Daily Biblical Devotionals

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Need2Know Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:14 am
Thursday, June 12, 2008 True Conversion " 'Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.' " — Acts 26:17–18 When the apostle Paul stood before King Agrippa and explained what God had called him to do in proclaiming the gospel, he broke it down into one of the most clear presentations I have found anywhere in the Bible. Paul said that God had called him to proclaim this message, which was to open the eyes of his listeners that they might turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and that they might receive the forgiveness of sin and an inheritance among those who are sanctified. Here, we see three steps. One, your eyes are opened. Two, you turn from darkness to light. Three, you turn from the power of Satan to God. As a result, you are forgiven and receive adoption and an inheritance among God's people. Many people have taken step one, but they have never made it to step two. They have had their eyes opened and have seen there is a God and there is a devil. They have also seen there is a choice to be made. They have seen that Jesus Christ is the answer to their problems and that they need to trust in Him and turn from their sin. They intellectually agree with these things. But they haven't taken step two, which is turning from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. And until you have taken that step, you are not truly converted.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:47 am
Friday, June 13, 2008 Becoming New "Therefore, 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 Scripture is full of descriptions of the believer's new spiritual life. God promises He will give us a new heart. In Ezekiel 36:26, God says that He will "give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; [He] will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." God also will give us a new song. The psalmist wrote, "He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God . . ." (Psalm 40:3). The Bible also promises there will be a new self. Ephesians 4:22–24 says, "That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." As believers, our spiritual lives are new, but we still have the capacity to sin. And though we have the capacity of sin, the tyranny and penalty of sin in our lives has been broken. However, sin's potential has not been fully removed, because we have two natures within us that are constantly at battle: a new nature and an old nature. As you know, it's very easy to sin. It comes naturally to us. But the new nature doesn't come naturally; it comes supernaturally. These two natures are battling, and each day, you determine which nature you are going to build up. Which will prevail? The one you build up the most. Every time you obey God and resist sin, you are building the new nature.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:07 am
An Unthinkable Friendship I believe the different stages of friendship can be symbolized by where a person stands with you when he or she visits your house. For example, someone who wants to sell me something usually won't get past the front door. The furthest in my house a basic stranger will get is my front room. But if a friend comes to my house, we will probably make our way to the kitchen, where we will stand around. We have chairs in my house, but we don't use the chairs. We just stand in the kitchen. If you were standing in the kitchen of someone whom you were getting to know, you probably wouldn't pick up a piece of nearby fruit and begin to eat it. You might ask your friend for permission, but most likely, you wouldn't ask at all. If you have known your friend for awhile, you might say, "I am a little hungry. Could I eat this fruit?" But if you were really close friends, you probably would just pick up the fruit and eat it. The more you get to know a person, the more honest your relationship becomes. The formalities are dropped. You begin to bare your heart. You let your guard down. In the Old Testament Book of Exodus, we find the story of a man who had a relationship with God that was intimate and close. This man's name was Moses, and his friendship with his Creator was such that he could freely speak his mind. Exodus 33:11 tells us, "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (NKJV). The truth is, God revealed things to Moses that had never been revealed to any person before. One day, as Moses was deep in prayer, he asked for the unthinkable. Up to this point in human history, this request was almost without parallel. Moses asked to actually see God -see Exodus 33:18-. However, the Lord was not offended by his request, and in fact had been drawing Moses to this very moment. Moses was discovering what prayer was all about: it is not just getting things from God. It is getting God. Moses was essentially saying to the Lord, "I don't want to just have things from You. I want You. I want more of You in my life." Of course, there is a place for petition and supplication in prayer. There is a place for asking God to provide for your needs. But it is also a wonderful thing when we just come to the Lord and say, "Lord, I don't need anything from You today. What I would like is Your glory. I would like to see You. I would like You to reveal yourself to me in a real way." This is the place to which Moses had come. Although God could not answer this prayer exactly as Moses had prayed it, He worked out a special arrangement to let Moses come as close as any man ever had come before (see Exodus 33:19–23). The Lord allowed Moses to see His "afterglow" as He passed by him. We read something like this and say, "Moses had such a great relationship with God. What a friendship they must have had that the Lord would do this for him. If only I had been Moses or Abraham." Wait a second. As great as Moses and Abraham were, don't you know that your relationship with God is, in many ways, closer than theirs was because of Jesus? Under the Old Covenant, when you wanted to approach God, you were required to bring an animal sacrifice that would be offered in your stead. God was distant, and you did not have the assurance that you would go to heaven. You just died in faith, believing that the Messiah would come. But when Jesus went to the cross, He became that final sacrifice to God. He was the One who died in our place. He now is our High Priest who represents us before the Lord, and we can go into His presence at any time we want (see Hebrews 10:19–21). Even more than that, God Himself comes and lives inside us. This is the relationship that God has opened up to us through Jesus Christ. Have you come to a point in your life where you could say to Jesus, "Lord, I just want You. I want Your will. That is all that matters to me"?		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:12 am
