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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hello! YiRen here :D
i had reopened this blog, and its going to be uh, updates of church sermons, cell group meeting notes and daily bread. this is to provide information for those who are currently facing parental objection, etc to allow them to grow spiritually :D
Just hope that everyone will spread this blog to one another :D to preach the gospel!
btw, if you want to help to update this blog, do let me know, for i will send an invitation to you :D
God bless everyone! AMEN!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hello! YiRen here :D
i had reopened this blog, and its going to be uh, updates of church sermons, cell group meeting notes and daily bread. this is to provide information for those who are currently facing parental objection, etc to allow them to grow spiritually :D
Just hope that everyone will spread this blog to one another :D to preach the gospel!
btw, if you want to help to update this blog, do let me know, for i will send an invitation to you :D
God bless everyone! AMEN!
This blog is opened on 18 October 2008 Saturday, to update fellow christians about happenings during cg or service, and another section for daily bread, as i believe that those people who are facing parental obejctions should NOT be deprive of reading materials or be oblivious to church services/cell group meetings etc.
Life, Love, Chocolate -Cindy Hess Kasper
9 July Thursday
1 John 3:16-23
An entry I read on a favorite blog caught my eye. It was the morning of his ninth wedding anniversary. Not having a lot of money, the writer ran out to get his wife, Heidi, their favorite French pastry—pain au chocolat. After sprinting several miles, he arrived home, exhausted, to find her in the kitchen just pulling a chocolate-filled croissant out of the oven. It was pain au chocolat.
That husband, Jeff, compared his life with Heidi to the lives of the people in O. Henry’s short story “Gift of the Magi.” It tells of a man who sold his lone possession of value—a pocket watch—to buy hair combs for his wife, who had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a gold chain for his watch.
Having no money concerns would be great—but realizing the immeasurable value of the people we care about is more important. We sometimes need a reminder that acquiring “things” is not nearly as important as appreciating the people God has placed in our lives. When we practice putting others’ interests before our own (Phil. 2:3-4), we learn what it means to love, serve, and sacrifice. In fact, that’s how we pattern Christ in our relationships (Eph. 5:1-2).
Life, love, and chocolate taste better when shared with others.
Heaven’s Greatest Delights -Vernon C. Grounds
8 July Wednesday
Revelation 22:1-5
What will be one of heaven’s supreme joys?
Joni Eareckson Tada, disabled as a teenager in a diving accident, has been a paraplegic for over 40 years. One would imagine that her greatest longing would be the ability to walk, even run, free from the confinement of her wheelchair.
But Joni tells us that her greatest desire is to offer a “praise that is pure.” She explains: “I won’t be crippled by distractions, or disabled by insincerity. I won’t be handicapped by a ho-hum half-heartedness. My heart will join with yours and bubble over with effervescent adoration. We will finally be able to fellowship fully with the Father and the Son. For me, this will be the best part of heaven.”
How that speaks to my divided heart and grips my unfocused spirit! What a blessing to offer “a praise that is pure,” with no wandering thoughts, no self-centered requests, no inability to soar above my earth-bound language!
In heaven, “there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3). May the prospect of heaven enable us to experience a foretaste of that God-glorifying worship even here and now.
Doing The Work Of God -David H. Roper
7 July Tuesday
John 6:25-33
When I was a pastor I used to have a recurring nightmare. I would rise to preach on Sunday morning, look out at my congregation—and see no one in the pews!
It doesn’t take a Daniel (Dan. 2:1,19) or a dream therapist to interpret the vision. It grew out of my belief that everything depended on me. I mistakenly believed that if I did not preach with power and persuasion, the congregation would fade away and the church would fold. I thought I was responsible for the results of God’s work.
In the Gospels, we read that some people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28). What audacity! Only God can do the works of God!
Jesus’ answer instructs us all: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (v.29). Whatever we have to do, then, whether teaching a Sunday school class, leading a small group, telling the gospel story to our neighbor, or preaching to thousands, it must be done by faith. There is no other way to “work the works of God.”
Our responsibility is to serve God faithfully, wherever He has placed us. Then we’re to leave the results to Him. As Jesus reminded His disciples in John 15:5, “Without Me you can do nothing.”
Bubbles On The Border -Anne Cetas
6 July Monday
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Stuck in a long line at the US-Canada border, Joel Schoon Tanis had to do something to lighten the mood! He reached for his bottles of bubble-making solution, bounded out of the car, and began blowing bubbles. He handed bottles to other drivers too, and he says that “soon there were bubbles everywhere. . . . It’s amazing what bubbles do for people.” The line didn’t move any faster, but “suddenly everyone was happy,” Joel says.
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for,” said British statesman John Lubbock (1834–1913). A good attitude and the right focus help us to handle life joyfully, even though it doesn’t change our circumstances.
Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: “Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).
So what’s unseen and eternal that we can look at? The character of God is an excellent place to focus. He is good (Ps. 25:8), He is just (Isa. 30:18), He is forgiving (1 John 1:9), and He is faithful (Deut. 7:9).
Pondering God’s character can give us joy in the midst of our struggles.
Hopeful Praise -Dave Branon
5 July Sunday
Psalm 103:1-14
One of my friends was in tears on a beautiful summer day, unable to deal with life’s difficulties. Another could not look beyond the life-altering sadnesses of her past. Still another struggled with the closing of the small church he had pastored faithfully. A fourth friend had lost his job at a local ministry.
What can our struggling friends—or any of us—do to find hope? Where do we turn when tomorrow offers no happy promises?
We can praise or “bless” the Lord, as David said in Psalm 103. In the middle of trouble, acknowledging God’s role in our lives can redirect our thinking from the hurts of our hearts and force us to dwell instead on the greatness of our God. David knew trouble. He faced the threat of enemies, the consequences of his own sin, and the challenges of sorrow. Yet he also recognized the healing power of praise.
That’s why in Psalm 103 he can list reasons to turn our attention to God, who gives us many benefits: He forgives us, heals us, redeems us, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires, and renews us. David reminds us that God provides justice and righteousness, and He is gracious and loving.
Take it from David: Praising God’s greatness puts hope in our troubled hearts.
Dangerous Freedom -Dennis J. De Haan
4 July Saturday
Galatians 5:1-6,16-21
Freedom is dangerous in the hands of those who don’t kno$w how to use it. That’s why criminals are confined in prisons with barbed wire, steel bars, and concrete barriers. Or consider a campfire that is allowed to spread in a dry forest. It quickly becomes a blazing inferno. Unchecked freedom can create chaos.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Christian life. Believers are free from the law’s curse, its penalty, and its guilt-producing power. Fear, anxiety, and guilt are replaced by peace, forgiveness, and liberty. Who could be more free than one who is free in the depths of his soul? But here is where we often fail. We use freedom’s luxury to live selfishly, or we claim ownership of what God has merely entrusted to us. We slip into patterns of self-indulgent living, especially in affluent societies.
The proper use of freedom is “faith working through love” to serve one another (Gal. 5:6,13). When we rely on the Spirit and expend our energies on loving God and helping others, the destructive works of the flesh will be restrained by God (vv.16-21). So let’s always use our liberty to build up, not to tear down.
Like a raging fire, freedom without limits is dangerous. But when controlled, it is a blessing to all.
