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 Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:38 pm
Giving the Gift of Love
We can rejoice that God doesn't see His children as mice who don't deserve a cookie! He asks us to give our time, our energy and ourselves to those around us, because that's exactly what He did. He could have said, “I'd better not leave heaven and invade their world with love. If I do, they'll probably ask me to help them. Then I'll have to do a few miracles. Heal some people. Pass out some 20/20 to a few blind men. Feed the hungry. Help the poor. And those who don't like Me will probably hurt Me. They may even kill me. Then I'll have to raise Myself from the dead and send My Spirit to live within them. And I'll have to prepare a home for them to live in eternally. It'll never end!”
Whew! Aren't you glad our heavenly Father didn't take that kind of attitude? Instead, He chose to invade our lives with purpose, meaning, drive and power. In return, He calls us to give away some cookies. To spread a little love. To be His hands and feet to a lost and dying world.
And if we do? We tend to forget about our problems. We don't feel as lonely or misunderstood. Having a boy/ girlfriend just doesn't seem as important any more. We begin to realize that life really isn't about us. How can we be giving cookies away if we're so concerned about our own refreshments? Life isn't about having our needs met. Rather, our focus should shift to meeting the needs of others. And when it does, people around us become a significant priority.
God is calling you to go the extra mile. Why?
• Because He did.
• Because in order to find yourself, you have to give away your life.
• Because giving, loving and going the extra mile causes you to forget about yourself for a while.
• Because you grow by sacrificing.
• Because love always wins.
Know It!
Wouldn't it be exciting to celebrate this Christmas by concentrating more on giving than getting?
Read It!
John 13:14-17; John 15:12-14; John 15:17; 1 Corinthians 14:1.
Pray It!
Ask God to show you how to make this Christmas season significantly different from those you've celebrated in the past.
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:28 pm
Jesus Is Always Better Than Santa
As we approach the Christmas season, you're no doubt bombarded with advertisements and talk of one of history's most loved imaginary characters-Santa Claus. And as Santas line shopping malls, street corners and decorations, you may find yourself falling into the easy trap of forgetting the real meaning of Christmas. So spend a few minutes recapping some important details, okay?
Jesus Christ is definitely the reason for the season. And to help you keep that fact in balance, remind yourself of the following:
Jesus is always better than Santa because . . .
• Santa lives at the North Pole. But Jesus is everywhere.
• Santa rides in a sleigh. But Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
• Santa comes only once a year. But Jesus is an ever- present help.
• Santa fills your stockings with goodies. But Jesus supplies all your needs.
• Santa gives you a few fun things that may last a year. But Jesus gives you life that will last forever.
• Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. But Jesus stands at your door and knocks and then enters.
• You have to wait in line to see Santa. But Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
• Santa lets you sit on his lap in a crowded shopping mall. But Jesus lets you rest in His arms in a beautifully created eternal home.
• Santa doesn't know your name unless you tell him. But Jesus knew your name before you were even born. (Not only does He know your name, He also knows your address, your nickname and even how many hairs are on your head!)
• Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. But Jesus has a heart full of love.
• Santa says, “You better not cry.” But Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on Me for I care for you.”
• Santa makes you chuckle. But Jesus gives you joy that becomes your very strength.
• Santa puts gifts under a tree. But Jesus became our gift and died on a tree, the Cross.
Know It!
Have fun with gifts and decorations and Santa at the mall this Christmas, but never forget the real meaning behind December 25. And go the extra mile this year to keep Christ in Christmas!
Read It!
John 3:16; John 15:26; John 17:21-23; Acts 1:9-11.
Pray It!
Pray for a godly focus on the true gift of Christmas this year.
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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:27 pm
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Roy Collette and his brother-in-law Larry Kunkel have been exchanging the same pair of pants as a Christmas present for 11 years-and each year the package gets harder to open. Last year the pants came wrapped in a car mashed into a three-foot cube. The trousers are in the glove compartment of a 1974 Gremlin. Now Larry's plotting his revenge-if he can get them out.
