It is better to be alone, than in the wrong company.
Tell me who your bestfriends are, and I will tell you who you are.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl, but if you associate with
eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind friends he chooses. The simple but true facts of life is that you become like
those with whom you closely associate for the good and the bad.
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.
Anytime you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.
As you grow, your associates will change.
Some of your friends will not want you to go on.
They will want you to stay where they are.
Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl.
Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.
Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

-- Edited by So_InTriCat3 at 23:33, 2008-06-04

-- Edited by So_InTriCat3 at 23:34, 2008-06-04

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY]

-- Edited by dappa75wifie at 23:42, 2008-04-21

-- Edited by dappa75wifie at 23:43, 2008-04-21

-- Edited by Crazypickney at 02:19, 2008-04-23

Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. ~Author Unknown

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Select your direction

Your destination depends not on where you are but on which way you go. Your results depend not on what has happened, and not on what you have, but on what you do with it all.

From here, you can go anywhere. There are pathways leading in every direction.

What matters now is which of those pathways you choose. What matters now is the next step you take.

Give yourself permission to decide what you truly desire for your life and for your world. And know that there is a way, right now, to begin creating it.

When your thoughts and actions have a clear, specific purpose, each moment will carry you closer to the fulfillment of that purpose. When you move consistently in a chosen direction, you cannot help but reach the destination you choose.

Lovingly, thoughtfully and carefully select your direction today. You are always moving toward something, so make that something exactly what you wish.

-- Ralph Marston

-- Edited by Jamecho at 10:12, 2008-04-02

MAN KNOW THYSELF

For man to know himself is for him to feel that for him there is no human master. For him Nature is his servant, and whatsoever he wills in Nature, that shall be his reward. If he wills to be a pigmy, a serf or a slave, that shall he be. If he wills to be a real man in possession of the things common to man, then he shall be his own sovereign. When man fails to grasp his authority he sinks to the level of the lower animals, and whatsoever the real man bids him do, even as if it were of the lower animals, that much shall he do. If he says "go." He goes. If he says "come," he comes. By this command he performs the functions of life even as by a similar command the mule, the horse, the cow perform the will of their masters. For the last four hundred years the Negro has been in the position of being commanded even as the lower animals are controlled. Our race has been without a will; without a purpose of its own, for all this length of time.

Because of that we have developed few men who are able to understand the strenuousness of the age in which we live. Where can we find in this race of ours real men. Men of character, men of purpose, men of confidence, men of faith, men who really know themselves? I have come across so many weaklings who profess to be leaders, and in the test I have found them but the slaves of a nobler class. They perform the will of their masters without question. To me, a man has no master but God. Man in his authority is a sovereign lord. As for the individual man, so of the individual race. This feeling makes man so courageous, so bold, as to make it impossible for his brother to intrude upon his rights.

So few of us can understand what it takes to make a man - the man who will never say die; the man who will never give up; the man who will never depend upon others to do for him what he ought to do for himself; the man who will not blame God, who will not blame Nature, who will not blame Fate for his condition; but the man who will go out and make conditions to suit himself. Oh, how disgusting life becomes when on every hand you hear people (who bear your image, who bear your resemblance) telling you that they cannot make it, that Fate is against them, that they cannot get a chance. If 400,000,000 Negroes can only get to know thesmelves, to know that in them is a sovereign power, is an authority that is absolute, then in the next twenty-four hours we would have a new race, we would have a nation, an empire, - resurrected, not from the will of others to see us rise, - but from our own determination to rise, irrespective of what the world thinks-Marcus Mosiah Garvey

It comes back

You have no way of knowing how or when all the things you do will come back to you. What you can know is that they will.

Some obscure and seemingly useless fact you learn today could end up playing a major role in your life next week, or five years from now. Some small favor that you do tomorrow may come back to you in a few months as a grand opportunity.

You never know exactly how life will reflect back the face you present to it. Yet eventually, and quite faithfully, it does come back to you.

The value that you put into life becomes the value that you experience from life. The more love you give, the more love you are able to know.

Your words do not end when you speak them, and your actions do not stop when you've completed them. They go out into life and begin connecting you with the people, circumstances and things that resonate with those words and actions of yours.

Live as though the things you do, in one way or another, will come back to you. For you can be certain that they will.

Have a great day!


Life's richness fills your world to the degree that you allow
it. Choose to allow it fully.

Your doubts and anxieties only serve to separate you from
the abundance that could be yours. Can you find a way to
drop those doubts and let go of the anxieties?

Your efforts will yield success when you're able to allow
that success to be. Live every moment as if the success
already exists, and it will surely come to life.

Achievement is more than just going through the motions.
Achievement comes from the person you most consistently
allow yourself to be.

How does it feel to be living your dream? Feel that way all
the time, and the dream comes bursting forth into the
reality of life.

Allow yourself to be a unique expression of life's limitless
abundance. And fill your world with real joy and meaning.

Ralph Marston

Fulfillment is not a matter of doing more. It is a matter of
focusing who you are, what you have and the actions you are
already taking.

