Hebrews 11:9-10

Why did Abraham embark on such a venture, such a journey? Because he was looking for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker was God — all the while knowing that what he was looking for would never be found anywhere on the face of this earth.

Why is this so important? Because when I moved from San Jose to Applegate, for example, if I had been looking for a city on earth to satisfy me, I would have been paralyzed by fear. I would have said, ‘What if I get there, and discover Applegate’s not it?’ But since the longing of my heart was for a city without foundations, I already knew Applegate wouldn’t be it!

What if I go there and it doesn’t work out?
Don’t worry — it's not going to work out!

‘What if I marry her, and she doesn’t fully satisfy me?’
Don’t worry — she won’t!

‘What if I take that job and it’s not what I hoped?’
Don’t worry — it won’t be!

You’ll never be a man or woman of faith if you’re looking for fulfillment here. No matter your ministry, your geographic location, your job, or your spouse — you’ll not find it here. Like Abraham, don’t look for a city that has foundations on earth. Look for eternity, and you’ll experience heaven in your heart, you’ll be blessed in your soul wherever you are.

Had Abraham looked for a city on earth, he would have been stuck in Ur forever. But at some point, God by His grace allowed Abraham to understand that everything on earth is in preparation for heaven. If you don’t understand what the writer is saying about Abraham as a model of faith, you’ll be perpetually paralyzed and completely frustrated. You must understand that God only leads you one step at a time. He doesn’t tell you what lies around the bend. But even when you get around the bend, you must understand it’s not going to be what you were hoping for, because what you really crave is heaven.

In spiritual life, the Lord will take you as far as you want to go — and not one step further. If you choose to take one baby step and stop, God will still love you because His love for you is not based on anything you do or don’t do. But if you choose to walk by faith from Ur of the Chaldees all the way to the Land flowing with milk and honey — He’ll be with you every step of the way.

People wonder why some folks are so spiritual, why others seem particularly blessed, why others are mightily used. It’s not that God is playing favorites. It’s just that those who seem to have a special relationship with God are simply those who chose to keep going. Whether it’s in expression of praise, gifts of the Spirit, or aspects of ministry — however far you want to go in spiritual life, God will never say to you, ‘You’re going a little too far. You’re getting a little too spiritual.’ Never.

1 Peter 5:8-9

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

You may be saying, "What terrible people you have been talking about!" But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things.(Romans 2:1)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Revelation 3:19

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

The Miracle of Grace

" But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. 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. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:15-17)

Paul wrote extensively about grace, God's favor given to the undeserving. And wherever the apostle traveled, he spoke about the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24). He knew firsthand the power of sin to control and the freedom that comes through faith in Christ. He described himself as the worst of sinners because he persecuted and imprisoned many believers prior to his conversion experience (1 Tim. 1:15).

Once we accept Christ's death on our behalf, the penalty for our sin is considered paid in full, and the power of sin over us is broken. We become spiritually alive as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. What's more, we then are given a new family and purpose for living. Scripture compares our conversion experience to receiving a heart transplant (Ezek. 36:26; 2 Cor. 5:17), changing citizenship (Phil. 3:20), and moving to a new country (Col. 1:13).

Paul exhorts everyone who has been saved to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43; Eph. 2:8)—our heavenly Father's desire and will is that we relate to Him on this basis alone. Just as we needed to rely upon Christ's substitutionary death for salvation, we are to live a life of dependence upon Him. It's our faith, expressed through obedience, that pleases Him (Heb. 11:6).

Grace is the most powerful, life-changing force in the world. God freely offers His unconditional love to whoever receives His Son. At salvation, our life is placed upon the immovable Rock who is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4), and His favor is extended over us. What's your response to this miracle of grace?

The Holy Spirit Empowers Believers

Luke 24:26-52L

Our heavenly Father has called us to live a supernatural life—one that is contrary to the world's thinking. In our own strength, it is hard to say no to ungodliness because our flesh yearns to say yes. To live the Lord's way takes His divine power. In order to draw on His strength, we need to develop attitudes of humility, trust, and perseverance.
 
God opposes the proud, who think, I can do this myself (James 4:6). He pours out His strength to the ones who know that they cannot accomplish the goal but believe that He can do so through them. The Lord wants us to trust Him. He may at times ask us to remain in an uncomfortable situation or take on a task that seems far beyond our capability. In either circumstance, relying on Him will bring us the inner fortitude to choose His way.
 
When we feel too weak to resist temptation or too fearful to pursue the Lord's plan, we must persevere in prayer. That will draw us closer to Him, build our faith, and invite Him to work His will in and through us. Then, as we praise our Father for His almighty nature, proclaim His sufficiency for every circumstance, and declare His goodness, His Spirit will help us move past our weaknesses and fears to a place of strength.
 
Today the body of Christ is experiencing a lack of spiritual power. Believers have a diminishing influence on our culture as our lives often reflect the world's values. To turn this around, we need to cooperate with the sanctifying work of the Spirit. He will empower us when we do.

Hebrews 11:6

Here are two keys to faith, the first being to believe that God is.

‘Who do I say You are?’ Moses asked God.
‘I am that I am,’ God answered (Exodus 3:14).

In other words, ‘I am whatever you need.’ Are you lonely tonight? God is the Friend who’s closer than a brother. Are you confused about what to do? He is the Door. Are you feeling like you’re walking in a haze? He’s the Good Shepherd. Faith hopes for the unseen because it believes God Is.

