::my journey with Loving God::: 2015

An Invitation To Rest - OUR DAILY BREAD

I will give you rest.

At a friend’s bedside in a hospital emergency ward, I was moved by the sounds of suffering I heard from other patients in pain. As I prayed for my friend and for the ailing patients, I realized anew how fleeting our life on earth is. Then I recalled an old country song by Jim Reeves that talks about how the world is not home for us—we’re “just a-passin’ through.”

Our world is full of weariness, pain, hunger, debt, poverty, disease, and death. Because we must pass through such a world, Jesus’ invitation is welcome and timely: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). We need this rest.

Accept Jesus' invitation and enter His rest!

There is hardly a funeral ceremony I’ve attended where John’s vision of “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1-5) is not quoted, and it certainly holds relevance for funerals.

But I believe the passage is more for the living than the dead. The time to heed Jesus’ invitation to come rest in Him is while we are still living. Only then can we be entitled to the promises in Revelation. God will dwell among us (v. 3). He will wipe away our tears (v. 4). There will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (v. 4).

Accept Jesus’ invitation and enter His rest!

Father in heaven, this life can be wonderful, but it can also be so hard. Thank You for Your Spirit’s presence with us now. And thank You too for the reality of eternal life with You.

When you’re weary in life’s struggles, find your rest in the Lord.

Annoyed when people say “Xmas” instead of Christmas? Should you be?

Have you ever heard about the plot to “X” Christ out of Christmas? And so the secular celebraters of this holy-day (holiday) decided they were going to start using “Xmas” instead of Christmas?

Well, it’s not true.

We do have lots of people who celebrate Christmas without the “Christ” part. We also have lots of people who celebrate Christmas without the “mass” part. And yet still others who celebrate the “holidays” without really celebrating any particular “holy day” at all.

We have taken God out of government, schools and the workplace. Many have transformed Christ into some kind of subjective feeling or force. Even some “churches” have taken Christ out of their creed altogether.

But “Xmas” is not trying to “X” Christ out of Christmas. It actually is a legitimate abbreviation.

The “X” in Xmas is from the first letter of the Greek spelling for Christ (???????). You’ve probably seen a big XP symbol on the altar at mass before. That’s a symbol for Christ (again, from the Greek word for Christ). In fact, Microsoft’s Windows XP is also a reference to Jesus Christ.

Ok, I made that last part up. But the rest is true…”X” is just an abbreviation for Christ. And similar abbreviations have been in use by Christians since the beginning of Christianity.

Of course, Christians have also always only used such abbreviations when it was prudent or practical. “Xmas” is not considered a formal way to reference this holy celebration – just as most all abbreviations and shorthand are not appropriate in formal writing. And certainly, when referencing the King of Kings, it seems appropriate to maintain as much reverence and respect with His name whenever possible.

Personally, I don’t use “Xmas” because most people in the world don’t understand the connection between the symbol “X” and the name of Christ. And since our culture has largely forgotten the “Reason for the season,” using unclear language only makes that problem worse. We need more clear reminders for what this season is all about – not less.

Have blessed Merry Christmas!

Christmas Mystery -OUR DAILY BREAD

The mystery from which true godliness springs is great.

1 Timothy 3:16

As Charles Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol begins, there is mystery surrounding Ebenezer Scrooge. Why is he so mean-spirited? How did he become so selfish? Then, slowly, as the Christmas spirits marched Scrooge through his own story, things become clearer. We see the influences that changed him from a happy youth into a selfish miser. We observe his isolation and his brokenness. As the mystery is solved, we also glimpse the path to restoration. Concern for others pulls Scrooge from his self-absorbed darkness into a new joy.

A far more important mystery, and one much harder to explain, is that which Paul spoke of in 1 Timothy 3:16: “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” Extraordinary! God “appeared in the flesh.”

The mystery of Christmas is how God could become man while remaining fully God. It defies human explanation, but in the perfect wisdom of God, it was the plan of the ages.

“What child is this?” He is Jesus Christ—God revealed in the flesh.

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. Traditional carol

God made His home with us so that we might make our home with Him.

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Worry Free - OUR DAILY BREAD

Do not fret because of those who are evil.

Psalm 37:1

Trying to stay aware of current events has its downside because bad news sells better than good news. It’s easy to become overly concerned about the criminal acts of individuals, crowds, or governments over whom we have no control.

Psalm 37 gives perspective to the daily news. David begins by saying, “Do not fret because of those who are evil” (v. 1). Then he proceeds to outline for us some alternatives to becoming overly anxious. In essence, David suggests a better way of thinking about negative news in our world.

What would happen if, instead of worrying about events beyond our control, we chose to trust in the Lord? (v. 3). Wouldn’t we be better off to “take delight in the Lord” (v. 4) rather than fret without limits? Imagine the freedom from worry we could have if we would “commit [our] way to the Lord” (v. 5). And how calm we could be by learning to “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”! (v. 7).

News of trouble we cannot change offers us an opportunity to set boundaries for our concerns. As we trust God, commit our ways to Him, and rest in Him, our outlook brightens. The struggles and trials may not disappear, but we will discover that He gives us His peace in the midst of them.

Lord, we see danger and trouble all around us. Help us not to worry but instead to trust and rest in You. Show us the peace that comes from waiting patiently on You.

Obstacles give us the opportunity to trust God.

When Not To Rejoice - OUR DAILY BREAD

When Not to Rejoice

December 3, 2015

Read: Ezekiel 25:1-7; Matthew 5:43-48 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 45–46; 1 John 2

Do not gloat when your enemy falls.

Proverbs 24:17

The Akan people of Ghana have a proverb: “The lizard is not as mad with the boys who threw stones at it as with the boys who stood by and rejoiced over its fate!” Rejoicing at someone’s downfall is like participating in the cause of that downfall or even wishing more evil on the person.

That was the attitude of the Ammonites who maliciously rejoiced when the temple in Jerusalem “was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile” (Ezek. 25:3). For spitefully celebrating Israel’s misfortunes, the Ammonites experienced God’s displeasure, which resulted in grim consequences (vv. 4-7).

How do we react when disaster befalls our neighbor or when our neighbor gets into trouble? If she is a nice and friendly neighbor, then, of course, we will sympathize with her and go to her aid. But what if he is an unfriendly, trouble-making neighbor? Our natural tendency may be to ignore him or even secretly rejoice at his downfall.

Proverbs warns us: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice” (24:17). Instead, Jesus tells us that we show His love in action when we “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]” (Matt. 5:44). By so doing, we imitate the perfect love of our Lord (5:48).

Lord, open my eyes and my heart to be honest about my attitude toward those who are unkind or unfair to me. Fill my heart with Your love, Lord, and help me pray for them.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Glass Beach - OUR DAILY BREAD

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Glass Beach

December 2, 2015

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 | Bible in a Year:Ezekiel 42–44; 1 John 1

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“On the day when I act,” says the LordAlmighty, “they will be my treasured possession.”

