Happy New Years

• We measure time in years on a calendar, but eternity is timeless. We all have a purpose to fulfill in God's eternal Kingdom, and we have time to work now while we are here. 
  
  I feel this way: If I am going to work hard in this life, I want to make sure it is meaningful, not meaningless. I believe that can only be so with God.
  
  In this new year, I pray that you will set your heart to do whatever you have to do to discover and become what He has for you to be.
  
  (And what can you do today, Jan. 1, 2015? A great way to begin the new year would be to sincerely ask God to do whatever He needs to do in your life to cause you to be what He needs you to be.)

Your Pass Is The Best Teacher

• "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
  
  I want to learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes over and over. I can learn from history and other people's mistakes, of course. However, if I am truly honest with myself and ask for God's help, I can also learn from my own.

---

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (1 Cor 10:1-6 NIV)

Feelings Or Faith

•  have been in ministry a long time, and I have seen people pray, but, judging by actions, not expect God to respond. While there is not time here to go in depth, I will say that for some, it was a conflict between feelings and a decision. How does that work?
  
  We may not feel confident, but that is distinct from a decision to trust God. Example: you may not always feel loving toward someone, but that does not mean that you do not love them. Bottom line: do not confuse your faith with your feelings.
  
  I pray that as you bring needs to God, you will KNOW that He will hear and respond. Beyond feel, beyond hope--KNOW, with full and complete expectation--that He will respond because you have made a decision to believe the One who always does what He promises.

---

If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6 NLT)

Your Feelings

• Today's message deals with being "real". So, let's be.
  
  We feel many things when we are going through "stuff"; we can feel grief, frustration, conflict, depression, confusion, and so much more. It is normal, and contrary to what I have heard taught or implied, experiencing such feelings is not a failure of faith.
  
  That said, I believe that while we cannot always prevent conflicting feelings, aside from a physical or emotional illness or condition, we should make efforts to control how we respond to them.
  
  The principle in today's message helps me keep feelings in perspective, to some degree at least. I am not saying that it invalidates or lessens what I feel, nor should it be a pollyannish way of responding.
  
  Real feelings must first be admitted; only then can they be dealt with. But keeping them in perspective of what Jesus has done for us is, for me, a crucial and essential step in the overcoming process.

---

But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf. He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross. (Heb 7:24-25,27 NLT)

Are You Like Jonah

• Think about Jonah: God told him to preach repentance in the capital of the Assyrian Empire. He didn't like Assyria and would rather see them destroyed. So...
  
  He tried to flee from God on a ship. Didn't work.
  
  Then he was thrown overboard in a storm (b-i-g storm!). Didn't drown.
  
  Then he was swallowed by a fish (b-i-g fish!). Didn't die.
  
  Then, wrapped in seaweed, he was spit up on the beach. Then God repeated the instruction. Then he obeyed. Then Nineveh repented.
  
  As you read this, get the point, but don't judge Jonah too harshly. Remember: we all learn the hard way sometimes.
  
  And what is the point? I enjoy a good seaweed salad at my favorite Asian restaurant, but I don't want to do what Jonah did to get one. Better to obey God the first time. Wouldn't you agree?

---

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:1-5-10 NIV)

Make A Change!

• Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
  
  I want to learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes over and over. I can learn from history and other people's mistakes, of course. However, if I am truly honest with myself and ask for God's help, I can also learn from my own.

---

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (1 Cor 10:1-6 NIV)

Wise Men Still Seek Him

• This is the time of year when Jesus' birth as a human being is acknowledged. Some professing Believers choose to focus more on materialism or secular celebrations than on Jesus. Others want to argue details, e.g., "He really was not born this time of year."
  
  In my opinion, most important, is that He was born, He lived, He died as the atonement sacrifice for our sin, He was resurrected, and He is alive now and forevermore.
  
  In order to die for our sin, He first had to be born. Do not let the hustle, hassle, social pressures, and commercialism of this season rob you of time to contemplate and honor all that Jesus did for us.
  
  Though cliche, this is true: "Jesus is the reason for the season."

---

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:12-14 NIV)

Responsibility of Reactions

• Newton's third law:
  
  "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
  
  Actions have consequences. It is unavoidable--in the physical realm and in the spiritual. Scripture expresses the same concept: "A man reaps what he sows." (Gal 6:7b NIV)
  
  So, best to carefully consider what we set in motion by our words and actions... or lack of them. (The "equal and opposite reaction" pendulum could swing right back and bonk us!)

