News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

~~~THE LOVE OF CHRIST

----1 John 3:16-23
______________

****Be imitators of
God...And walk in
love, as Christ also
has loved us and given
Himself for us.
--Ephesians 5:1-2
________________
An entry I read on a blog caught my eye. It was the morning of his ninth wedding anniversary. Not having a lot of money, the writer ran out to get his wife, Heidi, their favorite French pastry--'pain au chocolat'. After sprinting several miles, he arrived home exhausted, to find her in the kitchen just pulling a chocolate-filled croissant out of the oven. It was 'pain au chocolat'.

That husband, Jeff, compared his life with Heidi to the lives of the people in O. Henry's short story "Gift of the Magi." It tells of a man who sold his lone possession of value-- a pocket watch-- to buy hair combs for his wife, who had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a gold chain for his watch.

Having no money concerns would be great--but realizing the immeasurable value of the people we care about is more important. We sometimes need a reminder that "things" are not nearly as important as appreciating the people God has placed in our lives. When we practice putting others' interests before our own (Phil. 2:3-4), we learn what it means to love, serve, and sacrifice. In fact, that's how we pattern Christ in our relationships (Eph. 5:1-2).
______________________
I want to share with those I love
The highest joy I'm thinking of,
Not just what brightens all their days
But what will give God highest praise.
~~~~~~~~~~
LOVE IS NEVER AFRAID OF GIVING TOO MUCH.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag / JESUS IS LORD <><

~~~Showing The Love of Christ

John 13:3-15

-------
I have given you an
example, that you
should do as I have
done to you.
---John 13:15
~~~~

IN one of Jesus' last conversations with his with His disciples, He wanted to show them the full extent of His love. So before their last meal together, He took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash His disciples' feet. This was shocking because only slaves washed feet. It was an act of servanthood and a symbol that pointed to Jesus' sacrifice, passion, and humiliation on the cross. He said to His disciples: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).

Imagine how different our world would look if we gave the kind of love to others that God has given us through Jesus. ~~

Christ's example teaches us
That we should follow Him each day,
Meeting one another's needs,
Though humble service be the way.
___________________________________

TO KNOW LOVE, OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS.
TO SHOW LOVE, OPEN YOUR HEART TO OTHERS.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag / JESUS IS LORD !

~~~What God Has Done

"You have been saved by God's grace." Ephesians 2:5

---Read slowly and carefully Paul's description of what God has done for you: "When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross.

God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless" (Col. 2:13-15).

As you look at the words above, answer this question. Who is doing the work? You or God? Who is active? You or God? Who is doing the saving? You or God?

Why did He do it? PURE LOVE FOR YOU!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

~~~~
Max Lucado
He still Moves Stones <><

~~"In all things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us and died for us." Romans 8:37

THE basic problem facing our world is not just social inequity, or lack of education, or even physical hunger. We are finding that highly educated and well-fed people have greeds, hates, passions, and lusts that are not eliminated by education. The root of sin in each of our hearts is extremely deep, and this is the basic cause of the world's problems; only the fire of the Lord can burn it out.

This is precisely what Christ came to do. He didn't come to treat symptoms. He came to get at the very heart of man's disease.~~

Prayer For The Day:

'Father, root out the sin in my life---
the shortcomings that are there---and fill me
with Your love, so I may fight against the evil
present in the world today.'

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day <><

~~~~"Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine
enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; that
ye may be the children of your Father
which is in heaven....." Matthew 5:43-45

~~~WHEN H.G. Wells summed up the influence of Jesus in history, he said,"Is it any wonder that this Galilean is too much for our small hearts?" And yet the heart of man, though small, is big enough for Christ to live in, if man will only make room for Him.

Christ instilled the spirit of Christian love in His followers, so that they lived without malice and died without rancor. The love that Christ talked about can only be given to us by God. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

When you come to Jesus Christ, He transforms you. Your past is forgiven. You receive a power to love men, beyond your natural ability to love.

------
Prayer For The Day:
"Instill in me, Dear Father, Your same Spirit of love
which enabled the disciples to live with true charity."

---Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day ~

---"CAST DOWN SHEEP"

Psalm 23
"He restores my soul" Psm. 23:3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IN his classic book 'A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23', W. Phillip Keller gives a striking picture of the care and gentleness of a shepherd. In verse 3 when David says, "He restores my soul," he uses language every shepherd would understand.

Sheep are built in such a way that if they fall on their side and then onto their back, it's very difficult to get up again. They flail their legs in the air, bleat, and cry. After a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs, the stomach hardens, the air passage is cut off, and the sheep will eventually suffocate. This is referred to as a "cast down" position. When a shepherd restores the sheep, he reassures it, massages its legs to restore circulation, gently turns the sheep over, lifts it up, and holds it so it can regain its equilibrium.

If you've been cast down, God is the only One who can help you get on your feet again. He will restore your confidence, joy, and strength.
-----------
THE WEAK AND THE HELPLESS
ARE IN THE GOOD SHEPHERD'S SPECIAL CARE.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag

~~~COMFORTED
TO COMFORT

2 Corinthians 1:3-11
__________
"God comforts us..
that we may be able
to comfort others."
--2 Corinthians 1:4
-----------

WHILE speaking to a group of Christian athletes, I asked them how they normally responded to hardships. Their responses included fear, anger, self-pity, aggression, despair, abusive behavior, apathy, and turning to God. I encouraged them to trust that God would comfort them and then use them to comfort others.

Just as I encouraged those athletes, Paul encouraged a group of believers in a town called Corinth. He reminded them that afflictions were inevitable for the follower of Jesus. Many were being persecuted, imprisoned, and oppressed--all because of their relationship with Jesus. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that in the midst of their trouble God was their source of help. He would come to their side and help them to have godly responses.

Then Paul gave one of the reasons God allowed suffering and brought divine comfort--so that the Corinthians might have the empathy to enter into other people's sorrow and comfort them (2 Cor. 1:4).

When we suffer, let us remember that God will bring comfort to us through His Word, by the Holy Spirit, and through fellow believers. God does not comfort us so that we'll be comfortable; we are comforted by God so that we might be comforters.

When you receive God's comfort,
Be sure to pass it on,
Then give to God the glory
From Whom the comfort's drawn. <><
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN GOD PERMITS TRIALS, HE ALSO PROVIDES COMFORT.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag <><

Why did He do it? PURE LOVE FOR YOU!

"The Colors of His Love"
They are far more beautiful then the many colors of the rainbow.
Then the brightness of the stars and of breathtaking planets above us.
Of pure blue skies and of snow white clouds and the yellow brightness of the rays of the sun.
Of the many flowers found in this world and purple skies on a rainy day.
In all the many different variations and multi-colors of the animals..
And all the people who live and breath in this world we live in too.
Like a rainbow, as God paints the world with his love for us.
What a beautiful brush..
An amazing canvas..
A priceless gift..

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

---THE WORK
OF OUR HANDS

Psalm 112
_______
"The righteous will
be in everlasting
remembrance."
--Psalm 112:6

ONE reason we're left here on earth and not taken to heaven immediately after trusting in Christ for salvation is that God has work for us to do. "Man is immortal," Augustine said, "until his work is done."

The time of our death is not determined by anyone or anything here on earth. That decision is made in the councils of heaven. When we have done all that God has in mind for us to do, then and only then will He take us home--and not one second before. As Paul put it, "David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep" (Acts 13:36).

In the meantime, until God takes us home, there's plenty to do. "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day," Jesus said. "Night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). Night is coming when we will once for all close our eyes on this world, or our Lord will return to take us to be with Him. Each day brings that time a little closer.

As long as we have the light of day, we must work--not to conquer, acquire, accumulate, and retire, but to make visible the invisible Christ by touching people with His love. We can then be confident that our "labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you rely upon God's strength
And live a life that's true,
Then what you do in Jesus' name
Will be His work through you.
____________________
IN GOD'S EYES, TRUE GREATNESS IS SERVING OTHERS.

Our Daily Bread
D. Roper ~

Do As I Have
Done --

John 13:3-15
---
I have given you an
example, that you
should do as I have
done to you.
---John 13:15
-------
I think this is what Jesus had in mind in one of His last conversations with His disciples. He wanted to show them the full extent of His love. So before their last meal together, He took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash His disciples' feet. This was shocking because only slaves washed feet. It was an act of servanthood and a symbol that pointed to Jesus' sacrifice, passion, and humiliation on the cross. He said to His disciples: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).

Imagine how different our world would look if we gave the kind of love to others that God has given us through Jesus.
------------
Christ's example teaches us
That we should follow Him each day,
Meeting one another's needs,
Though humble service be the way.
~~~~~
TO KNOW LOVE, OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS.
TO SHOW LOVE, OPEN YOUR HEART TO OTHERS.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings

THE MEASURE
OF LOVE ~~~

John 15:9-17
______
Greater love has no
one than this, than
to lay down one's life
for his friends.
---John 15:13
------------
ON October 2, 1954, First Lieutenant James O. Conway was taking off from Boston Logan Airport, flying a plane that carried a load of munitions. When his plane became airborne, he suddenly lost power over Boston's bay. In an instant,Conway faced a brutal choice--eject from the plane and save his own life, or crash the plane into the bay causing his own death.

If he ejected, however, the plane would crash into an East Boston neighborhood filled with homes and families. Amazingly, Conway chose to crash the plane into the bay--giving his life for the lives of others.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." The willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect others shows a heart that cares more about the needs of others than the needs of one's self. Someone once said that "the measure of love is what one is willing to give up for it." God the Father loved so much that He gave up His Son. Christ loved so much that He gave up His life--even taking our sins on Himself and dying in our place.

The measure of God's love for you is great. Have you accepted His love personally? [This is not a 'religion', it is a 'personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.]
----------------
When Jesus gave His life for me,
Enduring all the agony
Upon the cross of Calvary,
He showed the love of God.
_____________________
NOTHING SPEAKS MORE CLEARLY OF GOD'S LOVE
THAN THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

Blessings !
Our Daily Bread <><

--WHO
CRUCIFIED
JESUS?

Luke 23:33-38
-------------
When they had come
to the place called
Calvary, there they
crucified Him.
--Luke 23:33

WHEN looking at Rembrandt's painting of 'The Three Crosses', your attention is drawn first to the cross on which Jesus died. Then as you look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you are impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes drift to the edge of the painting to catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Some art critics say this is a represention of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

Someone has said, "It is a simple thing to say that Christ died for the sins of the world. It is quite another thing to say that Christ died for 'my' sins... It is a shocking thought that we can be as indifferent as Pilate, as scheming as Caiaphas, as callous as the soldiers, as ruthless as the mob, or as cowardly as the disciples. It wasn't just what 'they' did--it was 'I' who nailed Him to the tree. I crucified the Christ of God. I joined the mockery."