It all began when Larry gave Ray a pair of moleskin pants. Larry's mom had given him the trousers when he was a college student. He wore them a few times, but they froze stiff in cold weather, and he didn't like them. So he gave to Ray, who also thought the pants were miserable. He wore them three times, then wrapped them up and gave them back to Larry for Christmas the next year.
The annual friendly exchange continued routinely until Ray twisted the pants, stuffed them into a three-foot- long, one-inch wide tube and gave them back to Larry. The following Christmas, Larry compressed the pants into a seven-inch square, wrapped them with wire and gave the “bale” to Ray. Not to be outdone, the next year, Ray put the pants into a two-foot-square crate filled with stones, nailed it shut, banded it with steel and gave the trusty trousers back to Larry.
The men have agreed to end the caper if the pants are ever damaged, but so far they've been as careful as they have been clever.
Larry had the pants mounted inside an insulated window that had a 20-year guarantee and shipped them to Ray. Ray broke the glass, recovered the trousers, stuffed them into a five-inch coffee can and soldered it shut. The can was put in a five-gallon container filled with concrete and reinforcing rods and give to Larry the following Christmas. Two years ago, Larry installed the pants in a 225-ound homemade steel ashtray made from eight-inch steel casings and etched Ray's name on the side. Ray had some trouble retrieving the treasured trousers, but he succeeded without burning them with a cutting torch.
The Christmas before last, Ray found a 600-pound safe and hauled it to a shipping department. They decorated it with red and green stripes, put the pants inside and welded the safe shut. The safe was then shipped to Larry.
Last December the pants were trucked in the drab green, three-foot cube that was once a car with 95,000 miles on it. A note attached to the 2,000-pound scrunched car advised Ray that the pants were inside the glove compartment.
And this Christmas? Who knows!
Know It!
Someday, those trousers will become damaged, and the men won't be able to exchange the same gift any longer. But as you approach this Christmas, focus on the one gift that will never get old, never wear out and isn't complicated to open. That's the gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ wants to give you for Christmas.
Read It!
Psalm 27:1; Psalm 35:3; Psalm 37:39; Psalm 71:15.
Pray It!
In faith, accept God's precious Christmas gift of eternal life this year. Thank Him for the fact that it will last forever!
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:07 pm
Want Some Wisdom?
Everyone's looking for a little wisdom. Maybe you're wishing you had the wisdom to figure out a problem you're struggling with, or more wisdom to apply to your schoolwork. Often times, when we search for wisdom, we look in the wrong places. Looking to our culture, celebrities or friends isn't the right source. Check out the following “wisdom” from actual quotes on a variety of topics by supermodels.
• On poverty: “Everyone should have enough money to get plastic surgery.” -Beverly Johnson
• On priorities: “I would rather exercise than read a newspaper.” -Kim Alexis
• On inner strength: “I love the confidence that makeup gives me.” -Tyra Banks
• On the basics: “It's very important to have the right clothing to exercise in. If you throw on an old T- shirt or sweats, it's not inspiring for your workout.” - Cheryl Tiegs
• On introductions: “I think most people are curious about what it would be like to be able to meet yourself. It's eerie.” -Christy Turlington
• On the conversation of matter: “I've looked in the mirror every day for 20 years. It's the same face.” - Claudia Schiffer
• On survival: “If I'm making a movie and get hungry, I call time-out and eat some crackers.” -Carol Alt
• On thinking: “When I model, I pretty much blank. You can't think too much or it doesn't work.” - Paulina Porizkova
• On body parts: “I don't know what to do with my arms. It just makes me feel weird and I feel like people are looking at me and that makes me nervous.” -Tyra Banks
• On economics: “I don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day.” -Linda Evangelista
When you need wisdom, where you do go? Do you seek advice from people who will tell you what you want to hear? Do you listen to the latest rock star's philosophy or what your friends are saying? It's obvious the above “logic” won't last long. If you're searching for true wisdom, God has already provided it for you. It's found in His Holy Word. The book of proverbs is full of wisdom, and the exciting thing about this particular book is that it has 31 chapters. That's enough to read one every day for a month!
