Merry Christmas!

This will be my last devotion for 2010 and I wanted to close out the year with a poem that should be the heart's desire of us all. Have a great Christmas ..........see you again in 2011!

"Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
resting in Your loving arms,
trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
in wisdom daily learning,
may I ever seek to know You
with my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
let me follow in Your light,
meek and bold, humble and strong
not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
and stand for truth alone,
knowing that Your kingdom
awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
though great may be the cost,
mindful how You rescued me
from broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
the babe, the child, the Son
may my life forever speak
of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
and celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
that welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only on Christmas Day."

~Mary Fairchild

Fleecing the Lord - Faith or Fear?

What Is the Situation? How often do we hear it? "I put out a fleece for the Lord to find out His will." This action is based on the text under consideration here, Judges 6:36-40. In context, the Lord has told Gideon that He will deliver the Israelites from the Midianite raiders who have been oppressing them for 7 years. When an angel calls him "mighty warrior" (6:12), we can almost see Gideon looking over first one shoulder and then the other, wondering who this guy is talking to. But the angel tells him that God will use him to deliver the people. Gideon argues with him (v.15) and then asks for a sign (v.17). The angel gives him a sign by consuming his sacrifice with miraculous fire (v.21). Gideon apparently concludes that this is enough to convince him, so he takes the next step.

The next step, according to the Lord's instructions, is to tear down the idols and altars to Baal and Asherah, build an altar to the Lord and offer a sacrifice on it. Gideon obeys, but at a price: the men of his town want to kill him for it, and only his father's quick talking rescues him. We're not told how Gideon reacted to the men's bloodthirst, but the fact that his father does all the talking suggests that Gideon was doing what he had been doing before the angel came to him: hiding in fear of his life.

After this, it's time for the big battle to throw off the yoke of Midian. While the enemy prepares for battle, Gideon, under the influence of the Lord's Spirit, summons Israel to battle them (v.34-35). When everyone is arrayed and set up for the big fight, we see the following exchange between Gideon and the Lord:
* Gideon prefaces his request with the statement "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised."
* Gideon asks for another sign - the fleece to be wet in the morning while the ground around it is dry.
* The Lord grants his request: the fleece is full of dew while the ground is dry.
* Gideon asks for another variation of the sign: this time reverse it.
* The Lord grants his request: the ground is wet but the fleece is dry.

What's Really Happening Here? As we examine this exchange in the context of Judges 6, we can see several things:

First, Gideon did not put the fleece out to determine God's will. He already knew what God's will was. He had been told by the angel, and he even subtly acknowledged it with the phrase "as you have promised." Gideon knew what God wanted him to do, yet he did the fleece thing anyway.

Second, The fleece was a sign of unbelief. Gideon had already received a miraculous sign from God to prove that He was going to give Gideon victory and deliver Israel. Yet, perhaps because of the response of his own townsmen, Gideon doubted. He had to have another sign. And then yet another. In other words, Gideon knew God's will but didn't believe it. "Putting out a fleece" was not a method of determining God's will, it was an act of faithlessness because Gideon didn't trust that God would do what He had already promised.

Third, the fleece was a request for a miraculous sign. It was not simply a request for events to go a certain way. Gideon wanted something to happen that was contrary to the usual pattern of nature, i.e. a miracle. It was not a request for a "sign" of the type "if my dog barks within the next half hour, then I'll know the answer." Gideon's request would be more along the lines of "if my duck meows, then I'll know the answer."

What Do We Learn From This? The first thing we learn is that "putting out a fleece" is not a biblical method of discerning God's will. Gideon already knew God's will, he was merely second-guessing it. The second thing we learn is that, if you are determined to "put out a fleece" it must be a request for a miraculous sign. "If things work out so I can go to Africa, then I'll know God wants me to" is not a biblical fleece. The third and most important thing we learn, though, is that "putting out a fleece" is an act of doubt that indicates a serious lack of faith. As with Gideon, the Lord may honor the request ("If a Rwanda Airlines jumbo jet lands in my front yard and the pilot tells me to hop aboard..."), but He won't be happy that you asked. And you will have to face the fact that your faith isn't even the size of a mustard seed if you feel you have to do this.

Conclusion: God's will is a hot topic among Christians, and theories abound. But this is one theory that can and should go into File 13, because it is not a biblical method. My own view, for what it's worth, is that God's will is actually pretty simple to discern: act like a Christian! In non-moral matters such as career, where to live, what kind of car to drive and such, follow your heart with your eyes on the Lord so you provide all things honest before all. From there, it doesn't really matter. For full details, the best book ever written on the subject is Garry Friesen, Decision Making and the Will of God. It is one of the most life-changing books you'll ever read, and you don't need a fleece to tell you it's right on the mark!

In Christ, Dave Washburn http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur/fleece.html

Another great article -Is it acceptable to "lay out a fleece" before God? http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-fleece.html

Online Class: Don't forget to post your opinion on Gideon's fleece // faith or fear?

Crossed Any Rivers Lately?

Is there a "river" in your life you just can't seem to get across? Are the "waters of doubt" keeping you on dry land? What will it take for you to step out into the deep?

In the book of Joshua, the nation of Israel can finally see the Promised Land of Canaan. They are so close to their inheritance, but there is one thing keeping them from occupying it - the Jordan River. It's spring and the waters of the Jordan are overflowing its banks. (Normally the river was about 100 feet wide, but during the flood season, it became a mile wide). God chose this time and location to demonstrate His power (once again). God parted the Red Sea to let the people out of Egypt, now He will part the Jordan River to let them into Canaan.

Joshua 3:8 instructs the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant,"When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river." What if the priests had been too afraid to enter the rushing waters? What if they had refused to take the first step? Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know we should do! Unless we step out by faith and "get our feet wet", we're not likely to make much progress in living for Christ and serving Him.

In verse 17, we see that each step the priests took, God opened the waters before them until they were standing "on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan..." Don't you think God wants to do the same for us? But we have to be willing to take the first step. Notice they didn't stay close to shore, or stick their big toe in to "test the waters", they walked by faith, to the middle of the river!

Walking by faith :: a concept the Bible is full of. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Cor. 5:7. "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" John 5:8. "The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance..." Joshua 14:9. "March/walk around the city with all the armed men. Do this for six days..." Joshua 6:3. I encourage you to do your own word search and find more examples of how walking, trusting and faith go hand in hand.

Walking requires action. Action requires direction. Direction requires a guide. Our Guide is God and His Word. The people in Joshua's army didn't know why they were walking around the city of Jericho day after day, but they did it. The priests didn't know why they had to walk into the water before it would stop flowing, but they did it. Peter didn't know why he had to walk on the water to come to Jesus, but he did it. You may not understand why God is asking you to step out in faith and obey Him, but if you want to experience your own miracle, you need to do things His way. He's waiting to help you across that river in your life that's keeping you from your spiritual inheritance; your own Promised Land. Don't let the "waters of doubt" and the Enemy keep you for stepping out in faith.

The book of Joshua ends with his charge to the nation of Israel , " But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul" Joshua 22:5.

Active faith - walking - does not require that you understand all or any of what God is doing in your life. Trust Him. Attempt the impossible by submitting to God's directions, and watch the troubled waters of your seemingly impossible situation part before your eyes!

Online Class: Choose your question this week....look forward to reading your comments. Also, leave your "I am....." statements...you've come up with some great ones!!

What Does God Ask of Us?

Do we really know what God expects of us? What if we're doing all the wrong things and they don't count? How can we know what He asks of us? Do we just do our best and hope that will be enough to please Him?