---

The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a pit to trap others and then fall into it themselves. They make trouble, but it backfires on them. They plan violence for others, but it falls on their own heads. (Psa 7:14-16 NLT)

Judge

• Have you ever seen something you thought was wrong, jumped to a conclusion before you knew the facts--and before you asked the Lord about it--and blurted out something that you later regretted?
  
  Yeah? (Me, too.) Do you know anyone who hasn't? (I don't either.)
  
  It really annoys me when people do that to me. Think how the Lord must feel! I am grateful for His patience. Aren't you?

---

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. (Mat 26:6-10 NIV)

Bad Times Don't Last

• You are loving God. You are trusting Him. You are following Him with all your heart. And... WHAM--something really bad happens! Does that mean that God abandoned you, or is unable to take care of you?
  
  Absolutely not! This may not be what you what to hear, but Hebrews 12:7 says: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children." (TNIV)
  
  I can tell you that the hardships I have experienced are far more precious to me now than the easy times ever were. Even if it were possible, I would not undo them now--and if you know anything of my life, that is saying a lot!
  
  I have said before, "If it took all the pain I have gone through to know God as I know Him now, it was a bargain." So, if you are in difficulties now, take courage and take heart; God can turn it all to more good than you can now imagine.

---

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. (Phil 2:25-27 NIV)

The Power of Prayer

Satan tries to limit our praying, because he knows our praying will limit him. (Never under estimate the power of prayer! I'm praying God blesses the works of our hands in all we're called to do.

Being Attack

• Ever found yourself in a "situation"--one of those that you were not expecting... and it found you first?
  
  Jeremiah was in one. He trusted God in his. We can trust Him in ours.

---

Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. (Lam 3:52-58 NIV)

Distractions

• An illusionist (a.k.a. magician) distracts you from what is really happening and keeps your attention on what you think is happening. Then, when the act is over, you wonder what happened.
  
  We have an enemy that often does the same thing. Don't be deceived.

---

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV)

Praise

Praying we wake up each morning, praising the Lord for the gift of being alive. And He would give us  power to make it count for something or someone's good.  Finish Strong, Stay Hungry & Humble.

Victory

Psalms 118:21 “I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!” (Your test to a testimony, your mess to a message, all to the victory of God's glory!) 

Hope

Job 11:18 “Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.” (Hope is the foundation from which faith is built. Praying your hope is strengthened everyday.

Fear

Psalms 56:3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Trust God even when you can't trace God.) 

Wisdom

1 Chronicles 22:12 “May the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning All that your called to do." 

Peace

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all Amen. (No circumstance is so big that God cannot control it. Sometimes we just have to let go and let God.) 

God is!

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Lord I don't asked you make life easier. I ask you gives us strength to face and overcome lives troubles.) 

Guilt

What believers do about guilty feelings has a lot to do with what they understand about guilt. By definition, the word refers to a sense of wrongdoing—an emotional conflict arising from second thoughts about a particular action or thought. The biblical method for clearing away such feelings is repentance.

However, many believers are plagued by false guilt, which is not actually rooted in sin. It can develop in several ways:

A church caught up in legalism can foster this unhealthy feeling. A member may not do enough of what is “required” (such as praying, Bible reading, and witnessing). Or she may do things that others in the church categorize as wrong, even though there’s no scriptural basis for their opinion.

Painful memories of abuse in childhood often lead an adult to believe he is somehow to blame for the sins committed against him.

Hearing believers’ criticisms of others can lead to low self-esteem. Without clear discernment, a person may get the sense that he can’t measure up to God’s standards or the world’s.

Intimacy

In all of God’s creation, just one thing did not meet with His approval. He beheld Adam, who was the only being of his kind, and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). The Creator designed people for emotional, mental, and physical intimacy so they’d be able to share their innermost selves with one another. 

Jesus explained this to His disciples, saying they should love each other as He had loved them. In a God-honoring friendship, two people build each other up and spur one another toward Christlikeness. Many people, however, fall far short of making and maintaining relationships that sharpen their faith (Proverbs 27:17). They instead welcome the trivial talk of casual acquaintances: The weather, tough bosses, and world affairs are safe topics. Sadly, believers often shy away from the penetrating conversations about sin, accountability, and biblical living that would serve to enrich their faith.

Faith vs. Adversity

doesn’t seem fair, does it? Paul spent the second half of his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isn’t a question just about Paul; it’s an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn’t necessarily do so. 

Maybe our reasoning is backwards. We think faithful Christians don’t deserve to suffer, but from God’s perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we’d never really know God, because we’d never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will. 