Fulfillment flows from focusing your life around specific
and authentically held intentions. When the intention is
clear, consistent and meaningful, you already have
sufficient means to bring it about.

Though you will surely cross through formidable challenges,
fulfillment is not a struggle. Rather, it is a unique and
magnificent expression which receives its nourishment from
those very challenges.

Fulfillment brings the ineffable treasures inside of you to
the surface and beyond, where they manifest as great value.
Fulfillment is a medium through which you intimately
interact with all of life, strengthening the presence of joy
in the process.

The fulfillment of your most profound desires is always
present in your life. By your continual thankfulness for
what is, you allow and enable the fulfillment of what can
be.

See the beauty, feel the joy, and keep your thoughts filled
with the most positive and meaningful possibilities. For
fulfillment never ceases.

Ralph Marston

You do not get what you want, or even what you need. You get
what you are.

When you want this or need that, you are supporting the
reality that you do not have it. Instead of putting your
energy into wanting or needing, put it into being.

By your thoughts and actions, with your words and feelings,
you can choose how to be. Use that powerful choice to give
energy, attention and the substance of your life to those
things you value most.

Instead of working to convince the world that you need some
particular thing, put your effort into expressing it through
your own life. Give up the habit of wanting more, and put
your energy into living exactly as you choose to live.

Through the miracle of your life in this moment right now,
you already have access to all that is. Your challenge is
not one of want or need, but of appreciating and making full
use of all that is available to you.

Instead of pushing life's abundance away with your wants and
needs, let that abundance freely flow through you. Always
live according to the best you can envision, and know all
the joyful treasures of life.

Ralph Marston

It is wonderful to live with hope in your heart. Yet by
itself, hope will not accomplish anything.

By all means, hope for the very best. Then put that hope
into action.

It is positive, productive, effective action that will bring
about those things for which you hope. Let hope be your
reason to act, and not a substitute for action.

Hope will put your mind and your spirit in a positive place.
Hope can strengthen your will for doing whatever is
necessary to move forward.

Keep hope alive within you. Treasure it, nurture it, and
allow its warm, enriching glow to fill your world.

With your skills, your resources, your commitment and
persistence, bring that hope to life. Through your own
efforts, be the living fulfillment of the best of your
hopes.

Ralph Marston

Even when all you can do is just a little bit, go ahead and
do it, with all the care and commitment you can give to it.
Even the smallest effort accomplishes much more than
nothing.

Though it may take you a long time to finish, go ahead and
get started. For if you delay, the work will take even
longer.

Be willing to do the tedious and time-consuming jobs. For
they are often what give substance and lasting value to the
accomplishment.

A job well done is a job completed with enthusiasm,
gratitude, focus and persistence. A job well done can add
great value to your life and your world.

Putting forth effort toward a clear and meaningful goal
brings a kind of satisfaction that cannot be reached in any
other way. True fulfillment is yours when you've done the
work to make it so.

A job well done brings your mind, body and spirit completely
to life. And it provides the opportunity for another, even
more fulfilling, job well done.

Ralph Marston

Even though the sky seems dark, believe in the future.
The storm will pass over. The clouds will roll by.
Believe in the best though it seems hidden.
Know that it will come though it's not in sight.

Your faith will take you through the darkness.
Your belief shall prove that the sun will shine again.

Let go of your concerns about what you could have done or
should have done. Look instead at your many opportunities
for doing the right thing right now.

If your regrets about the past are painful, then allow those
regrets to teach and to motivate you. In this moment you can
take the valuable lessons you've learned and move forward
with them.

You've learned that every action, as well as every failure
to act, has consequences. Now is your chance to make those
consequences work in your favor.

Though the past may indeed hold some regrets, you have
something much more powerful. You have today.

And you have a future that will be shaped by what you do
today. You can choose, right now, from a large set of
valuable and desirable possibilities.

Based on your past experience, you are well qualified to be
your own best advisor. Learn from what you've come through,
and you'll find a way to go wherever you choose to go.

Ralph Marston

Responsibility is not a burden. It is the key that enables
you to exercise control over your own destiny.

Only by taking responsibility are you able to move life in
the direction of your own dreams and visions. Responsibility
fully engages the best of who you are.

Responsibility can be difficult, time-consuming, unfair,
inconvenient and uncomfortable. Yet it also brings you to a
level of empowerment that cannot be reached in any other
way.

At the heart of true achievement is responsibility. An
essential element of meaningful fulfillment is
responsibility.

Every great opportunity is an opportunity to take
responsibility. Whatever the situation, the most successful
way forward is to act with responsibility.

No matter what has happened, or who is to blame, or how it
all came to be, choose to take full responsibility for your
life. For that is the first step in making it great.

Ralph Marston

stop planning tings, take action instead =)

no man.....i repeat , no man is supposed to enter in any male PAGEANT.......you will not model out of the venue.....you will get carried out IN PLASTIC...

