NEWSPAPER DEVOTIONAL ARTICLES
January- June, 2001

    These weekly articles were written by Rev Mike Jones for South Carolina Area Newspaper on a busy Pastor's schedule. Space was limited to around 300 words per article so in depth exposition is not possible.
    To receive Devotional articles like this each week via E-mail simply request them by clicking on the envelope at the right.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 2, 2001

    (Psa 65:3) Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
    Sometimes an "innocent sin" can become a life changing, and life controlling, habit. It is then that "iniquities prevail against me". What can be done about such a horrible state of affairs? Well, in our verse, the Psalmist said that God would have to "purge" away our transgressions.
    The word "purge" normally means "to remove the waste" and is routinely used with the idea of giving someone a laxative! With that in mind, let me tell you a short story. Seems a mother I know found a can of chewing tobacco in her son’s pocket when she went to wash his clothes. She knew her son was aware that she didn’t want him to chew; and she also knew that if she simply rebuked him that a big scene would develop.
    Inspiration hit her and she took a box of brown looking laxative and chipped it up into her son’s can of chewing tobacco. It was several years later, after he had given up chewing, that he found the reason chewing tobacco upset his stomach was not the tobacco but what was in the tobacco!
    Sometimes the only way God can get us to give up sin is to allow us to see what a "waste" it is. He would like to do that by simply telling us that the sin is wrong and needs to be abandoned. As rebellious as we are, however, God often has to add a little something to our nasty habits in order for us to see how really bad they are. That doesn’t make it pleasant for us, or for those around us, but it does bring us to the place that sin becomes exceedingly sinful and we ask God to purge away our transgressions. And, in the long run, that is worth any amount of discomfort.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, January 3, 2001

CHURCH REPENTANCE

    Maybe the problem is that we are calling on the wrong people to repent! Don’t get me wrong, the Bible calls on "all men every where to repent" and Jesus specifically said he had "not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matt 9:13). However, when I look at the last message that Jesus spoke to the Church I find that in five out of the seven churches He spoke to He issued an order for them to repent or else!
    What would a Church be doing that would cause it to need repentance?
    The Church at Ephesus was to repent because she had left her first love. God was no longer first in the message or methods of the Church.
    The Church at Pergamos was to repent because she had allowed the false doctrine of Balaam to be taught and practiced.
    The Church at Thyatira was to repent because she allowed a "Jezebel" to teach and seduce God’s servants to commit fornication. Corrupt the leader, corrupt the congregation.
    The Church at Sardis was to repent because she was a dying congregation. Wow, that applies to a lot of churches today!
    The Church at Laodicea was to repent because of her lukewarm living and attitude.
    Does YOUR Church need to repent? Remember, a Church is made up of members. Is God calling YOU to repentance?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 9, 2001

LAMB IN A LARGE PLACE

    For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. (Hosea 4:16)
    When I first read this passage I thought it was a great promise. After all, doesn’t it sound great to be a "lamb in a large place"? Then I remembered a firm Bible principle- "a verse out of context is a pretext!" and decided to look at this verse in greater depth.
    This is a passage of scripture where God is berating Israel for her backsliding ways and lukewarm living. When God tells Israel here that she acts like a backsliding heifer He is saying that Israel is a Rebellious animal that continually pulls away from its owner. Because of this rebellious attitude then God said He would feed Israel as a "lamb in a large place".
    Now it become clear that this is not a promise of blessing but a pronouncement of woe! Just as the broad way is the road to destruction, so the "large place" is a field of folly. A sheep wandering in a large place would lose the guidance of the shepherd, the fellowship of the other sheep, and the provision of green pastures beside still waters. The large place becomes a field of dangerous valleys, prickly briars, and wandering wolves.
    Satan makes it sound great to be a "lamb in a large place". He promotes it as a place of freedom, fun, and fleshly satisfaction. We know, however, that the size of the cell does not negate the captivity of the prisoner. Don’t let your rebellious living lead you from the security of the sheepfold into the dangers of the "large place". Remember, a violin string makes no music, and has no purpose, until it is attached to its place.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, January 10, 2001

    How do you deal with life when life will not give you a square deal? How do you control circumstances when circumstances are beyond your control? How do you handle life’s problems when Life always moves the handle just as you get ready to grasp it? Do you know what I mean?
    Sickness never seems to put itself on your schedule when you have a convenient time to schedule it. Interruptions always seem to interrupt you at a time when you really don’t want to be interrupted. Stress always seems to attract stress so that the more pressure that is put on you, the more pressure that is put on you!! Makes you depressed just thinking about how depressing depression is, doesn’t it!
    The Bible states that Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are". How, then, did He deal with interruptions, catastrophes, and increased stress? Amazingly.
    When people were hungry and His disciples couldn’t buy bread Jesus looked for God to provide a glorious provision; even if it took a little boy’s lunch. When the boat was sinking and the disciples were terrified Jesus slept in complete confidence that situations beyond his control were not beyond God’s ability. And when Jesus was confronted with increasing demands on His time and energy He simply "took time to power up" through prayer.
    Life will either drive you to despair or develop your faith in God. And that is the handle on life you need to grasp.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 16, 2001

    We were staying in a motel while we visited with several churches in the Spartanburg area. As usual, I had gotten up first, prepared for church, and was going down to the lobby to get some coffee while my wife was getting ready. I noticed a man sitting by himself and spoke to him as I was getting my coffee. It was obvious he was not in good spirits so I decided to engage him in conversation and try to cheer him up.
    Here is his sad, but true, story. His wife has been bugging him about replacing the leaking showerhead at their home so he decided as his Saturday project to do something about it. No big deal, right? Just go to the local plumbing store, find the shower head you need (along with a few other things), get out all your tools, and unscrew the shower head. Then chaos hits. The house is old and the pipes are corroded. Unscrewing the shower head breaks the pipes in the wall behind the shower. Water is going everywhere. Now the main water switch to the house has to be turned off and the home is "water less".
    Fast forward to Sunday Morning as this sad story is being told by a man who had to bring his family to spend the night in a motel since they did not have any water at home. The plumber is hard at work (at double time pay since it is a Sunday!) removing the wall, replacing the pipes, and putting in the new shower head. One more "Saturday project"will put him in the poor house!
    This man’s actions effected his home, his family, his pocketbook, and his pride. Remember that the next time Satan tells you a little sin will not produce big problems in your life.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, January 17, 2001

    My job involves much traveling. That means that the mobile home my wife and I call home is empty much of the time. To make a long story short, we found evidence of mice the other day. My wife was not a happy camper.
    Out comes the mouse traps. The first day home from work we have trapped a mouse. Problem solved, right? Just to be sure, I reset the traps. Before we go to bed we hear the trap go off and another mouse is caught. The next morning another mouse has been trapped. When we came home that night another mouse had been trapped. Thankfully, either the mouse have put out warning signs to avoid our house or we have solved the problem for now.
    During this time my mother was in the hospital. While sitting with her one day I told her about the mouse problem and she told me she was having some problems with mice also. I asked her if her traps were working and she said, "Not exactly. I have never gotten around to setting them."
    I looked at Mom and said, "When you have a mouse problem and you fail to set your mouse traps it is like saying you intend to get saved some day and yet never make a decision for Christ." Everything is available to deal with the problem but if no action is taken then no change will result.
    Life is a short journey. Death leads to a final destination. Don’t get caught with your "mousetraps"in a drawer!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 23, 2001

