Precious Gift

They have no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years (Luke 1:7).

Scripture: Luke 1:5-20
Song: "Happy the Home When God is There"

Married for three years, both were in their late 30s. Although they were anxious to start a family, pregnancy eluded them. As a last resort, they tried in vitro fertilization. But when that failed, the doctor asked, "Would you consider adoption?" Instead, they traveled to another hospital in another state. And nine months later they becaome the parents of a beautiful, eight-pound baby girls.

The in vitro procedure was expensive, exhausting, and risky. Yet the happy couple says, "It was worth evey cost, every obstacle. We are so thankful for God's goodness."

Zechariah and Elizabeth, dutiful servants of the Lord, had longed for, and prayed for, a child. But time had passed, and perhaps they had resigned themseves to being childless. Can you imagine Zechariah's astonishment and disbelief when the angel of the Lord appeared to announce their desire would be granted? And this child would be a key player in God's redemptive plan, preparing the people for Christ's coming. This couple too offered thanks for the goodness of God.

Prayer: Gracious God, praie to You for the children among us. May every parent be reminded this day: how precious are these gifts! Through Christ, amen.

- taken from 365 Devotions by Standard (Pocket Edition)

The Lord's Answer

READ:
Habakkuk 1:2-5

Habakkuk's Complaint

2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?

3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.

4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.

The Lord 's Answer

5 "Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

--------

This passage is pretty powerful. When people cry out for God, it's as if God knows and will send them deliverence in such a way that completely blows their minds. It's pretty awesome.

I dunno about you guys but I'm still blown away at the way men's group has been going. God is so cool.

How about you guys? Anything God's blown you away with this past week?

Revelations Part 1

As most of you know, i don't use a devo book because i find its too restricting in a lot of ways. Lately I have been reading up on Revelations and it hasn't been easy so i will be doing several parts on this until i finish the book.

Revelation 1
It begins with a clear statement of origin and purpose. Then John addresses the seven churches, offering grace and peace from each member of the Godhead. His greeting is followed by a declaration of concerning the Lord's coming.

At this point John explains how e was commissioned to record the Revelation. When he was in exile for preaching he was in the spirit on the Lord's day when he heard a loud voice behind him. The voice identified itself as "the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last" and then charged John to write what he saw to seven churches in Asia.

Turning to see the voice, John saw seven golden lampstands and in their midst the Son of
Man.  Describing the awesome appearance of the Son of Man and his own reaction, John then
records how Jesus comforted and then charged him to write what he has seen and will see.

The chapter ends with the Lord's explanation that the seven stars in His right hand represent
the angels (messengers?) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands signify the seven
churches themselves.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So i guess you can call this in introduction to the book and to what will happen in the future.
What would happen if one of you were put into John's place, what would you do?, how would you
react?, it seems that the description of what happens in this part of the book sounds like what
most believers would do.   I know this could happen anytime, but i doubt it will for a while,
not in this lifetime.

End of Part 1

Peace and Order

"The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves." Isaiah 48:17-18

Diplomats work toward a "lasting peace" in the trouble spots of the world. Worried parents long for "peace of mind" when their children are in trouble. And the harried businessman sailing his yacht wants nothing more than "a little peace." There is nothing more attractive to the human race than peace - and nothing more elusive.

God had problems with his chosen people. He could not always get them to listen to him, and when they did listen they were often incapable of understanding what he was saying. Even when they understood, they did not necessarily do what he said. So the result was chaos. now, we know that God is not a God of confusion but a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). So the chaos is not by his desire of design.

God addressed the issue through his prophet Isaiah: " Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves" (48:18). God's promise of peace is directly related to observance of his principles. If the human race wants peace they can have it, but it comes at a price. The price is refusing to do things man's way and being willing to do things God's way.

This message to God's ancient people should be heeded today. We have engineered much chaos, and God calls us to order - to peace. We tend to question what God says is "good" and to doubt the path he chooses. So we go our own way and do our own thing, which results in varying degrees of chaos. We tend to regard God's commands as onerous energy resisting God's commands - arguing with them, breaking them, and enthusiastically engaging in activities and attitudes that fly in the teeth of them. A brief review of the commandments will confirm this to be true! Yet when God gave the commandments to his people, Moses told them, "Obey the Lord's commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good" (Deuteronomy 10:13). God's commands are for our own good!


