Special Selection - "Don't Let It'

Daily Reading - "You Cannot Serve Both God and Money." Mt 6:24 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Sat. Oct 31

"YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY." (MT 6:24 NIV)

Serving God or Money

Let's be honest. For most of us, materialism is God's main rival. But it's possible to get increasingly free of it. Author John Ortberg writes: "Sometimes when I'm speaking I try a little exercise in dethroning the idol. I ask people to take out their wallet...it looks like a piece of leather. But it's really the temple of the 21st century. Most people in our day believe that their ability to experience happiness is directly associated with the contents of this little container. This is where the god Mammon lives. We give this little piece of leather the power to make us feel secure, successful, and valuable. It's very hard for us to surrender control of this little piece of leather. The real issue: Who's in charge? Are you holding it, or is it holding you? So as a little baby step of surrender, I ask people to hand it to the person next to them. At this point the attention level in the room goes way up. Then I announce that we're going to take an offering. I encourage people to give with the extravagant generosity they have always wanted to exhibit. Wallets fly back to their original owners fast at this point. Then I invite them to declare today, 'Enough day.' What I have now - my home, my job, my possessions, my family, my lifestyle - is enough. I will seek another and better kind of wealth than terminal acquisition." Then he tells the audience, "Circle today on your calendar. From this day on, your race with the Joneses is over. The Joneses win, but so do you!"

Special Selection - "We Made It"

Daily Reading - "I Go To Prepare A Place For You." Jn 14:2 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Oct 30

"I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU." (JN 14:2 NKJV)

Hints About Heaven

When it comes to heaven, the Bible gives us just enough information to whet our appetite but not satisfy our curiosity. Here are three hints about heaven:
(1) "There shall be no more curse" (Rev 22:3 NKJV). Unlike Eden, Satan won't be there to tempt us so we won't stumble. We'll be at our best - forever. Every good New Year's resolution we've ever made will be a reality. (2) "God will wipe away every tear...there shall be no more death, nor sorrow" (Rev 21:4 NKJV). No failing health, grieving hearts or broken homes. The "Uppertaker" will put the undertaker our of business. (3) "His servants who are faithful over few things now, will rule over many things then. In the first paradise God gave Adam and Eve responsibilities; will He do less in the next one? "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isa 9:7 NKJV). God's new world will be marked by "increase." Increased planets? Increased colors, music? Seems likely. What does the Creator do but create? Will some of us serve then, in the capacity we server now? Couldn't earthly assignments hint at heavenly ones? One thing's for sure: you'll love it - never weary, selfish or defeated; clear mind, tireless muscles, unhindered joy. Heaven is a perfect place of perfected people with out perfect Lord. And here's the best part: Jesus promised: "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (Jn 14:3 NLT).

Oh Happy Day

Daily Reading - "The Fruit Of The Spirit" Gal 5:22-23 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Thurs. Oct 29

"THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT." (GAL 5:22-23 NKJV)

Are You Bearing Fruit?

Notice three things about the fruit: First, fruit is visible. Remember the "show and tell" method of learning in school? James writes: "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (Jas 2:18 NKJV). It's not enough to "talk a good game," you must "live it" before others every day. Second, fruit reflects the character of the tree on which it grows. If it's an apple tree it's going to produce apples. The more you submit your life to Christ, the more like Him you'll become. Third, fruit is always borne for someone else's benefit. You'll never see fruit chewing on itself, or saying, "I don't want to be picked." Good fruit makes someone hunger to reach it. The Holy Spirit wants to produce fruit in you so that others can feed off you and be nourished. In contrast, all deeds of the flesh are selfish. The flesh says, "You made me mad. I'm not happy. You have what I want. You are irritating me." But the fruit of the Spirit is Christ-centered and others-centered. Notice, the word "fruit" is singular, even though Paul list nine different kinds of spiritual fruit: "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control." But they all come from the same tree. This tree can produce everything you need to every area of your life. You don't have to go to the Holy Spirit for peace, and some other place for love. Or go to the Holy Spirit for patience, and somebody else for self-control. It's all on the Spirit's tree. So, are you bearing fruit?

Special Selection - "Open Up My Heart"

Daily Reading - "Be Filled With The Spirit." Eph 5:18 NKJV

Here is how it ready today.

Tues. Oct 27

"BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT." (EPH 5:18 NKJV)

The Spirit-Filled Life

The new birth doesn't automatically eliminate the old nature. We live in bodies that are susceptible to sin, so we must stay filled with God's Spirit. Paul says: "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry our the desire of the flesh" (Gal 5:16 NAS). Then he gives us a familiar illustration. "Do not be drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit." Notice:
First, Paul's talking about yielding control of our life to God's Spirit. When someone's drunk we say they're "under the influence." Second, Paul's statement is a command. "Be filled." He didn't say, "If you'd like to," or "It would nice." No, if you are going to please God then you must be constantly filled with His Spirit. Third, this applies to every believer. Sometimes we look at someone and say, "They love Jesus so much; what can't I be like that? You can. The difference is the filling of the Spirit, not the fact that they have something you don't. Fourth, you can't fill yourself. Like filling your car, you must regularly pull up to the pump. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Mt 5:6 NIV). Are you hungry? Are you thirst? Fifth, it's a continuous action. You can't run your care on a single tank of gas; you've got to keep going back to the source. The Spirit's filling is dynamic, moment-by-moment experience. Why is it that way? Because we live in a world that depletes us spiritually and contend with a core of carnality that seeks to defeat us. So, "Be filled with the Spirit."