Job's Principle -C.P.Hia
3 July Friday
Philippians 4:10-13
When my wife accepted a position as Director of Special Education in a school district many miles from our home, it resulted in a very long commute each day. It was tolerable in the short term, but neither of us could see her doing this indefinitely. So we decided to relocate to another city halfway between our two jobs.
The real estate agent was not optimistic about our home selling quickly. Market trends showed many homes for sale with few buyers. After much prayer and strenuous cleaning, we finally put our home up for sale. To our surprise, our house sold in less than 3 weeks!
Sometimes I feel guilty about receiving material blessings. With so many needs around the world, why should I expect divine intervention in selling a home? Then I remember Job’s reply to his wife: “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).
This verse is most often applied to accepting disappointment. But the principle also applies to being grateful for blessings. The apostle Paul had learned how to rejoice in plenty and in want (Phil. 4:10-13). God has an interest in teaching us contentment through both gains and losses. Thanking God in all circumstances recognizes His sovereignty and nurtures a response of faith.
The Choice -C.P.Hia
2 July Thursday
Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-8
I watched as a young mother tried to get her 2-year-old child to make a choice. “You can have fish or chicken,” she told him. She limited his choice to just two because he was too young to understand beyond that. Choice often allows a wider variety of options, and it also must allow the person to reject the choices.
Adam and Eve were in the best possible environment. God had given them freedom to eat of all the trees in Eden. He drew the boundary lines around only one tree! They had a choice, and it should have been a no-brainer to choose wisely. But their choice was tragic.
Some blame God for what they see as His restrictions. They may even accuse Him of trying to control their lives. But God gives us a choice, just as He did Adam and Eve.
Yes, God draws boundary lines, but they are for our protection. David understood this. He wrote, “You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies . . . . I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word” (Ps. 119:98-101).
God cares so much about us that He gives us boundary lines so that we will choose what is right
The Reveal -Jilie Ackerman Link
1 July Wednesday
Luke 2:25-35
The room was a wreck. Mismatched furniture. Faded paint. Ugly light fixtures. Knick-knacks crammed into crowded spaces. The homeowners tried to make some improvements, but the room kept getting worse.
Thus begins a home-improvement TV program. After interviewing the owners, the designer draws a plan to maximize the room’s potential. Program producers create suspense by building up to a moment referred to as “the reveal.” Viewers watch the progress and ooh and aah with the homeowners when they see the new room.
Over time, the world has become like a neglected room. People bring in things that don’t belong. They arrange priorities in ways that hinder potential. Lives become dull, overcrowded, and ineffective. Self-improvement projects offer little help.
The Bible is God’s plan that shows the best way to live. God builds suspense throughout the Old Testament. Then, at the appointed time, comes the great reveal—Jesus! Upon seeing Him, Simeon exclaimed, “My eyes have seen Your salvation . . . , a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).
We become part of God’s great “reveal” when we follow His design and Christ’s example.
Search And Rescue -Joe Stowell
June 30 Tuesday
Luke 19:1-10
Almost every week we see news about a search-and-rescue mission. It may involve a child who wandered away from a family picnic and is lost, or a hiker stranded on a mountain, or people trapped in the rubble following an earthquake. In every case, the people at risk are unable to help themselves. Those who are found and saved usually have lasting gratitude for those who joined in the search and rescued them.
The account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 is a story of search and rescue. At first glance it may seem like a series of chance events—Jesus was passing through Jericho and a rich tax collector climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of the miracle-working teacher. But this encounter with Jesus was not a coincidence. At the end of the narrative, Luke deliberately included Jesus’ words to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house . . . ; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (vv.9-10).
Jesus began His search-and-rescue operation on earth by His life, death, and resurrection. He continues it today through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He graciously invites us to participate with Him by loving those who are lost.
Macauley -Bill Crowder
June 29 Monday
Isaiah 6:1-8
Macauley Rivera, one of my dearest friends in Bible college, had a passion for the Savior. His heart’s desire was to graduate, marry his fiancée Sharon, return to the inner city of Washington, DC, and plant a church to reach his friends and family for Christ.
That dream ended, however, when Mac and Sharon were tragically killed in an accident, leaving the student body stunned at the loss. At Mac’s memorial service, the challenge was issued: “Mac is gone. Who will serve in his place?” As evidence of the impact of Mac’s example, more than 200 students stood to take up the mantle of Christ’s fallen servant.
The response of those students echoes the commitment of Isaiah. In a time of fear and insecurity, the prophet was summoned into the throne room of God, where he heard Him say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8).
God still calls men and women to be His ambassadors today. He challenges us to serve Him—sometimes close to home, sometimes in distant lands. The question for us is, How will we respond to His call? May God give us the courage to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Are You Ready? -Dave Branon
June 28 Sunday
Acts 13:1-5
Three months before a planned missions trip, a friend and I were talking about the upcoming event. He said to me, “If anyone can’t go, I’d be willing to step in and join you.” This was not going to be an easy 8 days, for we would be painting, repairing, and fixing stuff in the July heat of Jamaica. Yet my friend seemed eager to go.
About 6 weeks before we were scheduled to leave, there was an opening. I e-mailed my friend—whom I hadn’t seen in the interim—and asked if he was still interested. He immediately responded, “Sure! And I got a passport just in case you asked.” He had made sure he was ready—just in case he got the call to go.
My friend’s preparation reminds me of what happened back in the first century at Antioch. Paul and Barnabas were among a number of people getting themselves ready spiritually for whatever God might ask them to do, or wherever He might send them. They didn’t prepare by getting a passport, but they “ministered to the Lord and fasted” (Acts 13:2). And when the Holy Spirit said, “Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work” (v.2), they were all set for the journey.
Are you preparing for what God might want you to do? When the Spirit says, “Go,” will you be ready?
Advice for the Groom -Dennis Fisher
June 27 Saturday
Proverbs 1:1-9
The custom of a bachelor party before a wedding is often characterized by drunkenness and carousing. The party-hearty attitude seems driven by the belief that the groom will soon be married and have to settle down to a life of domestic boredom.
Not long ago, one of my nephews got married. The best man planned a get-together for Joel, but with a refreshing difference. Those invited were asked to bring some thoughts to share that would help him in this new chapter of life.
When I arrived at the informal breakfast, I found a cheerful spirit of camaraderie. Fathers, uncles, brothers, and friends were animated in lively discussion. The father of the bride and the father of the groom were asked to share their advice on what they had learned in their own Christian marriage. Their thoughts were personal, realistic, and biblical.
The book of Proverbs mirrors this kind of mentoring in facing life’s challenges and rewards. “My son, hear the instruction of your father . . . for [it] will be a graceful ornament on your head” (Prov. 1:8-9).
How God-honoring it would be if more couples began their marriage with an attitude that heeded the wisdom of those who walked the path before them.
The Songs of the Saints -Joe Stowell
June 26 Friday
Revelation 15
We’ve all heard the expression, “I don’t get mad; I just get even.” Reading about the judgments described in Revelation, one might assume that God will get “even” with sinners for their phenomenal offenses throughout the history of mankind.
