What Are We Looking At?.....By: Anne Peterson

 What Are We Looking At?

By: Anne Peterson

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.- 2 Corinthians 4:18

Jesus was here. Even though he was born as a baby and walked this earth, Jesus knew it was not his home. We are also told in 1 John 2:15-17 that we are not to love the world or the things in the world. We read that the world will pass away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. In John 15:19, John explains that if we were of this world, then we would be loved by the world, but the world hates us, because we are not of this world.

Jesus knew when he came to Earth he would be here for just a while. God had a purpose for Jesus’ life and Jesus fulfilled that purpose, even though he only had a ministry of a few years.

But there is more going on than meets our eyes. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness. But sometimes we forget, and we try to fight in our own strength. No one better illustrated this in Jesus’ time than the Apostle Peter.

When Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, he started out fine because his eyes were on the Lord. But when Peter looked elsewhere, noticing the wind and the waves, he immediately started to sink. I love that Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water out of obedience to Jesus’ words. It probably didn’t make any sense, but that didn’t matter to Peter. Faith means we take one step at a time. Peter never would have experienced that miracle had he not chosen to obey God’s voice.

What is so meaningful to me is when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and he went down in the water, Jesus immediately lifted him out. Jesus didn’t chastise Peter or shame him for not keeping his eyes on him. He simply saved him.

Later in his life, Peter would write letters to other believers, encouraging them to be self-controlled and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). We’re told that because the devil is just prowling around wanting to devour us. Each of us are fighting a spiritual battle. Satan spends his time trying to make those who follow Christ fearful. He tries to convince us that God doesn’t care about our lives.

And yet, God’s Word is full of promises that contradict what Satan says. God tells us he will not leave us. He reminds us that he is our refuge and he loves us more than anyone else ever has or ever will.

So, the question is, what are we looking at? Are our eyes on the stormy sea, on the Son who saves?

Living Compassionately.....Craig Denison Ministries

 Living Compassionately

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

In response to knowing the heart of God we are called to share the wonders of his invisible nature with a world in desperate need of him. God has chosen to use us to reveal himself. He’s filled us with the Spirit and empowered us to proclaim the good news of salvation and restored relationship with our Creator. May you discover this week that you were made to share God’s heart. And may you find joy and passion in God’s longing to use you in powerful and unique ways.

Scripture:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Devotional:    

One of the most impactful ways we can share God’s heart with others is by living compassionately. To show compassion is to step outside of yourself and love another in times of weakness. And to live compassionately is to posture your heart continually toward giving grace and love to those who need it most.

Very little stirs my heart to God more than compassion. When someone sees me in my imperfection and chooses to love me rather than cast me aside, my affection for them and God is automatically stirred. Oftentimes the world is too busy or self-focused to show compassion. We get too caught up in our plans, our needs, and our image to see the hurting and share God’s heart.

But God is calling us to a life lived humbly and sacrificially. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The world is in desperate need of compassion. People need mercy and grace when they fail, show weakness, or are experiencing hard times. God’s heart is to use us that we might show mercy and grace as a reflection of his unconditional love. He’s calling us to be light in the darkness that the world might see in us the compassionate heart of our heavenly Father.

It’s for this reason Paul writes in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” You can forgive because you’ve been forgiven. You can be kind because your Father has been nothing but kind to you. And you can be tenderhearted because God was so tender in heart toward you. He was so compassionate that he gave his life to free you, empower you, strengthen you, and ground you in his grace and love.

Take time in guided prayer to receive a fresh revelation of God’s kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. Open your heart and let him transform you to be more like him. Allow his heart to become your own. And live today in response to God’s love by showing compassion to others that they might know the tenderness and mercy of your heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s heart of kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:4-6

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Psalm 130:1-5

2. Take a moment to receive the love of God. Open your heart to him and experience his kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

3. Ask God to empower you to show compassion today. Choose to live with your eyes not only set on your needs, but also on the needs of others.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:12-13

The only way we can live compassionately is by abiding in the love of our heavenly Father. 1 John 3:17 says, “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” God’s love transforms us. His heart empowers us to live differently. You can abide in the love of God today. You can live filled up with the knowledge of his grace and presence moment to moment and allow him to be your source. Don’t live as if you serve a distant God. Live today in acknowledgement that he is closer to you than your breath—nearer to you than your own skin. The Holy Spirit dwells within you and longs to empower you with his love today. May you live compassionately today and see the lives of others impacted as you reflect the heart of your heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Colossians 3