Monday, June 16, 2008 A Passion for the Lost "My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them." — Romans 9:2–3 The apostle Paul had something essential for effective evangelism: a God-given burden for those who did not know Jesus Christ. In his case, the burden was for his own people, the Jews. He cared. It burned inside him. General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said that his desire, had it been possible, would be to dangle his evangelism trainees over hell for 24 hours. That way, they could see the reality that awaits those who do not know Jesus Christ. That wouldn't have been necessary for Paul, who spoke of his love and burning passion for unbelievers. I think it is there for us in Scripture so that we don't become so obsessed with our own struggles and spiritual growth that we forget about people who need to know Christ. I think Paul makes an amazing statement in Romans 9 when he says, in essence, "If it were possible, I would give up my hope of eternal life so that others who do not know could come to faith." That's a pretty dramatic statement. As believers, you and I have a responsibility to those outside the church—those outside the faith. If God's love is really working in our lives, it should motivate us to do something for Him. Do you have a God-given burden for those who do not know Jesus Christ? If you don't, do you want one? If you pray that God will give you this burden, then be careful. The results could be life-changing. You just may be surprised at how quickly He answers you.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:33 am
Father's Day thoughts for the fatherless -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father's Day has always been a hard day for me. That's because I never really had a father growing up. You see, I was illegitimate – the result of a one-night fling that my mom had with a sailor in Long Beach. I didn't find that out until my late 40s. My mom had quickly gone from marriage to marriage – seven of them, to be exact – so I never had a dad. As a result, there were big blank spots in my life – like trying to figure out a football game on TV, or how to tie your tie or defend yourself in a fight. There was just a void. (I recently finished a book about my life that I've entitled, "Lost Boy.") But every time Father's Day rolls around, I'm reminded that I have no dad. And even now, as a father and grandfather, it still hurts … though maybe not as much as it used to. Sadly, what was the exception in my generation has almost become the rule in this one. So many young people don't have a father today. Or even if they do, he is gone because of divorce, abandonment, or just being "too busy" for his kids. The truth is, a fatherless child can be headed for a lot of trouble. I don't think I'm overstating the matter when I say that most of our social ills today can be traced to the breakdown of the family – and specifically the absence of fathers. Consider these stats: 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions, 63 percent of youth suicides, and 90 percent of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. And much as we may wish it otherwise, things really aren't getting better in our culture today, but only worse. Throughout history, men have been torn from their families by war, disease and death. But now, in the beginning of the 21st century America, men are choosing to disconnect from family life on a massive scale – and at far higher rates than other industrialized countries. One expert said, "We are in danger of becoming a fatherless society." It's like a vicious cycle that can never broken. Or can it? In my case, I found a Father. But He wasn't on earth. I hope that doesn't sound too spacey or mystical, because I'm not that type of person. Let me state it plainly: I discovered that that there is a Father in heaven who loves me and will never, never abandon me. The Bible tells the story of David, who would one day ascend to the throne as king of Israel. But he was just a little shepherd boy caring for his sheep in the Judean wilderness when God sent a prophet named Samuel to his home with a stunning message: God had hand-chosen him to be the future king of Israel. Sadly, David's dad, Jesse, wasn't too proud of his red-haired, fair-skinned boy. David liked to pull out his guitar (or whatever stringed instrument they played in those days) and sing songs about and to God. He was a musician and a poet. But he also was a warrior. Once when a lion tried to take out one of David's little flock of woolies, the young boy faced off with the predator one on one – and took care of business. But for whatever reason, David's dad was more proud of his other seven sons than he was of David, his youngest. When Samuel arrived in town Jesse brought out the magnificent seven for the prophet to examine. As Samuel eyed each one, the Lord whispered "no" in his ear. But the prophet knew something was up, because God had clearly shown him that this future king would come from Jesse's house. So Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons. Somewhat embarrassed, Jesse acknowledged young David, saying, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." This phrase "the youngest" doesn't just mean David was less in years then the others. It also meant that he was least in his father's estimation. In fact, Jesse wouldn't have even included him if Samuel hadn't specifically asked. Receiving the surprise summons, young David came bounding in from the field with youthful enthusiasm. And David's Father in heaven said, "That's my boy!" And so it was, much to the chagrin of Jesse and the jealous brothers, that the prophet anointed him with oil, declaring him to be the future king. How sad it is when parents disregard their children – or show favoritism to one child over another. Perhaps in the course of your life you also were unappreciated by your father. Maybe he never expressed his affection toward you, or as in my case, he wasn't even there. You need to know that in spite of your father or mother's lack of love for you, you have always had a heavenly Father who loves you. David later wrote, "When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me." There are no illegitimate boys or girls in the sight of God. Everyone is precious to Him. The truth is, I was never "illegitimate" at all. God always had a plan for my life, and He has one for yours as well. Stats show that those that come from divorced homes usually end up divorced themselves. But that didn't happen to me. I have been married (and yes, happily) for 34 years now. I have my two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, and a granddaughter named Stella. You may not have the father you had hoped for. But you can be the parent someone else hoped for today. The Father in heaven will show you how to do that in the pages of the Bible (the user's guide to parenting – and everything else, for that matter). But we can't just start calling God our Father. We have to be adopted by Him. A man named Oscar Laurie adopted me and gave me his name. The brief time I spent with him was wonderful, but was cut short when my mom divorced him. The way you come into this relationship with Father God is through His own Son, Jesus Christ, whom He sent to die on the cross for your sins. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. And to the first person at the tomb, Mary Magdalene, He said, "I am going to My Father, and to your Father, to My God and to your God." Now we, too, can call God our Father, because of what Jesus did for us. And when we come into a better relationship with our Father in heaven, I think each of us will be better fathers on earth. How our children need us in that role! I read the story of a father and his young son who were climbing a mountain, when they came to a difficult and dangerous place on the trail. When this dad stopped to consider which way he should go, he heard the boy behind him say, "Choose the good path, Dad; I'm coming right behind you!" Choose well, Dad, and happy Father's Day.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:44 am
Moved to Action "And they said to me, 'The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.' So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven." — Nehemiah 1:3–4 Alexander McLaren said, "You tell me the depth of a Christian's compassion, and I will tell you the measure of his usefulness." How deep does your compassion go? God is looking for such people. How does it affect you, knowing there are many people who do not know Christ, knowing they are basically on their way to a certain judgment? Does it move you? Until you are moved in the depths of your soul, you will not be moved to take any action. Nehemiah was a man in a position of great influence and power as he served under the king. He was not a preacher or priest or scribe. He was what we might call a layman today. But Nehemiah loved God. One day, someone told him about the plight of the Jews and how the city of Jerusalem was now lying in ruins. Nehemiah began to weep and pray and say, "Lord, what can I do about this problem?" After his weeping came working. After his despair came determination. The devastation of Jerusalem touched him, and he wanted to do something about it. So he prayed and he devised a plan. Then that plan began to unfold. These are two essential ingredients for effectively sharing our faith. It must start with a God-given burden, leading us to prayer. And then we need to go out and do something.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:32 am
Who Will Go? "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.' " — Isaiah 6:8 God said in the presence of Isaiah, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" In a sense, God is still asking this question. Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Will you go? Will you stand in the gap? If God's Holy Spirit were to search among us today, I wonder if He would find men or women willing to stand in the gap. Willing to pray. Willing to be available. Willing to reach out to those who do not know Him. A lot of Christians will say, "I'm too timid. I'm afraid of this and that." But I think a lot of Christians don't really have a burden for those who don't know the Lord. I think if that burden is burning with enough passion, a believer will work through the obstacles. That is not to say there aren't things we should learn so we can share our faith more effectively. But if the burden is really there, a believer will go out and do something with it. The bottom line is that sharing our faith isn't really a big deal to many of us. This is why it is so important that we have a God-given burden for unbelievers. I would rather make every mistake to be made in sharing my faith than to never do anything. At least I will hopefully learn something from my mistakes. But when we do nothing for fear of being rejected or for fear we will not meet with resounding success, we are really missing what God has called us to do.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:47 am
Galatians 1 1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. No Other Gospel 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Paul Called by God 11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth[a] and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:14 am
The Message Proclaimed "And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!' " — Romans 10:14–15 From the original Greek, we could translate the final question in Romans 10:14 as, "How shall they hear without one preaching?" The Phillips translation puts it this way, "How can they hear unless someone proclaims Him?" Therefore, we see the emphasis is not on a preacher, but on preaching. We may think the work of evangelism is only for those who are called to be evangelists. Granted, there are people in the church whom God has raised up to be evangelists, and certainly evangelism is not limited to those who preach to hundreds or thousands at a time. I have seen many individual believers who obviously have this gift. While it is true that some are called to be evangelists, it is also true that every Christian is called to evangelize. Many times, however, we avoid sharing our faith, deciding instead to just live it out, be a good witness, and leave the preaching to others. Yet in 1 Corinthians 1:21, it says, "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." This does not mean that we need to scream and yell and wave a Bible to get the point across. What it does mean is that we are to recognize the primary way God has chosen to reach the lost is through the proclamation of the gospel–by people. God has chosen the agency of His proclaimed Word to bring people to salvation.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:28 am
