Summer Hiatus - A Time for Renewal

I can't believe it's that time of year again. Every summer our blog ministry takes a well-deserved break from our online endeavors. I cannot say enough about all of the wonderful contributors who share their love of Jesus Christ during the year.

This hiatus is more than just a vacation for us. It allows everyone here at Coffeehouse Bible Ministry to pursue other projects and interests that would otherwise not be possible due to our busy schedule. Some of these include; presenting at, or participating in conferences, writing, teaching, and working alongside other ministies to spread God's Word.

Of course, it also gives our awesome ladies a chance to spend time with family and friends over the summer months. God has blessed us in more ways than we could ever count. The Holy Spirit has always guided us, and lifted us when we needed it most. And, I pray that He continues to look favorably upon us.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank you, our wonderful friends all around the world.  We are well aware of how valuable your time is, and appreciate you spending some of it with us. The Coffehouse Bible Ministry will return refreshed and ready to go in September 2015.

Now, on behalf of all of us here at the CHBM, we wish you a safe, happy, and blessed summer. And we look forward to walking along the Lord's path with you again very soon. Until then, may God always bless you!

*Please note that our archived messages are always available for you to use. Feel free to use them as God moves you.

Have a blessed summer!

~Eve

Jesus: A Most Precious Commodity

“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”  - Jack London

It seems that everyone is concerned about waste of one kind or another. There's waste of resources; such as land and water, waste of space, waste of food, and waste of money; just to mention a few.

However, the biggest and worst waste just may be that of time. As an example, a 2014 survey found that the average American spends more that 5 hours watching t.v. daily. What's worse is that people 65+ watch seven hours or more!

Our days here on earth are numbered (Job 15:5). Each of us has been alloted a certain amount time for life here (Psalm 39:5). Of course, only God knows how many days of life we have, but if you did, would you friviously squander your precious days away?

Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9 give us a biblical lesson in waste. Here, all the disciples joined Judas in scolding Mary for wasting expensive perfume on Jesus when it could have been sold and the money given to the poor.

I can only imagine poor Mary just standing there in tears after being lambasted by the group for what they perceived as a blatant, and deliberate waste of an expensive perfume. But something wonderful happens. Jesus himself steps in and defends Mary (Matthew 26:13),

While the disciples could only see her act as a waste of good, marketable perfume; Jesus looked at it from a completely different perspective. He saw the action of Mary as an example of what we all should do, or be doing; that we should come to Him and waste ourselves on Him.

Wasting ourselves on Christ is not the "waste" that we are familiar with. It's true that perfume, in that ancient culture, was indeed a precious commodity, and one not to be wasted. But isn't Jesus even more costly than any perfume could ever be?

The significance of the simple act of Mary pouring it on Him was huge. And it didn't go unnoticed by Jesus. If you get nothing else out of this, it should serve to demonstrate to each one of us the true estimate of His worth.

Spending time getting to know Jesus, praying to Him, reading Scripture, and serving Him is never a waste. His death on the cross was not a waste. He gave it all for you and I because we are so precious to Him.

Jesus is worth devoting all you are and everything you have to Him. We might waste our lives on a lot of things, but letting Him into your heart is never a waste. Why not turn off the television for a bit and give it a try?

Scripture: Ephesians 5:16-17; Colossians 3:23; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Psalm 90:12; James 4:14  

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray to use my days to serve You to my fullest; and that I will not waste one minute, or hour on things that serve no fruitful purpose at all. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kylee

Video - Pastor Melissa Scott: Be Authentic in Christ

Today's message is presented by Pastor Melissa Scott. Here, she discusses the importance of being authentic in Christ. We have to find our way, and not lose our identity in Him. Christianity sometimes has a tendency to be viewed as cookie-cutter manufactured where we all look, act, breathe, and do alike. But, in reality, we are all unique and authentic in Jesus. Enjoy!  ~Eve

Only the Beginning...

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”   - Plato, The Republic

New beginnings or starting from square one can be a frightening prospect to many of us. New situations, jobs, people, surroundings, etc., may incite anxiety and cause stress, too. One thing is for certain though, we can all relate to this.

Beginnings are unavoidable. Everyone and everything has to begin, or start somewhere; somehow. However, there is one very distinct exception to this rule God! He has. is, and always will be. This concept can be mind-boggling, but it's true.

Of course being who were are, we try to wrap our hands around this thought. But, because of our very limited "temporal" minds, we will never fully comprehend all there is to know about the Alpha and the Omega; at least not on this side of the heavenly plane (Revelation 22:13).

But getting back on topic, nowhere is the powerful concept of beginnings more evident than in Genesis 1. The opening words, "In the beginning..." tell us much about the power and wisdom of our Father in heaven.

The very words suggest, no, they declare that something new is about to occur; something that has never been done before, or since. I ask you to keep in mind that what scripture is talking about here is basically a blank, unmarked canvas.

Imagine the possibilities and direction if one had this kind of opportunity. God was truly starting at ground zero, and the sky was the limit -- even though a sky didn't exist yet! Notice that the next word following, "In the beginning..." is God. We need to be as clear as crystal on this fact that God was at work here. It was His beginning to work with; it was His show.

Following God is the word "created." Let's hit the pause button for a moment. Reading what we have so far, "In the beginning God created..." tells us a lot. One can unquestionably discern that God was personally creating something out of nothing (ex nihilo) here.

Isn't wonderful and amazing to think that God, in his infinite wisdom and love, created not only us but our entire universe, too? It must have been incredibly spectacular. Everything was "new" in every sense of the word. The colors, smells, sights and sounds of His new creation had never existed until then.

Yes, there hasn't been a "beginning" like that since, but that doesn't mean we can't have new "spiritual" beginning. When we repent of our sins and commit to Christ, it is very much a "new beginning" for us (Acts 3:19).

If you could wipe the slate clean and start over again, would you? Of course! Who wouldn't want a new beginning; a fresh start. Only Christ can do this. The good thing is that He not only can, but He wants to do this for you.

