HOW TO GRADUATE WITH HIGHEST HONOURS (2)

'...That...day...God will reveal who his children really are.' Romans 8:19

By living a sacrificial life. Salvation is free, but graduation with highest honours costs dearly: 'I have suffered the loss of all things' (Philippians 3:8 NKJV). Paul once had a comfortable life, then everything changed. He was beaten almost to death eight times. He faced danger at the hand of friend and foe. He endured nakedness, sleeplessness, starvation and thirst (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Did he get discouraged? Yes. Did he give up? No. 'I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake...' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NAS). Did he pray for relief? Of course. Three times he asked the Lord to alleviate his suffering. When God replied, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT), he learned to 'take pleasure in...insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT), leaning on God for strength. Where did he find such joy? Through 'the infinite value of knowing Christ' (Philippians 3:8 NLT). Intimacy with Christ was his consuming passion. Though conscious of his problems, he stayed consecrated to his Lord. 'For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ' (.Philippians 3:8 NLT). Paul decided that whatever the cost, graduation with highest honours was worth it. 'To share [Christ's] glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later' [on that] 'future day...God will reveal who his children really are' (Romans 8:17-19 NLT). Live today with that picture foremost in your mind.

HOW TO GRADUATE WITH HIGHEST HONOURS (1)

'There is in store for me the crown...' 2 Timothy 4:8

Do you remember the feeling you had when your name was called to receive your college diploma or university degree and you heard the words, 'Congratulations on your graduation.' You did it! All your effort paid off. Your accomplishment had finally been acknowledged. Now, multiply that feeling a thousand times over! Picture yourself entering the presence of the One who will award you the crown of righteousness while the saints of all the ages look on. Paul anticipated graduating with highest honours: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown' (2 Timothy4:7-8 NIV). For the next few days, let's talk about how you can graduate this life with highest honours. By living an unselfish life. There's no greater obstacle to the life that God designed you to live, than selfishness. Ego and self-promotion pollute our souls and destroy our relationships. Paul understood the need to dethrone ego. 'I no longer live, but Christ lives in me' (Galatians 2:20 NIV). This reflected: a) A change of values. Paul once lived to persecute Christians; now he says, 'For to me to live is Christ' (Philippians 1:21). b) A change of ambition. The old Paul, whose goal was to be a recognised champion of religion, says, 'But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ' (Philippians 3:7 NIV). c) A change of mind. The brilliant philosopher, Pharisee and lawyer renounces his self-seeking ways and writes, 'Think the same way that Christ Jesus thought' (Philippians 2:5 CEV).

WHEN YOU'RE IN A STORM

'The boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves...' Matthew 14:24

Talk about a person caught in a storm! Jeremiah could tell you the height of the waves and the speed of the wind. He realised how fast he was sinking, so he shifted his gaze. 'But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him' (Lamentations 3:21-24 RSV). When Jeremiah turned his eyes away from the waves to look to God, he started to recite a quintet of promises: 1) 'The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.' 2) 'His mercies never come to an end.' 3) 'They are new every morning.' 4) 'Great is your faithfulness.' 5) 'The Lord is my portion.' The storm didn't cease, but Jeremiah's discouragement did. Paul talks about 'speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord' (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV). Great hymns are a great help. They help you to get your eyes on the One who walks on the water and calms the storm. Thomas Chisholm wrote 'Great is Thy faithfulness O God my father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, as Thou hast been, Thou forever shalt be. Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All Thou hast promised Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.'

BUILDING UP YOUR MARRIAGE

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 14:12). This "death" can be a spiritual, physical, or even a relational death. If we keep doing that which kills any chance of us continuing on in relationship, that's exactly what can happen --the marriage will eventually die.

In this Marriage Message we're going to look at "responding in the RIGHT way" --God's way, even if your spouse approaches you in ways that you find offensive. But before we go into this issue, we want to give a disclaimer. The advice given below by Gary Thomas is very good. But if you are being physically and/or emotionally abused by your spouse, you need to use the extra wisdom God can give you in your responses, so you can best protect yourself. Even if you give wise responses you may still encounter problems, but all you can do is the best you can do as God leads.

We encourage you to visit

www.marriagemissions.com and prayerfully glean through the topic, "Abuse in Marriage." Please use whatever advice and resources you discern God would have you use in the different situations you find yourself. 

