30 Oct, 2010
Face it....
Face it….with Halloween fast approaching, you may be trying to figure out what costume to wear on Sunday. Perhaps you’ll be attending a party or maybe you’re still into going door to door and yelling “Trick or Treat!” Some people even love to dress up while giving out goodies to the little princesses and super heroes that ring their door bell after dark.
You probably have favorite costumes from your childhood. Did you ever go out on Halloween and FORGET what you were? Face it…..it’s kind of hard to do that when you’re dressed head to toe as something else.
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about facing ourselves in the mirror?
Are we being real Christians (Christ followers)? Do our lives measure up to the notes that bring the righteous life that God desires?
What filth and evil do you, and me, need to rid ourselves of?
When you look in the mirror, do see a child of God? Has the image become cloudy and unrecognizable as God’s chosen? Are you hearing AND doing?
Face it….then let the Holy Spirit examine your heart.
How can we connect today’s God’s Story scripture to our lives?
I have found as I go through life that it’s important to be transparent. It doesn’t mean we have to share every thought that comes into our mind or spill our guts to every person we meet. But we don’t have to be afraid to be who we are. There’s no need to wear a mask or pretend to be something that we’re not. And we definitely don’t want our friends to think we’re more spiritually grounded than we are or that we don’t struggle in areas.
As a follower of Christ, we are to be dressed in the full amour of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) each and every day. Begin to be more open and real with your friends. Share with them how the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is helping in the areas in which you need special attention. Face it…..we need Him just as much today as we did the day we surrendered our life to Him.
True friends challenge each other to grow and mature, socially and spiritually. When you’re honest and open up to them, they’ll be more willing to do the same.
What have you been masking or keeping secret? Have you been afraid that if your friends knew the ‘real’ you, they would not like you? Pray and ask God for wisdom on what and when to share. Your friends should know that you rely on Christ by the way that you talk, act, and live.
What friend will be your accountability partner? Ask them to hold you accountable and to check your status weekly, or daily if you feel you need that. Allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas in your life that you need to work on in order to continue growing in the Lord. Let’s face it….Halloween is just one day a year. And the only time we should be wearing masks.
29 Oct, 2010
Test Everything
Tests warned of cement troubles before BP blowout
WASHINGTON – Tests performed before the deadly blowout of BP's oil well in the Gulf of Mexico should have raised doubts about the cement used to seal the well, but the company and its cementing contractor used it anyway, investigators with the president's oil spill commission said Thursday.
Full Story: Click Here.
Story and Photo found at news.yahoo.com.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about testing things?
In Today's Story, ignoring test results led to massive devastation. In God's Story we are instructed to perform tests as well. Ignoring the results of those tests could also lead to devastation. Maybe not to large geographic areas, but to our own hearts. What are we suppose to test? Paul instructs us be careful about believing everything that is spoken by prophets, or those proclaiming God's Truth. Today, there are many people out there who claim to preach the truth, but in some cases, it doesn't quite match up with what God's Word really says. I love the way Eugene Peterson sums up today's scripture in the Message - "Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil."
If we are going to "Test Everything," then we need the answer key to this test. In this case, God's Story is that answer key. The only way we will know if something doesn't match up with God's Story is to KNOW God's Story. Spend some time in God's Story this weekend by reading the rest of 1 Thessalonians.
While you may be wise enough to discern what is truth and what isn't, some of your friends may not be as strong. Do you have a friend you have recently introduced to Jesus? Sometimes they are the most vulnerable to fall victim to those who are preaching something other than the truth. Get together with them over the weekend and talk about today's God's Story scripture. Offer to be a "sounding board" for them to come to if they have questions. Pray for and with your friend as they continue in their new journey with Jesus.
27 Oct, 2010
Everybody Poops!
(photo courtesy of Google Images)
I know, I know . . . TMI . . . but bear with me here. As a mother of an (almost) three year old and a six month old, I deal with poop, lots of it! So you can imagine how excited I was the other day when my toddler came to me and informed me that he was done with diapers and ready for "big boy underwear!" No more changing poopy diapers (at least his)? Yes, please! Fast forward a few days . . . while we've had one or two successes, there have been far more accidents to speak of. As I scrub wet spots out of my carpet, I try to remind myself that this will all pay-off in the long run and I've started wondering what God may want to teach me through the process. It's when I thought about a book that I recently read, Everybody Poops, by Taro Gomi, that it hit me.
I started thinking about the fact that, up until this point, when my son has messed his pants he's really only had three choices: 1) He could choose to sit in it, ignore the discomfort, and continue playing with his cars (an option picked most frequently until he experienced his first painful diaper rash!); 2) He could attempt to change himself (now wouldn't that be a sight!); 3) He could come to me, admit that his diaper is dirty, and then lay down and let me clean him up. Three options with three very different results, only one that would leave him smiling. That's when today's scripture verse came to mind.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
What does today's story and God's Story scripture teach us about dealing with our sin?
While we all poop (every one of us, no matter where we're from, how much money we have, or how influencial we are), the Bible says that we are also all sinners. We have all messed up and we all, like my children, have the same choices when it comes to dealing with our sins. Much of the time I think we default to one of the first two choices - we either try to ignore the mess we've gotten ourselves into, until we are forced to deal with it, or we think we can get ourselves out of it . . . which, usually only makes things an even bigger mess! Ultimately, if we want to be free from our sin, from the mess we've gotten ourselves into, we need God to clean us up and change our pants . . . uh . . . hearts! We must come before Him, admit our sins, and then humble ourselves before Him, lay our lives down, and allow God to clean up our hearts and change our lives.
How can I connect today's story and God's Story scripture to my life?
Is there sin in your life that you have just been sitting in, ignoring, and letting linger? Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can hide it (from yourself, your friends, and especially God)! No matter how much a child denies that he has a poopy diaper (because he's not ready to stop playing and let you change it), everyone around him can smell the stench! Don't go another day without dealing head-on with the mess/sin in your life! Come to God with it, confess the sin that is hindering your relationship with a Holy God, spiritually lay yourself down and His feet, and ask God to cleanse you.
How can I connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and my story to others?
Use today's story and illustrations to help your friends understand that sin does not discriminate, that we are all sinners: no matter who we are or what our sin looks like, we all sin, and we all need God's forgiveness and cleansing. Pray for your friends. Remember that only God can convict and change hearts, but you can pray that your friend(s) would be responsive to the Holy Spirit's leading.
26 Oct, 2010
The Jesus Way
Do you ever feel like you read the Bible, and the words go out of your head as quickly as they came in?
Do you ever struggle to make God's word alive in your life, in your every day dilemmas, in your commonplace thoughts?
It's true that translating God's word in a way that makes sense is sometimes difficult. But engaging in the process is worth the work!
Last night, over sixty middle school guys and girls put their heads together to try and make one passage of scripture relevant for their life. Here's the results:
Philippians 2:1-4 (MSG)
1 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 4 Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about the Jesus Way?
This scripture from Paul's letter to the Philippians gives practical instructions for daily living. The Message (the bible version used here) is a modern day translation that takes these ancient words and translates them to easy to understand language.
