BECAUSE I SAID SO

By Lisa Crum

“Because I said so.”  Those four words were about the most abrupt –yet most profound– explanation I would receive as a child, when instructed by my parents or grandparents to do something.  As a matter of fact, usually by the time I heard those words, it was because I had exhausted their patience with my “why-ning” (smile) and was skating mighty close to some disciplinary action!

Aren’t we a lot like that with our Heavenly Father sometimes too?  The evidence is everywhere as we see common breakdowns in our Christian faith: church splits, confusion, moral plummeting, folks going rogue, and perhaps the saddest of all, believers in general living less than victorious, effective, forward-moving lives.  Why?  Because instead of heeding God’s instructions the first time around, we often instead go on a geocaching expedition in hopes of unearthing some exemption clause from having to be obedient.  Whew…that was a mouthful.  But it’s true.  Why can’t we just do what He says?  After all, He IS God…

Our whole lives, we wrestle with that all-important inquiry, “Why am I here?  Why do I exist?”  And the answer is just as matter-of-fact as the “Because I said so” we heard from our parents.  We are here to achieve God’s purposes, pure and simple.  No one is born without a reason.  No one is without a Divine purpose.  When we sidestep God’s plan, however, and go after our own agenda, is when we see every defining trait we’ve been given turn into something angry, corrupt, vile, perverse.  Example?  A man of ingenuity and powerful leadership skills becomes a Jim Jones or an Adolf Hitler.  I realize that these are the absolute worst-case scenarios, but imagine what could have been if these men would have surrendered their hearts and gifts to God instead of to the enemy.  The Apostle Peter was a loudmouthed hothead whose aggressive nature got him into more than one pickle. Yet when his outspoken passion got sanctified by the Holy Ghost, he became the emboldened herald of Pentecost, who preached like he was on fire…because he was!  This is what happens when we allow God to harness the best and worst of our nature and guide us in HIS direction.

Oh, that we would just save ourselves years of setbacks and heartache, and just surrender to His will for our lives.  We waste so much time trying to become important, trying to gain respect by earning our pea-sized merit badges for the world to admire.  Hay and stubble on that Great Day when our works are tried in the fire.  Poof!  Burned up in a split second.  I’m not saying that we shouldn’t get college degrees, promotions on the job, work hard and save up for retirement—BUT!  What if, in order to get those things, we have systematically tuned out God’s voice when He tried to lead us another way?  I believe with all my heart that anything we gain by disobedience to God will only result in failure and bitter disappointment in the end. 

We’re so afraid that if we say “yes” to Him, He’ll make us do something we hate for the rest of our lives.  Not so!  Whatever was birthed in you to do, when you do it under the covering of His authority, will just “click” into place.  It will be the most natural thing, the most satisfying thing you’ve ever done.  He may indeed be leading you to go after that 8th consecutive college degree, and He may have even led you to tenaciously pursue the CEO’s chair or a career in professional sports, but if He’s really instructed you to pour all of your heart and soul into an endeavor, it’s still for His glory and a Divine purpose…not to have other people ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all YOU’VE done.  Just check your motives, and begin to listen for His instruction.

How do we know whether we’re in His will or not?  Sometimes we’ve ignored His voice so long that it’s hard to remember the sound of it.  But I challenge you to ask yourself three things:

1. Did God specifically tell me to do this with my life; or, have I heard His call to another purpose and decided to do it later, after I do my own thing first?

2. Is what I’m doing in violation of any part of His Word?

3. If He asked me to sacrifice it on the altar of obedience, would I or could I do it?

Our prayer:  “Heavenly Father, thank You first of all for creating me in Your image.  I can’t begin to understand why and how You deliberately planned for me a hope and a future, but I want to fulfill that purpose and ultimately to please You and make You glad You willed for me to be born.  Take my life and use it fully for your good pleasure.  Weed out all the ugly, unproductive things growing in my character, and straighten whatever I may have warped by my disobedience.  Every talent, every gift, every ability You’ve instilled within me, I surrender to Your Divine will.  Don’t allow me to be satisfied with anything less —and don’t allow me to aspire to be anything more— than exactly what You want for me.  I say yes to Your will now, just BECAUSE YOU SAID SO, and I do it in Jesus’ name.”

