HOLIDAY BLUES

by Rick Psinakis

Holiday blues, sadly, as common as the red and green or silver and gold. I dont think I would be out of line saying that at least some of us find this time of year filled with jingle bells and lights, bags and bows, songs of white Christmas' and warm fireplaces, less than merry. This time of year seems to bring to bare thoughts and worries of financial troubles, loneliness, memories of loved ones lost and the effort to just survive the season.

Today, my blue pity party went from sadness to guilt. Guilt of how I could allow one area of my life that God is still working on bringing to fruition to distract me in this most amazing season and away from the countless, unmeasurable blessings in my life.

I never look at someone elses car and think how much better it is than my beat-up old Civic, or the bigger house, or nicer clothes; I do not envy, because I know that there are people on bus benches that see that Civic go by and wish they could afford such a nice car, or long to live in a real house and have maybe have just one new shirt instead of a hand-me-down.

I am not quite there yet when it comes to realizing that others may also be looking at my problems, perhaps with their own envy, and wishes theirs were so small. On good days, I can tell God that I am thankful for what troubles and weighs on my heart, that I know He has my back, and a good and great plan for my life. Its harder around the holidays. Hard, but not impossible.

Today though, I learned that for some, for one, it surely seemed impossible. Today's email brought the heart breaking news of an old high school friend's death. Not just her passing away, but the end of her hopelessness, the end of a pain and sadness that to her was so inconsolable, that the only way she could she find peace was to end her life.

I can not imagine how she came to a place in her life that jumping in front of train seemed the right thing to do. We didn't really keep in touch , we were not even "friends" on Facebook, and I don't know what the years since high school were like for her; but I know what they have been like for me. I know that tonight, after I pray for my friend, I will pray that He would forgive me for allowing, for what now I cant even remember, to take one minute away from me praising God for all that He has and continues to give to me, so many blessings, so graciously and undeserved.

If I may, I ask you to pray for Barbara, that she may find the peace she so was desperately seeking, and for her family who are now seeking the same. Most importantly, as we pray, let us find our way to be grateful for all that has been given us, most especially the glory of God's ultimate gift of His Son, and find our peace before the train comes.

May we all be strong, and be blessed in this New Year.

SADDLE UP!

by Milan Ford

Well, here we are. Today is Thursday, December 31st.The very last day of the year 2009. And what a year it was.

It seems like only yesterday that many of us joined up with millions of people across the nation this time last year to gather inside of our respective local churches for some form of New Year's Eve or Watch Night Service. And although there are times when the variations of our church annual themes and proclamations can make God sound a bit schizoid to the ears of the unbeliever, for the most part, many of us heard a message that evening about the significance of the year 2009.2009.

The year of (yep, that's right)......New Beginnings.

From areas of relationships to finance, issues of health and areas of leadership, the hope for a New Beginning was indeed high on the hearts and minds of believers both young and old this year.

Now I am not in any way what you call the greatest practitioner of biblical numerology, but last year around this time, I remember doing a little research about the significance of the number nine (9).

What I found was actually very interesting. The number nine (9) literally means: to bring to an end. In fact, in one instance, I found that the number (9) means: to bring a judgment (or conclusion) to. I think I'll repeat that one more time...
To bring to an end.
To bring to a conclusion.
To bring a judgement to.

Those aren't exactly the kind of words people pack out a sanctuary or tear up a few pews in order to hear at the beginning of a new year. New Year phrases like 'the year of divine favor,' or 'the year of a new beginning' tend to have a better ring to them.

About a month or so ago, I heard probably one of the most powerful faith statements I had ever heard in my life. It is one that I pray becomes a staple for every believer reading this devotional today as we prepare for the beginning of a new year.

"God's sovereignty does not excuse our apathy."

While I realize we all are looking forward to a great harvest in 2010, please know that this harvest in many respects will be a result of the seeds we have sown throughout 2009.

2009 (for many of us) should have been a year to put an end to our excuses. A year that you and I should have ceased from blaming any oppressor (spiritual or natural) from hindering us from accomplishing the goals and dreams we set out for earlier this year.

2009 was not a year to be lazy. Or vulnerable. This year (for many of us) should have been a year that many of us for the first time in our lives became (sorry for the dirty word here)... responsible.

On tonight, be careful not to become too consumed with asking God (yet again) to begin some new things in your life, without examining the things He has also told you to bring to an end this year.

You still have a few hours left to cancel some of those credit cards you know you need to stop using. A few hours left to 'unfriend' that person you know God has told you to stop chatting with online. A few hours left to email that proposal you've been sitting on now for weeks to your boss.In fact, there's even a few hours to call that relative of yours you know God has told you to apologize to and mend the relationship. It may be tough to do, but it is time to get it done.

I realize there are a plethora of scriptures many of us will probably be given on tonight concerning what God may have in store for us next year, but I want to give you one that my wife and I have already taken on as a personal challenge for our family throughout 2010.

It's a dangerous one, so please don't write it down if you're not prepared for it just yet.

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with the horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5-6

Ladies and gentlemen, whether you and I are ready or not, 2010 is here. For many of us, this will be a year that many of the things we have prayed for throughout this year will come to pass. However, for those of us who are still holding on to things (and people) God has told us to get rid of, and for those of us who have allowed 2009 to be a year where our apathy and discontentment for where our lives are right now get the best of us, then what in the world are we going to do when the 'horses' arrive?

If God decides to bless you in 2010 with that 'new job' you've been asking for, are you prepared for it? If God decides to bless your business or church with incredible growth in 2010, did you position yourself properly this year to receive it? Or perhaps for some of you reading this today who are still waiting for God to send you a spouse, will you be able to identify him or her when they come, or is your focus still on holding on to those 'safe alternatives' from your past?

Family, enough is enough. No more excuses.To be quite honest...I am tired of making them. And if you're like me, tired of hearing them too.The horses...are here!! SADDLE UP.

