Daily Spiritual Meditations - 10/25

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Compassionate and Gracious

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

Is this how you view God? Compassionate, viewing our suffering and wanting to help us? Gracious, full of kindness, freely giving us grace and mercy, though we do not deserve it? Slow to anger, not a vindictive God, seeking to punish us for our failures and our sins? He is a God abounding in love, desiring to have us restored to oneness with Him. His love is so great that He went to the very ends of the earth to bring back his children into relationship with him. His love is so great that He sent His most prized possession, His Son, to die for us. His love is so great that He watched the very creation he chose to bring back to himself, beat and crucify the Son of His love. Surely there is none other like Him! He is faithful, even when we are unfaithful. He is loving, even when we are unloving. He is compassionate, even when we are cruel. He is gracious, even when we are vindictive. It is these very qualities that draw us to Him. They are so foreign to the fallen human, for they are divine.

Father, how grateful we are that you are a God of grace, compassion, love and faithfulness! We know we do not deserve such things from you. We fail you continually, but how blessed we are that you are slow to anger and your love endures forever. Touch our hearts, dear LORD; let these qualities penetrate our very being. Make us like you; slow to anger, compassionate, bestowing grace freely to others, abounding in love. Transform us with your love to your glory and honor. Amen Quiet Waters

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WORDS LIKE GOLDEN APPLES

Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket.
Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as jewelry made from finest gold.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing as snow in the heat of summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
Proverbs 25:11-13

Several years ago, after weeks of feeling fatigued, I finally went to the doctor. My reporting symptoms were a bad cold, back pain, and depression. Well, when he examined me he assured me there was a reason for my fatigue � I had bronchitis; it started that June. I went to see him then, he gave me antibiotics, etc., but I just never recovered and was trying to work around being sick. Now that friends, is denial. History does repeat itself!

That day my doctor sat down in a chair and we talked about my bronchitis and arthritis � both things could affect me and lead to depression. He educated me on the type of arthritis I had and what caused it and advised me to get some rest and quit trying to be superwoman. I had no idea I was.

His advice was like golden apples to me. Once I knew that there was a physical reason for my depression some of it was relieved. I had more energy than I had in weeks. However, I knew that I needed to rest and it was sweet.

Many things will lead to depression. Several years ago, while taking one of my counseling courses, I ran across the "Stress Test." I was amazed to discover that too much stress actually leads to depression and physical sickness.

God truly wants us to encourage one another with golden apples of hope. Do you need someone to encourage you? Let us know!

Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You for the people You have placed in my life. Only You could orchestrate such blessings. Help us to be careful about our words. We grew up hearing that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me." However, Father, we have discovered that to be a lie. Please Lord, let us find favor in Your eyes through the words we speak to one another. May they not only be golden apples from us to each other, but from us to You as well. The Well

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Power Up
"IF ANYONE BELIEVES IN ME, RIVERS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW OUT FROM THAT PERSONS HEART."
John 7:38 (NCV)

You wouldn't expect your telly to work if it wasn't plugged in would you? Or your ipod to work with no battery? And however much you want your mobile phone never to run out of credit, you know that there will come a time when you're going to have to top up! If you don't; the thing's useless, even if you've got the latest all singing all dancing model.
Well don't expect to live the Christian life without powering up either! You may look great, but nothing much will happen. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to 'be filled with the Spirit.' God's Holy Spirit is like our spiritual power supply. You need to be filled with Holy Spirit; God's Power, because only then are you going to be able to experience the effects of God in your life. Check out the New Testament for examples of what happens when people are filled with Holy Spirit. AMAZING!
When your mobile is topped up and charged up it can do what it was designed to do. When you get topped up and charged up with God Power, you're able to do what you were designed to do, too. What are you waiting for? Get praying for God to fill you with His Holy Spirit, so you can see the effects of God's power flowing in and out of your life. Word4U2Day

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Faith in Christ is the victory

Let Christ rule in your life and let Him apply His grace to your life that you may become pure even as He is pure and that you may live because He lives.

He has come into this world that we may have life and that more abundantly.

He has come to thoroughly purge our lives from sin and to bring all things including us under the subjection to the Father's Feet.

Jesus had come to bring light into our lives, to illuminate our pathways with love and truth, to make us joint heirs with himself of everlasting life.