People Reaching People "Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news—the Good News about Christ." — Romans 10:17 It is worth noting that no person in the New Testament came to faith apart from the agency of a human being. Have you ever stopped and thought about that? We can find example after example. There was the Ethiopian (see Acts 8:26-39). There are many ways that God could have reached this man from a distant country. He could have sent an angel to meet him. Instead, the Lord sent an angel to Philip and told him to go. So Philip went and proclaimed the gospel to that man, and he believed. Then there was the Philippian jailer (see Acts 16:27–34). God could have reached him in many ways. Instead, He allowed Paul and Silas to be incarcerated and to ultimately proclaim the gospel, bringing that man and his family to faith. We can think of Cornelius, a man who was searching for God (see Acts 10). An angel spoke to him and told him he needed to meet a man named Simon Peter. The angel explained where to find him. The angel could have given him the gospel. But God chose to use Simon Peter. What about Saul? While it is true that he was converted through an encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, his conversion was sandwiched between experiences with two people who influenced him. First, it was the witness of Stephen that softened Saul's heart and made it receptive to the seed of the Word when he was confronted by Jesus Christ. Afterward, God sent Ananias to follow up on Saul and pray for him to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. So you see, God used people. And He wants to use you.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:47 pm
Encountering the Jesus freaks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: June 28, 2008 1:00 am Eastern © 2008 Greg Laurie Another in a series of excerpts from my new book, "Lost Boy." When I wasn't sneaking off my high school campus to smoke pot, getting in trouble for disrupting classes or drawing subversive cartoons, I was scoping the halls at Harbor High. There was a girl who'd caught my eye. I'll call her Sandy. It wasn't that she was a beauty queen, but she had a glow that I hadn't seen in other girls. She just seemed happy; there was something magnetic about her. My invisible chick antennae were always swiveling, checking, calibrating to see if Sandy was nearby. One day I was walking to one of my classes, and there she was. The magnetic force pulled me … and then I saw the big leather Bible stuck under her arm. Oh, no! I thought. She's one of those … those … Jesus freaks! That's so sad! What a waste of a perfectly cute girl! I immediately crossed Sandy off my list of potential girlfriends. Jesus freaks were just so weird. But oddly enough, the magnetism was still there. The Jesus people were gathering under a big tree by the school bell tower. About 30 kids were sitting there, cross-legged, singing folk songs about being one in the Lord (whatever that meant) while a guy played on an old beat-up guitar. In spite of the simplicity – or maybe because of it – the songs intrigued me. The kids weren't singing for themselves; it seemed like they were singing to someone. That was strange. I sat at a safe distance, far enough away so that no one could possibly think I was connected with the group. That would be social suicide. But I was close enough to eavesdrop. Other students walked by and snickered. Even when the skeptics cussed and said some pretty loud, obnoxious things, the kids on the lawn just kept singing. They really didn't seem to care what other people thought. They didn't seem self-conscious. They seemed like they were focused on something the rest of us couldn't see. It struck me that this was what kids at hippie love-ins aspired to, but never reached. I wondered if the fact that these teenagers seemed so sincere – and so secure – was because they had somehow found the real thing. Then one of the guys in the group stood up. He had a Bible in his hand, and shoulder-length dark hair and a beard. His brown eyes blazed. It was Lonnie Frisbee, and he'd come to teach a Bible study to the kids at Harbor High that day. He read a little bit from the New Testament, and then he talked about how Jesus wasn't just some far-off, far-out historical figure. How He was real. How He could be known personally. I sat transfixed. This guy looked like a biblical character, and he related to me at that moment in my life. Then Lonnie said something that struck my heart. "Jesus said that 'You are either for Me, or you are against Me.' There's no middle ground with Jesus. You're either for Him or against Him. … which side are you on?" I'd never heard it put that way. Jesus was just all right with me, sure, and I liked His stuff about brotherly love and doing good. But I'd never thought that Jesus was actually real, relevant and right there with people, wherever they were. I'd never thought that I had to make a decision one way or the other about Him. I looked at the Christian kids, sitting there, Bibles in their laps. They didn't care what other people thought. They'd made their choice. They were for Jesus. No doubt about that. It was clear that I wasn't one of those Jesus people. Did that mean I was against Him? I was still trying to absorb that disturbing new thought when Lonnie Frisbee told the group, and those standing on the fringes, that anyone who wanted to decide to be for Jesus should come forward and he would pray with them. My mind kaleidoscoped through my years of lost loneliness, broken homes, the empty promises of drugs and alcohol, the tantalizing search for something that I knew was real but could never quite find. I want to be for Jesus, not against Him, I thought. But it was too good to be true. What if it's not real? What if I just can't do it right? What if it works for everybody but me? But I was willing to try. My body somehow acknowledged what my spirit was feeling, and before I even knew what I was doing, I walked forward to the Jesus freak preacher and stood with a handful of other students who had also been moved by his message. Lonnie led us in a prayer. I repeated his words, asking Jesus Christ to come into my heart and forgive me of my sins. The prayer ended. I stood there, not really feeling anything. Other people were crying and hugging. But I felt no spiritual connection, no wave of warm emotion, no tears, no big deal. I dropped my head. It was a Charlie Brown moment. Good grief! I thought. Everyone can get saved except me! I can't even commit myself to follow Jesus Christ right. I was convinced that God had turned me down … except there was one thing that I did notice. It wasn't dramatic, but it was real. I felt as though a weight had been lifted from me. It was odd, because I hadn't been conscious