Meteor Shower Daily Devotionals

How to Determine What Matters Most by Rick Warren

2008-09-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
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The most important lesson God wants you to learn on earth is how to love. Here are three simple truths about love:
1. Life without love is really worthless. We often act as if relationships are something to be squeezed into our schedule. We talk about finding time for our children or making time for people in our lives. That gives the impression that relationships are just a part of our lives along with many other tasks. But God says relationships are what life is all about.
Jesus summarized what matters most to God in two statements: love God and love people. He said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. . . . This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40 NLT).
The point of life is learning to love God and people. Life minus love equals zero.
2. Love will last forever. Another reason God tells us to make love our top priority is that it is eternal: “These three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NCV).
Love leaves a legacy. Mother Teresa said, “It’s not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters.” Love is the secret of a lasting heritage. In our final moments, we all realize that relationships are what life is all about. Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later.
3. We will be evaluated on our love. One way God measures spiritual maturity is by the quality of your relationships. In heaven God won’t say, “Tell me about your career, your bank account, and your hobbies.” Instead he will review how you treated other people, particularly those in need.
Jesus said the way to love him is to love his family and care for their practical needs: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40 NRSV).
People need to understand that when you transfer into eternity, you will leave everything else behind. All you’re taking with you is your character. That’s why the Bible says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6 NIV).
Knowing this, I encourage you to pray this simple prayer every morning: “God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people – because that’s what life is all about. I don’t want to waste this day.”

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Servants Do Every Task with Equal Dedication by Rick Warren

2008-09-21T16:55:00.001-07:00

“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” Luke 16:10 (NLT)
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Servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants “do it with all their heart” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).
The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done?
You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It’s a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody” (Galatians 6:3 NLT).
It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he came to serve. It wasn’t in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example (John 13:15).
Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant’s heart is revealed in little acts that others don’t think of doing, as when Paul gathered brushwood for a fire to warm everyone after a shipwreck (Acts 28:3).
He was just as exhausted as everyone else, but he did what everyone needed. No task is beneath you when you have a servant’s heart.
Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don’t look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do.
There will always be more people willing to do “great” things for God than there are people willing to do the little things. The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants.
Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way, you develop a servant’s heart when you’re willing to do anything needed.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

We Serve God by Serving Others by Ricky Warren

2008-09-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Mark 10:43 (MSG)
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We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.
Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.
This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, Christian leaders still jockey for position and prominence in churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.
Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.
While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs.
God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, “I don’t have the gift of mercy or service.”
While you may not be gifted a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one who is gifted at it is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment.
Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant’s heart.
How can you know if you have the heart of a servant?
Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Helping Each Other Through Change by Rick Warren

2008-09-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

“I hope you will be patient with me ….” (2 Corinthians 11:1a, NLT)
In order to manage change, you must remember four things –
Love each other
The first mistake most people make during change is to focus on what they’ve lost, instead of what has been gained – and that creates fear. The antidote to fear is love: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ….” (1 John 4:18 NKJ)
It’s impossible for love and fear to exist in the same environment – If we’ll focus on loving each other, then we’ll break out of the self-centeredness that often emerges during change. The love that conquers fear involves thinking about others instead of focusing on your own needs – and the more you love, the less you fear.
Listen to each other
During transition, we must be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry ….” (James 1:19 NIV) If we get the first two right (quick listening, slow speaking), then the third (slow anger) will become automatic. It reflects the concept of “seeking to understand” before trying “to be understood.”
“Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.” (James 1:19 MSG)
Level with each other
We must speak the truth in love to each other if we’re going to walk together through change. It is human nature to avoid confronting someone directly, but then we fall into problems – even gossip – by talking to other people about the person we need to confront.
We can’t get close to each other until we deal honestly with our fundamental differences. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)
Liberate each other
Finally, we need to show each other grace – “cut each other some slack” – during transition. Liberating each other means letting go and treating someone else the same way Jesus treats you.
In other words, we shouldn’t lean into legalism or lording mistakes over others. People will make mistakes, and our response should be to recognize that these things will happen. The goal is not to make those who make mistakes feel bad, but rather to let them get over it and move on.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

When You are Betrayed by a Friend by Jon Walker

2008-09-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me . . . Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. Psalm 41: 7, 9 (NIV)
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Years ago my friend Chris was betrayed by a very close friend. Chris spent over two years mentoring this man, and trusted him so much that the protégé even managed all of Chris’s finances.
Then, one night, the protégé inexplicitly left a banquet being held in Chris’s honor, and he laid a trap which led to Chris being arrested on false charges. As Chris was arrested, the protégé leaned close and kissed him on the cheek, saying, “How are you, my blessed teacher?”
Can you imagine the pain and heartache Chris felt in that moment? Then again, perhaps you don’t have to imagine because you, too, have felt the sting of violated trust. Perhaps you’ve wondered if you could ever trust anyone ever again?
Here are three steps toward learning to trust again:
Reveal your hurt to God. Vent your frustrations to God. Tell him about the friend who betrayed your most intimate secret, the family member who broke a promise one too many times, or the co-worker who deliberately worked to make you look bad even while she pretended to be supporting you.
God will never be surprised or upset by your anger, your hurt, or your sense of loss over betrayal. You can tell him exactly how you feel, and trust him to understand.
Release those who’ve offended you. Forgiveness does not mean you instantly trust your friend again. God teaches us to forgive instantly and as many times as it takes; however, trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust must be re-earned.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to resume the relationship immediately, and it also doesn’t mean you have to resume it without any change. Your friend, or family member, will only be able to build your trust over time as she consistently and humbly shows that she is “one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in [her] heart—who does not slander with [her] tongue, who does not harm [her] friend or discredit [her] neighbor . . .” (Psalm 15:2-3 HCSB).
Re-focus your life. Don’t let anyone, particularly someone who has betrayed your trust, control you through a grip on your emotions. No doubt you’re feeling angry and hurt, but rather than trying to resist those thoughts, redirect them.
For instance, try to see the situation from God’s perspective, and remember his ability to take things that are hurtful or mean-spirited in our lives and turn them into good.
And that brings me back to my friend, Chris. He knew, without a doubt, that what his betrayer meant for bad, God could turn into good. You may have already figured out that my friend Chris is actually Jesus, betrayed with a kiss by Judas:
The betrayer had worked out a sign with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him.” He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him. Jesus said, “Friend, why this charade?” Then they came on him—grabbed him and roughed him up (Matthew 26:48-50 MSG).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Until We're Fully Known by Jon Walker

2008-09-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

Until We’re Fully Knownby Jon Walker
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
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Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –
In relationships the failure to communicate can be extremely frustrating. But, the failure to commune leads us to despair.
Communication is usually about sharing information – at its most basic level, the transmitting and receiving of meanings.
Communion, however, is about sharing life. It’s about knowing and being known, caring and being cared for on a deep and personal basis.
Perhaps the most pressing need each of us has is to know that we are fully known and yet still deeply loved; that, despite our failures and weaknesses, regardless of our successes and strengths, we are still unconditionally loved.
Some of our families did a fairly good job of this while others failed miserably.
But God, the Father, is perfect in his love, and we are already fully known by him. He created us with a desire for that “fully known” love and so he draws us to himself, where we are face-to-face with him, where one day we will know fully even as we are now fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV).
And our objective-in-Jesus is to carry this fully known love into our relationships, modeling for others a Christlike communion that emerges in a place where it is safe to be fully known and still be loved.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Never Say Amen by Jon Walker

2008-09-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. Matthew 26:40 (NIV)
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Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –
Read this devotional as a prayer:
Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray (Matthew 26:40).
Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent, consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need your help.
I’m flipping through my calendar, stressing with commitments, and you just want to hang out – with me. Help me turn my prayers into conversations with you that keep flowing throughout the day, an on-going communication where I never say “Amen.”
Keep me close to you, no matter what it takes. I’m not sure I really want to pray that; I have bruises and scars from “whatever it takes” discipleship, but, then again, I confess the crush of these moments have taught me to throw myself on the stone before the stone falls on me.
And that has moved me closer to the love that compels my obedience, closer to becoming one with your heart. So, I’m asking that you change me until my deepest want is to be with you.
With this I pray that you will create me worthy of my calling and that your power will fulfill every good purpose you plan for me and energize everything I do in faith.
My prayer is that your life will emerge in my face and in my hands, in my thoughts and in my words. I know your grace will make it so (paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

We Move Toward Our Focus by Rick Warren

2008-08-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

We Move toward Our Focusby Rick Warren
Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. 2 Timothy 2:22 (LB)
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Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself?
That is the power of suggestion. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.
That is why repeating “I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting” is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It’s like announcing, “I’m never going to do what my mom did.” You are setting yourself up to repeat it.
Most diets don’t work because they keep you thinking about food all the time, guaranteeing that you’ll be hungry. In the same way, a speaker who keeps repeating to herself, “Don’t be nervous!” sets herself up to be nervous! Instead she should focus on anything except her feelings – on God, on the importance of her speech, or on the needs of those listening.
Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this,” the stronger it draws you into its web.
Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!
Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation. This is one time it is okay to run away. Get up and turn off the television set. Walk away from a group that is gossiping. Leave the theater in the middle of the movie. To avoid being stung, stay away from the bees.
Do whatever is necessary to turn your attention to something else.
Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. You defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better. This is the principle of replacement. You overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
Satan can’t get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That’s why the Bible repeatedly tells us to keep our minds focused: “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).
“Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Philippians 4:8 TEV).
If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. The wisest man who ever lived warned, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Don’t Be Reluctant to Show Mercy by Rick Warren

2008-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair. 2 Corinthians 2:7 (CEV)
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In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.
We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.
You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship.
The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).
The mercy God shows to us is the motivation for us to show mercy to others. Whenever you’re hurt by someone, you have a choice to make: Will I use my energy and emotions for retaliation or for resolution?
You can’t do both.
Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don’t understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior.
Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time.
Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them instantly, but you are not expected to trust them immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time. The best place to restore trust is within the supportive context of a small group that offers both encouragement and accountability.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Authentic Friendships by Rick Warren

2008-08-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:7–8 (NCV)
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In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.
Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.
It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.
Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation.
People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.
It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. . . . If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7–8 NCV).
The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.
Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.
Why would anyone take such a risk?
Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” (James 5:16 MSG).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Negotiating Forgiveness by Jon Walker

2008-08-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
When it comes to forgiveness, we’re tough negotiators. We open with an offer like, “I’ll forgive you, if …..” Then, we follow with a subtle, concession that sounds like a confession: “I can’t forgive her until she learns her lesson.”
When we think the other side is stonewalling, we take off the gloves: “If I forgive him, he’ll just think he got away with it.”
We think we’re negotiating for God; we think we’re negotiating for their souls; we think we’re negotiation for justice, when all we’re really doing is negotiating for control over the situation.
Truth says we can’t conduct these negotiations. We’re ambassadors of the King, and we represent, not our own, but the King’s intentions as well as his character. The King says forgive and that means we forgive. See the period at the end of the previous sentence? We forgive.
The King’s instructions are clear and unambiguous: If you forgive those who sin against you, then the King will forgive you for your sins against him; if you don’t forgive those who sin against you, then The King won’t forgive you for your sins against him. No room for negotiation there.
Anything else, such as saying, ““I’ll forgive him, if …” isn’t really forgiving; it’s just negotiating and God’s court of justice will not recognize contracts made without kingly authority or permission.
The question is not should, if, or can someone be forgiven; the true question is will you make the choice to forgive.

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

We Need Models and Mentors by Rick Warren

2008-08-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
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For us to mature, we need models and mentors.
Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God’s Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow.
Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation. There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you’ll never learn on your own. You’ll only learn them in community.
We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples.
Paul realized the power of a pattern when he advised, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17 NIV). To grow, we need to see principles in practice. We need to see what beliefs looks like when they are translated as behavior in everyday situations.
When Paul would travel to a city to start a church, he would begin by simply living among the people. He was a “living Bible,” echoing the life of Jesus, where “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 NKJV).
After Paul left a city, he would write back, “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 NLT).
Who are your models for following Christ? Who are you watching and learning from?
Here’s a tougher question: Are you an example for anyone else? In elementary school, you probably enjoyed “Show and Tell.” As believers, we’re often better at “telling” than “showing.”
In today’s culture, the world desperately needs people who can show us how to love our spouse and make a marriage last, how to relate to our kids, how to do business with integrity, how to handle conflict in the way Jesus would. These are lessons we learn by watching others.
Not only do we need models to grow, we need mentors. Mentors are people who’ve followed Christ longer than we have and are able to share their life lessons. You’ve heard that it’s wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. Life is too short to learn everything by experience! And some painful experiences can be avoided if you’re smart enough to learn from mentors in your church family.
Ask yourself this: “What’s been the greatest positive influence on my life?” Most likely it was not a sermon, seminar, or small group lesson. It was somebody who shaped your life through a personal relationship.
Can you see God’s wisdom in creating the church, a family full of mentors and models for our benefit?
That’s why being connected to a small group is so crucial to spiritual growth. It’s a regular opportunity to learn from each other.
Today, spend a few moments getting intentional about this. Write down the names of people in your church and small group that you’d like to learn from. Then identify what you’d specifically like to learn from them. Remember, they don’t have to be perfect to be a model or mentor.
To grow spiritually, you must also be willing to be a model or mentor to others. That may scare you but all it takes is being one step ahead.
People don’t expect you to be perfect – they already know you aren’t. What they want you to be is honest! So let them see your struggles, not just your successes. We usually grow as much from others’ weaknesses as we do from their strengths.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Forgiveness Isn't the Same as Stupid! by Jon Walker

2008-08-13T13:37:00.001-07:00

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV)

Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you act like a doormat, allowing evil to run rampant in an abusive relationship. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you must keep taking the abuse, and it doesn’t mean you have to stay in the abusive situation.
Forgiving those who hurt us doesn’t we mean excuse their behavior. My sister says it bluntly: “Forgiveness isn’t the same as stupid!”
To echo the civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, we need to understand the difference between non-resistance to evil and non-violent resistance. In any toxic relationship, we resist the evil of abuse without resorting to evil ourselves.
We submit, not to the abuse, but to God, who draws us into a spirit-directed response, including the establishment of healthy boundaries behind which we’re less vulnerable to abuse.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean the relationship must remain the same. You may need distance and time to trust again. You may need to wait and see how faithful the one who hurt you is in rebuilding trust.
Although it may seem you’re paralyzed in an abusive situation, you can make choices. One choice is to pray for those who abuse you. They’re in bondage to their own sins, and although that doesn’t excuse their behavior, it does give you insight into how you can pray for them. God intended these relationships for good, yet they’re stripped away by alcohol or anger issues or so many other counterfeits Satan uses to destroy true fellowship and family.

