New Years Resolution -Acknowledge Him

    
    At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. Daniel 4:34 (NIV)
    
    Here we are on the cusp of a new year, a new beginning, and a fresh start. Many people will be celebrating tonight as we usher in exchanging the old for the new. There are those who sit back and reflect on the past year, and they can wonder, Where did it go? and What do I have to show for it? And, yet there are others who sit back and marvel at what they have accomplished. 
    
    The story captured in the Book of Daniel is a story that each of us should want to know and remember as we set our sites, paths, hopes, and goals for this upcoming year. 
    
    Nebuchadnezzar was a world leader of the Babylonian empire who conquered many different kingdoms. As he did this, he would steal the peoples valuables and add it to his personal wealth. He would allow each of these conquered nations to continue to worship the false gods that they had chosen as a way to appease them. This all changed when he conquered Judah. You see God had allowed this king to conquer all these kingdoms, including His chosen people because they, too, had turned their backs on the real God, and had chosen false pagan gods to worship instead. 
    
    All that Nebuchadnezzar cared about was amassing more wealth, and power, and growing his personal empire. He worshiped his lifestyle, and his possessions more than God. So God sent him dreams showing him the future, and how these things would be taken away because of this, unless he changed. 
    You see, God demands exclusive worship; He does not want to be in competition with the attention that we give to the things that we posses, or the job that we have. And this was the case with Nebuchadnezzar, as the king was not willing to humble himself and admit that it was God who made him, but that would change. The King was warned by dreams given by God and interpreted by a young prophet named Daniel. And even though he acknowledged that Daniels God was in fact the true God, he continued to focus his attention on his own accomplishments, and credited only himself for achieving them. 
    
    
    Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? 
    
    The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 
    
    Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird (See Daniel 4:29-36).
    
    And so for seven years this once mighty king roamed around like a crazy, insane person. God had clearly warned him of the dangers in his pride, and then allowed him to live through seven years of insanity before restoring him to the throne. 
    
    Maybe we dont rule over kingdoms, but this lesson should be clear to us. When we shift our attentions to our own lives, to what we want, to what weve accomplished, and to how much we have, we are unable to see what God has done, and how He is working within our lives. 
    
    Maybe we wont literally walk around insane and homeless for 7-years, but will we really be any different than Nebuchadnezzar if we are still be running around like a chicken with our head cut off, crazily chasing false security, hope and happiness through worldly possessions and meaningless relationships. 
    
    We should learn from history, and those who have made mistakes, so we dont make the same ones. Nebuchadnezzars mistakes are our valuable knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it to our lives. Gods Word is full of His knowledge and it will be a guide for those who seek to know the proper way in life. 
    
    What is it about us human beings that keep us from taking someone elses painful experiences and learning from them? I suggest it is pride, and ignorance, that we can somehow continue to make the same mistakes and hope for a different outcome. 
    
    Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way, and he had this to say about it:
    
    Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37 (NIV)
    
    When you reflect on this year, and set forth for the new one, I would like to encourage you to think about what God has done for you, and then what you will do as a result of this. Then make a New Years resolution that will have purpose and meaning.
    
    STUDY QUESITON: What was King Nebuchadnezzars response once he knew who God really was, as recorded in Daniel 4:34?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to acknowledge and worship God first and foremost?
    
    APPLICATION: Seek a meaningful relationship with God today, and make it your New Years resolution to read His Word daily.

Recipe for Right

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-4

He is the Rock; his work is perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!.
- Deuteronomy 32:4.

You're Planning a surprise birthday party for your mom. You invite your little
sister to help you bake the cake.

"Let's make a chocolate cake!" Sis squeals.

"OK," you agree and pull out a box of chocolate cake mix from the cupboard. "This says we need a half cup of water, a half cup of vegetable oil, and two eggs."

Sis says, "I want do that!"

You shrug. "Sure, OK," you say. You pour the cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Then you see that Sis is putting water into a doll cup.

"Sis," you say, "we need to use a measuring cup."

"This is a cup," she says, pointing to the miniature teacup holding the water.

"But we need to use this cup," you say. You grab a glass measuring cup.

"But I wanna use my cup!" Sis's face wrinkles up as though she's just swallowed a lemon whole. She's about to cry.