Brethren, in order for Christ to accomplish these things in your life, you must first let Him rule in your life.

Faith in Christ is the victory that overcomes the world because Jesus never fails.

Amen.
©10/25/2001 Jim Welch

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< October, 2008 >
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Real Beauty

Two fairly well-to-do women spent an afternoon at the local mall searching for "the perfect outfit." The following day was to be a special event and the two women wanted to look especially attractive. The two had their nails polished to a fine brilliance, hair done by a well-known stylist, selected a sweet-smelling perfume, and tried on outfits.

While in the dressing room of a fashionable department store, the two women made certain their every need was catered to by the store assistants. "This outfit is much too small!" yelled the first woman as she threw her garment at the store assistant. "Go get me another one now!" she ordered.

The second woman chimed in, "You fool! You brought me the blue dress! I told you I look horrid in blue!"

For the next hour, the two women tried on many glittery outfits as they verbally abused and insulted the assistants whose job it was to assist "special" customers.

By the time the women finally selected appropriate outfits, the assistants felt drained and were glad to see the two women go. "Have you ever seen such ugly women?" asked one assistant to the other.

"What do you mean?" asked the other, looking puzzled, "Those women were very attractive."

"Attractive on the outside yes, but on the inside, they were ugly as sin!" answered the assistant as she gathered up the dresses which were strewn all over the dressing room floor.

If only the women in this story would spend as much attention on their inner being, as on their outer appearance. Often, we spend too much time and money on things that God does not even care about. What He is concerned with, though, is if we neglect to beautify our inner being with the truth and light of His word and how we treat others. These are things which cannot be bought in a store.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Daily Wisdom

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Devotional For Dieters

October 25

Matthew 11:29-30
'Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'

The most impressive thing about Laura was that no one realized she was on her diet. She never complained. She never made a big deal about what she could and couldn't eat. She never whined around or moped, hoping someone would ask her what was the matter. She just quietly, patiently lost weight. The rest of the women in the office were astonished. Laura made it seem so easy. Laura just smiled at all their comments, content to know that God had rallied her spirits and helped her get by.

Today's thought: During my diet, I'll smile even when I feel like crying!

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HIS GRACE

“But for the grace of God, there would have been thousands more convincing demonstrations.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 25

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

For what it's worth: The hypocrite in me would have you believe otherwise, but, if there is a sin or a crime I did not commit when drunk, I can not take credit. Alcoholism deadened my conscience and controlled my self-centered actions. Now that I am sober in Alcoholics Anonymous a number of years, no matter what someone else does, I must be cautious and never think myself morally superior to anyone. The old hypocrite in me wants to, but I know it is only by the grace of God that I am sober and free, not already behind bars or deep in hell. All I have is a daily reprieve, and there are days when my spiritual condition is frail enough to fail. Drunk again, I am capable of anything. But, right now I am not drunk again. I am what I am right now by the grace of God, and I will do everything possible to insure God’s grace is not without effect. I know He will give me opportunities and His help today to demonstrate His grace.

God bless you!
Joe W.

[admin]

Today I will...maintain my original commitment to God, even though the circumstances of my earthly

life may change.

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John 19
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put

it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said,[a] “Hail, King of the Jews!” And

they struck Him with their hands.
4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may

know that I find no fault in Him.”
Pilate’s Decision
5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them,

“Behold the Man!”
6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him,

crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our[b] law He ought to die, because

He made Himself the Son of God.”
8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the

Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to

crucify You, and power to release You?”
11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from

above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go,

you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat

in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day

of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.[c]
The King on a Cross
17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in

Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and

Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city;

and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but,

‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to

each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one

piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall

be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
“ They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”[d]
Therefore the soldiers did these things.
Behold Your Mother
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of

Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He

loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the

disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
It Is Finished
28 After this, Jesus, knowing[e] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be

fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge

with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour

wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross

on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be

broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was

already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear,

and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his

testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these

things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”[f] 37

And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”[g]
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked

Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and

took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing

a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and

bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place

where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet

been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was

nearby.

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Jesus Became Poor . . .


2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 NKJ
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He

became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Most people know that Jesus became poor. They just don't know why.

Some people may tell you this verse refers only to being made "spiritually rich." Don't fall for that.

