May 2010 Simply Praise

Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)

In Matthew 8:26, Jesus asked, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. I love that phrase, “and there was a great calm”. I could use a great calm in my heart and head, but I am to busy watching the crashing waves around me. I’ve been told not to show my weakness. But its my weakness that make my life extraordinary. For in them God is shone strong. It is because I am shy His courage shines. I doubt myself in all points and am truly unworthy of Gods mercy, and that is not a false assumption or modesty. I know that I cannot do anything apart from Christ Jesus and His Spirit living in me. I choose not to share much of how I struggle because it all seems so silly to those who don’t understand. But I felt the need to address the weak and heavy laden. So, for those who are standing on life’s edge, I understand your fear and anxious thoughts. Look at that verse again. Matthew 8:26, Jesus is asking a question, “why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?” He didn’t rebuke them, and I don’t believe that when He said to them, O ye of little faith, that He was putting them down. Just as I don’t believe that when we find ourselves overwhelmed by circumstances that cause us to be fearful at times, that He is rebuking us. But rather I believe that because He loves us so much, and understands that we are those of little faith more often than we realize, He, in His love, rebukes the storm around us, and brings a great calm. Every time I can step out of my door and into the world around me it’s a miracle. Every day I can face the pressures of change and duty, it’s a miracle. For I know, if it were not for Christ, I would not leave my house, or do anything. O ye of little faith, yes! But greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. In Luke 17:5, the disciples said unto the Lord, “Increase our faith”. Are we willing to ask the same?
D.E.M

You Said I Could Do It Philippians 4:13

Some said I couldn’t do it. Some shook their heads in doubt.
Some rolled their eyes and sighed. “You can never work it out”
You said I could do it:
The task You gave to me.
I worked from dawn through dusk, with help that came from Thee.
And now that it’s complete,
new goals You place ahead.
I’m glad I showed You honor, and heard Your voice instead.

(When I’m on My Knees)

Shall He Find Faith?

(Luke 18:1-9) And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: This parable has so much to offer us, but I want to focus on one part for now. “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” I have been thinking about this a lot. Faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. With the world in the state it is in right now, it would be very easy to doubt God even exists. And I have seen many who have fallen prey to that line of thinking, and it troubles me. My own faith has been shaken a time or two, but God brings about circumstances that strengthen me. He gives me the substance needed to hope and the evidence of the things unseen. This may all sound simple or childish, but I don’t want to get swallowed up in unbelief. When the Son of man cometh; shall he find faith on the earth? I pray so. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. Lord, You are our substance and evidence to which we hold our hearts and minds in faith believing that one day the things we see that are unjust will one day be avenged and made right. Lord when our hearts are troubled by doubts, forgive us and help us believe, for we want to be children of faith. Your word is true no matter what the world may say. And there will come a day when every tear will be wiped away. Shall You find faith on earth Lord? That is a good question. Search our hearts and see if there be any wicked way in us. D.E.M

Fingerprint

There is a world out there, one full of hurt and despair, a world so foreign to my soul. When my heart aches, or painful body aches touch the edge of where I am, I wonder if its right or wrong to mention it at all. I’m told that joy is all I need, smile through every storm. Sing a song of praise to God, even when things go wrong. I love the Lord Who rescues me! Jesus is my King. But this is where He has placed my life, every circumstance He sees. I was not born on foreign soil, or martyred for my belief. The trials I face are real to me, and the struggles that I face. For the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross, yet He was a man of sorrows, acquainted also with grief. There are many prophets, who struggled with despair, and heartaches. I dare not compare. Yet reading all these stories gives hope to my heart, that even though I struggle, God is on my side. He never will forsake me or leave me torn apart. He is the One who heals, and mends broken lives. All I need to do is cling to His side. It all seems so simple, when written on a page. But Lord it would be better if You’d write it on my heart, perhaps this is the beginning, the fingerprint of God. D.E.M.

Guidance

God does not want His people to be in bondage about seeking and knowing His will in a matter.
"Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21 Our steps are ordered by God Psalms 37:23; Proverbs 16:9; 20:24; Genesis 24:27. For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Psalms 32:8-9 "For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians 1:9)

Temporary Visible Things, Eternal Invisible Things

For our light affliction--is working for us an eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) Our gracious God wants to use the trials in our lives ("our light affliction") to produce for us eternal blessings ("eternal weight of glory"). He intends to use our daily difficulties to enlarge our spiritual capacity to experience more fully the glorious eternal realities of knowing, worshiping, and serving God forever! The Lord desires a full, rich inheritance to await us in heaven: "For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:11). A life of great difficulty here on earth does not guarantee enriched experience in heaven. The process of earthly trials producing heavenly blessings is not automatic for God's children. Verse 18 tells us exactly when this process is occurring: "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." The difficulties of life are turned to eternal blessings "while" we turn our attention upon unseen realities. Many believers waste their afflictions by focusing upon "the things which are seen." They set their minds on themselves, their
circumstances, or some conventional human wisdom. Such an approach to life's problems fosters temporal frustrations, not eternal blessings. To accrue eternal benefits from temporal situations, we must look to unseen eternal resources, because "the things which are not seen are eternal."
What are these unseen things? They are the resources of the grace of God. This includes grace for consolation and hope: "Our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has...given us everlasting
consolation and good hope by grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). This also includes grace for endurance: "My grace is sufficient for you" (2
Corinthians 12:9). It actually includes "grace upon grace" (John 1:16) for whatever is needed. All of this is available through daily dependence upon the Lord. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). The Christian life is lived by faith in the Lord, not by mastery of observable circumstances. God's people enter into His blessings by trusting in Him. It is by looking to the grace of God during our difficulties that afflictions are turned into an "eternal weight of glory." Lord God of abundant grace, I confess that I have frequently wasted my afflictions by concentrating upon temporal things very often focusing upon myself. Please help me to look to the resources of Your unfailing grace, that my trials might have eternal, heavenly significance.
Through Christ Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Bob Hoekstra
Day By Day Grace