You Matter More Than You Know.....LYSA TERKEURST

 You Matter More Than You Know

LYSA TERKEURST 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) Isn’t it funny how time passes by quickly, but a lot of our days sometimes end up looking the same? We go to the grocery store to get food for our family just to have to go again next week. We sit at the table for an hour, helping our kids put together a puzzle, and then have to break it apart and put it back in the box. We hear about other people’s accomplishments that seem so significant and compare them to our lives and wonder if we’re making any kind of difference at all. In the middle of all that seems so ordinary about our everyday tasks, it can feel like we’re missing out on fulfilling a much bigger purpose or assignment. With a desperate sigh at the dailiness of life, we get to the end of these days, and we think, Is this all there is to my one life? Or does God have something more for me? Scripture tells us that hearts set on eternity are inside of us. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We know it. We feel it. It’s a sacred stirring — we sense it so deeply that we know it’s not an inkling of our imagination but rather an igniting of God’s revelation. God is pointing us in the direction of something. A blurry vision of how our seemingly ordinary lives could change the world. The ordinary can be so very, very holy. If we are obedient to God in the midst of our ordinary lives, extraordinary impact is always possible. When we get to heaven, I think we will be surprised by what actually mattered the most. What actually changed the world. What actually fulfilled the purpose for which we were created. And the small places we showed up and served in obedience will actually be what prompts Jesus to say, “Well done. Remember when you took the time to share encouraging words with someone who needed them? That’s the day you helped change the world.” Friend, you have a calling, a unique and wondrous calling from God, every day of your life. We find this truth spelled out clearly in Ephesians 2:10: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Today it could be in the line at the grocery store; tomorrow it could be a phone conversation with a friend. Wherever it is, whatever it is, remember: You were created to participate in God’s divine activity. We don’t know how our lives could impact eternity. How our stories could unfold, how our talents could be used and how God could redeem what feels purposeless in the everyday to bring hope to a world that desperately needs it. He will not only use your life for extraordinary impact, but I fully believe God made the very DNA of your being to carry His hope and bless the world with it. Your life has never been and will never be wasted in the hands of our Creator. Every aspect has purpose, and every moment has potential impact … even when you cannot see it. So today take what feels very ordinary and place it into God’s hands. Ask Him how He would like to use it. Ask Him to reveal who needs the extra dose of encouragement today, and ask Him to help you to really see others’ needs as you journey along the path He has called you to. Dear Lord, thank You for using me today. Even if my everyday moments feel insignificant, I know You will use them for great impact. I need Your help as I learn to say “yes” to Your calling on my life to participate in Your divine activity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Praying the Promises of God.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 Praying the Promises of God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 40:8

Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life. But God gave His children amazing tools to keep trials from overwhelming us. For instance, He placed His Spirit inside each believer to guide and empower. In addition, He gave us prayer so we could not only communicate and stay connected with our Father but also bring Him our requests.

Today I want to focus on yet another one of His marvelous gifts: the Bible. Scripture is the actual Word of God Almighty. It is truth. It never changes. It enables us in all circumstances, so we have a sure foundation on which to base our lives and decisions.

There are thousands of promises in the Bible--countless assurances that we can rely on with perfect confidence. God wants us to learn them so we won't miss out on blessings He wants to give. And wise believers will turn His promises into prayers and the cries of their hearts.

Let me give you an example that relates to difficult decisions. Psalms 32:8 states, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." We can pray God's words back to Him, saying that we believe He will teach us and reveal His path, while remaining by our side as our caregiver through the entire situation.

When hardships arise, we need a solid foundation on which to stand. Otherwise, our emotions could easily lead us astray through faulty thinking. God is faithful and unchanging, so we can trust in His promises, which enable us to rest confidently and act boldly.

Sharing the Good News.....by Sarah Phillips

 Sharing the Good News

by Sarah Phillips

I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation.
 Psalms 40:10

Rule number one of polite conversation: Never talk about religion or politics.

I was on a train from New York to Richmond when a young man took the seat next to me. At first, we kept to ourselves, I immersed in St. Therese's Story of a Soul and he flipping through a magazine. At some point in the 7-hour journey, he glanced at the cover of my book, and observing the black-and-white picture of a nun on the cover, inquired about my faith.

I affirmed, that yes, I was Christian. He looked at my youthful features and back at the old-fashioned book.

"Interesting. I don't know much about your religion."

"What's your background?"

"I'm Muslim."

I eyed his American clothing, short hair, and clean-shaven face. Now I was intrigued.

"Really? How did 9-11 affect you?"