But we took it one step further, and modernized the language even more. Consider these "translations" from students:
"Don't make assumptions about your classmates. Get to know them for who they are, not worrying about what others say."
"Be proactive in inviting others in, in the lunchroom or to join you in an empty seat, without regard to whether they are popular or not."
"When you know someone is having a bad day, make sure you go out of your way to ask them how you can help."
"Don't push yourself to the front in order to get attention. Let others go first."
"Put yourself aside long enough to consider someone else's feelings."
How can I connect today's story scripture to my life?
Like this group of middle schoolers did, you can modernize an already-modern version of this passage. Take these four verses and rewrite them to represent the "Jesus Way" in your school. What would you take into consideration? How would you say people should be treated? What would be specific ways that would work in the specific culture of your school?
How can I connect God's story scripture and my story to others?
Take your re-written passage to your group of friends, your small group, or your youth group. Ask them to add to it to represent the "Jesus Way" for your life. And then, the hard question:
How are you doing in the Jesus Way? What can you do differently tomorrow or this week to follow the instructions found in Philippians? Ask God to give you the strength, courage and compassion to reach out to others with love, just as Jesus did.
25 Oct, 2010
In Hot Pursuit!
When you look at today's picture, what do you see?
Most likely, you just a few piles of leaves and some bare spots. Not our family. We see what turned into our backyard playground for the weekend. While most folks rake leaves into a big pile and jump in, we raked a maze paths through the leaves and played a game of tag ... but with a twist. I (Dad) started out as "it." Whoever I tagged then helped me pursue whoever else was left until everyone had been tagged. Talk about being in hot pursuit!
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about pursuing others?
"For Christ's love compels us." It is because of Jesus loves that we pursue others in order to introduce them to our friend Jesus. When you get right down to it, it isn't even us loving others in our life, it is the Father, loving them through us. The Heavenly Father at one time pursued us, most likely through someone close to us, whom He had already pursued, and "tagged." The message of Jesus death and resurrection is just way too important to not pursue others in order to introduce them to the One who can make all things new. Is the Father pursuing you today? Are you with Him in this maze of life, pursuing others to "tag" them for the Father?
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- In what areas of your life is the Father pursuing you today? Grab a journal or just some paper and write down the areas of your life you believe God is pursuing you.
- Thank God for the time in your life when His pursuit of you led to you no longer living for yourself, but for him who died for you and was raised again.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
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Is there someone in your everyday life you need to pursue more intentionally? Give them a call or send them a message today to set up a time to hang out sometime this week.
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Spend some time praying for that same friend, asking God to guide your steps as you pursue them with His Love.
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Ask a trusted adult in your life to pray for you as you pursue that friend to discover more of their story and ultimately, hope to connect them to God's Story.
22 Oct, 2010
Celebrate Kristi Day!
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On Monday, we were challenged in the DailyBide to set aside some time to celebrate what God has done in our lives. So did you? Our family did. We declared yesterday, "Celebrate Kristi Day" in our house. Kristi is my wife and we have a lot to celebrate, because a year ago last night our life changed.
It was a year ago that I took Kristi to the emergency room when she began loosing feeling in her legs. Both legs went totally numb. I wrote a DailyBide of our experience as we waited for the diagnosis. That diagnosis finally came. It was, as we had feared, a rare condition known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS has attacked the nerves in her right leg and Kristi still has almost no feeling below the knee on her right leg. She has, however, learned to walk and drive again (although not on interstate highways). Her condition could have been much, much worse than it actually was. We have spoken with serveral individuals who know someone who was in the hospital on life support for months due to GBS affecting the lungs. Considering Kristi struggles with asthma, this was our biggest concern. When we left the house that night, Kristi said good-bye to our three kids, not knowing when, or even if, she would see them again this side of heaven. But God stepped in, and in a big way. Kristi was home in just four days and the recovery process had begun.
6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
We have been faced with many questions over the last twelve months, but perhaps the most common question has been, "Will you keep getting better?" The answer, however, is always a "She should, but there are no guarantees." And there aren't. While many fully recover from GBS, some do not. While it would be great to have Kristi back to 100%, we are thankful, every day, that the GBS did not move higher than her waist, and it did, miraculously reverse very quickly. God's promise is that Kristi will be healed and restored to 100%, but not necessarily in this life. Where her leg is today in the recovery process might be as good as it gets. And her words, "We're okay with that."
On Monday, when you were challenged to set aside some time to celebrate and remember what God is doing in your life, did you? Maybe some of us reading this devotional wonder what there is to celebrate. Take it from us ... every day we have to be together and to live another day is a day to celebrate. So take some time this weekend and make a list of the ways that God has been working in your life this year. Then spend some time really thanking Him for all He has done.
- Do you have a friend who stuggles with the slow process of growing to be like Jesus? Encourage them today that the Father has promised to keep working in their heart and life.
- Grab some friends and let them in on your own celebration of what God has done. When they know how much you need Jesus in your life, doors can open for you to share more of your story and more of God's Story.
- One of the ways we celebrated Kristi was to have family and friends surprise her with note or a card in the mail this week. Try doing that for one of your friends who needs some encouragement sometime soon.
21 Oct, 2010
Be Blessed!
I’ve put it off long enough! As I sit at my computer working, or struggling on this devotional, I feel like I’ve stressed over what to say. Or maybe it’s how to say what I believe God wants me to say. Either way, I am going to trust that God will use the words that I write to bring Him glory and honor.
Early in September, I got an email that a very close friend’s step-son had committed suicide. Since that time, there have been no less than 5 other suicides that have been reported or made news, either locally or nationally. Each time my heart has hurt.
I remember the shock of hearing about Aaron and praying for his family as they struggled with their grief. At times, I cried myself to sleep asking God to give them strength. For our Heavenly Father to surround them and comfort them, hoping that the words I said to them would somehow make them feel better.
Nothing I said or did would bring Aaron back. I couldn’t rewrite the past. I could only be there for his mom, Lynette, and let her know that I loved her. To listen. And to grieve with her.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they
will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about being blessed?
When I read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), I notice that in order to get blessed, we need to be a blessing to others. I don’t believe in a ‘works’ salvation, meaning that you have to earn your way to heaven. But I do believe there are things that God wants AND commands us to do. Jesus mentioned several things that we should all do: be merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, meek. And to comfort. None of these are easy to fulfill, but fortunately we can get power from the Creator and the God of the Universe. We are blessed!
When I heard that Lynette’s son had killed himself, I wanted to help her. But what could I do? Nothing I said or did would bring Aaron back. I couldn’t rewrite the past. I could only be there for his family and let the know that I loved them. To listen. And to grieve with them.
Aaron’s mom served on our Youth for Christ board. Her youngest son, who just graduated from High School this past June was a part of our Campus Life group at our Impact Center. Lynette said she wished she had known about Youth for Christ when Aaron was younger because she knows it would have made a difference in his life.
Having Jesus in your life does make a difference. Life isn’t easy, and it’s not fair. Good and bad things happen to us. But we can rely on God. His Word teaches us that we should be blessings to those around us. And we will be blessed when going through trials when we allow God to shine through our lives so others may see HIM and glorify His name.
