In His Sevice

November 9, 2009
The Heat Of Our Desire
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Psalm 42 (New International Version)

Psalm 42
BOOK II : Psalms 42-72
1
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.[a]
[b] As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My [c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"

10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Footnotes:
a.Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
b.Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
c.Psalm 42:6 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most
Hebrew manuscripts praise him for his saving help./ 6 O my God, my
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O
God.—Psalm 42:1Pastor A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) read the great
Christian theologians until he could write about them with ease. He
challenges us:“Come near to the holy men and women of the past and
you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned
for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in
season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the
sweeter for the long seeking.”

The writer of Psalm 42 had the kind of longing for the Lord that Tozer
spoke about. Feeling separated from God, the psalmist used the simile
of a deer panting with thirst to express his deep yearning for a taste
of the presence of God.“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so
pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God”(vv.1-2). The heat of his desire for the Lord was so great and
his sorrow so intense, he did more weeping than eating (v.3). But the
psalmist’s longing was satisfied when he placed his hope in God and
praised Him for His presence and help (vv.5-8).

O that we would have a longing and thirsting for Him that is so
intense that others would feel the heat of our desire for Him!—
Marvin Williams

My heart’s desire is to know You, Lord,
To walk close beside You today;
To know Your grace, Your love, Your power,
For You are my life and my way.—Cetas

Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul.

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November 13, 2009

No Deal!

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Luke 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by
the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he
was hungry.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone
to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written:'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]"

5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant
all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you
all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I
can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be
yours."

8Jesus answered, "It is written:'Worship the Lord your God and serve
him only.'[b]"

9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest
point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw
yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"

12Jesus answered, "It says:'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]"

13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an
opportune time.

Footnotes:
a.Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
b.Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
c.Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
d.Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

It is written,“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God.”—Luke 4:4We’ve all seen and heard advertisements that entice
us to take shortcuts to happiness. Buy our product and make no
payments for one year! Instant gratification!

When the devil tempted Jesus (Luke 4:1-13), he offered a shortcut to
“satisfaction.” He tried to tempt Jesus to take matters into His own
hands rather than trust His Father.

When Jesus was hungry from 40 days of fasting (v.2), Satan suggested
that He use His power to turn stones into bread. Had the Lord done so,
He would have been using His powers for His own benefit, but He
refused.

Why didn’t Jesus accept the devil’s offer of ruling all the kingdoms
of the world right away?(vv.5-7). He could have avoided the cross.
But that would have gone against God’s plan for Him—to give His life
on the cross, to be resurrected, and to sit at the Father’s right hand
in His kingdom. Satan’s offer of a shortcut was no deal at all.

Beware of enticements that seem to cost little for the present. Satan
hopes to get you to do things his way. And he doesn’t give up easily.
Even after Jesus overcame a third temptation, Satan left only “until
an opportune time”(v.13).

Whenever you are offered a shortcut to happiness, watch out to see
who’s behind the cashier’s counter!— C. P. Hia

Lord, help me see the devil’s offers for what they are—enticements to
sin. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You and Your Word, and my ears
attentive to You in prayer. Amen.

The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.

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November 15, 2009

Pleasing God

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Hebrews 11:1-6 (New International Version)

Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we
do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's
command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith
he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his
offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not
experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him
away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased
God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone
who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who earnestly seek him.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

We make it our aim ... to be well pleasing to Him.—2 Corinthians 5:9

Andy Warhol, the pop-art painter of such American images as the
Campbell’s soup can, once said,“In the future everyone will be famous
for 15 minutes.” But he was wrong. There are millions of people who
will never grab their moment in the spotlight. Some of them are the
men and women who spend their lives doing things like working hard,
raising godly children, faithfully praying for others, sharing their
faith with those who don’t yet know Jesus. They teach Sunday school,
bring meals to the sick, drive senior citizens to doctors’
appointments, and do countless other kindnesses.

These people may never be recognized outside their circle of family
and friends. Certainly, their names aren’t well known. And although
they willingly, and often sacrificially, give of themselves, they may
not receive a whole lot of thanks or praise for their service. Yet God
knows of their faithfulness and is pleased by their obedience.