Know It!
It's great to want wisdom, but it's important that you search for it in the right place. “Wisdom” from the world is only temporary. God's wisdom is eternal.
Read It!
Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3; Proverbs 4.
Pray It!
Ask God to guide you in your search for wisdom.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:58 pm
Who Qualifies?
Throughout history, God has chosen ordinary people to do His work. He has consistently used men and women with flaws, failures and lack of talent. If we took a closer look at the some of our Bible heroes-as if we were looking at them through a resume and an application to pastor our church-we might have slim pickings.
Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. He's prone to unrealistic building projects.
Solomon: Excellent preacher, but the church parsonage would never hold all his wives.
John: Claims he's a Baptist, but he doesn't dress like one. He's slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet and provokes denominational leaders.
Timothy: Too young.
Methuselah: Too old.
Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable. Alarmist. Negative. Always lamenting things. It's been reported that he took a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.
Joseph: A big thinker and a braggart. He believes in interpreting dreams and has a prison record.
David: Looked promising until it was discovered that he had an affair with his neighbor's wife.
Elijah: Prone to depression. Collapses under pressure.
Elisha: Reported to have lived with a single widow at his former church.
Isaiah: On the fringe. Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.
Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper and has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
Paul: Powerful CEO type of leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
If we looked at the above in light of their faults, we'd probably never select any of them for God's work. But isn't it comforting to know that God doesn't look at our faults; He looks at our potential! He doesn't keep count of how many times we've blown it. He sees everything that we can become in His power! God wants to use you. He has chosen you to be on His team. And if you'll let Him have complete control of your life, He'll do extraordinary things with you!
Know It!
Since God overlooks our weaknesses and sees our potential, shouldn't we do the same for others? Instead of focusing your attention on what others have done wrong, ask God to help you see all that they can become.
Read It!
Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:20; Hebrews 10:39; James 1:19-22.
Pray It!
Spend some time thanking God for dreaming big dreams for you-in spite of your humanness.
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:30 pm
Don't Get Disconnected
Mr. Wrigley, the chewing gum magnet, was riding a train to Chicago, where his headquarters were located. A passenger sitting beside him said, “Mr. Wrigley, your gum in known all over the world. Why do you bother to continue advertising?”
Mr. Wrigley looked the passenger in the eyes and asked, “How fast is this train going?”
“I don't know. Maybe 60 miles an hour.”
“Well, since it's already on a good run, why don't they just go ahead and disconnect the engine?”
The answer was obvious: Advertising was the “engine” that pulled the gum through the market. We've all seen products come out with a bang, and CEOs have made the mistake of assuming since the product was selling well, they could afford to cut back on advertising. Unfortunately, they soon saw the demise of their product when they discontinued the marketing plan.
Lots of people will tell you there are several ways to get to heaven. Some religions will brag that good deeds will earn you salvation. Others say you must be reincarnated and try again. But Jesus said that He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He went on to say that no one could get to heaven except through Him. Jesus Christ is our connection to God Almighty. So it's important that we get connected and stay connected.
In our day-to-day living, faith is the engine that pulls us through life. Martin Luther caught the significance when he discovered that the just shall live by faith. And this is the principle on which he formulated the Protestant Reformation.
By faith we are justified. You can put that in simple terms and think of it as “just as if I'd never sinned.” That means we have been justified before God. Forgiven. Cleansed. Made whole. We are seen as pure before Him.
If faith is the engine, what are the cars on the track that faith is pulling? Faith is pulling the cars of fact, feeling and joy. And they're always in that order! The caboose doesn't pull the train. The caboose is always at the tail-end of the train. Likewise, the coal car doesn't pull the train. The purpose of the old coal car was to provide fuel for the engine which had the power to pull the train. The coal car, caboose and the engine are never interchanged. Freight cars, passenger cars and mail cars may make up the remainder of the train, and these cars are sometimes interchanged, but this doesn't affect the destination of the train.
