Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hands" (2 Kings 3:16-18).

To human thinking it was simply impossible, but nothing is hard for God. Without a sound or sign, from sources invisible and apparently impossible, the floods came stealing in all night long; and when the morning dawned, those ditches were flooded with the crystal waters, and reflecting the rays of the morning sun from the red hills of Edom.

Our unbelief is always wanting some outward sign. The religion of many is largely sensational, and they are not satisfied of its genuineness without manifestations, etc.; but the greatest triumph of faith is to be still and know that He is God.

The great victory of faith is to stand before some impassable Red Sea, and hear the Master say, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord," and "Go forward!" As we step out without any sign or sound--not a wave-splash--and wetting our very feet as we take the first step into its waters, still marching on we shall see the sea divide and the pathway open through the very midst of the waters.

If we have seen the miraculous workings of God in some marvelous case of healing or some extraordinary providential deliverance, I am sure the thing that has impressed us most has been the quietness with which it was all done, the absence of everything spectacular and sensational, and the utter sense of nothingness which came to us as we stood in the presence of this mighty God and felt how easy, it was for Him to do it all without the faintest effort on His part or the slightest help on ours.

It is not the part of faith to question, but to obey. The ditches were made, and the water came pouring in from some supernatural source. What a lesson for our faith!

Are you craving a spiritual blessing? Open the trenches, and God will fill them. And this, too, in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected ways. Oh, for that faith that can act by faith and not by sight, and expect God to work although we see no wind or rain.
--A. B. Simpson

Our Best Friend Is Jesus..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Best Friend Is Jesus

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 15:9-17

Years ago the Sunday School teachers in my church would teach preschoolers a little chorus that included the line, “My best friend is Jesus.” As those children grew into adulthood, they naturally put aside juvenile songs like this one. But sadly, they also frequently seemed to grow out of the idea of Jesus being a friend.

As believers learn more about God, they rightly elevate Him to be the Lord of their lives and acknowledge Him as sovereign ruler over all the earth. It is easier to think of One so high and mighty as Creator, Savior, and Lord than to “lower” Him to the position of Friend. But Jesus makes a point of telling His disciples that He is both a transcendent deity—the Son of God—and their companion (John 15:15).

The offer of friendship extends to modern disciples as well. Like the original twelve followers, we are privileged to say that Christ laid down His life for us in a supreme act of love and devotion (v. 13). What is more, His Spirit reveals the truth of Scripture to our hearts so that we can learn more about God and His ways. In other words, Jesus has made known to us the things He heard from His Father. A man doesn’t tell secrets to slaves; he tells them to his friends (v. 15).

Teaching children to sing of their friendship with Jesus is a wise idea. But I wonder when some grown believers will learn to sing of that special relationship again? May we never become so religious, so pious, or so full of our own maturity that we will not say, “My best friend is Jesus Christ.”

Exactly How Do I Love My Neighbor as Myself?..... KAREN EHMAN

 Exactly How Do I Love My Neighbor as Myself?

KAREN EHMAN

“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (CSB)

When you read Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself,” does it puzzle you slightly? After all, aren’t most of us more likely to loathe rather than love ourselves, being overly self-critical? If we are going to obey Jesus’ command, we first need to comprehend this idea of self-love.

In today’s key passage, we see Jesus introduce the concept when asked which command in the law is the greatest:

“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

The original Greek word translated “love” goes beyond having warm, fuzzy feelings toward someone or about ourselves. It suggests action. It means, “To have benevolence toward; to take regard to their welfare.”

Based on this definition, self-love goes beyond feeling good about ourselves (which we don’t always feel) and means taking action in regard to our own welfare. Turns out, we are already pretty good at this! We look out for our welfare each day when we make sure our basic needs are met through food to eat, warm clothes to wear and a comfy place to lay our heads at night.

But you and I both know that we often take it a step further beyond meeting our basic needs. We take “me time” by going for a walk alone or doing something fun we love. We buy ourselves special treats and might even pamper ourselves with a manicure or massage. These are all ways we practice self-love.

So, now that we know what self-love looks like, who is our “neighbor,” and how do we love them like we love ourselves?

