NEWSPAPER DEVOTIONAL ARTICLES
July - December, 2004

    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]

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 6, 2004

(This is another "adventure" in the series about Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna. In India, Brother Carlisle is affectionately and respectfully called "Uncle" so that is the name I will use for him in the articles).
    Uncle had traveled many miles in the steaming heat that day to pick up a guest speaker. When he arrived back home at dusk he found his six year old son waiting at the gate. The first words from his son’s lips were, "Daddy, I don’t feel well". Soon the visiting guest was forgotten as this son and the younger son battled dysentery and fever. Trip after trip to the bathroom sapped strength from the children (and from the mother and father!).
    Their isolated location, the overflowing river, and the lack of transportation made a trip to the doctor an impossible option. Around three AM it became obvious that the children probably would not survive the night. Uncle and his wife, Marie, knelt by the bed in prayer knowing they had done all they could do. They reminded God that they were in this isolated condition because they had followed God’s plan for their life and they once again put themselves and their children into the loving hands of their heavenly Father.
    The forgotten special speaker had not been idle during this time. Seeing the gravity of the situation, he had slipped out of the house after midnight and begun knocking on doors in the village trying to contact any Christians that had been won to faith in Christ by Uncle’s preaching. Soon a small band of believers were huddled under the thatched roof structure that was being used for a Church calling out to God on behalf of these sick children.
    I thought about this story recently when I talked to that oldest boy, now a doctor, and asked about his younger brother, now a university professor. Is there power in prayer? Ask these distinguished gentlemen.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, July 7, 2004

    One of the greatest dangers Christian workers face is becoming people with Energy but no Unction. For those of you who do not know, Unction is a Bible word for anointing or empowerment. It is a supernatural force that transforms human efforts into divine accomplishments.
    The problem with Unction is that it requires divine assistance. Sometimes people can fake Unction by exerting great effort or by using "slight of hand" to fool the unknowing but it will not be long before spiritually perceptive people will see that the person is all performance without any real power.
    Doing God work in the energy of the flesh will eventually deplete your strength and accomplish little of lasting value- "To try to do the work of God without the power of God is like trying to empty the ocean with a pitchfork. You will work yourself to death and accomplish nothing!"
    We can work Energy up while Unction must be prayed down. The danger we face is that a mediocre person living a lukewarm life can produce flashy works of Energy and that is all many people want. God honoring deeds, however, demand Unction and that requires a pure personal relationship with God.
    You can struggle to do good in your own energy or you can change the world for Christ with the Unction of God on your life. The difference is dependence on, and devotion to, God.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 13, 2004

(This is another "adventure" in the series about Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna. In India, Brother Carlisle is affectionately and respectfully called "Uncle" so that is the name I will use for him in the articles).
    The problem came about because the monsoon rainy season arrived the week before the wedding. Uncle was to conduct the wedding service for two new members of his flock but they lived on the other side of the river and the monsoons had changed the normally placid river into a raging torrent.
    The men who normally rowed people across the river told Uncle that no one could get across the river that day but Uncle knew no one else was authorized to sign marriage licenses except him and he had to make the trip. Several hours of earnest talk convinced the boatmen to carry their boat a long way up river so that when they began the trip they would have extra distance to fight across the raging river.
    Dusk and the missionary arrived at the wedding village about the same time. The wedding couple had assumed Uncle would not be able to come that day so they had gone fishing in some of the flooded ground beside the village. They arrived back at the village with a string of fish at the same time Uncle arrived. Clothes were quickly changed, wedding vows were exchanged, and another "normal" missionary day was added to the books.
    Uncle preached many sermons in India where he told the people that he loved them and that God loved them. It was incidents like this "wet wedding", however, that caused the people to see that his concern and God’s offer of abundant life were real. Thousands of sermons are preached in America each Sunday. Most of them are forgotten by the end of Sunday’s lunch. Monday morning concern, however, is remembered long after all our words are forgotten.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, July 14, 2004

    When man disobeyed God and became a sinner the first result was that "his eyes were opened and he knew he was naked" (Gen 3:7). This exposure brought shame and fear. It is from this context that the term "righteousness" came to carry the meaning of "Right Clothing".
    The attitudes and actions of a sinners are "naked and open unto the eyes of God" and nothing he can do will cover him. Fig leaf fashions fail to provide a suitable covering. Good works wardrobes only amplify the fact that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Is 64:6). If our human efforts are "fig leaves" and our righteous actions are "filthy rags" then how do we obtain the "Right Clothing" that will enables us to live without shame and fear? The first time the word "righteousness" is used in the Bible is in Genesis 15:6 where Abraham "believed in the LORD; and God counted it to him for righteousness." His "right clothing" was given to him because he was willing to completely trust God’s word as the foundation for his life and his future.
    If your secret life was shown on TV would it cause you great shame as your wicked works were exposed? When you meet God will you fear His judgment or will you delight in the robe of righteousness that is yours because of your confidence in and commitment to, Christ? Do you have the "right clothes"?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 20, 2004

(This is another "adventure" in the series about Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna. In India, Brother Carlisle is affectionately and respectfully called "Uncle" so that is the name I will use for him in the articles).

    The monsoon rains had delayed Uncle’s arrival at the village. The wedding ceremony and the feast that followed meant that he left for home well after dark. Walking through a jungle full of snakes and wild animals after dark is not a pleasant experience and the monsoon showers only make him that much more miserable. When he finally arrived back at the river crossing it was immediately obvious that no one could cross the raging river full of floating debris in the dark.
    There was no where to go and no where to stay so Uncle simply stood on the river bank awaiting the coming of dawn. The spasmodic showers kept him drenched and miserable and prevented him from enjoying the comfort of a fire. The break in the showers only allowed the hordes of mosquitoes to descend upon him again.
    When morning finally arrived he was physically and emotionally exhausted but he still had to cross the raging river and walk the ten additional miles to his home. He could have made all kind of excuses about why he could not get to that wedding but his commitment to God and to his flock meant he did his duty instead of making excuses. Jesus said to take up your cross and follow me. Uncle knew that sometimes that cross is wet instead of wooden!
    Now let me see if I understand this correctly. You said you wanted to go to your air conditioned church in your air conditioned car where you would sit on padded pews in order to enjoy beautiful music and a message from the Lord but you couldn’t make it because it was raining!