Special Selection - "Made Up My Mind"

Daily Reading - "I Am The Way." Jn 14:6 RSV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Oct 26

"I AM THE WAY." (JN 14:6 RSV)

Jesus Is The Way

Judaism sees salvation as a judgment day decision based on morality. Hindus anticipate multiple reincarnations in the soul's journey through the cosmos. Buddhism guides your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. Muslims earn their way to Allah through the Five Pillars of Faith. Many philosophers deem life after death as hidden and unknown, "a great leap in the dark." Some people clump Christ with Moses, Mohammad, Confucius, and other spiritual leaders. But Jesus declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Many object, "All roads lead to heaven." But how can they? Buddhists look toward Nirvana, achieved after no less than 547 reincarnations. Christians believe in one life, one death, and an eternity of enjoying God. Humanist don't acknowledge a creator of life. Jesus claims to be the source of life. Spiritualist read your palms. Christians consult the Bible. Hindus perceive a plural and impersonal God. Christ-followers believe "there is only one God" (1Co 8:4 NLT). Every non-Christian religion says, "You can save you." Jesus says, "My death on the cross saves you." All roads don't lead to London, all ships don't sail to Australia, and all flights don't land in Rome. Every path does not lead to God. Jesus blazed a stand-alone trail void of self-salvation. He cleared a one-of-a-kind passageway uncluttered by human effort. He offers us a unique invitation in which He works and we trust, He dies and we live, He invites and we believe. "The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent" (Jn 6:29 NCV).

Special Selection - "How Deeply I Need You"

Daily Reading - "This Is The Way; Walk In It." Isa 30:23 NIV

Here is how it read today...

Thurs. Oct 22

"THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT." (ISA 30:23 NIV)

Pay Attention!

James Michener said he had a neighbor whose tree stopped producing apples, so he hammered rusty nails around the trunk. That year he got his greatest crop of apples. He said, "Hammering those nails in was a shock to remind the tree that its job is to grow apples." Unscientific, maybe - but it worked! Michener explained how heart bypass surgery, hip surgery and a bout with vertigo were nails God hammered into the trunk of his life. It got his attention! Realizing he wasn't going to live forever he got busy and in five years authored eleven books - including best sellers.
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but...Later...it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace" (Heb 12:11 NIV). Verdell Davis says, "There are things we could and should do something about. For example, the loss of material comforts can move us to simplify our lives. A clinical depression can lead us to seek help, and to healthier ways of living and relating. Losing a job we performed, that enrich all who come our way." Harold Sala adds, "Let's face it, when those rust nails get hammered in we take notice and our lives become productive. [They're] delivered with the exhortation to get on with the business before us. The Father's love allows the hammer blows to goad us into accomplishing the full measure of His will." So when you get a wake-up call from God saying, "This is the way; walk in it," pay attention!

Where I'm At/It Is What It Is Oct 21

Trials & Tribulations of a 3% Child

Here I sit here, proud and cocky that I have all these "options" of schools to choose from for High School. I start going to visit schools and it felt rather weird when I went to some of the schools. When I arrived at some schools it was as if the faculty (certain teachers aka coaches) knew who I was, and seemed more anxious to convince me to come to their school. It felt like I was being recruited, which felt nice, but I thought that only happened with colleges. Other schools obviously had no idea who I was and just gave me the usual tour and weren't at all trying to be uberly convincing for someone to attend their school. All in all it was both fun and another learning lesson.

So even though I visited a number of schools surprisingly enough, the two main schools I wanted to go to which were Washington and Northeast were also the most convincing out of all the visits. Outside of the fact that the coaches knew me, their faculty and facilities just seemed better and would allow me to grow at a more advanced pace than the other schools. So I was settled on attending one of the two. Well I quickly found out that while I might want one thing, I'm still a minor and my parents aka my mother really decided what's what. So when we sat down to discuss which schools we were going to choose to officially apply to she was steadfast on Central, the so called smartest public school in Philadelphia. She wasn't trying to have me go to school in the Northeast due to the traveling. She reminded me of problems I previously had when I was younger, being at a school far away and transportation. But of course I figured I'm grown now, and fought against it profusely because Central to me was not known for the football team at all.

All said and done, I tried to go to any other football school to avoid Central but yet she posted an argument against everyone and proceeded to cross them off the list. I believe at the end of the night I was almost in tears thinking this woman is trying to ruin my life, all the top football schools were basically crossed off the list and the only options that remained either didn't have football or weren't really known for their football team. In spite of that, before turning in my paper to apply to the schools my mother agreed on, I circled Girls High as a joke, because I didn't seriously think that was even possible, but just for the laugh I circled it to officially apply to go there. This would be one of my you never know what's possible until you try moments I would experience.