The book of Deuteronomy means repetition of the law and during the final weeks of Moses' life, he reminds the new generation of Israelites of what God wants them to do and be. We find these instructions in Deut. 10: 12-13 :: "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to 1) fear the Lord your God, 2) walk in all his ways 3) love him, 4) serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 5) observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I (Moses) am giving you today....for your own good!"

What does this look like for us?

1) Fear God = to respect God for who He is; the One True and Holy God. Not "the man upstairs" or the "big guy in the sky", but our Heavenly Father who deserves our respect and desires a relationship with us.

2) Walk in all His ways = follow Him. The key verses for this study come from Psalm 25:4-5 - "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths and guide me in your truth...." Learning God's Word and knowing what He expects of us is the way we follow Him. Asking Him to show us, teach us and guide us guarantees that we are walking on the right path!

3) Love Him = making our relationship with Him the number one priority in life. Not our job, not our family, not our friends, not our money, not our church, not our social life, but Him.
Whenever we put anything above the importance of our relationship with God (sleeping in on Sunday, skipping Bible study time, spending time and money on our own pleasures instead of giving to God's work, etc.) we say to God that His relationship with us is not as important as these other things.

4) Serve Him with all your heart and soul = do what you say you're going to do. Don't make half-hearted promises to people and not keep them. Colossians 3:17 reminds us that "whatever we do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God..." We should consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve others in Christ's name.

5) Observe His commands = obey Him! The Israelites had seen first hand what happened when God's people disobeyed. Obedience is very important to God and He doesn't take disobedience lightly. It's quite simple - Obedience brings blessings; disobedience brings death (Deut.30:15-18).

Moses was reminding the nation of Israel that these things were from God and for their own good. How often we complicate faith with man-made rules, regulations and requirements. Are you frustrated and burned out from trying hard to please God? Concentrate on what He asks of you and you will find peace, contentment and meaning in your life.

Simply // Respect.....Follow.....Love.....Serve.....and Obey!


Online Class: 1) Share with us the Christlike qualities you admire in Moses. 2) Comment on what you're learning about who God is under the "I am God" link.

Complaining Has Consequences

As we begin the book of Numbers, we find that God has spent a year preparing the Israelites for their journey to the land He promised Abraham hundred of years earlier. He is ready for them to leave Mt. Sinai, but before they do, a census is taken to determine the number of men, 20 years and older, who are fit for military service.

If you were an Israelite during this time, wouldn't you have been excited to see what God had in store for you and your family? You have been hearing about this land "flowing with milk and honey" for years. Your parents, grandparents and their parents passed down the story of how God promised Abraham He would make a great nation from his descendents.....and that is you! Wouldn't you be ready to get the journey started and be willing to withstand whatever came your way for the privilege to see the Promised Land for yourself?

Unfortunately, this was not the Israelite's attitude. We see that their unbelief, lack of faith & trust and disobedience had disastrous results. They longed for the pleasures of the past and had somehow forgotten the misery they endured as slaves. But most devastating was their constant grumbling and complaining. You may side with the Israelites and say they had good reason to complain; life was rough in the wilderness. But to be honest, without God's provisions, they never would have survived their journey. Unfortunately though, they were focused on what they didn't have and were blinded to all that God had done for them.

Do you consider complaining a sin? Do you ever think about how your complaining effects your relationship with God, the lives of others and your future? Philippians 2:14 tells us, not suggests, to "do everything without complaining, murmurings, arguing and disputings."

1) Complaining weakens your relationship with God. Through out Numbers, the people complained and God punished. They grumbled to each other instead of bringing their concerns to God. They were anxious about their future and chose not to trust God's promises. Philippians 4:4-7, reminds us to "rejoice in the Lord always. Be anxious for nothing, but instead (of grumbling and complaining) bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving!" Then God affirms that His peace, which no one can comprehend, will guard your heart and mind.

God wants you to share your concerns with Him. Why not? He's the only one who can do anything about them anyway! Don't let your complaining come between God and His blessings.

2) Complaining weakens others. Have you ever been around people who just wear you out with their whining and complaining? Maybe it's a small child who won't give up. Perhaps it's a friend who has chosen you to come to instead of going to God. Or, have you ever thought it could be you who's the one wearing people down? Constant complaining can effect others emotionally, mentally and spiritually!

In Numbers 11:10-15, Moses' despair and depression is revealed as he brings his frustrations to God -" I cannot carry these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me...put me to death now." The Israelites' complaining was wearing him down and out! In Numbers 20, the people start whining about not having any water and wishing they were back in Egypt (again). I think Moses was at the end of his rope with them and out of frustration, disobeys God's instructions (8-12). I'm not justifying his disobedience, but how many times have we done or said things we shouldn't have out of frustration with others' grumbling?

3) Complaining can destroy your future. God has had enough with the Israelites' attitude, disobedience, lack of faith, trust and gratitude and bans those 20 and older from ever entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14). They are told they will wander another 40 years until they have all died in the desert.

I don't want my future to be jepordized because of my sin of complaining. God wants to bless our lives, just like He wanted to do for His people. He wants us to trust and depend on Him for our every need and to be thankful for what He does give us. But it's our choice. We have the choice of being grateful or not. We can determine our future by the things we let defeat us.

In summary, through our study of Numbers this week, I hope you will realize that: 1) God is immensely patient 2) God's love is one promise you can always count on. 3) God's forgiveness is never-ending and 4) God is merciful, listening to and answering our requests. God has not changed since Moses' day!

Online Class: 1) Don't forget to post your comments on what you've learned about who God is from each book we've studied so far. 2) Share with us how you can take a complaint and turn it into something you can give thanks for!

Is Holiness Only For God?

Leviticus begins where Exodus ends. God's glory is now residing in the Tabernacle and God is ready to teach the people how to worship there. The book of Leviticus contains both a handbook for the priests and Levites outlining their duties in worship and a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews.

Holy living.....is that something we could use a guidebook on today? We have that in God's Word, but are we using it? The book of Leviticus is not just about priests...beasts...and feasts. It's more about holiness. Holy/Holiness is mentioned 152 times in Leviticus, more than any other book in the Bible. So let's take a few minutes today to look at exactly what holiness is and ask whether it applies to anyone other than God?

What does it mean to be holy?

• It means to be separated from, set apart or different

Who is holy?

• God reminds us six times in Levitcus of what He is ....I am holy.
• He calls us to be holy as well. Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev. 18:2).

Why are we to be holy?

• First of all, God gives us the command to be holy.
• Secondly, since His commands are enablements, we can believe that He will enable us to do so and in turn, glorify Him with our obedience.

How can we be holy?

• The first step toward holiness is the admission of our own sin and the recognition that Christ is our only Redeemer from that sin.
• Holiness involves obedience and discipline. It's only when God's holiness increasingly begins to touch every area of our lives that we can say we're starting to make progress in being holy.
• When our motives to be holy are to glorify God, not just to be recognized as "holy people".
• We live before Him openly and sincerely, hiding nothing, fearing nothing.

The good news is that holy living is possible, otherwise, God would never have said eight times in His Word, Be holy, for I am holy". His commandment is the promise of His enablement! God's desire is for us to be a holy people, not perfect, but holy:

* Set apart from the sin of the world.

* Separated from the things that draw us away from Him.

* Different in our thoughts, feelings and actions.

Take time to be holy today. Claim God's enabling promise that we CAN be holy, as He is.

Is Your Past Chasing You?

Get up….leave…take off – these words sound good to those trapped or enslaved. Some resist their marching orders, however, preferring present surroundings to a new, unknown environment. It’s not easy to trade the comfortable security of the known for an uncertain future. But what if it’s God that gives the order to move? Will we follow His lead?