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

We Need Models and Mentorsby Rick Warren

2008-08-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
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For us to mature, we need models and mentors.
Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God’s Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow.
Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation. There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you’ll never learn on your own. You’ll only learn them in community.
We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples.
Paul realized the power of a pattern when he advised, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17 NIV). To grow, we need to see principles in practice. We need to see what beliefs looks like when they are translated as behavior in everyday situations.
When Paul would travel to a city to start a church, he would begin by simply living among the people. He was a “living Bible,” echoing the life of Jesus, where “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 NKJV).
After Paul left a city, he would write back, “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 NLT).
Who are your models for following Christ? Who are you watching and learning from?
Here’s a tougher question: Are you an example for anyone else? In elementary school, you probably enjoyed “Show and Tell.” As believers, we’re often better at “telling” than “showing.”
In today’s culture, the world desperately needs people who can show us how to love our spouse and make a marriage last, how to relate to our kids, how to do business with integrity, how to handle conflict in the way Jesus would. These are lessons we learn by watching others.
Not only do we need models to grow, we need mentors. Mentors are people who’ve followed Christ longer than we have and are able to share their life lessons. You’ve heard that it’s wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. Life is too short to learn everything by experience! And some painful experiences can be avoided if you’re smart enough to learn from mentors in your church family.
Ask yourself this: “What’s been the greatest positive influence on my life?” Most likely it was not a sermon, seminar, or small group lesson. It was somebody who shaped your life through a personal relationship.
Can you see God’s wisdom in creating the church, a family full of mentors and models for our benefit?
That’s why being connected to a small group is so crucial to spiritual growth. It’s a regular opportunity to learn from each other.
Today, spend a few moments getting intentional about this. Write down the names of people in your church and small group that you’d like to learn from. Then identify what you’d specifically like to learn from them. Remember, they don’t have to be perfect to be a model or mentor.
To grow spiritually, you must also be willing to be a model or mentor to others. That may scare you but all it takes is being one step ahead.
People don’t expect you to be perfect – they already know you aren’t. What they want you to be is honest! So let them see your struggles, not just your successes. We usually grow as much from others’ weaknesses as we do from their strengths.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

God-Love Walks on Waterby Jon Walker

2008-08-05T10:02:00.001-07:00

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14 (NIV)
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Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –
Our love for one another is the fruit, not the root, of our relationship with God. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, taught that our love for others emerges from our relationship with God; that anyone born of God who knows God will love with the love of God (1 John 4:7, based on NLT).
In a sense, the process of sanctification – our movement toward becoming portraits of Jesus – involves God-Love cleaning the clutter we’ve hidden in the cupboards and corners of our being. The Eternal Lover moves with deliberation through the grit and grime of our sin. He throws open the shades and wipes down the windows of our souls until we “shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15 NIV).
As God scrubs our insides with the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we pass from “death to life” (1 John 3:14). We are transformed from people who are selective in who and how we love into people energized by God’s spirit to love one another abundantly and unconditionally.
It takes faith to love another with the God-Love flowing into us. Like Peter, we step or swim when we keep our eyes on Jesus and not the stormy waves of human emotions. Human love fears the water; God-Love walks across the waves with such confidence and grace that the storm is quelled.
Love starts with God. God loved you first, and your ability to love others comes from your connection with God. God loved you; now, you love others, and that allows others to see God in you (1 John 4:11-12 NIV).
Love proves Jesus-life. When you love others abundantly and unconditionally, you prove you’ve passed from death to Jesus-life. It proves you’re now alive and connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:14).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.
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May God Smile on You by Jon Walker

2008-07-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

May the Lord smile on you. Numbers 6:25 (NLT)
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The smile of God is the goal of life.
Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible says, “Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it” (Ephesians 5:10 MSG).

Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God. The man’s name was Noah.

In Noah’s day, the entire world had become morally bankrupt. Everyone lived for their own pleasure, not God’s. God couldn’t find anyone on earth interested in pleasing him, so he was grieved and regretted making man. God became so disgusted with the human race that he considered wiping it out.

But there was one man who made God smile. The Bible says, “Noah was a pleasure to the Lord” (Genesis 6:8 LB).

God said, “This guy brings me pleasure. He makes me smile. I’ll start over with his family.” Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today.
Over the next few days, we will learn from Noah’s life the five acts of worship that make God smile.

God smiles when we love him supremely. Noah loved God more than anything else in the world, even when no one else did! The Bible tells us Noah “consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him” (Genesis 6:9 NLT).

This is what God wants most from you: a relationship! It’s the most astounding truth in the universe: our Creator wants to fellowship with us. God made you to love you, and he longs for you to love him back. He says, “I don’t want your sacrifices – I want your love; I don’t want your offerings – I want you to know me” (Hosea 6:6 LB).

Can you sense God’s passion for you in this verse? God deeply loves you and desires your love in return. He longs for you to know him and spend time with him. This is why learning to love God and to be loved by him should be the greatest objective of your life.

Nothing else comes close in importance. Jesus called it the greatest commandment. He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Risks in Faith: God Multipliesby Rick Warren

2008-06-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)
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If you give God your time, He multiplies it. If you give Him your money or energy, He multiplies those too. It’s like planting seeds. Farmers know that seeds must be given away – sacrificed by being buried in the ground – to do any good. If you keep a seed in a sack, it does no good, but if you plant it, it multiplies. For example, when you plant just one watermelon seed, you get a bunch of watermelons with hundreds of seeds in them. In the same way, God multiplies whatever you give Him.

What’s the key ingredient in this seed planting? Faith. But we have to understand the difference between faith and bargaining. Bargaining is when you say, “God, help me close this deal and I’ll give you part of it.” But God doesn’t work that way. God asks for faith – he wants us to sacrifice in advance, not knowing that we’ll get anything in return –then he wants us to let him figure out how to repay us.

One of the great lessons that Kay and I have learned is that you cannot out-give God. Whatever you give Him, He multiplies. Three different times in our marriage, God told us to give away our entire savings. Each time we obeyed, and each time God restored our finances in greater ways than ever before.

I’ll never forget one of our church building campaigns. Kay and I prayed about how much to give, and God told us to give an amount equal to one year’s salary. I didn’t know how we would live for an entire year without a salary, but we obeyed God.

About a month later, we saw God’s plan when a publisher asked me to write a book and offered an advance of $100,000. That book became The Purpose Driven Church.

Jesus makes us this promise in Luke 18:29-30: “I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life” (NIV).

And 1 Corinthians 15:58 says: “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (NIV).
Remember, when you give a seed in faith to God, He will multiply it.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Risks is Faith: When God Delays by Rick Warren

2008-06-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***
If you ever find yourself in God’s waiting room – waiting for an answer, a change, or a miracle – you just need to stop and trust God. He’s never late or in a hurry, because his timing is perfect.
When I started Saddleback Church, I had no idea that it would take 15 years and 10,000 weekly attenders for us to have our own land and our own building. At Saddleback’s very first church service I said, “Someday we’re going to buy at least 50 acres. But we’re not going to do it for the first five years because we’re going to put all our money into people and programs.”

Seven years after that first worship service it looked like we were well on our way to having our own building. Our people had sacrificed to raise money for land – canceling vacations, working second jobs, selling diamond rings, and giving from their pensions.
We finally found the right piece of land but we needed another $1.2 million to close the deal. In the last 60 days of 1987, the people in this church gave the needed funds and the land was ours.
Two years later, though, we still were working out zoning details with the county supervisors and they decided to delay us indefinitely.
My wife, Kay, was upset with me – and with God. She prayed: “God, you have been unfair to us. We have tried to do this exactly the way you told us with faith, honesty, and integrity. God, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but let me in on it because I don’t get it!”
God responded: “Kay, what is it to you if I allow every church on the face of the earth to have a building and land and Saddleback never does? Will you still follow me?”
She answered, “Yes, Lord, I will.”

That experience helped me really know the truth of John 13:7, when Jesus said: “You do not realize now what I'm doing but later you will understand” (NIV).
That same truth is communicated in 2 Corinthians 1:9: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (NIV).
So often it looks like God is delaying or denying us, but his timing is perfect. Next time you feel like you’re in God’s waiting room, trust that God is working in his own perfect time on his own perfect plan – which is so much better than anything we can plan or dream.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

Off the Clock Christians by Jon Walker

2008-06-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you ….” (1 Peter 2:9 MSG)

Here’s the snapshot: As I write this, I’m sitting in a restaurant, pre-dawn, sipping on Southern sweet tea. (Who needs coffee when you can have the nectar of God? Ha!)
The restaurant is a chain you would recognize if I gave the name, and in a booth a few feet away from me is a group of employees, mostly college age. Some of them are on-duty and in uniform; some are just getting off the night shift and, although still in uniform, shirt-tails are coming out and ties are coming off, and – a third category appears present – employees who evidently don’t work this morning, but have just come in to hang-out.
It is a slow time; I am the only customer in the place.
As the group talks, one young man in particular punctuates his conversation with four-letter words, salted with a generous dose of seven-letter phrases. Following his conversational leadership, others in the group contribute their own forms of profanity to the mix.
Far from being a prude, I could have been one of these kids, in my youth, about 227 years ago, but I still thought, “If this moment were captured for the next commercial for such a family-oriented restaurant, would the corporate office be pleased?”
Some of these employees were “off the clock,” some of them were out of uniform, but within this context, all of them were representing the restaurant.
Snapshot point: There are no “off the clock” moments as a Christian, where you can “dis-identify” yourself from Christ. As a believer, you are a representative of Christ – but more so – you are a minister sent and authorized by God.

The Bible teaches that every Christian is:
Created for ministry (Ephesians 2:10)Saved for ministry (2 Timothy 1:9)Called into ministry (1 Peter 2:9-10)Gifted for ministry (1 Peter 4:10)Authorized for ministry (Matthew 28:18-20)Commanded to minister (Matthew 20:26-28)Prepared for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12)Needed for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:27)Accountable for and rewarded according to his or her ministry (Colossians 3:23-24).
This means ordinary people with children and jobs and mortgages and really, really full calendars — in other words, people just like you — are called to be ministers from God.
A fifth grade teacher writes, “I come from a very traditional Christian home. We believed missionaries had to be trained in seminaries and receive ‘the calling.’

“When the opportunity came to go with a mission team to Nigeria, I was concerned that I wasn’t ‘properly’ trained, nor did I have enough theological knowledge,” she says. “But my experience in Nigeria totally challenged my beliefs about missions. I became more aware of God’s sovereignty and his ability to use anyone, even those who are ‘unworthy.’ We just have to make ourselves available.”
God doesn’t want you to waste your talents; he wants you to make a difference with your life. He created you to make a contribution to the world now – in your lifetime. What does this mean?
You are shaped for this – The God of the universe shaped you uniquely to make a contribution, to make a difference – as you take steps of faith toward going on mission and completing your mission on earth.
God will support you – There is no way you can fail in your mission –unless you fail to accept the calling of ministry that comes with being a believer in Jesus Christ or fail to follow in faith God’s direction.
Just ask God – Ask him how he wants you to contribute. Ask him how he wants to use your SHAPE to make a difference in the world. Ask God, “Where can I make the greatest contribution for your glory? What kind of God-legacy do you want me to leave?”

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at
www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Is God Waiting on You? by Jon Walker

2008-05-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

God knows the giant problems of the world are far too vast for even the professionals to tackle, and that’s why he calls every believer to be on mission. That’s why he’s calling you to join him on mission.
You may feel inadequate to go up against global giants, such as spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, crippling poverty, pandemic disease, and rampant illiteracy.
You’re not the only believer to feel inadequate for the mission. The Apostle Paul encouraged some of the very first Christians with these words: “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, NIV)

But your feelings of inadequacy have no bearing on the truth: God is adequate for the task, and he will energize you with his own adequacy, the adequacy of the Holy Spirit within you. You can do all things through Him who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)

This means you’ll be able to boast in the Lord as opposed to your own abilities and resources. The battle belongs to the Lord, and you are his willing servant. Like the boy, David, said to the giant, Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty ….” (1 Samuel 17:45, NIV)

What does this mean?
God does not call you to fail; rather, he guarantees your success. It is the power of God—who strengthens you for the task—that brings you success on mission.
Be overwhelmed by God’s magnitude. Instead of being overwhelmed by the giants before us, be overwhelmed by God’s mighty power and awesomeness. Like Paul, be overwhelmed with God’s joy; like Peter, be overwhelmed by God’s wonder.
God’s Spirit anoints you for your mission: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners ….” (Isaiah 61:1, NIV)

Question to consider: Do I believe my inadequacy is greater than God’s almighty power?

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Burned-out on Religion? by Jon Walker

2008-04-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Jesus might have asked: “Aren’t you tired and burned-out on all that religious stuff? Look, come walk with me, and I’ll help you recover your life – your real purpose – and even though it will require some hard, very hard work, you’ll be energized by it because you’ll be living life to its fullest. You’ll be doing exactly what my Father created you to do, and more importantly, you’ll be exactly who I want you to be.”
In taking on the Jesus-yoke, he is asking us to join the school of Christ. In ancient times, when a student studied under a specific teacher, it would be said that the student took on the teacher’s yoke; the student was yoked to the master.
Within that context, consider these words from Jesus: “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30, NLT)
Jesus says, by walking with him, we’ll learn how to walk with God. We don’t learn from afar; we learn from a caring and committed teacher-student relationship – caring and committed on both sides.
The Christian walk is not a lesson in how to run off doing things for Jesus while we ignore him. Our Christ-walk is a journey with Jesus, where he is very personal and specific about our growth and spiritual maturity.

What does this mean?
Are you tired? – Jesus will teach you how to find rest in God, not a rest absent of stress, but the rest that results from believing in God’s faithfulness. Ask God to show you what blocks you from believing fully in his faithfulness, and then ask him to break those blockages down.
Are you confused? – Join Jesus at his school of Christ, and watch him, listen to him, ask him to renew your purpose.
Ask to be teachable – Tell Jesus you want to be yoked to him, and that you want to learn from him. Ask him to keep your heart teachable.

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Love is the Fruit, Not the Root by Jon Walker

2008-04-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers.” 1 John 3:14 (GWT)

Our love for others is the fruit, not the root, of our relationship with God. The Apostle John taught that our love for others emerges from our relationship with God, that anyone who is born of God and knows God will love with the love of God. (1 John 4:7, NLT)
In a sense, you could say the process of sanctification – the movement toward becoming like Jesus – involves the Eternal One’s love cleaning the clutter you’ve stuffed into the cupboards hidden inside you. God strides confidently through the dust and the grime that builds up because of our sin, and he throws open the shades and wipes down the windows until we “shine like stars in the world.” (Philippians 2:15, HCSB)
As God scrubs our insides with the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we pass from “death to life.” (1 John 3:14) We are transformed from people who are selective in who and how we love into people who, energized by God’s spirit, love one another abundantly and unconditionally.
In faith, we love with the love of God, and in our slow and stumbling walk toward spiritual

What does this mean?
Express your faith with love – We reveal our faith when we express it as love, extending God’s unconditional love to all people, even those who are difficult to love. We express our faith with love, not by the rules we keep.
Let God love through you – No matter how loving you try to be, you will eventually run out of love when you try to love in your own strength. Let God’s unlimited, unconditional love energize you.
Ask for a deep “Jesus love” – Ask God to help you receive and then share his unconditional love. Name someone you specifically have trouble loving and ask God to develop in you a deep “Jesus love” for that person – a love based upon God’s strength and not your own.