No matter what, whether in abusive situations or not, we need to respond to our spouse in the ways that God would have us, not necessarily the ways that come "natural" to us. Often, we see that "natural man" doesn't always approach matters wisely. God can show you better. 

With that said, the following comes from the book, "Sacred Influence" written by Gary Thomas. It's actually written to women to help them to know "what a man needs from his wife to be the husband she wants." However, this excerpt applies to both husbands and wives. He writes:

"My children must grow weary of hearing me say, 'your greatest temptation to sin is when someone first sins against you. But THEIR sin never justifies YOUR sin.'

"This is as true for spouses as it is for siblings. Fighting your mate's irresponsibility with irresponsibility of your own is like pouring gasoline on a fire; it just makes things that much more explosive, that much worse. The Bible recommends a more different approach: let love conquer evil; let responsibility shame irresponsibility.

"It's a spiritual fact that kindness kills wickedness far more effectively than nagging, complaining, or disrespect. Remember, God won us with grace when we were His rebellious enemies. He doesn't ask anything of you that He hasn't already done for Himself. And this same God says that we are responsible to love, even in the face of another's irresponsibility.

"Peter wrote, 'Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing' (1 Peter 3:9). Did you catch that? We're called to respond to evil with blessing. It's not human nature to be sinned against & think, 'How can I bless this person who just hurt me?' But such a spiritually powerful practice yields every effective results. Regardless of how anyone else acts, we're still accountable before God for our responses.

"Paul elaborates on this in his letter to the believers in Rome: 'Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse' (Romans 12:14). He then quotes from Proverbs: 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head' (Romans 12:20; see Proverbs 25:21-22). Jesus said essentially the same thing: 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven' (Matthew 5:44-45).

"The Bible is amazingly relevant and practical for married people! It's not a 'pie in the sky' kind of book that pretends no one will ever hurt us, or sin against us. On the contrary, it promises us that we WILL be hurt and wronged and then gives very specific and practical advice to help us respond appropriately.

"We bless those who hurt us. We feed those who make themselves our enemies. And over time, such a practice usually succeeds far more in prompting redemptive change than does arguing, complaining, gossiping, or threatening divorce. 

"In the ugliness of trying situations, the beauty of responsibility shines brighter than ever.

"Even if this approach proves ineffective, however, it's what God calls us to as Christians, and that's of paramount importance. I love Linda Dillow's take on this:

"'I cannot promise you that if you respond with a blessing when you're hurt or wounded, your husband [or wife] will change. I cannot promise you a life of happiness and personal fulfillment, but I can promise you that you are living according to your purpose and calling as a Christian; you are obeying the will of God and there is peace in obedience. The first reason you are to respond this way is not so that you can secure a hoped-for change in your mate, but because it is God's desire that you make this kind of response.'

"When I respond according to God's plan, even if the person who sinned against me doesn't change, I'll change. It's a victory either way. When I respond out of spite, repaying evil for evil, two things usually happen, both negative: the situation gets worse; and I become more bitter, more resentful and less like Christ. The brilliance of Christianity is that God can grow you in an unhealthy marriage as well as in a healthy marriage. He can shape you in prosperity or need, in comfort or stress, in intimacy or loneliness. And intimacy with him is the most precious reward any of us can ever know or experience. Just as we build our muscles little by little, lifting a bit more weight every day, so the beauty of responsibility evolves gradually, built up by the tiny, seemingly insignificant decisions we make week by week.

FINDING COMFORT IN TROUBLED TIMES

'But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us...' 2 Corinthians 7:6

You say, 'Surely Paul was too spiritually mature to feel downcast?' Apparently not! The chief apostle and leader of the church experienced discouragement, stress, restlessness, and even fears. 'When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn't settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn't relax because we didn't know how it would turn out' (2Corinthians 7:5 TM).). So, where do we turn for strength in our times of trouble? Consider some ways God sends us comfort and encouragement:  1) He comforts us by His presence. 'Now may...God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing' (2Thesselonians 2:16-17 NLT). It's God's nature to be with us, to give us comfort when we're mourning (Matthew 5:4), brokenhearted (Psalms 147:3), overwhelmed (Psalms 145:14), worried (Isaiah 41:10) or unwell (Psalms 41:3). But we must acknowledge His presence and accept His comfort! 2) He comforts us by His Word. 'Remember what you said to me, your servant-I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me' (Psalms 119:49-50 TM). 3) He comforts us through our prayers. '...The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength' (Psalms 138:3 TM). 4) He comforts us through godly friends. Paul writes: 'God...comforted us by the coming of Titus.' (2 Corinthians 7:6 NIV )Today, look for those who bring comfort, and practice comforting others.

