VERSE:

VERSE: For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, anddo this, or that. -- James 4:15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=James+4:15&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: While I like to have choices and I like to be responsible for myown decisions, I am truly thankful that God allows me to submit mylife to his will and place my trust in him. The Father is at workin me to do his will (Phil. 2:13) and to work for my best good(Rom. 8:28). I gladly acknowledge that my plans are subject to hiswill. I am appreciative that my goals and successes are in hishands. I gladly proclaim that what lies ahead for me can besummarized by one phrase: "If the Lord wills!"PRAYER: Thank you, Abba Father, that my life and my future are in yourhands. Forgive me for the times that my plans are too full ofmyself and not consciously dependent upon you. Thank you forrescuing me from the messes I have made because of my failed plansbuilt around my own foolish arrogance. Dear Father, help me toalways gladly place my plans, my life, and my future in submissionto your will. In Jesus' holy name, and by his power, I pray. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shalltribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,or peril, or sword? ... Nay, in all these things we are more thanconquerors through him that loved us. -- Romans 8:35 & 37 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+8:35+&+37&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: "More than conquerors." What a great phrase. In Christ, this iswho we are: "more than conquerors." No hardship, enemy, physicaldisaster, not even death, can separate us from Jesus. Once ourlives are joined to Jesus, our future is tied to him (Col. 3:1-4). PRAYER: Almighty God, I do not know how to thank you enough. Thank youfor the confidence I have in Jesus. Thank you for your gift ofgrace. Thank you for your indwelling Spirit. Thank you for yourpromise of heaven. Thank you for your love that has saved andremade me. Thank you for assuring me that I will never be alone nomatter what I have to face. Most of all, dear LORD, thank you forhelping me understand that nothing that can happen in this worldhas the power to strip me from Jesus' love. I look forward toforever with you. Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Worshipping With Jumper Cables

Worshipping With Jumper CablesCindy Beall Driving separate cars with a boy in each, we left our home for the Christmas Eve experience at our church. Not necessarily decked out in my nice clothes, but definitely a little more jazzed up than my usual Wal-Mart attire, I was ready for an hour full of amazing music and a message to keep me centered on the reason we celebrate this season. Before we even hit the stop sign at Midwest and Waterloo, there was a delay. Not sure, at first, what it was, I inched up further along on the asphalt to take a gander. And what to my wondering eyes did appear? A stalled SUV with flashers blaring as if to say, "Will somebody please help me?"Car by car made their detour around the man and woman as they frantically attempted to turn the key over just one more time. Now it was my turn. With my 10-year old in my car learning from my every move, I had to decide: Do I go around this hindrance in order to make sure that my nicely pressed outfit would remain intact for the church service I was headed to? Or do I toss the plans out the proverbial window in order to be a Samaritan to someone I may never see again?Rolling down my window, I yelled to the distraught woman, "Do you need some help?" Her affirmative reply was followed by a sigh of partial relief. Shortly after that, I whipped my Honda Pilot around and pointed my hood to theirs as my handsome hubby worked his magic with our old set of jumper cables."Give it some gas," he hollered to me.Nothin'.Continuing to apply my three-inch black heel to the accelerator, I started to pray, "Father, please help this couple. Help their car to start so that they can get home. Help them..." Vroom, vroom, vroom."Thank you so much for your help," the man said. "And Merry Christmas!"Quietly watching the entire occurrence, Noah said, "That was nice." I agreed with him and told him that I could have just driven around them to make sure that we wouldn't miss church because we wanted to worship Jesus."I think Jesus wanted us to help them more than he wanted us to go to church today, Mom," came his wise reply.With tears beginning to sting my baby blues, I nodded and said, "I couldn't agree more."Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing us the opportunity to be your hands and feet. And for creating a tender heart in our sons that will know how to love you by loving others.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