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

In Pursuit of Fairness by Jon Walker

2008-04-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

“The LORD is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.” Psalm 103:8 (NLT)

My kids are obsessed with fairness. They argue over who gets the biggest piece, who gets to play the computer game longest, who gets to sit next to the window. I suspect your children or the children you know are the same way.
One night during dinner, my kids were arguing over who would get the last slice of pizza and out popped the oft repeated phrase, “That’s not fair!”
Okay, it had been a long day and I was tired, so I looked at my children and said, “Fair! You want fair? Since you didn’t pay for the dinner, you shouldn’t get to eat. Are you sure you still want fair?”
But, honestly, it’s not just the kids who argue over fairness. I’m sure this doesn’t happen at your house, but sometimes my spouse and I argue over what is fair – who will change the baby’s diaper, who should make dinner, who gets to drive the “good” car.
This obsession over fairness seems to be in the human DNA: “Let me have the bigger slice;” “let me have the better salary;” “let me get away with it this time.” After all, it’s only fair, right?
We make the same arguments with God. We plead for fairness when we’re really asking for special treatment. But the truth is, God can say to us in true fairness, “I’m a Holy God and you’ve done some very unholy things. Fair would mean I can stay angry at you forever. It would mean I can punish your for the horrible things you’ve done and I can give you every bit of what you deserve. Are you sure you still want fair?”
But God, in his compassion, is not like that at all. David, the ancient poet/king, sang this song of God: “The LORD is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.” (Psalm 103:8–9, NLT)
When David sings about God’s “unfailing love,” he uses a Hebrew word that implies God is in loving pursuit of us. Yahweh chases after us with such persistent grace that he refuses to let us get away. His pursuit is energized by his compassion, not only feeling what we feel, but also with the intent to help us: “He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” (Psalms 103:10–11, NLT)
While we’re in pursuit of fairness, God, knowing fair will mean our inevitable destruction, remains in compassionate pursuit of us.

Communicating Compassion:
Yahweh’s unfailing love – God’s compassion flows from his unfailing, undying love for you. His love for you is so vast it extends from the earth to the heights of heaven, and his compassionate pursuit of you brings Jesus from heaven’s heights to an empty tomb on earth. If you truly trusted God’s unfailing love, how would you live your life differently? Ask God to guide you to a place of true trust.
Do a Fairness Flip – Start practicing compassion by flipping the angle of any fairness argument. In other words, say, “You, my friend, can have the bigger piece of cake.” “Let me change the diaper again.” “Because of your addictions, you may deserve to live on the streets, but God has shown me compassion, and I want to extend the same compassion to you.”
From fairness to unfailing love – As God develops compassion within you, he will bring you to a place where you’ll need to give up the “argument of fairness” and replace it with unfailing love. God is patient, so don’t panic or beat yourself up. Ask God to guide you toward unfailing love.
Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

The Forgotten Gift by Jon Walker

2008-04-03T10:35:00.001-07:00

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (HCSB)

One day a disciple of Jesus receives one million dollars as a gift, designated to help the poor. The disciple is thankful for the gift and begins making plans for a ministry to those in need.
A year goes by, and the gift-giver returns, joyfully asking, “Tell me how you used the gift to serve God. Have people come to know Jesus through the ministry you were able to start with the money?”
Confused, the disciple of Jesus asks, “What gift?”
But as the words tumble off his lips, the disciple remembers the gift of one million dollars. He’d placed it in a bank account, and then, due to the tyranny of the urgent, he’d completely forgotten about the gift.
Disappointed, the gift-giver gently says, “I gave you the gift to help other people. When you received the gift, you also accepted the responsibility for sharing the gift with others. The gift is still there; go use it for ministry, my friend!”
When we become believers, we’re filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1, 4) God places this gift – this Holy Spirit power – within us so we can be his witnesses in “Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8, HCSB)
God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to energize our faith-walk and to allow God to work through us to love and serve others. If we don’t lean on the Holy Spirit, it is like receiving a gift we never use, or that we hide away.

What does this mean?
God sees to your success – God didn’t just give you an assignment and then leave you to figure it out on your own. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower you. Jesus said, “And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” (Luke 24:49, HCSB)
This Holy Spirit is Jesus in you – “Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you…. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:7, 14, HCSB)
Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

The Captivity of Discontent

2008-04-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

“I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content]—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” Philippians 4:11–12 (HCSB)

The Apostle Paul, who was blessed with great privileges – but also beaten and stripped of everything he had – taught that true contentment must be learned: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12, NIV)
He teaches that God gives us strength to be content. This is an important spiritual truth to learn because if wealth, good looks, or the seemingly perfect spouse brought lasting contentment, then Hollywood would be filled with some of the most content and happy people on earth. But it’s not.
What does this mean?
Don’t compare yourself to others – When you compare your life with someone else’s, the only place it can lead is discontent. There will always be people who appear to be better off than you, but you don’t know their real circumstances.
I recall counseling a husband many years ago, who said he wished his wife could be more like so-and-so, and he named a woman in our congregation. What he didn’t know was that the woman was an alcoholic who was causing awful heartache and stress for her family and her husband. That’s why the Bible says it is unwise to compare ourselves with others or even with ourselves! (2 Corinthians 10:12)
Be grateful for who you are and what you have – Learning to be content requires that you stop any “when and then” thinking – “When I am ___________, then I’ll be happy.” (You fill in the blank.) You may actually be content for a little while but then someone else or something else will come along and drain the contentment from your life.
But listen – you are unique. God created you to be like nobody else, so why would you want to be anyone else? God is perfect, and you were his perfect choice to be you! Understanding that is a huge step toward being content with your life.
And then look at all the things God has given you. So often we allow what we don’t have to dominate our focus to the point we forget the many, wonderful things we already have – not only material things, but far more important blessings, such as family and friends.
Give yourself to others – If you will begin giving yourself to others, sharing what things you do have, sharing your time and your talents, you will find yourself learning to be content. Helping others will give you an appreciation for what you have and who you are but, more importantly, you will find yourself growing in contentment. Why? Because God designed us to serve and share with others and until we do that, we will feel great discontent.
Focus on things with eternal value – The real secret to becoming content is to focus on the things that have eternal value. It may be a familiar teaching to you, but Jesus said we should store up our treasures in heaven, and not on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–21, NIV)
Think about the things in your life – What will last forever? What will last at least for your lifetime? What will last only a few short years, or months, or days? Based on eternal value, what things are most important in your life? Where – and with whom – should you invest your most time and energy?
By reorganizing your life around eternal priorities, you will find yourself growing in contentment, as you live according to God’s design and purpose.

This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Rick Warren.

Jesus Prays for You by Jon Walker

2008-04-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message.” John 17:20 (HCSB)

During the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for himself, and then he prayed for the disciples.
And then, with the hour of his death approaching, he took the time to pray for you. He prayed for all those who would believe through the ministry of the disciples, and that means you.
Jesus prayed for you, and this is what he said to God:
“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.”
“I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
“Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.” (John 17:20–24, HCSB)

What does this mean?
Jesus cares for you – And, in fact, he still prays for you: “Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, HCSB)
Jesus wants you with him in heaven – “Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.” (John 17:24, HCSB)
Jesus empowers you to follow God’s purpose – “I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22–23, HCSB) Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Leaving to Go Home by Jon Walker

2008-03-31T15:23:00.004-07:00

Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” John 6:68–69 (HCSB)

Jesus fed the 5,000, and then Jesus walked on water. He showed the disciples that, with a mustard-seed faith, they too could step onto, and not into, the water, like Peter taking baby steps toward Jesus.
But then Jesus said he was the Bread of Life – that his ministry wasn’t about giving the faithful a free lunch, all the food and miracles anyone could ever want. “Don’t come to me for what you can get,” Jesus explained. “Come to me because I am the One.”
“From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” (John 6:66–67, HCSB)
Peter, forever stating exactly what he’s thinking, says there’s no where else to go. “We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” (John 6:69, HCSB)
And God wants to bring us to this same place, where we understand there is no other way, or truth, or life, but Jesus (John 14:6); where we stop wandering in the wilderness, holding on to a hopeless hope that there is someone else, something else that can do for us what only Jesus, the One, the Son, can do.
We believe there is somewhere else to go when we step out independent from God, following the wrong gods home. We may chase after little gods, such as drugs, sex, or theft; but the danger is that we also follow the more subtle false gods of anger, gossip, or lying.
But like the prodigal, we keep coming back to Jesus, until we finally understand deep within that only he has the words of eternal life; only he is the Holy One of God. (John 6:68–69, HCSB)
In my own walk, I have come back in confusion; I have come back in heartbreak; I have come back in defeat. I have come back with my anger and my shame, crying out, “I am leaving; I am leaving; I will leave.”
Yet, I remain because my Savior never leaves.

What does this mean?
God is pushing you toward the narrow gate – He knows that there is no one else to go to and so he is drawing you toward the narrow gate: “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” (Matthew 7:14, HCSB) God’s insistence that there is only one Way, one Truth, one Life is not a selfish demand; he knows, painfully so, that there is no other way to him except through Jesus Christ.
Really, there is no one else – For many years, I chased after the wrong things, and I’m still tempted to do so today. Sometimes, when I hear voices from the far country, I turn my gaze toward the horizon. But I’ve learned through costly trial and painful error that I’ll eventually just end up right back at the feet of Jesus. So, I sit back down at the Master’s feet, and turn my gaze upon Jesus. Ask God to help you – and to help me – act as we believe: “We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” (John 6:69, HCSB)
Look to where God is pushing you – God is pushing you closer and closer to the One who has the words of eternal life. By coming to the place where you can say to Jesus, “You are the only and Holy One of God,” you have also come to the place where you are seeking him, and him alone.
Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Leaving to Go Home by Jon Walker

2008-03-31T15:23:00.003-07:00

Leaving to Go Home by Jon Walker

2008-03-31T15:23:00.002-07:00

Leaving to Go Home by Jon Walker

2008-03-31T15:23:00.001-07:00

Just Getting Along? by Jon Walker

2008-03-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

The Bible doesn’t tell us to just get along with other believers. Even the worst of enemies can bury their differences for a short time and be cordial toward one another for a mutual goal or benefit.
But God calls us to a higher standard: “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2 NLT)
Our testimonies are validated by how we get along with other believers – that is, how we get along with each other in our congregations, our small groups, our choir rehearsals, our deacon/elder meetings, even our families. Jesus said, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples — when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:35 MSG)
Yet, love doesn’t look very lovable when it’s accompanied by arguments and disputes and constant fighting. This is perhaps the hardest aspect of genuine Christian fellowship – because conflicts arise every time people are thrown together. Even a man and a woman who vow to love one another until separated by death can’t always see eye-to-eye. It’s understandable, then, when a group of people who have nothing in common but Jesus find it difficult to agree with one another all the time.
Our ability to get along with other believers simply won’t come from our human efforts, no matter how well intentioned, and it won’t come from continual compromises. Here’s the reason why – the church is a body!
The Bible calls the church a body of believers, but the funny thing about this body is every organ has a mind of its own. Yet, the human body is ruled by a single mind.
And so is the church, where the single mind that rules is Jesus, who is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18). As with the human body, the desires of each individual organ, in the final analysis, don’t matter. It is only the desires of Jesus that count.
What does this mean?

Listen to your Head – If the left leg wants to walk and the right leg wants to run, it’s the head that decides what they will do. In the body of Christ, Jesus is the Head. Take your conflicts and disagreements to Jesus – and then do what he tells you to do, even if you don’t agree.
Agree on this one thing – We may have differing opinions, but on this one thing we must all agree: the only opinion that matters is the Lord’s. The cure for arguments and disputes that have infected the body is for all the parts – each of us – to submit to the will of Jesus Christ (James 4:7).
Question to consider – Has God brought to mind someone with whom you need to work out some differences? Instead of trying to make the other person agree with you, tell God that you will agree with him. If God so leads, tell those on the other side of a conflict or dispute that you are willing to submit to the will of Jesus and encourage them to do the same.
Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.

Jesus or the Boat? by Jon Walker

2008-03-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Jon Walker
“But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.” Matthew 14:24 (HCSB)
Jesus needed time to refresh and so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the Sea of Galilee in one of their fishing boats. But storms sweep across this inland sea like tornados that emerge from nowhere.
And now the disciples were in a fight with the Goliath-like forces of nature. Some of the disciples were fishermen. They understood the danger, and so they fought the storm long and hard, but made little headway.
It was three o’clock in the morning, that no-man’s-land time of day when you haven’t yet escaped the night, but you still haven’t crossed into morning. It’s the kind of time when you wonder if you’ll even make it through until sunrise.
The Golan Heights, rising from the water like a wall within a quarry, are hard to distinguish against a sky so dark and drench. They’re over a mile from shore, and the water is transforming into an evil presence, so deep and so menacing.
And just then, someone on the boat yells, “Look! What is that? It looks like a man, but it just can’t be.” Before he’s even finished saying them, his words disappear into the wailing wind. But no one has to say anything else. All eyes are on this ghostly figure walking toward them like an incarnation of the storm!
And then Jesus says, “It is I.” (v. 27)
What does this mean?
Jesus or the boat? – When faced with such a situation, where is the safest place to be? In the boat or in the arms of Jesus?
Jesus peace – Logic tells us we’re safer in the boat; but the Bible tells us we’re safer in the arms of Jesus, the Lord and Master over the storm. He offers a peace that passes all understanding.
Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

We Weren't Made to Live Alone by Rick Warren

2008-03-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him.” (Genesis 2:18 HCSB)
*** *** *** ***
Today’s devotional is from Pastor Rick Warren.
If I were to ask you what you considered to be the most common emotional hurt in people, what would you say: Depression? Anxiety? Guilt?
How about loneliness?
After all the pastoral conversations I’ve had over the last 30 years, I’m certain loneliness is not only common to us all; it’s epidemic. I first noticed this when people who were married would come to me for pastoral care, saying they were lonely – extremely lonely.
It may surprise you that it is not all that uncommon for a husband and wife to not really talk to each other. Yet loneliness emerges in a lot of different situations. It may arise from the death of a loved one or the death – by divorce – of your marriage.
Maybe you feel abandoned by someone you relied on or perhaps your work keeps you on the road, forcing you to spend lonely nights in a motel. Or maybe it’s because you’ve just moved to a new neighborhood, and you don’t know a soul.
The evidence of loneliness in our modern world is in the dial-in chat lines, where people pay by the minute to talk to a stranger. Ironically, the Internet connects millions of people around the world, and yet the end result is anonymity and isolation.
Have you eve wondered why we all have the capacity to feel lonely?
It’s because God made us to need each other. In other words, we don’t like to live alone because we weren’t made to live alone. The Bible teaches that, even when Adam was living in paradise – a perfect setting with no problems, no stress, no sin, and no one creating heartaches for others – God could see that it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone. (Genesis 2:18)
What does this mean?
There are several biblical ways to reduce the pain of loneliness:
· God gives you a plan – You may feel nobody knows the depth of your loneliness and think, “If I were to drop off the face of the earth, nobody would miss me.” Yet we know from the Bible that God created you, that he knows you by name, and that he put you on this earth for a purpose. When you focus on God’s plan for your life, you’ll find yourself feeling less lonely.
· God gives you others to serve – I’m convinced that part of God’s plan for overcoming loneliness is to get the focus off ourselves and, instead, to pour ourselves into other people’s lives by serving them and giving them your talents and gifts. I’d encourage you to take the initiative and get involved with a small group of people who share similar interests. Within that group, you’re likely to make real friendships.
God gives you his presence – We were made to have an intimate, personal and close relationship with God. No person, experience, drug, success, possession – not even fortune or fame – will fill that aching hole in your heart, a place God created for himself. God is everywhere; there’s no place in the universe where God is not. Knowing that can relieve your loneliness. Regardless of the source of your loneliness, God is right there with you. You’re never truly alone – and when you feel lonely, you can call on him to help conquer your loneliness.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part by Jon Walker

2008-02-29T00:25:00.000-08:00

But Sarai, Abram's wife, had no children. So Sarai took her servant, an Egyptian woman named Hagar, and gave her to Abram so she could bear his children. “The LORD has kept me from having any children,” Sarai said to Abram. “Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed. (Genesis 16:1-2 NLT)
*** *** *** ***
And so Sarai took it upon herself to solve God’s problem. After all, God told Sarai’s husband, Abram, that he’d have a huge family, more descendants than there are stars in the sky. (Genesis 15)

Sarai waited and waited for God to provide their first descendant, but the baby didn’t come. She waited week after week, hopeful that God would answer her prayers, that God would make good on his promise. Every day, the tension and the frustration mounted. As the musician, Tom Petty, sings: “The waiting is the hardest part.”