Malachi 3:17

Early 20th-century residents of Fort Bragg, California, disposed of their trash by throwing it over a cliff and onto a nearby beach. Cans, bottles, tableware, and household garbage accumulated in huge, disgusting piles. Even when residents stopped depositing trash on the beach, it remained an embarrassment—a dump seemingly beyond reclamation.

Over the years, however, wave action broke up the glass and pottery and washed the rubbish out to sea. The pounding surf rolled and tumbled the glass fragments in the sand on the ocean floor, frosting and smoothing the surface and creating gemlike “sea glass,” which it then deposited back onto the beach. The surf created a kaleidoscopic beauty at which visitors to Glass Beach now stare in wonder.

Relax in God's #love today.

Perhaps you feel as though your life has become a dump—a mess beyond hope. If so, you need to know that there is someone who loves you and waits to redeem and reclaim you. Give Jesus your heart and ask Him to make you pure and clean. He may tumble you a bit, and it may take time to smooth away the rough edges. But He will never give up on you. He will make you into one of His jewels!

Lord, when we have nothing left but You, we are right where You want us. You can use any situation for Your glory and our good. You never give up on us. Help us to relax in Your love.

God loves us too much to let us remain as we are.

The Low Point - OUR DAILY BREAD

You are my help and my deliverer.

Psalm 40:17

C. S. Lewis and his older brother, Warren (Warnie), endured several terms at Wynyard, an English boarding school for boys. The headmaster was a cruel man who made life unbearable for everyone there. Decades later, Warnie wrote in his understated dry wit, “I am now sixty-four and a bit, and have never yet been in a situation in which I have not had the consolation of reflecting that at any rate I was better off than I was at Wynyard.” Most of us can recall a similar dark and difficult time in our lives and be grateful that we’re better off now than we were then.

Psalm 40:1-5 records a low point of David’s life when he cried out to the Lord who rescued him. God brought him up from “the slimy pit” and “the mud and mire” and set his feet on a rock (v. 2). “He put a new song in my mouth,” David says, “a hymn of praise to our God” (v. 3).

God's mercy, loving-kindness, and truth delivers us from sin.

But deliverance from depression and despair are seldom one-time events. Psalm 40 continues with David’s renewed plea for God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and truth to deliver him from his own sin and the threats of his enemies (vv. 11-14).

Along with David, we can say at every low point, “I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer” (v. 17).

How does recalling a low point in your life encourage you to trust God for His help today?

Share with us in the comments section below or on our Facebook page, facebook.com/ourdailybread

Help From The Outside - OUR DAILY BREAD

God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:20

On a business trip, my husband had just settled into his hotel room when he heard an unusual noise. He stepped into the hall to investigate and heard someone yelling from a nearby room. With the help of a hotel worker, he discovered that a man had become trapped in the bathroom. The lock on the bathroom door had malfunctioned and the man trapped inside started to panic. He felt like he couldn’t breathe and began yelling for help.

Sometimes in life we feel trapped. We are banging on the door, pulling on the handle, but we can’t get free. We need help from the outside, just like the man in the hotel.

To get that outside assistance, we have to admit that we are helpless on our own. Sometimes we look inward for the answers to our problems, yet the Bible says “the heart is deceitful” (Jer. 17:9). In truth, we are often the source of our problems in life.

Thankfully, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20). Because of this, He knows exactly how to help us. Lasting heart-level change and real progress with our problems originate with God. Trusting Him and living to please Him means we can flourish and be truly free.

Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You. I can’t solve my problems on my own. Please help me to seek Your help and perspective.

God helps those who know they are helpless.

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Crumbs Of Time - OUR DAILY BREAD

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel 6:10

A friend was coming to town. He is a very busy man and his schedule was tight, but after a difficult day in important meetings, he managed to see my family for half an hour for a quick and late dinner. We enjoyed his visit, but I remember looking at my plate and thinking, “We only got the crumbs of his time.”

Then I remembered how many times God gets the crumbs of my time—sometimes just the last minutes before I fall asleep.

Daniel was a busy man. He held a high government position in the ancient kingdom of Babylon, and I’m sure he had a full schedule. However, he had developed the habit of spending time with God—praying three times a day, praising God, and thanking Him. This routine helped him develop a strong faith that did not waver when he faced persecution (Dan. 6).

God desires a relationship with us. In the morning we can invite Him into our day, and then we can praise Him and ask Him for His help throughout the day. At other times we can treasure some time alone with Him and reflect on His faithfulness. As we spend time with God in prayer and in His Word, we grow in our relationship with Him and learn to become more and more like Him. As time with God becomes a priority, we enjoy His company more and more.

Dear Father, I want to have an intimate relationship with You. I invite You to be part of my entire day—from the time I awake until I go to sleep.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31

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Where Is My Focus?

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.Hebrews 10:34

Early in September 2011, a raging wildfire destroyed 600 homes in and around the city of Bastrop in central Texas. A few weeks later an article in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper carried this headline: “People who lost the most, focus on what wasn’t lost.” The article described the community’s outpouring of generosity and the realization of those who received help that neighbors, friends, and community were worth far more than anything they lost.

The writer of Hebrews reminded first-century followers of Jesus to recall how they had bravely endured persecution early in their life of faith. They stood their ground in the face of insults and oppression, standing side by side with other believers (Heb. 10:32-33). “You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions” (v. 34). Their focus was not on what they had lost but on eternal things that could not be taken from them.

Jesus told His followers, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). As we focus on the Lord and all that we have in Him, even our most precious possessions can be held lightly.

Lord, open our eyes to see You and to embrace what is most important each day.

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Where is your focus today?

Behind The Scenes - OUR DAILY BREAD

He must become greater; I must become less.John 3:30

The outreach activities of our church culminated with a city-wide service. As the team that had organized and led the events—comprised of our youth music group, counselors, and church leaders—walked onto the stage, we all excitedly applauded and poured out our appreciation for their hard work.

One man, however, was hardly noticeable, yet he was the leader of the team. When I saw him a few days later, I thanked and congratulated him for his work and said, “We hardly noticed you during the program.”

“I like to work in the background,” he said. He was not concerned with getting recognition for himself. It was time for those who did the work to receive appreciation.

His quiet demeanor was an entire sermon to me. It was a reminder that when serving the Lord, I need not seek to be recognized. I can give honor to God whether or not I’m openly appreciated by others. A Christ-first attitude can subdue any petty jealousies or unhealthy competition.

Jesus, who is “above all” (John 3:31), “must become greater; I must become less” (v.30). When we have this attitude, we will seek the progress of God’s work. It is Christ, not us, who should be the focus of all we do.

Jesus, be the center of my thoughts, desires, and actions. Control me and use me.

The spotlight is the place for Christ.

