Dear Friends,
Today I received the following story from one of our brothers’ in Christ.  I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I, for though I have seen it before, it seemed perfect to share with you today.

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A t-Shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes was literally Bill’s wardrobe for his entire four years of college.  He was brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright.  He became a Christian while attending college.  Across the street from the campus was a well-dressed, very conservative church. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students but were not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decided to go there. He walked in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service had already started and so Bill walked down the aisle looking for a seat. The church was completely packed and he couldn’t find a seat. By now, people were really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one said anything. Bill got closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realized there were no seats, he just sat down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air was thick. About that time, the minister realized that from way at the back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way toward Bill.  Now the deacon was in his eighties, had silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walked with a cane and, as he started walking toward this boy, everyone was saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It took a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church was utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes were focused on him. You couldn’t even hear anyone breathing. The minister couldn’t even preach the sermon until the deacon did what he had to do.  And now they saw this elderly man drop his cane on the floor.  With great difficulty, he lowered himself and sat down next to Bill, smiles, shakes his hand, and worshiped with him so he won’t be alone.

Everyone choked up with emotion. When the minister regained control, he said, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.”

The moral of the story, “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read”.

Now Friends, I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way……

His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares, you know He will see us through.   Amen

All My Love & Prayers,
Pastor Allen

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful.

–1 Corinthians 6:12

As Christ-followers, some choices that you and I face are spelled out clearly in the Scripture.

We are told not to lie, not to steal, not to commit adultery, and so on. And while some personal choices are a little less obvious, they are still extremely important.

You may be someone who can have a glass of wine and have it not adversely affect you. You may have no tendency toward alcohol abuse or addiction. But that’s really not the question. We have to be aware of how our choices impact our progress toward Christ-likeness, and how they impact others.

This is what the apostle Paul is saying in today’s verse. There are things that may be legal for you to do, but those things may not advance your growth in Christ Jesus. And those choices may distract others from seeing Jesus in you.

So regarding that glass of wine… or whatever choice you are considering… ask yourself how it will affect others… your children… your grandkids, or your friends. How will it affect your witness among strangers?

You see, you have a calling that is higher than laws. You have a God-given purpose. Your purpose is to live your life, and to make choices, that will bring honor and glory to your Savior Christ Jesus! Be no one’s alibi for not coming to Christ.

YOU HAVE A CALLING THAT IS HIGHER THAN LAWS.

YOU HAVE A GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE!

PowerPoint Ministries and Dr. Jack Graham

Wonderful! Counselor! The Mighty God!

The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.

For a child will be born to us,
a son will be given to us;
And the government will
rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase
of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it
with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore
The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will accomplish this. (1.A)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with
meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (2.B.)

(1.A.) = Isaiah 9:2; 6-7 NASB
(2.B.) =  James 1:17-22 KJV
Better Tomorrows 1990

Identify His voice; Good communication is a foundation for all healthy relationships. It is no different with our Creator. We must learn to identify His voice speaking to us in order to have a balanced relationship with Him.

Jesus Himself said, “My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).”

A disciple must hear His Master’s voice in order to be trained by His instructions. The scriptures warn,

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6

Intimate relationship

God is seeking personal intimate relationship with every believer. Ministers are called by God to point the way to Him, so that all men may return to His presence, and receive the fullness of His love. There are no men appointed in the New Testament to stand between God and His people, but Jesus.

Scripture says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Hearing God 25 Biblical Ways helps demonstrate how to get closer to Jesus to hear the will of Heaven for earth. Hairabedian points out that all true faith flows from “hearing God speak” (Romans 10:17).

God speaks

In his book, Hairabedian gives detailed explanations, with scripture references, for twenty five ways God speaks to His children. Many people have been hearing from God their whole life, but did not recognize the source of their encounters. Hearing God imparts the knowledge needed to learn to listen and discern God’s voice.