Do you know a friend who has had a suicide affect them? Pray for them. Offer comfort to those who are left behind. Be there for them. Listen to them. Cry with them.
Ask the Holy Spirit to provide opportunities for you to minister to those who are hurting (phone calls, texts, notes, offers to help run errands, make cookies, ect).
Have you or do you experience suicidal thoughts? Talk to a trusted adult (pastor, youth worker, parent, minister, teacher, or SOMEBODY! Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help.
Because of a memorial set up in Aaron’s name, our local YFC chapter is now going to offer a scholarship to our seniors who are going into ministry or making a difference in the lives of others in their community. We don’t want his life to be in vain. Our hope is that others will learn that Someone is there to help and there is Hope. And we are the body of Christ…..His hands extended to lift someone up today. Go and be Jesus to someone…..today…..tomorrow….and every day. Be a blessing to those in need.
20 Oct, 2010
Unmistakable Glory
What an incredible picture this is! The photographer, Jay Fine, spent two hours at Battery Park City, Manhatten, NY, snapping picture after picture, in anticipation of the "perfect" shot. After shooting nearly 80 pictures, he finally captured this awe-inspiring shot of a lightening bolt hitting the Stature of Liberty, on September 22, 2010. According to the BBC News, "[Fine] had been waiting 40 years to get the picture."
(www.bbc.co.uk)
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Psalm 66:1-4
Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about taking notice of and praising God?
Over and over again, throughout scripture, we see God use His creation to show His Power and Glory. It's difficult for me to look at the picture above and not be filled with awe and wonder of God - the One who, among so many other things, spoke the heavens in to place, put every star in the sky, and commanded the trees to grow (Genesis 1). While the photographer had to wait 40 years for this incredible portrait to present itself so he could capture it on film, God has been revealing Himself through His creation since the beginning of time - He wants us to see Him, to experience Him through it, and to praise Him!
Ever heard the phrase, "Take time to stop and smell the roses?" Today, more than ever, our lives are filled with distractions and noise. Between cell phones, iPods, radios, TVs, DVRs, video games, and the internet, most of us never have our eyes up and off a screen long enough to even notice the changing of seasons, let alone the incomparable beauty that surrounds us. If you're anything like me, you probably take for granted, not just Creation but, all that God wants to show us about Himself throughout the day - people, situations, struggles, things that point us to Him - and, if you're missing that, you're also missing an opportunity to praise Him and bring Him glory.
How can we connect God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Take time throughout your day to intentionally notice God in your surroundings and praise Him for all the places you see Him at work.
- Use your prayer time today to praise God for who He is - it may be a challenge for you to do, but resist asking Him for anything during this time. Simply praise Him and glorify His name. Tell Him of all the places you saw reflections of God today, thank Him, and give Him the glory.
- Ask God to make you more aware and sensetive to the things that reflect the image of God, so that you can continue to be in awe of Him, who He is, and what He does.
How can we connect today's picture, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
- Talk to your friends about all the ways you see God working in your life and the incredible things you see around you that you know reflect the image of God. Ask them what they think and talk to them about what those things teach you about the nature and character of God.
- Always let God get the glory! When you see a rainbow, a bolt of lightening, stars in the sky, a gorgeous sunsetetc., point them out to others and use it as an opportunity to help them see how glorious He truly is! Chances are, if you've been taking it for granted, your friends who don't know God have as well!
19 Oct, 2010
The Purpose of Limitations
Launching himself from a 12-foot vertical drop, he raced full speed to the other side of the bowl, planted his hand on the edge, and dropped back down.
"Man, that feels good," Aaron, known to the locals as "Wheelz," said as he skidded to a stop. "I don't think any drug in the world could top that. I love adrenaline."
Aaron doesn't just fit in with the other teenage daredevils skating and biking at this park, he routinely outdoes them by pulling off stunts like hand plants and heart-stopping back flips.
Aaron's talent at the skate park isn't the only thing setting him apart from his skating buddies. He's different in one very crucial way. Aaron is in a wheelchair.
Story taken from Yahoo.com
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (MSG)
Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"?
That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have - right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start - comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about limitations?
Aaron Fotheringham is a picture of how God can use limitations to shame the strong. Did you know that the name Aaron comes from the Hebrew, meaning "mountain of strength?" I wonder how strong the Aaron shown in the picture above felt as a child facing a life of struggle. I wonder if he dreamed of being free of his limitations so he could go out and conquer the world. But I also wonder if Aaron, free of these struggles, would be just another kid with a skateboard.
But because--not in spite of--because of his limitations, he has become a pioneer in his sport and an inspiration for so many.
Have you ever considered that God wants to use your limitations for his good?
In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about how God wants to use our limitations. Our own weaknesses, mess-ups, and troubles can be the very things that shine his glory. I don't understand why that's his way, but I do know one thing--it works. Maybe when life comes easy for us--we have good grades, great athletics, and perfect hair days--we just don't need very much faith. Think about this: what is your response when someone who seems to "have it all together" offers you advice? If you are anything like me, you think to yourself, "easy for you to say!!"
But when someone like Aaron gives a message of encouragement, we tend to listen. We can tell by looking at Aaron that life has presented some challenges. And that gives us courage to face our own challenges.
Your limitations may be only visible from the inside-out. But God sees and knows. He knows how he has made you, and he wants to use you--not despite your limitations--but through your limitations.
How can we connect God's story Scripture to our lives?
- Are you aware of your limitations? Do you tend to be impatient or insecure? Do you judge or criticize? Do you tend to be moody? Do you feel inferior? Good news: God can use that!
- God promises that "his power is made perfect in our weakness." Pray that God might give you strength to trust in his power, rather than your own.
- Remember that when God answers a prayer in your life, when he uses you despite your limitations, he wants you to "boast in him alone."
How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, and our story to others?
- Sometimes we can all think God only uses the strong. Share today's scripture with a friend or family member, or post it in your room or car. This scripture is a powerful reminder that God WANTS and WILL work in our weakness!
- Be honest and open about your own limitations. Sometimes as Christians we want to "have it all together" as a testimony to God. But God clearly says here that a testimony to him is to boast in how we DON'T have it together--and that He is the one who gets the glory.
- Encourage someone who struggles today: look for someone who works hard in school but gets nominal grades or someone who you know has a rough family situation. God often uses us to be his light and power in the world. Don't miss the opportunity to tell someone that you are inspired by who they are.
18 Oct, 2010
A Time To Remember
Chilean miners return to site for service
Many said fight for survival brought them closer to God
About a dozen of the miners rescued in Chile returned to the San Jose mine Sunday for a private ecumenical service with friends and family.
The miners and their families made a pilgrimage to Camp Hope to sing and pray together, bringing some closure to what many believe was a miraculous event.
Omar Reygadas, the 17th miner to be rescued, said he came to see where his son kept a vigil while he was trapped underground.
"I have always said the true heroes are the families who stayed here and the faith that they had," he said in Spanish.
Many miners said their fight for survival brought them closer to God — and to the brink of despair.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/10/17/chile-miners-pinera-london.html
Story and Photo from news.google.com.