KNOWING WHEN TO EMERGE

'[Like] a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he [or she] does not come to the Hosea 13:13

Timing is an integral part of God's plan for your life. You need to know what to do, and when to do it. If you wait too long you'll miss your window of God-given opportunity. One author points out that as believers we experience two births: a natural and a spiritual birth. She writes: 'For some...spiritual birth happens in childhood. Others, like me, have to work to get there with a combination of effort and...the stripping down of layers of independence. Regardless of how we get to the spiritual delivery room, at our appointed time-unlike a natural birth...we must be willing to be reborn. We can't remain in darkness and isolation. 'When the time arrives [to] come to the opening of the womb' and be pushed into the world as a new creation, you must be willing to emerge. We all know people who attend every seminar and read every self-help book. They're always getting ready to emerge, but never quite make it. You may even be one of them. Perhaps God has given you a vision but you've hidden it away for so long waiting for the right time, it has become stale. Visions have a shelf life. They are for 'an appointed [fixed, chosen, prearranged] time' (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV). Maurice Chevalier said, 'If you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured...mountains will not be climbed, races won, or lasting happiness achieved.' Bottom line: you can sit on the bench, or get involved in the game. Which will it be?

Oh that Men will Praise the Lord

On my daily commute to and from the office, I have plenty of time for reading—bumper stickers on cars, that is. Some are surly, others clever, and still others downright distasteful. One bumper sticker I saw recently, however, gently challenged my heart about the way I often engage life. The sticker simply said, “Too blessed to complain.”

I must confess that I felt convicted as I pondered those words. Too often I find myself lamenting moments in life that don’t go my way, rather than focusing on the wonderful gifts my heavenly Father has given me. Reading that simple message that day brought me a renewed commitment to be more actively and intentionally grateful because my God has been good to me in more ways than I could ever count.

Psalm 107 is a song that seeks to rectify thankless thinking. The psalmist (who many think was King David) makes a plea to hearts grown cold with ingratitude, repeating four times, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (verse.8,15,21&31). Even in the worst of times, we have much to be thankful for. May we learn to thank God for His goodness to us!

- ODB.

PERSIST IN PRAYER

'This, then, is how you should pray...' Matthew 6:9

If prayer came naturally, God wouldn't have to remind us so often to do it. A consistent prayer life requires crucifying our selfish nature. But when prayer doesn't seem rewarding, we're apt to abandon it. So how can you pray and get results?  1) Before you ask, adore! Any prayer that begins with asking can become self-centered and shallow. 'Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name' (Psalms 100:4 NIV). When God's love, goodness and faithfulness are your starting point, you're lifted out of yourself, your spirit is prepared for 'connecting' with God, the content of your prayer becomes more scriptural, and you get results. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus directs our attention first to God's name, then His kingdom and then His will. After that, we ask for 'our daily bread.' Thanksgiving doesn't condition God to bless you-it conditions you to receive His blessing. 2) When you pray, persist! God's not an automated cash machine. You are supposed to stay engaged with Him until He decides to answer you. This involves an attitude of faith, persistence and patience. Jesus gave us a parable about a woman who kept pleading with a hardhearted judge to grant her petition. When she finally wore him down, he gave her what she asked. Jesus had only one purpose for the parable: 'To show them that they should always pray and not give up' (Luke 18:1 NIV). The point is not that persistence forces God's cooperation, it's that God wants you to pray and not quit. When you persist God will answer.

Our Daily Bread -- Road Construction

We have been delivered from the law, . . . so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit. —Romans 7:6

Here in Michigan we joke that we have two seasons: winter and road construction. Harsh winters damage road surfaces, so repair crews begin their work as soon as the ice melts and the ground thaws. Although we call this work “construction,” much of what they do looks like “destruction.” In some cases, simply patching holes is not an option. Workers have to replace the old road with a new one.