I’m not saying we don’t need to know Scripture; that’s our foundation for faith. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head knowledge. How will we ever know that God can be trusted in the midst of trouble if we’ve never been challenged by hardship? The Lord gives us opportunities to apply scriptural truths to the difficulties facing us, and in the process, we find Him faithful. For example, how would Paul ever have known the strength of Christ if he had never been weakened by persecution, pain, and adversity? 

Depending on your response, trials can be God’s greatest means of building faith or an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you’ll believe what Scripture says and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through adversity. 

The Only Constant

People will sometimes say, “The only constant is change.” Fortunately, this is not true. There is One who never changes: Jesus Christ always remains the same. What a comforting truth! But it’s hard to find refuge in someone we don’t know well. So let’s explore the Lord’s actions to learn more about His nature.

• Jesus forgave others. He showed mercy, not judgment, to those who recognized their sin. For example, Jesus had compassion on the woman caught in adultery and stopped her death penalty with a few wise words. Then, instead of pronouncing condemnation, He said that her sins were forgiven (John 8:1-11).

Power

Almighty. Through the Savior’s perfect life and His sacrifice on the cross, our two greatest enemies have been defeated—Satan and death. Jesus set us free from slavery to sin; the devil has lost control over our lives. What’s more, we no longer face eternal separation from God. Jesus’ physical death has become the gateway to heaven, where we can live with the Father forever

Fear

Fear has been a part of man’s emotional makeup since the fall. When Adam and Eve rebelled against the Lord, they hid themselves from Him and were afraid (Genesis 3:10). Things haven’t changed much. Anxiety often affects our thinking and controls our actions. It can keep us boxed in and unwilling to venture into unknown territory. Ps. 27:1-4

God's Love

There is no place you can go where God’s love isn’t. You’ll never be separated from God’s love. Nothing — no circumstance, no situation — can separate you, because God’s love is everywhere: “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 NIV).

His thoughts are different then your thoughts

• Have you noticed in Scripture that when God speaks to a person, He always has a very different view and opinion of that person than that person has of themselves?
  
  Wonder why that is? Hmmm. Could it be that we do not see ourselves as valuable and precious as He sees us? Yep. Could be.
  
  If God called you, He equipped you (past tense). I believe He is waiting for us to believe it as much as He knows it. Now, I cannot speak for you, but for me, that is my lesson to learn for today!

---

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. (Jer 1:1, 4-8 NIV)

Trust

•  Trust God to work out every situation--even those that are beyond our control.

For we have found him to be a troublemaker, a man who is constantly inciting the Jews throughout the world to riots and rebellions against the Roman government. He is a ringleader of the sect known as the Nazarenes. Moreover he was trying to defile the Temple when we arrested him. Now it was Paul's turn. The governor motioned for him to rise and speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, and this gives me confidence as I make my defense. These men certainly cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. (Acts 24:5,6,10,13 NLT)

Doing the Hard things

• What do you do when you have to do something you deeply dislike: Do it anyway, postpone it, or avoid it? Jonah chose the later. He ran.
  
  He did not want to preach to the people of Nineveh. He deeply despised them and wanted to see them destroyed. However, after some "encouragement" (swallowed by a giant fish!) he spoke what God told him--and the unexpected happened: Nineveh repented and was spared.
  
  Has God commissioned you to do something that seems impossible or that you do not want to do? Remember: God did not command Jonah to produce results; He only required him to complete a task.
  
  It is the same for us: Results are God's responsibility. Ours is only to complete the task He gives us. (Thinking about it that way takes some of the pressure off, doesn't it?)

---

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:1-5,10 NIV)

Humility

Be humbled by God's power so that when the right time comes he will honor you. Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 GW)

Prayer: LORD, help me humble myself before You and trust You in all situations that would cause me anxiety or worry. It is easy to overlook this aspect of humility. Keep me always mindful that You love and care about me and that I can trust You in any situation because Your promises will never fail, regardless of circumstances. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Think about it!

• Which is more important: what we do or who we are? Think about it.
  
  It is easy to be caught up in tasks and demands. I know; I am there right now. However, if in all the doing we lose our intimacy with the Lord--who we are doing things for--what good is the doing?
  
  "Accomplishments or results, however notable, are not a basis of our relationship but a result of it".

---

That evening at sunset, many sick and demon possessed people were brought to Jesus. And a huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch. So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. But because they knew who he was, he refused to allow the demons to speak. The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. (Mark 1:32-35 NLT)

A Know it all

• One of God's qualities is omniscience. That means He knows everything. We say it almost flippantly sometimes without thinking about what it really means. That God really knows everything can be comforting or terrifying--if not both at the same time--depending on our relationship with Him and our circumstances.
  