Second Corinthians 5:9 teaches us to “make it our aim ... to be well
pleasing” to God. As we, by faith, believe in Him and give our lives
in service to Him, He is pleased (Heb. 11:6). That’s our reward,
because God’s approval is always sweeter than the applause of the
crowd.— Cindy Hess Kasper

Look not to the people around you,
Nor wait for their laurels of praise;
Enough that the Savior has found you
And calls you to serve all your days.—Hess

The deeds God finds pleasing are those done in service for Him.
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November 16, 2009

The Problem With Self-Sufficiency

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Revelation 3:14-22 (New International Version)

To the Church in Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither
cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because
you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my
mouth. 17You say,'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a
thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor,
blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the
fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can
cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you
can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest,
and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him,
and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit
with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father
on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says
to the churches."

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you
were cold or hot.—Revelation 3:15The city of Laodicea had a water
problem. One nearby town had fabulous hot springs and another had
cold, clear water. Laodicea, however, was stuck with tepid,
mineral-laden water that tasted like sulphur. Not hot. Not cold. Just
gross.

Given those facts, the words of Jesus to the Laodicean believers in
Revelation 3 must have stung. Jesus rebuked them for being “neither
cold nor hot”(v.15). And when He thought of them, He felt like
vomiting (v.16)—like the effect of their drinking water.

What was their problem? It was the sin of self-sufficiency. The
Laodiceans had become so affluent that they had forgotten how much
they needed Jesus (v.17).

When we say we have everything we need, but Jesus isn’t at the top of
the list, He is deeply offended. Self-sufficiency distracts us from
pursuing the things we really need that only He can give. If you’d
rather have cash than character, if your credit cards are maximized
and your righteousness is minimized, if you’ve become smart but aren’t
wise, then you’ve been shopping in all the wrong places. Jesus offers
commodities that are far better (v.18).

He’s knocking at your heart’s door (v.20). Let Him in. He will give
you all you really need!— Joe Stowell

We must be careful to avoid
All self-sufficiency;
If sinful pride gets in the way,
God’s hand we will not see.—Sper

We always have enough when God is our supply.

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November 18, 2009

God Works In Mud

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Genesis 2:1-7 (New International Version)

Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so
on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed
the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the
work of creating that he had done.

Adam and Eve
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens- 5 and no shrub
of the field had yet appeared on the earth [b] and no plant of the
field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the
earth [c] and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams [d]
came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground- 7
the LORD God formed the man [e] from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a
living being.

Footnotes:
Genesis 2:2 Or ceased ; also in verse
Genesis 2:5 Or land ; also in verse
Genesis 2:5 Or land ; also in verse
Genesis 2:6 Or mist
Genesis 2:7 The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related
to the Hebrew for ground ( adamah it is also the name Adam (see Gen.
2:20).
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
—Genesis 2:7

In a 1950s novel, there is a scene in which four village men confess
their sins to one another. One of the men, Michelis, cries out,“How
can God let us live on the earth? Why doesn’t He kill us to purify
creation?”“Because, Michelis,” one of the men answered,“God is a
potter; He works in mud.”

This is literally what the Lord did in Genesis. The sovereign Creator
formed and shaped humanity by unique design. This process involved
fashioning a man from the dust of the ground. The word formed in
Genesis 2:7 describes the work of an artist. Like a potter, molding
and fashioning mud into a pot or some other earthen vessel, so the
Lord God formed humanity from clay.

God’s work with dust and mud continued by breathing into man the
breath of life, changing his form into a living soul. This made man a
spiritual being, with a capacity to serve and fellowship with the
Lord.

After Adam and Eve sinned, God continued working in and with mud,
sending His Son Jesus to die for humanity and then regenerating those
who receive Him so that we can enjoy fellowship with Him. In
gratitude, let’s use our hands to do good works for His glory.—
Marvin Williams

In His own image God created man,
He formed his body from the dust of earth;
But more than that, to all who are in Christ
He gives eternal life by second birth.—Hess

God is the only One who can make the dirty clean.