“As Christians our very lives are lived by what proceeds, and continues to proceed from the mouth of God. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being’  (Acts 17:28). Are you hearing His voice? Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear my voice’ (Jn. 10:27). Are you one of His sheep? Or possibly you’re still just a baby lamb? If you’re not recognizing, hearing, heeding, and obeying the Shepherd’s voice yet I believe God is bringing encouragement today to help you grow up, from a lamb into a sheep, from a convert into a disciple. The real Scriptural litmus test of spiritual maturity is this, recognizing God’s voice speaking to us an obeying what he says. ‘…And His sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (Jn. 10.4).”  Hearing God 25 Biblical Ways, page 4

Hearing God  has one chapter for each of the twenty five ways God speaks:

Quickening of the Holy Spirit

Internal Unctions

Perceiving

God’s Still Small Voice

Bearing Witness With Our Spirit

Songs in the Night

In Our Ear As We Wake in the Morning

In Our Ear As We Sleep in the Night

Visions

Dreams

Glimpses in the Spirit

Trances,

Through Messenger Angels,

Visitations of the Lord

Through Signs and Wonders,

Through our Five Spiritual Senses,

We Hear Incompletely

Through Dark Speech

We Don’t Hear – But the Spirit Intercedes for Us

Through Interpretation of Tongues

The Audible Voice of God

Through Animals

Through Other People

In Response to Our Own Idols

Through False Prophets to “Test Us”

Click here to purchase of copy of “Hearing God.”

About author

David C. Hairabedian is an ordained minister, and founder of HEART of America Prison Ministries. Pastor Hairabedien had a powerful conversion experience in 1990 while incarcerated at Leavenworth Penitentiary. For eighteen years he served the Lord as a minister behind bars. He presently ministers throughout the Kansas City metro in churches, homes and streets.

Exodus 40

To rally: “to muster for a common purpose . . . to arouse for action .. . to come together again to renew an effort.” That’s the way Webster defines the verb. He says the noun means: “a mustering of scattered forces to renew an effort; a summoning up of strength or courage.”

Throughout Scripture, we encounter God’s rallying points: places where His people assembled for a common purpose, for recovery and refreshment, for mustering forces and getting recharged for battle.

For Abraham it was Bethel, the place of the altar. For Moses it was The bush in the desert. For the Hebrews en route to Canaan? Well, they had several. During the day, a massive cloud overhead. At night, an enormous column of fire. Along the way, the tabernacle, that portable

sanctuary where the Lord met with His chosen ones. Later, it was the temple. Then, following the terrible years of Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah envisioned a plan for “mustering scattered forces to renew an effort” as he led a ragtag group of dejected Hebrews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.

Jesus Himself became a rallying point for a handful of men whose lives were otherwise destined for mediocrity. And after His departure, His Spirit came at Pentecost and ignited a spark as the church universal came into existence, offering perpetual hope for fractured, lost humanity.

Finally, today, you and I can look back and recall a specific place—our own Bethel or desert bush—where God became real to us again. Where would we be without rallying points? Places that catapult us into new dimensions we would otherwise never inhabit.

Today, rallying points are often provided by evangelistic crusades. Critics, of course, want us to believe these are nothing more than Some old-fashioned revivals where church folks gather, sing a few songs, listen to Bible preaching, then promptly go back to business as usual.

You and I know, however, that these meetings can be some of the most significant events ever held in America, for they may provide a fresh spiritual awakening that will be nothing short of revolutionary.

So, thank God for your own Bethel. And pray that He will provide the same for others.