When things are done God's way, that's the right way, and things run as He intended, like a well-maintained machine. But disobedience throws a wrench into the works and puts sand in the gears. Profound disorder ensues! And disorder is the antithesis of peace. But where does order come from? From ordering our life according to the orders of the God of order - and that's an order!

- Devotions for men by Stuart Briscoe.

Distressed

"Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" Genesis 32:7

Distressed - "I just don't know what to do! Every way I turn, all I see is disaster." This thought in Hebrew is expressed by the verb yasar. It is used throughout the Old Testament to describe distress in times of war, pressure from social stress, anxiety over plans that do not work and the results of unfaithful people. In a particularly vivid example, this word describes the physical illness that results from Ammon's unfulfilled sexual desire for Tamar (2 Sam. 13:2).

The root word means, "to make narrow or straight". It is the idea of being constricted on all sides so that you feel like you can't move. Trapped! Caged! Your options suddenly disappear and all you can see are the walls on all sides.

Jacob hears that his brother is coming toward him with 400 men, an army big enough to wipe out Jacob and his family. He fears that Esau will seek revenge for all that Jacob has done over his lifetime of deception. He cries out to God in fear. But the amazing thing about this story is not Jacob's misunderstanding to Esau's motives. It is that Jacob has just received God's promise of protection and God's command to return to his homeland. Did Jacob forget that God was directing events?

The answer is "Yes." Jacob is as human as anyone of us. In a moment of panic, he forgets that God is in charge of life. He forgets that God's promises prevail. He forgets that God knows every circumstance. "Oh, God. How could you let all this happen? Why did you bring me here so that I could die? Look at all the bad things that will happen to me, and all because I listened to You?" Does that sound like something you might have said? Jacob lets his emotions carry him away from God's faithfulness. Jacob forgets all about God in his anxiety.

Do we really believe that God's word will stand forever? Do we live on the basis of God's faithfulness toward us? Or are we just modern day Jacobs, seeing our lives pushed into traps and cages without room to maneuver? God would probably say the same thing to you and me that He would say to Jacob, "Why did you doubt? Don't you know Who I Am?" (If that reminds you of a night on the Sea of Galilee, don't' be surprised).

- Taken from Today's Word

The Pretender

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. —James 5:16

When a waitress in Ohio asked to see a customer’s driver’s license, she was shocked when she saw the photo on the ID. It was her own picture! The waitress had lost her driver’s license a month earlier, and this young woman was using it so she’d have “proof” she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called, and the customer was arrested for identity theft. Trying to gain what she wanted, she pretended to be someone she wasn’t.

Jacob, in the Old Testament, did some pretending too. With his mother Rebekah’s help, he fooled his dying father into believing he was his brother Esau so he could gain the blessing meant for the elder son (Gen. 27). Jacob got caught after his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to receive the blessing.

Pretending goes on in our churches today. Some people put on a false front. They use the right “Christian” words, attend church almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend they “have it all together” in order to gain the approval of others. But inside they’re struggling with brokenness, guilt, doubt, or an addiction or other persistent sin.

God placed us in a body of believers to support one another. Admit that you aren’t perfect. Then seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ.
—Anne Cetas

Don’t hide your sin and cover up,
Pretending there is nothing wrong;
Instead, confess it and repent,
Then God will fill your heart with song. —Sper

Be what God intends you to be—don’t pretend to be what you’re not.

Shallow and Profound

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects fo life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow then we are. Beware of posing as a profound person- God became a baby.

To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallow-ness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all- the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God and He said, "A disciple is not above his teacher . . ." (Matthew 10:24)

We are safeguarded by the shallow things of life. We have to live the surface, commonsense life in a commonsense way. Then when God gives us the deeper things, they are obviously separated from the shallow concerns. Never show the depth of your life to anyone but God. We are so nauseatingly serious, so desperately interested in our own character and reputation, we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.

Make a determination to take no one seriously except God. You may find that the first person you must be the most critical with, as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.

devo taken from My Utmost for His Highest devo book

The Other Side Of Thank You

A baby gift came to a young couple who were new parents. They were grateful for the present, so the mom picked up a thank-you card, wrote a nice note, and got it ready to send.

