Anticipation of an Even Greater Day

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
It’s the day after Christmas. The glow on the tree is just a little dimmer because the anticipation of the day is now past. Ever feel that way about your walk with the Lord? Well, let me give you some good news, my friend. The best is yet to be! That’s right. Christmas Day is past, but Resurrection Day is coming soon, and I don’t mean Easter. I mean the Second Coming of Our Lord is imminently on the horizon. He is coming again. And that’s not just a nice thing; that’s a rock-ribbed truth! Jesus is coming again!

The Greatest Gift of Love

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for Christmas.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Christmas is spelled L-O-V-E. What is the Christmas message? John 3:16. God gave us the gift of love on Christmas Day. It is truly said, “What the world needs now is love.” I need it. You need it. Your spouse needs it. Your child needs it. An elderly man or woman sitting alone in a nursing home today needs it. A child abandoned and alone in a children’s home needs it, too. God sent His one and only Son as the Savior. He knew we couldn’t save ourselves. So He sent His Son to be born in a manger, to die on a cross, to rise again into glory, and to come again to redeem His church.

Strengthening Your Wings

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
2 Corinthians 8:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A man watched a butterfly trying to emerge from a cocoon. Thinking that he would help, the man took his pen knife and slit the side of the cocoon and the butterfly flopped out. It lay there for a while, feebly beating it’s wings, then collapsed and died. “How tragic,” you say, and you are right because God had a plan for that butterfly. The struggle to break free built the strength he would need to fly. God doesn’t want you to live weakly and to die feebly. He wants you to grow and mature.

The Sweetheart of Your Life

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.”
Matthew 19:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Today’s message is for the men...If you don’t love your wife now more than you loved her when you got married, you probably love her a lot less. Sir, I want you to learn to flirt — but not with any other woman — just with the girl you married! Keep that flirtation going through all of your life. Never call the waitress “sweetheart.” She’s not your sweetheart. You have only one sweetheart. Never call someone else “dear.” She’s not your dear. There is one who needs to know beyond a shadow of any doubt that she is your sweetheart, she is your darling, and she is number one. Develop that love and keep it growing.

Giving Thanks Always

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for Thanksgiving.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are four types of people. There are those who are constantly complaining and grumbling. Have you met any of these folks? I mean, they can brighten up a room just by leaving it. That’s the lowest level. Then there are others who live lives of ingratitude. They don’t complain, but they never thank God for His obvious blessings. That’s a little better, but not much better. Then there are people who thank God for obvious blessings. When something good happens, they’re grateful. That’s a better level. But the highest level is to be grateful for all things at all times. That is the secret of a happy and productive life.

Photo Contest Results

To learn the official judge's choice in the photo contest of last week just hop on over here.

Thanks to all of the commenters!

Photo Contest

I don't know about my readers (if I have any), but I enjoy taking photos. I do know that a few who populate my sidebar take pics and I have seen some great photos on their blogs. Anyway after a friend prompted me to enter a photo contest, I did and, to my surprise, I received some ribbons. One of the three photos above was supposed to show, but didn't make it and of the other two pictures one got an award of merit (the highest award given in the contest) and an honorable mention.

I'm not telling what got what because want to know your preference. So if you would like to vote on your favorite, hop on over to my other blog and leave a comment. Be sure check back next week for the official judge's verdict.

By the way, these photos are for sale if you would like to have one for your wall. Just drop me an email at wholesomeworks[at]cableone[dot]net if your interested.

Ten More Devotions

To help clean out my inbox, here are ten more devotions from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

Dependent on God -- a Testimony of His Power

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If you’re like most people, you don’t realize your dependency on God until you’re burned out from stress — either self-induced or caused by circumstances beyond your control. Why is that? Paul says it’s because we are fragile, but he doesn’t stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us! Maybe someone told you, “Oh, just tie a knot and hang on!” Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

Omnipotent God -- Held by His Love & Grace

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”
Jude 24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you fussed and fumed through life’s challenges, wondering if the Sovereign Creator of the Universe was on vacation? I have a message for you: The God who hung the stars, the God who poured the oceans, the God who raised the mountains, the God who knew you before you were knit together in your mother’s womb, this sovereign God is your Savior. He is your King, and He is in control. When you are plucked from the depths of sin, you are placed in the very hand of God! You can’t climb up into the hand of God; you are placed into the hand of God. Hallelujah! Our efforts didn’t get us there. His grace placed us there. And His love will keep us there forever.