In our Matthew passage, Jesus references two Old Testament verses, Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Based on the meaning of “neighbor” in Leviticus, Jesus’ audience would have defined “neighbor” as any fellow Israelite OR a resident alien that was welcomed and living within the community. However, through His story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37, Jesus expands that definition to anyone who needs our help. Jesus illustrates a more extravagant love than was required in the Old Testament — and then commands us to show it.

How do we love anyone who needs our help with the same love that we show ourselves?

We can certainly work to meet basic needs — especially of the marginalized and overlooked. We can purchase and deliver hygiene products to homeless shelters or set aside a few dollars of our grocery budget each week to purchase some needed items for a local food pantry.

But we shouldn’t stop there. We can seek out that busy mama with two-under-two and offer to babysit free of charge so she can have an afternoon of “me time.” We can purchase a special dessert or a small gift for someone we know needs their day brightened. Or, we can use the money we may have set aside for our next pedicure to bless a woman who needs to feel seen, loved and beautiful.

Such simple gestures speak volumes of love, comforting others as you meet their needs.

Don’t allow the words of Jesus to only stay printed in your Bible. Give them wings, springing them into action. There are souls in your life who need your nurture. Consider how you might show concern for their welfare, loving and caring for them the way you already love and care for yourself. When you do, you’ll be completing the chain of love that began when God first loved you.

Father, may I be on the lookout for those who need Your comfort and love. Help me to show them compassion and care as I point them to the good news of the gospel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
James 2:15-16, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (NIV)

Why There’s No Such Thing as a Perfect Quiet Time..... By Betsy St. Amant Haddox

 Why There’s No Such Thing as a Perfect Quiet Time

By Betsy St. Amant Haddox

Growing up in church, I often heard about “having a quiet time with God.” It seemed to consist of a list of abstract rules that included prayer and an open Bible and usually a devotional of some sort to guide you. But the perfect quiet time always seemed just out of reach. I figured once I got older, I’d be more consistent.

But then I became a wife and a mother, and realized I was even busier. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a perfect quiet time because there’s no such thing as a perfect person.

However, while it’s crucial to lay down condemnation and unrealistic expectations of perfection, it’s equally crucial to realize that time with God is to our benefit and to our family’s benefit. We’re better moms and dads, husband and wives, children and community members when we draw near to the Lord.

Here are a few tips to having a good—not perfect—quiet time!

1. Drop the expectations. Any effort is better than none at all. Stop judging yourself, because no one else is judging you. Go to the Lord however you can, for as long as you can.

2. Think quality, not quantity. There’s been many times that I’ve received more encouragement and conviction from a single verse, than from the times I sat down and read an entire chapter. God can work with just a little bit, trust me! His Word never returns void.

3. Remember that interruptions can be Divine Appointments. It’s tempting to snap at our kids when they ask for juice in the middle of our prayer time—but if we were just praying for patience, that might be the way God chooses to build it up in us. Sometimes, interruptions can be opportunities to minister to someone else around us, and that’s glorifying to the Lord.

4. Make the most of your “white space.” We all have white space in our day—when we’re in the shower, sitting in traffic or carpool line, waiting on kids to get out of school or ballet, waiting on the pasta to boil…take advantage of that space. Quote Scripture. Pray. Acknowledge the Lord and ask Him to reset your emotions and thoughts. Hum a worship song. You’d be surprised how those small efforts can keep you centered all day.

5. Journal your prayers or what the Lord reveals to you. If you write it down, it helps you focus, especially if you’re sleepy. Also, doing so provides an opportunity to go back and see how the Lord spoke to you. This will always fan the flame inside to want more!

Remember, perfect doesn’t exist outside of Jesus. Having a quiet time isn’t about perfectly following a list of rules or expectations, it’s about connecting with your Savior, fueling up for the day in the morning, or processing the day by night. It’s about worship and confession and conviction. It’s about relationship.

He loves you, and He’s waiting for you to come in all your imperfection.

The Thrill of Hope..... by Shawn McEvoy

 The Thrill of Hope

by Shawn McEvoy

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

"A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." ~~ O Holy Night

Does Christmas thrill you?