Miracle Message for Wednesday, July 21, 2004

    Having been a preacher almost all of my life, I have learned that saying a lot in a little while is tremendously prized by congregations. When they come to hear me preach they don’t want me to waste their time and they certainly don’t want me to extend the time of the service. That is why I’m always looking for powerful sentences that say a lot in a little time. Here are a few "sentence sermons" I have heard recently.
    - Almost Saved is terribly Lost.
    - God does not send people to Hell. He simply honors their choice.
    - God loves us as we are. He cares too much about us to leave us that way.
    - How can a moral wrong be a legal right?
    - This one takes a little explanation. In Pennsylvania when they do road construction they put out a sign saying, "Temporary Inconvenience. Permanent Improvement." The speaker used this when referring to how he felt about the death of his very sick mother.
    - How do you judge a good church? Sinners get saved. Christians live like they are saved. Church members tell others how to be saved!
    - Some people have eyes that see not and ears that hear not but few have tongues that talk not!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 27, 2004

(This is another "adventure" in the series about Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna. In India, Brother Carlisle is affectionately and respectfully called "Uncle" so that is the name I will use for him in the articles).
    Uncle and his family had just arrived at the mission house in Kishansanj, northern India. At this time India was still new and the sights and sounds were still strange. A long day of travel and then time spent greeting new friends had led to a night of exhausted sleep.
    The first hint of daylight was just beginning to creep into the room where Uncle and his wife and little girl were sleeping when a strange sound thundered right beside Uncle’s bed. His head jerked up and his heart filled with fear. Was it a lion or a tiger or an elephant? His curiosity told him to investigate but his concern for his wife and daughter kept him in the room. In a few moments the sound diminished and a few more moments of fitful sleep led to the beginning of another busy day.
    This busy day led to another night of exhausted sleep. The first hint of daylight was creeping into the bedroom when the same sound filled the room with noise and Uncle’s heart with fear. What could it be? How could he do his work and protect his family against such a fearful beast?
    That morning at breakfast Uncle decided to ask his host about the noise. His host laughed and said, "That is just the village boys leading the water buffalo in from pasture. They billow their protest as they pass your wall".
    Sometimes life billows at us with things that bring fear and dread. We want to be brave but this unknown roar dislodges an ocean of anxiety in our heart. Don’t let it buffalo you! God is still on the throne and greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, July 28, 2004

    You would think that God would always be a "happy camper" and nothing would disturb Him but several times in scripture God declares that some situations give Him "No Pleasure".
    1) Promising God you will do something and then failing to do it gives God "no pleasure"- Ec 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
    2) Money grabbing ministers give God "no pleasure"- Mal 1:10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
    3) The symbolic sacrifices of religion without the reality of a dedicated heart and a changed life gives God "no pleasure"- Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
    4) People dying without accepting Christ as Savior gives God "no pleasure"- Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
    5) Turning away from commitment to God gives God "no pleasure"-Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
 

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 3, 2004

    Free Will Baptist Missionary to India, Rev. Carlisle Hanna, has a birthday today (Tuesday, August 3^rd). I won’t say how old he is but he could have retired 10 years ago!! During his over 50 years of work in India he has buried a daughter and a wife and he has sacrificed beyond anything the average person can imagine. Like Abraham, he "sojourned in a strange country" where the food was different, the culture was unfamiliar, and the water was undrinkable.
    Electricity has been a luxury for most of his ministry so the majority of things we take for granted in America were unavailable for he and his family. In a land of dark skinned people he was readily identifiable as someone different. During times of religious hatred his color and his Christianity made him an obvious target. The stress of living under such circumstances would crack many men and drive them to the sheltering sanctuary of "home". Brother Carlisle trusted God, settled into a tiny rural town in northen India, and changed the lives of countless multitudes.
    Because He stood fast and did his job 190 Free Will Baptist Churches meet in India today. During the Annual Indian Conference meeting this year nearly 6000 people walked for miles in order to sleep in the open so they could celebrate the difference Christ can make in a life. In a land where an open profession of faith in Christ can bring physical persecution 384 people have been baptized from January 1^st to June 30^th of this year.
    Happy Birthday, "Uncle" Carlisle. You’ve shown us that one man who will be faithful to God and to the task God has given him can make an eternal difference. May God give us the vision and the strength to make the same kind of difference in an America that is slipping deeper and deeper into the sewer of sin and moral collapse.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, August 4, 2004

    We live in a world in which it is suddenly "cute" to rebel against God’s character and standards. TV shows prove over and over that morals and manners don’t matter if there is money involved! And a small minority is now able to attack anything to do with God in public life with the knowledge that the courts will declare anything bad as right and anything right as unacceptable.
    Where is God during all of this? Will the followers of evil always win? Should we despair and wring our hands in anguish? No, we should simply look at God’s past proclamations about His payback for rebels. He offers mercy and grace right now. One day He will close that door and it will be a bad day for bad people who thought they could stand against God and His word!
    (Deut 7:9-10) Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
    Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies;
    Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 10, 2004

    Had he been like many ministers in the United States, Missionary Carlisle Hanna would have been satisfied at Sonapur. Years of struggle and sacrifice had developed a hut into a home and an open sided shelter into a blocked wall sanctuary. Many Pastors would have been satisfied with the success and settled down into a pastoral routine. But "Uncle" saw a bigger circle.
    How could he rest with the flock he had brought to the light when multitudes were dying each day in the darkness of sin? How could he settle in Sonapur when the cry of the teeming masses echoed in his ear each morning calling him to regions beyond? He had not come to India to settle down; he had come to speak out, and share the good news about Christ with multitudes who had never heard the name before. His circle had to be bigger than a little self supporting congregation that focused on itself.
    For many years I was the pastor of a church in a town of around 6000. You could have drawn a ten mile circle around my pulpit and it would have encompassed 126 churches! Some of those churches had been built because the community needed a gospel witness but many of those churches were "Burger King" Churches (They wanted to have it their way!) or "Busted" churches where Christians could not get along with Christians so they moved down the road and used time, talent, and resources to build their own little kingdom.
    May God help us to see a "Bigger Circle" so that one day soon every town and community in our State will have a fundamental, Bible Believing congregation. That would put a smile on God’s face and bring light to a lot of people who are dying in the dark.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, August 11, 2004

    I have a message I like to use at Nursing Home services. Recently I begin to feel it might be appropriate for use in some church services! The message is entitled "Don’t Vegetate".
    "Vegetate" is a word used to describe people who sit around all day and accomplish nothing. Like a vegetable, they begin to rot after they are ripe if they simply sit around. Instead of vegetating why don’t you:
    Meditate- Prayer and study of the Bible are a NECESSARY part of the Christian life as long as ability remains. The older I get the more application I find for the Word of God in my life; and the more deeply I realize the need of constant meditating.
    Congregate- As long as health permits you should not forsake the assembling of yourself together with God’s family. You need the fellowship and the fellowship needs you.
    Participate- I still cannot find the place in the Bible where it declares that a person is to stop working for the Lord. Health and circumstances may make it necessary to change the manner of your work or the position in which you work but God has a purpose for you as long as you breathe!
    The world needs your witness, the Church needs the wealth of information God has given you over the years, and the Lord expects your work. Don’t sit around and rot. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have- and God will Bless.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 17, 2004

    My wife has a sweatshirt that she generally starts wearing around Thanksgiving each year. On the front of the sweatshirt is a simple message, "I like presents". I think you could consider that a hint!!
    The truth is, all of us should wear a sweatshirt like this because we all like to receive presents and blessings and good things. Most people, however, struggle through life barely getting by instead of continually being showered with blessings. What bars us from the blessings of God??
    A lukewarm, sinful life will not allow God to bless us- For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalms 84:11). It would be pretty foolish of God to reward a person for living badly!
    Our goal for getting will sometimes not allow God to bless us- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). God would certainly not want to answer my prayer for $100.00 if he knew that I was going to take that money and rent a hotel room so that I could commit adultery!! When my life is controlled by my own fleshly desires then God does not want to contribute to my wrong goals.
    An unwillingness to share with others will sometimes bar God’s blessings from us- Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13). We are blessed to be a blessing. If we, like the dead sea, always take in but never give out then we will end up spiritually desolate.
    "A faithful man shall abound with blessings:" (Prov 28:20a). May you be such a person.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, August 18, 2004