SPIRITUAL WARFARE 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2+Corinthians+10:1-6Dear Father, teacher of spiritual soldiers,Thank you for the example of the meekness and gentleness ofChrist. If I must show boldness or be abrasive in any way, let itbe for the good of others. Keep me from having the manners of theworld or living at all in a worldly fashion. For though I live inthe world, I am not carrying on a worldly war. The weapons of mywarfare are not worldly but have divine power from you fordestroying strongholds and obstacles of every kind, for destroyingarguments and rationalizations and hypocrisy. They have the powerto take every thought captive for Christ, when men have the courageto face up to their condition before you. Let me bear witness foryou and warn people of their peril. The very weapons of our warfarewill be the weapons to bring punishment to the disobedient, forthen they cannot say they have not heard.But you, Lord, are patient. You give men and women time to come toobedience. You are so merciful and long-suffering. Thank you, God.In the name of Jesus, the Lord of mercy and compassion, I ask.Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousnessunto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alivefrom the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousnessunto God. -- Romans 6:13 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+6:13&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: This long verse boils down to a very simple message: We are toglorify God by what we do with our bodies. We were dead in our sin,but God has made us alive through our participation with Jesus inhis saving death, burial, and resurrection. How can we go back tothe hideous sins that master us and lead us to death? We shouldn't!We mustn't! And with God's gracious help, we won't. Our commitmentto live for his glory and with the power of the Holy Spirit willhelp us live for him! PRAYER: Father, God of grace, please forgive me for the times in my pastwhen I flirted with sin. I know how much you paid to redeem me frommy sin. I know the power of Satan to use sin to entrap and enslaveme. Bless me as I commit to live for you, with Jesus as my Lord andthe Spirit's empowering me to honor you. In Jesus name. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousnessunto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alivefrom the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousnessunto God. -- Romans 6:13 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+6:13&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: This long verse boils down to a very simple message: We are toglorify God by what we do with our bodies. We were dead in our sin,but God has made us alive through our participation with Jesus inhis saving death, burial, and resurrection. How can we go back tothe hideous sins that master us and lead us to death? We shouldn't!We mustn't! And with God's gracious help, we won't. Our commitmentto live for his glory and with the power of the Holy Spirit willhelp us live for him! PRAYER: Father, God of grace, please forgive me for the times in my pastwhen I flirted with sin. I know how much you paid to redeem me frommy sin. I know the power of Satan to use sin to entrap and enslaveme. Bless me as I commit to live for you, with Jesus as my Lord andthe Spirit's empowering me to honor you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Keeping Families Strong

Keeping Families StrongTaffi L. Dollar You don't have to look far these days to notice that the traditional family, as we have known it, is under attack. According to a 2001 Census report, nearly 1 of 5 adults has been divorced at least once. The Barna Group reveals that Christians are as likely as any other group to divorce. This raises serious concern. Satan is attacking our families, and we must fight back! We do not have to stand by and accept defeat as the norm! The enemy has come only to steal, kill and destroy. This has been his intention from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. But Jesus has come so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Abundant life is a life of peace, with nothing missing or broken. God wants the best for you and your family.The enemy uses specific tools disguised, and often innocently packaged, to tear families apart. One of his devices is selfishness. When parents become absorbed in their own activities, not only will children adapt to a selfish lifestyle, but they will also feel neglected and unloved. Often children try to replace that love with other people and activities that may not be good for them. The aftermath of selfishness then becomes a domino effect. This is why the basis for family structure should be anchored in unconditional love. God is love and love never fails, because God never fails. Love is patient and kind. It is not irritable or prideful and does not insist on its own way. When love is not the foundation, the family structure will crumble. As a family member, whether you are a single parent, married with no children or married with children, you have a responsibility to love everyone in your household unconditionally.Each person plays a role; children can show their love by obeying their parents and doing their chores and parents can acknowledge their children's feelings, and make them feel valued. Consider each other's concerns, and take them seriously. When family members fail to love, the entire household becomes vulnerable to satanic attack. Distraction is another blow to families; it is a direct spin-off of selfishness. Sometimes when we become overly involved in other relationships, activities and events, we can easily drift away from God and our families. This is when balance and direction from God is needed. Miscommunication is yet another tactic Satan uses. Many times we feel we have communicated effectively with members of our households, only to later find out that something we said was misconstrued. It is important that you communicate effectively with your family. Always consider your motives before expressing your feelings. Also, when you are talking to someone, make sure that person understands what you are saying. Be sure to give your family members your undivided attention when they are speaking to you. Love and understanding are keys to effective communication. Despite the enemy's attacks, your family can remain strong. Let God's Word be your foundation at all times. When you have a problem, search the Word for your answers. Remember, it is through skillful and godly wisdom a house, life, home and family are built.