    Psalm 4:7 "Thou has put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased"
    Aren’t you glad about God’s gladness! The world we live in offers us happiness- I am happy when things happen to happen happily but happiness seems to be meagerly given and it disappears like the morning fog in the harsh glare of reality’s sunshine. God’s Gladness, however, abides amidst debt, disease, and even death.
    What causes God’s Gladness to be so great? First of all, look at the source of God’s Gladness- "Thou {God} has put gladness in my heart". God’s Gladness does not come from changing circumstances or fleeting fame; it is based on a relationship with a never changing, always loving, God. God’s Gladness is not something I must manufacture for the moment or muster up to impress those around me. It is the outward expression of the inward joy that I have because of the wondrous privilege of having constant communication with the God of the universe. The Spirit of God lives within me and His joy radiates in me and from me.
    How great is God’s Gladness? "More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased". Society is only happy when possessions or partying increases. They want a million dollars but find it empty and vain when they finally obtain it so they seek after more and more and more. They work all week so they can knock themselves out all weekend with drugs, drink, and debauchery to make them forget the emptiness they felt all week! God’s Gladness abides in my heart all week long and simply expands and exalts on the week end when I worship and adore the Lord with fellow Christians.
    God’s Gladness is available for "whosoever will" allow God to come into their heart. He is knocking at your door right now. Let Him in and let the gladness begin.
     

Miracle Message for Wednesday, January 24, 2001

    (Psa 4:2) O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?.
    The word "leasing" here threw me for a loop until I looked it up in a Bible dictionary and found it meant "lying". It is, however, the same word from which we get our term "leasing" today. So I asked myself the question, "What do lying and leasing have in common?" Here are the similarities I came up with.
    - Leasing is for a long term, so lying has long term consequences.
    - Leasing cost a lot up front and at the end; so does lying.
    - Leasing is not evident from outward observation. Unless you tell someone your car is leased they think it is purchased. Even so, lying may not be evident from casual outward observation.
    - Leasing costs continue to escalate- the more miles you put on your car the more it costs you. The same way with lying. The more you do, and the longer it remains uncorrected, the more it will cost you.
    -Leasing makes a car yours but it is not yours! Lying makes you think you have gotten by with something but eventually you find it got you instead of you getting it!
    Don’t sign a "lease" on lying. It is a mighty poor bargain.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 30, 2001

    (Prov 11:30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Wisdom for the Christian would dictate that he make every effort possible this year to win someone to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Soul winning is our greatest task; and should include our greatest efforts. Why then do so many Christians go an entire year without leading one soul to trust Christ for the pardon and forgiveness of sins?
    "He who aims at nothing normally hits it!" If we don’t make it our goal to share our faith each week with someone along life’s journey we will not take advantage of the opportunities God puts in our paths. So your first rule for this new year should be to seek out opportunities to share Christ with others. Here are a few methods to help you.
    Share the Burden- Next Sunday night pass out slips of paper at Church. Have everyone write the name, address, and phone number of someone whom they are concerned about on that slip of paper. Then have each side of the church exchange their names with the other side of the church. Everyone is to take that name, pray over it, and then seek an opportunity the following week to share their testimony (Letter, phone, personal) with that person and invite them to church.
    Seek a Sinner- Pray for opportunities to share your faith. Look for opportunities to tell someone what God revealed to you in your devotion that day. Gossip about the good service you had Sunday.
    Talk about God- Ask someone what they think the weather is like in Heaven today! Talk about the coming tribulation and ask them how they will deal with it. Share your excitement about God’s work in your life and circumstances and ask them how they handle life’s troubles without the Lord’s help.
    Reach at least one for the Son in 2001. It will bring salvation to a heart and rejoicing in Heaven; and a million years from now you will still remember it as one of your greatest accomplishments.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, January 31, 2001

    In Revelation 2:21 God talks about giving a wicked woman "Space to repent". In other words, God said that before His judgement fell He would give a time for the person to reconsider and change their actions. In this case God does not give a specific time period before His judgement will fall but in numerous cases in the Bible the "Space to repent" is clearly listed.
    In Gen 15: 13-16 God tells Abraham that the children of Israel will not be allowed to invade the promised land for 400 years until the "iniquity of the Amorites is full (complete)". Once God’s space to repent for the Amorites was completed then the Children of Israel were to invade the land and destroy every man, woman, and child as part of God’s Judgement.
    In the days of Noah God gave a space of 120 years for the people to repent as Noah built the ark. At the end of that time God shut the door to the Ark and every man, woman, and child not in the ark was destroyed by God judgement of water.
    In the parable of the fruit tree in Luke 13 the dresser of the vineyard ask for 1 year in order to get fruit from the fruitless tree. When that time was over it would be either fruit or the fire!
    But in the story of the rich fool in Luke 12 his space to repent ran out that night- "God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: "
    How much "space to repent" do you have left?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 6, 2001

    At first the statement confused me. People from the upstate area would talk about going out and spending time at their "Rock" and coming back spiritually refreshed and I would wonder what they were talking about. Finally, it dawned on me that the upstate rock was the same thing as a low country stump. And I know what a low country stump is all about, that is a place to get alone with God so you can share the burden of your heart and allow God to speak sweet peace to your soul.
    Now that I have grown older, and moved from a wooded area to an open field, my stump has changed to the recliner in my office. But, regardless where you go- rock, stump, or recliner- you should always have a place of prayer and worship where you can meet with the Lord on a regular basis.
    Jesus called such a place a "closet" in His Sermon on the Mount- Matt 6:5-8 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ⁶But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
    Every person needs a private place where they can do business with God and not simply show off before men. So find you a rock, a stump, a recliner, or a closet where you can spend time with God today. You will soon realize that the special time you spend at the "rock" is the most important part of your day.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, February 7, 2001

    It all began because Jesus "must needs go through Samaria". The Disciples did not understand why they were going into "no mans land"instead of traveling the route normally used by the Jews but they willingly followed Jesus (good principle to remember!).
    Upon arriving at Sychar, Jesus told the disciples to go into town and get something to eat while he rested by the well. With much apprehension, they go into the town while Jesus just sits by the well "resting". A woman of ill repute comes to the well for water and Jesus brings her to the realization that He is the Son of God and is able to change her life.
    Then, and this is simply amazing, Jesus sends the woman back into town to spread the good news while He remains sitting by the well. Soon the disciples return with the food and the woman returns with the town (!) while Jesus is simply sitting by the well.
    Revival breaks out in the town and refreshment is provided for Jesus with hardly any effort on His part. What a lesson for us to learn. We think we must work ourselves to death with great effort and expenditure of energy but Jesus was extremely successful by simply learning to be where God wanted Him to be at the time He was supposed to be there. He did more by sitting at a well in Samaria in the will of God than most Christians do in a life time of self effort. Maybe what we need is to just "sit in Samaria" for a while.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 13, 2001

    Josh McDowell in his book "Answers to Tough Questions" give a great illustration about why Christians claim Jesus is the only way to God; and Heaven. You and your friends are walking in the woods. Suddenly, you realize that you are lost. Night is coming, hunger stirs in your stomach, wild animals roar all around you. You try every way you can to find the way out but every effort on your part only leaves you frustrated and deeper in the woods.
    All at once you see a path, hope springs in your bosom as you and your friends hurry along. Ahead you see a fork in the path and you realize that your decision about which path to take could mean life or death. When you get to the fork you notice two people. One is healthy, alert, wearing a park ranger’s uniform and pointing down a path as he proclaims, "This is the way to life, freedom, and deliverance."
    Lying in the middle of the other path is the other person: dead, stinking with decay, and infested with worms. Which one of these men do you think would be the proper choice to ask directions about getting out of the death trap you have found yourself in?
    Mohammed, Confucius, and every other leader of this world’s religions have died and their body has decayed in the grave. Good men, no doubt, but not a good choice to follow about matters of eternity.
    The fact that makes Jesus so unique is that His grave is empty!! As the angels proclaimed, "He is not here, for He has risen."He can give advice about eternity because He came from eternity, He proclaimed information about eternity, and He has eternally risen from the dead. I believe that I will take the path He recommends. And I believe you would be wise to do the same thing.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, February 14, 2001

