* Satan's Conqueror

"Since . . . the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives" (Heb. 2:14-15).

To be free to live with God and share in all His blessings, someone had to shatter Satan's death grip on us. Sin is what gives Satan his powerful hold on us, but the power itself is death.

Satan knew that God required death for us because of sin. He knew that all died in Adam--that death became a certain fact of life. And he knew that men, if they remained as they were, would die and go out of God's presence into hell forever. So he wants to hang onto men until they die because once they are dead, the opportunity for salvation is gone forever.

To extract the power of death from Satan's hand, God sent Christ into the world. If you have a greater weapon than your enemy, then his weapon is useless. You can't fight a machine gun with a bow and arrow. Satan's weapon is death, but eternal life is God's weapon, and with it Jesus destroyed death.

How was He able to do it? He rose again, proving He had conquered death. That's why He said, "Because I live, you shall live also" (John 14:19). His resurrection provides the believer with eternal life.

Nothing terrifies people more than the fear of death. But when we receive Christ, death in reality holds no more fear for us since it simply releases us into the presence of our Lord. We can say with Paul, "To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). Rejoice that you have placed your hand into the hand of the conqueror of death, who will lead you through death and out the other side.

Suggestion for Prayer:

Ask God to give you a greater realization that He has conquered death to help you live life more fully to His glory.

For Further Study:

Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. How are we to live our lives based on what we know about death?

* A Prayer of New Life

Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. I am thankful for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I appropriate His victory for myself now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.

Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that your love for me never ceases.
I rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith I stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You my King.

I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's powerful ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.

Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life.

I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy's work against me.
Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.

It is my desire to be transformed through the renewing of my mind, so that I will not compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy's attacks, but be obedient to Your will.


I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.

Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word.

I want You to have the supreme place in my life. I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace to me constantly, even when I do not realize it.

I claim Your promise of forgiveness, cleansing and healing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. AMEN

* Christmas Wrappings

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV: "…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

We purchase gifts excitedly. We think about the expressions on loved-one´s faces as they open their presents. We pick the perfect paper—the perfect bow—wrap the presents and place them under the tree to await revealing. Finally the day arrives.

The presents are handed out. The perfect paper is ripped off. The perfect bow is tossed aside. And the remainder of the gift´s container is quickly torn open to allow access to the contents inside. "Thank you," you hear, "It´s just what I wanted."

In a similar way, we can present ourselves as gifts to God. We say, "Here am I, dear Lord. I am yours. I am wrapped in so many things. Some things, I think, to make me more presentable. Some things just get in the way. Some things make it harder to get to what´s inside. But here I am. Merry Christmas Jesus."

May we look at others and ourselves as Jesus does—seeing beyond the wrappings to the wonderful things that are only found on the inside.

* FAITH INVOLVES RISK

by Charles R. Swindoll

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood--Genesis 22:9

Some people live so carefully they absolutely refuse to take risks. Everything has to be carefully regulated and kept under control . . . their control. Borders defined, guidelines spelled out, every dime accounted for, no surprises. And after having expended so much time and effort trying to live safely, they end life never having accomplished anything of lasting value. They built nothing, tried nothing new, invested in no one.

Not Abraham! His faith had matured to the point that his absolute confidence in God's character gave him the freedom to throw caution to the wind and risk everything to obey. What a perfect lesson in theology for his son.

I've heard this passage preached countless times, and I've never heard anyone talk about the quiet faith of this remarkable young man. He's the sacrifice, yet he allowed himself to be bound up and placed onto that altar! Obviously, this son learned his theology well from his father---a father who released his son because he completely trusted his God. By the way, Isaac didn't learn such faith on his way up the mountain that morning. He'd been cultivating it over the years, thanks to his father who modeled it often.

Some of you parents may find yourselves in a similar situation as you read these pages. Your relationship with your child may have reached a point where you have no other choice but to commit him or her completely to God's care. You would love to work out the details, but you cannot. You know the Lord is good, and you have prayed for a resolution, but nothing has changed. Only God can intervene. And because that is true, you can take your cues from Abraham.

Place your relationship with that son or daughter on the altar today. Surrender him or her to the Lord as an offering. Take this risk. Mentally place your boy or girl on top of the wood, and step back from the altar. Trust God. In His time, He will provide.

* 12 Days of Christmas

The Greatest Christmas Gift

"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ."
- Frank McKibben

"And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)

Each year we are reminded that Christmas should not be just about giving and receiving presents. But if we really think about Christmas, it truly is all about gift giving! At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father!

Laugh with Immanuel

"The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know."
- Michael Card

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence." Psalm 21:6 (NIV)

Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget Him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and He is "God with us," then He must want to share in those moments of great joy - and even those times of silly laughter and fun.

Wonderful Impossibilities

"When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility."
- Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Coggan

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

The birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty, it was an impossibility. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breath life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect sinless Savior - fully God, fully human - He can accomplish through you, those things that seem impossible in your life.

Make Room for More

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 (NLT)

We have heard people say, "You can't out-give God." Well, you can't out-give yourself either! You don't need to be wealthy to possess a giving heart. Give a smile, lend an ear, extend a hand. However you give, God's promise is tried and tested, and you'll see the blessings return multiplied back to you.

Not Alone at All

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses."
- Taylor Caldwell

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

When you feel the most alone, it may be the very moment when you are truly "least" alone at all. God is there in your darkest night and coldest wind. He may be so close you cannot see Him, but He is there. And perhaps He has chosen this moment to pull you closer to Him than you have ever been before.