That’s what it can feel like when God is at work in our lives. Throughout the Old Testament, God told His people to expect some major renovation on the road between Him and them (Isa. 62:10-11; Jer. 31:31). When God sent Jesus, it seemed to the Jews as if their way to God was being destroyed. But Jesus wasn’t destroying anything. He was completing it (Matt. 5:17). The old way paved with laws became a new way paved with the sacrificial love of Jesus.

God is still at work replacing old ways of sin and legalism with the way of love that Jesus completed. When He removes our old ways of thinking and behaving, it may feel as if everything familiar is being destroyed. But God is not destroying anything; He is building a better way. And we can be confident that the end result will be smoother relationships with others and a closer relationship with Him. —Julie Ackerman Link

Free from the law—O happy condition!

Jesus has bled, and there is remission;

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Grace has redeemed us once for all. —Bliss

Upheaval often precedes spiritual progress.

Bible in a year: Psalms 33-34; Acts 24

More, More, More

Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15

Some people love to shop. They have a perpetual desire to buy, buy, buy. The craze to find the latest deal is worldwide. There are huge shopping malls in China, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Philippines, the United States, and around the world. A rise in store purchases and online buying show that buying is a global phenomenon.

Shopping can be fun. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with trying to find a real deal and to enjoy the things God has given to us. But when we become preoccupied with obtaining material goods, we lose focus.

Jesus challenged His listeners with these words: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). He went on to tell a parable about a man “who lays up treasure for himself,” but is not concerned about his relationship with God (v.21).

How can we learn to be content with what we have and not be consumed with amassing more? Here are some ways: View material goods as given by God to be used wisely (Matt. 25:14-30). Work hard to earn and save money (Prov. 6:6-11). Give to the Lord’s work and those in need (2 Cor. 9:7; Prov. 19:17). And always remember to be thankful and to enjoy what God gives (1 Tim. 6:17). —Dennis Fisher

Lord, our hearts often run after “stuff.”

Teach us not to be obsessed with collecting

more and more material goods. May we instead

learn what it means to be “rich” toward You.

To be rich in God is far better than to be rich in goods.

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!

'...The Lord...has given rest to his people...' 1 Kings 8:56

Live for today, and put tomorrow into God's hands. Begin to eliminate the words 'what if' from your vocabulary. God will always be one step ahead of you. 'The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed' (Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV). The reason God is called the 'Alpha and Omega' in Scripture is because He not only initiates the starting point of your spiritual journey, He has arranged every step of it according with His will. He says to you: 'I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope...when you pray, I will listen...I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes' (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT). If you're fearful of the future, check with the past. 'Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people...according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised' (1Kings 8:56 NKJV). You will never conquer your worries entirely, for worries, just like weaknesses and character flaws, draw you closer to God and keep you dependent on Him. For forty years in the wilderness the Israelites never missed a meal. God delivered it to the door of each of their tents daily. And He will provide for you too. 'Not so in haste, my heart! Have faith in God, and wait; although he lingers long, he never comes too late.'

LAW AND ORDER (2)

'...Love your children by disciplining them.' Proverbs 13:24

Children who are a joy to live with don't get that way by living in a lawless home. Ever see the film Bonnie and Clyde? The big story behind Bonnie is the mother who raised her. She thought everything Bonnie did was 'cute.' She actually eulogised her: 'As the flowers are made brighter by the sunshine and dew; this world is made brighter by folks like you!' But Bonnie wasn't so cute when she went on a murderous rampage. Giving your child structure makes them feel cared for and secure. So here are two guidelines: 1) Explain the rules clearly. Punishing a child over a rule they don't understand just makes them resentful. The fewer your rules the better-just make them understandable, doable, and observable. 'Preaching' and moralising only creates resistance. 2) Enforce the rules consistently. What brings a smile today shouldn't bring a slap tomorrow. Inconsistency weakens your authority and breeds disobedience in them. Here are some things to shun: a) Avoid comparisons. No child should be expected to be just like another. b) Avoid hurtful labels such as 'You're stupid, lazy, bad, a waste of time,' etc. Describe their actions; don't demolish their self-worth. c) Avoid idle threats. Enforce the rule, or drop it. d) Avoid bribes; they just breed manipulation and diminish the importance of rules. e) Avoid making fun of their weaknesses. f) Don't fear saying 'No!' Their future success and happiness depend on learning to deal with it.