    Three times in Scripture God tells us about some things we are to "Love Not". Maybe these negative admonitions will help produce some positive passions in our lives and actions.
    1) Love Not Self: (Prov 20:13) Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
    Laziness of life comes from thinking only of self. Forgetting the needs of others while depending on others to meet all our needs will lead to failure and frustration.
    2) If you Love Not the Savior you are in big trouble-(1 Cor 16:22) If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.(Accursed when the Lord comes).You should love your church, you should love fellow Christians, you may even love, in a spiritual way, your Pastor; but you better never come to the place you play the Christian Game without really loving Christ! This real love for Christ will change your conduct, your character, and your community. Does yours??
    3) Love not Society- (1 John 2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Loving the things of this world ends up stealing our testimony, our treasures, and our talents. And what a horrible thing it would be to walk the aisle at the marriage supper of the Lamb with another woman held in your arms!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 20, 2001

    Garden, God, Helper provided, Paradise to enjoy. What went wrong? Serpent enticed, Eve bit, Adam fell, God displeased. Morning dawned anticipating God’s visit and ended hiding from God’s presence in the fig bushes. When the day started there was a barrier about one tree but when it ended there was a fence around the entire garden. And on this day, four facts about sin were revealed in all their horror.
    1) Sin makes us Hide from God. What a horrible thought. Our heart is a lonely hunter seeking only God. Sin makes us hide from the very one that our heart is seeking to find. And, sadly, when we starting hiding from God in the dark bushes our search for the satisfaction our aching heart craves leads us to horrible attitudes and actions.
    2) Sin makes us Blame others. I’ve seen men fall into sin and immediately start blaming their wife, their church, their friends, and their circumstances. The devil made them do it or a character flaw beyond their control controlled them. The finger of blame is pointed in every direction except in the direction of the person who actually committed the sin. And there will be no change until they heed the message from God which states, "Thou art the man!"
    3) Sin makes us Suffer Consequences. Serpent slithering, Eve submitting, Adam sweating. The Personal Consequences were astonishing. The Garden closed, the ground cursed, God crying. Oh, how awful are the results of sin.
    4) Sin makes a Blood Sacrifice necessary. Fig leaves tried but failed. Only the shedding of blood from an innocent sacrifice will bring about remission of sin. Praise God that Jesus Christ died for my sin debt. Accept Him, serve Him, Worship Him, Share Him, and Look for Him.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, February 21, 2001

    A Hospital is a wonderful place. Now, stop laughing, I really mean it. Just think about it. In a hospital you are the center of attention. You get to lay around in bed all the time where you are waited on hand and foot. If you are in pain someone tries to stop it and if you have a problem someone tries to solve it.
    In a hospital family and friends come to visit you on a regular basis. People bring you flowers and special gifts and many will even spend time in prayer with you.
    In a hospital everyone wears the same "designer" gowns; and very little else, so choosing what to wear is not a problem. Hospital food is healthy (although not necessarily tasty!) and, many time, cooked specifically for your situation.
    With all these benefits, why is it that almost everyone you meet can’t wait to get out of the hospital and back to their home? You would think they would want to stay in the wonderful environment of the hospital but people almost cry with relief when the doctor finally signs their papers and allows them to go home.
    To me, this world is a hospital and Heaven is home. I appreciate everything that people do for me here and I don’t want to sound ungrateful for their care and concern but I sure am excited about going home! There is just something about finally being in the place of rest with the Savior I love that makes me want to leave this "hospital" and head for home- Is it check out time yet?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 27, 2001

    Pastor Tony Trott of the Jefferson Road FWB Church in Sumter recently gave the devotion at our Minister’s Breakfast. He began by stressing the fact that all Christians know they need to pray. Then he gave us 11 reasons why we don’t pray even though we know we need to pray. Looking at these reasons may help you change your prayerlessness into prayerfulness.
    I don’t pray because: (1) It reveals my heart to God and I don’t want God to see everything in my heart. (2) God already knows my needs so why should I go to the trouble of telling them to Him. (3) I believe God but sometimes I don’t really believe that God can make a difference in the difficult situations of life that I face. (4) I sometimes doubt that God cares about what I am facing. With all the world to run, my problem would probably get put so far down on the list until it would never get answered. (5) I sometimes feel alone and unworthy and just don’t feel like talking to God.
    Some other reasons I don’t pray are: (6) Prayer is hard work and I am too lazy to put forth the effort. (7) I am impatience to get an answer and don’t want to wait on God’s time. (8) That extra half hour of sleep in the morning or that extra hour of TV at night seems more needful than spending time in prayer. (9) God will take care of it anyway so why should I tell Him what to do in prayer. (10) I don’t want to burden God with my problems. I will try to carry them alone and only bother God if they get beyond my abilities.
    And the final reason I don’t pray is (11) I just don’t see the importance of Prayer. Ouch! Excuse me, I need to go pray

Miracle Message for Wednesday, February 28, 2001

    The Master’s methods sometimes amaze me. A lady in Kansas needed some Bibles for her teen group. The printed Bibles were easy to order but she had the additional problem that (sadly) many of her teens were unable to read very well so they would need the Bible on Cassette.
    Several years ago I obtained a Master copy of the Bible on Cassette that allows me to make copies to give away. It has been a tremendous help in the past years. But time constrains would not let me copy some tapes to send to this lady before she had to have them so I ordered a case of already recorded Bible tapes from the company from which I bought the Master tapes.
    Imagine my surprise when I opened the tapes and found a set of Master tapes instead of copied tapes. The Master tapes are MUCH more expensive than the copied tapes so I called the company to explain the error. When I told them they had sent me the wrong tapes; and mentioned what I was using them for, they said to just keep the Masters at the copy price so this lady could use them to make copies for her teen group!
    Now this Teen group can read the word of God or listen to the word of God as the need arises without having to wait on me to find the time to prepare tapes for them. When the Master wants Masters in order to share His word He is able to work circumstances in awesome ways.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 6, 2001

    A great king noticed one day that his knights spent much of their time boasting about their greatness and bragging about their exploits. Realizing the need of teaching them a needed lesson he had his gardener devise and plant a giant maze. Then he called his knights in and asked them to prove their abilities by being the first to escape from the maze.
    The knights gladly accepted the challenge and were placed into the maze. Some of them sprinted to the first corner with cries of exaltation and boastfulness determined to travel the maze the fastest. Others devised schemes and plans and depended on their intellect as they journeyed pass turn after turn in the maze. Several even joined forces in the belief that collectively they would be able to find the way out.
    As they wandered through the maze they found a break in the wall leading to another maze. Over the entrance was a sign telling them not to go that way. Some thought it was a trick and went through into a deeper maze of briars and thorns which made their journey one of misery and suffering; and they learned the pain of disobeying the kings directions.
    Hour after hour the sun beat down on these men as they wandered in the maze. The only relief from the oppressive heat was a shade tree along one wall. There in a small alcove was a spring of water, refreshing shade, and a man who said he was sent by the king to give them help if they needed it. The knights scoffed at his offer of help for awhile but finally one of them, in desperation, asked for help in finding the way out. The helper simply said, "Look up." The knight was puzzled at first until he looked up and noticed that a limb from the shade tree hung down enough that he could reach up to it and use the tree as a means of escaping the maze.
    Life is a maze; the only way out is the tree provided by God- (Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, March 7, 2001

