News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

THE PERFECT
SENTENCE ~

Exodus 3:13-18
~~~~
Who is like You, O
LORD, among the
gods? Who is like You,
glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises,
doing wonders?
--Exodus 15:11
______________
As a young girl writing in my diary, my secret ambition was to compose the perfect sentence. I wondered what it would look and sound like. Perhaps it would include a strong verb and colorful adjectives.

My pursuit of the perfect sentence will never be satisfied, but I've found a statement of perfection in Exodus 3:14. When the Lord God called Moses from the burning bush, He told him that he had been chosen to bring His people out of bondage in Egypt (v.10). Moses, anxious about this responsibility, wondered what to say if the Israelites doubted him and asked who he was representing.

The Lord replied, "I AM WHO I AM" (v.14). By using His unique name He offred Moses a glimpse of the nature of His eternal existence in one sentence. You might say it's a statement of perfection!

Bible commentator G. Bush writes this about God: "He, in distinction from all others, is the one only true God, the God who really IS ....The eternal, self-existent, and immutable Being; the only being who can say that He always will be what He always has been."

God says, "I AM WHO I AM." He and His name are perfect. In reverence we are to bow before Him. --Anne Cetas
~~~~~~~~~~
Behold Him there! The risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless righteousness;
The great, unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace. ~~
__________________________________________
LOOKING FOR PERFECTION? LOOK TO JESUS !!

Blessings, Abishag
Our Daily Bread <><

--A Great Gift of Love ~~

“‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 NKJV
--
God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust Him. He became a sacrifice so we could know Him. And He defeated death so we could follow Him . . .

Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.
--
--Max Lucado

--Let No Unwholesome Talk Proceed From Your Mouth."

Ephesians 4:29-32
--
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

~~Chapter 4 of Paul's letter to his faithful friends in Ephesus is loaded with eloquent words dense in meaning. He speaks to them and to us about unity, living as children of light, putting off the old self, and guarding the words that come out of our mouths. How I long to exchange once and for all the bitterness, anger, slander, and malice (V.31) that come from my mouth for kindness, compassion, and words of forgiveness. These are what always ought to mark me out as a child of the King. I want to trade unwholesome talk for what is helpful in bulding others up.

Then why do I falter again and again? Perhaps you are wrestling with that question, too. I know that when my words betray the sin in my heart, I grieve over them later. But when my words breathe even in some small way the freshness and brightness of Jesus Christ, both I and the hearer are heartened.

If our words can build up, restore, and comfort others, how much more so from the Living Word of Jesus, breathed into each one of us!

--Haven Today

-The Perfect
Sentence --

-Conversion is
A Work of God.

-John 6:42-51
--
No one can come to
Me unless the Father
who sent Me draws
him. --John 6:44
---
James was diagnosed with heart problems and his wife, Becky, was no longer able to care for him or herself very well. They started looking for an assisted living home. One of Becky's first questions as she visited each home was, "Do you puree your food?" She was concerned that James have the kind of food he needed for his swallowing difficulty. Several places answered "no," so she kept searching. Finally she heard "yes" at a Christian Assisted Living home.

Even though they weren't believers in Jesus and had often argued with a Christian neighbor about Him, James and Becky chose the Christian home because of the pureed food. They began attending Chapel services, heard the gospel, and felt well cared for by the workers. One day James surrendered his life to Christ. He believes that God was pursuing him (John 6:44), and He used pureed food to bring them to the Christian home where he received the care of God's people and heard of Christ's forgiveness.

Conversion is a work of God; in love He draws people to Himself. He uses circumstances, His Word, people, and even pureed food to pursue hearts. Be encouraged in your witness for Him. He will use your words and deeds in His pursuit of those who need Christ.
----
-Love is the magnet that draws believers together and attracts unbelievers to Christ.

---ODB/AC

--CORNERED!

-Luke 6:27-36
----
"Pray for those who
despitefully use you."
--Luke 6:28

One Sunday morning, D.L. Moody entered a house in Chicago to escort some children to Sunday school. During his visit, three men backed him into a corner and threatened him. "Look here," Moody said. "Give a fellow a chance to say his prayers, won't you?" The men allowed him to call out to God, and Moody prayed for them so earnestly that they left the room.

Had I been in Moody's situation, I might have called for help or looked for the back door. I'm not sure I would have acted on Jesus' command to His followers: "Pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:28 NIV).

Prayaing for the people who treat us with contempt is one way to "do good to those who hate [us]" (v.27). Jesus explained that Christians get no credit for swapping acts of kindness with other "nice" people. He said, "Even sinners do the same" (v.33). However, blessing our persecutors (Rom. 12:14) sets us apart from them and aligns us with the Most High, because God is kind even to wicked people (Luke 6:35).

Today, if you feel "cornered" by someone, seek safety if the situation calls for it, and follow Jesus' teaching: Pray for that person (Luke 23:34). Prayer is your best defense.---

-Returning good for good is human;
returning good for evil is divine.

--ODB/JBS

-PEACOCKS AND
THEIR KIN --

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
---
My strength is made
perfect in weakness.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
---
Male peacocks are resplendent creatures with iridescent blue-green plumage and elongated trains tipped with "eyes" colored in hues of gold, red, and blue. They are strikingly beautiful birds, but they have ugly feet!

To be honest, most of us have some type of physical limitation. It may be something we've borne all our lives or one we've recently acquired.

Paul described his deficiency as a "thorn in the flesh" that kept him humble (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Three times he asked the Lord to remove it, probably thinking that he could then serve God better. But the Lord assured him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul replied, "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

One of the ironies of faith is that God often chooses us to accomplish His most important tasks despite our imperfections, not because of our speaking ability, looks, or fitness for the task. Missionary Hudson Taylor said, "God was looking for someone weak enough to use, and he found [you and me]!" When we find our strength in Him, He can use us in ways we could never imagine (v.9)
---
God's strength is best seen in our weakness./ ODB/DR
---All God's people has 'A Place in the Choir"!

-ANY DISTANCE,
ANY TIME --

-Matthew 9:35-38
---
Jesus went about
all the cities and
villages, teaching
[and] preaching
the gospel.
--Matthew 9:35
---
For several years, I've corresponded with a pastor in Nepal who often travels with his church members to communities in the Himalayas to preach and plant churches. Recently he sent me his itinerary for the following week and asked me to pray. His busy schedule revealed that over the course of a week he planned to travel by motorcycle about 160 kilometers (100 miles) to several cities to preach and hand out gospel tracts.

I wondered at the great distances my friend would cover over mountainous terrain, and I wrote to ask how he was holding up. He replied, "We had a wonderful time of marching in the mountains with our church members. All do not have motorcycles..so we all walked. It was a blessed time. Still more places to go."
And then I was reminded of how "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synogogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 9:35).

I thought of my reluctance to drive across town in the snow to visit a lonely widower; to walk across the street to help a neighbor; to answer a knock on the door from a needy friend when I'm busy; to go any time, any place, any distance for the sake of love. And I thought of our Lord, for who no distance was too great.

Christ traveled to the earth below
And left behind His throne above;
No distance was too great for Him
Because He was compelled by love. -
----
-What God gave to us, He wants us to share with the world!
ODB/DR

-Be Transformed By the Renewing of you Mind~
-Developing a Godly Lifestyle
-Read | Romans 12:2

Today's verse outlines the commitment and steps necessary in developing a godly lifestyle. Paul was urgently warning believers not to be conformed to the world. Our susceptibility to compromise is one of the greatest dangers in the church today.