Secondly, faith believes God is the One who will meet the needs deep within my heart. There are those who believe God is — but they don’t really seek Him. Why must we diligently seek God? Why isn’t it enough just to believe He is whatever we have need of? Because God knows if we diligently seek Him, the very things we were seeking Him about will fade in importance as we realize it’s Him we sought all along.

I believe most of us have no problem with the first of these two keys to faith. We believe God is. But because we don’t believe He rewards those who seek Him, we seek Him haphazardly or half-heartedly, if at all.

‘I don’t have time,’ you might be saying. Not true. We have time to golf; time to see the Blazers play; time to water-ski, fix the plumbing, and go to the dentist. Every single one of us has time. No exceptions. We do what we want and make time for what is of value to us.

Throughout history, the common denominator in the lives of those who have been blessed is they have all been those who realize God enjoys our company. And when we seek Him, we’re rewarded not because we’re going through some legal system, trying to earn brownie points — but just because hanging out with the Lord opens the door to fabulous blessing from Him.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Grace: God's Second Chance

Romans 5:1-6

Scripture records a grim picture of mankind: dead in our sins, under God's wrath, and subject to eternal separation from Him (Eph. 2:1-3). Through the cross, He gives us a second chance to be in a loving relationship with Him. When we place our faith in Christ, He pours out His unconditional love—His grace—upon us.

Because of grace, we have been justified by faith. Justification is a declaration by God that we are not guilty in His sight. At salvation, Jesus' death on the cross is counted as payment for our sins. All our disobedience—past, present, and future— is fully forgiven.

The means of obtaining this pardon is through genuine faith in Jesus Christ. What does that look like? It's a faith that accepts the Lord's judgment that we are sinners who are unable to rescue ourselves and in need of a Savior. It believes that Jesus paid for our sins through His death, that God accepted His payment on our behalf, and that we are forgiven and made part of His family. If we have true faith, we'll give Him our allegiance and wholeheartedly seek to serve Him.

Grace also gives us peace with the Lord. Before salvation, a person is His enemy, under a sentence of eternal death. But after trusting in Christ, that individual is adopted into God's family and has His favor forever.

Through grace, we've been given a second chance. Instead of the eternal punishment that we deserved, we've received acceptance through faith in Christ (Rom 15:7) and have become members of God's family (Rom. 8:15). Make full use of this second opportunity by passionately pursuing Him.

James 1:12

"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."

Hebrews 8:11

Our brothers and sisters in the 1st century Church were the most radical Christians in all of history. They sold all of their possessions; they spread throughout the world; they lived for the Kingdom. But you know what? They didn’t get together like this and study Hebrews, because Hebrews wasn’t yet written. They didn’t study the theological implications of Romans because Romans wasn’t written. They didn’t scrutinize the teachings of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel because John’s Gospel wasn’t written.

They didn’t have the written New Testament — but they did understand the reality of the New Covenant. They obeyed what the Lord was writing in their hearts — and they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Then, when the New Testament was written and began to circulate through the Church, it was a confirmation of what they were already doing because it was the same Lord who had been writing His will for them upon their hearts.

Today, sad to say, many don’t understand the New Covenant. Our Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Bible. We’ve lost touch with how the Holy Spirit speaks to us moment by moment because we’ve replaced His voice with the written word. Many churches, and organizations study the Bible and are right in their theology — but they’re dead right because theirs is knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

The New Testament was never intended to be an esoteric, intellectual, theological trip for people who like to fill notebooks, answer questions, and work on workbooks. That was never the intent of the New Testament writer. What was the intent? To provide a way believers could be confirmed or corrected in what they were already living out as a result of obeying the still, small voice of the Spirit.

The person who’s really used by the Lord is one who simply says, ‘You’re going to tell me moment by moment what I should do, and, Lord, I will just say Yes to whatever You say.’ A whole lot of people have made the New Testament writings the new Law. Like Pharisees searching for jots, tittles, and interesting insights, they fail to see that the Word was written to nudge them along in their walk and to confirm the voice of the Lord in their heart.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

8 Ways to Pray for Your Spouse

Hello World!

check this out.

http://www.empoweringchristianwomen.com/2009/10/8-ways-to-pray-for-your-spouse.html

wonderful blog!

xoxo,

God Bless!

The Power of the Holy Spirit

ACTS 1:1-5

 

In the last week of His life, Jesus talked to His disciples about what was to come: after His resurrection, they would receive a Counselor—the Holy Spirit—who'd be with them forever (John 14:16). He would indwell each believer, providing His power to make living a victorious Christian life possible.
The Lord is willing to empower us with His divine strength if we cultivate certain Christ-like qualities:

Purity of heart. Prior to our salvation, sin separated us from the Father. When we received Jesus as Savior, God washed us clean (Titus 3:5), clothed us in Christ's righteousness, and purified us so we could become His people (Titus 2:14). Now, our part is to pursue holiness so we can become more like the Lord. Regular confession of our ungodly thoughts and actions brings forgiveness and purifies us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Obedient spirit. Before we were adopted into God's family, our nature was in rebellion against His authority. But since trusting in Christ, we have both freedom from sin's power over us and the ability to choose obedience. While we will live imperfectly, the Lord looks to see if our minds and hearts are committed to following Him. Our sincere effort to obey Him brings a release of His power as we carry out His work.

When we make holiness a priority and demonstrate obedience to the Lord, we'll receive supernatural strength to choose righteousness. Each day, we will be filled with power as we confess any areas of sin (Ps. 51:1-2, 10), maintain our commitment to God, and follow the Spirit's lead.

