2004 NEWSPAPER DEVOTIONAL ARTICLES- Jan-June

    These weekly articles were written by Rev Mike Jones for South Carolina Newspapers on a busy Pastor's schedule. Space was limited to around 300 words 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- To receive printed copies of the devotional messages in booklet form send your name and address to
        Rev Mike Jones, Minister Ministry
        2434 Allen Road, Effingham, S C 29541
[The Material is free and no follow up solicitation will follow]

    Many people have set, and already broken, many goals for this new year. Let me encourage you to set, and keep, the worthy goal of reading the entire Bible this year.
    A prisoner, condemned to solitary confinement, obtained a copy of the Bible and by three years of careful study, obtained the following facts. The Bible contains 3,886,489 letters; 773,692 words; 31,173 verses; 1,189 chapters, and 66 books. The word "and" occurs 46,277 times. The word "word" occurs 1,855 times. The middle verse is the 8th verse of the 118th Psalm. The 21st verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra contains all the letters of the alphabet except the letter J. The 19th chapter of II Kings and the 37th chapter of Isaiah are alike. The longest verse is the 9th of the 8th chapter of Esther. The shortest verse is the 35th verse of the 11th chapter of St. John. The 8th, 15th, 21st, and 31st verses of the 107th Psalm are alike. Each verse of the 136th Psalm ends alike.
    The Bible continues to be the best selling book in all the world. It is interesting to read and wonderful to contemplate. YOU can read the entire Bible this year with a very little effort. At a normal reading rate, did you know that: It takes 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the entire Bible? It takes 52 hours and 20 minutes to read the Old Testament? It takes 18 hours and 20 minutes to read the New Testament? The Psalms take longest to read: (4 hours and 28 minutes.)? The Gospel of Luke takes 2 hours and 43 minutes?
    In less than 12 minutes a day you can read the Bible through in a year. No more excuses. Make this the year that you read the only book that will still be read a million years from now- The Bible.

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:13)
    The major problem Christians face is overcoming temptations. The main reason many lost people use for not becoming Christians is because they "could not hold out" (They don’t think they could withstand the temptations they would have to face). Temptations are a problem!
    The truths in our Scripture verse will help you.
    1) Temptations are Common to man. You are not alone in your fight. Everyone has a battle with something.
    2) Temptations are limited. God will not suffer you to be tempted above your abilities to cope with the temptation.
    3) Temptations have a WAY out. God always provides an escape hatch so you can get away before you are defeated.
    The Way out of temptation is always available but you must Look for the way out (Some people are more interested in giving in than in getting out!). Then you must Leave by the way provided. God opens the door but you must walk through it.
    You can’t escape being tempted but you can triumph over temptations and live a victorious life. Trust in God’s care and look for God’s way out. It will always be there!

    In my early Christian life I read a book entitled "Your God is too Small". I don't remember what was in the book but I've never forgotten the title. Today I believe there are multitudes of people who need to examine afresh their belief in the Power and Ability of God. I believe their God is trapped in the smallness of their mind and it would shock them into fear, amazement, and wonder if He would do something truly miraculous.
    The Faith preached by most people today is more about denouncing what God does not want them to do than it is about demonstrating that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! I am not talking about turning God into a circus act where we "wow" our friends and family with our feats of daring. Nor do I mean that God is some "magic" power we can use at our whim to turn us into "gods" and God into simply a powerful servant. I am saying we need a living Faith in the God of the Bible who can open the Red Sea to preserve His people, who can feed 5000 people with a little lad’s lunch, and who turn the defeat of death into the victory of resurrection.
    Is your life filled with wonder at what God is doing for others instead of overflowing with Glory for what He is doing for you? Is your Christianity a standard of conduct that limits your life instead of a strengthening force that opens the way for you to live an abundant life? God is not dead; He is not even sick! Stop limiting Him by keeping Him in the small little mold of your mind. Let Him be God and learn what it means to have joy unspeakable and full of Glory!

    I recently read of a couple who won over $100 million dollars in a lottery drawing. My heart aches for them. Statistics tell us that within 5 years their marriage will be in trouble and within 10 years they will be worst off financially than they were before they became "winners". Sometimes the things you think you would really like to have are the things that will do you the most harm.
    A good example of this is the story of Lot. Prosperity caused him to leave the godly influence of his uncle Abraham and move into the city of Sodom. In spite of the fact that his family loved the new situation and he was elected to a prominent place on the city council his discovered his soul suffered every day as he saw the decadence and moral decay of the city.
    One day God send messengers to tell Lot to leave the city because God’s wrath was going to destroy it. On that day Lot began to realize how much he had lost by becoming a "winner". His son-in-laws laughed as he urged them to escape, his wife’s heart remained in the city even as she fled and soon she looked back and turned to a pillar of salt, and his daughters had been so ingrained with the morals of Sodom until they believed incest was the right course of action- to Lot’s perpetual shame.
    Sometimes being a "winner" is actually being a loser. No wonder Jesus demanded cross bearing instead of bank accounts from his followers.

    It has always been the temptation of the human heart to look at the duties of others rather than as one’s own duties. In one of His last meetings with His disciples Jesus "pinned Peter to the wall" with His threefold repeated question about Peters love and His description of Peter’s soon coming suffering. Instead of humbly accepting the proclamation of the Lord, Peter looked around and asked in essence, "What about John? If I am going to have to undergo all this then what will John have to do?"
    When the Lord gives us a command there are several things we need to have settled in our heart. Is it best to obey what He commands? Is it safe to obey what He commands? Is it possible to obey what He commands? Is it our duty to obey what He commands? Peter had not crossed this bridge yet. Instead of reporting for duty when he received his command Peter wanted to make sure everyone else had to do what he was expected to do.
    Many time we are tempted to ask the same question Peter asked. "Lord, you expect me to suffer for you. Will others have to suffer as much as I do?" "Lord, you commanded me to feed the sheep. Will John have to work as hard as I do?" "Lord, you told me I would be bound and lose my freedom. Will John be free to do as he pleases while I endure captivity?" "What about John, Lord, what do you plan for him?"
    The answer Jesus gave Peter is the same one we need today. In simple words, Jesus said, "I have a plan for John but it is none of your concern. Do what I have told you to do and let me worry about John." That was God’s advice to Peter and it is good advice for you and I.

    Trying to describe God is like trying to describe the wind. You know it is there because you can feel its gentle caress and see its effects on things around you but you can’t "put it in a box" and show it to someone.
    That was the problem facing Moses when he stood before Pharaoh. Moses had been adopted by the Pharaoh’s family but he turned on the very people who had so graciously taken him in and even went so far as to committed murder. Now he tells Pharaoh he must let the Israelites go and give up a major source of cheap labor for his country. His only authority for asking this is because "the Lord" had told him to make the demand. Naturally, Pharaoh asks the question, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?".
    Preachers proclaim each week that men are to turn from the pleasures of sin and take up the cross of self denial and their only authority is that "the Lord" commands it. Like Pharaoh, you may ask, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey Him?"
    If you judge God by failed TV "prophets" and by unchristian Christians then you will continue as you are. But if you can see His impact, like the wind, on those who truly know and love Him then you will bow before Him and ask Him to bring the changes in your life you so desperately crave. And you will no longer wonder who God is; you will wonder how you ever lived without Him in our heart!