May 28, 2010

Scripture

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2
Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Moving a Mountain a Teaspoon at a Time

This mountain of mine is huge, Father! I’ve prayed over and over that You would remove it from me but still it remains, looming, threatening. Must I move it myself? I don’t think I can handle such a task. There’s much to be done and so little time. Yet I am determined. Whether I’m weary or not, in season or out, I must begin moving my mountain, even if it’s only a teaspoon at a time. Lord, help me face each problem head-on within Your will. When fires and hot, parching winds surround me, remind me You are here. When fierce storms assault me, help me dig in my heels and hang onto Your Word. When I’m forced to plod through sinful murk and mud, I ask You to cleanse me with Your pure, sweet living water. Lighten my step that I don’t get bogged down in such things. When evil seeks to devour me, I seek protection with Your holy armor. When others criticize me and self-righteously smirk at my mountain, I may feel crushed and defeated. Lift me up then, I pray. Help me hold my head high and go on. For I am Your child-the child of a King! When life’s heavy trees and rocks fall on and about me, I shall not fear, for You are helping, guiding all the way. At times I may ask, “Why me, Lord? Why must I move this mountain and carry this tree, my cross? I’m too weak!” Please help me! Please love me! I trust You, for this mountain shall be removed. And I praise You, for the victories to come.
(When I’m On My Knees, pg.149)

Wonderful, the matchless grace of Jesus,
deeper than the mighty rolling sea.
Haldor Lillenas

April 2010 Simply Praise

Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)

Where Does My Help Come From?

Psalm 121:1-8
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
My help cometh from the Lord. Throughout my life I have faced personal summits that at times have seemed more than I could bear. But looking back I can see the hand of God reaching down from heaven and pulling me up one step at a time. Catching me when I fall, covering me when I needed rest, and always giving me the courage to carry on. I will not compare myself with others whose mountains are higher and more rugged than mine. That would be foolish. For not all summits are the same, each posses its own unique challenges. I’ve never climbed a real mountain before, but I’ve reached the summit of spiritual ones. I’ve never fallen off a real cliff, but I have fallen off a spiritual one. I like the fact that God, the LORD neither slumbers nor sleeps, He is ever watching me. Mindful of my every step. My help cometh from the Lord. There is a story of courage and faith on page two that I love, because it reminds me of how the Holy Spirit guides us through life's dangers, joys, decisions and more. My whole life is a testimony of Gods mighty hand of mercy, grace, salvation and everything in between. Its hard to pinpoint just one miracle when every breath and heartbeat sings of His miraculous beauty. If you are facing a summit of whatever size, be it a hill, or as high as the clouds, if you allow God’s Holy Spirit to guide you, and listen as He calls out instructions then I know you’ll reach the top. Faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, that’s something real to hold onto. D.M.