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living 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.”

Jeremiah 15:19

"If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me."

"So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19)

Gang, the key not only to ministry, but to every area of spirituality is found in John 10 ...

Of John the Baptist, Jesus said, ‘This is the greatest man who ever lived.’ Yet Scripture also records John did no mighty miracles (John 10:41). So what made John the greatest man who ever lived? One thing: He wasn’t talking about power in prayer; he wasn’t teaching victory through discipline; he simply said, ‘Behold the Lamb. Check Him out. Follow Him.’

Happy is the day when a woman grasps the fact that spiritual life has nothing to do with her and everything to do with God. Happy is the day when a man finally realizes all he has to say is, ‘I don’t know why You put up with a grasshopper like me, but Lord, if You want to allow me to be in ministry, if You want to give me a family, if You want to bless me in countless ways — that’s OK with me!’

Don’t let anyone sell you a bill of goods, saying, ‘The reason I’m so successful is because I pray night and day. And the reason you will never be part of the chosen few is because you don’t.’

Any man, any woman can leave here tonight to be used mightily and blessed exceedingly beyond anything they could ask or even think if they would just learn to say, ‘I believe You, Lord.’

Contrary to what many teach, the deceitfulness of sin is always saying, ‘I’ve got to do more. I’ve got to be bigger, stronger, better in my spiritual walk so that I can battle the giants ahead of me.’

No, God says that’s the sin which will keep you out.

Dear saint, it’s all about God’s work for you, not your work for Him.

Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Be blown away by Him.
Behold the Lamb!

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Free From Guilt

1 Peter 2:22-25

Guilt can be defined as anxiety in one's spirit over a deliberate, willful sin. We can trace this emotion all the way back to the garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, they felt ashamed of their nakedness and hid themselves.

During Old Testament times, people would bring a special offering to the temple in order to "pay" for their wrong. Today, we have no such tangible way to release our guilt
Actually, we have something better.

The heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus—who was fully God as well as fully man—to live a sinless life. He took upon Himself the penalty for all of our wrongs by dying a criminal's death: crucifixion. Praise God, Jesus rose to life again, conquering death and sin. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."

The truth is, every one of us has sinned and therefore deserves to be separated from God (Rom. 3:23). However, we can be liberated from death and guilt by accepting Jesus' free gift and committing our life to Him. Of course, in our imperfect human state, we will continue to sin. But our loving heavenly Father will continue to forgive His children (Luke 11:3-4).

Jesus' sacrifice gives us freedom from shame and death—plus the promise of eternity with God. But that in no way means we have license to sin knowingly. Though we are promised forgiveness, our gratitude and love for our Savior should spur us on to obey and serve the Lord.

Got a Cold or Flu? These Foods Will Help You Feel Better

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http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/flu-foods?GT1=47001

xoxo,

God Bless :)

But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
	Hebrews 3:17-18

To whom did God say, ‘You shall not enter into the rest, the Promised Land, the abundance of milk and honey’? I would have thought it would have been to those who worshipped idols, to those who didn’t have morning devotions, to immoral men, or to those who didn’t offer sacrifices. Yet, in reality, the only thing which kept the children of Israel from the Promised Land was their lack of faith.

This is critically important theology, for the singular sin which kept them from blessing was simply thinking God’s promise was just too good to be true. Precious people, you can live the abundant, Spirit-filled, successful, exciting, thrilling Christian life if, instead of saying, ‘God can’t bless me because I haven’t been to Bible study,’ or, ‘I’ve been yelling at my husband,’ or, ‘I haven’t had morning devotions regularly,’ you say, ‘I’m a spiritual grasshopper, Lord. But if You want to bring me into this great land of blessing, I’ll gladly go in!’

The sin of Hebrews 3 is singular. It’s not fornication, as destructive as that sin may be. It’s not idolatry, as sad as that sin is. It’s just not believing how good God is.

Recently home from Bible School, Peter John shared with me how passionate he and his friends are about seeing their generation brought into the Kingdom. ‘So I get up early in the morning and pray and spend time in the Word. I do so good for about three or four days,’ he said. ‘But then I get tired. I sleep in. I miss my devotional time. And I don’t go to prayer meeting.’ With tears running down his cheeks, this football-playing son of mine said, ‘Dad, I want to do so well, and I’m not.’

‘Peter,’ I said, ‘when you learn the lesson which took me years and years to understand, you’ll be on your way. And that lesson is simply this: blessing, anointing, ministry, fruitfulness, and victory are not about you.

'It’s not about the work you do for the Lord; it’s about the work He did for you. It’s not about your prayer to the Lord; it’s about His intercession for you. It’s not about your faith in the Lord; it’s about His being faithful when you falter. It’s all about Him being the Hero, the Prayer Warrior, the Victor, the Friend, and the Faithful One.’

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

"But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4)

The Process of Forgiving

Matthew 6:9-15

Forgiving those who have seriously hurt us is one of our most challenging "assignments." And merely having a desire to obey God or saying the right words does not necessarily accomplish the task. Old memories and pain can steal back into the mind, stirring up emotions of anger and injustice.

Though we have a responsibility to take the initiative soon after suffering harm, forgiveness for deep hurts is a process. Begin immediately to prevent a root of bitterness from developing. But remember: The deeper the hurt, the more time it will take to work through forgiveness. Never become discouraged—the Lord will walk with you each step of the way.