HE IS THE GREAT I AM

He Is the Great I Am

Beth Moore

When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush on Mount Sinai, He told the newly appointed leader to tell the people who ask who sent him that "I Am" sent him. God's love is limitless, and He cannot be defined by titles, denominational affiliation or other man-made descriptions. But we can rejoice that the Great I Am will be whatever we need Him to be in our time of trouble. To learn more about this spiritual truth, click on the link below and watch the video.

HE IS THE GREAT I AM

FASTING FOR SPIRITUAL POWER

by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Jesus expected His disciples to fast. He told them, “‘When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

‘But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’” (Matt. 6:16-18, NIV).

Notice He said when, not if. Later He defended their abstaining from fasting for a season but indicated that they would resume this discipline after He had died (see Matt. 9:15).

Jesus Himself often fasted as part of His ongoing life of prayer. Throughout history, men and women whose lives have displayed the power and provision of God made fasting part of their spiritual arsenal. And this is the reason we as believers continue to engage in it: to tap into God.

The Nature of Fasting

The literal meaning of the Hebrew word for “fast” is “to cover the mouth.” You may choose to also abstain from other activities during a fast, but a true fast by definition involves abstaining from food.

Food for your physical body sustains it and nourishes it. When we eat food, we literally take the earth and make it part of us.

I am convinced that God designed our bodies to be nourished and fueled in this way so that we would have a picture of true nourishment—the eternal nourishment of our spirits. Jesus made this clear when He told the devil in the wilderness, “‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”’” (Matt. 4:4).

God has represented His Word as food that nourishes our spiritual life in the same way that physical food nourishes our physical life (see Ps. 119:103; Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:1-3). Just as food strengthens and maintains our bodies, the Word of God nourishes, fuels and strengthens our spirits.

During a fast, you deliberately let go of that which binds you to this physical world—food—in order to receive all your sustenance from the spiritual world. You determine that for a period of time you will deny your physical cravings to focus on your spiritual cravings.

You allow your spiritual hunger to become stronger and more focused. You feed your spirit with the same enthusiasm with which you feed your body. Spiritual hunger takes priority over physical hunger.

Fasting is not a way to influence, impress or manipulate God. It doesn’t prove anything to Him. It doesn’t show Him whether you are serious.

In fact, He knows your heart better than you do. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13).

A fast is not a hunger strike designed to convince God to release what He has, up to now, held back. Fasting is not a last-ditch effort to get through to God. Instead, it is a means of sharpening our spiritual senses so that God can get through to us.

Fasting to Hear God

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read the account of a fast King Jehoshaphat called for this very reason. He had received a report that his enemies were allied against him and were nearly at his borders, intent on making war against Israel. “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat:

What did Jehoshaphat do when confronted with circumstances that threatened to defeat him? “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him” (2 Chr. 20:3-4).

First, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord. He determined that he would fix his eyes not on what he could see but on what he could not see (see 2 Cor. 4:18).

He was certain that the Lord had an answer and a plan that was more than he could ask or imagine (see Eph. 3:20). He would not entertain the lie that presented itself to his earth-sight. He resolved to inquire of the Lord.

Second, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. What was the purpose of this fast? What did Jehoshaphat expect the fast to accomplish? “‘For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’” (2 Chr. 20:12).

Can you echo Jehoshaphat’s declaration as you look at the situation that confronts you? Are you saying: “I have no power to face this situation. I do not know what to do”? Then follow Jehoshaphat’s example: Take your eyes off the circumstances and fix them on the Ruler of heaven and earth.

How did Jehoshaphat do that? How did he create an atmosphere in which God could give him His vision and His plan for overcoming the enemy? How did he put all his spiritual senses on alert so that God could get through to him? He proclaimed a fast.

The Lord had an answer. He had a plan in place. When the people fastened their hearts on Him, opening themselves to Him through fasting, He was able to tell them exactly what actions to take. Their obedience to His living, present-tense voice released His power and provision (see 2 Chr. 20:1-30).

Eating Spiritual Food

There are a few things you can expect to experience on a fast. First, you can expect hunger. Your physical body needs food and is trained to expect it. You will probably experience both a physical and a psychological craving for food.

If you do, turn your hunger into prayer: “Father, as my body craves food, I crave Your presence. My food is to do Your will” (see John 4:34). Let your hunger be a positive feeling because it will turn your heart to Him. “I have treasured the words of [Your] mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).

Hunger and cravings for food will give you the opportunity to present an offering to the Lord. Each time you deny your craving for the sake of your fast, you are placing a sacrifice on the altar. The offering is your obedience (see 1 Sam. 15:22).

You can also expect to experience an increasing desire for the things of God. Just as your body has come to expect food, so your spirit will come to expect spiritual nourishment. God will begin to create in you a spiritual craving that only He can satisfy.

A fast is more than abstaining from food. It is replacing physical food with spiritual food. If you are fasting a certain meal, make that mealtime a time of prayer and study of the Word. If you are fasting for a period of time, fill that time as much as possible with concentrated, focused listening prayer.

Let the Lord set your fast. Don’t impose upon yourself a fast to which the Lord has not called you. He is likely to call you into minifasts in the beginning and train you for longer fasts.

Don’t set yourself up for failure by fasting in the power of your own flesh. What God calls you to do, He also provides the power for you to accomplish. The fasts to which He calls you will be prime training ground for learning to submit your flesh to the Spirit.

I pray that the Father will usher you into a new dimension of power as He calls you to incorporate fasting into your life. I believe that you have been drawn to these words because God has already placed in you a hunger for the deep things of God, and He is about to show you Himself. You will not be disappointed, for His Word assures us that “He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Ps. 107:9).

THE DEEP LONGING

by John Bevere

Why have so many Christians embraced the idea that following Christ means losing individuality, creativity, ingenuity, and the passion for excellence in all spheres of life? Too many believers are trapped in "the ordinary" when God promised an extraordinary life!

In stark contrast, believers in the early church were often mistaken for "gods." What has happened to our power and influence? Have we neglected our access to God's ability and presence purchased through the cross?

