It Is What It Is/Where I'm At 11/30

Special Selection - "While I'm Here"

Daily Reading - "I Have Come That They May Have Life...To The Full." Jn 10:10 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Nov 30

"I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE...TO THE FULL." (JN 10:10 NIV)

"Life To The Full"

At a street meeting, a young Salvation Army drummer was testifying about his past. "Before I became a Christian I used to drink and gamble, but I don't do that any more. I used to swear and womanize, but I don't do that any more either. Come to think of it...all I do now is stand on the same old street corner and beat the same old drum!" Ever felt like that? You get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, drop into bed, get up next day and do it all again? Like Solomon, sometimes you can feel like "Everything is meaningless" (Ecc 12:8 NLT). But it doesn't have to be that way.
Francis Schaeffer said, "Man has a purpose - to be in a relationship with God...when he forgets his purpose he forgets who he is and what life means." There's more to life than beating the same old drum day after day. Jesus came that you "might have life to the full," and the first step is acknowledging that He died to show you the way back to God. Step two is recognizing you need a personal relationship with Him. Step three is using the Bible as a blueprint for purpose and fulfillment. It's the only book that answers the important questions, "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" You're not "a mistake" as one woman said after discovering her mother had tried to abort her. In God's eyes you have great value, and today He offers you "life to the full."

Holiday Special Selection Buffet - "Uncloudy Day"

Daily Reading - "Faith Is...The Conviction of Things Not Seen." Heb 11:1 NAS

Here is how it read today.

Sun. Nov 29

"FAITH IS...THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN." (HEB 11:1 NAS)

Take A Leap Of Faith (2)

One day two caterpillars were plodding up a hill when they noticed a butterfly dipping and weaving overhead. Turning to his buddy, one said, "You'd never get me up in one of those things!" Raise your sights, take a leap of faith! Faith is...the conviction of things not seen."
Glynnis Whitwer says, "God calls us to obedience without showing us the end result...There are days I'm tired of getting out of my comfort zone...I've been known to whine and ask if I can serve God from the safety of my recliner. But that's not God's way. He doesn't want me limited by my desire for security and control...Something inside is revealed when we're pressured from without...[it] shines light on the truth about our faith...To grow, faith must be stretched, and that's uncomfortable...Unlike some, I haven't learned to trust God the easy way...by reading a book...listening to a sermon...or hearing how my friends trust Him. I'm learning by stepping out into the adventure of obedience and discovering that He's trustworthy. This happened when my husband and I started tithing (after I resisted for years), and watched God cover our needs and more...When I obeyed His command to write a book (although I didn't know what I'd write about), and watched God open doors of opportunity...When we said yes to adoption, and are watching the blossoming of two little girls with hope and a future...Obeying when God hasn't revealed the steps...or the final destination is challenging. But when we walk by faith He gets the glory, because we know we couldn't have done it." So, take a leap of faith.

Special Selection - "I'm Blessed"

Daily Reading - "The Lord...Goes Before You...Do Not Be Afraid." Dt 31:8 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Nov 27

"THE LORD...GOES BEFORE YOU...DO NOT BE AFRAID." (DT 31:8 NIV)

Don't Be Afraid To Try

It's said that Dan Rhodes met Dave Thomas long before Thomas opened his first Wendy's. Rhodes admitted that he always knew young Thomas would "some day be something big." But still, when given an opportunity to invest in Wendy's, he didn't. Later he met Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and had a chance to buy his stock before it went public. But he turned it down because he didn't agree with some of the Colonel's ideas. When he was in the restaurant business, Rhodes often had a salesman named Ray Kroc in his office trying to sell him equipment. Rhodes admite that Kroc was a nice guy; however, he chose not to invest in his little hamburger joint - McDonalds! A few years later on an Alaskan cruise he met an attorney from Seattle who suggested that Rhodes invest in his son's new computer company. It had a funny name - Microsoft! Again Rhodes declined. Now, most of us would be pulling our hair out if we missed even one of those opportunities, but not Rhodes. He overcame his fear of failing, kept pursuing his dream and eventually saw his name on Forbes Magazine's list of the 400 most successful business owners in America. If having to do everything right the first time is your prerequisite to trying - you'll never succeed in life. You'll end up wondering what you could have done had you been willing to learn from your experiences, step out in faith and discover what God can do through you. 'The Lord...goes before you...Do not be afraid."