Brought Into Right Relationship With Our Creator

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When God brought us into this universe, He did not make us to abandon us. When God finished His first creation, He stepped back and said, “It is good.” But then sin came into the world, and we broke fellowship with our Creator. Because of His great love and mercy toward us, God sent His only Son to bring us back to Himself. Now, when we are saved, we become a new creation, and God says, “It is good.” When sin soiled your garments, God sent the righteous robes of His Son for you to wear. Now, you are washed in His blood, clean in His sight, and forever in His heart.

True Satisfaction is Found in the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Scottish-born naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir, once had a conversation with railroad magnate and industrialist, E. H. Harriman. “I am richer than you are,” declared Muir to the railroad baron. “And how is that true?” responded Harriman. “Because you don’t have all you want — and I do. Therefore I am richer than you,” answered Muir. Well, perhaps these two men were playing word games with one another. We don’t know if either man was truly satisfied with his life, but there's one thing of which I’m certain. Our search for satisfaction will not be found at the end of the rainbow in a pot of gold. It can only be found in Jesus.

What Would Jesus Do?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Did you know that the best argument for Christianity and the best argument against Christianity is in your life? That’s right. Not only are you to be a witness of and for Jesus, you are to be a part of the evidence of His reality. What would happen if every Christian began to walk as Jesus walked, talk as Jesus talked, and love as Jesus loved? The world would take notice.

Understanding Kingdom Authority

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A police officer weighing 160 pounds may effectively stand before a tanker truck and, with an uplifted hand, say, “Stop, in the name of the law.” The police officer certainly couldn’t stop the truck with his physical force. He is appealing to an authority greater than himself — the law — to back him up. Your authority over Satan is the same way. Your authority does not rest in your strength. You cannot overcome Satan with your power but rather with Kingdom Authority from God. And you have that as a child of the King. You have His authority to overcome every attack of Satan.

God's Plan & Purpose for Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
1 John 3:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If Jesus is Lord of your life, then not only is your entire life ordered, but so is every single step within your life. God has a plan for the plumber as well as the preacher, for the mechanic as well as the missionary. And if God, for instance, calls you to be a mechanic and you become a missionary, you are accepting second best! To find God’s will is the highest achievement in your life. Success is not spelled M-O-N-E-Y. Nor is it spelled F-A-M-E. Success is the continuous realization of the will of God — what God desires for your life. God does not make clones; He makes children! There is an ultimate purpose for your life as His child — to be like Jesus.

The Cleansing, Healing Work of the Holy Spirit

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are two kinds of wounds to the human psyche. One is sorrow; the other is guilt. Sorrow is a clean wound. Somehow your heart will heal as the Holy Spirit applies His healing balm. He will pour in “the oil of gladness.” Time and the grace of God will heal. But guilt is dirty and will never heal until it is confessed and cleansed by the antiseptic of Calvary. A slave only fears his master’s whip, but a son fears his father’s displeasure.

Working All Things Together & Toward His Return

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God has not promised you smooth sailing, but He has promised you a safe landing. He has a purpose in allowing every circumstance into your life. You can bank on this: He’ll see you to the shore in every storm of life. Andrew Murray said, “God is willing to assume the full responsibility for the life totally yielded to Him.” One of these days your destiny will be fulfilled. And soon and very soon, He is going to step down from the mountain of His glory, and the trumpet will sound. And our little ship will leave the sea of time, and immediately we’ll be on the shores of eternity. When He comes, He’s coming for you! He’s coming for me!

No One Knows Your Needs Better...

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“. . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
Matthew 6:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
St. Augustine once said that we were created with a “God-shaped” void. I agree. Only God can meet the deepest longings of our hearts. There is nothing that can satisfy apart from your relationship with Him, but it's not because He is a heavy-handed dictator forcing you to accept life the way He dishes it out! Who knows what will satisfy your deepest needs better than the One who made you? As your Creator, He can see what your needs are going to be tomorrow and ten years from tomorrow. Don’t you think He knows what you need today?