Place yourself in the shadows with Rembrandt. You too are standing there. but then recall what Jesus said as He hung on that cross, "Father, forgive them." Thank God, that includes you and me.--

Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!
________________________________________________________
THE CROSS OF CHRIST REVEALS THE LOVE OF GOD AT ITS BEST
AND THE SIN OF THE WORLD AT ITS WORST. <><

Our Daily Bread
BLessings, Abishag/ JESUS IS LORD!

Thank you Abishag, this is beautiful - Jesus is so beautiful :-) xoxoxox!!!

"Come Away, God Child"



"Upon the manger there the Faeries watched Him lay,
With Angels guarding at His side,
His face as Bright as Day,

"Come With us little Child,
Our Creator's Son in Man!
Let us take you far from here,
Into a better Land;

"A Land enchanted you deserve,
Come , Child, with us today!"
The Faeries pleaded at our Savior,
As He lay upon the hay;

"Come to our World of Happy Song,
With Crystal Waters- brilliant flowers
Where you, God's child belong.

Not here, with arid wasteland's man,
Who will crush you with the Thorn.
Come with us to our secret Realm,
Oh holy child newborn!"

After the faeries pleaded then the angels softly said:
"He will not go- His face is set"
With Love this Child is led"

For men's mistakes He'll give His life
To save Earth from the dead
And lead back Earth to Heaven's Realms,
So come with Him instead"

With that the Faeries understood-
This God Child will turn bad to good;
With love they kissed His tender face,
Of him whom came to save man's race."

Thank you, Lil'Aug, what a lovely poem! Jesus is just so....so AWESOME, Holy, Righteous and full of love, grace and mercy! AMEN !

THE SONG OF
THE SAINTS

Revelation 15
-------------
Who shall not fear
You, O Lord, and
glorify Your name?
--Revelation 15:4
~~~~~
WE'VE all heard the expression "I don't get mad; I just get even." Reading about the judgments described in Revelation, one might assume that God will get "even" with sinners for their phenomenal offenses throughout the history of mankind.

The truth is that God's final judgment is a necessary expression of His holy justice. He can't turn a blind eye to sin. In fact, if He doesn't finally carry out justice, it would be a denial of His holy character. That's why in the midst of His judgments, the saints will sing His praise: "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy...Your judgments have been manifested" (15:4). Those who know God best do not judge Him for His judgments; rather, they worship and affirm His actions.

What should surprise us is not the massive scale of God's judgments, but that He's waiting so long! Desiring that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God is now mercifully restraining His judgments and giving maximum space to His marvelous mercy and grace. Now is the time to repent and take advantage of His patient love. And when we do, we'll join the saints in praising Him for all eternity!

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure--
The saints' and angels' song.
____________________________
WHEN GOD'S JUSTICE IS FINALLY AND FULLY REVEALED,
HIS PRAISES WILL RESOUND!

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag / JESUS IS LORD !!

Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

Christ wants to dwell in your heart because you are family.
There is no reason for you ever to be lonely.

Yes...
Life Is much better together!
One in Christ!
Amen!

When you receive God's comfort,
Be sure to pass it on,
Then give to God the glory
From Whom the comfort's drawn. <><
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN GOD PERMITS TRIALS, HE ALSO PROVIDES COMFORT.

--A Godly Touch

"Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and
said,'I will. Be healed!' " Matthew 8:3

~~Oh, the power of a godly touch. Haven't you known it? The doctor who treated you, or the teacher who dried your tears? Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral? Another on your shoulder during a trial? A handshake of welcome at a new job?....

Can't we offer the same?

Many of you already do. Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren't touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies, sending emails. You have learned the power of a touch.

But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it's just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be...

Aren't we glad Jesus didn't make the same mistake?

-------
Max Lucado
Just Like Jesus <><

His Greatest Work ---

"Who his own self bare our sins
in his own body on the tree...."
1 Peter 2:24

---JESUS worked all His life. But the greatest work that Jesus did was not in the carpenter's shop, nor even at the marriage feast of Cana where He turned the water into wine. The greatest work that Jesus did was not when He made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, nor even the dead to rise. The greatest work that Jesus did was not when he taught as One having authority, or when He scathingly denounced the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.

The greatest work that Jesus did was not in the great ethical program He presented to mankind--that program which has become the foundation for Western culture.

What, then, was His greatest work? His greatest work was achieved in those three dark hours on Calvary.
Christ's greatest work was His dying for us. -----
~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer For The Day:
'When I consider the work of Jesus on this earth--which led
to His supreme sacrifice--I pray all my labor this day will glorify You, my Beloved Savior.' Amen.

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day <><

---TWO MITES

Mark 12:41-44
_____
She out of her
poverty put in all
that she had, her
whole livelihood.
---Mark 12:44
~~~~~~~~~
JESUS sat in the temple near the treasury and watched as people walked by and deposited their gifts for the temple (Mark 12). Some made a show of it, perhaps so others could see how much they had given. Just then a poor woman came by and threw in two "mites."

A mite was the least valuable coin in circulation. Thus the widow's gift was very small, amounting to nothing in most folk's eyes. But our Lord saw what others did not see. She had given "all that she had" (Mark 12:44). The widow wasn't trying to draw attention to herself. She was simply doing what she was able to do. And Jesus noticed!

We mustn't forget that our Lord sees all that we do, though it may seem very small. It may be nothing more than showing a cheerful countenance in diffucult times or an unnoticed act of love and kindness to someone who happens to pass by. It may be a brief, silent prayer for a neighbor in need.

Jesus said, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven...But when you do a charitable deed,...may [it] be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (Matt.6:1-4).

May our gifts be sacrificial,
From our hearts, and full of love;
Secretive and never showy,
Pleasing our great God above. <><
--------------
GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART, NOT THE HAND;
THE GIVER, NOT THE GIFT.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag/ JESUS IS LORD!

"Not by might, nor by power
but by my Spirit, says the
Lord of Hosts..." Zech. 4:6

AFTER the crucifixion the beleaguered disciples despaired and said, "We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel" (Luke 24:21, RSV). There was anguish, despair, and tragedy in their midst. Life had lost its meaning and purpose. But when the resurrection became apparent, life took on new meaning. It had purpose and reason.

David Livingstone once addressed a group of students at Glasgow University. When he rose to speak, he bore on his body the marks of his African struggles.

Several illnesses on nearly 30 occasions had left him gaunt and haggard. His left arm, crushed by a lion, hung limp by his side. After describing his trials and tribulations he said, "Would you like to have me tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was always uncertain and often hostile?

It was this, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' On these words I staked everything, and they never failed."
~~~~~~~~~
Prayer For The Day:
'I am never alone because of Your love.
Thank You, my Lord and Savior. Amen.'

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day

~~~~Love One Another

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

---THE human soul is a lonely thing. It must have the assurance of companionship. Left entirely to itself, it cannot enjoy anything. God said in the beginning, "It is not good that man should dwell alone" (Genesis 2:18). The creation of Eve was the beginning of human companionship.

God's people are a body, not intended to function separately, not intended to be unconcerned for one another. The only true body in the world is the Church. The world may talk grandly of brotherhood, but in reality its philosphy is "each man for himself."

God's children are guaranteed the richest and truest friendship, both here and hereafter. Only in a true friendship and a true love do we find a genuine basis for peace.

Only God can break down the national and racial barriers that divide men today. Only God can supply that love that we must have for our fellowman. We will never build brotherhood of man upon earth until we are believers in Christ Jesus.

The only true cohesive power in the world is Christ. He alone can bind human hearts together in genuine love.

Prayer For the Day:
'Father, teach me true brotherhood in Jesus Christ.'

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day

HOW TO HELP
THOSE WHO
HURT ---

1 Corinthians 13
------
Now abide faith,
hope, love, these
three; but the
greatest of these is
love. --1 Cor. 13:13
~~~~~~
WHEN I have asked suffering people, "Who helped you?" not one person has mentioned a PhD from a prestigious seminary or a famous philosopher. All of us have the same capacity to help those who hurt.

No one can package or bottle the "appropriate" response to suffering. If you go to the sufferers themselves, some will recall a friend who cheerily helped distract them from their illness. Others think such an approach insulting. Some want honest, straightforward talk; others find such discussion unbearably depressing.

There is no magic cure for a person in pain. Mainly, such a person needs love. Jean Vanier, who founded the L'Arche movement for the developmentally disabled, says: "Wounded people who have been broken by suffering and sickness ask for only one thing: a heart that loves and commits itself to them, a heart full of hope for them."

Such a love may be painful for us. But real love, the apostle Paul reminds us, "Bears all tings, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13:7).

God uses very ordinary people to bring about His healing. Those who suffer don't need our knowledge and wisdom, they need our love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THEY DO NOT TRULY LOVE WHO DO NOT SHOW THEIR LOVE.
---------Shakespeare
GOD IS LOVE.

Blessings, Abishag
Our Daily Bread <><

--"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in...." Matthew 25:35

--DURING the war a church in Strasburg, Germany, was totally destroyed; but a statue of Christ which stood by the altar was almost unharmed. Only the hands of the statue were missing. When the church was rebuilt, a famous sculptor offered to make new hands; but, after considering the matter, the members decided to let it stand as it was--without hands.

"For," they said, "Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work on earth. If we don't visit the imprisoned, and clothe the naked, who will?" Christ is depending on us to do the very things which He did while upon earth.

My friend, if the gospel we preach does not have a social application, if it will not work effectively in the work-a-day world, then it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

~~~~
Prayer For The Day:
'I look at my hands, Lord Jesus, and ask You to use
them this day. Make me conscious of the needs of those who hurt.'

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day

--God Uses People
-By: Max Lucado ~

"How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God." Psm 146:5 ~~~~

UNTIL he was eighty years old he looked like he wouldn't amount to much more than a once-upon-a-time prince turned outlaw. Would you choose a wanted murderer to lead a nation out of bondage? Would you call upon a fugitive to carry the Ten Commandments? God did. And he called him, of all places, right out of the sheep pasture. Called his name through a burning bush. Scared old Moses right out of his shoes! There, with knees knocking and "Who me?" written all over his face, Moses agreed to go back into the ring...