    Nothing in this world is more important that seeking and finding God!! Nothing- not wealth, nor fame, or anything this world can possibly offer. God must be your primary focus and the goal of your life. Without Him you have nothing; with Him you have everything!
    Seeking God is your goal. How do you accomplish it?
    1) You must Seek God with a Passion- O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1). God must not be a casual desire you might like. He must be more important to you than food or water or anything
    2) You must Seek God by Faith- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6). You must believe that God will be found if you look for Him. Trying to find God so you can see if He is real will not work. You must believe your seeking will lead to finding.
    3) You must Seek God until He shows Himself- Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12). Seek God until He finds a place in your heart. Knock on Heaven’s door until God Himself comes to greet you!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 24, 2004

    If you had one question you could ask God, what would it be? (I am certainly not God! But if you send it to the address below and I can find a scriptural answer then I will try to answer your question in an article). I thought about asking a question of God because several times in scripture God asks questions of men. Here are a couple of those questions.
    Where are you, Adam- "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9 ). God was accustomed to an afternoon walk with Adam. When He came to the meeting place and Adam was not there He was concerned so He called out to Adam in an attempt to locate him.
    God is our refuge and our redemption. He longs to bring us to a place of fellowship but He cannot help us as long as we are hiding from Him so He uses preachers and churches to call out to mankind, "Where are you?".
    Where is your Brother, Cain- "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9 ). The first family feud ended with blood on the ground and a lie on the lips. God did not question Cain in order to reveal the whereabouts of Abel; Abel’s blood cried to God from the ground! God’s question was intended to reveal Cain’s heart to Cain.
    In the same way today, God looks beyond our religion to our relationships and makes a pointed statement before He asks a simply question, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20).
    If God asked you today where you were in your relationship with Him what would you answer Him? How about your relationship with other people?

Miracle Message for Wednesday, August 25, 2004

    The shipment of Sunday School Literature was already a week late and now a hurricane was coming. All day long I waited at the office knowing a truck was supposed to come but the hours ticked by with no word, no truck, and no literature. Finally, at four in the afternoon the driver called and said he was on his way.
    The rains had slacked off so everything looked good; until the truck finally backed up to our door. The first words out of the driver’s mouth were that his lift barely worked and it would be difficult to use it to unload the extremely heavy pallets of books. We eased a pallet load of books onto the lift and began to lower it. The lift began to creak, the books began to shift, and all my strength was not enough to keep this valuable cargo from falling off the lift and scattering all over the wet ground.
    Just at that time, in walked missionary to Brazil, Bobby Poole. He had been to Virginia and stopped by to see if I had received any mail for him. With his help, I was able to keep the pallet on the lift until it could safely lower onto the loading dock.
    Just one more in the many times the Lord has sent some "Heavenly Help" at just the right time. And guess what Brother Bobby was able to do while I went inside to write the check for the freight- Share the Gospel story with a truck driver who needed to hear it. God’s timing is so wonderful!! Look for it in your life this week.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 31, 2004

    It happened near the middle of a 750 mile week-end. A law seminar in Columbia on Friday was followed by a conference meeting outside of Greenville, NC on Saturday; which was followed by an ordination service in Chester, SC on Saturday Night; which was followed by a Home Coming Service in Lancaster, SC on Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon found me headed to Charleston, SC for another appointment.
    Just as I started down the ramp to get onto the interstate highway I heard a big bang and an awful rattle from the rear of our van. For a number of years I have traveled many miles in my work for the Lord. Never, in all that time, have I had a flat tire while traveling (I have had several flat tires that were discovered when I went back to a parked van). On this faithful Sunday afternoon that record was loudly broken.
    Sometimes it appears as if certain things must happen to everyone. Are there a certain number of flat tires that must come your way? I don’t know but I do know that God scheduled that flat tire in just the right circumstances. I had just turned off a narrow road with nothing but muddy banks where changing a flat tire in a suit would have been a disaster but now I was parked on a wide concrete area where my pants did not even get dusty!
    Normally, I am really pressed for time but the Home Coming services had ended early and I had two extra hours on this faithful Sunday afternoon. The spare went on easily while a cool breeze blew on a normally hot August afternoon. A super center was located just down the road so the ruined tire could be quickly replaced and our appointment could be made on time.
    Glory! If you have got to have a flat tire it sure is great to have God directing the circumstances!

Miracle Message for Wednesday, September 1, 2004

    At a recent legal seminar the speaker stressed that Churches must make their stand against the actions of people based on the fact that it is a sin rather than the fact that it is not socially acceptable in your church- For instance, Adultery must be declared as being wrong, not because we do not like the people who commit adultery, but because God’s word declares it wrong.
    Everyone was enthusiastic about what the speaker said until he declared that murmuring and gossip were sins and needed to be preached as such by the Church. A strange quit fell on the assembly as people considered the implications of such a statement. Is Gossip a SIN? Let’s let the Bible speak for itself.
    Le 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
    Pr 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
    Pr 18:8 ¶ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (This exact verse is repeated in Prov 26:22).
    Pr 20:19 ¶ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
    Pr 26:20 ¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 7, 2004

    I seldom remember what I dream. If I do remember a dream then normally it will have some special significance. Recently, I woke up with a clear dream about ants coming out of my water faucet. I tried to figure out what it meant while I shaved that morning. When I finished shaving and was just about to get into the shower the water suddenly stopped flowing (Praise the Lord! That was absolutely the best time for something like this to happen. If it would have waited 2 more minutes until I was in the shower and had soap all over before it stopped it would have been a messy situation!).
    For five wonderful years our water pump and well have worked wonderfully. Because of the dream I knew immediately what caused the problem. When I went out to the pump house I carried a can of ant spray and a can of pressurized air. Sure enough, when I opened the switch on the pump it was full of ants whose bodies would not allow the contacts on the switch to engage. After killing the ants and blowing out the contacts the pump went back to working beautifully (Glory!).
    Jesus described Himself as the "Water of life". It is a tremendous joy as a Christian to drink of that living water each day. When the "water" stops flowing and I don’t enjoy my relationship with the Lord as I should I have found that it is usually an ant instead of an elephant that is causing the problem. By that I mean it is not normally a "big sin" that separates me from the Lord. Most of the time it is something like a proud action, a bitter thought, or some juicy gossip that causes the water not to flow.
    Little Ants can cause big problems. Be careful that they don’t cut off the living waters in your life this week.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, September 8, 2004

    In the book of Romans God declares that man has "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" in three specific areas. He then shows how the character of people will be ruined as a result of this sinful conduct.
    First, God declares that man chose to worship idols instead of worshiping the real God (Rom 1:19-23). As a result, God allowed them to fall into all manner of sinful behavior in the hopes they would see the seriousness of their sin (Rom 1:24).
    Next, Man changed the truth of God into a lie and began serving self instead of God (Rom 1:25). As a consequence God gave them up to the gross immoralities of homosexual conduct (26-27) in order that they could see the wickedness of a self centered life.
    Finally, Man forsook the very knowledge of God ( 28) and outlawed the true God from their government, their schools, and their society. This final sin caused God to abandon men to base and perverted conduct (29-32) that caused the very foundations of society to crumble as men lost all trust in one another. Soon every man did that which was right in his own sight with no consideration for others; or for God.
    Can you see this same pattern taking place today? Can you see people pushing God to the side and acting as if personal pleasure is their only purpose? Are you one of these people?