Through ungodly relationships and the impact of media, we're being influenced by people who are not following God's ways. Our society tells us to to put self first, take what we want, protect our rights, and promote our own interests above others'. In contrast, Jesus said that our heavenly Father will provide what we truly need (Phil. 4:19), we are to deny self and follow Him (Luke 9:23), and the humble--not the proud--shall receive honor (James 4:10). Conformity to the world's ideals will lead us away from God.

At the same time, Paul urged us to pursue godly transformation of our minds: to set our thoughts on things above (Col. 3:2) and to focus on what is true, right, pure, and admirable (Phil. 4:8). Adopting a Christian worldview will lead to Christlike actions. It requires making adjustments in how we view life until our thoughts line up with Scripture. We must also protect our minds with biblical truth and surround ourselves with mature believers who can warn us when we start to stray.

Ask yourself, Am I focusing on what is important to the Lord?...avoiding compromise?...making a conscious effort to adhere to biblical truth?... demonstrating a pattern of godly transformation? Let God's Holy Spirit empower you to make the changes necessary to be more like Christ.

--In Touch/ CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART / Keith Green
<http://youtu.be/BGPmMcDeRpM>

--
---

-NOT WHAT
I PLANNED

-Psalm 37:1-8
---
Rest in the LORD.
--Psalm 37:7
---
This isn't the way I expected my life to be. I wanted to marry at 19, have a half-dozen children, and settle into life as a wife and mother. But instead I went to work, married in my forties, and never had children. For a number of years I was hopeful that Psalm 37:4 might be for me a God-guaranteed promise: "He shall give you the desires of your heart."

But God doesn't always "bring it to pass" (v.5), and umet desires stir up occasional sadness. Like mine, your life may have turned out differently than you planned. A few thoughts from Psalm 37 may be helpful (even though the psalm is primarily about comparing ourselves to the wicked). We learn from verse 4 that unfulfilled desires don't have to take the joy out of life. As we get to know God's heart, He becomes our joy.

"Commit your way to the LORD" (v.5). The word commit means "to roll." A Bible teacher Herbert Lockyear, Sr. says, "'Roll thy way upon the Lord,' as one who lays upon the shoulders of one stronger than himself a burden which he is not able to bear."

"Trust also in Him" (v.5). When we confidently entrust everything to God, we can "rest in the LORD" (v.7), for He is bringing about His best for our lives.
---
-A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
--Proverbs 16:9

--ODB/AC
--TRUST IN THE LORD / GARY REA <http://youtu.be/3vEem6UCGf4>

-A Devotional Series by Charles H. Spurgeon

"In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him." --Colossians 2:9, 10

All the attributes of Christ, as God and man, are at our disposal. All the fulness of the Godhead, whatever that marvellous term may comprehend, is ours to make us complete. He cannot endow us with the attributes of Deity; but he has done all that can be done, for he has made even his divine power and Godhead subservient to our salvation. His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and infallibility, are all combined for our defence.

Arise, believer, and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of his divine Godhead to the chariot of salvation! How vast his grace, how firm his faithfulness, how unswerving his immutability, how infinite his power, how limitless his knowledge! All these are by the Lord Jesus made the pillars of the temple of salvation; and all, without diminution of their infinity, are covenanted to us as our perpetual inheritance. The fathomless love of the Saviour's heart is every drop of it ours; every sinew in the arm of might, every jewel in the crown of majesty, the immensity of divine knowledge, and the sternness of divine justice, all are ours, and shall be employed for us.

The whole of Christ, in his adorable character as the Son of God, is by himself made over to us most richly to enjoy. His wisdom is our direction, his knowledge our instruction, his power our protection, his justice our surety, his love our comfort, his mercy our solace, and his immutability our trust. He makes no reserve, but opens the recesses of the Mount of God and bids us dig in its mines for the hidden treasures. "All, all, all are yours", saith he, "be ye satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord."

Oh! how sweet thus to behold Jesus, and to call upon him with the certain confidence that in seeking the interposition of his love or power, we are but asking for that which he has already faithfully promised.

<http://youtu.be/c0QPKbZ4rrs> / ENOUGH!

-FAITH WITH
-WORKS ~

James 2:14-26
---
Faith by itself, if
it does not have
works, is dead.
--James 2:17
---
Because of his arthritis, Roger could no longer handle the winters of Illinois, so he moved to tropical Bangkok, Thailand. One day he remembered one of his grandmother's favorite songs, "What You Are": 'What you are speaks so loud that the world can't hear what you say; they're looking at your walk, not listening to your talk; they're judging from your actions every day.'

This song prompted Roger to feed the homeless who stayed along a half-mile stretch of road. Every morning, he served hot food to more than 45 families. Years later, one of the homeless women came to know Jesus as Savior and sought out Roger to thank him for introducing her to the love of Christ.

In James, we are clearly told that faith without works is dead (2:17). It doesn't mean that works will result in faith, but that good works will affirm that our faith is real. It's easy to say we believe in God, but only our works can prove the truthfulness of our words. Abraham didn't just talk about his faith; he demonstrated it by his willingness to give up his only son in obedience to God (James 2:21-24; see Gen. 22:1-18). And Isaac was spared.

Today, how can we actively demonstrate our love for God and trust in Him?
------
-WHAT MATTERS IS NOT FAITH AND WORKS;
IT IS NOT FAITH OR WORKS; IT IS FAITH THAT WORKS.
--ODB/AL

-BAD NEWS
-AND
GOOD NEWS -

Philippians 1:12-22
---
The things which
happened to me have
actually turned out for
the furtherance of the
Gospel. --Phil. 1:12
---
Recently I had a conversation with a woman who had experienced a very difficult situation. The stress had affected her health, so she had to visit the doctor frequently. But with a smile on her face, she told me that she has been able to use this painful circumstance as an opportunity to share Christ with her doctor.

In the book of Philippians, we read how the apostle Paul used his difficult situation--imprisonment--to preach the Gospel. The Philippian believers were grieved because Paul had been arrested for preaching Jesus, but he told them that his bondage had "actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel" (1:2).

The whole palace guard and others knew why he was in jail--because he preached Christ. Whoever came in contact with Paul heard about Jesus--whether soldiers (who guarded him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or others outside. As a result of using his bad news to share the good news, some of the guards may have even become believers (4:22). Just because Paul was confined didn't mean that the Gospel was confined.

As Jesus-followers, we can allow our pain to be a platform to share the Gospel. In our bad news, let's find an opening to share the Good News.
---
-Pain can be a platform to share Christ.

--ODB/MW

-THE NEW
NORMAL ~

-Hebrews 4:9-16
---
We do not have a
High Priest who
cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses.
--Hebrews 4:15

A pastor, who was trained in trauma and grief counseling, commented that the greatest challenge for people who are hurting is often not the immediate heartache of the loss. Instead, the biggest problem is adjusting to the different kind of life that follows. What once was normal may never be normal again. So the challenge for those offering help is to assist the sufferers as they establish the "new normal."

It may be a 'new normal' that no longer includes robust health, a treasured relationship, or a satisfying job. Or it may be living without a loved one who has been taken in death. The gravity of such losses forces us to live a different kind of life--no matter how unwelcome it may be.

When our "new normal" comes, it's easy to think no one understands how we feel. But that isn't true. Part of the reason Jesus came was to experience life among us, resulting in His present ministry: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (heb. 4:14).

Our Savior lived a perfect life, yet He also knew the pains of a broken world. He endured sorrow, suffered agony, and stands ready to encourage us when the dark moments of life force us to embrace a 'new normal'.

We must remind ourselves that Jesus is always with us. We can call on Him 24X7's.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." ~ JESUS

-The Crown of Life

Revelation 2:10 says, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Make sure the hull of your convictions can withstand the stress of collisions. Builders of the Titanic should have been so wise. The luxury liner sank because contractors settled for cheap rivets.

