TAKE A STAND: "...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Josh24:15 wp.me/p29yfQ-2y #Jesus #houseoffaith #devotion

RECIPE FOR LESS STRESS:

RECIPE FOR LESS STRESS: “do not be anxious about anything....”Phil4:6 wp.me/p29yfQ-2v #Christcan #noworries #peace #praisetheLord

Realizing your reward – John MacArthur

Realizing your reward – John MacArthur

"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:11-12).

God's promise for those who are persecuted for His sake is that their reward in heaven will be great (Matt. 5:11). Jesus said, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life" (Matt. 19:29).

Focusing on that promise instead of your present circumstances is how you can experience happiness amid suffering. That was Paul's great confidence even as he faced certain death. In 2 Timothy 4:8 he declares, "In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Another source of joy in trials is knowing that you share the fate of the prophets themselves (Matt. 5:12). Those godly men suffered untold hardships for proclaiming God's message. That's a noble group to be identified with!

One final word of encouragement from Matthew 5:11: persecution will not be incessant! Jesus said, "Blessed are you when. . . ." The Greek word translated "when" means "whenever." You won't always be persecuted, but whenever you are, you will be blessed. In addition, God will govern its intensity so you will be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13). He knows your human weaknesses and will supply the necessary grace and peace to get you through. That's why you can rejoice when otherwise you might be devastated and filled with grief.

If you are willing to make sacrifices now, you will receive incomparable rewards in the future. How shortsighted are those who protect themselves now by denying Christ or compromising His truth rather than sacrificing the present for the sake of eternal blessing and glory!

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for the example of the prophets and others who have suffered for Him.

 

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

leave your past behind

Have you ever believed that you could fulfill God’s destiny or purpose for your life if you could just leave your past behind?

 

In Nehemiah 2:3, Nehemiah describes to the king who he served as a cupbearer, that he was sad because Jerusalem, the city where his fathers were buried, had been burned by fire. He was so distraught by the burning of the city that he wept and fasted, then asked the king for help in rebuilding the city wall.

I find it interesting that Nehemiah’s “destiny task” to rebuild the wall came out of a personal connection—a very personal connection to a city with a familial history.

This is often how destiny–or purpose–often works: It often begins with a personal connection to a person, place, happening, memory, feeling, or experience that has deeply touched us.

In her Bible study Esther, Beth Moore shares how we often want to amputate our history from our destiny. It would be a whole lot easier if we could leave our pasts behind, right? After all, there are messy things back there. Ugly things. Skeletons in closets. Broken dreams. Dashed expectations. Disappointments. Personal and corporate disasters. Things that have left question marks in our souls.

Listen up. It’s precisely these unfortunate things God uses to create passions that fuel destiny and purpose.

For example, a very talented doctor I know in Colorado Springs treats the U.S. Olympic wrestling team by keeping their spines in tip-top shape. She shines in her profession. As a child, she was ill for years because the natural curve in her neck had become inverted from a drop on the head as a baby. When a chiropractor discovered and corrected the problem, the havoc caused to her central nervous disappeared, and she was healed.

A very personal connection to the pain of illness shaped Dr. Kristin’s passion to become a chiropractor.

You can’t amputate your history from your destiny.

My dear friend, Judi, passed away in 2009 from a brain aneurysm, but I can still hear her laughter in my mind. We loved speaking to one another in English accents in which we sounded like the Queen of England and called each other “dahling” and used words like “mahvelous” and “lovely.” Judi was one of the warmest, funniest people I have ever known.

One day when I spoke with her, she told me that her father was a police officer and that when she was little, he would often come home in a bad mood, and when he added alcohol to cranky, it wasn’t pretty. In an effort to calm her dad, she would try to make him laugh.

Out of a very personal connection to this often-repeated painful situation, Judi’s humor was watered until it grew into something that blessed many. Over and over at her memorial service people said, “Judi could always make me laugh.”

You can’t amputate your history from your destiny.

I hope you are see that destiny–or purpose–are often birthed out of very personal connections that have moved us in our histories. These personal connections can be anything in which we have found meaning.

So, before you start running from your past and want to amputate your history from your destiny, remember that very personal connections in your history are the very things that God will use to shape you for His glory.

