From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
2 Timothy 2:15 "Work hard so God can approve you."
Moses spent 80 years preparing for a job that would last 40. That's a two-to-one ratio of preparation to execution. The greater the goal, the greater the preparation! Much of your life can be spent getting ready for what seems like a brief season and assignment. But to be able to say at the end, "I have finished my course" is to have lived successfully. And that's so whether you are called to run a marathon or a 100-meter sprint.
Before passing the torch to Timothy, Paul says, "Work hard so God can approve you." Who does God use? People who prepare well. Whether you're called to business, education, politics, art, medicine or ministry, this principle remains - God uses prepared people. The price tag required for long-term success cannot be lowered. We all want what successful people have, we're just not all willing to pay the price they paid to achieve it. You must be prepared when your opportunities come.
Abraham Lincoln said, "I will prepare and some day my chance will come." Benjamin Disraeli said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes." When the fate of the Jews hung in the balance, Mordecai told Esther that her experience in the king's palace had prepared her, "For such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). She responded and the Jews were saved. All these people had talent, prepared themselves and made the most of their opportunities when they arose. So your greatest challenge is not lack of opportunity, but being ready when it comes.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Trust Him
From: Max Lucado Ministries
Psalm 121:8 "The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever."
From how many winds is God protecting you? His wing, at this moment, shields you. A slanderous critic heading toward your desk is interrupted by a phone call. A burglar en route to your house has a flat tire. A drunk driver runs out of gas before your car passes his. God, your guardian, protects you from
"every trap" (Ps. 91:3);
"the fatal plague" (Ps. 91:3);
"the plague that stalks in darkness" (Ps. 91:6);
"the terrors of the night…the dangers of the day" (Ps. 91:5).
One translation boldly promises: "Nothing bad will happen to you" (Ps. 91:10).
"Then why does it?" someone erupts. "Explain my job transfer. Or the bum who called himself my dad. Or the death of our child." If God is our guardian, why do bad things happen to us?
Have they? Have bad things really happened to you? You and God may have different definitions for the word bad.
God views your life the way you view a movie after you've read the book. When something bad happens, you feel the air sucked out of the theater. Everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You've read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot. God views your life with the same confidence. He's not only read your story…He wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear.
God uses struggles to toughen our spiritual skin.
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2–4)
Trust him. "But when I am afraid, I put my trust in You" (Ps. 56:3). Join with Isaiah, who resolved, "I will trust in Him and not be afraid" (Isa. 12:2).
God is directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life (Ps. 37:23–24).
There now, don't you feel safer knowing he is in control?
Psalm 121:8 "The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever."
From how many winds is God protecting you? His wing, at this moment, shields you. A slanderous critic heading toward your desk is interrupted by a phone call. A burglar en route to your house has a flat tire. A drunk driver runs out of gas before your car passes his. God, your guardian, protects you from
"every trap" (Ps. 91:3);
"the fatal plague" (Ps. 91:3);
"the plague that stalks in darkness" (Ps. 91:6);
"the terrors of the night…the dangers of the day" (Ps. 91:5).
One translation boldly promises: "Nothing bad will happen to you" (Ps. 91:10).
"Then why does it?" someone erupts. "Explain my job transfer. Or the bum who called himself my dad. Or the death of our child." If God is our guardian, why do bad things happen to us?
Have they? Have bad things really happened to you? You and God may have different definitions for the word bad.
God views your life the way you view a movie after you've read the book. When something bad happens, you feel the air sucked out of the theater. Everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You've read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot. God views your life with the same confidence. He's not only read your story…He wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear.
God uses struggles to toughen our spiritual skin.
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2–4)
Trust him. "But when I am afraid, I put my trust in You" (Ps. 56:3). Join with Isaiah, who resolved, "I will trust in Him and not be afraid" (Isa. 12:2).
God is directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life (Ps. 37:23–24).
There now, don't you feel safer knowing he is in control?
Testing The Product
From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman Ministries
Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"
Testing allows one to discover how well a product is made when placed under extreme stress. Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the "choking" point occurs.
In sports, we ascertain the "choking" point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure? It is under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.
In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.
Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome. He always made the right decision. He always performed the same no matter what the circumstance. He lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances. He never gave in to "situational ethics."
As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to "test the product," to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us. This process helps us see where we are in our maturity and determines our level of future responsibility.
Are you a product that can withstand the product test? Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come? Know that you cannot perform well unless you are continually in relationship with and obedient to the one who made you. Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.
Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"
Testing allows one to discover how well a product is made when placed under extreme stress. Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the "choking" point occurs.
In sports, we ascertain the "choking" point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure? It is under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.
In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.
Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome. He always made the right decision. He always performed the same no matter what the circumstance. He lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances. He never gave in to "situational ethics."
As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to "test the product," to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us. This process helps us see where we are in our maturity and determines our level of future responsibility.
Are you a product that can withstand the product test? Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come? Know that you cannot perform well unless you are continually in relationship with and obedient to the one who made you. Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Question "Why?"
From: Greg Laurie Ministries
Job 31:37 "This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me!
Much of the book of Job is dedicated to asking the question “why?”
Toward the end of the book, beginning in chapter 38, God finally responds to His suffering servant. It’s evident the Lord was getting tired of all the lame explanations offered by Job’s unhelpful friends—and of Job’s own complaints and questions.
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you tell me the answers.” (vv. 2-3)
As God goes on speaking, He says in effect, “Excuse Me, but I guess I missed you when I was busy creating the universe. Were you there? I didn’t notice you there.” In this ironic sort of way, the Lord puts Job in his place and declares His own glory. At the bottom line, I think the book ends up by saying that Job really didn’t need an explanation of life and all its perplexities.
What he needed was an encounter with God. What he needed was a fresh revelation of the Lord.
Why? Because when we see God for who He is, we will see our problems for what they are.
If we have a small God, we have big problems. But if we have a big God we have small problems (no matter how huge and overwhelming they may seem to us).
Job 31:37 "This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me!
Much of the book of Job is dedicated to asking the question “why?”
Toward the end of the book, beginning in chapter 38, God finally responds to His suffering servant. It’s evident the Lord was getting tired of all the lame explanations offered by Job’s unhelpful friends—and of Job’s own complaints and questions.
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you tell me the answers.” (vv. 2-3)
As God goes on speaking, He says in effect, “Excuse Me, but I guess I missed you when I was busy creating the universe. Were you there? I didn’t notice you there.” In this ironic sort of way, the Lord puts Job in his place and declares His own glory. At the bottom line, I think the book ends up by saying that Job really didn’t need an explanation of life and all its perplexities.
What he needed was an encounter with God. What he needed was a fresh revelation of the Lord.
Why? Because when we see God for who He is, we will see our problems for what they are.
If we have a small God, we have big problems. But if we have a big God we have small problems (no matter how huge and overwhelming they may seem to us).
Sunday, August 10, 2008
True Teamwork
From: Our Daily Bread Ministries - Julie Ackerman
1 Corinthians 9:25 "They train to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."
Sports brings out the best and the worst in people. The news media often focus on the worst. Those who comfort players with “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts; it’s how you play the game” seldom make world news. But once in a while they do.
After a baseball team from Georgia defeated a team from Japan in the Little League World Series, one reporter wrote: “The boys from Warner Robins left a lasting impression of their inner character for the world to see. They proved again, it’s not whether you win or lose that counts. It is, how you play the game.”
When the losing players broke down in tears, the winning team members stopped their victory celebration to console them. “I just hated to see them cry,” said pitcher Kendall Scott, “and I just wanted to let them know that I care.” Some referred to the moment as “sportsmanship at its best.”
It was indeed heartwarming, but it points out that sports—even at its best—is an imperfect metaphor for Christianity. In sports, someone always loses. But when someone is won to Christ, the only loser is Satan.
For Christians, true teamwork is not about defeating opponents; it’s about recruiting them to join our team (1 Cor. 9:19-22).
1 Corinthians 9:25 "They train to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."
Sports brings out the best and the worst in people. The news media often focus on the worst. Those who comfort players with “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts; it’s how you play the game” seldom make world news. But once in a while they do.
After a baseball team from Georgia defeated a team from Japan in the Little League World Series, one reporter wrote: “The boys from Warner Robins left a lasting impression of their inner character for the world to see. They proved again, it’s not whether you win or lose that counts. It is, how you play the game.”
When the losing players broke down in tears, the winning team members stopped their victory celebration to console them. “I just hated to see them cry,” said pitcher Kendall Scott, “and I just wanted to let them know that I care.” Some referred to the moment as “sportsmanship at its best.”
It was indeed heartwarming, but it points out that sports—even at its best—is an imperfect metaphor for Christianity. In sports, someone always loses. But when someone is won to Christ, the only loser is Satan.
For Christians, true teamwork is not about defeating opponents; it’s about recruiting them to join our team (1 Cor. 9:19-22).
