� 10 Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11 He told them, �Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.�

In these verses Jesus discusses the institution of marriage. Jesus said it was God�s intent for a man and woman to be joined together as one in marriage. When asked about divorce Jesus said it was God�s intent for man and woman to remain married, but Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of people�s hearts. And the act of divorce and marrying another was committing the sin of adultery.



Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, told the Baptist Press that he and his company are "guilty as charged" when it comes to a stance on traditional family values and, namely, a stance against gay marriage. Cathy says in the Baptist Press that he doesn't run a "Christian business" per se, but that the organization is run on Biblical principles. In a statement to CNN, Chick-fil-A spokesman Don Perry said that the company's intent, though, is to leave the debate over gay marriage "to the government and political arena."

Chick-fil-A has a long history of exhibiting its Christian values. The chain's 1,600 stores are closed on Sundays nationwide. It's hardly the only fast-food company in the United States to exhibit those values, though. Since the early 1980s, In-n-Out Burger has printed references to Bible verses on its packaging.

I have often said Christians must stand firm in their faith. I am proud of Dan Cathy for taking a public stand on Marriage, because not only is it his right to do so, it is also his calling as a Christian. There are those who want to call this intolerance, but I submit those same people are being intolerant to a Christian�s belief. They want to call personal belief�s hatred. This is not hatred, but a belief of faith. If Dan Cathy believes marriage is between one woman and one man that is his right to believe. It is also his right to instill those principles in the company he owns; just as other companies have a right to instill their work ethics and values.

I believe as Chick-fil-A�s spokesman Don Perry said, the debate over gay marriage should be left to the government and political arena. After all, a single individual or company cannot enact laws to govern others. We all have a right to express our own personal belief and let those beliefs take place in our legislative process. We all have a right to vote on these matters when they are presented before us. Having an opinion is not hatred; it�s an opinion no matter what side you are on.

I support all people who want to vote and express their opinion. We all have our own beliefs and it�s our right to take them to the voting poll. Instead of name calling, spewing hatred -- get out and vote. Call your local representative and voice your opinion so you may be heard. If you feel that strong about your belief support those who agree with you.

I also want you to know whoever you are; Jesus said I should love all people. I try to follow that belief and love everyone no matter what their difference of opinion may be. It�s ok if you disagree with me because I may disagree with you, but I promise to still love despite the disagreement.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/12 11:29 AM
Luke 10:3 (KJV)
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

In this verse Jesus tells the disciples they must set out on their duty with the expectation of trouble and persecution. Their enemies will be as wolves, vicious, cruel and ready to shred them into pieces. The enemies will howl as wolves trying to terrify, threaten and make them run away from their obligations as Christians. Yet they are to press forward as peaceful and innocent lambs.


I am often reminded of the story of Elijah who ran from Jezebel after she had slain the godly prophets around him. Elijah hid out in a cave in fear for his life; depressed over the murder of so many of God�s people. Elijah felt like he was all alone, chases by wolves, trying to stand up for God. Yet God called out to Elijah to encourage him and said, �I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.� In other words Jezebel failed to kill all of God�s prophets because God had preserved 7,000 prophets who had devoted themselves totally to Him. Elijah was not alone after all, but had 7,000 others who would stand up with him.

Sometimes in our Christian walk we may feel like we are alone when we stand up for God�s word. However we must remember there are others who are willing to stand up with us. We must as Christians support one another and stand up in one voice to let others know what we believe about God. Our duty is not to attack individuals, but to speak up on morality and speak out against sin.

I am proud of the many who took part in standing up for the free speech of God�s word when they participated in joining thousands of others by going to Chick-fil-a on August 1st. There was picture after picture showing crowds forming around Chick-fil-a buildings patronizing them. May we as Christians continue to support what God has ordained and stand up for His word. May we be like the 7,000 prophets who devoted themselves to God and did not bow to evil.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/12 12:22 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.


In these verses the apostle is writing to the Corinthians about the qualities of love. The apostle tells us what love is and what it is not. In John 13:34 Jesus said, �So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.� This was an additional command from the Son of God that we should love each other, so it is with importance that we understand love.







The famous and luxurious Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, was originally owned and managed by George and Edith Vanderbilt, an elegant couple known for their exceptional treatment of rich and famous guests. But today when people summarize the Vanderbilts' management of the Biltmore House, they don't just retell stories about how they treated their wealthy guests; they also point to the story of how George Vanderbilt treated a young employee named Bessie Smith.


Smith was a teenager when she began working at the Biltmore, and she was intimidated by its opulence. On her first day as a server, she walked into the house's grand banquet hall and, startled by the vastness of the room, dropped the tray of monogrammed china she was carrying. George Vanderbilt, a professorial figure with dark hair and a slightly curved moustache, rose from his chair as his guests looked on, their eyes begging: What on earth are you going to say about this distraction? But he didn't say anything. Instead, he got down on his hands and knees and helped her pick up the shards before saying, 'Come see me in the morning.'" Bessie Smith assumed she was going to be fired. Instead, George Vanderbilt promoted Bessie to chambermaid, so she wouldn't have to carry such heavy dishes. [Leigh Ann Henion, "Biltmore Insider's Tour," Our State North Carolina (March 2011)]


George Vanderbilt was not irritated with Bessie, but instead was patient. George could have stood prideful in front of his guests and rudely chastised this young girl, but he instead showed love to kindly help this young girl.


Do you understand the love, grace and mercy God extends to all? If not seek out God and His Son Jesus and find out the answers for yourself.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/12 12:12 PM
Romans 7:15-19 (NLT)
15 I don�t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don�t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can�t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don�t. I don�t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

In these verses the apostle describes his struggle with sin. He does not understand how he could want to do what is right, but doesn�t do it. The apostle knows there is a battle taking place within him � on one side he wants to do what is right and on the other side he is pulled towards sin. Verse 19 sums it up well, �I want to do what is good, but I don�t. I don�t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.�


How many of you feel like the apostle? I know personally I do. I cannot number the times I have told myself I want to obey the Lord and then did the complete opposite. I remember telling my mother as a child �I didn�t want to be a teenager because they grew up and get into trouble.� She said she couldn�t stop me from being a teenager - and she was right. I eventually turned 13 and in those teen years I often sinned. Even as an adult I tell myself I want to do what is right, but I still catch myself committing the sins I so much wanted to avoid.

The apostle tells us in verses 9-13, �At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law�s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.�

As we begin to understand the Lord we find ourselves in a battle. I am aware God does not want me to covet and yet what do I do? I find myself desiring those things I do not need or do not belong to me. The laws made me realize those desires are present and against what God wants for me.

In the Old Testament God made covenants between Himself and man. These covenants were agreements mediated between God and man that said if you followed His laws God would bring blessings into your life, but if you disobeyed His laws there would be curses you must recon with.

The New Testament brought about a New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 gave us a preview of this covenant. The day is coming,� says the Lord, �when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,� says the Lord. �But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,� says the Lord. �I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, �You should know the Lord.� For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,� says the Lord. �And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.�

In the Old Testament the people did not always follow God�s word so they had to deal with the curses brought against them. In the New Testament Jesus mediated a New Covenant with God for Man. Jesus paid the debt for sin for all time through his death on the cross. There was no longer a need for a system of curses and blessing. Instead God put the law on the hearts of man so they would know what is right and wrong. They would continue to battle against sin in their lives, but when we they failed it was not a permanent failure. They could ask for and receive God�s forgiveness and the sin was never remembered again. Jesus blessed us in a tremendous way. We were freed from the slavery of sin that we might live to please God without fear of retribution when we slipped and fell. The laws were not removed, but the law no long had a grip on us that said one failure meant condemnation. There may be consequences from our own actions, but the curses of God would no longer be upon us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/12 01:54 PM
Proverbs 10:12 (NLT)
12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

King Solomon tells us hatred is a great mischief-maker, always trying to stir up conflicts and add problems to circumstances. Hatred readily brings a person to do the devil�s work. Hatred takes pleasure in setting neighbors against each other with misrepresentations and lies that create sparks of contention. Love, however, is the great peacemaker and covers a multitude of sins. There are often occasions of discord, but when love enters the picture instead of aggravating the offence, love extinguished the flames of the argument and conceals the sparks of contention. Love will excuse an offense that is often a mistake or done without ill intention. Love recovers peace and quickly restores fellowship.



I started out this morning to write about hatred, but the more I looked at statistics on hatred and quotes and news articles on hatred I began to feel strife being stirred up in myself. I was actually beginning to get angry looking at statistics and news articles about hate. So I�m changing my focus and turned my devotion towards love.

Solomon tells us love makes up for all offences. It is hard to be angry with someone as they face you back in love. I have watched the TV show Intervention before and many times the person facing the intervention will become angry. They feel resentment and they fear what their family is trying to do to them. But as the family expresses their love for the individual the hatred and feelings of resentment often fade. There is nothing like love to quench the feelings that grow from hatred.

I love tell the story of how one day I was just having a miserable day. Every time I would say something negative my wife would just look back at me and say �I love you� and she would just smile. After a while I couldn�t complain any more, but instead had to smile back as she attempted to make me happy through love.

As I said earlier just looking at hate brought up strong emotions. We all should turn away from feelings that stir up hate and instead seek out ways to love people. People who focus on negative thoughts and feelings will often direct their frustrations at others. If the other person is not prepared they will eventually begin to respond to the hatred and a quarrel will break out. Let us all learn to love and seek out positive feelings that are good for us. Allow God to work in our lives to show us where we need to change and how we can love others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/13/12 11:55 AM
Proverbs 13:10 (NLT)
10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

Matthew Henry says, �Foolish pride is the great make-bate. Would you know whence come wars and fighting? They come from this root of bitterness. Whatever hand other lusts may have in contention (passion, envy, covetousness), pride has the great hand; it is its pride that it will itself sow discord and needs no help. Pride makes men impatient of contradiction in either their opinions or their desires, impatient of competition and rival ship, impatient of contempt, or anything that looks like a slight, and impatient of concession, and receding, from a conceit of certain right and truth on their side; and hence arise quarrels among relations and neighbors, quarrels in states and kingdoms, in churches and Christian societies. Men will be revenged; will not forgive, because they are proud. [However] those that are humble and peaceable are wise and well advised. Those that will ask and take advice, that will consult their own consciences, their Bibles, their ministers, their friends, and will do nothing rashly, are wise, as in other things, so in this, that they will humble themselves, will stoop and yield, to preserve quietness and prevent quarrels.�



There are decisions that will lead us away from a relationship with God. Our choices may not just have negative effects on us and our own walk with Jesus, but it�s very possible that those choices will damage other people�s relationship with Jesus.

�During a 1923 training exercise, a naval destroyer called the USS Delphy led a flotilla of seven vessels down the California coast. The USS Delphy was captained by Lieutenant Commander Donald T. Hunter, an experienced navigator and instructor at the Naval Academy. Without warning, about half way on their training mission, a thick blanket of fog descended on the ships. In the midst of the fog (Hunter claimed it looked like "pea soup"), Hunter couldn't get an accurate evaluation of his location. Contrary to Hunter's calculations, the lead ship was headed right into Devil's Jaw, a scant two miles off the California coast. But that didn't stop Hunter from plowing ahead. That is not surprising, for Hunter was known for his self-confident decisiveness [pride] and what others called his �magic infallibility� to guide his ship.
�Traveling at 20 knots, suddenly the USS Delphy smashed broadside into the rocky Point Arguello shoreline. The force of the massive collision of welded steel and jagged rock split the hull of the USS Delphy in half. One by one, the other destroyers followed the Delphy's lead and smashed into the rocks. Twenty-two naval men died. The accident resulted in the loss of all seven ships. It still stands as one of the worst peacetime naval disasters in history.� [Robert McKenna, The Dictionary of Nautical Literacy (McGraw Hill, 2003), p. 97; Charles Lockwood & Hans Christian Adamson, Tragedy at Honda (Naval Institute Press, 1986), pp. 29-49]

I�m sure someone on the deck was trying to give advice about ship�s course, which the captain falsely believed to be correct. In the end one man�s decisions lead to both ships and life being lost. The accident was one of the worst recorded and to this day no other ship has been named Delphy.

Listening to advice is a wise thing to do; and putting that advice to use ever wiser. Pride that holds back from listening to sound advice will often to lead to disaster and serious conflict in life. Are you taking time to listen wisely and make sure pride is not getting in your way?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/12 10:43 AM
Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I�m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

In this Psalm King David asserts God is everywhere and knows everything. As our creator God knows and understands our most reserved thoughts. David goes on to say God�s knowledge is too great and wonderful for him to understand. God is truly omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.



Natalie Grant sings a beautiful song called �The Real Me� that asks the question in the following way:
Foolish heart looks like we're here again
Same old game of plastic smile
Don't let anybody in
Hiding my heartache, will this glass house break
How much will they take before I'm empty
Do I let it show, does anybody know?

Let me encourage you, if you are asking these questions:
-Does anybody know the heartaches I feel?
-Does anybody understand the pain I bear?
-Does anybody understand the difficulties I face?
-Does anybody understand the mask of frailty I hide behind?

Let me assure you there is an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God who understands. Yes, God does understand and is concerned about every problem you face and His desire is to love you through each of those issues. God is present with you every moment, knows the real you, and is just waiting for you to loosen your grasp on your fears and take His hand and trust Him. Let me encourage you today along with Natalie�s beautiful song to turn to God and ask for His help however great or small the problem might be. Let God love you through the process without hiding behind a mask. For God sees you as a beautiful and precious child of His.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/16/12 11:09 AM
Psalm 73:21-26 (NLT)
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant� I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. 23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

This is a psalm of Asaph that tells us of his battle with a strong temptation to envy people who were prideful and wicked; for they had much prosperity among them. The psalmist explains above how he eventually overcame the temptation that was discouraging him.



John Yates, in "An Attitude of Gratitude," writes -- I read once that the devil was having a yard sale, and all of his tools were marked with different prices. They were a fiendish lot. There was hatred, jealously, deceit, lust, pride�all at expensive prices. But over to the side of the yard on display was a tool more obviously worn than any of the other tools. It was also the most costly. The tool was labeled, DISCOURAGEMENT. When questioned, the devil said, �It�s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can�t bring down my victims with any of the rest of these tools, I use discouragement because so few people realize that it belongs to me.�

Asaph was fighting discouragement. He looked and saw people who were prosperous. They didn�t seem to face the problems most people faced. They were very prideful in their attitude. Asaph said they wore pride like a jeweled necklace. In their pride they spoke evil and sought to crush others with their superiority. Their pride even led them to boast against God saying, �What does God know?�

Asaph realized what these wicked people had could be taken from them at any moment. He says in verses 18-20, �Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.�

In actuality what did these wicked people have � NOTHING. For everything they had could be taken from them in a blink of an eye. They had forsaken God - so there would be no one to comfort them; there would be no one to counsel them; there would be no one to give them hope.

Asaph knew having God as the strength of his heart was more important than pride, arrogance or wealth. Asaph had God who would hold his hand through any difficulty he faced.

Is God the strength of your heart? I pray you would put all your faith and trust in the Lord that no matter what you face God will be there with you. I pray when you become discouraged you will remember God is there holding your hand, walking with you and encouraging you along the way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/12 11:10 AM
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

This proverb speaks to parents, guardians and instructors of children about the propagation of wisdom that it might not be left only to past generations. The proverb says to train children in the way they should go, not the way they might be tempted to go. With good impressions left upon them hopefully the child as an adult will follow the wisdom given to them that they may discern and choose the correct paths of life.



There was a family in the San Francisco Bay area that grew up with that kind of commitment [stated in Proverbs 22:6]. The son's name was David Kraft. His father was a pastor, a godly pastor in the South Bay. David Kraft grew up with a father who constantly remembered God's faithfulness in the past so that David might trust in God in all of his tomorrows. David grew up in love with Jesus, and he felt the call of God into the pastoral ministry. He went to Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary. David was a big, athletic young man. At the age of 32, he was six feet two inches tall and weighed two hundred pounds. He worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. That dear young man was diagnosed as having cancer. It wracked his body, and, over a period of time, he dropped from two hundred pounds in weight to eighty pounds. When he was about ready to pass from this life into eternity, he asked his father to come into his hospital room. Lying there in the bed, he looked up and said, "Dad, do you remember when I was a little boy, how you used to just hold me in your arms close to your chest?" David's father nodded. Then David said, "Do you think, Dad, you could do that one more time? One last time?" Again his father nodded. He bent down to pick up his 32-year-old six-foot two-inch, eighty-pound son, and held him close to his chest so the son's face was right next to the father's face. They were eyeball to eyeball. Tears were streaming down both faces. The son said simply to the father, "Thank you for building the kind of character into my life that can enable me to face even a moment like this." ["Introducing Christ to Your Child," Preaching Today, Tape No. 92.]

We hope we never have to face what David�s father had to face, but at least he had given his son a gift to face life no matter how harsh it might be. David�s father gave him hope of an eternal life. David�s father had taught David that when he needed his father he would be there to hold and comfort him.

It is comforting to know we have a Father in heaven that passes his wisdom to us. Our Father in Heaven is always available to guide us and show us the right way to go. Our Eternal God is always present with us, comforting us and keeping us close to Him.

Share your love of God with your children. Let them see how you depend upon God. Let them see the wisdom God brings into your life. Let God be a part of your family, providing wisdom so you can train up your child in the way they should go.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/12 12:48 PM
Psalm 16:11
11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16 is a psalm of thanksgiving penned to review the many generous times God delivered him from troublesome times. David gives thanks to God for all He has done. In verse 11 above David says God will show him the way of life. It will be God who grants him joy when he is near God. And most important David says the true pleasures of living are found within God for eternity, not just for the moment, not just for today, not for tomorrow � BUT ALWAYS.



Many of you remember Pat Summerall, a well-known sports announcer and spokesman for Timex watches. What you might not know is Pat struggled with alcoholism. In his book, Summerall: On and Off the Air by Pat Summerall (Oct 14, 2008), Summerall gives us some insight into his life. ��The intervention really opened my eyes about what life is all about, who was accountable and who wasn�t.� �Where the advice or the message or wherever the consideration, the choices that I made, who told me what was right and who told me what was wrong; I finally discovered that there was a higher power.�

His real understanding came �When I was at the Betty Ford Clinic there were two books you could read,� remembers Summerall. �One was the Holy Bible and the other was Alcoholic Anonymous Bible � every chapter is about a drunk in the AA Bible. So, I started reading the Holy Bible, started in Genesis. The more I read, the more inquisitive I got, the more I wanted to know about the Bible and what it was all about. It gave my conscious information about making the right choice. And when I got out I never had a craving. I have never had another desire to have another drink.�

Summerall found Christ and requested to be baptized at the age of 64. �It was such a magnificent feeling,� smiles Summerall. �After the baptism I felt so clean I knew what people were talking about when they talk about being born again. I had that feeling. I had a feeling of peace. I felt smarter, lighter, quicker; it was a feeling like I�ve never had before.�

From Psalm 16:11 we understand God is the true source of our joy and our pleasure. When we look for joy and pleasure in other things, such as alcohol, drugs or sex -- all we are going to find is disappointment, misery and painful life experiences. We need to put aside all foolishness and turn to God first to meet all of our needs. Thankfully Pat Summerall found out before it was too late. Alcohol had damaged his liver and he was within 18 hours of dying when they told him they found a donor. �Eighteen hours they told me I had,� says Summerall, shaking his head in disbelief. �But now I have a new life. That�s why I decided to write the book.�

Where are you looking for your joy and pleasure because you may want to reconsider your choice?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/23/12 11:13 AM
1 Samuel 25:40-44 (NLT)
40 When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, �David has sent us to take you back to marry him.� 41 She bowed low to the ground and responded, �I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!� 42 Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David�s messengers. And so she became his wife. 43 David also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives. 44 Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David�s wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti son of Laish.

These verses follow a confrontation with Nabal, Abigail�s husband. David�s men need supplies as they were on the run from Saul�s army. Nabal rejected David�s request for aid and insulted David. In his anger David was ready to put Nabal to death, but Abigail interceded by taking supplies to the men. David thankful spared Nabal. When Abigail told Nabal of his near fate he had a stroke and died several days later. In the verses above David decides to take Abigail as his wife, along with one of her servants, Ahinoam as a second wife. In the meantime Saul, David�s father-in-law had given David�s first wife Michal, Saul�s daughter, who loved David, to Palti son of Laish.



Anyone reading the story of King David�s life would think they were following a soup opera. So far we have David on the run. David�s first wife has been given to another man because David abandoned her. David marries not only the woman who helped him, but also her servant. And we haven�t even gotten to the story of Bathsheba or the rape of David�s daughter by one of his sons. You can pretty much say David had lived a very dysfunctional life.

The sad part is the dysfunction carried over into the life of King Solomon, David�s son. King Solomon had over 600 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon followed much of the same pattern as his father taking on new wives and allowing himself to be led away from God. Many today might see this as an addiction, since their uncontrolled behaviors had serious consequences.

In today�s world, the reliable figures for the number of diagnosed sex addicts are difficult to come by, but the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, an education and sex-addiction treatment organization, estimates that between 3 and 5 percent of the U.S. population�or more than 9 million people�could meet the criteria for addiction. Some 1,500 sex therapists treating compulsive behavior are practicing today, up from fewer than 100 a decade ago, say several researchers and clinicians, while dozens of rehabilitation centers now advertise treatment programs, up from just five or six in the same period.

Unfortunately many dysfunctions get passed down from generation to generation until someone decides they need to end the family problems. You may not even realize your family has dysfunctional issues until you talk to someone outside the family. Often people think what they are dealing with is normal. They may think abusive actions are normal. They may think alcoholism is normal. They may think addiction like gambling, sex, and drugs are normal. The problem is they are NOT NORMAL, but they person thinks they are normal because that is how they lived within the family.

Pray God would let you see areas in your family�s life that could be improved and changed. Pray God would show you a route of escape and a hope for the future. Pray God would bestow his love, mercy and grace upon you and your family. Search for what should be normal.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/12 11:40 AM
Proverbs 24:12 (NLT)
12 Don�t excuse yourself by saying, �Look, we didn�t know.� For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

In this proverb we are told ignorance is no excuse for not understanding what we should do. It goes on further to say God sees your every action and understands the intent of your heart. God who guards your soul knows you knew. We are told God renders to every man according to his works, not only the commission of evil works, but the omission of good works.


What are the first words you will probably hear if you get caught for speeding and then say, �I didn�t know the speed limit.� We have heard the response many times on TV, �Ignorance of the law is no excuse.� If we are not sure what the speed limit should be there are rules we can apply and even then we should make an attempt to find out the speed limit.

When Christ died on the cross a new covenant was established. Christ paid for all the sins of the world through His death therefore justifying us before God. Still it is our duty to avoid that which is wrong and do that which is good. Hebrews 10:16 says, �This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.� There is no excuse for the ignorance of God�s laws for they have been places on our hearts and minds.

Most of us know when things are right and wrong. There is usually a still quiet voice speaking to us. Listen to God�s voice as He speaks to your heart and follow His ways of goodness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/12 12:48 PM
Proverbs 27:5 (NLT)
5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love!
It is good for us to be told of our faults and what we can do to better ourselves. One may think it is love to keep secret a sin that a friend commits, but it better the sin to be pointed out in love so the wrong might be made right. Love should not be hidden, but should be like a light revealing that which is wrong, while providing comfort and security.


A single man in our congregation was behaving inappropriately toward women. He badgered some women with unwanted phone calls. His conversations were reportedly marked with sexual suggestiveness. The situation required rebuke, and, if that was not effective, discipline. I asked this man to meet with me.

"I have been made aware," I said, that a number of women in our congregation are offended, some quite angered by things you have been doing. Let me be specific. You have raised inappropriate sexual subjects in conversation. There have been women who have reported that you have phoned them in a manner that they consider harassment. I'll be glad to give specific examples if you feel you need them."

The man cautiously admitted that there was substantial truth to the reports. Then I went on.

"I want you to hear me very carefully so there is no misunderstanding between us. I have thought about this for several days. I have asked God to give me wisdom, and I want to speak in Christian love and respect to you.

"But I want you to know that I am one who has a responsibility for the spiritual leadership of this congregation. Your behavior has been unacceptable according to Scripture and according to the covenantal life of this church. People have been hurt, and you have lost your credibility in their eyes.

"Christian men do not, as they say, 'hit' on women. They treat them with respect and honor. And if you do not understand how this is done, I will be happy to team you up with a man who can provide instruction for you.

"If there is one more instance of inappropriate behavior of this kind, I will immediately bring your name before the board of elders and ask them to put you under discipline. Have I made myself clear?"

The man assured me that he understood. I concluded our meeting with prayer, acknowledging God's presence in the conversation.

Later he took me up on my offer to connect him with a mature man who could provide guidance that he clearly had not received from other sources. I never got another adverse report about him again.

[Gordon MacDonald is editor-at-large of Leadership and chair of World Relief.]

The key sentence above was �I have asked God to give me wisdom, and I want to speak in Christian love and respect to you.� When we deal with the issues of others we must do it in wisdom and love. We are not there to hurt or offend, but instead teach and educate the person about their wrong. In love we guide in the right direction that they may no longer sin. If there are any of you struggling with sin ask someone you trust to hold you accountable so that love can reach out to you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/12 11:30 AM
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Here the half-brother of Jesus writes to Christians saying we should consider it an opportunity when we face difficulties in life. For when we face those difficulties our endurance is developed, perfected and completed.


Dustin Armstrong writes in �My Faith is My Witness�, Ignite Your Faith (June/July 2006) pg8 - Before I decided to live for Christ, I'd party with friends. As a guy who wanted to be a "cool and popular jock," I thought it was the thing to do. I'd drink, act stupid, and end up making a fool of myself. But I didn't care, because I was popular and one of my school's top athletes. As for God, I thought he was for weak people. If Christians tried to tell me about Jesus, I'd make fun of them. I thought Christians who always talked about God were crazy. Then something happened my sophomore year that changed everything.

My little sister Ashley, who was a freshman at the time, was riding in a car driven by one of her friends. Worried about getting home late, Ashley's friend started speeding. The car hit a rough railroad track and flipped over. Ashley soon lay in a hospital on life support, in a coma, very close to death.

At first, I was angry with God for what happened to my sister. I shouted to heaven, "If you are who you say you are, how could you let this happen?!" As angry as I was at God, I began to think about how much I really loved my family. It wasn't like I hadn't cared about them before, but all the pain�all those trips to the hospital and all those times we cried together�just began to bring us much closer together. My family suddenly seemed more important than anything else in the whole world.

Even though my sister managed to survive, we were told her brain injury was so severe she'd probably never walk or talk again. But in the months that followed the accident, I helped coach her along as she struggled to stand, and then, eventually, take a few tiny steps. I also listened in amazement as she began to put words together and form sentences. Slowly, very slowly, she was getting better. And slowly, very slowly, I was starting to change.

Along with realizing how important my family was to me, I also thought a lot about God and his place in everything that had happened. Instead of blaming him for it all, I began to thank him for my sister's life and for my whole family. I also began to see that all those things I'd lived for�like partying and acceptance by the popular crowd�weren't really important. Even sports no longer seemed as important as they used to.

Instead, I started going to youth group and really enjoying it. I liked having conversations with my friends about God and Christianity. I wanted to know as much as I could about following God. During my junior year, I committed my life to Christ. ------


Justin was pulled to God and Christ through a hardship in his life. He found strength in God. What he thought was important faded and suddenly what had seemed weak and crazy became his desire. God can pull you through the rough moments of life and make you stronger if you will just let Him just like He did for Justin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/12 11:09 AM
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

This verse tells us our primary duty to God. We are to love God with all our heart. In Hebrew the word �leab� is used for heart and it means we are to love from our most inward part, our conscience, our mind, our will and our understanding. In Hebrew the word soul is �nephesh� meaning our life that breathes, contains desires, and is the seat of our appetites, the seat of our emotions and passions. Finally there is our strength or might, which is �m@�od� in Hebrew. We are to love God with all our might in abundance, to a great degree, and exceedingly.



Robert Chesebrough believed in his product. He's the fellow who invented Vaseline, a petroleum jelly refined from rod wax, the ooze that forms on shafts of oil rigs. He so believed in the healing properties of his product that he became his own guinea pig. He burned himself with acid and flame; he cut and scratched himself so often and so deeply that he bore the scars of his tests the rest of his life. But he proved his product worked. People had only to look at his wounds, now healed, to see the value of his work--and the extent of his belief. -- Ralph Walker, Concord, North Carolina. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 1.

Robert Chesebrough had extreme faith in his product and went to great depths to demonstrate his belief and faith. What if we put the same effort in our belief and faith of God and Christ? What if we bore Christ�s scars by our love for Him? We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. Let us show our love for God by living for Him, demonstrating His love for others and giving our life to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/12 11:36 AM
1 John 2:1 (NLT)
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

The apostle John writes to encourage us against sin, yet if we do sin we have an advocate who pleads for us. Matthew Henry in his commentary writes, �We have an Advocate. The original name is sometimes given to the Holy Ghost, and then it is rendered, the Comforter. He acts within us; he puts pleas and arguments into our hearts and mouths; and so is our advocate, by teaching us to intercede for ourselves. But here is an advocate without us, in heaven and with the Father. The proper office and business of an advocate is with the judge; with him he pleads the client�s cause. The Judge with whom our advocate pleads is the Father, his Father and ours. He who was our Judge in the legal court (the court of the violated law) is our Father in the gospel court, the court of heaven and of grace. His throne or tribunal is the mercy-seat. And he that is our Father is also our Judge, the supreme arbitrator of our state and circumstances, either for life or death, for time or eternity.



Yesterday I sat in traffic court along with many other people to face a traffic ticket I had been issued. Most people were representing themselves, but I was blessed to be represented by an attorney. As the judge called each name every individual had to stand and proclaim their innocence or guilt. If the judge asked questions they had to respond. Some were taken off guard as the judge questioned their innocence and they had a difficult time answering. When my name was called the attorney, my advocate, stood up for me. The attorney explained the circumstances and made the appropriate legal pleas to the judge.

In heaven Jesus Christ is our advocate. When Satan hurls charges against us towards God�Jesus stands up to defend us. Jesus speaks on our behalf to God the Father and pleads our defense. If judgment demands a price to be paid Jesus steps forward and says, �I have already paid the price for their sin.� Case ended, nothing else need be said. Jesus is our savior, our redeemer, our hope, our advocate, and the defender of our soul. Give praise to Jesus for all He has done in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/31/12 11:14 AM
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don�t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God�s own will.

In these verses the apostle tells us how the Holy Spirit speaks out for us on our behalf. There are times when life is so frustrating or when we are so confused about life -- we don�t even know where to start with our prayers to God. So in our silence the Holy Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot even be expressed. The Holy Spirit pleads on our behalf for those good things that are in accordance with the will of God.



In Max Lucado�s, Cure for the Common Life (Thomas Nelson, 2008), pp. 69-70, he writes --The bank sent me an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of my daughters. I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend. What should I do? Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won't satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity. Zero. Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option. After all, I had $25.37. I could replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well. Since she calls me Dad, I did what dads do. I covered my daughter's mistake. When I told her she was overdrawn, she said she was sorry. Still, she offered no deposit. She was broke. She had one option, "Dad, could you�" "Honey," I interrupted, "I already have." I met her need before she knew she had one. Long before you knew you needed grace, your Father did the same. He made an ample deposit. Before you knew you needed a Savior, you had one. And when you ask him for mercy, he answers, "Dear child. I've already given it."

God is listening and watching out for his children. God responds to our needs often before we even become aware of what we need. Romans 5:8, "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners". Many of us didn�t realize the sins of our life, but God did and God covered the debt for us through His Son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/02/12 02:12 AM
I think that's a poor decision.
The father should allow the daughter to face the natural consequences of her actions.

I recently failed to pay my city income tax. I was summoned to court (same day as my divorce court, tax court at the City courthouse in the am, divorce court at county courthouse a few hours later).....

And I faced the natural consequences for my behavior. I was fined $100 and told by the judge (there were a group of 30 or so people he addressed all at one time) that we need to follow the law or be punished.
I will make sure I never neglect to pay the city tax again.

Allowing people to face natural consequences allows them to mature
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/12 11:46 AM
Originally Posted by HDW
I think that's a poor decision.
The father should allow the daughter to face the natural consequences of her actions.

I recently failed to pay my city income tax. I was summoned to court (same day as my divorce court, tax court at the City courthouse in the am, divorce court at county courthouse a few hours later).....

And I faced the natural consequences for my behavior. I was fined $100 and told by the judge (there were a group of 30 or so people he addressed all at one time) that we need to follow the law or be punished.
I will make sure I never neglect to pay the city tax again.

Allowing people to face natural consequences allows them to mature


The story above was to show God's grace. Imagine showing up at the court for failure to pay your taxes and the judge said "your fine has already been paid." That is what Jesus did for us on the cross, He paid our debt for our sin.

I agree in life we most often need to face the consequences of our action, but when grace steps in it sure is nice.

Thank you for your feedback and God bless you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/12 11:47 AM
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me�a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy to adhere to the doctrine of truth he has learned, which was shaped by his love for Jesus. He is to hold fast and guard what he has been taught allowing the Holy Spirit to work in his life to guide him. Faith and love must go together; it is not enough to believe the sound words, and to give an assent to them, but we must love them, believe their truth and love their goodness.



A certain preacher and an atheistic barber were walking through city slums. The barber said, "This is why I can't believe in your God of love. If he was as kind as you say, he wouldn't permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He wouldn't allow these poor street people to get addicted. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things." The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt. His hair was hanging down his neck, and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. The preacher said to his friend: "You can't be a good barber, or you wouldn't permit a man like this to continue living here without a haircut and a shave." Indignant, the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man's condition? He has never come in my shop. If he had, I could've fixed him up and made him look like a gentleman!" The preacher said, "Then don't blame God for allowing people to continue in their evil ways. He invites them to come and be saved."

We must acknowledge that there are reasons and actions God does that are simply beyond our comprehension. When Job questioned God, God came back and answered basically by saying, �Where were you when I made the world, how is it kept together.� And Job had to sit back and awe and admit that he did not understand all that God does or why He does the things He does.

Continue in learning the truth about God from reading His word and by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Sometimes we have to remain silent to allow God to speak to us instead of us insisting to speak over Him. Take time and listen to what God has to say to you and guard the precious trust that is entrusted to you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/12 11:22 AM
Mark 2:5-12 (NLT)
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, �My child, your sins are forgiven.� 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 �What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!� 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, �Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man �Your sins are forgiven,� or �Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk�? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.� Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 �Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!� 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, �We�ve never seen anything like this before!�

This is the account of the paralyzed man brought to Jesus by friends. Desperate to see their friend healed they broke through the ceiling and lowered their friend through the hole in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the man was paralyzed, yet instead of immediately healing the man He said, �My child, your sins are forgiven.� Jesus knew the man�s number one need while others saw his physical need.



Richard Moore of Derry, Northern Ireland, was just ten years old when blinded by a British soldier who fired a rubber bullet at him at point-blank range. He was on his way home from his local school. For as long as he could remember, Richard wanted to meet the soldier who shot him. Thirty years after the incident, he finally did. After discovering who the soldier was and where he lived, Richard wrote to him to get permission to visit, and then he met with him face-to-face, offering his personal, heartfelt forgiveness. Here�s what Richard later said about the experience: �After that, something peculiar and wonderful happened. Something inside me changed, something paradoxical. I began to realize that the gift of forgiveness I thought I was bestowing on the soldier who shot me was actually a gift from God to me. �It didn�t even matter whether the soldier wanted or needed forgiveness; the gift freed me, leaving me with a sense of serenity and blessedness. �All through my boyhood my mother had wanted the impossible for me � that I would be given back my sight. I even woke up one night to find my dear mother on her knees, next to my bed, pleading with God. When I met the soldier and forgave him, I believe my mother�s prayers were answered. I was given a new vision, and my real wound, the one that needed healing more than my eyes, was healed.� (Richard Moore, interview by Pat Coyle)

We often think we see what is needed in our lives. We look from the exterior without understanding the interior. Yet God understands our needs completely and gives us exactly what we need.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/05/12 07:49 PM
And that is why we have to forgive spouses that have affairs.
I struggle with forgiving my wife's affair partner.
But I feel that I have forgiven my ex wife.
The lords prayer, "as we forgive those who sin against us"

God doesn't say to be a doormat and forget. But judgement belongs to God.

When my wife had her affair I was an emotional wreck. Finally I "let go and let God" takeover and when I admitted it was more than I could handle and handed my problems to Him I felt at peace. Not instant peace, but gradual peace over time
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/12 11:59 AM
Originally Posted by HDW
And that is why we have to forgive spouses that have affairs.
I struggle with forgiving my wife's affair partner.
But I feel that I have forgiven my ex wife.
The lords prayer, "as we forgive those who sin against us"

God doesn't say to be a doormat and forget. But judgement belongs to God.

When my wife had her affair I was an emotional wreck. Finally I "let go and let God" takeover and when I admitted it was more than I could handle and handed my problems to Him I felt at peace. Not instant peace, but gradual peace over time


I agree with you. Forgiveness is sometimes difficult, but forgiveness is often for ourselves. The other person could have gone on their merry way while we had self pity. Forgiving helps free up those feelings so we can move forward and not be stuck on a past issue. We need healthy boundaries and we need to ensure we are doing our part in a marriage.

I'm glad you have found gradual peace. It's definitely a blessing from the Lord.

Thank you again for your comments and inspiration. May God bless the paths of your life and continue to grant you peace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/12 11:59 AM
Judges 2:2-3 (NLT)
2 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, �I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. 2 For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.�

Throughout the book of Judges you will find that when Israel turns their attention to God, God was there to protect and watch out for their country. When the Israelites turned away from the desires of God, God allowed the enemies of Israel to invade their land, which allowed them to be turned to the temptation of foreign gods.



We need to be praying to God for this country. As I have listened to politician�s debates on whether God should be a part of our country--it is worrisome. The United States of American once believed the creator, God, gave individuals of this country rights to form a government with leaders who represented them and their beliefs. They did not want a single church belief to control government, nor did they want government to control church beliefs. They wanted to ensure everyone had a right to believe as they desired. Yet they never intended to remove God from our country. Let�s not make the mistakes of those in the Book of Judges when they put God aside, for they suffered the consequences of their decisions. Let�s keep God in our country. Let�s ensure God is acknowledge and called upon to help us in our times of need. For when the Israelites did such as that God was faithful to be with them.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/06/12 12:30 PM
Look at adultery. An act of selfishness against moral law (10 Commandments).
People strive to be self centered and controlling.
The Bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked.
We all live in spiritual darkness until the Light shines in our heart.

Our country is messed up. There are more kids from single parent homes than married homes. That's a serious matter, resulting in increased crime, school dropouts, abortions, drug use. Etc.

But we know from reading the Holy Scriptures that God is soveirgn. He is in control ; every evil that occurs He allows to happen.
We can't understand His ways. The Bible says His thoughts are above us as are His ways. But we can say The Lord gives and the lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

And remain accountable to Him as we live daily.

America doesn't believe in God because the churches are declining. And the churches are declining because the HOME churches, where families pray together, are dying. But God is soveirgn and in control.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/07/12 01:09 PM
Daniel 6:25-27 (NLT)
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: �May you prosper greatly! 26 �I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. �For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.�

Daniel was favored by many, including the King. King Darius sought to promote Daniel above the other administrators, but the others laid a trap for Daniel. They knew Daniel always prayed to God three times a day. So the administrators made a resolution that anyone who prayed to anyone except the king should be thrown into the lion�s den. They got the King to make the proclamation and then they told the King that Daniel had violated the proclamation. The King word was law and Daniel was punished according to law. The above verses are the result of Daniel�s obedience to God.



In Dennis Rainey's book Stepping Up, he tells the story about the short life of his granddaughter Molly. Born with a brain aneurism, Molly lived only seven days. As difficult as those seven days were, Molly's parents and grandparents held firmly to their trust in God, confident that they will see Molly again in the age to come. Rainey concludes the chapter of Molly's story with this memory: A number of years ago, [my wife] Barbara and I were vacationing in southwest England and stumbled upon the little town of Saint Buryan, a crossroad in the country with a pub, a decaying church, and a graveyard. We stopped and read a few of the gravestones. One that was barely legible commemorated a family that lived in the 1600s. Buried beneath the stone were the mother, who gave birth to a son and died just ten days later at the age of twenty-four; her son, who lived thirteen months; and the father, who died a few days later at age twenty-five. The faded words on that weathered limestone grave marker moved us so deeply that today they are etched on Molly's headstone: We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see - But all is well that's done by Thee.

I am sure Daniel didn�t fully understand why he was being thrown into the lion�s den, but Daniel did trust God and knew God had a reason. We see the end result the next morning after the lions have not touched Daniel. The King shows fear and reverence for God and proclaims God is the living God. We might not always know what God is doing in our lives. We may lose our jobs. We may lose those precious to us. We may suffer in pain. But know all is well that is done by God for He has a good purpose in mind.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/12 12:22 PM
Proverbs 10:12 (NLT)
12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

Hatred works for the devil in that it stirs up strife and creates malice towards one another. The end results are heated sparks fanned into flames of ill will that create quarrels and ill spoken words. Love, however, is the peacemaker. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:8 tells us that love covers a multitude of sins therefore making up for all offences. Love, instead of proclaiming and aggravating the offence conceals and extenuates it as far as it is capable of being concealed and extenuated. Love brings healing and peace and cools the flames of hatred.


One day I was burning some leaves in my backyard. A neighbor down the street had their windows open and the smoke was drifting their way. Frustrated the neighbor walked over to my yard and started to fuss at me for smoking up their home. Here was a person I hardly knew standing in my yard yelling at me. I didn�t know I had done anything wrong, nor had I intended to. Then I thought about how they felt. I�m sure it was frustrating trying to enjoy the nice outdoor air, but instead smoke was filling their home. So I quickly apologized. I said I would immediately put out the fire and clean up another day. My gentle words changed the attitude of the neighbor. They said they had already closed their windows and not to worry. I told them I would try to look around for open windows next time. They went away peacefully and the issue was resolved.

Often quarrels can be prevented by trying to understand the point of the other person. When we react out of love for the offended person we can calm an argument instead of stirring one up. Our worst tendency is to want to repay strife for strife, quarrels for quarrels and hatred for hatred.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/10/12 12:39 PM
Saint Paul was always polite to his captors
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/12 11:28 AM
Proverbs 11:13
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

This proverb is about two different people, those speaking spitefully of a person behind their back versus those who can be trusted to keep something confidential. The first are tale-bearers that carry all the stories they can pick up, true or false, from house to house, to make mischief and sow discord, reveal secrets which they have been entrusted with, and so breaks the moral laws, and forfeits all the privileges, of friendship and conversation. The second is a close, trusted and respected person with whom confidences can be placed and they are kept safe and secure. You are assured what you have said will be held in the highest confidence unless what is known needs to be revealed for a greater good.



Mildred Fister has a rule in her beauty parlor, �NO GOSSIP�. "Sometimes people don't have anybody to talk to," she said. "So they confide in me. They tell me things about themselves. They know I'll never repeat what they say." If you have to choose a friend do you want one you can trust or one that will reveal your most private details?

Proverbs 15:2 says: �The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.� Choose friends that know how to direct knowledge. They are safe people you can trust.

Keep away from those who gush out every detail about everything they know. They lack safety and can compromise the details of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/12/12 11:21 AM
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Matthew Henry states, �Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind, a change not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. It is the same with making a new heart and a new spirit-new dispositions and inclinations, new sympathies and antipathies; the understanding enlightened, the conscience softened, the thoughts rectified; the will bowed to the will of God, and the affections made spiritual and heavenly: so that the man is not what he was-old things are passed away, all things are become new; he acts from new principles, by new rules, with new designs.�



Proverbs 4:23 tells us �23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.� I grew up in a dysfunctional home. My mother divorced when I was 1 year old because my dad was an abusive alcoholic. My mom avoided my dad and only I saw him twice in my life. At the age of 10 he requested to give me a Christmas present. I believe he had some measure of good in him, but alcohol had taken away most of what was good. My mom agreed to meet him for my sake, which she later regretted. After about 10 minutes we were leaving because he was drunk, had started to curse and was becoming aggressive. From that point on I didn�t know where my father was until I was 47. On that occasion it was my father�s funeral. It�s strange looking in a coffin at your father and not knowing or recognizing him.

Unfortunately my father did not guard his heart against the alcohol that had set him on a path of self-destruction. He was offered help several times, but unless a person is willing to change, to be transformed, they will go back to the old habits they are familiar with. My father remained an active alcoholic until his death.

If you find yourself on a path to self-destruction turn your life over to our Lord Jesus. Allow Him to transform you into a new person and change how you think about your destructive choices. Allow His will to work in your life, which will perfect you and make your life pleasing. But you must be willing to allow Jesus to take control of your life and make the changes needed.

A member of the Salvation Army was present at the funeral and they did offer some comfort in saying my father knew Jesus. They said he had worked in the shelter and at times did remain sober, but the alcohol had done its damage. He couldn�t resist the temptation to go back to the bottle that destroyed him.

There is someone who needs to hear this today. Alcohol can ruin your life, the life of your loved ones, and can lead you down a part of destruction. Allow Jesus to help you and allow those He brings into your life to help you. Don�t be like my father wandering the streets at times not knowing where he was because he was too drunk and delusional to know.

May God bless you, keep you safe, and transform you into new life you are meant to have.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/12/12 02:37 PM
How many evils have been caused by alcoholism I often wonder.
All of the ruined marriages, broken homes, abused children, abused spouses, it truly can be the devils drink.

Today it's glorified with beautiful women drinking beer on television and appears enticing to young people.

I have two neighbor kids at my home all the time because they live in alcoholic homes. One kid eats dinner with us every night. Otherwise he just feeds himself cereal at home for dinner. And he is 7 years old.

I could be wrong but Im beginning to think that half of the population is affected by alcoholism in some way.

And I enjoy to drink beer, in moderation. They hand it out at the end Of marathons and it's refreshing.

Truly we live in a world infected with sin and Jesus said I am the way the truth and the light. And if we cling to Him our lives are so much more peaceful.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/12 11:36 AM
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Here we find the apostle offering a prayer not that they might be excused from sufferings, but that their sufferings might be moderate and short, and, after they had suffered awhile, that God would restore them to a settled and peaceable condition, and perfect his work in them�that he would establish them against wavering, either in faith or duty, that he would strengthen those who were weak, and settle them upon Christ the foundation, so firmly that their union with him might be indissoluble and everlasting.



On a trip with his wife, a pastor stopped in a small Iranian village to purchase some water. Before entering the store, the minister noticed a man holding a machine gun and leaning against the wall outside by the door. The minister's wife looked at the man's face and the gun, and then put a Bible in her husband's hand and said, "Give this man this Bible." Her husband looked at the man-his menacing beard and his machine gun-and replied, "I don't think so." But she persisted: "I'm serious. Give it to him. Please, give him the Bible."

Trying to avoid the issue, the husband said, "Okay, I'll pray about it." He went into the shop, purchased the water, climbed back in his car, and started to drive away. His wife looked at him and said, "I guess you didn't give him the Bible, did you?" Looking straight ahead, he replied, "No, I prayed about it and it wasn't the right thing to do." She quietly said, "You should have given him the Bible," and then she bowed her head and she started to pray. At that point, he turned around and told his wife, "Fine! If you want me to die, I will."

When the minister returned to the store, the man with the machine gun was still standing against the wall. The minister approached him and placed a Bible in his hand. When the man opened it and saw that it was a Bible, he started to cry. "I don't live here," he said. "I've had to walk for three days in order to get to this village. But three days ago an angel appeared to me and told me to walk to this village and wait until someone had given me the Book of Life. Thank you for giving me this book."

Fear in our lives will often cause us suffering. We know what we should do, but we linger to do the right thing. Peter understood this as he denied Christ three times. Yet Peter became the pillar of the church and died defending the word of Christ.

The minister mentioned above became a courageous witness for Christ in all things. Eventually, along with many other co-workers in the Iranian church, he was later martyred for his faith, but not before sharing the Good News of eternal life.

You see, as believers in Jesus, we're not just called to make it through the day by faith. Faith calls us to trust in Jesus Christ, to face the challenges of the day in His Name -- Not only for ourselves, but for others. In fact, we are called to be agents of His confidence and trust, proclaiming His enduring love, His eternal kingdom amidst the uncertainties and the hopelessness that are so real in our world today.

[Portions from Michael Ramsden, "An Uncompromising Faith Lived Out with Grace," Just Thinking (1-26-09)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/12 12:08 PM
Philippians 2:1-2 (NLT)
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

The apostle continues in this chapter to continue with further exhortations to Christian duties. The apostle encourages them to be like minded, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the pattern of humility and love.



In his sermon titled "Think Hard, Stay Humble," Francis Chan told the following story about a man named Vaughn who radiated the love of Christ to everyone around him:

A few years ago, a missionary came to our church and told a beautiful story about sharing the gospel with a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea. At the end of the story this missionary said, "I should really give the credit to Vaughn, my former youth pastor who loved me and inspired me to live for Christ and share the gospel with others." The next week another guy came to our church and he challenged us to start sponsoring kids living in poverty. The second speaker also concluded by saying, "I'm involved in this ministry because of my youth pastor, a guy named Vaughn." I found out those guys were from the same youth group!

Then the next week another speaker named Dan told us about his ministry at a rescue mission in the inner city of L.A. After Dan's talk, I casually mentioned, "It was so weird: the last two weeks both of our speakers mentioned how much impact their youth pastor, Vaughn, had on them." Dan looked surprised and then he told me, "I know Vaughn. He's a pastor in San Diego now, and he takes people into the dumps in Tijuana where kids are picking through the garbage. I was just with Vaughn in Tijuana. We would walk in the city, and these kids would run up to him, and he would show such deep love and affection for them. He'd hug them and have gifts and food for them. He'd figure out how to get them showers. Francis, it was eerie: the whole time I was walking with Vaughn, I kept thinking, If Jesus was on earth, I think this is what it would feel like to walk with him. He just loved everyone he ran into, and he would tell them about God. People were just drawn to his love and affection." And then Dan said this, "The day I spent with Vaughn was the closest thing I've ever experienced to walking with Jesus."

Vaughn was working with one mind and one purpose and that was to be like Jesus Christ. His impact on others was so obvious those around him felt like they were in the presence of Jesus. That is how our lives should be lived. Our hearts should be tender and compassionate � ready to reach out to others in love. We should be working together and showing Jesus to others through our good deeds.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/17/12 02:36 PM
Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)
1 A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting.

These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life. Though there only be dry morsels with which to feed they find their comfort in each other and in the peace of God. Better to live this way that to have a house full of food where families live in contention, strife and embitterment.




Martin Luther (1483-1546) said If we are correct and right in our Christian life at every point, but refuse to stand for the truth at a particular point where the battle rages-then we are traitors to Christ.
The movie Nuremberg, based on the book Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial, by Joseph Persico, is about a series of trials held in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1945-46, in which former Nazi leaders were tried as war criminals by the International Military Tribunal. In this scene, Nazi defendant Hans Frank (played by Frank Moore) is attempting to explain his actions to Army psychologist Gustav Gilbert (played by Matt Craven). Frank explains, "I turned my diaries over to the Americans voluntarily. You see, they prove that I tried to resign as Governor General of Poland. I did not approve of the persecution of the Jews. Anyone reading my diaries, they will know what was in my heart. They will understand that such things I wrote about Jews, the orders I signed, they were not sincere." "I believe you, Frank," says Gilbert. "And yet, you did do those things. How do you explain it? I don't mean legally; I'm not a lawyer or a judge. I mean how do you explain it to yourself?" "I don't know," replies Frank. "It's as though I am two people: the Hans Frank you see here, and Hans Frank the Nazi leader. I wonder how the other Frank could do such things. This Frank looks at that Frank and says, 'You're a terrible man.'" "And what does that Frank say back?" asks Gilbert. Frank, appearing to plead for understanding, replies, "He says, 'I just wanted to keep my job.'"

We can often think our lives are correct, but we can still be living in chaos. We might think we are enjoying a wonderful meal, but the whole meal is nothing but a battle of words. Make sure we are finding the comfort in God even if it means we are doing without in order to find the peace God would bestow upon us. It is better to have a quiet moment with a dry piece of food that living a life of contention.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/17/12 02:55 PM
This devotional should be carefully considered by many in the SAA forum.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/12 11:47 AM
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Pride and vanity is a Christian�s enemy. Christ came for the purpose to humble us and remove the arrogance preventing us from seeing our sin. We must be willing to lift others up in spirit. We should look sternly at our own infirmities and yet be willing to make favorable allowances and find charity in our judgment of others. We must interest ourselves in the concerns of others, not in a way of curiosity and censoriousness, or as busy-bodies in other men�s matters, but in Christian love and sympathy.


A group of four pastors was travelling into a Communist country which known to persecute Christians. Their flight had a layover and they were met by Christian friends who put them up for the night. While having dinner the friends begged the pastors to smuggle in some Bibles they had gathered for the underground church. Knowing it was illegal at first they refused, but their friends pleaded they pray about what God would have them do. During the night the pastors thought maybe a Bible or two wouldn�t hurt and so they accepted. What they weren�t prepared for was the following morning's delivery. It was a small library of Bibles, books about Christianity, study tools, and videos. The divided up the materials placing them in suit-cases, carry-on bags, and whatever they could fit the materials in. All was going without issue until they were about to land and the stewardess passed out custom declaration forms. The forms had their names, passport numbers, and wanted answers to pointed questions, such as were they bringing guns, narcotics, or literature into the country? The four sat paralyzed over what to write. Saying they were not bringing literature, was lying. Checking they had books and Bibles placed them in serious jeopardy. It was one of those moments when the Holy Spirit spoke to them and gave a simple solution they could not have thought about themselves. They didn't answer the question. They left it blank. As they passed through immigration surrounded by armed guards and immigration officers, their forms were scrutinized and all four were waved through.

It took humility to listen to God and carry the materials into a country where they knew they could become prisoners. They had to put aside self-ambition for the sake of others interest. They knew they had done the right thing as they looked into the faces of those who belonged to the underground church - for they rejoiced in the materials they had received.

It is amazing what God can do in our lives if we just trust Him. Where man saw the potential problems God saw the rewards that were waiting. God was able to protect these men and lead them through a difficult time and still maintained their integrity.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/12 11:50 AM
Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God�truly righteous and holy.

Christ is both the lesson and the teacher. We learn about Christ as we allow Christ to work through us. The apostle tells us that our old nature must be thrown aside. We are then to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to change and renew our thoughts and attitudes. We are to put on this new nature like a garment, which leads us to righteousness and holiness.



It is amazing when you witness someone transformed by Christ; when their mind is renewed and the thoughts they were thinking totally change. An experience I refer to often is when God allowed me to share the gospel with a taxi driver. Not only was the life of the taxi driver transformed, but my own life was also changed. You see this taxi driver was in a bad mood until I mentioned my morning was going well because I had gotten up and read my Bible. Those few words make the taxi driver say, �I don�t about me and God. I have played in a church band, but I never understood Jesus.� After taking a few minutes to talk with the man he stopped the taxi, looked at me and said, �Would you pray with me now that I can change to be like Jesus? I want to be saved!� Right in the middle of downtown Washington, D.C. traffic we parked and prayed. The man looked up and said, �I asked God for someone to tell me about Jesus and he sent you.� The man was Mr. Brown and suddenly he had a new outlook on life and was smiling.

The story doesn�t end there. A year later I had returned to Washington, D.C. for another class I was teaching. I hailed a taxi and gave the cabbie my destination. In the cab was a picture and ID about the driver. It was the same man I had spoken with a year earlier. Sitting in the back seat I said, �Hello Mr. Brown do you remember talking to me last year?� He replied, �Yes, you are that man that told me about Jesus.� I asked, �How is life� and he said �With Jesus it is wonderful!�

Not only did God change Mr. Brown, but he changed me by allowing me to see the fruits of what happens when you take a few moments to talk about Jesus with another person. It was a blessing to see Mr. Brown so happy and ready to tell me what Jesus had done in his life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/12 11:21 AM
Isaiah 5:11-12 (NLT)
11 What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. 12 They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties�lyre and harp, tambourine and flute�but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing.

There verses speak of the woe to those who dote upon the pleasures and delights of sense. Sensuality ruins men as certainly as worldliness and oppression. Here we find those who search long hours for the delight of alcohol until they find themselves flaming drunk. Yet they never think about the Lord or notice what He is attempting to do in their lives; they live without God heading toward self-destruction.



I once listened to the testimony of a man who was a recovering alcoholic. It was disturbing listening to him as he described the seductive appeal of alcohol. He described how alcohol seduced him like a temptress. It started with the ice as it was being put into the glass. Each clink of an ice cube hitting the glass was like pleasant music giving rise to his desire for alcohol. Then as it poured freely from the bottle the aroma filled the air with a delightful smell of alluring seduction. Then as he pressed the glass to his lips the flavor brought lustful desire for the drink he was holding and he began to drink.

The problem was that when the seduction of one glass was over the next glass began call out to him all over again. The alcohol seduced him until it took him to a point of intoxication he could not deal with. His senses and thoughts were overpowered. The alcohol caused him to fall prey and it lured him in like a spider entangling him in his sinful desire for alcohol. It was not only damaging to him, but also to the relationship with his family.

It wasn�t until this person found out about the redeeming mercy and grace of Jesus that he was able to quit his drinking problem. Realizing Christ loved him for who he was began a process of change. Christ now appealed to him instead of the alcohol. Christ beckoned him to follow Him instead of a drink. Christ transformed his life and saved him from his own self destruction.

If you know someone with a drinking problem reach out for professional help. Your church, Al-Anon or similar organizations can help educate you on how you can help. Remember the alcoholic has to be the one who wants change, but Christ or Christ working through us can lead them to change.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/20/12 02:25 PM
AlAnon is a great organization.
A great system using the 12 step program.
Affair addicts are similar to alcoholics. I saw several traits my ex wife has that are a result of her growing up with a single alcoholic mother.

The old timers called alcohol the devils drink and for some it truly is.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/21/12 11:44 AM
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
�May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.�

The apostle concludes the epistle by acknowledging the trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The apostle asks that their grace may be upon them with the Holy Spirit acknowledging the salvation of Jesus Christ.



Today is my 56th birthday. Considering the accidents, illnesses and other things that have taken place in my life I feel blessed to be alive. While a birthday marks a blessing of another year of life -- there is a greater blessing I am thankful for. In John 3:3-5, �Jesus replied, �Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.� �How can someone be born when they are old?� Nicodemus asked. �Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother�s womb to be born!� Jesus answered, �Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.�

I know my mother is glad I didn�t enter the womb a second time; I weighted over 10 pounds when I was born. But I know my mother was happy when I accepted Jesus Christ at the age of 7 to be my Lord and Savior and was reborn to an eternal life with Jesus. Today might be my earthly birth, but I have also had a spiritual rebirth allowing me to look forward to all the glory of the Kingdom of God!

If you have asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior I know one day I will be with you in heaven rejoicing. For now I am blessed to love the Lord with all my sisters and brothers in Christ here on earth!

If you don�t know Jesus Christ, know this � Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for our sin and rose to life three days later that we too may be born again to an eternal life. It�s easy to ask Jesus to be your savior. Let Him know you have sinned in your life and you desire to repent and move away from sin. Tell Him you trust Him as your Lord and Savior and you give your life to Him. It�s that simple; that easy. God bless you and Happy Birthday to all those who have been reborn.
Posted By: BrainHurts Re: Devotionals - 09/21/12 09:54 PM
HappyBirthday AskMe
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/24/12 04:27 AM
Is it really his birthday?
I think he copies and pastes these devotional stories
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/12 12:38 PM
Originally Posted by HDW
Is it really his birthday?
I think he copies and pastes these devotional stories


It was actually my birthday last Friday...all 56 years of it. smile The illustration I sometimes copy from another source, but I give acknowledgement to the source. My birthday devotion was totally mine.

SO thank you for the Happy Birthday Wishes. I had a good time with my family. smile
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/12 12:39 PM
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

These words from the apostle are intended to encourage the believers to keep their confidence in the salvation they have received from their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Their service to Christ will one day be richly rewarded. For those who follow the will of God will become heirs to all that He has promised.



I can relate to this story by pastor Bryan Wilkerson as I too have once ran the complete NY Marathon. �The first half of that race is a party. You�re swept along by 28,000 runners, crowds lining the streets, and people running in costumes. You�re touring the ethnic neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens. You feel like you could run forever. At mile 13, you cross over into Manhattan and start heading north, away from the finish line. Central Park is behind you, and you�re going in the wrong direction. The crowds are thinner now. The party�s over.

�At about mile 16 or 18, you hit the wall. You�re absolutely miserable. Physically and psychologically, you�re busted. All you want to do is stop running. I remember passing one of the first aid stations. There were runners lying on cots � pale and gaunt, with IVs dripping into their arms. I thought to myself, Those lucky dogs. At that point I began to despair. I imagined myself having to go home and tell everybody I didn�t finish. Why did I ever sign up for this race? What made me think I could do this?

That�s when it hit me. One way or another, I had to get to Central Park. That�s where my ride was. I had no car. I had no money. I would have to get there on my own two feet. So I might as well keep running. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don�t think about the next 6 miles; just think about the next step. And if you can keep that up, keep putting one foot in front of the other, the miles pass. And when you cross that finish line, it feels like glory � even when you�re in 10,044th place.�

Yes, I completely understand as I ran for 5hrs to complete the NYC Marathon Race. The race is difficult. There are ups and downs in the race. There were times I had to just focus on the road ahead to know I was making progress. There were times I had to watch my footing as the road got slipperly. Sometimes you want to give up, but you know you need to keep going. Then it appears, The Finish Line, and your body suddenly gets one more surge of energy as you approach with confident the last few steps to the finish. And it�s there you are rewarded the NYC Marathon Finishers Medal for enduring 26.2 miles of running.

Run the race of life with confidence in The Lord Jesus Christ. Keep enduring all that the world throws at you knowing there is a Finish Line, an eternal afterlife with the Lord Jesus. Never give up doing His will for He will be there to greet you at the finish and reward you justly. May God bless each of you and keep you close to Him.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/24/12 03:03 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
Originally Posted by HDW
Is it really his birthday?
I think he copies and pastes these devotional stories


It was actually my birthday last Friday...all 56 years of it. smile The illustration I sometimes copy from another source, but I give acknowledgement to the source. My birthday devotion was totally mine.

SO thank you for the Happy Birthday Wishes. I had a good time with my family. smile

Well happy birthday. May the Lord richly bless you
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/24/12 03:04 PM
Did you run the NY marathon?
I ran the Cincinnati marathon.
I also really understand St Paul's challenge to keep the course. Run the race and finish good.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/12 11:27 AM
Originally Posted by HDW
Did you run the NY marathon?
I ran the Cincinnati marathon.
I also really understand St Paul's challenge to keep the course. Run the race and finish good.


I ran the San Francisco Marathon, NYC Marathon and Kiawah Island Marathon before the doctor told me to stop running or walk in cripple. I really enjoyed running and it helped me understand when the Apostle Paul talks about running the race keeping your eyes fixed on the prize ahead.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/12 11:27 AM
Genesis 3:7-10 (NLT)
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, �Where are you?� 10 He replied, �I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.�

These verses are about the after results of man�s fall to sin. In Genesis 2:25 it says, �Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.� Prior to their sinful act there was no shame in their lives. Yet in verse 7 we find they suddenly felt the shame at their nakedness. Satan, the deceiver had previously told them �your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat�. Satan words were true, but he also suggested �they would be like God knowing good and evil�. They did know the difference between good and evil; except now the sin was on them and they saw it clearly.



Shame is an emotion closely related to guilt. Shame can be defined as "a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety." What separates guilt from shame is "We feel guilty for what we do. We feel shame for what we are." Shame is often a much stronger and more profound emotion than guilt. "Shame is when we feel disappointed about something inside of us, our basic nature." Both shame and guilt can have intensive implications for our perceptions of self and our behavior toward other people.

The problem with shame is that is emphasizes what is wrong with us. It is an intense inward feeling that will cause us to turn from others, try to hide our problems, and can make us defensive about our issues. Look at Adam and Eve. As soon as the guilt of sin came up them they felt shame. They hid themselves from God, not because they were naked, but because they felt the shame of sin. It wasn�t God who moved away from Adam and Eve; it was Adam and Eve who moved away from God.

The next thing Adam and Eve did was to take their shame and turn it towards others. Eve blamed the serpent. Adam blamed God for the woman given to him. Shame hurt them so deeply inside they could not admit to their own fault. They had to blame someone else.

This often happens in addictions. A person feels shame for issues in their life. The shame is very painful and is a constant reminder to the person about their perceived failure. Then they act out because they want to relieve the pain. Then the problem is they feel more shame. In their efforts to analyze their problems they blame others just as Adam and Eve did. Then the cycle repeats. The person tries to fix the pain, cover the shame and repeat their problems all over again.

Fortunately we have a Savior Jesus Christ who has paid the debt for all our sin. When we hold onto shame we are holding onto a debt that has already been paid. We are allowing shame to own us even though it was taken away by the blood of Jesus.

If you feel shame in your life turn it over to God and allow Christ to comfort you and show you His grace and mercy. Allow The Lord to heal your pains and let you confess your problems to others that they may help you. Stop the repetitive actions of shame and allow God to set your free.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/26/12 11:49 AM
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 (NLT)
2 �Everything is meaningless,� says the Teacher, �completely meaningless!� 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. 9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, �Here is something new!� But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don�t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

In these verses the teacher lays down his principle, �Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless.� Then he explains in verse 3 saying �What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?� Then he follows with his proof by explaining the non-changing events of life.



There is a question I have heard many times, �What is the meaning of life?� I remember in a cartoon it was very obvious a man had struggled to reach the summit of a mountain where a wise man was sitting. As soon as the man reaches the wise man he asks, �What is the meaning of life?� to which the wise man responds, �I was sitting here wondering the same thing myself.�

In the real life movie, Pinocchio, directed by Alberto Sironi; Pinocchio happily repeats Geppetto's verdict: "I'm alive!" Then a pensive look comes over the face of the puppet-turned-boy. "What do you mean 'I'm alive'?" "What does it mean? Well, unless I'm going mad, and this isn't just a dream, it means you have a life to live," says Geppetto. "And what do you have a life for?" Pinocchio asks in return. Geppetto falls silent, unable to find an answer.

Our purpose is not always easy to understand. Jesus told us, �Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.� So even as Solomon surmised life; is not about working endlessly just to collect possessions.

Man�s original purpose was to enjoy the world God gave him and to allow him to fellowship freely with God. But man chose sin which separated him from God and the plan God had for him. God said to man,
�Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.� Man created his troublesome life here on earth by disobeying God.

So what are we to do? We should remember no matter what our circumstances God still wants to fellowship with us. To make our fellowship meaningful we are to repent of our sin, accept Christ as our lord and savior and to be born to a new life that we can find peace and contentment in God. You see contentment in life does not come from things, but from God. Our life purpose is to fellowship with God. Life is not about our own wants. For one day those who have chosen God will be with Him in His heavenly kingdom. That is the life we are to be working towards here on earth. We should be learning to live as though we were living in heaven itself.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/12 11:32 AM
Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can�t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Here we find that David acknowledges with wonder and thankfulness the thoughts of God towards him. For God�s thoughts are of his precious children. They are countless and cannot be fathomed or comprehended. His thoughts are thoughts of love and goodness. God�s omniscience, which might justly have watched over us to do us hurt, has been employed for us, and has watched over us to do us good.



We all want to be loved and somewhere today there is someone wondering if they are loved by anyone. You might be that person or maybe in the past you have wondered if you were loved. Let me just say, God loves you very much and finds you to be precious in his sight. God desires and longs to fellowship with you and be close to you. God loves you so much He sacrificed His son Jesus Christ so you and everyone else could have the chance to repent of our sin and believe in Jesus so we could obtain an eternal life with God and Christ in heaven after death. That is how much God loves us!

Romans 8:38 tells us this, �And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God�s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow�not even the powers of hell can separate us from God�s love.� In Romans 5:8 it says, �But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.�

Understand this, no matter what the circumstances � God will always love you! Even in sin God loves you to send His son Jesus to pay the debt for your sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/28/12 11:49 AM
Matthew 9:36 (NLT)
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

When Jesus saw the needs of the crowds that followed Him � He felt compassion for them. They were like sheep, which would wander away left unattended. They needed someone to guide them, love them and show compassion towards them.


There are two components of compassion - first a compassionate person feels a deep sympathy and sorrow for someone who is afflicted and second they have a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Jesus did both in the lives of people. Jesus felt compassion for their needs and did all He could possibly do to alleviate those needs. For the blind he gave them sight. For the lame He gave them the ability to walk. Those who were hungry, He fed them. Most of all Jesus gave them hope because He saw their sin and knew their need for redemption and offered eternal salvation in heaven.

You see we can feel sorrow for a person, but then we have a choice. We can either help the person or we can turn our backs and walk away. When we walk away we dismiss compassion and leave the person to fend for their own self. We leave them like sheep, confused and helpless with no one to guide them.

I have a friend whose brother went to a store in a small town frequented for its alcohol purchase. As the brother approached the door he had a sudden heart attack and dropped down by the door. For a long period of time people passed by thinking he was like many of the other patrons � a heavy drinker who let their alcohol get out of hand. NO ONE showed any compassion towards him to check to see what his problem might be. NO ONE called an ambulance. It was a long time before anyone did anything. By the time anyone did anything the man had passed away. Where was compassion when it was needed?

In our daily lives we need to be like Jesus showing compassion to others. When we are helpless and confused we need to accept the compassion of others and allow Jesus to work through them. I pray each of us would have a compassionate heart and reach out to those in need. Lord may we all learn to be like you showing compassion for the confused and helpless. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. Now that is compassion.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/30/12 02:39 AM
The Epistle of James asks What is faith without works?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/12 11:34 AM
John 2:2-12 (NLT)
2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus� mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus� mother told him, �They have no more wine.� 4 �Dear woman, that�s not our problem,� Jesus replied. �My time has not yet come.� 5 But his mother told the servants, �Do whatever he tells you.� 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, �Fill the jars with water.� When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, �Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.� So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 �A host always serves the best wine first,� he said. �Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!� 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.

These verses record the first miracle Jesus performed turning water into wine. What a fitting occasion to do so since a wedding is often used to describe the union between Jesus and the church. Not only did Jesus provide the wine, He provided the best wine. When God answer�s our calls He does so with much more that we planned or anticipated.



My wife and I love the show Everyone Loves Raymond. It�s one of the best shows for seeing the dysfunctions of family life. In an episode where Robert and Amy were getting married, Robbie�s father, Frank, was upset they were charging for the alcoholic beverages. His statement was, "And the broad's family is supposed to pay for the wedding and it is to be a full bar, free of charge with top shelf hooch. Read your Bibles!" Frank used the verses above just a little out of context, but he was trying to make a point.

When you quote the Bible are you trying to use it for your own purpose or for what God intended. God�s word is living and breathing; meaning it speaks differently at different times to different people. I have posted a Bible verse before and got back multiple responses of how that verse meant something to the person who read it. What was unique is everyone had something different to say about how the verse affected them. Let God�s word speak into your heart and find what God is trying to say to you.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 10/01/12 03:57 PM
This verse may also be symbolic of the living water that Christ gives us.
It is the very best. Without comparison
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/12 11:21 AM
1 John 4:9 (NLT)
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love�not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

In this verse we see the depths of God�s love for man. God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for our sin. His love was so great He was willing to allow Jesus to be sacrificed to take away the sins of man.



Most of us know The Bible story of Moses parting the Red Sea so that the Israelites were able to safely retreat from the Egyptians across the dry sea bed. The Egyptians who were out to kill them were destroyed as the sea closed in on them. There is a Hasidic fable that tells of a great celebration in heaven after the Israelites are delivered from the Egyptians at the Red Sea and the Egyptian armies are drowned. The angels are cheering and dancing. Everyone in heaven is full of joy. Then one of the angels asks the archangel Michael, "Where is God? Why isn't God here celebrating?" Michael answers, "God is not here because he is off by himself weeping. You see, many thousands were drowned today."

For God so loved the world, not just a few, or some, or one, but the entire world that He gave His Son Jesus Christ so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. God loves every person in this world and weeps over those who reject Him and perish because of their choices.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 10/03/12 01:53 AM
But in our depraved state of sin, we cannot call out to God unless He draws us close to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/12 11:25 AM
Ephesians 5:6 (NLT)
6 Don�t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

Never make an excuse for sin or discount the effects it may have on your life. Watch for those who would also lead you into sin saying it�s not a problem or it won�t consume you. We know from Adam and Eve that they were fooled by Satan into believing they could become like God. Even though they were warned by God of the consequences they fooled themselves excusing the sin they took part in.



Pastor Jud Wilhite shares the story of a church member named Cody Huff. Before Cody became a member at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, he was sleeping in an open field next to the church. But at one time Cody was making loads of money as a famous bass pro fisherman who had even been featured on ESPN. Yet he couldn't overcome his problem with drugs. He began a crack addiction that led him to smoke up $600,000 worth of savings, his house, his Harley, his new boat. He smoked away everything he had and ended up homeless. A man who had eaten at fine restaurants and interacted with celebrities had bottomed out and was now homeless.

But God would turn his life around�and it all started with the kindness of a church volunteer. Some people from the church's homeless ministry were handing out sandwiches in the park where Cody slept, and they told him he could get a shower at Central Christian Church. The last place Cody wanted to go was a church, but he hadn't bathed in so long that even other homeless men couldn't stand his smell anymore. Cody explained what happened next:

I walked into the church, and this lady named Michelle, who knew me from the homeless ministry, said, "Good morning, Cody. How are you?" Then she looked at me, and she said, "Cody, you need a hug." And I said, "Honey, you don't want to touch me because I haven't had a shower in 3 months." If Michelle heard me, she didn't seem to care. She walked up, and she looked in my eyes, and she gave me a big hug and told me that Jesus loved me. In that split second, I was somebody. She even remembered my name. That was the point where I knew that God was alive in this world.

Over the next several weeks, Cody's life began to be restored. He gave his life to Christ. He started leading a Bible study in the park for other homeless people. "That was over 3 years ago," Jud says. "Now he's married, and he and his wife serve faithfully in our homeless ministry every weekend. He has his own business. From ashes, God has raised him up to use him as an instrument." But his involvement in ministry all started with the warm embrace from one of the church's greeters.
[Jud Wilhite, Uncensored Grace (Mulnomah, 2008)]

Excusing sin will eventually pull you down, but obeying the Lord will lift you back up. Never fool yourself thinking you can reach for sin and it won�t impact your life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart following His words of wisdom.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/12 01:05 PM
Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)
27 Don�t brag about tomorrow, since you don�t know what the day will bring.

There are two thoughts presented with this verse. 1) We are not to count the comforts and continuance of life for they can be taken away at any moment. Therefore we cannot presume we have another day of life even if it seems hopeful we do. 2) We should not put off the things we must do. For if today God calls out to us then we must respond as God requires. Our dependence is to be upon God and we must submit to His good will about the uncertainty of life.



On 20th December 1995, American Airlines flight 965, a Boeing 757, was flying from Miami, Florida to Cali, Colombia. Radar was unable to be used by Air Traffic Control in Cali, because of attacks by leftist guerillas in 1992 left the radar inoperative. Radio navigation aids and the airports instrument approach system were used instead. A problem began when air traffic control gave the pilots the option of taking a shorter route.

The pilots accepted the change in flight path and upon this decision the pilots cleared the waypoints from their navigation computer. The pilots then used their maps to identify the next waypoint and program it into the navigation computer. The next waypoint was Rozo, which was identified as �R� on their charts. The pilots programmed this into the navigation computer by entering �R�. However, there were duplicates locations for �R� stored in the navigation computer and the larger location Romeo was listed first. Not realizing the error in their selection the pilots had programmed the plane for a path to Bogata, Columbia -- a totally different direction from their flight path.

With the aircraft flying on the autopilot, this selection caused the aircraft to turn sharply and head towards Bogata and most importantly an almost 2 mile high mountain. The Ground Proximity Warning System activated approximately twelve seconds before the crash. The captain and first officer reacted swiftly, but were unable to clear the mountain.

People were returning home for the Christmas Holidays. There were 163 people on-board the aircraft and only four passengers survived. The crash was the first U.S.-owned 757 accident and the highest death toll of any accident in Colombia. It all happened due to a mistake that occurred in less than 12 seconds. These people could not brag about tomorrow for it never came.

Use every moment you have to live out your life for God. Live your life with purpose, happiness and enjoyment so that no second may be wasted. Follow the will of God and accept God�s plan of salvation, for it cannot be accepted after death. Listen for God�s call and do today what you may not be able to do tomorrow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/12 11:51 AM
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

In this verse Jesus is talking to the Church of Laodicea. As Jesus speaks to the various churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus first speaks words of their good values, then offers a rebuke of their issues and follows up with words of encouragement. In verse 20 Jesus is speaking to The Church saying He is calling out to them and He is waiting for them to invite Him in so that He may fellowship with them in a close and intimate way.


Jesus wants to be in our lives so much He calls out to us to open up and let Him in. Sometime we push Jesus away, while at other times we allow Jesus to use His power through us.

Tim Keller tells the following story about the power of Christ's resurrection:
A minister was in Italy, and there he saw the grave of a man who had died centuries before who was an unbeliever and completely against Christianity, but a little afraid of it too. So the man had a huge stone slab put over his grave so he would not have to be raised from the dead in case there is a resurrection from the dead. He had insignias put all over the slab saying, "I do not want to be raised from the dead. I don't believe in it." Evidently, when he was buried, an acorn must have fallen into the grave. So a hundred years later the acorn had grown up through the grave and split that slab. It was now a tall towering oak tree. The minister looked at it and asked, "If an acorn, which has power of biological life in it, can split a slab of that magnitude, what can the acorn of God's resurrection power do in a person's life?"

Keller comments:
The minute you decide to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into your life. It's the power of the resurrection�the same thing that raised Jesus from the dead �. Think of the things you see as immovable slabs in your life�your bitterness, your insecurity, your fears, your self-doubts. Those things can be split and rolled off. The more you know him, the more you grow into the power of the resurrection. [Nancy Guthrie, editor, Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (Crossway, 2009), p. 136]

I pray everyone would open their hearts to Jesus Christ when you feel His presence and His desire to enter into your life. I pray you would allow Jesus to fellowship with you, talking with you and guiding your directions in life. May Christ always bless you and give you hope and happiness in life. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/12 11:55 AM
James 5:13-18 (NLT)
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

In these verses from the Apostle James we are directed how to act, both under affliction and in prosperity. There is to be prayer for the sick and Christians are directed to acknowledge their faults one to another, and to pray one for another. Then finally we are to see the results of prayer as prayers have been established in our lives.



E. M. Bounds, in his book �Power Through Prayer� said, �We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel . . . The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.�

God has given us many ways accomplish prayer like: Personal prayer, Public prayer, Meditative prayer, Intercessory prayer, Prevailing Prayer, Prayer without ceasing. All these and more were given to us in order to facilitate a culture and life of prayer. However in 2005, LifeWay Christian Resources surveyed more than 1,300 evangelical leaders from around the world to determine what they perceived to be the "Top 10 Issues Facing Today's Church." Number one was Prayer: The need for more ongoing, passionate prayer in both personal and church life.

We need righteous people earnestly praying for our nation, for our leaders, for our churches, for our people. Will you be one of those willing to pray?
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 10/09/12 03:41 AM
Most of the Church Fathers don't believe that the Apostle James wrote that Epistle. They believed it was written by James the bishop of Jeruseleum.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/12 11:02 AM
John 5:1-9 (NIV)
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie�the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, �Do you want to get well?� 7 �Sir,� the invalid replied, �I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.� 8 Then Jesus said to him, �Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.� 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

This is the story of the Pool of Bethesda. The name Bethesda means �house of mercy�. It was said an angel would come from time to time to stir the waters and the first person to enter the water after the stirring of the waters would be healed.



Here we find a man that cannot walk. There are no wheelchairs. The pool of water is not fitted with rails or ramps for the disabled. The only way for this man to get there was by the mercy of his family and friends who would bring him in the morning and pick him back up in the evening.

Today though is this man�s fortunate day; for the Son of God walks up to him and asks him an important question, �Do you want to be healed?� Now remember this is Jesus. Jesus knows the suffering the man has endured. Jesus knows the man has been coming for thirty years. Jesus is not asking this question out of lack of information because He already knows the answer. Jesus wants the man to respond.

How does the man respond? Instead of saying yes-- he gave was an excuse as to why he was there. �I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.�

For thirty years this man had others carry him to the pool each morning. For thirty years he took handouts. For thirty years others came and picked him back up and carried him home. For thirty years others attended to his needs. Yet there was no one around for those thirty years to help him get in the pool. Amazing isn�t it! Or was it that the man enjoyed the attention more than his desire to be healed?

There are stories of addicts whose families have helped for years and yet there has been no healing. Why is that? The addict enjoyed the comforts or attention others were providing more than they wanted to be healed. The same was true for the man at Bethesda. He was enjoying the comforts others were providing and they enabled him by having a daily routine for themselves of taking him to the pool.

You can assist a person who wants help and genuinely wants to change. But when the person has no desire to change you are enabling their problem. Those who for thirty years carried the man down to the pool enabled him to feel pity and still enjoy comforts. For his answer wasn�t yes I want to be healed, but was instead and excuse of why he had not been healed.

Are you enabling or assisting? Ask does the person really want to change or are they happy where they are? Are they making excuses or saying help me through this for the betterment of myself?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/10/12 11:48 AM
Acts 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, �Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?� 7 He said to them: �It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.�

In these two verses there is a lot of information to discern. The Disciples have gathered to see Jesus before His return to heaven. They have concerns about the kingdom of Israel over what is to happen as they perceived. So Jesus corrects them�letting them know it is not their place to know or be concerned. Then He tells them the Holy Spirit will come upon them and they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to all ends of the earth. It is then they would present the Good News of the gospel as Jesus had previously commanded.



For the first time since researchers began tracking the religious identity of Americans, fewer than half said they were Protestants, a steep decline from 40 years ago when Protestant churches claimed the loyalty of more than two-thirds of the population. [Source New York Times Online, Oct 9, 2012]

Years ago Jesus told His disciples to go first to Jerusalem, which was home for them. Next they were to go to Judea, which were those who were close to them. Next they were to travel to Samaria to those who were different and distant from them. And finally any place they had not covered they were to go and be witnesses for Jesus.

It seems from the statistics just published, we as Christians, have failed to reach out to those near us and to those who are different from us. A younger generation has fallen into a group of having no religion, which has created the diminished number of Protestants.

Matthew 28:19-20 contains what has come to be called the Great Commission: �Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.� Jesus gave this command to the apostles shortly before He ascended into heaven, and it essentially outlines what Jesus expected the apostles, and those who followed them, to do in His absence.

In the original Greek, the only specific command in Matthew 28:19-20 is �make disciples.� The Great Commission instructs us to make disciples while we are going throughout the world and while we are going about our daily activities.

Each of us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior are to share the message of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ with others. We are to do so as we go about our daily lives. We are to live out what Christ has taught us so that we may also teach others by our lives. Have you let others knows about your love for The Lord? If not maybe it�s time to do so.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/12 10:54 AM
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

English Minister and Commentator, Matthew Henry writes, saying -- it is our duty rather to hear God�s word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own fancies or the opinions of men, and to run into heat and passion thereupon. Let not such errors as that of God�s being the occasion of men�s sin ever be hastily, much less angrily, mentioned by you; but be ready to hear and consider what God�s word teaches in all such cases. Instead of censuring God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to hear what he will say to us. Whenever matters of difference arise among Christians, each side should be willing to hear the other. People are often stiff in their own opinions because they are not willing to hear what others have to offer against them: whereas we should be swift to hear reason and truth on all sides, and be slow to speak any thing that should prevent this: and, when we do speak, there should be nothing of wrath; for a soft answer turneth away wrath.



In February 2009, a 27-year-old woman from Fort Pierce, Florida, walked into a McDonald's restaurant and ordered a 10-piece McNuggets meal. Well, that's when things got really tough for this hungry woman. The person behind the counter took the order and received payment. The McDonald's employee then discovered that they were out of those bite-sized, warm, tasty McNuggets. The employee told the customer that the restaurant had run out of McNuggets, and she would have to get something else from the menu. The customer asked for her money back. The employee said all sales are final, and she could have a larger priced item from the menu if she wanted.

The customer got angry. She wanted McNuggets�not a Big Mac, not a McRib, not a Quarter Pounder. She was angry, this was clearly an emergency, and she knew what to do in an emergency: she took out her cell phone and called 911 to complain. Apparently the 911 workers didn't take her seriously, because the McNuggets-loving woman called 911 three times to get help!

She never got her McNuggets that night, but she did later get a ticket from police for misusing 911.

Anger twists our perspective. It skews our judgment. Anger makes small things big and big things small. When we're angry, having to eat a burger instead of McNuggets is a disaster, and calling 911 is not a big deal.

Psalm 37:8 says -- Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.

Are you finding yourself angry and out of control? The Lord teaches us there is nothing wrong in seeking counsel from others about our issues. In fact we are encouraged to share with one another those problems that plague us. May the Lord show you how to put aside your anger and keep peace in your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/12 12:14 PM
Proverbs 12:25 (NLT)
25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

The consequence of worry is a heaviness that is felt in the heart. It is a burdensome load of care, fear, and sorrow pressing down and making life disabling. It can sink a person and lead them to a state of depression where they are rendered hopeless. Those inclined to worry should keep watch for worry and pray against it. A delightful remedy is a good word from God. This good word can come directly from God, through His word or through another whose heart seeks to do God�s will by showing love and cheer to another.


There is a story I enjoy sharing from time to time which helps me remember to be encouraging to others, to let them know I care and I am willing to listen. I was working out of town and it was time for dinner so I walked down the street looking for a place to eat. I saw a place I had always wanted to try so I went inside, but the restaurant was very busy. I was asked if I would mind sitting at the bar where I could order my meal. I saw the line of people waiting and I said sure, would be glad to.

There were a few empty spots and next to where I was placed was an almost empty beer glass. When the waiter took the order for my meal he removed the glass and what was left of the beer. Seconds later a man walked back and noticed the glass was gone. He started complaining to the bartender he had just stepped away to the restroom and wanted to know where his beer went. After a few exchanges of words the bartender said, �I�ll give you another glass on the house�, this calmed the gentleman.

As the bartender went to get him a fresh beer I looked over and said, �It sounds like you have had a difficult day.� The response was, �Man you just don�t know!� So I said, �Well I�ll be glad to listen.� So the man started telling me how he was worried about looking for a job. He had been in jail for a short period and now no one wanted to hire him. So I tried to be encouraging that a job would come along. Then I asked, �Do you have a church you attend?� The man answered, �I have been going with my grandmother since I got out of jail. When I was in jail a minister came in and told me about Jesus and I was saved. I haven�t learned much yet about The Bible, but I�m trying to read some. My grandmother is a Christian lady and she is helping me out right now.� I said, �It seems like you have a very caring grandmother.� He told me she was very caring and knew some people in the church who might be able to get him a job. I asked if he had pursued that opportunity and he said no. Then I told him it sounded like his grandmother was willing to help him and willing to help him find a job through the church. I said, �It must be really encouraging to know someone like her loves you� to which he said �Yes!� Then I said, �You know Jesus also loves you and wants the best for you and I�m sure with His help and your grandmother you will do ok.�

With those words said the man looked at me and said, �God sent you to talk to me today. I�m going home right now to talk to my grandmother. Maybe she can help me find a job. I�m willing to do anything.� I said it sounded like a great plan. With that he got up, thanked me again and walked out of the restaurant. Still sitting there was the full beer glass he first complained about.

The man thought the beer was going to solve his issues when what he needed was some encouragement, some understanding, and words of good cheer. May God be with those who need a kind word in their life. May God lift the burdens of your heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/15/12 11:37 AM
James 4:1-3 (NLT)
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don�t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don�t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can�t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don�t have what you want because you don�t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don�t get it because your motives are all wrong�you want only what will give you pleasure.

James writes the Jewish Christians to reprove them for the fights taking place among them. The Jews were a very seditious group and had frequent wars with the Romans. They were a very quarrelsome divided people, often fighting among themselves; and many of the corrupt Christians. James informs them that the origin of their wars and fighting was not (as they pretended) a true zeal for their country, and for the honor of God, but that the cause was their prevailing lusts.



I�m going to apply James writing to American politics. In the United States of America, We the People, are called Americans. But it seems Americans at times forget where they come from. They forget this country was built together by people struggling for a common cause. They forget in times of war people have put aside differences to fight alongside of each other.

When it�s election time we see groups turning against each other. There is name calling that takes place. Lies begin to be told. Groups strategize how they might quiet the voices of groups they oppose. In some cases even states are opposing states. Let�s just say politics as we know it becomes a fight, almost a battle about who is going to win.

We all need to remember as Americans we should want the betterment of our country. We should be willing to give up some of our jealous motives to see a better country. We should be willing to work together instead of fighting and quarreling. Yet, just like the Christians James wrote to above we seem to have a problem. Most often the problem is because of the things we want and not what is for everyone�s benefit.

As the elections approach pray for our country. Pray that We the People, Americans, work together for a common cause. Pray we have leadership that guides us not from their jealous desires, but for the desire of others. Pray for peace and calmness. May God continue to bless our country and help it through the difficult times we face.

I know there are other countries too that face similar problems may we all pray together as one people that God�s will is accomplished throughout the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/12 11:34 AM

John 21:15-17 (NLT)
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, �Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?�
�Yes, Lord,� Peter replied, �you know I love you.� �Then feed my lambs,� Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: �Simon son of John, do you love me?� �Yes, Lord,� Peter said, �you know I love you.� �Then take care of my sheep,� Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, �Simon son of John, do you love me?� Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, �Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.� Jesus said, �Then feed my sheep.

Jesus waits until after breakfast to ask Peter an important set of questions. Most likely Jesus wanted Peter to enjoy his breakfast before asking him something very difficult. In the verses above Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. In each response Peter says, �Yes, you know I love you.� You don�t see in the English what is hidden in the Greek language; the first two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him -- Jesus was asking if the love for Him was of a godly nature; loving him deeply, fondly and dearly. The response Peter gave was yes I love you, �but as a friend�. The third time Jesus asked Peter, He said �Do you love me as a friend?� to which Peter responded again, �You know I love you as a friend.�



In Matthew 22:34-37 it is written, �But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: �Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?� Jesus replied, �You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.�

Peter was there when Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees. Peter knew He was to love God with all his heart and soul. What Peter was missing was that his love for God was to be above any love for anyone else. His love for Christ and God was to be a godly love, agapa&#333; , instead of a phile&#333; love or brotherly love.

In our lives we need to ensure we place our love for God first and then we are able to care for others in the proper way. A good example in the Bible is Samson. Delilah told Samson if �he loved her he would tell her the secret of his strength.� Instead of listening first to God, Samson gave up his secret, lost his strength and was tortured by the Philistines. Had Samson put God first and listened to God he would have kept his secret and kept his strength. Instead he let Delilah maliciously bait him by tempting him with his love for her over his love for God.

So I encourage you to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Value what God has to say over what people have to save. Value God�s judgment over man�s judgment. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/12 10:44 AM
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
�Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.�

David urges us to bear up and be prepared for adversity, despair and other afflictions that might come our way. Matthew Henry writes of this verse, �Keep close to God and to your duty. Wait on the Lord by faith, and prayer, and a humble resignation to his will; wait, I say, on the Lord; whatever you do, grow not remiss in your attendance upon God. Keep up your spirits in the midst of the greatest dangers and difficulties: Be of good courage; let your hearts be fixed, trusting in God, and your minds stayed upon him, and then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage.



Archbishop of Calcutta Henry D'Souza knows that at times in her life, Mother Teresa felt abandoned by God. She wrote in her diary, "I wandered the streets the whole day. My feet are aching, and I have not been able to find a home. And I also get the Tempter telling me, 'Leave all this, go back to the convent from which you came.'" She found her home, and the rest is history. The Missionaries of Charity feeds 500,000 families a year in Calcutta alone, treats 90,000 leprosy patients annually, and educates 20,000 children every year. [Citation: Kevin A. Miller, Vice President, Christianity Today International; source: CNN]

King David also knew the frustration of waiting on God, which we can see from this in Psalm 13:1-6.
�How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,for he has been good to me.�

There are none of us exempt from feeling alone and abandoned. We all face times of frustration mostly because we want to react instead of allowing God to direct our paths. We want something now, which is in our sinful nature. But God knows what He is doing and plans things to work according to His time.

Pray God would give you the strength and endurance to face what may come into your life. Sometimes we face painful things, but God is always faithful to strengthen us when we ask. Pray that you might be patient as to not rush God�s timing. My hope just as King David�s is that you can wait for the lord; be strong and take heart and again wait on the Lord.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 10/19/12 12:45 PM
When you refer to the Tempter tempting Theresa, I compare that to the what Dr Harley refers to as the "taker"
I think the "taker" referred to by Dr Harley is Satan and his demons.
The bible says our war is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness and powers in high places.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/19/12 12:55 PM
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
4 �Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.�

We must not only depend upon God, but solace ourselves in him. We must be well pleased that there is a God, that He is such a one as He has revealed Himself to us, and that He is our God in covenant. We must delight ourselves in His beauty, bounty, and benignity; our souls must return to Him, and repose in Him, as their rest, and their portion forever. Being satisfied of His loving-kindness, we must be satisfied with it, and make that our exceeding joy.



Chuck Swindoll shares the following story about a conversation with a Christian leader who started a new ministry for the Navigators in Uganda. The man told Swindoll that after much discussion and prayer, he and his wife were convinced God wanted them to move to Uganda. So they uprooted their family and flew to Kenya, where he put his family up in a hotel so he could rent a Land Rover and travel across the border into Uganda. The man told Swindoll, "One of the first things that caught my eye when I came into the village where I was going to spend my first night were several young kids with automatic weapons, shooting them off into the sky. As I drove by, they stared at me and pointed their guns." Naturally he started to wonder if God was really in their decision. Finally, after a long day exploring Uganda, he pulled up to a dingy, dimly lit hotel. Inside, he went up to the registration counter. The clerk, who spoke only a little English, told him there was one bed available. So he walked up two flights of stairs and opened the door and turned on the light -"a naked light bulb hanging over a table. He saw a room with two beds, one unmade and one still made up. He immediately realized, I am sharing this room with somebody else. A chill went down his spine. At this point he definitely needed the kind of encouragement only God can give. The man told Swindoll, "I dropped to my knees, and I said, 'Lord, look, I'm afraid. I'm in a country I don't know, in a culture that's totally unfamiliar. I have no idea who sleeps in that bed. Please, show me that you're in this move!'" And then, he said, "Just as I was finishing my prayer, the door flung open, and there stood this six-foot five-inch African frowning at me, saying in beautiful British English, 'What are you doing in my room?'" "I kneeled there for a moment, and then I muttered, 'They gave me this bed, but I'll only be here one night.'" "What are you doing in my country?" the African asked. "Well, I'm with a [Christian] organization called the Navigators." "Ahh! The Navigators!" Suddenly the tall African broke into an enormous grin, threw his arms around his new roommate, and laughed out loud as he lifted him up off the floor and danced around the room with him.
"Praise God, praise God," said the African. "For two years I have prayed that God would send someone to me from this organization." And he pulled out a little Scripture memory-verse pack and pointed to where, at the bottom of each of the verses, it read, "The Navigators, Colorado Springs, Colorado."
"Are you from Colorado Springs, Colorado?" he asked. "I was. But I'm coming to Uganda to begin a work for the Navigators in this country." This Ugandan eventually became a board member for the new Navigators ministry in Uganda. He helped the American leader find a place to live, assisted him with the language, and became the Navigator staff member's best friend. [Chuck Swindoll, Embraced by the Spirit (Zondervan, 2011), pp. 111-114]

The Bible tells us when God is for us who can be against us? When we delight in God and we delight in the work He has put before us, God will see to it that our hearts are also delighted.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/22/12 11:18 AM
Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)
23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply�and how good is a timely word!

From Matthew Henry�s Commentary: Note, 1. We speak wisely when we speak seasonably: The answer of the mouth will be our credit and joy when it is pertinent and to the purpose, and is spoken in due season, when it is needed and will be regarded, and, as we say, hits the joint. Many a good word comes short of doing the good it might have done, for want of being well-timed. Nor is anything more the beauty of discourse than to have a proper answer ready off-hand, just when there is occasion for it, and it comes in well. 2. If we speak wisely and well, it will redound to our own comfort and to the advantage of others: A man has joy by the answer of his mouth; he may take a pleasure, but may by no means take a pride, in having spoken so acceptably and well that the hearers admire him and say, "How good is it, and how much good does it do!��



Christian businessman and author John D. Beckett shares the following personal story about the redemptive power of speaking the truth in love:

I was in a dental chair being prepped for the replacement of a filling. Just as my mouth was filled with dental hardware so I could only mumble, the dental technician said, out of the blue, "You're Mr. Beckett, aren't you?" I grunted assent.

"Well, I want to thank you for firing my husband."

I was stuck. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I could only listen to the ensuing monologue.

"It happened ten years ago," she said. "A few days after your company hired my husband, he was notified he had failed a drug test. You may not recall," she continued, "but you called him into your office before he left. You said, 'I realize I don't have any choice but to terminate you, but I want to tell you something. You're at a crossroads. You can keep going the way you are, and the results are very predictable. Or you can take this as a wake-up call. You can decide you're going to turn your life around.'"

I'm sure the technician couldn't see the beads of perspiration on my forehead under all the paraphernalia as she continued: "I want you to know, my husband took your advice. Today, he's a good father, a good husband, and he has a fine job. Thank you for firing my husband!"

I wish I could say that all our terminations have turned out this way. � Regardless of the outcome, however, we must be prepared to take action when a situation can't be brought around. In a strange way, it's an aspect of our care for people. [John D. Beckett, Mastering Monday (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2006), pp. 157-158]


We never know when the right word, the right action will have a positive and timely effect in someone�s life. Look for opportunities to share God�s words of truth that may help others and bring you a reward of kindness in the process.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/12 11:06 AM
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
2 �Carry each other�s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.�

In this verse we are told to sympathize with those who face weaknesses, improprieties, burdens, temptations, infirmities and other various trials and troubles that each of us may face. Christ commanded us to love one another and therefore in performing this duty we are fulfilling the law of Christ to see to it that out fellow man and brothers and sisters in Christ are cared for. Pride, conceit, idolatry and covetousness often get in our way of compassion for others; therefore we must take care to abide in God�s care, His love and His mercy and grace. Our duty is to carry other�s burdens so they too may one day carry ours.


My 4-month-old daughter and I took a trip to the library. She babbled softly as I browsed through the books. I overheard an older man say gruffly, �Tell that kid to shut up, or I will.�

�I am very sorry for whatever has caused you to be so disturbed by a happy baby,� I angrily shot back, �but I will not tell her to shut up, and I will not let you do so either.�

I braced myself for an outburst but he looked down, took a deep breath, and said softly, �I apologize.� He had tears in his eyes, and we remained silent. Then he looked at my daughter. She smiled at him and happily kicked her arms and legs. Slowly, he said, �My son died when he was 2-months-old.�

I moved to sit in the chair next to him. He went on to explain that his son died from SIDS over 50 years ago. He described how his anger grew, leading to a failed marriage and isolation. I asked him to tell me about his son. As he did so, he smiled back and forth with my daughter. Eventually, he asked to hold her. As he held her, his shoulders relaxed, and he briefly laid his cheek on her head. He returned her to me with a heartfelt �Thank you.� I thanked him for sharing his story, and he quickly departed. [Written by Karisa Smith, Wheaton, Illinois]


How often do we encounter people who are abrupt, curt, angry and ill-tempered towards us for no reason and we are ready to punch back? Maybe, just maybe they need someone to reach out to them in compassion. Maybe the burdens of life have weighed them down so heavily they no long have any joy in their life. Maybe they need to see the love of Christ in someone.

When you meet someone smile. When you hear someone in a foul mood provide some encouraging words. When you see someone in need provide what you can. God will honor your good deeds and the fruit of your labor will prosper. Try it and see what happens.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/24/12 12:04 PM
Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

The apostle writes about the changes that take place in a Christian�s life. For at one time all were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures; living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. God�s grace and mercy of salvation through Jesus Christ however frees a person from the bondage of sin. They are allowed to live free from guilt and shame trusting God to bring about goodness in their lives. Their freedom even affects the lives of others by ending malice, envy and hatred. It�s not good deeds that make a person righteous, but God�s salvation and because of that salvation we can do good deeds which please God and make us right with God and people.



God 100% righteous
100%---------------------------------------------------
|
| Pope Billie Graham
| Priest
| Church Leader
+
|
| Good Neighbor
|
|
0%-----------------------------------------------------

QUESTION: If you had to chart your righteousness on the chart above where would you place your name and what reason would you give for the ranking you chose?

Romans 3:10 tells us �there is none righteous�. Isaiah 64:6 says, �We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.� Romans 3:23 says, �For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God�s glorious standard.�

So if we all have fallen short of God�s standard for righteous how can we ever be in God�s presence?

There is only one way and that is by repenting of our sin and placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For Jesus Himself told us, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not why are you waiting?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/12 11:41 AM
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Matthew Henry writes about the words of the bible: It is given by inspiration of God (v. 16), and therefore is his word. It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us. That the scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style,�from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it,�from the harmony of its several parts,�from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it,�from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight,�and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine original: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.



The Bible, which is God�s word, is living and breathing. Each of us can use The Bible to prepare our lives, help us find meaning, and to direct us in the good work we do on behalf of God. The Bible is unique and stands apart from any other book written. It covers a wide period of time. The words were penned by many people and yet the Bible flows continuous because God was the author and directed each word penned.

The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years. Manuscripts came from three different continents. There different languages were used in the writing of the Bible: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Forty different writers penned the words: a doctor, a fisherman, a rabbi, a military general, a king, a tax collector and others. And yet the Bible remains consistent in its message and theme, which is about God�s love for us and his redemption of mankind through the work of Jesus. The words of The Bible have been preserved for thousands of years and have been passed from generation to generation.

The Bible is trustworthy. The Bible is from God. The Bible is about God. But we don�t worship a book -- We worship the One who wrote the book. Jesus accused the Pharisees of missing the point of Scripture in John 5:39: �You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.� The Bible leads us to the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. It is not the Bible that saves us, but Jesus Christ Himself.

Take time to read the Bible and learn from it. There are lessons on how to live life. There are words to guide us. The Bible tells us God created us. It tells us that we fell into sin because of our own desires. The Bible tells us this sin separates us from God. But most importantly the Bible is about The Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ who died for us so that we can live an eternal life with God.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/04/12 07:42 PM
Indeed the heavens and the earth shall pass away but the Word of God shall endure forever
Posted By: ConstantProcess Re: Devotionals - 11/04/12 11:48 PM
Originally Posted by HDW
Indeed the heavens and the earth shall pass away but the Word of God shall endure forever
Amen
Posted By: Pineneedle Re: Devotionals - 11/05/12 02:08 AM
Thank you!
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/06/12 03:18 AM
AskMe didn't post today, so I hope he doesn't mind me posting the following. Hopefully he will return tomorrow.
This was written by Ilias the Presbyter around the 12th century (from the Philokalia);

"No Christian believing rightly in God should ever be off his guard. He should always be on the lookout for temptation, so that when it comes he will not be surprised or disturbed, but will gladly endure the toil and affliction it causes, and so will understand what he is saying when he chants with the prophet: 'Prove me O Lord, and try me' (Ps 26;2 LXX). For the prophet did not say, 'Thy correction has destroyed me', but, 'it has upheld me to the end' (Ps 18:45-LXX).

The first step towards excellence is fear of God, the last is loving desire for Him.

The first step towards spiritual perfection is spiritual knowledge put into practice and practice imbued with spiritual knowledge. For practice without such knowledge is of no value, and so is such knowledge when unaccompanied by practice.

Practice where the body is concerned consists of fasting and vigil; where the mouth is concerned it consists of psalmody. But prayer is better than psalmody, and silence is more valuable than speech. In the case of the hands, practice I what they do uncomplainingly; and of the feet, it is what they do as soon as they are urged to do it.

Where the soul is concerned, practice is self control accompanied by simplicity, and simplicity animated by self control.

In the case of the intellect, practice is prayer in contemplation and contemplation in prayer.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/12 01:23 PM
Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church� 30 for we are members of his body. 31 �For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.� 32 This is a profound mystery�but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Here we find the apostle writing about the responsibility of husbands in marriage. The apostle also relates the covenant of marriage to the covenant Jesus made with the church. Just as a husband is to watch over his wife, Christ watches over the church.



This past weekend our daughter got married in a lovely wedding ceremony. The beautiful part of a Christian wedding is the reminder that the wedding symbolizes what Christ has done for the church. Jesus several times referred to Himself as the bridegroom of the Church. Even John the Baptist said that the bride belongs to the bridegroom referring to those who have placed their faith in Christ in as the bride and Jesus as the bridegroom who would receive them unto himself as their protector.

While many debate the meaning of marriage we all need to remember that Christ promises to be the bridegroom who will love, honor, cherish and protect us as our lord and savior. It is a promise we should never forget.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/12 01:29 PM
Originally Posted by HDW
AskMe didn't post today, so I hope he doesn't mind me posting the following. Hopefully he will return tomorrow.
This was written by Ilias the Presbyter around the 12th century (from the Philokalia);

I would be happy for others to post words of encouragement! We were preparing for my daughter's wedding last week and I wasn't back from family until today. So please anyone who has encouraging words from the Bible, short devotions that encourage please post. After all The Bible says in Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another�and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

God bless all of you and thank you HDW for your postings!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/12 12:58 PM
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NLT)
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Here we find Paul urge Timothy along with the Christians for which he is responsible to pray for all people. There are to be prayers for ourselves. There are to be prayers for our family. There are to be prayers for our neighbors; and there are to be prayers for those foreign to us. Leaders and those in authority should also be prayed for so that God can supply all needs and make our lives peaceful and quiet.



The election results are in and some may be overly exuberant in their wins while others may be overly disgruntled in their losses. However, now is time for all people to come together, praying for one another and especially praying for our leaders that the right decisions might be made. Don�t allow your personal feelings on election results go towards hurting others, but instead allow yourself to do good for others. Give congratulations where congratulations are due. Give accolades for those who lost in their attempt to do what they felt was right.

Pray such as this: Heavenly Father we are a country that was formed for freedom of worship. Let us not forget that we are not to exclude you Father from our daily lives nor exclude you from our country. Lord please bless each person in this country. Help those who are in need. Help our neighbors who might be struggling with financial or personal issues. Lord guide our leaders and help them to be good examples of what a leader should look like. Let us put aside our personal feelings and instead work together to do Your will. God bless this country and continue to make it a country that stands firm against evil and has the best interest of people at its heart. Amen.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/08/12 03:10 AM
That is a very good prayer
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/08/12 07:55 PM
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael & the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, & Barachiel

Reading from the Synaxarion:

All the Angels, according to the Apostle Paul, are ministering spirits, �- sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation - (Heb. 1:14). �God set them as overseers of every nation and people, and guides to that which is profitable (Deut. 32:8); and while one Angel is appointed to oversee each nation as a whole, one is also appointed to protect each Christian individually. �He commands them to guard them that hope on Him, that nothing should harm them, neither should any evil draw nigh to their dwelling (Ps. 90:10-12). �In the Heavens they always behold the face of God, sending up to Him the thrice-holy hymn and interceding with Him in our behalf, seeing they rejoice over one sinner that repents (Esaias 6:2-3; Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:7). �In a word, they have served God in so many ways for our benefit, that the pages of Holy Scripture are filled with the histories thereof. �It is for these reasons that the Orthodox Catholic Church, wisely honouring these divine mi
nisters, our protectors and guardians, celebrates today the present Synaxis that is, our coming together in assembly for their common feast to chant their praises, especially for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are mentioned in the Scriptures by name. �The name Michael means "Who is like God?" and Gabriel means "God is mighty." �The number of Angels is not defined in the divine Scriptures, where Daniel says that thousands of thousands ministered before Him, and ten thousands of ten thousands attended upon Him -(Dan. 7:10). �But all of them are divided into nine orders which are called Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/12 12:37 PM
Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
18 �Come now, let�s settle this,� says the Lord. �Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

Through Isaiah God tells the people that though their sin covers them as one covered in blood He is willing to cleanse them if they are willing to draw close to God and repent of their sin. It is hard to reason against such a generous gift. They are stained by sin and for their willingness to turn from sin God is ready to restore them to a pure and clean life.



For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. � Romans 6:23

Dorothy Sayers, the mystery writer, was also a devoted Christian. Dorothy Sayers was attempting to explain the moral law of God. She pointed out that in our society there are two kinds of laws. There is the law of the stop sign, and there�s the law of the fire. The law of the stop sign is a law that says the traffic is heavy on a certain street, and as a result the police department or the city council decides to erect a stop sign. They also decide that if you run that stop sign, it will cost you $25 or $30 or $35. If the traffic changes, they can up the ante. That is if too many people are running the stop sign, they can make the fine $50 or $75, or if they build a highway around the city, they can take the stop sign down, or reduce the penalty, making it only $10 if you go through. The police department or city council controls the law of the stop sign.

But then she said there is also the law of the fire. And the law of the fire says if you put your hand in the fire, you�ll get burned. Now imagine that all of the legislatures of all the nations of the entire world gathered in one great assembly, and they voted unanimously that here on out that fire would no longer burn. The first man or woman who left that assembly and put his or her hand in the fire would discover that the law of the fire is different than the law of the stop sign. Bound up in the nature of fire itself is the penalty for abusing it. So, Dorothy Sayers says, the moral law of God is like the law of the fire. You never break God�s laws; you just break yourself on them. God can�t reduce the penalty, because the penalty for breaking the law is bound up in the law itself.

We would like to delude and comfort ourselves by thinking that God�s laws are all just like the law of the stop sign, and not like the law of fire. They�re not. We think that we may just bruise ourselves a bit when we violate one of His laws, but Romans 6:23 says it�s a far more serious thing to violate His law and put our hand into the fire of sin: the result of that is death. And that�s a lot more serious than a bruise or two.

PRAYER: Father, give us the gift of discernment and wisdom to grasp the seriousness of our sin. Let us be thankful for Jesus who cleanses us of our sin. Let us never forget what Jesus did for us!

In Jesus� name, Amen.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/10/12 01:08 PM
Orestes the Martyr of Cappadocia

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Orestes was from Tyana of Cappadocia. During the persecution of Diocletian, this Martyr's ankles were pierced with long nails; being bound to a wild horse and violently dragged by it, he gave up his spirit in the year 289.


Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 9:37-43

At that time, as Jesus had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried, "Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son, for he is my only child; and behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him till he foams, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming the demon tore him and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/11/12 06:10 PM
Saint Victor and Stephanie

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saints Victor and Stephanie contested in Damascus in 160, during the reign of Antoninus Pius. The pagans arrested Saint Victor as a Christian and cut off his fingers, put out his eyes, and beheaded him. As Saint Stephanie, the wife of a certain soldier, and a Christian, saw Victor's nobility in his sufferings, she loudly cried out to call him blessed and to say that she saw two crowns prepared, one for him, and one for herself. She also was taken, and was tied to two palm trees which had been bowed down; when they were released, she was torn asunder

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to
�him, "Go and do likewise."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/12 12:36 PM
Philippians 4:8 (NLV)
8 Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.

The apostle exhorts us to dwell upon the true and good things of life. Keep those things close to our hearts for others to see the goodness of truth and righteousness in us so it also becomes their desire. Matthew Henry gives these observations: Observe, 1. The apostle would have the Christians learn anything which was good of their heathen neighbors: "If there be any virtue, think of these things�imitate them in what is truly excellent among them, and let not them outdo you in any instance of goodness.�� We should not be ashamed to learn any good thing of bad men, or those who have not our advantages. 2. Virtue has its praise, and will have. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; and then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God.


According to a 2006 study, our circle of close friends is getting smaller. Over the past twenty years, the number of people we can discuss "matters important to us" dropped nearly a third. The number of people who said they had no one to talk to about important matters more than doubled, to nearly 25 percent. It's an amazing conundrum; in a world of increased communication and higher technical advances, people feel more isolated and alone when it comes to real, legitimate friendship. "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 Even on days when it seems like our "friendship circle" is closing tighter and tighter, we still have a friend in Jesus! Thank goodness for Christ walks with us each day, listens to our problems, and speaks to our hearts about what we must do. We need friends, but when our friends are not with us remember Jesus always is!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/12 12:44 PM
1 Peter 2:15-16 (NIV)
15 For it is God�s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God�s slaves.

Matthew Henry writes about doing well in the face of those who would do us harm. [1.] The will of God is, to a good man, the strongest reason for any duty. [2.] Obedience to magistrates is a considerable branch of a Christian�s duty: So is the will of God. [3.] A Christian must endeavor, in all relations, to behave himself so as to put to silence the unreasonable reproaches of the most ignorant and foolish men. [4.] Those who speak against religion and religious people are ignorant and foolish. Matthew Henry goes on to explain that we are free in Christ and we should not abuse our freedom. [1.] All the servants of Christ are free men (Jn. 8:36); they are free from Satan�s� dominion, the law�s condemnation, the wrath of God, the uneasiness of duty, and the terrors of death. [2.] The servants of Jesus Christ ought to be very careful not to abuse their Christian liberty; they must not make it a cover or cloak for any wickedness against God or disobedience to superiors.



The daughter of missionaries to the Congo Republic told Pastor Leith Anderson this story: As a little girl, she participated in a daylong rally to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the coming of missionaries to that part of Africa. At the close of a long day of speeches and music, an old, old man stood before the crowd and insisted on speaking. He soon would die, he said, and if he didn�t speak, information that he alone possessed would go with him to his grave. He said that when the missionaries arrived, his people thought them strange and their message dubious. The tribal leaders decided to test the missionaries by slowly poisoning them to death. Over a period of months and years, missionary children died one by one. Then, the old man said, �It was as we watched how they died that we decided we wanted to live as Christians.� Those who died painful, strange deaths never knew why they were dying or what the impact of their lives and deaths would be. But through it all, they didn�t leave. They stayed because they trusted Jesus Christ. [Leith Anderson, �Mystery Martyrs,� Men of Integrity, (January/February 2004)]

My friends live as a Christian should live. The Bible tells us our salvation is not dependent upon our good works, but by our faith and trust in Christ who paid the debts for our sin. We are to repent and turn from sin and live as Christ did although we have the freedom to live sinfully. But living sinfully confuses others as to what Christianity means for we have been freed from sin, so why live in sin. Live instead that your life might be a witness to others. Live that God�s light shines through you and touches the lives of those who don�t know Christ. Live such that even in death others see the life you have been granted. I pray God will keep you faithful to Him and will keep you from wavering in your dedication to live as Christ lived.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/12 12:46 PM
Luke 15:1-2 (NLT)
15 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people�even eating with them!

From Matthew Henry�s Commentary: Here multitudes of publicans and sinners drew near to him, with a humble modest fear of being rejected by him, and to them he found it requisite to give encouragement, especially because there were some haughty supercilious people that frowned upon them. The publicans, who collected the tribute paid to the Romans, were perhaps some of them bad men, but they were all industriously put into an ill name, because of the prejudices of the Jewish nation against their office. They are sometimes ranked with harlots (Mt. 21:32); here and elsewhere with sinners, such as were openly vicious, that traded with harlots, known rakes. Some think that the sinners here meant were heathen, and that Christ was now on the other side Jordan, or in Galilee of the Gentiles. These drew near, when perhaps the multitude of the Jews that had followed him had (upon his discourse in the close of the foregoing chapter) dropped off; thus afterwards the Gentiles took their turn in hearing the apostles, when the Jews had rejected them. They drew near to him, being afraid of drawing nearer than just to come within hearing. They drew near to him, not, as some did, to solicit for cures, but to hear his excellent doctrine. Note, in all our approaches to Christ we must have this in our eye, to hear him; to hear the instructions he gives us, and his answers to our prayers.



I like Matthew Henry�s summary - in all our approaches to Christ we must have this in our eye, to hear him; to hear the instructions he gives us, and his answers to our prayers. When we listen to Christ and heed his instructions we begin to realize we must minister to those such as Christ did. We are told to encourage fellow Christians and keep each other accountable; but we are also to reach out to those who don�t know Christ. There are many good people who don�t know Christ. There are also many who are outwardly sinful even in the eye of those who are good non-Christians. Christ ministered to all of these.

Our duty as Christians is to reach out to people - even that one person who others may shun away from. Maybe that person is in jail. Maybe that person frequents bars. Maybe that person is homeless and survives in ways we would be critical of. Maybe the person has difficulties that make them unlovable. Yet we too are to find that one lost sheep and lead them to Christ. (Luke 15:3-7)

Some may find it uncomfortable reaching out to these people and may need the encouragement and support of fellow Christians. Sometimes it happens by accident. I once was placed at a restaurant bar because the restaurant was full and I was along. But then I found I wasn�t alone � there was a man sitting next to men who needed to be reassured about the love of Christ. We need to be willing to reach out and love these people and do so in a way that we remain open to the people but apart from the world. I wasn�t drinking at the bar where the man was drinking and amazingly he stopped drinking to talk with me and left his drink behind and untouched.

Look for opportunities to reach out to people. Reach out in love as Christ did and just love on people when they are hurting. Love on the unlovable so they can understand love. Love as Christ loves and your heart will overflow with joy.

To those who know Christ I love you and encourage you to keep loving The One who loved you first. To others I pray my love for you would show you what Christ looks like that you would love Him too!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/12 01:10 PM
PSALM 1:1-6 (NLT)
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. ---- 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

This is a psalm of instruction concerning good and evil, setting before us life and death, the blessing and the curse that we may take the right way which leads to happiness and avoid that which will certainly end in our misery and ruin. [Matthew Henry]. There are those who follow God and serve Him. In contrast there are those who disobey God. Those who disobey will end their lives in ruin, while the righteous will be rewarded for their obedience. If every person were honest with themselves they would see their own path of life and where it leads.



In her book Amazing Grace, the writer and poet Kathleen Norris shares what she calls "the scariest story" she's ever heard about the Bible. Norris and her husband were visiting a man named Arlo, a rugged, self-made man who was facing terminal cancer. During their visit, Arlo started talking about his grandfather, a sincere Christian. The grandfather gave Arlo and his bride a wedding present: an expensive leather Bible with their names printed in gold lettering. Arlo left it in the box and never opened it. But for months afterwards his grandfather kept asking if he liked the Bible. Arlo told Norris, "The wife had written a nice thank-you note, and we'd thanked him in person, but somehow he couldn't let it lie, he always had to ask about it." Finally, Arlo grew curious enough to open the Bible. "The joke was on me," Arlo said. "I finally took that Bible out of the closet and I found that granddad had placed a twenty-dollar bill at the beginning of the Book of Genesis, and at the beginning of every book � over thirteen hundred dollars in all. And he knew I'd never find it." [Kathleen Norris, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith (Riverhead Books, 1998, p. 95)]

Sadly Arlo had only glanced at the treasure he was given as a wedding gift. The evidence he had ignored this treasure was he didn�t know about a second treasure left by his grandfather. The money was valuable, but The Bible was even a more valuable gift. The Bible contains words of wisdom, words for living, words for the way we treat people and even examples of what happens when our lives go awry. Yes there was a treasure in Arlo�s closet that was missed out on for a very long time.

We must always be careful with God�s word to use it wisely. The psalmist above said it should be meditated on day and night. In other words we should commit God�s word to our heart so that it can direct our lives. God will give each person a purpose and God�s word will speak to them about that purpose.

However the greatest of all things The Bible speaks about is God�s plan of salvation for our lives. God knew man could not hold firm to all of His laws so there a second part to God�s plan. The second part or second covenant was one of love, mercy and grace where God gave His son Jesus Christ as payment for our sin. Jesus died a horrible death, rose to life on the third day to defeat death, and for all who place their faith and trust in Jesus their sin is forgiven. Don�t miss out on that plan God has for you. God wants you to live eternally with Him, but it�s your choice whether you accept or ignore His plan of Salvation and His gift of heavenly eternal life.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/15/12 02:40 PM
That's a good idea for a gift
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/12 12:46 PM
Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)
24 Kind words are like honey�sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

This proverb speaks metaphorically about kind words tasting like honey to those who hear them. The pleasant words should be from the heart of wise teachings. They are words of seasonable advice, instruction, and comfort. These words should often be taken from God�s own word and passed down as teachings to others. Solomon had learned from his father to account sweeter than honey and the honey-comb from Psalm 19:10. To those that know how to relish them - these words are pleasant. They are like the honey-comb, sweet to the soul, which tastes in them that the Lord is gracious, kind and merciful. They are wholesome words. Many things are pleasant that are not profitable, but these pleasant words are health to the bones, to the inward man, as well as sweet to the soul. They take the bones, which sin has broken and put out of joint, to rejoice. The bones are the strength of the body; and the good word of God is a means of spiritual strength, curing the disease of sin that has weaken us.



This proverb is easy to identify with. Try to think of someone who enjoys hateful, venomous, burning words being railed against them. I would dare say there are few if any that would choose a hateful lecture over a kind word. I know personally I would much rather hear a kind word.

Hateful words stir and enrage the soul. Hateful words tear down a person. Hateful words tear into the soul and rip it apart. In today�s world we often hear about the bullying of another with words that are mean and cruel. In the past few years words alone have been enough to cause teens to take their lives. In some cases the bullying has caused violence to break out. So we must remember that hateful words destroy lives.

Kind words are sweet and pleasant to the ears. Kind words lift a soul out of darkness and take it towards the light of Christ. Kind words encourage, sooth, comfort, motivate, and show the love, mercy and grave given by God. You see words of kindness are wrought from the fruit of the spirit while words of hate are wrought from our sinful desires.

As Christians we should always be willing to pass along kind words to others. If we are allowing The Holy Spirit to work in our lives then we know the words we say will be associated with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no condemnation against us when our words come from these motives.

If your words relate to sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these then your words are coming from your sinful nature and contain hate for God within them.

I pray as you speak to non-believes as well as Christian�s your words would be those of kindness. I pray the words you use would be as a light to show those who do not know God what God is truly like. I pray hatred will be put aside in all cases and that you find a means to restrain and hold against the temptation of lashing out hatefully. May God guide you and bring others to Him because of your own kindness. Amen!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/12 12:48 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
That's a good idea for a gift

I thought it was a good idea for a gift too. I just wish the grandfather had told him there was a treasure hidden in The Bible. That statement would have been true in two senses, 1) The money and 2) the life lessons and wise words contained as a treasure in The Bible.

Hope a blessed and wonderful day!
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/17/12 03:57 PM
Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 9:57-62

At that time, as Jesus was going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/18/12 01:49 PM
Holy Martyr Romanus

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Romanus, who was from Antioch, lived during the reign of Maximian. He presented himself before Asclepiades the Eparch, and rebuked him, saying, "The idols are not gods; even a little child could tell you that." Then the Saint asked that a child be brought in from the market, that he might be the judge of the matter at hand. Therefore, when the child was asked, "Which God must we worship?" he replied, "Christ." The child was beaten mercilessly and beheaded at the command of the tyrant. As for Saint Romanus, his tongue was cut out, and then he was cast into prison, where he was strangled in the year 305.

Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. �And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. �And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" �And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. �And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. �And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. �He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. �But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." �And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/19/12 04:34 PM
Barlaam of Caesarea

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Barlaam, who was from a certain village near Antioch in Syria, was advanced in years and a husbandman by occupation. Because of his confession of Christ, he was brought before the judge, who had him scourged with whips and then scraped with iron claws. Since this could not break his constancy, he was forcibly haled to the idols' temple, and live coals with incense were placed in his right hand. The judge thought that he would cast them down because of the pain, thus seeming to have offered a sacrifice of incense to the idols. But Saint Barlaam stood unmoving until his hand was thoroughly burned by the coals; he fell to the ground, and so gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord. He contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom both gave homilies in his honour. � �


Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring.

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering - since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed

Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 11/20/12 03:49 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with Ask Me, Jedi Knight.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/20/12 04:25 AM
I just post when he is gone. He said he didn't mind.
This is his thread.
I'm the temporary help when he is gone!
Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 11/20/12 04:32 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
I just post when he is gone. He said he didn't mind.
This is his thread.
I'm the temporary help when he is gone!
? You asked him to let you post when he is gone? When has Ask Me ever been gone???

Ask Me, is everything okay?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/20/12 12:49 PM
Originally Posted by maritalbliss
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
I just post when he is gone. He said he didn't mind.
This is his thread.
I'm the temporary help when he is gone!
? You asked him to let you post when he is gone? When has Ask Me ever been gone???

Ask Me, is everything okay?

Everything is ok and Happy Thanksgiving to all! smile

Knowing this is Thanksgiving week-I usually take time off from my devotions to consider the blessings in my life and allow others to do the same. We are given so many things in life we take for granted from good health to having a place to live. There are parts of this world that are not as fortunate as others so during this time of Thankgiving remember those parts of the world in your prayers and if lead to help do what you can. May God bless each of you, your families and those who are close to you. May your memories be joyful ones and I pray God will help you put away any thoughts that take away from giving thanks this week.


1 Thessalonians 5

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God�s will for you in Christ Jesus.



19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.



23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.





I'll be back next week - I promise God willing. smile
Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 11/21/12 02:48 AM
So good to hear that all is well, Ask Me! When JK mentioned covering for you I was alarmed. I have treasured your thread over the years and have been so impressed by your steadfast postings. When I thought you were handing off your thread and opening it to other posters I was so disappointed! Good to hear that all is well and that you will be with us.

Thanks so much for your postings - they touch more people than we will know. Please keep up the good work, Ask Me, and have a blessed Thanksgiving season.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/21/12 05:37 AM
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

Reading from the Synaxarion:

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph


Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56

In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/22/12 05:05 AM
Archippus the Apostles,Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Philemon, who was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, was a man both wealthy and noble; Apphia was his wife. �Archippus became Bishop of the Church in Colossae. �All three were disciples of the Apostle Paul. �Onesimus, who was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon, stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. �However, on finding him there, the Apostle Paul guided him onto the path of virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and sent him back to his master Philemon, to whom he wrote an epistle (this is one of the fourteen epistles of Saint Paul). �In this epistle, Paul commended Onesimus to his master and reconciled the two. �Onesimus was later made a bishop; in Greece he is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned. �All these Saints received their end by martyrdom, when they were stoned to death by the idolaters. �Saint Onesimus is also commemorated on February 15.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Philemon 1:1-25

PAUL, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, and Apphia our sister and Archippos our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you - I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus - I appeal to you for my child, Onesimos, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is
�indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will. Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it - to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing tha
t
�you will do even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchos, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 11/22/12 09:45 PM
For American Thanksgiving today, the Revised Common Lectionary gives these readings:

Joel 2:21-27
21 �Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 �Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.

24 �The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore[a] to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.

26 �You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Psalm 126
126 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
�The Lord has done great things for them.�
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

1 Timothy 2:1-7
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Matthew 6:25-33
25 �Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, �What shall we eat?� or �What shall we drink?� or �What shall we wear?� 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/23/12 05:10 AM
Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Amphilochius, who was born in Cappadocia, shone forth in asceticism and divine knowledge even from his youth. He was consecrated Bishop of Iconium in 341, he struggled courageously against the blasphemies of Eunomius, Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit, and the followers of Arius. He was present at the Second Ecumenical Council of the 150 Fathers, which took place in Constantinople, convoked during the reign of Theodosius the Great in the year 381. In 383 Amphilochius wished to persuade the Emperor Theodosius to forbid the Arians from gathering in Constantinople and to commit the churches to the Orthodox, but the Emperor was reluctant to do such a thing. The next time that Amphilochius entered the palace, he addressed Theodosius with proper honour, but slighted his young son Arcadius in his presence. Theodosius was indignant, and said the dishonour shown to his son was equally an insult to himself. To this Saint Amphilochius answered that as he would not suffer an
insult to his son, so he ought to believe that God is wroth with those who blaspheme His Only-begotten. Saint Theodosius understood and admired Amphilochius' ingenious device, and he issued the desired edict in September of the same year. Saint Amphilochius, having reached deep old age, reposed in peace about the year 395. Saint Basil the Great wrote many letters to Saint Amphilochius, his friend and Fellow champion of the Faith, and at his request wrote his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which besides demonstrating the divinity of the Holy Spirit and His equality with the Father and the Son, defends the Church's unwritten ancient traditions, such as making the sign of the Cross, turning towards the East in prayer, no kneeling on Sunday, and so forth.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians 3:6-18

BRETHREN, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing.

If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/24/12 03:48 AM
Adultery

The story of the woman caught in adultery is illustrative of the jurisprudence of Jesus Christ: prudent justice tempered with mercy. St. John recounts the event:

�Jesus went unto the mount of Olives� (Jn 8:1). St. Augustine writes: �And where ought Christ to teach, except on the mount of Olives; on the mount of ointment, on the mount of chrism. For the name Christ is from chrism, chrism being the Greek word for unction.� Alcuin adds: �The mount of Olives also denotes the height of our Lord�s pity, olive in the Greek signifying pity. The qualities of oil are such as to fit in to this mystical meaning. For it floats above all other liquids: and the Psalmist says, �Thy mercy is over all Thy works� (Ps 144:9).

�And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them� (v. 2). Alcuin notes: �His returning early in the morning, signifies the new rise of grace. . . . The sitting down represents the humility of His incarnation. And the people came to Him, when He sat down, that is, after taking up human nature, and thereby becoming visible, many began to hear and believe on Him.�

Certain scribes and Pharisees posed a legal question to Jesus: �They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?� (vv. 4-5) The dilemma is this, notes St. Augustine: �If He decide to let her go, He will not do justice; for the law cannot command what is unjust: . . . but to maintain His meekness, which has made Him already so acceptable to the people, He must decide to let her go.�

�Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground� (v. 6). St. Augustine sees His bowing His head to write on the ground as �an expression of humility.�� St. Bede the Venerable suggests: �His writing with His finger on the ground perhaps showed that it was He who had written the law on stone.� Alcuin explains it thus: �The ground denotes the human heart, which yieldeth the fruit either of good or of bad actions: the finger jointed and flexible, discretion. He instructs us then, when we see any faults in our neighbours, not immediately and rashly to condemn them, but after searching our own hearts to begin with, to examine them attentively with the finger of discretion.�

Next, the ruling . . .

Quotations from St. Thomas Aquinas, Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Four Gospels Collected Out of the Works of the Fathers, Vol. IV, Part I (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1845).
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/25/12 03:13 AM
Continuing the story of the woman caught in adultery, St. John reports on how Christ judged the case:

�He lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her� (Jn 8:7). St. Augustine explains: �He did not say, Stone her not, lest He should seem to speak contrary to the law. But God forbid that He should say, Stone her; for He came not to destroy that which He found, but to seek that which was lost. . . . This is the voice of justice. Let the sinner be punished, but not by sinners; the law carried into effect, but not by transgressors of the law.� St. Gregory the Great wisely teaches: �He who judges not himself first, cannot know how to judge correctly in the case of another. For though He know what the offence is, from being told, yet He cannot judge of another�s deserts, who supposing himself innocent, will not apply the rule of justice to himself.�

�And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last� (v. 9a). Alcuin remarks: This is like our Lord; while His eyes are fixed, and He seems attending to something else, He gives the bystanders an opportunity of retiring: a tacit admonition to us to consider always both before we condemn a brother for a sin, and after we have punished him, whether we are not guilty ourselves of the same fault, or others as bad.�

�And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst� (v. 9b). St. Augustine notes: �There were left however two, the pitiable and the pitiful: . . . the woman, you may suppose, in great alarm, expecting punishment from one in whom no sin could be found. But He who had repelled her adversaries with the word of justice, lifted on her the eyes of mercy.�

�When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord� (vv. 10-11a). St. Augustine remarks: �We heard above the voice of justice; let us hear now that of mercy.� And so: �Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more� (v. 11b).

Does He then condone sin? St. Augustine replies: �No, surely. Listen to what follows, �Go, and sin no more.� So then our Lord condemned sin, but not the sinner. For did He favour sin, He would have said, Go, and live as thou wilt: depend on my deliverance: howsoever great thy sins be, it matters not: I will deliver thee from hell, and its tormentors. But He did not say this.�

Thus, the great Lawgiver and Judge gives a poignant example of how one ought to temper justice with mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/26/12 12:19 PM
2 Peter 3:14-16 (NIV)
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord�s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

In these verses the apostle lets us know that we are in constant danger of being turned away from the truth. For we must remember even Satan knows the scriptures and used them against Christ, not for Christ�s benefit, but instead as an attempt to seduce Christ with the temptation of sin. We must be careful with scripture for it is our relationship with Christ that allows us to understand and use scripture wisely. There are some who take the Word of God away from Him and use it for themselves; men without law, who keep to no rules, set no bounds to themselves, a sort of free-thinkers. For we cannot think alone, but instead out thoughts must agree with those of Our Savior who with love, mercy and grace gave His life for us. If Christ allows you to grow in grace then allow others the same benefit.



William Henry Willimon is an American theologian and bishop in the United Methodist Church, currently serving in the North Alabama Conference. The following comes from one of his sermons : Early in my ministry, I served a little church in rural Georgia. One Saturday we went to a funeral in a little country church not of my denomination. I grew up in a big downtown church. I had never been to a funeral like this one. The casket was open, and the funeral consisted of a sermon by their preacher. The preacher pounded on the pulpit and looked over at the casket. He said, "It's too late for Joe. He might have wanted to get his life together. He might have wanted to spend more time with his family. He might have wanted to do that, but he's dead now. It is too late for him, but it is not too late for you. There is still time for you. You still can decide. You are still alive. It is not too late for you. Today is the day of decision." Then the preacher told how a Greyhound bus had run into a funeral procession once on the way to the cemetery, and that that could happen today. He said, "You should decide today. Today is the day to get your life together. Too late for old Joe, but it's not too late for you." I was so angry at that preacher. On the way home, I told my wife, "Have you ever seen anything as manipulative and insensitive to that poor family? I found it disgusting." She said, "I've never heard anything like that. It was manipulative. It was disgusting. It was insensitive. Worst of all, it was also true."

Will�s wife was right the words spoken at the funeral were true. Anyone can die at any minute. And once the person dies it is too late to make any other decisions about life. It becomes too late to make the most important decision about their eternal life and whether they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The problem with the sermon is this was a time of mourning for most people and they needed comforting and not a head bashing. Yes, they need to know the love, mercy and grace God offers, but who is going to listen quicker � one that is comforted or one that bashed over the head with strong words? Who will listen quicker � a person hearing God�s word given in a loving and caring method or from one who berates one into submission? Yes, the words were correct, but the delivery was wrong. Remember to use God�s word first with yourself to build your relationship with Christ and then out of love for others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/27/12 12:46 PM
Matthew 20:28 (NLT)
28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.�

This verse comes after the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons to make a request. The request was, �In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.� Jesus knew they were not certain what they were asking for so Jesus gave an explanation of His purpose. Jesus was not to be a ruler who sat and did nothing; Jesus came to serve others. The life of Jesus was not going to be pleasant for Jesus was going to give His life to ransom many from the sin that held them captive.



The disciples wanted something from Jesus He could not give them. It was a change the disciples needed to make in themselves. Imagine if Jesus had said to them, �I want you to die on a Roman cross tomorrow for my sake.� I doubt at this point in their lives they would have complied. Change is from the inside.

Altering directions a little, when you have a problem with someone else - who do you focus on the most? Do you think things would change if that other person would just change or do you think, wow I need to make some changes in me?

Jesus said: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5).

Jesus said we must first focus on our own shortcoming, on changes we need to make. This is not to say that those around us don't have faults, bad habits and sins. They do. But despite that, God wants us to focus first on our part. We need to be willing to see if we need to change something in us.

There is also the issue we cannot change someone who does not wish to change. We can threaten, belittle and try all types of things, but if a person doesn�t want to change � guess what, they are not going to change. Only God can work in the hearts of people to change them, which is why our prayers for others are so important. Only God can soften the hard hearted and restore their life to a good place.

Do you ever say things like � It is their entire fault; I only get angry because they do that; He/she hurt me and I want them to feel the pain I did; I need to confront their sin, they just aren�t getting it.

I�ll be honest, I know I have said things like that in my life and maybe some of you have too. We need to remember to first examine ourselves and see what we need to change about us. Pray God would reveal to us the things we need to work on, how we relate to people and how we can serve others as Jesus served.

Seek to truly understand others opinions and emotions. When you understand where the other person is coming from, look for ways to minister to them as you talk. God wants us to speak with love and courtesy, whatever the circumstances. Our words should be things of beauty, "like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). Even if you need to take strong actions, control your anger (Proverbs 29:11). Remember you can only change yourself. It�s others who have to want to change themselves by allowing God to work in their lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/28/12 01:02 PM
2 Samuel 6:14-23 (NIV)
14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. 20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, �How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!� 21 David said to Michal, �It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord�s people Israel�I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.� 23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Michal was the first wife of King David and also the daughter of Saul. Michal loved David when Saul reigned as king. In The Bible it is the one place where a woman is said to have loved a man. She was a woman used, first by her father, King Saul, and then by her husband David. She was given by Saul as a wife to David for his victories over the Philistines. Later she helped David escape Saul�s wrath as he became jealous of David�s superior ability as a warrior. After David�s escape Saul gave Michal to be the wife of Paltiel trying to prevent David�s claim to the throne. David had even remarried before returning for his wife. After Saul died, David returned to reclaim Michal -- not because he loved her, but because her lineage strengthened David's claim to the throne. Paltiel was grief stricken and weeping as they took his wife away while nothing is mentioned of Michal�s feelings. (2 Samuel 3:14-16)

In the verses above David is rejoicing to bring the Arc of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. Wearing only an ephod, which was basically a small apron, David danced and whirled in ecstasy in front of the Ark as the procession made its way toward the palace. Verse 16 shows Michal�s emotional despair over David�s actions. Then she gives her reason in verse 20, �How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!� David�s reply was not the kindest one. David said to Michal, �It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord�s people Israel�I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.� Basically he told her as King he could do anything and that he would rather have the admiration of others than the respect of his wife. The last word of Michal was she died having no children.

In marriages made under God they are a covenant of commitment to one another. It is a commitment to love, honor, trust, protection, care and faithfulness. David did not show these qualities as a husband. In fact David made many mistakes when it came to marriage and parenting.

As imperfect as David was � God loved David because David loved God, which we see throughout Psalms. Remember this about your life. God is looking for your love, not perfection. God makes us perfect by trusting in His love for us, which is why God gave His Son Jesus to die for our sin. Trust in God and Trust in Jesus as your Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/29/12 12:40 PM
Psalm 136:26 (NLT)
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

This verse tells us that God is a glorious God, and the glory of His mercy is to be taken notice of in our praises. Romans 9:23 states the riches of his glory are displayed in the vessels of His mercy. Psalm 136:26 also denotes Him to be the great benefactor, for every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights, the God of heaven; and we should trace every stream of mercy and goodness back to His fountain. Other mercies may perhaps endure but a while, but the mercy that is in God endures forever; it is an inexhaustible fountain.



Evelyn Bence in �Two Kinds of Thanks� wrote about her experience spending the night in a homeless shelter. In reflecting on her experience she wrote the following:

Only after I walked back out into the night air did the women's stories unsettle me. Their paths had too much in common with mine. In a sense, I was one of them: A mother's daughter. Vulnerable. A sinner in need of grace. ...

Since then I have been more aware of the uprooted Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Latin American refugees who live in my neighborhood, who ride my bus. War, political change, economic collapse--conditions over which they had no control--destroyed their lifestyle and stole their ability to communicate easily and thus to work efficiently. My thoughts have frightened me. My comfortable world, my secure home, is not guaranteed.

At the sight of the outstretched hand of a city beggar, I have always grown uncomfortable. Until recently, I have thought it was because of Jesus' warning in Matthew 25:45: "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these [the hungry, thirsty, unclothed, homeless], you did not do for me."

But since I spent an evening at the women's shelter, I see that Matthew 25 is only the partial cause of my discomfort. I am uncomfortable because I see the beggar as myself--or my very own brother or mother or father. And I cannot think of a homeless or hungry woman in such personal terms without a reversal in the way I give my thanks.

The difference between "Thank you that I'm not one of them" and "Thank you for the grace you have shown to me, and help me to mirror your grace to others" may, at first, seem slight. But the second is for me a wholly new mindset that makes me want to reach out, that reduces my discomfort around those who have less than I, and, surprisingly, that reduces my fear of a future that is unknown. Why? Because even though I know I have no insurance policy against war and famine or sickness, I know I have a God who does not forget his own. And for that I thank him also.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/12 01:05 PM
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

There is a lot packed into this one verse. The apostle first warns us to stay alert or in some translations to be sober and vigilant. We should allow nothing to distract us from the fact that Satan is an enemy of those who love God. Matthew Henry�s commentary tells us this of Satan�s name: �By his characters and names. (1.) He is an adversary: "That adversary of yours; not a common adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls.�� (2.) The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren; this title is derived from a word which signifies to strike through, or to stab. He would strike malignity into our natures and poison into our souls. If he could have struck these people with passion and murmuring in their sufferings, perhaps he might have drawn them to apostasy and ruin. (3.) He is a roaring lion, hungry, fierce, strong, and cruel, the fierce and greedy pursuer of souls.� Satan is not idle in his activities. We see that he prowls or walks about looking for opportunities to tear down those who love God. We know from the Book of Job that Satan attacked Job who was a man of faith, who loved God and who went out each morning to pray for the sins of his family. Yet Job persevered and stood firm in his faith.



According to Psychology Today, in 2008, 4,000 books were published on happiness�up from 50 books in 2000. If you don�t believe people are under attack in today�s society those statistics on books to make us happy should be convincing. People are searching for happiness. Iif there isn�t a firm faith in The Lord and a good understanding God has the best plan for their lives � they look for happiness in the wrong places.

Satan is walking about looking to steal our happiness which is found in the Lord. Peter chose a lion for illustration because a lion roars to claim its territory. The roar of a lion is frightening and can be heard five miles away. Satan wants to claim the world as his own. Fortunately we have a savior Jesus Christ who is The Lion of Judah. The voice of Jesus carries around the world speaking to every one of His love, grace and mercy.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/30/12 03:05 PM
Satan comes to rob kill and destroy.
And that's why we have to pray to God and ask for His help.
A great childrens song about this is:


O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see


O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear


O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do


O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go


O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/02/12 05:17 AM
December 2:

The Holy Prophet Habakkuk, the eighth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, was descended from the Tribe of Simeon, and he prophesied around 650 B.C.

The Prophet Habakkuk foresaw the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity and the later return of the captives to their native land. During the war with the Babylonians the prophet withdrew to Arabia, where the following miracle occurred. When he was bringing dinner to the reapers, he met an angel of the Lord, and instantly by the strength of his spirit he was transported to Babylon, where at the time the Prophet Daniel was languishing in prison. The food intended for the reapers assuaged the hunger of the exhausted Prophet Daniel (Dan. 14:33-37).

After the end of the war with the Babylonians, the Prophet Habakkuk returned to his homeland and died at a great old age. His relics were found at the time of Emperor Theodosius he Younger (408-450), together with the relics of the Prophet Micah (August 14).

The Fourth Ode of the Psalter ("O Lord, I have heard thy report, and was afraid...") is based on Habakkuk 3:2-19.

Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 6:27. "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?"

The best thing about Proverbs is all the great similes used to describe certain situations. This verse is actually about consequences for doing something bad and in this case the Bible is talking about adultery. Committing adultery and going unpunished is about as likely as scooping fire into your lap and not burning your clothes.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/12 01:30 PM
John 6:35 (NLT)
35 Jesus replied, �I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Christ is the bread of life, for he is the fruit of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life promised Adam and Eve eternal life; however God prevented Adam and Eve from eating from the Tree of Life so they could not live an eternal life of sin. Instead God gave us Jesus who provides a sinless, eternal life. To believe in Christ is to come to Christ in faith and receive what has been promised. For those who come to Christ in faith will never be hungry or thirst. There is such an over-flowing fullness in Christ that can never be exhausted, and there are ever-flowing communications from Him as well that can never be interrupted.



Anyone that has played the game of chess knows the most important strategy of the game is to protect the king. The king is the most important piece of the game and to lose the king means forfeiting the kingdom (game). A real life example can be found in history. Sir Winston Churchill wanted to witness �D Day� up close. However, the king felt the Prime Minister�s place was not on the front lines. When Sir Winston Churchill expressed his desire to go the King of England said if it was that important he must attend too. With that Sir Winston Churchill pushed back and did not go to ensure the king would remain safe.

The life of Jesus was just the opposite. The King of Heaven was given up and sacrificed for the welfare of the kingdom. The death of Jesus meant people would find forgiveness for their sin. Jesus freely gave His life that we may life an eternal life free from sin.
Posted By: GodsdaughterJ Re: Devotionals - 12/04/12 12:52 AM
"The life of Jesus was just the opposite. The King of Heaven was given up and sacrificed for the welfare of the kingdom. The death of Jesus meant people would find forgiveness for their sin. Jesus freely gave His life that we may life an eternal life free from sin."

I am so thankful that Christ gave His life for me! Through Him, I am a new creation:) Glory!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/12 01:05 PM
Jeremiah 11:20 (NLT)
20 O Lord of Heaven�s Armies, you make righteous judgments, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.

There was a plot to kill Jeremiah the prophet. The Lord made it known to Jeremiah. The Lord was on Jeremiah�s side. Yet we see Jeremiah acknowledging the Lord examines the hearts and knows the deepest thought and secrets of man and because of this The Lord can make a righteous judgment.



I want to talk about secrets for a moment. The secrets I want to discuss are those we tuck away hoping no one will find out. Psalm 44 says that even while we try to maintain a secret, �God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.� You see, we try to hide something even from God, but when we do we begin to feel the shame in hiding the secret. Another problem with secrets is they often come with lies. For instance a child takes something in secret and when the mother asks the child about what they took - they may say, �No, I didn�t take it.� Then the secret becomes a greater point of shame because now there is a lie attached.

There is a saying I learned long ago, Honesty heals while secrets kill. You may think you are getting away with something you have done, but when it�s exposed you will pay a greater price on the back end than you would have on the front end. Most often when someone goes in and confesses a sinful action they will usually find grace and mercy. They may still have a consequence, but hopefully not as great as if the secret is exposed.

When a sin is held in secret and then revealed trust is broken. Once trust is broken people can�t tell the difference from the truth or a lie and then everything becomes suspect. Remember the little boy who cried wolf? After a while no one can believe you when they keep finding out secrets you hid.

Secrets can destroy individual�s lives because they are not reaching out for help. For instance an addict may try to hide their problem, but eventually the problem becomes too big. If only they had revealed their secret earlier help could have been given and the problem worked on.

Those who hide secrets of shame are often punishing themselves unfairly. There arepeople who understand problems and have even experienced them first hand. Those people are often ready to reach out and help; but they can�t help as long as the secret remains.

You see Satan wants us to hold secrets so we don�t reach out to God, so we don�t reach out to family, and we don�t reach out to friends. Those secrets drive us into isolation and even make us believe we can repeat those habits and keep them a secret. Usually what is done in darkness is eventually revealed in the light.

Let me just finish by saying, even if your secret are never found out � God still knows. God wants you to release the pain of those secrets and become whole again. God wants you free from your burdens.

Father I pray if anyone is holding a secret in their heart that is causing them pain - I pray you give them the strength to share it with someone they trust. Father I pray in revealing their secrets a burden will be lifted from their shoulders. Father I pray mercy and grace would be extended and that those who hear the secret see that the person is reaching out for help. Father grant them the help they need. God bless those who maintain honesty.

I pray this in the name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/12 01:08 PM
Originally Posted by GodsdaughterJ
"The life of Jesus was just the opposite. The King of Heaven was given up and sacrificed for the welfare of the kingdom. The death of Jesus meant people would find forgiveness for their sin. Jesus freely gave His life that we may life an eternal life free from sin."

I am so thankful that Christ gave His life for me! Through Him, I am a new creation:) Glory!

Isn't it wonderful to know we have a God who deeply cares for us and finds us precious in His sight even when we are in the midst of sin. He extends His love, mercy and grace without hesitation welcoming us into His arms. I too am thankful for a savior that gives new life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/05/12 12:53 PM
Galatians 3:23-29 (NLT
23 Before it was possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by putting our trust in Christ, we were held under the Law. It was as if we were being kept in prison. We were kept this way until Christ came. 24 The Law was used to lead us to Christ. It was our teacher, and so we were made right with God by putting our trust in Christ. 25 Now that our faith is in Christ, we do not need the Law to lead us. 26 You are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus. 27 All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.

The law kept people prisoners because they had to keep strict observance of the law under the threat of severe punishment. The law was their teacher, to bring them to Christ so that they might be justified by faith. The Law was used to help people realize they could not take away sin on their own. It required them to place their faith in God in order to obtain mercy and grace. It was said of Abraham that he believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. It was faith in God that made Abraham righteous and it was faith in God that allowed him to carry out God�s will. When Christ came the law still showed us right from wrong, but did not hold us in bondage to it. For we have the choice of trying to accomplish what is right on our own or accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Clearly, God�s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God�s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God�s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. The law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham�s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, �I have made you the father of many nations.� This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.


Theologian Alister McGrath outlines the following three stages of receiving what Christ did for us on the cross:

1. I may believe that God is promising me forgiveness of sins.
2. I may trust that promise.
3. Unless I respond to that promise, I shall not obtain forgiveness. The first two stages of faith prepare the way for the third, without it they are incomplete.

As an illustration I can believe antibiotics will cure a bacterial illness. I can trust the doctors who tell me the antibiotics are what I need and will provide a cure for a possible death. But nothing will change unless I receive the drug. I must allow it to destroy the bacteria which are slowly killing me. Otherwise, I have not benefited from my faith in it.

Benefit in God�s plan of salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ and response to Jesus as He calls you to do His will. Allow Jesus to fend off the sin that attacks you in your daily life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/12 12:58 PM
Galatians 5:18-21 (NLV)
18 If you let the Holy Spirit lead you, the Law no longer has power over you. 19 The things your sinful old self wants to do are: sex sins, sinful desires, wild living, 20 worshiping false gods, witchcraft, hating, fighting, being jealous, being angry, arguing, dividing into little groups and thinking the other groups are wrong, false teaching, 21 wanting something someone else has, killing other people, using strong drink, wild parties, and all things like these. I told you before and I am telling you again that those who do these things will have no place in the holy nation of God.

The apostle, speaking to the church, starts these verses by saying when the Holy Spirit leads us to do that which Christ commands us to do; there is no law given by God that would prevent us from such acts. For the Holy Spirit leads a person to do what is right and holy. However our own flesh, which is our sinful desire, leads us away from the Holy Spirit and calls us to commit acts contrary to God�s desire. Our Christianity obliges us not only to die unto sin, but to live unto righteousness; not only to oppose the works of the flesh, but to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit too. It should appear to the others that we belong to Christ and not to the world. This is our duty to support our character as Christians.



From the beginning of man�s sin he has tried to blame God or others around him instead of himself. When you look at the sins of the flesh above you can see how this is almost impossible to do. One might say, �I was angry at my wife so I gave into drinking.� Well uncontrolled anger is a sin that a person is responsible for. There is nothing wrong with anger as an emotion, but the acts we often commit out of anger are often wrong. For instance this person turned to drinking and yes, uncontrolled drinking is a sin. So the person tried to justify one sin by another sin they committed. Logically you can�t do that.

I have always said the devil doesn�t need to make us sin, most of the time we are pretty good about sinning on our own. Look thought the list of what our sin nature desires and if you are like me you can find a few that apply to yourself.

I want to encourage you along with myself that when we see something we are doing wrong � let�s try to resolve the wrong. If another person confronts us with our wrong, let us listen instead of striking back in anger. Encourage one another to love, to follow God, to do what is right. If you do these things God will bless you and give you more good things to accomplish.

Heavenly Father, I know we all have fallen into the trap of our own sinful desires. I know there are times we have disobeyed you and went our own way. Father we are grateful for the love, grace and mercy you provide; for if we did not have that we surely would have destroyed ourselves. Our Father please let us see the truth and put away the lies that call us to sin. I ask Father for the Holy Spirit to lead each one of us and keep us close to Christ. Help us Father to be examples to those who do not know you. Let us reach out to others in love and avoid the sin of hate, jealousy, arguing and anger. Father be with us in our daily lives, healing, nurturing, and just loving on us.

I pray these things in the name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/06/12 02:43 PM
I look at the sins Paul describes and I see myself in all of them.
Our hearts truly are desperately wicked and only by the grace of God are we saved.

AskMe, what is your opinion of divorce (based on Scripture)?
If a man divorces his wife because she commits sexual adultery is divorce justified?
Can the man remarry?
When you get a chance can you read this commentary and let me know your thoughts?
I am recently divorced and would appreciate your views.

http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/joined/joined_contents.html
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/12 12:49 PM
Mark 13:5-8 (NIV)
5 Jesus said to them: �Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, �I am he,� and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

The conversation prior to the verses stated this - �Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.� Jesus replied, �Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!� Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, �Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?� --- The disciples were concerned as many would about the destruction of those things they loved. In this case they were particularly concerned about the destruction of Jerusalem, which might be the end of life as they knew it. Jesus reassured them they should not be alarmed or deceived by what others may say. For there are things that must happen which are under God�s control. They will be wars, rumors of wars and many other disasters, but God�s timing is meant to give everyone an opportunity for salvation.



Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these words on December the 8, 1941. December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

Wars, earthquakes, and other disastrous events can come into our lives at any time. These events come unexpected out of the blue and often take us by surprise. Often there is no way to prepare and no way to prevent what will happen. Many times lives are lost and families are devastated.

However there is one thing we can be reassured of -- God is in control. People may think why would a benevolent God allow these things to happen? God is not the cause of these problems. God is looking instead at a long term plan to bring people to salvation and grant them an eternal life in heaven. There are many people unaware of this plan, but when disasters strike people often begin to search out for God. When the World Trade Towers were attacked in America it became a time when people united and people turned to God for reassurance and comfort. Yes, God has a plan to show people how they can obtain eternal salvation through His Son Jesus Christ that is ever lasting and can never be taken away.

Let us take a moment today to remember lives which have been lost. Let us also remember we have a sovereign God who loves us and desires for us to live a glorious and wonderful eternal life in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/12 04:13 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
I look at the sins Paul describes and I see myself in all of them.
Our hearts truly are desperately wicked and only by the grace of God are we saved.

AskMe, what is your opinion of divorce (based on Scripture)?
If a man divorces his wife because she commits sexual adultery is divorce justified?
Can the man remarry?
When you get a chance can you read this commentary and let me know your thoughts?
I am recently divorced and would appreciate your views.

http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/joined/joined_contents.html


Let's see if I can make this into a devotion about marriage and divorce.

Genesis 2:22-24
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

We know from the point of God that He intended for a man and woman to unite together. They were to be an independent unit away from the homes of their parents. They were to create a family and care for that family.

Matthew 19:4-6
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Jesus reiterated this message that man and woman would join together as one couple, as one body and as one of thoughts. Jesus tells us this is a covenant under God made between man and woman and they should not to break this covenant.

Marriage was not to be taken lightly and neither was divorce. Jesus said that God didn't intend for divorce, but allowed it under Mosaic law. The intent was marry, stay married and stay faithful to one another.

Matthew 18:7-9
�Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?� they asked. Jesus replied, �Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery�unless his wife has been unfaithful.

So again we see Jesus reaffirming the covenant of marriage. Hard hearts is why Moses mediated with God for divorce. Divorce was not in God's plan, neither were multiple marriages or multiple spouses. I know there are a few others in The Bible, but Job always comes to mind as the one faithful person who had one spouse and remained faithful to her even through all the pain and suffering he endured.

Hebrews 13:4-7
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

God intended marriage and sex to go together. Couples should be able to enjoy each other freely without sin. It bothers me when people try to make sex something dirty because it should be a lovely experience shared between two people who mutually agree on what they are doing. The reason I believe some families try to make it dirty is to prevent promiscuous behavior in their children, which is wrong. Honesty about subjects at a level appropriate for a child's age is always the best answer.

1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Again we see that sex within marriage is a good thing. For those who have a strong desire for sex that need can be fulfilled within marriage. I want to emphasize the part about mutual consent. Sex should be treated respectfully between each other, never making the other person an object to be used. We also find there are some who can be happy as a single person. There is nothing wrong with being single and is an honorable thing if one remains so. We also see the problems unlike beliefs can create between husband and wife and for their children. It is why it is so important a Christian person desires a Christian spouse. It's not that two people cannot be married and have different beliefs, but there will be issues that have to be resolved. The verse also reminds us of the importance of marriage to one another and that through one's faith in Christ an unbelieving spouse may also find Christ.

There was a question about remarrying when divorce occurs. I knew a couple that divorced over matters related to sex. They had two children and this is where I think a verse from Malachi is important. Malachi 2:16 from the NLT translation says, "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife." The wife was left with the children and the children also suffered because the father was not always there. Well several years passed and neither remarried. The wife became ill and needed help with the children. The husband who had been working on his issues moved back in to help with their kids. The husband slept separately from the wife for over a year, helping, caring and providing. The wife saw the change in her husband and decided she wanted to reconcile. They worked together through counseling and found the hope they looked for. They are happily remarried at this time. Praise God.

So I think as long as there is a possibility for reconciliation a Christian should hold out to see if remarrying might be a possibility. But once the other spouse has remarried that hope is gone and I see no issue with remarrying.

There are other reasons for divorce such as safety of the family. My mother divorced my father because he was an abusive alcoholic. His ways never changed. Had she remained married to him I believe the results could have been terrible. He tried to shoot her, tried to run her over with a car, tried to stab her, but fortunately he was always too drunk to succeed. For the safety of the family there are times when divorce is necessary. My father remained an alcoholic the rest of his life. I only saw him for 5 minutes when I was 10 years old and he was drunk and my mom told him to leave and that was the last time I saw him until I attended his funeral. My mom's mistake was in marrying someone who was not a Christian and who she did not know much about.

One final word on all of this. Divorce impacts live, especially if children are evolved. Divorce should never be taken lightly and marriage should be done with a thought of commitment. However,we should remember there is no sin that cannot be forgiven by God except for the rejection of the Holy Spirit, which means a person rejects God's salvation through Christ. So no matter what has taken place there is always forgiveness from God. God would like us all to live perfect and holy lives, but He knows we can't do it. So God gave us Jesus so that when we fail there is mercy and grace.

I'm sure others may want to comment and I always welcome another's opinion.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/07/12 08:08 PM
My situation is that my wife had an ongoing affair with a dangerous convicted felon
This man was arrested and convicted. He tried to kill his own child and he is a drug addict.
When I demanded she end the affair she lied, and kept it secret.
Eventually she left to go be with him.
The Court gave me full custody of the kids. Te lawyer explained that I had to divorce her in order to keep the children safe, because he was coming to the home when I was at work and she was bringing the kids to his house.
I could not keep him away from my kids without divorce and custody.

I am a believer in Christ.
So now I am divorced and she has been living with him.
She is happy to have "her freedom" and tells her sister that she was tired of being a parent, so she feels happy now.
My dillema is what to do?
I'm young (35) and healthy and struggle daily with lust of the flesh, etc.

It is a frustrating situation.
I prayed throughout my divorce for God to intervene but of course I don't know his plan for my family.
Thankfully, my relationship with God has improved greatly as I was brought to my knees in prayer over her adultery.

I know that I did the right thing in divorce because I had to protect my children. But I still struggle on waiting for God to guide my future life as single or married or waiting on ex wife
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/08/12 01:35 PM
Saint Barbara:

Saint Barbara was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia and lived during the reign of Maximian.

She was the daughter of a certain idolater named Dioscorus. When Barbara came of age, she was enlightened in her pure heart and secretly believed in the Holy Trinity. About this time Dioscorus began building a bath-house; before it was finished he was required to go away to attend to certain matters, and in his absence Barbara directed the workmen to build a third window in addition to the two her Father had commanded. She also inscribed the sign of the Cross with her finger upon the marble of the bath-house, leaving the saving sign cut as deeply into the marble as if it had been done with an iron too. (When the Synaxarion of Saint Barbara was written, the marble of the bath-house and the cross inscribed by Saint Barbara were still preserved, and many healings were worked there.) When Dioscorus returned, he asked why the third window had been added; Barbara began to declare to him the mystery of the Trinity. Because she refused to renounce her faith, Dioscorus tortured Barbara inhumanely, and after subjecting her to many sufferings he beheaded her with his own hands, in the year 290.


Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2

Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. �And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. �If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. �Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. �Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. �Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. �Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 13:19-29

The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know
where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God."
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/09/12 08:36 PM
December 9:

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

Reading from the Synaxarion:

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).

The Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) in the Holy City of Jerusalem

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The majestic Church of the Resurrection, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Helen, was consecrated in the year 336. In the year 614, this edifice was destroyed by the Persians, who set fire to it. Modestus, the Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius, and later Patriarch of Jerusalem, rebuilt the church in 626 and had it reconsecrated. In 637, Jerusalem fell to the Moslems; however, the holy shrines were left intact. But in 934, on the Sunday of Pascha, the Saracens set fire to part of this church. Again in 969, the Moslems set fire to the dome of the church, plundered all the sacred objects that were found therein, and surrendered John IV, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the flames. In 1010, the Moslems, under Hakim the Mad, Caliph of Egypt, destroyed the church to its foundations, but in 1028, by the mediation of Emperor Romanus III Argyrus of Constantinople, the church began to be rebuilt on a more modest scale. This third edifice was completed and recon
secrated in 1048. In 1099, the crusaders took Jerusalem and ruled there for eighty-eight years, and during this time they made certain changes in the structure, �which, for the most part, has remained unaltered ever since (See also Sept. 13).

Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. More
over, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/12 01:00 PM
1 Timothy 1:5-7 (NLT)
5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the Law of Moses, but they don�t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

The Apostle Paul is writing Timothy, a Christian and trusted friend, on how to guard against Judaizing teachers or others who mingled fables and family accounts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole point of Paul�s message is best stated by Romans 13:10, �Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God�s law.� The Law of Moses was to help people see their own faults and needs and not to be used as a weapon towards others. It was to show people how to love, how to act with a clear conscience, and how to have genuine faith in God. But others had taken the Law of Moses to use for their own purposes against others. Instead of teaching, instead of loving they were using the law to ridicule, harass and accuse others. This is what Timothy had to be on guard against.



A good question we should all ask ourselves � Are we using God�s word to correct ourselves and love others; or are we using God�s word to correct others? You see if we use God�s word to get our hearts right with God then we want to love others. However if we are just concerned about how others live then we end up disliking and maybe even going to the extreme of hating those who do not follow what we believe.

Jesus was very careful to point this out when he said how can you say to your brother, �Let me take the speck out of your eye,� and behold, the log is in your own eye? Jesus knew man was quick to judge others without looking at their own selves first. It seems we are often blind to our own faults while being quick to see the faults of others.

Love is a result of looking at ourselves and seeing our need to follow God. When we see our faults it becomes easier to overlook the faults of others. When we see our need for mercy and grace it is easier to extend mercy and grace to others. When we see our need for love it is easier to love others.

So are you looking first to correct yourself and love others; or trying to correct others? Hopefully most people are correcting self and loving others, but if not let me encourage you to think about that question. Take time to consider the logs in your life before picking at the splinters in others� lives.

Heavenly Father it is so easy to see the faults of others while missing our own faults. Help us to see instead of being blind to our own ways. Let us first correct ourselves so we can love and encourage others in the good ways of life. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/11/12 11:45 AM
1 Peter 1:23-25 (NLT)
23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24 As the Scriptures say, �People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.�[words from Isa 40:6-8] And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

From Matthew Henry�s Commentary - Man, in his utmost flourish and glory, is still a withering, fading, dying creature. Take him singly, all flesh is grass. In his entrance into the world, in his life and in his fall, he is similar to grass. Take him in all his glory, even this is as the flower of grass; his wit, beauty, strength, vigour, wealth, honour�these are but as the flower of grass, which soon withers and dies away. The only way to render this perishing creature solid and incorruptible is for him to entertain and receive the word of God; for this remains everlasting truth, and, if received, will preserve him to everlasting life, and abide with him forever. The prophets and apostles preached the same doctrine. This word which Isaiah and others delivered in the Old Testament is the same which the apostles preached in the New.



C. .S Lewis once wrote, War makes death real to us: and that would have been regarded as one of its blessings by most of the Christians of the past. They thought it good for us to be always aware of our mortality. I am inclined to think they were right. All the animal life in us, all schemes of happiness that centered in this world, were always doomed to a final frustration. In ordinary times only a wise man can realize it. Now the stupidest of us knows. We see unmistakably the sort of universe in which we have all along been living, and must come to terms with it. If we had foolish un-Christian hopes about human culture, they are now shattered. If we thought we were building up a heaven on earth, if we looked for something that would turn the present world from a place of pilgrimage into a permanent city satisfying the soul of man, we are disillusioned, and not a moment too soon. [Citation: C. S. Lewis, "Learning in War-Time," from a sermon preached in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Oxford, 1939.]

This past week Dallas Cowboy Josh Brent was arrested for intoxicated manslaughter Saturday after being involved in a car accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown. Sadly Jerry was killed early in his life and whatever dreams he may have had went with him.

The plane carrying Jenni Rivera, a popular Mexican-American singer, crashed and killed all aboard. Everyone and everything in the crash was destroyed beyond recognition. The impact was so powerful that the remains of the plane "are scattered over an area of 250 to 300 meters. The dreams she and those with her had also vanished.

Those are some of the deaths that have been highlighted this week. However they are not alone. I dare to estimate the number of deaths that took place this week from accidents, murders, and natural causes. Our human bodies will eventually die whether in an expected time or more tragically in an unexpected time.

There is only one hope for life and that is an eternal life in heaven with God. It�s a life of immeasurable hope without the pain of this world; for in heaven there is only joy. All God asks is that we acknowledge our sins to Him; be willing to turn from those sins; and on faith believe in His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins. There is hope of life beyond this world and I pray all grab hold of it while they can.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/12/12 11:53 AM
Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

God always knows the right time to put a plan into action. So at the time of His choosing, God sent His only-begotten son, Jesus Christ into the world. Humbly Jesus was born as any other man so that He might experience the fullness of man while possessing the fullness of God. Mary was subject to the law as many others, but even she was able to experience the mercy and grace of The Father through her son. God sent Jesus to redeem us of our sins and to free us from the burden of those sins. No longer were we to be slaves to sin, but instead children of God. For when we accept Christ we are adopted into God�s family that inherits the benefits of an everlasting and joyful life.



Author James Herriot tells of an unforgettable wedding anniversary he and his wife celebrated early in their marriage. His boss had encouraged him to take his wife to a fancy restaurant, but Herriot balked. He was a young veterinarian and couldn't really afford it. "Oh, do it!" the boss insisted. "It's a special day!" Herriot reluctantly agreed and surprised his wife with the news.

En route to the restaurant, Herriot and his wife stopped at a farm to examine a farmer's horse. Having finished the routine exam, he returned to his car and drove to the restaurant, unaware that his checkbook had fallen in the mud. After a wonderful meal, Herriot reached for his checkbook and discovered it was gone. Quite embarrassed, he tried to offer a way of making it up.

"Not to worry," the waiter replied. "Your dinner has been taken care of!" As it was, Herriot's employer had paid for the dinner in advance.

God has done the same for us. Jesus' utterance on the cross, "It is finished," is a Greek term meaning "paid in full."

Imagine knowing you had to pay the debit for your sins that you knew you couldn�t pay. Thankfully Jesus stepped up and paid in full the price for us that we might be free from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/12 12:50 PM
Matthew 2:7-12 (NKJV)
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, �Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.� 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The wise men appeared to inquire of Christ. These men were Gentiles and not from the commonwealth of Israel. It was these Gentiles who came to ask about Christ. These men were scholars. They came from the east, possibly from the land of Arabia. The presents they brought were the products of that country; the Arabians had done homage to David and Solomon as types of Christ. Jethro and Job were of that country. These men had followed a star to reach their destination. Stars were commonly worshiped in this area and even their gods were named for the stars. The stars that had been misused came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ. Now approximately 2 years later they were in the land where they expected The Christ to be. Their inquiry was made to the king of the land in expectations the king would know where �The King of the Jews� would live. Herod though feared their inquiry for it meant his throne might be in jeopardy. He sought to have The Christ child disposed of; but these wise men became aware of Herod�s intent and departed back to their country after paying homage to Jesus.



Appearing this time of year are manger scenes depicting the birth of Christ. Often there are three wise men depicted presenting gifts to Jesus in the manger soon after his birth. From the historical documents this is incorrect for the wise men appeared around 2 years after the birth of Christ, which would have supported Herod to then be the king. These manger scenes also depict three men for the three gifts that were given, but some ancient documents say there were possibly 14 men. Travel during this time was difficult and often done in large groups so that they could protect and support one another. Most likely this group was closer to the fourteen and more than the three.

If you are playing Christmas trivia and asked who was present at the manger it was Joseph, Mary, Jesus, shepherds of the area and the animals. The wise men were not present as we have been made to believe. If asked how many wise men were there, the answer is unknown, but probably more than three. If asked where the wise men presented their gifts it was at the home of Jesus.

We always have to be careful in life to ensure we know the truth. Often things are presented as the truth when they are only close representations of the truth. Jesus said, �I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.� At least we have Jesus who is the truth, presents the truth and lived by the truth. Always be ready to put your trust in Jesus -- a truth we can always believe in.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/13/12 06:41 PM
Here is a good article about the Magi



http://www.orlutheran.com/html/magifaq.htmlo
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/14/12 12:40 PM
John 17:20 (NLT)
20 �I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one�as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 O righteous Father, the world doesn�t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.�

Chapter 17 of John tells of one of the final prayers of Jesus. In this prayer Jesus prays for those who belong to Him both present and in future tense. The verses above begin where Jesus mentions those would ever believe in Him (future). Jesus prays that those who belong to Him might be kept close to Him, that they might be sanctified, that they might be united and that they might be glorified.



In 1974, Philippe Petit, a tight rope walker, with the assistance of his crew extended a steel cable between the twin towers of the World Trade Center while it was still under construction. He walked the quarter mile distance 8 times amazing a crowd below. He told a Newsweek magazine reporter it never occurred to him to use a safety net and then he added, �I never fall. But yes, I have landed on the earth many, many times.�

Psalm 91:9-12, �If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won�t even hurt your foot on a stone.�

This is what Jesus considered for you and me. He wanted us to be with Him and The Father. He desired we would always be kept close to Him so nothing would overcome us. He would even go as far as ordering the angels to protect and watch over us. Even though we might fall -- the angels would keep us from falling into the world where we might be lost.

Christ often prayed for the welfare of others � might we also do the same?
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/14/12 03:04 PM
There is a video of him walking the 2 towers.
He also rope walked on other buildings throughout Europe.
He was arrested for doing it because he and his crew sneaked into The tower disguised as construction workers and spent the night there and did it in the morning.
He actually taunted the city police that demanded him to come off the wire;
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/15/12 08:22 PM
The Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyricum

Reading from the Synaxarion:

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - �may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5

At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. �And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" �And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" �And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. �And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. �And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." �And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" �But they were silent. �And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it out," and his hand was restored
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/16/12 05:31 AM
11th Sunday of Luke

Reading from the Synaxarion:

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). �This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. �God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. �When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. �There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. �In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. �Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.



The Holy Prophet Aggaeus (Haggai)

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The Prophet Aggaeus, whose name means "festive," was born in Babylon at the time of the captivity Of the Jews. He began to prophesy in Jerusalem after their return thereto, and to admonish the people to rebuild the Temple, in the days of Zorobabel, the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, King of Persia, about the year 520 before Christ. His prophecy, divided into two chapters, is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.

Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11

BRETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 14:16-24; Matthew 22:14

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those m
en who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/17/12 01:25 PM
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God has armed us against the spirit of fear by often speaking to us not to fear. "Fear not the face of man; fear not the dangers you may meet with in the way of your duty.�� God has delivered us from the spirit of fear, and has given us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The spirit of power, or of courage and resolution to encounter difficulties and dangers;�the spirit of love to God, which will carry us through the opposition we may meet with, as Jacob made nothing of the hard service he was to endure for Rachel: the spirit of love to God will set us above the fear of man and all the hurt that a man can do us;�and the spirit of a sound mind or quietness of mind, a peaceable enjoyment of ourselves, for we are oftentimes discouraged in our way and work by the creatures of our own fancy and imagination, which a sober, solid, thinking mind would remove and would easily answer. 2. The spirit God gives to his ministers is not a fearful, but a courageous spirit; it is a spirit of power, for they speak in his name who has all power, both in heaven and earth; and it is a spirit of love, for love to God and the souls of men must inflame ministers in all their service; and it is a spirit of a sound mind, for they speak the words of truth and soberness.



God encourages us to keep a sound mind and not give into fear. I know there are many shaken by the events of last week. The Sandy Hook Elementary School will without question be remembered for a long time, but we must not allow the fear that was generated by the incident control our lives.

An NPR report this year stated, �School violence in the U.S. reached a peak in 1993, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That year, there were 34 homicides by students and 13 �serious violent crimes� � rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault � per 1,000 students at primary and secondary schools. By 2010, the latest figures available, those numbers had decreased to two homicides and four violent crimes per 1,000 students.� [Violence In Schools: How Big A Problem Is It? by Scott Neuman, March 16, 2012]

Obviously the Sandy Hook Elementary School incident is an event out of the norm. I know many of us have shed a tear and felt compassion for those affected by this horrific incident. Some may want to make drastic and immediate changes and while changes may be needed let�s make sure we do them with a sound mind and not out of raging emotions.

Journalists cover people in trauma; they experience trauma and fear and even generate fear in others. We have to remember many of the reports we heard were inaccurate because of the heightened stress. At times we didn�t know who had been shot or even who the shooter was. This story will take weeks to unfold. You will hear many sad stories. Pay attention to your own emotions. Be honest with yourself and others. When it is time to take a break, talk to somebody about your experiences. Remember what an airplane stewardess tells you -- If you do not have your mask on, you cannot help anybody else. If you are fearful it will be hard to reassure and put others at ease. So please take care of yourself and know God had given you power, love and self-discipline to see yourself and others through troubled times.

God be with those who have suffered. God comfort the afflicted. God give hope and reassurance. God protect. God we pray for those who seek to do us harm that you would intervene. Let your power fill our hearts and souls that we can face fear and not let it defeat us. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/12 12:25 PM
Acts 15:36-41 (NLT)
36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, �Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.� 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

These verses are about s second expedition designed by Paul and Barnabas to preach to the Gentiles, in which they quarrelled about their assistant, John Mark, and separated upon it, one steering one course and the other another.


"Barnabas" was actually his nickname, given him by the apostles. It meant "Son of Encouragement," and it was most appropriate. He was actually born Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. He was probably one of many Jews became one of the earliest converts to Christianity. Unlike most Christians, Barnabas believed Paul's conversion story, and he smoothed the way for the former persecutor to be accepted by the Jerusalem church. In 48, Barnabas set off with his cousin Mark and Paul to evangelize cities in Asia Minor. Though Mark deserted the party early on, Barnabas and Paul preached, performed miracles, and endured persecution together. One early tradition, recorded by Clement of Alexandria, says Barnabas worked briefly with Jesus, being one of the 70 sent out to evangelize Palestine. Another tradition says he preached in Alexandria and Rome after leaving Paul, founded the church on Cyprus, and was finally stoned and then burned to death in about 61 in Syria.

Even among the best of friends sometimes disagreements arise. Barnabas had supported Paul�s claim of being converted to Christianity. Yet there came a time when Barnabas wanted to give his cousin John Mark an opportunity to travel with him and share the Good News of Christ. Yet for whatever reason Paul did not want John Mark to go and so to settle the dispute Paul set out on his own way.

Sometimes in life we have disputes and they need to be settles reasonably for we never know what the future holds. For in 2 Timothy 4:11 we find Paul saying the following, �Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.� Paul along the way saw John Mark�s commitment to the Lord and even his commitment to Pau himself. Had Paul burned his bridges with John Mark he would have lost a committed worker and friend to him.

Lord please help put aside disputes with family and friends. Lord help us to understand how to love the way you love us. Lord protect us from saying things against one another and to be like Barnabas who was ready to speak up on behalf of others. Father I pray we turn our attention to loving one another as you commanded us to. I pray father we learn to work alongside each other instead of going our own way due to conflict. Let us see the hope of the future and how our friendships can benefit one another for the purpose of spreading your message.

