Thanksgiving Challenge by P. Oliveira

To my fellows Christians,

I have been thinking, for the past few days, about this holiday of Thanksgiving. I have come to the conclusion that is very hard to be glad only one day out of the year. Of course, you are faking your way through it -if we really come to think on it- because being thankful can not just be a yearly thing. It has to be a every-moment-that-you-are-living thing. 

The reason why I am saying this is  because I also have come to the conclusion that being thankful every day is very much like exercising a muscle. You have to keep at it. You have to find a time or a moment, every day, and just do it. Dig deep down and find the will, the joy, to be thankful, no matter where you are in life. For some, it can be being thankful for having a family (even though it may be as dysfunctional as it can be) or for having a job after years of non-employment. For others being thankful for the time you had with the loved ones that have gone from this life. 

It is not easy being thankful all the time, trust me, but if you take a moment of everyday and practice it- be really glad for something good that happened in your life or a person's that you know- when the holidays come around, you wont have to fake your way through it. You are going to be genuinely glad for it, for the moments that have pasted and for the ones that are yet to come. 

So, in the spirit of "Thanksgiving Exercise", a few friends of mine have put together a list of thanksgiving verses. I challenge you to read one, hold it in your heart and practice it. Live it. When the next thanksgiving rolls around, lets see how much you have to be genuinely glad for.

• Psalm 95:2-3Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
  1 Corinthians 1:4-5I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--
  2 Corinthians 4:15-16All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
  2 Corinthians 9:11-12You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
  Ephesians 1:15-16For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
  1 Timothy 4:4-5For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,  because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
  1 Chronicles 16:34Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
  Psalm 7:17I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
  Psalm 28:7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
  Psalm 100:4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
  Psalm 106:1Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
  Isaiah 12:4In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
  Jeremiah 33:11the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, "Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever." For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,' says the LORD.
  Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
  1 Thessalonians 5:18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

A Piece Of The Puzzle- odb.org

November 13, 2013 — by David C. McCasland

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. —1 Corinthians 12:18

Bible in a Year:
Lamentations 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-18

At her birthday celebration, the honored guest turned the tables by giving everyone at the party a gift. Kriste gave each of us a personal note expressing what we mean to her, along with encouraging words about the person God made us to be. Enclosed with every note was one piece of a jigsaw puzzle as a reminder that each of us is unique and important in God’s plan.

That experience helped me to read 1 Corinthians 12 with new eyes. Paul compared the church—the body of Christ—to a human body. Just as our physical bodies have hands, feet, eyes, and ears, all are part of a unified body. No follower of Christ can claim independence from the body, nor can one part tell another that it is not needed (vv.12-17). “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (v.18).

It’s easy to feel less important than others whose gifts are different and perhaps more visible than ours. The Lord, however, wants us to see ourselves as He does—uniquely created and highly valued by Him.

You are one piece of a picture that is not complete without you. God has gifted you to be an important part of the body of Christ to bring Him honor.

Lord, help me not to compare myself with others
in Your family. May I seek instead to be the person
You’ve made me to be, and help me to use what
You’ve given me to bless others today.

Your life is God’s gift to you; make it your gift to God.

WALKING BY FAITH

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Brother Wei from South-east Asia tells his story to a staff member of Open Doors. He is too shy to look at him directly. While he is speaking, he keeps his eyes lowered.

I'm forty-one years old and I'm a simple rice farmer. Twenty years ago, I became a Christian and in the past years, I've been in prison thirteen times because of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The last time I was in a notorious prison, surrounded by a moat. In order to torment the prisoners, we were given rice mixed with sand. There were no toilets - we just had to find a spot somewhere.

I was arrested because I believed in Jesus and because I was active as a preacher. The punishment for this "crime" was two and a half years in prison, but I could be released sooner if I renounced my faith.

The guards constantly tried to force me to deny my faith. I was to sign a form which stated that I had "voluntarily renounced my faith" and that I would "no longer attend meetings." I was bound hand and foot and beaten, but I refused to deny my faith. My fellow prisoners mocked me and swore at me. They called me the "Jesus man." I wasn't allowed a Bible, and if I was caught praying, I was beaten.

After my release, as a result of the abuse I was no longer able to walk fast or to run. Sometimes I could no longer find the words to describe something.

Once I was back in our village, I heard that we had to leave because we hadn't been granted permission to go on living there. We were not allocated any land to work, the children were no longer allowed to go to school and the hospital was no longer willing to help us. Then we left and went to another district, where we had to start over again.