Come as a Child

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
- Erma Bombeck

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)

Is there anything more exciting than being a child on Christmas morning? And yet this is what God asks of us each day, to change and become like little children. Not just on Christmas, but each day approaching our Father, God as a child, with excited anticipation of His goodness, and humbly trusting Him that every need will be met and every care will be under His control.

A Christmas Candle

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
- Eva K. Logue

John the Baptist said of Jesus:
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John 3:30 (NLT)

We are like a candle that holds the flame, burning strong and bright the light of Christ. We softly give ourselves away in worship of Him and service for Him, that we might become less and less, and that He might become greater and brighter through us.

Pleasing in Your Sight

So remember while December
Brings the only Christmas day,
In the year let there be Christmas
In the things you do and say.
- Anonymous

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

The words we speak are reflections of our thoughts and meditations. These God-pleasing thoughts and words become pleasing in his sight because they will motivate us to Christ-like actions - that are seen and not just heard. Are your thoughts and words pleasing to the Lord every day and not just at Christmas or on Sunday mornings? Do you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all throughout the year?

Eternal Glory

"There is no improving the future without disturbing the present." - Catherine Booth

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

If our present day situation is disturbing to us, perhaps there's something beyond our natural sight in the works, but not yet accomplished. The trouble we face today may be achieving an eternal purpose so much better than we can imagine. Remember that what we see right now is only temporary. What is most important, though we may not yet be able to see it, is eternal.

Forgiveness Focuses Forward

Look not back on yesterday
So full of failure and regret;
Look ahead and seek God's way--
All sin confessed you must forget.
- Dennis DeHaan

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

As we come to the end of the year, so often we look back with regret on things we did not accomplish, or resolutions long forgotten. But sin is one thing we should never need to look back on with feelings of failure. If we have confessed our sins and asked God's forgiveness we simply need to keep a forward focus toward the goal of pleasing Christ.

Hindsight

"Life has to be lived forwards but it can only be understood backwards."
- Søren Kierkegaard

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" Job 12:12 (NIV)

If we could walk backwards through life, so many times of doubt and questioning would be erased from our path. But we would have also missed those desperate moments of trusting in the Lord, and clinging to Him for guidance

God Will Direct

"If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel our dependence upon Him!"
- Matthew Simpson

"I guide you in the way of wisdom
And lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
When you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
Guard it well, for it is your life.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
Shining ever brighter till the full light of day."
Proverbs 4:11-13;18 (NIV)

Sometimes God brings a change or a challenge into our lives to shake up our dependence upon self and turn us back to dependence upon Him. We are closest to finding His will for our lives, our happiness and usefulness, when we are completely in the dark waiting for that first gleam of dawn, and depending fully upon Him to cause the sun to rise.

* That’s God’s Boy

By Jon Walker

“As bad as you are … you’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:11, MSG)

When my oldest son was appearing in his first Christmas musical at church, my job was to videotape the event for posterity.

In another time and another place, I was a television producer, so I was already planning out how to “tape the show.” I arrived with all the latest electronic toys and found, to my amusement, a “press gallery” of dads every bit as competitive as the pros I used to go up against.

Looking through the viewfinder of my camera, I was distressed to see that the lighting was all wrong, the stage was too low for even the best camera positions, and I knew from experience there was too much noise in the room to get a good sound recording.

When the choir took the stage, my hopes for an Emmy-winning video sank faster than the Titanic – My son was on the stage in a place where I could barely see him. Then, his face went pale, and he started yelling, “Mommy!”

I felt like crying, “Mommy!” too.

Finally, the choir began, but by then my son seemed more interested in the audio speakers than in performing. But just then, he turned to face me with eyes so bright and buoyant that the professional in me stepped aside and I quietly said, “That’s my boy!” When I walked out of that performance, I thought, “There’s absolutely nothing I’d trade for having been here.”

• Do you sometimes think of God as more the professional than the Father?
• Do you think of him as being disappointed in you when things haven’t gone perfectly?

Next time you’ve totally blown it, think about the father-heart of God and the fact that you’re totally accepted by him. When God looks at you, he shouts, “That’s my child, and I wouldn’t trade my child for anything.”

God knew you’d never be perfect without his help; and that’s why he sent his Son, Jesus, to cleanse you of your sins.

What does this mean?

• Consider the father-heart of God – He looked at Jesus in the manger and said, “That’s my boy! I have sent him to save you from your sins.” On the cross, he saw his son, in obedience and love, take on the weight of the world.
• God loves you just like you love your own children – Only God does it perfectly. “As bad as you are … you’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:11, MSG)
• The next time you fail – Don’t avoid God; come to him as the father he is, and trust that his love is bigger than your mistake.

* Light for the Dark Side of Christmas

By Jon Walker

Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). (Isaiah 7:14b, MSG)

As I write this, I am sitting in a fast food restaurant and over there … see her there, pretty in pink … this young girl, maybe five-years-old, is celebrating an early Christmas with her mother. Her presents are spread out across the booth and … listen … she just said, “I miss you, Mommy.”

“I miss you too, baby,” her mother says.

My eyes move beyond their booth, and I see a woman casually, but carefully, watching them. Trained as a journalist to observe, I put it all together: The watching woman is a social worker, and she is supervising a structured visit for mother and child, who are doing the best they can to celebrate Christmas in the booth of a fast food restaurant. A few minutes later, the foster parents arrive to take the girl home with them while the mother leaves alone.

There is a darker side of Christmas that we rarely acknowledge. We create this fantasy of the perfect homecoming that rarely matches reality – even in the best of homes. There are many of us whose Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel.

Some of us know that the holidays are just another excuse for Mommy to get drunk or for Daddy to be with his new family. It’s a reminder that the one we love the most is far away – perhaps never coming back – or the relative we love the least will be placing his hands somewhere they shouldn’t be.