Look at the context and you will see it is discussing money.

"Then why aren't Christians rich?"

The main reason is because of a lack of teaching on this subject. Everything we receive from God

must be received by faith. If we don't believe it, we won't receive it.

(Jesus died so that everyone could be saved. However, until people hear the message and believe it,

they continue lost in their sins. Yet the price has already been paid by Jesus for their freedom.)

Instead of teaching that prosperity is a blessing available to believers, most churches have taught

the opposite -- that it was the will of God for us to be poor.

What we need is to hear preaching and teaching about it being God's will for us to prosper. We need

to continue in the Word on that subject, to be set free in that area of life.

I am NOT saying being prosperous makes you a better person, or that it is a sign of great faith. I AM

saying that poverty and lack is part of the curse -- which Jesus redeemed us from.

God's prosperity is a growing thing that will not destroy you, unlike winning the lottery, or other get-

rich-quick schemes. Time and continued obedience to God are required.

But the fact remains, according to Scripture, Jesus became poor to set you free from poverty -- to

make you rich.

SAY THIS: Jesus became poor to make me rich.

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Find Balance
October 25

SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.
—Hebrews 2:1

When Satan finds people out of balance, he has an inroad to destroy their lives. There are people who get out of balance in everything: from not sleeping, to sleeping too much; from not cleaning their house, to trying to keep it so clean that nobody can move in it.

Find balance; balance keeps your day going right. Satan doesn’t much care if you don’t do enough of something, or if you do too much of it, as long as you don’t stay balanced. Take time to examine yourself prayerfully, and ask God to show you how to remain balanced.


From the book Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year by Joyce Meyer.

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Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
Psalm 36:6

It was a glorious day, and my family was gathered at my parents’ house for a visit with my grandparents. My six-year-old son Harrison and my three-year-old niece Abby were playing in a pile of leaves in the front yard. I watched Harrison frolicking, and a dark cloud of worry fell over me. How can I possibly give him everything he needs? Will he survive being shuffled from my house to his mom’s? Is he doing all right?

“Big Dad,” Harrison asked my father, “why are the leaves still sticking to that tree?” All the other trees, except one, had lost their leaves.

“That’s a red oak,” my grandfather interjected. “We used to say that God made red oaks for the squirrels.”

“Why?” Harrison shot back.

“In the autumn the squirrels make their nests from leaves, but when the cold winds come, sometimes parts of their nests blow away. If you watch, you’ll see squirrels coming to the red oak to gather new leaves throughout the winter when all the other leaves have disappeared.”

“Hey, Abby,” Harrison yelled as he ran toward the red oak, “come over here and look at this tree! God made it specially ’cause He loves squirrels so much!”

I looked up at the blue sky and thanked God for this great note of reassurance. If He had planned ahead for the squirrels, then I was confident His plans were laid for Harrison and me and each one of His children. With a great “Whoopee!” I grabbed Harrison and made a dash for the leaf pile.

Father, let me live in the reality of Your love, which reaches out far beyond my knowing.

By Brock Kidd

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Think Differently.

To change your circumstances, first start thinking differently. Do not passively accept unsatisfactory circumstances, but form a picture in your mind of circumstances, as they should be. Hold that picture, develop it firmly in all details, believe in it, pray about it, work at it, and you can actualize it according to the mental image emphasized in your positive thinking.

No. 99 in a series of 100 Power Thoughts from The Power of Positive Thinking, the All-Time inspirational Best-Selling Book by Norman Vincent Peale.

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NACR Daily Meditation

Saturday 25th of October 2008

But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already
has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24-25

Sometimes it feels like nothing is changing. We feel like we have lost
our way — and all hope of finding it again. Ironically we often experience
this sense of being ’stuck’ during periods that later seem most dynamic
in terms of change. Perhaps when change is rapid we are so disoriented that
we are unable to see it clearly. In times like this we may not be able to
see that anything is changing. It may be hard to believe that all the hard
work and effort are worth it. It is during these times we are most tempted
to give up.

It is a general truth that we want change to take place faster than it
does. We could more easily tolerate the pain of recovery, if only we could
be assured that it would be quick.