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used(and uses!) people to change the world. People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars--he uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love. ~~~
~~~~~~
1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
Have a joyful, blessed Christmas! JESUS LOVES YOU!

--The Strength of God's Love -

"God shows his great love for us in this way;
Christ died for us while we were still sinners."

---"CAN anything make me stop loving you?" God asks. "Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts. Behold the maker of sight and sound as he sneezes, coughs, and blows his nose. You wonder if I understand how you feel? Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that's God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary's table; that's God spilling his milk.

"You wonder how long my love will last? Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That's me you see up there, your Maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding. Covered in spit and sin soaked.

That's your sin I'm feeling. That's your death I'm dying. That's your resurrection I'm living. That's how much I love you." .....JESUS

Max Lucado
In the Grip of Grace

God's Message to His Children ~~

READ/ 1 John 4:9-10

GOD'S message to His children is consistent: We've been accepted by Him and belong to Him forever. In this acceptance, we discover a sense of security, adequacy, and love that frees us to live for Him.

At the cross, God revealed the extent of His love. He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place--we deserved death as punishment for our wrongdoing but received a pardon instead (Rom 6:23). By becoming our substitute, Christ experienced God's wrath for our sins, and His sacrifice opened the way for our adoption into God's family (Eph. 1:5). As children of the heavenly Father, we are not only deeply loved but also highly valued. Our worth does not derive from anything in our character or performance but rather depends solely on our relationship with Jesus. What it cost the Father to save us indicates the worth He has placed on us. He has even made us co-heirs with Christ in heaven (Rom. 8:17).

Our adoption into God's family also gives us security and competency. Our heavenly Father has promised to protect us from the Evil one, endow us with spiritual gifts, and provide what we need to carry out His work effectively. The Holy Spirit will equip us with the knowledge, understanding, and divine power we need to serve as His emissaries.

EARLY LIGHT/ The world thinks love and worth are tied to performance, while security rests in material possessions. But God showed His love by sending Christ to die for us (Rom. 5:8). In Him, we find value, competence, and peace. Consider whose message you are believing--God's or the world's?

Pastor Charles Stanley
In Touch
Blessings in our Sovereign One, Abishag/ JESUS IS LORD!

SHOWING
REAL LOVE

John 13:1-5, 33-35
-------
By this all will know
that you are My
disciples, if you have
love for one another. --
--John 13:35
~~~~~~~~~
CHINESE New Year happens to fall on the same day as Valentine's Day in 2010. While these two festivals have very different origins, there are some sililarities in how they are celebrated. In both cases, loved ones give gifts to express love for one another--whether it is givng roses to your beloved on Valentine's Day or 'hong bao' (red packets with money) to family and friends on Chinese New Year.

Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to "love one another," because "by this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

The love that our Lord wants His disciples to have for one another is different from the romantic kind displayed between couples and the brotherly kind shown between friends or family. It's an unselfish love. The Greek word John used in Jesus' command is 'agape'--God's kind of love that expects nothing in return. That was what Jesus showed to His disciples when He "poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet" (v.5). That is the kind of love He displayed when He went to the cross for us.

Today, look for someone to whom you can show such unselfish love.--

Lord, teach us the secret of loving,
The love You are asking today;
Then help us to love one another;
For this we most earnestly pray. -
~~~~~~~~~
BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN'S,
AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST. - Galatians 6:2 ~~

Have a blessed and loving Valentine's Day, in the Lord Jesus!
Sincerely, Blessings, Abishag + JESUS IS LOVE!

~~~LOVE IS OBEDIENCE --

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)

THE disciple John is known as that disciple who had a special love for Jesus and vice versa. He was identified as that disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 20:2). His writings give a clear picture of the love that God has for us, as well as the kind of love we should have in response to Him. John does not identify this type of love as an emotional or sentimental feeling. It is more that affection; it is total obedience to Him, as noted in the following sampling of verses. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:5). "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (2 John 6). Such a view of love may come as a surprise to some, but it reflects total submission to His kingship. This is the proof of our love for God as seen in our text and elsewhere.

The other side of love is love toward men, and John has much to say of this matter as well. "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:21). He elsewhere writes "that we love one another" (2 John 5); and "these things I command you, that ye love one another" (John 15:17). Paul even picks up the theme: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:9-10). In summary, love to man is a principle that works no ill towards one's neighbor, but, in contrast, seeks his greater good. Christ's human half-brother called it "the royal law" (James 2:8). Love to God yields obedience to all His commandments. Both kinds of love are manadatd by God. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:40).

Days of Praise
ICR/JDM
Blessings of the Love of Christ to Russ, Laura, Moderators, and Herb Allure!
----

BRING THEM
TO JESUS

Luke 18:15-17
----
Let the little children
come to Me, and
do not forbid them;
for of such is the
kingdom of God.
---Mark 10:14-
---
THE Scripture reading from Luke 18 about children seemed unusual at the memorial service for David Holquist. After all, he was 77 when he died.

Yet the pastor said the verses fit David, a long-time college professor, perfectly. Part of his legacy was that he took time for children--his own and others'. He made balloon animals and puppets, and helped in a puppet ministry at church. When planning worship services with others, he frequently asked, "What about the children?" He was concerned about what would help the children--not just the adults--to worship God.

Luke 18 shows us the concern Jesus had for children. When people brought little ones to Him, the disciples wanted to protect Jesus, a busy man, from the bothersome children. But it seems that Jesus was not at all bothered by them. Just the opposite. The Bible says that Jesus was "greatly displeased" at the disciples, and said, "Let the little childrern come to Me, and do not forbid them" (v.16). Mark adds that Jesus took them in His arms and blessed them (10:14-16).

Let's examine our own attitude about children and then follow the example of David Holquist. Find some ways to help them come to Jesus.

To those who are teaching the gospel
With love in their hearts for its truth,
Comes the gentle reminder from heaven,
"Forget not the children and youth."
-------
GOD HAS GREAT CONCERN FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.

ODB/AC

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

The Compassion
of our Lord ~~

READ/ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 -

Jesus' care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort (Isa. 49:13).

The Lord's compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer--we can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.

Consider how the compassion of God the Father, was demonstrated through Jesus' life. He interacted even with the "untouchables"--people whose bodies were infected with contagious disease (Luke 17:11-14). And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.

Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions (Matt. 14:14). He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort--new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to persevere (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

And what about the messes we get into? Peter's betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness (John 21:15-17)). Thomas's doubts were answered by Jesus Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won't stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.
~~~
God's comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it's declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we've experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others (2 Cor. 1:4). People everywhere are in great need of His compassion.
Let's reach out to others, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and tell them of His great love for them.
---
In Touch Ministry
Pastor Charles Stanley ~

God's Love
Comforts Us ~

READ/ Romans 8:38-39 -
----
OUR heavenly Father wants us to know how much He loves and cares for us. He has made this clear through...

*Revelation of Himself. In Scripture, we learn that the Creator made us in His image and has a purpose for our lives. We also discover that sin has separated us from the Lord, but He has a solution to our problem.

*Provision of a Savior. We were trapped by our sinful nature and unable to free ourselves. That left us helpless and lost, like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). Worse still, we were under a sentence of eternal death--separation from the Lord forever. Because of our Father's great love for mankind, He sent His only Son to bear the penalty we deserved (Rom.6:23) and to give us eternal life. Jesus rescued us from slavery to sin and reconciled us to the Father. What we could never do for ourselves, He did for us. His provision is free to us but costly to Him.

*Adoption of believers. When we place our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become children of God. The separation between Him and us is gone; instead of enemies, we are family. His indwelling Holy Spirit serves as both evidence that we belong to God and assurance of His unending love. ~
---
The Father's care for us shines brightly through the cross--it was because of love that He sent Jesus to earth to die in our place (1 John 4:9-10). Once we accept the gift of salvation through Christ, nothing can separate us from God's love. What a comfort that is in times of need. ~~
--
Pastor Charles Stanley
In Touch ~

ONE
MYSTERIOUS
GOD ~~

Isaiah 46:8-11
----
I am God, and there
is none like Me.
---Isaiah 46:9 --
----
TO love someone intensely doesn'nt mean you have to understand him or her completely. That's good news, because there's no way we can begin to grasp the deep mysteries of the God we love.

With our finite minds and our self-centered views, we can't deduce why God does what He does. Yet some people look at tragedies, for instance, and turn their backs on God--assuming that their finite knowledge about the situation is better than His infinite wisdom.

Indeed, if we could figue God out--if He were no more than a glorified human with no greater knowledge than that of the smartest person--where would be the awe and the majesty of the Almighty? One reason we know God to be so great is that we cannot reduce His thinking to ours.

The appostle Paul asked, "Who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" (1 Cor 2:16). Clearly, the answer is 'no one'.

But even when we don't understand Him, we know we can trust Him. --
-----
To fully understand God is impossible;
to worship Him is imperative.
---
ODB/DB

NOW IS
NOT FOREVER ~

Revelation 21:1-5
------
There shall be no
more pain, for the
former things have
passed away.
---Revelation 21:4 -
~~~~~
THINK about how good it will feel when it stops hurting," said my father. I received this advice from Dad often while I was growing up, usually after some minor bump or scrape had resulted in a major dramatic reaction. At the time, the advice didn't help. I was incapable of focusing on anything other than my pain, and loud wails accompanied by buckets of tears seemed the only appropriate response.

Through the years, however, Dad's advice has pulled me through some truly miserable situations. Whether it was the pain of a broken heart or the misery of a drawn-out illness. I would remind myself: 'Now is not forever.'

As Christians we are confident that God has something good planned for us. Suffering was not part of His original act of creation, but it serves as a temporary reminder of what happens in a world where God's order has been broken. It also motivates us to spread the word about God's plan to redeem the world from the suffering caused by sin.

Although we cannot avoid pain and disappointment (John 16:33), it's only temporary. Some sorrow will be relieved in this life, but all of it will be relieved when God finally and firmly establishes His new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1).

Now is not forever! ---
------------
The gains of heaven will more than compensate
for the losses of earth.
ODB/JAL