of burdens I was carrying around. I had felt pretty free before. But now I realized I hadn't been free at all. I'd been schlepping along with invisible bowling balls chained to both ankles. I'd had a cold core of gray fear in me since I was a small boy, cowering in my bed and waiting for my mother to come home and the fighting to start. I'd been dogged by guilt as well. I'd been raised without many moral guidelines, but deep down inside I knew right from wrong. All the wrong things I'd done – but more than that, the wrongness of my selfish heart – had accumulated into a heavy weight of guilt I'd never even known I had. Now the fear and guilt were going … going … gone. I felt unusually light. The school bell rang. Lunchtime was over. The Jesus people began to disband. I saw the glowing girl, Sandy, making her way toward me. She threw her arms around me. "Praise the Lord!" I wasn't sure what I'd just done, and there would be doubts and struggles in the days to come. But this was a good start. And I hugged her back.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:54 pm
Jesus Christ continues to fascinate and, at the same time, mystify people. But this really is nothing new. Even when Jesus walked this earth, He was a mystery to most people. In fact, He was even a mystery to His own, handpicked disciples who did not fully understand who He was and what He had come to do—that is, not until He had been crucified and resurrected from the dead. But there was one exception. Who was the one follower of Jesus who seemed to get it when the others did not? It wasn't John, who was known for his spiritual perception. It wasn't Peter, James, Matthew, or Andrew. It was a woman named Mary. Above all others, Mary seemed to have an understanding of the mission of Jesus and what He had come to do. Mary was the sister of Martha and Lazarus. It is worth noting that every time we read about her, she was at the feet of the Lord. One of the most well-known instances was when Martha welcomed Jesus into her home in Bethany. Martha wanted to prepare a feast fit for a king. While she was frantically working in the kitchen, Mary saw a great opportunity to sit at Jesus' feet and take in what He had to say. Martha grew frustrated and came in to rebuke her sister, but instead ended up being rebuked by Jesus. He told Martha, "You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41–42 NKJV). Later, as the days of Jesus' earthly ministry were reaching their culmination, Mary did something that was so outstanding and so significant that it is recorded in Scripture as a memorial to her (see Mark 14:9). She decided to seize the moment and once again sit at Jesus' feet and offer Him a gift, the most precious thing she probably owned. By this time, Jesus had a number of confrontational exchanges with the religious leaders, and they wanted Him dead, plain and simple. The problem was that Jerusalem was overflowing with pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Passover. Jesus still had His admirers, and the religious leaders were afraid that if they were to arrest and kill Him, they would have a revolt on their hands. Just days before the Passover, Jesus was in Bethany and had gone to the house of Simon the leper for a meal. We know that Lazarus was there. Mary and Martha were present, as were the apostles. All of the sudden, Mary did something unexpected, unusual, and completely extravagant. She took some special and costly perfume, broke open the bottle, and poured it on the head of the Lord. This perfume was called oil of spikenard, and it was most likely a valuable family heirloom. It would have been one thing to sprinkle a few drops on Jesus, which was common in that culture. But Mary wanted to do something significant. So she poured the whole bottle on Jesus. Perhaps one reason the Christians of the first century turned their world upside down in such a dramatic way was their sense of abandon, as we see modeled by Mary. It was Jesus Himself who moved her. Her idea was that nothing was too good for the Lord. Mary wanted to do something special for Jesus. It is interesting that she recognized why He had come. She somehow knew that His death was near. She wanted to do something that would touch Him, bless Him, and bring a little beauty into His life. She hadn't spent as much time with Jesus as the 12 disciples, yet she had a perception that no one else seemed to have. Sitting at His feet paid off, because Mary apparently had learned a few things that the others had missed. I heard about a statue of Jesus that was created by Thors Walden, a Danish sculptor. Walden sculpted the body of Christ in such a way that His face could not be seen from a standing position. There was a sign next to the statue that read, "If you want to see the face of Jesus, sit at His feet." Sure enough, by sitting at the foot of this statue of Jesus, one can look up and see His face perfectly. If we want to see the face of Jesus and hear His voice, then we need to do the same.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:35 am
Contemplating the Cross "How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!" — 1 Corinthians 15:57 I heard about a man who was trying to start his own religion, but it wasn't going very well so far. He decided to approach the French statesman, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, and ask him what he should do to gain converts. The statesman told him, "I recommend that you get yourself crucified, die, and then rise again on the third day." Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection on the third day is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is what sets our faith as Christians apart from the faith of all others. Many view Christ's crucifixion as a rude interruption of what was an otherwise successful ministry. But the cross was at the forefront of the mind of Jesus Christ from the very beginning. This is where He knew He was headed, and He spoke of it often. The Bible even tells us that before He even came to this earth, a decision was made that He would ultimately go to the cross. Scripture calls Him "the Lamb who was killed before the world was made" (Revelation 13:8-. It was at the cross that the righteous demands of God were satisfied. It was at the cross that God and humanity were reconciled once again. It was at the cross that a decisive blow was dealt against Satan and his minions. It was at the cross that our very salvation was purchased. Therefore, we cannot talk about the cross too much or contemplate it too often.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:04 am