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November 19, 2009

Precious Fruit

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Galatians 5:22-26 (New International Version)

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.—Galatians 5:22-23

How much would you be willing to pay for a piece of fruit? In Japan,
someone paid more than $6,000 for one Densuke watermelon. Grown only
on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, this beautiful dark-green
sphere looks like a bowling ball. The nearly 18-pound watermelon was
one of only a few thousand available that year. The fruit’s rarity
brought an astronomical price on the market.

Christians have fruit that is far more precious than the Densuke
watermelon. It’s called the fruit of the Spirit:“love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control”(Gal. 5:22-23). Each “fruit” is a different aspect of
Christlikeness. In the Gospels, we see how Christ exemplified these
virtues. Now He wants to produce them in our hearts—in what we say,
how we think, and how we respond to life (John 15:1-4).

A rare and delicious fruit may bring a premium price in the
marketplace, but Christlike character is of far greater worth. As we
confess all known sin and yield to God’s indwelling Spirit, our lives
will be transformed to the likeness of Christ (1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:18).
This spiritual fruit will fill our lives with joy, bless those around
us, and last into eternity.— Dennis Fisher

Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit’s fruits
That grow within the heart.—D. De Haan

Fruitfulness for Christ depends on fellowship with Christ.

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November 20, 2009

Help With A Home Run

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1 Peter 4:7-11 (New International Version)

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other
deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer
hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use
whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he
should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves,
he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the
power for ever and ever. Amen.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God.—1 Peter 4:10

Sara Tucholsky, a softball player for Western Oregon University, hit
the first home run of her life in a game against Central Washington.
But she nearly didn’t get credit for it. As she rounded first base in
excitement, she missed it! When she wheeled back to correct her
mistake, she injured her knee. Crying, she crawled back to the base.
By rule, she had to touch all four bases on her own for the home run
to count. Her teammates could not assist her in any way.

Then Mallory Holtman, the first baseman for the opposing team, spoke
up.“Would it be okay if we carried her around?” After conferring, the
umpires agreed. So Mallory and another teammate made a chair of their
hands and carted Sara around the bases. By the time they were through
carrying her, many were crying at this selfless act of compassion, and
Sara was awarded her home run.

The lesson for followers of Christ is clear. When fellow Christians
stumble and fall, we need to follow the example of these ballplayers.
Reach out. Lift them up and carry them along. It’s a wonderful
opportunity to “minister ... to one another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God”(1 Peter 4:10).— David C. Egner

When a fellow Christian stumbles
And he needs some help to stand;
Don’t ignore his circumstances—
Offer him your outstretched hand.—Sper

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.
—Charles Dickens

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November 21, 2009

Beyond Imagination!

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Revelation 21:1-8 (New International Version)

Revelation 21
The New Jerusalem
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I
saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is
with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear
from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and
true."

6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink
without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes
will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the
sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all
liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is
the second death."

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

[It has not] entered into the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him.—1 Corinthians 2:9

A college professor at a Christian school perceived that his students
held a distorted view of heaven; they considered it to be static and
boring. So, to stir their imaginations, he asked them these questions:

“Do you wish you would wake up tomorrow morning to discover that the
person you loved most passionately loved you even more? Wake up
hearing music you have always loved but had never heard with such
infinite joy before? Rise to the new day as if you were just
discovering the Pacific Ocean? Wake up without feeling guilty about
anything at all? See to the very core of yourself, and like everything
you see? Wake up breathing God as if He were air? Loving to love Him?
And loving everybody else in the bargain?”

In response to that professor’s intriguing questions, the students all
lifted their hands. If that’s what heaven will be like, and even
infinitely more so, they certainly wanted to be there.

“I go to prepare a place for you,” Jesus told His disciples (John
14:2). We all share the desire—really a deep-down yearning—to be in
that glorious home forever. It is a place of indescribable bliss. And
the supreme blessing will be the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself!— Vernon C. Grounds

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory.—Hewitt

The greatest pleasures of earth cannot be compared to the joys of heaven.