Why not start fresh again? Let Christ help you. To begin is to: start; perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity). God is pretty good with beginnings. You can trust Him to do an outstanding job with your new beginning, too!

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ecclesiastes 3:11; John 1:1 

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I believe your Holy Spirit is real. I believe this gift is for me. Lord, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit, and I am asking you for this gift. I will humble myself and use this blessing only for your glory. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

God bless you!

Chrissie

Where is God?...Where Is He Not?

"What does it mean to have a god, or, what is God? I answer: a god is that from which we are to expect everything good and to which we are to take refuge in all times of need."  - Martin Luther

Results of a 2013 Harris Poll found that a compelling majority (74%) of U.S. adults believe in God. However, this belief has declined when compared to previous years. In 2005, 2007 and 2009 just over four in five (82%) expressed a belief in God.

As shown by this research, and several others, people's feelings about the existence of God can be quite unique. In fact, even talking about, or sharing thoughts on God can be like stirring up a beehive with some. But then again, this is nothing new.

In Scripture, we can find many instances where this very "belief in God" issue was debated (Deuteronomy 1:32; Numbers 14:11; Psalm 78:22; Hebrews 4:2). Fortunately for you and I, God is very patient. He faithfully waits because he doesn't want anyone to be lost. He desires for everyone to change both their hearts and lives (2 Peter 3:9).

We know from the Bible and our own selfish experiences that idols come in various forms. The heart's confidence and faith make both God and an idol. However, there is only one God. What makes the difference?

If your faith and confidence are honest and true, your God will be, as well. On the other hand, if your confidence and faith is false and unsound, you do not have the truthful God. Thus, faith and God are indeed complementary concepts.

Winston Churchill once commented that, "Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened." Many times, even though the answer is right there in front of us, we step right over it.

For some unknown reason many seem to feel that because something is more complicated it just has to be better. I don't think God intended for us to feel that way about Him, though. Even the simplest, most basic things contain enough wonder to make one feel humbled by His mighty works.

Mankind has quarreled endlessly about the existence or non-existence of God. Yet, while generations come and go, God remains the same (Malachi 3:6; Revelation 1:8). We were created by Him, in His image (Genesis 1:27). Each one of us, whether we agree or not, contains God within.

God is as real as the clouds in the sky, the dirt on the ground, the pulse in your wrist, and the sun as it rises in the morning. He is always there for us, not because He has to prove that he is, but because He loves us. Like a young child who has yet to learn life's lessons. so are we to God.

When my children were growing up, now and then, they would encounter something age innappropriate which they did not understand. They would ask me about it, and after some serious thought I might answer, "Some day you'll understand." Of course, they weren't always satisfied with this, but as their parent I made the judgment call.

This is so with our God. We may ask or wonder why, expecting an answer. Sometimes He gives it to us, other times He doesn't. It's not for us to demand, or throw a tantrum if His answer, or lack of, doesn't meet our expectations.

And although our belief in Him may ebb and flow across time, He patiently waits for us. God is there, always has been, and always will be. Family, friends, civilizations, and even we will come and go. But God will be there eternally.

I will close with a quote by Aaron Arrowsmith which sums up today's message quite succinctly, "A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?' Great food for thought!

Scripture: John 3:16; John 1:1; Luke 1:47-49; Hebrews 12:6; James 2:19

Prayer: O God, teach me to breathe deeply in faith. Amen   (Søren Kierkegaard)

God bless you,

Cherise

Gifts From God Are To be Used

"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?"  - Benjamin Franklin

There's a popular program on television here in the U.S. called America's Got Talent.  Basically, it's a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of one million dollars; and a chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip.

One of the things that makes it a huge success is that it provides an opportunity for talented amateurs or unknown performers to showcase their talents. Their fate is then decided by an audience vote. It's fun, fluffy entertainment, typical of similarly formatted shows on television these days.

However, there's an obvious problem with this scenario. There can only be one main winner. Everyone else who falls short must go home. The only true beneficiary of this competition is the person(s) who win it all. Some might say that is just the way it goes. Or, it is what it is. But I ask, "Is it really?"

God has blessed each and every one of us with gifts of one kind or another. Some may be generously blessed over and above, while others with only the bare minimum. Either way, we have all been given gifts, or talents. My question to you is this: "How have you used your gifts, or talents?"

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) speaks loudly to us about using what we have been given to the best of our abilities. Everything we have comes from God; and belongs to Him. We alone are responsible for using our gifts/talents so that they increase in value.

From the creation of mankind we have been blessed with resources of time. material, and wealth. As mentioned earlier, these things (gifts) have been doled out to us in varying degrees. Even so, each of us are to use what we've been given to the maximum. We are to use what we have been given for God's purposes. Severe consequences loom ahead for those who squander, or waste their gifts.

You might ask, "Why weren't we all given the same talents?" That's not such a difficult question to answer. It is so because of God's sovereignty. Without going off into another discussion, let me address this briefly. Because of His sovereignty, God has the right to grant positions, gifts, talents, and wealth as He sees fit.

Through His creation we can marvel at the beauty of all of the diversity. It is His to do with as He desires. This includes the measure of talents or gifts that we are given. It has nothing to do with who, or what we are; what we've done; or where we come from, as much as what we do with what we are entrusted with.

Like the wealthy man who entrusted his wealth to his servants in his absence, one day we will have to answer to the Lord, "How have you used your gifts, or talents?" What will your response to Him be? At that point in time, there will be no turning back, no do-overs, no timeouts. Your eternity hangs in the balance.

In closing today's message, I leave you with this quote from S.D. Gordon: "We have nothing to do with how much ability we've got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus' spirit controls."

Scripture: Romans 12:6; James 1:17; 1 Peter 4:10; Exodus 31:3-5; Ephesians 5:15-17

Prayer: Dear Lord, You have blessed me with gifts which can benefit others. I pray that by Your wisdom, guidance, and mercy that I will use them to the fullest; and may I never waste an opportunity to use them. Amen

May your day be blessed,

Joy

Weekend Message - Anne Graham Lotz: Have You Been Wounded?