LAW AND ORDER (1)

'Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did-they'll turn out delightful to live with.' Proverbs 29:17

We're producing a generation of kids who are allowed to rear themselves with the aid of television, violent DVDs, and the Internet (which can be a minefield!). Often both parents work, leaving one child to supervise another. As a result they become a law unto themselves. 'A child left to himself disgraces his [parents]' (Proverbs 29:15 NIV). Most of us are loving parents, but our children need discipline and rules to live by. Love has a backbone, it's called law and order. Without it, love is just license. 'A refusal to correct is a refusal to love...' (Proverbs 13:24 Parents don't have to be overbearing, but children do need consistent and disciplined guidance. Enforcing law and order isn't easy. But the alternative is a betrayal of our children and our God-given responsibility! Failure to enforce law and order to gain short-term popularity with our kids always ends up costing us their long-term respect. Expecting younger kids to work out for themselves what's right and wrong is a burden they shouldn't have to bear; their neurological and moral equipment isn't sufficiently developed yet for such responsibility. The Bible says, 'Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline' (Proverbs 22:15 TM). Your children learn to make good decisions from the rewards and consequences of dealing with law and order at home. So don't fail them!

Arrogance and Pride

Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. —Proverbs 8:13

In The Screwtape Letters written by C. S. Lewis, a senior devil urges his young protégé to divert a Christian’s thoughts away from God and focus instead on the faults of the people around him at church.

During a Sunday service, I found myself distracted and somewhat annoyed by a person near me who sang loudly off key and was out of sync during the unison readings. But when we bowed our heads for a time of silent prayer, it struck me that the Lord must surely be more pleased with that other person’s heart than with the judgmental feelings He saw in mine.

A few days later I happened to read Proverbs 8 and was struck by verse 13: “Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” Throughout this chapter, wisdom calls to us to gain an understanding heart (v.5) and to find life and obtain favor from the Lord (v.35). The alternative is to go through life with a superior attitude while dying inside in the process (v.36).

Pride is a sword that wounds the person who uses it along with those against whom it is used. Arrogance robs us of all God longs to give us, but “by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life” (22:4). —David McCasland

Oh, just a bit of Thy meekness, my Savior,

To be the least when of self I would boast;

Finding my glory and strength in Thy favor,

Know in my weakness Thy grace can do most. —Bosch

Pride brings shame. Humility brings wisdom.

THE HEALTHY EDGE OF COMPETITION

'...Run in such a way as to get the prize.' 1 Corinthians 9:24

We say things like, 'It's a rat race out there, and the rats are winning,' 'Nice guys finish last,' 'Winning isn't everything - it's the only thing!' Such sentiments characterize our culture, driving workaholic lifestyles that destroy health, fracture family life, and eliminate the spiritual discipline required to have a growing relationship with God. So what should we do? Avoid all competition? Opt out of the race? Retire and watch the world go by? No, those are not options for a follower of Christ. So: 1) Beware of competitiveness that leads to jealousy. Cain's competitiveness toward his brother Abel led him to murder (Genesis 4:1-8). He tried to put his brother down in order to lift himself up. King Saul tried to kill David when the crowd sang, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands' (1Samuel 18:6-11 NKJV). Those words caused jealousy to grow like a cancer in him. 2) Understand that by seeking to excel in your calling, you exalt Christ. Paul writes: 'You've...seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard...for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally[...No second-rate effort, no settling for mediocre outcomes] I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition.' (1Corinthians 9:24-27 TM). Getting ahead of others isn't what it's about; it's about maximizing all you do for God's glory! 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men' (Colossians 3:23 NIV).

DO YOU KNOW ANY NEEDY PEOPLE?