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November 24, 2009

Called To Serve

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Mark 10:35-45 (New International Version)

The Request of James and John
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher,"
they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at
your left in your glory."

38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink
the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

39"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the
cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but
to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong
to those for whom they have been prepared."

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and
John. 42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who
are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their
high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many."

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.—Mark 10:45

When George W. Bush was President, he made a surprise visit to serve
Thanksgiving Day dinner to soldiers deployed overseas. One reporter
covering the story thought that some might save their meal as a
souvenir, explaining,“It’s not often that anyone is served by the
President.”

All elected officials are public servants—in a global, symbolic way—so
they are always serving. So it seems that an act of service should not
have been one of the biggest news items of the day.

Many people have a genuine desire to serve others, but for some,
service is really self-serving. This was true when Jesus was training
His disciples. They were under the impression that following Him would
make them great.

But Jesus quickly set them straight:“Those who are considered rulers
over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise
authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you”(Mark
10:42-43). Jesus made it clear to them that they were in training to
become servants:“Whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of
all”(v.44).

We can sign up for any number of leadership training seminars, but the
only good leaders are those who are first and foremost good servants.
— Julie Ackerman Link

They truly lead who lead by love,
And humbly serve the Lord;
Their lives will bear the Spirit’s fruit
And magnify His Word.—D. De Haan

A good leader is a good servant.

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November 25, 2009

What A Ride!

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1 Thessalonians 1
1Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.[b]

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith
2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced
by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because
our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power,
with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived
among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord;
in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy
given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from
you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become
known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They
tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Footnotes:
a.1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
b.1 Thessalonians 1:1 Some early manuscripts you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The word of the Lord has sounded forth ... in every place.—1
Thessalonians 1:8

Francis Asbury rode 6,000 miles a year on horseback for nearly half a
century. Despite ill health, he drove himself tirelessly. He sustained
himself with venison jerky—a food that wouldn’t spoil during his
extended travels. Asbury is remembered for introducing the Methodist
“circuit-riding preacher” as an effective way to capture the American
frontier for Christ. Planting new churches in remote areas was central
to his approach.

At the close of Asbury’s ministry, he had recruited over 700 traveling
preachers. In 1771, when Asbury arrived in the colonies, there were
only about 600 Methodists in America. Forty-five years later, there
were 200,000!

In many ways, Asbury’s strategy for planting churches reflects the
approach of the apostle Paul. To the church he had planted in
Thessalonica, Paul wrote:“From you the word of the Lord has sounded
forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place”(1
Thess. 1:8; see Acts 17:1-10).

The days of the “circuit-riding preacher” have come and gone. But each
of us has a “frontier” where friends, relatives, and neighbors are our
mission field. Can you think of someone today who needs to hear the
good news?— Dennis Fisher

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
And love that soul through me;
And may I nobly do my part
To win that soul for Thee.—Tucker

Those who love Christ have a love for the lost.

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Confession And Thanksgiving

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Nehemiah 9:32-37 (New International Version)

32 "Now therefore, O our God, the great, mighty and awesome God, who
keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling
in your eyes—the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings and
leaders, upon our priests and prophets, upon our fathers and all your
people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all
that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted
faithfully, while we did wrong. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests
and our fathers did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to
your commands or the warnings you gave them. 35 Even while they were
in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious
and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from
their evil ways.

36 "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our
forefathers so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it
produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the
kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our
cattle as they please. We are in great distress.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

They have not served You ... in the many good things that You gave
them.—Nehemiah 9:35
During a Sunday worship service, our congregation said this prayer of
confession in unison:“Gracious God, like many believers before us, we
complain when things do not go our way. We want abundance of
everything rather than what is sufficient to sustain us. We would
rather be elsewhere than where we are at the moment. We would rather
have the gifts You give to others than what You provide for us. We
would rather have You serve us than serve You. Forgive our lack of
gratitude for what You give.”

Abundance is no guarantee of gratefulness or thanksgiving. Prosperity
may even turn our hearts away from the Lord.