When the Open Doors worker asked him how he had been able to endure all this persecution, Brother Wei said, “I don't trust in what eyes can see, but I’ve put my trust in the Eternal, the Lord Jesus.”

RESPONSE: Today I will persevere through the challenges that come my way with faith in the Eternal God.

PRAYER: Pray that all Christians being persecuted today will respond with this strong faith!

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS)
A daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks

© 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission


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Loving And Knowing

October 25, 2013 — by Julie Ackerman Link

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: Romans 5:6-11

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8

Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5

In a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, one of the characters, speaking of New York’s Empire State Building, said, “I know this building because I love this building.”

That statement caused me to think about the relationship between love and knowledge. Whenever we love something, we want to know everything about it. When we love a place, we want to explore every inch of it. When we love a person, we want to know every detail of his or her life. We want to know what he likes, how she spends her time, where he grew up, who her friends are, what he believes. The list is endless. But some of us want to be loved without allowing ourselves to be known. We’re afraid that we won’t be loved if we are truly known.

We don’t have to worry about that with God. His love is far superior to ours: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Furthermore, He makes Himself known to us. Through creation, Scripture, and Christ, God reveals His character and His love. Because God loves us in spite of our imperfections, we can safely confess our faults to Him. With God, we need not fear being known. That’s why to know God is to love Him.

Be still and know that He is God
For pathways steep and rough,
Not what He brings, but what He is
Will always be enough. —Anon.

There is no greater joy than to know that God loves us.

The End?

October 18, 2013 — by Joe Stowell

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1

Everything in this world eventually comes to an end, which at times can be disheartening. It’s the feeling you get when you read a book that’s so good you don’t want it to end. Or when you watch a movie that you wish would go on a little while longer.

But all things—good and bad—do come to “The End.” In fact, life ultimately does come to the end—sometimes sooner than we expect. All of us who have stood by the casket of a loved one know the painful emptiness of a heart that wishes it wasn’t over yet.

Thankfully, Jesus steps into the fray of terminal disappointments, and, through His death and resurrection, He interjects hope for us. In Him “the end” is a prelude to a death-free eternity, and words like “it’s over” are replaced by a joy-filled “forever.” Since our bodies are not an eternal reality, Paul assures us that “we shall all be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51) and reminds us that because of Christ’s conquering work we can confidently say, “O Death, . . . where is your victory?” (v.55).

So let not your heart be troubled. Our sorrow is real, but we can be filled with gratitude because God “gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.57).

Lord, keep our eyes and hearts fixed not on the
temporary joys or disappointments but on the victorious
realities of eternity. Thank You for Your death and
resurrection that guarantee our forever future.

In Christ, the end is only the beginning.

Wounded Healer: A great victory looks at first like defeat

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

In at least ten places, New Testament writers identify Jesus as the suffering servant. In one instance, Philip corrects an Ethiopian official who wonders if the servant refers to an ancient prophet (see Acts 8:26–35). Isaiah 49—55 includes vivid scenes of the servant’s sufferings, predictions that find their fulfillment in Jesus’ death on the cross.

Indeed this chapter reads almost like an eyewitness account of Jesus’ last days on Earth, even though it was composed centuries before Christ’s death … The physical description—the Bible contains no other physical description of Jesus—is shocking. The servant “had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him” (Isaiah 53:2); he was “like one from whom people hide their faces.” (Isaiah 53:3).

As this chapter foretells, Jesus did not open his mouth to answer his accusers at his trial. He left no descendants. He was cut off in the prime of life and, thanks to a gracious friend, was buried in a rich man’s tomb. But that was not the end; after three days he saw the light of life.

Why the Servant Dies

According to Isaiah, the servant dies for a very specific purpose: “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). He takes on pain for the sake of others, for our sakes. His wounds, an apparent defeat, make possible a great victory. His death seals a future triumph, a time when all that is wrong on Earth will be set right.

Isaiah 53 forms an underlying foundation for much New Testament theology. For example, verse 5 of this chapter claims that the servant’s wounds heal us. The apostle Peter explains it this way: When Jesus died on the cross, his suffering and death “healed” us of our sins, enabling us to live for righteousness (see 1 Peter 2:24).

Convincing Proof
In addition, these detailed prophecies, recorded many centuries before Jesus’ birth, offer convincing proof that God is revealing his plan for the ages through the ancient prophets. He has not permanently severed his covenant with the Jews. Rather, out of Jewish roots—King David’s own stock—he will bring forth a new king, one like no other, to reclaim all the earth.

Life Questions
Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus, the Messiah prophesied about here in Isaiah?

DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES

“Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:49-50

The disciples complained to the Lord Jesus that some other men who were not of their group were ministering in Jesus’ name. The disciples had forbidden them to continue, but Jesus rebuked them. The Lord had to deal with Peter very specifically through a vision and a dramatic experience before he could say, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right” (Acts 10: 34,35).

The Apostle Paul enlarged on this idea in Romans 14. He summarized his teaching when he said, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (Romans 14:4). “You then, why do you judge your brother?…for we will all stand before God’s judgment seat” (Romans 14:10).

We must be very careful about rejecting someone simply because they do not serve the Lord the same way we do. If we quietly go about the work the Lord has given us, we need not be overly concerned about how others feel led to serve Him.

In Eritrea, Helen Berhane experienced differences among believers even in the horrible conditions of the shipping container prison. She writes in her book, Song of the Nightingale:

It was an incredible experience to share my imprisonment with others who were also imprisoned for their faith. However, with Christians from six different denominations in one container, we often found that we disagreed. For example, there was one lady who was a traditional Orthodox Christian; a very strong believer. If I told a joke as part of my Bible teachings she disapproved, so she actually began to pray and worship alone, and even eat alone. I found it amazing that even in a container she would not socialize with Christians she perceived to be too worldly! Other people argued over how we prayed. Some people preferred to pray silently, while others would pray out loud, and in such a small space it was easy to see why this was a problem.

I had to remind them, “We are not in our churches now. In our own church halls we can do as we please, but here we must tolerate each other’s differences. If we keep fighting they may send us to the underground prisons in the mountains, so we must be thankful for our freedom to worship together here, and not argue about the ways we used to worship when we were free.”[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will be very careful about rejecting someone simply because they do not serve the Lord the same way I do.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be humble in dealing with believers who see things differently than I.

Location:Main St,Danbury,United States

DISPENSING GRACE

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

How can Christians dispense grace in a society that is or seems to be veering away from God? As we noted in earlier devotionals, Elijah hid out in caves. On the other hand, his contemporary Obadiah worked within the system running Ahab’s palace while sheltering God’s prophets on the side. Esther and Daniel were employed by heathen empires. Jesus submitted to the judgment of a Roman governor. Paul appealed his case all the way to Caesar. In his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace, Philip Yancey shares:

1. Dispensing God’s grace is the Christian’s main contribution
   The one big thing the church has over the world is showing grace. Jesus did not let any institution interfere with His love for individuals. Here is where the fruit of the Spirit are so important in our lives. Jesus said we are to have one distinguishing mark—neither political correctness nor moral superiority, but—love.
   
2. Commitment to grace does not mean Christians will always live in perfect harmony with the government
   Kenneth Kaunda, the former President of Zambia has written, “…what a nation needs more than anything else is not a Christian ruler in the palace but a Christian prophet within earshot.” Jesus warned that the world who hated him would hate us also. As the early church spread throughout the Roman Empire, the slogan “Jesus is Lord” was a direct affront to the Romans. When conflict came, brave Christians stood up against the state, appealing to a higher authority. Through the years, this same energy continued. In all of this, we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. All our actions—and even counteractions—are to be seasoned with grace. When we show just the opposite, then we must consider the wisdom of our choices.
   
3. Coziness between church and state is good for the state and bad for the church
   Herein lies the chief danger to grace. The state, which runs by rules of ungrace—the entire “world” does—gradually drowns out the church’s sublime message of grace.
   The church works best as a force of resistance, a counterbalance to the consuming power of the state. The cozier it gets with government, the more watered-down its message becomes. Can you imagine any government enacting a set of laws based on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount?” A state government can shut down stores and theatres on Sunday, but it cannot compel worship. It can arrest and punish murderers, but cannot cure their hatred much less teach them love…It can give subsidies to the poor, but cannot force the rich to show them compassion and justice. It can ban adultery but not lust, theft but not covetousness, cheating but not pride. It can encourage virtue but not holiness.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will operate in the world I encounter and in my church dispensing grace.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be a person who is known for my ability to live like Jesus—with grace.

RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDST OF PAIN

This month of September, we, at All Nations Baptist Church will be celebrating Missions. We want to share the love of God in every way possible. With that in mind, please read the following and pass it on:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

The first of September is a memorial day for the people of Beslan in North Ossetia as they remember the awful events of September first 2004. More than one thousand children and adults were taken hostage in School Number One and two days later more than three hundred and thirty of them were killed in the violence.