The Cross and the Crown - OUR DAILY BREAD

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.John 11:25

Westminster Abbey in London has a rich historical background. In the 10th century, Benedictine monks began a tradition of daily worship there that still continues today. The Abbey is also the burial place of many famous people, and every English monarch since ad 1066 has been crowned at the Abbey. In fact, 17 of those monarchs are also buried there—their rule ending where it began.

No matter how grandiose their burial, world rulers rise and fall; they live and die. But another king, Jesus, though once dead, is no longer buried. In His first coming, Jesus was crowned with thorns and crucified as the “king of the Jews” (John 19:3,19). Because Jesus rose from the dead in victory, we who are believers in Christ have hope beyond the grave and the assurance that we will live with Him forever. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (11:25-26).

We serve a risen King! May we gladly yield to His rule in our lives now as we look forward to the day when the “Lord God Almighty” will reign for all eternity (Rev. 19:6).

Thank You, Jesus, for rising from the dead and that You are alive forever.

To learn more about the crown and cross Christ bore, check out The Mockery and Majesty of the Cross at discoveryseries.org/hp081

The Rugged Road - OUR DAILY BREAD

Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

A fishing buddy of mine told me about an alpine lake located high on the north flank of Jughandle Mountain here in Idaho. Rumor had it that large cutthroat trout lurked up there. My friend got a pencil and scrap of napkin and drew a map for me. Several weeks later I gassed up my truck and set out to follow his directions.

His map put me on one of the worst roads I’ve ever driven! It was an old logging road that had been bulldozed through the forest and never regraded. Washouts, fallen timber, deep ruts, and large rocks battered my spine and bent the undercarriage of my truck. It took half a morning to reach my destination, and when I finally arrived I asked myself, “Why would a friend send me up a road like this?”

But the lake was magnificent and the fish were indeed large and scrappy! My friend had put me on the right road—one I would have chosen myself and patiently endured had I known what I knew at the end.

There is a faithful saying: “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant” (Ps. 25:10). Some of God’s paths for us are rough and rugged, others tedious and boring, but all are filled with His love and faithfulness. When we come to the end of our journey and know what we then will know, we will say, “God’s path was best for me.”

Father, we don’t see the end of the road, but You do. We trust You for what we can’t see. We know that You are bringing us through it.

Our path may have obstacles, but God will lead us.

God's Direction - OUR DAILY BREAD

God’s Direction

Oct 15, 2015

Read: Proverbs 3:1–8 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 45–46; 1 Thessalonians 3

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In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. —nkjv Proverbs 3:6

A century ago, 41-year-old Oswald Chambers arrived in Egypt to serve as a YMCA chaplain to British Commonwealth troops during World War I. He was assigned to a camp at Zeitoun, six miles north of Cairo. On his first night there, October 27, 1915, Chambers wrote in his diary, “This [area] is absolutely desert in the very heart of the troops and a glorious opportunity for men. It is all immensely unlike anything I have been used to, and I am watching with interest the new things God will do and engineer.”

Chambers believed and practiced the words of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6 nkjv).

Wherever God puts us, our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him.

This is both a comfort and a challenge. There is security in knowing that the Lord will lead us each day, but we must not become so attached to our plans that we resist God’s redirection or His timing.

“We have no right to judge where we should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for,” said Chambers. “God engineers everything. Wherever He puts us, our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”

Lord, may I love and serve You with all my heart where You have placed me today.

Read more of Oswald Chambers’ work at utmost.org

As we trust in God, He directs our steps.

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Love Comes First - OUR DAILY BREAD

We love [God] because he first loved us.1 John 4:19

One evening my friend showed me one of the three decorative plaques that would be part of a wall arrangement in her living room. “See, I’ve already got Love,” she said, holding up the plaque with the word written on it. “Faith andHope are on order.”

So Love comes first, I thought. Faith and Hope soon follow!

Love did come first. In fact, it originated with God. First John 4:19 reminds us that “We love [God] because he first loved us.” God’s love, described in 1 Corinthians 13 (known as the “love chapter”), explains a characteristic of real love when it says, “Love never fails” (v. 8).

Faith and hope are essential to the believer. It is only because we are justified by faiththat “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). And hope is described in Hebrews 6 as “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (v. 19).

One day we will have no need of faith and hope. Faith will become sight and our hope will be realized when we see our Savior face to face. But love is eternal, for love is ofGod and God is love (1 John 4:7-8). “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”—it’s first and last (1 Cor. 13:13).

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithful love and for the love of family and friends. Please help me find ways to show Your love to others today.

We love because God first loved us.

Unclear Vision - OUR DAILY BREAD

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Job 42:5

My friend Meaghan is an accomplished equestrian, and I’ve been learning some interesting things about horses from her. For instance, despite having the largest eyes of all land mammals, horses have poor eyesight and can see fewer colors than humans. Because of this, they can’t always identify objects on the ground. When they see a pole, they don’t know if it’s a pole they can easily step over or a large snake that might harm them. For this reason, until they are properly trained horses are easily frightened and quick to run away.

We too may want to run from alarming circumstances. We may feel like Job who misunderstood his troubles and wished he’d never been born. Since he couldn’t see that it was Satan who was trying to break him down, he feared that the Lord, in whom he had trusted, was trying to destroy him. Overwhelmed, he cried out, “God has wronged me and drawn his net around me” (Job 19:6).

Like Job’s vision, ours is limited. We want to run away from the difficult situations that scare us. From God’s perspective, we are not alone. He understands what confuses and frightens us. He knows we are safe with Him by our side. This is our opportunity to trust His understanding rather than our own.

In what ways have you doubted God’s goodness? How have you seen Him working in your life during a difficult time?

Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness.

Being beautiful is nothing if u heart ugly!

SEBUAH JANJI YANG PASTI

Keselamatan Kekal

Yang Harus Saya Lakukan Selanjutnya adalah Mengetahui tentang Keselamatan Kekal dan Tujuan Hidup Saya

Apakah itu Keselamatan Kekal? Apakah Berlaku untuk Saya?

Tuhan mengasihi Anda dan tidak menginginkan Anda binasa untuk selama-lamanya. Setiap manusia, termasuk Anda telah berbuat dosa, dan manusia tidak dapat menyelamatkan dirinya sendiri, bahkan dengan perbuatan baik sekalipun.

Roma 3:23-24 "Karena semua orang telah berbuat dosa dan telah kehilangan kemuliaan Allah, dan oleh kasih karunia telah dibenarkan dengan cuma-cuma karena penebusan dalam Kristus Yesus."

Sejak jaman Adam, manusia telah terputus hubungannya dengan Allah, karena dosa yang diperbuatnya. Allah itu Maha Suci sehingga Ia tidak dapat menerima manusia yang berdosa, dan manusia tidak akan tahan berdiri di depan hadirat Allah.

Roma 5:22 " Sebab itu, sama seperti dosa telah masuk ke dalam dunia oleh satu orang (Adam), dan oleh dosa itu juga maut, demikianlah maut itu telah menjalar kepada semua orang, karena semua orang telah berbuat dosa."

