Drifting Away

Imagine relaxing on a rubber raft along the shore, eyes closed, soaking up the sun and listening to the gentle crash of waves. You don’t have a care in the world—until you open your eyes! Suddenly the shore is alarmingly distant.

We tend to drift like that spiritually. It’s subtle yet shocking when we suddenly realize how far we’ve drifted from God. The point of departure begins when Satan steals our affection for our loving Creator by putting a deceitful twist on our experiences and causing us to suspect God instead of trust Him.

Consider Job and his wife. Both had plenty of reasons to be mad at God. Their children were dead, their fortune lost, and Job’s health destroyed. His wife told him, “Curse God and die!” But Job replied, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and . . . not accept adversity?” (Job 2:9-10).

There are many attitudes that can set us adrift: believing that we need more than God to be happy; placing meaningful relationships above loyalty to God; thinking God should live up to our expectations; resisting His reproofs; turning a deaf ear when His Word is uncomfortable.

If you’re beginning to drift, remember to stay close to the One who is the sole source of satisfaction. — Joe Stowell

Lord, help me to stay close to You
And trust You more each day,
So when the storms of life appear
I will not drift away. —Sper

To avoid drifting away from God, stay anchored to the Rock.

April 29, 2009
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/04/29/devotion.aspx

Lip Service

Smile,” said Jay as we drove to church. “You look so unhappy.” I wasn’t; I was just thinking, and I can’t do two things at once. But to make him happy, I smiled. “Not like that,” he said. “I mean a real smile.”

His comment got me thinking even more intently. Is it reasonable to expect a real smile from someone who’s being issued a command? A real smile comes from inside; it’s an expression of the heart, not of the face.

We settle for phony smiles in photographs. We’re happy when everyone cooperates at the photographer’s studio and we get at least one picture with everyone smiling. After all, we’re creating an icon of happiness, so it doesn’t have to be genuine.

But phoniness before God is unacceptable. Whether we’re happy or sad or mad, honesty is essential. God doesn’t want false expressions of worship any more than He wants false statements about people or circumstances (Mark 7:6).

Changing our facial expression is easier than changing our attitude, but true worship requires that all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength agree that God is worthy of praise. Even when our circumstances are sad, we can be grateful for God’s mercy and compassion, which are worth more than the “lip service” of a phony smile. — Julie Ackerman Link

What a God we have to worship!
What a Son we have to praise!
What a future lies before us—
Everlasting, love-filled days! —Maynard

A song in the heart puts a smile on the face.

April 26, 2009
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/04/26/devotion.aspx

Kung Fu Panda!

Nice quote:

Yesterday is history;
Tomorrow is a mystery;
but today is a gift.
That is why it is called the "Present"

Secrets of the Furious Five:

Patience,
Courage,
Confidence,
Discipline &
Compassion

If God took you to it, He'll get you through it

Exodus 14 records the story of how the Hebrews escaped from bondage and slavery in Egypt. On their way out of Egypt, they camped in the desert near the Red Sea. They thought God was leading them out of Egypt. However, Pharaoh led the Egyptian army to where the Israelites were, and he trapped them against the sea. The Israelites must have felt betrayed by God, for it looked as though he didn't follow through on his plan to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. But God was faithful to his word -- he didn't let his people down. He led them through the Red Sea and delivered on his promises.

You have probably faced times when you thought that you could never do something, never complete a particular task, or never make it to the finish. However, if God has promised you something, then you can be confident that God will get you through the difficult times in order to bring about his promise.

This is true in Joseph's life. God took him through years of pain and suffering for an ultimate benefit; Joseph realizes this and, in Genesis 50:20, says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." God had a bigger plan for Joseph's life, and God didn't let him down. God led Joseph through his struggles.

This principle is also true in your life. Even though you may be going through extremely painful times, do not fear for God will get you through the hard times you face (see Psalm 23:4). If God took you to it, He'll get you through it.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of April 13, 2009

http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-04-13

Casting Crown - In Me‏ ♫

If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If You ask me to run
And carry Your light into foreign land
If You ask me to fight
Deliver Your people from Satan's hand

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
And to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/castingcrowns/inme.html

In every situation, there are always two stories—the story you see and the story God sees.

Sometimes life seems to be taking us down a huge detour and everything looks like it's not going our way. In those situations, our life and our story seems to be a disaster.

This is exactly what happened to Joseph, whose story is found in Genesis 37-50. Joseph's brothers jealously hated him and sold him into slavery. Joseph was wrongfully put in prison for raping Potifer's wife, when really he refused to compromise his integrity by sleeping with her. Then, Joseph helped get the chief cupbearer out of jail; however, when the cupbearer had an opportunity to return the favor and get Joseph out of jail, the man forgot about Joseph. Joseph ended up spending thirteen years in jail for something he didn't do.

At this point Joseph's story was going haywire, but God's story was right on track. That's because God had an amazing plan for Joseph's life; God was going to use Joseph to save Egypt and the surrounding lands for seven years of devastating famine. What looked to Joseph like a huge detour was really a great plan of God to provide food for countless people, including the very brothers that had sold Joseph into slavery.

At the end of this, Joseph realized that God had a bigger plan for his life, and after his brothers come to him for food, he tells them: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20).

All along, God's story was right on track.

This same principle is also true in the life of Jesus. To the disciples, it looked as those Jesus would be a great king who would rule Israel and return the nation to greatness. They hailed him as a great leader. So, when Jesus was being crucified, the story they saw looked like a major train wreck—this great leader whom they had followed for the past three years was suddenly dead. However, God's story was at its peak—God was in the process of connecting humanity to himself.

There's what you see and what God sees.