Special Selection - "He's An On Time God"

Daily Reading - "Those Who Deal Truthfully Are His Delight." Pr 12:22 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Nov 25

"THOSE WHO DEAL TRUTHFULLY ARE HIS DELIGHT." (PR 12:22 NKJV)

The Importance Of Character

George Jones started out as a clerk in a grocery store and quickly gained a reputation for his work ethic. The thing people noticed about George was his character. He exemplified the principle, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight." George's character brought him to the attention of Henry J. Raymond, the renowned journalist. They became friends and together they started The New York Times. Years later when the newspaper wages a crusade against "Boss Tweed," Jones received an under-the-table offer of $500,000 - a vast sum of money at the time. All he had to do was retire to Europe. "You can live like a prince the rest of your days," said the gangster making the offer. "Yes," replied Jones, "and know myself every day to be a rascal."
The poet wrote, "I have to live with myself and so, I want to be fit for myself to know. I want to be able as days go by, always to look myself in the eye. I don't want to stand in the setting sun and hate myself for the things I've done. I don't want to keep on a closet shelf, a lot of secrets about myself; and fool myself as I come and go, into thinking nobody else will know - the kind of man I really am." Nothing is more important than your character. No matter how rich or successful you become, when you lost your character you've lost everything. And one more thought: if you always do the right thing, you'll never have to worry about remember what you did!

Special Selection - "Believe"

Daily Reading - "Having Then Gifts...Let Us Use Them." Ro 12:6 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Nov 24

"HAVING THEN GIFTS...LET US USE THEM." (RO 12;6 NKJV)

Do What You're Called To Do

In Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Dr. Charles Swindoll writes: "Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer, all the animals took all the subjects. The duck was excellent at swimming. In fact, he was better than his instructor was! However, he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was so slow in running, he had to drop swimming to stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn so he became only average in swimming. But 'average' was quite acceptable, therefore nobody worried about it - except the duck. The rabbit stayed at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because he had so much make-up work to do in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down...so he only got a 'C' in climbing and a 'D' in running. The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top, but insisted on using his own way of getting there!"
"Having then gifts...let us use them." When God has gifted and graced you to do something, give yourself to it and let the rest go.

Special Selection - "I Look To You"

Daily Reading - "The Spirit...Makes Intercession For Us." Ro 8:26 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Nov 23

"THE SPIRIT...MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US." (RO 8:26 NKJV)

Learning To Pray

Prayers isn't natural to us. Our natural inclination is to depend on ourselves. Some of us haven't learn how to pray. Others don't pray enough to be comfortable with it. Still others don't understand enough of God's Word to pray biblically and get the results. Whatever the case, we've no excuse not to pray. The Holy Spirit who lives within us can clarify, correct and change our prayer so that by the time it reaches God it's all sorted out. The Bible says, "The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...Now He who searches the heart knows what mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Ro 8:26-28 NKJV). Who do "all things work together for good" for? Just anybody and everybody who believes? No, those who "love God." And more importantly, those who have learned to allow the Holy Spirit withing them to pray, because what He asks for will always be in the line with God's will.

Learning to pray is like learning a foreign language. the best way to learn it is to hang out in an environment where the language is spoken. So if you want to learn to pray you must (a) take the time to do it; (b) spend time with those who know how to do it; (c) allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.

Special Selection - "Heaven"

Daily Reading - "For This Purpose I Have Been Sent." Lk 4:43 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Sat. Nov 21

"FOR THIS PURPOSE I HAVE BEEN SENT." (LK 4:43 NKJV)

In Spite Of Family And Friends

After going home to a cool reception Jesus said, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own home town" (Mk 6:4 TLB). In other places He was considered a hero, but not here. "His family...thought he was out of his mind" (Mk 3:21 NCV). So how did Jesus handle His family?

It's worth noting that he didn't try to control their behavior, nor did He let their behavior control His. He loved them, but He didn't demand that they always agree with Him. He didn't sulk or retaliate when they insulted Him. And He didn't make it His mission in life to try and please them. If your family is making it difficult for you to serve the Lord, observe three things about Jesus: (1) He recognized that His spiritually family could provide what His physical family didn't. That's why we need the support and stability that comes from the fellowship in a local church. (2) He didn't let the difficult dynamic of family overshadow His call from God. Your family may not understand or agree, but you can't let that keep you from doing what God's called you to do. (3) He refused to let the opinion of the crowd dictate His direction. The whole town of Capernaum "tried to keep Him from leaving them" (Lk 4:42 NKJV). But He resisted the undertow of people by anchoring to the rock of His purpose: to build God's kingdom, not His own. Imagine the whole town wanting you to stay, and leaving. could all those people be wrong? Yes! Jesus followed the will of God. And you must too.