Higher Summits
by Tonya Stoneman

Equipped with trust, courage, faith & prayer, Eric Alexander lives each day to reach higher summits. When Eric Alexander climbed the razor-thin ridge of Mt. Everest’s South Summit, he looked to his left at a 10,000-foot vertical fall into Tibet, then to his right at a 7,000-foot fall into Nepal. “If you’re gonna fall, fall right,” he mused. Eric is a world class adventurer with an uncommon affinity for conquering extreme challenges, but his deepest passion is helping other people triumph over adversity in their lives. It is his servant’s heart that drove him to the pinnacle of Everest when critics and naysayers abounded. The expedition was unlike any other in history, he guided a blind man to the top of the world’s highest peak. Eric had guided his blind friend, Erik Weihenmayer, on other formidable climbs. The two made an attempt at Ama Dablam in the Himalayas but were turned back by a menacing storm. They spent six days pinned to a ledge after they had called the expedition off. In spite of inhospitable conditions, the trip was memorable and solidified their friendship. “He always makes fun of me,” says Eric, in a typically whimsical and self-effacing way, “because I forgot my book-you always pack a light paperback. He said, ‘What are you gonna do?’ I said, ‘This is a beautiful mountain. I’ll go outside and meditate and reflect on my life.’ ‘Twenty minutes later I was back in the tent.” interminable boredom, bad food, “spam, cabbage, potatoes, and more spam” extreme cold, discomfort, and physical pain are par for the course on voyages like this. “On my way down, I stepped on a rock that moved on me,” Eric recalls. “Kind of like standing on a diving board over a cliff and then it snaps, that kind of thing. It was a 500-foot cliff, and I fell 150 feet.” Miraculously, he landed on a three-foot ledge, which he likens to the arms of an angel. He was taken off the mountain by a helicopter, because his lungs were filling with fluid and pulmonary edema was setting in. despite the fall, Weihenmayer asked Eric to guide him again, this time up Everest. Just three months before the expedition, Eric experienced an Everest in his personal life when his best friend and prayer partner, Joseph, died tragically. “He was a lot like the biblical Joseph,” says Eric. “He just had that kind of character and integrity. Unbelievable. Great guy. He was out snowboarding by himself one day in the back country in Vail and went over the edge of a cliff and landed upside down and suffocated. We went out looking for him, a few of us friends. We found him in the snow. That was the hardest thing for me ever. Holding him there. My best friend.” the only thing Eric took with him to the top of Everest was his friend’s picture. When he summated, a gust of wind blew the photo into Tibet. “Joseph would have liked that,” he says. Girded by the prayers of his family and friends, Eric pursued his trip to Nepal. “I had a feeling of confidence from my family, not just my immediate family, but the church. I knew there were a lot of people praying. As you’re stepping out in your faith and exercising it, you need to be supported in prayer. That was critical for me. I could feel it, that there were a thousand people who were praying. I’d never experienced anything like that, that kind of confidence. I knew it was coming from God because people were petitioning on my behalf through prayer.” Psalm 121 was particularly helpful: will lift my eyes up to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” The trek was sobering and at times intimidating. Crevasses threaten to swallow climbers, who must negotiate ice fields, falling boulders, and even dead bodies along the way. “There are a lot of times where you’re forced to depend on God, because there’s no other way,” says Eric. “There are no atheists on Everest. Once you move up onto the mountain, everybody’s got faith. I can’t tell you how many guys promise me that they’re going to church when they get home. I’ll be reading my Bible, and they’ll say, “What are you reading? Or “Why don’t you pray for us?, that kind of stuff. The intensity of it makes you want something more.” there is a notorious ladder, actually multiple ladders tied together with ropes and anchored on the sides of crevasses that his team named the “Jesus Ladder.” “If you don’t believe before you cross it, you will when you’re on it,” quips Eric. He trusts his comrades with his life and takes available opportunities to share his faith with them in ways they understand. He prays with them crises arise, Serves them when he can, and shares the Gospel with them if they express interest, He held an Easter sunrise on Everest, which ten climbers attended. Trust is an essential character trait for those who traverse the mountain. “You need to trust. You need to have faith, perseverance, discipline, integrity, and leadership,” says Eric. “All these principles are true in life, but the mountain really draws them out and makes them directly applicable. You can’t hide when you’re on the mountain. Your weaknesses and strengths are exposed.” these are the principles Eric spends his life imparting to others. He marvels at his blind friend who has never seen him, yet trusts him enough to follow him through dangers and snares. “Without trust, Erik wouldn’t get very far,” he says. “That’s the way I think of God. It takes courage to follow Him. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it’s moving forward in spite of your fear.” this is the way Weihenmayer has learned to live his life, with a little help from his friend. “Eric’s efforts on the climb were heroic,” says Weihenmayer. “He was like my guardian angel.” Summiting Everest was a personal victory for Eric, but his greater joy came from helping another reach the top. His ultimate desire is to use his own life and skills in ways that enable others to reach out and embrace their dreams. When not instructing disabled skiers in Vail, Colorado, Eric directs Adventures Beyond Limits, an organization that educates, encourages, and provides opportunities for youth with disabilities to experience the great outdoors. He has just taken 18 high school kids, half of them blind, on a 30-mile trek through Peruvian Andes. He will take those same kids to Mt. Kilimanjaro in February. His website, www.highersummits.com, posts travel logs of his expeditions. Since his return from Everest, Eric has been instrumental in Weihenmayer’s pursuing his goal of summiting the highest points on each of the seven continents. The two have been to Australia’s Mt. Kosciusko and Russia’s Mt. Elbrus, and have also traveled to New Zealand, where they met the esteemed Edmond Hillary and climbed Mt. Cook. When they aren’t climbing, they enjoy skydiving, and skiing. The ever-faithful guide, Eric calls out helpful navigational suggestions to his friend: “Death-drop two feet to your right. Cliff directly in front of you. Two thousand-foot drop-off…”
(Article found in “In Touch magazine, pages 10-15.)


Storms
Sometimes the storms of life have a way of blinding my eyes. Sometimes the dark clouds cast shadows covering my heart. Sorrow begins to build and my hope to wan. Then I cry. Oh my Lord, my heart cries out for Your mercy. Open my eyes, that I might see Your beauty in the storm. Let me see Lord that with these clouds You bring fresh water to my thirsty soul. Open my eyes that I might see You, Lord, in the midst of all these things. For You neither faint nor are You weary. Therefore my hope is renewed, as my eyes stay fixed on You. Every storm You’re beauty shines through, open my eyes, to see You. D.E.M

His Strength, or Mine?

Have you ever faced a flight of stairs that were more in number than 150 steps? At first glance they don’t seem to foreboding, until you actually begin to climb. At first you’re going strong than some where in the middle things get tougher, and three quarters of the way up you feel like you’re dying. You’re legs are shaking, you’re breathing hard, heart pounding faster and harder, and you suddenly realize, I’m out of shape! And you need to stop and sit and rest, until you can take one more step up. In our own strength, when we try to climb up from the bottom of any, and every trial or circumstance, we may get part way thinking we can do this, but we will become weary, and some will give up, and some will fall, and some will even die, because the strain was just to much. It is not meant that we should carry burdens or face uphill trials alone, but we are to share each others burdens. Isaiah 40:31 says; “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” I tend not to seek help from others and I often get weary under the strain of circumstances. But God is teaching me the necessity of waiting on Him. I can only go so far in my own strength, but with Him, I can fly like the eagles! Isaiah 41:13 “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee. Fear not; I will help thee.” how beautiful is that! Whose strength are you relying on? (D.E.M)

The Positive Power of Courage


Read Joshua 1:1-9; What do the following people have in common:
Joshua, the Israelite leader; Daniel, the visionary; Jesus’ 12 disciples; and the apostle Paul? Besides loving God, they all were in need of courage. Obeying the Lord required bravery, a firmness of spirit that could face crises without retreating. Appointed by God, Joshua was to lead the nation into the Promised Land. Perhaps he thought, Who an I to follow in Moses’ footsteps? Or What if the people will not support my leadership? God spoke reassuringly to him three times, telling him to be strong and courageous. Joshua responded affirmatively and built his bravery on two precious assurances.
Promise #1-God travels with us.
The Lord pledged He would be with the Israelites in the new land, never leaving or forsaking them. In Hebrews 13:5, He makes the same promise to us. In fact, the Lord travels with us in a far more intimate way, through His Spirit living within us. Promise #2-God goes before us.
God promised to take care of the enemy before the Israelites arrived. They still faced battles, but He assured them of victory if they had faith and obeyed. Jesus has gone ahead of us to heaven with the spiritual battle already won.
Our redemption has been secured, our place in God’s family permanently established, and our heavenly inheritance guaranteed. While our earthly trials continue, they are temporary.
If you build your life on these two pledges, then courageous will become part of your name. why not try out how it will sound Courageous_______________