Confession to God is the beginning of the process. Come before Him, admitting any resentment and acknowledging it as sin. As you lay your anger and hurt before the Lord, let Him begin to heal your broken heart.

Sometimes the process can also involve going to the offender and confessing your sinful attitude toward him. This is a time not to build your case or itemize his wrongs but simply to admit your own. Although the offense against you may seem greater than your unforgiving attitude, avoid the temptation to "rank" sins. And leave judgment to God.

Forgiveness brings freedom from the agitation that accompanies resentment. In working through the process, you'll begin to see the one who hurt you through eyes of compassion. Eventually, you will be able to thank God for the opportunity to learn forgiveness and live in His lavish grace.

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2

A Godly Response

"People with understanding control their anger;
      a hot temper shows great foolishness." (Proverbs 14:29)

"Better to be patient than powerful;
      better to have self-control than to conquer a city." 

(Proverbs 16:32)

We live in a fallen world where sin is rampant, injustice is common, and conflicts abound. So there are plentiful opportunities to sin in our anger. Although we cannot change many of these situations, altering our responses to them is possible.

Situations like struggling economies, natural disasters, and global tensions cause frustration, but difficulties with people can present even bigger challenges personally.

When hurt by someone’s words or actions, we may be tempted to hurl a caustic reply or simmer with suppressed resentment. But as believers, we’re to follow Jesus’ example: “While being reviled, He did not revile in return . . . but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).

Today’s verses from the book of Proverbs emphasize the value of being slow to anger. This is especially important when facing a verbal attack. Quiet listening protects us from speaking rashly and offers the opportunity to ask the Lord for help to respond as Christ would.

A calm, gentle reply can defuse a tense situation, but without taking time to process what was said, few of us will be able to answer wisely. Those who are slow to anger can gain understanding of the situation and the hidden motives that a hot-tempered person will never comprehend.

Such a response is unnatural since the One who modeled it is supernatural. Priorities need to change for us to emulate Jesus. Love and understanding must supersede the need to defend ourselves; preserving the relationship must replace safeguarding our rights. Let Christ be your defender and protector.

Philemon 1:10

While he was chained to a Roman guard, Paul came into contact with a man named Onesimus who was a fugitive in the city of Rome, a runaway slave who had stolen goods from his master. It is possible that Paul somehow bumped into Onesimus in the marketplace and began to dialogue with him. It is also possible that Onesimus was apprehended and chained to the same guard as Paul. We are not exactly sure how the paths of Onesimus and Paul crossed, but cross they did.

Onesimus found there is no freedom in freedom itself, for although he was free from his master, he was still a slave to his own conscience, to his own sin. But Onesimus was to discover that although there is slavery in freedom — there is also freedom in slavery.

How?

Jesus calls all who are weary and heavy laden to voluntarily, willingly take His yoke upon them. And all who do, find freedom in their labor for Him. That’s why Paul said, 'I am a bondslave' — a slave by choice (Romans 1:1). Marriage proves this point, for it is, in a sense, slavery. And it can either be glorious or miserable, depending on with whom you are linked!

The question in this life is not whether or not you’re yoked, but to Whom are you yoked? If we are yoked to Jesus, we are yoked to the quintessentially excellent Master, to the One Who loves us so much, to the One Who’s so good for us, and so good to us.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

 Philemon 1: 4-5

There’s lots of talk today about preventive medicine — keeping people healthy rather than merely taking care of them when they’re sick. Paul here models not preventive medicine, but preventive ministry when he says to Philemon, ‘Hearing that your family’s walking with the Lord and that there’s a church in your house causes me to pray for you constantly.’

We generally only pray for people when we hear they’re sick or struggling, going through tough trials or facing hard times. And pray we must. But in addition to that, I suggest we pray like Paul. I suggest we pray for those who are doing well that they might do even better.

It’s when the enemy sees people doing well that he decides to launch an attack against them. Why? He knows he’s lost their souls, but if he can pull them down in depression or discouragement, he knows they’ll be unable to impact others whose souls he’s not yet lost. Satan doesn’t spend his time on the lost. You will never read in the New Testament where Satan himself is warring against an unbeliever. He saves himself totally and exclusively for those who are in Christ, for those who are walking with God. In every instance where you see Satan in the New Testament, you will always see him coming against believers in order to minimize their effectiveness for the Kingdom.

This makes it all the more important for us to pray for those doing well, for they are sure targets of the enemy.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Dealing with Anger

Colossians 3:8-17

Christians are called to put aside "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech" (Col. 3:8). The command is clear, but the process of achieving and maintaining this goal may seem confusing and overwhelming.

The first step is to recognize anger in our hearts. This may seem unnecessary to those who readily express their feelings, but for those who have buried their anger deep within, an extended time of soul-searching before the Lord will be necessary. Although hidden, the cancer of resentment has been growing and slowly infesting the heart.

The sharp sword of God's Word needs to be allowed to do some surgery (Heb. 4:12).

The next step is to confess unrighteous anger as sin and then begin to deal with it immediately. Because anger is often a response to hurt, care must be taken not to excuse or defend it in the name of justice. Although someone may have sinned against you, holding onto anger in response is also a sin. Scripture tells us to overcome evil with good, not to repay it (Rom. 12:17, 21).

Management of an irate lifestyle is not optional; anger must be put aside. We can't expect to live in the new nature Christ has created for us while retaining our "right" to be angry and hold grudges.