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so tha t I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess w ith my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it w ith others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer.
In God's Name, May God bless you.r

walk firm in the knowledge ,
that your past is redeemed, your present
makes sense ,and your future is secure.
keep throdding on the righteous path,
because a soft answer turn away wrath.
many would see you fall, but you worry none at all
cause the most high name you ah call......
    make sure your heart pure, clean minded
and free.the wicked man always keep his eyes on thee,
but you stand up straight and never flee, i know from experience
cause my steady feet never fail me.........
                                                
                                                  live life the way you know how
                                                  never let anyone dictate your life
                                                  be free and do what you love....
                                                  
  VERSATYLE  SAY FI LIVE UP , AND LIVE OUT...
                           RIGHTEOUSNESS 2 DE WORLD........

The only way to lose is to quit. As long as you continue to
make the effort, you have not lost.

Everyone experiences setbacks. However, those who achieve
the most experience the most setbacks because they persist
as long as it takes to reach each goal.

Does it ever seem that you are blocked in every direction?
That's the time to get creative, become more flexible, and
open yourself to the possibilities that are most certainly
there.

Sometimes when you get stuck in a rut, the rut can suddenly
and unexpectedly run out. What a great opportunity that can
be for you to climb out of that rut, look around, and see
all the valuable things you've been missing.

Never quit. Use each setback, each disappointment, and each
success, as a cue to push on ahead with more determination
than ever before.

Never quit, and you will create the life you choose.

Ralph Marston

IN LIFE WE ALL GO THROUGH ALOT OF GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES....IT SEEMS THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE FOR OUR MIS-FOURTUNE BUT DO WE EVER STOP TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROW AND SEE THAT MAYBE WE ARE AT FAULT....

SO IN LIFE WE MUST THANK GOD FOR ALL LIFE BLESSINGS...BECUASE THE LIFE WE LIFE IS NOT OURS...WE ARE ONLY BORROWING IT FROM GOD.......THE ONLY THING THAT IS PROMISE TO USE IS DEATH SO THE THINGS IN BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IS GODS RICHES BLESSING....SO ENJOY THEM

SO WHEN WE ARE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES THAT IS GODS WAY OF TESTING YOU SO PLEASE PAST HIS TEST SO THAT YOU CAN REAP GODS REWARDS HERE ON EARTH

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect Watch the Lord rescue you The Lord continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantely. All the forces of Pharaoh's armyall his horses, chariots, and charioteerswere used in the chase. As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the Lord for help. Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was better than dying out here in the wilderness!" But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!" Exodus 14:8-14 NLT Bearing down Whatever your worries are today, they probably do not top the 600 Egyptian war chariots bearing down on the children of Israel! Trapped between the mountains and the sea, the people forgot the God who had delivered them from the Pharaoh's hand, and they cried out in despair. But Moses, who focused on the promise of God, stood firm in his hope. When we face our "chariots," it is quite normal to feel anxiety and fear. But when we remember God's faithfulness and his ability to bring good out of any situation, we find our fears calmed and our confidence renewed. from TouchPoint Bible commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 62 Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect Confident assurance What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT Certain of what I could not see! I led my husband from one room of the condominium to the next."It's perfect for us. Let's make an offer." That evening Charles pored over the numbers, making sure we could afford it. "I think we can swing it," he said. I tingled at the thought of moving into our very own home. When the owners accepted our offer, I whooped with joy. "Thank you, Lord." "We don't have the money now," Charles said soberly. "You're right," I said. "We don't have the money. But God does. I'm going to ask him for it." The sum of $10,000 came to mind. Each morning I prayed in faith, "Lord, thank you for the $10,000 now hidden, to be revealed according to your will." Was I treating God like a vending machine? Pop in a prayer and out slides the answer. I remembered times in my life when I have been more focused on my own agenda that on his will. But somehow this time was different. Our new home had come into our lives in such a miraculous way. With a failed job and a bankruptcy in our past, it seemed we had lost our chance to have a place of our own. I prayed, believing, sure of what I hoped for and certain of what I did not see. Two weeks before closing, Charles flew to Kentucky to visit his ailing parents. Charles told Robert about the condominium and my strange prayer. A knowing smile spread across Robert's face. "I think I know the answer," he said. "Mom just released $10,000 to each of us form Dad's estate. I planned to tell you about it today." What had been hidden was now revealedand the timing, God's timing, was perfect. Karen O'Connor Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p 1369. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect No need to worry Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. Colossians 3:2 NLT Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it falls due. Author unknown It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Worry is rust upon the blade. Henry Ward Beecher Lessons of a circuit rider When Abraham Lincoln was on his way to Washington to be inaugurated, he spent some time in New York with Horace Greeley and told him an anecdote that was meant to be an answer to the question everybody was asking him: Are we really going to have civil war? In his circuit-riding days, Lincoln and his companions, riding to the next session of court, had crossed many rivers. But the Fox River was still ahead of them; and they said one to another, "If these streams gives us so much trouble, how shall we get over the Fox River?" When darkness fell, they stopped for the night at a log tavern, where they fell in with the Methodist presiding elder of the district, who rode through the country in all kinds of weather and knew all about the Fox River. They gathered around him and asked him about the present state of the river. "Oh, yes," replied the circuit rider, "I know all the Fox River. I have crossed it often and understand it well. But I have one fixed rule with regard to the Fox RiverI never cross it till I reach it." from 1001 Great Stories and Quotes by R. Kent Hughes (Tyndale) pp 430-31 Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect Prayer is the key One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them they must never give up Luke 18:1 NLT Saved by a Stamp God's answers to prayers can affect generations to come. In fact, if not for his gracious answers to a prayer offered many years ago, my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would not know his blessing today. The story is simple. My cousin Mirea and I wanted to visit friends in America. Sensing that we would not abandon our grand idea, my father sent us on our way with heartfelt prayers for our safety. Our trip across Europe took several days. Finally we arrived on the western shores of England. But as we prepared to set sail for America, we were told there was a problem with our papers. Officials at the immigration office said Mirea was missing a stamp on a paper that would allow her to leave the country. We would have to stay in England for another week until Mirea's papers could be corrected, they said. Mirea and I went to the steamship office to ask if we could exchange our tickets for a ship leaving later in the month. The man at the window was glad to make the exchange. He was sure he could resell our berths. People were eager to sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. As we wandered back to the hotel, Mirea and I were disappointed that we had to stay in England. But, when the news reached us a few days later of the sinking of the Titanic, we both began to cry, in sadness for our lost shipmates, but also in relief, realizing how close we had come to death ourselves. God, in his mercy, had answered by father's father's prayer for our safety with something as small as a missing stamp. How good is God! Elsa Sturit Kint Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p 1495. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect Delay is not rejection Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. Finally, after two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go to Judea again." John 11:5-7 NLT God often delays His response out of love, as He works all things together for good. Jeanne Zornes Waiting with hope Mary and Martha had sent their friend Jesus a message about the critical condition of their brother, Lazarus, and their urgent need for his help: "Lord, the one you love is very sick" (John 11:3). But instead of rushing off to Bethany, Jesus stayed where he was for two days before responding to Mary and Martha's plea. When he did arrive, he raised Lazarus from the dead in a magnificent display of his power. Just as Mary and Martha struggled when Jesus answered their prayers for Lazarus in a time and way different from what they had expected, we get frustrated when the Lord delays in coming to us and answering our prayers. As it did for the grieving sisters, two days (or two months or two years) of waiting can seem like an eternity to us. But in the midst of the "delay," God is not inactive. He is teaching us patience, perseverance, and faith and is planning to glorify himself in our circumstances. While we are waiting, he wants to cleanse our hearts and refocus us on Jesus. The Spirit always knows what will glorify God, and we can trust him when we're in the waiting room. LORD, help me to wait for you in hope and perseverance, knowing that you will come. Grant me patience and faith in the waiting room of life yet to be. Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for May 20. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect

Enduring love

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

The unforgettable responsive reading

It was midnight on Thursday, February 8, A.D. 356, and Athanasius, a leader in the early Christian church and passionate defender of the deity of Jesus Christ, was leading a worship service. Suddenly loud shouts and clashing armor could be heard outside the church. Soldiers had come to arrest him.

But Athanasius said, "I didn't think it right, at such a time, to leave my people," so he continued the service. He asked a deacon to read Psalm 136 and then requested the congregation to respond with the refrain, "His faithful love endures forever," which they did twenty-six times over the din of the soldiers outside.

Just as the final verse was completed, the soldiers rushed into the church, brandishing their swords and spears and crowding forward up the nave toward Anthanasius. The people yelled for Athanasius to run, but he refused to go until he had given a benediction. Then some of his assistants gathered tightly around him, and, as he recounts it, "I passed through the crowd of people unseen and escaped, giving thanks to God that I had not betrayed my people, but had seen to their safety before I thought of my own."

Athanasius was portraying to his people God's love, which endures forever. He was willing to lay down his life for his flockjust as Jesus had laid down his life for his flock a few centuries earlier.

Since God's "faithful love endures forever," why is there ever any need to worry?

adapted from The One Year® Book of Psalms with devotionals by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen (Tyndale) entry for November 8

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: The whole earth will hear

Publish his deeds

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; bless his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!

Sing a new song

Every day we cross paths with someone who needs to hear the good news that the Lord saves. We can never fully plumb the depths of God's character and attributes, but with every day and every experience we can discover new facets about God, new songs to sing to him. To "publish" means to share and that refers not only to writing books and delivering sermons about God but also to sharing what the Lord has done in our own lives so that others might be drawn to him. Each of us can purpose to do that. The most powerful evangelism doesn't take place within the four walls of a church building. It occurs when we share with others in our neighborhood and workplace the good news of what God has done for us individually and for the whole world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ask God to bring people across your path today who need to hear the news that God saves and that he loves them. And then ask him for the compassion and courage to share the reason for your hope and to pray for these people.

LORD, I want to sing a new song to you and bless your name. I want to tell everyone about the amazing things you do.

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for April 26.