When a group of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon with Nehemiah to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they gathered to confess their sins
and those of their fathers. They prayed:“Neither our kings nor our
princes, our priests nor our fathers, have kept Your law .... For
they have not served You in their kingdom, or in the many good things
that You gave them, or in the large and rich land which You set before
them, nor did they turn from their wicked works”(Neh. 9:34-35).

Confession is a powerful prelude to a prayer of thanks-giving.
Obedience is the Amen.— David C. McCasland

Lord, before we come to ask Your blessing
On this special day we call Thanksgiving,
We would bow to You, our sins confessing,
Then we’ll lift our praise in grateful living.—Hess

Confession opens the door to thanksgiving.

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December 1, 2009

The Best Of Gifts

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

John 1:10-13 (New International Version)

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the
world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but
his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those
who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a
husband's will, but born of God.

Footnotes:
a.John 1:13 Greek of bloods

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!—2 Corinthians 9:15

Having trouble selecting that perfect gift for someone? A friend
shared with me a few suggestions:

• The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response.
Just listening.

• The gift of affection. Being generous with appropriate hugs, kisses,
and pats on the back.

• The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift
will say,“I love to laugh with you.”

• The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note
your appreciation or affection.

• The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying,“You look great today”
or “You are special” can bring a smile.

But as we begin this special month of celebration, why not pass on the
best gift you’ve ever received? Share the fact that “the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus”(Rom. 6:23). Or share this verse from
John 1:12,“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Remind
others that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life”(John 3:16).

The best gift of all is Jesus Christ.“Thanks be to God for His
indescribable gift!”(2 Cor. 9:15).— Cindy Hess Kasper

The greatest Gift that has ever been given
Is Jesus Christ who was sent down from heaven.
This Gift can be yours if you will believe;
Trust Him as Savior, and new life receive.—Hess

The best gift was found in a manger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 7, 2009
War ... Then Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Luke 23:32-43 (New International Version)

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be
executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they
crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on
his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they are doing."[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting
lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They
said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of
God, the Chosen One."

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine
vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

38There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE
KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't
you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said,
"since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for
we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing
wrong."

42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]"

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with
me in paradise."

Footnotes:
Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:7On December 7,
1941, a Japanese war plane piloted by Mitsuo Fuchida took off from the
aircraft carrier Akagi. Fuchida led the surprise attack on the US
Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Through the war years to follow, Fuchida continued to fly—often
narrowly escaping death. At war’s end, he was disillusioned and
bitter.

A few years later, he heard a story that piqued his spiritual
curiosity: A Christian young woman whose parents had been killed by
the Japanese during the war decided to minister to Japanese prisoners.
Impressed, Fuchida began reading the Bible.

As he read Jesus’ words from the cross,“Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they do”(Luke 23:34), he understood how that
woman could show kindness to her enemies. That day Fuchida gave his
heart to Christ.

Becoming a lay preacher and evangelist to his fellow citizens, this
former warrior demonstrated “the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding”(Phil. 4:7)—a peace enjoyed by those who have trusted
Christ and who “let [their] requests be made known to God”(v.6).

Have you found this peace? No matter what you have gone through, God
makes it available to you.— Dennis Fisher

There is peace in midst of turmoil,
There is joy when eyes are dim,
There is perfect understanding
When we leave it all to Him.—Brown

True peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of God.—Loveless

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 13, 2009

A Time For Readjustment

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Leviticus 25:1-7 (New International Version)

Leviticus 25
The Sabbath Year
1 The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2 "Speak to the Israelites
and say to them:'When you enter the land I am going to give you, the
land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. 3 For six years sow
your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their
crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of
rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your
vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of
your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. 6 Whatever
the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for
yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and
temporary resident who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock
and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be
eaten.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

In the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the
land.—Leviticus 25:4

The earth’s solar orbit takes 365 and a quarter days. Because of this,
every 4 years an extra day is added to the calendar so we don’t fall
behind in the natural cycle of things. Each leap year we add that day
onto the end of February. In this way, the calendar is readjusted to
the astronomical timetable.