Namun, karena demikian besar kasih Allah atas manusia ciptaan-Nya itu, maka Ia mengutus AnakNya yang Tunggal, yaitu Yesus Kristus untuk menjadi pengantara manusia dan Allah.

Roma 3:25-26 "Kristus Yesus telah ditentukan Allah menjadi jalan pendamaian karena iman, dalam darah-Nya. Hal ini dibuat-Nya untuk menunjukkan keadilan-Nya, karena Ia telah membiarkan dosa-dosa yang telah terjadi dahulu pada masa kesabaran-Nya. Maksud-Nya ialah untuk menunjukkan keadilan-Nya pada masa ini, supaya nyata, bahwa Ia benar dan juga membenarkan orang yang percaya kepada Yesus."

Roma 6:23 "Sebab upah dosa ialah maut, tetapi karunia Allah ialah hidup yang kekal dalam Kristus Yesus, Tuhan kita."

Hanya dengan PERCAYA kepada Yesus sebagai Juruslamat, yaitu penebus dosa dan pengantara Anda dan saya, maka keselamatan cuma-cuma akan diberikan oleh-Nya. Semudah itukah? Ya, sebuah kepastian di dalam kehidupan Anda atas kehidupan kekal sesudah kematian. Hanya di dalam Nama Yesus.

Yesaya 1:18 "Marilah, baiklah kita beperkara! -- firman TUHAN -- Sekalipun dosamu merah seperti kirmizi, akan menjadi putih seperti salju; sekalipun berwarna merah seperti kain kesumba, akan menjadi putih seperti bulu domba."

Wahyu 3:20 "Lihat, Aku berdiri di muka pintu dan mengetok, jikalau ada orang yang mendengar suaraKu dan membukakan pintu, Aku akan masuk mendapatkannya dan Aku makan bersama-sama dengan dia, dan ia bersama-sama dengan Aku."

Tidak ada perbuatan baik (amal) yang dapat menyelamatkan Anda. Sebab, seberapa banyak amal yang dapat kita lakukan, tidak ada yang dapat mengetahuinya.

Roma 3:27-28 "Jika demikian, apakah dasarnya untuk bermegah? Tidak ada! Berdasarkan apa? Berdasarkan perbuatan? Tidak, melainkan berdasarkan iman! Karena kami yakin, bahwa manusia dibenarkan karena iman, dan bukan karena ia melakukan hukum Taurat."

Ucapkanlah doa di bawah ini:
Tuhan Yesus, saya tahu saya seorang berdosa yang terhilang.
Saya mohon agar dosa saya diampuni.
Masuklah ke dalam hati saya dan jadilah Tuhan dan Juruselamat saya.
Dalam nama Tuhan Yesus Kristus. Amin.

Semua wanita Kristian harus baca! 10 Lelaki Yang Wanita Kristian Tidak Harus Kahwini

Oleh J. Lee Grady:

Saya dan isteri saya telah membesarkan empat orang anak perempuan - dan tiga daripada mereka sudah pun berkahwin. Kami menyayangi anak-anak menantu kami, dan jelas sekali Tuhan sendiri yang telah memilih setiap mereka sehingga sepadan dengan sifat-sifat dan personaliti anak-anak perempuan kami.

Saya selalu percaya bahawa Tuhan terlibat dalam hal menjodohkan. Kalau Dia boleh lakukannya untuk anak-anak perempuan saya, Dia boleh melakukannya untuk anda.

Pada waktu ini, saya ada beberapa kawan perempuan yang sangat ingin bertemu dengan lelaki yang tepat. Ada yang memberitahu saya bahawa calon pilihan tidak banyak di gereja mereka, jadi mereka mencuba di alam maya dengan online dating. Ada yang mengangkat tangan dengan hampa, dan tertanya-tanya samada masih ada lelaki Kristian yang baik untuk mereka. Mereka mula memikirkan samada mereka harus merendahkan standard pilihan mereka untuk mencari seorang pasangan.

Inilah nasihat saya: Jangan sesekali menerima yang bukan terbaik daripada Tuhan! Ramai wanita-wanita Kristian telah berkahwin dengan yang bukan pilihan Tuhan kerana ketidaksabaran telah mendorong mereka ke dalam perkahwinan yang tidak bahagia. Saya harap anda menerima nasihat saya sebagai seorang bapa: Anda lebih baik tidak berkahwin daripada bernikah dengan orang yang salah!

Mengenai "lelaki yang salah," berikut ini ialah 10 lelaki yang paling anda harus jauhi apabila mencari pasangan hidup;

1. Orang yang tidak percaya. Sila tuliskan 2 Korintus 6:14 di atas sekeping kertas nota dan lekatkannya pada komputer di tempat kerja anda. Katanya, "Janganlah kamu merupakan pasangan yang tidak seimbang dengan orang-orang yang tak percaya. Sebab persamaan apakah terdapat antara kebenaran dan kedurhakaan? Atau bagaimanakah terang dapat bersatu dengan gelap?" Ini bukan suatu peraturan agama yang ketinggalan zaman. Itu adalah Firman Tuhan untuk anda hari ini.

Jangan izinkan daya tarikan, ketampanan, dan kejayaan kewangan seseorang lelaki (atau pun kerelaannya pergi ke gereja bersama anda) menyebabkan anda berkompromi dengan kebenaran yang anda tahu. "Dating penginjilan" tak pernah menjadi strategi yang bijak. Jika lelaki itu bukan seorang Kristian yang sudah dilahirkan kembali, keluarkan dia daripada senarai anda. Dia bukan yang sesuai untuk anda. Saya belum pernah lagi bertemu dengan seorang wanita Kristian yang tidak menyesali berkahwin dengan seorang yang tidak percaya.

2. Orang yang penipu. Jika anda mendapati lelaki yang anda sedang berdating telah membohongi anda mengenai masa silamnya ataupun dia selalu membuat helah menutupi kegiatannya untuk menyimpan rahsianya daripada anda, cepat-cepat lari dari dia. Perkahwinan harus dibina atas dasar saling mempercayai. Jika dia tidak boleh bercakap benar, putuskanlah hubungan sekarang sebelum dia mengejutkan anda dengan penipuan yang lebih besar.

3. Orang yang playboy. Saya ingin untuk mengatakan bahawa jika anda bertemu dengan seorang lelaki yang kelihatan baik di gereja, anda boleh menganggap bahawa dia menjaga kesuciannya dalam hal seks. Tetapi itu bukan hakikatnya pada hari ini. Saya pernah mendengar cerita-cerita seram mengenai lelaki-lelaki bujang yang melayani dalam tim pujian dan penyembahan pada hari Ahad tetapi bertindak seperti Kasanova pada hari-hari lainnya. Jika anda berkahwin dengan seorang lelaki yang kaki perempuan sebelum hari perkahwinan, dia juga akan melakukan yang sama selepas perkahwinan.