    To most people, God is an inference, not a reality. They deduct from the evidence presented to them that God must exist so they believe He exists. Someone or something HAD to bring this world into existence so they believe that "force" was God and they believe in God based on "common sense".
    To others, God is simply another name for goodness, natural beauty, or eternal truth. Striving for goodness is the highest ideal of man so this must be striving for God. As beautiful as nature is there must be a supreme being somewhere that created it all so we will give him the name, God. Enlightenment and education bring men to search for the final truth; so they call this final truth, God.
    But I am puzzled. In the Garden of Eden God came down each day and walked with Adam and Eve. He was not a force of nature, He was a person! The Bible calls upon us to "Taste" and see that the Lord is good. How do you taste an inference? Jesus said that his sheep "Hear" his voice. He also said that the pure in heart would "See" God. How do you see and hear a theory?
    I believe God is real and that I need to have conscious communion with Him on a regular basis. I must stop simply studying about him and actually start spending time with Him. I must stop praying to the ceiling and begin talking to my "Father". I must walk with God as a friend so that His character becomes my character. I MUST have conscious communion.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 13, 2001

     The Righteous Brothers (What a neat name! I always thought it should have been used by a religious group instead of a rock group) used to have a song out that said, "You have lost that loving feeling". One of the verses stated that the "loving feeling" was gone, gone, gone and now they were so alone. Seen it happen to Christians in their relationship with God.
    Mrs Diane Bridgemen recently spoke at a ladies meeting and shared about her triumph over marriage problems. She said that when she was first married her husband used to always touch her and make some kind of comment every time he passed her. One day as she was washing dishes she noticed that her husband walked by without any comment or contact. Right then she knew her marriage was in trouble. Seen it happen to Christians in their relationship with God.
    The very first rebuke that Jesus had for His church was that they had left their "first love". They were still active and energetic but they had lost that loving feeling and now it was gone, gone, gone and they were so alone. When my wife and I were dating she used to sit right beside me. Several years into our marriage I commented on the fact that she was sitting on the other side of the car now. She make a couple of defensive comments but I settled the argument with the statement, "I haven’t moved!"
    If you have lost that loving feeling in your relationship with God and you no longer feel the pleasure of His contact and comments; I have just one question for you, "who moved?". And what are you doing to get back to where you need to be?

Miracle Message for Wednesday, March 14, 2001

    Jesus is coming. Write it down. Mark it on you calendar. Look for it to happen. Expect it any minute. But, regardless of what you do, the coming of Jesus is going to take place.
    When Jesus returns to get His Bride (the Church) your choices will be simple- Tribulation or Celebration. Joyful reunion or Judgmental Wrath. The marvels of the Heavenly kingdom or the mark of the satanic empire.
    What will determine if it will be celebration or tribulation for you? Easy answer, the determining factor is your relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s separating question will be, "Were you born again by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?"
    Note what I did not say. I did not say God would ask if you were religious, or thought well of by society, or were rich. It will not be your fame, your family, or your fortune that will be the deciding factor. What will matter on that day will be your trusting in, relying on, and clinging to Jesus Christ as your only help and hope.
    I am ready for the celebration. I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for them that love Him. It is going to be some kind of party- a marriage feast to end all marriage feasts! Hope you are coming with me. But if you are not part of the Celebration you had better prepare for the Tribulation.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 20, 2001

    The Sky is Brass. Troubles mount for the people of God. Persecution is prevalent. Easy enough to solve. Just call the Church to prayer and ask everyone to re-dedicate their lives to God and suddenly the sun will break through the clouds and the problems will disappear- Right? Not always! Joshua found out after Israel was defeated at Ai that even prayer and dedication don’t work sometimes.
    God told Joshua that the problem was deeper than a causal commitment would solve. This was not a cold that an aspirin and some orange juice would cure, this was cancer that required radical surgery. Three times in scripture, God sees a problem among His people that is so serious until it defeats Nations, dismantles Kingdoms, and destroys Lives. This is what I call SUPER SERIOUS SIN and its consequences are deadly.
    God told Israel to destroy everything in Jericho. Achan allowed greed to cause him to disobey God and take some of the loot and hide it in his tent. After being publicly exposed, he and all his family and possessions were destroyed. God said the only cure for this Serious Sin was to remove the "Cancer".
    King Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. Pride and Public pressure caused him to disobey God as he spared King Agag and kept the best of the flocks. Samuel the prophet preached to him that "to obey is better than sacrifice," (I Sam 15:22) and told Saul that his Kingdom was rent from him and his usefulness for the Lord was destroyed.
    Ananias and Sapphiria greedily kept back part of their offering as they lied to Peter, and the Holy Spirit, about their Gift. The result was instance death.
    Three "Super Serious Sins" and all revolved around greed and pride. Do you see a pattern here? Do you own things or do things own you? Are you destroying your family, your church, and your soul in order to have more? Remember how seriously God treats these "Super Serious Sins".

Miracle Message for Wednesday, March 21, 2001

    Four times in Scripture Paul tells a young preacher that certain things are "Faithful Sayings".
    1) Salvation was Christ’s Purpose: (1 Tim 1:15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
    2) Spiritual is more important than Physical: (1 Tim 4:8_9) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
    3) Resurrection Reality overcomes the rigors of ministry: (2 Tim 2:11) It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
    4) Good works, that are a sign of a changed life, need to be carefully maintained: (Titus 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
    That last one about "maintaining good works" intrigues me. It shows that "good works" can easily stop functioning in the life of a Christian unless you are careful to give them the support they need. What a challenge. Not just to do good works but to uphold them as well. Now I need to ask myself each day, "What good work maintenance do I need to do today?"

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 27, 2001

    You, and a large number of other people, are trapped in a mine as the ceiling collapses. The air will soon run out and the only means of escape is digging through to the outside air. You begin frantically to dig. When you stop for a moment to catch your breath and look around you notice that numerous people are not digging. One girl is busy painting her nails, a man is busy counting the money in his wallet, and several others are engaged in heated conversation about how hot it is in the cave.
    You know the air is fast running out and everyone needs to be busy digging. Maybe your question to these people should be, "What are you doing to earn the air you are breathing?" To some degree, that is the question Jesus is asking when He refers to the fruitless tree "cumbering" the ground in the following parable.
    (Luke 13:6_7) Jesus spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
    This is the only place "Cumbereth" is used in the Bible. It means to occupy space without providing any benefit. So Jesus is actually asking what right the tree had to exist without fulfilling the purpose for which God had planted it. Boy, does that cause me to examine my life! Am I enjoying God’s sunshine and using the nutrients provided by God without producing any "fruit" for God? If so, according to this parable by Jesus, the judgement will be harsh; and soon.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, March 28, 2001

