DAILY BREAD #32

 Our Daily Bread #32

Light in a Dark world

BEWARE OF OPEN DOORS Read: Philippians 1:8-11 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly. - Proverbs 15:21      Sometimes Christians follow an "open door" policy. When a door of opportunity opens, they assume that it's God's will to go through it.      Bestselling author Terri Blackstock knows this is untrue. She never openly rebelled against God, but she found herself far away from Him after walking through open doors of opportunity. "I had allowed myself to believe that God was blessing my career ... because He had opened all the doors," she wrote in "Soul Restoration." Although she got what she wanted - a successful career writing romance novels for Harlequin and Silhouette, she lost what she needed: a close relationship with God.      When she finally admitted that her career was keeping her from God, she turned her back on success and renewed her commitment to the Lord. Since then, her writing career has been revitalized, and she has became an award-winning author of Christian fiction.      Just because the Lord doesn't stop us from something doesn't mean He wants us to continue. To discern which opportunities to pursue, we need to "approve the things that are excellent" and to he "filled with the fruits of righteousness ... to the glory and praise o£ God" (Phil.1:10-11). - Julie Ackerman Link THE BEST WAY TO KNOW GOD'S WILL IS TO SAY "I WILL" TO GOD.                               APOLOGY HOTLINE Read: Matthew 5:21-26 Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:24      Jesse Jacobs has created an apology hotline that makes it  possible to apologize without actually talking to the person you've wronged. People who are unable or unwilling to unburden their conscience in person call the hotline and leave a message on an answering machine. Each week, 30 to 50 calls are logged, as people apologize for things from adultery to embezzlement. "The hotline offers participants a chance to alleviate their guilt and, to some degree, to own up to their misdeeds," said Jacobs.      The apology hotline may seem to offer some relief from guilt, but this is  not how Jesus instructed His followers to handle conflict. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to deal with conflict by taking the initiative and going to the offended brother to apologize for the offense (see also Matt. 18). In fact, Jesus taught that the problem of human estrangement is so serious that we should even interrupt our worship to go on a personal mission of reconciliation (Matt.5:24). The Master encouraged His followers to be reconciled with one another eagerly, aggressively, quickly, and personally (v.25).      Are any of your relationships broken or estranged because of something you said or did? Take the initiative. Go now and do all you can to be reconciled. - Marvin Williams God cannot prosper those who try To cover sin and wrong deny; But all who humbly will confess, The Savior with His love will bless. - D. De Haan AT THE HEART OF ALL CONFLICT IS A SELFISH HEART.                              SCRIPTURAL SONGS Read: Collossians 3:15-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ... in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. - Colossians 3:16      John W. Peterson, the beloved songwriter, was a master at using Scripture in his songs. When I was a teenager in the church choir, we performed his cantata "Jesus Is Coming" and sang these words taken from 2 Timothy 3, verse 1: "In the last days perilous times shall come. Men shall be lovers of themselves." Then he wrote of the grim signs that we would recognize in the last days (vv.2-7). The steady rhythm of his music helps me remember that list even today.      While some of us have trouble memorizing verses from God's Word, something in our brain helps us to remember words in songs. If we analyze some of our favorite Christian songs and choruses, we find that they have been derived from Scripture. Thus, we can use the memory boost of music to hide away God-breathed words in our hearts (2 Tim.3:16). Songs such as "Open the Eyes of My Heart" (Isa.6:9-10; Eph.1:18) or favorites like "Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart" (Ps.119:11,105) are taken from the Bible. With these words hidden in our memory, a song of praise comes quickly to our lips.      No matter what kind of voice you have, when you sing the words of Scripture back to God, it is sweet music to His ears. - Cindy Hess Kasper You are the chosen of the Lord, To sing His highest praise, And through the melody of song, To show His wondrous ways. - Anon. HYMNS ARE THE INCENSE OF A WORSHIPING SOUL PRAISING GOD!                             CONNECTING WITH GOD Read: Psalm 63:1-8 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. - Psalm 63:3      In his book "Objects of His Affection," Scotty Smith shares his journey of learning to personally experience the passionate love of God. As a young boy, he lost his mother suddenly in a car accident. Because of this, he closed off his wounded heart to others -including God. Several years later he received Jesus as his Savior and began to learn the truths of Christianity. Yet his relationship with the Lord in those days was, as he described, "side by side rather than face to face. Importent but not intimate."      