Somehow it got buried in an avalanche of paperwork and was never mailed—and the thank-you was forgotten. The gift-givers waited, but no acknowledgment came.

A rift developed as one family thought the thank-you had been given, while the other thought the lack of a thank-you was a snub. This inadvertent failure to send a card left the gift-giver feeling slighted, unappreciated, and neglected.

Among the most important words we can speak are the two words, “Thank you.” And while it is vital to be grateful, there’s another side of thank you. If we bestow a gift on another, we should do so out of a motive that doesn’t expect anything, even a thank-you, in return. True love gives with no expectations.

Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “suffers long and is kind” and is never self-seeking. Love keeps no record of wrongs—even if someone forgets to thank us for a kindness. The other side of thank you is a pure heart that reflects God’s perfect love for us.
—Dave Branon

Devotion taken from Our Daily Bread, November 21, 2007

let us not forget, we are brothers and sisters and we should make it clear to everyone that we are thankful for each other 's existance, even though sometimes we don't think so. Nothing is expected from each other, and hopefully, our actions are quantified by love and only out of love. Expect nothing in return but be thankful in what you do because God has given you the ability to do so.

-kim

Re-building of the Temple

Read Ezra 3:1-13.

Emphasis on Ezra 3:3 and Ezra 3:11.

In the book of Ezra, the Israelites are in the process of re-building the temple after it was destroyed by the Babylonians. The two verses I want to emphasize are listed above.

In Ezra 3:3, the Israelites are re-building the altar, despite fears of being attacked by their neighbours. Side note: Notice that they re-built the altar first, before the temple. Why? So they could offer offerings during the construction of the temple.

The city was in ruins after being destroyed by the Babylonians. There was no wall to protect them (Nehemiah rebuilds it, after.) . However, despite these obstacles... the Israelites continue to do the work God has asked of them. The job took many years, and it encountered many delays. Non-Israelites came and asked to help, they were turned away. The different Persian kings sent out decrees to start then stop then start the work again. The Israelites demonstrated true perseverance in the task of re-building the temple.

So if you were to apply to your life, would you be able to do the things God asked even if there were many obstacles and it took an obscene amount of your time? Would you be able to do what God asked despite fearing for your life? Not only that, would you go about the work with praise in your heart, and worship on your lips, like in Ezra 3:11?

random musing by Richard Chong.

Offer Refused!

But you refused to listen to my prophets... and you are the ones who were hurt by what you did (Jeremiah 25:7, Contemporary English Version)

Scripture: Jeremiah 25:1-11
Song: "Not by Might"

Hardened hearts keep more people out of Heaven than hardened arteries. The typical scenario goes like this: Something painful happens; a person feels wronged; bitterness follows but is pushed down and internalized. A heart becomes hardened to God. Admit it, we've all seen it. Or been there ourselves

Later God calls bitter people to repent and accept His love for them. Still, some people choose to reject His invitations, sometimes even blaming the voice that tried to help.

This is what happened to the prophet Jeremiah, a man who called the people of Juhan (for 23 years!) to turn back to God from their idolatries. It centainly would have been much easier for Jeremiah just to blend in and ignore the evils around him. Yet he reminds us to speak out even amid a hostile and dangerous culture of unbelief.

We can debate whether or not Jeremiah actually made much difference; Judah's captivity ensued. But at least he presented the truth as God called him to do. Like him, we are simply to obey, leaving the results in God's hands.

Prayer: Father, I desire to communicate the gospel to lost people, regardless of the reception. Through the power of Christ's sacrifice, I pray Amen.

- taken from 365 Devotions by Standard (Pocket Edition)

Avoiding Destructive Partnerships

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

Healthy leaders often partner with others to reach their goals. In fact, we live in an age of partnerships, both in the corporate world and in the church. Paul reminds us that nothing is more dangerous to a leader than an unhealthy or destructive partnership. Note several signs of a bad partnership:

• The parties don't share the same values.
• The parties don't agree on the goal.
• One or both parties must compromise their convictions.
• One party selfishly demands that the other surrender.
• One party benefits and the other loses.