I pray these things in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost.
Posted By: ConstantProcess Re: Devotionals - 12/18/12 12:51 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
God be with those who have suffered. God comfort the afflicted. God give hope and reassurance. God protect. God we pray for those who seek to do us harm that you would intervene. Let your power fill our hearts and souls that we can face fear and not let it defeat us. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/19/12 01:06 PM
Mark 7:20-23(The Message)
20-23 He went on: �It�s what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness�all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution.�

The Pharisees�Jews in general, in fact�would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing, with an especially vigorous scrubbing if they had just come from the market not to mention the scouring they would give jugs and pots and pans that contained the food. When they observed Jesus and the disciples not being careful in following the ritualistic washings -- the Pharisees and religion scholars asked, �Why do your disciples flout the rules, showing up at meals without washing their hands?� The response of Jesus was the disciples focused on what was right and not what was for show. Then he told the people, �It�s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.�


If a farmer doesn�t plant seeds, he will never harvest a crop. It doesn�t matter how weed-free his ground is; he must also plant and cultivate good seed. In the same way, we can only reap a harvest of purity and integrity by planting the good seed of God�s Word into our lives. I�m not talking about merely reading the Bible. I�m talking about allowing the Holy Spirit to plant the truths of Scripture deep into our hearts and minds through consistent Bible reading and memorization, meditation and prayer. To be effective, and to remain pure, truth must be planted in our hearts daily. [Gary Oliver, clinical director of Southwest Counseling Associates in Denver.]

Jesus told us where evil comes from -- it comes out of our own sinful nature. If the seeds of righteous are not planted within us then we are prone to all the things Jesus mentioned in verses 20-23 of Mark 7. I believed America and many other places in the world are not tending their fields. We have allowed our country to be overrun by the weeds of evil instead of keeping a clean field filled with the harvest of righteousness. These evils are now vomiting out of people in mean, cruel and hateful acts.

There is a way to clean up our fields and that is to let The Lord into our lives and allow Him to show us what is right and wrong. We need to have a close relationship with Him. We need to keep His word, the scriptures of The Bible, inside of us so we know what to do when the time comes. We also need His word within us to calm, comfort, and provide peace.

I was thankful to President Obama for praying for our country last week. I appreciate the words he spoke saying, �you're not alone in your grief, that our world too has been torn apart � that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you." I am also thankful for when The President prayed in Aurora saying, �Such evil is senseless. It's beyond reason.� He also said, �"What matters at the end of the day is not the small things, it's not the trivial things, which so often consume us in our daily lives. Ultimately it�s how we choose to treat one another and how we love one another,"

Dear heavenly Father, I pray as a nation we would examine ourselves and weed out the sinful problems in ourselves. I pray we would put away violence, hatred, greed, depravity, deception, slander, bullying, murder and all other acts of evil. Father bring healing to this nation and fill it with abounding love for one another. May the acts of violence end and the fruits of love prosper.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/20/12 01:04 PM
1 John 5:5 (NLT)
5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

The world represents sin and it is the world that lies in our way to heaven and is a great impediment to many. But he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God and believes that Jesus came from God to be the Savior of the world and commits their life by repentance of their sin cannot be held back by this world. Christ has already won the battle over sin and we must stand firm with Christ in order to stand firm against the world.



It is hard for younger people to imagine (and getting harder for many of us older ones to remember) the conditions under which many African Americans lived throughout the South just over 40 years ago. Segregation, lynchings, African American churches and homes firebombed. Jim Crow laws even prevented "colored people" from attending the circus and playing pool with whites.

Yet civil rights leaders painfully, persistently, and peacefully protested the injustice of segregation. In doing so, they often broke segregation laws. All too often, protesters reaped a reward of fire hoses, police dogs and incarceration. [Civility Under Fire: Chuck Colson & Timothy George Revive MLK's Legacy]

I admire Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his work to seek civil rights on the behalf of all people. Dr. King had reason, facts, understanding, justice and most importantly The Gospel on his side. Dr. King battled the world reminding others what Augustine said, "An unjust law is no law at all." People may have thought they enacted laws for the good of the people when they actually enacted laws for their own selfish reasons.

Keep this in mind, we first must trust God and place our faith in His Son Jesus. Then we must allow Jesus to direct our hearts to take up for just causes; and not take up for causes just because we want them. We need to ensure what we do is right for all people without taking away rights unjustly.

Heavenly Father we pray for the world, our nation, our cities, and our homes. Father we ask that you would protect us from the sins of the world. We pray Your safety would abide with us. We pray that we would stand up for just causes that You Father would approve of. Keep us from the temptations of the world and deliver us from the evil that would try to consume our lives. Father let us all live together in peace and harmony. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/21/12 12:49 PM
Revelation 1:9-11 (NIV)
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord�s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: �Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.�

The Lord used John, a disciple of Jesus, to send some important messages to the churches that existed in various cities. These messages were important for they told the churches what they were doing right and most importantly what they were doing wrong. Jesus wanted to keep these churches on solid ground for they would be the light shining to the world illuminate the purpose of why Jesus died.


This morning The Pope sent this message to the world through Twitter, �At the end of the year, we pray that the Church, despite her shortcomings, may be increasingly recognizable as Christ�s dwelling place.� The Pope in his message acknowledged The Church is not perfect -- for it is filled with imperfect people. But the church does represent one who was and is perfect -- that is Jesus Christ. No other man lived a perfect life as Jesus did. It was because of His love for The Church that He freely gave His life so that all who believe in Him and repents from their sin will live an eternal life with Him in heaven. This is the church Jesus created and it is this church that shows others how they can also know Jesus and also experience the wonderful gift Jesus has for them.

Christmas is one of the times we remember Jesus because of His birth. Let us all ensure we give credit to our savior by giving Him the honor he is due. Some may say Happy Holidays, but I say to them Merry Christmas. I want them to know I am celebrating the birth of my savior who I love dearly because He gave his life for me.

There are many who will stand before God one day and God may ask this simple question, �Why should I let you into my Kingdom of Heaven?� Are you prepared for that question? I pray you know this � Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. Jesus Christ freely died on a Roman Cross as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus rose back to life defeating death and took His rightful place as King of all kings in heaven and here on earth. For those who truly believe in Jesus and are willing to repent of their sin and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior -- Jesus will be your advocate. For Jesus is the propitiation of sin who speaks up on our behalf and says, �This child is one of mine. They are an adopted brother or sister into the kingdom of heaven; therefore they belong here with us.� Knowing Jesus is taking up for you the answer should be obvious, �It is because of Jesus I am here and because of Jesus I can ask to enter heaven.�

Heavenly Father there are so many who do not understand or know your love, grace and mercy. Father you want to free people from sin and give them new and exciting lives. I pray Father these people would turn their lives over to you. I know it scary giving up control to another, but you Lord are perfect in every way and watch out after us as one of your children. Father let everyone experience your mercy, grace and love. Let them know the true Jesus and let them experience His grace mercy and love. Amen




Note this time of year I take off from writing to reflect on the Lord and enjoy time with my family. God bless each of you. Have a safe and Merry Christmas and I will resume writing after the first of the year.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/25/12 01:32 PM
The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The incomprehensible and inexplicable Nativity of Christ came to pass when Herod the Great was reigning in Judea; the latter was an Ascalonite on his fathers's side and an Idumean on his mother's. He was in every way foreign to the royal line of David; rather, he had received his authority from the Roman emperors, and had ruled tyrannically over the Jewish people for some thirty-three years. The tribe of Judah, which had reigned of old, was deprived of its rights and stripped of all rule and authority. Such was the condition of the Jews when the awaited Messiah was born, and truly thus was fulfilled the prophecy which the Patriarch Jacob had spoken 1,807 years before: "A ruler shall not fail from Judah, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of the nations" (Gen.49:10).

Thus, our Saviour was born in Bethlehem, a city of Judea, whither Joseph had come from Nazareth of Galilee, taking Mary his betrothed, who was great with child, that, according to the decree issued in those days by the Emperor Augustus, they might be registered in the census of those subject to Rome. Therefore, when the time came for the Virgin to give birth, and since because of the great multitude there was no place in the inn, the Virgin's circumstace constrained them to enter a cave which was near Bethlehem. Having as shelter a stable of irrational beasts, she gave birth there, and swaddled the Infant and laid Him in the manger (Luke 2:1-7). From this, the tradition has come down to us that when Christ was born He lay between two animals, an ox and an [censored], that the words of the Prophets might be fulfilled: "Between two living creatures shalt Thou be known" (Abbacum 3:2), and "The ox knoweth his owner and the [censored] his master's crib" (Esaias 1: 3).

But while the earth gave the new-born Saviour such a humble reception, Heaven on high celebrated majestically His world-saving coming. A wondrous star, shining with uncommon brightness and following a strange course, led Magi from the East to Bethlehem to worship the new-born King. Certain shepherds who were in the area of Bethlehem, who kept watch while tending their sheep, were suddenly surrounded by an extraordinary light, and they saw before them an Angel who proclaimed to them the good tidings of the Lord's joyous Nativity. And straightway, together with this Angel, they beheld and heard a whole host of the Heavenly Powers praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men" (Luke 2:8-14).

Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:4-7

BRETHREN, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of God through Christ.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Matthew 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/26/12 04:40 PM
Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos

Reading from the Synaxarion:

This Synaxis - which is to say, our coming together to glorify the Theotokos - is celebrated especially in her honour because she gave birth supernaturally to the Son and Word Of God, and thus became the instrument of the salvation of mankind.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 2:11-18

BRETHREN, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Matthew 2:13-23

When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Naz
areth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Learn more by visiting the Online Chapel at: http://onlinechapel.goarch.org
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/28/12 04:41 AM
Stephen, Archdeacon & First Martyr

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Stephen was a Jew, by race, and, as some say, a disciple of Gamaliel, the teacher of the Law mentioned in Acts 5:34 and 22:3. He was the first of the seven deacons whom the Apostles established in Jerusalem to care for the poor, and to distribute alms to them. Being a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, he performed great signs and wonders among the people. While disputing with the Jews concerning Jesus, and wisely refuting their every contradiction, so that no one was able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit whereby he spake, he was slandered as a blasphemer and was dragged off to the Sanhedrin of the elders. There with boldness he proved from the divine Scriptures the coming of the Just One (Jesus), of Whom they had become the betrayers and murderers, and he reproved their faithless and hardheartedness. And finally, gazing into Heaven and beholding the divine glory, he said: "Lo, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
But when they heard this, they stopped up their ears, and with anger cast him out of the city and stoned him, while he was calling out and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then, imitating the long-suffering of the Master, he bent his knees and prayed in a loud voice for them that were stoning him, and he said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," And saying this, he fell asleep (Acts 6, 7), thus becoming the first among the Martyrs of the Church of Christ.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:8-15; 7:1-5, 47-60

IN THOSE DAYS, Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

And the high priest said, "Is this so?" And Stephen said: "Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'Depart from your land and from your kindred and go into the land which I will show you.' Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living; yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child.

"But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says, 'Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?'

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 12/29/12 02:49 AM
20,000 Martyrs burned in Nicomedia

Reading from the Synaxarion:

All these Saints, some 20,000 in number, were burned alive in the year 303, while they were gathered in church. This came to pass during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. According to the Synaxarion, this took place on the day of Christ's Nativity. Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. VIII, 6) says that, of the Christians then living in Nicomedia, all were slain by imperial decree - some by the sword, and others by fire, and that, because of their divine and inexpressible ardour, both men and women cast themselves into the fire. Besides those burned in church. the following, who were slain in the same Persecution, are commemorated today. Indus, Gorgonius, and Peter were cast into the sea; Glycerius the Presbyter and Mardonius were burned; Dorotheus the Prefect and Zeno were beheaded; Theophilus the Deacon was stoned; Mygdonius was buried alive; and Domna, who had been a priestess of the idols, believed in Christ, and was baptized, was beheaded and cast into the fire. See also the accoun
t of Saint Anthimus on September 3.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Mark 12:1-12

The Lord said this parable, "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this
scripture: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/01/13 05:46 AM


Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Since the Mosaic Law commands that if a woman give birth to a male child, he should be circumcised in the foreskin of his flesh on the eighth day (Lev. 12:2-3), on this, the eighth day from His Nativity, our Saviour accepted the circumcision commanded by the Law. According to the command of the Angel, He received the Name which is above every name: JESUS, which means "Saviour" (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31 and 2:21).


Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from John 10:1-9

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 2:8-12

BRETHREN, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/01/13 12:45 PM
Happy New Year dear friends!!

Psalm 116:12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? -- The Lord has done many great things for us and will continue to show His kindness in 2013.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -- The Lord has enabled us to do many things, so things which we may have thought impossible. The Lord will continue to give you strength to see you through each temptation and trial that comes towards you in the New Year.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! -- Another year is gone and so are the former things of who we were. Christ continues to make us a new person giving us life to live in a new and exciting way.

Psalm 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. -- God wants you to prosper in your life so that all good things might succeed. Follow God's heart so the desires of your heart would be fulfilled.

Lamentations 3: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." � God�s compassions is new for us every morning so that every day in the year ahead we can find new mercies and grace.

Psalm 51: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. � May our desire for this year be one to have a heart that is pure and loves others through all circumstances. Let us put aside petty indifferences and love one another.

Ezekiel 36: 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. � God has and God will continue to cleanse us from the things in our life that cause us to be removed from Him. God wants to draw us closer to Him. May this be a year where God is next to your heart.

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. � The Lord Himself says He has plans to prosper us. Still close to the Lord�s plans and we will find the plans of prosperity in the New Year!

Proverbs 16: 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. � Our commitment should first be to The Lord and then whatever follows we will have success. For when our hearts are right with God�s there are many blessings to be found.

Proverbs 19: 21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. � In the New Year avoid the evil purposes that may come from your heart by letting God show you what is right and wrong.

2 Timothy 2: 22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. � In the past evil desires have hindered us. For this New Year seek out righteousness, faith love and peace.

Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. � Allow God�s good and perfect will to work in your lives this year and every year afterwards. May The Lord change you and commit you to a good purpose in life.

1 Chronicles 16: 34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. � Remember The Lord throughout the year and give praise to Him for His goodness and kindness to you and those around you.

Psalm 23: 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. � King David knew each year would be filled with Love as he followed God. Know God�s love is always with you and when you follow God the love of many others is also with you!

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.�Keep God in mind all during the year. Trust what God tells you to do throughout the year.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. � Because God loves us we have many good things to look forward too! I pray you find each of those treasures God has in store for you.

Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. � Let us each encourage one another to do what is noble, right pure, loving, and admirable.

1 Peter 3: 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. � The Lord has put in our hearts the hope of ever lasting life. Live knowing this earthly life may be short but we have an eternal life ahead and what we do today will have an impact on those who will be with us for eternity.

Hebrews 10: 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. � Whenever you feel life is getting you down in the New Year hold on for God is faithful in his promises to us.

Isaiah:64 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. � There are awesome things yet to be done, but wait on The Lord to lead you for He is the originator of all good things.



Have a wonderfully blessed New Year my friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and those I love. May God show you life can be lived with joy, hope, peace and love. May love abound greatly in each of your hearts. I love you my friends �Happy New Year!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/02/13 01:10 PM
Psalm 90:12 (NASB)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

There is no certainty of life. We are always living under a constant threat that our life can be taken away from us at any moment. The Psalmist encourages us to use our life wisely, making each day count such that at the end of our days we may show God we used our lives wisely.


William Whiting Borden was a Christian missionary to Northern China and the heir to the Borden, Inc. family fortune. After his mother converted to Christianity in 1894, she began taking William to Chicago Avenue Church, now The Moody Church. He soon responded to the gospel of Christ and was baptized. Bible study and prayer became a passion in his life. After graduating from the Hill School in Pottstown, PA, at age 16, he traveled to Europe, Africa, and Asia. William entered Yale University in 1905, graduating in 1909 and then later from Princeton Theological Seminary. At age 21 he was already a millionaire, but he decided to renounce his fortune and give up everything to become a missionary to the Muslims of Northern China. Borden bequeathed $1 million to the China Inland Mission and other Christian agencies. Sadly William died at age 25 of cerebral meningitis while studying Muslim culture in Egypt.

After his death, Borden's Bible was found and given to his parents. In it they found in one place the words "No Reserve" and a date placing the note shortly after he renounced his fortune in favor of missions. At a later point, he had written "No Retreat", dated shortly after his father told him that he would never let him work in the company ever again. Shortly before he died in Egypt, he added the phrase "No Regrets."

William is buried in Egypt in an abandoned graveyard located at the end of a garbage-lined alley. A tombstone makes his grave and has the following inscription: A man in Christ He arose and forsook all and followed Him, Kindly affectioned with brotherly love, Fervent in spirit serving the Lord, Rejoicing in hope, Patient in tribulation, Instant in prayer, Communicating to the necessity of saints, In honour preferring others, Apart from faith in Christ, There is no explanation for such a life. William Whiting Borden (1887-1913)

In the New Testament Jesus called a rich young man to give up everything and follow him, but the rich young man walked away sadly for he could not give up his wealth. However, William Whiting Borden did exactly what Christ had called the other young man to do -- William gave up a life of wealth to follow Christ. Most of us might have a hard time understanding such a sacrifice. Truly apart from faith in Christ there is no explanation for such a life. For Christ Himself gave up the riches of heaven and gave His life for us that we may inherit the riches of God�s kingdom.

Lord teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Let us understand the sacrifices made that our lives may be lived for you Lord. In Christ�s name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/13 12:35 PM
Titus 2:9-10 (NIV)
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Slaves during this period of time were often indentured servants. Usually these people acquired loans they could not repay so the lender had the right to hold them as slaves to work for them until their debt was repaid. The message Paul gives to Titus is we must act with integrity so that we may be trusted. Indentured slaves would steal from their masters hoping to repay the debt sooner, but in doing so they were stealing and going against one of God�s commandments.



"According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, employee dishonesty costs American businesses over $50 billion annually. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that 75 percent of all employees steal at least once and at least half of these steal again and again. The chamber also reports that one of every three business failures are the direct result of employee theft" [Bob Mather, Employee Theft: Prevention Beats Apprehension].

I watch a show called Mystery Diners that investigates employee theft in the restaurant business. Show after show people are caught in the act of taking goods or money from the restaurant owner. Sometimes the people steal just out of arrogance and evil desire. Some think they are compensating themselves for unfair wages. Sometimes they steal because they feel hopeless.

A Christian is no different from any other person. The temptation to steal is always right there in front of them. However, they know it is wrong to steal for God has told them so and the Holy Spirit speaks to their heart about the wrong. When a Christian steals, even a small amount, their integrity and trust are forfeited. It becomes difficult to tell someone about the love, mercy and grace of God given through Jesus Christ when their integrity has been shattered. This is why Paul wrote Titus to let him remind the new Christians of the wrong in stealing, even when they were bond in slavery.

You see we often justify our actions by the actions of others. We may say this person wronged me so I have a right to take from them. Yet we also know the old saying, �Two wrongs don�t make a right.�

Proverbs 10:9 reminds us, �Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/04/13 12:56 PM
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

This verse is a response to the previous verses which said, �With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression?� God Himself has told man what is right and good and yet there are those who believe they can purchase their pardon from sin by offering back to God what God has given them. What God requires is that we must act justly as God justly deals with us. We must show love and kindness to others just as God has done with us by offering mercy and grace through our Savior Jesus Christ. Finally we must humble ourselves by conforming ourselves to the will of God and abide by His will and follow Him in obedience that we might walk comfortably with God.




Bill White is outreach pastor at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California. He shared this story, �I recently took a 45-minute drive in an old, beat-up van with a guy I barely know. Along the way we ended up talking about Jesus and whether this man would give his life to Christ. His response to me laid out humanity's resistance to the gospel with striking clarity. He said, "My biggest problem is pride. I can't humble myself. And you wanna know the reason I can't give up my pride?" He leaned up onto the steering wheel and paused for effect. "Because it's brought me so far."

I couldn't believe my ears. I knew that his pride had brought nothing but great pain. It was all he held onto while growing up in gangs�while his father died of a drug overdose and his mother was in the mafia. I knew that this self-made man beat his wife regularly, that he was unemployed, that he had just gotten out of prison. In fact, I found out a week later that he was on his way back into prison!

In a separate conversation, his wife told me that his young daughters are terrified of him, that he is an alcoholic, and that she is planning to leave him. She even told me that the old van he was driving was going to be repossessed in a week.

Yet despite all our differences, I couldn't help but notice that in some ways, this guy and I are similar. I struggle to lay down my pride, because it's brought me so far�or so I think. What it's really brought both him and me�and you, no doubt�is pain, isolation, and ruined relationships.�

Micah asks are we humbly walking with God. If we are holding onto pride the answer may be no -- for in order to have humility we must let go of pride.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/13 12:43 PM
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
25 �All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus tells us that we have an Advocated here on earth, The Holy Spirit, here to remind of what Jesus taught. The Holy Spirit always speaks on our behalf to the Father and Son. An advocate speaks favorably of those represented, which gives us a confidence, a peace, so we might not be troubled or afraid.




The African-American preacher E. V. Hill told the following story about a positive encounter with a white Christian leader. Hill writes:

As a freshman at Prairie View College, a part of the Texas A&M system, I was actively involved in the Baptist Student Union. [Our denomination's annual convention] for blacks, held in Nashville, Tennessee, was a highlight of the year. Much to my pleasure, I was one of two students selected to go. White students had raised the money. That was okay with me, as I viewed it as an act of pity on their part � or at best a chance to ease their guilty conscience. But then real trouble began!

The trip through the South was by car�three whites and two [blacks] traveling together. I had no idea how we'd eat or how we'd sleep. So great was my anxiety and hatred over how the trip might turn out that I almost backed out entirely �. In all my experience I had never seen a white man stand up for a black man and never felt I would.

But then Dr. Howard, the director of our trip and a white man spoke up. "We'll be traveling together," he said. "If there isn't a place where all of us can eat�none of us will eat. If there's not a place all of us can sleep�none of us will sleep."

That was all he said, but it was enough! For the first time in my life I had met a white man who was Christian enough to take a stand with a Christian black man. [William Cannon, editor, Seven Black Preachers Tell: What Jesus Means to Me (Broadman Press, 1971), pp. 99-100]

Dr. Howard was an advocate for these young men letting them know he personally was going to ensure they would have a place to eat and a place to sleep. He was letting them know they would stand together as one wherever they went.

In heaven we have an advocate � Jesus Christ who speaks on our behalf. In our daily lives we have The Holy Spirit as an advocate reminding us of what God promised and speaking to both God and Christ for us. Just as Dr. Howard did we need to be an advocate for each other.

Prayer: Lord I am thankful we have advocates who stand up for us. Lord thank you for being our advocate. Lord we thank you for the advocate we have in the Holy Spirit who guides us and takes up for our faults. Lord let us love like You that we may be advocates for others. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/13 01:18 PM
I was reading Proverbs this morning. I try to read the chapter associated with the day of the month since there are 31 chapters in the Book of Proverbs. Chapter 7 is one I think many need to be reminded of so I'm adding as an extra devotion this morning. It speaks of King Solomon watching an immoral affair unfold before his eyes. The affair was that of an Immoral Woman. We know the same could be true for a man as well as we see a young man fall to her seduction. Sadly what took place thousands of years ago still takes place today. Here are the verses from Proverbs chapter 7.

Another Warning about Immoral Women


1 Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.


4 Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.


6 While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
7 I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
9 It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
10 The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
12 She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
14 �I�ve just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
15 You�re the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
17 I�ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let�s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let�s enjoy each other�s caresses,
19 for my husband is not home.
He�s away on a long trip.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won�t return until later this month.�


21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
22 He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.


24 So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
25 Don�t let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don�t wander down her wayward path.
26 For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.
27 Her house is the road to the grave.
Her bedroom is the den of death.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/13 12:18 PM
Amos 5:14-15 (NLT)
14 Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven�s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. 15 Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven�s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Matthew Henry writes � �The scope of this chapter is to prosecute the exhortation given to Israel in the close of the foregoing chapter to prepare to meet their God; the prophet here tells them What preparation they must make; they must "seek the Lord,�� and not seek any more to idols; they must seek good, and love it.� Here in these verses there was a benefit to following this decree in that perhaps God would have mercy seeing the change in the lives.



In Spanish, it's called el camino de la muerte, which translated into English means "road of death." In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank called it the "world's most dangerous road."

Found in Bolivia, this dirt and rock route stretches 38 to 43 miles, depending on the source, and descends from La Paz (at 12,000 feet) down to the beautiful rain forest town of Coroico at the edge of the basin of the Amazon River.

Why so dangerous? An average of 26 vehicles fall off this road each year; and 200 to 300 people lose their lives on it annually. Steep hillsides, cliffs, and drop-offs with no guardrails present hazards, and the road in places has room for only one vehicle. Rain and fog complicate the trip, along with muddy surfaces and loose rocks sliding down hillsides. On July 24, 1983, over 100 passengers were killed when a bus veered over the edge and crashed into a canyon.

But, despite the danger, the road has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction since the early 1990s. [Graham Gori, "Thrills on the Highway of Death," Associated Press (11-24-02)]

You would think that knowing a road is called �road of death� and it�s the most dangerous road in the world killing 200-300 people a year that people would shy away from such a road. Still people are actually taking bike tours down the dangerous path. To quote on person leaving a comment on a trip site, �We had no hesitation in signing up for the Death Road, it sounded like an adventure not to be missed.� Another said, �Death Road is not for the faint of heart, and not for people who don't already feel comfortable on bikes.� Yet there is still a thrill an attraction to participate in this danger.

Let me tell you friend there are people every day participating in things that attract and may even thrill for the moment, but that lead to disaster in the end. Here I am talking about following the road of sin. Sin can destroy a person�s life. Sin can destroy relationships. Sin can even kill. Yet people are attracted to sin and follow it despite the danger. Let this be a warning that we should hate the sin that faces us enough to protect our lives, relationships, and loved ones. We should love the Lord our God who watches over us and protects us and instead follow His road of goodness.

The prophet Amos warned the people and many did not listen. Don�t be like one of those who didn�t listen to God�s warnings about sin. Decide today that you will commit your life to The Lord. There is a road that leads to death, but there is also a road that leads to life with Jesus Christ our Lord. Which road are you on?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/13 01:22 PM
Jeremiah 29:10-12 (NLT)
10 This is what the Lord says: �When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Reverend Matthew Henry (18 October 1662 � 22 June 1714) was an English commentator on the Bible and Presbyterian minister. About chapter 29 of Jeremiah he wrote here is, I. A letter which Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon, against their prophets that they had there (v. 1-3), in which letter, 1. He endeavours to reconcile them to their captivity, to be easy under it and to make the best of it (v. 4-7). 2. He cautions them not to give any credit to their false prophets, who fed them with hopes of a speedy release (v. 8, 9). 3. He assures them that God would restore them in mercy to their own land again, at the end of 70 years (v. 10�14). 4. He foretels the destruction of those who yet continued, and that they should be persecuted with one judgment after another, and sent at last into captivity (v. 15�19). 5. He prophesies the destruction of two of their false prophets that they had in Babylon, that both soothed them up in their sins and set them bad examples (v. 20�23), and this is the purport of Jeremiah�s letter.



If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

God has a plan for everyone�s life. His desire is to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. The King James Version of The Bible says this a little different. It says, �thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.� The Lord wants us to be able to live a peaceful life avoiding evil which disrupts life. The Lord wants us to prosper in what we might do so that we may carry out the plans He has for us � to reach others and share His message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker, yet he was also a great missionary to all people. As Paul needed, he stopped to perform his trade in order that his needs in life would be met. When Paul was carrying on the work of The Lord his needs were often met by others who saw his dedication to The Lord.

In 2006 Success Magazine uncovered some surprising results into the insights of American. A prosperous, successful life was not so much about having wealth and money, but instead having a good relationship with family, spouse and God. The two most important elements for success were Faith and family.

Many of you have family that loves you and supports you. More importantly there is God who loves you, supports you, and has given you plans for you and your family. Let�s pray we can put those plans to good use by serving The Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/13 12:44 PM
1 John 4:20-21 (NLT)
20 If someone says, �I love God,� but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don�t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

Matthew Henry wrote -- As love to our brother and neighbour in Christ; such love is argued and urged on these accounts:�1. As suitable and consonant to our Christian profession. In the profession of Christianity we profess to love God as the root of religion: "If then a man say, or profess as much as thereby to say, I love God, I am a lover of his name, and house, and worship, and yet hate his brother, whom he should love for God�s sake, he is a liar (v. 20), he therein gives his profession the lie.�� That such a one loves not God the apostle proves by the usual facility of loving what is seen rather than what is unseen: For he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?


Think about this -- if all the people you dislike or hate are the same people you believe God would dislike or hate then you have most likely created God out of your own imagination and not the words given to us in The Bible. God is a god of love, mercy and grace. To make God anything else makes us liars about God�s nature and our love for Him. Jesus gave us all a commandment in John 13:34-35 to obey, �So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.�

Unfortunately English allows the word �love� to be used in so many ways. The Greek version of the word �love� we want is agape. Agape love is described as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails. The description perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be the way we love each other and God. Unfortunately most of us will never live up to that entire definition of love, but wouldn�t it be nice if we tried.

In Matthew 22:37 when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." He then added that the second most important law was "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus said that the entire law was dependent upon these two commandments. In other words, all that we do to please God comes out of love for God. If we cannot love man who we see, how can we love God who is unseen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/16/13 12:08 PM
Galatians 5:16 (NLT)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Later in Galatians 5 the apostle explains the desires of the flesh this way -- The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. The flesh of our souls wants to act against that which is right. Matthew Henry tells us -- The best antidote against the poison of sin is to walk in the Spirit, to be much in conversing with spiritual things, to mind the things of the soul, which is the spiritual part of man, more than those of the body, which is his carnal part, to commit ourselves to the guidance of the word, wherein the Holy Spirit makes known the will of God concerning us, and in the way of our duty to act in a dependence on his aids and influences.



Carl Sandburg the poet once wrote, ��There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud�. I think many of us in our daily lives feel that way. We want to do that which is good and then comes along something that just makes us want to wallow in sin. The Apostle Paul had the right answer for us � we need to walk by the Spirit. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives. We also need to be in a spirit of companionship with The Lord in that we desire to be closer to Him. We do that by reading The Bible, which is God�s word. We also become closer to The Lord through prayer, having a conversation with Him about what is going on in our life and then waiting for His response.

When I saw Sandburg�s quote on eagles there was another quote nearby from another person. It said, �When you soar like an eagle, you attract the hunters.� We also need to remember when we feel like we are on top of the world Satan is right there as our hunter ready to take us down. Again, being close to God, standing firm in your faith, holding on to God�s promises will help hold you away from the temptations that come towards you.

May God bless you, keep you safe, and walk with you daily through your life.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/16/13 04:19 PM
It's a constant, daily, sometimes minute by minute battle.
The desires of the flesh against the Way.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/16/13 04:20 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
I was reading Proverbs this morning. I try to read the chapter associated with the day of the month since there are 31 chapters in the Book of Proverbs. Chapter 7 is one I think many need to be reminded of so I'm adding as an extra devotion this morning. It speaks of King Solomon watching an immoral affair unfold before his eyes. The affair was that of an Immoral Woman. We know the same could be true for a man as well as we see a young man fall to her seduction. Sadly what took place thousands of years ago still takes place today. Here are the verses from Proverbs chapter 7.

Another Warning about Immoral Women


1 Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.


4 Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.


6 While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
7 I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
9 It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
10 The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
12 She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
14 �I�ve just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
15 You�re the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
17 I�ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let�s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let�s enjoy each other�s caresses,
19 for my husband is not home.
He�s away on a long trip.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won�t return until later this month.�


21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
22 He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.


24 So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
25 Don�t let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don�t wander down her wayward path.
26 For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.
27 Her house is the road to the grave.
Her bedroom is the den of death.

This verse can also have a spiritual meaning of being lead astray by false doctrines
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/13 01:25 PM
Philippians 2:14-16 (NLT)
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ�s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

The Apostle Paul calls upon Christians to live obeying The Lord�s word without complaining and arguing so there will be no criticism, but instead peace and love towards one another. In our lives we should endeavor not only to be harmless, but to be blameless; not only to do no hurt, but not to come under suspicion of it. We are to live life looking forward to the day of being reunited with Christ, serving others and sharing His wonderful message of salvation. In doing we can be proud the lives we lived were not in vain, but produced fruit that would endure forever.




Jim Petersen tells the story of Mario, [a friend from South America] with whom he had studied the Bible for four years before Mario became a Christian. The Bible studies reflected the fact that Mario was a Marxist intellectual who'd read all the leading Western philosophers. A couple of years after his conversion, Jim and Mario were reminiscing: "Do you remember what it really was that made me decide to become a Christian?" Mario asked.

Petersen thought of all their Bible studies and philosophical discussions. Mario's reply took him by surprise. "Remember that first time I stopped by your house? We were on our way someplace together, and I had a bowl of soup with you and your family. As I sat there observing you, your wife, and your children, and how you related to each other, I asked myself, 'When will I have a relationship like this with my fianc�?' When I realized that the answer was 'never,' I concluded I had to become a Christian for the sake of my own survival."

Petersen did remember the occasion. He remembered his children behaving badly and his frustration at having to correct them in front of Mario. Yet Mario saw the grace of Christ binding that family together. Years later, Petersen would comment on this incident:

We tend to see the weaknesses and incongruities in our lives, and our reaction is to recoil at the thought of letting outsiders get close enough to see us as we really are. Even if our assessment is accurate, it is my observation that any Christian who is sincerely seeking to walk with God, in spite of all his flaws, is reflecting something of Christ. [Tim Chester, A Meal with Jesus (Crossway, 2011), pp. 95-96]



How we live our lives has a great impact on others. We need to ensure we love others like Christ loved so they may see Christ living in us. Isaiah 55:11 says of The Lord, �It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.� Our lives should reflect that same idea that what we seek to accomplish will proper in goodness and accomplish what God intended for our lives.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/17/13 04:04 PM
That's interesting how Peterson was worried that his kids were misbehaving. Yet God still used that opportunity to reach Mario
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/18/13 01:18 PM
Acts 22:19-20 (NIV)
19 �Lord,� I replied, �these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.�

Paul had been arrested for speaking about the Gospel of Christ. Standing in front of a crowd of people he gave his testimony of how he came to know Christ. In the verses above he confesses his guilt over the abuse and murders of Christians. He admits how he imprisoned and beat those who believed in Christ. Paul was even present for the stoning of Stephen watching after the clothes of those who disrobed to throw their stones to kill Stephen.



Some of the apostles who first met Paul were very leery of him. They had witnessed what he had done to other Christians. They knew of his reputation. Now he was with them preaching the Good News of Salvation to both Jew and Gentile. Yet they still feared his past. They feared Paul might turn on them as he had done in the past. Eventually they learned to embrace Paul as a fellow Christian and friend.

We need to remember The Lord can change people. God can change a thief and give them a heart of gold. The Lord can change someone in the adult business and make them a minister who helps those trapped where they use to be. The Lord can even soften the heart of a murderer and make them truly repentant for what they have done. God has the power to change people and make them different.

The next time you meet an unlovable person try to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Share about God�s love for them. Share how God wants to give them a new life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/13 12:32 PM
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
7 �Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jesus gave us three things we are to do � Ask, Seek, and Knock. To better put it - Pray; pray often; pray with sincerity and seriousness; pray, and pray again; make conscience of prayer, and be constant in it; make a business of prayer, and be earnest in it. When we ask of God we do so in several ways. We ask for things that represent our wants. We ask for what sustains us. We ask that our burdens may be lifted. As we ask we seek God�s answer, we must always be vigilant that God provides an answer; even if the answer does not agree with how we perceived the request should be answered. Sin shuts the door between us and God so we must knock asking The Lord to forgive us. We must knock persistently -- pleading and wrestling with God over the answers we seek; always persevering in prayer knowing The Lord will give His final answer.



Francis Thompson, a 19th century British poet wrote "The Hound of Heaven" alluding to Christ as a hound who is in a relentless pursuit of loving us. Thompson was a follower of Christ, but he struggled with poverty, poor health, and an addiction to opium (sold those days as an "over-the-counter" medication). In the depths of his despair, Thompson put into poetry, what is called THE HOUND OF HEAVEN describing his flight from The Lord: "I fled him, down the nights and down the days. I hid from him, and under running laughter. I sped � from those strong feet that followed, followed after [me]." Thompson knew the unrelenting love of Jesus -- the hound of heaven. In the poem Jesus pursues Thompson with "unhurrying chase, and unperturbed pace, deliberate speed, and majestic urgency." He hears the feet of Jesus beating after him as Jesus calls, "All things betray those who betray me.�

The Lord is in pursuit of us with an unbridled passion to fellowship with us and to love us. Yet so often we are on the run from the Lord; not even taking the time to pray or thank Him for what He has done in our lives. Make this the day you stop running from The Lord, asking Him for direction, seeking His will to follow, and knocking that you might fellowship with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/13 01:14 PM
James 1:5 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

For those who might feel discouragement, here is an encouraging word from James. When we go to God in need of wisdom He is sure to provide it. God is of a giving nature that what we ask is not beyond him and it is His nature to be inclined to provide for us. Even though we might ask in small portion God loves to give generously. Whoever we might be -- there is no fear in asking. For God loves all people and is willing to depart His wisdom upon them.



A Texas kindergarten student asked his teacher for help, and she could see why. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still didn�t want to go on. By the time they got the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost cried when the little boy said, �Teacher, they�re on the wrong feet.� She looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn�t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on, this time on the right feet. He then announced, �These aren�t my boots.� She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, �Why didn�t you say so?� Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his little feet. No sooner had they gotten the boots off when he said, �They�re my brother�s boots. My mom made me wear �em.� Now she didn�t know if she should laugh or cry, but she mustered up what grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again. Helping him into his coat, she asked, �Now, where are your mittens?� He said, �I stuffed �em in the toes of my boots.�


This child was asking for the wisdom of his teacher to help. Unfortunately she didn�t have all the knowledge and facts she needed at one time. It was through trial and error that she persevered. Fortunately there is God who has all the knowledge, all the facts, and all the wisdom we could ever need. And while the teacher might have gotten frustrated, fortunately God never will. God is always there ready to grant us wisdom and help us through our issues when we ask.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/24/13 12:07 PM
Proverbs 18:24 (NLT))
24 There are �friends� who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

A friend must be a friend to one another. To have friends and keep them, we must not quarrel with them, but instead love them and make it obvious that we do so by all expressions that are endearing by being open with them. We are also to be pleasing to them, visiting them and welcoming them; and especially by doing all the good services within our power -- that is showing ourselves as a friend. If you wish to gain the affection of a friend you must also be ready to bestow affection for that friend. We can find a great deal of comfort in a friend. In our troubles we desire comfort and relief from our family; but sometimes there is a friend whose love proves stronger than those of the natural family and when it comes to trial will do more for us than a brother will.




Comedian Steve Harvey is all about getting a laugh, whether as one of the cracking-wise "Kings of Comedy" or as the newest host of long-running game show "Family Feud."

But Harvey showed a more emotional side on his daytime television show this week, thanks to an unexpected call. Harvey, who turned 56 on January 17, took a call via satellite during the show's taping as part of his birthday special. What transpired next sent both Harvey and his audience to tears.

A man appears and wishes him a happy birthday, causing Harvey to whisper "Aw, man," before pacing the stage. "This is Rich Liss from Orlando, Florida," the man said. "Do you still love me, baby?"

Harvey bends over, choking back sobs for a few moments. "Hey, man," he said, still trying to pull himself together. "I love you."

It turns out Liss and his wife, Becky, were early supporters of Harvey, first when he was a 26-year-old running a fledgling carpet cleaning business, and later when he was trying to break into comedy.

"I was struggling," Harvey said, wiping tears away. "I didn't have nothing. And these people... took me in." [The Huffington Post, By Anthonia Akitunde, Posted: 01/19/2013]


I watched the video with my wife and it was obvious by Steve�s tears these were genuine friends. My wife said, �You know, Steve may have lost track of Rich and Becky, but I�m sure Rich and Becky saw Steve Harvey on TV and could have easily sought him out.� Then she added, �Others would have might have sought Steve out for his fame and fortune, but not these people. This family gave out of their hearts expecting nothing but to see Steve succeed in life.�

Remember the importance of friendship as you are friends to others. Keep this thought also, Jesus is a friend who loved us deeply and who gave freely of His life that we would also succeed in our lives.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/26/13 05:52 PM
Proverbs 8:28-30 (NLT)

I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth�s foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

Jesus was there from the very beginning of time and in every moment of creation. He was by His Father�s side as your life was handwritten in love. Not one detail was missed as your Savior looked at the freedom that would be given to you one day. What a comfort to know that Jesus Christ has been part of God�s Plan from the beginning and not an addition along the way! The Lord knew exactly what was needed to change bondage into boundaries. One may think the two words are the same but they are not. Bondage is to be confined and restrains. Boundaries mark claimed territory. It marks the farthest limit. Grace offers us freedom. It is to one�s benefit to live a life of boundaries. Boundaries are confirmation of acquisition. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, these boundaries will expand as our territory grows. God�s Love continually moves the markers surrounding our life farther and farther as we discover another facet of God�s Amazing Grace and Love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/13 01:24 PM
Matthew 24:42-44 (NLT)
42 �So you, too, must keep watch! For you don�t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Jesus is preparing His disciples by reminding them to not only to believe �that our Lord will come, but to desire that He would come, to be often thinking of His coming, and always looking for it as sure and near, and the time of it uncertain. To watch for Christ�s coming, is to maintain that gracious temper and disposition of mind which we should be willing that our Lord, when he comes, should find us in. To watch is to be aware of the first notices of his approach, that we may immediately attend his motions, and address ourselves to the duty of meeting him. Watching is supposed to be in the night, which is sleeping time; while we are in this world, it is night with us, and we must take pains to keep ourselves awake.� [Matthew Henry]



In the verses above Jesus uses an illustration, �If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.� I believe most people want to protect their property and ensure the safety of their home and family. It seems contrary the words of Jesus in Luke 6:29 where He says, �If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.� In our Christian lives we should stop and think about our actions. A strike to the cheek was meant as an insult. If a person insults us try to resolve the situation peacefully, even allowing them to insult us again if need be. In the case of someone demanding our coat for warmth, go an extra step and see how you might be able to help keep them. Our first thoughts should always be towards love, grace and mercy as The Lord himself has shown us and not revenge. However, there is a difference in giving up personal revenge and confronting evil in self-defense. There are times when we might find it necessary to defend ourselves in all manners.

In Genesis we see Abraham defending his relatives by pursuing those who took his relatives captive. It should be noted that this action wasn't for revenge but only to secure the safe release of his family and the return of his property. So obviously God allows us to protect our families and relatives and their property. Genesis 14:14-16, "When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer�s army until he caught up with them at Dan. There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer�s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.�

You see Jesus knew during His time people were taking the law into their own hands instead of allowing administrators to administer justice. We should never believe we have the right to exact revenge upon others, but we do have the right to protect our home and family when those occasions arise.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/13 01:40 PM
Mark 9:35 (NIV)
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, �Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.�

In verses 33-4 Jesus and his disciples were on the road. Verses 33-34 said, �They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, �What were you arguing about on the road?� But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.� Now Jesus already knew what they were talking about and yet they kept quiet. So instead of rebuking them directly he tells them, �Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.� It probably knocked the wind out of those who said they thought they were first among His disciples.



Earnest Shackleton led a daring expedition in 1914 to reach Antarctica. A year earlier, a lesser-known Canadian-led expedition headed in the other direction to explore the North Pole. Both ships, the Karluk in the north and the Endurance in the south, found themselves trapped by solid ice packs. Each crew was faced with a fight for survival. But the outcomes of the two expeditions couldn't have been more different.

In the north, the crew members from the Karluk, led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, degenerated into a band of selfish, mean-spirited, cut-throat individualists, ending in the death of all 11 crew members. In the south, Shackleton's crew faced the same problems�, cold, food shortages, stress, and anxiety, �but his crew responded with teamwork, self-sacrifice, and astonishing good cheer.

In the end, each leader stayed true to his core leadership values. Stefansson valued success above caring for people. He consistently communicated his ultimate objective: getting to the North Pole. In Stefansson's words this meant "that even the lives of the [crew] are secondary to the accomplishment of the work!" To the very end, Stefansson denied that his drive for success led to a tragedy� for himself and his crew.

In sharp contrast, Shackleton's leadership focused on the value and dignity of his teammates. At one of the lowest points of his trip, Shackleton wrote, "The task was now to secure the safety of the party." The well-being of his team drove him to put others first. Shackleton even gave away his mittens and boots and volunteered for the longest night watches. By valuing each person, Shackleton forged a team that was willing to share their rations with each other, even on the brink of starvation. Through his example of sacrificial leadership, Shackleton was able to accomplish his ultimate objective: saving the lives of his crew members. [Dennis N. T. Perkins, Leading at the Edge, (AMACOM, 2000), pp. Xiii-xiv]

I dare say the trip to the Antarctica may have been a tougher journey and yet these men survived by putting each other ahead of themselves. They understood the concept Jesus was trying to instill in His disciples. Always be ready to put others first and be a servant to all. In doing so you will end up helping each other through the tough times.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/30/13 01:37 PM
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other�s faults because of your love.

In this verse we are encouraged to understand humility, which allows us to consider another�s point without being puffed up with our own thoughts. Gentleness keeps us from provoking others and from allowing others to easily provoke us. Patience allows us time to provide grace and mercy. Christians need to bear one with another and to make the best of one another, to brink out another�s graces and not a bitter response. It should be our desire to overlook faults so that we might encourage and help others out of love.



The American missionary Adoniram Judson arrived in Burma, or Myanmar, in 1812, and died there thirty-eight years later in 1850. During that time, he suffered much for the cause of the gospel. He was imprisoned, tortured, and kept in shackles. After the death of his first wife, Ann, to whom he was devoted, for several months he was so depressed that he sat daily beside her tomb. Three years later, he wrote: God is to me the Great Unknown. I believe in him, but I cannot find him.

But Adoniram's faith sustained him, and he threw himself into the tasks to which he believed God had called him. He worked feverishly on his translation of the Bible. The New Testament had now been printed, and he finished the Old Testament in early 1834.

Statistics are unclear, but there were only somewhere between twelve and twenty-five professing Christians in the country when he died, and there were not churches to speak of.

At the 150th anniversary of the translation of the Bible into the Burmese language, Paul Borthwick was addressing a group that was celebrating Judson's work. Just before he got up to speak, he noticed in small print on the first page the words: "Translated by Rev. A. Judson." So Borthwick turned to his interpreter, a Burmese man named Matthew Hia Win, and asked him, "Matthew, what do you know of this man?" Matthew began to weep as he said,

We know him�we know how he loved the Burmese people, how he suffered for the gospel because of us, out of love for us. He died a pauper, but left the Bible for us. When he died, there were few believers, but today there are over 600,000 of us, and every single one of us traces our spiritual heritage to one man: the Rev. Adoniram Judson.

But Adoniram Judson never saw it!

And that will be the case for some of us. We may be called to invest our lives in ministries for which we do not see much immediate fruit, trusting that the God of all grace who oversees our work will ensure that our labor is not in vain. [Adapted from Julia Cameron, editor, Christ Our Reconciler (InterVarsity Press, 2012), pp. 200-201]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/13 12:34 PM
Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, �Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?� 17 So He said to him, �Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.� 18 He said to Him, �Which ones?� Jesus said, ��You shall not murder,� �You shall not commit adultery,� �You shall not steal,� �You shall not bear false witness,� 19 �Honor your father and your mother,� and, �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.�� 20 The young man said to Him, �All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?� 21 Jesus said to him, �If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.� 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

A rich young man, perhaps a magistrate or a ruler approached Jesus wanting to know how he could have eternal life in heaven. In calling Jesus Good Teacher or in some translations Good Master the young man was being submissive and willing to learn from Jesus. The young man was convinced that there is a happiness prepared for those in the other world, who are prepared for it in this world. It was a rare thing for one of his age and quality to care so about another world and life. The rich are apt to think it below them to make such an inquiry as this; and young people think there is plenty of time; but here was a young man, and a rich man, solicitous about his soul and eternity. In his heart he was looking for something that must be done, some good thing, some means by which he could obtain this happiness. The young man was focused on present life, so Jesus addressed present life asking him if he had followed the commandments. Then Jesus made a statement the young man could not accept. �If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.�



God�s work is living and breathing and through the Holy Spirit God will speak new meanings to us. In these verses I have usually been focused on the young man�s desire to find eternal life and the disappointment when he heard Jesus saying he had to give up all his riches. But there was something else I missed. Jesus knew the young man was seeking how he could be perfect. The problem is there are none of us who are perfect or can be perfect while we live on this earth. Perfection will always elude us. It is why we must place our trust and faith in Christ who carries us through those imperfections. It is why Christ told the young man to follow Him so the young man didn�t have the worry about being perfect.

Francesca Battistelli sings a song Free to be Me. The first part of the lyrics are as follows: At twenty years of age - I'm still looking for a dream - A war's already waged for my destiny - But You've already won the -battle - And You've got great plans for me - Though I can't always see- 'Cause I got a couple dents in my Fender - Got a couple rips in my jeans - Try to fit the pieces together - But perfection is my enemy -And on my own, I'm so clumsy - But on Your shoulders I can see - I'm free to be me.

I love those words for we are all broken and ripped apart, but Jesus has already won the battle and has great plans for us. Our problem, we are looking for perfection which we can�t obtain. When we focus on trying to be perfect we begin to give up; we begin to think things are hopeless, but in reality Jesus is carrying us through on His shoulders so that we can live the life we were meant to live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/13 01:02 PM
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NLT)
4 �Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

For the Jews these were two of the choicest verses. They wrote it in their phylacteries and they felt obliged to say these words at least twice every day. They were very happy in being so obliged, having this saying among them, Blessed are we, who every morning and evening say, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. But more blessed are we if we duly consider and improve,



At the age of 19, Abraham Piper, the son of well known pastor and author John Piper, walked away from his Christian faith. For the next four years, in his words, he "just wanted to drink gallons of cheap sangria and sleep around." Of course his parents were "brokenhearted and baffled." After four years of living as a prodigal son, Abraham returned to the Lord and reunited with his parents. Based on his experience, he offers the following advice to mothers and fathers of wayward children:

Don't expect them to be Christlike. If your son is not a Christian, he won't act like one, and it's hypocrisy if he does �. His most dangerous problem is unbelief�not partying. No matter how your child's behavior proves his unbelief, always be sure to focus more on his heart's sickness than its symptoms.

Welcome them home. If he has any inkling to be with you, don't make it hard for him �. Obviously there are instances when parents must give ultimatums: "Don't come to this house, if you are �" But these will be rare �. [In most cases], if your daughter stinks like weed or an ashtray, spray her jacket with Febreeze and change the sheets when she leaves, but let her come home. If you find out she's pregnant, then buy her folic acid, take her to her 20-week ultrasound, protect her from Planned Parenthood, and by all means let her come home. If your son is broke because he spent all the money you lent him on loose women and ritzy liquor, then forgive his debt as you've been forgiven, don't give him any more money�and let him come home. If he hasn't been around for a week and a half because he's been staying at his girlfriend's�or boyfriend's�apartment, urge him not to go back, and let him come home.

Point them to Christ. Your rebellious child's real problem is not drugs or sex or cigarettes or porn or laziness or crime or cussing or slovenliness or homosexuality or being in a punk band. The real problem is that your child doesn't see Jesus clearly �. [Jesus] will replace the money, or the praise of man, or the high, or the sex that they are staking their eternities on right now. Only his grace can draw them from their perilous pursuits and bind them safely to him�captive, but satisfied. [Abraham Piper, �12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child,� desiring God.com (5-9-07)

Unfortunately many of us don�t realize at times we also have a problem of now allowing The Lord into our lives. We don�t allow The Lord to fill the voids in our lives, but instead we seek out other things to fill us. Love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength and God himself will pull you through the trials of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/04/13 12:59 PM
1 Kings 19:9-14 (NLT)
But the Lord said to him, �What are you doing here, Elijah?� 10 Elijah replied, �I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.�

Elijah had been on the run from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. First he ran a marathon to get away from her. Then after an angel ministered to Elijah he continued on his journey for another 40 days until he found himself hiding in a cave. God asked twice why Elijah was there; and twice God got the same facts Elijah stated above. What Elijah really needed to say was - I�m scared and I feel alone and that is why I am hiding here in this cave.



Elijah didn�t have a problem listing out the reasons why he should be hiding in a cave. In fact he was able to recite them perfectly back to God a second time. No doubt on his journey to the mountains and even sitting alone in the cave he had repeated those thoughts over and over to himself. 1 � I tried to serve the Lord. 2 � Look what the people did; they broke God�s covenant. 3 � They killed all the other priests and now I�m the only one left and 4- they want to kill me too. Elijah was so focused on these things he didn�t even express his feelings to God nor did he say to God, please help me I am afraid and alone.

You see we often start looking at the circumstances of our life and that is all we can see. This is the time we need God, but usually don�t seek Him out. We don�t feel His presence despite the fact He is right there with us. We need to take our focus off the situation and remember The Bible gives us promises that God is with us and desires good things for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 Tells us, �For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.�

Matthew 11:28-29 says, �Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.�

Paul said in Philippians 4:19 � �And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.�

King David reminded us in Psalm 139:7-10, �I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest ocean, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.�

We might ask �Where is God when we need Him�, but God is right there with us waiting for us to call on Him. God also doesn�t act out of haste, but has a plan to help us. And whatever God does to help us will ease the burdens we are facing. Trust God is there with you and tell God what you are feeling and ask for help. God loves you and desires the best for you and will provide an answer to your problems.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/13 12:24 PM
Psalm 33:4-5 (NIV)
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

In these verses King David expresses his thoughts on God�s justice and God�s infinite perfection. For The Lord to be right and true means even His disciplinary acts are designed for our good by deterring us from evil. Everything The Lord does is in truth and there is nothing He must hide from us. The Lord executes inflexible justice. There is nothing but righteousness in the sentence The Lord passes and in the execution of the judgment of it. The Lord takes pleasure in those who also love righteousness. What a pity is it that this earth, which is so full of The Lord�s goodness, should be so empty of His praises when the multitudes that live here benefit deeply from His unfailing love.



Over a hundred years ago, in a Scottish seaside inn, a group of fishermen were relaxing after a long day at sea. As a serving maid was walking past the fishermen's table with a pot of tea, one of the men made a sweeping gesture to describe the size of the fish he claimed to have caught. His hand collided with the teapot and sent it crashing against the whitewashed wall, where its contents left an irregular brown splotch. Standing nearby, the innkeeper surveyed the damage. "That stain will never come out," he said in dismay. "The whole wall will have to be repainted." "Perhaps not." All eyes turned to the stranger who had just spoken. "What do you mean?" asked the innkeeper. "Let me work with the stain," said the stranger, standing up from his table in the corner. "If my work meets your approval, you won't need to repaint the wall." The stranger picked up a box and went to the wall. Opening the box, he withdrew pencils, brushes, and some glass jars of linseed oil and pigment. He began to sketch lines around the stain and fill it in here and there with dabs of color and swashes of shading. Soon a picture began to emerge. The random splashes of tea had been turned into the image of a stag with a magnificent rack of antlers. At the bottom of the picture, the man inscribed his signature. Then he paid for his meal and left. The innkeeper was stunned when he examined the wall. "Do you know who that man was?" he said in amazement. "The signature reads 'E.H. Landseer!'" Indeed, they had been visited by the well-known painter of wild life, Sir Edwin Landseer. God wants to take the stains and disappointments of our lives and not merely erase them, but rather turn them into a thing of beauty. [Ron Lee Davis in Mistreated. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 3.]

Because The Lord is right and true, faithful in what he does for us and because He loves righteousness and justice that is freely given throughout the world - The Lord wants you to have a good life. The Lord�s words given to us in The Bible are not meaningless; they are words to live by. The Lord through His words has shown us how we are to live and the consequences for when our lives are out of alignment. We need to stop and give praise to The Lord for all that has been done and all that has been given to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/13 01:12 PM
2 Peter 1:3-6 (NLT)
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world�s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God�s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The Apostle Peter explains we have been given what we need to live lives according to God�s will. God has given us promises so we can stay motivated and not fear the world when we are called to do His work. All of this is to incite us and engage us so as to advance us in the grace and holiness God has so generously supplied.



Following an Easter service in 2003, a woman approached a pastor I know and asked, "So what happened with Jesus after the Resurrection?" "Well, he ascended into heaven and he's still alive," the pastor said. "I know he was resurrected, but he's alive?" she said. "Yes, he's alive." "Alive? ALIVE?! Why didn't you tell me?!" For the next two weeks, she telephoned everyone she knew and exclaimed, "Jesus is alive! Did you know he's alive?!" This woman was motivated to tell others about Jesus and His life after death.

South African Bishop and Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu puts fearless evangelism this way:
There is nothing the government can do to me that will stop me from being involved in what I believe God wants me to do. I do not do it because I like doing it. I do it because I am under what I believe to be the influence of God's hand. I cannot help it. When I see injustice, I cannot keep quiet, for, as Jeremiah says, when I try to keep quiet, God's Word burns like a fire in my breast. But what is it that they can ultimately do? The most awful thing that they can do is to kill me, and death is not the worst thing that could happen to a Christian.

Danger is to be respected, but fear is a choice we make. We should never fear standing up for what God has called us to act upon. God has given us His promise that He will be with us when we are following Him. Stand up for God as He has already stood up for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/13 12:29 PM
Psalm 19:7-11 (NLT)
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

King David provides in Psalm 19 words about The Heavenly Creator, The Lord�s instructions for us about life, and how we are to improve upon life through God�s instructions.



Every new car usually comes with an owner�s manual. The manufacturer who built the car supplies them so we might understand how the car operates. Contained inside are descriptions of the cars different functions. There are sections that describe warnings you might receive along the way about the cars operating status. There are also sections describing the maintenance and care that must be given to the car. You see the creators of the car understand it well enough that they can tell us in a manual what is best for the care of the car.

Our creator also provided us an owner�s manual called The Bible. The Bible understands who we are and describes what we need to know. The Bible gives us warnings about life and how to proceed when those warnings arise. The Bible speaks of how we should care for ourselves and others. The Bible tells us what we must do to maintain relationships. The Bible speaks to the very heart of what we were created for and what our purpose in life is about. You see our creator understands us well and has given us directions for life.

Are you taking the time to read your instruction manual? If you take the time to read, you might be surprised by what you learn from The Bible.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/08/13 12:37 PM
Matthew 5:43-45
43 �You have heard that it was said, �Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.� 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The teachers of the law had corrupted God�s words. They believed love your neighbor only applied to those near to them, who were of their religion and race. They perverted the thought of love your neighbor and corrupted it even further - for if they were to love their neighbor then surely they were to hate everyone else. This was never intended by God for He had even given instructions to assist foreigners and those who they might not like. We see that Christ sets the people straight when He says, �But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.�


Max Lucado writes about a big, muscle-bound man named Daniel who was swindled by his own brother. He vowed that if he ever saw him again, he would break his neck. A few months later, Daniel became a Christian. Even so, he couldn't forgive his brother. One day, the inevitable encounter took place on a busy avenue. This is how Daniel described what happened:

I saw him, but he didn't see me. I felt my fists clench and my face get hot. My initial impulse was to grab him around the throat and choke the life out of him. But as I looked into his face, my anger began to melt. For as I saw him, I saw the image of my father. I saw my father's eyes. I saw my father's look. I saw my father's expression. And as I saw my father in his face, my enemy once again became my brother. [Max Lucado, The Applause of Heaven (Word, 1990) pp. 114-116)

We are all created in the image of God the Father. When we seek to harm another - we seek to harm one who God loves, who God cares for, and who God finds precious. God has those same thoughts for each of us as well. When we confront someone we confront someone who has the same Father God we have. Let go of hatred and love as your Father God would love.

Christ commanded us to love one another. Learn to accept people for who they are. Don�t try to change others for only God can truly change a person. Don�t demand from another something you would not be willing to give. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Let go of anger and replace it with compassion and love. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Better to listen than to react for better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 19:11 reminds us - A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Remember today � Love your neighbor, love your enemies.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/13 01:54 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

In these verses the apostle provides some properties and effects of love. Love is grace to others. It is an excellent grace, and has a world of good properties belonging to it.



Gordon Yeager, 94, married his wife, Norma, 90, on the day she graduated from high school in 1939, according to affiliate KCCI. Seventy-two years later, still inseparable, the two got in the car for a trip into town. That�s where this tragic, but oddly sweet, story starts. They got into an accident and had to be rushed to the hospital. Their children say they were put in the same hospital room, and when it looked like things might not improve, they clasped hands.

Gordon Yeager passed away at 3:38 p.m. He was still holding his wife�s hand. His son Dennis said he was confused at first, because his father�s heart monitor was still registering a heartbeat. The nurse explained that his wife�s heart was still beating, and the beat was being transferred to him through her hand.

At 4:38 p.m., exactly one hour later, Norma passed away, surrounded by family. The couple's daughter Donna told KCCI the family actually felt blessed that their parents died together. Neither of them would have wanted to live without the other, she said. They believed in marriage ��til death do you part,� said Dennis.

[Source HLNtv.com, Staff, updated 12:21 PM EDT, Fri October 21, 2011]

Love extends grace in a way that is hard to understand. For love will patiently wait in kindness. Love does not envy another, but accepts them. Loves doesn�t boast that one is better than another. Love gives up pride allowing one to say they are sorry and to correct wrongs that have been made. Love doesn�t try to harm, look for what self will obtain, not easily angered and definitely keeps no wrong. Love is grace that is lived out.

Obviously this couple knew the meaning of love. They loved until death and that is a legacy they leave for their children to think about. Love is a special grace God gives to all of us; we just need to remember to use it.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/12/13 12:18 PM
1 Corinthians 13:6-7 (NIV)
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians is a short chapter focused on love. The Apostle starts the chapter there are several gift he could possess, but without love those gifts are meaningless. Out of faith hope and love he says, �But the greatest of these is love.�



If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement; fortitude without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love. -- Fr. Richard P. McBrien

God�s actions are based upon love. When we are blessed, it is out of love. When we are disciplined, it is out of love. When we need compassion God lovingly embraces us. God put's love into all of His actions and God�s love endures through all times.

When it comes to our actions we need to stop and think, how does this show love? If we aren�t showing love in our actions maybe it is time to rethink how we are acting.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 02/14/13 05:09 AM
Who was Saint Valentine?

St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D, a time when the church was enduring great persecution. His ministry was to help the Christians to escape this persecution, and to provide them the sacraments, such as marriage, which was outlawed by the Roman Empire at that time. For his belief and practice, St. Valentine was arrested, and imprisoned for his refusal to deny Our Lord and embrace the Roman gods.

While in prison, St. Valentine continued to minister, even witnessing to those who guarded him. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked St. Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was miraculously given her sight, demonstrating the power of the One True God. The guard and his whole family, 46 people in all, believed in Christ and were baptized. The emperor was furious about this, so he had St. Valentine beheaded.

St. Valentine�s knew that he could be arrested for his belief and Christian ministry. He knew that refusal to recognize the Roman gods would result in imprisonment. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry, and would probably result in his death. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life in being an instrument in the healing of the blind girl�s infirmity, and in doing so spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it.

This is briefly who St. Valentine was.

"Be My Valentine." This is a phrase that conjures up a lot of different images associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day. Cards with hearts and little poems on them. Candy and flowers given to someone one we love. Young and old alike expressing their affection for their sweethearts. February 14th, for our culture, means cards, candy and flowers.

Somehow, this feast of the church has been skewed to include snapshots from pagan mythology, such as cupid, with the focus of the day only on romantic love. For most, it is a shock to hear that this is a day to remember and celebrate the life and martyrdom of a Christian Saint.

In the Gospel according to John, we read: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13) St. Valentine demonstrated this love when he laid down his life for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's Day is really about.

For Christians, Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate the love of God. That love was shown to us in the life and death of Our Lord and the life and death of martyrs like St. Valentine. This is a love with a depth of commitment that goes deeper than any other love in that it surpasses even the desire to survive. It is the love of a God willing to suffer so that his creatures could know salvation. It is the love of a man willing to risk death so that others can know eternal life.

As you can now see, there is a big difference between our modern Valentine's Day and it's Christian origins. Both are celebrations of love, but they show us the difference between the world's understanding of love and the Christian understanding of love. For the world, love can mean a lot of different things. It can refer to the deep communion experienced by a couple who have been married 50 years. Or "love" may simply refer to sex. More often than not it refers to romantic love, the feeling between a man and a woman. Too often it is nothing more than an over glorified puppy love. � When the world says, "I am in Love," they mean your knees are weak and your throat is dry and you are attracted to someone. � This "love" is often devoid of commitment and depth. � "Love" by the world's definition can be as flimsy and insubstantial as a cheap Valentine's Card.

But the Church's definition of love is quite different. /// For the Christian the ultimate example of that love is Jesus Christ. He is the living example of God's love. He came to this world so that the lost and lonely people of the world could experience the Kingdom of God.

The world's standard for love is a warm gushy feeling. The world's love can be characterized as a flimsy cardboard card, but God's love is best exemplified by the thick bloodstained boards of the cross. God's standard for love is the ultimate act of giving one's life for the one that is loved.

This is a level of love that far surpasses the kind of love the world offers. The world's love is often self-serving and self centered. Its purpose is to serve the lover not the one loved. When it fails to serve the lover then the object of that love is abandoned.
Therefore, the first expression of this higher standard of love is a limitless commitment to God. Too often, we reduce our commitment to God to only those times when it is convenient to us.

You and I can easily say that we love God, but does it show in our commitment to him?

Do we say that we will never turn our backs on him because our love is so great, but then fail to do His Will because it does not suit us?

My beloved, We have to show our commitment always, and consistently. We must stand ready to act according to His Divine will in our lives, the ultimate test of our love for Him, demonstrated by our commitment.

There is no doubt that St. Valentine never set aside his commitment - when he faced persecution, when he faced imprisonment, or even when he faced certain death � this great martyr acted firmly in accordance with his commitment to God.

The second and equally important expression of our love for God is found in our commitment to one another. In 1 John we read: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4:12) We cannot reach out and touch God, but we can reach out to each other, and commit to give of ourselves to our neighbors as Our Lord commanded.

No one can deny that Mother Teresa was a paramount role model for unselfish love and commitment to her fellow man. In her talk at the February 1994 National Prayer Breakfast, she spoke the following words: "I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me."

Think about what she is saying here � to be willing to give until it hurts. Are we capable of this level of love? As we grow closer to Christ, we recognize that He most certainly gave until it hurt � it hurt Him to love us so much.

Consider how this can be applied to our lives and to the work that we do for the Church.

� Looking at the world from this perspective can possibly change everything. Instead of looking for our own personal gain, we see only the needs of our family, our neighbor or co-worker. Instead of always wanting to be "first" and "in charge", we see the value in taking the role of the servant. �
In other words, we find that we are willing to sacrifice our own interest for those of others because we love them and love God so much. We are willing, as Mother Teresa said, to "give until it hurts.

Beloved in Christ, as you work for the glory of God � in everything that you do � make this the standard of your commitment. Whether it is in how you relate to your families, at your work, in your relationships at your parish, or in the work you do in your organization

Make your love for God and each other the single motivation in how you relate to everyone you come in contact with.

We must always remember that the love that we Christians experience and share is obviously different from what the world knows. We may give flowers, candy and cards just like the world, but those tokens are expressions of a deeper love. They are expressions of love that is measured by the standard of God's love.

In addition to giving gifts, here are a few other ways you can celebrate Valentine�s day this year:

As Christians, this Valentine Day must me a time to re-commit our lives to the Lord: God is love and the source of true love. God loved us enough to die for us and St. Valentine loved God enough to die for God's Truth. What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to commit or recommit our lives to Christ.

This Valentine Day must make us strong enough to Stand up for the truth and proclaim the Gospel of God's love: Sometimes it is dangerous to stand up against injustice, hatred, and prejudice. Sometimes it is difficult to oppose the world's view of things to proclaim the truth of God's Love. But that is what St. Valentine did.

This Valentine Day be a reminder to all of us that we must Die to self for the sake of another: � Many priests ask couples when they are preparing for marriage whether or not they would be willing to lay down their life for the their spouse. I have been told that without exception, these couples have expressed that they would be willing to die for the other. Not once have they failed or even hesitated to say, "Yes!" In a clear-cut case of life or death many would die for the ones they love. But in our day to day lives few are presented with a life or death situation. On the other hand, every day we presented with opportunities to die to self. In other words to sacrifice our wants for the wants of another. Try it this Valentine's Day. Sacrifice what you want for what your loved ones want.

My friends, Our love never completely measures up to the greatness of God's love. But with God's help we can grow in that direction and strive toward that ideal. Our Lord said, "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." He also said that he has called and appointed us to bear fruit. That fruit is the love that we, with God's help, share with one another. � Christ's love for us is the example that we should look to in all our relationships. It should define how we love our spouses, our children, our parents and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

"Be my Valentine." We all want to hear that phrase today. It simply means "you are loved." I am here to tell you that you are loved. God loves you and wants you to be his Valentine.

The love that God gives us is not like the world's love. It is not a flimsy cheap imitation. It is the real thing. It is an all-giving love that was and is willing to suffer and die for our deliverance.

Will you be God's Valentine? It is your choice. Let's say yes and return in kind the love that God first gave us. And when we do, let's remember the first Valentine and the way he gave everything, including his life, to the God he loved.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/13 12:29 PM
Proverbs 5:15-20 (KJV)
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

King Solomon having given his sons advice against falling into immoral traps now leads them to thoughts of holy marriage. He gave them thought that they should marry and quench lustful desires. They were to take delight in their wives for this would be their choice and a blessing given by God. Solomon spoke in poetic terms about the love they should have for their wives seeing them beautiful and having a desire for them alone. His sons should be pleased to rest their heads upon the bosom of their wives while avoiding the same with strangers. These were the loving words of a father to his sons about the love they should have for their wives.



In his book The Obedience Option, David Hegg illustrates what he calls "overwhelming faith." Hegg was talking to a young man who claimed that he couldn't stop his pattern of sleeping with different women. The young man knew it was wrong, but he also claimed that his sexual lust was inevitable. Therefore, it wasn't his fault, especially since God had created him with such strong desires and urges. Finally, Hegg interrupted the young man and said, "Suppose that I came into your room and caught you and your girlfriend as you were just starting this 'inevitable' process." Suppose I took out ten one-hundred-dollar bills, and told you that they were yours if you [stopped]. What would you do?"

When the young man quickly said that he'd rather have the cash, Hegg asked, "So what happened to the irresistible force of lust?"

We both realized a very simple truth: one passion may seem irresistible until a greater passion comes along �. If we take this principle into the arena of righteous living, it comes out like this: the only way to overcome a passion for sin is with an overwhelming passion for righteousness. This overwhelming passion for righteousness is actually a mindset that the Bible calls faith. Here is a helpful definition of this kind of overwhelming faith: Faith is a life-dominating conviction that all God has for me through obedience is better by far than anything Satan can offer me through selfishness and sin.
David Hegg, The Obedience Option (Christian Focus, 2011), pp. 27-28;
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/15/13 01:40 PM
Matthew 19:13-15 (NASB)
13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, �Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.� 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.


We have here the welcome which Jesus gave to some little children that were brought to Him. These parents had great faith in Jesus to show up and request His blessing upon their children; for while some believed in Christ there were also those opposed to Him. The disciples meant well trying to protect Jesus from the gathering crowds, but Jesus always reached out to those reaching out for Him. Jesus tells The Disciples, �Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.� The children were yet to form opinions of the world but gladly they had parents who wanted to start their lives by knowing The Christ.




There is a song by John Michael Montgomery called The Little Girl. It�s a story of a little girl born to very dysfunctional parents. Her mother did drugs and her father drank all night. They didn�t know God, nor did they give the little girl the opportunity to learn. And like many children this little girl would sit and watch TV and give her parents kisses and hugs out of love for them even if parents couldn�t fully return their love for her. One night the dad drank too much � he shot his wife and then took his own life leaving the little girl alone. Social workers came and put the little girl into foster care.

From that point we pick up with these lyrics, �And some people from the city took the girl far away to a new mom and a new dad -- kisses and hugs every day. Her first day of Sunday school the teacher walked in and a small little girl stared at a picture of Him [Jesus]. She said I know that man up there on that cross I don't know His name But I know He got off cause He was there in my old house and held me close to His side as I hid there behind our couch the night that my parents died.

This is a touching song illustrating the love Jesus has for us and especially children. The Lord leaves our children in our hands to take care of them, to watch out after them and to nurture them. I believe when we are unable to do so Jesus himself comes to our children and cares for them when others can�t.

This song touches my heart because my dad was an abusive alcoholic who shot at my mother and several times in a drunken rage tried to kill her. Fortunately my mother had the wits to leave. I�m blessed to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Jesus has been there many times in my life to help see me safely through. All praise be given to The Lord.

If you would like to listen to John Michael Montgomermy�s song The Little Girl it can be found on -- YouTube at
or search for John Michael Montgomery The Little Girll
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/13 12:29 PM
Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT)
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, �Look, God�s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.�

This is part of the revelation given to the Apostle John of things to come. These words show the presence of God with His people. This is the promise God gave that those who have placed their faith in The Lord will be present with Him in heaven. All the former troubles of this world have been removed. Tears that once came from sin are wiped away and to be found no more. All the causes of any future sorrow have also been wiped away; gone forever.



Every other week I donate platelets to the Red Cross. I started donating faithfully after I got a call from the Red Cross asking if I knew why they said they desperately needed my blood. They then stated that my blood was absent of CMV antibodies. CMV stands for cytomegalovirus and is a virus present in about 80% of the population. The effects of CMV are rarely seen in normal, healthy people and so it is rarely mentioned by doctors. However the virus can cause devastating effects, including death for those with weak immune systems. The Red Cross then told me they needed my blood for those immune compromised patients and that my blood had already saved 27 lives.

Donating blood platelets requires the use of an apheresis machine. The apheresis process is able to extract blood from the body and then separates the platelets, plasma and red cells. The machine they are currently using requires a needle in each arm - one arm to extract the blood and the other arm to return the red blood cells. The process for me takes just over an hour and during that time the arms have to remain motionless.

During the apheresis process when I gave this past weekend my eyes started watering. It was a miserable feeling as tears slowly made their way down my face and I was helpless to do anything. Finally I asked one of the workers if they would wipe away my tears for me and they did. The torture I was feeling immediately was gone and I could relax without thinking about those few slow dripping tears.

It made me realize something about the verses above. When God wipes away our tears He is providing comfort to a painful experience we never have to face again. Our sins will be removed and our life will be filled with joy. I also thought about how Jesus gave His blood for us that we could live. My blood has saved 27 lived, but the blood of Jesus has saved countless lives that will live an eternity in heaven. Let us all give thanks to God for the comfort and love He provides. Let us also praise Jesus who gave of His blood that we would live forever.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/13 12:13 PM
Romans 13:9-10 (NLT)
9 For the commandments say, �You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.� These�and other such commandments�are summed up in this one commandment: �Love your neighbor as yourself.� 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God�s law.

If love is true and sincere, it will fulfill the commandments given by God. Our duty to others and ourselves can be summed up in one word � LOVE. It is a short and sweet word that shows harmony with others and self; mercies to put aside fault; and grace to forgive. Loving and being loved is all the pleasure, joy, and happiness of an intelligent being. God�s love for us is imprinted on our souls that we may love others as God loves us.



Tim Winton is Australia's most celebrated novelist today. Author of more than a dozen bestselling books and winner of numerous literary prizes, Winton resides on the coast of Western Australia, where he lives with his family. Winton was interviewed on the popular ABC television show Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. At one point, the conversation turned to Winton's well-known Christian faith.

"I want to talk about faith," said Denton. "When you were, I think, about five, a stranger came into your family and affected your family quite profoundly. Is that right?"

Tim Winton went on to tell Denton how his father, a policeman, had been in a terrible accident in the mid-1960s, knocked off his motorcycle by a drunk driver. After weeks in a coma he was allowed home. Winton said he remembers thinking, "He was like an earlier version of my father, a sort of augmented version of my father. He was sort of recognizable, but not really my dad, you know? Everything was busted up, and they put him in the chair, and, you know, 'Here's your dad.' And I was horrified."

Winton's father was a big man, and Mrs. Winton had great difficulty bathing him each day. There was nothing that Tim, five-years-old at the time, could do to help. News of the family's situation got out into the local community, and shortly afterward, Winton recalls, his mother got a knock at the door. "Oh, g'day. My name's Len," said a stranger to Mrs. Winton. "I heard your hubby's a bit [ill]. Anything I can do?"

Len Thomas was from the local church, Winton explained. This man had heard about the family's difficulties and wanted to help. "He just showed up," continued Winton, "and he used to carry my dad from bed and put him in the bath, and he used to bathe him, which in the 1960s in [Australia] in the suburbs was not the sort of thing you saw every day."

According to Winton, this simple act of kindness from a single Christian had a powerful effect: "It really touched me in that ... watching a grown man bother, for nothing, to show up and wash a sick man--you know, it really affected me." This "strangely sacrificial act," as he described it, was the doorway into the Christian faith for the entire Winton family. [John Dickson, "The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission", (Zondervan, 2010), 97-98]

Imagine the impact if everyone served and loved others in the way Len Thomas did. Len had a great impact on the lives of the Winston family. Our love and service to others could impact and change lives too. Share your love with someone by helping in ways you know how to help and love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/13 01:50 PM
1 John 14:18 (ESV)
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

These verses speak to two different kinds of fear. One fear is born in love and produces respect, reverence and recognition of authority. This kind of fear evokes a feeling of understanding. For if we love and fear God then we understand how we may have done wrong and out of love for God we are willing to make amends. I liken this to speaking out of turn in a courtroom and the judge asks you to refrain from an outburst. If you have love in your heart then hopefully you respect the judge enough to say, �Yes, Your Honor, I�m sorry and it won�t happen again.�

The other fear I want to mention evokes the emotion of being afraid. If we don�t understand God� love for us then we become afraid fearing God might punish us for our wrongs. When we are afraid we want to protect and strike back if necessary. We end up with dismal apprehensions of God. We do not see God as one who corrects and disciplines, but instead we see a God who punishes.

In love God gave His son Jesus to be among us. Through Jesus we are able to observe God�s intent for our lives. Jesus showed us that God is caring, healing, redemptive, reconciling, and most of all loving. Jesus came so that we might be restored to our full humanity without sin. If we love and understand God then we should see a God who is more interested in our well-being; who wants to bless us and not punish us; and who is inclined to raise us up instead of putting us down.

In the evenings I have been watching Dr. Drew on HLN with my wife as his show reports on the Jodi Arias trial. If you don�t know who Jodi Arias is � she was charged for the brutal murder of Travis Alexander who she called her boyfriend. Yet as my wife and I have watched this trial and listened to the experts on Dr. Drew HLN it becomes apparent this was a warped and volatile relationship. She says she was often in fear of being rejected, being abandoned, of being hurt. In other words she was afraid.

Remember what The Apostle John stated above. Perfect love casts out fear (being afraid). Obviously this relationship was not built on perfect love. It was a relationship that seems to have twisted the meaning of love. Even in testimony yesterday she still admits to loving the murdered man, but just not in the same way. Obviously she doesn�t understand the true meaning of love.

In Jeremiah 29:11 God plainly says, �For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.� God�s perfect love has good intentions towards us. There is no need to be afraid of God for God is perfect love and His intents for us are good.

We all need to remember what true love is and live our lives in that manner. If we are living correctly others may fear us, but they fear us in respect and not because they are afraid of whom we are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/25/13 01:10 PM
Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, ��You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.� 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: �Love your neighbor as yourself.�

There were two religious groups during the time of Jesus, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Sadducees had already tried to trap Jesus with a question, but Jesus managed to silence them with His answer. The Pharisees aware of what happened with the Sadducees plotted a question of their own. They said, �Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?� and Jesus gave the reply above. It was a hard answer to argue with; for to love God meant loving all about God, including God�s other commandments. Then Jesus gave another statement putting it in the category of a commandment, �Love your neighbor as yourself.�



Terry Muck, in a March 29, 2009 entry of Men of Integrity wrote � [A man who had no interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door�they talked over the back fence, borrowed lawn mowers, stuff like that. Then the non-Christian's wife was stricken with cancer, and she died three months later. Here's part of a letter he wrote afterward:

I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance. After the service I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn't walk alone. My neighbor�afraid for me, I guess�stayed with me all night. He didn't speak; he didn't even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, "Let's go get some breakfast." I go to church now. My neighbor's church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring and love my neighbor showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.]

We would be much better served to stop trying to impose rules and regulations on people, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees did and focusing instead on being compassionate, generous, loving people who touch the lives of others just as Christ touched lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/13 01:43 PM
1 John 4:9 (NIV)
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

God loves us. In spite of our rebellious nature towards God, God still loves us. In the commentary of Matthew Henry it says of this verse, �Strange that God should love impure, vain, vile, dust and ashes!� In other words we can be very unlovable people and yet God still loves us. God showed us how deep His love for us goes by sending His Son Jesus into the world that through Him - 1) we could live a peaceful and meaningful life here on earth and, 2) we could live an eternal life in heaven.



1 Corinthians 13 provides us with the attributes of genuine love - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Don Francisco�s song, Love is Not a Feeling, reflects the feelings of an individual encountering a difficult time in life and marriage. The song then explains love is not a feeling but an act of your will. He gives proof to the statement by saying Jesus did not have to die on the cross, but did so out of love for us. Jesus expressed true love through an act of His will. Enjoy the lyrics below and focus on how they could apply to your life.



Love Is Not A Feeling by Don Francisco


So you say you can't take it
The price is too high
Your feelings have gone
It seems your river's run dry

You never imagined
It could turn out so rough
You give and give and give
And still it's never enough

Your emotions have vanished
It once held a thrill
The wonder of love
Could be alive in you still

The ring on your finger
Is put there to stay
You'll never forget
The words you promised that day

Jesus didn't die for you
Because it was fun
He hung there for love
Because it had to be done

And in spite of the anguish
His work was fulfilled
Cause love is not a feelin'
It's an act of your will
Love is not a feelin'
It's an act of your will

Now I wouldn't try to tell you
That it's easy to stand
Satan's throwin' everything
That's at his command

But Jesus is faithful
His promise is true
And the things that He asks
He gives the power to do

You know He didn't die for you
Because it was fun
He hung there for love
Because it had to be done

And in spite of the anguish
His work was fulfilled
Cause love is not a feelin'
It's an act of your will
Love is not a feelin'
It's an act of your will

Love is not a feelin'
It's an act of your will
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 02/26/13 02:05 PM


Here is the YouTube video of this song
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/27/13 12:39 PM
Proverbs 27:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

These verses from Proverbs tell us it is good to be reproved and faults made known to us by friends. It takes courage to deal directly in matters that can be painful for one to hear. This is better than concealing matters of concern and keeping them to one�s self. When our faults are confronted in love it is a sign our friends are faithful to us in that they have not allow us to continue in harmful and sinful ways. Matthew Henry wrote, �The physician�s care is to cure the patient�s disease, not to please his palate.� In the final verse we also learn to be on guard against those who flatter us for their own regard and are focused only on what they can gain. A way to grasp this is to think of Judas, a disciple of Jesus, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver.



Pastor Gordon Macdonald wrote: In the earliest days of my ministry, I cultivated the habit of meeting with our board chairman every Monday morning to gain his perspective on how things were going. That's the good news. The bad news was that I apparently bridled whenever he told me unpleasant things � that he was either seeing or hearing about. One time when I may have sulked a bit, he leaned across the table and said, "Pastor, you have a trait that you're going to have to whip. It's over-sensitivity. We're not talking about you or how we feel about you; we're talking about your ministry and how we can make it better. Stop injecting your feelings into these discussions." Listen carefully to such a rebuke! Your whole future may be marching before your eyes. Suddenly, someone has put a finger on a character quality that stands between you and your dreams.

The loving wounds of a friend may be painful for a moment, but like a splinter removed the pain quickly ends so the healing can begin. Remember too that you are a friend to others. Are your words given to heal or to hurt? Weight carefully what is said to you and also weight carefully what you say to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/13 12:44 PM
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

This proverb is for those who in the indulgence of sin, hide, excuse, deny, diminish or place blame on others. People can try to hide the sin, but most often the sin is eventually disclosed. One can find mercy and peace by confession of their sin to God. They must be careful and accountable not to return to the sin or they will once again find themselves trapped by the same snare.



Most of us have probably heard a joke similar to this one:
Patient - Doctor I broke my arm in two places.
Doctor � I would stay out of them places.

When it comes to sin the joke above holds a lot of truth. When you know you are heading to a place that leads you to sin then don�t go there. We cannot regularly put ourselves in the face of temptation and not be affected. When faced with the problem of temptation, we need to take the good doctor�s advice and "stay out of them places�.

We also need to be willing to seek help when needed. A person who needs medical help and does not seek treatment cannot expect to find a cure. In the same way when we know we are tempted by sin we need to find help. Sometimes that help comes in the form of accountability to another. Sometimes it may be to obtain wise counsel. And it should always include God who can direct us in the right ways.

Lastly we cannot keep a sin covered and expect healing. If not treated properly a covered wound will only become infected making the problem worst. The same is true with hidden sins. When a sin is covered and hidden deep within a person the sin will fester and infect their lives.

Duncan Campbell (1898 - 28 March 1972) was a fiery Scottish preacher, who is best known for being a leader in the Lewis Awakening or Hebrides Revival, a mid-20th century religious revival in the Scottish Hebrides. He once said, �Don�t expect God to cover what you are unwilling to uncover.� If there is covered sin in your life affecting you maybe now is the time to turn to someone you trust for help.
Posted By: Pepperband Re: Devotionals - 03/02/13 05:42 PM
Very good stuff.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/04/13 03:21 AM
Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' �And he divided his living between them. �Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. �And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. �So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. �And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. �But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! �I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of yo
ur hired servants.' �And he arose and came to his father. �But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. �And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' �But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' �And they began to make merry. �Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. �And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. �And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' �But he was angry and refused to go in. �His father came out and entrea
t
ed him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. �But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' �And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. �It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The Martyrs, who were from Amasia, were fellow soldiers and kinsmen of Saint Theodore the Tyro (see Feb. 17). They were betrayed to the Governor Asclepiodotus as Christians, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). After many torments, Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified; Basiliscus was not slain together with them, but was shut up in prison, in the hope that with time he might change his mind and sacrifice to the idols. He was beheaded on May 22; see also the account on that day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/13 12:44 PM
Psalm 19:12 (NLT)
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

As David understood, one might know God�s law but to apply it to self and understand your faults is very difficult indeed. We are often right in own eyes, but not in the eyes of God. We all need divine grace to show us these faults, provide us mercy and grace to overcome these faults, and free us from the power of sin that holds us to these faults.



I once heard a man say, �I think I communicate really well with my wife. We sit down and have conversations and talk about the events of the day.� Then someone asked, �How does she feel about the things you talk about.� The man who thought he communicated well said, �You know, I�m usually so caught up in the facts of the day I didn�t think about what she felt.� He went on to say, �I guess I�m not such a great communicator after all.�

King David understood that while we may think we know ourselves, we really don�t. We can only see ourselves from our point of view and often miss what God and others see. And if you can�t see your fault it sure makes it difficult to correct. We all have had that experience where someone notices something externally about us, such as having a spot on our clothes we can�t see. Just as we have spots externally, we have spots on the inside we can�t see that need correcting.

Make your prayer as David�s that God would cleanse you from the hidden faults in your life. Allow yourself grace and mercy as God brings good friends to you who share their hearts in love to show you faults in your life. Know that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from our hidden faults.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/13 12:33 PM
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

In these verses Moses prescribes the people to keep the commands of the Lord near and dear to their hearts. They are to be learned, memorized, and dwelled upon. They should be the root basis of living and impressive enough our children see our actions and learn from them. They are to be talked about, discussed with family, friends and spouse. They are rules for living that should be a part of each and every day.



Bill White of Paramount, California once shared: �It was one of those evenings when everything goes wrong. The kids were cranky while I was making dinner, so I gave them some hot chocolate to tide them over. Timothy, who is five, decided to throw his marshmallows at his little sister, knocking her hot chocolate all over her. As she began screaming, the phone rang (and I foolishly answered it) and the doorbell rang (and I foolishly answered it�with the phone on my ear and a screaming kid in the background). I then returned to the kitchen and hollered at Timothy, and promptly had two crying kids.

As dinner began to burn and I deposited my daughter in the bath, I loudly announced that I was so angry I might do anything, so I declared I was putting myself in timeout. I closed the door, none too gently, and tried to get dinner to be the only thing simmering in the kitchen.

Everything changed about ten minutes later when I caught sight of a yellow piece of construction paper sliding under the door. In the unsteady hand of a kindergartener was scrawled a message of grace that pierced my heart and turned me around:

"From Timothy. To Dad. I still love you even when you're angry."�


Children observe and reflect the actions of their parents. Fortunately we have a Father in heaven that loves us, allows us grace and mercy, and shows us forgiveness. If we could only stop and reflect upon the Father and imitate him instead of allowing outside influences to control our lives. When we find ourselves out of control it�s time to step back and let The Lord take control. It�s much easier to do this when we know God intimately, understand His commandments for our life, and have a genuine relationship with Him. Let God�s commandments be on your heart so you know how to respond when times are stressful.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/05/13 02:26 PM
Yes. Sometimes I have to take a walk outside when
Things get crazy. Not often but sometimes
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/13 01:05 PM
Proverbs 6:1-5 (NIV)
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor�s hands: Go�to the point of exhaustion� and give your neighbor no rest! 4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. 5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

In these verses Solomon warns his son about having a lack of good sense and foresight. He give warning about helping another secure their debt; for by pledging to do so holds one captive to a debt they had no part in. Solomon indicates it is so important to remove the pledge one should do everything possible, including disregarding sleep, in order to break free of that promise.




There is a story I have heard many times in our family. Employees at a company where a family member worked could participate in the company credit union. The credit union allowed unsecured loans if a person obtained signatures of other credit union members who would guarantee payment. One employee was replacing the carpet in their home and needed a loan. So she asked the family member and several other people to sign the guarantee for her loan, which they did. Back then most people trusted the other employees they worked with. Well once this person had their home newly carpeted they quit their job, put their house up for sale and moved � never paying their debt. You can probably guess what happened next. The people who signed the guarantee had to split the payments among them and pay her debt.

What I love about The Bible is the wisdom it provides us. Thousands of years before this family member signed for this other person�s debt the words of The Bible had already warned them against doing so. If only they had taken to heart the wisdom Solomon gave they would have avoided paying another�s debt.

This is why it is so important to read The Bible and understand its words. For in The Bible we are given life lessons of others to follow or avoid. We are taught how to enrich our lives and avoid pain and misery. We are taught that God loves us and provides forgiveness, mercy and grace for sin. And we are given a plan for salvation that we can know for certain how to have eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Read and enjoy The Bible so you might have the wisdom you need for life in this world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/13 12:13 PM
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The psalmist asks God to examine him for anything that might offend God. The psalmist desires to be right with God even to the point of being tested by God. The psalmist is anxious for he has seen what his adversaries are trying to do and his greatest desire is for God to lead him in the right direction.



Imagine you�re out for a hike on a beautiful spring day and you come to a creek. But there�s something wrong with this picture. You notice that someone has dumped trash into the stream�an ugly sight. Judging by some of the empty soda cans, the trash has been there awhile. And there is an ugly film on top of the water. You can�t just leave the scene as you found it, because it would bother your conscience. So you stoop down and begin gathering the trash.

It actually takes several hours before you can begin to see a difference; it�s amazing how much junk is there. You sit back, rest for a moment, and realize you�ll have to keep returning each day until the site is truly clean. But when you come back the next day, it�s as if your work has been undone.

In fact there�s more trash than before. Somehow the garbage bred overnight. You think about the unlikelihood of someone coming to this very spot to dump their garbage in the few hours while you were away, and you realize that something smells fishy�so to speak. So you begin to follow the creek upstream.

Sure enough, you come to a garbage dump that has been there for years. It�s emptying into the passing creek. Your cleaning job only opened up a gap for more stuff to settle. You could go and clean every day �. If you want your creek to be clean, that means going directly to the source and dealing with what�s there. [Condensed from Kyle Idleman, Gods at War (Zondervan, 2013)]

The psalmist above asked God to examine him and to pinpoint the offense things in his life. He asked God to go right to the source, his heart, and examine it. Then if there was something there that needed to change he asked God to lead him towards that change. I believe we all need to ask God to search us for what can change in our lives for the good and live out the response God gives us.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/07/13 02:21 PM
"the heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it?"
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/08/13 12:36 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
"the heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it?"


Funny how an old radio show paraphrased that - The introduction from The Shadow radio program "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" spoken by actor Frank Readick Jr.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/08/13 12:36 PM
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In these verses The Apostle gives praise to God the Father and Son for their compassion and comfort. The Apostle acknowledges when we are confronted with troubles of various types it is God himself who comforts us. The purpose of God�s comfort is to learn from God Himself how to give comfort to others facing the same difficulties we also have received.



In the story �A Simple Gesture�, an inspirational tale written by John W. Schlatter that appears in the 1993 bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Schlatter writes -- Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life."



Jesus frequently modeled compassion so we might understand how to show compassion to others. The story above illustrates how an act of compassion had a great impact on the life of one young man. Compassion and comfort changed his life forever. Many of you have faced difficult experiences in life and managed to endure through them. When you see someone else going through something similar, not only can you have compassion, but you can also empathize with the person and be a great blessing to them. Reach out to others in compassion so they may understand God�s compassion and love for them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/13 11:17 AM
John 7:10-13 (NLT)
10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, �He�s a good man,� but others said, �He�s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.� 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

The event above happens during the Jewish Festival of Shelters. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead to the festival. Jesus went later, but remained out of public view for a portion of the festival. The Jewish leaders were always trying to challenge Jesus so they were seeking Him out for a confrontation. The people witnessed this. Some commented Jesus was a good man while others called Him a fraud. Yet due to fear no one had the courage to speak favorably about Jesus in public.



Abraham Lincoln once said, �To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men.� There are times when we must push aside the fear of what others will think and stand up and do what is right. We cannot let fear control us for even God�s word says in 2 Timothy 1:7, �For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.�

Two key parts in speaking up is to insure we have the self-discipline in that our actions show us true to our words. Secondly our motives should be out of love; for if we speak up with any other motive someone will see through those motives. It is with these principles we can find the power and courage to speak up for what is right.

The Jewish leaders attacked Jesus because they saw how the crowds were drawn to Him. They feared their leadership would be taken. Sadly those who saw the true love, compassion and mercy of Jesus often kept quiet because they feared what might happen to them. And I would venture to say there are many who might do the same today.

Fear comes from the enemy who would wish us to keep silent when an injustice is made. Let us not be found cowards, but people of conviction who would stand up for those things that are right and true.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/12/13 11:01 AM
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NLT)
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God�s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Peter�s own words are best for the opening of this chapter, �This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.� In building our relationship with The Lord we are to take heed of God�s promises and allow our faith to grow. The Apostle gives us those areas for growth in verses 5-7 above.



It has been called the greatest rescue mission of World War II. Late in that war, American bombers were sent on dangerous missions over southern Europe to cripple the Nazis' oil supplies. Hundreds of crews in flying tin cans soared through storms of anti-aircraft shells. Many American pilots were forced to bail from their shot-up planes. The injured airmen drifted by parachute into occupied Yugoslavia, expecting to be captured or killed. Instead, on the ground remarkable rescue teams were already in place. Serbian peasants tracked the path of the floating flight crews. Their sole mission was to grab the flyboys and bring them to safety�before the Nazis arrived. Risking their own lives, the peasants fed and sheltered the downed solders. These rescued men were in friendly hands but on enemy soil. They still needed to escape. The story of what became known as Operation Haylard builds toward a daring mission, a secret landing strip, and a clandestine evacuation plan. Amazingly, those Serbian peasants rescued every single American airman�over 500 in all.� (Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition (Crossway, 2010), pp. 63-64)


When we walk alone we are more vulnerable to attacks. When we come together to serve a common cause that is when we are strong. There were those who were injured and weak, but they were carried by those who could support their burdens. Even though the enemy was present these soldiers stood among friends who cared for them.

Remember these words, because in our journey with Christ He is there to carry our burdens even when we are surrounded by the enemy. With Christ we are less vulnerable to the attacks the enemy brings towards us. In understanding Christ�s love for us we can give back to others in the same way He gives to us. Follow Peter�s words to supplement your faith with morality, knowledge, self-control, godliness, brotherly affection, and a love for everyone that we may assist them as they may one day assist us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/13 11:48 AM
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

From Matthew Henry�s Commentary - The privilege of the saints, that all things work together for good to them, that is, all the providences of God that concern them. All that God performs he performs for them. Their sins are not of his performing, therefore not intended here, though his permitting sin is made to work for their good. But all the providences of God are theirs�merciful providences, afflicting providences, personal, public. They are all for good; perhaps for temporal good, as Joseph�s troubles; at least, for spiritual and eternal good. That is good for them which does their souls good. Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a tendency to the spiritual good of those that love God, breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, fitting them for heaven.



I'm sitting in yet another hospital waiting room. Ever since my husband, Barry, first underwent open heart and quadruple bypass surgery 15 months ago, I've been in this waiting room�or one just like it�more times than I can count on one hand, waiting for him to come out of the operating room. In little more than a year's time, my vocabulary has increased to include words and phrases such as aneurysm, atrial fib, and EP study with ablation. They all mean I have to put on a cheery face, kiss Barry good-bye, and promise I won't worry about him or forget to eat lunch and lock the garage door at night while he's in the hospital again. With all Barry's surgeries and procedures, we've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year�one of the worst in our 32 years together. Yet, ironically, it's also turned out to be the best. I learned just how deeply Barry loves me. As he was all prepped and waiting to go into surgery to repair his aortic aneurysm, Barry looked at my friend Tara, who was waiting with us, and said, "Make sure Nancy takes care of herself. Promise me, or else I'll worry." He wasn't worried about being sliced open again�he was worried about me. I came to faith in Christ three years after Barry and I married, and for almost 30 years I prayed about my husband's relationship with the Lord. Then the day of Barry's open-heart surgery, he told me if he died, I'd see him again, because he knew Jesus was his Savior. He prayed with me, he prayed with a friend, and he prayed with his surgeon. Barry hasn't stopped praying�he prays with me every day. What I'd asked God for all these years�to heal the spiritual rift in my marriage, to bring my husband and me close�God had given. He'd performed heart surgery on us both, ripping us apart and knitting us back together. Barry and I talk often about this past year, how it's been awful�and awfully good. We wouldn't wish this kind of year on anyone and wouldn't want to go through it again, but we're glad it happened. We thank God for the good days and the bad, because in all our days God's held us both securely in his grip. We've known God's incredible kindness to us. Our hearts are in his hands. We've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year�and I praise God for it.
[Condensed from an article by Nancy Kennedy, "Walk with Me," a Today's Christian Woman blog , (12/02/07)]

We don�t always understand the difficulties we are going through in life. We face problems, turmoil and hardships. But as I have noticed over the years there is often something good that comes out of those problems. Just as Nancy and Barry had trying moments of life it brought them closer. As Nancy said, �We've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year�and I praise God for it.� Let�s always give God praise for both the difficult and good times in our life knowing God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/13/13 09:23 PM
AskMe, I'm going to try to read your devotionals everyday. I'm on this forum everyday and I love your faithfulness in putting this on here. I am a born again christian and have been struggling with my relationship with God since the infidelity bomb hit my life.

Thank you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/13 10:55 AM
Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
9 So let�s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don�t give up.

The Apostle encourages us not to become weary of doing what is right and good. The farmer plants seed and then at the right time reaps a harvest. In the same way those who preserve in doing good will reap a harvest of blessing in their lives.



Victoria Ruvolo, 45, of Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, was selected as the "Most Inspiring Person of 2005" by Beliefnet, and for good reason. Victoria was driving to her niece's voice recital when she passed another car driven by 19-year-old Ryan Cushing. Cushing was riding with five other teens, and had just used a stolen credit card to go on a spending spree. One of their purchases was a frozen turkey, which Cushing decided to toss into oncoming traffic. The 20-pound projectile smashed through Ruvolo's windshield, crushing her face.

Amazingly, Ruvolo survived, although she spent 10 hours in an operating room while doctors repaired her face. When she finally went home, she brought a tracheotomy tube and endured months of painful rehabilitation.

On October 17, 2005, Ruvolo attended Cushing's sentencing and asked his judge for leniency. Part of her statement read:

"Despite all the fear and the pain, I have learned from this horrific experience, and I have much to be thankful for�. Each day when I wake up, I thank God simply because I'm alive. I sincerely hope you have also learned from this awful experience, Ryan. There is no room for vengeance in my life, and I do not believe a long, hard prison term would do you, me, or society any good." Cushing, who wept and expressed remorse for his action, was sentenced to six months in jail. He could have gotten a 25-year prison sentence if Ruvolo, his victim, had not intervened.

Ruvolo added: "I truly hope that by demonstrating compassion and leniency I have encouraged you to seek an honorable life. If my generosity will help you mature into a responsible, honest man whose graciousness is a source of pride to your loved ones and your community, then I will be truly gratified, and my suffering will not have been in vain�. Ryan, prove me right." [Leah Ingram, "Compassionate victim," www.beliefnet.com (December 2005)]


Let us all pray that acts of mercy such as shown by Victoria Ruvolo will change the lives of others so they may do what is good. For our Father has shown us mercy and grace through His Son Jesus Christ that we too can seek a honorable life to live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/13 11:15 AM
Originally Posted by BetrayedP
AskMe, I'm going to try to read your devotionals everyday. I'm on this forum everyday and I love your faithfulness in putting this on here. I am a born again christian and have been struggling with my relationship with God since the infidelity bomb hit my life.

Thank you.

Father I thank you for a sister in Christ who longs to be closer to you. I realize that we all face hard and painful difficulties in our life that overwhelm us even to the point of struggling with any relationship, including you Father. But Father you are just, loving, gracious and merciful and your desire is a relationship with us. You desire that we fellowship with you and walk with you and converse with you. Father I pray for my sister in Christ that you would be close to her. I thank you for the blessing she gave me in her kind words. Father I know what happened in her life felt exactly what she said, a bomb hit. So Father I ask for her healing and that you would supply all her needs. Impart wisdom to both her and her husband that they can see the steps they need to make. Father I pray for the children and I pray a hedge of protection around them. I pray you would help them know you are near and keeping everyone safe. Bless my sister in Christ and restore the heart of her husband.

I pray these things in the name of Son Jesus Christ,
Amen
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 02:36 AM
Amen. I receive your prayer over my life. God bless you.

My thoughts on the devotion today; I did not equate wanting vengeance or even justice with being weary of well doing. It is in a way. Because I get to thinking that doing good to those who do evil to you is just being a door mat. When do you throw in the towel? This verse says there is a blessing to be had if you don't give up. It must be true, because God's word doesn't lie.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 11:47 AM
Originally Posted by BetrayedP
Amen. I receive your prayer over my life. God bless you.

My thoughts on the devotion today; I did not equate wanting vengeance or even justice with being weary of well doing. It is in a way. Because I get to thinking that doing good to those who do evil to you is just being a door mat. When do you throw in the towel? This verse says there is a blessing to be had if you don't give up. It must be true, because God's word doesn't lie.

We all need boundaries in life our that protect and secure us. We would never walk to an edge of cliff and lean over knowing there will be consequences. We can do good for those who are evil, but we do it with safe boundaries in place that protect and secure who we are. Saying "Enough" is not giving up, but saying I won't accept this behavior and there has to be change. Then you never give up hoping God will lead you where you need to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 11:47 AM
2 Corinthians 5:8-7 (NLT)
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

These are comforting words from The Apostle that while we live here on earth -- we are not at home with The Lord. We long to be with The Lord, but have a purpose here on earth to fulfill. But through faith, through believing we can be fully confident there will be a day when we abandon our earthly body and rest in peace, joy and comfort with The Lord.


Yesterday our family found out my mother has terminal cancer. It is somewhat of a shock when you hear those words. The doctor then goes on to say they can�t provide any timeline, but death could occur anywhere from two weeks to six months. They go on to say they are calling hospice to ensure her comfort for the final days. You know then this is real and just a matter of time.

My mother is a Christian and as hard as those words were to hear she said, �I really don�t want to leave my family, but I will do what is best.� The doctor reassured her in this case she could be selfish and do what is best for her. My mother�s attitude was a lot better than I would expect most people to be. I�m sure she still has to process it a bit, but she knows to be absent from her body her on earth is to be present with the Lord. She was even a little excited to think about seeing her mother, father, and grandparents who passed away years ago.

You see Christians have the hope of being reunited with other Christian friends and family. They know this earth is a temporary place where they are to live out their purpose for God. They know their faith in Jesus Christ who died for their sins assures them a place in heaven. My mother is living proof of that faith knowing there is a better world waiting for her. She doesn�t really want to leave behind those who are here, but she knows one day all of us will be with her.

There is true comfort to be found in the Lord. I pray for all people that they can find the comfort, faith and trust my mother has in the Lord. If you would like to pray my mother her name is Phyllis. I am sure she would love and covet your prayers.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 12:38 PM
I will pray for your mother and ask my Sunday School class to also
Posted By: BrainHurts Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 12:50 PM
pray for your family Askme.
Posted By: Pepperband Re: Devotionals - 03/15/13 08:28 PM
My Mom also was diagnosed with a terminal CA. Her passing was peaceful.
Hospice was a Godsend. They minister to the family needs as well.

Prayers for you and your entire family.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/17/13 04:48 AM
AskMe, I prayed for your mom.

This is one of the songs I listened to on repeat when things were hard for me. It is really a great hope to know that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. It is a wonderful blessing to be confident in knowing that.

where I belong
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/18/13 11:10 AM
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is the God of hope and the foundation of which hope is built. God is both the object of hope and the creator of hope. As we place our hope in God and lean not upon our own understanding, we trust God that we will find joy and peace. The more hope we find the more abundant the joy and peace. We should look for this hope through the Holy Spirit; the same one that works grace, calls out on our behalf, and gives us strength. We must give the Holy Spirit glory for securing our hope for it is something we cannot obtain through our own power.



In the autumn of 1873, Horatio Spafford, a wealthy Chicago businessman, placed his wife, Anna, and their four children on the Ville du Havre sailing from New York to France. He was forced to stay in the United States for several more weeks to settle some business matters before he could journey to join the family in Europe.

The evening of November 21 found the Ville du Havre prow-east toward France on a calm Atlantic. The journey was progressing beautifully. A few hours later, about two o�clock in the morning on November 22, the Ville du Havre was carrying its sleeping passengers over a quiet sea when two terrific claps like thunder were followed by frightening screams. The engine stopped, the ship stood still. Passageways were filled with terrified, half-dressed people shouting questions that no one could answer. The Ville du Havre had been rammed by the English vessel, the Lochearn.

Mrs. Spafford saw three of her children swept away by the sea while she stood clutching the youngest child. Suddenly, she felt her baby torn violently from her arms. She reached out through the water and caught little Tanetta�s gown. For a minute she held her again. Then the cloth wrenched from her hand. She reached out again and touched a man�s leg in corduroy trousers. She became unconscious. She awoke later, finding that she had been rescued by sailors from the Lochearn. But her four children were gone.
In the meantime, Horatio Spafford was back in the United States, desperate to receive news of his family. Finally, the blow fell. A cable arrived from Wales stating that the four daughters were lost at sea, but his wife was still alive. He was crushed with what had happened. All night he walked the floor in anguish. Toward the morning he turned to his friend, Major Whittle, and said, �I am glad to trust the Lord when it will cost me something.�

On the way across the Atlantic to join his wife, the captain announced that they were now passing the place where the Ville du Havre was wrecked. For Horatio Spafford, this was passing through the valley of the shadow of death. He sat down in his cabin on the high seas, near the place where his children perished, and wrote the hymn that would give comfort to so many, titled �It Is Well with My Soul.� [John Huffman, �The Fruit of the Spirit Is Peace,� PreachingToday.com]

We all pass through those burdensome moments of life, but God can still bring peace and joy back into our life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Horatio Spafford was able to take a tragic moment and turn it into a song of comfort and hope for others. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.




Story and song of It is Well With My Soul
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/19/13 10:57 AM
Romans 5:18-19 (NLT)
18 Yes, Adam�s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ�s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

In these verses we find the contract between Adam and Jesus. Adam disobeyed God and brought the condemnation of sin upon all future generations. Christ obeyed God, even unto death, and because of His obedience many will be made righteous.



Dan Meyer, in a sermon said: Years ago I traveled to Ecuador and spent a couple of weeks traveling in the mountains. The Quechua Indian people I met there lived amidst the most mind-numbing squalor. The disease and disfigured bodies were heartbreaking. The bugs and stench were everywhere. People were living in a hole in the ground and calling it a house. They were feeding on rotten food and prizing garbage as possessions. But they didn't know it. Why? Because everyone lived that way. They had never been given a picture of what it means to be a genuinely healthy human being. They did not know what an abundant life truly looked like.

It is sad to think there are many people who have lived lives they think are normal, but they are actually living only what they know. God had a beautiful and wonderful life planned for man. However, man�s disobedience corrupted what should have been a normal world for us and turned it into something disfigured and warped. Through Christ we have been given a hope of what it means to be a genuinely healthy human being. It is through Christ�s act of righteousness that we are brought into a right relationship with God and given a hope for new life. Our new hope in Christ grants us an eternal life to be lived in heaven where joy abounds and no tears are shed � that is the normal we were meant to have.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/20/13 11:01 AM
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord�s kindness.

Taking from the Commentary of Matthew Henry, As new-born babes -- He puts them in mind of their regeneration. A new life requires suitable food. They, being newly born, must desire the milk of the word. Infants desire common milk, and their desires towards it are fervent and frequent, arising from an impatient sense of hunger, and accompanied with the best endeavours of which the infant is capable. Such must Christians� desires be for the word of God: and that for this end, that they may grow thereby, that we may improve in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. Learn, 1. Strong desires and affections to the word of God are a sure evidence of a person�s being born again. If they be such desires as the babe has for the milk, they prove that the person is new-born. They are the lowest evidence, but yet they are certain. 2. Growth and improvement in wisdom and grace are the design and desire of every Christian; all spiritual means are for edification and improvement. The word of God, rightly used, does not leave a man as it finds him, but improves and makes him better.




John Claypool once said �I heard once of an Italian peasant woman who happened to bump into a monk who lived in a monastery high on a hill above her village. Since she bumped into him in the middle of the road, she said "Father, I've always wanted to ask somebody what you men of God do up there on the top of the mountain that looks to me to be so close to heaven. I've always wondered about the life of holiness that you lead up there. �And this old man, a wise and honest interpreter, said, "What do we men of God do up there on the holy mountain? I'll tell you, my dear. We fall down; we get up. We fall down; we get up. We fall down; we get up."

Even as Christians we fall down often in life. There are two choices once we fall down, we can just lay there and do nothing, or we can get up and learn from the experience. As long as we are in this earthly body we will have those time we fall down, but we need to remember our spiritual duty is to rise up and to press onward for the greater good.

Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/20/13 09:01 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is the God of hope and the foundation of which hope is built. God is both the object of hope and the creator of hope. As we place our hope in God and lean not upon our own understanding, we trust God that we will find joy and peace. The more hope we find the more abundant the joy and peace. We should look for this hope through the Holy Spirit; the same one that works grace, calls out on our behalf, and gives us strength. We must give the Holy Spirit glory for securing our hope for it is something we cannot obtain through our own power.



In the autumn of 1873, Horatio Spafford, a wealthy Chicago businessman, placed his wife, Anna, and their four children on the Ville du Havre sailing from New York to France. He was forced to stay in the United States for several more weeks to settle some business matters before he could journey to join the family in Europe.

The evening of November 21 found the Ville du Havre prow-east toward France on a calm Atlantic. The journey was progressing beautifully. A few hours later, about two o�clock in the morning on November 22, the Ville du Havre was carrying its sleeping passengers over a quiet sea when two terrific claps like thunder were followed by frightening screams. The engine stopped, the ship stood still. Passageways were filled with terrified, half-dressed people shouting questions that no one could answer. The Ville du Havre had been rammed by the English vessel, the Lochearn.

Mrs. Spafford saw three of her children swept away by the sea while she stood clutching the youngest child. Suddenly, she felt her baby torn violently from her arms. She reached out through the water and caught little Tanetta�s gown. For a minute she held her again. Then the cloth wrenched from her hand. She reached out again and touched a man�s leg in corduroy trousers. She became unconscious. She awoke later, finding that she had been rescued by sailors from the Lochearn. But her four children were gone.
In the meantime, Horatio Spafford was back in the United States, desperate to receive news of his family. Finally, the blow fell. A cable arrived from Wales stating that the four daughters were lost at sea, but his wife was still alive. He was crushed with what had happened. All night he walked the floor in anguish. Toward the morning he turned to his friend, Major Whittle, and said, �I am glad to trust the Lord when it will cost me something.�

On the way across the Atlantic to join his wife, the captain announced that they were now passing the place where the Ville du Havre was wrecked. For Horatio Spafford, this was passing through the valley of the shadow of death. He sat down in his cabin on the high seas, near the place where his children perished, and wrote the hymn that would give comfort to so many, titled �It Is Well with My Soul.� [John Huffman, �The Fruit of the Spirit Is Peace,� PreachingToday.com]

We all pass through those burdensome moments of life, but God can still bring peace and joy back into our life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Horatio Spafford was able to take a tragic moment and turn it into a song of comfort and hope for others. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.




Story and song of It is Well With My Soul

That's an amazing story. Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Somehow, it never struck me before that hope was something that was external. I always thought that I of my own volition had to drum it up. But the Holy Spirit living in me and its power is what brings hope. For sure the hymn writer, could not have found that within himself in the wake of such grief without the Spirit of God. Add to that the peace that passeth understanding which I have experienced so much of lately. Hope and peace by God's Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for those gifts.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/20/13 09:27 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord�s kindness.

Taking from the Commentary of Matthew Henry, As new-born babes -- He puts them in mind of their regeneration. A new life requires suitable food. They, being newly born, must desire the milk of the word. Infants desire common milk, and their desires towards it are fervent and frequent, arising from an impatient sense of hunger, and accompanied with the best endeavours of which the infant is capable. Such must Christians� desires be for the word of God: and that for this end, that they may grow thereby, that we may improve in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. Learn, 1. Strong desires and affections to the word of God are a sure evidence of a person�s being born again. If they be such desires as the babe has for the milk, they prove that the person is new-born. They are the lowest evidence, but yet they are certain. 2. Growth and improvement in wisdom and grace are the design and desire of every Christian; all spiritual means are for edification and improvement. The word of God, rightly used, does not leave a man as it finds him, but improves and makes him better.




John Claypool once said �I heard once of an Italian peasant woman who happened to bump into a monk who lived in a monastery high on a hill above her village. Since she bumped into him in the middle of the road, she said "Father, I've always wanted to ask somebody what you men of God do up there on the top of the mountain that looks to me to be so close to heaven. I've always wondered about the life of holiness that you lead up there. �And this old man, a wise and honest interpreter, said, "What do we men of God do up there on the holy mountain? I'll tell you, my dear. We fall down; we get up. We fall down; we get up. We fall down; we get up."

Even as Christians we fall down often in life. There are two choices once we fall down, we can just lay there and do nothing, or we can get up and learn from the experience. As long as we are in this earthly body we will have those time we fall down, but we need to remember our spiritual duty is to rise up and to press onward for the greater good.

Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

AMEN. I always say, I'd rather be a janitor in heaven than let go of God. And believe me I've fallen.

Thank you Jesus, for your grace and your mercy and your blood that accepts us and removes condemnation from us so that we can get back up again and press on toward you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/13 12:06 PM
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
7 �But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.�

Jeremiah tells us our duty is to trust in the Lord. We are to place our confidence in the Lord that no matter what comes along the Lord will be there with us. For our comfort, confidence and hope comes from the Lord. Strong faith in the Lord resembles a tree planted by the water. We know our roots are firm in our faith and we are able to draw upon the Lord no matter what the circumstances. Even in hard times and difficult situations we are able to bear the fruit of our faith that others may see our hope.



Nancy Ortberg writes -- I worked as a registered nurse for about ten years before my life took a different direction. One of my earliest patients was a young girl of about 14 who had been in a dirt bike accident. I met this young girl down in the physical therapy department. She was in a whirlpool bath. I had read her chart before I went down to work with her and had learned that as a result of the accident, her leg had been amputated below the knee. I couldn�t imagine what it must be like to be a 14-year-old girl with part of your leg missing. I introduced myself, and we made some small talk. Through the course of our time together, I learned that she was a follower of Christ, although she really didn�t say much about that. I was not prepared for her spirit, however, especially when she lifted her freshly amputated leg up above the bubbling water for me to see and said, �Look at how much I have left!� She excitedly told me that since the doctors were able to amputate below the knee, it was much easier to fit a prosthesis. She wondered how long it would take to heal so that she could get started with that. I heard most of what she was saying, but I wasn�t really paying much attention. My mind was fixed back on the �look how much I have left!� Her gratitude seemed really genuine. It wasn�t denial or a Pollyanna mentality. She knew she was missing a good part of her leg, and she wouldn�t have chosen that. But she was so very thankful for this bit of good news. Her spirit made my spirit soar that day. And I had two good legs. [Nancy Ortberg, Looking for God (Tyndale, 2008) pp. 14-15]

When we trust in the Lord we can be blessed with the hope He provides. This young girl could have focused on the part of the leg she was missing, but instead she had hope of walking again with the part of the leg she did have. In Psalm 119:153 it says, �Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions.� Those who remember God find His hand always reaching out to rescue them. This girl had lost a part of her leg, but she trusted the Lord and had a great hope for a useful life. Look to the Lord for your hope and look for the blessings you have been given despite the circumstance.
Posted By: Wow777 Re: Devotionals - 03/21/13 01:42 PM
Sometimes it seems as though we are so far from that river that our roots will surely never reach it. I am only now learning that the Lord can actually move His River closer to us. This River is the Holy Spirit and when He lives in us, our roots will always reach toward it.

Thanks for your inspiration today
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/21/13 02:14 PM
Faith in God, so simple, yet so all encompassing.

Lord help me to keep my focus on you in times of crisis. Help me to look to you for my strength and my hope. Help me to let go and put my trust in You and not in my own ability to solve my problems. I believe in your promise that you will keep me from worry and preserve me during a time of drought. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/13 12:32 PM
Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil�s schemes.

The reader of the apostle�s message would have understood the armor of the Roman soldier and hence a comparison was being made about the protection that could be achieved. Listed was a belt of truth that wrapped and surrounded you; a breastplate of righteousness to protect the heart; feet fitted with sandals ready to move forward with the gospel of Jesus Christ; a shield of faith in God and Christ to defend against the attacks of Satan; a helmet of salvation which protected the head to keep out doubting thoughts; and finally a sword of the spirit which is God�s word that cuts quickly to reveal the truth. These elements of faith were there to keep a person strong in the Lord.



Many of you have probably watched shows on animals in the wild. Often they will show the slow persistent hunt of lions as they stalk their prey. They will follow a herd waiting for one, just one, of the animals to make the mistake of wandering away from the group. Then slowly and methodically the lions will zero in on the one who is alone and attack.

There is a lesson here for all of us. The Bible tells us Satan walks around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. All that is needed is to separate one person from the church, God and loving friends by creating a reason that often results in anger. Once the person is away from God and those who love God the armor falls off and they are they are open to an attack from Satan. Suddenly they find themselves devoured in anger and sin. They become Satan�s victim looking to harm themselves or others through sin.


So put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil�s schemes and be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/24/13 02:22 AM
Saint remembered:

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.


Old Testament Reading

The reading is from Proverbs 3:19-34

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. �Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. �If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. �Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. �Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" -- when you have it with you. �Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you. �Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. �Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. �The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. �Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/24/13 11:48 PM
'How Far Will We Go?'
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God."

- Luke 23:35

Shortly before her death from cancer, a deeply committed friend told me that she doubted she would have remained a faithful follower of Jesus if she had been alive 2000 years ago. She explained that at the end of her life, she realized that her insatiable desire for certainty and security would have gotten in the way of standing by Jesus when he was falsely accused by those in positions of power.

My friend's honesty made me wonder just how far I am willing to go in following Jesus. There undoubtedly have been times in my life when I have failed to speak up for others as they faced oppression, bigotry and injustice because I was afraid of the consequences. I wonder how I have added to their suffering because of my unwillingness to challenge a cruel remark or stop the spread of malicious gossip.

- Terri Mifek
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/13 11:47 AM
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle tells us that it is our duty to always rejoice in the Lord. For the Lord provides all we need and His Holy Spirit comforts us and reassures us that we may rejoice even in times of difficulties. God is always near and present ready to take on our anxiety. Jesus said to us, �Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.� Through prayer we fellowship with God and can share our pains and sorrows. God hears our requests and guards our hearts and minds, providing us with peace that goes beyond understanding.



Less than two weeks ago we learned my mother had terminal stage four stomach cancer. Upon hearing the news my mom asked, �Am I going to die?� and the doctor replied we all die sometime we just don�t know when. I asked my mother if she was scared and she said yes, but she said she would be ok. We prayed with her and she seemed to find comfort and contentment in our prayers. I have been asking for people to pray for my mom that even though she had cancer she might be allowed to pass away peacefully and with as little pain as possible.

Sunday morning those prayers were answered and my mom went home to be with The Lord. She passed away in her sleep never really complaining about any pain. Since the news of her cancer she mostly had been sleeping and it was in her sleep she passed away peacefully.

While there is grief in my heart and in the hearts of my family for the loss of my mom there is also great peace and comfort. The Lord heard our prayers, gave my mom peace and comfort and also gave peace and comfort to our family. As my wife said, cancer may take away the body, but it can never take away the soul that The Lord firmly holds. For that I can rejoice and give praise to The Lord.



I have a busy week ahead and will not be able send out devotions for the remainder of the week. I do want to thank all those who prayed for my mother. I also want to thank The Lord for His grace and mercy and hearing the prayers of those who called out to Him. There is no greater peace that passes understanding than to be held in comfort of The Lord.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/25/13 01:12 PM
I am very sorry for your loss.
I will keep your family in our prayers.

I will help post devotionals until you are able to return.

Posted By: Pepperband Re: Devotionals - 03/25/13 02:22 PM
Peace be with you.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 03/27/13 10:42 AM
My condolences to you and your family. May you feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit in this time of grief.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/27/13 12:50 PM
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Mar
27
'By His Side'
Wednesday of Holy Week

[Jesus said,] "[W]oe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"

- Matthew 26:24-25

Two flawed apostles, two different endings. Peter boasts he'll always be there for Jesus, denies him three times and goes on to do amazing things in Jesus' name, all the way to his own martyrdom. Judas betrays Christ and kills himself. Peter believed he could be forgiven; Judas didn't.

Holy Week provides an opportunity to contemplate where our faith life has fallen short. But it's also important to remember no matter how far from Jesus we might feel, true betrayal comes when we refuse to believe that he is always by our side, ready to help us start again. He longs to have us walk with him.

Lord, help me to be confident of the awesome power of your loving forgiveness.

- Melanie Rigney
Posted By: BrainHurts Re: Devotionals - 03/28/13 02:14 AM
Peace to you and your family. pray
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 03/28/13 04:28 PM
God bless you, Ask, and may He comfort your mother's family and loved ones.
Posted By: NeverGuessed Re: Devotionals - 03/31/13 05:50 PM
AM, today, of all days, I would offer you what comfort I can for your recent loss.

I would believe you understand better than many that the resurrection commemorated today is the promise that people of faith can cling to as loved ones are returned to the embrace of the Lord.

Peace to you and your family, friend!
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/01/13 07:09 PM
'The Risk of Being Foolish'
Easter Monday

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed...

- Matthew 28:8

Fearful yet overjoyed...talk about one of life's sweetest emotional collisions. Getting married, delivering a baby, raising a child, accepting a promotion, embarking on an adventure, standing on the starting line of a race...each of us has moments where we are simultaneously thrilled and terrified. Courage is somewhere in that space on the spectrum.

Today is the first Monday of Easter, the day after the Resurrection of our Lord. It also happens to be April Fools Day. I can imagine many of Jesus' followers feeling like fools after he died on the cross, wondering why God did not do a spectacular save, right then and there, in front of all the doubters. And yet, God did do a spectacular save--far more awesome than anyone could have understood--saving Jesus, and all of us, in the process.

As it turned out, the "fools" had faith, and their (our) Savior proved real. Today, think about what it looks like to love so much, to believe so deeply, that you risk foolishness. Open your heart.

- Kristin Armstrong
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/07/13 04:21 AM
Both Faith and the Lord: Exodus 14:21-29, especially vs 27: �So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were trying to flee. But the Lord shook off the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.� It is essential, if one would be saved, to follow the directions of the Lord: to heed Him and to obey Him in heart and mind, even before we take any action on His word. Our minds are far too subject to the whim, desires, and fallacies of that which may �seem� obvious. To grasp the point of this truth, take a moment to review what we might call the prelude to the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex 14:15-17), a portrait of the spiritually mature Moses caught between Pharaoh and the sea.

Who initiated the action? �Then the Lord said to Moses� (Ex 14:15). Life goes aright when we follow the initiative of God no matter how things may appear. The word of the Lord was plain enough: �Tell the children of Israel to go forward� (Ex 14:15); yet to protect Moses and the people against precipitous action, the Lord provided a full map or outline to be followed: �Now lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it; and let the children of Israel go on dry ground in the midst of the sea� (Ex 14:16). Imagine that Moses might have had some questions at this point. But see: God already prepared Moses to use his rod against the Egyptians (eg, Ex 7:15; 8:1; 9:22, et al). Another issue God answered before the crossing was loss of trust while obeying, as in asking �Is this working?!� So God says, �I will be glorified in Pharaoh and over all his army....then the Egyptians will know I am the Lord� (Ex 14:17,18).

Applying these insights into the actual crossing of the sea, we should immediately note that God was the prime actor in what took place: �Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord carried back the sea by a strong south wind all night and made the sea dry ground� (Ex 14: 21). In His timing, God acts as He wills; His will is trustworthy.

The Lord made the connection between Moses� outstretched hand and the drying of the seabed to strengthen His people�s faith in Him in the face of the insuperable (vs 22). He does so only if we obey Him. Follow His guidelines carefully, for God provides for the needs of His people; often He supplies our needs beyond the limits of our imagination or understanding.

Observe how rationally the Egyptians behaved: they observed the Israelites crossing the dry pathway in the sea without difficulty. It made sense to follow in order to catch them (vs 23). However, it is a major spiritual error to trust the obvious rather than to submit to God and obey His will foremost. Ever remember Who the Prime Actor is in the spiritual life - trust and obey.

�Now...the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire� and cloud� (vs 24). Never entertain any thoughts from the enemy that the Lord does not know what is going on in our lives. Our gracious God is wholly aware, even if it does not seem as if He knows or is present. The pillar of fire was ignored by the Egyptians, just as the cross of Christ once appeared as �foolishness� (1 Cor 1:18). Indeed, Origen knew Satan is ever laboring to deceive us: �But unless we withdraw far from him and cross the sea and say, �As far as east is from west, he has removed our iniquities from us� (Ps 102:11), we cannot be saved.�

We are told that when the waters returned, �they covered the chariots, the horsemen and all of Pharaoh�s army that came into the sea after them� (Ex 14:28). Let us stir up the embers of the fire of trust and fear in the Lord. As Saint Ephraim the Syrian cautions us: the Egyptians �did not fear the Lord who appeared to them, and they were not deterred by their wheels that were clogged. They boldly drove their chariots with full force.� Wait, pray, heed, and obey God.o
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/08/13 03:09 AM


Peace
When the Lord said to the apostles, "My peace I give unto you". He added 'not as the world gives' (John 14:27).
He did not, that is to say, give peace in a simple, conventional manner, as people do when they greet one another
with the words 'Peace to you", or as the Shunammite woman did when she said 'Peace be with you' (cf. 2 Kgs. 4:23.
LXX). Nor did Christ mean the peace that Elisha had in mind when he told Gehazi to say to the Shunammite, 'Is
there peace with you?' (cf. 2 Kgs. 4:26. LXX)-in other words, is there peace with your husband, is there peace with
your son? No, Christ's peace is the peace which transcends every intellect (cf. Phil. 4:7), and which God gives to
those who love Him with all their soul, because of the dangers and battles they have been through. . In the same spirit
the Lord also said, 'In Me you have peace", and added, "In the world you will experience affliction; but have
courage, for I have overcome the
world' (John 16:33). By this He meant that though a person may experience many afflictions and dangers at the
hands of demons and other men, these will be as nothing if he possesses the Lord's peace. Again He said, 'Be at
peace with one another' (Mark 9:50). The Lord said all these things to them in advance because they were going to
fight and suffer for His sake.
In a similar way each of us faithful is attacked and led astray by the passions; but if he is at peace with God and
with his neighbor he overcomes them all. These passions are the 'world' which St John the Theologian told us to
hate (cf 1 John 2:15), meaning that we are to hate, not God's creatures, but worldly desires. The soul is at peace
with God when it is at peace with itself and has become wholly deifomi. It is also at peace with God when it is at
peace with all men, even if it suffers terrible things at their hands. Because of its forbearance it is not perturbed, but
bears all things (cf 1 Cor. 13:7), wishes good to .all, loves all, both for God's sake and for the sake of their own
nature. It grieves for unbelievers because they are destroying themselves, as our Lord and the apostles grieved for
them. It prays for the faithful and labors on their behalf, and in this way its own thoughts are filled with peace and it
lives in a state of noetic contemplation and pure prayer to God. To Him be glory through all the ages. Amen.


(St Peter of Damaskos)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/13 11:17 AM
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

The Apostles tells us that not only can we rejoice in the good times, but we can learn to rejoice in times of problems and trails. For the problems and trials we face today can build us up as we trust God to see us through those issues. In doing so we also build upon our hope of salvation seeing that our faith in God does not lead to disappointment, but to the hope a better future. For God had placed the Holy Spirit within our hearts to speak to us and to speak to God for us in love.



An interviewer for the New York Times Magazine ran the following story about the faith of talk show host and comedian Stephen Colbert:

In 1974, when Colbert was 10, his father, a doctor, and his brothers Peter and Paul, the two closest to him in age, died in a plane crash while flying to a prep school in New England. "There's a common explanation that profound sadness leads to someone's becoming a comedian, but I'm not sure that's a proven equation in my case," he told me. "I'm not bitter about what happened to me as a child, and my mother was instrumental in keeping me from being so." He added, in a tone so humble and sincere that his character would never have used it: "She taught me to be grateful for my life regardless of what that entailed, and that's directly related to the image of Christ on the cross and the example of sacrifice that he gave us. What she taught me is that the deliverance God offers you from pain is not no pain� it's that the pain is actually a gift. What's the option? God doesn't really give you another choice." [Charles McGrath, "How Many Stephen Colberts Are There?" The New York Times Magazine (1-4-12)]


We know from The Bible Job himself suffered pain and devastating emotional effects from the loss of property, friends and family. Yet Job kept his faith in God. The last two verses from the Book of Job say, �Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.� Job�s life was full because he saw through the pain to see the hope of The Lord. Ask this question, �Am I looking at my pain or am I looking at the hope God has in store for me?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/13 11:22 AM
To those who prayed for my mother, our family and those close to us -- I thank you with all my heart. I'm back to writing today about the hope God gives us to see us through all things no matter how difficult they may be. Bless you my friends and may God always give you hope in the face of pain and difficulties.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 04/09/13 03:49 AM
welcome back Ask. Job's story was one of those I reread in my dark days. God is sovereign and in control.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/11/13 11:03 AM
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
24 �He himself bore our sins� in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; �by his wounds you have been healed.�

Matthew Henry comments on this verse, �The sufferings of Christ should quiet us under the most unjust and cruel sufferings we meet with in the world. He suffered voluntarily, not for himself, but for us, with the utmost readiness, with perfect patience, from all quarters, and all this though he was God�man; shall not we sinners, who deserve the worst, submit to the light afflictions of this life, which work for us unspeakable advantages afterwards?�



Matt Chandler tells the following story about what happened after speaking at a conference near his hometown:

When I was done preaching, I decided to hop in my car, drive twenty minutes to the town in which I grew up, and look at the houses that I remembered from back then. As I drove into town, I passed a field where I once got into a fistfight with a kid named Sean. It was not a fair fight, and I did some shady, dark things in that fight. I completely humiliated him in front of a large crowd of people �. Then I drove past my first house, and I thought of all the wicked things I had done in that house. I passed a friend's house where once, at a party, I did some of the most shameful, horrific things that I have ever done.

Afterward, on the drive back to the conference, I was overwhelmed with the guilt and shame of the wickedness that I had done in that city prior to knowing Jesus Christ �. I could hear the whispers in my heart: "You call yourself a man of God? Are you going to stand in front of these guys and tell them to be men of God? After all you've done?"

In the middle of all that guilt and shame, I began to be reminded by the Scriptures that the old Matt Chandler is dead. The Matt Chandler who did those things, the Matt Chandler who sinned in those ways, was nailed to that cross with Jesus Christ, and all of his sins�past, present, and future�were paid for in full on the cross of Jesus Christ. I have been sanctified "once and for all" �. He remembers my sins no more �. And I no longer need to feel shame for those things, because those things have been completely atoned for. [Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel (Crossway, 2012), pp. 211-213]

Maybe some of you have felt shame for the sins of your past, but remember Christ freed us from all sins that we could move forward in life without the shame and regret of sins past. Christ gave us hope to live a righteous life and hope to live with The Lord eternally upon our death. It was an unjust and cruel suffering Christ met to bring about a beautiful story of redemption for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/13 11:05 AM
Luke 9:23 (NLT)
23 Then he said to the crowd, �If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

We must live a life of self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the world; we must not indulge our ease and appetite, for then it will be hard to bear toil, and weariness, and want, for Christ. We are daily subject to affliction, and we must accommodate ourselves to it, and acquiesce in the will of God in it, and must learn to endure hardship. We frequently meet with crosses in the way of duty; and, though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, carry them after Christ, and make the best of them. [Matthew Henry Commentary on Luke 9]



Christ says, 'Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will you Myself: my own will shall become yours.'

Both harder and easier than what we are all trying to do. You have noticed, I expect, that Christ Himself sometimes describes the Christian way as very hard, sometimes as very easy. He says, 'Take up your Cross' - in other words, it is like going to be beaten to death in a concentration camp. Next minute he says, 'My yoke is easy and my burden light.' He means both. ...

The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self - all your wishes and precautions - to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call 'ourselves', to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time to be 'good'. We are all trying to let mind and heart go their own way - centered on money or pleasure or ambition - and hoping, in spite of this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And that is exactly what Christ warned us you could not do. As He said, a thistle cannot produce figs. If I am a field that contains nothing but grass-seed, I cannot produce wheat. Cutting the grass may keep it short: but I shall still produce grass and no wheat. If I want to produce wheat, the change must go deeper than the surface. I must be ploughed up and re-sown. [C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (HarperOne, 2001), p.196-197]


The Christian life can be hard, but like vigorous workout at the gym it strengthens us and builds us. As we deal with the difficulties of life we can learn to plough up the fields that are not producing and replant a life that is productive and meaningful. Christ urges us to follow Him and the way we do that is by fellowshipping with Him. We learn who Christ is through His words. We pray and at times remain silent so Christ can speak to us. We listen and look for opportunities to follow and do the work of Christ. It�s not always easy, but it is rewarding. Then one day we look back where we came from and we realize we have built a new life, a stronger life, a more righteous life and we see life has gotten easier.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/14/13 04:05 AM
But how much do we give?
There are monks in Greece that live in caves and have their good roped up to them in buckets, so they live in poverty and chastity.

This is a dillema that is often on my mind. How much do we sacrifice?
God gave us life. How much life do we live in misery?

In my marriage I viewed it as bearing a cross, to live in a sexless marriage. I don't know if I was right or wrong.

But the world could not function if we all took vows of poverty and chastity.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/15/13 02:41 PM
Crescens the Martyr

Reading from the Synaxarion:

This Martyr was from Myra of Lycia, born of an illustrious family. Of his own accord he went amidst the idolaters and admonished them to leave off their futile religion and worship the only true God, Who is worshipped by the Christians; for this he was arrested. When asked by the ruler what his name and lineage were, the Saint would answer only that he was a Christian; counseled to offer sacrifice to the idols, he refused. For this, he was hung up and beaten, was scraped, and then was cast into fire, in which he gave up his holy soul into the hands of God, though not even the hair of his head was harmed by the flames.

Old Testament Reading

The reading is from Isaiah 37:33-38:6

"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city, or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield, or cast up a siege mound against it. �By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, says the LORD. �For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David." �And the angel of the LORD went forth, and slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. �Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went home and dwelt at Nineveh. �And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, slew him with the sword, and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover." �Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. �Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: �"Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. �I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and defend this city.


Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 04/15/13 04:52 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
But how much do we give?
There are monks in Greece that live in caves and have their good roped up to them in buckets, so they live in poverty and chastity.

This is a dillema that is often on my mind. How much do we sacrifice?
God gave us life. How much life do we live in misery?

In my marriage I viewed it as bearing a cross, to live in a sexless marriage. I don't know if I was right or wrong.

But the world could not function if we all took vows of poverty and chastity.

I think that yielding our selves to Christ is simply saying that we will follow His plan and will for our lives instead of what our flesh desires. I understand it to be moving from a slave of sin to a slave of righteousness (found in Romans I think). Doing what God wants us to do means living "not after the flesh but after the Spirit" That means we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. For some that may mean taking a vow of poverty, for others it may simply mean telling someone that Jesus loves them and died to take their sin away. It means giving up habitual sins like addictions etc. It means deciding everyday to live our lives Christ-like in whatever situation we find ourselves in and being obedient to the urging of the Holy Spirit.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/17/13 12:03 PM
This is not my typical devotion, but is weighing heavy on my heart so I wanted to share it. We all face overwhelming challenges in life and this is one that a young woman is currently facing.



Matthew 25:35-40 (KJV)
'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

These are the words of Jesus, when we help others we are helping Jesus. Reach out if you can and help others with what you have available to you.



A dear friend of our family and a dear friend to so many other people, Pam Hobby Clark, of Satellite Beach, FL, passed away Saturday morning leaving behind a daughter Kaci and a granddaughter Emilly. Anyone who knew Pam knew she was a loving, sweet and giving person. She modeled a servant of Christ as she gave out of her heart. I wanted to share the information passed along from her church.

Friends of Our Dear Pam: It is with all sadness that we tell you that Pam, unexpectedly, left this earth for Gods kingdom on Saturday morning. She leaves behind her daughter Kaci and Grand daughter Emily. Services will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, in Satellite Beach, FL, on Saturday April 20th at 2:00. A Reception will follow in lobby. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the �Pam Clark Fund� that will 100% benefit her Daughter and Granddaughter�s future. Trinity Presbyterian Church is located at 638 S Patrick Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937; phone number (321) 777-2047; email office@trinitypres.net ; website www dot TrinityPres dot net

Kaci and Emily were everything to Pam. Kaci is a single mom raising her daughter Emily. Pam, Kaci and Emily lived together helping one another. Pam was retired on disability and her income with Kaci�s income helped meet the household needs. Pam also watched after her granddaughter Emily while Kaci worked. They have always been very close to each other and depended upon one another; they were each other�s support system.

Sadly Saturday morning Kaci knew something wasn�t right when she didn�t hear her mother. She went in to check on her and found that she had unexpectedly passed away in her sleep. It was a horrific way to start a Saturday morning. Kaci was doing her best to handle such an ordeal, but she wasn�t reaching out for help. Asked if she would call someone to assist her, she said,� I just can�t say the words.� So she provided names and numbers for someone to call for her. As friends and church members were called, it was then that God�s loved was poured out as people came forward to help. Kaci and Emily were left with very little; no insurance, and no extra funds and they have lost part of their support system -- their sweet, dear mother and grandmother.

At 32 Kaci is a strong women, but being a single mom and no family close by to help she is going to need prayers and any help she can obtain to take care of herself and her daughter. The church is reaching out to help. If anyone is so inclined to help Kaci and Emily -contact Trinity Presbyterian Church at the contact information above.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/13 11:34 AM
Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

This is a summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. First there is a promise that we will be saved and given eternal life free from sin. The conditions of that promise are that we are willing to make a proclamation that Jesus is Lord; openly professing a relationship to Him and dependence upon Him as Lord and Savior. Second we are to have faith that God raised Christ from the dead. Knowing that God has power over life and death gives us the reassurance of our own eternal life. Lastly we must be willing to acknowledge our salvation to others that others may also learn about Christ and His everlasting grace and mercy.




In my devotion yesterday I wrote about our dear friend Pam Clark who passed away unexpectedly. My wife and I knew Pam for over 25 years. Pam was a sweet Christian woman who lived out her faith. In my younger years I had the privilege of teaching her son Trevor in Sunday school. Trevor was a kind and sweet young man. I had many talks with Trevor and I knew he believed in Christ and had accepted him as Lord and Savior. Trevor told others about Christ and shared from his heart his love for the Lord.

In Trevor�s senior year of high school he wanted to buy his mother Pam a present for Christmas and he had made some arrangements to do that. Unfortunately Trevor was unable to give his mother that present. You see Trevor was killed in a car accident right before Christmas. We grieve when we lose someone we love and many grieved the loss of Trevor, including his sister Kaci who was around 11 at the time. I remember Kaci placing Christmas presents in the casket with Trevor as she mourned the loss of her brother.

Kaci who is a kind and sweet woman has faced the loss of her brother and her mother. It�s more than most people could probably bear. The encouraging part is she knew both Trevor and Pam were Christians and in her belief both are now together in heaven.

From Pam�s obituary come these words, �Pamela Sheryl Clark, 58, said she "Would wake up everyday with one of her children", and on Saturday, April 13, 2013, she was greeted in heaven by her son.� Pam knew she would either wake up with Kaci who was here on earth or she would wake up with Trevor who was already waiting for her in heaven. It was her faith in Christ that gave her that great peace.

Please continue to remember Kaci and Emily Clark in your prayers. May God watch over them, keep them safe and provide for their every need. Anyone who desires to help Kaci and Emily can do so through Trinity Presbyterian Church, 638 S Patrick Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937 to the Pam Clark Memorial Fund.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/19/13 11:12 AM
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

The apostle is confirming to the Corinthian Christians that while Christ died -- He has risen from the dead and taken His place in heaven. It reassures us as adopted sons and daughters of God because of our faith in Christ we too will be joined with Christ upon our death. The apostle gives reference to Adam that because of his sin man was handed over to death, but those who belong to Christ will be given a new life, a life abundant in grace in mercy on earth, and a life ever after in heaven upon our death.




Adam and Eve were given a wonderful life in the Garden of Eden. They were told one thing they should not do -- and that was to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet they disobeyed God and sin entered into their hearts. They were no longer pure and free from sin.

Sadly there was another tree in the garden called the tree of life, which they could have eaten prior to their failure. This tree would have given them eternal life. God in his loving mercy and grace knowing Adam and Eve were now filled with sin moved them from the Garden of Even; away from the tree of life. God even placed an angel with the tree to protect anyone from gaining access. God knew that man was now filled with sin and that to have eternal life would mean a life eternally filled with sin and no hope of salvation. That was not God�s plan for man.

So God gave His Son Jesus Christ to become a sacrifice for our sins. Through Christ�s death those who believe in His death, who are willing to repent of their sins and ask Christ to be their Lord and savior are once again free from the bondage of sin that Adam and Eve placed upon mankind. God had prepared mankind for this by providing laws and commandments, which mankind was not able to obey or keep. God wanted to show them their need for a savior; one who could free them from the debt of sin and give them an everlasting life.

John 3:16-17 says, �16 �For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.� For those who try to live by law and commandments are judged by the those laws; yet those who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior are given mercy and grace.

Over the past month my mother has passed away along with some of my childhood friend�s parents. Some of my close high school friends have also passed away or their brothers and sisters. It�s been a tough month, but I find comfort in knowing they knew Christ and that they are all together in heaven with Christ. It brings a peace beyond understanding to know they are well, they are no longer suffering and are they are at total peace. Christ has indeed given them an abundant and new life to enjoy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/13 10:34 AM
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
For since the creation of the world God�s invisible qualities�his eternal power and divine nature�have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

The argument the apostle presents is that �The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.� God may be invisible in His nature to us, but His creations and His actions in our life should be evident that there is no excuse not to believe in God.



An atheist was walking through the woods, admiring all the "accidents" that evolution had created. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw a seven-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran away as fast as he could up the path.

He looked over his shoulder and saw the grizzly was closing. Somehow he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He looked again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pounding, and he tried to run faster. He tripped and fell to the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up, but the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.

At that instant the atheist cried, "Oh my God!" Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky, "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others that I don't exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light and said, "I would feel like a hypocrite to become a Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice.

The light went out. The river ran. The sounds of the forest resumed. Then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed its head, and spoke: "Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful."


This was intended to add a little humor to the morning, but there is serious message in the joke. Even those who deny God will at times call out to God in their panic or moment of distress. Madalyn Murray O'Hair and her son Jon ran an organization called American Atheists. She was instrumental is having Bible reading removed from the schools. In 1995 she was kidnapped, murdered, and her body mutilated, along with her son Jon Murray and granddaughter Robin Murray O'Hair, by former American Atheist office manager David Roland Waters. One has to wonder what she thought in those last moments when she finally met her creator. Jude 1:4 says, �For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/23/13 10:43 AM
Romans 14:10-12 (NIV)
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God�s judgment seat. 11 It is written: ��As surely as I live,� says the Lord, �every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.�� 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

The apostle is questioning why people are compelled to judge one another and treat each other with contempt. He then goes on to reason that we all will stand before God at the judgment seat and each of us will be humbled at that time. So instead of looking at the actions of others we should take into account our own actions.



Philip Yancey put it this way in an article in Christianity Today. He writes, "As I read accounts of the New Testament church, no characteristic stands out more sharply than [diversity]. Beginning with Pentecost, the Christian church dismantled the barriers of gender, race, and social class that had marked Jewish congregations. Paul, who as a rabbi had given thanks daily that he was not born a woman, slave, or Gentile, marveled over the radical change: �There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.�

As Christians we are one body working together for the purpose of Christ. As one body we should not be critical of one another, but instead strive to work together for the betterment of each other. We need to take the time to encourage one another and to pray for one another. One day we all will face God and give an account of our actions. Let�s ensure our actions towards others are something God would be pleased with. Let us reach out to others in love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/13 10:38 AM
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. It was God�s gift to mankind.

Here the apostle reminds Christians that they are redeemed. For God paid the ransom to save them from an empty life imposed on them by the sins Adam and Eve and all who followed. There were also reminded they were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, more valuable that gold or silver.




On November 26, 2008, a gang of terrorists stormed the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, India. After the carnage had left 200 people dead, a reporter interviewed a guest who had been at the hotel for dinner that night. The guest described how he and his friends were eating dinner when they heard gunshots. Someone grabbed him and pulled him under the table. The assassins came striding through the restaurant, shooting at will, until everyone (or so they thought) had been killed.

Miraculously, this man survived. When the interviewer asked the guest how he lived when everyone else at his table had been killed, he replied, �I suppose because I was covered in someone else�s blood, and they took me for dead.� [Ravi Zacharias, Has Christianity Failed You? (Zondervan, 2010), p. 42]

The blood of Christ covers our sins therefore we indeed dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are reminded in Romans 6:20-23,�When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/26/13 10:55 AM
Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)
25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

This chapter makes mention of the Levitical priesthood whose job was to serve in the Temple of God. The priests performed the sacrifices and made intercessions for the people. These men were not perfect, but were good men who performed ceremonial cleansings of their own sin before entering the temple. Eventually they died leaving their duties to someone else to perform. Through God�s plan of salvation Jesus Christ is the eternal living priest who continuously makes intercessions for our sin.



Max Lucado tells the story of being dropped by his insurance company because he had one too many speeding tickets and a minor fender bender that wasn't his fault. One day he received a letter in the mail, informing him to seek coverage elsewhere. As he reflected on how he wasn't good enough for his insurance company, the spiritual tie-in was too obvious. "Many people fear receiving such a letter [from God]," Lucado writes. "Some worry they already have."

Lucado then imagines this correspondence, straight from the Pearly Gates Underwriting Division:

Dear Mrs. Smith,
I'm writing in response to this morning's request for forgiveness. I'm sorry to inform you that you have reached your quota of sins. Our records show that, since employing our services, you have erred seven times in the area of greed, and your prayer life is substandard when compared to others of like age and circumstance. Further review reveals that your understanding of doctrine is in the lower 20 percentile and you have excessive tendencies to gossip. Because of your sins you are a high-risk candidate for heaven. You understand that grace has its limits. Jesus sends his regrets and kindest regards and hopes that you will find some other form of coverage. [Quoted in Brady Boyd, Sons & Daughters (Zondervan, 2012), page 40]

Praise God we would never receive a letter like that! Max Lucado is right in saying there are people who fear they will receive such a letter or they already have. They have this fear because they are trusting in their own good works instead of trusting in Jesus Christ who intercedes on our behalf for each of our failures. He lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf and because of that we are made right with God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/29/13 10:53 AM
Job 19:25 (NKJV)
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;

Though Job is in misery and pain he makes a profound statement that he knows his Redeemer lives and He shall stand at last on the earth. Job believes in the Redeemer who is Jesus Christ and of His glory and interest in him. His Redeemer is eternal and yet will stand on this earth to preach His words of salvation that all men may come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.


Today I want to share the words from Nicole C. Mullen�s song My Redeemer lives. They are beautiful words that testify of Jesus Christ who lives to redeem us from sin. Enjoy the words of the song and reflect upon how Christ lives for you.

Who taught the sun
Where to stand in the morning
Who taught the ocean
You can only come this far
And who showed the moon
Where to hide till evening
Whose words alone can
Catch a falling star

Well I know
My redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
There's life within the Christ
I know my Redeemer lives
Yeah
The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary
The worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands
That hold me when I'm broken
They conquer death to bring me victory

Now I know
My Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
That there's life within the Christ
I know my Redeemer
He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I'll proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
Now He's alive and
There's an empty grave
And I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
That there's life within the Christ

I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
He Lives.


You can watch a version of this on YouTube at

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/30/13 11:41 AM
Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

True friends have continuity and are constant in their nature to each other. True friendship is sincere and brings with it good intents and good principles. There are those who think they are good friends, but in truth they are self-seeking, only desiring to benefit themselves. There are that that Matthew Henry called �swallow friends� who fly to you in the good times and fly away in the bad times. The commentary of Matthew Henry also tells us �if the friendship be prudent, generous, and cordial, if I love my friend because he is wise, and virtuous, and good, as long as he continues so, though he fall into poverty and disgrace, still I shall love him.�




There was a time Proverbs 17:17 would confuse me. King Solomon in his proverbs would often contrast good and evil in a verse. So when I would read Proverbs 17:17 there were times I wondered was he trying to say a brother creates adversity or is a brother there to aid in times of adversity. Over time I realized the end of this proverb still refered to the friend and is more versed towards a friend being there for a friend in a time of need.

In most families a brother or sister will come to the aid of another sibling if one faces a time of distress. I have known brothers and sisters who have done really good deeds for each other. I know brothers and sisters who have watched over their younger siblings. I have even read where brothers or sisters have given another sibling a kidney so the other could survive. Family is often close and is there is a unique bond that holds them together to help one another. I will admit there are families with their issues, but under really difficult times even dysfunctional families will pull together for a common good.

Now considering the friend, a true friend who freely gives of themself when we are faced with times of adversity will be there as a brother or sister. They are willing to help just as a brother or sister would be willing to help. A true friend is as close as family - was born to be a friend and born for the time you face adversity and need help. They are there for you to provide comfort, support, kindness, compassion and love. Those are friends you want to hold onto to for they are as precious as family.

Remember we have another friend who is always there for us and that is Jesus. Jesus always loves us. Jesus always cares about us. Jesus always has compassion for us. The question we need to ask is �What kind of a friend are we to Jesus?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/13 11:20 AM
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

The apostle expresses that whatever the object of our hope is it also the object of our faith. For if we are to have hope we must also have faith in that hope for it is yet to occur. As a Christian one has hope of salvation that provides an eternal life free from sin. One must also have faith in the salvation promised to us in Christ; for while it may be obtained it is not yet seen. We are told by the apostle faith is the assurance about the things we cannot see. Faith speaks to our sense of reality and in our mind�s eye we can behold what cannot be seen by the eye of the body. For if we have faith in God, we have hope in God that we can sense and know Him and act accordingly towards Him in all that we believe but have not seen.




In The Bible, John chapter 20 gives an account of Jesus appearing to the disciples after His death. One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, �We have seen the Lord!� But he replied, �I won�t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.� Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. �Peace be with you,� he said. Then he said to Thomas, �Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don�t be faithless any longer. Believe!� �My Lord and my God!� Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, �You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.�

Those who have faith in Christ are blessed to know Him even though they have not seen Him. For in faith Christ walks with us and we know He is with us. In faith we believe and sense the presence of Christ with us. Our faith allows us to have a wonderful, loving and beautiful relationship with one whom we have not seen and we are blessed by that relationship. In our relationship with Christ we have a friend who loves us unconditionally, who accepts us for who we are, and offers mercy, grace and compassion when we fail. We know His love and we love Him for who He is and the sacrifice He made for us. We know Christ in our faith and we know the hope of His salvation in our faith. For we believe sight unseen the things revealed to our mind. Faith is our confidence that what we hope for will actually happen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/13 11:19 AM
Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

These are the words of Joseph who had been mistreated by his brothers because of sibling jealousy. They had sold him into slavery. Remaining faithful to God Joseph was falsely accused by his master�s wife of trying to assault her. Joseph went to prison, but found favor in God�s eyes and was able to lead others even in prison. Joseph was eventually set free from prison and next in command to Pharaoh. Joseph�s saw his father before his death, but in the death of his father his brothers feared him. It is with this verse that Joseph puts their minds at ease for now all of those who were with Joseph's father, Jacob, would survive the famine of the land. God took the ugly evil around Joseph and turned it into something for good.




I want to share some personal honesty in this devotion. The past seven weeks have been some very unpleasant, ugly weeks of my life. I have been working on a difficult work assignment that brings many challenges and can be stressful at times. I get the news my mother has terminal cancer. Ten days after hearing the news of my mother�s cancer I get a call she has passed away. The next weekend our daughter was hospitalized, which was difficult for her husband as they have only been married seven months. My wife and I have reassured him things will be ok. The weekend our daughter is released from the hospital one of our dear friends suddenly dies at age 58. She left behind a precious daughter and granddaughter. Then Tuesday night our daughter was put back in the hospital.

I know there has been a lot of ugly in my life lately, but I can see God�s beauty at work. Many friends have prayed with our family. I have watched people come together for our friend�s daughter and granddaughter to help them through their time of difficulty. The doctor helping our daughter is a wonderful and caring man who is available when we need him. I know my mother is in heaven with no pain and no suffering. In her death many reached out to show they cared. There are many beautiful things I can see in the midst of ugly that God put in place.

I shared this with a friend in an email and he wrote back, �Only those blessed by God are able to see the good in difficult times.� I knew my friend was speaking to me. I am blessed with good friends. I am blessed with kind co-workers who were there for me when my mother passed away. I am blessed that God watches after my family and provides the resources for their care. God is always doing something beautiful in the midst of ugly.

There are days I struggle, but then I remember God�s beauty and life seems better. It must be really difficult to find anything good in an ugly life when you can�t see God at work. Those who don�t know God most likely don�t see the beauty God puts in place. This morning I want to pray for those people.

Father there are many who do not know you and do not know the love, peace, mercy and grace you provide. Father I know they must carry heavy burdens. I know their sin must weight heavy on their hearts. Father I pray these people learn of your Son whose life you gave so that we could see the beauty in something ugly. The death of Jesus upon the cross was an ugly sight, but You Father took Your Son�s death and made something beautiful. You created a way to eternal life with You in heaven. Father I pray now those who don�t know you will find You and place their faith in the beauty of your salvation � Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/03/13 11:14 AM
Romans 12:9 (NLT)
9 Don�t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

The apostle gives a statement of how we are to love others followed by the actions to do so. If we are to really love others we must hate what is evil and let that flow over into our lives that we do not perform acts of evil towards other. One example would be to hate the hate others may have towards another. If we ourselves are not to hate others, but to love them, then we must hate that which may lead us to hate. We must also make a deliberate choice to hold tightly to what is good. In order to do what is good we must hold tightly to God and separate ourselves from sin. We must fully understand the goodness of God and display it in our own lives.



A spouse can create good feelings about the marriage, increasing the sense of satisfaction, intimacy, and fun, all with a simple reaction. When a partner shares good news, actively respond. Dr. Shelly Gable, who helped author a UCLA research report on the subject, said, "It isn't enough just to listen passively." Gable says a partner needs to be active, offering hugs and even "high fives." When the responder does this, the other person immediately has tender feelings toward the supporting partner. This truth should transfer to all loving relationships. [Janine Pouliot, "The Secret to Feeling Closer," Ladies Home Journal (January 2005), p. 32]

This example is one way to love others without pretense. So often we may listen to the joys and pains of others, but we never act upon their words by rejoicing with them in their moment of happiness. The same holds true for those facing painful experiences, we often listen, may acknowledge them, but then do we truly go a step further to demonstrate our love to them by helping as we can? This is what the apostle was talking about, just don�t pretend to love others by listening, but put Godly action in our love they can see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/13 11:35 AM
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Matthew Henry�s commentary states, �God hates sin; he hates every sin; he can never be reconciled to it; he hates nothing but sin. But there are some sins which he does in a special manner hate; and all those here mentioned are such as are injurious to our neighbor. It is an evidence of the good-will God bears to mankind that those sins are in a special manner provoking to him which are prejudicial to the comfort of human life and society.



When God created mankind, male and female, they both were created in God�s image. God contains all the qualities of male and female and those qualities are impressed upon us. For men their qualities often are the more masculine ones, but they have their female qualities as well. In the same way women have more of the feminine qualities of God, but they too possess masculine qualities.

Within God there is hatred, but His is a righteous anger that seeks to correct what is wrong. Unfortunately the sin that entered the world through man�s disobedience to God corrupted man�s perception of hatred as sin has corrupted other qualities and attributes of God. Most often hatred becomes so warped that we form hate against people instead of sin. It is then that we express hatred incorrectly and we become the abomination that sows discord among our fellow man. How could we hate something with a strong passion and then do the very thing we hate.

The apostle says it this way in Romans 7: 14-25, �We know that the Law is right and good, but I am a person who does what is wrong and bad. I am not my own boss. Sin is my boss. I do not understand myself. I want to do what is right but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. When I do the thing I do not want to do, it shows me that the Law is right and good. So I am not doing it. Sin living in me is doing it. I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do. If I am always doing the very thing I do not want to do, it means I am no longer the one who does it. It is sin that lives in me. This has become my way of life: When I want to do what is right, I always do what is wrong. My mind and heart agree with the Law of God. But there is a different law at work deep inside of me that fights with my mind. This law of sin holds me in its power because sin is still in me. There is no happiness in me! Who can set me free from my sinful old self? God�s Law has power over my mind, but sin still has power over my sinful old self. I thank God I can be free through Jesus Christ our Lord!�

Even the apostle says he does what he hates. He has a righteous hatred for sin, yet he finds himself in the midst of sin. He wants to do right and finds that sin leads him astray. The apostle�s assurance of one thing makes him thankful and that is the freedom he finds in the faith of The Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ has set us free from sin. Jesus Christ is the first to be raised from the dead. He is the head over all the kings of the earth. He is the One Who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/07/13 09:35 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The apostle tells us to always be joyful in all circumstances of life. For our lives are short lived and even in the difficult times we are to look for the joys that brighten our lives. We should always have times of prayer whether it be scheduled time alone with the Lord, or time spent with others in prayer, or spontaneous prayer when needs are immediately seen. In other words our attentions should always turn to God to praise Him, thank Him, and make righteous requests from Him. We make our requests known to God through supplications and in doing so we should give thanks to the One who watches over us, loves us, grants us mercy and forgiveness, provides for our needs and stands with us in times of adversity and trouble.



The funeral for Pastor Bob Russell's father was held on a cold, blustery day in Pennsylvania. The roads were too bad for cars to go to the cemetery after the service, so the funeral director told Bob he would take the body to the grave. Bob couldn't bear the thought, so he, his brother, and their sons piled into a four-wheel-drive SUV and followed the hearse to the cemetery.

In his own words, Russell says: "We plowed through ten inches of snow into the cemetery, got about 50 yards from my dad's grave�with the wind blowing about 25 miles per hour�and the six of us lugged that casket down to the gravesite. We watched the body lowered into the grave, and we turned to leave. I felt something was undone, so I said, 'I'd like for us to have a prayer.' The six of us huddled together, and I prayed, 'Lord, this is such a cold, lonely place.' And then I got too choked up to pray any more. I kept battling to get my composure, and finally I just whispered, 'But I thank you, for we know to be absent from the body is to be safe in your warm arms.'" [Bob Russell audio tape Favorite Stories; submitted by Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois]

It is hard enough to bury a loved one and even more so on a day that does not provide any comfort. But even in their moment of adversity Pastor Bob was able to gather the courage to thank God. For he knew that while his brother was no longer with them here on earth, his brother was now in the safe warm hands of The Lord. Always be joyful - Never stop praying - Be thankful in all circumstances; for that is God�s will for you in Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/08/13 10:52 AM
Colossians 3:18-21 (NLT)
18 Wives, obey your husbands. This is what the Lord wants you to do. 19 Husbands, love your wives. Do not hold hard feelings against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything. The Lord is pleased when you do. 21 Fathers, do not be so hard on your children that they will give up trying to do what is right.

There verses are about love and grace that should exist in a home. In these verses wives are told to yield to the admonition or advice of a husband according to what God would have the wife to do. The wife must first be subject to the will and desires of the Lord and then to the husband. For God first created Adam and from Adam created Eve establishing the order of the family. Husbands have even a greater duty to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Christ gave of himself for the church and husbands likewise must give up themselves for the betterment of the wife. Husbands must not be bitter towards their wife, nor unkind, never using harsh words towards them and never treating them severely. They are to demonstrate the love of Christ in their relationship and love at all times. Fathers are to pay particular attention to the treatment of their children in that they are not overbearing in their relationship with them. Fathers are to be a role model their children will follow just as fathers should follow The Lord and model His character. Fathers should encourage their children and never in an overbearing way that causes them to give up because they fear can�t they live up to expectations that were not meant for them. Ensure grace abounds with love in the home.



Denise Banderman wrote: In the spring of 2002, I left work early so I could have some uninterrupted study time before my final exam in the Youth Ministry class at Hannibal-LaGrange College in Missouri. When I got to class, everybody was doing their last-minute studying. The teacher came in and said he would review with us before the test. Most of his review came right from the study guide, but there were some things he was reviewing that I had never heard. When questioned about it, he said they were in the book and we were responsible for everything in the book. We couldn't argue with that.

Finally it was time to take the test. "Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one, and I'll tell you to start," our professor, Dr. Tom Hufty, instructed.

When we turned them over, to my astonishment every answer on the test was filled in. My name was even written on the exam in red ink. The bottom of the last page said: "This is the end of the exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will receive an A on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get the A. You have just experienced grace."

Dr. Hufty then went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade? Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all your studying for this exam help you achieve your final grade?"

Then he said, "Some things you learn from lectures, some things you learn from research, but some things you can only learn from experience. You've just experienced grace. One hundred years from now, if you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your name will be written down in a book, and you will have had nothing to do with writing it there. That will be the ultimate grace experience.�

Does the love of Christ, His mercy and grace live in your family? If not ask Christ to be with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/09/13 10:59 AM
Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

It is a privilege and comfort for all those that are in Christ Jesus that there is no condemnation. The apostle does not say, "There is no accusation against them,�� for there is; but the accusation is thrown out and the indictment tossed aside. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,�� for there is and they see it, own it, and mourn over it and may even condemn themselves for it; but they are still free from the power of sin. He does not say, "There is no adversity, no affliction to them or no pain in their transgressions,�� for there may be; but no condemnation. The Lord may correct them, but they are not condemned with the world. Now this arises from their being in Christ Jesus, by their faith in Christ and their union with Christ as He dwells within.




Quoting from J. Granger, Sons: A Father's Love (Word, 1999), quoted in Men of Integrity, Vol. 3, no. 2, �My son called today. Through years of drug abuse, Scott had stolen from our family, manipulated us, and failed us. It had been a relief not to hear from him for two years.

Scott told me he'd been through a rehabilitation program a year-and-a-half ago that provided something no other had offered. "I met Jesus Christ. I've been forgiven for my past. I want to ask you and Mom to forgive me, too." He said he was now helping other addicts get straightened out.

I was torn between hope and cynicism. The well-groomed, bright-eyed young man who arrived at the airport looked like a stranger. In the days that followed, Scott told how, in the midst of drug withdrawal, he'd seen a vision of Jesus Christ on the cross and cried out to him for help. His withdrawal symptoms ended instantly. That experience had led him to a church. "I asked Jesus to be my Lord," he quietly explained, "and my life hasn't been the same since."

The change in Scott was too dramatic for my wife and me to ignore. Today, Jesus has given us the same new life he gave our prodigal son.�


The Bible tells us there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ. Scott was no long controlled by the sins of his past, but was instead set free. With Christ, Scott was able to change his life, so much so, his parents saw a different person - They were seeing Christ living inside of Scott.

Satan often comes as our accuser to bring up the sins of our past, but for those who have placed their faith in Christ those sins have been forgiven and paid for. We may be accused, but we cannot be condemned.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/10/13 10:21 AM
Matthew 18:15 (NLT)
15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him what he did without other people hearing it. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back again.

This verse begins Jesus teaching on how to respond to another when a sin is committed. The first act is to go in love hoping the matter can be resolved privately and peacefully in order that the relationship can be maintained. We must remember that we too are subject to the same failures as another so we must temper our acts accordingly. We must also be willing to forgive so as not to harbor bitterness in our hearts that can lead to our own sin.



When Shannon Ethridge was just 16 years old, an act of forgiveness and love changed her life forever. While driving to her high school one day, Ethridge ran over Marjorie Jarstfar, a woman who was riding her bicycle along a country road. Marjorie died as a result, and Ethridge, who was found completely at fault by authorities, was consumed by intense guilt. She contemplated suicide several times, but she never took her life because of the healing response of one man: Gary, Jarstfar's husband.

Gary forgave the 16-year-old and asked the attorney to drop all charges against her, saving her from a probable guilty verdict. Instead, he simply asked that Ethridge continue on in the godly footsteps that his wife had taken. "You can't let this ruin your life," Gary told her more than 20 years ago. "God wants to strengthen you through this. In fact, I am passing Marjorie's legacy on to you."

Gary's act of forgiveness showed Ethridge the amazing love of God. Today, Ethridge is the bestselling author of Every Girl's Battle and Every Woman's Battle, and her recent book, Completely His: Loving Jesus Without Limits, helps women overcome guilt-ridden, wounded lives. [Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky; source: Kevin Jackson, "Christian Author Carries Mantle of the Woman She Killed," www.christianpost.com (6-21-07)]


Shannon felt remorse for her actions to the point she was ready to take her own life, but grace and mercy came from the husband of the woman who had been killed. There was no way to get back the life of his wife, but the husband could direct the life of another in a positive way. He could have been bitter towards her, but it would have been his own prison to ensure. Instead he chose mercy and forgiveness for Shannon. Gary's act of grace and forgiveness showed Shannon the amazing love of God and changed her life forever.

Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!
Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 05/12/13 12:27 PM
AskMe, could you say a few words to help lift the spirits of some of the Moms on this site? Today is their special day - it might help them to read a few words from you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/13 10:36 AM
Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 30 focuses on the characteristics of a noble wife. We are told there are characteristics man may see, such as charm and beauty, but those are often temporary and fleeting. For at times we all lose our charm and with age the beauty of our youth slowly fades. But one who fears the Lord, pleasing the Lord and doing well for others is always recognized by others for their righteous living. They are praised not only by their peers, but also by The Lord.




Yesterday we celebrated mother�s day, recognizing mothers for their hard work and efforts to make a house a home. When a mother has put The Lord first in her life she is able to touch so many lives in a healthy and positive way. Children learn from their mother and when they can see the pure and good ways their mother lives they imitate those actions in their own lives. Some qualities of life are short lived, but a continuous relationship with the Lord will always prosper and grow.

Men honor your wives by also living for The Lord. For when a home loves The Lord that home is filled with the love of God. Husbands praise your wife for the good she does, never neglecting her and never giving up on her. For The Lord never gives up on us. The Lord�s mercies are new every day. His love for us starts fresh every day and waiting for us when we rise, just as a mother waits for her children to wake.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/13 10:47 AM
Originally Posted by maritalbliss
AskMe, could you say a few words to help lift the spirits of some of the Moms on this site? Today is their special day - it might help them to read a few words from you.

I was a day late, but I had mothers on my mind all day yesterday and this morning. My mother passed away in March and this was my first mother's day that I could not call or see her. Mother's no matter what you are going through know that the Lord loves you for the service you give to your children. Mother's may not always be perfect, but as they grow in The Lord they grow in their wisdom and love for others. Mother's do the best they know how to do and care in the ways they have learned. Yesterday may have been a holiday, but the celebration of those who are mother's goes on each day as your children look to you for guidance. Make the most of your time with you family, loving the Lord and showing The Lord's love to your family.
Posted By: maritalbliss Re: Devotionals - 05/14/13 01:12 AM
Thank you, AskMe. I said a prayer of peace for you, as well, in the loss of your Mother.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/14/13 11:14 AM
James 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

The apostle directs Christians to confess their sins, weaknesses, and faults to those who they trust and know have their best interest at heart. They are to do so that they may pray for one another; lifting up to God the issues before them and asking for God�s healing power to be laid upon them. The apostle then tells us the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man has power that produces wonderful results.




There is a saying I have heard many times, �Secrets kill while honesty heals.� Often people will hold secrets to themselves of things they are doing for which they are ashamed. Instead of reaching out to someone they can trust - they allow the shame of the secret to control them. Addicts often fall into this trap in that they find themselves on a road to destructive behaviors and instead of seeking advice, seeking out someone who can help, they hold their misery inside. This does nothing more than to create shame and a repeated pattern of self-destruction.

When we confess our problems to someone wise and trustworthy - those burdens are often lifted from us. We are no longer trying to hold on by ourselves and instead we now have someone helping us hold on. So many times when I�m struggling in life I ask people to pray for situations and problems in my life. There are many people who are faithful to do so and I so often see the good results of their prayers. I am always thankful for those who pray because I know they are reaching out to God for help.

In the same way when someone asks me to pray or I see a person seeking someone to pray for them - I am more than willing to pray with and for them. It is through prayer that we join in fellowship with God. Prayers are how we communicate to God our needs, our thanks, and our feelings.

There is no correct posture for prayer. The Bible tells us people bowed to pray, they kneeled to pray, they laid flat to the ground to pray and they also stood to pray. However you feel comfortable and less distracted to pray, do so. Some closed their eyes while others looked up to the heavens. Prayers do not need to be wordy or filled with elegant words. Prayers are opening our most inward being to God and saying what is on our heart. Prayers help us to grow closer and more intimately to God.

Some people may say, �I don�t know how to pray.� The Bible tells us when we don�t know the words to say, The Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf. Romans 8:26-27, �In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.� When you are sure how to pray begin by saying, �Father, please help me with what I need to say.�

Lord this morning I pray for those holding onto secrets that are painful and destructive. I pray Father you would lift those burdens from them and allow them to seek the help they need. Father I pray for your blessings to be pour out on those who seek you, your guidance and help. Father touch lives with your love, mercy and grace. These things I pray in the name of your precious son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/13 10:55 AM
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

King Solomon as ruler was responsible for the peace of the people. In the verse above he gives us one means of keeping peace. Harsh words are often the beginning of an argument which leads to anger. It is always best for one to return an answer in righteous way with meekness of heart. Soft words and gentle reasoning will keep the peace, while overbearing and harsh words will stir up trouble.




Jay Kesler, president of Taylor University, from message "Families That Succeed," delivered on Focus on the Family Ministries told about a state trooper who was awarded an "Outstanding Trooper" award.

Kesler, who attended the same church as the trooper, said to him, "The governor said that in 15 years as a trooper, you haven't once roughed up a drunk or used excessive force on anyone. How can you be a state trooper for 15 years, dealing with the kind of stuff you deal with, and have that happen?"

"Well, I guess two things," the trooper responded. "First, if I am called to break up a fight at a tavern, I never say to myself, There's a drunk. I always say to myself, There's a man�someone's husband, someone's son, someone's neighbor�who got drunk. So I always try to think of him as a man, not a crime.

"Secondly, the Bible says that a soft answer turns away wrath. So whenever I walk up to the window of an automobile, I always speak a little lower than the person I'm speaking to."



So often I have heard a couple say, my spouse will say mean things to me they would never say to a friend. What happens in these relationships is that people become too comfortable and forget their spouse is their best friend. Instead of seeing a friend they would speak softly towards they see their spouse as an object they throw anger towards.

We need to view people as children of God. We need to see they have needs and feelings like everyone else. Instead of harsh responses we need to provide gentle responses with feelings that show we care.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/13 11:10 AM
Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

In chapter 3 Zephaniah the prophet speaks to Jerusalem what God wants to say to the people. There is reproof of their actions and a calling of attention of the possible consequences for their rebellion. But there is also the mercy and grace God has reserved for them and a promise to reform and cleanse them from their sins. Rejoicing will come for those who seek God for He will be among His people as their savior providing a life of eternal salvation.



God desires the best for us. God promises us eternal salvation that is a free gift when we accept His Son Jesus Christ as our savior. God is a mighty warrior who takes up for us. God rejoices with us and brings His love into our lives that we may rejoice with Him. God delights in us. It doesn�t matter if you think you are a failure. God delights in you. Even when you throw your own pity party, God still takes delight in you. God rejoices when He can bring joy, peace and happiness into your life and He enjoys when you rejoice with Him.

Take a moment to today and realize God wants the best for you, rejoices with you, and delights in you. Thank God for what He has done in your life and rejoice with Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/17/13 10:48 AM
Romans 11:33 (NLT)
33 Oh, how great are God�s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

In verse 1 of Romans 33 the apostle starts with a question to ponder and then gives a response, �I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.� The apostle wants to show God�s people that in their trials, tribulations and even in their consequences for rebellion against God - God has provided mercy and grace to His people. In Romans 33 the Apostle tells us how great are God�s riches, which in the Greek language can mean, �abundance of external possessions; fullness, abundance, plenitude; and a good i.e. that with which one is enriched.� Even through suffering there is abundant goodness waiting to take place. For God�s wisdom and knowledge is greater than our own and it is impossible to comprehend the good plans God has for the lives people.



On a January 18, 2010, league night at the Plano Super Bowl, Bill Fong had rolled 33 consecutive strikes. The crowd of fellow league members stopped to watch, as on frame 34, Bill Fong gathered his ball, walked up, and rolled another strike. And then he rolled another on frame 35, and the crowd went wild.

But something was wrong. Two frames back Bill had begun sweating profusely and feeling dizzy. But he was just one roll away from history. Bill pulled the ball to his chest, took his usual five steps, and released the ball perfectly.

People actually started applauding before the ball reached the pins. That's how perfect the roll was. It curved exactly where it was supposed to, made contact with the pins at precisely the right spot. Pins flew, the crowd cheered.

And the number 10 pin wobbled, but settled back onto its base. Standing. 899. One pin short of perfection. Heartbroken, Bill headed home.

The dizziness that began on frame 34 had not improved. Bill staggered into his bathroom and threw up. The walls continued to spin. Bill was having a stroke. Already struggling with high blood pressure, the events of that Monday evening turned a delicate situation into a deadly one.

But Bill never realized he had suffered a stroke until he had another one later. His doctor found scar tissue, and was told about the league night.

The only thing that saved Bill on the night of the 899? That number 10 pin staying up. Had that last pin fell, Bill's doctor feels certain that his body, already in the midst of a stroke, would have pushed his blood pressure even higher. That, most likely, would have killed Bill immediately on lane 28.
[source: Michael J. Mooney, "The Most Amazing Bowling Story Ever," D Magazine (July 2012)]



Sometimes what we feel may be the worst thing of our life may be the very thing God is using to save our life - physically or eternally. For we know even a small deviation in our life can change its very existence and with God directing those changes who knows what abundantly good things await for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/13 11:25 AM
Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)
23 So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Here we have the words of Jesus who tells the people if they are going to present their offerings to God, before doing so they should consider if anyone is holding something against them. If they know someone is bitter towards them they should first go make that issue right between them before making an offering to God. We need to go to God in our offering with a clean heart knowing we have tried to make things right.