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 14, 2004

    When my dentist cleaned my teeth recently he found a cavity and scheduled me to come back so he could fill it. I prayed before I arrived at his office and he did a great job. The pain was minimal and it was much better than your minds imagines when the dentist says he is going to fill a tooth!
    The greatest discomfort turned out to be the fact that one side of my mouth was numb and I had trouble pronouncing words all morning so several preachers who came to my office to talk with me looked at me really strange! Around noon the feeling finally came back and the first thing I noticed was that numerous fragments from where the dentist had ground down the filling kept surfacing until I finally got the chance to wash out my mouth several times. Those fragments had been there all the time but I did not notice them as long as my mouth was numb.
    Recently I have been very busy with special meetings, a denominational change in Sunday School literature, and preparing for a mission trip to Japan placed on top of my normally busy schedule. I still pray and read the Bible and try to spend some time with the Lord but sometimes I feel "numb" when I pray. Instead of the normal excitement and joy I feel at spending time with the Lord it feels like a form I endure instead of a visit I enjoy.
    Guess what? When I feel "numb" like this I began to unconsciously pick up little fragments of things in my life such as discouragement or bitterness that I don’t even notice. And, if they are left in my life, these fragments can irritate and infect and give me much trouble. That is why I have determined to "get my feeling back" and wash my self with the Word so I can be the person God wants me to be.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, September 15, 2004

    Every preacher knows there are four sermons he can choose from each time he preaches. There is the sermon he wants to preach, the sermon the church wants him to preach, the sermon the devil wants him to preach, and the sermon the Lord wants him to preach. The hard part is making sure you preach the right sermon!
    Preachers are human. They sometimes get mad or bitter or depressed before they get into the pulpit. If they are not very careful the pulpit will turn into a private podium used to express their personal anger or agenda instead of remaining a delivery point for the Word of God. Pray each week that God will guide and guard your Pastor as he stands behind the podium so that he will deliver God’s message instead of his personal message.
    Church like to have their ears tickled. They don’t mind a preacher preaching against sin as long as it is not a sin they are involved in but it is easy for them to become anger and resentful when the sermon strikes too close to home. A Pastor knows that disturbing the peace of his members will probably result in disturbing his own peace; and may cost him his position. Pray for God to give your Pastor courage to preach God’s message without cowardice or compromise.
    Preaching the right sermon each week is extremely important. Next week- the sermon Satan wants preached.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 21, 2004

    When I went to town I took the main roads in order to go by the garbage dump. As I drove over the river bridge I noticed the river was running out of its banks and the ditches beside the highway were full of river water. I immediately thought to myself, "Wrong way river". The river was filling the ditches instead of the ditches filling the river!
    On the way back from town I took my normal short cut through the back roads. Bad choice on this day. The river had filled the ditches on the main road but it had filled the roads on the back roads. Several pick up trucks were ahead of me so I let them make a path through the water and I followed close behind so the water would not come into my car.
    Churches are God’s gift to the world. They offer opportunities for Christians to worship, learn about, and serve God. They proclaim the good news of the Gospel so that Sinners know their need of repentance and salvation. When they are doing their job correctly they are the best institute in the world. If they ever start down the wrong track they, like this wrong way river, become a dangerous obstacle.
    Instead of calling the world to God’s way many churches call the world’s way god as they embrace attitudes and actions that are directly contrary to the word of God. Others fight over carpet colors or personality power struggles instead of standing like a rock in a storm tossed society. Like the wrong way river, they scatter trash all over the landscape and pose a danger to travelers instead of bringing nourishment to the land. May God help churches to stop being so full of themselves until they flow the wrong way.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, September 22, 2004

    Last week we talked about four sermons a preacher can preach- the sermon he wants to preach, the sermon the church wants him to preach, the sermon the devil wants him to preach, and the sermon the Lord wants him to preach. We began by looking at how personal feelings or public pressures can impact a sermon. Today we want to look at sermons Satan "preaches".
    All of the Word of God is true but all of the Word of God is not truth. Numerous times in scripture God records sermons by Satan or his messengers and the "father of all lies" regularly uses lies in his "sermons". For instance, the first time we meet Satan in Scripture he is preaching a sermon to Eve telling her she will not surely die if she disobeys God. You know the rest of that story!
    Often in scripture, false prophets would proclaim erroneous doctrine or promote wrong actions in their sermons. Because of this, numerous scriptures are given to help people identify Satan’s sermons- For example: "many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7)
    Satan’s sermons tell people to disregard God’s Word and to put human desires above the teachings of God. Satan’s sermons lead men out of God’s plan and away from God’s pardon. Satan’s sermons make man a god and God only a glorified grandfather. Don’t listen to them!!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 28, 2004

    One thing for certain is that most things don’t seem to be for certain! The low carb diet was a bad diet until suddenly this year it is a good diet until recently when it began to be reported that it is again a bad diet! The buzz word in society today is that everything changes and nothing remains the same.
    In the midst of this doubt and confusion let me share with you three things that I absolutely know for certain. Three things that will be certain as long as time exist.
    1) I know God will never do me wrong so I can trust God no matter what comes my way-Ps 119:75 "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." I don’t understand some things, and I don’t like some things, that happen to me but I am absolutely certain that God loves me and I can rest in His care.
    2) I know the good will eventually win and the bad will be punished- Ec 8:12 "Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:" Vengeance belongs to God. He keeps good record books and He who knows every idle word we speak and every hair that falls from our head will do the right thing at the right time.
    3) I know I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I can face death and eternity unafraid- 2Ti 1:12 "...I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." I have God’s Pardon and Peace in this life and His dependable promise for the next life. Glory! That is a certainty that is a comfort.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, September 29, 2004

    We have looked at three of the four sermons a preacher can preach- the sermon he wants to preach, the sermon the church wants him to preach, and the sermon the devil wants him to preach. Today we want to look at the best sermon of all, the sermon God wants preached.
    When Paul preached a Godly sermon he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come and his message was so powerful until it caused kings to tremble. (Acts 24:25)
    These three ingredients are the main thrust of any Godly sermon: 1) Righteousness means telling people how to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. 2) Temperance means preaching about the need of discipline and self control as we learn to crucify self and live our lives governed by godly values. 3) Judgment to come means the preacher clearly sounds a warning to all. To Christians he warns that they will face the judgment seat of Christ where their rewards will be based on their works. To the sinner he warns of the White Throne Judgment where all who have rejected Christ as Savior will be cast away from God forever.
    The sermon God wants preached is one that will bring men to know Jesus Christ as savior and then cause them to show Jesus Christ in their changed life as they anxiously await the day they can see Him face to face whom so long they have known heart to heart. Is that the kind of preaching you have at your church??