'...I sat where they sat...' Ezekiel 3:15

In an attempt to insulate ourselves against the evils in the world, we can isolate ourselves from those God's called us to reach out to. At the beginning of Ezekiel's ministry he wrote, 'The hand of the Lord was strong upon me. Then I came to the captives...and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days' (Ezekiel 3:14-15 NKJV). True ministry begins with sitting in the other person's seat. Former President Jimmy Carter was a Sunday school teacher in his church. Recalling it in an interview, he said: 'Most church members-including me-rarely reach outside to people who are different from us or less fortunate. Quite often my Sunday school class will say, 'Why don't we take up a collection and give a nice Thanksgiving meal to a poor family?' The next question is: 'Who knows a poor family?' Nobody does! We have to call the Welfare Office to get the name and address.' So, do you know any needy people? Compassion is putting yourself in the other person's place. It's asking God to help you understand what's really going on with them. It's hearing what they're not saying as well as what they are. It's understanding that sometimes their anger is only masking their fear, that they're crying out for help in the only way they know how. Before Peter denied the Lord, Jesus said to him, 'When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren' (Luke 22:32 KJV). When God's grace touches your life you will always reach back for others! And here's why: people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

HOW TO RAISE A TIMOTHY

'...Your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice...' 2 Timothy 1:5

Leaving your mark on your children isn't optional, but leaving a godly mark on them is. The seeds you sow today will continue to grow in them lifelong and in your grandchildren too. Paul saw in Timothy the potential harvest he'd produce for Christ. He saw, too, that the fruit originated with the root: a mother and grandmother who were sold out to Christ. What an encouragement for widowed, divorced, single mothers and those without believing husbands. These two women raised a servant of God without the help of a Christian father. And Mother, God can enable you to do likewise! What does it take to raise a Timothy? Two things: 1) It takes a role model. Paul spoke of Timothy's 'sincere (Greek: un-hypocritical) faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and...now lives in you.' The faith they imparted 'first lived in' each of them. If it's to live in our kids, they must first see it living in us. In a world where fakes sometimes masquerade as Christians, genuine faith stands out like a beacon against the night sky. Our children have a built-in 'detector' that picks up on counterfeits and rejects them. But the genuine article will draw them like a magnet. 2) It takes teaching God's Word. Timothy's mother and grandmother planted the Scriptures in the receptive soil of his young heart before the surrounding culture could get to him. Paul reminded him 'How from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures' (2Timothy 3:15 NIV). That's how to raise a Timothy.

THE BLAME GAME (3)

'...You can't get forgiveness...without...forgiving others.' Matthew 6:15

Blaming creates enemies. The person you are blaming will ignore you, compile numerous proofs of their innocence, and resent you. And their friends will defend them and become your enemies. Even your own friends will get fed up with your complaining and distance you. Your 'root of bitterness' will spread, causing 'many [to be] defiled,' and making things worse (Hebrews 12:15 NKJV). Blaming rubs off. Blamers beget blamers. Your family gets drawn in, so they suffer too. 'Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious-don't get infected' (Proverbs 22:24-25 TM). Stop it - you're passing on your misery and dysfunction to those who love you! Blaming is addictive. The justification we feel in blaming hooks us for the long run. It manipulates our anger, making us feel okay about shifting responsibility. It gets progressively easier to complain rather than to resolve the problem. Like any addiction, it has to be fed more and more to achieve its reward. Sooner than you think, you've become a skilled, confirmed 'blame-aholic.' Blaming sabotages forgiveness. You can't forgive someone while you're judging and resenting them. And while you're squandering your time and energy blaming them, you forfeit your right to receive God's forgiveness. 'But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins' (Matthew 6:15 NIV). It's time to give up the blame game, own responsibility for your life, and take back your God-given power to respond to things according to His Word!

Don’t Dethrone Yourself

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

The worst enemy that you can have is yourself. If the devil cannot get you to work against yourself, the probability that he can get you is slim. If God be for you, no man or devil can be against you, but if you position yourself away from God, child of God, you become a prey to the devil. That was exactly what happened to Saul.

God said to Saul wipe off all Amalekites and Saul, rather than obey God, did what he liked. So God said to him; Saul, I am disappointed in you, you did not do what I said. I wanted you (Saul) to reign in life, I wanted you to reign as a king, but you have cancelled my plan for you. Then God said something that is very profound, that you can apply to your life. He said; Saul, “because you have rejected my words” I am also rejecting him from being king. What this means is that when you disobey the word of God, you have dethroned yourself.

Can you imagine Saul, a man God had given the promise, falling just because of the Amalekites. Think about it. Why will Saul trade his future just for the little he saw in Amalek. But before you condemn him, check yourself. How many times have you mortgaged your future for a piece of bread? Esau did the same. He sold his birthright for a plate of food and of course he lost the blessing.