The truth is that God’s final judgment is a necessary expression of His holy justice. He can’t turn a blind eye to sin. In fact, if He doesn’t finally carry out justice as described in Revelation, it would be a denial of His holy character. That’s why in the midst of His judgments, the saints will sing His praise: “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. . . . Your judgments have been manifested” (15:4). Those who know God best do not judge Him for His judgments; rather, they worship and affirm His actions.
What should surprise us is not the massive scale of God’s judgments, but that He’s waiting so long! Desiring that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God is now mercifully restraining His judgment and giving maximum space to His marvelous mercy and grace. Now is the time to repent and take advantage of His patient love. And when we do, we’ll join the saints in praising Him for all eternity!
Chimp Eden -Julie Ackerman Link
June 25 Thursday
Numbers 14:1-10
Eugene Cussons rescues chimpanzees. Orphaned by those in the business of bush-meat trade and taken from the jungle as infants, many have lived their entire lives confined in a space smaller than a prison cell. When Cussons arrives to take them to the game reserve he calls “Chimp Eden,” he often finds them hostile and untrusting.
“These chimps don’t realize that I am one of the good guys,” Cussons says. When he tries to put them into a smaller crate for the trip to their new home, they put up quite a fight. “They don’t know that I’m going to take them back to Chimp Eden and give them a life so much better.”
On a much grander scale, God’s offer to liberate us from the slavery of sin is often met with resistance. When He rescued the children of Israel from Egypt, God took them through difficult places that caused them to doubt His good intentions. “Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” they cried (Numbers 14:3).
On our journey of faith, there are times when the “freedom” of sin that we left behind is more appealing than the restrictions of faith that lie ahead. We must trust the protective boundaries found in God’s Word as the only way to get to the place of ultimate freedom.
Postponement Problems -Anne Cetas
June 24 Wednesday
Romans 12:4-13
Many of us struggle with them—postponement problems. A professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta studied the problem of procrastination for 5 years and reported that 95 percent of us put off doing one thing or another. One estimate showed that Americans lose approximately $400 million a year by putting off filing taxes! Because of fear of failure or other insecurities, we wait and wait before starting a project or making a decision.
Procrastination is a problem in the church too. Many of us postpone serving God. We know we should reach out to others, but we feel insecure or worried about what to do. Because we’re unsure of our gifts or interests, we put off our involvement in the church. We worry, What if I do a poor job? What if I find out I can’t even do it?
Romans 12 gives us some encouragement. Serving starts with presenting ourselves to God as “a living sacrifice” (verse 1). Pray and give yourself anew to the Lord and His work. Then look around at what others are doing in your church and ask if you can join in. Start small if you need to, and try a number of things.
Your church needs you. Ask God to help you overcome your postponement problems.
A Powerful Message -Dave Egner
June 23 Tuesday
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Bible teacher Lehman Strauss was brought to Christ through the power of the Word when he was young. At his girlfriend’s suggestion, he read Romans 3:23, 5:8, and 10:13. As he did, he was convicted of his sin. He wept and believed.
When his son Richard was 7 years old, he asked his father how to be saved. Lehman used the same verses that his girlfriend (who was now his wife) had used years earlier. His son believed too, and eventually became a pastor.
God’s Word has tremendous power! The first recorded time God spoke, He created light (Genesis 1:3). He spoke a promise to Abraham (17:15-19) and enabled his 90-year-old wife Sarah to bear a child (21:1-2). God still speaks with power today, and all who hear and believe the gospel are saved (Romans 1:16).
Yes, the message of Christ and His saving work on the cross can change the direction of a person’s life. It has the power to reach the heart of that person you love and have prayed for many times.
So don’t give up in your witness. Be consistent in your daily walk. Keep praying and sharing the gospel with others. It’s a powerful message!
Open Invitation -C. P. Hia
June 22 Monday
Ephesians 2:14-22
Versailles was made the capital of France by King Louis XIV in 1682 and remained the capital (except for a short time) until 1789 when it was moved back to Paris. The beautiful palace of Versailles included an opulent 241-foot-long Hall of Mirrors. When a visitor approached the king, he had to curtsy every five steps as he walked the entire distance to meet the king sitting on his dazzling silver throne!
Foreign emissaries to France submitted to that humiliating ritual to court the French monarch’s favor toward their country. By contrast, our God, the King of kings, invites His people to come to His throne freely. We can come to Him anytime—no advance appointments and no bowing required!
How grateful we should be that our heavenly Father is so much more inviting! “Through [Christ] we . . . have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). Because of this, the writer of Hebrews urges us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Have you responded to God’s open invitation? Come in awe and gratitude, for the God of this universe is willing to hear your petitions anytime.
Our Legacy -David Roper
June 21 Sunday
Psalm 127
A friend of mine wrote recently, “If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Why then do we invest so much in our work and so little in our children’s lives?”
Why do we sometimes exhaust ourselves rising up early and going late to rest, “eating the bread of anxious toil” (Psalm 127:1-2 esv), busying ourselves to make our mark on this world, and overlooking the one investment that matters beyond everything else—our children?
Solomon declared, “Children are a heritage from the Lord”—an invaluable legacy He has bequeathed us. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth” (verse 4) is his striking simile. Nothing is more worthy of our energy and time.
There is no need for “anxious toil,” working night and day, the wise man Solomon proclaimed, for the Lord does take care of us (Psalm 127:2). We can make time for our children and trust that the Lord will provide for all of our physical needs. Children, whether our own or those we disciple, are our lasting legacy—an investment we’ll never regret.
A Happy Reunion -Marvin Williams
June 20 Saturday
Revelation 21:1-5
In 2002, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home in Utah. She lived a vagabond life in the constant presence of the couple accused of abducting her. However, 9 months after she was abducted she was found and returned home. It was the happy reunion her family had been longing for.
In the book of Revelation, John describes a vision of a new heaven and a new earth and our future reunion with the Lord (Revelation 21:1-5). The context is not just geographic, but a context of life for God’s people—a glorious reality of God and His people dwelling together for eternity.
John describes the benefits that come to God’s people when He takes up His abode in their midst. Abolished forever are the debilitating consequences of sin. In John’s vision, sorrow, death, pain, and separation are all part of the first things that are now gone. The old order gives way to the new and perfect order—a reunion of eternal blessedness. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. . . . He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’?” (Revelation 21:3,5).
One day, we’ll rejoice over a happy reunion in heaven with our heavenly Father. We cannot imagine what a day of rejoicing that will be!
The Tempted Brothers -Dave Branon
June 19 Friday
Genesis 39:1-12
Two brothers—both far from home —faced similar temptations. One, working away from the family, fell to the schemes of a younger woman. His sin led to embarrassment and family turmoil. The other, separated from loved ones because of family turmoil, resisted the advances of an older woman. His faithfulness led to rescue and renewal for the family.
Who are these brothers? Judah, who fell to the desperate scheme of his neglected daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38). And Joseph, who ran from the arms of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). One chapter, an ugly story of irresponsibility and deception; the other, a beautiful chapter of faithfulness.
The stories of Judah and Joseph, presented back-to-back in the midst of “the history of Jacob” (37:2), show us that temptation itself is not the problem. Everybody faces temptation, even Jesus did (Matthew. 4:1-11). But how do we face temptation? Do we demonstrate that faith in God can shield us from giving in to sin?