March 2010 Simply Praise

Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)

Fill My Cup

The poor and needy are seeking water when there is none; their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah 41:17 Amplified O.T.) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:3,6) Every time I seek to fill the empty void in my heart with anything other than you God, I do You an injustice. Yes Lord, I admit I have sought water where there is none and I am thirsty. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily task of survival that I lose sight of Who is sustaining me. You are my source, my Living Water. You fill my empty hungry soul with Your presence. As You poor Your rivers on the bare heights of my life, may it fill every crack and flow into every void, filling my valleys with fountains and making my dryness a spring of life giving water. Lord I have Your promise that You will not forsake me. I believe You; but my heart fears my own forsaking of You. Let me not go astray from You. Draw me ever near to You, so that my heart beats in time with Yours. My desire is to be one of Your blessed ones, who seek Your face, who hunger and thirst after Your righteousness. How can mere words ever express even the tiniest bit of gratitude. Your love and unfailing grace has kept me through every storm, valley, mountain top, battle and reprieve. There is nothing I have that I have not received from You. Nor is there anything ahead that should pass my boarders that You have not given or ordained. So Your constant watch over my soul and life, is a mighty comfort. We are truly blessed when we choose to seek Your righteousness, for You are a God who cannot lie, and loves us more than we can imagine. Blessed be Your name, forever! Amen…..D.E.M

Open Thine Heart to Me

O My child, I need you for Myself. Yea I have purposes for thy life beyond thy present comprehension. Yea, I have truth concerning Myself to give to thee deeper and richer and more wonderful than thine understanding has thus far taken in. Open thine heart wide to Me. I would fill thee with my Holy Spirit, and in so doing will satisfy the deepest longings of thy soul.
(Come Away My Beloved, by Roberts) p.127

Draw Near

Read Matthew 9:18-26; 11:28-30, Anyone reading this who has come to know Jesus will testify to the fact that at some point in your life you became dissatisfied with looking at Jesus from a distance, and you began to draw near to Him.
You began seeking out people who seem to know Him.
You opened the bible and started digging into it.
You got down on your face and cried out to Heaven.
You read every book you thought might help, and suddenly, one day, there He was, speaking to you, bringing you to life. Jesus never forces His way into people's hearts. He descends from the throne of the Godhead down to within range of your life, and offers to put Heaven into you. But to receive what Jesus wants to give you, you have to draw near to Him.
During the three-and-a-half years of His ministry, Jesus thoroughly covered the entire nation of Israel made Himself available to the least of the least of men. Every single Israelite was given some clear opportunity to receive healing, forgiveness, some heavenly help from Jesus. There wasn't one fisherman, or prostitute, or con-man, or merchant, or queen, or king, or priest, in all Israel upon whom the Spirit of God did not stir, saying,
"Draw near to Jesus of Nazareth.
He has the very thing your heart cries for.
He is the answer to the thirst within you."
But, it was up to them to draw near.
And every one who did, received a taste of heaven.
"My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her and she will live", and Jesus went and took her by the hand, and raised her from the dead. And a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well". Jesus turned and seeing her, He said, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well". And instantly the woman was made well.
Tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him.
Lepers came as close as they were allowed by law.
The blind called out to Jesus from their darkness, and every one was answered with healing, forgiveness, some kind of life from heaven.
But, as time went on, the vast majority of the people who drew near to Jesus to be healed, forgiven, or fed, drifted away. And as they drifted away, the atmosphere of Heaven that surrounded them so wonderfully, when they were near the Son of God, departed. They were back in the world. Their blind eyes were still open, their leprous bodies were still clean, but that awareness of God was gone. Jesus could walk right toward them in the temple and it was the same as if He were a million miles away. They had drifted from Him like a man and woman in a marriage living in the same house, eating at the same table, can be light-years apart.
By the time of Jesus' arrest, it was no difficult thing for them to be stirred to shout, "Crucify Him!" They had already lost touch with Him. And this is exactly what happens to many of us. We draw near to Jesus, taste Heaven, and then we drift away again. The glory of God is gone. Our vision of heaven is lost.
And we wonder whether those blessed days were ever real.
Some of us spend our lifetime doing nothing but drawing near to Jesus, and drifting away, drawing near and drifting away.
When things get painful we draw near. But when the pain eases we drift away, until our spirits become numb, and while drifting, the desire to draw near becomes so faint, it's nothing more than a flicker of regret, until even that is gone.
Only a handful of all the people Jesus touched got hold of what it was all about.
They didn't draw near and drift, draw near and drift.
They drew nearer and nearer and nearer.
These were the ones who forsook all to follow Him.
These were the ones who saw Him alive from the dead.
A day came when Jesus wasn't just with them, He was in them. Still they kept drawing nearer, boldly proclaiming His name, joyfully laying down their lives. These were the New Israel. These were the ones who formed His Body on earth, through whom Jesus did far greater works then He ever did in His own body of flesh and blood. And it is into their ranks that we are being called now in the closing hour of this age.
Jesus is not calling us to draw near and drift.
Jesus is calling us to draw near and follow, to continuously draw near as He leads us on in the work He would have us accomplish on this earth before the End. So, the question we need to ask ourselves is, Am I drawing near to Jesus Christ only to drift again? Or, am I drawing near to Jesus to go on with Him in the Father's will? Am I forever rising and sinking? running hot and cold? Or, Am I going from strength to strength, lifted from one degree of glory to another by the Spirit of the Lord? Several things to keep in mind.
1. Drawing near to Jesus is the only godly thing we can do.
We do not have, in ourselves, the power to discern who God is,
or to do one God-pleasing thing,
or to bring the slightest degree of healing to this sick world,
until we are quickened by the Son of God with divine life.
Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly of heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. Draw near to me, and I will enable you to see God,
I will quicken you with my Spirit,
I will give you a new heart and a new mind and even a new body,
I will make you into a Son of God. The minute we go off trying to be healers apart from Jesus, we just make this sick world sicker. When we go running off trying to spread spiritual truth, or love,
or the New Testament Church, or The Revolution, or what ever else fascinates us, apart from a living, burning, relationship with the Son of God, all we spread is death.
"Apart from me you can do nothing." "Draw near to me and I will quicken you for the work I want to be doing through you.
2. Drawing near to Jesus never stops.
You don't just draw near and stick there like a piece of mud on the wall.
You don't just go through life drawing near and drifting like waves lapping against the shore.
You follow Him all your days, ever more deeply into the Kingdom.
You draw nearer and nearer as Jesus leads you on into the center of that blazing light which is God. Paul, after years as an apostle, still considered the primary object of his life to draw closer to his Lord. He said,
I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse
that I may gain Christ. still thirsting for more of the Son of God.
Our churches are cluttered with people who drew near to Jesus once, and ever since they've been living in the afterglow following a memory. They have as much life in them as those leaves lying out there on the ground.
Our churches are cluttered with these yo-yo saints who have to be revived every six months.
They get a little spiritual charge and then they drift.
Then they get another shot and then they coast.
They are like spiritual storage batteries, but storage batteries wear out.
When Jesus went up on that cross and died, He opened the way for us to draw near to Him without ceasing, whether you're walking down the street, or playing with your child, working hard on your job, lying down to sleep, you can be continuously drawing near to the Son of God. everything that once stood in the way of coming into the presence of God the Son, has been removed by His shed blood. There is no guilt, there is no distance, that can keep you from Him if you want to draw near.
3. Drawing near to Jesus is a thing of the heart.
Lots of people were bumping and pressing and crowding against Jesus that day. But, the touch on the fringe of His garment by a woman who wanted healing, was noticed by Jesus immediately.
Why? Because that woman's whole heart was in that touch. As her fingers brushed against the cloth, Jesus could hear a cry coming to His Spirit. That woman didn't realize it but if she had been a million miles away from Him and had cried out, "Jesus, heal me!", the very same thing would have happened. For the minute any heart anywhere draws near to Him, Jesus draws near to that heart. "Call on my name, I will be there.
Gather in my name, I will be there. Open your heart to me, I will enter.
Take hold of my promise, I will come and fulfill it.
Start obeying my command, instantly I will be at your side, enabling you to do it."
You don't have to travel land and sea to find Jesus. Wherever you are at any given moment, reach out to Him with your heart and there He is.
The thief on the cross couldn't come down and walk over and take hold of Jesus' feet. Between gasps for breath that man had all he could do to rebuke his fellow thief and call out to Jesus for mercy. But when he called, instantly the Spirit of God drew near to him and aided him in his journey into Paradise.

