Serving from the heart – Christian Devotional – 01/01/10

by Rick Warren at PurposeDriven.com

From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he'll take charge of sending the rain at the right time .... Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG)

Repeatedly, the Bible says to "serve the Lord with all your heart." God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.

How do you know when you're serving God from your heart?

The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you're doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you, or challenge you, or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don't need rewards, or applause, or to be paid, because you love serving in this way.

The opposite is also true: When you don't have a heart for what you're doing, you're easily discouraged.

One characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness: whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don't care about a task, it is unlikely that you'll excel at it.

On the other hand, the highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.

We've all heard people say, "I took a job I hate in order to make a lot of money, so someday I can quit and do what I love to do." That's a big mistake. Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart.

Remember, the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money. The richest man in the world once said, "A simple life in the fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches" (Proverbs 15:16, Msg).

Don't settle for achieving "the good life," because the good life is not good enough. Ultimately, it doesn't satisfy. You can have a lot to live on, and still have nothing to live for. Aim instead for "the better life" -- serving God in a way that expresses your heart.

Figure out what you love to do -- that which God gave you a heart for -- and then do it for his glory!

Think It Over – Christian Devotional – 12/31/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

God's Word is filled with examples of those who believed God and "commenced prayer." David certainly did. "I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm" (Ps. 40:1-2).

Paul and Silas experienced the same thing in that ancient Philippian prison when all seemed hopeless (Acts 16:25-26). And it was from the deep that Jonah cried for help. Choking on salt water and engulfed by the Mediterranean currents, the prodigal prophet called out his distress:

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, ‘I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice. . . . All Thy breakers and billows passed over me. . . . But Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God'" (Jonah 2:1-6).

Often it is the crucible of crisis that energizes our faith. Think it over.

Commence Prayer – Christian Devotional – 12/30/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Malachi 3

It was in 1968 on an airplane headed for New York—a routine and normally very boring flight. But this time it proved to be otherwise. As the plane was on its descent pattern, the pilot realized that the landing gear was not engaging. Passengers were told to place their heads between their knees and grab their ankles just before impact.

Then, with the landing only minutes away, the pilot suddenly announced over the intercom: "We are beginning our final descent. At this moment, in accordance with International Aviation Codes established at Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer." Scout's honor . . . that's exactly what he said!

I'm happy to report that the belly landing occurred without a hitch. No one was injured and, aside from some rather extensive damage to the plane, the airline hardly remembered the incident.

Amazing. The only thing that brought out into the open a deep down "secret rule" was crisis. Pushed to the brink, back to the wall, right up to the wire, all escape routes closed . . . only then does our society crack open a hint of recognition that God may be there and—"if you believe . . . you should commence prayer."

There's nothing like crisis to expose the otherwise hidden truth of the soul. Any soul. We may mask it, ignore it, pass it off with cool sophistication and intellectual denial . . . but take away the cushion of comfort, remove the shield of safety, interject the threat of death without the presence of people to take the panic out of the moment, and it's fairly certain most in the ranks of humanity "commence prayer."

Remember Alexander Solzhenitzyn's admission? "It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. . . . So bless you, prison, for having been in my life."

Those words provide a perfect illustration of the psalmist's instruction: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees" (Ps. 119:67, 71 NIV).

After crisis comes, God steps in to comfort and teach.

There's nothing like crisis to expose the hidden truth of the soul.

Thinking Right – Christian Devotional – 12/29/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

James 1:19-25

Wouldn't you love to live courageously in spite of the odds? Doesn't it sound exciting to be divinely powerful in day-to-day living? Aren't you anxious to become authentic in a day of copy-cat styles and horrendous peer pressure? Of course!

It all begins in the mind. Thinking right always precedes acting right. That is why I emphasize the importance of the renewed mind. It is really impossible to grasp the concept of serving others—or to carry it out with joy, without fear—until our minds are freed from the world's mold and transformed by the Lord's power.

Now some so-called religious leaders and gurus exploit others by calling them to "servanthood" in order to control them and use them for their own purposes. I feel the need to warn you against becoming a victim of some strong personality who wishes to "use" you. How easy it is to encourage servanthood so others might serve us. That is not the way our Master walked and neither should we.

Servanthood starts in the mind. With a simple prayer of three words:

"Change me, Lord."

Lord, make me a servant who asks of you and of others, what can I do for you?

Where Is God? – Christian Devotional – 12/28/09

by Selwyn Hughes at crosswalk.com

Psalm 74:1--23
"Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long." (v. 22)

How do we develop trust in the goodness of God when so much that is happening in the world seems to contradict it? If God is good, how can He allow disasters? Dr. M. Scott Peck opens his book The Road Less Travelled with these words: "Life is difficult. This is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it." I have great difficulty with some of Dr. Scott Peck's statements, but I fully endorse these remarks. Once we accept the fact that life is difficult -- that the mystery of why calamities and suffering occur will never be fully solved while we are here on earth -- then we will stop demanding that a satisfactory answer be found and begin to get on with life. Christians go down different routes regarding this matter of calamities and suffering. One is to close their eyes and pretend the tremendous problems are not there. But integrity requires that we face whatever is true. Reality is grim -- innocent children are abused, starved, massacred -- and countless other forms of atrocity are carried out around the world daily. We must not blind our eyes to these facts and pretend they are untrue because they appear to contradict the concept of God?s goodness. Pretense must never be our refuge. We must be willing to look at these things, unpleasant and horrible though they be, and allow ourselves to be jarred by them. When we face life honestly and allow ourselves to be jolted by what we see, then, and only then, are we ready for God to speak.