Digging Deeper: Read To Fly Again, the follow-up to In the Presence of My Enemies, in which Gracia Burnham reflects on the lessons and spiritual truths she learned in the jungle and how they apply to anyone's life.

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: The whole earth will hear God uses us We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. 1 Corinthians 5:20 NLT Storms over Romania In the summer of 1990, following the overthrow of the communist regime in Romania, a number of Romanian church leaders invited me to return to the country for a preaching mission in four cities. I will long remember the first night in Timisoara. I was preaching the gospel in a stadium that had been built to promote and proclaim communism. When I gave the invitation following the message, I thought my translator, Peter, had misinterpreted what I had said and dismissed the crowd. It seemed as though everyone got up to leave. I then realized the people were not leaving, they were responding to the invitation to accept Christ! After several nights of rich harvests, we began meetings in the city of Medias. As I was preaching, a storm approached the stadium. The wind began to blow, and I could see a huge black cloud approaching. I knelt on the platform and prayed, "Lord God, there are people in this stadium who have never heard the gospel. They may never have another opportunity. I ask that You stay the storm and allow us to continue." Several American businessmen in our ministry team were sitting in the top rows of the stadium that evening. They later reported that as the storm approached, it literally divided and went around the stadium. In the path of the storm, houses were destroyed, trees were uprooted, and power lines were downed. But in the stadium, we continued the service, and hundreds of people gave their lives to Christ that night. To God be all the glory! Steve Wingfield in Live the Adventure Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p 1593. Digging Deeper: Read To Fly Again, the follow-up to In the Presence of My Enemies, in which Gracia Burnham reflects on the lessons and spiritual truths she learned in the jungle and how they apply to anyone's life. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty."

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As though didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word!

Bread of Life

One of the women who lingered at the foot of the cross had once known thirst that ordinary water couldn't quench. She had been an outcast among her peers.She had a great need, and nothing could fill the emptiness, the void within her. Then came the day when she met Jesus. Although her accusers had already given up on her and would readily have stoned her, Jesus saw her need, and rather than give up on her, he faced her accusers and saved not only her life but her soul as well. From that moment forward, Mary Magdalene was a devoted disciple of Christ, following him even to the foot of a brutal cross. When Jesus cried out in thirst, the soldiers mistook it for weakness of the flesh and thrust sour wine to his lips. What they didn't comprehend is that Jesus' words were a declaration of his completion of his Father's work. He was thirsty because he was being poured out as an offering, not only for the grateful woman who knelt at this feet but also for generations of people to come.

JESUS, you poured out your life like an offering and gave me living water that saved and restores my soul. Help me to take that same living water and extend it to those around me who are thirsty. Please us me to reach out to the abandoned, the scorned, the unlovable, with your sacrificial love.

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for May 31.

Digging Deeper: For more on salvation, read

From The One Year Book of Hymns , Tyndale House Publishers (1995), entry for February 15

---

If you have never been hurt by a word from God, it is probable that you have never heard God speak.
AMY CARMICHAEL

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Does it seem to you that all the best opportunities have
already been claimed? Actually, nothing could be further
from the truth.

There are more valuable opportunities available to you today
than there have ever been before. And they grow more
numerous with each passing moment.

Each opportunity that is followed and fulfilled gives birth
to even more opportunities. Not only are the best
opportunities not running out, they are indeed growing in
number and value.

Opportunities arise from disappointment as well as from
success. As knowledge and wisdom and experience grow, so too
do opportunities grow.

Great challenges bring about great opportunities. Each
breakthrough sets the stage for even greater breakthroughs,
leaving a trail of opportunities in their wake.

Life is truly overflowing with opportunities of all
different kinds that apply to every aspect of life. Open up
to the very best opportunities, and joyfully work to reap
the value that can be yours.

Ralph Marston

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks ush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,


He knows I like him just as well,

You may have seen this before, but it just reminds me of God's greatness and His plans.
 
 
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND 
  
  One day a man saw a old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him.. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have
been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the
money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'


There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around.' Today I sent you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on. Let this light shine.

Women are like apples on trees.  The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.Instead, they sometimes take apples from the ground, that aren't as good, but easy.   The apples on the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing.  They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.
 Share this with women who are good apples,even those who have already been picked!
 Now Men....  Men are like a fine wine.   

They begin as grapes and it's up to women to stomp the rubbish out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

I have found that the most extravagant dreams of boyhood have not surpassed the great experience of being in the will of God, and I believe that nothing could be better.

No locked closets

What does it mean to be a person after God's own heart? Seems to me, it means that your life is in harmony with the Lord. What is important to him is important to you. What burdens him burdens you. When he says, "This is wrong, and I want you to change," you come to terms with it because you have a heart for God.

When you are deeply spiritual, you have a heart that is sensitive to the things of God. "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely his" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely his. They have no locked closets. Nothing's been swept under the rugs. When you do wrong, you admit it and come to terms with it.You long to please him in your actions.