  Example: The bad things we think or do? He already knows. And incredibly, He loves us anyway. That is comforting... and scary.
  
  So, do not hesitate to express your heart to Him: Nothing good or bad held back. You cannot surprise Him; He already knows anyway. He wants you to know that He knows and find strength in His knowing.

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The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. (Psa 94:11-14 NIV)

The Struggle

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. (Rom 15:30-32 NIV)

The struggle

I am bent over and racked with pain. My days are filled with grief. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance. Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps for me; they make plans to ruin me. They think up treacherous deeds all day long. But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. (Psa 38:6,8-9,11-15 NLT)

Trust Him

God is always good. People are not.

• People are sometimes mean. God is not.
  
  Did I miss anything?

---

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (Psa 25:1-5 NLT) 

Love

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (John 10:17-21 NIV)

A Different Weapon

• An illusionist (a.k.a. magician) distracts you from what is really happening and keeps your attention on what you think is happening. Then, when the act is over, you wonder what happened.
  
  We have an enemy that often does the same thing. Don't be deceived.

---

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV)

Emotions

• We have emotions because we are created in God's image; our emotions mirror His. We get into trouble when our "flesh nature" controls our emotions rather than being controlled by God's Spirit (Romans 8).
  
  Emotions can draw us to God or be the bond we feel for someone we love. They can also cause broken relationships, ruined opportunities, and so much more.
  
  Moses experienced the best and worst of both, you might say. God has given us these historical accounts in Scripture so we can learn from them. Better that way than the hard way...

---

So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes. (Deu 9:15-17 NIV)

Change

• unless you change..."
  
  Profound words. Especially when spoken by Jesus. 
  
  God has brought great revelation (and healing for me of some very, very old emotional wounds) through these circumstances. I am very grateful for that, however, this continues to be a very difficult situation on many levels day-to-day, the scope of which I simply cannot share in this brief format.
  
  

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:1- 4 NIV

Consider yourself

• Do you know someone who likes to point out others' faults? They often think they are being spiritual. Truth is, they are not.
  
  "Don't shoot the wounded. Someday you might be one."
  
  Singer, Chuck Girard, sang that years ago. It is an incredible song; the lyrics are direct and powerful. Do a search and listen. It will challenge you. It may even convict you. It certainly very well expresses the heart of today's Scripture.
  
  I listened several times. Then I prayed.

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And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (2 Th 3:13-15 NIV)

Consider yourself

• I once heard someone say to a counselor: "I just tell them like it is." The counselor responded: "That is just another way of saying that you do not care about their feelings." That was wisdom.
  
  Sometimes that is true. Other times, however, something true and direct must be spoken even though it has the potential to cause discomfort or division if taken the wrong way.
  
  More wisdom: Listen to the Holy Spirit over your own emotions. Emotions can change or mislead. God never changes; He is always true. He knows when you should speak, and when you should be silent.

---

Am I now your enemy because I tell you the truth? Those people are working hard to persuade you, but this is not good for you. They want to persuade you to turn against us and work hard for them. (Gal 4:16-17 ERV)

Feels Like sometimes

• If you have been reading this message for any time now, you know that I do not hesitate to be brutally candid, even if it does not place me in a complimentary light. With that in mind, allow me to share some very private thoughts:
  
  There are times when I do not feel like praising God. It is not "personal"; He knows that (however, that is no excuse). There are just some days when I am just so weary from the struggle, it is an accomplishment to make it to bed. Other days, emotions are running amuck. Still others, there are more demands than hours.
  
  Then, I think about what Jesus did for me: His sacrifice, the blessings, His grace and mercy, my commission... And can I not at least say, "Thank you!"? I should be more disciplined. And grateful.
  
  I doubt that I am alone in these thoughts, so, regardless of your circumstances today, join with me and express your gratitude to the Lord for all He has done.

---

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psa 34:1-5 NIV)

Something's we just accept

• On a macro scale, we cannot determine how large the Universe is (or is becoming). On a micro scale, we cannot determine how small it is: Atomic, then subatomic, then... what beyond that? Further, we understand very little about quantum mechanics and the mysteries that realm holds. And there is more still.
  
  If we cannot determine the scale, boundaries, properties, and mechanics of the Universe in which we exist, how do we have the arrogance to even begin to think that we understand the Lord who created it and transcends it all?
  