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 5, 2004

    The missionary we were visiting in Japan had recently celebrated a birthday. One of her presents was a discount dinner at a local French restaurant that allowed her to bring friends with her to enjoy her discount. And she was kind enough to include us in that category. What a treat, American tourist in Japan enjoying fine French cuisine!
    This particular French restaurant was famous for its hot fresh breads. At the beginning of each course of the meal a waiter would come by with a tray of fresh cooked rolls for everyone to sample. The varieties seemed endless and the taste as they melted in your mouth was beyond description. Between the pasta salad and the main course another tray of bread arrived. Upon seeing the selection everyone immediately exclaimed, "Wow. They even have chocolate muffins!".
    Beware of "chocolate muffins" in French restaurants in Japan. The Japanese use the squid as a mainstay in their meals and ALL of the squid is considered useful; we had just experienced raw squid guts as part of the breakfast buffet at the hotel where we were staying that morning! A carefully worded question to the waiter revealed that the "chocolate muffins" were in fact bread made with squid ink. Enthusiasm for the "chocolate muffins" cooled instantly.
    The word "hypocrite" comes from a word meaning actor and is used to describe someone who appears to be one thing but is really something else. Almost every church has a few hypocrites in their midst. And they are always well known by the sinners in the community! Just remember this. Even fine restaurants can have some squid ink bread mixed in among their otherwise delicious bread. Don’t allow that fact to discourage you. The good bread is still delicious; even if it sometimes sits beside squid ink bread.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, October 6, 2004

    The morning skies were just beginning to brighten with the coming sunrise when we entered the waiting area. We were waiting for the 7:30am flight to Tokyo so we had to check in two hours early because it was an international flight. Surprisingly, the waiting area was crowded at that early hour.
    My wife and I were seated directed across from the water fountain in the waiting area. As I read my Bible chapters for the day I noticed that people kept coming to the water fountain, pushing all the buttons, and then leaving in exasperation. It soon became obvious that the fountain was broken and a lot of people were disappointed because they could get no water.
    The trip to Japan was to help celebrate the 50^th year of our mission work in Japan. Japan is a prosperous country with extremely bright and energetic people. Most of the people in Japan practice some kind of religious activity so my first question was why we needed to send missionaries to wonderful people who have their own religion.
    The best answer I could get was that broken water fountain in the Columbia airport. Thirsty travelers on the road of life don’t need pretty fountains that decorate walls; they need something that will give good water for thirsty souls. And that good water comes from the fountain of living water, Jesus Christ.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 12, 2004

    One of the first things I noticed as we rode from the airport into the town of Sapporo, Japan were the large arrows hanging out over the road. Preacher curiosity compelled me to ask the missionary the purpose of these overhead arrows. "They are snow arrows", the missionary said. "Our highways are covered with snow for nearly half of the year and these arrows show people where the edge of the road is located when the snow covers all the highway markings.". You don’t have to be much of a preacher to see the illustration here! Direction comes from above when circumstances cover the normal highway guidelines.
    Often in life the fog of limited human vision has blocked my view of the path ahead and I have needed divine direction. Each time God’s direction from above has provided exactly the information I needed to stay on course. Many times I have been "snowed under" by the hustle and bustle of life’s duties and have found myself wandering through life like a ship in a storm without a rudder. Amazingly, each time it appeared my life would wreck on the rocks that protruded in every direction around me I would suddenly look up and see the way out of my troubles clearly marked by divine directions.
    Attached to the top of each arrow was a small antenna. During a blizzard or at dusk a signal was sent from the main headquarters to each arrow causing it to turn on it’s lights. At the time of greatest danger the snow arrows still provided the needed direction. Isn’t that the way it is with God’s guidance? Your path may be obscured and the circumstances may look extremely dark but the "light of the world" will supply the light you need and the direction He provides will always keep you safe and lead you to the right destination.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, October13, 2004

    Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the only true God, died as a payment for the sin debt of every man, woman, and child that has ever inhabited planet earth. His gift of salvation is offered to anyone who will take it- "Whosoever will, may come and drink of the water of life freely" (Rev 22:17). Yet, in spite of this, there are two groups of people in the world whom Jesus cannot forgive.
    The first group of people whom Jesus cannot forgive is those who do not know about Him. Jesus wants to forgive them; and many of them want to know the true way to God, but "How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).
    I recently stood in an observation tower in the center of Tokyo, Japan and looked out at over 24 million people who need desperately to find forgiveness for their sins and to drink of the water of life in order to satisfy the longing of their souls. It is not a question of Jesus being willing to forgive them, the problem lies in our failure to share the gospel with them.
    The second group of people whom Jesus cannot forgive are those who know about Him but refuse to trust Him as their Savior and Lord. And how awful that will be- "that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:47)

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 19,, 2004

    When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2 )
    Who do you vote for when the claims and counter claims of the politicians leave you in a fog? You realize your vote is important and necessary but you are not sure which people should receive your very important vote. When you walk into that voting booth and the "rubber meets the road" how do you make the best choice?
    According to this verse from the book of Proverbs the answer to this question depends on the moral stand and righteous character of the person you are voting for. Recently a friend of mine told me about a lady she worked beside. This lady went on all morning about the cruelty and wrongfulness of people who aborted babies. She talked about the need to do something about killing unborn babies and how important it was to inform people of the importance of abstinence; especially among teens.
    During the lunch break these two friends were watching the news and my friend was astonished to learn the presidential candidate this woman planned to vote for. He was a pro abortion candidate from a very liberal party. When my friend asked her how she reconciled her belief about abortion and moral standards with the stand of this candidate she replied in surprise, "I just like the way he looks. I never thought about his standards!".
    Who should you vote for? The character of the candidate should have a major impact on your decision. It also depends on whether you want to rejoice or mourn- When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

Miracle Message for Wednesday, October 20, 2004

    Officially, America has no God. Everyone has the right to worship (or abstain from worshiping) who and what they please. Yet, one of the most basic laws of human nature is that everyone will worship something. There are lots of "Forces" out there vying for our attention. Let me point out several principles that are important in the God a nation chooses to follow.
    1. CHOSE THE RIGHT GOD- "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12). If I were going to chose a God I’d chose one with a proven track record of love and concern that would do me good and not harm. For several hundred years the majority of people in America have found this to be the Lord God.
    2. CHOSE A GOOD GOD- "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov 14:34). Part of the Joy of serving God is the peace and tranquility that comes to a nation who follows the moral and spiritual guidelines He gives. Chaos comes when men disregard God and "Every man does that which is right in his own sight" (Jud. 21:25).
    3. CHOSE A GOD YOU CAN LIVE FOR AND DIE WITH- A Nation’s God must be respected enough to be served, powerful enough to save us from our sinful behavior and make us different people, and loving enough to provide His children a "home and a hug" in eternity. That is the Lord God; may He reign in America.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 27, 2004