What should you do? If you use Sis's doll cups, your cake will be a disaster, of course. Why? Because the recipe relies on a standard measurement. You can't just use any size cup. You know that when a recipe says to use a cup of flour or a teaspoon of cinnamon, you must measure those quantities against a standard.

It's the same way with knowing whether something is right or wrong. A lot of people try to "measure" whether it's right to do something by how they feel or what they think or what other people might say. But the recipe for right and wrong relies on a measurement just like the recipe for a cake does. Only the standard measurement of right and wrong isn't a cup or a teaspoon; it's God.

In other words, God is the measurement of whether something is right or wrong. "He is a faithful God who does no wrong," Deuteronomy says. Whatever is like God is right. Whatever is not like God is wrong. For example, telling the truth is right and lying is wrong because God is true and trustworthy.

If you want to figure out whether something is right or wrong, all you need to
do is follow the recipe: Measure it against our God, "a faithful God who does no wrong."

REFLECT: Think about the statements "Whatever is like God is right" and
"Whatever is not like God is wrong." Can you think of any examples (like the
example of telling the truth and lying that was given above) that agree with
either statement?

ACT: To remind yourself that God's Word is the standard of "measurement" for right and wrong, you could carry a small measuring spoon around with you in your pocket, purse, or backpack today. Or you could keep a measuring tape in yourlocker.

Prayer: "Our Loving Heavenly Father, Thank you for being perfect and fair and faithful. Show me how to be more like you, especially when I____________." Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Armageddon

"And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne of the Temple in heaven, saying, 'It is finished!'" - Revelation 16:16-17 (NLT). 


I have read how, "at the end of the 19th century, two French writers went to
visit the well-known French scientist, Pierre Berthelot. Berthelot was a kind of scientific prophet. He forecast some of the weapons of mass destruction that would appear in the next century. He said to the writers, 'We have only begun to list the alphabet of destruction.' Silence fell over the meeting. Then the elder of the two writers said quietly, 'I think before that time comes, God will come like a great gatekeeper with his keys dangling at his waist and say, "Gentlemen, it's closing time."'"


Armageddon, among other things, is a part of God's closing time on mankind's history. Books have been written and films produced about Armageddon, showing it as the world's great closing time battle of all battles. It is depicted in the Bible as the raging war at the end of this world age when, at some point, God will step into man's history to put down all evil forever, and to stop mankind before we totally destroy ourselves.


I don't claim to be a student of biblical prophecy, especially relating to the
specific details of the end of this world age. For me, the important thing is
that we are ready because that time will also be marked by Jesus Christ's coming again for all those who have accepted him as their Savior—and have had their sins forgiven—to take them to be with him forever in heaven. It is my understanding, however, that Christ's return for his people will precede the Battle of Armageddon.


What a glorious day Christ's return will be for all true Christians—not those in
name only—but for those who are truly Christ-ones. And what a tragic day it will be for those who have never accepted God's forgiveness. Also at the end of this world age, to the non-Christ-ones, according to Jesus, God will say, "'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire [hell] prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matthew 25:41 (NIV). Whatever and wherever hell is, it is a terrifying thought to be lost there without hope for all eternity—eternally separated from God, the author of all love and life.


The good news is that there is no need for you or me to miss out on God's forgiveness and a home in heaven to be with him forever—where God himself will wipe away all tears ... and where there will be no more sickness, sadness, sorrow, or dying. God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life is ours for the asking.


As sure as the prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Christ's first coming have all come true, we can be just as certain that Jesus Christ will come again and that Armageddon will take place.


Prayer: "Almighty and Everlasting Father God, thank you that you have given us your Word to warn us of the 'wrath to come,' and to show us your plan of salvation so we can have our sins forgiven, accept Jesus as our Savior, and be prepared to meet you face to face—and be saved from a lost eternity in hell. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen." 

Merry Christmas!

    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
    
    
    
    What a beautiful day it is. It is a day that we, as Christians choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We really dont know what day Jesus was born, but In 336 A.D., the Western Church, based in Rome, chose December 25 to celebrate as Christmas, meaning "Christ's Mass." The Eastern Church chose January 6. The day was named Epiphany, meaning "appearance." Eventually the period from December 25 to January 6 became known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
    
    The Prophet of God, Isaiah spoke of Jesus birth roughly 700-years before it transpired, when he said, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6). 
    
