~ BEING Shot DOWN ??? ~

EPHESIANS 6:16-20

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 AND also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

(ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION)

~ REST EASY ~

"The darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day." - Psalm 139:12

FOR 18 years the routine is the same. Each night you make sure each child is asleep before turning out the lights and locking the door. YOU can rest easy only when you know that the family is safe.

THEN that day comes when your oldest child leaves home. PERHAPS to college as our oldest daughter did. MAYBE to a hitch in the military. OR just across town to an apartment.

As much as you prepared for the day when it would happen, those first nights are the most difficult. NOW when you lock the doors and turn out the lights, you no longer have the security of knowing where each child is. YOU no longer can rest quite as well - unless you trust God.

IN PSALM 139, David provided some comforting words that can help all of us who have to say goodbye to our children as they go out on their own. We cannot escape God's presence. He is with us, and with our children, wherever we go. As a dad whose daughter is 300 miles away at college, I'm encouraged that when God turns out the lights at night, He is checking on my daughter.

Psalm 33:13 says, "The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men." That helps me rest easy - even when one of the children is out of the house. JDB

BENEATH His watchful eye
HIS saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard His children well. D

WE CAN PUT OUR MINDS AT EASE BECAUSE GOD'S MIND IS ON US

~ When Children Leave ~

THEY left one by one over the years until only our twin sons remained at home. EACH parting wrenched my heart, not because I wanted to keep the children with me but because they all took their gifts and interests with them and left in the nest an emptiness that was replaced only by happy memories.

THEN the time came for the last two to say goodbye. As we began our trip back to the completely empty nest, my mood matched the weather - sad, dark clouds dripped their tears on us.

THOUGH I was sad in the knowledge that this part of my life was over, I felt joy in knowing that each child had trusted Christ as his or her Savior and had yielded to His call to service.

As I mused, my thoughts focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like her, I had chosen to do God's will. Her words, "I am the Lord's servant . . . May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38), often found an echo in my heart.

NOW as I thought of Mary, I remembered that after Jesus' return to heaven, she went with the disciples to the Upper Room. Her home empty, she was now actively pursuing a deeper life than before. SHE was not bemoaning her lot but rather was moving toward new challenges.

My first new challenge came a few nights later when the doorbell rang. A brokenhearted woman had come to my empty nest to receive counsel, prayer and comfort. I thanked the Lord for showing me that He could bring hurting ones to my empty nest and make it a place to show forth His glory.

M. McGarvey

"BUT one thing I do: . . . straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize (PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14)."

~ FEAR God ~

ECCLESIASTES - fear God and obey His Commandments.

"EASY-made" SOURDOUGH Bread - BIG batch (6 loaves) !

2 quarts of Sourdough base

6 1/2 cups of Rye flour

6 1/2 cups of Spelt flour

2 1/2 tablespoons Sea salt

1 1/2 quarts of water

MIX together and put into bread pans.

LET it sit for 7 hours.

BAKE at 350deg.F. for one hour !

* Why not pass-on the gift of a freshly-made loaf of Sourdough bread to a friend ? (Wrap in Cellophane when Sourdough bread has cooled from the Oven and then tie with a matching coloured Ribbon OR wrap in brown paper and tie with old-fashioned rope-string - Voila !)

~ "MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH" SOUR Dough BISCUITS ! ~

The sourdough starter adds a tang and some leavening to these homey biscuits. They're one of the recipe favorites for "Amish-Country Cookbook," which Das Dutchman Essenhaus restaurant in Middlebury, Indiana compiled.

1 cup Sourdough Starter (recipe follows)

1/4 cup cooking oil

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Melted butter (optional)

Dillseed OR dried herb (optional)

IN a mixing bowl, combine the Sourdough Starter and cooking oil.

ADD the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for 10 to 12 strokes. Roll or pat to 1/2-inch thickness. CUT with a 2-1/2 - inch biscuit cutter, flouring the cutter after each biscuit.

TRANSFER biscuits to a baking sheet.

BAKE in a 425-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes OR until golden brown. * IF you like, brush with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with dillseed OR dried herb. SERVE warm. MAKES 12 biscuits.