Exodus is a book about departure and guidance. God's people (the Israelites) have been set free from slave bondage in Egpyt and are making their mass exodus toward the Promised Land. God is guiding the more than 2 million Jews by a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

Let's take a quick look at how God wants to be a part of our LIFE as He Leads, Instructs, Fights for and Encourages us, just as He did the Israelites. We meet them in Exodus 13:17-14:31:

L - leads. We find in v. 17-18, that God did not lead them on the shortest route to the Promised Land. Their enemy, the Philistines, lived along that path and God knew this newly freed group of people were not ready for a battle and in fear, may turn back.

• God may not lead you along the shortest path because He knows you're not ready for the unseen obstacles. Only He can see the end of your journey from the beginning!

I - instructs. In verses 14:3-16, we find that Pharaoh has changed his mind and wants his slaves back. God hardens his heart (v. 4) and Pharaoh sets out, along with over 600 chariots and his army to recapture the Israelites and bring them back to Eygpt. During this time, God is giving Moses clear instructions on what to do with all these people and how to get them safely across the Red Sea. While the Eygptians are fastly approaching, the people are grumbling, complaining and blaming Moses for their situation. Moses patiently gives them instruction to, "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14: 13-14). God then gives HIS instruction to them in verse 15 - "GET MOVING!! I have great things to show you and your enemies, and you are standing around complaining! This is not the time to stop and have a holy huddle. IF you don't get going, you're going to mess up my plan!" (my paraphrase)

• Prayer must have a vital part in our lives, but there is also time for action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If we know what we should do, then get moving!

F - fights for. In 14:23-25, the Egyptians are pursuing the Israelites when God brings great chaos and confusion among them. "...and the Egpytians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt."

• God had a plan and was going to fulfill it whether the Israelites trusted and believed in Him or not. God has a plan for your life and He's not going to give up fighting for you to accomplish the purpose for which He created you.

God stated His plan several times within this passage - " But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." (14:4, 17)

E - encourages us. If you know the rest of the story, you know that God causes the Red Sea to part and allows His people to safely cross over on dry ground. He also causes the waters to kill and destroy the Egyptian army. In verse 30, we see "that day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore."

• Sometimes in order to encourage us, God allows us to see our enemies; our past; destroyed in hopes that it will increase our faith and trust in Him.

Verse 31, "And when the Israelites saw the great work/power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”

What is chasing you from your past? God wants to lead, instruct, fight for and encourage your life today. What kind of miracle is it going to take for you to see the great power of God and to trust Him with your life? Ponder that today! Are you holding on to something that needs to be left behind? Like the Israelites, are you thinking your life would be better off "back there in Egypt"? Don't let a damaging hurt, a distracting habit or a debilitating hang-up keep you from enjoying the freedom that leaving the past behind can bring and allowing God to let you see your enemies destroyed.

Online Class: Make sure you comment on the articles you read this week: Why the Ten Commandments are Un-Amercian and Do the Ten Commandments Cover All the Bases?

God is the Creator of All Beginnings

I am thankful for new beginnings. I look forward to the New Year each January. Not for the cold weather, but for a chance to clean out the clutter in my life (and closets), that has accumulated over the past year. As Paul says in Philippians 3:13 – “…Forgetting what is behind and pressing toward what is ahead.” – I am grateful for what the New Year brings. We need that fresh start every once in awhile to help us refocus on what's important and what can go!

God is all about new beginnings as well. Take a look at what Lamentations 3:22-24 says about His compassions (love) for us – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are NEW every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say to myself, The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him.” Isn’t it exciting to know we can have a clean slate every morning; a fresh start to every day? Make sure you take advantage of His compassions and thank Him for this privilege.

Genesis means: beginning or origin of: the world, human history, family, a nation, civilization and salvation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the entire Bible. It reveals:
· the person and nature of God. (Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Redeemer)
· the value and dignity of human beings. (made in God’s image, saved by grace, used by God)
· the tragedy and consequences of sin. (the fall, separation from God, judgment)
· the promise and assurance of salvation. (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah)

A blueprint for beginnings in the first book of the Bible would look like:

• The Beginning of Life – Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 (Creation)
• The Beginning of Man – Genesis 2:4 - 5:32 (Adam, Eve and their family)
• The New Beginning – Genesis 6:1 – 11:32 (Noah and the flood)
• The Beginning of a Great Nation – Genesis 12:1 – 25:18 (Abraham and Sarah)
• The Beginning of Family – Genesis 25:19 – 36:43 (Isaac, Jacob, Esau)
• The New Beginning for a Family – Genesis 37:1 – 50:26 (Jacob, Joseph and his brothers)
  

What needs a new beginning in your life? Is it your relationship with God? Join our online Bible study, it's guaranteed to give your spiritual life the new beginning it needs. www.pathfinderministries.org/study.html Has the hurt and pain from unforgiveness affected your relationship with others in your life? Are you holding on to the guilt and shame from your past that you just can't forgive yourself for?

God wants to heal all these areas of your life and give you a new beginning. Remember that His love never fails and His mercies are NEW every morning! There’s no limit to His faithfulness…You can’t use it up! Go to Him and tell Him your hurts. He may already know, but He wants to hear you acknowledge what you’re feeling. He wants to know you are ready to move on; to start over. First John 1:9 assures us that “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – which means He wipes the slate clean; He allows us to begin anew.

Are you ready for a new beginning? Ask God-the Creator of all beginnings-to provide you with the hope and grace only He can give and make sure to take advantage of His new mercies EVERY day!

Online Class: Like Abraham, we must learn the importance of obedience to God. Share with us what obedience looks like in your own life. Also, how are others affected by your disobedience? Thanks for sharing...you'll never know what an encouragement you are to others!

Do you read or heed God's Word?

Is there a difference between reading the Bible and studying the Bible? Do you consider yourself one who reads the Bible for facts and information or in order to gain wisdom and understanding of God's Word and how you can apply it to your life? As we prepare for our journey through the Bible, one book at a time, I thought it would be good to recognize what the purpose of studying the Bible really is.

The first step in preparing to study the Bible should always be prayer. Asking the Holy Spirit to guide and guard your heart and mind is essential. Remember, the Enemy will try to distract and disrupt your study time with God every chance he gets.

Based on Psalm 25:4-5, we see three components of what we are to study the Bible for: "Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long."

1) David is asking God to "show me your ways." In order to be shown something, we have to look at it. We have to be willing to see what God's ways are and want to follow them. If we're not studying His Word, we will never know what to look for. Whose ways have you been following? Yours, God's or the Enemy's? Do you know how to tell the difference between the three?

2) David also asks God to "teach me your paths." In order to be taught, we must be willing to learn what God's Word means. This requires some work and effort. This is the part of Bible study that people want to skip over because learning takes too much time. They would rather read or listen to what someone else tells them it means, then to find out for themselves. Are you teachable? Do you desire to learn God's paths or are you content with living your life following your own or better yet, someone elses path?

3) David continues to ask God to "guide me in your truth." In order to be guided, we must be willing to listen to instruction and follow what it says. Are you dependent on a GPS to guide you to your desired destination? Do you listen intently to and faithfully follow the instructions on where to turn, which direction to go and when to re-route your course, if necessary? Then you are willing to be guided. Are you just as willing to listen to God's truth and instructions from His Word and be guided in the direction He wants you to go? Or do you prefer to map out your own course and be your own guide?

4) Finally, David acknowledges God for who He is, "you are God my Savior" and confirms that "my hope is in you all day long." In other words, David is willing to lean on God for all his needs. He's willing to surrender control of his life. Knowing that his hope is in God and His Word, David can continue to grow in wisdom and understanding. In taking this action of surrender, he will be better able to understand God's ways, follow His paths and be guided by His truth.