Memorial services are held and memories of the nightmare overwhelm everyone in town. Beslan’s cemetery is unique; it has the youngest average age in the world (7-12 years old). The sight of so many graves of children deeply affects any visitor. One said, “People who do not live in Beslan have often forgotten the tragedy already, but as soon as you enter the city, you cannot escape the atmosphere of grief and deep mourning that is still enveloping the city.”

When the tragedy occurred at School Number One, almost every family in Beslan was affected. A peculiarity in Ossetia is that nearly everybody is related to one another, so the catastrophe has affected many people in a personal way. Even those who were watching television during the event suffered diseases, heart attacks and strokes.

Pastor Taimuraz Totiev and his wife Ria had their five children at school; only the eldest daughter, Madina, survived the attack. Their four other children, Larissa, Luba, Albina and Boris, were buried on September 7, 2004.

The pastor’s brother, Sergey Totiev, also had children at the school. Sergey and his wife Bela buried two of their children on the same day: Dzerassa (15) and Anna (9). Their son Azamat lost his sight in one of his eyes and is having surgery to save his other eye.

Both men are pastors of the Beslan Baptist Church. At the children’s funeral Sergey spoke of forgiveness and advised people not to seek revenge, but to serve as peacemakers. His exact words were: “Yes, we have an irreplaceable loss, but we cannot take revenge. As Christians, the Bible teaches us that we must forgive. Revenge is in God’s hands.” According to a Christian worker in the area, a demonic plan was broken when those words were spoken!

Since that time they have been doing everything they can think of to minister to families of the victims. Other churches and ministries have also taken up the enormous task of counseling and helping the survivors and the bereaved. Others decided to reach out to Chechen people (nationality of the neighboring terrorists) and are finding ways to minister God’s love to them.

RESPONSE: Today I commit to being a messenger of God’s reconciliation through Christ—even to those who may cause harm to me or my family.

PRAYER: Pray for the church to be an instrument of reconciliation and restoration in this volatile area of Central Asia.

Can our prayers cause God to change His mind?

Exodus 32:14

Scripture teaches that God does not change his mind, but he sometimes adjusts his answers to fit our response. The Bible contains many examples of this: the Hebrews on the outskirts of Canaan (see Nu 14:11–23; 1Sa 15:29); Hezekiah’s repentance on behalf of Israel (see 2Ch 29:3–10,36) and the sparing of Nineveh (see Jnh 3:1–10).

Experiencing God’s will is dynamic. As with any interpersonal relationship, God’s relationship with humanity involves unexpected twists and turns. God modifies his responses to ours; we adjust our responses to God’s. So, in a sense, it can be said that God sometimes changes his mind in response to our prayers.

At the same time, God’s will is determined. There are decrees and promises he has made that do not change. He kept his covenant with the Israelites (see Dt 7:7–8) and keeps his new covenant with those who believe in Jesus (see Jn 6:37–40, 44).

God wants us to do his will obediently. He has predetermined ways he expects us to respond, but he has made us capable of resisting him (see Ps 143:10; 1Th 5:16–18; Heb 10:35–39; 2Pe 3:9).

These aspects of God’s will work together. It is not possible for us to understand exactly how they work together, but God is ultimately in control. We might compare the relationship between God, his will and his people to a chess match between a novice player and a master. The novice can make any move he chooses and the master will respond accordingly. But the master will always be in control of the game. This analogy is limited and should not be pressed too far, but God’s people “win” when the Master’s will is done.

SINGING IN THE STORM

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6

The Psalmist expresses his praise in the context of asking God for deliverance from his enemies. His trust results in rejoicing which then results in singing God’s praises.

A simple peasant girl from the countryside in China has used her musical creativity to encourage the house church movement all across China and touch the lives of millions of believers.

Xiao Min was born in a village in Henan Province in central China and has experienced much persecution. Though only receiving a junior high level education, she has been able to compose over 1,270 different hymns—both music and lyrics—that are sung by the Chinese churches in China and now throughout the world. They are known as the Canaan Hymns. Amazing creativity for a young lady with no musical training!

Xiao Min shares that twenty years ago many believers were arrested by the Chinese government. At that time, she prayed to the Lord asking if she could also be arrested and suffer together with these fellow believers. Soon after, she was indeed arrested and sent to prison. She says that she wasn’t scared at all.

One summer day in prison when it was extremely hot she requested the guard to let everyone wash their hair. But she received a rude response telling her to ask the Lord Jesus to wash their hair for them. She used this discouraging response as an inspiration to write hymn number 56, “Lord, We Know Deeply” in the Canaan Hymns series.