Rivets are the glue that hold the steel plates together. Facing a shortage of quality bolts, the builders used substandard ones that popped their heads on impact with the iceberg.

How sturdy are the bolts of your belief? Reinforce them with daily Bible readings, regular worship, and earnest communion with God.

All things, big and small, flow out of the purpose of God and serve His good will. When the world appears out of control, it isn’t.

-We can always trust Him!

-The Law of the Harvest

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. . ." Luke 6:38

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When God created the herbs of the field, He said, "Let them bring forth after their kind" (Genesis 1:12).
Whatever we sow, we're going to reap. If you sow to the flesh, then you're going to reap what you sow. On the other hand, if you sow to the spirit, you cannot fail to reap good things. You can't even give a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple and lose your reward.

Every seed you plant for Jesus is going to sprout. Whatever it is you want, plant it, sow it, give it, "and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together."

-ACTION POINT:
Would you like to have better relationships? Then start sowing seeds of encouragement and good deeds. ~~
--Adrian Rogers

-"Come to Me....."
--Jesus: The Invitation ~

-You are tired.
You are weary.
Weary of being slapped by the waves of broken dreams.
Weary of being stepped on and run over in the endless marathon to the top.
Weary of trusting in someone only to have that trust returned in an envelope with no return address.

Weary of staring into the future and seeing only futility.
What steals our childhood zeal?...
It is this weariness that makes the words of the Carpenter so compelling. Listen to them. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Come to Me...the invitation is to come to Him. Why Him?

He offers the invitation as a penniless rabbi in an oppressed nation. He has no connections with the authorities in Rome. He hasn't written a best-seller or earned a diploma.

Yet, He dares to look into the leathery faces of farmers, and tired faces of housewives and offer rest. He looks into the disillusioned eyes of a bartender and makes this paradoxical promise: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

The people came. They came out of the cul-de-sacs and office complexes of their existence and He gave them, not religion, not doctrine, not systems, but rest.

As a result, they called Him Lord.
As a result, they called Him Savior.
Not so much because of what He said, but because of what He did.
What He did on the Cross during six hours, one Friday.

--From: Six Hours One Friday
-By: Max Lucado

-Sin Not

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." (Ephesians 4:26)

There are many occasions when a Christian may be rightly angered by some ugly word or incident and thus be strongly tempted to respond in kind. Our text, however, reminds us that such a reaction for a Christian is sin, and it urges us to get control of our anger before sundown. We are not to let our anger fester until it breaks out in action.

A very similar command was given long ago to Old Testament believers also. "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah" (Psalm 4:4). When angry, it is far better to wait and communicate with God about it in bed than to bring recriminations in the street (or, perhaps, in the home) against the ones who have angered us.

The Lord Jesus Himself is always our example, "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).

Anger is often one of the most difficult areas to overcome in the Christian life. As James says, "The tongue can no man tame . . . Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God . . . . My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (James 3:8-10). Nevertheless, what man cannot tame, God can!

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

Anger may come, but to act in anger is sin.
-ICR/HMM

-Coexist?
-John 14

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
(John 14:6)

As I write this a missionary friend 8,000 miles away uses Twitter to ask for prayers. He and his team were preaching in a town in Asia. When one of them spoke this verse, the crowd erupted in protest and began hurling rocks and pieces of 2X4 lumber at them. The truth of Jesus and salvation is powerful, isn't it?

Closer to home, I have noticed over the past few years a blue bumper sticker has gotten quite popular. Spelled out in a mix of white letters and symbols from the world's foremost religions, it simply says, "Coexist." Maybe you've seen it.

As followers of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), we are to live in peace as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). However, to simply "coexist" with other religions would be the most hateful thing we could do. Billions of people still don't know Jesus. They live in falsehood and darkness.
By God's grace we now life in light, love, and truth. Then wouldn't the most loving thing we can do in this world be to tell people about eternal life in Jesus alone?
---
'Lord, please strengthen missionaries around the world and encourage our persecuted brothers and sisters living in countires opposed to the Gospel. Amen.'

--Haven Today

-The Sun of Righteousness

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings. . ."
--- Malachi 4:2a

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Since Jesus is the S-O-N of God, He is also the S-U-N of righteousness. Let me tell you something about the sunrise. The sunrise never comes ahead of time, and it is never late. Isn't that right? The sunrise operates according to the power of God and the authority of God. You can't hurry it up, and you can't stop it!

It is the same with the Second Coming of Jesus. He is coming at a time known only to God. You can't hurry it up and you can't stop it.

One day the Lord Jesus Christ shall come with trumpet sound. He will pull back the shade of the night and pin it with a star. Then He'll open the door of the glorious morning of His millennial reign and flood the world with light. Jesus is the Light of the World. If you don't have Light you walk in darkness.

-ACTION POINT:
-Tomorrow morning, get up with the sunrise and praise God that His timing is perfect--and that He is coming again!
--Adrian Rogers

-GET A CLEAR GLIMPSE OF GOD

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
----Colossians 1:15

It’s amazing the power a photograph can have, especially when you consider it’s little more than light cast on a film that’s developed into a picture. Yet when we look at photographs, our minds are taken back to the very day they were taken. We vividly remember what was happening and get to re-experience it.

I have many photographs from when I was growing up I love to pull out every now and then. And every time I look at them, I can hear my father’s laugh and my mother’s voice all over again. Those images have so much power!

When we read about the person of Jesus Christ, we have a photograph of God. That’s because when we look at Jesus—how He loved others, obeyed God, and gave Himself for us—we get a clear look at the heart of our heavenly Father.

But here’s how what we have is so much more powerful than a photograph: God is in us if we are in Christ. He’s given us the gift of His Spirit to lead and guide us all the days of our lives. So read the Scriptures and marvel at Jesus. When you do, know you’re getting a clear glimpse of your Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit inside you!


-GET A GLIMPSE OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN AND THE HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE YOU BY LOOKING AT JESUS!
--Word of God/JG
<http://youtu.be/_AxbyNzZMIg>

-No Condemnation
-Read | Romans 8:1-4 /[Recommended Reading]
---
Some believers are plagued by feelings of condemnation. Either they think they'll never live up to God's expectations for them or they're nearly drowning in guilt over past sins. These men and women cannot seem to shake the sense that God is displeased with their puny efforts at being Christlike.

The book of Romans confronts this lie head-on: "There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). When the Savior went to the cross on our behalf, He lifted the blame from our shoulders and made us righteous before God. Those feelings of condemnation do not belong to us; they are from Satan. He amplifies our guilt and feelings of inadequacy and then suggests that's how the Lord feels about His "wayward child." Nothing could be further from the truth. Our sins are wiped clean, and we are chosen and loved by God.

Condemnation is reserved for those who reject the Lord (John 3:36). Sin is a death sentence (Rom. 6:23). Anyone who chooses to cling to sin instead of seeking divine forgiveness must pay the penalty, which is an eternity separated from God. Two synonyms of condemn are 'denounce' and 'revile.' Those words certainly describe Jesus' statement to unbelievers in Matthew 25:41: "Depart from me, accursed ones."

There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The believer's penalty for sin is paid, and he can stand blameless before God. Trust in the Lord's love and let go of Satan's lie. God's beloved children are covered by His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
------
Please, if you have not given your life to the Lord Jesus, do so now! Tomorrow may be too late. We are living in the last days. This unusual damaging weather is Him calling us, "Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

-Sufferings Now Are Not Worth Comparing to Coming Glory!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
---Romans 8:18

There are times in life when we just have a hard time understanding “why." I think about a friend I have who lost a child in a tragic accident. I think about those who are sick and hungry around the world with little hope for relief. Yet others whom we see as less innocent seem to prosper.