    We then see this prophesy coming true in the Book of Matthew when an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that his wife Mary would in fact be having a child. 
    
    And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)
    
    We see in Isaiah that that the child Mary was to conceive would be called Immanuel, which means, God with us. This was to be His descriptive title of His earthly ministry. And we see in Matthew 1:21, and in Luke 1:31 that the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her to give the name Jesus to Him. 
    
    Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means either The LORD is salvation, or The LORD saves.
    
    Christmas is a day synonymous with the giving and receiving of gifts. It is unfortunate that there are eyes that will light up with the thought or notion that they might receive something from someone that we so desired such as a toy or some other gift that they had desired, yet not even consider accepting the gift of salvation. 
    
    I would encourage you to consider the following. If you are a Christian, then you have received this gift. Why not offer it to someone else? Why not participate in a true gift exchange this year. The gift of salvation comes from God, but it is offered through us as Christians to those who do not have a hope in their personal eternal salvation.
    
    Lets share the message of the Gospel this season with those whom God has laid upon our hearts, and has brought into our lives. Lets not allow our own inabilities to stop us from sharing this message.
    
    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
    
    This baby Jesus that was born in a manger was willing to lay down his life for all of us. He is the Christ who died to save us from our sin. We cannot save ourselves. He is willing to save all those who turn from their sin and come to Him. Salvation is from God alone. No amount of good works can earn it.
    
    Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NKJV)
    
    Merry Christmas my friend, and May God richly bless you this day.

A Christmas Message

Hello Friends, 

Merry Christmas! 

Greeting in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The whole world is Celebrating the Birth of Jesus! Praise God! :) I want to Share with you all a Short Message on Christmas - the Real reason for Celebrating Christmas.  

May this Christmas Season acknowledge us of 2 Major Reason of WHY JESUS CHRIST was born: 

1) To Save sinners (the Human race) & 

2) To Come back soon to take HIS Remnant People! 

Remnant people? Who is this kind of People? --> The 'Remnant' is a small proportion (the minority) of God’s people at the end of time who have clung to the unadulterated belief system, faith and doctrines of the early Christian Church. This Church will be comprised of people who have NOT have allowed pagan ideas, days or idols to have been introduced into their belief system as it has unbeknown to many Churches!

Jesus is coming back a second time to take this Remnant church with Him to Heaven!  The Question is: Are we one among His Remnant People? -- It is easy to say 'YES, I am ready', but think TWICE! It is not for your 'likes', 'Comments', 'Shares' or Hallelujah's this message is put Up! It is for us to clearly & calmly think about that Question again:  ARE WE ONE AMONG HIS REMNANT PEOPLE? Are we going to make it?? If your answer is vague and doubtful then please do yourself a favor and Repent to God! God will forgive each one of us; EVEN NOW! Repent & STOP Sinning for Jesus is Coming Soon! Be Prepared! And let it be a warning for those of us who are Luke-warm! This may seem like Hard-core teaching, but Remember; "Broad is the gate to Eternal Hell &Narrow is the gate to Eternal Heaven!"  Amen! Don't be deceived and be blinded by worldly pleasures. Jesus is coming back to take HIS Remnant Church Only! 

It is easy for us to celebrate the Birthday of Jesus without knowing the true meaning of it. It is fun to decorate our homes and put the beautiful lights and trees up. The family get-together's are Great and Fun! The food and dishes served are great! Giving gifts and Charity is Awesome! BUT, if the real reason of Jesus Christ is not Shared then its pointless celebrating Christmas! 

May God bless us to make right choices in life and in everything we do! May God guide us every time. God is watching over us always! If God is always with us then don't do anything uncomfortable that we don't want Him catching us doing it! Do we? Hope this Message gets through us seriously! 