It's time we lay hold of our core faith! Within each person is an innate desire to rise above the norm.

It's no surprise we're captivated by those who do remarkable feats or possess super powers: Superman, Spiderman, Batman, to mention just a few. Did you know that 17 of the top 25 blockbuster films of all time tell of extraordinary feats and superheroes? Strength and bravery capture our imagination and encourage us to believe in a life greater than we've known.

How intriguing that the bulk of the most popular movies of all time are not love stories, murder mysteries, espionage thrillers, war movies, sports flicks, westerns or dramas. No, the top box office draws are films that center on extraordinary characters doing remarkable feats. Why? Because "extraordinary" is how we were created to live. It was God's plan from the beginning.

This extraordinary life is more than a fairytale, it's available through Christ. You see, more than a need to escape or be entertained, there is a God-inspired longing in everyone for the extraordinary! Within every believer is a hero waiting to be unveiled!

"My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!" (Ephesians 3:9-10, The Message)

HIS THOUGHTS TOWARDS ME

Psalm 139:1-24 This psalm declares clearly how much God is thinking about us. We have an expression in the Christian community we use when we are concerned about someone. We say, "You have really been on my heart." We are on God's heart every day of our lives. Listen quietly and You can hear Him say, "Today, My child, you are on My heart, and I am praying for you." This psalm says, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with You" (vv. 17-18).

Not only is God thinking about you today, His thoughts were absorbed with you even before you were born. This psalm tells us that God was watching us when we were formed in our mother's womb, and He wrote down the members of our body.

If you feel today, that God has somehow abandoned you or forgotten that you exist, read this psalm. After you read it, you can then praise and give thanks to the Lord because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves you, and you are in His thoughts today. Jesus is making effective intercession for you right now at this very moment.

Thank You, Lord, for thinking about me today. I know in Your thoughts is a plan for me today. Father, let what is in Your mind and heart for me today be accomplished according to Your will. I submit myself to Your way, which is much higher than my own way. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to tap into what Jesus is praying for me today and to what You have planned for me each minute of this day.

READ: Haggai 1:1-2:23; Revelation 11:1-19; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 30:15-16

RENEW YOUR FAITH AT CHRISTMAS

But the angel said to them, "... I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to renew our faith.

We need not fear God because of the Good News of Christ's arrival; it is a Good News meant to "bring great joy to all people." (Luke 2:10 NLT)

What is the Good News?

• You matter to God: God knows everything about you -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.
• You are not an accident: Regardless of the circumstances of your birth, you were not the result of an accident. God has a plan and a purpose for your life. The only way you will find meaning and satisfaction is to discover God's purpose for your life and then to get right into the center of his will.

God sent Jesus so you could know what He's like. If God wanted to communicate to birds, He would have become a bird. If God had wanted to communicate to cows, He would have become a cow. If He wanted to communicate to dogs, He would have become a dog. But God wanted to relate to you and to me, so He became like us -- a human being.

The thing is this -- I don't have the foggiest idea of what it means to relate to something like 'The Force' -- some impersonal power in the sky. But when I see Jesus in human form, I can say, "That's what God's like. I can understand that."

This is why Christmas is not about a religion. You may be Catholic; you may be Jewish; you may be Presbyterian, or Buddhist, or Baptist, or Lutheran; I don't care what your religious background is, Jesus didn't come to give you religion. He came to give you a relationship.

Christmas is God saying, "I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you." That's joyful news. It's good news!

THE WORD MADE FLESH

Rev. James C. Matthews

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

John 1:14 is one of the most revealing scriptures in the Bible. It not only reveals God Himself having come as one of us, but a kingdom principle that God intends for us to live by. This principle simply stated is: Every word God speaks, He intends for it to be made flesh - or manifest! If this is true, and believers desire to see God's Word manifest in their lives, why is there so little manifestation taking place? It is not that the Word is impotent or insufficient. Far from it! The answer lies in our lack of understanding concerning the biblical principle and process by which God has ordained manifestation occur.

Many people have become frustrated, and even fainted, due to a lack of manifestation in their lives as it pertains to the Word of God. They hear and believe the Word of God, but are still waiting on the promises to manifest in their lives. We misunderstand what the Word of God is and how it manifests in our lives. Manifestation is really the revelation of what was there all the time - it just wasn't visible. Manifestation is a two part process that involves both God and man. God initiates the process by providing the spiritual substance of the thing, then man is responsible for doing what is necessary in the natural to prepare a place for it to manifest. Without both there will be no manifestation.

"Now faith (the Word of God) is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, brackets added). This scripture reveals that God has provided the substance of all things we hope for through His Word. Our ability to see what we're hoping for is dependent upon a place being prepared in the natural.

This is more clearly seen in John 1:1 and John 1:14. It reads, "In the beginning was the word' ... 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Word has been there all the time. However, when God decided to make His Word flesh or to manifest it, He had to find a "prepared place" (Mary's womb) for the Pre-existing Word to manifest itself. Man now could see what had been there from the beginning. We first receive a thing by our hearing before it can pass through our hands.

As I considered this revelation, the Holy Spirit revealed to me, there is so little manifestation in believers' lives because they do not understand that God provides for us by speaking to us. Every provision God has given man has come from His mouth. They continue to look for things at the mailbox, another person or through a job, when the authorized means of manifestation begin in the Word. God has done His part - He has given us His Word. We must receive and prepare to see what He has said.

I praise God for His Word that was made flesh! When we were helplessly lost and desperately indebted to sin, God sent His Word to be made flesh for us. The same Word that created all things (Hebrews 11:3, Colossians 1:16), became a man so that He could die for all men and pay a debt that we could not pay. I thank God that His Word became flesh! Even more so, I am glad that His Word has found a prepared place in me and become flesh!

MY SKIN FOR HIS

by Milan Ford

For the past fifteen years (perhaps even longer), I have struggled with the discoloration of my skin due to poor acne growing up. Like most young people growing up, acne was that distant cousin no one wanted around, but kept showing up uninvited and more often than not, with friends.