Like me – perhaps like you – Sarai began to wonder if God would ever answer her prayers. She wondered if God had forgotten about her, as if God’s promise had been mis-filed or improperly prioritized in the perceived bureaucracy of heaven. Perhaps – like you, like me – Sarai questioned whether God really knew what he was doing.

It appears Sarai’s thoughts walked as far as her faith would carry her, and then she stood looking at the mountains of her fear. Did God understand how important this was to her? How could God deny her the greatest desire of her heart? Was God even on her side?
Even as Sarai acknowledged God’s ability to fulfill the promise – “The LORD has kept me from having any children …” – yet she denied God’s sovereignty to decide when the promise would be fulfilled.

And so Sarai took it upon herself to fulfill the promise, no longer trusting God to do his job. The waiting is the hardest part, and Sarai was tired of the wait.
Sitting in a humid tent, she hears the support poles creak; she hears, through the open flaps, a camel snort; and she hears … was that a voice, like the hiss of a serpent, saying, "Really? Did God really say your husband would be the father of a family so vast it would surpass the number of stars in the sky?" (Consider Genesis 3.)
Sarai said, “God can, but he won’t." Or maybe she said, "God can’t figure this out.” Looking through the tent’s door, she saw her servant Hagar, and in that moment she saw the solution, though she didn’t see the Pandora’s Box she would soon open. Perhaps she even though, "Of course! This is probably the answer God meant for me to see all along."
Her faith was collapsing, but so was Abram’s, for when Sarai suggested the solution was through Hagar, Abram agreed.

So what does this mean?

Waiting for God is hard – God is not surprised when we’re honest about our frustrations and fears. Often God requires us to wait because he’s trying to show us the end of our faith, stretching our faith, not condemning us for the lack of it. In these moments, seek God and not the answer.

Whose side are you on? – Sarai believed her assumptions more than God’s promise. She wonders why God was no longer on her side – "Why is the LORD keeping this from me?" – instead of confessing that she was no longer on God’s side. Ask God to help you identify the places in your life where you’re saying, "The LORD is keeping this from me!" What will you do with what he reveals to you?

God opens and closes doors – Even as Sarai took matters into her own hands, she acknowledged God had the power to provide more heirs than there were stars in the sky. If we could ask Sarai, "Can God?" she probably would answer yes. If we then asked Sarai, "Will God?" her honest answer would appear to have been no. When faced with a delayed answer, do you break with God? What does manipulating an answer to your prayer say about your belief in the character of God? What does "giving up on God" say about the depth of your faith?

Restoring your faith – Like mastery-based education, God’s interest is that you master the lessons of faith. He wants you to succeed in your lessons, able to walk further in faith each day. So failure is not defeat; he will continue to teach you – and stretch you – until walking by faith and not by sight is as natural as breathing. Tell God, "I believe; help my unbelief!”

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

Making Allowance for Each Other's Faults by Jon Walker

2008-02-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)

The more we understand, the more patient we become.
When we see the hurt beneath the anger, or the reason behind the behavior, we’re more likely to “make allowance for each other’s faults.”

The ability to understand is a sign of patience. (Proverbs 14:29) The Bible teaches, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV) God’s wisdom teaches us that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), and that impatience is not love.
When facing a challenge to our patience, it helps to remember God is not asking us to give more patience to others than the patience he gives to us. The apostle Paul uses his own life as an example of this, saying God showed him mercy, despite his many sins, so that “Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience.” (1Timothy1:16 NIV)

We need patience with one another because God created each of us with different shapes, assigning each of us a different mission in life. We all have different backgrounds, and we’re each at a different place in our journey with Jesus. Practicing patience keeps our view on the things above, allowing us to see how God works even in the most difficult of circumstances. It is in patience we often learn that diversity is a strength, instead of a weakness.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.” (Romans 14:1 MSG)

What does this mean?

· Work at being consistently patient – Anybody can be patient when it’s convenient, but it’s much harder to remain patient when the day is slipping away or when you’re faced with the same mistake for the third time in one week. Patience often comes at significant cost; it requires you set aside your agenda and yield your rights in order to “welcome each other with open arms.”
· Learn to listen – Listening means more than just hearing someone talk; it means carefully considering what the other person is saying and actively trying to understand his or her point of view. The Bible says, “Listen before you answer. If you don’t, you are being stupid and insulting.” (Proverbs 18:13 TEV) That’s pretty clear! It means we shouldn’t evaluate what someone has done or said until we’ve heard the full story. God gave us two ears and one mouth, perhaps to tell us we should listen twice as much as we talk. Ha!

· Ask yourself these questions:
§ What makes me impatient?
§ What does my impatience say about my priorities?
§ How can I better understand the people who bring out my impatience?
§ Have I taken time to listen to their full stories?
§ In what ways do people have to be patient with me?
§ Do I give the same amount of grace to others as I expect them to give me?
§ “Love is patient.” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV) – that means love puts up with a lot for a long time. The next time your patience reaches its limit, remember how patient and understanding Jesus is with you.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

God's Passion For Onenessby Jon Walker

2008-02-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 HCSB)

When Jesus speaks of love, he allows no room for sentimental fantasy or momentary emotion. He sees love through the eyes of the Father, and from this point of view he deeply understands that true, eternal, godly love is bold and strong, but also painful, messy, and sacrificial.
A love of this strength and magnitude can only take root in the soil of abandonment. We abandon our rights, our thoughts, and our schemes. It was this total and uncompromising abandonment to God that led Jesus to say and do only what the Father told him to do. (John 14:10) It was this uncompromising abandonment that led him to the cross.

If we are to become just like Christ, then we also must be abandoned to the Father. We must line up with the thoughts and plans of God so closely that we appear to be "at one" with him, just as a married couple, deeply abandoned to each other, appear to live as one. Through abandonment, we walk so closely with God that, when people see us, they see the Father at work.
Jesus is teaching this abandonment when he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments." In other words, he's not demanding that you be obedient; rather, he's telling you that love for him should compel you to embrace his purposes.

The Jesus way is that you obey God's commands because you love God, not because you must obey God. By actively pursuing the purposes of God, you worship your Creator.
This also gives you a Christ-like perspective on the daily details of your life, turning every decision into a moment of adoration for God. When you let someone else take the parking space, when you stand behind a promise that proves more costly than you imagined, when you extend hospitality to the cranky neighbor next door – these are moments of worship to God because you are choosing to be obedient to his purposes, rather than doing things your own way. Even choosing not to sin becomes an act of worship, as it brings you into closer alignment with God's commands.

What does this mean?
· As you face decisions today, ask God to show you which path will be an act of worship to him. Then (I know this is easier said than done), move where he tells you to move.
· As you take this step, keep your eyes sensitive to God’s grace and presence in the moment. Do this throughout the day, keeping a log so you can track your movement toward oneness with God and his purposes.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

The Truth About Feelings by Jon Walker

2008-02-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

… And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ …. (Philippians 1:9-10 NIV)
Submitted now for your consideration: Pamela, a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a prayerful Christian. This morning, her husband, Richard, left a tender note on the bathroom mirror, inviting Pamela to join him for lunch at their favorite restaurant.
Pamela eyes the clock throughout the morning, anticipating meeting her life-long love at 1 p.m. She’s excited and feeling extraordinarily loved by her husband, so she leaves for the restaurant early in order to buy Richard a small gift. She splurges more, buying two balloons, which float up from the ribbon wrapped around the present.
As she pays for the gift, she looks in her purse and notices she’s left her cell phone at home – again. No matter, it’s 12:30 and in a few short minutes she’ll be with Richard, giving him her undivided attention. Who needs a cell phone in moments like that?
Pamela arrives at the restaurant first and patiently waits for Richard to arrive. What she doesn’t yet know is that Richard has been in a horrible traffic accident and was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:24 – about the time Pamela was tying the balloons to the bow, buoyantly anticipating the approaching romantic rendezvous.
The point to this sorrowful snapshot is that our feelings don’t always reflect the truth. Pamela is soaring high on her feelings of love, even though her husband is already dead. The truth is bearing down on her, and it will immediately alter her feelings when it hits – but her feelings are not yet in line with the truth.
Imagine Pamela as she waits for her husband, and he does not arrive. She’s forgotten her cell phone, so she waits. After a while, she becomes annoyed; after 20 minutes, she’s irritated and hurt. Her feelings still do not line up with the truth.
After 40 minutes, she begins to worry. This just isn’t like Richard. Maybe something has happened. She asks to borrow the restaurant's phone, and she calls Richard’s office, but is transferred to his boss. He says, “Pamela, we’ve been trying to reach you. There’s been a terrible accident ….” The truth and Pamela’s feelings collide.
The fact is, God gave us feelings. There’s nothing wrong with them. As one of my friends often says, “Feelings are just feelings.” Sometimes they reflect the truth; oftentimes they don’t. They can provide positive insight, such as when our fear warns us of nearby danger, or they can give us social discernment, like when we realize we’re falling in love.
But your feelings do not define the truth. Only God defines the truth. You may feel worthless, but the truth is you are uniquely created by God, who loves you deeply. You may feel like you can walk on water, but the truth is you can only do that if Jesus calls you from the boat. You can’t; God can.
Just as the Apostle John tells us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1-3), Paul teaches us to discern the truth through knowledge and deep insight, not through our feelings. He writes, “… and this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ ….” (Philippians 1:9-10 NIV)
Eugene Peterson, in The Message paraphrase of the Bible, translates it like this: “… You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush ….” (Philippians 1:9b-10a MSG) Otherwise, you end up in a life “shaped by things and feelings, instead of God.” (Colossians 3:5 MSG)
Your feelings are from God. They are a gift, and there is no need to avoid them or be ashamed of them. Yet God never meant for our feelings to be the gauge that measures your life and how you live it. Your feelings are not designed to define you or interpret the situations you now face. Only God’s truth can define you, and only God’s truth can pass judgment on the circumstances of your life.
The great and best Good News is this: God’s truth is a person – Jesus Christ, our Lord.
What does this mean?
· You are not your emotions – You are not defined by your emotions. You are defined by God. You may feel worthless, but God says you are wonderfully and fearfully created in his image. You may feel like you’ve failed God, but God says you are accepted in the beloved and that he loves you no matter what you’ve done.
· God uses your feelings – God may use your feelings to reveal a piece of your heart that you need to turn over to God; he may use your feelings to draw you closer to him. Paul speaks of feeling like a wretched man, and that draws him deeper into the grace of God. Your feelings of hopelessness in a situation may be what God uses to show you that you’re hanging your hopes on the wrong thing – because he is a God of hope, and it is a hope that will not disappoint.
· Your obedience is based on the truth, not feelings – The facts may appear daunting, but it is up to God to interpret the facts, not you and your feelings. God calls us to be obedient to the truth, not the way we feel. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says that if you don’t love someone, act as if you do, and your feelings will catch up.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

Give Life with Your Words by Jon Walker

2008-02-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose. (Proverbs 18:21 MSG)
You have the power to kill or give life.
Yes, you, gentle reader – a follower of Christ – are capable of murder, and so am I. We can speak death with our words, or we can speak life.
Perhaps you’ve been on the other side of the killing kind of messages: “You’re not smart enough. You’re not thin enough. You’re not fast enough. You’re not good enough. A real Christian wouldn’t think such a thing.”

In a world where people are beat up and put down, God gives you superhero power to punch through the negativity. You speak life to others when you say: “You matter to me. I like you just the way you are. You’re human, anyone could think that. Your life counts. You were created for a purpose. God loves you, and you’re incredibly valuable to him.”
Your words may be the only encouraging thing some people hear in a day, or a week, or a month. You – yes, you – can become the voice of God’s grace in the lives of others, supporting, loving, helping, and encouraging with the words that flow from your mouth. (Romans 14:19b)

In the New Testament, the word ‘encouragement’ often means “to come alongside.” We’re to come alongside one another, “building each other up,” just as the Holy Encourager comes alongside us to teach us and remind us of the way of Jesus. (John 14:26)

We become encouragers when we stop looking down and start looking up (Colossians 3:2) – the need and opportunity for encouragement is everywhere. “Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us,” (Romans 15:2a MSG) and this “will build them up.” (Romans 15:2b NLT)

So, how about it? Will you become today a consistent source of encouragement to those around you? It’s a choice on your part. You can lift a person’s spirit, change the atmosphere of your office, or lighten the burden of someone in your small group. The Bible says we should “look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15b MSG)
What does this mean?

· Commit to encouragement – Make a choice to build up the people around you. Fill your conversations with phrases like: “I believe in you,” “I’m grateful for you,” “I see God using you,” “I appreciate you,” and “I’m glad you’re in my life.” The Bible says we should “encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)
· Value others – An encourager works hard at bringing the best out in others. Value people by understanding they are valuable to God. He encourages you in spite of the failings in your past; he believes in you in spite of those annoying, little things you excuse in yourself but criticize in others. J (Quite honestly, this thought compels me to give grace to others.)
· Be encouraged – Encourage yourself, for “there is good news of great joy for all people, and his name is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-10)

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

Indentity in Christ by Jon Walker

2008-02-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV)
God spoke you into your mother's womb at just the right time for you to be here now. It wasn’t by accident, nor was it a pleasant surprise to God; he designed you on purpose to be on mission with him for such a time as this.
Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ. What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop believing what others have said about you; you stop believing how others have labeled you; you stop accepting how others have defined you.
Where I’m going is here – if you don’t know who you are, then you’re vulnerable to other people telling you who you are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that you are who God says you are and no one else has a vote in the matter.
You are now identified with Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You are God’s precious child and he created you in a way that pleases him.
This “identity issue” is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible demands of his mission because he’d settled this identity issue. He knew exactly who he was; he knew that he mattered immensely to his Heavenly Father, and that gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.
What does this mean?

· God wants you to be you – You can relax knowing that being yourself is exactly what God wants of you. A pencil brings glory to God by being a pencil. But, if you take a pencil and try to use it like a screwdriver, it won’t work and you’ll likely break the pencil. You will find the stress drained from your life when you stop trying to be somebody you’re not and instead start being who God purposefully designed you to be.

· Believe God calls you by name – God didn’t call you as part of a blanket invitation; he called you specifically by name. You are his masterpiece, a work of his own hands. Like many earthly fathers, God feels pleasure when he sees you just being you.

· Believe you are who God says you are – No one else has a vote on who you are. You are free to be you instead of imitating someone else. You are free to use your unique, God-given gifts and there is no need to compare your gifts to the gifts of others. No one else is in competition to be you!

Question to consider: Where are the places in your life where you’re still trying to be someone other than who God shaped you to be?
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

Believing Your Uniqueness by Jon Walker

2008-01-28T10:37:00.000-08:00

“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me – to tell people the Good News about God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 NCV)
God gave you a unique role to play in his Kingdom.