 

Shana Schutte

BRAG ABOUT IT:

BRAG ABOUT IT: “We remember before our God...your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love....”1Thes1:3 wp.me/p29yfQ-2t

Managing money

Is managing money just about having a budget and planning for retirement? Or does how we manage our money have something to do with eternity? Check out this message from Randy Alcorn on the topic.

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When Hudson Taylor opened a bank account for the China Inland Mission, the application form asked for an asset list. Taylor wrote the following as the sum total of his assets: “Ten pounds and all the promises of God.” Our greatest resources are spiritual, not mat­erial. They come from another world, not this one.

One morning I was at a restaurant when a frazzled woman blew through the door and loudly complained to her friend, “The wipers aren’t working again on my Porsche, and the Audi’s in for repairs. I’ve had it!”

I smiled but at the same time was saddened for this poor woman. (Yes, poor woman.) What a contrast to the believer with eternal perspective:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul doesn’t say it is wrong to live in plenty, but that the same secret to contentment applies then as when we’re in poverty. Contentment isn’t the product of material abundance; it results from our invisible resources in Christ. In the third century, Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, wrote this description of the affluent:

Their property held them in chains . . . chains which shackled their courage and choked their faith and hampered their judgment and throttled their souls. . . . If they stored up their treasure in heaven, they would not now have an enemy and a thief within their household. . . . They think of themselves as owners, whereas it is they rather who are owned: enslaved as they are to their own property, they are not the masters of their money but its slaves.

God keeps records of what we do with his money. At the moment we meet Christ—at our death or his return—all accounts will be frozen, all assets and expenditures opened for the Final Audit. And then it’s God himself—the Owner, Manager, and Auditor of the Bank of Eternity—who will make eternal dispersals based on how our account reads after the last deposit has been made and the account finally closed.

C. T. Studd was a rich and famous English athlete who sold his entire estate, gave it away, and went to the mission field to serve Christ. He summed up the perspective that motivated him: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

 

NOT TOO HOT...NOT TOO COLD

NOT TOO HOT...NOT TOO COLD: “...because you are lukewarm...I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”Rev3:15-16 wp.me/p29yfQ-2q #choose

THE LUST OF THE FLESH

THE LUST OF THE FLESH – by Dr. Neil Anderson

 

1 John 2:16 

The lust of the flesh . . . is not from the Father, but is from the world

 

Satan first approached Eve through the channel of the lust of the flesh. He planted a doubt in her mind about the fruit of the tree when he said: "Has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1). Eve answered, "God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it'" (verse 3). But Satan had piqued her appetite for the forbidden fruit, and she "saw that the tree was good for food" (verse 6). Yielding to the lust of the flesh contributed to Adam and Eve's downfall.

 

Satan also challenged Jesus through the channel of the lust of the flesh. Our lord had been fasting for 40 days when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness at the point of His apparent vulnerability: "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matthew 4:3). Satan is not omniscient, but he's not blind either. He learned about Jesus' apparent vulnerability to physical temptation by watching Him go without food for 40 days. He's watching you too, looking for soft spots of vulnerability in your appetites for food, rest, comfort and sex. Temptation is greatest when hunger, fatigue and loneliness are acute.

 

The temptation of the lust of the flesh is designed to draw us away from the will of God to serve the flesh (Galatians 5:16, 17). When Satan tempts you through the channel of the lust of the flesh, he will invite you to fulfill your needs in ways that are outside the boundary of God's will. Whenever you feel enticed to meet a legitimate need by acting independently of God, you are being tempted through the lust of the flesh.

 

When you resist the temptations of the lust of the flesh, you are declaring your dependence on God for your needs. As such you are remaining "in the vine," tapping into the resources Jesus referred to in John 15:5. But when you yield to temptation in this area, your fruitfulness as a Christian will suffer because apart from Christ you can do nothing.

 

Prayer: You are a strong, fruit vine, Lord, and I will not wither as long as I remain in You. Strengthen me today to resist the temptation to meet my needs apart from You.

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

Getting real in prayer

This heartwarming story from Barbara Rainey is a super reminder that getting real in prayer is the best way to be.

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When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7)

Tommy was a National Guard Reservist called into action during the Gulf War. On the last Sunday before his actual deployment, the church he attended had a special time of prayer, sending him off with their promise of support and encouragement.

As you can imagine, the prayers for Tommy’s safety were thick with theology and high-sounding words (as churchy prayers often are): “Sovereign God of the universe, we trust that You will protect this young man on his mission, O Lord, and that You will keep him within the shelter of Your wings.” All very sincere, I’m sure, but quite flowery and unoriginal.