Know It!
For you to experience spiritual maturity, it's important that you stay deeply rooted and connected in Christ. It's also important that you allow faith-not feelings-to pull your relationship full steam ahead.
Read It!
John 14:6; Romans 1:17; Romans 4:5-20; Romans 9:30.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you keep your faith and your feelings in the proper perspective.
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:31 pm
What's Pulling Your Train?
If we compare our relationship with Christ to a train, we have to allow faith to pull us down the track into a deeper relationship with God. Faith pulls the cars of fact, feeling, joy, discouragement, loneliness-whatever makes up your train of life. But it's important to remember that faith and fact are like the engine and the coal car; they are never disconnected or interchanged.
Jesus announced that He was standing at the door of our hearts and knocking. He went on to say that if anyone would answer the door and let Him come in and reside in his home, He would give him eternal life. The fact is: When you have repented of your sins, Christ has forgiven you of your sins. And by faith, you believe in Him. The just shall live by faith.
There is no other engine that pulls the train, and no other coal car feed the engine except the fact that you have been forgiven. The other cars in your train may come and go. There will be days when you experience feelings of joy. You may be overwhelmed by His presence. There may be other days when you have feelings of loneliness or discouragement, or you may be sick and not feel a thing.
You may think your train has been derailed because you can't feel God. During those times, Satan will work like crazy to make you think you're not a Christian. He'll tell you that you never were saved in the first place. Or he may bring up a sin from your past and try to make you think that God couldn't possibly forgive you for that. Don't believe Satan . . . even for a second!
Instead, keep doing what you've always done: Continue reading your Bible. Keep praying to your heavenly Father. And no matter what the weather is on the outside, keep the Son shining in your heart by steadily growing in His grace.
Know It!
Don't allow Satan or anyone else to get your cars mixed up. Remember, joy doesn't pull the train. Feelings don't empower the train. Faith pulls the train. Don't disconnect your faith in Jesus. He alone is the One who pulls you to your final (and eternal) destination.
Read It!
1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Galatians 2:16; Revelation 3:20.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you remain firmly connected to Him with a deep, growing faith.
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:22 pm
God's Voice Part I
When you know the voice of God, big things happen. Elijah knew God's voice, and he defeated an army of 450 prophets of Baal. Let's put his story in modern language and take a closer peek.
Elijah was the guy who challenged King Ahab and his prophets of Baal over a dead bull. If you've ever been discouraged because your youth group isn't as big as you wish it were, Elijah could relate. You see, whenever his youth group had a pizza fling, he was the only teen who showed up.
When they organized money-raising projects (like a car wash or selling tickets to the church chili supper) he was the only one who participated. Not only that, but when his church had their once-a-month potluck dinner . . . you guessed it, he was the only one who brought fried chicken. In fact, he was the only one who showed up!
That's because Elijah was from a really small church. We're talking about an itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow- polka-dot-bikini-sized church. It was so small, he was the only member. And it seemed to him as though he was the only Christian in the land. (There were actually a few more, but he couldn't find them. Maybe you can relate, feeling like you're the only Christian your school.)
But Elijah's strength was in knowing the voice of God. When God spoke, Elijah acted! Well, God spoke. He told Elijah to tell King Ahab that he was doing a lousy job of running the country, and if he didn't shape up, God would punish the people by withholding the rain. (Bad news because the crops would wither and die and everyone's stomach would growl and no one would be able to buy Honeycomb or Trix or even Pop-Tarts. So, this was serious stuff!)
Now think about it: How would you respond if God told you to go to the White House and tell the president a thing or two? You might tend to think, Hmmm. Was that God speaking to me? Or was it Satan trying to mess me up and get me to do something really stupid? Or are those just my own thoughts wanting to do something important?