    Ever tried to wean a child from a pacifier? Good luck! Those of you who have gone through this traumatic experience can testify that it is almost as hard on the parents as it is on the child. The child believes that you are trying to do them tremendous harm and they are determined to resist you in every way possible.
    A similar problem emerges when God tries to wean people from some of the pacifiers in their life. They believe they cannot live without these "pacifiers" and they fight God every step of the way when He tries to wean them. Oh, if they could only learn that God wants to liberate their life instead of limit their pleasure.
    What are some pacifiers that people cling to instead of enjoying the abundant life God intended for them to have?
    - "milk" services that are emotionally fulfilling but provide no spiritual growth. Everyone leaves excited but nothing changes in their character or conduct. Every week they come to Church for an hour and enjoy an emotional experience but they never get around to eating the meat of the word of God so they remain "babes in Christ" all their life.
    - Eating the chaff of the world instead of enjoying the bread of life. The chaff seems filling but, like a pacifier, provides no nutrition. Instead of seeking real food, however, people keep chewing chaff and wonder why they are hungry all the time.
    Are you "sucking a pacifier" or are you growing in Christ?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 3, 2001

    Sometimes I have been a sorry Christian, but I have never been sorry I was a Christian. At times I have been embarrassed by my actions as a Christian but I have never been embarrassed that I was a Christian. Many times I have failed my Heavenly Father but not one time has my Heavenly Father failed me.
    On Sunday, Jesus was so popular until people would place their coats under the feet of his donkey as a sign of their loyalty. On Thursday, they cried for the release of a murderer and the murder of Christ. What happened? What atrocious act did Jesus commit that caused these people to turn from admirers into accusers? One day they are crowding around Him for healing and bread and the next they abandon Him and cry to a Roman Governor to crucify Him. What great failure in His life was exposed during this time to cause this shift of allegiance?
    Surprisingly, nothing of any great consequence is revealed during this time. He begins the week casting the money changers out of the temple, but He had done that before to the applause of the people. Otherwise the week is spend answering questions, spending time with the disciples, and having a "last supper". But a few well placed words from some leaders and the multitude became a mob and Jesus goes from admiration to crucifixion.
    Sometimes I feel bad when people hurt my pride. Often I complain when I suffer minor persecutions for my stand as a Christian. How it must hurt the heart of Christ when I cry and complain; when I whine and whimper. I have never been sorry I was a Christian. May God help me to live so that, regardless of what the world does, God will never be sorry I am a Christian.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, April 4, 2001

    (Num 24:11) Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
    Mrs Linda Trott, Pastor’s Wife, pointed this verse out to me. She found it in her devotion and told how the Lord spoke to her heart about how sinful attitudes and actions could hold a person back from reaching the Prestige they were intended to have.
    Immediately my mind went to several other ways that sin causes God to put a restraint on our life.
    Sin holds us back from Pleasure. Some may say that sin gives pleasure but the Bible declares that the pleasures of sin are just for a season. One bout of drinking, drugs, or debauchery is never enough. The "pleasure" fades very quickly and the emptiness that returns is worst than ever. Only Christ gives abundant life.
    Sin also holds us back from Potential. How many really great individuals have failed as presidents, performers, preachers, or people because sin destroyed their usefulness? They were held back from accomplishing really great exploits because of sinful habits or actions.
    Held back from Honor. Held back from Happiness. Held back from Hero like accomplishments. And worst of all, held back from Heaven. Oh, the horror of Sin. Come to Christ today.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 10, 2001

    The horror was beyond comprehension. The hurt was beyond bearing. The humiliation was pulverizing to his pride. His disciples fled from Him when the going got rough. His nation rejected Him because He did not meet their wrongly held expectations. Even God the Father hid His face in the thick darkness.
    One word and a legion of Angels would have come swooping down to destroy the Roman guards and ease Him gently from the cruel wooden cross. But while His lips may have parched with thirst, they never uttered a cry for help. The only words that came were a question to His father, concern for His mother, salvation for His neighbor on the cross, and forgiveness for the people who had done this horrible deed to Him. Everything human about Him cried out for relief but still He hung there in meekness and submission. What kept Him there? Why did Jesus stay on the cross?
    I received an email from a missionary to Russia today. He was rejoicing because his first convert (a 47 year old woman) had accepted Christ during Prayer Meeting. That is why Jesus remained on the cross.
    Following a revival service recently, a young man came up to me and said, "You don’t remember me do you? My brother and I used to play in the lot beside your church. You talked to us one day and we both were saved. Remember, you baptized us both on an Easter Sunday morning many years ago." That is why Jesus remained on the cross.
    A 14 year old boy; headed for Hell, along with his mother, father, and brothers. One Monday night at a revival in a small country church Jesus was preached, the Holy Spirit brought conviction, and God the Father graciously forgave his sins and make him a child of God. Soon the mother, father, and brothers were all saved and this young boy became committed to sharing Christ with everyone possible by every means possible. That is why Jesus remained on the cross.
    He could have come down. He could have cried out. But He remained there- - because of you.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, April 11, 2001

    (Rev 20:4_6) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
    The Resurrection of Jesus was simply the "first fruits" of the resurrection of God’s people-(1 Cor 15:23) But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Christ was resurrected as a "proof" that He was in fact the Son of God; and as a sign to all the rest of God’s children that they too will be resurrected one day!
    This resurrection of God’s children will not simply mean that we get a new eternal body; it will be the start of our reigning with Christ as priests of God and Christ (Glory!). Eternity will not mean we lay around all day "twiddling our thumbs"; it will be a time of triumph and glory as wer work with the Lord to advance His blessed agenda over all of creation.
    Christ was resurrected, Christians will be resurrected. Will you be part of the First Resurrection unto life or will you be a part of the second death?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 17, 2001

    One of the greatest joys of the Christian life is to study about God’s future plans and to anticipate the soon coming of Christ. Sometimes, however, this delightful duty can lead into a maze of misunderstanding as people "develop" doctrines instead of study prophecies. Here are two rules that will help keep you in the straight and narrow as you look down the roadway of revelation about the future God has provided for us.
    1) DON’T WRESTLE THE SCRIPTURE; ITS DESTRUCTIVE: Any study of Prophecy should heed well the words Peter spoke about the complex writings of Paul: (2 Pet 3:16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Sometimes you get so determined to prove a preconceived point until you "wrestle" the scripture into a place it is not supposed to go.
    2) DON’T MAKE A FOREST OUT OF A TREE; ITS DEADLY: (Rev 22:18_19) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. If you are walking through a pine forest and you find an oak tree it is foolish to suddenly declare that you have determined that you are in the midst of an oak forest instead of a pine forest! In the same way, one verse of scripture looked at from a certain perspective can be used in an attempt to suddenly make all of the "pine trees" in the Bible look like "oak trees". That can have deadly consequences for you; and for those who follow your teachings.
    Keep the Faith and anticipate the Future; but don’t try to put God in your "box". He will always burst the seams!