Good partnerships do not foster co-dependence or independence, but interdependence. Each party feels secure, is stretched, and enjoys synergy. The partnership multiplies the productivity of both parties.

- taken from "Leadership Promises for Every Day", John Maxwell. p. 256

James 3

Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.


How much of what you say aims to create peace?

It's interesting how much the Bible emphasizes the character of peace-makers. The Old Testament finds God's people wandering for years and years in search of PEACE in a land promised to them by God, but when they are granted this, they repeatedly disobey and the cycle continues. And yet today, how eager are we to stir things up, to get involved in someone else's life? In so many instances, the end goal that God promises His people in return for obedience is peace. This is the goal...

The Changed Life

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means tat in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is- has God changed the things that really matter to you? If you still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born from above - you are deceiving yourself. If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your real life and thought. And when a crisis comes, you are the most amazed person on earth at the wonderful difference there is in you. There is no possibility of imagining that you did it. It is this complete and amazing change that is the very evidence that you are saved.

What difference has my salvation and sanctification made? For instance, can I stand in the light of 1 Corinthians 13, or do I squirm and evade the issue? True salvation, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit, frees me completely. And as long as I "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7), God sees nothing to rebuke because His life is working itself into every detailed part of my being, not on the conscious level, but even deeper then my consciousness.

-devo from My Utmost For His Highest

Doing Well

READ: James 1:1-13

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. —James 2:8

In the book Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley recounts the World War II battle of Iwo Jima and its famous flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Bradley’s father, John, was one of the flag-raisers. But more important, he was a Navy corpsman—a medic.

In the heat of battle, facing a barrage of bullets from both sides, Bradley exposed himself to danger so he could care for the wounded and dying. This self-sacrifice showed his willingness and determination to care for others, even though it meant placing himself at great personal risk.

Doc Bradley won the Navy Cross for his heroism and valor, but he never spoke of it to his family. In fact, it was only after his death that they learned of his military decorations. To Doc, it wasn’t about winning medals; it was about caring for his buddies.

In James 2:8 we read: “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well.” By intentionally seeking to care for others in the way that we would hope to be treated, James says we “do well.” The word well means “rightly, nobly, so there is no room for blame.”

Selflessly “doing well” expresses the heart of God, and fulfills His law of love.
—Bill Crowder

Let the road be rough and dreary,
And its end far out of sight;
Foot it bravely, strong or weary;
Trust in God and do the right. —Macleod

Love is at the heart of obedience.

When Christ Comes

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. REV 7:14

God has only one requirement for entrance into heaven: that we be clothed in Christ... The inhabitants of heaven... are dressed in white. The saints. The elders.... How would you suppose Jesus is dressed? In white?... "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God" (REV 19:13). Why is Christ's robe not white?... Paul says simply, " He changed places with us" (Galatians 3:13)... He wore our coat of sin to the cross

"Studying"

Who remembers why we want to "study?"

When we first started studying in September, it was hilarious. Running around with heroes and clicking left and right trying to kill someone. Remember those times? The times where we were laughing at how stupid we were, or how someone played really well, or just simply laughing cause someone did something stupid and it was hilarious.

We've lost that, i think, when we "study" now-a-days.

What I see now is, people boasting about how good they are, people laughing at other people, people genuinely getting pissed off over things (however little, or big they are), I see swear words flying up on the screen, people ranting and being angry.

IT IS NOT FUN ANYMORE. IT ISN'T FUN WHEN PEOPLE START YELLING AT EACH OTHER, BEING PISSED OFF, SWEARING, AND JUST PLAIN OUTRIGHT NOT PLAYING THIS TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX.

Perhaps some of us were better at this game than others, or perhaps some of us spent some time to get better at this game. But skill level wise, there is a disparity and its showing. DoTA is not as forgiving in skill than say footies because well, footies you use an army of soldiers, and in DoTA you only control ONE hero and what you do with your hero will affect the outcome of the match. Whatever the reason is, DoTA has made us rather angry at each other and its not even fun anymore. I played last night, and you all saw what happened. Personally, I don't see repicks as an issue. You start off with 300 less gold, but a random chance at another hero, but there are others who insist on no repicking. Someone suggested to me for all pick, but thats even worse, because the players who know how to use certain characters will be at an even more advantageous position and things will spiral into THIS IS NOT FUN ANYMORE.