Prayer:

Gracious and loving heavenly Father, give me the courage not to bury my head in the sand and pretend there are no problems. Help me stand even when I cannot understand. For Your own dear Name's sake. Amen.

For Further Study
Pss. 73:1--17; 25:8; 34:8
1. What was the psalmist's conclusion about God?
2. What did he struggle with?

Love is a choice – Christian Devotional – 12/27/09

Posted by Rick Warren at PurposeDriven.com

... That you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:20, NIV)

Love is a choice and a commitment. You choose to love or you choose not to love.

Today we've bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it's something that just happens to us; it's not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, "I fell in love," as if love is some kind of a ditch. It's like I'm walking along one day and bamm! - I fell in love. I couldn't help myself.

But I have to tell you the truth - that's not love. Love doesn't just happen to you. Love is a choice and it represents a commitment.

There's no doubt about it, that attraction is uncontrollable and arousal is uncontrollable. But attraction and arousal are not love. They can lead to love, but they are not love. Love is a choice.

You must choose to love God; he won't force you to love him (Deuteronomy 30:20). You can thumb your nose at God and go a totally different way. You can destroy your life if you choose to do that. God still won't force you to love him. Because he knows love can't be forced.

And this same principle is true about your relationships: you can choose to love others, but God won't force you to love anyone.

Going Fishing – Christian Devotional – 12/26/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Acts 7; 17

Billy Wilder, the great movie producer, openly admitted: "I have a vast and terrible desire never to bore an audience." With tacit agreement Jack Parr once declared: "The greatest sin is to be dull."

Those two statements ought to haunt anyone who regularly practices the fine art of communication.

Communication is a competitive field. Like it or not, the teacher, writer, speaker, or preacher contends with ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Rush Limbaugh, magazines, paperbacks, CDs, the theater, the cinema, the thrilling excitement of sporting events, and a zillion other attractions. Pity the missionary whose mimeographed letter arrives in the same mail with Sports Illustrated or Newsweek. God help the Sunday evening services across America that do battle with 60 Minutes and Masterpiece Theater.

Today's communicator faces a stiffer challenge than ever before. This means that we who communicate Christ must work especially hard at winning and thenmaintaining a hearing. This doesn't mean we need to put on a better show or shout louder or attack our competition. What it does mean is that we must meet at least three demands.

We must be prepared. Basically, it necessitates doing our homework. But it also means we must determine what ought to remain behind the counter, held in reserve, and what ought to be placed on display. It's the art of verbal economy.

We must be interesting. We must paint verbal pictures for the uninitiated, preoccupied mind to see. To do this we need energy, subtlety, relevance, and changes of pace.

We must be practical. Communicating the Scriptures is more than dumping out a truckload of biblical facts; it means using those facts to meet practical, everyday needs.

Communicating is like fishing. We need to provide the right lures and bait to attract our listeners.

Check out Paul's address on Mars Hill (Acts 17) or Stephen's defense before the Council (Acts 7) or Jesus' great sermon on the mountain (Matt. 5-7) or His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3). Not a rusty hook in the bunch!

Funny thing about fish: They keep their eyes open even when they're bored and sound asleep. Myopic communicators tend to forget that.

When we communicate Christ, we are like GE: We bring good things to life.

God bless you one and all! Merry Christmas!

Deterioration – Christian Devotional – 12/24/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

1 Kings 3, 11

Solomon's life reminds me of the swing of a pendulum. Smooth and graceful . . . silent and elegant . . . yet periodically given to extremes.

Wisdom, loyalty, diplomacy, and efficiency marked his attitude and acts during the early years of his reign. Best of all, "Solomon loved the LORD" (1 Kings 3:3). His achievements could not be listed on ten pages this size. When visited by surrounding magistrates, he was viewed with awe. And rich? Multiplied millions annually. And creative? He was an architect, songwriter, artist, author, and inventor of unparalleled ability.

Things slowly began to change, however, as the pendulum began its tragic swing. Farther and farther . . . and farther.

Solomon seized the reins of wrong and drove his glistening chariot of gold onto the misty flats of licentiousness, pride, lust, profanity, and paganism. Silently, gradually, like eroding soil near the banks of a deep, angry river, he began to believe the lie that has captured many a top executive . . . or super salesperson . . . or successful physician . . . or athletic prima donna . . . or film star . . . or TV celebrity.

Materialism, polygamy, brutality, and idolatry now crippled his steps. Revolts fractured his nation, and irrational decisions characterized his rule. All to him became "vanity and striving after wind" (Eccles. 2:26). Nothing satisfied him any longer. The normal, God-given drives lost their appeal as deterioration took its final toll. And when death finally came, Solomon left in his wake a confused following and a broken, rebellious family.

Deterioration is never loud. Never obvious. Seldom even noticed. Like tiny cracks in a stucco wall, it hardly seems worth our time and attention. Never sudden.

Character threads don't "suddenly" snap. As the British expositor of yesteryear, F. B. Meyer, once put it, "No man suddenly becomes base."

Slowly, silently, subtly, things are tolerated that once were rejected. At the outset everything appears harmless, maybe even a bit exciting. But with it comes an "insignificant" wedge, a gap that grows wider as moral erosion joins hands with spiritual decay.