4. Orang yang tidak bertanggungjawab.Terdapat ramai lelaki Kristian yang baik yang telah mengalami kegagalan dalam pernikahan bertahun yang lalu. Sejak penceraian mereka, mereka telah mengalami pemulihan daripada Roh Kudus, dan kini mereka mahu berkahwin lagi. Perkahwinan yang kedua boleh menjadi sangat berbahagia. Tetapi jika anda mendapati bahawa orang yang anda sedang dating itu tidak memberi penjagaan kepada anak-anaknya daripada perkahwinan yang lepas, anda sudah menjumpai satu kelemahan yang berbahaya. Sesiapa pun lelaki yang tidak bertanggungjawab akan kesilapan masa lampaunya atau tidak memberi penjagaan kepada anak-anak daripada perkahwinan lamanya tidak akan melayani anda dengan bertanggungjawab.

5. Orang yang penagih. Lelaki-lelaki yang pergi ke gereja tetapi yang ketagihan alkohol atau dadah telah belajar menyembunyikan masalah mereka - tetapi anda tidak mahu menunggu sehingga anda berbulan madu untuk mengetahui bahawa dia seorang peminum. Jangan pernah berkahwin dengan seorang lelaki yang tidak mahu mendapat pertolongan untuk ketagihannya. Anda perlu bertegas dia perlu mendapat pertolongan secara profesional dan putuskan hubungan dengannya. Dan jangan masuk dalam perhubungan bergantungan di mana dia mendakwa bahawa dia memerlukan anda untuk bebas daripada ketagihannya. Anda tidak boleh mengubah dia.

6. Orang yang penganggur. Saya mempunyai seorang kawan perempuan yang menyedari selepas dia berkahwin dengan teman lelakinya bahawa dia tidak mempunyai rancangan untuk mencari kerja yang tetap. Lelaki itu telah membuat strategi yang hebat: Dia akan tinggal di rumah sepanjang hari dan bermain permainan komputer sementara isterinya yang mempunyai kerjaya profesional bekerja dan membayar semua perbelanjaan. Rasul Paulus memberitahu orang-orang di Tesalonika, "Jika seorang tidak mau bekerja, janganlah ia makan" (2 Tes 3:10). Peraturan yang sama juga terpakai di sini: Jika seseorang lelaki tidak mahu bekerja, dia tidak layak berkahwin dengan anda.

7. Orang yang terlalu asyik dengan diri. Saya dengan ikhlas berharap anda mendapat teman lelaki yang kacak. Tetapi berhati-hati: jika teman lelaki anda menghabiskan enam jam di gim setiap hari dan selalu muatkan gambar-gambar otot-ototnya di Facebook, anda mempunyai masalah. Jangan jatuh hati dengan seorang lelaki yang terlalu asyik dengan dirinya sendiri. Dia mungkin nampak tampan, tetapi jika seorang lelaki terlalu terpegun dengan penampilannya sendiri dan keperluan dirinya, dia tidak akan mengasihi anda secara berkorban, seperti Kristus mengasihi gereja (Efesus 5:25). Lelaki yang selalu memandang dirinya di cermin tidak akan memerhatikan anda.

8. Orang yang pendera. Orang lelaki yang mempunyai kecenderungan mendera tidak dapat menguasai kemarahan mereka apabila kemarahan mereka memuncak. Jika lelaki yang anda dating ada kecenderungan melepaskan kemarahannya, samada terhadap anda atau orang lain, jangan memberi alasan untuk kelakuannya. Dia mempunyai masalah, dan jika anda berkahwin dengannya anda perlu sangat berhati-hati setiap hari untuk tidak menimbulkan kemarahannya umpama berjalan di medan perang yang dipasang bom periuk api. Lelaki yang pemarah akan melukakan wanita - melalui kata-katanya dan kadang-kadang secara fizikal. Carilah seorang lelaki yang lemah lembut.

9. Orang yang masih keanak-anakan. Mungkin saya berfikiran kolot, tetapi saya was-was dengan lelaki yang masih tinggal bersama ibubapanya pada usia 35 tahun. Jika ibunya masih memasak untuknya, membersih dan menggosok baju untuknya pada usia itu, anda boleh pasti dia masih terperangkap dalam kepompong emosi. Anda mengundang masalah jika anda berfikir anda boleh menjadi isteri kepada seorang lelaki yang masih keanak-anakan. Undur diri, dan sebagai seorang kawan, galakkan dia mencari seorang mentor yang boleh membantu dia menjadi dewasa.

10. Orang yang terlalu pengongkong. Ada lelaki Kristian masa kini yang menganggap perkahwinan adalah mengenai kelebihan lelaki. Mereka mungkin akan menyebut Firman dan nadanya seperti sangat rohani, tetapi di sebalik wajah otoritas suami terletak ketidakyakinan dan kesombongan yang mendalam yang boleh berubah menjadi penderaan rohani. 1 Petrus 3:17 memerintahkan suami untuk melayan isteri sebagai teman yang setara. Jika lelaki yang anda sedang dating sering merendahkan anda dalam percakapannya, membuat komen menghina terhadap wanita, atau kelihatan menghimpit karunia-karunia rohani anda, undur diri sekarang. Dia hanya suka berkuasa. Wanita yang berkahwin dengan pengongkong tegar keagamaan biasanya berkesudahan dengan mimpi ngeri kemurungan.

Jika anda seorang wanita pilihan Tuhan, janganlah menggadaikan warisan rohani anda dengan berkahwin dengan lelaki yang tidak layak memiliki anda. Keputusan terbijak anda dalam hidup ialah untuk menantikan seorang lelaki yang sepenuh hidupnya untuk Yesus.

(Diterjemah daripada artikel laman Charisma Magazine bertajuk "10 Men Christian Women Should Never Marry" penulisan J. Lee Grady bertarikh 12 Februari 2014)

Walking With The Lord - OUR DAILY BREAD

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. —Psalm 37:23

A small pamphlet I received from a friend was titled “An Attempt to Share the Story of 86 Years of Relationship with the Lord.” In it, Al Ackenheil noted key people and events in his journey of faith over nearly nine decades. What seemed to be ordinary choices at the time—memorizing Bible verses, meeting for prayer with others, telling his neighbors about Jesus—became turning points that changed the direction of his life. It was fascinating to read how God’s hand guided and encouraged Al.

The psalmist wrote, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Ps. 37:23). The passage continues with a beautiful description of God’s faithful care for everyone who wants to walk with Him. “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (v. 31).

Each of us could create a record of God’s leading and faithfulness, reflecting on God’s guidance—the people, places, and experiences that are landmarks on our pathway of faith. Every remembrance of the Lord’s goodness encourages us to keep walking with Him and to thank someone who influenced us for good.

The Lord guides and guards all who walk with Him.