One thing I have learned in life is - we can hurt the feelings of others without even trying. We may say something in jest that strikes at the heart of spouse, friend or co-worker to the point they become bitter. I have seen people say something without really thinking it through; then the other person responds with something like, �What you said really hurt my feelings because it�s not true.� Then typically the offender will say something to the effect of, �It was just a joke. I wasn�t being serious.� If you say it was a joke and you weren�t being serious then you really need to consider why you said it.

What did the offender leave out in their response? They didn�t offer an apology for hurting the other person�s feelings. It might not have been the offender�s intent to hurt the person�s feelings, yet they did. So the person is left emotionally wounded while the offender tries to explain away their fault.

There is an easy solution. In this case we heard the person say �their feelings were hurt�. Always try to listen for feelings words when someone is speaking to you for feeling words speak from their heart. It is so easy to take a second and acknowledge those feelings with an apology such as this � �I am so sorry I hurt your feelings and I apologize for doing so.� In just a few words you have given an apology that addresses their feelings and puts them at ease.

I have heard people say, but I really didn�t do anything wrong so why should I apologize. Apologies are not about whether your action was intentional to hurt or not, but instead to make yourself right with the person so bitterness does not overtake them. Apologies are not an admission of doing something wrong. Instead they are a statement of wanting to do something right by letting person know you heard how you hurt them. When you say I�m sorry I hurt your feelings and I apologize, it sets straight the intent you did not mean to hurt them. It is not an admission of guilt, but a statement of wanting to be reconciled to the person. If you suddenly remember someone has something against you do not hesitate to go and apologize to them - for in doing so you will make peace and prevent future pains.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/13 11:11 AM
Proverbs 21:2 (NLT)
2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

King Solomon tells us in this proverb that when it comes to ourselves - we are often partial to the judgment of ourselves and our actions. We often think too highly of ourselves and overlook the flaws that are present. Many are prideful and pride clouds judgment of one�s character. We also try to make actions appear right when all along we know they are wrong. Even when caught in wrong actions we tend to justify what we have done. We can be sure of one thing � when God examine our heart all the truth is revealed. God looks at our actions, our intentions, and our purpose then weights the evidence and convicts us according to the truth of the evidence.



It was a dark and foggy night at sea. The captain of the ship looked into the dark night from the bridge. Suddenly he saw the faint glow of lights approaching through the fog. Immediately he ordered the radio operator to send a message � Alter your course 10 degrees south. A reply came back � Alter your course 10 degrees north.

In anger the captain ordered a second message � I am the captain of this ship; alter your course 10 degrees south. Again a response � I am Petty Officer Third Class Jones � alter your course 10 degrees north.

Furious his orders were being ignored by a lower rank and wanting to evoke fear in Petty Officer Third Class Jones the captain ordered a final demand � I am a battle ship and if you don�t want to be sunk alter your course 10 degrees south. Then came the response � I am afraid your battleship will be sunk if you don�t alter your course 10 degrees north � I am the lighthouse.

How often we live our lives in a fog not seeing the truth for what it is. We make demands without understanding. We make assumptions without hearing all the facts. We even respond in anger because our view is not accepted. Our pride takes over and we won�t even let ourselves see the truth when it is right in front of us.

We need to allow the Lord to examine our hearts and show us the truth. We need the accountability of good, wise and responsible friends who can see our faults and tell us about those faults in love. We need to take away pride and open our eyes to the truth before us.

Jesus said, �I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won�t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/13 11:12 AM
Galatians 5:13 (NLT)
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don�t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

In this verse the apostle tells Christians they are to stand fast in the liberty from sin that Jesus Christ provided through His death. For in liberty we are free to choose and it would be so easy to fall back into bad habits of choice instead of standing fast. One must see that while they are free from the penalty of death created by the law they still have an obligation to satisfy the original intent of the law, which is to create love and respect for one another. The apostle confirms this by saying we should use our liberty to help others as we can and therefore do what Jesus commanded when Jesus said, �you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.�



According to Topsy.com as of 5/11/2013 at 11am there were over 64,000 mentions of the hastag #PrayForOklahoma on Social Media, such as Twitter and Facebook after the tornados hit Oklahoma. There were critics of the #PrayForOklahoma hastag, who discounted prayer, who said quit praying and start doing. However this nation, The United States of America, needed to unite in prayer for the victims of the Oklahoma tornados. Christians all over the world needed to also join in prayer as Christians so often do when devastating events occur in the world. There were people hurting, suffering, helpless and when we can�t immediately do something - we can pray.

Throughout The Bible prayer is used in mighty ways to change events, to heal, to rescue, to bring change and to bring comfort and calmness. Yes, the people of Oklahoma needed to feel the prayers of God�s people. They needed to feel God close to them as we prayed for them.

Now I can agree with the critics on one thing, don�t stop with prayer. Galatians 5:13 tells us that we are to take the freedoms we have in life and serve one another in love. Charitable organizations need donations to help with the care of the people left homeless. The Red Cross often needs blood and money donations after a tragic event. There are many ways to help even if it is raising awareness for others to contribute or donate what they can.

So this morning let us continue to be in prayer for the people of Oklahoma and for so many others around the world who are facing hardships. Let consider what we can do to help and help as we know how to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/13 12:55 PM
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

The apostle tells us that when we face adversity in our lives that we should count it as joy as opposed to sadness. For in the face of adversity our faith is tested and we have a chance to grow stronger in life. Therefore we should be joyful to face the adversity and let it develop us through our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be perfect and complete, needing nothing.




Our 26 year old daughter is experiencing a psychiatric issue. This problem doesn�t just affect her, but also affects the people around her. For in her current mental state the words she can use are like venom that brings pain. She vents anger like hot steam blowing into your face. You know you have done nothing to deserve the words she spews, but they sting, they burn and they hurt.

In an instant her mood flips to one of kindness and love. Words a second ago now confuse you as she expresses words of gratitude and love. She is pleasant, kind and then she starts complaining about all the things that are wrong and then she begs for help. Yes, it�s very confusing, but we also know she is ill.

My wife and I went through this with our daughter from the age of 18-19. It was one of the hardest times of our life. It was difficult to explain to others the problems we faced. Each medication was trial and error until they found something that worked. The medications were a challenge in their own way because they brought on serious side effects that had to be dealt with. Eventually she did become well.

Our daughter got married in November and her husband knew about this problem before he married her. Knowing about a problem and experiencing it are two completely different things. This has been difficult for him watching her change constantly before his eyes. What was so loving and kind at times isn�t so loving and kind. My daughter asked my brother-in-law and sister-in-law to visit her in the hospital. They had never been in her presence when she was going through this phase and it was difficult for them to be present with her, but God bless them for being there and wanting to help her.

My wife and I know the verses in James 1:2-4 are true. We are facing once again the issue we faced years ago with our daughter. This time we are more confident in our actions. It is painful placing a loved one in a psychiatric hospital, but it is also reassuring they are safe. Sometimes we want to give into fear, but we know God has brought us through this before. Sometimes we want to cry, but we learned we can be stronger than we thought.

Fortunately we can use our strength from the past to encourage her husband that things will return back to where they were, maybe even better. We know God can bring about healing and we just have to be patient for the healing to take place through the hands of the doctors. For God is still working on us, developing us and teaching us what we can be. God is also developing her and her husband. I know if her husband can endure this, his relationship with her will grow stronger. And I know our daughter will love him more for his courageous love and support.


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/24/13 11:08 AM
Romans 12:10 (NLT)
10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

The apostle tells us that one must have a readiness and inclination to love in a genuine way. This love is the love within a family that is genuine, natural and comes from the heart. And what can be sweeter on this side of heaven but to love and be loved.



Evangelist, author, and apologist Josh McDowell writes in his book, THE NEW TOLERANCE: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith and your children, on page 95 �

Tolerance says, �You must agree with me.� Love responds, �I must do something harder; I will tell you the truth because I believe �the truth will set you free.��
Tolerance says, �You must approve of what I do.� Love responds, �I must do something harder: I must love you, even when your behavior offends me.�
Tolerance says, �You must allow me to have my way.� Love responds, �I must do something harder: I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk.�
Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive, love takes risks. Tolerance is indifferent; love is active. Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.
Once again Jesus is the supreme example of true Christian love, which is sometimes the antithesis of tolerance. His love drove him to a cruel death on the cross. Far from being indifferent to the �lifestyle choices� of others, he paid the price of those choices with his own life, and lovingly paved the way for everyone to �go, and sin no more� (John 8:11, KJV).
Another example of what real love won�t do is this: Love won�t minister condemnation. It won�t leave a person feeling condemned but will offer hope of forgiveness and restoration.
If anyone had the right to condemn sinners, it was Jesus. He was perfect, without sin. Yet, �God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world� (John 3:17).


I believe, as Josh McDowell, there is an obvious difference between genuine affection and love for another; and just tolerating someone. It is this love the apostle was writing to us about in Romans 12:10. We are to take delight in honoring and respecting each other, but we must love others actively and not just passively tolerate them. We are to do the harder part in life and love even when it is difficult to do so.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/28/13 10:57 AM
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

A person who attempts to conceal their sin finds that when they hide their sin they do nothing for themselves. In hiding sin they do not learn to grow spiritual. They fail to deal with the sin of the past so they can move forward into the future. Holding onto secret sin keeps an opportunity for mercy to be given.



Married for 16 years and with two great kids, Kurt Stansell seems to have it all together. He has a successful investment counseling business, and he's a founding elder at his church. And he's a sex addict. Kurt's the first to admit it.

For years, Kurt struggled with pornography. It started with magazines, but eventually turned into visits to Triple-X theaters and strip joints. Kurt kept repeating a cycle of guilt and remorse, then prayer and repentance, only to find himself back at it again.

Eventually, Kurt found an accountability partner named Stan. At first, Kurt held back, being less than honest about his problem. But when he finally confessed, telling Stan the whole truth, Kurt immediately felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. He was on the road to victory.

"I began to understand what shame does," Kurt says. "When we Christians try to hide something in the darkness, we give Satan incredible license to work in our lives. So, the more open I could be, the less of a hold Satan seemed to have." [Gregg Lewis, author of The Power of a Promise Kept. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1.]


Satan loves to take the hidden sin in our lives and use it against us to accuse us over and over. It is a trap so many people have fallen into. They try to hide their problem, they feel guilty about their problem and they restart their cycle of sin because they have not trusted anyone to help them through their problem. There is freedom in letting go of hidden sin. Yes, we may have consequences to face, but the burden and weight of sin is lifted from us making us free.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/29/13 09:24 AM
Psalm 103:17-18 (NLT)
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children�s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

Here the psalmist ponders God�s love for his people and notes that God�s love lasts longer than their lives even continuing on to the lives of future generations. There is salvation to those who are faithful and obedient to God; and that salvation is also extended to generations yet to come.



There was once a young man from Chicago who went down to the bluegrass regions of Kentucky where he met and wooed a young woman who ultimately came back to Chicago as his bride. They enjoyed three lovely years of marriage, and then one day in the midst of a sickness in a seizure of pain the young woman lost her mind. When she was at her best, she was a bit demented. At her worst, she would scream, and neighbors complained because the screams cut the air and it was hard to live with.

And so the young businessman left his home in the middle of Chicago, went out to one of the western suburbs, built a house, determined that there he would try to nurse his wife back to health and sanity again. One day the family physician suggested that perhaps if he were to take his wife back to her Kentucky home that something in those familiar surroundings would help her restore her sanity, and so they went back to the old homestead. Hand in hand they walked through the old house where memories hung on every corner. They went down to the garden and walked down by the riverside where the first cowslips and violets were in bloom. But after several days nothing seemed to happen.

So, defeated and discouraged, the young man put his wife back in the car, and they headed back to Chicago. When they got close to the house, he looked over and discovered that his wife was asleep. It was the first deep, restful sleep she had had in many weeks. When he got to the house, he lifted her from the car, took her inside, placed her on the bed, and realized she wanted to sleep some more. So he placed a cover over her and then just sat by her side and watched her through the midnight hour, watched her until the first rays of the sun reached through the curtain and touched her face. The young woman awoke, and she saw her husband seated by her side. She said, "I seem to have been on a long journey. Where have you been?" And that man, speaking out of days and weeks and months of patient waiting and watching said, "My sweetheart, I've been right here waiting for you all this time."

And if you ask me, "Where is God?" the answer is very much the same. He's right here, right here waiting for you to respond with love to love, waiting for you to respond with trust to promise, waiting for you to cast yourself with a reckless abandon upon the grace of God, and waiting for you to discover what it means to be loved by God. [Haddon Robinson, from the sermon "The World's Best Love Story"]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/03/13 11:20 AM
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

We must have confidence, knowing that God has our best interest at heart, knowing that God provides love, mercy, grace, compassion, and so much more that we can trust God with all of our heart even when we do not understand the things taking place around us. It is because of our full trust in God that we are able to submit to God so that God alone can show us the proper directions to take in our life.



Ever wonder if the Lord really knows what you want and need?

David Smallbone felt God leading him to promote Christian concerts in his homeland, Australia, where only 5 percent of the people believed in Christ. When too few fans filled his seats during one major tour, however, David took a $250,000 bath in red ink.

Creditors repossessed his home, and the father of six looked for work elsewhere. A top artist offered him a job in Nashville, so the Smallbones sold their furniture and other possessions and purchased tickets to the United States.

A few weeks after they arrived, however, David was informed that his position was "no longer available." He literally could not get out of bed for several days. When he and his wife explained to their children what happened, they all got on their knees and asked God to help them.

Interesting things began to happen. God provided bags of groceries, a minivan, and odd jobs. Then the biggest surprise of all�a recording contract for David's oldest daughter, Rebecca, age 15. She recorded her first album using an old family name, St. James.

Flash forward to today. David promotes his own daughter's sold-out concerts. Rebecca St. James has become one of the hottest Christian artists in America. Christianity Today magazine has named her one of the top 50 up-and-coming evangelical leaders under age 40.

All along�no surprise�God knew what he was doing! [Christian Reader (January/February 2002), pp. 13-14; source: Luis Palau, It's a God Thing, www.palau.org/godthing]



God put David and his family right where they needed to be. No one may have seen it at the moment, but God was working in their lives to do something special. God took the faith of a family and used it to place Rebecca St. James in a place where she could minister through her music and words to millions of people.

Sometimes we may think God has forgotten us, but stay strong in your faith and watch the mighty works of God unfold in your lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/04/13 10:58 AM
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

In these verses the apostles tells us we are to fix our thoughts on good things. We are to think about truths which we know to be real and sustain us. We are to be honorable and right in our thoughts so that we do not mistreat others, but hold to a higher standard of living. We are to keep our minds pure and off sinful thoughts that might bring us harm or destroy us. We are to have loving and admirable thoughts towards God and others. In our culmination of thoughts we are to think of those excellent things which bring praise and honor to God.



I have heard many a Christian say, when I know I am going to sin I start praying for God to that that thought from my mind. I know I have done that exact thing and I am sure many others have as well. Then I heard someone speaking who gave me a new way to think when I am faced with trials and temptations. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on God and give him the praise for the things he has already done in your life.

One of the reasons for doing this is to draw your mind away from the sin you are facing. For instance, if I said, �Don�t think about an elephant�, what is the first image that pops into your mind? Usually it is an elephant. So what happens when we start asking for the sin we are facing to be taken away we are continuously thinking about that sin. So instead say something like, �God, you have brought me through many trials and temptations and I give you praise for that. Lead me now in the right direction.�

God knows the temptations and trials you face and by praising and honoring God he will see you through those times of difficulty. King David was always offering his thanks and praise to God for what he knew God was going to do in his life. When David was faced by enemies and the wrath of Saul, this is what David prayed in Psalm 18:1-3 �1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.�

Remember to call on God in your troubled times and give Him praise for the things he has done in your life. Take your mind off the negative and look forward to the positive results.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/13 10:21 AM
James 3:9-10(NLT)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God�s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

The apostle points out that many can praise God with their voices and their words and then use the same mouth to curse others. In our reverence and praise for God we should learn how to treat others. When we speak to them we should do so with reverence and kindness. Instead many utter curses against their brothers and sisters in faith and forget they are creations of God, His children who he cares for himself and finds precious in His sight.



Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, has lectured throughout this country on the powerful, and often negative, impact of words. He often asks audiences if they can go 24 hours without saying any unkind words about, or to, another person. Invariably, a small number of listeners raise their hands, signifying "yes." Others laugh, and quite a large number call out, "no!"

Telushkin responds: "Those who can't answer 'yes' must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you cannot go 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost control over your tongue." [Rick Ezell, One Minute Uplift (7-21-06)]


There is an old saying, �Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.� We forget the saying is usually said by someone strong enough to stand up to the taunts of the hurtful words. They have empowered themselves to resist what was meant to strike deep into their hearts and they stand firm against what is being said.

However there are some who are not prepared. They are weaker people who do not know how to handle insults and vicious words. It is these people who feel like they are being struck with sticks and stoned with insulting words hurled at them. In just moments a few words can tear down the very spirit of a person and send them into despair.

Let us all realize if we can praise God, sing glory to his name then we are also capable of doing the same for our fellow man. Take a stand and challenge yourself to refrain from negative and hurtful comments. Instead let your words lift people up, make them smile, and give them hope. If you are unable to do this even for a short period of time then maybe you are addicted to unkind and hurtful words. Next time stop and think about how you can lift someone up and nurture them instead of tearing them down with unkind words.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/06/13 10:59 AM
Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me�everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

The apostle implores us to fix our thoughts on those things which are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable. We are to put aside negative and unrighteous thoughts and instead think about what is worthy of praise. We are to put these good thoughts into practice that we may always be at peace with God.



The movie A Beautiful Mind traces the life of genius mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash, Jr. (played by Russell Crowe), who is tortured by paranoid schizophrenia.

Nash was a genius mathematician studying at Princeton, seeking to discover a truly original idea. He explained his concept of equilibrium in his 1950 dissertation, Noncooperative Games, which eventually earned him the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economics. Long before this, while a student at Princeton, Nash began to experience paranoid schizophrenia. Several delusional characters left him unable to discern reality from hallucination.

His paranoia climaxed while Nash worked as a professor in the early 1950s at M.I.T.'s Wheeler Defense Labs. Nash was recruited to decipher Soviet codes for the U.S. government, but following his initial experiences with code breaking, he descended into a delusional world where he continued to work for government agent William Parcher (Ed Harris).

During this time, Nash's wife, Alicia (played by Jennifer Connelly), admitted him to an institution that diagnosed and treated his disease. After shock therapy and medications left him unable to think through math problems, care for his young son, or be intimate with his wife, Nash determined to get off the medications and reason his way through his severe mental illness. His determination to overcome his illness led him to re-establish his relationship with Princeton and eventually to resume teaching.

In 1994 Thomas King (Austin Pendleton) from the Nobel Committee met with Nash to assess his mental state and determine if he would be a suitable Nobel laureate. In their conversation, Nash says to King tongue in cheek, "I am crazy." Then more soberly, "I take the newer medications, but I still see things that are not here. I just choose not to acknowledge them. Like a diet of the mind, I just choose not to indulge certain appetites." [A Beautiful Mind (Dreamworks, 2001), rated PG-13, directed by Ron Howard, written by Akiva Goldsman; submitted by Todd Dugard, Ontario, Canada]

I love the words Nash used, �I still see things that are not here. I just choose not to acknowledge them. Like a diet of the mind, I just choose not to indulge certain appetites.� As Christians our minds are flooded by many thoughts from the world. Some are healthy for us, while others are intent on destroying us. Like Nash we must choose what to indulge in and what to avoid. We should keep our thoughts on what the apostle describes above as true, right, pure, love and admirable and avoid the evil thoughts that attempt to cloud our minds.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/13 11:24 AM
Colossians 1:21-22(NLT)
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

The apostle tells the gentiles of Corinth they were once estranged from God. They were considered enemies by their actions and their thoughts. However they are now reconciled to God by accepting Christ as their savior. Christ presents them holy, blameless and without fault before God; for Christ has taken on their sins and banished those sins forever. The greatest enemies to God, who have stood at the greatest distance and bid him defiance, may be reconciled through Christ Jesus.



Arthur Burns, a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents, was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. This was his prayer: Lord, I pray that Jews would come to know Jesus Christ. And I pray that Buddhists would come to know Jesus Christ. And I pray that Muslims would come to know Christ. And Lord, I pray that Christians would come to know Jesus Christ.� [Mark Buchanan, �Singing in the Chains,� Christianity Today, February 2008, p. 33]

The apostle Paul wanted all people to know about Christ who takes away the sins of the world and presents us holy and blameless before God. Christ willingly died for our sins that we could be reconciled with God. It doesn�t matter who we are or what we have done for Christ wants us to come just as we are and allow ourselves to trust, to obey and place our faith in Him. There are those who may think God could never forgive them for the horrible things they believe they have done, but God has his arms open wide ready to embrace and ready to forgive each and every person who places their faith in His son Jesus Christ. There are Christians who have fallen away from their faith and God also is waiting on them to come back as the prodigal son returned to his father. There is no sin that can keep us away from the love of God except to reject God and the salvation He offers. Turn to God today and allow His love to pour out upon you, restore you and make you whole with God again.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/10/13 11:39 AM
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
13 Make allowance for each other�s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

The apostle starts by saying we should bear with each other when we find faults; for each of us have faults so in good turn each other should be ready to let the faults of another pass. If those faults rise to an occasion when they cause personal hurt then we should be ready to give peaceful explanation for the hurt and forgive in our hearts whether the person takes responsibility for the fault or not.




When we are young we often don�t know the proper ways to handle situations in life. My mother was in high school trying out for a school club. For whatever reason there was a girl who voted against my mother joining the club and she did not make it into the club. Instead of asking why, my mother went off with hurt feelings. She held on to those feelings for years always wondering what this girl had against her.

Forty years later my mother was at a high school reunion and the woman who voted against my mother was there. My mom decided to finally ask what she had against her in high school. My mother explained how she was not allowed in the club because of her and wanted to know why. The woman looked puzzled at my mother and said she did not remember the incident. However, she said if she had done something to hurt her she apologized.

For forty years my mother carried a burden she didn�t have to carry. She could have asked the girl years before at school and perhaps found an answer to her question. But instead my mother carried that hurt feeling instead of allowing herself to forgive the person. The other person was unaware of my mother�s hurt and pain while my mother had been trapped in her own self-made prison of pity and hurt.

I heard a quote once that said when we don�t forgive people we allow the pain they inflicted to live rent free in our minds until we let it go. Forgiveness is more for us than for the other person. It frees us from the pain we are holding so we don�t have to carry that burden any longer.

Learn to forgive others so you don�t carry those painful memories through your life. Think of Jesus who on the cross had been beaten and tortured and yet He said, �Father, forgive them, for they don�t know what they are doing.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/13 11:13 AM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Here the apostle tells us that we should avoid anxious thoughts, thoughts that distract us and move us away from God. Instead we should focus on what God has done for us, asking Him to provide for our needs and allowing His peace to rule in our hearts and minds.



The story is told of a father of a wealthy family who took his son on a trip to the country to show his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon.

"We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond sight. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have their friends to protect them."

With this, the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
[Ron Blue, Faith-based Family Finances (Tyndale, 2008), pp. 29-30]


The father thought he was going to teach his son a lesson, but it was the son who taught his father. For the son didn�t look at the material things of life, but of the things to be enjoyed. He saw what God provided to those who had less money and what he saw was peace and contentment.

Money is not what brings happiness into our lives. Instead it is a relationship with Jesus Christ who shows us what is good and right. We are to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable and avoid what the world would have us see instead. May you always be reminded of Christ�s love for you and the gracious provisions He places in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/13 11:29 AM
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

We often do not know our own thoughts, nor do we understand our own mind, but God is never uncertain about his thoughts or intentions. We sometimes fear that God�s plan and designs for us may fall against us; but God knows the contrary for his children; for his thoughts are of good and not for evil; even when those plans may seem harsh and painful they are designed for our good. They work together as a plan for our lives to give us a future of hope.



In his book Jesus Among Other Gods, [(Zondervan, 2000), pp. 17-18], Ravi Zacharias tells the story about how God, the Master Weaver, sovereignly works to weave beauty into our lives as we respond to his will. During a trip to India, Zacharias noticed a father and son who were weaving some of the most beautiful Indian wedding saris in the world. Zacharias explains the background and then describes the scene:

The sari, of course, is the garment worn by Indian women. It is usually six yards long. Wedding saris are a work of art; they are rich in gold and silver threads, resplendent with an array of colors. The place I was visiting was known for making the best wedding saris in the world. I expected to see some elaborate system of machines and designs that would boggle the mind. Not so! Each sari was being made individually by a father-and-son team. The father sat above on a platform two- to three-feet higher than the son, surrounded by several spools of thread, some dark, some shining. The son did just one thing. At a nod, from his father, he would move the shuttle from one side to the other and back again. The father would gather some threads in his fingers, nod once more, and the son would move the shuttle again. This would be repeated for hundreds of hours, till you would begin to see a magnificent pattern emerging. The son had the easy task�just to move at the father's nod. All along, the father had the design in mind and brought the threads together. The more I reflect on my own life and study the lives of others; I am fascinated to see the design God has for each one of us � if we would only respond to him.


Our minds cannot comprehend all that God has in store for us. God walks us through changes in life that are at times joyful and at times sad. God is working with us to develop us into something special, something beautiful and all we need to do is be patient and listen to God in order to know what to do. We face trials in life that are difficult, but those trials strengthen us and even allow us to encourage and strengthen others when they face the same trials. God wants us to have peace in our lives knowing we can count on him to see us through any adversity. Every step we take grows the hope we have in God and Christ Jesus and brings peace and contentment to our lives. It is said, �without hope people perish�; but with God and Christ we have all the hope we need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/13 11:26 AM
Luke 11:13 (NLT)
13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

Here Jesus tells the disciples that if we as sinful people know how to give good gifts to our children then God who is holy and righteous will give the best of gifts to his children when we ask. Then Jesus says, �How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. It is in our asking that we receive from God the gifts He has prepared for us. The Holy Spirit is an important gift because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, convicting us of sin, leading us upon paths of righteousness, and speaking on our behalf when we don�t even know how to pray.




George M�ller (German � born as : Johann Georg Ferdinand M�ller) (27 September 1805 � 10 March 1898), a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life. M�ller prayed about everything and expected each prayer to be answered. One example was when one of the orphan house's boiler stopped working; M�ller needed to have it fixed. Now this was a problem, because the boiler was bricked up and the weather was worsening with each day. So he prayed for two things; firstly that the workers he had hired would have a mind to work throughout the night, and secondly that the weather would let up. On the Tuesday before the work was due to commence, a bitter north wind still blew but in the morning, before the workmen arrived, a southerly wind began to blow and it was so mild that no fires were needed to heat the buildings. That evening, the foreman of the contracted company attended the site to see how he might speed things along, and instructed the men to report back first thing in the morning to make an early resumption of work. The team leader stated that they would prefer to work through the night. The job was done in 30 hours.

Prayer is a mighty tool if we take the time to pray and earnestly believe God will answer. George M�ller knew this and never hesitated to ask God for things that were needed in the lives of the orphans. We too must take the time to pray and expect our prayers to be answered.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/14/13 10:56 AM
Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Justice, reigning in a nation, puts an honor upon it, however vice, reigning in a nation, puts disgrace upon it. Throughout The Bible the people of Israel were often instances of both parts of this observation; they were great when they were good, but when they forsook God all about them insulted them and trampled on them. It is therefore the interest and duty of those in authority to use their power for the suppression of vice and support of virtue.




Whenever there is a separation between values and practice, things break down. In ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric, invading hordes to the north. To get this protection, they built the Great Wall of China. It's 30 feet high, 18 feet thick, and more than 1,500 miles long!

The Chinese goal was to build an absolutely impenetrable defense�too high to climb over, too thick to break down, and too long to go around. But during the first hundred years of the wall's existence China was successfully invaded three times.

It wasn't the wall's fault. During all three invasions, the barbaric hordes never climbed over the wall, broke it down, or went around it; they simply bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right in through an open door. The purpose of the wall failed because of a breakdown in values. [James Emery White, You Can Experience a Purposeful Life (Nashville: Word, 2000)]



We should never forget when sin and corruption live in a nation there will always be that one person to open the door to destruction. Pray that God would revive this nation with a passion for righteousness and justice. Pray the people would include Christ in their lives and live as Christ would. Pray that this nation would be a nation under God and for God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/17/13 11:50 AM
Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The best way to keep peace among all is to not tell others what a person has said when they did not through their words. If their actions cause no harm to others and no issues of safety are present then consider an act of amnesty by keeping quiet that which has been said. Allow the fault to be forgiven. For to dwell on the words only increases our own frustrations and anger and before we know it we are repeating things that should have remained unsaid.



It is impossible to keep peace between man and woman in family life if they do not condone and overlook each other's faults but watch everything to the smallest point. For who does not at times offend? [Martin Luther. "Martin Luther--The Later Years and Legacy," Christian History, Issue 39.]


Each day I walk through life my sinful nature eventually wants to reach up and take control. My weak and faulty self makes me relate to the words of the Apostle Paul: �For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do� (Rom. 7:19). In marriage we make a vow before God to love honor and cherish and that includes forgiving the faults of our spouse. For that reason, we do not want to allow our flesh to get the upper hand to diminish the gift God has given, but in order to keep it, we must practice humbleness, patience, kindness, forbearance, and forgiveness (Col. 3:13, Eph 4:2). We must allow love to prosper so that we remain close.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/18/13 12:01 PM
Matthew 5:47 (NLT)
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Jesus speaking to a crowd explains it is not enough just to love friends and family, but our love should be extended to all people; for those who do not know God know how to love a friend. Since God loves us despite our sins, we too should learn to love despite the problems and faults of others. We need to learn to love unconditionally.


Jean Vanier, founder of the L�Arche communities, told the following story about persevering in our practice of unconditional love:

I know a man who lives in Paris. His wife has Alzheimer�s. He was an important businessman � his life filled with busyness. But he said that when his wife fell sick, �I just couldn�t put her into an institution� I fed her. I bathed her.� I went to Paris to visit them, and this businessman who had been very busy all his life said, �I have changed. I have become more human.� I got a letter from him recently. He said that in the middle of the night his wife woke him up. She came out of the fog for a moment, and she said, �Darling, I just want to say thank you for all you�re doing for me.� Then she fell back into the fog. He told me, �I wept and I wept.�

Sometimes Christ calls us to love people who cannot love us in return. They live in the fog of mental illness, disabilities, poverty, or even spiritual blindness. We may only receive fleeting glimpses of gratitude. But just as Jesus loved us in the midst of our spiritual darkness, so we continue to love others, even as they may walk through a deep fog.

(From Leadership Journal � Winter 2011, quoting from Living Gently in a Violent World by Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier.)


There are many of you who can probably relate to the story above. I also know there are many who have been able to love unconditionally. You have given a part of your life to serve others. May God bless you and allow to continue loving others with mercy and grace just as God loves you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/13 11:05 AM
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, works in us, convicts us of sin, and provides liberty of access to God in freedom and assistance of prayer. Moses had to cover the glory of God, but those who have placed their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ are to reflect His glory for others to see. As The Spirit of The Lord directs us we are transformed more into the likeness of Christ from one degree to the next.



Mike Yaconelli, in Messy Spirituality (Zondervan, 2002), writes on p. 13 �� Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality, not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws, but because we let go of seeking perfection and instead seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God's being present in the mess of our unfixedness.


I was reminded about transformation looking at photos taken prior to the Daytime Emmys. Slowly the celebrities were transformed from their everyday hairstyles and clothes to something special for the event. They had stylists helping them with their clothes, their hair, and their makeup. Yes they could have done it themselves, but it was so much easier to have a relationship with someone they trusted to take care of the essentials for them. That is how we should be in our relationship with Christ, trusting Him to take care of the essentials and allowing Him to transform us more into His likeness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/13 10:47 AM
Mark 8:36 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

The disciples have proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. They have been witness to His miracles and have heard His remarkable teachings. Jesus talked openly about His coming death and the resurrection that would take place to overcome death from sin. Peter tried to reprimand Jesus for His comments, but Jesus took Peter aside and said, �Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God�s.� With that Jesus addressed the crowd and asked the question in verse 36 followed by the question, �Is anything worth more than your soul?�



In the 1959 Twilight Zone Episode of - Time Enough at Last, the character Henry Bemis, wore thick glasses and loved to read books beyond anything else. Henry worked at a bank and would steal away time to read the books he found so precious. One particular day Henry wanted to read in silence during lunch so he locked himself in the bank vault. It just so happened that a thermo-nuclear attack was launched during his time in the vault. Henry emerged to find a city that had been destroyed and no life in sight. As he walked around he came across a crumbled library with books scattered all about. Henry thought - now there will be time enough to read all the books I desire. In his excitement Henry dropped his glasses and they were smashed on the steps of the library. The narrator closed saying, �The best-laid plans of mice and men - and Henry Bemis, the small man in the glasses who wanted nothing but time. Henry Bemis, now just a part of a smashed landscape, just a piece of the rubble, just a fragment of what man has deeded to himself.�


Henry gained what he thought was the whole world but lost what was dear to him, the ability to read. Now time was meaningless because it would not be spent the way Henry wanted to spend it.

Christ asks that we put aside the desires of the world and place our desire and faith in Him. When we do we find a lasting relationship with Christ that leads to eternal salvation with God in heaven. Ask yourself, �What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/13 11:05 AM
Psalm 91:1 (NLT)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

In Matthew Henry�s commentary he states, �It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude. It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God�s protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.�



In his book Mayflower, historian Nathaniel Philbrick recounts the struggle of the Pilgrims during the shaping of early America. Although the first Pilgrims managed to establish a peaceful relationship with the Native Americans, the following generation devolved into bloody warfare. The war, known as King Philip's War, began in 1675 and lasted 14 months.

One conflict between the two groups is notable because of the minimal number of casualties. In March of 1676, a group of Indians numbering as many as 1,500 attacked the village of Rehoboth. Philbrick writes:

As the inhabitants watched from their garrisons, 40 houses, 30 barns, and 2 mills went up in flames. Only one person was killed�a man who believed that as long as he continued reading the Bible, no harm would come to him. Refusing to abandon his home, he was found shot to death in his chair�the Bible still in his hands. [John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; source: Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower (Viking, 2006), p. 300-332]


Now some reading the part where one man was found dead after reading his Bible might think there didn�t seem to be any shelter for that man. Yet this man most likely found the greatest shelter of all, eternal life with God and Christ in heaven. You see God shelters us, He strengthens us, and He leads us, but God never promised a perfect life or that we will always be kept from the evils of this world. God does however promise salvation leading to eternal life in heaven when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In Christ we find rest that will last an eternity.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/24/13 10:42 AM
Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. �I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,� he said, �so why are you coming to me?�
15 But Jesus said, �It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.� So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, �This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.�

John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus. When their mothers, both pregnant, saw each other it was said John moved in is mother�s womb with joy. Separated by years John became a prophet proclaiming the coming of The Messiah. Here we find Jesus asking to be baptized by John. Baptism was the foretelling of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as He was emerged beneath the water and raised to fullness in life. They God�s spirit came down upon Jesus and voice from heaven declared, �This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.�




God dearly loved His son Jesus who brought Him great joy. Most of us love our children that we would do anything for them. We would protect them, we would shelter them and we would ensure they were safe. John 3:16 tells us, �For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.�

Now remember God loves Jesus dearly, yet God planned for Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sin. God was willing to let Jesus die a suffering death to save us who are in the world from sin. Now what does that say about God�s love for us? God�s love and desire for a relationship with us is as strong as his love for Jesus. God loves us so much he was willing to let go of the son who brought him great joy so that God could save us from sin and give us eternal life with Him in heaven.

There is no question God in heaven loves us dearly. God wants to have a loving relationship with us. God wants us to draw close to him so he can draw close to us and spent time with us. Jude 1:20-23 says, �20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God�s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.� Stay close to God and God will stay close to you for God loves you as deeply as God loved Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/25/13 10:49 AM
Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)
24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?� says the Lord.

There is no art of concealment that can hide anyone�s intentions in their heart from God. God is present everywhere and His eyes are upon Man so God cannot be deceived.



If you were to look at Rembrandt�s painting of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you�d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.


We are all sinful people for The Bible says, �For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.� Yet we pretend to hide those sins. Pride just won�t let us admit we have faults. For instance King David had Bathsheba�s husband killed so he could cover up his act of adultery. David thought his sins were hidden; but God saw it all and knew what was in David�s heart. Even David�s best friend Nathan was aware of the sins David committed and Nathan as a friend confronted David.

When we hide our sins it makes it difficult to heal from them. We need to be able to have friends who can hold us accountable and care enough to tell us when we are wrong. We need to open our hearts to God and listen when He convicts us of our sin. It is then we can confess our sin and let the burdens of the sin be lifted away.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/13 11:32 AM
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

We are not to seek revenge for a wrong done to us nor are we to dwell on the trespass and use it against the offender to berate or harass them. We must both forgive and forget the trespass against us, for in the same way we are forgiven of God. We are to love our neighbors are we love ourselves for this is what The Lord desires.




In Portland, Oregon, the homeless gather under the Burnside Bridge. For more than three years, carloads of Christians from Bridgetown Ministries have shown up on Friday nights and ministered to these needy men and women. In addition to providing hot meals, shaves, and haircuts, some of the volunteers wash the homeless people's feet. Tom Krattenmaker, a writer for USA Today, was stunned by the display, calling it "one of the most audacious acts of compassion and humility I have ever witnessed."

This group of society's outcasts had their bare feet immersed in warm water, scrubbed, dried, powdered, and placed in clean socks. One man reported with a smile, "I can't find the words to describe how good that felt."

Krattenmaker commented on the significance of this foot washing: "Washing someone's feet is an act best performed while kneeling. Given the washer's position, and the unpleasant appearance and odor of a homeless person's feet, it's hard to imagine an act more humbling."

In preparation for their outreach, the leader of Bridgetown Ministries offered these words: "When you go out there tonight, I want you to look for Jesus. You might see him in the eyes of a drunk person, a homeless person�we're just out there to love on people." [Tom Krattenmaker, "A Witness to What Faith Can Be," USA Today (12-18-06); submitted by John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]


Can you imagine being homeless and these strangers come in to minister to you in ways that you could not have imagined? You find yourself with a hot meal, a shave and a haircut, and even clean feet with clean socks. Now that is showing love for your fellow mankind to reach out in kindness and do for them what you would wish for if you were in their position.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/13 12:06 PM
Job 40:1-5 (The Message)
1-2 God then confronted Job directly: �Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?� 3-5 Job answered: �I�m speechless, in awe�words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I�ve talked too much, way too much. I�m ready to shut up and listen.�

Throughout the book of Job, Job questioned why God was causing him to suffer. Job�s friends kept questioning Job as to what he did wrong to have God angry at him. But we know from the first book of Job that God was testing Job to show Satan that Job was a man of character. For God had said to Satan about Job, �He is blameless�a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.�



In chapters 38 and 39 God begins to speak to Job and his
friends ask questions �

�Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? �Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, �This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!� Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night�s wickedness? As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence. �Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

And the questions didn�t stop there, they went on for another chapter and a half. It is at this point one might think, OOPS, I have spoken things about God I did not understand and now God is asking me questions I don�t understand or have an answers to. So Job responds by saying, ��I�m speechless, in awe�words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I�ve talked too much, way too much. I�m ready to shut up and listen.�

There is probably none of us who at times have not questioned God, questioned His purpose, or questioned why He might have placed us where we are. We have to remember God created us and God is a loving, merciful and just God who loved this world so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins. We need to learn to be like Job and close our mouths and listen to what God is telling us. We are so quick to come to our conclusions and make our own plans that we don�t see God�s big plan for our life. Let us all learn to listen to God by reading His word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer and then remaining silent to wait on an answer instead of making senseless statements and questioning God�s authority.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/13 11:44 AM
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
9 The Lord isn�t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

The apostles tells us that God will carry out the promises He has made, maybe not in our perception of time, but in God�s perfect timing. God waits for the right opportunities in our life to bring about repentance and a change of heart; for God�s desire is for all to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that they may be saved.



I walked out of my office one morning, and a guy I had never met was just getting off the elevator. He was about six foot four, at least 250 pounds, and he wore cut-off jeans and a sweatshirt. His body was all tatted up �. We talked down the hall together, and he told me he was going to his first ministry meeting, and he was really nervous.

[I asked], "Nervous? How come you're nervous?"

"Pastor Miles, you always encourage us to do something, so I figured I got to do something. I want to serve the Lord."

Since our church has over a hundred outreach ministries, I asked him, "What's the ministry you're joining?"

"The knitting ministry," he said.

He added, "Well, actually, I don't knit, I crochet."

Here's this huge guy who looks like he could be an NFL tackle, and he's nervous about joining a ministry that makes blankets and hats for hospitalized children.

Curious, I asked him where he learned how to crochet.

"I was in the Hell's Angels for 12 years," he told me. "I learned to crochet in prison. I know it's the one thing I can do for the Lord."

Just then the lady who heads up the knitting ministry walked toward us, said a quick hi to me, then asked the former Hell's Angels, "Are you Jim?" She gave him a big grin and took his hand. I watched them go down the hall together. It may not seem like a unique ability to crochet, but when you package that with his life, the ripple effect can push countless others out of their comfort zone to step up and stand out the way God designed them to. Imagine if Jim was worrying about what others would think about him crocheting for Jesus. [Miles McPherson, God in the Mirror (Baker Books, 2013), pp. 51-51]


In this story we find that God took a 6�4�, 250lb man named Jim who had been in the Hell�s Angels and even served time in prison to become a man who could minister to hospitalized children. God promises a change if we have faith in Jesus Christ and walk along with Him in fellowship. Revelation 21:4 tells us, �And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.� That is God�s promise to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/01/13 10:59 AM
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can�t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God�s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Abraham believed the promises of God and God counted Abraham righteous because of his faith. Similarly when we place our faith in Christ God grants us mercy and grace and makes us righteous in His sight because of the salvation provided by Jesus Christ. God gave us a new chance in life to live free from sin and live out a good life God planned for us long ago. It is a free gift for all who place their faith in Christ.



Albert Tomei is a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. A young defendant was convicted in Judge Tomei�s court of gunning down another person execution style. The murderer had a bad record, was no stranger to the system, and only stared in anger as the jury returned its guilty verdict. The victim�s family had attended every day of the two-week trial. On the day of sentencing, the victim�s mother and grandmother addressed the court. When they spoke, neither addressed the jury. Both spoke directly to the murderer. They both forgave him. "You broke the Golden Rule��loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. You broke the law��loving your neighbor as yourself. I am your neighbor," the older of the two women told him, "so you have my address. If you want to write, I�ll write you back. I sat in this trial for two weeks, and for the last sixteen months I tried to hate you. But you know what? I could not hate you. I feel sorry for you because you made a wrong choice."
Judge Tomei writes: "For the first time since the trial began, the defendant�s eyes lost their laser
force and appeared to surrender to a life force that only a mother can generate: nurturing, unconditional love. After the grandmother finished, I looked at the defendant. His head was hanging low. There was no more swagger, no more stare. The destructive and evil forces within him collapsed helplessly before this remarkable display of humaneness." In choosing the path of forgiveness, that grandmother unleashed a power that could not be tapped in any other way. And that power was what caused the defendant to hang his head for the first time. [Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder (Word, 1995)]


God looks at us and sees the sins we have committed, yet God has compassion towards us just as this mother and grandmother did. God has forgiven us and ready to give us a new life. All we need to do is reach out and take the free gift of Salvation He offers through His son Jesus Christ.

If you have never accepted God�s free gift all it requires is a heart that desires Christ. Tell God you are a sinner and want to turn from your sins and that you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ who died for your sins. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and show you the way to life a life free from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/02/13 11:01 AM
1 John 2:28 (NLT)
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

The apostle writes to those who have placed their faith in Christ. He does so in an endearing way referring to them as dear children. They were to remain in fellowship with Christ so they would not falter in shame.



The quality of your life will be determined by the amount of time you spend alone with God in reading, praying, and planning. [Annie Ortlund, Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."]

Just as with any relationship it is important to spend time with the person you want to be close to. When we spend time alone with Christ, reading his word, praying honestly with our heart and listening closely -- we are in fellowship with Christ.

I have a friend who drank, fought, cussed and did many other unsavory things. Then he learned about the love of Christ. He learned Christ wanted a different life for him. So he surrendered himself to Christ and asked Christ to help him change. As he learned about Christ�s love for him and how Christ wanted a relationship with him he changed. He gave up the old habits and adopted the habits of his friend Jesus. Romans 12:2 tells us, �And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.� This man had a genuine desire to be like Christ as he grew in his relationship with Christ.

You see as my friend walked with Christ he didn�t want to participate in his old ways any longer. Instead he wanted to be more like his new friend Jesus. He knew being like his friend Jesus there would be no shame in things he did.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/03/13 10:50 AM
Romans 8:35-37 (NLT)
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ�s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, �For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.� 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

In these verses the apostle emphasizes the great love Christ has for us. Some think because they face troubles, persecution, hunger or other life issues that perhaps Christ does not love them or that God is punishing them � BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE. For these problems are created out of the evil in the world and by the consequences of our own natural sinful desires. Because Christ loved us He died on the cross for our sin and through His death overwhelming victory is ours. God gave His only son Jesus Christ so that we could be free from sin that is how much God loves us.




Picking, choosing, and deciding which sins are trivial and which are the biggies is a completely human tendency. A young man once told me, "It's like a heavenly bank account. As long as I make more deposits than withdrawals, I'm in good shape."

I shared the biblical reality with him: the very first time he made a withdrawal, the account was emptied and closed forever. He thought that was a bit harsh. But I explained that I didn't make the rules; God did. And I shared this truth with him not to depress him, but to make him aware and appreciative of God's mercy.

If you're a believer, your account has been closed, and a new one opened in Christ's name. You're wealthy, but you can't make another deposit or withdrawal. As Christians we just get the benefits of this new account, living off the interest�or, to put it another way, living off the blessing granted us by the blood of Jesus. [David Rich, 7 Biblical Truths You Won't Hear in Church (Harvest House Publishers, 2006), p. 37; as quoted in the April 8 entry of Men of Integrity (March/April 2009)]


In Romans 8:38-39 the apostle goes further to explain God�s great love for us. It says, �For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.�

Believe and know that Christ loves you whoever you are and that Christ desires to have a relationship with you that provides a loving and lasting friendship.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/05/13 11:17 AM
Isaiah 12:1-3 (NIV)
12 In that day you will say: �I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.�3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

The anger of God is much different than man in that God�s anger is righteous, slow to take place and shows displeasure over sin. The people here are praising God; for in their repentance God has once again comforted them from the sin that ensnared them. God is salvation and from His salvation we can trust God and not be afraid; for God lifts us up when we are weak and defends us when we are in need. It is in His salvation provided through Jesus Christ that we can find joy, rest and peace.



Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision, reflected on his visit to a church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti nearly a year after the devastating earthquake. The church's building consisted of a tent made from white tarps and duct tape, pitched in the midst of a sprawling camp for thousands of people still homeless from the earthquake. This is how he describes the church and the lesson he learned in Haiti:

In the front row sat six amputees ranging in age from 6 to 60. They were clapping and smiling as they sang song after song and lifted their prayers to God. The worship was full of hope � [and] with thanksgiving to the Lord.

No one was singing louder or praying more fervently than Demosi Louphine, a 32-year-old unemployed single mother of two. During the earthquake, a collapsed building crushed her right arm and left leg. After four days both limbs had to be amputated.

She was leading the choir, leading prayers, standing on her prosthesis and lifting her one hand high in praise to God .� Following the service, I met Demosi's two daughters, ages eight and ten. The three of them now live in a tent five feet tall and perhaps eight feet wide. Despite losing her job, her home, and two limbs, she is deeply grateful because God spared her life on January 12th last year � "He brought me back like Lazarus, giving me the gift of life," says Demosi � [who] believes she survived the devastating quake for two reasons: to raise her girls and to serve her Lord for a few more years.

It makes no sense to me as an "entitled American" who grouses at the smallest inconveniences�a clogged drain or a slow wi-fi connection in my home. Yet here in this place, many people who had lost everything � expressed nothing but praise.

I find my own sense of charity for people like Demosi inadequate. They have so much more to offer me than I to them. I feel pity and sadness for them, but it is they who might better pity me for the shallowness of my own walk with Christ. [Richard Stearns, "Suffering and Rejoicing in a Haitian Tent Camp," Christianitytoday.com (1-12-11)]


We all need to praise the Lord for what He does in our lives. For no matter what material goods we may have God can bring joy and peace into our lives. Demosi Louphine lost things she owned and her arm and leg and still found joy in the Lord. In the Bible, Paul and Silas sat in a prison yet they were able to pray and sing hymns to God. May we too find that joy and peace in our lives and give praise to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/08/13 11:25 AM
Psalm 138:1-3 [NLT)
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

In this Psalm David reflects back on God with thankfulness upon the experiences he had of God�s goodness to him. David not only gives thanks to God, but praises God above all other gods� man created and the tales man created to go with them. For David knows God is the one and only true God, the creator of the universe and creator of man. David praises God for his unfailing love and that God�s promises always come true because of God�s honor. David expresses that as soon as he prays an answer starts to unfold and in the interim God provides him strength to see him through to the answer is revealed.




It is fitting and right to sing of you, to praise you, to thank you, to adore you in all places of your dominion. For you are the ineffable God, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever and yet ever the same, you and your only-begotten Son and your Holy Spirit. You brought us into being out of nothingness, and when we had fallen, you raised us up again. You have not ceased doing everything to lead us to heaven and to bestow upon us your future kingdom. For all this do we thank you and your only-begotten Son and your Holy Spirit - for all the benefits of which we know and those of which we are ignorant, for those that are manifest to us and those that lie concealed.

We thank you also for this sacrifice, which you are pleased to receive from our hands, even though there stand before you thousands of archangels and myriads of angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged and many-eyed, borne aloft on their wings who sing, proclaim, cry out, and chant the triumphal hymn:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts! Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! [John Chrysostom, Christian History, no. 44.]


All the hosts of heaven cry out praises to God, yet God hears our praise and is pleased with us. God takes pleasure in us and finds us precious in His sight. God loves us more than we can imagine and is always waiting to respond to our prayers and God provides us strength to see us through whatever His response might be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/09/13 11:46 AM
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Apostle Paul writing to his beloved friend Timothy tells him that the Bible is inspired by God. In the Greek �inspired by God� can literally mean �God breathed�. Man may have written the words, but the words were spoken through them by God. Then the apostle goes on to give us the purpose of the scriptures; they are for knowing our beliefs, for learning what to disapprove of, for correction of waywardness, and to learn what is righteous.



Karen Bota of the Sentinel Standard on 04/15/2013 wrote an article "Judge imposes fine on self for cell phone mishap�. Here is the article: A Michigan judge handed down an unusual ruling. Judge Raymond Voet has a clearly posted policy in his courtroom that electronic devices causing a disturbance during court sessions will result in the owner being cited with contempt of court. He usually imposes a fine of $25 on top of that.

But on a Friday afternoon in April 2013 he enforced that policy on himself. During the prosecutor's closing argument, the judge's new smartphone, which was in his shirt pocket, loudly requested that Voet give the phone voice commands for voice dialing.

Voet said, "I'm guessing I bumped it. It started talking really loud, saying 'I can't understand you.' My face got as red as a beet." Voet tried to turn it off, but the phone kept talking and creating a disturbance.

Voet added, "I set the bar high, because cell phones are a distraction and there is very serious business going on. The courtroom is a special place in the community, and it needs more respect than that. I tow a tough line, and I got to back it up this afternoon."

At the next recess, Voet held himself in contempt of court, fined himself $25. Later on, Voet said, "Judges are humans. They're not above the rules. I broke the rule and I have to live by it." Voet paid the fine immediately.



So often we are ready to point out the sins of others, but we first need to be willing to take a hard look at ourselves. The Bible tells us, �For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.� We need to apply God�s word to our own lives first and examine our faults and our shortcomings. We need to teach ourselves what is right and what is wrong before we even attempt to try to tell others. For Jesus said, �And why worry about a speck in your friend�s eye when you have a log in your own?� In other words, your issues are usually bigger than what you perceive your friends to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/10/13 11:21 AM
Proverbs 10:19 (NLT)
19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

A straight forward proverb that when one talks too much without thought to their words sinful thoughts can easily slip out. It is therefore the wise man that keeps his mouth bridled, keeps him in check, and suppresses what thoughts he may have that inspire sin.



An article, �Angry Wife Gets Revenge on eBay, published June 22, 2005 by www.foxnews.com discusses the British Radio Shock Jock Tim Shaw who often said many appalling things.

Tim shaw was doing his usual 10 p.m.-to-1 a.m. shift at Birmingham-based Kerrang! 105.2 FM when he told pin-up girl Jodie Marsh on air that he'd be willing to leave his wife and two kids for her.

Unfortunately, his long-suffering wife was listening � and quickly put up his Lotus Esprit Turbo sports car for sale on eBay.

"I need to get rid of this car immediately � ideally in the next 2-3 hours before my cheating [jerk] husband gets home to find it gone and all his belongings in the street," Hayley Shaw wrote on the eBay description page, which as of Wednesday afternoon was still up.

"I am the registered owner and I have the log book. Please only buy if you can pick up tonight," she added.

The auction lasted exactly five minutes and three seconds. The car, estimated to be worth $45,000, sold for 50 pence (90 cents) and was soon driven away by a buyer who wishes to remain anonymous.

"I am sick of him disrespecting this family for the sake of his act," Hayley Shaw told a Birmingham newspaper. "The car is his pride and joy, but the idiot put my name on the log book [registration], so I just sold it. I didn't care about the money. I just wanted to get him back."



The Bible warns us of the danger of being careless with our words and continuing to speak when we should stop. When we let the words of our mouth get out of control, the consequences can harm everyone around us and have devastating consequences on us as well.

Four days after the car was sold, the anonymous buyer left short, simple feedback on Mrs. Shaw�s eBay account: �Thank you, Hayley, the car is excellent. Thank your hubby for me.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/11/13 11:12 AM
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NLT)
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

From the commentary of Matthew Henry: The apostle begins with a most weighty prayer, which he addresses to God as the God of all grace, the author and finisher of every heavenly gift and quality, acknowledging, on their behalf, that God had already called them to be partakers of that eternal glory, which, being his own, he had promised and settled upon them, through the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ. Observe, What he prays for on their account; not that they might be excused from sufferings, but that their sufferings might be moderate and short, and, after they had suffered awhile, that God would restore them to a settled and peaceable condition, and perfect his work in them�that he would establish them against wavering, either in faith or duty, that he would strengthen those who were weak, and settle them upon Christ the foundation, so firmly that their union with him might be indissoluble and everlasting.



All of us will suffer at times over the course of our life. King David in his psalms often wrote of the suffering he was enduring. However, David always came back to the fact that God would be his redeemer and comforter no matter what happened. David knew whether in life or death God would bring him comfort from his suffering. It is our relationship with God and Christ that is the answer to suffering. Sure we may be able to find our way out of a painful situation, but there can be self-condemnation, fear, loneliness, anxiety and depression that walk along with us in our suffering. This is why a relationship with Christ is so important. The Apostle Paul wrote of his suffering and constantly being tormented by Satan. Paul said, �Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, �My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.� Then he went on to say, �So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That�s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.�

We need to let go of our fears and trust Christ for the resolution to our problems. The resolutions may not always work out the way we desire, but they work out to fulfill God�s plan of making us stronger in life.

My wife and I had a dear Christian friend who recently passed away at age 57. Earlier in her life her teenage son was killed in a car accident as he went to buy her a Christmas present. She mourned his loss and suffered greatly over it, but God gave her strength to go one. She later divorced her physically abusive husband after her son�s death. She lived with her daughter and granddaughter and had an illness the doctors could not find. Before she passed away she told my wife, �Because of Christ at least I know I will either wake up with my son in heaven or with my daughter and granddaughter here on earth.� Even in her suffering Christ had given her comfort.

So the answer to our suffering is a relationship with Christ - A relationship where we can talk to Him about our problems and allow Him to work in us to make us strong when we are weak.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/12/13 10:47 AM
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
4 Jesus answered, �It is written: �Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Jesus after fasting for 40 days was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread. Jesus gave the reply above. Matthew Henry writes: This is observable, that Christ answered and baffled all the temptations of Satan with, It is written. He is himself the eternal Word, and could have produced the mind of God without having recourse to the writings of Moses; but he put honour upon the scripture, and, to set us an example, he appealed to what was written in the law; and he says this to Satan, taking it for granted that he knew well enough what was written. It is possible that those who are the Devil�s children may yet know very well what is written in God�s book; The devils believe and tremble. This method we must take when at any time we are tempted to sin; resist and repel the temptation with, It is written. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, the only offensive weapon in all the Christian armoury (Eph. 6:17); and we may say of it as David of Goliath�s sword, None is like that in our spiritual conflicts.



In June of 1992, Jim Davidson and Mike Price climbed Mt. Ranier. On the way down from the summit, the two climbers fell 80 feet through a snow bridge into a glacial crevasse, a pitch-black, ice-walled crack in the massive glaciers that cover Mt. Ranier. Mike Price died.

In his book The Ledge, Jim Davidson tells the story of his miraculous survival and courageous climb out of the crevasse. Throughout the book, Jim reflects back to his childhood and young adult years, describing his relationship with his father.

As early as Jim can remember, his father had shown what some considered an almost reckless confidence in his son. Jim worked for his father painting high, steep-pitched roofs and electrical towers as early as age 12. The work terrified his mother, but Jim's father kept communicating his belief that Jim could accomplish great things if he pressed through adversity and kept going.

As Jim stood, bloodied and bruised, on the two-foot wide snow ledge next to the body of his climbing partner, he heard the voice of his father. The years of inspiration that Jim's father had invested in him flooded back into his mind and washed over him with encouragement.

With minimal gear and no experience in ice climbing at that level, Jim spent the next five hours climbing out, battling fatigue and the crumbling ice and snow that threatened to bury him. Throughout his ordeal, Jim kept recalling the words of his father. Five grueling hours later, thanks to his father's words, Jim climbed out of the crevasse to safety. [Jim Davidson, The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier (Random House Publishing, 2011)]



While Jim was encouraged by his father�s words to survive, Jesus was also encouraged by His Father�s words to endure temptation. This is why reading The Bible and having a relationship with God and Christ is so important. For when we find ourselves in difficult situations, Our Heavenly Father calls out to us, reminding us of His love for us, His wisdom and His promises. Take time to read God�s word written in The Bible and let Christ walk with you in fellowship for He has faced all the temptations and understands what we struggle with.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/16/13 12:28 PM
Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Matthew Henry�s Commentary states, �Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us.� People believed the Mosaic Law was given to make the complete in righteousness if they could keep all the laws, although they could not. Yet in Christ we are made complete and our sins are reconciled thru Christ with The Father.



On October 19, 2010, a test was conducted at the Institute for Business and Home Safety in Richburg, South Carolina. Researchers constructed two 1,300-square-foot houses inside a $40 million laboratory and then observed how a simulated hurricane would impact the homes.

The first home was built according to conventional standards. The second home included reinforcement straps that connected every level of the building, from the foundation all the way to the roof. Then the researchers turned on giant fans, creating gusts of wind up to 110 miles per hour (equal to a category 3 hurricane). In the first two experiments, which lasted under ten minutes, both homes survived the intense winds. But when they tried a third experiment, turning on the fans for more than ten minutes, the conventional home began to shake and then collapsed. In contrast, the home with the floors and roof reinforced to the foundation sustained only cosmetic damage.

Tim Reingold, an engineer working on the experiment, summarized the results with a pointed question: "The bottom line you have to ask yourself is, which house would you rather be living in?"


So I ask would you rather be living by the law that always seems to fall apart in your life or would you rather have Christ living in you who anchors you firmly in your faith that even when you are weak -- Christ will hold you firm?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/13 11:55 AM
Psalm 119:7 (NKJV)
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.

Psalm 119 is longer than most other Psalms and is a collection of David�s thoughts towards God. Here we find that David�s desire is to know God�s righteous judgments by having a close fellowship with God. As he press forward to learn, David said he would praise God for the righteous brought into his own life by what God has taught him.



In late 2012 seventy-five year old Marion Shurtleff purchased a Bible in a used book store near her home in San Clemente, California. After making her purchase and returning home, she discovered a couple of folded pages tucked in the middle of the Bible.

The contents of the yellowed notebook sheets contained a child's handwriting that looked familiar. To her amazement, Shurtleff discovered her name at the top of the first page. When she looked closer she realized that she was actually reading a four-page essay she had written as a ten-year-old to earn a merit badge for the Girls Scouts in Covington, Kentucky�more than 2,000 miles from where she had just purchased the Bible.

By her own account, Shurtleff was deeply moved. "I opened the Bible and there was my name," Shurtleff said in a phone interview from her home. "I recognized my handwriting. I was shaking, literally. I was crying."

Although it remains a mystery how the essay ended up in a Bible in a used bookstore half way across the country, one thing is certain. When we look deeply into God's Word we see evidences of our lives, too. In the pages of Scripture we see individuals just like us�people who pursue faith and hope in God, people who also battle depression, doubt, lust, and pride. As we read the biblical stories about Abraham, Ruth, David, Mary, and Peter we also recognize our own life story.

[Greg Asimakoupoulos, Mercer Island, Washington; source: Brian Mains, "Marion Shurtleff makes amazing discovery in used Bible, finds childhood essay she wrote 65 years ago," WCPO Digital (5-28-13)]



Often as I am reading The Bible I will find myself relating to the person I am reading about. There were so many people in The Bible that went through so many difficult situations, heartache, joy, excitement and many other emotions. As you read you can feel yourself drawn towards God to learn what He desires for your life.

Hopefully you are taking time to learn about God�s desires for your life. One desire is that you know His Son Jesus Christ in a close and intimate way. Because Christ was both God and Man; Christ knows our struggles and desires to help up through each one of them. Do you know Christ? If so you know how to live a righteous life, for Christ is leading you to that life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/13 11:25 AM
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

The verse above is one of encouragement and hope for the Israelites. For God tells them not to fear or be dismayed for He is with them, will strengthen them, help them and support them with His own hand.



There are people who seem to running on empty in their lives. They are overwhelmed by everyday life and just don�t quite seem to have the strength to carry on. God reminds us and gives us hope in His Word that He will strengthen and help us in our times of need. David wrote in Psalm 118:14, �The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.� Isaiah 40:31 says, �But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.�

We also need to remember that while God strengthens us - Satan tries to weaken us. The Apostle Peter wrote saying, �Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.� The prophet Amos wrote: Therefore thus says the Lord God: �An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered.�

God keeps His promises and will provide us strength as we stay close to God. God�s word tells us that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. So remember to stay close to God so you can draw strength from God when you are weak. For in turning our weakness over to God we are made strong.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/23/13 11:30 AM
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Apostle here tells us that what sin bought man was death. For in the Garden of Eden were two trees, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and tree of life. God had forbidden man to take of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but man did as he desired and took Adam and Eve took of the fruit. The cost for them was they could no longer partake of the tree of life; for to have taken from the tree of life after taking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil would have meant living an eternity in sin. So God removed Adam and Eve from the garden to protect them and placed an angel with a flaming sword near the tree so they could never return. The future consequence of their sin was death. However in Christ Jesus we find eternal life in heaven when we place our faith and trust in Him.



He fell 47 stories, breaking his ribs and right arm, shattering both legs and injuring his spine. He needed 24 units of blood, had a catheter inserted into his brain and underwent at least 14 operations in the 28 days since his Dec. 7 [2007] plunge. He was in a coma for weeks after the horrifying 500-foot fall that killed his brother, but window washer Alcides Moreno is awake, talking and likely to walk again, his doctors said Thursday. "If you're a believer in miracles, this would be one," said Dr. Philip Barie, chief of critical care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell.

[excerpt -Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/window-washer-fell-47-floors-walk-stunned-doctor-article-1.339493#ixzz2ZrkKlTDc]


Adam and Eve fell from their grace in God to a place of sin, death and judgment. They had been walking as the image of God, sinless in their nature, but they fell into the deep trap of sin. Fortunately if you believe in Christ and have your faith and trust in Christ there is another miracle we can believe in. For The Bible tells us in John 3:16, �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.� Romans 8:1 states, �There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.� 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us, �For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.� What a miracle we can have in Christ!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/13 11:27 AM
Psalm 112:5 (NKJV)
5 A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.

This versus tells us that if one is to increase their estate they will use prudence in their decisions. It is not through a miracle, but from the wisdom God imparts unto us that correct judgments are made concerning the affairs of life. It is this discretion and wisdom that allows us to gain in prosperity, to save for times ahead. A person may be charitable, but again it is done with discretion that his own funds are put to use wisely.



I once worked in a downtown area. It was common to be walking down the street and a homeless person walk up and ask for money because they were hungry. Instead of immediately saying no, I would ask a question � Would you allow me to buy you a meal? It was a test I used to see if the person really was hungry. For I wanted to help those truly in need, but I didn�t want to give my hard earned money to someone looking for a way to buy alcohol or drugs.

Most of the time when I would ask a person the question they would say they really needed the money. These people failed the test and I would say �I�m sorry. I would be glad to buy you something to eat, but I don�t have money to give away.�

One day I walked outside for lunch and it was a very cold day. A man standing outside our office building shouted the familiar words, �Hey man, can you help me out with some money? I�m hungry.� I looked at the man and returned his question with my question, �Would you allow me to buy you a meal.� His immediate response was, �Yes!� I pointed to several restaurants in area and said, �Which one would you like to go to eat.� He quickly responded, �The Duck Inn, they have a wing special.� He was actually trying to be conservative in his request and had already thought about his plans to eat.

I took the man to the restaurant and at first he didn�t want to go in. He was afraid his appearance would get him kicked out. I told him, �I�m with and you look ok to me. Let�s go in, get you some food you can eat, and sit where you can be warm.� The man followed me in, placed his order and I paid for his meal. I then asked the cashier if the man could sit peacefully and eat and even get a refill of coffee so he could be warm for a bit and the response was - that would not be a problem.


We need to remember to use discretion in the affairs of our life. We need to be responsible with our money and help others who truly need help when we can.

�If you can�t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.� Mother Teresa
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/13 11:27 AM
2 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV)
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul writes to his friend Timothy to be persistent and consistent in his work for The Lord. In order to do the work ahead, Timothy must remain strong in Christ, accepting the grace Christ Jesus has given him through his faith. As we face trials and tribulations we need to grow stronger in our faith and that which is good. Our resolution must be to take the grace we are given and use it to love God and Jesus Christ even more.




St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople and Church Father (349�407) once said, �We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God.�

In our society we often think that stating our belief against sin is either not politically correct or that it is a sin itself. Jesus was often confronted by religious groups and He was never hesitant to confront the issues brought to Him. Sometimes Christ insulted the religious leaders around Him. Jesus stood firm on God�s principles and His first loyalty was to God.

The Bible teaches us that we are to pray for others and we are to lead others to Christ. Obviously we cannot be hateful in our methods or we will lose the opportunities to speak to others about Christ. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, �All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.� Not through hate, but through love we are to learn about God and Christ, check our own ways, correct our own faults, and then instruct others in what is right. We must put God first and stand in His grace if by chance we insult others, we stood firm for God.

In everything we do be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. For Christ, being perfect, never hesitated to point out one�s sin, but Christ also offered love, mercy and grace. Ensure you that when you stand up for God you speak in His truth, His mercy, His grace, and His love for others. Remember the words of the Apostle James, �let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/13 11:42 AM
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height� 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Above is the apostle�s prayer to God on behalf of the Ephesians who Paul loved. The prayer is to the Father who is in Christ - just as Christ is in the Father � just as we are in Christ and Christ is in us. We see from the words his posture that he bows kneeled before The Lord. Then he makes his request to the Father that the Ephesian�s who are in Christ would be strengthen, that through their faith Christ would be close to them, and that they might know the heights, the widths, and the depths of the Love Jesus Christ.



Billy Graham loves The Lord and has been a personal witness for Jesus Christ all around the world. Billy is currently 94 and has several health issues, but he wants to finish well by providing one last message to a country close to his heart � America.

My Hope America with Billy Graham is a nationwide effort to reach people across the United States with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Following a simple biblical model, My Hope America with Billy Graham combines the impact of video programs with the power of personal relationships. Under the guidance of their local pastors, Christians across America will open their homes this November to share the Gospel message with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors using one of several new evangelistic programs featuring life-changing testimonies & powerful messages from Billy Graham. [http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/what-is-my-hope/?]

Just as the Apostle Paul loved the Ephesians, Billy Graham loves America, the country he considers home. Yet it is a temporary home - for Billy knows his permanent home is in heaven. Billy has preached in America, just as he has preached in so many other places across the world. Billy Graham wants people to know the great love of Jesus Christ � a love so great that it is hard to comprehend. Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross so all could be free from the bonds of sin. When a man gives his life for another that is a friend who loves greater than we can understand.

Let us be in prayer for Dr. Graham that his message will have a great impact upon all who hear him.


2 Chronicles 7:14, �If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/29/13 11:14 AM
Psalm 119:93 (NKJV)
93 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.

The psalmist says he will never forget the commands and principles given to him by God; for those commands and principles are what allowed his existence to continue.



In our electronic world of today people are very familiar with search engines that find information on the internet almost instantaneously. The word Google has become a part of everyday life - If you don�t know something, Google it.

I have a co-worker who was in Boy Scouts as a youth. He memorized and learned many things making his way to become an Eagle Scout. He still carries with him many of the things he learned. A lot of them dealt with life, being ready and the ability to survive.

What if you found yourself alone on a deserted island, would you rather have survival knowledge in your mind or on the laptop you brought with you. You probably have maybe at most 4 hours to retrieve all the information you need off your laptop before the battery dies and then what do you do? If you haven�t memorized and learned some skills your stay on the island is going to be very difficult.

The electronic Bibles of today are nice in that they are compact, can contain many versions of The Bible, and can even search for keywords. However, if we don�t commit what we read to the mind and a moment comes that we need a Bible verse for comfort or hope - that will be the exact moment our electronic Bible is somewhere else.

The psalmist said, �I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.� Let�s commit God�s word to our memories that we will have an answer when the need arises.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/13 11:12 AM
Proverbs 30:10 (NLT)
10 Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.

Most of proverbs was written by King Solomon, but chapter 30 is different in that it is penned by "Agur Ben Jakeh.�� These are divinely inspired verses kept on record. In verse 10 there is a warning given against slander towards a worker; for the person slandered may point out the wrong and it will be held against the slanderer.



The Bible is an amazing book. It contains life stories many of us can relate to. I relate to the verse above because I have seen others slander a person in an office and then the slanderer was disciplined for their harmful words. The verse in Proverbs is just one piece of wisdom we can draw from The Bible.

The Bible also documents the lives of people, such as King David. We know David loved God and God loved David. However, David did not live a perfect life. Even though David desired to keep God�s commandments, he failed at times. Through the life of David we can see God�s love, mercy and grace towards him. God offers the same love, mercy and grace to us.

There are illustrations of dysfunctional families in The Bible. Abraham who had a strong faith in God often feared someone would kill him over his wife Sarah, because he believed her to be a beautiful woman. So there were times Abraham would say that Sarah was his sister as a means of trying to protect himself instead of trusting God.

Isaac is where we see the family dysfunction come into play. God had told Abraham�s son Isaac to go and live in Egypt. It is at this point we encounter these verses in Genesis 26:6-7, �So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, �She is my sister�; for he was afraid to say, �She is my wife,� because he thought, �lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.�� What is Isaac doing, the same dysfunctional thing his father did. He didn�t trust enough in God to protect him so he told a lie concerning his wife. A legacy passed on to him by his father.

Yes, The Bible holds many good illustrations about life. Take time to read God�s word and see what lessons you can learn.
Posted By: BetrayedP Re: Devotionals - 07/30/13 11:40 PM
I missed so much! I'm convinced the Bible is the ultimate guide to life and has the answer to so many of life's questions. I'm halfway through some of the devotions I missed. Coincidentally, some of the devotionals are verses that have been called to my attention in the past couple of months. I'm especially learning to "answer gently" in order to avoid wrath. *Work in progress*

God Bless you Ask!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/13 10:57 AM
Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

In this Psalm of David, David is able to take comfort that when his enemies are against him, God is for him � providing protection and defense. When David was being pursued by his enemies he often hid in caves. In battle he used his shield for protection. Now God was both to him, a refuge where he could hide and shield that protected his life. It is though God�s promises and words that David came to know God in a close and personal way. David knew God was his comforter and protector.




In an interview about his book The Folly of Prayer (IVP, 2009), author and pastor Matt Woodley shared a story about his friend Theresa. Theresa was experiencing what St. John of the Cross calls a dark night of the soul�a period of spiritual loneliness and despair. Over the course of describing her story, listen to how Woodley discovered that what seemed most helpless in his ministry was actually the most helpful:

After marrying the man of her dreams, [Theresa] dropped into the abyss of a deep depression. Everything went dark in her mind and body. She even started writing her obituary. Three years ago I would have had plenty of answers and solutions for her. I would have been so clever and powerful. But now I could only sit with her in her pain. We prayed. I didn't know what to do, didn't have any answers, so I said, "Theresa, I have no idea what to say, so could we just read the Psalms?" Then I read Psalm 77, an agonizing psalm of lament, and I went home. I left feeling utterly powerless, and I sure didn't think that I made her feel better.

The next week another leader of our church visited Theresa. She was still suffering intensely, but when the leader asked if he could pray for her, Theresa said, "Yes, but before you pray, please read Psalm 77. I've been clinging to it all week. It's my lifeline to God." Apparently when we read Psalm 77 in utter powerlessness, God showed up in her life with power.

Woodley adds: "At times the best, most powerful and most useful way to love someone is to get to the end of myself. I admit that I can't fix or change you. My words and my advice won't heal your brokenness. But I can be with you, and we can go together to the Father." [IVP Books, "Are You There, God? An Interview with The Folly of Prayer Author Matt Woodley}


Heavenly Father I come to You in prayer for all who read these words. I pray Father these words will become their words of hope also. Father there is many who are fighting the daily battles of life and they need the comfort and protection. Bless them Father. Father, You provide hope when times seem hopeless. You provide mercy when no others will be merciful. You are always loving towards us when others may be against us. Father we thank you for the victory given to us over death through your Son Jesus Christ. Father we give thanks for Your everlasting love, your grace and your mercy. Father abide with us today and every day that we would know the depths of Your love for us. Be our source of hope!

In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/13 11:08 AM
Originally Posted by BetrayedP
I missed so much! I'm convinced the Bible is the ultimate guide to life and has the answer to so many of life's questions. I'm halfway through some of the devotions I missed. Coincidentally, some of the devotionals are verses that have been called to my attention in the past couple of months. I'm especially learning to "answer gently" in order to avoid wrath. *Work in progress*

God Bless you Ask!


Thank you for your words of encouragement. We are all a work in progress being perfected day by day as The Lord leads us in our lives. Have a wonderfully blessed week!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/13 11:16 AM
James 1:22 (NLT)
22 But don�t just listen to God�s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

The apostle states that we should not just be ones who hear God�s word, but we should also put actions to what we hear and learn. The Greek word for �fooling� means to reckon wrong, cheat by false reasoning and to delude. So those who hear what God say, but are not doers of His word are only deluding themselves about their actions.



Gregg Donnelly, of Maple Plain, Minnesota tells a story: Robert Kupferschmid was an 81-year old with no flying experience. However, due to a tragic emergency, he was forced to fly an airplane. On June 17, 1998, he and his 52-year-old pilot friend, Wesley Sickle, were flying from Indianapolis to Muncie, Indiana. During the flight, the pilot slumped over and died at the controls. The Cessna 172 single-engine plane began to nose-dive and Kupferschmid grabbed the controls. He got on the radio and pleaded for help.

Nearby were two pilots who heard the call. Mount Comfort was the closest airport, and the two pilots gave Kupferschmid a steady stream of instructions of climbing, steering�and the scariest part�landing. The two experienced pilots circled the runway three times before this somewhat frantic and totally inexperienced pilot was ready to attempt the landing.

Emergency vehicles were called out and ready for what seemed like an approaching disaster. Witnesses said the plane's nose nudged the center line and bounced a few times before the tail hit the ground. The Cessna ended up in a patch of soggy grass next to the runway. Amazingly, Kupferschmid was not injured.

This pilot listened and followed those instructions as if his life depended on it�and it did. Imagine what would take place in the lives of believers if we listened to and obeyed the Word of God with the same earnestness.


For some reading The Bible becomes a stressor in their life because the parts they hear is do this, do more, and more of this. They begin to feel guilt and stress. The problem is they are not reading the entirety of God�s word and acting upon what it says. Yes, God tells us things we should do or not do, but we also hear the words of Jesus telling us His burden is light. The Bible also tells us of God�s love, mercy and grace towards us. So in our hearing of the word we need to listen in full context and understand the grace of Salvation and act in accordance to that grace. God tells us what to do so like the pilot above we are able to land safely in life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/06/13 10:39 AM
2 Corinthians 1:3-6(NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

After the preface the apostle writes about the comfort God provides even in the midst of trials and tribulations. All comfort originates with God and is passed to us so that we can share that comfort with others. For in our trials and tribulations we learn that we can endure and that God is with us. We can share that with others so they can patiently endure the same type of suffering and know God will be with them too.



In The Story before the Story, preached at Lincoln Christian College by Damien Spikereit speaks about a portion of his life: When I was in high school my father passed away rather suddenly. It was just two days before my high school graduation. At that time in my life I was a baby Christian; immature and shallow. I was still drying off the baptistery waters. All I cared about was not going to hell.

But then my dad died. I found myself in a place I'd never been before. I wanted to hear God speak. I wanted to know what he had to say about this situation; how he was going to get me and my family through this difficult time. So I prayed. And I waited for God to speak.

Then came the day of the funeral. The church was packed. I sat on the front pew with my mother and two younger sisters. The Lutheran priest spoke, but I don't remember what he said. I continued to wait for God to say something. Then the service was over. It was the tradition of this church to have the family line up in the foyer. Everyone would file past us and offer words of condolence and encouragement. Tears were shed, hugs offered, and words were given. I don't remember what anybody said to me in that time. But I continued to wait for God to speak.

Then I saw Kim O'Quinn. She was my age. We were in the youth group together. When she got to me, she didn't say a word. She had tears in her eyes. And she simply hugged me and walked off. But I heard God speak. It dawned on me. Just months before, I had attended another funeral; the funeral for Kim O'Quinn's father. In that moment she knew exactly what it meant to be me.

If you want to hear God's voice in your life look no further than the one who knows exactly what it's like to be you. He knows what it is to be human, he knows what it is to suffer, he knows what it is to be rejected, he knows what it is to be human. If you want to hear God's voice speak, allow your soul to be quieted long enough so that you can hear the one who was in the beginning say to you, "draw near to me and I'll draw near to you."


Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/13 10:36 AM
Galatians 6:4 (NKJV)
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Here the apostle says each person should examine their lives in the light of God�s word to see whether or not their lives align with God�s desires for them. Some would prefer to judge and censure others so as to make them feel proud, but this is wrong. We instead should view our actions in light of God�s will for us instead of what other people do.



In his book Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer, a Quaker, tells the story of how God used Palmer's friends to shape his vocational path in a significant way. Palmer had been offered the opportunity to become the president of a small educational institution. He was certain the job was for him, but he honored the tradition of the Quaker community, which is to call on a dozen trusted friends to engage in a "clearness committee," a process in which "the group refrains from giving you advice but spends three hours asking you honest, open questions to help you discover your own inner truth." Palmer writes that the initial questions were all very easy, until someone simply asked, "What would you like most about being a president?" He writes:

The simplicity of that question loosed me from my head and lowered me into my heart. I remember pondering for at least a full minute before I could respond. Then, very softly and tentatively, I started to speak: "Well, I would not like having to give up my writing and my teaching�. I would not like the politics of the presidency, never knowing who your real friends are�. I would not like having to glad-hand people I do not respect simply because they have money�. I would not�"

Gently but firmly, the person who had posed the question interrupted me: "May I remind you that I asked what you would most like?"

I responded impatiently, "Yes, yes, I'm working my way toward an answer." Then I resumed my sullen but honest litany. �

Once again the questioner called me back to the original question. But this time I felt compelled to give the only honest answer I possessed, an answer that came from the very bottom of my barrel, an answer that appalled even me as I spoke it.

"Well," I said, in the smallest voice I possess, "I guess what I'd like most is getting my picture in the paper with the word president under it."

I was sitting with seasoned Quakers who knew that though my answer was laughable, my mortal soul was clearly at stake! They did not laugh at all but went into a long and serious silence�a silence in which I could only sweat and inwardly groan.

Finally my questioner broke the silence with a question that cracked all of us up�and cracked me open: "Parker," he said, "can you think of an easier way to get your picture in the paper?"

By then it was obvious, even to me, that my desire to be president had much more to do with my ego than with the ecology of my life�so obvious that when the clearness committee ended, I called the school and withdrew my name from consideration. Had I taken that job, it would have been very bad for me and a disaster for the school.



Sometimes we just need to stop and take a moment to examine our life and look at our true intentions. So often we mislead ourselves by making comparisons to others or by letting our own ego and pride draw us away to a place we should not be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/08/13 11:10 AM
Psalm 194:4 (NKJV)
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Psalm 194 gives praise to God, The Redeemer, who provided victory over an enemy. The psalm also refers to the future glory of Christ our Savior; for God will beautify the meek, those who surrender their lives to Him and those who trust in Him. They will hear God�s word of salvation and put aside their pride and accept His gift of eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Judson W. Van DeVenter (1855-1939) was raised in a Christian home. At age 17, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. He graduated university with a degree in art and was employed successfully as a teacher and administrator of high school art. He traveled extensively, visiting the various art galleries throughout Europe.

Van DeVenter also studied and taught music. He mastered 13 different instruments, sang and composed music. He was very involved in the music ministry of his Methodist Episcopal church and eventually found himself torn between his successful teaching career and his desire to be a part of an evangelistic team. This struggle within himself lasted for almost five years.

In 1896, Van DeVenter was conducting the music of a church event. It was during these meetings that he finally surrendered his desires completely to God -- He made the decision to become a full-time evangelist. As he submitted completely to the will of his Lord, a song was born in his heart.

I Surrender All was put to music by Winfield S. Weeden (1847-1908 ), who published this and many other hymns in several volumes. Weeden so loved this song that the words I Surrender All were put on his tombstone. (1)


The words of I Surrender All are something we should all strive for - All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior,
I surrender all. All to Jesus, I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame. O the joy of full salvation! I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all.





(1)[http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/i-surrender-all-the-song-and-the-story.html]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/12/13 10:54 AM
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God�s.

The Apostle Paul reminds the Church of Corinth that their bodies are now the temple in which the Holy Spirit resides. God use to be only present in the inner most part of the temple, but now His Holy spirit resides in the bodies of those who have placed their faith in Christ. Therefore they should treat themselves with respect just as they would for the temple.



To those of us in the West, he is known only as "The Traveler." He is one of the persons who helps distribute goods inside North Korea. Despite the ever-present danger of exposure, The Traveler remains an unpretentious and simple man. He looks more like a blue-collar factory worker than the Korean James Bond, but that's one of the keys to his success. He's adept at blending in, remaining both vigilant and decisive.

It's a matter of survival.

He has served Open Doors for years, and yet we don't even know his real name. We never will. The fewer people who know it, the better, for if his secret work on behalf of God's people were ever to be discovered, it would mean a brutal death sentence for him.

When [our] leaders spoke to him, we asked him what the church in North Korea prays for. This ostensibly emotionless man who puts his life on the line every day�often for people he's never even met living in cities he's never visited�began to weep.

He told of a church movement that has remained underground ever since the fifties. In order to wipe Christianity from the face of the land, Kim II-sung's soldiers herded entire congregations into the streets and ran them over with bulldozers. Thousands of men, women, and children�nearly all of them North Korean citizens�were literally crushed to death, their remains � used to line roadbeds throughout the surrounding cities.

Today, under Kim's son Kim Jon-il, there are [around] 240,000 believers, direct descendants of those who were left behind �. [These] North Korean believers are prayerfully focused on one purpose: to be in place and fulfill God's will for their lives. Their prayer is a prayer for liberation, for lifting of the darkness, for a possibility to reopen the churches of their ancestors, and for reconciliation �.

So despite the dangers, The Traveler continues to [risk his life in order to] equip believers with commentaries, Bibles, radio resources, training, and encouragement to keep them focused on the Lord.
[Carl Moeller and David Hegg, The Privilege of Persecution (Moody Publishers, 2011), pp. 67-68, 70]


We can put our bodies to use to do good works or works of evil; it is our choice to make. But we are reminded that our bodies are where the Holy Spirit resides; for we are the temples of Christ. Therefore we should use our bodies for good works and not that of sin.

Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 08/12/13 06:17 PM
We are very blessed to live in the USA
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/13/13 01:17 PM
Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)
16 Wise people think before they act; fools don�t�and even brag about their foolishness.

A reminder, one should think through their actions before jumping in head first. However there are those who don�t and even brag about their thoughtless actions.



There was a time I performed interviews for job candidates. Our HR department had trained some of us in a specialized way of handling interviews using questions selected towards the job category. One of the questions was �What one thing have you done that you wish you could do over and do it better?� The idea behind the question was to see if the job candidate would give a technical example of something where they fell short of expectations and later saw how they could improve upon their work skill. Most of the job candidates understood this and would give an example of an error and how they later corrected it.

One person we interviewed had a completely different kind of response to the question. I�m going to be a little gentler with what the person actually said, but it went something like this: �I once was told I was getting a job transfer so I decided to cuss out my current boss. I think I went a little over board in some of the language I used. Then I found out I didn�t get the transfer. Next time I would wait for the transfer to happen before actually telling anyone where they could go.�

I could tell the other person conducting the interview with me was as taken back by the answer as I was. Here was a person talking not about their technical skill, but instead about their interpersonal skills with others. It became clear we didn�t want a person who thought the answer to cussing out their boss was to wait until a more opportunistic time. We wondered how they would respond to others authority. The two of us interviewing also thought that was probably not an answer we would have given in an interview.


Wise people think before they act or as is often said �think before you leap�, because there might be something you don�t want to leap into.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 08/13/13 07:15 PM
And also seek Godly counsel
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/13 11:25 AM
Revelation 3:14,20 (NLT)
14 �Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen�the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God�s new creation: 20 �Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

In the revelation to John, Jesus instructs an angel to write to the church of Laodicea. It is interesting that for the previous six churches Jesus gave a statement of correction and then a statement of affirmation. For Laodicea the statement was about their lack of enthusiasm for the church; for Christ compared them to lukewarm water, which will wet the mouth but was not very pleasant for drinking. Jesus offers the church hope saying that if anyone hears Him calling they should open the door and He would come in as an intimate friend to be with them.



In his love for us Jesus acts like a hound-dog, intense and focused as he pursues the hunt. That image comes from Francis Thompson, a 19th century British poet who wrote "The Hound of Heaven." Although Thompson was a follower of Christ, he struggled with poverty, poor health, and an addiction to opium (which in those days was sold as an "over-the-counter" medication).

In the depths of his despair, Thompson described his flight from God: "I fled him, down the nights and down the days. I hid from him, and under running laughter. I sped � from those strong feet that followed, followed after [me]."

But Thompson also knew the unrelenting love of Jesus, the hound of heaven. In the poem Jesus pursues Thompson with "unhurrying chase, and unperturbed pace, deliberate speed, and majestic instancy [or urgency]." He hears the feet of Jesus beating after him as Jesus calls, "All things betray those who betray me."

In a recent biography of John Stott, Stott refers to Thompson's poem. According to Stott, he owes his faith in Christ not to his parents or teachers or even his own decision, but to Jesus, "the hound of heaven." Stott writes:

[My faith is] due to Jesus Christ himself, who pursued me relentlessly even when I was running away from him in order to go my own way. And if it were not for the gracious pursuit of the hound of heaven I would today be on the scrap-heap of wasted and discarded lives.
[Roger Steer, Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott (IVP Books, 2009), pp. 262-263;]


Jesus never gives up pursuing a relationship with us. Even when we are ignoring Him, Jesus comes and knocks at the door of our heart waiting for us to fellowship with Him. Jesus loves at all times and defends us when Satan accuses us. Jesus is our savior, our friend, and someone we need to spend time with. Open the door of your heart to Jesus and get to know Him in a very personal and intimate way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/13 11:25 AM
Romans 14:8 (NLT)
8 If we live, it�s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it�s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

From Matthew Henry�s Commentary: Christ is the gain we aim at, living and dying. We live to glorify him in all the actions and affairs of life; we die, whether a natural or a violent death, to glorify him, and to go to be glorified with him. Christ is the centre, in which all the lines of life and death do meet. This is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. So that, whether we live or die, we are the Lord�s, devoted to him, depending on him, designed and designing for him.



It was a cold night out as a priest walked down the street with his overcoat on. Suddenly out of an alley steps a man holding a gun demanding the priest�s money. The priest opened his overcoat to reach in for his wallet to hand over to the robber.

At that point the robber exclaimed, �I didn�t you were a priest. I�m so sorry. I don�t rob priests. You see I�m Catholic.� He then told the priest he could put up his wallet. Relieved the priest said, �Why don�t you let me buy you a drink� to which the robber responded, �I can�t believe you would suggest something so evil.�


Sometimes people have convictions about certain things in life, but they don�t allow themselves to live fully in Christ so as to see all their faults. If they did see all their faults they would be slow to criticize others for their faults. Let us live for Christ that we would honor Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/19/13 10:35 AM
Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)
3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

In this proverb King Solomon points out two foolish acts of people. First they create their own trouble, embarrassing themselves and running themselves aground. Second when they have done so they choose to lay blame against God. In holding their anger against God they take away their own peace by removing The One who could comfort them.



Adam and Eve could have used this proverb from King Solomon. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, God asked Adam a simple question, �Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?� It was a simple yes or no question, but instead Adam gave this response, �It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.� In other words, God had you not created this woman for me then how could she have given me the fruit to eat.

God specifically told Adam he could eat from any tree in the garden except one and that was The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam had heard the command. Adam had understood the command. It was Adam who disobeyed the command and yet we find Adam blaming Eve and God for his own actions.

How many times in your life do you think you have blamed someone else when it was your actions that caused a problem? If we never learn to accept blame for our problems then it becomes difficult to ever correct the problem; for we always justify ourselves. When we justify ourselves there is no need to look for a future solution because we have already laid the blame on someone else; believing it is their problem to correct.


Learn to accept responsibility for your own actions. Learn that getting angry at others for your actions is not the way to solve problems, but instead create new problems. In your mind because they are wrong you alienate yourself from others who could most likely help. Learn to turn to God and others for help instead of placing blame on them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/20/13 10:55 AM
Psalm 16:8-11 (NKJV)
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

All of these verses were shared by the St. Peter in his first sermon (Acts 2:25-28) after the Holy Spirit came upon everyone on the day of Pentecost. In these words Peter says David was speaking of Christ. For those who place their faith in Christ find rest in Christ. They find eternal life and a life on earth that can be lived in joy even when facing the painful moments of life.



The words of St. Peter: �Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. �For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

�The Lord said to my Lord,
�Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.��

�Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.� Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, �Men and brethren, what shall we do?� Then Peter said to them, �Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.�



Peter�s message was on the salvation from sin given as a gift to all those willing to repent of their sin and to follow Christ by placing their faith and trust in Him. For their faith they would receive a free gift of salvation, the opportunity to live eternally with Christ in heaven. Salvation is a free gift offered to all people who are willing to receive it.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/13 11:44 AM
Proverbs 21:9 (NIV)
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

These are interesting words from King Solomon considering he had over 700 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon was the wisest man to have lived, yet it seems his wisdom was conquered by the women in his life. Many of his wives were from foreign lands and practiced foreign religions, which eventually led to Solomon�s downfall. Here we find Solomon contemplating solitude on the corner of an uncomfortable roof would be more peaceful that living in the comfort of the home with constant quarrels.



The Chicago Tribune Business Section printed an article called Families seek room to retreat, dated December 10, 2004, by June Fletch. The article states: After two decades of pushing the open floor plan--where domestic life revolved around a big central space and exposed kitchens gave everyone a view of half the house--major builders and top architects are walling people off. They're touting one-person "Internet alcoves," locked-door "away rooms" and his-and-her offices on opposite ends of the house. The new floor plans offer so much seclusion, they're "good for the dysfunctional family," says Gopal Ahluwahlia, director of research for the National Association of Home Builders.



It�s sad to think homes have to be built with dysfunctional families in mind. Instead of families learning to cope with problems and issues, they push each other aside by retreating to private places in the home. One TV show I always enjoyed watching was The Walton�s. They were a large family, but the one thing they were good about was talking through their family issues and problems. They might have taken time out and gone for walks, but they always came back to address their issues and settle their problems.

God designed us for relationships. When we break off from those relationships and go our own way our lives become out of sync and often dysfunctional. Instead of trying to find a place of solitude, let us learn to create fellowship in families, good communication, appreciation for one another, and showing the same love, grace and mercy that God shows us. Let us put aside quarrels and learn to communicate properly with each other in a harmonious way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/13 11:32 AM
James 4:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, �The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously�?

The terms adulterers and adulteresses in verse 4 refers to those who are faithless towards God. They have turned their back on God to be friends with the sin of the world; therefore making themselves opposed to God. James goes on to say that God is jealous over us when He sees our preference for worldly ideas and thoughts. It is God�s desire for us to turn to Him and fellowship in righteousness with Him.



The following is a except of the lyrics from the song How He Loves, by the David Crowder Band.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all


God is jealous of us in a good way in that He would rather we fellowship with Him in righteous than to follow the world in sin. God loves us deeply and wants the best for us. God loves us so much that he gave His only son Jesus Christ to die for our sin. Knowing Christ died for our sin, let us be willing to live for Christ - demonstrating God�s love and glory to the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/23/13 10:41 AM
Psalm 94:18-19 (NLT)
18 I cried out, �I am slipping!� but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. 19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

The psalmist and the people there were under persecution and oppression. The psalm is an appeal to God to appear against their enemies. In the verses above we see the psalmist at times feels as though he is slipping away, but God pulls him back from the despair and gives him hope.



In a recent news story, Antoinette Tuff hailed as �true hero� for handling Georgia school gunman, [Greg Botelho, Vivian Kuo, and Josh Levs, www.cnn.com, August 22, 2013.]

A man slips behind someone else into a packed elementary school with an AK-47-type weapon. He goes into the office and shoots at the ground, then darts between there and outside to fire at approaching police.

So what do you do?

If you're Antoinette Tuff, who works in the front office at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy just outside Atlanta, you don't run. You talk. You divulge your personal struggles to the gunman, you tell him you love him, you even proactively offer to walk outside with him to surrender so police won't shoot.

And then the nightmare ends with the suspect, later identified as Michael Brandon Hill, taken into custody and no one inside or outside the Decatur school even hurt, despite the gunfire.

"Let me tell you something, babe," Tuff tells the dispatcher, Kendra McCray, at the end of the dramatic 911 call that recounts her minutes of valor and terror. "I've never been so scared in all the days of my life. Oh, Jesus."



I listened to Antoinette�s story as she told it. She was scared and said she was praying through the entire ordeal. The Lord held her firm as she comforted and reassured the young man with the gun that he was loved and that many people went through difficulties. God was supporting her and even through doubts may have filled her mind that anything could happen she was renewed with hope and cheer as she was able to persuade the young man to lay down his weapon and peacefully give himself up to authorities.


The psalmist reminds us, I cried out, �I am slipping!� but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/13 10:47 AM
Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ�s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

The apostle explains that all the saints� work together to make up the body of Christ, with Christ being at the head of the body directing and leading. Not everyone performs the same work, nor does everyone have the same authority; for each are unique individual members of the body working as a whole to perform the functions for Christ. We must all work in love and harmony with each other so that we can perform all the functions necessary for the church. We work together, supporting one another, encouraging one and motivating each other to do what is right.




Coach Carter is the true story of Ken Carter (Samuel Jackson), a successful sporting goods store owner, who in 1999 became head basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, California.

Dismayed by the attitudes of his players and their dismal performance on the court, Carter sets out to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime that includes respectful behavior, a dress code, and good grades as a prerequisite of participation.
One particular player, Timo Cruz (Rick Gonzalez), initially refuses to accept the coach's demands and quits the team, only to return later with a desire to be reinstated. Timo asks Coach Carter what he has to do to play. Carter informs Cruz that he must complete 2,500 push-ups and 1,000 suicide drills by Friday? A task even the coach calls "impossible."

By Friday, Timo is short of both goals. Coach Carter, though impressed with what Timo has done, asks him to leave the gym. He has failed.

Suddenly, one of Timo's teammates, Jason (Channing Tatum), who previously had a personality conflict with Timo, steps forward saying, "I'll do push-ups for him. You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One player triumphs, we all triumph. Right?"

As Coach Carter stands speechless, Jason drops to the floor and begins doing push-ups. One by one the entire team begins to join in to help Timo reach his goal.

[Coach Carter (Paramount Pictures, 2005); directed by Thomas Carter; submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]


The Christian life is working together as one body. When one member gets weak then another member helps in the place of the other person. When one person is discouraged, another member encourages. As Christians let us stand firmly together, helping one another so that we can do the work of Christ, not by ourselves, but as a body of believers with a common goal in purpose.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/13 11:45 AM
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

It was the will of Christ that His disciples would gather either in private or public to encourage each other and the people to which they ministered. They were to watch over each other, warn each other of sin, and motivate one another to stay firm in their faith of Jesus Christ. Christ had warned them that as the time for His return came closer there would be trials and tribulations they would face. Working together as one body for Christ they could help each other face the difficulties ahead.



Years ago I started writing short devotionals as a way to encourage a friend. He was facing some hard times in life and I wanted to help give him some hope and let him see how much God loved him. He shared those devotionals and then I got requests to include others on my devotion list.

Most of the time I write about events that are affecting my life, because I know if I am facing a trial in life there are others facing the same trial. Through my devotions I have learned I was not alone. Often people write back and say, �How did you know I was facing this problem�? I didn�t know, but I knew I had faced the problem. God was using me to speak to others about the problem I faced so I could encourage them and give them reassurance that God was with them.

God has a way of taking the pain in our life and using it for the benefit of others. For instance Alison Arngrim, the child star of Little House on the Prairie, was molested as a child. Instead of that event defeating her, Alison helped found an organization aimed at the protection of children from abuse and molestation. Alison has been able to encourage others and help others through their pain.

Kathy Ireland the well-known model and business woman has talked about some of the struggles of entering modeling as a young woman. Kathy managed to keep a strong faith in Christ and she often shares that faith to encourage others.

Tyler Perry the actor and director talked about his childhood abuse, but he didn�t let it keep him down. When Whitney Houston died, Tyler encouraged others by telling others about the salvation the Lord Jesus Christ provides. Tyler did not let his troubles turn him from Christ, but instead he found hope and faith in Christ.

Jennifer O�Neil who went through many trials in her life gives time to encourage others in the faith of Christ. Jennifer went through an abortion after a divorce. She grieved for years and now she reaches out to other women to give them hope and options to keep them from the same grief she faced.

Actress Leah Remini has faced some opposition after leaving the Church of Scientology. I have read about those who have reached out and encouraged her about her decision. I pray Leah would know the true love of God and that she would be encouraged and that others would encourage her.

May God encourage each of you as you encourage one another! Let God�s love abound in your life. Look to God for hope and know that God is with you. God loves you greater than you can even imagine. Encourage one another!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/13 10:46 AM
John 6:26-29 (NLT)
26 Jesus replied, �I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don�t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.� 28 They replied, �We want to perform God�s works, too. What should we do?� 29 Jesus told them, �This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.�

The day before Jesus had fed over 5000 people with a few fish and few loaves of bread. The disciples and Jesus had now moved to the other side of the shore and some who had seen Him the day before came seeking Jesus. When they found Him - Jesus told them the reason they had followed. It was not because of the works He performed or who He was, but instead it was because they had been fed. They replied they wanted to perform God�s works and Jesus replied that all God desired from them was to believe in the one God sent.



There are people who try to work their way into heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us this, �For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.� Let�s think of it this way, if any person were able to be as holy as God they would end up boasting they were like God themselves. Therefore it would seem impossible that we could perform any work that would equate us to God.

I like to use an illustration where I draw a scale from 1 to 100 and place God at the 100% mark of holiness. Then I ask people to place those they know at various points on the scale. Usually there are some religious leaders placed close to the 100 percent mark and others below them. I have never had anyone place anyone other than God or Christ at the 100% mark. Intuitively we all know we are sinners and can never measure up to God. The Bible even tells us, �For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.� Then I point out if God cannot tolerate unrighteousness how can we ever be close to Him.

It is then we can remember that God forgives all our sins through Jesus Christ His Son. By placing our faith in Christ we receive a free gift salvation. It is not a gift we have to work for, but instead a gift that works through us. For when we accept Christ on faith we have a desire to follow Him and become more like Him.

Jesus let the people know that this is God�s desire when He said, �This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.� Our duty is to place our faith in Jesus Christ who will then dwell in us, convicting us of sin and show us how to live our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/13 11:14 AM
Galatians 3:2-4 (NLT)
2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

The apostle here addresses the Galatians who have placed their faith in Christ, but still continued to seek justification by works according to the Law of Moses. He questions them as to when the Holy Spirit was received, was it when they performed works or when they came to faith in Christ? It was through Christ that they received the Holy Spirit into their lives to lead them and cry out to God for them. The apostle wanted them to realize it was their faith in Christ that justified them and that it was Christ who would show them a new way to live.



It's easy to blame others (and thus justify ourselves) for our disobedience. But in the following quote, Thomas Merton identifies the key reason why we fail to experience the freedom and joy Christ offers believers:

It is not that someone else is preventing you from living happily; you yourself do not know what you want. Rather than admit this [and ask for God's help], you pretend that someone else is keeping you from exercising your liberty. Who is this? It is you yourself. [Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (New Directions, 2007), p. 110]


God has given us directions on how to live our lives, but most importantly the Holy Spirit of Christ dwells within those who have placed their faith in Christ to guide and direct their lives. Jesus said in John 16:13-14, �When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, �The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.�� So our guidance on how to live our lives comes through Christ by means of the Holy Spirit.

We all need to learn to put aside our own ways and listen as the Holy Spirit directs us. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ, talking with Him, asking for help from Him, and letting Him lead us is some of the most important things we can do.

In John Chapter 6:28-29, the people asked Jesus a question and He responded, �28 They replied, �We want to perform God�s works, too. What should we do?� 29 Jesus told them, �This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.��

Do you believe? If so everything else will start to fall into place as you maintain your faith in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/13 10:31 AM
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Matthew Henry states, �Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not the mere product of any natural abilities, nor of any merit of our own: Not of works, lest any man should boast, v. 9. These things are not brought to pass by anything done by us, and therefore all boasting is excluded; he who glories must not glory in himself, but in the Lord. There is no room for any man�s boasting of his own abilities and power; or as though he had done anything that might deserve such immense favors from God.



Helicopter pilot Iain McConnell, along with the rest of his air station crew, was summoned at 4 a.m. on the morning of August 30, 2005, to the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. The Center soon became one of the first bases of operations for Hurricane Katrina relief. McConnell and his crew were told to keep five H-60 helicopters airborne on missions at all times, around the clock.

The first airborne relief teams arrived in the affected areas before any news crews, and were completely unprepared for the devastation they saw. A train track running parallel to the ocean had been pushed inland 15 feet off its gravel bed. A houseboat was floating down U.S. Highway 90. The entire city of New Orleans stood under water.

McConnell's crew got right to work, airlifting stranded people from their rooftops and out of windows, and delivering them to the Superdome helipad. To their chagrin, however, they were only able to help a relatively few amount of survivors. In an interview, McConnell shared why:

On our first three missions, we saved the lives of 89 people, three dogs, and a cat. On the fourth mission, to our great frustration, we saved no one�but not for lack of trying. The dozens we attempted to rescue refused pickup!

Some people told us to simply bring them food and water. "You are trying to live in unhealthy conditions, and the water will stay high for a long time," we warned them. Still, they refused. I felt frustrated and angry, since we had used up precious time and fuel, and had put ourselves at risk during each rescue attempt. I felt like they were ungrateful. But, in truth, they did not know how desperate their situation was.


The Coast Guard was offing a free gift of rescue from the horrible conditions they were left in, yet they did not want to receive the gift of being saved. The same is often true of those who have an opportunity to receive God�s gift of salvation. They just don�t quite see the horrible condition they are living in so they refuse to accept what God offers, a chance for a more peaceful life with eternal salvation.

I remember talking to a homeless man once about God�s free gift of salvation. The sad part was you could tell he grasped the meaning of not accepting God�s grace. Tears welled up and was even shaking as he said, �I have just done too many bad things to accept God�s gift.� He couldn�t realize it was God�s mercy reaching out to him, trying to help him, and offer him an abundant life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/03/13 11:15 AM
Isaiah 48:17 (NLT)
17 This is what the Lord says� your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: �I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

The prophet delivers to the people a gracious message for their support and comfort. God reminds them that He is their redeemer, the Holy One who has kept His promises throughout generations. As their redeemer, God is also their teacher showing them what paths of life are good for them and He leads them to those paths that they should follow. By his grace he leads them in the way of duty, by his providence he leads them in the way of deliverance.



Henry Blackaby writes in Hearing God�s Voice published by Broadman and Holman 2002: The first funeral I ever conducted was for a beautiful three-year-old. She was the first child born to a couple in our church, and the first grandchild in their extended family. Unfortunately, she was spoiled. While visiting the little girl's home one day, I observed that she loved to ignore her parents' instructions. When they told her to come, she went. When they said, "sit down," she stood up. Her parents laughed, finding her behavior cute.

One day their front gate was inadvertently left open. The parents saw their child escaping out of the yard and heading toward the road. To their horror, a car was racing down the street. As she ran out between two parked cars, they both screamed at her to stop and turn back. She paused for a second, looked back at her parents, then gleefully laughed as she turned and ran directly into the path of the oncoming car. The parents rushed their little girl to the hospital, but she died from her injuries.

As a young pastor, this was a profound lesson for me. I realized I must teach God's people not only to recognize His voice but also immediately to obey His voice when they hear it. It is life.



The lessons of life God teaches us sometimes may seem like punishment, but it is out of love that God teaches what is right and what is wrong. For if we do not understand what to do when trials and temptations come our way we may find ourselves running directly into trouble. Listen to The Lord who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/13 10:45 AM
Matthew 16:15 (NKJV)
15 He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?�

Jesus asked a simple question to His disciples, �But who do you say I am.� So many people had different opinions and Jesus was trying to clarify who He was to the disciples. Peter answered and said, �You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.�



The greatness of God is most clearly displayed in his Son. And the glory of the gospel is only made evident in his Son. That's why Jesus' question to his disciples [in Matthew 16] is so important: "Who do you say that I am?"

The question is doubly crucial in our day, because [no one is as popular in the U.S. as Jesus]�and not every Jesus is the real Jesus. �

There's the Republican Jesus�who is against tax increases and activist judges, for family values and owning firearms.

There's Democrat Jesus�who is against Wall Street and Wal-Mart, for reducing our carbon footprint and printing money.

There's Therapist Jesus�who helps us cope with life's problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves.

There's Starbucks Jesus�who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid, and goes to film festivals.

There's Open-minded Jesus�who loves everyone all the time no matter what (except for people who are not as open-minded as you).

There's Touchdown Jesus�who helps athletes fun faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls.

There's Martyr Jesus�a good man who died a cruel death so we can feel sorry for him.

There's Gentle Jesus�who was meek and mild, with high cheek bones, flowing hair, and walks around barefoot, wearing a sash (while looking very German).

There's Hippie Jesus�who teaches everyone to give peace a chance, imagines a world without religion, and helps us remember that "all you need is love."

There's Yuppie Jesus�who encourages us to reach our full potential, reach for the stars, and buy a boat.

There's Spirituality Jesus�who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine, and would rather have people out in nature, finding "the god within" while listening to ambiguously spiritual music.

There's Platitude Jesus�good for Christmas specials, greeting cards, and bad sermons, inspiring people to believe in themselves.

There's Revolutionary Jesus�who teaches us to rebel against the status quo, stick it to the man, and blame things on "the system."

There's Guru Jesus�a wise, inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your center.

There's Boyfriend Jesus�who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love in our secret place.

There's Good Example Jesus�who shows you how to help people, change the planet, and become a better you.

And then there's Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Not just another prophet. Not just another Rabbi. Not just another wonder-worker. He was the one they had been waiting for: the Son of David and Abraham's chosen seed; the one to deliver us from captivity; the goal of the Mosaic law; Yahweh in the flesh; the one to establish God's reign and rule; the one to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, freedom to the prisoners and proclaim Good News to the poor; the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.

[Kevin DeYoung, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" from his DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed blog (posted 6-10-09)}


The Bible tells us, �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.� Is Jesus that person to you?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/13 11:11 AM
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, �All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.� Amen.

Jesus appears to the people after His death. Luke and John mention other appearances, but Matthew focuses on this single appearance. There were people there who believed this was indeed The Risen Christ and there were those who doubted. Yet the message Jesus gave was for all to hear. He did not reject the disbelievers or stand at a distance from them, but came near to alleviate the doubts of His resurrection. Christ states His authority over heaven and earth so there is no question of Christ�s reign as King of Heaven and Earth. He gives commission to those listening to teach others what Christ Himself taught and to make disciples as He made disciples. And Christ reaffirmed His promise that He would be with those who placed their faith in Him throughout eternity.



Sheldon Vanauken was a student of the English professor and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis in the early 1950s. He recounts in his book A Severe Mercy the story of his last meeting with his mentor when Vanauken was leaving Oxford for the United States. Over one final lunch together at a pub, they had spent time wondering aloud about the nature of life after death. When they had finished eating, they stood outside of the pub, talked for a few more minutes, and just before parting ways, Lewis said to Vanauken, "I shan't say goodbye. We'll meet again." The great apologist then plunged into the traffic to cross the street while Vanuaken watched his friend walk away. When Lewis got to the other side of the street, he turned around, anticipating that his friend would still be standing there. With a grin on his face, Lewis shouted over the great roar of cars, "Besides�Christians never say goodbye."

[Greg Ogden, in the sermon "Christians Never Say Good-Bye," Christ Church of Oak Brook (Oak Brook, IL) (preached 5-24-09)]


If we value our faith in Jesus Christ we understand that each person who places their faith in Christ will all be together one day in the heavenly realms. It is a thought that always brings peace to me when a family member or friend who has placed their faith in Christ passes away; for I know one day I will see them again. As my mother was dying from cancer, we reminded my mother, �Just think of all the people you will get to see, grandmother, granddad and so many other family and friends.� My mother smiled and excitingly said, �You are right, I will!� And with that a peace fell over her that calmed and reassured her that while she was near the end of life on earth, she was near the beginning of an eternal life in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/13 10:39 AM
John 14:23 (NKJV)
23 Jesus answered and said to him,� If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Jesus responding to one of the disciples makes a promise that if anyone loves Him they will abide by his words. God the Father will also love them and both Christ and the Father will be with them always. �The light and love of God are communicated to man in the light and love of the Redeemer, so that wherever Christ is formed the image of God is stamped. [1]�



Brent Curtis writes in The Sacred Romance, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997): If I'm not abiding in Jesus, then where is it that I abide? I once asked myself. I began to notice that when I was tired or anxious, there were certain sentences I would say in my head that led me to a familiar place. The journey to this place would often start with me walking around disturbed, feeling as if there was something deep inside that I needed to put into words but couldn't quite capture. I felt the "something" as anxiety, loneliness, and a need for connection with someone. If no connection came, I would start to say things like, "Life really stinks. Why is it always so hard? It's never going to change." If no one noticed I was struggling or asked me what was wrong, I found my sentences shifting to a more cynical level: "Who cares? Life is a joke." Surprisingly, by the time I was saying those last sentences, I was feeling better. The anxiety was greatly diminished.

My comforter, my abiding place, was cynicism and rebellion. From this abiding place, I would feel free to use some soul cocaine, watching a violent video with maybe a little sexual titillation thrown in, having more alcohol with a meal than I might normally drink, things that would allow me to feel better for a little while. I had always thought of these things as just bad habits. I began to see they were much more; they were spiritual abiding places that were my comforters and friends in a very spiritual way.

The final light went on one evening when I read John 15:7 in The Message. Peterson translates Jesus' words on abiding this way: "If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon." Jesus was saying in answer to my question, "I have made my home in you, Brent. But you still have other comforters you go to. You must learn to make your home in me."


God the Father and Christ both love us deeply. When we return our love for them through faith and obedience we are drawn closer to Them and They to us. Their desire is to abide with us and help us through the tough times. They want to take away our anxiousness, our loneliness, and disconnection from others. When times are difficult, instead of making objects of life our comforters we need to turn to The Lord in love and allow Him to comfort us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, �Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.�

[1] Matthew Henry Commentary on John 14
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/09/13 10:53 AM
Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

God�s salvation through Jesus Christ brings mercy and grace that allows us to turn from old habits to new ways of living. We live in an evil and corrupt world, but we should not allow the world to overwhelm us, but instead devote ourselves to God looking forward to the glorious live to be lived in heaven. God freed us from sin that we can live a victorious life, showing others the rich rewards God have waiting for us all.


Oswald Chambers wisely said, �When you meet a man or woman who puts Jesus Christ first, knit that one to your soul.�

I watched a delightful movie, Marriage Retreat. It was about a group of best friends who go to a marriage retreat in the mountains with only the purpose of relaxing and having a little fun. They are quick to discover how far apart their marriages have drifted through some unconventional methods applied by Dr. Sullivan and his wife Katrina. They are challenged to confront their sin and heal their relationships, although most of them at first are clueless about their problems. Their marriages seem to be unraveling as they realize the issues they have been ignoring. Just as it seems their marriages are lost they start to find love in the one they had been ignoring � God. As each spouse turned to God for answers they were able to let go of hurts, problems, pain, and other issues.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Christ did so that we would show others how to live a peaceful and content life. As we place Christ first and draw closer to Him, our relationships with others also pull closer to Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/13 11:04 AM
Isaiah 46:4 (NLT)
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime�until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

In Isaiah 46 God reminds the people of Israel that other countries bow to statues that are idols - their gods. These idols are carried from place to place in carts. These gods cannot protect the people nor can the people protect their gods for they are man-made. The true God reminds His people that He is with them throughout their lifetime. God says He made them, He will care for them, and He will carry them along and save them. This is something the gods of the others cannot do.



Concerning God's help, John Ortberg writes in God Is Closer Than You Think (Zondervan, 2005), pp. 161-162 the following:

God does come, and he may come in unexpected ways. Lewis Smedes was a teacher of mine in seminary, one of the best writers and preachers I have ever known. Even though he was brilliant and accomplished and devoted to God, he suffered from a sense of inadequacy that at times grew into deep depression. At one point in his life, he stopped preaching because he felt unqualified.

God came to him through two avenues. One was a three-week experience of utter solitude, where he heard God promise to hold him up so vividly that, as he put it, he felt lifted from a black pit straight up into joy. The other avenue he describes this way: I had not been neurotically depressed since that day, though I must be honest and tell you that God also comes to me each morning and offers me a 20 milligram capsule of Prozac. He clears the garbage that accumulates in the canals of my brain overnight and gives me a chance to a fresh morning start. I swallow every capsule with gratitude to God.

I love the picture that Lewis paints. I used to think that taking Prozac would be a sign of weak faith in God. But what if Prozac might be, not a substitute for God, but his gift? What if refusing might be spurning his hand because of pride? Maybe God is present in wise doctors and medication that makes synapses and neurotransmitters work right. Maybe weakness is really refusing�out of our own blindness and stubbornness�the help that God is offering.




There are some Christians who believe life is always easy and there are never any bumps in the road. I once heard a preacher say that if this was true, maybe you aren�t getting in Satan�s way by doing enough of God�s work. For when we are hard at work for God and Christ Satan wants to stop us by any means he can. There were times the Apostle Paul wrote from prison where you could hear the discouragement in his words, but he still continued to life up Christ and encouraged others.

Mental Illness is real and there are people who suffer from one problem or another. We live in an imperfect, broken world and Lewis Smedes is right, God works through others to help us in our moments of despair. For the Body of Christ works together supporting other members of the body. I know some wonderful Christian doctors and they have been true blessings in my life. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety or other issues don�t be afraid to reach out for help � for God is always with you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/13 11:14 AM
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains� where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This Psalm is often called the soldiers prayer. David gave special attention to God for God was his helper, defender and shield. We can stay encouraged in God who made both heaven and the earth; for God made them out of nothing � speaking them into existence. God reigns over all of heaven and earth and makes use of them as he pleases for the help of his people, and restrains them when he pleases from to keep people from hurting.



While serving in Iraq, Courtney Birdsey experienced the protective hand of God, forever changing her. She says:

On one of [our] missions, my unit made a return trip to Samarra, north of Baghdad, to gather data. As we were leaving the town, the Humvee I was riding in approached a tank from behind. A soldier riding on the tank gave us an urgent "turn around" signal. We didn't hesitate to follow orders. We doubled back to Samarra, only to find ourselves surrounded by gunshots.

All of us jumped out of our vehicle and took cover�some of us running ahead and some of us staying with the Humvee. I readied my weapon and hunkered down against the back corner of the Humvee. Amid the gunfire, a black BMW sped through the street at 70 miles per hour�the Iraqi passengers inside, pointing their guns through open windows, opened fire at any American soldier within range.

We exchanged shots, and suddenly the BMW careened, out of control, toward the Humvee where I was crouched. I could see the driver slumped over the steering wheel and knew I had only seconds to make a decision. With my heart pounding and unformed prayers racing in my mind, I ran to the front of the vehicle just before the car slammed into the very place I had been just seconds before.

We were told we would have to transfer the wounded in our own vehicle. In the background, completely incongruent to the battle I was facing, I could hear the droning of Muslim prayer chants over loudspeakers.

My convoy was commanded to drive to an American safe house on the outskirts of town. The chanted prayers and the lamb-like groans of a dying man behind me echoed in my head. Finally we arrived at the safety of the compound. I looked down at my uniform, dirty and speckled with the blood of the wounded. I stepped out of the truck and dropped, shaking, to my knees, thanking God for our safety.

After this encounter, my faith took on a deeper and more personal perspective. I had felt the protective hand of God as we returned to our base physically unscathed. For my remaining time in Iraq, I began to rely heavily on my constant communication with God. Praying without ceasing became, for me, as natural as breathing.

Finally, in April 2004, my unit returned home to Colorado Springs. As the National Anthem played over the loudspeaker celebrating our arrival, I felt the tears I had been unable to cry for months stinging my eyes. I thought of my love for this country, the safety of my military family still in Iraq, the loss of those I had known, and of my family waiting in the stands to greet me.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/13 12:41 PM
1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

In this chapter of 1st Peter, the apostle first gives instructions for living to wives, husbands, and then finally Christians as a whole. Here he states that those who have placed their faith in Christ should act as one mind � the mind of Christ. They should be willing to sympathize with each other and help each other as they can. They should treat each other as brothers and sisters for they have been adopted into the kingdom of heaven as heirs with Christ and to its rich rewards. They should keep a tender heart and a humble attitude so pride won�t overtake their actions.



A married couple had a quarrel and ended up giving each other the silent treatment. A week into their mute argument, the man realized he needed his wife's help. In order to catch a flight to Chicago for a business meeting, he had to get up at 5 a.m.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5 a.m."

The next morning the man woke up only to discover his wife was already out of bed, it was 9 a.m., and his flight had long since departed. He was about to find his wife and demand an answer for her failings when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.

He read, "It's 5 a.m. Wake up."



This story illustrates the words of the apostle. Had the husband been tenderhearted and kept a humble attitude he most likely would have been on that plane. In the heat of an argument we say things that most often should not be said, which is why The Bible says, �let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.� Once fierce words leave our mouth they fly like flaming darts towards the other person and cause pain and hurt. We should instead learn to sympathize and listen to the feelings of the other person � and I mean really listen so that we understand.

What some people tend to do is throw facts back and forth at each other without really hearing the feeling of the other person. They say, �Well last week you spent money on new clothes.� And then the other person responds, �Well you were out spending money on golf with your buddies all weekend.� It gets where everyone spews hurtful facts, but no one takes time to listen to the real feelings and sympathize with the person. If we are going to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to first start by showing love at home to our spouse. Take time to be of one mind, sympathize, love each other and keep a tenderhearted and humble attitude that pride will not stand in your way of allowing you to say you are sorry.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/17/13 08:26 PM
Readings for today:

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 8:16-24; 9:1-5
Luke 3:23-38, 4:1


Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

Reading from the Synaxarion:

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 8:16-24; 9:1-5

BRETHREN, thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel; and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will. We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of men. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for our brethren, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints, for I know your readiness of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we be humiliated-to say nothing of you-for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Luke 3:23-38, 4:1

At that time, Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son
of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.

Learn more by visiting the Online Chapel at: http://onlinechapel.goarch.org

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Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/13 10:46 AM
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Here the apostle talks about having the attitude of Christ to love and serve one another. Pride and loftiness are two attitudes that fight against us in life when it comes to serving others. We must therefore learn humility so that we do not always put ourselves ahead of others. It is our responsibility to take an interest in the lives of others and serve them as we can, just as Christ serves and loves us.




Wayne Cordeiro in a sermon, �A Personal Relationship�, said the following. I have a friend named Gene who would take me to lunch every week. And every time we'd go to lunch, he'd insist on paying for it. I thought it was nice and that maybe it was his ministry, so I let him do it for the first 80 times or so. But after a while I said to him, "Gene, let me pay today. You always pick up the tab." He said, "No, no, no. I want to pick up the tab." I said, "Come on. I want to do this." He said, "No, no, no."

So the next week I got there early and said to the waitress, "When the bill comes, would you bring it straight to me?" She said, "Oh, Gene said you might do this, so I can't give it to you. I have to give it to him." I said, "Come on. You're kidding." She said, "No, that's what he said."

So I sat down and said, "Gene, would you let me pay for the lunch?" He said, "No, no. I'll pick up the tab." I said, "Gene, I want to pick up the tab." He said, "No." I said, "I yearn to pick up the tab." He said, "No." I said, "Gene, I'm starting to dream about picking up the tab." He said, "No, I want to pick up the tab." "I beg you," I said, "let me pick up the tab." He said, "No." Till this day I have not yet picked up the tab on lunch.

Listen carefully. Jesus has picked up your tab not once, not twice, but thousands of times. Because of that relationship, you start to feel compelled to do the same. We love because he loves; not because we learned it in Sunday school, not because we get points for it, not because we think we're going to gain or garner God's blessings if we do. We love because he first loved us.



As I had someone tell me once, Satan comes forward when we sin and accuses us. Imagine Satan telling God, �Look at the sinful deeds of your servant.� Then Jesus steps forward as He has done so many times and says, �I paid for that sin and that sin had been forgiven. The one you call sinful is a child of ours that is loved dearly.� If you can think about the number of times Christ has done that for you it will set a desire in you to return to Christ what He has done for you so many, many times.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/13 11:11 AM
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
29 Don�t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Matthew Henry�s Commentary on verse 29 states, �Filthy and unclean words and discourse are poisonous and infectious, as putrid rotten meat: they proceed from and prove a great deal of corruption in the heart of the speaker, and tend to corrupt the minds and manners of others who hear them; and therefore Christians should beware of all such discourse. It may be taken in general for all that which provokes the lusts and passions of others. We must not only put off corrupt communications, but put on that which is good to the use of edifying. The great use of speech is to edify those with whom we converse. Christians should endeavour to promote a useful conversation: that it may minister grace unto the hearers; that it may be good for, and acceptable to, the hearers, in the way of information, counsel, pertinent reproof, or the like.�



Words can either encourage or discourage someone. Once I was on a trip out of town and hailed down a cab. The driver seemed to be in not quite such a good mood. We had a ways to go so he started talking to me about some of his problems. I would calmly reply in an encouraging way hoping to lift his spirits. After a while he asked, �Why are you in a good mood this morning?� At first I was a little surprised by the question, but I told him I had gotten up and read The Bible for a while that morning and had found some encouraging words of wisdom. Then he said, �That�s my problem, I don�t know about me and The Lord. I always try to do what is right, but I seem to fail.� Then I shared some of the wisdom I had learned from my reading. I shared how we all fail at times, but if we place our faith in The Lord, and ask His forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin. As we pulled up to my location the driver stopped, turned around and said, �I want that faith in The Lord you talked about. Would you pray with me?� So I prayed with Mr. Brown and encouraged him to place his faith in The Lord knowing The Lord would always forgive him and encourage him.

I thought I would never see Mr. Brown again, but a year later I was in the same city and hailed down a cab. When I got in the cab I read the taxi license that was posted and the driver was the same Mr. Brown I had spoken to before. This time his attitude was different. After we were on our way I said, �Mr. Brown do you remember me?� He looked back in his rearview mirror and said, �I sure do. You are that man that prayed with me about The Lord.� I asked, �How are you doing this morning?� His response was, �The Lord has given me a joyous heart!�


Sometimes all it takes is for us to listen to the problems of another, have compassion for them, and give them words of encouragement and it will lift their hopes and spirit. Our words can build them up if we use them properly. We must remember too that our words can tear down and destroy if used the wrong way. Pray The Lord will bless you with good things to say that are helpful and encouraging.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/13 11:19 AM
Proverbs 20:1 (NLT)
Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

When one partakes of alcohol they never know which direction their life may turn. For it can take people and turn them into something they don�t want to be.



COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) � A driver has confessed in a video posted online that he's to blame for a wrong-way car crash stemming from a night of heavy drinking that killed another man and says he's willing to take "full responsibility."

Homicide charges may be filed next week, the prosecutor's office said Friday.

The 3 1/2-minute video, posted on at least two websites on Tuesday, shows 22-year-old Matthew Cordle describing what led to the accident in which he killed the man three months ago.

"My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22nd, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani," he says somberly. "This video will act as my confession."

Cordle says in the video he "made a mistake" when he decided to drive his truck home after "drinking really heavily" and hit the other car, killing the 61-year-old Canzani, of suburban Columbus.

The video begins with Cordle's face blurred as he describes how he has struggled with depression and was simply trying to have a good time with friends going "from bar to bar" the night of the accident. He then describes how he ended up driving into oncoming traffic on a highway.

Cordle's face becomes clear as he reveals his name and confesses to killing Canzani.

"When I get charged I'll plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I've done to Vincent and his family," Cordle says.

Later, he says he understands that by releasing the video he's giving prosecutors "everything they need to put me away for a very long time." [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/06/dui-video-confession/2775585/]

[View the video
]



Matthew Cordle is facing the consequences of his actions. He was true to his word and confessed in court by pleading guilty and taking full responsibility for his actions. Matthew seems like a nice young man, wanting to share his problem so that others may not make the same mistake he did. Obviously alcohol took hold of his life and is now mocking him for his mistake. Let�s keep Matthew in our prayers that his testimony will keep others from making the same error he made.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/23/13 11:24 AM
Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Dare say any of us enjoy running into the problems and trials of life. However when we do we have the choice to face them or run from them. Running serves no purpose other than to delay the inevitable. Facing a problem means we trust God for leadership as we press on to correct the problems and issues. Sometimes we might not find the answer we want, but we find a way to build character and strength by listening to God.



in his book The Pressure's Off, psychologist Larry Crabb uses a story from his childhood to illustrate our need to delight in God through adversity:

One Saturday afternoon, I decided I was a big boy and could use the bathroom without anyone's help. So I climbed the stairs, closed and locked the door behind me, and for the next few minutes felt very self-sufficient.

Then it was time to leave. I couldn't unlock the door. I tried with every ounce of my three-year-old strength, but I couldn't do it. I panicked. I felt again like a very little boy as the thought went through my head, "I might spend the rest of my life in this bathroom."

My parents�and likely the neighbors�heard my desperate scream.

"Are you okay?" Mother shouted through the door she couldn't open from the outside. "Did you fall? Have you hit your head?"

"I can't unlock the door!" I yelled. "Get me out of here!"

I wasn't aware of it right then, but Dad raced down the stairs, ran to the garage to find the ladder, hauled it off the hooks, and leaned it against the side of the house just beneath the bedroom window. With adult strength, he pried it open, then climbed into my prison, walked past me, and with that same strength, turned the lock and opened the door.

"Thanks, Dad," I said�and ran out to play.

That's how I thought the Christian life was supposed to work. When I get stuck in a tight place, I should do all I can to free myself. When I can't, I should pray. Then God shows up. He hears my cry�"Get me out of here! I want to play!"�and unlocks the door to the blessings I desire.

Sometimes he does. But now, no longer three years old and approaching sixty, I'm realizing the Christian life doesn't work that way. And I wonder, are any of us content with God? Do we even like him when he doesn't open the door we most want opened�when a marriage doesn't heal, when rebellious kids still rebel, when friends betray, when financial reverses threaten our comfortable way of life, when the prospect of terrorism looms, when health worsens despite much prayer, when loneliness intensifies and depression deepens, when ministries die?

God has climbed through the small window into my dark room. But he doesn't walk by me to turn the lock that I couldn't budge. Instead, he sits down on the bathroom floor and says, "Come sit with me!" He seems to think that climbing into the room to be with me matters more than letting me out to play.

I don't always see it that way. "Get me out of here!" I scream. "If you love me, unlock the door!"

Dear friend, the choice is ours. Either we can keep asking him to give us what we think will make us happy�to escape our dark room and run to the playground of blessings�or we can accept his invitation to sit with him, for now, perhaps, in darkness, and to seize the opportunity to know him better and represent him well in this difficult world.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/13 11:22 AM
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God�s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

The apostle encourages the people not to throw away their confidence and trust, but to hold fast to their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Patient endurance is what they need so they will not turn away from God, but instead focus their attention on doing God�s will.



In his best-selling book The Reason for God, Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan, shares the story of a woman in his congregation who was learning how the grace extended to us through Christ's work on the cross can actually be more challenging than religion. He writes:

Some years ago I met with a woman who began coming to church at Redeemer and had never before heard a distinction drawn between the gospel and religion [i.e. the distinction between grace and what is often a works-based righteousness]. She had always heard that God accepts us only if we are good enough. She said that the new message was scary. I asked why it was scary and she replied: If I was saved by my good works then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with "rights"�I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if I am a sinner saved by grace�then there's nothing he cannot ask of me."

She understood the dynamic of grace and gratitude. If when you have lost all fear of punishment you also lose all incentive to live a good, unselfish life, then the only incentive you ever had to live a decent life was fear. This woman could see immediately that the wonderful-beyond-belief teaching of salvation by sheer grace had an edge to it. She knew that if she was a sinner saved by grace, she was (if anything) more subject to the sovereign Lordship of God. She knew that if Jesus really had done all this for her, she would not be her own. She would joyfully, gratefully belong to Jesus, who provided all this for her at infinite cost to himself.



While it is true a Christian belongs to Christ there is no need for fear. Christ gave Himself freely for us that we could live an eternal life in heaven. It should be out of love for Christ that we do His will and minister to others in His name. Since Christ gave His life that we might live in heaven, let us give our lives that others would see Christ living in us. Let us share our confidence and trust in the Lord remembering the rewards that are to come.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/13 12:17 PM
1 John 2:1 (NKJV)
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

We know God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins so we should not take advantage of such grace and mercy. Instead it should be our desire to live as Christ; for not only did Christ provide us with saving grace, Jesus Christ is also our advocate taking up for us when we do sin. So not only did Christ bear our sin on the cross, but Jesus Christ also pleads that the sin He died for will be forgiven.



Witold Pilecki was a Polish army captain, a devout Catholic and patriotic Pole who volunteered at age 39 for one of the singular missions of World War II: to get into Auschwitz. �The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery� (Aquila Polonica: 2012), documents, in his own words, Pilecki�s remarkable exploits

On Sept. 19, 1940, Pilecki left the hideout of the underground Polish Home Army, which he helped create, to deliberately enter a German roundup. He was taken to Auschwitz, where he survived vicious beatings, starvation and pneumonia, and, at the same time, set about organizing resistance units, boosting morale and documenting the murder taking place there.

Beginning in 1941, Pilecki used couriers to smuggle out detailed reports of Auschwitz atrocities, reports that reached the Polish resistance and the British government in London. In 1942, he helped organize a secret radio station, using scrap parts, that regularly broadcast the numbers of arrivals and deaths at the camp.

�The game that I was now playing at Auschwitz was dangerous,� Pilecki wrote in his report. �This sentence does not really convey the reality; in fact, I had gone far beyond what people in the real world would consider dangerous.�

Pilecki�s detailed reports of what was happening inside Auschwitz revealed the treachery of the �final solution� to a world that believed the camp only held Polish and Soviet prisoners of war. Perhaps because he wrote in factual, unemotional language, perhaps because he wasn�t a Jew, his observations continue to carry an irrefutable weight.

Pilecki eventually escaped and reported the atrocities that had taken place at Auschwitz.

[Excepts from jewishjournal.com, Rob Eshman, The Man who snuck into Auschwitz, 10/5/2012]



This is a beautiful example of how one man lived like Christ. He stepped from his world of comfort into a world where horrific things took place. He walked among the people having to live as they did and experience what they experienced so he could report firsthand the things that took place.

Jesus died for our sins and continues to be an advocate for us in heaven. He continues to give report for us and stands up for us whenever we call upon His name. May it be that we do not sin, because Jesus gave His life for the death of sin we were to bear alone.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/13 10:54 AM
Matthew 6:27 (NKJV)
27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

No amount of worry can change a person�s height, nor change it change the years they live for these are by the providence of God. Zaccheus was a man short in stature and when he wanted to see Jesus instead of worrying he went into action to climb a tree to get a better view. There is nothing we can add to our lives by worry. We are best to stop and wisely think through the plans of the today and then tackle tomorrow when it comes for it will have its own challenges.



A 2012 article from The Atlantic observed that over the past 100 years we have often turned yesterday's luxury products into today's necessities.

In 1900, less than 10 percent of families owned a stove, or had access to electricity or phones.
In 1915, less than ten percent of families owned a car.
In 1930, less than ten percent of families owned a refrigerator or clothes washer.
In 1945, less than ten percent of families owned clothes dryer or air-conditioning.
In 1960, less than ten percent of families owned a dishwasher or color TV.
In 1975, less than ten percent of families owned a microwave.
In 1990, less than ten percent of families had a cell phone or access to the internet.

The article concluded by noting, "Today, at least 90 percent of the country has a stove, electricity, car, fridge, clothes washer, air-conditioning, color TV, microwave, and cell phone. They make our lives better. They might even make us happier. But they are [never] enough."

[Derek Thompson, "The 100-Year March of Technology in 1 Graph," The Atlantic (4-7-12)]


The true necessities of life are air, food, water, and shelter. Everything else we have are just luxuries. I look around today at all the kids with cell phones and I think that would have been cool to have as a kid. Yet I managed to make it through life until I was an adult without a cell phone. We didn�t have a clothes dryer when I was growing up. We took clothes down to the clothes line, hung them up to dry and came back later to take them back in the house. On really cold days the clothes would even freeze a little, but they would eventually dry. It was the rainy days you might have to drive to the laundry mat to use a clothes dryer or if you had a clothes rack and floor heat vent you might be able to dry them that way.

So let us all be prudent in the choices in life we make. Ensure the necessities are taken care of and everything is just something to be enjoyed. Put aside worry and make a plan for your life. Lean on God to show the direction for your life and what is important and what is not. Take each day one at a time for tomorrow will hold new issues and problems that must be addressed. Why worry about tomorrow it is not going to change the outcome of today.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/13 11:08 AM
Philippians 1:9-10 (NLT)
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ�s return.

Paul often shared his prayers with those he prayed for. Here Paul tells the Philippians that he has prayed their love will overflow and they will grow in knowledge and understand of the Lord�s love for them. His desire is to see them live their lives in an honorable and blameless way.



The Apostle Paul spent roughly one-quarter of his missionary career in prisons. John McRay wrote in Christian History:

Roman imprisonment was preceded by being stripped naked and then flogged�a humiliating, painful, and bloody ordeal. The bleeding wounds went untreated as prisoners sat in painful leg or wrist chains. Mutilated, bloodstained clothing was not replaced, even in the cold of winter.

Most cells were dark, especially the inner cells of a prison, like the one Paul and Silas inhabited in Philippi. Unbearable cold, lack of water, cramped quarters, and sickening stench from few toilets made sleeping difficult and waking hours miserable. Because of the miserable conditions, many prisoners begged for a speedy death. Others simply committed suicide.

In settings like this, Paul wrote encouraging, even joyful, letters and continued to speak of Jesus.

[Elesha Coffman, Christian History Connection (6-1-02), from Christian History (issue 47)]



Imagine praying for others that their love will abound while confined to the horrible conditions of prison. It would be hard enough to find strength and desire to love under the misery Paul was exposed to, but he depended on this knowledge and understanding of Christ�s love for him to live his life and encourage others no matter what problems he faced.

We should all be like Paul, praying for people, encouraging others, motivating them to love, no matter what problems were present. Maybe if we did we would find our own burdens a little lighter knowing we helped someone else.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/30/13 01:05 PM
Speaking of modern luxeries, I once heard the argument that modern society should result in more time to study Gods word. That is, people no longer need to labor cooking at a wood stove and washing clothes all day.
They have that extra time.
Yet that extra time is converted to the pursuit of more worldy things.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/13 12:35 PM
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

The apostle writes about the assurance of resurrection for those who have placed their faith in the promise of God that Jesus Christ died for our sin, rose again to life that we may too have victory over death and live an eternal life in heaven with the Father and the Son.



Hawa Ahmed was a Muslim student in North Africa. One day, she read a Christian tract in her dormitory and decided to become a Christian. Her father was an Emir (Islamic ruler), so she expected to lose her inheritance because of her conversion. She was completely unprepared for what happened. When she told her family she had become a Christian and changed her name to Faith, her father exploded in rage. Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to electrocute her. Faith asked them to at least lay a Bible in her lap. Her father responded, "If you want to die together with your false religion, so be it." One of her brothers added, "That will show that your religion is powerless." Although they had bound her, she was able to touch a corner of the Bible. She felt a strange peace, as though someone were standing beside her. Her father and brothers pushed the plug into the socket�and nothing happened. They tried four times with various cables, but it was as though the electricity refused to flow. Finally her father, angry and frustrated, hit her and screamed, "You are no longer my daughter."

Then he threw her into the street, naked. She ran through the streets, humiliated and in pain. People looked at her, curious rather than shocked. Shaking and tearful, she ran to a friend. Her friend let her in, clothed her, and gave her shelter. The next day, her friend asked neighbors what they had thought when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets. "What are you talking about?" they asked. "The girl had a wonderful white dress on. We asked ourselves why someone so beautifully clothed had to run through the streets." God had hidden her nakedness from their eyes, clothing her in a beautiful white dress. Today, Faith is a full-time evangelist with Every Home for Christ.

[Guido Kuwas , Global Revival News (12-17-01); submitted by Owen Bourgaize, Guernsey, United Kingdom]


It wasn�t time for Hawa Ahmed to go home to be with God, although she was prepared to do so. God had plans to use her here on earth for a while longer. Today, Faith is a full-time evangelist with Every Home for Christ. Let us give praise to God while we exist here in these earthly bodies and give Him praise for the future bodies of immortal life waiting for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/13 10:45 AM
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

Abraham feared death because his wife was a beautiful woman, so he referred to her as his sister. Although Peter had been with Jesus, seen his miracles and even aided others - when Peter felt alone he suddenly feared the wrath of man and denied that he ever knew Jesus. We are encouraged to depend on the power of God which keeps us away from the thoughts of fear. If God is truly our salvation then with must believe with our hearts and trust God and not be afraid.



Our need to be in charge of ourselves, others, and situations often makes our relationship with Christ life's biggest power struggle. We are reluctant to relinquish our control and allow Him to run our lives. We may believe in Him and be active in the church and Christian causes, but trusting Him as Lord of everything in life can be scary.

Even though we pray about our challenges and problems, all too often what we really want is strength to accomplish what we've already decided is best for ourselves and others. Meanwhile we press on with our own priorities and plans. We remain the script writer, casting director, choreographer, and producer of the drama of our own lives, in which we are the star performer.

[Lloyd Ogilvie in 12 Steps to Living Without Fear. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 3.]



Do you find yourself planning your life without God�s help? Do you allow fear to overrun you because you haven�t talked to God about the problem? Maybe it�s time to stop depending upon you and depend on God. Stop fearing what man can do to you and start trusting in what God can do for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/13 11:42 AM
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
3 Let us thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through His loving-kindness that we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead.

Here the apostle encourages us to give thanks to God the Father and our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. For it was through the loving kindness of Christ that we were born again to a new life and given a hope of eternity in heaven with Him. We have the hope of eternal life for Christ was raised from the dead just as those will be who have placed their faith in Him.



You've probably never heard of Wilbert Williams. He's not famous or rich. Still, Williams received an honor normally reserved for the connected, powerful, and wealthy. On December 2, 2004, the city of Chicago designated a street as Wilbert Williams Way. The honor is in celebration of his upcoming retirement.

What did someone as unknown as Williams do to deserve such a tribute? The question becomes even more compelling when you realize that for nearly 40 years, Wilbert Williams has worked at the Woman's Athletic Club as a doorman. Normally, an honorary street sign goes to people who get the door held open for them not to the one holding the door.

What set Williams apart? He has carried out his duties in an exemplary fashion. Police Officer Paul O'Donnell said, "In all these years, I've never heard him speak a harsh word about anyone. He's a gentleman." Through his kindness and service to others, Williams made an impact on those who he met at the corner of Michigan and Ontario. Commenting on why he has always helped tourists, pointing them in the right direction, Williams says, "If I was in a different city, I'd like someone to help me."

Having a street named after you is impressive. How much greater the honor God promises to give to those who serve him well, an eternal inheritance that will never spoil or fade away.

[John Beukema, Western Springs, Illinois; source: Shamus Toomey, "Doorman Gets His Way," Chicago Sun-Times (12-2-04)]


God has the riches of heaven waiting for us. We need to realize our existence here on earth is short lived and we have a glorious eternity waiting for us because of Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to God the Father and Jesus Christ who in their love, mercy and grace thought of us and gave us hope to live with them forever.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/13 10:51 AM
Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Here King Solomon provides a word of caution against presuming we have time to act, to complete tasks, to finish what we started. We should always be willing to prepare for the future, but we cannot assume that the future is guaranteed to us. There is one thing we should never put off. When we hear God�s calling to follow Christ and place our trust in Him we must do so that we do not miss out on the glories and riches of heaven; for tomorrow may not come and then it will be too late to act.




J. Richard Love of Ruston Louisiana write about articles he read in Time Magazine. On a vacation in October 2001, I was thumbing through a pile of dated magazines, and in Time magazine I stopped to read the column called Winners & Losers.

In the "Loser" category in an August 2001 issue was Rudy Giuliani, lame duck New York City mayor, suffering from crumbling health, a crumbling marriage, and a crumbling political career. What a loser, Time suggested. Who would want to be this guy?

In the "Winner" category a month earlier was Ted Olson, rising star as Solicitor General of the United States. What a winner, Time proclaimed. Who wouldn't envy this guy?

How things change. Within a matter of weeks of these two issues, Time would refer to Giuliani as the "Mayor of the World" and a "tower of strength" for his leadership in the aftermath of September 11, and a few months later the magazine would name him "2001 Person of the Year."

By contrast, we ached with Ted Olson as we watched him bury his wife, Barbara, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. No one envied him at that moment.



Life can change in the blink of an eye. The first priority is to ensure you have placed you faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Next you want to think of those close to you. Do they know Christ? Would they know how to answer if God asked them �Why should I let you into my heaven?� If they don�t - help them understand and let God call them close to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/07/13 11:09 AM
Psalm 63:1 (NIV)
1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

David wrote this psalm while in the dessert of Judah. This psalm shows that while David may thirst physically, he thirsts more for God. There are times when we all find ourselves lost in a wilderness of life, but we must stay connected to God by faith.




Imagine that you just found out you have a rare and terminal illness. You sit down with your doctor.

"Is there no hope?" you ask.

"Well," he says, "there is one thing. Without this one thing, it's over. But with this one thing, you will be completely healed. But let me be utterly clear: It's impossible for you to live without this one thing."

What would you say?

1. "Listen, Doc, you're boring me. My favorite sitcom is starting in five minutes, and I wouldn't miss it for anything. I don't have time for these silly cat-and-mouse games. See ya."

2. Or, "Well that's interesting. But, Doctor, that's your opinion. You are completely entitled to it, and I'm sure it makes you feel better for having expressed it. But I resent your attempt to impose it upon me. I really don't need this kind of psychological blackmail, this medical fascism. Good-bye and good riddance."

3. Or, "What? What is it? Tell me now! I have to know, and I won't leave until I do!"

Of course, the only sane response is the last one.

If we are saved by faith, and if we live by faith, and if it is impossible to please God without faith, the only sane response is: What is it? What is this faith? You have to tell me! I have to know, and I'm not leaving until I do! [Mark Buchanan, Things Unseen (Multnomah, 2002), pp.140-141]


This is how David was connected to God. Even in the midst of physical needs he placed his need in God first. David had faith in what God was doing in his life and David depended upon God to meet his needs. Hebrews 11:6 says, �And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/13 11:42 AM
Isaiah 43:11-12 (NLT)
11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,� says the Lord.

God's people are witnesses for him, and can attest, upon their own knowledge and experience, concerning the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the tenderness of his providence, and the truth of his promise. They step forward as a witness for him that he is gracious and that no word of his has fallen to the ground. They can testify of the Lord�s promise of Salvation and that no other god offers such a plan of redemption. For all the prophets testified of Christ and His coming and God�s promise was fulfilled as He stated.



During the early months of 2005, Zondervan publishing company launched its biggest marketing campaign ever, costing about $1 million, and placing ads in everything from Relevant (a Christian magazine aimed at twenty somethings), to VH1 and MTV's websites. This campaign is to promote a new Bible translation aimed at spiritually curious 18-34 year-olds. The momentum hit a major bump in the road, however, when one of the magazines key to this promotion, Rolling Stone, pulled Zondervan's ad in early January just weeks before the scheduled run date.

Zondervan bought space in the February issue to promote Today's New International Version of the Bible. This ad, and others that are running in secular media like The Onion and Modern Bride, does not mention "God;" rather, it mentions "real truth" in a world of "endless media noise and political spin," and a blue Bible appears in the corner of the ad. Each ad carries the slogan: "Timeless truth; Today's language."

And that assertion of "truth" evidently triggered the rebuff from Rolling Stone.

Kent Brownridge, general manager of Wenner Media, parent company of Rolling Stone, commented that the ad "doesn't quite feel right in the magazine." Executives cited an unwritten policy against ads containing religious messages, though they would not comment on why they sold the space to Zondervan, the nation's largest Bible publisher, in the first place. Nor did they accept Zondervan's offer to change the ad text.

Kent Brownridge commented that, "The copy is a little more than an ad for the Bible. It's a religious message that I personally don't disagree with. We are not in the business of publishing advertising for religious messages."

Doug Lockhart, Zondervan's marketing vice president, commented that they are "really surprised and disappointed&#133;. Rolling Stone was a perfect fit for the group we want to reach. This rejection underscores the challenge we face."

Two weeks later, however, Rolling Stone reversed course and decided to accept the ad from Zondervan. "We have addressed the internal miscommunications that led to the previous misstatement of company policy and apologize for any confusion it may have caused," Lisa Dallos, spokeswoman for Wenner Media, Rolling Stone's parent company, said. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2005-01-17-bible-ad_x.html; submitted by Dana Beatty, Schaumburg, IL]
The troublesome part of this article is where it stated, �Executives cited an unwritten policy against ads containing religious messages, though they would not comment on why they sold the space to Zondervan, the nation's largest Bible publisher, in the first place. Nor did they accept Zondervan's offer to change the ad text.�

But obviously someone stood up as a witness for God and convinced those at the magazine that the ad for Zondervan should be run. Those who are Christians are witnesses for God and they need to tell others God is the only God and there is no other. Hear the words of God that say, �I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/13 12:29 PM
Deuteronomy 13:4 (NIV)
4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Previously Moses had warned the Israelites of the perils that might arise from their predecessors, the Canaanites, concerning idolatry. In this chapter Moses warns the people of idolatry rising up inside of them and tempting others with their idolatrous thoughts. In the verse above Moses reminds the people it is the Lord your God you must follow and revere; following his commandments and staying close to God for reassurance. For when we draw close to God, God draws close to us.




The Mosaic laws were given to show man that he was incapable of not sinning. For no matter what man did there was always the temptation of sin with him. In the verse above the penalty for following other gods and idols was death.

When Jesus came a new covenant was given that gave life instead of taking it. People were still expected not to sin for the Apostle James said, �If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn�t do it, it is sin for them.� When a woman was about to be stoned for adultery Jesus stopped the crowd and challenged them that anyone without sin should throw the first stone. Slowly all the people left for they knew they were sinners. Jesus then told the woman to go and sin no more. Jesus had given her grace and mercy to live, just as He gives us grace and mercy when we sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/13 11:27 AM
James 4:13-16 (NLT)
13 Look here, you who say, �Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.� 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog�it�s here a little while, then it�s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, �If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.� 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

These verses give a warning about one�s own self-confidence in the plans they make concerning their life. For our lives are temporary and can end at any moment and when life ends so do the unfulfilled plans that have been made.




Scene 1, Act 1: Joe considered himself to be an enterprising person. He had been putting together plans to build a new company. This company had the potential of making him millions of dollars. He had consulted often with his friend Bob. Bob had experience putting businesses into place for others and Bob had great ideas that Joe was able to put to use.

Scene 1, Act 2: Joe had just bounced more ideas off Bob for his company. Joe�s plans were about to be finalized and his dream of building a company was about to be a reality. Just a few more steps in his plans and things were going to take off. Bob had thought to himself that if had just had Joe�s drive, maybe he could have been where Joe is today.

Scene 2, Act1: Bob is standing in his office looking out the window and thinking about the past. Bob looks toward the door of his office and sees everyone so busy at work. Bob thinks, If only Joe had not died in the car wreck after their final meeting this would have been Joe�s business and not his. For all the ideas Joe had bounced off Bob gave Bob a catalyst to create a company of his own instead of creating a company for someone else.



King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 9:12, �People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.� There is always uncertainty in life. We should trust the plans of The Lord for us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, �For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/14/13 12:41 PM
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Matthew Henry says of this verses, �"Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind; see to it that there be a saving change wrought in you, and that it be carried on.' Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind, a change not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. It is the same with making a new heart and a new spirit-new dispositions and inclinations, new sympathies and antipathies; the understanding enlightened, the conscience softened, the thoughts rectified; the will bowed to the will of God, and the affections made spiritual and heavenly: so that the man is not what he was-old things are passed away, all things are become new; he acts from new principles, by new rules, with new designs. The mind is the acting ruling part of us; so that the renewing of the mind is the renewing of the whole man, for out of it are the issues of life.




As a very little dust will disorder a clock, and the least sand will obscure our sight, so the least grain of sin which is upon the heart will hinder its right motion toward God.

�John Wesley, English theologian and early leader of Methodist movement (1703�1791)


We are told in Romans 12:2 that we are to learn to know God�s will for our lives, which is good and pleasing and perfect. We do this this through have a relationship with Christ instead of the world. Instead of following what the world demands � we instead allow our minds to be transformed by the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our perfection in Christ comes from putting away the ways of the world and allowing Christ to work within us, transforming us, and becoming more like Christ. Ephesians 4:24 tells us �Put on your new nature, created to be like God�truly righteous and holy.�

I know a young man about the age of my son who went through a period of life addicted to pain medication that started with serious injury. There came a moment he realized he needed to change and gave himself over to Christ to allow the change to occur. He became free of all the pain medication and found a transformed life. Sadly this young man has just recently been diagnosed with liver failure. His mind is so against the medication that once took hold of him that he has been having liver biopsies without any narcotics to deaden the pain. It�s a very painful process, but he said he would rather endure the pain than to face the pain of becoming addicted to pain pills again.

If only we could have the mindset to say, �I will endure what I must to withstand the temptations of sin we would find a remarkable transformation taking place in our lives.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/15/13 11:18 AM
Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.�

There were those who complained of the burdens of the ceremonial laws, intolerable yokes of labor made much more so by the religious leaders who pushed hard rules upon the people. There was also the great weight of sin upon the people that caused regrets and shame. Jesus invited everyone to come and find rest in Him for his yoke was easy and the burden was light. Willing to be saved by Jesus, in His way, by His terms, we find comfort from the Physician who cares for us and our Advocate that speaks on our behalf.




The human mind is a wonderfully complex organ. Our brains can actually process a group of words, even if they are spelled totally incorrectly. For example, see if you can read the following:

The hmuan mnid is a wndoreullfy cpoemlx oargn. You see? It deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod aearpr, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the human mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig isn't it?

Oftentimes our lives, and the world around us, don't seem to make sense. There are even times when everything seems to be a total mess. But when we take a step back and remember that God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last we can rest assured that one day it will all become perfectly clear.


Some days our life seems difficult and confusing, but Jesus is always calling out that we can find rest in Him. The Bible even tells us God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Share your burdens with The Lord for He wants to be peace into your life and lighten your burdens.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/13 10:37 AM
1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Then He said, �Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.� And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

These verses are a part of the story of Elijah hiding in a mountain cave after fearing death from Jezebel. The Lord however had been with Elijah as he fled. God had sent an angel to minister to him after he had run a great distance. Now hiding in a cave, God Himself comes to speak to Elijah. God didn�t speak to Elijah in a mighty way, but instead He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.




In the movie, The Horse Whisperer, Tom Booker, played by actor Robert Redford, employs his special gift of "gentling" horses.

A tense, New York magazine editor can't believe her eyes as she witnesses the gradual transformation of her daughter's horse from traumatized to tamed. In one telling scene, the horse, frightened by the editor's ringing cell phone, gallops off into the far end of a large pasture. Booker walks into the pasture and sits down, where he waits for what appears to be hours. The horse, drawn by its curiosity, inches closer and closer. Finally, it cautiously approaches close enough to touch the "whisperer," and allows itself to be led back to the safety of its stall.


That's the way it is with God, as he "gentles" the untamed or traumatized people who run from him. You see God is always close by just waiting for us to listen and turn to Him. There is no need for God to shout for He is next to us, walking with us and leading us through our lives. We all need to take time and listen as God speaks to us in a still small voice.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/17/13 10:56 AM
Proverbs 17:14 (NLT)
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

All it takes is a harsh word, an angry demand, a condescending tone and a quarrel ensues. It is like opening a floodgate in that it starts slowly, but the flood grows larger as more water is released. A few words may turn into many until a quarrel is flowing like a river. So stop before the words become too harsh and a dispute breaks out that becomes hard to end.



Gordon McDonald writes in "When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships," Leadership Journal (Winter, 2011) -- One of our family scrapbooks contains a note written many years ago by our daughter's best friend, Cindy. It was written when the girls were both 8-years-old and inseparable. They walked to school together every morning, enjoyed frequent sleepovers, and consulted one another on homework assignments each night.

Then one day a tiny incident stressed their friendship. Our daughter, becoming impatient when Cindy would not walk fast enough on the way to school, called her a slowpoke.

It was impulsive, a bad choice of words. One can only guess what it may have meant to Cindy. At any rate there was instant enmity between the girls. That evening there was no collaboration on homework. An upcoming sleepover was canceled. And the following morning the girls walked to school by different routes.

A day later a note, the one in our scrapbook, came in the mail. Addressed to our daughter, it read: "You called me a slowpoke, and I am angry at you. You're no longer my friend, Cindy." Could Cindy have been more specific? The issue, her feelings, the altered status of the relationship: all clearly defined in two sentences.

The separation lasted, at most, one more day. When both girls realized how much they missed each other, they offered mutual "sorrys" (one for walking too slow, the other for using the epithet slowpoke) and resumed their friendship. Soon, it was as if nothing had come between them.

Yet something had happened; something had been learned. One girl had become aware of the importance of guarding her tongue lest an errant word hurt another's feelings. And the other learned not to overreact in a heated moment. Valuable lessons. If remembered, the "learnings" might save both of them in many of the inevitable quarrels they would experience in the future.



In James 1:19 the apostle gives us some rules to follow, �You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.� The most important thing we can do is listen to another person, understand their feelings and relate to them as best as possible. Take time to think through their words and respond carefully with your own words. And if anger ensues, stop the argument and discuss matters when emotions are not running high. It takes two to argue; so if one stops arguing it is difficult for the other to continue.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/13 12:28 PM
Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

It is through faith, prayer and humility that we can wait on The Lord. While we may be nervous and afraid we must stay focused on God knowing He is our protector. Stay brave and courageous for God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage.



I learned to work on my own cars when I was younger. There was one time I was replacing a water pump. It was a difficult job. I had to lift up the engine so I could access some of the bolts. The water pump itself was in a difficult spot where I had to almost be a contortionist to reach some of the bolts.

I proudly removed the water pump and replaced everything but one final bolt. Unfortunately because of rust, the position of the bolt and the angle at which I had to work, the bolt kept trying to cross thread. Anyone who has worked with bolts knows that if you cross thread a bolt, you ruin the threads and any chances of using the hole where the bolt goes without some intervention at a machine shop.

I was getting very frustrated with that bolt. I worked and worked trying to get that bolt to go on correctly. I tried cleaning the hole for the bolt. I used rust remover. I tried everything I knew to do. I was not only frustrated, but very tired from leaning over the engine compartment.

My wife kept coming out and suggesting I call a friend named Miller who lived down the street. Finally I broke down and called. His wife said he would be home in an hour and she would have him come down to my house.

Miller finally arrived and tried to put the bolt in and had the same problem I did; the bolt kept trying to cross thread. Then Miller said come on down to my house a minute and we will get this fixed. At his house he took out a metal grinder and carefully grinded off the first quarter inch of the threads on the bolt. We then went back to my house and the bolt slipped right in and threaded correctly.

You see Miller knew that with the first part of the threads ground off, the bolt would line up straight in the hole. It was worth waiting on Miller for his help or I would have been out there all night trying to get that bolt to go into place.



Most people don�t like to wait. I had a hard time waiting for my friend Miller to get home. However that wait turned into a learning experience that I have used several times throughout the years. However, we learn some of life's greatest lessons through delayed gratification by waiting.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/21/13 11:51 AM
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

These verses start and stop with what love while the center section focuses on what love is not. Matthew Henry writes of these verses, �How lovely a mind is that which is tinctured throughout with such benevolence, and has it diffused over its whole frame! Happy the man who has this heavenly fire glowing in his heart, flowing out of his mouth, and diffusing its warmth over all with whom he has to do! How lovely a thing would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more actuated and animated by this divine principle, and paid a due regard to a command on which its blessed author laid a chief stress! A new commandment give I to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another, Jn. 13:34. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, v. 35. Blessed Jesus! how few of thy professed disciples are to be distinguished and marked out by this characteristic!�



During a commencement address at his alma mater, Northwestern University, the comedian Stephen Colbert offered some wise words for life:

After I graduated from [Northwestern], I moved to Chicago and did improv. Now there are very few rules about improvisation, but one of the things I was taught early on is that you are not the most important person in the scene. Everybody else is. And if they are the most important people in the scene, you will naturally pay attention to them and serve them. But the good news is you're in the scene too. So hopefully to them you're the most important person, and they will serve you. No one is leading; you're all following the follower, serving the servant. You cannot win improv.

And life is an improvisation. You have no idea what's going to happen next and you are mostly just making things up as you go along. And like improv, you cannot "win" your life �. I have my own show, which [is] full of very talented people ready to serve me �. But at my best, I am serving them just as hard, and together, we serve a common idea �. And a sure sign that things are going well is when no one can really remember whose idea was whose, or who should get the credit for what jokes. [Dave Zahl, "No More Winning: Stephen Colbert on Love, Service, and Improv," Mbird blog (5-9-13)]


If only we would serve others out of love in this manner that we would not consider ourselves to be most important, but instead a loving servant. And hopefully the same would be true of those around us. What is winning in life but to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Then He tells us to love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Being able to truly love as The Lord commands is winning in the game of life. For we become more like Jesus and that is the goal of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/13 11:20 AM
John 6:14-15 (NIV)
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, �Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.� 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

For the wrong purposes the people approached Jesus. They saw the miracles he performed and knew him to be a prophet, but they did not understand His mission and therefore came to force Him to act as king. Jesus knew their hearts and withdrew to be alone by himself where he could spend time alone in thought and in prayer.




If you were doomed to live the same life over and over again for eternity, would you choose the life you are living now? The question is interesting enough, but I've always thought the point of asking it is really the unspoken, potentially devastating follow-up question. That is, if the answer is no, then why are you living the life you are living now? Stop making excuses, and do something about it. [William Alexander, The $64 Tomato (Algonquin Books, 2007), p. 245]


Sometimes we need to just step back from life for a bit and examine what is taking place in our lives. While Jesus did a lot to serve others He never hesitated to step back and take a little time to think through things and pray to The Father for guidance. Let us learn to do the same in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/13 11:56 AM
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can�t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Matthew Henry states, �Every converted sinner is a saved sinner. Such are delivered from sin and wrath; they are brought into a state of salvation, and have a right given them by grace to eternal happiness. The grace that saves them is the free undeserved goodness and favor of God; and he saves them, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus, by means of which they come to partake of the great blessings of the gospel; and both that faith and that salvation on which it has so great an influence are the gift of God.�



Repentance is a process of showing that you are sorry for something bad or wrong you did and that you want to do what is right. Most often a person tends to feel regret or sorrow for their actions. But God doesn�t want us to live with regret and sorrow, which is why we were saved by grace. For in God�s mercy He does not want us to linger in a state of remorseful sin where we feel prisoners to the sins we have committed. Instead God wants us to know His mercy and be free from the weight of sin that holds us down with regret and sorrow.

God wants to show us that through His power we can move past the sins in our life. There are people who have committed sins and paid the consequences for them. Instead of being held in slavery to the sin they found freedom. They found they could use their past circumstances to help others and minister to people with the same problems they had faced in their life.

One example that comes to mind is Model and Actress Jennifer Gimenez. Even though she had a successful career she struggled in her personal life. Only those closest to her knew of the severity of her drug and alcohol addiction. The addiction threatened to destroy everything she had worked so hard to achieve. Jennifer went through her struggles to find a road to recovery from addition. Eventually Jennifer found grace and mercy that allowed her to move past her addition and start helping others.


Jennifer works as an addiction counselor, and she�s using her new project, SoberBook.com, as a way to help people open up and seek help. Anyone who has ever struggled with drugs, alcohol, or any other type of an addiction can post their story anonymously, offering hope and support to others who may be going through the same thing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/31/13 11:54 AM
Revelation 20:4 (NLT)
4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Mentioned here are The Saints who suffered for the sake of Christ. They had been faithful and had kept clear of pagan idolatry and rituals. In standing firm they had been beheaded for their testimony of God and Christ. They were given eternal life, honor and power to rule with Christ for their good deeds.



Many Christians know All Hallows Eve by the secular name "Halloween," and avoid any celebration or religious observance of the day. The prevailing thought within many churches is that the holiday glorifies evil and is anti-Christian in its ideology. While many of the customs and traditions associated with the celebration find their roots in Medieval superstitions and ancient European rituals, the prevailing theme of the holiday was to give thanks for the harvest and honor family and friends who died in the past year.

The Church recognized this facet of the observance as they expanded their missionaries into Northern Europe and Britain. Seizing an opportunity to advance the cause of Christ, the Church incorporated Christian ideology into the various harvest festivals throughout Europe and changed the day of honoring saints and martyrs to correspond with the celebrations of the autumn months.

Traditionally, All Hallows Eve is a vigil for the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which fall respectively on the first two days of November. The name itself means "holy evening". The night is marked within the Church with prayers, hymns, fasting, and the reading of various scriptures in preparation for the celebration of the faith of the saints and martyrs the following day.

All Hallows Eve falls on the 31st of October, which also happens to be the day for the Protestant celebration of the Reformation. Pope Gregory IV set the date for All Saints Day in the early ninth century to specifically interact with the Celtic festival Of Samhain. The prevailing belief within the Church Catechism was that "a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.

Whatever the prevailing view amongst churches, for many Christians, Catholic and Protestant, All Hallows Eve continues to be observed as a time of faith and hope. Remembering those who lived their Christian faith and served God with all their hearts, even to the point of giving their lives, provides inspiration and perseverance for those who still remain. [Excerpts from http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/all_hallows_eve.html What is All Hallows Eve Traditions? Written by David Katski]


Take time to remember that tonight is All Hallows Eve and take a moment of reverence to thank God for those who have served Him faithfully. For tomorrow we are to celebrate the faith of the saints and martyrs who are mentioned in Revelation 20:4 and others who gave their lives for Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/13 11:30 AM
1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)
11 Dear friends, I warn you as �temporary residents and foreigners� to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

The apostle gives warning to those who have accepted God�s salvation through Jesus Christ. For now they remain here on the earth where they battle against the temptations of sin. They are told to live properly, in wise fashion among those who do not place their trust in Christ. They do this so that in time the unbelievers will see their honorable behavior when God reveals the injustice of the world.



Author Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family he knew in Paraguay. The father, a doctor, spoke out against the military regime there and its human rights abuses. Local police took their revenge on him by arresting his teenage son and torturing him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor chose another means of protest. At the funeral, the father displayed his son's body as he had found it in the jail�naked, scarred from electric shocks and cigarette burns, and beatings. All the villagers filed past the corpse, which lay not in a coffin but on the blood-soaked mattress from the prison. It was the strongest protest imaginable, for it put injustice on grotesque display.

Isn't that what God did at Calvary? � The cross that held Jesus' body, naked and marked with scars, exposed all the violence and injustice of this world. At once, the cross revealed what kind of world we have and what kind of God we have: a world of gross unfairness, a God of sacrificial love. [Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God (Zondervan, 1997), pp. 185-186]


We often miss seeing the injustice of this world, but this father laid his son out for all to see. He allowed them to see what was done by the hands of others. Their shame was put on display for all to recognize the evil that exists in the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/13 01:29 PM
Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God�s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

All of mankind has been stained with the original sin brought into the world by Adam and Eve. We are bent on following our own ways and disregarding God when He is trying to lead us down the correct paths of life. Instead of walking with God we willfully and corruptly turned to our own ways following the sinful nature that lives inside of us. Despite our desire to go our own way The Lord has granted us mercy and grace from the transgression of our sin.




According to the Chicago Tribune, on June 22, 1997, parachute instructor Michael Costello, forty-two, of Mt.Dora, Florida, jumped out of an airplane at 12,000 feet altitude with a novice skydiver name Gareth Griffith, age twenty-one.

The novice would soon discover just how good his instructor was, for when the novice pulled his rip cord, his parachute failed. Plummeting to the ground they faced certain death.

But then the instructor did an amazing thing. Just before hitting the ground, the instructor rolled over so that he would hit the ground first and the novice would land on top of him. The instructor was killed instantly. The novice fractured his spine in the fall, but he was not paralyzed.

One man takes the place of another, takes the brunt for another. One substitutes himself to die so another may live. So it was at the cross, when Jesus died for our sins. [Choice Contemporary Stories and Illustrations, Baker Books, compiled by Craig Brian Larson, pg57.]


We may all have turned to our own ways, but God still offers a chance for redemption. God gave His son Jesus Christ to atone for our sin. It�s up to us to acknowledge our sin, have a desire to repent from the sin, and place our faith and trust in Christ who died for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/05/13 12:00 PM
Romans 13:10 (NLT)
10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God�s law.

Love has no design to do wrong to others. In loving others we fulfill the requirements of God�s law in the treatment of others, because we do no wrong.



Canadian journalist Bronwyn Drainie in My Jerusalem: Secular Adventures in the Holy City (Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1994), p. 220; describes the surprising behavior of a Haredi woman�an ultra-orthodox Jew�at a Jerusalem street market. Drainie says:

The most heroic single act I heard of during my two years in Jerusalem involved a Haredi woman. At the Mahane Yehuda one day, the Jewish street market just around the corner from my boys' school, an Arab terrorist drew a knife among the throng of shoppers and managed to stab two young men before fleeing for his life. The crowd of Israelis, incensed, began running after him, a number of them drawing pistols as they ran. The Arab darted across the street, running straight towards a Haredi woman of 40 who was standing at a bus-stop. Her name was Bella Freund.

In a trice she sized up what was happening. She stepped directly into the Arab's path and tripped him so that he fell to the ground, and she threw herself on top of him to protect him. The crowd kicked her, spat on her, threatened her with their guns, but they could not loosen her hold on the Arab, and she lay there until the police arrived to take him into custody.

Later, when the reporters got to her, Bella Freund said: "It was very simple. If you can save a life, you do it." Her hatred of Arabs, her lifelong conditioning never to touch a man who wasn't her husband, all of it was set aside in a split-second of truth. "I could not see a helpless man killed by a mob, whatever he had done," she said. "That's not the way I was brought up."



In an instance Mahane Yehuda took everything she believed about religion and replaced it with love. It was a love for life that motivated her to save this man who had hurt others. She gave him the chance to be justly tried instead of being condemned by an outraged mob. Her love outweighed her beliefs and gave this man a chance to live and a chance to possibly change his ways of thinking too.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/06/13 12:39 PM
John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.�

Judas had left to go and betray Jesus. The other disciples were still with Jesus. Jesus in His authority gave the remaining disciples a new command that they were to pass on � they were to love one another as Jesus Himself had loved them. Jesus was soon to die and they needed their love for one another to sustain them through the difficult times ahead. They needed each other now more than ever.




In his book Dad the Family Coach, Dave Simmons describes the shape love took in the life of his daughter.

I took Helen (8-years-old) and Brandon (5-years-old) to the Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg to do a little shopping. As we drove up, we spotted a Peterbilt 18-wheeler parked with a big sign on it that said "Petting Zoo." The kids jumped up in a rush and asked, "Daddy, can we go? Please. Please. Can we go?"

"Sure," I said, flipping them both a quarter before walking into Sears. They bolted away, and I felt free to take my time looking for a scroll saw. A petting zoo consists of a portable fence erected in the mall with about six inches of sawdust and a hundred little furry baby animals of all kinds. Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure enraptured with the squirmy little critters while their moms and dads shop.

A few minutes later, I turned around and saw Helen walking along behind me. I was shocked to see she preferred the hardware department to the petting zoo. Recognizing my error, I bent down and asked her what was wrong.

She looked up at me with those giant, limpid, brown eyes and said sadly, "Well, Daddy, it cost 50 cents. So, I gave Brandon my quarter." Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard. She repeated the family motto. The family motto is, "Love is action!"

She had given Brandon her quarter, and no one loves cuddly furry creatures more than Helen. She had watched Sandy take my steak and say, "Love is action!" She had watched both of us do and say "Love is action!" for years around the house and Kings Arrow Ranch. She had heard and seen "Love is action," and now she had incorporated it into her little lifestyle. It had become part of her.

What do you think I did? Well, not what you might think. As soon as I finished my errands, I took Helen to the petting zoo. We stood by the fence and watched Brandon go crazy petting and feeding the animals. Helen stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Brandon. I had 50 cents burning a hole in my pocket; I never offered it to Helen, and she never asked for it.

Because she knew the whole family motto. It�s not, "Love is action." It�s, "Love is sacrificial action!" Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive. When you love, benefits accrue to another�s account. Love is for you, not for me. Love gives; it doesn�t grab. Helen gave her quarter to Brandon and wanted to follow through with her lesson. She knew she had to taste the sacrifice. She wanted to experience that total family motto. Love is sacrificial action. [Dave Simmons, Dad the Family Coach (Victor Books, 1991), pp. 123, 124]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/13 01:26 PM
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NLT)
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

The Apostle Paul writes Timothy giving him instructions on how Christians should pray. First they are to pray for all people. There is no specific manner in which they are to pray, but their prayers so be for God�s help; interceding on their behalf; and giving thanks specifically for there. It would be easy to neglect the upper class for they have much, but Paul reminded Timothy to pray for the leadership of the county so there can be peace among the people.



A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner. This is a happy discovery for the Christian who begins to pray for others. [Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (HarperSanFrancisco, 1954), p. 86]



When you begin to pray for others they become someone special. They come to your mind often and it�s usually at that moment you say another prayer for them. You find a desire for them to have a good life and for peace and good will to fill their hearts. You want to see them free from sin. If they don�t know The Lord you pray they may know The Lord. If they travel you pray for safety of their life. You give thanks for them, you ask God to help them and you ask for God to intercede on their behalf. This is how a Christian loves another who others may not even love or like. Begin praying for others and see what God does in your own life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/13 12:16 PM
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.�

Chapter 24 concludes the life and reign of Joshua. In this passage Joshua challenges the faith of the people by first asking who they might follow. Then he makes a bold statement to show them his faith and to let them know that he and his family would serve The Lord. Joshua led the people to the Promised Land and now he challenged them to follow The Lord who got them there.



Many think to themselves, �One person can�t make a difference.� But the truth is one person can be the start of something great. Yesterday was Billy Graham�s 95th birthday and media covered the events of his life. Over the years Billy Graham preached in many cities, speaking to thousands of people about the love of Jesus Christ. Dr. Graham would talk to them about the cross Jesus suffered on and died on as payment for our sins. In hearing the message from this one man thousands upon thousands came to know Jesus Christ in a real in person way. They came to know the love of Jesus and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Start believing in what you can do to impact the world in a positive way. There are some many ways to reach out to people who are desperately in need of hope. There are those in need of shelter. There are those who need food. There are those who just need to know they are loved. Find ways that you can help others and start impacting the world for The Lord.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/14/13 05:17 PM
November 14Reading: Apostle Phillip

This Apostle, one of the Twelve, was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was a compatriot of Andrew and Peter. He was instructed in the teachings of the Law, and devoted himself to the study of the prophetic books.

Therefore, when the Lord Jesus called him to the dignity of apostleship, he immediately sought out and found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1.45).

Having preached Jesus the God-man throughout many parts of Asia Minor, and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he was finally crucified upside down in Hierapolis of Phrygia.


Reading:

The Gospel of�John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."

And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/13 12:51 PM
John 17:17 (NKJV)
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

This is part of a prayer Jesus gave for His disciples. The prayer was to God The Father that He would sanctify them according to the truth of His word.



Chuck Swindoll, in Embraced By the Spirit, published by Zondervan, 2010 wrote: One of my most unforgettable moments happened when I was about ten years old. My father served our country during World War II in a plant in our hometown, building all sorts of interesting equipment for the massive tanks, fighter planes, and bombers that defended us in lands far away. Dad worked too long and too hard. As a result he suffered a physical breakdown. And on its heels came an emotional trauma that puzzled everyone, including the doctors.

I was convinced in my heart that my dad was going to die. He may have had such thoughts too, because one night he called me into his room for a somber father-son talk �. I remember leaning hard against his bed, listening carefully to a voice that was hardly more than a whisper. I thought I was hearing him for the last time. He gave me counsel on life�how I should live, how I should conduct myself as his son. The counsel wasn't long, and then I left and went across the hall to the room that I shared with my older brother. All alone, I lay across my bed and sobbed, convinced that I would never see my dad alive again.

That scene still haunts me. Even though my dad recovered to live � I still remember the night he talked to me. Something very significant is wrapped up in our final words. Consider the night in Jerusalem when the Lord and his disciples gathered for � what we call "The Last Supper." Less than twelve hours after [that meal], Jesus was nailed to a cross; a few hours later, he was dead. Jesus understood the significance of those moments and the importance of his last counsel. And so he gave them exactly what they would need to carry them through the rest of their days.


Christ can give us exactly what we need in our lives. Take the time to fellowship with Christ, read the truth of His words and learn the lessons He teaches.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/19/13 12:14 PM
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ�s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

As God desires for us to be reconciled to Him, we too should have the desire to reconcile ourselves to God. We are to make ourselves ambassadors for Christ, going to make known Christ and His gift of salvation for all. We are to demonstrate Christ in our actions and love for others. All but Christ were sinners and Christ who knew no sin took the sin of the world upon Himself that we would become righteous before God. Christ became the one who paid the debt for the sins of the world.



In the movie National Treasure, Ben Gates, played by Nicolas Cage is on a mission to find a National Treasure that was long forgotten. The character Ian Howe is out to find the treasure as well competing against Gates. Ian wants the satisfaction of claiming the treasure for himself. Gates is more interested in the preservation of the treasure and is therefore at odds with Ian.

A critical piece in the movie is the Constitution of The United States must be taken to find a map hidden on the backside of The Constitution. Gates has high regards for this important document, but Ian is willing to do anything to get it, including murder if necessary. Gates manages to obtain the document, but this draws the attention of the FBI as the document shifts between Gates and Ian.