This weeks message presents Anne Graham Lotz, the author of "Wounded by God's People," discusses how to heal and be healed in relationships. A powerful message on forgiveness from a Spirit-filled woman. Enjoy!  ~Eve

Change Can Be a Good Thing

“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”  - George Bernard Shaw

I was watching a daytime talk show the other morning where they had a group of four women on stage; each of whom had undergone a "makeover." They had plucked these women from the studio audience, voluntarily, of course, and gave each a new, updated hairstyle, a new flattering outfit, and totally revamped their makeup. All of them looked beautiful, and more importantly, they appeared pleased with the final results.

Makeover shows are fun and popular to watch. I think the attraction to these programs is that we get to watch someone, not so unlike ourselves, become different or transformed before our eyes. For those of us not brave or bold enough to try it, it's entertaining but safe to view from a distance. Even American writer Mary Doria Russell says, "Who doesn't love a makeover? Even my husband watches 'What Not To Wear.'

Makeovers, or transformations such as these modify mainly the outer person. But what about the inside? I can only imagine that seeing a completely different person staring back at you, while standing in front of a mirror, can be both satisfying and rejuvenating. However, while these changes may bolster a sagging self-esteem do they really transform the inner person? And, are they long lasting or does the glow fade away as quickly as lipstick does by the end of the day?

The concept of  makeovers isn't really anything new. As a matter of fact, the Bible shows us many examples of Jesus performing them himself. In Luke 8:35, we read about the demon possessed man who was changed by Christ. Or, the blind man who received the joy of new-found sight (John 9:1-7).

Habakkuk, too was transformed by God's message. His makeover took place when he quit talking and making assumptions; and allowed God to respond. Once he did this, all of his complaining and speculating disappeared. He was a changed man from then on.

But did you know that the same can happen to us as well if we would just stop and let God speak to us? It's true.

Starting with the gospel message of Christ, our lives can receive a makeover or transformation. This is made possible to us through the power of God. The gospel is what brings us salvation (Romans 1:16-17). Additionally, we can learn how to discard our old selves and put on a new self through the message of Christ (Ephesians 4:22;-24). Now, that's truly a makeover!

The wonderful thing about the makeovers that Christ performed is that they had nothing do with a person's physical, or outward appearance. It was all about the inner person. Jesus's makeovers worked from the inside out.

What we can take away from this today is that no matter what your situation is, how much you have sinned, or have bottled up, fermenting inside of you; Jesus wants to give you a total makeover. And, it doesn't cost anything but your attention, determination, and committment to Him.

True beauty isn't found in a tube of mascara or a spritz of perfume; but in allowing yourself to be transformed by Him. For it is through the power of God's spirit that Christ lives within you and I.

Scripture: Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 1:9

Prayer: Holy Father, thank you for seeing past the imperfections of my outer self, and reforming me from the inside where the true self really is. You see and know everything about me; and what I do or don't need. Mold me into the best person that I can be so I that may serve You in every capacity. Amen

Have a blessed weekend,

Abigail

Never Fear Failure

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  - Winston Churchill

The fear of failure can be a very paralyzing thing. It can hinder us from many different things, such as: reaching for our dreams, seeing something through to the end, trying for that better job, and even pursuing lasting, intimate relationships. Failure has a nasty habit of knocking the wind right out of our sails.

The Bible has some notable examples of failure which are used as teaching points. One mighty example of failure was repeated many times by the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Time and time again, despite having more than one prophet convey God's instructions to them, they rebelled and comitted sin against Him.

This pattern of failure to heed God's mandates caused them a lot of pain and misery, which could have been avoided very easily had they only complied. Moses gave in to the whining of his people and failed to follow God's strict instructions (Numbers 20:2-5). His failure would cost him not being able to lead the assembly into the promised land (Numbers 20:8-12).

When we examine ourselves, we realize that we too often fall short of who we might be. Even so, we can take comfort from the Bible, where we see many characters who failed, and yet learned from their mistakes to successfully prosper later on.

God would work with them to help them learn from their failures, and to accomplish good things in spite of their limitations. We can see by their example that failure is something we need not fear. Plus, we learn how to apply the stories of these Biblical characters to our own modern lives.

When Jim Burke became the head of a new products division at Johnson & Johnson, one of his first projects was the development of a children’s chest rub. The product failed miserably, and Burke expected that he would be fired. When he was called in to see the chairman of the board, however, he met a surprising reception.

“Are you the one who just cost us all that money?” asked Robert Wood Johnson. “Well, I just want to congratulate you. If you are making mistakes, that means you are taking risks, and we won’t grow unless you take risks.” Some years later, when Burke himself became chairman of Johnson & Johnson he continued to spread that word.

We have all experienced failure at one point or another during our lives. Yes, it's not a pleasant experience, but that's exactly the point. We shouldn't look at failure as failure. It shouldn't discourage you from pressing on (Joshua 1:9). And even though you might have messed up this time, there's always next time (Philippians 4:13).

If you acquire anything from failure it should be the toughness and perserverance to better handle the situation next time. God earnestly wants to forgive and strengthen us. The only way we can possibly lose is to surrender to failure.

All of us will fail at something at some point in our lives; it's inevitable, But only those who are truly failures will refuse to rise back up. You have to keep pressing on, keep fighting, and if you need it, turn to others for help. Most of all, let God lift and restore you (James 4:10).

Scripture: Philippians 4:13; Romans 5:3-5; Psalm 73:26; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 24:16

Prayer: Dear Lord, though failure is a part of our earthly life; I know that it's just another part of our learning experience on our journey home to You. I pray that no matter what life holds in store for me, good or bad, You will guide me through it; and that I will be a better person for it in the end. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Krystal

Video Message - Beth Moore: Predjudice Prevents Healing

In today's thought provoking message, Bible teacher Beth Moore explains how our own prejudices can be the biggest obstacle to our healing. Enjoy!  ~Eve

You Can't Have One Without the Other

“It is hard to believe, not because it is hard to understand, but because it is hard to obey.”  - Soren Kierkegaard

Difficulty with obedience is not so hard to comprehend. Men train many different types of animals to perform various tasks. I can't think of any animal that naturally meets expectations without some sort of motivation. The same applies to people.