HOPE

Psalm 23
---
You are my hope,
O Lord GOD; You are
my trust from my
youth. --Psalm 71:5
~~~~
THE ancient road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a narrow, treacherous path along a deep gorge in the Judean wilderness. Its name is Wadi Kelt, but it's known as the valley of the shadow, for this is the location that inspired David's 23rd Psalm. The place itself offers little reason to compose such a hopeful poem. The landscape is bleak, barren, and perilously steep. It's a good place for thieves, but not for anyone else.

When David wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil" (v.4), he was in a place where evil was an ever-present reality. Yet he refused to give in to fear. He wasn't expressing hope that God would abolish evil so that he could pass through safely; he was saying that the presence of God gave him the confidence to pass through difficult places without fear of being deserted by Him. In another Psalm, David said that the Lord was his hope (71:5).

Many claim to have hope, but only those whose hope is Christ can claim it with certainty. Hope comes not from strength, intelligence, or favorable circumstances, but from the Lord. As Maker of heaven and earth, He alone has the right to promise hope and the power to keep the promise. ~~

Our strength and hope is in the Lord--
We rest secure in His sure Word;
And though we're tempted to despair
We know we're kept within His care. --

Hope for the Christian is a certainty-
because its basis is Christ.
ODB/JAL

--Joshua Meets His Commander

Joshua 1:9, 5:13-6:16 -

"'...as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for his servant'?"
(Joshua 5:14)

JOSHUA faced a daunting battle with the wall around Jericho being 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. He stood looking at the fortress, perhaps strategizing what he would do first. Suddenly, a Man with a drawn sword in His hand stood in front of him. Joshua found himself face to face with the Commander in Chief, ruler of the universe and heavenly armies as well as of Israel. He fell to the ground in awe. The prefigured Christ gave Joshua the strategy and fought with him all the way to victory.

This is what our Lord does for us even today, when we face conflicts and feel as if the wall we must get through is as impenetrable as Jericho's wall.

We have Jesus, the Commander in Chief, standing beside us, drawn sword in His hands. He will fight every battle we will face today and tomorrow.

Though we feel afraid and powerless, we can fall on our faces in reverence for the Mighty One who will lead us on to victory, if not in this world, then surely in the next. ~~
---
We overcome and triumph in conflicts because Jesus and the whole army of heaven are on our side, fighting for us and with us. AMEN!

--God's Favorite Word ~

Jesus said, "Come follow me." Matthew 4:19

~~God is an inviting God. He invited Mary to birth his Son, the disciples to fish for men, the adulteress woman to start over, and Thomas to touch his wounds. God is the King who prepares the palace, sets the table, and invites his subjects to come in.

In fact, it seems his favorite word is come.

"Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow."

"All you who are thirsty, come and drink."

"Come to me all, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest."...

God is a God who invites. God is a God who calls. "Come!"
---And the Angels Were Silent -
Max Lucado

Dealing With Guilty Feelings ~
Pastor Charles Stanley

JOHN 5:24-26

Believers in Christ often wrestle with discouragement and shame over things they have done wrong. Some may be especially grieved about mistakes made prior to receiving Jesus as Savior. But what does Scripture say about God's view of our guilt?

Until we were saved, our fleshly nature led us to rebel against the Lord and choose our own way. This sinful state separated us from Him and placed us under His wrath (Rom. 2:5-8). All of mankind was guilty before God (Rom. 3:23), but when we trusted Jesus as Savior, we were cleansed by His blood (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:14). He took us from a state of guilt and separation from God to one of forgiveness and acceptance by the Father. Our shame was removed, and Christ's righteousness was credited to our account (Rom. 5:17). Though we may have to bear the consequences of our action, we are no longer guilty before God. If we allow shame over previous deeds to continue, we will experience a divided mind, one that focuses too much on the past. Some of us may doubt God's love and ask, How could He care for someone like me? Others may feel unworthy to be His child--and as a result, draw away from Him. Guilty feelings can weigh us down, sapping our energy for today's tasks and dampening our enthusiasm for the future.

We have all made mistakes that we regret. But we have a heavenly Father who has completely forgiven our sins and removed our guilt through His Son Jesus. If you are still dealing with feelings of shame, meditate on what was accomplished at the cross, and let God's truth set you free.

"Who the Son sets free, is free indeed!"

--SIGNIFICANT
Psalm 139:1-16
--
My frame was not
hidden from You,
when I was made
in secret.
--Psalm 139:15 --
----
AN old TV sitcom featured an establishment that the patrons seemed to frequent on a daily basis. The concept was that it was a welcoming place where "everybody knows your name."

We all want to be accepted, to fit in somewhere. But some people live on the margins of life where it can be difficult to feel they have any value or significance, or that they matter to anyone. Children sometimes experience this: Too tall--when other kids haven't had a growth spurt yet. Too fat--when the other kids are thinner. Too smart--when their classmates are struggling. Or "not smart enough" in comparison with others.

Being different as a child can result in being mocked or bullied. But an adult who doesn't fit into the mold may just be ignored--so insignifacant that he or she feels invisible.

But what a great significance we have in God's eyes! We were so valued that He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins and to allow us to have a relationship with Him. We were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and He has designed us and been involved in every detail of our life since before we were born (Ps. 139:1-16).

Whether or not we always feel significant, we are deeply loved by our Father.
--
Of all creation's treasures rare,
Not one compares in worth with man,
In God's own image we were made
To fill a place in His great plan.
---
The God who created the universe
is the God who loves YOU.

ODB/CHK

Love Draws the Curtain of Mercy
Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:--
Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are people in every fellowship who take joy in finding something bad about somebody else. When they hear something ugly, they take great delight in exposing it.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity. Love wishes that it never happened. Love tries to cover it up. That doesn't mean we condone sin, we cover it. Not "cover-up," but cover. Let me illustrate.

Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth. Ham came and saw his father's nakedness and was quick to tell others. Shem and Japheth walked backward into the tent and covered their father to help him cover his shame not to condone what he had done, but to cover it.

ACTION POINT:
Wouldn't the world be a lot better place if we had that spirit? When the enemy tempts you to "stir the pot," remember that love rejoices not in iniquity.
--

FEAR AND LOVE

Deut. 10:12-17
----
What does the LORD
your God require of
you, but to fear [Him]
..and to love Him.
---Deuteronomy 10:12
---
Someone shared with me her observation about two bosses. One is loved but not feared by his subordinates. Because they love their boss but don't respect his authority, they don't follow his guidelines. The other boss is both feared and loved by those who serve under him, and their good behavior shows it.

The Lord desires that His people both fear and love Him too. Today's Bible passage, Deuteronomy 10, says that keeping God's guidelines involves both. In verse 12, we are told "to fear the LORD your God" and "to love Him."

To "fear" the Lord God is to give Him the highest respect. For the believer it is not a matter of feeling intimidated by Him or His character. But out of respect for His person and authority, we walk in all His ways and keep His comandments. Out of "love," we serve Him with all our heart and with all our soul--rather than merely out of duty (v.12).

Love flows out of our deep gratitude for His love for us, rather than out of our likes and dislikes. "We love Him because He first loved us" ( 1John 4:19). Our fear and love for God enable us to walk willingly in obedience to God's law.
----
'Lord, You are holy and Your thoughts are much higher than mine. I bow before You. Thank You for salvation in Jesus. I love You and want to obey You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.'
----
If we fear and love God, we will obey Him.

ODB/AL

A Strong Commitment to Know
and Serve Jesus --

READ/ Acts 9:1-16 --

THE apostle Paul had a strong commitment to know and serve Jesus Christ. His passion and love for the Lord was obvious--Jesus was always central in his thinking, whether he was working as a tentmaker, preaching to the crowd, or even sitting in chains at prison. What fueled his love for the Lord?

Paul's conversion experience on the Damascus Road was a motivating force in his life. Grateful for the gift of grace he had received at salvation, the apostle told many people about his encounter with Him. We, too, have a story to tell of God's mercy in saving us and of the new life we have in Him.

Paul's zeal also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message was true and available to everyone (John 3:16). On the cross, Jesus took all our sins--past, present, and future--upon Himself (1 Peter 2:24). He suffered our punishment so that we might receive forgiveness and be brought into a right relationship with God.

Through faith in Christ, we've been born again, and the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us every day (John 14:26). The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our passion to share the gospel.
--
Devoloping a vibrant faith requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Regularly studying the Bible will strengthen your beliefs and give you courage to speak. Caring about the spiritual welfare of others will move you into action. Do you have a passion to serve Jesus wherever He leads?

In Touch ~~

YOUR NAME / - By: Paul Baloche-

'Cause nothing has the power to save but your Name!

-What To Do With The Cross

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." -
Galatians 2:20--


For every cunning Caiaphas there was a daring Nicodemus. For every cynical Herod there was a questioning Pilate . . . For every turncoat Judas there was a faithful John. There was something about the crucifixion that made every witness either step toward it or away from it . . .

Two thousand years later, the same is true . . . We can do what we want with the cross. We can examine its history. We can study its theology . . . Yet the one thing we can’t do is walk away neutral.

--Max Lucado

--Is Anyone Thirsty?
Isaiah 55

"Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6) -

--Isaiah 55 is a passage full of invitation and encouragement to come, listen and seek. The human body knows hunger and thirst; we all need food and drink to survive. However, this is an invitation to eat and drink for free and in so doing find sustenance that is good--forever--for the soul.

The New Living Translation starkly warns, "Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake" (v.3) If we heed the warning and respond to the invitation, then the LORD establishes His everlasting covenant with us; we will receive mercy, pardon and His unfailing love.

In verse 6 we are urged to seek the LORD while we can find Him and to call on Him while He is near. Don't miss the opportunity to seek and find restoration for your soul through Jesus.

Perhaps your greatest need comes because you have never asked for the forgiveness of your sins. Do that today, while there is still time. Or maybe your soul is just tired and weary from the journey.
Then turn to Him, the good Shepherd, the Restorer of your soul.
--
Restoration for the soul is available to the thirsty, weak, broken, needy, crushed, battered and bruised. Seek the LORD, and call on Him now.
--
~~~~Haven Today
Lyrics:All Who Are Thirsty
All who are thirsty.
All who are weak.
Just come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the
stream of life.

Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away.
In the waves of His mercy
As the deep cries
out to you.

[Chorus]
We said
Come Lord Jesus
Come.
Come Lord Jesus
Come.
(Repeat)
All who are thirsty
All who are weak.
Just come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the
stream of life.

[Chorus]

Won't you come?
Won't you come?
Nothing but your love for me.
I am ever faithful to you.

Won't you come?
Won't you come?
Nothing but your love for me.
I am ever faithful to you.
<http://youtu.be/gJH9BLrN83U>

JOHN 10:15 ~
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."
-- --
JOHN 17:11~
"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one." ~~ JESUS THE CHRIST -

-Service, Devotion
-Catherine Marshall

When [Jesus] wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples' feet (see John 13:4-5), Simon Peter objected that this was beneath the dignity of the Master. 'We the disciples are to be the servants', I want to insist along with Peter. But Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me."

This is a stunning and stupendous thought. Unless I can believe in this much love for me, unless I can and will accept him with faith as my servant as well as my God, unless I truly know that it's my good He seeks, not his glory...then I cannot have his companionship. What an amazing revelation!-
-----

-I WILL CARRY
YOU!
--Isaiah 46:4 -
--
The prophet Isaiah draws a picture for us in Isaiah 46 of the siege of Babylon and the evacuation of its idols. The carts and carriages that carry them creak, and the weary animals groan under the load (v.1).

In contrast, Isaiah says that God carries His children from birth (v.4). "Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!" God declares (v.4).The contrast is precise and vivid in the Hebrew text: The carts and carriages are "loaded" with the weight of the idols (v.1), but we are loaded upon God (v.3). Idols are a "burden," a thing carried (v.1), but God has gladly "carried" us from the womb (v.3).

The Lord has made us (v.4). Nothing could be more comforting, for our Father loves and cares for His children. He promises,"I will carry you!" and that includes every care and worry that comes our way throughout our lifetime.

Heavenly Father, I want to unload my burdens
on You today. Help me to leave them with You.
I trust You with my past, present, and future.
Thank You for Your goodness to me. Amen. -
---
Our work is to cast care;
God's work is to take care!

ODB/DR

-Our Protector
-PSALM 121:1-3A

In Psalm 121, David describes the safety he finds in the Lord. Over the next two days, let's look closely at several verses to better understand our security.