Would it surprise you to know that the suicide rate is extraordinarily high in December, and that depression is as common as joy to the world? I suspect there are far more people who hurt at Christmas than we would initially imagine. They find misery in mistletoe, and they have a sneaking suspicion that “ornament” is rooted in the word “ornery.”

For those tired of the hollow hope and the false fantasies of Christmas, the Good News is that God is with us. A virgin gives birth to a son, and his name is Immanuel (God-With-Us). (Isaiah 7:14)

What does this mean?

• Trust the baby in the manager – The babe in the manger came to give you good news, and it’s not the kind of good news that will dissipate tomorrow when the bad news arrives. You may be just hanging on by a thread, and you may not be able to see it yet, but the HOPE is here.
  
  
• Trust the baby born in heartbreaking conditions – That baby in the manger came to heal your broken heart. You may be bleeding inside, and for you Christmas is just another reminder of what might have been – “if only.” Jesus will heal your broken heart. You may not be able to feel it yet, but the HOPE is here. Trust the baby born in smelly, unsanitary, heartbreaking conditions.
  
  
• Trust the baby who grew to be a man of sorrow – He became a man acquainted with sorrow. He knew the true condition of the human heart. The baby in the manger came to help you make the right decisions. You may be so captive to drugs, alcohol, or pornography that you don’t even know how you can get help –if you’re even able to figure out that you need help. You may be in so much bondage that you can’t even see it, but the HOPE is here. Trust the baby, who did not stay in the manger, but grew to be a man facing difficult choices.
  
  
• Trust the baby who teaches us to live above our circumstances – That baby in the manger will help you live above your circumstances. You no longer have to be prisoner to the “what ifs” of life – what if I had a better job, what if I had a better marriage, what if I had a better life? I know it’s hard to see past the prison walls, but the HOPE is here. Trust the baby in the manger, whose circumstances led him from a poor beginning to a violent execution.
  
  
• Trust the baby who brings us a hope-filled Christmas – Bring him the ashes of your life and he’ll give you beauty; bring him the mourning in your life, and he’ll give you joy.

* If I Truly Believe the Boat Won't Sink, Then I'm Going In!

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard" (Heb. 2:3).

As a pastor I will never forget a lady who came to my office, confessing that she was a prostitute and was desperate for help. I presented the claims of Christ to her and asked if she wanted to confess Christ as Lord of her life. She said yes and prayed, seemingly inviting Christ into her life.

Then I suggested that we burn her book of contacts. She looked at me incredulously and said, "What do you mean?" "If you want to live for Jesus Christ," I explained, "and you've truly accepted His forgiveness and embraced Him as Lord, then you need to prove it." "But that book is worth a lot of money," she said. "I don't want to burn it." After putting it back in her purse, she looked me right in the eye and said, "I guess I don't really want Jesus, do I?"

When it came to counting the cost, she wasn't ready. I don't know whatever became of her, but my heart aches for her and others like her.

I'm sure you know people like her--they know and believe that Christ is the Savior, they know they need Him, but they are unwilling to make a commitment to Him. Perhaps they even go to church and hear the Word of God. They are like the proverbial man who says he believes a boat will keep him afloat, but never sets foot in one.

Those people are the most tragic of all. They need to be warned--to be given a powerful shove toward Christ. May the Lord use you as His instrument for that purpose in the lives of many who are on the edge of a decision for Christ.

Suggestion for Prayer:

Ask God to soften the hearts of people you know who understand the facts of the gospel, but haven't yet made a commitment to it.

For Further Study:

Read Matthew 19:16-22. What kinds of questions should you ask of someone who appears eager to become a Christian?

* Frogs, Frogs, Frogs!

Mary received a ceramic frog for her birthday from a co-worker, and she displayed it on her desk for all to see. Some of her fellow employees began to think she must like frogs, so they started to give her frog items for Christmas, birthdays, and special celebrations. Her office soon became filled with “all things frog”—pens, candles, stickie notes, posters, coffee cups.

Mary’s co-workers found something unique about her. In fact, because Mary seemed to have a distinct taste, it was easy to shop for her. Sometimes Mary received frog items on Monday because friends at work saw little gifts over the weekend they thought she might like.

Mary was always flattered because people seemed to like to give her little gifts now and then. Those she worked with liked the fact that they could do something for Mary that had meaning, something that broke up the monotony of the daily work week.

After Mary left the company, a friend asked her what she did with all the frog items. She replied, “Well, I don’t really like frogs, so I gave them all away!”

Others mean well, yet don’t always know us well. Deep down, we all longed to be known. That is from God, but as well intentioned some are, the simple fact is they’ll never know us as God does. When our hearts only seek understanding from others, we often will be left disappointed. Our hearts were designed for God! We are an open book to Him—there is nothing about us that is hidden from Him. Psalm 139 tells us:

• God knows everything we do (v.2). He knows all the activities of our day and every detail of our schedule.

• God knows everything we think (v.2)—the good and the bad, the wholesome, and the impure.

• God knows everywhere we go—“You comprehend my path . . . and are acquainted with all my ways” (v.3).

• God knows everything we say (v.4).

He knows us better than we know ourselves. Isn’t it a comfort to be known so intimately by our Lord—even with all our flaws—and yet be loved so completely!
—Anne Cetas

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

* ANCHOR OF RENEWAL

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Acts 27:33-38

Can you imagine fighting a storm for two weeks and getting virtually no nourishment? That's what the men on Paul's ship experienced. Even more amazing, that's how most people respond to life's storms. We run our tanks dry fighting the battles on our own, and we end up physically weak, emotionally drained, and unable to sleep. The anchor of renewal guards against that sort of anatomical depletion. Instead, Paul encouraged the men to eat and be renewed. But first he prayed. They all prayed!