It's no wonder that David moved from awe at God's work to praising God himself (Psalm 19:7-14). He saw that a God who could create such beauty throughout the universe is a God who wants to create beauty in our own lives as well. But he can only create that beauty when we yield our hearts and souls completely to him. As we discover more and more about who God is and how much he loves us, obedience to him becomes less of a chore and more of a pleasure.

Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a publication of Christianity Today International (Tyndale, 2002), entry for May 6.

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

All men who have achieved great things
have been great dreamers.

Today's Scripture

We know that God will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God is working behind the scenes in your life, today. No matter what you may be facing, no matter what trial your may be going through, God has a plan to turn things around in your favor. Right now, He is working out a plan for your good. Right now, He is orchestrating the right people to come across your path. He is orchestrating the right opportunities to open up to you. You may not see it in the natural, but look with your eyes of faith today. Keep standing. Keep believing. Keep hoping. Keep following His Word. Focus on His goodness in your life, knowing that He rewards the people who seek after Him. As you meditate on the faithfulness of God and show your love for Him by following His Word, you will see His plan come to pass. Youll experience His peace and joy, and you will live in victory all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your strength and peace today, and fill me with Your faith to overcome. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Bless one and all,
Ras ~Q

 

Today's Scripture

Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Let Him be your example in humility (Philippians 2:5 AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

When you reflect something, you are exhibiting its likeness. You are displaying its characteristics. Like a mirror, the Bible tells us that we should reflect the character and likeness of Jesus. We should have His same attitude. That may sound like a pretty tall order; after all, Jesus was the Son of God. But remember, when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we become sons and daughters of the Most High God, too. We become empowered by the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead. That means we have the same spirit of humilitythe same strength, the same love, the same power on the inside. We are empowered to follow His example and do what He did. When Jesus walked the earth, the scripture says He went around doing good and bringing healing to others, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Thats what we should be doing, too. Notice this verse starts by saying, Let We have to invite God into our attitude and actions. Choose today to invite Him to work in you. As you do, you will reflect Him in your attitude and actions and bring good to others, and you will reap an abundant harvest of blessing in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I invite You to dwell in my thoughts, heart and attitude. I choose to follow Your example and bring good to others. Help me to be a pure reflection of Your love in everything I do. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Bless One and All,
Ras ~Q

 

Today's Scripture

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God longs to give you a glimpse of heaven while you are here on earth. He wants to show you His wonderful plan and bring it to pass in your life. Have you ever thought about how Gods will is accomplished in heaven? In heaven, Gods will is automatic. There are no opposing forces of darkness or anything that would come against His will. On earth, His will is activated in our lives when we first make Jesus our Lord and Savior; and then we must choose to come into agreement with His will on a daily basis through our thoughts, our words and our actions. On earth, we have to stand against the forces of darkness. We have to refuse those negative, self-defeating thoughts. As you open your heart to the Word of God and invite His will to be done in your life, it says in Ephesians 6 that you will be empowered by your union with Him. As you declare what God says about you, you will overcome all opposition, and you will see Gods will in your life as it is in heaven!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You today and invite Your will to be done in my life. I submit every area of my heart to You. Let everything I say and do bring glory to You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Bless On and All,
Ras ~Q