Be on guard! Those of us who stand must take heed lest we fall.

The pitfalls are still present. Still real. As unobtrusive as the ticking of a clock. As attractive as the swinging of a pendulum . . . until . . .

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Solomon, Prov. 14:12).

Merry Christmas and God bless our troops from our weekly Tea Party FTL

Our Tea Party FTL sponsored the Christmas Candlelight Ceremony for the Troops in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on December 20, 2009. Over 80 patriots turned out to send supplies to our troops and a message to our politicians. The horn support from the traffic was almost overwhelming. Our weekly tea parties began on Feb. 28th of this year and will continue for as long as they are needed. Join us on each, any and every Saturday at the corner of Oakland Park/Federal HyWy from 1-3 PM! (Thanks so much to Starlight Studio for the wonderful video.)

More on Tea Party FTL …

A Renewed Mind – Christian Devotional – 12/23/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

2 Corinthians 10:11-12

No hypocrisy, no competition. Wouldn't that be refreshing to live such a life? It all comes to those with a "renewed mind" . . . those who determine they are going to allow the Spirit of God to invade all those walls and towers, capturing the guards that have kept Him at arm's length all these years.

I can't recall the precise date when these truths began to fall into place, but I distinctly remember how I began to change deep within. My fierce tendency to compete with others started to diminish. My insecure need to win—always win—also started to fade. Less and less was I interested in comparing myself with other speakers and pastors. This growing, healthy independence freed me to be me, not a mixture of what I thought others expected me to be.

And now my heart really goes out to others when I see in them that misery-making "comparison syndrome" that held me in its grip for so many years. Not until you start thinking biblically will this independent identity begin to take shape.

It is when God is in control of the servant mind that we can realize as never before that life's greatest joy is to give His love away to those poor souls who are still stuck in the rut of comparative living.

The more you give, the more you'll get!

When you’re separated from those you love – Christian Devotional – 12/21/09

By Rick Warren at Crosswalk.com

"But the Lord stood at my side ...." 2 Timothy 4:17 (NIV)

The Christmas holidays tend to magnify the loneliness we feel when we're separated from the ones we love. Many of us have lost our roots, or never had any to begin with, and that can cause loneliness. We can experience the loneliness of separation because of military service, or a career, or an illness.

But the Bible tells us what we can do about our loneliness --

Focus on the needs of others - Get your eyes off yourself and focus outward. Look at how you can serve other people. The Apostle Paul focused on telling more people about Jesus: "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it" (2 Timothy 4:17 NIV).

Focus on your purpose - Even when the Apostle Paul was isolated in a prison, he never stopped living out his purpose. He wanted everybody to know about God's love.

When you're lonely - Stop building walls and start building bridges! Instead of saying, "I'm so lonely," say, "Father, help me be a friend to people who need a friend. Help me to help lonely people." That is the antidote for loneliness.

You can help others become rich in relationships by giving them the gift of YOU.

Turtles – Christian Devotional – 12/20/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk

Isaiah 51

My younger daughter and I sat and stared in silence. It had been well over forty years since I'd seen the sight. For her, it was a first. It was a tiny, plain, unimpressive garage apartment, leaning and peeling with age. It was the place of my birth.

As the little South Texas town of El Campo faded in the rear-view mirror, the contrast between my life in the mid-1930s and my life today stood out in bold relief. I blurted out, "I feel like a turtle on a fence post." Startled, my daughter asked for an explanation.

I first heard this imagery used by Dr. Robert Lamont, a Presbyterian pastor who felt incredibly blessed by God. "When I was a schoolboy," he said, "we would occasionally see a turtle on a fence post, and when we did, we knew someone had put him there. He didn't get there by himself. That is how I see my own life. I'm a turtle on a fence post."

The Bible is chock-full of turtles: one person after another who knew that his or her position of power, authority, or promotion was given by Another.

Joseph was a turtle. How often, in his Egyptian chariot or his opulent surroundings, he must have sat back, closed his eyes, and reflected on his humble beginnings. His jealous brothers. The pit. Slavery. Prison. Now this! What an incredible fence post! How faithful of God . . . how gracious!

Moses was a turtle. As leader of the Israelites, he surely awoke many a morning in the wilderness shaking his head in disbelief, remembering his murderous and monotonous past. How good of God to have put him on the fence post!

Gideon was a turtle. Remember his response to the angel when he was informed that he was to be commander of the Israelite troops? "Sir, how can I save Israel? My family is the poorest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least thought of in the entire family!" (Judg. 6:15, TLB).

The next time we are tempted to think we're self-appointed fence-post sitters, I recommend the prophet's counsel: "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug" (Isa. 51:1).

There's nothing better for a turtle temporarily elevated on a fence post than to return to those humble roots. Remember the quarry from which you were dug, the strong determination of a mother who bore you and the quiet commitment of a father who cradled you through poverty, hardship, and pain. It's enough to make you sit and stare in silence.

Think about your own fence post and then call to mind the quarry from which you were dug.