    Jesus said we were to be the "Light of the World". The Bible also declares we are part of the Body of Christ in which we perform a common task by accepting our assignment as different parts of the body. I think that means we also light up the world by being different kinds of light. Which leads us to this question. What kind of light are you?
    Are you a reading lamp light helping to illuminate the word of God by shining upon those who are studying the Bible? Are you a chandelier light who may look simply decorative but you join with many other smaller lights to brighten up a house of worship so the service of God can go forward? Are you a classroom light who shines when there is a need for instruction? Are you a fellowship building light that brings people together in order for them to develop a sense of community as they share a common meal? Where is your light shining to reveal God to a world stumbling in the darkness?
    Maybe your light is not burning very brightly right now. Did someone accidentally bumped against the dimmer and now your feelings are hurt and your light is very dim. Maybe your light is in place but it has been allowed to get very dirty and now cast more shadows than it illuminates those in need. Maybe, just maybe, your light has burned out. You burned brightly for a long time but weariness, wickedness, or bitterness put too much pressure on your insides and now your light is dark. You still occupy the place of power and you could shine brightly again if some changes were made but for now you occupy space, allow others to do the work, and desperately wait for someone to notice that you are no longer shining.
    Jesus said you were to be the "Light of the World". Is your light lighting?

    Her name was Marcy. Every day she would come by the lobby area where I was enjoying the coffee provided by the hotel and reading my Bible chapters. I was in town for a financial seminar and my days were filled with brain numbing facts and figures so I needed this spiritual refreshment before the day began.
    Marcy always spoke to me when she passed and her pleasant personality brightened up the morning. As she wandered around I noticed that she stopped at lamps and looked at all the lights high in the ceiling. One day my curiosity got the better of me and I asked her what her job for the hotel involved.
    Her job, at this very large hotel, was to make sure that all the lights worked. What a neat job. Chandeliers, overhead lights, lobby lamps, and hall lights were all part of her territory as she went around each day checking that none of them were burned out or inoperative.
    We need some "Marcys" in our Churches. Not someone who would go about trying to tell everyone what they should be doing but someone who would always be on the lookout for ways to keep the various lights of the Church shining as brightly as possible. Someone who would care about the little lights as well as the bright lights. Someone who would ensure that the lonely lamp was ready to shine when called upon. Could that possible be you??

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 3, 2004

WASTED WARRIORS

    De 2:14 And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
    What a horrible statement, "until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host,". Warriors lives were wasted wandering in the wilderness and dying in the desert instead of winning great battles and claiming victories for the Lord. Not what God intended and not what should have happened.
    The story is simple and familiar. The children of Israel came to the door of the promised land but the obstacles appeared to be more than the opportunities so their faith faltered and they refused to go into battle. God’s judgment was decisive. The nation of Israel would wander in the wilderness until everyone over 20 years old died. Warriors now became wanderers and death now brought shame instead of glory.
    Sadly, this same story is played out in some churches. Men who are able to manage booming businesses cower at the giant of teaching junior boys. Men who handle life’s problems with hardly a shrug turn away from the responsibility of responsibility in the activities of a Church. They could make a difference for now and for eternity but they become "wasted warriors" wandering through life, just showing up at church, waiting to die. What a sad commentary on a man’s life in the annals of eternity.

    He bought the calculator for a major math test he had to take as part of his work. It had many "whistles and bells" that you would never use under normal circumstances but would come in handy during this test. Once the test was completed he went back to using it as a simple calculator to help him with his work as treasurer of First Free Will Baptist Church of Greenwood.
    One day as he entered figures into the calculator he noticed that the fourth number from the right was blank. He tried everything he could think of and still that space was blank. Finally, in frustration, he stopped using the calculator. From time to time he would find it in his drawer and try again. Always the fourth number from the right was blank.
    A special series of sermons at church taught him that instead of fighting the circumstances that confronted him he should learn to turn them over to the Lord. That night when he came in to do the church finances he accidently grabbed this calculator again. Instead of being frustrated that the fourth number from the right was blank he simply told God that he was giving the calculator to Him and put it back in the drawer.
    Next week he again picked up that calculator. This time when he punched in the numbers ALL of them worked! When he told me the story and showed me the string of numbers across the calculator I just had to say, "Glory". What a great God we serve.

    A new pizza place opened in town about a year ago. It offered a pizza buffet so my wife and I decided to try it out. The pizzas contained a lot of bread but the ingredients were not very tasty. Several months later when we again wanted pizza we decided to go back to this place to give them a second chance. Same song but the last verse for us.
    One night recently my wife said she wanted pizza again. Right across from the pizza place with the buffet was another pizza place that we thought would be more expensive. Surprise, they had a pizza meal for two that included a salad and drinks and cost about the same as the buffet place. And the pizza, "Momma mia" it was good. The crust was light and delicate, the cheese was abundant, and there was enough meat to taste in every bite.
    This is not a pizza commercial!! Just wanted to point out something about relationships. We live in a society today that pushes young people to believe that "buffet relationships" with many partners should be their ultimate goal. In the process they find they have partaken but they aren’t satisfied. There is a craving deep inside them that remains unfulfilled.
    Thirty four years ago I married the lovely Princess Paula. We haven’t been involved in the buffet business, we have been joyfully satisfied with the meal for two. We have found that getting to really know one another has brought a joy and satisfaction to our relationship that is beyond anything a buffet could ever offer.
    God’s plan for marriage in the Bible is not only the right plan, it is also the best plan. Use it to build your relationship and you will find the meal for two is really the best value after all.

    Has the Bible become obsolete? Now that we see all of the vast number of religions in the world does that mean Christianity is just another religion among many? The Greek word "Teleo" in the Bible will help us to see clearly.
    The word "Teleo" means to end, to complete, to conclude, to accomplish, or to finally finish. It is used like this by Jesus when He cried from the cross, "It is finished". Jesus wanted the world to know that God’s plan of salvation was concluded, accomplished, and finally finished!! Nothing else could, or needed to be, added to it in order for it to be complete.
    Society today would have you believe that there are many ways to God and that salvation is a work in progress. Jesus declared from the cross that He was the only way to God and that Salvation’s plan was finished by His payment of our sin debt on the cross. Nothing needs to be added to it and nothing remains to be done by God for it to be completely effective. It is "Teleo".
    Interestingly, there is another place "Teleo" is used in the Bible. After the birth of Jesus the Bible tells how Mary and Joseph "performed" all of the things God intended concerning raising Jesus correctly. Performed here is the word "Teleo". It simply means they did what God expected of them.
    God’s plan of Salvation is "Teleo"- finished completely and awaiting you to "perform" your part by faith and obedience.