Where are you today? Are you just interested in learning the facts about the Bible or are you wanting to know, understand and apply what it says to your life personally? If so, I encourage you to join our online study, Know the Bible. I know this is the desire of over 70 women who have signed up for this study! I am so excited to see what God is going to show us, how He's going to teach us and where He's going to guide us over the next year.

Online Class: Don't forget to post your verse(s) this week.

Top Ten Reasons for Personal Bible Study

As we begin our new study, Know the Bible, we want to start by looking at why we need to have a personal Bible study time. From the following list, keep track of how many of the benefits you are personally experiencing in your life today?

1) To settle the issue of our own salvation. Many believers struggle with assurance of salvation. Knowing that our salvation is God's number one purpose for sending His Son to die for our sins, I think He wants us to be secure in this area. If you are unsure, I suggest you read the book of I John "so that you can know you have eternal life" (I John 5:13).

2) To grow spiritually. Are you still a baby Christian living off the milk when you should be eating the meat of the Word? Just as our physical bodies need food to survive, our souls need the spiritual food of the Bible. What is your "spiritual age"?

3) To receive personal blessing and encouragement. Meditating on God's promises encourage us to persevere in our own Christian life with comfort and hope. What promises are you clinging to today? Do you even know His promises?

4) To receive personal guidance. Many times the Bible addresses our specific situation and other times it doesn't. Through studying the Bible, we learn what the will of God is and experience His direction. Do your personal decisions contradict or line up with the Scriptures?

5) To defend ourselves against the devil. When we read about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6, we see that the Bible, the Sword of the Spirit, is our only weapon! When we know God's Word and apply it to our lives, we will be able to overcome the devil's temptations. What are you using as your defense in your spiritual battle?

6) To effectively teach God's truth to the next generation. Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us that we are to diligently teach the next generation the things/truths of God. If we don't know what those truths are, how will the next generation know? We can't just assume they will learn them on their own.

7) To be able to counsel others. God wants to use us to provide knowledge about what He has said in His Word to others. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another" (Colossians 3:16). Are you able to give people godly advice and back it up with God's Words when they come to you for counsel?

8) To be ready to speak with unbelievers about Christ. Peter advises that we are to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (I Peter 3:15). We need to be ready; not with a sermon or a lecture, but with humility and respect, to give the reason why are hope is in God. Do you know what you will say when asked?

9) To verify that the teaching of others is the truth of God. A group of early Christians "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things (that Paul was teaching) were so" (Acts 17:11). There were false teachers, distorting the Truth, even in Bible times. Our world is full of "men/women of God" teaching things that are not from God's Word. Are you easily swayed to follow a teacher/preacher because they have a message that sounds good? Do you know God's Word well enough to identify the lies?

10) To present ourselves approved to God. Learning God's truth involves the work of studying. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). We are God's workmanship and our Foreman has the right to examine us and our work. God's Word does just that. It shows us areas of our life that need to be challenged, corrected and changed, so that one day we will stand before Him and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:21). Are you ready for your examination?
*Information taken from How to Study the Bible. Robert West (2007) Barbour Publishing.

There you have it. The top ten reasons why we need a personal Bible study. How many were you able to say you are experiencing today? Alot? A few? None? Either way, we can continue to learn, grow and prepare ourselves by studying God's Word. How? If you have not signed up for our free, online class, why not do it today? You will receive lessons to work on during the week, encouragement and support from other women doing the same study you are, an opportunity to share prayer requests and much more. For more information, visit http://www.pathfinderministries.org/study.html

ONLINE CLASS: What is your word for the year? I am anxious to hear what God has shown you that He wants you to focus on.

Developing Self-Control

We've come to the final fruit of the Spirit:: self-control. Any wonder the list begins with love and ends with self-control? Personally I think, out of all nine, they are the most difficult part of the fruit to exhibit! As we have been learning, God is continuing to develop this fruit in our life and wants to make it a part of our character, so that our character will reflect the character of His Son, Jesus.

We all know what self-control, or the lack of it, looks like! Proverbs 25:28 describes it as: "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control." When we have "lost it" and our walls are broken down, we are vulnerable to attacks from our Enemy. We have lost our security and protection. We cannot afford to be defenseless and open to temptations because of our lack of self-control.

Let's look at three verses from I Peter that remind us of the importance of being self-controlled.

1) I Peter 1:13 - "... prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled ...." We must be prepared for action; for battle against the Enemy. We must not allow our unreliable feelings and our unpredictable thoughts to interfere with our actions. We must be self-controlled in our thinking.

2) I Peter 4:7 - "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." Have you ever tried to pray when your mind is full of "stuff"? All the stuff you have to do, the things that people have said, your worries and concerns, etc. Peter is pointing out that in order to be self-controlled and able to pray, we must be clear-minded. When does it seem that the Enemy strikes the easiest? When our mind is scattered and focused on the "stuff" of our life. Don't let this lack of self-control lead to an inability to pray!

3) I Peter 5: 8 - "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." When we lack self-control, we are not alert to our surroundings. We are focused on ourselves and satisfying our own desires....Watch Out! When our "walls are broken" and we are unprotected is when the Enemy will attack. We must be alert. We must realize that Satan is on the prowl. He's not sleeping in a corner somewhere, he is watching and waiting for our most vulnerable time to pounce on us and if we're not in control and alert, we will fall prey. Also notice, he doesn't just want to scare us or nip at our heels, his plan is to devour us! Destroy us! Defeat us! Depress us! Whatever it takes to make us uneffective for God's purposes. Don't be caught off guard.

My challenge for you today is to check "your walls." Are they broken down by lack of self-control in your life? Is your mind clear from distractions so that you are prepared for action and can pray? How alert are you to the Enemy's schemes? When we lack self-control, we lack focus on our surroundings.

The secret to self-control is Christ's control. If you have not done so yet, I'd encourage you to simply ask Him to take control of your life right now. You don't need to do this all on your own. Then, as you face temptations that are too strong for you to resist, remember that He is with you and you can turn them over to Him.

Remember, God provides the power to change your life!

A Gentle Approach

Everyone wants friends. Everyone needs friends. It is a medical fact that people who have friends live longer. So how do we get friends? Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." In other words, if you want to be liked by others, it helps if you are likable. And one of the most likable qualities is what the Bible calls "gentleness." Gentleness does not mean weak or wimpy. Its literal definition is, "strength under control."

Today, let's look at a couple verses in James that shows this "strength under control" and see if in fact it would aid in making and keeping friends. In James 1:19-20, we are instructed to "...take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." If we could just grasp this truth and put it into practice in our own lives, our relationships would flourish beyond recognition. Let's break it down...

1) Quick to listen: How well do you listen? Better yet, how well do you hear? There is a difference. In our effort to multi-task, many of us only listen with one ear, while the rest of our attention is focused on something or someone else. How frustrating this is for the one speaking! Being quick to listen involves giving our complete attention. It may not be what we want to hear at the time, (i.e. someone disagreeing with us or correcting us), but none the less, we need to show respect for what they are saying. A good way to prove you really heard them, is to repeat back what you understood them to have said. A true friend listens and hears!

2) Slow to speak: What if what you have heard really upsets you? What if you totally disagree and can't believe a friend would say such a thing? You need to defend yourself and prove you are right, and right NOW. How much unnecessary hurt and damaged relationships could have been avoided if we had just waited to respond? There's a reason this verse specifically tells us to be slow to speak, God knows what the results can look like when we respond out of emotion. Remember, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)...which leads us to number three.