( * Compliments from Das Dutchman Essenhaus Restaurant in Middlebury, INDIANA. )

~ * ERASE Old Tapes ! ~

SHE was a really close friend, an older woman whom I greatly admired and respected, yet her words hurt me deeply. To make this trip to visit her and her family, I had ridden in the back seat of our car, cringing as every jolt sent pain to my injured neck.

As we traveled homeward, my pain was emotional as well as physical. The "tapes" of my mind kept repeating her words, "My, you've gotten fat !" Lord, how can I get victory ? I prayed.

"Pray for her," the Lord seemed to say. And pray I did. Waking in the night with neck pain and heartache I prayed, "Lord, restore our relationship. Let it please You again." Each time the "tape" replayed, I short-circuited it by praying for her. In time the heartache was gone, replaced by God's peace.

A few months later my older friend wrote to me about a severed relationship with one of her close friends. "How could she say those things about me ? How can I get victory again ?" she wrote. I shared what the Lord had taught me through my own problem, never revealing, however, that my problem had been with her.

Later she wrote, "I hope your friend and you have as good a relationship now as my friend and I do. Your suggestion works !"

Are you plagued by mental "tapes" that replay hurtful words ? Pray for the one who hurt you. Ask the Lord to bless that one. He can turn bitterness to peace and restore relationships.

S. KENDALL

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (LUKE 6:28)."

~ Making SHADOW Puppets !! ~

You will need:

Pencil

Scissors

Thin black card

Split pins

Wooden kebab sticks

Sticky (adhesive) tape

A large sheet

An anglepoise lamp

1. DRAW the head, body, legs and arms of your character separately on to black card.

2. CUT out each piece carefully and lay them all out on the table. Now cut the arms and legs in half where elbows and knees would be.

3. FASTEN all the pieces together by overlapping them and pushing the split pins through the card, folding them back on the other side. Now your puppet has moving joints !

4. TAPE the wooden kebab sticks to the back of your puppet - one along its back, one on each hand and one on each foot.

You won't be able to move all of them at once, but it's good to have as much movement as possible.

5. YOUR puppets can be as simple or as complicated as you like. You could make a simple tree shape, or a spider with eight (8) moving legs.

6. HANG your sheet up somewhere and shine the lamp directly at it from behind. Hold your puppets up between the lamp and the sheet and your audience will see the shadows of the puppets moving. TRY to keep out of the way of the light yourself though, or they will see yours too !

( * compliments from classic Milly-Molly-Mandy Book. )

~ Pine-cone Bird Feeder ~

Pine cones make for great bird feeders. Here's how to do it.

You will need:

A pine cone

Ribbon or string

Vegetable suet or lard

Bird seed

1. Tie the ribbon or string around the pine cone,

then mix lots of bird seed into the suet or lard.

2. Spread the seed mixture all over the pine cone, stuffing it firmly into the gaps.

3. Hang outside for the birds to enjoy.

~ * AUSSIE Dad jokes ! ~

Q. What kind of boots do koalas wear ?

A. Gum boots.

Q. What do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a sheep ?

A. A woolly jumper.

Q. What do you get when you pour boiling water down a rabbit hole ?

A. Hot cross bunnies.

Q. What kind of rabbit can jump higher than a house ?

A. Any kind of rabbit because houses can't jump.

Q. What do you call a rabbit with fleas ?

A. Bugs bunny.

Q. What's white with long ears, whiskers and sixteen wheels ?

A. Two white rabbits on roller skates.

... enough of the rabbits, already !

Q. Why did the golfer take two pairs of trousers to the golf course ?

A. In case he got a hole in one.

Q. Why did the pig run away from the sty ?

A. Because he thought all the other pigs were taking him for grunted.

Q. What is a Lapplander ?

A. A clumsy man on a bus (clever).

Q. What did the Olympic sneezing champion win ?

A. A cold medal.

Q. What goes tick, tock, woof ?

A. A watch dog.

Q. What do you get when you cross a cocker spaniel with a rooster ?

A. A cockerpoodledoo.

Q. What do you get when you cross a cat with a pillow ?

A. A caterpillar.

Q. What kind of furniture can you eat ?

A. Lounge sweets.

Q. Did you hear about the peanut in the pub ?

A. It was a salted (assaulted).

~ Our glory ... ~

Our glory is fleeting (pause and think of that) !