    The day is beginning to fade into the dusk of night as you walk down the street. Suddenly, a man jumps out from behind a building banishing a knife and demands all your money. Afraid and confused, you hesitate and the thief becomes more and more excited. Suddenly, he lunges at you and you feel the sharp pain of the knife as it plunges into your body. Slowly, the dusky light fades into darkness as you slip into unconsciousness.
    Finally, a sound penetrates the pain and darkness as you struggle to understand where you are and what is happening to you. An unfamiliar face leans over and declares that he is a doctor and that he must perform surgery on you in order to prevent you from bleeding to death.
    Two men, both are strangers and both plunge a knife into you. One to take your life; the other to save your life. The difference is the motive that drives the person yielding the knife.
    The Bible declares that "the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Sam 16:7). As mere humans, we develop a perception of people based on their outward appearance. Then we attribute certain characteristics and motives to that person based on our perception and prejudices. Only God, however, is able to look beyond the exterior and see the true motivating force of that person’s heart.
    That same faulty judgment is often seen in our perception of God. Many people tend to perceive of God as being legalistic and narrow minded because of the necessary guidelines and organizational details He has given mankind. The truth about God’s motives, however, is revealed in His word- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer 29:11)
    Don’t fear and fret. The only reason God plunges His "Knife" into you is to save you from the vicious attack by Sin or Satan. Rest in God’s love; He is a great surgeon.

    Two men in the Bible are called "Beloved of the Lord" - Daniel and John- and to both of these men God confided His future plans! What would cause God to give a person such a name and then share special secrets with him? Let’s look at Daniel and see two characteristics that may have caught God’s eye.
    1) Daniel was a person of unwavering Godliness all his life- From his refusal to eat the king’s meat as a youth until his visit to the Lion’s den rather than stop praying in his later years his character shines out. Where did this Character come from? Daniel’s early years were spent in the palaces of good king Josiah under the influence of the prophet Jeremiah. The teachings and actions of these Godly mentors was used of God to build a strength of character that could withstand the assault of the evil Babylonian culture. This is why it is important for you today to belong to a Bible teaching Church and attend regularly!
    2) Daniel had a servant’s heart that gave him kingly positions- Like cream, he always rose to the top in spite of his position as a captive and even when the government would change. Someone has said that the meaning of life is to discover your God given gift and the purpose of life is to use that gift to help others. That is exactly what Daniel tried to do.
    "Beloved of the Lord". What a title! Does your character and conduct allow God to say that of you?

    Anna Bartlett Warner began writing books because her father lost much of his fortune in the 1837 depression and the family needed extra money in order to survive. Miss Warner wrote "Jesus Loves Me" for inclusion in her sister's 1860 novel "Say and Seal". In the book it was a poem spoken by a Mr. Linden to comfort Johnny Fax, a dying child.
    "Jesus Loves Me" is one of the first hymns missionaries teach to new converts because of its simple direct message. In the Church Hymnal the subtitle for the song is "The favorite Hymn of China" but it could easily be considered by many to be the favorite hymn of the world. Who can resist the joy of the thought that "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong, They are weak but He is strong"?
    I think the real joy of "Jesus Loves Me" is that it is not just a catchy song; it is a wonderful truth. Jesus loves me when my diaper is dirty (although He loves me too much to leave me in a dirty diaper!) just as much as He does when I am snuggling deep in His arms making wonderful cooing sounds. Jesus loves me just as much when the only bill in my wallet is a phone bill as He does when I put my tithes into the offering plate. Jesus loves me, what a wonderful truth!
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. And knowing He loves me puts joy in my life and removes the fear from death from my heart.

    Miss Emily Cavanaugh broke her engagement to Billy Graham in 1938 because she wanted to marry a man who was going to amount to something and she didn’t think he was going to make it!! Hindsight is twenty/twenty but present sight is some times blurry.
    If you stand with your eyes only an inch from a painting you have never seen before the blur of colors makes it almost impossible to tell what the painting is all about. Back up three feet from the painting, however, and you will probably instantly recognize what the artist was trying to show. Sometimes being too close to something blurs our vision and hides the real picture.
    Standing watch one day aboard ship while everyone else on the ship was engaged in a Fourth of July celebration allowed me to see a school of porpoise suddenly surface in splendor and beauty. When I excitedly called out to those in the celebration they all turned to look but it was too late. Looking inward at the party had caused them to miss the porpoise appearing.
    Jesus told about men who had eyes but would not see. Caught up in their self centered world they have abandoned God, forgot about the big picture, and have eyes only for the present party without any thought of the soon appearing Jesus. How horrible it will be when they finally open their eyes and see only outer darkness instead of marvelous mansions and streets of gold.

    Three times in scripture God tells us about His "Benefits". The Hebrew word means "an act of good". This is a wonderful description of the Benefits we receive from the Lord because they are always for our good! Ranging from the air we breathe to the daily bread we consume, the benefits of God constantly remind us of His love and care.
    1) The Bounty of His Benefits- Ps 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." The word "Selah" on the end of a Psalm is a musical term meaning "stop". It is used by the Psalmist to tell readers to pause and think carefully about what he has just said. Think about it! God daily "Loads" us with benefits. He doesn’t just send down a few "mercy drops" from Heaven, He provides buckets full of "acts of good" for us.
    2) The Praise of His Benefits- Ps 103:2 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:". Do you go through life complaining about circumstances while never praising God for the "acts of good" He is doing for you? If I found a good restaurant and began telling everyone I met how good the food was it would not be long before some of them would want to go to that restaurant! Remember that if people are not coming to your church or if you never lead anyone to Christ.
    3) The Obligation of His Benefits- Ps 116:12 "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" God has been good to me; shouldn’t I do good for Him? What can you do today that will help God and others see how much you appreciate all the "acts of good" God has done for you? He daily loads us with benefits; find a way to share some of them.

    Ever felt like kicking someone in the leg when they tell you to "Have a good day."? Ever felt like shouting, "If you had to face what I have to face today you wouldn’t be so cheerful." when someone smiled and told you to "Have a good day"? Maybe you need to learn the 4 rules for having a good day.
    1) Begin the Day with a smile. I know you want to kick me for saying that but remember "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps 118:24 ). Rejoice in the fact that God has given you another day even if you can’t rejoice in the circumstances that day may bring.
    2) Expect a daily blessing. Jesus taught us to pray for the Father to "Give us this day our daily bread". This simply means we are to look each day for God to provide what we need for that day. Sometimes looking at bitterness instead of expecting blessings makes us overlook the bread when it is provided.
    3) Find someone to help every day- (Heb 3:13) "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." It is amazing what a difference it makes when you reach out to others instead of crawling into a shell of personal pain and self pity.
    4) Live each day for God- Lu 9:23 "he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Put God first and it will be a GOOD day.