Christian Calling – 12/19/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved. - Psalm 80:19
THOUGHT:
  In the days of Jesus' birth, there was a group of devout and
lowly people who still looked for God's redemption. They knew that
salvation could not, and would not, come without great cost -- not
just to themselves, but also to God. Isaiah had hinted about this
in his Servant Songs (see Isaiah 53). They had experienced it in
their own history. So with honest hearts, they confessed that they
didn't have the power to bring salvation and deliverance. This
power had to come from God and had to be released to people who
were seeking God's transformation in their lives. They needed to
ask God for it! They needed to seek his face, his presence, in
their daily lives. So must we!
PRAYER:
  O LORD, God of heaven and earth, Ruler of all creation, I praise
you. I praise you for your power and glory. I praise you for your
wisdom and creativity. I praise you for your mercy and
righteousness. I praise you because you alone are worthy of my
praise. O LORD, you alone can bring me full salvation. Please,
shine your face upon me. Please, make your presence known in my
life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Count Your Blessings – Christian Devotional – 12/19/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Psalm 95

Sometimes when you don't feel like praying, or you're consumed with needing to speak to the Lord but can't gather the words, try that old standby—count your many blessings, count them one by one.

lt's amazing how you can get carried away from worries and woes and self concern when you start naming out loud what you're thankful for. Right away your focus shifts from your needs to the Father's graciousness and love. Try this:

LOOK UP . . . thank You, Lord . . .

for Your sovereign control over our circumstances 
for Your holy character in spite of our sinfulness 
for Your Word that gives us direction 
for Your grace that removes our guilt

LOOK AROUND . . . thank You, Lord . . .

for our wonderful country 
for close family ties 
for an opportunity to help others 
for a place to live, clothes to wear, food to eat

LOOK WITHIN . . . thank You, Lord . . .

for eyes that see the beauty of Your creation 
for minds that are curious, creative, and competent 
for memories of pleasures and recent accomplishments 
for broken dreams and lingering afflictions that humble us 
for a sense of humor that brings healing and hope

He is worthy of our highest praise and gratitude. To Him goes all the glory.

If you can't pray, make a personalized list of blessings.

A Self-Description of Jesus – Christian Devotional – 12/13/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Matthew 11:28-29

In all my studies I've found only one place where Jesus Christ—in His own words—describes his own "inner man." In doing so, He uses only two words. He doesn't say: "I am wise and powerful," or "I am holy and eternal," or "I am all-knowing and absolute deity." Do you know what He said? Hold on, it may surprise you.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:28-29).

I am gentle. I am humble. These are servant terms. Gentle means strength under control. Humble in heart means lowly—the word picture of a helper.

Frankly, I find it extremely significant that when Jesus lifts the veil of silence and once for all gives us a glimpse of Himself, the real stuff of His inner person, He uses gentle and humble.

When we remember that God wants us to conform to His son's image, we realize he wants us to have qualities like Jesus had. We must let gentleness and humbleness emerge.

We are never more like Christ than when we fit into His description of Himself.

Christian Calling – 12/12/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  ... but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water
welling up to eternal life. - John 4:14
THOUGHT:
  Water! That precious gift for the tired and thirsty. Water! That
essential refreshment we all need. Jesus, however, offers water we
don't have to carry or purify. No, this is water that wells up
within us. This is the water that the Holy Spirit brings us. This
is the water that gives us eternal life that starts now and lasts
forever!
PRAYER:
  Father, I know Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in me when I
became a Christian. I ask that my stubborn will and that my sinful
desires can be overcome with the Spirit's power, and that my life
will display the joy and confidence that your refreshing presence
brings. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." Charles Wesley

The Difference – Christian Devotional – 12/12/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Matthew 5:13-16

Ours is a hell-bound, degenerate world, and you know it. Political corruption abounds. International peace, a splendid ideal, continues to blow up in our faces. The crime rate escalates as domestic violence and gang wars and drug traffic and overcrowded jails continue to plague society. Pending legal cases choke the courts of our land with an endless litany of litigation. And even when cases are finally brought to trial, no courtroom or prison cell can remove madness from minds or hatred from hearts.

Satan, our relentless enemy, has a game plan, and it's on the board. Knowing that his days are numbered, knowing that he has an appointed amount of time before the scoreboard counts him out, he holds the world in his lap and gives it directions, implementing his strategy day after day.

If our Christian message is a mirror image of the message of the world, the world yawns and goes on its way saying, "What else is new? I've heard all that since I was born." But if the Christian lifestyle and motivation and answers are different, the world cannot help but sit up and take notice, thinking: How come they live in the same place I live, but they are able to live a different kind of life? Why is their love so deep and lasting and ours so shallow and fickle? How is it that she can forgive and never hold a grudge? Why do these people have so much more compassion, kindness, integrity, and patience than anyone else I know?

Do you get the message? It's the difference that makes the difference!
Think about it: Do people feel more alive when they're around you? Do you create within them a thirst for God? Does anyone ever wonder why you are so unselfish, so thoughtful, so caring? Do the neighborhood children want to be in your home because of the way you treat your children?

What do people see when they look at you? Do they see your good works? Do they hear your courtesy? Do they detect your smile? Do they notice that you stop to thank them? Do they hear you apologize when you are wrong? Do they see every visible manifestation of Christ's life being normally lived out through you? When they see all that, Jesus said, they "will glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Isn't it a pleasure when someone says to you, "Why are you like that?" And isn't it a natural thing to respond, "I'm glad you asked. Let me tell you what's happened"?

"When the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first" (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

Love is an Action – Christian Devotional – 12/11/09

Posted by Rick Warren at purposedriven.com

Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

The baby Jesus shows us that love is something you do. You show love by what you do, not just by what you feel.

Do you really love someone? Let's see how you act toward that person.