My own children come to mind. As they were growing up, if I sought a certain action or reaction from them, I had to demonstrate by example the desired behavior. Fortunately, they had faith in me, and obeyed. Yes, it took time, a little work and patience, but they turned out beautifully!

The military is also famous for setting standards of faith and obedience in what they do; which in turn produces men and women who highly motivated and disciplined. Schools, teams, and various organizations follow certain guidelines requiring faith and obedience, as well.

When it comes to faith in God, however, we are asked to believe and obey in something that we cannot see, hear, touch, feel, or taste. This is where many people hit a roadblock when it comes to God. They want to believe that there is something bigger than us out there, but who, what, or where is it?

With God there is no kinda-sorta, meet you halfway, or sitting on the fence. It's true with many things on this side of heaven that you can get by with a weak, watered down kind of faith that changes everytime the wind blows in a different direction. But not so with God!

I will lay it out for you as simply as I can: faith is the unconditional acceptance of, and obedience to, God's absolute word. He will accept nothing less. There is nothing else; not good living, giving, or praying that carries as much weight as does faith and obedience.

When God approached Abram and asked him to pack up, pull up stakes, and move from the only home he had ever known to a strange, new land, did he balk? Drag his feet? Whine about it? No, He might have been a little nervous about it, but He did not question God's intentions. He believed and obeyed (Genesis 12:1-9).

This was great for Abram, you say, but what about the rest of us? As I mentioned earlier, some actions, or behaviors require motivation in order to get the ball rolling. The same holds true for faith and obedience to God. So then, what is our motivation for the unconditional acceptance of, and obedience to God's fundamental word?

For starters, the believer is assured of salvation from hell and is eternally secure, since that salvation is based solely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 10:28,29; Romans 8:38,39). It's inconsistent with the Gospel and with Scripture to seek to gain or keep eternal salvation by godly living.

That alone might be good enough motivation for some, however, Scripture also presents additional motivation for obedience in the Christian life, such as: a powerful motivation for living the Christian life is gratitude to God for saving us by His grace (Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Galatians 2:20).

Believers should also be motivated by the knowledge that their heavenly Father both blesses obedience and disciplines disobedience in His children (Hebrews 12:3-11; Leviticus 26:1-45).

Finally, every Christian must stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, not to determine his destiny in heaven or hell, but to assess the quality of his Christian life on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12).

Anticipating either reward or loss of reward at the Judgment Seat should also motivate believers to perseverance and to faithfulness to God's revealed will (1 Corinthians 3:10-17, 9:24-27; James 5:8,9; 1 John 2:28).

Now, this message is by no means an exhaustive discourse on faith and obedience. My purpose today was to bring these two important elements of belief in God to your attention. Men will not obey God until they believe in Him! That is why faith is expounded so strongly; so that we might be brought to obedience.

In closing, I remind you that the gospel strengthens our faith so that we will live obedient lives. I cannot stress this enough. It (the gospel) is the means to obedience because it is the means to faith; and obedience comes from faith.

Someone once said that, "Whoever takes God at his word, will take all His words." Beloved, there is no faith without obedience, and there is no obedience without faith! Keep these words close to your heart, always.

Scripture: John 14:15; John 14:21; John 14: 23, 24; Romans 1:5; Hebrews 11:8

Prayer: Dear God, my faith in You is strong; as is my love. Along with loving obedience and grateful reliance do I ever place my trust in You, Holy Father. Amen

- special thanks to the Grace Evangelical Society, Irving, TX.

May God bless you,

Elise

God Seeks Quality Over Quantity

“We live by faith or we do not live at all. Either we venture or we vegetate. If we venture, we do so by faith simply because we cannot know the end of anything at its beginning. We risk marriage or we stay single. We prepare for a profession by faith or we give up before we start. By faith we move mountains of opposition or we are stopped by mole hills.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Faith honors God and God honors faith! A story from the life of missionaries Robert and Mary Moffat illustrates this truth. For 10 years this couple labored faithfully in Bechuanaland (now called Botswana) without one ray of encouragement to brighten their way. They could not report a single convert.

Finally the directors of their mission board began to question the wisdom of continuing the work. The thought of leaving their post, however, brought great grief to this devoted couple, for they felt sure that God was in their labors, and that they would see people turn to Christ in due season.

They stayed; and for a year or two longer, darkness reigned. Then one day a friend in England sent word to the Moffats that he wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like. Trusting that in time the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, “Send us a communion set; I am sure it will soon be needed.”

God honored that dear woman’s faith. The Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of the villagers, and soon a little group of six converts was united to form the first Christian church in that land. The communion set from England was delayed in the mail; but on the very day before the first commemoration of the Lord’s super in Bechuanaland, the set arrived.

In today's culture, it appears that unless something is humongous it really isn't worth much. If a house, car, paycheck, or even a soda and fries isn't super-sized it's crummy or second-rate. The smaller sized object has been relegated to insignificant or unsatisfactory. Our lives have become obsessed with size, and quantity over quality.

When God sets out to do something He doesn't really care so much about numbers or size. In fact, many times in the Bible we see examples of only one, or two people accomplishing mighty things for God: Gideon (Judges 6:11-14); Samson (Judges 15:14,15); Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:13, 14).

Even the spreading of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire was carried out by a small band of apostles. Do you recall how the Lord trimmed Gideon's army down from 32,000 men to 300? Once again, God felt that in that particular situation smaller was better (Judges 7:1-7).

I use these illustrations to point out how much God delights in demonstrating His power through impressive human endeavor as opposed to sheer size or mass. The key ingredients that provided the motivation and passion for these individuals was: faith and commitment.