Joseph gave us one way of escape: Recognize sin as an affront to God and run from it. Jesus gave another: Answer temptation with truth from God’s Word.
Facing temptation? See it as an opportunity to make God and His Word real in your life. Then run!
Passionate Boldness -Bill Crowder
June 18 Thursday
Acts 4:5-13
A young man was preaching to the passersby in Hounslow, on the most outskirts of London, England. Most ignored him, a few ridiculed, and several stopped to listen. But regardless of the reaction of the people, he was undeterred. With a strong voice and clear resolve, he poured out his heart - not with the words of an angry prophet, but with deep concern for the men and women on that street. His eyes, facial expression, and tone of voice revaled an attitude of compassion, not condemnation. In it all, he boldly shared the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 4, when the church was still new, Peter and John also boldly addressed the people of their generation. The response of the leaders of their days? "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they have been with Jesus" (verse 13). That boldness was not the fruit of ministerial training but of much time spent in the presnece of the Master. As a result, they had become passionate about what concerned Christ - the eternal destiny of men and women.
That same passionate boldness was on the face of the young man in Hounslow. Do people see it in us?
Common Cents -Cindy Hess Kasper
June 17 Wednesday
Mark 12:41-44
In 1987, Mike Hayes, a freshman at the university of Illinois, found a unique way to finance his education. He convinced a popular columnist at the Chicago Tribune to ask his readers to "send in a penny for Mike".
"Just one pennyt," Hayes said. "A penny doesnt mean anything to anyone. If everyone looks around the room right now, there will be a penny under the couch cushion, or on the floor. That's all I'm asking. A penny from each of your readers."
In less than a month the fund was up to 2.3 million cents. Donations came in from all over the US, as well as MExico, Canada, and the Bahamas. Mike eventually ended up with $28 000!
The common cent just isn't worth much - unless it's added to a whole bunch of other pennies. The women we read about in Mark 12 gave the equivalent of a fraction of a penny, which was "all that she had" (verse 44). But Jesus honored that little bit.
The widow's sacrifice was an example and an encouragement to the disciples - and to us. She gave all she had. Have we ever been so generous? Jesus used an unnamed widow to teach us what giving is all about.
It was less than a cent, yet it was a priceless gift of love to God.
My Two Cents -Dennis Fisher
June 16 Tuesday
Acts 2:40-47
Recently, our family had to change Internet cable services. Our former provider promised to send us a postage-paid box to mail their equipment back to them. We waited. No box came. I phoned. The promised box did not arrive, but we did get a bill for the equipment!
Wanting to get this resolved, I decided to return it at my own expense. I sent several faxes asking if they received it – but no reply. Then I got a refund check of $0.02 for the returned equipment! An experience like that can be frustrating. A simple transaction was complicated by poor communications.
Sadly, some people in our churches may encounter an impersonal response to their needs. Whether seeking marital counseling, childcare, guidance for a troubled teen, or a loving community, they come away feeling uncared for.
The first-century church was not perfect, but it faithfully helped others. The church at Jerusalem “divided [their goods] among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:45).
God communication is the starting point for learning others’ needs. This enables us to provide personal and practical help to people when they need it. Resources, both material and spiritual, can then be directed to each person as the object of God’s personal love.
Ongoing Encouragement -David McCasland
June 15 Monday
Colossians 3:14-25
Father’s Day is celebrated in many countries worldwide. Although the origins, activities, and actual day of observance differ widely, they all share the common thread of honoring fathers for their role as parents.
This year for Father’s Day, I’ve decided to do something different. Instead of waiting to receive a card or phone call from my children, I’m sending words of appreciation to them and to my wife. After all, without them, I wouldn’t be a dad.
Paul instructed fathers to be a positive part of their children’s development rather than a source of anger and discouragement. He wrote, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). “Father, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Both of these verses are embedded in passages about loving an honoring each other in family relationships.
The role of a father changes as children grow, but it doesn’t end. Praise and encouragement are welcomed whether a child is 4 or 40. Prayer is always powerful. And it’s never too soon to mend a broken relationship with a son or daughter.
Fathers, now is a good time to tell your children how much you love and appreciate them.
Meditate on These Things -Cindy Hess Kasper
June 14 Sunday
Psalm 119:89-105
Some Christians get a little skeptical when you start talking about meditation – not seeing the huge distinction between biblical meditation and some types of mystical meditation. In mystical meditation, according to one explanation, “the rational mind is shifted into neutral … so that the psyche can take over.” The focus is inward, and the aim is to “become one with God.”
In contrast, biblical meditation focuses on the things of the Lord, and its purpose is to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we think and act more like Christ. Its objective is to reflect on what God has said and done (Psalm 77:12; Psalm 119:15-16; Psalm 119:97) and on what He is like (Psalm 48:9-14).
In Psalm 19:14, David wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord.” Other psalms reflect on God’s love (48:9), His deeds (Psalm 77:12), His Law (Psalm 119:97), and His testimonies (Psalm 119:99).
Fill your mind with Scripture and focus on the Lord’s commands and promises and goodness. And remember this: Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, “if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Getting “In The Way” -Joe Stowell
June 13 Saturday
John 14:1-6
The ancient Romans were known for their roads, which crisscrossed their empire with wide, heavily traveled highways. It’s what Jesus’ audience would have pictured when He claimed, “I am the way” in John 14:6.
While this verse indicates that He is the way to heaven, there’s really more to His statement. Cutting through the underbrush of the dense jungle of the world, Jesus is our trail-guide who makes a new way for us to live. While many follow the way of the world by loving their friends and hating their enemies, Jesus carves out a new way: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:44). It’s easy to judge and criticize others, but Jesus the Way-maker says to take the plank out of our own eye first (Matthew 7:3-4). And He cuts a path for us to live with generosity instead of greed (Luke 12:13-34).
When Jesus said “I am the way,” He was calling us to leave the old ways that lead to destruction and to follow Him in His new way for us to live. In fact, the word follow (Mark 8:34) literally means, “to be found in the way” with Him. You and I can make the choice to travel the familiar and ultimately destructive ways, or we can follow Him and be found in the way with the One who is the way!
A Fair Trade -Anne Cetas
June 12 Friday
Psalm 119:161-168
Scott and Mary Crickmore poured 15 years of their lives into helping to translate the New Testament in the Maasina dialect. It was for the Fulani tribe in the West African nation of Mali.
After the initial draft, Mary visited nearby villages and read it to people. She sat in huts with a group of men or women listening to them discuss what they understood. That helped her to make sure that the words they were using in the translation were accurate and clear.
Some people would think that the Crickmores’ sacrifice was too great – giving up their comfortable lifestyle, changing their diet to mush and rice, and living in less-than-ideal circumstances for those 15 years. But the Crickmores say it was “a fair trade,” because now the Fulani people have the Word of God in a language they can read.
The psalmist delighted in God’s Word. He stood in awe of it, rejoiced over it, loved it, and obeyed it (Psalm 119:161-168). He found great peace and hope in the Word.
The Fulani people are now able to discover the “great treasure” (verse 162) of God’s Word. Would you agree with the Crickmores that any effort and sacrifice to get the Bible to others is “a fair trade”?