God's solution to an anger problem is a new Christ-like personality which He has created for us. Our responsibility is to put it on. He invites us to cooperate with Him in this process of transformation. With each step of obedience, the peace of Christ will increase and anger will diminish.

Prettiest Towns

Forbes posted a number of cities who were voted America's Prettiest Towns.  From Cambria, CA to Cape May, NJ, one can see the beauty and wonder of God's creations. Enjoy!

http://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/americas-prettiest-towns-2009-slide-1.html?thisSpeed=25000

xoxo

God Bless :)

"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.

 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." (Titus 2:14-15)

Telling his contemporaries as well as those younger and older than him the truth would probably not have been easy for Titus. And it may not always be easy for you. But if you’re a boss, a Bible study teacher, a parent, or a coach there are times when you need to speak the truth, as hard as it may be.

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:6-8,10

That’s what moms and dads, pastors and grandparents, bosses and coaches have to do sometimes. We’re called to pull down in order that we may build up.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalm 51:7-9

As a shepherd, David understood the meaning of broken bones. You see, when a lamb would stubbornly and rebelliously continue to wander away from the flock, the shepherd would break its legs and place the lamb on his shoulder where it would remain until its bones were healed. When the lamb could walk again, so bonded was he with the shepherd, he would never stray again.

Like sheep, we all go astray (Isaiah 53:6). Therefore, in His love, the Good Shepherd breaks a bone or two and carries me while I whine and cry and wonder what He’s doing. But as the days and weeks and months go by, I find myself closer to Him than I had ever been previously, and all I can say is, ‘Thank You, Lord.’

Part of shepherding means breaking a bone or two. Thus, Titus would have to speak words that could cause tears to flow or bones to snap. But he could do so with authority, knowing it was an opportunity for the wounded sheep to one day walk with its Shepherd more intimately.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Psalm 37:1-5

 "Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
         And wither as the green herb.
         
  Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
  Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
         
 Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass."

"Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." (Proverbs 13:20)

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. (Ephesians 4:29)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. (Titus 1:2)
Paul’s intent is that people do better, go further in the glorious hope of eternal life. ‘And this is eternal life,’ Jesus prayed in His High Priestly prayer, ‘that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’ (John 17:3). We usually think of eternal life as existing someday far away in heaven. But that’s only part of it. According to Jesus’ prayer, eternal life is knowing the Lord here and now in our hearts. Thus, the farther I get from the Lord, the more hellish things become. But the days in which I spend time with the Lord, I experience something of heaven on earth. The closer I walk to the Lord, the more heavenly my days will be. It was after Enoch fathered his son, Methuselah, that Scripture records he began to walk with God (Genesis 5). Kids will make one walk with God — especially a kid like Methuselah. Living to the age of 969, he must have been home for 500 years! ‘Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him,’ (Genesis 5:24). I can almost hear the Lord saying, ‘You know, Enoch, this walk we’ve enjoyed together has been so wonderful. You’ve walked with Me so closely that now we’re closer to My house than yours. Come on Home.’ ‘This is eternal life,’ Jesus prayed, ‘that they may know You, Father — not out there geographically, but here and now intimately.’

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Consequences of Anger

"A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
         For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. " (Proverbs 19:19)

Anger is a common emotion that arises when one encounters a threat, insult, injustice, or frustration. God Himself feels anger, and He has given us this same ability. However, because of our fallen nature, we often respond in a sinful manner when this intense feeling overwhelms us.

One prevalent sinful response is to hold onto anger until it becomes part of our character. It takes up residence in the innermost being and starts to twist thinking and agitate emotions. Peace and joy are noticeably absent because they cannot coexist with the anxiety and frustration that accompany bitterness.

After poisoning the character, an angry spirit spills over into other relationships. Hurtful words are thrown like flaming arrows, even at those who aren't the cause of the rage. Shields of self-protection are raised in an effort to avoid any future hurts. Unfortunately, the result of these behaviors is stressed relationships and isolation.

While anger can damage character and connections with others, its most tragic consequence is broken fellowship with God. Wrath not only hinders His work in and through believers; it also grieves the Father's heart. He desires to shower His children with blessings, but fists full of anger cannot receive His riches of character and calling.

Are you harboring anger? It could be so deeply buried within your soul that you are unaware of its presence. But sustained, unresolved bitterness will affect every area of your life. Ask God to reveal any hidden resentment. Release it, and take hold of the riches of Christ.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

(Psalm 27:14)

Do for Others What God Does For You

By Max Lucado

You and I have the privilege to do for others what God does for us. How do we show people that we believe in them?

Show up. Nothing takes the place of your presence. Letters are nice. Phone calls are special, but being there in the flesh sends a message.

Do you believe in your kids? Then show up. Show up at their games. Show up at their plays. Show up at their recitals. It may not be possible to make each one, but it’s sure worth the effort. Do you believe in your friends? Then show up. Show up at their graduations and weddings. Spend time with them. You want to bring out the best in someone? Then show up.

Listen up. You don’t have to speak to encourage. The Bible says, “It is best to listen much, speak little” (James 1:19 TLB). We tend to speak much and listen little. There is a time to speak. But there is also a time to be quiet. That’s what my father did. Dropping a fly ball may not be a big deal to most people, but if you are thirteen years old and have aspirations of the big leagues, it is a big deal. Not only was it my second error of the game, it allowed the winning run to score.