MAKE DISCIPLES . . . go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. -Matthew 28:19 (NLT) The disciples had learned a lot from Jesus. They had been given innumerable lessons during their tour of duty by Christ's side. All of these lessons were about to be put to the test as Jesus prepared to leave them and return to His Father. But before leaving, He had one more lesson to pass on to them: Make more disciples. These men were to take the truths Jesus had planted in them and share them with others. Instead of holing up and holding out, they were to get up and get out, to share the things they had learned and extend them to the very edges of the world; which, as we know from the book of Acts, is exactly what the disciples did. Disciples make disciples . . . and they don't want it any other way. They have the first-hand knowledge of just how satisfying and fulfilling life is when it's lived out God's way. They want to share what they've been blessed with, and they aren't satisfied unless they do. Just like the disciples, we've learned a lot of lessons over the past month. But the things we've learned aren't just for us. They're ours to pass on to others-to the next generation of disciples who desire to exchange their old way of life for a new and infinitely better one. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT)		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:04 am
Through the Storm "So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.' " — Acts 27:25 Sometimes we may think that when we're in the will of God, it will be smooth sailing. But many times it is just the opposite. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths and storms arise that threaten to drive us off course. That is why we need to remember there is a devil who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. As the apostle Paul was on his way to do the will of God, he hit some tough times. An incredible storm arose that caused the people in his boat to despair of their lives. But there was no obstacle big enough to stop Paul. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances. As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course. When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, we often want out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems. But many times, God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35–37 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (NIV). Notice the phrase, "in all these things." It isn't saying we won't face some of these things. But it says that in them we are more than conquerors. If you are seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:41 am
Never Alone "For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. ' " — Acts 27:23–24 Time and time again, God reminded Paul of His presence, no doubt when he needed it the most. God knows what we need, and He knows when we need it. He knew when Paul could use that extra assurance. When he was in that prison cell in Jerusalem, the Lord appeared to him and told him to be courageous (see Acts 23:11). Then from prison in Rome, he wrote to Timothy, "But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength . . ." (2 Timothy 4:16). In some special way, God reassured Paul of His presence. Acts 27 tells us that the Lord sent an angel to reassure him. You can take heart in the face of danger or uncertainty because of your awareness of God's presence with you. When your heart sinks, when it seems as though your life falling apart, you must remember the Lord is there with you. You are not alone. No, there are not always easy answers. But we can be sure of this: He will be with us through the storm. God was standing by Paul's side, and God is with us in our storms as well. He may not necessarily send an angel. We may not necessarily hear an audible voice. But if we pay attention, we can hear the still, small voice of God. And certainly, He will speak to us through His Word. Then we, like Paul, can reassure others that the Lord is in control.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:48 am
John 17 The Prayer of Jesus 1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you[a] to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name;[b] now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.[c] I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:33 am
Unwavering Faith "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" — 2 Timothy 4:18 One of the things that amazes me about the apostle Paul is how he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seized every opportunity to preach the gospel. We read in the Book Acts that when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. An earthquake struck, the walls fell, and the next thing you know, the very jailer who was responsible for chaining them up and whipping them asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Then, when Paul was brought before the various dignitaries of Rome, he became master of every situation. For example, when he was before Felix, he reasoned with him regarding righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. When he stood before Festus and Herod Agrippa II, he said, "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" He posed the question to Herod Agrippa II, "Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." He was a prisoner on a ship, and in a short time, the crew, the captain, the soldiers, and the Roman centurion were taking orders from Paul---and everyone was listening to him! Paul was bold. He didn't seem to be afraid of anything. He never seemed to get down. His life wasn't always easy. In fact, it was very difficult. But the words he penned to the believers at Philippi seemed to always hold true: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11). He was fully convinced of the faithfulness of God and was sustained by that conviction.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:35 pm