Do you ever feel that way? You talk to the Lord a little bit, read His words in the Bible, but don't sense a passionate connection with Him like that expressed by the psalmist David in Psalm 63. Scotty suggests ways to overcome the obstacles to intimacy, from which we may glean these two ideas. Live honestly.       Open up to the Lord about the pain of your losses and admit your failures. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8; see also 1 John 1:9). Ponder and believe the Scriptures:       about God's character and His longing for you. "Your lovingkindness is better than life" (Pa.63:3; see also Ps.139 and Eph.1:3-6).      Being close in a relationship takes time and effort - even when it's with the Lord. - Anne Cetas I must put my relationship With You, O Lord, I pray, Above what may distract me from Time spent with You each day. - Sper GOD PURSUES US IN OUR RESTLESSNESS, RECEIVES US IN OUR SINFULNESS, HOLDS US IN OUR BROKENNESS - Scotty Smith                        WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING? Read: 1 Cor.10:31-11:1 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31      What on earth are you doing? You may have heard that phrase when your mom told you to clean your room and found you playing with your toys instead, or maybe your teacher caught you passing notes in class.      But if God were to ask you this question, how would you respond? Paul tells us that as followers of Jesus we have been put on this earth to bring glory to God in everything we do. So what should that look like? God's glory is the manifestation of all that He is in His unsurpassed, stunning perfection. It is His amazing love, His wide mercy, His deep grace. His glory is seen in His truth, justice, wisdom, and power. To glorify Him means that we have the high privilege of showing Him off in a world that is totally unaware of what He is really like. Acts of mercy to the undeserving, grace to the needy, forgiveness to an offender, living wisely according to His will - all give glorious visibility to the character and quality of our God. There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about God. It's our job to let others see what He is really like. And, when they like what they see, let's be sure to let them know who taught us to live like that. It's not a good idea to steal God's glory! - Joe Stowell MAY OUR LIVES BE A "SHOW AND TELL" FOR GOD'S GLORY.                               DESIGNED BY GOD Read: Romans 12:3-8 We have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. - Romans 12:4      Bison are made in such a way that their natural inclination is to look down; the design of their necks makes it difficult for them to look up. In contrast, giraffes are designed in a way that makes looking up easy; the way their necks were made makes it difficult for them to look down. Two creatures created by the same God but with distinctively different body parts and purposes. Giraffes eat leaves from branches above. Bison eat grass from the field below. God provides food for both, and neither has to become like the other to eat.      As we observe the animals and people around us, we're reminded that God made each of us unique for a purpose. One person's natural tendency is to look up and see the "big picture," while another looks down and focuses on details. Both are important. One is not better than the other. God gave us individual talents and spiritual gifts so that we can work together as a body.      Human beings are the crowning jewel of creation, and we shine the brightest not when we see our own likeness reflected in others but when each of us performs the unique functions that God designed for us to do. "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them - (Rom.122:6). - Julie Ackerman Link By God's wise designing We are wonderfully made, Every part essential, And in perfect balance laid. - Anon THERE ARE NO UNIMPORTANT MEMBERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.                                 SHENANDOAH Read: Genesis 12:1-9 By faith Abraham obyed when he was called to go. - Hebrews 11:8      My grandfather grew up on the North American frontier and raised his family on a dairy farm. To pass the time, he often sang songs while he worked. "Shenandoah" was one of his favorites: O Shenandoah, I long to hear you, Away, you rolling river, O Shenandoah, I long to hear you, Away, I'm bound away, 'Cross the wide Missouri.      That song reflects the love the pioneer songwriter had for the Shenandoah River. Yet he felt compelled to leave its beauty and go west. His love for the familiar rooted him, but the pull of something better won his heart.      When Abraham was called out of Ur to follow God to the Promised Land, he had to leave everything that was familiar to him (Gen.12:1). Despite the idolatry of that pagan city, Abraham had probably grown attached to the comfort of his home, the variety of the food, and the fellowship of his friends. But Abraham left the familiar to follow God's leading: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go" (Heb.11:8).      When we experience God's call to another place, it may mean leaving behind the people and the things we love. But when we're obedient to God, He will provide something even more futfilling at our new destination. - Dennis Fisher  Fulfillment on life's journey comes, When we in faith obey The leading of our loving God, He'll not lead us astray. - Sper YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE THE WAY IF YOU FOLLOW THE ONE WHO IS THE WAY.                             ..................