Heavenly Father, Your faithfulness to us is unfailing. Thank You for leading, guiding, and providing so many spiritual encouragers and mentors. Bless those today who have helped us so much.

You are headed in the right direction when you walk with God.

Dessert Place - OUR DAILY BREAD

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Desert Places

July 11, 2015

Read: Isaiah 48:16-22 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 1–3; Acts 17:1-15

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They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. —Isaiah 48:21

Dry. Dusty. Dangerous. A desert. A place where there is little water, a place hostile to life. It’s not surprising, then, that the word deserted describes a place that is uninhabited. Life there is hard. Few people choose it. But sometimes we can’t avoid it.

In Scripture, God’s people were familiar with desert life. Much of the Middle East, including Israel, is desert. But there are lush exceptions, like the Jordan Valley and areas surrounding the Sea of Galilee. God chose to “raise His family” in a place surrounded by wilderness, a place where He could make His goodness known to His children as they trusted Him for protection and daily provision (Isa. 48:17-19).

Today, most of us don’t live in literal deserts, but we often go through desert-like places. Sometimes we go as an act of obedience. Other times we find ourselves there through no conscious choice or action. When someone abandons us, or disease invades our bodies, we end up in desert-like circumstances where resources are scarce and life is hard to sustain.

But the point of going through a desert, whether literally or figuratively, is to remind us that we are dependent on God to sustain us—a lesson we need to remember even when we’re living in a place of plenty.

Are you living in a place of plenty or of need? In what ways is God sustaining you?

In every desert, God has an oasis of grace.

Help For Heavy Load - OUR DAILY BREAD

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Help for a Heavy Load

July 10, 2015

Read: Numbers 11:4-17 | Bible in a Year: Job 41–42; Acts 16:22-40

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[The men] shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. —Numbers 11:17

It’s amazing what you can haul with a bicycle. An average adult with a specialized trailer (and a bit of determination) can use a bicycle to tow up to 300 pounds at 10 mph. There’s just one problem: Hauling a heavier load means moving more slowly. A person hauling 600 pounds of work equipment or personal possessions would only be able to move at a pace of 8 miles in one hour.

Moses carried another kind of weight in the wilderness—an emotional weight that kept him at a standstill. The Israelites’ intense craving for meat instead of manna had reduced them to tears. Hearing their ongoing lament, an exasperated Moses said to God, “I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me” (Num. 11:14).

On his own, Moses lacked the resources necessary to fix the problem. God responded by telling him to select 70 men to stand with him and share his load. God told Moses, “[The men] shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone” (v. 17).

As followers of Jesus, we don’t have to handle our burdens alone either. We have Jesus Himself, who is always willing and able to help us. And He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ to share the load. When we give Him the things that weigh us down, He gives us wisdom and support in return.

Who has come alongside you? Have you thanked them?

Rescuing The Reluctant - OUR DAILY BREAD

The men took hold of his hand, . . . theLord being merciful to him, and they . . . set him outside the city. —Genesis 19:16

Many years ago during a water safety class, we were taught how to save a drowning person who is resisting rescue. “Approach the person from behind,” the instructor told us. “Place one arm across the person’s chest and flailing arms, and swim toward safety. If you approach from the front, the person may grab you and pull both of you down.” Panic and fear can paralyze the ability to think and act wisely.

When two angels sent by God came to rescue Lot and his family from the impending destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:12-13), they encountered resistance. Lot’s sons-in-law thought the warning was a joke (v. 14). When the angels told Lot to hurry and leave, he hesitated (v. 15). At that point, the two angels “took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters,” and led them safely out of the city because God was merciful toward them (v. 16).

When we reflect on our journey of faith in Christ, we can see God’s faithfulness in overcoming our reluctance and resistance. When we encounter people lashing out in spiritual desperation and fear, may we have God’s wisdom to show His love to them—and to every person who is reluctant to be rescued by Him.

Father, as I look at my own heart, I know I have resisted You and have been reluctant at times to come to You. Thank You for Your mercy. Help me to share with others who You are.

God’s mercy can overcome our resistance.

A Voice In The Night - OUR DAILY BREAD

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord! —Psalm 134:2

Psalm 134 has only three verses, but it is proof that little things can mean a lot. The first two verses are an admonition to the priests who serve in God’s house night after night. The building was dark and empty; nothing of consequence was occurring—or so it seemed. Yet these ministers were encouraged to “lift up [their] hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” (v. 2 esv). The third verse is a voice from the congregation calling into the darkness and loneliness of the night: “The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you.”

I think of other servants of the Lord today—pastors and their families who serve in small churches in small places. They’re often discouraged, tempted to lose heart, doing their best, serving unnoticed and unrewarded. They wonder if anyone cares what they’re doing; if anyone ever thinks of them, prays for them, or considers them a part of their lives.

I would say to them—and to anyone who is feeling lonely or insignificant: Though your place is small, it is a holy place. The one who made and moves heaven and earth is at work in and through you. “Lift up your hands” and praise Him.

Lord, show me how I can be an encourager of others who might feel they are in a “small” place. Let them know that their lives leave an eternal impact on those they serve.

Anyone doing God’s work in God’s way is important in His sight.

Hidden Mysteries - OUR DAILY BREAD

Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. —2 Kings 6:16

Most of what goes on in the universe we never see. Many things are too small or move too fast or even too slow for us to see. Using modern technology, however, filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg is able to show stunning video images of some of those things—a caterpillar’s mouth, the eye of a fruit fly, the growth of a mushroom.

Our limited ability to see the awesome and intricate detail of things in the physical world reminds us that our ability to see and understand what’s happening in the spiritual realm is equally limited. God is at work all around us doing things more wonderful than we can imagine. But our spiritual vision is limited and we cannot see them. The prophet Elisha, however, actually got to see the supernatural work that God was doing. God also opened the eyes of his fearful colleague so he too could see the heavenly army sent to fight on their behalf (2 Kings 6:17).

Fear makes us feel weak and helpless and causes us to think we are alone in the world. But God has assured us that His Spirit in us is greater than any worldly power (1 John 4:4).

Whenever we become discouraged by the evil we can see, we need to think instead about the good work God is doing that we cannot see.

Lord, I’m tempted to fear what I cannot understand or control. But my security rests in You and not in what happens to me or around me. Help me to rest in Your unfailing love.

Eyes of faith see God at work in everything.

Worth it All -OUR DAILY BREAD

Walking on Water - OUR DAILY BREAD

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. —Matthew 14:27

When I learned to sail, I had to walk along a very unsteady floating platform to reach the little boats in which we had our lessons. I hated it. I don’t have a good sense of balance and was terrified of falling between the platform and the boat as I attempted to get in. I nearly gave up. “Fix your eyes on me,” said the instructor. “I’m here, and I’ll catch you if you slip.” I did what he said, and I am now the proud possessor of a basic sailing proficiency certificate!