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
    Perfect Peace, the claim of some, the dream of all. The Hebrew word for "Perfect Peace" is actually "Peace Peace". It is such a wonderful condition until the writer finds no other adjective to describe it except the very word itself!
    What could bring about such confidence and comfort? It is not possessing possessions because the very possession of possessions brings about anxiety concerning the safety and use of those possessions. It is not the artificial peace of ignorance nor the foolish peace of ignoring the realities of life. And it is certainly not a drug or drink induced haze that insulates our mind from the fact that the drug or drink we take to find that peace is in reality destroying our mind and body .
    "Perfect Peace" comes when a person’s mind settles down into a state of complete confidence in the actions and attitude of God. Peace is not based on the absence of disturbance but on the presence of the Divine God!
    Use the letters of Peace to show how such a peace is produced. "P" is for the Promises of God that we cling to in all of life’s circumstances. "E" means God is Everywhere so there is nowhere we go that God is not there with us! "A" reminds us that God’s love and care is not for a select few but for All. "C" reveals the Care of God and reminds us that He numbers the hairs of our head and knows when even a sparrow falls to the ground. "E" stands for Eternal and helps us realize that God can be counted on now and forever.
    Perfect Peace, the dream of all; the reality of those who continually rest in God’s love and care.

    Knowing God’s Forgiveness brings peace to our heart. Showing God’s Love brings peace to our community. So you would think God’s Peace would be a major topic in Scripture.
    Surprisingly, the "peace of God" is only used twice in the Bible. Both times are letters from Paul and both times are exhortations to manifest Christian Character.
    Php 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." First, we are told that the "Peace of God" will guard our hearts and minds in all of Life’s Circumstances if we will simply seek God’s face and ask for God’s favor. What a neat thought. We bring our needs to God and He stations His Peace to guard our gates as we await His answer to our prayers.
    Col 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Secondly, we find that letting the "Peace of God" control our heart causes us to see other Christians as brothers instead of adversaries. This sounds like a "no brainer" but church conflicts, fractured families, and power problems show that it has not been applied very well in many local congregations.
    It is not enough to have Peace with God to assure us of Heaven someday. We must also allow the Peace of God to guard our hearts and change our lives today!

    This is my "Birthday Week". My pretty princess Paula celebrates her normal birthday this week and I celebrate my 42^nd Spiritual Birthday this week. I won’t tell you when Paula was born but I was born again on Monday, March 19^th, 1962. Accepting Christ as my Savior and Lord on that night has been the most wonderful peace producing event in all of my life. It changed the course of my life on this earth and my destination after death. It also changed my family, my friends, and my purpose in life. Words are not adequate to describe the joy that abides in my heart continually because of a simple sinners prayer at an old fashion altar on that Monday night.
    When Moses was headed to the promised land he made an interesting statement to his father in law, "if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee." (Nu 10:32 ). I call this "second hand blessings". It is found again in the life of Joseph when the Bible declares "the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake" (Gen 39:5). People who don’t know God receive "second hand blessings" because they are around people who do know God!
    Society is becoming more and more anti-Christian in America. The media, the movies, and the modernist all want to put Christians in a box where they will not bother anyone with their righteous preaching anymore. Think for a moment. If all of the Christians in America were removed today (We call that the Rapture!) and, along with them, all the "second hand blessings" cease to come; what a horrible condition will exist in America!
    I appreciate the blessings that are mine because others have lived Godly lives. I hope you will realize that also.

    During the great Ice Storm of 2004 I came home from work and, like many of you, I found a cold dark house. It didn’t take me very long to realize that being without electricity is ungood, very ungood! Some people might like roughing it with no water and no heat but I am not one of them.
    I have a small propane cylinder in my store house that has a heater attached. We keep it handy for just such occasions as this. The ground was icy and slick but I managed to made it to the store house safely.
    When I stepped up onto the store house step I had my mind set on finding the lock on the store house door and getting the key inserted in the dark so I didn’t see the ice that had accumulated on the step. As soon as I put my foot down it promptly went out from under me and I found myself flat on my back on the icy ground. Now I really don’t like the dark icy conditions!
    Jeremiah, the prophet, warned people who had turned from following God that God would put them on a path that was like a slippery path in the dark (Jer. 23:12). Let the voice of experience tell you that a slippery step in the dark is not a pleasant prospect. It makes life uncomfortable in the living and its end is embarrassing and painful.

    Someone once said that the Lord may ask you two questions when you arrive in Heaven- "Did you come alone?" and then the most heart wrenching of all, "Why?". Maybe this is what Jesus had in mind when He inserted this verse into His famous "Sheep Sermon" in John’s Gospel- John 10:16 "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
    Sometimes as I pray for Pastor Bolen and picture all the people he deals with each day who are suffering under the grinding poverty and the bondage of Satan in India my heart weeps for his needs and I plead with God for enabling power so he can reach the millions and millions who are clinging to a false hope; or to no hope at all. Other sheep who need to be in the fold.
    I think of Jean Carlo Ache who pastors a growing church in Brazil but whose heart for "other sheep" leads him to reach out to the thousands in the Amazon jungles who have never heard the Gospel. He could be content with his flock and his family but the bleating of "other sheep" rings in his ears and drives him out of his comfort zone.
    These Pastors, and many more in Spain, Japan, and around the world, are reaching "other sheep" because missionaries brought the gospel to them. These missionaries could have settled close to home and family and they would have been "great workers" in their local church but the bleating of "other sheep" broke their heart and directed their path to the regions beyond.
    When you get to Heaven can I ask you two questions, "Did you come alone?" "Why?".

    Many people claim the promise that "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" found in David’s famous Psalm. If the Lord is your shepherd, however, then you must be one of His sheep. How can you be sure you are part of the right flock? Jesus gives three "sheep signs" in this verse from His famous sheep sermon in the tenth chapter of John’s gospel.
    1) Sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd. They listen to His word (the Bible) and they recognize that society’s standards, like shifting sand, are ever changing; but the voice of God found in Scriptures is timeless and trustworthy.
    2) Sheep have a relationship with the Shepherd. The Shepherd "knows" them. The Shepherd is not a hireling who serves for money and runs away at the first sign of problems. The sheep and the Shepherd have a heart relationship because the sheep have put their faith in the Shepherd’s care and provision.
    3) Sheep follow the Shepherd. The grass may look greener over the septic tank but the sheep are content with the green pastures and still waters provided by the Shepherd. The character and conduct of the sheep conforms to the voice of the Shepherd.
    Are you a sheep following the Shepherd or are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing that will one day be exposed and destroyed?

    Beyond description. What they did to Jesus before and while on the cross was beyond description. The physical punishment was such until Isaiah the prophet declared him to be beyond human recognition as he was beaten, battered, and bruised. And in His time of greatest pain and suffering, when a kind word would have meant more than any amount of gold He was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3)
    How did He do it? How did He keep from lashing out when pain and rejection are all He saw? A single word would have called a legion of angels to His rescue and ushered in the destruction of all those who taunted and tormented Him. How could He say, "Father, Forgive them" instead of "Angels, destroy them"?
    The answer is found in Hebrews where we are told to "Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). The Joy of a finished work that would make salvation available to all men and the anticipation of His future blessings beyond the cross overcame the present pain and terrible torture.
    When your body is racked with pain. When you are forsaken by friends and family. When the present is so bad until it is almost unendurable; do you have a relationship with God that will allow you to patiently endure instead of spitefully retaliate because you look to the joy beyond? Jesus had an inner strength born of a joyful anticipation. What do you have?