19The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' 22then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
Check out what the Tyndale's Life Application Study Bible has to say about today's God's Story scripture ...
The memorial of 12 stones was to be a constant reminder of the day the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. Their children would see the stones, hear the story, and learn about God. Do you have traditions - special dates or special places - to help your children learn about God's work in your life? Do you take time to tell them what God has done for you
- forgiving and saving you, answering your prayers, supplying your needs? Retelling your story will help keep memories of God's faithfulness alive in your family.
I realize that there are very few who are reading this who have children, but we all have people in our life with whom you have been sharing Your Story and God's Story. Setting aside time to celebrate and remember those "God Moments" is something we often neglect. So why not consider doing something special with family and/or friends to remember what God has done in your lives.
Do you have special day's in your life that you have set aside to remember what God has done? Think back over the time you have been walking with Jesus. What are some key moments that you know he was working in you? Thank Him for those times today and talk with your family about setting aside some time to celebrate what God has done.
Do you have a friend (or some friends) who have obviously been growing in their connection to God's Story? Talk with them about doing something to celebrate what God is doing or has done in their life.
15 Oct, 2010
New Life!
Chile miners start new lives, adjust to freedom
COPIAPO, Chile – The Chilean miners began their unfamiliar new lives as national heroes Thursday and got a taste of what awaits them outside the hospital doors — a swarm of reporters, TV producers, publicity agents and even soccer teams all desperate for a piece of their story.
A day after their epic rescue, still wearing the oddly fashionable sunglasses that protected them from the bright light when they were hoisted from 2,000 feet underground, the men posed in hospital bathrobes for a group photo with President Sebastian Pinera.
Unity helped the men, known as "los 33," survive for 69 days underground, including more than two weeks when no one knew whether they were alive.
But the moment they walk out the hospital doors, they'll go beyond the reach of a government operation that has cared for, fed and protected them in a carefully coordinated campaign to ensure each of them would leave in top condition.
"Now they're going to have to find their equilibrium and take care of themselves," the hospital chaplain, the Rev. Luis Lopez, told The Associated Press.
They got quite the preview Thursday of what lies ahead. On their first full day of fresh air, the miners were probably the 33 most in-demand people on the planet.
Read the Full Story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101015/ap_on_en_tv/lt_chile_mine_collapse
Story and Photo found at http://news.yahoo.com.
Romans 6:1-14 (New Living Translation)
Sin’s Power Is Broken
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 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.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about our new life in Jesus?
The stories of the Chilean miners have been all over the news this week. In a long awaited effort, the rescue efforts began and, within a few days, the miners were rescued. In Today's Story we read that they "were probably the 33 most in-demand people on the planet." Why? Because EVERYONE wants to hear their story. There will be all kinds of questions. Questions about their life while they were trapped in the mine. Questions about what they plan to do now, with a new lease on life. They have a story and they have a new life.
According to today's God's Story scripture so do we! When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, we are not just given a new lease on life, we are given a new life. We are no longer trapped in a sinful life, buried beneath the rubble of hurt and shame. We have been spiritually raised from the dead, into new life in Christ. And we have a story.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to my life?
- Thank God for your new life in Jesus.
- Re-read today's God's Story scripture and reflect on all that God has done in you since you met Jesus.
- Ask God to reveal any area of your life that you haven't given to Him ... give Him control over those areas of your life today.
- Read more about our "Freedom to Obey God" in the rest of Romans 6.
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to others?
Do you have a friend who is still buried beneath the rubble of a life filled with sin? Start talking about the story of the Chilean miners. Listen for ways that you might be able to tie in parts of your story, or better yet, parts of God's Story. Be prepared to let your friend in on how much you need and depend on Jesus in your new life in him. And don't forget to faithfully pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the life of your friend to draw him or her to Jesus.
14 Oct, 2010
Hide and Seek
Today’s Story:
Police: Suspect Tries to Escape on Lawn Mower
Story Excerpt and Picture Courtesy of AOL.com Getaway cars are supposed to be fast. And they're supposed to be cars. Those two facts apparently eluded a Florida man, who police say attempted to evade arrest by riding a slow-moving lawn mower.Sheriff's deputies in Hillsborough County were searching a house for stolen property when they got a tip that one of the suspects, identified as Charles McDaniel, was trying to make his escape nearby, according to TampaBay.com. When most people think of a getaway vehicle, a lawn mower isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But police say that didn't stop Florida resident Charles McDaniel from getting behind the wheel of his grass-cutter and trying to give officers the slip on Wednesday. He was arrested not far from his home. Officers reportedly found McDaniel, 25, not far from his home attempting to flee on a ride-on mower. Police cuffed McDaniel, who allegedly chucked a stolen .38-caliber pistol into a ditch on the side of the road before his arrest. McDaniel has been charged with theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and being felon in possession of a firearm.
He should also be charged with poor planning, according to Bobby Cleveland (pictured above), the man who holds the world record for reaching the fastest speed on a lawn mower. Lawn mowers aren't good getaway vehicles. Cleveland told AOL News that there are few escape vehicles slower than a store-bought mower. "You could get it to about 7 or 8 miles per hour -- max," said Cleveland, who last week shattered existing speed records when his souped-up mower reached 96.529 mph on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.
But getting a lawn mower to that kind of speed takes a great deal of work on the engine and transmission, not to mention a great deal of skill behind the wheel. Store-bought grass-cutters just aren't built to be elusive, he said. "It's not an escape vehicle," he said. "You're sitting up there too high, so there's nowhere to hide. And they're just a little too slow."
Even if McDaniel had managed to initially evade authorities on his mower, the vehicle could have left behind thousands of little clues that would have led police right to him, Cleveland said. "All the grass clippings would be a giveaway."
Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about running or trying to flee from God? It doesn’t matter if you’re on a souped-up lawn mower or your average 7-8 mph mower, God still knows where you are. High or low, near or far, dark or light – God’s Hand is still there to guide us and hold us steady.
How can we connect God's Story Scripture to our lives?
When’s the last time you played Hide and Seek? Perhaps you’ve been playing the game more recently than you thought. Have you been hiding (or trying to flee) from God? Think about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. After they had sinned, they hid from God. Kind of silly, wasn’t it? God knew where they were. But we’re kind of silly, too. We think we can hide our sins from God, or that He won’t care if we tell a ‘little white lie’ or gossip. But He not only cares, He sees. He knows. We can run, but we can’t hide. And even though that sounds scary, it’s comforting that even when we’re at our ugliest, and have sinned, God still seeks us out. He loves us to much to let us be lost in sin.- Is there unconfessed sin in your life that you’ve been trying to hide from the Lord? Confess it and ask Him to forgive you.
- We may think that we’re good at playing Hide and Seek, but our friends can tell when we’re disconnected from the Vine.
- Are you hiding the truth of God with your friends or seeking opportunities to tell them what He’s doing in your life?
