Crossroads Pentecostal Assembly

PRAYER EVERY DAY - FEBRUARY

2012-02-07T14:56:00.003-06:00

February 2012 Prayer Focus: Strengthened Marriages and Families

*Pray that God will soften hearts and bring reconciliation between husbands and wives, and increase their commitment to faithfulness.
*Pray that Christian marriages and families will become an increasingly powerful witness to Canadian society.
*Pray that men, women and children everywhere would grow in humility and expressions of love, grace, servanthood, self-sacrifice and forgiveness.
*Pray for God’s blessing on single men and women and that they will be led into His full purpose for their lives.
*Pray that God will bring healing to broken families and comfort to those mourning the loss of a loved one.

Thanks to all of the church who have already begun ordering Pray Every Day materials for this year. We encourage those who have not done so to place orders shortly, as supplies are limited. Direct requests to

Theme Scriptures:
Ephesians 5:31-33, NIV
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1 Peter 3:8-9, TNIV
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 John 4:7-11, TNIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, TNIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Proverbs 18:22, TNIV
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Jeremiah 29:11, TNIV
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 46:1, NLT
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

http://www.paoc.org/about/news.aspx?nID=835

STRENGTH FOR THE WILDERNESS

2012-02-06T12:12:00.002-06:00

Taken from:Women's Devotional Bible

Author:Millie Stamm

The Israelites had been traveling through the desert wilderness to the land of promise. The way was hot, sandy and rough; there was little water. But God had promised that he would guide them and provide for them. However, like many of us, they became discouraged. If only the had trusted God's promise that he who had supplied would continue to supply, instead of being discouraged they wuod have been encouraged. Discouragement turns to encouragement when we look away from our circumstances and focus our eyes on the Lord.

In 1 Samuel 30 we read about David in the midst of trouble. The Amalekites had burned Ziklag, his private property and residence. But his distress drove him to the Lord. "But David found strength in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6). Someone has said, "To look around is to be distressed; to look within is to be depressed; to look up is to be blessed."

Today our way may be through the wilderness. It may be easy to become discouraged. Discouragement is a tool of Satan. The story is to ld that Satan was "going out of business." All of his tool were offered for sale. They were attractively displayed on a table. What an array --- hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit! One harmless-looking one, much worn, was priced highter than any of the others. "What is that tool?" Someone asked. "Discouragement," was the reply. "Why is it so expensive?" Satan answered, "Because it is more useful to me than any of the others."

Will our distress drive us to despair and discouragement or to God? May we, like David, find strength in the Lord our God.

PRAY EVERY DAY

2012-02-03T10:47:00.004-06:00

PRAY EVERY DAY

*Pray that this will be a year of renewed hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness throughout Canada.
*Pray that barriers to sharing the gospel will be torn down.
*Pray that all those seeking truth and hope will find it in Jesus Christ.
*Pray that believers will grow in their understanding of God's Word and in their desire to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
*Pray that God will draw back to Himself any that have strayed away from Him.

THEME SCRIPTURES:

*2 Chronicles 7:14,NIV
*Psalm 85:6-7, NIV
*Isaiah 57:15-16, NIV
*Habakkuk 3:2, NIV
*2 Peter 3:17-18a, NIV

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http://www.crossroadspa.org/prayerfocus.htm

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2012-02-01T14:31:00.004-06:00

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WHAT IS LOVE?

2012-01-04T15:17:00.001-06:00

By Charles and Charlene Van den Akker / ChristianWeek

The Christmas season has also been called the "Season of Love." But this nickname for the celebration of Christ's birth demonstrates a misunderstanding of love.

"What is love?" is probably the most-asked question of poetry, song, books and movies. Some conclude that there's no answer. Others only express frustration with loveless lives.

Google the question, and you'll find a catchy song by popular musician Haddaway whose lyrics follow "What is love?" with "Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more!" And like this song, most of the world's answers to "What is love?" equate love with romance.

Romance is a feeling of attraction based on lust. It's the confusion of love with lust that has people "falling in love" and then "falling out of love"—one of the most common reasons for married couples to become unhappy, separate and divorce. They lose the feeling (lust), get bored and stop putting energy into their relationship. It's the "love" that has a season.

In Christian circles, many sermons and commentaries expound the three New Testament Greek words translated as love: epithumia, phileo and agape. But let's get simpler. True love can't have "seasons" because it's not a feeling. True love is a choice to value others and be valued by them.

Paul clearly defined love in his letter to the Corinthians:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:6, 7 ESV).

Think about a relationship where you feel unloved, and read Paul's words again. Notice that everything that he uses to define love is the choice to do the exact opposite of how you would sinfully react to how you feel.

Does love give up on or berate a spouse? Does it belittle a classmate or ignore a coworker? Is it selfish about parents' time, or short-tempered with children? Does it enjoy someone's suffering, or seek their disgrace? Is it too tired, uncertain, pessimistic, fading?

These mark the end of the "season" of misguided love.

Yet the world keeps asking the question, because it doesn't like the answer! We are created with an inherent need to give of ourselves, and to belong with others. If I love my spouse or family or congregation or Lord, it means that I belong—not to them—but with them. I have to put energy into the relationship to receive energy from the relationship. And while self-care is a necessary part of life, a love relationship requires self-lessness and often self-sacrifice.

In choosing to truly love you commit to a lifetime responsibility because love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8a). God chose to love you forever. He expects you to do the same in all the relationships He gives you.

Don't choose your feelings. Choose to love.

Charles and Charlene are Christ-centered counselors/life coaches in private practice in Winnipeg, MB.

SINGING IN STRANGE PLACES

2011-12-29T13:45:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 149:1-9

"Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song" (v. 1). We have a tendency to want to sing the same songs in church, and there's nothing wrong with that. The psalmist isn't telling us to buy a new hymnbook. He means we should have a new experience with the Lord so that we will have a new song of praise to give to Him.

Every new valley that we go through, every new mountaintop we climb, every experience of life ought to be writing on our hearts a new song of praise. When we face a difficulty, we have an opportunity to have renewed faith and see God do new things.

In verse 1 the psalmist tells us to sing in the congregation. I can understand that command. I enjoy congregational singing when people sing to the Lord. "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King" (v. 2). I am glad when God's people gather in a congregation of celebration, rejoicing in the goodness and the glory of the Lord.

But he also tells us we should be joyful on our beds. "Let them sing aloud on their beds" (v. 5). This could be while we're resting or recuperating from an illness. Perhaps you're lying in bed right now, and you don't feel well. Sing praises to the Lord upon your bed and worship Him. Then the psalmist says, "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations" (vv. 6,7). This is a picture of warriors on the battlefield, singing in the midst of the battle.

It is easy to sing in the congregation, not quite so easy to sing on our beds and difficult to sing on the battlefield. But if we sing, we'll glorify the Lord, and we'll grow. "He will beautify the humble with salvation" (v. 4). We'll be happier and holier and more beautiful if we sing to the Lord.

* * *

God brings you through different experiences so you may learn new dimensions of His love and grace. What difficulty are you facing today? Don't simply endure or waste it. Use it as an opportunity to find a new song of praise to God.

NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT

2011-12-13T15:12:00.001-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 8:5 Hebrews 12:2 Matthew 27:46

1 Kings 8:5

Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.

Japanese folklore tells of a rice farmer whose land overlooked the village where his friends lived. While working in his rice paddies one day, he felt a quake and saw the distant ocean swiftly withdraw from the shoreline. He knew there would soon be a devastating tidal wave. In the valley below, he saw his neighbors working fields that soon would be flooded. They would have to run to his hilltop or die. His rice barns were dry as tinder. To get the people quickly to higher ground, the farmer set fire to his barns and then rang the fire gong. His neighbors saw the smoke and rushed up the hill to help him. When they looked back from their place of safety, they saw the tidal wave wash over the fields they had just left. Instantly they understood. The farmer had made a great sacrifice that they might be saved.

Solomon and the people of Israel were equally generous in their sacrifices. They were so enthused about the new temple and the blessings that God was giving them that no sacrifice was withheld. They brought so many sheep and oxen for offerings that they couldn't be counted. They loved God so much that no sacrifice was too great.

Jesus felt the same way about you and me. Being crucified was a terrible way to die; to be separated from His Father was even worse (Matt. 27:46). Yet He loved us so much that no sacrifice was too great. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus endured the cross for "the joy that was set before Him" (12:2). Our salvation made it all worthwhile.

Knowing how Jesus Christ feels about you, how does that make you feel about Him? Since no sacrifice was too great for Him to make for you, what should your response be? Is there any sacrifice too great to make for Him? Jesus gave His all. What do you have that you need to give to Him today?

Jesus' all demands our all.

RESOLVE

2011-12-06T10:29:00.001-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Scripture Reference: Daniel 1-2 1 John 4

Key Verse: Daniel 1:8

In any newspaper of any size you will find a sports section. The larger ones devote an entire section to the subject and at times even have more than one. With the focus on performance and results, sometimes it's lost on the reader what it took for athletes to reach their level of competitiveness. Saying it took diet and exercise is a very simplistic summary that leaves out an intangible, without which no athlete can excel. That intangible is resolve.

Resolve essentially is determination. It means that a person has a fixed purpose. The successful athlete has a determination that will enable him to endure the rigors of training in order to achieve at the desired level of performance.

If we are to excel in our spiritual lives, we need resolve as well. Many Christians are content with a low level of "performance" in the spiritual life. Their discipline is poor, inconsistent at best, and they fail to develop the maturity that God desires.

Daniel was a man of resolve. As a young man, promoted to the king’s palace, tapped for success, he "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" (1:8). He had a fixed purpose and the determination to accomplish that goal. Without resolve, the enticement of the delicacies would have entrapped him. He would have been defiled. But he was not, because he was determined.

Are you determined to be all that God wants you to be? It will mean refusing those things that defile you spiritually. Satan will test your resolve, as he did Daniel's.

The spiritual resolve we need is not temporary like most New Year's resolutions. It must be the consistent character of our life. Watch for times today that your resolve is tested, and then ask God to help you be like Daniel.

A BLESSED MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-06T10:18:00.002-06:00

THE PERIL OF PROSPERITY

2011-11-29T13:43:00.001-06:00

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett

Ezekiel 27–29, 1 Peter 3
Key Verse: Ezekiel 28:5

We live in prosperous times. Not everyone shares in the prosperity, but it is still a time of abundance. Increasingly, there is a desire to be wealthy. Advertisements are intended to create a dissatisfaction that can be assuaged only by getting more. Investments firm then add their enticements to help people gain more to have more. The mailbox contains offers of credit so that we can have instant gratification.

Some will get caught in the trap; the lure of easy credit will put them in financial bondage. Others will prosper. Their investments will do well; their portfolios will flourish.

But with prosperity comes the peril of pride. The words Ezekiel spoke to the prince of Tyre apply to us as well: “‘By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud’” (28:5). He warned the ruler who had done well financially that his prosperity had damaged his heart. The damage was not physical but spiritual.

It’s easy for our hearts to grow proud when we are prosperous. It’s especially easy for this to happen when our prosperity is the apparent result of our own wisdom. When we have worked hard, invested well and made our first million, so to speak, pride grows. We are tempted to rest in our own accomplishments.

One antidote to pride is giving. Giving our money to support the Lord’s work reminds us that money is temporary. Only the things of God are eternal.