Love is more than attraction and more than arousal. It's also more than sentimentality, like so many of today's songs suggest. By this standard, is love dead when the emotion is gone? No, not at all. Because love is an action; love is a behavior.

Over and over again, in the Bible, God commands us to love each other.  And you can't command an emotion.  If I told you "Be sad!" right now, you couldn't be sad on cue. Just like an actor, you can fake it, but you're not wired for your emotions to change on command. Have you ever told a little kid, "Be happy!" I'm trying, daddy!

If love were just an emotion, then God couldn't command it. But love is something you do. It can produce emotion, but love is an action. 

The Bible says, "Let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions" (1 John 3:18 NLT).  We can talk a good act: "I love people." But do we really love them? Do you really love them? Our love is revealed in how we act toward them.

Excerpt from Joseph, The Father’s Journey; third novella of the Cradle to Cross Trilogy

[My good friend Mac McConnell's short Biblical novels are exquisite chocolates for the soul and the perfect Christmas gift! Get them here..]

Chapter Six – Bitter Wine.

All I have is this pitiful note she sent months ago;

“Joseph, I’m all right. Don’t worry, my husband, I’ll be home soon. Joseph, I have wonderful news. My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. I love you, Mary.”

But, every night at twilight, just to satisfy myself, I looked down the road hoping to see her coming home. The view was breathtaking from the side of our little hill. I could see right past her father Heli’s cottage to the road south.

I could see anyone on that road as the sun set, but I wasn’t looking for just anyone.

It happened. I had to pinch myself. It was just a girl on a donkey, a silhouette is all. But there was something … I could tell it was my Mary, but wondered if I was dreaming—just wishful thinking. It had been over three months since I laid eyes on her. The longest three month of my life. I wondered if they were playing tricks on me.

No, she was unmistakable.

I started down the path, slowly.

Should I go to her?
Does she want to see me?

Have things changed?

Was I the fool?

The hurt and worry were deep.

She passed by her home.

She was coming up the hill.

Towards me.

I hoped.

This is ridiculous.

I started toward her. Cautious at first.

Then I picked up the pace. To run.

Mary.

My beautiful Mary is home.

Just as I reached her, she began to slide off her mount into my arms.

A glow on her face—she was radiant—heavenly.

But.

Wait.

What in the world?

I wrapped my arms around my Mary—and—this can’t be.

I stepped back to see if what I felt, on her stomach against mine, in our embrace was true.

But it was dusk and hard to see and her clothes were loose.

“Mary? What’s this? Are you? You’re not…”

“Yes, Joseph, yes, it’s true, I told you I have wonderful news. You did receive my note?”

“Mary, you are…?” I thought I was going to throw up right there, right then. I turned to leave.

“Joseph, wait. I can explain. This is wonderful news. Wait. Listen to me. Don’t leave. Can’t you just wait for one minute? Joseph, it will be fine. Joseph …”

The sound of her voice was fading as I stomped off.

I didn’t want to hear her.

To hear this.

I didn’t want to hear anything at all.

I can explain, she said.

It will be fine, she said.

I tore through the door, and slammed it behind. It rattled the whole house and frightened my dog Jonah. He came and reared up for his head-rub. I pushed him aside and continued out back and knocked a stool out of my way. I sat in the garden. The one I made for her. Then I tore it to pieces. Ripped the vines from the archway and slung them away. I kicked the flowers. Broke the pots. Grabbed the trellis to tear it to pieces, but just sank to my knees.

“Why, oh God, why?”

He didn’t answer.

I now had an answer to, Is the wedding still on? No!

I found my wine. The wine bought special for our wedding night. It tasted bitter.

Perfect.



Buy these exquisite books here..

Christian Corner – 12/10/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.  -- John 3:16
THOUGHT:
  What else is there to say, other than "Praise God!" and "Thank
you Jesus!"
PRAYER:
  Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love, dear Father. I
love you, too, and look forward to sharing the biggest part of my
life with you in your presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Privatization of the First Amendment

by Mario Diaz at The WSJ

[This is a must read for Patriots and Christians alike. BHO’s often-“PC” insidious attack on both camps is more than obvious here – JS]

President Obama's nomination of Chai Feldblum to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) represents one of the most serious threats to religious freedom we have seen in a long time. Read more…

Rallying Points – Christian Devotional – 12/10/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Exodus 40

To rally: "to muster for a common purpose . . . to arouse for action . . . to come together again to renew an effort." That's the way Webster defines the verb. He says the noun means: "a mustering of scattered forces to renew an effort; a summoning up of strength or courage."

Throughout Scripture, we encounter God's rallying points: places where His people assembled for a common purpose, for recovery and refreshment, for mustering forces and getting recharged for battle.

For Abraham it was Bethel, the place of the altar. For Moses it was the bush in the desert. For the Hebrews en route to Canaan? Well, they had several. During the day, a massive cloud overhead. At night, an enormous column of fire. Along the way, the tabernacle, that portable sanctuary where the Lord met with His chosen ones. Later, it was the temple. Then, following the terrible years of Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah envisioned a plan for "mustering scattered forces to renew an effort" as he led a ragtag group of dejected Hebrews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.

Jesus Himself became a rallying point for a handful of men whose lives were otherwise destined for mediocrity. And after His departure, His Spirit came at Pentecost and ignited a spark as the church universal came into existence, offering perpetual hope for fractured, lost humanity.