Elijah didn't have to wonder if it was God speaking to him, because he knew the voice of God extremely well. And he responded immediately!
Know It!
You can know God's voice just as well as Elijah. He speaks to us in a variety of ways. Sometimes He speaks you're your life through trusted adults who are close to Him. Other times He'll speak to you through the Bible. And sometimes He'll talk to you through your mind and heart by using His Holy Spirit.
Read It!
1 Kings 17; 18; 19.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you tune in to His voice and to respond in obedience when you hear Him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:40 pm
God's Voice Part II
When God spoke, Elijah didn't hesitate to obey. So Elijah confronted King Ahab and told him that God wasn't too pleased with the way things were going and if he didn't make a turn for the better (and get the people to start worshiping God instead of the idol of Baal) he'd be mighty sorry because a famine would sweep the country and there wouldn't be any rain- which not only meant no crops, but also put a pretty big damper on summer fun. (Like how can you go water skiing, swimming, tubing or rafting without water? Pretty basic.)
Well, other than talking in run-on sentences, Elijah did a pretty good job of delivering the message. But King Ahab didn't listen. Next move? God told Elijah to hit the mountains. Now while you may tend to think being banished in the mountains could get boring, the Bible tells us that God provided for every one of Elijah's needs. The Lord sent ravens to bring him food every day. (Not bad room service, huh?)
A few years passed, and God spoke again. This time He told Elijah to go back down the mountain and talk to King Ahab again. And instead of thinking, Wait a minute. That can't be God's voice, because He's the One who told me to come here in the first place. Hmmm. Must be Satan. Or maybe it's just my own thoughts. It would be kind of nice to be with people again. Elijah didn't have to guess; he knew God's voice. And when God spoke, he responded.
You can probably imagine how King Ahab reacted when he saw Elijah heading for the palace. He shook his bony royal finger at God's man and screamed, “You!” (Man of great verbiage, that Ahab.) “You're the one who's responsible for this mess!”
And it really was a mess. Just as Elijah had predicted, God had withheld the rains for several years, people were dying, the crops had withered . . . the country was a disaster.
But Elijah stood his ground. “I'm not the reason for this famine; you are! I told you this would happen. God has allowed our country to suffer because of the way you have chosen to rule.”
“But . . . but . . . but, I . . .” (Be glad Ahab never spoke for one of your school assemblies. He stammered so much it would've taken forever to get his point across!)
“Listen, Ahab! Almost the entire country is worshiping Baal. That's not right. God wants to turn the hearts of His people back to Him.
“But I'm not into Baal worship,” Ahab defended.
“True. You're not,” Elijah agreed. “But you're not into worshiping God, either.”
Know It!
God want His children to be totally committed to Him. We're told in the book of Revelation to be either hot or cold, but lukewarm won't get us anywhere. King Ahab was trying to be lukewarm.
Read It!
2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 5:3-5; Jude 24-25; Revelation 3:16.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you stay “hot”-totally committed to Him.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:24 pm
God's Voice Part III
Elijah confronted King Ahab with confidence. When you truly know the voice of God, you can respond in boldness and confidence to whatever He asks. Elijah continued with his confrontation to Ahab. “If there's one thing God can't stand, it's a lukewarm commitment,” Elijah said. “Be hot or cold, Ahab, but don't stand in the middle. Serve God or serve Baal, but you can't remain neutral.”
“Hold on, Elijah!”
“No can do, Ahab. It's time to make a decision. What's it going to be? Serve God? Or worship your silly idols?”
“Elijah, I don't mind serving your God if he's really God. But I need to know for sure,” Ahab bargained. “So let's have a little contest. I'll get the 450 prophets of Baal, and we'll have a showdown between you and your God . . . and the prophets of Baal and their god.”