After years of walking with the Lord, the apostle Paul said, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be" (Philippians 3:12 NLT). Truly spiritual people will always recognize that there is so much more to learn and so much more in their lives that needs to change. In contrast, self-deceived people—people who think they are spiritual but really are not—think they know it all, which only shows how little they know. They are like those whom the Book of Revelation describes from the church of Laodicea, claiming to be rich and lacking nothing. But God's assessment was that they were "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17 NLT). So how can we know if we are truly spiritual people? In James 1, we find three things that we as Christians should be actively doing if we are really seeking to live godly lives: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (vv. 26–27 NKJV) If you are a true Christian, a truly spiritual person, you will: Control your tongue. The true test of a person's religion is not his ability to speak his mind, but to hold his tongue. That is why the psalmist wrote, "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me" (Psalm 39:1 NLT). As Christians, we may pride ourselves on the fact that we don't steal from others or attack other people or commit immoral acts. But we may bring pain worse than a blow to the body by wounding the heart of someone with our words. We can steal someone's good name and their reputation, and that, too, is sin. Gossip, slander, and backbiting are extremely widespread sins in the church today, so we must seek to control our tongues. If you are a godly person, then you will exercise self-control over what you say. Care about others. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble . . ." (James 1:27 NKJV). This phrase "to visit" suggests the idea of caring for or looking after. It is the idea of not just seeing someone in need, but taking action to help meet that need. Jesus said that if you give a drink to strangers or invite them into your home or clothe them or visit them when they are sick or in prison, it is the same as doing it for Him (see Matthew 25:35–40). Keep yourself unspotted from the world. Have you ever worn an outfit that you didn't want to spill anything on? Doesn't it seem that you always spill on it? If I am wearing jeans and a T-shirt, I don't spill anything. But if I am wearing a suit and will be going to a meeting or maybe giving a little talk, I will always spill on myself. It happens immediately: a big stain somewhere. Even when I cover myself in napkins, inevitably, a big glob will find its way through that one, little, microscopic gap in the napkin. To try and keep oneself unspotted takes effort. While Scripture says we are "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation" (1 Peter 1:5 NKJV), we are also to keep ourselves pure (see 1 Timothy 5:22). Rather than being a contradiction, this shows us there is God's part and there is our part in keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. God will keep us. The question is, do we want to be kept? You see, true spirituality is not measured primarily by what we say, but by what we do. Truly godly people will come humbly to His Word, recognizing their great need for Him and His truths. Truly godly people will control their words. Truly godly people will reach out to those who are hurting and will keep themselves unspotted by the world. In short, truly godly people will be doers of His Word—not just hearers.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:39 pm
Was my life a mistake? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: July 05, 2008 1:00 am Eastern © 2008 A final excerpt from my new book, "Lost Boy." Looking back over my growing up years is a cascade of images and memories: the fear-filled nights, military school, chaos, constant moves to another new relationship for my mom and another new school for me, then break-ups, divorce, another move. My aunt tells me that when I was a toddler, I'd cry when my mom would leave. "Don't cry," my older half-brother, Doug, would counsel me. "It won't do any good." He was right. I eventually tried to cope by having zero expectations about life. I shut down so that I wouldn't feel the pain that inevitably comes when you love someone. But as a young boy, it was hard not to hope. Despite my certainty that my life would never be happy or stable like other people's, I always dreamed that things would be different. By the time I was a teenager, however, Simon and Garfunkel had arrived on the scene to capture my feelings in their famous song "I am a Rock." I was a rock. I was an island. I listened to Simon and Garfunkel over and over on my record turntable, watching the needle trace the grooves of the smooth black vinyl. It's true, I thought. If you don't open yourself up to care for other people, you won't be disappointed. I believed that love was overrated anyway. My mother had chased after it all my life (resulting in seven marriages and divorces), and her search had taken me from place to place with no real rhyme or reason. I was looking for it, too: I tried to catch my mom's attention by being funny, and it felt good when I could make her laugh. But I never heard the words "I love you," and I sure didn't know how to express them to anyone else. I was an island. Then I became a Christian. A new world opened up. No more island; I was on a vast new continent where love was real. I found it, felt it, saw it in my new friends at church. Then came Cathe … and I began to venture out more and more into the scary new world of loving, really loving, another person. Then I became a father. Love became even more wonderful and terrifying as I looked down on the innocent faces of my baby sons in my arms. With my wife and family, and in my church family, God gave me blessings I could not comprehend. I, who had felt like an outcast and an orphan for years, had loved ones, a home and a community of my own. I had come such a long, long way. God had been so good to me. So I was surprised by how much my disappointment about locating my birth father, Barney, rocked me. Here I was, entering the fifth decade of my life. But the fact that I meant nothing to my birth father, and that meeting him had meant very little to me, brought back waves of disappointment and pain I hadn't felt for years. I knew I had to take stock. I fully realized that people would let me down. I knew that I failed others. Other people are flawed, and I'm flawed big-time. But in this situation with Barney, was I really feeling, down deep, that God had let me down? When you're illegitimate, sometimes you wonder if you were ever even meant to be at all. I knew I was an "accident." My mother, Charlene, didn't earnestly hope and plan to conceive me. For all I know, she was drunk and had no memory of my conception. I'm immensely grateful that once she discovered she was pregnant, she didn't choose to abort me. But divinely speaking, I was no accident. God was present at my beginnings. He knew me before I was born. He knew then and knows now the number of the days I'll walk this earth. He provided for me – a messed-up mortal with questionable beginnings – so that I'll actually live forever with Him. David wrote: You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me! Psalm 139:13-18, NLT I wouldn't wish my childhood on anyone. But it's the life I was given … and the very things that were the hardest were given to me so that I could understand the people I'm called to help. I can look back at my life, as Joseph looked back on his, saying to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20, NIV). My birth wasn't a mistake. God had a purpose. My weird, dysfunctional upbringing prepared me – in ways that a happy childhood could not have – to bring the Gospel to wounded people who come from chaotic backgrounds like my own … so that many could be saved. I come back to the familiar words of Romans 8:28: "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." In the psalms, King David wrote to God, "Everything serves your plans!" (Psalm 119:91). He didn't mean that all things are pleasant. Life's experiences had been otherwise for him. But David knew that God is the King of the universe and uses everything for His mysterious purposes. Everything.