This week's promise: God's timing is perfect Never disappointed Every day I call to you, my God, but, you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy. The praises of Israel surround your throne. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. You heard their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed. Psalm 22:2-5 NLT The fugitive translator William Tyndale was born about 1494 and educated first at Oxford, where he was ordained into the priesthood, then at Cambridge, where he joined the Reformation. He became convinced that England would never be evangelized using Latin Bibles. Tyndale's efforts to get permission to translate the Bible into English were unsuccessful, so he left England. His first English New Testament was printed in Germany in 1525. As Tyndale's English Bibles were smuggled into England, the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of London began attacking him fiercely. On June 18, 1528 Thomas Wolsey, the English cardinal, ordered Tyndale's arrest and extradition to England. It took seven years to track him down, then spent eighteen months in a cold castle dungeon. Tyndale, in his early forties, was found guilty and condemned to death as a heretic. Referring to the king's opposition to his English Bible, Tyndale said, "Lord, open the king of England's eyes." The year that Tyndale died, there were two English Bibles containing his translation of the New Testament. When presented to Henry VIII, the king, not realizing it contained Tyndale's work, proclaimed, "In God's name let it go abroad among the people." Tyndale's Bible translations were his lasting legacy. They were so well done that they made up 90 percent of the wording of the King James Version published nearly one hundred years later. Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for June 18. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: Christ will return No clever story We were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. 2 Peter 1:16 NLT Fulfillment of prophecy? On June 7, 1967, a date clear to the heart of every patriotic Israeli, the army of Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem. The previous month the Egyptians had decided to attempt once more to conquer Israel. Israel felt its only hope was to launch a preemptive strike, which it did on June 5. Two days later the Israelis captured the Old City of Jerusalem, which had been part of Jordan. As a result of this military victory in what is known as the Six-Day War, Israel once again possessed her ancient capital. From the beginning of Jesus' ministry he warned the Jews of God's coming wrath unless they repented (Matthew 3:8). The Roman army, under general Titus, completely destroyed the city and temple in A.D. 70. Jesus had also prophesied that following its defeat "Jerusalem will betrampled down by the Gentiles until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end" (Luke 21:24). Does this mean that the "age of the Gentiles" came to end on June 7, 1967? Revelation 11:2 seems to answer no. It states that the Gentiles "will trample the holy city for forty-two months," apparently the three and a half years period to the second coming of Christ, implying that the Jews will not be in control of Jerusalem at this time. June 7, 1967 was an extremely significant event in Jewish history, but it was not the fulfillment of prophecy. Reflection When you read the unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible, do you believe that they will be literally fulfilled? The first coming of Jesus Christ fulfilled many prophecies, and his second coming will fulfill many more. Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for June 7. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's Word is powerful Blessed rest Blessed are those who die in the LordThey are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them! Revelation 14:13 NLT From killers to converts In January 1956 the news media told the world how five missionaries had been martyred by members of a primitive Ecuadorian tribe, the Waodani, popularly known until recently as the "Aucas." What happened to the tribe after that fateful day? Rachel Saint, the sister of slain missionary Nate Saint, had already learned their language from Dayuma, who had fled from her tribe ten years earlier. As Rachel learned the language, Dayuma learned more and more of what Christ's love could mean for her personally. She finally confessed her faith in Christ to become the first convert. In 1957 Betty Elliot, who continued serving in Ecuador after the death of her husband, Jim, made contact with two women who had left the tribe, looking for Dayuma. Over time, Dayuma was able to return and share the gospel with her fellow Waodani. One by one they began to put their trust in the Lord Jesus (including the five men who had murdered the missionaries). Rachel Saint began the translation of the New Testament into Waorani, the official language of the tribe. It was completed by Catherine Peake and Rose Jung. On June 11, 1992, the Waodani finally received the New Testament in their language. The "Auca Five" did not die in vain. Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for June 11. Digging Deeper: End of the Spear by Steve Saint (Tyndale, 2005), son of Nate Saint, chronicles the story of the encounter with the Ecuadorian tribe, which also became a major motion picture earlier this year. Also read Through Gates of Splendor, the original telling of the story by Elizabeth Elliot (Tyndale, 1986). Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: Christ will return The servant's reward If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. Matthew 24:46 NLT A day of reward There are as many ways to look at the return of Jesus as there are opinions about how it will happen.To the Romans, Paul calls is the "day of God's wrath" (Romans 2:5).In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to it as the "day of the Lord" (1 Cor. 5:5). And in his second letter to the same church he calls it the "day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).To the Ephesians he calls it a "day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). And he encourages the church of Philippi to stand strong until the "day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). Jude doesn't even try to describe ithe just calls it the "great Day" (Jude 1:6). Each of these phrases suggests a unique and different view.But there's one I like the best. For followers of Jesus, it will be a day of reward. James tells us, "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him: (James 1:12).In his second letter to Timothy [Paul says], "Now the prize awaits methe crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return" (4:8). But it is Jesus himself who puts it best: "Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven" (Matt. 5:12). As Christians, we have a lot to look forward to! Adapted from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins and Frank M. Martin, Tyndale House Publishers (2004), entry for January 5. Digging Deeper: This week (Tuesday) marked the release of the The Rapture , the last of three prequel stories to the Left Behind series. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: Christ will return A message for all people With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: "There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me." Luke 24:47 NLT A man named Muhammad In an age of pluralism, most people assume that all religions have equal access to heaven. One getting much attention today is Islam. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, the world's youngest major religion, was born in Mecca between 570 and 580. When he was forty, Muhammad claimed that he received a prophetic call from Alah through the angel Gabriel. He began preaching monotheism, a final judgment, alms, prayer, and surrender to the will of Allah. Persecution in his hometown of Mecca forced him to flee to Medina. Traditionally dated to July 15, 622, that flight, or hegira, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. During his time in Medina, Muhammad's revelations become more legalistic and more secular and Islam, as the new religion was called, became a community and state with Muhammad as ruler and lawgiver. By the time he died on June 8, 632, almost all of Arabia embraced Islam. The successors to Muhammad encouraged jihad, or holy war, against non-Muslims and within a century built an empire stretching from Spain all the way across North Africa to India. In 1900 only 12 percent of the world's population embraced Islam; by 2000 it had grown to 21 percent, partly due to a higher birth rate. Islam is the majority religion in forty-two countries and territories. Most of these countries prohibit Christian evangelism and exclude Christian missionaries, yet since 1980 more Muslims have turned to Christ than in any earlier period in history. Pray that the doors will open even wider and that many more will come to Christwhile there is still time. Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for June 8. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: Christ will return A vision of heaven Now I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. He was clothed with a robe dipped in *lo**, and his title was the Word of God. Revelation 19:11-13 NLT Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne; Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but is own. Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as they matchless King through all eternity. Crown Him with Many Crowns, Matthew Bridges (1800-1894) Crown Him with Many Crowns Matthew Bridges became a convert to Roman Catholicism at the age of forty-eight and published this hymn three years later under the title "The Song of the Seraphs." Godfrey Thring, an Anglican clergyman, added several stanzas to the hymn about thirty years later, with Bridges's approval. So a Roman Catholic layman and an Anglican cleric, who probably never met, were coauthors of a hymn about heaven, where Christians of every tribe and tongue, as well as of every denomination, will crown Him Lord of all. One of the aspects that Godfrey Thring felt was missing in the original was a stanza on the Resurrection, and so it was added. "His glories now we sing who died and rose on high, who died, eternal life to bring, and lives, that death may die." Adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House Publishers (1995), entry for May 16. Digging Deeper: This week (Tuesday) marked the release of the The Rapture , the last of three prequel stories to the Left Behind series. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's Word is powerful Consume my life He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot, 1949 God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus. Jim Elliot, 1948 Jim Elliot's prayer When he died [at the hands of the Auca Indians], Jim left little of value, as the world regards values.Of material things, there were few; a home in the jungle, a few well-worn clothes, books, and tools. The men who went to try to rescue the five [missionariesall of whom died] brought back to me from Jim's body his wrist watch, and fromthe beach, the blurred pages of his college prayer-notebook. There was no funeral, no t****stone for a memorial.No legacy then? Was it "just as if he had never been"? Jim left for me, in memory, and for us all, in these letters and diaries, the testimony of a man who sought nothing but the will of God, who prayed that his life would be "an exhibit of the value of knowing God." The interest which accrues from this legacy is yet to be realized. It is hinted at in the lives ofIndians who have determined to follow Christ, persuaded by Jim's example; in the lives of many who write to tell me of a new desire to know God as Jim did.His death was the result of simple obedience to his Captain. Jim Elliot and four other missionaries met their deaths trying to reach the Auca Indians for Christ. Elizabeth Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p375. Digging Deeper: End of the Spear by Steve Saint (Tyndale, 2005), son of Nate Saint, chronicles the story of the encounter with the Ecuadorian tribe, which also became a major motion picture earlier this year. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's Word is powerful The Word convicts When the king heard what was written in the law, he tore his clothes in despair. 2 Chronicles 34:19 NLT A rampage of revival If Josiah, kind of Judah, had kept a journal, we might have noted this first significant entry: "Eight years old today" (2 Chronicles 34:1). At that tender age, Josiah had a scepter thrust into his hand. Yet he didn't let the super-responsibilities of those years allow him to forget his Creator. Rather, he "did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight." (34:2) Another important entry might have been "Sixteen years old today" (2 Chronicles 34:3). That's when Josiah began to rid his country of the pagan shrines, idols, and images that had accumulated during the reigns of prior kings. After he purified the land, Josiah ordered the repair and restoration of the temple. "Twenty-six years old" (2 Chronicles 34:8) was the midpoint of Josiah's 31-year reign. It was also Back-to-the-Word time. When Hilkiah the high priest stumbled across the "Book of the Law of the Lord as it had been given to Moses" (34:14) and had it read to Josiah, the king was devastated. Josiah went on a rampage of revival, first making his people covenant to obey the Lord and his laws. Second, he destroyed all idols and required everyone to worship the Lord. And third, he initiated a Passover celebration on a scale that hadn't been seen since the time of the prophet Samuel. Josiah did everything he could to bring Judah back to God and the treasury of his Word, but the clock of God's favor was running out. Sadly, because the people tired of Josiah's revival, within twenty-five years of Josiah's death, Jerusalem was destroyed and all it people taken in to captivity. Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a publication of Christianity Today International (Tyndale, 2002), entry for April 11. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