~ * Lasting NOURISHMENT * ~

Do you remember what your pastor spoke about 8 weeks ago? Probably Not. After all, it's been a while. But does that mean it wasn't a valuable message or that it was a waste of your time to hear God's Word being preached?

Absolutely not! Especially if we see God's Word and its teaching as a source of keeping us alive spiritually. Pro baseball player Shawn Boskie learned this truth while talking with a fellow Christian, Mark Dewey. "Mark asked me if I remembered what I had for lunch the 13th of last month, and I told him I couldn't remember. He said, 'But did it nourish you?' I said, 'Yes, I guess it did.' "

Boskie got Dewey's point. "I think that's the way God's Word is," Shawn concluded. "It nourishes us even though we may not be able to remember exactly what it was we read."

The Word of God is indeed nourishment, and it comes to us from various sources: preaching, music that glorifies and praises God, and Bible-based literature, to list a few (*including regular personal quiet times; reading and meditating on God's Word and prayer). NEVER stop praying! We need to continually feed our souls - not so we can remember facts, but so we can grow stronger.

You may not recall all the details of each spiritual meal, but one thing is sure: It's lasting nourishment. - JDB

God's Word provides the nourishment

That every Christian needs to grow,

Supplying strength from day to day

By teaching what we need to know. - S

"Teach me, O LORD,

the way of Your statutes . . .Revive

me in Your way."

Psalm 119:33, 37.

ONE MARK OF A WELL-FED SOUL IS A WELL-READ BIBLE.

~ BE TRUE TO YOUR WORD ~

Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No." For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. - Matthew 5:37

Shortly before his death, the Duke of Burgundy was presiding over the Cabinet Council of France. A proposal was made that would violate an existing treaty but would secure important advantages for the country. Many "good" reasons were offered to justify this action. The Duke listened in silence. When all had spoken, he said with firmness in his voice, "Gentlemen, we have a treaty!"

It's a strong temptation these days to abandon our word in favor of personal advantage or financial gain. As believers in Christ, however, our responsibility is to remain true to our word so that our Lord is glorified.

So, when you give your word, keep it! "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No' " (Mt. 5:37). If you make a commitment, honor it! If you take on an obligation, fulfill it! Your honesty and reliability should be so evident that you can be trusted for any contract you make. If non-Christians can trust you in business matters, they will be more likely to believe you when you speak about the gospel.

When we're tempted to break a promise, let's think again of these words: "Gentleman, we have a treaty!" - RWD

Lord, by Your Spirit grant to me

A deep desire for honesty,

That when I simply give my word

No one will doubt what they have heard. - DJD

WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR WORD, KEEP IT.

~ HOOKED by a FISH ~

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (PSALM 34:8).

One fringe benefit of being an MK teacher in Zamboanga was the city's seaside site. I went swimming often, yet it was 15 years before I discovered the beautiful underwater world.

One day I was urged to look through an underwater mask. Standing on a large piece of coral rock I peered into the vestibule of a whole new world. Subsequently, I went out and bought myself a snorkel and mask which have netted me countless hours of pleasure as I study God's amazing creation beneath the surface of the water.

In coral crannies I have often spied the gently waving, long, sharp spines of the sea urchin. From experience, I know that if the sharp points get stuck in my flesh they are quite painful. But I notice that the urchins do not pursue me; they only protect themselves. So one day, as I calmly floated above a cluster, I was able to observe the beautiful jewels amid the spines.

The sharp spines and tentacles of terrorism, kidnapping and political uncertainty in Zamboanga City also framed lovely, shining jewels: a small child holding my hand and declaring, "You are my best friend," because that day she found God's unspeakable gift of salvation. Another, about to leave permanently, declaring, "I'll see you again," for here she first heard and believed that heaven is real.