Scripture of the Day: Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” - Luke 11:28 

MEETING WITH GOD

by Maggie Escoto

Many of us have been blessed with close friends. If we never spent any time with them and instead just thought and talked about how wonderful these special people are, wouldn’t this behavior be foolish? Yet some Christians do exactly that.

In the face of acquiring a wide range of  knowledge about God and the Bible, they miss out on highly favored and prosperous companionship with the Father, the best friend anyone could ever have.

It is possible to occupy our lives with spiritual information and activities, which is all good, but fails to develop a close relationship with the Lord. Here is a quick account to see if this may be true of you: Do you attend church only out of a sense of duty? Do you pray with haughty or repetitive words rather than speaking to God from the heart? Do you serve solely out of obligation?

We read in Scripture about many people whose personal encounter with the Lord was empowering and life-changing. Abraham, Gideon, Moses, and Paul were just a few who spoke with Him one-on-one (Genesis 7:4; Judges 6:12, 14; Exodus 3:2; Acts 9:3-6).  Today, we don’t expect theatrical or melodramatic“burning bush” experiences, but every believer should still have cherished, intimate times with God. Whenever we open His Word and invite the Holy Spirit to enliven its meaning, we can directly hear from the heavenly Father.

The Bible tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Walking closely with the Lord takes commitment and time. Start now by dedicating a portion of your day to meeting with your best Friend and experience a life of transformation!

Lessons in Hovering: The Nearness of the Spirit

By John C. Richards, Jr.
        

Having five siblings can teach you a lot of life lessons. Among those lessons is the practice of hovering. At this point in my life I consider myself a professional “hoverer". I can hover with the best of them. Let me explain the nature of a hoverer. A hoverer is one who waits in anticipation to take advantage of a great opportunity. All they need to proceed? They just need to hear a word. Friday nights in my household I became that person. Reluctant to cook after a long week, my mother would bring home take-out. As soon as she walked in the house, my hands were washed and I was ready. I was so close to the food I could breathe in its fresh aroma. I stood near her, just hovering, until I heard the word: "Go ahead. Dig in."

The Bible makes mention of another Hoverer. He might be considered the greatest Hoverer ever. One whose proverbial sandal I am not able to strap. He didn't hover over food. He wasn't trying to satisfy His appetite, just the unfolding plan of the Creator. And His situation wasn't as highly aromatic as mine. In fact, here are a few phrases that describe His environment. Disorderly. Chaotic. Hopeless. Three excellent descriptions of the early appearance of the land mass we have come to know as Earth. There were no awe-inspiring mountains yet. There were no rushing rivers. More importantly, there was no ability to sustain human life. The Earth didn't have a chance. Yet the Spirit of God was present. Hovering. He was merely waiting for the go-ahead from the Father. There's a sense of anticipation as He waits to hear those words: "Let there be light" (see Genesis 1:3). It's like God says, "Go ahead. Dig in." That was His cue. It was time to turn this chaos into order. It was time to replace darkness with light. It was time to turn an abyss into a place of bliss. Six days later the results are awe-inspiring. So beautiful that the Father sits back and declares it all "very good"  (see Genesis 1:31).

Ultimately this story finds its way into our own hearts. Although formed and not created, humankind can be described in the same way. Disorderly. Chaotic. Hopeless. At one point in my life, those terms described me with succinct accuracy. But there was a Hoverer present. The Spirit of God was waiting to hear those words from the Father: "Go ahead. Dig in." And did He ever! He breathed on me. I was like the Earth. A life seemingly devoid of the presence of God, yet the Spirit was hovering. And something amazing happened. Minerals began to appear, creating salt (see Matthew 5:13). Darkness began to fade, disseminating light (see Matthew 5:16). Rivers of living water began to flow out of my life (see John 7:38). And my heart began to change.

 

Paul reminds us all of that day in a letter to the Church at Corinth: "For God, who said 'Let light shine out of darkness’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV). Not only are the opening verses of Genesis about the Earth's creation, but also your heart's re-creation…through grace. Today, be grateful for God invading your world and "digging in". Be grateful for the Great Hoverer, the Spirit of God. Continue to allow Him to breathe on you. And as you do, trust me, the Father sits back and declares those timeless words: "Very good!"