- Use today’s story to share how God knows everything about us and yet still loves us all the same. Share the story of Adam & Eve (Genesis 2 & 3)
13 Oct, 2010
A Bold Request
After actor Johnny Depp (who played Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies) received a heartfelt letter from nine year old, Beatrice Delap, in London, he was moved to respond in person. Perhaps it was what the young girl asked for that got Depp's attention and prompted action:
"We are a bunch of budding young pirates and we were having a bit of trouble mutiny-ing against the teachers, and we'd love if you could come and help."
To everyone's surprise, Mr. Depp, who was working in the area at the time, filming the "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," gave just 10 minutes notice and then showed up at Delap's school.
According to the article on Yahoo News, "Depp, holding the letter, called Delap up to the front and hugged her but he dashed any thoughts of a rebellion. 'Maybe we shouldn't mutiny today because there are police outside monitoring me,' Depp, a father of two, was quoted as saying.Luke 11:9-13
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about asking God for things?
In the passage just before these verses, Jesus tells the story of a man who, with boldness, goes to a friend in the middle of the night and asks for a favor. While the friend does help out the man, the only reason he does so is only because of how bold the man was in his request: he did not allow the time of day or the request to intimidate him or keep him from asking the favor. God wants us to come to Him for everything, to be able to ask Him, boldly, for that which we need and even want, and to trust in faith that He is able to make it happen. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do way more than anything we could even imagine, if only we would be bold enough to ask and have the faith enough to believe.
I don't know if the young girl who wrote to Johnny Depp even thought he would read the letter, much less respond to it in person, but her request (albeit, strange) was something she felt strongly enough about to ask.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Do you ever not talk to God about things or ask Him for something because you think it's "too big," "too little," or just "too insignificant?" Or maybe, when you finally get around to bringing it up to God, you dance around the issue? You know your conversation goes something like this:
"Umm, God. I have this thing I kind of wanted to talk to you about. See, I . . . well, I kind of was hoping you might be willing to maybe do this thing for me . . . I mean, if you're not too busy . . . "
God tells us to just ask - to be bold in our asking, knowing that He hears us! Is there something (or some person) in your life that you have been praying for and not seeing any change in? It can get discouraging, but God is calling us to be persistent and bold as we approach Him in prayer. Keep asking, keep "knocking" on that door, and keep seeking Him! He cares for you, even more than your closest family and friends, and He WILL respond in awe-inspiring ways!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
- As God lays names of people on your heart who need to know the love of Christ, pray boldly for their souls. Be specific and persistent in your prayers. Claim the promise that God gives us in Luke 11:10 and wait for Him to move.
- Talk to others about the incredible things you see God doing in your life through prayer. Share specific circumstances that you sought God on, and share the ways in which He showed up.
12 Oct, 2010
When Faith Gets Hard
Copiapo, Chile (CNN) -- Cheering "Viva Chile," workers early Monday completed the installation of steel tubing to reinforce the path that will be used to bring 33 trapped miners to the surface.
About 96 meters of sheet metal was put in place to line the tunnel that was bored four-tenths of a mile into the Earth, according to Jeff Hart, operations manager for Layne Christensen Co., who has been in Chile advising workers on the drilling and casing operations.
The casing has a lip that holds it in place at the surface, and hangs down into the hole to serve as a buffer between the rescue capsule and the walls of the shaft, he said.
The work was the final step before the extraction of the miners can begin, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said Sunday.
If all goes according to plan, the first of the miners could be pulled from the mine as early as Wednesday, he said. But the health and safety of the miners remained the top priority, he added.
Given their circumstances, the miners, who have been trapped since August 5, are in "very good" health, Health Minister Jaime Manalich said. Their spirits also remain high, he said.
Officials have said that the most technically adept miners will be the first to ascend the rescue shaft in case any problems arise. Next will be those with health concerns like diabetes or heart conditions. The miners judged to be emotionally strongest will go last.
When he told the miners through video conference that they would have to choose an order to be rescued in, there was no shortage of volunteers to go last, Manalich said.
"They continue to have an admirable attitude," he said...Continue reading full story & see videos at CNN.com.
God's Story: Romans 5:2-5
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about perseverance?
As unpopular as it is, God's Story is full of hardship. The writer of Romans, Paul, talks about the benefit of hardship in our lives. His story is full of it! In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes:
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)
That's a ton of hardship. When we read what Paul wrote to the Romans, we need to remember that this is a guy who faced incredible troubles in his desire to talk about Christ. When he says that sufferings produce character, this is coming from a guy who really knows.
How can we connect God's Story Scripture to our lives?
The men trapped in the mine in Chile, the apostle Paul, AND you and I do--and will--face hardship in life. How will you let it be used?
Most of the time, we don't rejoice in hardship. We moan, groan, whine, cry and demand that we get out of it. The truth is, I would always choose the easy way over the hard way, and the most difficult periods of my life? I wouldn't wish those on anyone! But when I look back over those times, I realize that God was shaping my character in a way that would never come out of "easy" times of life.
- Have you faced difficult times? Have you ever noticed what good came out of those times?
- If you are in a difficult season now, read the Romans passage and ask God to show you what he's doing in your life.
- Resolve today to let difficult seasons shape your character into something stronger.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, and our story to others?
- Do you have friends in difficult times? Do you ever wonder how to help?
- If yes, know that being present with someone in difficulty is one of the best things you can do. Be a friend. Listen. Don't judge or try to fix it, but be willing to pray and write or text an encouraging note or scripture.
- Knowing how God has shaped you in a difficult season is one thing you can offer a friend who's hurting. By sharing your story, you share hope.
11 Oct, 2010
Lingering Effects
Toxic coal sludge pollutes Ky. town 10 years later
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In parts of eastern Kentucky, the pictures [like the one below] coming out of Hungary of the red sludge that roared from a factory's reservoir, downstream into the Danube River, are all too reminiscent of what happened a decade ago this week.
A layer of dark goo still sits under a creekbed on Glenn Cornette's land, the leftovers from when a coal company's sprawling slurry pond burst, blackening 100 miles of waterways and polluting the water supply of more than a dozen communities before the stuff reached the Ohio River.
A torrent as wide as a football field and 6 feet deep covered Cornette's property in Martin County, near the West Virginia line about 175 miles east of Louisville. It killed all manner of plants and cut off his access to the street.
"It just looked like pudding or something," Cornette said recently.
With seven dead so far and at least 120 injured, the 184-million-gallon spill of toxic muck from a Hungarian alumina plant has already proven more dangerous than what's known as the Inez (eye-NEHZ') disaster.
But the mess in Kentucky was considerably bigger — some 300 million gallons of slurry, a byproduct of purifying coal, oozed into yards and streams for miles in what was considered one of the South's worst environmental disasters at the time.
And a decade later, its effects linger.
Click here for full story.
Story and Photo courtesy of http://news.yahoo.com.
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Does today's scripture make you scratch your head a little? Does it sound like the same, forgiving Father that we read about in other parts of God's Story? Check out what the Life Application Study Bible notes have to say about today's scripture ...