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Life's Troubles
From: Our Daily Bread Ministries - Dave Branon
1 Corinthians 3:11 "No one can lay a foundation other than the one that has been laid, namely Jesus Christ."
While taking a break during a ministry trip, we were snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea. The boat that had taken us to the deep water for better sites had gone back to shore, and I began to feel panicky about being in the open water. Finding it hard to control my breathing, I asked my son-in-law Todd and a friend, Dave Velzen, for help. They held my arms while I searched for an outcropping of coral close enough to the surface for me to stand on. Once I had a place to stand, even though surrounded by deep waters, I was okay.
Are you feeling a bit panicky about events in your life? Maybe it seems as if you are surrounded by the open waters of relationship problems, or money woes, or simply an inability to put your life in order. Perhaps you feel as if you are drowning in a sea of trials and trouble.
May I suggest two things? First, find a fellow Christian or two who can come beside you and hold you up (see Eccl. 4:10), pray for you, talk with you, and remind you that you are not alone. Then rest your feet on the only solid foundation in life: Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
Life's troubles are too tough to take on alone. Get some help and find in Jesus a place to stand.
1 Corinthians 3:11 "No one can lay a foundation other than the one that has been laid, namely Jesus Christ."
While taking a break during a ministry trip, we were snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea. The boat that had taken us to the deep water for better sites had gone back to shore, and I began to feel panicky about being in the open water. Finding it hard to control my breathing, I asked my son-in-law Todd and a friend, Dave Velzen, for help. They held my arms while I searched for an outcropping of coral close enough to the surface for me to stand on. Once I had a place to stand, even though surrounded by deep waters, I was okay.
Are you feeling a bit panicky about events in your life? Maybe it seems as if you are surrounded by the open waters of relationship problems, or money woes, or simply an inability to put your life in order. Perhaps you feel as if you are drowning in a sea of trials and trouble.
May I suggest two things? First, find a fellow Christian or two who can come beside you and hold you up (see Eccl. 4:10), pray for you, talk with you, and remind you that you are not alone. Then rest your feet on the only solid foundation in life: Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
Life's troubles are too tough to take on alone. Get some help and find in Jesus a place to stand.
Billy
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
1 Corinthians 1:27 "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise."
Writing about his time as a counselor at a teen Bible camp, Tony Campolo says, "Teenage boys have a tendency to pick on some unfortunate child. That summer it was 13-year-old Billy, a child who couldn't walk or talk right. When the children from his cabin were assigned to lead devotions, they voted Billy in as the speaker. It didn't seem to bother him. He dragged himself up to the pulpit amid sneers and snickers, and it took him a long time to stammer, "Je-sus loves… me… and… I… love Je-sus." There was stunned silence, and when I looked around there were boys with tears streaming down their cheeks.
We'd done many things to try to reach these boys, but nothing had worked. We'd even brought in famous baseball players whose batting averages had gone up since they started praying, but it had no effect. It wasn't until a special needs child declared his love for Christ that everything changed. I travel a lot and it's surprising how often I meet people who say, 'You probably don't remember me. I became a Christian at a camp where you were a counselor, and do you know what the turning point was for me?' I never have to ask. I always know I'm going to hear - Billy!"
The Bible says, "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise." So when you find yourself focusing on what you can't do, remember His "power works best in your weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Just do what you can, and God will do the rest! He'll crown your efforts with success.
1 Corinthians 1:27 "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise."
Writing about his time as a counselor at a teen Bible camp, Tony Campolo says, "Teenage boys have a tendency to pick on some unfortunate child. That summer it was 13-year-old Billy, a child who couldn't walk or talk right. When the children from his cabin were assigned to lead devotions, they voted Billy in as the speaker. It didn't seem to bother him. He dragged himself up to the pulpit amid sneers and snickers, and it took him a long time to stammer, "Je-sus loves… me… and… I… love Je-sus." There was stunned silence, and when I looked around there were boys with tears streaming down their cheeks.
We'd done many things to try to reach these boys, but nothing had worked. We'd even brought in famous baseball players whose batting averages had gone up since they started praying, but it had no effect. It wasn't until a special needs child declared his love for Christ that everything changed. I travel a lot and it's surprising how often I meet people who say, 'You probably don't remember me. I became a Christian at a camp where you were a counselor, and do you know what the turning point was for me?' I never have to ask. I always know I'm going to hear - Billy!"
The Bible says, "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise." So when you find yourself focusing on what you can't do, remember His "power works best in your weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Just do what you can, and God will do the rest! He'll crown your efforts with success.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Sanctuary
From: Wisdom From The Psalms
Psalm 150:1 "Praise the Lord in His Sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His strength."