  We MUST accept Him by faith, because truly, as David said: "...His greatness no one can fathom." That is reason to praise Him!
  
  A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (Psa 145:1-3 NIV)

Happy Memorial

• Happy Memorial Day to our U.S. readers: We honor military members, past and present. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. And honor to all the loved ones who stood for and with those who serve and served. Thank you. God Bless You. You are heroes, all.
  

  ---

  
  When the "storms" of life come, most people take a logical course of action in response such as the sailors in today's Scripture. They were behaving logically: it is what they were taught and trained to do; it made sense to them.
  
  However, there may be times when God has a different (and better) solution than ours. We should always check in with Him first before we take matters into our own hands.
  
  Point in case: God's solution for Paul and those with him did not make sense--but it was right and it saved their lives.

---

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away. (Acts 27:25,27,29-32 NIV)

Fix it!

• When we encounter a need, we sometimes (misguidedly) think that we are always supposed to "fix" it. I do not believe that. I believe that sometimes, God works through circumstances that do not need our "fixing" (interference), as in today's Scripture. Think about this:
  
  In Acts 3, there was a man "whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple" (v.2). Peter and John healed him (v.6-7). How many times did Jesus pass by this man... and did not heal him?
  
  Does the fact that Jesus did not heal him imply that He did not care? Absolutely not! It demonstrates that Jesus listened to and obeyed His Father in every situation He encountered--as should we.

---

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. So please don't despair because of what they are doing to me here. It is for you that I am suffering, so you should feel honored and encouraged. When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. (Eph 3:12-15 NLT)

A Constant

• In my opinion (and experience), we live by our feelings, unconsciously assuming that what we feel is reality. It goes like this: When an emotion changes, we (unconsciously) think, "I feel different, therefore, things are now different. Oh no! What do I do?"
  
  There is truth that is transcendent of our feelings. Emotions change. Truth does not. In John 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus: "What is truth?" Truth is God's eternal, unchanging Word: It does not change, regardless of what we think, feel, or believe.
  
  So, regardless of circumstances or what you feel right now, read the Scripture below and let it sink in: This is true! Let the unchanging Truth of God's Word influence your feelings and your life today.

---

I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psa 121 NIV)

Words

• I like words. I suppose you could say that I am a "word enthusiast". I believe David was too, judging from his writing.
  
  From today's Scripture, the words "miry depths" even sound as bad as that place is, don't they? They are quite descriptive of the place we can find ourselves sometimes.
  
  Have you been there? Are you there? Candidly, there have been times when it felt like that was my home address. Tough times.
  
  I discovered that God still loved me, even in the "miry depths", regardless of how I got there. He remained with me in the "miry depths"--even in the worst of times. Because of that, I now have confidence that He will be there, even if I visit "101 Miry Depths" again (emphasis on "visit"!). 
  
  I believe it is so for you too. Do you?

---

I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. (Psa 69:2,3,5,13,16 NIV)

Seek God not a Organization

• I find it disturbing when people talk more about the organization than they do God, because in my opinion, the organizations exist only to provide a connection for fellowship and a structure for worship, teaching, and evangelism. They are not a purpose in and of themselves without the Lord. (Or did I misunderstand something?)
  
  "Forget the bass." It's all about the Lord. Seek Him wholeheartedly.

---

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (2 Chr 31:20-21 NIV)

God is Good

God is always good. People are not.

People are sometimes mean. God is not.

• Did I miss anything?

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (Psa 25:1-5 NLT) 

Distractions

• 
  An illusionist (a.k.a. magician) distracts you from what is really happening and keeps your attention on what you think is happening. Then, when the act is over, you wonder what happened.
  
  We have an enemy that often does the same thing. Don't be deceived.

---

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV)

Change

• It has been said: "The only constant is change." Truly, there are few things in our lives that do not change, and even fewer things (or people) we can absolutely depend on.
  
  Most of the time, we "deal with it". However...
  
  There are times when we need to know that there is something we can depend on that will not change and that cannot be changed, something that is real, true, and genuine, and something that is greater than us.
  
  There is something. Someone. He has never changed--and never will: His Word is eternal. We can depend on that. We can depend on Him.

---

Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. (Psa 119:89-93 NIV)

You are replaceable

• The people in Luke 19:37-40 were doing something very important: They were fulfilling specific prophecy. Important as they were for that time and place, however, they were not indispensable.
  
  I have a stone sitting on my bookcase. It is brown, small, smooth, and looks a lot like a baked russet potato. Nothing remarkable. Very common-looking. It even survived the fire in 2012 because... well... it is a rock.
  