Why would sins affect grandchildren and great-grandchildren? This is no arbitrary punishment. Children still suffer for the sins of their parents. Consider child abuse or alcoholism, for example. While these sins are obvious, sins like selfishness and greed can be passed along as well. The dire consequences of sin are not limited to the individual family member. Be careful not to treat sin casually, but repent and turn from it. The sin may cause you little pain now, but it could sting in amost tender area of your life later - your children and grandchildren.
- Do you know the areas of your life in which you are most tempted to sin? Have you taken a look back into your family tree to see if, perhaps, others before you struggled in the same areas?
- Do you find yourself having to deal with consequences from the sin of a parent or grandparent? Ask God for the wisdom and patiencet to stay faithful in your own journey with Jesus.
- Is there something buried in your past that you are trying to hide, cover up, or ignore? Does that same sin keep coming to the surface to remind you of your old way of living? Give it to God once more and ask him to be your strength.
- Thank God for His faithfulness and His promise to be with us in the midst of our crazy mixed up lives.
- Do you have a friend who is trying to follow Christ, but they come from a rough family situation? Pray for them this week to remain strong in the midst of the struggles at home.
- Do you have a family member who has buried something in their past, afraid to deal with it? Ask God to give you the strength and courage to talk with that family member about the love and forgiveness that only God can give. Remind them the He won't fix every consequence, but He sure will mend their spiritual heart.
8 Oct, 2010
Our Views of God
Americans' views of God shape attitudes on key issues
If you pray to God, to whom — or what — are you praying?
When you sing God Bless America, whose blessing are you seeking?
In the USA, God — or the idea of a God — permeates daily life. Our views of God have been fundamental to the nation's past, help explain many of the conflicts in our society and worldwide, and could offer a hint of what the future holds. Is God by our side, or beyond the stars? Wrathful or forgiving? Judging us every moment, someday or never?
Surveys say about nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, but the way we picture that God reveals our attitudes on economics, justice, social morality, war, natural disasters, science, politics, love and more, say Paul Froese and Christopher Bader, sociologists at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Their new book, America's Four Gods: What We Say About God — And What That Says About Us, examines our diverse visions of the Almighty and why they matter.
Froese and Bader's research wound up defining four ways in which Americans see God:
•The Authoritative God. When conservatives Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck proclaim that America will lose God's favor unless we get right with him, they're rallying believers in what Froese and Bader call an Authoritative God, one engaged in history and meting out harsh punishment to those who do not follow him. About 28% of the nation shares this view, according to Baylor's 2008 findings.
•The Benevolent God. When President Obama says he is driven to live out his Christian faith in public service, or political satirist Stephen Colbert mentions God while testifying to Congress in favor of changing immigration laws, they're speaking of what the Baylor researchers call a Benevolent God. This God is engaged in our world and loves and supports us in caring for others, a vision shared by 22% of Americans, according to Baylor's findings.
•The Critical God. The poor, the suffering and the exploited in this world often believe in a Critical God who keeps an eye on this world but delivers justice in the next, Bader says. Bader says this view of God — held by 21% of Americans — was reflected in a sermon at a
working-class neighborhood church the researchers visited in Rifle, Colo., in 2008. Pastor Del Whittington's theme at Open Door Church was " 'Wait until heaven, and accounts will be settled.' "
•The Distant God. Though about 5% of Americans are atheists or agnostics, Baylor found that nearly one in four (24%) see a Distant God that booted up the universe, then left humanity alone.
The national conversation about God, Bader says, is "much richer than showdowns between screaming evangelicals and screaming atheists. This is the way we tell the stories of the world around us."
Click here for Full Story
Photo and Story found at www.usatoday.com.
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
So what is your view of God? Unfortunately, I'm setting you up for a wrong answer by, in all honesty, asking the wrong question. The problem with forming "our own view" about God is that it is just that, "our" view. What we need to do is begin with the God's Story and allow God's very own Word to reveal His charater to us. When we form our own view, we read the Bible through very different lenses. What we read is shaped by what we have already pre-conceived in our thoughts. But when we read God's Story in the context of an Abiding relationship with Jesus - who is the way, the truth, and the life - we begin to know God and His true character.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
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Spend some time this weekend digging a little deeper into God's Story.
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Ask God to allow His Story to shape your view of God, rather than allowing your experience to shape your view of Him.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- Do you have a friend whose view of God falls into one of the descriptions in Today's Story? Spend some time with them this weekend and dig a little deeper into Their Story. Set out to discover what it is in Their Story that has shaped their view of God.
- Do you have a friend with whom you've been sharing your story and God's Story? Get together with them this weekend and dig a little deeper into God's Story together. Pray with them, asking God to shape your views of Him through His Story.
7 Oct, 2010
Oh, Grow Up!
Where Is World's First 'Test Tube' Baby Now?
Photo Courtesy AP / Story Excerpt Courtesy of AOL.com By the time she was born, she was already famous, and she's been trying to live that down ever since. On July 25, 1978, weighing in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces, Louise Joy Brown entered the world on videotape, her birth recorded for posterity because she had just become the world's first "test tube" baby. Her parents, Lesley and John, had been struggling to have a child for nine years when they turned in desperation to a little-known procedure called in vitro fertilization.Reporters from around the world descended on Oldham General Hospital in Greater Manchester, England, trying to catch a glimpse of the first baby conceived outside the womb. So intense was the media and scientific debate surrounding her birth that doctors filmed the Caesarean section that delivered Louise to prove that her mother's fallopian tubes were, in fact, not present. In July 2008, British physiologist Robert Edwards, left (in the picture above), attends the 30th anniversary of the world's first "test tube" fertilization baby, Louise Joy Brown, right, shown holding her son, Cameron. Next to her is her mother, Lesley Brown. Edwards, who developed test tube fertilization, has received the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine.
Brown is now 32, with a child of her own -- 3-year-old Cameron, conceived the old-fashioned way and delivered the same. She has tried to live quietly, working as a postal clerk and then for a shipping company, but she is constantly revisited by reporters who've noted everything from her birthdays, to giving birth, to today's announcement that scientist Robert G. Edwards had received the Nobel Prize for helping develop the laboratory process that gave her life.
"It's fantastic news. Me and mum are so glad that one of the pioneers of IVF has been given the recognition he deserves," Brown said today in a statement released by her and her mother. "We hold Bob in great affection and are delighted to send our personal congratulations to him and his family at this time."
Being the first such child has been a mixed blessing, Brown has said over the years. At times during her childhood, she felt "completely alone," the BBC reported in a 2003 profile. "I thought it was something peculiar to me. I thought I was abnormal." At age 4, her parents showed her the video of her birth, in which a squawling, tiny Louise is pulled from her mother's stomach and held before a camera that captured her being weighed, cleaned and swaddled in a blanket.
"I think it was just in case children at school knew, because children can be quite cruel. I think it was to say I was the same as everybody else, but just a little bit different, she told Britain's Daily Mail in 2008. She grew accustomed to questions from schoolmates such as "how did you fit into a test tube?" She patiently explained that she was not born in a laboratory.
What does God's Story scripture teach us today about infants?