2011-11-17T13:03:00.000-06:00

GIVING GOOD FOR EVIL

2011-11-17T12:30:00.000-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 24:17-18 Romans 5:8

Are you thinking about getting even with someone? Don't do it. Try God's way instead. Return good for evil. Someday you'll be glad you did.

1 Samuel 24:17-18 - Then [Saul] said to David: "You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me."

A gentleman who had held many important positions in public life went to a friend in great anger over a real injury he had received from a prominent politician. He was considering how to react resentfully in the most effective manner. After relating the particulars to his friend, he asked if it would be manly to resent it. "Yes," replied his friend, "it would doubtless be manly to resent it, but it would be godlike to forget it."

David chose to let God be his example. When Saul entered a cave to attend to his needs, he didn't know that David and his 400 men were hiding in the recesses of that cavern. David had him at a severe disadvantage and his men urged him to seize the opportunity to take revenge on his enemy. But David refused. Rather than seeking to repay Saul for the evil he had done him, he secretly cut off a piece of Saul's robe (as proof of what he could have done) and allowed the king to leave without knowing how close he had been to death. Only later did Saul realize the mercy David had shown.

God's way is to show mercy rather than extract vengeance. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Even while we were God's enemies, He had compassion for us and provided a way of salvation.

Evil for evil is man's way; good for evil is God's way.

HE BREAKS THE SNARE

2011-11-17T11:56:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Romans 8:31 Psalm 124:1-8

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Paul asked in Romans 8:31, and we know the answer. No one can be against us if God is for us. That's the theme of Psalm 124. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us" (vv. 2,3).

Because God is on our side, men cannot devour us. The psalmist compares his enemies to ferocious lions or bears who might come down upon him and eat him. There are people who would like to "eat us up" also. When men are determined to devour you, remember that God will stop them.

But it may not be that men are devouring you. Perhaps circumstances are drowning you. "Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul" (vv. 4,5). Life seems to drown us and sink us as the waters rush over our souls. But because God is for us, circumstances cannot drown us.

The psalmist changes the picture from swallowing and drowning to escaping from a trap. "Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped" (v. 7). God not only keeps us from drowning and being devoured, He keeps us from being deceived and trapped by the Devil. He doesn't just set us free; He breaks the snare. In other words, the Devil can't trap us again as long as we are following the Lord.

Don't let life devour you. Don't let life drown you. Don't let the Devil deceive you. If God is for you, who can be against you?

* * *

On those days when you feel overwhelmed by people or circumstances, you must never forget the truth that God is on your side. You have the promises of His Word. Look past your circumstances and place your confidence in God alone. He will protect you.

GOD IS WATCHING OVER YOU

2011-10-26T11:10:00.002-06:00

By: Rick Warren
Scripture Reading: Psalm 23:6 NLT

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

When King David writes, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me,” he’s not saying, “Surely only good things will happen to me!”

The fact is bad things happen to good people. What David is teaching us is that God can take bad, evil, and difficult situations and bring something good out of them.

It’s one of God’s great promises to us: we can know that all things are working for our good “if we love God and are fitting into his plans” (Romans 8:28 LB). If you’re a believer, the Bible says all things are working together for good—not that all things are good, but that they work together for good. There’s no difficulty, dilemma, defeat, or disaster in life that God can’t ultimately turn toward good.

When you understand God’s grace and mercy, there’s no need to fear the future. God isn’t trying to get even with you. Jesus shouldered the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong or will do wrong. He paid for it on the cross. So when a bad thing happens, you don’t have to think, “God’s getting even with me.” That’s how God’s grace and mercy work.

Mercy, like goodness, follows us in life. Picture a parent following a little child around picking up after them; God is constantly picking up our messes.

Think about this:
• Christians go to the future, not with a question mark, but with an exclamation point. God will be with you no matter what happens. He will help you out.

• God’s goodness provides and protects; God’s mercy pardons and forgives. God’s goodness will supply; God’s mercy will sooth. God’s goodness will help; God’s mercy will heal.

• Goodness is the fact that God gives us good things in life that we don’t deserve. Mercy means God holds back the condemnation we deserve.

REJOICING IN EACH DAY

2011-10-20T11:02:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 118:19-20

"This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (v. 24). When you are having one of those difficult days--a day when the storm is blowing and the battle is raging, when the burdens are heavy, when your heart is broken and your tears are flowing, when it feels like everybody is turned against you, including your Heavenly Father--that's the time to heed this verse by faith.

The psalmist was going through battles and difficulties, yet he was able to say, "If God put this day together, I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it. Even though I may not see the blessing now, eventually by faith I'll be able to say, 'It all worked together for good.' So I'll say it now."

Jews sing this psalm at Passover. Jesus also sang this song before He was crucified. Can you imagine saying on your way to Calvary, "This is the day which the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it"? That's another way of saying, "Not my will, but Your will be done." If Jesus sang this song, we should sing it also.

* * *

Perhaps your day is full of overwhelming burdens or sorrows. Jesus also suffered days like that. Accept the day God has given you and acknowledge that He is in charge. Anticipate what God is going to do for you today; rejoice and be glad in it. You may not understand His purposes now, but one day you will.

GET OFF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND

2011-10-20T11:00:00.000-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll
Lessons On Living From Abraham
Scripture Reference: Genesis 17:3-6

Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you."

An irate woman met her husband when he got off a merry-go-round and said, "Now, look at you. You spent your money, you got off right where you got on, and you haven't been anywhere!" Unfortunately, that's an accurate picture of life for many people today. But God has so much more to offer.

That was true with Abraham. The first 75 years he sought his fortune, first in Ur and later in Haran (Gen. 12:4). Then God called him to begin a journey that was both physical and spiritual. Abraham spent the next 24 years seeking to follow his God. However, he also spent a good deal of time living by his own wits instead of trusting the Lord. Finally, shortly before reaching the century mark, he learned the secret. He "fell on his face." Abraham totally surrendered to God, and it was then that God gave His most spectacular promises. From Abram (Father of Height), God changed his name to Abraham (Father of a Multitude). From an obscure desert sheik, he became the forerunner of kings and nations.

For those willing to submit to Him, God has an abundant life in store. In fact, the apostle Paul reminds us, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

If life seems a bit like a merry-go-round to you, maybe it's time to discover God's abundant life. Surrender yourself completely to Him and find a life more fulfilling than you can imagine.

The abundant life comes not by accumulating but by letting go.

MIND, HEART and WILL

2011-08-08T12:24:00.005-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture References:
Matthew 6:24; John 7:17; James 1:8; Psalm 86:11-17

Here is a good prayer for you today. "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name" (v. 11). The whole person is wrapped up in this prayer.

First, we see an open mind. "Teach me Your way; . . . I will walk in Your truth." Is your mind open to God's truth? Do you really want Him to teach you His way? He revealed His ways to Moses and to the Israelites. He will do the same for you also. We need people today who will say, "Lord, I have an open mind. I want you to show me
Your way and truth."

But that's not enough. We need to have an obedient will. The psalmist makes a promise in verse 11: "Lord, if you show me your way, I will obey it." Jesus said, "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17).

Finally, we see a united heart. "Unite my heart to fear your name." A united heart is wholly fixed upon the Lord. A divided heart is dangerous. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt.6:24). James 1:8 says a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways.

If you want God to guide and bless you today, follow the example of this prayer. Give to Him an open mind and say, "Teach me." Give to Him an obedient will and say, "I will do what you want me to do." And give to Him a united heart. Fear His name, and you'll end up praising Him, glorifying Him and enjoying His blessings.

Is your mind open to the truth of God's Word? Does your will respond to truth and obey it? Is your heart undivided, fixed upon the Lord? Today, dedicate your mind, heart and will to God.

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK

2011-08-08T12:16:00.001-06:00

2011-07-28T10:40:00.000-06:00

BURDEN BEARERS

2011-07-26T14:56:00.002-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 5:7 Galatians 6:2 Exodus 18:22

Exodus 18:22, "And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you."

Andrew C. Davison wrote about an encounter with Dr. Albert Schweitzer at Lambarene, on the banks of the Ogowe River. It was about noon and the sun was beating down mercilessly as a group walked up a hill with Dr. Schweitzer. Suddenly the doctor strode across the slope to where an African woman was struggling with a load of wood for the cooking fires. The 85-year-old doctor took the entire burden and carried it up the hill for the relieved woman. When they reached the top of the hill, someone asked Dr. Schweitzer why he did things like that, implying that in that heat and at his age he should not. Albert Schweitzer pointed to the woman and said simply, "No one should have to carry a burden like that alone."

That was Moses' problem--he was trying to carry his burden alone. It took the wise insight of his father-in-law, Jethro, to point out the fact that others "will bear the burden with you."

God's people were never meant to carry their burdens alone. That's why we have the privilege of prayer. Peter urged us to cast "all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). Bearing burdens is also the role of the Church. Paul instructed believers, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).

Are you willing to help others bear their burdens? Perhaps even today there is someone who needs you to pray with him, cook a meal or provide transportation for him. It's not hard to spot burdens that need to be borne when you are looking for them. Our responsibility is to do whatever it takes to make a burden lighter. That's a responsibility that brings great satisfaction now and eternal reward in the future.

A burden shared is a lighter load.

FLAWED MEMORY

2011-07-20T10:46:00.002-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 78:40-53

The older we get, the more we forget. This is especially true when it comes to our relationship with God.

The people of Israel often remembered what they should have forgotten and forgot what they should have remembered! "They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, when He worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan" (vv. 42,43). How amazing. The Jews had seen God perform ten miracles on their behalf in Egypt. Moses even pointed out that this was the hand of the Lord, yet they forgot all about it. After they were delivered from Egypt and living in the desert, the first time they were thirsty, they complained. The first time they were hungry, they complained.

Their constant cry was, "Let's go back." What did they remember about Egypt? The bondage? The taskmasters? Being beaten and whipped? Carrying the heavy burdens? They didn't remember those things. They remembered the leeks and the onions and the garlic and the cucumbers. They remembered the things that satisfied their stomachs. They did not remember the spiritual victories that God had given, His deliverance or His guidance. He had fed and led them, protected and provided for them; and they forgot about it. The same is often true of us. We forget what God has done for us, and when we forget, we start to go backward.

Forgetfulness has consequences. "Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (v. 41). Imagine--feeble, unbelieving man limiting Almighty God! But that's what happens when we forget Him. Don't limit God in your life today. He has unlimited wisdom and unlimited power, and your life has unlimited potential in His hands. Don't turn back. Look ahead. Don't test Him. Trust Him and remember his mercies.

* * *
The same God who worked miracle after miracle for Israel is the One who is working for you today. Don't live with a flawed memory. Meditate on God's faithfulness and goodness.

INSIDE OUT & UPSIDE DOWN on MAIN STREET - where JESUS makes a difference everyday!

2011-07-19T13:48:00.003-06:00

Psalm 115:5

2011-07-19T13:33:00.001-06:00

ALWAYS FAITHFUL

2011-07-19T13:30:00.001-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 78:9-20 Luke 9:62

The children of Ephraim mentioned in Psalm 78 failed the Lord, and they failed their fellow Israelites when their help was badly needed. "The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (vv. 9-11).

What a tragedy it is when people fail in their warfare. Jesus warned us about those who look back and do not fulfill the will of God (Luke 9:62). If we are looking back, we cannot plow ahead. And if we look back, we cannot fight as we ought. Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on, and we need every soldier. But something was wrong with these warriors. They were unfaithful. Even though they were armed, they turned back in the day of battle.