I got called into the counselors office shortly after turning in my papers and it was one of the most serious but funniest discussions. They were seeing if I was truly interested in going to Girls High because it was somehow possible for me to attend. They wanted to understand why I wanted to go there and let me know that it would be possible for me to go there and play sports for Central. While I thought it was funny at first, I really ended up thinking hard on it. They gave me time to make my decision, and eventually I realized that I would be too distracted to do any work at all and I also assumed that the sports teams at Central wouldn't be so accepting of me seeing as how I would be attending Girls High. So I just totally gave up and went to Central of course scratching and fighting. The next two years of my life would be a huge and dramatic learning lesson for both my mother and I.

Special Selection - "Before The Throne"

Daily Reading - "And Elisha...Saw Him No More." 2Ki 2:12 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Wed. Oct 21

"AND ELISHA...SAW HIM NO MORE." (2KI 2:12 NKJV)

Going On Alone

Elijah and Elisha were out walking together when "a chariot of fire...separated the two...Elijah went...into heaven. And Elisha...saw him no more" (vs. 11-12 NKJV). Oswald Chambers writes: "It's not wrong to depend on your 'Elijah' as long as God gives him to you. But God doesn't intend him to stay, and although the thought causes you to say, 'I can't continue,' you must." There are times in life when we must go on alone, and draw from God the strength to do it. Here are three Bible examples:
(1) Alone at the Jordan. Here Elisa "took up the mantle of Elijah...struck the water...the water...divided...and Elisha crossed over" (2Ki 2:13-14 NKJV). The river Jordan represents death. When you lose someone you loved and depended on, you ask, "How can I do on alone?" You're not alone, God is with you! (2) Alone at Jericho. Here God used Elisha to purify the town's poisoned water system (See 2Ki 2:19-22). Big shoes! You're not sure you can fill them. This is when God says to you what He said to Joshua, Israel's new leader: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Jos 1:5 NKJV). (3) Alone at Bethel. Here Elisha was publicly humiliated, yet God vindicated him (See 2Ki 2:23). Bethel, which means "The House of God," is where we go for strength, yet often get disappointed in people. Nevertheless, we must go on with God, knowing He will never fail us.
Richard Exley says, "If we've come often to God in the sunshine, our anxious feet will find familiar pathway in the darkest night, because going to Him has become second nature to us."

Special Selection - "Sovereign God"

Daily Reading - "I Will Arise And Go To My Father" Lk 15:18 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Tues. Oct 20

"I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER." (LK 15:18 NKJV)

It's Time To Face Reality

Nothing changed for the Prodigal Son until he said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say...'I have sinned.'" His story ends well; yours can too, but you must:
(1) Decide to take control of your life before circumstances or other people do. The solution begins with you. A new partner, a new job or a new house won't cure what's wrong if the cause lies in your own attitudes and actions. You may have 101 excuses for the way things are in your life right now, but what you are willing to do to change them? The prodigal's father didn't pick him up and carry him home, he had to do the leg work. (2) Face reality as it is, not as you think it should be or wish it was. The prodigal had to discover that the rules he rebelled against at home were essential to his happiness, that all the fun he thought was waiting for him our there, wasn't, and that he must acknowledge his mistakes and correct them before he could get his life back on track: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and ...return to the Lord" (Isa 55:7 NKJV). God will intervene, but only when you operate on the H.O.W. principle: Honesty, Openness, Willingness. (3) Act now, while you still can. The law of evolution says things evolve and improve on their own. No, certain things left unattended and uncorrected get worse, not better. That's so whether it's your health, your marriage, your children, your finances, or your walk with God. So, face reality and take action while you still can.

Special Selection - "We're Blessed"

Daily Reading - "Submit To God. Resist The Devil." Jas 4:7 NKJV

Here is how it read today...

Mon. Oct 19

"SUBMIT TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL." (JAS 4:7 NKJV)

How To Handle Temptation

When it comes to temptation, remember these seven things: (1) Never say "never." You never become so spiritual that you're immune. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will now allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1Co 10:13 NKJV). (2) Realize you can stumble on the last lap. Because you haven't blown it yet, doesn't mean you can't. Satan is a master of timing, and he's in no particular hurry. (3) Acknowledge your basic drives. St. Augustine said, "There is nothing more powerful in bringing down the spirit of a man than the caresses of a woman." Your flesh is powerful; once indulged it will always want more. (4) Understand that you are responsible. Sin is a choice. When you choose to abuse God's grace you pay the price, either now or later. "Do not be deceived...whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal 6:7 NKJV). (5) You're not a helpless pawn. You may not be able to change what happened yesterday, but your choice, empowered by God's grace, will determine what happens today and tomorrow. (6) If you've sinned, there's hope. God will forgive you and use you again. Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Lk 22:32 NKJV). (7) Stay safe by staying close to God. "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."