Special Selection 2 for 1 Friday "Jesus Can Work It Out" & "Brand New Day"

Daily Reading - "The Lord Is On My Side; I Will Not Fear." Ps 118:6 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Nov 20

"THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR." (PS 118:6 NKJV)

Making The Tough Calls

All the heroes of the Bible were flawed. And dispositionally, they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they'd one thing in common: they were willing to make the tough calls. Observe: (1) Tough calls demand risk. When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia in 1940, the U.S. Consul in Riga was concerned that the American Red Cross supplies in that city would be looted. To guard against it he requested permission from the State Department in Washington, D.C. to place an American flag above the Red Cross to deter anyone from taking supplies. "No precedent exist for such action," the Secretary of State's Office cabled back. When the Vice Consul received the message he climbed up and personally nailed the American flag to the pole, then he cabled the State Department: "As of this date, I have established precedent." (2) Tough calls require character. Chuck Swindoll writes: "Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner test, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood." Whether you lead a family, a business or a church, the temptation to complain is easy. Thank God for the tough times. They're the reason you're there - to be the leader. If everything was going well you wouldn't be needed. When the tough calls must be made, your confidence can be found in these words: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear."

Special Selection - "I Trust You"

Daily Reading - "A Father Corrects A Child In Whom He Delights." Pr 3:12 NLT

Here is how it read today.

Thurs. Nov. 19

"A FATHER CORRECTS A CHILD IN WHOM HE DELIGHTS." (PR 3:12 NLT)

Correct Your Child

You're destroying your child's motivation and self-esteem when you allow them to think they don't have to work for anything because it's "owed" to them. The story's told of a telemarketer who phoned a house, saying: "I'd like to talk to the person who makes the final purchasing decisions for the family." The woman replied, "I'm sorry, that person is still in kindergarten and won't be home for another hour." Cute story, but not so cute when it's reality. Parent, love your child, provide them with opportunity and a secure home environment, but teach them to be responsible. This sounds like a no-brainer, so why don't we do it?

(1) Misguided love. We say, "My kids shouldn't have to struggle like I did." Your children interpret that kind of indulgence as lack of interest; you taking the easy way out. As a result their demands increase because what they're really saying is, "I don't really want more stuff, I want you!" (2) Low expectations. As a parent you owe your children a chance to excel in life. Don't rob them of the fulfillment that comes from working hard to improve their grades, clean their room and earn their way. (3) Guilt. We all feel bad about not spending enough time with our kids, or having failed them. One sixteen-year-old told her dad that he "owed" her a car. And she got it! Why? Because the parents were divorced and Dad felt bad about "letting her down." Don't try to buy your child's affection, you'll only end up paying later. God corrects His children - you need to correct yours!

Special Selection - "I Will Bless The Lord"

Daily Reading - "The Word...Came To Jonah the Second Time." Jnh 3:1 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Wed. Nov 18

"THE WORD...CAME TO JONAH THE SECOND TIME." (JNH 3:1 NKJV)

Are You Running From God? (2)

Jonah did some serious praying in the whale's belly; he repented of his prejudice and learned to love people he despised. It was there he became willing to preach things people don't like to hear. And you'll notice something else. God didn't intervene until he repented. Most of us want God to move before we've moved. No, Jonah acted, then God responded; He commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah up onto dry land, whereupon the runaway prophet asked for directions to Ninevah. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't get it right until the next marriage. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't get it right until we're fifty. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't overcome our addiction until later, although we could have overcome it sooner. Like Jonah we have to go to the bottom. But whatever it takes, God will do it. You can go to Ninevah yourself, or God can take you there. But it's easier to obey the first time.
Jonah's story proves that the Lord is a God of second chances. "The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time." Good news: Even though you've run from God, made 'shipwreck' of your life and feel like you're drowning, God will redeem and restore you if you'll turn to Him. He will give you a second chance in your marriage, your ministry or your vocation. But there's one condition - God is not going to change His mind to accommodate what you want, so you need to change your mind and attitude and do what He says, okay?