Something was wrong with their walk. "They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law" (v. 10). That's where failure always starts. God wanted them to walk in His law that He might help them win the battle, but they would not obey Him.

Finally, they forgot what God had done for them. "And forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (v. 11). Can you imagine forgetting a miracle? If a miracle took place in your life today, you would talk about it until the day the Lord called you home. You'd call a press conference! Think of the miracles God did for His people. But they forgot them. The Ephraimites were undependable on the battlefield because they forgot what He had done for them. They turned against the law of God, and they turned from the works of the Lord. Consequently, they were unable to help in His work.

* * *

Unfaithfulness is common in people. But not so with God. Faithfulness is part of His character. This truth ought to encourage you if you know the Lord. Be faithful in your walk with Him. Remember His works and be a faithful soldier in your battle for Him.

GOSPEL CONCERT - JUNE 23RD, 2011 - THURSDAY

2011-06-17T10:03:00.002-06:00

JUNE 19TH, 2011 - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2011-06-16T09:51:00.002-06:00

DAVID'S PATTERN

2011-06-02T12:12:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Romans 10:17 Psalm 56:10-13

Many of David's psalms contain a pattern. He starts with a problem, then he prays, and finally he praises God for solving the problem. At the end of this psalm David praises the Lord. "In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, for You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not delivered my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (vv. 11-13).

First, he praises God for His Word. David didn't have as much of the Bible as we have. In fact, he was writing some of it for us! But he had the Word of God, and he depended on it rather than on his feelings or his circumstances. When we love the Word and depend on it daily, ultimately we will praise God for it.

David praises God for being trustworthy. Where did this faith come from? The Word of God. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). David is saying, "I'm so grateful for the Word of God because it has taught me to trust the God of the Word. And where there is faith, there will not be fear.

David praises God for all the help He has given him. God delivered his soul from death. I wonder how many times that happened in David's life. God's past deliverance was the assurance of His future care and concern. "Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (v. 13). God delivers us so He can delight in us and direct us that we might bring glory to His name.

Is David's pattern evident in your life? Are you able to praise God in the midst of difficult situations? Praise Him even before He answers your prayers. Praise Him for His Word, His trustworthiness and His previous help.

SHOW & SELL - GARAGE SALE on JUNE 4TH from 10am-2pm

2011-05-06T14:30:00.001-06:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2011-05-05T15:48:00.002-06:00

JESUS IS ALIVE!

2011-04-18T12:58:00.002-06:00

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

2011-04-01T09:33:00.002-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 37:25-29 Matthew 28:20 Hebrews 13:5

Read Psalm 37:25-29

We see and hear all kinds of testimonials from famous people in advertising today. What do football players really know about automobile tires? What do actors or actresses know about computers? We know they are used in ads to lend the authority of their name to the product. When we hear a testimonial, we'd better find out who said it, what was said and if we can really believe it.

We find a testimonial in verse 25: "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." Let's ask three questions. First, who said it? David did. Think of him as a young shepherd taking care of his sheep. God gave him strength to overcome the lion, strength to defeat the bear and strength to overcome the giant, Goliath. As a shepherd, David saw God take care of His own. Think of David the soldier, David the king or even David the sweet singer of Israel. Oh, David knew what he was talking about. God took care of him at each stage in his life. Even David the sinner saw God provide for him.

Second, what did David say? "I have been young, and now I'm old; but I've never seen God forsake His own." He didn't say, "I've never seen the righteous go through trouble. I've never seen God's people suffer sorrow or affliction." David knew a great deal about sorrow, affliction, tears and trials. What he did say was this: "I have never seen one of God's children left alone." God has been faithful through the years. We don't have to be afraid of being young or getting old, because He remains with us.

Third, can we claim this for ourselves ? Yes, we can. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5). He also said, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). You can trust His Word.

God always is faithful to His people. The history of Israel confirms His faithfulness. That He will never leave you nor forsake you is a great promise. And you can expect Him to keep His promises. Have you claimed the promises of God's Word and experienced His faithfulness?

DIFFICULT BY DEISGN

2011-03-23T09:45:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:21-38 Joshua 7-9

Key Verse: Luke 1:38

Smooth sailing is preferred over rough seas; paved roads over potholes. But sometimes the rough seas and potholes are by God's design to accomplish His purpose. At that point, the follower of Christ must decide whether to follow God in the tough times or not.

Mary experienced a time that was difficult by design. These verses record part of her predicament: an unexpected pregnancy. Imagine as best you can the full emotion of the situation. She, an unmarried virgin, was asked to have a baby. Undoubtedly she would become the object of much doubt and ridicule. The truth would be too unimaginable for people to believe. She would bear the shame. In Matthew's account, it is noted that Joseph even considered divorcing her (1:19).

Yet Mary's attitude was remarkable. She said to the angel, "May it be to me as you have said" (v. 38). Her statement revealed her character. She was ready to endure the doubt and ridicule. God's work was more important to her than her reputation.

Following God will take you down rough roads at times. Sometimes you'll be tempted to find the easier path. The best road to travel, however, is always the one of God's choosing.

Are you on the right path, doing God's will? When the way is rough, pray like Mary did, surrendering to God's work in your life.

LIKE A LEPER

2011-03-09T13:47:00.000-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 31:9-13

We can't help what others do and say. We can help only what we do. When others start talking about us or fighting against us, we may not be able to control that. It's difficult when people start to slander the righteous. But this is what David had to endure. In verse 11 we read, "I am a reproach among all my enemies." We expect that. "But especially among my neighbors." Now that hurts. "And am repulsive to my acquaintances." That hurts even more. "Those who see me outside flee from me." Can you imagine your neighbors and your acquaintances running away from you as if you were a leper?

What was causing all of this for David? Saul was lying about him. He was telling his assistants and officers, "David said this. David did that." And this gossip, this awful slander, was spreading through the nation, and David was suffering. "I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel" (v. 12). David wanted to be a vessel filled to overflowing, but now he was broken.

What should you do when people start slandering you? First, be sure your life is right. "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away" (v. 10). David is saying, "Lord, if I've sinned, I'll confess it." Second, trust in the Lord. "But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' " (v. 14). Third, remember that others have gone through this. You're not experiencing something unique. Everyone who has done anything for the Lord has been slandered, ridiculed, criticized--including the perfect Son of God. Don't listen to the slander of the enemy; listen to the Word of God. Get close to His heart, and you'll have His help when you suffer misunderstanding.

When someone falsely accuses you, take comfort in knowing that others have gone through the difficulty of slander. Then look to the Lord, for He is your Strength and Salvation. Use this difficult experience to examine your own heart and draw closer to Him.

THE VOICE IN THE STORM

2011-03-07T15:08:00.002-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 29:1-11

Psalm 29 is a description of a storm. I suppose David was out in the fields or in a cave when this storm came. He saw the power of God in the turbulence. Before it started, he said, "Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (vv. 1,2). He was concerned about God's glory. Perhaps he saw the clouds gathering. When you see clouds gathering and know that a storm is about to come into your life, do you think about the glory of God? David did. So often we don't. We think of escape rather than the glory of God.

In verses 3-9 David describes the storm. "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders;...the voice of the Lord is powerful" (vv. 3,4). He saw the lightning and heard the thunder. A sequence here is rather interesting. "The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,...the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;...the voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth" (vv. 5,8,9). God's voice can break and shake and make. David ends the psalm by acknowledging God's sovereignty. He is King forever. "The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever" (v. 10). God is sovereign today. Don't be afraid of the storm. Just look for His glory and His power.

God often speaks to you in the storm. The next time you find yourself in a storm, listen for His voice. Look for His glory and power and be reminded that He is in control.

ME FIRST?

2011-03-04T10:48:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 17:13-15

"And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.'" So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days."

Our actions say a lot about our priorities. A woman married to a baseball coach for 34 years began to suspect that perhaps baseball meant more to him than she did. One particularly frustrating day, she decided to test his priorities and see if her suspicions were true. She asked, "Frank, would you miss my funeral to go to a ball game?" Calmly, her husband replied, "Roberta, what makes you think I'd schedule your funeral on the day of a game?"

Elijah was sent to stay with a widow in Zarephath. But before he entrusted himself to her, he wanted to know her priorities. The test was very simple. In the midst of dire need, he instructed her to make a small cake from her meager supplies and bring it to him first. By her actions she would reveal her priorities; by her priorities she would reveal her trust in God. Based on her gracious response, it's obvious that she passed with flying colors.

It's easy to do the right thing when there is enough for all. But that is not a good test of our priorities. Our true priorities become apparent when we're forced to make a sacrificial choice. No matter what we profess, our actions will confirm or deny whether we're able to trust the Lord in the face of need.

What do your actions say about your priorities? What do your priorities say about your trust in God? Are you able to trust the Lord and put others first? When you have your priorities straight, God takes care of the rest.

Actions are based on priorities and priorities are based on faith.

FROM TROUBLE TO THANKSGIVING

2011-02-16T13:27:00.003-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:12 Ephesians 6 1 John 2:15 1 John 5:4 Psalm 20:1-9

From Trouble to Thanksgiving

Read Psalm 20:1-9

D. L. Moody did not want soloist Ira Sanky to sing the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" because he felt the Church was anything but a victorious army marching off to war. Yet the Bible pictures God's people as soldiers in His army. As soldiers, we must be familiar with Psalms 20 and 21. The first deals with prayer and winning the victory, and the second deals with praise and holding the victory. If we trust the Lord, we will move from trouble to thanksgiving.

Several factors lead us to triumph in battle:

The first is prayer. This is an essential element in fighting the battles of the Lord because it releases His power. There are no battles like those of the Christian life. We struggle against the enemies of the Lord: the world (I John 2:15), the flesh and the devil (Eph. 6). We must pray according to the will of God. The Word of God and prayer go together (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17,18).

Next, we need to surrender. Before David and his army fought, they worshiped God. That affected his battle plan and his victory. David's "burnt offering" indicated total surrender to God. If we're not walking with the Lord today, we'll not be ready when the battle comes.

Another factor is unity. David and his army had one goal--God's victory. And they had one joy--to serve Him and do His will. The tribes of Israel were a picture of unity. They had one army assembled from 12 tribes.

The fourth factor is faith. Verse 6 says the Lord "saves" His anointed. The Hebrew word used here means He "has saved." That is, God already has given David the victory (I John 5:4). The Church today often trusts in all kinds of horses and chariots but not in the Lord.

The final factor is obedience. David and his army obeyed God's will. The day of trouble can become a day of triumph and thanksgiving if we have trust, which is expressed by prayer, surrender, unity, faith and obedience.

Although you cannot avoid battles, you can be ready for them and, with God's help, be victorious. Are you prepared to do battle? If not, trust the Lord to help you.

PURE WORDS

2011-01-27T13:55:00.000-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: John 10:4 Psalm 12:1-8

Read Psalm 12:1-8

When you feel deserted, alone in standing for what's right, read Psalm 12. The emphasis in this psalm is on words, on speaking. First, David speaks in prayer (vv. 1-3). Where are the godly? People today don't want to take a stand for the truth, but David stood for what is right.

Sometimes we feel the faithful have disappeared--those who believe in prayer, giving and commitment. Today's generation doesn't believe in commitment, especially with our words. We hear so much empty talk, lies and flattery. Flattery is manipulative, not communicative, like our advertising and some of our preaching.

Second, the wicked speak in pride (v. 4). Never underestimate the power of speech. Jesus told the truth; His enemies argued. He gave words of life; they rejected Him. He came in love; they crucified Him. One of the evidences that a person is giving the truth of God's Word is that he is rejected. People don't want to hear truth unless they belong to truth (John 10:4).