Then a little eight-year-old voice piped up from the back, “Dear Jesus, don’t let Tommy get killed, okay? That’s all. Okay. Amen.” The sanctuary fell silent, as everyone suddenly knew that the prayers they had encrusted in adult euphemisms had really been grown-up attempts to say this one thing: “Don’t let Tommy get killed, okay?” It took a child to express what adults couldn’t.

When Robbie Castleman, author of Parenting in the Pew, told me that story, it reminded me of something I’d heard my friend Andre Kole, one of the top illusionists in the world, say: “The hardest people in all the world to fool with your tricks are children.” That’s because children aren’t as complex as adults in trying to figure something out. They just see it for what it is. They’re not filtering the solution through so many possibilities.

The next time you pray with your spouse or with a child, get real. Get real simple. Be real honest. Get real with God. With total reverence for God, tell Him what you’d really like to tell Him.

I believe God breaks out in a big grin when we get real with Him.

Discuss
How are your prayers duplicates of what you’ve heard others pray? Do you feel comfortable enough with God to be honest with Him? What is one thing you’d like to get real with God about in prayer?

Pray
Whatever you pray for today, keep it simple. Just talk straight with Him.

Excerpted from Moments With You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Copyright ® 2011 Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

GET UP:

GET UP: "When Jesus saw him lying there...he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’”Jn5:6 wp.me/p29yfQ-2o #getup #change #newday

BE COOL:

BE COOL: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, & he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”Prov17:27 wp.me/p29yfQ-2m

A Dark Sabbath

A Dark Sabbath – Dr. Charles Stanley

John 19:31-42

Just as Christ once rested in the stern of a boat through a raging storm, He rested in the tomb as storms raged within His disciples. A day after Jesus’ death, fear, doubt, and grief must have cycled endlessly through their minds. Memories of their lives with Him must have played there too: how it felt to stand upon a rolling sea, to feed thousands with a few loaves of bread, or to see Lazarus’ burial clothes heaped in the dirt. No doubt their hearts grew sick with confusion as they contemplated these things.

The disciples’ feeble faith shouldn’t surprise us, because if we’re honest, we see it in ourselves. The “little of faith,” as Jesus often called them, failed to believe or remember things the Lord said of Himself—that He’d lay down His life and take it up again. Had His followers faithfully held these things in their hearts, that Sabbath day might have been a time of joyful anticipation.

At times in our lives, God may seem absent, but ultimately we know that He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5). And unlike the disciples, we’ll never experience the dark prospect of a failed Savior. But many times we forget the promises of God. In the face of uncertainty, how frequently do we turn to a “do-it-yourself” Christianity to fix our problems?

Too often we look no further than our own solutions, when what we need is the wonder-working power of Christ’s resurrection and a posture of humility as we wait on Him. If we are willing to wait through the darkness of night, we can rest in knowing that morning will surely come.

AN UNLIKELY CHOICE

AN UNLIKELY CHOICE: “...God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”1Cor1:27 wp.me/p29yfQ-2k #God #Missionimpossible

Distractions!

In today's world, distractions abound. One distraction is to compare ourselves with others. Check out today's timeless message from Greg Laurie on the topic.

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In first-century track competitions, each runner would be assigned to a lane on the track. Each was expected to stay in his assigned lane. In the same way, as you and I run the race of life, our competition is not with other believers. Rather, our competition is with our enemies, who are the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The goal is not to outrun someone else. The goal is to outrun those wicked influences that could bring us down.

You might justify your slow pace by pointing to other people still running behind you. True. But there are probably some people ahead of you too. You aren’t to concern yourself with who is behind you or who is ahead of you. You are to run the race before you. God has not called you to run someone else’s race. We are each called to run our own race.

An incident from the life of Peter illustrates this truth. After Peter had been restored to the Lord following His denial, Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Then the Lord proceeded to tell Peter how his life would end. As they were talking, Peter noticed another disciple, John, was walking behind them. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” (John 21:21, NLT).

Jesus said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, you follow me” (verse 22, NLT). A loose paraphrase would be, “Peter, My plans for John are none of your business. You just do what I’ve told you to do.”

I ask you today, are you just offering a half-hearted effort in the race of life? Or are you running the race to win?

