SENIORS

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. – Proverbs 16:31

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. – Proverbs 20:29

TODAY’S DEVO LINK

Youth for Christ - 07/28/06

After twelve years of school (for some maybe a little less or a couple more), along comes Senior year. It is filled with activity and special days. Whether it is prom, graduation or Senior cut day, they’re special. Along with being a Senior comes a little honor.

The Bible tells us to honor Seniors. Not those who have completed the twelve years and earned all the required credits but those who have lived godly lives. Their hair has turned gray, their skin has started to wrinkle and their steps have slowed down. God’s instruction tells us to honor them and care for them, not to cast them aside and ignore them.

High School Seniors have earned their special days. So have our elderly. Do something today for a Senior Citizen to make their day special.

WEALTHY

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7-8

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/27/06

Just how wealthy are you? I am not interested in the wealth measured in stocks, bonds, bank accounts or possessions. What about the wealth measured in faith?

• Chosen


• Redeemed


• Justified


• Reconciled


• Forgiven


• Freed from Condemnation

These are “the riches of God’s grace” which He has “lavished on us” who have put our faith in Him through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

How wealthy are you?

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6-7

JUST ENOUGH

Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar. O God, I beg two favors from you before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Proverbs 30:5-9

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 07/26/06

At Kids Across America  camp, when it is meal time, the campers are allowed to take as much food as they want but required to eat all they take. They learn the beautiful lesson of God’s provision and at the same time they learn not to be wasteful. Being camp these lessons are taught in a fun way and yet the seriousness is strictly enforced. The scriptural concept of just enough is impressed on their hearts.

My prayer is that God will place His plans in my heart and make them into my needs. “Lord, my hearts desire is to do your will.”

Then when I pray for God to “give me just enough to satisfy my needs,” that prayer and those needs are in sync with God’s will. He will surely give me just enough. God’s just enough is all I need.

THE PEACEMAKERS

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 07/25/06

If you were to tackle the Bible from beginning to end, one thing you will find as you read through the Old Testament is the history of repeated and continuous conflict in the Middle East. That scenario continues. Iraq … Iran … Palestine … Lebanon … and of course, Israel. Muslims … Jews … Shiites … Sunnis ... Christians.

One statement I cannot find in scripture is, “Blessed is the warmonger.” How interesting since central to these conflicts is religion … is God.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.”

Children of God, it is time to rise and take a stand for peace. In our cities … across our nation … around the world … there is a tremendous need for peacemakers. We are witnessing the burden of wars. Blessings are only promised with peace.

THE NEXT RIGHT THING

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws…
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
 
Psalm 119: 105-106, 112
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Upper Room - 07/24/06
 
The psalm writer expresses that the deep desire of his heart is to follow God’s instructions into eternity. That should be all of our desires. It is great to set a goal like that and figure out a way to accomplish it. A friend from the Kairos Prison Ministry shared that the way he does it is to focus on doing the next right thing. If we do that, eternity will take care of itself.

IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD

Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we’re only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren’t important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God’s field, God’s building—not ours.

1st Corinthians 3:5-9

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/21/06

What is the motivation for your service?

I have questioned myself often about this. If the motivation for my service is to draw attention to myself, gain recognition and be personally praised, then my service is about pride and only worthy to be burned up.

If, on the other hand, the service I give is to bring glory to God and point someone to His Son, Jesus Christ, then the motivation is rightly placed. That is the desire of my heart for only “…God is important…”

Let’s partner together in service to God with the proper motivation. Remember … it’s all about God!

CALLED ONES

We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

Hebrews 6:9b-11

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/20/06

In the Ozark Mountains there is a Christian sports camp called Kids Across America. The adults who commit themselves to this ministry and take kids from all over the USA are called Kaleos. The meaning of this Greek word is ‘called ones’.

Kaleos … God “will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do.”

Prayer Request: A group of 21 kids just left (3:15 a.m.) Jackson, MS for KAA. Please pray for their travel, their time at camp (7/20-27/2006), their encounter with Jesus Christ and His Word and their safe return. Lift up a praise of thanksgiving for their Kaleos (Michelle Daniel, Gennia Varnado, Bernice Grant and Marcus Sanders).

SHOW NO FAVORITISM

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? … For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you.
 
James 2:1, 13
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Our Daily Bread - 07/19/06
 
In society, there appears to be a widening gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the 1st century church, makes it clear that this is not pleasing to God. To get the full impact of his warning, read all of James 2:1-13.
 
It is very easy to judge a person by their outward appearance … how they look … what brand clothes they wear … what make and model car they drive … even what zip code is on the driver’s license. None of these things are factors in the condition of their soul. God wants His church to be concerned whether they know His Son and do they have a personal relationship with Him. In fact, James’ warning seems to indicate that the showing of favoritism brings into question the condition of your faith walk.

TRY THE SPIRITS

As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, sir?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus,…

Acts 9:3-5a

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 07/18/06

As with Saul (later, the Apostle Paul), we should be careful and inquisitive when addressed in our spirits. This is because not all spiritual communication is of God. The Bible is very clear about the spirit world. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”

For Saul, the voice identified Himself … “I am Jesus…” For you, the communication may not be in “a bright light from heaven.” More likely it will be a still, small voice within you. The true test is whether the communication lines up with God’s Word. Another is whether the Holy Spirit living in you is trouble by the communication. In other words, are you disturbed or do you have peace?