Can you imagine that scene? The storm raged about them, while almost three hundred men bowed in prayer as Paul gave thanks for the meager fare, then everybody on board joined together in the meal.

Your personal nourishment is crucial during times of storm. In panic moments, you'll cut a corner on your meals. You'll also fail to get sufficient sleep. It won't be long before you will set aside prayer altogether and you'll find yourself drained, spiritually. Increased emotional pain mixed with decreased spiritual renewal can be lethal to your faith.

Spiritual renewal comes primarily through prayer. Few disciplines are of greater importance when all seems bleak. Simply talk it out. Wrestle with the reason for the storm. Seek His direction. Don't let up until you're satisfied you've got the Lord's mind. That's what Paul modeled on the deck of that rugged ship.

For some of the men on board, I'm confident it was the first time in their lives they had prayed. Certainly, it was the first time they had prayed to Almighty God! It may have been the only time in their lives they'd ever heard a prayer offered for a meal. In the middle of a howling wind-and-rain storm, they paused and witnessed a reverent, humble man offering a prayer of gratitude to the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, Captain of the winds and waves. That encouraged them. It was simple, but its impact was profound. Paul had shown them the anchor of renewal---a glimpse of hope.

* ON BEING CONFIDENTIAL

by Charles R. Swindoll

Romans 1:21-32

Be honest now, can you keep a secret? When privileged information passes through one of the gates of your senses, does it remain within the walls of your mind, or is it only a matter of time before a leak occurs? Do you respect a person’s trust or ignore it, either instantly or ultimately?

The longer I live, the more I realize the scarcity of people who can be fully trusted with confidential information. And the longer I live, the more I value those rare souls who fall into that category! As a matter of fact, if I were asked to list the essential characteristics that mark a person of integrity and trust, the ability to maintain confidences would rank very near the top.

A portion of the physician’s Hippocratic Oath comes to mind: “And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession . . . if it be what should not be published abroad, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets.”

We would be justly offended by a doctor who treated our “holy secrets” lightly. The same applies to a minister or an attorney, a counselor or a parent, a teacher or a secretary, a colleague or a friend. Especially a close friend.

Solomon wrote some strong words concerning this subject in his Proverbs. Listen to his wise counsel and remember it the next time you are tempted to run off at the mouth:
* When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. (10:19)

* He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. (11:13)

* The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (13:3)

* He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip. (20:19)

In light of these scriptural admonitions, I suggest we establish four practical ground rules: 1. Whatever you’re told in confidence, do not repeat.
2. Whenever you’re tempted to tell a secret, do not yield.
3. Whomever you’re talking about, do not gossip.
4. However you’re prone to disagree, do not slander.

Be honest now, can you keep a secret? Prove it.

A confidence kept gives others confidence in you.

* Give Me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

--Fernando Ortega

To Listen, click here:
Download Link: F-Ortega-Give Me Jesus.wma

* Bible Names & Character

"He has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee'? And again, 'I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be a Son to Me'?" (Heb. 1:4-5).

In our culture, the names we pick for our children don't have much connection with the child's character. But in the Bible, God chose specific names that related to some character quality of the individuals who bore them.

The writer of Hebrews was well aware of that when He asked this rhetorical question: "To which of the angels did [God] ever say, 'Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee'? and again, 'I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be a Son to Me'?" quoting Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14. Of course, the answer is no angel.

The title Son refers to Jesus Christ in His incarnation. Though His sonship was anticipated in the Old Testament (Prov. 30:4), He did not become a Son until He was begotten into time. Prior to that He was eternal God with God. Presenting Jesus as the Son is God's analogy to help us understand the relationship between the First and Second Persons of the Trinity.

Christ became a Son in two different ways. First, He was not a Son until He came into the world through the virgin birth (Luke 1:35; 3:22). But second, His sonship came to full bloom in His resurrection (Rom. 1:3-4).

The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would come as a Son. In the New Testament He came as a Son in His virgin birth and was declared to be the Son by His resurrection from the dead. Don't ever get trapped into the heresy of those who claim that Jesus Christ is eternally subservient to God. For a temporary period of time, He set aside what was rightfully His and humbled Himself to become a Son for our sakes.

Suggestion for Prayer:

• Thank God for His amazing plan to redeem man through the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity.
• Praise Him that He became Man to redeem you.

For Further Study:

Read Acts 13:33 and Romans 1:3-4 noting the reason that Christ can be considered God's Son.

* Musing Over Mistakes

MUSING OVER MISTAKES
by Charles R. Swindoll

When it comes to mistakes, we need a great deal of tolerance. And a sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either --1 Samuel 15

I ran across an embarrassing mistake recently in the sports section of the newspaper. A volleyball coach was being featured, and the article went on and on about her background, superb ability, win-loss record, and style of coaching. The next day, tucked away in a much less obvious place, was a one-sentence apology, which said that the coach was, in fact, a man, not a woman. Ouch!

Who hasn’t happened upon one every once in a while in a church bulletin? One of my all-time favorites was the announcement letting people know about a “sing-in” following an evening service. Unfortunately, this is the way it appeared: “There will be a sin-in at the Johnson home immediately following the pastor’s evening message on ‘Intimate Fellowship.’”

There are even a few human-error scenes in Scripture that strike me as nothing short of hilarious.

Among my favorites is the one tucked away in 1 Samuel 15 where King Saul was commanded by Samuel, very clearly, that he should not only destroy the Amalekites, but also every living creature in the region of the Amalekites. He went, he saw, he slew . . . but instead of total annihilation, he captured the king and also spared a lot of the animals.