Do you avoid taking risks at all costs? Many of us are reluctant to step out of our comfort zones in case we fail, get hurt, or look stupid. But if we allow that fear to bind us, we’ll end up afraid to do anything.

The story of Peter’s water-walking adventure and why it supposedly failed is a popular choice for preachers (Matt. 14:22-33). But I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of them discuss the behavior of the rest of the disciples. In my opinion, Peter was a success. He felt the fear but responded to the call of Jesus anyway. Maybe it was those who never tried at all who failed.

Jesus risked everything for us. What are we prepared to risk for Him?

Father, thank You for stretching out Your hand and saying, “Come.” Help me to get out of the boat, knowing that it is totally safe to walk on water with You.

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller

What is That To You - OUR DAILY BREAD

Jesus said to him, “. . . You follow Me.” —John 21:22

Social media is useful for many things, but contentment is not one of them. At least not for me. Even when my goals are good, I can become discouraged by continual reminders that others are accomplishing them first or with greater results. I am prone to this kind of discouragement, so I frequently remind myself that God has not short-changed me. He has already given me everything I need to accomplish the work He wants me to do.

This means I don’t need a bigger budget or the assurance of success. I don’t need a better work environment or a different job. I don’t need the approval or permission of others. I don’t need good health or more time. God may give me some of those things, but everything I need I already have, for when He assigns work He provides the resources. My only assignment is to use whatever time and talents He has given in a way that blesses others and gives God the glory.

Jesus and Peter had a conversation that got around to this subject. After making breakfast on the shore of Galilee, Jesus told Peter what would happen at the end of his life. Pointing at another disciple, Peter asked, “What about him?” Jesus responded, “What is that to you?”

That is the question I need to ask myself when I compare myself to others. The answer is, “None of my business.” My business is to follow Jesus and be faithful with the gifts and opportunities He gives to me.

In what ways do I need to learn not to compare myself with others? How has God blessed me to fulfill His purposes?

Share your answers to these questions with others at www.odb.org

Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking at God.

The Gift Of Tears - OUR DAILY BREAD

Jesus wept. —John 11:35

I called a longtime friend when his mother died. She had been a close friend of my mother, and now both had passed on. As we spoke, our conversation slipped easily into a cycle of emotion—tears of sorrow now that Beth was gone and tears of laughter as we recalled the caring and fun person she had been.

Many of us have experienced that strange crossover from crying one moment and laughing the next. It’s an amazing gift that emotions of both sorrow and joy can provide a physical release in this way.

Since we are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26), and humor is such an integral part of almost every culture, I imagine that Jesus must have had a wonderful sense of humor. But we know that He also knew the pain of grief. When his friend Lazarus died, Jesus saw Mary weeping, and “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.” A short time later, He too began to weep (John 11:33-35).

Our ability to express our emotions with tears is a gift, and God keeps track of each tear we cry. Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (nlt). But one day—we are promised (Rev. 7:17)—God “will wipe away every tear.”

Lord, You have made us to laugh, to cry, to yearn, to love—and to miss those who have gone before us. Help us to love even more deeply, confident in Your goodness and in the resurrection You promise.

Our loving heavenly Father, who washed away our sins, will also wipe away our tears.

Tinggal ini lg Kek smlm sy bt...mcm Sgt man is...btw,Happy birthday Aunt June ;) this is for u..simple but I baked this with full of love...sarangheayo....

Image Consultants - OUR DAILY BREAD

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10

In our media-saturated age, image consultants have become indispensable. Entertainers, athletes, politicians, and business leaders seem desperate to manage the way they are perceived in the eyes of the world. These high-priced consultants work to shape how their clients are viewed—even if sometimes there is a stark contrast between the public image and the real person inside.

In reality, what people need—what all of us need—is not an external makeover but an inner transformation. Our deepest flaws cannot be corrected cosmetically. They are directly related to who we are in heart and mind, and they reveal how far we have fallen from the image of God in which we were created. But such transformation is beyond any human ability to accomplish.

Only Christ offers us true transformation—not just a facelift or an outward adjustment. Paul said that those who have been raised to eternal life in Christ “have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10).

New! What a tremendous word full of hope! Christ transforms us into new people in Him—people with a new heart, not just fixed up to look good on the outside.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

The Spirit develops in us the clear image of Christ.

Giving All - OUR DAILY BREAD

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. —Romans 12:1

During his only inaugural address as the US President, John F. Kennedy issued this challenge to Americans: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” It was a renewed call for citizens to surrender their lives in sacrifice and service to others. His words especially inspired the sons and daughters of men and women who had served their country in war.

His meaning was clear: What their parents purchased, often with their very lives, must now be protected by peaceful means. An army of volunteers arose to answer that call, and through the decades they have accomplished an immeasurable amount of humanitarian work around the globe.

Centuries earlier, the apostle Paul issued a similar call to Christians in the opening verses of Romans 12. Here he urges us to give our bodies as “living sacrifices” in service to the One who paid with His life for our sins. This spiritual sacrifice must be more than mere words; it must be an investment of our lives in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of others.

Best of all, our serving can be done right where we are.

Father, show me this day the many ways my life can be surrendered to You, and then give me the strength to begin to act.

Don’t always ask Jesus what He can do for you; ask Jesus what you can do for Him.

Love and Light - OUR DAILY BREAD

The land which you cross over to possess is a land . . . for which the Lord your God cares. —Deuteronomy. 11:11-12

Friends are starting to plan their summer vegetable gardens. Some get an early start by planting seeds indoors where they can control the conditions and provide the best environment for sprouting. After the danger of frost has passed, they will transplant the seedlings outdoors. Once the garden is planted, the work of weeding, feeding, watering, and guarding against rodents and insects begins. Producing food is a lot of work.

Moses reminded the Israelites of this before they entered the promised land. While living in Egypt, they had to do the hard work of irrigating crops by hand (Deut. 11:10), but in the place where God was taking them He promised to ease their work by sending spring and autumn rains: “I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains” (v.14 niv). The only condition was that they “faithfully obey the commands” He gave them—“to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (v.13 niv). The Lord was taking His people to a place where their obedience and His blessing would make them a light to those around them.

God wants the same for us and from us: He wants our love to be displayed in our obedience so that we might be His light to people around us. The love and obedience we have to offer, though, is far less than He deserves. But He is our provider, blessing us and enabling us to be a light that the world will notice.

Loving God doesn’t make life effortless, but having His strength makes it easier.

The Book Behind The Story - OUR DAILY BREAD

Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. —Psalm 119:111

Millions of people around the world have seen Gone with the Wind, which premiered in the United States on December 15, 1939. It won 10 Academy Awards and remains one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful films. It was based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, which sold one million copies within 6 months, received a Pulitzer Prize, and has been translated into more than 40 languages. An epic movie often has its source in a powerful and timeless book.