Ten Devotions

To help clean out my inbox, here are ten devotions from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

Crown Him King of Kings

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
Psalm 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The kingdoms of this world are being moved around like checkers, but soon God is going to move His Son into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King of kings!” How many times have you prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Do you think God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven? Look around at the crime, rape, murder, child abuse, and blasphemy. Do you think that’s God’s will? Of course not. Do you think Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray a prayer that will not be answered? God is going to move Jesus into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King!”

Uprooting Toxic Bitterness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Bitterness is an emotional cancer that consumes many a person who once had the bloom of eternal springtime in his heart. Where does it come from? Usually from being hurt. Perhaps you were abused as a child, rejected by someone, fired from a job, or even bypassed at church. Bitterness sets in when the hurt goes unresolved. There is a solution. If you’ve been wronged and bitterness has become so strong that you can almost taste its bile within your mouth, then it’s time to pursue it with a holy vengeance. With the Spirit’s spade, root it out. Draw a circle that takes in those who have wronged you. Forgive them for Christ’s sake!

True Joy & Peace Comes From the Lord Alone

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
Isaiah 26:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
You may admit that God is necessary, but do you honestly know that God is enough and that He is, in fact, more than enough? To find out if God is enough for you, let me ask you a couple of questions. Where do you obtain your joy? Is it from the Lord or from somewhere else? If your joy is from your health and it goes, then your joy will fly out the window. Many a believer has lost his health, his business, his family, his reputation, but has still maintained his joy because the source of genuine contentment and peace is in God. Indeed one may not know that God is enough until God is all one has.

Just Keep Praying

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There’s an old song with the refrain, “Just keep on praying ‘til light breaks through.” When you don’t feel like praying, that’s when you need to. You need to pray until you do feel like praying. You see, you’re not praying by yourself. The Spirit is praying through you and for you, helping to present your petitions to the Father — petitions that perhaps you yourself are not even capable of expressing. Do not approach God with your hands full of the brass of your emotions. Rather, approach Him with hands and heart full of the sweet incense of His worth. Just keep praying.

It Is Not Ours to Ask, "Why?"

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.”
2 Samuel 22:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When bewilderment enshrouds you and despair looms at your door, when trials storm the beaches of your life, you may want to ask God, “Why? Why? Why?” Friend, you may never understand why things are happening the way they are in your life, but that’s not your job. You see, it is not necessary for you to know why. That is God’s question. Your response is all that matters. When we can’t feel His hand, we must trust His heart. Our job is to simply trust and obey.

Heartfelt Soul Winning Brings a Bountiful Harvest

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what you’re doing in the morning when you have a quiet time? Weeding your garden. You’re weeding the garden of your mind, so that the good seed of the Word of God can multiply. Now, the next step is to plant the seed and cultivate His harvest. And, when you go out to win souls, water the crop with your tears. Read how the Lord’s heart broke over the people He longed to embrace and love unto Himself (see John 17). Learn this same sort of compassion in the garden God has given you to harvest for His kingdom.

Never Alone

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
John 14:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The late, great Christian psychiatrist from Switzerland, Dr. Paul Tournier, wrote that loneliness is the most devastating malady of this age. What is loneliness? Many confuse it with being alone. But you can be alone and not lonely. Your loneliness does not have to overwhelm you. After all is said and done, truly your only solace is found in Jesus. Why? Because He understands. John 1:10-11 tells us that the world neither received Him, nor knew Him. In many respects He lived a life of loneliness. “But," you may say, "I need somebody real.” Jesus is real. He is closer to you than anyone else can be or ever will be. What a friend we have in Jesus! We will never be separated from Him!

Release from the Ghosts of Guilt

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Jude 1:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Guilt dogs the footsteps of mankind. It gnaws. It growls. It eats away at the joy God intends for us. Is there no peace from guilt? Will the ghosts of our guilt always lurk nearby? Not with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of our Lord in us! The devil is the prosecuting attorney who is going to point his bony finger of accusation at you. But the Holy Spirit is not the accuser. He is the Convictor. In love, He convicts to lead us to confession. Then we can confidently come to God and ask for cleansing. No psychologist or psychiatrist can take away guilt. Only Christ Jesus can.

The Will of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.”
Mark 3:35

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Ian Thomas asked, “Which of these things in the life of Jesus is more spiritual?” When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount? When He raised Lazarus from the dead? When He washed His disciples’ feet? Or when He spat on the ground and made clay to anoint the blind man’s eyes? None was more spiritual than the other. Jesus did not divide His life up into little segments of spirituality. He was simply available to do whatever His Father willed. The will of God is not a road map. It is a relationship! You just simply set yourself apart to do the will of God.