The same applies to us today. Yes, we Christians can do many things using sheer numbers and volume. But without faith and commitment to God it has no true meaning. The benefit of bigness comes only when our faith and commitment is in proportion to our numbers.

In the end, if an individual or organization lacks faith and comittment to God; He cannot use us to execute His objectives for our benefit. The God of this universe has wonderful things in store for us. Let the magnitude of your faith and comittment, not portion determine how you fit into His plan.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3; Matthew 22:37; James 4:8; James 4:3; 2 Peter 1:5

Prayer: Holy Father, though the work ahead may be too much for my strength and too complicated for my understanding; I know that nothing is beyond Your understanding or power. I trust in You to provide me with whatever I am lacking; and I promise to do my best to do Your will. Amen

May God bless you,

Meredith

Weekend Message - Holly Wagner: God Has a Plan for Your Life

In this weeks message, Holly Wagner discusses how God has a plan for our lives. Whether you've been following Him for 2 minutes or 20 years, God has a plan for your life, too.  Enjoy!  ~Eve

God's Worry-free Control

"The most important lesson that I have learned is to trust God in every circumstance. Lots of times we go through different trials and following God's plan seems like it doesn't make any sense at all. God is always in control and he will never leave us."  - Allyson Felix

We like the feeling feeling of being in control, don't we? The feeling that we are in charge of our own destiny. Life's road ahead being wide open to endless possibilities; and all of it within our grasp. Whatever happens, or doesn't, is totally up to us and our personal decisions.

As much as we enjoy accomplishment and good fortune, we have a distaste for disappointment and failure. When we experience the latter in our lives our knee-jerk reaction is to blame another for it. It might be the fault of a friend, spouse, boss, significant other, parent, teacher, etc., but it is almost never our own.

More times than we care to think, we blame God for our woes. "Why is God doing this to me?" "How could God let this happen to me?" What did I ever do to God to deserve this?" Of course, it's never our fault.

Let me put this to you softly. Nothing occurs randomly or by chance. This is even more so in the lives of believers. God has already determined it. He has already intended for it to happen, and there's nothing or no one who can stand in His way (Isaiah 14:24).

God's sovereignty, otherwise known as His complete and total independent control over every living thing, event, and circumstance at every moment in history, envelopes our existence. Having this kind of control all the time means that everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him for His own perfect purposes (Isaiah 46:10).

For us, it all boils down to trusting God and relying on Him for all things. This includes every aspect of our lives. However, God is neither a tyrant or a dictator. He wants us to enjoy our lives and all of the beauty and benefits this world offers. But at the same time, we are dependent on Him for everything.

Dear friends. God is full of love, righteousness, mercy, goodness and kindness. Anything He has allowed into our lives is motivated by these qualities. Yes, we do have lives to live; but God reminds us that He is always a big part of it. And even though we can't feel His presence; He is always with us (Hebrews 13:5).

Scripture: Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:20; John 17:17; 1 John 2:5; Psalm 9:10

Prayer: Dear God, I am so grateful that You are my strength and my wisdom as I lean on You for so many things. I pray for Your presence every day of my life; for without it I would surely be lost. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Giana

Each Serves a Purpose in God's Eyes

“Consider that fact that, being nothing in ourselves, we cannot, without divine assistance, accomplish the smallest good or advance the smallest step toward Heaven.”  - Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Who hasn't taken one of those self-tests where you rate your strengths and weaknesses? You know what I'm talking about! They can be found in some magazines, newspapers, or online. Ok, I have to admit that I'm guilty. I have taken a few just for fun. After all, who doesn't want to know?

Seriously though, all of us have certain strengths and weaknesses that define who we are. These can fall under various categories such as, character, physical, and emotional, etc. Doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other medical professionals love to discuss this topic because of its appeal to our curiosity.

Perhaps you can remember a time, or two, when you were asked to describe your strengths and weaknesses. This might have happened when you were in school, or during a job interview. No matter, when put on the spot, it can be both difficult and nerve-wracking for most of us to come up with something that sounds halfway intelligent. Agreed?

As Christians, or believers in Jesus Christ, we too confront our strengths and weaknesses. It's not easy following Our Lord. This applies just as much today as it did at the time of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12). Interestingly, God himself used the strengths and weaknesses of many people, both ordinary and extraordinary to get things done.

Folks like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets were some that were handpicked by God because of their strengths and/or weaknesses. Thus, they were enabled by Him to perform exploits beyond anything that they might have been able to do on their own.

Some like Samson and Hezekiah were even uplifted from their physical issues and roused for battle. Honestly, God doesn't concern Himself too much with our strengths and weaknesses. He already knows all about them (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7). There are no secrets between us and God (Psalm 94:11; 139:1-4).

Once God has set His mind on using you to fulfill His purpose, He will use you whether you are a willing participant or not. Jonah tried running away from God because he was too afraid, and maybe a little too self-centered to do God's work. Didn't matter. God still used him to help get his message across to the people of Ninevah.

That's the truly marvelous thing about God's plan for us. We all have a useful purpose in His eyes. What we may perceive as strengths and weaknesses are practical means to an end to God. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we would only recognize each other in the same loving and unconditional way?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15; John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:20

Prayer: Dear Lord, how humbled am I that You accept me as I am; my imperfections and virtues You merge together as one for Your mighty and glorious works. Amen

God bless you,

Cammie

Video - Beth Moore: May His Face Shine Upon You

Here, Bible teacher Beth Moore delves into the significance of the presence of God in our daily lives. Enjoy!  ~Eve

Hold Fast God's Promises

"The ground of faith is not the sufficiency of the visible means for the performance of the promise, but the all-sufficiency of the invisible God, who will most surely do as He has said."  - Charles H. Spurgeon

When you were younger you probably made "pinky-promises" with your friends over some private issue known only between you. These types of promises were usually made with a best friend, or at the very least, someone you could trust.