Religious Nuts -David Roper
June 11 Thursday
Matthew 10:16-22
I have a friend who was invited to a dinner party where he was seated next to a belligerent unbeliever who delighted in taunting Christians.
Throughout the evening, the man baited Matt mercilessly about the evils of Christendom throughout the ages. With each insult, my friend calmly replied, “that’s an interesting point of view.” And then he asked a question that revealed genuine interest in the man and deflected the discussion away from the issue that divided them.
As the two were walking out the door at the end of the evening, the man fired a final jab, at which point Matt put his arm around the other man’s shoulders and chuckled. “My friend,” he said, “all night along you’ve been trying to talk to me about religion. Are you a religious nut?”
The man’s animosity dissolved in a burst of laughter and then in sobriety, for he was indeed a religious nut. All human beings are. We’re insatiably and incurably religious = hounded by the relentless love of God, though we may try to keep Him away. Matt’s kindness and deft humor awakened this man’s heart so that he could be receptive to the gospel.
We are to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16) when dealing with non-Christians, speaking to them “with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6)
Land of Eternal Spring -Vernon Grounds
June 10 Wednesday
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
The former president of Columbia Bible College in South Carolina, J. Robertson McQuilkin, pointed out that God has a wise purpose in letting us grow old and weak:
"I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty which is forever. And also we'll be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truely homesick for our eternal home. If we stayed young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave."
When we are young, happily occupied with our relationships and activities, we may not long for our celestial Home. But as time passes, we may find ourselves without family and friends, afflicted with dim vision and hearing difficulties, no longer able to relish food, or troubled by sleeplessness.
Here's the advice I give myself: Be greatufl that, as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:17, "God... gives us richly all things to enjoy" in life's summer and autumn. And rejoice too that with the onset of life's winter we can anticipate that we'll soon be living in the land of eternal spring.
Risk -Albert Lee
June 9 Tuesday
Proverbs 6:16-19
When our children were young, one of our favorite board games was Risk. World conquest was the objective. Each player mobilized his troops to take possession of countries and continents. It always amused me that the person who initially was leading the game seldom won. The reason is obvious. When other players sensed his mounting pride, they would join together against him.
Whether consciously or subconsciously, it is easy to dislike powerful people who have proud looks. Their very countenance seems to encourage others to throw obstacles in their paths or to be silent objectors.
In today’s Bible reading, we are told that God hates seven things. Tellingly, the first is pride. When someone overvalues himself by undervaluing others, he inevitably reveals it with his proud look. Puffed up in self-conceit, he may also devise evil and sow discord. No wonder God hates proud looks.
Proud and powerful people may think they can disregard others’ displeasure, but they cannot disregard God’s opposition. Peter reminds us not to trust in ourselves but in the One who will exalt us “in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). As we submit to Him, we avoid the risk that pride brings to our character and we become thankful, humble servants of God.
A life remembered -Dave Branon
June 8 Monday
Psalm 139:1-16
“Daddy, help me.” Those were the last words Dianne and Gary Cronin heard their daughter say as she struggled to breathe. Kristin, 14 years old, died suddenly – just 2 days after saying she didn’t feel well. A strep infection attacked her body on Thursday. By Saturday, she was pleading with her daddy to help her.
Before Kristin died, I was scheduled to speak at her family’s church in Soldotna, Alaska. In God’s timing, I stood before the congregation the day after her funeral.
Kristin who was one of those vivacious teens who loved Jesus and lived for Him – and whose sudden death leaves us with a million questions.
Because I went through a similar loss of my teenage daughter a few years ago, I was able to offer some advice to this stunned and grieving church. First, I said, we must recognize God’s sovereignty. Psalm 139:16 reminds us that Kristin’s life was the exact length God intended. Second, I asked the church never to forget her family. Whether it’s 2 months or 5 years later, the family will never “get over” losing Kristin. They will never stop needing Christians who care and remember.
In times like this, don’t forget that God is in control and that He wants us to be a comfort to others.
Words And Numbers -Julie Ackerman Link
June 7 Sunday
John 17:20-26
My husband is a “numbers” person; I am a “word” person. When my incompetence with numbers get the best of me, I try to boost my ego by reminding Jay that word people are superior because Jesus called Himself the Word, not the Number.
Instead of trying to defend himself, Jay just smiles and goes on about his business, which consists of much more important things than my silly arguments.
Since Jay will not defend himself, I feel compelled to do so. Although I am right about Jesus being the Word, I am wrong in saying that HE didn’t refer to Himself as a number. One of the most moving passages of Scripture is Christ’s prayer just before His arrest and crucifixion. Facing death, Jesus prayed not only for Himself, but also for His disciples and for us. His most urgent request on our behalf involved a number: “[I pray] that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).
As people who live by the Word, we need to remember that “right words” sound hollow to the world unless we, being one in Christ, are glorifying God with one mind and one voice.
Days of Days -Dennis Fisher
June 6 Saturday
2 Timothy 2:1-4
In the television miniseries Band of Brothers, the 101st Airborne is flown over their drop zone during D-Day, the major offensive to liberate Europe from Nazi control. As the main character, Lt. Richard Winters, parachutes from the plain, the crack of antiaircraft and machine-gun fire fills the air.
Winters later reflected on his first day in combat: “That night, I took time to thank God for seeing me through that days of days… and if somehow I manage to get home again, I promise God and myself that I would find a quiet piece of land someplace, and spend the rest of my life in peace.” Winters knew he must endure until that day came.
The Bible tells us that believers are caught in a conflict initiated by Satan’s rebellion against God. Because of this, we are challenged to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). In Paul’s day, the Roman legionnaires suffered in service for the emperor, as followers of Jesus, we may be called upon to do the same for the Kings of kings.
In heaven, we will no longer experience such difficulties but will enjoy lasting peace with the Savior. For now, we are to persevere by faith.
Adopted -C.P. Hia
June 5 Friday
Colossians 3:1-11
In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar. Other notable adoptees include the emperors Tiberius, Trajan, and Hadrian. All of them proved to be strong rulers because each lived like a child of his adoptive father.
Every Christian is an adopted child of the King of kings. We are greatly indebted to Him for His favor. But God, who has everything, does not need us to repay Him.
What does God desire? He wants us to live in a way that befits His children. Activities and values that are not in keeping with our position as God’s children must be done away with (Colossians 3:5). Selfish and destructive ways are to be replaced by activities and values that showcase our gratitude and love for God and reflect our status as His children. Paul wrote, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering” (verse 12).
Can others around you tell that you are indeed a child of the King? Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to put off and put on in life so that you can reflect more truly your status as God’s adopted child.
The Circle of Fear -Bill Crowder
June 4 Thursday
1 John 2:1-11
When the popular band The Eagles prepares a new song for concert, they sit in a circle with acoustic guitars and unamplified voices and rehearse their intricate vocals. They call this exercise “The Circle of Fear” because there is no place to hide and no way to conceal any errors they might make in the harmonies. That sense of absolute exposure for their mistakes is “what makes this drill so frightening to them”.
Apart from Christ, we would suffer a far worse kind of exposure before the God of all justice. If we had no advocate and no escape, we would also have no hope. But in Christ, the believer has a Defender who stands before the Father on our behalf. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things I write on you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” With our failings exposed. He takes our defense. Our Defender carries our relationship with God beyond a “circle of fear” to a fellowship of grace and truth.