Like many young adults who are still recovering from skin scars from their adolescent years, I have just about tried every product in the book. Some have worked, most have not. As one particular dermatologist told me earlier this year (while I was standing in a grocery checkout line):

"It takes longer to heal from a scar than it does to actually make one."

Honestly, I didn't know whether to respond with "thank you" or "did I ask for your opinion" - it's amazing how your flaws (when visible to the public) have a way of constantly drawing someone else's diagnosis even when you haven't asked for it.

As a leader (and survivor of ministry) within the local church, my appearance is often something that has been a private prison for me. Despite the unconditional love of my wife and three children, there are still times when I shy away from taking some family photos, and when it comes to meeting with other leaders or friends, keeping eye contact remains a tall mountain to climb.

About a week or so ago, while standing in my bathroom, preparing to test yet another skin care product someone had recommended, I was reminded of this incredibly powerful passage of scripture found in John 1:1-5v:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was the life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Now skip down to the 14th verse:

And the Word became FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

I want to speak directly to everyone reading this today who may have a problem with the 'skin' that they find themselves in right now. Whether you are having a challenge regarding your weight, finding meaningful relationships, locating a new job, or perhaps just holding onto the job you have now...

...please do not allow your quest for personal improvement to cause you to lose sight of the glorious image our Father has provided us all through His Son, Jesus Christ.

I realize that your new year's resolution list is piling up yet again concerning some of the things you desire to change about yourself, but before you invest in yet another self-help product, be sure to spend the time necessary to embrace the fact that you have been uniquely fashioned 'in Christ' before the foundations of the world. Everything that you still deem to be 'dark' in your life cannot compare to the light that Christ desires to shine on us who believe.

This is not a time to hang your head down low or to live a life that is beneath what you are capable of. The time has come for you to exchange YOUR SKIN for HIS.

To know that despite our flaws, Christ came down, embraced our humanity, and now presents us as 'flawless' before an omnipotent God, should ignite within us all a fire that no one can extinguish.

So if you can excuse me, I'm running late for a photo shoot my wife scheduled for me!

Perhaps it's time you should schedule yours.

WHEN HOPE IS DEFERRED

by Os Hillman

"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!'" (Job 2:7-9).

I walked into the room and Angie burst out crying. "I'm so discouraged! I don't know what else to do. Will I ever get better!?" After three years of fighting a medical condition the doctor just told her no progress had been made in the last six months of treatments. Alternative treatment was needed that might have more severe side effects.

Great men of God with healing ministries had prayed for her. Thousands had prayed for Angie through our ministry. A string of doctors had failed to yield any position results. When hope is deferred, the psalmist says, the heart becomes sick. During these seasons, we can only do one thing. We must hang onto whatever faith we have to get through each day and entrust our lives to Him. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Hab 3:17-18).

When faith doesn't see results it challenges what we believe. We must pray as Job prayed: "Teach me what I cannot see" (Job 34:32). God says there is a purpose in everything we go through. Later that day Angie talked to a friend who once had the same issues, but was now better. "Angie, God is going to reveal things to you through this season of adversity that you would never receive had you not gone through this. This is part of your calling even though Satan is the instrument. God is always bigger than Satan's afflictions."

Our greatest tests come when we cannot see positive results from our faith and obedience. In such cases we must die to our expectations and entrust them to our Lord.

FINISHING WELL

Robin Ware

It's important that we pay close attention to timing of events that occur in our lives. We shouldn't allow time to float by or to let things just happen. For those with a destination in mind, you have to understand the value of providential moments.

We serve a God with a purpose. He uses providential moments to effect and or change our current paths permanently if we are obedient. As we get closer to the end of this year of trying times, economic challenges and multiple job losses, it's imperative that we draw even closer to God.

One of my first providential moments occurred in October 2003 when I was downsized from my job. I immediately knew that my survival depended on how I handled this moment. As I look back over the past 6 years, I can tell you that I thank God that I recognized this occurrence as a providential moment that would segue way me into my purpose and not as an instance that was recorded by me as being wronged, picked on or overlooked.

Often times, we as Christians, don't practice what we preach. We consistently say that we want what God has for us. It troubles me that when God gives us what he has for us, we question him, curse him and even turn our backs on him. The story of Job is so befitting for those that want to finish well. We know that God allowed the enemy to test Job. We have to understand that our tests and trials are no surprise to him.

If we are doers of the word, we know that the enemy will want to challenge God's best, which we all are. What assignments have you not completed that you know you must before the end of this year? Is it a book, a program for youth, or even a new career? What providential moment did you experience that clued you in that its time to make the next move?

It's heart wrenching to get knocked out when you are in a fight. Successful fighters spend years preparing physically and mentally for the challenge that lies ahead. Like fighters, God prepares us seasons in advance. Don't take anything for granted. You may not be where you think you should but what you have already experienced was for you to use in this season. God knew then what he could trust you with.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. One man was given 5 talents, one was given 2 and one was given 1. The catch is that they were given talents based on their ability. In order to finish the rest of this year of "birthing" it's important to get back in place, refocus and commit to go all the way so that you finish well.

SINGLE AND SIMPLY FABULOUS!

By: Michelle McKinney-Hammond

What do you think of yourself? How would you describe yourself to someone if you were being objective? Would you want to get to know you if you met yourself walking down the street? Well, it’s time to get under the skin you’re in.

I’ve told the story of the time I was deeply hurt in a relationship—so deeply I had a party with the devil who served me Unbelief Tea and Resignation Pie topped with “Why Me?” sauce. Well, the man got married and divorced. He became a Christian. He came back to me. I was thrilled.

Then we had a major disagreement. He married someone else without telling me. (Can you believe he got married on me twice? What was I thinking?)

Though it took a while, we resolved the past, and today we’re friends. One day when we were having a discussion I jokingly said, “Oh, no one wants to marry me.”

“Why wouldn’t anyone want to marry you?” he asked.

I replied, “I don’t know.”

He came back with: “Yes, you do. Why wouldn’t anybody want to marry you?”