In the end of the movie Gates finds the treasure and the FBI agent catches up with Gates and his crew. Gates discloses the information about the treasure and what has taken place. Gates asks the agent, �Now what?� The agent replies, �Somebody needs to go to jail.� It turns out that Ian Howe and his mercenaries take the fall for the theft of The Constitution after Gates turns over the treasure and lead the FBI to Ian and his crew who are in possession of The Constitution.


You see someone had to pay for the crimes committed. Someone had to take responsibility and pay the debt for the actions that had taken place. While Jesus Christ never committed sin, He took the responsibility to pay the debt for our sins. It should have been us that faced the punishment Christ faced, but instead Christ suffered a horrible death because He loved us and wanted to set us free from sin. For those who have placed their faith in Christ let us act as Ambassadors for Christ so the world can know about Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/20/13 12:25 PM
1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (NLT)
8 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

The above verses are from a song of thanksgiving written by David. The Arc of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem and there was great celebration because of its return. David encouraged others to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises about the wonderful things God had done.



Many churches, such as the one I attend, have ministries to help the homeless. Every Thursday evening our church takes a bus load of people downtown. Their purpose is to setup a temporary spot where the homeless can gather, listen to a sermon of encouragement, eat a warm meal and enjoy songs of praise.

The meals are usually simple - there are hot dogs, warn beans along with coffee, hot chocolate or tea. Local area stores often donate loafs of bread, donuts, and personal hygiene items to hand out. The homeless who come appreciate these items and are very thankful for what they receive. Many will take a loaf of bread with them to help them through the week stave off some of their hunger.

Most of us take for granted what we have. We have warm homes to come home to. We eat out or fix nice meals at home. Yet, the homeless who attend these meetings are thankful for the simple things they receive. On cold nights passes to a local shelter are handed out so these people have a warm place to go, but many will still sleep on the streets.

As our celebration of Thanksgiving approaches take time to give God thanks for all you have. Give God praise that you are blessed even with the simple things in life. Let others know what God has done for you and sing His praises.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/13 11:36 AM
1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NLT)
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way�with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.

Paul begins most of his epistles with thanksgiving to God for his friends and prayer for them. The best way of manifesting our affection to our friends is by praying and giving thanks for them. It is one branch of the communion of saints to give thanks to God mutually for our gifts, graces, and comforts. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Business researchers call it "the missing ingredient" or "the hidden accelerator." Most managers could transform their workplaces with this missing ingredient: showing appreciation. That's the focus of a recent book entitled The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Based on a ten-year study that interviewed 200,000 people, Gostick and Elton conclude that appreciation tops the list of things employees say they want from their bosses. Some of the statistics to back up this claim include:
Of the people who report high morale at work, 94.4 percent agree that their managers show appreciation.
79 percent of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as the key reason for leaving.
56 percent of employees who report low morale also give their managers low marks for showing appreciation.

Of course these statistics tap into a fundamental need in all of our relationships: the need to give and receive affirmation and blessing. The authors of The Carrot Principle conclude, "The simple � act of a leader [or a spouse, parent, coach, mentor, or friend] expressing appreciation to a person in a meaningful � way is the missing accelerator that can do so much but is used so sparingly."
[Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, The Carrot Principle (Free Press, 2007), pp. 7-14.]


Let us try to do as the Apostle Paul by giving thanks and appreciation to those who are around us. Let us take time to thank people for their efforts. Let us tell them how much we appreciate them and acknowledge the good qualities in them. If we do we will find ourselves not only transforming them, but transforming ourselves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/22/13 12:45 PM
Colossians 3:15 (NLT)
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Here the apostle calls Christians to live in peace because the peace of Christ rules in their hearts. We are to live in peace with God, with ourselves, with our family and with all others. We are to always be thankful for the work of thanksgiving to God is such a sweet and pleasant work that it will help make us sweet and pleasant towards all men.




According to new research from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity one out of five non-Christians in North America does not "personally know" a single follower of Christ. That's 13,447,000 people who don't have a Christian friend or even acquaintance. The percentages get higher for certain religious groups. For instance, 65 percent of Buddhists, 75 percent of Chinese people, 78 percent of Hindus, and 43 percent of Muslims in America do not personally know a follower of Christ.

Worldwide, the numbers are much worse: more than 8 in 10 non-Christians do not personally know a follower of Christ.

Todd M. Johnson, one of the researchers for the study, said that relatively small gestures�like inviting families into your home for Thanksgiving dinner�can have a bigger impact than huge mission campaigns. Johnson said, "You should really have lifelong friendships with Hindus, Buddhists, and so on. It's so simple, and yet it becomes a great deal." [Abby Stocker, "The Craziest Statistic You'll Read About North American Missions," Christianity Today (8-19-13)]


We need to make peace with all people and win them over as friends. We need to let them see the peace and love we have with Christ Jesus. We need to demonstrate the love of Christ to them in order that they might know Christ in a greater way. We can also pray those who are our enemies learn peace through our peaceful actions. Remember to always be thankful so you can find peace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/25/13 12:59 PM
Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

This is a song of praise for the Lord�s faithfulness to His people. They express there thankfulness and praise the Lord for His greatness. They acknowledge his truthfulness and the mercy He grants.



Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision, reflected on his visit to a church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti nearly a year after the devastating earthquake. The church's building consisted of a tent made from white tarps and duct tape, pitched in the midst of a sprawling camp for thousands of people still homeless from the earthquake. This is how he describes the church and the lesson he learned in Haiti:

In the front row sat six amputees ranging in age from 6 to 60. They were clapping and smiling as they sang song after song and lifted their prayers to God. The worship was full of hope � [and] with thanksgiving to the Lord.

No one was singing louder or praying more fervently than Demosi Louphine, a 32-year-old unemployed single mother of two. During the earthquake, a collapsed building crushed her right arm and left leg. After four days both limbs had to be amputated.

She was leading the choir, leading prayers, standing on her prosthesis and lifting her one hand high in praise to God .� Following the service, I met Demosi's two daughters, ages eight and ten. The three of them now live in a tent five feet tall and perhaps eight feet wide. Despite losing her job, her home, and two limbs, she is deeply grateful because God spared her life on January 12th last year � "He brought me back like Lazarus, giving me the gift of life," says Demosi � [who] believes she survived the devastating quake for two reasons: to raise her girls and to serve her Lord for a few more years.

It makes no sense to me as an "entitled American" who grouses at the smallest inconveniences�a clogged drain or a slow wi-fi connection in my home. Yet here in this place, many people who had lost everything � expressed nothing but praise.

I find my own sense of charity for people like Demosi inadequate. They have so much more to offer me than I to them. I feel pity and sadness for them, but it is they who might better pity me for the shallowness of my own walk with Christ. [Richard Stearns, "Suffering and Rejoicing in a Haitian Tent Camp," Christianitytoday.com (1-12-11)]



When we allow ourselves to be thankful for all things there is a joy that fills us. This Thanksgiving count the blessings you have and give thanks. Let your heart be filled with joy as you reflect on how The Lord has been good to you. Shout joyfully to The Lord for all He has done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/26/13 11:50 AM
John 11:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, �Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.� 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, �This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.� 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, �Let us go to Judea again.�

Jesus was friends to Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It says in the verses about that Jesus loved them. Jesus however delayed in going to Lazarus because he had other purposes. Jesus said, �This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.� Jesus knew Lazarus was sick, but He waited to go so that God would be glorified through all of the works of Jesus.



In his book Unspeakable, Os Guinness tells the story about a well-known Christian leader whose son had been killed in a cycling accident. Although the leader was devastated, somehow he managed to suppress his grief, even preaching eloquently at his son's funeral. His display of hope in the midst of tragedy earned him the admiration of many.

But a few weeks after the funeral, the man invited Guinness and a few friends to his home. According to Guinness, this man spoke and even screamed "not with the hope of a preacher but with the hurt of the father�pained and furious at God, dark and bilious in his blasphemy." In his agony, he blamed God for his son's death.

Rather than rebuke him, one of Guinness's friends gently reminded the enraged father of the story of Jesus at Lazarus' tomb. On three occasions in that story, Jesus expressed anger, and even furious indignation, in the presence of death. When Jesus came to earth, he became a human being just like us, feeling the abnormality of our suffering. In Jesus' humanity we see God's perspective of our pain: the beautiful world God created is now broken and in ruins. Jesus will heal this broken world and our broken lives, but first, he came to earth in order to identify with our anguish.

Guinness concludes that when we understand Jesus' humanity, it frees us to face the world's brokenness just as Jesus did. Like Jesus, we must never accuse God of wrongdoing or blaspheme God, but like Jesus, we are "free to feel what it is human to feel: sorrow at what is heartbreaking, shock at what is shattering, and outrage at what is flagrantly out of joint � . To pretend otherwise is to be too pious by half, and harder on ourselves than Jesus himself was." [Os Guinness, Unspeakable (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005), pp. 144-145]


The afflictions of those who belong to Christ are designed for the glory of God that he may pour out grace and mercy. We may not understand why things happen, but we can be assured they are for the greater glory of a kingdom in which one day we will take part. Let us give thanks and praise to Christ who lived to know our pain that we may live to know His glory.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/27/13 12:43 PM
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The word of Christ that dwells within is the gospel of Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life among us, died unjustly on a Roman cross and rose to life 3 days later defeating death and giving hope of an eternal life in heaven. For Christ to dwell in each of us as individuals we must acknowledge the sin present in our lives, be willing to repent of that sin by turning our lives over to Christ and placing our faith in Christ that we may receive the benefits of adoption into an eternal heavenly family. So let us sing out with praise and thanksgiving with the grace that has filled our hearts.



The song Thanksgiving from Mary Chapin Carpenters "Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas" album.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.

Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.

Grateful for what�s understood,
And all that is forgiven;
We try so hard to be good,
To lead a life worth living.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.


Let me say, I am thankful for each and every one of you. Let joy fill your hearts and enjoy the company of family and friends. Sing with joy songs of thanksgiving as you reflect on all that you have been given. God bless you and your families this Thanksgiving holiday.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/13 01:24 PM
John 8:12 (NKJV)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, �I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.�

This verse follows the event in which a crowd asked Jesus whether they should stone a woman caught in adultery. Jesus had responded, �He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.� As the crowd heard these words they began to depart leaving the woman along with Jesus. Jesus reminded the disciples among Him that those who follow Him will be walking in the light of life and not darkness.



One weekend, author Paul Tripp gave his teenage son permission to spend the weekend at a friend's house. But during the weekend Paul received a call from the friend's mother, informing him that Paul's son was not at her home. (Her son had felt guilty about covering for Paul's son and confessed to his mom.) After Paul told his wife about their son's deception, Paul said, "Luella could feel my anger, and she said, 'I think you need to pray.' I said, 'I don't think I can pray for him right now.' She said, 'I didn't mean for you to pray for him; I think you need to pray for you.'"

Paul writes:

I went to my bedroom to pray for God's help, and it hit me that, because of his love, God had already begun a work of rescue in my son's life. God was the one who pressed in on the conscience of my son's friend, causing him to confess to his mom. God was the one who gave her the courage to make that difficult call to me. And God was the one giving me time to get a hold of myself before my son came home. Now, rather than wanting to rip into my son, I wanted to be part of what this God of grace was doing in this moment of rebellion, deception, hurt, and disappointment.

After giving his son a couple of hours to relax upon his return, Paul asked him if they could talk.

"Do you ever think about how much God loves you?" Paul asked his son.

"Sometimes," he answered.

"Do you ever think how much God's grace operates in your life every day?"

His son looked up but didn't speak.

"Do you know how much God's grace was working in your life even this weekend?"

"Who told you?" his son asked.

Paul said:

"You have lived your life in the light. You've made good choices. You've been an easy son to parent, but this weekend you took a step toward the darkness. You can live in the darkness if you want. You can learn to lie and deceive. You can use your friends as your cover � You can step over God's boundaries. Or you can determine to live in God's light. I'm pleading with you: don't live in the darkness; live in the light."

"As I turned to walk away," Paul wrote, "I heard his voice from behind me saying, 'Dad, don't go.' As I turned around, with tears in his eyes, he said, 'Dad, I want to live in the light, but it's so hard. Will you help me?'" [Paul David Tripp, Forever: Why You Can't Live Without It (Zondervan, 2011), pp. 151-153]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/05/13 12:05 PM
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name�s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Having been a shepherd himself, David understands the care given to the sheep and he finds peace and comfort in knowing that The Lord is his Shepherd.



In his book Thoughts in Solitude, Thomas Merton wrote the words below that have become known as "the Merton Prayer":

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. [Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999), p. 79]


Just as David, Thomas Merton faced the shadow of death and also like David he did not fear; for Thomas knew the promises of The Lord never to leave him to face his perils alone. Faith in The Lord is our stronghold from which we can find peace, comfort and security. Trust in The Lord with all your heart and soul and find the peace that passes all understanding.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/06/13 01:08 PM
Matthew 7:1-2 (NJKV)
1 �Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

The verses above are a reminder that we should always first consider our own actions in life and do what is right and just. The comments were directed at the scribes and Pharisees who were harsh in condemning all around them. They judged the actions of people and placed harsh punishments upon them as judgment for their actions. It is not that we should hold back reproof, but we must have our own lives in order. For reproof is given to benefit another in order to help them see the faults in their life. The difference between judgment and reproof is that with reproof you are explaining how to make right what is wrong, while judgment passes condemnation on the actions.



I used the verses above this morning after seeing a picture posted on Facebook of a sign that read Cabaret Lunch Topless and then underneath was posted �You quote Job 31:1, we reply Matthew 7:1�. As someone commented, �Even Satan knows the word of God and will twist it around to continue to enslave others.

Job 31:1 says, �I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.� This was one of many statements Job made trying to present a case that he was a good man; for his friends judged that his pain and suffering were results of sinful actions he might have committed. It brings to mind the phrase, �With friends like this, who needs enemies?� These friends were wrong in their assumptions and their judgment was incorrect. Job had done no wrong, but instead God was testing the strength of Job�s faith.

If Job had made the comment to the owner of the establishment he would have been right to do so for Job was commenting on himself. There is no wrong in holding onto and abiding by the moral principles of God in one�s life. Now it would be a different story making that comment and then saying �You are going to hell because you aren�t doing the same.� In that statement you would be condemning by judgment without authority to do so.

Avoid judging others, but know it is okay to state God�s word and to remind others of what God has said. Reproof is a form of encouragement to do what is right. Judgment is a form of condemnation for the acts done. Remember we are to love one another and also encourage one another. If our reproof is correct the person will understand our love for them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/13 12:40 PM
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NKJV)
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

This is a reminder from the apostle that while we remain in our human bodies we walk with faith knowing the Lord is near us though we cannot see. We do God�s will here on earth knowing there is hope waiting for us. When we die and receive our eternal, heavenly bodies then we will be able to see The Lord and worship Him with praise.




Tomorrow I plan to have coffee with a good friend from high school/pharmacist at the hospital. We were close in high school, but became even closer from seeing each other at the hospital so often. At night, I will be having dinner with some of my great girlfriends. We�ll be making dinner, watching movies, and probably giggling of some sort. I am so thankful for laughter nowadays. Laughter really is an important kind of medicine. I cannot wait to be with my family this week!! We all have a lot to be thankful for this year� I cannot wait to thank God for his praises with my family. :-)

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I love all of you so much and I�m thankful for you to the moon and back!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 <>< Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Just keep swimmin� friends,

Michelle


The above was the closing of Michelle�s blog on November 23rd, 2013. The 28-year-old teacher was voted teacher of the year at her school in February. She was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma cancer in June. She fought the battle against cancer until she passed away on December 6, 2013 surrounded by her loving family.

She was an encourager to many. She was loved by many. She loved to laugh. She always showed concern for others because she felt she they were too concerned about her. She loved The Lord and I am confident now that she is absent from her body that she is with The Lord in heaven. Michelle will be missed by many.

We never know when death may occur, but we can know Jesus Christ so when we are absent from this human body we will be able to see Jesus face to face with our eternal heavenly bodies. Michelle said above she could not wait to thank God for his praises and I am sure she is doing that very thing.

Please keep the family in your prayers as they deal with the loss of this beautiful young woman.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/13 11:59 AM
Deuteronomy 18:18 (NLT)
18 I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.

God, having raised up his Son Christ Jesus, sent him to bless us. That he should be like unto Moses, only as much above him as the other prophets came short of him. Moses was such a prophet as was a law-giver to Israel and their deliverer out of Egypt, and so was Christ: he not only teaches, but rules and saves. Moses was the founder of a new dispensation by signs and wonders and mighty deeds, and so was Christ, by which he proved himself a teacher come from God. Was Moses faithful? So was Christ; Moses as a servant, but Christ as a Son. [Matthew Henry]




Matt Woodley writes in The Gospel of Matthew: God With Us, (Intervarsity Press, 2001) - A number of years ago, when I was playing in a friendly men's softball game, the umpire made a call that incensed our coach. My coach didn't agree with the ump's interpretation of a specific league rule. The game stopped, and a heated discussion ensued. Finally, the ump sighed as he pulled a rulebook from his back pocket and proceeded to read page 27, paragraph 3b, section 1.

"As you can clearly see," he concluded, "this rule means that my call must stand." Unconvinced, my coach yelled, "But you're not interpreting that rule correctly." To which the ump replied, "Uh, excuse me, I think I should know: I wrote the rulebook." After an awkward silence, my coach walked back to the bench, shaking his head and pointing to the ref as he told us, "Get ahold of that guy. He wrote the rulebook!"

Throughout his ministry, Jesus didn't just affirm and endorse the words of Scripture; he talked and acted like he had authored the Scriptures. He lived with the authority of the One who wrote the "rulebook."


It is alright that there are times in life that we are just frustrated and want to take up our issue with God. We may not agree, we may want a different result, but in the end we must remember that our creator wrote The Book. I remember my wife commenting on a life changing event for a friend of hers, �I just don�t understand why God would allow that.� There are times we won�t understand for The Lord�s ways are not our ways. We must trust The Lord. Romans 11:33 tells us, �Oh, how great are God�s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/11/13 01:46 PM
Proverbs 11:30 (NLT)
30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

This shows what great blessings good men are, especially those that are eminently wise, to the places where they live, and therefore how much to be valued. [Matthew Henry]



When you think wisely it becomes easier to win over friends. I read a story about a woman waiting in a long fast food line. Another woman blew her horn indicating she wanted in the line. The first woman graciously allowed her to get in front of her although it was obvious who was there first. The woman she let into the line made some rude gestures towards her and appeared upset.

Now at this point many of us might have let our anger start getting the better of us. Not only did this woman force her way into the line, she was totally unappreciative about it. However, the lady who graciously let her in line thought differently.

She thought, �You know, maybe she is just having a bad morning.� So when she pulled up to the speaker she told the fast food employee that she would pay for the car in front of her. She said the lady may decline, but tell her I insist and I hope she has a good day � this one is on me. When the woman in front got her food the woman behind her could see her talking to the employee. Then surprisingly the woman who had been so rude turned and gave an appreciative wave. When the other lady pulled up the employee said, �The previous lady told me to thank you and said she was sorry for her behavior. She was running late for an appointment and the long line had just irritated her.�


The wisdom this woman showed of being gracious, kind, compassionate and generous won over a friend that day. Instead of driving off bitter the other woman had left with a friendly wave and a smile.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/12/13 11:50 AM
Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

God gave the world His Son so He could live out a life free from sin; something mankind was unable to do. God did this in His time, in His way, for His purpose that we would become adopted heirs of heaven by placing our faith in Christ.




The genius of Christianity takes the words of Paul "who gave himself for our sins" as true and efficacious. We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair. Learn to believe that Christ was given, not for picayune and imaginary transgressions, but for mountainous sins; not for one or two, but for all; not for sins that can be discarded, but for sins that are stubbornly ingrained.

Practice this knowledge and fortify yourself against despair, particularly in the last hour, when the memory of past sins assails the conscience. Say with confidence:

Christ, the Son of God, was given not for the righteous, but for sinners. If I had no sin I should not need Christ. No, Satan, you cannot delude me into thinking I am holy. The truth is, I am all sin.

My sins are not imaginary transgressions, but sins against the first table, unbelief, doubt, despair, contempt, hatred, ignorance of God, ingratitude towards Him, misuse of His name, neglect of His Word, etc.; and sins against the second table, dishonor of parents, disobedience of government, coveting of another's possessions, etc. Granted that I have not committed murder, adultery, theft, and similar sins in deed, nevertheless I have committed them in the heart, and therefore I am a transgressor of all the commandments of God.

Because my transgressions are multiplied and my own efforts at self-justification rather a hindrance than a furtherance, therefore Christ the Son of God gave Himself into death for my sins.

To believe this is to have eternal life. [Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians]


Christmas is the time of year we remember the birth of Christ who died for our sins. Without Christ there would be no Christmas. Without Christ there would be no freedom from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/13/13 01:02 PM
Matthew 2:4-6 (NLT)
4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, �Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?� 5 �In Bethlehem in Judea,� they said, �for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 �And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.��

In their search, wise men from the east stopped to ask Kind Herod where the newborn king of the Jews was located. They assumed a king would know the location of another king. This worried Herod that there would be mention of another king so he called together religious leaders to inquire where the child would be.




Not much is known about the wise men that came to visit Jesus. While many manger scenes depict three wise men standing near Jesus at the manger, even the number of wise men is not accounted for. Some have assumed there were three, because there were three gifts. However we don�t know the true number. Also, the wise men did not visit the manger. The only ones present after the birth of Jesus in the manger were Joseph and Mary, local shepherds and the animals that were present. The wise men went to the home of Mary and Joseph where Jesus was a toddler. The wise men worshiped Jesus there and presented the gifts they carried.

What is important is that kings came to visit The King of Kings and they brought gifts that recognized who He was. Gold was traditionally offered to a king as a gift. Frankincense was used as a specialize incense at the temple and therefore recognized the deity of Jesus. Myrrh was another fragrance and was used for burials, so this foreshowed the coming death of Jesus. Some even believe the myrrh used on the body of Jesus came from this gift.

As we celebrate Christmas, put aside for a while all the commercialism. Remember we are celebrating the birth of Jesus who came to free us from sin. Remember that even as a child he was born to die for our sins. Give thanks and praise for the birth of the Son of God this holiday season.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/16/13 11:09 AM
Proverbs 16:2 (NLT)
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.

When it comes to examining our own actions we are often partial to ourselves. We go to lengths to prove we are right and others are wrong. The judgment of The Lord concerning us is according to truth.



Rebecca Pippert relates a story about a famous physicist who confided in her and said:

I'm a scientist, you know, a rational person. I've never seen much need for God. All my life I've felt in charge and in control. I've been extremely successful and made it to the top. If there's a problem at work, I call a meeting or write a note to my secretary, and it is quickly resolved.

Yet nothing is simple or easily resolved at home. My children don't relate to me easily �. They accuse me of trying to control their lives. When I walk into the same room as my son, he starts to stammer. What hurts is that they can't seem to appreciate how much I care and that I'm doing all of this for them.

But I'll tell you one lesson I've learned. I always said that since I had my children's best interests at heart, they'd be glad for my direction �. My children have taught me the hardest lesson of my life�that I'm not in control over what matters to me most. It's funny, but it's now when I see I'm not God that I see I need some help. The question of whether there is a God has finally started to matter. [Rebecca Pippert, Hope Has Its Reasons (InterVarsity Press, 2001), pp. 52-53]


There is an age old problem; we all want to be God. Satan wanted to be God and fell from God�s grace. When man entered into sin it was because he was told he could be like God knowing good from evil. Yet we are not God and we don�t see the things the way God does. God�s motives are pure and just, while man�s motives are often selfish and prideful. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives; and yet The Lord is willing to guide us on the right path if we will just listen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/17/13 12:17 PM
Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, �Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.�

As Joseph learned of Mary�s pregnancy he wondered what he was to do, since they were not yet wed. An angel appeared to him to comfort his thoughts and explain that Mary was the bearer of God�s child. This child would grow up to save His people from their sins.



Eleanor looked thoughtful; her aunt laid down her knitting, and said, in a tone of gentle seriousness, "Whose birth does Christmas commemorate, Ella?"

"Our Savior's, certainly, aunt."

"Yes," said her aunt. "And when and how was he born? In a stable! laid in a manger; thus born, that in all ages he might be known as the brother and friend of the poor. And surely, it seems but appropriate to commemorate his birthday by an especial remembrance of the lowly, the poor, the outcast, and distressed; and if Christ should come back to our city on a Christmas day, where should we think it most appropriate to his character to find him? Would he be carrying splendid gifts to splendid dwellings, or would he be gliding about in the cheerless haunts of the desolate, the poor, the forsaken, and the sorrowful?" [Excerpt from Harriet Beecher Stowe's short story: Christmas; Or, The Good Fairy]


In this short story Harriet Beecher Stowe reminds the reader that Christ was born under conditions that most of us could not comprehend. He was born in an unsanitary manger, no crib, and no doctor. Christ was born for all, including the lowly, the poor, the outcast and the distressed. Giving at Christmas is a good gesture, but it has become overly commercialized and we have tended to forget about those in need. In some cases we have even forgotten what Christmas is about, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Take time this Christmas to do something good for someone in need, however you may do that. Remember that Christmas commemorates the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Take time to give The Lord praise for His grace and mercy. Christmas is the season during which Christians everywhere give thanks to God the Father for the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. Don�t let any fool you into thinking that Christmas is anything less.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/13 12:44 PM
Psalm 53:1-3 (NASB)
1 The fool has said in his heart, �There is no God,� They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

This psalm speaks of the corruptness and wickedness of mankind. They have become corrupt in their ways and are incapable of justice. There are few who can be found that does good.



There has been real-life stories presented and discussed on the TV show Dr. Drew On Call recently that shows just how corrupt our nature in America is. Last week there was the story of a six year old who kissed a girl on the hand at school. That action landed him a two-day suspension from school and an entry of sexual harassment in his school files, which was later revised due to protest. What has happened to people that they can�t evaluate a situation and make a rational judgment call? Why is it we have to treat children with injustice because a reasonable solution cannot be found? Come on, how many six year olds really understand the meaning of sexual harassment?

Last night Dr. Drew and his panel discussed a story from Duluth, Georgia. It dealt with Sam McNair, a 17 year-old high school senior who thought he was giving a teacher an innocent hug. "You never know what someone's going through," McNair told CNN affiliate WGCL in Atlanta. "A hug might help." It didn't in this case because after McNair hugged a teacher, he ended up with a year-long suspension from Duluth High School, putting his college plans in jeopardy. Sam can�t even attend the SAT testing held on school grounds because he could be arrested for trespassing. We have kids who are violent, but yet when they are trying to show a caring gesture they are penalized. Surely there is a different way to handle a case like Sam�s.

My own daughter was in first grade when a boy in her class came to school with his head shaved. Most likely he had lice and this was the parent�s way of correcting the problem. The boy was embarrassed and the principle told the class they were not to make fun of the boy. My daughter being who she is yelled out to the boy on the playground, �Hey baldly, want to come and play with us?� She wasn�t trying to be hateful, she just didn�t think about her words. After all she was in the first grade. The teacher who overheard her later sent her to the office asking that she be suspended for 3 days for harassment. My daughter�s response was, �We are good friends. I told him I was sorry and he said it was ok. What else do you want me to do?�

It seems adults can�t think for themselves to resolve a situation in a reasonable manner. It appears the world is so corrupt the only thing we know to do is follow a single rule and apply it to everyone. Let us pray that people will find it within themselves to do what is right and just. Hopefully we can show the youth of this country how to live so they won�t become embittered for being penalized for insignificant actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/19/13 01:53 PM
John 15:18-20 (NKJV)
18 �If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, �A servant is not greater than his master.� If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Jesus comments to His followers that those who hate Him will also hate those who follow Him and hold to His beliefs. If they speak up on behalf of the world, the world will accept them, but if they speak up on behalf of Christ there will be conflict.



Yesterday A&E network suspended Phil Robertson from the show Duck Dynasty after Phil, who is 67, gave his opinion on sin. Quoting Phil from his interview, ��Everything is blurred on what�s right and what�s wrong. Sin becomes fine," he later added. �Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don�t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won�t inherit the kingdom of God. Don�t deceive yourself. It�s not right.��

Everything Phil said is in line with Christian belief. Part of what he quotes comes straight out of The Bible. Homosexuality is considered a sin, but there are also many more sins that can be named and each one is just as offensive to God. I affirm there are many other sins such as laziness, pride, hatred, malice, gossip, name calling, murder, adultery, theft and the list goes on that fall under the category of sin. We are all sinners in this world and no one who is exempt.

It is bad enough on TV shows that Christians are not always allowed to end a prayer with, �IN JESUS NAME, AMEN�. As Jesus said they hate me so they will hate you and even today that stands true.

I will say this about a Christian who understands Jesus. Jesus always pointed out the sins of a person and then told them to go and sin no more. Jesus never condemned the person, but instead showed love, mercy and grace. Most Christians understand this about Jesus and while they point out sin they are also ready to love the person who is dealing with sin.

Phil Robertson was just standing up for what he believed. He didn�t attack anyone directly. We all should be able to have freedom of speak to discuss our beliefs even when they conflict with others. And Phil didn�t use Duck Dynasty to promote his beliefs as many commentators do today. He was talking in an interview and gave an opinion.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/02/14 12:21 PM
Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

This psalm was most likely penned by Moses. It was likely written upon Israel�s delivery out of Egypt. While written as a psalm, it was a prayer to the Almighty God. In this verse Moses prays that we realize how brief life is that we may use our lives wisely.



When Bill Clinton was appointed the Attorney General of Arkansas, he was just 30 years old. He was elected governor of Arkansas two years later, easily becoming the youngest person in the nation to hold that position. He was a youthful 44 when he was elected President of the United States, and still holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to leave the office of President. In other words, the vast majority of Bill Clinton's life and accomplishments were characterized by youth.

But in August of 2006, while enduring a 60th birthday celebration, a melancholy Clinton reluctantly admitted that life had changed. No longer the youthful saxophonist wailing away on MTV, the white-haired former-President said: "For most of my working life, I was the youngest person doing what I was doing. Then one day I woke up, and I was the oldest person in every room. In just a few days, I will be 60 years old. I hate it, but it's true." [David Slagle, Atlanta, Georgia; source: "I'm 60 and I Hate It: Bill Clinton," Breitbart.com (8-15-06)]


Age sneaks up on us quickly. I remember when the year 2000 seemed so far away and now we are in 2014. Happy New Year to all and may God bless you through the year.

There is a sad truth in life; everyone is not given the same time to live. Some live to a comfortable old age, while there are those who pass away young.

�Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us�a crucified God�must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.� &#8213; John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/03/14 12:01 PM
Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

The grace of God has provided salivation to all people through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus. You see one must first know and admit to being a sinner before they can accept the salvation from sin. It is that understanding that motivates one to live righteously, to live as an example and to live as Jesus would desire them to live.



According to Open Doors Ministry, Chinese government officials became so fed up with sky-high rates of crime, drug addiction, and sickness in the county of Lancan Lahu, Yunnan province, that in the mid 1990s they turned for help to the only model citizens in the area: the Christians.

"We had to admit that the Lahu people were a dead loss because of their addiction to opium," confessed an official who did not want to be named. "Their addiction made them weak and sick. Then they would go to one of their "priests," who required animal sacrifices of such extravagance that the people became poor. And because they were so poor, they stole from each other, and law and order deteriorated. It was a vicious cycle that no amount of government propaganda could break.

"We noticed, however, that in some villages in the county, the Lahu were prosperous and peace loving. There was no drug problem, or any stealing or social order problems. Households had a plentiful supply of pigs, oxen, and chickens. So we commissioned a survey to find out why these villages were different. To our astonishment and embarrassment, we discovered the key factor was that these villages had a majority of Christians."

Officials launched a daring experiment in 1998, the likes of which would have been unthinkable in China 10 years previous&#151;they sponsored Christians to go into the troublesome villages and share their faith.

They started by picking out the worst village, which had 240 people, 107 of which were hopelessly addicted to opium. Christian Lahus were bussed into the village at government expense, and the villagers were herded together by the police and made to listen to the testimonies of the Christians.

A year later, there were 17 converts in the village, and they began to grow rich because they stopped spending money on drugs. Eight of the 17 converts even had enough to own sewing machines and start small businesses.

By early 2002, 83 of the villagers were Christians and the prosperity had spread. The government official said, "We are delighted with the results and have been extending the tactic to many other villages since then." [The Pastors Connection (Open Doors USA e-mail, August 2002); corroborated by Kelly Callaghan, prayer and courier coordinator, Open Doors USA; OpenDoors serves the persecuted church worldwide.]


Our lives are examples to others; live them well for the one who lived and died for us!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/06/14 01:51 PM
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

This is a reminder and promise that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God; for we are all called upon to glorify God in our actions. Ephesians 1:14 says, �The Spirit is God�s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.�



Titus 2:11-14 in The Bible tells us, �11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.�

As noted above we live in an evil world, a world that contains pain and sorrow. There are things happening around us each, such as death, pain, suffering, and hardships. I remember a movie where a man stands screaming after a tragic even, �Why God, why?�

It is at this these times that we must remember the evil world in which we live. Even when we live wisely and try to do what is right, does not mean we have immunity from the evil in this world. Because we love God and have given our lives to Him, God does watch over us, but there are times God allows us to encounter trials to test us, to strength us, and to use us for His Glory.

God can take things that were meant for evil and turn them to good. I have heard stories of someone committing a crime even though they knew The Lord. They weren�t wise in their actions and maybe strayed off course, but while in jail they ministered to others. In some cases I have even heard where their testimony led another to know about Jesus Christ.

We are often faced with death and pain in our lives, but even that can be used for good to glorify God. For we learn we can endure those trials leaning on God for strength. Then when the same issues are experienced by another we can step in and say, �I have been there and while it may be painful, things will be alright. Again we glorify God from our own painful experiences.

Isaiah 40:5 tells us, �Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!� And while all we do is to give glory to The Lord, we too will share in the glory. For Colossians 3:4 tells us, �And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.�

Yes, we live in a troubling world, but God takes what was meant for evil and uses to His own God. While we may not immediately realize what God is doing in our lives, one day all of His glory will be revealed to us. Then we will finally see the reasons for the things that have happened through our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/14 12:05 PM
Ephesians 5:1 (NJKV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

The apostle calls us to be imitators of God. Children often imitate their parents, pick up their habits and even act as their parents do. As children adopted into God�s family we are called to do the same.



The following story appeared in a 2011 edition of the Indianapolis Star. The title read: "Small gesture on busy street alters view of police."

While walking back to the office after lunch, I noticed two burly Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers outside Circle Centre mall. Between them, sprawled on the hood of one of the patrol cars, his arms at his sides, was a shabbily dressed man in his late 50s. He was weak and shivering; next to him on the asphalt appeared to be his worldly possessions.

The older of the two officers was stooped over in front of the man. His partner stood watching intently. My initial take was that the older officer was frisking the man. Five steps closer, my cynicism turned to amazement. The officer wasn't patting the man down; he was bent over tying the man's boot laces because the [homeless man] was in such bad shape he couldn't do it himself. As the officer put one dirty boot on his own pant leg and then another, his young partner softly talked to the man, trying to determine what kind of help he needed.

At a time when a relative handful of cowboy cops often dominate the news and public opinion, officers of courage and character perform quiet, unnoticed acts of selflessness. [Ernie Reno, "Small gesture on busy street alters view of police,' Indianapolis Star (2-24-11)]


The Lord takes care of us in many ways that we do not understand or even see. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, �For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.� Enjoy the plans God has for you and enjoy being a part of His family by imitating Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/14 12:24 PM
Amos 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

This chapter of Amos is a calling to the people to prepare to meet God. They have lived under deplorable conditions and sin was the cause. Their joy would come from seeking God; for God was waiting for them. They were told to seek good while hating evil. They were to maintain justice in the light of injustice. Maybe then God would see their repentance and have mercy on them.




Lee Strobel, in his book The Case for Faith, quotes Peter John Kreeft saying: On my door there's a cartoon of two turtles. One says, "Sometimes I'd like to ask why he (God) allows poverty, famine, and injustice when he could do something about it." The other turtle says, "I'm afraid God might ask me the same question."


We often want to point to God as the cause for allowing our problems, when actually we are the responsible ones. Imagine looking out of a restaurant while enjoying your meal and seeing a homeless man and thinking, �God why don�t you provide that man with food.� It might just be a little hypocritical of God when you could buy the man some food yourself.

Instead of blaming God for all the things that are wrong in this world we need to learn from Jesus who was an example of how we should live our lives tending to the needs of others. As you follow Jesus, also follow His actions. Hate the evil in this world and love to do what is good and just.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/14 11:51 AM
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
19 �Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Worldly-mindedness is as common and as fatal a symptom of hypocrisy as any other, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a visible and passable profession of religion, than by this; and therefore Christ, having warned us against coveting the praise of men, proceeds next to warn us against coveting the wealth of the world; in this also we must take heed, lest we be as the hypocrites are, and do as they do: the fundamental error that they are guilty of is, that they choose the world for their reward; we must therefore take heed of hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness, in the choice we make of our treasure, our end, and our masters. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Integrity, whether at work or at home, is not the sort of thing you work on every now and then. You don't set aside one day a month to work on your integrity much like you might pay your bills. It's something we have to address almost 24/7 because of the insidious nature of dishonesty, which always presents us with small, seemingly insignificant openings. Few people actually decide to outright lie or cheat; rather, they find themselves taking shortcuts out of convenience. I read somewhere that according to a company that conducted 3.8 million background checks on people applying for jobs, more than half lied on their resumes. These aren't horrible people or chronic liars but ordinary citizens like you and me who think those little white lies are okay and will never be caught anyway. Unfortunately, even if they are never caught, they erode our standards and make it easier to make duplicity the norm.

In 1912, Leon Leonwood Bean started a mail order business in Greenwood, Maine, by selling a hunting boot with a money-back guarantee. However, defects in the design led to 90 percent of them being returned. Making good on the guarantee could ruin his fledgling business, but Leon kept his word, corrected the design, and continued selling the boots. L.L. Bean is now one of the largest mail-order companies in the United States, in large part because it has continued the tradition of treating its customers with integrity. [Louis Upkins Jr., Treat Me Like a Customer (Zondervan, 2009)]


The Apostle Paul provides a good summation in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, �Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.� Let your heart be with God in heaven that you may live according to His will.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/14 12:11 PM
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, �Be holy, for I am holy.�

The grace of God in calling a sinner is a powerful engagement to holiness. It is a great favour to be called effectually by divine grace out of a state of sin and misery into the possession of all the blessings of the new covenant; and great favours are strong obligations; they enable as well as oblige to be holy. [Matthew Henry]




Craig C. had been an alcoholic for more than a dozen years. He'd lost everything he had, including his wife and son, due to his selfishness and addiction. Things began to change after he gave his life to Christ, but he still fell regularly into his old habits. It didn't help that he'd lost his well-paying job and was clerking at a local grocery store that was well stocked with all his favorite drinks. After a few years of going back and forth between Christ and the bottle, he finally cut the ties, and, out of obedience to Christ, quit his job.

With no income and hope only in Christ, he was in desperate condition. After an interview with a sheet metal company down the street from his new church, he cried out to God. "God, if you give me this job I will give you my first paycheck." Surprisingly, he got the job.

He clearly remembers the day when he got his first paycheck. Stacks of bills needed to be paid. Penniless but determined, he endorsed it over to the church and walked it to the church office without waiting for the Sunday offering. That was the moment, he says, that changed his life because now he understood what it meant to trust God.

As of today, Craig has been sober for 25 years, he's a manager at that sheet metal company, and he serves as an elder at his local church. [Bill White, pastor of outreach at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California]


In Psalm 99:9, the psalmist says, �Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem, for the Lord our God is holy!�

Sometimes it takes a while for a Christian to grasp the meaning of being holy. On occasions it takes some a lifetime and for some there is an immediate noticeable transformation. Where ever we are in our Christian lives, let us remember to exalt The Lord our God for He is Holy! As we praise God for His holiness we become aware of the changes we may need in our lives.

Craig C. above realized what it meant to trust God for God is Holy and keeps His promises. It was then he realized he needed to keep his own promises. It changed Craig C.�s life and realizing the holiness of God and Christ can change our lives too.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/14 11:45 AM
1 John 4:20-21 (NKJV)
20 If someone says, �I love God,� and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can[a] he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

The premise of these verses is that someone who loves God would also love his brethren who are also of Christ. For The Lord gave us a command to love God and to also love one another. Therefore if a man claims not to love his brother in Christ who is close and near to him, how can it be that he loves God whom he has not seen or touched?




If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement; fortitude without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love. [Richard P. McBrien in Catholicism. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 1.]


Some words given to us on love from The Bible are: I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love--I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love--I gain nothing!" 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness." (Colossians 3:14.) "The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart" (1 Timothy 1:5.) "Above all things, have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8.) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 35.) "Owe no man anything--but to love another: for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:9.) "Walk is love, as Christ also has loved us." (Ephesians 5:2.) "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7, 8.)

The Bible tells us we are love like God and Christ who loves us. We are to put love into actions.

Let us remember what Christ said about the lack of love in our lives, "Then He will say to those on the left: Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; I was naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not take care of Me." (Matthew 25:41-43.)

Mother Teresa once said, �The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/14 11:53 AM
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The apostle hear speaks of the works of the flesh that should be despised and put to rest as opposed to the fruits of the spirit which should be cherished and allowed to grow to full maturity.



The Jewish Virtual Library lists the following as the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 as spoken to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

1) I am the Lord thy god, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
2) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5) Honor thy father and thy mother.
6) Thou shalt not murder.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10) Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.

These laws are the basis for which the Apostle Paul speaks out against the works of the flesh. These people were to understand they had one God and only one God. No other God was to represent them; therefore they should not participate in practices of idolatry or sorcery for those are of other gods. They were to live in a holy manner honoring their father�s and mother�s by not acting lewd or in drunken manners. They were to live in peace among each other, putting aside jealousies, covetous, dissensions, and outbursts of wrath, envy and murder. For these were the laws God put before man that people should know right from wrong. If judged by the law, there was no place for those who had a habitual practice of striking out against God�s commandments and kingdom.

In Galatians 5:13-14, the apostle has previously said of living in faith in Christ, �For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.�

If what you are doing in life does show love towards those who are your neighbor then perhaps instead of living in the freedom of Christ you are being help by your own fleshly desires.

Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/20/14 03:50 PM
The Holy Name of Your Awesome God

January 20, 2014

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10

I�ve found there are many people who have names prophetic of what they will do in life. Years ago when I was living in Florida, there was a dentist in our town by the name of Dr. Toothman. In another town, I heard there was a barber by the name of Dan Druff. And I was once told of a man named Will Crumble. His profession? A builder!

Yes, there are some strange and silly names out there. But when it comes to God, He takes His name very seriously. Why? Because God�s name isn�t an empty or powerless word, but it�s a powerful message of His character � who He is to believers (a loving Father) and who He is to unbelievers (a righteous judge).

So what does it mean to revere the name of God? We�ll, it�s more than just not using His name as a curse word, though it would include that. It�s understanding that we�re not to abuse God�s name by taking it too lightly. We shouldn�t be so casual in our approach toward God that we forget about His power and righteousness.

The Lord�s name is a strong tower, not a grass hut. So in a world that�s become so flippant about how it talks about God, remember to maintain a healthy reverence for the Lord�s name!

THE LORD�S NAME IS A STRONG TOWER THAT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE. RESPECT GOD�S NAME BY REVERING HIS MIGHT AND HOLINESS.

(from Jack Graham Devotional)
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/22/14 03:47 AM

-�The elderly woman stood looking at her house and shaking her head. The tornado that had ripped through her town had been a shock, for sure. And she had been surprised by the 14 volunteers who had quickly shown up to put a new roof on her home and repair her front porch and windows. The speed with which they had completed the job was nothing short of amazing! But what shocked her most was the color of the group.

How sad that it often takes a disaster for people to look beyond skin color and simply see another person in need. In God�s eyes we are all equal. The civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s focused attention on discrimination against African Americans in the U.S., and resulted in the abolishment of a number of unfair laws and practices. Martin Luther King Jr. was the movement�s most influential leader and used his eloquent speaking ability to articulate blacks� grievances. Sadly, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. In 1983, Congress made the third Monday in January a federal holiday to honor King.

One of the most memorable highlights of King�s career was a speech delivered on August 28, 1963, to a gathering in Washington, D.C., King said, �I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: �We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.� �

Prejudice appears to be a universal weakness in human nature, with every race and every group of people. We all struggle with a tendency to judge others by external characteristics rather than their intrinsic value as people created by God. If not skin color, we may discriminate on the basis of economic or educational status, physical attractiveness, clothing, manners, or accent.

In his letter to early believers, James described a hypothetical situation to show the importance of not favoring one person over another.�(James 2:1-13)�His example included two men visiting a worship service, one dressed in fine clothes and the other shabbily dressed. The rich man was given the best seat while the poor man was told to stand or sit on the floor. �Aren't you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?� James challenged.�(verse 4)�He labeled such preferential treatment as how God views it: �If you favor one person over another, you're sinning.��(verse 9)

Anyone who claims to be free of prejudice is kidding themselves. We all react to people according to preconceived notions and our first impressions. It�s human nature to identify with some people more than others based on any number of things. But that doesn�t give us an excuse to treat some people better than others.

Such behavior is incompatible with faith in Jesus Christ. God wants us to do our best to treat everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion. Rather than act on the basis of our impressions, we can remember that each person we meet is someone whom God created and Jesus died for. Since God went to such lengths to offer his favor to everyone, how can we favor one person over another?

In�Galatians 3:28�we are given a beautiful picture of relationships among believers as God intended:

�There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.�

One in Christ�that�s a dream we should all have.

Ask yourself: Do I do my best not to let preconceived notions or first impressions affect how I treat people?


(Devotion from CBN)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/14 12:06 PM
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
7 �Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Here Jesus encourages us to pray by saying �Ask and it will be given to you.� He goes further in saying we must seek out the answers we need and we must be willing to open our hearts to those answers so that we may understand them. For Christ knocks at the door of our heart wanting to join us in fellowship, but if we do not know Christ then we lack the wisdom to let Him in.



In Philippians 4:3 The Bible speaks of a person named Clement who was a Christian follower, who worked with others in sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ. His parents were pagan, but he ended up being converted to Christianity. Clement wrote letters that share his thoughts and feelings towards Christ. Some of the words in his letters are even quotes from the other apostles. Clement sought out the truth about various religions and found what he was looking for.

In 1 Clement (c. 96). "Worship in the Early Church," Christian History, Issue 37,Clement writes this prayer: We ask you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.


Let us all learn to pray for those in need and continue to ask until we know God�s response. For if we do not ask or do not seek then we will not find the answers we are in search of.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/14 12:16 PM
James 1:5 (NKJV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Here is an encouraging word for every discouraged person. When we are lacking in understanding we can humble ourselves and ask anything of God without fear. It�s God�s promise to us.




In his spiritual memoir A Stranger in the House of God, author and Moody Bible Institute professor John Koessler tells the story of his younger brother George. Since childhood, George's life consisted of heartache after heartache: because of a collapsed lung shortly after birth, he struggled with a learning disability that made him the butt of far too many jokes�even from his own family; his first wife cheated on him after being married for less than a year; he was permanently laid off from the only job he knew how to do well at the time. As the pain snowballed, George hit rock bottom. Because he hadn't kept in touch with George, Koessler was unaware of what was going on in his brother's life. A literal wake-up call concerning George's condition came late one night. Koessler writes:

I awoke from a sound sleep with a sense of dread, compelled to pray for my brother. In particular, I felt impressed to ask God to spare his life. The longer I prayed, the more anxious I became, sensing George was in some kind of grave danger�

A week later I got a phone call from my father. My brother's roommate contacted him saying George had tried to commit suicide. Despondent over his life, he slit his wrists with a kitchen knife. "He really meant business," my father said. "If his roommate had come fifteen minutes later, it would have been too late"�

My brother's roommate discovered him about the same time I was asking God to spare George's life.

With the encouragement of family and friends, George partnered with God to put his life back together. He learned how to cope with his learning disability and overcame his depression with the help of medicine. He worked difficult, trying hours as an emergency medical technician in order to earn a college degree�which he earned with honors. All the while, he was taking the all-important steps toward a life of faith. After meeting his second wife, Jan, at a church function, George committed his life to Christ.

George's transformation stirred in him a deep desire to serve others spiritually. This man, weighed down for so long by such profound pain, would eventually become the chaplain for the Detroit Fire Department. Koessler closes the chapter concerning his brother with these words about George:

He doesn't regret the difficulties he has faced. He doesn't see them as unfortunate twists of fate or himself as a victim of circumstance. He sees them as tools wielded by the gracious hand of God. "Without them," he says, "I wouldn't be the person I am today."

George doesn't consider any of his accomplishments remarkable. "I'm just a survivor," he says. "I'm no hero." Perhaps not to others. Certainly not to himself. But he is to me. [John Koessler, A Stranger in the House of God (Zondervan, 2007), pp.188-189]
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/25/14 03:46 AM

No Parade

[Love] does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.

��1 Corinthians 13:5

In an old village in England, this inscription was reportedly found on a tombstone: "Here lies a miser who lived for himself and cared for nothing but gathering wealth. Now where he is or how he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares." How would you like to have that written on your tombstone? How much better it would be for others to say of our lives, "This person was always thinking of and caring for others."

The Bible tells us that "[love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own" (1 Corinthians 13:5). In other words, true love has good manners. This is something that is largely lost in our culture today. There's a prevailing attitude that seems to say, "If my behavior offends someone else, that's their problem. They have to get over it." But as Christians, we need to realize we are part of the body of Christ, and as such, we should consider what other people are experiencing. We should care about others. The world does not revolve around you or me. We should put the needs of others above our own.

God's love is not provoked. It is not aroused to anger. It thinks no evil, which means it doesn't keep a record of wrongs. When someone has been wronged and says, "I can't believe you did that! I keep records. I don't get mad; I get even," that is not God's love.

Has someone taken advantage of you? Forget about it. Did they do it again? Don't worry about it. Let it go. It doesn't matter. That's how God's love is.

Caring about others more than we care about ourselves is more than good manners. It is godly love.


(From Harvest Ministries)
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/25/14 02:16 PM
Are You Winterized?
Julia Bettencourt


"...in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ��Philippians 4:11-13


Growing up in Ohio, I learned the meaning of cold and winter. Of course I didn't truly understand it until I grew up and moved to a warmer climate. Now if I go back to Ohio in the winter, I can barely stand the cold. When I was little my whole world was Ohio and I actually thought it was normal to wear several layers of clothing and be bundled up so much you couldn't move, dig out driveways of snow, scrape ice off your car, and do all the other things that go along with snow, ice, and winter.

In our spiritual lives, we all have "winters" too and we have to winterize for them in order to face them. When winter comes it is a time of bleak and dark dreary days. We must face the fact that winter can be hard and trials are hard. Just like the season of winter, our spiritual "winters" can leave us discouraged, lonely, and depressed.



When we are going through trials and hardships, we sometimes tend to let our guard down and it's so easy for worldly influences to take over in our lives. It seeps through the cracks around the doors and windows just like the winter air. It may be the influence of worldly friends, worldly music, worldly thinking. It all can work overtime on us as we face trials in our lives. We've got to dig out the caulk and weather stripping and block those cracks and holes. Using God's Word is the best way to do this. If we have it in our hearts, it can help stop the winter air of the world from seeping into our lives.

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee."�� Psalm 119:11


During the winter it is easy to develop a bad attitude. It doesn't take much at all for some of us. In comes the dreary days, the cold and chill, and drip...drip...we have formed those icicle attitudes. We become cranky and out of sorts with our family and anyone who we come in contact with. We also tend to complain more about anyone and anything.

When we are in the midst of a trial we sometimes automatically go into icicle attitude mode. We don't have any fellowship with anyone to help encourage us through our trial because who wants to be around us? We have to remember that no one else can fix our bad attitudes. Only we can do that. It's not easy either to adjust your attitude during a "winter" because the weight of that ice is bearing down on us. I've found that the simplest way to start working on adjusting a bad attitude is to take a step back and just remember who God is and who we are not.

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


Winter can bring so many things along with it. Blizzards being one of the worst as the effects it leaves is so devastating. Circumstances in our lives can also be devastating. Bills mount up. Family members get sick or even die. Relationships get sour, and many other circumstances weigh down on us until we think we can't go on because we can't see what's down the road. I think that during these times we need to remember that God sees the outcome. He's our Potter and we are the clay.

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he
hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."�� Job 23:10


Better bundle up because if you are going trough a trial, then depression is going to come nipping at your heels sooner or later. Just like the dark and bleak days of winter have a depressing effect on us, trials seem to frost our lives with depression. The problem is that when we are in the midst of a "winter", it is so easy to just let it nip away at us. I think depression is one of the worst things of a "winter" because I've had my problem with it and it still seems like it is always there looming and wanting to nip...nip away. There's no easy way out of depression but keeping our lives in tune with God can help guard against it. Regular personal devotions and a time with God each day can go a long way in dealing with it.

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry
aloud: and he shall hear my voice." ��Psalm 55:17
Prepare Your Winter Emergency Kit.

When you live where you have severe cold you know that there are things needed in order to prepare to endure the winter. As Christians, when our "winters" and trials come into our lives we must learn to prepare for them as well. Here are a few basic things we should have on hand.



Have some things on hand to sustain you through. Memorized Scriptures can help more than anything. Just a phrase of Scripture to grasp in the dead of our "winter" can be a great comfort to us.


During a "winter" some people forget about attending church and fellowshipping with other Christians. How much more it is needed when trials come into our lives. Having fellowship with other believers strengthens us. We need their love, support, and prayers. It becomes a real warmth to us.


Bottled water in a winter emergency is a must. We need it to survive just like we need the Living Water. We need Christ and His Word to live. Relying on Him will keep us from a parched existence. Drink in His love, His promises, His blessings, and His strength. Looking to Him in the face of our trials and circumstances will help see us through our "winter".


The electricity may go out because of the weight of snow and ice on the power lines so we always need a light source to have on hand. God's guidance is our light source. We can't get through our daily lives, let alone our "winters" without following God's direction and leading. Staying sensitive to God's leading will keep us going in the right direction and will help us to see a little more clearly.
We will all have "winters" in our lives, but choosing how we deal and prepare for them can make all the difference in the world.

(From Creative Ladies Ministry)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/14 12:02 PM
Proverbs 27:12 (NIV)
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Where there is temptation it is easy to be thrust into the middle of sinful and dangerous situations. With the sinful actions come consequences that must be dealt with. The prudent man however sees the problems which are to come and avoids the temptation. He forecasts the dangers and hides himself appropriately.



There are obvious warning signs, such as DANGER � High Voltage. We know that is something we should not touch and if we do there could be grave consequences.

I can never forget there were kids playing hiding seek at a local mall where my grandmother worked. Outside one of the entrance doors were large transformers that were marked, DANGER � High Voltage. Unfortunately the doors to the transformers were not locked and one of the young teens playing hide and go seek missed the warning and climbed inside the transformer. He was electrocuted almost instantly.

In high school a friend of mine went to the lake with a group from the high school track team. There were warning signs up about deep water and to take precautions if you could not swim. Unfortunately my friend did not know how to swim and ventured out to the rocky dam. He fell from the rocky dam into the lake. Others saw him, but by the time they realized he was in trouble it was too late - he drown.


The Bible gives us many dangers to watch out for. The Bible also gives us examples of people who ignored the warnings and suffered the consequences. Sadly there are still those of us who do not heed those warning signs and we find ourselves suffering the consequences of sin.

Father I pray for those reading that you would always provide an obvious warning to the temptations we face. I ask that you teach us from you word what to avoid so that we may not sin against you. Father I ask that you protect us as you have done for so many others of the past. Keep us safe in this world and keep us from the sin that wants control of our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/14 11:46 AM
John 4:24 (NKJV)
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.�

The duty of one who loves The Lord is to worship him in spiritual and truthful way. The should follow the essence of God and treat others as God would treat them.



Chuck Broughton, writes in "Reflecting God's Nature," in the Discipleship Journal (Jan/Feb 2003), on pp. 35-36: I was riding the crowded subway in New York City. Every 10 to 15 seconds or so, someone behind me shouted unintelligible words. The first time, I ignored them. After several outbursts, however, I turned around to see that they were coming from a disheveled man behind me.

Sitting fairly close to him was a woman reading a newspaper. As I watched, he reached out, touched her knee, and quickly brought his hand back. Not getting any response, he did it again a few seconds later. It seemed like a game a small child might play; each time, his face showed that he was pretending not to have touched her. No one said anything, but those sitting near him exchanged nervous glances and began to inch away.

I was caught off guard by what happened next. The woman put down her paper and looked at the man. I expected her to rebuke him. Instead, she politely engaged the man in conversation. "Do you know where your stop is?"

He nodded that he did.

"Do you need any help getting to where you need to go?"

He shook his head no.

I don't know what motivated this woman to treat a stranger on the subway with such kindness. But the way she asked these questions showed that she was genuinely concerned for his welfare. She chose to respond to him as a real person with real needs, not just as an annoyance on her commute.

The incident reminded me of how the Apostle Paul saw people: "We regard no one from a worldly point of view" (2 Cor. 5:16). Many people on that subway car including me had looked at the man from a human point of view. In contrast, the woman who spoke to him reflected the perspective Paul described. She addressed him as a person who had inherent worth.


How are you addressing those around you? Are you seeing them as God sees them, precious in His sight?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/14 01:01 PM
Mark 9:25 (NIV)
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, �Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.�

Before making this statement Jesus The Bible tells us this in the preceding verses, �They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, �What were you arguing about on the road?� But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.� Jesus knew their thoughts and explained that those who want to be first in the lives of others must become last to themselves. Mother Teresa is one such modern day servant who served many, often putting her own needs last. I remembered her and so too many others will remember her for her servant�s heart.




Awlwyn Balnave, of Calgary, Canada tells a personal story. A few years ago, an old acquaintance of mine served as a police officer in a northern native settlement in Canada. One day a rabid wolf wandered into the aboriginal settlement. My friend eventually shot it, but not before it attacked a young man and his grandmother in their home, making kindling out of a chair the young man used to protect himself from his attacker.

There were about 150 sled dogs in the village�more than a match for one sick wolf�yet the intruder was left alone to do her work. Why? My friend explained that in order to prevent the dogs from fighting and wounding each other, they had each been tied to wooden stakes spaced far enough apart to prevent them from reaching any neighboring animal. Because of this, the wolf walked freely among the dogs, killing some and badly wounding others. In isolation they were no match for their foe, and they suffered terribly for it.

What a picture of the need for every Christian to belong to a body of believers. Alone and isolated, Christians present themselves as much easier prey for the schemes of the Enemy of our souls.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/30/14 12:49 PM
Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Christ was often presenting a message of love among the people. Here the apostle follows up with that message saying we should remain humble before others; we must present ourselves in a gentle manner; we must be patient and we should do all of this with the love of others in mind.



My mother, brother, and I lived with my mother�s parents growing up. My mother was a single mom trying to support two boys and the only way for her to make it was to share expenses with my grandparents.

The house might have been a little tight. It was a 1958 house, ranch style, with 2 bedrooms. We had 3 adults and two young boys living in this house built for a small family. Yet it never seemed to faze either of my grandparents.

My grandfather in particular was a very gentle and patient man. I can remember a day where my brother put on a pot of oil on the stove because he wanted to cook some French fries. It�s the way you did it back then, because there were not any French frying machines. To make the story short we left the house to pick up some fried chicken from Maryland�s Fried Chicken without my younger brother telling me about the oil on the stove. We returned with the chicken just as my grandfather was arriving home from work. Walking in together we noticed smoke and the reflections of a fire coming from the kitchen.

This is where I really saw my grandfather�s patience at work. He slowly removed the burning pot, took it outdoors and extinguished the flame. Then he quietly went and retrieved his ladder, a bucket and sponge. He filled the bucket with warm soapy water and started to wipe down the smoke blackened walls and cabinets of the kitchen.

My grandfather never fussed at my brother, but instead said it was an accident. He stayed calm the entire time just wiping down the walls to remove the soot. And he did it all with a gentle attitude.

This is how we are supposed to live among each other. Instead of reacting with anger, we should react with understanding. Instead of making a bigger matter of it, we clean up the mess. And most of all show the grace and mercy of love, as my grandfather did, by telling us it was all ok and things would be fine.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/30/14 03:05 PM
That's a great example of a patient man.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/14 12:11 PM
Psalm 86:5 (NKJV)
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

It is comforting to know the goodness of God�s nature. For God is long suffering and is ready to forgive those who seek redemption. God is also abundant in His mercy to those who call upon Him.



Steve DeNeff and David Drury write in Soul Shift by Wesleyan Publishing House, 2011, p. 55: One time, my dad wanted to congratulate me on something I had accomplished in the sixth grade. He took me to K-Mart and made a wide sweeping gesture with his hand toward the whole store from the entrance. He said, "To congratulate you, I'll buy you anything in this whole store tonight." My eyes widened as I thought of the possibilities.

At the time, I didn't have a full grasp on how money worked or how much money Dad had. So I sort of limited things in my mind. I didn't even look at the huge stereo systems, expensive bikes, or anything that cost more than one hundred dollars. Instead, I chose a cassette tape case that was less than fifty dollars. I was content with just that case. It was more than I could afford myself, for sure, so I chose that one. It was nice. Only many years later did I find out from Dad that he had one thousand dollars cash in his pocket that night. What's more, he brought his checkbook just in case that wasn't enough. In my selection, I limited his blessing in my life.

Imagine how much God has in his pocket for you. You don't ask God for all the spiritual power you could because you forget that you are his child. Like me and my earthly father, you don't realize all he could do for you, in you, and through you.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/31/14 06:01 PM
Ahhh, I will not be like the father in that story!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/03/14 12:16 PM
Proverbs 23:29-35 (ESV)
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.

This proverb calls attention to addiction in the lives of people. Sometimes it starts with problems in life that draw a person into a need to feel better about them. The problem is they think substituting something into their life, such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex and many other things will comfort the problem. Yet they are drawn into deeper problems, which are often hard to escape from.



Phillip Seymour Hoffman was an actor who many may know from the movies The Hunger Games, Charlie Wilson�s War, Mission Impossible III, Path Adams and many other movies. Phillip died Sunday from what appeared to be an overdose of heroin. He was found with the needle still in his arm.

I want to offer prayers, condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Phillip. He was a talented actor and I know he will be missed by many. It is sad a talent such as his was taken from us so early in his life.

Friends I encourage you, if you know someone who is addicted to any substance, whether it is alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex or even spending money relentlessly they do not have; I encourage you to speak to your friend. They may not listen, but at least you are starting a conversation with them they need to hear. Whatever you do, don�t enable them by going along with their problem. Always put take them to a place of safety and escape. Always be their guide and love them enough to keep them safe.

There have been too many lives ruined by addiction. Let us all declare that we will do what it takes to help remove these addictions from the world. Let us be a rock of safety for friends. Let us call on Christ for help and assistance. Let God show us what we can do to rescue someone from the traps the enemy had set for them.

Father I pray Phillip Seymour Hoffman�s death with is not vain. Father we know you can take the things meant for evil and turn them into something good. I pray Phillip�s death will be a wakeup call for many. I pray those who are trapped by addictions will turn from them before it is too late. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/04/14 11:48 AM
Psalm 18:1-2 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: 1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

David sings the praise of his heart because of God�s love, mercy and grace towards him.



Fear can often cripple us unjustifiably. We focus on the possibilities of one item and come to a conclusion that is often wrong. A post in the June 1, 2010 Newsweek magazine gave some real statistics that show how fears can control us.

- Murders: 14,180 (2008)�Suicides: 33,289 (2006)
- Children abducted by strangers: 115 (1999)�Children who drown in pools: 288 (2006)
- Burglaries: 2.2 million (2007)�Identity thefts: 8.3 million (2005)
- Shark attacks: 28 (2009)�Dog bites: 4.5 million (estimate)
- Americans killed in terrorist attacks worldwide: 33 (2008)�Americans who die from seasonal flu: 36,171 (est.)
- Deaths by allergic reaction to peanuts: 50-100 (est.)�Deaths by unintentional poisoning: 27,531 (2006)
- Fatalities in airline accidents: 321 (2005)�Fatalities in car crashes: 34,017 (2008)


I know for a fact every time my wife gets on a plane, she flies with apprehension. There is no basis to her fear other than someone she does not know is in control of the airplane. Yet when I�m driving the car she is usually the passenger and feels very content. The statistics above show she is more likely to die in a car crash than in an airplane accident and yet she is still more afraid to fly on an airplane.

There were times David lived in fear. He knew there were enemies trying to kill him. He knew even his own king Saul was jealous of him and had his soldiers looking for opportunities to kill him. Yet David trusted in God. He recognized God was the foundation of his strength. God was his place of safety that he could turn to in desperate moments.

When you are afraid give you fears to God. Let God be your place of safety. Let God shield you from thoughts that could render you useless in life. Let the love, mercy and grace of God be evident in your life. Let The Lord take control of your life and put you at ease.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/14 12:23 PM
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are both flesh or body and soul. The flesh desires what this world has to offer, while the soul desires what God has to offer through eternal life. There is a continuing conflict inside of us. One part desiring to do what is right and good; while the other part draws us to those things which on the surface may seem fun, but will ultimately destroy us. Therefore we should allow ourselves to be transformed by God by renewing our mind with good things. We should prove to ourselves that which is good, acceptable and the perfect will of God.



Most of us would like to assume that we're the masters of our own thoughts. But marketing professor Jonah Berger argues that we're influenced much more than we'd like to admit by "triggers." Triggers are subconscious thoughts that influence how we act. Berger gives two examples.

First, a research team examined how music triggers can change how we shop at the supermarket. They subtly replaced the store's Muzak with music from different countries. Some days they played French music while other days they played German music. Then they measured the type of wine people purchased. When French music was playing, most customers bought French wine. When German music was playing, most customers bought German wine. By triggering customers to think of different countries, the music affected sales. The triggers spilled over into behavior.

Second, in 1997 Mars candy bars experienced a sudden spike in sales. The company was surprised because they hadn't changed their marketing plans. So what caused the surge in sales? That was the same year when NASA undertook their much-publicized Pathfinder expedition. Pathfinders destination? The planet Mars. The media attention the planet received triggered people to consume Mars candy bars. [Adapted from Jonah Berger, Contagious (Simon & Schuster, 2013), pp. 70-71]


Unfortunately we are often conformed to this world, shaped by the events that take place around us. This week I have seen several tragedies take place that I�m sure if the persons could have rethought their actions there would have been different results. We need to place our thoughts on The Lord and know what is good for us, what is acceptable for us to have a good life, and know God�s perfect will that we may fulfill the purpose of our lives.


Father I pray for those who are reading this devotion. I pray Lord that you would open their eyes to see the truth, to see the reality of the world, and that their minds would be transformed towards something good. Keep watch over us Lord for often the world causes us to stray; so keep us near to You that we may live according to Your perfect will. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/14 11:49 AM
Proverbs 21:21 (NLT)
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

There are none, no not even one, of us who are perfect for The Bible tells us, �For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.� Yet even in our imperfect state we can strive to pursue righteousness. We should not hold onto the thought, I�m imperfect therefore I will remain imperfect. For Christ can make us perfect through Him. We should walk with The Lord; learning His precepts so that we can have unfailing love for others and enjoy a righteous life with honor.



Not long before his death, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the congregation at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church:

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize; that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards; that's not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody. [William Willimon, Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, (Abingdon Press, 2002), p. 53; submitted by David Slagle, Wilmore, Kentucky]


If you want to be recognized in life, be recognized for the important things. Let others speak of you favorably. Let them acknowledge your love for others. Let them tell how you helped those in need. Yes, above all pursue righteousness and unfailing love that you might find a life of righteousness and honor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/14 12:03 PM
Psalm 97:10 (NLT)
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

In this psalm we are told if we love The Lord we are to hate evil. For as we draw closer to The Lord our desire for evil diminishes. We are told too that God protects the lives of those who follow him and rescues them in their time of need.



There are two commands I believe that draw us closer to people. The first is - love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. For when we have a deep love for the Lord our actions line up with those of God. We learn and understand from Him the purpose of our lives and how rich our lives can be. We begin to understand God and His great love for us and how He extends mercy and grace to each of us. It is through this personal relationship with The Lord that we gain knowledge of the Lord and understand His intent for our lives.

The second command comes from Jesus. In John 13:34-35 says, �A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.� Here in this verse Jesus tells us not only to love God, but to love all those around us. We are to build relationships with others. We are to extend love, mercy and grace to them, just as God would do for us.

Christians often have a misconception that in hating evil, we are to hate the people committing the evil acts. The truth is we are supposed to help people turn from evil. We can�t do that if we hate them, but we can do that when we love them and hate the evil that affects them. Remember we are to love one another, showing grace and mercy to all.

So let me ask this, when you see someone committing evil do you hate the evil or the person? Hopefully it is the evil act you hate and that you understand the impact it is having on the other person�s life. I never really knew my father because he was an abusive alcoholic. I never hated my father, but I did hate how alcohol had taken over his life. When the alcohol was missing from his life he could be a decent person. But let him start drinking and he would become someone you could fear.

Hopefully you see the distinct between hating evil, while loving the person and trying to help them. May God bless all your efforts and I pray God would show you how to direct people away from evil in their lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/10/14 11:41 AM
Proverbs 10:27-29 (NKJV)
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

This proverb speaks to man learning many things from God that would keep him safe; because the wicked find their lives shorted by putting it in peril. God is a fortress of safety, but those who live outside of God�s ways often find destruction.



For years, the opening of ABC's The Wide World of Sports illustrated "the agony of defeat" through the painful ending of an attempted ski jump. The skier appeared in good form as he headed down the slope, but then, for no apparent reason, he tumbled head-over-heels off the side of the jump and bounced off the supporting structure.

What viewers didn't know was that he chose to fall. Why? As he explained later, the jump surface had become too fast, and midway down the ramp he realized that if he completed the jump, he would land on the level ground, beyond the safe landing zone, which could have been fatal. As it was, the skier suffered no more than a headache from the tumble.

The fear of the slope, the fear of flying too high, and the fear of the fall led him to change course. Fear led to life. The fear of the Lord likewise will turn us from the snares of death. [Jeff Arthurs, "Clearing the Debris," PreachingToday.com]


Remember, �The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shorted.� And keep this in mind - fear of the Lord is a respect of awesome greatness. The Lord can do such miraculous things that the results leave you with a fear of how great God is.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/12/14 11:44 AM
Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV)
26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Matthew Henry writes of this verse, �What is the care and aim of a good man: His root yields fruit, and is his strength and stability, and that is it that he desires, to do good and to be fixed and confirmed in doing good. The wicked desires only a net wherewith to fish for himself; the righteous desires to yield fruit for the benefit of others and God's glory.�



An article from Wired Magazine explored why AA has been able to help millions of people recover from an alcohol addiction. The article begins by stating, "Despite all we've learned over the past few decades about psychology, neurology, and human behavior, contemporary medicine has yet to devise anything that works markedly better." The question is: Why does AA help so many people find and maintain sobriety?

This article focused on one factor: the power in a small group of like-minded friends who provide support, honesty, and accountability. The article described how honestly sharing problems with a small group of supportive friends has been shown to help people overcome their problems. As a few examples:
In 1905 a Boston physician named Joseph Pratt organized weekly meetings for patients with tuberculosis. He was simply trying to teach them better health habits; surprisingly, he discovered that the groups also excelled at providing emotional support. He concluded that by sharing about their "common disease" they developed a "common bond."
In a more recent study at Stanford University, a pair of researchers reviewed over 200 studies on group therapy and concluded that group members "develop close bonds with the other members and are deeply influenced by their acceptance and feedback."
A 2009 study of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder found that 88.3 percent of those who participated in group therapy no longer exhibited PTSD symptoms, versus just 31.3 percent of those who received minimal one-on-one interaction.
There is also evidence that the act of confessing one's faults to a few safe people�enshrined in AA's fifth step�helps in changing addictive patterns. According to the researchers, "Revealing one's deepest flaws and hearing others do likewise forces a person to confront the terrible consequences of their alcoholism�something that is very difficult to do alone."

Conversely, some research studies have shown how friendships can also lead us to adopt negative behaviors. For instance, a 2010 paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a person is 50 percent more likely to be a heavy drinker if a friend or relative is a heavy drinker. Also, a 2007 study concluded that a person's odds of becoming obese increase by 71 percent if he or she has a same-sex friend who is also obese. [Brendan I. Kroerner, "Secret of AA: After 75 Years, We Don't Know How It Works," Wired (6-23-10)]


Choose your friends carefully that you would have good and safe friends who look after you. Choose those who have their interest as well as yours at heart. Beware those who are evil for they will lead you down the same evil paths they follow. Stay safe my friends and choose wisely.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/13/14 11:49 AM
Proverbs 13:10 (NLT)
10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

Pride makes men impatient of contradiction in either their opinions or their desires, impatient of competition and rivalship, impatient of contempt, or any thing that looks like a slight, and impatient of concession, and receding, from a conceit of certain right and truth on their side; and hence arise quarrels among relations and neighbours, quarrels in states and kingdoms, in churches and Christian societies. Men will be revenged, will not forgive, because they are proud. [Matthew Henry�s Commentary]



Charles Spurgeon once said, �Get a friend to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man, what an intolerable nuisance to a fool!�

Of all the sins, pride is one of the easiest sins to fall into. Pride caused Satan to fall from the grace of God, because he began to believe he was just as great as God. For most of us pride will often take hold when we start to accomplish something. We may have had help. We may have had God leading us in the right direction. However our own flesh takes over and says, �Look what I have done.�

Pride will cause one to ignore the advice of another, which is why the proverb says, �Those who take advice are wise.� We humble ourselves when we listen to others and consider their advice; for their wisdom may point out the flaws in our thinking. But when we ignore others due to pride, we are open to suffer our own consequences.

When we truly are humble, we open the way for God's promotion in our lives. Instead of having to promote ourselves, we life Him up. The result of this is that people are ministered to. As a reward for our humility and faithfulness, God raises us up.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 02/13/14 04:07 PM
Dr. Harley also encourages us to address our faults and expose them to our friends, as Charles Spurgeon encourages in the text you quoted.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/14/14 11:54 AM
Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)
34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

When justice reigns in a nation there is usually a righteous government administering over the people. There are those who protect and preserve the virtues of men. Charities and compassion to strangers exalt the nation and the people of the nation hold their country in high honor. But sin brings disgrace. It causes failure of those in government and the people react in their own sinful ways.




James Emery White, writes in You Can Experience a Purposeful Life [(Nashville: Word, 2000)]: Whenever there is a separation between values and practice, things break down. In ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric, invading hordes to the north. To get this protection, they built the Great Wall of China. It's 30 feet high, 18 feet thick, and more than 1,500 miles long!

The Chinese goal was to build an absolutely impenetrable defense�too high to climb over, too thick to break down, and too long to go around. But during the first hundred years of the wall's existence China was successfully invaded three times.

It wasn't the wall's fault. During all three invasions, the barbaric hordes never climbed over the wall, broke it down, or went around it; they simply bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right in through an open door. The purpose of the wall failed because of a breakdown in values.



No matter how secure one may think a government is, if there is corruption lurking underneath that government is subject to failure. When the representatives of the people follow their own sin and forget they represent the people then they too topple over.

A nation needs to have virtues, honor and morals. When those are lost a country begins to crumble and even the greatest wall will not keep out the over pouring of evil. We all must look to the church to help restore the morals and values that are so important to the safety of our country. And we too must be righteous in our ways.


To all my friends far and wide let me say that I love you with the love of Christ. May you share the same love with others on this Valentine�s Day. God bless you my friends.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/14 01:21 PM
Proverbs 19:3 (NIV)
3 A person�s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.

The foolishness of man corrupts his way and disappointment comes because they did not obtain their dreams. Instead of man accepting fault for his own mistakes he looks for someone to blame. Often God is an easy target. For man says, �God could have prevented this.� If the truth be known, so could have man.




Jerry Waxler wrote in Mental Health Survival Guide: By blaming others we transfer power to "them", and paralyze ourselves while we wait for "them" to change or release their hold on us. By remaining locked into our victimized explanations, we become helpless to change a situation or attitude, while we pour our energy into complaining and anger, and other misdirected activities that can't resolve our issues. Helpless thoughts lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and chronic anger.

As victims, instead of taking steps to help ourselves, we lobby against others, looking for supporters to help justify our anger and blame. We harden our hearts against others, making our world more antagonistic and combative. We may also believe that we'll be better off if bad things happen to the ones we are blaming, as if their misfortune will relieve our anxiety.

Since our problems are caused by other people, we hope they'll be resolved by other people. We passively wait for a rescuer, in the form of a parent, a lottery ticket, a perfect lover or a discoverer of some kind, who will pull us out of our circumstances and place us in a position where we can get what we deserve. Since we have no control over the rescuer, we remain trapped in our situation, firmly entrenched as helpless victims. [http://www.mental-health-survival-guide.com/brochures/blame.html]


We all need to learn to accept responsibility for our own failures. How often do we blame others for things we have done? When we blame others we fail to see our own faults. When we blame others we don�t recognize the things we need to correct in our own lives. Let�s stop blaming others and take responsibility for our actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/20/14 11:51 AM
Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

When love is put aside to focus on faults of others it becomes an opportunity to separate friends. Matthew Henry once said, �The best method of peace is by an amnesty or act of oblivion.� Turn our heads away from the faults and let love fill in the gaps.



Amy Sutherland communicates some interesting ideas about husbands and wives in an article she wrote for the New York Times called, "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage." Sutherland begins by explaining that, after 12 years of marriage, she became dismayed that her husband still exhibited several irritating habits. Her reaction to this realization is shared by many women today:

These minor annoyances are not the stuff of separation and divorce, but in sum they began to dull my love for Scott. I wanted�needed�to nudge him a little closer to perfect, to make him into a mate who might annoy me a little less, who wouldn't keep me waiting at restaurants, a mate who would be easier to love.

So, like many wives before me, I ignored a library of advice books and set about improving him. By nagging, of course, which only made his behavior worse: he'd drive faster instead of slower; shave less frequently, not more; and leave his reeking bike garb on the bedroom floor longer than ever.

A breakthrough came when Amy began traveling to a school for exotic animal trainers in California in order to research a book she wanted to write:

I listened, rapt, as professional trainers explained how they taught dolphins to flip and elephants to paint. Eventually it hit me that the same techniques might work on that stubborn but loveable species, the American husband.

The central lesson I learned from exotic animal trainers is that I should reward behavior I like and ignore behavior I don't. After all, you don't get a sea lion to balance a ball on the end of its nose by nagging. The same goes for the American husband.

Back in Maine, I began thanking Scott if he threw one dirty shirt into the hamper. If he threw in two, I'd kiss him. Meanwhile, I would step over any soiled clothes on the floor without one sharp word, though I did sometimes kick them under the bed. But as he basked in my appreciation, the piles became smaller.



A lesson I have learned in life is that it is difficult to change the behaviors of others, but if you change your own behaviors you may see new results in the other person.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 02/20/14 01:05 PM
Dr Harley calls these "annoying habits" and has a plan for how to change them in his books (but I forget which book).
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/21/14 12:14 PM
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Here we are told that the word of God is inspired by God and that he literally put his breath to the words that are written. The purpose of God�s word is to become equipped for good works, to teach the scripture, and the use of scripture to correct and train how one should live.



After I send out a devotional the other day a friend wrote back and asked, �Are you reading my mind?� Something I wrote spoke to him and he related to the words. But it wasn�t me speaking to him; it was God working through the scripture breathing life into His words so my friend could hear from God.

I have been writing devotions for over 10 years. I started writing them to encourage a friend. What I soon learned is that I was encouraging myself and learning things God wanted me to do. As others read my devotions they would occasionally write back saying, �How did you know what I needed to hear today?� Honestly, I didn�t! I knew nothing about their situation, problems or anything else going on in their life. I just started with a Bible verse and wrote from what I read. God was the one giving the person what they needed to hear.

This is why it is so important to read through The Bible. As you read God will bring thoughts to the surface and help you see meanings you never saw before. God will teach you and train you so that you will be equipped for every good work; that is the importance of reading The Bible.



Heavenly Father, I pray that we will become good servants obedient to you Lord. I pray that you will breathe wisdom upon us and let us know how to live. Let us learn to love one another even when we may not feel lovable or loving. Let us be a reflection of Jesus who died for our sins. Teach us to live as He did and reach out to others. Father thank you for the wisdom you give us.

I pray these things in the sweet name of Jesus,
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/14 12:06 PM
1 John 4:9 (NLT)
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

Strange that God should love impure, vain, vile, dust and ashes! That he has loved us at such a rate, at such an incomparable value as he has given for us; he has given his own, only-beloved, blessed Son for us: Because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him, v. 9. (Matthew Henry Commentary)



In the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom tells the story of Eddie, a carnival maintenance worker who dies saving the life of a little girl. In heaven he meets five people who had been part of his life.

The second person he meets was captain of his army unit in Vietnam. For the first time Eddie learns the captain died saving his life. As they reminisce about their time together, the captain talks about the significance of the sacrifices each of them made.

"Sacrifice," the Captain said. "You made one. I made one. We all make them. But you were angry over yours. You kept thinking about what you lost. You didn't get it. Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to. Little sacrifices. Big sacrifices. A mother works so her son can go to school. A daughter moves home to take care of her sick father. A man goes to war&#133;"

He stopped for a moment and looked off into the cloudy gray sky.

"Rabozzo (a member of their unit who died in captivity) didn't die for nothing, you know. He sacrificed for his country, and his family knew it, and his kid brother went on to be a good soldier and a great man because he was inspired by it. I didn't die for nothing, either. That night, we might have all driven over that land mine. Then the four of us would have been gone."

Eddie shook his head. "But you&#133;" He lowered his voice. "You lost your life."

The Captain smacked his tongue on his teeth. "That's the thing. Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else."



God made a sacrifice by sending His Son Jesus Christ to the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. People often question, what does it mean when it says �that we might�? It means we have a choice to accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on the cross when He died for our sins. We might choose to believe or we might choose not to believe. John 3:16 tells us, �For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.� We have a choice, believe or not to believe, but our choice determines our consequence. Accept the sacrifice Christ made so that you may live an eternal life with Him. That is what He is passing on to you.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/27/14 12:13 PM
1 John 3:18 (NLT)
18 Dear children, let�s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

There is a difference between words sweet to the ears and sincere affection and actions or services of Love. As song writer Don Francisco stated, �Love is not a feeling, it�s an act of your will.�



On September 30, 2013 Dwayne and Dawna Johnson of Buena Vista, Colorado had the perfect day planned. The electrician and high school football coach and his wife took their two teenage daughters on a day hike up a popular mountain trail. But then the unthinkable happened: a rockslide barreled down at them at a vantage point looking up on Agnes Vaille Falls.

Just before the cascading dirt and boulders swept Dwayne, his wife, and their oldest daughter to their deaths, Dwayne made a decision that saved the life of his 13-year-old daughter, Gracie. A few weeks after the tragedy, Gracie said, "I did cover myself, but I was just standing in the open. [My dad] pushed me to a rock that was bigger than I was, and he just saved me." Sheriff's Deputy Nick Tolsma added, "[Gracie] said her dad jumped on top of her to protect her right at the last moment when the rocks were coming down."

Immediately after the rockslide, as rescue workers began to search the area, they heard Gracie's voice coming from beneath the pile of rocks that covered her. Deputy Tolsma eventually spotted Gracie's hand sticking out from the rocks. No one in the town was surprised by Dwayne's act of sacrificial love. As a family friend said, "He would have done the same for any of our children, absolutely."

Just two days before the accident, Dwayne wrote to his 18-year-old daughter Kiowa-Rain, and encouraged her to "dream big," "develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ," and remember that "deep, meaningful relationships bring happiness." Dwayne lived out those words and the words of his Savior� "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." [Catherine E. Shoichet, Kyung Lah and Jack Hannah, "Colorado rock slide kills 5 members of one family; teen survives," CNN (10-2-13)]


The heroic actions of a father saved his daughter, but cost him his own life. Actions always speak louder than words. Imagine if the father had just said �Move out of the way� instead of protecting his daughter. Watch the actions of those around you. If they have good intentions towards you it is love. If the intentions are bad then love is missing. A friend told me once about a neighbor who showed up at his door. She had been beaten by her husband. She kept saying over and over to my friend, �He says he loves me, but what kind of love is this?� Obviously it was not love, but misguided actions and false words.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/14 12:34 PM
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Fear will often turn people away from something that everyone else is safely doing. Paul reminds Timothy that God has given us power, love, and self-discipline to overcome those moments of fear.



In 1973, 26-year-old director Steven Spielberg was hired to make a movie based on Peter Benchley's novel about shark attacks called Jaws. The movie was so scary that even to this day millions of Americans panic when they get wind that a shark might be present in their beach area. A persistent shark phobia keeps people away from the beach.

But an article in Foreign Policy magazine claims that on average less than one American (0.92 people) dies each year from a shark attack. So just in case you really need something better to worry about, here's a list of some items more likely than sharks to cause your death while living in the United States:

Trampolines account for an average of 1.1 deaths per year.

Roller coasters take 1.15 lives per year. So the article advises, "Keep your hands inside the car; your next thrill-ride could be to the coroner's office."

Free-standing kitchen-range tip-overs cause 1.31 deaths per year.

Vending machines account for 2.06 deaths per year. The article states, "So if those high-fat snacks don't take your life prematurely, rock or tilt that machine while looking for a freebie, and you'll be sleeping with the Pepperidge Farm goldfishes."

Riding lawnmowers take 5.22 lives per year.

Fireworks cause 6.6 deaths per year. Although, technically, these deaths were caused more by careless and impatient people who peered into the PVC piping because the fireworks didn't seem to be igniting. Most of these deaths occurred despite safety posters warning something like, "Fireworks Can Burn at 2,000�F�Hot as a Blow Torch!"

Skydiving accidents account for 21.2 deaths per year.

Getting crushed by a television or furniture causes an average of 26.44 deaths every year in the United States. This statistic led the comedian Stephen Colbert to issue a warning against the perils of "terrorist furniture."

The article concludes with a challenge to face our fears and take action. After reminding us that the risk factors of smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and alcohol kill 87 percent of Americans prematurely, the article urges us to get off the couch, turn off Jaws, and go for a swim.


In our Christian walk there are times we fear to do what is right. Take a moment and remember 2 Timothy 1:7. Hopefully your fear will be removed or diminished.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/14 01:07 PM
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

This proverb tells us to trust in the Lord, not a little, but with our entire heart. It is difficult to depend upon our own understanding; for we are flawed and the understanding we have about ourselves is also flawed. We are reminded that if we seek out The Lord�s will in all areas of our life that The Lord shows us the proper paths to take.



Eugene Peterson, writes in Earth and Alter (Intervarsity Press, 1985), Two commands direct us from the small-minded world of self-help to the large world of God's help. First, "Come, behold the works of the Lord." Take a long, scrutinizing look at what God is doing. This requires patient attentiveness and energetic concentration. Everybody else is noisier than God. The headlines and neon lights and amplifying systems of the world announce human works. But what of God's works? They are unadvertised but also inescapable, if we simply look. They are everywhere. They are marvelous. But God has no public relations agency. He mounts no publicity campaign to get our attention. He simply invites us to look �

The second command is "Be still, and know that I am God." Be still. Quit rushing through the streets long enough to become aware that there is more to life than your little self-help enterprises. When we are noisy and when we are hurried, we are incapable of intimacy�deep, complex, personal relationships. If God is the living center of redemption, it is essential that we be in touch with and responsive to that personal will. If God has a will for this world and we want to be in on it, we must be still long enough to find out what it is (for we certainly are not going to learn by watching the evening news). Baron von Hugel, who had a wise word on most subjects, always held out that "nothing was ever accomplished in a stampede."



The words of Eugene Peterson, who is both pastor and author, go well with the proverbs above. We need to stop and behold what God has done in world; for in stopping to see His wonders we come to trust His works. In stopping and being still we also take time to develop a relationship with God so we better understand His will for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/05/14 12:13 PM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul gives words of encouragement as he tries to settle a disagreement between two women, Euodia and Syntyche. They had worked hard serving The Lord and Paul wanted to bring peace into their lives.



In his book Sermon on the Mount: A Foundation for Understanding, author and professor Robert A. Guelich writes of the role Christ-followers play as peacemakers:

The peace intended is not merely that of political and economic stability, as in the Greco-Roman world, but peace in the Old Testament inclusive sense of wholeness, all that constitutes well-being�

The "peacemakers," therefore, are not simply those who bring peace between two conflicting parties, but those actively at work making peace, bringing about wholeness and well-being among the alienated. [Robert A. Guelich, Sermon on the Mount: A Foundation for Understanding (W Publishing Group, 1991)]



In this world there are peacekeepers and peacemakers. Peacekeepers try to maintain a status quo. They try to hide the things that would destroy peace. They may say such things as, �Let�s just forget about this and move on.

Peacemakers on the other hand don�t avoid conflict; instead they face it. They call attention to a problem and seek a resolution. Peacemakers help mend relationships and break down barriers that separate people.

God wants to bring peace into your life. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done; then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/14 12:02 PM
Isaiah 25:1 (NLT)
25 O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

As the prophet begins this chapter he gives honor and praise to God. He does this because those who are going to proclaim the glorious works of God should first give praise and honor to those works He has done.



Over 100 years ago, a tornado struck the prairies of Minnesota. Many were killed, hundreds were injured, and one small town was almost demolished. In the midst of the disaster, an elderly British surgeon and his two medically trained sons worked almost around the clock for days aiding the stricken, bandaging wounds, and setting broken limbs.

Their heroic work did not go unnoticed. Their excellence as physicians and their selflessness in the service of those in need created a following among the tornado victims. The doctor and his sons were offered financial backing to build a hospital, provided that they took charge.

The men agreed and in 1889 founded a clinic that soon attracted nationwide attention. Their little clinic grew.

The city was Rochester, Minnesota.

The elderly doctor�s name: William W. Mayo.

His sons: William J. and Charles Mayo.

Their clinic is called simply �The Mayo Clinic.� It now consists of over 500 physicians treating more than 200,000 people a year. It is known worldwide as one of the premier places of health, healing and excellence in medicine.

I�m sure if you asked the citizens of Minnesota about the Rochester tornado at the time, they would have said it was all about death and destruction, an unqualified disaster.

But, put in the perspective of better than a century, and in the hands of a creative God, the tornado was really about life, help, and healing. [J. R. Love, Rushton, Louisiana]


In the NIV Bible translation, Jeremiah 29:11 says, �For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.� God has plans for all of us. Surrender to The Lord and see what takes place.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/14 02:58 PM
Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Here the psalmist calls out to God about the sincerity of his intentions. If there is any wrong within him, he wants God to find it. If there is wrong that is found he wants God to lead him in the right ways.



In the daily round of life, dust and cobwebs accumulate in our souls. The hidden corners of our hearts become encrusted with grime or filled with forgotten debris. During the weeks of Lent, God's Spirit is given opportunity to clear away the clutter, sweep away the dust and wash us clean. We are invited to prepare ourselves�heart, soul, mind, and body�for the new life of Easter.
[� Marlene Kropf, U.S. professor in spiritual formation (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary)]


There are things hidden away inside of us that have been long forgotten. Unfortunately those things remain with us for a long time affecting the way we live. There are times we need to sit down with God and cry out like the psalmist asking for God to search our hearts and show us the sins and problems that exist. Then we need to confess those sins and ask God to restore us and help us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/14 01:33 PM
1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

We sanctify the Lord God in our hearts when we with sincerity and fervency adore him, when our thoughts of him are awful and reverend, when we rely upon his power, trust to his faithfulness, submit to his wisdom, imitate his holiness, and give him the glory due to his most illustrious perfections [Matthew Henry]



In his book A Sweet and Bitter Providence, John Piper offers these thoughts about God's providence:

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. [John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence (Crossway Books & Bibles, 2010), pp.101-102]


When you have lived a Christian life you understand life provides moments of uncertainty, moments of pain, moments of sadness and other hardships along the way. Now there are good moments too and regardless of whether the moments are good or bad The Lord is always walking with us. Because The Lord is always with us we can use the moments of our life as a testimony to others. If someone asks, �What gives you hope about eternal life?� you can respond Jesus Christ. For He is Our Savior, Our Rock, Our Shepherd, Lord of all and many other names of importance. We can give examples of how we know The Lord guided us when we were lost and in what we should do. Be ready when others ask you about your Christian life and be ready to explain it � the good parts and the bad parts; for Christ loves us no matter what.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/14 11:11 AM
John 8:10-11 (NKJV)
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, �Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?� 11 She said, �No one, Lord.� And Jesus said to her, �Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.�

This is the story of a woman caught in adultery. The crowd brought her to Jesus saying that the Law of Moses had commanded stoning of such a person. In other words they placed their judgment upon her. Jesus had said to the crowd, �He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.� Hearing those words the crowd dispersed for they all knew they had sin in their lives.



My wife and I will often watch Dr. Drew on HLN in the evenings. Last night there was a panel discussion about a college girl who was participating in porn to pay her way through college. The panel of people debated whether this was right or wrong. Dr. Drew made a point that agrees with the words of Jesus, we can still tell someone they have a problem without placing a judgment upon them.

The Bible tells us for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of The Lord. It�s why the crowd who was ready to pass judgment on the adulterous woman and stone her quickly backed off when they thought about the sins in their lives. Perhaps even some of the men had been with this woman before.

There is nothing wrong with pointing out sin in a person�s life, but remember if you have obvious sin in your life get ready for them to say something back to you. It�s why we lovingly point out problems people have and instead of placing judgment upon them; we love them and offer help to restore them.

I once read Christians are the harshest on Christians who have sinned. These people are wounded and instead of picking them up and carrying them off the battlefield of sin we leave them there wounded and helpless. We need to be more proactive in helping people and showing our love for them.

Let us learn to talk to people about their problems in a loving way and without condemnation or judgment. Let us strive to help and show people they are loved. Let us also remember our own sins and deal with them properly. Let us ensure we have dealt with our own problems before trying to deal with the problems of others.

May God bless you, give you the wisdom to know right from wrong, and give you compassion to love others and help them through their problems.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/12/14 01:22 PM
Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)
25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

This proverb tells us that untreated anxiety can lead a person into depression, but a good word can make the heart glad and steer it clear of depressing problems.



I once had a psychiatrist tell me that anxiety and depression are like two over lapping circles. One circle is anxiety, while the other circle is depression. The area where the circles overlap is the area where anxiety and depression come together. For if a person is anxious for a long enough period they eventually move towards a feeling of hopelessness and depression. Their anxiety overwhelms them to the point they feel hopeless to do anything and they are now trapped by both anxiety and depression.

Likewise if depression continues long enough in a person�s life, they begin to feel anxious about their depression as though something needs to be done, but they are unsure about what to do. So anxiousness starts growing within as they dwell on the things they believe they need to do, but feel too depressed to take action.

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. When we allow God to work in us we can ease the troubled hearts of others. We can offer love, kindness, goodness and gentleness to guide those in distress to calm thoughts. We can offer them hope. Often many of us can share experiences we have endured and how God has seen us through troubled times and brought us into good times. So a good work can truly make the heart glad and steer it clear of depressing problems.

It is amazing what a kind and loving talk will often do for people. It can give them hope they did not see. It can help them know others have had troubles and survived. Reach out to others and help them in their times of distressed and you will be blessed for your actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/14 10:46 AM
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Problems don�t go away just because you become a Christian, instead the Holy Spirit is there to help guide you through your problems knowing that all things, even problems, work together for the good of those who love God.



In his book The Divine Commodity, Skye Jethani shares a story from a trip he took to India with his father. While walking the streets of New Delhi, a little boy approached them. He was "skinny as a rail, and naked but for tattered blue shorts. His legs were stiff and contorted, like a wire hanger twisted upon itself." Because of his condition, the little boy could only waddle along on his calloused knees. He made his way toward Skye and his father and cried out, "One rupee, please! One rupee!" Skye describes what happened when his father eventually responded to the boy's persistent begging:

"What do you want?" [my father asked].

"One rupee, sir," the boy said while motioning his hand to his mouth and bowing his head in deference. My father laughed.

"How about I give you five rupees?" he said. The boy's submissive countenance suddenly became defiant. He retracted his hand and sneered at us. He thought my father was joking, having a laugh at his expense. After all, no one would willingly give up five rupees. The boy started shuffling away, mumbling curses under his breath.

My father reached into his pocket. Hearing the coins jingle, the boy stopped and looked back over his shoulder. My father was holding out a five-rupee coin. He approached the stunned boy and placed the coin into his hand. The boy didn't move or say a word. He just stared at the coin in his hand. We passed him and proceeded to cross the street.

A moment later the shouting resumed, except this time the boy was yelling, "Thank you! Thank you, sir! Bless you!" He raced after us once again�but not for more money but to touch my father's feet. �

This, I imagine, is how our God sees us�as miserable creatures in desperate need of his help. But rather than asking for what we truly need, rather than desiring what he is able and willing to give, we settle for lesser things. [Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity (Zondervan, 2009), pp. 113-114]


We all face problems and troubles, but God has a plan for us; a plan to prosper us and a plan that will make Christ known to others. God can open doors to things greater than we can imagine. Pray that God would use you for His purpose that everything would work together for good for those who love The Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/17/14 01:29 PM
Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT)
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name�s sake.

A good shepherd always provides for the needs of his sheep. He watches over them. He keeps them fed and watered. The shepherd is always on guard to ensure his sheep follow the right paths that are safe to travel. David understood this because he was a shepherd and he saw God as his shepherd leading him to good places.




There's a line in the Old Testament written by Isaiah that tells the result of God's gamble, (Isaiah 53:6): "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." Although God has a right to own us because he created us, he gave us the option of freedom, and we all left. We chose sin and did not love him as he wanted to be loved. In response, he chose to send out his own son to look for us, to hunt us down, to find and redeem us at a terrible cost--the cost of his own life.

A shepherd notches the ear of a lamb born to his flock and has rightful ownership. That lamb deliberately walks away. The shepherd searches near and far to get that lamb back. A long time later, he finds not a baby lamb but a grown sheep for sale at an animal auction. The shepherd recognizes his mark on that sheep's ear. He goes to the auctioneer and says, "I can see the mark. That sheep is mine."

The auctioneer says, "Listen, you must bid and pay just like anybody else."

The shepherd bids and pays an outrageous price, far above any reasonable market value in order to get his lamb. He now has a double right to own this sheep: from birth, from redemption.

God has a right to own us as creator and because he has paid the blood of his own Son--an outrageous price far above our market value--in order to redeem us back again. [Leith Anderson, "The Lord Is My Shepherd," Preaching Today, Tape No. 136.]


God watches over us and even provided His own Son as payment for our sins. How dear we are to God, precious in His sight. Let us love God in return and follow Him to green pastures that are good places for us to be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/18/14 10:37 AM
Proverbs 23:22 (NLT)
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don�t despise your mother when she is old.

This proverb tells us that we should honor our father when we as a child are under his authority. A mother�s love for their child is a great love. She spends hours a day caring for the child, seeing to its needs and ensuring the child is cared for. Therefore just because we have become independent adults is no reason to let go of our love for our parents and despise them for they did they best they knew how to do.



Sheila Kissinger, a social anthropologist, writes in her book, Ourselves as Mothers: "Becoming a mother is a biological process, but it is also a social transformation, and one of the most dramatic and that a woman may experience. The home is supposed to be a haven of love and good feelings. Thus it comes as a great disappointment to many women when it proves not to be so for them. For home is also a place where the ugliest and most destructive emotions are experienced, where there is disturbing interpersonal conflict, and inside four walls these raw feelings are concentrated and mixed together as if in a pressure cooker. She hates what she has become. Happy as a woman may be to have a baby, and although she may enjoy being a mother, she must now pay the price of motherhood the total and virtual annihilation of self."


Being a parent can be a tough job. Often it means sacrificing a lifelong dream to become the caretakers of your children. And where do you find the training for this job? You learned things from your father and mother; if you were fortunate enough to have both a father and a mother. Even then our parents were not perfect so some of the things we learned were flawed. And unfortunately those flaws can carry from generation to generation. We may have learned from books, but that doesn�t mean we can always apply what we have learned and integrate it into our lives. No, life is trial and error. It is hoping to do the best, it is trying to give a great effort, but it is also realizing there are times we will fail. And when we fail we try to make our failure right.

Through it all God is teaching you and your children. You may do something that one day your child comes to resents something you have always resented in your life. Just maybe they will break the cycle of a generational flaw and pass new hopes to their children. Maybe they can learn a new way to handle emotions, problems and such to take care of their life and do it according to how God would have them act. Children listen to your father, who gave you life, and don�t despise your mother when she is old for they both have their love for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/19/14 11:19 AM
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Bible says to love The Lord your God. Jesus also tells us in The Bible to love one another. Here we are told by the Apostle Paul that the fruit of The Spirit is love along with a set of qualities that reinforce love. There is no law that can stand against real love for God and others; for in love everything is made right.




It's easy to blame others (and thus justify ourselves) for our disobedience. But in the following quote, Thomas Merton identifies the key reason why we fail to experience the freedom and joy Christ offers believers:

It is not that someone else is preventing you from living happily; you yourself do not know what you want. Rather than admit this [and ask for God's help], you pretend that someone else is keeping you from exercising your liberty. Who is this? It is you yourself. [Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (New Directions, 2007), p. 110]


The Holy Spirit is there to motivate us to love, find joy in our lives that comes with peace and longsuffering. We find that we can supply kindness to others out of the goodness of our heart. Our faithfulness, gentleness and self-control allow us to hold onto these values and use them for not only the good of God, but for the good of ourselves. Is someone holding you back from living a happy life? If so, you probably need to look at yourself. For maybe you are not allowing The Holy Spirit to work in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/20/14 11:12 AM
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord�s kindness.

The apostle provides some sound and wise advice. Once a person accepts God�s gift of salvation they need to seek out spiritual wisdom to grow their relationship with God and Christ. God has been good to us and His Son has paid our debts for sin. Therefore we should seek them out through scripture study and prayer.



I have gone to church for as long as I can remember. I think being in the Sunday morning nursery at church was one way for my mother to get a break from me. But then as I grew I went into Sunday school and began learning about The Bible. I remember memorizing Bible verses to earn a Bible, which I still have today. It�s a little old and tattered, but it is a good reminder of where I first started to learn scripture.

When I was around eight years old I remember being in church service and telling my mother Jesus wanted me to go down to the front of the church to tell the preacher I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. Being so young, my mother setup a meeting so we could talk with the pastor instead of letting me go then. The pastor asked me some questions about salvation and I gave answers. Then he turned to my mother and said, �He knows what he is talking about.� So the next Sunday I went forward in church and told the church I wanted to accept Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior.

Then comes the part where I failed my responsibility. I wanted that relationship with God and Christ, but I didn�t quite understand how to grow it. I didn�t read The Bible as I should have. I didn�t have people around helping me learn in detail about The Bible. I didn�t grow my understanding of God and Christ�s love for me and others. Instead I kind of floundered along the way.

After I was married I got into a church that focused on studying The Bible. Suddenly a lot of questions I had were being answered. I grew in my knowledge of God and Christ and I began to grow again. Finally I was drinking the spiritual milk the apostle Peter referred to.

If we are to grow in our understanding of God and Christ we need to spend time in His word and spend time talking to Him in prayer. The study of scripture and personal time with God and Christ are two important ways to grow spiritually. Take the apostle�s advice above and crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/20/14 03:04 PM
Yes! My walk with the Lord is better when I read His Word daily. if not...then I start to wander off of His path....and get into trouble.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/14 11:01 AM
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

The prophet offers a comparison of the blessings received by one who trusts in the Lord to a tree that is fed constantly with water and yields unending fruit. Neither heat nor droughts have power over the tree for it is always refreshed by the water which is close by.



In his book What God Thinks When We Fail, Steven C. Roy tells a fictional story about a young violinist who lived in London many years ago. Although he was a superb musician, he was deathly afraid of large crowds, so he avoided giving concerts. But after enduring criticism for his unwillingness to give concerts, he finally agreed to perform in the largest concert hall in London.

The young violinist came onto the stage and sat alone on a stool. He put his violin under his chin and played for an hour and a half. No music in front of him, no orchestra behind him, no breaks�just an hour and a half of absolutely beautiful violin music. After ten minutes or so, many critics put down their pads and listened, like the rest �. After the performance, the crowd rose to its feet and began applauding wildly�and they wouldn't stop.

But the young violinist didn't acknowledge the applause. He just peered out into the audience as if he were looking for something�or someone. Finally he found what he was looking for. Relief came over his face, and he began to acknowledge the cheers.

After the concert, the critics met the young violinist backstage �. They said, "You were wonderful. But one question: Why did it take you so long to acknowledge the applause of the audience?"

The young violinist took a deep breath and answered, "You know I was really afraid of playing here. Yet this was something I knew I needed to do. Tonight, just before I came on stage, I received word that my master teacher was to be in the audience. Throughout the concert, I tried to look for him, but I could never find him. So after I finished playing, I started to look more intently. I was so eager to find my teacher that I couldn't even hear the applause. I just had to know what he thought of my playing. That was all that mattered. Finally, I found him high in the balcony. He was standing and applauding, with a big smile on his face. After seeing him, I was finally able to relax. I said to myself, 'If the master is pleased with what I have done, then everything else is okay.'"


Who are we trying to please in life? Are we trying to please those around us, trying to please the world, or trying to please God who watches over us and takes care of us? Let us please The Lord, the one who helps us bear good fruit in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/24/14 12:44 PM
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is the wages due to a sinner, such as wages are due to the servant who performs them. It doesn�t matter what we consider the size of sin the same wage is death. It is a wage due anyone who has committed at least one sin or the least of sins. However, God offers the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.



[In May 2009, my family was in Azusa, California, because one of our kids was graduating from Azusa Pacific University. My wife, Nancy, was going to speak at the commencement ceremonies, so she and I were invited to a special gathering of about 50 people�people from the graduating class of 50 years ago and a few faculty members. During the gathering, John Wallace, the president of APU, brought out three students who were graduating that year and told us that for the next two years, they were going to serve the poorest of the poor in India.

These three students thought they were there just to be commissioned and sent out with a blessing�which they were. But then something happened that they did not know was coming. John turned to them and said, "I have a piece of news for you. There's somebody you do not know�an anonymous donor�who is so moved by what you're doing that he has given a gift to this university in your name, on your behalf."

John turned to the first student and said, "You are forgiven your debt of $105,000." The kid immediately starts to cry. John turns to the next student: "You're forgiven your debt of $70,000." He then turns to the third student: "You are forgiven your debt of $130,000." All three students had no idea this was coming. They were just ambushed by grace�blown away that somebody they don't even know would pay their debt. The whole room was in tears. [John Ortberg, in the sermon "Patch 'Em," Menlo Park Presbyterian, Menlo Park, California (preached 5-17-09)]]


The refrain from a well-known Christian hymn says, �Grace, grace, God�s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God�s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.� God�s gift of grace through Jesus Christ is greater than all the sin of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/14 11:06 AM
THE GOOD SIDE OF ANGER

Proverbs 25:23 (NLT)
23 As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

Good can be brought about by anger towards those who gossip. For if someone gossips to us and we reply with angry countenance then maybe we will ward off future attacks by a gossiper. Anger towards someone is itself not a sin. It is the hasty actions that can occur due to anger that can lead to sin.



[On February 27, 2012, 17-year-old T. J. Lane from Chardon, Ohio, burst into his school's cafeteria and started gunning down classmates. Lane shot and killed three students, but if it wasn't for the courage of Coach Frank Hall, many more students could have died that day.

The funny thing is that Hall doesn't consider himself to be a courageous hero. The 6'1", 350-pound football coach admits that he has plenty of fears. He hates confrontations; he's afraid of heights, roller coasters, and scary movies; and he jumps through the ceiling when his kids sneak up on him. On one level, Coach Hall is more of a teddy bear than a fighter. Hall summarizes his coaching code in two sentences: "Every kid is someone's pride and joy, or wants to be someone's pride and joy �. I keep thinking, How would I want my kid to be treated?�and then I treat them that way."

But Frank Hall believes that there's one word that defines his life calling�protector. So as the shots rang out on that February morning in the Chardon High School cafeteria Frank Hall knew what he had to do. Hall, a follower of Christ who felt the hand of God through the ordeal, responded with courage in the face of danger. As students cringed under desks, Hall charged at the gunman, his voice booming, "Stop! Stop!" T.J. Lane, the 17-year-old shooter, was thrown off-guard by Hall's charge. Lane shot and missed as Hall dove behind a soda machine.

When Jen Sprinzl, a 51-year-old secretary, rushed out of the office to follow the bangs, Lane pointed his gun in her face. Hall had four adopted sons at home�two African-American, two bi-racial�that he didn't want to leave fatherless, but once again he rose up and bellowed, "NO!" Then he charged at Lane, who wheeled and started running. Police finally found Lane on a wooded road, shivering and wearing a t-shirt with the word KILLER on it. When they asked him why he'd run away, he said, "Because Coach Hall was chasing me."

In a later interview, Hall said, "I know, it sounds crazy, but in all honesty, I really didn't think about anything � I just reacted �. As a society, we cannot lose our outrage when these kinds of tragedies happen. We can't just get to the point where we accept these kinds of things as just part of our lives, now. We have to make sure we, as a people, don't accept it � we can't!" [Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Gary Smith, "A Coach's Courage," Sports Illustrated (6-24-13)]]


Coach Hall was a gentle man, but anger and outrage motivated him to take the proper action to save others. He handled anger in a proper way, not causing others to be injured, but others to be saved. God has anger towards sin because He sees how it destroys our lives. It is why God put a plan of salvation in place to save us from sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/26/14 11:38 AM
Philippians 1:29 (NLT)
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake

Here the apostle talks about two things given. One is that there are those who have been given faith in Jesus Christ. The other gift is that we may suffer for the sake of Christ. However in our suffering it is where we find strength and a renewal of self. Our suffering may be long or short, but it is used to challenge us and grow us into something better.



[The movie Lincoln provides a glimpse into some of the challenges that President Lincoln faced while he was in office. But the level of suffering this leader endured throughout his life is simply astonishing. He was a victim of relentless and tragic sorrow. His mother died when he was 9. His first love died when he was a young man. Later, three of his four children died in childhood. His wife may have been affected by mental illness, and he himself is believed to have suffered from what we would now call clinical depression.

His political path was no easier. This man we view as a unifying hero was largely unpopular in his own times. The media portrayed him as a hapless hick from the backwoods. Eastern society rejected him and his wife because they were from Illinois�then considered the rough western frontier. And when he ran for president, leaders in Southern states made clear that if Lincoln were elected, the country would divide. With 82 percent voter turnout in 1860, he won with less than 40 percent of the popular vote.

Rather than shrink from a leadership nightmare in the making, accepted leadership of a country that was already deeply divided below the surface, knowing his election meant division would soon be obvious on the surface as well. Sure enough, after his election Southern states made good on their threats and began seceding from the union before he even took office. Then, roughly a month after he took office, all-out civil war erupted. His popularity grew during his presidency until, four years after he took office and just six days after the Confederate surrender, he was shot and killed in a final tragedy that helped to bring the nation back together in their grief.

What made Lincoln such an effective leader during this great crisis? Here's one theory: Lincoln's intimate acquaintance with sorrow and hardship had prepared him for the kind of self-sacrifice his presidency would require. [[Amy Simpson, "There's Power in Showing Your Scars," Amy Simpson blog (4-29-13)]


If have seen through life how moments of suffering just for a short term can prepare a person for the bigger tragedies faced in life. The difficulties my wife and I have faced in life we have shared with our children throughout the years so they could see their parents dealing with things like death, life changes, and even tragic events. We wanted them to be prepared for the suffering that would come into their life so they too could learn from it and grow from it as well.

Suffering can be a bad thing where you are facing it and dealing with it day to day. But suffering can lead to something good that redefines you in a positive way and makes you stronger. Jesus suffered for us that we could live an eternal life. I would like to think our suffering will benefit someone along the way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/28/14 11:06 AM
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)
5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity�the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

The apostle comments that God�s message of salvation was given just at the right time to the world; a time when verbal and written communication was at a strongpoint and the words of others were spread far by travelers and merchants. The apostle points out that there is only one God through which salvation comes and there is only one Mediator, our savior Jesus Christ that can reconcile us to God.




[In 1740 the Skitswish, a small Native American tribe in northern Idaho, had a prophet/chief named Circling Raven of whom it was said he could communicate with crows and ravens. On Solstice Day of 1740, Crow and Raven told the chief that in a land far away, the Creator, who also became the Savior of the world, had been born as a man on that night long, long ago. Circling Raven told his people they should celebrate this savior's birthday by giving extra sweets and gifts to the children. He also said that the Skitwish should not fight with each other or even with their enemies during the period before and after this day.

In addition, Raven told him that within 100 years men clothed in black robes would arrive with more news about the Creator's son and the world's savior. For the rest of his life, Circling Raven searched for the Black Robes. He died never having found them. His son, Twisted Earth, became chief and continued waiting for the Black Robes. He "sang the joyous song of the prophecy and continued the solstice celebration as his father had instructed."

In June of 1862, a group of Jesuit brothers arrived in their area, and Twisted Earth greeted them with joy and sorrow, tears streaming down his face. He was happy that the Black Robes had finally arrived to tell the rest of the story about Jesus, but he was saddened that his father had not lived to see the prophecy fulfilled.

[Adapted from Catherine Feher-Elston, Ravensong: A Natural and Fabulous History or Ravens and Crows (Tarcher, 2004), pp. 68-69; source: Margie Haack, "Final Notes," Notes from Toad Hall (Winter 2013)]]


The message that was given to the world at just the right time eventually spread to an Indian tribe waiting on the message to be delivered. The message was about Jesus Christ, a man, but also God who lived and died among. He lived a life free from sin. He was put to death on a Roman cross and His death paid the ransom for all sin for all time. Jesus defeated death rising back to life the 3rd day after His death. His resurrection showed us that we too can have eternal life. It still holds true today that �This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.� If you have not heard this message � maybe it is time to listen to this message that was given at just the right time.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/31/14 11:03 AM
Proverbs 31:28 (NLT)
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Proverbs 31 provides an epilogue: the wife of noble character. For through most of the chapter the father speaks to his son about the type of wife he should seek out. The father reminds the son - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.



[Have you ever wondered when Americans started celebrating Mother's Day? The holiday was born out of one woman's desire to honor her mother's life of sacrifice and grace.

Born in 1864 in Grafton, West Virginia, Anna Jarvis witnessed the aftermath of the Civil War through a child's eyes. Her mother, Anna Maria Reeves-Jarvis, had spent the war organizing women to nurse wounded soldiers from both the North and South, and generally attempting to hold her border-state community together. After the war, Anna Maria started "Mothers' Friendship Days" to reconcile families that had been divided by the conflict.

Throughout her life, Anna Maria modeled the ideals of Victorian motherhood. She gave up her dreams of college in order to tend to an older husband and four children. She bore the loss of seven other children with grace. She taught Sunday school in the local Methodist church for 20 years and stayed active in benevolent work.

Anna Maria's death in 1905 devastated her daughter. Two years later, Anna got the idea to found a holiday remembering her mother, and all mothers, whom she felt could never be thanked enough.

Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908 in Grafton (where Anna grew up) and Philadelphia (where she lived as an adult). Later, in a resolution passed May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. [Elesha Coffman, "Mom, We Salute You," Christian History Newletter (5-10-2002)]]


Mothers are special people. They usually spend the most time with their children in their early years and they are there as needed in later years. Mothers are very protective of their children. Mothers watch over their children and help guide the direction of their life. Sometimes as the child we might think of our mother as too stern, too ridged, too demanding and too much of a perfectionist. However, mothers do the best they know how to do. There is no specific training given to women over the years to become a mother. So they learn from their own childhood and experiences around them. They learned as they went, occasionally making mistakes, but trying not to make the same mistake twice.

Let us honor our mothers for the work she has done in our lives.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/01/14 04:37 AM
I wish my children had a Godly mother.

She was a good natured woman until her affair, which literally rotted her soul.

But I know God can redeem and heal all, I hope she repents and turns to Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/01/14 10:49 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
I wish my children had a Godly mother.

She was a good natured woman until her affair, which literally rotted her soul.

But I know God can redeem and heal all, I hope she repents and turns to Christ.

I prayed that prayer with you Brother.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/01/14 10:49 AM
Psalm 14:1 (NLT)
1 Only fools say in their hearts, �There is no God.� They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

The contempt it puts upon the honour of God: for there is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. We are sometimes tempted to think, "Surely there never was so much atheism and profaneness as there is in our days;' but we see the former days were no better; even in David's time there were those who had arrived at such a height of impiety as to deny the very being of a God and the first and self-evident principles of religion. ---- Those are the words of Matthew Henry who died in 1714. We see from his words and the words of The Bible that the former days were no better.



[In the summer of 2010 the popular author and atheist Christopher Hitchens was diagnosed with cancer. With his usual candor and clarity, Hitchens movingly described his battle with the illness in an article he wrote for Vanity Fair.

I am badly oppressed by a gnawing sense of waste. I had real plans for my next decade and felt I'd worked hard enough to earn it. Will I really not live to see my children married? To watch the World Trade Center rise again?. � To the dumb question "Why me?" the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: Why not?

I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient. Allow me to inform you, though, that when you sit in a room with a set of other finalists, and kindly people bring a huge transparent bag of poison to plant into your arm [his chemotherapy treatment] and you either read or don't read a book while the venom sack gradually empties into your system � . You feel swamped with passivity and impotence: dissolving in powerlessness like a sugar lump in water. [Christopher Hitchens, "Topic of Cancer," Vanity Fair (September 2010)]]


Without God there is a sense of hopelessness when faced with a grave situation. There is no one to turn to except self and self already knows what the inevitable truth is. At least they believe they know the truth; yet they have been fooled. They have been outwitted by Satan.

However there is hope in God and the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. When faced with death instead of seeing the end, we can see a new beginning. We have hope of eternal life that is pleasant and joyous. We know because of the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ that believers will one day be reunited with those we have loved. It is that hope in God that keeps us from foolish acts, because we know life continues even after death.

Pray for those who do not know God and Jesus Christ. Pray they will come to know their grace, mercy and love. Pray even for those who may offend you for they know not what they do. Let us love like Jesus to show others the hope in God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/02/14 12:44 PM
Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 �Listen,� he said, �we�re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.�

In these verses Jesus shares privately with His disciples what some would take as bad news, words of His impending death. Yet what sounds like bad news is repeated throughout the New Testament as the Good News of Jesus Christ, since God raised Him to life on the third day. Then God allowed Him to appear, not to the general public, but to those whom God had chosen in advance to be His witnesses. They were those who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He ordered them to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is The One appointed by God to be the judge of all�the living and the dead. He is The One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.



Especially during the 90s there was a popular Christian youth bracelet that had the letters WWJD imprinted on them. The letters stood for �What would Jesus do?� It was a reminder to the youth on how they should act � they should do as Jesus did.

Another important phrase for all of us to remember is �How would Jesus love?� Some men are quick to pick up on The Bible verse, �As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.� But Men often tend to miss the next verse in Ephesians 5:25, �For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.� Husbands, are you willing to give your life for your wife out of love? I think a woman who truly knew her husband loved her that much would be willing to listen to what her husband has to say and follow with him. For love does no wrong to others.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

This is how Jesus would love, how do you love?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/14 10:32 AM
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

The apostle tells us to prepare for a Christian life by stripping away the things that weight down, namely sin. Sin has consequences and out of those consequences burdens are formed. We are to work on the perfection of our Christian life by learning to endure what we face in life. Our source of endurance is Jesus. It is Him we need to keep our eyes on for He is the champion of life and it is He who initiates and perfects our faith.




[Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin know endurance better than most. For 111 days, they ran the equivalent of two marathons a day in order to cross the entire Sahara Desert on foot. They touched the waters at Senegal and then made their way through Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt to touch the waters of the Red Sea. Along the way, the trio faced blazing afternoons of over 100 degrees, jarring, freezing nights, sandstorms, tendonitis, violent sickness, and the usual aches, pains, and blisters. But the biggest challenge they faced can be summed up in one word: water. Finding it in its purest, cleanest form gets to be a bit of a chore while in the middle of nowhere!

Crossing the Saharan Desert on foot is an amazing accomplishment. But just as commendable are these marathon finishers:

� Christians who finish their lives still growing, still serving.
� Husbands and wives who stay faithful to each other "until death do us part."
� Young people who preserve their virginity until marriage, in spite of crushing peer pressure.
� Pastors who stay passionate about ministry until their last breath.
� Church members who weather the rougher patches and remain joyful, loving, and faithful.

[Jon R. Mutchler, Ferndale, Washington; source: Anna Johnson, "3 ultra-athletes run across Sahara," USA Today (2-20-07)]]


Let us consider that life is an ultra-marathon that begins the day we are born and continues until the day we die. As we run the race there are many obstacles we face along the way, but we find it much easier to face those obstacles when we know The Lord is right there with us. Christ is the champion who lived and died and then rose back to life for all eternity. His death was a challenge He had to face, but He willingly gave His life though He had done nothing wrong so we too could receive a wonderful everlasting life with Him. Let us give praises to Christ for the salvation He has provided.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/04/14 12:41 PM
1 Kings 15:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David. 12 And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

Asa�s father was Abijam and The Bible says of him, �And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.� Asa did not follow his father, but instead followed The Father and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.



Normal is something that can be hard to define. Our view of normal is affected by what we see around us, what we know to be facts, and even the way we live. In the United States it is normal to eat from a plate with forks, spoons and knives. However in some countries it is normal to eat with the hand and in other countries it is normal to eat with other utensils, such as chopsticks. So what is normal varies widely.

Some of those who lived under Abijam�s rule obviously found it normal to be perverted in their ways and to worship hand formed idols. They may have thought nothing about their actions, for it was the way they were raised and taught.

Yet we find Asa departed from his father�s ways to do what the Lord considered to be right. Asa had obviously studied the words of the Lord and learned what normal was according to the Lord. Asa made changes to agree with God�s ways and not those of his father. Asa developed a new view of normality and improved the lives of the people.

Just because something seems normal does not make it right. I remember hearing a psychologist talking once about a patient who had been abused. As this patient described things to the psychologist they would talk as if the abuse was something normal and expected. The question came for the patient, �Do you think this is normal in every household?� The patient responded, �I guess so, isn�t it?� You see the patient had a different view of normal because of their life experiences.

When you look at the things in the world, take time to ask God, �Is this normal?� Look for God�s response and choose those things that are right and are to the benefit of others. Seek God�s wisdom and learn what should be normal as opposed to what we think is normal.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/14 11:20 AM
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Here the apostle describes his own mysterious life of being a believer in Christ. The old self of sin was crucified with Christ. But he lives and is comforted with the grace that came from Christ. While living in the earthly body still subject to sin he does so trusting Christ for guidance for he knows Christ loves him and gave His live for him. This is the Christian life we can all live.




[Theologian Alister McGrath outlines the following three stages of receiving what Christ did for us on the cross:

[First], I may believe that God is promising me forgiveness of sins; [second], I may trust that promise; but [third] unless I respond to that promise, I shall not obtain forgiveness. The first two stages of faith prepare the way for the third, without it they are incomplete.
Then he illustrates these three stages with the following true story:

Consider a bottle of penicillin, the famous antibiotic identified by Alexander Fleming, and first produced for clinical use in [Great Britain]. The drug was responsible for saving the lives of countless individuals who would otherwise have died from various forms of blood poisoning. Think of the three stages of faith like this. I may accept that the bottle exists. I may trust in its ability to cure blood poisoning. But nothing will change unless I receive the drug which it contains. I must allow it to destroy the bacteria which are slowly killing me. Otherwise, I have not benefited from my faith in it.

It is the third element of faith which is of vital importance in making sense of the cross. Just as faith links a bottle of penicillin to the cure of blood poisoning, so faith forges a link between the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and ourselves. Faith unites us with the risen Christ, and makes available to us everything he gained through his obedience and resurrection. [Alister E. McGrath, What Was God Doing on the Cross (Zondervan, 1992), pp. 99-100]]


The story above tells us that we can believe, but until we surrender to our own beliefs we have not followed through in faith. It is one thing to know a plane flies, but it another thing to trust sitting on the plane and hand control over to someone else to fly you up into the sky.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/14 11:35 AM
Romans 5:10 (NKJV)
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

The apostle points out that the sin within us has made us enemies of God. It seems a mystery that as we an enemy to God that God would allow His son to die on our behalf, but that is what God did. God offered His Son as a sacrifice for our sin to reconcile us to Him. Then Christ rose to eternal life, how much more so if we were reconciled by His death shall we be made to live through His life.




[Noble Doss dropped the ball. One ball. One pass. One mistake. In 1941, he let one fall. And it's haunted him ever since. "I cost us a national championship," he says.

The University of Texas football team was ranked number one in the nation. Hoping for an undefeated season and a berth in the Rose Bowl, they played conference rival Baylor University. With a 7-0 lead in the third quarter, the Longhorn quarterback launched a deep pass to a wide-open Doss.

"The only thing I had between me and the goal," he recalls, "was twenty yards of grass."

The throw was on target. Longhorn fans rose to their feet. The sure-handed Doss spotted the ball and reached out, but it slipped through.

Baylor rallied and tied the score with seconds to play. Texas lost their top ranking and, consequently, their chance at the Rose Bowl.

"I think about that play every day," Doss admits.

Not that he lacks other memories. Happily married for more than six decades. A father. Grandfather. He served in the navy during World War II. He appeared on the cover of Life magazine with his Texas teammates. He intercepted seventeen passes during his collegiate career, a university record. He won two NFL titles with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texas High School Hall of Fame and the Longhorn Hall of Honor include his name.

Most fans remember the plays Doss made and the passes he caught. Doss remembers the one he missed. Once, upon meeting a new Longhorn head coach, Doss told him about the bobbled ball. It had been fifty years since the game, but he wept as he spoke. [Max Lucado, Fearless (Thomas Nelson, 2009), pp. 31-32]]


God gave us a way to reconcile our sin by believing in His Son Jesus Christ. For the person that turns down Christ it might be a the one mistake remembered for a long time.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/09/14 10:55 AM
Psalm 110:1-3 (NKJV)
1 The Lord said to my Lord, �Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.� 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3 Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

This psalm proclaims the coming of The Messiah, and these verses assert His kingly office. Matthew Henry said of this psalm, �In singing this psalm we must act faith upon Christ, submit ourselves entirely to him, to his grace and government, and triumph in him as our prophet, priest, and king, by whom we hope to be ruled, and taught, and saved, forever, and as the prophet, priest, and king, of the whole church, who shall reign till he has put down all opposing rule, principality, and power, and delivered up the kingdom to God the Father.�



Carolyn Arends, wrote "Satan's a Goner: A lesson from a Headless Snake," in Christianity Today dated (February, 2011): [As a kid, I loved Mission Sundays, when missionaries on furlough brought special reports in place of a sermon �. There is one visit I've never forgotten. The missionaries were a married couple stationed in what appeared to be a particularly steamy jungle. I'm sure they gave a full report on churches planted or commitments made or translations begun. I don't remember much of that. What has always stayed with me is the story they shared about a snake.

One day, they told us, an enormous snake�much longer than a man�slithered its way right through their front door and into the kitchen of their simple home. Terrified, they ran outside and searched frantically for a local who might know what to do. A machete-wielding neighbor came to the rescue, calmly marching into their house and decapitating the snake with one clean chop.

The neighbor reemerged triumphant and assured the missionaries that the reptile had been defeated. But there was a catch, he warned: It was going to take a while for the snake to realize it was dead.

A snake's neurology and blood flow are such that it can take considerable time for it to stop moving even after decapitation. For the next several hours, the missionaries were forced to wait outside while the snake thrashed about, smashing furniture and flailing against walls and windows, wreaking havoc until its body finally understood that it no longer had a head.

Sweating in the heat, they had felt frustrated and a little sickened but also grateful that the snake's rampage wouldn't last forever. And at some point in their waiting, they told us, they had a mutual epiphany.

I leaned in with the rest of the congregation, queasy and fascinated. "Do you see it?" asked the husband. "Satan is a lot like that big old snake. He's already been defeated. He just doesn't know it yet. In the meantime, he's going to do some damage. But never forget that he's a goner."

The story [still] haunts me because I have come to believe it is an accurate picture of the universe. We are in the thrashing time, a season characterized by our pervasive capacity to do violence to each other and ourselves. The temptation is to despair. We have to remember, though, that it won't last forever. Jesus has already crushed the serpent's head.]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/14 10:49 AM
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The world was in a sad condition, lost and in need of salvation. And while helpless to do anything, Christ died for us -- the lowly sinner. The apostle makes the point it is rare for a righteous person to die for a good, decent person and yet Christ died for us while we were still sinners.



[After a day of disparate explanations from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the man who owns Barry Bonds�s record-setting 756th home run ball, the controversial ball was driven to Cooperstown, N.Y., on Tuesday. It arrived around 7:45 p.m.

Baker said Ecko�s personal driver delivered the ball to Horn in Cooperstown. She said an asterisk was laser-cut into the ball above the Major League logo by a master engraver and that the ball was delivered in a specially designed glass case. The case includes the details of how Ecko decided to plant an asterisk on the ball.

After Ecko bought the ball, he held an online contest to determine its future. Voters had three choices: put an asterisk on the ball; leave it alone; or shoot it to the moon. The first two choices included the addendum that the ball would be donated to the Hall. Since Bonds has been suspected of using steroids to inflate his home run total, the notion of adding an asterisk was often mentioned. [Jack Curry, The New York Times, Deal Struck as Hall Receives Home Run Ball Hit by Bonds]


The story above was about a moment of fame and a moment of disgrace represented by the asterisk. Many of us have tried to live a good life, but we probably feel there is an asterisk beside our name indicating the sins we have committed. However Christ lived and died and rose again to eternal life that we can have the mark of sin removed from us. For those that believe, Christ has justified us so that we are perfect and pure in the sight of God. Let us always remember Christ for what He did for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/11/14 11:46 AM
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Here the apostle refers to Jesus who innocently was put to death on a cross. Even Pontius Pilate, the leader who ordered the death of Jesus said of Jesus, �I find no fault in this Man.� Yet Jesus died as foretold by the prophets. Before his final breath the sins of the world were placed upon Him and The Father turned from Him because He could not bear to look at the sin His Son bore. With His last words Jesus said, �It is finished.� No longer was mankind held captive to sin, but instead was free to live in Jesus. By his wounds we were healed.



[Hawa Ahmed was a Muslim student in North Africa. One day, she read a Christian tract in her dormitory and decided to become a Christian. Her father was an Emir (Islamic ruler), so she expected to lose her inheritance because of her conversion. She was completely unprepared for what happened. When she told her family she had become a Christian and changed her name to Faith, her father exploded in rage. Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to electrocute her. Faith asked them to at least lay a Bible in her lap. Her father responded, "If you want to die together with your false religion, so be it." One of her brothers added, "That will show that your religion is powerless." Although they had bound her, she was able to touch a corner of the Bible. She felt a strange peace, as though someone were standing beside her. Her father and brothers pushed the plug into the socket�and nothing happened. They tried four times with various cables, but it was as though the electricity refused to flow. Finally her father, angry and frustrated, hit her and screamed, "You are no longer my daughter."

Then he threw her into the street, naked. She ran through the streets, humiliated and in pain. People looked at her, curious rather than shocked. Shaking and tearful, she ran to a friend. Her friend let her in, clothed her, and gave her shelter. The next day, her friend asked neighbors what they had thought when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets. "What are you talking about?" they asked. "The girl had a wonderful white dress on. We asked ourselves why someone so beautifully clothed had to run through the streets." God had hidden her nakedness from their eyes, clothing her in a beautiful white dress. Today, Faith is a full-time evangelist with Every Home for Christ. [Guido Kuwas , Global Revival News (12-17-01); submitted by Owen Bourgaize, Guernsey, United Kingdom]]

Oh we of little faith. God wants to work wonders in our life. Hawa Ahmed became Faith both in name and in her soul. It was by faith that God protected her. Let us have such a faith that God protects us in the same way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/14/14 11:52 AM
1 Timothy 6:3-5 (NLT)
3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Here the apostle is writing to his beloved friend Timothy. He explains there are people who promote then own agendas against the godly teachings the believers in Christ have been promoting. These people tend to stir up arguments by different means and disregard what is true and right. To them their action is just a show.




Sadly the United States has become a place where people lack sensible understanding. One reason is the corruption and problems taking place in America. We watch daily on the news as people rob stores. Also in the news there are stories of those who go into schools and shot or stab or those. It doesn�t only happen in the schools, but on the streets during a marathon or inside a mall while people are calmly shopping.

America had the value of wholesome teachings that Christ himself promoted among the people. But now, even our laws reflect our feelings of being corrupt and out of control. There used to be a time when a teacher, or a police office could size up a problem and apply their own reasoning to what a correct response would be. But now there is so much corruption it seems one law fits everything.

For example a 4th grader accidentally takes a knife from home to spread the jelly on their PB&J sandwich. The kid realizes their parent put the knife there and turns it in to the teacher. Instead of reasoning the problem out, a wide rule is applied; anyone with a knife is arrested and sent to jail. I know of a story like this. The child was innocent in their actions, but they were handcuffed, put in a sheriff�s car and driven to jail all because of a butter knife. The problem is minds have become corrupt and people can�t think for themselves. They apply a broad rule, just to be safe, just to be sure their own salaries are protected.

In a classroom a student claims another boy pointed his finger at him and made a motion as if he were firing a gun. There were no witnesses and the other boy insisted he had not made such a motion. The teacher sent the boy to the office for suspension; after all guns and threats are not allowed at school. The kid was suspended without real reason for something that wasn�t even a real threat.

Our nation has lost its way when it comes to reasoning. We need to find the good old days when people could think and apply reason and hand out proper justice. We need to return back to the principles of Christian values this country was founded upon.


Father, restore our nation. Help us to once again reason like sane people. Let us see the truth in actions by people and know what is right and wrote. Let us promote godly living among the people instead of fearful lives.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 04/14/14 01:23 PM
Yes, God created mans minds and ability to reason.

My son accidentally brought a pocket knife to school, but he remembered and turned it into the office; the principal gave it to me at the end of day.

Thankfully, my children attend a school where some still have common sense.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/14 11:12 AM
Romans 13:6-7 (NLT)
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

God has established the governments of the world for His purpose. Therefore when taxes are lawfully levied they should be paid by the taxpayer in accordance with the law. However as was pointed out in the New Testament there were corrupt tax collectors and these men were considered as bad as thieves. Therefore government in its attempt to extract taxes should always be within the law. When they act accordingly the taxpayer too should act accordingly by paying what they owe and respecting those who collect what is due.



[Many Christians, like most of the populace, believe the political structures can cure all our ills. The fact is, however, that government, by its very nature, is limited in what it can accomplish. What it does best is perpetuate its own power and bolster its own bureaucracies.

�Charles (Chuck) Colson, advisor to President Nixon, writer, and founder of Prison Fellowship]


This is why charitable organizations are so important. I recently had a friend in the hospital that did not have insurance. He said it was the charity organizations that helped him and not government funding. It is amazing how much charitable organizations do throughout the world. Instead of believing in a strong government that will help our people, we should believe in others who will come through in our time of need. I know my brother was sick once and it was the church that came with donations, gifts and support. Remember the church is a place where we can encourage one another and sometimes that is done from the charity that comes from our hearts.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/16/14 11:49 AM
Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Here the apostle expresses that there is one debt we should keep and that is to love one another. All other debts should be paid even if it means sacrificing our desires for things to fulfill the debt that is owed. Ensuring our debts are paid is one way to express love and appreciation for those who have helped in a time of need.




Daniel Burke, CNN, writes in the story, The accused Kansas killer�s neo-pagan religion, about Frazier Glenn Cross. Frazier Glenn Cross is a white supremacist, an avowed anti-Semite and an accused killer. But he is not, as many think, a Christian.

Cross, who also goes by the name Glenn Miller, is accused of killing three people � all Christians - on Sunday at Jewish institutions in Overland Park, Kansas.

Authorities are weighing whether to file hate-crime charges against Cross, who is suspected of targeting Jews.

The 73-year-old has espoused anti-Semitism for decades. He also founded racist groups like a branch of the Ku Klux Klan and the White Patriot Party, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Both groups have deep ties to Christian white supremacists.

But according to Cross' 1999 biography, he is an adherent of Odinism, a neo-pagan religion that experts say has emerged as one the most vicious strains in the white supremacist movement.



Stories like this bother me. It is hard to understand the mind that wants to hate for no good reason other than just to hate. Then in the midst of the story you read these groups have deep ties to �Christian� white supremacists. I�m sorry but The Bible doesn�t tell Chistians to hate one another, instead it says we should love one another. Christ loved us enough to die for us. We should be willing to love others out of respect. Hate drives people to violence. Love drives people to compassion for others. Pray for those that hate that they may understand love and experience the true love of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/17/14 11:04 AM
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The principle duty Paul did among the people was to preach the message of the cross. It is the good news of the saving grace of God that came through Jesus Christ.



[Historian Garret Fagan summarizes how the Romans�the culture encountered by the early church�viewed the values of strength and weakness:

Ideas of universal human dignity were almost all but nonexistent and large swathes of the population were seen as � inherently worthless. Weak members of society were objects not of compassion but of derision. More than most, Romans lionized strength over weakness, victory over defeat, dominion over obedience. Losers paid a harsh price and got what they deserved, and [resisters] were to be ruthlessly handled � Roman politics became a ruthless game of total winners and abject losers � The drive to dominate and not be forced to bow before a rival was paramount. [Garrett G. Fagan, The Lure of the Arena (Cambridge University Press, 2011), pp. 33-34]]


The Romans were ruthlessly civilized. They dominated others to form a culture. One of their severest punishments was the cross where people died a merciless death. So to those of the time it would have seemed foolish that a person dying on a cross could be a savior to the world; for obviously that person was weak.

However, Jesus Christ was strong in His determination to die for us. He wrestled over the thought of death and bearing the sins of the world and yet He did. He died for us so that we could be free from sin. It may sound like foolishness to some, but for those who believe in Christ it is God�s power of saving grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/21/14 11:48 AM
John 10:28-30 (NLT)
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father�s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.

Jesus gives this response as people ask Him if He is the Messiah. Even though Jesus had made this face clear on several occasions then people did not believe Him. So he states that those who believe in Him, He gives eternal life. The Father has given them unto Him and no one can pull them back. Them He states that He and the Father are one to which the crowd responds by wanting to stone Him for claiming He and the Father are one.



[Only 12-years-old, and in a moment one Ethiopian girl's world turned into a nightmare. Seven violent men abducted the pre-teen, intending to force her into marriage. The men held the girl for seven days, beating her repeatedly.

Such incidents are common in Ethiopia, as several men band together to abduct young girls for the purpose of securing a bride. The girls are typically beaten into submission and raped. In this particular instance, there was not a human being within earshot to hear the cries of this girl. But her cries were heard.

The unlikely heroes were three majestic Ethiopian lions. Famous for their large black manes, these lions are the national symbol of the country. In response to the girl's cries for help, three large lions leapt from the brush and chased her captors away. Perhaps the child thought she had traded one danger for another, but remarkably, her heroes formed a protective perimeter around her. A half-day later, when the police arrived, the guardian lions simply stood up and walked away. Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo said, "They stood guard until we found her, and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest."

Among the explanations for the lions' unusual behavior, one wildlife expert suggested the girl's whimpering could have sounded like a lion cub. For whatever reason, the predator served as protector. The carnivore became a sentinel. "Everyone&#133;thinks this is some kind of miracle," Wondimu commented.

This 12-year-old girl was helpless, powerless to change her horrific circumstances. Her deliverance had to come from a power greater than, and outside of, herself. In the same way, we are powerless to save ourselves from sin and death. Our only hope is in Christ, the Lion of Judah. [David Slagle, Decatur, Georgia; source: Anthony Mitchell, "Lions Rescue, Guard Beaten Ethiopian Girl," Yahoo News (6-21-05); "Lions Free Kidnapped Girl," CNN.com (6-21-05)]]


Jesus promises that no one will take us away from Him when we believe he is the Messiah. Place your hope and faith in Jesus and He will watch over you as the Lion of Judah.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/14 11:06 AM
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
20 For since the creation of the world God�s invisible qualities�his eternal power and divine nature�have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

The apostle explains that since the beginning of the world, God�s eternal power and divine nature are evident. For all around us is evidence of God�s existence and there is no excuse to deny God exists.



For a period of time there was a booming market for real estate development in Atlanta. Then economic changes took place that halted that development. Neighborhoods that had started develop stopped because the economy just could not support new homes. Left behind is what I have heard referred to as PVC neighborhoods. Roads were cut, utilities were being put in place, but homes never got built. All that remains is overgrown weeds and tall PVC pipes standing up from the ground where water connections would be placed.

It is very evident someone started work and just stopped. In some cases there are bags of cement and piles of boards that have weathered and become ruined. You see without someone to start the building process those materials didn�t just get up and complete a home. They say and they are still there.

I�m sure you have heard debates over whether there was creationism or evolution that took place to make this world. I�m not going to debate those facts. I believe that whatever happened, God put everything in place. God was the architect, the engineer, and the builder of the world. God made known His presence through the beauty of things seen and how marvelous and magnificent we are made.

Man can explain some things, but there is a lot he cannot explain. I�m going to leave those points for God to explain to me one day when I am with Him. For I know the Lord Jesus Christ His Son is our savior, our redeemer and the one who gives us eternal life.

You see the one who planned the world also planned for our redemption. God had the perfect plan and He put that plan in place at the perfect time. Thank God for His creation and give Him praise for all He has done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/23/14 10:51 AM
Romans 14:10-12 (NIV)
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God�s judgment seat. 11 It is written: ��As surely as I live,� says the Lord,
�every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.�� 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

The apostle is impressing on those in the church that they should not do or say things that create a hindrance in faith of God in others. For some are new Christians learning. Some are weak in their faith while others are strong. Each person is accountable to God and should make their selections in life with the desires of God in mind. For one day each person will stand before God�s judgment seat to give an accounting of the things done or not done.



[Lance Morrow, an award-winning journalist with Time magazine, once set out to write an article asking if there was one universal joke, told everywhere around the world. Here's what happened:

I sent out a query to all of Time's bureaus around the world�Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, New Delhi, Jerusalem, Rome, Bonn, London, Paris, Rio, Buenos Aires, and so on. I asked the correspondents to tell me one or two jokes then current in their part of the world.

It turns out there is a universal joke. It was what Americans refer to as the "Polish joke." Except of course that everywhere, the role of [Polish people] in the "Polish joke" is enacted by some appropriate other group. The Flemings have Walloon jokes, for example. The English tell Irish jokes, and vice versa �. The people in Tokyo have jokes about the people in Osaka. I was once on the tiny island of Grenada (133 square miles) and was told that people on one side of the island had a large stock of vicious jokes about people on the other side of the island; and vice versa.

In the universal humor, as in universal evil, you need the Other. The Other is the butt of your joke, or the butt of your evil. [Lance Morrow, Evil: An Investigation (Basic Books, 2003), p. 25]


We all may think we have good intentions, but even our good intentions can be clouded by sin. Ensure your words and actions towards other take them into consider and think to yourself is this how The Lord would treat them.

Remember the words from Romans 8:38-39, �For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/14 11:22 AM
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

In these verses the apostle reminds us that salvation cannot be bought. Instead salvation is a gift given to us and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. What we cannot do on our own, Jesus Christ did for us � He made us right with God.



In Decision, Karen R. Morerod writes:

I was in a store shopping for a sweater. The cost needed to be minimal, so I went to the clearance rack to start looking. As I flipped through the sweaters, one caught my eye. It was the right color and the right size, and best of all, the price tag was marked $8.00. Without much more thought, I made my purchase.

At home I slipped on the sweater. Its texture was like silk. I had made my purchase so quickly that I hadn't noticed how smooth and elegant the sweater was. Then I saw the original price tag: $124.00!

I gasped. I had never owned any clothing of that value. I had come home with what I thought was a "cheap buy," but the original price was quite high. I had been oblivious to its value.

Just as with my sweater, I have often treated the power of Jesus' blood like a "cheap purchase." His grace, though free to me, carried a high price tag&#151;the life of his very own Son.

[Karen R. Morerod, writer, "Lesson Learned from a Sweater," Decision (November 1999), p. 39]


Revelation 21:5-7 says, �He who was seated on the throne said, �I am making everything new!� Then he said, �Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.� He said to me: �It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.�

For no cost, eternal salvation is extended to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ. Just because there is no cost to us we should never treat eternal salvation as though it cost nothing � for Jesus paid a great price.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/28/14 11:48 AM
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death�even death on a cross!

The apostle describes that we should interact and build relationships with others just as Jesus Christ did. Although Christ was the very nature of God; Christ did not place himself above others as a king might, but instead was a servant to others. He humbles himself before others and even humbles himself to die for our sins.



The other day our doorbell rang and my wife answered the door. There were two young Mormon men wanting to inform her about their church. They were very nice young men and asked my wife if she knew she was going to heaven. My wife stated she was a Christian and believed in Jesus Christ, who even though he was God humbled himself to die on the cross for our sins. She said she had placed her trust, belief and faith in Christ and because of that she knew she would spend eternity in heaven with Him. My wife has a relationship with Christ and was able to verbalize it openly.

The two young men accepted what she said. Then one of them asked, �Don�t you think religion has made the world a better place?� This is where my wife corrected them by saying, �I believe a personal relationship with Jesus Christ makes the world a better place. There are many religions, many people who claim to be religious, but sometimes they hurt people more than they serve people.�

It�s so true there are people who claim to be religious, but they don�t understand the life of Jesus Christ because they have never developed a relationship with Him. The have missed the important points He made, such as loving one another and going out of the way to care for someone you don�t even know. When you build a relationship with Jesus you begin to understand the life that should be lived according to the way Jesus lived life.

Instead of trying to be religious follow the one who gave up His life to set you free from sin. Build a relationship with Jesus so that you may live as he did a humble person ready to help others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/29/14 11:05 AM
Job 19:25 (NLT)
25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

Matthew Henry wrote, �Our heavenly inheritance was mortgaged by sin; we are ourselves utterly unable to redeem it; Christ is near of kin to us, the next kinsman that is able to redeem; he has paid our debt, satisfied God's justice for sin, and so has taken off the mortgage and made a new settlement of the inheritance.� Job knew a savior would come to redeem the sinful debts of mankind.




[In January 2000, leaders of Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn't find it. The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.' Einstein nodded appreciatively.

"The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry. I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.' Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I'm going." [John Huffman, "Who Are You, and Where Are You Going?" Preaching Conference 2002]]


My mother was dying from stage 4 gastrointestinal cancer. I lovingly asked her if she knew where she was going when she died and she said, �To be with Jesus and my family in heaven.� My mother knew her destination for she had placed her faith in Christ, our savior and redeemer. It�s comforting to know that our faith in Christ gives us a ticket so we know not only who we are, but also where we are going.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/14 11:38 AM
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Our faith in Christ gives us the confidence to go to the Father in prayer and ask for things that are not contrary to the glory and majesty of God. For it is up to us to understand the Father�s will and seek those things that are in accordance with His will. In doing so we know God hears whatever we ask and we can be confident that God will respond.



Pastor Bill White from Paramount, California told this story. Sarah, a woman who attends our church, had never prayed aloud in her life. She grew up moderately connected to the church, but when a relational crisis hit with her fianc�, she realized she needed more. She began attending church for comfort. Little did she expect that Jesus would also make her uncomfortable.

Sarah was on call for her job as an ultrasound technician for a local emergency room. One Friday night, she was called into work at 2 a.m. The doctor told her he thought the lady in Exam Room 2 was crazy, but that, for legal reasons, they had to run some tests. Sarah entered the room to find a highly agitated woman in her forties who could barely sit still for the ultrasound. The woman was bouncing off the walls and complaining of intense discomfort. At one point she even lay down on the floor. As Sarah struggled to conduct the requisite test, the woman blurted, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?"

"Well," Sarah responded hesitantly, "I do."

With hope in her eyes for the first time, the woman pleaded, "Would you pray for me? I just need to calm down."

Sarah was dismayed�these things never happened to her before she started following Jesus. But now she was stuck. She fumbled with the machine, looking for a way out. Trying to avoid the inevitable she mustered up enough strength to say, "Maybe you could pray�or at least get us started."

"No! It hurts too much. You do it!" the woman begged.

With no recourse�right there in the ER�Sarah stretched out her hand and laid it on the woman. She prayed, "God, please be with this woman in her time of need. Please give the doctors wisdom to know what is wrong with her and how to fix it; and, God, please put your hands on her and take away her pain." It was short and sweet, but it was just what the Great Physician ordered. The woman calmed down. And as she did, Sarah had a sudden inclination to recheck her gall bladder.

There, wedged in the neck of the woman's gall bladder, was a 4-millimeter stone. Sarah immediately told the doctor, who overcame his disbelief quickly enough to order emergency surgery.


Often God will use others to take us somewhere we have never been before, such as Sarah who was not comfortable praying openly for others. God allowed her to have delight in her prayer seeing the miracle of her request. Let us never forget to pray for the things God would have us pray for.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/14 12:30 PM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Here the apostle reminds us we are to take no thought of our earthy concerns for there is nothing to be anxious for. God hears our needs and responds to them. We find ourselves giving thanks and praise for what we have received and for those things yet to be received. God grants to us a peace that comes through Jesus Christ that guards our hearts and minds.



In the movie Gravity, veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (played by George Clooney) is in charge of the Shuttle Explorer's STS-157 mission to repair the Hubble Telescope by the rookie specialist Dr. Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock). Out of the blue, Houston control aborts the mission warning that a Russian missile hit a satellite, causing a chain reaction and now there is a storm of debris coming upon the pair of astronauts. Soon they lose communication with the Mission Control in Houston. As a result of the debris strike, both Stone and Kowalski must now make their way to the International Space Station.

(SPOILER ALERT: At some point Kowalski makes the decision to untether himself from Dr. Stone to prevent both of them from perishing.)

Isolated and coming to grips with her mortality, Dr. Stone has the following conversation/prayer with God:

I'm gonna die, aren't I God? I know we're all gonna die...we're all gonna die. But I'm gonna die today! Funny that you ought to know. But the thing is I'm still scared � I'm really scared. Nobody will mourn for me; no one will pray for my soul. Will you mourn for me? Will you pray for me? Or is it too late? I mean, I'd pray for myself but I've never prayed in my life. Nobody ever taught me how. Nobody ever taught me how. [Gravity, DVD, Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, 2014; Warner Brothers; submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]


Matthew 6:5-13 �And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. �Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/14 10:49 AM
Romans 5:6 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

The world was in a sad condition, unable to break away from the sin that held everyone. So at just the right time God brought salvation to the world through Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry wrote, God's time to help and save is when those that are to be saved are without strength, that his own power and grace may be the more magnified.



I learned to cook at an early age. My mom was single and she usually worked late hours. If my brother and I intended to eat we usually had to cook a meal ourselves. So early on in life I learned about cooking; not just popping a TV dinner in the oven, but real cooking.

There were a couple of important lessons I learned. Ingredients had to be put together just right or the results might not turn out as predicted. Also, when food was baked in the over there was a proper temperature and amount of time the food had to cook. So if the mix of ingredients wasn�t right, and the environment or temperature was not right things didn�t turn out so well.

Life is a lot like cooking. You also need to plan on having the right things available to make life enjoyable. There needs to be a suitable environment that people can live in. We need to raise families without trying to rush or short-cut the things we need to do. So everything needs to be done in the right time. We don�t want to start too early or wait too late on certain events. There is a right time for everything.


God knew that when He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world. He waited for the right environment, the right mix of people, and the right time to reveal His plan of salvation to the world. God always had us on His mind, planning and waiting for the right day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/07/14 11:13 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Within us there should always be a spiritual joy that is ready to overcome the sadness of the world. We can find that joy by praying for all circumstance we are faced with and by giving thanks for all events that take place in our life. For we never know when what may seem to be the worst event in life might be just what we need to see God�s will accomplished.



�To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let's not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.� &#8213; Henri J.M. Nouwen


In my life there have been many failures. Like many others I have been trapped by regret wondering why I didn�t do something different when instead I could have been rejoicing over the lessons I learned. As I have looked back over the years I have seen where many of those failures have becoming teaching points for others that I can use to encourage and give hope. Let us always give praise for the good and even the bad in our lives that God will use it for the good of us and others.

In Genesis 50:19-21 Joseph spoke to his family and said, �Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.� And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/08/14 11:46 AM
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Christians live in the world with many people of different faiths and non-beliefs. Those who are believers in Christ should live in a manner that sets a good example for those who have not placed their faith in Christ. We are to take every opportunity to be gracious and respond to people in a positive manner that attracts them to the beauty of Christianity



The Christian scholar Larry Taunton launched a nationwide campaign to interview college students who belong to atheistic campus groups. After receiving a flood of enquiries, Larry and his team heard one consistent theme from these young unbelievers: they often expected but didn't find more spiritual depth from their Christian neighbors. Larry writes:

Some [of these young atheists] had gone to church hoping to find answers to [tough questions about faith]. Others hoped to find answers to questions of personal significance, purpose, and ethics. Serious-minded, they often concluded that church services were largely shallow, harmless, and ultimately irrelevant. As Ben, an engineering major at the University of Texas, so bluntly put it: "I really started to get bored with church."

In contrast, these young atheists expressed their respect for those ministers who took the Bible seriously. Larry writes,

Without fail, our former church-attending students expressed [positive] feelings for those Christians who unashamedly embraced biblical teaching. Michael, a political science major at Dartmouth, told us, "I really can't consider a Christian a good, moral person if he isn't trying to convert me �. Christianity is something that if you really believed it, it would change your life and you would want to change [the lives] of others. I haven't seen too much of that." [Larry Alex Taunton, "Listening to Young Atheists: Lessons for a Stronger Christianity," The Atlantic (6-6-13)]


If Christians cannot show a commitment and zeal for living the Christian life then where are others expected to see how Christians live? Let�s put out love for Christ to work and let others see our faith in action.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/09/14 11:41 AM
Romans 8:1-2 (NJKV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

"There is no accusation against them,' for this there is; but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,' for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. He does not say, "There is no cross, no affliction to them or no displeasure in the affliction,' for this there may be; but no condemnation. They may be chastened of the Lord, but not condemned with the world. ~ Matthew Henry



Rich Doebler of Cloquet, Minnesota wrote - I enjoy theme parks. It�s great fun to get away with family and friends taking in the shows and rides. But sometimes the very thing that appears to offer a great thrill becomes an awful trap that takes us on a wild ride. Rick Doebler of Cloquet, Minnesota, tells of his own experience.

�Some years ago, while our family was vacationing in northern Minnesota, we decided to visit a small county fair near the town of Babbitt. There weren�t many people there that morning. In fact, we were about the only ones visiting the carnival rides. So when I climbed into the Tilt-O-Wheel with my three kids, we hoped the operator would give us a decent ride � even though we were the only ones on it.

�Little did we know what we were getting involved in. The first few minutes were rather fun. We laughed and enjoyed the funny feeling inside our stomachs. But after a while, it got to be not so much fun. And after some more time � way past the length of an ordinary ride � I began to feel queasy.

�I wanted to get out, but I couldn�t. First, we were going too fast to escape. Second, the centrifugal force had me pressed firmly against the back of the car. I was immobilized. Every time we spun past the operator, I looked pleadingly at him. �Please! Read my eyes! I need to get off!� But the operator kept the ride going. I guess he thought he�d let it run until more customers showed up.

�After another few minutes, the ride became miserable. The funny feeling inside my stomach had turned into a churning concoction that had a faint resemblance of my morning's breakfast. I had no control over my life. I was caught, going around in circles, held down by a merciless carnival ride operator.

�Only after what seemed like three or four hours did he finally relent and stop the ride. I�m sure I looked completely green by this time. I staggered off the platform and made it about 20 feet, where I bent over and lost my breakfast. Of course, my kids gathered around, cheering me on. They thought this was the best part of the ride.�



At first sin appears to be appealing, attractive, and fun; but then it can begin to have terrifying effects upon us. Thankfully Christ took away the condemnation of sin. We may still face the consequences as Rich did upon exiting the ride, but at least the ride was over and the torment he felt came to an end.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/14 12:14 PM
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Here is, 1. The cause and consequence of melancholy. It is heaviness in the heart; it is a load of care, and fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, depressing them, and disabling them to exert themselves with any vigour on what is to be done or fortitude in what is to borne; it makes them stoop, prostrates and sinks them. Those that are thus oppressed can neither do the duty nor take the comfort of any relation, condition, or conversation. Those therefore that are inclined to it should watch and pray against it. 2. The cure of it: A good word from God, applied by faith, makes it glad; such a word is that (says one of the rabbin), Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; the good word of God, particularly the gospel, is designed to make the hearts glad that are weary and heavy-laden. ~ Matthew Henry



Parked on the side of the road, waiting to catch speeding drivers, a state trooper sees a car puttering along at 22 mph. Thinking the driver is as dangerous as a speeder, the state trooper turns on his lights and pulls the car over.

As he approaches the vehicle, the officer notices there are five elderly ladies inside�two in the front seat and three in the back�wide-eyed and white as ghosts.

The driver, obviously confused, says, "Officer, I don't understand. I was going the exact speed limit. What seems to be the problem?"

The trooper, trying to contain a chuckle, explained to her that 22 was the route number�not the speed limit.

A bit embarrassed, the woman grins and thanks the officer for pointing out her error.

"Before you go," the officer says, "I have to ask: Is everyone in this car okay? These women seem awfully shaken."

"Oh," she answered, "they'll be all right, sir. We just got off of Route 127."


Can you imagine the thoughts of the women when the driver was going 127? I�m sure they were filled with fear and anxiety. Fortunately they hadn�t run across a highway like I-285 here in Atlanta. But the kind word of an officer set them straight and gave them insight to the correct speed limit signs. I�m sure their anxiety was greatly reduced once they knew the proper speed.

The same holds true in our live. When we are anxious the anxiety can be reduced greatly by a kind word from a friend or hearing God as you read through his word. It�s the right words that take away our anxieties and cheer us up.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 05/13/14 03:30 AM
Jesus promised us peace and His Word can bring us peace indeed
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/14 11:13 AM
Proverbs 13:5 (NKJV)
5 A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

The righteous believe in truth and justice. They abhor sin and with sin come lies that try to mask or cover the sins committed. The wicked will tell lies to cover their sin, but those moments are only short lived. Eventually the wicked must face their sin and their lies become unraveled.



When I was a teenager a bunch of friends were getting together for a party. Wanting to be a part of the cool crowd; a friend and I plotted how we might attend the party. He said his parents were going to be out of town for the night. So I lied to my mother and said I was staying at his house. My friend called his parents to say he was staying at my house. We figured our parents would never talk to one another. It was a perfect plan.

So the lie began and we went and spent the evening with others we knew. It was more of a gathering than a party, yet we still lied about where we would be. Everyone left early in the morning, so we did too. I went to drop off my friend at his house before going home. It�s then we realized his parent�s car was there; seems they came home early too. So we came up with another lie, �Just go in the house and pretend like you came home early because I had to work.� So I dropped him off and went home thinking he went on in the house.

Unknown to me my friend never went inside. He got in his car and left fearful his parents might suspect something. Well I went home thinking things were all nice and tidy. I had just gone to take a shower for work when I heard my mother say from the other room, �No, I haven�t seen him. No he didn�t spend the night here.�

The next thing I heard was a knock at the bathroom door and in a stern voice my mom said, �I want to see you when you get out here.� Needless to say my lies unraveled quickly. My friend also finally went home and his parents were waiting on him. Both of us ended up on restriction which we deserved.


A person never prospers from a lie, but instead finds themselves faced with not only the shame of the sin they committed, but the shame of the lie. The lie also makes things worst because it breaks trust. How can someone believe the next time you are telling the truth when you have told a lie in the past. Maintain righteousness and do not lie so that you do not have to face the shame that will follow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/14/14 10:53 AM
Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV)
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother�s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

God made us, and therefore no doubt he knows us; he saw us when we were in the forming, and can we be hidden from him now that we are formed? ~Matthew Henry



R. C. Sproul shares the story of a college student he once taught who had cerebral palsy. You know what that looks like�spastic movements and garbled speech. But as is often the case, this student was very bright and capable. Sproul writes:

One day he came to me vexed with a problem and asked me to pray for him. In the course of the prayer, I said something routine, with words like, "Oh, God, please help this man as he wrestles with this problem." When I opened my eyes, the student was quietly weeping.

I asked him what was wrong and he stammered his reply, "You called me a man. No one has ever called me a man before." [Lee Eclov, in the sermon "The Blessed Limp]


There are people who live with afflictions, pain, suffering and torment. They may never have been given a chance to see who they really are, although God knows them well. In the quiet moment of a prayer this teacher finds words from God that opened a door to a blessing for this young man. For in his life battle no one had called him a man, but God placed someone in his life that called him what he truly was.

Dear men and dear women we are children of God and He finds us very precious in His sight.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/14 11:32 AM
Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NIV)
5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother�s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

There are many things in life we do not understand. We keep exploring, learning, teaching others and even find out at times our conclusions were all wrong. We cannot understand the simple things as the manner in which direction the wind will blow or the more difficult subject as to how a child develops in the womb. How then can we understand the wonderful and marvelous powers and wisdom of God?



Robinson Meyer writes in �What Happens in One Minute Around the World - A minute is a funny amount of time. It's long enough to notice, but it's too short to do much of anything with. There are only about five hundred thousand of them in a year. But when you add all of humanity together, a lot starts to happen in that lowly minute. Consider what happens before the second hand of a clock completes one rotation:

- 25 Americans will get a passport, according to the U.S. Department of State.
- 58 airplanes will take off around the world, according to the International Air Traffic Association.
- 116 people will get married, according to data from the United Nations.
- 144 people will move to a new home, according to Gallup.
- 11,319 packages will be delivered by UPS.
- 243,000 photos will be uploaded to Facebook.
- 5,441,400 pounds of garbage will be created, according to the World Bank.
- 7,150,000,000 human hearts (according to the United States Census Bureau) will beat �
- 500,000,000 times, according to the American Heart Association, as their bodies create
- 858,282,240,000,000,000 new red blood cells, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Yes, a lot can happen in a minute and most of us will never understand the implications of the things that take place in that minute. For instance how many accidents could have been avoid if just one thing different had taken place. How many marriages might have never been if two people had been at different places? How many packages might not have been delivered on time if an airport was closed due to back weather?

There are many things we don�t know and we don�t understand, but we can count on a God who does know and who does understand. Let us give praise to God for being in control and knowing the outcome of our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/14 11:33 AM
Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Oh the opinions of man are great, but somewhere in the midst lay the truth. Man is quick to grab onto what seems right to him, although if he carefully examined his thoughts he would find flaws and errors. It is these flaws and errors in judgment that can lead to death; either a physical death or both a spiritual and physical death. For instance one may say, �There can be no god for look at the sin that abounds in the world.� They miss the point that man loosed sin upon man; and who is man to judge God for the problems caused by man�s own acts.




According to a 2006 LA Times article by Pete Y. Hong, An esteemed scientist known as "the father of gene therapy" was convicted Wednesday of sexually abusing a child 50 years his junior. A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury found USC research director William French Anderson, 69, guilty of four counts of continuous sex abuse and lewd acts toward a child under 14. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 22 years.

Anderson, who had warned his victim that her accusations would prevent him from saving lives through medical cures and disillusion those who viewed him as "a model of the right way to live," was jailed immediately. Anderson, director of USC's Gene Therapy Laboratories, focused on stem cell research and correcting defective genes in fetuses.

His accuser, now a 19-year-old college student, is the daughter of Anderson's second in command at the lab. In addition to employing the girl's mother, Anderson had been a close family friend. The jury of 10 men and two women took a little more than a day to reach its verdict. Silver-haired and square-jawed, Anderson, dressed in a gray wool suit, looked straight ahead as the jury verdicts were read by the court clerk.

Outside the courtroom, Deputy Dist. Atty. Cathryn F. Brougham said the verdict showed the jury "did not allow his status, his high education and his professional reputation to stand in the way of the truth."

[His lawyer, Barry Tarlow, had argued that his client was a kindly mentor to the girl and was being smeared by her mother, whom he said wanted to assume Anderson's position at USC.Tarlow said that while Anderson was brilliant in the lab, he did not have great social skills, as evidenced by e-mails introduced at trial in which he wrote about pondering suicide if the girl's allegations were to become public. "Nothing about having a 176 IQ means you have good judgment," Tarlow said. As intelligent as William French Anderson was, his 176 I.Q. did not prove to show him the right way in life. [www.freerepublic.com, July 19, 2006, Linda Deutsch � ap]


We all need to remember the wise words given to us in Proverbs 16:25, �There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.� We all are susceptible to flawed thinking because of sin in the world. Let us never forget we need to look to The Lord for our answers and paths to take in life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/14 01:01 PM
James 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Wisdom is God�s gift to men. Of all the things King Solomon could ask for; he asked for wisdom and God gave wisdom to him as a gift. True wisdom from God is pure. It is peaceful, gentle, considerate, merciful and compassion. There is no favoritism found in God�s wisdom and the results are always sincere. A Peacemakers use God�s wisdom to instill peace in others. Peacemakers turn a hostile environment into a peaceful environment, which those who are Peacekeepers maintain peace in a hostile environment through whatever means necessary. The seeds planted by Peacekeepers reap a harvest of peaceful righteousness.



On an ordinary winter day in 1961, an MIT meteorologist named Edward Lorenz ran some routine experiments and found some unusual results. Lorenz discovered that seemingly tiny and insignificant changes in his data could produce huge differences in the final result. At first, Lorenz and other scientists in the field of chaos theory called this "the sensitive dependence on initial data." Fortunately, later on Lorenz used a simpler term�"the butterfly effect." In 1972, Lorenz presented a scientific paper entitled "Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set off a Tornado in Texas?" According to Lorenz's theory, the butterfly's wing-flapping doesn't actually cause a tornado, but it can start a chain reaction leading to giant changes in world-wide weather patterns. In others words, even tiny, insignificant movements or actions can produce huge changes that affect millions of people.

The Bible often describes a similar "butterfly effect" for the spiritual life. According to Jesus, the spiritual butterfly effect occurs when we do small things�making a meal, visiting the sick, befriending the lonely, opening our home to a guest, praying with a friend�for "insignificant" people, which makes a huge difference in God's eyes. But according to Jesus, there's also a reverse butterfly effect: consistently failing to display small acts of kindness (i.e. living an unkind lifestyle) has a profound loss of opportunity in the spiritual realm. [Kenneth Chang, "Edward N. Lorenz, a Meteorologist and a Father of Chaos Theory, dies at 90," NewYorkTimes.com (4-17-08)]


Apply God�s wisdom to your actions for a simple right action may have a significant and profound positive effect on another, while a negative action may have a lasting detrimental effect. We want to pass along positive effects that others can pass along too.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/14 11:31 AM
Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In his course of exhortation the apostle now turns to prayer. He asks that God bestow patience and comfort to those who believe in Christ that they may live as Christ did towards one another and that their lives are as one mind in accordance that of God the Father and God the Son.



Mark DeYmaz, pastor of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, is passionate about building a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church. In his book Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church, DeYmaz stresses the church�especially the American church�ought to reflect the many colors and cultures that dot our landscape. The diversity this requires is not an easy task. Nonetheless, the church ought to be "a place in which people are comfortable being uncomfortable." Christians must realize "that they are a part of something much bigger than themselves."


God�s church was put in place to extend too many people. It doesn�t matter what race you are, it doesn�t matter the color of your skin, it doesn�t matter how wealthy or how poor you are. All that matters is that you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ who died on a cross for the sins of the world; and that on the 3rd day Jesus rose to life victorious over sin and death.

As believers in Christ we are to work together as one, glorifying the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As brothers and sisters in Christ even when we have differences, we are to love one another with the grace and mercy that God would extend. Let us stand firm in our faith and build God�s church as it should be.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/14 12:29 PM
Proverbs 21:3 (NIV)
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

This is a reminder from King Solomon that The Lord enjoys when we do things that are right and just. These actions are pleasing to Him. Generally the sacrifice was offered after a transgression had occurred to amend for any sins committed. And while this showed repentance on behalf of the person, it would have been more acceptable to not have committed the transgression.



Max Lucado, in Outlive Your Life wrote: A few months ago I was sitting at the red light of a busy intersection when I noticed a man walking toward my car. He stepped off the curb, bypassed several vehicles, and started waving at me. He carried a cardboard sign under his arm, a jammed pack on his back. His jeans were baggy, his beard scraggly, and he was calling my name, "Max! Max! Remember me?"

I lowered my window. He smiled a toothless grin. [He said], "I still remember that burger you bought me." Then I remembered. Months, maybe a year earlier, at this very intersection, I had taken him to a corner hamburger stand where we enjoyed a meal together. He was California-bound on that day. "I'm passing through Texas again," he told me. The light changed, and cars began to honk. I pulled away, leaving him waving and shouting, "Thanks for the burger, Max."

I'd long since forgotten that meal. Not him. We never know what one meal will do �. When we provide food stamps, we stave off hunger. But when we invite the hungry to our tables, we address the deeper issues of value and self-worth.


As Max illustrated above it would have been simple to sacrifice a few dollars to someone who was hungry. However, Max had taken an extra step of taking the man to eat and sitting down with him for a conversation. It wasn�t the meal that made such a great impact upon the man, but that Max gave his time to share a meal with this man to show he cared about the man.

Even Jesus relayed this example to us when He said in Revelation 3:20, ��Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.� Jesus just doesn�t come to believers to give a handout; He comes to believers to have an intimate relationship with them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/14 11:14 AM
Galatians 3:5-7 (NLT)
5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6 In the same way, �Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.� 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

The message the apostle conveyed here is about faith. Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Abraham demonstrated his faith by believing God even when there was no proof of a future outcome.


[A Beautiful Mind tells the story of John Nash (Russell Crowe), who is a brilliant mathematician that struggles with mental instability. His marriage is a testimony of true love and commitment through years of trial, illness, and�finally�great success.

On the evening Nash proposes to his future wife, he shows up very late to the restaurant where he's supposed to meet her to celebrate her birthday. Painfully embarrassed about his mistake, he manages to win back her affection. Then he awkwardly straightens his tie and drops to one knee to propose.

As a true scientist, he is uncertain how to justify making such a great commitment with evidence that is so difficult to measure. The ensuing conversation convinces him that he's found true love:

Nash: Alicia, does our relationship warrant long term commitment? I need some kind of proof, some kind of verifiable empirical data.
Alicia: [giggling at his awkwardness] Sorry, I'm just trying to get over my girlish notions of romance. Hmmm�proof�verifiable data�. Okay. How big is the universe?
Nash: Infinite
Alicia: How do you know?
Nash: I know because all the data indicates it's infinite.
Alicia: But it hasn't been proven yet.
Nash: No
Alicia: You haven't seen it.
Nash: No
Alicia: How do you know for sure?
Nash: I don't. I just believe it.
Alicia: It's the same with love, I guess.
[A Beautiful Mind (Universal, 2001), written by Akiva Goldsman, directed by Ron Howard; submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California]]


Nash knew the proof that existed about the size of the universe. The problem was it had never been proven, nor had anyone ever seen far out into the universe. Yet his belief was - there had to be an infinite universe.

1 John 3:1 says, �See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don�t recognize that we are God�s children because they don�t know him.� Pray for those who don�t know God that they may learn of Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/14 11:18 AM
Romans 15:2 (NLT)
2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

We all are faced with afflictions, but the weak are more subject to problems. Their weakness may come from a weakness in understanding God�s love and mercy. It may be a physical weakness where one is addicted to a substance they cannot overcome. Therefore those of us who are strong in Christ have the responsibility to do what is right and build up those who are weak. Christ did not seek to please Himself, but instead came to minister to the needs of others just as we should do too!



On December 2, 2012, a Spanish long-distance runner named Ivan Fernandez Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in the Spanish countryside. Anaya was running in second-place, well behind the race leader, the Kenyan runner and Olympic medalist Abel Mutai. As they entered the finishing stretch, Mutai, the certain winner of the race, suddenly stopped running. Apparently, he mistakenly thought he had already crossed the finish line.

A Spanish newspaper reported what happened next: "Fern�ndez Anaya quickly caught up with him, but instead of exploiting Mutai's mistake to speed past and claim an unlikely victory, he stayed behind and, using gestures, guided the Kenyan to the line and let him cross first."

When asked what motivated this kind deed, Anaya said, "He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn't have closed if he hadn't made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn't going to pass him."

Surprisingly, Anaya's coach, the famous Spanish runner Martin Fiz, was disappointed with Anaya's display of sportsmanship. Fiz said, "He has wasted an occasion. Winning always makes you more of an athlete. You have to go out to win."

But Anaya stood by his decision. He told reporters,

Even if they had told me that winning would have earned me a place in the Spanish team for the European championships, I wouldn't have done it either � because today, with the way things are in all circles, in soccer, in society, in politics, where it seems anything goes, a gesture of honesty goes down well. [Carlos Arribas, "Honesty of the long-distance runner," El Pais (In English), (12-19-12)]


There will always be those who don�t stop to think about the needs of others. There are leaders who would say we should win at any cost. However The Lord tells us �we should help others do what is right and build them up.�

Anaya could have faced a moment of victory by taking advantage of his competitor�s mistake, but he would have known the truth that his win would have been based on the fact he did not help a fellow runner.

As Christians we are running the race of life together. Let us never leave behind another, but instead encourage, motivate and show them the right paths of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/27/14 11:29 AM
Acts 20:24 (NLT)
24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus�the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Here the apostle speaks humbly about himself. He considers his life only worthy of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Good News of salvation offered to man through God�s grace and mercy just for accepting they are sinners in need of the redemption Jesus provided on the cross.




It�s not always easy to share your faith with other people. Sometimes you fear rejection. Sometime you fear the person might even get hostile. However, most of the time people are pleasant and will thank you or at least acknowledge your efforts.

I have a friend and he uses every opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus. If there was a hitchhiker walking down the road, he would stop and pick them up just to have their undivided attention as he drove and talked about the salvation of Jesus Christ.

One day he was riding down the highway and saw and old country store. He pulled in to get something to drink. As he walked inside he noticed he was the only white person inside. He doesn�t know if it was because he started to talk about Jesus, or he was just an unwelcome stranger, but he found himself being thrown out the screen door. He picked himself up, dusted off, and drove away.

A couple of weeks later he was passing through the same area and saw a man hitch hiking. As my friend usually did he picked up the man so he could talk about Jesus. However this conversation was different. The man stopped him and said, �Aren�t you that white guy that got thrown out of the country story a few weeks back.� My friend replied that he was. Then the man said, �Man you got some courage walking in there like that trying to tell people about Jesus. I want to know some more about Him because obviously He is someone very important to you.�

In the conversation my friend led the man to know Jesus, His mercy, grace and love; along with the salvation that comes from admitting to be a sinner and placing your faith in Jesus. This man became saved through the grace of Jesus and the determination of my friend to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.


If you want to make your life worthwhile, learn to share your faith in Jesus with others. Help others to know Christ that they can also share their faith with others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/28/14 11:00 AM
Roman 12:15 (NIV)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

True love will interest us in the sorrows and joys of one another, and teach us to make them our own.



On a flight from Atlanta to Chicago in July 2004, nine U.S. soldiers�home from Iraq on a two-week leave�were among the passengers. Before one of the soldiers boarded, a passenger traded his first class ticket for the soldier's coach ticket. As the plane was boarding, other passengers asked to trade their first class seats for the coach seats occupied by the remaining soldiers.

Devilla Evans, a flight attendant on the American Airlines flight, said "it was a privilege to be flying with those two groups of unselfish people: those who would put their lives on the line to protect their fellow citizens' freedom, and those who were not ashamed to say thank you." [headlines.agapepress.org (7-21-04); submitted by Greg Miller, Madison, Mississippi]


God designed us to have relationships with other people. In the story above the people rejoiced over the soldiers coming home after serving their duty. The passengers were willing to rejoice with the soldiers by giving up their first class seats. They also knew these soldiers were probably still mourning the loss of some of their friends. Making them just a little more comfortable was an ease to their mourning and the hardships they endured.

It is out of pure love that we can rejoice and mourn with others. Let us do our best to build lasting relationships that show others the love of Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/14 12:06 PM
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

There is one sure thing; everyone at one point in their life will die. It is the end to all relationships in this world. Once death comes we find out life goes on, not as we knew previously, but a new life, an eternal life. It is at this point many will receive God�s mercy and grace of salvation that Christ provided through His death.