  It is there for a reason: It is to remind me that a rock could take my place if I do not fulfill my purpose in God, maintain my relationship with Him, and praise Him with a grateful heart.
  
  God's purpose will be accomplished, with or without us. Personally, I prefer "with".

---

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19:37-40 NIV)

Feelings of neglect

• Have you experienced this: In the most difficult times, people seem to disappear? Friends are not available. Calls are not returned. Even loved ones are too busy, stay away, or do not care or listen.
  
  Been there. There now. Likely will be again. It is "life". It hurts. David experienced it. Jesus too. We are no exception.
  
  It does feel good to be understood, however, someone's understanding cannot really fix a problem. It can help how or what you feel or understand about a problem, but it is seldom a real solution.
  
  On the other hand, God knows and understands every difficulty you face--and He can make a difference. And in my experience, He usually starts making the difference in me first, and then in the circumstances only when I am ready--ready from His perspective, that is.

---

I am weak and utterly crushed; I cry out in distress because of my heart's anguish. Lord, all my longings are before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me, even the gleam in my eye is gone. As for my friends and my neighbors, they stand aloof from my distress; even my close relatives stand at a distance. (Psa 38:8-11 ISV)

Live in confidence

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psa 16:8-11 NIV)

Complete Trust

• Sometimes we read Scripture and the symbolism seems to have no relevance to our everyday lives. The words we read can feel sterile, disconnected from the demands of life and stresses we face and feel.
  
  But are they really?
  
  Consider the "valley of the shadow of death" in today's Scripture. Some people equate it to the loss of a loved one or a serious illness. I believe that it can also be a profound loss of joy or hope, a failed relationship, a lost job, a depressive episode, or a deep, dark pit you emotionally stumble into when circumstances are overwhelming.
  
  Now, think about what is your "valley"--and read Psalm 23 again.

---

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psa 23:4-6 NIV)

Standing Alone

• Sometimes doing what is right is easy; it can make you a hero. Other times, however, you must stand alone, be misunderstood, and risk painful rejection--even from people who care about you.
  
  It comes down to a decision. Whether intentional or unaware, we all have a choice at every decision point. We can either do what is right before God, even if it means being rejected by others or facing personal loss in some way, or, we can attempt to please others or avoid loss, rejection, or pain--even if it means offending God.
  
  An example is what you just read. Hard, direct words? Yes. Even harsh? To some. Will some readers be offended or reject what I said (and reject me in the process)? Potentially.
  
  Was it what I believe God would have me say? (You know the answer.)

---

When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. (Mat 9:23-26 NIV)

Call and be Delivered

Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. (Psa 3:2-6 NIV)

Be careful

• Some people want to see God's judgment fall. They may think a person, a category of people, or an entire nation deserves judgment.
  
  Personal opinion: That is not our determination to make!
  
  Do you know anyone like that? I do. I vividly remember that person's harsh, hateful, condemning words, praying for God's punishment on someone. And I still shudder when I think about it because I really do not believe they in the least comprehended what they were doing.
  
  When God said that vengeance belonged to Him, He meant it.

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When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. (Jonah 3:10-4:1 NIV)

Feelings

• The day before Yesterday, about feelings I said: "...we should make efforts to control how we respond to them." So, how does one do that? I can tell you what I understand and make every effort to do:
  
  When I feel something like worry or fear in a situation, I recognize that I am at a decision point: I can believe what I see and feel, or, I can choose to believe what God said--if that conflicts with what I see and feel. The decision is to believe one over the other.
  
  It helps to make that decision pre-crisis, as David expressed in these verses. Then, when a crisis occurs, your decision will be whether or not to hold to what you have already decided.
  
  (From experience I can tell you: that is far easier than trying to determine what to do at the point of crisis.) 
  
  Does that help?

---

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psa 20:5-7 NIV)

Actions

• "If we really understood why we do what we do, we would not do a lot of what we do."

---

As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal 1:9-10 NIV)

Feelings

• Today's message deals with being "real". So, let's be.
  
  We feel many things when we are going through "stuff"; we can feel grief, frustration, conflict, depression, confusion, and so much more. It is normal, and contrary to what I have heard taught or implied, experiencing such feelings is not a failure of faith.
  
  That said, I believe that while we cannot always prevent conflicting feelings, aside from a physical or emotional illness or condition, we should make efforts to control how we respond to them.
  
  The principle in today's message helps me keep feelings in perspective, to some degree at least. I am not saying that it invalidates or lessens what I feel, nor should it be a pollyannish way of responding.
  