In this hymn, Xiao Min sings:

Lord we know deeply that in every moment Your love never, never diminishes.

Lord we know deeply that in every moment, our only friend is You.

Our hearts long for You, our hearts long for You,

Because You’re the first in millions, no one can be compared with You,

No one can be compared with you.”

Not only was Xiao Min arrested because of her faith, she was also persecuted by her family members. But she still testified to them that God healed her sinusitis and that He is her Savior. She concludes, “Even though we experience suffering, the Lord Jesus gives us strength.” Her strength enables her to sing to the Lord in the face of all difficulties.

RESPONSE: Today I will sing praises to the Lord no matter how difficult the journey.

PRAYER: I ask, Lord, for the grace to be able to vocalize my trust and joy and praise of You!

Muito Abencoado

Pão Diário

24 de julho de 2013

Muito abençoado

Bill Crowder

Salmo 107:1-8

Rendam graças ao Senhor por sua bondade e por suas maravilhas para com os filhos dos homens! —Salmo 107:8

Salmos 35–36
Atos 25

No meu trajeto diário de ida e volta do escritório, tenho tempo de sobra para ler — isto é; adesivos em carros. Alguns são grosseiros, outros inteligentes e outros ainda absolutamente de mau gosto. Um adesivo que vi recentemente, no entanto, desafiou gentilmente o meu coração sobre a maneira que muitas vezes vejo a vida. O adesivo simplesmente dizia: “Abençoado demais para reclamar.”

Preciso confessar que me senti culpado à medida que ponderava nessas palavras. Muitas vezes me pego lamentando os momentos na vida que não acontecem do meu jeito, ao invés de concentrar-me nos presentes maravilhosos que meu Pai celestial me deu. Ler essa simples mensagem naquele dia renovou o meu compromisso para ser mais ativo e intencionalmente agradecido, pois o meu Deus tem sido bom para mim em mais maneiras do que eu jamais poderia imaginar.

O Salmo 107 é uma canção que procura corrigir o pensamento ingrato. O salmista (que muitos pensam ser o rei Davi) faz um apelo aos corações que se esfriaram com ingratidão, repetindo quatro vezes: “Rendam graças ao Senhor por sua bondade e por suas maravilhas para com os filhos dos homens!” (vv.8,15,21,31). Mesmo nos piores momentos, temos muito a agradecer. Que possamos aprender a agradecer a Deus por Sua bondade conosco!

Não precisamos de mais para ser gratos, precisamos apenas ser mais gratos.

THE PURE IN HEART

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.Matthew 5:8

As our mourning to God begins the transforming process of our new life in Christ, so our lifestyle of purity amid the impure can become the beginning of reconciliation.

This Beatitude necessitates the strictest and most honest self-examination. We are to do everything with pure, unmixed motives. This demands the death of self and the springing to life of Christ within the heart.

So, blessed are those whose motives are unmixed and who operate in purity. They shall be given a vision of God Himself. As we draw closer to Him through purity, we shall see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly. Thus:

Blessed are those whose motives are absolutely pure and whose life is characterized by purity, for they will be able to see God.

The area of moral purity is one major concern of Muslims. Great stress is laid on modesty in dressing and purity of relationships between the sexes. But Christians seem so nonchalant about such issues. Is it because we do not care about purity? No. The difference is in our starting points. In the Muslim view, purity is from the “outside in.” For the follower of Jesus it must be from the “inside out.” Thus, Muslims seek to cleanse themselves knowing they are in need of cleansing, whereas we know Christ has already cleansed us.

But we tend to disregard the danger that dirt can pose to us and we become careless. What is important to realize is that a careless disregard for even the “appearance of evil” will lead people to wrong conclusions and cause them to stumble. It is not enough to say we are pure. We must be seen to be pure.

A co-worker in China was teaching a class of believers in which two antagonistic-looking groups of students sat across from each other, looking as if they were facing enemies. As he was sharing, some students started crying and others were repenting. He told them that if they needed to apologize to others, they should sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to work, and to move them, and to give them the courage to admit their wrongs to others. He said that God delights in pure-hearted children, and He wants to use submissive, humble people. Everyone was hugging and crying. Everyone was confessing his or her sins to each other. The cleansing brought purity to their relationships.

RESPONSE: Today I will seek to live my life in true purity before God with good motives.

PRAYER: Lord, I can only live this way if I listen and respond positively to the reproving of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to purity issues.