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD" (vv. 1-2). When this was written, robbers dwelled in the mountains, waiting for innocent travelers to become their unsuspecting victims. Needless to say, journeying through these hilly roads must have caused anxiety. David's work as a shepherd took him into dangerous areas, where not only thieves but also wild animals posed a threat.

Our lives can be like mountainous territory. Do you look into the future and wonder what dangers lurk? The Lord is our helper; He is the only one able to protect us. Friends and relatives can offer limited assistance, but God knows everything and has all the power necessary to rescue us.

"He will not allow your foot to slip" (v. 3a). God has provided everything we need in order to avoid sin. The Holy Spirit directs and empowers us; the Word lights our path so we do not slip. Yet at times, we choose to sin. Almighty God could stop us from disobeying, but He doesn't interfere with our free will. Instead, He upholds us, enabling us to walk in His way.

These opening verses focus on the Lord's ability to protect us in treacherous times. Whether trouble originates with others, external circumstances, or our own sin, we can find ourselves in danger and afraid. Thankfully, we have a loving God who leads us to safety.

--In Touch
<http://youtu.be/zlA5IDnpGhc> / OUR GOD IS GREATER!

-LOVED BY A FAITHFUL GOD
-By: Max Lucado
* * *
“I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. . . .”
Philippians 3:8* * *

Peer through the small window in the wall of the Roman jail. See the man in chains? The aging fellow with the stooped shoulders and hawkish nose? That’s Paul, the imprisoned apostle. His chains never come off. The guards never leave. And he’s probably wondering if he’ll ever get out. . . .

By the time we find Paul in his cell, he has been beaten, lied about, storm tossed, rejected, and neglected.

Ah, but at least he has the church. At least he can take comfort in the thought of the unified Roman congregation he helped strengthen, right? Hardly. The Roman church is in trouble. . . . Power-hungry preachers occupy the parsonage. You expect such antics out of nonbelievers, but Christians preaching for personal gain? Paul is facing Prozac-level problems. . . .

And who knows what Emperor Nero will do? He feeds disciples to the Colosseum lions for lunch. Does Paul have any guarantee the same won’t happen to him? . . . Paul is not naive. He knows the only thing between him and death is a nod from moody Nero.

Paul has every reason to be stressed out. . . .

But he isn’t. Rather than count the bricks of his prison, he plants a garden within it. He itemizes, not the mistreatments of people, but the faithfulness of God.

“I want you to know, brethren” (Phil. 1:12) “that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (1:12 NIV). He may appear to be bumped off track, but he is actually right on target. Why? One reason. Christ is preached. The mission is being accomplished.

— Every Day Deserves a Chance
* * * * *
Father, earthly stress and struggles remind us of your faithfulness. Help us, Lord, to serve you without grumbling. May we, like the apostle Paul, choose to plant a garden in the bricks of our “prison.” Help plant our thoughts firmly on your faithfulness. All hope comes from you, amen.
* * * * *

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 8:61

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

__________________________
From Lived Loved: Experiencing God’s Presence in Every Day Life

-THE GOODNESS
OF
THE LORD

Psalm 119:97-104
---
Oh, how I love your
law! --Psalm 119:97 -
---
SOME years ago I came across a short essay written by Sir James Barrie, an English baron. In it he gives an intimate picture of his mother, who deeply loved God and His Word and who literally read her Bible to pieces. "It is mine now," Sir James wrote, "and to me the black threads with which she stitched it are a part of the contents."

My mother also loved God's Word. She read and pondered it for 60 years or more. I keep her Bible on my bookshelf in a prominent place. It too is tattered and torn, each stained page marked with her comments and reflections. As a boy, I often walked into her room in the morning and found her cradling her Bible in her lap, poring over its words. She did so until the day she could no longer see the words on the page. Even then her Bible was the most precious book in her posssession.

When Sir James' mother grew old, she could no longer read the words of her Bible. Yet daily, her husband put her Bible in her hands, and she would reverently hold it there.

The psalmist wrote, "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (119:103). Have you tasted the goodness of the Lord? Open your Bible today.
----
A well-read Bible is a sign of a well-fed soul.

ODB/DR

-Christ Alone
Ephesians 2:1-19

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
--(Ephesians 2:10)

My worst sins often come wrapped in my best acts of obedience! I cannot seem to obey God without taking pride in my willingness to cooperate with Him, without secretly hoping that others will notice my strength. How easily confused I am by my own goodness, eaglerly taking credit for progress but making excuses for my weakness.

My relentless and exhausting struggle with my sinful heart causes me to remember Who gets credit for anything good in me. I know well that I am not capable of worship, good thoughts, a soft and tender heart towards God and His people, repentance or obedience. He must give me those gifts. Otherwise, I experience the truth of my depravity. My sin is utterly my own fault. Yet my obedience is not my own; it comes from Another.

On the last day it will be known to all that the only part I contributed to my salvation and sanctification was my sin. God is both the 'author and finisher' of my faith, in charge from start to the end of my days on earth, and only He will get the glory.
--
"Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul; All boasting is effectually excluded, and the glory. ...FREE SALVATION is ascribed to Him alone."
--(John Newton)

--Haven Today

-Love That Will Not Let Me Go
--Romans 8:31-39

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
(John 10:27-28)

Do you remember reading Romeo and Juliet? Or perhaps some other love/romance story? Their love for each other was so strong that they both preferrerd death over being apart. I have a Savior who "would rather die than live without me," too. He did that, indeed, but His death was not final.

What word but love could describe the heart of Christ as He suffered for the joy set before Him? You and I are that joy! Despite our doubt, pride, anxiety, depression, addictions, idolatries, bitter thoughts and lying tongues, we still are the delight of His heart and the 'apple of His eye'.

In love, He paid for every sin I have committed or ever will commit; in love, He holds on to me--tighter than Romeo could ever hold Juliet.

In love, my name is written on His heart and graven in the wounds on His hands. My sin can't stop His plan to bless me with every spiritual blessing. His love does not depend on my performance, but on His own obedience. Here I rest in complete safety, knowing that I am in the very center of the greatest love story ever told.
--
"God knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust; and has opened for us a new and blood-besprinkled way of access to the throne of grace..."
--(John Newton)

--Haven Today

-Living As Salt and Light For Christ ~~

---
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
-Matthew 5:13-16

Many years ago, England's leader Oliver Cromwell was looking for silver to feed the economy of Britain. So he called some of his leaders together and said, "Let's put some more silver in circulation to boost the economy!"

The leaders responded, "Sir, the only silver that remains in
England is the silver in the statues of the saints, which are in the churches!"

So Cromwell stood up and said, "Well, then melt down those
saints and put them in circulation!"

That's exactly what needs to happen to followers of Christ,
God's saints, today. The church needs to get into circulation
for our Lord where God has put us. We need to be the salt and light that God has called us to be to a world living in darkness!

So here's a little exercise I want you to do: Take a pen and a piece of paper, and make a list answering the question, "Who am I?" Your list may
include "husband," "wife," "son," "daughter,"
"worker," "boss," "volunteer," etc.

Then, to the right of each item on your list, write down how you are being salt and light for the Lord in that particular category. How do you do ministry in your role as a spouse? As a sibling? As a parent? Or in the workplace?

Once you begin to answer that question, you'll start to
understand how you can make a bigger impact for Christ in every area of your life!

EXAMINE YOURSELF TO SEE HOW YOU CAN BETTER REACH OTHERS FOR CHRIST IN EACH AREA OF YOUR LIFE.

-Jesus Christ, Bondservant
-PHILIPPIANS 2:5-7

The disciples gathered around a table to celebrate Passover with Jesus. Had one of them been more thoughtful of the others—or if one possessed a spirit of servanthood—he would have done the very thing that Christ did. He would have taken water and a cloth, knelt before the other 12 men, one at a time, and washed their feet. Jesus came into the world as a servant (Matt. 20:28). He was willing to do whatever was necessary to move men's hearts and bring them to a saving knowledge of God.

As the lowest of household servants, the bondslave had the distasteful job of washing the feet of anyone who entered the home. And this is the very task that Christ voluntarily performed that evening, right before His trial and sufferings would begin. His act was a foreshadowing of the service He was about to render to His Father—as well as to the whole world—by dying on the cross for humanity's sin.

We who believe in Jesus Christ do not call Him "slave"; we identify Him as our Master. So when He says that a servant is not greater than His master, He is speaking of our relationship with Him (John 13:16). Believers bend their knees to God's most humble servant, His Son. What are you doing for the Lord?

Christians are God's workmanship, created for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). In other words, we were saved to serve. Therefore, there is no valid excuse for refusal. When you surrender to the Lord, you step onto the pathway of Jesus Christ,

--In Touch

David Wilkerson Today

ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth, and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”
(Ephesians 3:17-19).

Rooted and grounded here means “to build under you a deep and stable foundation of knowing and understanding the love of God to you.” In other words, the knowledge of God’s love to you is the foundational truth upon which all others truths must be built!

For example, this is what the fear of God is built upon. A holy fear of God is not a dread that he is ready to strike you down if you are caught in some little fault. Rather, it is the dread of his holiness against rebellion—and of what he does to those who love darkness rather than light.

Christians who live in guilt, fear and condemnation are
not “rooted and grounded” in the love of God. Our heavenly Father sent his Son to die for our sins and weaknesses. And without fully knowing and fully understanding that kind
of love to you, you will never have a stable or permanent foundation!

“[That you] . . . may be able to comprehend . . . the love of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:18-19).

The Greek word for comprehend here suggests “to eagerly
seize or lay hold of.” The apostle Paul means for you to seize this truth and make it the foundation of your Christian life. He is telling you to put your spiritual hands out and say, “I am going to lay hold of this!”

Perhaps you are assaulted by a temptation you can’t seem to shake off. Or maybe you carry a sense of never measuring up, of unworthiness—a fear that the devil is going to trip you up and you are going to fail God.

This is the day for you to wake up to God’s love for you! I pray that as you read this message, something will strike deep in your heart, and you will be able to say, “You’re right, Brother Dave. That’s me and I don’t want to
live this way!” I pray that you will get hold of this truth—that it will open your eyes and help you enter a whole new realm of joy and peace in your daily walk with him.

------JESUS IS LORD! AMEN!

-The Unconditional Love of God
-1 JOHN 4:7-10 -

One of the biggest struggles many people face is a feeling that the Lord couldn't possibly love them. Yet the Bible clearly tells us He does. Far from just saying so with words, God has also given us ample proof. Creation itself is an expression of His awesome care for us. He designed this earth as the perfect habitation for humanity and provides us with the necessities of life. But the highest expression of His love is manifested in His provision for our eternal needs. He sent His Son to redeem us from sin so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God—and then live with Him in heaven forever.

So why, with all this evidence, do so many of us still doubt His love? Perhaps the reason is that we are looking at it from our own limited perspective: since we cannot love others unconditionally, we doubt that the Lord can. After all, human logic considers it reasonable to be loving towards people who measure up to our standards—but to hold ourselves aloof from those who don't.