As we got older, our promises became a little more complicated as they had much more at stake. Now, many business dealings, workplace obligations, even social relationships depend on the strength of promises. These types of promises require a little more "skin" in the game, as they say.

The main weakness, or achilles heel of promises is that they are only as strong as the integrity of the people that make them. I don't have to tell you about the issues that can occur when promises are broken. What comes to my mind here is social reform, education, business and politics, but that's another discussion for another day!

What I'd truly like to talk about here with you are the only promises that can be counted on 100%. These are the promises of God. Within the pages of Scripture we can find numerous examples of God's promises. Unquestionably, in each of His promises, God pledges that something either will, or won't be done, given, or come to pass.

I might add that these promises are nothing like the glib, informal promises that we often make to one another. Promises from God are reliable and indisputable assurances made by God Himself. And, because He is faithful, the beneficiaries of the divine promises (us) can be guaranteed that what God has vowed will absolutely be carried out (Numbers 23:19).

For alot of us, past, unfulfilled promises may have left a bad taste in our mouths. Our faith or confidence having been shattered by broken promises. If this is indeed the case, what can we do? Author Alisa Hope Wagner says that: “At any moment we can demonstrate our faith by taking action that shows our belief in God's promises!”

What kind of action? You can start by fully trusting God (1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 6:18). Unlike you or I, God won't try to tweak, or back out of a promise once He has committed to it (Hebrews 13:18; Titus 1:2). His credibilty is unquestionable and impeccable.

We can also offer God our praise and thanks. His promises to us are unfailingly done with our best interest at heart. He will never promise anything that will purposely cause pain or suffering. Of course, there will be occasions when the intention of His promises may appear questionable, or confusing to us. But that has more to do with of our lack of faith, or pride than His pledge to us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Rest easy knowing that whatever He promises is legitimate and honest. And, hold fast that all of God's promises find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). Lailah Gifty Akita, in her book Beautiful Quotes, says to: “Hold fast to your faith. Keep your hope in the Lord. Embrace the love of God.”

For, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6; John 14:2–3

Prayer: Holy Father, Your promises are for my eternal good. You never make promises that You cannot keep; nor assurances that can't be fulfilled. I pledge my faith and love to You; trusting in heart and spirit everything You say, always. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Renay

In Whom Do You Trust?

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”  - William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

English novelist Henry Graham Greene once said, "It is impossible to go through life without trust: that is to be imprisoned in the worst cell of all, oneself." I agree. It would be a very sad world to live in if we could not have trust in others.

We count on, or trust in others every day of our lives. We trust that the food that we eat won't make us ill; the water we drink is potable; the cars that we drive are safe; the banks where we keep our money are sound; the construction of our homes is solid, the schools our children attend are stimulating and nuturing. and so on and so forth.

Several years ago the economy took a real beating. When this happened many people were hurt, not only financially, but emotionally, as well. They lost trust in leadership, financial institutions, and even in one another. It was quite an emotional rollercoaster ride for a while there.

But major industries, financial institutions and govenment aren't the only ones that have lost some of their trustworthiness lately. It seems that as far as trust between individuals goes, we still have a ways to go. Sadly, even our churches are not immune to this. We are all only human, after all.

According to a 2013 Gallup poll, the majority of Americans no longer rated pastors and religious leaders' honesty and ethical standards highly. The poll revealed that trust in clergy had dropped below 50 percent. The decline of trust in religious leaders was attributed to scandals.

Broken down to it's basics one could say that when we're trustworthy people can rely on us. This means that we can be counted on to do what we say we will do. And that if we make commitments, we follow through on them.

Let me ask you, "Do you ever make promises you can't keep? Do you take shortcuts? Do you manipulate or withhold information to get what you want? Do you do rationalize unethical behavior to suit your needs or wants?"

The obvious question here is: "Whom can I trust?" To search for an answer to this question, let's turn to the pages of scripture; centering our attention on the word trust.

We find in the Bible that “trust” literally means “a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security." In other words, trust isn't exactly the same as faith, which is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). On the contrary, trusting is what we do because of the faith we have been given.

This is telling us that trusting is believing in the promises of God in every circumstance, even in those where the evidence seems to be contradictory. Hebrews 11 discusses faith, which is accepting and believing the truth that God reveals about Himself, supremely in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even so, the practical consequence of faith in God is trust, which we prove by living out our full acceptance of God’s promises each day at a time. What's more, it's by this trust that we are promised peace: “You will keep in peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

The great 19th century American evangelist Dwight L. Moody summed up trust quite nicely this way: "Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment; trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you; trust in money, and you may have it taken from you; trust in reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it; but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity."

It's not that difficult for anyone to become trustworthy. In fact, it's within the reach of any who desire it. Without a doubt, it's a powerful and essential character trait that can prove quite beneficial in any kind of relationship. And yes, that includes our relationship with Our Heavenly Father.

Proverbs 3:5 tells us: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” This bit of scripture summarizes the Bible’s teaching on trust. Foremost, it is the Lord in whom we are to trust, not ourselves or our plans, and certainly not the world’s wisdom and ways.

In closing today, remember: We trust in the Lord because He and He alone is truly trustworthy. His Word is trustworthy (Psalm 93:5; 111:7; Titus 1:9), His nature is faithful and true (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 25:10; 145:13; 146:6), and His plans for us are perfect and purposeful (Isaiah 46:10; Jeremiah 29:11).

More than that, because of God’s nature, we are to trust Him with all our hearts, committing every aspect of our lives to Him in complete confidence.

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3; John 14:26; Luke 10:27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Joshua 1:9

Prayer: Dear God, in You I place all of my hopes, my dreams, and my trust; now and forever. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Patricia

Weekend Message - Jennifer Degler, PhD.: No More Christian Nice Girl

Clinical psychologist, Jennifer Degler, PhD., encourages women to be courageous in their convictions and not simply "put on a happy face." Interesting, thought-provoking message.
Enjoy!  ~Eve

The Blame Game

“We habitually erect a barrier called blame that keeps us from communicating genuinely with others, and we fortify it with our concepts of who's right and who's wrong. We do that with the people who are closest to us and we do it with political systems, with all kinds of things that we don't like about our associates or our society.