    The final few days before the crucifixion are passing quickly. Jesus knows He has much to teach and do. Triumphantly, He enters into Jerusalem where He is proclaimed as a mighty prophet; but not the Son of God. He enters into His Father’s house where He once again casts out those who have turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves.
    Next He spends much time healing the blind and lame. Evidently it was so late, or He was so tired, until He received little, if any, food for His evening meal so He left for the next day’s activities hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road He stopped to get a few figs and relieve His hunger.
    Imagine His disappointment when He found nothing but leaves! In an unusual, but symbolic, gesture He cursed the fig tree and it withered away.
    Jesus continually taught about the need of fruit in the life of a person and in the standards of a nation. He was well aware that Fruitlessness resulted from a lack of love and faith- not a lack of ability. He expected only what He should have expected from a tree that showed the leaves of fruit. On this faithful day He demonstrated how serious He was about finding fruit.
    Are you a "leaf Christian" who makes a show for the world to see or do you produce the fruit God expects? Take heed, fruitlessness can be a very serious failure.

    Do you know the most miserable man on earth?? According to First Corinthians 15:19 it is the Man who does not believe in the Resurrection of Christ. Add to this the fact that Paul declares that if Christ was not resurrected then the Preaching and the Faith of Christianity are worthless and you can begin to understand that Easter goes way beyond bunnies and bird eggs.
    It was faith in the Resurrection that changed "ignorant, unlearned" fishermen into world changing Missionary Preachers. It is faith in the Resurrection that delivers men from the hopelessness and helplessness of Death. And it is "believing in your heart that God has raised Christ from the dead" that changes hell bound sinners into Heaven bound saints. (Rom 10:9).
    The Resurrection shows that God does not simply forgive what I have done in the past. It provides proof positive that God gives me the supernatural ability to begin and live a new life. The cross demonstrates God’s Love and provides the payment for my sin debt. The Resurrection demonstrates God’s power and shows His ability to conquer the "last enemy", Death, so that I can live the abundant life in victory and hope.
    This Easter season look beyond the new clothes and the "Easter eggs" to the Dying Savior and the Resurrected Christ. This will allow God to change you into a born again child of God who faces life with confidence and the future with joyous expectation.

    Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
    We live in a day when morals are meaningless as every man does that which is right in his own sight. Morality is based on the limits people will accept instead of the standards God commands. And when nothing is a sin then there is no need for repentance because everyone is accepted just as they are by a god of "love" who is more interested in making people happy than in calling them to be holy.
    This modern way of thinking does away with the need of a Savior since people "find their own way to God according to their personal beliefs and abilities". Jesus becomes someone to admire for His teachings instead of someone to worship for His sacrifice.
    One small huge thing has been forgotten. God is the Judge and He says we are sinners and Jesus is the only Savior. He has declared the Gospel is about Jesus dying, being resurrected and returning one day. Something you might want to keep in mind.

    Pastor Chuck Thornton of Peace Free Will Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC recently preached a dynamic message using the catch phrase of a mobile phone ad, "Can you hear me now?". His emphasis was on always being able to hear the voice of God when He speaks to you. A powerful thought and a worthy consideration.
    In his message, he talked about how Christians sometimes go to places they should not go and, as a consequence, the voice of God does not get through as it should. God is speaking as clearly and distinctly as ever but we fail to receive God’s "signal" and end up missing God’s Call. This can result in something as simple as a missed blessing or as dramatic as a life changing error.
    God uses many ways to speak to us. Sometimes it is something as sublime as the exhibition of His wonders when "The Heavens declaring His glory" (Psalm 19:1). Sometimes it is startling as the thunder of a gospel preacher. At other times it is the gentle, or not so gentle, nudge of life’s circumstances. And, of course, there is always the clear and life changing voice of God that comes from the reading and study of His word. None of these impact us as they should, however, when we have wandered away from God and now live in a "dead zone" areas where the "Signal" from God is weak and intermittent.
    God is calling out to you today. He is inviting you to abundant life and rest from your heavy burdens. His call is clear and strong. If you aren’t hearing His voice then you need to find out why. God is calling. "Can you hear Him now?"

    I work for a carpenter but I am not one! In almost every church that I have had the privilege to pastor we have had a building program. Although I am not an expert I have found that the foundation and the framework are vital parts of a building. If either of these are less than solid then the building will be in danger from its beginning.
    Paul had this in mind when he told the Ephesian Church that the work of God is built on a solid foundation (Christ) where the people of God must be "fitly framed" together (Eph 2:19-22). "Fitly framed" means that the framework of God’s building is a planned structure where the partnership of placement brings the power of unity. In non preacher talk that simply means that the framework is put together according to a master plan so that as the pieces are put together they gain strength from their being united together.
    Each Christian has a distinct part to play in the building of God’s Kingdom. The parts may be different but they should all join together so that the work of God is "fitly framed" into the building God wants erected.
    Do you fit into God’s framework properly so that the world can see the greatness of God’s glory? Or do you sit on the sideline among the weeds and trash wasting away your life?

    In one of the most encouraging examples of self sacrifice I have witnessed lately, one of our Pastors is working a full time job in order for the Church to use his normal pay to support a long time previous Pastor who is now ill. Christianity at work in the real world.
    The plant where this Pastor works manufactures ice cream and bottles milk and orange juice. Recently he took me for a tour and I was impressed. Stainless steel pipes and conveyor belts were everywhere as computer controls directed the countless operations taking place at the same time.
    We watched as hundreds of half gallon containers were filled with 3 flavors of ice cream at the same time. Then we saw thousands of jugs being manufactured from little pellets before being filled with all kinds of milk and juice. Then everything was either quick frozen or packaged for shipment so that it could quickly be sent to grocery stores, schools, and the many other places who need these products on a regular basis. I could have stood and watched all day.
    After we left the plant I kidded this Pastor that I had been in the presence of more milk and ice cream than I had ever seen before and yet hadn’t tasted any of it! I think of that sometimes in Church when I witness spectator church members. They see all the good things that God is doing in the services; and they may even be impressed with the way things are working, but they never "taste and see that the Lord is good". (Ps 34:8). What a shame. What a loss.

    While touring an ice cream factory recently one machine stood out as something I would not have thought about in ice cream production. It was a metal detector. Why would ice cream need a metal detector?
    The production manager explained that from the time the milk arrived at the plant until it was placed in the ice cream box that it stayed in metal containers or was transported by metal pipes. The metal detector was to ensure that the ice cream was completely free of metal contamination when it left the plant.
    Christians live in a sin cursed world. From the time we arrive until we leave for our Heavenly Home we are in constant contact with contamination. Jesus was aware of this potential danger when He said we should be in the world but not of the world.
    It is easy for worldly ideas and society’s moral standards to contaminate our character and our beliefs if we are not careful. That is why God puts "sin detectors" along our path to sound a warning when things get into our life that do not belong there. These "sin detectors" range from the gentle nudge of a fellow believer to the piercing sword of the Spirit as the word of God is proclaimed from the pulpit.
    God wants a pure product at the end of life’s process. So heed the warning when the "sin detector" sounds. It is warning you about dangerous contaminating influences in your life.