Our challenge is to live lives of purity and integrity that honor our heavenly Father. Yet, when we do fail, we do not need to fear abandonment or ridicule from our Father. We have an Advocate who will carry us through.
The Lord of Our Years -David McCasland
June 3 Wednesday
Psalm 90
When the Concise Oxford English Dictionary announced in 2006 that the word time was the most-often used noun in the English language, it didn’t seem surprising. We live in a world where people are obsessed with using days, saving minutes, and trying to find more hours in the day. Although each of us has all the time that there is, few of us think we have enough.
Perhaps that’s why Psalm 90 is such a treasured passage. It shifts the focus from our time-bound lives to our eternal God. “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (verse 2).
A stanza in Matthew Bridges’ well-known hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns” begins: “Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time.” A potentate is a sovereign, a monarch, an anointed majesty -- the one who does not seem appointment or run for election.
God created time. He rules and transcends it. When we feel frustrated by the calendar or captured by the clock, a quiet reading of Psalm 90 reminds us that our days and years are in the hands of our eternal God.
As we humbly bow before Him, we see time from a new perspective.
Pay It Forward -Marvin Williams
June 2 Tuesday
John 13:3-15
Pay It Forward is a movie about a 12-year-old’s plan to make a difference in the world. Motivated by a teacher at his school, Trevor invites a homeless man to sleep in his garage. Unaware of this arrangement, his mother awakens one evening to find the man working on her truck. Holding him at gunpoint, she asks him to explain himself. He shows her that he has successfully repaired her truck and tells her about Trevor’s kindness. He says, “I’m just paying it forward.”
I think that this is what Jesus had in mind in one of His last conversations with His disciples. He wanted to show them the full extent of His love. So before their last meal together, He took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash His disciples’ feet. This was shocking because only slaves washed feet. It was an act of servanthood and a symbol that pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice, passion and humiliation on the cross. His request to His disciples was: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). They were to “pay it forward.”
Imagine how different our world would look if we gave the kind of love to others that God has given us through Jesus.
Holy Fools -Philip Yancey
June 1 Monday
Genesis 12:1-5
When God spoke to Abram, he obeyed at once, departing for an unknown land based only on a promise. Childless, he trusted God to make him "a great nation" (Genesis 12:2).
God often does His work through “holy fools” – dreamers who strike out in ridiculous faith. Yet I tend to approach my decisions with calculation and restraint.
My church in Chicago once scheduled an all-night vigil of prayer during a major crisis. At length we discussed the practicality of the event before finally putting it on the calendar. The poorest members of the congregation, a group of senior citizens from a housing project, responded the most enthusiastically. I wondered how many of their prayers had gone unanswered over the years, yet they showed a childlike trust in the power of prayer. “How long do you want to say – an hour or two?” we asked, thinking of van shuttles. “Oh, we’ll stay all night,” they replied.
One woman in her 90s explained, “We can pray, we got time and we got faith. Some of us don’t sleep much anyway. We can pray all night if needs be.” And so they did.
Meanwhile, a bunch of yuppies in a downtown church learned an important lesson: Faith often appears where least expected and falters where it ought to thrive.
For Sale: One Soul -Dave Egner
May 31 Sunday
Matthew 16:24-28
One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, , is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have been occurred.
Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university instructor succeeded in selling his immortal soul for $1.325. He said, “In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it.” One wonders how the purchaser intended to collect.
We can’t literally sell our soul, but we can lose our soul to gain something else. We need to ponder Jesus’ question, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Our answers today would differ only in specifics from the responses of Jesus’ day: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The lusts that captivate us and the thirst for unbridled pleasure, success, revenge or material things have certainly taken on far more importance to many people than any considerations of eternity.
Nothing on earth compares to the gifts of God’s love and forgiveness. If the pleasures of this world are preventing you from trusting in Jesus Christ, please think again. It’s not worth the cost of your eternal soul.
Wow! - C. P. Hia
May 30 Saturday
Romans 11:33-36
One blustery day in June, our family, holidaying in the Canadian Rockies, went to a tourist site that was billed as a “must see”. The cold wind made me reluctant to go on until I saw a group of people returning from the scenic spot. “Is it worth it?” I asked. “Definitely” was their response. That gave us the incentive to go on. When we finally reached the spot, its beauty rendered us virtually speechless. “Wow!” was all we could manage.
Paul reached the point as he wrote about the work of God in saving Jew and Gentile in the book of Romans. Three things about God “wowed” him.
First, God is all-wise (Romans 11:33). His perfect plan of salvation shows that He has far better solutions to the problems of life than we are capable of devising.
Secondly, God is all-knowing. His knowledge is infinite. He needs no counselor (verse 34) and nothing surprises Him!
Third, God is all-sufficient (verse 35). No one can give to God what He has not first given to them. Nor can anyone ever repay Him for His goodness.
We can say with Moses, “Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). What a Marvelous God we serve!
Armed for the Fray -Vernon Grounds
May 29 Friday
Ephesians 6:10-18
Paul the apostle, a spiritual warrior, testified as he came to the end of his embattled life: “i have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Years earlier, that valiant soldier of Jesus Christ had pleaded with his fellow Christians to put on the armor of God that would enable them to stand firm in their conflict with the powers of darkness. He knew the vital importance of donning that armor every day. In his service for Christ, Paul had been whipped, beaten, stoned and imprisoned, and was often hungry, thirsty, cold and weary (2 Corinthians 11:22-28).
Strapping on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) enabled Paul to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:14-17). With God’s armor we too are fully covered and prepared for battle.
The prince of darkness with his hosts of demonic helpers is an incredibly crafty foe. That’s why we need to guard against his deceitful devices and put on the whole armor of God every day. When we do, like Paul when he was nearing the end of his days, we can be confident that we have “kept the faith”.
Witness -Marvin Williams
May 28 Thursday
Acts 1:1-11
In a criminal court case, witnesses provide vital information about a possible crime. Being a witness means telling the court the truth about what you know.
Just as the criminal justice system relies heavily on witnesses, Jesus uses bold, faithful, and credible witnesses to spread His word and build His church.
Before Jesus ascended to his Father, He gave His disciples a final command- to launch a worldwide witnessing campaign. The Holy Spirit would come upon them and give them supernatural power to be his witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:8).
Jesus called these early apostles to go into a world where people did not know about Him and to give a truthful account of what they had seen, heard, and experiences (Acts 4:19-20). Since they had witnessed His perfect life, teachings, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 24:48; Acts 1-5), they were to go out and give a truthful testimony about Him.
In taking the gospel to the ends of the world, we are called to testify to the truth about Jesus and how He has changed out lives. “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). What are you doing to tell others?
None so Blind -Julie Ackerman Link
May 27 Wednesday
Psalm 82
Singer Ray Stevens is generally given credit for writing the phrase “There is none so blind as he who will not see,” a line from the song “Everything is beautiful.” But preacher Matthew Henry used the phrase 250 years ago when commenting on the lyrics of another songwriter, Asaph.