Miracle Message for Wednesday, April 18, 2001

    Humility has flown. Cockiness has become common. Many people seem to have an overwhelming desire to tell everyone how "bad" they are and how horrible they will treat you. Maybe it’s time we restated the principles found in "Pride goes before a fall".
    DON’T BOAST ABOUT:
    1) Your Fighting Skills: (1 Ki 20:11) And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
    2) Your Financial Stability: (Psa 49:6_7) They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
    3) Your Future Successes: (Prov 27:1) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
    DO MAKE YOUR BOAST ABOUT:
    1) The wonderful God we serve: (Psa 44:8) In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
    2) The Grace God gives because our works aren’t enough to save us: (Eph 2:8_9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
    Many people’s boasting sounds like "whistling in the graveyard". What a difference it would make if they realized the tomb was empty!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 24, 2001

    Traffic delayed my arrival so I arrived a few minutes late. Wonderfully, the gym was completely full and I was forced to sit high on a bleacher seat. As I sat high in the bleachers at the annual camp meeting of this Bible college that night and looked out over the vast throng of preachers and Christian workers seated on the gym floor, my soul was moved in me and I seemed to hear the voice of God whisper in my ear, "What you see before you is a storehouse of dynamite. These workers can produce power for enormous good or they can be instruments of tremendous destruction. The difference will be their commitment to me."
    Dynamite Disciples, what a concept! Some may explode in anger or lust and destroy homes, churches, and communities. Some may get all wet and fizzle out in discouragement and disappointment instead of reaching their mountain moving potential. Some will refuse to wait on the Lord and will explode prematurely in the air where they will simply make a loud noise and put on a good show instead of fulfilling their mission. Some will lazily lay on top of the ground where their explosion will simply throw dirt all around without accomplishing anything of value.
    But some, blessed be the name of the Lord, will allow themselves to be buried deep under the rock where their energy and efforts will level the mountains and raise the valleys as they prepare a highway for our soon coming King. They will give themselves with such dedication and commitment until the force of their life will reshape the world around them. They won’t make the biggest sounding bang but their explosion will produce light and power that will crumple the hardest heart and bring men to trust Christ as Savior.
    All Disciples are Dynamite. The question is, will they do harm or good in their explosion.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, April 25, 2001

    Many times in life we are faced with some very difficult and stressful circumstances. These circumstances will make us either Better or Bitter. The difference will be in the way we relate to them.
    Paul tells how a Christian should look at his circumstances in Philippians 1:12 "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;". The interesting thing about this is that Paul wrote it while sitting in a Roman jail awaiting execution!
    The key word in the verse is "FURTHERANCE". It comes from a Greek word meaning "advance Woodcutters" and was used to describe the party that went before ancient armies to establish roads to allow the army to reach the battle field.
    Paul wants us to know that the circumstances of his life were simply God's method of clearing a path for him in order to enable him to do battle for the Lord.
    What a difference it will make in your attitude (and actions!) when you realize God allows difficult times in your life in order to prepare you for service for Him.
    So let the woodcutters work. They're simply preparing a way for you to work and witness for the Lord. Soon they will have the road ready and you can enter into battle; and I've read the end of the book. It's a battle we win!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 1, 2001

    Only four places in the Bible is Jesus declared to be the "Alpha and the Omega" (The first and last letter of the Greek Alphabet). All four of those references occur in the book of Revelation. Looking at them gives us God’s final revelation of His Son and our Savior.
    1) The Soon Coming Judge. The first time He came to die as a criminal in your place. The next time He will come as your Judge- (Rev 1:7_8) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. {8} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
    2) The Message of the Church; any other message is meaningless- (Rev 1:11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
    3) The only way into Heaven. When all is said and done, He is still the only one that can save- (Rev 21:6_7) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. {7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
    4) The final and eternal source of rewards . Why give your time and energy to anyone or anything else?-(Rev 22:12_13) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. {13} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, May 2, 2001

    Seven times in Revelation the writer tells how people can be "Blessed". These seven last beatitudes show us the way to enjoy the blessings of God in the midst of some of the greatest troubles and trials known to man:
    (1) Blessed are those who read, hear, and keep this prophecy, which emphasizes the importance of looking at God’s future plans as recorded in Revelation (1:3)
    (2) Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, which stresses the importance of remaining faithful to God no matter what the world throws at you (14:13)
    (3) Blessed are those who watch and keep their garments, which portrays the importance of Holy living as we anticipate the Lord’s return (16:15)
    (4) Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, which suggests the joy of Christ’s presence (19:9)
    (5) Blessed are those who participate in the first resurrection, which emphasizes deliverance from death (20:6)
    (6) Blessed those who keep the words of this prophecy, which stresses obedience to the Word (22:7)
    (7) Blessed are those who have washed their robe and gaining access to the Tree of Life, which guarantees eternal sustenance (22:14).

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 8, 2001

    Most people would readily "Amen" Solomon’s statement in Proverbs 23:5- "riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." Or how about the wisdom espoused by the Preacher in Eccl 5:11 "When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?" But it doesn’t have to be this way. No matter where you fit on the pay scale, here are some principles that will help make what you make enough for you to make it.
    1) TITHE: You cannot expect God to bless you if you are robbing Him each week. My personal testimony, and the testimony of countless others, is that giving God your "First fruits" is the best possible way to accomplish more with 90% than with 100% used only for self.
    2) TRUST: Faith in God for provision and supply brings glory to God. Guess what makes God happy; when His children do things that bring glory to Him! So the more you exercise your faith the more you will see God’s amazing ability to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think (Eph 3:20)
    3) TEMPERANCE: Self control and Self denial are two character traits that God desires to build in His children. That is because even God finds it difficult to fill a pot that has no bottom!
    4) THINK: Use your brain before you open your pocket book. Is the Debt worth the "slavery" that follows (Prov 22:7)? Is there a way your money can earn interest instead of pay interest? Money is not "magic"; it is a tool. Learn to use it in the most effective way.
    5) TALENT: God gives every person some special gift. Too many people settle for being part of the "rat race" instead of freedom flying as the Lord intended. God gave you that ability for a purpose; part of that purpose may produce a profit!
    Two fish and five loaves to feed 5000. Angel food manna to feed millions in the desert each day. God is able, are you willing to do it His way?

Miracle Message for Wednesday, May 9, 2001

    The Old Testament ground to a horrible halt. Rebellion, captivity, and the task of rebuilding brought on numbing despondency and led to a desperate yearning for the coming Messiah. Suddenly, the sun burst through the fog of despair as John the Baptist roared onto the scene with his thundering message that the Lamb of God has arrived..
    At the very beginning of this new chapter in the history of man, when you would think you would find nothing but hope and joy, suddenly the stain of sin leaps from the pages of God’s word. After 28 generations (Matt 1:17) the stain still remained and blotted the record of one of the most famous of God’s Servants- (Mat 1:6) And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
    A 28 generation stain. Could it not be forgotten? Had there not been enough time since the incident that it could be laid to rest? Why bring it up now at the beginning of a New Testament showing forth God’s mercy and grace as never before?
    Maybe, just maybe, God allowed this 28 generation stain to shine through so we would see the far reaching consequences of Sin in order that we would understand the tremendous need of the soul cleansing power of the blood of our Blessed Savior. What a great God we serve. He is able to cleanse and forgive even if the stain is 28 generations old!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 15, 2001

WINNING FAMILY MEMBERS TO CHRIST

(Acts 16:30) ... and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
    When I got saved I believed it was something that ought to happen to everyone in my family! Thankfully, with this belief in mind, my mother and father and all my brothers (and their wives) are all saved. My father-in-law, mother-in-law, wife, and all her sisters and brother (and all of their husbands and wives) are all Christians. Four principles led to this happy conclusion.
    1) Determination of Objective. I did not want my family Ado better@ so I could have a Agood@ family. I realized they were bound for an eternity in the flames of hell and I did not want that to happen! I did not just want them to Astart going to church@ to make me happy. I wanted them to be a vital part of the Body of Christ and know the joy I knew as a Christian. Your goal must not be for them to be Better. It must be for them to be Born Again.
    2) Desire of heart. If you are satisfied with Johnny being a Anice boy@ or Susy being a Agood little girl@ then you will never reach them. You must long for their salvation so greatly until it deprives you of food and drives you to your knees every day.
    3) Demonstration of Christ. Your life must be consistent and Christ like. You can=t have Afried preacher@ for dinner on Sunday and expect your family to trust what that preacher says about them becoming a child of God. You can=t do wrong and expect them to want to do right.
    4) Declaration of the Gospel. Reprimanding their wrongs will not save them. Quarreling, crying, and sighing will not save them. The good news of forgiveness in Christ must be plainly presented.
    Give God no rest (Is 62:7) until everyone in your family is safely in the ark of Salvation.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, May 16, 2001

