Wednesday July 28
“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Pr 13:4 NLT
Give It All You’ve Got!
By the time she was sixteen, Romana Bañuelos had been deserted by her husband and left to raise her two children alone. Living in
Thursday July 29
“These are the children [the Lord] has given me.” Ge 33:5 NCV
Your Child’s Love
It’s easy to complain about the things you don’t have, and overlook or take for granted the things you do—simple things that enrich your life! Maybe this story by Dr. James Dobson will help change your perspective.
“Some time ago a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became upset when she tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, ‘This is for you, Daddy.’ He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction. But his anger flared again when he opened the box and found it empty. He shouted at her, ‘Don’t you know that when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside?’ The little girl looked up at him in tears and said, ‘Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it. I filled it with my love and I wrapped it up just for you.’ He was crushed. Quickly he put his arms around her, hugged her and asked for her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years, and whenever he got discouraged he’d take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it in there. In a very real sense, each of us parents have been given a gold container filled with the unconditional love of our children. There’s not a more precious possession anyone could hold.”
Friday July 30
“Shamgar…killed six hundred…Philistines with an ox goad.” Jdg 3:31 NKJV
Shamgar’s Secret (1)
The Bible says, “Shamgar…killed six hundred…Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered
Saturday July 31
“Shamgar…killed six hundred…Philistines with an ox goad.” Jdg 3:31 NKJV
Shamgar’s Secret (2)
Shamgar lived in dangerous times. Philistine gangs roamed the countryside, robbing people: “In the days of Shamgar…people avoided the main roads; and travelers stayed on…pathroads” (Jdg 5:6 NLT). Shamgar’s only weapon was an ox goad, a long wooden staff with a steel tip used to prod oxen. But it wasn’t until he came under attack that he discovered its full potential. Understand this: God has given you an “ox goad”, something you can use to win in the situation you’re facing. If you seek Him, He’ll show you what it is. Like the boy with the five loaves and two fishes, God will take something small, bless it, then multiply it to bless others. The Bible says we are to “be instant in season, out of season” (2Ti 4:2). The Greek words for “be instant” could be translated “be prepared.” The Greek word for “season” means “opportunity.” You need to be preparing yourself now, when it looks like nothing is happening, because your season will change and the opportunity to act will suddenly present itself. When it does, you must be ready. In life, opportunities are either coming towards you, or passing you by. In college, a professor told Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that if he kept using such lofty words, he would never be a very effective public speaker. You have to wonder what that professor thought as he listened to Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech, and watched him go on to champion civil rights. What’s your ox goad? Use it, and God will bless it!
Sunday August 1
“He chose them to become like his Son.” Ro 8:29 NLT
Do Others See Jesus in You?
Bill was a drunk, converted in a Skid Row mission. Before his conversion he had gained a reputation as a derelict and a wino for whom there was no hope. But when he gave his life to Christ everything changed. He became the most caring person at the mission. He spent his days there doing whatever needed to be done. There was never anything he was asked to do that he considered beneath him. Whether it was cleaning up vomit left by some sick alcoholic or scrubbing toilets used by men who had left them filthy, Bill did it all with a heart of gratitude. He could be counted on to feed any man who wandered in off the streets, undress him and tuck him into bed when he was too out-of-it to take care of himself. One evening after the mission director delivered his evangelistic message to the usual crowd of solemn men with drooped heads, one of them came down to the altar and kneeled to pray, crying out for God to help him change. The repentant drunk kept shouting, “O God, make me like Bill! Make me like Bill! Make me like Bill!” The director of the mission leaned over and said, “Wouldn’t it be better if you prayed, ‘Make me like Jesus?’” After thinking about it for a few seconds, the man looked up and asked, “Is He like Bill?” Live, so that others see Jesus in you!
Monday August 2
“You’re after…truth from the inside out.” Ps 51:6 TM
Secrets (1)
Lisa Whittle says: “Pornography…excessive shopping…eating disorders develop in isolation…What we watch…think…how we spend our time are the ‘secret places’ Satan uses. It’s not that we don’t want to be honest…but fear of being discovered keeps us…[trapped]…If Satan can get us to…bury our secret[s]…we can’t be effective for God…our private sins will eat away at us, making us feel fraudulent and unworthy…The truth is we’re the ones who don’t love and accept ourselves, not God! ‘What is hidden he brings to light’ (Job 28:11 NKJV) because He’s ‘after…truth from the inside out.’” So:
Practice honesty. When you catch yourself in a lie, stop, admit it and apologize. It’s embarrassing, but you’ll think twice next time! Develop a strong faith. Make authenticity a top priority. Strengthen your walk with God through daily prayer and Bible-reading. Consider your motivation. Make sure the improvements you’re working on in your life aren’t just to impress others. Appreciate your God-given attributes. Make a list, stop and look at it when you feel “less-than.” Value your own judgment. Consider what you’ve already accomplished and the good decisions you’ve made in the past. Dr. Edwin Locke says, “Think independently…be mindful of what’s suitable for you regardless of what the rest of the world says.” Stop trying to be perfect or look super spiritual. Openness means living without pretense and giving others permission to be transparent. Remember, seemingly “together people” have their not-so-together moments, and falling apart is sometimes how you get put back together. Live with a genuineness others will want to emulate. Honesty facilitates honesty. When you’re real, people can tell.