3) Slow to become angry: It's said that if you get #1 and #2 under control, #3 will come naturally. Do you agree? Maybe you have heard something that upsets you, but if you take a step back and not respond immediately, you will find that your anger lessens. You find that you don't have to go back and apologize for something hurtful you said. You find that "strength under control" and can deal with the person/issue in a more productive way. You become an actor, not a reactor. A reactor only tends to leave a mess of hurt and regret in its path, destroying relationships along the way.

4) For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires: I don't think anyone would disagree that steps 1-3 are what God desires for us. Jesus himself is our example of someone who was quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. We know that anger in itself is not sin, but it's what we do when we're angry that can lead there. Proverbs 16:32 tells us that "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." Patience in God's eyes is powerful, anger is not. An angry person does not please God, nor do they attract alot of friends!

As we continue to allow God to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in our life, we can know that we'll be tested. Purpose today to put these steps into action, asking God for "strength under control" as you are quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, knowing that THIS will bring about the righteous life God desires.

Can You Be Counted On?

How important is faithfulness? It must be very important to God, as it is one of the fruit of the Spirit He wants us to develop and grow in our life (Galatians 5:22). It is a characteristic of God that others should see in our lives. Psalm 33:4 - "For the word of the Lord is right and true, he is faithful in all he does." Can you subsitute your name in that verse and it be an accurate statement?

What does it mean to be faithful? It means to be reliable, trustworthy, dependable and consistent. When a friend speaks of you, does she use the words trustworthy and dependable to describe you? When an employer gives you a review, do they commend you for your reliability? When your children look at you, do they see someone who is consistent in their walk and talk?

How would God describe you in this area? Have you broken any promises to Him lately? (ouch!) Have you thought about using the talents He's blessed you with for ministry, but still haven't gotten around to it yet? Are you wasting the time He's given you by living with regret over the past or being consumed with worry about the future? Are you too focused on yourself that you don't see where you could be investing in others? Are you uncommitted to a body of believers because you're still looking for the perfect church? These are some things to ponder when it comes to evaluating our faithfulness!

King Solomon asks in Proverbs 20:6, "...but a faithful man who can find?" Faithfulness is a rare quality. In our instant gratification and immediate action world, sticking with something for the long haul is seen as unnecessary sometimes. If something doesn't work, we throw it away and buy a new one. If a relationship doesn't work, we walk away and find a new one. If a job doesn't work, we quit and look for another one. If God doesn't do what we expect, we give up on Him look for something else to "worship" (ourselves, money, posessions, beauty, career, others, etc.)

Faithfulness - God's and man's - is shown throughout the Bible. I would challenge you to do a word search and see how many verses talk about this fruit of the Spirit. With the power of the Spirit, we can be faithful women of God. We can be "found". We can be described as someone who is reliable, trustworthy, dependable and consistent.

Remember, when we face God in heaven, we will not be rewarded for our abilities, knowledge or good intentions, but for our faithfulness. God has left us in charge of His business here on earth and one day will return ~ will He find YOU faithful? Will He be able to say to you, "Well done my good and faithful servant...come and share your master's happiness." (Matthew 25:21)

Living the Good Life....

Have you noticed that the world's definition of the "good life" hinges on temporary things? The world says we should be happy and enjoying life if we're 1) looking good 2) feeling good and 3) having goods. So what happens when we have a bad hair day, a depressing and frustrating day and our goods break or go out of style? Are we no longer able to live the good life? The Bible says the Christian life should be filled with goodness, not goods. Goodness means "fulfilling a purpose."


Ever wonder why God's reaction to His creation in Genesis 1 was "...and God saw that it was good"? Based on the definition of goodness, we can believe that God was pleased that His creation was fulfilling the purpose for which it was created. He looked around and saw that things were going according to His plan and He liked what He saw! Ephesians 2:10 tells us that "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." When we are fulfilling our purpose and developing goodness in our lives, God is pleased with His creation. Remember, we are not saved by our good works, we are saved to do good works!


When it comes to doing good works, we don't have to look far to realize that people are not naturally good! Despite what the humanistic teachings want us to believe, we are not born instinctively good. According to Titus 3:14, we must "learn to do what is good." Here are five things we must learn to do in order to live the good life - one that fulfills our purpose and pleases God:

1) Master the Bible by becoming a student of God's Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that God's Word equips us to do good works. If we want to please God and fulfill our purpose, we must know His Word!

2) Guard your mind - learn to control your thought life. Sin always starts in the mind so we must watch what we put into our mind via our eyes and ears.

3) Develop conviction - know what you stand for and why. An opinion is something you hold. A conviction is something that holds you. Many people have opinions, but few would be willing to suffer or even die for their convictions.

4) Muster the courage to be different - you don't have to "go along" to get along! Third John 11 says "Do not imitate/follow what is evil but what is good."

5) Meet with other believers. Jesus' prayer for His disciples in John 17:15 applies to us as well. He prays that God will protect us from evil. One of the most powerful means He uses to insulate us is the body of believers. We can't learn goodness through isolatation or imitation.


Did you notice that all these steps take an effort on our part? We must master, guard, develop, muster and meet in order to learn to do good. Be encouraged by Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."


Go out and make it a GOOD day regardless of how you look, feel or what you have! If you are fulfilling God's purpose and learning to do the good works He created you to do, than nothing the world can offer will ever replace the goodness in your life.

Here's 5 Ways to be Happier at Work by guest, Valorie Burton

Dear Friend,

Since we're celebrating Labor Day this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about how to boost your happiness level at work. Maybe you're not one of those people who jump out of bed excited about getting to work. And if you don't love your current job, it's possible you never will be. But you can be happier while you're there. And wouldn't that be worth the effort? As the saying goes, "If you can't be in the job you love, then love the job you're in."

There are many reasons work can be less than appealing - you don't like it, you don't like your boss, your coworkers are negative or maybe you just feel unappreciated or undercompensated. Perhaps you'd rather be home with your children. Whatever the reason, forget about that for a minute - it is what it is. Instead, focus on some of the simple things you can do to make your work experience a happier one. If you do, research shows that the new-found positive emotion will help you deal better with your stress and even make you healthier.

These five tools can empower you to be happier at work:
1. Gratitude - On a daily basis, choose to find something in your work to be grateful for. Ask yourself at the end of the day, "What was the best thing that happened today?" or "Who or what am I grateful for at work today?"
2. Empathy - Employees who are empathetic are better with customers and their fellow co-workers. You don't have to make excuses for others' bad behavior or frustrations, but you can attempt to put yourself in their shoes so that you can better understand where they are coming from. When you do so, you are less likely to take their limitations or negativity personally. You realize that what they do - whether good or bad - is a reflection of them, not you.
3. Connection - According to Gallup, who has conducted employee engagement surveys that include the question "Do you have a best friend at work?", companies with a substantial number of employees who answer "yes" have reported better employee performance, fewer hazardous accidents, greater productivity, reduced employee theft and retail customers who report a more enjoyable shopping experience. Find ways to connect with your co-workers. It will enrich your everyday work life.
4. Strengths - You have strengths - innate abilities, talents, passion - that are unique to you. When you use your strengths at work, you are more fulfilled and engaged in what you are doing.
5. Engagement - We are engaged when we're "in flow." That simply means that you are doing something in which your abilities match the challenge before you. When the challenge falls below your abilities, you become bored. When the challenge exceeds your current abilities, you get frustrated and may even give up. If you're not being challenged enough, seek out opportunities that will raise the bar - talk to your boss, volunteer for new assignments, and go the extra mile on the projects already on your plate. If the challenge is more than you're equipped to handle right now, ask yourself, "How could I improve my skills?" Then seek the training or find someone who can show you the way.