Digging Deeper: How does comparison slow us down from running our own race with intentionality? What emotions and wrong attitudes can we develop if we start to compare ourselves with others?

 

A GLAD HEART:

A GLAD HEART: "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word makes him glad." Prov12:25 wp.me/p29yfQ-2h #nofear #happy

The reality of eternal life

When we focus on grabbing all we can in this life, we are missing the big picture and we rob ourselves, God, and others. Check out today's inspiring post from Randy Alcorn.

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The reality of eternal life should definitely change how we live! In fact, we’re directly told that in 2 Peter 3. In verse 10 Peter says, “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” We need to look at this present Earth as a passing, temporary time where what matters is how we live now and how we invest in eternity.

Peter continues, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. …in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (verses 11-12a, 13).

When you know Jesus and realize that you’re going to live forever in a world that is the home of righteousness, then you want to get a head start on living the righteous life, to God’s glory and by His empowerment, right here and now! There’s continuity between this life and the next. We will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Not people who once were us, but we ourselves—that is continuity. So how we live now does matter.

Then Peter says in verse 14: “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” Our reference point for the past is Eden. For the present, it is the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf—having a relationship with Him and living each day seeking to become more conformed to His image. For the future, it’s the New Earth, where God will dwell with His people forever.

This changes our perspectives. It’s revolutionary to realize, “I don’t have to spend all this money on myself. I can understand that I’m like God’s ‘FedEx guy.’ He has entrusted these resources to me to help others who need to hear the Gospel and need to be fed and clothed. I can do this, knowing what awaits me in God’s presence.”

But if you don’t have a clear picture of all that is ahead of us in eternity—that which is promised by God that we can invest in right now and experience eternal reward for—then you’ll think, “I’ll just grab onto this life right now to make myself happy. I’m going to do whatever I think it takes to make me happy.”

Nothing could be more short-sighted in light of the long tomorrow.

 

THE CROSS

THE CROSS: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing....” 1Cor1:18 wp.me/p29yfQ-2c #thecross #Easter #Jesus

The Value of Seeking the Lord

The Value of Seeking the Lord - Charles Stanely

Psalms 119:1-8

We all have ambitions and desires. And while these are not necessarily wrong, we should analyze our priorities: Where do I invest my time and energy? What or who occupies my thoughts? As important as our earthly pursuits, responsibilities, and relationships may be, they cannot compare to the value of a life spent seeking the Lord.

First of all, consider what it means to seeksomething. The word connotes a strong desire and an energetic quest to achieve it.Suppose you discovered a very productive vein of gold on your property. You wouldn’t just stroll out and look at it occasionally. No, you would gather some equipment and diligently go out each day to chip away at the rocks and collect the precious metal.

In the same way, seeking the Lord is not a quick and occasional encounter, but a wholehearted effort to know Him more intimately and follow Him more closely. Those who unreservedly pursue this kind of fellowship with God are determined to spend time with Him; they also want to forsake anything that could hinder growth in their relationship with the Lord. God’s committed followers boldly claim His promises and trust Him to fulfill His Word. Their experiences with the Lord bring amazing satisfaction yet cause them to hunger for more of Him.

The Christian life is meant to be a pursuit of God. To walk through the door of salvation and stand still, never drawing any closer to Him, is to miss the treasures that are available in Christ. Those who seek Him soon discover that knowing Him is the greatest reward of all.

 

Palm Sunday - Charles Stanley

Palm Sunday - Charles Stanley

Luke 19:28-44

Hindsight is always 20/20. Yet while we are in a particular situation, we tend to make things out to be what theyaren’t and infer wrong meanings. We kick ourselves, thinking, If only I had known then what I know now!

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem must have been one of those moments for His disciples. It had appeared to be such a wonderful day for them—and it was, but for different reasons than they realized. They thought the Messiah had come to reestablish Israel’s power in the world. But God had something else in mind.

The disciples weren’t the only ones who had misconceptions about the Messiah. Many Jews of the day expected Him to be an earthly king. When the crowds heard Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they cheered, “Hosanna! ” which means, “Save now!” They saw Him as their new King, come to bring salvation from political and societal oppression. He raised the dead—no doubt he could also restore the kingdom of David and free them from Roman rule.

Seated upon a donkey, Jesus resembled a ruler returning to his city in peacetime, loyal subjects lining his path with coats and palm fronds. Even the Pharisees were there watching in indignation, saying, “Look, the world has gone after Him” (John 12:19).