It is a very common, ancient, well-perfected device for trying to feel better. Blame others....Blaming is a way to protect your heart, trying to protect what is soft and open and tender in yourself. Rather than own that pain, we scramble to find some comfortable ground.”   - Pema Chödrön

The blame game, otherwise known as "personal responsibility," is a familiar game. We all know how this game is played, don't we? When something happens (usually not anything pleasant) some thoughts may pop into our minds similar to these: "Who do I blame?" "Do I blame the other gal?" "Or do I point the finger at myself?"

Not very pretty is it. Sadly, we see this happening more and more with our government leaders, sports heroes, and other celebrities. In other words, the people who have the most social exposure, and should be setting the standard for good behavior, simply are not.

I'm not speaking about idolatry today, but many young people follow the examples that are demonstrated by these folks. Ex-NBA superstar Charles Barkley once said, "I am not paid to be a role model." This may be true, but whether celebrities like it or not, they are role models to many too young, or gullible to fully understand.

But personal responsibility isn't just the exclusive property of the rich and famous. It applies to everyone, which includes you and I. Besides, it's such an easy thing to do. Shifting the blame to someone else is clearly illustrated in the Book of Genesis in the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:12-13).

If something unfavorable occurs on our watch it's very easy and convenient to blame others. After all, blaming others offers us an out. Who wants to live with guilt, or suffer the consequences of their actions?

There's a big problem with this, however. Shifting the blame to others, and not taking personal responsiblity for mistakes flies in the face of Gospel. Not only is it unjust, it serves only to increase the guilt and the problems we bring to ourselves and those close to us, as well.

The Bible holds us accountable for taking personal responsibility in all areas of our lives. Scripture contains many incidents of people trying to dodge personal responsiblity through blame-shifting. Earlier, I mentioned Adam and Eve. Cain acted similarly in Genesis 4:9. Pontius Pilate tried absolving his guilty part in the crucifixion of Christ (Matthew 27:24).

When we try to pass the blame off onto someone else for something we did, ultimately we are only fooling ourselves (Numbers 32:23). Every one of us has the personal responsibility to repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). We are also to glorify the Lord with good works (Ephesians 2:10).

My dear friends, If we try to shirk or ignore this responsibility we are in essence rejecting the truth of God (Romans 1:20). In the end, the blame game has no real winner.

Scripture: Matthew 7:3-5; 1 Corinthians 2:15; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 2:1; Romans 12:2 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom in my choices, and the strength of character to take responsibility for them. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Nicolette

Don't Just Live to God... Live for Him!

“There is no more confused message that you and I could give to a lost and dying world than to live in sin and at the same time to tell people about the transforming power of Jesus Christ. There isn't a more confusing thing we can do to our kids and the generation behind us, to this world.

God will not use a compromised life to reach a compromised world. God will use a life that is given over to Him, that is a demonstration of the message that through the power of Jesus Christ and His love He can transform our lives and set us free.”  -Joe Focht

Most of us could probably come up with a long list of things in life that are best sorted out by reasonable compromise. We encounter daily situations at work, school, play, and even home where a problem or concern is rectified by an understanding between those involved.

Pick up a newspaper, read an online newsfeed, or watch a news broadcast on television and you're sure to hear about compromise in government, politics, world crises, and any number of various situations where settlement, concessions, or a pact has been reached. Compromise is a price of living our world.

Be that as it may, when it pertains to whether or not we are being faithful to God, there is no gray area (Joshua 29:15). In 1 Kings, Elijah encountered a situation upon his return to Israel from Phonicia.

The people living under the rule of King Ahab had been functioning under the assumption, with some help from the false prophets of Baal, that they could simultaneously serve both the Lord and Baal (supreme god worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia).

Of course, Elijah at one point challenges them to either choose to follow the Lord, or follow Baal. But they can't do both (1 Kings 18:21)!  God is the Creator of the universe. Everything belongs to Him and it is his authority alone to determine what's right and wrong for humanity. Who are we to question, or make demands?

The people had obviously compromised their relationship with the Lord, by also worshiping the pagan god Baal. As they say, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. But when it comes to having a relationship with God, there is no room for compromise. Yes, He is a God of mercy but make no mistake; He is also a jealous and holy God who will not tolerate any competition!

Have you compromised your relationship with God? Are you guilty of following other "idols" such as: materialism, pride, ego, food, alcohol, drugs, mankind, etc., while forsaking God at the same time? It's no secret that many of us struggle with faithfulness in many areas of our lives. If you do, you're in good company.

On the positive side, most of us would like to honor God with greater faithfulness. He has constantly reminded us of His expectation of faithfulness to Him. If I may, I'd like to share some things we can all do to demonstrate our faithfulness God.

For example, we can honor, or glorify God by; loving others, spending time with Him, modeling Jesus in words and actions, sharing what God has done for us with others and, most importantly, reading the Bible.

When it comes to our relationship with the Lord there's no room for simply going through the motions, skimping on our devotion, putting on a good front, or doing just enough to get by. With God it's all or nothing. He won't stand for compromise, nor any challengers. Don't just live to God, live for Him!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Deuteronomy 6:5; Numbers 30:2; Colossians 3:17; Romans 12:1  

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant me the courage to serve You in all ways. You are my true and only God, and I will faithfully follow You wherever You lead me. Amen

God bless you!

Kylee

Video Message - Beth Moore: The Shocking Peace of God

Bible teacher Beth Moore explores how wrestling with God brings us closer to His love. As always, a blessed message for us all. ~Eve

To Change Is to Grow

"Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God." - Jerry Bridges

Imagine for a moment that just before you set out on your morning drive to work a friend calls you up. In a somewhat frantic voice your friend tells you that all of the old traffic laws had changed overnight.