And it’s in those times when many people wonder “why” that they can often feel disheartened or disillusioned with their faith. “If God is good,” they ask, “then why would He allow an innocent person to suffer like that?” This is a reasonable question provoked by very real emotions. And the truth is, there’s an answer – but it may not be the one many would like to hear.

The world is fallen. And because of that, there will be suffering until Christ returns. Children will still die. People will go hungry. And often, others who seem less deserving will prosper. The world will be wrought with injustice until the Justifier returns to bring back order. So what can we do?

Well, we persevere. We allow suffering and hardship to create a thirst in us for the day when all suffering will end.
We keep an eye on the sky waiting for Christ to usher in His Kingdom on earth. We hold on… because help is coming.

--Jack Graham

-FROM HEAD
TO HEART ~~

-Psalm 119:9-16
---
Your Word I have
hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin
against You.
--Psalm 119:11-
--
As a child, I memorized Bible passages, including Psalm 119:11. Due to my limited understanding, I believed that simple memorization would keep me from sin. I worked hard at memorizing verses, and I even won a Moody Bible Story Book as an award.

Although memorizing the Bible is a good habit to develop, it's not the act of memorizing that keeps us from sin. As I learned soon after my winning efforts, having the words of Scripture in my head made little difference in my behavior. In fact, instead of victory over sin, knowledge alone generated feelings of guilt.

Eventually I realized that the Word of God had to spread through my whole being. I needed to internalize Scripture, to hide it "in my heart". I had to live the Bible as well as I could quote it. As God's Word spreads from our heads to our hearts, sin loses its power over us.
--Let God's Word fill your memory, rule your
heart, and guide your life.

--ODB/JAL

-LOVE FINDS
-A WAY ~~

-1 Corinthians 13:4-13
----
-LOVE NEVER FAILS!
--1 Corinthians 13:8

Years ago I saw a cartoon that depicted a sour, disgruntled, elderly gentleman standing in rumpled pajamas and robe at his apartment door. He had just secured the door for the night with four locks, two deadbolts, and a chain latch. Later he noticed a small white envelope stuck beneath the door. On the envelope was a large sticker in the shape of a heart. It was a valentine. Love had found a way.

Only love can change a person's heart. In the book The Brothers Karamazov, Russian author Dostoevsky tells the story of a hardened cynic, Ivan, and his resistance to the love of God. On one occasion his brother Alyosha, a man of deep faith who was confounded by his brother's resistance, leans over and kisses Ivan. This simple act of love burned into Ivan's heart.

Perhaps you have a friend who is resisting God's love. Show His love to him or her, just as God showed loved to us when He brought salvation into the world through Jesus. Shower upon others the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13--a love that is patient, kind, and unselfish.

-Authentic love is a gift from God that we can keep on giving.
-----
-GOD POURS HIS LOVE INTO OUR HEARTS TO FLOW OUT TO OTHERS.~
--ODB/DR

--BE SPECIFIC

-Mark 10:46-52
---
What do you want
Me to do for you?
--Mark 10:51
---
On the day before a major surgery, I shared with my friend that I was really scared. "What part scares you?" she inquired. "I'm just so afraid that I won't wake up from the anesthesia," I replied. Immediately, Anne prayed: "Father, you know all about Cindy's fear. Please calm her heart and fill her with Your peace. And, Lord, please wake her up after surgery."

I think God likes that kind of specificity when we talk to Him. When Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, called out to Jesus for help, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight! Jesus said, "Go you way; your faith has made you well" (Mark 10:51-52).

We don't need to beat around the bush with God. While there may be a time to pray poetically as David did, there are also times to say bluntly, "God I'm so sorry for what I just said," or to say simply, "Jesus, I love You because..." Being specific with God can even be a sign of faith because we are acknowledging that we know we're not talking to a far-off Being but to a real Person who loves us intimately.

-God is not impressed by a flurry of fanciful words. He is listening for what our heart is saying.
-----
-THE HEART OF PRAYER IS PRAYER FROM THE HEART.~~
--ODB/CHK

-What Is True Humility?

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." James 4:10
---
-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever wondered what humility is all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him. I am what I am because of Christ.
In this life, you are not going to be sinless, but as you deal with sin in your life, you can come closer to being free from sin.
Sinless? No. Blameless? Yes. As you confess and stay prayed up, you can be blameless.
-ACTION POINT:
Do you have a concordance in your Bible? Do a study on the subject of "humility." Start with Philippians 2:5-11.
--Adrian Rogers

-WORTH
THE RISK~

-Acts 7:51-8:2
---
-By grace you have
been saved through
faith...;it is the
gift of God, not of
works, lest anyone
should boast.
--Ephesians 2:8-9-

What would one give in exchange for a new iPad? One 17-year-old boy gave a kidney! Apparently, he couldn't afford an iPad and wanted one so badly that he was willing to risk surgery.

Stephen, in Acts 7, took a serious risk, but it was for proclaiming the good news about Jesus. While performing miracles, he was seized, falsely accused of blasphemy against God and the Mosaic law, and brought before the high priest (6:8-14). In response to a question from the high priest (7:1), Stephen took a risk and preached a sermon he knew his hearers would not like. He said that throughout Israel's history, the nation had repeatedly rejected God's messengers. And now, they had rejected the Messiah.

Stephen's sermon provoked a strong reaction. "They cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him" (vv.57-58). Why would Stephen risk his life to preach about Jesus? He desperately wanted his hearers to know that because of Jesus' death and resurrection, they no longer needed to live under the law but could live under grace and forgiveness (6:13-15; Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus died so that we may have eternal live.
---
-A Christian's life is a window
through which others can see Jesus.

--ODB/AL

-Stay Close to the Vine
---
God says to you and me, “You can be fruitful, but I’m going to have to clip some diseased leaves.” Arrogance. Vain ambitions. Bad relationships. Dangerous opportunities. Revenge. Does God take this process lightly? I don’t think so. John 15:2 says, “He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit.”

So what are we to do? We branches on the vine– what is our response? An answer commonly given at this point is the imperative, “Bear fruit!” But is that the right response? If a branch is fruitless does it help if the gardener demands fruit? Please note, the branch cannot make fruit.

Jesus says, “remain in me. . .” Remain in my love. . . If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce fruit. Our task? It’s clear. Stay close to the vine. Jesus said, “apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5
--From A Gentle Thunder/ML

--Giving Thanks in Everything
-- By Charles F. Stanley

-Why would God command us to thank Him regardless of the circumstances? The idea defies human logic. But then, the Lord rarely binds Himself to man-made rules. Scriptural principles serve specific purposes in the Christian’s life. Gratitude keeps us aware of God’s presence, which builds our trust and ultimately strengthens our witness.

We must realize that thankfulness is not based on emotions or a situation’s outcome. We can be grateful, even during trials, because the Lord has promised to work everything for our good (Romans 8:28). That means He has a purpose for every experience, pleasant or difficult. A big problem stacked against our small resources sends us running to Him, thankful He has committed to work it to our benefit.

The believer’s part is to trust God will bring good from trials and to discover His plan, which gives further reason for thanking Him. Understanding His intentions renews our strength for facing difficult trials. Expressing gratefulness changes our attitude about God, ourselves, and our situations. Most people allow hurt and stress to form a pessimistic mindset, which negatively impacts every facet of their life. But believers have God’s Spirit working within to provide courage and a flow of thanksgiving.