Ever seen a hungry baby? They don’t stop eating until they’re full. Just try and take away their bottle while they’re still drinking – you’ll get an earful! When we first come to know Jesus as our Best Friend, we are usually excited and can’t wait to spend time with him so we can grow in our spiritual walk. Eventually, however, we find ourselves falling into bad habits, or maybe even sinning (being hateful, jealous, or having malicious behavior). We must stay focus and feed on the Lord’s Word to continue to grow.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
My daughter Emily is about to turn 6. In fact, today is the last day she’ll be 5. And she’s already looking forward to turning 7! I can’t believe she’s growing up so fast. As cute and sweet as she was as an infant, I am glad she’s not still a baby. I don’t have to buy diapers, worry about lost pacifiers, get up in the middle of the night to feed her or carry her around. She runs (faster than me sometimes!), ties her own shoes, knows how to count over 100 (by 1’s, 5’s and 10’s), and is reading by herself very proficiently. And it’s because she has continued to crave the food that makes her strong and healthy.
Want to hear of something that is even more of a blessing for me? I was able to pray with Emily when she asked Jesus into her heart. She is sincere in her prayers. We do devotions together every night and she has total faith in the Lord. My prayer for her, as she turns 6, is that she’ll be closer to the Lord this year than she was this past. Just as I want her to grow physically, I don’t want her to be a spiritual baby, either.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
Share with an unsaved friend how God has helped you grow spiritually. You’re not perfect (me, neither!), but you can let them know where God is stretching and using you more now than when you first came to know him. By showing them that you are still working on your relationship, they will see that you are real and honest.
Ask a trusted friend to pray with you in areas you need to grow and offer to do the same for them. Confess your weaknesses to God and your prayer partner. Keep a prayer journal so you can see how God is answering your requests and helping you grow in your spiritual journey.
The next time you see a baby, pray for those who are new in their faith. Remember: you don’t want to be an infant in Christ when you can continue to grow spiritually in Him.
6 Oct, 2010
A Laundry List of Sin
The picture above was taken last night in my living room. I decided it was time to stop ignoring the growing piles of dirty clothes in our closets and face the overwhelming task of doing laundry. It's definitely not one of my favorite things to do (not even close) and, as much as I try to deny that the piles even exist, there comes a time when I just have to face it (you know, when someone in the family runs out of clean socks or underwear)! There are stains that need to be treated, colors that need to be sorted, and, when it's all done, everything needs to be folded and put away - it seems neverending, and will take me at least a couple days to get it all done! I suppose the laundry would seem more approachable if I actually dealt with it on a daily basis, treated the stains right when they happened, and tackled one load per day. Maybe . . . one day . . . I'll get there . . .
1 John 1:8-9
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confes our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about dealing with sin?
Does your relationship with God ever feel distant? Sometimes, when you pray, do you feel like God is a little "unapproachable?" Although these feelings may be real, true, and valid, it's not because God has walked away from you, or forgotten about you, it's more likely that you have walked away from God. The problem isn't God, it's sin. The Bible tells us that sin is something we all struggle with and all of us, at some point, will be forced to face it and deal with it. No matter how much we try to ignore sin or deny that we have it in our lives, it exists and, like the laundry, it will pile up until we choose to wave the white flag and surrender. The good news is that we serve a God who is just waiting to forgive and purify His children, as long as we choose to come to Him and repent. The problem comes when we deny our sin, when we fail to admit that we even struggle with it, or when we refuse to deal with it, because it is then that we deny God, His grace, and our need for a Savior.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Are there things in your life that you have kept hidden away in the closet of your heart? Sin that has piled up for a while and is creating a stink in your life? Commit today to face it . . . to sort through it, bring it to God, and let Him deal with it. While it may take days to deal with the stinky laundry, when you confess your sins to God and choose to repent from them, His forgiveness is immediate.
Take some time right now to stop reading and pray. Ask God to search your heart and to bring to mind anything that may be hindering your relationship with Him (read Ps. 139:23). Confess any sin that God brings to mind and trust Him for forgiveness. Take time, daily, to confess your sin to Christ, instead of allowing it to pile up and affect your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Don't be afraid to share your struggles with your friends, especially when you can share about God's forgiveness and grace! If there is ever a way to share the Gospel, it's through those times when God shows up and works a miracle through our mess-ups! Pray for your friends who may be in a state of denial when it comes to their sin. Pray that God would convict their hearts of any wrong-doings so that your friends would see their need for a Savior, and ultimately surrender to Him.
5 Oct, 2010
Forfeiting Grace
This summer my son played his first soccer tournament. His little team of first graders went in with high hopes: win this tournament and they could go to Disneyworld! Truth is, they'd have to win the next tournament and five more before they'd be on a plane to Florida, but no matter. They were so excited about the word "Disneyworld" that they couldn't hear the rest of the information.
After squeaking out a win and then getting pummelled by a team much bigger, faster, and more skillful than them, the boys saw the reality of the situation. They stopped talking Disney and started talking pizza after the tournament, with hopes for a win in their last game.
When the last game was scheduled to begin, the boys jogged out to the field. They looked around: no opposing team. Their faces went from shock to surprise as they began to whoop it up. If the other team didn't show up, they would forfeit. The opponent's forfeit would count as a win!
The team did end up showing up just in time, and the battle for fifth place was dramatic. But that story sticks in my mind as I consider the idea of "forfeiting" grace.
Jonah 2:6-9 (NIV)
But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. 7 When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about grace?
The story of Jonah is an amazing picture of God's grace. In the story, God calls Jonah to do something that he really doesn't want to do--go to a new place, to people he doesn't like, to preach about God's mercy and love. Jonah tries to escape the situation by running from God but gets a wake-up call: God is always present and active in our lives.
When God uses a huge storm and a great fish to "catch" Jonah, we get a front-row seat to Jonah's response. Jonah says "those that cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Even though Jonah followed God, there were things he would cling to that kept him from following God's commands. Time alone in the belly of that fish reminded Jonah of just what he "forfeited" by running after other things.
How can we connect today's God Story Scripture to our lives?
If you've ever felt like following God was about following rules, think again. In Jonah 2:8, we get a picture of grace standing arms open, ready to engage in a relationship. It's "those that cling to worthless idols" that forfeit the chance for that relationship. When we "cling" to other things, we just don't show up for God. We don't feel his love, peace and grace because we forfeit it. We don't show up.
What are some "worthless idols" in your life? Is it searching for significance in grades, sports, friendships? Is it a boy/girlfriend? Is it constantly craving attention? Consider this idea: when you cling to those things, you "don't show up" for God's grace.
If you have worthless idols in your life vying for your attention, ask God to help you stop clinging to them. Let go of those things and let yourself experience God's grace to the full.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, and our story to others?
Understanding grace is a tough thing. We are so used to life being about performance and "measuring up." Making grace tangible in your own life is important if you are to share it with your friends. When you realize that God just wants us to "show up" for grace, it's easier to understand the relationship he offers us and our friends. If you've ever talked to a friend who doesn't want to come to church or begin a relationship with God because they aren't "good" enough, share with them the story of Jonah!