When Samuel heard of the king’s disobedience, the prophet showed up and asked why. Saul lied. “I have carried out the command of the Lord,” he said.

Samuel’s line is classic: “(You obeyed, huh?) What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

Can’t you just picture it? All the time old Saul’s mouth was moving, there was this strange mixture of animal sounds in the distance. No, his sin wasn’t funny . . . but the way he got caught red-handed was. The animals told on him!

So long as there is humanity on this old earth, there will be mistakes and failures. If you can’t tolerate those who make them, I’d suggest you stop making them yourself!

General John Sedgwick did. In fact, his last words were spoken while looking over the parapet at the enemy line during the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864. With great gusto he sneered, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—”

Remember, when it comes to mistakes, we need a great deal of tolerance. And a sense of humor doesn’t hurt either.

* Divine Promises

A Prayer of Divine Promises

Glorious Lord of all--
All your promises in Christ Jesus shall be fulfilled.
You have spoken them, and they shall be done,
commanded, and they shall come to pass.

Yet I have often doubted them,
and lived at times as if there was no God.

Lord, forgive me that I have found something apart from You,
when I have been content with momentary things.
But through Your grace I have repented;
You have given me pardon in the wounds of Jesus,
and my soul trusts in Him, my God incarnate,
the ground of my life, the spring of my hope.

Teach me to be resigned to Your will,
to delight in Your law,
to have no will but Your will,
to believe that everything You do is for my good.

Help me to leave my concerns in Your hands,
for You have power over evil,
and bring from it infinite progression of good,
until Your purposes are fulfilled.

Bless me with Abraham’s faith,
that staggers not as promises through unbelief.

May I not instruct You in my troubles,
but glorify You in my trials;
Grant me a distinct advance in the divine life;
May I reach a higher platform,
leave the mists of doubt and fear in the valley,
and climb to the hill-tops of eternal security in Christ,
by simply believing He cannot lie,
or turn from His purpose.

Give me the confidence I ought to have in Him,
who is worthy to be praised, and who is blessed for evermore. Amen.

* Making Amends

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" and you forgave the guilt of my sin --Psalm 32:5

Most of us have the bad habit of rationalizing our sin and our errors. We all struggle with our consciences, with our goal to make peace within our own hearts. In order to gain peace, you may deny what you've done, find excuses, or try to squirm out from under the responsibility and consequences of your wrongdoing. You may work hard to be "good" in order to compensate for your mistakes. Are you doing everything you can to even the score? Until you confess your faults, you'll get nowhere.

God holds everyone accountable. We're like people who've committed crimes but who refuse to accept the charges brought against them. You may have spent years constructing alibis, coming up with excuses, and trying to plea-bargain. But if you're sincerely seeking spiritual renewal, now is the time to come clean. It's time to admit what you know deep down inside to be true: "I'm guilty as charged."

By speaking this truth, you stop fighting and admit that you're wrong. Without confession, there's no real freedom. And what a relief it is to finally release the burden of your lies and excuses by admitting them to God. This is the very reason Jesus came. Remember he died not because we were good people, but because we'd gone our own way. Come back to him. When you do confess, you'll regain internal peace, and your broken spirit will be renewed.

* Now I’ll Be Famous!

“Now I’ll Be Famous”

Many are aware now that on Dec. 5 a 19-year-old teenage gunman carried his AK-47 into a Nebraska department store, took the elevator up to the third floor and immediately opened gunfire on innocent customers and store employees.

The victims, ranging from ages 24 to 66, sought cover in dressing rooms and clothing racks at the Westroads Mall but lost their lives at the hands of the 19-year-old gunman.

The incident left eight dead and five wounded before the shooter, Robert A. Hawkins, killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot.

The shooter left behind a suicide note that read, in part, "sorry for everything," and "Now I'll be famous." Hawkins recently broke up with his girlfriend and lost his job at McDonald's. He also had a criminal record.

Hawkins had recently broken up with a girlfriend and was fired from McDonald's. She told the World-Herald that Hawkins said he had been fired after being accused of stealing $17 from his till at the restaurant. McDonald's management declined to comment to the newspaper. The shooting spree was Nebraska's deadliest since January 1958, when Charles Starkweather killed 10 people in Nebraska and another in Wyoming.

The Bible teaches clearly that all have fallen short of the glory of God, that the wages of sin is death. There is also a view that the Bible teaches which is total depravity. It is a teaching that is often misunderstood. Total depravity says that all people have murder in their hearts. Jesus confronted the Pharisees telling them that anger in their hearts is murder.

The lie and myth of our culture is all men are basically good. This goes against what the Bible teaches. It is by the grace of God that we do not act on our anger to the point of murder. Yet, all of us have the capacity to murder, and that’s the point of total depravity. Few have committed the act, but all have the capacity to do so. And so in the face of great tragedy, we feel deeply held grief that any image bearer lost their life, and at the same time can say, “But by the grace of God go I.” In this, we are humbled by God’s grace in our lives and all glory goes to God as Savior, not ourselves.

Yet why did this teenage boy say in his note, “Now I’ll be famous”? What is it about mankind that has this deep desire to be known or “famous”? This is the dividing line between those in Christ and those not in Christ.

As image bearers, God has set eternity in our hearts—all of our hearts—and we know life is more than this world. Those serving self, sin, and Satan (the ruler of the kingdom of the air) can only live for the here and now. This world is their final resting place, so to seek fame and have a legacy is the goal of life--even if that is an evil goal. It is a lie from the great Deceiver.