When we demonstrate thankfulness in harsh circumstances, other people pay attention. Our coworkers, family, and friends will want for themselves the peace and energy we derive from a grateful relationship with the Lord. So whatever you experience today, go ahead and defy logic—praise God.
-- -- --
-Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day in our Lord Jesus!
"In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

-The Peace Of Christ
-By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The peace of Christ is not the peace of the world. If history is any criterion, the search for world peace always will be futile, for there have been wars going on somewhere in the world practically every day throughout history.

But even if the world’s leaders could bring peace to the world, it would not be true peace. “My peace,” said Jesus, “is not as the world giveth.” Peace is internal, not external. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1).

The true Christian will never be left at peace in the world, even when there are brief respites of peace between the nations of the world. Only in Christ is there real peace. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The Lord Jesus Christ alone can give true peace, for only “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). He is the true peacemaker, for He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Before there can ever be genuine peace between man and man on Earth, there must be peace between man on Earth and God in heaven.

Once a person has been “justified by faith,” however, he has eternal “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Then, for daily peace, he can simply appropriate this truth in his life. “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).=ICR/HMM

-The Only Thing that Really Lasts in Life~~

"The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever." (Psalm 119:160)

IT was my privilege when I was a Pastor in West Palm Beach to begin a Bible study for the baseball players who came to train there in the Spring. And I met so many baseball players who played baseball by the will of God and were committed to Christ. One of these was Gary Carter from the New York Mets.

In 1986, the New York Mets won the World Series. As always, the TV cameras went to the locker room. And The very first person that they interviewed in the locker room was Gary Carter. There amidst all the celebration, with a microphone stuck in his face and cameras from all over the world running, Gary Carter said, "First of all I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ."

It had been my privilege to baptize Gary a few years before. And when I spoke with him again I said, "Gary, the World Series comes and goes. But what you said on television, putting Christ first, influencing young people and adults all over the world for Jesus Christ, will live on in eternity long after the ball game is over!"

Now, most people aren't professional athletes and even more don't have an open microphone to the world. But you can make it your life's mission to share Christ every day. Live out His grace in your life and tell others about what He has done because that will live on long after your life is over!

God's Word is the only thing that lasts in life. So invest in eternity by living your life to share Christ with others!
---JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
--Daily Word/JG

-He Is the Potter, I Am the Clay

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
-"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:5-6

- DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God the Potter has the clay upon His wheel--but something happens. It's marred. It's ruined. Did God make a mistake? The problem is not in the hands of the Potter. The problem is in the clay.

Now what could be the problem in the clay? First there might be some rock, some hidden impurity keeping the vessel from becoming what it ought to be. There may be some hidden impurity in your life, marring what God wants to do. Or it may just be that the clay is not broken enough. The clay is too stiff. The clay does not yield to the hand of the Potter. What is clay to do in the hand of the potter? We are to yield.

-ACTION POINT:
Are you yielded? Can God form and shape you and make out of you what He wants? We must be willing to say, "Lord You are the Potter, I'm the clay; mold me, make me after Thy will." Have you said, "Lord, here I am, make of me what you wish, do with me what you will"? Most of us dare not dream what we could be if we would allow God to have His way in our lives.

--Adrian Rogers

--CHOOSE LIFE!

--Deuteronomy 30:11,19
----
"For this commandment which
I command you today is not
too mysterious for you, nor
is it far off...I have set
before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; there-
for choose life, that both you
and your descendants may live."
--Deuteronomy 30:11,19 --

The Lord is always seeking to communicate with His people in clear and compelling ways, with no attempt to confuse or deceive. When Moses spoke to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land, he said, (see text above)"...I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore choose life."

The Lord wants us to understand His plan and purpose clearly, so that we may love, obey, and cling to Him--for He is our "life and the length of [our] days" (v.20). That's plain to see.

'Father, we want to learn and experience more of
who You are in our relationship with You. Teach
us so that we will grow in our understanding
of You and Your plan for our lives.'
----
-THERE IS NO FINE PRINT IN GOD'S COMMUNICATION WITH US.

--ODB/DM / Show Me Your Face Lord!
<http://youtu.be/AxFBFh9DNgw>

--The Treasure Test
--Mark 10:17-30

"For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also." (Matthew 6:11) --

One day a promising young man approached Christ. All his life he had tried to keep the commandments in the hope of obtaining eternal life. Yet he knew something was missing. In his heart he believed that Jesus could tell him what he lacked. And he was right. Jesus told him there was only one thing standing between him and God...his wealth.

He said, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The man's problem was not wealth, per se, but treasure. And treasure can be any number of things: a relationship, one's status, the pursuit of a dream. Whatever the prized possession may be, the test is simple. Are you willing to give it up for good if that is what it takes to follow Jesus?

Jesus is infinitely more valuable than any other treasure. He promises that following Him will not be a futile pursuit, but will accomplish our greatest possible good. Why then are we so hesitant to relinquish our grip on our treasures? Let's loosen that today.
---
"Lord, please show me my heart's true treasure. Forgive me for loving other things more than I love Christ. Please help me to treasure Him most of all things.~amen"
--Haven

---THAT'S JESUS!

-Isaiah 53:4-12
-----
-He was wounded
for our trans-
gressions, He was
bruised for our
iniquities.
--Isaiah 53:5 -
----
As a Jewish kid growing up in New York, Michael Brown had no interest in spiritual things. His life revolved around being a drummer for a band, and he got mixed up with drugs. But then some friends invited him to church, where he found the love and prayers of the people to be irresistible. After a short spiritual struggle, Michael trusted Jesus as Savior.

This was a monumental change for a wayward Jewish teen. One day he told his Dad he had heard about Old Testament texts describing Jesus. His Dad, incredulous, asked, "Where?" When Michael opened his Bible, it fell to Isaiah 53. They read it, and Michael exclaimed. "That's Him! That's Jesus!"

Indeed, it is Jesus. Through the help of Christians and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Brown (today a Bible scholar and an author) came to recognize the Messiah of Isaiah 53. He experienced the salvation that changes lives, forgives sin, and gives abundant life to all who trust the "Man of sorrows" (v.3). Jesus is the One who was "wounded for our transgressions" and who died for us on the Cross.

-The Bible reveals, Jesus, who alone has the power to change lives.
-----
-The Spirit of God uses the 'Word of God' to change hearts!

--ODB/DB

--He That Is Spiritual

"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." (1 Corinthians 2:15)

The word rendered "spiritual" is the Greek word pneumatikos, from which theologians have coined the term "pneumatology," the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Thus a "spiritual" person is one who is not only born again spiritually through faith in Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but also tries diligently to follow the leading of the indwelling Spirit and to understand and obey the precepts of the Bible inspired by Him.

A spiritual person will have "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), able to judge all things by spiritual standards and biblical revelation. He or she will "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," knowing that "to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:4, 6). As such, spiritual believers prayerfully make decisions seeking God's will, they are "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans 8:14). And since they "walk in the Spirit," they "shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

They will often and repeatedly be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) for Christian service. Furthermore, they will manifest "the fruit of the Spirit" in their lives and personalities—that is, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Yet while "he that is spiritual" is thereby able to discern and evaluate all things by such divine standards, he will find himself often misunderstood by unsaved relatives and acquaintances, for "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: . . . because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

-Nevertheless, "he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).

--ICR/ HMM

--CALLING YOU!

-1 Samuel 3:1-10
----
The LORD called yet
again, "Samuel!"
--1 Samuel 3:6-
---
A couple of co-workers and I had just gone through airport security and were walking to our gate when I heard my name: "Paging Anne Cetas. Paging Anne Cetas." It's not a common name, so we knew it had to be mine. I assumed I had absent-mindedly left something at the check-in point. I checked with an airline agent, who told me to pick up a red phone, give my name, and ask why I was being paged. I searched for a phone and called, but the operator said, "No, we didn't page you." I said, "It was definitely my name." He replied twice, "No, we did not page you." I never did find out why I had been called that day.