Asaph’s lyrics were not as upbeat as those of Stevens. His song was a rebuke to the Israelites for failing to fulfill their God-given purpose. God had chosen them to show the world how to live right and judge justly, but they were failing miserably. Instead of defending the weak and fatherless, they were defending the unjust and showing partiality to the wicked (Psalm. 82:2-3).
In this commentary on Psalm 82, Henry wrote: “A gift in secret blinds their eyes. They know not because they will not understand. None so blind as those that will not see. They have baffled their own consciences, and so they walk on in darkness.”
Jesus confirmed God’s interest in the weak and helpless. He explained that whatever is done for the “least of these” is done for Him (see Matt. 25:34-40). And He chided His disciples for keeping children away from Him (Luke 18:16).
Those who have eyes that see what God sees find ways to help the helpless.
Calling Evil Good -Dennis Fisher
May 26 Tuesday
Isaiah 5:18-23
The Wizard of Oz has remained popular for years. People of all ages have learned moral lessons from Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they traveled down the yellow brick road. Of course, in the plot line the great enemy to be overcome in the Wicked Witch of the West. Evil is clearly depicted and overcome by good.
A new Broadway musical, however, turns the moral sense of the original story on its head. In this rewriting of the story, the wicked witch is presented as a sympathetic character. Born with green skin, she feels like an outsider. Major characters, plot lines, roles and other details are altered so that the wicked witch is a really just a misunderstood person. The audience might come away with the idea that evil is good and good is evil.
During the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, a reversal of moral values took place in Israel. Some actually lifted up the evils of murder, idolatry, and adultery as good. In response, Isaiah gave a stern warning: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil!” (Isaiah 5:20). In our relativistic world, popular culture constantly challenges biblical values. But studying, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word can ensure our discernment between good and evil.
The Arlington Ladies -Anne Cetas
May 25 Monday
Matthew 26:6-13
In 1948, the US Air Force Chief of Staff noticed that no one attended the funeral of an airman at Arlington National Cemetery, and that deeply disturbed him. He talked with his wife about his concern that each soldier be honored at burial, and she began a group called the Arlington Ladies.
Someone from the group honors each deceased soldier by attending his or her funeral. The ladies also write personal notes of sympathy and speak words of gratitude to family members when they are present. If possible, a representative keeps in contact with the family for moths afterward.
Margaret Mensch, an Arlington Lady, says, “The important thing is to be there for the families… It’s an honor to… pay tribute to the everyday heroes that make up the armed forces.”
Jesus showed the importance of paying tribute. After a women poured a costly, fragrant oil on His head, He said that she would be honored for years to come (Matthew 26:31). The disciples were indignant and thought her act was wasteful, but Jesus called it “a good work” (verse 10) for which she would be remembered.
We know heroes who have given their lives in service to god and their country. Let’s honor them today.
The Witness of Friends -David McCasland
May 24 Sunday
1 John 1:1-7
Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam died in a traffic accident 5 months before the publication of his landmark book about the US war in Korea. In the days following the author’s death, fellow writers and colleagues volunteered to conduct a national book tour on his behalf. During every engagement, they paid tribute to Halberstam by reading from his new book and offering personal recollections of their friend.
When it comes to conveying the essence and importance of a person, there’s no substitute for a friend. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, His followers began to tell others about the unique Person they had known. “We have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (1 John 1:2). Their purpose was that others might come to know God the Father and Christ His Son (verse 3).
At times we may feel that witnessing to others about our faith in Christ is a frightening task or a burdensome duty. But talking about a Friend whose presence and influence have transformed our lives helps us to see it in a new light.
The gospel of Christ has always been most powerfully presented by the witness of His friends.
Make Way -Joe Stowell
May 23 Saturday
Isaiah 40:3-5
Dwight D.Eisenhower was known for his courageous leadership during World War 2. His battle- tested skill equipped the troops to reclaim Europe. Soon after returning to the US as a hero, he was elected president.
While in Europe, Eisenhower had experienced the danger and difficulty of navigating the twisting roads. So, for the sake of US national security, he commissioned a network of roads that became the nation’s interstate highway system. Mountains were tunneled through the valleys were traversed by mammoth bridges.
In ancient times, conquering kings gained access to newly acquired territories through highways built for their troops. Isaiah had this in mind when he declared, “make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). And john the Baptist called people to repentance to “prepare the way” into their hearts for the arrival of King Jesus.
What preparation needs to be done to allow Jesus unhindered access to your own heart? Are there rough bitterness that need the bulldozer of forgiveness? Are there valleys of complaining that need to be filled with contentment? We can’t afford to neglect this spiritual engineering. Let’s prepare the way for the King!
I’m Right; You Must Be Wrong -Cindy Hess Kasper
May 22 Friday
Luke 6:37-42
My friend Ria admires the great blue heron’s amazing 6-foot spread of wings and marvels at his majestic appearance. She welcomes the sight of him gliding in for a landing on a small island in the middle of the pond near her home.
Now, I can appreciate that the heron is a marvellous and unique creature. But I don’t ever want to spot him in my backyard! That’s because I know he won’t be there just to admire the garden. No, this not-so-fine-feathered version of persona non grata (someone not welcome) will be checking out our pond for a take-out fish dinner!
So, am I right? Or is Ria? Why can’t we agree? Different personalities, history or knowledge can colour people’s view. It doesn’t mean that one person is right and the other wrong, yet sometimes we can be unkind, rigid and judgmental if there is no agreement. I’m not talking about sin--- but just a difference in opinion or perspective. We need to take care in judging others’ thinking, motives, and actions because we too desire that kind of benefit of the doubt (Luke 6:37).
Can we learn from someone who sees things with a different perspective? Do we need to practice a little patience and love? I’m so grateful that God is abundantly patient and loving with me.
Is He Enough? -Dave Branon
May 21 Monday
Acts 3:1-10
Is Jesus enough? That’s a question many Christians need to ask themselves. They have abundant material possessions. But do these believers depend on Jesus? Or on their stuff?
While having wealth is not condemned in Scripture as long as priority are in order and the needs of the others are addressed, those of us with relative wealth must remind ourselves that Jesus----not riches---- sustains us.
The apostle Peter helps us with this in the story of the lame man begging at the temple gate in Jerusalem. This man asked Peter for money, but Peter replied, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
The man lying at the gate thought the answer to his problems that day was money, but Peter showed him that the answer was Jesus. And He still is.
I read about a group of Chinese Christians who have much to teach us as they seek to spread the gospel in their homeland and beyond. These believers say,” We can’t afford any big programs of fancy gospel presentations. All we have to give people is Jesus.”
Jesus is enough for our brothers and sisters in China. He is enough for the poor. Is He enough for you?
Restoring Spiritual Sight -C.P. Hia
May 20 Wednesday
John 9:1-11
Sanduk Ruit is a Nepalese doctor who has used his scalpel, microscope, and simplified cararact surgery technique to give sight to almost 70,000 people over the past 23 years. The poorest patients who visit his nonprofit eye center in Katmandu pay with just their gratitude.
Our Lord Jesus Christ healed many of physical blindness during His time on earth. But of greater concern to Him were the spiritually blind. Many of the religious authorities who invested the healing of the blind man refused to believe that Jesus was not a sinner (John 9:13-34). This caused Jesus to say, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind”(verse 39).