In the calendar of ancient Israel, God set up a remarkable means of
readjusting things. Just as mankind was commanded to rest every
seventh day (Ex. 20:8-10), so the land was to be allowed to rest
during the seventh year (Lev. 25:4). This sabbatical year allowed the
farmland to replenish for greater fertility. In addition, debts were
canceled (Deut. 15:1-11) and Hebrew slaves were set free (vv.12-18).

With our busy schedules and our hectic pace of life, we too need
readjustment. Demands of work, family, and church can require
reevaluation. One way we do that is by observing the sabbath
principle—making sure to set aside time to rest and prayerfully
refocus our priorities. Jesus, for example, went “to a solitary place;
and there He prayed”(Mark 1:35).

When can you pull aside from your activities and prayerfully ask God
to reset your spiritual calendar to His Word and His will? Is it time
for a readjustment?— Dennis Fisher

To face life’s many challenges
And overcome each test,
The Lord tells us to take the time
To stop, to pray, to rest.—Sper

To make the most of your time, take time to pray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 15, 2009
God’s Remarkable Word

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Psalm 119:89-96 (New International Version)

l Lamedh
89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.

91 Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.

92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.

94 Save me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.

95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.

96 To all perfection I see a limit;
but your commands are boundless.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.—Psalm 119:89The
discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 has been called the greatest
archaeological find of the 20th century. The ancient manuscripts
hidden in the caves near Qumran are the oldest known copies of key Old
Testament books. In 2007, the San Diego Natural History Museum hosted
an exhibition featuring 24 of these scrolls. One often-repeated theme
in the exhibit was that during the past 2,000 years the text of the
Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) has remained virtually
unchanged.

Followers of Christ who believe that the Bible is the eternal,
unchanging Word of God find more than coincidence in this remarkable
preservation. The psalmist wrote:“Forever, O Lord, Your Word is
settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations”
(119:89-90). Jesus said:“My words will by no means pass away”(Matt.
24:35).

The Bible is more than a historical relic. It is the living, powerful
Word of God (Heb. 4:12), in which we encounter the Lord and discover
how to live for Him and honor Him.“I will never forget Your
precepts,” the psalmist concluded,“for by them You have given me
life”(119:93).

What a privilege we have each day to seek God in His remarkable Word!
— David C. McCasland

I have a companion, a wonderful guide,
A solace and comfort whatever betide;
A friend never-failing when others pass by,
Oh, blessed communion, my Bible and I.—Knobloch

To know Christ, the Living Word, is to love the Bible, the written Word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 16, 2009
Becoming Whole

December 16, 2009 Becoming Whole


Romans 7:13-25 (New International Version)
13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But
in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me
through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might
become utterly sinful.

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a
slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I
do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to
do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself
who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good
lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to
do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the
good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on
doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who
do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right
there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I
see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against
the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work
within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the
sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Footnotes:
a.Romans 7:18 Or my flesh

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
—Philippians 2:12-13

When a friend fell off her bike and suffered a severe brain injury,
doctors weren’t sure she would survive. For several days she remained
suspended between life and death.

The first good news came when she opened her eyes. Then she responded
to simple voice commands. But with every small improvement, anxiety
remained. How far would she progress?

After one difficult day of therapy, her husband was discouraged. But
the very next morning he shared these welcome words:“Sandy’s back!”
Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and mentally, Sandy was
becoming the “self” who we knew and loved.

Sandy’s fall reminds me of what theologians refer to as “the fall” of
mankind (Gen. 3). And her struggle to recover parallels our struggle
to overcome the brokenness of sin (Rom. 7:18). If only her body
healed, recovery would be incomplete. The same would be true if her
brain worked but her body didn’t. Wholeness means that all parts work
together for one purpose.

God is the one healing Sandy, but she has to work hard in therapy to
improve. The same is true of us spiritually. After God saves us
through Christ, we must “work out” our salvation (Phil. 2:12)—not to
earn it but to bring our thoughts and actions into agreement with His
purpose.— Julie Ackerman Link

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.—Gabriel

To become whole, keep yielding to the Holy Spirit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 18, 2009

Jehovah-Jireh

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Matthew 6:5-15 (New International Version)

Prayer
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen
by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your
Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many
words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' 14For if you forgive men when
they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins.