    They were so young until the lack of harmony was cute instead of distracting. Sunday School was just over and the little ones were singing their specials for the assembled congregation and moms and dads were sitting there with obvious pride in the good thing happening in the life of their children. Like most songs for the very young, these involved a lot of motions and activities.
    The problem came about because the kids were so small and everyone wanted to see them so they all stood a step up from the floor on the altar step. The step was small and the children were very active in their version of "Be Careful". You know the song I’m talking about, everyone has sung it in church at one time or another- Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little hands what you do, be careful little mouth what you say, and so forth. The problem came in the "be careful little feet where you go" verse. The Children were supposed to emphasis their feet by marching in place as they sang. A difficult thing to do for little ones, especially when they are perched precariously on a narrow step.
    Sure enough, about the middle of the verse, one of the children got a little too energetic and was not careful where he placed his feet as he sang about being careful little feet! The fall was short, no damage was done, and the little boy almost immediately jumped back up on the step to continue the song.
    I don’t remember the sermon that day but I remember the little boys fall. The Holy Spirit used it to stir my soul again about the need of practicing what you preach; and to warn me afresh that a fall can happen even if you are on the altar singing about being careful not to fall!

    The only good thing she had found from her parent’s divorce so far was that her dad always brought a present to bribe her when he came. This time it was a moped bike and it made her the envy of the other kids. Soon, however, reality set in when she found it was a second hand moped her father had picked up at a deal.
    In order to make a moped work you are supposed to pedal for a short distance so the engine will start. Then you can go sweeping through the air at an amazing 5 miles per hour with the moped doing all the work. Pedaling a second hand moped, however, only brought more pedaling as time after time the engine failed to spark and start.
    Far too many people go thru life trying to get a "second hand moped" to work. They pedal with all their might trying to find a spark that will get their life really going. Most of the time they end up simply having to pedal harder!
    Jesus said He was going away so that the Holy Spirit would come and live within us. If you are tired of pedaling through life trying to find a spark from a program, a person, or the profit you can gain then you need to stop playing with "second hand mopeds" and starting yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit. This will allow God to work in your life so that you will be able to "run and not grow weary; to walk and not faint" (Isa 40:31). And that sure is better than pedaling a second hand moped that will never start!

    Men have a problem with nudity. Some times it is a problem for women also but most often it is a male dilemma. God created men so that they are aroused by visual stimulation. When men see girls with plunging necklines and raised hem lines immediately they begin to draw certain conclusions. These conclusions are not always correct but it is hard for the man to "ignore the advertisement". (Women are normally aroused by sound instead of sight. That is why they want men to talk to them and that is why a man on a date instinctively knows that whispering "sweet nothings" in the ear of his girlfriend is the best approach.).
    Paul told young preacher Timothy, that women were to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;" (1Ti 2:9) because he knew the potential problems that immodest clothing could produce; even in the church, and even among righteous men. Modesty was not based on a woman’s taste in clothing but on exposing herself in such a way that she would be "shamefaced".
    Sadly, today, many women seem to be ashamed of nothing so it is difficult to get them to be really modest. That is where Mothers come in. Godly Mothers are to teach their daughters the value of, and the requirements for, modest dress. It is one of the most valuable lessons a Mother can teach because it helps determine the present behavior and the future stability of a daughter.
    Mothers who push their daughters to view themselves as an object of display usually find headaches for themselves and heartaches for their daughter. Instead of pushing them to dress to expose themselves, why don’t you point them to the personal joy they will feel when they dress themselves modestly and enjoy the respect of real men.

    It all began with my morning devotions. Several verses stood out in my Bible reading and I could not seem to get a good grasp on their meaning. I asked the Lord for wisdom but no "bolt of lightening" flashed in my mind.
    Here are the verses: If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? (Proverbs 24:11-12). In the "Jones devised version" they say, "If you see someone headed for trouble and you ignore the chance to do something about it then the Lord will take that into consideration when He deals with you."
    The day’s devotion was followed by a wonderful conference meeting where the Spirit of the Lord was manifested in an unusual way. During the spontaneous testimonies that erupted during the worship service a Pastor stood and said he needed to confess a sin. His silence on a question asked him during the business session had given the impression that something was true about someone that was not really true; thus putting that preacher in danger of being in wrong standing with the conference.
    A perfect example of my devotional verses about silent sinning; given by the Lord in a very unusual way.

    The fifth chapter of Mark’s Gospel is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It is about a "Mad Man, a Sick Woman, and a Dead Child". It shows the ability of Christ to conquer Demons, Disease, and Death. I also like the fact that help is given to a man, a woman, and a child; no one who needs help is left out!
    There is enough action and adventure in this chapter to satisfy anyone’s cravings as you see the transforming power of Christ shown in all its glorious beauty. Within this chapter Jesus changes a demon possessed "graveyard streaker" into a flaming evangelist, a desperate but timid woman into a testifying example to others, and a funeral service into a joyous family reunion.
    In the midst of these great stories about the tremendous power of Christ is an interesting little fact. Twelve years before this time the woman with the issue of blood was just beginning her extended period of misery. I can almost see her as she noticed a little something wrong but assumed it would get better. Little did she know that twelve long years of doctors, debt, disease, and distress stretched out ahead of her.
    On the other hand, twelve years before this time Jarius’ joy was just beginning as the daughter who was the light of his life was just being born. For twelve wonderful years he watched as she grew into a lovely young girl and every day his love for her grew.
    Twelve years of misery and heartache for one person. Twelve years of joy and love for the other person. Yet, both would come to crisis at the same time; and both would come to Christ for help at the same time! I don’t know which "twelve years" you are in right now. I just know you are going to realize one day how much you have needs that only Christ can meet. My prayer is that it will not be too late to call on Him when you finally realize He is your only help.