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:44 pm
"John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 'Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?' " —Matthew 11:2-3 Have you ever had something happen in your life that caused you to say, "Where is God?" No less than the greatest prophet who ever lived, John the Baptist, faced this struggle. John had put it all on the line for Jesus Christ. He had baptized Him in the Jordan River. He pointed his own disciples to Jesus, whom he believed was the Messiah. John had clearly pledged his complete loyalty to Jesus. Yet a strange series of events took place after that. One moment, he was out preaching to the multitudes and baptizing people. The next moment, he was in prison. The great John the Baptist began to entertain some doubt. So he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Jesus' disciples and John commonly believed that Jesus would establish His kingdom then and there. But they failed to recognize that before Christ would establish His kingdom, He would first come to suffer and die for the sins of humanity. John misunderstood the prophecies of Scripture, and therefore felt that Jesus was not doing what He was supposed to do. Sometimes we, too, misunderstand God and His Word when He doesn't do what we think He should do or when He doesn't work as quickly as we would like Him to. But even when we cannot understand God's ways, His methods, or His timing, He still asks us to trust Him. And He is trustworthy. Last edited by Need2Know on Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:50 pm; edited 1 time in total		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:45 pm
"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." —Psalm 42:11 It is not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have their days of doubt. Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances. After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he basically told the Lord, "I'm fed up. Just kill me. I don't want to deal with this another day." Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, "Take my life." Even the great apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life" (2 Corinthians 1:8-. Jeremiah, the great prophet, faced it as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for giving out the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop giving out God's Word altogether. He said, "The word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name' " (Jeremiah 20:8–9). You are not the only one who has ever faced doubt or uncertainty, or has been perplexed as to why God did not work in a certain way. We may be in the midst of God's work and can't see the big picture as He can.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:24 pm
"Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.' " —John 11:14-15 Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus, were close friends of Jesus. He would often spend time in their home in Bethany. When Lazarus became sick, Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus. No doubt they thought that Jesus would drop whatever He was doing and rush back to Bethany. But Jesus intentionally delayed His arrival. In fact, Jesus didn't show up until much later. By the time He hit town, not only had Lazarus died, but he had been dead four days. Martha walked up and said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21). Loose paraphrase: "Jesus, you blew it. You had the perfect situation here. You could have healed him, but you didn't show up." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha replied, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:23-25) Martha didn't quite get it, so Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth!" and her brother came out of the tomb. Martha wanted a healing. Jesus wanted a resurrection. Sometimes we limit God. Sometimes we think God must work on our schedules. But God will not be bound by time. God will not be bound by our schedules. God will work when He chooses and with whom He chooses. Therefore, there will be times when our circumstances don't make sense. Even then, we need to trust Him.		N2K Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 8840



Need2Know Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:16 pm
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " —Matthew 19:26 I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals. He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible. On the back of the bookmark were a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern. He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say, "Look at that and tell me what it says." As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say, "I have no idea what it says. It doesn't seem to say anything." Then he said, "Now, turn it over." As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words, "God is love." The minister would say, "Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God's perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing." The next time you think it is all over for you, just remember how things turned out for Joseph. Just remember how things turned out for Daniel. No doubt things looked pretty dim when he was in the den of lions. It looked hopeless as well for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Things looked pretty grim for Peter when he was in prison. And things looked bleak for Martha and Mary when their brother died. You see, things can look bad at one moment, but then God will step in and turn events around. Then suddenly you'll look back and say, "Now I understand what God was doing."