You’re the only person in the world who can live your particular life for the glory of God. There is no one else in the world with your unique mix of spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. God shaped you for a very specific ministry, and no one else can fulfill your mission.

Paul writes: “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me – to tell people the Good News about God's grace” (Acts 20:24 NCV). God doesn’t want us to waste a precious minute of our lives doing things that don’t matter – if the most important thing we can do is left undone.

It’s never too late to move faithfully into your mission for God. You may think you don’t have any skills God can use, but the truth is God would never send you on a mission without making sure you had everything you needed – including your unique S.H.A.P.E.
He sends you with his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, inside you to guide you.

What does this mean?
· Let’s not waste God’s grace – The apostle Paul writes, “But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 MSG)
· What if it’s true? – How would you live differently if you really believed God had created you for a unique mission, one that only you could accomplish?

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for www.GraceCreates.com.

Obeying God

2008-01-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

Peter was a professional fisherman. He knew how to gauge weather conditions, where to find the best places to fish, and when to end an unproductive night. Because of his expertise, he may have silently questioned the reasonableness of Jesus’ instruction. Why let down the nets when an experienced team of fishermen hadn’t caught anything all night?Sometimes God asks His children to act in ways that appear unreasonable. His request might involve leaving a job or ministry that He provided only recently, taking on more responsibility when life already feels overloaded, or accepting an assignment that seems better suited for someone with a different skill set. Perhaps God’s plan makes no sense in view of age, financial situation, or health condition. Yet, because of the One who asks, it will be the absolutely right thing to do. We have to decide whether to do what is sensible by human standards or to obey God.The Bible talks about many people who had to make such a choice. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. Noah was told to build an ark on dry land because a flood was coming. Joshua was given a military strategy of marching around Jericho instead of attacking it (Joshua 6:2-5). Gideon, the inexperienced fighter, was told to send most of his warriors home before the battle (Judges 7:2-3). They all obeyed and experienced God’s power released on their behalf.Don’t let human logic dictate whether you follow God’s plan. Trust in Him as Peter and these other faithful believers did.

From the Issue of In Touch Ministry's, Early Light Devotional.

Sacrifice is Part of Service by Jon Walker

2008-01-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

“We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. (1 John 3:16 GW)
Serving others comes at a great price.
When you become a servant, you always give up something you could have kept for yourself – time, money, energy. But the greatest cost of all is yourself.
Serving others exacts a personal toll that cannot be measured in dollars and cents or hours and minutes.
In 2 Corinthians 6:8-10, Paul describes the price he paid for serving others: “We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” (NLT)
Later in the same book, Paul describes being jailed, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and robbed – all while serving the churches God entrusted to his care. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
God’s servants find the sacrifices worth the price because they can look past the present pain or inconvenience, fixing their eyes firmly on Jesus who “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)
It is in serving others sacrificially, says the apostle John, that we begin to grasp as well as experience godly love: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11 NIV)
What does this mean?
· Serve on God’s terms; not your own – You’ve been seeded with the Spirit of Christ, and even though you can’t, his Spirit within you can enable you to give yourself for others. You can draw from his sacrificial strength.
· Love finds meaning in sacrifice – “We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.” (1 John 3:16 GW)
· Your sacrifice of service – Is God asking you to give up something – or sacrifice in some way – in order to serve others? Talk to him about your fears, concerns, and confusion. Affirm your willingness to cooperate with his plan for you.

From the Issue of Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional

Rediscovering the Priority from Dr. Myles Munroe's book, Kingdom Principles

2008-01-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

REDISCOVERING THE PRIORITY
From Dr. Myles Munroe’s book Kingdom Principles

The greatest secret to living effectively on earth is understanding the principle and power of priorities. Life on earth holds no greater challenge than the complicating daily demand of choosing among competing alternatives for our limited time. Our life is the sum total of all decisions we make everyday, and those are determined by our priorities. How we use our time every day eventually defines our lives. Life was designed to be simple, not complicated, and the key to simplifying life is prioritization. Identifying the correct and right priority of life is the key to a successful and fulfilled life. So then, what is the principle and concept of priority?

Priority is defines as:

The principal thing.
Putting first things first.
Establishing the most important thing.
Primary focus.
Placing in order of importance.
Placing the highest value and worth upon.
First among all others.

If our priorities determine the quality of life and dictate all of our actions and behavior, then it is essential that we understand and identify our priorities. THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN LIFE IS NOT DEATH BUT LIFE WITHOUT A PURPOSE – LIFE WITH THE WRONG PRIORITIES. Life’s greatest challenge is in knowing what to do. The greatest mistake in life is to be busy but not effective. Life’s greatest failure is to be successful in the wrong assignment. Success in life is measured in the effective use of one’s time.

Time is the true measure of life. In fact, time is the currency of life. How you spend your time determines the quality of your life and death. You become whatever you buy with your time. Always be aware that everything and everyone around you is vying for your life. And the key to effective use of your time is establishing correct priorities. First things first!

When your priorities are correct, you preserve and protect your life. Correct priority is the principle of progress because when you establish your priority according to your purpose and goals then your progress is guaranteed. Correct priority protects your time. When you set the right priorities, then you use your time for intentional purposes; your time is not abused or wasted. Correct priority protects your energy. Correct priority protects your talents and gifts. Correct priority protects your decisions. Correct priority protects your discipline. Correct priority simplifies your life.

Failure to establish correct priority causes you to waste your two most important commodities: your time and your energy. When your priorities are not correct you will find yourself busy with the wrong things, majoring in the minor, doing the unnecessary, or becoming preoccupied with the unimportant. Incorrect priorities in your life will cause you to invest in the less valuable, engage in ineffective activity, and abuse your gifts and talents. Ultimately, it will cause you to forfeit purpose, which results in failure.

Why is the principle of priority so important to our discussion of the Kingdom? Because if priority is the essence of life, then we should want to know what our priority should be so that we can live effectively. It may surprise you to know that most of the people in the world are driven by incorrect priorities that occupy and control their entire lives. What are these priorities that master most of the human race?

The answer is perhaps found in the work of behavioral scientist and psychologist Abraham Maslow who, after studying the motivations of human behavior, concluded that all human behavior is driven by the same basic “hierarchy of needs”:

1. Water
2. Food
3. Clothes
4. Housing
5. Protection
6. Security
7. Preservation
8. Self-actualization
9. Significance

It is important to note that Maslow listed these motivational needs in order of priority. Perhaps if we are honest, we would agree that the human rat race does indeed strive for all of these things. We go to work every day, and some even hold down two or more jobs, just to secure water, food, clothing, housing and protection. What a tragedy, to think that the basic priority driving most humans is that of simple survival!

Would it surprise you to learn that most religions are built around the promise to meet these very same needs as a priority? Meeting human needs is the premise of all religions. One common denominator of all religions is the effort to please or appease some deity in order to secure basic needs such as a good harvest, favorable weather, protection from enemies, etc. Another factor that all religions have in common is that their primary focus is on the needs of the worshipper. Priority in religious prayers and petitions is for personal needs. Human needs drive religion. Much of what we call “faith” is nothing more than striving for the very things on Maslow’s list.

'Tis The Season To Enter God's Rest by Jon Walker

2007-12-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

“…There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest ….” (Hebrews 4:8b-11 NIV)
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
God invites us to enter the rest of his healing grace, trusting in his power and purpose for our lives. We rest in our Father’s arms, knowing he goes before and goes behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil. (Jeremiah 29:11)
We enter this “let go and let God” rest through faith, where we cease to work and live independently of God (“… anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work …”). Instead, we’re to focus our efforts toward entering this Sabbath-trust in God, a restful certainty that God’s got a handle on it all, and that he’s got our best interests in mind.
One writer illustrates this point by telling the story of a man walking down a dusty rural road on a hot, humid day. The man is loaded down with a heavy backpack and carries a duffle bag in each hand. A pick-up truck comes along, and the driver offers the man a ride, telling him to hop in the back.
The driver heads down the road, but when he looks in the rear-view mirror he sees that his new passenger is standing in the bed of the truck – still holding both duffle bags, still wearing the backpack.
The thing is: We stand in the truck of faith, still carrying our burdens, thinking they are independent of the ride we’re taking. Perhaps we think God can carry us, but not our burdens, that we have to keep bearing them ourselves.
What does this mean?

· Rest in God – Rest in God’s power and grace, and work toward confidence (faith) that he is looking out for your best interests. “I believe; Lord, help my unbelief.”
· Rest requires dependence – If you’re working independently of God, then you’re not at rest in God. Possible signs that you’re working independently: worry, a need to control, a crammed-full schedule.
· Our Father’s heart encourages rest – Next time you feel overwhelmed by life, settle in a chair and “be still and know that he is God.” Give him your burdens – your backpack and duffels.
· Faith leads to rest – Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29, NIV)

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.
Jon Walker is writer/pastor for the Web site www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted (c) 2007 by Jon Walker.
From the issue of Purpose Driven Life Devotional

The Time Came For Her Baby by Joh Walker

2007-12-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (Luke 2:6 NLT)

We manage time; we waste time. We spend time, and we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly, and we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed.
Yet God controls time. He created time and we, his creations, are fenced by his time, directed and guided by his holy and loving hand. Do you think God was surprised that “while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born?”
We're often surprised by unexpected developments in our lives, yet the Bible teaches that God is never surprised, even in the most disastrous turn of events. How would your faith differ if you believed God was not surprised by your current circumstances and that he's working, at this moment, for a holy and healthy conclusion?
What does this mean?

· God is always on time, at just the right time – George Mueller, the great prayer warrior from the 19th century, once waited on a dock for a special chair to be delivered. He had a bad back and needed the chair for the ocean voyage ahead of him. When the departure time grew close and the chair still had not arrived, Mueller’s friends offered to buy a substitute chair, but Mueller said no – “Either God will provide the chair, or he’ll give grace to do without it.” Like a Hollywood ending, the chair arrived just in time, right on time. Mueller noted, “If the chair had arrived earlier, we might have dismissed the provision of God.” This Christmas, point out the provisions of God when you see them.

· What if you were certain God would provide? – How would you act, think, and live differently if you were absolutely certain God was at the end of the deadline? That is, even if there were mere seconds left, you still believed with certainty that God was working through your circumstances? Believing he’s there and about to provide is the essence of faith. Tell God, “I believe; help my unbelief.”

· Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) – Time cannot diminish Christ’s love for you or his power to work within your life. He is there in the past; he is here in the now; and he is there in your future.
· A thousand years are like a few hours to God (Psalm 90:4) – God is working to bring you into eternity, not just to get you through the end of next week. Praise God for his grace and for a love so strong that he wants you to spend an eternity with him.

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.

Jesus is Alive!

2007-12-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

“The Lord is risen indeed.” (Luke 24:34)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ! Jesus is risen from the dead. Friend, all history points to that Sunday morning as the turning point of all mankind. It is because the tomb was empty that everyone now has a new opportunity to a second chance in life. Because of the resurrection we now have:

The opportunity to be born again
Forgiveness and the remission of sin
Access to the kingdom of God
Freedom the power of sickness and disease
Deliverance from the powers of darkness
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
The birth of the Church
All the promised of God available freely
Jesus at the right hand of God as the guarantee of His covenant with mankind

The list can go on with the benefits and blessings now available because of the resurrection. But suffice it to say this day, because of Easter morning, each day is now new and the opportunities for God’s power are as real as ever. Because of the resurrection, all limitation of mankind have been removed and the potential for an abundant life is here today. Resurrection life is moving around the world through the preaching of the gospel, and men and women, young and old, are experiencing a second chance in the hundreds of thousands every day. Today would be a great day to receive Christ, be born again, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be healed. Today would be a wonderful day to be delivered and experience God’s breakthrough. Today, rejoice and be glad and thank God for a second chance.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey: Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Hezekiah Prayed - a Life Extended

2007-11-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

Then He turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD. (Isaiah 38:2)

Hezekiah became sick and near death. Even worse the confirmation by the prophet Isaiah that "you shall die and not live" (verse 1). How would you respond when the doctor says you're going die, the man of God says you are going to die, and all the indicators are that your life is now about to cease? What did Hezekiah do? He prayed. He said,

"Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly." (verse 3)

This prayer touched God's heart, and the prophet was told to go back to Hezekiah and tell him his life was extended another 15 years. His prayer that came before God opened the door for him to have a second chance and have years added to his life. Thus, we learn from this lesson that God does hear and respond to our prayer. God is moved by the feeling and needs of His people. Sometimes when all is about to be lost, even one;s life, remember that "the eyes of the Lord are on he righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer." (1 Peter 3:12)

Do you or a loved one need a second chance in life? Take hope. Be encouraged! Be bold! Sometimes a believer needs to come in prayer and, if need be, "weep bitterly" as Hezekiah did in prayer and position himself or herself for a breakthrough. Can God do it? He did it for Hezekiah. And what He did for one He'll do for all, because He is no respecter of men.

Perhaps you need a new start today or you know someone else who needs a breakthrough. Well, my friends, that is why prayer was created: for men and women at their lowest point in life to become desperate enough that they call out to God in prayer. This is the starting point. Your prayer can move God's heart and hand. Today, is there as area in your life that needs a radical? Then go somewhere alone...and turn your face toward the wall and pray to the Lord.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

A Forgiven Criminal on a Cross

2007-11-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

The story of the pardoned criminal hanging next to Jesus on the cross will forever stand as an example of God's grace extending even to the lowest of the lows even at the last few minuted of life on this earth. What merciful and kind God we serve.

We don;t know the background of this criminal's life. What did he do? Steal, murder, or exhort? The Bible doesn't say. But what we do know is this, that this man ended up with a death sentence on his life for crimes he admittedly committed and that he was certainly a few minutes away from life eternally separated from God. But one of the most amazing displays of God's love was that while Christ was on the cross in the depths of His own agony, He still had goodness to offer to those around Him.

As the story goes, one of the two, criminals gains insight as to who Jesus was and that He was blameless. The criminal also became aware of Christ's kingdom and had a desire to be a apart of it. How did this revelation come about We really don;t know, other than even when Christ was on the cross, the Holy Spirit was working with those around Him to bring about a decision and a choice. The point here is that even while this criminal was minutes away from his own death, Christ saw something good in him that was redeemable. The criminal asked to be with Christ in His kingdom and the Lord immediately replied with the promise that he would be with Him in paradise.

Friends, it is never too late. There are many whose lives seem to be wasted away and without hope. Remember this before we discount people as unreachable and unchangeable. Remember this story of how even at the latest hour Christ drew and offered this man a new hope. Imagine with me those first few minutes of this criminal's life after he died and went to paradise. What rejoicing, what fulfillment, what glory. It must have been a fabulous homecoming. Today, look around and see if there are any who could turn to God, even if he or she looks like a criminal. You never know to whom God is stretching out His hand.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 75 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

An Insane Man - and Then Jesus Showed Up

2007-11-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

"Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you." (Mark 5:19)

How far does God's grace reach? How low will God stop to lift one up? How long will god wait and extend His patience for one to come back? We do serve an amazing wonderful God who is full of compassion. Even for this demonised man in Mark's Gospel who was alone and without hope, hidden away in a cave.

One of the tactics of the demonic kingdom is to severely oppress and bombard the mind with insanity, causing people to do unimaginable things. And then, while a mas is in a state of depravity, the stronghold will lift the oppression for a few moments so that the man can see in his right mind what is happening to himself, thus further entrenching his shame and hopelessness. Can yo imagine with me for a few moments the depths of anguish this man felt in this story? Everything was lost, even his own mind. He cut himself so as to ease the pain of days gone by and perhaps from remembering a day when life held fonder memories. A life now resigned to exist minute by minute away from all reflection of hope, love, and care.