Special Selection - "Conqueror"

Daily Reading - "Jonah Arose To Flee To Tarshish." Jnh 1:3 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Nov 17

"JONAH AROSE TO FLEE TO TARSHISH." (JNH 1:3 NKJV)

Are You Running From God? (1)

Ninevah was about 550 miles east of Jonah. Tarshish was 2500 miles west of him. Rather than go 550 miles in God's will, Jonah decided to go 2500 miles out of it. Ever do that? God says, "Go here," but you go there. The bad news it, you not only have to come back the 2500 miles you went in the wrong direction, but the 550 miles God told you to go in the first place. Furthermore, whenever you run from God, you get to pay the fare. "He...found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare" (v. 3 NKJV). The good thing about going to Ninevah is, God will provide the fare. The bad thing about going to Tarshish is, you get to pick up the tab. Many of us are paring a high price for our Tarshish trip, when, if we had done it God's way, He'd have picked up the tab. And notice something else: when you disobey God you not only mess yourself up, but also those around you. Those poor sailors on the ship didn't ask for Jonah's mess, but they got it. Are you messing up the lives of others because of your rebellion? Think about it; if the win, the sea and the whale had to obey God, what were Jonah's chances of escaping? Jonah didn't rebound until he got swallowed, and some of us are not going to do the right thing until we are swallowed too - until God permits circumstances so adverse that running to Him, instead of from Him, is the only thing left. Is God saying something to you today?

Special Selection - "All I Need"

Daily Reading - "Forgive Whatever Grievances You May Have." Col 3:13 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Nov 16

"FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE." (COL 3:13 NIV)

Forgive Them, And Let It Go

We talk about grudges the way we talk about babies. You can hold a grudge, carry a grudge, bear a grudge, or nurse a grudge. The trouble is, when you nurse something you feed it, make it grow, and pretty soon it's full grown. Are you carrying a grudge? Why? It doesn't make sense. Why would you pick up something each day that weighs you down and carry it around with you? "But they hurt me." Yes, but by carrying a grudge you enable them to keep hurting you. Don't do that to yourself!

We know we're suppose to forgive other people, but sometimes forgiving feels like we are giving up something. One of Lincoln's stories was about a man on his sickbed who had been told by the doctor that he didn't have much time to live. He summoned an old friend named Brown with whom he'd quarreled bitterly. They hadn't spoken for years. The men talked of how he was going to die soon, of how their petty differences looked in the face of death, and asked it they might be reconciled. The scene moved everyone in the room to tears. Brown clasped the dying man's hands, embraced him, and turned to walk out of the room, a shattered man. Suddenly the man on the sickbed, having one final thought, raised himself up on one elbow and spoke for the last time: "But see here, Brown; if I recover, the old grudge still stands." This story makes us smile and think, "How foolish!" But if you are carrying a grudge, are you any different?

Special Selection - "I Need Your Help"

Daily Reading - "Teach Us To Number Our Days." Ps 90:12 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Nov 13

"TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS." (PS 90:12 NKJV)

Time - Make The Most It!

Our days are like identical suitcases, but some people pack more into them than others. That's because they know what to pack. Everybody gets twenty-four hours, but not everybody gets the same return on their twenty-four hours. The truth is, you don't manage your time, you manage your life. Time cannot be controlled; it marches on no matter what you do. Nobody - no matter how shrewd - can save minutes from one day to spend in another. No scientist is capable of creating new minutes. With all his wealth, Warren Buffet can't buy additional hours for his day. People talk about trying to "find time," but they need to quit looking; there isn't any extra lying around. Twenty-four hours is the best any of us is going to get. Wise people understand that time is their most precious commodity. As a result, they know where their time goes. They continually analyze how they are using their time and ask themselves, "Am I getting the best use out of my time?" In his book What To Do Between Birth and Death: The Art of Growing Up, Charles Spezzano writes: "You don't really pay for things with money, you pay for them with time. We say, 'In five years, I'll have enough money put away for that vacation house we want. Then I'll slow down.' That means the house will cost you five years - one-twelfth of your adult life. Translate the dollar value of the house, car, or anything else into time, and then see if it's still worth it."