I didn’t even go back to the dugout. I turned around in the middle of left field and climbed over the fence. I was halfway home when my dad found me. He didn’t say a word. Just pulled over to the side of the road, leaned across the seat, and opened the passenger door. We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. We both knew the world had come to an end. When we got home, I went straight to my room, and he went straight to the kitchen. Presently he appeared in front of me with cookies and milk. He took a seat on the bed, and we broke bread together. Somewhere in the dunking of the cookies I began to realize that life and my father’s love would go on. In the economy of male adolescence, if you love the guy who drops the ball, then you really love him. My skill as a baseball player didn’t improve, but my confidence in Dad’s love did. Dad never said a word. But he did show up. He did listen up. To bring out the best in others, do the same, and then, when appropriate:

Speak up.You have the power to change someone’s life simply by the words that you speak. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21 NKJV). That’s why Paul urges you and me to be careful. “When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger” (Eph. 4:29).

Earlier I gave you a test for love. There’s also a test for the tongue. Before you speak, ask: Will what I’m about to say help others become stronger? You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would. Then won’t you do the same for their hearts? Your words are food and water! Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you.

From A LOVE WORTH GIVING

Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

Showing Off! By Charles Swindoll

                                 Matthew 6

Jesus opened a five-gallon can of worms the day He preached His Sermon on the Mount. There wasn't a Pharisee within gunshot range who wouldn't have given his last denarius to have seen Him strung up by sundown. They hated Him because He refused to let them get away with their phony religious drool!

If there was one thing Jesus despised, it was the very thing every Pharisee majored in at seminary: showing off. Another word for it is "self-righteousness." The Messiah unsheathed His sharp sword of truth that day, exposing their pride. Like never before, the smug show-offs were put in their place!

Listen to Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them."

In other words, stop showing off! Stop calling attention to your righteousness! And then, to make the warning stick, our Lord gave three specific examples of how people show off their own righteousness so that others might ooh and aah over them.

In Matthew 6:2 Jesus says, "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you." In other words, when you perform acts of charity or assist someone in need, keep it quiet. Remain anonymous. Jesus promises that "your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (6:4).

In Matthew 6:5 Jesus talks about "when you pray." He warns us against being supplicational show-offs who stand in prominent places and mouth meaningless mush in order to be seen and heard. A show-off loves syrupy words. He's got the technique for sounding high and holy down pat. But Jesus says: Don't show off when you talk with the Father.

In Matthew 6:16 Jesus says, "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do." Fasting is when the show-off really hits his stride! He works overtime trying to appear humble and sad, hoping to look hungry and exhausted like some freak who just finished walking across the Sahara that afternoon. Instead, we ought to look and sound fresh, clean, and completely natural.

Our Lord reserved His strongest and longest sermon not for struggling sinners or discouraged disciples but for hypocrites . . . for glory hogs. Unfortunately, most of them never change because they don't hear what He says to them. Show-offs, you see, are terribly hard-of-hearing.

Is your righteousness showing off? Listen to His words!

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide.

Experiencing Success God’s Way

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
      and no mind has imagined
   what God has prepared
      for those who love him.”

  But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.(1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

The apostle Paul continually strove to be and do all that God wanted. This former enemy of Christians became a passionate worker for the kingdom who succeeded in his assigned tasks. For us to experience success, we need to have:

Clarity. Paul knew the key cities he planned to visit on each of his missionary journeys. His goal was to share the gospel and establish churches in each of them. The more clearly you can visualize the goal, the more sensitive you’ll be to opportunities for achieving it. In addition, you will become more aware of God’s timing. On Paul’s first trip to Ephesus, the people invited him to stay, but he declined (Acts 18:20-21), knowing he had to move on to the other locations. However, when he was able, he returned and stayed there two years, teaching and building up their faith (Acts 19:10).

Commitment. Paul was fully committed to God’s plan to spread the gospel in the Gentile world. He so valued his salvation that he wanted to share it with those who did not know Christ. His profound gratitude gave him a passion to carry out the Lord’s plan. Such godly fervor was not unique to Paul. The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary men and women who dedicated themselves to accomplishing the Lord’s plan for their lives.

Like the apostle, be sure to seek God on a daily basis so you do not wander from His chosen way. Ask for the Spirit’s empowering so you can move past your fears and insecurities. Allow Him to teach and lead you (John 14:26). He will accomplish more in and through you than you could imagine.

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 "Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.  May God’s grace be with you all."  (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

After telling us that professionally, we’re to be good workers, and financially, we are to be content and generous, Paul moves to his third and final exhortation concerning the Church and her ministry to the world when he says that intellectually, we are to be true to the Word.

If you want to navigate life now and eternally without being embarrassed, study the Scriptures, and do what they tell you to do. Without exception, the times of which I’m ashamed are the times I didn’t do what the Word said to do. When I violated the Word, when I did my own thing, when I chose to ignore a command or a principle, it always ended in error and shame.

May the Lord continue to help us walk wisely in these dark and treacherous days. May the Lord give us a heart to continue to study the Word — not academically only, but with a determination to obey it practically.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

JonCourson.com

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Newer translations correctly render the word ‘traditions’ as ‘ordinances.’ There are those who say, ‘Baptism is no longer necessary. The Lord’s Table is optional. There’s no need to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Meeting together for Bible study is helpful, but not crucial.’ Jesus was baptized in water. So was Peter. So was John. So was D.L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon, and Billy Graham. I may not have the boldness of D. L. Moody, the fervency of C.H. Spurgeon or the anointing of Billy Graham — but I can stand exactly where they stood in the waters of baptism. I can sit where the greatest Christians have sat throughout the ages and have the same meal they had as I partake of Communion. I can’t preach like R.A. Torrey or Charles Finney — but I pray exactly as they did when I pray, ‘Our Father which art in heaven ...’ I don’t have the power of the early Church, but I do exactly as they did every time I meet with fellow believers to study the Word (Acts 2:42). We have a glorious heritage, gang. And Paul would say to us, even as he said to the Thessalonians, ‘Don’t minimize the traditions. Hold on to them. Your faith will be the richer, your walk will be the surer for it.’