We are instructed to "taste and see that the Lord is good." So many times, however, we live on the surface, oblivious to the beauty that is ours for the seeking. Snorkeling has become my favorite sport, finding God's hidden gems, a life-long pursuit.

E. SNYDER

~ ONLY Believe ! ~

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed (MARK 5:20).

Consider what the Bible says about how God deals with His children. Where could you find anything more exciting? The world might understandably say, "I've never heard of such a thing!"

Think of Noah building a boat, something never before heard of - and on dry land! Imagine him preaching to the people of his day that the rain of God's judgment was coming and that unless they came into the ark, they would all drown. Noah, how ridiculous! Though a safe refuge was provided, only a handful were saved.

Think of baby Moses being placed in a basket and left by the side of the river in hope that he might escape Pharaoh's fatal decree. Foolish! Yet the princess saw him and took pity on him. Moses survived to lead thousands of his people out of Egypt.

Then there was Abraham, who left his country and clan in obedience to God's instructions. Because he obeyed, God used his faith to bless believers through the ages.

Three Jewish young men, believing they should obey God rather than the decree from the king of Babylon, found themselves in a burning, red hot furnace. Imagine the surprise of the onlookers when they saw a fourth man in there walking around!

Judgment is coming on our land. If rain begins and pelts our little vessel, we are safe inside because He has control. Does our furnace grow hotter? As the world observes, may they see the "fourth man" and recognize Him as the Son of God who works in our lives.

D. TAYLOR

~ BLACKBERRY Buns ! ~

THESE delicious little buns are easy to make and gorgeous for picnics or even a lunchbox. OTHER fruits may be used too such as Sultana and Cinnamon or Apple and Spice !

You will need:

100g blackberries

300g self-raising flour

100g brown sugar (and a bit extra to sprinkle on top)

125g butter (melted)

1 egg beaten lightly

300ml milk

( * MAKES 24 )

1. PREheat your oven to 180 degrees C.

2. GREASE the compartments of two (2) bun trays with butter. MIX together the flour, the fruit and the sugar in a LARGE bowl.

3. STIR in the milk, melted butter and egg. DON'T over-stir - you want the mixture to be coarse and slightly lumpy.

4. SPOON the mixture into the bun tray compartments ! SPRINKLE each bun with a pinch of brown sugar. BAKE for about fifteen (15) minutes until the buns are browned on top.

( * compliments from classic Milly-Molly-Mandy Book. )

~ TITANIC ~

HAVE returned from viewing TITANIC 3D. One critic has stated that viewing the Titanic 2D version is like "looking at the Movie through an unused Handkerchief" ! Well ... I can't stop crying (needless to say, I don't live far from the Cinema) ! Crying because of pride. Pride - isn't that the cause of all misery ??? It leads to humankind being disappointed, having doubt, possessing greed, et cetera, et cetera.

PRIDE is unnecessary - unnecessary, that is, in Christ Jesus.

I can't stop crying ... also, because JESUS died for me which was necessary !! Necessary in the step for me to be redeemed. I can ONLY be redeemed in (by and through) Him. I continue on the path that He chooses for me; KNOWING it's the BEST path individually. I also aim to be teachable by Him. That's important - no matter how difficult the journey may be. It can be difficult but I'm experiencing life in the way that I wouldn't have been, had I not sincerely, personally asked Him (Jesus) to come into my heart. He began REAL life in me twenty-two (22) years ago and I'm glad for that. I'm wondering if that makes me twenty-two (22) years old ?

Yes, two (2) TRUE stories ! One story caused by pride the other story caused by humility.

"Thank you, LORD Jesus for willingly dying on the Cross, freely allowing me a new beginning with the ultimate step of me TRULY believing in YOU (and, Your resurrection) and even though I'm often challenged in many ways, I'm still going strong for you - or, should I say, believably, still growing strong IN you !"

~ * Breathtaking ? ~

Yes. I make mistakes - just as every person. (BUT) the inestimable difference as with many individual souls is that I am a sinner who has been saved by God's grace.k.