[Alison Ritch, of Birmingham, Alabama wrote: My four-year-old, first-born daughter is�in typical first-born fashion�an agonizer. She agonizes over decisions, weighing her options, sometimes paralyzed by the fear of making a choice that will rule something out. A typical example might go like this: She decides she wants juice instead of the water in her glass at breakfast. She comes into the kitchen with her glass of water and asks for juice, but she clutches the glass instead of emptying it in the sink. "I want juice," she says aloud, "but I want my water, too! What if I get thirsty for water? But juice is so sweet and yummy! Oh, what am I going to do?" She had a choice to make. It takes a little extra money to purchase juice, so we always tell the kids they have to choose during breakfast time�it's one or the other. Plus, her little stomach couldn't take both. So there she was, carton in hand while agonizing over her tap water.

It reminds me of how I often come to Christ. I come clutching whatever I'm sure of, whatever I think I have�my righteousness, my things�and ask him for, well, him. I pray, "Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Jesus, I want more of you." But my heart continually goes after what I think will fill me, prove me, justify me, satisfy me. I clutch my reputation, my talents, my possessions. But here's the painful truth: I cannot be filled with Jesus when I won't empty out everything else.

In the third chapter of Philippians, Paul tells the Philippian church that he considers all his former qualifications as garbage because of the far greater worth of knowing Christ. But he doesn't just say that his reasons for "confidence in the flesh" are considered trash in comparison to knowing Christ�although that is certainly true. In verse 8, he writes, "For [Christ's] sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (emphasis mine). Paul knew that if he wanted Christ, he had to throw everything else in the dumpster. Just like�however difficult the choice is�my daughter has to choose between water and juice, we have to choose between Christ's righteousness and our own, Christ's riches or ours. We cannot have both.]


Christ died to take away the sins of many people. However, there are some people who trust in their own beliefs or as the Apostle Paul called it, their own garbage. There is no one greater than Christ to remove the sins of the world. Trust in the righteousness of Christ!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/03/14 11:32 AM
Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
15 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

This proverb is making a comparison between a soft answer that is tender, soft and delicate versus a harsh answer that is painful, hurtful and offensive. The soft answer turns away wrath, while the harsh word stirs up anger among each other. As king Solomon kept his mind on peace and provided simple lessons to keep it.



Oswald Chambers once wrote - A man who is continually criticized becomes good for nothing, the effect of criticism knocks all the gumption and power out of him.

When a person is continuously beat down with painful, hurtful and offensive words they tend to coward at anything said to them for fear of more hurt and more pain. They have been through battles many times and they realize the outcome is always the same. So they turn inside to themselves, saying nothing and feeling nothing.

There are others though that respond to harsh statements and give back just as strongly as the manner in which they received. Most often it becomes a battle of words that can even turn into a physical fight.

When someone attacks with harsh words, stop for a moment and thing about the person, think about the conditions and think about anything that may have been a trigger. Maybe they are tired and frustrated themselves and just want to vent their frustration on someone else. Maybe it�s time to listen instead of react.

If there was an accidental mistake or a bad choice of words, maybe a simple �I apologize� would cure the situation. There are some who may say, �Why should I apologize, I did nothing wrong.� However a few kind and soft words may be all that is needed to calm an argument. There is no harm in an apology and it can relieve tensions quickly.

If the words were really hurtful and damaging to you; instead of striking back with your own hateful and angry words, take a moment and process your feelings. Maybe you could say something as simple as, �I feel really hurt right now about what was just said, because I was making my best attempt to do something nice and it just seemed to turn out all wrong.� Notice how the person expresses their feelings without actually making an accusation. Most often when someone connects to another�s feelings they sympathize with them and soften their words and may even apologize.

Follow the words of the Apostle James, �let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/04/14 01:01 PM
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

As the gifts for rebuilding the temple are brought in, King David in the assembly of all the people praised The Lord for all of His greatness, majesty and dominion over everything.



Stewart Ruch III, speaks to us from the sermon "Why We Give to Worship and Mission,": My in-laws are missionaries in Brazil. For years they rented a house that they used not only for their own family but also to practice hospitality for people in their community. One day a wealthy widow in Brazil approached my in-laws and said, "I want to buy the house you are renting and give it you. Please take this as a free gift, without any strings attached. I can afford it, and I want to give it to you." It was a beautiful, gracious and unexpected gift.

For the next twenty years, at no point did my in-laws ever say, "This is such an incredible gift; somehow we have to earn the money so we can pay her back. We must repay this debt." They knew that they could never repay this woman for her generosity. So what did they do? Naturally, they brought her close. They became family, and they included her in all their activities. My in-laws kept thinking about ways to express their gratitude and to honor her. "As she has given to us," they kept saying, "we don't have to give back to her; we want to give back to her. The gift she gave to us didn't come with strings attached, but it has bonded us to her forever. We belong to her and she belongs to us."

As a Christian, if you're troubled by the thought of giving back to God, it won't help to hear someone say, "Just get over it and start giving more." Instead you need to hear this: "Believe that you belong to God. Christ has purchased you and your salvation based on his gracious gift. You didn't deserve and you can't earn it. It was a free gift." If you're still trying to figure out how much you can keep and how much you should give, there is a gap in your understanding of God's grace. Once we start to realize what God has done for us, we will give freely, naturally and joyfully.


It is impossible to repay God or Christ for all that has been done for you. Accept the blessings and let them turn to joy in your heart that you may give freely with joy what you can. Learn to give back to others that they too may experience joy and spread the word of God�s good news.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, �Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/14 11:58 AM
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, tells us metaphorically that there are two gates in life; a wide gate and a narrow gate. The wide gate leads to self-indulgent ways that lead to destruction. The narrow gate is focused on the life of Christ and living the life Jesus would desire for us to have.





Haddon Robinson, from his sermon "Love Keeps Going" writes: Several years ago, I helped lead a tour in Turkey of the churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. On the last night, we were in the city of Izmir and were having dinner at one of its nicer hotels. Our guide had been in the United States at least ten years and spoke English flawlessly. As we were eating, he began to ask us questions, serious questions about the Christian faith. I said to him, "If you're a follower of Islam, and if you died tonight, would you be sure you could stand in the presence of Allah?" "No," he replied. "There are five things that Muslims should do. I've done two out of five."

Then we began to talk about the gospel. We talked about it long into the night, and before we left I said to him, "Look, you're serious about our conversation, I know. It would not be faithful of me not to ask you if right now you'd like to put your trust and confidence in Jesus Christ." He said to me, "You don't know what you're asking me. Do you know what would happen if I did that? If I announced it to anybody, my wife would leave me. My family would disown me. My boss would fire me. I may want to leave to go back to the United States, and the government would not give me an exit visa. I'd give up everything. You go back home tomorrow. I would not expect you would support me, and I would starve to death in my own culture." As far as I know, he did not trust Christ that night. But there are people who have made that decision and suffered all of that loss and endured those hardships because they are Christ followers.


There are people in this world who are afraid to follow Christ because they may be persecuted, abandoned, and even shunned by their family.

Jesus tells us in John 15:20-22, �Remember what I told you: �A servant is not greater than his master.� If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.�

The Lord speaking to Ananias after Paul�s conversion said, �I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.� The Lord doesn�t promise us an easy life, but He does promise a rewarding one. We are also promised an eternal life with Christ in heaven where there are no more tears. Live for Christ, He died that we would live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/10/14 11:32 AM
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

A straight forward command, �Forgive as the Lord forgave you.� The apostle wants to impress on Christians, since they have been forgiven of their sins that they too should learn to forgive others who have sinned against them.




In June of 2012, Carl Ericsson, a 73-year-old South Dakota man, was sentenced to life in prison after admitting to the murder of a former high school classmate. Friends and family members were shocked that the once-successful insurance salesman seemed to snap. Ericsson had been married to his wife for over 44 years.

But after the murder, Ericsson's secret finally came out. For over 50 years he had simmered with a belated grudge: He was still mad about a classmate who had once pulled a jock strap over his head during a high school locker room prank. Norman Johnson, the classmate and murder victim, was a star athlete on the track team. Ericsson was a student sports manager. According to Ericsson's confession, on one occasion Johnson put a jock strap on Ericsson's head, humiliating him and planting the seed of resentment that would continue to grow for over half a century. Apparently, throughout their lives, Norman Johnson continued to outshine Ericsson. Prior to his murder, Johnson had competed in college football, earned a degree, and then taught and coached at his alma mater for more than three decades.

After holding the grudge for over 50 years, Carl Ericsson rang Johnson's doorbell and shot him dead. Ericsson told a judge, "I guess it was from something that happened over 50 years ago. It was apparently in my subconscious." During his sentencing, Ericsson turned to Johnson's widow and apologized, saying, "I just wish I could turn the calendar back."

[Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Cameron Smith, Bizarre S.D. murder caused by resentment over 50-year-old locker room jockstrap prank," Yahoo Sports Prep Rally blog (6-18-12]


We are to learn to forgive, not so much for the sake of others, but for ourselves. If only Carl Ericsson had forgiven his old classmate and put aside the grudge he held; most likely there would have been no murder.

I know too many people who keep a grudge believing they are tormenting someone else, when actually they are tormenting themselves. The other person may have forgotten all about the incident. The other person may not have even known what they did. So when you hold a grudge you may be the only one who knows the problem.

Father I pray for those holding onto anger and resentment. I pray they forgive the other person even if they haven�t heard the words I�m sorry. I pray they bring peace back to their own life so they can enjoy it without an old burden weighing them down. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/14 11:21 AM
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
10 �Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.�

This is proclamation from God that all who are with or against God will know Him. For God will be exalted before every person, in every nation throughout the world.



Let his own people be still; let them be calm and sedate, and tremble no more, but know, to their comfort, that the Lord is God, he is God alone, and will be exalted above the heathen; let him alone to maintain his honour, to fulfil his own counsels and to support his own interest in the world. Though we be depressed, yet let us not be dejected, for we are sure that God will be exalted, and that may satisfy us; he will work for his great name, and then no matter what becomes of our little names. When we pray, Father, glorify thy name, we ought to exercise faith upon the answer given to that prayer when Christ himself prayed it, I have both glorified it and I will glorify it yet again. Amen, Lord, so be it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]

Two commands direct us from the small-minded world of self-help to the large world of God's help. First, "Come, behold the works of the Lord." Take a long, scrutinizing look at what God is doing. This requires patient attentiveness and energetic concentration. Everybody else is noisier than God. The headlines and neon lights and amplifying systems of the world announce human works. But what of God's works? They are unadvertised but also inescapable, if we simply look. They are everywhere. They are marvelous. But God has no public relations agency. He mounts no publicity campaign to get our attention. He simply invites us to look �

The second command is "Be still, and know that I am God." Be still. Quit rushing through the streets long enough to become aware that there is more to life than your little self-help enterprises. When we are noisy and when we are hurried, we are incapable of intimacy�deep, complex, personal relationships. If God is the living center of redemption, it is essential that we be in touch with and responsive to that personal will. If God has a will for this world and we want to be in on it, we must be still long enough to find out what it is (for we certainly are not going to learn by watching the evening news)." [Eugene Peterson, Earth and Altar (InterVarsity Press, 1985), pp. 77-79]

Take time each day to acknowledge the plans and the beautiful works of God. Give praise to the one who leads us to salvation through Jesus Christ. Take time to slow down and develop a personal relationship with both God and Christ so you will understand the importance of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/14 11:01 AM
Psalm 19:1-2 (NKJV)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

From the things that are seen every day by all the world the psalmist, in these verses, leads us to the consideration of the invisible things of God, whose being appears incontestably evident and whose glory shines transcendently bright in the visible heavens, the structure and beauty of them, and the order and influence of the heavenly bodies. [Matthew Henry]



My wife and I picked up our daughter from a meeting the other night. It was nearing sunset and it had been raining on and off during the afternoon. As we drove up to the building people were looking up into the sky. As we got out of the car we could see why; there was the most beautiful rainbow laid against an orange sky. Never before had I seen anything like this. The sky was completely orange and painted on front of the orange were the colors of the rainbow in a complete arch from one end of the ground to the other.

It�s true what The Bible says, �The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. All around us are beautiful things created by God. Then on special occasions there are even more beautiful and fantastic things never seen before that God places before us. They are so special people stop, look and stand amazed.

The Bible will often talk about fearing God, but it�s not fear like you are about to be punished or disciplined. It is an overwhelming feeling of awe knowing the power, the majesty, and the love of God. If you have ever had that experience you realize the great power of God, what He is capable of doing and that we are small and powerless compared to Him; yet God loves us and would do anything for us. He loves us enough even to paint a beautiful rainbow to remind us of a past promise.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/13/14 11:10 AM
Luke 11:13 (NLT)
13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

Jesus was teaching His disciples about prayer; so He used several parables to help them understand. Here it this example it was about us giving good gifts to our children. Most good parents want to do good things for their children and yet even these good parents have sin in their lives. God who is perfect and loves us as His children is ready to give to each of us the Holy Spirit just for asking.



Clare de Graff writes in �The 10-Second Rule� (Howard Books, 2013), pp. 52-53 -- I've imagined this scene in my head: I'm playing baseball with Jesus. The stands are full of fans, but out there on the field it's just him and me. I'm the pitcher. Jesus is the catcher, behind home plate. He settles into his crouch, ready to play, and I look for his signals�simple commands. What pitch will he want me to throw? I wait in anticipation, but also with one eye on the crowd. What will they think of me?

He signals a fastball.

I think for a moment and shake my head�no, not a fastball.

Next he signals a slider.

This time I look toward my teammates in the dugout for guidance. Then I glance up at the fans. No, I'm not comfortable with that one either.

He gives me yet a third signal.

No, not today, thank you!

Then I imagine Jesus silently and slowly withdrawing his signaling hand back into his mitt. There's a deep disappointment in his eyes. He's decided to let me throw whatever I want. So I do�and then I wonder why there's just no team spirit anymore!

Has Jesus stopped giving you signals?

I doubt it. He never stops speaking to his children. Is there a signal God's been trying to give you, even as you read this sentence that you've ignored because you just don't want to obey?


I know in my life there have been plenty of times I have failed to listen to Jesus, but Jesus still loves me and still wants to speak into my life. All I need to do is put myself to the side and listen. Father I pray that we all learn to stop in life, put aside our own desires, our own wants, and listen to what has been planned for us through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/16/14 12:07 PM
Proverbs 16:7 (NLT)
7 When people�s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

If we make it our care to be reconciled to God, and to keep ourselves in his love, he will incline those that have been envious towards us, and vexatious to us, to entertain a good opinion of us and to become our friends. ~ Matthew Henry



The Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong'o, who received the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years as a Slave, offered this moving reflection on the nature of true beauty:

I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned � [But] every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I had been the day before. I tried to negotiate with God: I told him I would stop stealing sugar cubes at night if he gave me what I wanted; I would listen to my mother's every word and never lose my school sweater again if he just made me a little lighter. But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips because He never listened.

And when I was a teenager my self-hate grew worse � My mother reminded me often that she thought that I was beautiful but that was no consolation: She's my mother, of course she's supposed to think I am beautiful � And my mother again would say to me, "You can't eat beauty. It doesn't feed you." And these words plagued and bothered me � until finally I realized that beauty was not a thing that I could acquire or consume, it was something that I just had to be � And what my mother meant when she said you can't eat beauty was that you can't rely on how you look to sustain you. [Essence, "Lupita Nyongo Delivers Moving 'Black Women in Hollywood" Acceptance Speech" (2-28-14)]


There are many enemies against us in this world. Sometimes one of those enemies can be ourselves not listening to what God is saying to us. For God tells us that we are precious in His sight. We just need to stop and believe what He is telling us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/17/14 11:00 AM
Psalm 68:4-5 (NIV)
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him�his name is the Lord. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Here the psalmist calls out for others to sing praises to God who is Lord of all. The Lord is one to be extoled for His greatness and majesty. We are to rejoice in song because of His good deeds. He is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows and remains holy through all He does.



A friend of mine was speaking to me about his father. He said there were there things he learned over time about his father. His father worked hard; he was persistent; and he never asked for help. He said his father would start a job for someone and then kept at it until it was done. If there was something he found he couldn�t do by himself, he learned a way to get the job done without help.

Then my friend asked, which of those three things do you think I learned? His answer was the third item. He learned to do things without the help of anyone else. It is not always a bad trait, but it can be frustrating and difficult when help is needed and you don�t ask for it.

As I thought about my life, I also was one not to ask for any help. I grew up without a father and my single mom counted on me to get things done. Even when it seemed impossible I found a way to accomplish my tasks without asking for help. There was no one around but me, so I had to be my own helper.

Like my friend, I came to the conclusion it is a difficult task being your own helper. You are alone. You are often exhausted. Sometimes you become frustrated because the job gets difficult and you refuse to turn to anyone for help. You even push people away at times because you believe �I can do this alone.�

Then comes along your children and instead of teaching them how to do the difficult things, you step in as you always have done and take over the job without help. You fail to teach them what they need to do. You become impatient and say, �Here, let me just do it.� You really cheat your kids out of learning about life when you do that. I have to say I was guilty many times of doing that exact thing.

The Bible tells us God is a father to the fatherless and I know God was watching over me in my younger life. I know God was willing to help me, but I often did things myself just as I always did. Even when I needed help with the difficult things in life I would struggle along, while God was saying, �Why don�t you let me help you?�

The question for all of us today is, �Why won�t we let God help us?� Are we too proud to ask? Do we just not want a relationship with someone who can help? Are we just stubborn and impatient? Whatever the reason may be take time to ask God to help you today through some of the difficult moments.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/18/14 11:10 AM
Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

God has given each parent power over their children that should not be abused. Do not be wrathful towards them, impatient, or provoke them to sinful actions. Instead children should be nurtured and instructed in the ways of The Lord. It is a great duty of parents to ensure their children have a good education and are brought up in the ways of The Lord.



According to researcher Elizabeth Marquardt, many people in our society have bought into "the myth of the good divorce." But after the first national study of the inner lives of children of divorce, Marquardt concluded, "We found that even young people who grew up in a so-called 'good divorce,' one in which their divorced parents got along reasonably well and stayed involved in their lives, still suffered negative effects." For example:

Twice as many children of divorce say they felt like a different person with each of their parents (43 percent versus 21 percent).

More than three times as many agreed with the statement: "I was alone a lot as a child." Seven times as many "strongly agreed."

Two-thirds of kids from intact families went to a parent when they needed comfort. Only one-third of children of divorce did the same; they were more likely to turn to friends or siblings.

Sixty-four percent say life was stressful in their family, compared with 25 percent for intact families.

Three times as many say they love their mother but don't respect her. Four times as many say they love their father but don't respect him.

Over 50 percent of young adults from divorced families say that family life after the divorce was stressful, as compared to 6 percent from happy marriages, and 35 percent from unhappy but low-conflict marriages.

53 percent say they experienced many losses in their lives, as compared to 37 percent from happy marriages and 42 percent from unhappy but low-conflict marriages.

Marquardt summarizes the study by stating: "The idea that a 'good' divorce is good for children is popular. But we found that while an amicable or 'good' divorce is better than a bad divorce, it is inaccurate and misleading to describe the children's experience as 'good.'"
[Elizabeth Marquardt, Between Two Worlds (Three Rivers Pres, 2006); Patrick Kampert, "Wounds of Divorce Linger Long Past Childhood," Chicago Tribune (11-13-05)]

It is difficult enough being a good parent to children, even more difficult when the parents can�t be good partners towards each other. For if they can�t handle a partnership in life how can they display a good relationship in their Christian walk with God; not saying it can�t be done, but it surely is more difficult.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/14 11:02 AM
Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

The Apostles were being sent out as missionaries to go to the people of Israel. Jesus gave them some words of wisdom as they were about to depart. One reminder was the verse above. If a person holds on to their sinful life it will be eventually lost; but for those who give up their life for Jesus they will find a new life intended for them.



Christ says, "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think are innocent as well as the ones you think are wicked�the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you myself: my own will shall become yours."

�C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity


So often we want to hold onto parts of our life, even the damaging parts. A show that hosted Dr. Drew called Celebrity Rehab was about celebrities with addictions. They went in for treatment because they had a hard time letting go of their problems. Many had held so tight to their addictions and for so long they were about to die. As some of the shows went on we learned some did die, because they went back to their old habits.

Christ calls us to give up our entire life and turn it over to Him. As we release ourselves to Christ, we begin to change. I have known some people who had very corrupt lives, but gave up their life to Christ. They changed so quickly people could no longer believe they were the same person. This is what Christ wants, for us to do, release everything to Him; even the things we think are good about ourselves. Christ will then give us back a life that is worth living for. Are you willing to let go and trust Christ?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/20/14 12:22 PM
Proverbs 20:5 (NLT)
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

This proverb tells us that a person with understanding can draw out the knowledge that lies within a person that is concealed from them deep in their heart.



When Tim Keller moved his family to New York City to start Redeemer Presbyterian Church, he asked his wife Kathy to grant him three years of long hours, and after that, he promised, things would change.

Kathy agreed to Tim's request, but when the three year mark came and went, Tim said, "Just a couple more months." Still, the months flew by with no change. Although Kathy was incredibly patient and restrained, she did have to get Tim's attention. Tim writes what happened next:

One day I came home from work. It was a nice day outside, and I noticed that the door to our apartment's balcony was open. Just as I was taking off my jacket, I heard a smashing noise coming from the balcony. In another couple of seconds I heard another one. I walked out on to the balcony and to my surprise saw Kathy sitting on the floor. She had a hammer, and next to her was a stack of our wedding china. On the ground were the shards of two smashed saucers.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

She looked up and said, "You aren't listening to me. You don't realize that if you keep working these hours you are going to destroy this family. I don't know how to get through to you. You aren't seeing how serious this is. This is what you are doing." And she brought the hammer down on the third saucer.

I sat down trembling. I thought she had snapped. "I'm listening. I'm listening," I said. As we talked, it became clear that she was intense and laser focused, but she was not in a rage or out of control emotionally. She spoke calmly but forcefully. Her arguments were the same as they had been months before, but I realized how deluded I had been. There would never be a convenient time to cut back. I was addicted to the level of productivity I had achieved. She saw me listening for the first time, and we hugged.

Finally I inquired, "When I first came out here, I thought you were having an emotional meltdown. How did you get control of yourself so fast?'"

With a grin she answered, "It was no meltdown. Do you see these three saucers I smashed? I nodded. 'I have no cups for them. The cups have been broken for years. I had three saucers to spare. I'm glad you sat down before I had to break any more."
[Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage (Dutton, 2011), pp. 145-146]


Sometimes we need someone wise or close to us in order to pull the truth out of us that we already know. Tim realized he wasn�t being honest with himself. His admission came when he said, �I was addicted to the level of productivity I had achieved.� It took the wisdom of his wife to draw out this conclusion that he had locked up in his heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/14 11:55 AM
Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

This is a prophecy of promise that those who trust in The Lord will find strength to accomplish their tasks that they were meant to perform in this life.


Eighty-six year old Joy Johnson, a veteran of 25 New York City marathons, died with her running shoes on. Johnson, who was the oldest runner in this year's marathon, fell at the 20 mile marker in the event. She crossed the finish line at about eight hours. After the race she returned to her hotel room, lay down with her shoes on, and never woke up.

Amazingly, Johnson didn't run her first marathon until she was sixty-one years old. The only hint of the sport was the verse from Isaiah 40:31 which hung on the kitchen wall in her family farm home in rural Minnesota: "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Ironically, the career gym teacher, Johnson was a stranger to personal exercise until she took a three-mile walk in 1986. Then she started jogging and competing in 10-K races. By 1988 she had competed in her first New York City Marathon. Three years later she recorded her best time at age sixty-four with a time of 3 hours and 55 minutes.

A few years ago she told a reporter about her exercise regimen. She would wake up at 4 A.M., drink her coffee while reading her Bible, and then set out on an eight mile pre-dawn run. "When you wake up it can either be a good day or a bad day," Ms. Johnson said. "I always say, 'It's going to be a good day.'"

The devout Christian ran every day but Sunday so she could attend church. Johnson sang hymns to herself to pass the time while running. According to Johnson's daughter, "She was always a happy runner�and besides her faith and family, this was something she loved the most."

[Greg Asimakoupoulos, Mercer Island, Washington; sources: Michael Winter, "NYC marathoner, 86, dies after her 25th race," USA TODAY (11-5-13); Natasha Velez and Bruce Golding, "Marathoner dies happy after chasing dream to last mile," New York Post (11-5-13)]


The verse hanging in Joy Johnson�s kitchen gave her strength to run. She counted on the promise �They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.� She ran, she fell, and she got back up and finished the race. The she walked to her hotel where she laid down and died and went home to be with Jesus. For 25 years she had held to that promise, but now she was finally at home with The Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/30/14 10:59 AM
Proverbs 30:7-9 (NLT)
7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, �Who is the Lord?� And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God�s holy name.

These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh. These verses are a prayer to God to learn the wisdom never to live and secondly to learn how to live modestly, neither in poverty or in riches.



According to Amnesty International, North Korea has a vast network of gulags that imprison over 200,000 people. The most feared camp is known as "Total Control Camp 14." In Camp 14, hunger is so rampant that prisoners behave like "panicked animals" at mealtimes. Teachers at the camp school beat students to death for minor infractions. Medieval torture devices are employed in dungeon-like underground cells. And human relationships are so degraded that prisoners inform on family members.

The book Escape from Camp 14 tells the gripping story of Shin Dong-hyuk, the first known escapee from Camp 14. Shin was born in Camp 14, but at the age of 23 he escaped, finding his way to South Korea and eventually the United States. Today, Shin lives in Seoul, South Korea, a nation that in many ways resembles the United States and other developed countries.

In a 2012 documentary, Shin reflected on the nature of true freedom and happiness. Towards the end of an interview Shin said:

When I lived in the labor camp, I had to suffer a lot of pain �. But in South Korea you have to suffer when you don't have enough money. It's exhausting. It's all about money. That makes it tough for me here. When I think about it, I rarely saw someone committing suicide in the camp. Life was hard and you were an inmate your whole life. But in South Korea many people attempt suicide. They die. It may look like the people here don't want for anything. They have clothes and food. But there are more people committing suicide here than in the camp. There are news reports about that every day.
The interviewer asked, "What do you miss about the life in North Korea?" Shin got out his cell phone and started looking at it and tapping the screen before he said:

I miss the innocence and the lack of concerns I had. In the camp � I didn't have to think about the power of money like I do in South Korea. Though I don't miss everything from that camp �. I don't know how else to say it: I miss my innocent heart.

[Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; sources Camp 14�Total Control Zone, directed by Marc Wiese (2012, Produced by Engstfeld, Germany); Andrew Salmon, "Escape from Camp 14," The Washington Post (4-27-12)]


Shin lived and understood the words of Agur. For while having nothing he recognized people were grateful for the things they received. Yet those who had opportunity to gain power and money were never satisfied; they wanted more and often gave up on life obtaining it.

Father grant us the wisdom to be satisfied with what You have given us and let us always give thanks.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/01/14 11:02 AM
Romans 12:3 (NLT)
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don�t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

The apostle speaking upon the authority of The Lord warns Christians they should not think themselves too good to be the slaves of sin and servant to this world. Instead they should examine themselves by the faith God has given.



Forgiven souls are humble. They cannot forget that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace, and this keeps them lowly. They are brands plucked from the fire--debtors who could not pay for themselves--captives who must have remained in prison for ever, but for undeserved mercy--wandering sheep who were ready to perish when the Shepherd found them; and what right then have they to be proud? I do not deny that there are proud saints. But this I do say--they are of all God's creatures the most inconsistent, and of all God's children the most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with many sorrows. [J. C. Ryle in Foundations of Faith. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 4.]


We all need to remain humble in our lives and remember that each of us who have placed their faith in Christ have been given the same measure of mercy and grace. Each of us has been forgiven by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross.

Proverbs talks about dishonest scales used by merchants that weigh incorrectly in order to overcharge. Ensure the scales of life you are using to evaluate your faith are balanced evenly and not skewed by the views of the world.

Father, let each of us see ourselves as You see us. Let us understand our faults, our weaknesses in order that we might remain humble. Let our faith in You stand firm. Let us always be honest in the evaluation of ourselves. Thank You for the mercy and grace that has been provided. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/02/14 11:23 AM
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
9 �The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.�

Our own hearts deceive us. We often think we trust in God and are entitled to his blessings; but God examines the motives of the hearts and rewards accordingly.




In April, 2011, Newsweek magazine featured an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger, movie star and former governor of California. Here are some of the most telling excerpts from the article:

Life at 63, for Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a titanic clash between human frailty and dazzling possibility. "I feel terrific about where I am in my life, when I look back at what I've accomplished," [he said], "but I feel [horrible] when I look at myself in the mirror."

It's a jolt to hear Schwarzenegger�a five-time Mr. Universe and seven-time Mr. Olympia before he was Conan the Barbarian, the Terminator, and ultimately Governor�musing about his own decay �. Still strapping in shirtsleeves, a fine specimen of aging movie star, he has lost an inch and a half from his previous 6-foot-2 height, the 31-inch waist has ballooned to 36, and the vaunted 57-inch chest has shrunk by a half foot.

"I'm not competing, I'm not ripping off my shirt and trying to sell the body," he tells me. "But when I stand in front of a mirror and really look, I wonder: What the [heck] happened here? What a beating!"
Thirteen years ago, when he was 50, Schwarzenegger had surgery to replace a defective aortic valve �. At some point in the next several years the valve will wear out, and surgeons will split his chest open to install a new one. "It does quite a number on you for quite some time," [he] tells me, "because even though you're strong willed, you know from now on you're damaged goods." He adds with a chuckle: "As with most things, I live in denial."

Three weeks after the publication of this interview, Schwarzenegger admitted that his 25-year marriage was breaking up due to his extra-marital affair. [Lloyd Grove, "Arnold's Wild Road Trip," Newsweek (4-25-11)]

King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 �Young people, it�s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.�

Towards the end of life we realize many of things we have done are meaningless unless we have done them for God. The thoughts of our heart fool us and we lead ourselves astray. We go the ways that please us and then realize the damage we have done. Let us allow God to examine our hearts and listen when God speaks.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/03/14 11:26 AM
Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)
34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

When the administration of the government is concerned with righteousness; when there is impartiality between people; when the nation protects and preserves those who are virtuous; when there is charity and compassion; these are the marks of a Godly nation. However when sin rules a county it forces disgrace upon the people and the nation loses favor with God.



Gregg Zoroya writes:

When Iraq's war against Iran was faltering in the early 1980s, Saddam Hussein startled his cabinet with a seemingly uncharacteristic request. He sought advice, encouraging the assembled ministers to speak freely.

Health Minister Riyadh Ahmed took Saddam at his word and suggested that he temporarily step down to appease the Iranian religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. A peace agreement would be secured and Saddam could later return to power. Saddam thanked Ahmed and then ordered his arrest. The minister was sent home to his wife in pieces, the remains stuffed into a black canvas bag.

It was a classic bit of Saddam stagecraft&#151;tricking a lieutenant into confessing doubt, then sending the chilling message to other advisors that only servile loyalty would be tolerated. [Gregg Zoroya, "Will Saddam Decide to Disarm�or Fight?" USA Today (11-25-02)]


Tomorrow is the celebration of the independence of this nation. In the Virginia Declaration of Rights written by Thomas Jefferson the first declaration says: That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

After several other articles about government responsibilities, freedoms and rights the document ends with this declaration: That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.


Our forefathers understood the importance of God in our lives and in our country just as Solomon knew so long ago. Without God we become a disgrace and His favor is withdrawn from our nation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/07/14 12:59 PM
Psalm 18:30 (NLT)

God�s way is perfect. All the Lord�s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

This is a psalm written by David after being rescued from his enemies. David realizes God�s ways are perfect and true. He protected David, not by human demands but by God�s own desire.



Timothy Larsen, Carolyn and Fred McManis Chair of Christian Thought at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, reflects on the importance�and difficulty in today's age�of Scripture memorization:

A few particularly rewarding, compact, and potent [biblical] texts are worthy of not only deep reading but even memorization. This is the most counterintuitive of practices for my students. Why memorize a text that you can access electronically any time you wish? This attitude indicates a failure to grasp the way in which a text can permanently inhabit one's inner life. Ask yourself: If you were stranded, what resources would you have by heart to sustain you? Who are you without Google?
When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Robert F. Kennedy was able to address a shocked nation promptly and off-the-cuff, quoting Aeschylus from memory: "In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." I wonder which of today's public figures have such rich and resonant resources within them.
Increasingly, therefore, I am trying intentionally to practice two countercultural habits: first, reading long, substantive books; and second, memorizing short but weighty texts.

[Timothy Larsen, "Who Are You Without Google?" FaithandLeadership.com (viewed 6-17-10)]


Throughout my life I have memorized many Bible scriptures. There are times the scriptures just pop into my mind and they are very comforting. God has given many promises that hold true, we just need to know them and hold onto them in moments of trouble.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/14 11:24 AM
John 15:10 (NLT)
10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father�s commandments and remain in his love.

Jesus loved the Father and the Father loved Him. Even when the Father placed the sins of the world on Jesus; the Father still loved Jesus for his obedience. Jesus kept His Father�s word even though He suffered and was bruised and killed. We are to obey the commandments of Jesus and remain in His love.



Stuart Briscoe, author and long-time pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, tells the following story:

Many years ago, during the Cold War, I traveled to Poland for several weeks of itinerant ministry. One winter day my sponsors drove me in the dead of night to the middle of nowhere. I walked into a dilapidated building crammed with one hundred young people. I realized it was a unique opportunity.

Through an interpreter I preached from John 15 on abiding in Christ. Ten minutes into my message, the lights went out. Pitch black.

My interpreter urged me to keep talking. Unable to see my notes or read my Bible, I continued. After I had preached in the dark for twenty minutes, the lights suddenly blinked on, and what I saw startled me: everyone was on their knees, and they remained there for the rest of my message.

The next day I commented on this to one man, and he said, "After you left, we stayed on our knees most of the night. Your teaching was new to us. We wanted to make sure we were abiding in Christ."

[Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: Marshall Shelley, Changing Lives Through Preaching and Worship (Random House, 1995), p. 147]


Jesus reminds us of the following in John 15:4, �Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed.� To be useful to the service of Christ we must have a close relationship with Jesus Christ that includes our love for Him. Christ then uses us to minister to others so that we will spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let others come to know Christ because of our devotion to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/15/14 10:32 AM
James 1:21 (NLT)
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

Here the apostle teaches that we should lay aside all corrupt manners of life. To do so we should humbly accept God�s word that in within our hearts for it has the power to keep us from harm.



A [2006] medical study reveals just how difficult change is for people. Roughly 600,000 people have heart bypasses a year in America. These people are told after their bypasses that they must change their lifestyle. The heart bypass is a temporary fix. They must change their diet. They must quit smoking and drinking. They must exercise and reduce stress.

In essence, the doctors say, "Change or die."

You would think that a near-death experience would forever grab the attention of the patients. You would think they would vote for change. You would think the argument for change is so compelling that the patients would make the appropriate lifestyle alterations. Sadly that is not the case.

Ninety percent of the heart patients do not change. They remain the same, living the status quo. Study after study indicates that two years after heart surgery, the patients have not altered their behavior. Instead of making changes for life, they choose death.

Change is that difficult. The majority of the heart patients choose not to change. They act as if they would rather die. [Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, Simple Church (B & H Publishing Group, 2006), p. 229; submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California]


God tells us sin has the power to destroy our lives and yet many of us follow the same path as the heart bypass patients; we refuse to change our lifestyles. We continue to let sin dominate our lives and because there are consequences to sin sometimes our lives are cut short. May we all listen to the words God has implanted in our hearts and turn to His saving grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/16/14 01:08 PM
Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT)
9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Christ is in God and God is in Christ. The Holy Spirit that indwells within us is in Christ and therefore also in God. So we too are in God and Christ when we have received the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.



In Christianity we refer to The Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit as the Trinity or one God in three persons. The three persons are distinct, yet they are a single in nature. Each one has its purpose and works together in harmony.

"Catechism of the Catholic Church, 253-267: The dogma of the Holy Trinity says that the whole work of creation and grace is seen as a single operation common to all three divine persons, in which each shows forth what is proper to him in the Trinity, so that all things are "from the Father", "through the Son" and "in the Holy Spirit".

In Matthew 22:41-46 it is said, �Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: �What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?� They replied, �He is the son of David.� Jesus responded, �Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah �my Lord�? For David said, �The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.� Since David called the Messiah �my Lord,� how can the Messiah be his son?� No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

From the beginning The Son and The Holy Spirit were with The Father. We see references in the Old Testament where people were filled with The Holy Spirit. David said in Psalm 51, �Do not banish me from your presence, and don�t take your Holy Spirit from me.� In Genesis God said, �Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.� When man ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God said, �Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil.�

An analogy I like to use is that of an egg. If we hold up an egg we easily identify it. Yet an egg is made from three distinct parts, the shell, the yoke, and the white. Yet all parts work together to form a new born chicken. All parts of the Trinity work to form a new born man. For in receiving Christ man receives the Holy Spirit and is in communication with The Son who speaks to The Father on our behalf. We are redeemed and made new and are bonded to Christ who makes us adopted heirs to eternal life.

In John 14:9-11, �Jesus replied, �Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don�t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don�t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/14 12:34 PM
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The word transformed comes from the Greek word �metamorpho&#333;� from which we get metamorphose, which means a change completely in form or nature. So here the apostle is saying we should not keep our mind locked onto the thoughts of the world, but allow changes to take place that have been proved to be good, acceptable and perfect by the will of God.



The world attempts to influence us in many ways. Take advertising for example, images and messages conveyed in advertising try to change our minds about the products we buy; unless we stop to take time and analyze the things we are looking at we often buy into false beliefs.

I�m never one to belittle someone�s belief in a religion. Everyone has a right to believe as they choose. Hopefully many of you have looked at your beliefs over the years and tried to reconcile what you believe with the truths and the history available to you. In other words hopefully you have allowed God�s will to work in your life so that a transformation took place that grew, developed and matured you into understanding your own faith. The apostle Paul even reminds us that some of us should be teachers, but we are still being weaned off the first lessons we ever learned and have not matured.

I grew up a Southern Baptist and as a kid I was allowed to attend other churches with my friends. I attended Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Church of Christ and a few others. I also have friends that are Muslims, Mormons and Jews. Through attendance of theses churches and listening to their beliefs, God has guided me in the things I believe. I have transformed over the years and some things I use to believe I no longer believe, but believe something different, something better, something that aligns with God�s will. And I�ll add that I am still transforming.

From The Bible, which includes the Old and New Testament, I have reached the belief that there is an eternal life after death. I also believe that eternal life is a gift from God and is not something I have earned, but something I have to accept by faith. By faith I believe Jesus Christ paid the debt for all sin by dying on a cross and then rising back to eternal life three days later. I believe that I am a sinner who needs the gift Jesus provides of redeeming salvation so that I am made right with God. I believe I am a sinner, but that I want to change and be more like Jesus because of His love for me. I�m not always perfect. I fail many times, but Jesus loves me through those times and never takes away the gift of eternal salvation He has given me. God�s love has transformed me and many others.

The saddest part about being a Christian is to believe that those who understand they are a sinner and who don�t accept Jesus Christ on faith are doomed eternally to hell. When I think that friends of mine will be lost forever I am truly sad. Their belief is their decision, but I pray they might know the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. I don�t give up on them; instead I love them as Christ would love them.

If you haven�t accepted Christ and you feel the need to do so, just pray this simple prayer: Father God, I know I am a sinner. I know that I want to turn from sin and follow you. I therefore place my faith in Jesus Christ, Your Son, that I may receive eternal salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/14 02:17 PM
Proverbs 18
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/21/14 10:54 AM
Psalm 119:30 (NLT)
30 I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.

Here in this verse we see David making a clear and deliberate choice as to how he will live out his faith. He is choosing to walk in this faith, not because he doesn�t know another way, but instead because he knows no better way than what he has come to believe.



When the prayer made in faith is not answered, and the healing for which many have sought does not come, we are not to look for someone to accuse of failure in faith. Rather we are to remember that besides faith there is hope. Hope has to do with God's promises that are still future and hidden, just as faith has to do with God's promises that are here and now. To the person who has believed for today but has not seen the answer come today, there comes the call to hope. Hope says, "Tomorrow also is God's. Enough has happened already to assure you that the rest is on the way."

[Thomas Smail, quoted in Ken Blue's Authority to Heal]


There are times when it seems God just doesn�t answer our prayers, yet God may have a greater a purpose; a purpose that is for the future. We still need to be determined to live by God�s regulations and let our hope stay anew that we know God has an answer, even when it may not be the one we desire. For God�s work includes everyone and not just us as an individual.

I think of the group of missionaries who went into the jungle to show a tribal culture the meaning of Christianity. They prayed this tribe might learn about Christ and be saved; yet they were killed by the hands of those they took the message to. Years later their families went to the same tribe, but this time the tribe listened, they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and this tribe was saved. The deaths of the missionaries had not been in vain, but instead were a preparation for future events to come.

Father please allow hope to stay alive within us. Let us know there are times when our prayers are not answered directly, but the answers will come in the future. Let us be assured of our faith and our hope in You and may we never turn away from Your will that You have established for us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/22/14 10:40 AM
Matthew 16:15-16 (NLT)
15 Then he asked them, �But who do you say I am?� 16 Simon Peter answered, �You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.�

This question follows this discussion with the disciples. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, �Who do people say that the Son of Man is?� �Well,� they replied, �some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.� Simon Peter was quick and answered, �You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.� Messiah is a Hebrew term and Christ is a Greek term, both meaning �anointed one�. Peter knew Jesus to be the anointed savior of man.



[John Lennox (an author and professor of mathematics at Oxford University) tells a story about touring Eastern Europe and meeting a Jewish woman from South Africa. The woman told Lennox that she was researching how her relatives had perished in the Holocaust. At one point on their guided tour, they passed a display that had the following words written on it: Arbeit macht frei" (or "work makes free"). It was a mock-up of the main gate to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. The display also had pictures of the horrific medical experiments carried out on children by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele. At that point of their tour, the Jewish woman turned to Lennox and said, "And what does your religion make of this?"

I said, "You know that I am a Christian. That means that I believe that Yeshua is the messiah. I also believe that he was God incarnate, come into our world as savior, which is what his name 'Yeshua' means. Now I know that this is even more difficult for you to accept. Nevertheless, just think about this question�if Yeshua was really God, as I believe he was, what was God doing on a cross?

"Could it be that God begins just here to meet our heartbreaks, by demonstrating that he did not remain distant from our human suffering, but became part of it himself? For me, this is the beginning of hope; and it is a living hope that cannot be smashed by the enemy of death. The story does not end in the darkness of the cross. Yeshua conquered death. He rose from the dead; and one day, as the final judge, he will assess everything in absolute fairness, righteousness, and mercy."

There was silence. She was still standing, arms outstretched, forming a motionless cross in the doorway. After a moment, with tears in her eyes, very quietly but audibly, she said: "Why has no one ever told me that about my messiah before?" [John Lennox, Gunning for God (Lion, 2011),]]


If someone were to ask you who is Jesus, who would you say He was? For those who are not Christians the answers would be varied. He was a good man. He was a role model for other. He was a persecuted man who was crucified. He was a teacher to many.

Yet Jesus was much more, He was The Christ, The Messiah, the one appointed to save the world from sin. It is through Christ that we can be reconciled with God. It is through Christ that we can share our burdens, problems and difficulties and Christ will help shoulder those afflictions. Christ loves us and gave His life for us. Place your faith in Christ and develop and real and meaningful relationship with Him. Then if someone asks who Jesus is, you will have intimate knowledge about Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/23/14 11:32 AM
Proverbs 23:9 (NLT)
9 Don�t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.

If the words of a wise man will not be heard then they should be held back for they will be in vain falling upon deaf ears. The words may of benefit to the foolish, but they will not listen for they are too content with the folly they are involved with.



[In the American frontier days, there was a settlement in the West whose citizens were engaged in the lumber business. The town felt they wanted a church. They built a building and called a minister. The preacher moved into the settlement and initially was well received. Then one afternoon he happened to see some of his parishioners dragging some logs, which had been floated down the river from another village upstream, onto the bank. Each log was marked with the owner's stamp on one end. To his great distress, the minister saw his members pulling in the logs and sawing off the end where the telltale stamp appeared.

The following Sunday he preached a strong sermon on the commandment "Thou shall not steal." At the close of the service, his people lined up and offered enthusiastic congratulations: "Wonderful message, Pastor." "Mighty fine preaching." "Keep up the good work."

It wasn't the response he expected, so he went home to prepare his sermon for the following Sunday. He preached on the same text, the same commandment, but gave it a different ending. He said, "Yes, thou shall not steal, but thou shall also not cut off the end of thy neighbor's logs." When he got through, the congregation ran him out of town. [Haddon Robinson, "Grace and Truth in Application," PreachingToday.com]]


Oh the foolishness of people. They are willing to listen to words of wisdom, but they fail to hear the message for themselves. They do not see the folly of their actions; nor the sin taking place in their life. The foolish mock others, hide their faults and when confronted with their flaws they turn against those who confront them as if they are wrong.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/24/14 11:44 AM
3 John 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 I have much more to say to you, but I don�t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

The 3rd book of John was a letter to his friend Gaius. It was an encouraging letter speaking of the work Gaius did to help others. It commended him and also warned him of those who spoke ill thinks that could influence his thoughts. He ends the letter saying he hopes to see Gaius and talk face to face.



In relationship communications, face to face talks are very important. It gives times for each to speak uninterrupted to one another. It allows for them to listen carefully and not be interrupted. It lets each other know that the other person is concerned about the things that are to be said.

In the news recently there was a husband who sent a spreadsheet to his wife listing dates, whether she accepted his advances for sex and her excuses if he was rejected. It was emailed to her to read. She got the email, but the email wasn�t too well received, can you only imagine?

Let�s go back to the face to face talk, which is the best way to communicate. Not only do you hear what is being said, you see how it is being said in body language, and you can hear the tone in which it is being said. Words, body language and tone all play an important part in communication. Emails take out body language and tone. How often have you said something and watched someone�s eyes roll? You know without hearing a word that they either didn�t believe you or thought �Oh no, not again!�

Let�s say I want to have a face to face talk with my wife. I would ask her if I could talk to her about something important and is now a good time. You want to make sure she has time to listen and is not in a hurry or maybe distracted by something else. If the time is good you can proceed to talk.

Try to state your feelings and keep the conversation more about you than trying to place blame on the other person. For instance the husband above could have said, �Lately I feel rejected about asking about sex because it never seems there is never an appropriate time. This gives the other person a chance to understand the feelings and does not place direct blame on them. Its a good way to open the conversation.

Now that the conversation has started keep on topic. Don�t start venting about other issues. You also want to carefully listen. Remember the words of the apostle Peter, �Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.� It both parties can learn these techniques discussions become more productive.

I also want to mention, men, you need to listen carefully to feelings a woman talks about. We are not as in tune with feelings as women are and we can miss a lot of clues.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/14 10:54 AM
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
43 �You have heard the law that says, �Love your neighbor� and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

In these verses Jesus slightly changes a law most people have heard that they should love their neighbors and hate their enemies. Instead they should also love those who are against them just as the Father in Heaven loves each and every person. Jesus reminds the people that even those deemed sins can love as they do so why not attempt to be perfect as The Father in heaven is perfect.



The Bosnian War during the early 1990s pitted Bosnian Serbs against Muslims, making the sides bitter enemies. But after the war, journalist Chris Hedges heard a story of unusual kindness in the midst of savagery. Rosa and Drago Sorak, a Bosnian Serb couple, told Hedges that during the war the Muslim police took their oldest son, Zoran, away for questioning. He never returned.

Five months after Zoran's disappearance, his wife gave birth to a girl. The mother was unable to nurse the child. The city was being shelled and there were severe food shortages. Infants were dying in droves. The family gave the baby tea for five days, but she began to fade. "The baby was dying," Rosa Sorak said. "It was breaking our hearts."

But on the fifth day, just before dawn, the Soraks heard someone stomping up to their front door. It was their Muslim neighbor, Fadil Fejzic, one of the few people in town who owned a cow. He was wearing black rubber boots and holding a half a liter of milk. Other families insulted Fadil and told him to let the children of their enemies die. But Fadil, the man with a cow and heavy black rubber boots, kept showing up on their porch�for 442 days in a row, until the Soraks' daughter-in-law and granddaughter left the country.

The Soraks said they could never forgive those who took Zoran from them. But they also couldn't forget the kindness of their neighbor Fadil. Drago Sorak said. "The milk he had was precious, all the more so because it was hard to keep animals. He gave us 221 liters. And every year at this time, when it is cold and dark, when we close our eyes, we can hear the boom of the heavy guns and the sound of Fadil Fejzic on the stairs."

"Here was the power of love," Hedges concludes his story. "What this illiterate farmer did would color the life of another human being, who might never meet him, long after he was gone. In his act lay an ocean of hope." [Adapted Chris Hedges, War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning (Anchor, 2003), pp. 50-53]



We can see many signs of war in our world. King Solomon said it is Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. People can either make a difficult situation better or they can make it worst. Jesus calls on us to make life better for all. Love all those around us despite our differences and hopefully we can learn to live in harmony with each other.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/28/14 12:13 PM
Philippians 3:14(NLT)
14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

A Christian should always press forward in the work they are doing for God knowing that the journey to reach heaven will be at hand one day. The race will have been run and the prize handed out to all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.




This is a story by Randy Alcorn, from �Money and the Disciple� that is always worth sharing. Author Randy Alcorn recalled a two-month missions trip that he and his family took some years ago that included a visit to Egypt. While in Egypt, Alcorn's hosts took him to visit an abandoned graveyard located at the end of a garbage-lined alley. The host pointed out one tombstone in particular�that of William Borden (1887-1913), heir to the Borden dairy estate. William was a millionaire by 21, but he renounced his fortune, giving nearly all his wealth to missions. His heart's desire was to take the gospel to Muslims in China. On his way to China, William stopped in Egypt to study Arabic, but four months later he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of 25.

Alcorn writes:

I dusted off the inscription on the headstone of Borden's grave. After describing his love for Christ and his commitment to and his love for the Muslim people; and his sacrifices for God's kingdom; the inscription ended with some words I wrote down on the spot�and I have never forgotten them to this day. The inscription ended with, "Apart from faith in Christ there is no explanation for such a life."
Then Alcorn wrote, "And I thought, Lord, what's the explanation for my life?"


To have been a millionaire in 1908 would have been a great accomplishment. And yet William Borden chose to run a different race in life. He chose to give up everything in order to serve Christ. Matthew 19:21-22 says, �Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.� There was another young rich man who came to Jesus, but unlike that young man, William Borden was willing to sacrifice everything to follow Christ.

You see William Borden came to the conclusion that apart from Christ life is meaningless. You can have many riches, but what do they mean if you aren�t living your life to something important. What is the purpose for your life? Maybe there are challenges Christ is waiting for you to complete.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/29/14 10:35 AM
Psalm 119:93 (NIV)
93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

The best evidence of our love for God is never to forget the wisdom He has imparted to us through His word. For God�s wisdom is life changing and preserves our life.



I grew up in a Christian home where I went to church on Sunday. One of the things I learned to do as a child was to memorize scripture. Our Sunday school class had a chart up on the wall with our names and the scriptures we were to memorize. One set of those verses was Psalm 23. It seemed longed at the time as kid, but I endured and learned the passages.

Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


There are times those words will come to me reminding me how The Lord is with me, watching over me and allowing me to rest as He leads me. It was good for me to learn those verses and keep them with me.

The same has held true for many other people. I have heard soldiers speak of how the scriptures they had memorized kept them alive while they were held in horrible prisoner of war camps. I have heard the testimonies of people trapped by buildings collapsed by earthquakes repeating God�s promises to them until they were rescued. People have spoken of God comforting them through His word as they faced difficult trials.

You see when we draw close to The Lord by reading His word and meditating on it; The Lord draws close to us. He is there with us in fellowship watching over the souls of our life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/14 11:35 AM
Matthew 5:14,16 KJV
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus was speaking to a multitude of people from the mountain when He spoke the words above. The words were a reminder that like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, neither can the good works be hidden that we do for the Father in heaven. The sick will remember our care. The hungry will remember the meals provided. The homeless will remember the shelter provided them. All will see the good works accomplished and their thankfulness will be overflowing.



Our church has a program where people go out to feed the homeless and minister to some immediate needs. The homeless are invited to participate in a time of praise and worship. They are also supplied with a simple meal. Some of the local food stores provide things like bread, pastries and other items the people can take with them. People put together basic hygiene kits that have toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hand lotions, razors and shaving cream and hand them out to the people.

During the winter months when the cold weather is setting in, the church will gather coats, blankets, and other warm clothes to provide the people. People line up hoping the supplies don�t run out before they get to the front of the line, but usually there is plenty for all. It�s on these nights that hot coffee and hot chocolate are served to help warm up the guests.

A young boy wrote the following after helping in this ministry. My name is Ben and I am 10 years old. I have been going to Church on the Street for a while with my father. It all started months ago when I heard about Church on the Street. I had no idea what to expect, my dad said it was serving, preaching and preparing food for the homeless people in Atlanta. I really wanted to go.

My first time going I was nervous because it was a large crowd. Church on the Street not only helped the homeless, but me as a child. I have grown closer with the Lord ever since I started serving at Church on the Street. Volunteers do many different jobs. I, for one, like to help with the snacks in the beginning. I like to say hi to all the homeless people. My real favorite job to do is to wrap the hot dogs in tin foil. Sometimes when I am not washing the dishes, I will go out with an adult and pray with a homeless person who needs prayer. I would like to do Church on the Street as long as I can and try new jobs when I get older.


There is a light within us that cannot be hidden. It is the light of love that The Lord has given to us all. We can let our light shine and have a great influence on many people. It is a light that cannot be hidden for it spreads to other people who share it as they too minister to people. One night I remember a homeless person giving up some of the things they had to help another person. The person was in need and the other person shared the little bit that they had to help. So let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/31/14 10:37 AM
1 Corinthians 15:37 (NKJV)
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

The apostle wrote to the Corinthians about conduct within the church. There were some within the church that claimed to speak in tongues, a God given language that should be discernable to all men. Yet there were those who did not understand or were confused by the practice. Then there were those who claimed to know God�s truth as a prophet or a spiritualist. The apostle reminded all the people that God was not an author of confusion. Anything said and anything prophesized had to agree with the commandments of The Lord.



In the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, it happened to the Netherlands' superstar skater Sven Kramer. In the Olympic finals for the 10,000 meter race, he skated the 25 times around the rink so well that he set an Olympic record time of 12:54.50. He finished a full 4 seconds ahead of the second place skater. He was thrilled. The week before he had won gold in the 5,000 meter race. Now he had won a second Olympic gold medal, and done that representing a country that adores speed skating. He was a national hero!

But some of that glory quickly evaporated. Moments after Kramer crossed the finish line, his coach Gerard Kemkers, a former Olympian himself, approached him and broke the unthinkable news. Kramer had been disqualified from the race. With eight laps to go, he had changed lanes improperly. What made this disqualification so bitter for Kramer was that he had changed lanes for only one reason: his coach had told him to change lanes. In other words, he had no plans to change lanes until his coach called out for him to change. Worse yet, Kramer had never received lane-change directions from a coach in a race prior to that day!

In a situation when a split-second decision had to be made, Kramer trusted his coach instead of himself, and it cost him an Olympic gold medal. [Brian Hamilton, "One lane change changes everything," Chicago Tribune (2-24-10), sect. 2, pp. 1, 8]


In life if we have to trust anyone -- our trust needs to be in The Lord. For it only takes a second of confusion and the events of your life can unravel and change. While we need safe people in our lives that can help guide us, teach us and lend us wisdom, we should desire those people are trusting God for the answers. Others may fail us, but God will never let us down.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/14 11:12 AM
Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

David comforted himself with the thoughts of God�s protection. David knew God was his shield against his enemies and also a shield against sin. David depended upon God�s promises for safety, comfort, love, protection and everything else he would need. These promises were the source of his hope.



In an interview about his book The Folly of Prayer (IVP, 2009), author and pastor Matt Woodley shared a story about his friend Theresa. Theresa was experiencing what St. John of the Cross calls a dark night of the soul�a period of spiritual loneliness and despair. Over the course of describing her story, listen to how Woodley discovered that what seemed most helpless in his ministry was actually the most helpful:

After marrying the man of her dreams, [Theresa] dropped into the abyss of a deep depression. Everything went dark in her mind and body. She even started writing her obituary. Three years ago I would have had plenty of answers and solutions for her. I would have been so clever and powerful. But now I could only sit with her in her pain. We prayed. I didn't know what to do, didn't have any answers, so I said, "Theresa, I have no idea what to say, so could we just read the Psalms?" Then I read Psalm 77, an agonizing psalm of lament, and I went home. I left feeling utterly powerless, and I sure didn't think that I made her feel better.

The next week another leader of our church visited Theresa. She was still suffering intensely, but when the leader asked if he could pray for her, Theresa said, "Yes, but before you pray, please read Psalm 77. I've been clinging to it all week. It's my lifeline to God." Apparently when we read Psalm 77 in utter powerlessness, God showed up in her life with power.

Woodley adds: "At times the best, most powerful and most useful way to love someone is to get to the end of myself. I admit that I can't fix or change you. My words and my advice won't heal your brokenness. But I can be with you, and we can go together to the Father." [IVP Books, "Are You There, God? An Interview with The Folly of Prayer Author Matt Woodley"]


God�s word is powerful and can change the thoughts and hearts of people. The scriptures remind us of God�s promises and His love for us. Proverbs 30:5 tells us, �Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/04/14 10:57 AM
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NLT)
2 �This is what the Lord says�the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: 3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

This message comes from The Lord, the one who made, formed and established the earth. It is comforting to know that the one who has created everything is willing to entertain our questions and respond. We must seek out God in prayer and humbly ask that we may receive the answers we are looking for.




In the movie Gravity, veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (played by George Clooney) is in charge of the Shuttle Explorer's STS-157 mission to repair the Hubble Telescope by the rookie specialist Dr. Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock). Out of the blue, Houston control aborts the mission warning that a Russian missile hit a satellite, causing a chain reaction and now there is a storm of debris coming upon the pair of astronauts. Soon they lose communication with the Mission Control in Houston. As a result of the debris strike, both Stone and Kowalski must now make their way to the International Space Station.

Isolated and coming to grips with her mortality, Dr. Stone has the following conversation/prayer with God:

I'm gonna die, aren't I God? I know we're all gonna die...we're all gonna die. But I'm gonna die today! Funny that you ought to know. But the thing is I'm still scared � I'm really scared. Nobody will mourn for me; no one will pray for my soul. Will you mourn for me? Will you pray for me? Or is it too late? I mean, I'd pray for myself but I've never prayed in my life. Nobody ever taught me how. Nobody ever taught me how. [Gravity, DVD, Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, 2014; Warner Brothers; submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]


Dr. Stone says nobody ever taught her how to pray, but out of necessity she finds herself doing what she had never been taught to do, pray. You see Dr. Stone was seeking out answers from God. She was faced with a life of death situation and in what seemed to be her final moments she was calling out to God trying to understand if it was too late to reconcile herself with Him.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, �For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/05/14 10:45 AM
Psalm 119:130 (NLT)
130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

God�s word is the instruction book to our life that illuminates and guides the directions we should take in life. God has used others to demonstrate life, the joys, the fears, the consequences and the contentment. God�s word is for all so they may understand life and how to live it well.



All of us have based our lives upon something we have learned. Some of what we have learned came through our parents. I was listening to a group of adults talking about parenting skills. Many said they had always told themselves they would not turn out like their father or their mother in the way they handled their children. Later they found themselves doing exactly what their parents had done before.

We learn from others around us. There are those around us who often give good counsel and advice. Often we learn just by listening to how others solved a problem. For instance some of my coworkers are handy at working on home projects, so we each end us sharing how the other can fix a problem with their home.

Then there is learning about how we should really live life. People seem to pick up their ideas from many places. There are both religious and non-religious groups from which people will seek out answers. There are those who offer self-help advice and since they seem to have answers people will often follow them. And yet some who offer good advice, even great advice have faced failures in their own lives. They are not perfect so we should be careful of all life advice.

Above King David was telling us that The Bible shines a light for us to see how to live life. It has simple concepts that anyone can understand. There are examples of failures and triumphs. We just need to take the time, spend it in God�s word, and spend time getting to know God and His will for our lives.

I always thinking of Jeremiah 29:11 that has these words, �For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.� This is God�s desire for those who love Him and who He loves. Look to God�s word for the light to your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/06/14 11:29 AM
Psalm 91:1-3 (NLT)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

Unknown is the author of this Psalm. Some believe it to have been written by Moses while others think it may have been penned by David. Whomever the author they gave an account of their trust in God. For they knew the safety God provided; whether it be a trap of temptation or a real threat from a deadly disease.



Dr Kent Brantly, one of two Americans stricken with the Ebola virus in the West Africa nation of Liberia, was delivered Saturday morning to an Atlanta hospital for treatment and is showing signs of improvement, experts say.

Brantly "seems to be improved from the reports we got earlier," Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

After transport from Liberia on a specially outfitted plane Brantly, 33, climbed out of an ambulance with the aid of another person and then walked the short distance to the entrance of Emory University Hospital. Both Brantly and the person who helped him were wearing special biocontainment suits and similar protective gear, NBC News reported.

Experts said that the fact that Brantly could walk on his own was an encouraging sign.

Brantly's wife Amber, as well as his mother and father, had traveled to the hospital to meet him but his two small children did not make the trip. [Healthday, August 3, 2014, Ebola Patient Dr Kent Brantly Arrives in U.S., May Be Improving, By Dennis Thompson and E.J. Mundell]


There are many who fear the Ebola virus and the two American�s who contracted the virus that was transported to Atlanta. It is after all a deadly virus that is severe and often fatal. Transmission of the virus from humans is usually due to contact with blood or secretions of an affected person.

The natural reservoir host of ebolaviruses, and the manner in which transmission of the virus to humans occurs (outside of human to human exposure), remain unknown. This makes risk assessment in endemic areas difficult. With the exception of several laboratory contamination cases (one in England and two in Russia), all cases of human illness or death have occurred in Africa; no case has been reported in the United States. [CDC)

For those who might be fearful of those who are being treated in the United States, we need to trust in The Lord. The Lord is watching over us because we are trying to do what is right out of love and concern for fellow citizens who risked their life to help others. The Lord will protect us from the deadly disease as He imparts wisdom to the doctors who are dealing with the disease. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, strength and a sound mind. Let use our sound minds to work through the dangers of this virus so that others may be healed in the future. Let us pray that a cure may be found.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/14 11:52 AM
Psalm 112:5 (NLT)
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

This is a verse that reminds us that those who conduct their business fairly and use their profits to help others will find that good comes into their lives. It is part of the character of a good man that he will use his discretion in managing his affairs, in getting and saving, that he may have enough to share.



According to Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, the person who has had the single greatest impact on addressing global poverty in the past twenty-five years is a largely-unknown World Vision staffer named Steve Reynolds. In 1985, a young Steve Reynolds was working in Ethiopia, during what was the worst famine of a generation. Steve spent many dreary days in the relief camps as an eyewitness to the horrors of massive starvation and death, gathering information that he hoped would provoke people to notice and respond.

One day he got a call from headquarters asking if he would host a young European couple, Ali and Paul Hewson, who wanted to visit and learn firsthand what was happening. Steve was willing to help. Ali and Paul stayed almost a month, rolling up their sleeves to help and showing tireless compassion. Paul was a musician, so he entertained the kids by writing little songs. Paul and Ali finally went home but not before they had committed to do whatever they could to help. You may know Paul better by his nickname, Bono.

Since that trip in 1985, Bono, the lead singer of the phenomenal Irish rock group U2, has traveled the globe as an advocate for the poorest of the poor. He has met with kings and queens, presidents, prime ministers, and the pope. He has lobbied members of parliaments and congresses. He has persuaded governments to appropriate billions of dollars of aid to the poor.

But in a later interview with Christianity Today, Bono specifically mentioned the key influence of Steve Reynolds. Bono said, "All of this started for me in Ethiopia in the mid-'80s, when my darling wife and I went out there as children, really, to see and to work in Africa."

Twenty-seven years later Steve Reynolds still works for World Vision. He has served in numerous jobs, working behind the scenes on behalf of the world's poorest people. Steve has been willing and available to be used however God wanted to use him. [Condensed from Richard Stearns, Unfinished (Thomas Nelson, 2013), pp. 152-154]


God puts people in places where He can use them to benefit others. He will take the good deeds of a business person and wisely put them to use.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/08/14 10:48 AM
Psalm 149:4 (NLT)
4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

The Israelites are defined to God as �his people�. Yet God has called others to join with �His people� to gather close to God and receive the riches of His blessings. Those who humble themselves before God will find victory in this life.



From Romans 15:1-13, the apostle tells us the following: We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn�t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, �The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.� Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God�s promises to be fulfilled.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

�For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.�

And in another place it is written, �Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.� And yet again, �Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.�

And in another place Isaiah said, �The heir to David�s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.� I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.


So there are questions, have we humbled ourselves before God as the Israelites were asked to do? Have we placed our faith in Jesus Christ so that we would receive God�s gift of salvation? Are we helping others and building them up and teaching them what is right? Do we even consider ourselves a Christian nation or are we a nation that has turned their face against God? Do we even pray as we should?

As you read through The Bible you will find God was not always with �His People�. As they turned from God, God left them to their own devices. God waited for their return and then blessed them just as the father who welcomed the prodigal son. Return to God and receive His love, grace and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/14 01:30 PM
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)
12 You say, �I am allowed to do anything��but not everything is good for you. And even though �I am allowed to do anything,� I must not become a slave to anything.

In this verse the apostle is reminding believers not to become a slave to anything, especially those things that are not good for them. For in Christ we have been freed from sin, but that freedom should not allow one to become entrapped to vices which they find themselves enslaved to.



My wife and I attended a taping of a new format for a Dr. Drew show here in Atlanta. Some of you may know Dr. Drew from TV shows such as his nightly HLN broadcast, Celebrity Rehab and Rehab with Dr. Drew. [Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and a member of the staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine. [About Dr. Drew, drdrew.com]]

During the taping of the show Dr. Drew gave audience members a chance to ask questions. An attractive young woman stood up and said she had a question about the relationship with her boyfriend. The woman went on to say her boyfriend had been known as a lady�s man through the years. Dr. Drew asked her if that was still true, to which she responded she didn�t believe so.

Then as Dr. Drew asked her some questions at which point she admitted that her boyfriend had been addicted to having physical relations with the women of his past. She also said he had never been to therapy. Dr. Drew was very compassionate and concerned for her, especially when she said, �I just wonder if I will be good enough for him?�


Ladies, if the question has to asked, �I just wonder if I will be good enough for him�, there is a problem. The problem is you are wondering what it will take for him to be satisfied with you. In this case we are talking about a man who potentially has an addiction to women. If in face he does have an addiction, the cravings of an addiction make a person want more, and more, and more.

This man is enslaved and without help, without freedom for the sin, this man will want more until it consumes their relationship. Will she be enough for him? In his current state, she will never be enough. He will look for and also ask for riskier behaviors. Without treatment he will continue to do so until he finds himself bored and desires more than he has. So yes, she will never be enough, not because of who she is, but because of his problem. She may even find herself entrapped in his sin until she decides she can�t take it any longer at which point the relationship can no longer be sustained.

Her story is a good reminder to not become a slave to anything. The man should never have become a slave to the sin he has participated in and the woman needs to take care she does not become a slave to her boyfriend.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 08/11/14 05:34 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)
12 You say, �I am allowed to do anything��but not everything is good for you. And even though �I am allowed to do anything,� I must not become a slave to anything.

In this verse the apostle is reminding believers not to become a slave to anything, especially those things that are not good for them. For in Christ we have been freed from sin, but that freedom should not allow one to become entrapped to vices which they find themselves enslaved to.



My wife and I attended a taping of a new format for a Dr. Drew show here in Atlanta. Some of you may know Dr. Drew from TV shows such as his nightly HLN broadcast, Celebrity Rehab and Rehab with Dr. Drew. [Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and a member of the staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine. [About Dr. Drew, drdrew.com]]

During the taping of the show Dr. Drew gave audience members a chance to ask questions. An attractive young woman stood up and said she had a question about the relationship with her boyfriend. The woman went on to say her boyfriend had been known as a lady�s man through the years. Dr. Drew asked her if that was still true, to which she responded she didn�t believe so.

Then as Dr. Drew asked her some questions at which point she admitted that her boyfriend had been addicted to having physical relations with the women of his past. She also said he had never been to therapy. Dr. Drew was very compassionate and concerned for her, especially when she said, �I just wonder if I will be good enough for him?�


Ladies, if the question has to asked, �I just wonder if I will be good enough for him�, there is a problem. The problem is you are wondering what it will take for him to be satisfied with you. In this case we are talking about a man who potentially has an addiction to women. If in face he does have an addiction, the cravings of an addiction make a person want more, and more, and more.

This man is enslaved and without help, without freedom for the sin, this man will want more until it consumes their relationship. Will she be enough for him? In his current state, she will never be enough. He will look for and also ask for riskier behaviors. Without treatment he will continue to do so until he finds himself bored and desires more than he has. So yes, she will never be enough, not because of who she is, but because of his problem. She may even find herself entrapped in his sin until she decides she can�t take it any longer at which point the relationship can no longer be sustained.

Her story is a good reminder to not become a slave to anything. The man should never have become a slave to the sin he has participated in and the woman needs to take care she does not become a slave to her boyfriend.

Jesus promises that His burden is light and easy to carry, while sin is crippling to carry.
I read this article a while back, how seeking a relationship with God is often the first step towards leaving an addiction. Secular psychologists question if God is needed in recovery, but as the article explains the evidence speaks for itself:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303779504579463251726224232
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/12/14 11:34 AM
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT)
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people�s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ�s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, �Come back to God!�

We are ambassadors for Christ, taking the message of salvation to others so they may be reconciled to God. The message of salvation is a gift from God; a message that says come back to Me by placing your faith in My Son Jesus Christ, for He died for your sins.



I grew up in a Baptist Church. On Wednesday nights at our church I attended what is known as Royal Ambassadors. RAs as it was called, was a ministry to teach young boys about missionaries who were spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. We read stories about missionaries and the work they were doing in other countries. At times we even received letters from those missionaries asking us to pray for them and the work they were doing.

As I have grown older, I have learned much more about the work of those in the mission field. There are places where Christians go that they must be careful about what they say or they could jeopardize the lives their selves and others, because some countries do not allow freedom of religion such as the United States does.

In the news we have seen where missionaries have been put in prison for speaking the name of Jesus. Some have been tortured, and some deprived of the comforts of normal life. There have been missionaries who were even killed because of their mission to tell others about Jesus.

For those of us who live in the United States life is somewhat easier and yet we don�t always share what we know about Jesus. We speak for Christ when we plead, �Come back to God!� We should be sharing the wonderful message of reconciliation because we are free to do so.

When you hear God speaking to your heart to tell someone about Jesus take the time to listen and then speak up. Usually an opportunity will present itself where you can tell someone how much God loves them and that He gave His only Son so that we can live an eternal life in heaven. Christ gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation; let us share it with others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/13/14 12:21 PM
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
10 For we are God�s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Created anew - a reference to being reborn a new creature; changed by the marvelous love, grace and mercy of God. We are His masterpiece transformed because of the obedience of His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sin. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ was not an afterthought, but a part of God�s plan from long ago.



In her book, Unbroken, Laura Hildenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) recounts the amazing true story of World War II veteran and prisoner-of-war survivor Louis (or Louie) Zamperini. On May 27, 1943, Zamperini�s bomber left Oahu in search of survivors from a downed plane. About 800 miles from the base one of the engines cut out and the bomber plunged into the ocean. Zamperini and another soldier would stay afloat on a tiny life raft for 47 days�a world record for survival at sea. After confronting sharks, starvation, and dementia, their real battle would begin. Zamperini spent the next two years as a Japanese POW in the notorious Sugamo Prison. In particular, a guard named Watanabe (nicknamed �the Bird�) ensured that Louis endured constant physical torture and verbal humiliation�all in an attempt to shatter the spirit of the American soldiers.

In 1944, after Louis had been declared dead, he returned to America to a rush of publicity. Unfortunately, his life quickly descended into a new self-made prison of alcoholism and bitterness. In particular, Louis now endured constant nightmares about his past and an obsessive drive to murder �the Bird.� But the walls of addiction and hatred started to crumble in 1949 when Louis attended a Billy Graham crusade and heard the gospel and trusted Christ.

After receiving Christ, in the words of Laura Hildenbrand:

When [Louie] thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man that the Bird had striven to make him. In a single, silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness, had fallen away. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation.

A year after trusting Christ, Zamperini returned to the Sugamo Prison in Japan where he met with his former captors, except the Bird. When Louis was told that the Bird had committed suicide, in Hildebrand�s words,

[Louie] felt something he had never felt for his captor before. With a shiver of amazement, he realized it was compassion. At that moment, something shifted sweetly inside him. It was forgiveness, beautiful and effortless and complete. For Louie Zamperini, the war was over. [Laura Hildenbrand, Unbroken (Random House, 2010), pp. 376-379]


2Corinthians 4:8-10 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/14 10:46 AM
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 �Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

In this verse Christ tells us He is ready to draw near to those who are willing to listen. He wants to have a kind visit that includes His love, mercy and grace. Man by his nature of sin shuts the door to Christ. Christ however does not walk away. Instead Christ calls to them and He moves them with the Holy Spirit by knocking at the door of their heart. Those who open their heart to Christ will enjoy His fellowship. In their repentance they will delight and enjoy sharing intimate time with Christ.

There is a song performed by Christian artists called In Christ Alone, by Getty and Townend 2001 Kingsway Music . Let these lyrics be of encouragement to you:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine�
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death�
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home�
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 08/14/14 04:44 PM
I sing a some of the old hymns to my kids at bedtime, from hymnals I find at the thrift stores.
The songs are often encouraging and uplifting at the end of the day
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 08/14/14 06:30 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
I sing a some of the old hymns to my kids at bedtime, from hymnals I find at the thrift stores.
The songs are often encouraging and uplifting at the end of the day

I had to smile at this as I do a lot of that to my children also. smile I usually try to read them the Bible at night as they are falling asleep and if the reading triggers a memory of a song I will frequently sing it to them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/14 12:21 PM
Romans 14:8 (NLT)
8 If we live, it�s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it�s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Our purpose whether in life or in death is to honor The Lord. If we have a long life, live it to honor The Lord. If we die naturally or by other means let out death give honor to The Lord.



In their book Building a Church of Small Groups, Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson relate the words of Lyman Coleman as he reflected on the death of his beloved wife, Margaret:

The most painful decision of my life was asking God to take her home. She had been suffering from repeated brain seizures and her body was wasted. I whispered in her ear: "Honey, I love you. I love you. Jesus wants you to come home. We are going to be all right. We give you permission to let go." She closed her eyes and fell asleep�.
As I write this letter, I realize I am without my editor. My greatest critic. My teammate. Soulmate. Prayermate. Partner in everything. We traveled the roads less traveled together in hard times and good times. Honey, I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I will keep the light on for the kids. I will be there for friends. And one day, we are going to join you. All of us. Because Jesus promised it. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, �I believed in God, so I spoke.� We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God�s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won�t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don�t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

There is a life eternal waiting for those who have placed their faith in Christ. So whether we live or we die let us honor Christ giving Him glory for the great things He has done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/18/14 11:45 AM
Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good. [Commentary of Matthew Henry}


In 1887, just following an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody, a young man stood to share his story in an after-service testimony meeting. As he was speaking, it became clear to many that he knew little about the Bible or acceptable Christian doctrine. His closing lines, however, spoke volumes to seasoned and new believers alike: I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey.

Daniel Towner was so struck by the power of those simple words that he quickly jotted them down, then delivered them to John Sammis, who developed the lyrics to Trust and Obey. Towner composed the music and the song quickly became a favorite. It remains popular with hymn singers today. Here are the words to the song.

Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. [Refrain]

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/19/14 11:22 AM
1 John 5:12 (NLT)
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God�s Son does not have life.

God the Father has placed the honor upon His son Jesus Christ to provide eternal life to those who place their faith in Him. So those who are united with Christ will have life and should honor Him just as the father has honored Him.


Theologian Alister McGrath outlines the following three stages of receiving what Christ did for us on the cross:

[First], I may believe that God is promising me forgiveness of sins; [second], I may trust that promise; but [third] unless I respond to that promise, I shall not obtain forgiveness. The first two stages of faith prepare the way for the third, without it they are incomplete.

Then he illustrates these three stages with the following true story:

Consider a bottle of penicillin, the famous antibiotic identified by Alexander Fleming, and first produced for clinical use in [Great Britain]. The drug was responsible for saving the lives of countless individuals who would otherwise have died from various forms of blood poisoning. Think of the three stages of faith like this. I may accept that the bottle exists. I may trust in its ability to cure blood poisoning. But nothing will change unless I receive the drug which it contains. I must allow it to destroy the bacteria which are slowly killing me. Otherwise, I have not benefited from my faith in it.

It is the third element of faith which is of vital importance in making sense of the cross. Just as faith links a bottle of penicillin to the cure of blood poisoning, so faith forges a link between the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and ourselves. Faith unites us with the risen Christ, and makes available to us everything he gained through his obedience and resurrection. [Alister E. McGrath, What Was God Doing on the Cross (Zondervan, 1992), pp. 99-100]


The Bible tells us there are many who believe there is a Jesus Christ, but not all have placed their faith in Him. James 2:19 says, �You believe there is one God. That is good! But even the demons believe that, and because they do, they shake.� The demons that follow Satan know and believe there is a God, but instead they have decided to follow Satan. They shake at the thought of what God could do to them, but it does not stop their actions and cause them to return to God.

There are people today who admit to being agnostic. They believe there is a God, but they place no faith or trust in Him. He exists around them, but they have no relationship to Him.

It is a relationship we want with God and Christ. We want to deepen our faith by building that relationship of trust that says I will trust and obey. We want to listen to God�s words and know they are for our benefit. We need to know that God and Christ have our best interest at heart and no matter what circumstance we are faced with that we will be provided for. Faith is trusting in God and believing in His promises with hope.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/20/14 11:49 AM
Psalm 16:7-9 (NLT)
7 I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. 8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. 9 And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear.

When we keep our eyes upon The Lord it is easy for our hearts to pour out words of thanksgiving just as David did here in these verses. He is reminded that The Lord is always out in front, leading him in life. Not only does The Lord lead, but He stands with us so we can stand firm. It makes our hearts and souls joyful to know The Lord for we can rest without fear of this world or fear of death. Our hearts can be glad in knowing the Lord�s love, grace and mercy.



[We live in a fast-paced culture, but some things just ought to happen slowly.

The book Final Salute tells the story of Major Steve Beck, a U.S. Marine whose heart-wrenching task is to inform the nearest of kin when a Marine is killed in Iraq. Beck doesn't just break the sad news and then leave; for several days he may help the family through the process of the funeral. That includes supervising the Marine honor guard that stands near the fallen soldier's body.

The honor guard learns from Beck how to salute their fallen fellow-Marine as they leave or resume guard with a slow salute that isn't taught in basic training. The slow salute requires a three second raising of the hand to the head, a three second hold, and then a three second lowering of the hand�a gesture of respect that takes about nine times longer than normal. Beck explains: "A salute to your fallen comrade should take time."

Indeed, those who die serving their country are worthy of great honor, worthy of a slow salute, worthy of extra time. To do some things fast, just to get them done so we can move on to the next thing in our lives, sends a subtle message of disrespect.

So it is with our worship of God. God deserves a slow salute. The Savior who gave his life for us is worthy of our time.

[Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: Jim Sheeler, Final Salute (Penguin, 2008); as seen in "Death Comes Knocking," The Week (5-23-08), p. 37]]


Christ fought a battle against sin and defeated death by giving His own life that we may live an eternal life with Him in heaven. Remember to honor Christ and praise Him for the great things He has done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/14 12:02 PM
Matthew 6:5-7 (NLT)
5 �And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

In these verses Jesus is warning us about pride within the body of the church. There were those who called attention to themselves, not for the sake of glorifying God, but for the sake of glorifying themselves. These people receive acknowledgement from others while those who worshipped in private received their acknowledgement from The Lord.



I want to acknowledge and thank a local TV station, WXIA 11 Alive, for showing a group of their reporters at lunch, taking the time to pray before starting their meal on their Facebook page. Many of us have been taught to say a blessing before eating a meal. It is a sacrament that seems to have faded away from traditions of long ago. It is not only a Christian sacrament; for many other religions also give thanks for the food they are about to receive. However, it seems that it is the Christians who are attacked for their actions, sometimes even by those saying they are Christians. I think the quote I heard that says Christians are the quickest to wound their own and leave them on the battle field is so often true.

Let me say directly that there is nothing wrong in giving thanks to The Lord, even in public. Some people were using the verses above on Facebook to say these reporters should have kept their prayers private and away from the sight of others. If we want to take the verses above so literal then we need to see that it talks about those who stand before the crowds so they may be heard. These reporters were peacefully sitting and talking among themselves. The verses of The Bible need to be seen in the appropriate context and with an understanding of grace and mercy. Jesus was talking to those who wanted to place attention on them and not on God.

I once heard a Pastor named Tony Evans speak. Tony said he was once asked to say a prayer for a Dallas football team before the start of a game. I�m not sure who was communicating with Tony, but they said something to the effect he may not want to mention the name of Jesus. You have to know Tony. He is a faithful Christian who places his faith in Jesus and gives Jesus the glory for all that is done in his life. When it came time to pray, Tony didn�t hesitate in thanking Jesus and closing the prayer in the name of Jesus. Tony did not let intimidation keep him from praising the one he loved, JESUS.

So I applaud the 11 Alive crew for holding firm to what they believe. I am glad to see there are Christians who are not afraid to let their faith be seen. We are to shine as candles to the world so others may hear the wonderful news of God. Let us all give glory to The Lord for all that He has done!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/14 11:57 AM
Romans 8:32 (NLT)
32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won�t he also give us everything else?

Who can be against us, take away our comforts, keep our needs from us and leave us hopeless, when God loves us so dearly that He gave up the life of His own son for us. When God is for us who can be against us?



In his book The Divine Commodity, Skye Jethani shares a story from a trip he took to India with his father. While walking the streets of New Delhi, a little boy approached them. He was "skinny as a rail, and naked but for tattered blue shorts. His legs were stiff and contorted, like a wire hanger twisted upon itself." Because of his condition, the little boy could only waddle along on his calloused knees. He made his way toward Skye and his father and cried out, "One rupee, please! One rupee!" Skye describes what happened when his father eventually responded to the boy's persistent begging:

"What do you want?" [my father asked].

"One rupee, sir," the boy said while motioning his hand to his mouth and bowing his head in deference. My father laughed.

"How about I give you five rupees?" he said. The boy's submissive countenance suddenly became defiant. He retracted his hand and sneered at us. He thought my father was joking, having a laugh at his expense. After all, no one would willingly give up five rupees. The boy started shuffling away, mumbling curses under his breath.

My father reached into his pocket. Hearing the coins jingle, the boy stopped and looked back over his shoulder. My father was holding out a five-rupee coin. He approached the stunned boy and placed the coin into his hand. The boy didn't move or say a word. He just stared at the coin in his hand. We passed him and proceeded to cross the street.

A moment later the shouting resumed, except this time the boy was yelling, "Thank you! Thank you, sir! Bless you!" He raced after us once again�but not for more money but to touch my father's feet. �

This, I imagine, is how our God sees us�as miserable creatures in desperate need of his help. But rather than asking for what we truly need, rather than desiring what he is able and willing to give, we settle for lesser things. [Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity (Zondervan, 2009), pp. 113-114]


Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, �So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/14 11:15 AM
Romans 12:4-5(NLT)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ�s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

When the apostle refers to Christ�s body he is referring to those who are a part of church who Christ gave His life for. Just as there are many parts to the human body, each serving a special function; there are many members in a church, each serving a special purpose.



In 1 Corinthians 7-11 it says, �A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

As seen from the verses above the Holy Spirit imparts special gifts unto people. One person may be wise in advice they give, whether it be financial or legal. Another may be a servant who helps heal others. For example Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poor and the sick. Some are able to take God�s word and speak messages to the church so they too understand the desires of God for their lives. Some have been blessed with wealth that they may help others financially. Each person may have one or several gifts, but by working as a collection group The Church is able to serve many people.

If you are unsure of your spiritual gifts, there are tests available that can help guide you to them. Many churches have these tests available in their church. The internet is also another place where spiritual gift tests can be found. Learn how you can serve your church with the talents you have been given. You never know whose life you may enrich by doing so.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/14 11:23 AM
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

The peace that comes when we our thoughts are fixed upon God is a peace of mind, peace with others, peace with one�s self, and peace through difficult times. As we keep our minds on God we must also trust Him at all times, under all circumstances, and adhere to His desires with total satisfaction.



While staying alone in her convent, an 85-year-old Catholic nun got trapped inside a broken elevator for four nights and three days. She tried pushing the inside elevator door, but the electricity went off. She had her cell phone with her, but there wasn't a signal. Fortunately, she had carried a jar of water, some celery sticks, and a few cough drops into the elevator.

At first she said to herself, This can't happen! But then she decided to turn her elevator into a personal prayer retreat. "It was either panic or pray," she later told an interviewer for CNN. She started viewing the experience as a "gift." "I believe that God's presence was my strength and my joy�really," she said. "I felt God's presence almost immediately. I felt like he provided the opportunity for a closer relationship." [Jenny Wilson, "Nun Stuck in Elevator Survives Four Nights on Celery Sticks, Water and
Cough Drops," Time.com (4-28-11)]


The nun�s choice, focus on panic or focus upon The Lord. Had she focused on panic, her fear would have increased. However, by staying focused on The Lord in prayer she was able to remain calm until her rescue.

All of us go through anxious or fearful moments. Let us turn to The Lord that He may supply the peace we need in our moment of desperation. Philippians 4:6-8 tells us, �Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/28/14 11:33 AM
John 11:2 (NKJV)
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, �Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?�

As John the Baptist sat in prison he became despondent and began to question whether Jesus was The Messiah. John�s spirit was broken and he began to doubt the things he had spoken to others. So he sent the question to Jesus, �Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?�



A study that was done in 2010 showed that approximately 79.5% of the United States is made up of Christians. Many people think Christians live without issues. There are even Christians who I have heard say, if your faith was just strong enough you wouldn�t feel depressed or this would not have happened to you. That is not true for Christians face trials in their lives. God allows trials to come into our lives in order to teach us and strengthen us.

John the Baptist had a strong faith in Christ. In Matthew 3:3 John said, �For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: �The voice of one crying in the wilderness: �Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.�� John was the first cousin to Jesus and knew many details His life. Yet John was locked away in prison, facing the possibility of death, facing hunger, cold and other problems and he felt things just didn�t seem right. Surely this couldn�t be the life he was meant to face.

Jesus sent back an answer to John, �Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.� Jesus gave John reassurance that his work had not been in vain. John�s purpose had to proclaim the coming of The Messiah and John had fulfilled that purpose.

Each of us has a purpose in life. Sometimes even with our faith we can feel hopeless and despondent. There are times when we are faced with our own trials that seem like heavy burdens. The good news is Jesus reassured us that in those times He would be with us. The Bible also reminds us to be with fellow Christians so they may interject hope into our lives. For there are others who have faced similar trials, they survived and they can give encouragement. They know just as we can know that Christ was there with them even in the most difficult of times.

May The Lord Jesus bless you, keep you safe, keep you close and help you in your daily struggles. Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/14 11:23 AM
Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The apostle reminds the Galatian Christian�s that they are heirs to the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. For those who live in Christ and Christ in them there is no discrimination. Christ does not see nationality, the rich or poor, male or female, but a human being who is in need of love, mercy and grace.



Actress Reese Witherspoon, who plays the role of June Carter Cash in the movie Walk the Line, describes the benefit of attending church:

"I was raised going to church every Sunday, and I go to church most Sundays with my kids. For me, where I'm at in my career, so many people want to put you in a place that you're not real and treat you like you're not real. For me it's a great experience of grounding, and I stand next to people who have nothing and who have everything, and we all treat each other the same, because we all are the same. It's just like a little weekly reminder. [Peter T. Chattaway, "The Man in Black," Christianitytodaymovies.com (11-15-05)]


From Matthew 9:9-12: As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, �Follow Me.� So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, �Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?� When Jesus heard that, He said to them, �Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

When Jesus saw a need in people�s lives He was quick to attend to that need. Jesus put aside religious status, whether they were rich or poor, and even what others thought about those He was with. For Jesus was there to provide love, grace and mercy to those in need.

We need to learn to love as Jesus did. It is sad to see the conflicts taking place in life whether it is struggles of one race against another, rich against poor, nation against nation or even gender against gender. Look to see the needs of others and reach out to them. Let us begin to love one another as Jesus commanded us to do; for that is exactly how Jesus lived out His life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/02/14 11:01 AM
Psalm 119:64 (NKJV)
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119 is about meditation on the excellence of God�s word. In verse 64 the psalmist acknowledges that God is full of mercy. There are many places in the world that do not recognize the true God of the world, yet because God created man his mercies extend to all men. The psalmist asks in prayer that God teach him God�s ways so that he may live accordingly.



A book titled The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible came out a few years ago. It was written by a non-Christian named A. J. Jacobs. It is a funny book, and he is a great writer. He spent an entire year committed to obeying Bible commands as literally as he could.

[In the fall of 1956, I began my final year at the Stony Brook School, then a boys' college preparatory school in New York. Among the required courses that last year was Senior Bible, taught by the school's headmaster, Dr. Frank E. Gaebelein, a man who required us to memorize 300 verses of Scripture over the course of that year. If he met a student on the pathway from the class room to the dining hall, he might say, "Gordon, give me John 13:34 please." He expected us to recite the verse from memory without faltering.

One of the passages he tasked us to memorize was Psalm 46. For days we memorized, recited, memorized, recited until the Psalm 46 was part of us. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble period. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea�."

In the spring of 1957, Senior Bible ended. We put our index cards away, graduated from Stony Brook, and went off to college. Occasionally, I returned to Psalm 46. As a pastor I preached on it a few times.

Now 56 years have passed. A few days ago my doctor called me. "Gordon, I have some difficult news for you. There's a tumor in the back of your head in the lining of the brain. It is not malignant, but it will have to come out." I have spent my whole life helping other people face doctor-call moments like these. Now it was my turn and the very first thing that began to surge through my mind was: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble period. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed�."

When I was a teenager, a brilliant and godly man pumped my friends and me full of Scripture. But now his effort is paying off. Thanks to Dr. Gaebelein and Psalm 46, I may be concerned and cautious, but I am not inclined to be fearful. [Adapted from Gordon MacDonald, "When the Doctor Calls," Leadership Journal Online (August 2013)]]


Psalm 46:1-3 says, �God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/03/14 10:35 AM
Isaiah 48:17 (NLT)
17 This is what the Lord says�your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: �I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

The Lord is our Redeemer, the provider of our salvation through Jesus Christ. We place our faith in Christ knowing our salvation is secure. At times we fail to do what is right and to follow God, but God in His mercy and grace continues to teach us what is good and leads us along paths that while they may even seem difficult, they are where we need to be.



From a reprint in Men of Integrity (May/June 2003), Henry Blackyby writes the following in Hearing God�s Voice (Broadman & Holman, 2002).

The first funeral I ever conducted was for a beautiful three-year-old. She was the first child born to a couple in our church, and the first grandchild in their extended family. Unfortunately, she was spoiled. While visiting the little girl's home one day, I observed that she loved to ignore her parents' instructions. When they told her to come, she went. When they said, "sit down," she stood up. Her parents laughed, finding her behavior cute.

One day their front gate was inadvertently left open. The parents saw their child escaping out of the yard and heading toward the road. To their horror, a car was racing down the street. As she ran out between two parked cars, they both screamed at her to stop and turn back. She paused for a second, looked back at her parents, then gleefully laughed as she turned and ran directly into the path of the oncoming car. The parents rushed their little girl to the hospital, but she died from her injuries.

As a young pastor, this was a profound lesson for me. I realized I must teach God's people not only to recognize His voice but also immediately to obey His voice when they hear it. It is life.


How often do we foolishly do things without heeding what we know in our hearts is the right thing to do? How often do those follies we participate in lead us on paths that are either not pleasant or even harmful to our lives? The Lord is always with us, teaching us what is good. For our own sakes God allows us to go down paths that are sometimes painful, difficult and hard to bear, but those paths are what we need to follow for our own good. The good news The Lord is still there with us.

Sometimes we want a quick fix in life. Sometimes we want issues solved right now this minute, but God knows what we really need and leads us in the proper way and in the proper time. God does this for us; for the good of our own lives because He loves us.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/04/14 02:50 AM
What a horrible accident.

But we are God's children and so often behave like that 3 year old child.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/04/14 11:20 AM
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me�a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

Paul was Timothy�s teacher and mentor. Paul had taught him a pattern for living a wholesome life that was shaped by faith and love for Jesus Christ and also by the Holy Spirit that lives within. Paul reminded Timothy to guard this precious truth for there had been those who had fallen away from it.



[In 2002, the U.S. Secret Service completed the Safe School Initiative, a study of school shootings and other school-based attacks. The study examined school shootings in the United States as far back as 1974, analyzing a total of 37 incidents involving 41 student attackers �. The young men who carried out the attacks differed from one another in numerous ways. However, almost every attacker had engaged in behavior before the shooting that seriously concerned at least one adult�and for many had concerned three or more different adults �. Far from being "loners," the killers are more likely to be aspiring "joiners" whose attempts at belonging fail. Many of the shooters told Secret Service investigators that feelings of alienation or persecution drove them to violence.

It's easy to label the shooters "evil" but miss some of the less noticeable (or less violent) signs that many boys are struggling alone in our culture. Consider these statistics:
Boys get expelled from preschool nearly five times more often than girls
In elementary school, boys are diagnosed with learning disorders four times as often.
By eighth grade huge numbers of boys read below basic level.
Males graduate high school at lower rates and attend college right out of high school at lower rates.
Young men are three times more likely to kill themselves than young women.

Somewhere in your world, there is a young man looking to you to model real, emotional resiliency. To show him that male-to-male friendship can extend beyond work, golf, or some other idolatry and withstand life's most difficult blows. To provide entry into a � honorable � definition of what it means to be a man in the 21st century. [Adapted from R. Todd Erkel, "Boys Need Good Role Models Now More Than Ever," Utne Reader (March-April 2013)]]


There are many boys and girls in this world that need good, solid leaders in their life. They need someone who can teach them the difference between what is right and what is wrong. They need guidance in how to deal with people and how to prepare to face the world as an adult. Don�t let the life of a child slip away. If you see a child in need see what you can do to help.

Mark 10:13-16 says, �People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, �Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.� And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.�

Let us learn to live and teach like Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/14 10:27 AM
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, �I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.�

Having given the disciples the command to share the good news of salvation with others, Jesus also gave them a promise that He would always be with them whether in life or in death.



[Author and speaker Brennan Manning has an amazing story about how he got the name "Brennan." While growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together: bought a car together as teenagers, double-dated together, went to school together and so forth. They even enlisted in the Army together, went to boot camp together and fought on the frontlines together. One night while sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a live grenade came into the foxhole. Ray looked at Brennan, smiled, dropped his chocolate bar and threw himself on the live grenade. It exploded, killing Ray, but Brennan's life was spared.

When Brennan became a priest he was instructed to take on the name of a saint. He thought of his friend, Ray Brennan. So he took on the name "Brennan." Years later he went to visit Ray's mother in Brooklyn. They sat up late one night having tea when Brennan asked her, "Do you think Ray loved me?" Mrs. Brennan got up off the couch, shook her finger in front of Brennan's face and shouted, "What more could he have done for you?" Brennan said that at that moment he experienced an epiphany. He imagined himself standing before the cross of Jesus wondering, Does God really love me? And Jesus' mother Mary pointing to her son, saying, "What more could he have done for you?"

The cross of Jesus is God's way of doing all he could do for us. And yet we often wonder, Does god really love me? Am I important to God? Does god care about me? [adapted from James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful God (IVP, 2009), p. 142]]


The starting lyrics to the song What More Can He Do say:

What more can he do, Tell me what more can he do? He sent loving arms down from the sky, 'Cuz he cares so much for you and I.

Never in my imagination, Did I ever see so clearly, Someone who has a concern for my life,
'Til your love came and found me. You loved me when I didn't even love myself, A love that will be there when there's nobody else. So with my voice I'll sing this little song of praise, 'Cuz when I think of what he's done all I can say�.. What more can he do, Tell me what more can he do? He sent loving arms down from the sky, 'Cuz he cares so much for you and I.


Praise God, Praise Jesus, Praise the Holy Spirit for the love that has been shown to us!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/14 12:59 PM
Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

In this psalm David prays for God to teach him God�s will. Also David asked for the leadership of the Holy Spirit to guide him on a righteous path of life.



Bill Hybels wrote in The Power of a Whisper, (Zondervan, 2012), pp. 54-55: [After attending a funeral] as my wife Lynne and I approached our car, I spotted a frail, elderly woman pulling into the nearby apartment complex. She parked her car and began to slowly and laboriously pull grocery bags out of her trunk. "How about helping that woman with her groceries?" the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt.

I initially brushed past the whisper because Lynne was with me and we were ready to go. But I had just made that offer to God, "If there is something you would like me to do �"

I knew I had to comply. "Lynne," I said, "I've got this little pact going with God, and I need to go help that woman with her groceries for a minute." I approached the elderly woman. "Can I give you a hand with your groceries?" I asked. "Oh, yes! Thank you!" she said, relieved.

The driveway leading back to her apartment � was roped off, meaning residents had to walk a few hundred yards just to get from their cars to their homes. I knew that this small act of kindness would honor God and help meet a real need; what I didn't know was that those grocery sacks boasted thirty pounds of fresh peaches each. Pretending the added weight didn't affect me a bit, I said, "All set here. You lead the way." She began winding through backyards that had become swamps due to recent rains. [It turns out the] woman was extremely arthritic [and] had some sort of emphysema that forced us to take a breather every forty-five seconds or so. It took us a full thirty minutes to make our way to her apartment, and by the time we arrived, we were tight. I had learned more about this dear woman's life than I could ever have hoped to know.

We entered her modest home, and � I set the sacks on the counter before turning to shake her hand and then let myself out through the front door. The woman left her bony, wrinkled hand in mine long after the handshake was done. "I will believe to my dying day that God sent you to help me just now," she said.

The whole deal felt so inglorious�the wet feet, the longer-than-expected trek, the lack of any earth-shattering results�and yet as I walked away from the apartment complex, something in my spirit felt right. God had whispered a simple instruction my way, and this time I had actually slowed down enough to listen. There is no greater feeling in the world than to hear�and heed�God's voice .�

I have come to believe over time that it is the little acts of obedience that invite God's power to fully flow in our lives. When you and I prove ourselves faithful with the small whispers, he entrusts us with bigger ones. And when we follow through on those big ones, big kingdom results can be gained.


As we listen to God, God will walk with us through holy land to accomplish His will, even if the way is through wet land. Listen carefully as God speaks through His Holy Spirit and heed His prompting.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/09/14 11:21 AM
Titus 2:2 (NLT)
2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

In writing to Titus, the apostle tells him that older men should exercise self-control in the things they do. For while the blood of Christ covers all sin, one should not take advantage of the grace and mercy given them, but instead be examples of wise living. Their faith should be sound and they should have the patience and love needed to encourage others.



Robert C. Roberts writes in The Reformed Journal (Feb 1987): The fruits of the Holy Spirit are, it seems to me, largely fruits of sustained interaction with God. Just as a child picks up traits more or less simply by dwelling in the presence of her parent, so the Christian develops tenderheartedness, compassion, humility, forgiveness, joy, and hope through "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"--that is, by dwelling in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. And this means, to a very large extent, living in a community of serious believers.


In order to gain self-control, we must be willing to give up who we are and allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into the person God wants us to be. We can try practicing self-control on our own, but that task is a heavy burden. Many who attempt to control actions in their life eventually fail because they have held on so tight, for so long they finally let go. Jesus told us, �For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.� We need to allow Jesus to help us carry our burdens by dwelling in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son.
Posted By: Devoted2him Re: Devotionals - 09/09/14 08:52 PM
Great devotional!!! I think we try and live our life according to the fruit of the Spirit because of God's Grace given to us. So many people today, I am seeing, say grace and love, which is totally true, but they forget ALL the scriptures where God says live this way or that ....grace through faith and faith without works is dead. Why would we want to say we are a Christian and be totally thankful for God's grace but not extend that to others around us by living out the fruits of the spirit and 1 Corinthians 13? I know I need more humility to do that and I need the power of the Holy Spirit and I don't do it perfectly, but we have to keep trying to live God's way especially in our marriages and apologize when we fail by being vulnerable to our spouse.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/10/14 12:01 PM
Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

God reminds the people that He has been with them, sustained them and protected them and will continue to do so even through their old age.



The prayer below is by Robertson McQuilkin, president emeritus of Columbia International University. For those assured of their salvation, Dr. McQuilkin reminds that there is no fear of the eternal life to come, but instead a fear of what is left behind. In Hebrews we are told -Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.


LET ME GET HOME BEFORE DARK
It's sundown, Lord. The shadows of my life stretch back into the dimness of the years long spent. I fear not death, for that grim foe betrays himself at last, thrusting me forever into life: life with you, unsoiled and free.

But I do fear. I fear the dark specter may come too soon� or do I mean too late? That I should end before I finish or finish, but not well. That I should stain your honor, shame your name, grieve your loving heart. Few, they tell me, finish well. . . Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of a spirit grown mean and small, fruit shriveled on the vine, bitter to the taste of my companions, burden to be borne by those brave few who love me still?

No, Lord, let the fruit grow lush and sweet, a joy to all who taste; Spirit-sign of God at work, stronger, fuller. Brighter at the end. Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of tattered gifts, rust-locked, half-spent, or ill-spent, A life that once was used of God now set aside? Grief for glories gone or fretting for a task God never gave. Mourning in the hollow chambers of memory, Gazing on the faded banners of victories long gone? Cannot I run well until the end? Lord, let me get home before dark.

The outer me decays� I do not fret or ask reprieve. The ebbing strength but weans me from mother earth and grows me up for heaven.

I do not cling to shadows cast by mortality. I do not patch the scaffold lent to build the real, eternal me. I do not clutch about me my cocoon, vainly struggling to hold hostage a free spirit pressing to be born.

But will I reach the gate in lingering pain�body distorted, grotesque? Or will it be a mind wandering untethered among light fantasies or grim terrors?

Of your grace, Father, I humbly ask. . . Let me get home before dark.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/12/14 12:15 PM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

A word of caution from the apostle that we should put aside worry; for worry implies a distrust of the provisions of God. Instead let us tell God our needs and give thanks for what we have and the things done for us. Then we can understand God�s peace and allow His peace to guard our hearts and minds.




Pastor H.B. Charles tells the following story about a woman he knew who showed up at church and prayed the same simple prayer. "O Lord, thank you Jesus," she prayed week after week. The kids at church would start laughing every time she opened her mouth because they knew it would be the same prayer�"O Lord, thank you Jesus."

Finally somebody asked her, "Why do you pray the same little prayer?" She said, "Well, I'm just combining the two prayers that I know. We live in a bad neighborhood and some nights there are bullets flying and I have to grab my daughter and hide on the floor, and in that desperate state all I know how to cry out is, 'O Lord.' But when I wake up in the morning and see that we're okay I say, 'Thank you Jesus.' When I got to take my baby to the bus stop and she gets on that bus and I don't know what's going to happen to her while she's away, I cry, 'O Lord.' And then when 3:00 P.M. comes and that bus arrives and my baby is safe, I say, 'Thank you Jesus.'"

She said, "Those are the only two prayers I know and when I get to church God has been so good I just put my two prayers together, "O Lord, thank you Jesus." [H.B. Charles, "A Psalm for Giving Thanks," PreacingToday.com]



�Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.� ~ Corrie ten Boom

Jesus said, �Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.� Our focus of life should be on today. Stay vigilant, but not afraid. Let us hand our fears to The Lord.

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, �For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/15/14 12:36 PM
1 John 4:16 (NLT)
16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

God's love is thus seen and exerted in Christ Jesus; and thus have we known and believed the love that God hath to us. ~Matthew Henry



As a 17-year-old Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, was involved in a car accident. Speeding carelessly down a windy mountain road, Anne smashed into her neighbor, Mrs. Pickering. Anne was too afraid to tell her father about the accident, so for the rest of the day she kept avoiding him. When she finally came home, she tried to tiptoe around her dad, but there he was, standing in the kitchen.

Anne tells what happened next:

I paused for what seemed a very long moment frozen in time. Then I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck �. I told him about my wreck�how I'd driven too fast and smashed into the neighbor's car. I told him it wasn't her fault; it was all mine. As I wept on his shoulder, he said four things to me:

"Anne, I knew all along about your wreck. Mrs. Pickering came straight up the mountain and told me�and I was just waiting for you to come and tell me yourself."

"I love you."

"We can fix the car."

"You are going to be a better driver because of this."

Anne says, "Sooner or later, all of us are involved in some kind of wreck�it may be your own fault or someone else's. When the damage is your fault, there's a good chance you'll be confronted by the flashing blue lights of the morality police. But my father gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to experience the loving, forgiving embrace of my heavenly Father." [Adapted from Anne Graham Lotz, Wounded by God's People (Zondervan, 2013), pp. 155-156]


Most of us may feel God is ready to lay out consequences for our actions or punish us for wrongful deeds. We often feel this way because others find fault in us and do not want to forgive the things we have done. God the Father, however, is a loving God who loves us greatly. Just as Billy Graham did with his daghter, The Father is ready to wrap His arms around us in love. There may be consequences to be faced, but there is wisdom to be found in our faults that will make for a better tomorrow.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/15/14 01:26 PM
I'm going to remember this in case it happens to one of my kids.
That's a good way to respond
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/16/14 11:49 AM
James 3:13 (NLT)
13 If you are wise and understand God�s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

A good reputation will be proof of a person�s wisdom. True wisdom is known by the works that are produced; for true wisdom is not about good intent or speculation. Lastly wisdom leads one to hold back their anger and patiently bear the anger of others. A wise person thinks before they act and their actions once again prove their wisdom.


1 Kings 3:16-28 (NKJV) - Solomon�s Wise Judgment
Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him. And one woman said, �O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. And this woman�s son died in the night, because she lay on him. So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son, there he was, dead. But when I had examined him in the morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I had borne.�

Then the other woman said, �No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.� And the first woman said, �No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.� Thus they spoke before the king.

And the king said, �The one says, �This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one�; and the other says, �No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.�� Then the king said, �Bring me a sword.� So they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, �Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.�

Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, �O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!� But the other said, �Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.�

So the king answered and said, �Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.�

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.


God had generously given Solomon wisdom and he became the wisest man ever known. Since Solomon chose wisdom, God blessed Solomon with many prized possessions. However, Solomon allowed sin to seep into his life. He began to love many women of foreign countries who turned his heart from God to their idols and gods. As Solomon turned away from God, God began to slowly remove the grace He had placed upon Solomon.

Be careful of letting sin slip into your life. For no matter how wise you are, sin is just waiting to take control.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/17/14 12:29 PM
Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Like children that imitate their parents, we too are to imitate God our Father. We are to be holy as God is holy. We are to love just as God loves us. We are to show mercy and grace towards others just as God has shown mercy and grace towards us. We are God�s children, therefore we should act accordingly.




Kim Shin Jo, a gentle pastor from South Korea, used to be a trained killer.

In January of 1968, Jo and a team of assassins descended from North Korean, slipping through the woods in a daring attempt to kill the president of South Korea. The team of 31 commandos made it to within a few hundred meters of the president's residence before they were intercepted. A fierce battle ensued, killing 30 South Koreans. All of the North Korean soldiers were killed, except one who escaped and Kim Shin Jo, who was captured.

After months of interrogation, and through a surprising friendship with a South Korean army general, Kim Shin Jo's hard heart started to soften. Later he would confess, "I tried to kill the president. I was the enemy. But the South Korean people showed me sympathy and forgiveness. I was touched and moved."

The South Korean government eventually released Kim Shin Jo. Over the next three decades he worked for the military, became a citizen, and then married and raised a family. Finally, he became a church minister.

Today Jo's life serves as a symbol of redemption for the entire country of South Korea. Reflecting on the day of his arrest, Kim Shin Jo commented, "On that day, Kim Shin Jo died. I was reborn. I got my second chance. And I'm thankful for that."

Kim Shin Jo found a new birth and God's grace through the power of Christ. But his encounter with Christ came through the unexpected, surprising love of other people. Despite his betrayals and sins, an army officer accepted him, befriended him, and believed in him. At one time he was the enemy of the South Korean people, but in the spirit of Jesus Christ, they surprised him with the startling gifts of belonging, forgiveness and even citizenship.

In the same way, the church is called to extend the gift of acceptance so others will find Christ's "second chance." God unleashes tremendous power for good when his people surprise the world, especially unlovable people and even our enemies, with unconditional love, friendship and forgiveness. [Matt Woodley, East Setauket, New York; source: "South Korean pastor is also a trained killer," CNN Religion blog (8-9-2010)}


When we imitate God in everything we do we reflect the presence of God to other people. For those who have never known God we are ambassadors of God�s love, grace and mercy. We can let them know they are loved just as God loves us and even help them to see how God loves them too. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/14 11:07 AM
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

The apostle is encouraging the Philippians to love one another. In the verses above he provides some ways for that to occur. First put aside selfish behaviors that take away from focusing on others. Second, let others praise you for what you do. Don�t force situations trying to impress others. Third, stay humble by thinking of others as being as good as or better than you. Fourth, look out for the interests of others as well as yourself. These things will help you as you learn to love others.



Imagine you're a billionaire, and you have three ten-dollar bills in your wallet. You get out of a cab, and you hand the driver one of the bills for an eight-dollar fare. Later in the day you look in and find out there's only one ten-dollar bill there, and you say, "Either I dropped a ten-dollar bill somewhere, or I gave the taxi driver two bills."

What are you going to do? Are you going to get all upset? Are you going to the police and demand they search the city for the cabdriver? No, you are going to shrug. You're a billionaire. You lost ten dollars. So what? You are too rich to be concerned about that kind of loss.

This week, somebody criticized you. Something you bought or invested in turned out to be less valuable than you thought. Something you wanted to happen didn't go the way you wanted it to�these are real losses. But what are you going to do, if you're a Christian? Will this setback disrupt your contentment with life? Will you shake your fist at God? Toss and turn at night? If so, I submit that it's because you don't know how truly rich you are. If you're that upset about your status with other people, if you're constantly lashing out at people for hurting your feelings, you might call it a lack of self-control or a lack of self-esteem, and it is. But more fundamentally, you have totally lost touch with your identity. As a Christian, you're a spiritual billionaire and you're wringing your hands over ten dollars. [Tim Keller, The Two Advocates (Encounters with Jesus Series) (Penguin Group, 2014)]


The apostle tells us in Galatians 5:13, �For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don�t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/14 01:36 PM
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
29 Don�t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Those who are forgiven by God should have in them a forgiving spirit. Foul and abusive language is not suited well to showing love for another, but instead shows contempt towards them. Our words should be encouraging as to lift up the spirit of those who hear us.



My grandfather had never been one to attend church. My grandmother on the other hand attended church almost every week with her parents. For my grandmother attending church was important and she wanted my grandfather to attend as well.

After some coaxing my grandfather began attending Sunday School with my grandmother. They were regularly attending at least for a while. Then one Saturday night my grandfather and grandmother were downtown when they ran into their Sunday school teacher. The teacher had been out drinking and was obviously intoxicating.

The man started making crude comments to my grandmother, which offended my grandfather. He politely told him he needed to go home. However the damage was already done. My grandfather never went back to the Sunday school class. He told my grandmother if that was the way Christian�s acted he didn�t need to be a part of it.


All it takes is the wrong words or the wrong actions and we can alienate those around us. Our words have a powerful impact. Used wrongly we can hurt people and harden their hearts with words alone. Used wisely our words can encourage, lift spirits and bring joy to others. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/22/14 11:34 AM
Romans 15:7 (NLT)
7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

The apostle best explains this in the opening verses of Romans 7:1-6, �We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn�t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, �The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.� Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God�s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.�



Gordon MacDonald shares the following story about visiting a small group of men and women affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous. MacDonald said that he visited the group because he has friends who are recovering alcoholics and he wanted to see for himself what they were talking about. Here's what he found:

One morning Kathy�I guessed her age at 35�joined us for the first time. One look at her face caused me to conclude that she must have been Hollywood-beautiful at 21. Now her face was swollen, her eyes red, her teeth rotting. Her hair looked unwashed, uncombed for who knows how long.

"I've been in five states in the past month," she said. "I've slept under bridges on several nights. Been arrested. Raped. Robbed (now weeping). I don't know what to do. I � don't � want � to � be � homeless � any more. But (sob) I can't stop drinking (sob). I can't stop (sob). I can't � "

Next to Kathy was a rather large woman, Marilyn, sober for more than a dozen years. She reached with both arms toward Kathy and pulled her close, so close that Kathy's face was pressed to Marilyn's ample breast. I was close enough to hear Marilyn speak quietly into Kathy's ear, "Honey, you're going to be OK. You're with us now. We can deal with this together. All you have to do is keep coming. Hear me? Keep on coming." And then Marilyn kissed the top of Kathy's head.

I was awestruck. The simple words, the affection, the tenderness. How Jesus-like. I couldn't avoid a troubling question that morning. Could this have happened in the places where I have worshiped? Would there have been a space in the program for Kathy to tell her story? Would there have been a Marilyn to respond in this way? [Gordon MacDonald, "My Small Group, Anonymous," Leadership Journal (Winter 2014)]


Marilyn was living out God�s word by accepting Kathy who was homeless, who had been arrested, raped, robbed and probably others things she hadn�t shared. We all want to be accepted in life, but we must also be willing to give acceptance to others. Learn to accept people for who they are. We don�t have to go along with bad behaviors or sinful actions, but we can still accept the person and love them for who they are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/23/14 11:10 AM
Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

The Bible tells us to give thanks for everything and here we are told to rejoice when we face problems and trails. No one wants problems and trials, but they are an inevitable part of life. If we turn to God, our hope, our salvation, and our protector then we can develop strength of character from the confidence we gain in God.



Author Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family he knew in Paraguay. The father, a doctor, spoke out against the military regime there and its human rights abuses. Local police took their revenge on him by arresting his teenage son and torturing him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor chose another means of protest. At the funeral, the father displayed his son's body as he had found it in the jail�naked, scarred from electric shocks and cigarette burns, and beatings. All the villagers filed past the corpse, which lay not in a coffin but on the blood-soaked mattress from the prison. It was the strongest protest imaginable, for it put injustice on grotesque display.

Isn't that what God did at Calvary? � The cross that held Jesus' body, naked and marked with scars, exposed all the violence and injustice of this world. At once, the cross revealed what kind of world we have and what kind of God we have: a world of gross unfairness, a God of sacrificial love. [Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God (Zondervan, 1997), pp. 185-186]


When we face the problems and trials that come at us in life, take a moment to stop and think of Jesus who through no fault of His own was tortured and crucified for our sin. The problems and trials we face are not always fair, nor are they always just. Jesus understands; for he endured harsh torture for our sake. The strength Jesus demonstrated gives us hope that we can also endure the trials we face in life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/14 11:43 AM
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God�s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

The greatest part of the saints' happiness is in promise. They must first do the will of God before they receive the promise; and, after they have done the will of God, they have need of patience to wait for the time when the promise shall be fulfilled; they have need of patience to live till God calls them away. It is a trial of the patience of Christians, to be content to live after their work is done, and to stay for the reward till God's time to give it them is come. We must be God's waiting servants when we can be no longer his working servants. ~Matthew Henry



In 2009, a new billboard in downtown Chicago got everyone's attention, stirring some controversy. In big letters it asked: "Are you good without God? Millions are." It was put up by an organization called the Chicago Coalition of Reason. According to an article about the billboard in the Chicago Tribune, the Coalition's coordinator said "the billboard aims to hearten humanists, atheists, and agnostics who might feel isolated or misunderstood in their quest for alternatives to religious worldviews."

The billboard's question does beg for answer: Can a person who rejects God's very existence, let alone his authority, do good? Well, of course! They can be honest and kind, pay their taxes, give money to the poor. But from a Christian point of view, that misses the point.

It makes me think of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. Remember him? The Tin Man's quest was to find a heart. When he finally came face-to-face with the Wizard, the Wizard warned the Tin Man that hearts can be broken. The Tin Man replies, "But I still want one." And do you remember what the Wizard said next? "Back where I come from," he said, "there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds. They are called � good-deed-doers. And their hearts are no bigger than yours, but they have one thing you haven't got."

God would say something similar to the "good without God" billboard people. He would say, "When Christians do good deeds properly, their hearts are no bigger than yours, But they have one thing you haven't got." That one thing is found in Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: Manya A. Brachear, ��Good without God�� billboard pops up near Loop,� Chicago Tribune (10-22-09)]


Before we came to life, God already had a purpose for our lives. It is with patience that we endure the life we have been given. It is with patience we perform the duties God has entrusted us with. And it is with patience that we wait upon God�s promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/14 11:55 AM
2 Corinthians 2:17 (NKJV)
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

There were those who corrupted the word of God for their own profit or for their own purpose. However, there should be sincerity in sharing the word of God with others that we might not add to nor take away from God�s purpose.


In his book The Trust Edge, (Summerside Press, 2010), pp. 20-22, business consultant David Horsager contends, "Trust, not money, is the currency of business and life." He points to a 2009 research study called the "Edelman Trust Barometer." The study, based on interviews with over 4,000 people in twenty countries, highlighted the importance of a company's ability to build trust.

For instance, when people trust a company:
91 percent chose to buy from them
76 percent recommended them to a friend
55 percent will pay a premium to do business with them
42 percent share positive experiences online
26 percent bought shares

In contrast, the study also found that when people distrust a company:
77 percent refuse to buy from them
72 percent criticized them to a friend or colleague
34 percent shared their negative experiences online
17 percent sold shares


People need to know they can trust someone before they will believe in what they have to offer. King David talks often throughout the Psalms about his trust in The Lord. If David did not trust The Lord then he would not have depended upon God and looked to Him for help.

Let us make sure we are always true to God�s word. Let us deliver God�s messages in a way that people can trust what we say. We should always ensure that we do not take away nor do we add to the purpose God has laid out for His people.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/29/14 11:30 AM
Matthew 15:1-2
1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 �Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don�t wash their hands before they eat!�

Jesus replied, �And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?� The teachers of the law were so focused on trying to maintain rules to please God that they had created their own human rules. The teachers while trying to do what was right had failed to maintain a relationship with God to understand the things God was teaching them.



Jesus was about creating relationships with people. Jesus came in order to save us from sin so we would be clean in the presence of God. The Pharisees were so focused on maintaining the law they failed to see the needs of others. Instead Jesus was focused on a relationship with the people; that came first.

I was out of town and I walked into a restaurant recommended by some of the locals. The place was packed and since I was alone the waitress asked if I would mind sitting at the bar to eat. There was a spot I could immediately sit at and order so I accepted knowing I would not have to wait.

Next to the place where I was going to sit was a man starting to argue with the bartender that his beer had been taken. I had seen the glass just before it was taken away and there was probably a � of a glass of beer left. Instead of arguing, the bartender just said, �Let me pour you another one.� The argument was settled and the man calmed down.

Sensing the man was still upset I struck up a conversation with him. I said, �Sounds like you might be having a tough day.� His response, �Man you just wouldn�t know. I got out of jail this week and I�m trying to find a job and no one will hire me.� I felt compassion for the man so I asked about his circumstances and if he had a place to live. He said his grandmother was putting him up. I asked if he went to a local church and he said he had trusted Jesus for salvation in jail, but he had not found a church. He said his grandmother was encouraging him to go to church with her. It was obvious this man had a good opinion of his grandmother.

I told him I was glad he had been saved in jail and that Jesus didn�t want to see him suffering and maybe the church could help him. He said, �You know that is what my grandmother keeps saying. She says go down to the church, tell them my problems and ask how they can help. She said they find jobs for people all the time.� I reaffirmed his grandmother sounded like a wise woman.

At that point in the conversation the man stood up, told me thank you, shook my hand and said, �Thank you. I think God sent you here today. I�m going home to see my grandmother and talk to her about the church.

The man laid down a tip and left the full glass of beer sitting on the bar. The man had needed a friend, someone to listen and someone to care. In desperation he had turned to alcohol to calm his nerves, but just taking time to make a friend and develop a relationship with the man made a difference in his life.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/29/14 01:51 PM
What a great testimony, Sir.
It will inspire me to reach out to others.

I want you to know that I also recall you writing about your church's ministry of reaching out to the homeless and your testimony inspired me to start feeding some homeless people.

When I work in the inner city, they are all over the streets.
So I've started going to McDonalds or Burger King and buying food off of their dollar menu and trying to pass it out to at least one homeless person when working in the inner city.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/14 11:06 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
What a great testimony, Sir.
It will inspire me to reach out to others.

I want you to know that I also recall you writing about your church's ministry of reaching out to the homeless and your testimony inspired me to start feeding some homeless people.

When I work in the inner city, they are all over the streets.
So I've started going to McDonalds or Burger King and buying food off of their dollar menu and trying to pass it out to at least one homeless person when working in the inner city.


I never liked giving money to indiviuals, but I never hesitated to buy someone a meal. There were many times I have walked into a McDonalds or Burger King and carried back a meal to someone who was homeless. One time a man I gave a meal to turned around and shared part of it with another person. He understood their hunger. May your good deeds bring blessings to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/14 11:06 AM
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)
6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

This was a reminder to the people to keep The Lord�s commandments and teach them to others. Not only are we to live out what God desires for us, but we are to be encouragers who provide a positive influence on others no matter where we are.



John Ashcroft, in Lesson from a Father to His Son wrote, �Many kids wake up to the smell of coffee brewing or the sound of a rooster crowing. My wake-up call was my father's passionate praying filtering through the house. Sometimes I'd ease downstairs and join him. One knee was usually raised, so I'd slip in underneath, shielded by his body as he pleaded for my soul.

I never caught Dad praying for our happiness. He realized that the pursuit of happiness for its own sake is a frustrating, disillusioning, often futile effort. Happiness usually hides from those addicted to its sugar, while it chases after those caught up in something more lasting than momentary excitement.

I never heard him pray for a bigger house, car, or bank account. Instead, he prayed that our hearts would be ignited and inspired to do things of eternal consequence. "Turn our eyes from the temporal, the physical, and the menial," he prayed, "and toward the eternal, the spiritual, and the noble."

My father never pressured us toward achievement. He knew that the push had to come from inner reserves, not outward designs. He simply dangled before us the possibilities. Thanks to his example, we sometimes took the bait.�


As husbands and fathers our first call is to be a positive influence first upon our family and then those that are around us. Our hearts should seek out the good and positive things in life and the life eternal. For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/01/14 12:19 PM
Proverbs 1:10 (NKJV)
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

This is a warning passed along from father to son, �My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.� It is a good message for any parent to give their children as they enter into the world. They need to know there are those who will lure them with greed and other methods to commit acts of sin. King Solomon continues in this chapter of Proverbs to explain the consequences for taking such actions to his son.



There are some things a person never forgets, in my case it was an act of greed enticed by a friend. I was young and my mother had taken me and a friend to a convenience store. Inside the store was a young girl probably around our age that had a handful of pennies. She accidentally dropped them and they rolled all over the floor.

My friend whispered to me, �Stand on one of those and we can pick it up when she leaves.� Back then a penny could buy you three pieces of bubble gum. So I walked over and stood on one of the pennies until the girl had picked up the others off the floor. She obviously didn�t know how many pennies she had; she was just there to buy some candy with the amount she had.

My mother was still talking to someone in the store, so I used that time as an opportunity. I picked up the penny, grabbed three pieces of bubble gum and paid with that penny. After all, it wasn�t stealing if I was paying, right? I even gave my friend one of the pieces of bubble gum for the advice. Wasn�t that sharing?

My mother had finished her conversation and she got us in the car to take us home. During the ride home my friend mentioned how I had gotten the penny and bought the bubble gum. It was at that point I felt the shame and guilt of taking that girl�s penny. If it already wasn�t bad enough, my mother gave me a lecture about STEALING the girl�s penny. The sin I committed many, many years ago is still imprinted on my mind today.


Warnings to others are important. They are important for us to give our children so they understand the consequences before they are faced with them. Warnings are important to us so we also know what not to do and keep safe. So, my friends, if sinners entice you, do not consent!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/02/14 11:57 AM
Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Those may be said to flatter their neighbours who commend and applaud that good in them (the good they do or the good they have) which really either is not or is not such as they represent it, and who profess that esteem and that affection for them which really they have not; these spread a net for their feet. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In his Focus on the Family magazine article entitled "The Problem with Nice Guys," Paul Coughlin insists Christians must avoid passive and aggressive extremes, opting instead for assertiveness. He offers the following example from pop culture to illustrate what Christian assertiveness looks like:

Three major personality types are found among the judges of the popular reality TV show American Idol. Passive Paula Abdul is gracious but not always truthful. Aggressive Simon Cowell is truthful but rarely gracious. Assertive Randy Jackson is often truthful and gracious. Be like Randy.


We can�t afford to sugar coat the truth or we will fall into the trap of believing the things we do wrong in life are OK. We also can�t afford to be too harsh with ourselves; for when we do that we feel shame and guilt. Instead we need to be honest with ourselves and The Lord so He can guide us to the right path and we are willing to follow.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/14 12:20 PM
Matthew 24:17-21 (NIV)
17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now�and never to be equaled again.

Jesus is explaining the end times to the disciples after they asked when the end of the world would be coming. In the verses above Jesus gave some warnings and things that would take place before the end of the world approached.



The Ebola patient being held in a Texas isolation unit was a good neighbor who helped carry a pregnant woman who was convulsing and vomiting blood to an Ebola ward and then home again less than week before he left Liberia for Texas, neighbors told ABC News.

The pregnant woman who was 19 and about seven months along became sick on Friday, Sept. 12, according to neighbor Irene Seyou. On Monday, Sept. 15, she went to a clinic, but was told they couldn't help her and advised her to go to a hospital. After returning from the clinic, the woman started convulsing that night and neighbors, including Duncan, helped carry her to a taxi, which took her to the maternity ward at JFK Hospital, which wouldn't take her. The hospital's Ebola treatment unit also turned her away. They then drove to another hospital named ELWA2, which also couldn't take her, according to Seyou.

Duncan rode with her during this last trip and when the cab returned, it stopped at the edge of housing compound and Duncan helped carry her to home. During this time, she was vomiting blood, Seyou told ABC News.

She died the next day, Seyou said.

[ABC news, Texas Ebola Patient Was Good Neighbor Who Helped Dying Woman]


The Bible tells us that even before the end times come �How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!� Only God the Father knows the exact time when the world as we know it will come to an end. However, The Bible still holds true about things we will see as we draw closer to an end.

As I read about the Ebola virus in an online article; I was reminded of the verse above when it was mentioned in the article that women who are pregnant and catch Ebola have little hope of survival. I worry we have thought this problem was not ours and we will deal with it when the times comes. Well the time has come and we can say how dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! L

Let us take action to do what we can. Pray for those who are sick. Support charities that are providing aid and relief to the efforts against the Ebola virus. Remember above all that God is in control and will protect you as you stay close to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/06/14 11:29 AM
Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)
4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Let us never lose the promises The Lord has given us. For The Bible says Trust in the Lord and from those words spring everlasting promises. Psalm 118:8 says, �It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.�



Eleanor Turnbull, a veteran missionary to Haiti, collected and translated the prayers of the Christians who lived in the mountains of Haiti. These profound and child-like prayers are recorded in the book God Is No Stranger. Here are four prayers about God's grace and protection.

Lord,
All my life, I have been just a weed;
I became a flower.
I am young and I want to grow and be cultivated
so I can become more beautiful.

Lord,
In Christ, we are a grain of corn in a clear bottle.
Satan comes like a chicken and pecks for the corn, but never reaches it.

Lord,
How glad we are that we don't hold you,
you hold us.

Lord,
Don't let us put our load of trouble in a basket on our head.
Help us put them on Jesus' head.
Then we won't have headaches.


These are the simple prayers of people looking for the promises of God to be fulfilled in the lives. They are the expressions of heartfelt emotions. From the words of the song Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus, by Helen H Lemmel come these thoughts.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you�He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/07/14 12:58 PM
Isaiah 29:15 (NJKV)
15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, And their works are in the dark; They say, �Who sees us?� and, �Who knows us?�

In these verses Isaiah speaks to the people about their blindness to their own disobedience. He warns them of the heart ache that will follow when they conceal troubles and sins from the Lord. For they try to hide in darkness and are even bold enough to question, who sees us, and who knows us, when they know God does.




I had an elementary principal named, Mr. Rhame. Mr. Rhame was an incredible, kind, compassionate, and caring principal; and best of all he remembered the names of his student. And he didn�t just remember them while they were in his school; he remembered their names as they grew up. When I was an adult and Mr. Rhame would see me out somewhere he would yell out, �Hi Artie, how are you doing?� It was always a greeting that warmed my heart. It wasn�t that I was special; Mr. Rhame enjoyed his students and remembered their names. Countless other people can tell you the same story. If Mr. Rhame saw them he would call out their name with a greeting to them. Mr. Rhame knew us because he had a bond as our principal; a special bond that lasted a lifetime.

God knows us in much deeper way. God knows our names. God knows our actions. God knows our feelings. And what do we try to do? We try to hide those things from God. Yet, God already knows all about us and then we think like the people Isaiah addressed, who sees us and who knows us? I�ll tell you the truth, besides God there are more people who see us and know what we are doing than we think.

We are supposed to turn all our cares, all our worries, all our problems and all our sins to God. Remember God already knows all this stuff, so why should we tell Him? Because it helps us to become free from the problems we are experiencing. We release those problems to God so He can help us deal with them.

When you are bitter and angry towards a person, who are you hurting? You are hurting yourself because the other person may have little to no clue you feel the way you do. You are basically letting them live in your head tormenting you as they walk around happy. When you keep sins a secret to yourself, who gets hurt? Several people get hurt. First you hurt yourself because the sin you carry weights you down as a heavy burden. Second the person who you have sinned against is usually hurt as a consequence of the sin and often they don�t know where the hurt is coming from.

Remember God knows all this stuff, so take a moment and talk to Him about it. Just carry on a conversation, a prayer, to share the feelings of your heart. Then let God speak to you and guide you on the right paths of life. And remember Jesus is there with you and comforting them as you let go of your troubles.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/14 01:04 PM
1 John 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

This is the apostle�s reminder that we are watched over by three witnesses. All are God: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.



In 2012, on a cold November night in Times Square, Officer Lawrence DePrimo was working a counterterrorism post when he encountered an older, barefooted homeless man. The police officer, who is normally assigned to different section of New York City, said, "I looked over and someone was laughing at this elderly [homeless] gentleman who had no socks (and) no shoes. You could see the blisters from a distance. I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold."

So, he asked the man if he had anything to cover his feet. "It's okay, Sir, I've never had a pair of shoes," the homeless man replied. "But God bless you." As the homeless man strolled away, DePrimo caught up to him and asked him his shoe size before walking into a Skechers on W. 42nd St. DiPrimo told a worker, "I'd like to buy a pair of boots, something that will last a while. I don't care what the price is." A few minutes later, the kindhearted cop bought a $100 pair of all-weather boots, size 12. A store manager later said, "We were just kind of shocked. Most of us are New Yorkers and we just kind of pass by that kind of thing. Especially in this neighborhood."

The act of kindness would have gone unnoticed and mostly forgotten, had it not been for Jennifer Foster, a tourist from Arizona. Foster said, "The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching." Her snapshot�taken with her cellphone and posted to the New York Police Department's official Facebook page�made Officer DePrimo an overnight Internet hero. As of June, 2014, the post had attracted over 600,000 "likes" and more than 48,000 comments�a runaway hit for the NYPD. Many comments have pointed to how this simple act of kindness has "restored my faith in humanity."

[David Goodman, "Photo of Officer Giving Boots to Barefoot Man Warms Hearts Online," The New York Times (11-28-12); Amanda Mickelberg, "NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo immortalized in tourist's photo ..." New York Post (12-18-12)]


Out of an act of kindness this police officer was watching after this homeless man by tending to his needs. We have a God in heaven who watches over us, looking out for us and taking care of our needs. Give your cares and worries to God in prayer that he would hear them and help you through any difficult times you are having.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/14 11:01 AM
Psalm 128:1 (NKJV)
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.

Today I just want to share a favorite song about the blessings of life.


"Blessings" by Laura Story from the album Blessings

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/10/14 11:43 AM
Proverbs 10:19 (NLT)
19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

A warning to us all if we voice our thoughts in an unchecked manner those thoughts can turn to sin. Instead we should hold our thoughts to ourselves until the proper moment when through discernment and wisdom we have reasoned out the facts.



I showed up at the house of a friend and rang the doorbell. I was supposed to bring some chairs. He opened the door and said, "Ron, where are the chairs?"

I responded, "Oh, I forgot."

He glared at me and barked, "That figures!"

I thought, That figures? He thinks I'm no good. He thinks I can't follow through. He thinks I'm useless. Then I thought, Who does he think he is? The creep. I bet he's got a problem or 12!

But then I decided I had two options: believe the best about what he was saying�although that was pretty tough�and just forget about it, or ask him what he meant�even though it seemed obvious to me.

A couple of weeks later I saw him and brought it up: "You know the other day when I was at your house and forgot to bring the chairs and you said, 'That figures'? �"

He interrupted me and said, "I shouldn't have said that."

"I was wondering what you meant."

"Well, all day long that day in every meeting someone had forgotten something. It just figured."

So, he wasn't saying, "Jenson, you're a jerk." He was saying, "My day's been terrible."

[Adapted from Ron Jenson in Fathers and Sons, "Jerk Reaction," Men of Integrity (January/February 2005)]


It would have been so easy for Ron�s anger to get the best of him and speak out in ways that could have damaged a friendship. Instead Ron chose to wait, ponder his thoughts and ask for clarification to comments that were made. When he received his answer not only did he feel better, but he also avoided the trap of sin and kept a friendship whole.

Too often we want to speak out against something we just heard, but maybe we haven�t heard the full story yet. Our haste to speak may place us in a position where we later regret the words we have said. In this day and time of fast flowing information, take a moment, slow down and allow reason and wisdom to prevail you say something you will regret.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/14 11:58 AM
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,� says the Lord. �They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Known unto God are all his works, for known unto him are all his thoughts and his works agree exactly with his thoughts; he does all according to the counsel of his will. We often do not know our own thoughts, nor know our own mind, but God is never at any uncertainty within himself. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs concerning us are all against us; but he knows the contrary concerning his own people, that they are thoughts of good and not of evil; even that which seems evil is designed for good. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In 1986, a Christian worker named Steve Saint was traveling through the country of Mali when his car broke down. Stranded and alone, Steve tried to rent a truck, despite warnings that he wouldn't survive in the Sahara Desert. After he failed to find a truck, in his fear and discouragement, Steve's thoughts ran to his father, Nate Saint, a former missionary in Ecuador. When Steve was only five, natives speared to death his dad and four other missionaries. Now, thirty years later, Steve found himself questioning his father's death. Steve reflected, "I couldn't help but think the murders were capricious, an accident of bad timing."

When Steve asked some locals directions to a church, a few children led him to a tiny mud- brick house with a poster on the wall showing wounded hands covering a cross. A man in flowing robes introduced himself as Nouh Af Infa Yatara. Nouh started sharing with Steve about his faith in Christ. After becoming a Christian, his family disowned him. His mother even put a sorcerer's poison in Nouh's food at a family feast. He ate the food but suffered no ill effects.

When Steve asked Nouh why he was willing to pay such a steep price for following Christ, he simply said, "I know God loves me and I'll live with him forever." But Steve pressed, "Where did your courage come from?" Nouh explained that when he was young, a missionary gave him books about Christians who had suffered for their faith. Then he added, "My favorite was about five young men who risked their lives to take God's good news to people in the jungles of Ecuador. The book said they let themselves be speared to death, even though they had guns and could have killed their attackers!"

Utterly shocked, Steve said, "One of those men was my father." Now Nouh felt stunned. "Your father?" he exclaimed. Then Nouh told Steve that God had used the death of those five brave missionaries to help him, a young Muslim who had become a Christian, hold on to his faith. [Adapted from Randy Alcorn, If God Is Good (Multnomah, 2009), pp 400-401]


There are times in life when we face pain, hurt and even death. We do not know why things happen, but fortunately God does and uses what was meant for evil to be good. Five men gave their lives for Jesus Christ, but they knew they had an eternal life with Christ. The actions of these men had an impact on Nouh Af Infa Yatara that sustained his Christian faith even though he was rejected by his own family. God had used the death of those five brave missionaries to help him, a young Muslim who had become a Christian, hold on to his faith. It also gave hope to Nate Saint about the questions he had concerning the purpose of his father�s death. God�s plans are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/15/14 12:49 PM
Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

May we keep peace and not stir up anger. Let our cause be spoken with meekness. When we are faced with hard arguments let us keep our words soft.



When I was a senior in high school, I worked at a Hardee�s restaurant as one of the assistant managers. It was my job to ensure things were running smoothly and that customers were satisfied with our product. If a customer walked away unhappy there was the likelihood they might not return, so we wanted to keep customers happy.

I can remember answering the office phone one day and hearing this obviously angry woman on the other end of the phone line. She began ripping into me about how she had gotten home and had found that her order was incorrect and that she was missing some items.

Although I didn�t know exactly what happened, I knew this woman was frustrated. So I calmly said, �What can I do to make this right for you?� She let me know rather quickly she wasn�t about to get in the car and drive back up there; that was just going to be too much effort on her part.

So I said, �I really want to make this right for you. How about I mail you several coupons good for free hamburgers, fries and drinks? This way you won�t have to make a special trip and you can drop back in anytime you want. If there is any money we owe you I can also send that to you.�

The woman�s tone changed immediately. She said thank you, but I wasn�t over charged, I just didn�t get everything I asked for. I told her I hoped the coupons would make up for her inconvenience. She politely gave me her address and I mailed the coupons to her.


This was one of those cases where you didn�t want to fight harsh words with harsh words. Instead it was an opportunity to use gentle replies to win back a customer that could have otherwise been lost.

In our relationships with others we should always try to deflect anger with a gentle answer. Instead of answering with a harsh tone, listen to the feelings of the person and acknowledge you understand their feelings and respond to them accordingly. Using harsh words can only make tempers worst.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/14 11:41 AM
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

He prays to God to keep him from sin, and then begs He would accept his performances; for, if we favour our sins, we cannot expect God should favour us or our services. ~Matthew Henry



In her book Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, Lois Tverberg retells the following story about a famous first century rabbi named Rabbi Akiva:

One day as Rabbi Akiva was shepherding his flocks, he noticed a tiny stream trickling down a hillside, dripping over a ledge on its way toward the river below. Below was a massive boulder. Surprisingly, the rock bore a deep impression. The drip, drip, drip of water over the centuries had hollowed away the stone. Akiva commented, "If mere water can do this to hard rock, how much more can God's Word carve a way into my heart of flesh?" Akiva realized that if the water had flowed over the rock all at once, the rock would have been unchanged. It was the slow but steady impact of each small droplet, year after year, that completely reformed the stone.

Lois Tverberg comments:

When I first started studying the Bible's Hebraic context, I wanted one commentary that would teach me everything, one class that would explain it all. If I could learn all the "right answers" in one marathon event, all the better. I find now that God likes to reveal truth over many years, as I study alongside others. I realize now that big "splashes" aren't usually God's way of doing things. Instead, through the slow drip of study and prayer, day after day, year after year, he shapes us into what he wants us to be.


God loves to teach us lessons. Each of us needs to take the time to meditate on God�s word and speak with Him about things on our heart. God is our rock, the solid foundation on which we can steady our life. God is also our redeemer, our salvation, and the sustainer of our life. Let us be pleasing to God that God should favor the things we do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/17/14 11:19 AM
Psalm 25:14-15 (NIV)
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him. They understand his word; for, if any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, Jn. 7:17. Those that receive the truth in the love of it, and experience the power of it, best understand the mystery of it. They know the meaning of his providence, and what God is doing with them, better than others



In his book The Pressure's Off, psychologist Larry Crabb uses a story from his childhood to illustrate our need to delight in God through adversity:

One Saturday afternoon, I decided I was a big boy and could use the bathroom without anyone's help. So I climbed the stairs, closed and locked the door behind me, and for the next few minutes felt very self-sufficient.

Then it was time to leave. I couldn't unlock the door. I tried with every ounce of my three-year-old strength, but I couldn't do it. I panicked. I felt again like a very little boy as the thought went through my head, "I might spend the rest of my life in this bathroom."

My parents�and likely the neighbors�heard my desperate scream.

"Are you okay?" Mother shouted through the door she couldn't open from the outside. "Did you fall? Have you hit your head?"

"I can't unlock the door!" I yelled. "Get me out of here!"

I wasn't aware of it right then, but Dad raced down the stairs, ran to the garage to find the ladder, hauled it off the hooks, and leaned it against the side of the house just beneath the bedroom window. With adult strength, he pried it open, then climbed into my prison, walked past me, and with that same strength, turned the lock and opened the door.

"Thanks, Dad," I said�and ran out to play.

That's how I thought the Christian life was supposed to work. When I get stuck in a tight place, I should do all I can to free myself. When I can't, I should pray. Then God shows up. He hears my cry�"Get me out of here! I want to play!"�and unlocks the door to the blessings I desire.

Sometimes he does. But now, no longer three years old and approaching sixty, I'm realizing the Christian life doesn't work that way. And I wonder, are any of us content with God? Do we even like him when he doesn't open the door we most want opened�when a marriage doesn't heal, when rebellious kids still rebel, when friends betray, when financial reverses threaten our comfortable way of life, when the prospect of terrorism looms, when health worsens despite much prayer, when loneliness intensifies and depression deepens, when ministries die?

God has climbed through the small window into my dark room. But he doesn't walk by me to turn the lock that I couldn't budge. Instead, he sits down on the bathroom floor and says, "Come sit with me!" He seems to think that climbing into the room to be with me matters more than letting me out to play.

I don't always see it that way. "Get me out of here!" I scream. "If you love me, unlock the door!"

Dear friend, the choice is ours. Either we can keep asking him to give us what we think will make us happy�to escape our dark room and run to the playground of blessings�or we can accept his invitation to sit with him, for now, perhaps, in darkness, and to seize the opportunity to know him better and represent him well in this difficult world. [Larry Crabb, The Pressure's Off (WaterBrook Press, 2002); pp. 222-223]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/14 12:38 PM
Psalm 51:12 (NIV)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

This Psalm was penned after David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband put on the front lines of battle where he would be killed. David is feeling remorse for his sins and in prayer asks God to restore the joy of his salvation. �When we give ourselves so much cause to doubt of our interest in the salvation, how can we expect the joy of it? [Matthew Henry]�



On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport, killing 155 people. One survived: a four-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, named Cecelia.

News accounts say when rescuers found Cecelia they did not believe she had been on the plane. Investigators first assumed Cecelia had been a passenger in one of the cars on the highway onto which the airliner crashed. But when the passenger register for the flight was checked, there was Cecelia's name.

Cecelia survived because, even as the plane was falling, Cecelia's mother, Paula Chican, unbuckled her own seat belt, got down on her knees in front of her daughter, wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia, and then would not let her go.

Nothing could separate that child from her parent's love�neither tragedy nor disaster, neither the fall nor the flames that followed, neither height nor depth, neither life nor death.

Such is the love of our Savior for us. He left heaven, lowered himself to us, and covered us with the sacrifice of his own body to save us. [Bryan Chapell, In the Grip of Grace (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992)]


We have a savior Jesus Christ who loves us so much He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for all of our sins. Even knowing Christ�s love for us; we will still commit acts of sin that hurt others and hurt ourselves. It is in these time we often feel like King David that the joy of our salvation has been lost. We think, �How could God love us when we have done such horrible things?� And yet, God does still love us. Had He not loved us He would not have sent His only Son to die for each and every sin we have committed and are yet to commit.

The Bible tells us in James 4:10, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/21/14 11:14 AM
Psalm 40:8 (NIV)
8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.

God�s law rules within our heart; it is the conscious of our soul. Knowing God�s law and having a desire to perform God�s will gives us a joy and delight.



Lee Eclov shares the following true story about a conversation between Max, a first grader in Lee's congregation, and Max's dad, Todd.

Dad: Max! Why didn't you answer me when I called you?

Max: I didn't hear you, Dad.

Dad: What do you mean you didn't hear me?

Max does not respond.

Dad: How many times didn't you hear me?

Max: I don't know, maybe three or four times.


Although God abides with us and His law is with us there are many times we do not listen. We can hear God calling to us. We may be asked to perform a charitable act and yet we don�t respond. Sometimes we are directed away from things that are not good for us, but we do them anyway. And other times we just consider ourselves ignoring everyone else. Still God is calling, calling maybe three or four times and we still don�t listen.

The challenge in life is to pause and heed God�s calling. Listen closely as God speaks; and allow Him to direct the paths in your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/14 11:41 AM
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
2 Carry each other�s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The apostle encourages the reader to act out of love thereby fulfilling the law of Christ by helping others to carry the burdens of life that are common to us all. There are many times compassion needs to be shown to others to help them through difficult spots. Also, there are times they may have needs they are unable to attend to by themselves; in those cases we are to help as we can.


In John 13:34-35 Christ told us, �A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.�

Emmy Award winner Leeza Gibbons is one of the most well&#8208;known pop&#8208;culture icons on the air. In addition to her impressive background in the field of entertainment and news media, Leeza is an instrumental advocate for healthcare, wellness, and caregiving. She is also a wife, mother, businesswoman and a New York Times bestselling author.

Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Leeza has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers. When her mother and grandmother were struggling with Alzheimer�s disease, she created what she wished she and her family had and started the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Her training as a journalist united with her compassion and business savvy when she opened the foundation�s signature programs, Leeza�s Place and Leeza�s Care Connection, offering free services for family caregivers encouraging them to call on their courage and summon their strength for the long journey ahead. [http://leezagibbons.com/about/#sthash.wDXWDMcz.dpuf]

It is through these programs that Leeza has helped carry the burdens of others.

Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and a member of the staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine.

Pinsky starred in the hit reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew which chronicled the struggle for sobriety and the cycle of addictive disorders of a group of celebrities. The sixth installment of the series Rehab with Dr. Drew followed the real-life experiences of everyday people who are struggling with addiction as they undergo detoxification and treatment. [http://drdrew.com/]

For over a decade, Dr. Drew Pinsky and his wife Susan Pinsky has been active as Co-Chair for Hillsides, a Los Angeles based children�s charity dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth and their families. Hillsides kicked off its Fifth Annual Foster Soles Charity Event with Elton John, Carson Daly and No Doubt. The charity provided high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe permanent environments where young people can thrive. [http://www.consciousnessmagazine.com/DrDrew.htm]

Dr. Drew and his wife Susan are helping to carry the burdens of young children who need help.


Let us strive to love one another and help carry difficult burdens people face just as those above have!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/24/14 11:59 AM
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

The heart must be principled with the fear of God; that is the beginning of wisdom. A reverence of God's majesty, and a dread of his wrath, are that fear of him which is the beginning, the first step towards true religion, whence all other instances of it take rise. [Matthew Henry]



Suppose you were exploring an unknown Greenland glacier in the dead of winter. Just as you reach the sheer cliff with a spectacular view of miles of jagged ice and mountains of snow, a terrible storm breaks in. The wind is so strong that the fear rises in your heart that it might blow you over the cliff. But in the midst of the storm you discover a cleft in the ice where you can hide. Here you feel secure.

But, even though secure, the awesome might of the storm rages on, and you watch it with a kind of trembling pleasure as it surges out across the distant glaciers. Not everything we call fear vanishes from your heart, only the life-threatening part. There remains the trembling, the awe, the wonder, the feeling that you would never want to tangle with such a storm or be the adversary of such a power.

And so it is with God. The fear of God is what is left of the storm when you have a safe place to watch right in the middle of it. Hope turns fear into a trembling and peaceful wonder; and fear takes everything trivial out of hope and makes it earnest and profound. The terrors of God make the pleasures of his people intense. The fireside fellowship is all the sweeter when the storm is howling outside the cottage. [John Piper, The Pleasures of God (Multnomah, 1991), pp. 205-206]


We have an awesome God! When we talk about the fear of The Lord we are talking about the mighty awesomeness of God that is so wonderful and so powerful it shakes the depths of our soul. For those of you who have had an experience like this with God you know what I am talking about. You have all the feelings of fear, but there is a great pleasure in knowing you have just seen God at work and you know God is on your side. Let us give The Lord praise for those moments in our lives!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/14 11:22 AM
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The written word of God is active and lively in all of its efforts. It grabs the conscience of a sinner and cuts into the heart to divide right from wrong. The word gives discernment to our thoughts and shows the intentions of our heart.



In Isaiah 55:11 God says, �It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.� God�s word will always prosper when it is heard. It will move the hearts of people to understand things they did not know. It will cause them to realize their faults and to make corrections in their life.

For years I have written devotions using God�s word from The Bible. I started writing my devotions as a way to encourage a friend who was dealing with depression. It became obvious after a while that the words I read from The Bible were just as much for me as they were for my friend. The words of The Bible became encouraging, uplifting, inspiration, pointed out my faults and showed that I was not alone in the world with my problems.

Over the years I expanded the list of people I sent devotions to. People would tell their friends and they would ask me to place their names on my email list. Then I started placing the devotions on websites for others to read.

There have been many times over the years people would write back to me and ask, �How did you know what I needed today?� Or they might have said, �I was struggling with an issue and the Bible verse you used gave me the answer I needed.

Let me stop right here and say, when I write, I am not spying into people�s lives. I also do not direct my devotions towards a particular person. I usually start with a Bible verse and expand my devotion from there. And most of the time I am writing to myself. So don�t get paranoid if it sounds like I am talking to you.

Let�s go back to the verses I referenced above. God�s word cuts into our heart and shows us the intentions of our heart. God�s word produces fruit in our lives that we can use to live out our life. We prosper when we hear God�s word and it moves our heart to follow the will of God.

So when you are touched by words in a devotional, God is the one using His word to touch your life. His word is filling your heart and telling you what you need to hear. His word does not come back void but produces fruit in you that you can use to live.

So my friends meditate on God�s word that you may enrich your life. Let it give you wisdom and discernment. Let it teach you the things God wants you to know.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/28/14 10:48 AM
1 Peter 1:24-25 (NLT)
24 As the Scriptures say, �People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.� And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

These words are reminders that we are live temporary lives here on earth. We blossom in our youth and wither away as we grow old. However God�s word promises us Good News of an everlasting eternal life. It is become of God�s love that we have the hope of eternal life found in Jesus Christ.



Many years ago, a doting groom penned a love letter to his bride. Stationed at a California military base thousands of miles away from his wife, James Bracy's link to the lovely woman waiting for him to come home were their love letters.

But this letter didn't get delivered. Somehow it was lost, lodged between two walls in Fort Ord's mailroom in San Francisco. The letter was lost in the shadows, with its romantic affections of a youthful marriage, sealed with a kiss.

A half century later, James and Sallie Bracy had just finished celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and were relaxing in the living room when "Once in a While," their song, began to play on the radio. Sallie remembered affectionately the 1950s song and how she used to get calls and letters from the man who owned her heart. They joked together knowing there would be no letter or phone call this time because James was at her side.

Meanwhile, a construction crew was dismantling the old post office at Fort Ord, and they discovered a long-forgotten letter from a young army corporal. The crew turned the letter over to Bob Spadoni, the postmaster in nearby Monterey. Spadoni began the process of delivering that letter, tracking down the Bracys through post office records and phone books.

Just a few days after hearing their song, the letter, dated January 28, 1955, was delivered to Sallie Bracy. The letter sent her heart aflutter, tears welled, and she again became a love-struck 22-year-old. "It meant a lot to me then," said Sallie. "It means even more now."

Many years ago God wrote his love letter to us. It's waiting to be delivered, to be opened at just the right time. It meant a lot then, and it means even more now. [Drew Zahn, assistant editor, Leadership Journal; source: "After 46 years lost in post office, love letter finally arrives," Jefferson City News Tribune (4-25-01)]


The Bible contains God�s words to us. They are words of direction, words of encouragement, words of hope and words of an eternal life with Him. God has written us a love letter of things yet to be seen. John 3:16 tells us, �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/14 12:12 PM
Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)
11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

A wise man will not utter all his mind at once, but will take time for a second thought, or reserve the present thought for a fitter time, when it will be more pertinent and likely to answer his intention; he will not deliver himself in a continued speech, or starched discourse, but with pauses, that he may hear what is to be objected and answer it. [Matthew Henry]



As a young woman, Frances Havergal, author of the hymns, "Take My Life and Let It Be" and "Like a River Glorious," had a very quick temper the kind that would explode. Afterward she would be mortified and confess it to the Lord. But then she would lose her temper, again and again.

One day after a particularly bad explosion, she threw herself down by her bed and wept. She prayed, "Lord, must it always be so? Will I always have this temper to keep me humble before you?"

While she was on her knees, the Lord injected a verse of Scripture in her mind: "The Egyptians whom you have seen today you will see no more forever." God spoke these words to Moses when the Egyptians pursued the Israelites to take them back into bondage. Havergal related the verse to her temper and the way in which Satan wanted to use it to pull her into bondage. She saw that God could take her temper away.

She asked, "Lord, could it be forever?"

It seemed to her that the words came back from the Lord, "Yes. No more, forever."

Her sister said that from that day Frances Havergal never again lost her temper. She believed God, and God did a miracle. [J. Oswald Sanders, "How Do You Love?" Discipleship Journal (March/April 1981)]


My wife and I will often watch Dr. Drew on HLN in the evenings. Last night on the show a Facebook poll was shown on Jodi Arias as to whether she could be rehabilitated. 95% of the respondents said no, while only 4% said yes.

Most of the people saying she cannot be rehabilitated see the hard callousness of Jodi Arias and what appears to be a very unrepentant person. The remorse one would expect from such an act of murder just isn�t there as many would expect.

God can bring about changes in anyone. For Frances Havergal,she had an explosive temper that she begged God to take away. As she cried out to God for change, God listened. As she heard God she questioned the response, �Lord, could it be forever?� What she heard was, �Yes. No more, forever.� And from that point she never lost her temper again.

Let us all pray for Jodi Arias that she will humble herself before God and ask for the changes that need to take place in her life. Let God respond that she may hear the answers she needs. Let God bring about change in the life of Jodi Arias and in the lives of others that we may see God�s power and might. God can change anyone!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/14 12:41 PM
Matthew 27:51-53 (NLT)
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

It is unknown who the saints were that arose from their graves and went into Jerusalem where they appeared to many people. �That Jesus Christ, by dying, conquered, disarmed, and disabled, death. These saints that arose, were the present trophies of the victory of Christ's cross over the powers of death, which he thus made a show of openly. Having by death destroyed him that had the power of death, he thus led captivity captive, and gloried in these re-taken prizes, in them fulfilling that scripture, I will ransom them from the power of the grave.�



All Hallows Eve is a yearly celebration that takes place on October 31th. It has also been called Halloween as a contraction of Hallows Evening. It is a time to remember the dead, including the saints, the martyrs and all the faithful departed Godly believers. The traditional focus of All Hallows' Eve revolves around the theme of using "humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.�

Over time Halloween changed as other customs were incorporated. Some believe pagan traditions were allowed to be mixed with Christian celebration so as to incorporate the non-believers into participating in the Christian holidays.

Today we have a mix of many traditions during the Halloween season. There are those who try to keep Christian traditions. There are those who participate in the fun of going house to house asking for candy, which grew out of an ancient English tradition of begging for soul cakes on Hallows Eve in order to pray for the dead of the house. And while many traditions are for fun, we have to be careful to separate the fun from the maliciousness of Satan and his demons.

Halloween has caused many to believe in ghosts and evil spirits, but The Bible infers demons pose as the dead in order to trick and deceive us. However, as in the verses above there have been times when those who had passed away came back to life. The Apostles were witnesses to those faithful to God, had died and then appeared to them. Lazarus arose from the grave and appeared to his friends and family. Christ has the power over death, but Satan and his demons only have the power to deceive us about the truth of death.

So let me wrap up by saying enjoy Halloween and the festivities around it, but avoid anything that does not line up with the word of God. It may be there are times when the image of someone may appear to speak for God, but if that were to happen it is to give glory to God and to comfort whoever may be the witness to such event.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/31/14 12:19 PM
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

These verses are a solemn warning. With a roar, a lion proclaims dominion over a territory and calls out to other lions to come and partake of the meal that has been captured. So we are warned to watch out, to resist the temptations of Satan through a steadfast faith in The Lord; with the understanding that those who are faithful to God will always be tempted. We should never forgot that the one who deceives us, wait for an opportunity to take us.



In a classic "Twilight Zone" episode from 1960, an American on a walking trip through central Europe gets caught in a raging storm. Staggering through the blinding rain, he chances upon an imposing medieval castle. It is a hermitage for a brotherhood of monks. The reclusive monks reluctantly take him in.

Later that night, the American discovers a cell with a man locked inside. An ancient wooden staff bolts the door. The prisoner claims he's being held captive by the "insane" head monk, Brother Jerome. He pleads for the American to release him.

The prisoner's kindly face and gentle voice win him over. The American confronts Brother Jerome, who declares that the prisoner is actually none other than Satan, "the father of lies," held captive by the Staff of Truth, the one barrier he cannot pass.

This incredible claim convinces the American that Jerome is indeed mad. As soon as he gets the chance, he releases the prisoner�who immediately transforms into a hideous, horned demon and vanishes in a puff of smoke!

The stunned American is horrified at the realization of what he has done. Jerome responds sympathetically. "I'm sorry for you, my son. All your life you will remember this night and whom you have turned loose upon the world."

"I didn't believe you," the American replies. "I saw him and didn't recognize him"�to which Jerome solemnly observes, "That is man's weakness and Satan's strength." [Kevin Stump, "Is the Devil Dead?" The Plain Truth, (Mar/Apr 2001)]


In Luke 21:8 Jesus spoke, �And He said: �Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, �I am He,� and, �The time has drawn near.� Therefore do not go after them.�

Be careful in this world for there are many already deceived by Satan because he has called them to come and abide with him. Having been deceived they set out to deceive others and draw them into the snares that wait. Do not be deceived, stand firm in the power and the might of The Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/03/14 12:42 PM
Romans 13:1 (NKJV)
13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

�There is no power but of God. God as the ruler and governor of the world hath appointed the ordinance of magistracy, so that all civil power is derived from him as from its original, and he hath by his providence put the administration into those hands, whatever they are that have it. By him kings reign, Prov. 8:15. The usurpation of power and the abuse of power are not of God, for he is not the author of sin; but the power itself is. As our natural powers, though often abused and made instruments of sin, are from God's creating power, so civil powers are from God's governing power.� ~Matthew Henry



Joel Belz wrote in World Magazine, 07/22/2006, an article �Tender Toughness�: The sentence still jumps out at me from the middle of an editorial in The Wall Street Journal. It's been half a decade since I read it, but it was one of those electric expressions that you can't forget: "People want to be lightly governed," the writer said, "by strong governments."

That's what you've wanted since you were a small child. You wanted your dad to be big and strong and able to do anything you could think of�except that, when he dealt with you, it had to be with gentleness and tenderness. You wanted a policeman on the corner tough enough to handle any neighborhood bully, but who would also hoist you to his shoulders and help you find your parents when you got lost in the crowd.

Lots of muscle; lots of restraint. There's an innate yearning in almost all of us for that rare combination. When evil people rise up, we want a government with the clout to back them down. Yet we never want that clout turned on us.

In the final analysis, people want to be lightly governed by strong governments because that's how God governs. The omnipotent ruler of the universe is also the one who invites us tenderly: "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."


There is a lot to be said about the contrast of God�s use of power compared to man�s use of power. In our corrupted world man may use power for either good or evil. We see this in the contrast of nations. Leaders take power and abuse that power to beat the people into submission. In other countries leaders use power to establish trust, to make the best use of resources, and to govern fairly the people for which they are responsible for.

However when we think of God, we think of someone who loves us dearly. God�s power reins above any and all power, yet God restrains His power to show love, compassion, mercy and grace. God uses His great power to protect and still keeps His people safe and secure. We should all desire to live under God�s rule for He is just, righteous, fair, impartial, loving, caring, merciful, gracious and most of all mighty. Pray that God would guide the nations to impart His righteousness and justice to all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/14 12:25 PM
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT)
6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

As able ministers of the New Testament, they were ministers not merely of the letter, to read the written word, or to preach the letter of the gospel only, but they were ministers of the Spirit also; the Spirit of God did accompany their ministrations. The letter killeth; this the letter of the law does, for that is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel we shall be never the better for so doing, for even that will be a savour of death unto death; but the Spirit of the gospel, going along with the ministry of the gospel, giveth life spiritual and life eternal. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



If you've read the book The Hunger Games or seen the movie you'll know the plot revolves around a horrible contest fought between young representatives of twelve futuristic districts. The winner of the Hunger Games is the last one standing as the contestants are forced to kill each other to stay alive. When the authorities come to choose the contestants�one boy and one girl�from District 12 for the 74th annual Hunger Games, the name of Primrose (or Prim) Everdeen is plucked from a large bowl containing all the children's name. As the authorities lead Primrose away, her older sister Katniss suddenly intervenes and shouts Prim's name. The guards stop Katniss from approaching Prim, but Katniss shouts, "No! I volunteer! I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" So Katniss becomes the representative for District 12.

Katniss provides a moving example of courage and sacrificial love. After all, she voluntarily substitutes herself for another human being. But it's also an understandable substitution. She does it for her little sister. It's admirable, but it's the kind of thing we hope we'd all do for our younger siblings or our children or our spouses.

But Jesus' substitution doesn't work like that. Whose place does Jesus the Messiah take? He takes the place of people like the cowardly disciples, the scheming religious leaders, and spineless politicians. He takes the place of people like the blood-stained Barabbas and the cursing criminal. The people are the reason that Jesus has to drink the cup of God's wrath. We're the reason that Jesus is dying. How could we ever take this for granted? [Gary Millar, "Jesus, Betrayed and Crucified," PreachingToday.com]


Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are ministers of the message of love that Christ demonstrated to all people. When Jesus was dying on a cross there were two criminals dying alongside of him. One criminals was spewing vile curses, while the other asked for respect for a man who had done no wrong. This man said, �Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.� And Jesus replied, �I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.�

Would you volunteer to die for another? They at least let others know about Jesus Christ who died for all of us that we all may partake in eternal life in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/05/14 12:52 PM
Roman 13:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, �You shall not commit adultery,� �You shall not murder,� �You shall not steal,� �You shall not bear false witness,� �You shall not covet,� and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.� 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The apostle sums up many of the Ten Commandments by saying �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.� For we all want what is good for our lives and if we supply the same to others hopefully they will be appreciative for the things we do and extend the save favor to others.



An act of kindness at a Starbucks drive-thru in Florida inspired an 11-hour chain of paying-it-forward.

A woman drove up and paid for her own iced coffee at 7 a.m. Wednesday at a St. Petersburg store, and also asked to pay for a caramel macchiato for the driver behind her, who then did the same for the next customer.

After a few people continued the chain, the employees started keeping a tally on a piece of paper by the window.

By 1:30 p.m., 260 people had paid it forward, according to the Tampa Bay Times, ordering their own drinks and paying for one for the stranger behind them. After people ordered their drinks and drove up to the window, barista Vu Nguyen explained that the drink had already been paid for and asked if they'd like to return the favor. In total, 378 people agreed to keep it going.

The baristas thought that if the chain lasted until closing, at 10 p.m., they would put the remaining money on a gift card and continue the next day, according to the Tampa Bay Times. But the chain finally ended in that evening.

At 6 p.m., the 379th customer ended the chain by ordering a coffee and declining to pay for the next one. [Paulina Firozi, USA Today Network 10:12 a.m. EDT August 21, 2014]


It was a small act of kindness. The first person made the greatest sacrifice by paying for their order and then for the car behind then. The rest of the cars just paid the other cars bill, whatever it might have been. Maybe their order was four dollars, which had been paid by the car in front of them, but the car behind them might have had a ten dollar bill. Yet people did this for most of the day treating others as they would like to be treated until one person stopped the chain.

The act was just a nice gesture by people that probably put a few smiles on others faces. Look for opportunities to do good things. Don�t just avoid the things that hurt people, but do things that help other people and find the blessing in it.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 11/05/14 08:05 PM
I did a couple days ago!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/14 01:30 PM
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)
2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Here the Apostle Paul reminds Timothy to pray for all people. They are to plead on the behalf of their needs and also give thanks for all people. Those in authority should especially be prayed for. These prayers are for a peaceful life lived in godliness and reverence.




In When Being Good Isn�t Enough, Steve Brown writes: Early in my ministry I counseled a woman who, some twenty years before, had been unfaithful to her husband. For years that sin had haunted her. I was the first person she had ever told about it. After we talked and prayed for a long time, I recommended she tell her husband. (That, by the way, isn't always the advice I give. In this case, I knew the woman's husband and knew that her revelation, after the initial shock, would probably strengthen their marriage.) It wasn't easy for her, but she promised she would tell him. "Pastor," she said, "I trust you enough to do what you ask, but if my marriage falls apart as a result, I want you to know I'm going to blame you." She didn't smile when she said that, either.

That's when I commenced to pray with a high degree of seriousness. (I pray best when I'm scared.) "Father," I prayed, "if I gave her dumb advice, forgive me and clean up my mess." I saw her the next day, and she looked fifteen years younger. "What happened?" I asked. "When I told him," she exclaimed, "he replied that he had known about the incident for twenty years and was just waiting for me to tell him so he could tell me how much he loved me!" And then she started to laugh. "He forgave me twenty years ago, and I've been needlessly carrying all this guilt for all these years!" Perhaps you are like this woman: you've already been forgiven years ago, but you don't know God's forgiveness. Instead, you've been haunted by a load of guilt for years. [Steve Brown, When Being Good Isn't Enough (Lucid Books, 2014), pp. 10-11]


Prayer is a powerful tool we all have at our disposal. The Apostle reminds us to pray for all people. Those prayers should include us, our families, our friends, our leaders and even those who have wronged us. Jesus told us, �whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.�

Prayers can be spontaneous, they can be deliberate, that can be silent, and they can be spoken with others that they may agree in spirit with the prayer. Prayers can tell God about the joys of life and praises you have for God. Prayers can also relay disappointments and painful experiences that you desire God to heal.

God may not always answer our prayers the way we desire, but God has a plan for those prayers to answer them for our good.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/14 01:25 PM
Jonah 1:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 �Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.� 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

The people of Nineveh were wicked and God told Jonah to go pray and preach to the city that they might return to God. Jonah didn�t want to, instead he chose to �pay� the fare to go the opposite direction that God desired him to go.



The other day I wrote a devotional about praying for all people. A friend asked, �How does this square with the preponderance of people praying that "God bless America"?�

I believe we all need to be praying for America, but not just for blessings, but that we would know God and that this country would find a revival of God in our lives. We should desire God�s wisdom, justice and liberties. For when God is with us, who can be against us?

We should also remember to pray for countries stricken with famine and disease. We need to pray for those who are less fortunate and need care. We should pray they too would know God�s love, acceptance and salvation. For understanding God can turn the hearts of people from wickedness to something beautiful just as the preaching�s of Jonah did in Nineveh.

As Christians we are all ambassadors for Christ. Our lives are to represent Christ and we are to spread His message of salvation to all people. We are not to selfishly think of just America, but of other countries and other people. We are to take actions to help those we pray for.

Irving Berlin wrote the song �God bless America�. Irving was a Russian Jewish immigrant. Nicolass II, the Russian Tzar had revived anti-Jewish pogroms of brutality. As a child, Irving had watched his home burn. His family fled to America, which became a safe haven. It was in that understanding that �God bless America� was written. Berlin's daughter, Mary Ellen Berlin-Barrett, states that the song was actually "very personal" for her father, and was intended as an expression of his deep gratitude to the nation for merely "allowing" him, an immigrant raised in poverty, to become a successful songwriter.

President Nixon was the first president to use the words, �God bless America�, in a speech. In the heat of Water Gate, Nixon finished a damage control speech by saying, "Tonight, I ask for your prayers to help me in everything I do throughout the days of my presidency," he said. "God bless America and God bless each and every one of you." As we know there were later consequences for the unlawful actions that had been taken. I don�t believe God blessed America through those actions.

So while it is not a bad thing to say �God bless America�, we need to keep our focus on God and less on America. For God is our provider, our deliverer and our salvation. Let us all praise God and that all people would turn to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/11/14 12:06 PM
1 John 2:15-16 (NKJV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world�the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life�is not of the Father but is of the world.

The apostle gives a warning to not love the world of things of the world. The world is corrupted by sin and our natural self is often drawn to the sin in the world. Our focus should be on God and His desires; for our stay on earth is but a moment compared to the eternity of a life in heaven.



Richard S. Halverson, the former U.S. Senate Chaplain, used to challenge people with the following image:

You're going to meet an old man [or woman] someday down the road�ten, thirty, fifty years from now�waiting there for you. You'll be catching up with him [or her]. What kind of old man are you going to meet? He may be a seasoned, soft, gracious fellow�a gentleman who has grown old gracefully, surrounded by hosts of friends, friends who call him blessed because of what his life has meant to them. Or he may be a bitter, disillusioned, dried-up old buzzard without a good word for anyone�soured, friendless, and alone.

That old man will be you. He'll be the composite of everything you do, say, and think�today and tomorrow. His mind will he see in a mold you have made by your beliefs. His heart will be turning out what you've been putting into it. Every little thought, every deed goes into this old man.

Every day in every way you are becoming more and more like yourself. Amazing but true. You're beginning to look more like yourself, think more like yourself, and talk more like yourself. You're becoming yourself more and more. Live only in terms of what you're getting out of life and the old man gets smaller drier harder crabbier more self-centered. Open your life to others, think in terms of what you can give, your contribution to life, and the old man grows larger, softer, kindlier, and greater.
[Daniel Henderson, The Deeper Life (Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 165-166]


What is in the past is there and has been left behind. It is unchangeable and permanent. However, the future is not fixed. As each day comes we can make it into something beautiful that creates in us a loving, gentle, kind and gracious person. Let us strip away our pride and give our hearts to The Lord that He would mold up and shape us into what He wants us to become. Look away from the world and look towards The Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/14 01:06 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
4 Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.

The apostle expresses that he could do acts of charity, but without love there is no meaning behind his work. So in there verses he provides a description of what love should look like.



Apologist, author, and speaker Josh McDowell writes:

Tolerance says, "You must approve of what I do." Love responds, "I must do something harder: I will love you, even when your behavior offends me."

Tolerance says, "You must agree with me." Love responds, "I must do something harder: I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced 'the truth will set you free.'"

Tolerance says, "You must allow me to have my way." Love responds, "I must do something harder: I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk."

Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks. Tolerance glorifies division; love seeks unity. Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.


Two items the apostle points out shows the tenacity of love. He says, Love does not give up; and Love keeps on in all things. Think of the life of Christ. Even with all the harsh comments made by religious leaders, Christ kept going and never stopped loving people. In the face of death Christ did not give up, but instead surrendered Himself to the will of God and gave His life out of love for us.

Over the years I have seen families divide over their own pride. Often it was because someone felt wronged and neither side wanted to release their pride to give in. Marriages have broken up because one or both of the spouses were only thinking of themselves. One would get angry over what the other was doing and could not let go of that anger.

It is easier to tolerate something than to love something; but over time tolerance grows old and starts to break down. There gets to be a point where people give up and stop trying. Instead of tolerating people around you, let us all try to learn to love the people around us. We still keep safe boundaries to protect ourselves, but we can still love in the right an appropriate ways even with boundaries.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/13/14 12:20 PM
1 Peter 2:15-16 (NLT)
15 It is God�s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God�s slaves, so don�t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

A Christian must endeavour, in all relations, to behave himself so as to put to silence the unreasonable reproaches of the most ignorant and foolish men. [Matthew Henry�s Commentary]



In the Navy there is a term Liberty, which means time off from the daily routine of work. However, there are certain rules that must be followed for Liberty, especially for new graduating recruits.

1. Graduating Sailors may not smoke, drive, or consume alcoholic beverages while on liberty.
2. Graduating Sailors must stay within a 50-mile radius of RTC.
3. Graduating Sailors must remain in their complete uniform while on liberty. If they are engaging in physical activity or swimming, they must be in authorized Navy issued workout gear.
4. Recruits reporting to A School at Training Support Center Great Lakes will detach from RTC on Friday. All other recruits will depart on Saturday. To get the most accurate information please contact your recruit.
5. Families may not enter the base after graduation and will need to meet graduating Sailors for liberty at the main RTC gate.
6. Graduating Sailors departing RTC for follow-on training the same day as graduation or in a duty status will be granted limited on-base liberty.
7. Graduating Sailors receive an in-depth liberty briefing prior to their graduation day.

So while they have freedom to go out and enjoy life, there are rules they must follow or they will face the consequences for their misconduct.


In the same way Christians have a freedom or liberty in their lives. They have been made free from the slavery of sin. However, their lives should still reflect an honorable life that would silence accusations brought about by anyone. They belong to God and should therefore act as one of God�s children.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/14 12:28 PM
Proverbs 14:29 NLT
29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

There are those whose fiery passion is unbridled and invoked without notice to others. It can come in an instant without explanation and shows great foolishness on the part of the person when their temper rages.



A simple but marvelous illustration of nonirritable love took place during a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals during the 2009 pennant race. Phillies fan Steve Montforto was sitting with three-year-old daughter Emily when a foul ball curled back into the upper deck. Montforto leaned over the railing to catch his first and only foul ball�every fans dream. But when he handed the ball to little Emily, immediately she threw it back over the railing and down into the lower deck. Everyone gasped. Monforto himself was as surprised as anyone to see her throw the ball away. But rather than getting irritated with his little girl, he did what a loving father should do: he wrapped his daughter up in a tender embrace.

This is the way God loves us. He puts gifts into our hands that we could never catch for ourselves. Without realizing what we are doing, sometimes, we throw them away. Yet rather than getting irritated with us, he loves us again. Then he gives us the freedom to go love someone else with the same kind of love. He even gives us the grace to go back to people who throw our love away and love them all over again. [Phil Ryken, Loving the Way Jesus Loves (Crossway, 2012), page 58]


Anger is what many psychologists call a secondary emotion, because behind the anger are other emotions pushing a person towards anger. For the father above instead of being surprised, he could have been easily disappointed to have lost the ball he wanted so much to catch. Disappointment could have turned to anger and then anger could have exploded with criticism towards his daughter. Instead even though he was surprised about his daughter�s actions; he had the understanding to control any anger and show love towards his daughter. Let us all learn to stop our emotions before we reach anger by understanding our triggers and learning to turn our feelings towards love for the other person.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/14 02:05 PM
Psalm 119:105 (NLT)
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Psalmist reminds us that God�s word guides people in good ways. His word helps them not trip and stumble as they go through life.



There have been people throughout history who have tried to destroy the words of God. Scrolls and Bibles have been burned in an attempt to keep people from the knowledge of God. The Bible even speaks of King Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, who burned the scroll of Jerimiah. Yet God had Jerimiah dictate another scroll that lasted thousands of years.

People are afraid of God�s word for it holds truth, wisdom and knowledge. It also talks about man and his failures and the troubles that comes when man does not follow the wisdom of God. It talks about the punishment man receives as consequences for his action. These words put fear into man and they believe that just by removing God�s word they can also remove God.

However, God is always present and can always redirect man. God has put His Holy Spirit among men that his word is present in their hearts. They know right from wrong and it becomes their decision to make the right or wrong choice.


Choose today to follow the words of God for they shall make a path in your life that will lead you to a prosperous and rewarding life. Let God direct the ways of your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/14 12:04 PM
Philippians 1:4 (NLT)
4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy

In the opening letter to the Philippians the apostles greets them and then shares with them that when he thinks of them, he prays from them. It is a joyful thing for him to remember his friends and give prayers to God on their behalf.




When I was little we use to visit my grandmother�s sister on occasions. Her husband�s name was Charlie. As it was customary to do before a meal, Charlie would say the blessing. Charlie�s blessings were short and sweet. He always gave a blessing quick enough so everyone could start eating. It was the intent of Charlie�s heart that counted.

When we pray for others it does not have to be complicated and drawn out. Prayers can be simple remembrances for the needs of others. We can do as the apostle did and when we think of someone and their need, we can stop and pray.

Often I have friends tell me they kept me in their prayers over the week. I am always appreciative for those who pray for me because I know they were thinking of me. They took the time to ask God to fill specific needs in my life.