Pray that He will arouse us for action and muster us for a common purpose in these days when our forces often seem scattered and when we need a summoning up of strength and courage. Rallying points replace flabby faith with the grit and gristle of godliness.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

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Note From Better Tomorrows / Golden Nuggets

For years now people have heard me encourage them to listen to Chuck Swindoll, you know there used to be a time when you could only go shortly down the Better Tomorrows  page there was not another link to Insight for Living Ministry. As for me I started listening to Swindoll on the radio years back, too many to count, although I was convinced that the message was clear, solid preaching from the Bible, now I like and listen to many speakers, I cannot say any I listen to speak anything less than God’s message, although I was convinced that this ministry would lead and many reading and listening audience to a closer walk with God, hens my desire to encourage people to listen @ wwwInsight.Org

“We were the ones who strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own, yet God laid on Him (Jesus) the guilt and sins of every one of us!” Isaiah 53:5

I have read results of a survey finding that most people live with a constant feeling of guilt. We feel guilty because we eat too much, because we don’t exercise enough, because we don’t spend enough time with our kids, spouse, relatives or friends, because we spend to much money or aren’t good enough providers for our family. And even though we can’t squeeze one more thing into our already frenzied schedule, we feel guilty because we are not doing enough.

Recently, I had lunch with an extremely gifted person who told me she felt guilty because she was not doing more of the things her friend was doing. I have learned that there are two kinds of guilt: real guilt and false guilt. My friend was feeling false guilt, and this is what I told her:

“God has given you many wonderful gifts and an amazing network of people. People love you. You are so good at what you do. I couldn’t possibly do those things. If you didn’t do what you did, those things would go left undone. You are just where the Lord wants you to be.”

The enemy of our souls is the “accuser,” and he will try to put these feelings of “not good enough” into our minds and hearts. Usually he puts this vague feeling of guilt in us, but nothing really specific. Don’t listen to him.

There is, however, a kind of guilt that is real. Sometimes we have sinful attitudes and do and say sinful things. It may be speaking angry words, swearing, gossiping, jealousy, flirting with someone other than your spouse, having an affair or eating or drinking too much. The Holy Spirit will convict us of these specific sins and we need to admit and confess them. Then, as 1 John 1:9 says, He will forgive and cleanse you and take away your guilt.

We need not walk with feelings of guilt. Christ has set us free from guilt and sin. Let’s walk in the freedom of forgiveness.

“Dear Father, would you please enable me to recognize if the guilt I feel is from your Holy Spirit convicting me of sin, or if is the enemy falsely accusing me.  Thank you! Amen”

READING: Ephesians 5:1-17

It is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. —Ephesians 5:12

While waiting at the doctor’s office, I read an article about the importance of freedom of speech. The writer suggested that producing obscene movies and pornography is good because it helps us to see our own potential for evil. He believes that naively thinking we are innocent is worse than knowing about and watching evil.

This rationale for evil is disturbing, especially for those of us who follow Christ. God doesn’t expect us to avoid all contact with wickedness. Jesus—God in the flesh—loves sinners. But in the book of Ephesians, Paul said: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret” (5:11-12).

Our responsibility is to expose evil by living a life of “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (v.9), and by not taking part in “the unfruitful works of darkness” (v.11). Hendriksen’s New Testament Commentary says that the conduct of believers as children of light exposes the deeds of those in darkness and reveals the vast contrast between the two.

It’s not realistic or wise to hide in a “holy cocoon.” But we don’t need to see evil to understand our propensity to sin. Expose the darkness by living in the Light.  — Anne Cetas

Lord, keep us from entanglements That choke Your Spirit’s work within, So we can then reflect Your light Into a world that’s dark with sin.  —Sper

Children of the light will not be comfortable in the dark. READ: Ephesians 5:1-17

Publications of Our Daily Bread RBC Ministries. RBC FOUNDER M. R. De Haan

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

May The Lord God of all Bless Your Life.

But he did not answer her a word. And
his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

When the disciples were walking through
the city with Jesus one day, a Canaanite woman came clamoring after him yelling, “Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!”

The disciples saw this woman as an annoyance and someone to avoid, as we see in today’s verse, when they
basically said, “Jesus, make her go away; she’s a crazy lady!”

There’s a reason God allows us to see the disciples’ bad attitude here. You see, this same attitude can be
found in many churches today. Too often, the church doesn’t want to be bothered with sinful, desperate people. The church isn’t comfortable around the lost. These people have baggage. They can be rough around the edges!