Where do we go from here?


In efforts to reinject FUN back into the game, we need to take measures. I believe that we need to examine ourselves on why we "study". Is it to relax and to have fun, or has it gone so competitive that we don't really think about fun and just try our hardest to shatter someone. Perhaps we should level the playing field, letting the not so skilled members a chance to learn and a chance to catch up. I know that I am available for people to ask me how to play, and willing to share my knowledge on this game to others. Perhaps implementing all pick, but all "skilled" players must choose random (-random at start of game). SOMETHING that helps us have fun again. Heck, change games (battleships? footies? Enfo Survival? Perhaps a TEAM game like a hero defence where we all work on the SAME TEAM instead of being competitive, cause right now pitting us against each other is just causing a lot of anger)

I know for myself that I've done each and every single thing I pointed out that makes this game not fun and I am examining myself on my motivations to play. I suggest you all do the same. I don't want to see people getting angry and pissed off over a game. If this continues, I might just stop studying all together. Whats the use of a game when its not even fun?

Just some thoughts I had after yesterday's game, I know we're all tired, exhausted and such, but we cant exactly go bonkers because of that. Lets have FUN again, and less bashing each other's heads in. Please?

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrw we may meet our maker.

Luke 22:54-62 (New International Version)

Peter Disowns Jesus

54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Well, its that time of the week again. My title is a deragned version of the famous quote "eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die". ANyways, i wanted to share with u guys my tohughts on the quoted bible passage. TO be honest, a huge fear of mine is to meet with God one day as the dissapointment that i am. As with Petey in passage, he essentially does his denying, then goes and crys about it. Which is quite similar to what i do only, im not sure about Peter but mine is a cycle. Everyday there are new and exciting challenges pertianing to my maker, and it seems that im failing miserably at them. We engage in spiritual warfare everyday, numerous times a day. Perhaps my problem is either i forgot my shield at home or forgot to study my battle tactics. Like in war, those who are not prepared will be decapitated the enemy. As swords collide, there can only be one winner. FOrtunatley, our very own Gandalf the white is riding in with the calvary, covering our forces with showers of arrows, victory is at hand, it is apparent, but the question is will you survive to see that victory? Have you gone into battle mentally and spiritually prepared? Are you assured and content with what may be the likely outcome? ANd finally, will you have congtributed to the victory or will your actions have needlessly resulted in the murder of your comrades?

Its funny, all that and more is at hand and yet I falter. I hope i can find strength even in this much weakness.

*i used ot read a lot of cool books so i can talk nerd

-Brian Tse

Trusting Christ to the hilt with gutsy guilt.

Adapted from John Piper's article found Here.

Micah 7:8-9 is a picture of what you say to your enemy when he scoffs at your defeat. Here is what you say. My summary of these words is to call them gutsy guilt. I call it that because the believer admits that he has done wrong and that God is dealing roughly with him. But even in a condition of darkness and discipline, he will not surrender his hold on the truth that God is on his side. Listen to these amazing words. Mark them. Memorize them. Use them whenever Satan tempts you to throw away your life on trifles because that’s all you’re good for.

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. (Micah 7:8-9)

This is what victory looks like the morning after failure. Meditate on it long and hard when I am gone. Learn to take your theology and speak like this to the devil or anyone else who tells you that Christ is not capable of using you mightily for his global cause. Here is what you say:

“Rejoice not over me, O my enemy.” You make merry over my failure? You think you will draw me into your deception? Think again.

“When I fall, I shall rise.” Yes, I have fallen. And I hate what I have done. I grieve at the dishonor I have brought on my king. But hear this, O my enemy, I will rise. I will rise.

“When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” Yes, I am sitting in darkness. I feel miserable. I feel guilty. I am guilty. But that is not all that is true about me and my God. The same God who makes my darkness is a sustaining light to me in this very darkness. He will not forsake me.

“I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me.” O yes, my enemy, this much truth you say, I have sinned. I am bearing the indignation of the Lord. But that is where your truth stops and my theology begins: He—the very one who is indignant with me—he will plead my cause. You say he is against me and that I have no future with him because of my failure. That’s what Job’s friends said. That is a lie. And you are a liar. My God, whose Son’s life is my righteousness and whose Son’s death is my punishment, will execute judgment for me. For me! FOR me! And not against me.

