June 6
"Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." Romans 12:18
CHOOSE PEACE TODAY
"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest" (Exodus 14:14).
In life, you're always going to have critics. There will always be difficult people who try to upset you and steal your peace and joy. But, you don't have to respond to every critic. You can decide to take the high road and let God fight your battles for you.
Sometimes, no matter what you say or do, there are people who aren't going to accept you. They just don't want to be at peace with you. In fact, when Jesus sent out His disciples to certain homes, He told them to always speak peace over those homes. And then He said, in effect, "If they don't receive the peace that you're offering, then it will come back to you."
That tells me, if you will do your best to be at peace with people, even if they won't take your peace, the good news is that peace will just come back to you. You'll not only get your peace, but you'll get their share as well! That's double for your trouble! When you do the right thing no matter what is happening, God sees it and rewards it. So choose peace today and walk in the blessing He has for you! -- Dr. Timothy Emerick
Emerick’s observation is accurate—there are people who simply prefer contention and strife to peace, and they will refute our efforts to abide with them in harmony. Emerick’s outcome of this situation is one we may not see immediately, for the Lord indeed unfolds His rewards at His own pace, but, as the Word promises, “…they shall surely come,” Habakkuk 2:3.
At the same time, the Word promises that, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,” Isaiah 54:15-17.
Our part is to prefer the presence, the power, the love, the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ more than we desire the approval of men (see John 12:42, 43.) We must always have our sights set on the abiding things of heaven rather than on the fleeting things of earth.
If we do not maintain our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will be allured by temporal enticements. If we allow ourselves to be turned from the Lord and all He’s provided for us to the momentary treasures of earth we will disappoint ourselves, not only as we walk this Vale of Tears but also as we face eternity.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Regarding a Government Riddled with Scandal
The Lord Jesus Himself told us that He would send the Holy Spirit to "teach us all things," John 14:26. We must not keep the light He reveals to us "under a bushel," Matthew 5:15, but declare it boldly—we must let it shine forth into the darkness around us.
There is a direct correlation between how effectively we as believers in Christ proclaim the Word of Truth and demand our freedom to “shout it from the housetops,” Matthew 10:27 and what we will tolerate from our government. Many are unwilling or unable to connect the dots between what happens in the churches of America with what is unfolding in the highways and byways and enclaves of power in this country.
Although the scandals in D.C. are disheartening, I pray the fact of them causes our people, who have enjoyed freedom for so long that they cannot fathom being without it, even when it is being systematically stolen away from them, to open their ears and their eyes to what is going on in this government and declare to those who would be our dictators that they are our servants. It is their sworn duty to represent us, not to reign over us. America is meant to be "government of the people, by the people, for the people," and we the people must declare it again! The people must be willing to fight for it!
May true believers proclaim II Chronicles 7:14 (If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and forgive their sin, and heal their land.”) over the United States until the Holy Spirit moves upon our people and revival sweeps the whole country—with men great and humble laying their lives at the feet of Jesus again.
There is a direct correlation between how effectively we as believers in Christ proclaim the Word of Truth and demand our freedom to “shout it from the housetops,” Matthew 10:27 and what we will tolerate from our government. Many are unwilling or unable to connect the dots between what happens in the churches of America with what is unfolding in the highways and byways and enclaves of power in this country.
Although the scandals in D.C. are disheartening, I pray the fact of them causes our people, who have enjoyed freedom for so long that they cannot fathom being without it, even when it is being systematically stolen away from them, to open their ears and their eyes to what is going on in this government and declare to those who would be our dictators that they are our servants. It is their sworn duty to represent us, not to reign over us. America is meant to be "government of the people, by the people, for the people," and we the people must declare it again! The people must be willing to fight for it!
May true believers proclaim II Chronicles 7:14 (If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and forgive their sin, and heal their land.”) over the United States until the Holy Spirit moves upon our people and revival sweeps the whole country—with men great and humble laying their lives at the feet of Jesus again.
Our Wondrous Trek
June 5
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 37:23-24
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next. -- Elisabeth Elliot (from Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity)
How wondrous is the thought expressed in Psalm 37—God is holding our hand. He calls us His children, and as a loving Father, He assures we will not fall because He Himself prevents our being hurled into the consequence of our stumbling.
None of us is free of sin, none of us has walked without disappointing God in our attitudes or our actions, but He keeps us from the logical outcome of them. His love covers us—and that covering was supplied at Calvary.
How we rejoice that we have a Savior who stumbled and fell along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, in our behalf. How we rejoice that He bore the pain of that wretched road in our stead. How thankful we are that His journey of death has led to our journey of life!
Because of what Jesus has done for us, our part becomes, as Elizabeth Elliott says, to do what God tells us to do now and to trust Him for guidance as to what to do next. That becomes a wondrous trek when we walk hand-in-hand beside Jesus, our Savior.