When a person’s father is the evil one, they act accordingly. This is why it is said that someone not in Christ is serving the evil one. They will use other image bearers (people) for their own selfish glory, even to the point of murder! A heart given over to God does not rejoice in the sufferings of another. We are to have compassion and grace just like our Savior had for us.

Those in Christ know that this world is not their final resting place, that eternity with God is our home in heaven. We also want to make an impact, but it is not for the here and now, it is storing up treasure in heaven, and many times that means doing without the watching eyes of the world. It is doing when nobody but God will see. It is humble.

Our Father is the Holy One and we act accordingly with a new heart and new desires. We are being transformed daily as we walk with Jesus. We take sin seriously in our lives and seek ways to be right with all people as lights, dealing with the sparks of anger before they grow to the size of a wildfire.

It is interesting to note that this shooter also said, "sorry for everything." This reflects being made in God’s image as well. The teenager knew what right and wrong is. He had guilt and shame. Yet his master was the evil one and he acted according to the father of lies—“If you commit murder, you will be famous!”

This is tragic, and yet important to note that the lies control all who are not in Christ Jesus. It is by the grace of God that anyone does not carry out the evil desires of their heart to murderous conclusions. This is why a wise parent will immediately discipline a young child when they go astray and put another child down, feeling better about themselves as they demean someone else. The early sparks need to be put out!

Sadly, this young boy needed Jesus like all of us. But by the grace of God go I. He was filled with deep hurts, habits, and hang-ups. The teenage years and early adulthood are a vulnerable period in everyone’s life. Without Jesus, anger and rage can only grow if there are no restraints in one’s life. We saw the same thing in the Virgina Tech shooting.

This boy’s story probably will not surprise those in Celebrate Recovery. It is not a mystery. If a boy has a troubled family life (Satan’s number one attack is to destroy the family—the building block of life) and allows hurts, habits, and hang-ups to control his life, then he is left to make his god a girlfriend or job (idolotry). When those restraints are removed, his rage turned to insanity and he acted on the desire. Praise God His restraint has been on our culture, but it seems these acts of evil are on the rise.

Step 12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others...

Let us look beyond the surface and believe what God says about the human heart of the unbeliever. We need to carry the gospel (the good news) to others.

This is what the LORD says:
Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure. Who can understand it? –Jeremiah 17:5; 9

All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way –Isaiah 53:6

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. -Ephesians 2:1-3

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
-Romans 5:12-14

10 reminders from this tragedy:
1) Many people are hurting far worse than we think beneath the surface of life.
2) Everyone has hurts, habits, and hang-ups despite their external appearance.
3) Everyone needs to be connected to others.
4) Isolation only allows one to live in a fantasy world they can control.
5) Either a person is in Christ or not in Christ—there is no in-between.
6) Kindness and patience is needed to all, especially those who are vulnerable.
7) The holidays are times when many are very prone to deep loneliness.
8) Christians are to go the extra mile in service towards our neighbor
9) Practice good listening skills & make the effort to reach out to those who fall away
10) Be thankful that God has given you a family in Christ and lean on others

May we who are followers of Jesus Christ come together in this prayer;
A Prayer of New Life
Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. I am thankful for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I appropriate His victory for myself now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.

Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that Your love for me never ceases.

I rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith I stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You my King.

I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's powerful ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.

Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life.

I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy's work against me. Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.

It is my desire to be transformed through the renewing of my mind, so that I will not compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy's attacks, but be obedient to Your will.

I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.

Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word.

I want You to have the supreme place in my life. I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace to me constantly, even when I do not realize it.

I claim Your promise of forgiveness, cleansing and healing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. AMEN

* God Is In Control

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." --Isaiah 6:3

Did you know there is now a modern day version of the Golden Rule? It says that "He who has the gold sets the rules".

Who sets the rules for you? Your supervisor? The company president? The government? Whoever sets the rules has great power. Sometimes we feel like that particular person has too much power and control over our lives. We long to be that person who has the gold and sets the rules.

On the highest level, God is the one who sets the rules and has the greatest power over us. We make choices in life, but He is the ultimate boss. Through the prophet Isaiah, God told us to "maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who keeps his hand from doing any evil."

It's good to know that God is kind and just. In our daily decisions, we need to follow God's rules that are found in the Bible. Hopefully, you follow those rules in grateful response to Christ and what He's done for you, not in an effort to earn your way into heaven.

Sometimes when people around us are flaunting their power, it's easy to forget who is ultimately in control. Our challenge today is to obey God's rules for our life. Turn our situation over to God. He is in control.

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" - C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

* Seeking God in Success

If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” 2 Samuel 15:25b-26

There are times when you may feel as if you’re on top of the world. You may feel as though your struggle with sin is licked for good. In such times, it’s tempting to relax and neglect your relationship with God. But then life surprises you with an unexpected problem, and you come to your senses. Recognize that you’re never so spiritually right that you can afford to neglect your relationship with God.

Take it from a good man who went before you. King David had reached the pinnacle of political success. He killed giants, won battles, captured the hearts of the people, and overcame enemies on every side. While he was in this comfortable position, life sur­prised him with the rebellion of his own son.

It may have been that David, in the midst of his successes, had fallen out of the habit of relying on God day by day. But he quickly placed his life back in God’s hands after the rebellion. God did protect him and returned him to the throne in Jerusalem.

When life hits you with the unexpected, let it be a reminder that your life needs to be in God’s hands continually.

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs . . . one step at a time.”

* Jesus & Temptations

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered--Hebrews 5:8

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering--Hebrews2:10

The Bible says Christ “learned obedience” through suffering, and that He was “made perfect” through suffering, and also says that He was “without sin.” “In every respect [Christ] has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).