"Eating, sleeping, and breathing seem "ordinary" in that we do them every day, usually without much thought. But they are not ordinary at all. Every bite and every breath are miracles. In fact, having breath is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away". - Julie Ackerman Link

All that I want is in Jesus;
He satisfies, joy He supplies;
Life would be worthless without Him,
All things in Jesus I find. - Loes

* Breathing is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away. - RBC Ministries

(Why be complacent toward Life ? It just doesn't make sense.k.)

~ PASSIONate ~

Dear Friends,

WOULD very much appreciate it if you'd allow me to gauge if THIS Blog should continue in it's currently consistent content of meditations/devotions, by you kindly advising me of your thoughts regarding this matter.

Personally thanking each of you for your input.

Sincerely,
Kim.

~ Not ALWAYS Roses .. there can be SOME thorns !! ~

As Christians, we are not exempt from problems that are common to all mankind. Such things as poverty, sickness, old age and tragedy are part of the business of living.

Christ knows about our needs and troubles. He is aware of our struggles with personal sin and of our relationships in the sinful world in which we live.

In spite of all He knows, He commands us believers to be cheerful. We have experienced forgiveness through the cross, and that should fill us with joy.

Christ told us that we will have problems in this life. His command to "take heart" is based on our being united with Him through faith. His person and work are the grounds of joy for every believer.

Obedience to the commands of Christ will bring many surprise blessings to our lives. Through our joy we can strengthen the weak, encourage the downcast and comfort the dying. Through our good cheer, we can give light to a dying world in need of the joy and radiance that come from the cross of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

"But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).

C. McSpadden

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (JOHN 16:33).

~ BLESSEDNESS ~

I can personally say that through, by and in Jesus, it is His presence that makes the blessedness of the rest.

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (MARK 6:31).

John Wesley's mother would often pull her house-apron completely over her head to escape the distractions of the day so she would be able to spend time with her God in-between tending to the many of John's siblings (apparently there were 12 ?).

Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? - Wesley

~ TWO Approaches To LIFE ! ~

Today the cross is an accepted symbol of love and sacrifice. But in Jesus' day the cross was a horrible means of capital punishment. The Romans would not mention the cross in polite society. In fact, no Roman citizen could be crucified; this terrible death was reserved for Rome's enemies.

Jesus stated that He would be crucified (Matthew 20:17-19). Many of His teachings emphasized the cross. He presented to His disciples two approaches to life:

. deny yourself or live for yourself;
. take up your cross or ignore the Cross;
. follow Christ or follow the world;
. lose your life for His sake or save your life for your own sake;
. forsake the world or gain the world;
. keep your soul or lose your soul;
. share His reward and glory or lose His reward and glory.

A challenge: "And He said to them all, 'if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me' " (Luke 9:23).

Consider also: Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:7-10; Galatians 2:20.

Action assignment: If you haven't made a forthright commitment as outlined in Romans 12:1-2, perhaps this is the time to do it.

W. Wiersbe

~ REVERSE Your Views ? ~

A friend of mine likes to imitate the verbal mistakes of English minister William Archibald Spooner, who was famous for his unintentional reversal of word sounds. In Spooner's style, one fell swoop became "one swell foop" and a pouring rain became "a roaring pain ."

My friend pulled out some Bible memory cards one day and announced that he was going to "reverse his views" instead of "review his verses." His spoonerized statement may have been closer to the truth of what can happen when we read and meditate on God's Word.

I wonder if I have yet grasped the incredible process described in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." J.B. Phillips translates it, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within."

This is nothing short of a mental revolution - taking my normal human way of seeing life and giving me a point of view I could not have WITHOUT God.

Scripture memory is a powerful discipline that puts God's living Word into our minds (and as a consequence, into our hearts.k.) and gives Him the opportunity to change our thinking and reverse our views. - DCM

"Do not be transformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2

Action suggestions:

Memorize one of the following Bible passages and ask God to change your thinking. Repentance: Psalm 32; Love: 1 Corinthians 13; Christlikeness: Philippians 2:1-11.

THE BIBLE IS MEANT not MERELY TO INFORM but TO TRANSFORM.

~ Thank you ~

Dear Sheena,
Thank you very much for your wonderful comment. WITHOUT God I can do nothing !
May you achieve great success and satisfaction in the future - follow God's plan and NEVER stop talking (praying) to Him. He is your greatest encourager and strength at all times.
Sincerely,
Kim.