Third, God speaks in promise (vv. 5,7). His words are pure, not empty lying (v. 6). But the words of the wicked will burn in the furnace. God's Word is precious, because it cost Jesus' life. It is proved (v. 6) and permanent (v. 7). He keeps His promises. God knows where His people are, and He helps them. "I will arise"; "I will protect"; "I can be trusted" (vv. 5-7).

So much that is spoken in this world is untrue and empty talk. Be encouraged that God speaks in promise. His Word is pure and true. When you are surrounded by lies, rest on the promises of the Bible.

IN HIS TIME

2011-01-20T11:20:00.001-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe

Scripture Reference: Romans 12:19 Psalm 9:13-16

Have you ever looked at a beautiful rose and watched it slowly blossom day after day? Have you ever tried to help it open? If you try, you might kill it. God makes everything beautiful in His time. He causes everything to straighten out and line up according to His schedule. If you have a problem in your life with a person or a circumstance, rely on God to resolve it. "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Rom. 12:19). One of the worst things we can do is to take judgment into our own hands.

The psalmist tells us in these verses, "Let God be the judge, the jury and the prosecuting attorney. He knows more about this than you do." The psalmist assures us that, in His time, God will catch those who are doing wrong. The nations will fall into the pit they have made. Sinners who have laid nets in the pathway will get caught in those nets. "The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands"(v. 16).

It encourages me to know that I don't have to devote my time or energy, even my inward concern, to wondering what's going to happen to all the evil in the world. God is going to take care of it. Of course, we as Christians should do our part to make this a better world. We are the salt of the earth; we are the light of the world. But we've been called to do something even more wonderful--to tell these wicked people that they don't have to go to hell. We have the privilege of witnessing to them and letting them know that they can be saved. Yes, let God be the Judge. Your job today is to be a witness.

Has someone wronged you recently? Resist the urge to judge that person. Instead, pray that God might use you to reach the offender.

REWARDS OF OBEDIENCE

2011-01-06T15:36:00.002-06:00

By: Theodore Epp
Scripture Reference: Psalm 84:11 Deuteronomy 31:6 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 Hebrews 13:5 Psalm 37:3

1 Corinthians 3:10-15
A call to be a missionary is much like Abraham's call. It is necessary to leave home, possessions, relatives, worldly ambitions and to go to another country to which God has led.

But one can never out-give God. Though Abraham was called to give up much, he was promised much more. God always promises blessings when we obey and follow Him.

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Much the same thing was said to the people of Israel: "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" (Deut. 31:6).

The psalmist said, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Ps. 37.3).God promised to bless Israel, and He promises to bless us when we trust and obey. God's call for us today is that we might be separated unto Him.

"No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11).

A NEW YEAR'S SONG

2010-12-23T14:39:00.001-06:00

THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY

2010-12-16T11:19:00.002-06:00

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

2010-12-09T11:23:00.002-06:00

GLORY IN THE MORNING

2010-12-07T14:21:00.001-06:00

Author: Warren Wiersbe

Scripture: Exodus 16:7
"And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord."

Some days make you wonder if you should have stayed in bed. You cut yourself shaving, you spill coffee on your clothes, you have a computer crash at work, you receive overdue notices in the mail, and your son breaks his arm on the jungle gym at school. It’s enough to make you want to crawl under the covers and hide.

The Israelites also were experiencing difficulties. They were hot, tired, hungry and upset. They even wondered if they should have stayed in Egypt. This trip was more difficult than they thought it was going to be. In the midst of these trials, God did two things: He gave them manna for their physical bodies, but He also promised to reveal His glory to them "in the morning" for their spiritual well-being. God
knew that the trials of the day needed a spiritual response as well as physical relief.And He chose to meet that spiritual need while the day was yet young.

When the day is hectic, the frustrations plentiful and the disappointments thick, it’s time to turn to God. Yet how different the day might have gone had we turned to the Lord before we ever got started. Whether the events of the day change or not, when we have first spent time fellowshipping with God, we are better prepared to face them.

Perhaps you aren’t a morning person—many people aren’t. Yet getting up even 10 minutes earlier and spending those moments reading your Bible and praying will yield greater dividends than you might imagine. When you meet with God first in the morning, it’s much easier to keep Him first all day.

How you begin your day will frequently determine how you end it.

GENTEL SPIRIT

2010-12-06T14:52:00.000-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Solomon
Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 1:33 1 Kings 3:13

1 Kings 1:33; The king also said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon."

Richard Weaver earned his living in the mines, but his higher priority was bringing others to Christ. One day a fellow said to Weaver, "I'm sick of your constant preaching. I've a good mind to smack you in the face!" "Go ahead if it will make you feel better," Weaver replied. The man struck him. The Christian did not retaliate but turned the other cheek. Again the unbeliever hit him and then walked away. Weaver called after him, "I forgive you and still pray that the Lord will save you!" The next morning his assailant was waiting for him. He asked, "Dick, do you really forgive me?" "Certainly," Weaver said, and again shared the message of salvation. God opened the man's heart, and he received Christ as his Savior. Gentleness and humility had won the day.

As Solomon prepared to take his place as king, he rode on the back of a lowly mule, not an impressive warhorse. His reign was not to be marked by power and brute force but by wisdom exercised in gentleness and humility. While his father, David, achieved great honor through warfare, Solomon far excelled him (1 Kings 3:13) without having to resort to the same tactics.

When we are faced with opposition, it is tempting to overpower it by sheer strength. If someone dares to stand in our way, we run over him. Yet this is not normally God's way. What we accomplish in a spirit of gentleness, as we seek peace and reconciliation, will outlast what we achieve by the "bulldozer approach." And it leaves a better testimony as well.

If you're facing opposition from someone at work, at home or in church, ask God to give you a gentle spirit. Seek His wisdom to deal with the conflict humbly. Put aside any pride that might be a stumbling block to your success, and determine with God's help to respond with meekness. The effects will be more satisfying and more permanent.

Brute force is only for brutes.

HAPPY HARVESTERS

2010-11-22T16:41:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe

Scripture Reference: Galatians 5:16-23 Galatians 6:6-9 Matthew 4:19 2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Kings 19 Isaiah 37 Zechariah 3:2 Matthew 5:14 2 Corinthians 9:6-11Psalm 119:11 Psalm 126:1-6

Key verse: Psalm 126:1-6

The context of this psalm is II Kings 19 and Isaiah 37, when Hezekiah, king of Judah, was attacked by Sennacharib and the Assyrian forces. The enemy forces surrounded Jerusalem, so the Jews had to protect their food supply. They already had lost an entire season of sowing and reaping. Grain was precious. When the people went back to their farms after being delivered, they had to make a decision. Should they use the grain to feed the children, or should they sow it? The farmer wept because his sustenance had to go into the ground (v. 6).

All of us are sowers and reapers. What must we sow to be happy harvesters? First, sow the seed of the Gospel. The Bible contains many pictures of witnessing (II Cor. 5:20; Zech. 3:2; Matt. 4:19; 5:14). Reaching people with the Gospel is like farming. It requires cooperation, because one sows and another reaps. Are you a part of the harvest? We need to pray for the harvesters. You may be weeping today over unsaved loved ones, but one day you will rejoice (Gal. 6:9). Those who sow the Gospel will be happy harvesters.

Second, sow your wealth to the glory of God. The way we use our money is like sowing seed. We reap in the measure that we sow (II Cor. 9:6-11). Many people are wasting money on foolish things, while missionaries are waiting for support, and churches are waiting to be built or expanded. Paul says we can be a happy harvester if we sow the seed bountifully.

Third, sow to the Holy Spirit of God (Gal. 6:6-8; 5:16-23). How do we do this? We take the things of the Spirit and put them into our hearts. When we memorize and meditate on the Word of God (Ps. 119:11), we cultivate a spiritual harvest. The heart is like a garden, so we must weed it. That's repentance. Take time to be holy, to pray, to meditate on the Word and to plant the seed in your heart.

You are sowing today in all you do; be sure you sow the right seed.

HOW LONG CAN YOU WAIT?

2010-11-04T13:24:00.003-06:00

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Psalm 13:1-6

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul?" (vv. 1,2). Four times David asked, "How long?" We're so time conscious today. We have watches that show us split seconds. But what do we do with those split seconds? If we save three minutes by taking a shortcut, what significant thing will we accomplish with the three minutes we save?

We expect God to do what we want Him to do--and right now! But He doesn't always act immediately. Abraham had to wait for 25 years after God's promise before Isaac was born. Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children. Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne. Moses had a wait of 80 years. You see, God's schedule is not the same as ours. Sometimes He waits so that He can do more for us than we expect. When He heard that Lazarus was dying, our Lord waited until his friend's death before He came. But when He came, He brought a greater miracle and received greater glory. The hardest thing to do is to wait on the Lord. But we can if we will trust Him and rest on His Word.

Some of your greatest blessings come with patience. When you must wait for God to act, you can be confident that He knows what is best for you and what will best glorify Him. Are you waiting for God to act on your behalf? Align with His timing and rest on the promises of His Word.

THE WRONG KING OF HELP

2010-10-18T12:55:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Genesis 12:12-13

"Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

A little boy asked his mother, "What is a lie?" "A lie," she replied, "is an abomination to the Lord--but a very present help in time of trouble."

Abraham apparently agreed. Faced with a famine in the land of Canaan, he moved his household down to Egypt. Out of fear for his life, he told the Egyptians that Sarah was his sister and persuaded her to go along with his lie. When Pharaoh heard of her beauty, and thinking her unmarried, he took her into his harem. Abraham was on the brink of saving his life but losing his wife. Fortunately God intervened and Pharaoh learned the truth in time. Abraham, however, was rebuked and forced to leave the land. In the end, his lie earned him nothing but contempt and disgrace.

Often we are tempted to lie our way out of a tight spot. Perhaps at work a "small lie" will help us avoid admitting we made a mistake. Or at home "bending the truth" may seemingly help us avoid a scene. But resorting to subterfuge always ends up causing us more heartache than help.

When tempted to lie, remember that what seems like a "very present help" will ultimately be "an abomination to the Lord." Lies always result in more hurt and hassle in the long run. That kind of help you can do without. Instead, tell the truth and trust God. He'll take care of you.

A lie appears to offer help, but in reality only delivers harm.

POINTLESS WORSHIP

2010-10-14T14:41:00.001-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 115:1-8

Psalm 115 tells us about the blessings we have because our God is the living God. He's not one of the "idols of the nations." "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands" (v. 4). How true that is today also. Many people worship silver and gold as their god. They think money can do anything. We do need money for some of the practical things in life. But what good are the things that money can buy if you don't have the things that money can't buy?

The psalmist describes the idols and the pointlessness of worshiping them. "They have mouths, but they do not speak [no promises]; eyes they have, but they do not see [no protection]; they have ears, but they do not hear [no prayer]; noses they have, but they do not smell [no praise]; they have hands, but they do not handle [no power]; feet they have, but they do not walk [no presence]; nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them" (vv. 5-). How unlike God. Christians have promises--our God talks to us. We have protection because He sees all that happens. We have prayer because His ears are open to us. We can praise Him. (In the Bible, the smelling of a fragrant offering is a picture of God's acceptance of our praise to Him.) We have power because He has an omnipotent hand.