 

Scripture of the Day: "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." - Genesis 1:2 (NKJV)

NEED ANYTHING?

Pastor Troy Gamling

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” Phil 4:11 (Paul)

What does it take for us to say we have enough? Many who struggle with this answer the question of “enough?” with “just one more.” But where does it stop?

According to the Barna Research Group, the average American
adult believes he needs an additional $8,000–$11,000 per year to live comfortably. Tracking studies show, however, that even when adults reach or exceed the income levels to which they aspired, they still claim they need another $8,000–$11,000 to live comfortably.

To those that struggle with contentment... there will never be enough. It will always lie one arms length beyond their ability to sleep at night. Those that live in this camp wonder when the next one will be and never cherish what is.

Their entire existence is based on what they might miss out on by not having more.

Today’s verse helps with this. Godliness with contentment, Paul says, is of great value. In fact, he goes on to tell the churches in Philipi that he has “learned how to be content with whatever I have.” [sic].

What was Paul’s secret? What helped him move from greedy to grateful? It’s simple. Perspective. Paul saw that his needs were met and that was enough. He probably had wants...things that he’d like to have in his life... but he realized that these were superfluous to his mission. Paul was sent to spread the Gospel... and help those around him find Christ as Lord. He knew that God would provide whatever he needed to fulfill his calling.

In the fifth century, a man named Arsenius determined to live a holy life. So he abandoned the conforms of Egyptian society to follow a simple lifestyle in the desert. Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through its shops. Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn’t need.

Are you focused on the things you need instead of pining for the things you don’t? That’s our goal today... to change our point of view as to what’s important. God will provide those things for you. No need to worry... He knows your needs and will meet them every time.

I suggest taking the energy you might spend on acquiring wants and invest it in other areas. Read more, study the Bible more, take care of your body more, journal more, or serve others more... So many things we can do to BE more rather than just HAVE more.

It was once said, “Be content with what you have, never with what you are.”

Good advice...

Stop Trying to Win Arguments by Jon Walker

"I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." (1 Corinthians 1:10 LB) Stop trying to win arguments.  Instead, make it your goal to love those who disagree with you. Go for the love, not the win. Jesus tells us love will always win; he guaranteed that when he walked out of the tomb. When you find yourself in an argument with other believers, use these biblical guidelines for getting along: Let mercy guide your response (Proverbs 3:3–6). In a conflict, most of us say we only want what’s fair, but God’s approach isn’t about being fair. It’s about grace and mercy (Romans 5:8). Let God determine the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). The truth is not determined by your thoughts or feelings (1 John 4:1) or the opinions of others. Truth is what God says it is; he is the sole authority for interpreting any situation (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Bible says we shouldn’trely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), that what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Proverbs 14:12). Look for God’s presence (Matthew 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we’re in the battle alone. Follow the example of the young shepherd boy, David, who believed God was in the fight and that the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). Look for the conflict’s true source (Ephesians 6:12). According to God’s Word, we’re really not fighting other people; our real enemy is Satan and his “unseen spiritual forces of wickedness.” Lay down human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). When we try to meet our own needs, working independently of God, we tend to use what the Apostle Paul called weapons of the flesh. These include: manipulation, gossip, slander, ridicule, threats, blame, nagging, deception, and silence. When we use them, we end up in an “evil for evil” cycle, and that’s like trying to fight a skunk with “stink” — everybody loses! Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4). The Bible tells us that prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. After we put on the whole armor of God, we’re to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

A HEAVY DOSE OF PERSPECTIVE

Sharon Jaynes

Sharon's Website

Today’s Truth
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 188:24 NIV)

Friend to Friend
It was just a quick check-up at the doctor’s office…or at least that’s what it was supposed to be. My “to-do-list” resembled a mile-long scroll and several deadlines loomed like a thunder cloud ready to burst. But, the appointment would take just a few minutes. Just enough time to catch my breath.

“Good morning Mrs. Jaynes,” the cheery receptionist greeted. “May I see your insurance card please?”

We went through the regular check-in procedure and then I settled in a comfy chair with a magazine that I would not have normally read. I knew I wouldn’t have time to read a full-length article…since this was just a quick visit. My, oh my, the trouble those Hollywood folks get into.

Ten minutes turned into fifteen turned into twenty turned into thirty. My to-do list began growing heavier and heavier in my mind.