Breaking Free From the Comparison Trap

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like? We try to keep up with the Jones family, but when we finally catch up with them, they refinance! Let me exhort you to get off that comparison treadmill and onto the pathway of serenity. You are accepted right now in Christ. God does not change you so He can love you. He loves you so He can change you! God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. If you are saved, you are in Christ. And where is He? He is seated in the heavenlies. You are also seated in those heavenly places, even though you still have your address on planet Earth. You are enthroned with Him.

The Voice of the Lord

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth.”
Psalm 29:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Some people think it’s a waste of time to simply sit at God’s feet and listen. It is not a waste of time to wait on God any more than a woodchopper is wasting time when he sharpens his ax. Charles Hummel wrote a booklet, “Tyranny of the Urgent.” He said “When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him….Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service. Like the time-out in a football game, it enables us to catch our breath and fix new strategy…The need is not the call. The call must come from the Lord who knows our limitations.”

Bridging the Stress Gap

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Stress is nothing new. Noah had it when he was building the ark with no rain in sight. Martha had it when she was preparing a meal for our Lord. Stress is the gap between the demands placed on us and the strength we have in meeting those demands. It is not a sin to be stressed, nor a sin to be weary. It is a sin, though, not to seek a lessening of that stress which tears down the temple of the Holy Spirit, your body. Where is your answer? In waiting upon the Lord — waiting in the midst of demands. When you learn to wait on Him, God steps in to bridge the stress gap with His mighty strength.

What Is True Humility?

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He shall lift you up.”
James 4:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever wondered what humility was all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him. I am what I am because of Christ. In this life, you are not going to be sinless, but as you deal with sin in your life, you can come closer to being free from sin. Sinless? No. Blameless? Yes. As you confess and stay prayed up, you can be blameless.

Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:9


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
John Calvin was one of the greatest theologians who ever lived. He said, “I gave up all for Christ and what have I found? I have found everything in Christ.” Do you wish you could say that, too? You can. Just don’t get confused about what it means to “give up all” to find Christ. So many think that being a disciple means they must get into a movement or go to the mission field or attend seminary. Friend, being a disciple is fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ — knowing Jesus intimately and following Him wherever He leads. Fellowship with Christ comes before service for Christ. We must minister to Jesus before we can minister to anyone else.

Held by His Omnipotent Hand

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”
Psalm 139:10


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’ve heard people say, “Pray for us that we’ll hold out faithful to the end.” I think I know what they mean, but I always smile. I picture Noah’s ark, and I can see Noah and his wife and family. Rather than being on the inside, they’re holding on to some slimy pegs on the outside of the ark. And Noah says to Mrs. Noah, “Honey, pray for me that I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” But God said to Noah, “Come into the ark,” and the same God that shut the water out, shut Noah in. Now Noah may have fallen down inside that ark, but he never fell out of it. It’s not that we hold onto Him, but that He holds onto us.

Watching to Find You Faithful

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Luke 16:10


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There was a man who was going to be made a chief executive. The Board of Directors talked about it, and it was a “done deal.” In the company cafeteria one day, the existing CEO was behind this man in line. Unbeknownst to the man, the CEO saw him take a pat of butter that cost about 3 cents, then put a slice of bread over the butter so that no one would see it. The CEO went back to the Board and told them they had the wrong man. He told them that he didn’t have integrity, and for 3 cents the man lost a monumental promotion.

Surely Goodness & Mercy Shall Follow Me...

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Psalm 23:6


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Goodness and mercy will pursue you all the days of your life. That’s what the word “follow” literally means in Psalm 23:6 — to pursue. Jesus pursued you with His call of salvation, and He will continue to pursue you. His goodness and mercy are like two sheep dogs that follow the flock to assure that there is safe journey to the Shepherd’s final destination. How many times have you questioned God’s provision in your life and wondered if He really cared for you? Well, there's no question here. It says surely, not hopefully. Yes, you and I will stumble, but He will pick us up.