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 37:23-24
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next. -- Elisabeth Elliot (from Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity)
How wondrous is the thought expressed in Psalm 37—God is holding our hand. He calls us His children, and as a loving Father, He assures we will not fall because He Himself prevents our being hurled into the consequence of our stumbling.
None of us is free of sin, none of us has walked without disappointing God in our attitudes or our actions, but He keeps us from the logical outcome of them. His love covers us—and that covering was supplied at Calvary.
How we rejoice that we have a Savior who stumbled and fell along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, in our behalf. How we rejoice that He bore the pain of that wretched road in our stead. How thankful we are that His journey of death has led to our journey of life!
Because of what Jesus has done for us, our part becomes, as Elizabeth Elliott says, to do what God tells us to do now and to trust Him for guidance as to what to do next. That becomes a wondrous trek when we walk hand-in-hand beside Jesus, our Savior.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
I Will Hear From Heaven
June 4
AMERICA -- GOOD AND GREAT
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, wrote, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests -- and it was not there.
I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there.
I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution -- and it was not there.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
II Chronicles 7:14:
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
America is suffering from the sickness of sin—abortion, immorality, corruption in government, proliferation of smut…
We are like the people prophesied in Isaiah 5:20 who, “…call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Of them the Lord says, “Woe unto them!”
The sickness of sin is killing America but she is not inclined to accept the diagnosis of the Great Physician or to ingest His prescription for its remedy.
May our churches proclaim righteousness over the land once again; may the Holy Spirit of the Living God move in power over our people; may we fall on our knees in repentance before our Holy God; may we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior once again—and may He heal our land.
AMERICA -- GOOD AND GREAT
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, wrote, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests -- and it was not there.
I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there.
I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution -- and it was not there.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
II Chronicles 7:14:
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
America is suffering from the sickness of sin—abortion, immorality, corruption in government, proliferation of smut…
We are like the people prophesied in Isaiah 5:20 who, “…call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Of them the Lord says, “Woe unto them!”
The sickness of sin is killing America but she is not inclined to accept the diagnosis of the Great Physician or to ingest His prescription for its remedy.
May our churches proclaim righteousness over the land once again; may the Holy Spirit of the Living God move in power over our people; may we fall on our knees in repentance before our Holy God; may we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior once again—and may He heal our land.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
June 3
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
"And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)
“The principle involved in Jeremiah 29:7 would suggest to all of us who are the Lord's strangers and foreigners that we should be desirous to promote the peace and prosperity of the people among whom we dwell.
“Specially should our nation and our city be blest by our constant intercession. An earnest prayer for your country and other countries is well becoming in the mouth of every believer.
“Eagerly let us pray for the great boon of peace, both at home and abroad, for if strife should cause bloodshed in out streets, or if foreign battle should slay our brave soldiers, we should all bewail the calamity." Charles Spurgeon
May we be among the peacemakers who pray for the serenity of our own homes and our own spirits as well as for the "peace of God that passes understanding to keep our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus," according to Philippians 4:6-9.
May we pray for that perfect peace to extend to every soul that receives Christ as Savior and Lord; may we pray that the message of salvation will permeate the hearts and minds of everyone who hears it so His peace can become their portion.
May we be like St. Francis of Assisi who prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”.
Jesus loves you, dear reader, and He longs to receive you one day to glory. I pray that chiefest among His gifts to you—until that great halleluiah morning arises in your life—may be joy, strength, health, wholeness, light, truth, hope, understanding, love and absolute peace.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
"And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)
“The principle involved in Jeremiah 29:7 would suggest to all of us who are the Lord's strangers and foreigners that we should be desirous to promote the peace and prosperity of the people among whom we dwell.
“Specially should our nation and our city be blest by our constant intercession. An earnest prayer for your country and other countries is well becoming in the mouth of every believer.
“Eagerly let us pray for the great boon of peace, both at home and abroad, for if strife should cause bloodshed in out streets, or if foreign battle should slay our brave soldiers, we should all bewail the calamity." Charles Spurgeon
May we be among the peacemakers who pray for the serenity of our own homes and our own spirits as well as for the "peace of God that passes understanding to keep our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus," according to Philippians 4:6-9.
May we pray for that perfect peace to extend to every soul that receives Christ as Savior and Lord; may we pray that the message of salvation will permeate the hearts and minds of everyone who hears it so His peace can become their portion.
May we be like St. Francis of Assisi who prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”.
Jesus loves you, dear reader, and He longs to receive you one day to glory. I pray that chiefest among His gifts to you—until that great halleluiah morning arises in your life—may be joy, strength, health, wholeness, light, truth, hope, understanding, love and absolute peace.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Another Day Begins
June 2
"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
Another day begins. The challenges before you can be daunting. Life and its responsibilities can be formidable and your ability to achieve them can press you to the utmost of your mental and physical and spiritual acuity.
Sometimes life simply tasks you with too much on your to-do list. I pray that in spite of the busy-ness that awaits you when you awaken each morning, you will have enjoyment in every moment of time with which the Lord blesses you with life, and I pray the “unspeakable gift” II Corinthians 9:15 will so immerse the entirety of your life in His “peace that passes understanding,” Philippians 4:7, that nothing of time or of eternity can intimidate you or deter you from the accomplishments He has set before you to achieve.