~ MARVELLOUS Grace ! ~

God's grace involves something more than giving, us salvation. We not only are saved by grace, but we are to live by grace. We stand in grace: it is the foundation for the Christian life. GRACE gives us the strength we need to be victorious soldiers. Grace enables us to suffer without complaining, and even to use that suffering for God's glory. When a Christian turns away from living by God's grace, he must depend on his own power. This leads to failure and disappointment.

This is what Paul means by "fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4) - moving out of the sphere of grace into the sphere of law, ceasing to depend on God's resources and depending on our own resources.

No wonder Paul was anxious as he wrote his Epistle to the Galatians. His friends in Christ were deserting the God of grace, perverting the grace of God, and reverting to living by the flesh and their own resources. They had begun their Christian lives in the Spirit, but now they were going to try to continue living in the power of the flesh.

Paul wrote: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10, NASB).

Other Scripture: Roman 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Galatians 3:3.

Action assignment: Write out your understanding of the term grace. Look up a song focusing on God's grace and sing it. Thank God for his marvelous grace!

W. Wiersbe

* Grace means undeserved favour.
AMAZING GRACE is a wonderful song/hymn - it is BY His grace that my fears ARE relieved !

Christ cannot be crucified more than ONCE; when He gave His all for each of us; by (and through and in) His grace. Thank you LORD Jesus for allowing me to deliberately receive You as my personal Saviour, the true Light of the world. Thank you that you gave me belief by faith of your promise Father by placing my trust in You; that if I called on the name of the LORD Jesus, I will be saved. Thank you for your marvellous grace !

Kim Warren.

~ Dear Friend : ~

A thousand demons with ropes could not trip a foot that God has made sure. Against all odds, the Lord's servants can be anything God wants them to be. But before getting too high on possibilities, I am reminded of my limitations (Romans 7:15-25) and shaken by the awareness of what I can't do.

I cannot control my circumstances or guarantee my own health. Nor, by a thousand prayers or acts of kindness, can I assure my loved ones' well-being or the consequences of their actions.

Neither can I take credit for my successes or even see the number of my failures. I cannot take a breath without God's permission, lift a finger without His enablement, or think a thought apart from His grace. Nor can I revisit the past to correct mistakes nor step beyond the present to see and plan for the future.

Then there's my own heart. Even if I mastered many skills, I still couldn't master my own heart, or my own mouth (James 3:8). I cannot keep the Lord from watching me, from loving me, from holding me accountable for every thought, motive, and action. And I cannot-in any realm of life-have it all. I cannot, at the same time, stop being an enemy of God as long as I am choosing to be a friend of the world (James 4:4).

I cannot understand how God has always existed, how He could make something out of nothing, or why He has chosen to give me the inexpressible, inestimable gift of life.

What we can do, by God's grace, is believe in His ability to give us a spirit of trust, a spirit of prayer. We can rely on Him to give us a spirit of diligence and obedience, to be growing more and more into all that He wants us to be-in us, around us, for us, and through us. What could be better!

MRD II

~ Crossings ~

I stood on the river bank watching the muddy water toss great logs like so much sawdust, remembering how just a few weeks ago, I had stood on the opposite shore dreading the crossing. It was not the physical crossing of the Mekong River from Thailand to Laos that I feared - especially since the trip was made by plane. It was what the crossing signified.

Initially, there was the ideological crossing from capitalist to communist society, part of which meant going from a society where consumer goods were abundant to one where even the most essential items were scarce or unavailable. Would I remember to take the right things with me? What if my daughters got sick? Would I think to include all the medicines we might need?

I would also be making a spiritual crossing from the warm Christian fellowship of church and friends. In Laos I could have little open fellowship with national believers and would find few English-speaking Christians.

Finally, there was the emotional crossing of leaving the familiar - friends, activities, home - to face the unknown. Would the girls find friends? How would they occupy their time? Could we be content in two gloomy hotel rooms?