If there is anybody reading these words who has never experienced the reality of Jesus.
If there is anybody who longs to come into that continuous, unbroken communion with the Son of God. Then take the padlocks off your  heart that's been hurt so many times. You've got it locked, and grilled, and barred like a pawn shop on Skid Row on Sunday night.
Open it up and cry out to Jesus, and He'll come, He'll come!
 4. Drawing near to Jesus spoils you for the world and the world for you.
When you take that yoke of Jesus upon you say goodbye to worldly success, say goodbye to all the earthly glories that once thrilled your heart. You've turned your back on the old glories of this world and fixed your heart on the glory of the Cross of the Son of God. Now its "The Cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back."
God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Never mind that the preacher assures you that you can have God and mammon. Never mind how big his cathedral is, or how wonderfully he may claim the Lord has prospered him. You cannot draw near to Jesus Christ and the spirit of this world at the same time.
To draw near to Jesus is to draw away from the way of this world: from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. To draw near to Jesus is to say to Satan, "Keep your goodies.
Keep the reputation of being a "spiritual heavy" for your followers.
Keep that shining image and that big name among men for your antichrist.
I'm satisfied with Jesus. His Cross is my glory. His Spirit is all I want." And suddenly, the fancy illusion that Satan conjured up before your eyes will shrivel to nothing, as the path God wants you to walk opens up before you.
There isn't a problem that won't be solved.
There isn't a task facing us under God that won't be accomplished.
There isn't an obstacle standing in our way that won't be removed.
There isn't a need that won't be filled,
if we'll but answer the call of the Spirit on our hearts to draw near anew to the crucified and risen Son of God. Forget everything else and draw near to Jesus and He will draw near to you and guide you in the way that you should go.

Hebrews 10:22  
Let us draw near

God always encourages us to draw close to Him in prayer. Here Paul instructs us to do so with unwavering confidence, fullness of faith, without any doubt, because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has cleared our conscience and paved the way into God's presence.
Today, some no longer feel the need to pray and study daily. They make the excuse that they do not have enough time. There is not enough time NOT to pray and study! The Day is approaching! Paul writes in Romans 13:11-14: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly. . . . But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
If we fail to use these very vital tools of prayer and study—which will help us "walk properly" and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ"—we will find ourselves separated from God. That is the last thing we want as the Great Tribulation approaches!