Special Selection - "Brighter Day"

Daily Reading - "Without Me You Can Do Nothing." Jn 15:5 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Thur. Nov 12

"WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." (JN 15:5 NKJV)

How To Have A Good Day

You can change the course of a day Satan has negative plans for by spending time with the Lord, especially when you sense any attitude or behavior in yourself that's not Christ-like. Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." On the other hand, through Him we can do all things (See Php 4:13). Negative feelings are like unwelcome house guests: the worst thing you can do is to invite them in. You may not be able to override them in your own strength, but if you seek God's help He will enable you to walk according to His ways, not by your negative emotions and perspectives. "But what if someone offends me?" The Bible says we're not to be oversensitive or easily offended. Actually we are commanded to forgive those who hurt us, not letting things fester. Sometimes we want to forgive and do what's right, but we find doing it difficult. More often than not, the right thing is the hard thing to do, not the easy thing. That's when you need to pray and allow God to talk to you through His Word. Only then will you find the strength to do the right thing.

Remember, you're in a war, and the battle begins the moment your eyes open each morning. To win, you must know how to use the weapons God has placed at your disposal. And you must put on your armor before the battle begins (See Eph 6:10-20). Your greatest weapons are prayer, praise, reading God's Word, and Christian fellowship. If you want to have a good day, learn to use them.

Special Selection - "Already Here"

Daily Reading - "Jesus...Asked, 'Are You Also Going To Leave?" Jn 6:67 NLT

Here is how it read today...

Wed. Nov 11

"JESUS...ASKED, 'ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO LEAVE?'"

Handling Abandonment (3)

By managing your anxiety when feeling abandoned, you're taking control where it counts most and brings the greatest benefits. Here are some helpful guideline:
(1) Always remember that your thoughts are under your control. When anxiety kicks in, your thoughts begin to run amok. At this point you must take charge of your mind, "Casting down imaginations...bringing into captivity every thought" (2Co 10:5). Don't argue, resist or reason with your thoughts. Give them a "stop!" order, breathe deeply and select an encouraging thought from your scriptural self-talk list. Feel your anxiety dropping and give God thanks for victory over your anxiety. (2) Stay out of the "waiting room!" By waiting for someone to change or decide to stay, you're putting your life on hold, pending someone else's decision. That's not how God made you to function! "Live purposefully...Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity]" (Eph 5:15-16 AMP). Fill your days with worthwhile activity, taking initiative wherever possible and directing your time to useful, rewarding purposes, especially ones that glorify God. (3) Helping others will help heal you. God's law of reciprocity says you reap when you sow, and receive when you give. It offers you the chance to help yourself by helping others. The Bible says, "The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10 NKJV). Research consistently shows that acts of kindness toward others improve the emotional state of those doing them. By helping others you actually instruct your body to increase its positive endorphin levels, boosting your own joy, peace and confidence. Watch it work for you, no matter how the relationship!

Special Selection - "Angels"

Daily Reading - "Jesus...Asked, 'Are You Also Going To Leave?" Jn 6:67 NLT

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Nov 10

"JESUS...ASKED, 'ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO LEAVE?"

Handling Abandonment (2)

When you are face abandonment, your greatest enemy is your own anxiety! It pushes you into all the wrong reactions. Learn to manage it or it'll bring about your worst fears. Here are some guidelines to help you: (1) Stay out of the "pursuer" role. Most relationships have a "pursuer" and a "distancer." When we feel vulnerable we fall into whichever role is characteristic and act it out. When one distances, the other pursues, and vice versa. The problem is: when you pursue a distancer and they get anxious, distancing more, it increases your anxiety and pushes you to pursue more - the vicious cycle. Though it will feel unnatural, by faith, decide to stop pursuing. You'll decrease the distancer's anxiety and invited them to stop distancing. Letting go is frightening and feels as though it might encourage them to leave. It won't necessarily, but holding on will. Managing your anxiety calls on you to do what you fear, but it will reduce the anxiety level!
(2) Control your anxiety-inducing self-talk. "As he thinks...so is he" (Pr 23:7 NKJV). Your anxiety is being caused by your thoughts and self-talk, not your partner or circumstances. Saying, "Oh, I'll die if he (or she) leaves me," generates and magnifies your fear. Construct a helpful self-talk list. "If he leaves, it'll hurt, but with the help of God and my family, I'll get through it." Factor God in; He's the changer of hearts and minds. Lean on Him and He will lessen your anxiety and increase your peace and confidence.