Betty loved the old church. She had come to its sanctuary since she had been a young girl, and that was a long time gone, indeed. The place was special. Betty had always been filled with awe whenever she stood in the church. From the moment she entered the door, she felt God's presence. This church was a holy place. She felt closest to God when she felt the special magic of the old church. It was easy to worship God there.
We need reminders to help us understand God's holiness. Truly, only He is worthy to be praised, and yet we so often act as if there's nothing special about God at all. There is no life in our prayers, we decided to skip church, or we ignore opportunities to share Christ with those around us. Our actions say, "No big deal." It is a big deal. God is the biggest deal of our lives.
Everything we do should exalt the Lord and show others just how important He is to us. Anytime we can experience the holiness and majesty of the Lord, we should jump at the chance. Nothing pleases God more.
Psalm 150:1 "Praise the Lord in His Sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His strength."
Betty loved the old church. She had come to its sanctuary since she had been a young girl, and that was a long time gone, indeed. The place was special. Betty had always been filled with awe whenever she stood in the church. From the moment she entered the door, she felt God's presence. This church was a holy place. She felt closest to God when she felt the special magic of the old church. It was easy to worship God there.
We need reminders to help us understand God's holiness. Truly, only He is worthy to be praised, and yet we so often act as if there's nothing special about God at all. There is no life in our prayers, we decided to skip church, or we ignore opportunities to share Christ with those around us. Our actions say, "No big deal." It is a big deal. God is the biggest deal of our lives.
Everything we do should exalt the Lord and show others just how important He is to us. Anytime we can experience the holiness and majesty of the Lord, we should jump at the chance. Nothing pleases God more.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Learn From Failure
From: Every Day Light - Selwyn Hughes
Ecclesiastes 7:25 "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom."
What steps must we take, when broken by failure, to ensure that we become strong at the place of weakness? Keep in mind that the principles we are considering are not only corrective, but also preventative.
The first thing we should do, whenever we have failed in anything, is to analyze the reason for the failure. These are some of the questions you should ask yourself: Have I contributed in any way to this failure by such things as inattention to detail, lack of preparation, naivety, wrong timing, disregard of moral principles, or insensitivity to other people's feelings? Another question is: What does God want me to learn from this failure?
It is difficult, of course, to sit down and question yourself like this when failure strikes; but, as soon as possible after the event, try to assess the lessons that can be learned by honestly facing your emotions - such as hurt, anger, anxiety. Remember, when we stop learning, we stop living.
Yet another question to ask yourself is this: Has God allowed this failure so that His purposes for me might be made clear? I know a man, well-known in evangelical circles, who, when he was in his teens, mapped out a career for himself. Although a brilliant student, he failed the entrance examination into his chosen profession. When the news was broken to him, he simply said, "Lord, I just know You are involved in this: what do You want me to do?" This was the moment God had been waiting for, and He showed him a new path that has made him Christ's ambassador to millions.
Ecclesiastes 7:25 "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom."
What steps must we take, when broken by failure, to ensure that we become strong at the place of weakness? Keep in mind that the principles we are considering are not only corrective, but also preventative.
The first thing we should do, whenever we have failed in anything, is to analyze the reason for the failure. These are some of the questions you should ask yourself: Have I contributed in any way to this failure by such things as inattention to detail, lack of preparation, naivety, wrong timing, disregard of moral principles, or insensitivity to other people's feelings? Another question is: What does God want me to learn from this failure?
It is difficult, of course, to sit down and question yourself like this when failure strikes; but, as soon as possible after the event, try to assess the lessons that can be learned by honestly facing your emotions - such as hurt, anger, anxiety. Remember, when we stop learning, we stop living.
Yet another question to ask yourself is this: Has God allowed this failure so that His purposes for me might be made clear? I know a man, well-known in evangelical circles, who, when he was in his teens, mapped out a career for himself. Although a brilliant student, he failed the entrance examination into his chosen profession. When the news was broken to him, he simply said, "Lord, I just know You are involved in this: what do You want me to do?" This was the moment God had been waiting for, and He showed him a new path that has made him Christ's ambassador to millions.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Don't Choose Bitterness
From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman Ministries
Hebrews 12:15 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.
When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.
Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace. It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving. None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt. Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party. It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.
The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself. Choose grace instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.
Hebrews 12:15 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.
When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.
Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace. It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving. None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt. Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party. It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.
The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself. Choose grace instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.
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