“He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” This misery that I now feel because of my failure, I will bear as long as my dear God ordains. And this I know for sure—as sure as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is my punishment and my righteousness—God will bring me out to the light, and I will look upon his righteousness, my Lord and my God.

Philipipians 2:1- 4

Bible verse: Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

"If you have any encouragement in being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with his Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being in one spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but think others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but the interests of others."

What does it say?

• if you have any
• encouragement in being united with the Lord
• comfort from his love
• fellowship with the
  
• Spirit tenderness and compassion
• then you don't have
• any selfish ambition
• any self interest

• The "antidote" for these are
• Selfish ambition => see everyone better than yourself
• own interest => look in interest of others
  

What does it mean?

• we are to be like minded, in unity with other believers
• we can achieve this by "having the same love, being in one spirit and purpose"

Like last time i leave the "What does it mean to me?" part to you.

Time to Pray Aloud?

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again (1 Kings 18:37)

Scripture: 1 Kinda 18:36-39
Song: "The Battle Belongs to the Lord"

As Elijah's battle with the false prophets demonstrates, answered prayer has an amazing way of getting the attention of unbeilevers. It can make a real splash!

Notice Elijah's heart in this passage. His motivation was the welfare of the onlookers. He wanted a manifestation of God's power, not so he could be a big shot in town, but so the people woul know that God wanted their hearts backs. In other words, Elijah already knew how awesome God was. He wanted the people to know too.

Sometimes, however people are like the prophets of Baal-they aren't ready to be prayed for until they have exhausted all other possibilities. They are convinced that can solver their problems without God. This leaves them in control, and often they have to try everything before becoming desperate enough to let us pray for them.

Are there people in your life who has already tried everything to make life worth living-but still long for more? Perhaps now is the time to pray for them aloud, on purpose, in their presence.

Prayer: Lord, show me if there are people in my life right now who are ready for me to offer prayer on their behalf. Give me the boldness to ask them, and to do it so You can reveal Your love in a tangible way. Through Crhist, amen.

- taken from 365 Devotions by Standard (Pocket Edition)

It Takes a Mentor

"Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 'Let the LORD... set a man over the congregation... that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepard.' And the LORD said to Moses: 'Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit.'" Numbers 27:15-18

Joshua was an impressive leader. One of the major factors in Joshua's increase in influence was the impact of Moses on his life. Wherever Moses when, Joshua went with him, whether it was up Mount Sinai or to meet with God in the tabernacle.

After the Hebrews refused to enter the Promised Land, the mentoring relationship between the two men continued. In fact, the process continued for forty years and culminated with Moses imparting his authority to the younger man. And after Moses died, no one questioned Joshua's leadership.

Paster A. W. Tozer said, "God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible - what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves." Moses' investment in Joshua released God's power in him.

- taken from "Leadership Promises for Every Day" John C. Maxwell, p.146

Anger and Disappointment

I know that sometimes we get angry when stuff happens and we sometimes tend to find someone to blame for it because its just natural to do it to vent anger and to relieve ourselves of disappointment. Sometimes we blame God for something bad that happens to you or someone else.

We all know that God is doing something for us, we being part of his plan and whatnot. Everything happens for a reason good or bad it happens. We just have to know that we can't blame God for everything that happens thats bad, we tend to blame Him for the bad things and tend to praise ourselves for the deeds we accomplish and forget who is actually responsible for it.

In the end we should all realize that God is doing all of this for us and in the end we will all understand why everything was done. I'd like everyone to pray about this and put this in front of everyone to push themselves one step further towards the realization of God in his works and what he is doing.

Youthful Vigor

"During the eight year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrine, Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images." - 2 Chronicles 34:3

Most sixteen-year-old boys are not known for their piety. Immaturity, irresponsibility or mischief, perhaps and voracious appetite, energy, activity, even industry - but not usually piety, even if they are reigning monarchs.

Young King Josiah was different. We are not told what led Josiah to earnestly desire an experience with the Lord. It certainly was not the example of his father, King Amon, or his grandfather, King Manasseh, both of whom were wicked kings. Something was born in Josiah's heart that led him to take seriously both his own spiritual well-being and his royal obligation for the well0being of his people. In a few short years, he used his royal power and prestige to rid his territory of the infamous idolatry that plagued his people and to commission the refurbishing of the neglected temple (34:8). All this by the time he was twenty0six years of age!