This is the consistent teaching of the Bible. Christ was sinless. Although He was the divine Son of God, He was really human, with all our temptations and appetites and physical weaknesses.

There was hunger (Mathew21:18) and anger and grief (Mark 3:5) and pain (Mathew 17:12). But His heart was perfectly in love with God, and He acted consistently with that love: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

When the Bible says that Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered,” it doesn’t mean that He learned to stop disobeying. It means that with each new trial He learned in practice—and in pain—what it means to obey.

When it says that He was “made perfect through suffering,” it doesn’t mean that He was gradually getting rid of defects. It means that He was gradually fulfilling the perfect righteousness that He had to have in order to save us.

That’s what He said at His baptism. He didn’t need to be baptized because He was a sinner. Rather, He explained to John the Baptist, “Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mathew 3:15).

The point is this: If the Son of God had gone from incarnation to the cross without a life of temptation and pain to test His righteousness and His love, He would not be a suitable Savior for fallen man. His suffering not only absorbed the wrath of God. It also fulfilled His true humanity and made Him able to call us brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17).

It is important to remember Jesus understands our struggles. He was fully human. He chose to suffer out of love for His Father. His heart was perfectly in love with God, and He acted consistently with that love. We who are in Christ are adopted by the Father into the family of God. May our hearts be directed to obey out of love rather than duty.

* Ways to Deal with Temptations

Pride comes before the fall! David wasn’t listening to those around him. He was focusing on his accomplishments which clouded his judgment. God forgave him after he repented, but there were still consequences to his decision.

These consequences did not just impact David, but also all those around him and under his control. David cried out to God, pleading that it was his poor decision before God and to spare those whom he hurt. He was willing to take the blame and to suffer whatever the cost.

Temptations are areas of our life that we know we should not be doing, yet there is a pull towards those areas and the enemy encourages us in that direction so we will destroy our own lives.

As followers of Jesus we have become part of His kingdom, but still have old desires from our former life in this world. How do we abstain and fight this battle within so we don’t self-destruct?

Staying Away From Self-Destruction:
1. Always Look for the Lie
Temptation is ALWAYS based on a lie. If you do “this” (fill in your temptation) you will be happy. This has been part of life since the Garden after the Fall of man. Satan deceives by telling a lie, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There is no truth in him and when he lies he speaks his native language. He only uses truth to tell a greater lie seen in half truths. We need to ask, “Where is the lie?”

The bait is the temptation,
the hook is the lie. There is always a hook!

2. Learn Your Weaknesses
What is the most likely way Satan can bring you down? We all are different and we need to know what our weaknesses are. Satan is very strategic! He will only tempt in areas we are weak in. We need to know those times in our life to prepare. What is your Achilles’ heel?

We are most vulnerable to attack when we are weak
or in times of great strength.

3. Watch for God’s Way Out

Temptations are usually 1:1, Satan against you. We need to know we are NOT alone! God is there to show us a way out, like a fireman in a burning building showing us how to escape. The message from Satan is; “Sooner or later you will give in, so you might as well do it now!” Our confidence is that God is with us and He will meet us in the fire and show us the way out. We need to listen to God.

Six Ways Out
a) Supernatural deliverance. God just removes the temptation.
b) New spiritual truth. At the end of the battle, God shows us a personal truth.
c) Spend more time with God to get the power we need.
d) Share our struggle with a trusted friend.

e) The Holy Spirit will give us a specific assignment to find a way out.

f) Flee from temptation—run, don’t discuss or reason—run!

When facing temptation we are not alone;
God is our life coach showing us a way out!

4. Submit to God and Take a Stand

We need to submit to God and not play with temptation. Praying to God when we are not serious usually results in defeat. We underestimate the power of the enemy! We usually ask for deliverance when we are in the center of temptation. We need to avoid placing ourselves in those areas of vulnerability. Satan will flee from us if we are serious about submitting to God. The longer we dabble with the temptation, the more difficult it will be to submit.

The best time to stop a temptation
is at the beginning of the temptation!

5. Never Give Up

Never give up even when we fall. Every time we give in to temptation it takes a piece of our soul. Sooner or later we will win against the temptation. God is greater than the temptation. Satan’s message is, “God doesn’t love you anymore!”

It is only when we give up that we lose!

Christianity says, “Here’s what we need to do in life, but there’s no way you can do it alone!” God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness, through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and His goodness, and through these He has given us very great and precious promises so that through them you might participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in this world caused by those evil desires. We are not alone!

Lord, thank you for teaching us. Whatever area of temptation we are facing, we ask that you help us understand what we are up against and most of all help us understand the temptation is always a lie. Those desires that tempt us are waging a war against our soul. Father, as commander of the Lord’s army, help us fight this battle well, that we would be victorious.

* Our Adoption in Christ

New Article: Adoption in Christ

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7)

In the New Testament letter to the Galatian believers, Paul teaches us that they had been received into the church apart from the rite of Jewish circumcision, and without any obligation to keep the Jewish Law. But due to the influential Jewish party within the church, it was soon being taught that Gentile believers had to be circumcised to partake of faith in Jesus Christ, and that they had to adhere to the Law of Moses as well.

Paul was angry when he heard of these things, which taught that faith in Christ alone was insufficient for salvation, to the point where he proclaimed a double anathema (an abomination) on those who would teach a faith plus works doctrine.

Paul constructs an impenetrable argument for justification by faith, and the Christian liberty which results from it, revealing the basis for this liberty from the Law: the actual adoption by God of believers into His family by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

Through spiritual adoption, believers are made to be sons of God, heirs with Abraham, and partakers of the promises of the covenant God made with the patriarch. And since believers are adopted, they are no longer slaves but sons, and if sons, then heirs of God through Christ (Gal 4:7).