SOUL SNUGGLING

(Psa 63:8) My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
    Children love it, couples practice it, and everyone needs it. A good Asnuggle@ does you good all over better than anywhere else! In fact, I remember some times on Wednesday night at church when people would come in and say, APreacher, let=s have some greetings fellowship tonight. After what I have been through this week I really need a hug from someone!@
   That is what the Psalmist is talking about. He wanted his soul to be in such close contact with God until the strength of God poured into his soul and the Aright hand of God would uphold him@. Then he knew he would not have to face the struggles of life in his human weakness but in the strength of that strength
    He wanted to snuggle up to God and feel the love of God flowing into his soul like the warmth of a warm bed on a cold night. He wanted that love to flow into, and out of, him so that he could be the person God intended for him to be. What a difference it would make in our attitude all day if we began the day by snuggling our soul up to God!
    When you love someone- and there is no barriers between you, snuggling is a normal part of life. Is it normal in your relationship with Christ?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 22, 2001

CORRECTING CHRISTIANITY

    Sadly, many times it is difficult to distinguish a Christian from a non-Christian in today=s world. Christians now talk like the world, dress like the world, act like the world, and wonder why they have very little influence on the world! We have entered the day of ACheap Easy Believism@ in which all that is necessary for a person to claim Heaven as their home is for them to acknowledge that they believe a person named Jesus died on a cross. Nothing is ever mentioned about the resulting transformation that is expected in a person=s life.
    Real Christianity deals with 3 areas in a person=s life- His Conversion, His Character, and his Conduct. His Conversion comes about when he realizes he is a sinner and that his sin has alienated him from God. This causes him to repent (dislike what sin is doing to him and to his relationship with God to such an extent that he turns away from sin and turns toward God for help). Repentance leads to acknowledging that the only payment sufficient for his sin debt is the price Jesus paid when He died on the Cross. By an act of Faith he accepts Christ as Savior and is born again.
    This leads to his body becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit where the fruits of the Spirit bloom in his life bringing about a Character change. His old works of flesh (Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God) are replaced with the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: (Gal 5:19-23).
    This change in Character produces an evident change in Conduct. He acts different, talks different, and behaves different as his life is now lived to glorify God instead of satisfy self. And his Christianity is one worth living for; and dying with.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, May 23, 2001

THE BEST BOOK

    The Bible contains 3, 566,480 letters, 773,692 words, 31,173 verses, 1,189 chapters, and 66 books. The longest chapter is the 119^th Psalm. The Shortest Chapter is the 117^th Psalm. The middle verse is the eighth verse of the 118^th Psalm. The longest verse is the 9^th verse of the 8^th chapter of Esther and the shortest verse is the 35^th verse of the 11^th chapter of John.
    The longest name in the Bible is AMahershalalhashbaz@ [The name of Isaiah=s son (Isaiah 8:-)]. All of the letters of the alphabet (except AJ@) are found in the 21^st verse of the 7^th chapter of Ezra.
    The 37^th chapter of Isaiah and the 19^th chapter of Second Kings are alike. The word Aand@ occurs 46,227 times. The word AJehovah@ is found 6,855 times in scripture but the word AGod@ is not found in the book of Esther or the Song of Solomon.
    The Bible is the most important book in all of creation. If you know all of science, math, and social studies and are not familiar with the Word of God you are sorely lacking in your education. If you own a dozen Bibles and have one in each room of your home; yet you never read the Bible, you are trampling under foot the greatest blessing and benefit open to your life.
    The Bible is the message of God to the world. It is divinely inspired and the informational source of salvation. It contains the principles and practices you need if you would live a proper life. It is the greatest book known to mankind- but only if you read it!!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 29, 2001

    Specialist list 7 reasons for Anger (1) Your Rights were violated. (2) Disappointment over your place or your circumstances in life (3) Blocked Goals {Someone driving slowly in front of you as you are trying to get home!} (4) Irritations {Like someone constantly asking foolish questions} (5) Feeling Misunderstood (6) Unrealistic Expectations that aren’t met because they can’t be met {I have watched people become extremely anger at ball players because they were not perfect every single time!}(7) Physical problems- Pathological or Physiological.
    The Bible List several types of Anger- (1) Righteous Anger: (1 Ki 11:9) And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, (2) Reasonable Anger- (Eph 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (3) Restrictions Anger- (Col 3:21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (4) Regulated Anger (Prov 16:32) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
    The Dictionary defines Anger as something that irritates, enrages, or inflames a person and brings them to pain, distress or vexation. Sadly, that is exactly where anger leads most times- to pain, distress and vexation. Paul told the Ephesians to "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Eph 4:31_32). And that is Anger’s Answer, to love others as God has loved you. Replace anger with kindness and see what a difference it makes in your life; and in the attitude of those around you.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, May 30, 2001

    The project was simple to explain but hard to do. A person was given a picture of the letter "K" that was made up of jigsaw puzzle pieces that were clearly defined in the picture. Their partner was given all the pieces necessary to constructing an identical "K". The challenge was for the first person to tell the second person how to construct the puzzle simply by describing parts and telling them where to put them.
    Today, I leave for India to spend 2 weeks with one of our missionaries. During that time I hope to share Christ with as many people as possible. The above described project was part of the training for this trip in order to help me understand the frustration of trying to tell someone about something when that person has little or no knowledge about what I am talking about.
    In the picture puzzle project I referred to everything finally came together when you realized there was one key piece that all the other pieces hooked onto. Begin there and the puzzle was not too hard. Start anywhere else and putting the puzzle together was extremely perplexing.
    Pray for me during my ministry in India that God will give me the wisdom I need so I can help turn the broken pieces of people’s lives into the finished project God desires. And I know it can be done; because I know the key piece that their life must "hook" to is a personal relationship with Christ.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 5, 2001

    Someone wrote once that "When your vision for the future is replaced with your memories of the past then you have one foot in the grave!" There are several truths to that statement.
    The older a person becomes the more they spend time in the past and less time looking ahead to the challenges and visions of the future. Part of that is God given human nature. Before the advent of books and other recording paraphernalia the only means of transferring information from one generation to another was stories told by the older generation to the younger generation. That is why, as you grow older, your long term memory increases and your short term memory decreases- you can remember the color of the clothes your wore in the second grade but you cannot remember if you took your medicine that day!
    There is nothing wrong with this kind of Memory-Vision transfer. The problem area is when a person allows memories of past happenings and hurts to bring them into bondage to bitterness, jealously, envy, and anger so that they lose the joy of life and the anticipation of future growth. Something in the past controls their present and clouds their future! Like a convict chained to a ball of lead, they are unable to run the race of life because of the weight of the past.
    Are you so busy looking back at the past until you constantly run into others; hurting yourself as well as them? Have you lost the joy of living because you look back at problems instead of ahead to potential? Let me give you some advice- (Phil 3:13-14)... "this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
    You can let memories defeat your vision and dig your own grave. Or you can catch a vision of the abundant life found in Christ. The choice is obvious to me.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, June 6, 2001