That’s when the light came on in my head. I couldn’t think of any reason why a man with good sense wouldn’t want to marry me!

“Actually,” I said, “I think I am absolutely fabulous! I wasn’t always fabulous, but I am now, so the reality is that a man would be a fool not to want to marry me because I am a complete package.”

My friend replied: “Well, there you have it. I thought you knew that. You would be quite a catch for someone, but if you don’t know it, no one else will either. And men will treat you accordingly.”

His comments caused me to pause and reflect. I realized that lately I had been attracting a different kind of man. I had broken the cycle of disappointing relationships. I had changed.

That’s when it clicked: We attract people who feed off what we think of ourselves. Did you know that?

When I thought I wasn’t a great prize, I attracted people who reinforced that idea in my mind. I didn’t feel beautiful inside or out, so I allowed them to make me feel unattractive.

I didn’t feel as if I had any purpose, so I would lose myself in their pursuits and neglect the call God had placed on my own life.

I gave my heart away to the undeserving because I didn’t know how much it was worth. I was empty, spent by my efforts to find fulfillment in external things that would never satisfy.

Scripture says, “He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet” (Prov. 27:7, NIV). I don’t think I had any concept of what honey tasted like. It wasn’t real to me.

For me the bitter was as good as it got. It was what I was used to; therefore, I decided I should settle for it. After all, some man was better than no man at all, right?

Looking back, I see myself as a woman running around with her heart in her hand offering it to anyone who would have it: “Here, take my heart. Try it, you’ll like it!” Well, who would consider a giveaway valuable?

Girl, it’s time to come to know your worth and make no apologies for it.

Knowing Your Value

How do we get to the place in which our self-worth is intact? And how do we master confidence with grace?

When I address self-confidence and self-worth, please understand that I’m talking about getting a healthy perspective of your worth as a woman through Christ.

You are a pearl of great price. If Jesus thought you were worth dying for, there is no reason for you to believe others have the right to abuse the life He went through so much to save.

It is important for us to see ourselves as the King sees us. This can be difficult when we are bombarded by so-called perfect images via the media. According to them we should all be a streamlined size 6 or 8. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t hit those numbers since high school.

In the Song of Songs, the Shulammite woman speaks with confidence to her friends in defense of her looks, but she tends to lose that confidence when addressing the man of her dreams (see Song 1:5-7). Nevertheless, King Solomon sings her praises and pays tribute to her beauty (see vv. 8-10). Despite what she felt, he saw perfection.

As a result of reading Solomon’s dissertation, I have come to believe the media has misled us. It’s not about being model-thin with waist-length hair and chiseled cheekbones. It’s about being a complete package. This requires giving attention to both the outside and the inside of our beings.

Cultivate external beauty. The first thing that arrested the king was the Shulammite’s eyes (see Song 4:1). He said that they were like doves, which signifies that she did not boldly come on to him. She made a louder statement with her silence by displaying modesty and humility.

It has been said the eyes are the windows to the soul. This statement is not from Scripture, but it is true. If you are harboring any pain, any anger, any distrust, it will come to light in your eyes.

It is important to clear your heart’s deck with God so these negative things don’t become deflectors when you look at others. Your lips may smile, but your eyes will give your bitter heart away every time, and no amount of eye makeup can camouflage a wounded heart.

The king also liked his beloved’s hair. Women today have so many options that there is no excuse for not having beautifully groomed hair.

Don’t be above doing whatever it takes to get your head together—in more ways than one. Hair occasionally had significance in Scripture. For example, a Nazirite priest’s uncut hair was a sign of his commitment to God. What does your hair say about you?

Solomon mentions the Shulammite’s teeth, mouth and speech. She spoke things that were inviting, that caused him to want to spend time with her. Though she did not reach out to him, her mannerisms drew him to her.

Acquire internal grace. In mentioning the Shulammite’s inner qualities, Solomon revealed his heart to her. He called her his sister, his bride. He treasured her completely, granting her the same consideration and protection he would give to a sister.

The Shulammite woman was beautiful to the king because everything about her character was good. The fruits of her life were things that he valued because they mirrored the fruit of the Spirit (see vv. 13-16).

You might feel that the Shulammite’s standard of beauty is impossible to attain, but it isn’t. It’s not about being thin or about having perfect teeth or great hair! It’s about your being the best woman you can be, inside and out. Work with what you’ve got.

Dressed for Success

When you’ve achieved your own personal best, you’re going to feel good about yourself. Your different attitude will attract a different type of attention. When you’re comfortable with you, others will be too.

When Queen Esther was being prepared as a candi-date for the king’s bride, she, along with the other women, went through a beauty treatment that lasted for 12 months. They were entering a different lifestyle. Nothing of their old life was to remain. So they were treated with scents that delighted the king.

The day came when Esther and the others were ready to be presented to the king. On this occasion, the candidate for bride was given her choice of attire.

Esther asked the eunuch, who had been in the king’s employ for quite some time, what he thought she should wear. The other girls probably picked what to wear based on what had worked for them in the past. But it didn’t work for the king.

Seek wise counsel about what looks good on you—inside and out. Don’t get defensive when others offer constructive criticism; use it to your advantage, and get free. Don’t be afraid to let go of some old habits and embrace a new line of thought.

Esther listened when the eunuch told her how to dress for the king. More than enhancing your physical appearance, dressing reflects the countenance of your spirit.

All the fruit that Solomon raved about with the Shulammite woman should be evident in your life as the fruit of the Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit what you should wear daily in terms of attitude as well as what you should put on your body.

The bottom line is that we can all stand to improve ourselves. Change should be viewed as a positive adventure.

Pleasing the King

Don’t consider losing weight, changing your hair or even finding trendier clothes in order to get a man. Instead, take on each of these challenges as self-improvement steps toward being the best you can be for you and for the one who loves you most: the Lord Himself.

Being in good physical shape pleases God because you are taking care of your temple, His creation. You represent Him every time you walk out your door.

Trust me, God has great taste. So if you aim for catching His eye, the right man will be unable to resist you.