Yet we should never look with condemnation at those who struggle with unhealthy behaviors or bad life decisions. Instead, as Christ-followers, we should bless and
encourage those seeking hope and bring them to the feet of our Lord… the same place where we found our own salvation.

Will you be this kind of Christ-follower? Remember the grace you received, and be generous in spirit with those who desperately need his touch.

BE GENEROUS IN SPIRIT WITH THOSE WHO
DESPERATELY NEED JESUS’ TOUCH.

–Dr. Jack Graham, please visit
http://www.jackgraham.org

“Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” Joshua 3:4a (NIV)

Do you have a fear of the unknown? If so, then you know how nerve-racking it can be. Fearing the unknown can cause us to live on pins and needles as we spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. There are two problems with this type of fear:

1. The future is not here.
2. The future is not ours.

While the future may be out of our hands, it’s not out of the hands of an adequate and trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example.

It’s recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land—the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.

Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God’s direction. Much like their meeting with the Red Sea, God had to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant (where God’s Presence abided) to follow it because they had “never passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4). In essence God was saying, Follow Me and I’ll see you through this unknown territory.

That’s not all. The people were instructed on how closely they should follow the ark. Without this instruction, the people would have crowded the ark and God wanted every person to be able to see His presence eve r faithfully leading them through the unknown valley. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, a God who was with them?

You see, friend, the Lord understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you’ve never passed through before and you’re afraid. It may be the first time you’ve been without employment. Maybe you’ve just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You’ve never been down this road before and you don’t know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way.

Joshua’s life was unpredictable and full of unknowns much like yours and mine. Yet, he successfully resisted fear by keeping his focus on God rather than the events surrounding him. Just as God guided the Israelites through unknown territory, He will guide you and me too. When we come to a place we’ve never passed through before, God is always present to help us.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isaiah 43:2,3b, NIV).

Even though the children of Israel were not told how they would pass over the river, the people went forth in faith. We too can move forward in faith sharing in the promised presence of God leading the way through our unknown circumstances.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promised presence. It comforts my heart to know that I am not alone. Lead me, Lord, through the unknown in my life. Make Your path clear and I will follow it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Micca’s blog – Reflections

Today ‘s devotion was taken from Micca’s book, An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger Than All Your Fears.

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:
The Bible calls us to walk by faith not by sight. God doesn’t always give us the details we desire.

He does give us Himself. Believing is certainty that He’s laid out a path and He goes before us.

Reflections:

How can God’s promised presence soothe your fears?

Power Verses:
Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11, “‘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.’” (NIV)

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 Ministries

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by Dr. Bill Bright

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 ( KJV)

Several years ago I had the privilege of meeting with a world-famous theologian. This great scholar had denied the deity of Christ and had taught thousands of seminarians who had studied under him that Jesus was only a great man and a great teacher. He was not God incarnate, and surely could not forgive sin and provide rest to His followers. Yet, in a unique way God had created a hunger in his heart for truth and for two years he had done an in-depth study of the life of Jesus.

As we met together in his office, he asked, “What do you tell a student when he asks you how to become a Christian?”

When I realized he was sincere, I proceeded to explain why I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and why all men everywhere need Him as their Savior and Lord, and how anyone who wants to can receive Him.

“I am persuaded,” he said after a long while, “that no honest person who is willing to consider the overwhelming evidence for the deity of Christ can deny that He is the Son of God.”

This great scholar, who had denied the deity of Christ all his life and encouraged millions of others to think likewise, bowed in prayer and received Christ into his life as Savior and Lord.

Jesus Christ stands out clearly as the one supernaturally unique figure in all of history. He is incomparable. He invites all who will to experience His love and forgiveness. “Come unto Me.” He welcomes “all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:23-27

Today’s Action Point: Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, I will seek to make sure that every loved one, every friend, every contact I make today is fully aware of the fact that God loves him, that Jesus Christ died for him and will welcome him into His family through a simple act of faith. I will tell him that He offers peace and rest – from life’s burdens – to all who follow Him in faith and obedience.