Drawing Near to God
(From Forerunner Commentary) Matthew 5:8

This beatitude, like all the others, has both a present and future fulfillment. Paul says in I Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." To "see" God is to be brought close to Him. In this instance the sense is that what we are far from cannot be clearly distinguished. That, as sinners, we are far from God is proclaimed in Isaiah 59:2: "
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear."
Thus James 4:8 admonishes us, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The pure in heart are those who with all their being seek to remain free of every form of the defilement of sin. The fruit of this is the blessing of spiritual discernment. With spiritual understanding, they have clear views of God's character, will, and attributes. A pure heart is synonymous with what Jesus calls a "single" (KJV) or "clear" (NKJV margin) eye in Matthew 6:22.
When a person has this mind, the whole body is full of light. Where there is light, one can see clearly. The sense of this beatitude's promise to see God carries over into the Kingdom of God.
In one sense, all will see God, as Revelation 1:7 prophesies: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of earth will mourn because of Him."
They will see Him as Judge. Jesus' promise, though, is stated as a blessing, a favor. Revelation 22:4 says of those who will inherit God's Kingdom, "They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads."
I John 3:2 reads, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." To see someone's face is to be so near as to be in his presence.
In this case, the term indicated the highest of honors: to stand in the presence of the King of kings. Certainly David understood the greatness of this: "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness" (Psalm 17:15).
God places great value on being clean, especially in terms of purity of heart. Also, we can easily become defiled, whereas remaining clean requires constant vigilance, a determined discipline, and a clear vision of what lies before us to serve as a prod to keep us on track. Since it is sin that defiles, this beatitude demands from us the most exacting self-examination. Are our work and service done from selfless motives or from a desire for self-display?
Is our church-going a sincere attempt to meet God or merely fulfilling a respectable habit? Are our prayers and Bible study a heartfelt desire to commune with God, or do we pursue them because they make us feel pleasantly superior?
Is our life lived with a conscious need of God, or are we merely seeking comfort in our piety? To examine our motives honestly can be a daunting and shaming but very necessary discipline, but considering Christ's promise in this beatitude, it is well worth whatever effort and humbling of self it takes.
It is good for us to keep Paul's admonishment found in II Corinthians 7:1 fresh in mind:
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beatitudes, Part 6: The Pure in Heart

February 2010 Simply Praise

Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)

Love Through Me

Play in me Your song of love
On my own I can do nothing
On my own I am no good
With trembling heart I bow before You
Yielded to my Masters hand
Take me Lord and strum my heart
That I might understand
This song is not my own to keep
But for a dry and thirsty land
Love through me
These seeking souls
That want for lasting love
For I am but Your instrument Of grace and truth and love
Play in me Your song
O Righteous King
That it may ring with sounds of grace
To a world in dire need.

2 Timothy 3 warns us about the perilous times that shall come. I’d like to point out a couple of verses that caught my eye, considering this month is traditionally the “Love” month. Verse 2a “For men shall be lovers of their own selves.” And verse 4b “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” In chapter 2 verse 3 we are reminded “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” I find these interesting because soldiers typically, especially on the battlefield cannot be lovers of their own selves, they are there helping to protect one another. And some give the ultimate. Nor can a soldier be a lover of pleasures more than his or her Commander. If that were the case then where would the respect or fulfilling of orders be? The same rings true of us as soldiers in a battlefield of flesh and spirit. If we love ourselves to the point where we put our comforts and desires ahead of what our Commander Jesus has instructed us through His Word and through His Spirit we are on a slippery slop of apostasy. Questions I ask myself: do I love God and others enough to make it to church on time? Or would I rather stay home and sleep? Should I put God’s Word first, or watch a movie? Is it really that important to meet midweek? I can go on and on, but the fact is, each question echoes the self love that eats away at the heart of the gospel, “For God so loved!” O Jesus, play in me Your song of love. (D.E.M.)


John 3:16-17

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Are you not glad that God was not and is not selfish concerning love? God gave and Jesus gave the ultimate love gifts; and I am shamed that I find it hard to give Him an hour of my day.

Love Jesus First

There is a simplicity and purity about devotion to Christ that can easily be lost as we become more “sophisticated” in our faith. We know more about Jesus, and we’re doing more for Him; but in the process, we often leave Jesus Himself behind. Jesus has a simple but earnest message for us, as He did for the first-century church in Ephesus: “You have forsaken your first love” (Rev.2:4). Jesus says in effect, “Your theology is straight. You are busy serving Me. You have lots of activity going on. But you’re missing the pulse. You’re neglecting the one thing that matters most—your relationship with Me.” He appeals to His people to repent and return to their first love. In Ephesians 5 and elsewhere, the Bible uses marriage imagery to describe our relationship with Christ. As Christians, we are His bride. So when Christ says, “You have forsaken your first love,” He’s not just speaking as a journalist reporting on the facts. He’s not speaking as an employer giving a performance review. He’s speaking as a wounded lover. He’s saying, “I remember what it was like when you first knew Me—when you were so grateful, so tenderhearted, so devoted to Me. I mattered more to you than anything or anyone else. But all that has changed now. You don’t love Me as you once did.” when our love for Jesus grows cold and we grow distant, He is grieved. He’s heartbroken. It’s as if He is saying, “What happened to My bride? Where did you go? What happened to your heart?” Sadly, I have known the experience, as perhaps have you, of going through the motions of living the Christian life—doing all the right things, serving in ministry, but doing it without passion for Christ. When our relationship with Christ suffers, completing ministry tasks becomes more important to us than the people we are serving. Why? Because our love for others ultimately flows out of our love for Christ. People are not impressed by our religious activity or theological correctness. They care about our love. I’ve attended many funerals over the years, including some for well known Christian leaders. As I look back, the most meaningful ones have not been those where people praised the departed one for their impressive achievements or tireless efforts, but those where what stands out is the departed one’s heart, as seen in their love for Christ and others. When all is said and done, I don’t want to be remembered for the books I wrote, the messages I gave, or the ministry I led. I don’t want to be remembered primarily for my doctrinal precision or my tireless activity. I want to be remembered as a lover of Christ and His people. As Steve Green reminds us in the song “The Mission” To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission, the spring form which our service overflows.”
How is your love life with Jesus? Are you lacking spiritual intimacy, warmth, vitality, and power? Has your service for Him become mechanical? Jesus counsels us to remember what it was like when we loved Him with all our hearts, to turn from any competing loves (repent), and to return to those expressions of devotion that once characterized our relationship with Him.
(Nancy Leigh DeMoss Revive Our Hearts radio host)