We become like the god we worship. Those who worship silver and gold become like that--dead, lifeless and hard. Many people are making a god in their own image. But God made us in His image, and He wants us to have an active faith in Him.

Christians have a living faith and serve a living God. The more you read His Word, fellowship with Him and praise Him, the more you become like Him. You have His promises, protection, prayer and power.

OCTOBER 11TH - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2010-09-30T14:47:00.002-06:00

FARMER'S MARKET

2010-09-28T11:57:00.002-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 3-4; Galatians 6

Two words that will get a person to wake up early on a Saturday morning are "garage sales." Two other words are "farmers' market." Both have their own appeal, but there is something extra special about fresh fruits and vegetables, picked just a few hours before, trucked in from the country in the back of a pickup. These are not the processed, hauled long-distance, waxed, sprayed, treated versions, but the real deal.

We enjoy wandering through the stalls, picking and choosing, feasting on the fruit of someone else's labor. But ours is a different view of those items from the person selling them. The fruit of the harvest is the fruit of their labor. They may remember tilling, planting, cultivating, fertilizing, pruning, staking, watering-then finally came harvesting. Giving up is not in the process, unless the person wanted a bed of weeds.

Life is like that. Paul uses farming as an illustration to teach us both the importance of sowing and of not giving up. We will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart (6:9), and what we reap will depend on what we sow (vv. 7-8).

At the farmers' market, we reap the benefit of what others have sown, of their hard work. That is the way it can be with fruits and vegetables but not with the blessing of God in our life. We cannot buy His blessings from a vendor. We must sow and reap, not giving up. The blessings do come!

Look at what you are sowing in your life. Remember that you will reap what you sow. When it is difficult to keep doing right, remember that the good harvest will come for those who do not give up.

PREPARED TO BE AN ANSWER

2010-09-27T11:09:00.002-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 105:16-23

How wonderful it is to receive an answer to prayer. But there is something even more wonderful--to be an answer to prayer. Have you been an answer to prayer lately? Joseph was. In verse 17 we read, "He sent a man before them--Joseph--who was sold as a slave." At the time, Joseph could not see what God was doing. But God was preparing him to be an answer to prayer. He was going to use Joseph to protect the people of Israel. If Joseph had not done this, the nation might have perished. If the nation had perished, we wouldn't have a Bible, and we wouldn't have a Savior.

God plans His work. We never have to worry about what is going on, because God knows. He is never caught off guard, and He is never surprised. God never says, "How did that happen?" He chose Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Jacob's sons to accomplish some great purposes in this world--to bear witness of the true and living God, to give us the Bible and the Savior.

God also works His plan. He uses people to accomplish His purposes. We don't always know what God is doing. He didn't send an angel down to prison to explain to Joseph all of His plans. Joseph worked and walked by faith. He went through trials and dishonor, but he ultimately triumphed. From trial to triumph, from bondage to blessing, Joseph was an answer to prayer.

You may be wondering today, Why am I going through this experience? Why doesn't God make life easier for me? Remember Joseph. God chose him, prepared him and used him as an answer to prayer.

* * *
God doesn't waste your trials. He designs them for your good and His glory. Perhaps you are going through difficulties and trials today. Let God prepare you for what He has prepared for you. He might be planning to use you as an answer to prayer.

PRAYER OF THE DESTITUTE

2010-09-20T13:45:00.003-06:00

by Julie Cosgrove

“He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer” (Psalm 102:17)

In one church we attended before we moved away, the congregation every Sunday during the service would pray the weekly list for the sick, the pregnant, the soldiers and those who are traveling. People could add their own requests out loud, but at the end of the list, the pastor always added, “and for those for whom nobody else prays.” In the church where we are now, we pray a similar list, but there is also a place in the service to pray for those “whose faith is known to God alone”.

How sad to think that there are people out there in this world who are so isolated and alone that no one is praying for them or knows about the state of their faith. But the alone and hurting do exist all around us. They may be sleeping under bridges, or in ten bedroom mansions. They may be digging through trashcans or digging into their pockets to purchase the latest high tech toy.

Destitution is not necessarily an economic thing. It is always a spiritual one. Yet, I believe we are called to pray for them, and are prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so. Prayer never falls deaf upon God’s ears. He hears every whisper and every scream. He hears every sentence spoken out loud as well as those which are so deep inside our souls, we just can’t muster up enough gumption to voice them. God does respond, even though we cannot feel it. One way is by asking others to join in our prayer.

Prayer is so much more powerful than we can ever imagine. It can reach across thousands of miles or just down the street. It can touch the heart of the person sitting in the pew next to us, or a lost soul under the shadow of a downtown cathedral steeple clear across the country. It can touch someone who has lost the ability to hear the church bells chime, children laughing or the birds singing because their minds are so filled with the sounds of hatred, anger or despondency. Prayer can reach into the crevices of a heart cracked from hurt and pain. It can filter through the closed doors of doubt. It can touch the lives of people we will never know, as well as those we think we know . . . and change them.

If God has placed a thought on your heart, or a name of a person, or even an image, please take time to stop and say a prayer. It just may be the Holy Spirit prompting you to lift up another soul. Prayer brings miracles into action, sends the devil fleeing and heals hidden wounds. Never underestimate the power of a simple upward lifted prayer.

Know this: when you are down and discouraged, when despair creeps in and you can’t find the words to send up to Heaven, God has already placed you on someone else’s heart. Someone on this earth, as well as the Son in Heaven amongst the throngs of angels, is praying for you.

IT ONLY HURTS ME

2010-09-01T14:16:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Joshua 8:1 Joshua 7:24-25 Joshua 7:5-7

Joshua 7:11-12
"Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you."

We never sin alone. A study of 8,415 adults revealed that those exposed to secondhand smoke experienced a 10 percent increase in the thickening of their carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Thickening of the carotid arteries is a major cause of strokes. Other statistics indicate that drug and alcohol abuse is costing businesses more than $60 billion a year in absenteeism, workplace accidents, higher insurance costs, waste and low productivity. This cost is passed on to consumers in the prices of goods and services.

Achan may have thought that his sin affected only him. Yet when Joshua went before the Lord to find out why his army had been defeated at Ai, God said, "Israel sinned." Achan's sin caused grief to Joshua (vv. 6-7), to the families of the 36 men struck down at Ai (v. 5) and especially to his own family (vv. 24-25). Achan's sin not only hurt him, but everyone around him.

People still excuse their sin by saying, "It doesn't hurt anyone but me." But the facts prove otherwise. Sin hurts everybody either directly or indirectly. A study claimed that a New York City subway token, which costs $1.25, would cost only $1.19 if no one evaded fares. The cost of a property-casualty policy costs $600, but if no one committed fraud, it would be $540. A spreadsheet software package costs $495, but if no one pirated programs, it would only be $322.

The next time Satan encourages you to sin, just remember that you won't be the only one who gets hurt. Sin hurts all of us.
Satan is the only one who comes out ahead when we sin.

PRAY, WAIT OR ACT?

2010-08-23T10:36:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 94:11-23

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" (v. 16). I wonder what kind of an answer we would give to these questions.

There are times when we only pray about a problem. There are times when we wait. There are times when God says, "Not now--I'll take care of it later." But there are times when we must act, as when Moses had to stand up and lead the people out of Egypt, or when David had to perform the judgment of God. There are times when we who are the light of the world must stand up and shine, when we who are the salt of the earth must apply that salt to the decay in the world today.

How easy it is to be a spectator and say, "Well, I'll pray about it." Good--be sure you do. But God says, "Who's going to stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?" The answer: those who know that God is their Help. "Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence" (v. 17). "But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge" (v. 22). When God is your Help, when you have the strength of God that comes from His Word, you can stand up against the sin in this world.

Those who are separated from sin are also called to action. "Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You?" (v. 20). We have laws today that provide defense from a lot of sin. Yet those who are separated from sin must stand up with God against iniquity--those who believe that He will give us the ultimate victory. We may lose a few battles, but thank God we're going to win the war!

* * *

Christians are never to become complacent about evildoers. We deal with them by praying, waiting and acting. God wants you to be an influence for Him. Be an active witness where He has placed you. Ask for His leading in knowing when to pray, wait or take a stand.

A ROOT OF BITTERNESS

2010-08-17T09:32:00.002-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 12:15 Ephesians 4:31 Isaiah 1:11-16 Esther 3:8-9

Esther 3:8-9
"Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries.'"

In his book Feelings: Our Vital Signs, Dr. William Gaylin points out that "resentment often arises when we believe we aren't getting what is due us from another person. We feel unfairly cheated or betrayed. And brooding leads to all kinds of trouble."

Gaylin's description fits Haman perfectly. Because Mordecai refused to bow to him, Haman's resentment grew into bitterness. He became embittered not only with Mordecai but toward all those of Jewish descent. His bitterness festered until he was willing to pay 10,000 talents (about $20 million) of silver to extract his revenge.

Bitterness, however, costs much more than money. It robs us of our health. Medical doctors link harboring resentments to such physical maladies as ulcers and high blood pressure.

But more than that, in the life of a Christian, bitterness destroys our intimacy with the Lord. The Bible teaches that bitterness is a sin (Eph. 4:31, Heb. 12:15). Unconfessed sin blocks our access to the Father and becomes a hindrance to our prayers (Isa. 1:11-16).

If you have allowed a spirit of bitterness to grow in your heart, confess it at once. Share your struggle with someone you trust. Do something kind for the one toward whom you've harbored bitter feelings. Whatever you do, don't allow a grudge to become a stumbling block in your walk with the Lord. Rip out every root of bitterness in your life and rediscover the joy of the Lord.

When the root is bitterness, imagine what the fruit might be.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

2010-08-05T17:21:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 88:13-18

When nothing seems to go right, when people are neglecting you and God seems to have forgotten you, don't stop praying. This troubled psalmist did not cease to pray. "Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You" (v. 9). Even though the light is not shining, don't stop praying, because God will answer.

Start each day with the Lord. "But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You" (v. 13). Always begin your day with the Lord, and He will give you the strength to finish it.

Look to God alone. We have a tendency to trust circumstances, ourselves and other people. Not the psalmist. He said, "I'm going to look to God alone. I'm going to trust the Lord of my salvation."

Yes, there are those dark, dismal, disappointing days. But God is still on the throne. Trust Him to see you through.

* * *

How well do you fare when the days are dark? Follow the example of the psalmist. Start your day with God in prayer and draw strength from His Word. Keep your eyes on the Lord, not on your circumstances, and He will deliver you.

RECIPE FOR PEACE, JOY and VICTORY

2010-07-21T12:08:00.005-06:00

by Muriel Larson

Questions: We’re only human. How can we consistently have Christ’s joy, peace, and victory? How can we find time to do all the things we need to do to have Christ’s joy and peace?

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
(Philippians 4:4).

How can we have love, peace, joy, and victory in our lives? Well, God’s Word tells us to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And when we are filled with the Spirit, we not only have love, peace, and joy, we have the beautiful qualities of patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We can be filled with the Spirit, and continue to be so by following these Scriptural instructions:

Repent: Of anything–actions, attitudes, words, bad habits–anything that might stand between you and the peace and joy of the Lord. True acknowledgment of sin and sorrow over it releases its hold over you and your life. (See James 4:8-10)

Surrender To God: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in views of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and please to God—which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).