In turn I also pray for people. As people run across my mind I stop and say a prayer for them. Sometimes I am asking God to answer a need. Sometimes I am asking God to heal a person. Other times I might be asking God to provide comfort and safety. Whatever the request I know God hears and will respond appropriately.


Never hesitate to remember others in your prayers. Pray for their safety, their health, their emotional needs, marriage or whatever thought crosses your mind. For The Bible tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous. And while you are at it, remember your own needs and pray for them as well.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/19/14 12:22 PM
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
21 You can make many plans, but the Lord�s purpose will prevail.

This proverb tells us that we can make all the plans our heart desires, but if The Lord has a purpose that needs to be fulfilled that purpose will prevail over our plans.



Many of us have grown up hearing the story of Jonah and the whale. The Bible says, �The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: �Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.�

As a prophet it was Jonah�s mission to spread God�s word to other areas. God has chosen Jonah to go to Nineveh to speak against the great wickedness taking place there and to give the people a chance to repent towards God. Yet Jonah wasn�t happy with the mission he was assigned. He knew the wickedness of Nineveh and in his mind believed the city deserved whatever consequences it might receive.

So what does Jonah do? Jonah pays for a fare on a ship heading the opposite direction. Jonah was determined to go as far away from Nineveh as he could. I�m sure he thought if I�m not there, surely I can�t preach to the people of the city. And if I can�t preach to the people then they can�t repent.

God had different plans for Jonah. A violent storm came up tossing the ship Jonah was on all about. While the crew attempted to keep the boat under control Jonah slept. The crew called to their gods, but no help came. They threw the cargo overboard in hopes of making the ship lighter, still the storm persisted. They woke Jonah to pray to his God for help. They were desperate, so desperate they cast lots to see who might be the cause of their problems.

The Bible then says, �When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. �Why has this awful storm come down on us?� they demanded. �Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?� Jonah answered, �I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.� The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. �Oh, why did you do it?� they groaned. And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, �What should we do to you to stop this storm?� �Throw me into the sea,� Jonah said, �and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.�

Jonah decided he would just surrender to the sea instead of going to Nineveh. So they threw him over and a great fish swallowed Jonah and took him to Nineveh.

After being in the fish for 3 days and nights, time Jonah was ready to preach to the city of Nineveh and when he did The Bible says, �The people of Nineveh believed God�s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes.�

Despite Jonah�s determination to avoid helping the city of Nineveh, The Bible says, �When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.� God�s purpose had prevailed despite the plans of Jonah.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/20/14 12:09 PM
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The apostle gives encouragement to the Galatians. Though we all grow weary in our efforts to do well; there is a benefit to not giving up. We must press forward with good hope that we can accomplish what we set out to do.



R. L. Russell writes in �Triumphing over Trials�, John Claypool, when he was the preacher of the Crescent Hill Baptist Church here in town, had a little daughter who suffered with leukemia. When she went into remission, everybody thought maybe God had healed her. On an Easter Sunday morning she went into a terrible recurrence. In his book, Tracks of a Fellow Struggler, Claypool relates how for two weeks his daughter was wracked with pain, her eyes swollen shut. She asked him, "Daddy, did you talk to God about my leukemia?"

He said, "Yes, dear, we've been praying for you."

She asked, "Did you ask him how long the leukemia would last? What did God say?"

What do you say to your daughter when you can't help her, and the heavens are silent? Emotionally and spiritually he was exhausted. A few hours later, she died. The following Sunday morning, John Claypool got into the pulpit to preach. I've heard the tape. It's one of the most powerful sermons I've heard. He preached on (Isaiah 40:31), which says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Dr. Claypool said something to the effect, "There are three stages of life. Sometimes we mount up with wings as an eagle and fly. We're on top of the world. Sometimes we run, and we don't grow weary. We just go through the routine. Sometimes it's all we can do to walk and not faint, and I need your prayers and your encouragement."

At the moment John Claypool was at his lowest, he preached probably his most influential sermon. Perhaps his greatest contribution came at his darkest hour. He could have said like Paul, "For when I am weak, then I am strong."


There are some of you reading this thinking, �It is all I can do to walk and not faint today.� You have been through some tough struggles. Maybe life has been unfair in various ways and you just seem to be pushed to the bottom of life�s barrel.

But let us always remember, �When we are weak, then we are made strong.� The grace and mercy of Christ comes through in those difficult moments to life us up and keep us moving.

For those who are struggling, I pray God will minister to you, comfort you, calm you, nurture you, and care for you. Even when you don�t feel like loving yourself, just know God loves you more than you will ever know.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/14 01:52 PM
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Filthy and unclean words and discourse are poisonous and infectious, as putrid rotten meat: they proceed from and prove a great deal of corruption in the heart of the speaker, and tend to corrupt the minds and manners of others who hear them; and therefore Christians should beware of all such discourse. [Matthew Henry]



This morning I was listening to a video blog by Karamo Brown. Karamo Brown is a television personality, single father of two boys and prides himself on being a trusted friend. I enjoy listening to him.The question he posed was �Are White People Wrong For Using The N-Word?� This blog was prompted by a video of a 15 year old Justin Bieber who flippantly used the N-Word in an interview.

While Justin apologized for his comments there were still many people who were hurt. The corrupted words that came out corrupted the thoughts of others into disgust and hatred. The words did not encourage, but discouraged those who were offended.

Karamo made a statement I liked, �Stop teaching those that are ignorant that their ignorance is OK.� In other words, no matter who you are, don�t use language that makes it seem acceptable for others to use.

I�m white and personally the N-Word offends me. If someone asked me have you said it, I would have to admit I have. There is no denying it. I was raised in the South and it was a word I often heard as a kid. I may have repeated it. I may have used the word to indicate something was rigged up in an unacceptable manner, but at no time did I used the word towards another person. As I have grown older, I won�t even use or repeat the word.

I can tell you how messed up all this is. I went to see a black comedian who I enjoyed watching on TV. My wife and I were 1 of 3 white couples at the shows. Several black comedians came out to perform their routines and most used the N-word. It was used so many times that night I couldn�t even give you an estimate of the number of times it was used. Embarrassing to me, blacks sitting around us laughed when it was used. In this instance my wife and I were the ones feeling uncomfortable about a word we dislike.

So Karamo is right, we need to keep away from corrupt talking so as to build up others. If others hear us tear ourselves down and laugh others are most likely going to learn to do the same. Let us all learn to say things that build each other up and not hurt one another. I love encouraging others and the best way to encourage is to use affirming words.

Would you take a stand with me not to use words that tear down people? Would you instead help build up people and affirm them so they know they are valuable? For God the Father sees everyone as precious and valuable and so should we.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/24/14 12:55 PM
Proverbs 24:26 (NLT)
26 An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

An honest answer tempered with wisdom is always the best answer to give. For like a kiss of friendship an honest answer is trusting and shows the affection of friendship.



After interviewing business leaders at over 100 companies, the authors of a 2012 Harvard Business Review article concluded: "Smart leaders today � engage with employees in a way that resembles an ordinary person-to-person conversation." According to the authors, an essential part of "ordinary person-to-person conversation" involves listening well and getting honest feedback.

They use the following story as an example: James E. Rogers, the president and CEO at Duke Energy, instituted a series of what he called "listening sessions." In a series of three-hour meetings, he invited the people he led to raise any pressing issues. He also asked for their brutally honest feedback about his own leadership performance. The authors of the article wrote:

He asked employees at one session to grade him on a scale of A to F. The results, recorded anonymously, immediately appeared on a screen for all to see. The grades were generally good, but less than half of the employees were willing to give him an A. He took the feedback seriously and began to conduct the exercise regularly. He also began asking open-ended questions about his performance. Somewhat ironically, he found that "internal communication" was the area in which the highest number of participants believed he had room for improvement. Even as Rogers sought to get close to employees by way of [conversation], a fifth of his people were urging him to get closer still. True listening involves taking the bad with the good, absorbing criticism even when it is direct and personal�and even when those delivering it work for you. [Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind, "Leadership Is a Conversation," Harvard Business Review (June 2012)]


It is not always easy the listen to the honesty of others. Sometimes it hurts a little when someone gives us some constructive criticism to help us grow. It�s not always pleasant to hear our faults and know that we have imperfections. The truth is none of us are perfect. We all have faults and flaws and if we can just listen and for the areas where we need to change we can start growing into something better. All of us have room for improvement so open your arms wide to an honest answer.
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 11/27/14 03:45 AM
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

For American Thanksgiving today, the Revised Common Lectionary has the following readings:

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

11 �Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, �My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.� 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Psalm 65

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

Praise is due to you,[a] O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

9 You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

�He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.�

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they[c] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

[b]Luke 17:11-19


On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, �Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.� 14 When he saw them he said to them, �Go and show yourselves to the priests.� And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, �Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?� 19 And he said to him, �Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/01/14 01:40 PM
John 1:1-2, 14 NLT
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father�s one and only Son.

These verses remind us that Christ was fully God and existed with God before living among us as a man. Christ�s love for us was unfailing. He gave His life that we could be free from sin.



Joshua Bell emerged from the Metro and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript�a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money and began to play.

For the next 45 minutes, in the D.C. Metro on January 12, 2007, Bell played Mozart and Schubert as over 1,000 people streamed by, most hardly taking notice. If they had paid attention, they might have recognized the young man for the world-renowned violinist he is. They also might have noted the violin he played�a rare Stradivarius worth over $3 million. It was all part of a project arranged by The Washington Post�"an experiment in context, perception, and priorities�as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste. In a banal setting, at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"

Just three days earlier, Joshua Bell sold out Boston Symphony Hall, with ordinary seats going for $100. In the subway, Bell garnered about $32 from the 27 people who stopped long enough to give a donation. [Gene Weingarten, "Pearls Before Breakfast," The Washington Post (4-10-07); submitted by Stephen Nordbye, Charlton, Massachusetts]


Christ appeared to the world for all to know The Good News of salvation. However, there are many people who still do not recognize Christ for who He is. Christ died to save us from the sins of the world. Share the news with those who do not know Christ. Pray for those who do not know Christ. Most of all praise Christ for the wonderful works He has done. May those who don�t know Christ come to know Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/02/14 12:12 PM
Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Here the apostle begins with a general declaration of the excellency of the gospel dispensation above that of the law, which he demonstrates from the different way and manner of God's communicating himself and his mind and will to men in the one and in the other: both these dispensations were of God, and both of them very good, but there is a great difference in the way of their coming from God. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Thomas Brooks was an English Puritan preacher and author in the 1600s. Though he's best known for his many books and theological treatises, we have several of his sermons in print, some of which are funeral sermons. In one funeral sermon, Brooks reminds his listeners that for the believer, death not only ceases to be our conqueror; death actually becomes God's meek helper. He wrote: "Death is another Moses: it delivers believers out of bondage, and from making bricks in Egypt." He continued:

Remember this�death does that in a moment, which no graces, no duties, nor any ordinances could do for a man all his lifetime! Death frees a [person] from those diseases, corruptions, temptations � that no duties, nor graces, nor ordinances could do �. Every prayer then [when we die] shall have its answer; all hungering and thirsting shall be filled and satisfied; every sigh, groan, and tear that has fallen from the saints' eyes shall then be recompensed. That is not death but life, which joins the dying man to Christ!


There is an importance to understanding The Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ. For the Gospel gives us Good News of an eternal life; a life lived free from the problems of the world. This freedom came through Jesus Christ, God�s son, who was appointed heir of all things. God�s Son has spoken and has told us how to have victory over death and live eternal life in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/14 01:23 PM
John 6:35 (ESV)
35 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

To believe in Christ is to come to Christ. For it is not just knowledge of Christ that saves, but a firm belief that eternal life through Christ can be found.



The town of East Porterville may be the hardest-hit place in California's punishing drought. Of its 7,300 people, almost 1,000 have no running water. Groundwater levels have plunged by 60 feet or more in some spots, and tens of thousands of wells are in danger. But few knew that until 72-year-old Donna Johnson started driving around town and asking neighbors, "Hi. Do you have water?" Again and again, the answer was no.

When Johnson's well ran dry in June, she and her husband had no idea they were part of something bigger. "I guess I was just oblivious to how bad it had gotten," she said. But that changed when she started stopping to listen. At the local gas station, for instance, she tuned into conversations and kept hearing, "So-and-so's well ran dry."

In July, Johnson decided to put together a list of people out of water in East Porterville. The local paper ran an article that gave her phone number and address and said she was collecting bottled water for drought victims. The next day there were pallets of plastic bottles under her tarp carport. Johnson recruited a neighbor to make the deliveries. The calls from people needing water came as quickly as the donated bottles.

Families would call at midnight and say "We're completely out of water" and she'd go and take some. When she drove up to one local driveway she asked her typical question: "Hi, do you have water?" "A little," a woman named Veronica said. "But if two people take a shower, it's done." Eight people live in the small, water-deprived home. After the Johnson dropped off the water they told her, "Thank you for the water. We didn't know where to go. We're grateful." [Adapted from Diana Marcum, "'Hi, do you have water?' In a Central Calif. town, answer is often no." LA Times (9-18-14)]


There are those who thirst for a happy eternal life spent with God in heaven. Many of us walk around each day not realizing there are those in our community who thirst for eternal salvation. We have come to think everyone should know the source, but as seen above some people didn�t know where to get their thirst satisfied for something as basic as water. Take time and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others and help them learn about God�s gift of eternal salvation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/14 12:06 PM
John 8:12 (ESV)
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, �I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.�

There is a sun that illuminates the world and takes away the darkness. There is also the Son of God that illuminates the lives of people and takes away the darkness they walk in. The visible light of the world is the sun, and Christ is the Sun of righteousness.



I am the light of the world, the founder of the Christian religion said. What a stupendous phrase! And how particularly marvelous today, when one is conscious of so much darkness in the world! Let your light shine before men, he exhorted us. You know, sometimes ... someone asks me what I most want, what I should most like to do in the little that remains of my life, and I always nowadays truthfully answer--and it is truthful--"I should like my light to shine, even if only very fitfully, like a match struck in a dark, cavernous night and then flickering out." [Malcolm Muggeridge in Jesus Rediscovered. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 11]


Many of us become so wrapped up in our own issues, problems and daily routine that we forget there are those wandering lost in a dark world. There are many who do not know the love, mercy, and grace of God. They don�t understand the concept of salvation that brings them eternal life with God in heaven.

Jesus Christ said He is the light of the world. Jesus Christ came to reconcile man with God by providing light on the word of God that man could clearly see.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/05/14 01:11 PM
Proverbs 5:22 (NLT)
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.

We can see that a person becomes held prisoner by their own sins. For like ropes to hold and bind, sin holds a person by the consequences of their actions. They are slaves to sin; a prisoner to their own desires.



Mr. Holland's Opus is a movie about a young, frustrated composer in Portland, Oregon, who takes a job as a high school band teacher in the 1960s in order to provide for his family. Diverted from his lifelong goal of achieving critical fame as a classical musician, Glenn Holland (played by Richard Dreyfuss) believes his school job is only temporary. At first he maintains his determination to write an opus, composing at his piano after putting in a full day teaching. But, as family demands increase and job pressures multiply, Mr. Holland recognizes that his dream of leaving a lasting musical legacy is merely a dream.

Throughout the movie, Mr. Holland's relationship with his wife is in throes, due in part to raising a deaf son. While directing the school musical, the middle-aged teacher is intrigued by the musical skill and physical beauty of a senior named Rowena. As he affirms her abilities, Rowena becomes attracted to him. She tells her teacher that she has decided to move to New York City in pursuit of her own dreams, but she wants him to go with her. Rowena tempts him with the chance to escape the constraints of his current life and finally be able to write music. After the final performance of the musical, Mr. Holland meets her at the local drug store where the bus picks up passengers. Her eyes light up as she sees him approach, but then notices that he has no luggage.

"You pack light," she jests.

Mr. Holland doesn't acknowledge her attempt at humor, but hands her a slip of paper with the name of a couple he knows in New York where she can stay.

"This isn't the way I imagined it," Rowena reluctantly admits.

"But it's the best way," Mr. Holland says, finding the inner strength to resist temptation.

That evening, Mr. Holland walks into his bedroom where his wife appears to be sleeping. He looks tenderly at her and says, "I love you." His wife looks up at him and responds, "I know." Aware of the victory he has won by honoring his wedding vows, he takes his wife in his arms and holds her.
[Mr. Holland's Opus, (Hollywood Pictures, 1995), rated PG, written by Patrick Sheane Duncan, directed by Stephen Herek; submitted by Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, Illinois]


James 4:7 tells us, �So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.� When we are humble are desire to sin diminishes.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/08/14 12:17 PM
John 14:6 (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, �I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Here Christ tells gives us the statement of His purpose, He is the way to eternal life, He provides the truth about God the Father and He is the life we should follow. Fallen man must come to God as a Judge, but cannot come to him as a Father, otherwise than by Christ as Mediator.



Someone once asked the question, �Are you more aware of other�s sins than your own?� I�m afraid sadly there would be many of us who would say � Yes. It becomes easy for us to see the sins of others, but we fail to see our own faults, our own prejudices and our sin that God so despises.

Amazingly God�s heart is gracious towards us. For God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to become a sacrifice for our sin. Although we deserved God�s wrath, because of God�s love, mercy and grace towards us he appointed Jesus Christ as King of Kings, Ambassador, a Divine Mediator between man and God.

In stories about Sparta, we find there were more than one king at Sparta, who governed by joint authority. A king was occasionally sent to a neighboring state as a Spartan ambassador. Did this king cease to be a king of Sparta, because he was also an ambassador? No, he did not divest himself of his royal dignity, but only added to it that of public deputation. So Christ, in becoming man, did not cease to be God; but He still continued to be King of the whole creation and served as the voluntary Servant and Messenger of the Father.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/14 03:21 PM
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)
12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

We live in an imperfect world and. The imperfect world clouds our mind with things that confuse and puzzle us. Like trying to perform actions in a mirror we often move opposite to what is correct. We are limited to the range of view of the mirror and to the size of the reflection. But one day things will come into full and complete view that we may fully know God and the things that were in this world.



As long as you have faith, you will have doubts. I sometimes use the following illustration when I'm speaking. I tell the audience that I have a twenty-dollar bill in my hand and ask for a volunteer who believes me. Usually only a few hands go up. Then I tell the volunteer that I am about to destroy his (or her) faith. I open my hand and show the twenty-dollar bill. The reason I can say I am destroying his faith is that now he knows I hold the bill. He sees the bill and doesn't need faith anymore. Faith is required only when we have doubts, when we do not know for sure. When knowledge comes, faith is no more.

Sometimes a person is tempted to think, I can't become a Christian because I still have doubts. I'm still not sure. But as long as doubts exist, as long as the person is still uncertain, that is the only time faith is needed. When the doubts are gone, the person doesn't need faith anymore. Knowledge has come.

I tell the audience that this is exactly the point Paul was making in his first letter to the church at Corinth: "Now we see [that a 'knowing' word] but a poor reflection [now we have confusion, misunderstanding, doubts, and questions] � then we shall see face to face [we don't see face-to-face yet]. Now I know in part [with questions and doubts]; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (13:12). [John Ortberg, Faith & Doubt (Zondervan, 2008), pp. 139-140]


Faith comes with doubts. Just because we have doubts does not mean we don�t have faith. However, it does mean we are looking at an imperfect world we cannot trust. We do not know if what we are seeing is a complete and whole picture. When truth is revealed to us our doubt is removed and our faith is no longer required. We become complete, just as God knows us completely.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/10/14 03:06 PM
Proverbs 10:32 (NLT)
32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

The righteous person speaks words helpful and beneficiary to others. A good person will bring forth wisdom in the lives of others. The proverb then speaks of the wicked who use perverse words which provoke and bring up controversies.



"He made drinks sparkle, desserts shimmer, and Richard M. Nixon look less shadowy�all with meticulous tricks of lights." So begins an obituary for Imero (or "Immie") Fiorentino, the man who was called "the maestro of lighting" and "The Picasso of lights and strobes."

Because he usually worked quietly behind the scenes, most Americans have never heard of him. But when Fiorentino died at the age of 85 on October 1, 2013, he had served as an adviser to every president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bill Clinton. His work had illuminated some of the biggest entertainers of his day, including Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby, Neil Diamond, Barbara Streisand, and Muhammad Ali. He orchestrated the lighting behind everything from Walt Disney's Epcot Center to TV commercials for Jell-O and ginger ale.

But if it wasn't for the encouraging words from one of his high school teachers, Mr. Fiorentino's career may have ended before it started. The New York Times records what happened:

Several months before graduating from high school, he found what he thought was an empty shell casing in the street. Wanting to make it into a key chain, he took a soldering iron to it. It was a live round. Shrapnel from the explosion pierced his right eye, blinding it. He despaired of being able to work in lighting. Then one of his teachers, visiting him in the hospital, told him, "You're going to be the best one-eyed lighting designer ever." "I can do that," Immie replied.

Due to those words of encouragement, Mr. Fiorentino went on to earn a bachelor's degree in theater from Carnegie Tech in 1950. On graduating, he was hired to teach theatrical lighting at Indiana University, and from there his career took off. [Adapted from Margalit Fox, "Imero Fiorentino, Lighting Designer Who Mastered Television, Dies at 85,' The New York Times (10-13-13)]


The right word, said at the right time will often bring life to a person and give them hope they had lost. Today let me encourage each of you that God has a purpose for your life. There is something important for you to do that will benefit others and give joy to your own life. Don�t give up on life, but embrace life and let the love of God fill your hearts. Allow God�s wisdom to speak to you that you may speak wisdom to others. All of you are precious, all of you are loved, and all of you have gifts of life that can be shared with others. May God bless you, keep you safe and guide your life in a positive way.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/14 12:56 PM
Luke 1:30-33 (NKJV)
30 Then the angel said to her, �Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.�

This was the announcement to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus and it was also a proclamation of the fulfillment of a promise made to King David.



Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked "No Entrance" and left through a door marked "No Exit." �Peter Larson

Man�s desire to become like God brought sin and death into the world. We tried to push God out of the world He created, but God wasn�t going to let that happen. Instead God had a plan to bring salvation through a baby born to a virgin mother. The baby would grow up living a sin free life to become the perfect sacrifice. Through no fault of His own, Jesus was condemned to death. The life of a criminal, Barabbas, was spared and Jesus died a physical death in place of Barabbas.

Again, it was Man�s choice. The crowd was offered a choice of whether to have Barabbas or Jesus released from Roman custody. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released and Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified. Pilate who made the decision is portrayed as reluctantly yielding to the insistence of the crowd. A passage found only in the Gospel of Matthew has the crowd saying, "Let his blood be upon us and upon our children."

This Christmas and every Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ into our world. It is a reminder that God stepped down from heaven to become man and to live among us. �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.� God continues to call out to us offering His salvation and freedom from sin. Christmas is that special time of year to celebrate God�s gift to us; the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Barabbas was set free because of Jesus Christ and we too can be set free from sin because of our faith in Him.


This time of year I take several weeks off from writing my devotions to remember God, Christ, family and friends. Before I close the year, as a friend, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. I pray God would bless you this Christmas season with peace and joy. Let us give glory to God in the highest, and on earth show peace and good will towards all people. God bless you, each and every one. � Art
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/15 12:59 PM
Genesis 1 (26-27) New King James Version
26 Then God said, �Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.� 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis is the beginning of all things. In these verses we are told God formed man in His own likeness and that likeness included male and female. The male displayed what we consider male traits and the female displayed what we consider female traits; yet male and female were in possession of all God�s traits.



God�s creation of the world was excellent; a masterpiece given to the people to rule and have dominion over. The essences of man, male and female, were created from God�s own image. People possessed God�s emotions, God�s feelings, God�s characteristics whether they were male or female. The male held more of the qualities of what we consider masculine, while the female held more of the qualities we consider feminine; yet they both held all the emotions, feelings and characteristics of God in differing proportions in alignment with their physical form. This does not make man greater than woman; nor woman greater than man. Instead they are partners being able to bring the fullness of God together.

In a way God made people godlike in that they had dominion over their world. They would be able to create and shape from it as they wished. They were given intelligence greater than instinct so they could make their own decisions and control outcomes. It seemed to be a perfect world; yet, because they were only imagines of God they were also open to failures of their choosing.


We do not understand what God did in putting His creation in place. Some things were not made to be known to man. We shall see that even the little that was made known became a pedestal for man to fall from the perfection and grace of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/15 12:23 PM
Genesis 3 (9-13) New King James Version
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, �Where are you?� 10 So he said, �I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.� 11 And He said, �Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?� 12 Then the man said, �The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.� 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, �What is this you have done?� The woman said, �The serpent deceived me, and I ate.�

Adam and Eve knew they were not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; yet they chose to do so. They made a choice knowing there was a severe consequence that went along with their choice. Santa used the same lie with Adam and Eve he had formerly used with himself; I can become God. Adam and Eve bought into the lie and fell from grace just as Satan had bought into his own lie and fell from grace.



Every day in life we face choices. Most of those choices have consequences, either good or bad, that come as a result of the actions we take. When we make a choice, we are the one deciding if the consequence seems more valuable that the action. Sometimes we choose unwisely and find the consequence was not worth the value we initially believed. We find ourselves wanting to hide from that choice, but it has already been made.

Adam and Eve attempted to hide their choice from God. They thought they could hide in the garden and God would not know what they had done. Yet Adam gave himself away by saying he was naked, which was something he had never been aware of before. God then asked Adam, �Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?�

Look at Adam�s response. Instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions he says, �The woman whom You (God) gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree.� In other words it�s not my fault God you put me with this woman. It�s because of her I made that choice. You can�t blame me I�m just a victim.

Then we see Eve�s response, �The serpent deceived me.� Eve has fallen into the same trap as Adam. Instead of taking responsibility for her actions she places the blame on the serpent. I can only wonder what would have happened if Adam and Eve accepted responsibility for their bad choice and had asked God for forgiveness.


Remember this in your daily interactions with others. Try not to shift blame to others when clearly the choice was yours. Accept responsibility for your actions and ask for forgiveness in order to make things right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/15 12:29 PM
Genesis 4 (23-24 ) New King James Version
23 Then Lamech said to his wives: �Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.�

Lamech was a descendant of Cain who had killed his brother Able. God took away Cain�s ability to till the ground and banished him from his home. Cain feared for his life because of his actions. God in His mercy placed a mark on Cain saying, �Whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold.� In the verses above we see Lamech claiming this privilege and stating there shall be a seventy-sevenfold avengence.



During the process of counseling someone on problems in their marriage, most of the issues will be about the other spouse. Seldom does a person stop to think how they may be a part of the destruction of the relationship.

Even if they were asked to give a percentage of the problems attributed to the spouse and a percentage attributed to them; the largest percentage would be attributed to the spouse. If you wanted to talk about their problems you would find them shifting blame back to the spouse.

I have written on blame before. Typically we want to blame someone else other than ourselves for the problems we are facing. Adam blamed God for his sin. Eve blamed the serpent for hers. And that problem still continues today. We don�t want the responsibility so we blame someone else.

Above Lamech was not accepting responsibility for his actions of killing another person. Instead he wanted to claim God�s mercy stating if Cain shall be avenged sevenfold then he should be avenged seventy-sevenfold. Lamech was making a false assumption that because God had spared Cain he too was justified. Instead the reprieve of Cain and the patience God exercised towards Cain caused Lamech to harden his heard in sinful ways.


As conflict arises in your life this week take a moment to assess the problem. It doesn�t matter if the conflict is at home, work or with friends. Ask yourself, what portion of the pie am I responsible for? Then ask how you plan to address your own part of the pie. Take responsibility and stop shifting the blame.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/09/15 01:50 PM
Genesis 5 (28-31) New King James Version
28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, �This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.� 30 After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

Lamech's complaint of the calamitous state of human life. By the entrance of sin, and the entail of the curse for sin, our condition has become very miserable: our whole life is spent in labour, and our time filled up with continual toil. God having cursed the ground, it is as much as some can do, with the utmost care and pains, to fetch a hard livelihood out of it. He speaks as one fatigued with the business of this life, and grudging that so many thoughts and precious minutes, which otherwise might have been much better employed, are unavoidably spent for the support of the body. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Lamech is a 7th generation descendant of Adam and is from the linage of Cain. God had banished Cain for killing Cain�s brother Able and had been told the land would not easily yield to him in his enjoyment of farming. Generations later Lamech continues to feel the effects of sin caused by his ancestor Cain. For he says, �Our whole life is spent in labour, and our time filled up with continual toil. God having cursed the ground, it is as much as some can do, with the utmost care and pains, to fetch a hard livelihood out of it.�

A good life means different things to different people. However, your definition of the good live may include things in common with many of others. You may want your life to be stress free. You may want a life that is not filled with difficult labor and struggles. This is normal and the expectation of many. Nobody likes to struggle through life.

Unfortunately the thought of a difficult life may be what stops many people from enjoying the life they have been given. The thought of all the difficult work that is ahead, working through the resistance and overcoming hurdles is enough to make people want to give up and they haven�t even begun the real task of life. It�s like being drained of all your energy just as you get ready to run a marathon. Before you even hear the starting gun the thought of running 26.2 miles scares you and tires you out so mentally you walk away from the race.

We all have heard the term; if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Accepting life if difficult comes with the responsibility of accepting that you can bring change to your life. The Bible tells us to give praise to The Lord for He is good to us. Colossians 3:15 says, �And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.�

Only you can let The Lord into your life to ease the struggles and burdens of life. Start the day with praise and thanksgiving for all you have. Focus on the positive and let go of the negative. Ask God for guidance and let Him make the paths of your life burden free.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/12/15 06:21 AM
Speaking of marathons, I was running a half marathon race once and was tired..and a man was behind yelling Bible verses, "They shall soar like eagles..."

It was very inspiring to hear and gave me the extra mental push I needed to force my body to perform better.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/15 01:46 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
Speaking of marathons, I was running a half marathon race once and was tired..and a man was behind yelling Bible verses, "They shall soar like eagles..."

It was very inspiring to hear and gave me the extra mental push I needed to force my body to perform better.


The word of God can even teach us along the way in a race; especially the race of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/15 01:46 PM
Genesis 6 (1-2) NKJ
1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

In the verses above we find that man has begun to multiply across the earth. There has been a blending of people; those from the linage of Seth and those from the linage of Cain. The men took wives based on their appearance and not of their hearts. The remainder of Genesis Chapter 6 is about God taking notice of man�s depravity and thinking about man�s destruction to remove them from sin. Yet a man named Noah found favor in God�s eyes.



Genesis 6:13-17 says, And God said to Noah, �The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.

When Noah heard these words he was most likely puzzled, but verse 22 tells us that Noah did all God commanded him. First there had never been floodwaters. Genesis 2:6 tells us that a mist us to come up from the ground to water the earth. No one had seen rain. No one had ever needed a boat. Man had never been destroyed in any great manner. Yet Noah believed God and acted on faith.

It was a big task to build a boat of the nature described. It took years and years of labor. It took resources to obtain the materials needed. Yet Noah did the work on faith with the help of his children and without complaint. Noah didn�t even question how all the animals would get on board.

If God asked you to take on a project that seemed crazy, impossible and unheard of; would you step forward to do the work even if it took years? We have to remember if God calls us to do something; God will be behind us to see that the work is done and our needs are met.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/13/15 12:45 PM
Genesis 7 (7-5) NKJV
7 Then the Lord said to Noah, �Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. 2 You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; 3 also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.� 5 And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. 6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth.

Genesis 7 is an account of the world being destroyed by a great flood The Lord sent upon the earth. The rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights. The flood waters covered the earth for one hundred and fifty day days. Mountains were covered so they could not be seen. Every living thing that lived upon the face of the ground was destroyed expect that which was on the ark with Noah.



All the words of The Bible are important for they tell a story. These stories benefit us in different ways from knowing historical facts, understanding life and even seeing how great people failed. The Bible offers hope, grace and mercy that come with salvation from The Lord. So it important to read and know what is in The Bible.

One common error people make about the great flood deals with the animals that were upon the ark. I have seen children�s books with this error and it is repeated by word as fact. The error is that many believe only one pair of animals were taken on the ark. In fact The Bible tells us there was one pair of unclean animals and seven pairs of clean animals. The clean animals were good for man, while the unclean animals were not. In having more clean animals God ensured the animals good for man would survive.

I mention this point because there are times when science comes in conflict with religion. People will ask, what happened to the dinosaurs and science will give an explanation. Here in Genesis 7 we may have also found an explanation. There was only one pair of each of type of dinosaurs. Because of the flood the earth�s climate would have changed and it�s very possible these animals did not survive. So in reality there are times science and religion can co-exist. I just know The Bible says God did it and however it was done; it was done by God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/15 01:15 PM
1 John 4:20-21 (NIV)
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

As a basis to Christianity we profess to love God. God through Christ tells us to love those around us. Therefore how can a Christian profess to love God who cannot be seen and yet not love those in need who can be see?



A young lady named Sally took a seminary class taught by Professor Smith, who was known for his elaborate object lessons. One day Sally walked into class to find a large target placed on the wall, with several darts resting on a nearby table. Professor Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone who had made them angry�and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's friend (on her right), drew a picture of another woman who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his younger brother. Sally drew a picture of Professor Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on his face! She was quite pleased at the overall effect she'd achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts amidst much laughter. Some of the students threw with such force that they ripped apart their targets. But Sally, looking forward to her turn, was filled with disappointment when Professor Smith asked the students to return to their seats so he could begin his lecture. As Sally fumed about missing her chance to throw the darts, the professor began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled image of their Savior�holes and jagged marks covered his face. His eyes were virtually pierced out.

Professor Smith said only these words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/15/15 11:56 AM
John 8:31-32 (NIV)
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, �If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.�

Those whom Christ sets free are free indeed. It is because of the love, mercy and grace of Christ that they are free from the penalties of sin and no other reason. Their hearts will be filled with the truth and the truth will guide them free from sin.



In the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as King Arthur and his knights seek the Holy Grail, they come to a bridge that spans an abyss of eternal peril. A bridge keeper allows people to cross this bridge only if they can answer three questions. Get one wrong, and you're tossed into the pit.

Lancelot is the first tested. The keeper asks him, "What is your name?" Lancelot answers.

"What is your quest?"

Lancelot answers, "To seek the Holy Grail."

"What is your favorite color?"

"Blue."

"Right," says the bridge keeper, "off you go." Lancelot crosses the bridge, amazed this was so easy.

The second knight similarly states his name and quest. But the third question is now, "What is the capital of Assyria?"

"I don't know that."

The knight is hurled, screaming, into the abyss.

The third knight, Sir Galahad, is nervous as he's asked his name and quest, but he answers correctly.

"What is your favorite color?"

Sir Galahad panics. "Blue&#133;no, yellow--Aaaaahhhh," he screams as he is hurled into the pit.

Finally, the king steps up. "What is your name?"

"Arthur, King of the Britains."

"What is your quest?"

"To seek the Holy Grail."

"What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

"What do you mean," asks Arthur, "an African or European swallow?"

"What? I don't know that," answers the bridge keeper, who immediately is launched into the abyss. Arthur and his followers thereafter cross the bridge unhindered.

Many people's idea of the gospel is that some day we'll get to the bridge to paradise and be asked, "Why should you be allowed to cross?" As long as we answer correctly, we make it across. Answer wrongly, and we're cast into the abyss. The gospel is redefined to be the announcement of the minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven&#133;.

Jesus never said, "Now I'm going to tell you what you need to say to get into heaven when you die." Jesus' good news is we no longer have to live in the guilt, failure, and impotence of our own strength. The transforming presence and power of God is available through Christ right here, right now. To live in that power, you must become his disciple. [John Ortberg, "True (and False) Transformation," Leadership (Summer 2002), pp.101-102]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/20/15 11:47 AM
James 1:2-3 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavour to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged, the better to take in a true sense of our case, and with greater advantage to set ourselves to make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. In them we are conformable to Christ our head, and they become marks of our adoption. By suffering in the ways of righteousness, we are serving the interests of our Lord's kingdom among men, and edifying the body of Christ; and our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



On that tragic morning of September 11, 2001, The Brooklyn Tabernacle lost four of its members. One victim was a police officer. The officer's funeral was held at the church building, and Rudy Giuliani, then mayor of New York City, had been asked to share a few thoughts. In his book You Were Made for More, Jim Cymbala, pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle, records what the mayor shared with the audience that morning:

"You know people, I've learned something through all this. Let me see if I can express it to you. When everybody was fleeing that building, and the cops and the firefighters and the EMS people were heading up into it, do you think any of them said, 'I wonder how many blacks are up there for us to save? I wonder what percentage are whites up here? How many Jews are there? Let's see�are these people making $400,000 a year, or $24,000, or�?'

"No, when you're saving lives, they're all precious. And that's how we're supposed to live all the time. How would you want the cops to treat you if you were on the seventy-fifth floor that day? Would you want them to say, 'Excuse me, but I've got to get the bosses out first'? Not exactly.

"I confess I haven't always lived this way. But I'm convinced that God wants us to do it. He wants us to value every human life the way he does."

The words of the mayor moved everyone who had gathered that day for the funeral. Cymbala concludes:

"I sat there thinking, My goodness, the mayor is preaching a truth that has eluded so many of our churches throughout New York and the country! He may have stood for other policies that I could not agree with, but on that day, he was right on the mark. The truth of what he said penetrated my heart.

The world you and I live in is falling apart before our eyes. We are God's only representatives on the planet and simply cannot take time to pick and choose who needs help. They all need help. They all need the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. They all need to be rescued from the horror of an eternity apart from God. [Jim Cymbala, You Were Made for More (Zondervan, 2008), pp. 94-96]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/21/15 12:32 PM
Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT)
7 Don�t be misled�you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

We should not deceive ourselves for our sins will leave a trail that can be seen by God. What we do has consequences in our life either for good or evil. Those who try to satisfy their sinful nature will reap the consequences associated with the actions of their sin. Those who try to please God through the Holy Spirit will harvest lasting goodness.




"Be sure your sin will find you out," Numbers 32:23 tells us. But in the case of this story, we could also say "Be sure your Cheetos will find you out." During the early morning hours of January 6, 2013, county deputies were called to the Cassatt Country Store in Cassatt, South Carolina to investigate a burglary. The deputies determined that someone had broken into the store and stolen beer, cigarettes, snack foods, and energy drinks. The burglar only stole $160 worth of goods, but caused about $2,500 in damages.

The store manager, Howard "Buck" Buckholz, said, "He knocked out our front door, he knocked out the beer cooler, and stole beer, cigarettes, Slim Jims, and in his haste, he punctured two or three bags of Cheetos." That was the burglar's undoing. Buckholz said, "Cheetos were all over the parking lot, at the place where he parked his car, and at the residence." The police followed the trail of cheesy dust right to the house where the burglar was staying with a friend. As investigators approached the front door of the home, they observed more fresh Cheetos on the front porch. Buckholz added, "He was very easy to catch. It was a very quick deal." [Kevin Dolak, "Trail of Cheetos Leads to Store Robber," ABC News (1-19-13)]


After watching many crime shows over the years, it is obvious people are never as clever as they think they are; for they always leave behind a piece of evidence that will eventually be found. I remember in one show a thief left behind his wallet, which led police straight to him. And if we are so easily found out by man then we cannot deceive God who is all knowing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/15 12:16 PM
Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
7 �Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

In these verses Jesus gave us the basis of effective prayer � Keep on seeking and Keep on asking. Ask we seek and ask for the answers to prayers the door will be opened until we find the appropriate response.



In her book Holy the Firm, Annie Dillard writes of attending a small church with some 20 people:

The minister is a Congregationalist and wears a white shirt. The man knows God. Once, in the middle of the long pastoral prayer of intercession for the whole world for the gift of wisdom to its leaders, for hope and mercy to the grieving and pained, succor to the oppressed, and God's grace to all in the middle of this he stopped and burst out, "Lord, we bring you these same petitions every week." After a shocked pause, he continued reading the prayer. Because of this, I like him very much. [Annie Dillard, Holy the Firm (HarperCollins, 1999)]

Above we find the minister being honest in his prayer. The same basic prayer had been offered week after week. The desire was there for an answer, but an answer wasn�t coming in the manner everyone wanted. So in his desperation he called out to God, �Lord we bring you these same petitions every week.� The minister was still asking and still seeking for a response. Be assured God is listening and God is working on the response. Sometimes the response just doesn�t come in the time constraint we have placed upon God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/23/15 12:39 PM
James 1:5 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God, under a sense of our own weakness and folly, to ask for wisdom. He to whom we are sent, we are sure, has it to give: and he is of a giving disposition, inclined to bestow this upon those who ask. Nor is there any fear of his favours being limited to some in this case, so as to exclude others, or any humble petitioning soul; for he gives to all men. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In his book The Many Faces of Evil, author John Feinberg tells the story of when his wife, Pat, was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea�a genetically-transmitted disease that causes deterioration in the brain, thus causing deterioration of physical and psychological abilities. John and Pat were not only concerned about the future of her health, but the health of their children. If one parent has the gene that causes Huntington's, children of that parent have a 50-50 chance of suffering from the same disease. What was also troubling to John was that they had no warning that Huntington's was a possibility for Pat�and they should have been warned. Soon after the diagnosis, they requested a copy of Pat's mother's medical chart to see if there was any family history of the disease, and Pat's mother had suffered from Huntington's unbeknownst to the family. Feinberg was angry, realizing this diagnosis came five years before he met his wife. It could have altered everything! But Feinberg writes of his realization that the hidden knowledge was a gift of grace from God:

For twenty years that information had been there, and at any time we could have found it out. Why, then, did God not give it to us until 1987?

As I wrestled with that question, I began to see his love and concern for us. God kept it hidden because he wanted me to marry Pat, who is a wonderful wife. My life would be impoverished without her, and I would have missed the blessings of being married to her had I known earlier.

God wanted our three sons to be born. Each is a blessing and a treasure, but we would have missed that had we known earlier. And God knew that we needed to be in a community of brothers and sisters in Christ at church and at the seminary who would love us and care for us at this darkest hour.

And so he withheld that information, not because he accidentally overlooked giving it to us, and not because he is an uncaring God who delights in seeing his children suffer. He withheld it as a sign of his great care for us. There is never a good time to receive such news, but God knew that this was exactly the right time. [John S. Feinberg, The Many Faces of Evil (Crossway Books, 2004), pp. 464-465]


We often wrestle with the issues we face in our life. The Lord is faithful in seeing us through to an answer. He provides us wisdom to see our life for what it is. John Feinberg was distraught over the diagnosis of his wife, but God showed him the beautiful blessings John would have missed out on had things been any different.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/15 11:46 AM
James 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Jesus taught in the book of Matthew that those who humble themselves shall be exalted. Here James reminds us to humble ourselves before God and God Himself will lift you up. Matthew Henry wrote, �God will revive the spirit of the humble (Isa. 57:15), He will hear the desire of the humble (Ps. 10:17), and he will at last life them up to glory. Before honour is humility. The highest honour in heaven will be the reward of the greatest humility on earth.�



Here's some good news: if you're like most people, you're way above average�at almost everything. Psychologists call this the state of "illusory superiority." (It's also called "The Lake Wobegone Effect," from Garrison Keillor's fictional Minnesota town where "all the children are above average.") It simply means that we tend to inflate our positive qualities and abilities, especially in comparison to other people.

Numerous research studies have revealed this tendency to overestimate ourselves. For instance, when researches asked a million high school students how well they got along with their peers, none of the students rated themselves below average. As a matter of fact, 60 percent of students believed they were in the top 10 percent; 25 percent rated themselves in the top one percent. You'd think college professors might have more self-insight, but they were just as biased about their abilities. Two percent rated themselves below average; 10 percent were average and 63 were above average; while 25 percent rated themselves as truly exceptional.

Of course this is statistically impossible. One researcher summarized the data this way: "It's the great contradiction: the average person believes he is a better person than the average person." Christian psychologist Mark McMinn contends that the "Lake Wobegone Effect" reveals our pride. He writes, "One of the clearest conclusions of social science research is that we are proud. We think better of ourselves than we really are, we see our faults in faint black and white rather than in vivid color, and we assume the worst in others while assuming the best in ourselves." [Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; sources: "Study: Self-Images Often Erroneously Inflate," ABC News (11-9-05); Mark McMinn, Why Sin Matters (Tyndale, 2004), pp. 69-71]


We all really do have a hard time in admitting our mistakes, our weaknesses and our faults. Yet God has told us that humility leads to honor and that He will support us even when we fail. If we can just learn to truly humble ourselves before God then we would be able to let go of many of our problems.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/15 11:52 AM
Proverbs 27:2 (NIV)
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

We must do that which is commendable, for which even strangers may praise us. Our light must shine before men, and we must do good works that may be seen, though we must not do them on purpose that they may be seen. Let our own works be such as will praise us, even in the gates, Phil. 4:8. 2. When we have done it we must not commend ourselves, for that is an evidence of pride, folly, and self-love, and a great lessening to a man's reputation. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



"We're an overconfident species," contends New York Times columnist David Brooks. Brooks calls it a "magnification of the self," and he believes this glut of self-esteem is especially rampant in the United States. To back up these claims, Brooks cites an array of statistics, studies, and observations:
When pollsters ask people from around the world to rate themselves on different traits, Americans usually supply the most positive self-ratings.

Although American students do not perform well on global math tests, they are among the world leaders in having self-confidence about their math abilities.

Compared to college students from 30 years ago, today's college students are much more likely to agree with statements such as "I am easy to like."

94 percent of college professors believe they have above-average teaching skills.

70 percent of high school students surveyed claim they have above-average leadership skills, and only 2 percent are below average.

Brooks observes that a few decades ago it would have been unthinkable for a baseball player to celebrate himself in the batter's box after hitting a home run. Today it is routine.

Similarly, pop singers wouldn't have composed songs about their own greatness; now those songs dominate the charts.

The number of high school seniors who believed that they were "a very important person": in the 1950s�12 percent; in the 1990s�80 percent.

According to Brooks, American men are especially susceptible to the perils of overconfidence. Men unintentionally drown twice as often as women (because men have great faith in their swimming ability, especially after drinking).

"In short," Brooks concludes, "there's abundant evidence to suggest that we have shifted a bit from a culture that emphasized self-effacement�I'm not better than anybody else, but nobody is better than me�to a culture that emphasizes self-expansion." [David Brooks, "The Modesty Manifesto," The New York Times (3-21-11)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/15 12:06 PM
John 4:24 (NKJV)
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

It is required of all that worship God that they worship him in spirit and in truth. We must depend upon God's Spirit for strength and assistance, laying our souls under his influences and operations; we must devote our own spirits to, and employ them in, the service of God, must worship him with fixedness of thought and a flame of affection, with all that is within us. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



I was riding the crowded subway in New York City. Every 10 to 15 seconds or so, someone behind me shouted unintelligible words. The first time, I ignored them. After several outbursts, however, I turned around to see that they were coming from a disheveled man behind me.

Sitting fairly close to him was a woman reading a newspaper. As I watched, he reached out, touched her knee, and quickly brought his hand back. Not getting any response, he did it again a few seconds later. It seemed like a game a small child might play; each time, his face showed that he was pretending not to have touched her. No one said anything, but those sitting near him exchanged nervous glances and began to inch away.

I was caught off guard by what happened next. The woman put down her paper and looked at the man. I expected her to rebuke him. Instead, she politely engaged the man in conversation. "Do you know where your stop is?"

He nodded that he did.

"Do you need any help getting to where you need to go?"

He shook his head no.

I don't know what motivated this woman to treat a stranger on the subway with such kindness. But the way she asked these questions showed that she was genuinely concerned for his welfare. She chose to respond to him as a real person with real needs, not just as an annoyance on her commute.

The incident reminded me of how the Apostle Paul saw people: "We regard no one from a worldly point of view" (2 Cor. 5:16). Many people on that subway car including me had looked at the man from a human point of view. In contrast, the woman who spoke to him reflected the perspective Paul described. She addressed him as a person who had inherent worth. [Chuck Broughton, "Reflecting God's Nature," Discipleship Journal (Jan/Feb 2003), pp. 35-36]


In worshiping God we are to do so in truth and in spirit, putting aside our earthly selves. When we learn to worship God in that way we can put aside many of our earthly faults and learn to show love for our fellow man. For God shows us grace, mercy and love just like the woman showed the man on the subway.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 01/29/15 05:05 AM
That's a nice story.
I'm often in awe as I witness people from diverse backgrounds show love towards one another.
I witnessed it with my daughter a while back. I take my kids skating weekly and when my girl was 7, a mentally retarded man grabbed her hair while she was sitting in a table booth at the skate rink. He was very loud and it was obvious to all he was retarded.
The mans older brother immediately came and made him release my girls hair (I was not next to her, but making my way towards her). The mans brother apologized and I spoke with my daughter and asks if she was alright. She said she was. I told her I was sorry, that the man looks like a grown up but he is likea toddler in a grown up body. She said she knew that and although she was visibly shaken, said it was okay.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/15 11:49 AM
Mark 9:35 (NKJV)
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, �If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.�

Christ explains to His disciples those who are considered the greatest are the people who put aside themselves to serve God and place the needs of others first.



It is the desire for God which is the most fundamental appetite of all, and it is an appetite we can never eliminate. We may seek to disown it, but it will not go away. If we deny that it is there, we shall in fact only divert it to some other object or range of objects. And that will mean that we invest some creature or creatures with the full burden of our need for God, a burden which no creature can carry. �Friar and author Simon Tugwell, The Beatitudes


The above words point to the fact that when we place ourselves first, we tend to invest in things other than God to meet our needs. In making ourselves first, we make ourselves last with God. When we surrender to God and perform His will then we make ourselves last and become first priority with God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/30/15 12:22 PM
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other�s faults because of your love.

These are great words when it comes to relationships with others. We should be humble and gentle towards one another; for arrogance and harshness will create bitterness in any relationship. Allow room for one another�s faults out of love for each another. When we humbly correct a fault we win over the person to show them our concern for their care.



Time printed a photograph of the back of Washington Redskins quarterback Jeff George (his helmet off, revealing a big, white-skinned bald spot) sitting on the bench flanked by two African-American teammates, each with a supportive hand on his shoulder.

The caption read, "What counts most in creating a successful team is not how compatible its players are, but how they deal with incompatibility." ["We Illustrated," Time (11-18-02)]


There are differences in each of us, both physical and mental. We have different thoughts, different objectives and different goals. We must however learn to put the differences aside so that we may show love towards each other. We can start this process by being humble and gentle with each other and allow for each other�s faults.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/03/15 11:53 AM
Psalm 59:16 (NLT)
16 But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

God's power by which he is able to help us, and his mercy by which he is inclined to help us, will justly be the everlasting praise of all the saints. [Matthew Henry]



On June 22, 2007, a hit-and-run incident left Daniel McConchie paralyzed from the waist down. Daniel says that since that traumatic day, "God has not healed my affliction, but he has taught me the power of lamenting to him about it." He adds:

To our detriment, one of the most overlooked portions of Scripture in modern-day America are the psalms of lament. However, David repeatedly demonstrated that laments make obvious our intense faith in God, that he can and will intervene in our time of need. They demonstrate just how deep our relationship with the Father really is. After all, we don't communicate our grief and mourning to strangers. We save that for those we truly know and love. [Daniel McConchie, Vernon Hills, Illinois]


In Psalm 59 King Saul had sent soldiers after David to kill him, but God�s hand of protection was upon David. While David wrestled with the distress he was under, David was still about to praise God for His unfailing love. God is a refuge and a place of safety when we are under distress. Let us always turn to God with a heart of joy and thanksgiving.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/04/15 12:45 PM
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavour to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged, the better to take in a true sense of our case, and with greater advantage to set ourselves to make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In his book Hope Is Contagious, (Zondervan, 2010), Ken Hutcherson shares a moment from his personal life that illustrates well the ability to foster joy in the midst of trying circumstances, even as he was battling cancer:

You can face anything in life�anything�and have that same inner peace and joy. And when you do, it's contagious. It lifts up everyone else around you. Isn't that the type of person you want to be? Instead of joining over and over again in the whining about how bad things are, just your presence shows others that, hey, life is still a wonderful gift we should all be enjoying.

[One day] I was relaxing in my recliner after having spent five hours in the emergency room the night before. I'll admit I was exhausted, and the pain medication wasn't working as well as I would have liked. I looked around and saw my family going about their lives as usual. Video games. Chores. Music. Laughter. My wife, Pat, was fixing breakfast. Even our new little puppy was settling into a comfortable routine and enjoying everyone's efforts to spoil him. A visitor stopped by to chat. Some friends from church surprised me with a birthday cake�I had almost forgotten it was my birthday. So there I sat, surrounded by so much goodness even as I'm feeling lousy. My favorite cake is staring at me, but I have no appetite. My eleven-year-old runs past me, and I don't have enough energy to grab him and wrestle him to the ground like I used to. I'm trying to have a conversation with my guests, but between the short night and the powerful pain pills, I can barely stay alert. And you know what I'm thinking? Can you imagine how close I am to being overwhelmed with what is happening to me?

The words practically shouted from inside of me: "Isn't God great? What a privilege to be his child!"


Often our bodies and minds want to tell us there is no joy to be found. The Apostle Paul experienced this as he sat in prison. There were times he was hungry, cold and alone. Yet Acts 16:25 tells us, �Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.� Even though Paul was still in prison he found the strength to sing hymns to God, which encouraged the other prisoners around him. In your struggles stay joyful that others may see the hope of God in you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/06/15 11:20 AM
Proverbs 21:21 (NLT)
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

What it is to make religion our business; it is to follow after righteousness and mercy, not to content ourselves with easy performances, but to do our duty with the utmost care and pains, as those that are pressing forward and in fear of coming short. We must both do justly and love mercy, and must proceed and persevere therein; and, though we cannot attain to perfection, yet it will be a comfort to us if we aim at it and follow after it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



If you want to be recognized in life, be recognized for the important things. Let others speak of you favorably. Let them acknowledge your love for others. Let them tell how you helped those in need. Yes, above all pursue righteousness and unfailing love that you might find a life of righteousness and honor.

As King Solomon tells us in The Bible, what is life but a pursuit of futility? In Ecclesiastes he said, �I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn�t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.�

Make your life meaningful, not by pursuing the treasures of this world, but by storing your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/15 12:26 PM
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can�t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

We are bound, and it is our duty, to be thankful to God for all the good that is found in us or others: and it not only is an act of kindness to our fellow Christians, but our duty, to thank God on their behalf. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Stephen Mansfield tells a true story about a church that had an incredible ministry to men. For years the driving force behind the men's ministry was a man named Taylor. His ministry rocked on for years, changing lives and impacting the community. But in the midst of a major transition within the church, Taylor got hurt deeply by his own community and he left the church. He wouldn't talk to anybody. People figured he'd come back eventually, but he didn't.

Finally, some of the men in the church took it upon themselves to reach out to Brother Taylor. After some discussion with the other guys at church they came up with a bold plan: they would set up camp in Taylor's yard�150 men! So they set up rotating shifts and said they wouldn't leave until Taylor came out. They had electric lines running from neighboring houses to power televisions. About twenty smokers and grills worked up some great barbeque food. They were in for the long haul! They even had big signs all over the place: "Taylor, come out." "We love you." "Taylor, we know you're in there."

Taylor didn't appreciate it. He even called the police on his former friends. As a matter of fact, the police showed up twice a day for almost a week. And every time they came, Taylor would came to the door to explain the situation. And every time the men camping in his year would explode with cheers until Taylor finished his chat with the police and went back inside.

But on the sixth day, when Taylor opened the door for the police and the men exploded with cheers, Taylor finally broke down and started crying his eyes out. He sputtered how sorry he was, and then he came out from his porch and greeted the guys who had camped in his yard and refused to go away. Such is the power of committed, persistent friendship. [Adapted from Stephen Mansfield, Mansfields's Book of Manly Men (Nelson Books, 2013), pp. 241-244]


Let our love for one another continue to grow. When others feel distraught or persecuted, let us show our love towards them just as God has shown His love towards us. May we all life up one another in love to help one another endure the hardships of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/10/15 12:01 PM
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NLT)
13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn�t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God�s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn�t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn�t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Here the apostle describes love in its fullest and most extensive meaning � true love to God and man. Note that while men may claim many gifts that without love there is nothing gained.




Tim Sanders, leadership coach and former Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo! who urges managers and supervisors to let their subordinates know how much they appreciate them. Sanders advocates leading through loving in his book Love Is the Killer App, and from the platform of multiple leadership conferences. He often tells the story of a young manager named Steve, who was challenged by one of Sanders's radio interviews.

Steve resolved to visit each of his employees, all six of whom he had not seen face to face in over six months even though they worked in the same building and on the same floor. Steve wanted to tell each of them how much he appreciated them, and name one thing they did excellently.

After the visit from Steve, one of his software engineers, Lenny, presented him with an Xbox gaming console. Steve was taken aback, as he knew Lenny had taken pay cuts over the last year. But he was more surprised to learn that the money had come from the sale of a nine-millimeter pistol�a pistol Lenny had bought months earlier with the intention of killing himself. Lenny told him of his mother's death the previous year, and of his ensuing loneliness and depression:

I started a routine every night after work: eating a bowl of Ramen, listening to Nirvana, and getting the gun out. It took almost a month to get the courage to put the bullets in the gun. It took another couple of months to get used to the feeling of the barrel of the gun on the top of my teeth. For the last few weeks, I was putting ever so slight pressure on the trigger, and I was getting so close, Steve�so close.

Last week, you freaked me out. You came into my cubicle, put your arm around me, and told me you appreciated me because I turn in all my projects early, and that helps you sleep at night. You also said that I have a great sense of humor over e-mail and that you are glad I came into your life.

That night I went home, ate Ramen, and listened to Nirvana�and when I got the gun out, it scared me silly for the first time. All I could think about was what you said�that you were glad I came into your life.

The next day I went back to the pawnshop and sold the gun. I remembered that you had said you wanted the Xbox more than anything, but with a new baby at home could not afford it. So, for my life, you get this game. Thanks, boss.

"Sometimes people just need people," Sanders writes. "They need encouragement. You have no idea how lonely and sad some people might be. Love them everywhere�not just at home, but at work, or wherever you find them."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/15 12:42 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Some Bible translations describe love here as charity, but it is much more than charity we are familiar with. It is also much more than common love. It is love that is agape love. It is affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love. It is true love towards God and man that develops out of sincere and fervent devotion to God.



In On This Day by Carl D. Windsor, the page for Valentine's Day includes this anecdote: "Even the most devoted couple will experience a 'stormy' bout once in a while. A grandmother, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary, once told the secret of her long and happy marriage. 'On my wedding day, I decided to make a list of ten of my husband's faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook,' she said.

"A guest asked the woman what some of the faults she had chosen to overlook were. The grandmother replied, 'To tell you the truth, my dear, I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, Lucky for him that's one of the ten!' "


God never gives up on us. His love for us endures even when we have turned away from Him. God�s love is patient and kind, not willing for any to be lost. God keeps no record of wrong, for when we are forgiven the transgression is far from Him. God does not rejoice when we fail, but instead is ready to help us. Let us all learn to love as God loves, loving all and never keeping an account of how we were wronged.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/13/15 12:24 PM
James 3:18 (NLT)
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

And then, lastly, true wisdom will go on to sow the fruits of righteousness in peace, and thus, if it may be, to make peace in the world. And that which is sown in peace will produce a harvest of joys. Let others reap the fruits of contentions, and all the advantages they can propose to themselves by them; but let us go on peaceably to sow the seeds of righteousness, and we may depend upon it our labour will not be lost. For light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart; and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



CNN.com told the story of Harmon Parker, a master mason who has found a unique calling in building bridges�literal bridges in Kenya.

One of the men who helps him is David Kakuko, whose parents drowned in a flash flood years ago because there wasn't a safe way to cross the river. "Before the bridge, there [were] so many people, so many who lost their lives," remembers Kakuko. "I know, because I have no parents. I have no parents, because this river took them."

Motivated by his desire to love and obey Christ, Harmon Parker came to Kenya and proceeded to build 45 foot bridges. They are simply designed, with an average length of 120 feet and an average cost of $6,000. He uses basic, local materials and always engages the people from the community to work and to help contribute.

According to the CNN article, he said, "I have built many bridges in very remote areas for the 'few and the needy' that a larger organization may not consider. Knowing this bridge will probably save at least one life is what makes me tick �. I build bridges because I want to save lives, lives that I will never know about."

Parker funded an organization called Bridging the Gap to help fund his work. He has paid a high price himself in experiencing long periods away from his family, being robbed at gunpoint, and contracting serious illnesses. Yet he says, "I feel I'm blessed � privileged to do what I'm doing. A bridge is a beautiful metaphor for many things. There are bridges of hope, bridges of peace, bridges of life. To me, bridges are beautiful." [Danielle Berger, "Transforming Kenya one bridge at a time," CNN.com (8-21-10)]


Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, �God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.� There are many ways to bring peace into our lives. One way might be the building of a bridge so people will know the peace of safely crossing a river. Another is building bridges in relationships so that people begin to understand one another and feel the peace of a good relationship. Those who have wisdom, those who understand peace, know it takes effort to maintain peace that lasts.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/17/15 12:29 PM
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God�s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow�not even the powers of hell can separate us from God�s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below�indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In these verses the apostle tells us the things that might try and separate us from the love of God and then concludes it cannot be done. There is nothing that can separate us from God�s love that is in Christ Jesus.



Leeza Gibbon�s mother, Gloria Jean Gibbons passed away in May of 2008 at the age of 72. Gloria Jean, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1999 -- after witnessing her own mother's long struggle with the disease. Knowing only too well what lay ahead for her, Gloria Jean Dyson Gibbons gathered her family to give them instructions for coping as her disease progressed. She urged her daughter to "tell this story and make it count."

Alzheimer�s is a terrible disease because it slowly empties a person of who they were. Slowly over time their body becomes empty of the memories they once had. Leeza once said, I remember being home in my mother's house in South Carolina, helping her make the bed, and she was watching my every movement closely and trying to mirror what I was doing. Then she stopped and looked at me, and I said, "What's the matter, Mom?"

She said, "You're a very nice lady. How do I know you?" And I just smiled and said, "You know me because today I'm your daughter, yesterday I was your daughter, and I'll always be your daughter." And she said, "Oh."



There are times we forget how much God cares for us. Yet through the struggles, God constantly reminds us that today He is our God, yesterday He was our God and He will always be our God. No power can separate us from the love of God.




[abstracts from https://www.caring.com/interviews/interview-with-leeza-gibbons-about-her-mom-s-alzheimer-s]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/18/15 12:51 PM
Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

Some take a pride in being quick. They answer a matter before they hear it, hear it out, nay, as soon as they but hear of it. They think it is their honour to take up a cause suddenly; and, when they have heard one side, they think the matter so plain that they need not trouble themselves to hear the other; they are already apprized of it, and masters of all the merits of the cause. Whereas, though a ready wit is an agreeable thing to play with, it is solid judgment and sound wisdom that do business. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



One day an old man was casually walking along a country lane with his dog and his mule. Suddenly a speeding pick-up truck careened around the corner, knocking the man, his mule, and his dog into the ditch.

The old man decided to sue the driver of the truck, seeking to recoup the cost of the damages. While the old man was on the stand, the counsel for the defense cross-examined the man by asking a simple question: "I want you to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the following question: Did you or did you not say at the time of the accident that you were 'perfectly fine'"?

And the man said, "Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road � " And the counsel for defense said, "Stop, stop, I asked you, tell me 'yes' or 'no', did you say you were 'perfectly fine' at the time of the accident?"

"Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road and � " The defense attorney appealed to the judge. "Your honor," he said, "the man is not answering the question. Would you please insist that he answer the question?" The judge said, "Well, he obviously wants to tell us something. Let him speak."

So the man said, "Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road and this truck came around the corner far too fast, knocked us into the ditch. The driver stopped, got out of his truck, saw my dog was badly injured, went back to his truck, got his rifle, and he shot it. Then he saw that my mule had broken his leg so he shot it. Then he said, 'How are you?' And I said, 'I'm perfectly fine.'"


It is to our advantage to take time to listen to the entire story before coming to a conclusion. As The Bible tells us we need to be quick listen and slow to speak so that we have time to absorb and process the information before us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/20/15 12:06 PM
Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The ripping up of faults is the ripping out of love, and nothing tends more to the separating of friends, and setting them at variance, than the repeating of matters that have been in variance; for they commonly lose nothing in the repetition, but the things themselves are aggravated and the passions about them revived and exasperated. The best method of peace is by an amnesty or act of oblivion. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Amy Sutherland communicates some interesting ideas about husbands and wives in an article she wrote for the New York Times called, "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage." Sutherland begins by explaining that, after 12 years of marriage, she became dismayed that her husband still exhibited several irritating habits. Her reaction to this realization is shared by many women today:

These minor annoyances are not the stuff of separation and divorce, but in sum they began to dull my love for Scott. I wanted�needed�to nudge him a little closer to perfect, to make him into a mate who might annoy me a little less, who wouldn't keep me waiting at restaurants, a mate who would be easier to love.

So, like many wives before me, I ignored a library of advice books and set about improving him. By nagging, of course, which only made his behavior worse: he'd drive faster instead of slower; shave less frequently, not more; and leave his reeking bike garb on the bedroom floor longer than ever.

A breakthrough came when Amy began traveling to a school for exotic animal trainers in California in order to research a book she wanted to write:

I listened, rapt, as professional trainers explained how they taught dolphins to flip and elephants to paint. Eventually it hit me that the same techniques might work on that stubborn but loveable species, the American husband.

The central lesson I learned from exotic animal trainers is that I should reward behavior I like and ignore behavior I don't. After all, you don't get a sea lion to balance a ball on the end of its nose by nagging. The same goes for the American husband.

Back in Maine, I began thanking Scott if he threw one dirty shirt into the hamper. If he threw in two, I'd kiss him. Meanwhile, I would step over any soiled clothes on the floor without one sharp word, though I did sometimes kick them under the bed. But as he basked in my appreciation, the piles became smaller.
[Amy Sutherland, "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage," The New York Times (6-25-06)]


Dale Carnegie once said, �If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/23/15 12:37 PM
Proverbs 14:22 (NLT)
22 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.

Those who think themselves skilled in the labors of sin will soon find themselves at ruin. Those who plan and do good things please God; to which God�s response is to give grace and make Himself the debtor.




James Robertson, of Detroit walked twenty miles a day and in that time, Robertson has never missed a day of work. "I just believe a man should work. Work takes care of your soul. The rest takes care of itself."

This outlook may have made Robertson rich in spirit, but it has not made him rich in fact. He can't afford a car; he clears only $320 a week, and auto insurance can top $5,000 a year in Detroit. His landlord charges him $220 a week for the room. When it's all said and done, there's nothing left after groceries and bus fare. That's how it is in Detroit. Like running on quick sand.

The local newspaper got hold of his story a couple weeks ago. And then the TV. And then the internet. Pictures of a humble, raggedy man shambling through 14 inches of snow. A working class hero. The story went viral. And that's when the trouble started.

More than $350,000 in donations poured into a GoFundMe account set up for him. A local Ford dealership gave him a flaming-red Taurus loaded with options. But the well-meaning dealership may as well have painted a bull's-eye on the hood and attached a vanity plate that screamed: Come get me! I'm rich!

After that, everybody knew him. And everybody wanted something. The neighborhood started showing up on his porch with their palms out, though Robertson has yet to receive any of the money. His girlfriend � the one who owns the house and charges him 200 bucks for the bedroom � demanded a payout, he said. So did her ex-husband who lives with them. So did her adult son who lives with them. So did the other dude who lives with them. [Extracts from news.vice.com, Detroit�s walking man walks on, by Charlie Leduff]


James Robertson�s work ethics and goodness of heart inspired others to help James. They poured their love out upon him; but sadly those who wanted to do evil turned against James. Thankfully the people who truly loved and supported James came to his assistance and found him a new place to live, a new place to park and they are seeing how they can help him further.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/15 09:36 AM
Job 23:10-11 (NLT)
10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. 11 For I have stayed on God�s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.

Jobs friends had judged him for things they did not know and for which he was never guilty. Here we find Job�s confident reply that God is the witness to his integrity and that he lived a life satisfying to himself and God.




Admiral William H. McRaven, a 36-year Navy SEAL veteran, gave the commencement address to the Class of 2014 at the University of Texas in Austin. He titled his talk "10 Lessons to Change the World." Here's his first lesson about how to change the world:

Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors � would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack�rack�that's Navy talk for bed.

It was a simple task�mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle hardened SEALs�but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day � By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made�that you made�and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. [Admiral William H. McRaven, "Admiral McRaven: 10 Lessons to Help Change the World," Real Clear Politics (5-22-14)]


Because God knew his way, Job turned from the unjust judgments of his unfeeling friends and appealed to the Lord God Himself. He pleaded in the supreme court, where his case was known, and he refused the verdicts of erring men. He that doeth right seeketh the light; and as Job saw that the light was with God, he hastened to that light, that his deeds might be made manifest. [C.H. Spurgeon]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/04/15 11:08 AM
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
9 This is my command�be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

For the present and future generations of those who trust it God, it is a comforting thought that the same grace of God will be present as it has been in the past. God�s presence will watch over us and we can be strong and courageous knowing God is with us. Therefore do not be afraid nor discouraged.



Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in 1849. She immediately became involved in the abolitionist movement, organizing meetings, speaking against slavery, and the like.

But that wasn't enough for Tubman. She decided to return to the South secretly and deliver other slaves to freedom. It was a great risk, because if she had been caught, she would certainly have been thrown back into slavery or killed as an example to other potential runaways.

But not only did she return to the South that one time, she went back 19 times, to eventually rescue some 300 fellow slaves. Each trip became more risky, as slave catchers were on the alert for her. But each time she embarked on the journey, and each time, with God's help, she confessed, she evaded the authorities. [Matt Donnelly, "Black Moses: The mystical faith and no-nonsense tactics of the Underground Railroad�s Most Famous Leader," Christian History, issue 62, volume 2, page 24.]


General George Patton once said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

When we know God is with us we do not have to be afraid; for He is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. He protects the lives of His godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/06/15 01:09 PM
Proverbs 5:1 (NLT)
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.

Solomon's lectures are not designed to fill our heads with notions, with matters of nice speculation, or doubtful disputation, but to guide us in the government of ourselves, that we may act prudently, so as becomes us and so as will be for our true interest. [Matthew Henry]



The other day I listened to a friend describe what they call a feedback session at their job. The intent of the feedback session is to cover a situation or event an employee was involved in and provides constructive feedback to the person. The intent is to help the employee learn how to better handle an issue in the future. There are no disciplinary actions associated with the feedback session; instead it is an opportunity to listen to another�s wisdom and gain from their knowledge.

In this case my friend had to cover an issue with a fellow employee. My friend was careful to explain how he saw what had taken place and how the employee could better themselves the next time. After listening for a short while the employee told my friend he felt like he was being disciplined. Yet there were no disciplinary actions to be taken. This was a constructive feedback session to help the employee deal with future circumstances in the most professional manner. My friend reassured the employee this was for their benefit and no actions were to be taken.

So why would someone feel like they were being disciplined when they were receiving constructive feedback? Unfortunately there could be many reasons that came from the persons past. They may have had parents who disciplined for any and all negative actions. The person may have low self-respect or low self-esteem and therefore they believe any comments against them to be negative and hurtful. They may have been in negative relationships where their good qualities were never validated and their bad qualities were emphasized.

Yet, what was the intent of the session? It was an opportunity to learn from another�s wisdom without any repercussions or disciplinary actions. Just by listening and understanding their mistakes they could avoid making the same mistake in the future where the consequences could be greater.

If you know someone is trying to help you, put aside your feelings and listen to their wisdom. By paying attention you could improve yourself and learn to deal with the realities of life. In fact maybe the person talking to you has been in the same position before and learned how to effectively deal with whatever took place. Had they not listened to wisdom they would not have the chance to pass it on.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/09/15 11:26 AM
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NLT)
2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

Matthew Henry�s commentary tells us of the Apostle Paul, He determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him crucified-to make a show of no other knowledge than this, to preach nothing, to discover the knowledge of nothing, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Note, Christ, in his person and offices, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching. His business is to display the banner of the cross, and invite people under it. Any one that heard Paul preach found him to harp so continually on this string that he would say he knew nothing but Christ and him crucified. Whatever other knowledge he had, this was the only knowledge he discovered, and showed himself concerned to propagate among his hearers.




Above the apostle said he was determined to know everything about Christ. As Christians, we are to build a relationship with Christ. We are to know Jesus just as much or more than any close friend we have. We learn about Him by reading The Bible, spending time with Jesus in prayer and listening for answers to our prayers.

So I was intrigued the other day when I ran across an article on the CNN news site that said, �Five you didn�t know about Jesus.� I thought, let�s check these five things out and see whether I know them or not. The five items listed were:

1.) Jesus came from a nowhere little town.
2.) Jesus probably didn't know everything.
3.) Jesus was tough.
4.) Jesus needed "me time."
5.) Jesus didn't want to die.

Jesus came from a little nowhere town of Nazareth. Often Nazareth is referred to as a village. Historians placed the population around 400 during the life of Christ. One hint that it was not a city of great culture is when Nathaniel remarks to Philip, �Nazareth!� exclaimed Nathanael. �Can anything good come from Nazareth?�

Jesus didn�t know everything although he was God incarnate. As Jesus was explaining to the disciples about a time when the temple would be destroyed He said, �However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.� So there were things the Father knew, but Jesus himself was not privy to.

As many of the time, Jesus was physically tough. The mode of travel was usually walking and many times walking a great distance. The occupation of being a carpenter was not easy. Everything was performed by hand, from the cutting of the lumber to assembling the wood into something useful. Often carpenters would even help with the construction of a home, so Jesus was definitely in good physical shape.


Just like many of us, Jesus needed time alone. Jesus used his time in several ways. At one point he spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting so that He might draw closer to The Father. There were other times Jesus spent time alone in prayer. Occasionally Jesus just needed time away from the overwhelming crowds that followed Him and would retreat to a place of solitude.

Most of us don�t want to die. Jesus wasn�t any different from us in that regard, except He knew his purpose in life was to die for the sins of man. One evening after Jesus had dined with His disciples he went to the Mount of Olives where he wanted to spend time in prayer. There Jesus spoke these words to The Father, �Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.� Jesus was willing to do whatever God the Father asked of Him, yet he still asked if it was possible for Him not to suffer and die. However, we know that Jesus followed through with The Father�s desires and gave up His life freely so that we may live an eternal life with Him in Heaven.

How did you do with the five facts? Did you know them? If you missed a couple, it�s ok. It just shows we all need to learn more about Jesus so we can become closer to Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/11/15 11:29 AM
Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT)
9 Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

"The Lord thy God is not like the gods of the nations, the creatures of fancy, subjects fit enough for loose poetry, but no proper objects of serious devotion; no, he is God, God indeed, God alone, the faithful God, able and ready not only to fulfil his own promises, but to answer all the just expectations of his worshippers, and he will certainly keep covenant and mercy,' that is, "show mercy according to covenant, to those that love him and keep his commandments' (and in vain do we pretend to love him if we do not make conscience of his commandments); "and this' (as is here added for the explication of the promise in the second commandment) "not only to thousands of persons, but to thousands of generations-so inexhaustible is the fountain, so constant are the streams!' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



A 1994 Swiss study explored how religion gets passed from one generation to the next. In other words, what causes a child to adopt his or her parent's faith? The results pointed to one critical factor: the father's involvement in practicing his faith. The results included the following statistics:

If both father and mother attend regularly, 33 percent of children will become regular churchgoers, and 41 percent will attend irregularly.

If only the mother attends regularly and the father attends sporadically, only 3 percent of children will become regular churchgoers, and 59 percent will attend irregularly.

On the other hand, if a father attends church regularly but the mother is irregular, 38 percent of children will become regular attenders.

And if the father attends church regularly but the mother doesn't attend, the percentage rises even higher: 44 percent of children will become regular attenders.

When neither parent practices their faith, to nobody's surprise, only 4 percent of children will become regular attenders and 15 percent will attend occasionally. In other words, without mom or dad's regular participation, 80 percent of children will drift away from the faith.

Although the study certainly challenges fathers to participate in church involvement, it also offers some hope for faithful moms. Even when a father attends irregularly there are some extraordinary effects. And the Swiss study didn't account for many other factors: the spiritual vitality of the church attended, the power of a praying mother (or other family members), and the influence of a church that mentors children whose fathers are less involved. [Robbie Low, "The Truth About Men & Church," Touchstone Magazine (June, 2003);]


There are many fathers who have disobeyed God and turned away from Him. In doing so they have not affected just themselves, but they have also affected the faith of their children.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/17/15 11:14 AM
Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

It is the duty of Christians to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and we are here directed to take that encouragement both from the relation wherein he stands to us and from the experience we have had of his goodness according to that relation. [Matthew Henry]



Pat Summerall, the well known sports announcer, overcame alcoholism and became a follower of Christ in his late sixties. He said this about water baptism: "I went down in the water, and when I came up it was like a 40-pound weight had been lifted from me. I have a happier life, a healthy life, and a more positive feeling about life than ever before."

About prayer meetings and Bible studies Summerall comments: "It's like an alcoholic looking for a drink. If he wants it bad enough, he can find it�no matter what. I'm like that when it comes to finding prayer services and Bible studies. No matter where I am working, I know that they're out there and I can find them." [Art Stricklin, Sports Spectrum (Nov/Dec 2001), p. 27; Terry Mattingly, Washington Bureau (2-27-02)]


When our strength is failing, God Himself renews our strength and gives us new hope that we might bring honor to his name. God leads us to places that are peaceful and calm; away from the worldly life that seeks to destroy us. He is our shepherd and prepares for us all that we need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/18/15 12:47 PM
Romans 15:13 (NLT)
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observe how he addresses himself to God, as the God of hope. It is good in prayer to fasten upon those names, titles, and attributes of God, which are most suitable to the errand we come upon, and will best serve to encourage our faith concerning it. Every word in the prayer should be a plea. Thus should the cause be skilfully ordered, and the mouth filled with arguments. God is the God of hope. He is the foundation on which our hope is built, and he is the builder that doth himself raise it: he is both the object of our hope, and the author of it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



As a winter storm rolled over Birmingham, Alabama on January 28th 2014, Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw heard that a patient at Trinity Medical Center had taken a turn for the worse. The patient needed surgery, no other surgeon was available, and the patient had a 90 percent chance of dying. Driving wasn't an option because of the snow and ice. Emergency personnel were busy.

So the 62-year-old doctor faced these brute facts and proceeded to take action. He put a coat over his hospital scrubs and started walking six miles in the snow from Brookwood Medical Center to Trinity Medical Center. Along the way, he fell and rolled down a hill, but he got back up. He helped some drivers who were stuck in the snow. He finally arrived at Trinity, performed the surgery, and probably saved a patient's life.

In a later press conference that praised his efforts, Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw wondered what all the fuss was about. He said, "It really wasn't that big of a deal." Any good doctor would have done the same thing, Hrynkiw said. The patient was dying and, he said, "that wasn't going to happen on my shift."

But a hospital official said the doctor was being modest. Keith Granger, Trinity Medical Center's CEO, said, "It was not just a walk in the park. Given the conditions, the temperatures and the terrain, it's a remarkable physical feat and mental feat. And we have an individual alive today who wouldn't be here if not for his efforts."


Never give up on the hope God offers for we never know when someone will be moved to walk through a winter storm, helping people along the way, just to save a patient who needs the help of a doctor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/19/15 10:52 AM
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The apostle has spoken previously on those things that corrupt men and here he speaks of the Holy Spirit that produces the good fruits in our lives. �He particularly recommends to us, love, to God especially, and to one another for his sake,-joy, by which may be understood cheerfulness in conversation with our friends, or rather a constant delight in God,-peace, with God and conscience, or a peaceableness of temper and behaviour towards others,-long-suffering, patience to defer anger, and a contentedness to bear injuries,-gentleness, such a sweetness of temper, and especially towards our inferiors, as disposes us to be affable and courteous, and easy to be entreated when any have wronged us,-goodness (kindness, beneficence), which shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we have opportunity,-faith, fidelity, justice, and honesty, in what we profess and promise to others,-meekness, wherewith to govern our passions and resentments, so as not to be easily provoked, and, when we are so, to be soon pacified,-and temperance, in meat and drink, and other enjoyments of life, so as not to be excessive and immoderate in the use of them.� [Matthew Henry Commentary]



An article in The Boston Globe claims that our "demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives." The need for instant gratification is not new, but our expectation of "instant" has become faster. The article states:

Retailers are jumping into same-day delivery services. Smartphone apps eliminate the wait for a cab, a date, or a table at a hot restaurant. Movies and TV shows begin streaming in seconds. But experts caution that instant gratification comes at a price: It's making us less patient �

We've come to expect things so quickly that researchers found people can't wait more than a few seconds for a video to load. One researcher examined the viewing habits of 6.7 million internet users. How long were subjects willing to be patient? Two seconds. After that they started abandoning the site. After five seconds, the abandonment rate is 25 percent. When you get to 10 seconds, half are gone." The results offer a glimpse into the future. As Internet speeds increase, people will be even less willing to wait for that cute puppy video. The researcher, who spent years developing the study, worries someday people will be too impatient to conduct studies on patience. [Christopher Muther, "Instant gratification is making us perpetually impatient," The Boston Globe (2-2-13)]


God through the Holy Spirit can move us to do good things. Yet when we pursue the things of the world we miss out on what God is trying to teach us. As stated above we become impatient and want things now. In some cases that leads people to perform acts of crime to obtain what they want now.

Let us all take time to listen to the Holy Spirit and look forward to the good fruits in our life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/20/15 10:23 AM
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord�s kindness.

This milk of the word must be sincere, not adulterated by the mixtures of men, who often corrupt the word of God, 2 Co. 2:17. The manner in which they are to desire this sincere milk of the word is stated thus: As new-born babes. He puts them in mind of their regeneration. A new life requires suitable food. They, being newly born, must desire the milk of the word. Infants desire common milk, and their desires towards it are fervent and frequent, arising from an impatient sense of hunger, and accompanied with the best endeavours of which the infant is capable. Such must Christians' desires be for the word of God: and that for this end, that they may grow thereby, that we may improve in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.



As a child I loved the evenings that the kids in our family would sit by my father's chair while he read us stories aloud. One of our favorites was the poem "The Highwayman." The poem tells of an adventurer who robs the coaches of English aristocrats. The daring highwayman is in love with an innkeeper's daughter, and by night, when the coast is clear, he courts her. The authorities learn of the romance, and one twilight, before the highwayman arrives, British soldiers invade the inn. They tie the innkeeper's daughter at the window so the highwayman will see her and believe the way is safe. Then, lest she try to warn her love in any way, the soldiers gag the maid and tie a musket at her heart that will fire at the slightest movement. The highwayman comes riding.

Unaware of the muskets that wait to cut him down, the highwayman gallops ever closer to his destruction. He sees his love at the window. She hears his horse's hoofs on the lane. The soldiers [censored] their muskets. Nearer to the arms he loves, nearer to his destruction, the highwayman comes riding. Then, just as he is about to enter musket range, a premature shot rings out warning him to turn back. The highwayman reins and turns as the frustrated soldiers shoot a futile volley. All the muskets fire, but only one found its mark. The one true shot was from the musket that fired the warning�the musket aimed at the heart of the innkeeper's daughter. She warned at the expense of her life, and the warning was the expression of a great love.

The Cross stands both as God's ultimate warning of the consequences of sin, and as the greatest expression of his love for sinners. If God did not love, he would not so graciously warn. The Cross is the fatal cry of a Savior to those he loves to turn from what will do them great harm. [Bryan Chapell, from the sermon "The Judgment of Grace," PreachingToday.com]


Cry out for nourishment from God so that you may understand God�s full love. For Christ gave his life out of love that the arrows of death would miss us. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 says, �54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

�Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/23/15 12:05 PM
Proverbs 23:12 (NLT)
12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Here is, 1. A parent instructing his child. He is here brought in persuading him to give his mind to his book, and especially to the scriptures and his catechism, to attend to the words of knowledge, by which he might come to know his duty, and danger, and interest, and not to think it enough to give them the hearing, but to apply his heart to them, to delight in them, and bow his will to the authority of them. The heart is then applied to the instruction when the instruction is applied to the heart. [Matthew Henry]



Many Christians only see bits and pieces of the Bible, lacking a big picture of how the Scriptures hold together. Theology and doctrine provide that larger vision of the entire Bible. In his book The Social Animal, David Brooks illustrates the need for a big picture by using an illustration from the game of chess:

A series of highly skilled players and a series of nonplayers were shown a series of chessboards [with chess pieces] for about five to ten seconds each �. [Later], the grandmasters could remember every piece on every board. The average players could only remember about four or five pieces per board.

Why did the chess grandmasters have such an amazing ability to remember the pieces? They did not have superior IQ's or better memories. Instead, Brooks explains:

The real reason the grandmasters could remember the game boards so well is that after so many years of study, they saw the boards in a different way. When average players saw the boards, they saw a group of individual pieces. When the masters saw the boards, they saw formations. Instead of seeing a bunch of letters on a page, they saw words, paragraphs, and stories �. Expertise is about forming internal connections so that the little pieces of information turn into bigger networked chunks of information. Learning is not merely about accumulating facts. It is internalizing the relationship between pieces of information.

For Christians, theology and doctrine are essential because they provide the big picture so we can read Scripture and see not just "individual pieces" of information. Doctrine also enables us to see "the relationship between the pieces of information." [David Brooks, The Social Animal (Random House, 2011), pp. 88-89]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/24/15 11:42 AM
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, �Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.�

This is an invitation from Christ that all those who are tired from heavy burdens, weariness, hardship of ceremonial laws, and arduous traditions are to come to Christ so He can set His church free from the yokes of labor that have been placed on them. Christ wants to introduce them to an easier way that takes away the shame and guilt and instead invites them to rest.



I called him Two-Phone Joe. The first time I met him, I was sitting at an outdoor table at my favorite coffee spot. He came out, cell phone pressed between shoulder and ear, talking a blue streak. He had a cup of coffee in one hand, a Coke in the other, and another phone on his belt. When he put his cup down to hang up, I said, "Man, you've got to relax a little!" And that's how my friendship got started with one of the most hyper guys I've ever known.

Joe and I talked often. Actually, Joe ranted and raved, and I mostly listened. Once, I was sitting at an inside table and he came in, assaulting his phone as usual. He talked, loud and angry, the whole time he ordered and then, after he sat down, he kept arguing for the whole coffee shop to hear. When he finally got off the phone, I said, "Joe, come here."

"What?" he barked, guardedly.

"Sit down here," I repeated.

"Why?" he asked, but he sat down.

"Joe, I don't know if anyone has ever done this for you before, but I am going to pray for you right now." Joe's eyes got big, and he looked at me like I was crazy. Before he could run, I just put my hand on his arm and quietly prayed for a few seconds, asking God to quiet Joe and to give him peace.

"Thank you," Joe said softly, and I wondered if that might have been the first holy moment in Joe's entire tumultuous life. [Lee Eclov, "Christ in a Coffee Shop," Trinity Magazine (Spring 2006), p. 15]


The world calls out to us that we must be perfect, that we must be successful, and that we must work as hard as we can to obtain what we want. Yet Jesus calls out to us and says, �Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I know there are some of you carrying difficult burdens so let me take a moment to pray for you.

Father, there are those reading these words that have the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are tired, weary and just plain exhausted. They have so many things on their plate they aren�t sure where to turn next. Father let them hear the call of Jesus saying come and I will give you rest. Let them feel Your peace, Your quiet, Your comfort and Your love. Show them the life they need to follow. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/15 11:52 AM
Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)
28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

The good character of a wise and virtuous man implied. He is one that has rule over his own spirit; he maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions, and does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience. He has the rule of his own thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Before serving as a Methodist minister from 2000 to 2010 near Nashville, Tennessee, John M. Eades spent two decades as a therapist counseling drug and alcohol addicts. But his professional expertise did not prevent his descent into compulsive gambling.

His downfall began when some friends pestered him into accompanying them to a casino. Although Eades had never been a gambler, the urge to play the slot machines that was sparked that night escalated into daily casino visits.

"I went every afternoon after work and stayed until late, and I'd go every weekend," recalls Eades, 68. Missing church was no concern. At the time, Eades only attended sporadically.

Within two years, he had maxed out 17 credit cards and amassed $245,000 in gambling debts. One night, driving home from the casino, Eades decided to kill himself. He pulled over at a rest stop and reached into the glove compartment for his .357 Magnum. The gun was gone. Upon reaching home, Eades hugged his wife, Karen, and thanked her for saving his life by hiding the weapon. But he was in for another surprise.

"I didn't take the gun to save your life," Karen told him. "I sold it so we could pay the electric bill."

Soon, the economic strain became too much for Karen. She swallowed an entire bottle of pills in front of her husband. After getting his wife's stomach pumped at a hospital, Eades tried to escape his own depression by going off to gamble.

Later, in a drastic step to remove temptation, Eades moved to a Tennessee town 300 miles away from the nearest casino. He agreed to Karen's request that they attend church regularly. Yet Eades secretly started stashing money in his car trunk for a planned trip to a Mississippi casino.

Another suicide attempt, this time by his 27-year-old daughter, Ginger, over a failed relationship, finally prompted Eades to change �. He opened his car trunk and gave the $600 he had saved for gambling to his wife.

Today Eades is in recovery and marvels at the power the addiction had over his life. "When you're in an addiction and you look back, it's just like you were an insane person," says Eades �. "You cannot believe the things you did."

Eades says there can be no removal of addictive desires or recovery without God's intervention. He also credits Karen, his wife of 48 years.

"When you're [an addict] you really want people to leave you alone so you can feel sorry for yourself and keep [up your addiction]," Eades says. "It's very important to have [someone] who loves you enough to stay with you through it." [John W. Kennedy, "Entering Ministry After Addiction," Leadership Journal (Spring 2011)]
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 03/28/15 03:17 AM
People that were in affairs and come out of them also state on these forums y hat they were nearly insane at the time.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/30/15 11:07 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
People that were in affairs and come out of them also state on these forums y hat they were nearly insane at the time.


I believe for some that affairs become an addiction that trys to fill a void that can't be filled. Some have described it as you said, something where they felt insane; because they were doing something insane they knew inside they should not be doing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/30/15 11:07 AM
Isaiah 53:3-4 (NLT)
3 He was despised and rejected� a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

The prophet, in the close of the former chapter, had foreseen and foretold the kind reception which the gospel of Christ should find among the Gentiles, that nations and their kings should bid it welcome, that those who had not seen him should believe in him; and though they had not any prophecies among them of gospel grace, which might raise their expectations, and dispose them to entertain it, yet upon the first notice of it they should give it its due weight and consideration. Now here he foretels, with wonder, the unbelief of the Jews, notwithstanding the previous notices they had of the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament and the opportunity they had of being personally acquainted with him. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In May 2009, my family was in Azusa, California, because one of our kids was graduating from Azusa Pacific University. My wife, Nancy, was going to speak at the commencement ceremonies, so she and I were invited to a special gathering of about 50 people�people from the graduating class of 50 years ago and a few faculty members. During the gathering, John Wallace, the president of APU, brought out three students who were graduating that year and told us that for the next two years, they were going to serve the poorest of the poor in India.

These three students thought they were there just to be commissioned and sent out with a blessing�which they were. But then something happened that they did not know was coming. John turned to them and said, "I have a piece of news for you. There's somebody you do not know�an anonymous donor�who is so moved by what you're doing that he has given a gift to this university in your name, on your behalf."

John turned to the first student and said, "You are forgiven your debt of $105,000." The kid immediately starts to cry. John turns to the next student: "You're forgiven your debt of $70,000." He then turns to the third student: "You are forgiven your debt of $130,000." All three students had no idea this was coming. They were just ambushed by grace�blown away that somebody they don't even know would pay their debt. The whole room was in tears. [John Ortberg, in the sermon "Patch 'Em," Menlo Park Presbyterian, Menlo Park, California (preached 5-17-09)]


Isaiah tells us �Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!� Innocent, Jesus carried to the cross the sins that we, the guilty, committed. And there at the cross Jesus died with those sins so that we would have mercy and grace from those sins. Fortunately the story doesn�t stop there for Christ rose back to life, a beautiful eternal life that we can all inherit by a willingness to turn from our sin and placing our lives and our faith in Christ; who will welcome us into heaven when we leave this earthly realm.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/02/15 12:06 PM
Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 �Listen,� he said, �we�re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.�

A prediction of Christ's approaching sufferings. He took the twelve disciples apart in the way. This was one of those things which were told to them in darkness, but which they were afterward to speak in the light, ch. 10:27. His secret was with them, as his friends, and this particularly. It was a hard saying, and, if any could bear it, they could. They would be more immediately exposed to peril with him, and therefore it was requisite that they should know of it, that, being fore-warned, they might be fore-armed. It was not fit to be spoken publicly as yet. This is the third time that Christ gave his disciples notice of his approaching sufferings; he was not going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover, and to offer up himself the great Passover; both must be done at Jerusalem: there the passover must be kept (Deu. 12:5), and there a prophet must perish, because there the great Sanhedrim sat, who were judges in that case, Lu. 13:33. [quotations from Matthew Henry�s Commentary]



There are times when things should be said in private and this was one of those times. Jesus did not want others to know of him impending death. His disciples, however, deserved to hear the truth.

These verses give us the basis for a gospel presentation. Jesus who was innocent was to be betrayed and taken by the religions leadership. Jesus was then turned over to the Romans by this same religious leadership where he was flogged, tortured and crucified until death. Jesus also told them that on the third day he would be raised from the dead. Christ defeats sin and He defeats death so that we can have an eternal life with Him in heaven through faith in Christ, knowing we are sinners and are in need of His redemption.

Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate model of masculine love. Jesus sacrificed himself for others. It doesn't take any special ability to live a self-centered life; but it takes character to sacrifice.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/03/15 12:25 PM
Hebrews 11:28 (NLT)
28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

The account of this we have in Ex. 12:13-23. Though all Israel kept this passover, yet it was by Moses that God delivered the institution of it; and, though it was a great mystery, Moses by faith both delivered it to the people and kept it that night in the house where he lodged. The passover was one of the most solemn institutions of the Old Testament, and a very significant type of Christ. The occasion of its first observance was extraordinary: it was in the same night that God slew the first-born of the Egyptians; but, though the Israelites lived among them, the destroying angel passed over their houses, and spared them and theirs. Now, to entitle them to this distinguishing favour, and to mark them out for it, a lamb must be slain; the blood of it must be sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop upon the lintel of the door, and on the two side-posts; the flesh of the lamb must be roasted with fire; and it must be all of it eaten that very night with bitter herbs, in a travelling posture, their loins girt, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand. This was accordingly done, and the destroying angel passed over them, and slew the first-born of the Egyptians. [Matthew Henry Commentary}



Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

For Christians the following except was continued in Matthew Henry�s Commentary:

(1.) Christ is that Lamb, he is our Passover, he was sacrificed for us.
(2.) His blood must be sprinkled; it must be applied to those who have the saving benefit of it.
(3.) It is applied effectually only to the Israelites, the chosen people of God.
(4.) It is not owing to our inherent righteousness or best performances that we are saved from the wrath of God, but to the blood of Christ and his imputed righteousness. If any of the families of Israel had neglected the sprinkling of this blood upon their doors, though they should have spent all the night in prayer, the destroying angel would have broken in upon them, and slain their first-born.
(5.) Wherever this blood is applied, the soul receives a whole Christ by faith, and lives upon him.
(6.) This true faith makes sin bitter to the soul, even while it receives the pardon and atonement.
(7.) All our spiritual privileges on earth should quicken us to set out early, and get forward, in our way to heaven.
(8.) Those who have been marked out must ever remember and acknowledge free and distinguishing grace.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God�s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God�s glory. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/06/15 11:41 AM
1 John 3:16 (NLT)
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Here is the love of God himself, of him who in his own person is God, though not the Father, that he assumed a life, that he might lay it down for us! Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own blood! Surely we should love those whom God hath loved, and so loved; and we shall certainly do so if we have any love for God. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In the early 1990s, gang violence erupted in Boyle Heights, a section of East Los Angeles. Eight gangs were in conflict in the parish around the Dolores Mission Catholic Church. Killings and injuries happened daily. A group of women who met for prayer read together the story of Jesus walking on water �. Then one of the mothers, electrified by the text, began to identify the parallels between the Jesus story and her own �.

That night, seventy women began � a procession from one barrio to another. They brought food, guitars, and love. As they ate chips and salsa and drank Cokes with gang members, [they began to sing traditional songs together]. The gangs were disoriented, baffled; the war zones were silent.

Each night the mothers walked. By nonviolently intruding and intervening, they "broke the rules of war." The old script of retaliation and escalating violence was challenged and changed. It is no accident that the women christened their nighttime journeys "love walks."

As the relationships between the women and the gang members grew, the kids told their stories. Anguish over lack of jobs; anger at police brutality; rage over the hopelessness of poverty. Together they developed a tortilla factory, a bakery, a child-care center, a job-training program, a class on conflict-resolution techniques, a school for further learning, a neighborhood group to monitor and report police misbehavior, and more.

And it began with the challenge "Get out of the boat" and "walk on water." [James Bryan Smith,The Good and Beautiful Life (InterVarsity Press, 2010), pp. 131-132]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/15 11:37 AM
2 Samuel 11:2-4 (NIV)
2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, �She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.� 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.

This is the beginning of King David�s affair with Bathsheba that eventually led King David to place Bathsheba�s husband Uriah on the front battle lines where he would be killed. The affair started with a look of desire and became an obsession David could not release himself from.



The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5, �We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.� In other words we are to take our thoughts captive, examine our motives and sift through our captive thoughts to understand if we are disobeying Christ and fighting against God.

David did not even hesitate in his thoughts to take Bathsheba as his mistress. Not once did David wonder is this going against God�s will. His only thoughts were about his desires. He did not capture those thoughts and wrestle with them until he was sure of what he was doing. Instead he followed his desires, which eventually led to the murder Bathsheba�s husband Uriah.

In life we have to be very careful. We face temptations every day that could lead us in a wrong direction. In order not to take the wrong direction we need a plan. The Apostle Paul has given us a start on that plan by telling to examine our thoughts and motives to ensure they align with God�s plan for our lives.

Maybe there is an area of your life you are battling. Take captive every thought and make them obedient to Christ. If we don�t hold our thoughts captive we may find our thoughts holding us captive.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/08/15 12:40 PM
Romans 5:10 (NIV)
10 For if, while we were God�s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

The apostle tells us we were enemies of God. We were traitors and rebels against our benefactor; and our enmity towards God is also a mutual enemy against ourselves. God provides reconciliation and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. If we are provided this saving redemption as enemies of God, what a great salvation we have been offered through the eternal life of Jesus Christ.



Bryan Chapell writes in Holiness By Grace (Crossway Books), An old tale speaks of a man who died and faced the angel Gabriel at heaven's gates. The angel said, "Here's how this works. You need a hundred points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you have done, and I will give a certain number of points for each of them. The more good there is in the work that you cite, the more points you will get for it. When you get to a hundred points, you get in."

"Okay," the man said, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."

Gabriel replied, "That's wonderful. That's worth three points."

"Three points?" said the man incredulously. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my money and service."

"Terrific!" said Gabriel, "that's certainly worth a point."

"One point?" said the man with his eyes beginning to show a bit of panic. "Well, how about this: I opened a shelter for the homeless in my city, and fed needy people by the hundreds during holidays."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," said the angel.

"TWO POINTS!" cried the man in desperation. "At this rate the only way I will get to heaven is by the grace of God."

"Come on in," said Gabriel.


Because of God�s love for us we are provided with His redeeming Grace.
Posted By: axslinger85 Re: Devotionals - 04/09/15 01:17 AM
^ I love this story! Such a clever explanation of grace. smile

Thank you, by the way, for this thread. I enjoy these.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/09/15 11:11 AM
Originally Posted by axslinger85
^ I love this story! Such a clever explanation of grace. smile

Thank you, by the way, for this thread. I enjoy these.


You are more than welcome. I pull the Bible verses and stories together as much for me as I do others. Thank you for your encouragement!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/09/15 11:11 AM
Proverbs 9:12 (NLT)
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

We must remember we are tempted, but ultimately the choice we make comes from wisdom or the lack of wisdom. Wisdom is beneficial to us in that we see the consequences ahead of our actions. We understand what our choice means and that we are willing to accept the responsibility. Unfortunately there are times we disregard wisdom and make ill-advised choices. It is these unwise choices that lead us to suffer. We face the consequences we have earned and yet because of the negative consequences we often deny our own failures to listen to wisdom.



In the movie Crimes and Misdemeanors, written and directed by Woody Allen, Judah Rosenthal (Martin Landau) is an esteemed husband and father in a desperate situation because of his adultery.

Judah, an eye doctor, is in his clinic checking the ailing eyesight of a rabbi. With a strained expression on his face, he says, "I'm in such trouble, Ben. I need to talk to someone. We've known each other many years. You're a religious man. I'm not. We differ on many points, but you're somebody I do respect. May I confide in you?"

"Of course. Go ahead. Everything is confidential."

Judah stands up and begins to file away some papers. "I've done a foolish thing. Senseless and dumb. Another woman. Maybe I was flattered. Vulnerable. Maybe because she was helpless and alone. I don't know, but now my life is about to go up in smoke."

"Can't you break it off?"

"The woman won't allow it. She's young. She's very unstable. She's vindictive. And it's my fault. I instigated it. I prolonged it. Many times I tried to break it off, but I was too weak. But I promised her nothing. Or did I? I don't even know anymore. In the heat of passion you say things. All I know is that after two years of shameful deceit where I led this double life I awakened as if from a dream and realized what I'd be losing."

"It's called wisdom. It comes to some suddenly. We realize the difference between what's real and deep and lasting versus the superficial payoff of the moment."


James 1:5 tells us, �If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.� True wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/15 10:44 AM
Proverbs 10:10 (NLT)
10 People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.

A wink is usually given as a confirmation to someone. In this case there is something wrong taking place and another person gives a wink or a nod to the actions. What a better purpose would have been served if another had rebuked the sinner in such a way as to bring about peace with God.



The following illustration was adapted from an article by Michael Wheeler, a professor at Harvard Business School.

According to Major David Dixon, recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, from Day 1 every Marine is taught to live a life worthy of a Marine. They're also taught to hold one another accountable to that standard of excellence. Dixon says,

If the Marine next to you is falling asleep in class, you must have the moral courage to wake him up and motivate him to stay awake. If you are caught sleeping in class at boot camp, not only do you get in trouble for laziness, but the Marine to your left and to your right get in trouble for lack of moral courage because they should have corrected you when you were in the wrong.

There's a graphic example of this principle from a unit of British Marine commandos. During the war in Afghanistan, a unit came across an insurgent, badly wounded but unarmed. One of the British Marine soldiers, seething with rage, pointed his pistol at the man. He told the man to die and then pulled the trigger. The Marine's parting words were "It's nothing you wouldn't do to us." The solider then turned to his fellow commandos and said, "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention." But word did get out in the following days, and that commando was found guilty of murder.

Could anything been said or done to prevent the tragedy? Some military experts believe that the murder could have been prevented if just one other Marine in that unit had the courage to confront their fellow-soldier and hold him accountable. It would have taken only four simple words: "Marines don't do that."

God�s word to us is power in that it speaks to our hearts and examines us and convicts us as needed. Our words to others are also powerful in that we may be able to bring them back from a state of sin to a state of righteousness. Let us take the time to boldly and gently correct others when their actions go astray. May we not wrongly give approval, but seek to help them in doing what is right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/15 11:36 AM
ROMANS 3:23-24 (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God�s glorious standard. 24 Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Here the apostle points out that everyone has sinned; they have fallen short of God�s standard of righteousness. Yet, while we were still sinners God freely and graciously, out of His love for us, declared that we are righteous because of His Son Jesus Christ who lived a sinless life and died as a sacrifice for our sin. It was Christ who paid the debt we owed for living a sinful life.



Dan Meyer, in his sermon �Why we remember the passion?� said this: Years ago I traveled to Ecuador and spent a couple of weeks traveling in the mountains. The Quechua Indian people I met there lived amidst the most mind-numbing squalor. The disease and disfigured bodies were heartbreaking. The bugs and stench were everywhere. People were living in a hole in the ground and calling it a house. They were feeding on rotten food and prizing garbage as possessions. But they didn't know it. Why? Because everyone lived that way. They had never been given a picture of what it means to be a genuinely healthy human being. They did not know what an abundant life truly looked like.

That is our problem, too. It's the reason we think of ourselves as largely innocent people�people who have little to do with bringing about the Cross of Christ. We don't get how sick and undeveloped we are spiritually. In Psalm 14, David says that the one fully-healthy Being in the universe views the human race as we might view those Quechua villagers�only the gap between his life and that of our village is so much larger. "The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. But all have turned aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one." In other words, we are condemned, and we don't even know it.


Isaiah 53:6 says, �All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God�s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/15 11:34 AM
Proverbs 15:12 (NLT)
12 Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise.

There are those who defy others, even God. They cannot come to terms with their own conscious or allow themselves to become subjected to correction. They cannot endure the advice and admonitions of friends. They will not go to the wise for in doing so they may hear wise counsel that proves them wrong.




Can you imagine what it would be like to lose three generations of your family in one blinding moment? How would you survive? That happened in 1991 to Jerry Sittser, a professor at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.

He, his wife, Lynda, their four children, and his mother, Grace, had been to a Native American powwow in Idaho. As they were returning home, a car with a drunk driver going 85 miles an hour swerved and crashed into them head-on. In an instant Sittser lost his mother, his wife, and their youngest daughter.

In A Grace Disguised, Sittser describes with searing honesty what it was like to be a single father, a teacher, a counselor to others while he himself was a man bereft and torn, slipping into a black hole of oblivion and often simply wanting out.

One night he had a kind of "waking dream." The sun was setting, and he was frantically chasing after it toward the west, hoping to catch it and bring it back. But it was a losing race. Soon the sun was gone, and he "felt a vast darkness closing in."

Shortly after this, his sister Diane told him that the quickest way to reach the sun is not to go west but instead to head east, to move fully "into the darkness until one comes to the sunrise."

It was a counterintuitive insight that helped Sittser find a road to recovery: "I discovered in that moment that I had the power to choose the direction my life would head�.I decided from that point on to walk into the darkness rather than try to outrun it, to let my experience of loss take me on a journey wherever it would lead, and to allow myself to be transformed by my suffering rather than to think I could somehow avoid it." [Leighton Ford, The Attentive Life (Multnomah, 2008), p. 162]


We become wise ourselves when we listen to the wisdom of others. �We ought not only to bid the wise welcome when they come to us, but to go to them, as beggars to the rich man's door for an alms; but this the scorner will not do, for fear of being told of his faults and prevailed upon to reform.� [Matthew Henry]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/16/15 11:07 AM
Jeremiah 10:10 (NLT)
10 But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King.

But the Lord is the true God, the God of truth; he is God in truth. God Jehovah is truth; he is not a counterfeit and pretender, as they are, but is really what he has revealed himself to be; he is one we may depend upon, in whom and by whom we cannot be deceived. [Matthew Henry�s Commentary]



The world we live in often deceives, but The Lord will never deceive us. In the Matthew West song, HELLO MY NAME IS, regret and defeat are given a persona of one who would deceive us. God tells us we are forgiven, but regret will not let us forget our wrongful actions of the past. The Lord tells us we are victorious, but defeat calls out that we will just be dragged down again. Here are some of the lyrics to HELLO MY NAME IS by Matthew West:

Hello, my name is regret
I�m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I�m the whisper inside
That won�t let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I�ll drag you right back down again
�Til you�ve lost all belief

Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies
And I have believed them for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I�ve been saved, I�ve been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King


In the chorus we are reminded we are children of The Lord. The Lord has extended His grace towards us and provides salvation that we may be set free from the traps of sin. Don�t let the things of this world become your god, but do as the apostle said in Hebrews 3:13, �You must warn each other every day, while it is still �today,� so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/17/15 12:15 PM
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our joys. By his death we live. This is what Paul preached, what all ministers should preach, and what all the saints live upon. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In the book, Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection, author Jonathan Dodson writes, "The resurrection is a dividing line�a parting claim." Here's how he illustrates that "dividing line":

The resurrection is like a river that parts a road. People are on the road approaching the river. Arriving at the river of the resurrection, you look across it to where the road continues and see quite a few cars are there. In your doubt, you can't imagine how people got to the other side of the river. How did they get across? How can rational people come to the belief that Jesus died and rose from the dead?

Faith is the unnoticed ferry, lying hidden near the bank of the river that can take us from the riverbank of doubt � to the other side of belief in the resurrection. [But] it's not blind faith � You don't cross by closing your eyes and wishing Jesus' resurrection was true. No. You cross with your eyes wide open. This is an informed faith, faith in a historical plausible resurrection, attested by hundreds of witnesses, one proven to be worth believing.


Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, wrote: The plan of redemption unfolded as Almighty God sent His Son to earth on a mission to die, to �give his life as a ransom for many� (Mark 10:45, NIV). And not simply to die, but to die on a cross in punishment for our sins so that we might be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life.

To many, that sounds like nonsense. But the Bible says, �The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God� (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/20/15 11:19 AM
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NLT)
55 �Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?�
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In these verses the apostle asks the rhetorical questions to death, where is your power and where are your pains? For the apostle knows that God through His infinite love, mercy and grace gave man the power over sin; through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.



A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. "Do you see this?" he asked. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you." We do not need to fear death anymore. Christ has died and risen again. He has taken the sting from death. [Adrian Dieleman, Waupun, Wisconsin. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.]


We have a Father in Heaven who took the sting out of death. For we can know that when our earthly bodies die; we will live an eternal life in heaven.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/22/15 11:56 AM
Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)
24 Don�t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

It is the law of friendship that we accommodate ourselves to our friends and be ready to serve them, and therefore we ought to be wise and wary in the choice of a friend, that we come not under the sacred tie to any one whom it would be our folly to accommodate ourselves to. Thought we must be civil to all, yet we must be careful whom we lay in our bosoms and contract a familiarity with. And, among others, a man who is easily provoked, touchy, and apt to resent affronts, who, when he is in a passion, cares not what he says or does, but grows outrageous, such a one is not fit to be made a friend or companion, for he will be ever and anon angry with us and that will be our trouble, and he will expect that we should, like him, be angry with others, and that will be our sin. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Mike Cosper in The Stories We Tell (Crossway 2014), pages 48-49 writes: A few years ago I met with a church member who was struggling with sexual sin with his girlfriend, as well as a porn habit. We talked through a variety of means for him to prevent and resist temptation�certain habits of prayer, adding content monitors to his computer, committing to less time online, moving the computer out of his bedroom, not taking his girlfriend to his apartment when no one was home�and he sincerely, earnestly made all of these commitments.

As the conversation was ending, he said, "Are you going to see such-and-such movie this weekend?" It was a gritty new film that featured gangsters, prostitutes, and strippers, and if the advertising was to be believed, would be sexually charged. I searched for words for a moment, until, "Are you kidding me?" fell out of my mouth. My friend seemed surprised at my response, and began to replay the question in his mind, wondering why I was frustrated.
"We've just spent an hour talking about ways to reshape your life so that you aren't in a place of sexual temptation, and you're going to see that movie?"

"Oh," he said, relieved. "It's fine, man. Movies don't affect me like that."

I shook my head. I had a genuine, but limited, sympathy for the guy. � Most porn addicts take a slow path toward stuff that's hard-core, and in comparison to his drug of choice this movie seemed downright tame. What he failed to see�and what many of us fail to see�is that our consumption of media has cumulative, life-shaping effects.


The Bible tells us not to befriend people or associate with hot-tempered people for they will lead us into danger. The truth is we must always be on guard who and what we associate ourselves with in life. For unless we carefully guard our hearts we have a tendency to follow others into danger. Jesus told us, �Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.� So be careful of your associations and who you are willing to follow; for the wrong choice can lead you places you don�t want to go!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/24/15 11:08 AM
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

The Apostle Peter reminds us that we inherited a sinful nature due to the sins of Adam and Eve and it was God who paid the ransom to redeem us from those sins. The random was not of earthly materials such as gold or silver. Instead we were redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ who lived a holy and sin free life. It was Jesus who willingly became the sacrificial Lamb of God.




Tim Keller preached in his sermon, �Suffering�, saying: What does Paul mean when he says, "The Resurrection is going to swallow up the suffering and evil you're going through right now"? Here's a very imperfect illustration from my own life. Many years ago I had a horrible nightmare. I'm not sure if the dream came from something I ate or a movie I'd watched, but I usually don't retell this dream with many details because it was really an awful dream. I dreamt my entire family had been slaughtered. But then I woke up, and my entire family was right there. I really love my family, and when I went to sleep that night, before the nightmare, they were all around me. But when I woke up after the dream, the nightmare in which I thought I had lost them, I got them back again. I couldn't even look at them without crying�for sheer joy.

What had happened? Having gotten them back after losing them, made the experience of having them infinitely greater. It's almost like the experience of losing them had been swallowed up by the experience of having them, so that it was infinitely more precious.

That is a dim hint of what the resurrection of Christ means to us. If his resurrection happened�and it did�that means our resurrection's going to happen. And that means that everything sad and horrible is going to be brought up into our future glory and resurrection and make it infinitely better than it would have been if we had never had any of those experiences. And that's the final and ultimate defeat of suffering and death.


When we have something and loose it that can be devastating. Adam and Eve had the choice of living an eternal life free of sin, but instead they chose a life of sin, because of their desire to be like God. They listened to a lie from Satan and gave up the perfect life. However, God in his infinite love, mercy and grace restored to us Salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. What was a bad nightmare is now a glorious dream of redemption. Christ has defeated the suffering and death we knew and has given us something infinitely more precious � eternal life with Him in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/27/15 11:15 AM
Luke 19:10 (NLT)
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Jesus met a tax collector named Zacchaeus and he went to his home to enjoy fellowship and dinner. Towards the end of the meal, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, �I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!� Jesus responded, �Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.�



Putti Sok told her Christian college friends, "Leave me alone and quit praying for me." Putti described herself as a "Cambodian Buddhist girl," even though she was born in Long Beach, California and grew up in Dallas. "I figured I was Buddhist because my parents told me I was Buddhist," she said. "I thought Christianity was just a religion for Americans." Eventually Putti came to consider herself "an evangelistic atheist," challenging others to prove that God exists.

When Putti started her college education at the University of Texas in 2008, one of her goals was to build deep relationships. She succeeded in that, but some of her new friends were Christians who were active in a student ministry. During her sophomore year, Putti "hit a wall." "I began to see that everything I was doing was becoming meaningless," she said. "If what I was doing didn't have eternal meaning, then it was all in vain." She began to think, "If God is real, he should be able to hear my prayers." Each night she began to pray that he would help her understand what she had been hearing from her friends because it seemed like foolishness to her.

Then one day Putti entered a closet in the student ministry building that had been turned into a prayer room. Inside she found a bowl filled with pieces of paper with the names of students' friends. One after another she looked at the slips of paper and found her own name written on the slips.

She knew how strongly she had urged her friends not to pray for her and yet they had faithfully loved her and prayed for her anyway. She burst into tears that day in the tiny prayer room. "God was softening my heart then," she said. The next night she felt that God was asking her for a specific response, so she finally prayed to receive Christ.

"All of a sudden, I had a desire to go and share with people," she said. "God is real, and he has changed my heart." Putti is currently studying in preparation for full time ministry. [Adapted from Michelle Tyler, "Ardent atheist becomes passionate Christian evangelist," Latest News from Southwestern, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (3-25-14)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/29/15 11:22 AM
Job 19:25 (NLT)
25 �But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

There is a Redeemer provided for fallen man, and Jesus Christ is that Redeemer. The word is Go�l which is used for the next of kin, to whom, by the law of Moses, the right of redeeming a mortgaged estate did belong, Lev. 25:25. Our heavenly inheritance was mortgaged by sin; we are ourselves utterly unable to redeem it; Christ is near of kin to us, the next kinsman that is able to redeem; he has paid our debt, satisfied God's justice for sin, and so has taken off the mortgage and made a new settlement of the inheritance. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In January 2000, leaders of Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn't find it. The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.' Einstein nodded appreciatively.

"The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry. I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.' Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I'm going." [John Huffman, "Who Are You, and Where Are You Going?" Preaching Conference 2002]


If you want peace of mind, the Scriptures are very clear on that: �Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ� (Romans 5:1). In 1 John 5:13 The Bible tells us, �I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.� With faith in Christ we have confidence in knowing where we are going.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/15 11:32 AM
Hebrews 11:5-6 (NIV)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: �He could not be found, because God had taken him away.� For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The apostle proposes a question, how can a person please God who does not believe God exists to begin with? For it is impossible to please someone that you don�t believe exists - for you would not know where to even start as to conceive an action to do something pleasing.




In the fall of 1999, I taught a Bible study course on the Psalms. It became clear to me that I was barely scratching the surface of what the Bible commanded and promised regarding prayer. Then came the dark weeks in New York after 9/11 when our whole city sank into a kind of corporate clinical depression, even as it rallied. For my family the shadow was intensified as my wife, Kathy, struggled with the effects
of Crohn�s disease. Finally, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At one point during all this, my wife urged me to do something with her we had never been able to muster the self-discipline to do
regularly.

She asked me to pray with her every night. Every night. She used an illustration that crystallized her feelings very well. As we remember it, she said something like this: Imagine you were diagnosed with such a lethal condition that the doctor told you that you would die within hours unless you took a particular medicine�a pill every night before going to sleep. Imagine that you were told that you
could never miss it or you would die. Would you forget? Would you not get around to it some nights?

No�it would be so crucial that you wouldn�t forget, you would never miss. Well, if we don�t pray together to God, we�re not going to make it because of all we are facing. I�m certainly not. We have to pray, we can�t let it just slip our minds. [Tim Keller, Prayer, Penguin Group, 2014).


If we don�t believe in God how can we muster the desire to pray to God for our own needs. We have to pray, we can�t let it just slip our minds. And we must have faith in God to know He is listening and responding to our prayers.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/15 01:02 PM
Isaiah 5:11 �Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!�

A warning that those addicted to alcohol � they will find themselves seeking a drink early in the morning, followed by many strong drinks throughout the day until they find themselves controlled by their addiction into the night.


'Star Trek' Actress Grace Lee Whitney Dies at 85
LOS ANGELES � May 4, 2015, 8:30 AM ET (AP)

Grace Lee Whitney, who played Captain Kirk's assistant on the original "Star Trek" series, has died. She was 85.

Whitney died of natural causes Friday in her home in the Central California town of Coarsegold, about 50 miles north of Fresno, her son Jonathan Dweck said on Sunday.

Whitney played Yeoman Janice Rand in the first eight episodes before being written out of the series. In her 1998 autobiography "The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy," she wrote that her acting career largely came to an end and she became an alcoholic.

She wrote that she struggled with her addiction for many years before getting treatment and regaining her career with the help of Leonard Nimoy, who starred as Spock in the series.

She returned for the movie franchise, reprising her role in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," ''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

Dweck said his mother would have liked to be remembered more as a successful survivor of addiction than for her "Star Trek" fame. She dedicated the last 35 years of her life helping people with addiction problems, some of whom she met at "Star Trek" conventions, he said.

"Over time, she became appreciative of her short time on 'Star Trek' because she developed meaningful relationships with the fans, Leonard Nimoy and other cast members," Dweck said.

Besides Jonathan, she was survived by her other son, Scott Dweck.


Addictions will take you places you don�t want to go and much further than you ever intended to travel. People have ruined their lives and some never recovered. A few have found grace and managed to control what otherwise controlled them. Grace Lee Whitney may have lost a career with a TV show, but she dedicated 35 years of her life helping others over the struggles she faced.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/05/15 10:48 AM
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Avoid anxious care and distracting thought in the wants and difficulties of life. It is the duty and interest of Christians to live without care. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and consists in a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of diffidence and distrust which is our sin and folly, and which only perplexes and distracts the mind. "Be careful for nothing, so as by your care to distrust God, and unfit yourselves for his service. [Excerpts from Matthew Henry]



Prayer is one of the most common phenomena of human life. Even deliberately nonreligious people pray at times. Studies have shown that in secularized countries, prayer continues to be practiced not only by those who have no religious preference but even by many of those who do not believe in God. One 2004 study found that nearly 30 percent of atheists admitted they prayed "sometimes," and another found that 17 percent of nonbelievers in God pray regularly. The frequency of prayer increases with age, even among those who do not return to church or identify with any institutional faith. Italian scholar Giuseppe Giordan summarized: "In virtually all studies of the sociology of religious behavior it is clearly apparent that a very high percentage of people declare they pray every day�and many say even many times a day."

Does this mean that everyone prays? No, it does not. Many atheists are rightly offended by the saying "There are no atheists in foxholes." There are many people who do not pray even in times of extreme danger. Still, though prayer � is a global [reality], inhabiting all cultures and involving the overwhelming majority of people at some point in their lives. Efforts to find cultures, even very remote and isolated ones, without some form of religion and prayer have failed. There has always been some form of attempt to "communicate between human and divine realms." There seems to be a human instinct for prayer. Swiss theologian Karl Barth calls it our "incurable God-sickness." [Tim Keller, Prayer (Penguin Group, 2014), page 36]


James 1:5-8 says, �If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.�

Everyone can pray, but if you want to know the real power of prayer, pray to The Living God who gives generously to us when we pray without doubt. Let us go to God with confidence knowing anything we ask according to His will, He will hear and respond.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/15 10:24 AM
1 Corinthian 13:4-7 (NLT)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Here the apostle gives the church the definition of true love. It is love intended for man to show to others. It was the love Christ lived out here on earth. It is the love we are to know.



In relationships there are two roles with love, the giver and the receiver. Ideally these roles reverse throughout a relationship such that one partner gives while the other partner receives and then the roles swap. Ideally, both partners give and receive whole-heartedly for the right reasons without any strings attached. In a relationship there should always be a healthy balance between the giver and the receiver. One person should never be giving to the point of overwhelming the other person, while the receiver should never take and take without consideration for the other.

Take a moment to fill in the sentences below with the name of someone you feel love towards and quietly answer to yourself if you believe the sentence to be true. Then take the same sentences using your name and consider the person who you just examined and decide if the sentence is true about you in regards to that person. Also consider how much one does for the other to see if you are somewhat balanced in your actions.


_____ is patient and kind.
_____ is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
_____ does not demand their own way.
_____ is not typically an irritable, and keeps no record of being wronged.
_____ does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
_____ never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.


As you review these ask if they are true. If you find some not matching up there may be some problems which need to be examined. True love will always find a way to make things right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/07/15 11:49 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

We should always find joy in our relationship with The Lord. For The Lord provides for all our needs. It should lead us to a state of thankfulness no matter what our circumstance knowing that God is watching after us as one of His own children.



Blooming where you're planted has never been a problem for Los Angeles elevator operator Ruben Pardo. For 35 years, he has driven and steered one of the last manual elevators in the city, located in an Art Deco office building on Wilshire Boulevard. His life is simple, some might even say mundane. But his purpose is clear and his heart is full of joy and gratitude.

Every day young, bright graphic designers, web branders, and search engine optimizers ride Pardo's beautifully ornate elevator to their loft offices. And every day, Pardo greets them by name with cheer. While young employees come and go, Pardo is a fixture in the building. One young executive said, "He's been in this elevator longer than I've been on the planet."

Pardo, the son of a shop owner, was born in Mexico City. When he was seven, his family moved to the States. Through hard work like painting garages, shoveling snow, and operating elevators like the one he still manages, he was able to support himself, and eventually, his wife. Pardo works six days a week and rarely takes paid vacations. Every Sunday, he takes his wife to dinner as a gesture of gratitude. Padro exclaims, "[My wife and I] are happy."

While the young people in the office building move off to school, get married, and travel the world, Pardo remains steady and constant, doing the thing that he's done for 35 years. "I love my small, little world," he says. And yet here's how Luis Zavala, a 33-year-old Web graphic designer, describes Pardo: "It's like a glass of fresh water every morning. I don't know how he does it, but every day for him just seems to be a bright opportunity for something." [Bonnie McMaken, Wheaton, Illinois; source: Nita Lelyveld, "Elevator operator's overriding story: joy." Los Angeles Times (10-15-11)]


Many of us try seeking out things to make us happy, but things do not bring us lasting joy. For tomorrow there will always be a new and better cell phone or a digital gadget that captures our attention. No, things are not the answer to joy. The answer is a close and intimate relationship with The Lord for He will show you how to find joy in all things, even the simple things like running an elevator.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/08/15 11:28 AM
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

The apostle exhorts them to a prudent and decent conduct towards all those with whom they conversed, towards the heathen world, or those out of the Christian church among whom they lived. Let all your discourse be as becomes Christians, suitable to your profession-savoury, discreet, seasonable. [Matthew Henry]



The names Jerry Falwell and Larry Flynt may provoke strong reactions from some people in our culture. But the following story, shared by Falwell's son Jonathan, describes a moving conversation between the Baptist pastor and the publisher of Hustler magazine.

Years ago, Jonathan traveled with his dad to Florida where the senior Falwell was debating Larry Flynt. Jonathan recalls:

Mr. Flynt asked my dad if we could give him a ride back to Lynchburg in my dad's private jet. Dad said yes so we traveled to the airport and boarded a beautiful black and gold Gulfstream III. As we flew to Virginia, I sat across from dad and Mr. Flynt as they had a long conversation about sports, food, politics and other ordinary topics. I was amazed and bewildered because they kept talking like old friends. After we dropped off Mr. Flynt in Lynchburg, I asked dad, "How come you could sit on that airplane and carry on a conversation with Larry Flynt as if you guys were lifelong buddies? Dad, he's the exact opposite of everything you believe in; he does all of the things you preach against; and yet you were treating him like a member of your own church. Why?"

Dad's response changed my whole outlook on ministry. "Jonathan," he said, "there's going to be a day when Larry is hurting and lonely, and he'll be looking for help and guidance. He is going to pick up the phone and call someone who can help him. I want to earn the right to be that phone call!" [Jon Greggo, �Conversations That Changed Me,� Outreach Magazine, (2010 Outreach 100 Special Issue), p.82;]


Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone then it will be evident of your love for The Lord. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity to extend the love of God to them. For we are God�s people and we represent his love, mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/12/15 11:04 AM
Proverbs 31:10;27-28 (NIV)
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

This description of the virtuous woman is designed to show what wives the women should make and what wives the men should choose. [Matthew Henry]



In the movie Pieces of April, April Burns (Katie Holmes) is the wayward child of a highly dysfunctional family. For Thanksgiving, she invites her dying mother and the rest of her estranged family to dinner. Unfortunately, April's oven breaks, and she spends most of the day trying to find someone who will let her use their oven.

In this scene, after being completely demoralized by her oven search and by the memories of her mother, April finally finds a man willing to help her. They are standing in a cramped hallway outside his apartment.

April: The truth is, she's a rotten mother, so I don't know why you'd want to help me anyway.

Man: My mother was a mean woman, too. Nasty. There wasn't a nice bone in her body. She smoked non-stop, cheated at cards, and she complained every day of her life.

April: Sorry.

Man (tearing up): But you know what? There's nothing I wouldn't do for the chance to spend more time with her.

April: So you'll help me?

The man opens the door. [Pieces of April (MGM/United Artists Studios, 2003), written and directed by Peter Hedges;]


God tells us the things we should look for in life. When we find them we should cherish them for when they are taken away there are only the memories that remain. Make the most of your relationships and make the most of your memories.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/13/15 11:38 AM
Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

The fear of God is the beauty of the soul reigning in the heart.



They say that beauty is only skin deep, but many studies have shown that we have an inherent bias to view attractive people as better, smarter, and more socially competent. This strong attractiveness bias impacts everything from hiring decisions, to how highly students rate professors, to how well students are treated by their teachers.

This bias is especially strong in our 21st century dating scene. As an example, the comedy writer Ali Reed created a fake profile on the dating site OK Cupid for a woman she called "AaronCarterFan." (Aaron Carter, for the uninitiated, is the younger brother of a Backstreet Boy.) Then she loaded her profile with despicable traits, including "enjoys kicking cups out of homeless people's hands," and "my parents think I'm in law school so they pay all my bills�LOL," and "you should message me if ur rich." But for the online photo Reed used the real photo of a friend who's a professional model.

What happened to the beautiful but decadent fake "AaronCarterFan"? Reed said, "[She] did very well. In the first 24 hours she got 150 messages. I had the profile up for two or three weeks, and she had close to 1000 men message her. She got probably 10 times the number of messages that my real profile got."

[Adapted from Freaknomics blog, "What You Don't Know About Online Dating: Full Transcript" (2-5-14)]


Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting. Hebrews 3:13 says, �You must warn each other every day, while it is still �today,� so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/14/15 11:47 AM
Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother�s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The engineer that designed a motor knows how it was created. The engineer understands how it works; what will affect it; what things are best for; what things can damage it; and what things can keep it running well. We are the works of God. God knows us from the inside out and understands every part of our being.



A pro-life legacy is a powerful thing to inherit. For Father Thomas Vander Woude, pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA, that legacy is ingrained deeply in his life and his ministry for very personal reasons. Vander Woude's father, Thomas Sr., proved that every life is precious, regardless of how the world perceives it.

Thomas Sr. and his wife, Mary Ellen, devout Catholics, had seven children. By the time they were expecting their seventh, the couple was in their 40's. The chance of birth defects was high. Josie was born with Down syndrome. Chris Vander Woude, one of the sons, says, "It didn't matter [that Josie had down syndrome]. He was my father's son, and that was all the reason my father needed to love him."

Thomas Sr. demonstrated that love in 2008. One morning, Thomas Sr. and Josie were in the yard when Josie fell into a broken septic tank, which, at 8-feet deep, was extremely dangerous. Thomas Sr. tried to grab his son, but it was fruitless. Immediately, he lowered himself into the tank, and because he couldn't keep Josie's head above the water line, decided to hold his breath, dive under, and hoist Josie onto his shoulders to keep him breathing. By the time the rescuers arrived, Thomas Sr. had died saving the life of his son.

This story of a father giving his life for a son that the majority of parents would have aborted impacts Reverend Thomas Vander Woude in powerful ways. Today, he carries on his father's legacy by building his ministry on pro-life truths. At one point, he catalyzed an outpouring of love for a young couple expecting a baby with Down syndrome. Several of these families offered to adopt the baby, which miraculously, the couple agreed to. And Thomas Sr.'s inheritance of God's love lives on in this child.
[Bonnie McMaken, Carol Stream, Illinois; sources: John Stonestreet, "Inheriting Pro-Life," BreakPoint Commentaries (7-23-13); Jeffrey Goldberg, "A Father's Day Lesson about Children, and Life," Bloomberg View (06-17-11).]


I paused whether to share the story above because people have different beliefs, values, and political reasoning. Pro-life versus Abortion is always a controversial subject, but that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about the love of a father who gave his life for his son despite his birth defect and problems he might face in the future. This father loved his child and was willing to make a sacrifice for him, because he knew him and loved him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/15/15 11:41 AM
Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NIV)
5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother�s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

There is much we do not understand; however God the creator knows and understands the works He has put in place.



In my early years as a pastor I would have admitted there was much about God I didn't know; in practice, though, I always felt I needed to have an answer when a grieving mother asked why God allowed a three-year-old to die, or an anguished student wanted to grasp the relationship between divine sovereignty and human freewill, or a teenager asked for an explanation of the Trinity. Too often this meant I assumed the role of God's defense attorney, trying my best to bolster God's public approval rating.

Now I'm more likely to say, "I don't know." And I feel as though I've changed from a sway-back workhorse into a winged Pegasus; not having to carry the crushing weight of theological omniscience has been like the freedom of flight. [The Trivialization of God. Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 12.]


As I have grown older, I have learned there is much I don�t know about God. There is much I do not understand in this world around me. There is much that I cannot fathom or comprehend. There are places in The Bible where I read a passage thinking I understand and then I come to another passage just to realize I don�t understand.

I have learned too that we must be careful in judgments. There are many places in The Bible that say we are not to consult with magicians, psychics, mediums or the dead. Yet there is a passage in The Bible that brings a quesion: In Luke 9:29-31 it says of Jesus, �As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.� Moses was dead; and yet Jesus was communicating with him and Elijah about the most important event in human history about to take place � Salvation for man.

I too am reminded there are many who pray to Mother Mary and to The Saints making requests and asking for guidance. Are they too not dead and in heaven?

So let us be careful in our conclusions. I agree with the pastor above, it may be just appropriate to say, �I DON�T KNOW� and wait for God to provide an answer.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/18/15 11:25 AM
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Good works and labour proceeding from love to God are commendable; and what is done to any in the name of God shall not go unrewarded. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In 2012, on a cold November night in Times Square, Officer Lawrence DePrimo was working a counterterrorism post when he encountered an older, barefooted homeless man. The police officer, who is normally assigned to different section of New York City, said, "I looked over and someone was laughing at this elderly [homeless] gentleman who had no socks (and) no shoes. You could see the blisters from a distance. I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold."

So, he asked the man if he had anything to cover his feet. "It's okay, Sir, I've never had a pair of shoes," the homeless man replied. "But God bless you." As the homeless man strolled away, DePrimo caught up to him and asked him his shoe size before walking into a Skechers on W. 42nd St. DiPrimo told a worker, "I'd like to buy a pair of boots, something that will last a while. I don't care what the price is." A few minutes later, the kindhearted cop bought a $100 pair of all-weather boots, size 12. A store manager later said, "We were just kind of shocked. Most of us are New Yorkers and we just kind of pass by that kind of thing. Especially in this neighborhood."

The act of kindness would have gone unnoticed and mostly forgotten, had it not been for Jennifer Foster, a tourist from Arizona. Foster said, "The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching." Her snapshot�taken with her cellphone and posted to the New York Police Department's official Facebook page�made Officer DePrimo an overnight Internet hero. As of June, 2014, the post had attracted over 600,000 "likes" and more than 48,000 comments�a runaway hit for the NYPD. Many comments have pointed to how this simple act of kindness has "restored my faith in humanity." [David Goodman, "Photo of Officer Giving Boots to Barefoot Man Warms Hearts Online," The New York Times (11-28-12); Amanda Mickelberg, "NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo immortalized in tourist's photo ..." New York Post (12-18-12)]


God has placed each one of us here for a purpose in life. Maybe that purpose is to teach or to lead or to buy a man a pair a boots. Whatever your purpose is know that God will not forget the love you have shown Him as you have helped others. God bless each one of you for good deeds done for another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/19/15 11:19 AM
James 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

True wisdom is God's gift. It is not gained by conversing with men, not by the knowledge of the world, but it comes from above. The wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be heard. Wisdom is used by peacemakers who plant the seeds of peace to bring about a lasting peace, not just a temporary peace.




In the fall of 2011, Pete Richeson walked into the sheriff's office to turn himself in for something he did nearly six decades ago.

While attending the Iron Bowl, the annual college football game between rivals Auburn and Alabama, the Auburn student stole a "rat cap," a fraternity beanie, off the head of an Alabama freshman. Pete said he and his brother were walking to Legion Field with stealing a hat in mind. "That was one of the objectives, to go to the ballgame, but look for a suitable victim that you could attack," he said. Richeson said his plan worked perfectly as his brother blocked the Alabama freshman while he ran off with the hat.

"We took it back to Auburn and passed it around the dormitory at that time, and we nailed it to the wall, and it stayed there."

Now, sixty years later, Richeson tried to return the cap, but the local sheriff told him the statute of limitations had expired. But Pete would still like to return the rat cap to its rightful owner and make amends. He even provided a personal email for anyone who wants to claim the cap.

Richeson said, "It's stayed with me for over sixty years, and I would like to give it back to the man it belongs to. I'm sure he had some consequences he had to face �. I must do something soon, because we're both close to 80-years-old, and I'm hoping he's still alive." [Auburn alum in his late 70s trying to return rat cap stolen off Bama student at 1949 Iron Bowl, The War Eagle Reader (11-23-11);]


When I was a teenager I was the victim of a similar circumstance. A friend and I were selling concession souvenirs at a football game. My friend had gone to watch the last few minutes of the football game as I tended the table of souvenirs. Just as the game was ending a man walked by and grabbed a University of South Carolinia hat off the table. He started walking off as I asked nicely for him to return the cap, but he kept going. Instead of leaving the table unattended I let him go in peace. It wasn�t worth risking the loss of other items; for we had to pay for any items missing out of our own funds. In this case God�s wisdom told me I needed to stay put. I wanted to run over and grab the hat off the man�s head, which most likely could have started a fight; and I could have lost more items. So I remained there peaceful, upset, but wiser in my understanding that there are people who are not concerned with the things of others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/20/15 11:14 AM
Proverbs 20:9 (NIV)
9 Who can say, �I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin�?

This question is not only a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless, whatever he pretends, but a lamentation of the corruption of mankind, even that which remains in the best. Alas! Who can say, "I am sinless?' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



There is something terribly right about ... realizing that our struggle with sin is in many ways similar to an alcoholic's struggle with drinking. It's never over. How often I find myself talking about sin in the past tense as if being a sinner is something I'm beyond--a page turned in the book of my life. But sin is like alcoholism. Sinners are never cured; they simply decide to stop sinning ... and it's a daily decision.
[John Fischer in Contemporary Christian Music (Sept. 1987). Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 16.]


This is such a great illustration about sin. Anyone who understands alcoholism, understands that alcoholics may slip back into their old pattern of drinking. They may have wanted to keep a pure heart, but once the alcohol sucked them back in it takes over their life and leads them down sinful roads. I have heard men and women say, �Once I started drinking I lost my inhibitions and I found myself sleeping with anyone who came along.�

An alcoholic always considers them self an alcoholic. They may have put the bottle away for good, but there is always the temptation to go back. I have a friend who has not had a drink in over 30 years, but he said he knows if he were to even just take a sip of a drink that it might be enough to trigger a binge of drinking. So he maintains plans, rules and accountability to help him keep that from happening.

These actions are so much like sin. We can try to put sin away in our life, but there are times when the temptations come back and we fall back into our old patterns of sin. We may have even found a way to put sin aside, but the temptation will always remain. The Apostle Peter told us, �Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/21/15 11:54 AM
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

From the sentence above we can be led to believe there were divisions of thought among the members of the church. These divisions could easily lead to quarrels and problems within the body of members. Therefore The Apostle appealed to them to agree with one another and be united in their thoughts and efforts.




Spartacus is a classic movie that retells the historical account of the great Roman slave rebellion in 71 B.C. Spartacus was a highly trained gladiator who escaped and led other slaves to freedom. As news of his rebellion grew, thousands of slaves joined his cause and followed him through victories and defeats.

Near the end of the movie, a massive Roman army under the command of Senator Crassus (Laurance Olivier) captures the rebels. Although Crassus does not know what Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) looks like, he suspects that Spartacus is alive amongst the prisoners under guard. In full Roman uniform, Crassus gallops up to the mouth of the valley where the prisoners are being held and shouts an offer to them: they can escape death by crucifixion if they turn Spartacus over to him.

Spartacus studies the ground for a moment and then nobly gets to his feet, intending to turn himself in. But before he can do so, his comrade to the left stands and calls out, "I am Spartacus!" Then his comrade to the right also stands and calls out, "I am Spartacus!" As the real Spartacus looks on, comrade after comrade in his slave army rises to their feet and calls out, "I am Spartacus!" until there is a chorus of thousands united.

These slaves show what it means to be the church�standing as one and identifying with our Lord even though it could mean our own end. [Spartacus (Universal Pictures, 1960), directed by Stanley Kubrick; submitted by Bill White]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/22/15 11:57 AM
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

He (The Apostol) tells them that they had been called unto liberty, and he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free; but yet he would have them be very careful that they did not use this liberty as an occasion to the flesh-that they did not thence take occasion to indulge themselves in any corrupt affections and practices, and particularly such as might create distance and disaffection, and be the ground of quarrels and contentions among them: but, on the contrary, he would have them by love to serve one another, to maintain that mutual love and affection which notwithstanding any minor differences there might be among them, would dispose them to all those offices of respect and kindness to each other which the Christian religion obliged them to. [Matthew Henry]



A March, 2011, issue of The New York Times featured a story about a 51-year-old ex-convict named Robert Salzman. After a horrific childhood, Salzman spent most of his adult life in prison. When he was released from prison in 2001, Salzman found it difficult to enjoy freedom outside prison walls, struggling to pay rent or doing stints in homeless shelters. Finally, in June of 2010 Salzman had a grace-like experience. While he was riding a New York City subway car, he was "found" by Rashaad Ernesto Green, a writer and director who was searching for someone to play a tough-looking former convict for an upcoming film. After an audition, Green surprised nearly everyone when he gave Salzman a key role for the film. In the ensuing months Salzman found it hard to believe that he had actually been set free from his prison life. On one occasion, while filming with Green on location in a Long Island penitentiary, an exhausted Salzman fell asleep on a cot in the prison cell. When he woke up, he became confused and thought he was still a prisoner. Salzman started weeping in despair � until it slowly dawned on him that he was now a free man. Salzman was overwhelmed by the joy of knowing that at any moment he could walk out of that cramped cell and through the prison doors. On the other side of the prison walls he could enjoy his new life of freedom. As those who trust in Christ, regardless of our past, we can leave
our slavery to sin and condemnation as we joyfully step into our freedom in Christ. Corey Kilgannon, "Sidewalk Is His Prison Yard," The New York Times (3-11-11)�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/28/15 11:54 AM
Romans 12:15 (NLT)
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

True love will interest us in the sorrows and joys of one another, and teach us to make them our own. ~Matthew Henry



In her funny, off-beat memoir, journalist and writer Heather Havrilesky reminds us how community (whether in a family or a church family) implies carrying one another's burdens. Havrilesky writes:

If I get sick or lose my mind, I'll ask my husband or my kids or my friends to rise to the occasion and come to my aid. And they'd better come through for me, [darn] it! I dried your tears and paid too much for replicas of lost teddy bears on eBay. I took care of cats and plants and talked you through home purchases and career dilemmas and bad breakups. �

I'll continue to be there, as long as I can be. But someday, you might have to come to my rescue. Brace yourselves, because it won't be pretty. Isn't that what love and friendship are really about?

We weren't meant to suffer alone! We weren't meant to � escape the indignity and frustration of asking for help, for needing help, from someone who might not always enjoy giving it, someone who gets on our nerves, who has never made much sense to us, someone whom we break down and bicker with occasionally. We were meant to lean on each other, as messy and imperfect as that can be, to be capable when we can, and to allow the world to take care of us when we can't. It won't be all bad. Or it will be. But at least we'll have each other. [Heather Havrilesky, Disaster Preparedness (Riverhead Trade, 2011), page 57]


Rejoice with others when they come into good fortune. Also share the painful and difficult moments of life with people. Let true love motivate you to share in the sorrows and joys of others. May your life be a blessing to others just as God has blessed you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/29/15 12:03 PM
Job 14:1-2 (NLT)
1 �How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! 2 We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear.

Man is of few days. Life is here computed, not by months or years, but by days, for we cannot be sure of any day but that it may be our last. These days are few, fewer than we think of, few at the most, in comparison with the days of the first patriarchs, much more in comparison with the days of eternity, but much fewer to most, who come short of what we call the age of man. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



I once heard a doctor say, �We do not come into this world stamped with an expiration date. Only God knowns when our time is drawing to an end.� I have watched family, friends, and others I know pass away unexpected. Some lived a good long life, while others lived a full amount of years, but did not benefit in the pleasure of retirement. Some lived so long their minds were sharp, but their bodies frail.

Some friends died in car wrecks. Some friends died due to suicide. Some friends died of cancer. Some died accidentally. It does not matter how they died, it is still a tragic moment. Family and friends mourn their loss as they are no longer there. It is sad, very sad indeed.

My mother-in-law is slowly fading away from dementia. First she was forgetful, then she became paranoid and even unreasonable. Then she began to forget and not even speak much. It�s not her we see now, but instead it is only a shadow of her that remains. The body is fading with the mind. She no long can get out of bed. She sleeps 20 or more hours a day. She has lost her appetite, but occasionally perks up enough to eat and drink a little. It is painful watching a loved one slowly disappear. You want to do all you can, you want them with you, but you also know once they are gone they will have peace.

My father-in-law made an interesting comment. He said, �If I had only realized how short life is, I would have realized how silly all the arguments and disappointments in life were.� It is so true. Life is short and we should cherish ever moment we have with every family member and friend; for we do not know when they will be gone. Enjoy life, enjoy the moments together for they can fade away at any time.

I am thankful God established a plan of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. For we know that those who are in Christ will be with Christ and if we too are in Christ we will be reunited with those we love.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/01/15 11:33 AM
Proverbs 1:3 (NLT)
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

This verses gives us part of the purpose for the proverbs passed along to us. This verse tells us the proverbs are used to teach people how to live their lives in a successful and good way!



In one of the popular ads that accompanied the 2010 Super Bowl, Cars.com tells the fictional story of a wonder child named Timothy Richman. From his earliest years, Timothy displayed an amazing level of confidence, and his confidence came from knowledge.

As a toddler eating in his high chair, he saw a pan of food cooking on the stove catch fire. Knowing somehow that baking soda puts out fires, Timothy calmly threw his rattle at a box of baking soda located on a shelf above the flaming pan, knocking over the box, which poured the soda into the pan and extinguished the flames.

As a boy about to learn to ride a bike, Timothy stands straddling the bike as his dad prepares to put on the training wheels. Timothy says, "Balance, momentum, and a low center of gravity," and with that knowledge fully absorbed, before Timothy's dad can get the training wheels on, Timothy pedals the bike away and down the driveway.

In junior high, Timothy confidently walks up to a teen on an Italian beach who has been stung on the leg by a jellyfish and acting on his knowledge of first aid, he pours vinegar on the inflamed skin. He explains in perfect Italian that vinegar can neutralize jellyfish stings.

As a high school student on safari in Africa, he uses his knowledge of veterinary obstetrics to deliver a baby Bengal tiger that was breeched.

As an adult, Timothy gets out of his car on a highway as a tornado approaches a bus full of cheerleaders. Using his knowledge of storm cells and tornadoes, he explains to the cheerleaders that they will be safe if they exit the bus and lie in a low-lying depression beside the road. Just as the cheerleaders and Timothy jump safely into the ditch, the bus rises in the air and is carried away by the tornado.

The narrator explains, however, as Timothy stands with a scared look on his face in a new car lot, "When it came time to buy a new car, he was just as nervous as the rest of us."

Then Timothy sees a Cars.com sign and pulls out his cell phone. The narrator concludes, "So Timothy Richman got his knowledge at Cars.com, regained his confidence, and got the perfect car at the perfect price."

This little commercial entertainingly illustrates the fact that no matter how much knowledge and confidence you have in many areas of life, you can still be clueless in another important area of living.

The fact is, no matter how smart you are, apart from God's help you are clueless about important spiritual truths. [Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: 2010 USA Today Ad Meter and Cars.com]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/15 11:39 AM
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

These verses tell us we are destined to die and then there is a judgment by God. By God�s grace and mercy Christ was offered once as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. Christ did this once to bring salvation to all.



Author Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family he knew in Paraguay. The father, a doctor, spoke out against the military regime there and its human rights abuses. Local police took their revenge on him by arresting his teenage son and torturing him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor chose another means of protest. At the funeral, the father displayed his son's body as he had found it in the jail�naked, scarred from electric shocks and cigarette burns, and beatings. All the villagers filed past the corpse, which lay not in a coffin but on the blood-soaked mattress from the prison. It was the strongest protest imaginable, for it put injustice on grotesque display.

Isn't that what God did at Calvary? � The cross that held Jesus' body, naked and marked with scars, exposed all the violence and injustice of this world. At once, the cross revealed what kind of world we have and what kind of God we have: a world of gross unfairness, a God of sacrificial love. [Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God (Zondervan, 1997), pp. 185-186]

There is an old hymn I love, GRACE GREATER than our SIN, by Julia H. Johnson, which says in the refrain:

Grace, grace, God�s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God�s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

There is NO sin greater than God�s grace. There is nothing that can keep us from God and His love for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/03/15 12:34 PM
Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Arguments are always bound to take place, but they don�t have to be held with explosive tempers. Instead each person can take responsibility to see an argument resolved in a peaceful manner.



A study reported in Psychological Science discovered that the "best" arguers are those who don't point their fingers. According to the study, the person who says "we" the most during an argument suggests the best solutions.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill used statistical analysis to study 59 couples. Spouses who used second-person pronouns (you) tended toward negativity in interactions. Those making use of first-person plural pronouns (we) provided positive solutions to problems.

The study concluded: "'We' users may have a sense of shared interest that sparks compromise and other ideas pleasing to both partners. 'You'-sayers, on the contrary, tend to criticize, disagree, justify, and otherwise team with negativity."


{Rachel A. Simmons, Peter C. Gordon, and Dianne L. Chambless, "Pronouns in Marital Interaction: What Do 'You' and 'I' Say about Marital Health?" Psychological Science (Volume 16), pp. 932-936]


When �YOU� leave �YOU� out of a sentence in an argument the hostility of the argument tends to diminish. I suggest saying things like �I feel neglected about my birthday because no one has mentioned it.� It then leaves the sentence open to many others could have neglected the birthday and not just the person being talked to. When YOU is used it directs negativity to the listener and if harsh words are used the argument will flare.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/04/15 11:06 AM
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)
26 And �don�t sin by letting anger control you.� Don�t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Anger is defined as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. The apostle tells us not to allow anger to control us for it opens a door of opportunities for the devil to take advantage of.



In June of 2012, Carl Ericsson, a 73-year-old South Dakota man, was sentenced to life in prison after admitting to the murder of a former high school classmate. Friends and family members were shocked that the once-successful insurance salesman seemed to snap. Ericsson had been married to his wife for over 44 years.

But after the murder, Ericsson's secret finally came out. For over 50 years he had simmered with a belated grudge: He was still mad about a classmate who had once pulled a jock strap over his head during a high school locker room prank. Norman Johnson, the classmate and murder victim, was a star athlete on the track team. Ericsson was a student sports manager. According to Ericsson's confession, on one occasion Johnson put a jock strap on Ericsson's head, humiliating him and planting the seed of resentment that would continue to grow for over half a century. Apparently, throughout their lives, Norman Johnson continued to outshine Ericsson. Prior to his murder, Johnson had competed in college football, earned a degree, and then taught and coached at his alma mater for more than three decades.

After holding the grudge for over 50 years, Carl Ericsson rang Johnson's doorbell and shot him dead. Ericsson told a judge, "I guess it was from something that happened over 50 years ago. It was apparently in my subconscious." During his sentencing, Ericsson turned to Johnson's widow and apologized, saying, "I just wish I could turn the calendar back." [Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Cameron Smith, Bizarre S.D. murder caused by resentment over 50-year-old locker room jockstrap prank," Yahoo Sports Prep Rally blog (6-18-12)]


Anger is an unusual emotion. It doesn�t just develop on its own, but is usually the result of another emotion that came first. In the story above we see the man was humiliated and then he felt resentment and then it finally boiled over to anger. It is why we are told not to let anger control us; for it will force us into doing things we may not have done.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/05/15 11:30 AM
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

We should not only be concerned about the welfare and comfort of ourselves, but we should also be concerned about the welfare and comfort of others. We are to pray for one another. We should communicate what we have learned through our own experiences to others. We are to build each other us through reassurance, kindness and comfort.



During the last days of the Third Reich, as Allied bombs rained down on Stuttgart and the Nazi terror writhed in its final death throes, Helmut Thielicke preached a remarkable series of sermons based on the Lord's Prayer. These were days of uncertainty and death. On more than one occasion, the shriek of air raid sirens interrupted his sermon. Thielicke writes that during this period there were times when he felt utterly stricken: "My work in Stuttgart seemed to have gone to pieces; and my listeners were scattered to the four winds; the churches lay in rubble and ashes."

In one of his messages, based upon the petition "Thy kingdom come," Thielicke describes an encounter with a woman from his congregation. He was standing in the street looking down into the pit of a cellar�all that remained from a building that an Allied bomb had shattered. The woman approached him and declared, "My husband died down there. His place was right under the hole. The clean-up squad was unable to find a trace of him; all that was left was his cap."

What does a pastor say in a moment like this? "I'm sorry" hardly seems adequate. But the woman had not come to Thielicke for sympathy. She wanted to express her gratitude. "We were there the last time you preached in the cathedral church," she continued. "And here before this pit I want to thank you for preparing him for eternity." [John Koessler, "Helmut Thielicke: Preaching Amidst the Rubble," A Stanger in the House of God blog (6-24-10)]


As Christians we build up one another. We share personal experiences that give hope and meaning to others. As in the story above we can find comfort in the shared words of another. We can know the assurance of an eternity with God. So continue to encourage one another and you have already been doing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/08/15 11:53 AM
Proverbs 8:20 (NLT)
20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

This is that fruit of wisdom which is better than gold, than fine gold, it leads us in the way of righteousness, shows us that way and goes before us in it, the way that God would have us walk in and which will certainly bring us to our desired end. It leads in the midst of the paths of judgment, and saves us from deviating on either hand. In medio virtus-Virtue lies in the midst. Christ by his Spirit guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness, and they walk after the Spirit. [Matthew Henry Commentary]


Normally we think that wisdom comes with age, but not always. Sometimes it comes from the mouths of children.

� Michael said, �Never tell your mom her diet�s not working.�
� Kyoyo, age 9, said, �Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.�
� Naomi, 15 said, �If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.�
� Lauren, age 9 said, �Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.�
� Joel, 10 years old, said, �Don�t pick on your sister when she�s holding a baseball bat.�
� Eileen, age 8 said, �Never try to baptize a cat.�

A jobless man applied for the position of �office boy� at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. �You are hired,� he said. �Give me your e-mail address and I�ll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start.� The man replied, �But I don�t have a computer nor an email address.� �I�m sorry�, said the HR manager, �If you don�t have an email, that means you do not exist. And he who doesn�t exist, cannot have the job.�

The man left with no hope at all. He didn�t know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 20 lb. tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he could survive that way, and started to go every day earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.

Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan for his family�s future, and decided to buy life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, �I don�t have an email.� The broker answered curiously, �You don�t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!� The man thought for a while and replied, �Yes, I�d be an office boy at Microsoft!� [Steve Shepherd, First Christian Church]


Wisdom will sometimes give you answers that are unexpected. Wisdom will also lead you places where you did not expect to go. But wisdom will watch over you, keep you safe and give you plans for a new day tomorrow. Grab hold of wisdom and don�t let go; for wisdom leads to righteousness and justice.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/15 11:44 AM
Genesis 11:5-7 (NLT)
5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 �Look!� he said. �The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let�s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won�t be able to understand each other.�

The people of Babel worked together building a city with a tower that was going to reach the heavens. They had taken their focus off of God. God saw what they were trying to do; so God confused their language, perhaps giving different groups a new language and then God spread them out across the lands where they could no longer work together.



I like using this illustration for the purpose of communication in marriage. I have seen couples who begin to fight among themselves because they are not properly communicating. They then move to the next illogical step � If I leave and separate from my spouse things will get better. I have heard that statement so many times. And when I asked how it is working out, usually it isn�t because the spouses are communicating at all.

I don�t believe in separation in a marriage except for certain circumstances. One of those is physical abuse. There are too many stories where a spouse stayed with an abusive spouse because they thought things would get better or they could possibly fix them. Let me just say this, if the abuser does not want help or does not want treatment they are not going to change. In fact their abuse may escalate. At times it has escalated to the point of serious harm or death.

There is another reason for separation that should be used sparingly. There are times when a spouse may not be abusive, but they are participating in things that could be destructive to the marriage. So the other spouse must set a boundary for their protection and the protection of the family. The boundary may need to be as strong as � If you continue this behavior I will not allow you to stay in this house and will take legal actions to see that you cannot return. There are many reasons why a spouse might do this, but it is because the other spouse has no regard for the family.

Lastly most of these issues arise over communication problems. Just as the people of Babel could no longer communicate and accomplish tasks, if people in a marriage cannot communicate problems will creep into a marriage.

If you feel you are not communicating within your marriage find some professional help. Counselors can help guide you in ways to communicate properly. Shouting at one another is not communicating, but tearing each other down. Learn to communicate in a peaceful and constructive manner.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/11/15 11:20 AM
Psalm 119:28 (NLT)
28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.

Here we find David�s request to God that even while he weeps with sorrow he finds encourage in God�s words to him.



When you encourage someone you inspire them with courage, spirit and hope. It is why you always see a coach at the beginning of a football game give a speech to encourage the team members. They become inspired and have hope of finding a winning victory.

When you discourage someone they become less determined, less hopeful, and less confident. They are less likely to make something happen. They may even become so despondent they lose the desire to even try. They give up and let hope slip away.

Throughout The Bible God gives us examples of encouragement. We are told how deep and wide His love is for us. We are told about His plan of redemption and how through His Son Jesus Christ we can face eternity with courage, spirit and hope. We are told God has a plan for our lives that has purpose and meaning.

Take a moment out of your day and give someone encouraging words. Let them know they are appreciated and you know they can accomplish great things. Share God�s love by doing exactly what God would do by encouraging those who are at a point of sorrow. Love those around you and brighten their day!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/12/15 02:14 PM
Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

They plainly speak themselves to be God's handy-works; for they could not exist from eternity; all succession and motion must have had a beginning; they could not make themselves, that is a contradiction; they could not be produced by a casual hit of atoms, that is an absurdity, fit rather to be bantered than reasoned with: therefore they must have a Creator, who can be no other than an eternal mind, infinitely wise, powerful, and good. Thus it appears they are God's works, the works of his fingers, and therefore they declare his glory. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



The Christian philosopher Dallas Willard wrote that God is "the most joyous being in the universe." Willard illustrated with the following story:

While I was teaching in South Africa some time ago, a young man � took me out to see the beaches near his home in Port Elizabeth. I was totally unprepared for the experience. I had seen beaches, or so I thought. But when we came over the rise where the sea and land opened up to us, I stood in stunned silence and then slowly walked toward the waves. Words cannot capture the view that confronted me �.

[I realized] that God sees this all the time. He sees it, experiences it, knows it from every possible point of view, this and billions of other scenes like and unlike it, in this and billions of other worlds. Great tidal waves of joy must constantly wash through his being �.

We pay a lot of money to get a tank with a few tropical fish in it and never tire of looking at their [beauty] and marvelous forms and movements. But God has seas full of them, which he constantly enjoys �. We are enraptured by a well-done movie sequence or by a few bars from an opera or lines from a poem. We treasure our great experiences for a lifetime, and we may have very few of them. But he is simply one great inexhaustible and eternal experience of all that is good and true and beautiful and right �.

Willard concludes, "All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness."
[Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (HarperOne, 1998), pp. 62-64]


As I read this I thought of some recent videos taken by camera drones flying above beautiful landscapes. What was seen was almost too awesome to put into word. There were majestic mountains, blue seas, and endless forests. Their beauty is too much to put into works. God, our creator, put all these things in place for us to enjoy and experience. Let us give thanks for the works and wonders of God!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/15/15 10:41 AM
Proverbs 23:24 (NLT)
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

It is the duty of children to study how they may gladden the hearts of their good parents, and do it yet more and more, so that they may greatly rejoice in them. [Matthew Henry]



The film Gladiator tells the story of Maximus (Russell Crowe), general of the Roman army in 180 A.D. Following victory in a decisive battle, the dying emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) expresses his desire to appoint Maximus as his successor. Marcus Aurelius's own son Commodus is the amoral opposite of Maximus. When Commodus learns that he will not be the next emperor, he recoils from his father. Immediately the son brings up the painful memories of his childhood, which were the foundation for his unprincipled life.

"You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues: ambition that can be a virtue when it drives us to excel; resourcefulness; courage perhaps not on the battlefield, but there are many forms of courage; devotion to my family, to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then it was as if you did not want me for your son."

"Commodus, you go too far," replies the emperor.

Commodus continues, "I searched the faces of the gods for ways to please you, to make you proud. One kind word, one full hug where you pressed me to your chest and held me tight would have been like the sun in my heart for a thousand years. What is this in me that you hate so much? All I've ever wanted was to live up to you, Caesar, Father."

"Commodus, your faults as a son is my failure as a father."

[Gladiator (DreamWorks, 2000), written by David Franzoni, directed by Ridely Scott; submitted by Rod Reed, Fresno, California]


A loving parent will often realize the faults in their children were brought about through their own behaviors and failures. I know that opinions which are often strongly expressed are adopted by the children. Children generally love others as their parents love them. Being a parent is a great responsibility; but how pleased we can be when our children are cause for great joy and pleasure.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/16/15 10:58 AM
Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

He pities-as a father pities his children, and does them good as there is occasion. God is a Father to those that fear him and owns them for his children, and he is tender of them as a father. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge and instructs them, pities them when they are froward and bears with them, pities them when they are sick and comforts them (Isa. 66:13), pities them when they have fallen and helps them up again, pities them when they have offended, and, upon their submission, forgives them, pities them when they are wronged and gives them redress; thus the Lord pities those that fear him. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In Albuquerque, New Mexico, there's a restaurant called Tim's Place. It's named after Tim Harris, a young man with Down syndrome who started the business in 2010 with help from his dad, Keith. Six days a week, Tim greets each customer at the door. The 27-year-old young man calls his restaurant "the world's friendliest restaurant."

In an episode of NPR's Storycorps, he tells his dad, "I wanted to own a restaurant ever since I was a kid. That was my dream." When he was in high school, Tim decided he wanted to go to college. So in 2004, he moved about three hours away to study food service, office skills, and restaurant hosting at Eastern New Mexico University.

The separation wasn't easy at first�for Tim or his parents. Tim told his dad, "I pretty much, like, stayed in my room because I was upset, missing my mom and dad. That was the saddest part. I cried in my pillow. My pillow was nothing but tears. So I decided to knock it off and make friends. It didn't take long."

Now Tim lives in his own apartment within walking distance of his restaurant. Every day, when customers come into the restaurant, Tim says, "When they see me, they just melt into my arms for a hug," he says. The hugs are tallied on a digital counter on the wall, which now displays more than 33,000 hugs.

On the episode Tim asks, "[Dad], how does it feel having a son with a disability?" His dad replies, "You know, Tim, when you were born I was filled with a lot of doubts about whether I could be a good enough dad to be your dad. And many years later now, I'm so happy to have you in my life. I'm very, very proud of you and what you've become."

"Dad, you are the most loving dad ever. And Mom, too," Tim says. "You guys are my superheroes. And having you in my life � that makes me special." [NPR Staff, "A 'Good Enough Dad' and His Special Son," NPR Storycorps (3-15-13);]


We have a Father in heaven who encourages and supports us through the tough times. There are times we are left to face a task alone so we can build strength, but Our Father is always close. God loves us, is compassionate towards us and cares for our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/17/15 11:53 AM
Psalm 68:4-5 (NLT)
4 Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord�rejoice in his presence! 5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows�this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

David wrote this Psalm and here proceeds to praise God, calling all people to praise God. [As a gracious God, a God of mercy and tender compassion. He is great, but he despises not any, no, not the meanest; nay, being a God of great power, he uses his power for the relief of those that are distressed. The fatherless, the widows, the solitary, find him a God all-sufficient to them. ~Matthew Henry]



I believe in God. Not that cosmic, intangible spirit-in-the-sky that Mama told me as a little boy "always was and always will be." But the God who embraced me when Daddy disappeared from our lives � from my life at age four � the night police led him away from our front door, down the stairs in handcuffs.

John W. Fountain is a professor of journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has been a reporter for The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post, and a national correspondent for The New York Times. Fountain is also the author of True Vine: A Young Black Man's Journey of Faith, Hope, and Clarity.

The God who warmed me when we could see our breath inside our freezing apartment, where the gas was disconnected in the dead of another wind-whipped Chicago winter, and there was no food, little hope and no hot water.

The God who held my hand when I witnessed boys in my 'hood swallowed by the elements, by death and by hopelessness; who claimed me when I felt like "no-man's son," amid the absence of any man to wrap his arms around me and tell me, "everything's going to be okay," to speak proudly of me, to call me son.

I believe in God, God the Father, embodied in his Son Jesus Christ. The God who allowed me to feel His presence � whether by the warmth that filled my belly like hot chocolate on a cold afternoon, or that voice, whenever I found myself in the tempest of life's storms, telling me (even when I was told I was "nothing") that I was something, that I was His, and that even amid the desertion of the man who gave me his name and DNA and little else, I might find in Him sustenance.

I believe in God, the God who I have come to know as father, as Abba � Daddy.

I always envied boys I saw walking hand-in-hand with their fathers. I thirsted for the conversations fathers and sons have about the birds and the bees, or about nothing at all � simply feeling his breath, heartbeat, presence. As a boy, I used to sit on the front porch watching the cars roll by, imagining that one day one would park and the man getting out would be my daddy. But it never happened.

When I was 18, I could find no tears that Alabama winter's evening in January 1979 as I stood finally � face to face � with my father lying cold in a casket, his eyes sealed, his heart no longer beating, his breath forever stilled. Killed in a car accident, he died drunk, leaving me hobbled by the sorrow of years of fatherlessness.

By then, it had been years since Mama had summoned the police to our apartment that night, fearing that Daddy might hurt her � hit her � again. Finally, his alcoholism consumed what good there was of him until it swallowed him whole.

It wasn't until many years later, standing over my father's grave for a long overdue conversation that my tears flowed. I told him about the man I had become. I told him about how much I wished he had been in my life. And I realized fully that in his absence, I had found another. Or that He � God, the Father, God, my Father � had found me.

[Excerpt: The God Who Embraced Me, John W. Fountain, www.npr.org,November 28, 2005]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/18/15 10:49 AM
Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

And you fathers, v. 4. Or, you parents, 1. "Do not provoke your children to wrath. Though God has given you power, you must not abuse that power, remembering that your children are, in a particular manner, pieces of yourselves, and therefore ought to be governed with great tenderness and love. Be not impatient with them, use no unreasonable severities and lay no rigid injunctions upon them. When you caution them, when you counsel them, when you reprove them, do it in such a manner as not to provoke them to wrath. In all such cases deal prudently and wisely with them, endeavouring to convince their judgments and to work upon their reason.' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



What is a family but a community of promises made and promises kept no matter what? A family is not just two or more people related by blood who happen to live under one roof. A family is not a management device by which two adults shuffle children around to the various experts who do the real rearing. A family is a community of people who dare to make a promise and care enough to keep it�no matter what.

A family is held together by promises: where promises fail, families fail. The rebirth of the family can begin only in the rebirth of promise keeping. The rebirth of a child of God can only happen through promise keeping.

A man was reminiscing after his father's death told of an experience from much earlier about the summer when his sister was looking for employment. She had two job possibilities. One she wanted very much and the other she didn't but would take as a second choice.

As you can imagine, the second-choice job came up first, and she was offered that job. She wanted to hold out for the other, but she didn't know if the other was going to come. So she went ahead and accepted it for her summer employment. A few days later, as you also could expect, the other job became available to her, and she wanted to quit the first very much and go to the second. So she went to her father.

She said, "Dad, I have a problem." And she portrayed it to him.

He looked her straight in the eye and said, "Did you take the first job?"

She said, "Yes."

"Did you promise you would work there this summer?"

She said, "Yes."

He said, "Why are we having this conversation?"

God has made a promise to save us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For God to renege on his promise would be for him to have crucified his Son in vain.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/19/15 10:33 AM
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NLT)
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God�s word.

The duty of husbands, is to love their wives; for without this they would abuse their superiority and headship, and, wherever this prevails as it ought to do, it will infer the other duties of the relation, it being a special and peculiar affection that is required in her behalf. The love of Christ to the church is proposed as an example of this, which love of his is a sincere, a pure, an ardent, and constant affection, and that notwithstanding the imperfections and failures that she is guilty of. The greatness of his love to the church appeared in his giving himself unto the death for it.



On January 8, 2011, outside a grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, a troubled college-dropout named Jared Lee Loughner opened fire, killing six people and injuring 13 others. He also shot and severely injured U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Dorwan "Dory" Stoddard, a 76-year-old retired construction worker, was among six people shot to death. Stoddard used his body to shelter his wife Mavanell, 75, or Mavy, from the gunfire.

The next week, several hundred mourners gathered for a memorial service for Dory. His loved ones remembered that Dory didn't become a hero during that tragic shooting. For years he had lived with the character of a hero, and on January 8th, 2011 he acted in tune with his character. At the service, Dory's pastor Mike Nowak put it this way: "Dory Stoddard � didn't die a hero, he lived a hero. He completed his heroic act of kindness one final time with his wife, Mavy." Dory's son Dale, one of four sons, recalled a selfless family man known as "Mr. Fixit," who was consistently looking to help others. "He was always helping someone, someone who was hurting, someone who needed some care or just a gallon of gasoline," he told the service, flanked by his three brothers. "Guys like my father are rare."

[Adapted from Tim Gaynor, "Tucson remembers shooting victim who died shielding his wife," Reuters (1-16-11)]

Men are you one of the rare guys who would give their life to protect their family? Christ did. He laid down His life for all those of the church that they may receive eternal life protecting them from the evils of sin.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/22/15 10:53 AM
Psalm 121:7-8 (NLT)
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

For those who God calls His children, His eyes will watch over them and His protection will be with them as they come and go.



While serving in Iraq, Courtney Birdsey experienced the protective hand of God, forever changing her. She says:

On one of [our] missions, my unit made a return trip to Samarra, north of Baghdad, to gather data. As we were leaving the town, the Humvee I was riding in approached a tank from behind. A soldier riding on the tank gave us an urgent "turn around" signal. We didn't hesitate to follow orders. We doubled back to Samarra, only to find ourselves surrounded by gunshots.

All of us jumped out of our vehicle and took cover�some of us running ahead and some of us staying with the Humvee. I readied my weapon and hunkered down against the back corner of the Humvee. Amid the gunfire, a black BMW sped through the street at 70 miles per hour�the Iraqi passengers inside, pointing their guns through open windows, opened fire at any American soldier within range.

We exchanged shots, and suddenly the BMW careened, out of control, toward the Humvee where I was crouched. I could see the driver slumped over the steering wheel and knew I had only seconds to make a decision. With my heart pounding and unformed prayers racing in my mind, I ran to the front of the vehicle just before the car slammed into the very place I had been just seconds before.

We were told we would have to transfer the wounded in our own vehicle. In the background, completely incongruent to the battle I was facing, I could hear the droning of Muslim prayer chants over loudspeakers.

My convoy was commanded to drive to an American safe house on the outskirts of town. The chanted prayers and the lamb-like groans of a dying man behind me echoed in my head. Finally we arrived at the safety of the compound. I looked down at my uniform, dirty and speckled with the blood of the wounded. I stepped out of the truck and dropped, shaking, to my knees, thanking God for our safety.

After this encounter, my faith took on a deeper and more personal perspective. I had felt the protective hand of God as we returned to our base physically unscathed. For my remaining time in Iraq, I began to rely heavily on my constant communication with God. Praying without ceasing became, for me, as natural as breathing. [Courtney Birdsey (as told to Julie E. Luekenga), "Prayers in the Desert," Today's Christian (May/June 2005)]


Constantly invite God to be with you, to walk with you, to watch over you and to protect you. He will always be there at your side ready to help when needed. And while our prayers may not always turn out as we expect, God continues to watch over us and use us as He has planned.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/15 10:47 AM
Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, so strongly, so swiftly, so high and heaven-ward. In the strength of divine grace, their souls shall ascend above the world, and even enter into the holiest. Pious and devout affections are the eagles' wings on which gracious souls mount up, Ps. 25:1. Secondly, They shall press forward, forward towards heaven. They shall walk, they shall run, the way of God's commandments, cheerfully and with alacrity (they shall not be weary), constantly and with perseverance (they shall not faint); and therefore in due season they shall reap. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Alive, with Ethan Hawke, is the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team, whose plane crashes in the Andes mountains in 1972. The film portrays the struggle of those who survived the crash to maintain hope and stay alive.

The 3-minute clip begins with three of the survivors deciding to leave the crash site and attempting to make it through the mountains to get help. After days of trekking through mountainous terrain, they take a break. While one of them rests just below a mountain peak, Canessa makes his way to the top where Nando (Ethan Hawke) is surveying the scenery.

Canessa looks around at the stunning beauty of numerous mountain ranges, but finds only despair. "Mountains. Nothing but mountains! We've had it. We've completely had it!" Out of breath, he collapses in resignation.

Nando responds, "No, we haven't. Into these mountains somewhere there is a green valley. See the mountains over there? There's no snow on them."

"Those mountains must be 50 miles away. Do you think we can walk 50 miles?" Canessa responds.

"If we have to, we will," says Nando.

Canessa says, "I can't."

"Yes you can."

"I can't. I'm not as strong as you."

Nando walks over to Canessa, kneels beside him, and says: "You know what it is that we've lived this long the way we have? Seventy days. That we climbed these mountains? You know what it is? It's impossible. It's impossible, and we did it. I'm proud to be a man on a day like this. Alive. That I lived to see it. And see it in such a place. Take it in."

He stands up and looks around him. "I love you, man. Look. It's magnificent. It's God. It'll carry us over every stone. I swear. I swear it to you."

Nando turns around to look at Canessa, now standing. They agree to send the third man back to the plane and take his extra food. Nando stands beside Canessa and points. "You see where the sun's going to set. That way's west. Into the west of the green valleys of Chile."

"We're going to die, you know," Canessa insists.

Nando declares, "Maybe. But if we die, we're going to die walking."

They end up making it to safety and return with rescue helicopters to pick up the remaining survivors.

[Alive" (Paramount, 1993), written by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Frank Marshall]


When you feel as though you have no strength to carry on, trust in The Lord and you will find new strength. You will soar high on wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/24/15 11:27 AM
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT)
3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

God will keep them from evil. We have as much need of the grace of God for our perseverance to the end as for the beginning of the good work. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are other evils which God will also preserve his saints from-the evil that is in the world, yea, from all evil, to his heavenly kingdom. [Matthew Henry Commentary]


An excerpt of Tri Robinson�s story found in his book, Rooted in Good Soil. Tri tells us the following:

�When I got home from [a] mountaintop weekend [that had changed my life, drawing me closer to Christ], I was excited to share with Nancy what had happened. This was the very thing that for many years she had desperately wanted and prayed for. In the years since she had invited Christ into her life on the side of the canyon, she had been praying for me every day.

�Proverbs 13:12 says, �Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick,� and I believe that must have been what happened. I think Nancy was recovering form a sick heart after all those years of not having her prayers answered concerning me. For so long she had wanted me to become the spiritual leader of our home, and when it was about to happen, I think it was kind of a letdown for her. At first, she was elated, but her happiness soon turned to anger. She got mad and over the next couple of weeks, her anger became visible.

�I couldn't understand what was happening, and I remember wondering if receiving the Lord was such a good idea. I started to question everything about faith and this stimulated real and honest prayer�for the first time in my life.

�It was during this time one Sunday after church that everything came to a head. Our younger daughter, Katie, had gone to the home of some friends. The rest of us headed home for lunch, and our three-year-old son, Brook, went down for a nap. We had just met a new older couple at church that morning and had invited them to drop by later that day. Everything seemed fine until something snapped, and a fight between Nancy and me began.

�I don�t know what started it or even what it was about, but I do remember it escalating rapidly. All at once everything came out�all of Nancy�s anger and all of my frustration erupted, causing Nancy to pick up a pottery mug and hurl it at me across the room. I was able to duck quickly, and the mug missed me and smashed through the window of the front door.

�As only fate would have it, the couple we invited from church arrived and were walking up the front steps at that very moment. They ducked and evaded the flying mug but decided it was not the best time to visit the Robinsons. They turned on their heels and headed for their car.

�I was embarrassed and humiliated, and I lost it like I have never lost it before or since. I started yelling and hitting walls and cupboards. Framed pictures and dishes fell to the floor. I went from room to room turning over furniture and shouting in complete frustration. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn�t make Nancy satisfied with our life, and I didn�t know what I could do about it. In the wake of this realization, I fell apart.

�All my life I had prided myself on being composed and put together; I always felt that showing emotion was a sign of weakness. That day God tore down everything I leaned on for strength. (God) was showing me that without (God) I would never be the person (God) created me to be. I needed (God) to be more than my Savior�I needed (God) to be the Lord of my life. That day I learned in my confession of weakness that (God) would make me strong.

�As I surveyed the aftermath of my rage, I saw my three-year-old son staring at me with huge, frightened eyes. I will never forget how he looked as he stood there in shock and disbelief. That�s when it happened�that�s when I finally broke. My deep frustration turned to tears, and the floodgates opened. I started to weep in a way I never had before. Tears welled up from the depths of my being, and my entire body started to convulse. I cried and cried and couldn't stop the tears.

�I cried for a whole life of pain and frustration, most of which Nancy had nothing to do with. I was broken in a way I can�t fully express, but it was a brokenness that forever changed me. I held my son and Nancy held me, and together we cried and prayed. We repented for the way we had treated each other and together asked God to take control of our lives.