Jesus Christ is not old News! HE is the Good NEWS! He is still the same Yesterday, Today and Forever! Tell the world this Good News that Jesus was born, lived, died and Resurrected to save EACH ONE of US! And Most Importantly tell the world: JESUS is Coming Back Soon! If God leads you, then, please Share this Truth to Friends and Families who have not heard about this Good News. Hope You Enjoy a Blessed Christmas for the Right Reasons! God Bless! Merry Christmas!:)

The Santa Clause

    
    I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:21 (NKJV)
    
    What if you were a professional athlete and your whole career was determined by the last play that you made. You had a pretty good career, but the last game wasnt so good, and you were now to be judged by this. What if you played as good as any player in the league throughout your career, but you were not allowed in the Hall of fame because of that last game? What a stressful way to try and perform.
    
    And yet, many people live their entire Christian lives in just this same way. Theyre always in fear in their minds of not making it to Heaven because of the constant failures in their life. Still others are confident that they will make it in because they do so much good compared to, the bad things in their own life or even other peoples lives, that surely God would welcome them in with open arms.
    
    In the Old Testament times, the Hebrews celebrated The Day of Atonement, Yam Kippur once a year to account for their sin. As they would bring a couple of goats to the priest in the temple, one goat would have all the sins of the nation placed upon it, and it would be set free. This goat was called a scapegoat. The other would be sacrificed and the blood of this goat would be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, which sat atop of the Ark of the Covenant.
    
    But today in our times the Day of Atonement is no longer that day of great sacrifice. But the Day of Atonement is the day of reflection where you sit and reflect over the past year over the work that you have done in the previous year. 
    
    So instead of bringing a sacrifice for atonement, they reconcile within themselves whether they did more good works verses their bad deeds. Usually, they will spend the entire week prior to this day attempting to stack the deck with good deeds so that they can feel good about tipping the scale to their favor.
    
    Again, many Christians do the same thing in an attempt to make it into Heaven. They live their lives, and as they get older, they attempt to be a better person so that they, too, will hopefully be given access into Heave. It makes me think of the Christmas story about Santa Clause coming to town. You know the song: Hes making a list, Hes checking it twice; hes going to find out whose been naughty or nice. Santa Clause is coming to town.
    
    We need to remember, that there is nothing that we can do to earn our entrance into heaven. There is no work that will be added to something else, to make a certain combination that earns enough favor to gain entrance. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells it straight up:
    
    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
    
    We have been saved by grace, and that is unearned, unmerited, favor. And this grace works because we have faith in who Jesus is, and what He did upon the cross. It is the propitiation of His blood that paid for our transgressions and sin. Even the faith was given to us as a gift, so that we could not boast about how we did something to earn it.
    
    For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, Romans 4:2-5 (NKJV)
    Let me remind you Christian, we dont have to work our way to heaven; we have been justified (declared not guilty), because of our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We believe that He died on the Cross, and we believe that He was resurrected to life. 
    
    We dont go to church 3-times a week, and fast once a month to earn the favor of God. We should go to church, and fast, because we know what He did for us, and we want to get to know Him better; we want to serve Him. And we do it gladly with a happy heart, laying our life down to serve others while sharing the Gospel with them. And we do this because He first loved us, and He laid down His life for us. And we now just want to imitate him (Eph. 5:1), and love others in the same way.
    
    I want to encourage you to have a close and personal relationship with a living God who came and died for you so that you could have that relationship with Him. Lets get rid of the Santa-Clause, that we have been living with, and replace that with our Savior.
    
    STUDY QUESTION: What does Ephesians 2:8-9 say about our salvation?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you found yourself buying into that lie that you need to work your way to heaven by doing more good than bad?
    
    APPLICATION: Remember, that Jesus did everything that needed to be done on that Cross of Calvary. That is why he said, It is finished.

Like a Magnet

Bible reading: Galatians 5:1-15

"For you, dear friends, have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love". - (Galatians 5:13, NLT).

A long time ago, a little boy was working for a blacksmith in his shop. The blacksmith was a hard man, and he kept his shop very clean.

One day the boy's boss gave him a large box of metal shavings. He told the boy to carry the box to the forge, the great fireplace where the man melted and banged out various metal tools and ornaments. The boy obeyed, but on the way, he slipped on the cobblestone floor. He lost his grip on the box of metal shavings, and the box flew out of his hands and spilled its contents on the stone floor.