    June 6^th, D-Day. The weather was bad, the location was unusual, and the Germans thought for sure that the Allies would not attack on this day. Or, if they did attack, it would certainly not be in this location. But they could attack, and they did attack, and the beginning of the end of the German empire was built on the blood and effort of Allied soldiers on the now famous beaches of that June morning.
    Christians are in a war also. The difference is that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and forces that would destroy in the most horrible way, and for eternity, every man, woman, boy, and girl on the earth.
    Satan is fighting with all his strength to keep people from hearing the good news about Forgiveness, Redemption, and Eternal Life in Heaven. He lies continually about God, about God’s people, and about God’s offer of salvation. He intimidates people with peer pressure and he bullies people into believing that God’s way is wrong and his way is best; all the while laughing with glee as souls slip into the eternal flames of hell.
    The battle is fierce. It involves YOU, your family, your friends, and everyone around you. Like the Germans, you can ignore every warning and go down in defeat; or you can gird yourself with the armor of God and raise up to defeat the destroyer. But it is not a battle you can ignore.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 12, 2001

CHRISTIAN LEADERS DON’T FAIL IN MINISTRY BECAUSE THEY CAN’T PREACH A SERMON; THEY FAIL IN MINISTRY BECAUSE OF HIDDEN OR UNRESOLVED CHARACTER FLAWS.
    I have had the "privilege" of hearing many people complain about Pastors. One thing I have noticed is that it is extremely unusual for that complaint to center around his preaching. Invariably, it is about his neglect of some group (the youth, the seniors, the shut-in) or his attitude toward others (too bossy, too partial to one segment of the church over another, too independent so that we don’t feel we have a part in what goes on). But I just can’t remember the last time someone has said to me, "Our preacher can’t preach a lick! We really need to get someone in his place. Do you know of someone?"
    I have seen churches that had the potential of reaching large numbers of people but they stay at the same low level year after year. Many times that is the result of the members of the church having no real desire to grow because of fear of lost of "control" if new people come in or an unwillingness to accept anyone else into their circle of family and friends. Sometimes, however, it involves a Pastor who is lazy, lukewarm, or lacking in a real vision of God’s plan and purpose. If the Pastor would "get on fire" he would be amazed at how fast the fire of revival would sweep through his congregation!
    Pastors are people. God does not expect every one of them to have a dynamic appeal that causes large crowds to flock to hear them every Sunday. He does, however, expect each of them to have consistent clean character that allows Him to use every area of their life in exactly the way God intended. And that kind of character will make a difference in their preaching as well as their personality!

Miracle Message for Wednesday, June 13, 2001

    It was that time in the service to receive the offering. After the offertory prayer the ushers made their way up the aisles of the church as we sang a song of praise. When the ushers came back down the aisle one of them had a little boy by the hand. I looked at my wife and said, "Someone really gave a special offering today! They gave one of their children!"
    Obviously, the child belonged to the usher and he had decided to go to daddy when the offering was being received but it certainly did paint a great illustration. I just wanted to name the usher "Abraham" and think of him climbing that mountain to offer his son "Isaac" as a sacrifice to God.
    Children are a gift from God. Our greatest obligation is to raise them up for God and then give them back to God in order that they can accomplish God's plan for their lives. That means that a father's primary task for his children is to teach them the need of; and the requirements for, a committed relationship to God.
    Don't give your children in the offering this Sunday. Instead, commit them, and yourself, completely to the Lord. That will invoke God's protection and guidance on their life and make you the best parent you can be.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 19, 2001

    I will long remember sitting by a small desk beside an open window listening to the sounds of India when I heard the voice of God. Daylight comes early in this part of India so 5:00am is the normal rising time. By 6:00am much of the activity of the day is well underway. The Moslem Mullah is calling the faithful to prayer from the Mosque down the street. The Hostel boys in our compound are jabbering as they sweep the yards, compete their baths, or prepare for their daily lessons.
    The main road is only 1 mile away and the constant blaring of truck and auto horns add to the morning sounds that sweep through the window. The farm tractors have already begun their daily task and their chug, chug, chug mingles with the early morning birds singing their different tunes.
    In the midst of this canopy of sound comes the cry of a young child. I hear its cry and so does God. Center a map of South Carolina over the spot where I sit and you enclose nearly 100 million people from parts of 7 nations. The baby cries for his mother; these 100 million souls cry for the pardon and peace that can only be given by God through Christ. Some of the most loving and wonderful people in all the world live in this area. God’s voice gently whispers to me through the cry of a little child, "Where will they spend eternity?"

Miracle Message for Wednesday, June20, 2001

    The sparkling white of her outfit matched the white of her hair. She came to the annual Church Conference in India and shyly approached the local pastor. It was difficult at first to hear her broken dialect but finally the pastor realized she wanted to speak to the missionary in charge.
    Conference is an extremely busy time for the missionary and the local pastor asked if there was anything he could do. "No", she insisted, she needed to speak to the missionary.
    From her demeanor and actions the Pastor finally thought he should tell the missionary about her. It was another task in an already overloaded schedule for the missionary but he followed the Pastor back to where the Lady in White waited.
    When the missionary arrived the Lady in White bowed at his feet and wept, "Uncle (her term of affection),", she said. "Thank you for coming to our country. Without you I would never have come to know Christ as my Savior. My husband and one son died never knowing there was a Christ to save them. Thank you so much for coming that I might hear before I died."
    As an Indian pastor visited her in the following days he found that she fasted and prayed 3 days every week praying that others around her would not die without hearing of Christ. What will YOU do to help answer her prayers?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 26, 2001

    It was my third service of the day. We had left the place I was staying in India very early that morning, driven across very bad roads, went through Indian Immigration, and then endured the complex Immigration process in Nepal- Paid very much for a one day visa, paid a customs tax, paid the car tax, paid a gas tax, paid a road tax, and finally arrived at my first service in a crowed store front church.
    The services in the various churches had been wonderful but all the activities of the day and the time consuming process of police check points had made us over an hour late for this final service. When we arrived the sun was beating down with ferocious heat and the hot humid air that precedes a thunderstorm made perspiration pour with every movement.
    Sitting on the hard cement floor beneath a hot tin roof was another group of Nepalese Christians happily singing out their love for God as they awaited my arrival. Greetings were exchanged and I was given the opportunity to share God’s Word. Three young ladies (late teens, early twenties) responded for salvation at the end of the message. As they knelt to accept Christ they were questioned first by the Nepalese Pastor and told of the persecution they would likely endure if they trusted Christ. Then the Indian Pastor with me talked with them and made sure of their commitment. Finally, I was asked to pray with them.
    Many people grumble and grip about life in America. I think a day in Nepal would "cure their fever"! Many Church members "play the Christian game" with no real commitment to God or His work, I think 3 young ladies in Nepal could show them what real Christianity expects of them. I look forward to meeting this girls again in Heaven one day; I hope you will be there rejoicing with us.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, June 27, 2001

    Looking down on a recent plane trip I noticed the rivers. They wander and curve and almost turn back upon themselves as they travel across country. Suddenly it dawned on me why they did this; Rivers always seek the easiest way! If a river meets an obstacle it will simply seek the path of least resistance; thus allowing its path to be determined by the obstacles it meets.
    We, in the Christian Church, are in a difficult time- Society and customs around us are changing at an increasingly rapid pace. Obstacles are becoming common in the path of the Church. Many Churches look for the easy way around these obstacles and their path has become extremely crooked. When you are riding the river it is hard to realize how crooked your course has become but if you ever get the chance to stand on a hill and look down it becomes very obvious.
    The force of a river; and of the church, is tremendous. Sometimes the best use of that force is to work around an obstacle until it can undermine that obstacle and return to its proper course. It should never, however, get into the pattern of allowing obstacles to become the director of its course.
    Remember this. Rivers travel was at one time the major method of traveling in our country but it is almost obsolete today. People prefer straight roads to crooked rivers.