Breaking Bad Habits- Joyce Meyers

You can break up with your bad habits just like you can break up with a bad boyfriend or girlfriend. Bad relationships are one of the hardest habits to break, but if we choose to end them, we can spare ourselves a lot of trouble and pain. Let me explain.

For years and years, I had a habit of getting upset every time I didn't get my way. Maybe that's not your bad habit. Maybe you gossip or cuss or drink too much coffee or watch too much TV or spend money on things you don't need. Whatever your bad habit is, you can break it.

I'm not going to say that breaking a bad habit is easy, but it's God's desire for us to take authority over our bad habits. He doesn't want us to be "bossed around" by our emotions, He wants us to have victory.

Breaking a bad habit requires making a series of good choices, one after the other. Most of us will try to do that on our own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But eventually we figure out that we can't please God without God helping us.

The Amplified Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as our "standby." He's always standing by in case you get into trouble and need a little help. But He won't just show up uninvited. You have to ask Him for help.

Romans 12:21 says we "overcome (master) evil with good." That's one of the biggest secrets in the Word of God. It's a lot easier to make the right choice when you're focusing on God and your victory instead of the fear of failure.

Make the choice today to walk in the Spirit to overcome bad habits and live in victory!

Prayer Starter: God, I'm done living with my bad habits. I make a choice now to take the authority You've given me over temptations that want to boss me around. I will follow Your Holy Spirit into new and better life habits.

Mesmo Nao Entendendo

"E disse o SENHOR a Gideão: Muito é o povo que está contigo, para eu dar aos midianitas em sua mão; a fim de que Israel não se glorie contra mim, dizendo: A minha mão me livrou." Juízes 7:2

Pensamento: Depois de reunir o seu exército para enfrentar os midianitas, Deus resolve mudar os planos e diz a Gideão que tinha gente demais. Então Gideão em obediência ao Senhor, faz uma seleção e ficam apenas 300 homens. Mas o exército dos midianitas era muito maior, e a probabilidade de uma derrota era real. Gideão não tinha dúvida que aquele número não era suficiente e sabia que humanamente seria impossível lutar com esse número reduzido, mas o que Deus faz é tirar tudo em que ele poderia se apoiar. Para firmar o coração de Gideão, Deus queria que ele apenas confiasse e deixasse-O fazer. Para conseguirmos crescer em nossa fé é necessário aprendermos a obedecer a Deus, mesmo sem entender quais são os Seus planos.

Oração: Senhor Deus, ensina-me a ser obediente, a confiar completamente no Senhor, a entregar toda minha ansiedade a Ti, ensina-me a entender que o Senhor quer agir na minha vida, e nos meus problemas, que o Senhor é o meu socorro bem presente, e que o Senhor tem sempre a resposta para nossas orações. Perdoa minha falta de fé, pelas vezes que eu duvidei que o Senhor fosse capaz de fazer um milagre em minha vida. Eu oro em nome de Jesus. Amém.

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Everything Is Mine

God’s ownership goes hand in hand with his victory: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem … Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; … Moab is my washbasin … over Philistia I shout in triumph” (Ps 108:7–9). Wicked and disobedient people may prosper in the present life, but the psalms remind us over and over again of the truth: All the wealth of the world one day will be returned to its rightful Owner. “For from him and through him and for him are all things” (Ro 11:36).

Christian financial stewardship leaders Larry Burkett (1939–2003) and Ron Blue relate an anonymous tale. Despite its lighthearted tone, it is difficult not to squirm at its truth:

Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a very pleasant and successful couple.

At least, that’s the verdict of most people who tend to measure success with a “thingometer.”

When the “thingometer” is put to work in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Thing, the result is startling.

There is Mr. Thing sitting down on a luxurious and very expensive thing, almost hidden by a large number of other things.

Things to sit on, things to sit at, things to cook on, things to eat from, all shiny and new.

Things, things, things.

Things to clean with and things to wash with and things to clean and things to wash.

And things to amuse and things to give pleasure and things to watch and things to play.

Things for the long, hot summer and things for the short, cold winter.

Things for the big thing in which they live and things for the garden and things for the deck and things for the kitchen and things for the bedroom.

And things on four wheels and things on two wheels and things to put on top of the four wheels and things to pull behind the four wheels and things to add to the interior of the thing on four wheels.

Things, things, things.

And there in the middle are Mr. and Mrs. Thing, smiling and pleased as punch with things, thinking of more things to add to things.

Secure in their castle of things …

Well, I just want you to know that your things can’t last.

They’re going to pass. There’s going to be an end to them …

And someday, when you die, they only put one thing in the box.