A young boy named Samuel heard his name being "paged" long ago (1 Sam. 3:4). The Scriptures say that he "did not yet know the LORD, nor was the Word of the LORD yet revealed to him" (v.7), so the temple priest Eli had to help him understand who was calling him (vv.8-9). God then revealed His plan for Samuel's life.

The Lord has a plan for us as well, and He calls to our hearts: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). That's His call to us to receive the gift of His salvation, rest, and peace.

-The Savior is calling us to come to Him.
------
-Christ calls the restless ones to find their rest in Him.

--ODB/AC

--Practical Atheists

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof."
--(2 Kings 7:2)

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
This man, this government official, acted like he believed in God, but he was a practical atheist. To me the biggest fool is not the man who says there is no God, but the man who says there is a God and then doesn't live like it. Here was a man who had a sterile religion. He believed in God in a way. He had a form of godliness, but he denied the power thereof. And he was the loser. He was robbed by the thief of unbelief. I want you to see what the man of God said to him.
"Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof."

--ACTION POINT:
-Unbelief always withholds God's blessings from us. Your sins are withholding good things from you and unbelief is the chief among them. Confess any unbelief.

--NO RISK~

--Ephesians 2:1-10
----
For by grace you have
been saved through
faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the
gift of God.
--Ephesians 2:8
-----
-A COLLEAGUE recently shared an experience I don't intend to try personally--bungee jumping. I found his description of the event both fascinating and terrifying.

To think of jumping headfirst from a bridge hundreds of feet in the air suspended only by a giant rubber band is not my idea of a good time. But his leap was not without support. He described two heavy-duty harnesses that secured him to his lifeline--and to safety. The careful design and proven testing of those harnesses gave him great confidence as he jumped into the air.

As I listened, it occurred to me that for the follower of Christ, living in a sinful world is not a blind "leap of faith." We too have a pair of protections that can secure us in even the darkest times of life. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul wrote these words, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

It is these twin harnesses--God's grace and faith in the finished work of Jesus--that our relationship with God safely rests. In the strength of these provisions, salvation is not a risky leap into the void. It's an exercise of confidence in God's Word and His unfailing love and protection.~
-----
-We can expect God's peace when we accept God's grace.~

--DB/BC
------------

--AVOIDING THE GUILT THAT COMES WITH GOSSIP~

"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." --Proverbs 16:28

It's an unfortunate reality today that gossip has become an acceptable sin for many Christians. But I think I've found a good way to stop the rumor mongering that's so prevalent. When someone says something to you that's gossip, just simply ask, "Can I quote you on that?" Because if you can't write it down and sign your name to it, you shouldn't be saying it. On the other hand, if it's real and valid, you ought to be able to sign your name to it!

Things shared in secret rarely have redeeming or purposeful value. In fact, I'd say they are most often sinful. So if you have a valid criticism against others, stand up and share it with them. Sign your name to it, and let it be their decision whether or not to receive it. Then you have a clear conscience, knowing you're not guilty of gossip.

**Keep your conscience clear by being honest with your criticism and avoiding harmful gossip and anonymous slander~**

--PP/JG

-Why Did Christ Die?
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

-For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

This passage is often considered the defining passage of the gospel, stating the great truth that Christ died for our sins, then was buried (thus stressing that His resurrection was a physical resurrection, not just spiritual), and then rose again. As such, it is interesting that verse 1 which introduces it ("I declare unto you the gospel") contains the central mention of the more than 100 times the Greek word for "gospel" occurs in the New Testament.

However, it does not say why Christ died for our sins. It was not just to pay for our salvation and make us happy. There are, in fact, numerous references to His substitutionary death which do give us further insight into just why Christ died for us and our salvation.

For example, "he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). And consider Galatians 1:4, in which Paul tells us that Christ "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world."

Peter's testimony and explanation was that the Lord Jesus "his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). John said: "[God] loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1 John 4:10-11).

There are many other verses to the same affect. Christ did not die merely to save our souls, but to empower us to live in a way that would glorify God right here on Earth.

--ICR/ HMM

--THE FEAR OF THE LORD~
--Proverbs 8:13

--"To fear the Lord is to hate evil
-I hate pride and arrogance,
-evil behavior and perverse speech."-

People are frequently confused by talk that has to do with fearing God. Scripture admonishes us to fear the Lord (2 Tim. 1:7), but at the same time, we are told that God has not given us a spirit of fear. So how are we to understand this phrase?

Fearing God does not mean always looking over your shoulder in anxiety to see what He will do next. The fear of the Lord is something positive and healthy that is clearly defined in several different scriptures. A particularly helpful one is today’s verse, where we are told, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”

Many people are bothered by the thought of hating anything. Yet God says we are to hate evil because He Himself hates it in all of its forms for a simple reason—namely, the Lord sees the corrupting, destructive influence that wickedness has on us. We often fail to see any corruption at all. In fact, we sometimes look at evil and think that it’s not really too bad.

Satan’s job is to camouflage iniquity until it appears quite innocent or even attractive. In fact, the Enemy is so successful in his deception that we often fall into his snares without any compunction. That is why we must learn to view things as the Lord sees them.

We need to develop such a holy hatred for evil that we shun and refuse it at every turn. When we get the Lord’s view of transgression, the Devil will be stymied in his efforts to seduce us. Although it may not be a popular stance, we can choose to love the Lord and to hate evil.

--In Touch~

--THE PERFECT SENTENCE~

--THE BLESSED
-HOPE

-2 Peter 3:10-18
-----
[We look] for the
blessed hope and
glorious appearing
of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ.
--Titus 2:13-

SO many predictions of the end of the world have come and gone. Those predictions are unsettling and often fill people with fear. Yet the Bible does refer to a time called "the day of the Lord" when He will return. It will happen, but only God knows when.

It's a day that Jesus' followers can look forward to. In light of that time to come, the apostle Peter tells us how the believer can live with a joyful purpose (2 Peter 3:10-18). We can look upward by living Christ-honoring lives (v.11). We can look inward by making every effort to be found at peace with God (v.14). And we can look outward by being on guard so we aren't carried away by the wrong influence of others (v.17).

How do we do this? By "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (v.18). When we grow in character through His written Word, we begin to relate more closely to Jesus, the Living Word. The Holy Spirit takes God's Word and guides us in the way to live.

The day of the Lord shouldn't be a fearful day for Jesus' followers. Our King will return to make all things right and to rule forever. We wait for that time with great anticipation. It is our "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13)
---
-ONE DAY JESUS WILL RETURN TO RULE AND REIGN!~ MARANATHA!!
--You're Beautiful / Phil Wickham
--ODB/CPH/I see You hanging there on the tree, You bled and died and then you rose again for me. You're Beautiful! Now you are sitting on Your Heavenly Throne, Soon we'll be coming home. You're Beautiful.
<http://youtu.be/Zg4cYdP1ngw>
------

--REFLECTIONS ON WINDOWS~~

--Psalm 34:1-10
--------
Open my eyes, that
I may see wondrous
things from your Law.
--Psalm 119:18--

MUCH of the scenery I saw during our vacation in Alaska was through the windows of moving vehicles. I was thankful for glass that allowed me to see the beauty while remaining warm and dry. But the windows also presented a challenge. When it rained, water drops on the outside obscured the view. When the temperature changed, condensation caused fog to develop on the inside.