The book that’s the basis for the Christian faith is the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, it is infused with God’s plan for His creation, including us. Psalm 119 celebrates the power and necessity of God’s Word in our lives. It lights our path (v.105), revives our souls (v.107), and guards our steps (v.110). Through the Scriptures we find wisdom, guidance, life, and joy. “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (v.111).

Jesus our Lord calls us to base our lives on His Word and share the joy of knowing Him with people who are longing to find life. “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (v.112).

What a book! What a Savior!

Dear Lord, Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. I am determined to keep Your decrees to the very end.

The Bible, God’s eternal truth, can be trusted today.

Giving All - OUR DAILY BREAD

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. —Romans 12:1

Best of all, our serving can be done right where we are.

Father, show me this day the many ways my life can be surrendered to You, and then give me the strength to begin to act.

Don’t always ask Jesus what He can do for you; ask Jesus what you can do for Him.

Hope Lives - OUR DAILY BREAD

Your faith, being much more precious than gold . . . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 1:7

When unspeakable tragedy shatters people’s lives, they search for answers. Recently, a mother who had lost a teenager said to me, “I can’t figure it out. I don’t know if I can believe anymore. I try, but God doesn’t make sense to me. What does it all mean?” There are no easy answers to such big concerns. But for those who have trusted Christ, there is hope—whether we are basking in blessings or grinding through grief.

Peter spells this out in his first letter. In glowing terms, he praises God for our “new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3 niv) through our salvation. That hope can bring joy even in the middle of tragedy. He also assures us of the permanence of this hope (v.4). He then tells us of the heart-breaking reality that we may “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (v.6 niv). Those who have suffered loss turn hopeful hearts toward Peter’s next words: These come so that “your faith . . . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v.7).

Trials—seemingly random and inexplicable—can be seen differently in the light of these words. In the midst of tragedy, the power and beauty of our salvation can shine through because of our great Savior. And that may be just enough light to get a troubled person through another day.

Lord, You assure us that the grand salvation You provided is proved genuine in our pain and that it leads to glory for You. Help us to begin each new day with renewed hope in You.

The light of salvation shines clearly even in the darkest night.

Now Go! - OUR DAILY BREAD

Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. —Exodus 4:12 (niv)

More than 10,000 evangelists and Christian leaders sat in a giant auditorium in Amsterdam in 1986 listening to world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham. I sat among them, listening as he narrated some of his experiences. Then, to my surprise, he said, “Let me tell you: every time I stand before the congregation of God’s people to preach, I tremble and my knees wobble!”

What! I wondered. How can such a great preacher who has enthralled millions with his powerful sermons exhibit trembling and wobbling knees? Then he went on to describe not fear and stage fright, but intense humility and meekness as he felt inadequate for the daunting task to which God had called him. He relied on God for strength, not on his own eloquence.

Moses felt inadequate when God sent him to deliver the enslaved Israelites from their 400-year captivity in Egypt. Moses pleaded with the Lord to send someone else, with the excuse that he had never been a good speaker (see Ex. 4:10,13).

We may have similar fears when God calls us to do something for Him. But His encouragement to Moses can also spur us on: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (v.12 niv).

As Billy Graham said that day, “When God calls you, do not be afraid of trembling and wobbling knees, for He will be with you!”

What task does God have for you to do today? Depend on Him by asking for His help.

Wherever God sends us, He comes alongside us.

A Happy Ending - OUR DAILY BREAD

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32

A friend told me about the time he was watching football on TV as his young daughter played nearby. Angered by his team’s bad play, he grabbed the closest thing and threw it down. His little girl’s favorite toy was shattered, along with her heart. My friend immediately embraced his daughter and apologized. He replaced the toy and thought all was well. But he didn’t know how much his fury had frightened his 4-year-old, and she didn’t know the depth of her pain. In time, however, forgiveness came.

Years later he sent an identical toy to his daughter when she was expecting a baby. She posted a photo of the toy on Facebook with the words, “This gift has a very long story going back to my childhood. It wasn’t a happy story then, but it has a happy ending now! Redemption is a beautiful thing. Thanks, Grandpa!”

The Bible urges us to avoid angry outbursts by putting on the new self, “which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). And if we are the victim of anger, God asks us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (v.32).

Restored relationships are not easy, but they are possible by the grace of God.

Lord, my temper can sometimes run hot. Grant me the grace to stop and think before I act or speak and the grace to apologize when I’ve hurt someone. Thank You for the gift of forgiveness.

Repentance and forgiveness are the glue that can repair a broken relationship.

a worry list

Years ago, in an article in seminary magazine, Paul Borden gave some helpful suggestion for worries:

1.start a worry list- write down what you're worried about.

2. Turn your worry list into a prayer list- Ask the Lord to work in those situations you're concerned about. Pray specifically for your needs and depend on Him.

3. Turn your prayer list into an action list. If you have any insight that there's something you can do about your cares, do it. As we turn our worries into prayer and action, Borden says, " Paralysing anxienty can be replaced by concern for the responsibilities of life."

WHAT YOU HAVE MADE A MATTER OF PRAYER SHOULD CEASE TO BE A MATTER OF CARE.

THE LIVE I WANT TO BE......THIS IS MY LIFESTYLE.....

I want that Humility, I want to be humble, Lord I humble myself before you. I believe in a breakthrough this year. I don't want to waste anymore time on pride and let satan rob me from the wonderful blessings God has in store for me. I want to walk humbly. I'm created to serve you and the body of Christ, to worship you, to build relationships, putting others before me, loving one another, lift each other up. I'm hungry for more of you Jesus, draw me close to you. I understand it is a life long process. I understand humility is one of the highest graces and the hardest to attain. I understand it's not an easy walk, but I know I serve a mighty God and believe with all f my heart that You are with me and delight in such pursuit. Come Holy Spirit and teach me humility.

As I go through all kinds of feelings and experiences in my journey through life -- delight, surprise, chagrin, dismay -- I hold this question as a guiding light: "What do I really need right now to be happy?" What I come to over and over again is that only qualities as vast and deep as love, connection and kindness will really make me happy in any sort of enduring way. No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change. To change one's life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions. Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life and that to destroy, harm, or to hinder life is evil. Affirmation of the world -- that is affirmation of the will to live, which appears in phenomenal forms all around me -- is only possible for me in that I give myself out for other life. I think that taking life seriously means something such as this: that whatever man does on this planet has to be done in the lived truth of the terror of creation, of the grotesque, of the rumble of panic underneath everything. Otherwise it is false. Whatever is achieved must be achieved with the full exercise of passion, of vision, of pain, of fear, and of sorrow. How do we know ... that our part of the meaning of the universe might not be a rhythm in sorrow? Even after all this time, The sun never says to the earth, "You owe me." Look what happens with A love like that. It lights the whole sky. There is nothing we like to see so much as the gleam of pleasure in a person's eye when he feels that we have sympathized with him, understood him. At these moments something fine and spiritual passes between two friends. These are the moments worth living.