As sons of God, believers enjoy full claim to the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and can “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1).

Those struggling with addictions thirst for this new inheritance because of experiencing the utter disappointments life has dealt them. We have an opportunity to grow deep as we discover our genealogical roots in Christ.

As a side note: Paul did not write “sons and daughters of God,” because he wasn’t thinking of sons as masculine offspring. He was thinking of sons as legal agents. If Paul had written “sons and daughters,” he would have been empowering the men but not the women. By saying that women are also adopted sons of God, he is saying that women are equally God’s agents in this world.

To understand the depth of this title, “sonship”, go to the new article titled, Adoption in Christ.

* Keeping Promises

Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No”, no, or you will be condemned. James 5:12

Are there people living in the shadow of your unkept promises? Is it too late to go back now and try to make amends? There’s one Bible story in particular that teaches us that it’s not too late. And it’s the story of King David and Jonathan.

King David and Jonathan were the best of friends through incred­ible challenges—and the biggest one was that Saul, Jonathan’s father, ruthlessly hunted David and tried to kill him for years. Yet, Jonathan’s love for David was strong and didn’t diminish. As a re­sult, David made a promise to always show kindness to Jonathan’s family.

But for many years that promise went unremembered. And Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s only living son, lived for a long time with the pain of David’s unkept promise. But then, David sought Mephibosheth out and kept his promise—he gave Mephibosheth all the land Saul once owned and allowed him to live in the palace as one of his own sons. It took him a while, but he held to his promise. And you can too!

* The Secret of Living

Philippians 1

When money is our objective for happiness, we must live in fear of losing it, which makes us paranoid and suspicious. When fame is our aim, we become competitive lest others upstage us, which makes us envious. When power and influence drive us, we become self-serving and strong-willed, which makes us arrogant. And when possessions become our god, we become materialistic, thinking enough is never enough, which makes us greedy. All these pursuits fly in the face of contentment
and joy.

Only Christ can satisfy, whether we have or don’t have, whether we are known or unknown, whether we live or die. And the good news is this: Death only sweetens the pie! That alone is enough to make you laugh again.

The Living Bible states: “For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying—well, that’s better yet!” (Phil. 1:21). The New Testament in Modem English, J.B. Phillips’s paraphrase, reads: “For living to me means simply ‘Christ,’ and if I die I should merely gain more of him.”

What is the sum and substance of all this? The secret of living is the same as the secret of joy: Both revolve around the centrality of Jesus Christ. In other words, the pursuit of happiness is the cultivation of a Christ-centered, Christ-controlled life.

When Christ becomes our central focus,
contentment replaces our anxiety
as well as our fears and insecurities.

* Beginning Your Day with God

O Lord, grant me strength and peace that
I may greet all that this day is to bring.

Allow me the grace to surrender myself
completely to Your holy will.

In every hour of this day instruct and guide me
in all things.

Whatever news may come my way in the course of this day,
teach me to accept it with calmness and the conviction that
all is subject to Your holy will which governs all.

Control my thoughts and feelings in all I do today.

In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget
that all is sent down by You.

Teach me to act with sincerity and wisely towards
everyone, that I would bring sorrow and confusion to no one.

O Lord, grant me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day
and responsibly act on the events to take place.

Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer,
to forgive and to love.

* The Power of The Word

When we think of “The Word of God” many Christians will quote Hebrews 4:12; “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” This is an amazing Scripture!

Yet, it is often not realized that the Word of God is also connected to the power of God. The Word of God is used many ways in Scripture. It is used of the written Word, as any form of communication from God, and it is one of the great titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. In any of these uses, the fact is God speaks and makes Himself known to people.

In Hebrews 1:3, we have the indication that God’s Word is associated with physical power. This verse not only tells us that the Son, the living Word “made the worlds,” but also that He is “upholding all things by the Word of His power.” This means that Jesus Christ is sustaining all matter and physical phenomena of the universe by “the word of His power.”

Only in modern times do we now know that everything in the physical universe is basically and fundamentally energy. All matter that affects the senses—light, heat, sound, etc., are merely different forms of energy. Einstein formulated the equation that describes the equivalence of matter and energy which has served as the basis of modern revolutionary discoveries in the field of nuclear energy. Next time somebody praises Einstein, remember it is Christ who is behind it all as the Creator and sustainer. All glory goes to God!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate Source of the infinite power (or energy) which revealing itself through the outworking (the Word), is the agency by which all the physical universe is “upheld.” The living Word of God supplies the power for keeping the matter of the universe from disintegrating, and for enabling it to manifest all the amazing physical phenomena that makes up God’s creation.

Take a moment and let your mind wander as you ponder God’s amazing creation and your place in it. Think of the amazing power of the universe. Let this create a thirst for God and a desire to know more about the depths of His glory.

It has once been said that if you fill Dodger Stadium with its seating capacity of 56,000, each seat with someone who had a different PhD in their respected field, all this knowledge would not even scratch the surface of God’s depth in creation. When we realize it is Jesus Christ, our Lord who is behind all of this, why would we ever fear man? We are to fear God—that is to have awesome reverence for who He is and what He has done.

This is truth in real space and time. One could get educated in the great universities of the world and not arrive at truth. We who have had our eyes and hearts opened have wisdom and insight that the world does not. Those who have brilliant minds can share great facts about the creation, but do they truly know the Creator?

We as Christians need to think deeply about these issues and not compromise by fearing man. We need a high view of God because He is God and there is no other. We have been given insights the world will never know, yet because they are made in God’s image they will seek after them and sadly reject the One who created it all. We truly are blessed and need to share this blessing with others.

12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)