Or maybe we just feel unworthy of His love. Well, I have news for you: no one is worthy. God's love is not based on whether we're deserving or not. It's a demonstration of His commitment to our greatest good.

Divine love is conditioned not on our performance but on God's nature. It's like the ocean's tide. You can stand on the shore and say, "I don't believe in waves," but that doesn't stop them from coming. Likewise, nothing you do or feel will stop the Father's love from washing over you.

--In Touch

THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE AND FAITH
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Let me share some very healing thoughts about faith and love. I believe God works miracles in answer to the prayer of faith. And I believe every promise in God’s Word. But, through much suffering and tears, I have discovered something wonderful about the way God works. What you are about to read should help renew your confidence in the Lord and set you free from the bondage of trying to figure out faith.

Here are my conclusions:

* If you cannot give God perfect faith, give Him perfect love. “Perfect love casts out all fear.” Perfect love is the rest God has for His people. He wants us to rest in His love, trusting that He will always come to our aid as a father to a hurting child in spite of our inadequate faith.

Stop evaluating or grading your faith. And stop trying to figure out faith. The Bible says, “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). If you are going to specialize in anything, specialize in love—faith works by love.

* If God does not answer certain of our prayers, we can be sure He has some great eternal reason for not doing so.

It boils down to this: God has all power and can do anything. Nothing is impossible to Him. He has promised to answer every prayer in Christ’s name, so we must ask in full assurance of faith, expecting an answer. But should God delay that answer or choose another path for us, He must have a mighty good
reason for it all. And we must believe that whatever God
permits in our lives will one day all work to our good (Romans 8:28).

Our heavenly Father knows exactly where we are going and what we need. He will give us what is best, in proper Holy Spirit timing (Matthew 7:11).

God will not permit you to be overcome by your trials. You may come to what you think of as your breaking point, yet you will survive and live to tell of His faithfulness if you will not harden you heart but fall into His arms, trusting His
everlasting love. ~~~

-Never Alone

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." (Psalm 27:10)

There may be more people alive today than ever before, but there are also more lonely people today than ever before--divorced spouses, homeless street people, many elderly parents and, perhaps saddest of all, orphaned or abandoned children. These and many others are still alone, even in a crowded world.

No one, though, was ever so alone as the Lord Jesus on the cross. "Behold, the hour cometh," He had said, "yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me" (John 16:32). Then, only a few hours later, as He hung on the cross, even His heavenly Father had to leave Him, and He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). He died alone, bearing the burden of all the sin of all the world on His soul.

But because He suffered alone, no one else need ever be alone again. "Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul, suffering alone in a Roman dungeon shortly before his execution, could still say:"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me" (2 Timothy 4:17). John the beloved, old and imprisoned alone on the tiny isle of Patmos, nevertheless "was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10) and then saw the Lord in all His glory. So it has always been with those who know the Lord, for He is there, even when all others have forsaken them, and He understands. He has already been there ahead of us, "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

--HMM
[ The reason God the Father had to turn his face away from Jesus on that cross was because God cannot look upon sin. He is Just, Holy, and Righteous. So Jesus carried the weight of the entire world upon His shoulders at his death. Let's praise Him continually for all He has done for us.]

<http://youtu.be/pnW8T2PKKsQ> / HE WILL CARRY YOU!

-The Love of God
1 John 4:7-21

"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (1 JN 4:15)

Most Christians agree that God loves them. We hear catch phrases about this in the church today, and believers often recite Bible verses on this topic. Yet do we really grasp what it means to be cared for in this way by the Creator of the universe?

Let's explore three aspects of God's love. First, it is uninfluenced by anything within or around us. We know that even while we were still living in sin, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8); there is simply no greater sacrifice. Nothing we do can hinder God's love for us—and coming to that realization should lift a burden off your shoulders.

Second, divine love is eternal. Believers will never be separated from it. In fact, Ephesians 1:4 tells us that the Father chose us before the foundation of the world. We know, therefore, that His care for us has always been a fact—and always will be.

Third, we know that God's love is part of His character (1 John 4:8) and directed toward all people (Matt. 5:45). Yet believers experience it differently from those who do not follow Jesus. Consider what would happen if a patio umbrella shielded part of a garden. When it rains, some flowers might be surrounded by water without actually getting wet. Similarly, a person who doesn't have a relationship with God isn't impacted by His love, though it exists and is available.

We can trust the One who loves us intensely and completely. Jesus proved this by dying in our place to spare us the consequences of our sin. He promises to stay with us always and redirects us when we stray. Though we do not always feel His love, it surrounds and protects us forever.

--In Touch

-What Can Wash Away My Sins? Nothing But the Blood of Jesus!

-THE BLOOD OF JESUS
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Most Christians know about the blood Jesus shed for us. When Christ lifted the cup at the last Passover, He said, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you"
-- (Luke 22:20).

We memorialize His sacrifice every time we have communion. But that is the limit of most Christians' knowledge of Jesus' blood. We know only about the blood being shed and not about it being sprinkled.

The first biblical reference to the sprinkling of blood is in Exodus 12:22. The Israelites were commanded to take a bunch of hyssop (a purifying plant), dip it in the blood of a slain lamb, and sprinkle it on the lintel and two side posts
of their front door. That night, when the death angel came and saw the blood on the doorposts, he would pass over the house.

Please understand that as long as the blood was left in the basin, it was of no effect; it was merely blood that had been shed. The blood had power to save only when it was lifted out of the basin and sprinkled!

Why couldn't the Israelites have simply laid the basin of blood at the threshold and said, "It doesn't matter what we do with it. After all, blood is blood"? Suppose they had put the basin on a linen-covered table or on a pedestal just inside the door.

If they had done that, the death angel would have struck that home. The blood had to be lifted out of the basin and sprinkled on the door to fulfill its purpose of protection.

This blood in Exodus 12 is a type of the blood of Christ. The blood that flowed at Calvary was not wasted — it did not fall to the ground and disappear. No, that precious blood was collected in a heavenly fountain.

If Christ is Lord of your life, then your doorposts have been sprinkled by His blood. This sprinkling is not for forgiveness only but also for protection against all the destroying powers of Satan.

Jesus' blood has not been left in the basin but has been lifted out and sprinkled on your heart. /
THANK YOU, JESUS FOR YOUR BLOOD TO WASH AWAY MY SINS!
-----

-Where The Abundant Life is Found!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
--(John 10:10)

We’re living in an instant society. People want our food instantly, so they have microwaves and fast-food restaurants. They want entertainment quickly, so they have on-demand movies and hundreds of television channels. They want sex right now, so they have pornography and prostitution.

Finding gratification for fleeting pleasures is so easy today. And you’d think that with so many ways to fulfill any desire we have that we’d be happier today than any other time in human history. But you don’t have to look far to realize that’s just not true. The reason for this is while the things of the world may gratify, they’ll never satisfy.

So what really satisfies? What’s going to give people real peace and joy? Only Jesus Christ. You see, a fulfilling, accepting, and abundant life in Christ is the only way you’ll find joy and contentment in life. The pleasures of this world can never do that.

Instead of looking to worldly things to make you content, look to Jesus. Find your fulfillment, hope, and peace in Him. Trust in Him when the world tells you to trust in it. He’s all you need to live life abundantly and experience the fullness of joy only He can provide!

-INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO THE WORLD FOR YOUR JOY, TRUST IN CHRIST TO GIVE YOU ABUNDANT LIFE!

--Jack Graham

-Freedom from the Bondage of Sin

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Therefore, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:18

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day Abraham Lincoln was in a slave market and saw a beautiful young slave girl being auctioned. Lecherous men were bidding on her, so Lincoln began to bid. Finally, she was sold to Lincoln. He took the certificate of sale and handed it to her saying, "You're free."

She asked, "What do you mean, free?" He said, "You are free." She said, "Free to do what I want to do?" He said, "Yes." "Free to say what I want to say?" He said, "Yes." "Free to go where I want to go?" He said, "Yes." She said, "Then I am going with you."

Friend, Jesus made you free. You have been redeemed by His precious blood. And in gratitude, your life is to be devoted to Him.

-ACTION POINT:
Do you know someone who is in bondage to sin today? Share with them the free, redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
"Who the Lord sets free is free indeed!"

-Useful to the Master
-2 Peter 3:8-9

"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (2 Timothy 2:21)

~Experts tell us that the proverbial "snail's pace" is actually about 23 inches per hour. Sometimes I feel that my sanctification is proceeding at about that rate. Often there is so little apparent progress that I'm tempted to give up altogether.

Then I come to my senses and remember that I cannot give up; I don't even have the right to do that! Since I no longer belong to myself but to Christ, only He has the right to tell me to give up and quit. Yet I can't imagine He would ever do that! The Greek word "Master" (v.21b) has its roots in the word we know as despot, or absolute ruler. But the Master of your heart and mine is not an oppressor or tyrant. He is good. He is Wonderful Merciful Savior, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!

The aspect of holiness--belonging to God and being set apart for His service--helps me get things in perspective. I want to be useful for my Master; I want to live my life in light of eternity. And I know that He will use me, by His grace, to accomplish His will...even if it seems to me to be taking a very long time to get there.
---
"Lord, Help me remember whose I am and to rest in You and the assurance that You are at work in life." / You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore. You give the healing and grace, that our hearts always hunger for.
--Haven Today

-Far-Reaching Love
-Romans 8:28-39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
--(Romans 8:38-39)

Several years ago Sgt. Freeman, known as grumpy and hard to get along with, was the only officer in the police department I hadn't yet met. So through a common interest, I sought his help with a project, and we connected. In turn, I invited him to join me at my church's Easter breakfast. He confessed the last time he was in a church some 35 years earlier was after returning from his 3rd tour to Vietnam with the USN, and the pastor was critical of servicemen. He walked out and hadn't been to church since.

That Easter Sunday, he showed up with his wife and mother-in-law. We all stood together in line for breakfast and attended the worship service. Over the next years our families became close and we saw great spiritual growth in him and his wife. Eventually, they became leaders in our church... all because the "nor anything else" could not separate them from the love of God.

You can be as certain of that as Paul was. The love of God that we know through Jesus Christ reaches deeper than we can imagine.
--
How wonderful to know of God's intimate love and grip on us, even when we are not ready for Him. He always stands waiting, with open arms to receive us back into His eternal love.

--Haven Today
<http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c> 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners'-
<http://youtu.be/bfWwtsWC44g> 'I Can Only Imagine' -

-The Patience of God
-Read | 2 Peter 3:8-9 (Recommended Reading)

The Lord's seemingly slow reaction to sin often puzzles believers. Why doesn't He immediately punish those who violate His principles? The succinct answer is found in 2 Peter 3--the Lord is patient so that all people have an opportunity to repent (v. 9).