Being happier at work is a choice. It's all about being intentional by finding ways to make the most of the job you have!

Waiting is Not Wasting Time!

Remember......God produces the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in us by allowing us to encounter situations and people with characteristics that are exactly the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit! So far we've looked at the love, joy, peace and today, patience.

Patience is a virtue that carries alot of wait! Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has been blown! If God puts you on hold, don't hang up!

We all know what we need to do and be in order to show others patience....1) We should look at people and situations from God's perspective. He sees us as human, which means no one is perfect! 2) We need to develop a good sense of humor. Sometimes the only thing we can do is laugh. Humor is a great stress-disolver! "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22) and 3) We need to deepen our love for others. Ephesians 4:2 says it best..."Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

These three tips have dealt with people and situations that test our patience, but today I want us to look at how we handle our impatience with God. Let's be honest..many times we question why we have to wait for God to answer a prayer, perform a miracle or point us in the right direction. We wonder what good can come from waiting. What is the point of waiting when there is so much to do for God, but so little time. One answer could be that, while we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow!

As we have been learning with the fruit of the Spirit, they are God's desire for us to have in our life and they are a representation of Christ's character. Does this character develop overnight? Not usually. God's plan is to mold and shape us little by little until we are fully prepared for His assignment - and that may take time, lots of time for some of us! One of life's frustrations is that God's timetable is rarely the same as our own. The Bible is full of examples of how God used a long process to develop character. Abraham and Sarah. Noah. Moses. David. Joseph. The Bible is a book about waiting!

So what do you and I do during our waiting time? I can tell you what not to do ~ nothing! Waiting is not a time to waste. In the book of Psalms, David tells us several things we are to be doing (and I believe he knew something about waiting and character development!) In 27:14, he tells us to "Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 37:7, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret..." 37:34a, "Wait for the Lord and keep his ways..." 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..." 130:5, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word do I put my hope."

Waiting is not something we enjoy doing; but we can make the most of our time by learning about God by being still, developing our character by obedience, building our confidence while staying strong and strengthening our dependence on him by not fretting. As women, we often fall into the trap of thinking if we're not doing something, we must be wasting time. I hope these verses confirm the importance and desire God has for you to wait for Him. He can't speak to you or get your attention when your life is too busy, too loud, too distracted and too rushed.

What is God having you wait for today? Don't look at it as a denial to your requests. God's delays are never His denials. They are just another method He uses to continue to mold and shape us into women He can use for His purposes! Remember, if God puts you on hold, don't hang up!!

Peaceful Living in an Uptight World

Can you imagine your life without tension? Is peace of mind really attainable? What or who causes you the most stress? Everyone wants peace in their life. When my kids ask me what I want for Christmas, I always answer "World Peace" ~ taken from one of my favorite Sandra Bullock movies. When we look to the world for peace, we don't see a great track record of success. So where should we turn to find it?

The Bible tells us about 3 kinds of peace we should and can possess:
1) Spiritual Peace = peace with God. This is the foundation of peace and there's only one way to get it - through faith in Christ Jesus. (John 14:6)
2) Emotional Peace = the peace of God. Colossians 3:15 instructs us to let the "peace of Christ rule in our hearts." This peace is described as an internal sense of well-being and order. Isn't that what we all desire?
3) Relational Peace = peace with others. People are our greatest source of stress sometimes and God understands that! He encourages us in Romans 12:18 that "...whenever it is possible, live at peace with everyone."

Is it possible to live a peaceful life in an uptight world? Yes, but it requires us to change our focus. One thing we learned from God's Power to Change Your Life is that we must focus on God's presence. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that God "will keep in perfect peace him who mind is steadfast because he trusts in you." What does steadfast mean? It means that we are focused, concentrated, not disturbed, holding firm to something or someone. Is that how your focus is on God's presence? Or is it scattered, confused, wavering back and forth?

Think about times when you experience the most stress? Where is your focus? Is it on the person you are struggling to have a peaceful relationship with? Is it when you're trying to control a situation that is clearly out of your control, but you won't admit it? Is it on the circumstances surrounding you at that moment or fear of possible upcoming problems (aka-worry)?

I want to challenge you today to look at stress as a positive thing from God! Yes, stress can serve as a gift from God to warn us that our focus is off Him and on someone/something else. Someone else who has no control to change the situation. Something else that you're trying to figure out how to control. Again, it's a choice we make. Are we going to focus on God or our circumstances?

Fill in the blank "My life would be more peaceful if_______________." Now give it to God, turn your focus away from the situation and onto Him.

Remember, peace is not a trouble-free life, it's a sense of calm in the midst of life's storms!

The Choice to Rejoice

Is it possible to stay positive in a negative world? Is there such a thing as "true" happiness? Why are some people more joyful than others? Where does joy come from?

As we look at the next fruit of the Spirit - joy - we must make sure we understand its meaning. Joy is an inside job and does not depend on circumstances. Happiness depends on happenings. Joy is an attitude; a choice. Happiness comes and goes.

Paul tells us in Romans 5: 2b, that we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. It's been said that a person can live forty days without food, three days without water, eight minutes without air, by not one minute without hope! Many people have hope, but they are not basing it on anything solid. Many people base it on the wrong things: the stock market, good looks, a big salary, a nice job, a good family with obedient children, etc. BUT all these things are temporary and can be taken away in a heartbeat. When they disappear, so does hope. And joy is impossible without hope.

Where does hope come from and how do we get it? First, because of our faith in Christ, we can see that no situation is hopeless. Romans 5:2..."Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege..and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing in God's glory." (NLT) Second, we can see that God has a purpose in every situation. Romans 5:3-4...."We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance and endurance develops character and character strengthens our confident hope..." (NLT). Third, we can know that God is always with us, no matter where we are or what we're facing. Romans 5:11.."So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends with God!" (NLT)

So what are you putting your hope in? What happenings are you going to base your happiness on today? If you really want to understand joy, I encourage you to read the book of Philippians. Nineteen times in this short letter, Paul talks about rejoicing and having joy - and he was in a nasty, dirty, rat-infested, no cable tv or workout facility prison when he wrote this book!!

No matter what your day brings, make the choice to rejoice and cling to Nehemiah's words ..... "This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

Becoming a More Loving Person

"A new command I (Jesus) give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34)

Today's Truth - God produces the fruit of the Spirit in us by allowing us to encounter situations and people with characteristics that are the exact opposite of the fruit of the Spirit!

As we continue our quest to change by God's power, loving the unlovable sometimes takes a supernatural power! God's Word gives us 5 steps to follow - not always easy ones - but effective if we make the choice to put them to the test!

1) We must feel and understand how deeply God loves us. Ephesians 3:17 - "that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." God showed His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16) while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Can you understand that love today?

2) We must forgive those who have hurt us. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13. Anytime you resent someone, you give them a piece of your heart, your attention, your mind, your energy, your ability to love, etc. Can you afford to give all this away?

3) We must think loving thoughts. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:4-5. Hurting people hurt people. If instead of thinking about a person's faults and we begin to think about their needs, it will change the way we see them, which will change the way we feel about them, which will change the way we act toward them. Try it and see!

4) Act in a loving way. Have I lost you yet? These steps seem to grow in difficulty, but the reward of implementing them in your life far outweighs the discomfort. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus commands (not suggests) that we: 1) love our enemies 2) do good to those who we don't like and vice versa 3) bless those who curse you and 4) pray for those who mistreat you. Does anyone come to mind? What one thing can you do today to act in a loving way toward the unlovable in your life?