  Real feelings must first be admitted; only then can they be dealt with. But keeping them in perspective of what Jesus has done for us is, for me, a crucial and essential step in the overcoming process.

---

But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf. He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross. (Heb 7:24-25,27 NLT)

A Matrix

• Choice. The problem is choice." - Neo, The Matrix Reloaded, Wachowski Brothers, 2003
  
  I liked the movie but I disagree with Neo: I believe choice is an opportunity--the greatest given to humanity by God. However, the consequences of a person's choice could be a problem... You think?
  
  (A look back: This Today's Seed was sent 16 years ago today.)

---

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23 NIV)

God knows best

• When you ask God for something and you do not get what you asked for, do you feel that He did not answer your prayer? Do you feel neglected, or perhaps even rejected?
  
  Today's message deals with one reason the answer we want may not come. But then, there can be many.
  
  The bottom line is that God is going to do "what is best for you even when it is not what you think you need or want at the moment". As for me, I am glad it is that way; I had rather trust His judgment over my own any day.

---

You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:2-3 NIV)

God has the answer

• "Once more...": two short words that imply much! Do you sometimes feel as though you are fighting the same battles over and over?
  
  David asked God for direction--even when he faced a enemy he had faced before. He did not assume that the same solution would apply.
  
  I believe that God always has a solution. I also believe that our greatest challenges are understanding it and being obedient to it.

---

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (2 Sam 5:22-25 NIV)

Let God do what he does

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psa 127:1-2 NIV)

Try the Spirit By The Spirit

• I have learned that many people who claim to speak for God or about Him are not speaking by Him or on His authority. Sometimes they are speaking only of themselves. And other times... worse.
  
  God does speak through people, and He uses people to impart wisdom, information, and other things we need to hear. Such "words" have been a lifeline for me in many trying times in my life.
  
  But in everything, use wisdom and discernment, and do not accept something just because someone associates God's name with it--and that includes what I am saying here.

---

One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon- possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. (Acts 16:16-18NLT)

Normal to Grow

• "Growth is the only evidence of life." - John Henry Newman

---

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isa 53:2-4 NIV)

Do Good

• Do you know that how we treat people really matters to God?
  
  In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said essentially that what we do for them, we do for Him. Think about the implication of that!
  
  Do not let an opportunity slip by to do something good for someone. One of those opportunities could manifest any moment now...

---

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Heb 6:10-12 NIV)

Some Things Are a Necessity

• I have talked to people who turned away from God because of a corrupt minister, false teacher, or a hypocrite in church.
  
  What if they said to you: "I am not going to drink water because it is not perfectly clean; there may be contaminates in it."? You would (rightfully) think they were "off".
  
  But isn't it the same principle? I think so. You cannot physically survive without water. You cannot spiritually survive without God.
  
  Do spiritually what you would do physically: filter out the trash and drink deeply--of the pure living water that God gives.

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If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:3-6 NIV)

Making the right connection

• When an electrical connection is made, power is transferred.
  
  When a people-connection is made, something is transferred too.
  
  Use wisdom in the connections you make so the right stuff will be transferred. Who you choose as a friend is important to you. It is also important to God because it affects you--and He cares about you.

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Don't be friends with people who become angry easily. Don't stay around quick-tempered people. If you do, you may learn to be like them. Then you will have the same problems they do. (Pro 22:24-25 ERV)

It's for you

• Has God put a dream in your heart? Do you know He has a purpose for your life that has not yet come to pass?
  
  If yes, then stand strong and hold fast to that dream until you see it fulfilled. If God has truly given it to you, then you do not have to let it go for anyone or anything.

---

"They have moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." (Gen 37:17-20 NIV)

Peace

• It is encouraging to me when I hear from readers who read this message and they are still reading It If you are one of them, please let me know. Thanks!

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (2 Cor 1:2-5 NIV)

Check your foundation

• Building on sand does not work because it shifts and changes. Without a firm foundation, any building will eventually lose its structural integrity and fall. It is inevitable.
  
  Life works the same way and what we build our life on matters. Feelings shift and change; God and His unfailing promises do not.
  
  How do you know whether you are building your life on your feelings or God's integrity? Here's a test:
  
  
  When something unexpected happens or something goes wrong, what do you think about first: how you feel or what God said?

---

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 6:18-20 NIV)

Stay Connected

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I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 NIV)

God has no beginning

• Sometimes we need to be reminded that before the circumstances that trouble us existed, God was.
  
