BE GLORIFIED

I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart.
Come, let us tell of the LORD’S greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1-3

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

InTouch Ministries - 11/30/06

If, as the InTouch author suggests, “the purpose of our life is to magnify Him”, how are you doing that in your life?

• Does your conversation at work magnify the LORD?
• Does your high spirited cheering for your child’s team magnify the LORD?
• Does the rearing of your children magnify the LORD?
• Does your social life magnify the LORD?

What about your worship? This past Sunday, did your participation in church (whether singing or serving or just sitting) magnify the LORD?

The song poet writes:

In my life, LORD, be glorified, be glorified.
In my life, Lord, be glorified today!

WINTER WONDER

Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning… “Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD.” You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Psalm 30:4-5, 10-12

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 11/29/06

I know some of you don’t enjoy the winter. Sometimes there are long stretches of cold days. The days are shorter … the sun hides for the evening earlier and earlier. And then there is snow … cold and wet … and dangerous if you don’t know how to get around in it. Winter can be for some like days of mourning.

Having grown up where winters are very severe, I guess I got used to the conditions. Cold temperatures, snow and ice were no big deal. If fact, winter days came to represent some of my favorites days of the year. They meant snowball fights with my buddies, ice skating on frozen ponds and the beauty of the sunrise on a fresh blanket of snow. The nights revealed the beauty of houses decorated and lit up with Christmas lights. For me, winter is a season filled with joy.

If you are one of those who don’t enjoy the winter, know that it doesn’t last forever. It won’t be long and spring will break forth. Whether you prefer winter or spring, summer or fall… you can praise God … the One who fashioned them all.

MADE RIGHT WITH GOD

For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.

Romans 3:23-26

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 11/28/06

Satan is very good at helping you “…fall short of God’s glorious standard” and then fooling you into thinking that through some effort of your own you can work out your salvation. The truth is no amount of good works can earn you right standing in the eyes of the Father. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ … believing that He is God’s Son … the One who took our punishment … shedding His blood for our sins, can you be made right with God.

The work was done when Jesus Christ died on the Cross. To be made right with God, all you have to do is receive His free gift!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16

REMEMBERING YOUR BAPTISM

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives… For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Romans 6:1-4, 7

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 11/27/06

One of the things within the Body of Christ that we so enjoy debating is baptism … so much so that we end up letting our baptism become one of our primary areas of division. This is certainly not my purpose today.

Like the Apostle Paul, I want to encourage you to remember your baptism and its purpose in your life. Your baptism was the public identification of your life with Jesus Christ. Paul says that you “…were baptized to become one with Jesus Christ…” For every believer, that should be a memorable occasion and Paul suggests that it is an every day reminder of the victory we have over sin, “…we were set free from the power of sin.”

Spend a moment this morning remembering your baptism and let that memory be encouragement as you face your adversary who wants to trip you up in sin.

THE GREATEST THANKSGIVING

O LORD, come and rule your people; lead your flock in green pastures. Help them to live in peace and prosperity. Let them enjoy the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago… All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the LORD will do for you. They will be embarrassed that their power is so insignificant. They will stand in silent awe, deaf to everything around them… Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised with an oath to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

Micah 7:14, 16, 18-20

TODAY’S DEVO LINK

Youth for Christ - 11/24/06

The Old Testament prophet Micah expressed his amazement of the LORD who, despite how His chosen people continued to make Him angry, was faithful to forgive their sin. Showing love and mercy is God’s character. God repeatedly punished Israel for their sin because He is a holy God. Those who would repent of their sin and turn back to right living were always received with compassion.

God’s compassion, love and mercy has been shown for you and me through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross. Jesus died to buy our pardon. In that one act we see both God’s holiness (the punishment for our sin was laid on Jesus) and His mercy (through a personal relationship with Jesus, our relationship to God is restored).

The greatest thing we should be thankful for is God’s amazing grace given to us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:3-6

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS

Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:32

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 11/22/06

One of the lessons my parents taught me early in life was this – respect your elders. This meant not butting in grown folk’s conversations, giving up your seat when an elderly person needed it or saying “Yes ma’am” and “Yes sir”. This also meant loving your grandparents, sitting and listening to their stories even when all you wanted to do was get outside, run and play. I am thankful for these lessons my parents taught me.