Settled. First Church of Baal got really excited. They had a humongous youth group-more than 5,000 teens. They decided this would be a great way to earn money for their surf 'n' swim trip to Jamaica, so they had special T-shirts printed that read “THE CONTEST” and sold them for $15 each. They also took charge of the confession stand. I mean, the concession stand.
The big day arrived and the arena was literally packed out. Serena Williams had a break in her tennis tour, and she was hired to commentate. She began by going through the rules:
“Since there are more people on the Baal team, we're going to let them go first. They'll drag their dead bull out here and pray to their god to burn it up. And guys . . . you're aware that you can't use kerosene or charcoal bits, right? Okay, good.
“Then, after they've had a chance to prove the existence of their god, we'll give Elijah a shot wit his dead bull. Let the games begin!”
The team of Baal pulled their carcass on stage. They danced around their bull and prayed loudly to their god. People watched closely. Reporters were crouched on the edge of their seats in the press box. Cameras zoomed in extra-close. But nothing happened. The crowd grew restless.
Finally, Elijah himself grew impatient and began to sarcastically mock the prophets of Baal. The prophets stepped up the intensity and began cutting themselves to show their false god how serious they were. They danced on stage all day long, but nothing happened.
Know It!
If you haven't made an all-out decision to follow Christ with all your heart, now's the time to do it! Instead of trying to put God to some kind of test, accept His forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for you.
Read It!
1 Kings 18; Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:11-12; Joel 2:32
Pray It!
Ask God to give you a brand-new life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:40 pm
God's Voice Part IV
Elijah approached the stage and told the contest helpers to clear the platform. They had to hose it down because of all the blood from the prophets of Baal cutting themselves. As they dragged Elijah's dead bull to center stage, he gave them some interesting instructions.
“Dig a trench all the way around the stage and fill it with water,” he said. So they did. “Fill it again,” he instructed. So they did. “And again,” he continued. The audience began to wonder why Elijah was drenching the stage before he began to pray for fire. Then Elijah stepped away from the microphone so no one could hear him. I like to imagine he prayed something like this:
“God, I know You're God. I have absolutely no doubt at all that You created this entire universe and You have more power than anything or anyone anywhere.
“I'm not asking You to burn this bull to prove Your power to me, because-like I said-I'm already convinced of Your power. Those doubts were settled a long time ago when I gave my life to You.
“I'm asking You to burn this bull, though, so these thousands of doubting, questioning, lost people can be convinced that You are the only true God.”
Then I imagine a hush fell across the stadium. And stepping in front of the microphone, Elijah probably boomed in his deepest and loudest voice, “Father God of heaven and earth burn this bull!”
Instantly that dead animal was ablaze. It was incredible! People all over the arena began to realize they'd been duped into believing in a false god. They saw this power, and they wanted what they saw. They began committing themselves to the one true God- Jehovah.
Elijah wasted no time. Microphone still in hand, he grabbed some of the new Christians and convinced them to help him slaughter the prophets of Baal. (Before Jesus came to die for our sins, God abolished evil through death. So, Elijah knew he had to wipe out the Baal gang, or they'd travel to the next town and start the same old thing all over again.)
After all the prophets of Baal were killed, God spoke to Elijah and told him to head back to the mountains. (Back to the mountains? You're kidding! With all this action going on? Why? Because God wanted to talk with him, that's why.)
And Elijah didn't questions whether it was God's voice, Satan's voice or his own thinking. He responded immediately because he knew the voice of the Lord. Elijah went to the mountains and waited for God to speak to him. (To find out more about Elijah's experience on the mountain, flip over to March 12.)
Know It!
Though God doesn't want us to test Him, He is faithful in showing His power through His children when they need Him.
Read It!
1 Kings 18; Psalm 63:2; Psalm 66:3; Psalm 77:14.
Pray It!
Is God's power evident in your life? Ask Him to reveal anything that may be blocking His power through you.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:37 pm
God's Voice Part V
Do you, like Elijah, know the sound of God's voice? God desires not only that you know it, but that you also obey it when you hear Him speak. It takes discipline to learn what God's voice sounds like. It means making time daily to shut everything else out-even the stereo and the TV-to focus on His still, small voice that comes from within.