And then Jesus showed up. Did this man have a second chance in life? You better believe it! Jesus brought about a radical deliverance in this man's life and catapulted him into a whole new realm of living. My friends, once you experience the power of God in your life, you'll never be the same. When all hope is gone and friends have forsaken you, know this: God's power is still the same to set people free.

There is another story of a man who was in an insane asylum for many years who dies. When his room was found that this man wrote in the lower corner of the wall words that have today become a part of a song that is sung in churches around the world. He wrote,

"Could we with ink oceans fill, and were the sky a parchment made, were every star above a quill and every man a scribe by trade...to write the love of God about would drain the oceans dry."

Whoever this man was who wrote those words also had a second chance. Oh, he may have outwardly passed away in the asylum, but oh, how free he must have been inside. Jesus must have shown up for that man as well. Open your heart today to the Master. Ask Him to show up for you. He said, "I will come in." (Revelation 3:20)

From the Issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Moses' Prayer Gave Israel a New Chance

2007-11-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (Exodus 3:4)

Moses lived with a sense of destiny and purpose. When he was 40 years old he took steps toward his destiny by defending a fellow Hebrew. What he didn't count on though was God's timing and plan. After Moses killed the Egyptian man, he escaped into the wilderness for 40 years.

Now let's think about this for a moment. Moses dind't have any idea about a 40-year wilderness plan. All he knew was the he thought he has a destiny and purpose as a deliverer, and then off into the desert he went. One year, 5 years, 20 years went by. i can imagine that by them Moses had a fairly well discounted his own agenda and reconciled his life to one as a shepherd in the desert. Another 18 years went by. In the 38th year Moses was 78 years old and still no future other than the hot, dry desert. It wasn't until the 40th year that history took a dramatic turn of events for him, and the sense of purpose that was alive, and then died, was brought back to him again.

So it is with many people's lives where at one time there was a dream, a purpose, a future, but for some reason things didn't work out as planned. This could involve a marriage, business, ministry, family or so forth. We can have high expectations, but for some unexplainable reason, that which you looked forward to for years did not materialize. Well, the good news here is that our God is the God of the second chance. When Moses was probably at his lowest was when God was getting ready to do the greatest. There is something to be said for contentment and proving of our faith. Moses had reconciled his life to be without, but God stepped back into his life with a new plan. Friends, you never know when you;re going to have a God encounter that can take you to places you never expected. It might be a phone call, meeting a new friend, a new opportunity coming our way at work, whatever. What's important to know is that Moses was minding his business and then one day he saw something was burning, and we're told he went to investigate.

Live today to the fullest of what you have at this point. Worship and walk with your God. Draw close to Him and be open to Him regarding your future and your desires. Never lose that hope of God's purpose for you and then, maybe you too, will see something burning in the distance.. it could be your second chance for something great!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Paul - Starting Over Again

2007-11-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 9:17)

Paul had his agenda, and then the Lord had His. Saul was on his way in his religious zeal to persecute and imprison Christians in Damascus. But on the journey God stepped into Saul's life. It was no subtle suggestion or hint that Saul should turn from his ways. No, we're talking about a Holy Ghost body slam. God stopped Saul in his tracks with a blinding light and an audible voice. You can read the story in Acts 9.

Sometimes the Lord needs to use extreme measures in order to get our attention. God knew that Saul was really set in his ways and that it was going to take a strong awakening to change him. Perhaps you have the same story or you know someone else who had a "divine life interruption." Nevertheless, there are many people who, for one reason or another, come to the "end of themselves" and turn to the Lord, sometimes out of desperation.

What;s of note in this story is that the Lord didn't just tell Saul to stop hurting His people. No, the beauty of our God is that He was going to give Saul a second chance in life. He was going to turn his zeal into something great for His kingdom. In fact, the account in Acts 26 shows that the Lord immediately began to impart to Saul, now Paul, His plan for his life. The Lord said, "I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister." (Acts 26:16)

From then on Paul's life was one of great zeal still, but this time it was directed toward the building of God's kingdom. Later on Paul shared with Timothy his awareness of where he came from by saying, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15) But he was also very well aware that he had a second chance in life by declaring it was the "law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that made me free." (Romans 8:3)

This lesson today shows us that irrespective of where one has been in life, God can step in and allow us to start over again. He can give us a second change...even to the worst of sinners. It may require stern measures, but in the end God will have His way. If he can change Paul, He can change anybody. Now pray a prayer today for someone who needs a new start in life.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Where Are Your Accusers?

2007-11-27T20:35:00.000-08:00

"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:11)

The Bible teaches us that adultery is sin. And sin has its consequences. In the Old Testament times those caught in this sin were to be stoned to death (Leviticus 20:10). Fast toward now to the New Testament and we read of this story where the religious rulers of the day caught a woman in her sin and were ready to do God's work and stone her. But they also wanted to use this opportunity to expose Jesus as a fraud, because they knew His love message would conflict with this woman. Jesus said that those without sin in their own lives should be the first to cast the stone (John 8:7). And into one message, resulting in the religous leaders of the day walking off under their won conviction.

But now comes the meeting with Jesus and the woman in sin. He first asked her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." (John 8:10-11) And then some of the most healing words in all the Bible..."Neither do I condemn you."

Many live under the condemnation and judgment of accusers. Family, friends, church leaders, and others are many times quick to accuse us of mistakes and past failures. Many will hold our past lifestyled and sin over our heads and judge and, if possible, condemn us. The good news in this story is that we read of Jesus giving a second chance to a woman already judged and who almost gave her life for it. The words spoken to her are the same for you and me today, "Neither do I condemn you." This releases us from the burden of sin and allows us to start over again today. True, Jesus said to not continue in the sin. But notice this, it was the "goodness of God" that kept her from falling back into the old ways, not the judgment of God. God's love releases you from condemnation and will keep you walking with Him. Today is a new day and a new opportunity. Don't walk under condemnation but in God's love and goodness.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Peter - Jesus Wants to See You!

2007-11-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

"Go, tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee." (Mark 16:7)

Peter thought it was over! He had walked with His Master for over three years now. He lived with Him and ministered with Him. Their relationship deepened over time. It was Peter who said, "Forgive me, Lord" after first meeting Hims and seeing the fish multiply (Luke 5:8). It was Peter who saw the miracles and was invited into the inner team with Christ's ministry (Mark 5:37). It was Peter who walked on the water (Matthew 14:29). It was Peter who first recognized and discerned Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 8:29).

But then, shortly after the Last Supper with Jesus, Peter denied that he knew Christ Jesus three times. We are told that "the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' (Luke 22:61). And then Peter "went out and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:62)

Many have walked with God and for a variety of reasons have fallen away. Some because of pressure from friends or relatives. Some slipped into various sorts of sin. And, as a result, many carry the same sense that Peter had here, "I have denied the One who loved me; how could He ever forgive me and receive me back?" Many thus go through life with self-condemnation and guilt, longing to get back to their relationship with a loving God.

The good news is that Jesus saw what was to take place, warned Peter, and prayed for him (Luke 22:32). After the resurrection, the angels told the disciples that Jesus wanted to meet them in Galilee, but they specifically called out that Peter was invited, too (Mark 16:7). This was good news to Peter. These were the healing words to him. Could it be that Jesus really wants me, too An I being invited back to be with Him after I've denied Him? Here was Peter's second chance. Regardless of what took place, Peter was being invited back to his friend.

Today, do you know anyone who, because of a mistake, sin, or failure, is not walking with God? Or perhaps you feel the same way, not worthy to draw back close to God. Listen, Jesus restored Peter and gave him a second chance. He's doing the same today. Do you need to be restored Find a place of prayer, and if you get real quiet, you'll hear Jesus calling your name back even as He did with Peter.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose Ca 95134. www.jubilee.org

Be a History Maker

2007-11-27T20:09:00.000-08:00

Go therefor and make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew 28:19)

Touch a life and change history! As we come to the last day of this month's devotional on God's Plan for Me, take time to reflect back and take note of what we've tried to share with respect to His plan. We attempted very briefly to start with God's plan for you from the beginning of time and that plan coming into reality through the work of the redemption in Christ. We then discussed God's plan for your family, your occupation, and life in a local church. Lastly, today, we want to touch on the concept of your place in your community at this point in time and history.

God chose you to live in this year, not 200 or 400 years ago. And He did so for a reason. Each generation the Lord raises up has the potential to leave a legacy for the next generation. Yes, each generation shapes history for the next. In God's overall economy er don't know when He will return, but we know this: We are to be busy about our Master's work until He does return.

So today, this month, or this year, how can you influence and change history? Jesus said to go! "Go" is a part of God's name, minus the "d." Go make disciples, followers, other believers. Go be a Life Coach to another believer or a friend. In so doing, you may never know the full effect of that life in the years to come. Because you intercept a life an begin directing them to Christ instead of darkness, you and I have no idea of the potential pain and loss we will never incur because of the loss of Christ being experienced instead.

As we close this month's devotional our prayer is that you come to the full realization of God's plan and work in your life. Not only for you but for those around you as well. As you faithfully walk with God to the best of your ability, one day you will hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant...well done!" (Matthew 25:21)

From the issu of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134

Be a Coach

2007-11-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

Set an example for other followers by what you say and do. (1 Timothy 4:12, CET)

But build one another up every day. (Hebrews 3:13)

Yesterday we looked at finding one lost sheep. The question today is, what do you do with that one after you find him or her. Answer? You become a coach, a healer, an encourager, and a teacher to that one. In other words, you now become an example to others.

Here's how it works. As you discover and begin walking in God's plan for you, you automatically become an example to others around you by your life. There are many around us who want to know of and learn God's plan. The problem is that most of the time they don't know where to go or start. This is where you come in.

You are an example to others whether you know it or not. The choice today for God's plan is to take someone else under your wing, so to speak, and live as an example of the Christian faith. You may not have all the training, knowledge, or answers from years of study, but you do have one thing and that is desire. You take the step of wanting to set an example to others. You automatically become a living epistle of Christ's love to them. A lot of times being a coach is not a theological discussion but sometimes a shoulder to cry on, a friend to listen to, a partner to pray with, and someone to share a burden with. Do you know someone today who could use a phone call or a word of encouragement? Then, yes, you can be a Life Coach in a small way, perhaps, sharing your life. Now, go do it!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Go After One

2007-11-27T10:23:00.000-08:00

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it" (Luke 15:4)

The fine print! You know, the terms and conditions in an agreement that most typically skip over and sign the bottom line anyway. So it is also in God's kingdom. Many believers are quick to sign up for the "God's Plan for Me" when its all about them. "Bless me, bless me" are the words to their chorus. Blessing is good, but God's plan includes the blessing of others.

Did you k now that in direct proportion to how God blesses you, He also wants to bless others through you? To put it another way: As the Lord works through you to fulfill His purpose on this earth, He will bless you in return.

The above story speaks of that one lost sheep. God has a plan for that sheep, just like He has a plan for you. The question today is will you allow God to use you to go after one and help that person discover his or her Life Plan? How do you find that one? That's easy. Here's how:

The three most wanted - Take a pen and paper and write down the names of three individuals you know who don't have Christ in their lives.

Pray for them - Ask the Lord for wisdom and an opportunity to meet with and share Christ with them.

Step out - Go after one. Pick up the phone, go next door and knock on the door, go somewhere and reach out to one of the three on your list.

This is part of God's plan for you. Yes, you were made for a mission, made to go after one.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Let Your Light Shine

2007-11-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

"You are the light of the world...Let your light so shine." (Matthew 5:14, 16)

Have you been to any dark places recently? I woke up this morning and it was dark outside. Yesterday the news on TV showed darkness on this earth in the form of murder, war, death and rape. There are various forms of darkness we know. And there are various ways you, as a Christian, can respond to darkness.

As a component of God's plan for your life is the understanding that God has called you to be a light source. Yes, a lightbulb, flashlight, high beam headlight in a world with lots of darkness. The question is not if you should shine, but rather how and where. Everything God does for you He also does through you. God sends the light of His love, mercy, blessing, grace, and breakthrough so that not only can you see but that you can then, in turn, bring that light into other people's world as well.

There are so many ways and means of light shining that you can participate in. Where do you start? It starts inside you with a decision that you will be a light source to others. God did not call you to live unto yourself but others as well. We're not talking about an occasional word of "God bless you" to another Christian once in a while. We're speaking of you turning on the light and leaving it on.

You can be light with God's love, Word, and salvation to those you work with, those who live next door, the waiter at the restaurant, the clerk at the post office. You can be a source of inspiration to the young and the elderly. A note, a phone call, a Bible study, a prayer, or a show of concern are all means of showing light.

Today, as part of God's plan for you, you can choose to give light or keep it shut off. God wants you to shine. Whom can you mentor today? Where can you share a good word of Christ's love? Now, go shine!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

On the Job Blessing

2007-11-26T01:21:00.000-08:00

"Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country." (Deuteronomy 28:3)

Read this verse several times and let the truth of it sink down in your spirit. Yes, the Lord wants you blessed, regardless of where you may be. God's plan for your life includes your dwelling place, your work occupation, and everything in between.

Many today feel stuck in the workplace environment. The job doesn't pay enough, the boss is rather difficult to work for, you don't have enough education, you've been fired or let go one too many times. And the list goes on. Or maybe you're the housewife at home taking care of the kids. Many don't consider what you do as work, but oh, you know all to well that you pay your dues, and most of the time for very little economic benefit.

Regardless of your situation, read the above verse again and consider what you'd like to see happen in your life with respect to work. Would you like to apply for a new job? Do you have a dream of having your own business? As a mom at home, what would make your life easier? Okay, then , understand that God has a plan for your economic welfare. He has gifted you to be blessed in the workplace or in your home. Ask yourself this question. What steps can I take today to be positioned for God's best? A different job, more education, believe for a promotion? It all takes at least one step in a positive direction and the Lord can begin to work within your circumstances. Go through and review your evaluation matrix from a couple of days ago and bring to the Lord those things you can't change and the things you can. Rest assured, as you press into God's best and begin moving in a new direction, God will take over and see to it that blessings come your way, either in the city or country, it does not matter.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. http://www.jubilee.org/

T preview journal archives, please visit http://www.mymeteorshower.com/

God, Your DeSire

2007-11-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Where do desires come from? The desire to dream, the desire to love and be loved. The desire for blessing and being blessed. Somewhere in the makeup of mankind there is this ability to feel and see inside of us something beyond us. It's the capacity to have a creative thought and through various means have that thought come into reality. You desire an ice cream cone, so you go buy one. Simple?

Now let's look at today's scripture. We read that it is the Lord who gives you the desires. We can look at this either of two ways. One, it's God who gives you the desire, or two, the Lord fulfills the desires of your heart. Both are correct. The title for today is God, Your DeSire. The word desire is from the Latin for de=of, and sire=father. In other words, "of the Father." So, in essence, desires come from the Father.

In light of God's plan you need to know that the way He communicated His plan to you is through desire. If you are connected to God through relationship, then He'll fill you with desire. Desire for Him and desire for His purpose. And He gives you the means of bringing that desire to pass -- called prayer and faith.