Beauty is hard work because it comes from within. Too many of us paint the outside without dealing with the inside, and it mars the finish every time.

God wants the man He places in your life to love you inside and out. But as long as your focus remains on you and your attributes, you will miss it.

The beauty in all of us is not our own. It is only as we release the beauty of the Lord that we are transformed from ugly ducklings into exquisite creatures who capture the hearts of those looking for a safe haven in which to rest.

“From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth” (Ps. 50:2). God is the finisher of our beauty regimen. Without Him we are mere mannequins standing in the window of life.

No man wants to touch a mannequin, but a godly woman—that’s another story. A man knows that this is a woman he can trust with his heart. And a safe haven for all he holds dear will always be the most beautiful sight of all.

A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR

by Os Hillman

"Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house" (Mark 6.3, 4).

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to spiritually impact your immediate circle of relationships and family? Jesus warned us of this phenomenon. We often relate to family and friends differently because they have a history with us that no one else has. They most likely have not had the privilege to witness the spiritual transformation that you have experienced and is evidenced by others in your life.

The spiritual authority that others may recognize in you is not there with your own family and friends. "After all, you're just my sister or brother, with whom I fought, played, and lived everyday life," is what is thought. Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in his own family and community's eyes. It was too difficult to change old perceptions of someone they knew so well. So too, is it for your family members.

The sad result of this mindset is that we often do not experience the same fruit of ministry in our family's lives that we do outside this circle. It is an unfortunate truth. "Jesus still healed a few sick people," meaning there is still a remnant of faith that can receive from you and I. Ultimately, God determines the fruit of our lives. Do not allow spiritual pride to prevent you from freely giving to your family and friends when they do not receive you in the way you think they should. You don't know which "few" God will choose to touch through your life.

Many did not receive Jesus. Therefore, many will not receive you. Nevertheless, allow God to touch the few in your circle He chooses to touch through you.

TELL PETER

Bishop Vashti McKenzie

Everyone likes a little personal attention. It's not that we're that selfish, self-centered, peculiar or particular (or maybe we are), but we all like a little personal attention every now and then.

That's why we patronize businesses that cater to their customers and their needs - that little personal attention that keeps you coming back for more: the sales associate who is understanding; the service station attendant who is patient; the clerk who answers all of your questions no matter how many times you ask them and get the same answer; and the manager who remembers you and what you purchased the last time.

Businesses have grown all because they knew the value of customer service. Other businesses have failed because they did not pay some personal attention to their customer base.

We like to belong to groups where there is some personal attention. We like to go to churches where people give you some personal attention, people are glad to see you come, and they miss you when you're gone. We love churches where someone may remember it's your birthday, or where you want to share your latest excitement because you know they will be glad for you. We love churches where the usher remembers where you sat the last time you were in church, and where the officer who remembers your name.

We love churches where someone may remember that your spouse is still in the hospital or that your family member is in town; the baby has finally graduated or that things are getting better where you live. We love a church home where there maybe a hug or a handshake- all of us like a little extra personal attention. Even if you're in a place where no one can remember your name, at least they will smile at you and make you feel at home.

In 16th chapter of Mark's gospel, the women came to the tomb early. There they pressed their way to complete the embalming process without knowing if the stone was rolled away or if the soldiers would give them a hard time. When they arrived, they found out God had already taken care of both problems. They had an angel experience. Jesus is not dead. He said, "Go and tell my disciples, and Peter."

Now here is the personal attention, and Peter. What about the other disciples? Why not ask about John or Luke, Andrew or Nathaniel. Why give such attention to Peter?

The mention of Peter is unique to Mark. The other gospels do not specifically mention his name. Now we must ask the question why?

Remember that Peter denied Jesus three times after pledging his faith. He was prepared to defend Jesus in the garden, but denied him before the cock's morning crow. Peter denied Jesus not once but three times.
Here is an indication that Peter's mistake was not final. He messed up, but he could finish well.

Peter was the leader who led the followers of Jesus into hiding. He made strategic mistakes, displayed poor judgment and exhibited improper behavior. Have you ever done that or been here?

Yet by calling his name at the tomb, was Jesus letting Peter know that his mistakes did not cost him his leadership position or his relationship with the Savior? Was this an indication that his mistakes were not final?

David made a mistake with Bathsheba and continued to be king of Israel. He finished well. The woman at the well made mistakes in serial monogamous relationships. She finished well. Saul persecuted the church, but after his Damascus Road experiences, as Paul, he finished well. Thank God for a Personal touch so we too can finish well!!

All of our sins were nailed to the cross and buried in a tomb. If we confess, God is faithful to forgive. All humanity was released from the bondage of sin so we could finish well.

Our mistakes are not final. (This is where you begin to praise God throughout the day!)

RECOGNIZING THE SOURCE OF SUCCESS

by Os Hillman

Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel'" (2 Samuel 7:8).

David was nearing the end of his life. The prophet Nathan was responding to David's idea to build a temple where the Ark of the Covenant would stay. God reminded David through the prophet of his roots and where He had brought him. God took David from the fields of pasturing sheep to pastoring a nation. God reminded David that He cut off all of David's enemies for his sake and the sake of his nation. David never lost a battle.

Have you ever felt tempted to look at your accomplishments with pride as if you were the reason for your success? Have you ever thought your prosperity was due to your ingenuity? Has your material success been a testimony to others that God is the ruler of all aspects of your life, even the material side?

The greatest temptation some of us will ever face is pride of ownership. If we think our success is a result of our own effort we affront God and open the door to pride. "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor" (Prov 29:23).

Success can be a greater test than adversity. "Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity," said Oswald Chambers. Success can be a breeding ground for complacency with God and pride of ownership.

Do you have a proper understanding of who you are? Do you understand that it is God who has given you the ability to work and achieve? He is the source of all good things. Ask God today if your life models this belief.