Those challenges help me understand why it is impossible for us to see life the way God intended it. Sin obscures the beauty of life that God wants us to enjoy. Sometimes sin is inside--our selfishness creates a fog that makes us see ourselves as more important than we are and causes us to forget about others' interests. Sometimes sin is outside. The injustice of others causes our tears to fall like rain, preventing us from seeing the goodness of God. Sin of any kind keeps us from seeing the wonder of life as God designed it.

For now, even though "we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror" (1 Cor 13:12)we see enough to know that God is good (Ps 34:8).
---------------
-The only way to see life clearly is to focus on Christ.~

--ODB/JAL/ OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD!
<http://youtu.be/wutmEjdbedE>

-----The Will of the Lord
"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:17)

There is no more exalted theme in the world than the will of God, nor is there a more important practical question than how to know the will of God. Of greatest significance is the recognition that it is His will—not man's will—which is important.

God desires for us to know His will—both His will in general, as revealed in Scripture, and His specific will in each particular decision. The latter must in every instance, of course, be fully compatible with the former, as the Holy Spirit, who leads us, will never contradict the Scriptures which He inspired. Thus, an indispensable prerequisite to finding the personal will of God is knowing His general will.

The general will of God is expressed, first of all, in the fact of special creation (Revelation 4:11). Then Christ became man in order to accomplish God's will (Hebrews 10:7) as our sin-bearing substitute; "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
It is His will that this should provide salvation to all who believe. "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life" (John 6:40). This in turn entails individual regeneration of all who receive Him, "which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13).

***Furthermore, His will includes absolute security in Him (John 6:39), our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), and ultimate glorification (John 17:24). Thankfulness in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and a virtuous ("well doing"—1 Peter 2:15) life are also God's will. A believer who understands, believes, and obeys God's general will is then prepared to know and follow His specific will.
--ICR/ HMM

--NO, NEVER ALONE!
-Exodus 33:12-19
---
"The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"

-The Lord promised Moses and He promises us today, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

-More than a chorus, it was a promise--a promise made to Moses as he led the children of Israel in their journey toward the Promised Land. Moses recognized the impossibility of the task before him and pled with God that he might not be left alone.

That promise was repeated to others: "So do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand: (Isaiah 41:10).

That promise was repeated to others: "Do do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

That promise continues, even to us. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you...If anyone loves Me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:18,23).

The implication? "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27).
---
"No, never alone, no never alone. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone."
[Paul Wilbur and Sharon Wilbur='There is no power in Hell or any who can stand, before the power of the Great I AM!]
<http://youtu.be/dGmAlm7Cssg>
-----

-ALMOST
CONTENT
----
1 Timothy 6:6-12
-----
BE content with such
things as you have.
For He Himself has
said, "I will
never leave you
nor forsake you."
--Hebrews 13:5-
----
We live in a world that feeds our desire for more and more--until we find it almost impossible to be content with anything. But this is nothing new. The book of Hebrews addressed this issue, saying, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, " I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (13:5).

The only remedy for hearts that "want it all" is the contentment found in the presence of the living God. He is sufficient for our needs and longings, and He alone can bring us the peace and contentment we'll never find in the pursuits of this life.

Almost content? There is no such thing. In Christ we can know true contentment.
------
-CONTENTMENT IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE WANT BUT BEING SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE JESUS!

--ODB/BC / The Only Thing I Need I Already Have~~
<http://youtu.be/Xzb-oRQsJt0>
----------

---Our Needs

---Philippians 4:19

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
-
Jim saved for a long time to take an Alaskan cruise. At last he was on board with two carefully packed suitcases. The first evening, when he heard "Dinner is served" announced over the loudspeaker, he took peanut butter crackers from his suitcase and sat at the table in his small cabin. Every day at mealtime, he repeated the ritual. It wasn't that Jim didn't like the ship's tasty banquets. He simply didn't know that his meals were included in the price of the ticket. For two weeks he enjoyed beautiful scenery off the decks but ate dry, stale food in his cabin.

This sad story is a metaphor for how some believers live the Christian life. God has promised to meet every need of His children—His riches are included in the price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph. 1:18). Yet many folks are trying to live out of their own resources. They don't know that the wealth of God's love, power, and provision is on their menu.

A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity. Jesus is our life. His Spirit lives through us. Therefore, everything that is available to Him is also available to the brothers and sisters in Christ—all power, strength, and endurance, as well as whatever is required to fulfill physical and emotional needs.

Jim didn't know he had the right to satisfy his hunger in an extravagant way. Learn from this exaggerated example. Read your Bible to learn what riches you are entitled to through faith. God offers believers everything required for living well and wisely. Trust Him for all your needs.

--In Touch/ OPEN UP THE SKY/ DELUGE
<http://youtu.be/rTLvsTB92r0>
------

--"I AM WITH YOU!"

--God's Man, Jeremiah
--Jeremiah 1:1-10

"'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the Nations.'"
--Jeremiah 1:5
-----
--Jeremiah's life was not easy, yet he models faithfulness to God and compassion for God's people while under pressure. There were no accolades for himself, but still he served the Lord in humility, delivering a message that was unpopular. He pressed on faithfully, knowing his own powerlessness and God's great powerfulness; God assured Jeremiah that He would "replenish every sorrowful soul" ---(Jeremiah 31:25).

The Lord's hand was on Jeremiah's life right from the beginning. He declared that He formed, knew, set, and appointed him. Jeremiah argued he didn't "know how to speak." God simply said He would He would give Jeremiah the right words, and there was no reason to fear because He promised, "I am with you." Jeremiah walked faithfully with the Lord in ministry some 42 years beginning under the good King Josiah, and concluding under Zedekiah and the Babylonian captivity.

God calls each one of us to Himself, anoints us for His service, empowers us with His Spirit, and instructs us with His message for our lives.
---
-We have perspective, the Message, and now need courage, assured of God's Presence.~~
--Anchor

--THE POWER
--TO CHANGE~~

--Romans 12:1-8
----
'Do not be conformed
to this world, but be
transformed by the
renewing of your
mind.' --Romans 12:2
-------
-Educator and best-selling author Tony Wagner is a firm believer in "disruptive innovation" that changes the way the world thinks and works. In his book 'Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World', he says, "Innovation occurs in every aspect of human endeavor," and "most people can become more creative and innovative--given the right environment and opportunities."

Paul was a first-century innovator who traveled throughout Asia Minor telling people how they could be transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. To the Christians in Rome Paul wrote, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Rom. 12:2 NLT). He urged them to give themselves fully to God (v.1). In a self-centered, greedy, and grasping world, Paul nurtured and mentored them in how to live a Christ-centered, giving life.

The world has changed dramatically since Paul's time. But the longings of people for love, forgiveness, and the power to change remain the same. Jesus, the Great Innovator, offers all of these and invites us to experience a new and different life in Him.
When we surrender our lives to Christ, we allow Him to take control. He will move in, spiritually, and help us to become 'Made Alive in Christ,' from the inside out.--(see Ephesians chapter 2).
----
--GOD TAKES US AS WE ARE BUT NEVER LEAVES US THAT WAY.
--ODB/DM ~~

---DON'T QUIT!

--Today's Reading:
Hebrews 12:1-11~
----
"Let us run with
perseverance the
race marked out
for us, fixing our
eyes on Jesus,
the pioneer and
perfecter of faith."
-(vv. 1-2)
----
--IN 1952 FLORENCE CHADWICK attempted to swim 26 miles from the coast of California to Catalina Island. After 15 hours, a heavy fog began to block her view, she became disoriented, and she gave up. To her chagrin, Chadwick learned that she had quit just 1 mile short of her destination.

Two months later Chadwick tried a second time to swim to Catalina Island from the coast. Again a thick fog settled in but this time she reached her destination, becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. Chadwick said she kept an image of the shoreline in her mind even when she couldn't see it.