But if we insist that change happen so rapidly that we can see it every
day, then our capacity for hope will gradually diminish. If we insist that
our recovery always have the drama and immediacy of miracle, then we will
not build the deep-down kind of hope that we will need during the really
tough times in life. Hope that you can ’see’, Paul says, is not really hope
at all. Real hope is what sustains us when we do not see change. Hope is
the conviction that God has not given up on us. As long as God is committed
to us, there is hope for change.

Sometimes I get stuck, Lord.
When that happens, I desperately want a miracle.
I want to change fast, very fast.
But that’s not what I really need.
What I really need is you, Lord.
If you haven’t given up,
then I’m not really stuck.
There is hope.
Renew my vision of you, Lord.
Help me to see again your hopefullness about me.
And your love for me.
And the joy you take in me.
Let this build again in me a capacity for hope.
Amen.

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Letting Go

Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

“How can I make her understand that we can work this out?” the hurting young man asked me. His fianc�e had doubts about their upcoming wedding, so she broke the engagement. He was obsessed with lessening his pain, changing her mind, and making the marriage happen.

But can we make someone else behave a certain way? Can we force another to understand or feel what we do? We may try, but we will never be totally successful. To believe we can change another person, even those we love very much, is to experience extreme anxiety. The only truly sensible action we can take is “letting go.”

“Letting go” is difficult. Often it is painful. However, it is personally freeing. When we loosen our controlling grip, we do not send the situation into space to wander aimlessly. When we let go, we surrender to God. We need not worry if everything will be alright. When we let go and hand it to God, we can visualize God taking over.

Opening your heart and mind is like unclenching your fists and releasing that which you hold so tightly. Go ahead. Let go.

Lord, letting go hurts.
But I can’t hold tight any longer.
I’m too tired.
I don’t have any more answers.
I transfer everything to you.

2008 Joan C. Webb

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Love Worth Finding
October 25

The Earth is the Lord's

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

Do you remember when it was rare to hear of someone whose job was either threatened, or actually lost, due to changes or cutbacks? Well, that’s hardly news anymore.

These days it seems that almost everyone is struggling with financial problems related to job security. You may be struggling and asking, “What good can possibly come from my financial problems?”

They are wonderful opportunities to trust your Heavenly Father for your daily bread. I’ve always said that it’s better to have a Father who owns a bakery than to have a warehouse full of bread!

Are you having financial woes? Do you know someone who is? Share with them the Good News of God’s provision and faithfulness.

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God's Helper

Jesse sat in church listening to a missionary speaker tell about a far-away country. The missionary wore a long, white robe and had a scarf wrapped around his head. "This is the way we often dress on the mission field," he said, turning so everyone could see his clothes. "The purpose of this loose scarf is to keep the sun off my head. It really works quite well." Jesse sat up straight to see better. "The people are difficult to reach with the Gospel, but I'm happy to be there because I know God sent me to tell them about Jesus," continued the missionary. Jesse's eyes opened wide. He was seven years old and had never been away from home. He hoped God wouldn't send him to a strange country. He didn't want to leave his family.

The next evening, Jesse sat on the front porch steps. He could hear sounds from the kitchen where his mother was working, and he could hear the hum of his father's lawnmower in the back yard. Jesse liked those sounds. He looked down the street and saw old Mrs. Quarry, their neighbor, walking home from town with a heavy bag of groceries. She stopped in front of Jesse's house, set down her grocery bag, and leaned against the fence. The grocery bag tipped, and several cans of food clattered across the sidewalk and into the street.

Jesse ran to help her. "I'll get your groceries, Mrs. Quarry," he said.

The old woman sighed and took a deep breath "First, Jesse, please help me up my front steps," she said. "I'm so tired." She put one hand on the fence and the other on Jesse's shoulder. He walked beside her and hoped she wouldn't fall. When they reached the porch, Mrs. Quarry sat down on one of the chairs. She looked up at Jesse and smiled. "God sent you to me, Jesse," she said. "He knew I needed help, and He sent you."