5) Expect the best of even those you don't like. Probably the most difficult step yet! When we expect the best, we bring out the best. When we expect the worst, we get the worst from people. This is love by faith. And loving by faith is the greatest force in the world. Love is contagious and it changes people.

My challenge this week is to take a baby step toward loving the most unlovable person in your life ~ not in your own power, you know how far that will get you - BUT in God's power..."God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

*Taken from God's Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren

God's Power to Change Your Life

Today's Truth - God's number one purpose in your life is to make you like Jesus Christ.

How are you responding to the circumstances in your life? With praise or pouting? With defeat or determination? With surrender or a stubborn spirit? Although we can't control all the things that happen in our life, we can control how we respond to them. We can control whether an experience or situation will make us bitter or better. What matters in life is not so much what happens to us but what happens in us!

Did you know that the source of our circumstances makes NO difference to God? Yes, we often bring problems on ourselves by wrong decisions and choices, bad judgement and sin. At other times our problems are caused by other people. Sometimes the devil causes thing to happen to us as he did to Job. But God says the source of the circumstance is irrelevant! He will use every situtation in your life to fit into His plan and to make you more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

So.... there is no circumstance in your life from which you can't learn from, if you just have the right attitude. Let's truly claim Romans 8:28 as the presence of God's power working in your life to change you for the better - even through the good, bad and ugly of circumstances. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

What are you holding onto that God wants to help with? He wants you to stop trying and start trusting Him with your problems! We spend so much time and energy trying to solve everything ourselves, in our own power, but to no avail.

"God whispers to us in our pleasure but He shouts to us in our pain." C.S. Lewis.

Is God shouting to you today?

Starting August 2, weekly devotions will be posted every Monday. Follow along as we look at lessons from Rick Warren's book - God's Power to Change Your Life

If you don't already receive our devotion in your email box, sign up today so you don't miss a week!

See you soon :)
Tonia

Release the Offender

If we are to truly experience forgiveness in our life, we must be willing to release the offender ~ easier said than done in some cases! If you can picture your unforgiveness as a tight hold you have on the other person; a firm grip that you want to cause pain or even a noose around their neck....there needs to be a conscious act of releasing.

The following is an excerpt from the book, How to Forgive When You Don't Feel Like It.....
To forgive means to release your resentment toward your offender. In the New Testament, the Greek verb aphiemi primarily means -"to send away, to forgive or release the penalty when someone wrongs you." This implies that you need to release your right to hear "I'm sorry," to release your right to be bitter, to release your right to get even. The Bible says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."(Romans 12:17)

To forgive is to release your rights regarding the offense. This means to release your right to dwell on this offense, to release your right to hold on to the offense, to release your right to keep bringing up the offense. The book of Proverbs says it well: "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." (Proverbs 17:9)

Is the act of releasing/forgiving just a one time thing? Jesus answered - "How often should I forgive someone who sins against me?....Not seven times, but seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT) You will know you have released your offender when you can think about them and it doesn't hurt anymore. When you can pray for God's blessing on their life. This may take years of daily releasing, depending on how deep the hurt is. Forgiving them does not mean you allow them to keep hurting you! It doesn't mean going back into an abusive or dangerous relationship. But it does mean that you must release those who have hurt you so you can be healed personally. Remember, you are doing this for your own sake, not for others!

I could ask you to list all the benefits (emotional, physical, spiritual) you have received from holding onto unforgiveness, but I don't think you'd have much to list. Release the grip you have on your offender(s) today and move on to a life of healing and freedom!

The Blessings of Forgiveness by Marybeth Whalen

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Matthew 6:14 (NIV)

I sat listening to my Bible study leader as she took us through our lesson in Genesis. I should have been paying attention but my thoughts kept drifting back to hurtful words and bad memories. It had been weeks since I had spoken to the person who had said those hurtful things, but the pain was still fresh.

I wanted to move on, but I didn't know how. I was caught and I could not get free. The hurt replayed in my mind over and over, a never ending film-loop of words and actions.

That day in Bible study we covered the story of Joseph. I will never forget as we got to the place where his brothers cowered in front of him after realizing who he was…and what they had done (Genesis 50:18). In that moment I will admit that in my humanness, I wanted Joseph to hurt them as much as he had been hurt. At the very least, I wanted him to turn them away as they deserved. Even though I knew the story, I still hoped for a different ending.

And yet, the ending went on just as it had before. Joseph offered his brothers—the brothers that had sold him as a slave—forgiveness. He reached out to them and restored them to a place they didn't deserve. He didn't do it because of them. He did it because of God. He knew what it meant to be forgiven, and he knew the power in extending forgiveness to someone else. I will never forget that moment when God spoke to my heart: "You need to forgive as Joseph forgave."

I will confess I didn't want to offer my forgiveness. God showed me that I was hanging onto my unforgiveness like a burlap security blanket. It was time to offer my forgiveness—not because the person had earned it or deserved it, but because God had asked me to forgive out of simple obedience to Him. Just as He had forgiven me. It was, He reminded me, the least I could do.

In my novel, The Mailbox, the main character Lindsey has several people she must forgive during the course of the story. She learns that there is freedom and peace that is released at the moment we forgive, which makes her eager to forgive even more. This happened to me as well. I heard once that unforgiveness is like eating poison while waiting for the other person to die. Better to walk in the freedom of simply doing what God has asked and let Him take care of the rest. God required me to sacrifice my pride in exchange for the blessing of peace in that relationship. It was definitely worth it and I would do it all over again.

Dear Lord, help me extend forgiveness to those who have hurt me, even when I don't feel that they deserve it. The truth is, I didn't deserve Your forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving me and please help me forgive others as freely as You do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:Is there someone you need to forgive? Spend time journaling about what's holding you back, then pray and ask God's help in extending forgiveness to that person.

Mark 11:25, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (NIV)

Let It Go!

Do you struggle with unforgiveness? Whether it's forgiving someone who has treated you wrong OR forgiving yourself for some offense you have committed. The subject has come up several times in the past few weeks and I recognize it as a nudge from God to talk about it with you!

Let's address the issue of unforgiveness first. I know some of you have been hurt in ways that would be considered "unforgive-able" by many. You have had things done to you that you had no control over. Regardless of how much time has passed, you are still carrying around a heavy load of guilt and shame. Some of you have been victims of verbal abuse and bare the scars of worthlessness. Some of you have been controlled and manipulated for so long that you feel helpless and have no voice. Others of you have had your hearts shattered so badly that you believe you will never be whole again. Still others may be holding on to the hurt from betrayal, back-stabbing, being blind-sided or back-handed.

How have you been dealing with the pain? Has it been working for you? Hanging on to anger, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness only hurts you! Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping it will cause the person who hurt you pain. Our bodies were not created to digest this "poison" of unforgiveness. More importantly, our relationship with God cannot be broken because of unforgiveness. In the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:12) Jesus instructs us to pray - "forgive us our sins AS we have forgiven those who sin against us." Verses 14-15 are even more direct - "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Consider the way The Message puts it - "You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." I don't know about you, but I want and need God to forgive my sins!

Maybe you've been holding on to this pain in private. Maybe no one knows you are harboring anger and unforgiveness against someone. You've been putting on a good show on the outside, but inside the "poison" is eating you alive. The first step to forgiveness is revealing the hurt. You can't get over the hurt until you admit the pain exists. Are you ready to be healed? Are you willing to let it go? Can you admit that your way of dealing with it isn't working? Do you want to be rid of the baggage you've been carrying around all these years? If you answered, YES...there's some work you'll need to do.