Finally, today, you and I can look back and recall a specific place—our own Bethel or desert bush—where God became real to us again.

Where would we be without rallying points? Places that catapult us into new dimensions we would otherwise never inhabit.

Today, rallying points are often provided by evangelistic crusades. Critics, of course, want us to believe these are nothing more than some old-fashioned revivals where church folks gather, sing a few songs, listen to Bible preaching, then promptly go back to business as usual. You and I know, however, that these meetings can be some of the most significant events ever held in America, for they may provide a fresh spiritual awakening that will be nothing short of revolutionary.

So, thank God for your own Bethel. And pray that He will provide the same for others.

Pray that He will arouse us for action and muster us for a common purpose in these days when our forces often seem scattered and when we need a summoning up of strength and courage.

Rallying points replace flabby faith with the grit and gristle of godliness.

Don't Take It Easy – Christian Devotional for 12/09/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Psalm 90

Last fall one day at the church, I spotted a visiting gentleman who was shaking hands with a half-dozen folks he'd never met before. Then he looked at me, and with a grin and a twinkle, he whipped out his hand. It was a hand you could strike a match on, toughened by decades of rugged toil.

"You look like a man who enjoys life. What do you do for a living?" I asked.
"Me? Well, I'm a farmer from back in the Midwest."
"Really? I guess I'm not surprised, since you've got hands like a tractor tire."
He laughed . . . asked me a couple of insightful questions, then told me about his plans for traveling on his own.
"What did you do last week?" I asked.
His answer stunned me. "Last week I finished harvesting 90,000 bushels of corn," he said with a smile.
I then blurted out, "Ninety thousand! How old are you, my friend?"
He didn't seem at all hesitant or embarrassed by my question. "I'm just a couple months shy o' 90." He laughed again as I shook my head.

He had lived through four wars, the Great Depression, sixteen presidents, ninety Midwest winters, who knows how many personal hardships, and he was still taking life by the throat. I had to ask him the secret of his long and productive life. "Hard work and integrity" was his quick reply.

As we parted company, he looked back over his shoulder and added, "Don't take it easy, young feller. Stay at it!"

The Bible is filled with folks who refused to take it easy. Remember our friend Caleb, who, at age 85, attacked the Anakim in the hill country and successfully drove them out (Josh. 14)? Or Abraham, who had a baby (well, actually Sarah did) when he was "in his old age" . . . he was 100, she was 90 (Gen. 21)? Or Noah or Moses or Samuel or Anna, the 84-year-old prophetess . . . significant people, all.

Age means zilch. Wrinkles, gray hair, and spots on your hands, less than zilch. If God chooses to leave you on this old earth, great. If He makes it possible for you to step aside from your work and move on to new vistas with fresh challenges, that's also great.

And whatever else you do, don't take it easy!

"No disease is more lethal than the boredom that follows retirement" (Norman Cousins).

Christian Calling – 12/08/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  ...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11
THOUGHT:
  I love the fact that I do each day what everyone will one day
do: bow before the majesty and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus
Christ to honor the Father's glory. How wonderful it is to be able
to make that proclamation because of grace rather than in fear at
the end of a life that has been spent in what is rebellion, denial,
and waste.
PRAYER:
  Father, I do praise you for the truth about Jesus that will one
day be realized fully by everyone who has ever lived. May my life
display that truth in the way I treat people today. May my lips
suitably proclaim that truth so others can know Jesus as Lord
today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Finding a Refuge – Christian Devotional – 12/08/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Joshua 20

The law of supply-and-demand is something we face every day. Because there are those who need, there must also be those who provide. There are employers and employees. There are counselors and counselees. There are teachers and teachees (I couldn't resist).

But it breaks down when it comes to refugees. There aren't enough "refugers" to meet the demand.

Back in the days when the Hebrews settled in Canaan, they set up cities of refuge. People who were in danger—even those guilty of wrongdoing—could escape to one of these six cities and find personal relief and refreshment.

Don't misunderstand. These weren't sleazy dumping grounds for hardened criminals. These were territories dedicated to the restoration of those who had made mistakes. People who had blown it could flee to one of these places of refuge and not have those inside throw rocks at them.

Today, we have lots of places to meet and sing. To pray. To hear talks from big wooden pulpits. To watch fine things happen. Yes, even to participate occasionally in the action. But where is the place of refuge for those whose lives have gotten soiled in the streets?

More often than we want to admit, we're bad Samaritans. We're notorious for not knowing what to do with our wounded. Getting in there and cleaning up those ugly wounds and changing bloody bandages and taking the time to listen and encourage, well . . . let's be practical, we're not running a hospital around here.

That makes good sense until you or I need emergency care. Like when you discover your husband is a practicing homosexual. Or your unmarried daughter is pregnant and isn't listening to you. Or your parent is an alcoholic. Or you get dumped in jail for shoplifting. Or you blew it financially. Or you lost your job and it's your own fault. Or your wife is having an affair. Or your dad or mom or mate or child is dying of cancer.

Thankfully, in the church today, there are a few lights to help the hurting find their way back. There are dozens and dozens of small groups in churches across our land comprised of caring, authentic, but very human Christians who are committed to growing friendships and deepening relationships. Good Samaritans who have compassion. May their tribe increase!

These are our modern-day cities of refuge.

Genuine, New Testament Christianity doesn't hang out at headquarters; it gets into the trenches with the wounded and weary.