Josiah's devotion to the Lord and spiritual leadership were developed without the benefit of the Scriptures, which makes his accomplishments even more remarkable. Then, when Hilkiah the priest discovered the lost Scriptures (34:14) , Josiah was horrified to discover how far he and his people had strayed from the Lord's commands. He immediately ordered further study and inquired of the prophet Huldah. When he understood the significance of the word of the Lord, he put it into practice and called the people to follow his lead.

Prior to the rediscovery of the Scriptures, Josiah had known enough about the Lord to know that he needed to know more, and he had seen enough of idol worship to know that it was clearly wrong. Acting on the limited information available to him, he acheived great things. But when he received the word of the Lord, his vision expanded and his experience enlarged.

Every man is called not only to respond to what he knows but also to ensure that he knows what he should. To know the word and not to obey it is wrong. To have the word and not to read and know it is no better. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "He who does not read and obey has no advantage over he who cannot read or respond." Josiah could now know what was hidden in the lost book. Modern man has no such problem - the Book is available. SO we must do what we know, and read the Book. Those who read it will be called to make some changes, some of which will be uncomfortable. But every step we take toward God will lead to blessing.

P.S sorry for being late

Running Towards the Sun

The beauty of Christianity is that it is a claim of weakness, of fallacy. It is an acknowledgement of imperfection and a glorious celebration of dependency and need. It is uncomfortable because it is flawed. Unlike everything else in this world, it doesn't strive to be strong, perfect, desirable, wanted. The beauty is in the broken and the weak and the hopeless.

It is a belief in something more gracious than we could ever know. Rather than looking for good soil in people and circumstances to dig our roots into, we know the best soil is already ours. After reading philosophy after philosophy about being - about life being born and walked into, about the self being a temple, about each decision being autonomous - it is a relief to find something firm.

It is a relief to finally realize that the light at the end of the tunnel is everywhere. It doesn't confine itself to our moments of despair; it is tethered to us. I love that it is not about ourselves. We are not constrained to popular belief or the newest trend about assurance, personal satisfaction or beauty coming from within. We are vessels - not restricted to a formulaic way of living because we have the greatest freedom. I love that in our greatest and deepest moment of weakness, we don't have to create a hope in ourselves. Not that I am strong enough to overcome this, but that my Savior is. He lives inside of me; I don't need to know and control and hold my past, future and present. It is not a battle of personal strength and ambition; it is a confession of weakness.

Above all, that this is for the most fallen of us. It is for those of us who couldn't muster the strength in us to get out of bed, put some clothes on, and face the day with certainty that it will be okay.

We are not competing with the world because there is no common ground on which to compete. In a world where the race is cut-throat and furious, we are running in the opposite direction, completely against the tide, but towards the sun.

Two Kingdoms

In a report in USA Today, Rick Hampson wrote: “The young generally don’t have the old-time political religion. They look at voting and see a quaint, irrational act.” One graduate was quoted as saying, “I don’t care enough to care about why I don’t care.” I wonder if this is how we as Jesus-followers sometimes view our civic responsibility!

The insights of Jesus in Matthew 22 helped His followers think clearly about their civic duty in the world. The Jews were required to pay taxes to the Roman government. They hated this taxation because the money went directly into Caesar’s treasury, where some of it supported the pagan temples and decadent lifestyle of the Roman aristocracy. They may have questioned whether they even had a civic responsibility to Caesar. Jesus reminded them, however, that they had dual citizenship. They lived in a world with two kingdoms—Caesar’s kingdom (human authority) and God’s kingdom (spiritual authority). They had responsibilities to both, but their greater responsibility was to God and His kingdom (Acts 5:28-29).

As followers of Christ, we are commanded to cooperate with our rulers, but we are called to give God our ultimate obedience and commitment. —Marvin Williams

We live today as citizens of two worlds,
And this demands a duty to fulfill;
But greater far should be our heart’s desire
To honor Christ and always do His will. —Hess

Government has authority, but God has ultimate authority.