Ask God’s Forgiveness: To keep Christ’s peace and joy, don’t ever let anything come between you and Him. (See 1 John 1:9)

Forgive: God, Yourself, Others: Ask the Lord to reveal to you if there is anyone who has ever done you ill whom you need to forgive; and with His help, forgive that person. Do this to exorcise the ghosts in your past that may rise up periodically to haunt you and hurt your life and relationships. Do this to have peace with God, yourself, and others. (See Luke 11:4, Mark 11:25-26, Ephesians 4:32.)

Trust In The Lord In Everything: Be anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:4-8).

Begin Your Day By Rejoicing In The Lord praising and thanking Him (Psalm 34:1). Enjoy life to the fullest! Report to the Lord for duty each morning, willing to serve Him however He may wish, in whatever He may want to do through you, in ministering to others, in being His light to your world.

Whenever Something Gets You Down, Praise The Lord (even and especially when you don’t feel like it). This will lift you out of the dungeon of despair (Acts 16:25-26). It worked for Paul and Silas; and it works for me every time!

Control Your Thoughts: Bring every thought into obedience to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:5). Be on guard against our enemy Satan and his devious devices. Study Ephesians 4:26-5:11, Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8.

Serve The Lord: He has given you a gift or gifts–and talents–with which to serve Him, His people, and others for His glory. Seek His guidance.

Read: Psalms 23, 34, 37, 51; Matthew 5 to 7; John 14 to 17; Romans 6, 7, 8, and 12; Galatians 5; Book of Ephesians; Philippians 4–until you fully understand what it is to die to self and walk in the Spirit.

Memorize: Psalms 23 and 34; Proverbs 3:5-8; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:9-15, 31-33.

Lord, give me your incredible joy, peace, and victory! Amen

HIS BANNER OVER ME

2010-07-20T16:10:00.003-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Exodus 17:15-16 Matthew 28:20 John 1:14

And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, "Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Queen Elizabeth II of England has three royal residences (Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyrood) plus two private homes. This could be confusing for those who want to find her except for one important fact: the queen’s banner always flies over whichever residence she is currently occupying. If her banner of blue and gold is on the flagpole, the queen is sure to be present.

Moses also had a banner. After the battle with the army of Amalek, he built an altar and called it "The-Lord-Is-My-Banner." Moses wanted everyone to know that God was in residence with His people. Despite the attacks of the Amalekites, God would never desert the people of Israel. Generation after generation could look up and know that the Lord was present in their midst.

As Christians, we should raise the Lord’s banner over our lives. No matter how difficult our situation becomes, God will not abandon His residence in our midst. The apostle John declared, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). And Jesus said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). If the King is present, His banner should fly.

Is it obvious to those around you that the King is in residence in your life? Make sure that His flag, colored with faith, hope and love, flies high over the castle of your life. It’s a privilege to fly that banner; it’s a shame not to.
If the King is in residence, be sure to fly His flag.

GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL

2010-07-16T11:23:00.002-06:00

Scripture Reference: Psalm 78:9-20 Luke 9:62

Unfaithfulness is common in people. But not so with God. Faithfulness is part of His character. This truth ought to encourage you if you know the Lord. Don't forget what God had done for you and the miracles that took place in your life talk about it until the day the Lord called you home. Be faithful in your walk with Him. Remember His works and be a faithful soldier in your battle for Him.

FUTILITY AND FEAR

2010-07-16T11:17:00.002-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 78:21-33

The history of Israel in the Old Testament is really the history of all Christians. Like Israel, we have been redeemed through the blood of the Lamb. And like the people of Israel, we are heading for the Promised Land.

What is the one thing you need most on the journey from earth to heaven? Love? Yes, that's important. Hope? That's important, too. But I think faith is needed most. The one thing you must do is trust God. That's what the psalmist talks about in this passage. The people would not believe in God and continued to sin. We see the consequence in verse 33: "Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear." When the Israelites got to the edge of the Promised Land, they refused to go in. They were at Kadesh-Barnea and would not trust God to lead them. So they had to wander around for some 40 years in vanity and emptiness, struggling with problem after problem.

Unfortunately, many of God's people are betweeners--they are living between Egypt and Canaan. They have been delivered from bondage by the blood of the Lamb, but they have never entered into their inheritance. They are living between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They believe that Jesus died on the cross, but they are not living in the power of His Resurrection.

Don't be a betweener today. Consider how God blessed the people of Israel. He sent them manna and fowl to feed them. He provided them with water. But also consider how God disciplined them because of their unbelief. In His patience, however, He finally brought them through. We are like the people of Israel. Our greatest need is to believe God. We don't live by explanations; we live by promises. Today, while you hear His voice, don't harden your heart.

* * *

Unbelief leads to futility and fear. Perhaps you are a "betweener" today--refusing to trust God's leading. When Israel believed the promises of God, He blessed them. Trust Him, obey Him and believe Him, and His blessing will come!

PASSING ON GOD'S LOVE

2010-07-06T09:22:00.004-06:00

by Muriel Larson

“If two of you on earth agree on earth about anything you ask for, it will be done for by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

One of the sweetest things about being God’s child is that our Creator can use all the experiences in our lives to teach us how to minister to others. Through the comfort and guidance we received from Him during times of trouble, we learn how to be messengers of God’s love. We also learn to sympathize with those who are going through trials similar to our own.

Even if we have no training in counseling, we all can at least be good listeners; and just having someone to talk to and pray with about a problem can result in the lifting of depression. Jesus said, “If two of you on earth agree on earth about anything you ask for, it will be done for by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

The Lord Jesus told His followers that after He left earth, He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with them and to guide them. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, abide with us if we love Jesus (John 14:23). So we are not alone. But still, many of Jesus’ followers need to be reminded of that precious truth when they are weighed down by the cares of the world!

Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit shared with us this wonderful truth: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

http://powertochange.com

HELD BY HIS HAND

2010-06-29T14:46:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 45:1

Isaiah 45:1

Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut.

A pastor once shared that when his son was small, they often walked together through the fields and neighboring pasture behind the parsonage. At first the little fellow would hold onto his father's finger, but he found that when he stepped into a hoof print or stumbled over something, his grip would fail and he'd fall to the ground. This happened quite frequently until one day he looked up at his father and said, "Daddy, I think if you would hold my hand, I wouldn't fall." The pastor reflected, "You know, he was right. He still stumbled many times after that, but he never hit the ground."

Cyrus the Great, the one whom God would use to return His people from Babylon, had the same experience. As a leader he would face many challenges. It was first necessary that he weld two peoples, the Medes and the Persians, into a united kingdom. Accomplishing that, he then set out on a path of conquest that ultimately brought him to Babylon, the city thought to be impregnable. Ingeniously, the river Euphrates was diverted and Cyrus' army slipped into the city through the dried-up river bed and conquered it. Through it all, although Cyrus didn't know it, God held his hand.

The future is sure to contain trials and difficulties for you. Maybe you've already encountered some of them. If you try to hold on to God's hand, the likelihood is great that you will slip and stumble. The better solution is to let God hold your hand. Instead of striving and straining, let go and let God hold onto you. Surrender yourself to God and trust Him to keep you secure.
Let Him who holds everything else hold your hand as well.

THE POST PITIABLE WORSHIPER

2010-06-24T13:18:00.003-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Scripture Reference: Acts 7:22-43 Job 1-2

Key Verses: Job 1:20-21

Worship on Sunday is one thing, but it can be quite a different thing on Monday, especially if things are not going well. On Sundays we gather with other believers to sing, praise, pray and preach. The time together may be uplifting and encouraging. We walk out of the service remembering the words of the psalmist who said, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD'"
(Psalm 122:1).

But life is not always lived in Sunday-morning experiences. Sometimes it is difficult, and worship seems like something far away, almost inappropriate for the circumstances. If this is true of you, then there is a problem with your understanding of worship, because we are to live lives of worship in the good times and the bad.

Job worshiped in spite of the loss of family, livestock and servants. Four messengers arrived one after another, detailing the marauders who stole and killed, the "fire of God" that had fallen from the sky, and the storm that collapsed the house, killing his children. His response is instructive: he worshiped (1:20-21).

When things are going well, it is easy, even natural, to praise God. When things are going so-so, we may still worship, but it is another story to talk about worship on the heels of disaster.

In the Disciple's Study Bible it says, "The praiseworthiness of God does not depend on our circumstances. Job praised God, not for his circumstances, but for God's unchanging and inherent worth." Job demonstrated that worship centers on God, who He is and what He does, not on man and what he wants.

Can you join Job in worship? Perhaps today you are struggling with difficulties or insurmountable problems. You may feel like a modern-day Job! Whatever the circumstances, praise and worship God.

WANT TO FLY AWAY

2010-06-17T14:42:00.001-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 55:1-8

Have you ever felt like flying away just to get
away from it all? Has life ever been such a
burden that all you can think about is escaping?
David felt like that one day. That's why he
wrote, "And I said, 'Oh, that I had wings like a
dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest.
Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the
wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the
windy storm and tempest"' (vv. 6-8).

Now let's be honest. This is a natural feeling.
All of us have felt like getting away, just
packing our bags and saying, "I've had enough! I
can't take anymore! I've got to get away." It's a
normal, natural reaction. But it is not a good
solution to any problem. We usually take our
problems with us. We can go on vacation and enjoy
a short respite. But when we return, the battles
and burdens are still there. In fact, sometimes
when we try to run away, we only make the
problems worse.

Why does the Lord allow us to go through windy
storms and tempests? They help us grow and
mature. If we keep running away, we are like
children who never grow up. No, we don't need the
wings of a dove to fly away. We need the wings of
an eagle. Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait on
the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings like eagles." The eagle faces
the storm, spreads his great wings and allows the
wind to lift him above the storm.

Don't run away. Run to the Lord, and let Him lift
you high above the storm.

God allows trials to make you grow and mature and
become like His Son. The next time you go through
a storm, resist the pressure to run from it. Let
God use the storm to accomplish His purposes.

HOW TO BEGIN & END EACH DAY

2010-06-10T15:23:00.006-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe

Scripture References:
Psalm 57:1-11

David wrote this psalm when he fled from Saul into a cave. He records one day's experience and gives advice on how to live our lives.

First, close each day in prayer (vv. 1-4). Take all your concerns to God. When you start trusting Him, He changes you, and you see your surroundings in a new way. By faith you enter into His presence. Storms don't last forever, but when they come, God will take care of your problems. He performs and perfects all things for you.

Second, open each day with praise (vv. 5-8). While David was sleeping, God was working for him. When he awoke, David wanted God to have all the glory and wanted to tell the world what He had done for him. God answers prayer, and whatever He does is for your good and His glory. Calamities pass, so praise God for seeing you through them.

Lock up each day with prayer and unlock each day with praise. Praise is great medicine and will take all bitterness, envy, jealousy and unrest out of your life.

When you are in a tight place, your great concern should not be how you can get out of it but how God will be glorified because of it. Do you find yourself simply enduring difficulties instead of using them to help yourself grow? Try closing each day in prayer and opening each day with praise. Give God an opportunity to accomplish His purposes in your life.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY - JUNE 20, 2010

2010-06-09T11:39:00.004-06:00

GOD CAN BRING RICHES OUT OF RUBBLE

2010-06-09T10:50:00.003-06:00

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Galatians 4:4-5 Isaiah 11:1-2

Isaiah 11:1-2
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

During World War II, Hitler's bombers rained destruction upon London from the skies. Over 15,000 people lost their lives and many parts of the city were reduced to rubble. Yet when spring came, an amazing thing happened. Beautiful wildflowers, many of them thought extinct, sprang up in the midst of the devastation. Botanists concluded that the seeds had laid dormant under buildings and other structures until the bomb blasts exposed them and gave them the opportunity to germinate.