4 Oct, 2010
Jericho
Ancient tree to help turn Jericho into tourism hub
JERICHO, West Bank (AP) — With a giant trunk and boughs towering 60 feet high, a gnarled sycamore near Jericho's main square has long been touted as the very tree that the hated tax collector climbed to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Now it's taking center stage in a plan to transform this ancient desert backwater into a tourism hub.
The tree, once tucked obscurely away on a side street, is a featured attraction of a Russian-funded museum complex to be unveiled this month as part of Jericho's 10,000th birthday celebrations.
At the Oct. 10 launch of yearlong festivities, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will outline ambitious plans for Jericho, a Jordan Valley oasis that bills itself as the world's oldest and lowest-lying town, at some 780 feet below sea level.
"This is to promote Palestine as a destination," Palestinian Tourism Minister Khouloud Daibes said of the venture, which includes a resort to be built on the shores of the nearby Dead Sea.
The Palestinians even hope for an airport in the area, though both projects hinge on Israeli approval.
The plans reflect the Abbas government's approach of building a Palestinian state from the ground up, regardless of the ups and downs of negotiations with Israel. Such pragmatism grew out of painful years of conflict, especially in the past decade, when Palestinians across the West Bank saw many economic gains wiped out.
The road leading into Jericho still bears witness to the scars of the fighting, but also fledgling signs of prosperity.
It's now a four-lane highway instead of a potholed country road, and an Israeli army checkpoint that used to snarl traffic and deter visitors has been removed because of a growing atmosphere of calm. But a casino, shut after the outbreak of fighting in 2000, remains closed because the Israeli military believes it is too dangerous for Israelis — the main clientele — to return to Jericho.
Still, more foreign tourists are visiting, about 1 million a year since the Israeli-Palestinian fighting began to drop off in 2006, said Jericho Mayor Hassan Saleh. Their main stops include Tel Sultan, an archaeological dig some say proves Jericho was first settled around 8,000 B.C., and an 8th-century Umayad palace with intricate mosaics.
Many visitors also stop at the ancient sycamore, usually snapping pictures before getting back on their buses. The hope is that the $3 million museum and visitors' complex to be opened next to the tree will encourage visitors to linger.
Local lore has long maintained the tree, whose massive partially hollowed trunk measures 7 feet in diameter, is the very one featured in the biblical tale of Jesus and Zacchaeus, the tax collector of short stature who, according to the Gospel of Luke, climbed the tree to get a better look at Jesus.
The tree will eventually be ringed by the perimeter wall of the museum compound.
On Friday, dozens of Palestinian and Russian workers laid brick, rushing to finish the white stone building with two domes and several graceful columns in time for the Oct. 10 opening.
The museum, which sits on land bought by the Russian government in the 19th century, will feature Russian art and an exhibit on cultural ties between Russia and Palestine, as well as artifacts discovered during a salvage dig before construction began.
In the garden, workers laid tiles for a walkway from a recently excavated Byzantine-era mosaic to the sycamore tree. Landscape architect Sofiya Minasiyan said she plans to fill the grounds with plants mentioned in the Bible.
Daibes, the tourism minister, said tests are being conducted on the health of the tree, in hopes of finding ways to keep it strong. She said preliminary tests have shown the sycamore is more than 2,000 years old.
Mordechai Kislev, an Israeli archaebotanist, said it is quite possible for sycamores to live that long, though it's difficult to estimate a sycamore's age because it does not have annual growth rings.
The tree does have a rival — nearby, in the courtyard of a Greek Orthodox church, the huge trunk of a dead sycamore encased in glass is also presented as the biblical tree.
Still, Saleh said the tree in the Russian complex is believed to be the oldest sycamore in Jericho. "People believe that this is the tree," the mayor said.
Some visitors take the uncertainty in stride.
"Of course, we've heard stories from the Bible ... and I can image that it would be like this," said Anna Boertveit, 47, of Stavanger, Norway, as her tour group stopped for photographs.
"If it's really the tree does not matter that much to me."
Story and Photo from http://news.yahoo.com.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
1He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." 6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." 9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about Jericho?
When you hear someone mention Jericho, if you grew up in church, your mind probably goes immediately to the Battle of Jericho, when Joshua let the Israelites around the city, blew their horns and watch the walls crumble. It's easy to pass over the mention of the city in other parts of God's Story, but it's mentioned quite often. In today's God's Story scripture for example.
Did you remember that the story of Zacchaeus took place in Jericho? Jericho, according to the Life Application Study Bible, was "a popular resort city rebuilt by Herod the Great in the Judean desert, not far from the Jordan River." Sounds like, from today's story that Jericho is trying to become that place again. How? By using the sycamore tree that got it's claim to fame (so they say) from Zacchaeus. The difference is that the city is using the tree to gain fame and fortune; Zacchaeus used the tree to just get a glimpse of the One he knew could give him something that fame and fortune never could.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Take some time to read the story of Jericho in the Book of Joshua this week (Joshua 6). Thank God for His plan for His people, including you.
- Look through God's Story for other references to the city of Jericho. Get to know parts of His story you don't know quite as well as others.
- Read the story of Zacchaeus again (Luke 19:1-10). How are you like Zacchaeus? What are you doing to get a better look at Jesus?
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- Do you have a friend like Zacchaeus who is trying to get to know Jesus better? Help them by spending some time reading God's Story with them. Start with the story of Zacchaeus and ask them if they see themselves in that story.
1 Oct, 2010
Becoming An Inspiration
Football Player With One Arm Inspires Community
Breckinridge County (Kentucky) senior wide receiver Chance Anthony plays the game of football despite being born with just one arm.
Click here to watch the video from Fox41 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Photo and Full story at www.fox41.com.
John 16:33 (NIV)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Luke 16:8-9 (The Message)
"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
What do today's God's Story scriptures teach us about handling adversity?
Did you find yourself inspired by Chance Anthony's story today? Who wouldn't be?! We love stories like this. Stories like that give us hope. If Chance can do that, then I can face whatever it is that I'm facing too. Many who are reading this probably had a thought similar to that as you watched.
So what adversities are you facing? Are you facing them alone, or are you resting in the peace that Jesus brings in the midst of troubles. As inspiring as Today's Story was, God's Story is so much more. It is full of stories of His presence with those in adversity. Stories like those of Joseph and his brothers (beginning in Genesis 30), David (beginning in 1 Samuel), Jesus in the Gospels, and many more. Remember, only Jesus can help us to totally overcome every adversity we might face in this life.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- So how do you handle the adversities that you face? The words from The Message are full of wisdom in handling adversity. Take those words to heart this weekend, and everytime you find yourself in the face of adversity.
"Use every adversity to stimulate creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
- Take some time to dig deeper into God's Story and study some of the people mentioned earlier. Notice how they handled the adversities that they faced in life.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story and God's Story to Others?
Are you heading out to a high school football game tonight? If so, consider these thoughts ...
- When you see a receiver make a great catch, tell your friends about Chance Anthony's story.
- Talk with them about how they would handle being born with one arm?
- How would their life have been different?
- How would their life have been the same?
- Talk with them about whether they would have blamed God or if it would have made them depend more on Him.
- Talk with them about how much you need Jesus to handle the adversities that you face in life.