BUT as I read the passage from Deuteronomy (noted below) about God going across ahead of us, He gently reassured me that He would cross all my rivers ahead of me and be with me on the opposite shore.

Life is full of crossings! As you face your next one, remember that "the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you."

"BE assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire" (DEUTERONOMY 9:3a).

J. Andrianoff

~ Galatians: 5:22 ~

The fruit of the Spirit is Love.

~ Hang TOUGH ~

To the one who suffers from depression, nothing could be worse. People offer cliches like, "Just pull yourself together," "Snap out of it" or even, "Just read the Word and trust." It usually is not that easy.

I had seen tribespeople suffering from fear of evil spirits or from obvious depression, but they did not know God. If after they had been converted there was still depression, I would feel impatient. I wanted to tell them, "Christians don't get depressed."

Today I know better. It took nine long months before a doctor realized my deep depression was a side effect of a strong anti-malarial medication.

Satan's oppression took on several forms - because I had never before been bothered by this, I kept searching for the awful sin in my life. Then I became convinced that no one suffered as I was suffering. In addition, I felt sure my trial would never end.

Through my ordeal God taught me two great truths:
1) I could not flee from His presence (Psalm 139:7-18);
2) My position as a child of God is in Christ, and that position is secure.

As these two truths began to dawn upon me, I would cry out, "Oh God, I cannot feel your presence, but I know You are here, and as Your child I am in Christ. Nothing can take those things away."

Child of God, whatever you are suffering now, grasp these two unshakable truths - His abiding presence and your guaranteed position - and look up!

F. Bozeman

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (HEBREWS 3:13).

~ The LIFE That Is REAL ~

"I would like to become a Christian," an interested woman said to a visiting pastor, "but I'm afraid I can't hold out. I'm sure to sin again!"

Turning to 1 John 1, the pastor said, "No doubt you will sin again, because God says, 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us' (v. 8). But if you do sin, God will forgive you if you will confess your sin to Him. But it isn't necessary for Christians to sin. As we walk in fellowship with God and in obedience to His Word, He gives us ability to resist and to have victory over temptation."

Then the pastor remembered that the woman had gone through surgery some months before.

"When you had your surgery," he asked, "was there a possibility of complications or problems afterward?"

"Oh, yes," she replied. "But whenever I had a problem, I went to see the doctor and he took care of it."

Then the truth hit her. "I see it!" she exclaimed. "Christ is always available to keep me out of sin or to forgive my sin!"

The life that is real is a life of victory.

The Bible says: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

Also consider: Proverbs 4:14-15; James 1:12-16; 4:7-8; 1 John 1:7; 2:3.

Action assignment: Identify one or more areas in your life to which you continually fall into sin. Recognize God's ability to help you overcome temptation, and ask Him to enable you to keep these areas of your life pure.

W. Wiersbe

~ Make Me Willing ~

After 28 years as a missionary in the Far East, (including more than three years internment as "guests" of the Japanese during World War 2), I was quite prepared to remain in the States. Then my husband presented me with the proposition of going to the Middle East where my parents had been missionaries for 43 years. Recovering from an illness and weary in body, I had absolutely no desire to pack up and go abroad again. It all seemed too much !

How I struggled ! I really wanted to obey God if this move was His will - but it was just too hard for me. While in the throes of decision-making, we were invited to speak and show slides to a ladies' group. Taking her text from Deuteronomy 1, a woman, who could not possibly have known about us, challenged the group to move on in their Christian experience. She read, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain" (verse 6). (We were living at Nyack, the "mount of prayer and blessing.") She continued, "Break camp and advance into the hill country . . . and to Lebanon" (verse 7). (It was to Lebanon we had been asked to go.) "Bring me any case too hard for you" (verse 17). (Everything was too hard for me.) God let me know that my next step was to be willing to go and He would open up the way ! I had to cry out to the Lord that the best I could do at that moment was to be willing to be made willing.

Needless to say, we went to Lebanon and saw God perform miracles in the lives of individuals. Now I can say that those 15 years in Lebanon, despite uncertainty, destruction and constant danger, were some of the happiest I have known.

M. Taylor

"As thou goest - step by step - I will open up the way before thee (PROVERBS 4:12, Old Hebrew Translation)."