You.


Think About It

• What does it mean to you that God owns even the nations?
• In what ways do you resonate with the story told by Burkett and Blue?
• It’s likely the story reminds you of a truth that you already know. So why is it so difficult to prioritize life properly?

Pray About It
Lord of all, I praise you for your might and power. And I pray that I will be a good steward of all the things that you have given to me in this life.

Ansiedade

"Persevere firme naquilo que você quer alcançar, certamente quando você menos imaginar e esperar, o que você quer para sua vida sentimental vai acontecer".

            A ansiedade é um sentimento muito forte que aparece no coração de muitas pessoas e não tem fase da vida para aparecer. Esse sentimento faz com que o ser humano queira alcançar antecipadamente os seus objectivos, suas metas e conquistas. Esse sentimento é algo que atrapalha a vida de qualquer pessoa; por isso Deus, através da Bíblia Sagrada, nos mandou tomar cuidado no que diz respeito à ansiedade, como está escrito no livro de Tiago 5.7: “Sede, pois, irmãos, pacientes.” E ser paciente é o oposto de ser ansioso, ser completamente contrário àquela pessoa que apressadamente deseja ver as suas conquistas realizadas imediatamente e, muitas vezes, sem sequer estar preparada para tomar posse das mesmas e saber administrá-las como convém.

        

    Na vida sentimental isso também acontece, principalmente com aqueles que estão sozinhos ou aqueles que querem reconstruir sua vida sentimental encontrando uma outra pessoa, uma vez que o relacionamento anterior se acabou. Então, a pessoa tem pressa de encontrar logo alguém, de buscar a pessoa amada, querida, e às vezes a ansiedade faz com que troque a bênção que espera de Deus pela maldição que este mundo acaba oferecendo.

            De repente você é a pessoa que não tem conseguido ser paciente, está ansioso no aguardo do retorno da sua fé, de seus propósitos com Deus, enfim, daquilo que o seu coração deseja. Por mais ansioso que você esteja, você não vai conseguir fazer com que Deus mova as Suas mãos para abençoar do jeito que você quer e no tempo que você deseja. Ao contrário, Deus fará segundo a Sua própria vontade, pois assim certamente será o melhor para aqueles que desejam a felicidade sentimental, reconstruir a sua felicidade, encontrar a pessoa certa para namorar, noivar e se casar.

            Por exemplo, quando você coloca uma leiteira no fogo, obviamente com leite dentro, e fica ali vigiando o leite para que ele não ferva e transborde sujando todo o fogão, a sensação é de que está demorando bastante tempo para ferver. Mas quando ela põe no fogo e dá as costas para fazer outra coisa, rapidamente acontece o processo de fervura e o leite derrama sujando o fogão. Então a pessoa pensa: “Poxa, como esse leite ferveu rápido!”

            É assim que acontece quando colocamos nas mãos de Deus aquilo que queremos e precisamos para nossas vidas, e você para a sua vida sentimental. Então, saiba meu amigo(a), que Deus age no Seu tempo. Se você continuar lendo o capitulo 5 do livro de Tiago no versículo 11, diz: “Eis que temos por felizes os que perseveram firmes.”

            Que Deus faça o seu coração descansar, confiando e crendo que Ele certamente há de lhe abençoar.

GOD USES PROBLEMS AND PERSECUTION TO PERFECT YOU

"We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.” Romans 5:3-4 Lb

Here is the final of five ways God uses problems and persecution in your life: God uses problems and persecution to PERFECT you.

Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you are going to take with you into eternity.

Christian singer, Helen Berhane, wrote a song of victory while in the terrible conditions of an Eritrean shipping container cell for almost three years:

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory

The beating of the Hebrews with the whip was awful

The waves of the sea and the mighty wind

Crushed by the stone, suffering by day and night;

Paul’s faithfulness was tested by a sword.

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory

The journey of Ruth was a hope where there was no hope;

A sacrifice was paid even for a despised tribe.

Although there was nothing promised for Ruth

By faith she made her way toward Nazareth

And she entered into Jesus’ genealogy.

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory[1]

RESPONSE: God is at work in my life—even when I do not recognize it or understand it. It is much easier and more profitable when I cooperate with Him. This is the way to victory!

PRAYER: Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!

1. Ibid, p.106.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS)
A daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks
© 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission

April's Calendar

Easter Invite

Spread the Joy Around

Malachi 4:2

Have you ever actually watched a cavorting calf? You’d probably think you were witnessing the worst possible case of bovine ADD. Human children act similarly. Position yourself outside an elementary school just before the day’s final bell. Whether a child has to traverse ten feet to queue up for a bus or ten blocks to burst into her door, you can’t fail to miss a common behavior: They run.