Children get excited at the coming of the season, and often we might feel a bit of a charge through experiencing their amazement, but the chores we go through to provide that for them are often the very things that rob us from knowing the wonder for ourselves. Plan the party, trim the tree, max out the MasterCard, wrap, ship, take a trip. And that's assuming we aren't one of the multitudes who find themselves with a case of the Holiday Blues.

So if Christ's coming into this world offers hope, and hope, as the song says, provides a thrill, how do we locate that experience amid the distraction and disillusionment of December?

Well, that's the cool thing about Hope. Just as total darkness can't hold back the light of a tiny flame, so does even the smallest increment of Hope provide joy and purpose.

Here are a few scriptures I've been mulling over on the subject:

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Notice the parallel between "things hoped for" and "things not seen." Talk about a paradox; try applying "assurance" to something your five senses can't detect. It's a challenge. The plus side is that hope, through Christ, is available to you no matter what you see, hear, or feel. It's above your circumstances.

"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance [brings about]proven character; and proven character [brings about] hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5).

Do you ever hear people say, "I don't want to get my hopes up" because they're afraid of being disappointed? What would you make of Paul's claim that "hope does not disappoint"? Might the disconnect have something to do with what we're hoping for or expecting? Max Lucado thinks so:

"Hope is not what you'd expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming ending… Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction."[1]

"Love… hopes all things…but now abide faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:7,13).

Ever wonder why faith, hope, and love are the greatest virtues, and apparently in that order?

Maybe hope isn't actually something we do, but something we receive, like grace. If it's true that "without faith, it is impossible for us to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6), perhaps it's conversely true that without Hope it would be impossible for Him to please us. The same verse says that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Is hope that reward?

I mean, if faith is what we give to God, and hope is what He gives to us, then we have the dynamic of a relationship. With that in place, we can love. So love is built on hope, which is built on faith.

For hope to exist, unfortunately it looks like there has to be hopelessness first. A perfect world wouldn't have any need of hope. Deliverance arrives undeservedly and perhaps unexpectedly, just as in the unlikely way God came to earth to provide a once-and-for-all substitute for the sins of all men on the first Christmas. That's why things can look bleak, but that's where hope lives.

The good news is: you simply can't hope big enough, which goes back to the idea of our minds and senses being inadequate to judge God's design and methods, and hope being more a function of God's involvement than our desires. I readily acknowledge I could not have conceived of the plan of salvation or the virgin birth. I couldn't have imagined the plan for the walls of Jericho to crumble, for hungry lions to turn into Daniel's pet kittens, or the Red Sea to part and offer up dry land. So neither do I know how my problems will be solved, or what miracles I'll be blessed to see this Christmas.

Isaiah 9:6-7 concerns the hope of the prophecy being fulfilled that brought us a "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace." The last sentence of verse seven says it's "the zeal of the Lord" that will accomplish this. God is excited! He's zealous (enthusiastic, passionate, obsessive even) to bring us this hope!

Romans 15:13 is my Christmas prayer: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Why is there hope? Because Jesus was born. O holy night. What a thrill. God is at work.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What does hope out of despair look like? There are lots of examples in any Christian's life, but in terms of contemporary cinema, I know of no better example than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Go back and watch those movies again over the holidays, keeping an eye out for allusions to hope and hopelessness.

Further Reading:

Isaiah 9:6-7

A Prayer to Find Your Mission at Home..... By Jennifer Heeren

 A Prayer to Find Your Mission at Home 

By Jennifer Heeren

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” (Mark 16:15)

You could be called a missionary any time that you go into an area that is made up of mostly unbelievers. Your school, your workplace, your neighborhood—all of these places are filled with not-yet-believers. Basically, every place that you go has the potential to include at least one unbeliever. So, missionary type work needs to be carried out.

Missionaries in foreign countries prepare by learning a new language, finding out about that country’s culture, and researching the physical needs of the area. You can do the same thing wherever you are.

Immerse yourself in their culture. Unbelievers have a different way of living than churchgoers. You might want to see some of their culture firsthand. Of course, I’m not talking about jumping headfirst into sin with them. I’m only talking about going somewhere with them where you can conduct yourself like a Christian in a secular environment. For instance, you might not care about a particular sporting or entertainment event but they do, so you attend with them. While you’re there, you should have many opportunities to bring up your faith in God.