I challenge you today; the pleasure of sin is only for a moment. Don’t fall for the devil’s carrot. He never means well for you. Every offer of the devil has a hidden agenda. Stand on the Lord’s side. It is only the blessing of the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrow. Hold fast to the word of God. Don’t abort your miracle. I pray for you that the grace to stand will be mighty upon you. You will not fall to the trap of the devil in Jesus’ name.

Further Reading: 1Samuel 15:1-23.

THE BLAME GAME (2)

'The woman you put here...gave me some...and I ate it.' Genesis 3:12

Blaming came naturally to Adam and Eve, the father and mother of the human race. After all, who could fault them? God did! Their blame was a result of how sin had changed them. Their relationship to themselves, each other, their environment, and even God, was radically changed by their irresponsibility. And since God can do nothing with people who won't take responsibility for their decisions, He dismissed them from Paradise. What a price to pay! Here are two good reasons for giving up the blame game: 1) It makes you a victim. When you make someone else responsible for your circumstances, you put the power to change things in their hands. That means nothing will change unless they decide to change it. You make them master of your fate. Only by accepting personal responsibility can you retain the power to change your circumstances. 2) It makes you miserable. You say, 'But they hurt me.' Yes, and by harbouring resentment you are hurting yourself over and over. The Bible says, '...Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time...' (Hebrews 12:14-15 TM). Before you know it, your entire outlook gets distorted. 'Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite...Esau later regretted that...and wanted God's blessing-but by then it was too late, tears or no tears' (Hebrews 12:16-17 TM). Forgive, take back your life, and get out of the blame game!

THE BLAME GAME (1)

'...I am innocent...It is your responsibility!' Matthew 27:24

More and more, we are becoming a blame-oriented culture. Today our misfortunes are deemed to be somebody else's fault. 'I'm this way because of them. They did it to me.' And it didn't begin with us. It goes all the way back to Adam in the Garden of Eden when he told God, 'The woman...You gave...me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate' (Genesis 3:12 NKJV). It's in our DNA! We say the breakdown in our marriage was our partner's fault, or we drink too much because somebody drives us to it, or we're unwell because of the fast-food industry. Let's sue them! Shifting responsibility may alleviate momentary guilt, but it's a deadly game with no winners. In sentencing Christ to die, Pilate said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood...It is your responsibility!' He thought by dumping the blame onto the Jews he would avoid upsetting either his wife or his critics, and prove himself innocent. But the buck stopped at his desk! Understand this: God holds you responsible for your decisions and actions 'He will judge everyone according to what they have done'(Romans 2:6 NIV). And your failure to make the right decision, or take the right action, also earns you His guilty verdict. Paul writes, 'You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant' (Galatians 6:7 NLT). Others may be guilty of offending you, and that's their harvest to reap. But your harvest depends on your reactions. Accepting responsibility before God is how you alleviate your guilt, discouragement and stress. Bible in a Year: Mt 5:7;  Mt 18:21-35;  Ps 103:8-18;  Lam 3:22-24;

DEAL WITH THE ROOSTER

'There is...no condemnation...' Romans 8:1

Booker T. Washington tells a wonderful story about his mother. Every morning of his young life, he, along with all the plantation slaves, was awakened by the crow of a rooster. Long before daybreak the unwelcome noise would fill the shanties, reminding Washington and his fellow workers to crawl out of bed and leave for the cotton fields. That rooster's crow came to symbolise a life of long days and backbreaking labour. But then came the Emancipation Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln pronounced freedom for all slaves. The first morning after, young Booker was awakened by the rooster again. Only this time his mother was chasing it around the barnyard with an axe. That day the Washington family fried and ate their alarm clock for lunch. Their first act of freedom was to silence the reminder of their slavery. Are any roosters stealing your sleep? You might need to sharpen the blade. The great news of the gospel is, yes, His grace is real, and so is your freedom! 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.' Forget your sins for God's sake, because when you keep bringing them up you bother Him! Does that sound too strong for you? Then read what God says about your sins: 'I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins' (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). God has buried your sins in the 'depths of the sea' (Micah 7:19 NIV) and posted a sign beside it which reads, 'No fishing in these waters'.