    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
    It is absolutely astonishing to Christians in the rest of the world when they see Christians in America glorifying devil worship and inviting demons into their homes and lives during their annual October celebration of Halloween. Having seen the chaos and trouble caused by demons among their own people because of the worship of false gods they cannot believe that Americans would willfully participate in such activities.
    Demons bring sickness into your life (Luke 13:11-16) and chaos into your mind (Mark 5) so the last thing you want to do is to give them an easy entrance. Don’t let demons come into your life via the eye gate (horror movies) or the ear gate (music that glorifies the devil and invites you to yield to his control) or the mind gate (TV shows about demon worship). Instead of inviting Satan and his demons into your family with decorations that tell Satan he is welcome in your home you should heed the admonition in the word of God to "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
    The good news is that you do not have to live your life in fear and frustration running from the devil. Submitting to the Lord is the other side of the resisting the devil coin. Demons in control of your life bring sickness and chaos but putting God in control brings healing and happiness. Yielding your life to God brings pardon for your past, provision for your present, and peace for your future- Glory!
    Don’t play with demons who are out to destroy you and all you love. Submit to God and find out how great life can be when you have an abundant life made possible by the promises of God and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, October 27, 2004

    One of the most important questions anyone can ask is, "What will enable me to be a successful Christian?" It is the most important question first because it implies that you have already made the most important decision in life by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is important secondly because it shows you realize the most important priority in your life is to become the person God wants you to become.
    Three things will help you become a successful Christian:
    1. Commitment- Jesus did not mince words. He repeatedly told would be followers that they must make a definite commitment to Him if they were to be His disciples. Jim Bonham, a lawyer from S.C. left the Alamo to appeal to Colonel Fannin for help. Once he delivered his message he rejoined the 150 men in the Alamo (Who were surrounded by over 2000 men from Santa Anna's Army.) That is the kind of commitment God wants from us.
    2. Assurance that you are capable of handling the Situation- No matter what life puts in your path you are more than a conqueror in Christ. Knowing you can overcome any situation makes it easy to be successful!
    3. Recognition of Rewards Awaiting you.- It is not what you give up: it’s what you gain that makes Christianity such a joy. Trials here seem trivial when compared with the rewards awaiting us.
    May God help you to be a successful Christian this week.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 2, 2005

    It seemed simple but it took several minutes. The Executive Secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Rev. Keith Burden, was speaking at the 50^th Anniversary of Free Will Baptist Mission work in Japan. In his sermon he said he was thankful that we could "leave a mark" for God in Japan.
    The translator hesitated for several moments and then asked Brother Keith to repeat what he had said. Still he could not find words to translate "leave a mark" into Japanese. Finally, the translator asked several of the other people in the room for help. Between them they worked out a phrase that conveyed "leave a mark" in such a way until the Japanese listeners would understand what the speaker was saying. I thought, as I watched the scene, that sometimes "leaving a mark" is as hard to translate as it is to do!!
    There are multitudes of "famous" people in the world today. Many of them will be unknown to the next generations because their fame is simply a fleeting moment of publicity. Like a finger withdrawn from a glass of water, there is soon nothing to mark their passing.
    I hope your goal in life is to "leave a mark" for God. It will require dedication and determination as you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. But what a joy it will be if one day you look back and see a multitude of believers following the marks you left as you journeyed toward eternity with God.
    The Psalmist talked about how we live our life as a "tale that is told" (Psalm 90:9) and we are soon forgotten as people hurry on to other activities and involvements. May God help you today to determine to "leave a mark" for God on your family, at your job, and in your community.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, November 3, 2004

    Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. (Psalms 59:13)
    It is astonishing how many songs (Psalms) David wrote imploring God to take vengeance on those who opposed God’s work. He was very specific as he asked God to "break their teeth" or "take their life like an aborted baby". It sounds strange in our culture today but David was jealous for the Lord’s honor and he wanted those who stood against God to suffer in such a way until others would see the error of their ways and return to God.
    I thought of this recently when I changed to "Old Testament Praying" for a situation. Someone owns some land beside a Church that is greatly growing for the Lord and they appear to be must more interested in money than they are in souls. For a long time I have prayed for God to gently nudge them with his mercy and grace so they would do the right thing. Now my patience has run out and I am asking God to "do what it takes" to bring this person to the realization that God rules and eternal matters are more important than temporal money.
    Thank God for His goodness and grace. I am so glad He extended mercy to me when I deserved wrath and judgment. May I never take His goodness for granted and end up with someone praying for God to consume me instead of excuse me.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 9, 2004

    Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. (Jeremiah 18:2).
    The parable of the potter is well known to regular church goers. God brings Jeremiah to a pottery factory and then uses the work of the potter to explain His dealings with the nation of Israel. The sermon is intriguing and has been greatly used by preachers through the ages to explain how God works in the circumstances of our life but I want to look beyond the sermon today.
    I love to write. Almost all of my ministry I have written church newsletters or self published books. The past 15 years I have also written at least 2 newspaper devotional articles each week (rain or shine, sickness or health) as I tried to share my faith and show the wonderful works of God in my life. Most of the time the devotions are more about the "potters house" than about in depth sermons. Partly that is because of space limitations (300 words per article) but mainly it is because I found in my study of the Bible that God used illustrations as sermons almost as much as He used sermons as sermons.
    It is not unusual in scripture for God to "take a person by the hand" and say to them, "Let me show you something so you can really understand what I am trying to say". The words should have been sufficient but sometimes a "picture" is actually worth a thousand words.
    If you are a preacher or a teacher and you have a message that people really need to hear then you might consider bringing your audience to the "potter’s house" where they can really hear your words. Maybe then they will change from a polite congregation into committed disciples. And isn’t that what you really want to see happen?

Miracle Message for Wednesday, November 10, 2004

    I write this article during a very difficult time. Because of press deadlines this article must be at the newspaper before election day. That means that I do not know who won the election yet. I do know this much, if the polls are anywhere close to being correct (and I have my doubts about polls), then half of the people in America are disappointed at the results of the elections.
    This means that some people will be discouraged because of their doubts about the winner, some will be disillusioned about our election process, and some will be down right angry that people could not see things their way and vote for their candidate. Here are a few things that may help you keep things in perspective.
    1) The ruling authority in a country is set in place according to God’s Plans- "The Powers that be are ordained of God" Rom 13:1. God has a program to either punish or promote our country and the president is part of that plan.
    2) The president’s policies can not alter my commitment to Jesus Christ. His policies may break my heart or cause me to be persecuted but they will not change my absolute allegiance to the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
    3) The day after the election, I am going to pray for the president, regardless of his name, because God told me I was supposed to do that- I Tim 2:1-2. I can’t change the election but God can change the President’s Heart! Glory!