God has opened a new door for me after years of working with young adults and youth. This new opportunity will regularly bring me in contact with the elderly. The past few years of caring for my mother before her passing have brought a new emphasis on the importance of God’s command to have “respect for the aged.” May all the lessons He has taught me keep me with a heart of compassion, understanding and love.

Think about it. Did you learn the lesson of respecting your elders? How are you living this out in your life and most important … are you teaching this lesson to this generation of children?

GOD HATES ALL SIN

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 11/21/06

The word ‘detestable’ in verse 16 is translated ‘abomination’ in the King James Version. God is clear and precise on what sin is and how He feels about it. I did a word search on the word ‘abomination’ and it appears 135 times in the Old Testament and 6 times in the New Testament. In addition to detestable it also translates as shameful or deceitful and describes those things which God hates.

To take a quote from Today’s Devotion, Oswald Chambers nails it in describing God’s hatred of sin. He says, “Jesus Christ hates the sin in people, and Calvary is the measure of His hatred.”

How much does God hate sin? Look at the Cross.

THE GREAT SILVERSMITH

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

GOD HAS SPOKEN

Help me, O LORD my God! Save me because of your unfailing love. Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, LORD. Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing! Make their humiliation obvious to all; clothe my accusers with disgrace. But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD, praising him to everyone. For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.

Psalm 109:26-31

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 11/20/06

I ran into a dear friend a few evenings back who is a reader of the Gospel Pearls. He told me that sometimes it seems like the devotion is speaking directly to him. That’s how it is for me with today’s Upper Room devotion. It is not so much the devotion but how God, who spoke in days long past, speaks into our daily situation.

Vickie Winans popular gospel hit is titled “We Need a Word from the LORD”. The truth is God has spoken and we can find what we need (encouragement, hope, comfort, answers, truth) in the scriptures. The Word we need is right there for us, if we will only seek it out.

CHOOSE YOUR LION CAREFULLY

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

1st Peter 5:8

But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5

TODAY’S DEVO LINK

Youth for Christ - 11/17/06

One of the devils schemes is to try and imitate Jesus Christ but he is a liar and a deceiver. Don’t mistake the roaring lion who seeks to devour you with the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, who is your deliverer and redeemer. The deceiver may present himself as attractive, friendly and enjoyable but his goal is to destroy your soul and block your relationship to God. Long ago, he set himself against the things of Christ.

“Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They do not believe that Jesus Christ came to earth in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out…” – (2nd John 1:7-8a).

WHAT GOD WANTS OF YOU

If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

James 1:5-8

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

InTouch Ministries - 11/16/06

Do you ever ask yourself, “What is it that God wants me to do?”

I can just imagine some of the answers you come up with. “God wants me to work in children’s ministry, the youth department, sing in the choir, go on a mission trip, teach Sunday School or maybe even preach and teach His Word.” Nothing wrong with those answers!

But imagine with me a moment if you came up with one of these answers and God wants you to do something completely different. The Apostle James tells us that the person who desires to know God’s will for their lives is wise when he asks God (not him or herself) and does not doubt that God will give the answer.

Have you stopped and asked God or are you following your own desires?

DIVINE HELP

“O LORD, God of my master,” he prayed. “Give me success and show kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.” … The man fell down to the ground and worshiped the LORD. “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The LORD has been so kind and faithful to Abraham, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

Genesis 24:12, 26-27

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 11/14/06

It is wonderful to know that there is divine help available for those big things in life as well as the day-to-day. You know … those things that you don’t take time to pray about or even might think this is too small a thing to bother God with. I can handle this on my own. God cares about even the small things.

When Paul said, “I can do all things, through Christ…” he was not exaggerating when he said ‘all’. Paul was acknowledging and giving praise to the God who is involved in the details.

God’s divine help is at work in the details of your life. Like Abraham’s servant, have you stopped to give Him the praise?

PLENTY LEFT OVER

You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.” For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

2nd Corinthians 9: 7-10

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 11/13/06

I am struck by the idea of having “plenty left over to share with others.” There have been seasons in my life when I had “plenty left over” financially and was able to give generously. At other times, things have been very tight. Those are times when I’ve had more month left than funds to cover it. You know … those times when you can’t make ends meet.