The question slipped out before I had time to think. But what unfolded was one of the most fascinating conversations I've ever been a part of. I learned this young American was unsure of his beliefs, and that back at college he was dating a girl from a Christian background who also struggled. He had many questions about why a young person like me would, with such calm certainty, decide to commit my life to Christ - even when it meant living differently than my peers.

Looking back on that conversation, I see it was the work of the Holy Spirit that allowed me, an introvert, to delve into those tough topics with such ease and clarity with a complete stranger. I also marvel at the fact that he seemed just as comfortable as I was. We parted ways upon the train's arrival to Richmond, wishing each other the best in life.

As believers, we're called to share the Gospel with those who have not embraced Christ (Mt 28: 18-20). But in today's cultural climate, opening up about issues of faith can feel intimidating. I know at times I've struggled to speak up, but the conversation on that train proved to me that it doesn't require a Ph.D. in apologetics or an ordination from an impressive seminary to effectively discuss matters of faith. In fact, lay people like you and me can have a powerful impact on many.

Here are a few lessons I've learned in the past several years that may be of help to you:

Respect. I am increasingly seeing that true evangelizing is more about relationship than "rightness." Few people respond well to pushy preaching or pride-filled debates. Show a genuine interest in and respect for others' ideas and beliefs - even if you don't agree with them.

Be yourself. Share your faith in a way that is natural to you and to the other person. Don't feel pressured to throw around fancy words or tell miraculous tales if that's not how you normally talk. God loves to work through our gifts - I have one friend whose beautiful singing voice has inspired many to seek a closer relationship with God.

Be knowledgeable. While we don't need to be scholars, I find the more I know about key tenets of my faith, the more I have to offer when a door opens for discussion. Don't know the answer to something? Find it. Constantly expand your knowledge so that you will "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you." (1 Pe 3: 15)

Remember that Christ is the only Savior. While it is our job to share what God has done for us, it's not our job to convince a person to become Christian. Conversion is an individual's free will response to God's grace, not a product of coercion.

And lastly, for those of us who are really shy about speaking up about the faith, you may appreciate St. Francis of Assisi's approach:

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

If you and I seek to live godly lives, who knows how many people could come to know Christ through our actions alone?

Intersecting Faith & Life: Learn one new thing about your faith this week - perhaps a tidbit of Church history or a new Scripture verse - and share it with someone.

Further Reading

Matthew 5:13-16
1 Timothy 2:3-6

A Prayer to Be Strong and of Good Courage.....By: Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer to Be Strong and of Good Courage

By: Tiffany Thibault

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

Our Bible verse consists of words spoken to Israel as they were on the verge of entering into their new land, of settling into their promised home. They had been wandering the past 40 years in the wilderness while living in tents, because their fathers had not trusted God enough. Now though, it was time for the next generation to claim God’s promise. Excited as they may have been, taking their next steps meant facing some very real enemies. They needed to stay focused and do some really hard things that they had never done before. 

Now it was time to stir up their strength, their courage and their faith as they were reminded of who their God was and how much He truly cared for them. 

So many things in this world can strike fear in our hearts today, but we can absolutely take encouragement from the pages of Scripture. We can see how Israel took to heart these words from Moses, moved forward and took over most of the land God had promised them in just seven years. The Israelites were able to move forward to fight, because they reminded themselves to: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them.” 

We too can build up our courage as we push down our fear, but really, only to a certain point on our own strength. The Israelites were only truly able to succeed to victory because they absolutely embraced this truth from the end of the verse: “for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Those words give us the reason WHY they were able to completely move past their trembling knees, pounding hearts and the “what if’” racing thoughts.  

The Israelites took to heart the word “Your” God. His presence was with them. He was not a far off, uninvolved God. He would not leave them. He would not forsake them. That word “forsake” means to abandon. God would NOT do that because they belonged to Him. 

These words are powerful words for us too when we are facing challenging circumstances in our lives. 

Be strong.

Be of good courage.

Do not fear.

Do not be afraid of them.

The Lord your God is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you.

He will not forsake you.

No matter what battle you are facing today, take these words to heart. Fight those fearful thoughts with the truth that God is with you. God will not leave you. God will not abandon you. You are His.

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the promise that this verse gives to my faith. This is a powerful reminder that you are with me in every situation that I face. I can be strong, I can be filled with courage. I can go into my tough situations knowing that I do not need to have any fear because you are with me. I can cling to the promise that you will never leave me or forsake me because You are my God. Lord, increase my faith as I trust you to be God in every area of my life. 

In Your name I pray, 

Amen