Choosing JESUS by Bill Elliff

WHAT IF YOU COULD TURN A CORNOR and find a million dollars? Or a new car? If you’re like me, you couldn’t wait to make that turn! But here’s a staggering spiritual truth: Jesus is the way that leads us into the presence of God. In Him we find wisdom and knowledge...supply for every need...love that fills our deepest heart-longings...perspective that gives meaning to every circumstance...adventure that takes us places we could never go on our own. Every thing worth having flows from Him. That’s why there is nothing more important than our relationship with Jesus. So how intimate are you with Jesus right now? More importantly, how intimate would Jesus say you are with Him?

Tender Father Scotty Smith

I am beginning to understand that you are committed not only to showing me my sins but also to showing me my idolatries. As you do this, my sins seem even more sinful; for I see myself engaged in false worship, not just in making poor choices. Please forgive me and free me from worshiping other things, including people, more than I worship you. And merciful Father, please free me from the worst of all idolatries—thinking of you as other than you have revealed yourself to be. Jesus, you alone are worthy of all my attention, affection, adoration, and allegiance. I know this to be true, but foolishly, I forget. I am like Asaph. I have moments, weeks, even months when I want more than who you are and what you provide. Free me from thinking that people can meet the deepest needs of my heart; for in reality, only you can fill me up. Free me from believing that a different spouse (or even having one), different children (or even having some), different parents or friends or church or job or body or anything is what I need the most. Help me to know you so well and to worship you with such joy and passion that I stop using people and start loving them. You alone can do this, O Lover of my soul. By your grace, through your power, for your glory—forgive my idolatries, heal my wounds, and set this captive free. Amen.
(pg.81 Objects of His Affection)

The Forgiveness of God

“In whom we have..the forgiveness of sins.” Eph. 1:7. beware of the present view of the Fatherhood of God—God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost it was all made ours. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace; it cost God the Cross of Jesus Christ before He could forgive sin and remain a holy God. Never accept a view of the Fatherhood of God if it blots out the Atonement. The revelation of God is that He cannot just forgive; He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God by the Atonement. God’s forgiveness is only natural in the supernatural domain. Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is slight. Sanctification is simply the marvelous expression of forgiveness of sins in a human life, but the thing that awakes the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. Paul never got away from this. When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God.
(My Utmost For His Highest; Oswald

Zephaniah’s Words

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy….The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:14-15, 17

Preaching the Gospel

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood that cries out, not for our condemnation but for our acquittal. Jesus is a true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void to create a new people of God. Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by His Father on the mount, but was truly sacrificed for us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the King, forgives those who betrayed and sold Him, and uses His new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and God, and who mediates a new covenant. Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves His foolish friends.
Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes His peoples victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves. Jesus is the true and better Esther who left His ultimate and heavenly palace, and who didn’t just risk His life but gave it to save His people. Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us.
Jesus is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread. (taken from Tim Keller’s message “Preaching the Gospel)

Is the Real Jesus Your Savior?

The alarming spiritual reality is that it is possible to be trusting Jesus to save us when we die, while acting as if He is inadequate to save us today. When we believe the false promises of idols, we become blind to the truth that only Jesus can save. My experience in pastoral ministry has convinced me that most of us are slow to identify our own idolatry. Our tendency is to deal with the fruit of our sin while remaining woefully ignorant of the deadly root of our misplaced affections. Until something is taken away—until the divorce papers are signed, and child goes astray, or a financial investments sours—we fail to grasp our lack of dependence on Jesus. The only antidote for idolatry and false dependence is the gospel. The good news of the gospel reminds us that the work of Jesus is completely sufficient to save. Nothing can be added or taken away from what He has provided. Through Him alone we receive God’s open invitation to real intimacy and satisfaction.
Is Jesus really your Savior?
(Excerpt from an article in “revive” magazine full article can be read at www.LifeAction.org/revive)

January 2010 Simply Praise

Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)