This week's promise: God's Word is powerful Fill yourself with the Word How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your Word and following its rules. Psalm 119:9 NLT Let the Bible fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Henrietta Mears A drunk meets a cop Dawson Troter, founder of the Navigators, was student body president, basketball team captain, and class valedictorian when he was in high school. But then life fizzled out. He gambled, drank to excess, and caroused. He was staggering through the streets one night when a policeman stopped him, took his car keys, and asked, "Son, do you like this kind of life?" "Sir, I hate it," replied Trotman. Instead of arresting him for drunkenness, the policeman urged Dawson to change his life. That encounter was a turning point. Dawson attended a church gathering were he was challenged to memorize ten Bible verses stressing salvation. Trotman memorized the verses, then memorized another ten the next week. Several weeks later, as he pondered the meaning of what he had learned, he quietly prayed, "Oh God, whatever it means to receive Jesus, I want to do it right now." Trotman never got away from the power of the Word. As his knowledge of the Bible grew, he realized that a c****ination of prayer, worship, service, and the study of Scripture produced spiritual growth. Harold J. Sala in Heroes David used every technique he knew to ensure that he'd do things God's way. He programmed God's Word into himself so that he could retrieve it at crucial points along the way. He recited God's Word aloud, reinforcing his learning. He studied and reflected on God's Word. All this transformed his character and kept him on the right path. Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a publication of Christianity Today International (Tyndale, 2002), entry for June 5. Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House