Yoked Companions of Compassion – Christian Devotional for 12/07/09

by Rick Warren at purposedriven.com

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

(This guest devotional is by Jon Walker, editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-line Devotionals.)

Most translations of Matthew 11:28-30 refer to the easy "yoke" of Jesus-"Take my yoke upon you..." But Eugene Peterson's paraphrase above captures the spirit of Jesus' teaching.

Jesus is looking for companions of compassion. Compassionate friends who will love others in the same way Jesus loves us. Jesus wants us to journey with him, get to know him, not run off to do things for him while we ignore him.

"Aren't you tired and burned out on all that religious stuff, anyway?" Jesus, in a sense, asks. "Look, come walk with me, and I'll help you get back your life, your real purpose. And even though it'll require some hard-very hard-work, you'll be energized by it because you'll be living a life of abundance. You'll be doing exactly what our Father created you to do, and more importantly, you'll be exactly who I want you to be."

There's still a chance Jesus may ask you to be a yoked-up plow-horse in service to God, but Jesus is more likely asking you to join his school of Christ as a student taking on the teacher's yoke.

This Christmas you can become a companion of compassion with Christ.

Jesus says, "Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29-30 NLT).

Jon Walker is the author of Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day, available through Saddleback Resources. Copyrighted 2009 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

Generosity Builds Community – Christian Devotional for 12/06/09

Posted by Rick Warren

"Your generosity ... not only provides for the needs of God's people, but also produces prayers of thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:12)

When we're generous with each other, we thank God for each other and we're drawn closer to each other.

One of my friends learned the connection between generosity and community when one of his neighbors came by to borrow a ladder. A few weeks later, my friend discovered his neighbor already had a ladder, but the neighbor borrowed one as a way of building a relationship.

My friend said, "When my neighbor borrowed my stuff, it made me feel like I was needed, and I liked that feeling. Now I do the same thing with other neighbors. For instance, my neighbor, Roger, has a Shop Vac, and I borrow it every Friday to clean my car. Roger even leaves it out for me on Fridays. I told Roger the other day that I could buy my own Shop Vac, but I liked the interaction with him. He told me not to buy one because he liked the interaction, too."
The Bible says, "Your heart will be wherever your treasure is." (Matthew 6:21) Wherever I put my time, my money, my effort, my energy, wherever I invest myself - that's what's going to attract me.

For some of you, your heart may be in your home. That's where you're putting your time, your money, and your energy - fixing it up. Or your heart may be in your work. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy. Or it may be in a hobby. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy. Wherever your treasure is, your heart's going to be there.

So, when I'm generous with you or with the poor or with anybody, that's where my heart tends to go. And every time I give to God, it draws my heart closer to God, and every time I give to you, it draws my heart closer to you. Giving or generosity creates community.

The first Christians were famous for their generosity. "The community of believers... shared everything in common." (Acts 4: 32) They were a family; they shared it all: 'What's mine is yours, and you can share it with me.' It was voluntary. Christianity says, "What's mine is yours and you can share it with me."

When you're a parent, and you have little kids in your home, you enjoy watching them share with each other? When you see that your kids are unselfish, you're very happy with that.

And God is the same way.

When God looks down on us and He sees us being generous with each other He says, "That's My boy! That's My girl! They're doing what I want them to do." Because God is generous, and He wants us to become like Him.

Start Seeking God – Christian Devotional for 12/05/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Lamentations 3:25

"Lord, I'm back and I diligently seek you." How many times have we said this? This time stop talking and sit silently. Wait patiently, seek diligently, sit silently. That means you need to pour out your heart and then deliberately be quiet. Spend a full day in quietness.

Meditation is a lost art in this modern, hurry-up world. I suggest you revive it. Not by endlessly repeating some mantra to get into some other frame of mind. Not that. Simply and silently wait before your faithful God. Read a passage of Scripture, perhaps a Psalm, and let it speak. Say nothing. Just sit silently. Let Him talk. Let Him reassure you that you are fully and completely forgiven and that your shame is gone. Feel His arms around you. Understand the cleansing that He's bringing. Feel again the freshness and relief of His presence.

God will give you a fresh start if you'll stop fighting. It works. I know. I've been there. Just submit to Him and accept His grace.

God will keep His promise to forgive and welcome you home. 
His mercies are new every morning.

Christian Calling – 12/04/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then
for the Gentile. Romans 1:16
THOUGHT:
  Are you ashamed? Culture tries to make us ashamed about our
faith, portraying people of faith as stupid, insensitive,
judgmental, and hypocritical. Are you ashamed? Are you willing to
share your faith humbly and gently with those who do not know Jesus
as their Lord? Are you ashamed? Your hero left heaven to come to
earth and risk everything so that you could come home to heaven
with him. This Gospel is powerful. This Gospel is transformational.
This Gospel, and the salvation it brings, is for all people. So
let's not be ashamed; let's be joyous and generous with this
incredible gift that we have received.
PRAYER:
  Father in heaven, please give me wisdom, sensitivity, and
courage to share your wonderful story of grace with those around me
who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Living Mercy – Christian Devotional for 12/04/09

Living Mercy
by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Hebrews 4:14-15

The apostle John asks: "If someone who is supposed to be a Christian . . . sees a brother in need, and won't help him—how can God's love be within him?" (1 John 3:17, TLB).

True servants are merciful. They care. They get involved. They get dirty, if necessary. They offer more than pious words.