Take a few minutes today and think about your desires. Thank God for those desires and ask Him to bring them about. One word of caution here though. The more you hang with the Lord, the more you'll desire. And that's okay. That's the ways it is supposed to be. He fills you with His desires. You pray for them to be released. He works and then starts the process over again. Draw close to Him and let Him fill you again with a new dream and desire. That's His plan!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

To preview journal archives, please visit www.mymeteorshower.com

Taking Stock of Your Life

2007-11-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

Examine yourselves. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Let's take a break today, step back, and look at ourselves. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves. Take a look at ourselves, evaluate our walk with the Lord, and consider the condition of our life. Now let's ask ourselves what is right, what is wrong, what can we change, and then what are those things beyond our control. Specifically, we need to ask these questions in five areas: our personal life, family life, occupation, church life, and our community. Let's look at this...

What’s right?
What’s wrong?
Can change?
Beyond control?

In our:
Personal life
Family life
Occupation
Church life
Society

Copy down the above on a piece of paper that will give you more room to write. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you evaluate each area of your life. Then, follow these questions:

1.) Are you living a balanced life in each area? Some spend more time at work than at home. Some have no family life and have all church life. Your life needs to be balanced.
2.) Evaluate those areas that are wrong and then ask yourself if you have the power to change them. If you do, then prayerfully lay out a plan to change. If not, then commit to the Lord those areas and trust Him to work them out.
3) Use this as a basis for developing a longer term plan through which God can work in each area. Building what is right, correcting if wrong, and allowing Him to direct your steps in those areas that are difficult.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Highway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

To preview journal archives, please visit www.mymeteorshower.com

God's Family Reunion

2007-11-23T13:26:00.000-08:00

"We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." (Romans 12:5)

Next time you go to church, look around you. What do you see? It's a family reunion! Yes, it's God's family, His children, and we're all getting together to celebrate and worship Him.

A very important element of God's plan for you is for you to discover and learn of His plan for you in the local church. We are told in the Bible that God is at work joining us all together with each other and with Him (Ephesians 4:16). This joining is literal and spiritual. Literal in that God wants each of us to get together for the purpose of fellowship, edification, and glorification of the Lord (Hebrews 10:25). And it is spiritual in that we are connected to each other in the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.

What is your place in the local church? Using the verse above and the analogy of the body of Christ, are you, then, a little toe or a shoulder? The know or a right eye? Continuing the thought of God's plan for you includes not only your individual plan, the family plan, but also His plan for you in church. The local church is the major platform through which you will learn, understand, grow and have the opportunity to be used bu God in your giftings to serve one another.

Next time you are at church, take a moment to reflect on your role and place in the church. We all need one another. We are to build one another. And, yes, forgive one another. Why? Since we are human, there will be tendency to step on someone's toes, although not intentionally.

What is God's plan for you? Don't forget this important part, too. You need both the individual plan and local church plan for you to be complete. Now, call some friends and invite them to your family reunion this weekend.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

The Family Life Plan

2007-11-22T22:55:00.000-08:00

"...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

In today's verse we read of God's promise to Abraham where families throughout the earth and continuing throughout time would be blessed by Him. Now that's influence! How about you? Not everyone today is currently in a married position to grow a family; nevertheless, the application holds true for married couples and singles. This, we'll look at the literal and the spiritual applications in this verse. Let's consider:

1.) Your direct family - If you are married and have kids, how far will your influence grow? If you are a parent or a grandparent, you have the potential to impart a blessing of God's plan for generations to come. We don't know the date of the Lord's return , but what if it occurs in 200 years? Wouldn't you like to leave a legacy of generational blessing? Imagine great-grand kids knowing and serving the Lord from your influence. All of a sudden, God's plan for your life has taken a long-term meaning.

2.) Your spiritual family - This is your brother or sister in the Lord. These are the ones you are connected to within the body of Christ. You discover your Life Plan and then help others by your gifting. You learn of God's plan for you and then mentor and help someone else to discover his or hers. Either way, we find out that God's plan includes us to multiply and extend His purpose throughout the earth.

In summary, we need to realize that no person lives unto himself or herself in God's plan, but that His plan for us includes sharing Him with others. We can now call it the Family Plan. Now, who can you help today to discover their life plan?

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

God's Plan for Your Family

2007-11-21T23:27:00.000-08:00

"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth." (Genesis 1:28)

This entire month we have looked at God's plan for you individually. Now, today, we want to broaden our discussion of life should include not only you specifically but also what part you play in the fulfillment of the above verse.

If you are married and have a family, or if you are single, either way this day's thought applies. Here's how:

If you married and have a family - What is God's plan for the family? What is your role in "filling the earth?" Space does not allow us to fully develop this topic, yet we have some very simple suggestions. Go back through each day of this devotional and review lessons with a spouse or your children. Help each other discover their call and giftings. Help your kids learn about their uniqueness and place in God's future. Start here and you'll go a long way to discovering God's plan for the family.

If you are single - You're still a family - your extended family, brothers, sisters, or a future family God will yet bring you one day. Either way, God wants all of us to be connected to each other for the purpose of "being fruitful and filling the earth." God's plan includes individuals and families of people. Perhaps there is someone close you can review this month's lessons with as well.

Today, who are you going to "fill the earth" with? A husband, wife, kids? Discover and grow!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

His Gifts - Your Purpose

2007-11-20T00:18:00.000-08:00

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another. (1 Peter 4:10)

One of the keys to living the life God has planned for you is to discover your gifts from Him and then to release those gifts into your everyday living. All that you are and all you'll ever be in God on this earth is in direct proportion to knowing and walking in God's gifting in your life.

What are God's gifts? How do you recognize the gifts? How do you grow and use God's gifts? These and many other questions come up quite often in the course of this discussion. There are many different types and shades of God's gifts for you, as well as many different types and shades of God's gifts for you, as well as a number of ways to discern how to use the gifts. Let's look at the principles found in today's verse.

Receive the gift - Just like a birthday gift, a gift from God needs to be unwrapped. This means there is action on your part. There are many books and classes available to help review and discover what the gifts of God are. Go to a class, read a book; in so doing you begin to unwrap and learn what's inside. But, today, ask yourself what you are you are passionate about. What are you good at? Some like to speak, teach, pray give, or manage. Others like to be in crowds of people. Others are better one-one-one. Where you sense your ability is a good chance that God is already at work in you and gifting you in that area.

Minister the gift - Over time, as you learn about your gift(s), the Lord will present you with opportunities to serve others through your gift. Small Group Bible studies are a great settling to use your gift. Your gift will grow over time. You will learn that your gift(s) compliment your work or occupation. The gifts will make a way for you and open doors (Proverbs 18:16).

Today, ask God for a greater understanding of His gifts in your life. As you discover His gifts - you'll find your purpose.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Powered Up for Living!

2007-11-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

"See, I have called by name Bezalel and I have filled him with the Spirit of God." (Exodus 31:2)

Bezalel was filled with the Holy Spirit! Why? So he would have the wisdom and skills necessary to build the temple of God. This is an amazing passage of scripture, because this is the first mention in the Bible of an individual being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The story surrounding this verse shows us today an amazing principle found in the Bible, which is that God is highly interested in empowering His people in every facet of their lives, even in the workplace. We're told that God "filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom...and to work in all manner of workmanship." (Exodus 31:3-5)

This shows us today that it is possible for an individual to be in variety of workplace settings and to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. That is, an anointing to be creative and have wisdom, understanding, and excel because of the anointing. Let's look at a few principles that will help you apply this.

Know that your work is of God - Studies show that up to 80% of people on the job desire to look for other employment. where has God place you? Start there and believe for God to use you.

Ask the Lord to anoint you for the work - Whether you work at a business or at home raising kids, it's all work. Pray and believe God can cause you to be creative and blessed in your workmanship.

While on the job, expect to be anointed - What would your job look like anointed by the Holy Spirit? Would you complete tasks with excellence, more quickly, more easily, with less work, and with an increase in all areas?

Today, pray for the Holy Spirit;s power in increase and bless you in everyday living. The Holy Spirit knows what He is doing.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Handcrafted Workmanship

2007-11-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk with them. (Ephesians 2:10)

You are God's handiwork, His craftsmanship, His creation. And God doesn't make anything second rate. Remember when He created the world and then we are told that, "God saw everything that He made, and indeed it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) Therefore, He made you "very good" as well. Do you believe this?

One of the major challenges facing Christians is to truly believe what God has said about them. Sometimes this is very difficult, because many are raised with all sorts of abusive backgrounds, leaving them living in shame-based lifestyles. Many are codependent, bound, insecure, doubtful, self-destructive, and so forth. But, once you start believing that you truly are God's creation, a change will take place in your spirit. You will find out that you are not a mistake. Yes, you may have carried extra baggage, but in Christ the past is washed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Now comes the part about why you were created. Read this part again, "for good works." God, in His infinite love, grace, and plan, has created each of us to partner with Him as has empowered us for good works. Let's put it another way. God created you to do good. You were created for an assignment. You were placed on this earth for His plan. Therefore, take a look at yourself and see what God has placed in you. What gifts do you have? What skills and passions do you have? Take those and allow God to work through you for some good today. Even the simplest of tasks can bring a blessing to someone else. Now pray this, "Lord, thank you that I'm wonderfully made and that you've gifted me for goodness. Open the doors and clear the way for me to do a good work for someone else. Amen."

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Reigning in Life

2007-11-18T20:08:00.000-08:00

Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)

Take a look at your life today. Are you a victor or a victim? Are you fearless or fearful? An overcomer or overcome? The above verse holds tremendous truth and insight into your position and place with Christ on this earth. And it's important to discuss it in light of God's plan for your life. Understanding the keys in this verse will change the way you look at life. It will give you a new outlook through which to look at life's challengers. It will build in you a sense of victory and dominion.

Reigning in life through Christ Jesus brings Him on the scene to empower you, to give you the ability to press on when life gets difficult,and to give you the ability to confront the powers of darkness and pull down strongholds. Reigning in life through and in Christ Jesus. That sounds like a position of victory.

Notice carefully the wording, "those who receive abundance of grace." Grace, the favor of God, actively released into your life. And, yes, there is an abundance! It is grace that sustains you as you journey through life in God's purpose. Now this, "the gift of righteousness." That is, the state of being right before God. The place where righteousness is credited toward you. A place where, because you are right with God, He will hear your prayers, stand beside you at all times,and be your shield and covering.

So, in summary, today, receive His grace and righteousness and face the day with courage and optimism. Remember, you can do all things in Christ...now let Him reign through you.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Keys to Your Promotion!

2007-11-16T00:32:00.000-08:00

That you may know...His calling, His inheritance, and His power. (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Jesus is truly amazing! He not only has a Life Plan for us but also gives us the necessary building blocks whereby we can experience His plan in our lives now. In the above verse we read of Paul praying for the believers at Ephesus. In summary, he asks that they would know three things:

The hope of His calling - The Lord wants us to know we are called by Him and the He has a calling for us to grow and walk in. When we know the hope of His calling, we have the basis for a secure walk in Christ, a platform from which to live lives we have already been called to, and a future call to live with Christ forever. Now say, "I've been called."

The riches of His inheritance - We are told that Jesus has been appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2) and that we are joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:16). Thus, the resources of heaven are now made available to us in order to fulfill our call. What do you need in order to complete what God has designed for you? Well, the Lord wants you to know that it's available.

The exceeding greatness of His power - Paul tells us that when Christ was raised up from the dead, we, too were raised up with Him. He wants us to know that the resurrection power is now available to us as well. That is why Paul says that he wants to "know Him and the power of His resurrection." (Philippinas 3:10) You now have heaven's power source available to you and in you.

In summary - It's important not only to know God's plan for your life but also that God equips us with the means of fulfilling His plan. As you follow the above three keys, you will unlock continued elevation of His purpose in your life.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

God's Executive Plan

2007-11-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

We ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (Colossians 1:9)

Throughout this month's devotional, there is one central truth we pray you catch - that God has a plan for you and He wants you to know what it is. All too often we pray for believers in Christ who are searching, confused, not understanding, double-minded, fearful, doubtful, and uncertain of God's will for their lives. Our hearts go out to each believer who is in such a state and we want to help clearly guide believers to know God's plan for them. Jesus said He did not want to leave us as orphans or as ones deprived of a father (John 14:18)

Read the above verse again. Note the word "filled." This implies that it is possible for a Christian to be full of God's will. To know His will, to understand His plan, and to have a sense of the future and what God desires to bring about and fulfill in your life. This is the Apostle Paul's prayer, that we be filled with God's will in "all wisdom and spiritual understanding." So, we not only can know of God's plan but also can obtain the wisdom to walk in it and apply understanding to enjoy it.

Throughout the latter days of this devotional we will lay the groundwork for discerning the will of God for our individual lives, families, occupations, gifting, and places within the body of Christ and kingdom of God on this earth. There is no greater joy in life than to be filled and to know you are walking and experiencing God's will for your life. Even though many of us have come from a variety of different backgrounds and roads, we still end up right where God wants us...in His Executive Plan. Today, pray this prayer for you and others you love. Ask God to fill you with His will and for you to have the wisdom to walk in it.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Step Out and Look Up!

2007-11-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

He brought him outside and said, "look now toward heaven, and count the stars." (Genesis 15:5)

In every believer's life there needs to be a time when we count the stars. Yes, that's right, count the stars! Not the Hollywood stars but the stars in the sky. That's what God told Abraham to do here in today's verse. God was getting ready to take Abraham to the next level of his faith and vision for his life. God was wanting to give Abraham the capacity to contain a great faith and vision. God was wanting to expand and stretch Abraham's ability to see and believe.

But first Abraham had to "go outside." That means he was obviously in his tent. The tent here speaks of man's limitation and comfort zones. The tent was probably made of animal skin and it did shelter him from the weather. But many times the "fleshly" coverings in our lives limit our ability to truly see where God wants to take us. God said to get out of the tent, get out of the limited ability to see. Come out of the trust in a fleshly security system and look up! Look up and see the vastness of the stars! Go ahead and count them...this is how big your family will be.

So it is with us. We can surrender to God and begin to think big, but there comes a time when we physically need to move from one point to another in order to get a new perspective in life. Want to share your faith? Go to the mall and look for people. Want to find a new job? Get in the car and begin to drive. Need a new car? Go down to the dealership and look around. You say you don't have the finances? That doesn't matter at this point. All you are doing is looking. Looking for opportunities and creating vision to see. Need more education? Then go look for it. Need a friend? Make yourself available. Oh, and as you are doing these things, tonight, if it's not cloudy, step out of your home and look up! What do you see?...Those are the same stars that Abraham saw...many, many years ago.

from the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Think Big!

2007-11-13T00:06:00.000-08:00

…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Remember the story in the Bible where Moses sent out 12 spies and 10 came back with a bad report (Numbers 13)? Remember what they said, “There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers” (verse 33). Yes, the giants were big, but these 10 men could not see that they had an even bigger God.

So it is with many of us in life. Big God, or big problems? Hmmm. Now whom are we going to believe? That’s not to say that the giants (Problems) are not real. We could probably make a long list of giants we all face who would love to get out eyes off God’s purpose for our lives.

Today’s verse speaks about the “renewing of our mind.” It is absolutely essentials, It is imperative and, yes, critical for believers to have their minds, thinking, beliefs, and understanding renewed to God’s ways and off of the giants of this land. You see, God wanted the 12 spies to see the promised land that awaited them upon their entrance. God did not ask them to go evaluate the giants. There were to look at the land. From this we see the principle of beginning to look at life as God sees it. There’s a whole world out there filled with God’s best that many believers can’t see because of the fear of the giants and what might happen.