Even when things are tight, I encourage you to cheerfully give to God His tithe (tenth) and trust Him to supply your needs. He never comes short of His Word.

This may be a season in your life when He is asking you to give to others of your time or your talent while you wait for Him to increase your treasure. Your opportunity to do good can come in mysterious and unique ways if you will only be willing and make yourself available.

LOVING AND WISE

Epaphras, our much loved co-worker, was the one who brought you the Good News. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us in your place. He is the one who told us about the great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.

Colossians 1:7-9

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch Ministries - 11/09/06

Epaphras, the Apostle Paul’s co-laborer in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, reported back to Paul on the loving nature of the Colossians. When they embraced Jesus Christ as Savior, they obviously began to show great love to others. Knowing Jesus will do that to you. Think about your own life. Where are you living this out? Where are you making your faith come alive by showing love for others?

Paul was pleased with the report from his brother in the gospel. He asked God to add wisdom to the love that the Colossians were showing. Think for a moment about that prayer. Can we show love and be outside God’s will? Sure we can. Have you ever seen examples of love that cripples? Let me give you a couple examples. If your expression of love for a needy person is only a hand-out and not a help hand up, it may make them dependent. If your expression of love to an addicted family member is to continually be their safety net, you are not addressing their real need and risk becoming co-dependent. If your love for your child is to give them everything they cry out for, you fail to teach them the lessons of the value of hard work or being satisfied with what they have. You may cripple them for the life they face as adults.

Paul prayed that God would add wisdom to loving nature of the Colossians. We are approaching the season where there are many opportunities presented for believers to show their loving nature. I pray as you show love you will be filled with spiritual wisdom in your expression.

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:26-28

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

My Utmost for His Highest - 11/07/06

Let’s take a close look at what the Apostle Paul has to say about prayer offered to God by the Holy Spirit.

First, we see it has a purpose … “the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress.”

Second, the communication between God and the Holy Spirit is in a ‘language’ above our ability of expression.

Third, the Holy Spirit prays for us in tune with the heart and the will of God.

And finally, God responds to prayer of the Holy Spirit, working through our circumstances for the good of those who love Him. Yes, that could be for our good. It could also mean our distress is for the good of someone else God desires to bless.

We can trust the ultimate Prayer Warrior … the Holy Spirit … to pray the right thing!

REMINDER: Get out and vote today! God will work through you to put in place the ‘kings’ He has plans to use (Proverbs 21:1).  

DELIGHT IN GOD'S WORD

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 11/06/06

I was at a friend’s retirement celebration last night and his family and friends were telling the stories that they remembered about his life. One young man remembered being told by this godly man, “The scripture you love is the scripture you obey.” These words of encouragement had stayed with him across many years and trials.

The psalm poet speaks the same encouragement. Those who prosper in this life “…delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law.”

Do you delight in God’s Word? Is His Word hidden in your heart so you can think on it day and night? Most important … do you obey God’s Word? Do you put it into action, “…bearing fruit…” in spite of the (seasonal) changes you experience?

There is joy and prosperity for those who delight in God’s Word!

IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM

The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?” So Philip began with this same Scripture and then used many others to tell him the Good News about Jesus.

Acts 8:32-35

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 11/02/06

For the full context of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, see Acts 8:26-40.

Philip took the eunuch’s question about an Old Testament prophetic scripture and used the opportunity to share the “…Good News about Jesus”. That’s the neat thing about the Bible. In its entirety, it is God’s revelation to us of His plan for the salvation of mankind. That plan is all about Jesus. You can start anywhere and end up at the Cross.

At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the light;
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith, I received my sight;
And now I am happy all the day.    

HE WATCHES

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one.

Psalm 34:15-19

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 11/01/06

How we respond to the knowledge that God is an ‘omni’ God (omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent), depends on our relationship with Him. “Those who do right…” are comfortable with an all-knowing Father while “… those who do evil…” are made very nervous by the idea of the One who is all powerful. The God who is everywhere-present sees the actions of both the good and the bad.

I rejoice knowing that Father God is watching me because even when I mess up, I know He loves me. Not my mess … me!

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me!