Homework: Over the next few days, think about the people you have not forgiven. (One way of knowing is that when you think about them/the situation, it still creates negative emotions in you - anger, resentment, fear, hatred, etc.) Now, 1) write down their name(s) and 2) what they did 3) describe the emotion you feel toward that person and 4) list the impact it had or continues to have on you. Put it in writing. Be specific (as painful as it may be). Be honest (God already knows the details, but He wants you to acknowledge them). Keep it private.

Recommended Reading - How to Forgive...When You Don't Feel Like It by June Hunt

Next time: How to release the offender - forever - and receive healing.

Are you up to the challenge?

My friend and life coach, Kelly Thorne and her iBloom ministry, are offering an awesome 40~day, life changing journey entitled - i choose 2 love my life! Are you up to the challenge or are you settling for a life that you don't enjoy, only tolerate? Surviving but not succeeding? Living life but not loving it? "Just getting by" instead of "just can't wait"... I could go on :)

Each day you will receive a challenge and an opportunity to make a small change in your life that will reap enormous rewards! I dare you to complete all 40 days and NOT see an improvement in how you look at, live and love your life! Let me know what you think.

Sign up today~it's free! What a great way to spend your summer :)

http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=3725004

Perseverance > Character > Hope

"....but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us..." ~Romans 5:3-5

In a lesson I taught recently, we learned that the Greek definition of the word perseverance means cheerful endurance! How cheerful are you in the midst of your latest suffering? James 1:2-3 tells us that we are to "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Are you simply enduring your trial; counting the days until it will be over? Or are you able to honestly rejoice believing that God has a specific purpose for your suffering and you look forward to see what's on the other side?

That purpose is to build your character! God has given each one of us a dream to fulfill here on this earth, but many times He first needs to shape and mold us into women He can use. This shaping and molding may come in the form of tests, trials and tribulations. He wants to see how we respond and if our character has developed enough for our next assignment.

From Romans 5:4, we then see that character produces hope. Where would we be without hope? Hope is for today, not just some far off place in the future. But we must learn to hope in God and not our circumstances changing...read that again. We can't depend on others or ourselves to shorten our testing time. You must know that God is working in your life, through your circumstances -as ugly and unfair as they may seem to you! He hasn't forgotten about you.

So how would you grade yourself on the latest test God has given you? Very rarely do I teach a Bible lesson, that God doesn't use it to speak to me....loud and clear. I will admit that I am currently being tested in this area of perseverance and many days I merely endure and not cheerfully I might add! I must continually remind myself that this "suffering" is being used to develop and strengthen my character in preparation for my next assignment. I realize that it's up to God to decide, not me, as to how and when this test will come to an end. I cling to the hope of what this testing represents and know it will not dissapoint me.

What is God using to mold and shape you today? I'd love to hear your stories and encourage you along the way. I'll close with one of my favorite verses - "...let us throw off everything that hinders us (other people, circumstances, excuses, etc.) and the sin that so easily entangles (doubt, discouragement, self-pity, laziness, pride, etc.) and let us run with perseverance (cheerful endurance) the race marked out for us (God's dream). ~ Hebrews 12:1

5 Ways to Move into Your New Season by Valorie Burton

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dear Friend,
As we usher in spring, I feel led to ask you, "Is it time to usher in a new season in your life?" There are few things more frustrating that remaining stuck in the old when it's time to embrace something new. Sometimes the new thing is an inevitable change or transition, whether it was something you wanted or something that was thrust upon you. At other times, your new season is a goal you've been working towards, but now it's time to notice that the thing you wished for is here. You'll have to shift your thinking so you can enjoy the vision that has finally come to fruition. Whether your new season is related to your career, relationships, finances or health, consider these five ways to successfully step into a new phase of your life:
1. Say good-bye to the last season. In order to fully embrace what's new, mark your passage from one season into the next. If a child is about to head off to college, plan for a celebration to mark the milestone. If you are moving from one place to another, acknowledge it in a meaningful way. If you have lost someone or something important to you, grieve your loss so that you can eventually move forward in a healthy way.
2. Embrace the new season. Once you've said good-bye, say "hello" to what's new. Dive in. Consider the things you are able to do now that you couldn't before. If you're entering a difficult season, identify and embrace the help you will need to give you strength and perseverance. Acknowledge your challenges, but be sure to open your eyes and notice the blessings, too.
3. Ask, "What new habits do I need in this new season?" What worked in the last season, may not work in this new season. It's like using your old house key to try to open the door to your new home. What got you in the door there won't work here. Be flexible and adopt the new habits that will empower you to thrive in this new season.
4. Ask, "Who do I need to connect with in this new season?" Relationships matter. Don't go it alone. Reach out and connect with those who can help you and whom you can help. When facing a major change, it's your ability to connect with the right people that can make the difference between a smooth transition and a bumpy one.
5. Ask, "What vision am I moving towards in my new season?" Often a new season means a new identity in some way. Perhaps your role has changed, relationships have been severed, a job was lost or a move has put you in a totally new environment. You may have had a vision - and even achieved it - in the previous season of your life, but now it's time for something different. Your old vision may not work in this new place. What's your new vision now?

My challenge to you this week: Let go of the old. Take hold of the new!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What's your THEME for 2010?
Betsy Ringer
www.iBloom.us

Instead of making a new year’s resolution, how about setting a THEME for 2010? Choose a theme that reflects your assignment for this particular time of your life.

Your THEME can be applied to many areas of your life and will allow some freedom for failure and the excitement of surprise.Your THEME is not random. It may be balancing out your previous year or it may be something you see God is leading you towards, or you might see a new direction emerging. For example, maybe 2009 was hectic and frazzled, so your THEME for 2010 might be Rest or Quiet. By focusing on Rest, you allow yourself to sit, to say “no” to a request, or go to bed earlier. Your health and spirit will be renewed and your life will be more fulfilling.

Maybe there is a need in your life for friends, better health or de-cluttering. Be positive and use words that will help you take action. For example, instead of having a theme of Making Friends, choose Be a Friend. That implies taking action that will most likely lead to connection with others.Some THEME ideas to get you thinking - Simplify, Adventuring, Health, Move my Body, Write, Surrender, Laughter, Paint, Savor the Moments, or Discover my Passion.

Take the following steps to identify a THEME for 2010:
Step 1• Picture your life being richer because of your attention to your theme• At the end of 2010, what will make you smile as you look back over the year?• What is your assignment for this particular time of your life?• Is there a way 2010 needs to be balanced?• Ask God to give you direction in selecting a theme.

Step 2• Write out several themes that seem to emerge from within. Give some thought to how they might be carried out in your day to day living. Is it a theme that can be realized in your ordinary routine as well as jump start you to try something new?

Step 3• Select your theme. Embrace it. Be excited about it. Write it on several cards and place them in strategic places to remind yourself about your 2010 THEME. For example, place THEME cards on your bathroom mirror, over your kitchen sink, on your computer, hanging from the rear view mirror in your car, and wherever else you look frequently.

Step 4• Give yourself permission to evaluate your theme quarterly. Is it still a good path for you? If not, change it. Or, recast the vision - how will it make your life better having allowed this theme to be carried out in your life?Yes, I have chosen my THEME. In 2009 it was Creativity. After having my creativity squished over the last couple of years, my soul was screaming for me to pay attention to this important area of my life. So I engaged in more photography, created photo books, developed new workshops, wrote articles and blogs, did some redecorating and tried lots of new recipes.

My THEME for 2010 is Harvest. God has been laying the groundwork with my training, skills and talents. I sense that this year God will provide a Harvest of products, speaking engagements, webinars, classes and books that will help bring a Harvest to women all over the world to live richer, fuller lives. I can’t wait to see how God unfolds this theme!