Become fluent in their language. Speak in phrases and terms that unbelievers will understand. Cultural references that they can relate to might enhance your relationship and help them to trust and understand you better. For instance, there are a lot of examples in TV and movies that can bring up a spiritual point. Also, don’t use church references and sayings without explaining what you mean. An unbelieving person might not understand phrases like “doing life together,” “loving on people,” or even “doing unto others.” However, they will understand “being friends,” “caring for people,” or “acts of kindness.”

Find a need and seek to fulfill it. When you see someone in need, rush to help them just like a missionary in a foreign country often brings people medical aid, education, food, or clean drinking water. Be conscious of the many needs all around you and then do what you can to help. There are plenty of people with physical needs everywhere and there are multitudes of spiritual needs as well. Wherever there are people, there are plenty of needs. No one is exempt from problems.

Share the teachings of the Bible with other people. When someone is having trouble making a decision, tell them about a time that you had trouble coming to a conclusion and something in the Bible or teaching at church that helped you to find the answer. If somebody is very worried about something, share with them how you believe that God is always with you bringing you peace of mind. Simply share the concepts of the Bible: sowing and reaping, forgiveness, kindness, love, and even the consequences of doing bad or wrong things.

Do good and act with integrity. Live by a moral code that unbelievers may not understand. They may not understand what you’re doing, but they still might take note of how you conducted yourself. If a group of people are gossiping about another person, don’t contribute. Better yet, say something positive about the same person. Don’t just follow along with the crowd; do something different.

Live with a "random acts of kindness" attitude. No matter where you are, stay alert to the people all around you. Sit down next to someone who is sitting alone and start a conversation. Let someone who is in a hurry ahead of you in a line. Pay for the lunch of the person behind you in a drive-thru. Perform expected and unexpected acts of kindness. Live your life as if the Lord is right beside of you at all times—because indeed He is.

Please pray with me:

Dear Lord, help me to continuously be aware of all people around me every single day. Where there are people, there are needs. Give me Your eyes to see some of those needs and the wisdom to know how to help as well. Help me to be your hands and feet as I serve others right where I’m at. And allow them to see Your light in my life as I do work in your name. Amen.

Hail the Incarnate Deity ..... Charles R. Swindoll

 Hail the Incarnate Deity

Charles R. Swindoll

On that still winter's night, something was up... something extraordinary... something supernatural. The shepherds raced to the City of David and found their Savior, just as the angel had said... swaddled and lying in a feeding trough. This was the Promised One, the Messiah! God had finally come to dwell with His people, but in such an unexpected way.

Just who was this holy Child the shepherds gazed upon? Make no mistake: He was incarnate deity. The newborn Jesus existed in eternity past as God the Son. He was coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus relinquished the privileges and the pleasures of His existence in heaven when He took upon Himself the limitations of humanity (Philippians 2:6-7). In emptying Himself, Jesus voluntarily set aside the prerogatives and prerequisites of life as He had known it, an existence He had enjoyed; He released His right to that kind of life, saying to the Father, "I will go."

Go where? To Bethlehem. He took "the form of a bond-servant, and [was] made in the likeness of men." Allow yourself to picture what the shepherds saw. There He is, the baby. Do you see His ten fingers and ten toes? His button nose? Can you hear the cries? There's humanity. In this holy infant is the beginning of an earthly life. Look deep into His eyes and see the beginning of life itself.

Later, this divine man, completely unique in His nature and in the perfect life that He lived, "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Isn't that amazing? Of all ways to die, He died on a cross—the most humiliating and painful kind of death.

God the Son lowered Himself. He took on the flesh of an infant. He died a humiliating death. As a result, God the Father "highly exalted Him." One day, all will bow in worship of the risen Lord, "to the glory of God the Father."

It's all about His glory. What a plan. What an execution. What a perfect, awesome wrapping! The God-man. Jesus is undiminished deity and true humanity, two distinct natures in one person, forever. That's the baby in the manger!

See Isaiah 7:14 and Philippians 2:5-11.

The baby in the manger is undiminished deity and true humanity, two distinct natures in one person, forever.