�It was a divine moment in our marriage and a divine moment in our life with God. I believe it was the moment the seed of God�s love and truth penetrated my life. It was a turning point, more powerful than any other I have ever experienced. My journey with God entered into the depths of good soil�to a place where my spiritual roots penetrated (God�s) provision for healing and wholeness. Not only did my relationship with God heal, my relationship with my wife changed as well. I could now love because I had come into the assurance that I was first loved.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/06/15 11:00 AM
Job 14:1 (NLT)
1 How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!

Human life is frail. A person here today can be absent tomorrow. We want to accomplish so many things in life, but alas, life is short. Even the time we have been given can be full of woes and troubles, leaving us little time to achieve all the things we long to do.



There is no accident that I have been away from writing for a short while. Members of my family needed me and I took the time to be with them. While I have 24 hours in a day just like everyone else, sometimes you have to prioritize your life in such a way that you can give time to God, time to your family and friends, and even time to those with whom you work. So there are occasions out of our short life that we must stop and help as needed. If we are having routine talks with God He would remind us that even He rested on the 7th day to review the work He had completed; so maybe we need to rest and review what is in front of us.

I have seen frailty in life as family members and friends have passed away. Some had their lives cut way too short in life. Some were in accidents that caused them much pain and suffering. Some could not face the troubles of life and went in their own time.

Yes life is short, so use it wisely. Use it to serve God, your family, your friends, and those you work with.

Last week I was helping my wife. Her mother�s health has slowly been declining. My wife has taken the time to care for her parents and I have helped fill in places and done things she might have normally done. But there comes a time when we are called to take a break and fully help our family and last week was it for me. For I�m not sure how much longer my mother-in-law has, only God knows. I do know it is shorter today than it was yesterday.

In the near future I may steal away some more days for family, but even when I do, I will lift up my family and my friends to God who is always near. I will remember their troubles and ask God to comfort them.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/07/15 11:19 AM
Psalm 18:30 (NLT)
30 God�s way is perfect. All the Lord�s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Not only is God perfect, but all the things done of God are perfection. God creates, performs and perfects what has been put in place. God promises us many things throughout The Bible and those promises prove true. In moments of need God is our protector even being a Father to the fatherless.



Most people know about the passion of Martin Luther King Jr. for racial justice and nonviolent resistance. However, some people aren't as familiar with King's deep personal faith in Christ. In his book Welcoming Justice, Charles Marsh describes one of King's profound encounters with the Risen Christ.

[In January 1956, Martin Luther King Jr.] returned home around midnight after a long day of organizational meetings. His wife and young daughter were already in bed, and King was eager to join them. But a threatening call�the kind of call he was getting as many as 30 to 40 times a day�interrupted his attempt to get some much-needed rest. When he tried to go back to bed, he could not shake the menacing voice that kept repeating the hateful words in his head.

King got up, made a pot of coffee, and sat down at his kitchen table. With his head buried in his hands, he cried out to God. There in his kitchen in the middle of the night, when he had come to the end of strength, King met the living Christ in an experience that would carry him through the remainder of his life. "I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on," King later recalled. "He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone � He promised never to leave me, no never alone."

In the stillness of the Alabama night, the voice of Jesus proved more convincing than the threatening voice of the anonymous caller. The voice of Jesus gave him the courage to press through the tumultuous year of 1956 to the victorious end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. More than that, it gave him a vision for ministry that would drive him for the rest of his life.


No matter what we are going through God has a plan for our life. Sometimes the road may seem difficult, but we must remember God�s way is perfect.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/08/15 11:47 AM
Psalm 138:2 (NLT)
2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

Christ is our temple, and towards Him we must have faith, as Mediator between us and God, in all our praises of Him. Heaven is God's holy temple, and it is there we must lift up our eyes in all our prayers to God.



Think about that statement for just a moment. He has exalted His Word above His own name. How powerful is God�s name? It is so powerful that the Jews wouldn�t even speak His name in public. It so powerful that the Bible declares that at the very mention of His name demons tremble, everyone and everything is forced to their knees in worship, and out of their mouths will come a confession that He is Lord. And yet, as powerful as His name is the Psalmist declares that He has exalted His word above even His name! God�s Word is powerful! God�s Word is authority.

Where did Jesus turn when facing off against the devil? The Word! God used God�s Word to take authority! Any Word that Jesus would have spoken would be carried out. He says about himself in Matthew 28:18 that all authority has been given to Him. I mean He is God. He could have looked at the devil and said �boo� and victory was sure. And yet, He uses the written Word of God to wield authority!

God�s Word is the authority figure that we must submit to!
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 07/09/15 05:12 AM
When my wife started her affair, I had a facebook account and was "friends" was a man I did not know...but he was part of a church group I belonged to and always posted the Bible daily.

I was devastated and asked him to pray, which he said he would. He also told me "Trust nobody but the Lord Jesus."
He encouraged me not to rely on human wisdom, wise as it may be, but to rely on the written Word of God for guidance.
It was the best advice I received. God's Word is absolute truth and can see us through any hardship if we trust Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/10/15 11:36 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
When my wife started her affair, I had a facebook account and was "friends" was a man I did not know...but he was part of a church group I belonged to and always posted the Bible daily.

I was devastated and asked him to pray, which he said he would. He also told me "Trust nobody but the Lord Jesus."
He encouraged me not to rely on human wisdom, wise as it may be, but to rely on the written Word of God for guidance.
It was the best advice I received. God's Word is absolute truth and can see us through any hardship if we trust Him.


AMEN! While others may fail us, God never will!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/10/15 11:36 AM
Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The work of grace is but begun in this life; it is not finished here; as long as we are in this imperfect state there is something more to be done. If the same God who begins the good work did not undertake the carrying on and finishing of it, it would lie forever unfinished. He must perform it who began it. We may be confident, or well persuaded, that God not only will not forsake, but that he will finish and crown the work of his own hands. For, as for God, his work is perfect. The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. When he shall come to judge the world, and finish his mediation, then this work will be complete, and the top-stone will be brought forth with shouting. [Matthew Commentary]



Nicholas Kristof, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times wrote a column in March 2015 entitled, "A Little Respect for Dr. Foster." Kristof makes clear that he isn't an evangelical Christian yet he says, "But I've been truly awed by those I've seen in so many remote places, combating illiteracy and warlords, famine and disease, humbly struggling to do the Lord's work as they see it � " He focuses on "Dr. Stephen Foster, 65, a white-haired missionary surgeon who has lived in Angola for 37 years�much of that in a period when the Angolan regime was Marxist and hostile to Christians."

"We were granted visas," [Foster] said, "by the very people who would tell us publicly, 'your churches are going to disappear in 20 years,' but privately, 'you are the only ones we know willing to serve in the midst of the fire.'"

Kristof writes, "One son contracted polio; a daughter survived cerebral malaria; and the family nearly starved when the area was besieged during war and Dr. Foster insisted on sharing the family rations with 100 famished villagers."

Kristof concludes: "The next time you hear someone at a cocktail party mock evangelicals, think of Dr. Foster and those like him. These are folks who don't so much proclaim the gospel as live it. They deserve better." (Although there's probably much more proclaiming than Kristof realizes. Dr. Foster's website carries the banner: Hope for Angola through healthcare, agriculture, education, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.)


As long as we live in this world we will never find perfection in life. Through our lives we can show others the good things God has to offer. Then one day God will finally complete the good work He started in us and bring us to perfection through His Son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/13/15 10:43 AM
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observe, It is to the glory of God the Father to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father. [Matthew Henry]



On the game show Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey, contestants are asked to guess how 100 people responded to various survey questions. On a 2012 episode, a contestant had to provide the top answers to the following survey question: "When someone mentions 'the King,' to whom might he or she be referring?" Here were the four top answers:

1.81 people said "Elvis Presley"
2.7 people said "God or Jesus"
3.3 people said "Martin Luther King, Jr."
4.2 people said "The Burger King"

[James Gilmore, "We Have No King but Elvis," White Horse Inn blog (9-14-12)]


Who or maybe what, is the King in your life? Revelation 17:14 tells us, �These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.��
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/15 11:18 AM
Proverbs 14:5 (NIV)
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be principled as they ought to be; for, 1. A witness that is conscientious will not dare to give in a testimony that is in the least untrue, nor, for good-will or ill-will, represent a thing otherwise than according to the best of his knowledge, whoever is pleased or displeased, and then judgment runs down like a river. 2. But a witness that will be bribed, and biassed, and browbeaten, will utter lies (and not stick nor startle at it), with as much readiness and assurance as if what he said were all true. [Matthew Commentary]



Flywheel is a film about Jay, a Christian used-car salesman who becomes convicted that he has been grossly overcharging his customers. In this scene, conviction begins to settle in Jay's heart when he manipulates the sale of a car to his pastor.

As the scene opens, Jay is standing in the used car lot when he notices that his pastor is looking at a car. Jay walks over and says, "Well, the good Reverend came after all!"

"Jay, how's the car business today?" the pastor replies.

"We're making ends meet. It's good to see you. Tell me what I can do for you?"

"Well, I'm looking for a car for my daughter. She's our last one. I wish she were here, but she's out shopping for clothes with her mother. I'm just trying to find a good buy for her."

"Well, let me commit to giving you a good deal," Jay says, licking his chops.

The scene shifts to two salesmen that are sitting in the office that oversees the parking lot. Watching the interaction between Jay and the pastor, one salesman says to the other, "Hey, who is that guy with Jay? I think I've seen him before."

The other salesman looks out the window and says, "He's a minister, isn't he? Jay will probably give him a deal."

"Twenty bucks says he doesn't!" the other salesman fires back, knowing full well that Jay is a swindler.

"Do you really think he's going to stiff a minister?"

"Twenty bucks says he will!"

"You're on," the other salesman replies, and both watch from the window. As they watch Jay and his pastor examining a Camry, they check the files to see its listed price. The Camry is worth $6,500.

"Jay will sell it for $8,000," one salesman says. The other replies, "$7,000."

The scene shifts back to Jay and his pastor. After answering his pastor's questions about the Camry, Jay says, "I've got $8,500 in this car. If you want, I'll give it to you for $9,000."

Thinking it over, the Reverend decides to take it for a test drive. When Jay comes into the office, one of salesmen asks, "Is he buying it?"

"He might," Jay replies.

"You think he will?"

"I do."

"How do you know?"

"I sell cars for a living."

"Ha! At what price?"

The next scene shows Jay's pastor signing on the dotted line. As Jay walks the minister to the Camry, the two salesmen check the bill on the desk. They're surprised to see that Jay sold the car for $9,000, and they argue over who won the bet.

When the scene shifts back to Jay and his pastor, the pastor says, "Jay, thanks. You've treated me so well today. I would like to do something for you. I'd like to pray and ask God to bless you and your business."

"I'd appreciate that," Jay stutters.

"Let's pray." The minister puts his hand on Jay's shoulder, and says, "Lord, today I come before you and thank you for this day. I thank you for Jay and his business. I thank you for the car for Lindsay, and I ask that you protect her and give her grace as she drives this car. And Lord, I ask that you treat Jay just like he treated me today in this deal. In your name I pray, Lord, Amen."

"Amen," Jay says softly. As the minister drives away, Jay is left standing in the parking lot with a guilty look on his face.

[Flywheel (Sherwood Pictures, 2003), directed and written by Alex Kendrick; submitted by Jerry De Luca, Montreal West, Quebec, Canada]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/15/15 10:28 AM
James 1:21 (NLT)
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

We are called upon to suppress other corrupt affections, as well as rash anger: Lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, v. 21. The word here translated filthiness signifies those lusts which have the greatest turpitude and sensuality in them; and the words rendered superfluity of naughtiness may be understood of the overflowings of malice or any other spiritual wickednesses. Hereby we are taught, as Christians, to watch against, and lay aside, not only those more gross and fleshly dispositions and affections which denominate a person filthy, but all the disorders of a corrupt heart, which would prejudice it against the word and ways of God. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In his book Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon, Michael P. Ghiglieri chronicles the nearly 700 deaths that have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870s. Of course most people aren't shocked that fatal mishaps occur there. After all, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and attains a depth of over a mile (6,000 feet). The extreme temperatures (which often exceed 100 degrees) can quickly lead to heatstroke and dehydration.

So how did most of the deaths occur? Air crashes account for the largest number of deaths at the Grand Canyon. Floods have claimed the lives of some of the river rafters. Other despondent souls have taken their own lives. But according to Ghiglieri, a number of people have gone "over the edge" and fallen to their death through their own carelessness. Specifically, they ignored posted warnings and confidently walked out on to dangerous precipices.

For example, in 1992, a 38-year-old father jokingly tried to frighten his teenage daughter by leaping on to a guard wall. He flailed his arms as he pretended to lose his balance. Then he comically "fell" on the canyon side onto a ledge he assumed was safe. But sadly, after ignoring numerous warning signs, he lost his footing and fell 400 feet into the void below.

Then in 2012, an 18-year-old woman who was hiking on the North Rim Trail decided to venture off the beaten path to have her picture taken at a spot known as Inspiration Point. As she sat down on the ledge of the 1,500-foot deep canyon, the rocks gave way, and she plummeted to her death.

These deaths were not just tragic; they were also completely avoidable. Does anyone truly want his or her last words before "AAAAHHHHHH" to be, "Look at how close I can get to the rim without fall �. ?" Call me overly cautious, but without a hang-glider or parachute attached to my body, I can see the Canyon just fine 10 yards back from the precipice.

And yet many of us approach sin by asking the question, "How close can I get without crossing the line?" We avoid God's warning signs and then edge right up to disaster, confident that we�unlike other people�can avoid the crash. Like the child who listens to a parent's warning and then does everything to push the boundaries, we rush to the edge of sin with a false sense of security.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/17/15 11:38 AM
Romans 1:16 (NIV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

There is a great deal in the gospel which such a man as Paul might be tempted to be ashamed of, especially that he whose gospel it is was a man hanged upon a tree, that the doctrine of it was plain, had little in it to set it off among scholars, the professors of it were mean and despised, and everywhere spoken against; yet Paul was not ashamed to own it. I reckon him a Christian indeed that is neither ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



John Stott shares the following story from 1958 when he was leading a university outreach in Sydney, Australia. The day before the final meeting, Stott received word that his father had passed away. In addition to his grief, Stott was also starting to lose his voice. Here's how Stott describes the final day of the outreach:

It was already late afternoon within a few hours of the final meeting of the mission, so I didn't feel I could back away at that time. I went to the great hall and asked a few students to gather round me. I asked one of them to read � "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness," (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). A student read these verses and then I asked them to lay hands on me and � pray that those verses might be true in my own experience.

When time came for me to give my address, I preached on the [broad and narrow ways from Matthew 7]. I had to get within half an inch of the microphone, and I croaked the gospel like a raven. I couldn't exert my personality. I couldn't move. I couldn't use any inflections in my voice. I croaked the gospel in monotone. Then when the time came to give the invitation, there was an immediate response, larger than any other meeting during the mission, as students came flocking forward �

I've been back to Australia about ten times since 1958, and on every occasion somebody has come up to me and said, "Do you remember that final meeting in the university in the great hall?" "I jolly well do," I reply. "Well," they say, "I was converted that night."

Stott concludes, "The Holy Spirit takes our human words, spoken in great weakness and frailty, and he carries them home with power to the mind, the heart, the conscience, and the will of the hearers in such a way that they see and believe." [Michael P. Knowles, editor, The Folly of Preaching (Eerdmans, 2007), pp. 137-138]


The gospel is the �Good News� of the salvation for sins that can be found in The Lord Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus first for the Jews and then the Gentiles, which in reality is everyone else. God had a special place in his heart for the Jewish population, but God also loved all people and extended His Mercy, Grace and Love to all. Do not be ashamed of the gospel for it brings salvation to all who have faith.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 07/19/15 04:02 AM
Sadly, there are people throughout the Middle East at this very moment, who are questioned by soldiers of Allah, fighting under the flag of ISIS: "Are you a Christian?"

The reports say entire villages have answered, "Yes!" and families killed as a consequence.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/15 10:48 AM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
Sadly, there are people throughout the Middle East at this very moment, who are questioned by soldiers of Allah, fighting under the flag of ISIS: "Are you a Christian?"

The reports say entire villages have answered, "Yes!" and families killed as a consequence.


So true, there have Christians throughout the years that have been killed when the only thing they have done is to hold firmly to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were asaked to deny their faith and they would not. The result was their death.

But let us remember those who hold firm to the Gospel of Jesus Christ will have eternal life. They will not perish, but will life eternally in the presence of our Lord and Savior. Those who died here on earth live forever in heaven.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/20/15 10:48 AM
James 5:12 (NKJV)
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your �Yes� be �Yes,� and your �No,� �No,� lest you fall into judgment.

But let your yea be yea, and your nay nay; lest you fall into condemnation; that is, "let it suffice you to affirm or deny a thing as there is occasion, and be sure to stand to your word, an be true to it, so as to give no occasion for your being suspected of falsehood; and then you will be kept from the condemnation of backing what you say or promise by rash oaths, and from profaning the name of God to justify yourselves. It is being suspected of falsehood that leads men to swearing. Let it be known that your keep to truth, and are firm to your word, and by this means you will find there is no need to swear to what you say. Thus shall you escape the condemnation which is expressly annexed to the third commandment: The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In his book When Life Is Hard, pastor and author James MacDonald shares a valuable lesson he learned during his days as a basketball player. He writes:

I played a lot of basketball back in the day. I sprained my ankles many times, and I learned too late that the best way to handle all that black-and-blue is to fill a wastebasket with ice and top it off with water. Then, while the injury is fresh, put your wounded foot deep into that cold water and leave it there.

If you can last for one minute, it's just crazy painful. But if you can keep it in there for two minutes, the injury and its recovery time will be cut in half. � If you can hang on for two and a half minutes, you can be playing basketball again by Thursday, but the pain of holding your foot in that arctic water will have you crying out for someone to bring you a sharp object. Even with my worst injuries I seldom made it two and a half minutes.

But here is the amazing thing about "remaining under the pain" of having your foot in that cold bucket: If you can hang in there for three minutes, you'll be walking on it tomorrow. The pain will be consuming those last thirty seconds, worse by far than the injury itself now. But you will walk tomorrow.

MacDonald concludes: "It is just that way with trials. You can come to the place where the circumstance itself is less painful than the commitment not to give up." [Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky; source: James MacDonald, When Life Is Hard (Moody, 2010), p. 63]


It can be painful to give a truthful answer, especially when you have done something wrong. I use to watch the TV show COPs. So many times a person would get caught where it was clearly seen what they had done for the camera doesn�t hide many facts. Yet when the person was asked if they had committed the crime their answer would be �No.� It wasn�t until they realized they had been watched, the person next to them was an undercover officer, or they were just tired of lying would they finally admit the truth.

Also there are times in our life when we don�t want to commit so we say things like �I think�, �I guess�, �I�m not sure, but � .� You probably know those type of answers. If you need to say yes or no, follow God�s word and answer honestly and truthfully without swearing.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 07/23/15 03:37 AM
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�Languages

Mary Magdalene, the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal to the Apostles

The Gospel of�Luke 8:1-3

At that time Jesus went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.




July 22

Reading:

Saint Mary was from Magdala in Galilee on the Sea of Tiberias, and for this was named Magdalene. When the Lord Jesus cast out seven demons from her, from which she had been suffering, she became His faithful and inseparable disciple, following Him and ministering unto Him even to the time of His crucifixion and burial. Then, returning to Jerusalem together with the rest of the Myrrh-bearers, she prepared the fragrant spices for anointing the body of the Lord. And on the Lord's day they came very early to the tomb, even before the Angels appeared declaring the Resurrection of the Lord. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone taken away from the tomb, she ran and proclaimed it to Peter and John. And returning immediately to the tomb and weeping outside, she was deemed worthy to be the first of the Myrrh-bearers to behold the Lord arisen from the dead, and when she fell at His feet, she heard Him say, "Touch Me not." After the Lord's Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her. Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem, and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman.

Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 07/27/15 02:56 AM

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�Languages

8th Sunday of Matthew

The Gospel of�Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

ADDITIONAL READINGS FOR TODAY:

John 20:11-18

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5





July 26

Reading:

Saint Hermolaus and those with him were priests of the Church in Nicomedia, living in hiding after the Emperor Maximian had burnt to death the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia (see Dec. 28). It was Hermolaus who converted Saint Panteleimon to Christ. When Saint Panteleimon was seized as a Christian and was asked by Maximian who it was that had turned him from the idols, the Saint, enlightened by God that the time of his teacher's martyrdom also was at hand, revealed to Maximian that it was Hermolaus the priest. Saint Hermolaus was taken with Saints Hermippus and Hermocrates, and when they had confessed Christ to be the only true God, they were beheaded in the year 305. Saint Hermolaus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/27/15 11:15 AM
Hebrews 12:1(NLT)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Here observe what is the great duty which the apostle urges upon the Hebrews, and which he so much desires they would comply with, and that is, to lay aside every weight, and the sin that did so easily beset them, and run with patience the race set before them. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next � Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither.

�C. S. Lewis, Irish professor, author, and apologist (1898�1963)

Set your mind on heaven and concentrate on what would benefit God�s heavens the most. There are many witnesses to confirm the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem is we let too many burdens of this present world weight us down and we lose sight of the eternal life waiting for us. We get tripped up by sin and sin tries to destroy anything good we could accomplish. Do not let the weight of sin hold you back, but instead remember the love, mercy and grace of Our Lord. Run the race of life with patience knowing there is an eternity of life awaiting at the finish line for those who have placed their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/28/15 12:23 PM
John 11:35 (NKJV)
35 Jesus wept.

This verse comes from the story of Lazarus who had died. He was the brother of Martha and Mary, all of which were friends to Jesus. The shortest verse in The Bible, yet it has great importance. The words, Jesus wept, shows the humanity of Jesus as tears fell down His face for His friends. It shows Jesus understood grief and He could weep as one who loved another.



My Mother-In-Law passed away last Monday around 3:30PM at the age of 86. We know her life was slowly stolen by either Alzheimer�s or Dementia.

For over a year had not been able to walk. For months she had not been able to get out of bed. For months she was only able to take small bites of food, and then she stopped eating. She was not able to communicate clearly. She had trouble breathing. She was in constant pain and she was only able to take drops of water at a time. We watched her decline, we had done all we could do without prolonging agony and suffering. Naturally we grieved for her as the disease was taking her life.

She left behind a husband of 61 years, along with a son and his wife, a daughter and her husband, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. We were all deeply grieved by her death. Her husband especially feels the emptiness and the loss of her presence; even though he knows she is in a better place; it is still difficult for him.

Jesus understands our grief. He saw the pain of the family after Lazarus had passed away. Jesus wept as He mourned with them. I believe Jesus also wept because He planned to perform a miracle that would take Lazarus from a beautiful place of eternity and place him back into this harsh world.

Remember Our Savior loves us and understands the pains of life. Jesus is always listening to our prayers and feels our tears. Know that His love, grace and mercy can sustain us through the most difficult of times, because Jesus faced the most difficult of times. Jesus faced those difficult times for our sake, so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Alzheimer�s is a horrible disease. I personally have lost family members to Alzheimer�s and I know others who have loss family dear to them because of it.

Please remember these people in prayer. If you are able to give, please donate to www.alz.org or other charitable organizations such as http://www.leezascareconnection.org/ and even read more about this disease at http://www.alzheimers.gov/ which informs and guides families. May God bless you and ease any grief you may be experiencing.
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 07/28/15 03:51 PM
Im sorry to hear of your loss.
Posted By: BrainHurts Re: Devotionals - 07/29/15 02:29 PM
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
Im sorry to hear of your loss.
Me as well. pray
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/15 10:38 AM
Originally Posted by BrainHurts
Originally Posted by Jedi_Knight
Im sorry to hear of your loss.
Me as well. pray



Thank you. Her pain and suffering is gone and we rejoice that is at home in heaven in the comfort of The Lord's arms.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/30/15 10:38 AM
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
14 �You are the light of the world�like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus reminds us that we are the reflection of God�s light in this world that like a city on a hill top or a light on a table so that our good deeds can be seen for others to know our love of God.



Rick Richardson, writes in Reimagining Evangelism: My friend Sam works at Einstein Brothers Bagels, where I write my books. Sam has a Muslim dad and a kind-of-Baptist mom. Recently, as I was going through the line, Sam waved me over. "I've lost my wallet again. I don't know where it is!"

"Sam, I will pray for you," I assured him.

"I guess it can't hurt," he replied (I get that response a lot).

Ten minutes later, he came over and told me he had found it. "All right!" I rejoiced. "Hey, you can ask me to pray for you any time." He laughed.

The next week as I went through the line, Sam let me know his ulcer was acting up. "Sam, is there anything I can get you?" I asked. He sent me over to the nearby Cub Foods to pick up some medicine. When I came back, I told him I would pray, too. This time he welcomed my prayers a little more enthusiastically.

Ten minutes later, he approached me and said he felt much better and hadn't needed to take the medicine. That was very unusual for him. "Man, I wish I had prayed for you before I went and bought that medicine!" I exclaimed. He laughed again.

These days, he doesn't wait for me to ask. When I see Sam, he often asks me to pray for him without any suggestion from me at all. [Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism (IVP, 2006), p. 20-21]


Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. For you are the light of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/31/15 11:30 AM
John 1:12-13 (NLT)
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn�not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

This verse tells us that all who believed and accepted Jesus Christ were given the right to become children of God; that is they became adopted by God to live as His children in His kingdom.




The other day I listened as my wife told a story of a man who was about to marry a woman who had a child. The father of the child had deserted them and had no interest in them.

Seeking to marry this woman, the father of this man, being a Godly person, told his son, �If you marry this woman, you also assume responsibility for her girl as she has no one of her own.�

The man carefully listened to his father. He married the woman and later adopted the girl. She was treated as she was his very own. She was always considered the first child in their family; even as they had more children. This girl learned the love of a father who adopted her without question, who loved her and respected her as one of her own.

My wife said the girl turned out to be a woman who understood the accepting love of another and never had a problem accepting the love of God the Father.


Give thanks to God who out of your belief of His Son takes you to be one of His adopted heirs.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/03/15 10:56 AM
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, �Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.�

This is a reminder that God does not see things the way we do. While we look at the outward appearance of people, God examines the hearts of people.



Although we like to believe that beauty runs only skin deep, research shows that it pays to be good-looking. A 2010 survey by Newsweek concluded, "In all elements of the workplace, from hiring to politics to promotions � looks matter, and they matter hard." The research provided the following results:

Favoritism Happens: 57 percent of hiring managers believe an unattractive (but qualified) job candidate will have a harder time getting hired.

Favoritism Continues: 68 percent of hiring managers believe that, once hired, looks will affect the way managers rate an employee's job performance.

Your Looks Matter More Than Your Resume: 59 percent of hiring managers advised spending as much time and money "making sure they look attractive" as on perfecting a resume.

It's Worse for Women: 61 percent of hiring managers (and 60 percent of them were men) said that women would benefit from wearing clothes that show off their figure.

We Judge Overweight People: Although 75 percent of Americans are overweight, about 66 percent of managers said they thought some managers would hesitate before hiring someone who is significantly overweight.

We Also Judge Old People: 84 percent of managers said their bosses would hesitate before hiring a qualified candidate who looked much older than his or her co-workers.

We Think Favoritism Based on Looks Is OK: 64 percent of hiring managers said they believe companies should be allowed to hire people based on looks.


How do you judge the character of a person, by their looks or by their actions? Actions are lasting, but beauty is fleeting.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/04/15 11:05 AM
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)
2 �This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it�the Lord is his name: 3 �Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.�

God who created the Heavens and the Earth and all of creation says to us, �Call to me and I will answer you� and what we will learn are great and unknown things, which we have not understood. [Those that expect to receive comforts from God must continue instant in prayer. We must call upon him, and then he will answer us. ~Matthew Henry]




Phil Callaway didn�t know what to say when his young children asked if Mommy was going to die. His wife, Ramona, suffered horrible seizures. Hundreds of friends and relatives prayed, but Ramona�s weight eventually slipped to ninety pounds. Medical specialists tried everything, but by the fall of 1996, the seizures were occurring daily, sometimes hourly.

Phil rarely left Ramona�s side. He wondered if she would even make it to her thirtieth birthday. One evening, when things looked utterly hopeless, Phil paced their dark backyard, then fell to his knees. "God!" he cried out. "I can�t take it anymore. Please do something!"

As he stood, a doctor�s name came to mind. Phil called the doctor, who saw Ramona the next morning and diagnosed a rare chemical deficiency. Within a week, Ramona was a different person. The seizures ended. Her eyes lit up with the sparkle that had first attracted Phil to her. The miracle was so incredible Phil says, "God gave me back my wife." [Christian Reader (Jan/Feb 2002), pp.12-13; source: Luis Palau, It's a God Thing]


Jesus affirmed, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" Matthew 7:7.

Remember to pray, pray earnestly, and fervently that The Lord may grant answers beyond your expectation.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/06/15 10:47 AM
Psalm 118:5-9 (NKJV)
5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.

This account from David tells us of his distress and The Lord�s answer to him. David has no doubt that God is on his side. David has not doubt that God will be his defender when man fails to help.




Evelyn Bence in, Two Kinds of Thanks, from Christianity Today, November 1999 writes: My three hours at the shelter were not filled with dramatic scenes. From a corner of the large sleeping area, I helped serve dinner to 30 women who ate their substantial but bland meal, sitting cross-legged on their sleeping mats. Except for two boisterously irrational women, they talked little. By nine o'clock, many were bedding down for the night.

"Homeless." As I did the dishes, still within sight of the women, the word took on a personal meaning. These women slept here, but every morning when they left, they had to carry their possessions with them.

Suddenly I was overwhelmed with gratitude for my nightgowns, for my very own pillow, for my hand-picked dining room chairs. "Lord," I silently prayed as I walked to Christy's office to say good night, "thank you. Thank you�that I'm not one of them."

Christy met me in the hallway and interrupted my pharisaical thoughts with her own gratitude for my help. I asked her about certain women who had caught my attention.

Routy Rachel, Christy explained, had a Ph.D. in art history. Gradually her mind had slipped out of her own grasp. Ester, who had talked to herself all evening, was the mother of five children. She was a midwestern farmer's wife�until her life crumbled around her. Christy didn't know much about Carol, who had lain on her back for more than an hour, reading her King James Bible. Marla, who had seemed sullen, was a trained soprano who occasionally enjoyed serenading the rest of the group.

Only after I walked back out into the night air did the women's stories unsettle me. Their paths had too much in common with mine. In a sense, I was one of them: A mother's daughter. Vulnerable. A sinner in need of grace. � [Evelyn Bence, "Two Kinds of Thanks," Christianity Today magazine (November, 1999)]


We are all sinners in need of grace. May we deeply understand the love, mercy and grace The Lord extends us so we can demonstrate it in our own lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/15 11:44 AM
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

In this verse the disciple reminds the people of Israel that they are a chosen generation of people that should proclaim the praises of God who brought salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. This nation was taught the difference between the darkness of sin and the holiness of light. Therefore they should live in the light as a holy nation.




America was founded by people seeking freedoms from the governments that oppressed them. Religious freedom was one of the motivations for colonists to come to America. Puritans and pilgrims wanted to be able to establish their religion freely without influence of politics and government. They wanted to be able to have freedom to worship as they pleased without being told what religion they should participate in.

The majority of those who founded America were Christians. Christians understood the laws handed down by God to the Jewish nation. They also understood the love, grace and mercy God had given through His Son Jesus Christ. Our country has been a great supporter of Israel because of common religious ties. However, it seems those ties have weakened just as the Christian population has weakened.

We need to remember we are NOT the chosen nation of God. Israel was the chosen people and only them. Others have benefited from the love, grace and mercy of God, but no others have told they were chosen as Israel was told.

I believe this nation must be careful not to lose the Christian beliefs and ties we have to Jewish religion. If we lose those values God may take away the blessings He has so freely placed on this nation. Many would agree the morality and previous values of this country have deteriorated. When the same happened with God�s chosen people, Israel, God allowed them to suffer the consequences. So do we really think as this nation moves away from God that we won�t suffer the same?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/10/15 10:58 AM
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

God is our refuge and strength; we have found him so, he has engaged to be so, and he ever will be so. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Kayla Mueller, 26 years old, was captured by ISIS, and on February 10, 2015 U.S. officials confirmed that Muslim extremists had murdered her while in captivity. In the spring of 2014 as a captor she wrote to her family. The letter begins with Kayla's assurance that she has been treated well, and is "in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy." The 26-year-old aid worker goes on to apologize touchingly to her family for the suffering that she has put them through because of her captivity. Then comes her central proposition: "I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else."

Kayla, who was involved in the campus ministry at Northern Arizona University, goes on to relate how "by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall." She adds: "I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it."

She concluded, "Please be patient, give your pain to God. I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing. Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I. By God's will we will be together soon. All my everything, Kayla" [Stephen L. Carter, "On Kayla Mueller and Faith," BloombergView (2-13-15); submitted by Ted De Haas, Slater, Iowa]


God is our refuge and strength. When there is no one else, there is God. God is always present in our lives ready to help in times of touble.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/15 11:42 AM
Psalm 119:14 (NLT)
14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

David had asked God before to teach him His statues so that he might understand God. In knowing God�s laws David rejoiced as much as if he had been handed riches. For the riches he received in knowledge were as valuable as any treasure could be.



A poor, good woman said, in time of persecution, when they took away the Christian's Bibles, "I cannot part with my Bible; I know not how to live without it." When a gracious soul has heard a profitable sermon, he says, "Methinks it does me good at heart; it is the greatest nourishment I have": I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. [Oliver Heywood, 1629-1702]


The way of thy testimonies. The testimony of God is his word, for it testifies his will; the "way" of his testimony is the practice of his word, and doing of that which he hath declared to be his will, and wherein he hath promised to show us his love. David found not this sweetness in hearing, reading, and professing the word only; but in practicing of it: and in very deed, the only cause why we find not the comfort that is in the word of God is that we practice it not by walking in the way thereof. It is true, at the first it is bitter to nature, which loves carnal liberty, to render itself as captive to the word: laboriosa virtutis via, and much pains must be taken before the heart be subdued; but when it is once begun, it renders such joy as abundantly recompenses all the former labour and grief. [William Cowper]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/15 11:10 AM
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 �Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

During the life of Christ He was often pushed away by the religious leaders. They listened to words of Jesus, but not as a friend would, but as an enemy trying to trap Him by own His words. In the verse above we find Jesus making a personal appeal to all people. If you hear His voice and you open the door to your heart, Jesus will abide with you in a close, personal, and warm friendship.



Arthur F. Burns, the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve System and ambassador to West Germany, was a man of considerable gravity. Medium in height, distinguished, with wavy silver hair and his signature pipe, he was economic counselor to a number of presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. When he spoke, his opinions carried weight, and Washington listened. Arthur Burns was also Jewish, so when he began attending an informal White House group for prayer and fellowship in the 1970s, he was accorded special respect. No one in fact quite knew how to involve him in the group, and, week after week when different people took turns to end the meeting in prayer, Burns was passed by�out of a mixture of respect and reticence.

One week, however, the group was led by a newcomer who did not know the unusual status Burns occupied. As the meeting ended, the newcomer turned to Arthur Burns and asked him to close the time with a prayer. Some of the old-timers glanced at each other in surprise and wondered what would happen. But without missing a beat, Burns reached out, held hands with others in the circle, and prayed this prayer: "Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen." [Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, (W Publishing, 2003), p. 101]

So many have pushed Jesus away, either because they choose to do so, they don�t feel worthy of His love, they have hardened their heart or so many other excuses. Even Christians who have professed their commitment to Jesus Christ still don�t know him as they should, because they are not opening up their heart to have a close, personal and warm friendship with Him.


O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free. [Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Helen Howarth Lemmel]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/17/15 10:53 AM
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NLT)

17 As the Scriptures say, �If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.� 18 When people commend themselves, it doesn�t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

The world tells us we should sing our own praises so that others will notice us and acknowledge the work we have done. God tells us if we do His work and boast of Him then He will commend us for what we have done in His name.



In his book Pursuing Justice, Ken Wystma tells the following story about an African Christian leader who has spent the last 15 years helping some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Wytsma writes:

He was born and raised in what is one of the most war-torn regions on the globe today�eastern Congo. His life is regularly threatened, and he faces the seemingly impossible task of trying to restore villages decimated by rape, murder, and plunder.

Some visiting executives from a large, well-known global relief organization once toured the region. They noticed what an effective job my friend was doing, and offered him a position as the leader of their Congo operations. He quickly turned them down.

On paper it was the kind of offer you can't refuse�higher pay, more security, great influence. A dream promotion for most Westerners. But he refused for a simple reason. He said,

God gave me the job I have, he's helped me build the relationships and the respect that I have. He has opened the door for me all these years and kept me safe on every trip out into the bush. I'm right where God has called me to be, so why would I go anywhere else? I don't just want to do good. I want to be where God wants me to be. [Ken Wytsma, Pursuing Justice (Thomas Nelson, 2013), pp. 161-162]


Our greatest praises come from God who loves us. God has a purpose for each and every one of us and He praises us as we fill that purpose. Ask God to direct and lead you in your daily life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/18/15 11:10 AM
Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

In this verse the apostle tells us that he is ready to glorify Christ in life or to live in glory with Christ in death. For the apostle knows we should always give thanks for where God has placed us.



The Minnesota storyteller Kevin Kling was born with a birth defect�his left arm was disabled and much shorter than his right. Then, in his early 40s, a motorcycle accident nearly killed him and paralyzed his healthy right arm. While he was in the hospital recovering from the accident, Kling learned a life-changing lesson about "the three phases of prayer."

In the first phase of prayer, we pray to get things from God. In the second phase, we pray to get out of things. While he was in rehab for his accident, Kling learned the third phase of prayer�giving thanks to God. Kling says:

I'd been through many surgeries during my six week stay in the hospital. And each day, I would ride the elevator to the ground floor and try and take a walk. That was my job. 9/11 had happened the week before. And as our country was entering trauma, I was living one. After my walk, my wife Mary and I went into the gift shop, and she asked if I wanted an apple. She said they looked really good. Now, I hadn't tasted food in over a month � I lost a lot of weight because food had no appeal. So I said no, but she persisted. Come on. Try it. So finally, I said all right. And I took a bite. And for some reason, that was the day flavor returned, and that powerful sweetness rushed from that apple. Oh, it was incredible.

I started to cry, cry for the first time in years. The tears flowed and as the anesthesia and antibiotics flushed through my tears, it burned my eyes. And between the sweetness of that apple and the burning for my tears, it felt so good to be alive. I blurted out, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for this life." And that's when my prayers shifted, again, to giving thanks.

[Kevin Kling, "Prayer, Once a Last Resort, Now a Habit," NPR (1-10-07); On Being, "The Losses and Laughter We Grow Into," American Public Media (3-7-13)]

All of us face difficult situations in life. Some face pain on a daily basis. Some live with financial difficulties. And there are others who have just been down trodden by life.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, �Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God�s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.�
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 08/19/15 03:24 AM
Originally Posted by AskMe
Psalm 119:14 (NLT)
14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

David had asked God before to teach him His statues so that he might understand God. In knowing God�s laws David rejoiced as much as if he had been handed riches. For the riches he received in knowledge were as valuable as any treasure could be.



A poor, good woman said, in time of persecution, when they took away the Christian's Bibles, "I cannot part with my Bible; I know not how to live without it." When a gracious soul has heard a profitable sermon, he says, "Methinks it does me good at heart; it is the greatest nourishment I have": I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. [Oliver Heywood, 1629-1702]


The way of thy testimonies. The testimony of God is his word, for it testifies his will; the "way" of his testimony is the practice of his word, and doing of that which he hath declared to be his will, and wherein he hath promised to show us his love. David found not this sweetness in hearing, reading, and professing the word only; but in practicing of it: and in very deed, the only cause why we find not the comfort that is in the word of God is that we practice it not by walking in the way thereof. It is true, at the first it is bitter to nature, which loves carnal liberty, to render itself as captive to the word: laboriosa virtutis via, and much pains must be taken before the heart be subdued; but when it is once begun, it renders such joy as abundantly recompenses all the former labour and grief. [William Cowper]

This is why it is important to have children in a church which teaches them to memorize scripture.
There may be a time in America when the Bible or its teachings are outlawed. In such a case, it is important to have Gods word written upon our hearts.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/19/15 11:03 AM
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
�A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.�

The disciples knew the Ten Commandments of the law, but here Jesus gives them a new commandment to love one another as Christ loved them. For Christ loved them where they were in life and brought them close to Him.



In her funny, off-beat memoir, journalist and writer Heather Havrilesky reminds us how community (whether in a family or a church family) implies carrying one another's burdens. Havrilesky writes:

If I get sick or lose my mind, I'll ask my husband or my kids or my friends to rise to the occasion and come to my aid. And they'd better come through for me, [darn] it! I dried your tears and paid too much for replicas of lost teddy bears on eBay. I took care of cats and plants and talked you through home purchases and career dilemmas and bad breakups. �

I'll continue to be there, as long as I can be. But someday, you might have to come to my rescue. Brace yourselves, because it won't be pretty. Isn't that what love and friendship are really about?

We weren't meant to suffer alone! We weren't meant to � escape the indignity and frustration of asking for help, for needing help, from someone who might not always enjoy giving it, someone who gets on our nerves, who has never made much sense to us, someone whom we break down and bicker with occasionally. We were meant to lean on each other, as messy and imperfect as that can be, to be capable when we can, and to allow the world to take care of us when we can't. It won't be all bad. Or it will be. But at least we'll have each other. [Heather Havrilesky, Disaster Preparedness (Riverhead Trade, 2011), page 57]


Heather is right when she says �we weren�t meant to suffer alone� and we should not allow others to suffer alone either. We should be able to love and be loved. We should follow the example of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 below and express love to those who need it.

1 Corinthians 13 says, �4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/20/15 10:56 AM
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

The psalmist knows The Lord is always present in his life. He knows God is close by and hears him when he speaks. He knows God is watching after him. And he knows God keeps him on the right path for God is right beside him.



I was visiting on death row in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. I asked one man if he would like to talk, and he said he would. He was a smallish man whose wire-rimmed glasses and intelligent expression made him look a little professorial. I asked him how he spends his days. He picked up his NIV Bible, hefted it, and said, "I spend a lot of time reading our book. I'm glad it's so big. I'll never get to the bottom of it." Then he said something I'll never forget. "You know," he said, "there are 2 billion of us Christians in the world, and everything today that any of us does that's any good has something to do with our book. And I have a copy of it right here in my cell!" [Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Reading for Preaching (William B. Eerdmans, 2013), pp. 9-10]


God is always close, even visiting those who have sinned. For God loves a repentant heart and one who turns back to Him. When we stay close to God we will not be shaken, for He is right beside us!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/15 10:57 AM
Psalm 116:1-2 (NKJV)
1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

He had experienced God's goodness to him in answer to prayer: He has heard my voice and my supplications. David, in straits, had humbly and earnestly begged mercy of God, and God had heard him, that is, had graciously accepted his prayer, taken cognizance of his case, and granted him an answer of peace. He has inclined his ear to me. This intimates his readiness and willingness to hear prayer; he lays his ear, as it were, to the mouth of prayer, to hear it, though it be but whispered in groanings that cannot be uttered. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



A growing body of research has tied an attitude of gratitude with a number of positive emotional and physical health benefits. A November 2010 article in The Wall Street Journal summarized the research:

Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They're also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy, or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly, and have greater resistance to viral infections.

Now, researchers are finding that gratitude brings similar benefits in children and adolescents. [Studies also show that] kids who feel and act grateful tend to be less materialistic, get better grades, set higher goals, complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches, and feel more satisfied with their friends, families, and schools than those who don't.

The researchers concluded, "A lot of these findings are things we learned in kindergarten or our grandmothers told us, but now we have scientific evidence to prove them �. The key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table." [Melinda Beck, "Thank You. No, Thank You," The Wall Street Journal (11-23-10)]


Keep your heart open to giving thanks to The Lord. For The Lord hears our voice and responds with love, mercy and grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/25/15 11:18 AM
Psalm 119:165 (NKJV)
165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Nothing shall offend them; nothing shall be a scandal, snare, or stumbling-block, to them, to entangle them either in guilt or grief. No event of providence shall be either an invincible temptation or an intolerable affliction to them, but their love to the word of God shall enable them both to hold fast their integrity and to preserve their tranquility. They will make the best of that which is, and not quarrel with any thing that God does. Nothing shall offend or hurt them, for every thing shall work for good to them, and therefore shall please them, and they shall reconcile themselves to it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Anne Morrow wrote, I want first of all ... to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact--to borrow the language of the saints--to live "in grace" as much of the time as possible. I am not using this term in a strictly theological sense. By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony. I am seeking perhaps what Socrates asked for in the prayer from the Phaedrus, when he said, "May the outward and inward man be one." I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God. [Anne Morrow Lindbergh in Gift from the Sea. Leadership, Vol. 13, no. 2.]


The love of God�s word can bring peace into a person�s life and keep them from stumbling. It is important to know peace so peace can grow inside a person�s soul and become apparent and external to others so they may know peace too.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/26/15 11:48 AM
Romans 12:4-5 (NKJV)
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Each member hath its place and office, for the good and benefit of the whole, and of every other member. We are not only members of Christ, but we are members one of another. We stand in relation one to another; we are engaged to do all the good we can one to another, and to act in conjunction for the common benefit. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Many Christians have been infected with the most virulent virus of modern American life, what sociologist Robert Bellah calls �radical individualism.� They concentrate on personal obedience to Christ as if all that matters is �Jesus and me,� but in doing so miss the point altogether. For Christianity is not a solitary belief system. Any genuine resurgence of Christianity, as history demonstrates, depends on a reawakening and renewal of that which is the essence of the faith�that is, the people of God, the new society, the body of Christ, which is made manifest in the world�the church. [Chuck Colson, The Body (Word, 1992), p.32]


We may be individuals, but we are members of a greater body, The Body of Christ. While each of us have a relationship to Christ, we also have a relationship to one another, working together for the greater good of all.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/27/15 11:39 AM
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

It is the character of every good man that he trusts in God, puts himself under his guidance and government, and depends upon him that it shall be greatly to his advantage to do so. Those that trust in God must have their minds stayed upon him, must trust him at all times, under all events, must firmly and faithfully adhere to him, with an entire satisfaction in him; and such as do so God will keep in perpetual peace, and that peace shall keep them. When evil tidings are abroad those shall calmly expect the event, and not be disturbed by frightful apprehensions arising from them, whose hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Chuck Swindoll shares the following story about a conversation with a Christian leader who started a new ministry for the Navigators in Uganda. The man told Swindoll that after much discussion and prayer, he and his wife were convinced that God wanted them to move to Uganda. So they uprooted their family and flew to Kenya, where he put his family up in a hotel so he could rent a Land Rover and travel across the border into Uganda.

At this point he definitely needed the kind of encouragement only God can give. The man told Swindoll, "I dropped to my knees, and I said, 'Lord, look, I'm afraid. I'm in a country I don't know, in a culture that's totally unfamiliar. I have no idea who sleeps in that bed. Please, show me that you're in this move!'"

And then, he said, "Just as I was finishing my prayer, the door flung open, and there stood this six-foot five-inch African frowning at me, saying in beautiful British English, 'What are you doing in my room?'"

"I kneeled there for a moment, and then I muttered, 'They gave me this bed, but I'll only be here one night.'"

"What are you doing in my country?" the African asked.

"Well, I'm with a [Christian] organization called the Navigators."

"Ahh! The Navigators!" Suddenly the tall African broke into an enormous grin, threw his arms around his new roommate, and laughed out loud as he lifted him up off the floor and danced around the room with him.

"Praise God, praise God," said the African. "For two years I have prayed that God would send someone to me from this organization." And he pulled out a little Scripture memory-verse pack and pointed to where, at the bottom of each of the verses, it read, "The Navigators, Colorado Springs, Colorado."

This Ugandan eventually became a board member for the new Navigators ministry in Uganda. He helped the American leader find a place to live, assisted him with the language, and became the Navigator staff member's best friend. [Chuck Swindoll, Embraced by the Spirit (Zondervan, 2011)]


Fix your thoughts on God and He will provide you with the perfect peace you need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/31/15 10:43 AM
Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT)
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, 7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

Here the psalmist declares that we should come and joyfully worship The Lord, who is our creator and our God. For God watches over us like a shepherd watching over his flock. Listen, listen closely for God�s voice today.



In the movie, The Horse Whisperer, Tom Booker, played by actor Robert Redford, employs his special gift of "gentling" horses.

A tense, New York magazine editor can't believe her eyes as she witnesses the gradual transformation of her daughter's horse from traumatized to tamed. In one telling scene, the horse, frightened by the editor's ringing cell phone, gallops off into the far end of a large pasture. Booker walks into the pasture and sits down, where he waits for what appears to be hours. The horse, drawn by its curiosity, inches closer and closer. Finally, it cautiously approaches close enough to touch the "whisperer," and allows itself to be led back to the safety of its stall.

That's the way it is with God, as he "gentles" the untamed or traumatized people who run from him. [Clark Cothern, author and pastor, Tecumseh, Michigan]


I love the words of this old hymn, �Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling� Calling for you and for me; Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching� Watching for you and for me! Come home! come home! Ye who are weary, come home! Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/02/15 11:59 AM
Psalm 119:64 (NLT)
64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.

David pleads that God is good to all the creatures according to their necessities and capacities; as the heaven is full of God's glory, so the earth is full of his mercy, full of the instances of his pity and bounty. Not only the land of Canaan, where God is known and worshipped, but the whole earth, in many parts of which he has no homage paid him, is full of his mercy. Not only the children of men upon the earth, but even the inferior creatures, taste of God's goodness. His tender mercies are over all his works. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In 1982, the Today show in New York City scheduled an interview with Reverend Billy Graham. When he arrived at the studio, one of the program's producers informed Graham's assistant that a private room had been set aside for the reverend for prayer before the broadcast. The assistant thanked the producer for the thoughtful gesture, but told him that Mr. Graham would not need the room. The producer was a bit shocked that a world-famous Christian leader would not wish to pray before being interviewed on live national television.

Graham's assistant responded, "Mr. Graham started praying when he got up this morning, he prayed while eating breakfast, he prayed on the way over in the car, and he'll probably be praying all the way through the interview." [Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley, The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham (Zondervan, 2005)]

David prayed and worshiped often to God so that he would learn more about God and His unfailing love. It is something we all should do to stay close to God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/03/15 11:32 AM
Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)
17 This is what the Lord says�your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: �I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

God by the prophet Isaiah sends the people of Israel a gracious message for their support and comfort under their affliction. God reminds them that He is with them, teaching them and directing them in the way they should go.




Henry Blackaby in Hearing God�s voice writes: The first funeral I ever conducted was for a beautiful three-year-old. She was the first child born to a couple in our church, and the first grandchild in their extended family. Unfortunately, she was spoiled. While visiting the little girl's home one day, I observed that she loved to ignore her parents' instructions. When they told her to come, she went. When they said, "sit down," she stood up. Her parents laughed, finding her behavior cute.

One day their front gate was inadvertently left open. The parents saw their child escaping out of the yard and heading toward the road. To their horror, a car was racing down the street. As she ran out between two parked cars, they both screamed at her to stop and turn back. She paused for a second, looked back at her parents, then gleefully laughed as she turned and ran directly into the path of the oncoming car. The parents rushed their little girl to the hospital, but she died from her injuries.

As a young pastor, this was a profound lesson for me. I realized I must teach God's people not only to recognize His voice but also immediately to obey His voice when they hear it. It is life.


The story above speaks of a tragic loss of life. There are many of us who may recognize God�s voice calling out to us, but we don�t take the time to listen. Instead we follow our own desires, which lead to undesirable consequences. If you hear God speak today, stop, listen and obey.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/15 11:02 AM
Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

He prays that he might be enlightened with the knowledge of God's will; and this is the first work of the Spirit, in order to his other works, for God deals with men as men, as reasonable creatures. [Matthew Henry]



There's a story about a man who walks into a restaurant and orders a Coke. As soon as he receives it, he throws it in the waiter's face. The waiter is ready to fight, but the man says, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I have a horrible compulsion. I can't help it. Whenever someone hands me a drink, I throw it in their face. Please, forgive me." Then the guy says, "I'm working hard to overcome this compulsion. Would you bring me another Coke?"

The waiter says, "Do you promise not to throw it in my face?"

The guy responds, "I'm going to do everything I can not to throw it in your face. I'm working really hard to resist."

So the waiter says, "Okay, I'll bring you another one."

Soon the waiter comes back with another Coke, and the guy throws it in the waiter's face. The waiter says, "I thought you said you wouldn't do that."

The guy apologizes: "Oh, this compulsion is so strong. I promise you that I will check myself into an in-patient clinic to get some help. Forgive me. I'm so sorry."

The guy felt genuine guilt and sorrow, so he checks himself into a clinic, and for one month he gets intense psychotherapy to deal with his compulsion. When he gets out of the clinic, he goes back to the same restaurant, and he walks in and says, "I'm cured. Give me a drink."

The waiter says, "Wait a minute. I had to change my shirt last time you were here. Are you sure you're cured?"

The guy says, "I know I'm cured. I promise."

The waiter says, "Okay, if you're cured, I'll bring you a Coke." And so the waiter brings him a Coke. The guy looks at it and throws it right in the waiter's face. The waiter says, "I thought you said you were cured."

The guy says, "I am cured. I still have the compulsion, but I don't feel guilty about it anymore."
[Phillip Griffin, from the sermon "Broken and Repentant"]


Sometimes we miss the point God is trying to make with us, so it is important that we learn God�s will for us and allow The Spirit to us in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/09/15 11:28 AM
Titus 2:2 (NLT)
2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Old disciples of Christ must conduct themselves in every thing agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober, not thinking that the decays of nature, which they feel in old age, will justify them in any inordinacy or intemperance, whereby they conceit to repair them; they must keep measure in things, both for health and for fitness, for counsel and example to the younger. Faith, love, and patience, are three main Christian graces, and soundness in these is much of gospel perfection. [Matthew Henry]




Why do we enjoy watching others�especially rich, powerful, famous people�"fall from grace"? Joseph Epstein commented on our need to know and discuss stories about prominent people who have failed:

How delightful to those of us living out our modest lives, to witness, if only through the media, such ego-filled balloons getting popped .� When we see someone mightier than we divested of his dignity, stripped of his pretentions, humiliated in public, we feel comforted by having retained our own dignity, pretensions, good name. Perhaps after all, we conclude, it is just as well that we are not so rich, powerful, beautiful, talented. Relishing in others humiliations is good for our ego �. Even when we know deep down that if [our local newspaper] knew everything about us, we might be on the cover too. [Joseph Epstein, "The Sweet Smell of Failure," Town &; Country (April 2012);]
Posted By: Jedi_Knight Re: Devotionals - 09/10/15 03:06 AM
I think that part of the reason the masses relish in the failures and scandels of the elite is as the man in 1984 said, is he wants everyone to be immoral disgusting And void of character.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/11/15 11:01 AM
Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT)
1 I look up to the mountains�does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

We must see all our help laid up in God, in his power and goodness, his providence and grace; and from him we must expect it to come: "My help comes from the Lord; the help I desire is what he sends, and from him I expect it in his own way and time. If he do not help, no creature can help; if he do, no creature can hinder, can hurt.' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



In the book Prayer, Tim Keller writes: In the second half of my adult life, I discovered prayer. I had to. In the fall of 1999, I taught a Bible study course on the Psalms. It became clear to me that I was barely scratching the surface of what the Bible commanded and promised regarding prayer. Then came the dark weeks in New York after 9/11, when our whole city sank into a kind of corporate clinical depression, even as it rallied. For my family the shadow was intensified as my wife, Kathy, struggled with the effects of Crohn's disease. Finally, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At one point during all this, my wife urged me to do something with her we had never been able to muster the self-discipline to do regularly. She asked me to pray with her every night. Every night. She used an illustration that crystallized her feelings very well. As we remember it, she said something like this:

Imagine you were diagnosed with such a lethal condition that the doctor told you that you would die within hours unless you took a particular medicine�a pill every night before going to sleep. Imagine that you were told that you could never miss it or you would die. Would you forget? Would you not get around to it some nights? No�it would be so crucial that you wouldn't forget, you would never miss. Well, if we don't pray together to God, we're not going to make it because of all we are facing. I'm certainly not. We have to pray, we can't let it just slip our minds.



Let us all take a moment today to pray to the living God thanking Him for the help, mercy, grace and love provided. In our prayers remember those of 9/11, the families, friends and responders.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/15/15 11:11 AM
Romans 12:12 (NLT)
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Prayer has a distinct relationship to all Christian duties and graces. It is not possible for us to carry out the holy commands of our Lord Jesus unless we are abundant in supplication. The Romans at the time that Paul wrote to them were subject to persecution, and in this verse he mentions two remedies for impatience under such afflictions, remedies which are equally effectual under all the trials of life. [C.H. Spurgeon]



In 1949, a Catholic priest known as Abbe Pierre, started the Emmaus Communities, now a ministry to homeless men and women across Europe. This unique ministry restores the dignity of homeless men and women, also called ministry "companions," by asking them to serve others.

It all started with Abbe Pierre's first companion in ministry, a homeless man named Georges. After Georges' release from prison, his family couldn't cope with his reappearance, so they told him to leave. Homeless, unemployed, and on the verge of suicide, Georges came to Pierre and asked for help. Much to Georges' surprise, Father Pierre asked Georges to help him instead. Father Pierre told Georges that he was overwhelmed with meeting the needs of homeless mothers and their children. So Pierre challenged Georges to turn his life around by serving the less fortunate.

Georges became the first "companion" for Emmaus, helping Father Pierre build shelters for the homeless mothers and their children. In the ensuing years, like Georges, every companion was invited to serve others as they received help. Initially, all the companions collected second-hand goods and prepared them for resale, thus earning the name "the rag pickers." Later in his life, Georges said, "Whatever else [Abbe Pierre] might have given me�money, home, somewhere to work�I'd have still tried to kill myself. What I was missing, and what he offered, was something to live for." These sentiments became the unofficial motto for Emmaus�give the poor a reason to live, not just things to live on.

In her book, The Gift of Thanks, Margaret Visser notes that this ministry restores dignity and breathes new life into the poor because "members [of the Emmaus community] turn to those who have nothing [the homeless]�and ask them to give." [Margaret Visser, The Gift of Thanks (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009), p. 373]


We are told to be patient when in trouble and to keep on praying for we can rejoice in our confidence and hope in The Lord. For The Lord will lead us and encourage us so that we may do the same for others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/16/15 11:45 AM
James 3:13 (NLT)
13 If you are wise and understand God�s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

A truly wise man is a very knowing man: he will not set up for the reputation of being wise without laying in a good stock of knowledge; and he will not value himself merely upon knowing things, if he has not wisdom to make a right application and use of that knowledge.



According to researchers at Erasmus University carrying a grudge can weigh you down�literally. The researchers asked study participants to write about a time when they'd experienced a conflict. Some were instructed to reflect on a time when they didn't forgive the offender, others were told to think about the time they did forgive the person, and a third group wrote about a comparatively dull social interaction. They were then given a small physical challenge: jumping five times, as high as they could, without bending their knees.

They then asked their human guinea pigs to jump as high as they could, five times, without bending their knees. Those who had been thinking about a time when they'd forgiven jumped highest, about 11.8 inches on average; those who had written about their grudges, on the other hand, jumped 8.5 inches. There were no significant difference in the jumps of those in the non-forgiveness and neutral conditions. In another, similar experiment, people who'd been set up to think about a time they held a grudge estimated that a hill was steeper than people who were thinking about a time they forgave someone.

The results suggest that the "weight" of carrying a grudge may be more than just a metaphor. The lead researcher for the study wrote, "A state of unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy burden�a burden that victims bring with them when they navigate the physical world. Forgiveness can 'lighten' this burden."
[Melissa Dahl, "Holding a Grudge May Literally Weigh You Down," Science of Us (1-9-15)]


The wise look to understand God�s ways and live a life pleasing to God. We have been freed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, but with freedom comes responsibility to live with humility from the wisdom we have acquired.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/18/15 11:40 AM
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)
3 Don�t be selfish; don�t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don�t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

There is no greater enemy to Christian love than pride and passion. If we do things in contradiction to our brethren, this is doing them through strife; if we do them through ostentation of ourselves, this is doing them through vain-glory: both are destructive of Christian love and kindle unchristian heats. Christ came to slay all enmities; therefore let there not be among Christians a spirit of opposition. Christ came to humble us, and therefore let there not be among us a spirit of pride. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Henry Varley is best known as the man who stated to Dwight Moody, "The world has yet to see what God will do with a man who is fully committed to him." Moody sought to be that man and went on to become the world's most prominent evangelist of his day.

What is not so well known about Varley is that he was himself a powerful evangelist and pastor. But he faced a pitch battle with jealousy when another preacher in his neighborhood began having great success and started drawing some of Varley's members. Varley felt deep resentment toward the other minister and later divulged:

I shall never forget the sense of guilt and sin that possessed me over that business. I was miserable. Was I practically saying to the Lord Jesus, "Unless the prosperity of [your] church and people comes in this neighborhood by me, success had better not come"? Was I really showing inability to rejoice in another worker's service? I felt that it was a sin of a very hateful character. I never asked the Lord to take away my life either before or since, but I did then, unless his grace would give me victory over this foul image of jealousy. [Vance Christie, "Addressing the Cancer of Envy�Henry Varley," Vance Christie's blog (8-8-14);]


Envy was one of the first sins that led to the death of Able. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Because of the sin that ruled over Cain he killed his brother Able.

We might not physically kill our brothers in Christ, but instead we may be like Henry Varley who let sin overtake him with the desire to succeed over others. As Christians we must support one another, even if that means putting another first before ourselves.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/21/15 12:29 PM
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV)
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Thus the apostle concludes his epistle, and thus it is usual and proper to dismiss worshipping assemblies. This plainly proves the doctrine of the gospel, and is an acknowledgment that Father, Son, and Spirit, are three distinct persons, yet but one God; and herein the same, that they are the fountain of all blessings to men. It likewise intimates our duty, which is to have an eye by faith to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-to live in a continual regard to the three persons in the Trinity, into whose name we were baptized, and in whose name we are blessed. This is a very solemn benediction, and we should give all diligence to inherit this blessing. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



It's possible to be so heavenly-minded that we are of no earthly good. But Professor Todd Whitmore from Notre Dame has also observed how being heavenly-minded can lead to incredible deeds of earthly goodness. After the war in Uganda had dragged on for over 20 years, Whitmore moved into the refugee camps in northern Uganda to hear the stories of the displaced Acholi people. As he observed the Christians who were working among the Acholi, he saw what he called "what real Christianity looks like." Whitmore discovered that the most practical and helpful workers among the Acholi were also the most heavenly-minded. He called them "reasonable apocalyptists," which means that these Christian workers thought a lot about God's intervention at the end of history.

These heavenly-minded Christians believed that no human effort could be relied upon to help the Acholi; it had to come from God. As one of the Christian workers in the camps said, "God is tired [of this war and suffering], and he will intervene." Because they believed that God would intervene, they also believed that it's worthwhile to work for good. In the United States, people who talk about God's future intervention are often accused of being escapists, impractical, or even mentally unstable. But in the refugee camps of northern Uganda they were the most rational people. Whitmore discovered that they were the ones who kept saying things like, "We want to make a difference here and now. We want to help with the orphans." [Adapted from Jason Bayassee, "Eschatological Innovation,' Faith & Leadership (8-4-09)]


God�s love and grace can help you do incredible things when you allow the Holy Spirit to be with you and guide you. Allow the love of God to work within you so you can help others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/22/15 10:50 AM
Romans 15:7 (NKJV)
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Receive one another; for sometimes the prejudices of the weak Christian make him shy of the strong, as much as the pride of the strong Christian makes him shy of the weak, neither of which ought to be. Let there be a mutual embracing among Christians. Those that have received Christ by faith must receive all Christians by brotherly love; though poor in the world, though persecuted and despised, though it may be matter of reproach and danger to you to receive them, though in the less weighty matters of the law they are of different apprehensions, though there may have been occasion for private piques, yet, laying aside these and the like considerations, receive you one another. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Gordon MacDonald shares the following story about visiting a small group of men and women affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous. MacDonald said that he visited the group because he has friends who are recovering alcoholics and he wanted to see for himself what they were talking about. Here's what he found:

One morning Kathy�I guessed her age at 35�joined us for the first time. One look at her face caused me to conclude that she must have been Hollywood-beautiful at 21. Now her face was swollen, her eyes red, her teeth rotting. Her hair looked unwashed, uncombed for who knows how long.

"I've been in five states in the past month," she said. "I've slept under bridges on several nights. Been arrested. Raped. Robbed (now weeping). I don't know what to do. I � don't � want � to � be � homeless � any more. But (sob) I can't stop drinking (sob). I can't stop (sob). I can't � "

Next to Kathy was a rather large woman, Marilyn, sober for more than a dozen years. She reached with both arms toward Kathy and pulled her close, so close that Kathy's face was pressed to Marilyn's ample breast. I was close enough to hear Marilyn speak quietly into Kathy's ear, "Honey, you're going to be OK. You're with us now. We can deal with this together. All you have to do is keep coming. Hear me? Keep on coming." And then Marilyn kissed the top of Kathy's head.

I was awestruck. The simple words, the affection, the tenderness. How Jesus-like. I couldn't avoid a troubling question that morning. Could this have happened in the places where I have worshiped? Would there have been a space in the program for Kathy to tell her story? Would there have been a Marilyn to respond in this way? [Gordon MacDonald, "My Small Group, Anonymous," Leadership Journal (Winter 2014)]


These type of stories are happening every day. There are those who are in desperate need of help. They have lost their way in life and often trapped by addiction that holds them in despair. The church I attend formed a Ministry group for people like those above called HopeQuest Ministry group. There are many other organizations that offer help as well. Let us pray that brotherly love for others will be shown so these people may be helped through the difficulties of life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/24/15 11:10 AM
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NKJV)
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

He (the apostle) exhorts them not to cast away their confidence, that is, their holy courage and boldness, but to hold fast that profession for which they had suffered so much before, and borne those sufferings so well. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



The 1958 film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is the true story of Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman), an English servant who became a faithful missionary in a remote region of northern China. The China Inland Mission Center in England refused to sponsor her due to her lack of vocation and experience. Consequently, in 1932 she set out on her own, believing with all her heart she was called by God. Not officially under the authority of the Mission, she was free to stay in China according to her own discretion.

She finds work running an inn for traveling mule drivers. After the death of the inn manager, a seasoned missionary, a government official delivers a letter to Gladys, which states that funding for the Inn will be cut off because of her lack of experience.

Bewildered by the news, Gladys expresses her concerns to the Chinese government official, Captain Lin Nan, who delivered the message: "One reason and always the same one: I'm not qualified. I was a servant in England. That's what they mean. But I came here when they said I couldn't. And I'll stay here though they say I can't."

When Captain Lin Nan kindly offers to escort her to Sien Chen, where she will deport, Gladys stubbornly insists, "I'm not going to leave!"

Captain Lin Nan tries to dissuade her: she's broke, and vendors won't give her credit; she has no friends; and she is in an isolated country with inveterate problems. "It isn't your country. It isn't your problem," he says. "You're white. You shouldn't be in China at all."

Emphasizing her resolve to stay, Gladys reminds the captain, "I came here to be of value."

Mildly irritated, the captain says, "How? By trying to make people believe what you believe? By saving souls who don't want to be saved? Who will agree to anything for an extra bowl of rice, and laugh at you once the rice is eaten?" When Gladys attempts a retort, he says, "The dangers that confront you&#151;those are real. Leave now, while you still can. Go back to England where you belong."

"If I feel that God wants me in China," Gladys argues, "then that's where I belong."

Lin Nan resigns, leaving Gladys in God's hands. As he leaves, Gladys cries out, "Oh, Captain Lin Nan. I know you think I'm stubborn. But I'm not ungrateful. For you to be concerned, to bother, it is very kind."

"If I were really kind," Lin Nan responds, "I'd have you ordered out of Bien Chen. But since I'm not obsessed with souls or lives, I wish you well."

Because she stays, God uses Gladys to convert the village's mandarin governor to Christianity. And when the Japanese army attacks China, she heroically leads over 100 orphan children to safety through numerous mountains, avoiding enemy soldiers.

[The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (Twentieth Century Fox, 1958), not rated, directed by Mark Robson, screenplay written by Isobel Lennart, based on The Small Woman, by Alan Burgess]


Each of you are of value and importance. Keep enduring life that you may do the will of God and not let your confidence be thrown aside.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/30/15 11:26 AM
Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Paul often let his friends know what it was he begged of God for them, that they might know what to beg for themselves and be directed in their own prayers, and that they might be encouraged to hope they should receive from God the quickening, strengthening, everlasting, comforting grace, which so powerful an intercessor as Paul asked of God for them. It is an encouragement to us to know that we are prayed for by our friends, who, we have reason to think, have an interest at the throne of grace. [Matthew Henry Commentary]


In some ways, our biggest challenge in gauging Jesus' influence is that we take for granted the ways in which our world has been shaped by him. For example, children would be thought of differently because of Jesus. Historian O. M. Bakke wrote a study called When Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity, in which he noted that in the ancient world, children usually didn't get named until the eighth day or so. Up until then there was a chance that the infant would be killed or left to die of exposure � particularly if it was deformed or of the unpreferred gender. This custom changed because of a group of people who remembered that they were followers of a man who said, "Let the little children come to me."

Jesus never married. But his treatment of women led to the formation of a community that was so congenial to women that they would join it in record numbers � Jesus never wrote a book. Yet his call to love God with all one's mind would lead to a community with such a reverence for learning that when the classical world was destroyed in what are sometimes called the Dark Ages, that little community would preserve what was left of its learning. In time, the movement he started would give rise to libraries and then guilds of learning �

He never held an office or led an army � And yet the movement he started would eventually mean the end of emperor worship, be cited in documents like the Magna Carta, begin a tradition of common law and limited government, and undermine the power of the state rather than reinforce it as other religions in the empire had done. It is because of his movement that language such as "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" entered history.

The Roman Empire into which Jesus was born could be splendid but also cruel, especially for the malformed and diseased and enslaved. This one teacher had said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me." An idea slowly emerged that the suffering of every single individual human being matters and that those who are able to help ought to do so. Hospitals and relief efforts of all kinds emerged from this movement; even today they often carry names that remind us of him and his teachings.

Humility, which was scorned in the ancient world, became enshrined in a cross and was eventually championed as a virtue. Enemies, who were thought to be worthy of vengeance ("help your friends and punish your enemies"), came to be seen as worthy of love. Forgiveness moved from weakness to an act of moral beauty. Even in death, Jesus' influence is hard to escape. The practice of burial in graveyards or cemeteries was taken from his followers � It expressed the hope of resurrection � Death did not end Jesus' influence. In many ways, it just started it. [John Ortberg, Who Is This Man? (Zondervan, 2012), pp. 14-16}

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/05/15 12:40 PM
Isaiah 55:6 (NLT)
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

Let them pray, and their prayers shall be heard and answered: "Seek the Lord while he may be found. Seek him whom you have left by revolting from your allegiance to him and whom you have lost by provoking him to withdraw his favour from you. Call upon him now while he is near, and within call.' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Grosz points to research that shows we usually don't respond when a fire alarm rings. Instead, of leaving the building immediately, we stand around and wait for more clues. But then even with more information, we still won't make a move�and sometimes that proves deadly. For instance, in 1985, 56 people were killed when a fire broke out in the stands of a soccer match in England. Close examination of television footage later showed that fans did not react immediately and continued to watch both the fire and the game, failing to move towards the exits.

Research has also shown that when we do move, we follow old habits. We don't trust emergency exits. We almost always try to exit a room through the same door we entered. After a fire in the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Kentucky left 177 people dead, forensic experts confirmed that many of the victims sought to pay before leaving, and so died in a queue.

Grosz concludes:

After 25 years as a psychoanalyst, I can't say that this surprises me. We resist change. Committing ourselves to a small change, even one that is unmistakably in our best interest, is often more frightening than ignoring a dangerous situation. We don't want an exit if we don't know exactly where it is going to take us, even�or perhaps especially�in an emergency � We want to know what new story we're stepping into before we exit the old one. [Stephen Grosz, The Examined Life (W.W Norton & Company, 2013), pp. 122-123]


Don�t resist the one who is call you, for God is call you to come close and leave sin behind.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/06/15 11:59 AM
Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)
4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

"Let us make ourselves easy by trusting in the Lord for ever; since God has promised peace to those that stay themselves upon him, let us not lose the benefit of that promise, but repose an entire confidence in him. Trust in him for ever, at all times, when you have nothing else to trust to; trust in him for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever.' Whatever we trust to the world for, it will be but for a moment: all we expect from it is confined within the limits of time. But what we trust in God for will last as long as we shall last. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



I remember watching a father play with his little boy, repeatedly throwing him in the air and catching him just before he hit the ground. The child is relaxed and having a great time saying, "Do it again! Do it again!"

I thought, If that was me, I 'd be stiff as a board .

"Can you explain why he's so relaxed, even when he's out of control?" I asked the father.

"It's very simple," he said. "We have a history together. We've played this game before, and I've never dropped him." [Rod Cooper, "Worship or Worry?" Preaching Today, Tape No. 108.]


God is our eternal Rock and is always there to catch us when we fall, so let us trust in The Lord Forever!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/07/15 11:11 AM
Psalm 63:1 (NLT)
1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

God's lovingkindness is in itself, and in the account of all the saints, better than life. It is our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life, Ps. 30:5. It is better, a thousand times, to die in God's favour than to live under his wrath. David in the wilderness finds, by comfortable experience, that God's lovingkindness is better than life; and therefore (says he) my lips shall praise thee. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



"I don't believe in God, but I miss him."

This is the opening line from a book titled Nothing to Be Afraid Of by the award-winning British writer, Julian Barnes. Barnes, who describes himself as an agnostic, writes, "I was never baptized, never sent to Sunday school. I have never been to a normal church service in my life." And yet this agnostic intellectual still feels haunted by the beauty of Christian art and music and by what he calls the "wake up call to morality."

[Matt Woodley, Editor, PreachingToday.com; source: James K. A. Smith, How (Not) to Be Secular (Eerdmans, 2014), pp. 4-5]


Our soul thirsts for God and longs to be with Him. Even the author above who claims to be agnostic feels God tugging at his heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/08/15 11:05 AM
Isaiah 43:11-12 (NLT)
11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,� says the Lord.

See what it is that the great God glories in, not so much that he is the only ruler as that he is the only Saviour; for he delights to do good: he is the Saviour of all men, 1 Tim. 4:10. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



For the past 25 years, Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel's "Storm-tracker," has tracked, chased, run into, and then reported on some of the most extreme storms on the planet. A 2011 USA Today article on Cantore noted, "Whether he is leaning into the ferocious winds of a hurricane or shivering as a blast of polar air drops down from the Arctic, Cantore, 47, is often on the scene to help viewers appreciate how weather tests us."

In the spring of 2011, Cantore provided coverage in the midst of the severe tornado outbreaks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Joplin, Missouri. Both towns suffered extensive damage. "It was as unthinkable as you would think," Cantore says. "Houses were piled up into corners, and the streets looked more like movie sets."

But according to Cantore, these kinds of storms pale in comparison to the personal storms of life that some people experience on a daily basis. In particular, Cantore thinks of his two children, both of whom were born with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that can lead to autism-like symptoms. Cantore says that his children have the real storms of life, or what he calls the "storms that hurt the most and never go away."

Cantore says, "What my children have to deal with on a daily basis is by far more difficult than anything I will ever come in contact with." [Jonathan Lebowitz, "Jim Cantore Has Weathered 25 Years of Chasing Big Storms," USA Today (8-10-11); submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]


We all face the storms of life, but God is there not as a ruler over us, but as a savior, as one who loves us and cares for us. In our times of pain God picks us up and holds us tight.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/09/15 12:32 PM

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NLT)
4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

As prescribing a preservative from the temptation: "Keep close to your duty, and you keep out of harm's way. God never leaves us till we leave him.' Or, As furnishing us with an answer to the temptation; say, "It is written, Thou shalt walk after the Lord, and cleave unto him; and therefore what have I to do with idols? [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In his book Fill These Hearts, Christopher West describes a surprising and simple discovery that changed his marriage:

Years ago [my wife] and I were out to dinner and she observed that something was different about our marriage in recent years, something good. She asked me if I had any insight into what it was. After reflecting a bit I said with a smile, "Yeah, I think I know what it is. I think I've been realizing deep in my heart that you can't satisfy me." She got a big smile on her face and said, "Yeah, that's it. And I've been realizing the same thing: you can't satisfy me either." I imagine anyone overhearing us in the restaurant would have thought we were about to get divorced, but to us that realization was cause for joy and celebration. We had never felt closer and freer in our love.
I love my wife more than words can express, and I know she loves me. But I can't possibly be her ultimate satisfaction, and she can't be mine.
And that's why our conversation at the restaurant was cause for rejoicing. Only to the degree that we stop expecting others to be "god" for us, are we free to love others as they really are, warts and all, without demanding perfection of them, whether a spouse, a friend, a son or daughter, or any other relationship. And only to the degree that we are free from idolizing � human beings are we also free to take our ache for perfect fulfillment to the One who alone can satisfy it.



In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all�Here in the love of Christ I stand. [In Christ Alone, written by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/12/15 10:44 AM
Proverbs 1:8-9 (NLT)
8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don�t neglect your mother�s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

This is the plea from a father to his child to seek and find wisdom that come from correct, instruction and learning. Then the wisdom that has been received will become a crown of grace and a chain of honor.



Research studies indicate that up to 45 percent of adult siblings have relationships marked by rivalry or distance. A story from the Wall Street Journal featured Al Golden, 85, who still chokes up when he talks about his twin brother, Elliott, who died three years ago. The brothers shared a room growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from the same college and then married within a month of each other in 1947.

Yet Mr. Golden still remembers how their father often compared their grades, asking one or the other, "How come you got a B and your brother got an A?" Elliott Golden became a lawyer and eventually a state Supreme Court judge. Al Golden went into the mirror business then sold life insurance. He says he always envied his brother's status and secretly took pleasure in knowing he was a better fisherman and owned a big boat. Once, Elliott asked him, "I am a lawyer. How come you make more money than me?" Mr. Golden says. "He meant: 'How come you are making more than me when you are not as successful?' But it made me feel good."

One day, Elliott accused him of not doing enough to take care of their ailing mother. After the conversation, Al didn't speak to his brother for more than a year. "It might have been the built-up of jealousies over the years," he says. His brother repeatedly reached out to him, as did his nieces and nephews, but Mr. Golden ignored them.

Then one day Al received an email from his brother telling a story about two men who had a stream dividing their properties. One man hired a carpenter to build a fence along the stream, but the carpenter built a bridge by mistake. Mr. Golden thought about the email then wrote back, "I'd like to walk over the bridge." "I missed him," Mr. Golden says now. "I never had the chance to miss him before." [Elizabeth Bernstein, "Sibling Rivalry Grows Up," Wall Street Journal (3-20-12);]


When you carefully seek out wisdom you will find it is more than knowledge, it is also learning how to build bridges that create relationships. It is wisdom to understand one another and to be able to reach out on love with grace.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/13/15 11:12 AM
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Known unto God are all his works, for known unto him are all his thoughts (Acts 15:18) and his works agree exactly with his thoughts; he does all according to the counsel of his will. We often do not know our own thoughts, nor know our own mind, but God is never at any uncertainty within himself. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs concerning us are all against us; but he knows the contrary concerning his own people, that they are thoughts of good and not of evil; even that which seems evil is designed for good. His thoughts are all working towards the expected end, which he will give in due time. The end they expect will come, though perhaps not when they expect it. Let them have patience till the fruit is ripe, and then they shall have it [Matthew Henry Commentary]



John Beukema, from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania wrote: I attended a community prayer breakfast and sat at a table with a group of men I didn't know. In the course of our conversation, the subject of retirement came up. The man sitting next to me, who appeared to be in his early fifties, was quite excited by the prospect. He said how much he was looking forward to the end of his career and related a conversation he had with his wife that morning.

"My wife asked, 'What are you going to do when you retire?' I told her, 'I'm going to sit on the couch and watch TV all day every day.'"

The table was silent, but I couldn't keep quiet for long. "If you do that," I said, "you'll be dead in a year."

He looked at me, wide-eyed, and asked why.

I told him, "If the lack of purpose in your life doesn't kill you first, your wife will."



Throughout our lives God has a purpose designed for us. It�s a plan to prosper us in ways that give hope to the future and the future of others. We are God�s tools and God can use us for many things in life. Even those who have died for good causes have been inspirations to others to do things they may have never done before. Praise God for His mighty works.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/14/15 11:29 AM
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind, a change not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. It is the same with making a new heart and a new spirit-new dispositions and inclinations, new sympathies and antipathies; the understanding enlightened, the conscience softened, the thoughts rectified; the will bowed to the will of God, and the affections made spiritual and heavenly: so that the man is not what he was-old things are passed away, all things are become new; he acts from new principles, by new rules, with new designs. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, the movie A Walk to Remember illustrates how one person's life and death positively impacts an entire community. Jamie Sullivan (played by Mandy Moore) is the high school daughter of a widowed minister in the small town of Beaufort, North Carolina. Though she is ridiculed by the "in crowd" for her conservative appearance and values, Jamie resolves to be her own person. The high school yearbook calls attention to her primary ambition in life: "To witness a miracle."

Jamie is dying of leukemia. When Jamie befriends Landon Carter, one of those who mock her, her father and Landon's friends are concerned. But Jamie pours her life into Landon, helping him study, rallying him to memorize his lines for a school play, and introducing him to the wonder of astronomy. During this period, Landon falls in love with Jamie.

Eventually they marry. After a mere three months, Jamie dies. In honor of Jamie, Landon decides to attend college, where he distinguishes himself as a capable student. After graduation, he returns home to Beaufort. The first person he wants to see is Jamie's father.

As the two sit down, Landon announces he's been accepted into medical school.

Landon reaches into his backpack and pulls out a book of poetry and quotes that had originally belonged to Jamie's mom, but which Jamie had given to Landon when she had been sick.

"I want you to have it," Landon says to Reverend Sullivan, handing him the dog-eared volume.

Landon says, "I'm sorry she never got her miracle."

The minister looks straight at Landon. "She did. It was you." [A Walk to Remember (Warner Brothers, 2002), rated PG, written by Nicholas Sparks and Karen Janszen, directed by Adam Shankman]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/15 01:00 PM
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

He prays to God to keep him from sin, and then begs he would accept his performances; for, if we favour our sins, we cannot expect God should favour us or our services.




The website Business Insider ran an article titled "7 Brutally Honest Job Rejection Letters." Here are two examples of how not to confront someone.

Sub Pop, an independent record label in Seattle, sent the following rejection letter:

Dear Loser, Thank you for sending your demo materials to Sun Pop for consideration. Presently, your demo package is one of a massive quantity of material we receive everyday at Sub Pop World Headquarters. [Your material] is on its way through the great lower intestines that is the talent acquisitions process. We appreciate your interest and wish the best in your pursuit. Kind regards. P.S. This letter is known as a "rejection letter."

New Delta Review, a literary magazine in Baton Rouge, sent the following rejection letter:

Thank you for submitting. Unfortunately, the work you sent is quite terrible. Please forgive the form rejection, but it would take too much of my time to tell you exactly how terrible it was. So again, sorry for the form letter. [Vivian Giang, "7 Brutally Honest Job Rejection Letters," Business Insider (6-24-13)]


In prayer we ask that our words may be pleasing to God so we learn to also be pleasing to others. For the words we say have great impacts upon people. Imagine receiving one of the letters above, how would feel?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/19/15 11:42 AM
Psalm 37:4 (NLT)
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart�s desires.

We must not only depend upon God, but solace ourselves in him. We must be well pleased that there is a God, that he is such a one as he has revealed himself to be, and that he is our God in covenant. We must delight ourselves in his beauty, bounty, and benignity; our souls must return to him, and repose in him, as their rest, and their portion for ever. Being satisfied of his loving-kindness, we must be satisfied with it, and make that our exceeding joy, Ps. 43:4. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




One Sunday I was visiting one of Africa's largest slums, the massive Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. The conditions were simply inhumane. People lived in shacks constructed out of cardboard boxes. Foul smells gushed out of open ditches carrying human and animal excrement �. I thought to myself, This place is completely God-forsaken.

Then to my amazement, right there among the dung, I heard the sound of a familiar hymn �. Every Sunday, thirty slum dwellers crammed into this ten-by-twenty foot "sanctuary" to worship [God]. The church was made out of cardboard boxes that had been opened up and stapled to studs. It wasn't pretty, but it was a church made up of some of the poorest people on earth.

I was immediately asked to preach the sermon. I quickly jotted down some notes and was looking forward to teaching this congregation [about the sovereignty of God]. But before the sermon began, I listened as some of the poorest people on the planet cried out to God: "Jehovah Jireh, please heal my son, as he is going blind." "Merciful Lord, please protect me when I go home today, for my husband always beats me." "Sovereign King, please provide my children with enough food today, as they are hungry."

As I listened to their heartfelt prayers, I thought about my ample salary, my life insurance policy, my health insurance policy, my two cars, my house, etc. I realized that I do not really trust in God's sovereignty on a daily basis. I have buffers in place to shield me from most economic shocks. I realized that when these folks pray "Give us this day our daily bread" their minds don't wander as mine so often does. I realized that these slum dwellers were trusting in God's sovereignty just to get them through the day, and they had a far deeper intimacy with God than I probably will ever have in my entire life.

[Adapted from Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, When Helping Hurts (Moody Press, 2012), pp. 64-65]


Let out hearts turn to God in such a way that we are delighted to be with God and share our hurts, our pains and our wounds. And as we cry out to God, He will listen to the desires of our heart and give according to His will.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/15 10:57 AM
Psalm 51:12 (NLT)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Though David penned this psalm upon a very particular occasion, yet, it is of as general use as any of David's psalms; it is the most eminent of the penitential psalms, and most expressive of the cares and desires of a repenting sinner. It is a pity indeed that in our devout addresses to God we should have any thing else to do than to praise God, for that is the work of heaven; but we make other work for ourselves by our own sins and follies: we must come to the throne of grace in the posture of penitents, to confess our sins and sue for the grace of God; and, if therein we would take with us words, we can nowhere find any more apposite than in this psalm, which is the record of David's repentance for his sin in the matter of Uriah, which was the greatest blemish upon his character: all the rest of his faults were nothing to this; it is said of him (1 Ki. 15:5), That "he turned not aside from the commandment of the Lord all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.' [Matthew Henry Commentary]



"I was years and years upon the brink of hell--I mean in my own feeling. I was unhappy, I was desponding, I was despairing. I dreamed of hell. My life was full of sorrow and wretchedness, believing that I was lost."

Charles Spurgeon used these strong words to describe his adolescent years. Despite his Christian upbringing (he was christened as an infant, and raised in the Congregational church), and his own efforts (he read the Bible and prayed daily), Spurgeon woke one January Sunday in 1850 with a deep sense of his need for deliverance.

Because of a snowstorm, the 15-year-old's path to church was diverted down a side street. For shelter, he ducked into the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Artillery Street. An unknown substitute lay preacher stepped into the pulpit and read his text--(Isaiah 45:22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else."

[Mary Ann Jeffreys. "Charles Haddon Spurgeon," Christian History, no. 29.]


Charles Spurgeon realized the need for God and change in his life. I pray we all understand our need for God and the changes that need to be brought about in our lives. We need a revival, a restoration of the joy of God's salvation in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/26/15 11:06 AM
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pt. 1:21. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us.

It is profitable to us for all the purposes of the Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It answers all the ends of divine revelation. It instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for that which is amiss, directs us in that which is good. It is of use to all, for we all need to be instructed, corrected, and reproved: it is of special use to ministers, who are to give instruction, correction, and reproof; and whence can they fetch it better than from the scripture? [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Ever hear about the dihydrogen monoxide hoax? It's been around for a while, but it got a lot of media attention in 1997 when a 14-year-old student named Nathan Zohner circulated a petition to ban the substance as part of a high school science fair. According to Zohner, dihydrogen monoxide "may cause severe burns, accelerates the corrosion and rusting of many metals, and has been found in the excised tumors of terminal cancer patients." Despite these risks, he further noted, the nefarious chemical is often used "as an industrial solvent and coolant, in the production of Styrofoam, and as a fire retardant."

By now some of you have figured out that dihydrogen monoxide is the technical name for H2O, also known as water.

Nathan Zohner's story is a humorous one, but it illustrates an important truth: it's possible for us as human beings to develop a lot of misconceptions�even a dangerous familiarity�about something with which we are intimately connected. [Sam O'Neal, "What the Bible Says About God," in the introduction to the Building Small Groups newsletter.]


God grants us wisdom through His word that we would know what is true and help us realize what is wrong in our lives. God word corrects us and teaches us what is right so He can equip us to do every good work. It is through wise that we understand the details of life around us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/15 11:34 AM
Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

By the word of God we may understand either the essential or the written word: the essential Word, that in the beginning was with God, and was God (Jn. 1:1), the Lord Jesus Christ, and indeed what is said in this verse is true concerning him; but most understand it of the written word, the holy scriptures, which are the word of God.



On a recent bike trip it wasn't until I finally arrived home that I noticed something wrong. My tires were low. They needed air. The funny thing about bike tires is I don't remember taking air out of them. It just went. Somewhere. Somehow. Air leaks.

My tires weren't crazy low, but low enough to know that my efforts in peddling were not producing maximum return. Each rotation was just a little bit harder than it would be had the tires been filled properly.

It got me thinking. Life is like a bike tire. We don't intentionally take air out � it just leaves. And just as it's harder to peddle with flat tires, it's not as fun to live when the air has leaked out of our lives. We don't know where it goes or how. Life just has a way of deflating us. Difficult conversations � hisssssss (that's the sound of air leaving your tires!). Tough day at work � hisssssss. Overwhelmed by circumstance � hisssssss. It happens to all of us.

So where in my life am I being re-inflated? Where am I pausing long enough to "fill my tires"? I know for me it happens when I drive by myself, worship music cranked. Re-filling. It happens when I take my Bible and a journal to the beach and let God speak to me. Re-filling. It happens to me when the stories of God at work fill my spirit. Having a coffee with a wise and trusted friend.

What about you? Are you going through life with flat tires? How fun is that? How much effort are you putting out in relation to the return? What if you made a decision to pause and re-fill? Do you know your re-filling stations? How does God fill your tires and push you onward? [Mike Penninga, "Flat Tires?" Kelowna Gospel Fellowship blog (5-6-15)]


Lord fill our souls with Your word that we would not be empty, but instead have a full and useful life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/28/15 11:28 AM
1 Peter 1:24-25 (NLT)
24 As the Scriptures say, �People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.� And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

The apostle having given an account of the excellency of the renewed spiritual man as born again, not of corruptible but incorruptible seed, he now sets before us the vanity of the natural man, taking him with all his ornaments and advantages about him: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass; and nothing can make him a solid substantial being, but the being born again of the incorruptible seed, the word of God, which will transform him into a most excellent creature, whose glory will not fade like a flower, but shine like an angel; and this word is daily set before you in the preaching of the gospel. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In 2001, just as his first child was about to be born, actor Mark Ruffalo (known for his portrayal of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the movie The Avengers) discovered he had a brain tumor. It turned out to be benign, but half of his face was paralyzed for a long, uncertain year. The paralysis went away in time, but his left ear's hearing vanished forever.

"You start making deals," said Ruffalo, "OK, whoever, whatever�take my hearing, but don't take me away from my kid. That's a heavy moment to happen at three-year-old. But it was a blessing in disguise. I got a lesson in fallibility and mortality, you know, 10 years, 15 years ahead of my peers." [Brian Hiatt, "The Last Angry Man," Rolling Stone (5-7-15)]

Like the grass and the flowers of the field our bodies will eventually wither and fade away. But the Lord has given us a gift of eternal life, the Good News that is free to anyone who desires it. When we receive the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ we are given hope, a life worth living, and eternity with God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/30/15 12:40 PM
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith�and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God� 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not the mere product of any natural abilities, nor of any merit of our own: Not of works, lest any man should boast, v. 9. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, and therefore all boasting is excluded; he who glories must not glory in himself, but in the Lord. There is no room for any man's boasting of his own abilities and power; or as though he had done any thing that might deserve such immense favours from God. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



There are many reasons God saves you: to bring glory to himself, to appease his justice, to demonstrate his sovereignty. But one of the sweetest reasons God saved you is because he is fond of you. He likes having you around. He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite a while&#133;. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He's crazy about you! [Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder (Word, 1995]


God�s salvation to man is a gift, a gift born out of love, out of grace, out of mercy, and out of a tenderness for us. How can we boast of the things we have done, when God has done the greatest thing possible for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/03/15 11:33 AM
Romans 13:1 (NIV)
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

There is no power but of God. God as the ruler and governor of the world hath appointed the ordinance of magistracy, so that all civil power is derived from him as from its original, and he hath by his providence put the administration into those hands, whatever they are that have it. [Matthew Henry Commentary]


The latest Gallup poll (2015) shows that Americans' trust in our top judges has fallen to an all-time low. Trust in the judicial branch of government dropped eight points just in the last year, which saw major decisions that many Americans deemed controversial or just plain wrong.

Gallup calls this a "significant" loss of trust, with only 53 percent of Americans responding that they have "a great deal" or even just "a fair amount" of trust in the third branch of government. Trust in the Executive (45 percent) and Legislative (32 percent) branches are also quite low, but both were slightly up from last year.

In 2009, Americans' trust in the Judiciary was 76 percent. In just the six years since then, mistrust has risen in nearly a third of Americans.


It could be said Americans have lost confidence in the ultimate judge � God. Other polls show that Protestant Christianity has dropped in American. If we are pushing God out of our lives and out of our country then we should think God will lift His hands from the government He has given us.

Look at what is happening with the police around our nation. The people do not give the police the respect they deserve so even the police are withdrawing from problems they might normally attend to.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/04/15 11:59 AM
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant�not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

As able ministers of the New Testament, they were ministers not merely of the letter, to read the written word, or to preach the letter of the gospel only, but they were ministers of the Spirit also; the Spirit of God did accompany their ministrations. The letter killeth; this the letter of the law does, for that is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel we shall be never the better for so doing, for even that will be a savour of death unto death; but the Spirit of the gospel, going along with the ministry of the gospel, giveth life spiritual and life eternal. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Everything about baseball is predicated on precision and predictability. A .260 hitter might have a good or bad year, but eventually he will revert to his norm. He will hit .260. It's the same with pitching. Conventional hurlers deliberately try to spin the ball in a certain way. Depending on that spin, the ball will sink or curve, break left or right.

But there's one notable exception to baseball's predictability�the knuckleball. A good knuckleball hardly spins at all. Because a knuckler doesn't spin, it's entirely unpredictable. Charlie Hough, one of the greatest knuckleball pitchers of all time once said, "The wind currents make the ball bob around like a Whiffle ball and it might break two or three different times on the way to the plate." As a result, the pitcher and the catcher�let alone the hitter�have no idea where the ball is going.

The knuckleball throws a hitter's hitting instincts off-kilter, especially for big sluggers with big swings who have less time to react. Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer once said the challenge of hitting a knuckleball was like "trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks." Another Yankee, Mickey Mantle, said bluntly: "Knuckleballers. I hate 'em all." And as for catching a knuckleball pitcher? Good luck. Joe Torre once said, "[Catchers need to] use a big glove and a pair of rosary beads." [Adapted from Steven V. Roberts, "The history of the knuckleball, baseball's most difficult pitch," The Washington Post (4-3-15)]


Sometimes trying to determine God�s will is like trying to hit a knuckle ball; we just don�t know which direction things will go. Fortunately we have God who has given us His word to lead and remind us. In the verse above we know we are preachers of The Gospel. We are not to destroy one another, but instead give hope to a peaceful and everlasting life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/05/15 12:11 PM
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith�and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God� 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. The Bible tells us it is by God�s grace we are saved through faith in The Gospel of Jesus Christ and not from our own works. It is a true gift so that we cannot boast about anything we have done.


Enjoy the lyrics from Matthew West�s Song � Grace Wins


In my weakest moment I see you
Shaking your head in disgrace
I can read the disapointment
Written all over your face

Here comes those whispers in my ear
Saying who do you think you are
Looks like you're on your own from here
Cause grace could never reach that far

But, in the shadow of that shame
Beat down by all the blame
I hear you call my name sayin it's not over
And my heart starts to beat
So loud now, drowning out the doubt
I'm down but I'm not out

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

Words can't describe the way it feels
When mercy floods a thirsty soul
A broken side begins to heal
And grace returns what guilt has stole

And, in the shadow of that shame
Beat down by all the blame
I hear you call my name sayin it's not over
And my heart starts to beat
So loud now, drowning out the doubt
I'm down but I'm not out

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

For the prodigal son, grace wins
For the woman at the well, grace wins
For the blind man and the beggar, grace wins
For always and forever, grace wins
For the lost out on the street, grace wins
For the worst part of you and me, grace wins
For the theif on the cross, grace wins
For a world that it lost

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

Every time
I'm living proof grace wins every time




GOD�S GRACE IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/09/15 12:02 PM
Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
18 �Come now, let us settle the matter,� says the Lord. �Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Religion has reason on its side; there is all the reason in the world why we should do as God would have us do. The God of heaven condescends to reason the case with those that contradict him and find fault with his proceedings; for he will be justified when he speaks. [Matthew Henry]




Back in the days when everyone used typewriters there was a little thing called Wite-Out. Wite-Out dates to 1966 when an insurance-company clerk named George Kloosterhouse teamed with a guy who waterproofed basements to develop their own correction fluid. They originally called it "Wite-Out WO-1 Erasing Liquid."

You can still buy the product. Wite-Out isn't perfect. If you made a mistake on the typewriter, you'd have to take the paper out or get it raised up a little bit and then dab it with the Wite-Out, paint over the mistake, and then blow on it and let it dry. Then you could type right over it as if the mistake had never been made.

When electric typewriters came along, some genius invented something even better than Wite-Out�the self-correcting typewriter. Now wouldn't it be great if someday down the road somebody invented self-correcting people? Wouldn't it be cool if there could be a self-correcting husband or wife who would say the wrong thing and then just back up and say it over again right? "You know, you're just like your mother. Oops! Let's just erase that and start over." Wouldn't it be great if every spouse or friend or parent or child came with self-correcting technology?

But the human race isn't self-correcting. In fact, we're self-destructing. But in his grace God gave us one of his most amazing inventions�the gift of forgiveness. In a way, it is more powerful than Wite-Out. At the cross Jesus not only covered sin, he also absolves it, pays the penalty for it, and removes it as far from the east is to the west. [John Ortbreg, "Unchanging God in a Changing World," Menlo Park Presbyterian Church]


Instead of starting over or self-correcting, let us see if we can catch our problems before we commit them. Let us stop and reason with ourselves to see if our words will be right. But even if we can�t, we can learn to correct our mistakes through apologies, acceptance, forgiveness and whatever else it takes to make things right.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/15 12:10 PM
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Here the apostle does three things:-
He shows them their danger from an enemy more cruel and restless than even the worst of men, whom he describes, 1. By his characters and names. (1.) He is an adversary: "That adversary of yours; not a common adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls.' (2.) The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren; this title is derived from a word which signifies to strike through, or to stab. He would strike malignity into our natures and poison into our souls. If he could have struck these people with passion and murmuring in their sufferings, perhaps he might have drawn them to apostasy and ruin. (3.) He is a roaring lion, hungry, fierce, strong, and cruel, the fierce and greedy pursuer of souls. 2. By his business: He walks about, seeking whom he may devour; his whole design is to devour and destroy souls. To this end he is unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavours; for he always, night and day, goes about studying and contriving whom he may ensnare to their eternal ruin.


Rich Mullins, a Christian musician and songwriter who died in 1997 at the age of 41, once confessed in a concert that he struggled with watching pornography while traveling alone. One of his spiritual mentors told him, "It's not that you're so bad, it's just that you're not supposed to go out by yourself." So Mullins took a friend along with him on a trip to Amsterdam near its famous red-light district. Mullins said he was hoping his friend would fall fast asleep and start snoring so, as Mullins put it, "I thought, 'Maybe it would be fun to just take a walk and be tempted.'" He waited until 5:00 in the morning for his friend to start snoring, but he never did. Meanwhile, in the midst of his temptation, Mullins picked up a notebook and wrote the words to one of his more popular songs, 'Hold Me, Jesus'":

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace"

With this back story, some people call this Mullins' "Prayer for Porn Addicts" song, but it could also be a called a "Prayer for Anyone Who Is Tempted" Song.

[Luke Gilkerson, "'Hold Me Jesus': A Prayer for Porn Addiction," Covenant Eyes, June 17, 2010.]


Satan tempts us with things our nature desires and then accuses us in front of God of our failures.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/11/15 12:28 PM
1 John 2:15-16 (NLT)
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Be crucified to the world, be mortified to the things, to the affairs and enticements, of it.' The several degrees of Christians should unite in this, in being dead to the world. Were they thus united, they would soon unite upon other accounts: their love should be reserved for God; throw it not away upon the world. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Sgt. Dennis Weichel, (pronounced WY-KLE) 29, died in Afghanistan last week as he lifted an Afghan girl who was in the path of a large military vehicle barreling down a road. Weichel, a Rhode Island National Guardsman, was riding along in a convoy in eastern Afghanistan when some children were spotted on the road ahead.

The children were picking up shell casings lying on the road. The casings are recycled for money in Afghanistan. Weichel and other soldiers got out of their vehicles to get them out of the way of the heavy trucks in the convoy. The children were moved out of the way, but an Afghan girl darted back onto the road to pick up some more casings right in the path of a speeding 16 ton armored truck.

Weichel spotted the girl and quickly moved toward her to get her out of the way. He succeeded, but not before he was run over by the heavily armored truck. The girl was safe, but Weichel died of his injuries. Dennis was 29 years old and had arrived in Afghanistan only a few weeks before.

Staff Sgt. Ronald Corbett, who deployed with Weichel to Iraq in 2005, said, "He would have done it for anybody," adding, "That was the way he was. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was that type of guy." [Luis Martinz, "Hero U.S Soldier Gives Life to Save Afghan Girl," ABC News (3-29-12)]


1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT) says. �I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/12/15 12:43 PM
Colossians 1:9 (NLT)
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Here we find the apostle stating his prayers for the Colossians that they may understand God�s will and the knowledge they have received.




In an interview shortly before his death, Dallas Willard, a philosophy professor who wrote widely on spiritual formation in the church, was asked about the challenges facing the church. Dr. Willard spent much of his life addressing the problem of why the church isn't raising up more people who look and act like Jesus. At the end of that two hour interview, Willard was asked this pointed question: "When you look at how off track the church is, do you ever just throw up your hands in despair?"

Willard smiled and said, "Never."

"But how can you not?" the interviewer asked.

"Because," he said, "I know Christ is the head of his church and he knows what he's doing. [Skye Jethani, "Vampire Christianity," PreachingToday.com]


Such is the case for prayer. We don�t always understand or have complete knowledge of what we are to do, but we can be certain Christ knows. Therefore pray for one another and for your own concerns that Christ may give you and others understanding.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/16/15 12:06 PM
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)
18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

That there are wondrous things in God's law, which we are all concerned, and should covet, to behold, not only strange things, which are very surprising and unexpected, but excellent things, which are to be highly esteemed and valued, and things which were long hidden from the wise and prudent, but are now revealed unto babes. If there were wonders in the law, much more in the gospel, where Christ is all in all, whose name is Wonderful. Well may we, who are so nearly interested, desire to behold these wondrous things, when the angels themselves reach to look into them, 1 Pt. 1:12. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In her book Mystery on the Desert, Maria Reiche describes a series of strange lines made by the Nazea in the plains of Peru, some of them covering many square miles. For years people assumed these lines were the remnants of ancient irrigation ditches.

Then in 1939 Dr. Paul Kosok of Long Island University discovered their true meaning could only be seen from high in the air. When viewed from an airplane, these seemingly random lines form enormous drawings of birds, insects, and animals.

In a similar way, people often think of the Bible as a series of individual, unconnected stories. But if we survey the Scriptures as a whole, we discover that they form one great story of redemption�from the opening scenes of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation. Weaving through all the diverse strands of the Bible is a divine storyline, the overarching story of what God has been up to in the rescue and restoration of fallen human beings, from the first nanosecond of creation through the final cry of victory at the end of time. [Timothy George, "Big Picture Faith," Christianity Today (10-23-00)]


Lord open our eyes that we may see the wonderful things you have in store for us!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/15 12:35 PM
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

The nature of the word of God, and the great intention of giving it to the world; it is a lamp and a light. It discovers to us, concerning God and ourselves, that which otherwise we could not have known; it shows us what is amiss, and will be dangerous; it directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. It is a lamp which we may set up by us, and take into our hands for our own particular use, Prov. 6:23. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit; it is like the lamps in the sanctuary, and the pillar of fire to Israel. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




I started writing these devotions to a friend many years ago and since then they have spread to others. Most days I allow another Bible webpage to pick out The Bible verses for me. Unless it�s something I really can�t relate to that day I may pick something out of Proverbs, but otherwise I use the verse I�m given.

I�ll always try to explain The Bible verse. Most often I will refer to the Matthew Henry Commentary because he tends to expound on the verse and give insight into it. Sometimes I know the verse well enough so I write my own explanation. I never know what I�ll be writing on a given day, but God does.

I�ll find a short story to illustrate the verse and sometimes I will even write from life experiences as I am doing today. There are times I may even pick a short story and add to it as a commentary. It just all depends on how God is leading me that day. I know when the story is not right because I draw a total blank. It�s just not what God wants me to share that day.

Over the years of writing, people will sometimes comment back to me: �How did you know what I was going through?�; �Those words were what I needed to cheer me up.�; �I was looking for God�s guidance and I found it in the message.�; �or it may just be a simple thank you.�

Sometimes people have even written back almost identical messages to me about the devotion. Let me assure you, usually the stories I pick are not about you. They are a story that is just pleasant and meaningful to me. However, GOD USES THE POWER OF HIS WORD LIKE A LAMP UNTO YOUR SOUL to speak to you. His word finds something in your heart and opens the door to it.

I pray God will takes His word and shine a lamp brightly into your heart to help you see what God wants you to do. You may be struggling with a problem. You may have an illness. You may be looking for work. Just know God is walking right there with you, ready to speak to you and encourage you. God finds you precious and loves you very must. Let His word fill your hearts so you know what to do at the proper times.
Posted By: sophiemaxie Re: Devotionals - 11/17/15 01:46 PM
Thank God for your words, here, AskMe. The Scripture words of life. God bless you for being His light here on this message board of hurting people
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/15 02:10 PM
Originally Posted by sophiemaxie
Thank God for your words, here, AskMe. The Scripture words of life. God bless you for being His light here on this message board of hurting people


You are more than welcome! I hope you have a very blessed week!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/18/15 02:10 PM
John 17:17 (NLT)
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

We have been given the truth of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to be ambassadors for Christ and share the truth we know with others. We are to teach them the truth we know and build them up.



Over the last 50 years, while society has been growing more and more prosperous and individualistic, our social connections have been dissolving. Emily Esfahni Smith from The Atlantic describes the price for our social disconnection:

We volunteer less. We entertain guests at our homes less often. We are getting married less. We are having fewer children. And we have fewer and fewer close friends with whom we'd share the intimate details of our lives. We are denying our social nature, and paying a price for it. Over the same period of time that social isolation has increased, our levels of happiness have gone down, while rates of suicide and depression have multiplied.


We need to build connections in life so we can befriend others and be able to share the truth about God. Without those connections there is no one to talk to. We isolate and even cause problems for ourselves. So build good relationships with people that turn into something special.
Posted By: sophiemaxie Re: Devotionals - 11/18/15 02:48 PM
So true because we are each only one part of a whole body, right? It's like we have become a hand or foot that's not connected to the arm or leg, and we wonder why it's not going so well!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/20/15 12:08 PM
Originally Posted by sophiemaxie
So true because we are each only one part of a whole body, right? It's like we have become a hand or foot that's not connected to the arm or leg, and we wonder why it's not going so well!!


True, it is hard to be a part of the body when we want to separate ourselves from others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/15 01:55 PM
2 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

There is a certainty that one day The Lord will come and perform as He has proclaimed. Therefore how should we be living if He were to come in the midst of our lives?



Researcher Carol Dweck did a series of studies on how people handle adversity, particularly when they face limitations, obstacles, failure, and change. In one study, she took a group of ten-year-olds and gave them increasingly difficult math problems to see how they would handle failure. Most students got discouraged and depressed, but a few had a totally different response. One kid�in the face of failure�rubbed his hands together, smacked his lips, and said, "I love a challenge!" Another kid, failing one math problem after another, said, "You know, I was hoping this would be informative."

"What's wrong with them?" she wondered. "I always thought you coped with failure or you didn't cope with failure. I never thought anyone loved failure. Were these alien children or were they on to something?"

She realized that not only were these kids not discouraged by failure, they didn't think they were failing. They thought they were learning. She came to the conclusion that human beings have two different, almost opposite mind-sets about life. One of them I'm going to call a "closed mind-set." Those with a closed mind-set believe that life is full of a fixed amount of gifts and talents, and their worth depends on how talented they are. Therefore, their job is to convince others that they've got "it," whatever "it" is.

Dweck said there's another way to go through life�the open mind-set. These people believe that growth is always possible. A commitment to growth means that they embrace challenge. � Therefore, failure is indispensable and something to learn from. [John Ortberg, All the Places You'll Go. Except When You Don't (Tyndale, 2015), pp. 22-23]


We can either live with failure or we can love failure and find that it teaches and shows us how to live. Which shall you choose to do?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/01/15 12:46 PM
1 Samuel 1:23 (NKJV)
23 Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.

Here is a warning that we would not boast with pride or arrogance about the things we have done; for The Lord God is the God of knowledge and known to Him are all deeds of man, both good and evil.



There is an axiom that says, �Actions speak louder than words.� Jesus said in Matthew 7, �17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.� So people are known by the fruit or the actions they produce in their lives.

Let�s use the letters from ACTION to show how a person can demonstrate good fruit in their life.

A � Accountability. We must hold ourselves accountable for the actions we take in our lives.
C � Consistent. Our actions must be consistent. We do not want to be hot one day and cold the next.
T � Thought. We must put though into our actions so as not to be careless or hurtful.
I � Integrity. Our lives should be filled with integrity so others know our actions are honest and fair.
O � Opinions. Fact must out weight opinions. There are many opinions, but facts hold truth.
N � Negotiate. At times we must negotiate to ensure fairness is provided to all parties.

Be careful with the actions of your life for the Lord God will weight them and see whether they bear good or bad fruit.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/03/15 12:19 PM
Genesis 21:11-17 (NIV)
11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, �Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.�14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, �I cannot watch the boy die.� And as she sat there, she began to sob. 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, �What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.

This is the promise of Ishmael becoming a great nation, as he fathered the nomadic Arab nations.



In the Old Testament Abraham cannot have a child with his wife, Sarah. So, she gives him her handmaiden Hagar. With Hagar Abraham has a child, a son, Ishmael.

Eventually, though, in her old age Sarah conceives of a child with divine help. That child is Isaac. After the birth of her son, Sarah forces Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from their home. Although, in the Qur�an, it is Allah who tells Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert.

While some Jews and Christians believe they are descendents of Isaac, Muslims believe they are the inheritors of Ishmael�s legacy � that they, along with Jews and Christians, are the �children of Abraham�.

And they believe it was Ishmael, not Isaac, Abraham almost sacrificed to God. The sparing of Ishmael�s life is celebrated with the festival Eid ul-Adha. When God spared Ishmael, the boy was replaced with a ram � it is because of this Muslims make animal sacrifices during the festival.

Ishmael is highly regarded in Islam for his goodness and wisdom. After wandering in the desert with his mother � Hagar�s search for water is reenacted during the Hajj each year � they settled in Mecca. There it is believed Ishmael built the Ka�aba with Abraham. [http://muslimvoices.org/ishmael-islam/; Muslim Voices; Ishmael and Islam; by Rosemary Pennington; December 10, 2008]


Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was born by his slave Hagar. The second son Issac was later born to the wife of Abraham. While Ishmael did not found Islam, those who were descendants of Ishmael followed the teachings of Muhammad. Today there are struggles of two great nations, Christians and Muslims, which began long ago due to Abraham and Sarah not listening closely to God. A generation of family problems has lasted for thousands of years..

Pray that healing for the family of Abraham can take place so there may be peace across the world. We are the �children of Abraham�, may God bring peace back into the family.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/15 12:26 PM
John 8:12 (NLT)

Jesus, the Light of the World
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, �I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won�t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.�

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. One of the rabbies saith, Light is the name of the Messiah, as it is written, Dan. 2:22, And light dwelleth with him. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God; God of gods, Light of lights. He was expected to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles (Lu. 2:32), and so the light of the world, and not of the Jewish church only. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



One weekend, author Paul Tripp gave his teenage son permission to spend the weekend at a friend's house. But during the weekend Paul received a call from the friend's mother, informing him that Paul's son was not at her home. (Her son had felt guilty about covering for Paul's son and confessed to his mom.) After Paul told his wife about their son's deception, Paul said, "Luella could feel my anger, and she said, 'I think you need to pray.' I said, 'I don't think I can pray for him right now.' She said, 'I didn't mean for you to pray for him; I think you need to pray for you.'"

Paul writes:

I went to my bedroom to pray for God's help, and it hit me that, because of his love, God had already begun a work of rescue in my son's life. God was the one who pressed in on the conscience of my son's friend, causing him to confess to his mom. God was the one who gave her the courage to make that difficult call to me. And God was the one giving me time to get a hold of myself before my son came home. Now, rather than wanting to rip into my son, I wanted to be part of what this God of grace was doing in this moment of rebellion, deception, hurt, and disappointment.

After giving his son a couple of hours to relax upon his return, Paul asked him if they could talk.

"Do you ever think about how much God loves you?" Paul asked his son.

"Sometimes," he answered.

"Do you ever think how much God's grace operates in your life every day?"

His son looked up but didn't speak.

"Do you know how much God's grace was working in your life even this weekend?"

"Who told you?" his son asked.

Paul said:

"You have lived your life in the light. You've made good choices. You've been an easy son to parent, but this weekend you took a step toward the darkness. You can live in the darkness if you want. You can learn to lie and deceive. You can use your friends as your cover � You can step over God's boundaries. Or you can determine to live in God's light. I'm pleading with you: don't live in the darkness; live in the light."

"As I turned to walk away," Paul wrote, "I heard his voice from behind me saying, 'Dad, don't go.' As I turned around, with tears in his eyes, he said, 'Dad, I want to live in the light, but it's so hard. Will you help me?'" [Paul David Tripp, Forever: Why You Can't Live Without It (Zondervan, 2011), pp. 151-153]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/07/15 01:22 PM
John 11:25 (NIV)
25 Jesus said to her, �I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

Those who place their faith in Christ as The Savior will have eternal life after death in this world.




A friend of mine used to work as a denominational official in Minnesota. One of his jobs was to travel to little rural communities where they didn't have churches to do funerals. He would go out with an undertaker, and they would drive together in the undertaker's hearse. One time, they were on their way back from a funeral, and my friend, John, was feeling quite tired. He decided he would take a nap. Since they were in a hearse, he thought, Well, I'll just lie down in the back of the hearse.

Sounds like kind of a creepy thing to do, but this is a true story. The guy who was driving the hearse pulled into a service station, because he was running low on gas. The service station attendant was filling up the tank and he was kind of freaked out, because there was a body stretched out in the back. While he was filling the tank, John woke up, opened his eyes, knocked on the window and waved at the attendant. John said he never saw anybody run so fast in his whole life. [John Ortberg, "The Empty Tomb: How Will You Respond?" Menlo Park Presbyterian Church]


We don�t expect the dead to come back to life, but that is exactly what happens upon death in this mortal world. The question is will you place your faith in Jesus Christ to be with Him when that moment happens for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/09/15 01:27 PM
Proverbs 9:9 (NKJV)
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The words of the teacher tell us that those who are wise will increase in wisdom. Teach a just person and their learning will increase. These things are difficult for the foolish and evil ones.




On February 22, 1911, Gaston Hervieu climbed the Eiffel Tower to test a new parachute for pilots. He checked the wind, took a nervous breath, and began the test. His silk parachute filled with air, then sailed safely to the ground. Hervieu did not make the jump himself; he used a 160-pound test dummy. To one man this was an outrage. Franz Reichelt was an Austrian tailor who was developing a parachute of his own. He denounced Hervieu's use of a dummy as a "sham" and, one year later, on the morning of Sunday, February 4, 1912, arrived at the Eiffel Tower to conduct his own experiment.

As Reichelt posed for pictures he announced, "I am so convinced my device will work properly that I will jump myself." Gaston Hervieu pulled him aside and tried to stop him. Hervieu claimed there were technical reasons why Reichelt's parachute would not work. The two men had a heated discussion until, finally, Reichelt walked away.

Modern parachutes use 700 square feet of fabric and should be deployed only above 250 feet; Reichelt's parachute used less than 350 square feet of fabric, and he deployed it at 187 feet. He had neither the surface area nor the altitude needed to make a successful jump. Hervieu was not the only one who had told Reichelt that his parachute suit would not work. It had also been rejected by a team of experts who told him, "The surface of your device is too small. You will break your neck."

He not only ignored experts, he also ignored his own data. He tested his parachute using dummies, and they crashed. He tested his parachute by jumping thirty feet into a haystack, and he crashed. He tested his parachute by jumping twenty feet without a haystack, and he crashed and broke his leg. Instead of changing his invention, he clung to his bad idea in the face of all evidence and advice.

Reichelt fell for four seconds, accelerating constantly, until he hit the ground at sixty miles an hour, making a cloud of frost and dust and a dent six inches deep. He was killed on impact. [Adapted from Kevin Ashton, How to Fly a Horse (Doubleday, 2015), pp. 88-89]


May we never be as blind and foolish as to disregard the teachings and advice of others! Envy blinded Reichelt and he would not listen to others or take note of his own observations of failure.

Let us always be willing to listen and see the foolishness of our own ways.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/15/15 01:20 PM
Proverbs 15:18 (NIV)
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Anger strikes the fire which sets cities and churches into a flame: A wrathful man, with his peevish passionate reflections, stirs up strife, and sets people together by the ears; he gives occasion to others to quarrel, and takes the occasion that others give, though ever so trifling. When men carry their resentments too far, one quarrel still produces another. Meekness the great peace-maker: He that is slow to anger not only prevents strife, that it be not kindled, but appeases it if it be already kindled, brings water to the flame, unites those again that have fallen out, and by gentle methods brings them to mutual concessions for peace-sake. [Matthew Henry]




A young rabbi found a serious problem in his new congregation. During the Friday service, half the congregation stood for the prayers and half remained seated, and each side shouted at the other, insisting that theirs was the true tradition. Nothing the rabbi said or did helped solve the impasse. Finally, in desperation, the young rabbi sought out the synagogue's 99-year-old founder.

He met the old rabbi in the nursing home and poured out his troubles. "So tell me," he pleaded, "was it the tradition for the congregation to stand during the prayers?"

"No," answered the old rabbi.

"Ah," responded the younger man, "then it was the tradition to sit during the prayers."

"No," answered the old rabbi.

"Well," the young rabbi responded, "what we have is complete chaos! Half the people stand and shout and the other half sit and scream."

"Ah," said the old rabbi, "that was the tradition." [As retold by P. J. Alindogan, The Potter's Jar blog, "Communicate and Relate" (9-4-11)]


Habits become ingrained in our lives. Some are good for us, while others are hurtful. Some habits should learn to be tolerated for they don�t make much difference one way or another. Learn to examine the habits and choices in your life to ensure you are not one that stirs up conflict, but instead brings calm in the middle of a quarrel.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/05/16 12:36 PM
Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm�he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

We must see all our help laid up in God, in his power and goodness, his providence and grace; and from him we must expect it to come: "My help comes from the Lord; the help I desire is what he sends, and from him I expect it in his own way and time. If he do not help, no creature can help; if he do, no creature can hinder, can hurt. [Matthew Henry]




Where do you put your hope and trust when you get a bad report from the doctor? How do you get some control of the situation? Author Phyllis Ten Elshof says that, when battling the fear of recurrent breast cancer, she first tried to find comfort in statistics:

"You're gonna be okay," whispered the lady in pink as she wheeled me down the hall. "Eighty percent of breast lumps aren't cancer."

I stifled a sigh. So far, statistics had not been in my favor. My breast lump, which was big enough to be seen by the naked eye, hadn't shown up on a mammogram. Mammograms are effective only 80 percent of the time.

The volunteer's prediction wasn't accurate, either; I did have breast cancer. So why, years after surviving a mastectomy and treatment for breast cancer, was I still drawn to survival statistics like a mosquito to a lamp�especially after hearing that a fellow survivor had recurred?

The size of my lump plus five positive nodes drove down my five-year survival rate to less than 25 percent. What's more, I, like so many other cancer survivors, had learned how senseless statistics were in forecasting survival. As one doctor said, "Maybe only 10 percent of patients with your type and stage of cancer are cured, but within that 10 percent, your odds are 0 percent or 100 percent."

So what drove me to statistics? Perhaps it's the kind of fear that drove King Saul to consult a medium on the eve of a battle that would later claim his life (1 Samuel 28). God had stopped communicating with the king through ordinary means, so Saul tried to conjure up the spirit of Samuel to tell him what to do. Saul got the message all right, but it knocked him to the ground.

Cancer knocks us to the ground, too. Still, rather than running to statistics (or doctors that quote them) to ease our fears, we should trust in our Heavenly Father, who alone knows how long we will live.
[Phyllis Ten Elshof, What Cancer Cannot Do (Zondervan, 2006)]


Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip�he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/06/16 12:43 PM
1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV)
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

As if he had said, "Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affections seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigour of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience. Be sober, be vigilant against all your spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate and modest in eating, drinking, apparel, recreation, business, and in the whole of your behaviour. Be sober-minded also in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. [Matthew Henry]



On August 11, 2014, the actor Robin Williams took his own life. The 63-year-old actor, who was loved by many fans and fellow actors, was an admitted abuser of cocaine�which he also referred to as "Peruvian marching power" and "the devil's dandruff." In 2006, he checked himself into a rehab center to be treated for an addiction to alcohol, having fallen off the wagon after some 20 years of sobriety.

He later explained in an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer that this addiction had not been "caused by anything, it's just there." Williams continued, "It waits. It lays in wait for the time when you think, 'It's fine now, I'm O.K.' Then, the next thing you know, it's not O.K. Then you realize, 'Where am I? I didn't realize I was in Cleveland.'" [Dave Itzkoff, "Robin Williams, Oscar-Winning Comedian, Dies at 63 in Suspected Suicide," The New York Times (8-11-14)]


1 Peter 5:8 also tells us, �Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/07/16 12:26 PM
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Follow God�s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;' for so the word signifies. [Matthew Commentary]




When New Testament scholar William Lane taught at Western Kentucky University, contemporary musician Michael Card was a student of his, and they developed a friendship that led to a discipling relationship. Card's book, The Walk, describes the intertwining of these two lives that grew out of their days together at the university. William Lane worked to live out the meaning of redeemed life to the fullest extent. But he was not content until he passed it on to others, including Michael Card. Eventually, Professor Lane moved to another university. Years later through a telephone call, Card learned that Lane was dying of cancer. Eventually, the Lanes moved to be near the Cards. As Card tells the story, Professor Lane had a purpose in doing this.

He said to Card, "I want to come to Franklin (where the Cards lived)&#133;I want to show you how a Christian man dies." The Lanes made the move and many months later Cards' beloved mentor died. Lane's life mirrors the teaching of Psalm 15. Those who truly worship God do so with the totality of their being, even the hour of dying. [Authentic Worship, Herbert W. Bateman, editor (Kregel, 2002), pp. 76-77]


Live as Christ lived, giving himself up for us. Let our lives reflect that of Christ so others can see Him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/11/16 11:55 AM
Psalm 118:5-6 (NKJV)
5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

David calls upon all about him to give to God the glory of his goodness. He encourages himself and others to trust in God, from the experience he had had of God's power and pity in the great and kind things he had done for him. There are many who, when they are lifted up, care not for hearing or speaking of their former depressions; but David takes all occasions to remember his own low estate. [Matthew Henry]



At the sight of the outstretched hand of a city beggar, I have always grown uncomfortable. Until recently, I have thought it was because of Jesus' warning in Matthew 25:45: "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these [the hungry, thirsty, unclothed, homeless], you did not do for me."

But since I spent an evening at the women's shelter, I see that Matthew 25 is only the partial cause of my discomfort. I am uncomfortable because I see the beggar as myself�or my very own brother or mother or father. And I cannot think of a homeless or hungry woman in such personal terms without a reversal in the way I give my thanks.

The difference between "Thank you that I'm not one of them" and "Thank you for the grace you have shown to me, and help me to mirror your grace to others" may, at first, seem slight. But the second is for me a wholly new mindset that makes me want to reach out, that reduces my discomfort around those who have less than I, and, surprisingly, that reduces my fear of a future that is unknown. Why? Because even though I know I have no insurance policy against war and famine or sickness, I know I have a God who does not forget his own. And for that I thank him also. [Except from: Evelyn Bence, "Two Kinds of Thanks," Christianity Today magazine (November, 1999)]


God is there in our moments of distress. David was always giving praise unto God; for David knew God was watching over him. Throughout his life he had lived as a shepherd, as a musician in the King�s court, a man on the run from danger and even a man facing the consequences of his sins. Yet the Lord was always there to comfort David and to lead him back to a life of righteousness; and so David was thankful.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/16 12:18 PM
Proverbs 12:8 (NLT)
8 A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.

The best reputation is that which attends virtue and serious piety, and the prudent conduct of life: A man shall be commended by all that are wise and good, in conformity to the judgment of God himself, which we are sure is according to truth, not according to his riches or preferments, his craft and subtlety, but according to his wisdom, the honesty of his designs and the prudent choice of means to compass them. [Matthew Henry]




We've all heard the old adage, "If you can't find anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all." In a recent article for Salon.com, Lauren Frey Daisley tried to follow that advice for one month. She titled the article "My month of no snark." ("Snark" is a slang word that combines "snide" and "remark" and refers to sarcastic comments.) Daisley writes:

It started when my husband, baby and I drove away from a visit with my aunt, who has Stage 4 breast cancer. I thought back on the 30-some years I've known her. I have never once in all that time heard her say anything unkind. Not even in the subtext of her words. That's one [heck]�or, in this case, heaven�of a legacy�. I began to wonder, how would holding my tongue�or at least changing what came off it�alter my relationships?

That's when she began her "month-long campaign" to practice kindness in her speech. Daisley discovered that it's not easy to live without snark. Instead, she wrote, "It's so much cooler to be more sarcastic �. It says, I am so above this scene�above other people, even."

After her month-long experiment she concluded, "Kindness [of speech] doesn't have to imply repression. It doesn't rein in humor or impede the fight for justice. But it does require discipline and substantive engagement with others." [Lauren Frey Daisley, "My month of no snark," Salon.com (3-28-11)]


From an origin in Greek the word sarcasm means to tear flesh or to bite at with the teeth. When a person is being sarcastic to another they are tearing away from them the good things in life. The intent is to hurt in order to make oneself better than another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/14/16 12:56 PM
Proverbs 14:3 (NLT)
3 A fool�s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.

The proud man with his tongue lays about him and deals blows at pleasure, but it will in the end be a rod to himself; the proud man shall come under an ignominious correction by the words of his own mouth, not cut as a soldier, but caned as a servant; and herein he will be beaten with his own rod, Ps. 64:8.. A humble wise man saving himself and consulting his own good: The lips of the wise shall preserve them from doing that mischief to others which proud men do with their tongues, and from bringing that mischief on themselves which haughty scorners are often involved in. [Matthew Henry]



Following the murder of 16 Afghanistan civilians by an American soldier in March 2012, David Brooks writes that terrible crimes such as this should not surprise us:

Even people who contain reservoirs of compassion and neighborliness also possess a latent potential to commit murder.

David Buss of the University of Texas asked his students if they had ever thought seriously about killing someone, and if so, to write out their homicidal fantasies in an essay. He was astonished to find that 91 percent of the men and 84 percent of the women had detailed, vivid homicidal fantasies. He was even more astonished to learn how many steps some of his students had taken toward carrying them out.

One woman invited an abusive ex-boyfriend to dinner with thoughts of stabbing him in the chest. A young man in a fit of road rage pulled a baseball bat out of his trunk and would have pummeled his opponent if he hadn't run away. Another young man planned the progression of his murder � crushing a former friend's fingers, puncturing his lungs, then killing him. [David Brooks, "When the Good Do Bad," New York Times (3-19-12)]


This reminds me of the lead in for the Radio Show �The Shadow�, which started by saying, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?"

God definitely knows the evil that lurks in the hearts of men and God tries to steer us clear of the evil actions we might commit. When we talk proudly as a fool we begin to forget God�s words and think of only our own. Take a moment to be wise and keep your thoughts and words safe from the path of evil.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/19/16 12:26 PM
Matthew 7:12 (NLT)
12 Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Christ came to teach us, not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; what we are to do, not only toward God, but toward men; not only towards our fellow-disciples, those of our party and persuasion, but towards men in general, all with whom we have to do. The golden rule of equity is, to do to others as we would they should do to us. [Matthew Henry]



I love this illustration of accountability. Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. For one day you may need someone with you to keep you accountable or they may need someone to help them with an issue with which they struggle.


Rich Mullins, a Christian musician and songwriter who died in 1997 at the age of 41, once confessed in a concert that he struggled with watching pornography while traveling alone. One of his spiritual mentors told him, "It's not that you're so bad, it's just that you're not supposed to go out by yourself." So Mullins took a friend along with him on a trip to Amsterdam near its famous red-light district. Mullins said he was hoping his friend would fall fast asleep and start snoring so, as Mullins put it, "I thought, 'Maybe it would be fun to just take a walk and be tempted.'" He waited until 5:00 in the morning for his friend to start snoring, but he never did. Meanwhile, in the midst of his temptation, Mullins picked up a notebook and wrote the words to one of his more popular songs, 'Hold Me, Jesus'":

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace"

With this back story, some people call this Mullins' "Prayer for Porn Addicts" song, but it could also be a called a "Prayer for Anyone Who Is Tempted" Song. [Luke Gilkerson, "'Hold Me Jesus': A Prayer for Porn Addiction," Covenant Eyes, June 17, 2010.]


Hold me Jesus for I am always in need of you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/21/16 12:15 PM
Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Here is a caution to take heed of mocking God, or of deceiving ourselves, by imagining that he can be imposed upon by mere pretensions or professions. [Matthew Henry]



The Comedian Louis CK has a routine in which he jokes about having the impulse to give up his first class airline seat to a soldier. Louis CK says,

[Service men and women] always fly coach. I've never seen a soldier in first class in my life � And every time that I see a soldier on a plane I always think, You know what? I should give him my seat. It would be the right thing to do, it would be easy to do, and it would mean a lot to him � I never have, let me make that clear. I've never done it once � And here's the worst part: I was actually proud of myself for having thought of this. I am such a sweet man. That is so nice of me, to think of doing that and then totally never do it.

In June of 2014 Oscar nominated actress Amy Adams actually acted on that thought. Boarding a flight Friday from Detroit to Los Angeles where she was shooting a new movie, Adams noticed an American soldier being seated in coach. She decided to do something that she's always just thought about doing. Jemele Hill, a reporter for ESPN and a fellow first class passenger, witnessed Adams quietly asking the airline crew permission to switch seats with the soldier, whom she didn't know. Adams moved back to coach, and the surprised soldier, who didn't know who his benefactor was, moved up to first class. Hill immediately got the word out on Twitter, and after their arrival in L.A. Adams told reporters, "I didn't do it for attention for myself. I did it for attention for the troops." [Adapted from Mark Tapson, "Amy Adams, Class Act," Acculturated blog (6-30-14)]


You can think of the good acts you might commit, but God sees and knows what we do. Often we just want to please ourselves, but God wants us to show compassion and love to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/25/16 12:18 PM
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Whatsoever things are just and pure,-agreeable to the rules of justice and righteousness in all our dealings with men, and without the impurity or mixture of sin. Whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, that is, amiable; that will render us beloved, and make us well spoken of, as well as well thought of, by others. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




A study from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism asked thousands of people around the world what sort of news was most important to them. International news beat out celebrity and "fun" news by a margin of two-to-one. Economic and political news finished even higher. But what happens when we stop asking readers what's important and start looking at what they actually read? Derek Thompson with The Atlantic claims that most Americans lie about what they actually read. He explains:

[On June 17, 2014], the most important story in the world, according to every major American newspaper this morning, is the violent splintering of Iraq. It was the front-page and top-of-the-homepage story in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and more � But despite Iraq's prominent location on every major newspaper, the most-read stories on those papers' websites aren't about Iraq, at all.

So what did we actually read on June 17, 2014? The top stories across the big media outlets focused on the World Cup, a YouTube game, gluten and postpartum depression, the Miss America Pageant, and the Video Music Awards. But the biggest stories on news outlets weren't even news stories. They were quizzes, lists, and emotional poppers.

Thompson concludes, "Ask audiences what they want, and they'll tell you vegetables. Watch them quietly, and they'll mostly eat candy." [Derek Thompson, "Why Audiences Hate Hard News - And Love Pretending Otherwise," The Atlantic (June 2014)]


We all should stop and take the time to focus our thoughts on what is important and place our sights there, in a place honorable, pure, lovely and admirable. These things are excellent and worthy of praise.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/16 12:22 PM
James 4:10 (NLT)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Those that draw nigh to God in a way of duty shall find God drawing nigh to them in a way of mercy. Draw nigh to him in faith, and trust, and obedience, and he will draw nigh to you for your deliverance. If there be not a close communion between God and us, it is our fault, and not his. He shall lift up the humble.




It is the desire for God which is the most fundamental appetite of all, and it is an appetite we can never eliminate. We may seek to disown it, but it will not go away. If we deny that it is there, we shall in fact only divert it to some other object or range of objects. And that will mean that we invest some creature or creatures with the full burden of our need for God, a burden which no creature can carry.

[�Friar and author Simon Tugwell, The Beatitudes; Quoted in "Reflections," www.christianitytoday.com (9-10-07)]


We have a natural desire to be filled with the love of God. However, if we do not humble ourselves we tend to turn to other desires in life. It is why people turn to addictive lifestyles, because they are looking to fill an empty spot in their soul. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/27/16 01:17 PM
Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Those who would approve themselves to have true grace must aim at all grace, the whole armour. It is called the armour of God, because he both prepares and bestows it. We have no armour of our own that will be armour of proof in a trying time. Nothing will stand us in stead but the armour of God. This armour is prepared for us, but we must put it on; that is, we must pray for grace, we must use the grace given us, and draw it out into act and exercise as there is occasion. The reason assigned why the Christian should be completely armed is that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil-that he may be able to hold out, and to overcome, notwithstanding all the devil's assaults, both of force and fraud, all the deceits he puts upon us, all the snares he lays for us, and all his machinations against us. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




As [one researcher has] described it, our brain blinds our mind to the unusual. For instance, in one study, researchers put a clown on a unicycle in the path of pedestrians. The researchers asked people who walked passed the clown if they had noticed anything unusual. Everybody saw him unless they had been on their cell phone. Three out of every four people who had been using their phone did not see the clown. They looked back in astonishment, unable to believe they had missed him. They had looked straight at him but had not registered his presence. The unicycling clown crossed their paths but not their minds. [Kevin Ashton, How to Fly a Horse (Doubleday, 2015), page 97]


Life is complicated by all the things that come at us that we do not see coming. This is why it is important to put on the armor of God so we can protect ourselves from those things we do not see coming.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/28/16 11:58 AM
John 4:24 (NIV)
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

As God is a Spirit, so He both invites and demands a spiritual worship, and already all is in preparation for a spiritual economy, more in harmony with the true nature of acceptable service than the ceremonial worship by consecrated persons, place, and times, which God for a time has seen meet to keep up till fulness of the time should come. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




In his book Sahara Unveiled, William Langewiesche tells the story of an Algerian named Lag Lag and a companion whose truck broke down while crossing the desert:

They nearly died of thirst during the three weeks they waited before being rescued. As their bodies dehydrated, they became willing to drink anything in hopes of quenching their terrible thirst. The sun forced them into the shade under the truck, where they dug a shallow trench. Day after day they lay there. They had food, but did not eat, fearing it would magnify their thirst. Dehydration, not starvation, kills wanderers in the desert, and thirst is the most terrible of all human sufferings.

In Lag Lag's case, they might say he progressed from eudipsia, "ordinary thirst," through bouts of hyperdipsia, meaning "temporary intense thirst," to polydipsia, "sustained excessive thirst." Polydipsia means the kind of thirst that drives one to drink anything. There are specialized terms for such behavior, including uriposia, the drinking of urine, and hemoposia, the drinking of blood.

For word enthusiasts, this is heady stuff. Nevertheless, the lexicon has not kept up with technology. I have tried, and cannot coin a suitable word for the drinking of rusty radiator water. Radiator water is what Lag Lag and his assistant started into when good drinking water was gone. In order to survive, they were willing to drink, in effect, poison.

Many people do something similar in the spiritual realm. They depend on things like money, sex, and power to quench spiritual thirst. Unfortunately, such "thirst quenchers" are in reality spiritual poison, a dangerous substitute for the "living water" Jesus promised. [William Langewiesche, Sahara Unveiled (Vintage, 1997);]


May we thirst for the living water found in Jesus Christ and put aside the poisons of the world which we fill ourselves with when our soul is thirsting and we are not looking for Christ to quench the thirst.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/01/16 12:55 PM
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Blessed are we, who every morning and evening say, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. But more blessed are we if we duly consider and improve, what we are here taught to believe concerning God: that Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. [Matthew Henry]




There was a family in the San Francisco Bay area that grew up with commitment. The son's name was David Kraft. His father was a pastor, a godly pastor in the South Bay. David Kraft grew up with a father who constantly remembered God's faithfulness in the past so that David might trust in God in all of his tomorrows. David grew up in love with Jesus, and he felt the call of God into the pastoral ministry. He went to Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary.

David was a big, athletic young man. At the age of 32, he was six feet two inches tall and weighed two hundred pounds. He worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. That dear young man was diagnosed as having cancer. It wracked his body, and, over a period of time, he dropped from two hundred pounds in weight to eighty pounds.

When he was about ready to pass from this life into eternity, he asked his father to come into his hospital room. Lying there in the bed, he looked up and said, "Dad, do you remember when I was a little boy, how you used to just hold me in your arms close to your chest?"

David's father nodded. Then David said, "Do you think, Dad, you could do that one more time? One last time?"

Again his father nodded. He bent down to pick up his 32-year-old six-foot two-inch, eighty-pound son, and held him close to his chest so the son's face was right next to the father's face. They were eyeball to eyeball. Tears were streaming down both faces. The son said simply to the father, "Thank you for building the kind of character into my life that can enable me to face even a moment like this." ["Introducing Christ to Your Child," Preaching Today]


When God is a part of our lives we can face the most difficult burdens. So make sure you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your stenght.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/16 12:28 PM
Luke 22:32 (NIV)
32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.�

Note that Jesus has told Simon Peter that his faith would fail him, but when his faith returned that he would be able to use it to strengthen others.




John Piper writes in Bloodlines, (Crossway 2011), One of the lessons I have learned in six and half decades of life is that very few dreams should go on hold while you improve the shortcomings of your life �. To be sure, there are times when you need to stop what you are doing and focus on conquering a flaw. But if you wait till all your shortcomings are remedied, your dreams will die. All our advances are with a limp.

If you wait till you are beyond criticism to pursue your dream, you will never do it. You won't marry or stay married. You won't decide to have children or raise them. You won't take your first job or keep it. You won't go into missions or stay there �. Few things paralyze people more than their own imperfections. And there are always people around to remind you of your flaws and suggest you can't move forward until you're better.



Many of you will fail in life just as Peter failed, but that doesn�t mean you have to remain down for the count. The Lord is with you and during the times you fail, The Lord becomes strong in your life. Remember The Lord is always with you and you can use your failures to help someone else who has failed also.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/05/16 12:57 PM
Psalm 33:4-5 (NIV)
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

This verse reflects the high thoughts the psalmist had of The Lord. He found Him to be right and true; loving righteousness and just justice that come from His unfailing love.




Unfortunately, many people assume the Bible is an unreliable document. The truth is that of all ancient literature the New Testament is the most well-authenticated document, with an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability. There are more New Testament manuscripts, copied with greater accuracy, at earlier dates than from any secular classic from antiquity such as Herodotus, Plato, or Aristotle.

Some charge that there are grievous errors in the Bible. Actually, scholars who have examined the thousands of manuscript copies discovered 150,000 "textual variants." These variants are slight, involving a missing letter in a word. For example, note the variants in the following: Youha*ejus#wonamilliondol^ars. My guess is that you would not have any problem making out this message in spite of the variants. In more than 99 percent of the cases of textual variants in the New Testament, the original text can be reconstructed to a practical certainty.

In October 2003, Odyssey Marine Exploration recovered a ship's bell off the coast of Georgia. They believe it is from the ship called the TENNESSEE, which sank back in 1865 with a cargo of up to $180 million in gold. They aren't absolutely certain because the bell's inscription is partially obscured. Only the letters "SSEE" are visible. The rest of the inscription won't be legible until it's cleaned.

With $180 million at stake, do you think they will allow this fragment of a word to hinder their search?
["Salvaged Bell May Be Key to Riches," USA TODAY (10-15-03)]


Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. For no word from God will ever fail. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/08/16 11:43 AM
Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)
43 �You have heard that it was said, �Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.� 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

God is always trying to reconcile sinners to Him. Therefore he asks of us that we might do the same by loving our enemies and praying for them. For God watches over both the righteous and unrighteous.




A pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, recently had an opportunity to practice what he preaches regarding turning the other cheek and showing forgiveness.

The pastor was standing in front of a group of people when a man punched him in the face. Victory Christian Center's pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, continued his sermon even though the blow had opened a cut above his eye that would later require two stitches.

Church members subdued his attacker, and police arrested 50-year-old Steven Rogers. Daugherty, however, did not press any charges. In fact, he prayed for his assailant during the church service, and visited him in jail a few days later. [www.firstcoastnews.com; submitted by Michael Herman, Lisle, Illinois]


It is difficult to care for those who have wronged us, yet The Lord cares for each and everyone one of us, He loves us and He finds us precious even though we may have turned our back on Him many times. Listen to the words of Jesus and love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/16 12:22 PM
Philippians 1:30 (NLT)
30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

It is not simply the suffering, but the cause, and not only the cause, but the spirit, which makes the martyr. A man may suffer in a bad cause, and then he suffers justly; or in a good cause, but with a wrong mind, and then his sufferings lose their value.




Comedian Jay Leno once conducted a "man-on-the-street" interview by asking random people to name one of the Ten Commandments. The most common response was something that wasn't even on God's original list�"God helps those who help themselves." That phrase, which is often used to emphasize a get-your-act-together approach to salvation, is often attributed to the Bible.

But the phrase is more closely tied to non-biblical sources. In a first century A.D. Greek fable, a wagon falls into a ravine, but when its driver appeals to Hercules for help, he is told to get to work himself. One of Aesop's fables has a similar theme. When a man calls on the goddess Athena for help during a shipwreck, she tells him to try swimming first. Both of these stories were probably created to illustrate an already existing proverb about helping yourself first.

A French author from the 1600s once said "Help yourself and Heaven will help you too." But it was the 17th century English thinker Algernon Sidney who has been credited with the now familiar wording, "God helps those who help themselves." Benjamin Franklin later used it in his Poor Richard's Almanack (1736) and it has been widely quoted ever since. A passage with similar sentiments can be found in the Quran, Chapter 13:11: "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves."

But that phrase never appears in the Bible, and the way it's often used (as a self-help approach to salvation) is the exact opposite of the Bible's message of salvation by God's grace. [Matt Woodley, editor PreachingToday.com; source: "God helps those who help themselves," Wikipedia (last accessed August 5, 2014)]


Understand the word of God and pray for His wisdom that you might be able to work through the struggles in life that lay ahead. For God will never leave your side, but will always be there to help you. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God�s people.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/11/16 01:01 PM
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

The apostle gives us in these verses some of the properties and effects of charity, both to describe and commend it, that we may know whether we have this grace and that if we have not we may fall in love with what is so exceedingly amiable, and not rest till we have obtained it.




In a popular TED talk titled "The secret to desire in a long-term relationship," psychotherapist Esther Perel, who has counseled hundreds of couples who are having trouble in their marriages, notes how we tend to expect too much from our husband or wife. Dr. Perel says,

Marriage [used to be primarily] an economic institution in which you were given a partnership for life in terms of children and social status and succession and companionship. But now we want our partner to still give us all these things, but in addition, I want you to be my best friend and my trusted confidant and my passionate lover to boot, and we live twice as long. So we come to one person, and we basically are asking them to give us what once an entire village used to provide: Give me belonging, give me identity, give me continuity, but give me transcendence and mystery and awe all in one. Give me comfort, give me edge. Give me novelty, give me familiarity. Give me predictability, give me surprise.
[Dr. Esther Perel, "The Secret Desire in a Long-term Relationship"; Quoted in David Zahl, "Infidelity, Love, and the New Shame,' Mbird blog (7-7-15)]


Our nature self wants everything from life. It want�s others to give us what we feel we deserve. We want our spouses to fill the empty spaces inside of us. However, we miss an important part of the definition of love � IT IS NOT SELF SEEKING. We are not to seek out love for ourselves, but instead we are to give love, to impart it to others and show understand God�s wonderful gifts of mercy, grace and love through our own actions.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/16/16 12:15 PM
Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

The Israelites were leaving their Egyptian captors. They had reached the sea and could see their captors coming for them. Their worries were now magnified and they could only think of the work ahead of them. But Moses reminded them they would only need to be still as The Lord fought for them.




God
Grant me to be
silent before you--
that I may hear you;
at rest in you--
that you may work in me;
open to you--
that you may enter;
empty before you--
that you may fill me.
Let me be still
And know you are my God.

Amen.

[Sir Paul Reeves in a prayer at the WCC Seventh Assembly in Canberra, Australia. Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 11.}


Let us be still and allow God to work in our lives. Let this prayer be one that we incorporate into ours so that we may be at peace with others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/18/16 12:19 PM
Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

This shows that one tale is good till another is told and then the truth can be weighted.



Anson Hui is eleven-years-old. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD), meaning his body can't break down or store sugars. He requires frequent daytime feedings (drinking raw cornstarch), and nighttime feedings through a pump that hooks into a surgically implanted tube to his stomach. At the age of five, he experienced developmental delays that doctors feared were connected to autism. At that point in his life, he couldn't speak sentences with more than three syllables. He also became a target for school-yard bullies. No wonder that Anson often asked, "Why did God put me here?"

However, Anson also discovered that he had a gift. He said, "While everyone else was busy talking, I listened and listened to all the sounds around me." His listening skills helped him develop another gift�perfect or absolute pitch. Anson discovered that he could memorize and then master complex piano pieces (such as Mozart's Concerto in D Minor) with astounding speed and proficiency. Anson has won numerous awards and even performed in Carnegie Hall. Anson's trials and his gifts have led him to declare his deep faith in the living God: "I can't decide many things that God has already planned, but I can still choose to work on my dream because I still have workable hands and a body to do it. I believe every single life is unique and special. Each has its own mission and purpose."

About a year ago he received more difficult news. An MRI revealed a benign tumor around his liver, which could lead to a liver transplant, a tricky procedure for any GSD patient. But once again, Anson finds solace in God's faithfulness. In a recent interview Anson said,

I know [there's] always a reason for God to give me a special body and talent. My dream is to be a tool of God � so in the end, I can hand in a beautiful [report] to my Lord in heaven with honor. And the most important thing is�I will never regret this journey on earth. [Julie Jordan, "Music as the No.1 Medicine (Part 2)," The Epoch Times (10-14-10)]

At age three Anson Hui was basically given a death sentence. Yet he continued to live and has faced many more obstacles. He continues to play the piano delighting those who hear. What if the writer had stopped at the first paragraph, we may have assumed the worst. Yet reading on we find Anson praising God for continuing to do miraculous things.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/19/16 12:43 PM
1 John 4:11-12 (NIV)
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

The example of God should press us. We should be followers (or imitators) of him, as his dear children. The objects of the divine love should be the objects of ours. Shall we refuse to love those whom the eternal God hath loved? [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Sanderson Jones, a former stand-up comedian who leads the Sunday Assembly�also known as the "atheist church"�spent Sunday attending three London churches and tweeting about his experience. His observations are surprising and an encouraging reminder for all churches. "I think churches should recognize that they are already doing so much right," Jones says, referring to the idea of having people welcoming on the front door, and people knowing where and when to set up for coffee after church. "I went to the American Humanist Association and they had a special lecture on why it's important to be welcoming. It's just the most basic things which you'll take for granted in 'Churchland,' which are in fact really powerful." [Lucinda Borkett-Jones, "A well-known atheist visited three churches in one day and this is what he made of it," Christian Today (3-30-15)]


Love can be spread in many ways. It can be helping someone through a difficult time. I can be a friendly smile. Love can be shown in the purchase of a cup of coffee. There are so many way to love those who do not know the love of God. Start loving others so they know the love of God that is in us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/16 11:55 AM
1 John 4:18 (NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Love considers God as most eminently good, and most eminently loving us in Christ, and so puts off dread, and puts on joy in him; and, as love grows, joy grows too; so that perfect love casteth out fear or dread. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




The Huffington Post ran a beautiful story about a church in Honolulu called Bluewater Mission. This small church started a restaurant called Seed, which gives people a second chance at work and at life. The article focused on a woman named Mary Nelson, who started working at Seed last year. It was only the second job the 53-year-old had ever had. At the age of 14, Nelson's mother committed suicide and she started working on the streets of New York City as a prostitute. At the age of 18 she tried to start a new life in Hawaii but she kept working as a prostitute.

Then when she was in her early 50s some Christians at Bluewater Mission persuaded her to leave the streets and try working at Seed. She spent the first six months washing dishes because she wanted to be far away from what she called, the "good people." But after a lot of hard work and love from the people at church Nelsons says, "I get to be the person I was never able to be. I get to help people without someone trying to take advantage of me."

Nelson noted that what she makes in a month at Seed, she used to make in one night on the streets. She had it all: new cars, jewelry, travel, nice condos�though, sometimes, beatings, rape and "so much horror" came with the price. "You can't buy what I'm going through right now," she says. "I never thought that I'd be this person I am now."

Recently, Nelson went with her church on a trip to the Philippines to reach out to prostitutes. She told the reporter, "I want those women to know there's hope. You can change. There are people out there that really want to help and you've got to � believe. Just like you went out there and took a chance on the streets, you've got to take a chance on this as well."

[Adapted from Carla Herreria, "Restaurant In Hawaii Offers Fresh Start For Former Prostitutes, Convicts, Others Who Need A Hand," The Huffington Post (2-28-15)]


Mary Nelson found love in the people who helped her change her life. At first she was fearful that others would judge her or be take advantage of her. Mary then found there was no fear in love; for those around her loved her as God intended.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/25/16 12:51 PM
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: ��Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.� 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: �Love your neighbor as yourself.

Christ extended the commandment of Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your sould and with all your mind to include loving your neighbor as yourself.




Charles Colson tells the following story about his home town of Naples, Florida, which he calls "one of the garden spots of the world."

It's an absolute nirvana for all golfers, and they all come there. They're all CEOs of major corporations, and they retire to Naples, and this is "it"�twenty-seven golf courses and miles of sparkling beach and the best country clubs. I watch these guys; they're powerful people. They have this New York look on their face; they're determined. But now, all of a sudden, they start measuring their lives by how many golf games they can get in.

I often say to them, "Do you really want to live your life counting up the number of times you chase that little white ball around those greens?" And they kind of chuckle, but it's a nervous chuckle, because in six months they've realized how banal their lives are, and they've got beautiful homes�castles�and when they get bored with that, they build a bigger castle, and they're miserable. The object of life is not what we think it is, which is to achieve money, power, pleasure. That's not the holy grail. The object of life is the maturing of the soul, and you reflect that maturing of the soul when you care more for other people than yourself.

[Eric Metaxas, Socrates in the City (Dutton, 2011), pp. 172-3]

Love your neighbor as yourself and you will find many blessing you did not realize that could exist.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/26/16 01:01 PM
1 John 4:9 (NIV)
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

God commandeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.




Many years ago, in my first pastorate, I met with a teenage girl in our congregation. She was about sixteen at the time, and she was discouraged and becoming depressed. I tried to encourage her, but there was a revelatory moment when she said, "Yes, I know Jesus loves me, he saved me, he's going to take me to heaven�but what good is it when no boy at school will even look at me?"

She said she "knew" all these truths about being a Christian, but they were of no comfort to her. The attention (or the lack of it) of a cute boy at school was far more consoling, energizing, and foundational for her joy and self-worth than the love of Christ. Of course this was a perfectly normal response for a teenage girl. Nevertheless it was revealing of how our hearts work. [Jonathan] Edwards would say that she had the opinion that Jesus loved her, but she didn't really know it. Christ's love was an abstract concept while the love of these others was real to her heart.

[Timothy Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism (Viking, 2015), page 163.]


Many of us may be looking for someone to love us, someone to fill the empty spot inside of us, someone we know we can turn to in a crisis. Let me clearly state there is only one who can fill every need you have and that person is Jesus Christ. Jesus died for you, for me and for the world that we would live eternal life through him. Know that when you can�t count on someone else, you can count on Jesus.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/29/16 12:42 PM
Psalm 120:1 NIV
1 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

The Psalmist prays to God to deliver him from the mischief designed him by false and malicious tongues.





If you have had time to watch the political debates that have been taking place; you would have heard many false and malicious words. It just seems people can�t win on their own integrity so they lambast the integrity of their opponents.

At times they use half-truths. For instance Ben Carson took time to return to Florida and rest and repack for the next set of debates and town halls. One of the TV networks said Ben Carson had dropped out of the race and those words got passed to a competitor politician who repeated them.

As people of God we need to be delivered from false and malicious tongues. We need people who can tell the truth at all cost. We need people with integrity and honor that remember God�s word and keep it holy.

Let us pray as a nation that God will deliver us from the mischief designed by Satan who uses false and malicious words to mislead us. May The Lord hear us and deliver us from our distress.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/03/16 12:04 PM
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
8 �My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,� says the Lord. �And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

If we look up to heaven, we find God's counsels there high and transcendent, his thoughts and ways infinitely above ours. [Matthew Henry]



To illustrate how our ever-increasing need for wonder that can only be filled by God, apologist Ravi Zacharias told the following:

If I were telling my children the same fairy tale, notice the different reactions. If I took Sarah at age 8 and said to her, "Sarah, little Tommy got up and walked to the door and opened the door and a dragon jumped in front of Tommy," Sarah's eyes go wide. But now imagine me telling little Naomi, age four, the same story. "Naomi, little Tommy got up, walked to the door, and opened the door." Naomi's eyes go wide. Now let's imagine I tell a story to Nathan, aged two, whose entire worldview is exhausted in one word�cookie. All I have to say is, Nathan, little Tommy got up and walked up to the door" and Nathan's eyes get wide with amazement.

Ravi concludes, "You see the difference? Sarah needed the dragon. Naomi needed to open the door. For Nathan it was a pretty big deal to walk up to the door. The older you get the more it takes to fill your heart with wonder, and only God is big enough to fill it." [Ravi Zacharias, "Created for Significance," Part 1 (3-7-15)]


The older we grow the more our desire for knowledge and understanding grow. We are to look up to God for answers for His ways are infinitely greater than our own.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/07/16 11:59 AM
Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

The Psalmist desires that if God finds anything wrong with his heart that God would reveal it to him and place him on the correct path of life.




Richard S. Halverson, the former U.S. Senate Chaplain, used to challenge people with the following image:

You're going to meet an old man [or woman] someday down the road�ten, thirty, fifty years from now�waiting there for you. You'll be catching up with him [or her]. What kind of old man are you going to meet? He may be a seasoned, soft, gracious fellow�a gentleman who has grown old gracefully, surrounded by hosts of friends, friends who call him blessed because of what his life has meant to them. Or he may be a bitter, disillusioned, dried-up old buzzard without a good word for anyone�soured, friendless, and alone.

That old man will be you. He'll be the composite of everything you do, say, and think�today and tomorrow. His mind will he see in a mold you have made by your beliefs. His heart will be turning out what you've been putting into it. Every little thought, every deed goes into this old man.

Every day in every way you are becoming more and more like yourself. Amazing but true. You're beginning to look more like yourself, think more like yourself, and talk more like yourself. You're becoming yourself more and more. Live only in terms of what you're getting out of life and the old man gets smaller drier harder crabbier more self-centered. Open your life to others, think in terms of what you can give, your contribution to life, and the old man grows larger, softer, kindlier, and greater.

[Daniel Henderson, The Deeper Life (Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 165-166]


At the end of our life we find we are the sum of all the experiences we have been through. Hopefully most of us have had good lives, lives that had profited others and lead us to a gracious old life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/10/16 12:14 PM
1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

Instead of terrifying yourselves with the fear of men, be sure to sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. [Matthew Henry]




Two stories were written in the twentieth century that share the same title: The Door in the Wall.

One of them won the Newbery Medal for children's literature. The ten-year-old son of a medieval knight become ill and crippled. He is separated from his parents by a cruel enemy army and cared for by a friar named Brother Luke. He is ashamed and disappointed by his legs�others call him "Robin Crookedshanks." He feels that his life will always be insignificant with him unable to serve and having no chance to show courage or do glorious deeds. But the friar takes him to his monastery, teaches him to read and swim and carve, and teaches him to pray for the faith that a fine and beautiful life still lies before him, "Always remember," the friar says, "thou hast only to follow the wall far enough, and there will be a door in it."

At the end of the story, it is his disability that leads to his opportunity. His crooked legs cause the enemy to under-estimate him. The resilient spirit he has grown in response to his challenges keeps him going. He alone finds the door in their fortress wall. He ends up against all odds being the rescuer who can steal unsuspected through enemy lines and save the people he loves. It is his faith in the old friar's words that keeps him going.

The other story was written by H. G. Wells, best known for his science fiction works like The War of the Worlds. In Wells' story the promise of the door in the wall is a cruel hoax. A man is haunted all his life by the memory of a door that leads to an enchanted garden that contains all he ever longed for. He searches in vain for that door his whole life. At the end of the story his dead body is found�fallen off a construction site behind a wall marked by a door that looks exactly like the one he has been seeking.
[John Ortberg, All the Places You'll Go. Except When You Don't, pgs. 231-232, Tyndale, 2015.]


Those who hope in Christ know that there is an open door at the end of history and the end of their lives. It is a door just waiting for us to walk through.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/14/16 11:19 AM
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We should, as we have opportunity, exhort those we pray for, and excite them to the use of all proper means to obtain what we desire God to bestow upon them; and those who will make any progress in religion must be very diligent and industrious in their endeavours. Without giving all diligence, there is no gaining any ground in the work of holiness; those who are slothful in the business of religion will make nothing of it; we must strive if we will enter in at the strait gate. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Global missions expert Paul Borthwick was invited to speak at a local church known for its hospitality to international students and its vision to adopt unreached people groups, including the Miao people from southern China. Borthwick tells what happened when he visited the church:

All over the church there were posters inviting people to "Pray for the Miao." The posters had statistics about the people group, population information, how many known Christians there are in the area, where the Miao are located and which missionaries are working with these people. Every member of the church was committed to pray for the Miao people.

As I was standing outside the banquet hall, a young man approached me and asked, "Excuse me, sir, are you from this church?" "No, I'm not from this church," I said. "This is my first time here."

"Me too," he replied. "This is my first time in any church. I am from the People's Republic of China. I heard there was food, so I came." I welcomed him to the United States and to the church, and he continued, "I need to ask another question. What is this sign?" He pointed to one of the signs that read, "Pray for the Miao."

I tried my best to explain: "Well, these people are followers of Jesus and they're trying to help other people know about the love of Jesus," I began. "So they've invited their church to pray for this ethnic minority group from south China."

"It is amazing!" he said.

"What is amazing?" I replied, a little confused.

"I am Miao!" he said earnestly. "These are my people."

"Well, this church has been praying for you," I answered. I introduced him to church leaders as the young man they had been praying for. God is at work.

[Paul Borthwick, Western Christians in Global Mission (InterVarsity Press, 2012), pp. 42-43]


Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/16 11:44 AM
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

How the peace may be kept, that we may know how in our places to keep it; it is by soft words. If wrath be risen like a threatening cloud, pregnant with storms and thunder, a soft answer will disperse it and turn it away. [Matthew Henry]







Andy Stanley, from the sermon "Let the Blames Begin", tells us: I used to do a lot of marriage counseling, and often one spouse would come in the office and start ranting and raving, "My husband does this �;" "My wife never will do that �;" and it would go on and on. I would sit there thinking, This counseling isn't going to be very effective, because the person who apparently needs to change isn't even in the room. So I would get a pad of paper, draw a circle on it, and say, "This is a pie that represents all the chaos in your marriage. Now, 100 percent of the blame is in that pie, because that's where all the chaos is." I would give them the pen and say, "I want you to draw a slice of pie that you think represents your responsibility for the chaos." The piece of pie that that client would draw was never very big, but I would say, "Okay. So why don't you and I talk about just this. Let's talk about this piece that is your responsibility. Let's talk about your slice." You know what? My approach never worked. I could never get anybody to stay on his or her slice of the pie.

So here is what I want you to do this week: As you experience relational conflict at work, at home, with your friends�any conflict of any sort, big or small�stop and think about your own slice of the pie. Ask yourself, What is in my slice of the pie? Have I taken responsibility for my life, really, or am I enjoying the blame game so much that it has allowed me to ignore what I am ultimately responsible for?

In any relationship, if you can ever get the two parties to own their piece of the pie, you can make progress. But if everybody is focused on the other person's slice of the pie, you will just have chaos.



The only person one can change is themselves. They can try all they want, but if the other party is closed minded no change will take place. So the change you may have to make is to live with the other�s issues and find new ways to deal with them. If you keep you keep your answers gentle then the less likely you are to stir up anger.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/16/16 11:48 AM
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God�s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

We must not only put off anger and wrath, but we must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Once, while speaking on the topic of grace in Toronto, I asked the audience about their own experiences conveying grace to others. One woman shocked us all: "I feel called to minister to telephone marketers. You know, the kind who call at inconvenient hours and deliver their spiel before you can say a word." Immediately I flashed back to the times I have responded rudely or simply hung up. She continued:
All day long these sales callers hear people curse at them and slam the phone down. I listen attentively to their pitch, then I try to respond kindly, though I almost never buy what they're selling. Instead, I ask about their personal life and whether they have any concerns I can pray for. Often they ask me to pray with them over the phone, and sometimes they are in tears. They're people, after all, probably underpaid, and they're surprised when someone treats them with common courtesy.
Hearing such stories, I am aware how often I miss possible hinge moments in my own interactions with people. I marvel at the Toronto woman's gracious response and think of the times I get irritated with marketers and with employees on computer help lines who don't speak good English. I catch myself treating store cashiers and Starbucks baristas as if they were machines, not persons � Subtly or not so subtly, I let the other person know that I've been interrupted and need to get back to work. In the process, I miss golden opportunities to dispense grace. [Philip Yancey, Vanishing Grace (Zondervan, 2014), pp. 75-76]

Therefore, as God�s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It gives us an opportunity to minister to others as God has ministered to us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/17/16 11:17 AM
Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name�s sake.

The Lord, The Shepherd provides for his people and they lack nothing. The shepherd guards as we lie down for rest in pleasant places. Through our rest The Lord refreshes our soul. The Lord as a shepherd lead�s us along the right paths of life all for his name�s sake.




Lake Tahoe is the eighth deepest lake in the world. On July 4, 1875, two men discovered the deepest point in the lake to be 1645 feet by lowering a weighted champagne bottle on fishing line from the side of their boat. Following the invention of sonar, soundings by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that depth. Lake Tahoe is so large that if the lake were tipped over, its contents would cover California in 14.5 inches of water. Tahoe could provide every person in the United States with 50 gallons of water per day for five years. The evaporation from Tahoe over the course of one year could supply a city the size of Los Angeles for five years. And Lake Tahoe is a small lake compared to Lake Superior (120 times as large) and the world's largest lake, the Caspian Sea (576 times as large).



And yet there is a limit to the supply of water Lake Tahoe can provide. But The Lord has no limits. Whatever your need you can never exhaust The Lord�s Supply. Whatever your burden, you can never exhaust The Lord�s help. The riches of God cannot be exhausted.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/21/16 11:03 AM
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
7 �But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.�

The duty required of us-to trust in the Lord, to do our duty to him and then depend upon him to bear us out in doing it-when creatures and second causes either deceive or threaten us, either are false to us or fierce against us, to commit ourselves to God as all-sufficient both to fill up the place of those who fail us and to protect us from those who set upon us. It is to make the Lord our hope, his favour the good we hope for and his power the strength we hope in. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment, but as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret, for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is.

[Pastor and author Alan Redpath (1907&#150;1988)]


Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. AMEN.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/16 11:47 AM
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil�s schemes.

Here is a general exhortation to constancy in our Christian course, and to encourage in our Christian warfare. Is not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Is not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness, and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by which we are to govern ourselves. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




There is a war taking place across this world. For our enemy the devil takes opportunities to tempt us and to lead us where we should not go. These are deceptions to which we are often blind and fall entrapped to. There is a spiritual war that we cannot see. The war is taking place right in front of us as evil fights to overcome goodness.

So what can we do? We can be prepared. We fight not in our own power, but in the power of God. For God is able to handle any problem, personal, or worldwide. God leads the battle and God will prevail. So pray and pray earnestly.


Pray with me now: Father there is so much temptation and evil in the world. We are drawn by our own desires to follow evil, but that only leads to consequences that harm us. Lord there are battles taking place endangering the lives of people. Just this morning Lord there was terrorism that took place in Belgium. Lord we pray for the souls who were lost and the souls who were injured along with their family and friends. Father watch over us. Lead us to victory and protect us from the evil that tries to harm us. Let us turn to You oh Lord for protection, guidance and safety.

Be with those now who need You that are fighting battles of their own. Father free them from that battles that they may live life for you.

I pray these things in you majestic and honorable name. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/25/16 12:56 PM
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Penitent confession and acknowledgment of sin are the believer's business, and the means of his deliverance from his guilt. [Matthew Henry]




NPR ran a heartbreaking interview with Robert Ebeling, an engineer who worked on the 1986 Challenger launch that resulted in the death of all seven occupants. In January 1986, Ebeling and four other engineers pleaded for the launch to be delayed; they anticipated the precise failure that would destroy the shuttle. That night, Ebeling even told his wife, Darlene, "It's going to blow up." The engineers' pleas were refused. Three weeks after the explosion, he and another engineer, since deceased, spoke to NPR. Ebeling was not identified by name until this past week. The NPR article continued:

Ebeling retired soon after Challenger. He suffered deep depression and has never been able to lift the burden of guilt. In 1986, as he watched that haunting image again on a television screen, he said, "I could have done more. I should have done more." He says the same thing today, sitting in a big easy chair in the same living room, his eyes watery and his face grave. The data he and his fellow engineers presented, and their persistent and sometimes angry arguments, weren't enough to sway Thiokol managers and NASA officials. Ebeling concludes he was inadequate. He didn't argue the data well enough. A religious man, this is something he has prayed about for the past 30 years. "I think that was one of the mistakes that God made," Ebeling says softly. "He shouldn't have picked me for the job. But next time I talk to him, I'm gonna ask him, 'Why me. You picked a loser.'"


Robert Ebeling tried to stop a disaster. He lamented over the fact his efforts were in vain. The problem was that he couldn�t forgive himself or accept the forgiveness of others. God didn�t make a mistake, God put a man in place to speak up, but others would not listen. Even Robert wasn�t listening � He was forgiven. He had spoken up, he had confessed his efforts failed.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/28/16 10:54 AM
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)
5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity�the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

There is one Mediator, and that mediator gave himself a ransom for all. As the mercy of God extends itself to all his works, so the mediation of Christ extends itself thus far to all the children of men that he paid a price sufficient for the salvation of all mankind; he brought mankind to stand upon new terms with God, so that they are not now under the law as a covenant of works, but as a rule of life.





Why do people look at pornography? Some statistics after the 2014 Super Bowl indicate that a wound of "vulnerability" often drives the need to view porn. A mere 24 hours after the Seattle Seahawks crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 (one of the most lopsided victories in Super Bowl history), one of the world's biggest free porn websites released data about porn site visits. In the Denver area, at the start of the game, porn use was 51 percent below national average. By the time the shellacking was complete, porn use in the Denver area was 10.8 percent above average site visits�a 60 percent swing in visiting porn websites. Figures for Seattle�where jubilant Seahawks fans were too busy doing old-fashioned things like hanging out with friends, laughing, talking, and watching action replays�were 17.1 percent below national average, post-game.

Based on these startlingly different responses to the game, British journalist Martin Daubney concluded something that most porn strugglers probably already know: "most men [and women, too] turn to porn not when they are happy, but when they are at their most vulnerable."

[Martin Daubney, "Porn users don't realize they're being watched," The Telegraph (2-5-14)]


Thankfully we have a mediator, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone, even those who are feeling most vulnerable.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/29/16 11:56 AM
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

In these verses we see the purity of the Mediator for He had no sin. Christ was not a sinner, but was made sin that a sacrifice for sin was made. The end result is that we too could have the righteousness of God. All this was done through God�s grace and mercy to us.




No greater pain has ever been experienced on any level than the hell of Christ suffering in this moment. But why? Because he carried all of that pain, sin, guilt, and shame in that moment. Yet on a far deeper level he was forsaken and punished for us to reconcile us to God (2 Cor. 5:18).

Tim Keller illustrates it this way:

If after a service some Sunday morning one of the members of my church comes to me and says, "I never want to see you or talk to you again," I will feel pretty bad. But if today my wife comes up to me and says, "I never want to see you or talk to you again," that's a lot worse. The longer the love, the deeper the love, the greater the torment of its loss.

But this forsakenness, this loss, was between the Father and the Son, who had loved each other from all eternity. � Jesus, the Maker of the world, was being unmade. Why? Jesus was experiencing Judgment Day. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It wasn't a rhetorical question. And the answer is: For you, for me, for us. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we would never have to be. The judgment that should have fallen on us fell instead on Jesus.

[Stu Epperson, Last Words of Jesus (Worthy Inspired, 2015)]


1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/01/16 11:18 AM
Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)
14 The fool has said in his heart, �There is no God.�
They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The sinner here described. He is one that saith in his heart, There is no God; he is an atheist. "There is no Elohim, no Judge or governor of the world, no providence presiding over the affairs of men.' They cannot doubt of the being of God, but will question his dominion. He says this in his heart; it is not his judgment, but his imagination. He cannot satisfy himself that there is none, but he wishes there were none, and pleases himself with the fancy that it is possible there may be none. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




As an atheist university professor, Dr. Holly Ordway, was convinced that by definition faith is utterly irrational. She would eventually become a Christian, but prior to her conversion she used the following analogy to explain why, as an atheist, she could not consider the option of believing in Jesus and going to heaven:

Imagine that you tell me, "If you believe that there's an invisible pink unicorn in the sky, I'll give you a new BMW." I see the car in the parking lot; you jingle the keys in your hands. If I can believe what you want me to believe, the new car is mine. Cool! But it's a waste of time: I know there's no unicorn. No matter how much I want that car, I am incapable of believing something contrary to reason in order to get it. Believing something irrational on demand to get a prize: that is what the evangelical invitation to "accept Jesus and get eternal life in heaven!" sounded like to me.

Despite her skepticism, she went on to accept Christ and to write a book about her conversion experience called appropriately Not God's Type.

[Holly Ordway, Not God's Type (Ignatius Press, 2014), page 9]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/04/16 11:18 AM
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God�s grace.

It was by reason of sin that we were captivated, and we cannot be released from our captivity but by the remission of our sins. This redemption we have in Christ, and this remission through his blood. The guilt and the stain of sin could be no otherwise removed than by the blood of Jesus. All our spiritual blessings flow down to us in that stream. This great benefit, which comes freely to us, was dearly bought and paid for by our blessed Lord; and yet it is according to the riches of God's grace. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Popular author and shame researcher Bren� Brown recently talked about coming back to church after years away and the moment "the whole Jesus thing" finally clicked. She said:

People would want love to be unicorns and rainbows. So then you send Jesus, and people say, "Oh my god, love is hard, love is sacrifice, love is trouble, love is rebellious." As Leonard Cohen sings, "Love is not a victory march � it's a broken hallelujah." Love isn't hearts and bows. It is very controversial. In order for forgiveness to really happen, something has to die. Whether it's your expectations of a person, or your idea about who you are. There has to be a death for forgiveness to happen. In all of these faith communities where forgiveness is easy, and love is easy, there's not enough blood on the floor to make sense of that.

All of a sudden, it becomes clear why Christians take forgiveness to heart. The blood on the floor is Christ's own. [William McDavid, Ethan Richardson, and David Zahl, Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints), (Mockingbird, 2015)]


Grace, grace, God�s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God�s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/05/16 11:06 AM
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions: and it was one end of Christ's death to cure us of this self-love, and to excite us always to act under the commanding influence of his love. A Christian's life should be consecrated to Christ; and then do we live as we ought to live when we live to Christ, who died for us. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




Stephen Mansfield tells a true story about a church that had an incredible ministry to men. For years the driving force behind the men's ministry was a man named Taylor. His ministry rocked on for years, changing lives and impacting the community. But in the midst of a major transition within the church, Taylor got hurt deeply by his own community and he left the church. He wouldn't talk to anybody. People figured he'd come back eventually, but he didn't.

Finally, some of the men in the church took it upon themselves to reach out to Brother Taylor. After some discussion with the other guys at church they came up with a bold plan: they would set up camp in Taylor's yard�150 men! So they set up rotating shifts and said they wouldn't leave until Taylor came out. They had electric lines running from neighboring houses to power televisions. About twenty smokers and grills worked up some great barbeque food. They were in for the long haul! They even had big signs all over the place: "Taylor, come out." "We love you." "Taylor, we know you're in there."

Taylor didn't appreciate it. He even called the police on his former friends. As a matter of fact, the police showed up twice a day for almost a week. And every time they came, Taylor would came to the door to explain the situation. And every time the men camping in his year would explode with cheers until Taylor finished his chat with the police and went back inside.

But on the sixth day, when Taylor opened the door for the police and the men exploded with cheers, Taylor finally broke down and started crying his eyes out. He sputtered how sorry he was, and then he came out from his porch and greeted the guys who had camped in his yard and refused to go away. Such is the power of committed, persistent friendship. [Adapted from Stephen Mansfield, Mansfields's Book of Manly Men (Nelson Books, 2013), pp. 241-244]


The church is the body of Christ and the love of Christ compels us to live not just for ourselves, but for Christ. By living for Christ we share the love He has poured out for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/07/16 10:43 AM
Luke 9:11 (NKJV)
11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

He spoke unto them of the kingdom of God, the laws of that kingdom with which they must be bound, and the privileges of that kingdom with which they might be blessed. He healed them that had need of healing, and, in a sense of their need, made their application to him. Though the disease was ever so inveterate, and incurable by the physicians, though the patients were ever so poor and mean, yet Christ healed them. There is healing in Christ for all that need it, whether for soul or body. [Matthew Henry]




A friend recently asked friends to pray for the speedy recovery of her dad. He is 91 years old and has been working almost every day for 49 years in a hardware shop that he runs. He enjoys his work and would rather be there in the solitude of his hardware store than most anywhere else.

But like most of us we come to a point where we need healing; either for the body or the soul. In this case it was the body that needed healing. And even though we might trust in what modern medicine gives us, it sometimes lets us down. The good news is Christ will never let us down. He will do what is right for us.