...to Live is Christ ...to Die is Gain

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I read about a man who was on an airplane in a bad storm. Even the flight attendant was nervous, but there was another little lady humming “Blessed Assurance.” She seemed to be at ease. This man said to her, “Lady, aren’t you afraid?” She replied, “Not at all. I’ve given my heart to Jesus Christ. Not so long ago, I had a daughter who died. She was a radiantly beautiful Christian and is now in heaven. I have another daughter who’s in Denver, where this airplane is going. But, I tell you the truth. It really doesn’t make much difference to me which daughter I visit.” Jesus told a man on a bloody cross, “Today you’ll be with Me in paradise.”

A Merciful Delay

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9


DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever wondered why Jesus has not yet returned? I’ll tell you why — because our Lord is waiting on people to be saved. He’s waiting on your family member, your neighbor, your co-worker, or maybe you. But one of these days soon, and very soon perhaps, Jesus will come. You see, it is the mercy of God that holds back the Second Coming of Jesus, but the justice of God and the judgment of God require that one day He will come. Even now, the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy. And one of these days, the dam of God’s mercy will give way to God’s judgment, and the day of the Lord will come. Our Lord is coming!

No One Knows the Day or the Hour

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Matthew 24:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Anybody who sets a date for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ may be crossing the line of blasphemy. The Bible teaches very clearly and very plainly and our Lord taught that no one knows the time — no one. Just before our Lord was taken up into glory the disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6-7). No one knows the day when Jesus Christ is coming again, but what a glorious day that will be!

The Just Shall Live by Faith

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Is God righteous? Yes, and how is the righteousness of God revealed? It is revealed from faith to faith. God gives you truth. You believe that truth; God gives you more truth. The more you obey the light, the more light you get. The reason that some of us don’t understand the Bible any more than we do is that we have not been living up to the light that God has already given us. It’s time we began taking God at His Word and obeying it. If we begin obeying the small things we understand, God will enlighten our path to help us understand the things we don’t understand.

Clean Before the Lord

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I heard of a missionary whose wife was very fastidious. They moved into a small hut, and soon she noticed that the floor was filthy. The first thing the wife wanted to do was to scrub that floor, so she scrubbed and scrubbed but to no avail. She began to wonder if she would ever get the floor clean. Finally, somebody told her the problem. It was a dirt floor! The more she scrubbed the more dirt she scrubbed up. In the same way, we can never scrub off our sinful nature. All we do is reveal more of what is there. I hate to tell you this, but we’re rotten to the core. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Made White as Snow

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . .” Isaiah 1:18a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I heard of a man giving his testimony at a Salvation Army meeting. There was a heckler in the crowd shouting, “Would you shut up? You’re just dreaming!” The heckler felt a tug at his coattail and a little girl said, “That’s my daddy up there. He used to be a drunkard and beat up my mommy. We didn’t have enough food to eat. But then he got saved, and my daddy’s life is changed. See that woman over there? See how happy she is? That’s my mommy. Mister, if my daddy’s dreaming, don’t wake him up!” What a Savior who can take a poor lost sinner and wash him, save him, and make him new. Hallelujah!

The Sun of Righteousness

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings. . .”
Malachi 4:2a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If Jesus is the S-O-N of God, He is also the S-U-N of righteousness. Let me tell you something about the sunrise. The sunrise never comes ahead of time, and it is never late. Isn’t that right? The sunrise operates according to the power of God and the authority of God. You can’t hurry it up, and you can’t stop it! That’s the way the Second Coming of Jesus is. He is coming at a time known only to God. You can’t hurry it up, and you can’t stop it. One day the Lord Jesus Christ shall come with trumpet sound. He will pull back the shade of the night and pin it with a star. Then He’ll open the door of the glorious morning of His millennial reign and flood the world with light.

The Prosperity Gospel

Here is a devotion from ACTS International for today.

"I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble [tribulation]. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

A Daily Encounter reader from a much poorer country than North America asks, "Can you please write a message on prosperity teachings. [Some American preachers]…say it is a sin to be poor and when you are prosperous (have money) you are blessed."
Amazing isn't it?

If God has gifted me to be a good businessman and to make money, and I can do that honestly, then I'd say it would be my responsibility to make money … not for personal indulgences but so I would be able to give generously in supporting the Lord's work on earth.

I for one, however, don't have that gift or that calling. Neither am I a gifted fundraiser, so financing God's work for me has always been a challenge and probably will be until the day I retire or die … whichever comes first!