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Listening through Restlessness

Esther 6:1-11

When we're too preoccupied to hear God's voice, He will often get our attention by giving us a restless spirit. The book of Esther gives us a wonderful example of this.

In the sixth chapter, we see that King Xerxes "could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king" (v. 1).

As a result, Xerxes became aware of an assassination plot that had been foiled by a man named Mordecai. Filled with gratitude for this act of service, the ruler made plans to honor him.

What Xerxes could not have known, though, is that this hero had been targeted by Haman, one of the royal advisors. Not only had Haman plotted to hang Mordecai the Jew (5:14); he was also planning to exterminate the entire Jewish population. As a result of the king's intervention, however, Mordecai and all of the Jews were saved.

Now, what started this process? It was a restless night. Xerxes did not know why he couldn't sleep, but we know—the king had insomnia because God was trying to get his attention. The Lord had something important to say to Xerxes, and His way of getting through to him was an unpleasant night of sleeplessness.

How often has this happened to you? You go about your career and activities, but a restlessness seems to hang over you, often causing sleepless nights. In such moments, dare to bow and pray, "Lord, what is it You want to tell me?" You'll discover that God can and will speak in your unrest.

Distracted Listeners

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Have you ever tried to have a serious discussion with someone who you knew was not really listening to you? It can be quite frustrating. Not only is it practically impossible to get your message across, but it also betrays a selfishness on the part of the other person that we often find irritating and disrespectful.

You see, when we have a significant message to share with someone, we naturally want his or her undivided attention. God is the same way. When He speaks to us, He always has something extremely important to say. Therefore, He rightfully expects our complete focus and attention.
When the Holy Spirit communicates with us, we will often hear His voice immediately if we have been walking in step with Him. His "voice" may be a gentle whisper in our spirit, or it could be an obvious, miraculous sign "from out of the blue." However God chooses to speak, those who are attuned to His voice will hear Him.

But we don't always walk perfectly in the Spirit, do we? At those times when we are distracted, God must do something to get our attention. He may give us a restless spirit or speak a word of wisdom through a friend. He might even do something drastic, like bring about an unexpected move or career change.

When we're not tuned in to the Spirit, God's warning signs can feel like spiritual attacks. Yet these could be the very times when the Lord is revealing Himself to us. Could He be trying to break through your distractions? Prayerfully consider how He may be speaking, and see if you can discern His message.

Proverbs 19:20-21

"Listen to advice and accept instruction,
       and in the end you will be wise.

 Many are the plans in a man's heart,
       but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

Beautiful verse....

xoxo,

God Bless :)

Searchlight by Jon Courson

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-3)
In the first verse of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had commended their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Here, in his second letter, he commends only their faith and love. Why? No longer living for the Second Coming of Christ, they had lost their hope. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13) — however, all three elements are essential because it is faith and hope which allow us to love. How? Hung up by my past sins, I’d be too ashamed to love. But faith tells me my past sins and failures were totally cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Worried about the future, I’d be too afraid to love. But hope tells me He’s coming again, so there’s no need to fear the future.

Speaking Through Failure

Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
      and evil actions are all sin.

(Proverbs 21:4)

Probably the most painful and least desired ways that God gets our attention is through failure. After all, nobody likes to fail. However, this is often the best way for God to get through to us.

Pride is something that can absolutely block your communication with God. It is one of the few things that Scripture clearly says the Lord hates (Prov. 6:16-17; 8:13; 16:5). So, if there is pride in your life, God knows exactly what you need: a good dose of failure.

And that is what happened to Israel in Joshua 7. The new nation had just won a mighty victory in Jericho and, as a result, had become rather prideful. Considering themselves invulnerable after taking such a powerful city, they allowed faithlessness and disobedience to creep into their attitudes.
In arrogance, Israel ignored God's battle plan for the little city of Ai—the soldiers were certain that they could take the small town on their own. But they were wrong. God denied them this victory, and the few men of Ai drove them back in a humiliating defeat.

God had blessed Israel with a shocking victory over Jericho, but He now needed to get their attention in another way. And you can be sure that God still speaks to us through failure when it becomes necessary.

If failure today can lead to great success tomorrow, isn't the setback worth it? When unexpected failure occurs, be sure to check your response. Don't just say, "Well, I blew it." Instead, agree with God that "I messed up pretty badly." But then ask, "Lord, what are You trying to tell me in this?"

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Speaking Through Tragedy

 Numbers 21:4-9

Although we never like to admit it, God will at times use even tragedy to shake us out of self-centeredness or some other misguided attitude. Unexpected hardship often brings with it a season of intense clarity, as the Lord strips away something meaningful to us in order to refocus our minds on Him.

We see this clearly in Numbers 21:4-9. Here, we once again find the Israelites complaining. God had directed them to take the long way out of Mount Hor so as to avoid the Edomites. However, the people became impatient by the longer journey. And in turn, they began to grumble and complain about Moses and God Himself. They had turned their minds away from the Lord, who therefore needed to get their attention once again.