    Ro 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
    Pr 22:7 ¶ The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
    In spite of the fact that America is a prosperous country with great opportunities, many people still find themselves "slaves" to debt. They worry and work and weep but still their pay check ends a long time before the month ends! In the next few weeks I want to share several methods that will help you deal with the debt that is sapping your strength and stealing your time away from your service for God.
    Make no mistake about it, if you are a child of God then God will supply your needs and enable you to enjoy the life He has given you. He can feed 5000 men with a little boy’s lunch. He can provide for a widow with a "bottomless floor pot". And He has provided the needs of this writer over and over and over.
    It is not God’s ability that is in question; God is able to supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The problem is in the way you receive and use the resources God gives you. If I send you a letter containing a check for a thousand dollars and you never open the letter you can never buy food with that money. And if you use the money to paper your wall instead of buy food you will still go hungry! (Continued )

    Recently a large number of babies dies in China from starvation. They were being fed but it was discovered later that the formula they were being fed had been manufactured by shysters who had cut cost by producing formula with no nutrients. The babies were eating but they were receiving no nourishment!
    Today, in America, many people have gone on a spiritual "no carb" diet that has eliminated the "Bread of Life" from their menu. Slowly but surely they are starving to death even though they think they are eating sufficient food. Pablum preaching and empty husk teaching fill their hour of church service but do little to fill the ache in their heart for a close personal walk with the Lord.
    I love a good emotional service where the Spirit of the Lord moves in a marvelous way but I realize there is more to Christianity that a shout and a song. For some people today, however, that is the only type of Church service they will "eat" and, while it gives them a rush during the service, it does little to nourish them and develop them into strong soldiers of the cross. They talk about how good their services are and then wonder why church marriages are in problems and church attending children are going the way of the world.
    I have an opinion and I love to express it but I realize my opinion does little to change people; the word of God is God’s method for accomplishing that task. Sunday School teacher and preachers who get up every Sunday and tell me the world is going to hell in a hand basket but never delve into God’s word for answers and corrections only tell me I’m hungry while providing little food to help my starving soul.
    Don’t try to live on husk and hollers. Get into God’s word and let God’s word get into you. It will make a life changing difference.

    Pr 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
    Last week we learned that God can supply the needs of His children. Now let’s begin looking at wise ways we can use the resources God has given us.
    The First way to deal with your debt problem is to SPEND LESS! I know you wanted some "magic formula" that would allow you to spend like there is no tomorrow without the painful reality that sets in when tomorrow finally comes but if your outgo exceeds your inflow then soon you will be in a big woe!
    Spending less does not mean you turn into a miser and live a life of financial misery. The best diet is one in which you cut out one "Snicker" a day so you gradually get into a pattern of eating what you need instead of packing on extra pounds. If you try to lose 25 pounds in a month you will probably end up losing a few pounds and then gain more back as you finally give in to your cravings. It works the same way with spurge spending. You cut back for a week and then buy something more expensive than all you have saved to reward yourself for saving some!
    If you can just remember that you will have to answer to God for the way you use the resources He has given you then it will change your spending habits. And spending less will give you more! (Continued)

    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1-2).
    When the apostle Peter talked about false teachers bringing in "damnable heresies" he was referring to teaching that would destroy the faith in the believer’s heart and the testimony of the believer in the community. These are two of the most vital areas in a Christian’s life so Satan does his best to destroy or neutralize them. The method he uses is the same method he has used from the beginning, lying about God and His word. Satan lied to Eve about God’s Character (God is trying to keep something good from you) and about God’s Word (God has said you will die if you eat of this fruit but you will not surely die).
    One of the great truths Satan has learned about lying is that if you lie about something often enough people will begin to believe it is true! That is why advertising is such a big industry in America and that is why TV is such a valuable tool to Satan.
    If you tell people often enough on TV that all "normal" people commit adultery with as many people as possible then people begin to believe that sleeping around is "normal" in spite of the fact that God has declared that "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4). Satan’s lie become society’s truth and society’s truth becomes a damnable heresy!
    (Next Week- "Three Lies People believe to be true".)

    He which received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said,...: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (Matt 25:24-27)
    Trusting God to supply your needs and learning to spend less are the first two rules about finances. In our scripture, the Lord points out another principle called using your Money WISELY.
    For many years I did not realize that money has a power beyond it’s worth as payment. Now every working bank account in my personal life and in the ministry I oversee pays interest and does not charge a service fee. The payments are the same but I don’t deduct anything for service fees and I add something every month in interest income. More money for the same money.
    Every Credit card that we use pays us cash back or gives us airline miles or points toward free hotel stays. We pay the same money but it earns extras for us- I’m flying to our national meeting this year for free and I have already stayed several nights in motels for free. More money for the same money.
    God gives us grace- unearned favor- to cover our sin. Use that same principle to get "grace" money for the money you spend!

    Last week we learned that "an often repeated error will eventually be accepted at true" and that this is one of Satan’s main tactics (After all, he is the father of all lies! (John 8:44). The problem with an oft repeated error becoming the "truth" is that it is still an error and it still has destructive consequences (For instance, suicide bombers believing the lie that they are doing good by killing themselves and others). Here are three lies that have been repeated by Satan so often until people accept them as truth; even though they produce terrible consequences.
    Lie one: Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and you should not try to convince anyone to believe like you believe. This is one of the most oft repeated lies in America today. According to this lie you can live a morally corrupt life but anyone who points out the value of a pure life is "judgmental" and infringing on that person’s right to believe what they want to believe. It’s right to believe in the wrong but wrong to believe in the right!!
    Lie two: God wants me to be happy and even though the Bible declares it to be wrong it must be right for me because I want to do it! This lie is used to justify every kind of sin while ignoring God’s warnings and His word.
    Lie three: A loving God would not send anyone to Hell. The truth is that God’s love and mercy provided a way out of Hell but His righteous nature demands that those who spurn His offer of forgiveness accept the consequences. It is not God’s will that any perish but it is not God’s way to allow rebellion to flourish in His kingdom.
    What you believe determines what do- and believing a lie makes you do wrong; and end up wrong!

    Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:8-10)
    So far we have said you deal with debt by learning to trust God for provision, spending less, and using your money wisely. In this final installment I want to stress the important principle of multiplying your money by involving God in the process.
    I will gladly work for you if you will pay me a penny the first day and then double my pay each day for a month- You end up paying me $10,737,418.24 a day on the 31^st day!! God said if you would tithe your income then He would pour out a blessing so big you would not have room to receive it. Personal and pastoral experience has proven this to be true. Tithing doesn’t subtract your income, it let’s God multiply it!
    Another way to multiply your money is to invest part of your treasure into an annuity that will give you and your spouse income for life and then fund a ministry of God after your death. God blesses you as you bless God’s work!

Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
    As the world slips deeper and deeper into the mire of moral depravity and humanistic standards it will increase its persecution of Godly people and Christian values. The world does not mind if Christians practice their Christianity secluded in the confines of a local church but notice how they react when we stand against their sinful life styles in public. Instead of being respected and admired we are suddenly vilified and scorned as fanatics and hate mongers.
    One of three things will happen as the battle intensifies and comfortable Christians are called upon to make a stand instead of simply fill a seat- Some will run from the fight and leave the work of God. Many today "follow Christ" for the respect they gain and the riches they hope to earn. Being a church member gives social acceptance today but when Christianity is no longer the "in thing" to do then they will abandon the church as quickly as they give up the ever changing fads of the world.
    Some will refuse to fight and "hide their heads in the sand". Tradition and long help customs will replace Biblical preaching and teaching. These people will be content to "go to church" and go through the motions as they try to ignore the collapse of society all around them. They will be so busy making sure all the seats are in place until they disregard the fact that the ship is sinking!
    Some, however, will rise up and become Heros of the faith. They will see the opposition as opportunity and make a difference for Christ in these last days. They will suffer for His sake and make a difference for eternity. What will you do?