The apostle Paul wrote of this spiritual blindness when he said, “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
The psalmist said, “ The entrance of Your words gives light” (Psalm 119:130). God’s word is what will open our eyes and cure spiritual blindness.
War in Heaven -Dennis Fisher
May 19 Tuesday
Revelation 12:7-12
Philip Pullman is a gifted writer of fantasy books. His Dark Materials trilogy includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass and is very popular among young readers. But below the surface of these sympathetic characters and compelling subplots is a sinister purpose. The story culminates in a great war against God.
In these books, Pullman views the fall of Satan as a righteous cause for personal independence from God's "tyrannical" control. He implies that Satan's attempt to usurp the throne of God was the right thing to do!
In the book of Revelation, we read of the endtimes: "War broke out in heaven... [and Satan] was cast to the earth" (Revelation 12:7-9). That future war is being preceded by an earthly conflict on the battlefield of our minds.
We must recognize Satan for what he is -- a liar (John 8:44). His strategy is to take God's words out of contet and twist them into falsehood (Genesis 3:1-7). Our best defense against him is to hold firmly to the truth of God's Word (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Our loving heavenly Father is "not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9). But neither will He force our obedience. He leaves the choice to us.
The Heavenly Alternative -Bill Crowder
May 18 Monday
2 Corinthians 5:1-11
Recently, I wished a young friend "happy birthday" and asked him how it felt to be a year older. His playful reponse? "Well, I guess it's better than alternative!"
We laughed together, but I later stopped to think -- is it really? Don't misunderstand me. I'm happy to live as long as the Lord allows me to live and to watch my kids and grandkids grow and experience life. I'm not excited about the inevitablility of death. But as a believer, the alternative to getting older is heaven -- and that's not bad!
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul talks about the relity of living with the aches and pains of our physical bodies, our "tents" of flesh. But we should not live in despair about aging. In fact, the apostle calls us to just the opposite. He wrote, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (verse 8). Confident! Pleased! Why? Because our alternative to earthly life is that we will be present with the Lord -- forever! The heavenly perspecitve of what awaits us can give us confidence for living now.
If you know Christ, His promise can give you what the hymnwriter called, "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow." What a great alternative!
Wake-up Music -Mart De Haan
May 17 Sunday
Deuteronomy 31:16-22
In a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, a group of international refugees has been singing songs that they hope will wake up their homeland. According to the BBC, the group Waayah Cusub has been enjoying extensive airplay on radio stations and television channels by using bold lyrics to address social issues. One of the musicians says, "We are not happy with what is happening back home; in fact we have recorded a thought-provoking song that we hope will bring our leaders back to their senses."
Long before Waayah Cubsub begain using songs to call for an end to social pain and voilence, God taught Moses to use music in a bold and provvocative way. Knowing that His people's sinful inclinations would distract them when they began to enjoy the prosperity of the Promised Land (deuteronomy 31:21), God told Moses to teach them the song of chapter 32. It is a shocking song of warning, designed to get the attention of those who would forget God and fill their lives with trouble.
Could our wise and loving God be repeating that strategy with us? Is there a psalm, a hymm, or a spiritual song that is calling us back to His faithfulness and amazing grace? What song mught He be using to get under the radar of our natural defenses and renew our hearts toady?
Gift Of Self-Indulgence -David McCasland
May 16 Saturday
Ezekiel 16:48-56
An upscale London department store launched a new gift card with the slogan, "The Gift of Self-Indulgence." Throughout the store, signs, slogans, and even nametags called attention to the cards. According to one employee, sales of the gift cards during the first weeks of the promotion had been very strong, farexceeding company expectations. Generosity may prompt a person to give a luxurious gift to someone special, but too often we find it easier to purchase waht we want for ourselves.
The prophet Ezekiel sheds light on an ancient city whose people suffered God'judgement, in part, because they embraced a self-indulgent lifestyle.
"This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away ask I saw fit" (Ezekiel 16:49-50).
Historically, the Lord has dealt harshly with His people who became arrogant, overfed and unconcered (verse 49). The antidote to the poison of self-indulgence is the desire to please God and serve others, not ourselves (Philippians 2:4)
Self-indulgence is a gift that we don't need.
The Secret Is -Julie Ackerman Link
May 15 Friday
1 Corinthinans 2:6-16
If you believe Rhonda Byrne, author of the bestselling book The Secret, "the shortcut to anything you want in your life is to be and feel happy now!"
According to Byrne, this has to do with something called the law of attraction. If you think only about things that make you happy, she says, happy things will be attracted to you.
Sounmds easy enough.
However, the Bible says that "the secret" to life is something very different. It has to do with "the law of the Spirit of life" that sets us free from "the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2), not with the "law of attraction."
According to the apostle Paul, the most important thing to know is "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corithians 2:2). To those who are concerned with happiness now, this is indeed foolish (verse 14). They do not recognise the power of God in what appears to them as weakness.
The Lord created us with a desire to know what is secret. In His wisdom, He kept certain thngs hidden in mystery for a time (verse 7). But now, through His Holy Spirit, He has made them known. And the secret He reveals has nothing to do with having happy thoughts in order to obtain happy things; it has to do with having the mind of Jesus Christ (verse 16).
Making the Cut -Joe Stowell
May 14 Thursday
Matthew 4:18-22
Every year, high-school seniors apply to their favourite universities and then watch the mailbox for the letter announcing their acceptance.
It was different for teens in New Testament times. Jewish boys would often attend rabbinical schools until age 13. Then only the best and brightest would be chosen to "follow" the local rabbi. This small, select group of disciples would go where he went and eat what he ate - modeling their lives after the rabbi. Those who didn't make the cut would pick up a trade like carpentry, sheep-herding or fishing.
Guys like Simon, Andrw, James, and John hadn't made the cut. So instead of follwing the local rabbi, they were down by the docks, kneedeep in the family business. It's interesting that Jesus sought out the men the local rabbi had rejected.Instead of targeting the best and brightest, Jesus offered His invitation, "Follow Me," to ordinary run-of-the-mill fishermen. What an honor! They would become followers of the ultimate Rabbi
Jesus extends the same honor to you and me - not because we are the best or brightest, but because He needs ordinary people like us to model His life and to lovingly rescue people on His behalf. So, follow Him and let Him make something of your life!
Godly Sorrow -Marvin Williams
May 13 Wednesday
2 Corinthians 7:5-10
Thieves stole nearly $5,000 in sound and office equipment from a church in West Virginia, only to break in the following night to return the items they had take. Apparently, the guilt of stealing from a church weighted so heavily on their conscience that they felt the need to correc ttheir criminal behavior of breaking the commandment: "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). Their actions make me think about the differences between worldy sorrow and godly sorrow.
Paul praised the Corinthians for understanding this difference. His first letter to them was biting, as he addressed issues of sin. His words caused sorrow among them, and because of this Paul rejoiced. Why?
Their sorrows did not stop just feeling sad about getting caught or suffering the unpleasant consequences of their sins. Their sorrow was godly sorrow, a genuine remorse for their sins. This led them to repentance - a change in their thinking that led to a renouncing of their sin and turning to God. Their repentance ultimately led to deliverance from their sinful habits.
Repentance is not something we can do unless we have the promiting of the Holy Spirit; it's a gift from God. Pray for repentance today (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