Tuesday August 3
“I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.” Ps 32:5 TM
Secrets (2)
Hidden among the sand dunes on
Wednesday August 4
“Set free [from] the fear of dying.” Heb 2:15 NLT
Set Free from the Fear of Dying
Joe Bayly, who lost three sons, says, “At the hospital [after] we buried our five-year-old… I saw a little boy playing on the floor. ‘He has the same problem your son had,’ the secretary said. I sat down next to his mother. ‘It’s hard bringing him here for tests, isn’t it?’ I said. ‘Hard! I die every time,’ her voice trailed off. ‘It’s good to know,’ I spoke slowly, choosing my words carefully, ‘that although the medical outlook is hopeless, after our children die they’ll be removed from suffering and be well and happy.’ She replied, ‘If only I could believe that, but I don’t. I’ll just have to cover him up with dirt and forget I ever had him.’” Bayly wanted to be alone with his grief, but he felt compelled to speak. “‘I’m glad I don’t feel that way. We covered our little boy with dirt yesterday, and I’m here today to thank the doctor for his kindness.’ She replied, ‘You look like a rational person. How can you possibly believe the death of a man or a little boy is any different from the death of an animal?’”
Max Lucado writes, “Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction…angels watch, the way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors…They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses…they’re hanging streamers…Jesus came to ‘free all…who…lived…as slaves to the fear of dying’ (See Heb 2:15). Heaven knows no untimely death. David said, ‘Before I was born…Every day of my life was recorded in your book’ (Ps 139:16 NLT). Fear and dread end when you know that heaven is your true home.”
Thursday August 5
“I am…discouraged, but I will remember you.” Ps 42:6 NLT
When You’re Disappointed
Max Lucado says, “When God doesn’t do what we want it’s not easy; it never has been, and it never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us…and he’ll get us through. Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations…and it’s cured by revamped expectations…Don’t panic…don’t give up…be patient…God’s in control. It ain’t over till it’s over.” So, when you’re disappointed: (a) Look inward. David asked, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” (Ps 42:5 NLT). Admit how you feel. You can’t deal with what you don’t acknowledge. Ask God to show you the root of the problem. Is it pent-up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical and mental fatigue? Be open to what He reveals. (b) Look upward. David said, “I will…hope in God! I will praise him” (v. 5). Instead of focusing on your discouragement, focus on the One who knows the way out. (c) Remember God’s past faithfulness. David said, “I am…discouraged, but I will remember you.” Through every trial Joseph clung to the assurance that God still controlled his destiny. Recalling God’s faithfulness builds your confidence that He’ll continue to provide. (d) Remember, you don’t have to understand. Just because you can’t figure out what God’s doing right now, doesn’t mean it won’t make sense later. He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him]” (Ro 8:28 NAS). (e) Don’t give in to bitterness. When your hopes are dashed, resentment can set in. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Ro 8:31 NKJV). Regardless of how deep the pit may seem, God is on your side!
Friday August 6
“Make allowance for each other’s faults.”
Make Allowance (1)
When it comes to forgiving, you can’t say it better than Tim Stafford did: “I would rather be cheated a hundred times, than develop a heart of stone.” The Bible says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” You don’t get to choose who you’ll forgive. Love is a command, forgiveness is an act of obedience. “He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1Jn 4:21 NIV). You can’t be closer to God than you are to the people you love least. God sets the bar high because grudges are like cancer, and forgiveness is the laser that removes them. Bitterness chains us to the past, destroys families, divides churches and sours relationships. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the handcuffs of hate. Take your hurt feelings to God and say, “Point out anything…that offends you” (Ps 139:24 NLT). It takes courage, but that’s the kind of prayer He answers. It gets easier as you grow in Christ; in the meantime you have to work at it. As a child of God His Spirit lives inside you. You’re no longer a slave to sin (See Ro 6:14). God knows it’s hard to forgive deep-seated hurts, but He will give you grace to do it. To “make allowance” means to take a charitable view and consider extenuating circumstances. People change and grow over time, so don’t insist on clinging to a limited, outdated view of them. Try to see them as they are today. Most folks are doing their best based on the knowledge and understanding they have now, so give them a break!