Special Selection - "Praise Is What I Do"

Daily Reading - "As Many As I Love, I Rebuke." Rev 3:19 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Nov 6

"AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE." (REV 3:19 NKJV)

If I We're Willing To Pay The Price

Addressing the end-time church, Jesus said: "You say, 'I am rich...and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore...repent" (Rev 3:17-19 NKJV).

Those are strong words! Why would Christ say that to us? Because: (1) Instead of believing in God for New Testament results, we say God doesn't do miracles any more. (2) We've tolerated division in the name of denominational loyalty. (3) We've taught that Christianity is mainly about avoiding things. As a result we've lost our joy, because intimacy with Christ cannot be achieved through performance. (4) Many of our leaders have stopped modeling servant-hood and forgotten that Jesus washed feet and rode on a donkey. (5) Instead of using our financial blessing to reach the world for Christ and care for the poor, we're acquiring and splurging on ourselves. (6) We get upset when somebody uses contemporary methods to reach the younger generation. Instead of engaging the culture we're hiding from it. (7) Instead of "occupy till I come," we'd rather fly away. We read rapture novels when we should be praying for those living on the verge of martyrdom. Why can't we have their kind of faith? We can - if we're willing to pay the price.

Special Selection - "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus"

Daily Reading - "A Doubtful Mind Will Be As Unsettled As A Wave." Jas 1:6 TLB

Here is how it read today...

Thur. Nov 5

"A DOUBTFUL MIND WILL BE AS UNSETTLED AS A WAVE." (JAS 1:6 TLB)

Just Dot It!

The Bible says, "A doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave...driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds" (See Jas 1:6-8 TLB). This Scripture applies specifically to asking God for wisdom, then rationalizing and vacillating when He gives you an answer. But the same principle applies to all of life. Have you ever seen anything more fickle than a wave? The wind that takes it one direction today, takes it in an entirely different one tomorrow. "How does this apply for me?" you ask: (1) If you've grown up in a family where every was made for you. (2) If you spent you life around people who made reckless decisions that left you feeling "it's too easy to get it wrong and too hard to get it right." (3) If the bad decisions you've made in the past have sabotaged your confidence - then today's devotion is just for you!

James makes the point that none of us learn to hear from God without making mistakes. So don't be hard on yourself. Learn from your mistakes, correct the ones you can, and continue being decisive. Don't fall back into a pattern of indecision because you got wrong a few times. Often you'll only know that you've done the right thing - when you do it! Devote a reasonable amount of time to waiting on God, and when necessary seek the counsel of others. But don't be afraid to act; make a decision and following through with it. In other words, "just do it!"

Special Selection - "Hosana"

Daily Reading - "Words of the wise...should be heard." Ecc 9:17 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Nov 4

"WORDS OF THE WISE...SHOULD BE HEARD." (ECC 9:17 NKJV)

What Mistakes Are You Making (4)

One day King Zedekiah said to the prophet Jeremiah, "I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me" (Jer 38:14 NKJV). Zedekiah displayed wisdom we don't display often enough. One author writes: "I changed from someone who avoids potentially bad news to someone who invites it. For many years I've given permission to members of my inner circle to ask me hard questions and give me their opinion when they disagree with me. I don't ever want to make a mistake, then hear a team member say, 'I thought that was going to be a bad decision.' I want people to tell me on the front end, not after it's too late for their advice to help. Pushback before a decision is made is never disloyalty. You need to give them permission to ask hard questions and pushback against your ideas. That decision must be given to others by the leader. Too often leaders would rather have followers who turn a blind eye instead of ones who speak with a blunt tongue. But if all is quiet when decisions are being considered, it probably won't be quiet after it plays out." Sir Francis Bacon observed, "If a person will begin with certainties, he will end in doubt; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he will end in certainties," Job said, "Men listened to me and waited, and kept silence for my counsel" (Job 29:21 NKJV). You must constantly ask yourself: What is my attitude toward mistakes? Am I owning up to my mistakes? Am I learning from them? Do I get the best input possible?