Your age, financial welfare, physical condition, or where you live do not matter. All believers need to continually look at God’s promises and allow Him to create in us the “Think Big” mentality. It is a “can do” attitude like Joshua’s and Caleb’s in Numbers 13. Instead of the giants, they saw what God want them to see. Today, what are you looking at, a big giant or a bigger God? For you to come to God’s perfect will, you need to renew your thinking, and that means, think big!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Come Out of the Darkness

2007-11-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

I have come as a light in to the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46)

Have you ever walked around your home at night when it's really dark? If you're like me, you sometimes run into things, step on things, stub your little toe against the door...ouch! All because you can't see. And so it is in our little parable within God's kingdom and His will and plan for our lives. Before we came to Christ, things were really dark. I mean, black dark where you can't see your hand in front of you. This is the state of sin and being without Christ. But then you come to Christ, and at times life seems a little dark. Many believers are running into things because they can't see clearly the direction God wants them to take.

Jesus, in today's verse, shares how He doesn't want us to walk in darkness. Not only the darkness of sin but also the darkness the world's influence brings that would block the sun rays of God's purpose in our lives. We also hear Peter tell us that God has "called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

There is a place in your walk with God that the darkness surrounding His purpose for you grows fainter and His plan grows brighter and brighter. The Bible says that, "The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18) We're also told that the "The entrance of Your words gives light." (Psalm 119:130) So here is the principle to learn for today. As we walk today with what we know to do, God's Word and Spirit will shed light on possibilities and opportunities. We need to look for them. The light might come through an idea, an inspiration, a friend, a pastor, a song. God can use a variety of means to shed light. But know this today, are there ares that are dark? Well then, let Jesus lead you out of that dark area and into His light. And He does have a big lightbulb.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

No More Burnout

2007-11-11T23:21:00.000-08:00

"Get out of your country"...so Abram departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1,4)

Have you ever experienced "burnout?" You know, that state of being where you're overworked, tired, under-appreciated, and exhausted. Or the other extreme where you are flat bored, busted, and disgusted with life. Either way, God has some good news for you. He wants you to leave. Yes, move. Get out of Haran. What is Haran? That was the place Abram lived a long time ago. Haran means "burned out and dry land." Abram was living in a burned-out place. And many believers today live in the same type of place. Burned out, smoke, ashes, nothing going on, no vision, no purpose, no destiny, no reason for living, no tomorrow, tired, worn out, etc.

God is calling you out! Get out of the burned-out phase of life. Get out of the unfruitful land with little power or purpose. Make a choice that you don't have to live any longer according to your former lifestyle -- doubtful, fearful, insecure, broker, and no purpose in life.

Living God's life plan for you takes a choice that says, "I'm leaving my old belief patterns about myself and the world, and I'm moving into the promised land." But wait a minute here. You see, Abram did not know where he was going. He was only told to get out of Haran. The lesson for us in this when making a choice to get out of the old, many times we can't see what's in the promised land for us. This is where simple faith comes in.

It's tough at times to say goodbye to old friends. Old friends names Povertymen Tality, Discourage Ment, or Mr. Worry and Mrs. Self-Pity. But again, trust and rest in God. You know He will bring you into a place far better than you've ever dreamed of or experienced before in life (Ephesians 3:20). So today, take stock of where your life has been recently. Have you been hanging around Haran? Well, my friend, it's time to move out and move into a better place of living - God's plan for your life.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Time to Surrender

2007-11-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. (Romans 6:13, CEV)

Remember the old western and police movies where you hear, "OK, stick'em up. You're under arrest!"? And so it is here, also, in the kingdom of God. You see, you can get pretty excited when we read of God's great promises, plans and future for your life. Some of God's promises are just incredible. But, oh, we need to cover one small detail first. What is it? Full surrender to Him. Our verse today says, "Give yourselves to God." This means a full yielding, surrender, obedience, and giving yourself to Him.

It's like you come to a fork in the road and you have two decisions regarding daily living. To the left you can choose God's will, and to the right is the road that is contrary to God's truth. How do you know which road to "surrender" to? It starts by you saying, "Lord, I yield my thoughts, motives, desires, wishes, and dreams to Your Word. Please show me which road to take."

Now, some areas to surrender are quite obvious and others, well, take time to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. But relax, the good news is that the Lord Jesus will walk you down this road of full surrender. He has gone before you to the cross and understands how difficult life can be with all of your choices for a job, relationships, temptations, habits and so on. This is why He sent His Holy Spirit to come alongside and partner with us and work His will in us (John 16:13).

Full Surrender? Sounds threatening, doesn't it? But keep this in mind, God never asks you to surrender your life but that He already has a better one waiting for you. So today, as you come to the fork in the road, is there an area that needs to be surrendered? If so, surrender and take a left on the road...you'll be glad you did.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Come Out of the Closet

2007-11-08T23:45:00.000-08:00

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When the Lord Jesus comes into your life, you become a brand new individual. One created in the image of God and also reborn and linked into the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, we read that old things have passed away and all things are new. One of the greatest truths found in God's Word is the stated intention of our Lord's desire to transform us into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

A simple Bible study that helps a believer grasp their new identity in Christ is to go through the New Testament and look for scriptures that show we are "in Him," "with Him," "by Him," "in Christ," and so forth. There are over 125 of these scriptures. As you do you'll find truths that explain the nature and character of your new identity and image in Christ. These scriptures tell us who the real you is. For example, the following lists a few scriptures that identify your new position in Christ;

You are in Christ: Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:56, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Where you are in Christ: Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12, Deuteronomy 28:1-14

What you possess in Christ: Ephesians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 3:21, Luke 12:32

What you can do in Christ: John 14:12, Mark 11:22-24, Philippians 4:13

We encourage you to read through these truths, meditate on them, begin to pray them out loud, and allow the Lord to create in you an understanding of who you really are. Over time, as you grow in Christ, you'll sense a new victory, dominion, and anointing to walk as Christians, and no closet will be able to hold you back from stepping out into a breakthrough lifestyle as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now go for it!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Being a Friend of God

2007-11-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. (numbers 6:25, NLT)

What makes you smile? A friend bringing you a gift? A letter or email that blesses you? A funny joke from a coworker or child? Have you seen America's Funniest Videos? Yes, we laugh with them.

God created you after His image. God laughs, He smiles, and He really is a happy God. and He is extremely passionate about His children enjoying Him and the life He brings. I know this concept of a happy, joyful God goes cross-grain with most religious beliefs. In most churches one would think their worship services a perpetual funeral. Quite the contrary, God desires to have a special place with His people that would allow them to enjoy life, enjoy His love, relish His fellowship, and be His friend.

Yes, we don't want to diminish a holy reverence of God. We're very familiar with the many scriptures that speak of our sin, His righteousness, and the need to walk humbly with our God. In fact, that's all we've heard for many years, and the resulting fruit many times is believers having a very wrong perception of God. Yes, we don't want to be so familiar with the Lord that we lose reverence, but on the flip side is an unhealthy fear of God that drains away any sense of joy in being a Christian.

Early church historians have shown that Jesus walked on this earth with a calm smile. He was among His people. He fellowshipped with the, ate with them...end enjoyed sharing the joys of the kingdom of God with them. Friends, it's time to realize that today we can make the Lord smile upon you. How? Smile at Him. We call it worship. As you worship and fellowship with Him today, do it with joy and gladness; and guess what? You'll have God smiling back and enjoying being with you too.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

You've Got Mail

2007-11-07T23:48:00.000-08:00

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)

God wants to talk with you. Yes, you were created with the ability to hear God's voice. A vital part of God's plan for your life is understanding that He wants to communicate with you and in turn have you communicate with Him. What are some keys to being able to hear His voice?

Trust in this promise of John 10:27- God, by His Holy Spirit, is talking, but many times it's hard to hear. Meditate on this scripture and thank God for it. Trust that you can hear His voice today.
It takes time- Communication is two ways. And it takes time. Set aside time each day, morning or afternoon, and purpose to become quiet to talk with and hear from the Lord.
God speaks to your spirit man- The Holy Spirit will speak with the born-again spirit. We can train our inner man to sense the nudges, quickening, and whisper of the Holy Spirit. Many times a simple repression upon our minds and thoughts is the work of the Holy Spirit.
God speaks to you from His Word- Spend quality time meditating on God's Word. The Holy Spirit will quicken His Word to your spirit and confirm His voice and will through you.

Today, take the time to hear. Tomorrow, do the same. After awhile, you too will be able to know His voice. Pretty soon, you'll be able to communicate freely and whenever with God. You'll never know when you'll hear that "You've Got Mail" notice...it might be the Lord!

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

Enjoying the Lord

2007-11-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

For Your pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
He will rejoice over you with gladness. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Your perception of God will dictate the type of relationship you will have with Him. Some see God as a harsh taskmaster. Some understand Him as One who is afar off waiting to crush mankind if we step out of line. Some view Him as cold, calculating and indifferent to our needs. And so on...

The truth is, the primary reason for mankind being created was to be enjoyed by the Lord for us to enjoy Him. We were created to bring God pleasure. How does one enjoy the Lord, you may ask? Look around you the next time you are at a park on a warm summer day. Kids playing, families fellowshipping, hot dogs, games, and fun. These people are enjoying themselves. Think of the holiday seasons when family and friends get together for food and fellowship. It is a relaxed time to kick back and just enjoy each other's company. Have you ever seen a couple strolling along a beach hand in hand sharing and caring? Again, its all about relationship, communication, giving, and receiving. Enjoying one another.

Our God created us so He can bless us. It brings Him great joy when He sees that we are blessed and in return give Him thanks. Read the above verse again, "He will rejoice over you." The rest of Zephaniah 3:17 says that "He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Amazing, we can hear God sing! Yes, there is a place in our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ where we walk with Him and enjoy life with Him. Just like a parent with a little child, or the joy at a wedding feast, or a party for the young ones over 60 who get together and play their old favorite songs. There is singing and music to be enjoyed, which is a byproduct of our God enjoying us.

Today, take a deep breath, thank God for His relationship with you, and rejoice before Him...and don't be surprised if He does the same with you. Enjoy the Lord today.

From Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

God, the Project Manager

2007-11-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

God created the heavens and earth, the stars and the universe, man and woman. And originally everything was in perfect order. Then, we know what occurred and sin disrupted lives for centuries to come. But god's plan to reestablish His order was already in motion running parallel with mankind so that our lives could once again be brought back to Him. We know this today as the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the foundational truths of God reestablishing His plan in our lives is to reconnect us to Him through the power source of faith. It takes childlike faith to connect to and trust in our Lord to the end that He can work out all the details of our lives. The process is rather simple, really. He gives us insight into His plan and promise, we believe and trust in Him and He performs in our lives what He's promised. But the key here is this faith and trust relationship. How do we have this faith and trust in a God we've never seen? Good question.

The above verse shows that Jesus is the author, the originator, the instigator, the One who plants the seed of faith into our hearts. Romans 12:3 teaches us that God has given the measure of faith to everyone. When you were born again, Jesus placed the ability to have faith and trust in your heart. Further, Jesus is the finisher, the completer, and the One who brings our faith to maturity and sees to it that what He has planned for our lives is fulfilled.

So, the final result is rather amazing. God has a plan for every life and the means whereby we can trust Him to bring it about. He places faith in out hearts by His Word, and we trust Him and daily watch Him set up life circumstances whereby His plan and will are unfolded right before our eyes. Today, let a simple, strong, and bold faith rest in your heart that God is working and will complete this project called life.

From Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134. www. jubilee.org

He's Not Done Yet

2007-11-04T23:15:00.000-08:00

"I will not leave you until I have what I have spoken to you." (Genesis 28:15)

In the above verse Jacob was on back to his home country to find a wife. His brother had already vowed to kill him and there were much left unfulfilled in his life. It was in this setting that he dreamed and the Lord appeared and promised him what we read in the above verse. After Jacob awoke he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.

"Have you ever gone through periods of time in your life where there was a question about God's faithfulness, or how things were going to work out for you, or you had a setback that seemed to derail God's plan for you?

The Bible has some good news for you, God is not taken by surprise. He has a plan and will work out the details to their fullest. Oh yes, there are many questions about the what if, and how come, and what about so and so? But, for a person committed to God and His ways, His promise is the same to us as it was to Jacob, "I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." You say, "Well, that is Old Testament, but what about today?" How about when Paul said, "He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ?" (Phil1:6) Or how about Hebrews 13:5 where we are told, "I will never leave you nor forsake you?"

You see, God wants you to be encouraged today to know that what He started He will finish. And, along the way, He will be working out all the details. On our part, there is obedience, trust, and faith. On His part, well, He's good at opening rivers, throwing down strongholds, and walking on water. In sum, He will do whatever we need to get the job done. And if it gets dark at times, be assured God is with you, even though you may not know it at the time.

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, California 95134. www.jubilee.org

God's Working in You

2007-11-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

God will...make you complete in every good work to do His will, in you what is pleasing in His sight. (Hebrews 13:21)

It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

You've seen the sign, "Men at Work?" Well you can also put a sign around you that says, "God at Work," because He is. Today we gain a little more insight as to how He's putting His purpose together. Basically, He's working it out...in you, through you, upon you, because of you. You see, God is working in you by His Holy Spirit to bring about His plan for you.

God is working in you through your desires, emotions, thoughts, inspirations, and motives. He is actively a part of your dreams and visions. Many believers have no idea of how closely intertwined the working of God are into who you are. The way it works is this. You come into a relationship with Him first, and then, as you fellowship with Him, you begin to have desires, yearnings, and a dream of being something for God. You read about Jesus healing the sick, and then you say, "That's something I'd like to do." You read and hear of people coming to Christ and you have a nudge that you'd like to get in the action. You read of God's promises for the family and the next thing you know you desire to have little ones yourself. You see a very prosperous individual give away lots of money to a needy cause and you say, "Someday I'll do that, too." And so on...As we walk with God He will see to it that a passion for Him and His purpose takes over and somehow you can't get it off your thinking. What's happening? He's pointing us in the direction He wants us to go. His gifts empower with the ability to accomplish great things. His love is the foundational motive for all we do and His grace sustain us in this race. So, today, let Him work it out in you. Ask yourself, where do I want to go in the next few years? Ask God the same thing. And then, take a step into life and allow Him to work out the details...

From the issue of Jubilee Journey, Living in Faith Everyday. Jubilee Christian Center. 175 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134. www.jubilee.org

"My Utmost for His Highest" - From Oswald Chambers

2007-10-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Getting There

Where the sin and the sorrow cease, and the song and the saint commence. “Come unto Me.” Matt xi28

Do I want to get there? I can now. The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words-“Come unto Me.” Not-Do this, or don’t do that; but “Come unto Me.” If I come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease from sin and actually find the song of the Lord begin.

Have you ever come to Jesus? Watch the stubbornness of your heart, you will do anything rather than the one simple childlike thing-“Come unto Me.” If you want the actual experience of ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ makes Himself the touchstone. Watch how he used the word “Come.” At the most unexpected moments there is the whisper of the Lord-“Come unto Me,” and you are drawn immediately. Personal contact with Jesus alters everything. Be stupid enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.

“…and I will give you rest,” i.e. I will stay you. Not- I will put you to bed and hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but-I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive; I will imbue you with the spirit of life, and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity. We get pathetic and talk about “suffering the will of the Lord! Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that?