This week, think back to those times when circumstances looked one way but turned out to be something else entirely. Remember when you realized God was different than you imagined and saw His will unfold in surprising ways. Look for an opportunity to share your insight with a friend or loved one.

WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE!:

WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE!: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”Is26:3 wp.me/p29yfQ-26

Three Timely Lessons for God's Servants

Three Timely Lessons for God's Servants
by Charles R. Swindoll

John 15:20; Acts 24:16; Hebrews 6:10

In recent posts, I have written about God's servants feeling used and unappreciated, experiencing undeserved disrespect and resentment, and having hidden greed—a desire to be rewarded.

From these very real and common perils, there emerge at least three timely lessons for all of us to remember.

Lesson one: no servant of God is completely safe. A tough truth to accept! We who give and give become increasingly more vulnerable as time passes (read John 15:20). Truth be told, there are times we'll get ripped off. We will be used. We will feel unappreciated. But realizing ahead of time this will happen, we are better equipped to handle it when it comes. The proper perspective will guard us against stumbling into peril. Lean hard on the Master when you serve others.

Lesson two: most of the servant's deeds will be initially unrewarded. That's a basic axiom we must accept (read Hebrews 6:10). If you are the type who needs a lot of strokes from people, who has to be appreciated before you can continue very long, you'd better forget about being a servant. More often than not, you will be overlooked, passed up, placed behind the scenes, and be virtually unknown. Your reward will not come from without but from within. Not from people but from the satisfaction God gives you down inside.

Much of the ministry requires this mentality. A pastor may stand at the door of the church following his sermon and shake hands with the flock as everybody says nice things about him (my friend Howard Hendricks calls this "the glorification of the worm," a description I certainly agree with), but in reality, if that man preaches for those few moments of flattery—and most don't—he's in the wrong business.

Lesson three: all motives must be honestly searched. Before jumping, think to ask why (read Acts 24:16). Before accepting any tangible gifts of gratitude (and there are occasions when such is perfectly acceptable), probe into your reason for doing so.

Check your motive, fellow servant.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY:

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY: “...And he divided the two fish among them all.” Mk6:41 wp.me/p29yfQ-20 #multiply #Godprovides #fearless

How’s Your Spiritual Appetite – Dr. John MacArthur

How’s Your Spiritual Appetite – Dr. John MacArthur

 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6).

David was a man after God's own heart. In Psalm 63:1 he writes, "O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." He communed with God and knew the blessings of His sufficiency: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. . . . He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness. . . . Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me" (Ps. 23:1-4). He endured unjust persecution for the Lord's sake: "Zeal for Thy house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach Thee have fallen on me" (Ps. 69:9).

David's zeal for God illustrates what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). The words translated "hunger" and "thirst" speak of intense desire. They are present participles, which imply continuous action. The idea is paradoxical: the believer's continuous and intense desire for righteousness is continually satisfied by Christ.

J.N. Darby, an early leader of the Plymouth Brethren movement, said, "To be hungry is not enough; I must be really starving to know what is in [God's] heart towards me. When the prodigal son was hungry he went to feed upon husks, but when he was starving, he turned to his father" (quoted in Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, vol. 1, p. 81). When you have that kind of desperation, only God can satisfy it!

Does your desire for righteousness drive you to Christ for satisfaction? I pray that the words of the psalmist will be yours as well: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Ps. 17:15, KJV).

Suggestions for Prayer:

Ask God to use the events of today to increase your hunger and thirst for righteousness. Look to Him in all things, knowing that He alone can satisfy.

For Further Study:

Read Philippians 3:1-14.

• What does it mean to place confidence in the flesh?
• How did Paul define true righteousness?

TUMBLING WALLS:

TUMBLING WALLS: “...the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat....”Josh6:20 wp.me/p29yfQ-1Y #victory #focus #trust

Living Eternity and Love in Mind

Living Eternity and Love in Mind

There is something about visiting cemeteries that can make one acutely aware of the brevity of earthly life. One afternoon in 2010, I drove to a cemetery near my home.  I wanted the lives from the past to speak to me through the messages on their headstones.

I parked my car in a shady spot then walked carefully and quietly where husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and friends were buried.