When the problems of life cloud our vision, we have an opportunity to learn to see our goal with the eyes of faith. The New Testament letter to the Hebrews urges us to "Run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith" (12:1-2). When we feel like quitting, this is our signal to remember not only what Jesus suffered for us but what He now helps us to endure--until the day we see Him face to face.
---
'Dear Father, sometimes the challenges of life seem insurmountable.
Help me to fix my eyes on You and trust You.
I'm thankful You are bringing about Your good purposes in me.'
~~In Jesus Name~amen

--WE CAN FINISH STRONG WHEN WE FOCUS ON CHRIST!
--ODB/DF / <https://youtu.be/NreUhPk9s9Y>
---

--THE BOOK THAT READS YOU / HOLY BIBLE

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”
--(Romans 11:33)

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
We must guard ourselves against lowering the standard of God’s Word to our level of understanding or political correctness. And we must guard ourselves against raising the standards of our traditions above the standard of His Word. The Bible is not meant to be paraded past the judgment bar of your mind. You can argue with it, but why?

-You can pick up any other book and read it, but this is the book that reads you. It pulsates with life and power. It cuts, burns, crushes, and wields mountain-moving power. His Word has a life of its own. It is the voice of God to you. You cannot refuse it, deny it, distort it, or dilute it. You can only bow before it.

--Adrian Rogers
-"For the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
--(Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV)

---RECEIVING HUMILITY'S REWARD ~~
--(Please Read/ Luke 14:7-11)

Have you ever exalted yourself? It may not have involved choosing the best seat at a banquet, but perhaps you’ve let culture shape what you do. For example, we’re encouraged to “blow our own horn,” demand our rights, and seek recognition. But Jesus taught that we should humble ourselves and let God do the exalting. And His ways of rewarding us are different from the world’s. While He may choose to bless us materially, such benefits can’t compare with the less tangible rewards He offers—like answered prayer or increased understanding of who He is. Certain attitudes prevent us from humbling ourselves and may obstruct divine rewards. These include ...

**Impatience. We want it now and are unwilling to trust that God is in control.

**Insecurity. If certain things don’t happen, we feel we cannot continue.

**Identity in the wrong things. Our self-worth is wrapped up in achieving society’s standards of success.

**Ignorance of God’s ways. We disregard His Word and decide what’s right.

**Impure motives. Discontent or jealousy causes us to push ahead of God and use manipulation to get our way.

**Impulsiveness. Without asking God, we assume every opportunity in life is an open door we should enter.

**Ingratitude. If we lack gratefulness, our perspective can be skewed.

***A humble nature doesn’t come naturally. We find humility not by seeking it, but by seeking the Lord. As we focus on Him in all His greatness, we’ll come to understand how worthy He is of our total submission, worship, and reverence. Follow in Jesus' steps. Our Shepherd is always on the right path. Memorize the 23rd Psalm.

-IN TOUCH~~

---IN GOD'S HANDS ~~

"My times are in Your
hand; Deliver me from
the hand of my enemies.
And from those who perse-
cute me.-(PSALM 31:15)~--

--A well-known insurance company's slogan informs us that if we buy their insurance, we will be in good hands. People are rightly concerned about life insurance. Most of us have insurance for this life. But there is a life insurance that is good not only for this life, but also for the life to come!
We need not make any premium payments to have this life insurance. Jesus paid the full premiums, the full price for all when He died for our sins on Calvary's Cross!

As a result, we truly are in good hands. We are safe, sound, and secure in the hands of our living, loving Lord Jesus! When the storms of life rage, when problems mount in our daily life, when tears and sorrow fill our hearts, when we do not know where to turn for direction and help, we need to remember that all our times, our entire life in all circumstances, are in the hands of Him who loved us and died to save us from our sin, death, and the power of the devil.

-The One who has those hands is our loving Lord. He will never disappoint us. Why can we be so certain? Those hands have nail marks in them! Jesus died to give us eternal life.
"Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!"- (John 8:36) ~~

--'May my life always be in Your hands, O Lord. Thank You for Your Love, Grace and Mercy.' Amen~
/"THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE" --Phillips, Craig and Dean~~<https://youtu.be/jNa89MDFWYE>

--Portals of Prayer~~

--WE ARE ALMOST HOME~ PRESS ON, BROTHERS AND SISTERS ~

--"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a godly heritage."
--(PSALM 16:6 / KJV)

~~Last summer I spent two nights in Red Wing, Minnesota, the sleepy Midwestern town where my mother grew up in the 1920s and 1930s. My room in the historic St. James Hotel overlooked Levee Park, which hugs a bend in the Mississippi River.

--My mother had often talked about her grandmother's visits to Red Wing. Grandmother Helene would sit for hours near the river's edge in Levee Park, staring across the water. She had emigrated from Norway's breathtaking fjord country to the prairie of South Dakota, and I suppose she never lost her longing for the sparkle and dance of water.

On my last morning in Red Wing, I was able to sit down on a bench in Levee Park, Bible in hand, for some solitary reflection. A young man approached me and asked if he could play his trumpet at a nearby picnic table. "Fine with me," I told him, "if you'll play a tune for me." Perhaps he had noticed my open Bible, because as the rich round notes rolled from his horn and sailed out across the water, I heard the old hymn "Blessed Assurance."

The young trumpeter knew nothing about my great-grandmother Helene or her faith in Christ. But his song evoked for me the image of a short, plump lady, her hair caught in a neat white bun, with a faraway look in her eyes as she gazed at the river in this very place, and offered her prayers to the Lord.

I felt a deep peace. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of heaven divine." My great-grandmother Helene knew it to be true and some seventy years later, so did I. ~~

--"Loving Father G-D, may the praises of my Savior come through me to my children's children's children. In Jesus Name~ amen" ~

--ODB/CK~
--"Almost Home"// (lyrics / MercyMe) //<https://youtu.be/tZ4lAVu9VwU>
~~~~~~~~~

--The Perfect Sentence, JESUS SAVES!

---"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" [John 8:31-32].
~~"Those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired." --[Isaiah 40:31]

~~Waiting.....more waiting....Waiting is an unavoidable part of life, isn't it? This morning, I waited for the leak in our brand-new air-conditioning unit to be fixed. All week I'd hoped to hear the results of my grandson's MRI and news of my teenage granddaughter's first trip to camp. Meanwhile, my daughter sat in the ER, waiting to learn if her foot was broken.

My husband and I have endured our share of long waits. We've waited for job offers during times of unemployment. We've waited for job offers during times of unemployment. We've waited for homes to sell, and we've waited to hear if offers on homes we wanted to buy were accepted. I'm still awaiting answers to prayers for some of my deepest longings. Praying healing on family members and loved ones. Yes, I know the Lord is in complete control. He knows waiting is not easy for us. He is with us in every battle and storm. He wants us to continually take our prayer requests to Him.

The Bible gives extreme examples of waiting. Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel, the woman of his dreams. Abraham waited twenty-five years for his promised son and heir. Due to disobedience, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness forty years before entering the Promised Land. The world waited centuries for the promised Messiah.

I'm sure that Jacob, Abraham, and the Israelites felt like what they received was worth the wait. But sometimes it doesn't happen that way. Remembering that Jesus controls my life helps me be more patient when I have to wait. Trusting that He's working everything out for ultimate good (Romans 8:28) makes it easier when I feel as though the waiting ended in less than the desired results. Meanwhile we must wait on the Lord. We live in a broken world. Press on, brothers and sisters, He will use your story for His glory. We're almost home! ~~
--Time With Jesus/DNM~
---"Broken Things"//(lyric video/ Matthew West" //<https://youtu.be/WdUu6ZsdVfM>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~