Everyone in the Bible who accomplished great things for God, did so because they knew the sound of His voice. Jehoshaphat knew God's voice and was able to stand up to King Ahab. (See the devotions on December 19-20). It took temporarily blinding Paul for the Lord to get through, but when He did, Paul had no doubt the sound of his Father's voice, and God used him in astonishing ways. The disciples knew the sound of the Master. Even Jesus said that sheep know the sound of their shepherd's voice. It pays to tune in to the right voice! And the voice of God is a voice that wants to guide you, support you and protect you.
When you have truly learned to tune in to the sound of His voice, big things happen! The better you know God's voice, the deeper your relationship with Him will grow. Why? Because the more you know His voice, the more you'll respond to His voice. The better you know God, the more confident a Christian you'll be.
A disciple who knows God's voice equals a disciple who responds when God speaks equals God working through your life to impact those around you!
A Christian who knows God's voice equals a Christian who's confident. A confident Christian equals one who will dare to take a stand in his school, at work and in his non-Christian home.
Know It!
Look what happened to Lazarus when he recognized God's voice! He was raised to life through Jesus Christ. The most important voice you'll ever respond to is the voice of God on your life. Learn to listen carefully!
Read It!
Deuteronomy 30:20; John 5:28; John 10:3; Revelation 3:20.
Pray It!
Spend some time in prayer just listening to God instead of talking to Him.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:14 pm
Got the Joy of the Season?
Christmas is only eight days away. Have you caught the spirit? Are you spreading the joy? Here are a few Christmas laughs to get you in the mood.
• What are Santa's helpers called? Subordinate Clauses.
• Which one of Santa's reindeers needs to learn his manners? “Rude” olph.
• Ever thought about what Santa says when he gets sick? “OH, OH, NO!”
• Can Santa take pictures? Yes, with his North Pole- aroid.
• What can we call a cat at the beach during Christmas? Sandy Claus.
• Know which reindeer has the cleanest antlers? Comet.
• Who sings “Love Me Tender” and makes Christmas toys? Santa's little Elvis.
• What do we call Santa Clause after he's fallen into a fireplace? Krisp Kringle.
• How does a cowboy greet people at Christmas? Moooooory Christmas!
• What's Santa's favorite snack? A jolly roll.
• Where does Santa take his reindeer for lunch? Deery Queen.
If jokes don't get you into the Christmas spirit, maybe some random acts of kindness will. Try the following:
• Take a thermos of hot chocolate to school today and give a cup to each one of your teachers before school starts.
• Volunteer to go grocery shopping for an elderly person in your neighborhood or church.
• Ask your youth leader if your group can visit a retirement home this Christmas and spread cheer to some senior citizens who may not have family in town.
• Bake cookies for your youth pastor, Sunday school teacher or church staff.
• Surprise your folks with some hot apple cider this evening.
Know It!
Be willing to go the extra mile this Christmas season. No one enjoys being around a Scrooge. But with long lines, hectic traffic and little money, it can be very easy to show your frustration. Determine to spread Christmas cheer in spite of your personal circumstances. When it gets difficult, stop and count your blessings. That will quickly put things into perspective.
Read It!
Lamentations 3:40-42; Lamentations 3:54-58; Ephesians 4:31-32; Philippians 4:4-5.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you reflect His love through your actions this Christmas season.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:48 pm
Collision Course
This is the transcript of the actual radio conversation of a U.S. naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland.
Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert your course.
Canadians: No, I say again, you divert your course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that's one five degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
* * *
Often times, Christians are seen as unbending and inflexible. While it's important to be sure of your beliefs and to stand firmly in strong boldness, it's also important to remain teachable. You have not arrived. You may know a lot about the Bible, and you may belong to a great church, but you still have a lot to learn from your heavenly Father.