Saturday August 7
“Make allowance for each other’s faults.”
Make Allowance (2)
C. S. Lewis said, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.” Author Mac Anderson writes: “A few times in my life I’ve been wronged. My first reaction…was anger and resentment. I…felt my stomach tie up in knots, my appetite wane, and the joy slip out of my life…like I’d played the first half of a basketball game in steel shoes. In the locker room the coach said, ‘Try these new Nikes in the second half.’ Multiply that by ten and you’ll understand how it feels to unload your emotional baggage through the power of forgiveness.” Jesus debunked the myth that love is based on feelings. It’s an act of your will, and if you love God you’ll keep His commandments. It’s that simple. If you’re struggling to forgive someone who’s hurt you, here are some scriptural guidelines to help you:
Don’t seek retribution. Instead, “Overcome evil with good” (Ro 12:21). God said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” (Ro 12:19). Don’t rush to judgment. That’s not always easy when you’re the injured party, but the ultimate Judge said, “With what judgment you judge, you will be judged” (Mt 7:2 NKJV). Make things right. Jesus said, “Be reconciled to your brother” (Mt 5:24 NIV). Don’t wait for the other person to make the first move, you do it. Paul says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men” (Heb 12:14 NIV). Pray for the offender. As much as it goes against your grain, when you “pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk 6:28 NIV), God gives you the grace to forgive and see them through His eyes.
Sunday August 8
“Cast your burden on the Lord.” Ps 55:22 NKJV
Time Out
A hiker with two heavy duffle bags was walking down a road in 90-degree heat. A truck driver stopped and told him to hop on. Later when the driver looked in his rearview mirror, the hiker was standing in the truck-bed still holding his bags! We smile, but as Jon Walker points out, many of us “stand in the truck of faith carrying our burdens, thinking they’re independent of the ride we’re taking. We think God can carry us but not our burdens…The Psalmist said, ‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you.’ Rest in His power and grace…confident He’s looking out for your best interests. Rest requires dependence, and one sign that you’re not resting in God…is worry…the need to control…Next time you feel overwhelmed…settle into a chair, ‘Be still, and know that [He is] God’ (Ps 46:10).” In this instance, the command to “be still” comes from the word rapha which means…“to let go…release…and give up.” You’ve struggled long enough; give your burden to the Burden Bearer. Set it down! In order to do that you must do two things: (1) Practice saying no. If you’re constantly available you’ll end up stretched so thin you’ll be no good to anybody. Jesus didn’t try to please everybody. He prayed, got God’s agenda and stuck to it. God will give you the grace to do only what He has commanded, not what you think or what others would like. (2) Value solitude. Turn off your PDA, pager and cell phone. The sign of a well-ordered mind is the ability to sit quietly in one place and linger in your own company.
Monday August 9
“It was not you who sent me here, but God.” Ge 45:8 NIV
“But God” Moments
Are you in the dark about the direction God seems to be leading you? Jon Walker says: “The choice to do his will before we know the specifics…develops trust of his character…This is where many people get into a battle of wills…wanting him to reveal his plan first…That’s not how he works. God wants you to decide in advance to trust him…believing that his will is best for your life…He knows your hesitancy. He won’t be surprised if you say, ‘I don’t know that I’m willing to step out in faith without knowing everything that’s going to happen, but I’m willing to be made willing.’ One reason God doesn’t give you the full picture…is you may be overwhelmed…it may appear impossible…but that’s the point—there’s no way you can fulfill your mission without him.”
When Joseph was reunited with his brothers in
Tuesday August 10
“He will purify…and refine them like gold.” Mal 3:3 NIV
Walking in Purity
When gold is refined over extreme heat the first thing to come to the surface is dross. The next thing to be separated from it is silver, a less precious metal that blends with the raw gold ore. There’s an important lesson here. Most of us are unable to separate the good from the best, so Malachi writes, “He will purify…and refine them like gold.” God does it, because we don’t know how! After committing adultery with Bathsheba, David writes, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps 51:10 NKJV). David prays for two things: A clean heart and a steadfast desire to walk in purity.