Isaiah foresaw a day when Israel also would be devastated. The word for stem means a stump. David's lineage would be decimated. His mighty family tree would be chopped down to a stub.

Yet God would be faithful. Out of that "stump" would come the One who would be the Savior of the world. At a time when civilization lay devastated by the effects of sin, when the rubble of broken lives would be scattered over the countryside, a Branch from a tree long thought dead would appear with the promise of new life.

And so it happened. Paul declared, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Gal. 4:4-5).

If the landscape of your life has been ravaged by discouragement and despair, look to Jesus, who is able to bring the hope of new life. Perhaps you have lost a loved one and life looks bleak. Maybe health problems have left you feeling like you're living in a war zone. Or family problems have created craters deep enough to swallow you whole. God will still be faithful to you. Give Him the "stump" of your life and watch Him grow a healthy and prosperous branch. Only the Rod of Jesse can give you such hope.

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TODAY?

2010-05-17T13:46:00.001-06:00

Setting priorities in today's fast-paced life can be challenging for sure.

We try to squeeze as much as we can into the twenty four hours in each day. Yet when we've had enough and can't take any more, that's when we find ourselves crying out to the Lord for help. And you will hear His sweet words whispering to your heart, "Only one thing is needed."

The simple truth is when we put God first in our lives; everything else will fall into place. Our responsibilities will continue and the demands of life will go on but God will be there to help us bring order out of chaos. "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:6,NIV).

Ask God to reorganize your list and follow His leading.

Dear Lord, I confess that my life is pulled in too many directions. When I am anxious about doing things I have trouble hearing Your Word. Help me to treasure the "one thing" that I need and trust You to put the rest in order. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Power Verses:

Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (NIV)

Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2010-05-05T14:21:00.001-06:00

REMEMBER

2010-05-03T09:09:00.003-06:00

by Brigitte Straub
Scripture Verse: “Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3).

Questions: Are you at a place where you feel God does not care about your situation? What could you do to help you know that God does care and that He is available? Can you remember a time when God performed a miracle for you?
Throughout the scriptures, we read that God pleaded for His people to “remember” Him and how He proved His faithfulness to them. God, the Father, wanted His children, to remind themselves of how He proved Himself time and time again in their lives.

In his book A Room Called Remember, Friedrich Buechner describes remembering as “a searching and finding”. Sometimes it takes a searching our past that we find examples of God’s faithfulness to us which brings hope and an assurance that God will continue to be loving and gracious in our lives.

God delights in showing Himself to us. He truly takes pleasure in revealing His faithful acts towards His people.

There is so much significance in the aspect of remembering God’s faithfulness, which is vital, and key to growing and deepening our faith. But, too often, we forget how God has provided for us in the past. It is in remembering what He has already done for us that will draw us into trusting Him when things around us become dark and we become unaware of His presence in our lives.

One of the ways God would share with His people on how to remember His faithfulness, was in commanding them to set up memorials, literal structures and figures. When the people would see them, they would be reminded of what God did which would cause them to rise up in hope and propel them forward with cc and boldness for their next task. These memorials would serve as great visuals so that every time they looked at them, they reflected on God’s faithfulness and would be immediately brought into a place of rest in God knowing that as He provided He will continue to.

In my own personal life, I have set up “memorials” to remind myself of all that God has done in my life so that I will never forget His goodness towards me. Some of these memorials are photos in frames, and others are objects I’ve bought at certain places that remind me of what God did specifically in that particular time of my life. Remembering has brought me to a greater faith and expectant that God will come through.

Nurture yourself with the faithfulness of God. His faithfulness is our food. He is what we must feed ourselves upon daily. Identify and meditate on the ways that God has been faithful to you and then share with others, and teach your children so that His good works would be remembered from generation to generation.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your goodness and kindness towards me. Help me to always remember how You have been faithful in my life. I am so grateful that I can trust You, knowing that You are my hope and my portion, my deliverer and strength. I love you and will never forget that Your hand is upon my life and that you have ordained my very steps.

JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU

2010-04-28T09:57:00.003-06:00

CLICK HERE:
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ANGRY AT GOD

2010-04-16T15:53:00.001-06:00

By: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Ruth 1:20-21

Ruth 1:20-21
So she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"

A growing problem in the United States is "road rage." Between January 1, 1990, and September 1, 1996, the American Automobile Association counted at least 10,037 incidents of road rage resulting in 218 deaths. An additional 12,610 people were injured. This is a terrible price to pay for foolishly venting one's anger. Yet it's far more foolish when we become angry at God.

When Naomi returned to her homeland, it was obvious she was angry with God for the losses in her life. When her friends called her Naomi (which means "sweetness" or "pleasantness"), she in-structed them instead to call her Mara (which means "bitterness"), because "the Almighty has afflicted me." She lamented that she left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons, but returned "empty." She was angry at God because of what He had allowed.

In God's plan, however, Naomi was actually at the beginning of the most fulfilling time of her life. Soon Ruth would meet and marry Boaz and bear his child. That baby, Obed, would become the grandfather to Israel's greatest king, David, who would establish the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus. What God had allowed to be taken away from Naomi would be replaced with blessings beyond her wildest imagination.

When you experience the grief of losing a loved one—a husband, a wife, a child—it's easy to become bitter and lash out at God. You think it's all His fault. He allowed it to happen. Yet the God who loves you is also the God who sees the end from the beginning. He knows what He is doing. Trust Him. What has begun as a heartache for you will ultimately result in overwhelming blessings.

Sorrow is the garden in which God grows our blessings.

JESUS LIVES TODAY!

2010-03-31T12:55:00.002-06:00

JESUS PAID IT ALL

2010-03-31T12:35:00.002-06:00

2010-03-26T14:38:00.000-06:00

CONTINUAL PRAISE

2010-03-19T16:14:00.004-06:00

BY: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture References:
Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Psalm 34:1-3

Psalm 34:1-3

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (v. 1). That verse is much easier to read than it is to practice. How can we praise the Lord at all times? Sometimes it's difficult to praise Him. Sometimes we are weak, and our bodies hurt or circumstances are difficult. Sometimes we must helplessly watch people we love go through hard times.

If we are to praise the Lord at all times, then praise must be important. Notice the results that come when we truly praise the Lord continually.

Praise sanctifies our lives at all times. It sanctifies us when we're in the dentist's chair or when we are standing by an open grave. The Lord Jesus sang before He went to Calvary. "And when they [Jesus and His disciples] had sung a hymn, they went out" (Matt. 26:30). Paul and Silas praised the Lord in prison when their bodies hurt (Acts 16:25).

Praise also unifies God's people. One thing we can all do together is praise the Lord. We may not always agree on the sermon, but we can agree in the hymnbook. That's why there will be so much singing and praising in heaven.

Finally, praise magnifies the Lord. That's why we should do it at all times. Anybody can praise the Lord when things are going well. But it's during the "furnace experiences" that praise really magnifies the Lord.

Let praise sanctify your life, unify your fellowship and magnify the Lord.

Praise Him always, for praise is a necessary part of the life of faith.

WHERE DO YOU RUN?

2010-03-19T13:46:00.002-06:00

by Jacqueline Overpeck

Where do you run when you need help? Do you call your husband and pour your heart out to him? Do you ask your Mom or Dad to listen? Or maybe you prefer to be alone in your room, where you can log onto Facebook, post your problems on your wall — and see if your friends may have the answers you need?

When facing with a situation where we needed help and our problem seemed so overwhelming we tend to instinctively ran to the physical things that we could touch or see with our natural senses. We usually do all of the above and asked everyone except God.

What’s the problem with that approach? It’s not grounded in faith. Yes, it’s fine to go to the people around us who love us, but first we must run by faith to God. People come and go. People are not always there. Even our family as much as they may love us are not always around.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path” (Psalm 27:10-11, KJV).

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

We need a constant Source of help, a place we can run where our Comforter never turns away and our Guide never departs. We need a Helper who can always be found, one whose love is steady and whose forgiveness is strong. We need God.

We need God for life itself. We need Him on the days when we are popular and we need Him on the days when all of our friends are gone. We need God during nights that are filled with frustration and tears, and we need Him on nights that are filled with laughter.

James 4:8 encourages, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (NKJV).

So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud “No” to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet “Yes” to God and He’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (James 4:7-10)

WHEN GOD SAYS "NOTHING IS TOO HARD," HE MEANS "NOTHING"!

2010-03-05T13:58:00.002-06:00

by: Woodrow Kroll
Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 32:27
"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"

Life gets rough sometimes. Illness strikes, financial troubles threaten us, family problems dog our steps. At best, most people just hope they can scramble to the top as each new load of garbage gets dumped on them. But you don't have to live like that. God says, "Things can be better for you because I am with you--and nothing is too difficult for Me." Even your most troublesome circumstances simply become a stage on which God demonstrates that nothing is hopeless with Him.

If your situation is causing you to despair, listen to what the Lord has to say to you: "Is anything too hard for Me?" Take confidence in the fact that the omnipotent God is on your side.

When God says "nothing is too hard," He means "nothing"!

NURTURING LOVE

2010-03-05T13:38:00.002-06:00

by: Gail Rodgers

“Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18, NIV).

As women we have a unique opportunity to meet the important need of giving and receiving love as our families grow and change. God reminds us that our love goes much further than our words. We can be proactive in finding ways to intentionally nurture love in our homes in spite of schedules that often see us passing in the doorway.

Seven Steps to Loving with Action in Our Homes

1. Love is a learned response
Give affection daily and consciously respond to affection given to you.

2. Love your husband
Visible love to one another provides security and stability in the home.

3. Love must be communicated
Do your tones and body language reflect love, along with your words?

4. Love takes time to be together
Intentionally make time for those you love and look into their eyes.

5. Love shares
Share work and play; thoughts and ideas. Share life!

6. Love listens
Listen with your heart as well as with your ears.

7. Love thrives within trust
Keep integrity in tact.

WAIT ON THE LORD

2010-03-05T13:36:00.000-06:00

Psalm 37:34
"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land"

Some people say, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." This is not true, what we need is patience to wait on God. He is able to do everything He has said He will do, and He will always do it on time.

COME OUT OF CONFINEMENT

2010-02-09T04:04:00.002-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 37:4 Matthew 3:17 Psalm 4:1 Psalm 18:16-19

Read Psalm 18:16-19

For several years David had been forced to live in confined places while he fled from Saul. More than once he fled to a cave to save his life. Then God brought him out of the caves and out of confinement and into a large place. "He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me" (v. 19). David was a man after God's own heart, and God delighted in him, just as He delighted in our Lord Jesus. God said of Him, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17).

We often talk about our delighting in the Lord. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4). That's important to do. But what about God's delighting in us? As parents and grandparents, we enjoy delighting in our children and grandchildren. In a similar way God wants to delight in us.

Because God delights in us, He delivers us. And He uses the difficult experiences of life to make us bigger. "He also brought me out into a broad place" (v. 19). Verse 36 of this chapter says, "You enlarged my path under me." When God puts us into a large place, He has to give us larger feet. But don't stop there. In Psalm 4:1 David said, "You have relieved me." God delivers us so that He can put us into a larger place, so that He can enable us to take giant steps of faith for His glory. David had gone through several years of confinement, difficulty, persecution and sorrow. But when it was over, he was a bigger man.

Let the trials of life make you a giant, not a midget. Let God put you into a large place, where you can take giant steps of faith for His glory.