“Excuse me,” I interrupted the receptionist. “My appointment was thirty minutes ago. Did they forget me?”

“I’m so sorry,” she reassured me. “I’ll check on it right away.”

In just a few moments, a nurse appeared at the door. “Mrs. Jaynes, come right this way.”

My second stop was into a stark treatment room with more magazines. “Oh well, let’s see what Brittany did last year,” I mumbled to myself. At least I was in the room. That was good.
The clock continued to tick. With each passing minute my frustration grew. “I’m glad he’s not checking my blood pressure,” I grumbled to no one in particular.

Fifty minutes after I had walked into the office for my quick 5-minute check-up, the doctor himself walked into my room. My to-do list was magnified in my mind. My time was important too, you know. I didn’t have time to sit around and read out-dated gossip magazines!

The doctor was actually a friend of mine, but I was feeling less than friendly. Ice Queen is a description that comes to mind when I think of my probable appearance.

“Hi Sharon,” he began. “I’m sorry you have had to wait so long. I have been with a patient and had to tell her that she has terminal cancer. It took longer than I thought.”

Suddenly, my icy countenance began to melt into a puddle on the shiny tile floor and tears pooled in my eyes. I was upset about not checking insignificant frivolous errands off my to-do list, and the woman in the next room was pondering how she was going to spend her last days on earth. I envisioned her walking to her car and coming up with a brand new to-do list for her day.

#1 Live well

#2 Love well

Yes, I did have a check-up that day. God was the doctor and He looked into my heart to see that my perspective on life needed surgery. What’s really important? My silly list of errands? No. What should be at the top of my to-do list today and every day is: #1 Live well. #2 Love well. Celebrate each day as an incredible gift from God.

Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thank You for another day of life. Sometimes I can get so caught up in my silly little lists that I lose perspective of the true meaning of life. Help me to live my days glorifying You with every breath that I take and step that I make.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
What is at the top of your to do list today?
Consider making a new to do list and including what you think God would have you do today.

MILITARY LIFE

Military Life

By: Maggie A. Escoto

It’s amazing when one becomes part of a military family, directly or indirectly, the perspective of holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day change.  The view is no longer how most people view these holidays: as a long weekend to just unwind, go on vacation, shopping for sales, etc. etc.  Yesterday I asked someone what their family was doing for the holiday and I was at least expecting to hear, “family coming over for bbq” but instead I got, “Nothing, we don’t know any fallen military.” Hmmmmmm…I found that to be interesting.

Not surprising as I used to think along the same lines...didn’t really give much thought about the men and women who have sacrificed not only their lives but also the sacrifice that the soldiers’ families also make that we would take for granted the freedoms that we have been given because of them. By the way, if you compare their sacrifice of EVERYTHING to their pay is nothing to write home about (but that is another story and pet peeve for another day).

In life, people make sacrifices for the well-being of themselves and others. The call of a sacrifice should be a personal decision or life practices for a better coexistence. However, this is not true for American soldiers, their duties call for sacrifices. 

The soldiers sacrifice their lives for the nation and pledge allegiance to the constitution that they will serve with devotion. This makes them U.S. property; they do not have control of their lives like other citizens because the call requires them to be alert at all times. Their social, political, economical, and other aspects of life are controlled and monitored by the government. They go to war and defend the nation at the expense of their lives. Like men and women of the forces who have served the country against attacks in the past wars, the current soldiers still lay their lives for the sake of the nation. American soldiers constantly fight oppression and tyranny, which faces the nation and other nations. Unrestrained, terrorism and the danger of terrorism, whether done abroad or on American soil, threaten our prosperity, our culture, and our means of life. The responsibility for combating and overcoming these evil acts lies with our military services and our alliance allies.

And these are just the basics.

Culture Sacrifices

The soldiers' sacrifices are rarely noticed or given deserving attention.  Did you know that the soldier who goes to fight in other regions sacrifices the culture practices of United State? These soldiers suffer harsh cultural and religious practices, which are practiced in these foreign nations. Some of the soldiers have been executed due to these cultural differences. Women in the American armed forces, who are stationed in Afghanistan and other Arab nations, are sacrificing the protection their Kevlar helmet gives to comply with Islamic ethnicity. These practices are said to protect their existence and save their lives during their duties. This change of identity in order to serve or perform your duty is a call for sacrifice for many. They have been demanded to cover their heads with a scarf known as hijab, so as to be accepted to stay in these nations. This is political correctness, which is creating havoc on the American military. These are sacrifices that affect the individuals so much since they involve changing lifestyle. These soldiers have to forfeit their cultural activities they use to enjoy before joining the forces. They have to form new culture, which take times to incorporate into life style.