When was the last time you leaped? Don’t count the day you were in range of an automatic sprinkler system just chugging into action. When did you dance like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof or like King David upon the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (see 2Sa 6:14–15)?

In Psalm 28:7 David asserts: “My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise [God].” That inner jubilation works well for some of us, but we can’t all see ourselves physically leaping. Our hearts, though, alive in Christ and inspired by joy, can bound and jump.

Preacher and writer Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) knew the joy of being right with God:

No language can express the ineffable blessedness of the supreme reward that awaits the soul that has taken its supreme climb, proved its supreme love, and entered on its supreme reward. What an imperturbable certainty there is about the man who is in contact with the real God! Thank God, the life of the Father of the Faithful is but a specimen of the life of every humble believer who obediently follows the discipline of the life of faith. What a depth of transparent rightness there must be about the man who walks before God, and the meaning of the Atonement is to place us there in perfect adjustment to God. “[Walk before me and be blameless (see Ge 17:1)],” not faultless, but blameless, undeserving of censure in the eyes of God.

Chambers concedes that no language can adequately describe such euphoria, but he doesn’t suggest that we hold back in expressing ourselves in whatever way is appropriate. Are you the “let it all hang out” type, immune to easy embarrassment? Do you gravitate like a moth toward the limelight, or are you continuously aware in a public setting of the impression you’re making—or not making, if your goal is anonymity?

The fact is that it doesn't matter. As Christians, we revere God’s name. And we’ve been healed and forgiven. When God looks at each of us, washed in the cleansing blood of Christ, he sees something incredible—absolute perfection! We've been “released.” How can any of us consider keeping such news to ourselves?

Think About It

• When you think about what God has done for you, what is the first emotion you feel?

• How does your rightness before God allow you to experience joy?

• Who needs to hear about this joy of yours?

Act on It

Someone out there needs the kind of joy that you as a Christian experience. Share that joy with someone.

Personal Development: Dependence on God

READ JOHN 11:1–44

No leader can model faith in God until he or she has developed a consistent dependence on God. Once that faith is established, opportunities will arise when others can’t help but see it. For instance, before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead he prayed, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:42).

Jesus’ faith in his Father was exercised in a way that demonstrated the power of God in a seemingly hopeless situation. This was faith in the midst of illness, death and deep despair. As leaders we want to cultivate the kind of dependence on God that others can see in real-life situations. Such a faith is not cultivated during a crisis, but before a crisis. It’s developed during routine days. And the leader who cultivates such a faith will provide a role model of steadfast dependence on God that no follower will forget.

Is your faith in God such that others see him working through you on routine and non-routine days? What one thing could you do each day to cultivate your dependence on God and demonstrate that dependence so others will see an example they could follow? Jesus knew that faith in God was the basis for strength and hope in the midst of despair. That same hope is available to you, through the Spirit, today in whatever situation you may face.

Dependence on God and Who God Is 

Jeremiah’s dependence upon God got him in plenty of hot water with the leadership of Israel. He stuck to his prophecy, however, trusting God to bring about what he had promised. Israel’s top advisors, however, were rewarded for telling their benefactors what they wanted to hear. Jeremiah knew better than to please earthly leaders and ignore the One true Leader. Read a portion of his story in Jeremiah 23:16–22.

Dependence on God and Who I Am

How can anyone who clearly understands reality think he can make better decisions than God? Good question, but the Bible is full of accounts of people who thought just that. Read Genesis 2:4—3:24 and meet a man who clearly understood reality but still depended on personal choice over God’s will. As you do, consider times when you have done the same thing. Has the outcome been positive or negative?

Dependence on God and How It Works

How could anyone trust his or her own instincts when those instincts violate God’s instructions? Let’s take a closer look at the deceiver and his tactics before we start feeling morally superior to Eve. You and I will be lured away from depending on God just as surely as Adam and Eve were lured away. But we have an advantage over them—they couldn't learn from their mistake until they made it. We can. Let’s turn to Genesis 3:1–6 and do just that.

Dependence on God and What I Do

There is nothing like a good, clear, crisp statement to clarify things. God gives us just that kind of statement about depending on him. Proverbs 3:5–6 deserves the leader’s closest examination. You owe it to yourself, and to those who depend on your leadership, to decide upon whom you depend.

Passage to memorize this week:

NAHUM 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.