“Beloved husband and father” “True love” “My life is not over, yesterday was not the end” “Gone too soon, never forgotten”

After about twenty minutes and pondering each headstone, I wrote the years of my life from my current age to 100, each year of life scribbled inside a tiny square on a lined piece of notebook paper. I finished then stared at the page. When reduced to individual years on a single page, the brevity of life felt overwhelming.

That’s it? That’s all there is?

James’s words came to mind, “. . . your life is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (vs. 4:14).

Some of the lives represented in the cemetery were long, some were short—but all I saw had the opportunity to make a difference for God in the time they had been given. Urgency shot through my heart as I looked out once more over the headstones.  Oh, Lord! I don’t have long! The chance they had to make a difference on the earth is over, but I still have my chance. My chance is now! I need to make the most of my time to make a difference for You!  

Have you ever felt the same? We all want to know that our presence on the earth matters. There is no one, when lying on their death bed hopes to say, “I wasted my days.” Rather, they want the dash on their headstone in-between their birth and death to mean something.

In the American culture, a meaningful life is often—and wrongly—only defined as only doing something big. We have to lead the big company or start the big organization. We wrongly think that these things equal a life especially important to God. While He does place people in positions of influence for Him, and we are to do all we can to glorify Him, we would be unwise to believe that God values the smallest acts of love any less.

When Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments, He told us to love God and love others (Mark 12:30). Since these are His two greatest commandments, we can be certain that anything we do that falls into the “Love God” or “Love others” categories is measured by Him with favor.

Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord (Col. 3:22-24) and keep eternity—and love—in mind. Then when you get home to heaven, and someone is looking over your headstone, you will hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”

Why You Need A Vision For Your Life

Why You Need A Vision For Your Life

 

Helen Keller said, “It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.”  Vision is the ability to see beyond your present reality; it’s the ability to create what not yet exists.  Vision is the dominant factor that governs your life; it’s what your prayers are about, what you dream about, and usually, what you give your money to.

Why is it important to have a vision? Because every man or woman who has ever made a difference has had a vision, or a dream about the future.  And the Bible is filled with examples of people who had vision:

Moses was designated by God to lead Israel to the Promise Land so he lived a nomadic, uncomfortable life for four decades. He led an unruly, disrespectful, whiny band of people and the only thing that kept him going was the vision God placed in his heart at the burning bush.

Nehemiah was responsible for rebuilding the broken-down walls of Jerusalem.  His bold speech and courageous confrontation with his opponents and his motivational instruction to his fellow workers was proof that he received a vision from God.  Nehemiah 2:12 says, “I set out at night with a few good men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart.”  The vision in his heart kept him going.

I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah say there are three reasons why you need  a vision for your life:

1. Vision produces direction.

When you are fueled by vision, you will never be happy just to exist.  You will always be moving in the direction of your vision. It’s been said, “Passion fuels the rocket but vision points the rocket to its ultimate destination.

2. Vision produces discipline.

Nehemiah encountered so many obstacles but in Chapter 2 verse 20 he declares, “The God of heaven will give us success.  We his servants will start rebuilding.”  When you really know what you’re supposed to do, it helps you decide what you are not supposed to do.

3. Vision produces durability.

A vision will help you maintain stamina.  A long distance runner needs a picture in his mind to complete the race.  If a long distance runner ever loses his vision, he will struggle to cross the finish line.  The Bible is full of men who along the way lost their vision.  Therefore, they lost their effectiveness and didn’t finish strong:

·        Sampson had a vision and he won many battles.  When he lost his vision, he couldn’t win his battle with Delilah.

·        Because Saul had a vision, he conquered the kingdom but when he lost his vision, he couldn’t conquer his own jealousy.

·        David had a vision.  He conquered Goliath but when he lost that vision, he couldn’t conquer his own lust.

What’s your vision?  Does your vision keep pointing you in the right direction?  Do you have a vision to make your life count?  Will your vision inspire you to finish the race?  Are you confident that when you arrive at the end of your life, you will have accomplished all what God designed you to do?