Footnotes:
a.Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one,/ for yours is
the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
—Matthew 6:8
In my early years as a pastor, I served in small churches
where finances were often tight. Sometimes our family finances felt
the weight of that pressure. On one occasion, we were down to the last
of our food and payday was still several days away. While my wife and
I fretted about how we would feed our kids in the next few days, our
doorbell rang. When we opened the door, we discovered two bags of
groceries. We had not told anyone of our plight, yet our provider God
had led someone to meet that need.

This reminds me of the Old Testament account of Abraham when he was
asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. At just the right moment, God
provided a ram instead. Abraham called this place Jehovah-Jireh,
“The-Lord-Will-Provide”(Gen. 22:14). He is the One who still cares
deeply for His children.

Jesus said,“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you
ask Him”(Matt. 6:8). He is constantly caring for and seeking the best
for us—a reminder that in times of hardship, need, and fear, we have
Someone who cares. Peter wrote that we can cast all our cares upon
Jesus, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We can turn to Him in
our time of need.— Bill Crowder

I know not by what methods rare
The Lord provides for me;
I only know that all my needs
He meets so graciously.—Adams

What God promises, God will provide.

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December 21, 2009

God Alone

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1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 3
On Divisions in the Church
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere
infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not
yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still
worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you
not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I
follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,
through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his
task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God,
who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have
one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

We are God’s fellow workers.—1 Corinthians 3:9

On May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide,
Tenzing Norgay, became the first people to reach the peak of Mount
Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Since Tenzing did not know
how to use the camera, Edmund took a photo of Tenzing as evidence that
they did reach the top.

Later, journalists repeatedly asked who had reached the summit first.
The expedition leader, John Hunt, replied,“They reached it together,
as a team.” They were united by a common goal, and neither was
concerned who should get the greater credit.

It is counterproductive to try to determine who deserves the most
credit when something is done well. The church at Corinth was split
into two factions—those who followed Paul, and those who followed
Apollos. The apostle Paul told them,“I planted, Apollos watered ...
. Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters”(1 Cor. 3:7).
He reminded them that they were “God’s fellow workers”(v.9), and it
is God who gives the increase in ministry (v.7).

Our concern about who deserves the credit serves only to take away the
honor and glory that belong to the Lord Jesus alone.— C. P. Hia

Let others have the honors,
The glory, and the fame;
I seek to follow Jesus
And glory in His name.—Horton

Jesus must increase; I must decrease.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

December 22, 2009
The Star Shepherd

Isaiah 40:25-27 (New International Version)

25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things.
—Isaiah 40:26Some night when you’re away from city lights,“lift up
your eyes on high”(Isa. 40:26). There in the heavens you’ll see a
luminous band of stars stretching from horizon to horizon—our galaxy.

If you have good eyes, you can see about 5,000 stars, according to
astronomer Simon Driver. There are, however, far more that you cannot
see with the naked eye. In 1995, the Hubble Deep Field Study space
probe concluded that there are billions of galaxies, each containing
billions of stars. By one estimate, there are more than 10 stars in
the universe for every grain of sand on the earth.

Yet each night, without fail, God “brings out their host by number; .
.. by the greatness of His might ... ; not one is missing”(v.26).

Why then do people say,“My way is hidden from the Lord”?(v.27). Yes,
billions of individuals inhabit this globe, but no one has been
forgotten by God. He knows “those who are His”(2 Tim. 2:19). If He
can bring out the incalculable hosts of heaven each night one by one,
He can bring you into His light. He does so by “the strength of His
power”(v.26)—the power He showed when He raised Jesus from the dead.

Are the stars out tonight? Rejoice! God cares for you.— David H. Roper

The God who made the firmament,
Who made the deepest sea,
The God who put the stars in place
Is the God who cares for me.—Berg

We see the power of God’s creation; we feel the power of His love.

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