I pray your life will be long and healthy and happy and that it will be shared abundantly with those you love and who love you. I pray every moment of your life will be rooted and grounded in faith in the Christ who loves you best of all; and I pray that His joy in you will be a source of strength so mighty (Nehemiah 8:10) that NOTHING can depress you or defeat you because the power within you conquers every problem about which you pray! (See Mark 11:24, 25.)
The Lord Jesus Christ has promised that "HE will NEVER leave or forsake you," Hebrews 13:5) so rest on His abiding presence with you and upon the assurance that you may, "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you," I Peter 5:7. This, plus the assurance He's given that you can, "do all things through Christ who strengthens you," Philippians 4:13 reduces every challenge you will ever face to a potential for amazing achievement because the Lord makes a difference for good in every day that you turn over to Him.
"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
Another day begins. The challenges before you can be daunting. Life and its responsibilities can be formidable and your ability to achieve them can press you to the utmost of your mental and physical and spiritual acuity.
Sometimes life simply tasks you with too much on your to-do list. I pray that in spite of the busy-ness that awaits you when you awaken each morning, you will have enjoyment in every moment of time with which the Lord blesses you with life, and I pray the “unspeakable gift” II Corinthians 9:15 will so immerse the entirety of your life in His “peace that passes understanding,” Philippians 4:7, that nothing of time or of eternity can intimidate you or deter you from the accomplishments He has set before you to achieve.
I pray your life will be long and healthy and happy and that it will be shared abundantly with those you love and who love you. I pray every moment of your life will be rooted and grounded in faith in the Christ who loves you best of all; and I pray that His joy in you will be a source of strength so mighty (Nehemiah 8:10) that NOTHING can depress you or defeat you because the power within you conquers every problem about which you pray! (See Mark 11:24, 25.)
The Lord Jesus Christ has promised that "HE will NEVER leave or forsake you," Hebrews 13:5) so rest on His abiding presence with you and upon the assurance that you may, "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you," I Peter 5:7. This, plus the assurance He's given that you can, "do all things through Christ who strengthens you," Philippians 4:13 reduces every challenge you will ever face to a potential for amazing achievement because the Lord makes a difference for good in every day that you turn over to Him.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Friendship
June 1
"Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you." Romans 15:7
THE REAL REASON BEHIND FRIENDSHIP
In friendship ... we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting-any of these chances might have kept us apart.
But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another."
The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others. -- C.S. Lewis
Today's message of acceptance is something every person on the planet wants to receive. Though we may reserve our 'right' to be selective about whom we choose as friends, we would prefer that the decisions of pleasant folk regarding their associations would not leave us out.
The Word says that "He who would have friends must show himself friendly," Proverbs 18:24, and this proves true again and again in our lives. Those to whom we reach out in kindness and understanding and compassion at the point of their need will usually be the ones with whom we have the closest associations.
Perhaps the words 'point of need' are key in this matter, for those who do not perceive themselves as having need of empathy from us may rebuff our efforts to extend a hand to them. According to the Word, our efforts should not be contingent upon their response; all we do must be based upon the truths of scripture, upon the example of our Savior.
We are told by the Lord Himself to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you," Matthew 5:44. In other words, our attitude, our action and our initiative are to be based upon the directive of the Lord, not on the natural inclination of man. Our own heart can deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9), so we rely only on the Word.
May your heart be so surrendered to the heart of Jesus that doing things His way will be second nature to you, and in being like Him, may you gather around you all the people He wants to abide in the center of your life.
"Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you." Romans 15:7
THE REAL REASON BEHIND FRIENDSHIP
In friendship ... we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting-any of these chances might have kept us apart.
But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another."
The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others. -- C.S. Lewis
Today's message of acceptance is something every person on the planet wants to receive. Though we may reserve our 'right' to be selective about whom we choose as friends, we would prefer that the decisions of pleasant folk regarding their associations would not leave us out.
The Word says that "He who would have friends must show himself friendly," Proverbs 18:24, and this proves true again and again in our lives. Those to whom we reach out in kindness and understanding and compassion at the point of their need will usually be the ones with whom we have the closest associations.
Perhaps the words 'point of need' are key in this matter, for those who do not perceive themselves as having need of empathy from us may rebuff our efforts to extend a hand to them. According to the Word, our efforts should not be contingent upon their response; all we do must be based upon the truths of scripture, upon the example of our Savior.
We are told by the Lord Himself to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you," Matthew 5:44. In other words, our attitude, our action and our initiative are to be based upon the directive of the Lord, not on the natural inclination of man. Our own heart can deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9), so we rely only on the Word.
May your heart be so surrendered to the heart of Jesus that doing things His way will be second nature to you, and in being like Him, may you gather around you all the people He wants to abide in the center of your life.
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