"Oh, no!" the boy said. "What am I going to do now?" He had to clean up the mess quickly, or the blacksmith would be angry at him for his clumsiness. He fell to his knees, and tried to pick up the sharp metal shavings by hand, but they cut his fingers and made them bleed. He ran to get the broom, but then he realized the broom would do him no good; many tiny pieces of shavings had fallen between the bricks on the floor and could not be swept up with a broom.

"What am I going to do?" he repeated.

What would you do? You can't pick them up by hand. You can't sweep them up with a broom. A vacuum cleaner would suck them up into a bag of dust, not into the blacksmith's box. You would probably do the same thing the boy did. He searched and searched until he finally found what he needed--a magnet! The magnet attracted all the tiny shavings that lay on the bricks and between the bricks, lifting them off the floor and into the blacksmith's box. The boy was saved because he knew that a magnet would attract the metal.

Do you know that true Christian love has a similar property? Oh, it won't lift metal shavings off a blacksmith's floor. But it will attract loving attitudes and actions like a magnet attracts metal.

Millions of people through the years have found this out. When you love others, you get love back. True Christian love will act as a magnet, bringing more and more love into your life. The Bible is filled with stories that reveal this property of love, stories of Ruth's love for Boaz, Esther's love for her Uncle Mordecai, Jesus' love for Lazarus, Paul's love for Timothy.

In a much more profound way, love is like mail: you've got to send it to get it. Hatred and cruelty will repel others and bring misery, but love attracts love the way a magnet attracts metal.

Review: Today's reading uses two similes ("love is like. . .") to describe the blessings of true Christian love. What are they? How is love like a magnet? How is love like mail?

Reflect: Who have you been loving with true Christian love? Who have you not­ been loving as you should? What can you do today to show true Christian love to others? What can you do this week to show true Christian love to others?

Reinforce: If possible, keep a magnet in your purse or pocket this week to remind you that hatred invites only hatred, but love attracts love. If you don't have a magnet, use a letter instead (to remind you that love is like mail: you've got to send it to get it).

Prayer: Our Loving Heavenly Father, Help us to Continue to love each other with true Christian love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

The Canaan News Network - (CNN)

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:1-11
.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin". - (Hebrews 4:15, NIV).
. .
"Welcome to CNN, the Canaan News Network!"

The smiling news anchorman peers into the camera. "This is Nightly News Tonight. I'm Dan Beersheba, filling in for the vacationing Peter Jeconiah."
The newsman turns, still smiling, and faces another camera. "Our top story tonight: a scandal is brewing in the wilderness of Judea." A box appears on the screen over the newsman's left shoulder, depicting a map of Israel, with a circle around the wilderness of Judea. "Jesus of Nazareth, a man whom some say possesses mysterious powers, was baptized yesterday in the River Jordan by his cousin John, the fiery preacher whom some call a prophet."

A video appears onscreen of a bearded man baptizing another bearded man. "Unidentified sources report that after the brief ceremony, a dove descended from the sky and landed on this Jesus' head, followed by a peal of thunder that some said was the voice of Yahweh, the God of Israel."

The smiling newsman's image appears again. "However," he says, "those same sources report that Jesus of Nazareth has now disappeared into the Judean wilderness, where he will spend the next forty days and nights fasting and. . . being tempted by the devil!¬ If these reports are true, the scandal of actually being tempted to sin will certainly destroy Jesus' credibility as a religious and spiritual leader and may even result in --"
The newsman lifts his hand to his earpiece and pauses in mid-sentence. "What? What's that?" He stares uncertainly at the camera for a moment, apparently listening to his earpiece. He clears his throat. "Uh, it seems that, er, our report is a bit hasty. Our, um, sources tell us there is nothing shameful or scandalous about being tempted." He clears his throat again and chuckles nervously. "It seems that Jesus' credibility as a religious and spiritual leader would only be affected if he were to actually, er, give in¬to temptation. And. . . no reliable source . . . has reported such an event."
He inhales deeply. "Well, then. Moving on--our next story: Environmentalists picket the activities of John the Baptist--after these messages."

Reflect: Do you think being tempted is a sin? If so, do you think Jesus sinned simply by being tempted? If not, what's the difference between temptation and sin? Are you ever tempted? How? How should you respond when you're tempted?