Jesse ran back to pick up the groceries. He felt good. He recognized that there were many ways he could serve God, and he didn't even have to leave home-at least not yet.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you serving God in your family? In your neighborhood? With your friends? You don't need to wait until you're older. Be willing to serve God wherever He wants to use you. Ask Him what He wants you to do for Him right now. Tell Him, "Here am I. Send me." Then serve Him by washing dishes, mowing the lawn, helping a friend or neighbor, running errands, or doing whatever tasks He shows you to do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Whom shall I (God) send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." Isaiah 6:8
Keys for Kids devotion

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You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God's law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. (Philippians 3:5-6, 10 — The Message)

We look back at Paul’s life and think what a great thing to be used by God in such a way, to see the power of God move, heal people and see many people come to know Him. But we often forget what Paul gave up.

Paul had everything going for him, as far as anyone could see, and he willingly gave it all up, the homes, the wealth, the prestige, respect and all of the other perks that would have come to someone with such a resume. He gave it all up for one thing, to have an intimate personal love relationship with Christ. Paul was willing to, and even did, die for Christ, which is why God was able to use him in the way He did. Paul was completely and unconditionally sold out to Christ.

Consider these questions. How far are we willing to go? What are we willing to give up so we could have the kind of intimacy that Paul had, so that God can live and work through us the way He did with Paul? That which made Paul somebody in the eyes of man, and himself, is what he gave up. Truth be known, when Paul gave up all of these things to follow Christ it was not with the understanding that God would work through him the way He did. Paul was willing to give up everything he had worked for, his whole future, just for the joy of knowing Christ. The rest was gravy. So again, how far are we willing to go, what are willing to do, and what do we need to give up for the sake of truly knowing Christ?

Live intentionally, purposely, free and with passion,

Pete Reinbold

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God Speaks through His Activity
Day-by-Day

Look among the nations and watch--Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5)

Christians habitually seek God’s voice through prayer, through His word, or through His messengers. Yet sometimes we fail to hear God speak through His activity, even though He is working all around us. Unbelievers see God’s activity without understanding what they see. God encourages His people to watch for His activity so they will know how they should respond and adjust their lives.

The disciples discovered much about God’s power by witnessing Jesus calming a raging storm with a command. Seeing Jesus dine with the notorious sinner, Zacchaeus, taught them a poignant message about God’s love for sinners. Watching Jesus hang upon the cross communicated a compelling message of what God was willing to do to free people from sin. Discovering the empty tomb revealed an astounding truth of God’s victory over death. To those with spiritual discernment, God’s activity is a significant revelation about His heart and His will.

If you are sensitive to what God is doing around you, He will clearly speak to you through His activity. You will know that God is at work, because what you see will astound you, and human power and wisdom will not explain it. If things happen that are direct answers to your prayers, God is speaking to you. When you experience events that surpass your understanding and ability, it may be that God is communicating a critical message to you.

If you want to hear God’s voice, look around you to see what He is doing. When you are watching for God at work, what you see will reveal His character, and you will have a fresh understanding of how to respond to Him.

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Love the Lord your God with your all and love your neighbour as yourself.

Simple sounding laws to live by and Jesus' gift and challenge to the law makers of the time. As we hear in the book of Exodus, the practicalities of these principles can be expounded as is needed for the times but the basics remain the same.

When we as individuals, as local communities and as a society still struggle with the challenges of addressing poverty, homelessness and social disintegration, how do we assess our attempts and look for new possibilities?

Jesus reminds us to ask ourselves if we are truly loving our neighbour as we do ourselves and if our choices reflect our love of God and God's people.

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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Not Me!
Peter said, "All the other followers may lose their faith.
But I will never lose my faith."
-- Mark 14:29 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
Peter, seemingly always wanting to be better or more important than the
other followers of Jesus, overstates his faith. While Peter initially
backs up his words to Jesus by drawing a sword and being ready to
defend his Lord when Jesus is arrested, Peter runs away with the other
followers when Jesus won't fight. In fact, he later denies his Lord
three times. Peter is the great reminder that even those of us who
possess great faith can run into confusing times when our faith seems
to waver and our resolve seems to melt. Thank goodness for our
forgiving Savior. However, let's heed Jesus' warning to Peter and never
over-state our loyalty or be overly critical of those whose loyalty
wavers. Instead, let's commit to be faithful and to reclaim those who
falter.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
LORD God Almighty, I am not even close to being invincible. My faith is
fallible. I don't want to waver or fall. However, dear LORD, I know
that without your powerful help, I will. I humbly ask for your strength
and pray that I will not disappoint you or fail you. In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.