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER - Part 2

'...You do not have, because you do not ask...' James 4:2

Here are two more hindrances to answered prayer:  1) Failure to pray. It's estimated that out of the 667 prayers for specific things mentioned in the Bible, there are 454 specific answers. That means the Bible is a book of prayers-and answers. Our problem is, we spend a lot of time talking about prayer and fail to get down to the business of praying. Charles Trumbull said, 'Prayer releases the energies of God.' The goal of prayer is not to overcome God's reluctance, but to believe Him and take hold of His willingness. His Word says: 'You do not have, because you do not ask.' C. E. Cowman wrote: 'No praying man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time, as when he or she is praying.' Until you learn to pray in faith and wait on God for the answer, you'll get nowhere. 2) Failure to care. When the Israelites complained that God wasn't answering their prayers He told them, 'Stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly...share your food with the hungry...Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from [those] who need your help. If you do these things...the Lord will answer' (Isaiah 58:6-9 TLB). Sin and unbelief are not the only things that hinder your prayers;: self-centered living will! A little girl prayed for several weeks asking God for a certain thing. Finally in frustration she said, 'By the way, Lord, I've mentioned this to You several times before.' If that's your situation, stop thinking about your own needs and focus on the needs of others. Bible in a Year: 1 Sam 16-17;  Lk 4:31-44;  Ps 102:1-11;  Prov 17:4-6;

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER - Part 1

'...So that nothing will hinder your prayers.' 1 Peter 3:7

Here are two hindrances to answered prayer:  1) Unconfessed sin. 'Your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear' (Isaiah 59:2 NIV). As a believer, God expects you to walk in obedience. 'What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God' (Micah 6:8 NIV). Notice, these are 'requirements.' If you don't meet them you're wasting your time praying, unless it's a prayer of repentance. You must seek God's forgiveness, and then He will hear your prayers.  2) Unresolved conflict. 'Husbands...be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect...so that nothing will hinder your prayers.' There's no point praying if you are always fighting with one another. 'Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness' (1 John 2:9 NIV). God will answer when you come out into the light, deal with the thing that drove you apart, and attempt to mend the relationship. Now, sometimes it isn't possible to make amends. 'If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone' (Romans 12:18 NIV). Sometimes the other person would rather keep the issue alive than accept your apology. When that happens, look into your heart. Do you really want restoration, or would you rather 'place blame and let things fester? If your attempts have been wholehearted and honest, God won't let a broken relationship stand in the way of your prayers. But if your attempts have been half-hearted and self-serving, try again-this time for real.

Don't Destroy Your Altar

“And Elijah said unto all the people, come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.” 1 Kings 18:30

The woman with the issue of blood was suffering hemorrhage for twelve years. She became weak and battered from that condition but what she heard revived her, revival is coming to you. You will not die until the purpose of God in your life has come to fulfillment. The prophecy of the enemy over your life will not come to pass. She was battered but when she heard, what she heard kept her alive. The same force that kept her alive will keep you alive. You will not become a disappointment. The hand of God will elevate you. The hand of God will strengthen you. The hand of God will bring deliverance to you. This year, you will overcome in every area of your life.

In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah said unto Ahab, “...As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word.” And so, because there was no rain, there was no abundance and prosperity. There was famine in the land. Everything was so tough and difficult that people were eating human flesh. But notice in chapter eighteen that the bible noted that they fell into that condition because of their sins. They got into that situation because of their broken altar but Elijah re-arranged the altar. He rearranged the altar of the Lord and brought back God when the altar was put in place.

The reason the enemy was holding sway was because the altar was destroyed and they were not hearing anymore. That is why you must ensure that your altar is intact. I am not talking about physical altar; I am talking about your relationship and connection with God. He is the one that speaks and stands fast by His word. You must ensure no matter what, that your altar is intact. This is very critical, do not allow anything destroy your altar. That is the place of exchange; that is the place of power; that is the place of connection; that is the place of abundance and blessing. When the altar is destroyed and you are not hearing again, you are on your own. I declare to you today that your altar will not be broken. No matter the situation, you will remain strongly connected to God, you will hear Him and his sayings will come to pass in your life in Jesus name. I bless you in the name of the Lord.

Further Reading: 1 Kings 18:17-40
Daily Bible Reading: Morning: Job 22-24; Evening Acts 11