However, to some degree I have been gifted with an ability to communicate. Thus it is my responsibility to be trained in this area and communicate God's truth and the gospel to the best of my ability. Not to do so would be a sin for me as the Bible says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

To claim that everybody is gifted to make money or to communicate effectively is not true—and, if claiming this to be true, could lead many to doubt God's blessing on their life. The same goes for those who are led to believe that it is God's will for every Christian to be financially prosperous.

Think of Jesus, for example. Was he prosperous? Not at all. Were the twelve disciples prosperous? Matthew, the tax collector, may have been at one time but through questionable methods. Peter and the other fishermen and disciples probably made just enough to make ends meet. True, Moses came from a well-to-do background, having grown up in Pharaoh's household, but he gave it all up to serve God and lead the people of Israel.

If, however, prosperity is God's will for everyone, then let's take this message to the poverty-stricken parts of the world where untold thousands of people are dying of malnutrition.

For the rest of us less prosperous ordinary folks, let's do the best we can with the gifts God has given to us to help make our world a better place in which to live.

To Be "In Christ Jesus"

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does it mean to be “in Christ Jesus?” First, think about what it was for Noah to be in the ark. The ark was waterproof. How do we know it was? Well, God told Noah, “put pitch on the inside and on the outside” (Genesis 6:14). The word “pitch” in the Hebrew is “kapar,” and it is exactly the same word translated as "atonement." You see, we are in Jesus as Noah was in that ark. Just as the storms of God’s wrath beat upon that ark, the storms of God’s wrath beat upon the Lord Jesus. But we are on the inside, and not one drop of judgment can come through.

The Law & the Gospel of God's Grace

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.”
Romans 4:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are almost six billion people on the face of this earth. If you extracted from each one the very best character traits and put those things into one man, that one man would still have to bow before God and cry out for mercy to be saved. We’ve got to quit trying to be saved by doing good things or being a moral person or by even keeping the Ten Commandments. The law says “if,” the gospel says “therefore.” The law says you must earn salvation, while the gospel says salvation is a gift. The law demands holiness. The gospel provides holiness. The law says run, but it doesn’t give us legs. The gospel says fly, and it gives us wings of grace.

Driven to the Heart of Our Lord

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
Psalm 32:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The worst thing that could happen to sinful people would be to live in a perfect environment. If God had left Adam in the Garden of Eden, Adam would not have known that he had the fatal infection of sin, and he would not have sought the remedy for sin, which he found in the shedding of blood. Problems are designed, not to crush us, but to crowd us to Christ who provided the remedy for sin by shedding His blood on the cross. The problem of sin is real and terrible, but it brings with it the possibility that we can be forgiven and clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Remembering Our Spiritual and Political Heritage

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for Independence Day.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”
Psalm 78:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
On June 8, 1845, Andrew Jackson said, “The Bible is the rock upon which our Republic rests.” Just a few years prior in 1820, another of our forefathers, Daniel Webster, said, “Let us not forget the religious character of our origin.” In the days of our founding fathers, people didn’t quibble about the Bible’s importance. Our forefathers brought hither their high veneration for the Christian religion, being journeyed in its light and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate, listen to, and infuse its influence through all their institutions: civil, political, and literary.

Valleys & Mountains in the Life of a Christian

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Did you know that it is an impossibility of geography to have a valley without a mountain? They are beautiful complements in God’s grand creation. The valley is the place of vision. It is the place of repose and reflection. The mountain is the place of discovery and a place to become strong. If you find yourself in a valley, it is because you have come down from a mountain. If you’re on a mountain, you came to that place by way of the valley.

A Challenge for Fathers

Happy Father's Day!

And below is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries
for Father's Day.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders.”
Proverbs 31:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Once a year, we celebrate fathers. Maybe you are one.
Let me give you a challenge. One father said,

“If I had it to do all over again.
I’d love my wife more in front of my children.
I’d laugh with my children more.
I’d listen more, even to the youngest child.
I’d be more honest about my own weaknesses
and stop pretending perfection.
I would pray differently for my children.
I would be more encouraging and bestow more praise.
And finally, if I had it to do all over again,
I would use every ordinary thing that happened
in every ordinary day to point them to God.”

Praise God for the impact of godly fathers in our lives!