Special Selection - "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High"

Daily Reading - "Words of the wise...should be heard." Ecc 9:17 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Nov 3

"WORDS TO THE WISE...SHOULD BE HEARD." (ECC 9:17 NKJV)

What Mistakes Are You Making? (3)

A sign in a high-pressure sales office brings a smile: "Do you like to travel? Do you want to meet new friends? Do you want to free up your future? All this can be yours if you make one more mistake." Fear of making mistakes keeps us from reaching our highest potential, from seeking honest counsel and feedback, and from speaking out lest we become criticized or abandoned. To be successful you must give the people around you permission to push back. When you don't get input it can be disastrous. In It's Your Ship, Michael Abrashoff writes: "The moment I heard about it [the tragic sinking of a Japanese fishing boat off Honolulu by the submarine USS Greenville], I was reminded that, as is often the case with accidents, someone senses possible danger but doesn't actually speak up. As the Greenville investigation unfolded, I read in a New York Times article that the sub-marine's crew 'respected the Commanding Officer too much to question his judgement.' If that's respect, then I want none of it. You need to have people that can tap you on your shoulder and say, 'Is this the best way?' or 'Slow down,' or 'Think about this,' or 'is what we are doing worth killing or injuring somebody?' History records countless incidents in which ship captains or organization managers permitted a climate of intimidation to pervade the workplace, silencing subordinates whose warnings could have prevented disaster. Even when the reluctance to speak up stems from admiration for the commanding officer's skill and experience, a climate to question decisions must be created in order to foster double-checking."

Where I'm At/It Is What It Is Nov 2 & RIP Don & UPT Soldiers Tribute

Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus

"Words Of The Wise...Should Be Hear." Ecc 9:17 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Nov 2

"WORDS OF THE WISE...SHOULD BE HEARD." (ECC 9:17 NKJV)

What Mistakes Are You Making (1)

Don't be afraid to ask yourself, "What am I missing? What do I not know yet?" Some people expect nothing but trouble; they're pessimistic so they don't look for anything good. But others have a tendency to assume everything is good. Both kinds of thinking can hurt you. Elisabeth Elliot, author of All That Was Ever Ours, points out, "All generalizations are false - including this one - yet we keep making generalizations. We create images - graven ones that can't be changed. We dismiss or accept people, products, programs and propaganda according to the labels they come under. We know a little about something and we treat it like we know everything." Learn to be more discerning! It's easy to make decisions based on what you know, but there are always things you don't know. It's easy to choose a direction based on what you see, but what don't you see? We learn only when we're willing to ask, "What am I missing?" That question causes you, and those around you, to stop and think. It's easy to see what's obvious, but asking tough questions brings to the surface things that aren't obvious. Not asking questions causes is to assume that a project is potentially perfect and that if it's handled with care, there will be no problems. You learn in life, often painfully, that this simply isn't reality. Two things will stop you dead in your tracks: (a) Overanalyzing to the point that you're paralyzed and afraid to act. (b) Under analyzing and moving ahead before you have sufficient knowledge and the wisdom to implement it.

Special Selection - "Every Prayer"

Daily Reading - "Words of the wise...should be heard." Ecc 9:17 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Sun. Nov 1

"WORDS OF THE WISE...SHOULD BE HEARD." (ECC 9:17 NKJV)

What Mistakes Are You Making (1)

It's a mistake not to ask yourself, "What mistakes am I making?" One leader writes: "I gave little thought to what might go wrong, I assumed that the 'right way' would be mistake-free. I did not acknowledge mistakes I made to myself, or others. I was not learning from my mistakes. If I wanted to become a better leader, I would have to stop making the mistake of not asking what mistake I was making." It's not the number of mistakes you make - it's how often you keep making the same mistake. If you want to turn your mistakes to your advantage:
(1) Admit your mistakes. Why don't we? Pride: we've an image to uphold. Insecurity: our self-worth is based on our performance. Stubbornness: we'd rather beat a dead horse than bury it and get a new one. Here's a news flash: People already know about your mistakes. When you admit them they're not surprised, they're relieved. They say, "Phew! He knows. Now we can quit pretending!" (2) Accept mistakes as the price of progress. Learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of succeeding. Nothing's perfect in life - including you! So get used to it. (3) Insist on learning from your mistakes. When you try to avoid failure at all cost, you never learn, and you end up repeating the same mistakes over and over. Those who are willing to learn from their failures don't have to keep repeating them. Author William Saroyan observed, "We get very little wisdom from success. Learn from science. In science, mistakes always precede the discovery of truth."