The AM-FM Radio

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2.
Upon reading in a book called “Classic Christianity Illustrated” chapter 27. I thought it good to share the whole of it with you. In this New Year we might be challenged even harder in keeping tuned to the right signals concerning truth and error. This might help some to recognize the difference.
Within every Christian are both the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:17 that these desires are in conflict one with another. We all know this to be true. If someone insults us, our flesh wants to get back at that person, but the Spirit of God living inside says to forgive. Which desire do we follow? This is a battle that every Christian encounters. And, this battle begins in the mind. Our mind functions in such a way that it can be compared to an AM-FM radio. An AM-FM radio has been designed to receive both AM and FM signals. The AM signal carries programming that can only be heard on the AM dial; and the FM carries programming that can only be heard on the FM dial. A radio listener does not have a choice as to the programming on either signal. He does have a choice, however, as to which signal (AM or FM) he will listen to. So it is with our minds. We have been created in such a way that our minds can receive input from both Satan and the world, and from God and His Word. The programming on the AM dial of our mind comes from Satan and the world. Satan and the world fill our minds with lies or errors that appeal to the flesh and its desires. “For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). The programming on the FM dial of our minds comes from God and His Word. This is truth that appeals to the Spirit and its desires. “However, as it is written: “No Eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit...We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Cor. 2:9, 10, 12). Just like the radio, we cannot change the programming that comes from Satan, nor can we change the programming that comes from God. However, we can choose whether we will listen to Satan and his error or God and His truth. Jesus said in John 8:31, 32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples Than you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” If truth sets you free, then error must put you in bondage. If you choose to listen to Satan and the world, you will experience bondage. If you choose to listen to God and His Word, you will experience freedom. The error that comes from Satan says:
To worry about everything
You have to be a lot better than that
To analyze why you are so bad
You deserve to be treated better than that
You will not be happy until you get_____________
To blame people for your problems
To wonder what tomorrow will bring
Truth, on the other hand, that comes from God says:
“Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6 NASB).
By one sacrifice, He has made you perfect forever” (Hebrews 10:14).
“Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God” (Romans 6:11 NASB).
Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Cor. 13:5 NASB).
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).
“Take the log out of your own eye” (Matthew 7:5 NASB).
“Do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself” (Matthew 6:34 NASB).
For a Christian, to whom to listen seems like an easy choice. who in their right mind would choose bondage over freedom? We do, however. Why? Because our emotions respond to whatever is in our minds. Satan gets his programming into our minds through our five senses. And what we see, hear, feel, taste, or smell produces an emotional response. It is in this emotional response that the desires of the flesh are cultivated. At this point, because we are so feeling-oriented, it becomes very easy to act out the desires of the flesh. Truth, however, is not determined by feelings. Just because we feel something doesn't mean it is true. We are, therefore, not to let feelings dictate what our actions will be. That is why the Bible tells us not to conform any longer :to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Jesus Christ lives inside each believer and is constantly feeding truth into our minds in every circumstance we encounter. Jesus Christ is there to remind us of our identity in Christ, and of His grace. Based on the truth of His love and grace, He reasons with us and then asks us to present our bodies to Him regardless of what our emotions are telling us to do. Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). When we do, we will be able to test and approve God’s will—His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Whether you experience bondage or God’s will (freedom) is determined by whether you listen to Satan and his error or to God and His truth. To which dial will you tune your mind?

Well, this chapter gives us a lot to think about. I hope you really take the time to reflect on its message so this new year can be a truly Happy one.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Intercessory Introspection (My Utmost For His Highest; by Oswald Chambers)

“And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless.” 1 Thess.5:23.
“Your whole spirit…” The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim regions of our personality which we cannot get at. Read the 139th Psalm: the Psalmist implies—”Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature—Thou Who art the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at—my God, search me out.” Do we believe that God can garrison the imagination far beyond where we can go? “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin”—if that means in conscious experience only, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been made obtuse by sin will say he is not conscious of sin. Cleansing from sin is to the very heights and depths of our spirit if we will keep in the light as God is in the light, and the very Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirits. It is only when we are garrisoned by God with the stupendous sanctity of the Holy Spirit, that spirit and soul and body are preserved in unspotted integrity, undeserving of censure in God’s sight, until Jesus comes. We do not allow our minds to dwell as they should on these great massive truths of God.

Are You Fresh For Everything? (My Utmost For His Highest; by Oswald Chambers)

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Sometimes we are fresh for a prayer meeting but not fresh for cleaning boots! Being born again of the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, as surpassing as God Himself. We do not know where it begins, it is hidden away in the depths of our personal life. Being born again from above is a perennial, perpetual and eternal beginning; a freshness all the time in thinking and talking and living, the continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication of something out of joint with God—”I must do this thing or it will never be done.” that is the first sign of staleness. Are we freshly born this minute or are we stale, raking in our minds for something to do? Freshness does not come from obedience but from the Holy Spirit; obedience keeps us in the light as God is in the light. Guard jealously your relationship to God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one, even as we are one”—nothing between. Keep all the life perennially open to Jesus Christ, don’t pretend with Him. Are you drawing your life from any other source than God Himself? If you are depending upon anything but Him, you will never know when He is gone. Being born of the Spirit means much more than we generally take it to mean. It gives us a new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything by the perennial supply of the life of God.

Various Quotes

I said to a man who stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown"; and he replied, "Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way!" quoting from a poem by M. L. Harkins. 
By King George VI
The New Year is a time to learn to rely more heavily on the grace of God. Now I've met a few self-made men and women and so have you, but so often these people seem proud, self-centered and driven. There is another way: beginning to trust in God's help. One secret from the Apostle Paul: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," he said. (Phil 4:13, NIV) And God's strength saw him through pain, joy, and accomplishment. 
Anonymous 
Our religious activities should be ordered in such a way as to have plenty of time for the cultivation of the fruits of solitude and silence. 
A. W. Tozer

Psalm 94:17-19

Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

Can you imagine your soul settling in silence? The worst thought is the silence of never hearing the voice of God, never hearing Him say “well done”. But then there is that wonderful word; (Unless). Unless the LORD “had been” my help. I am so glad He is there helping. Sometimes when the noise of the world screams at you, finding a place to sit in silence and meditate on the Lord is good. But the silence of the soul, that thought brings a chill. And I love the word “if” in the context of these verses. If I say, “My foot slips” I need only to cry out, and His Mercy, O how beautiful a thought, His mercy! It will hold me up! Not just a thought, a reality! And in the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

What is this tugging at my heart?
“Tis like a homing dove.
How can I long for a place unseen.
And feel His endless love?
Homesick and worn, I strive each day,
a broken soul to love.
But my broken heart aches to join,
My Savior up above.
How long must I fight the battles,
on tearstained fields for Thee?
“Until your task is finished here,”
He firmly says to me.
“I’ve covered your scars with my blood.
I’ve washed your hands and feet.
I’ve taken the sins of your soul
To the mercy seat.”
what love I feel in His voice,
His hands outstretched to me.
I’ll serve until that moment, His loving face I see.
Author Unknown

A New Year's Prayer 

May God make your year
a happy one!
Not by shielding you from
all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you
to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy
to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you
unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your
life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people

and their causes need you most,
and by making you
anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead. 
Anonymous 

We must bear in mind that mere resolutions to take more time for prayer and to conquer reluctance to pray will not prove lastingly effective unless there is a whole hearted and absolute surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Anonymous