Prayer:"Our Loving Heavenly Father God, thank you for showing me the difference between temptation and sin. Help me to not to give in to temptation, especially when I'm tempted to. . . .". Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Thirteen Ways to Say, "I Love You"

Bible Reading: John 14:18-21

"Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me." - John 14:21.

There are many, many different ways to tell someone, "I love you." You can.
• say, "I love you!" 
• sing a song;
• mouth the words "I love you"; 
• give him or her a hug;
• send flowers; 
• send a card or valentine;
• write his or her name in the snow; 
• bake him or her a dozen cookies;
• read him or her a story; 
• scatter tiny construction paper-hearts;
• throw a kiss; in his or her lunch box or lunch bag;
• clean his or her room; 
• give that person a command.

Bet that last one surprised you, didn't it? After all, who tells someone else "I love you" by giving that person a command?

A lot of people do. Your parents probably do it all the time. They say, "Don't skateboard in the street"; "Fasten your seat belt"; and "Don't strap a giant firecracker to your back and try to shoot yourself to the moon." They don't give you such commands because they hate you. They don't tell you those things because they've got nothing better to do. They don't give you commands like that because they want to ruin your life. They give you those commands because they love you. For example, they tell you not to skateboard in the street because they don't want you to get run over by a truck. Their "commands" are ways of saying, "I love you."

God does the same thing. He has given us commands like "Don't lie," "Don't cheat," and "Flee sexual immorality" because he loves us. He wants to protect us and provide good things for us. For example, his commands to keep ourselves pure in thought, word, and deed protect us from all kinds of addictions and diseases and other bad things. His commands are ways of saying, "I love you."

And do you know how we can say, "I love you" back? Jesus said, "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me" - (John 14:21a). If we obey his commands, we're showing Jesus that we love him. So do as much as you can today to say, "I love you, Jesus."

REFLECT: Can you think of any of God's commands that aren't loving? Why not? Are God's commands the only way he expresses his love to us? What are some other ways? Is obeying his commands the only way you can express your love for God? What are some other ways? How can you tell Jesus you love him today?

ACT: Cut out tiny construction paper hearts today and scatter them in someone's lunch box, briefcase, dresser drawer, or book bag to say, "I love you." 

PRAYER: "Our Loving Father in Heaven, Thank you, God, for showing your love in all your commands. Help me to show my love for you by obeying you in what I think and do and say today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

God of Action

Bible Reading: John 5:1-9, 16-17

"So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, `My Father never stops working, so why should I?'". - (John 5:16-17, NLT).

When the religious people of Jesus' day started harassing him because he and his followers didn't obey all their Sabbath rules, Jesus said, "My Father never stops working, so why should I?" (John 5:17).

Now, maybe you've never thought about it, but most people don't think of God working.­They picture him, oh, floating on a cloud somewhere high up in the sky. Or they imagine him sitting on a throne in a great celestial palace, snapping his fingers whenever he wants something. Or leisurely looking down on earth from heaven like city dwellers who lean on their upper-story window sills and watch the cars and buses go by on the street below.

After all, why would God work? He doesn't have to; he's got all kinds of angels to do whatever needs to be done. He could go on permanent vacation. He could snap his fingers, create his own island paradise in the Caribbean and do nothing but eat kiwi fruit and sip lemonade for the rest of his life (which, because he's eternal, is a really long time!).

But Jesus said that God works.­In fact, he said, "My Father never stops working." God is always on duty! He's always "on the job." He never even sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4).

God works because it's part of his nature. He is a God of action. There's not a lazy bone in his body (OK, so he doesn't have a physical body, but you get the idea). And because God is a God of action, a God who works, work is right; honest, hard work is a good thing. It doesn't matter if it's building skyscrapers, washing cars, directing traffic, inventing computer software, pumping gas, governing a nation, acting in movies, or flipping hamburgers. . . .
God approves of work, because he works, too.

Reflect: Did any of the pictures of God mentioned above (floating on a cloud, sitting on a throne, etc.) express how you have imagined God in the past? Has your picture of God changed after reading today's devotion? Why or why not? What kind of work do you think pleases God?

Prayer:"Our Loving Father in Heaven, Thank you for always being `on the job.' Thank you for always being ready to hear and answer my prayers. Thank you for always being `on duty' to help me. Please help me to do my work in a way that pleases you." Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."