In our humanness, we at times want people to suffer for wrongdoing. Jonah ran away from his duty to preach in Nineveh, because he expected that if the inhabitants repented, his gracious, compassionate God would relent about destroying the city. And that is precisely what came to pass. Instead of rejoicing in the Lord's success, the prophet complained about His treating the Ninevites with patience and mercy (Jonah 4:2).

Jonah was angry at God despite the fact that he himself had received divine mercy. (Unpleasant though it was, there are worse forms of discipline than being swallowed and regurgitated by a fish.)

More often than not, believers have ample reason to be thankful that the Lord, unlike human beings, is slow to anger. When we are stubborn and unrepentant, He waits patiently for us to respond to conviction. Discipline is painful to both the recipient and the one carrying it out. God prefers that we see the error of our ways, stop thinking that we're getting away with sin, and turn back to His righteous path.

The Lord places such a high value on repentance and maintaining fellowship that He is willing to delay punishment of sin. But only for a time. Eventually, His justice demands a penalty. Do not wait for discipline. Instead, do what's right, and turn your heart back toward God.

--In Touch

-FOR HIS GLORY

-1 Peter 4:12-16
---
Do not think it
strange concerning
the fiery trial which
is to try you,...but
rejoice...when His
glory is revealed.
--1 Peter 4:12-13
---
-YOU can learn a lot by walking with others through tough times. That's been the case for us as our friends Sam and Carol have trudged through Sam's cancer journey. For a year we watched and prayed as he endured the treatment and the pain. And just when it seemed he was in the clear, a new diagnosis reported more cancer.

The disappointment was obvious. Year two would look a lot like year one as Sam would have to go through the chemo and the sickness and the side effects all over again.

But when Sam told us about what he faced as more months of treatments loomed, he said something we can all learn from: "We want to make sure that through it all God gets the glory and we reflect His love to others." Imagine that! As he faced another year of pain and struggles, Sam's first priority was to show God's love through it all. He was anticipating the time when God's "glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).

Carol wrote to friends, "It's been a year of trials, but God has always pulled us through with His mercy and grace. May we never take our eyes off Him and His love for us."

What mountains do you face? Like Sam and Carol, you too can depend on God's grace to get you through. Pray also that you might reflect His love.

Whenever life's burdens oppress you
And trials are too much to face,
Remember God's strength in your weakness;
He'll give you His power and grace.
---
-The increasing darkness of trials
only makes the lamp of grace shine brighter. ~~

--ODB/DB
<http://youtu.be/zsN0TNyz-5A>

-FOCUS ON HELPING OTHERS
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

We should not have to travel past our own neighborhood to have the greatest kind of revival imaginable. God says that if we will deal our bread to the hungry, bring the poor into our house, cover the naked, and give of our own soul to the starving and suffering, He will guide us and provide for us
continually. We will be like a well-watered garden — a spring whose waters never fail.
--- Isaiah 58:10-11

God is telling us, "Focus on helping others! Reach out to the poor and hurting, and I will answer you, guide you, and satisfy you. You will be a spring of life to others and your blessings will never fail."

If you are not comfortable with this Old Testament teaching, listen to what Jesus said in the New Testament:

"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew
25:42-46).

"Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17).

At this point you may be saying, "I'd like to be compassionate, to help the needy. How can I make a change?"

I can only tell you that God will answer this prayer: "Lord, I see all the human need around me. I know that the only Jesus my city may ever see is the one they will see through me and my church. God, You are going to have to direct me. I'm ready with my wallet, my house, my time, so show me where to go,Lord."

Rest assured that God will bring those needs to your doorstep.

-THE KIND OF OUTPOURING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
-By: David Wilkerson
-[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Our church spends much time in prayer. We recently concluded a
twenty-four-hour-a-day, thirty-day prayer chain. Exactly what were we praying about? What were we looking for?

When I grew up in the church, all my father and grandfather ever talked about was a coming great revival. Evangelists talked about it at camp meetings: "There's a revival coming. God is going to sweep multitudes into the kingdom!"

Yet, at the heart of all this talk of revival was one basic thought: "We won't have to go out into the streets. We can just stay here and pray and the Holy Ghost will draw people in!"

The definition of revival is, "The awakening or resurrection of that which threatens to become a corpse." It means "to wake up the dead church — to revive it, resuscitate it — so that the ungodly will be inclined to enter its doors."

Beloved, the church is not supposed to have to be resurrected from the dead. We should not have to be praying for some great revival. While we have been praying for revival, horrible things have happened in our country.

Our cities are about to burst into flames. The nation is satiated with sex, pleasure, the idolatry of sports. One of every two marriages ends in divorce. We have lost an entire generation of young people to cynicism, hardness, and
disillusionment.

The sobbing sounds of hungry, battered children now rise as thunder from our cities. Homosexuals demand marriage rights. Desperate fathers and mothers roam the streets by the hundreds, looking for work.

What should the church be doing about these things? The Bible says that if we are meeting human need — if we are obeying the commandment to be compassionate to the world, and giving ourselves to the needs of others —-then we will be a well-watered garden. "If you deal your bread to the hungry
... if you cover the naked ... if you do not hide your face from the poor ...if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the suffering soul ...then the Lord shall guide you continually, satisfying your soul" (see Isaiah 58:5-12). "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water,whose waters fail not" (verse 11).

God wants every one of us to be a part of His compassionate heart to the world. ~~
--------

-Never Forsaken

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The promise that God will never leave nor forsake His people occurs often in Scripture. It was given here through Moses to the children of Israel as they were preparing to enter the land promised long ago to Abraham. Two verses later, it was then repeated personally for Joshua, who was to be their leader in the coming battles.

Essentially the same promise had been made to Jacob as he began to assume his God-ordained role. "Behold, I am with thee," God had said, ". . . for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of" (Genesis 28:15). It was again repeated directly to Joshua by God. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5).

David passed on the same promise to Solomon as he became responsible for the kingdom and for building the great temple. "[God] will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD" (1 Chronicles 28:20). "I the God of Israel will not forsake them" (Isaiah 41:17) was the Lord's promise still later to the faithful Israelites.

And we can rejoice today in this same wonderful promise. "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
This remarkable verse has five negatives in the Greek, so that it could even be rendered literally as something like: "I will never, never leave thee, and never, never, never forsake thee." Surely this is one of the greatest of God's "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). -ICR/HMM

--Savor of Life or Death
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

----
It is remarkable how the very same testimony can have such dramatically opposite effects on its recipients. A lecture on the scientific evidences of creation, for example, or on the inspiration of the Bible will be received with great joy and understanding by some, provoke furious hostility in some, and generate utter indifference in others. This seems to be true of any message—written, or verbal, or simply demonstrated in behavior—which has any kind of biblically spiritual dimension to it. It is like the pillar of cloud in the wilderness, which "came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night" (Exodus 14:20). A Christian testimony draws and wins the one, repels and condemns the other. Some there are who "loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:17).

Thus the wonderful message of the gospel yields two diametrically opposite results. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). Christ came to bring both unity and division. "Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. . . . Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient. . . . a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word" (1 Peter 2:6-8).

But the wonderful thing is this: Whether a true testimony generates life or condemns to death, it is still "unto God a sweet savor of Christ."

--ICR/ HMM

--The First Love
--by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
----

This is the very heart of the moving prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in the upper room before His arrest and crucifixion. As we hear Him pray, we are translated back in time, before time began, and there we encounter the indescribable love within the counsels of the triune Godhead-Father, and Son, and Spirit-three persons, yet one God.

Then, after speaking of this love, Jesus prayed-in the final words of His sure-to-be-answered prayer-“that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26).

This love-the love within the Trinity-was the primeval love and, therefore, is the spring from which flows every other form of true love-marital love, mother love, brotherly love, love of country, love of friends, love for the lost, or any other genuine love.

It is appropriate that the first mention of love in the Old Testament refers to the love of a father (Abraham) for his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2), and then, that the first reference to love in the New Testament (Matthew 3:17) speaks of the heavenly love of God the Father for God the Son. In both cases, the Son is called “beloved,” yet in both cases the father and son are prepared to go to the altar of sacrifice, that the will of God might be done, and a way of salvation be provided for lost sinners.

“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
One day-as He prayed-we shall be with Him, see His glory, and evenexperience His own eternal love in our hearts.

--ICR/HMM

--What It Means to Fear God
--Psalm 112:1-9-(Recommended Reading)
-

--"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands."

--The fear of the Lord has nothing to do with terror or trepidation, but rather refers to the appropriate awe and reverence for who God is. It is a quality that we as believers should seek and nurture. Though the expression isn’t heard very often today, it should still be received as a great compliment to be known as a God-fearing man or woman.

Proper fear of the Lord produces all manner of fruit in the Christian’s life. It leads to our hating evil as God does, and it is also the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10) The more we acquire divine understanding, the greater will be our love for the Scriptures and the Lord’s commandments. Furthermore, if we hope to have a strong family with children who grow to be courageous for the truth, it is important that we properly reverence the Lord (Ps. 112:2).

God-fearing people also find that “light arises in the darkness for the upright.” (v. 4) This does not mean that we will never have painful situations or periods of distress in the valley—we will still have trials, concerns, and tears like the rest of mankind. But in our hardships, we are promised the light of deliverance.

The Bible says that “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them” (Ps. 34:7). We who believe will be surrounded on all sides so that nothing can get at us without divine permission. Ask God to help you have a proper, reverential fear of Him. It is a request that He will be pleased to honor.~~~

--IN Touch

--ON MY SIDE~

--Psalm 118:1-6
----
"The LORD is on my
side; I will not fear."
--Psalm 118:6 -
----
AFTER diminutive Olympic athlete Gabby Douglas captured two gold medals in the 2012 London Games, she made this proclamation: "God will never fail you. He's always on your side."

-Sometimes this kind of statement by an athlete can be misunderstood. It can be taken to mean that if I'm competing against you in a sports contest and I have God's help, there is no way I can lose. But if we turn to Psalm 118:5-6, we get the true picture of what this line means. The Psalmist wrote, "I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear."

Another version translates verse 6 as "the LORD is with me" (NIV). It's the idea that when trouble comes into our lives, God, who is full of mercy and love (which "endures forever," v.4) will always be attentive to us and provide the protection we need.

We don't have to be an Olympic champion to appreciate this kind of divine attention. This is what we need when the economy falters and our finances can't keep up. It's what we need when a relationship we cherished falls apart. No matter what our situation, as Christ-followers we know where to find help. "The LORD is on my side."

-Be still, my soul--the Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide--
In every change He faithful will remain.
----
-IN THE MIDST OF EVERY TRIAL,
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE.~

--ODB/DB

--IT'S ALL ABOUT
THE LOVE ~~

-1 John 4:7-19
----
We have known
and believed the
love that God has
for us. God is love.
---1 John 4:16
----
I SAW A SIGN in front of a church that seems to me to be a great motto for relationships: Receive love. Give love, Repeat.~~

The greatest love that we 'receive' is the love of God. He loved us so much that He gave His Son to redeem us (1 John 4:9). We receive His love when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12).