It is interesting that God decided not to do so through blessing or another great, miraculous sign. After all, the Israelites had seen Him move in this way time and time again. Instead, God sent poisonous snakes into the camp, causing the death of many people.

What was their response? They immediately confessed their sin and asked Moses to intercede for them to the Lord. Though it was a costly lesson for their community, this act got their attention.

Speaking through tragedy is an intensely personal way in which God communicates with His people. While we cannot presume to know what He's trying to tell others through their heartaches, we should meet our own hardships by looking for His divine purpose and instruction.



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1 Thessalonians 3:11-12

There come points in my walk when I say, ‘You know, I’m doing pretty good.’ I get comfortable as apathy begins to creep into my heart. And the Spirit, speaking through Paul, would give this exhortation to me: ‘Jon, the Lord make you to increase. I rejoice in what’s happening in your life, but may your love for Me grow to an ever-deepening measure.’

‘Moab hath been at ease and settled in his lees. Therefore I will pour him out from vessel to vessel,’ saith the Lord (Jeremiah 48:11).

The reference is to the way wine was made in Jeremiah’s day whereby the winemaker would pick grapes, put them in a vat, stomp on them to get the juice flowing, and then pour the juice into a vessel, wherein the wine sat until the lees, or dregs, settled to the bottom.

The winemaker would then pour the wine into another vessel, leaving the dregs behind, where it would sit while more dregs settled. This process was repeated up to six times, until the end result was wine without any dregs — wine which was pure and sparkling.

"I was just getting comfy," we cry, "when my:
Boss said, ‘You’re through,’
Girlfriend said, ‘Goodbye,’
Coach said, ‘On the bench.’"

‘Great!’ the Lord says. ‘I want to refine and use you as the wine of My Spirit flows through you. But for that to happen, there will be regular seasons where you are poured. Otherwise you’ll become cloudy and dull, as you settle in your lees — and I love you too much for that.’

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

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Speaking Through Odd Circumstances 

Exodus  3:1-22

Can you remember a time when you were so engrossed in the details of your own life that you couldn't hear God at all? In times like those, we oftentimes cannot detect the Lord's whisper. So instead, He may shout through unusual circumstances.

Consider Moses in the third chapter of Exodus. Though well educated and raised as a prince, he was now exiled and humiliated in the wilderness. Life certainly wasn't turning out as he'd envisioned, and he was no doubt preoccupied with fear, disappointment, and pride.
But God had big plans for Moses and needed to get his attention. So the Lord arranged something that the shepherd just couldn't ignore: a bush that was on fire and yet was not being consumed. Even more startling, God spoke to Moses through the burning bush! Do you think that would have made you take notice?

Sometimes, this is exactly how God works. In order to speak to us, He must first get our undivided attention by doing something so unusual that we have no choice but to stop, look, and listen.
There is no such thing as an accident for a child of God. Every single thing you see or hear is something that God allowed you to notice for a reason.

We must learn how to perceive God in every circumstance, from the wild and unexpected to the simple and mundane. Whether our situation seems unbelievably good or unbearably bad, we are wise to step back and ask the Lord to help us view the matter from His perspective.

Good Morning World!

"Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive." (Titus 3:14)

A Matter of Obedience

"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.  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.  This is good and pleases God our Savior,  who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.  For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.  And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth." ( 1 Timothy 2:1-7)

A Matter of Obedience

by Charles R. Swindoll

Leading can be awfully lonely and terribly frustrating. I haven't always believed that. Fact is, when I was a starry-eyed seminary student back around '59 and '60, I had this crazy idea that a leader lived a charmed life. Especially a spiritual leader. My fantasy included contented people, smiling and grateful; plenty of time to think, study, and do relaxed research; no financial woes; short counseling sessions with folks who were eager and happy to adjust their lives according to Scripture; untold energy; sermons that virtually jumped from the text, then into my notes and out of my mouth. No conflicts. No confrontations . . . no kidding!

You're smiling. (I told you it was a fantasy.)

It's amazing what four decades can do to a wastebasket full of theories. Today I would tell anyone thinking about becoming a spiritual leader to think again. It's not that they're not needed; goodness knows, this ornery planet of depraved humanity can always use a few more leaders who are Christian to the core. The problem is, it's a lonelier task than it used to be. And the frustrations can be downright maddening.

In the midst of all this, it always helps me to return to my "call." Thousands of miles away from home, stationed on a tiny island in the South Pacific, I distinctly remember the inner surge of assurance that I would be neither fulfilled nor happy doing anything other than ministry. It meant changing careers and returning to graduate school. It meant retooling my mental machinery for a lifetime of study. It meant living my life under the always curious and sometimes demanding scrutiny of the public eye, and, if necessary, being willing to go to the wall for the sake of the gospel. None of this mattered. God had spoken to my heart, and there was no turning back. It was a matter of obedience.

We must recognize that the Lord, our God, is responsible for our appointment to any place of leadership. Over all other suggestions and advice, we must seek to hear the counsel of Almighty God as revealed in Scripture. We must take refuge in and rely on the Spirit of God rather than our own flesh and skill. With our whole heart we must fear Jesus Christ, our Lord, and acknowledge Him as the sovereign Head of the church, deserving of our unreserved faithfulness, submission, diligence, and commitment.

For me, there are no other options.

It's a matter of obedience.

How about you?

Take refuge in and rely on the Spirit of God rather than your own flesh and skill.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.