Living Standards

The luxurious life, which people tend to enjoy and properly plan for is a thing the military dreams of. The job jurisdictions make them to be alert at all. They sacrifice the living standard because their jobs dictate where they can stay and what particular activities they are allowed to be involved in. The soldiers sacrifice every bit of their living because they have to live in accordance to the code of conduct given to them.  The life style is checked in that everything is timetabled and must be adhered to, from the sleeping hours, eating habit, exercise practices, and social activities. Having the uniform for identification are segregation factors and defining tactics of their existence.  Their social, political, economical as well as other aspects of life is control and monitored by the government. The social life style of an officer is always restricted and checked so as not to interfere with duty.  The U.S soldier is politically restricted from engaging in politics of the nations, and only allowed to protect the constitution of the nation.

And these are to name just a few.

UNFAIR IMBALANCE:

Let’s talk a little bit about the families left behind in the face of deployment.

Many politicians, including the President, over the years proclaim, “I understand what the families of our service members go through,” but with all due respect, they have absolutely no clue, especially if they have never served their country thru the military.

Until you live in their shoes every day for the duration of a combat deployment, none of us can truly understand the full measure of what they suffer. At least those in the military get the pat on the back. But what notoriety do their family members receive for the silent sacrifice they make? There is virtually no recognition.

Most servicemen and women would unequivocally agree that without the heroic sacrifice a spouse makes at home while away in the war zone, they wouldn’t be as effective on the front lines. Military spouses keep the homefront going. We admire your dedication and commitment to your families, your spouses who fight for our freedom, and our country. Not just anyone can do the job that is required of a military spouse. The military spouses are a people that are strong, dedicated, loving, and supportive under the most extreme and stressful situations. They fill the role of both mother and father to their children while their loved ones are deployed. They put their careers on hold due to constant relocation. They have to keep it together all while knowing their loved ones are in a war zone. Under the worse of circumstances, their loved ones come back wounded or pay the ultimate sacrifice. In those situations, the military spouses are thrown into the role of a caregivers to their Wounded Warrior or they become military widows/widowers.

These men and women offer up their goals and dreams, their livelihoods, and their futures on the altar of this Nation. They are every bit as much our Nation’s heroes as those who wear the uniform and their sacrifices must not be swept under the rug when the stories of these wars are told. Nor should we allow Congress or the American people to argue that these men and women who give up their lives to become full-time caregivers to wounded warriors should go unpaid and unrecognized for their efforts on the Nation’s behalf.

Military spouses are our Unsung Heroes!

What can we do for our military families?

There are so many things we can do for them and they are as simple as:

1. Thank them and tell how much you appreciate their service

2. Pay for a soldier’s meal or the families’ meal if resources allow

3. Give the couple a date night and offer to babysit their children

4. Pray for the military families

5.  Give them gift certificates for massages and spa treatments.

There is so much that one can do if we choose to be creative.

Soldiers Payer

Psalm 91 (NIV)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation. ”

Military Spouse’s Prayer

Dear Lord, give me the greatness of heart to see the difference between duty and his/her love for me.  Give me understanding that I may know, when duty calls him/her, he/she must go.  Give me a task to do each day, to fill the time when he/she is away. Lord when he/she is in a foreign land, keep him/her safe in your loving hand, when duty is in field, please protect him/her and be his/her shield.  And Lord, when deployment is so long, please stay with me and keep me strong. Amen.

Prayer for Military Families

Father, may the families of our military personnel – their spouses, children, and parents – cast all their cares and burdens upon You.  Instead of being worried or filled with anxiety, may they pray about everything that concerns them and everything that concerns their soldier’s life and deployment.  As You promised, then cause Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Grant all our military troops this same peace, and let them feel the love we have for them even though we are far apart.

1Peter 5:7, Amplified; Philippians 4:6-7