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 16, 2004

    Nu 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
    Moses was admonishing several of the tribes of Israel about their responsibility to faithfully discharge their duties to God. He ended by declaring that if they failed to do what they were supposed to do then God would count their failure to do right a sin ( A principle continued in the New Testament- "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." -James 4:17).
    At the end of this grave statement, Moses makes a "scary" declaration, "Be sure your sin will find you out". What a sobering thought to realize that sin will always "Find you out".
    Sin will find you out in your prayer life by limiting God’s willingness to answer- Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
    Sin will find you out in your Power with God- The Holy Spirit has to cease His work through us in order to order to work on us so that we will again be a clean vessel sanctified for the Master’s use.
    Sin will find you out in your Public Worship- David found that sinful actions stole his joy and turned worship into a dreary service instead of a jubilant song.
    Sin will find you out in your Persuading sinners to accept Christ- Sin steals your confidence and your compassion so you cannot boldly tell others about the difference Christ has made in your life.
    Sin will find you out in your family, in your finances, and in your future rewards. Keep your heart and guard your mind so that sin will not trip you up. Playing with sin always end up with paying for sin; and when sin finds you out it is never a pleasant experience.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, November 17, 2004

    The debate has begun in earnest in America. If "Moral Values" were a key in electing a President then determining the values that are moral is a major task in outlining the future course of America. The Democratic challenger used pulpits (illegally it appears) each week to promote his moral campaign themes. The majority of the country, however, thought his ideas about morals were wrong and voted for the present President.
    Is this the way morals should be decided? By majority vote of the country? Or has God put in place "teachers" who will show us clearly the moral anchors for our country? Thankfully, God knows how important this is and has given us good guides.
    1) The Holy Spirit teaches us the good- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
    2) The Grace of God teaches us how to overcome the bad-For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:11-13).
    America’s Moral compass must be solidly anchored in God’s word. The stakes are too high to trust in anything else.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 23, 2004

    On a recent mission trip to Japan my wife fell and broke her foot. Two months of adding her care to my already overloaded schedule would seem to leave little room for thanks but several items of praise immediately come to mind.
    First, I am thankful for WHO had the trouble, it was my wife who broke her foot and not me! Now, before you think I am extremely selfish, let me explain. I weigh nearly twice as much as my wife. It has been a job for me to lift my wife but it would have been impossible for her to lift me! Thank God that if one person in the family had to have a broken bone that it was the one who could be helped by the other.
    Secondly, I am thankful for WHERE we had the trouble- my wife broke her foot in Japan. Because of my wife’s continuing battle with cancer we are unable to obtain health insurance for her so if she would have broken her foot at home it would have been a tremendous financial burden to us. My credit card offers travel insurance for a very small fee and since I travel so much I include that in my annual fee. We are not sure how much this insurance will pay but so far it has paid the first $1,500.00 in medical bills- Glory! That is money we would have had to borrow and repay had this trouble not happened in Japan.
    Finally, I am thankful for WHY we had this trouble- I am not sure of the exact reasons this trouble has come into our life but I am absolutely sure that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). Our mission trip to Japan was provided by the Lord in a supernatural way so we know this broken foot is part of God’s bigger plan so we can rejoice in what God is doing (even if we do not understand it all).
    Even if you are having troubles you can still thank the Lord this thanksgiving. After all, He is still God and you can still rest in His love.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, November 24, 2004

    Thank God for being good to me. I sit in church services many times and hear people requesting prayer for dreadful disease, catastrophic circumstances, and heart rending hurt and I cannot help but say a silent prayer of thanks for God’s blessings on me.
    I am fat and bald and ugly, but somehow God worked out the circumstance so that I got to marry one of the most beautiful women in the world. My lovely wife quarrels at me regularly because I don’t take care of myself and I work very long stress filled days week after week but I am very seldom sick enough to stay out of work. And when I go to work it is to tell people about Jesus Christ and try to help them become more involved in serving God-I have got to be one of the most blessed men in the world!
    You may be dealing with disease, debt, or disaster today so you find it difficult to count your blessings. Let me assure you that God’s love for you is still real and His plan is still in place. God has not forgotten you; nor has He forsaken you, so lift up your down cast eyes. Don’t let your present circumstances hide the light of God’s love and cause you to doubt or despair.
    Thank God that we do not have to live this life without God. I am not a tadpole that climbed out of the muddy mire with no more hope that a hog! Thank God I am a child of God with a Father who loves me and a Heavenly Home prepared.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 30, 2004

    Sometimes you do not always feel and act the way you should. Here are some scriptures that will help you during these "sometimes" moments.
    Sometimes you don’t understand what God is doing- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)
    Sometimes you feel rebellious- If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:19-20)
    Sometimes you do the best you can do and nothing seems to happen- So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
    Sometimes you are really tempted by temptations- 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 Corinthians 10:13)
    Sometimes you tend to be critical of others- For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)
    Sometimes God seems so far away- But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
    Sometimes you just need to get back into the Bible and let the word of God show you once again that God is still on the throne and your sometimes should all of the time lead you back to the feet of our soon coming Savior.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, December 1, 2004

    My greatest goal is to become the best follower of Christ possible. How am I going to accomplish this goal? Here are a dozen Bible admonitions to help me.
    1) Present yourself a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.
    2) Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
    3) Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.
    4) Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good.
    5) Be not slothful in business.
    6) Recompense to no man evil for evil but provide things honest in the sight of all men.
    7) If possible, live peaceably with all men.
    8) Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.
    9) Love your neighbor as yourself
    10) Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.
    11) Seek the things which are above.
    12) Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, body, and strength.
    A dozen duties that will delight the divine and stimulate a saint to be the best he can be for God.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 7, 2004

    I wonder how it must have felt the first time he wrapped his little hand around the finger of Joseph? So tiny and so trusting, it must have stirred Joseph’s heart to its very core. The fingers were so delicate until they could hardly be felt by Joseph’s work hardened hands. It was almost impossible to imagine that this was the hand of God.
    Throughout the Bible mankind had thought of God’s hand as being destruction or dreadful. They would never have conceived of God’s hand as being tiny and delicate. They could only think of God’s hand as being an adult hand with awesome power that could crush them if they failed to meet His expectations. To think of God’s hand as being so small until it would not reach around the finger of a man was almost blasphemous to them.
    Many times we are like these Old Testament people, we put God in a bigger box that He wants to be in. We have no problem calling on God for cancer or a heart attack but we can’t conceive that God would care about the small things in our life. Isn’t it exciting, however, that Jesus grew up to preach a sermon declaring that God was so concerned with the small things in our life until He counted the very hairs of our head! (Luke 12:7).
    Rejoice today. Because of the fact that Jesus came to earth as a new born baby He is able to understand a baby rash as easily as He can a brain tumor. Reach out your finger today and let Jesus wrap His tiny little hand around it. You will find that even a small touch will change your life.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, December 8, 2004

    There are many people in the Bible who had a special relationship with God. Enoch was a man who walked with God until one day he "strolled" home with God. Noah was a man who found grace in the eyes of God at a time when God was angry with the entire world. Abraham was called the friend of God because of his faith and fellowship with God so God used him to father a chosen nation. David was a man after the heart of God because of his devotion and love for God who expressed the emotions of God in songs and poems.
    All of these men helped us to see God in special and unique ways but they could only point to God’s greatness within the limitations of their own human weakness. Everything they could do only conveyed a pale shadow of the real nature of God. Something had to be done beyond mere words if mankind was to really know God.
    That is why the "Word was made flesh and dwelt among men and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father." God knew that mankind needed more than a representation; they needed the "real thing", so the Son of God, Jesus Christ, left his haven in Heaven and came to display God by walking among men.
    If you ever wonder if God cares for you just think of what He did so you could know Him as the Word instead of in mere words.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 14, 2004