Starting immediately, green no longer meant "go" and red no longer meant "stop." On top of that, all of the signs that you used to follow were now invalid. The old laws were out the window, but any new ones were yet to be written. What thoughts and feelings would run through your mind as you prepared to leave your house?

Whatever thoughts you might have wouldn't be reassuring ones, I'm sure. Change is scary enough for a lot of us; but when it occurs quickly, and without any warning it can be petrifying. What makes it so frightening is because one way we survive is by being able to predict our environment and then act accordingly. When predictability flies out the window, our sense of security does too.

Don't get me wrong. Some change is, without question, essential. In our Christianity, for example, change is quite essential. In Romans 8:29 we read that, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." The keyword in this passage being conformed, or changed.

Of course, this doesn't mean that we literally become like Christ,  but rather we take on a Christlikeness. Apostle Paul is pointing out here that God chose for His people to become like His Son, so that Jesus would be the "firstborn among many. If you skip ahead to Romans 8:30, Paul discerns features of a process by which we are changed to become the very image of Christ.

God carries out these things, but they do involve us. This, of course, requires us to change, or conform in ways that we may not have otherwise. Our willingness, desire, and participation is imperative. I won't not try to sugarcoat anything for you. As with any other beneficial change or transformation, being conformed to the image of Christ will involve some pain (Romans 8:15-17; Hebrews 2:10).

The question I have for you today is this: "Are you up to the task?" Yes, there will be a certain amount of suffering. You must be called or "in him" (Romans  8:29). And being called involves a response. Those in Christ are the chosen. Although we can never do enough to be given a status of approval (Romans 4:25); in order to be saved, we must be justified, or accepted by God. This does have some requirements (Romans 8:1, 9).

Conformity to Christlikeness also means becoming glorified (Romans 8:30). This only occurs when God transforms us into something higher and more dignified. We become better than we were. We are gloriously changed into the very image of Christ. We are holy and pure in body, soul, and spirit. This involves the power of the resurrection (Romans 8:11). Certainly, none of us can measure up to the glory of God, however, in Christ, He elevates us with new godliness.

Without a doubt, there's a whole lot more to this. But, what I've tried to do today is to present some basic elements of being conformed to Christ for your consideration. This is a wonderful change that we (Christians) go through to become children of God. As I mentioned, this change will involve some pain and suffering. Even so, we cannot grow in Christ without change.

In closing, I repeat my question: "Are you up to the task?" Not everyone will be. To be called, justified, and glorified by God is worth more than anything you will ever do in your entire lifetime. Are you ready and willing to accept the challenge?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 119:1-176; Matthew 7:21-23

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray to be more like You in every way; I know that I have faults and am sinful, for sure; But even in my imperfect state, by Your mercy, grace, and love You accept me as I am. And for that, I offer You my praises and am eternally grateful. Amen

May God bless you,

Meredith

Don't Let Anger Get the Best of You

Jonah is an example of how the character of a good and a great man can be tarnished by anger, and his usefulness impaired. His story suggests the foolishness, the danger, and the injury of anger.

Unfortunately, when a man feels anger and gives unrestrained expression to it, as Jonah did, his fellowman is not as patient and long suffering as God was and does not always return the soft answer which God returned to the angry and disgruntled Jonah.

Anger is one of the most common sins, yet one of the most dangerous and detrimental to the peace and well-being of man. More than any other sin, it blasts the development of friendship, turns men out of Eden, destroys peace and harmony in the home, incites to crime and violence, and turns love and affection into hatred.

Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, "Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." With so many stipulations you can see why it this is so.

Yet, one can surely observe all of the anger in the world around us today. Why is this so? Why are there so many angry people? And. do they really know what they are angry about? Perhaps we're angry because we feel threatened.

As a matter of fact, a recent research paper even suggests that anger may actually increase your perception that the world is threatening. (Jolie Baumann and David DeSteno, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, October, 2010). This might explain all of the scowling faces I see when I'm out and about. But, what kinds of things make us feel so threatened?

Judging from various observations, things such as different racial or ethnic groups, workplace conditions/environment. the economy, geopolitics, personal relationships, and religious denominations/beliefs are a few that come to mind.

Curiously, the same researchers also hint that anger may influence your belief about how likely it is that things in the world are threatening. The idea is that if you think the world is more threatening, you might see more threats in your environment than there really are.

Anger has a nasty habit of throwing up a smoke screen that makes it difficult to view a clear picture of what truly is. When we are angry, we often act on the basis of our initial judgments. This creates the potential of turning out very bad, very quickly.

Of course, If you find yourself in a situation that is potentially dangerous, then you have no choice but to act on your initial impression. However, in most cases the situation is not a matter of life or death.

Therefore, the same research indicates that you should slow down and think when you're angry. Unfortunately, in too many situations this is not the route taken (Proverbs 14:29).

We've all been guilty of letting anger get the best of us. But, it is within the power of each and every one of us to control it (Proverbs 19:11). Like Jonah, we have the tendency to be angry when God is nothing but merciful to us. How easy it is for anger to blind us to this truth

Yes, it's easy to profess our faith in God without being prepared to see what that will mean. We can be just as hard and unfeeling towards others, even when we say that we know God's grace and mercy. Even after everything that had happened, Jonah knew that God was gracious and compassionate toward him.

We should extend this same graciousness and compassion towards one another (James 1:19-20). Anger can affect us so that this can be difficult, and dangerous for us to do (Ephesians 4:26-27). Benjamin Franklin once said that, "Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."

Anger is a fact of life, there's no getting around it. Even so, let it be reassuring that God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). Which means that He created us out of love, not anger. This is what we need to think about the next time we feel anger creeping into our lives.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27; Romans 12:21; John 16:33; Proverbs 26:20; Ecclesiastes 7:9

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help me temper my anger with the thoughts of your grace and mercy. There is so much anger and hurt in the world already. I do not need to add to what is already too much. I pray that I will treat others with the love and kindness that You have always shown me. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Winnie