Now I See

Posted by Haven of Rest in Daily Devotionals

John 9:25 (ESV): “He answered, ‘Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’”
The Bible says there is power in the word of our testimony (Matthew 10:32; Revelation 12:11). Too often, though, we shy away from sharing Christ with others because we think we don’t know enough about the Bible or we don’t speak eloquently or we fear someone may ask us a question about Christ that we don’t know the answer to. So, in fear, we keep our mouths closed instead of proclaiming Him. I love the enthusiasm of this man in John chapter 9, though. He was born blind. One day, Jesus came along and gave him sight! Imagine seeing the faces of your loved ones, seeing the sky and trees, seeing the world for the first time. He was filled with joy. He had been delivered from darkness and there was no shutting him up! The religious leaders heard the news of this deliverance and asked the man how he received his sight. He told them Jesus had healed him. They rebuked the man and called Jesus a sinner. In that moment, the man did not try to impress or even to convince the religious leaders to believe him, he simply spoke of what he knew to be true, “I was blind, now I see.” What an incredible testimony! Can’t we do the same? We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light; we were empty, now we are filled; we were people of fear, now we are people of hope; we were blind to our own sinfulness, now we see the righteousness of God! If you have encountered Jesus Christ, share the Good News straight from your heart. Let your testimony serve to glorify God, to encourage yourself, and to instill hope in others.
Keep your eyes on Christ today!

Go Fish!

Posted by Haven of Rest in Daily Devotionals

Luke 5:4-5 (ESV): “And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’”
The morning sun was shining bright. Two little boats were approaching shore…the men onboard were tired; their nets were empty. The men had fished all night, but had caught no fish. As Jesus watched from the seashore, He called to them “Go fish some more!” The idea of trying one more time seemed almost overwhelming. “Doesn’t He know that we’ve already tried, and we’ve failed?” But, there was something in Jesus’s voice or perhaps that look of knowing in His eyes that compelled the weary fishermen to let down their nets one more time. The result? Their nets were so full of fish, they could barely contain the weight!
Are you tired? Weary of trying? Does it seem like no matter what you do things will never change? Let me encourage you today to listen to the voice of Jesus. Allow Him to lift your chin and refresh your spirit. Then, go fish! Get back out there and do all that you can do for the glory of God. What you cannot do…Christ will handle in His own time. Who knows, today may just be the day that your net is filled!
Be a fisher of men for Christ today!

In Search of Ordinary People

In Search of Ordinary People

 

Have you ever doubted God can use you because you feel so ordinary? Today, Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us that God uses people just like you--just like all of us.

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God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Many times when we’re looking for some great superstar to come on the scene, God is developing someone in obscurity whom we haven’t ever heard of. We will say, “What if so-and-so became a Christian? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” And while we’re wondering if so-and-so ever will come around, God is grooming someone unknown to us.

Think of the time when a giant Philistine was taunting the armies of Israel. Everyone was paralyzed with fear. So whom did God select? He chose a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to take food to his brothers on the front lines. He went out to face the giant with a few stones and a sling, and more importantly, faith in God. That was the person God used.

At another time in Israel’s history, when they were immobilized by fear because of their enemies, God found a man threshing wheat. His name was Gideon, and he was convinced that God had called up the wrong guy. But God selected him because he didn’t trust in his own ability. Gideon had to trust in God.

If you have faith in God, if you believe that God can use you, if you are willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can do incredible things through you. One thing I have said many times over the years is that God is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” You just watch what God will do.

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BIG VALLEYS:

BIG VALLEYS: “Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life...." 1Kg19:3 wp.me/p29yfQ-1R #trustGod #nofear #worryless #BigGod

Be Still – Dr. Gary Chapman

Be Still – Dr. Gary Chapman

Be still, and know that I am God. 
—Psalms 46:10

Having a quiet, patient spirit throughout the day is countercultural in our harried world, but its effects can be life changing for us as well as for others. People notice when we are patient with strangers in line, with our kids at the park, and with our co-workers in meetings, because it is so much more common to show impatience. A patient stillness in attitude, words, and behavior, even in the midst of stress, always stands out.

Author Eugene Peterson reminds us how this kind of radical patience allows room for us to grow closer to others:"When we are noisy and when we are hurried, we are incapable of intimacy—deep, complex, personal relationships." While an anxious spirit on our part makes others feel more rushed and frustrated, a quiet spirit is likely to calm those around us, making loving interactions more possible. So not only does a patient spirit still the noise of the world so we can enjoy deeper peace, it also helps to still the noise in others' lives so we can enjoy one another more fully.

Action Step 

When you feel yourself getting anxious or rushed during the day, remember the words "Be still," and focus on having a peaceful spirit instead of a harried one.