THE COST OF CHRISTMAS

    Christmas is expensive. Yes, it cost most people more money than they have but I’m not talking about that kind of expense. That first Christmas exacted a cost to all those who were involved that is flabbergastingly above anything financial. Let’s look at part of the bill for that first Christmas.
    Joseph lost his reputation and his standing in the community when he obeyed the angel’s voice and remained engaged to a lady with child of the Holy Spirit before they were married. He lost his job and his home in the move to Bethlehem that Christmas demanded. Joseph paid a high cost for Christmas.
    Mary paid her bill for Christmas in pain and suffering. Can’t you just picture her riding those rough roads of Israel when it was almost time for her baby to be born. What anguish she must have suffered as she lay in a stable looking around at the feed trough that was soon to hold her child and wondering how she and Joseph could deliver this child on their own. And when finally the agony of birth was over and she thought she could get some rest a bunch of rough neck shepherds came barging in waking the baby and tracking mud all over the stable. Mary also paid a high cost for Christmas.
    But what of the child born that first Christmas Day? Suddenly to be clothed in flesh and to be totally at the mercy of Mary and Joseph after ages of angel adoration and the comfort of complete power. To feel pain, hunger, and temptation as a man so that He could eventually die for mankind. Such love overwhelms me. It is beyond the comprehension of normal thought. What a cost Christ paid that first Christmas.
    At Christmas we think much of buying presents and little about being in His presence. The pressure of buying gifts for people who don’t need anything makes us forget about the one who gave everything. What a different attitude we would have if we just considered the cost of Christmas.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, December 15, 2004

    I’m offended that the press makes a big deal over the fact that the President sent out a Christmas Card honoring Christ instead of the Republican Party. I think the press owes the majority of the American people an apology for thinking their anti-religion is more important than everyone else’s celebration of the birth of the Son of God.
    I’m offended that courts allow businesses to make BILLIONS of dollars off of people buying gifts to give at Christmas but then declare that kids singing about the original gifts given to Christ at His birth is unlawful. I think the courts should declare Christmas buying illegal and state that they themselves will not celebrate Christmas in any way (You know that is tongue in cheek!).
    I’m offended that we can celebrate our freedom as a nation even though we have millions of people who are visiting in the United States who do not share our same viewpoint but we are not supposed to celebrate our freedom in Christ because someone in the neighborhood may not have that same freedom.
    I’m offended that Christmas has suddenly become a winter holiday in which we can be taught to worship our ancestors but we are not supposed to worship the Son of God who came to earth to save our ancestors from eternal destruction.
    I don’t know what you will do this year but as for me and my house, we will celebrate the birth of God’s Son; and be extremely thankful for the privilege.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 21, 2004

    My wife generally gets me some clothes, some aftershave, and some candy for Christmas. My mother normally gives me some money since she is no longer physically able to walk around and shop. Other family members who still brother to keep me on their list generally give me chocolate covered pecans or some gadgets they think I might find useful. I appreciate all of these things but do you know what I really want for Christmas?
    I would like for Society to receive what the angels proclaimed on that first Christmas morning, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". By that I mean that I would like for society to stop trying to ban God from everything and, instead, start giving glory to God with their lips and their lives. What a joy it would be for me this Christmas if people simply let God’s peace guide them into showing good will toward other men.
    I would also like for everyone to hear the same good tiding of great joy that the shepherds heard that first Christmas morning, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.". Christmas is not simply another holiday. Christmas is about the birth of a baby who came to change the world and give us access to God. The greatest gift anyone could receive this Christmas would be for them to accept God’s gift of eternal abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ.
    I’m easy to please. All I want for Christmas is the same thing that was talked about on the very first Christmas. And if I can get it then it will surely be a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, December 22, 2004

    In the second verse of the Christmas Hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" the writer declares that angels are to "sing in exultation". What a neat thought; when you think about the birth of Jesus Christ you are to sing with "Exultation".
    "Exultation" is usually defined as jubilation or exuberance in the celebration of an event. Country people from South Carolina, however, would define "exultation" as getting so filled with the Blessings from the Lord until you have to loudly holler, "Ain’t God Good.".
    Does Christmas fill your heart with so much joy until you want to sing in exultation or does it fill your life with so much stress and activities until you secretly cannot wait until it is over and done with? Have your songs of exultation turned to whining about traffic and complaining about crowds? There is a simple solution that will put the "exultation" back into your singing.
    The shepherds were griping and complaining about missing all the excitement in town and about their lot in life until angels suddenly appeared and declared that God had become a man and the world would never be the same. Exultation singing seemed the only fitting course of action after that! Guess what? If you can get past the tinsel and the toys and hear the real message of Christmas this year it will do the same thing for you. And Christmas will indeed be Merry.

Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 28, 2004

    Christmas thrills have turned into Christmas bills and your money has ended before the month has come to a close. The joy of being together as a family has turned into a very bad case of cabin fever as everyone has started fussing and fighting and griping and complaining. How do you stay agreeable when it seems everyone else is looking for a reason to fight?
    First of all, remember that Friction is a normal part of development and can even be healthy under the right circumstances- Pr 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Instead of spending all your time and energy fighting the fight why don’t you look for the reason behind the fighter’s anger. It might show you something you really need to know.
    Secondly, realize that most people are more interested in the argument than they are in the answer. Many times they don’t want you to solve the problem nearly as much as they want you to share their hurt. That is why trying to be reasonable is like throwing gas on a fire. They are not looking for a victory nearly as much as they are looking for a way to vent their anger.
    Finally, react to the anger with love and you will always be a peacemaker instead of part of the problem. Sometimes you need to react with tough love and sometimes with tender love but always know that Pr 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
    Don’t let disagreements destroy you. Instead, endeavor to be a reconciler knowing that Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Miracle Message for Wednesday, December 29, 2004

    Mother has arrived at that age where the really young children are now the great grandchildren. Knowing how impatient they can become when they have to watch other people open presents Mother decided to allow the great grandchildren to open their Christmas presents first. Joshua is the youngest so he went first. As the wrapping was torn from the package and he could see the contents of the present he was almost beside himself with excitement. "Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy", he kept exclaiming as he pulled the toys from their wrapping. At that moment in time I do not know of anything that could have made him more happy.
    Later that day, as I carried Mother back to her home she said over and over, "Joshua’s joy made my day today. He really liked the present I got for him.". Joshua’s joy had transferred across the generations to become my mother’s joy.
    That night as I prayed and thanked the Lord for giving us such a good day together as a family I told Him that I wanted to have the same excitement and appreciation for His goodness toward me in the coming year as Joshua had in the opening of his present. May each of us have that same desire. What a difference it would make to those we live and work with if we were genuinely appreciative and publicly grateful for God’s goodness toward us.