~ Heavenly MEDITATION ~

When you truly delight in the Word, you will have a desire to meditate on it and make it a part of your life. In Psalm 119, the writer connects "delight" and "meditation" (vv. 15 - 16, 23 - 24, 47 - 48, 77 - 78). Cultivate an appetite for the Word of God.

Warren Wiersbe

~ Life ! ~

Life

(Pause and think of that)

~ Cimarron ~

Am resting and have just started watching a movie on Foxtel called Cimarron (1960) while typing this. I prefer the older movies as they can often have a good storyline. The movie is starring Glenn Ford and Maria Schell. It's about a pioneer couple who play a major role in the settling of Oklahoma. Hope it's okay.

Today's weather hit the 30 deg. centigrade mark. TOMORROW - 35 degrees is expected. A dry heat is tolerable but humidity is tough to cope with. It's wearying. Do you find the hot weather effects you that way, too ?

~ * FREE Tickets AVAILABLE ! ~

We are all ticketed to go to Heaven but not everyone will accept the ticket ! - Anon.

~ * A material world ! ~

Technology drives me nuts. I hate it ! It's regulated to win for itself just like all plans of this material world. It's a big deal.k.

~ Just a MINUTE ! ~

Can a minute be afforded to be wasted ?

(Pause and think of that)

... I suppose it depends on the importance of what kind of minute it is.k.

~ A Song of Faith ~

" The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become."

Henry Martyn

~ The Good Hand of Our God ~

When God wanted to create a world, He merely had to use His fingers (Ps. 8:3). To save lost sinners, He had to bare His arm (Isa. 53:1). When He wants to accomplish a task, He uses His mighty hand (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; Neh. 2:8).

Warren Wiersbe

~ The Living God ~

The Bible uses human illustrations to explain divine attributes. God is spirit and does not have a body, but He can see you, hear you, and walk with you. After all, we can do those things, and we are made in the image of God. If we fail to trust the Lord and worship Him, we might just as well worship a dead idol ! Do you have living faith in the living God ?

Warren Wiersbe

~ God and Mammon (a choice) ! ~

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in) - Matthew 6:24.
(The Amplified Bible - EXPANDED EDITION)

~ A Christian's EFFECTIVENESS ~

* 1 John 5:11-12, 13/He who has Jesus has eternal life.

James 1:2-4/Trials bring about godly character.

1 Cor. 10:13/God always provides a way out/through temptation.

1 Pet. 5:7-8/give all problems to God because the devil will seek to use difficulties in our lives to destroy our effectiveness as Christians' BUT Praise the Lord, God wins the victory !

Rom. 5:5/God's love poured into our hearts so His power can work out in our lives not our own self-efforts.

1 Cor. 12:18-25/all people are important.

Phil. 4:8/solution to mind pollution.

~ When You're Betrayed ~

One of the toughest tests we face while serving God is betrayal. I saw it happen to a loving pastor. He encouraged a gifted teenager in his congregation to go to Bible school. He arranged for financial support. He continued to mentor the young man after graduation, letting him preach on occasion.

But then the graduate began to undermine the pastor with innuendo and criticism. Finally the heartbroken minister left. Then the young man announced himself as a candidate for pastor of the church.

Jesus knew about betrayal. He invested 3 years into the lives of His 12 disciples, one of whom was Judas. Jesus taught him, performed miracles before his eyes, and even washed his feet. Yet Judas sold his allegiance for 30 pieces of silver. When Jesus predicted His own betrayal in John 13:18, He quoted David, who also knew what it was like to have a friend turn on him (Ps. 41:9).

Knowing that He would be betrayed, Jesus continued to do what the Father wanted Him to do. He taught us by example to serve people because we love and obey God, not because we want to be appreciated.

Have you been betrayed? Find comfort in knowing that true fulfillment comes in doing the will of God. - DCE

Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good. - 1 Peter 4:19

When people turn against you
In spite of all you do,
Remember Christ's rejection
And all He's done for you. - Anon.

IF YOU ARE BETRAYED,
LEAVE IT WITH GOD.