A MOMENT OF THANKS

By Dr. David Jeremiah

Life is hard, and every day is challenging. You may be wondering just now if you can go on. Perhaps another person is vexing you. Perhaps you've been maligned or criticized. You're discouraged with unanswered prayer. Maybe you're feeling like Elijah under the broom tree, wanting to die.

Try praying with thanksgiving. A thankful attitude is the cure for many emotional ailments. Take depression, for example. What is depression or discouragement except the total collapse of thanksgiving in our lives?

Thanksgiving is also the opposite of discontent. It's easy for us to become disgruntled with various factors in our lives; but let's be like one man who was thankful...

*For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

* For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means that I have freedom of speech.

* For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

* For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV because that means he is at home and not on the streets.

* For the taxes that I pay because it means that I'm employed.

* For the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

* For weariness at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard.

* For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

Thanksgiving is the opposite of anxiety. Philippians 4:6: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Worship and worry cannot live in the same heart. They are mutually exclusive, according to Ruth Graham.

Thanksgiving is also the corrective for sadness and even grief. While working on a message from Psalm 100, my phone rang. It was from a family dear to me. Our children were about the same age and had played together growing up.

The caller told me there had been an accident in the woods, and a portion of a tree had fallen on one of the boys. He'd been pinned for over an hour before the ambulance arrived, and it appeared the young man would be paralyzed from the waist down. His spinal cord had been crushed.

Well, that just destroyed my afternoon. I couldn't get it out of my mind. This was a blond-headed kid, very athletic, full of life; and in one moment, his life was shattered and changed. I wrestled with my own thoughts and emotions until evening, then I placed a call to the intensive care unit of the hospital. Frankly, I didn't know what to say; but I didn't have to say much at all. The boy's father ended up comforting me.

He said, "Pastor, I want you to know that my wife and I are, first of all, thankful that our son is alive. Second, we're thanking God that it wasn't the upper part of his body that was paralyzed. And thirdly, though we don't understand why, we know God is good and that somehow in the midst of this, He has a plan for our son's life that must go beyond anything we can imagine. Though it's hard and we wish it hadn't happened, we have committed it to our God, for He is good."

Is the race of life wearing you down? Try a moment of thanks.

THE PRAYING LIFE OF JESUS

By: Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Most of us categorize our lives in segments: home life, work life, leisure life and even prayer life. Years ago God began to show me that I didn’t have to settle for just “having a prayer life.” Instead, I could live a praying life.

What is a praying life? It is a dimension of living in which you experience minute-by-minute the flow of God’s provision.

You are met at every step with the progressive unfolding of His tailor-made plan for your life (see Eph. 2:10). You cease your struggle to find the will of God because the will of God has found you.

Prayer is no longer the means by which you attempt to get God to perform for you. Instead, it becomes the means by which you assimilate His heart and mind.

Living life open to the Spirit—actively and intentionally cooperating with God on an everyday basis—is possible. Jesus showed the way. In fact, He is the way.

Jesus’ disciples had an opportunity to observe the Master’s habits firsthand. These 12 men witnessed the depths of the Man who didn’t just set aside time for prayer. He lived prayer. But one of the disciples still asked Him: “‘Lord, teach us to pray’” (Luke 11:1, NIV).

When Jesus outlined what we now call the Lord’s Prayer, His were not merely a set of words sandwiched between “Our Father” and “Amen.” They were the dynamic of His daily living. The settled peace in which He lived and the power with which He operated both had their roots in Jesus’ ongoing prayer relationship with His Father.

As we examine the Lord’s Prayer in that light, we will learn from Him the secret to living in supernatural power and provision with a soul at rest.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name (Matt. 6:9). When Jesus responded to the request “‘Lord, teach us to pray,’” He first taught the disciples to acknowledge God’s holiness. Later, as His crucifixion drew near, Jesus continued the praying life. While He struggled with His emotions, He admitted to His disciples, “‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save Me from this hour”?’” (John 12:27).

Jesus’ true heart’s cry was revealed as He hallowed God’s name. “‘No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!’” (v. 28).

In His humanity, Jesus longed for an easier way. But His struggle was put to rest as He subjugated His agitated emotions to the purpose of the Father. Because He wanted to see the Father’s name glorified, His emotions did not rule His actions.

As Christ in us molds us into His image, He fashions a heart that desires the Father’s glory. Underneath all our swirling emotions and the pull of our human nature is the Spirit of the Son, sent into our hearts.

We find a settled peace as we surrender to our true heart’s cry: “Whatever path You set me on; whatever flesh pattern must go to the cross; Father, glorify Your name!”

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). With these few words, the Prayer Teacher shows us an astounding truth about the role of prayer. Prayer is the conduit that brings the direct, intervening, specific power and provision of God into the circumstances of the earth.

In the hours before His arrest, Jesus endured deep agony over the will of God. “He began to be sorrowful and troubled.” Then He told His disciples, “‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’” (Matt. 26:37-38).

His agonizing prayer continued throughout the night as His human emotions lined up with God’s plan. “‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done’” (v. 42).

When the time came for His arrest, Jesus declared, “‘Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes My betrayer!’” (vv. 45-46). His soul had found such rest in God’s will that He could meet that which He so dreaded head-on.

Just as it did for Jesus, the praying life gives God access to our hearts and minds, helping us accept the realities of God’s will:

* He is in control. No one else has power over us or our circumstances (see John 19:11).

* His plan has been in place since before the world began (see John 12:27; Acts 2:22-24).

* We can look forward to the results (see Heb. 12:2).

* Our obedience will give God the opportunity to glorify Himself (see John 12:28).

Though we may never come close to Jesus’ experience, the foundation of a praying life brings us the same peace and courage to say, “‘Your will be done’” (Matt. 26:42).

Give us today our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). God could have created us to be self-contained, but instead, He created us with daily physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. “Meet today’s needs,” Jesus taught us to pray.

I hear the Father whisper: “Jennifer, nothing will come into your life today for which I have not already put provision in place. Just be alert and watchful. Look to Me first; I will point you to the supply.” He takes great pleasure in providing us with everything we require.

Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son which is, among other things, a story of the Father’s provision. We know well His stunning display of lavish love as He welcomed home the prodigal son. My heart is captured, though, by the words He spoke to the elder son: “‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours”’” (Luke 15:31).

Do you see that? “Everything I have is yours.” Any time the elder brother wanted a robe on his shoulders or a ring on his finger or sandals on his feet—any time he wanted to celebrate and eat a fattened calf—it was his for the asking. He just never asked.

Everything the Father has is ours. “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God” (1 Cor. 3:21-23). Just ask.

We see Jesus, when He had needs either big or small, simply reaching out and taking hold of the Father’s provision. Did He need money to pay His taxes? Did He need a donkey on which to ride into Jerusalem? Did He need a room in which to observe the Passover with His disciples? The provision was always waiting.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matt. 6:12). When Jesus took on the weight of our sin and carried it to the cross, at the same time, He carried the sins committed against us. When we insist on holding on to the hurts inflicted by others, we are denying the power of His crucifixion.

He died for sinners, for the ungodly. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6,8).

Is your offender a sinner? Christ died for his sins. Is your offender ungodly? Christ died for her ungodliness. The praying life extends grace—the same grace that was extended to us.

There is more good news. Not only did He carry our sin but He also bore the weight of our grief and sorrows. He bore the hurt of the sins committed against us.

By bearing the weight of our own hurt, we are allowing the offense to continue and to multiply its effect on us. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb. 12:15).

As we pass the hurt along to others in our life, the offense grows and spreads. If bitterness is allowed to take root, it will begin to grow fruit. It will create bitterness in those who are exposed to it.

As you live the praying life, let the Spirit of the Son in you cry out: “‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34).

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matt. 6:13). During the emotionally charged hours before His arrest, Jesus urgently reminded His disciples to strengthen themselves—through prayer—against the onslaught of testing headed their way. At least twice during His prayer vigil Jesus admonished His disciples with these words: “‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation’” (Luke 22:46).

The Greek word for “temptation” also means “testing, trial, proving.” A fierce spiritual battle was taking place in which Jesus’ mission was tested and proven. As Jesus agonized in prayer, He received from the Father the strength, assurance, endurance, courage and confidence to successfully face not only the temptation but also the trial.

Jesus’ mental, emotional, and spiritual serenity throughout His crucifixion experience was birthed in the hours of prayer and the life of prayer that led up to these events. It was that openness to the flow of God’s power and provision that would provide the victory in the moment of testing for Jesus.

His example shows us that, in a praying life, the battle is won before the attack even occurs. In the moment of battle, the praying person simply stands his ground and enforces the victory.

In his book The Secret of Believing Prayer evangelist Andrew Murray’s words echo why and how the praying life takes place in the believer: “We do this because we are partakers of His life—‘Christ is our life’; ‘No longer I, but Christ liveth in me.’ The life in Him and in us is one and the same. His life in heaven is an ever-praying life. When it descends and takes possession of us, in us, too, it is an ever-praying life—a life that without ceasing asks and receives from God.”

We can live the power- and peace-filled praying life because it isn’t a thing; it’s a Person. Jesus lives in us—and is longing to express His praying life through us.

GRACE ABOUNDS

by Os Hillman

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God always knows what we need before we even ask. I recall a few years ago when God was allowing my business to dry up - it happened in order to lead me to an entirely new calling. Lack of provision is one way God leads us to a new place. This was a scary proposition because I had many outstanding obligations to banks and others, and I had to have some significant cash flow to make these payments.

I was ending a consulting contract with a client and saw no prospects for replacing it. Days before the contract expired, I received a call from a new ministry that was consistent with the calling I sensed God was leading me to. They asked me to consult with them for the next year. At the end of that year, I learned that God spoke to the ministry's founder to pay my entire salary out of his own pocket in order to meet the needs I had at that time. This was no insignificant amount either.

At the conclusion of my contract with them, I was wondering where my income was going to come from for the next year. The day before I was informed that their commitment would decrease by 50%, I received a call from the administrator of our foundation. They informed me that a supporter had just given $20,000 to our ministry. God encouraged me through this gift to know that He was my provider.

God equips us to fulfill the mission He has for us. Whenever there is a lack of resources, God is either teaching us to trust Him in greater ways or He is using this to direct our path to new sources of income. Trust the Lord to bring you what you need in the timing that He determines.

THE FRAME OF FAITH

Hebrews 11:1-16 We recently purchased some beautiful oil paintings painted by some Israeli art students. These students were temporarily in the United States selling their paintings to earn money for their art school in Jerusalem. They went door to door and also had a few shows in the U.S. The paintings were not framed, but we had the promise of these students that a fellow student would call us who could give us a good price on framing the pictures for us. We waited and waited for this call. Meanwhile our beautiful pictures were gathering dust while they were stored under our bed. No one knew we had such beautiful paintings because they were not framed yet and we could not display them on our walls.

Our reading in Hebrews today describes the beautiful lives painted through history by men and women of faith. As we read about those heroes of our faith, we can picture in our minds the scene of Noah who by faith prepared the ark; Abraham who by faith left his homeland to go to a strange land; Sarah who by faith gave herself to Abraham when she was ninety because of the promise of a child; and on and on the scenes pass through our minds.

We learn in Hebrews 11:3 that there is a very special frame for these pictures of faith: "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

Through faith the Word of God framed the worlds. God sees to it that when we are presented with His artwork there is already a frame for each masterpiece. Just as our paintings could not be displayed until they were framed, these scenes of great faith painted by our Bible heroes could not be displayed without the Word of God framing these scenes. It is through the Word of God that we are able to read these wonderful stories that inspire us to greater faith. In every scene of faith conveyed in chapter 11 of Hebrews, we see how these men and women of faith received and acted upon the Word of God. They attached themselves firmly to the frame of God's Word and then displayed His Spirit, character, power and works to the world. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. God has framed the masterpiece of your life in the golden frame of His Word. Without His Word, we could never display the faith that works by love and moves mountains to the world.