My friend later replied after the request for prayers saying, �It worked! He was a little freaked out yesterday and my brother saved his life! Not worried like I was yesterday. He has heart issues yet all going to be treatable with a healthy salt free diet and lots of meds. He's not happy about that. Pills are not his thing. However, prayers were heard and he seems pretty good and may be at home tomorrow later in the day.�

God hears the voices of His people! He responds accordingly out of His love for us. So if you find yourself in need of healing for either the body or your soul take a moment and speak to God. Amen!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/12/16 10:57 AM
Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: �Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

We must live a life of self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the world; we must not indulge our ease and appetite, for then it will be hard to bear toil, and weariness, and want, for Christ. We are daily subject to affliction, and we must accommodate ourselves to it, and acquiesce in the will of God in it, and must learn to endure hardship. We frequently meet with crosses in the way of duty; and, though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, carry them after Christ, and make the best of them. [Matthew Henry]





Benjamin Kwashi, a Christian leader from Jos, Nigeria, tells the following story of how the gospel came to his part of the country:

Missionaries came to my home area of Nigeria in 1907. One of them was a man named Reverend Fox. Reverend Fox was a professor at Cambridge University, and when he arrived his walk with Christ was so deep that he led many people to Christ. He founded a church and moved about 10 kilometers away to Amper, my own hometown, and founded the church there too. How a first-class person from the University of Cambridge was communicating to illiterates, I don't know, but God suddenly gave him favor and people were turning to Jesus Christ. So many people came to Christ that he wrote to his younger brother, who was a physician also in Cambridge, and asked him to come and help him because medical practice was needed. As his brother started the journey from England, Reverend Fox fell ill and died. Soon after his brother arrived, he also fell ill and died.

The Church Mission Society wrote to their father, who was also a pastor. When they told him he had lost two sons, he and his wife cried, but then they did something astounding. They sold their land and property, took the proceeds to the mission society, and said, "As much as we grieve the death of our two sons, we will only be consoled if the purpose for which they died continues." They gave that money and walked away.

Recently I looked through the profile of those two missionaries who came to my hometown. They both had first-class educations and degrees from the best schools. They died as young men�the oldest was only 32. They gave up everything to serve Jesus and bring the gospel to my country. Were they crazy? No, they had heard what Jesus had said, they believed it, and they were willing to stake their whole lives on the truth of Jesus' words. These men wanted to end their lives well. No matter how long or short their life, it wasn't going to be wasted, but they would invest it for eternity.


[Benjamin Kwashi, "Where Do You Want to Finish Your Life?" PreachingToday.com]


These men lost their lives serving Christ, but many others found their lives due to their service to Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/13/16 11:10 AM
Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Here the apostle tells us that all have sinned. If God�s mark is 100% purity in righteousness, then everyone falls short of that 100%. Some may be 10%, others 40% and maybe even some close to 100%, but we still fall short of God�s glory. God is not an unloving God, but instead by His grace allows us to be justified through the salvation of Christ Jesus.




Who are the real villains on Good Friday (or the story of Jesus' death)? It's kind of like the kid's TV show Scooby-Doo�that lovable morning cartoon about Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and their dog, Scooby-Doo. "The Gang," as they were called, were always getting themselves into trouble here or there�getting robbed, scared, lost. In each adventure, their task remained the same: discover and catch the villain. Whether the villain was a ghost, a witch, or any other ghoul, every episode would end the same�the Gang would catch the villain, and in every single episode, the villain turned out to be a person you'd never expect. We'd always assume the villain would be that really mean tour guide, or the obsessive park ranger, or the mean gasoline attendant from the beginning of the episode. But as the Gang ripped off the mask of the villain, it was always quite the surprise. The villain was always the really nice janitor, the sweet teacher, or the seemingly "good guy."

Good Friday is also like a children's book titled The Monster at the End of This Book. The story is simple�page by page, furry old Grover, scared as could be, pleads with the young reader before him not to turn to the next page because, as the title aptly claims, there will be a monster at the end of the book. Grover worries whether anyone will follow his timely advice. The reader, of course, never does. Then we soon come to the end of the book and discover who the monster is�it's Grover. He's the monster at the end of the book.

Grover and Scooby-Doo teach us precisely what Christianity has been trying to teach us about Good Friday: the villain and the monster aren't who we thought they were. In the Gospel stories, everyone fails; everyone sins against Christ�even the best disciples, even the "good guys." In the end, the villain is us. [A.J. Swoboda, A Glorious Dark, pgs. 16-17 (Baker Books, 2015)]


The lyrics from the song The Hammer by Ray Boltz sums it up like this:

And I cried, "Who nailed Him there? This Child of peace and mercy. Who nailed Him there? Come and face me like a man. Who nailed Him there?"

And the crowd began to mock me, I cried, "Oh my God, I do not understand". Then I turned and saw the hammer in my hand.

I nailed Him there. The child of peace and mercy. I nailed Him there. I am the guilty man.

I nailed Him there with my sins and my transgressions. I cried, "Oh my God, now I understand. When I turned and saw the hammer in my hand.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/15/16 11:29 AM
Romans 13:6-7 (NIV)
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God�s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

These verses remind us that those who serve us, such as politicians, police, soldiers and other government officials are God�s servants. They are organizing and protecting a society and therefore they should be given respect and honor.




David Slagle, of Lawrenceville, Georgia wrote, my 21-month-old, who had just learned to say, "Daddy," had been struggling with asthma and an ear infection for two weeks. He coughed and sneezed continually, and his nose ran like a faucet. Each night when I came home, he ran to meet me at the door, smiling, coughing, nose running, yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!"

I was not repulsed by his runny nose or close range sneezes in the least (he "slimed" every shirt I own!). I love him deeply and enjoy his love for me.

I'm reminded that though I am sick with sin, God loves me deeply and desires that I run to him as a son crying, "Abba, Father."


We need to remember God loves us and provides for us. God put the nations in place. You can read through the books of Kings in The Bible and see how God put the rulers in place. Some rulers were good and obeyed God and treated the people well. Other rulers were desired by the people and God in His love allowed them to have what they chose. But so often those rulers were evil and it wasn�t long before they were begging God to put in a ruler that had the nation at interest and followed God.

Remember if we allow it, God is in control. God will give us the right leaders that we should honor and respect.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/18/16 11:00 AM
Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The saints' security in God. It is a strong tower to those who know how to make use of it as such. The righteous, by faith and prayer, devotion towards God and dependence on him, run into it, as their city of refuge. [Matthew Henry Commentary]




When I was a teenager, I stole a hat. What is worse, I arrived at the store with a wad of cash in my pocket. Staring at the price tag, I thought, Hey, why should I spend my money on that hat? I can get it for nothing by pinching it, then save my money for something else.

As I headed for the door, the store manager stopped me. I [suddenly] wished I were dead. The manager saw I was not yet a hardened criminal and sent me home with instructions to have my parents call him back with the news or he would call the police. I went home to take my lumps. To this day, I remember what my 18-year-old sister said when she overheard me confessing: "How totally embarrassing. I've got a brother who's a thief!"

She called me a thief! �

[But] becoming ashamed of what we are as a result of what we do is a good thing and a necessary part of getting real about guilt. If you commit adultery, you are an adulterer. If you lie, you become a liar. I stole, and I had become a thief. It led me to my room weeping and ashamed of myself. But that was good! Painful, but good. [Adapted from John Ensor's The Great Work of the Gospel (Crossway, 2006), for the 5-18-10 entry in Men of Integrity (May/June, 2010)]


We all should remember the name of The Lord is a fortified tower. Keeping our minds on the righteousness of God and running to Him when we are about to fall keeps us safe
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/19/16 11:10 AM
Proverbs 19:19 (NIV)
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

Those that are of strong, or rather headstrong, passions, commonly bring themselves and their families into trouble by vexatious suits and quarrels and the provocations they give. To rescue them from such only encourages them to act the same way again.




Recently, while inching along in traffic, I saw two men in conversation on the sidewalk. One man was seated on a box at the end of the freeway off-ramp. He was gray-haired and tired looking, and he held a cardboard sign with a message written by an unsteady hand: "Please Help." The other individual was a Latino man. They shared a brief exchange, and the Latino man walked away.

As I slowly drove by the spot where the man in need sat on his box, I caught a glimpse of the younger Latino man walking down the street. I immediately recognized his gait�it was Juan, an immigrant who attends the church where I pastor. I pulled over, rolled down the window, and asked Juan if he needed a ride.

"No, my car is right there," he said, as he pointed in its direction.

Confused, I asked what he was doing walking down the street by the freeway.

"I just stopped to pray with that man and get him some food," Juan said.

"Oh! Uh, wow," I said. Then I drove off, moved by Juan's generosity.

I found out later that day that Juan has stopped before for the old man. A member of the church choir once witnessed Juan literally take the shirt off his back�a shirt his wife had just given him for Christmas�and give it to the man.

Needless to say, it didn't take long to realize that Jesus was showing me what it looks like to be a neighbor. [Bill White, Paramount, California]


We can live with rage in hatred in our lives or we can be live Christ who lived with compassion, love, grace and mercy.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/21/16 11:18 AM
John 10:28-30 (NIV)
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father�s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.�

A reminder that the Father provided salvation through Jesus Christ and those who have been given eternal life are safe and secure in the Son�s and the Father�s hands. There is no one or no thing that can take that away.




Bob Mankoff is the cartoon editor for The New Yorker magazine. His jobs is a laugh-a-minute. The New Yorker has published more than 80,000 cartoons since its first issue. In an interview on 60 Minutes, Mankoff said that the Grim Reaper has appeared in the magazine's funny pages more than any other character. For example, in one cartoon the Reaper's latest acquisition is saying: "Thank goodness you are here�I can't accomplish anything unless I have a deadline."

Mankoff told 60 Minutes, "Honestly, if it wasn't for death, I don't think there would be any humor � Grim Reaper's going to get the last laugh. Until then, it's our turn." [Adapted from Ron Jones, Mysteries of the Afterlife (Harvest House, 2016), page 37]


While we associate The Grim Reaper with death, physical and spiritual death came about because of man�s sin. It was man who chose sin over life and therefore paid the price for his actions. Jesus Christ however paid the ultimate price when He died for us. Jesus took away the sins of the world. He took away the sting of death and offered us eternal life. May we forever be grateful to our Savior.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/25/16 11:29 AM
Colossians 1:27-28 (NLT)
27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.

Men must be warned and taught in all wisdom. We must choose the fittest seasons, and use the likeliest means, and accommodate ourselves to the different circumstances and capacities of those we have to do with, and teach them as they are able to bear. [Matthew Henry]



This letter was written by Southern Baptist Missionary to Iraq, Karen Watson, prior to leaving for the Middle East. The letter was dated March 7, 2003. Karen was killed, along with four other missionaries, on March 15, 2004.

Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger:

You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death.

When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place. I was called to him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, his glory my reward, his glory my reward.

One of the most important things to remember right now is to preserve the work�.I am writing this as if I am still working with my people group.

I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Surely your reward in heaven will be great. Thank you for investing in my life and spiritual well-being. Keep sending missionaries out. Keep raising up fine young pastors.

In regards to any service, keep it small and simple. Yes, simply, just preach the gospel�.Be bold and preach the life-saving, life-changing, forever-eternal gospel. Give glory and honor to our Father.

The Missionary Heart:
-Care more than some think is wise.
-Risk more than some think is safe.
-Dream more than some think is practical.
-Expect more than some think is possible.

I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience�.There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving him. I love you two and my church family.

In his care,

Salaam,

Karen ["Keep Sending Missionaries," Baptist Press (3-24-04)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/16 11:27 AM
1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us�whatever we ask�we know that we have what we asked of him.

The matter of our prayer must be agreeable to the declared will of God. It is not fit that we should ask what is contrary either to his majesty and glory or to our own good, who are his and dependent on him. And then we may have confidence that the prayer of faith shall be heard in heaven. [Matthew Henry]





Imagine you've been convicted of a terrible crime, and are given the chance to speak for a few minutes before your execution. Would you express anger? Remorse? Love? The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, maintains a digital archive of every inmate's last statement, going back to 1976. This amounts to 534 prisoners.

One website analyzed all of these prisoners' final statements for common words and patterns. Of 534 total inmates, 417 inmates either spoke or wrote out a final statement. The most common word, used by 63 percent of all speakers, was love. Other words that convey affection�heart, care, loved�also ranked high on this list.

In most cases, the word is used to address family members who are present at the execution, on the other side of the glass window. But it is also used to express feelings toward the victim's family members, lawyers, the court, and even the warden/prison staff.

Here are a few examples of the actual last words from death row inmates:

- "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. Take care y'all."
- "I say this with love: I'm sorry. I say this for my family with love and with God, I love you. To the family of my boss, I love you. All I have is love."
- "I'll start by saying I love all of you."
- "I want to tell you folks there � I have a love in my heart for you."
- "First, I would like to give praise to God for the love and grace that he has allowed for all of this to come together." [Zachary Crockett, "What Death Row Inmates Say in Their Last Words]

No matter who we are, no matter how much we struggle in life, deep down we are all hungry to give and receive love�from God and others. God loves us deeply and when we ask God in accordance with love and desire for His will to be manifested; God will hear us and answer our request.

May God be with those who have steered away from Him, yet returned later to acknowledge their faults. May God bless each and every one of you! Amen.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/04/16 11:37 AM
Proverbs 4: 13 (NIV)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

That good thing which is committed to us we must keep, and not let it drop, through carelessness, nor suffer it to be forced from us, nor suffer ourselves to be wheedled out of it; never let go such a jewel. [Matthew Henry]




Paul likens us to shining stars, and the word shine means to reflect. The scientific term is albedo. It's a measurement of how much sunlight a celestial body reflects. The planet Venus, for example, has the highest albedo at .65. In other words, 65 percent of the light that hits Venus is reflected. Depending on where it's at in its orbit, the almost-a-planet Pluto has an albedo ranging from .49 to .66. Our night-light, the moon, has an albedo of .07. Only seven percent of sunlight is reflected, yet it lights our way on cloudless nights.

In a similar sense, each of us has a spiritual albedo. The goal? One hundred percent reflectivity. We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord. You cannot produce light. You can only reflect it.


[Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities (Baker Books, 2015), page 220]


A soldier knows that his gun is there to protect him. He is to keep it with him at all times. Likewise prayer is also our weapon to defend against evil in life. So guard what you have learned that it may protect your life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/06/16 10:57 AM
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

The confession here required is that of Christians to one another, and not, as the papists would have it, to a priest. Where persons have injured one another, acts of injustice must be confessed to those against whom they have been committed. Where persons have tempted one another to sin or have consented in the same evil actions, there they ought mutually to blame themselves and excite each other to repentance. [Matthew Henry]




In his bestselling book, Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson, founder of Equal Justice Initiative, tells the story of Jimmy Dill, a convicted murderer who had been scheduled for execution in the state of Alabama. Stevenson's staff took on the case in the last 30 days of Dill's life because Dill not only suffered from an intellectual disability, but his conviction had been based on suspect evidence that Stevenson's team believed to be erroneous. Had Dill been able to afford a lawyer the first time, he wouldn't be on death row. As it happened, though, nothing could be done. In the last hour, Dill called Stevenson to say thank you for trying.

In his chapter entitled "Broken," Stevenson reflects on our common story of brokenness:

When I hung up the phone that night I had a wet face and a broken heart. � I thought myself a fool for having tried to fix situations that were so fatally broken � I worked in a broken system of justice. My clients were broken by mental illness, poverty, and racism. They were torn apart by disease, drugs and alcohol, pride, fear, and anger � In their broken state, they were judged and condemned by people whose commitment to fairness had been broken by cynicism, hopelessness, and prejudice �

After working for more than twenty-five years, I understood that I � do what I do because I'm broken, too. My years of struggling against � injustice had finally revealed something to me about myself. Being close to suffering, death, executions, and cruel punishments didn't just illuminate the brokenness of others � it also exposed my own brokenness � We all share the condition of brokenness � I desperately wanted mercy for Jimmy Dill and would have done anything to create justice for him, but I couldn't pretend that his struggle was disconnected from my own. The ways in which I have been hurt�and have hurt others�are different from the ways Jimmy Dill suffered and caused suffering. But our shared brokenness connected us. [Adapted from Ethan Richardson, "No Wholeness Outside Our Reciprocal Humanity," Mbird blog (1-7-16)]


Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. For confession depowers the sin within us and helps us to begin the process of healing.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/10/16 11:42 AM
Matthew 18:15 (NIV)
15 �If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

This verse reminds us to be sensitive in the way we confront people. First we should always go to them privately to point out their fault in love. If they listen and heed what you say then you have won them over to do what is right.




Toward the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, there's a scene where Harry, Ron, and Hermione are about to break the rules and leave their dormitory after-hours to stop the bad guy from stealing a powerful magic artifact. Before they leave, though, they must face none other than Neville Longbottom, a rather bumbling, ineffective student in their class. "You're sneaking out again, aren't you?" Neville asks. "I won't let you. You'll get [our classmates] into trouble again." He fails to stop them, and Harry and his friends manage to stop the villain. But, surprisingly, at the end of the year banquet, headmaster Dumbledore gives the greatest honor to Neville. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies," he explains, "but just as much to stand up to our friends."

Although Neville never becomes truly close with Harry, Ron, or Hermione, he still stumbled across two of the key traits of a friend or an accountability partner: the ability to recognize patterns of sinful behavior, and the courage to call the person out on them.

[Lisa Eldred, "More Than Single: Finding Purpose Beyond Porn," Covenant Eyes]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/24/16 10:45 AM
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

It properly denotes the love of parents to their children, which, as it is the most tender, so it is the most natural, of any, unforced, unconstrained; such must our love be to one another, and such it will be where there is a new nature and the law of love is written in the heart. [Matthew Henry]




Gordon MacDonald shares the following story about visiting a small group of men and women affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous. MacDonald said that he visited the group because he has friends who are recovering alcoholics and he wanted to see for himself what they were talking about. Here's what he found:

One morning Kathy�I guessed her age at 35�joined us for the first time. One look at her face caused me to conclude that she must have been Hollywood-beautiful at 21. Now her face was swollen, her eyes red, her teeth rotting. Her hair looked unwashed, uncombed for who knows how long.

"I've been in five states in the past month," she said. "I've slept under bridges on several nights. Been arrested. Raped. Robbed (now weeping). I don't know what to do. I � don't � want � to � be � homeless � any more. But (sob) I can't stop drinking (sob). I can't stop (sob). I can't � "

Next to Kathy was a rather large woman, Marilyn, sober for more than a dozen years. She reached with both arms toward Kathy and pulled her close, so close that Kathy's face was pressed to Marilyn's ample breast. I was close enough to hear Marilyn speak quietly into Kathy's ear, "Honey, you're going to be OK. You're with us now. We can deal with this together. All you have to do is keep coming. Hear me? Keep on coming." And then Marilyn kissed the top of Kathy's head.

I was awestruck. The simple words, the affection, the tenderness. How Jesus-like. I couldn't avoid a troubling question that morning. Could this have happened in the places where I have worshiped? Would there have been a space in the program for Kathy to tell her story? Would there have been a Marilyn to respond in this way?


It take love and honor to put others first, letting them know you care for them and will be there with them through the struggles. May you be like Marilyn who reaches out to the Kathy�s of the world.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/26/16 11:04 AM
John 3:17 (NIV)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Ever since man sinned, he has dreaded the approach and appearance of any special messenger from heaven, as being conscious of guilt and looking for judgment: We shall surely die, for we have seen God. If therefore the Son of God himself come, we are concerned to enquire on what errand he comes: Is it peace? Or, as they asked Samuel trembling, Comest thou peaceably? And this scripture returns the answer, Peaceably. [Matthew Henry]




Stephen Baldwin is one of the famous Baldwin brothers, a family of Hollywood actors.

Referring to his newfound faith in Christ, Stephen said, "I've never been as excited or happy about where I am in my life. There's no one I know in Hollywood who can say that."

Stephen's wife came to Christ in 2000 and announced to Stephen, "I'm going to be serving Jesus now." Baffled at her conversion, Stephen thought, Who does this Jesus dude think he is coming around here?

The events of September 11 were pivotal in his change of mind as he realized that the impossible was possible. As Stephen describes it, "It made me say the Bible is true, and Jesus Christ could come back tomorrow."

How has his life changed? Stephen's work as an actor "has largely dried up." He won't work in a film that includes adultery, violence, or profanity.

He's traded his Porsche for a Chevy Malibu.

Stephen spends his available time preaching the gospel. He directs and hosts a DVD project aimed at reaching young people through extreme sports.

As for his marriage, Stephen and his wife are now "as one." Stephen truly is a new creation. ["Baldwin's Great Awakening," The Week (11-5-04), p. 12]


Christ came into the world to change the lives of people for the betterment of themselves and mankind. There is a hope offered through Christ that cannot be found anywhere else. The hope is a gift of salvation that Christ freely offers to any who ask for it. I�m thankful for the work Christ has done in Stephen�s life and the life of the other Baldwin�s as well as many other people in this world. Let us praise God for the work He has done in our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/31/16 11:52 AM
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The first care of the Redeemer in that day will be about his dead saints; he will raise them before the great change passes on those that shall be found alive: so that those who did not sleep in death will have no greater privilege or joy at that day than those who fell asleep in Jesus. [Matthew Henry]


In his book It Happens After Prayer, Pastor H. B. Charles Jr. provides the following helpful illustration of why God often makes us wait for the answer to our prayers.

One hot afternoon, a certain woman walked to her neighbor's produce stand to buy grapes. The line was long. And each person seemed to get special attention. But she waited patiently. When she finally made it to the front of the line, the owner asked for her order. She asked for grapes. "Please excuse me for a minute," was the answer. Then the owner walked away and disappeared behind a building. For some reason, this rubbed the woman the wrong way. Everyone in line before her was greeted warmly. They were given special attention. And, most importantly, they were served immediately. But she was forced to wait. And when she got to the front of the line, she was forced to wait some more. She was offended. She felt the owner took her regular business for granted. The longer she waited, the angrier she became.

Finally, the produce stand owner reappeared. And with a big smile, he presented her with the most beautiful grapes she had ever seen. He invited her to taste them. She had never tasted grapes so good. As she turned to leave with her delicious grapes, he stopped her. "Oh yeah, I'm sorry I kept you waiting," said the farmer. "But I needed the time to get you my very best."

How long have you been in line waiting on God to get to your request? How long have you been waiting in line for God to meet a need, solve a problem, or open a door? Whatever you do, don't get out of line. And don't stop praying. Wait on God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/02/16 11:29 AM
Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Throughout Proverbs there are verses that speak about the problems between husband and wife. However, Proverbs 31 focuses on a special woman, a woman who honors her husband, brings him delight and cares for the household and the children of the home.



After ten years of marriage, Cindy and Chip Altemos were in the long process of getting a divorce. The proverbial baggage they brought from previous marriages seemed too great to overcome, so they separated and even agreed to date other people.

Five years into the painful separation, Chip was in the hospital with kidney failure. With his health deteriorating rapidly, his soon-to-be ex-wife came to his aid�in spite of Chip's being in another relationship at the time. "He was still my husband. There was no way I could walk around with two kidneys, and he had none," Cindy told the press. "It was the right thing to do." She agreed to donate a kidney, telling Chip there were no strings attached�no written agreement concerning a better share in divorce court.

The transplant took place on February 21, 2007, and a funny thing happened as they both recovered in the hospital: they fell back in love. Chip thought to himself, Why would I want to date someone else, when I have a woman who would give part of herself so I can keep living? He put an end to his other relationship and asked Cindy to come back home with him. The two will be married 17 years in October.
[Sam McKee, Sunnyvale, California; source: Associated Press, "Kidney Saves Marriage," www.foxnews.com (5-6-07)]


Sometimes it takes looking at what another person is willing to give, before you realize what you could be giving up. I have seen couple break up and then get back together because they realized there was something special they were leaving behind.

My wife and I are celebrating our 37th wedding anniversary today. Marriage is not always perfect. There are problems and obstacles you will always face. I�m thankful for a wife who has watched over the affairs of our home, watched after our children. She is a noble wife that I have full confidence in, although there are times I probably haven�t expressed it as well as I should. In fact there are things I know I have said that I shouldn�t have said and things I should have said and didn�t. She is a woman who honors God and lives the life He would have her live.

I love you Robin and I thank you for the 37 years of marriage with you. Thank you for being a loving wife and a mother who has cared for her children. Happy anniversary!!!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/06/16 10:54 AM
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord�s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge�that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

It is a desirable thing to have Christ dwell in our hearts; and if the law of Christ be written there, and the love of Christ be shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Christ is an inhabitant in the soul of every good Christian. Where his spirit dwells, there he swells; and he dwells in the heart by faith, by means of the continual exercise of faith upon him. Faith opens the door of the soul, to receive Christ; faith admits him, and submits to him. By faith we are united to Christ, and have an interest in him. [Matthew Henry]



In his new film (2016), A Hologram for the King, Tom Hanks plays a middle-aged American businessman who is sent to Saudi Arabia for a special project. The film addresses an important issue we all face: no matter what we've done or how much we've accomplished, there still comes a point when we ask "How did I get here?"

Hanks said that he felt particularly connected with his character's sense of self-doubt and dislocation. "No matter what we've done," Hanks said, "there comes a point where you think, 'How did I get here? When are they going to discover that I am, in fact, a fraud and take everything away from me?'" Despite having won two Academy Awards and appearing in more than 70 films and TV shows, Hanks says he still finds himself doubting his own abilities. Hanks put it this way:

It's a high-wire act that we all walk. There are days when I know that three o'clock tomorrow afternoon I am going to have to deliver some degree of emotional goods, and if I can't do it, that means I'm going to have to fake it. If I fake it, that means they might catch me at faking it, and if they catch me at faking it, well, then it's just doomsday. [NPR: Fresh Air, "Tom Hanks Says Self-Doubt Is 'A High-Wire Act That We All Walk,'" (4-26-16)]

If you look to the world and ask, �AM I GOOD ENOUGH�, there will always be someone to come back and say, no, you are not good enough yet. But no matter where you are in life, Christ will always say, I love you and you are good enough for me. Put your love and trust in Christ!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/07/16 10:34 AM
Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Against all the grievances that arise from our own mortality, and the mortality of our friends, we may take comfort from God's immortality. We are dying creatures, and all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever living God, and those shall find him so who have him for theirs. [Matthew Henry]



As a cold-case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace called himself a hardcore atheist and "evidentialist" because he believed the truth was always tied to the evidence. But at the age of thirty-five, he took a serious look at the evidence for Christianity and became a follower of Christ. Here's how Wallace summarized his conversion:

As an atheist, I was very comfortable as the captain of my own ship � I had been a police officer for nearly ten years and was used to being in charge in difficult situations. I didn't like intrusions, and there was no room for God in my life. I am not a theist today because I was raised by believers�I wasn't. I am not a believer because I was hoping for heaven or afraid of hell�I had no sense of value for either. I am not a theist because I was trying to fill a "void" or satisfy a "need"� I felt none. I believe God exists because the evidence leaves me no reasonable alternative.

Warner added:
Jurors evaluate evidential cases every day across our country, and they are asked to make a decision even though they don't have every question answered or every possible detail explained. When the overwhelming evidence points to a reasonable conclusion, jurors make a decision � The standard of proof (SOP) in the most critical of criminal trials is "beyond a reasonable doubt," not "beyond a possible doubt." I've never conducted the perfect investigation, and we've never presented the perfect case before a jury. But in my career as a cold-case detective, I've never lost � If there's enough evidence to make a decision, they're asked to make a decision. When it comes to the case for God's existence, there's enough evidence. [J. Warner Wallace, God's Crime Scene (David C. Cook, 2015), page 183]


God and God alone created all these things we call our own - From the mighty to the small the Glory in them all is God's and God's alone. (Steve Green)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/09/16 10:59 AM
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
13 �Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.



Dr. John Stott's last bit of advice to his assistant before he died in 2011 was simply this: "Do the hard thing." Stott believed that choosing the easy trail, the road most taken, and the path of least resistance can only end in mediocrity�even if it comes with praise. [The Gathering, "David Brooks: A Holy Friend" (10-2-14)]


The question today is, which will you take, the narrow gate or the wide gate? For the narrow gate leads to a narrow road that leads to life and only some are willing and seek to find the narrow gate. The wide gate leads to a broad road that leads to many roads of destruction. There are many who enter because it is the easy thing to do. Will you do the hard thing today and take the narrow gate that leads to Jesus Christ?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/14/16 11:41 AM
Philippians 3:20 (NIV)
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

We stand related the that world, and are citizens of the New Jerusalem. This world is not our home, but that is. There our greatest privileges and concerns lie. And, because our citizenship is there, our conversation is there; being related to that world, we keep up a correspondence with it. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his head is, and his home is, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upon things above; and where his heart is there will his conversation be. [Matthew Henry]




In April, 2011, Newsweek magazine featured an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger, movie star and former governor of California. Here are some of the most telling excerpts from the article:

Life at 63, for Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a titanic clash between human frailty and dazzling possibility. "I feel terrific about where I am in my life, when I look back at what I've accomplished," [he said], "but I feel [horrible] when I look at myself in the mirror."

It's a jolt to hear Schwarzenegger�a five-time Mr. Universe and seven-time Mr. Olympia before he was Conan the Barbarian, the Terminator, and ultimately Governor�musing about his own decay �. Still strapping in shirtsleeves, a fine specimen of aging movie star, he has lost an inch and a half from his previous 6-foot-2 height, the 31-inch waist has ballooned to 36, and the vaunted 57-inch chest has shrunk by a half foot.

"I'm not competing, I'm not ripping off my shirt and trying to sell the body," he tells me. "But when I stand in front of a mirror and really look, I wonder: What the [heck] happened here? What a beating!"

Thirteen years ago, when he was 50, Schwarzenegger had surgery to replace a defective aortic valve �. At some point in the next several years the valve will wear out, and surgeons will split his chest open to install a new one. "It does quite a number on you for quite some time," [he] tells me, "because even though you're strong willed, you know from now on you're damaged goods." He adds with a chuckle: "As with most things, I live in denial."

Three weeks after the publication of this interview, Schwarzenegger admitted that his 25-year marriage was breaking up due to his extra-marital affair. [Lloyd Grove, "Arnold's Wild Road Trip," Newsweek (4-25-11)]


Our citizenship is in heaven that is where our mind should be and our conversations are on the things to come. But when we focus on this world we lose sight of what is to come and the glorious things to come.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/15/16 12:39 PM
Proverbs 23:24 (NIV)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

Children will be a joy to their parents if they be righteous and wise. Righteousness is true wisdom; those who do good so well for themselves. [Matthew Henry]



Last night I was listening to the news as they were summarizing the shooting that took place in Orlando, Florida. Some experts gave their opinions that second generation immigrants, in particular, Muslims, had a hard time assimilating into the US culture. The reason given is that they were caught between two worlds, a country that didn�t fully accept them, and a culture and religion of their parents.

I would dare say most parents want their children to grow up and have prosperous and meaningful life. Parents want to see their children develop into a healthy and well balanced person. I think it is a shame when they fell they cannot be a part of the culture they have arrived into and fall back to a culture that does not have the same principles and values as the country they live in.

I pray that parents can help their children be righteous and wise. I pray these children can bring joy to their parents for many years. I can�t imagine what it�s like to have a child give away their life before the life of their parents have passed.

Righteousness is true wisdom. I pray all people will do well for themselves so they can be found righteous in the sight of God. God bless those who assimilate into other cultures so they may learn the ways of the country they have entered. I pray all people will be accepting of each other. I pray the words of Martin Luther King Jr. finds its way into the hearts of people - �I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.� May God make that dream come true for all nations.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/21/16 11:13 AM
Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

He that dwells, that sits down, in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can desire. [Matthew Henry]




In 2005, a Vietnamese pastor known as Silas was told by local authorities that he could expect to see trouble if his church continued to operate without a permit. "Be careful," one official told him. "Watch out."

This was a threat as much as a warning. In Vietnam, as in many other Communist (and some Islamic) countries, governments commonly deny or delay church permits, then jail Christians for meeting without a permit.

Silas shot back: "I don't have to watch out or be careful; God will care for us." He went on to thank the official for the harassment and opposition that Vietnamese authorities had meted out, as he felt it had unified the country's Christians.

"Your persecution has made us stronger," he told the officer.

Moreover, the pastor told him that he loved him. "You can shut down our churches, jail us, torture us. It doesn't matter, because we'll still love you," he said. "We'll love you, because God loves you and wants to see you come to know Christ's salvation." Then he delivered the final, loving blow�asking the official if he didn't feel badly about mistreating Christians. Silas told him he suspected it was tearing him up inside.

The official stalked away. Late one night, he came back. When the pastor heard him knock on the door, he assumed he was going to be hauled off to jail. But the official's manner was more like that of Nicodemus visiting Jesus, the pastor said. He needed to talk. He was depressed.

Silas invited him in, and in tears the officer told him how he did, indeed, feel badly about forcibly restraining Christians from worship. Most upsetting, though, was that he feared for his job if he did not beat and otherwise harm Christians. He himself felt mistreated at the office; peers who were lesser officers than he looked down their noses at him, advancing through the ranks by purchasing successively higher positions. The force was rife with such corruption.

Silas told him that God had a sterling plan for his life, and that he would care for him and guide him if he would only follow his son, Jesus. Before the night was over, the official prayed to receive Jesus. The next miracle was that the official advanced to a high position�without bribes. He advanced high enough to know when church raids were about to take place, so he could tip off Silas.

"He would tell us on Saturday that the police were coming on Sunday morning, so they'd come and find nobody there," the pastor said. "Then we'd meet for worship in the afternoon."

These miracles, the pastor concluded, could not have happened without the prayers of believers worldwide. Many other oppressed believers tell of receiving supernatural consolation in the midst of their ordeals. Suffering Christians are actually protected, comforted, and rescued through our prayers.


[Jeff Sellers, "Cure for the IDOP Holiday Blues," ChristianityToday.com (11-16-05) ]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/23/16 10:49 AM
Isaiah 40:31(NIV)
31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


Good morning family, friends, loved ones, brothers and sisters in Christ and those who are a part of my life. This morning I feel compelled to try a different type of devotion. I hope it speaks to your heart, if it does, let me know. If it doesn�t, you can let me know that too.


The Holy Spirit abides with us. Through The Bible there of references of the Holy Spirit coming into the lives of people to direct them, lead them, and show them the truth about God.

Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord has the Holy Spirt abiding with them constantly. The Holy Spirit is taking up for you and is letting Christ and God know of the special circumstances in your life. The Bible tells us, �Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.� So you always have a companion that is close to you.

I know there are some people hurting out there. Some of you have had major heart breaks in your life. Some have been physically ill and have struggled just to endure each day. Let me say, The Holy Spirit knows those problems and is constantly telling Christ and God your needs. Your wants may not be answered, but remember your needs will be because we are reminded we often don�t know what we should pray for as we ought. Continue to pray my friends that Christ and God and never cease in doing so.

Many of you are weary and need your strength renewed to fight against whatever you are battling. Just know The Holy Spirt is listening and one day God himself will lift you up like eagle where you can soar above the problems and never.

God bless each of you and have a wonderful day.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/16 11:35 AM
John 14:26 (NIV)
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In Christian belief there is often a Christian doctrine referred to as the Trinity. There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are all God in one, but The Father is not The Son nor the Holy Spirit, and The Son is not The Father nor The Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not The Father nor The Son, yet they are tightly interwoven. The best analogy I have used is you can hold an egg in your hand, yet it is a shell, a yoke and the white. It all makes up an egg and is one.

You will never find the word Trinity used in The Bible. It is a doctrine of man. It comes from the fact that The Bible talks about God the Father who watches over all. The Bible also talks about The Son of God, who is, who is yet to come, and who has come. The Holy Spirit is also mentioned as coming to men to guide them, enlighten them, and explain who The Father is to them. The Holy Spirit also came to The Son Jesus and declared Him to be son of God with the full authority of God. All of these are God, but also are individual apart from God The Father.

When Christ died and rose back to life, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in believers of Christ as a companion to speak up for them and relay their needs to Jesus, who was in direct contract with The Father.

The Holy Spirit will lead you in your life, if you allow it. Image this, The Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart saying, �I have been trying to talk to you for a while, but I�m not sure you are listening. God has given to you all the knowledge you need to live a righteous and holy life, but Christ knows you are fighting had against sin because He too also fought the temptations of the world. So when you have time, sit and just listen. Listen for the wisdom I can pass on to you. Listen when I warn you of the dangers of the world. Listen to the wisdom of The Father. Listen when I speak of the good things for. I promise I will always be there and never let you go. The Father, The Son are both with me and together we are here to help you.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/28/16 11:41 AM
Psalm 51:11 (NIV)
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.


David understood when the Holy Spirit was with him that God was there with him too. David took comfort in The Holy Spirit for he knew God�s protection was close by. The protection came in many forms. David was protected from his own evil ways. David was protected from the evil temptations of others.

The Holy Spirit was a companion reminding David of God�s presence and love for him. In this verse David knew he had sinned and his fear was God was going to remove his spirit from David. But because David had repented and desired to be right with God the Holy Spirit remained with him.

In our Christian lives the Holy Spirit is a companion that remains with us. When we have failed in life and have fallen into temptation the Holy Spirit reminds us that Christ died for our sins and that grace is freely given when we repent.

There are some that do not understand grace. We fail, we repent and yet we keep feeling guilt and shame over our actions. This is not something we should be doing. The grace has been freely placed in our hands with the only condition of repentance. We are absolved of the sin we have committed. But let us not so easily return to the sin we have been removed from.

What people mix up is that there are consequences in life. Those consequences sometimes have a penalty associated with them, but the consequences are not from God; they are from our own actions. For example, you drink alcohol to access; did God make you drink the alcohol? Then you decide to get in a car and drive; did God make you drive? Then you crash into someone and people are hurt; who hurt the people, you or God? You see we bring consequences on ourselves. God through the Holy Spirit tries to warn us so we do take the actions that lead us to harmful consequences.


Holy Spirit, I don�t how to pray for the problems in my life. Like David, I�m worried that you will leave me although your word tells me others. So Holy Spirit, pray for me, pray for my sins, pray for the temptations that come at me and remind me that God and Jesus Christ love me dearly. Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/30/16 11:15 AM
Isaiah 63:10 (NIV)
10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.


Here we are told the people rebelled against God. The Holy Spirit had been sent to be among them and yet they vexed the Holy Spirit with idols, unbelief and harsh words against God the Father.

So these people became an enemy against God. The protection given to them through The Holy Spirt was pulled away and they were left to themselves. A simple way of saying all this is either you are for God or you are against God. When you go against God then you walk away from the benefits of God: His protection and His wisdom.

When Christ died, rose again to life, and went to live in Heaven, Christ left with us The Holy Spirit that would always be a companion to us. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit could come and go, but in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is always there. The difference was instead of the Holy Spirit leaving we grieve the Holy Spirit and ignore the companionship we have been given. We miss out on the many words of wisdom and therefore easily fall into the traps of the devil. It is as if we have turned our back on a good friend for a friend who is set out to destroy us.


Yesterday I heard a sad, but wonderful sorry of how a person had grieved the Holy Spirit and made their own choices. They were upset with the world. Parents who should have been concerned and caring made comments that were hurtful and destructive. Then the enemy�s snare comes along and pulls you in with others who are pulling away from God trying to find something to satisfy their lives. Many people turn to alcohol, drugs, and many other types of immoralities. At first it seems to satisfy their need. But the devil is sneaky that way. He makes something look good and then turns it into a horrible nightmare.

But the Holy Spirit continues to plead with Christ who pleads to the Father for mercy, love and grace to be put back into the person�s life. Fortunately this person called out to Christ and His love, mercy and grace came rushing in. This completely changed the person�s life and gave them a new reason to live.

If you are fighting against God, stop and surrender to Him. His love is waiting for you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/05/16 11:10 AM
Isaiah 63:10 (NIV)
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.


Their conduct was a rebellion against the Hold Spirit and the troubles they brought upon themselves. They revolted from their allegiance to God and took up arms against him: They rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit with their unbelief and murmuring, besides the iniquity of the golden calf; and this had been their way and manner ever since. Therefore God withdrew His protect and allowed war to be made with them.

This is the difference between the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit could be pushed aside until He no longer remained with the people. In the New Testament the Hold Spirit could be ignored, but He was there always reminding the people of God�s love for them and making intercession as needed.

The Holy Spirit remains as a companion to the Christian. As Stephen looked up into the heavens he saw God the Father and Jesus the Son. For the Bible says, �But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.� You see the Holy Spirit remain a companion with Stephen.

Sadly the people killed a man full of faith and The Holy Spirit, yet their own hearts turned in opposition as he performed great wonders and signs among the people. Sadly he was stoned to death by those who disagreed with him, while Godly men who were there mourned deeply for Stephen and buried him.

Know remember there was one standing there giving his approval for Stephen to be stoned. In fact he guarded the clothes of those who stoned him. We know this man as Saul, who later became called Paul after he accepted Christ into his life. Christ changed the life of Saul and therefore gave him a new name and filled him with The Holy Spirit.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/07/16 10:52 AM
Mark 13:11 (NIV)
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

There are times in life when we can be arrested justly or unjustly and then taken to trial. This verse reminds us not to worry about what we are going to say for the Holy Spirit will be speaking for us if we allow Him to intercede.

The Son of God died that I may always be with you as a companion. I am here to provide wisdom when the words you want to speak are too difficult. Remember that no matter what comes your way, this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Remember Christ is watching over you as well and is speaking to the Father on your behalf.

"You will meet with a great deal of hardship in your way, but have a good heart on it, your warfare will be accomplished, and your testimony finished, and he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.� ~Matthew Henry
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/11/16 11:25 AM
Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
17 �Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.


God the Father, creator of all things from the heavens to the earth. The prophet here declares there is nothing too hard for The Lord, who is sovereign over all cannot do.

I was fortunate to hear Dr. Billy Graham�s grandson, Will Graham, preach a beautiful sermon on God�s promises. God has made promises to us and will stand by those promises, for nothing is too hard for God to perform.

The problem is we don�t believe God. We hear the promise, but we don�t act on it.

An illustration was given about Abraham. God promised him a multitude of descendants. God promised him land as far as the eye could see. Now in order to have descendants that would fill this land Abraham would first need to have children, which he didn�t have.

Let�s make it clear, God�s promise was to keep Abraham, safe, alive, and to provide him children. Abraham heard the promise. When the time came though he didn�t trust the promise.

Abraham was passing through the land of the King Abimelech. Abraham was afraid that Sarah, his wife was too beautiful and the king might kill him to have her. So he told Sarah to tell the people that she was his sister and not his wife. It was a half-truth for Sarah was his step-sister. How insecure Abraham was in the face of the promises of God.

God came to king in a dream and told him that Sarah was Abraham�s wife and that he was not to touch her or he would surely die. The king went to Abraham and asked him what he had done. After a little chastising by the king, the king sent Abraham on his way with livestock, helpers, and other goods. Abraham prayed for the king�s family and all was made well.

Abraham could have saved himself some trouble just by remembering the promises God made him.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/12/16 10:38 AM
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.


Many of you might remember the late Steve Harvey. I enjoyed listening to his commentaries on life. There is one commentary he gave on police. I think it is appropriate for us to be reminded of it today. For God has placed the peacemakers in our lives. Imagine what it would be like if all the law enforcement disappeared for a month.

Here are the words of the late Paul Harvey: A policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

What that really means is that they are exceptional, they are unusual, they are not commonplace. Buried under the froth is the fact: and the fact is, less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. And that is a better average than you would find among clergymen!

What is a policeman? He, of all men, is at once the most needed and the most wanted. A strangely nameless creature who is �sir� to his face and �pig� or worse to his back.

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But�If the policeman is neat, he is conceited; If he�s careless, he�s a bum. If he�s pleasant, he�s a flirt; If he�s not, he�s a grouch.

He must make instant decisions which would require months for a lawyer.

But�if he hurries, he�s careless; If he�s deliberate, he�s lazy. He must be first to an accident, infallible with a diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn�t hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being �brutal.� If you hit him�he�s a coward. If he hits you�he�s a bully.

The policeman, from a single human hair, must be able to describe the crime, the weapon, the criminal and tell you where the criminal is hiding. But�if he catches the criminal, he�s lucky; if he doesn�t, he is a dunce.

He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache, to build a case against some felon who will get �dealed out� by a shameless shamus.

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And of course, he�ll have to be a genius�for he will have to feed a family on a policeman�s salary.


Harvey�s father, a police officer, was shot and killed when Harvey was just three years old.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/14/16 11:04 AM
John 15:10 (NIV)
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father�s commands and remain in his love.


Jesus continually loved the Father and obeyed the commandments God had given. Even when Jesus faced the suffering to come Jesus continued to love the Father. Even when Jesus was made sin for us and even when the Father could not look upon that sin, God still loved His Son.



In a recent TV commercial a young man is struggling with whether to go through with an arranged marriage. In his home country arranged marriages were the norm. But after living in America, he was having second thoughts about adhering to this ancient custom, especially since he'd never met his wife-to-be.

Still, when she flew into the airport, he dutifully waited for her, flowers in hand, and a gloomy expression on his face. But when she stepped through the terminal, everything changed. She was beautiful! Suddenly his glum demeanor disappeared. The thought of marrying this woman was no longer a dreaded duty; it was a delight. What had changed? He'd seen her.

Often we serve God out of obligation. We drag ourselves to church, force ourselves to serve others�but our hearts aren't in it. We're like that guy at the airport, grudgingly holding flowers for God. We're trying to live holy lives because we know we should, but it's burdensome, joyless.

What can change this? Seeing God. When we get a vision of who God truly is, suddenly we're energized to do his mission. Once we gaze upon his grandeur and glory, obedience ceases to be arduous. Once we grasp his great love, serving is no longer a duty�it's a joy! [Drew Dyck, Yawning at Tigers (Thomas Nelson, 2014), page 54]


Let us all learn to serve God out of love for Him and not feel as though we have a burden of obligation being held over our heads.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/16 12:17 PM
Psalm 119:7 (NIV)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

David wanted to refine his religious beliefs in that as he grew in his true understanding he would be able to praise God with an upright heart.




A book titled The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible came out a few years ago. It was written by a non-Christian named A. J. Jacobs. It is a funny book, and he is a great writer. He spent an entire year committed to obeying Bible commands as literally as he could.

He lives in New York. He grew a beard, dressed like Moses, and started to eat kosher. The Bible in the Old Testament commands stoning Sabbath-breakers, so he would prowl around Central Park, looking for offenders. He did not want to get arrested, so he would stealthily pelt them with tiny pebbles from behind and then look the other way. Of course, it is absurd, and that is the point of the book.

He writes, "Millions of people say they take the Bible literally. A 2004 Newsweek poll put it at 55 percent, but my suspicion was that almost everyone's literalism consisted of picking and choosing. People plucked out the parts that fit their agenda." Part of what he intends to show is no one can take the Bible literally.

Of course, many people do pick and choose, so his critique is fair. It is a humorous book, but he is dead wrong. He missed the whole point of the Bible. If, like he did, you treat the Bible naively, like a list of disconnected rules as though it was an owner's manual, you are not taking the Bible literally. You have to know the whole story.

In April 1945, the German army surrendered to the Allies. The war continued. Japan still fought, even though Germany had surrendered. At this point, Allied soldiers who had been fighting against Germany began rebuilding Germany, all during the same war.

Imagine somebody looking back on World War II and saying, "That's odd. Sometimes Allied soldiers attacked Germans, and sometimes they helped Germans. I guess they randomly picked and chose what they wanted to do." But that is not literalism; that is "stupid-ism." That sort of conclusion comes from misunderstanding the story.


[John Ortberg, from the sermon "The Bible Alone"]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/19/16 11:39 AM
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God encourages those who are faithful they to trust in Him and He provides assurances that He will be there to help you with His righteousness.



Kayla Mueller, 26 years old, was captured by ISIS, and on February 10, 2015 U.S. officials confirmed that Muslim extremists had murdered her while in captivity. In the spring of 2014 as a captor she wrote to her family. The letter begins with Kayla's assurance that she has been treated well, and is "in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy." The 26-year-old aid worker goes on to apologize touchingly to her family for the suffering that she has put them through because of her captivity. Then comes her central proposition: "I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else."

Kayla, who was involved in the campus ministry at Northern Arizona University, goes on to relate how "by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall." She adds: "I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it."

She concluded, "Please be patient, give your pain to God. I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing. Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I. By God's will we will be together soon. All my everything, Kayla"


[Stephen L. Carter, "On Kayla Mueller and Faith," BloombergView (2-13-15); submitted by Ted De Haas, Slater, Iowa]


Faith in The Lord is a powerful thing. Even when all seems hopeless The Lord tells us not to fear; for He has something wonderful and exciting waiting for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/25/16 11:05 AM
Psalm 119:60 (NIV)
60 I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

The Psalmist commits to obeying God�s commands and with move quickly to act on them without delay.



At age 35 I bought running shoes and began enjoying the smooth rhythms of long-distance running. Soon I was competing in 10K races every month or so, and then a marathon once a year. By then I was subscribing to and reading three running magazines! Then I pulled a muscle and couldn't run for a couple of months. Those magazines were still all over the house, but I never opened one. The moment I resumed running, though, I started reading again.

That's when I realized that my reading was an extension of something I was a part of. I was reading for companionship and affirmation of the experience of running. I learned a few things along the way, but mostly it was to deepen my world of running. If I wasn't running, there was nothing to deepen.

The parallel with reading Scripture is striking. If I'm not living in active response to the living God, reading about his creation/salvation/holiness won't hold my interest for long. The most important question isn't "What does this mean," but "What can I obey?" Simple obedience will open up our lives to a text more quickly than any number of Bible studies, dictionaries, and concordances.


[Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book (William B. Eerdmans, 2006), pp. 70-71; paraphrased in the September 18 entry of Men of Integrity (September/October 2009)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/26/16 11:18 AM
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Our faith is tested in something we cannot see or touch. But in our hearts we have assurance the things we believe are real and true. True faith is answered when there are no explanations.



I still don't understand, nearly 10 years later. At least I don't understand why the Lord allowed my sons to be afflicted with infantile bilateral striatal necrosis. I don't understand why Jonathan died or why Christopher lived. Today he's 16 and nearly totally recovered.

All I understand is this: life is a riddle, which God wants me to experience but not necessarily solve. When I was struggling to solve it, I found (1 Corinthians 13:12), which only makes sense in the original Greek: "For now we see (or understand) through a mirror, in a riddle," the apostle Paul wrote, "but then face to face."

Modern Christians sometimes rush to put God's truth into little boxes, neatly systematized, categorized, organized, and principle-ized, when God's perspective on suffering is too big for any of that. While for some "spirituality" is defined by what you know, God may be more concerned with how you handle what you cannot know.

A riddle loses its mystery and its power, even perhaps its significance, once it is solved. By keeping us in our riddle (every person's riddle is unique) God is helping us learn to walk by faith, and not by sight.


[David Biebel, author. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 2.]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/27/16 10:53 AM
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We are all in a race of life. Here on this earth we are born and we die. God has given us a purpose in life and we are to carry out that purpose until the finish line of life. In accomplishing God�s purpose we are to lay aside the sins that ensnare us and the temptations that weight heavy on our hearts.




In 1994 I ran the NYC marathon, all 26.2 miles of it. I wasn�t a fast runner, but my goal was to finish. It took 5 hours and 10 minutes, but I crossed the finish line. There waiting was a crowd cheering and supporter helping with food, water and other needs.

Zoe Koplowitz is a marathon runner who is afflicted with multiple sclerosis and diabetes. She is speaker and author of The Winning Spirit � Life lessons learned in last place. Her 33-hour-9-minute run in 2000 set a world record for the longest marathon time in the history of women's running. "The race belongs not only to the swift and strong but to those who keep on running", says Koplowitz.

At the conclusion of her 25th New York City Marathon on November 4, 2013 Zoe addressed the crowd which had gathered to see and cheer her finish. "It makes you understand that life is not happen stance or random all the time. That there is a plan, and it's a good plan. When we do things like the marathon, we get an opportunity to see how the pieces fit, and life no longer becomes this random series of crazy events. There was a lovely young woman with multiple sclerosis who waited hours in the street for me to come by. On one side of her sign she had my name in big bold letters. On the other side of her sign, she had something that reduced me to tears. It said 'Because you run every year, the rest of us continue to walk.'

Koplowitz says she has done 25 of these, and it never grows old. There is life after disability. You can either go through life like this [arms closed], or you can go through life like that [arms open]. And for me, New York City is that. It's arms out reaching for possibility and hope every single year. I love this city. I love its strength, I love its diversity, I love its personality, and thank God it loves me back because I wouldn't know what to do if it was a one-sided love."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/16 10:52 AM
James 1:22 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

If we rested in bare hearing, and never acting, it would never bring us to heaven.



At the 1993 annual meeting of The American Heart Association, 300,000 doctors, nurses, and researchers met in Atlanta to discuss, among other things, the importance a low fat diet plays in keeping our hearts healthy. Yet during meal times, they consumed fat-filled fast food�such as bacon cheeseburgers and fries�at about the same rate as people from other conventions. When one cardiologist was asked whether or not his partaking in high fat meals set a bad example, he replied, "Not me, because I took my name tag off."

{Boston Globe (11-10-93); Stephen Nordbye, Charlton, Massachusetts}


We can take off our name plates, but God and others still know who we are. They know if we are listening and doing the things we hear.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/05/16 11:08 AM
Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

God�s word provides wisdom for all people so they are able to understand the truth.



During Superbowl XXXVII, FedEx ran a commercial that spoofed the movie Castaway, in which Tom Hanks played a FedEx worker whose company plane went down, stranding him on a desert island for years. Looking like the bedraggled Hanks in the movie, the FedEx employee in the commercial goes up to the door of a suburban home, package in hand.

When the lady comes to the door, he explains that he survived five years on a deserted island, and during that whole time he kept this package in order to deliver it to her. She gives a simple, "Thank you."

But he is curious about what is in the package that he has been protecting for years. He says, "If I may ask, what was in that package after all?"

She opens it and shows him the contents, saying, "Oh, nothing really. Just a satellite telephone, a global positioning device, a compass, a water purifier, and some seeds."

Like the contents in this package, the resources for growth and strength are available for every Christian who will take advantage of them.


We just have to take the time to read God�s word so that we can apply it in our lives and not let it sit there idle without ever looking to see what wisdom we can find.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/08/16 10:59 AM
Psalm 149:4 (NIV)
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

God is a king who rules by love and he takes pleasure in His people and want them to prosper and be in communion with him. He places crowns upon the heads to those who humble themselves before Him.



Charlie and Agnes are some of the meekest people I've ever known. Charlie is a bright, energetic, hard-working man who could have been successful at just about anything he set out to do. What he set out to do was mission work. He spent his entire career working with some of the lowliest people on earth�alcoholics on skid row. For many years he was director of Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, and then in his retirement years he went to work for the McCauley Water Street Mission in New York. At a time in life when most people his age were playing golf or taking cruises, Charlie would commute every day to minister to homeless men on the streets of New York.

You don't get rich doing mission work your whole life, but every once in a while, Charlie and his wife, Agnes, would get to do something special. One year they invited me and my wife, Karen, to join them for a night on the town. Someone had given them tickets to hear Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall�velvet-covered seats in a private booth. It was a great night, and we all enjoyed it. As they drove us home that night, Karen and I were sitting in the back seat, and I was admiring Charlie and Agnes. They were all dressed up for their big night out. She was sitting close to him, like they were high school sweethearts. They struck me in that moment as two of the happiest people on earth. Just then I noticed a little plaque they had stuck to the dashboard of their old Chevy. It explained everything: "God always gives what's best to those who leave the choice to him."

Charlie and Agnes had long ago given up striving, fretting, and demanding things from God and from life. Instead they had surrendered to God their talents, their careers, their safety, their material needs, and even their retirement. Instead of chasing the abundant life, they waited for God bring it to them.


[Bryan Wilkerson, in his sermon "In God We Trust (Though We'd Rather Pay Cash),"]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/09/16 10:36 AM
Proverbs 9:9 (NKJV)
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

There are those who are willing to listen to those with wisdom and in doing so they become wiser. The person who listens carefully also gains in knowledge.



When I was 18, my father, a doctor, learned what it was like to be on the receiving end of medical care. He was diagnosed with cancer. His type was very survivable if caught early�which could only be known through surgery.

I sat next to him in the waiting room before the operation. It was odd seeing him in a hospital not striding with confidence into a patient's room or giving orders at a nurses' station like a battleship commander�something I had witnessed many times as a boy accompanying him on Saturday morning rounds. Instead he sat in silence with his shoulders rolled and hands shaking.

"You know doctors make the worst patients," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because we know too much. We know the thousands of things that can go wrong that most people never imagine."

Thankfully his cancer was caught early and he survived, but something important happened when the physician became the patient, when the expert became the examined. He gained something that can't be taught in medical school or acquired from years of practicing medicine. Cancer gave him empathy. I saw his compassion for his patients grow following his own health crisis. Doctors may make the worst patients, but patients make the best doctors.

[Skye Jethani, "Dreaded Exams," Leadership Journal (March 2014)]


Oh, when we take the time to learn the opportunities to learn from life and apply it in such a way that we become a comforter to others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/11/16 11:05 AM
Psalm 119:14 (NIV)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

The psalmist reminds us that we should rejoice in God�s statues as one rejoices in the riches of the world. For God�s ways a greater than anything we can imagine.



Our treasure and our truth come from Scripture. Scripture is God's guidance for us on how to avoid Satan's harmful traps and to live God's blessed life. Rather than seeing God's Word as limiting, we need to see it as a gift of love and to value it more highly than riches.

I�m not sure I know anyone who has won the Publisher�s Clearing House, but when the show the commercials of someone showing up with a large check, the person opening the door is not only surprised by delighted.

We too should take delight in God�s word and enjoy the surprises waiting for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/15/16 11:01 AM
Romans 14:8 (NIV)
8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Christ is the gain we aim at, living and dying. We live to glorify him in all the actions and affairs of life; we die, whether a natural or a violent death, to glorify him, and to go to be glorified with him. Christ is the centre, in which all the lines of life and death do meet. This is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. So that, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's, devoted to him, depending on him, designed and designing for him. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Nicole Cliffe became a Christian on July 7, 2015, after what she called "a very pleasant adult life of firm atheism." "The idea of a benign deity who created and loved us," she writes, "was obviously nonsense, and all that awaited us beyond the grave was joyful oblivion � I had no untapped, unanswered yearnings." But here's how she describes what happened to her:

First, I was worried about my child. One time I said "Be with me" to an empty room. It was embarrassing. I didn't know why I said it, or to whom. I brushed it off, I moved on, the situation resolved itself, I didn't think about it again.

Second, I came across John Ortberg's CT obituary for philosopher Dallas Willard. John's daughters are dear friends, and they have always struck me as sweetly deluded in their evangelical faith, so I read the article. Somebody once asked Dallas if he believed in total depravity."I believe in sufficient depravity," he responded immediately. "I believe that every human being is sufficiently depraved that when we get to heaven, no one will be able to say, 'I merited this.'" A few minutes into reading the piece, I burst into tears. Later that day, I burst into tears again. And the next day. While brushing my teeth, while falling asleep, while in the shower, while feeding my kids, I would burst into tears.

She read more Christian books and every time she cried all over again. She emailed a Christian friend and asked if she could talk about Jesus. She writes:

But about an hour before our call, I knew: I believed in God. Worse, I was a Christian � I was crying constantly while thinking about Jesus because I had begun to believe that Jesus really was who he said he was � So when my friend called, I told her, awkwardly, that I wanted to have a relationship with God, and we prayed � Since then, I have been dunked by a pastor in the Pacific Ocean while shivering in a too-small wetsuit. I have sung "Be Thou My Vision" and celebrated Communion on a beach, while weirded-out Californians tiptoed around me. I go to church. I pray �

[Evan after accepting Christ] I continue to cry a lot. [I read a news article] that literally sank me to my knees at how broken this world is, and yet how stubbornly resilient and joyful we can be in the face of that brokenness. My Christian conversion has granted me no simplicity. It has complicated all of my relationships, changed how I feel about money, messed up my public persona � Obviously, it's been very beautiful. [Adapted from Nicole Cliffe, "How God Messed Up My Happy Atheist Life," Christianity Today (5-20-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/16/16 10:39 AM
James 5:14 (NIV)
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

The Apostle James tells us if there is anyone who is sick that we should call the leaders of the church together, praying for them and anointing them with holy oil in the name of the Lord.



Longtime Atlanta radio personality Jenn Hobby received devastating news on Saturday.

"August 13, 2016," Hobby said on Facebook. "It is the day that Reese and our family started to beat cancer."

The day that forever changed our world.
It is the day that Reese and our family started to beat cancer.

For the last two weeks, we�ve been in and out of the emergency room and doctors� offices chasing the origin of numerous symptoms. We knew something wasn�t right with our gregarious 10-month old; we just didn�t have any answers.

Saturday morning, Reese had an MRI of her pelvic region. The initial scan would reveal a large mass. One hour after our lil angel went back for a routine MRI, the doctor would sit knee to knee with us and tell us Reese has cancer.

We were immediately admitted to Children�s Healthcare of Atlanta. As we walked on to this highly specialized cancer unit at arguably one of the best pediatric hospitals in the country, we felt comforted by the incredible staff and facility yet terrified by the reality of our circumstances. In an instant, we became part of a new family that shared one common theme � we are the chosen ones to beat cancer.
We are so grateful to have such an incredible network of family and friends. The love and support Reese and our family feel is beyond words. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and lifted our baby up in prayer. Please keep going.

She is strong and a fighter�We are going to beat this. Reese is going to be healthy again soon. We are surrounding her with love and light and laughter.
With determination and love, Jenn and Grant


Luke 18:15-17 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, �Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.�


Let us all pray for Reese, Jenn, her husband Grant, her other daughter Lauren and the rest of the family. May the Lord touch Reese with His healing hands and give the doctors the wisdom to know what to do.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/18/16 10:48 AM
Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The apostle tells us there should be a readiness to glorify Christ, whether in life or in death. �Those who have most reason to desire to depart should be willing to continue in the world as long as God has any work for them to do.� [Matthew Henry]



In 1967, a student named Libby attended with her boyfriend, Tom. During the final commitment evening, both submitted their lives to the Lord. For 30 years, Tom and Libby Little served in Afghanistan, providing vision care to the people of Kabul throughout seemingly endless wars and conflict.

In August 2010, shortly after conducting a two-week medical camp in a remote valley of northwestern Afghanistan, Tom and his medical team were ambushed and killed. Upon receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her husband, Libby said, "Although Tom was killed in 2010, he had already surrendered his life to God's good purposes way back in 1967." For four decades, Tom had submitted himself to his divine master. [Adapted from Alec Hill, "The Most Troubling Parable," Christianity Today (July/August 2014)]


When we give our life to Christ we are with Him, whether in this life or in eternal life. May we all serve Christ faithfully.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/22/16 11:21 AM
Romans 8:32 (NIV)

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all�how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Our God is rich and generous to us. Here the apostle reminds us that a father who gives up his own son, will graciously all things that are needed.



Sgt. Dennis Weichel, (pronounced WY-KLE) 29, died in Afghanistan last week as he lifted an Afghan girl who was in the path of a large military vehicle barreling down a road. Weichel, a Rhode Island National Guardsman, was riding along in a convoy in eastern Afghanistan when some children were spotted on the road ahead.

The children were picking up shell casings lying on the road. The casings are recycled for money in Afghanistan. Weichel and other soldiers got out of their vehicles to get them out of the way of the heavy trucks in the convoy. The children were moved out of the way, but an Afghan girl darted back onto the road to pick up some more casings right in the path of a speeding 16 ton armored truck.

Weichel spotted the girl and quickly moved toward her to get her out of the way. He succeeded, but not before he was run over by the heavily armored truck. The girl was safe, but Weichel died of his injuries. Dennis was 29 years old and had arrived in Afghanistan only a few weeks before.

Staff Sgt. Ronald Corbett, who deployed with Weichel to Iraq in 2005, said, "He would have done it for anybody," adding, "That was the way he was. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was that type of guy."


This is the same type of sacrificial love God showed us, by allowing His Son to die for our sins. God loves us deeply and graciously gives to us what we need.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/24/16 10:55 AM
Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV)
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

David, in straits, had humbly and earnestly begged mercy of God, and God had heard him, that is, had graciously accepted his prayer, taken cognizance of his case, and granted him an answer of peace. [Matthew Henry]




Keith Mannes, of Highland Church, preached the following: My wife's aunt Gladys has always had a little apple orchard at her home. But this year when we paid her a visit, I couldn't help but notice the huge harvest of apples. The branches hung heavy, and some were cracking with the weight of abundance. Never, in many years, had anyone seen such a harvest.

When I asked her why, she told me that last year there was a late frost in the spring, and all the buds froze. When that happens, Gladys said, an apple tree does a miraculous thing: It stores up its energy in thousands of small bumps, or nodules, called scions (pronounced "see-ons"). All that energy pulsates through that network of scions until the spring of the following year, and then, BAM! You have an exploding riot of buds, as an apple tree unleashes all that stored up energy.

Gladys' description made me think about our spiritual lives. Sometimes the harsh frosts of this life�cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, trauma, grief, depression�cause our hearts to freeze. But at the core of the Christian faith we also live with an incredible promise: in and through Christ, there will be an abundant harvest in our lives. God's power is pulsating under the gnarly bark of this world and even our bodies. In Christ, we are being formed into a small nodule of living hope. During certain seasons of our life we feel our hearts waiting, longing, and even aching for those frozen places to burst into life. Our living hope is that one day, all of this stored up glory will be unleashed in a joyful riot of splendor.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/29/16 11:08 AM
Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This verse reminds us that in Christ there is no distinction between race, free or slave, male or female, for we are all one in Christ.



MIT used to have a famous office building simply called Building 20. This structure, located at the intersection of Main and Vassar Streets in East Cambridge, and eventually demolished in 1998, was thrown together as a temporary shelter during World War II, meant to house the overflow from the school's bustling Radiation Laboratory. As noted by a 2012 New Yorker article, the building was initially seen as a failure: "Ventilation was poor and hallways were dim. The walls were thin, the roof leaked, and the building was broiling in the summer and freezing in the winter."

When the war ended, however, the influx of scientists to Cambridge continued. MIT needed space, so instead of immediately demolishing Building 20, they continued using it as overflow space. The result was that a mismatch of different departments�from nuclear science to linguistics to electronics�shared the low-slung building alongside more ordinary tenants such as a machine shop and a piano repair facility. Because the building was cheaply constructed, these groups felt free to rearrange space as needed. Walls and floors could be shifted and equipment bolted to the beams. For instance, a scientist working on the first atomic clock removed two floors from his Building 20 lab so he could install the three-story cylinder needed for his experiments. In MIT lore, it's generally believed that this haphazard combination of different disciplines, thrown together in a large reconfigurable building, led to chance encounters and a spirit of inventiveness that generated breakthroughs at a fast pace. When the building was finally demolished to make way for a new $300 million office space many at MIT mourned the loss of Building 20. As a matter of fact, the new building includes boards of unfinished plywood and exposed concrete with construction markings left intact.


Many people came together to work on a common goal at MIT. In the Church that are many people who come together to work on a common goal. Each person is different and each may come from different backgrounds, but it in love of Christ they work together for they are one in Christ.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/30/16 10:34 AM
Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God�s people and also members of his household,

The church is compared to a city, and every converted sinner is free of it. It is also compared to a house, and every converted sinner is one of the domestics, one of the family, a servant and a child in God's house. [Matthew Henry]



A church in Buffalo, New York has found a unique way to bless its local community�open a Subway franchise in its building. In a riff off the popular TV show, Undercover Boss, in which business leaders from large corporations spend several days working alongside lower-level employees, Don Fertman, Subway's Chief Development Officer, goes undercover at several locations across the United States. Most of the episode includes your typical Undercover Boss fare�bumbling executive, dedicated workers, tear-jerker employee recognitions�but Fertman also visited a restaurant in Buffalo, New York located in the same building as True Bethel Baptist Church. The church owns and operates the franchise.

The reason? To provide employment and job training to the surrounding neighborhood. On the episode Senior Pastor Reverend Darius Pridgen explains the origins and aim of the idea:

The reason we actually put it in the church was because there weren't a lot of opportunities in this neighborhood when I got here. We had a high murder rate, and a lot of people not working. So, a lot of people always talk about, "Just give people jobs." Well, that's not the key, if they haven't been trained. So we started collecting an offering. We called it a "franchise offering"�literally called it a "franchise offering." But we've got to do more than build a business. We've got to train people. We try to push people into the next level of life.

The episode concludes with Fertman waiving the franchise fee for the church to open another similarly suited store in a nearby neighborhood. In addition, he encourages a room of Subway executives to consider it as a model for the future.


[Adapted from Joseph Sunde, "Church Opens Subway Franchise to Bring Jobs to Community," Acton blog (2-19-14)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/02/16 11:21 AM
Psalm 119:64 (NIV)
64 The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

David pleads that God is good to all the creatures according to their necessities and capacities; as the heaven is full of God's glory, so the earth is full of his mercy, full of the instances of his pity and bounty. [Matthew Henry]



Samson, whom no earthly power could subdue during the twenty years that he was energized by the Spirit of God under his Nazarite vow, yet as soon as his locks were shorn was weak as another man. David, who, while he walked with God was the man after God's own heart, yet at length, when out of communion, could be guilty of the most appalling sins. We have no strength of our own to stand against temptation. The longest life, the most devoted service, is no security against a fall. I remember, when a young man, seeing, at a lecture on magnetism, a piece of soft iron brought on the platform and shown to be unable to hold up a needle. A coil of copper wire was then put round it, and connected with an unseen battery. Now it held, first nails, next chisels and other tools, till all the weights of the institution were brought, and it sustained them every one by the magnetic power. At a signal the wire was cut, and they all fell to the ground. It could no longer hold up the smallest thing. Its magnetic power was not in itself, but in its connection with the unseen battery.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/06/16 10:56 AM
John 14:23 (NIV)
23 Jesus replied, �Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Where a sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience: "If a man love me indeed, that love will be such a commanding constraining principle in him, that, no question, he will keep my words.' Where there is true love to Christ there is a value for his favour, a veneration for his authority, and an entire surrender of the whole man to his direction and government. Where love is, duty follows of course, is easy and natural, and flows from a principle of gratitude. [Matthew Henry]



NPR's radio show "This American Life" ran an interesting segment about a marketing executive from Colombia named Jose Miguel Sokoloff. The government of Columbia approached Jose with an interesting assignment: run a marketing campaign that will convince leftist guerrilla rebels to demobilize and reenter society. At first Jose's firm ran a series of radio ad campaigns that featured testimonials from former rebels. But actors actually read the testimonials so that plan didn't work.

Then in 2010 Mr. Sokoloff tried a different approach�an ad campaign called "Operation Christmas." At nine strategic places in the jungle where the rebels traversed, they strung hundreds of Christmas lights on 75-foot tall trees. When the rebels walked by a motion sensor set off the lights and a recorded message that said, "If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come home." That campaign helped demobilize 331 rebels.

The next year they ran a similar campaign titled "Operation Rivers of Light." The firm filled over 7,000 translucent plastic balls with small gifts and heartwarming notes inviting the rebels to come home. As the rebels travelled by river, this time they saw the balls, lit up and floating on the river, coming towards them. They couldn't resist; they opened the balls and received the gifts and read the notes. Beauty was the key to this campaign. Sokoloff said, "When you see all these lights floating down the river, slowly floating down towards you, you can't escape the thought of, this is a beautiful thing � [you're] drawn to it."

Then in 2012 the ad agency ran "Operation Bethlehem." They shone huge skylights up into the night air and ran the following message: "This Christmas follow the light that will guide you to your family and your freedom." [Ira Glass, "The Poetry of Propaganda," This American Life (12-18-15)]



Come home, Come home, Cause I�ve been waiting for you, For so long, For so long, Right now there's a war between the vanities, But all I see is you and me, The fight for you is all I�ve ever known, So come home.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/08/16 10:30 AM
Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Oh, the ease at which we walk on level ground. The psalmist asks for easy leading from the Holy Spirit to learn the will of God.



You might not know the name Angelo Dundee, but you've undoubtedly heard of Muhammad Ali, probably the most famous professional boxer of all time. For more than two decades, Angelo Dundee was in Muhammad Ali's corner, literally. He was Ali's cornerman! He's the one who made Ali float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. He also trained fifteen other world boxing champions. Angelo Dundee described his job as a cornerman this way: "When you're working with a fighter, you're a surgeon, an engineer, and a psychologist."

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have something even better than a surgeon-engineer-psychologist in our corner�the Holy Spirit. [Mark Batterson, If (Baker Books, 2015), page 249]


Holy Spirit break us
Come and overtake us
You're the one we're living for
Holy Spirit lead us
To the heart of Jesus
There is nothing we want more

Teach us how to live beyond ourselves
Let everything we say and do
Bring glory to Your name and bless Your heart
God Show us how to love like You

Strip away my pride and selfishness
Take me back to my first love
Falling on my knees, now I confess
You will always be enough
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/14/16 11:09 AM
Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

The same love that we are required to express to others, others are bound to express to us. Christian love ought to be mutual love. Love, and you shall be loved.



Claude Alexander, bishop of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, urges Christians from all walks of life to step up into bold leadership. Here's his take on bold leadership:

There are questions that beg to be answered. There are dilemmas to be overcome. There are gaps to be filled, and the challenge is for you to fill them. That is the essence of the high call of spiritual leadership. There is a purpose for your being here. You are meant to answer something, solve something, provide something, lead something, discover something, compose something, write something, say something, translate something, interpret something, sing something, create something, teach something, preach something, bear something, overcome something, and in doing so, you improve the lives of others under the power of God, for the glory of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/19/16 11:01 AM
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Filthy and unclean words and discourse are poisonous and infectious, as putrid rotten meat: they proceed from and prove a great deal of corruption in the heart of the speaker, and tend to corrupt the minds and manners of others who hear them; and therefore Christians should beware of all such discourse. It may be taken in general for all that which provokes the lusts and passions of others. We must not only put off corrupt communications, but put on that which is good to the use of edifying. The great use of speech is to edify those with whom we converse. Christians should endeavour to promote a useful conversation: that it may minister grace unto the hearers; that it may be good for, and acceptable to, the hearers, in the way of information, counsel, pertinent reproof, or the like. [Matthew Henry]



Novelist William Giraldi, a contributing editor to The New Republic, recently wrote an essay on the modern phenomenon of online hate mail, most often found in the comments section below an article. Comments often devolve into hate-filled insults, but Giraldi draws some conclusions that Christians could agree with. First, Giraldi writes that hate mail proves that, "People are desperate to be heard, to make some sound, any sound, in the world, and hate mail allows them the illusion of doing so. Legions among us suffer from the [boredom] and [unhappiness] of modernity, from the discontents of an increasingly [isolated] society."

According to Giraldi hate mail also means that at least someone is listening to your viewpoints�even if they hate you for it. Giraldi writes, "Part of a writer's [we could insert Christian here] job should be to dishearten the happily deceived, to quash the misconceptions of the pharisaical � to unsettle and upset. If someone isn't riled by what you write, you aren't writing truthfully enough. Hate mail is what happens when you do."

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/20/16 11:27 AM
Joel 2:23 (NIV)
23 Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

The Lord has given and will give you the former rain and the latter rain, and, if he give them in mercy, he will give them moderately, so that the rain shall not turn into a judgment, and he will give them in due season, the latter rain in the first month, when it was wanted and expected. [Matthew Henry]



In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul said,

�I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word��

Peter, writing in his first letter, said,

�If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.�

In other words,

�If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God, speaking to the fullest or the best of the ability that God has given him, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.�


God has bestowed His grace upon us with abundant showers. For those who believe, His mercy does not turn to judgement.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/21/16 11:18 AM
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Thus the apostle concludes his epistle, and thus it is usual and proper to dismiss worshipping assemblies. This plainly proves the doctrine of the gospel, and is an acknowledgment that Father, Son, and Spirit, are three distinct persons, yet but one God; and herein the same, that they are the fountain of all blessings to men. It likewise intimates our duty, which is to have an eye by faith to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-to live in a continual regard to the three persons in the Trinity, into whose name we were baptized, and in whose name we are blessed. [Matthew Henry]



Today is my 60th birthday and for the majority of those years I have known the mercy, grace and love of the Lord. I was a young child when I told my mother I feel like Jesus wants me to tell the preacher I believe in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was a feeling I have a hard time explaining, but I know I was compelled to go.

Through the years I have had my failures in life. There is no such thing as a perfect Christian. The apostle tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24, �Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.� This is a comparison to the Christian life. A runner gives his best to reach the finish line. Sometimes the runner may come in last. Sometimes the runner may trip and fall. At other times the runner may tire and just want to give up. Some may even resort to walking, but eventually they reach the finish line, whether first or last.

For my birthday I hope each of you know the love of God and Christ. I hope you will run the race of life with enthusiasm and will keep up the hope of crossing the finish line into heaven. You may say, I have too many failures to give my life to God. Let me assure you, I still have failures in my life.

For those who believe they are sinners, for those who have murdered, and those who steal, those who others consider abnormal because of their sexual orientation or beliefs; God welcomes you with open arms. You see God welcomes the broken, down trodden, hopeless, tired and rejected. And God will not reject you nor forsake you.

May God bless you and be with you through the years, because He certainly has been with me.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/27/16 11:13 AM
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

If we were but more careful to please God, and to work out our own salvation, we should be less solicitous to please ourselves, and work out an estate in the world. Thoughtfulness for our souls in the most effectual cure of thoughtfulness for the world. [Matthew Henry Commentary]



Claude Alexander, bishop of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, urges Christians from all walks of life to step up into bold leadership. Here's his take on bold leadership:

There are questions that beg to be answered. There are dilemmas to be overcome. There are gaps to be filled, and the challenge is for you to fill them. That is the essence of the high call of spiritual leadership. There is a purpose for your being here. You are meant to answer something, solve something, provide something, lead something, discover something, compose something, write something, say something, translate something, interpret something, sing something, create something, teach something, preach something, bear something, overcome something, and in doing so, you improve the lives of others under the power of God, for the glory of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/16 10:58 AM
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Here the apostle gives praise to The Father for the Salvation found in Jesus Christ. It is a new birth, a new life, with hope of an eternal life with God.



Kris Lackey thought he had hurricane-proofed his manuscripts. An English professor at the University of New Orleans, he had saved his fiction and papers (including the novel he had half-finished) via hard drive, flash drive, diskette, and hard copy. But as the murky waters continued to rise and he was forced to evacuate his home, he left his papers and computer equipment behind. Even so, he left them in high places�tables and bookshelves well out of harm's way. He was, by no means, expecting the 11 feet of water that completely besieged his house during Hurricane Katrina.

Returning more than a month later, Lackey found pages floating in mud, completely indecipherable, as well as what was left of his flash and hard drives. Nothing was retrievable. Nothing.


While some things are can never be retrieved, a life with Christ is every lasting. For there is nothing, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, that will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/04/16 10:49 AM
Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)
27 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Boast not thyself, no, not of to-morrow, much less of many days or years to come. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not promise ourselves the continuance of our lives and comforts till to-morrow, but speak of it with submission to the will of God and as those who with good reason are kept at uncertainty about it. [Matthew Henry]



The hymn-writer wrote, "Change and decay in all around I see." Change and decay are enemies that most people fear. ... When we are young, change is a treat; but as we grow older, change becomes a threat. But when Jesus Christ is in control of your life, you need never fear change or decay. ... When you are part of eternity, the decay of the material only hastens the perfecting of the spiritual, if you walk by faith in Christ. [Warren W. Wiersbe, His Name Is Wonderful. Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 2.]


Paul McCartney once said, �Close your eyes and I�ll kiss you, Tomorrow I�ll miss you.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/11/16 11:56 AM
Psalm 62:1 (NIV)
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

This is a Psalm of King David. He opens with saying that his soul finds rest in God and then he explains by saying he knows that his salvation comes from God.



At the age of 35 Christian psychologist and researcher Dr. Jamie Aten was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his pelvis. Aten said:

For the first six months, whenever I asked for a prognosis, all my oncologist would say was: 'I can't tell you that it's going to be okay, Jamie. It's too early to tell. If there's anyone you want to see or anything you want to do, now is the time.'" Cancer wasn't the first disaster I faced. My family and I had moved to South Mississippi six days before Hurricane Katrina. But this disaster was different. There was no opportunity to evacuate as I did before Katrina made landfall. This time the disaster was striking within: I was a walking disaster.

Aten learned that the key to both traumatic situations involved what he calls "spiritual surrender." Aten writes:

Spiritual surrender helps us understand what we have control over and what we don't. In a research study I led after Katrina, we found that people who showed higher levels of spiritual surrender tended to do better. This finding didn't make sense to me at the time. It seemed like a passive faith response. Fast forward to my cancer disaster. I vividly remember taking the trash to the curb one winter morning while praying that God would heal me. The freezing air felt like tiny razor blades cutting across my hands and feet because of the nerve sensitivity caused by chemotherapy.

Wondering if God even heard my prayers for healing, I kept praying as I walked back inside my home. Then all of a sudden I dropped to my knees and prayed the most challenging prayer of my life. Instead of continuing to pray for God's healing, I asked that God would take care of my wife and children if I didn't make it.

This was the hardest prayer I had ever prayed. For the first time in my life, I truly experienced spiritual surrender. I finally understood. True spiritual surrender is far from passive�it is a willful act of obedience.


[Jamie Aten, "Spiritual Advice for Surviving Cancer and Other Disasters," The Washington Post (8-9-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/18/16 10:25 AM
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

So often we are in a hurry. We want to see things done quickly. We want an answer now. Yet The Bible tells us to wait on The Lord in strength and faith.




An article in The Boston Globe claims that our "demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives." The need for instant gratification is not new, but our expectation of "instant" has become faster. The article states:

Retailers are jumping into same-day delivery services. Smartphone apps eliminate the wait for a cab, a date, or a table at a hot restaurant. Movies and TV shows begin streaming in seconds. But experts caution that instant gratification comes at a price: It's making us less patient �

We've come to expect things so quickly that researchers found people can't wait more than a few seconds for a video to load. One researcher examined the viewing habits of 6.7 million internet users. How long were subjects willing to be patient? Two seconds. After that they started abandoning the site. After five seconds, the abandonment rate is 25 percent. When you get to 10 seconds, half are gone." The results offer a glimpse into the future. As Internet speeds increase, people will be even less willing to wait for that cute puppy video. The researcher, who spent years developing the study, worries someday people will be too impatient to conduct studies on patience. [Christopher Muther, "Instant gratification is making us perpetually impatient," The Boston Globe (2-2-13)]


The Apostle James wrote to us saying, �Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.�

When we hurry we might miss some of the opportunities God has in store for us, but when we are patient we see all that He has planned.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/20/16 10:44 AM
Psalm 51:12 (NIV)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

There are two ill effects of sin. One there is a sadness that comes with sin. For the person who knows better and yet commits the act of sin becomes sad. Two sin weakens the person. Not only do they deal with the sadness of sin, but they must also deal with how sin weakens their spirit.



"I was years and years upon the brink of hell--I mean in my own feeling. I was unhappy, I was desponding, I was despairing. I dreamed of hell. My life was full of sorrow and wretchedness, believing that I was lost."

Charles Spurgeon used these strong words to describe his adolescent years. Despite his Christian upbringing (he was christened as an infant, and raised in the Congregational church), and his own efforts (he read the Bible and prayed daily), Spurgeon woke one January Sunday in 1850 with a deep sense of his need for deliverance.

Because of a snowstorm, the 15-year-old's path to church was diverted down a side street. For shelter, he ducked into the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Artillery Street. An unknown substitute lay preacher stepped into the pulpit and read his text--(Isaiah 45:22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." [Mary Ann Jeffreys. "Charles Haddon Spurgeon," Christian History, no. 29.]


No matter what our desperation there is always the joy of salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/25/16 11:33 AM
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NKJV)
9 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

This should be the attitude of Christians, to sing songs and hymns to God to enrich your heart and let the burdens of like slip away. Then we are to give thanks for all things that come our way in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.



The key to a happy and lasting marriage might be as simple as regularly expressing gratitude. So report researchers from the University of Georgia in a new study published in the journal Personal Relationships.

After interviewing 468 married individuals on relationship satisfaction, covering everything from communication habits to finances, they found that the "most consistent significant predictor" of happy marriages was whether one's spouse expressed gratitude. "Feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last," says study co-author Ted Futris.
And that goes for good times but perhaps especially bad ones�when couples experience stress and their communication devolves into what the researchers call a demand/withdraw cycle (i.e., one partner demands or criticizes; the other tries to avoid a confrontation). Gratitude can disrupt this, acting as a buffer.

"What distinguishes the marriages that last from those that don't is not how often they argue, but how they argue and how they treat each other on a daily basis," says Futris. Adds lead author Allen Barton, the study "goes to show the power of the key to a happy and lasting marriage might be as simple as regularly expressing gratitude." So saying thank you is a "practical way couples can help strengthen their marriage." [This Might be a Key to Happy Marriage, USA Today (10-24-15); submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington]


King David said in Psalms 71:8, �Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.� Let�s make that a goal for our lives.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/27/16 10:48 AM
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

There is great help that comes from the word of God in that we can find strength, encouragement and rest. For God�s word penetrates the heart and makes us aware of our short comings.



While every analogy of the Trinity has its limitations, this picture illustrates one aspect of our Triune God�that they are all on the same team.

Say a family is trapped in a forest fire, so a helicopter team undertakes a rescue. One fireman flies the helicopter over the smoky blaze to coordinate the operation and see the big picture. A second fireman descends on a rope into the billowing smoke below to track down the family and stand with them. Once he locates the family, he wraps the rope around them, attaching them to himself, and they are lifted up together from the blaze into safety. In this rescue operation the first fireman looks like the Father, who can see the whole field unclouded from above to sovereignly orchestrate the plan.

The second fireman looks like the Son, who descends into our world ablaze to find us, the human family, and identify with us most deeply in the darkness of the grave. The Spirit is like the rope, who mediates the presence of the Father to Jesus, even in his distance, and raises Jesus�and the human family with him�from sin, death, and the grave, into the presence of the Father. Of course, like all analogies, this one falls short. The Spirit is a person, not a thing (like the rope). And the Father, Son, and Spirit are not separate individuals but the one God, sharing a divine nature and essence as one being. [Adapted from Joshua Ryan Butler, The Pursuing God (Thomas Nelson, 2016), page 122]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/01/16 11:31 AM
Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Those who have their eyes opened, and have some understanding in the things of God, have need to be more and more enlightened, and to have their knowledge more clear, and distinct, and experimental. Christians should not think it enough to have warm affections, but they should labour to have clear understandings; they should be ambitious of being knowing Christians, and judicious Christians.



The popular novelist Andrew Klavan was raised in a non-practicing Jewish home. For about the first 45 years of his life, he lived as a "philosophical agnostic and a practical atheist." Klavan explains some of the steps along his journey that eventually led him to faith in Christ:

Jesus never appeared to me while I lay drunk in the gutter. And yet, looking back on my life, I see that Christ was beckoning to me at every turn. When I was a child, he was there in the kindness of a Christian babysitter and the magic of a Christmas Eve spent at her house. When I was a troubled young man contemplating suicide, he was in the voice of a Christian baseball player who gave a radio interview that inspired me to go on. And always, he was in the day-to-day miracle of my marriage, a lifelong romance that taught me the reality of love and slowly led me to contemplate the greater love that was its source and inspiration.

But perhaps most important for a novelist who insisted that ideas should make sense, Christ came to me in stories. Slowly, I came to understand that his life, words, sacrifice, and resurrection formed the hidden logic behind every novel, movie, or play that touched my deepest mind.

I was reading a story when that logic finally kicked in. I was in my forties, lying in bed with one of Patrick O'Brian's great seafaring adventure novels. One of the characters, whom I admired, said a prayer before going to sleep, and I thought to myself, Well, if he can pray, so can I. I laid the book aside and whispered a three-word prayer in gratitude for the contentment I'd found, and for the work and people I loved: "Thank you, God."

It was a small and even prideful prayer: a self-impressed intellectual's hesitant experiment with faith. God's response was an act of extravagant grace. I woke the next morning and everything had changed. There was a sudden clarity and brightness to familiar faces and objects; they were alive with meaning and with my own delight in them. I called this experience "the joy of my joy," and it came to me again whenever I prayed. Naturally I began to pray every day.

This would lead to a full acceptance of Christ as Lord. Later, Klavan was baptized and wrote a book about his spiritual journey titled The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ.


[Andrew Klavan, "How a Man of the Coasts and Cities Found Christ," Christianity Today (8-22-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/08/16 12:27 PM
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.�

We have a choice what religion and what god we wish to follow. Here Joshua states that he will follow the Lord, the God of his ancestors and the only God he has known and loved.


When the prayer made in faith is not answered, and the healing for which many have sought does not come, we are not to look for someone to accuse of failure in faith. Rather we are to remember that besides faith there is hope. Hope has to do with God's promises that are still future and hidden, just as faith has to do with God's promises that are here and now. To the person who has believed for today but has not seen the answer come today, there comes the call to hope. Hope says, "Tomorrow also is God's. Enough has happened already to assure you that the rest is on the way." [�Thomas Smail, quoted in Ken Blue's Authority to Heal]


Who will you serve? The God of Hope or whatever you fancy? God lets us see faith in action. God also allows us to see hope that comes in the future with the richness and fullness of God.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/10/16 11:40 AM
Job 37:5-6 (NIV)
5 God�s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. 6 He says to the snow, �Fall on the earth,� and to the rain shower, �Be a mighty downpour.�

God�s voice is in control of all things. He speaks into action events that happen around us. It is beyond our understanding, but it is marvelous and grand.


Poll Asks, "Is God in Control of Natural Disasters?"
Average Rating: Not rated [see ratings/reviews]
A March 2011 poll surveyed Americans regarding their beliefs about God's involvement in natural disasters. The following are some of the results of this research:
� 56 percent of the Americans surveyed believe that God is in control of the earth
� 38 percent believe that God employs events in nature to dispense judgment
� 29 percent believe that God punishes entire nations for the sins of a few
� Nearly 60 percent of evangelical Christians agreed that God can use natural disasters to send messages
� 44 percent of Americans say that the increased severity of recent natural disasters is evidence that we are in the end times
� 61 percent of Christians from racial and ethnic minorities believe that natural disasters are God's way of testing our faith�and according to the article, that idea "resonates with African-American's history of surviving through slavery and racial discrimination."
The article concluded: "After one of these disasters [like the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami], people turn to their clergy and theologians and they look for answers, and there are no great answers �. But almost every group believes you have to help people who are suffering." [Nicole Neroulias, "Poll: Most in U.S., except evangelicals, see no divine sign in disasters," USA Today (3-24-11)]

God often works His wonders to bring about changes in people. When people are faced with a crisis such as the tsunami listed above, people will join together to help one another. The day before they may not have even noticed their fellow man and now they are helping one another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/15/16 12:01 PM
Psalm 119:143 (NIV)
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.

Here King David means, "Lord, let the word of truth be always in my mouth; let me have the wisdom and courage which are necessary to enable me both to use my knowledge for the instruction of others, and, like the good householder, to bring out of my treasury things new and old, and to make profession of my faith whenever I am called to it.� [Matthew Henry]



Prolific children's author George Koshy spent three years writing a children's Bible, the first of its kind to be originated in any Indian language. When a local publisher rejected it, Koshy filed the manuscript in his cupboard.

Two years later, the same publisher decided to publish it. George opened the cupboard and discovered only shreds�mice had eaten his manuscript! For the next two years, he worked day and night to recreate the manuscript.

[For Christmas in 2009], Samaritan's Purse distributed 58,000 copies of this Bible in Kerala, India. Recently, George learned that two Hindu children became Christians and now attend church after reading a copy. "This is a product of much pain," Koshy says, trusting God for additional eternal results.

[Used by permission from Media Associates International (MAI), a missions organization that "equips and nurtures talented men and women with a passion for producing Christian literature for their own people."]


Thee commands or words of God are powerful and they can bring comfort and knowledge when a person is in distress. Sometimes we see so little the work that goes into ministering to others, but the results that come from that work are exponentially greater.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/17/16 12:58 PM
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

When we walk in the dark we are subject to trip and to fall. However when we have a light with us we are able to see and walk without fault. The same goes for our life, when we follow God�s word it is like a light leading us through the darkness of sin.




In February 1954, a navy pilot set out on a night-training mission from a carrier off the coast of Japan. While he was taking off in stormy weather, his directional finder malfunctioned, and he mistakenly headed in the wrong direction. To make matters worse, his instrument panel suddenly short-circuited, burning out all the lights in the cockpit.

The pilot "looked around � and could see absolutely nothing; the blackness outside the plane had suddenly come inside." Nearing despair, he looked down and thought he saw a faint blue-green glow trailing along in the ocean's ebony depths. His training had prepared him for this moment, and he knew in an instant what he was seeing: a cloud of phosphorescent algae glowing in the sea that had been stirred up by the engines of his ship. It was the "least reliable and most desperate method" of piloting a plane back onto a ship safely, but the pilot�future Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell�knew that was precisely what he needed to do. And so he did.

While he did not articulate it this way, Jim's life was saved because of light. Not just any light, but "bioluminescent dinoflagellates," which are tiny creatures that contain luciferin, a generic term for the light-emitting compound. Bioluminescent organisms live throughout the ocean, from the surface to the seafloor, from near the coast to the open ocean.


John 8:12 tells us, When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, �I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.�
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/21/16 03:42 PM
1 Corinthians 1:4-5
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way�with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge�

The Apostle here gives thanks to God for the grace given through Christ Jesus; for that grace has enriched the person in the way they act and in the way they speak, which is to be used for the good of others.



Business researchers call it "the missing ingredient" or "the hidden accelerator." Most managers could transform their workplaces with this missing ingredient: showing appreciation. That's the focus of a recent book entitled The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Based on a ten-year study that interviewed 200,000 people, Gostick and Elton conclude that appreciation tops the list of things employees say they want from their bosses. Some of the statistics to back up this claim include:
Of the people who report high morale at work, 94.4 percent agree that their managers show appreciation.

79 percent of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as the key reason for leaving.

56 percent of employees who report low morale also give their managers low marks for showing appreciation.

Of course these statistics tap into a fundamental need in all of our relationships: the need to give and receive affirmation and blessing. The authors of The Carrot Principle conclude, "The simple � act of a leader [or a spouse, parent, coach, mentor, or friend] expressing appreciation to a person in a meaningful � way is the missing accelerator that can do so much but is used so sparingly."


[Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, The Carrot Principle (Free Press, 2007), pp. 7-14.}


Everyone wants to be appreciates and we can do that through encouraging words that lack unjust criticism and instead motivate the person to good works.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/22/16 12:16 PM
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Here the Apostle tells us to let the same peace that ruled in Christ�s life to also rule in their hearts. We make up a single body and that is the body of Christ, so be thankful in all that happens even when you can�t be thankful still let your heart rejoice so that others know how thankful you are for what you have.


A young Christian named Anne Snyder spent her first three years after college trying to break into the world of journalism while trying to serve Christ through her career. Then she landed a dream job. David Brooks, a nationally known columnist with The New York Times, hired Anne to be his research assistant. She acted as his sounding board, reading early drafts of his columns and offering story ideas.

Anne is exceedingly intelligent and articulate, so it wasn't a surprise. But it was surprising that this young, professionally green evangelical Christian was working so closely with Brooks, an influential public voice, prominent journalist, thought leader, and non-Christian.

Fast-forward to mid-2015. The same David Brooks released a critically acclaimed book, The Road to Character. In the beginning of Brooks' acknowledgement page he offered this glowing honor to his new research assistant, Anne Snyder:

Anne C. Snyder was there when this book was born and walked with me through the first three years of its writing. This was first conceived as a book about cognition and decision making. Under Anne's influence, it became a book about morality and inner life. She led dozens of discussions about the material, assigned me reading from her own bank of knowledge, challenged the superficiality of my thinking in memo after memo and transformed the project � I have certainly stolen many of her ideas and admired the gracious and morally rigorous way she lives her life. If there are any important points in this book, they probably come from Anne.

Of course there's a story behind this acknowledgement: Anne's vibrant faith�and her God-given brilliance, uncompromising work ethic, and extensive reading list�had influenced Mr. Brooks in a profound, and relevant, way. Her faithful presence made a difference. In good faith, Anne made Christianity a little more relevant to one person, who happens to write bestselling books and a regular column for The New York Times.


[Adapted from David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, Good Faith (Baker Books, 2016), pages 35-27]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/23/16 11:23 AM
Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The psalmist reminds us to enter our area of life with praise, always praising and giving thanks to the Holy God. We should put aside other worries, other fears, other doubts, and other concerns. For the Lord is good towards us with a love that endures through all generations.



The Minnesota storyteller Kevin Kling was born with a birth defect�his left arm was disabled and much shorter than his right. Then, in his early 40s, a motorcycle accident nearly killed him and paralyzed his healthy right arm. While he was in the hospital recovering from the accident, Kling learned a life-changing lesson about "the three phases of prayer."

In the first phase of prayer, we pray to get things from God. In the second phase, we pray to get out of things. While he was in rehab for his accident, Kling learned the third phase of prayer�giving thanks to God. Kling says:

I'd been through many surgeries during my six week stay in the hospital. And each day, I would ride the elevator to the ground floor and try and take a walk. That was my job. 9/11 had happened the week before. And as our country was entering trauma, I was living one. After my walk, my wife Mary and I went into the gift shop, and she asked if I wanted an apple. She said they looked really good. Now, I hadn't tasted food in over a month � I lost a lot of weight because food had no appeal. So I said no, but she persisted. Come on. Try it. So finally, I said all right. And I took a bite. And for some reason, that was the day flavor returned, and that powerful sweetness rushed from that apple. Oh, it was incredible.

I started to cry, cry for the first time in years. The tears flowed and as the anesthesia and antibiotics flushed through my tears, it burned my eyes. And between the sweetness of that apple and the burning for my tears, it felt so good to be alive. I blurted out, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for this life." And that's when my prayers shifted, again, to giving thanks.


[Kevin Kling, "Prayer, Once a Last Resort, Now a Habit," NPR (1-10-07); On Being, "The Losses and Laughter We Grow Into," American Public Media (3-7-13);]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/30/16 12:25 PM
2 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

Here the apostle poses a statement and then asks a question. If you knew everything in the world would be destroyed at a point in time and laid bare would you change your ways to live a holy and godly life?




Australia is moving. This isn't so surprising�all the continents are on the move, and Australia drifts 70 millimeters to the northeast every year. Australia was once connected to both India and Antarctica, finally breaking away from the former 100 million years ago and the latter 45 million years ago. The continent still drifts away at a rate far too slow for humans to notice. But that journey is now starting to mess with systems that rely on pinpoint accuracy, specifically GPS.

Australian GPS was last updated in 1994, and the entire country has moved a little more than five feet since then. Much of our current technology relies on accurate GPS coordinates. For instance, driverless tractors that help with farm work will start having problems because the information about the farm won't line up with the co-ordinates coming out of the navigation system there will be problems. For Australians using driverless cars or shipping drones, accurate map information is fundamental.

Everything on earth changes, including the mighty continents. But for believers there are three crucial foundational things that will never change: God doesn't change, His Word doesn't change, and His promises do not change. These are settled forever in the heavens.


[David Finch, Elk Grove, California; source: David Grossman, "Australia's GPS Was Off Because the Whole Country Moved," PopularMechanics.Com (7-29-16); Chris Foxx, "Australia Plans New Co-Ordinates To Fix Sat-Nav Gap," BBC.com (7-29-16)]


God doesn�t change, but the world around us does. As I scrolled through a list of those I went to school with, I noticed those who were no longer with us. They had died from accidents, disease and in some cases by their own hands. God asks us, you know there will be an end to life, so why aren�t you using your life to the best of your ability to live a holy and godly life?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/06/17 12:25 PM
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

We are told to remember the grace we have been given so that we may keep our minds alert and sober to keep ourselves holy.


Can we be guilty for sinful responses that seem to erupt in us automatically? Can we really consider sin voluntary if it is not consciously chosen? Consider the following illustration of how unintentional sin works:

Trained instincts�that's how fighter pilots can react immediately to rapidly changing situations as they operate $27 million war machines. When a threat aircraft is closing in, there's no time for pilots to reason through what to do. They have to rely on instinct�but not just natural instinct. They need instincts shaped deep within then through years of regiment. The countless little decisions they make in the cockpit are automatic, but that doesn't mean they're involuntary. The pilot voluntarily trained for them, and in the cockpit he reaps the instinctive benefits of that training.

Like the fighter pilot's hours of training, our hearts are under a regimen of beliefs and values that don't align with Scripture, drilled into us through what we put in our heads, what we receive as wisdom from other sources, what we accept as normal from culture. All of these shape our unintentional sin.


[Dr. Jeremy Pierre, "Involuntary Sins," TABLETALK (June 2016); submitted by: Van Morris, Mt. Washington]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/10/17 11:51 AM
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: �Be holy, because I am holy.�

The Lord loved us and sent His son to atone for our sins. Because of the love shown for us, we should act as holy people because of the love shown towards us.



Karl Barth preached regularly to the inmates of the prison in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland. Knowledge of that context adds poignancy to the sermons. Here was an audience of people who had been officially judged and condemned as guilty. One of the sermons is based on Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God." He illustrated by retelling a Swiss legend:

You probably all know the legend of the rider who crossed the frozen Lake of Constance by night without knowing it. When he reached the opposite shore and was told whence he came, he broke down horrified. This is the human situation when the sky opens and the earth is bright, when we may hear: By grace you have been saved! In such a moment we are like that terrified rider. When we hear this word we involuntarily look back, do we not, asking ourselves: Where have I been? Over an abyss, in mortal danger! What did I do? The most foolish thing I ever attempted! What happened? I was doomed and miraculously escaped and now I am safe!

In the same way, everyone who is trusting Christ for salvation by grace alone can say, "I was in mortal danger. I was doomed but through the cross of Christ I miraculously escaped and now I am safe!"


[Adapted from Fleming Rutledge, "Hallelujah, I'm a Miserable Sinner," The Behemoth]

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/12/17 11:30 AM
Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

A reminder that all who have placed their faith in Christ are Christians and there equals a brothers and sisters of Christ. For like the arms, legs, feet and other parts of a body make up the entire body, so do all Christians make up the body of Christ.




When we have forgotten the past, the community helps us re-learn our own story. The case of "Benjamin Kyle" is instructive. In the early morning of August 31, 2004, employees of a Burger King in Richmond Hill, GA found a man unconscious next to a dumpster. He was naked, sunburnt, and had bites from red ants. His skull had three depressions, apparently from blunt force trauma. He also had amnesia and was unable to remember his own name, much less how he came to be found beaten behind a Burger King. The employees called 911, and he was taken to a hospital in Savannah; but without identity papers or memory, they listed him only as "Burger King Doe."

For more than ten years he was unable to remember his name and thus was unable to get a Social Security card. He could not obtain a job nor collect any kind of benefits from the government. He named himself "Benjamin Kyle," sensing that his first name might have been Benjamin, and he sought a community that knew him previously to help him piece together his identity. You see, without a community, this man had no access to his story. Finally, with the help of investigative reporters and genetic testing, "Benjamin Kyle" learned his real name and likely family of origin. As he started to identify with his community again he said, "Looking at all these names, all these people, kind of gives me a sense of belonging," he said. "I have a history. I'm not just some stranger that materialized out of thin air."


[Jeffrey Arthurs, Boston, Massachusetts; source: Kent Justice, "Man with no name finally knows real identity," News4Jax.com (9-15-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/17/17 11:38 AM
Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, �children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.� Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Encouragement from the apostle that we should do everything with hesitation of complaint so that we can become blameless and pure according to the word of God.



Cheryl A. Bachelder, the CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, turned her company around with a focus on serving others. A committed Christian in the workplace, Bachelder is also the author of Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others. In a recent interview, she share her thoughts on servanthood:

The Bible verse that's on my calendar every day is Philippians 2:3. Because I haven't found one that's more paramount to how I want to lead in my family and in my work. And that is, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." I really like the choice of words around counting others more significant than yourselves. I believe we're all born with an inner 2-year-old. And we'd really still like to be laying on the floor, kicking and screaming because we didn't get the candy bar we wanted. It's pretty hardwired that we're self-absorbed little people. And we learn to fake it well, but we're still pretty much that 2-year-old on the inside.

I find that biblical perspective really challenging in every aspect of my day�how I'm spending my time, the decisions that I make. To put them through a filter of whether I'm thinking about myself or whether I'm thinking about others. Am I doing this because I'll get a bigger bonus check? Or am I really thinking about the long-term interest of this company? Am I doing this truly for my franchise owners, or am I getting some personal benefit that I haven't been willing to acknowledge?" Those kinds of provocative self-mirror questions hold you to a higher standard. I always say servant leadership is an aspiration, because you can really never claim you've arrived. Because as soon as you do, someone will find you�and in a trap of self-interest. It's something you're always working toward.


[Adapted from Religion & Liberty, "Servant Leadership in a Louisiana Kitchen" (Volume 26, Number 3)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/19/17 11:54 AM
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Lord Jesus presses upon us that righteousness towards men is an essential branch of true religion, and that religion towards God is an essential branch of universal righteousness. Romans 12:10 tells us, �Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.�



The Italians have a beautiful expression for love: ti voglio bene. Though commonly translated as "I love you," [the phrase] more literally means "I wish you good" or "I want what is good for you."

This simple phrase reminds us that true love is not primarily about what good feelings may be stirring within me. Even less is it about what I can get out of a relationship for myself. The fullness of love is looking outward toward my beloved and seeking what is best for that person, not just what is good for me. [Adapted from Edward Sri, Men, Women and the Mystery of Love (Servant Books, 2007), page 55]


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/24/17 12:19 PM
Galatians 6:1 (NIV)
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

These words are an encouragement to us to help those who are struggling in life. We are to help restore them to a place away from sin while showing them grace and mercy. As we do this we should watch ourselves that we don�t get overly involved and fall into the same trap they did.




Lt. Jack Cambria has spent more than a decade talking people down from the ledge. Until his retirement in 2015, he was the commanding officer of the NYPD's hostage negotiation team for over 33 years. During his career he became an expert at saving fellow cops from gun-wielding maniacs or dissuading people to not jump off New York City's skyscrapers or bridges.

What's the secret to success as a hostage negotiator? Cambria says, "The very good negotiators, I think, are the ones with the life stories"�particularly, he would add, life stories of pain that have produced compassion for others. Cambria claims, "[Good negotiators must] experience the emotion of love at one point in their life, to know what it means to have been hurt in love at one point in their life, to know success and perhaps, most important, to know what it means to know failure."

He learned this lesson during his first day as a police officer. Cambria admitted that he had his "own baggage about the homeless, they were violent, they were dirty, they were mentally ill." Then one day, he had to confront a homeless fare beater and searched his satchel. Inside wasn't a weapon but a manuscript of a play titled "Crabs in a Basket," a metaphor for the man, of his struggle to crawl out of the hole he was in.

"In that two-minute space of time, he had transposed himself from a homeless guy�my baggage�to a playwright," he recalled. That compassion has led colleagues to refer to him as "Gentleman Jack," whose guiding principle is to just get the suspects talking.


[Pervaiz Shallwani, "Life Lessons From the NYPD's Top Hostage Negotiator," The Wall Street Journal (8-28-15)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/26/17 11:53 AM
James 4:10 (NIV)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Those that draw nigh to God in a way of duty shall find God drawing nigh to them in a way of mercy. Draw nigh to him in faith, and trust, and obedience, and he will draw nigh to you for your deliverance. If there be not a close communion between God and us, it is our fault, and not his. He shall lift up the humble. [Matthew Henry]




In the 1840s a court case based in Chicago captured the attention of the entire nation. Labeled "The Reaper Case," it centered on the patenting of farm equipment invented by Cyrus McCormick. At the time the case had such high-stakes that legal rock stars from the East Coast trekked to the Midwest to take on the case. But since the judge was from Illinois, these Ivy League trained lawyers decided to add a local lawyer to their legal team. So after working their networks, they found an obscure, small town lawyer to join their high-powered team.

When the high-powered, sophisticated Ivy League lawyers met their new teammate, they were stunned. He was poorly dressed and disheveled. He spoke with a strong small town accent and used folksy vernacular phrases. In short, he was a country bumpkin. One of the team's leading lawyers, a man named Edwin Stanton, said in this small town lawyer's presence, "Let's do away with this ape." Then they did what any immature men would do. They ditched him. They would have meals without him. They would tell him different times for the court case to be tried, and then they would get there earlier and the court case would be going on. They viewed him as someone of very significant insignificance.

Stanton won the case. He went on to become one of the leading lights in the American legal profession and politics. As a matter of fact, he became the Secretary of War during the Civil War. But much to his shock he went to work for the one he called "ape." It was Abraham Lincoln, whose incredible significance was not known until the very last years of his life.


[Stewart Ruch III, Sermon "When Small Is Great," PreachingToday.com]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/31/17 11:58 AM
Psalm 86:5 (NIV)
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

The goodness of God's nature is a great encouragement to us in all our addresses to him. His goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving. He is a sin-pardoning God; not only he can forgive, but he is ready to forgive, more ready to forgive than we are to repent. He is a prayer-hearing God; he is plenteous in mercy, very full, and very free, both rich and liberal unto all those that call upon him; he has wherewithal to supply all their needs and is openhanded in granting that supply. [Matthew Henry]



NPR ran a heartbreaking interview with Robert Ebeling, an engineer who worked on the 1986 Challenger launch that resulted in the death of all seven occupants. In January 1986, Ebeling and four other engineers pleaded for the launch to be delayed; they anticipated the precise failure that would destroy the shuttle. That night, Ebeling even told his wife, Darlene, "It's going to blow up." The engineers' pleas were refused. Three weeks after the explosion, he and another engineer, since deceased, spoke to NPR. Ebeling was not identified by name until this past week. The NPR article continued:

Ebeling retired soon after Challenger. He suffered deep depression and has never been able to lift the burden of guilt. In 1986, as he watched that haunting image again on a television screen, he said, "I could have done more. I should have done more." He says the same thing today, sitting in a big easy chair in the same living room, his eyes watery and his face grave. The data he and his fellow engineers presented, and their persistent and sometimes angry arguments, weren't enough to sway Thiokol managers and NASA officials. Ebeling concludes he was inadequate. He didn't argue the data well enough. A religious man, this is something he has prayed about for the past 30 years. "I think that was one of the mistakes that God made," Ebeling says softly. "He shouldn't have picked me for the job. But next time I talk to him, I'm gonna ask him, 'Why me. You picked a loser.'"

[Howard Berkes, "30 Years After Explosion, Challenger Engineer Still Blames Himself," NPR The Two-Way blog (1-28-16)]


If someone would have just said, �The Lord is forgiving and good,� maybe Ebeling could have forgiven himself. He held onto a burden of guilt that he could have let go of so easily by turning it over to God. He believed he was a loser because of what happened, but I see him as a hero for standing up and raising a voice even though it wasn�t fully heard.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/02/17 12:37 PM
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
9 However, as it is written: �What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived�� the things God has prepared for those who love him�

God loves each and every one of us. Some know of God�s love, some think of God as loving, while others may question His love for us. The truth is NO ONE fully understands the greatness of God�s love.




Theologian Michael Reeves notes that many people in our culture who have rejected God may be reacting against a certain sort of God�what he calls "a loveless dictator in the sky." Reeves writes:

In my own experience, when I ask atheist or agnostic students to describe the God they don't believe in, I am usually treated to what sounds like a good description of Satan: a self-obsessed, merciless bully. And if God is not an ever-loving Father, eternally pouring out his Spirit of life and blessing on his Son, then their descriptions are probably pretty accurate. If God is not Father, Son, and Spirit, then he must be an eternally solitary being who has managed to get through eternity without love.

[Adapted from Michael Reeves, "Three Is the Loveliest Number," Christianity Today (December 2012)]


However, Our God is not without love. 1 John 3:1 tells us, �See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don�t recognize that we are God�s children because they don�t know him.�

Do not be deceived by those who don�t know God; for God loves all His children. We all should learn to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep is His love for us.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/07/17 11:20 AM
Psalm 97:10 (NIV)
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

The Lord despises the evil that fills the hearts of people. He therefore decrees that those who love Him should stay away from evil and God himself will deliver them from the hand of the wicked.



We often hear someone say: "Well, I'm not very religious, but I'm a good person and that is what is most important." But is that true? Imagine a woman, a poor widow with an only son. She teaches him how she wants him to live, to always tell the truth, to work hard and to help the poor.

She makes very little money, but with her meager savings she is able to put him through college. Imagine that when he graduates, he hardly even speaks to her again. He occasionally sends a Christmas card, but he doesn't visit her, he won't even answer her phone calls or letters; he doesn't speak to her. But he lives just like she taught him�honestly, industriously, and charitably.

Would you say this was acceptable? Of course not. Wouldn't we say by living a "good life" but neglecting a relationship with the one to whom he owed everything he was doing something commendable?

In the same way, God created us and we owe him everything and we do not live for him but we "live a good life" it is not enough. We all owe a debt that must be paid.


[Timothy Keller, Shaped by the Gospel: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Zondervan, 2016), page 3; Submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/09/17 11:38 AM
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

Here the apostle addresses those in the church who are caring for one another. Their love for one another is evident and the apostle said �we ought always to thank God�.



On a drizzly afternoon in early 2015 seven people gathered for Washington D.C.'s newest group�The Quitters Club. Tagline: "Let's Give Up on Our Dreams � Together!" One attendee was ready to cast aside her long-held ambition to become an actress. Same deal for a would-be writer. Another was ready to quit Washington D.C. The hodgepodge group of strangers were drawn together by the same invite that read: "Most of us have something special we'd like to do with our lives. At the Quitters Club we can help each other stomp out the brush fires set in our hearts, and get on with our lives."

Founder Justin Cannon has quit all sorts of things�filmmaking, music, graphic design. He is tortured by the dueling forces of grand ambition and intense self-doubt. Most often, the battle leaves him frozen. And despondent. At one point Cannon expressed his growing exasperation. "I was like, 'We should have a group where people want to give up on their dreams.' I was making a joke," he recalls. "But somebody said, 'You know, that's a really good idea.'"

A few days later he took action. He posted a note on Meetup for his new group. He thought he might be forming a club of one, but within 48 hours, 35 people signed up. And for the next two hours, one after another the attendees expressed their dreams and their inability to make progress. But surprisingly they end up encouraging each other to persevere. The actress, they decide, should give it a hard push for a year before tossing out her ambitions of making it on the stage. The unhappy Washingtonian should look for a new job before giving up on the city. The writer whose day job is getting in the way of her artistic pursuits should carve out time each day for her passion.

"Here we are at the Quitters Club and we're all encouraging each other to keep going," one attendee mused. "I knew that was gonna happen," Cannon says. They will meet again the following month to continue in their quest to help people quit. Or, as it turns out, to keep on trying.


[David Finch, Elk Grove, California; source: Ellen McCarthy, "The Quitters Club: Let's Give Up On Our Dreams Together," The Washington Post (3-25-15)]


In love keep on trying for God has faith in you, so the question becomes: Do you have faith in yourself?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/22/17 11:56 AM
1 John 4:18New International Version (NIV)

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (NIV)

Words to remind us there is no fear in perfect love. When we cause someone to fear are intent is not love, but is usually control, anger, bitterness and dishonesty.





In his sermon "Loving Your Enemies," Martin Luther King, Jr., said:

When Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man who ran all around the country talking about Lincoln. He said a lot of unkind things. And sometimes he would get to the point that he would even talk about his looks, saying, "You don't want a tall, lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States." &#133;

Finally, one day Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States.&#133; Then came the time for him to choose a secretary of war. He looked across the nation, and decided to choose a man by the name of Mr. Stanton. And when Abraham Lincoln stood around his advisors and mentioned this fact, they said to him: "Mr. Lincoln, are you a fool? Do you know what Mr. Stanton has been saying about you? Do you know what he as done, tried to do to you? Do you know that he has tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all of those derogatory statements that he made about you?"

Abraham Lincoln stood before the advisors around him and said: "Oh yeah. I know about it; I read about it; I've heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job."

Mr. Stanton did become secretary of war; and later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. And if you go to Washington, you will discover that one of the greatest words or statements ever made about Abraham Lincoln was by this man Stanton. As Abraham Lincoln came to the end of his life, Stanton stood up and said: "Now he belongs to the ages." And he made a beautiful statement concerning the character and the stature of this man.

If Abraham Lincoln had hated Stanton, if Abraham Lincoln had answered everything Stanton said, Abraham Lincoln would not have transformed and redeemed Stanton. Stanton would have gone to his grave hating Lincoln, and Lincoln would have gone to his grave hating Stanton. But through the power of love Abraham Lincoln was able to redeem Stanton.


[Martin Luther King, Jr., A Knock at Midnight, edited by Clayborne Carson and Peter Holloran (Warner Books, 1998) p.154]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/24/17 12:32 PM
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The Lord knows the best course for our lives and it is up to us to rely upon God so that we may prosper in a healthy way.




Anyone who's lived near train tracks knows the hassle and inconvenience a passing train can cause. You're already running late, you're driving up to the track crossing, and then�the barriers start flashing. It's a frustrating feeling.

But imagine if that happened as you were trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

That's exactly what happened to more than 100 runners in Pennsylvania, as a train crossed the marathon course�and crossed it very slowly. One runner, who was using the race as his last opportunity to qualify for Boston, said that he "missed his qualifying time by eight minutes."

Race officials had communicated with the railroad line prior to race day, and had received "absolute assurances�that trains would be suspended" during the race. Yet those assurances didn't stop a train from crossing the course's seventh mile.

"The incident is especially regrettable and was quite unexpected," the marathon's account posted on Facebook, noting that those times that were affected would "be addressed on a runner-by-runner basis."

We may have a plan laid out for running our best race, and we may have set goals and dreamed dreams, but one truth makes itself abundantly (and sometimes painfully) clear: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (Prov. 16:9).


[Emily Lund, PreachingToday.com; "Slow Train Crosses Lehigh Valley Marathon Course, Damaging Finish Times," NBC Philadelphia, 9-14-16]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 02/28/17 11:49 AM
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

God did not give us a spirit of timidity or weakness, but instead indwelled within us the power to reach out and love others through self-discipline.



The key to a happy and lasting marriage might be as simple as regularly expressing gratitude. So report researchers from the University of Georgia in a new study published in the journal Personal Relationships.

After interviewing 468 married individuals on relationship satisfaction, covering everything from communication habits to finances, they found that the "most consistent significant predictor" of happy marriages was whether one's spouse expressed gratitude. "Feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last," says study co-author Ted Futris.
And that goes for good times but perhaps especially bad ones�when couples experience stress and their communication devolves into what the researchers call a demand/withdraw cycle (i.e., one partner demands or criticizes; the other tries to avoid a confrontation). Gratitude can disrupt this, acting as a buffer.

"What distinguishes the marriages that last from those that don't is not how often they argue, but how they argue and how they treat each other on a daily basis," says Futris. Adds lead author Allen Barton, the study "goes to show the power of the key to a happy and lasting marriage might be as simple as regularly expressing gratitude." So saying thank you is a "practical way couples can help strengthen their marriage."


[This Might be a Key to Happy Marriage, USA Today (10-24-15); submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington,]



It only takes a minute to express your gratitude towards another. It doesn�t matter if it is a co-worker, friend, family member or spouse. Those few minutes you put into gratitude turn into years of delight for the other person. If you haven�t done so, start today looking for gratitude you canto express towards another.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/02/17 11:32 AM
Job 23:10-11 (NIV)
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. 11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

It is a great comfort to those who mean honestly that God understands their meaning, though men do not, cannot, or will not. [Matthew Henry]




Dan McConchie, vice president of government affairs at Americans United for Life, was riding his motorcycle through a suburban intersection when a car came into his lane and pushed him into on-coming traffic. When he woke two weeks later in a Level 1 trauma center, he was a mess. Six broken ribs, deflated left lung, broken clavicle, broken shoulder blade, and five broken vertebrae. Worst of all, amidst all the broken bones, he had a spinal-cord injury that left him a paraplegic. The neurosurgeon told his wife that it would be a "miracle" if he'd ever walk again.

Eight years later Dan is still in a wheelchair.

"What I learned," Dan said, "is that this life isn't for our comfort. Instead, the purpose of this life is that we become conformed to the image of Christ. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen when everything is unicorns and rainbows. It instead happens when life is tough, when we are forced to rely upon God through prayer just to make it through the day. That is when he is most at work in our lives molding us into who he designed us to be."

"My prayers are different today than they were eight years ago. Back then, I looked at God like Santa Claus. I asked him to send nice things my way. Now, I have one prayer that I pray more than any other: 'Lord, may I be able to say at the end of today that I was faithful.'"


[Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky; source; Dan McConchie,"Prayer and Faith in the Midst of Personal Tragedy," Washington Times (3-22-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/13/17 10:48 AM
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God has called each of us to His purpose to perform His will. No matter the circumstance, not matter the place, not matter where we are in life � God wants to use us for his purpose.



Richard Halverson, former pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland and also the former chaplain of the United States Senate used the following benediction at the end of each service/message for many years in his ministry. It reflects his deep conviction that his church was not only where the congregation met on Sundays, but at each place where they lived and worked through the week.

A Benediction
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there.
God has a purpose in your being right where you are.
Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit,
wants to do something in and through you.
Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/15/17 11:12 AM
Acts 4:10;12 (NIV)
10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.�

The testimony of Peter and John about the death of Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and the salvation He brought to save mankind.




"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me." I [Dale Bruner] had a personal, yet very public experience with this text not long ago. I was giving Bible studies in the morning at a week-long Lutheran pastors' conference, and Dr. Prasanna Kumari, a lovely Asian-Indian woman, was giving the evening platform addresses. Dr. Kumari is the president of the Lutheran Church in India and was (I believe) the executive director of the Theological Commission of the Lutheran World Federation. She is a very impressive woman.

In the mornings, I was teaching John, chapter 1, for all I was worth. The theme, as it is everywhere in John's Gospel, is the exclusivity of Christ. (One thinks, for example, of John 1:18: "No one has ever seen God before, but God the only Son, who is at the very heart of the Father, he has explained God.") In the evenings, Dr. Kumari was teaching that, indeed, Christ is the way for the Christian. But, she added, in India a sincere Hindu could also go to God, and Buddhists could find their way to God too. The ordinary way of salvation is sincere devotion to one's own religious tradition; the extraordinary way of salvation is Jesus Christ. As long as people are sincere, they can get to God or to saving truth as they understand it.

Dr. Kumari and I were going in two different directions!

It is bad form at a conference for one speaker to contradict another. All week long I wrestled with this inclusive/exclusive issue. This is the conclusion I came to and shared with the conference on the last morning:

In the past, when asked what my theological position was, I have described myself as a Christocentrist, but I now realize that that is not an adequate answer. I am a Christoexclusivist! Dr. Kumari is absolutely Christ-centered. She loves the Lord Jesus Christ�no questions about it. But I have come to realize this week that, for me, Christ is not only the center�he is the circumference. He is the only way to the responsible knowledge of, or participation in, saving truth. Christ is exclusive.

[Dale Bruner, Theology, News and Notes of Fuller Seminary (October 1999), pp.3-4]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/22/17 11:05 AM
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil�s schemes.

The Apostle reminds us to believe in the mighty power of the Lord so we will be strong and find mighty power and courage to do things that stand against the devil�s schemes.




Hacksaw Ridge, a November 2016 movie produced by Mel Gibson, features the true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss, a Christian who wouldn't touch a weapon or work on the Sabbath, enlisted in the Army as a combat medic because he believed in the cause, but had vowed not to kill. The Army wanted nothing to do with him. His fellow soldiers considered him a pest, questioned his sincerity, and threw shoes at him while he prayed. Doss' commanding officer, Capt. Jack Glover, tried to get him transferred. In a documentary based on Doss' life, Glover says Doss told him, "Don't ever doubt my courage because I will be right by your side saving life while you take life."

At Okinawa in the spring of 1945, Doss' company faced a grueling task: Climb a steep, jagged cliff�sometimes called Hacksaw Ridge�to a plateau where thousands of heavily armed Japanese soldiers were waiting for them. The terrain was treacherous. Under a barrage of gunfire and explosions, Doss crawled on the ground from wounded soldier to wounded soldier. He dragged severely injured men to the edge of the ridge, tied a rope around their bodies and lowered them down to other medics below. In the documentary, Doss says: "I was praying the whole time. I just kept praying, 'Lord, please help me get one more.'" Veteran Carl Bentley, who was also at Hacksaw Ridge, once said, "It's as if God had his hand on [Doss'] shoulder. It's the only explanation I can give."

Pfc. Demond T. Doss saved 75 men�including his captain, Jack Glover�over a 12-hour period. The same soldiers who had shamed him now praised him. "He was one of the bravest persons alive," Glover says in the documentary. "And then to have him end up saving my life was the irony of the whole thing."


[Adapted from Elizabeth Blair, "The Real 'Hacksaw Ridge' Soldier Saved 75 Souls Without Ever Carrying A Gun," NPR Morning Edition (11-4-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/27/17 10:57 AM
Psalm 62:7 (NIV)
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

God is out rock, the place where we can go when we face despair. Our salvation comes from God and it upon God whom we trust.



The 1960 film Pollyanna starring Hayley Mills, based on the novel by Eleanor H. Porter, written in 1913 was released. The lead character's full name was Pollyanna Whittier. After the death of her parents she went to live with her wealthy but rather unpleasant Aunt Polly in Vermont. The approach Pollyanna took to life was highly optimistic, to say the least. She called it "The Glad Game". Regardless of the circumstances in which you find yourself, you must always find something to be glad about. Pollyanna first thought of the game when instead of a doll for Christmas she ended up with only a pair of crutches. She made up the game on the spot, determined to look on the bright side of things. In this case, she was glad she had crutches because she didn't need to use them! And that's something to be glad about!

Playing "the glad game" is about the only thing that enabled Pollyanna to survive in the house of her Aunt. When she is confined in the attic, she is "glad" that there is at least a beautiful view from a high window. When she is punished for being late and her dinner is only bread and milk, she is again "glad" because she at least has something to eat.

Pollyanna's philosophy of life is genuinely put to the test when she is hit by a car and loses the use of both legs. Lying in bed, she comes to grips with the severity of her situation. But instead of falling into depression or bitterness, she decides she can at least be glad that she has her legs, even if they don't do her much good. Pollyanna eventually is sent to a hospital where she learns to walk again and thus once more finds a good reason to be glad.


God tells us to be thankful for everything that comes our way, not just the good, but also the bad. Pollyanna showed it was possible as she found gladness even in the moment of despair. This how God wants us to live.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 03/30/17 11:31 AM
Isaiah 53:3-4 (NIV)
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

There were those who knew the good works of Christ, yet He was rejected and made to suffer. Then He took up our sin on the cross and bore our suffering. Some believed God was punishing Him, but it was God�s plan all along to offer the perfect sacrifice for man�s sin through Jesus Christ Our Lord.



In 1927, the famous English poet and essayist T.S. Eliot became a Christian and was baptized and confirmed. Prior to his conversion, Eliot belonged to London's Bloomsbury Group, a small, informal association of artists and intellectuals who lived and worked in the Bloomsbury area of central London. But when news of Eliot's conversion hit the news, the Bloomsbury Group responded with shock and even disgust. The writer Virginia Woolf, the de facto leader of the group, penned the following letter to one of her peers:

I have had a most shameful and distressing interview with dear Tom Eliot, who may be called dead to us all from this day forward. He has become a [believer] in God and immortality, and he goes to church. I was shocked. A corpse would seem more credible than he is. I mean, there's something obscene in a living person sitting by the fire and believing in God. [Joseph Loconte, A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and a Great War (Thomas Nelson, 2015), pp. 124-125]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/10/17 10:43 AM
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died not for the wealthy, the admired, the famous or any other notable group of people. Christ died for all the ungodliness in the world. That while we were sinners, God loved us so much that He allowed the Son He loved, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.


No greater pain has ever been experienced on any level than the hell of Christ suffering in this moment. But why? Because he carried all of that pain, sin, guilt, and shame in that moment. Yet on a far deeper level he was forsaken and punished for us to reconcile us to God (2 Cor. 5:18).

Tim Keller illustrates it this way:

If after a service some Sunday morning one of the members of my church comes to me and says, "I never want to see you or talk to you again," I will feel pretty bad. But if today my wife comes up to me and says, "I never want to see you or talk to you again," that's a lot worse. The longer the love, the deeper the love, the greater the torment of its loss.

But this forsakenness, this loss, was between the Father and the Son, who had loved each other from all eternity. � Jesus, the Maker of the world, was being unmade. Why? Jesus was experiencing Judgment Day. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It wasn't a rhetorical question. And the answer is: For you, for me, for us. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we would never have to be. The judgment that should have fallen on us fell instead on Jesus.


[Stu Epperson, Last Words of Jesus (Worthy Inspired, 2015)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 04/11/17 11:02 AM
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
24 �He himself bore our sins� in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; �by his wounds you have been healed.�

God has a plan for our life, yet there are often obstacles that we face hampering our relationship with Christ. We need to remember Christ took on all our sins so that we could be healed.




Tim Keller was once asked to identify a few obstacles to revival in the contemporary church. Drawing on his experience in Manhattan, Keller started with one issue�the fact that almost all singles outside the Church and a majority inside the Church are sleeping with each other.

Keller illustrated the point by talking about a tactic, one that he admitted was almost too unkind to use, that an old college pastor associate of his used when catching up with college students who were home from school. He'd ask them to grab coffee with him to catch up on life. When he'd ask about their spiritual lives, they'd often hem and haw, talking about the difficulties and doubts now that they'd taken a little philosophy, or maybe a science class or two, and how it all started to shake the foundations. At that point, he'd look at them and ask one question, "So who have you been sleeping with?" Shocked, their faces would inevitably fall and say something like "How did you know?" Keller pointed out that it's a pretty easy bet that when you have a kid coming home with questions about evolution or philosophy, or some such issue, the prior issue is a troubled conscience.

Keller concludes that if the Church is going to see serious spiritual renewal, especially among the younger generations, we need to present an alternative view of sex that is beautiful, but different than the one offered in the dominant cultural narratives; a view of sexuality that affirms its goodness while placing it within God's intended framework.


Adapted from Derek Rishmawy, "Who Are You Sleeping With? My Conversation with Timothy Keller," Patheos blog (4-11-13)
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/01/17 10:47 AM
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Faith is putting trust in what we fully don�t understand or know. Faith is often following God who we have never met face to face. Faith is the hope to see something greater that right now we are too blind to see.



Is it rational to trust God even when we do not fully understand what he is doing? One of the most illuminating answers was put forward by the Oxford philosopher Basil Mitchell in his celebrated parable of the resistance leader.

Imagine you are in German-occupied France during World War II and you want to join the resistance movement against the Nazis. One evening in the local bar a stranger comes up to you and introduces himself as the leader of the local partisans. He spends the evening with you, explaining the general requirements of your duties, giving you a chance to assess his trustworthiness, and offering you the chance to go no further. But his warning is stern: If you join, your life will be at risk. This will be the only face-to-face meeting you will have. After this, you will receive orders and you will have to follow them without question, often completely in the dark as to the whys and wherefores of the operations, and always with the terrifying fear that your trust may be betrayed.

Is such trust reasonable? Sometimes what the resistance leader is doing is obvious. He is helping members of the resistance. "Thank heavens he is on our side," you say. Sometimes it is not obvious. He is in Gestapo uniform arresting partisans and�unknown to you�releasing them out of sight to help them escape the Nazis. But always you must trust and follow the orders without question, despite all appearances, no matter what happens. "The resistance leader knows best," you say. Only after the war will the secrets be open, the codes revealed, the true comrades vindicated, the traitors exposed, and sense made of the explanations.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/02/17 10:44 AM
1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us�whatever we ask�we know that we have what we asked of him.

God waits for us to stop in and take safe haven with Him. We can be confidence if we seek God according to His will we know we are heard and we will have an answer.




Christian trauma expert Dr. Jamie Aten notes, "When our friends and loved ones are impacted by violence and mass trauma it can leave us feeling helpless, cause us to 'freeze' up, or say things we wouldn't normally say," often relying on harmful clich�s. Dr. Aten claims that the best thing we can do is summed up in two words: "offer refuge." He explains:

Some examples of how you can serve as a refuge include listening with acceptance, being present in your helping, and giving the gift of connection � I learned the importance of refuge from a Hurricane Katrina research study my team and I conducted just weeks after the storm made landfall. I'll never forget the evacuation experience one of the survivors we interviewed shared. He described trying to escape from his home along the coast by car. However, as he tried to drive away the winds and rain grew stronger. He quickly started to loose visibility. He knew he wasn't going to be able to go much farther.

About the time panic started to set in he saw something moving just ahead off the side of the road. A neighbor he'd never met before was standing outside in the pouring rain and howling wind with a homemade particleboard sign with the words "STOP HERE" spray-painted on it. Rather than continue alone on his journey, the man turned into his neighbors drive and found a safe haven.


[Jamie D. Aten, "3 Things Not to Say After the Dallas, MN, and LA Shootings," Psychology Today (7-8-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/16/17 11:04 AM
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.�

The Lord our God loves us. He takes delight in us and provides us with His mercy and grace. He does not continue to rebuke us, but instead leads us in songs of praise that we can know He is with us.




When Marion Duckworth was in first grade, the Depression had just ended, and talking about anything related to sex�especially sexual abuse�was taboo. So when an older man coaxed her away from her paper dolls one afternoon and fondled her, Marion felt she had to keep her dirty secret to herself. And she did.

Marion didn't tell anyone about the incident until she was 21 and engaged. Her fianc�, John, was furious. He wanted to hunt the perpetrator down, but she pled with him to let it go. She insisted the man was too old to hurt anyone else.

What Marion couldn't tell John, though, was that she had suffered from flashbacks ever since the day of the abuse. She had no visual memory of the incident, but she could feel�vividly�the man's repulsive touch. Any lurid or sleazy image would trigger these sickening flashbacks.

One afternoon, as Marion and John perused a drug store, John showed her a steamy magazine cover, disgusted by what children were regularly exposed to. Experiencing a flashback, Marion quickly agreed with him, then hurried to another part of the store to be alone. She writes in Today's Christian:

While I pretended to contemplate Noxema, the Holy Spirit spoke shocking words to my mind. "You'll never relive these feelings again." The message rang with authority; I didn't doubt it was God's voice. I decided I'd know for sure this was a genuine miracle if the feelings never returned. They never did.

Not once through the years had I asked God to heal that memory. It hadn't occurred to me that He would do such a thing. I was too ashamed to talk about it to a Christian counselor�much less to a holy God. So I simply tried�unsuccessfully�to suppress it.

From that day forward, whenever I was exposed to some image of sleaze, I reminded myself with profound gratitude of what didn't happen. There was no flashback. Just sorrow over sin and a prayer for God's intercession in our broken world.


[Adapted from Marion Duckworth, "Stolen Innocence," Today's Christian (May/June 2006)]


What things do you need to say to God? Are you holding in pains of the past? Perhaps you are struggling with issues in life. Whatever they are you have a loving God that wants to help you and help you rejoice in life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/23/17 10:38 AM
Romans 15:2 (NIV)
2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

We need to remember to encourage our family, neighbors and friends. We need to let them know that a Holy God loves them and will be there with them.





Someone told me the other night about an Anton Chekhov story called "The Lament." It is a simple story about an old man who drives a horse and buggy for hire through the city.

The story goes that the old man's son died recently and he wants so desperately to tell someone. A wealthy man hires the horse and buggy for a ride across town. As the wealthy man steps into the carriage, the old man says, "My son, my son. Let me tell you about my son." But the busy man doesn't have time to listen.

Well, after the wealthy man leaves, another man steps into the carriage. He wants to be driven to the other side of the city. Again, the old man says, "My son. My son. Let me tell you about my son." And again, this second man also doesn't bother to listen.

At the end of the day, the old man returns to the stables, unhitches his horse, and as he begins to brush the horse down for the night, the old man begins to tell the horse, "My son. My son." And he tells the horse the tragic story.


[Christopher de Vinck, Simple Wonders, (Zondervan, 1995), page 157]


Many of us are just too busy to listen, but there are many people who want someone to listen to them. They want to share their griefs, their conflicts and their emotions. When someone comes to you be ready to listen and build them up.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 05/31/17 11:01 AM
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

God promises His children that they wil be in heaven with Him. There will be a time when those who have died and those who are alive will all be together in the presence of The Lord.



In their book Building a Church of Small Groups, Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson relate the words of Lyman Coleman as he reflected on the death of his beloved wife, Margaret:

The most painful decision of my life was asking God to take her home. She had been suffering from repeated brain seizures and her body was wasted. I whispered in her ear: "Honey, I love you. I love you. Jesus wants you to come home. We are going to be all right. We give you permission to let go." She closed her eyes and fell asleep�.

As I write this letter, I realize I am without my editor. My greatest critic. My teammate. Soulmate. Prayermate. Partner in everything. We traveled the roads less traveled together in hard times and good times. Honey, I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I will keep the light on for the kids. I will be there for friends. And one day, we are going to join you. All of us. Because Jesus promised it. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."


[Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson, Building a Church of Small Groups (Zondervan, 2001), p. 61]


I had a man tell me once, �I don�t know about me and God. I don�t know if I�m good enough for heaven.� I took the time to explain there is no one perfect in this world. All our righteous works are like dirty rags. There is no one who even comes close to the righteousness of God. It is why it is so important to understand Jesus Christ is God�s son as well as God. I know our minds have a hard time conceiving that, but it�s like an egg. There is a yoke, the white and the shell, yet it is an egg. With God, there is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ, fully God, was born of this world. He lived without sin, just as God the Father is without sin. Christ was tortured, beaten and crucified for our sake that we could be free from the punishment of sin. Jesus rose to life three days later showing us that we too would have a new life. John 3:16 says, �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.� Trust, belief, faith that is how we enter God�s kingdom. The man I talked with said, �I want that today� so I prayed with him and he now knows that he is a child of God. One day will be in heaven with all God�s children.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/06/17 10:53 AM
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord�s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge�that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

If we understand the depth and width of God�s love for us we would wake up each day praising Him for being in our lives. And as we are filled with God�s love it overflows where we can use it for others.



Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is best known for his roles in Glory, The Preacher's Wife, Remember the Titans, and Training Day. But the Hollywood A-lister has sounded more like a pastor when has spoken at recent events. Washington has publicly stated that he reads his Bible every day and that he strives to consistently "get up and speak of what God has done for him."

At a November 2015 church banquet he urged his listeners to live in a constant attitude of gratitude for God's goodness:

Give thanks for blessings every day. Every day. Embrace gratitude. Encourage others. It is impossible to be grateful and hateful at the same time. I pray that you put your slippers way under your bed at night, so that when you wake in the morning you have to start on your knees to find them. And while you're down there, say "thank you." A bad attitude is like a flat tire. Until you change it, you're not going anywhere.


[Jeannie Law, "Denzel Washington: God Has 'Faith in Me,'" Christian Post (11-12-15)]


Let�s take away our bad attitudes and instead have and attitude of gratitude. Let us love like the love of Christ. Let us be filled with His presence so that we may be rooted and established in love for all people.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/26/17 11:10 AM
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
18 ��Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

God asks us not to bear grudges, but instead to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to do this no matter how tough it might be to love the other person.



A Florida priest murdered in 2016 has appealed from beyond the grave for his alleged killer to be shown mercy, reports the BBC. In a letter written 22 years before his murder, Reverend Rene Robert requested that whoever took his life be spared execution "no matter how heinous their crime or how much I may have suffered."

The body of 71-year-old Fr. Robert, of St Augustine, Florida, was found riddled with bullets in Georgia in April 2016. Authorities say he was killed days earlier by a man, Steven Murray, whom he had been trying to help for months. Mr. Murray, a repeat offender, had asked the priest for a lift in Jacksonville, Florida, before abducting and murdering him, authorities said. At the time of the trial, the prosecutor was pushing for the death penalty.

But in 1995, the priest had signed a "Declaration of Life" document, which was witnessed and notarized by a lawyer. Fr. Robert wrote, "I request that the person found guilty of homicide for my killing not be subject to or put in jeopardy of the death penalty under any circumstances."

Fr. Robert devoted his life to helping society's most troubled people, including convicts and the mentally afflicted, say friends. "He was well aware for the potential violence that might involve his ministry, but he cared for those people nonetheless," said Archbishop Wilton Gregory. During a court appearance, Mr. Murray appealed for forgiveness by noting Fr. Robert's own words: "If anybody loves Father Rene, they'll forgive me because he was a man of God, and forgiveness is forgiveness."


Reverend Robert understood the need to love others and show mercy so much that he prepared a statement to others long before his death. It was a request to forgive anyone who might have a hand in his death. How many of us are willing to forgive others for the minor things they might do to us, much less the murder caused by another�s hands.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 06/27/17 10:54 AM
Matthew 16:25 (NIV)
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

This verse reminds us that we must let go of our self-centered beliefs by giving up our preconceived throughs and instead turning our life over to God. It is then that we will truly find our life.



We often hear someone say: "Well, I'm not very religious, but I'm a good person and that is what is most important." But is that true? Imagine a woman, a poor widow with an only son. She teaches him how she wants him to live, to always tell the truth, to work hard and to help the poor.

She makes very little money, but with her meager savings she is able to put him through college. Imagine that when he graduates, he hardly even speaks to her again. He occasionally sends a Christmas card, but he doesn't visit her, he won't even answer her phone calls or letters; he doesn't speak to her. But he lives just like she taught him�honestly, industriously, and charitably.

Would you say this was acceptable? Of course not. Wouldn't we say by living a "good life" but neglecting a relationship with the one to whom he owed everything he was doing something commendable?

In the same way, God created us and we owe him everything and we do not live for him but we "live a good life" it is not enough. We all owe a debt that must be paid.


[Timothy Keller, Shaped by the Gospel: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Zondervan, 2016), page 3; Submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]


Salvation is about a relationship with God that brings us into contact with His Son Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It�s a binding relationship between us and God brought about by Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sin. Not just my sin or your sin, but everyone�s sin. Christ paid the debt of sin in full by dying on
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/18/17 12:06 PM
Psalm 119:7 (NIV)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws

David was a man after God�s own heart. He desired to be like God and to follow in his ways. Yet David stumbled often in his walk with God as so many have; but David was always willing to humble himself before God and take responsibility for his failures.



Acts 13
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:



We see through these verses the people of Israel were always seeking the wrong thing or person. The David came along and declare him a man after His own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. It was through David�s linage that Christ was born and gave His life for all people to free the from sin. So through David, through Christ God�s will was fulfilled.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 07/31/17 10:25 AM
John 1:12-13 (NIV)
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God� 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband�s will, but born of God.

Those who are a part of the family of Christ were not natural descendants, but were adopted into the family of God by God�s grace, mercy and love.



The movie A Knight's Tale, set in medieval England, tells the story of a young would-be knight named Ulrich. In those days, men had to be descended from noble stock in order to become a knight. But Ulrich does not have a drop of royal blood in him. Even so, he attempts to secure his place in history by winning a famous tournament.

It is traditional for the knight's squire to introduce him at such tournaments, usually delivering a grandiose recitation of the knight's royal lineage. In this scene, Ulrich's squire is a young Geoffrey Chaucer. People in the audience smile as Chaucer cranks up the hype like a modern-day puffmeister:

I cannot look upon my Lord Ulrich, for I weep to see his shining face. My Lord is a gift to your eyes, for we shall never, ever see his like upon this Earth again. I would list his lineage if it served to honor him. Most men here�it's sad, but it's true�they look to their past to prove their worth; they look to the deeds of their fathers.

Now, Sir Ulrich has great ancestors, make no mistake about that. Sir Chirard von Richbach, Duke Guelph of Saxony, Van Misch IV out of Brunswick�but these great, great men pale into insignificance next to him. I do not list them to honor him; I list him to honor them!

That was all hype, of course, but that last line captures the essence of Jesus' genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Jesus Christ "has great ancestors�make no mistake about that! But these great men (and women) pale into insignificance next to him. I do not list them to honor him; I list him to honor them!"

[A Knight's Tale (Columbia Pictures, 2001), directed by Brian Helgeland; submitted by Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/01/17 11:19 AM
Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Here the psalmist reminds us God is our protection in the storm. God is our shelter. We can have hope in His word when we cannot find hope in others or ourselves.




In an interview about his book The Folly of Prayer (IVP, 2009), author and pastor Matt Woodley shared a story about his friend Theresa. Theresa was experiencing what St. John of the Cross calls a dark night of the soul�a period of spiritual loneliness and despair. Over the course of describing her story, listen to how Woodley discovered that what seemed most helpless in his ministry was actually the most helpful:

After marrying the man of her dreams, [Theresa] dropped into the abyss of a deep depression. Everything went dark in her mind and body. She even started writing her obituary. Three years ago I would have had plenty of answers and solutions for her. I would have been so clever and powerful. But now I could only sit with her in her pain. We prayed. I didn't know what to do, didn't have any answers, so I said, "Theresa, I have no idea what to say, so could we just read the Psalms?" Then I read Psalm 77, an agonizing psalm of lament, and I went home. I left feeling utterly powerless, and I sure didn't think that I made her feel better.

The next week another leader of our church visited Theresa. She was still suffering intensely, but when the leader asked if he could pray for her, Theresa said, "Yes, but before you pray, please read Psalm 77. I've been clinging to it all week. It's my lifeline to God." Apparently when we read Psalm 77 in utter powerlessness, God showed up in her life with power.

Woodley adds: "At times the best, most powerful and most useful way to love someone is to get to the end of myself. I admit that I can't fix or change you. My words and my advice won't heal your brokenness. But I can be with you, and we can go together to the Father."
Posted By: abrrba Re: Devotionals - 08/02/17 05:51 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Here the psalmist reminds us God is our protection in the storm. God is our shelter. We can have hope in His word when we cannot find hope in others or ourselves.




In an interview about his book The Folly of Prayer (IVP, 2009), author and pastor Matt Woodley shared a story about his friend Theresa. Theresa was experiencing what St. John of the Cross calls a dark night of the soul�a period of spiritual loneliness and despair. Over the course of describing her story, listen to how Woodley discovered that what seemed most helpless in his ministry was actually the most helpful:

After marrying the man of her dreams, [Theresa] dropped into the abyss of a deep depression. Everything went dark in her mind and body. She even started writing her obituary. Three years ago I would have had plenty of answers and solutions for her. I would have been so clever and powerful. But now I could only sit with her in her pain. We prayed. I didn't know what to do, didn't have any answers, so I said, "Theresa, I have no idea what to say, so could we just read the Psalms?" Then I read Psalm 77, an agonizing psalm of lament, and I went home. I left feeling utterly powerless, and I sure didn't think that I made her feel better.

The next week another leader of our church visited Theresa. She was still suffering intensely, but when the leader asked if he could pray for her, Theresa said, "Yes, but before you pray, please read Psalm 77. I've been clinging to it all week. It's my lifeline to God." Apparently when we read Psalm 77 in utter powerlessness, God showed up in her life with power.

Woodley adds: "At times the best, most powerful and most useful way to love someone is to get to the end of myself. I admit that I can't fix or change you. My words and my advice won't heal your brokenness. But I can be with you, and we can go together to the Father."

Thank you for this inspiring devotional. I just read Psalm 77, and found it very comforting, I will re-read often!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/07/17 11:07 AM
Isaiah 33:22 (NIV)
22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.

Many people have a harsh view of God. They hear that he judges, but then they assume a has penalty must come along with that judgment. Yet this verses tell us the same God that judges us will also be the same God to save us from our sins.



It's a given that some judges in the American legal system are more severe than others. But Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak�from Will County, Illinois�may be the only federal judge who has sentenced a man to prison because of a yawn.

That's right. In August of 2009, Clifton Williams was attending the hearing of his cousin in a Joliet courtroom. His cousin pled guilty to a felony drug charge, and when Judge Rozak delivered a sentence of two years probation, Mr. Williams let loose the incriminating yawn.

Judge Rozak noticed, later describing the incident by saying that Williams "raised his hands while at the same time making a loud yawning sound." The judge decided that this was a disrespectful interruption of the court, and sentenced Williams to six months in jail�the maximum penalty for contempt of court without a jury trial.

This isn't the first time that Judge Rozak has flexed his judicial muscles. A Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that Rozak has charged several court spectators with contempt when their cell phones rang in the middle of a session. In fact, with 30 judges operating in his Judicial Circuit, Judge Rozak has brought more than a third of all the contempt charges filed in the past 10 years.

People like Daniel Rozak are the reason why some people cringe when they hear God described as a Judge. They wonder, Will God judge me with fairness?


[Sam O'Neal, Geneva, Illinois; source: Matt Bartosik, "Shut Yer Mouth: Man Gets Six Months for Yawning," nbcnewyork.com (8-11-2009)]


Isn�t it great that we have a God who is loving, merciful, gracious and does not impose a harsh sentence when He has probably had every right to. Instead God loved us enough to provide salvation through his son Jesus Christ.
Posted By: Sunnytimes Re: Devotionals - 08/09/17 05:29 PM
Sadly, there are a lot of books out there for marriages written by harsh and graceless judges, causing a great deal of damage to couples in crisis.

In these books, the authors employ the heights of Phariseeism to pad plain Bible truths with machinations of their own makings. They heap even more burdens on marital victims as they gerrymander their way through the Scriptures to selectively enforce one verse but not another.

The beauty of the Marriage Builders plan is that it documents what has actually worked for 1,000's of couples.

Searching for Scriptural basis backwards (I had the answer, now how does it fit?) opened my eyes to a TREMENDOUS amount of Scripture that in retrospect clearly applies to marital behavior leaving me to realize that the verses which specifically include marital key words are only 10% at best of Scripture that does actually apply to marital behavior.

I needed that backwards approach to more fully understand and appreciate the vast amount of grace and care God does show towards people in marriages where their spouse's behaviors are not matching their profession. God also provides many remedies to correcting this type of behavior. Not so coincidentally, these remedies are astonishingly in line with those that Dr. Harley has found to actually work.

The extra-Biblical judgemental harshness that many pastors and other marital "authorities"/authors apply to marriages is so very sad.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/17 10:58 AM
You are so right. Sadly there are those who write and act as harsh and graceless judges. It's why I try to focus on the love, grace and mercy of God who is willing to reconcile us and restore us. It is through that restoration marriages can be renewed. I always appreciate feedback. Thank you for you kind words.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/17 10:58 AM
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

The psalmist informs us to give thanks to The Lord for the many good things He has given us.



A growing body of research has tied an attitude of gratitude with a number of positive emotional and physical health benefits. A November 2010 article in The Wall Street Journal summarized the research:

Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They're also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy, or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly, and have greater resistance to viral infections.

Now, researchers are finding that gratitude brings similar benefits in children and adolescents. [Studies also show that] kids who feel and act grateful tend to be less materialistic, get better grades, set higher goals, complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches, and feel more satisfied with their friends, families, and schools than those who don't.

The researchers concluded, "A lot of these findings are things we learned in kindergarten or our grandmothers told us, but now we have scientific evidence to prove them �. The key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table."


[Melinda Beck, "Thank You. No, Thank You," The Wall Street Journal (11-23-10)]


The Bible instructs us to give thanks to The Lord and to rejoice and be happy. For God�s love endures and remains with us forever, so why should we share our thanksgiving with others.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/21/17 10:42 AM
Psalm 42:8 NIV
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me� a prayer to the God of my life.

Things are bad, but they shall not always be so. Though affairs are now in an evil plight, they may not always be so. After the storm there will come a calm, and the prospect of this supported him when deep called unto deep.




In his book Soul Searching, Christian Smith summarized perceptions about God that are prevalent in the church and in contemporary culture. He said that most young evangelicals believed in what could best be described as "moral, therapeutic deism" (we could also call this viewpoint "the Santa Claus god").

Moral implies that God wants us to be nice. He rewards the good and withholds from the naughty.

Therapeutic means that God just wants us to be happy.

Deism means that God is distant and not involved in our daily lives. God may get involved occasionally, but on the whole, God functions like an idea not a personal being actively present in our world.

According to Smith, this is the version of God that's prevalent in our culture and in our churches. Often without realizing it, every culture quietly molds and shapes our views of God. But we can't grow in our relationship with God when we insist on relating to God as we think he should be. It's the same way in our human relationships: if I demand that you just meet my needs and conform to my assumptions about you, you will probably feel cheapened and manipulated.

That's why our surrender to God-as-he-is, as revealed in the Bible, is so important. Otherwise, we will have a god of our own imaginations�and, embarrassingly, our American god is an obese, jolly toymaker who works one day a year.

Have you surrendered to God or are you talking on life�s battles yourself?
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/26/17 10:58 AM
Hebrews 10:30-31 (NIV)
30 For we know him who said, �It is mine to avenge; I will repay,�] and again, �The Lord will judge his people.� 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The terrors of the Lord are known both by revelation and reason. Vindictive justice is a glorious, though terrible attribute of God; it belongs to him, and he will use and execute it upon the heads of such sinners as despise his grace; he will avenge himself, and his Son, and Spirit, and covenant, upon apostates. And how dreadful then will their case be!

When you are in God�s hands you are at His mercy and His grace and His love.



Author and speaker Brennan Manning has an amazing story about how he got the name "Brennan." While growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together: bought a car together as teenagers, double-dated together, went to school together and so forth. They even enlisted in the Army together, went to boot camp together and fought on the frontlines together. One night while sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a live grenade came into the foxhole. Ray looked at Brennan, smiled, dropped his chocolate bar and threw himself on the live grenade. It exploded, killing Ray, but Brennan's life was spared.

When Brennan became a priest he was instructed to take on the name of a saint. He thought of his friend, Ray Brennan. So he took on the name "Brennan." Years later he went to visit Ray's mother in Brooklyn. They sat up late one night having tea when Brennan asked her, "Do you think Ray loved me?" Mrs. Brennan got up off the couch, shook her finger in front of Brennan's face and shouted, "What more could he have done for you?" Brennan said that at that moment he experienced an epiphany. He imagined himself standing before the cross of Jesus wondering, Does God really love me? And Jesus' mother Mary pointing to her son, saying, "What more could he have done for you?"
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/10/17 11:41 AM
Proverbs 19:20-21 (NIV)
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
21 Many are the plans in a person�s heart,
but it is the Lord�s purpose that prevails.

We all may think we know what is best. We may even argue with friends or spouse, the there is always the change we could be wrong. We are to listen to advice and when we know it to be trues we are to accept it as discipline. Then our own words will become wisdom for others. So we may have plans and thoughts, without the Lord�s wisdom His purpose will prevail.




Some years ago, Tim Keller had a relative who never would wear a seat belt. Every time he talked to him, he would get in the car, but wouldn't wear his seat belt. We all nagged him to no avail. Then one day he got in the car and put his seat belt on right away. We said, "What happened to you?" He said, "A couple weeks ago, I went to see a friend of mine in the hospital. He was in a car crash, and he went through the windshield. He had like 200 stitches in his face. For some strange reason, ever since then, I've been having no problem buckling up."

I asked him, "Well, did you get new information? What changed you? Did you not know that people go through the windshield?" Of course I knew the answer to those questions: What happened was that an abstract proposition became connected to an actual sensory experience that is something he saw. As Jonathan Edwards used to basically say over and over again, it's only when you attach to some truth�that's when real life change occurs. Something has to become real to your heart. Then you will be changed.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/02/18 11:01 AM
James 1:22 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

We all have a problem with our heart, not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Throughout The Bible, God has told us how to live our lives, yet we often ignore the words He has given us. In our disobedience, there are consequences we face. If only we would listen to what God has told us our lives would be much simpler.



A [2006] medical study reveals just how difficult change is for people. Roughly 600,000 people have heart bypasses a year in America. These people are told after their bypasses that they must change their lifestyle. The heart bypass is a temporary fix. They must change their diet. They must quit smoking and drinking. They must exercise and reduce stress.

In essence, the doctors say, "Change or die."

You would think that a near-death experience would forever grab the attention of the patients. You would think they would vote for change. You would think the argument for change is so compelling that the patients would make the appropriate lifestyle alterations. Sadly that is not the case.

Ninety percent of the heart patients do not change. They remain the same, living the status quo. Study after study indicates that two years after heart surgery, the patients have not altered their behavior. Instead of making changes for life, they choose death.

Change is that difficult. The majority of the heart patients choose not to change. They act as if they would rather die.

[Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, Simple Church (B & H Publishing Group, 2006), p. 229]
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 08/02/18 12:30 PM
Hi, AskMe. Long time no see!
Posted By: markos Re: Devotionals - 08/02/18 12:32 PM
Originally Posted by AskMe
You would think that a near-death experience would forever grab the attention of the patients. You would think they would vote for change. You would think the argument for change is so compelling that the patients would make the appropriate lifestyle alterations. Sadly that is not the case.

Ninety percent of the heart patients do not change. They remain the same, living the status quo. Study after study indicates that two years after heart surgery, the patients have not altered their behavior. Instead of making changes for life, they choose death.

Change is that difficult. The majority of the heart patients choose not to change. They act as if they would rather die.

Wow.

Dr. Harley tells a story on the radio of his grandfather, who had a severe angry outburst problem and got into brawl after brawl. At some point he had a heart attack during an angry outburst. The doctor told him that if he lost his temper just one more time it would mean the end of his life. He held his temper from then on.

Apparently most people aren't like that.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 08/14/18 10:58 AM
Revelation 3:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Here we see an invitation given to the Church of Leodicia from The Lord. He states that if anyone hears His voice and opens the door He will come in and dine with them. It is a wonderful invitation suggesting warmth, intimacy and friendship. Have you heard The Lord and asked Him to join you?



In the Chicago Tribune Magazine actor Kyle Chandler was asked a series of finish-the-sentence questions.

One question was, "I'd give anything to meet___."

Chandler answered, "God Almighty. I'd like to share my favorite meal with him, and I'd let him do all the talking."

Such an offer is open to Chandler. Revelation 3:20 states: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

[Cheryl Lavin, "Fast Track," Chicago Tribune Magazine (March 2001); submitted by Lee Eclov]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/05/18 11:09 AM
Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, �All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.�

In these verses Jesus speaks of His authority, both on earth and in heaven. And He speaks to us saying to make disciples of all nations in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Then He gives us a promise, a promise that Christ Himself will be with us through life and death.



Most people know about the passion of Martin Luther King Jr. for racial justice and nonviolent resistance. However, some people aren't as familiar with King's deep personal faith in Christ. In his book Welcoming Justice, Charles Marsh describes one of King's profound encounters with the Risen Christ.

[In January 1956, Martin Luther King Jr.] returned home around midnight after a long day of organizational meetings. His wife and young daughter were already in bed, and King was eager to join them. But a threatening call�the kind of call he was getting as many as 30 to 40 times a day�interrupted his attempt to get some much-needed rest. When he tried to go back to bed, he could not shake the menacing voice that kept repeating the hateful words in his head.

King got up, made a pot of coffee, and sat down at his kitchen table. With his head buried in his hands, he cried out to God. There in his kitchen in the middle of the night, when he had come to the end of strength, King met the living Christ in an experience that would carry him through the remainder of his life. "I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on," King later recalled. "He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone � He promised never to leave me, no never alone."

In the stillness of the Alabama night, the voice of Jesus proved more convincing than the threatening voice of the anonymous caller. The voice of Jesus gave him the courage to press through the tumultuous year of 1956 to the victorious end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. More than that, it gave him a vision for ministry that would drive him for the rest of his life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/13/18 11:27 AM
1 Peter 3:8 New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

Peter gives us a reminder to remember and sympathize with one another. We are to keep a humble attitude towards others using a tender heart to love and encourage each other. For many are standing in the dark and need to be reminded of the light of Christ�s love.



In his latest book, John Ortberg writes about our need to meaningfully connect with others:

In 2015, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley announced they would be part of a $100 million dollar project for space travel to see if there's intelligent life in the universe. The plan was to send tiny nanocrafts�like spaceship butterflies�traveling at one-fifth the speed of light to Alpha Centauri. Stephen Hawking expressed the purpose poignantly: "It is important to know if we are alone in the dark."

The folks at Berkeley are not the only ones who want to know. We're all constantly sending out tiny little probes, emotional nanocrafts, to find out whether we're alone in the dark. They travel at high speeds, and it's easy to miss them. They can be small: "Did you see the game last night?" They can be poignant: "I don't think I'll ever call my dad again." They can be deep: "I'm not sure my wife loves me anymore." They can be urgent: "I have no one else to talk to; can I speak to you confidentially?"

These emotional nanocrafts are what researcher John Gottman calls "bids" for emotional connection." We start issuing these bids before we can talk. A baby's cry is a bid to connect. As we grow older, these bids�or invitations�for intimacy take other forms. "A bid can be a question, a gesture, a look, a touch�any single expression that says, 'I want to feel connected to you.'" Intimacy of every kind is either built up or eroded, based on how well we handle the subtle little nanocrafts of relational life.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 09/25/18 12:19 PM
1 John 2:1 New International Version (NIV)
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father�Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

John reminds us that like Christ we are to follow His example and stay away from sin. But if we do sin, Christ himself is our advocate with the Father saying this person is a child of mine and I have taken the punishment for their sin. Since Christ forgives us of our sin, we too are to forgive ourselves.



Professor Mary Poplin from Claremont Graduate School says she met Jesus in a dream. At the time, she was teaching radical feminism, multiculturalism, and postmodernism. As a devotee of New Age spirituality, she claims she was the poster child for "spiritual but not religious." She writes:

A central image in my life was the [New Age] actress Shirley MacLaine, dancing on the beach in free-spirited fashion. I was seeking happiness, self-fulfillment, and freedom from restraint, all the while deluding myself about my own "goodness." We were children of the 60s, products of the "I'm okay, you're okay" culture.
And yet in certain moments, she said, "I could see glimpses of who I really was. I was not growing freer. My heart was growing harder, my emotions darker, and my mind more confused." Then in 1992, she had an unshakable dream in which she saw Jesus at the Last Supper. "When I got to Jesus," she wrote, "and looked into his eyes, I grasped immediately that every cell in my body was filled with filth. Weeping, I fell at his feet. But when he reached over and touched my shoulders, I suddenly felt perfect peace!"

She reached out to a friend who suggested that she needed to read the Bible. Then in January 1993, she was sitting in a small church and received an invitation to come forward. She prayed, "If you are real, please come and get me. Suddenly I felt the same peace I had known in the dream."

"To clean up my soul," she said, "God taught me what a good friend of mine calls the 'bar of soap' passage�1 John 1:9 � But forgiveness wasn't always easy to accept. I had undergone two abortions, and over three long years of prayer, I doubted whether God had truly forgiven me. Some counselors and fellow Christians had encouraged me to 'forgive myself,' but the more I searched Scripture the more confident I was that forgiveness could only come as God's gift. Like Paul, I had to learn to '[forget] what is behind and [strain] toward what is ahead' (Phil. 3:13-14)."

[Mary Poplin, "As a New Age Enthusiast, I Fancied Myself a Free Spirit and a Good Person," Christianity Today (12-21-17)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/03/18 11:25 AM
1 Peter 1:3 New International Version (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Through the death of Christ, God has offered us a gift of a new life, a rebirth, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is for us to realize our sin, have the desire to turn from it and place our belief, trust and faith in God�s free gift to us.



In his book Unbelievable, Justin Brierley writes convincingly that the resurrection is the only adequate explanation for the historical evidence found in the Gospels:

Mike Licona and Bart Ehrman are both New Testament scholars who have very different takes on the resurrection of Jesus. Ehrman let go of his Christian faith after encountering perceived problems with the New Testament. Mike Licona had a similar crisis of faith in the early years of his academic career when his study of the New Testament didn't match what he had been taught about it while growing up. However, whereas Ehrman's study led him away from Christianity, Licona's research convinced him that the resurrection was the only adequate explanation for the historical evidence he found in the Gospels.

Other pieces of the puzzle fell into place as Licona began to appreciate how the New Testament accounts reflected the literary conventions of their day rather than the modern standards often imposed on them by both Christians and critics. During one of his dialogues with Licona on the show, Ehrman rattled off a list of differences between the Gospel accounts of the resurrection, such as the number of women and the accounts of angels at the empty tomb.

He argued that these differences give reason to doubt the reliability of the resurrection story. Naturally, Licona knows these differences just as well as Ehrman but he didn't find that they count against the overall strength of the account, saying:

It is a bit like the Titanic. There were conflicting accounts from survivors, such as whether the ship broke in half before sinking or whether it went down in its entirety. But no one called into question whether the Titanic sank or not. It was the periphery details that were in question. It is the same thing with the New Testament. They are all peripheral details that have no impact on the fundamental truth of Christianity.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/16/18 11:21 AM
Psalm 19:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Our words can heal or destroy. God intended for us to use our words to build up people, to teach them and to let them know God loves them.


Pastor Scott Sauls from Nashville spent five years working with Pastor Tim Keller at New York City's Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Sauls writes that there are many ways that he saw Keller model the gospel, but there is one thing that really stood out for him. Sauls writes:

Tim [Keller] is the best example I have ever seen of someone who consistently covers with the gospel.
Never once did I see Tim tearing another person down to their face, on the Internet, or through gossip. Instead, he seemed to assume the good in people. He talked about how being forgiven and affirmed by Jesus frees us for this�for "catching people doing good" instead of looking for things to criticize or be offended by. Even when someone had done wrong or been in error, Tim would respond with humble restraint and self-reflection instead of venting negativity and criticism. As the grace of God does, he covered people's flaws and sins. Sometimes he covered my flaws and sins. He did this because that's what grace does; it reminds us that in Jesus we are shielded and protected from the worst things about ourselves. Because Jesus shields us like this, we should of all people be zealous to restore reputations versus destroying reputations, to protect a good name versus calling someone a name, to shut down gossip versus feeding gossip, to restore broken relationships versus begrudging broken people.


[How to Live the Gospel: A Lesson from Tim Keller; Scott Sauls, Befriend (Tyndale, 2016), page 48]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/23/18 11:11 AM
Romans 8:38-29 (NKJV)
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God�s love for us supersedes any and all things. There is nothing that can pry us away from the hands of God. His love for us is forever.


The following verses come from the song NO MATTER WHAT by Ryan Stevenson. They are a reminder that no matter what goes loves us and nothing can change that.

A lot of us grew up believing
At any moment we could lose it all
And at the drop of a hat
God might turn His back and move on
A lot of us feel like we blew it
Thinking that we're just too far gone
But I want you to know
There's still a hope for you now

No matter what you've done
You can't erase His love
Nothing can change it
You're not separated
No matter what

There's never been a better time to get honest
There's never been a better time to get clean
So come as you are
Run to the cross and be free
Oh, be free

No matter what you've done
You can't erase His love
Nothing can change it
You're not separated
No matter where you run
He's always holding on
You're still a daughter, You're still a son
No matter what
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 10/29/18 11:27 AM
Romans 12:1 New International Version (NIV)
A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God�s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God�this is your true and proper worship.

The apostle reminds us that as God�s children we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice that is hold and pleasing to God. Sometimes we forget to turn ourselves over to God, but then we are faced with uncertainty in life and we reach out to God for help.



In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine, U2's lead singer Bono talks about how he's learning to connect with David's honest laments and prayers from the Book of Psalms. Bono suffered several facial, arm, and shoulder fractures that required three metal plates and 18 screws after a bike accident in Central Park. He's also had serious back and vocal cord problems. He is now writing songs with deeper meaning: "I read the Psalms of David all the time. They are amazing. He is the first bluesman, shouting at God, 'Why did this happen to me?' But there's honesty in that too."

Bono recounts David's struggles with King Saul, especially during David's hideout in the cave trying to avoid Saul's attempts to murder him. "In a moment of demonic rage, Saul turns against [David], tries to kill him with a spear, and David is, in fact, exiled. He is chased, and he hides out in a cave. And in the darkness of that cave, in the silence and the fear and probably the stink, he writes the first psalm."

Bono concludes, "And I wish that weren't true. I wish I didn't know enough about art to know that that is true�that sometimes you just have to be in that cave of despair."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/07/18 11:44 AM
James 5:4 New International Version (NIV)
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

James reminds those who employee workers that God owns what they have and it is their responsibility to manage his assets correctly. Employers should ensure their workers are paid fairly and not taken advantage of for God hears the cries of those suffering.


There is, apparently, a stigma attached to carrying credit card debt. More than a third of Americans say they would be embarrassed to let others know that they are not paying off their credit card debt in full every month, more than 40 percent say they believe they will be judged by family and friends because of credit card debt. The surprising thing is that Americans' average credit card debt is $15,355. Talk about the elephant in the room.

An executive for the firm that completed the survey said, "It's no surprise that shame about debt isn't necessarily productive in preventing or eradicating it. � Shame doesn't guarantee success. The only way to pay off debt is to face it head on and make a plan to get rid of it."

[Paul Ausick, "Americans Are Ashamed to Admit Credit Card Debt," 24/7 Wall Street blog (1-19-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/14/18 11:45 AM
1 Peter 3:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Christ gave His life in exchange for the punishment our sins required. He did this for our sake so that we may become children of God.



In his recent book (2017) (Re)union, Bruxy Cavey writes:

The Victoria Cross is Canada's highest military honor, similar to the Medal of Honor in the United States. These medals are awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. Of the thousands awarded to date, more citations have been bestowed for falling on grenades to save comrades than any other single act.

The first Victoria Cross of World War II was awarded to Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn. The sergeant-major and his men were cut off from their battalion and under heavy attack. When the enemy came close enough, the Canadian soldiers were subjected to a concentrated barrage of grenades. Several times Osborn protected his men by picking up live grenades and throwing them back, but eventually one fell in just the wrong position to pick up in time. With only a split second to decide, Osborn shouted a warning and threw himself on top of the grenade. It exploded, killing him instantly. The rest of his company survived that battle because of Osborn's selfless other-centeredness.

I love stories of this kind of bravery and self-sacrifice. They give me hope for humanity and offer us all a glimpse of God's goodness reflected in his image-bearers. But no matter how beautiful that heroic act may be, through Jesus we see an even greater love at the heart of God. You see, soldiers who fall on grenades do so out of love for their friends while they are on the battlefield trying to kill their enemies. Jesus died for his friends, and his enemies, and for everyone in between.
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 11/27/18 12:04 PM
Colossians 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

God�s message of salvation is given to lighten our hearts, to let us know we are from sin�s condemnation. Therefore let us sing in gratitude for all that God has done.


Christians have joyful, stirring songs that celebrate the wonder of our relation with God. This is especially true during the Christmas season with songs such as the spine-tingling Handel�s Messiah. In contrast to this, in 2011 comedian Steve Martin performed a song on The Late Show with David Letterman that he called �the entire atheist hymnal� (on one page of paper). He called it: �Atheists Don�t Have No Songs.�

Christians have their hymns and pages,
Hava Nagila�s for the Jews,
Baptists have the rock of ages,
Atheists just sing the blues.

Romantics play Claire de Lune,
Born agains sing �He is risen,�
But no one ever wrote a tune,
For godless existentialism.

For Atheists there�s no good news.
They�ll never sing a song of faith.
In their songs they have one rule:
The �he� is always lowercase.

Of course, his humor is meant to entertain us�and does. But what a contrast to a piece of music that moves hearts and masses across the board. Handel�s Messiah is arguably one of the most mellifluous expressions of Christian doctrine ever produced.

In fact, I think it makes all the sense in the world that both inexplicable tears and profound joy accompany the words and sounds of Handel�s Messiah. For this Messiah brings with him an invitation unlike any other: Come and see the Father, the Creator, the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. Come and see the Light, and the Overcomer of darkness, the One who wept at the grave of a friend, and the one who collects our tears in his bottle even before he will dry every eye. Christians, let�s sing our songs!

[Jill Carattini, �Random Hallelujahs,� RZIM: A Slice of Infinity (12-16-16)]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/04/18 11:55 AM
John 8:12 (NIV)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, �I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.�

Jesus tells those who are listening to follow Him. It doesn�t matter what our desires are. It doesn�t matter the direction we want to go. Instead, we are to follow Jesus for we will always walk in light and not the darkness of evil.



Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there. I have had my share of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by way of mistakes and surprises. Often I have received better than I deserved. Often my faintest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley. And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led � make of that what you will.

[The Mystery of Guidance Wendell Berry, �Jayber Crow,� (Counterpoint, 2001), Page 133]
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 12/18/18 11:31 AM
This will be the last devotion of this year. I wanted to tell you what a blessing it is to share God�s word with each of you. I know all of us have times in our lives that are difficult, uncertain and often burdensome. Yet God is always looking after us, teaching us lessons, and providing wisdom to face the next hurdle in life. We can always count on God, which is why I want to share the Christmas Story from Luke 2, verses 1-20.

Luke 2:1-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, �Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.�

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 �Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.�

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, �Let�s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.�

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.



Many believe the Wise Men were also in attendance at the manger, but according to The Bible they came about 2 years after the birth of Christ and went first to King Herod, for who would know where a king lived, but a king. Then they went to the home of Joseph and Mary and this is where Joseph and Mary learned they needed to flee from their home and head to Egypt for Herod was displeased there was a king living in his land. This was all a part of God�s plan for us to know Jesus who would save us from our sin. Merry Christmas to all. May God bless each and every one of you!
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/08/19 11:51 AM
Amos 5:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live.

Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.

15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.

Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.



There is always a struggle within us of good and evil. We want to live a good and fruitful life, yet circumstances, environment and even our own nature pulls us away from good towards evil. The Lord God Almighty has provided mercy and grace through His Son Jesus Christ. It�s up to us to acknowledge our sin, to acknowledge Christ as our Lord and savior and receive our redemption from sin.



In his book Visions of Vocation, Christian author and thinker Stephen Garber tells the story of meeting a woman who directed the Protection Project, an initiative under Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government that addresses human trafficking. Garber asked her, "So why do you care about the issue of human trafficking?"

She told the story of her heart opening to the cries of women and girls who were sold into slavery, often involving sexual bondage. After writing on the issue, the Kennedy School hired her to work at their Protection Project initiative in Washington D.C. Then Garber describes what happened next:

As we talked in her office, I watched her staff walking by in the hallway outside her door, and their serious and eager faces impressed me. She eventually said, "I get the most interesting applications here. Just imagine. Harvard University, Washington, D.C., human rights. It's a powerful combination, and it draws unusually gifted young women and men from the best universities in America."

But then she surprised me with these words, "After a few weeks they almost always find their way down the hall, knock on my door and ask to talk. Now, I know what they are going to say. After thanking me for the position and the opportunity, a bit awkwardly they ask, 'But who are we to say that trafficking is wrong in Pakistan? Isn't it a bit parochial for us to think that we know what is best for other people? Why is what is wrong for us wrong for them?' To be honest, I just don't have time for that question anymore. The issues we address are too real, they matter too much. I need more students like the one you sent me, because I need people who believe that there is basic right and wrong in the universe!"

Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/22/19 02:44 PM
Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version (NIV)
7 �Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Our Saviour, in the foregoing chapter, had spoken of prayer as a commanded duty, by which God is honoured, and which, if done aright, shall be rewarded; here he speaks of it as the appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts he had given, some of which are so displeasing to flesh and blood. [Matthew Henry]



Robert Morgan writes that as President William McKinley lay dying from an assassin's bullet in Buffalo, New York, in 1901, the Lord's Prayer was on his lips. Prayer had been a lifelong practice that guided McKinley through his political career and into the presidency. McKinley had been born into a devout Christian home fifty-eight years before, and born again at age fourteen. According to his pastor, A. D. Morton, young McKinley stood up during a youth meeting and said, "I have sinned; I want to be a Christian ... I give myself to the Savior who has done so much for me."

McKinley's mother, a woman of deep prayer, taught him to pray by example and encouragement, but his greatest lessons in prayer were forged under the pressures of his duties as President of the United States. One of his heaviest decisions arose in 1898 regarding the status of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. One day, a delegation of church leaders came to the White House, and McKinley told them how he had decided to resolve the crisis in the Philippines.

"The truth is, I didn't want the Philippines," he said. "I did not know what to do. � I sought counsel from all sides�Democrats as well as Republicans�but got little help. � I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night. And one night late it came to me this way."

McKinley relayed the strategy that developed in his mind as he prayed: that the Philippines should be taken seriously and helped, that the United States should "by God's grace do the very best we could by them as our fellow-men for whom Christ died." McKinley added, "And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept soundly."
Posted By: AskMe Re: Devotionals - 01/29/19 11:26 AM
Mark 9:35 New International Version (NIV)
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, �Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.�

Jesus called upon His disciples not to place themselves first, but instead called them to be a servant to all. By being the least and the last they become the first important to the kingdom of heaven.



Aircraft carriers and cruise ships sail on blue oceans with immense reserves of power and degrees of freedom. One sort of ocean-going vessel is devoted to aggression and war, the other to comfort and leisure. Both, however, are massive, independent, floating islands of power. They navigate "strategically"�based on large-scale charts, covering vast distances, driven by economic or military considerations.

Tugboats, on the other hand, are limited to a specific harbor. A tugboat master may be one of the highest paid individuals in the shipping industry, but only in one place. To be a tugboat is to be committed to a specific place and to know it intimately. Tugboats have to be nimble, maneuverable, and responsive to the slightest variation in the sea floor or the local currents. Tugboats are not especially impressive, mechanically or visually. But they are indispensable. Tugboats, you might say, are servants. They don't navigate for themselves�they navigate to bring other ships safely to shore.
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