Personal failure is usually the result of a slow, steady buildup, rather than a single act of disobedience. It happens when we focus on the wrong things and neglect our spiritual life. So God calls us to the place of solitude, a place with no distractions, in order to probe our deepest thoughts and open our eyes to certain issues that need attention. It’s here He makes us aware of what we excuse, or try to hide from others. It’s here the junk we’ve collected during the busy hours of our day gets filtered out. With the debris out of the way, we’re able to see things more clearly and respond to God’s nudgings. There’s no way to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with God without the discipline James talks about: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands…and purify your hearts” (Jas 4:8 NKJV).
Wednesday August 11
“I have never seen the righteous forsaken.” Ps 37:25 NIV
Are You Struggling Financially? (1)
For many who’ve lost their jobs or who don’t earn enough to live on, debt has become a harsh reality. So much so, that they’re afraid to even think about their situation. But burying your head in the sand isn’t the answer. With God’s help and some common-sense suggestions you can start moving toward financial freedom. A respected financial consultant offers these suggestions:
(1) Be truthful. Before you can change anything you need to know where your money’s going. There’s nothing to be ashamed of; like an alcoholic entering recovery, the first step is admitting you have a problem. On a 5x7 card jot down every dollar you spend for thirty days. It adds up quickly, “all…those little foxes…ruin the vineyard” (SS 2:15 NLT). By looking at the big picture, you’ll see areas you can cut back. (2) Learn from your past experiences. If you don’t learn from the past you’ll keep repeating it. For example, if you didn’t get a lot of Christmas gifts as a child, it can be tempting to overcompensate with your own kids and end up maxing out your credit cards. Or, growing up in an atmosphere of financial turmoil can make it difficult to talk about money with your spouse. (3) Value yourself more than your paycheck. Jesus said the important things in life aren’t “things” (See Mt 6:25). Beating yourself up won’t help you earn more; it’ll just blind you to the real blessings in life. Remember, no matter how tough it gets, God is faithful. David said, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging,” and you won’t either!
Thursday August 12
“God…will supply all your needs.” Php 4:19 NLT
Are You Struggling Financially? (2)
Here are a few more steps you can take to deal effectively with debt:
(1) Start digging yourself out. It’s disheartening to find bills piling up in your mailbox every day, but you need to know the bottom line. List your debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest. Try to pay as much as possible towards the highest and the minimum towards the rest. Make a start, no matter now long it takes; there’s too much at stake not to. (2) Model sound financial principles for your children. Be open with them and explain that electricity, food, toys, and clothes cost money. And the reason you’re not driving the latest car is because you can’t afford it. Your kids are making money memories now, so “teach them diligently” (Dt 6:7 NKJV). (3) “Give, and it will be given to you” (Lk 6:38 NAS). Suze Orman says: “One day I was in a terrible funk. I turned on the TV and happened to catch a fundraiser. I picked up the phone and pledged as much as I could. Those people needed money more than me. Immediately I felt like a burden had been lifted. From then on whenever I felt down, I’d give…and I’d feel better. Amazingly in every instance the amount was showered back on me tenfold.” The rewards of giving aren’t always financial; sometimes it’s the sense of freedom and purpose that comes from doing it. Plus, money should never be so important that you can’t let it go. Remember, by helping others you’re paving the way for God to “supply all your needs,” and His shovel is much bigger than yours!
Friday August 13
“God…is the…controller of all things.” 1Ti 6:15 PHPS
Rise Above Worry
We all worry from time to time, but wise people have learned to:
(1) Define the situation clearly. What exactly is it you’re worrying about? Be specific. Often when we take time to clarify the problem, a way to solve it will present itself.
(2) Face the worst that can happen. Would you lose your job? Your relationship? Your investment? In most cases even if the worst did happen, chances are it wouldn’t ruin you. It may be inconvenient or painful, but does it really warrant all the anxiety you’re giving it?
(3) Resolve to accept the outcome whatever it is. Most of the stress of worry comes from denial, from not being willing to face the worst that could happen. Once you make up your mind to accept whatever happens, you’ll find worry loses its power over you.
(4) Work to improve the situation. Renowned neurologist James H. Austin said, “Chance favors those in motion.” Do all you can to insure the best possible outcome, and “after you have done everything…stand” (Eph 6:13 NIV). Stand on God’s promises!
(5) Give the problem to God. He’s “the…controller of all things.” The Psalmist said, “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Ps 9:10 NIV). Remember, nothing can happen to you today, or any other day, that God is not aware of, in control of, and able to bring you through.
Saturday August 14
“Having believed, you were marked…with a seal.” Eph 1:13 NIV
The Deal is Sealed
If you are having doubts about your salvation, understand this clearly: The moment you trusted in Christ as your Savior, His blood cleansed you from all sin. At that point “y