  Where we are now, in that troubling situation, He is.
  
  And in the future, where His solution, resolution, or rescue already exists, He is already there.

---

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." (Acts 12:7,9,11 NIV)

And Somebody is Wrong!

• God is always right. He is always good. He always does what is best for me. Even when I do not understand. Even when it does not feel like it. Even when it conflicts with what I want or think I need. Even when I question what He is doing. Even when I am upset with Him.
  
  That sounds like so much spiritual rhetoric, doesn't it?
  
  Well, it is not. It is what I learned to be true through precious and costly experience. Because those things were learned through great pain and sacrifice, they are truths I will never forget and never doubt again.
  
  It is something like this: Once you have been burned, you will never again doubt or take for granted that fire is hot. Because you have experienced it, you believe in it and respect it.
  
  Understand now?

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Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:15-20 NIV)

Wrong Focus

• I have known people who aggressively found fault with other people's walk with God; they somehow believed it was their "calling". I have even seen entire organizations with such an attitude (mis)use Scripture to condemn and punish anyone who disagreed with them.
  
  They hurt a lot of people.
  
  We must speak the truth--and sometimes that means exposing error--however, "there is a right way and a wrong way...".
  
  The bottom line: God is the Judge. We are not. His Word is the final Word.

---

In a loud voice Jesus said: Everyone who has faith in me also has faith in the one who sent me. And everyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. I am the light that has come into the world. No one who has faith in me will stay in the dark. I am not the one who will judge those who refuse to obey my teachings. I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge. But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day by what I have said. (Joh 12:44-48 CEV)

Trust

• 
  Trusting in God and His word does not mean that difficult circumstances will become easy, that painful things will no longer hurt, or that everything we do will have apparent success and immediate gratification.
  
  It does mean that through trust in God and His unfailing promises, we can survive difficulties, come out of them wiser, better, stronger, and more mature, and that regardless of how something looks in the short-term, God can turn it to our good in the end.
  
  To me, that is real success. (Don't just take my word for it; it's all there in the book.)

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Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the LORD, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do. (Psa 1:1-3 GNB)

Under Attack

• Ever found yourself in a "situation"--one of those that you were not expecting... and it found you first?
  
  Jeremiah was in one. He trusted God in his. We can trust Him in ours.

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Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. (Lam 3:52-58 NIV)

Love

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The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (John 10:17-21 NIV)

Try Him!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psa 34:8-14 NIV)

Communication

• 
  I believe that communication is an absolute necessity in a relationship and that you cannot maintain a relationship with someone without communicating with them.
  
  I also believe that our communication with the Lord is an indicator of the health and maturity of our relationship with Him. It is the "yardstick" by which our relationship with Him is measured.
  
  What does your communication with the Lord (of which prayer is a component) say about your relationship with Him? (Tough question, I know: I ask myself that question constantly.)

But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psa 88:13 NIV)

Faith

• Scripture teaches us that faith in God is a requirement. But have you ever considered that God has faith in you?
  
  He had faith that you would one day choose to love Him (you, personally). And He has faith in you now that you will choose to continue to mature in your relationship with Him.
  
  Though we believe in Him now, He believed in us first.

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By 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. By 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. By 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. And 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. (Heb 11:3-6 NIV)

Don't Live in Bondage

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal 5:13-16NIV)

Change Your Situation

• There is a slang term we sometimes use to describe something bad: "It was the pits!" That is not new: David talked about pits too. His context was different, but close enough to convey the "feeling".
  
  Has your life felt like "the pits"? As one who has "messed up" more than any human should be allowed, I can tell you that I believe God can take your ruin, restore your life, and give you a future and hope you could not possibly imagine while in "the pits".
  
  So, I say from the perspective of my experience: If your life is in "the pits"now, it does not have to remain that way. following David's advice in Psalm 103 is a good way to begin your climb out.

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Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psa 103:2-5 NIV)

Strong Advise

My father taught me and said, "Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom and understanding. Don't forget or ignore my words. Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it will keep you safe. Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honor. It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head." My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life. I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed. Always remember what you have been taught, and don't let go of it. Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life. (Prov 4:4-13 NCV)

Willing to change

• We all have a "comfort zone": a way we like to do things and a way we like things to be. And we all like to think we would go outside our comfort zone to help someone--until we have to actually go outside our comfort zone to do it. (You know that is true...)
  
  We must never compromise our integrity or relationship with God for anyone or anything. But our ideas of how things should be, well, that is another thing entirely.

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Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (1 Cor 9:19-22 NIV)