“Love,” Paul says, “never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV).

The verb Paul uses for the word fail is used elsewhere to describe the demise of a flower as it falls to the ground, withers, and decays. It carries the meaning of death and abolishment. God’s love, says the apostle, will never fall to the ground, wither, and decay. By its nature, it is permanent. It is never abolished.

Love “will last forever” (NLT).

It “never dies” (MSG).

It “never ends” (RSV).

Love “is eternal” (TEV).

God’s love “will never come to an end” (NEB).

Love never fails.

Governments will fail, but God’s love will last. Crowns are temporary, but love is eternal. Your money will run out, but His love never will. How could God have a love like this? No one has unfailing love. No person can love with perfection. You’re right. No person can. But God is not a person. Unlike our love, His never fails. His love is immensely different from ours.

Our love depends on the receiver of the love. Let a thousand people pass before us, and we will not feel the same about each. Our love will be regulated by their appearance, by their personalities. Even when we find a few people we like, our feelings will fluctuate. How they treat us will affect how we love them. The receiver regulates our love.

Not so with the love of God. We have no thermostatic impact on his love for us. The love of God is born from within Him, not from what He finds in us. His love is uncaused and spontaneous.

Does he love us because of our goodness? Because of our kindness? Because of our great faith? No, He loves us because of his goodness, kindness, and great faith. John says it like this: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us” (1 John 4:10 NIV).

Doesn’t this thought comfort you? God’s love does not hinge on yours. The abundance of your love does not increase His. The lack of your love does not diminish His. Your goodness does not enhance His love, nor does your weakness dilute it. What Moses said to Israel is what God says to us:

The LORD did not choose you and lavish His love on you because you were larger or greater than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the LORD Loves you. (Deut. 7:7-8 NLT)

God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so.

A Love Worth Giving He loves you when you don’t feel lovely.

He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.

This is his sentiment: “I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them Beloved” (Rom. 9:25 MSG).

This is his promise. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting Love. With unfailing Love I have drawn you to Myself” (Jer. 31:3 NLT).

From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

A “Know-So” or a “Hope-So” Salvation?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

If you think you’re going to get to heaven by your good works, I guarantee you will always wonder if you’ve done enough. You will not have a “know-so” salvation. You will have a “hope-so” salvation. Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until you understand that it’s all by grace.

Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.

Who can you share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give you a bold Love and a divine opportunity to do just that. We also invite you to read “You Can Be Sure” for more insights on the eternal security of the believer. –Pastor Adrian Rogers

John 8:31-36

We live in a land where men and women have fought and even given their lives to protect liberty, yet ironically, masses of our citizens are in bondage. Of course, these people are not bound by literal chains, but their hearts are enslaved by sin. Today’s passage explains that when we continually commit wrongs, we’re imprisoned by them. Let’s explore how this happens.

The process starts off subtly with a desire for something. We might give in a little, and the yearning starts growing stronger.  At first, our conscience warns us, and we might confess the sin. But we give in again and begin to justify our actions. In time, if this cycle continues, the sting of conscience gradually weakens until we no longer feel it. At that point, we are enslaved.

The sin can be as obvious as pornography or substance abuse. But it can also be more difficult to recognize, like ungodly priorities involving a drive for success, prosperity, and power. Even a hunger to strengthen a ministry can be sinful. There is a difference between being motivated and led by the Holy Spirit and being pushed by our own insatiable desire.

Bondage to sin has consequences. It damages emotions, divides the mind, instills fear, guilt and insecurity, and creates hopeless addiction to its power.

Praise God—Jesus can set us free. The first step to liberty is recognition of our current captivity. Does sin have a powerful hold on you? Ask almighty God to reveal wrong attitudes, actions, and priorities. These are not always obvious, but He lovingly desires to show you and break you free.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit http://www.intouch.org.

Watch Dr. Charles Stanley & In Touch Ministries Video’s Online