Christians with a pliable heart are the ones God uses to do extraordinary things. He can work through someone who isn't convinced that he's always right and always knows what's best. No one enjoys being around someone like that. The apostles Paul and Peter had similar personalities. They were both bold, confident, direct and intently focused on their God-given mission.
Yet when Paul pointed out a mistake that Peter had made with the Gentiles, Peter displayed a teachable spirit and succumbed to Paul's truthful and constructive criticism. It would have been extremely easy for Peter to say, “Hey! I've been a Christian a lot longer than you have, Paul. I was even a disciple and followed Jesus for three years. Yeah, you're a Christian now . . . but look at your past! How many Christians were you instrumental in killing before you asked God to forgive you?”
Peter even denied Jesus three times, but because he had a teachable spirit, he humbled himself, sought forgiveness and was made right with God. Judas only denied Christ once, but because he didn't have a pliable spirit, he couldn't humble himself to seek forgiveness and was lost forever.
Know It!
God can do extraordinary things through someone who's teachable. But the one who thinks he's always right and is out to show everyone that he's in charge, is on dangerous ground.
Read It!
Acts 10; Galatians 2:11-12; Galatians 2:14-15; Galatians 17-21.
Pray It!
Ask God to give you a teachable spirit and to point out any attitudes or actions in your life that point the opposite.
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:30 pm
Are You Listening to the Right Voice?
King Ahab was mad! The land Ramoth Gilead belonged to his people, yet it was not in their possession. So he called a meeting with King Jehoshaphat of Judah and asked if he'd be willing to join forces with him and fight for Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat told Ahab that he was willing to help his people gain possession of the land that was rightfully theirs, but also told Ahab he wanted to seek the direction of God first.
So Ahab called his prophets together. Now don't assume simply because they were called prophets that they were godly men. You can see the same thing happening today. Many people call themselves Christians who aren't truly living in obedience to Jesus Christ. Never assume a name or a title reflects the inner character of someone.
Ahab brought his 400 heathen prophets before Jehoshaphat and asked them if it was God's will they go to war. The prophets assured the king is was and that he would be victorious. That's exactly what Ahab wanted to hear. He turned to Jehoshaphat expecting his support but was shocked instead.
Jehoshaphat didn't know these prophets. He didn't know their lifestyle or their motives. But he did know God. And he knew when he listened to those 400 prophets that he didn't hear God's voice. Yes, they were saying nice things. They gave positive remarks. They delivered a motivating message. But Jehoshaphat knew God's voice so well, he was able to discern that the prophets weren't godly men.
So he turned to King Ahab and surprised him by asking, “Don't you have a godly prophet we can talk to?” Ahab was shocked that Jehoshaphat could discern that God's voice was not among 400 prophets.
You see, it wasn't enough that Jehoshaphat listened to good voices and positive messages. He knew he hadn't heard the right voice yet; he was waiting for God's message-be it positive or negative. You may assume that as long as you're listening to good people say good things, you're hearing what God wants you to hear. Do you realize there are Christians saying exactly the opposite of what God wants them to say? Be sure you're listening to the right voice-not simply a good voice.
King Ahab responded that there was one prophet left. He explained that he didn't like to use him much, because he usually said things that Ahab didn't want to hear. But Ahab knew this prophet was a godly man. So he called for Micaiah.
There are Christian speakers, preachers and leaders who tell an audience exactly what they want to hear. They make them laugh and feel good about themselves. And there are others who cut right to the chase and tell their audience what God wants them to hear. This usually makes people angry. We're living in a day and age where most Christians don't want to hear the truth. We simply want to hear what makes us feel good.
Know It!
Are you listening to people who make you feel good? Or are you listening to people who challenge you and make you think?
Read It!
1 Kings 22; Jeremiah 26:18-19; Micah 1:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
Pray It!
Be honest with God. Ask Him to wake you up if you've been sleeping through feel-good messages.
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