Life's trials are not easy. But in God's will, each has a purpose. Often He uses them to enlarge you. Are you feeling confined? Be encouraged that God delights in delivering you from confinement. Difficult times build your faith, if you let Him use them for His glory.

Hear Me, Hold Me, Hide Me

2010-02-03T13:37:00.003-06:00

By: Warren Wiersbe

Scripture Reference: Jude 1:24 Psalm 17:1-1:15

Three words summarize David's cry in Psalm 17. The first word is hear. "Hear a just cause, O Lord, attend to my cry" (v. 1). David was saying, "I want the Lord to hear me, because my heart is right." "You have tested my heart" (v. 3). When did God do that? "You have visited me in the night" (v. 3). The dark times of life are when God proves us. He also proves Himself to us--if we let Him. When you're going through the darkness, when the night has come, when you can't see any light, remember, He is proving you and proving Himself to you. God knew that David's heart was right. "Hear a just cause, O Lord" (v. 1). Remember, when you're in the darkness, when you're in danger, when you're facing difficulties, God will hear you.

The second key word is hold. "Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip" (v. 5). David wasn't simply standing still, doing nothing. He was on the move. When we're in the darkness, we move one step at a time as the Lord directs us. We don't just sit still and wonder what is going to happen next. David was saying, "God, I'm going to get moving. You've got to hold me up. Direct me; I don't want to slip and fall." Jude must have known this verse. He wrote, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24).

The third word is hide. "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings" (Ps. 17:8). A shadow is not good protection. But if it's the shadow of God's wings, we can depend on it. What wings did David refer to? The wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies. David was saying, "I'm coming to the very throne of God. Please hide me and hold me and hear me." God replied, "David, I'll do it. I'm going to carry you through your dark time."

Everyone must face dark times. God allows times of testing because He uses them to accomplish His purposes. Are you facing a difficulty today? Remember, God is faithful. He will hear you and direct you through the darkness. Let Him prove you, and give Him opportunity to prove Himself to you.

THE GOD OF JACOB

2009-12-26T10:39:00.002-06:00

by: Warren Wiersbe
Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:19 Psalm 146:1-10
Read Psalm 146:1-10

"Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God" (v. 5). This tells us that God is all we need for today--and for tomorrow. When you know God, you have happiness, help and hope: happiness in walking with Him, help for the burdens of the day and hope for the concerns of the future. What more could you want?

Who is the God of Jacob? First, He is the creator. Verse 6 says He is the One "who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever." Any God great enough, wise enough and strong enough to create and sustain and run this universe can take care of our problems today.

Second, He is the Judge "who executes justice for the oppressed" (v. 7). God knows when you have been wrongly criticized. He knows when others have tried to make life difficult for you. Leave the judgment with Him. Don't waste your time and energy trying to fight battles that only God can fight for you. He's with all of His people, and He does what is right.

Third, He is the Father. Verse 7 offers a picture of the Father feeding the hungry. God's Word always assures us of His provision. "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

Fourth, He is the Redeemer. "The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;... The Lord loves the righteous" (vv. 7,8).

Finally, He is the King. "The Lord shall reign forever" (v. 10). Sometimes you may feel like saying, "I don't deserve to have a God like this." That's true, but He's the God of Jacob. Jacob stumbled and made mistakes, but God remained his God. The eternal God is our Refuge.

* * *
God is your greatest Refuge. But He doesn't simply shelter you; He provides for you and strengthens you. Is the God of Jacob your God? If so, call upon Him, and He will be your help, hope and happiness.

THE POWER OF LOVE

2009-12-22T13:16:00.001-06:00

by Theodore Epp
Scripture References:1 John 4:7-21; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:5

1 John 4:7-21

The apostle did not say, "Try to create and
produce love." He said, "Let us love." In other
words, we are to release that love.

Some may protest and say they cannot love certain
people. That is true from the natural
standpoint, but we are not dealing with natural
love. It is divine love, the love with which God
loved us when we were unlovable and our sins had
separated us from Him.

God, as to His nature, is love. And this love is
shared with the believer. It has been shed
abroad in the heart of each one (see Rom. 5:5).

This love of God will grow within us and flow
through us in an unbroken stream if we will let
it. The Christian life, which is the power of
the Holy Spirit within, is a life of love. This
love of God matures the Christian.

We have seen many of God's people grow older in
the Lord and grow more Christlike as they walked
with Him from day to day. They took more time to
be with the Lord and had their hearts filled with
Him. Through this, their love was perfected
toward others.

This mature love expressed through God's people
demonstrates to others that Christ lives in us.

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee"
(Jer. 31:3).

Season's Greetings From Crossroads Pentecostal Assembly

2009-12-03T11:38:00.001-06:00

WHATEVER I DO

2009-11-26T13:23:00.001-06:00

How do you respond when things just seem to pile up and you know you can’t do it all? How can we know that when we take our situation to the Lord that He will help us?

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, NIV).

Whether the big picture ahead brings you excitement or anxiousness, God gives a formula to live by daily. He tells us that in whatever we say or do we should consider our words and actions to be representing Jesus and to display a thankful attitude.

Try it. Take your day one conversation and one action at a time. Recognize yourself as a representative of Jesus and His love and values as you move through your workplace and your home. Ask Him to cultivate thankfulness in your heart even in the situations that frustrate you. You will be surprised at the peace He gives as you hold His hand throughout each part of today. It will carry you, step by step and day by day, throughout the planned and the unplanned events of your life. It will revolutionize your days!!

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for loving me just the way I am today. Father God, You know the things that I need to change. You know the things that excite me and the things that worry me. Thank you that You give me instruction in Your Word about how to face each new day. I ask You today to help me speak and act in a way that represents You to those around me. Father, there are people and situations that annoy and frustrate me. Please help me to cultivate a thankful heart even in the midst of frustrating moments. Help me to live, in everything today, in the peace that following You brings to my soul. Guide me I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

Taken from the Women's Devotional by Gail Rodgers

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

2009-10-29T10:22:00.002-06:00

C. S. Lewis said, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken."

Abraham must have felt that way. He had waited 25 years to receive the blessing that God had promised him on the day he packed up his family and possessions and left Haran. He had waited 100 years to receive a very special son. How his heart must have ached when God commanded him to take his only son, his precious Isaac, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah. Even though he responded in faith, we can't imagine the hurt. It was the ultimate sacrifice.

But Abraham is not the only one who was ever asked to make an ultimate sacrifice. God, too, gave His only begotten Son. The apostle Paul reminds us that God "did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32). And Peter draws our attention to the fact that "you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). God knows the pain of an ultimate sacrifice.

Has God asked you to make a sacrifice? Perhaps it's been the loss of a child, a cancer diagnosis, a bankruptcy. Do you feel that your life is in ashes, hopeless and irrecoverable?

Lift your eyes to the Lord. Ask Him to meet you at the point of your need. God understands. He will comfort you.

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY - October 11, 2009

2009-10-01T13:47:00.001-06:00

THINKING 'BEYOND'

2009-09-16T09:54:00.001-06:00

Thinking ‘Beyond’

Isaiah 55:9 - “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”It’s good to remember that verse when we are interceding — for the lost, or for seemingly impossible situations. In that light, also remember:

•Light is more powerful than darkness
•Truth is stronger than error
•There’s more grace in God’s heart than sin in men’s hearts
•There’s more power in the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin than there is power of satanic forces to tempt men to sin
•There’s more power in one drop of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse men’s hearts from the stain of sin than there is in the accumulated filth of men’s sin since Adam and Eve
(New Spirit Filled Life Bible, Kingdom Dynamics, at Isaiah 55:9)

GIVE YOUR BEST TO THE LORD

2009-07-29T13:02:00.003-06:00

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE

2009-07-17T13:11:00.003-06:00

When your cause is right, you can praise the Lord, even in the midst of apparent defeat. When God is on the throne, everything turns out all right. If your life is broken right now, be encouraged that God knows what is going on in your life and will restore you. Until He does, rejoice in Him and praise His name.

Psalm 9:1-6

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6 Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

HE CHOSE YOUR HEART

2009-06-30T11:32:00.001-06:00

2009-06-18T12:34:00.001-06:00

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED - John 14:27

2009-06-12T12:01:00.002-06:00

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Do not lose heart. Believe in Christ. Believe in heaven, and let not your heart be troubled. Jesus did not promise an untroubled life but a peaceful heart, and it comes from an eternal perspective that sees heaven as home and knows how to get there from here.

Remember that this world is temporary. One day all of these things will be gone. Ask God to use the hope of heaven to calm your heart.

Don’t allow your heart to be tossed about by winds of despair. Do not lose heart. Believe in Christ. Believe in heaven. Remember that this world is temporary. One day all of these things will be gone. Ask God to use the hope of heaven to calm your heart.

2009-06-01T18:25:00.000-06:00

HOW LONG CAN YOU WAIT - Psalm 13:1-6

2009-05-25T20:13:00.002-06:00

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul?" (vv. 1,2). Four times David asked, "How long?" We're so time conscious today. We have watches that show us split seconds. But what do we do with those split seconds? If we save three minutes by taking a shortcut, what significant thing will we accomplish with the three minutes we save?

We expect God to do what we want Him to do--and right now! But He doesn't always act immediately. Abraham had to wait for 25 years after God's promise before Isaac was born. Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children. Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne. Moses had a wait of 80 years. You see, God's schedule is not the same as ours. Sometimes He waits so that He can do more for us than we expect. When He heard that Lazarus was dying, our Lord waited until his friend's death before He came. But when He came, He brought a greater miracle and received greater glory. The hardest thing to do is to wait on the Lord. But we can if we will trust Him and rest on His Word.

Some of your greatest blessings come with patience. When you must wait for God to act, you can be confident that He knows what is best for you and what will best glorify Him. Are you waiting for God to act on your behalf? Align with His timing and rest on the promises of His Word.

SIMPLY CALL - Jeremiah 33:3

2009-05-14T11:14:00.006-06:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - MAY 10, 2009

2009-05-04T23:30:00.005-06:00

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” (NKJV) Proverbs 14:1

WHO'S ON YOUR SIDE

2009-05-04T21:56:00.003-06:00

“He will… fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.” Job 8:21

There’s nothing like a sense of humor for getting through the rough times. Doctors say laughter is like “internal jogging,” it’s good for you. It actually widens your arteries, de-stresses your heart and strengthens your immune system enabling it to fight off disease. The Bible argues, “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs. 17:22).

A positive attitude will bring you more favor and co-operation than a negative one. When you deep adding to the heat and confusion of a crisis, people lose respect for your ability to handle things under pressure. But if you stay and maintain your sense of humor when things are falling apart, they’ll show their appreciation in better work and increased loyalty.

Jesus said, “the thief comes… to steal and… destroy; I have come that they may have fain nothing by exaggerating their importance or dwelling on the bleak side of things. Instead, put the problem into God’s hands and watch the results you get! Job says, “He will… fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” Remember Job? And his wife? If he could say that after everything he’d been through – sure you can too!

Listen: “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:13). You can find something to smile about in almost any situation – all you have to do is remember who’s on your side!

GOD IS ALL WE NEED

2009-04-24T11:58:00.001-06:00

Today maybe one of those times in our lives that we are running out of options....and we feel hopeless....We might be facing a problem that forces us to look to God and fully depend on Him instead of ourselves. "We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us."
2 Corinthians 1:9

Sometimes we never know that God is all we need until God is all we've got.