God's love enables us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We teach, encourage, and rebuke. We weep and rejoice. The love we give is tender and tough and supportive. We are taught by Jesus even to love our enemies: "Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). Giving love to others can be challenging in some situations, but it's possible because of the love God has first given to us.

-A good plan for our lives today: RECEIVE LOVE. GIVE LOVE. REPEAT. ~~
---------
-'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
---(John 3:16) = JESUS LOVES YOU!

--ODB/AC
<http://youtu.be/qXQJDTf1x2o>
-----------

---Love for God

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
---
The apostle John was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (e.g., John 20:2). As a matter of fact, the word “love” (i.e., agape love, self-sacrificing love) occurs more often in John’s writings than in the rest of Scripture. Interestingly, it is not defined as a deep friendship, but principally as “obedience” to God’s commands. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3).

The final verse of the beautiful hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” expresses a desire to unreservedly love God, enthroning Him as King.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:10). He promises to send His Holy Spirit as His guarantee of our acceptance into His love. “He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 John 3:24).

The hymn’s prayer reveals a desire to fully give oneself in obedient submission to the Lord. That is perhaps the sum total of the hymn’s message, that we must consecrate every aspect of our lives and being to Him—our life, our time, our praise, our hands and feet, our voice and song, our worldly goods, our mind and abilities, our will, our heart, our love, and indeed our whole being. Then we will truly be “all for Thee.”
---ICR/JDM
<http://youtu.be/0dUplrwT6Bo>
--------

----Bringing Others to Jesus
---John 1:35-42 (rec'd reading)

Andrew is the disciple known for bringing people to Jesus. Immediately after meeting the Lord, he introduced his brother Simon to the Messiah. Another time, when a great multitude was hungry, he found a boy with five loaves and two fishes and brought him to Jesus (John 6:8-9). When some Greeks wanted to meet Christ, Andrew and Philip made the introductions (12:20-22). This disciple never lost his enthusiasm for the Savior.

Andrew's own conversion experience motivated him to let others know about the One who'd changed his life (1:36-37). How about you--have you lost the joy of your salvation? If your Christian life has become stale and musty, it's time to remember what Christ has done for you and to ask that He restore your excitement.

In addition, Andrew longed to know the Savior and spend time with Him (vv. 38-39). The disciple's example is a good reminder that sweet fellowship with the Lord isn't supposed to end with devotional times. It should also stimulate a desire to share with others the joy we find in our relationship with Christ.

Finally, Andrew was motivated by his conviction that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). He'd found the answer for a lost and hurting world and wanted others to know.

When Andrew answered the call to discipleship, Jesus told him he'd be "catching men" instead of fish (Luke 5:10). Since we, too, are followers of Christ, we have this same assignment. Our styles and opportunities vary, but we're each responsible to develop a lifelong habit of bringing others to Jesus.---
---IN TOUCH=/ Come, Now is the Time to Worship!
<http://youtu.be/NPWq8eM4lu8>
------------

--RISKS AND
-RESCUES ~

-Romans 16:1-7
----
Greet Priscilla and
Aquila...who
risked their own
necks for my life.
--Romans 16:3-4
------
ON September 7, 1838, Grace Darling, the daughter of an English lighthouse keeper, spotted a shipwreck and survivors offshore. Together, she and her father courageously rowed their boat a mile through rough waters to rescue several people. Grace became a legend for her compassionate heart and steady hand in risking her life to rescue others.

The apostle Paul tells us of another man and woman team who took risks to rescue others. He wrote about Priscilla and Aquila, his fellow workers in Christ, who "risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles" (Rom. 16:3-4).

We are not told exactly what "risk" Paul was referring to, but with beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and threats of death so common to Paul's ministry, it's not hard to see how this couple could have put themselves in harm's way to help their friend. Apparently Paul's rescue was more important to them than their own safety.

Rescuing others--whether from physical or spiritual danger--often carries a risk. But when we take a risk by reaching out to others, we reflect the heart of our Savior who gave up so much for us.
---------------
-When you've been rescued,
you'll want to rescue others.~~

--ODB/DF

-LIFE WITHOUT
-BREAD ~~~

-John 6:25-35
-----
-I am the bread of life.
---John 6:48
------
IN cultures with an abundance of food choices, bread is no longer a necessary part of the diet so some choose to live without it for various reasons. In the first century, however, bread was viewed as an essential staple. A diet without bread was a foreign concept.

One day a crowd of people sought out Jesus because He had performed the miracle of multiplying loaves of bread (John 6:11,26). They asked Him to perform a sign like the manna from heaven that God had provided for his people in the desert (6:30-31; Ex. 16:4). When Jesus said He was "the true bread from heaven" (John 6:32), the people didn't understand. They wanted literal daily bread. But Jesus was saying that He had been sent to be their spiritual bread; He would supply their daily spiritual needs. If they, by faith, applied and took His words and life into their very souls, they would experience everlasting satisfaction (v.35).

Jesus doesn't want to be an optional commodity in our diets; He desires to be the essential staple in our lives,our "necessary" food. As first-century Jews could never imagine life without physical bread, may we never attempt to live without Jesus, our spiritual bread!
------------
-ONLY SPIRITUAL BREAD SATISFIES THE HUNGER OF THE SOUL.

--ODB/MW

---The Beauty of Holiness

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)
------
The objective, stunning beauty of holiness (2 Chronicles 20:21) has profound ramifications for theology. Scripture identifies God as supremely holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 1 Peter 1:16). Therefore, He is gloriously and overwhelmingly beautiful.

He is holy and beautiful in His omniscience, since no one else knows all things. His omnipresence and omnipotence are also utterly unique and, therefore, holy and striking. In His freedom, eternality, self-existence, self-sufficiency, justice, mercy, grace, love, forgiveness—in all of His attributes—He is holy and magnificent, since His attributes are set apart from everyone and everything else! God’s holiness—and, therefore, His beauty—extend to every aspect of His being.

The beauty of God’s holiness intensifies our condemnation as sinners. Our sinfulness is seen first and foremost in our consistent disobedience to the greatest commandment in Scripture, loving God with our entire being (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). Many wake up in the morning without giving Him a second thought. The wickedness of this act is magnified in light of the extraordinary and dreadful beauty of God’s holiness. Refusing to love God is not just wrong; it is also horrifically ugly.

In the human realm, we recognize how beauty amplifies the evil of an act. What would we think of people who gleefully throw mud at a pure white wedding dress, vandalize classic and precious works of art, or burn copies of Shakespeare’s plays? At best, we label them confused. At worst, we label them perverse.

Our refusal to love the beautiful and majestic God—“glorious in holiness” in today’s verse—is a reprehensible and disgraceful travesty. How low and base an activity is sin! How acute our need for a Savior.

--ICR/NTJ

--The Beauty of Holiness/ (Continued)


-"Then said Jesus unto his disciples. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

The beauty of God’s holy attributes should compel us to fall immediately before Him in ceaseless worship and delight. Do we? A close inspection of our behavior reveals the answer.

God’s beautiful nature is adored by sinful man . . . when it agrees with his self-interest. Man cries out to God’s omnipotence when he wants to be rescued from the consequences of sin, but he rails against God’s sovereignty when it takes the life of one he loves. Man comforts himself in God’s omniscience when it keeps track of his good deeds; he hates God’s knowledge when it holds him accountable for misbehavior. Man loves God’s omnipresence when he’s fearful; he rejects it when he’s engaged in immorality. Man delights in God’s freedom to do as He pleases—except when it crosses his plans. Man rejoices in God’s perfect justice because it punishes his evil adversaries; he spurns it when he’s committed the crime.

Some may object: “Aren’t there attributes of God that all people worship, like His mercy and love?” Yes—when it serves their purposes. Man receives God’s mercy when it’s extended to him; he scorns it when it’s extended to his rivals. Man relishes God’s love when it results in his salvation from hell; he repudiates God’s love when it results in salvation for his mother’s murderer. Man is pleased when God is patient with him; he can’t understand why God would be patient with his atheistic neighbor. It’s perfectly logical that God would be slow to anger with him; it’s unbelievable that God would be slow to anger with dictators.

Do you see the problem? Our self-seeking stands in the way of our worship. Hence our need for self-denial, as today’s verse so clearly articulates.
--ICR/ NTJ

----The Beauty of Holiness, - (continued)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
----The Beauty of Holiness, - (continued)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Slavery to sin is an awful predicament. The filth of sin should repulse us, but we often fall prey to its grip. Why? Sin seduces because sin looks attractive; it appeals to “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

The solution? crackthebook “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

The scriptural revelation of the beauty of moral purity—of holiness—answers the allure of sin. How? First, by its superior beauty. Holiness is so stunning that Israel sang its praises (2 Chronicles 20:21). Sin, by contrast, is filthy and despicable, though we don’t always see it as such.

Second, holiness answers the allure of sin by its permanence. Since Scripture describes holiness as intrinsically beautiful, there is no debate over its quality or appeal; it is objectively beautiful. Regardless of what sinners claim, holiness is always striking.

On occasion, the gleam of moral purity does shine into our hearts. We are hushed by the beauty of a soldier’s self-denying sacrifice of love and courage. We admire couples who have faithfully kept their marriage vows for decades despite temptations to bitterness or immorality.

Yet when it comes to our own personal holiness, the beauty of holiness often doesn’t captivate us. Why not? Holiness is commanded, as today’s verse illustrates, implying that we must make an effort to be captivated by the beauty of holiness. Furthermore, we’re commanded to reflect God’s holiness. Fixing our gaze on His overwhelming beauty keeps our eyes from the deceptive charm of sin.

--ICR/ NTJ

Slavery to sin is an awful predicament. The filth of sin should repulse us, but we often fall prey to its grip. Why? Sin seduces because sin looks attractive; it appeals to “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

The solution? “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

The scriptural revelation of the beauty of moral purity—of holiness—answers the allure of sin. How? First, by its superior beauty. Holiness is so stunning that Israel sang its praises (2 Chronicles 20:21). Sin, by contrast, is filthy and despicable, though we don’t always see it as such.

Second, holiness answers the allure of sin by its permanence. Since Scripture describes holiness as intrinsically beautiful, there is no debate over its quality or appeal; it is objectively beautiful. Regardless of what sinners claim, holiness is always striking.

On occasion, the gleam of moral purity does shine into our hearts. We are hushed by the beauty of a soldier’s self-denying sacrifice of love and courage. We admire couples who have faithfully kept their marriage vows for decades despite temptations to bitterness or immorality.

Yet when it comes to our own personal holiness, the beauty of holiness often doesn’t captivate us. Why not? Holiness is commanded, as today’s verse illustrates, implying that we must make an effort to be captivated by the beauty of holiness. Furthermore, we’re commanded to reflect God’s holiness. Fixing our gaze on His overwhelming beauty keeps our eyes from the deceptive charm of sin.

--ICR/ NTJ