When your life seems to be a major disaster; know that God has bigger plans to use your life for great things. The story you see may not reflect the long-term story God has planned. Therefore, trust God, knowing that he works for good in all circumstances (Romans 8:28).

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of April 6, 2009

http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-04-06

Spirit signals

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit..."
1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV

Pastor Jon Walker writes: 'Spirit warnings alert you to impending danger. A friend of mine was driving towards a green light when he was strongly prompted to hit his brakes. As he did so a truck ran a red light. Had it not been for my friend's instant obedience he'd probably have been killed. Spirit 'stop signs' red-flag you not to go somewhere. A dog I owned...was used to being on a lead and when I took him to a neighbour's field to run, I'd simply say "No" when he approached a place he shouldn't go. He'd done nothing wrong, and my warning wasn't a rebuke; it was a caution for his own protection. Spirit timing is God telling you the time is not right. In university I planned to buy a computer through a discount programme . . . however, they told me it had been discontinued. I was very angry at God. Two months later the university reopened the programme offering upgraded models bundled with software that cost extra two months ago; the whole package was cheaper than the previous one...Turns out God knows what he's doing!'

Be sensitive to Spirit signals. Trust God's Spirit to guide you in the decisions and details of your life. Keep a list of the times He has prompted you; it'll remind you to obey in the future. Remember, God's promptings always line up with His Word; even when they don't line up with your ideas!

07 April 2009
http://www.word4u2day.com.au/

It's time to get away

"..."Come aside...and rest a while.""
Mark 6:31 NKJV

Check out Jesus' life in the gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; and you'll see He sets us an amazing example. He was so controlled, even under extreme criticism. He never wavered from following God's plan.

The good things in life aren't always the right things, and that's hard. You might be chasing after something that God wants you to leave, or vice versa. So how do you know what God wants? Follow Jesus' example, and get away! (Luke 4:42). Go to a deserted place, and meet with the Lord. Now, that doesn't mean you have to go and sit in your little brother's sandpit in a heatwave; it just means a quiet place to think, pray, refuel and listen to God.

It's easy in the busy-ness of life to get carried away doing everything at 100mph. We treat our brains like a Ferrari, thinking they're at their best when they're fastest. Everyone around you might tell you that time is money; and the devil loves that. If he can keep us so busy with life, surrounded by crowds and noise with no time to think, we won't be spending that quality time with God, which is what he wants.

Jesus turns the tables on the rest of the world, and says 'come to me' So will you? Will you stop, get away from it all, and check that you have been saying yes to the right things, according to God?

06 April 2009
http://www.word4u2day.com.au/

Humility And Greatness

As a 7-year-old, Richard Bernstein admired Jackie Robinson’s athletic ability and courage as the first African-American man to play Major League baseball in the modern era. A few years later, while working at a small-town golf course, Bernstein was astonished to find himself carrying the bag of his hero, Jackie Robinson. When rain postponed the game, Robinson held an umbrella over the two of them and shared his chocolate bar with the young caddy. Writing in The International Herald Tribune, Bernstein cited that humble act of kindness as a mark of greatness he has never forgotten.

True greatness is shown by humility, not pride. This was powerfully demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, who told His ambitious disciples: “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:26-28).

When God Himself walked on earth as a man, He washed feet, welcomed children, and willingly gave His life to deliver us from the self-centered tyranny of sin. His example gives credence to His command. — David C. McCasland

True greatness does not lie with those
Who strive for worldly fame,
It lies instead with those who choose
To serve in Jesus’ name. —D. De Haan

We can do great things for the Lord if we are
willing to do little things for others.

April 4, 2009
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/04/04/devotion.aspx

You Can't Always Get What You Want: So Focus on What You Need

Why is it so hard to land the one you want? Because what you "want" isn't necessarily good for you. And in going after the person you think you want, you ignore what you really need.

Want vs. Need. It's a blurry area. Because ultimately, we want it all, even when our desires contradict themselves.

"I want someone with strong opinions...who's easygoing and never argues."

"I want someone who's spontaneous and wild...who has a stable job."

"I want someone who's gregarious at parties...but never flirts with anyone else."

You see the problem here? The qualities we seek often come with a significant downside -- a downside that we tend to ignore. I have a dating coaching client who is in his mid-40's, smart, successful and serious about finding Ms. Right. Every week, we talk about his dates and how they match up with his mental checklist: someone with a Mensa IQ and a model body. Yet he complains that the young, thin women are a little too immature, the brainy corporate lawyers are a little too demanding.

We want the good qualities without the bad qualities. We are all, to some degree, hypocrites.

How do you get over it?

Figure out what you NEED and separate it from what you WANT.

You want someone tall. You need a strong emotional connection.

You want someone who likes the same music. You need financial stability.

You want someone who is drop-dead gorgeous. You need someone who accepts you at your worst.

When we're dating, we often look for people who are mirror images of ourselves. For example, a successful woman will usually seek a successful man. But that very quality which makes them successful creates friction -- which is how you end up with two strong-willed people who can't stop arguing. Or two people who demand all the attention. Or two people who put their jobs before their relationships.

Stop dissecting people

It would seem that the best course of action would to find someone who complements us instead. But we don't. We just keep trying to find "better" versions of ourselves, to our own detriment. It's no wonder we're still single.

If we're to overcome our basest wants, we need to focus on what's most important. We have to stop expecting people to act better than we do. We have to stop dissecting people like lab frogs and finding fault. We have to stop extolling the flashiest virtues -- looks, money, pedigree -- and start focusing on things like heart, kindness, compassion and loyalty.

Only then can we reach the point where we say, while looking at the ring on our finger, "It's not that my partner is perfect; it's that she's perfect for me."

By Evan Marc Katz

Oct 17, 2008