Saints in God's Sight Through Christ

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Galatians 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are you saved? If you are, then you are a saint. Now you’re probably saying, “But, I can’t say that. Christ wants me to be humble,” but let me tell you what real humility is. It is accepting what God says about you, and God says you’re a saint. Now, that doesn’t make you sinless; it makes you blameless. In God’s sight (and that’s the only sight that counts) you are a saint. God sees you as perfect because He sees you draped in the righteousness of His Son. Glory to God for His indescribable love to us!

Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed for Us

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place.”
Exodus 13:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Each year, Americans remember those brave-hearted souls who fought and gave their lives so that you and I would have the rights and privileges of living in a free country. Remembering is important. In fact, God instructs His people on many occasions in the Old Testament to remember from whence they came and to remember His providence. It is by the mighty hand of God that we are saved, we are protected, and we are free to live in the Land of the Brave. Never take that freedom for granted, my friend. It is a precious commodity for which the world hungers, and it is a powerful charge for you and I to protect.

Seizing Opportunities to Serve

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you remember the story of the Good Samaritan in
Luke 10:30-37? He was on a journey, but stopped and helped a bruised and broken man. He didn’t make excuses saying, “It’s none of my business.” It was a golden moment, and he took it. All around you are people who need the compassion of Christ. They need you to see their pain as a golden opportunity to serve them in the name of Jesus. The chief enemy to kindness is busyness. We have our priorities, our jobs, our duties, our responsibilities, and we’re too busy. But if we’re too busy to be kind, we’re too busy.

The Earth is the Lord's

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
Psalm 50:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you remember when it was rare to hear of someone whose job was either threatened, or actually lost, due to changes or cutbacks? Well, that’s hardly news anymore. These days it seems that almost everyone is struggling with financial problems related to job security. You may be struggling and asking, “What good can possibly come from my financial problems?” They are wonderful opportunities to trust your Heavenly Father for your daily bread. I’ve always said that it’s better to have a Father who owns a bakery than to have a warehouse full of bread!

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Let me tell you how to experience God. Get your heart pure, and you will see God with the eyes of faith. You see, Jesus is not talking about your physical body. You get your spiritual heart right, and your spiritual eye will see. Hebrews 11:27 says that Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” You get your heart right, and you’ll see the invisible God...in circumstances...in nature...in the face of your spouse, your child, your grandchild. You’ll see Him in the scriptures. God will become a bright, living reality to you.

When Things Go Wrong

A devotion for today from an anonymous poet.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
So don't give up, though the pace seems slow –
For you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it
seems to a fain and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure, turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Pointless post, Funny Video

Hi everyone, I saw this video on friend's blog a while back and thought is was hilarious. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

What Is the Victorious Life?

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
So many people want to know what the victorious life is, but let me first tell you what it is not. It is not a life without ever committing a sin. It is not a life without ever having any failure. It is not a life without ever having any doubt. It is not a life without ever having discouragement. Instead, the victorious life is the life of bringing our failures to the Lord Jesus and allowing Him to give us a brand new start. Day after day I tell the Lord that I need a new start, that I need to be anointed with fresh oil today, and that I need forgiveness. I thank God that He is a God of grace, a God of glory, and a God of a second chance. You’re probably more prepared to serve God after failure and restoration, than perhaps at any other time in your life.

Christianity, More Than a Creed or Code

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“...and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are Christians fools for believing in Jesus? Are we serving a false God? If you go to the tomb of Confucius, you’ll find it’s occupied. If you go to the tomb of Buddha, you’ll find it’s occupied. If you go to the tomb of Jesus, you’ll find it empty. He is a risen Savior. Now that’s very important, because, you can take Confucius out of Confucianism and still have Confucianism, and you can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still have Buddhism. But you cannot take Jesus Christ out of Christianity and still have Christianity because Christianity is not a code. It’s not a creed. It’s not a cause. It is Christ Himself.

Nothing Less than God's Optimum for Your Life

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you love Christ? Do you long to please Him with all your heart? Then, remember this: God’s delays are not God’s denials. Many a Christian feels he is out in the wilderness — that all he is doing is being "led about” in circles. Maybe God is grooming you. He is not ready to thrust you into heavy responsibilities yet. He has you in a holding pattern for His holy purpose. Life is a journey that does not end. God is preparing something wonderful for you. He doesn’t want you to settle for less than His optimum for your life and your work