And what do they get in return? What does Christ promise? "They shall receive mercy." Those who remain detached, distant, and disinterested in others will receive like treatment. But God promises that those who reach out and demonstrate mercy will, in turn, receive it. Both from other people as well as from God Himself.

That is exactly what Jesus, our Savior, did for us when He came to earth. By becoming human. He got right inside our skin, literally. That made it possible for Him to see life through our eyes, feel the sting of our pain, and identify with the anguish of human need. He understands.

Get inside someone's skin today to understand and give mercy.

Christian Calling – 11/03/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

VERSE:
  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through
the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to
a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with
us." Matthew 1:22-23
THOUGHT:
  God had repeatedly promised it. Men, women, and angels had long
anticipated it. Now, in Jesus, it happens. God is with us. Jesus is
Immanuel. We live on a visited planet, touched by the very presence
of God among us. And it was just as the prophets of old had said.
PRAYER:
  LORD God, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your
promises, especially when it was so incredibly costly for you to do
so. I want to know you better, O God, not just as someone I study,
but as someone I encounter in my daily life. Please make your
presence known as I seek you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Christian Corner – 12/02/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT  

VERSE:
  "She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him
the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
   -- Matthew 1:21
THOUGHT:
  Jesus. Yeshua. Joshua of the spiritual world. Mary's boy, God's
Son, comes to help us tear down the strongholds Satan has built in
our lives. He comes to bring peace to our troubled spirits and joy
to our nights of despair. He comes to not only minister to us and
bless us; he comes to do what no one else could do: he comes to
deliver us from our sins, those spiritual blemishes, rebellions,
mistakes, and transgressions. Praise God! A deliverer who actually
conquered what we could not to make us what we could not otherwise
be -- pure, perfect, and holy children of God, like him (cf. Col.
1:21-23).
PRAYER:
  Thank you, Father, for your forgiveness, cleansing, and
transformation given to me by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In
Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Message to all signers of the Manhattan Declaration

We give thanks to God for all those who have already signed. And you haven't signed yet we encourage you to show your support by adding your "signature".

Thousands of you have sent e-mails asking what's next - a good question. The goal of those of us who drafted and signed the document is not just to get a lot of names on a manifesto, gratifying though that is. We are seeking to build a movement - hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of Catholic, Evangelical, and Eastern Orthodox Christians who will stand together alongside other men and women of goodwill in defense of foundational principles of justice and the common good. These are people who could expose the lie which so many in our culture have embraced about self being the center of life; and then winsomely present, in the words of St. Paul, "a more excellent way."

We are looking for people who will work in every possible arena to advance the sanctity of life, rebuild and revitalize the marriage culture, and protect religious liberty.

So what's next for you? Let us offer some specific suggestions. More will undoubtedly follow in the weeks ahead. Read more…

Coming Home – Christian Devotional - 12/02/09

by Charles R. Swindoll at Crosswalk.com

Ruth 1

We must have resembled a family of Gypsies or a scene from Grapes of Wrath as we rambled along the highway. Several layers of redwood forest dust mixed with pine tree sap covered our car. The cartop carrier was loaded with miscellaneous stuff, including a bike wrapped in a blanket flapping in the air, piled on top of several boxes of "family fun stuff." We were homeward bound and glad of it.

As most of the family dozed, I hummed a tune from John Denver's best album, the main line of which says, "Hey, it's good to be back home again. . . ." Truer words were never sung!

Lake Tahoe had been crystal clear and beautifully therapeutic. Ten days out under the stars beside an open fire is good for what ails ya . . . but coming home is better!

Why? Why would anyone prefer the maddening pace, the freeways, the smog, the crowds, loads of laundry, stacks of mail (especially unpaid bills), a desk piled with a backlog of office details? What is so magnetic about coming home to all that? Why is the appeal of the familiar so powerful that we're always anxious to return?

I really have no profound answer. But consider this . . .

Home represents our point of identity, our base of operations, our primary realm of responsibility. Home gives life its roots, its sense of purpose and direction. Even with the hammer blows of pressure, stress, and struggles, home is the anvil used of God to forge out character in the furnace of schedule and demand. We count on it over the long haul and thereby develop security, stability, and consistency.

For me, coming home has an added benefit. It means returning to ministry. It means accepting the most exciting challenge life offers . . . one with eternal dimensions and incredible proportions. It means facing every new dawn with total dependence, living literally on the raw edge of reality.

To me, that's not an optional existence . . . that's the only way to live.

We are invariably drawn to come back home not because of where it is but because of what it represents.

Christian Corner – 12/01/09

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT  

VERSE:
  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid
to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit."  Matthew 1:20
THOUGHT:
  Reassurance beyond understanding! That's the beginning of the
Christ story for Joseph. What he cannot understand and what he had
no part in creating will now be the groundbreaking journey of his
own faithful and generous heart. He will be the human daddy to the
Savior of the world. He will live the rest of his life knowing that
a miracle happened with Mary without his input or involvement. His
faith, and God's use of him in this story, should awaken each of us
to the incredible possibilities that God may have in store for us.
Why not use this December to re-awaken your heart to the Holy One,
born Jesus of Nazareth.
PRAYER:
  Father, I have long admired Joseph for his trust in you -- a
trust that helped him deal with what he could not understand. Now I
come, with wild-eyed Joseph excitement and bewilderment to be
reminded again of the miracle of your Son and my Savior. Please
make him real to me as I seek to know him better. In Jesus' name.
Amen.