The Apostle John puts it this way:

“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.” – 1st John 4:1

LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. (Romans 8:16)

Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. (1st John 5:6)

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=7&day=17&year=2006

Listening involves more than a pair of working ears. In effective listening seminars you will hear about the use of eye contact and body language as tools of a good listener. You will be told of techniques (head nodding, smiling, etc.) to encourage the speaker. All these help you become an effective listener. I regularly have to remind myself of these things or I fall back into some bad habits I have which inhibit my communication with others.

My wife shared with me something that happened to her as she was out driving this weekend. On the way to a function she encountered a bridge under construction. She had two choices when leaving home. She shared that she ignored the Spirit when He nudged her to go the alternate way from the very beginning. She said, “I should have listened when the Spirit told me to go the other way.”

We listen with our ears. We practice the teaching of experts in listening techniques. We would be wise to remember that it is the Spirit that confirms to our spirit what is truth. The really good listener is attentive to prompting of the Holy Spirit.

HYGIENE OR HOLINESS

“Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

John 13:9-12 – The Message Bible

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/14/06

Jesus washed Peter and the other disciple’s feet. While they didn’t see the complete picture that night, these men went forward and became the founders of the Christian church. They got the message of holiness. They got the message of servanthood.

That night, in that same room, Judas also had his feet washed by Jesus. He went out into the night and for thirty pieces of silver, betrayed Jesus. For Judas, the example Jesus demonstrated was missed. He missed the message. For Judas, the foot washing only spoke to hygiene.

Have you been washed by Jesus? He is concerned about your holiness which leads you into service for building His kingdom. Don’t let it be just about hygiene, too busy with your own activity or agenda, while others carry on the service which the disciples started.

A HOSTAGE SET FREE

“You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
 
Matthew 20:25b-28 – The Message
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch Ministries - 07/13/06
 
Have you ever looked at yourself as a hostage? You may have never suffered through a kidnapping but you came into this world a hostage to sin.
 
Jesus Christ has paid the ransom to set you free. He paid it with His blood on the Cross. You no longer have to be in bondage to the sin nature you were born with. Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you can have victory over sin. The sin nature never leaves you and the devil will surely continue to tempt you but with Jesus as your Lord and the Holy Spirit as your help, you are a hostage set free.
 
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

BLOCKED BY THE CROWD

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.
 
Luke 19:1-4
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Our Daily Bread - 07/12/06
 
Zacchaeus “was too short to see over the crowds.”
 
Let’s not be found guilty of blocking a seeker who is trying “to get a look at Jesus.” They may be too poor … too dirty … too different … too young … too old … too ________ (anything, you fill in your hang up) … For Jesus they are only too lost.
 
“…I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.” – Luke 19:10

SELF SURRENDER

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!

Philippians 4:8-11

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 07/11/06

The Apostle Paul not only gave up putting value in material possessions, he reassessed the value of his own abilities. As a Pharisee, Paul had worked hard to become recognized as a leader in the temple and a strict follower of the Old Testament Law. As a follower of Christ, he surrendered all his confidence in self and placed his faith in Christ.

Surrendering things … our stuff … our toys … is tough. Self surrender is even more difficult. I don’t think Paul is saying have a huge garage sale and get rid of our favorite things. He is saying don’t let those things have first place in your value system. Likewise, self surrender takes you off the throne in your life so that your can enthrone the One who is worthy of that position … the One who died for your salvation, Jesus Christ!

GOING HOME

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young—at a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God!
How happy are those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.

Psalm 84:1-4

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 07/10/06

What a wonderful blessing it is for those in the Body of Christ to know that the promise of our future is to go home and be present with the Lord! The psalm poet expressed his “longing to enter the courts of the LORD.”

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) We only have to prepare ourselves on this side of glory by receiving the gift of God’s salvation. All the ‘fixin up’ of our eternal home is already done.

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross.

Hebrews 7:26-27

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/07/06

The reason we do not practice the Old Testament animal sacrifices is because of the sacrifice God made when He sent Jesus Christ to the Cross. It is not because we who claim Jesus Christ as Savior are no longer sinners but because when He died for our sin on the Cross it was a sacrifice “…once for all…”

The New Testament formula for the sin of believers is confession, repentance and faith. We admit our sinful condition … we turn from our wicked ways … we place our faith in the ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus Christ died “…once for all…”

CHANGED THINKING

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 07/06/06

Are you stuck? Do you feel trapped? Is there something in your life that limits your walk with Christ?

If so, you probably need to change the diet you are feeding your mind. The renewed life in Christ requires renewed thought processes. If you have continued to feed your mind with the world’s nutrition, only the same old sinful thought patterns will be produced.

Put your mind on a diet of God’s Word, spiritual songs and hymns of praise, prayer and meditation. The Lord’s nutrition will lead you to changed thinking, a renewed mind and freedom from those old traps.

HOW THINGS BEGAN

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:1-3

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 07/05/06

The author of Hebrews has the answer for those who offer alternative theories (Big Bang, Evolution) to how the world began. In a nutshell he says it comes down to faith.

The Bible says, “In the beginning God…” You and I weren’t there and neither were the evolutionist. They offer theories. Believers offer their faith in God’s Word. “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command…”

Stop arguing with unproven and un-provable theories. Teach your children God’s Word and explain to them that faith is the key to gaining God’s approval. “God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.” He has not changed.