    What will keep you going when Christianity is no longer popular? When the going gets tough and Christianity turns from a game you play into a war you fight will you remain faithful to God or will you wilt in the heat of battle? Here are three things to remember when the going gets tough.
    1) Remember what is Before You- Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
    Jesus could endure the pain, rejection, and persecution that was before Him because He focused on the joy that awaited Him.
    2) Remember who is With You- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is your friend and guide and He will be with you all the way.
    3) Remember what is In You- Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4). No problem or pain can separate you from Christ who lives within you providing strength and ability in every circumstance of life- Glory!

    You are what you are because you do what you do. You do what you do because you believe what you believe. You believe what you believe because you heard what you heard ("Faith comes by hearing"- Rom 10:17). You heard what you heard because you listened to what you wanted to listen to-- (Jer 7:13) "The LORD spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;"
    Whether we want to admit it or not we are products of our beliefs. Some cultures believe that cats make great pets while others believe that cats make great stew! Some people believe that someone some where owes them a living so they spend all their time and energy seeking to get someone else to provide for them. Other people believe that "If a man will not work neither should he eat" (2 Thess 3:10) and so they spend their days working so they can have the resources they need to enjoy life.
    The doctrines you believe will determine the duties you perform. That means it is extremely important that you establish your beliefs on the rock of a relationship with Christ instead of on the shifting sand of man made opinions. And the only way that will happen is if you determine that Church attendance and Bible Study should be a consistent part of your week.
    What you listen to will determine what you hear. What you hear will determine what you believe. What you believe will determine what you do and what you do will determine what you are. Do you want to be fashioned by some unseen writer of a TV series or talk show or do you want to develop eternal life values that will stand the storms of this life and carry you into a wonderful eternity with God? Every week you make that choice; and every week you belong more and more to the beliefs you are forming by the choices you make.

    It began as a trickle. Soon it became a flood. First there were several spam messages a day in my email mail box. In time over 500 email messages a day found their way into my mail box. Over 99% of these messages were "junk" mail that I neither requested nor desired. Day after day I simply deleted them until one day I realized it was taking 20 minutes a day to dispose of unwanted emails. My time for the Lord is too valuable to waste in this way.
    I looked at several "spam filters" but the cost and the complication made them appear unattractive. Something had to be done, however, so I began to study the problem. For weeks I deleted spam and tried to find a common "thread" among the river of junk mail that flooded my mail box so I could develop a filter. Frustration and anger was the only result.
    One day while praying about it the Lord simply whispered the word, "Positive" and the lightbulb went off. Instead of filtering out all the bad mail I simply needed to filter out the good mail and let the bad mail go into a trash folder where it could be deleted quickly and easily. Email is fun again.
    Some Dads live lives of frustration because they spend all their time trying to filter bad things out of their children’s lives. If they could only realize that pointing out the positive will show the negative for the trash it really is. And it is a lot more fun enjoying the positive rather than being overwhelmed by the negative.

    She had it all but found she had nothing. Good looks? She could count herself in that elite group of people who are beautiful by birth. Fame? Her name was on the lips of many of the young people in one of the most populous countries in the world. Wealth? In a land of abject poverty she could spend and spend and not worry about tomorrow.
    In spite of all her success she still felt the need of a god so she chose 3 of them- one to give her wealth, one to point her to someone to love, and one to provide physical protection. Now she had flown all the way across India in order to meet the spokesman for one of her gods.
    The first day, when she knocked on the door of the "prophet", she expected that her name and her fame would cause the spokesman to see her immediately. She was stunned when she was told to come back another day; her "god" did not want to communicate with her that day. The next day she again came to the door and again she was turned away. She had 3 gods but she could not talk to any of them!
    I arrived in Bombay the third day of her visit and read about her attempts to contact her god. The paper said that she was going back again that day to try one more time to talk with her god. As I read the article I thought to myself, "How sad for this girl. She has everything you could want but still can not contact her god; yet I have very little and I can talk with God any time day or night because He lives within my heart!".

    No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. (Luke 8:16)
    You do not have to attend Church very long before you hear a preacher tell about how Christians are to let their light shine for the Lord. That is because this parable by Jesus was so obvious and so applicable. Here are some characteristics of Christians as candles that you may want to keep in mind as you let your light shine.
    1) The Standards of a Candle- It is set up on a candlestick so that it’s light can be effective. In the same way, a Christian is to live above the mud and mire so that their light can be seen by all those seeking the Lord.
    2) The Sacrifice of a Candle- A candle must be willing to be "set on fire" if it is to do its job. A candle without a light is just a pretty decoration accomplishing nothing. Candle must realize also that they do not set themselves on fire by self effort or by striving to do better. A power from outside must set them on fire so they will produce light.
    3) The Shining of a Candle- Candles are not to hide under the bed of laziness nor to cover themselves with so much work until they forget people. There job is to shine; and to keep on shining!

    (Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna, is from the Lake City area and has faithfully served the Lord for over 50 years in Sonapur, India. In the next few weeks we will look at some of the "adventures" he has had and, hopefully, draw some inspiration from these "Carlisle Chronicles". In India, Brother Carlisle is affectionately and respectfully called "Uncle" so that is the name I will use for him in the articles).
    Don was only five years old but he felt he was old enough to go with daddy on his visiting that day. Uncle knew the day’s trip would be difficult and dangerous so he had to tell Don he could not go. He left Don crying at the gate; and tried not to shed his own tears, as he walked away.
    Like most young children with tears, Don went running to mother so she could make everything better. Mother also had a busy schedule that day so she told Don to go feed his pet rabbit, thinking that would divert his mind and occupy his time. In a short time, however, he came back and told his mother his rabbit was dead. Now Mrs. Marie had to add a broken hearted boy and a rabbit burial service to her busy day.
    Uncle arrived home just at nightfall and his wife told him about the day’s events. Early next morning he went to the rabbit cage and noticed that the chicken in the next pen was also dead. As soon as he saw the condition of the chicken he knew what had happened but it was when he pulled a tarp off of the feed barrel beside the rabbit pen and the cobra raised up with his flared head that his suspicions were confirmed.
    Uncle was busy doing God’s work so God had been busy protecting his child while he was away. That is the kind of God you can tell other people to trust and that is a God you can trust yourself.

    In 1966 Missionary Carlisle Hanna was ministering in the darkness of India; in more ways than one. Not only was he standing against the darkness of sin but the little house he had finally been able to build did not have access to electricity and the nights were dark and hot.
    The Student Foreign Mission Fellowship of Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee decided to sponsor a project that year to purchase a generator for India. What a glad day when the generator finally arrived at the mission house. Now they could have several lights and a fan for a few hours each night.
    Eventually, electricity became available at the mission house but it was so spasmodic until the generator continued to be kept in service. When I visited Missionary Hanna in 2004 he told me he had recently begun a Bible Training Center for young preachers and evangelist and he was going to donate the generator to the Student’s Dorm so they could have light at night.
    What a Blessing. A generator from students in America helped light the way for missions in India for 38 years and now will help other students as they study to carry the Gospel to even more unreached regions. That is what I call a gift that keeps on giving. And that is why it is important to realize that no project is a small project when it is given to the work of a great God.