LUNCH WITH GOD

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

 

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

 

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat, There all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

 

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

 

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, " I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

 

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what  did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, " You know, he's much younger than I expected."

 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of Which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Beware Of Jealousy, Anger And Suspicion

Written By Zac Poonen

 

      There are many lessons that we can learn from Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-12). Cain was jealous and angry with Abel, because it had gone so well with Abel (for God had accepted him).

 

      How do you feel when you find it going very well with someone whom you are closely associated with? When you find a fellow-brother who is preaching victory over sin and you find that his life is consistent with his preaching - that there is no evidence of anxiety or anger or impatience in him, but on the contrary, a perpetual spirit of triumph and joy and peace; and in contrast your own life is miserable and gloomy and defeated (because you do not believe that a life of victory is possible) - Do you then find a root of envy creeping in and a desire to see him fall somewhere so that you can gloat over his failure and drag him down in the eyes of others? That was the same spirit that drove Cain. Do you feel happy when some trouble befalls that brother? Does his perpetual victory irritate you and make you angry? That attitude of yours, is the spirit of Cain, not the Spirit of Christ; and the sooner you recognise it for the foul, slimy thing that it is, the better.

 

      Sin was crouching at the door of Cain's heart when God sought to warn him. Sin wasn't a hundred miles away but at the door of his heart pressing for entrance. Cain was NOT thinking about doing something good. He had not yet thought to do something evil, for in that case, sin would have been inside the door already. He had just kept his heart empty, swept and unoccupied with anything good. That opened the way, as Jesus said for eight wicked spirits to occupy it (Matt.12:43-45).

 

      There was no joy in Cain's life, for such a man cannot truly rejoice. His face was fallen, and gloom and depression and anger were written across it. He could not bear to see it going so well with someone else. Cain was angry with God and with Abel. An extra reason for his anger was that it was going well with someone younger than him. It would perhaps have been tolerable to see it going well with someone older, but it was unbearable to see it happening to someone younger.

 

      Before you throw a stone at Cain, consider: Can you truly rejoice when you see brothers who are much younger than you, going ahead of you spiritually? Do you seek their good so zealously that you are eager to see them go ahead of you. If so, then you have the mind of Christ Who could rejoice that His disciples would do greater works then He Himself did (Jn.14:12). But "where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing" (Jas 3:16). Yes, where the spirit of Cain is found, every imaginable evil will also be found, sooner or later.

 

      When Cain invited Abel for a walk in the fields (Gen.4:8), he went along with him unsuspectingly. Abel did not suspect that Cain was jealous of him - or else he would not have gone out with him. How simple in heart Abel was. He had a broken and contrite heart and did not judge his brother Cain. What an example for us to follow!

 

      How often even those with whom it is going well in other ways, are suspicious that others are jealous of them or that they are thinking bad thoughts about them or trying to push them down etc., We may have nothing against others, but may yet suspect that others are having things against us. Thus we also are defiled. Abel did not even suspect one who was out to murder him. What a good heart he had! That is the type of heart we need. There are two cliffs on either side of the narrow way. One is the cliff of jealousy and the other is the cliff of suspicion - and we can fall over either cliff and reach the bottom. Abel was neither jealous of Cain nor suspicious of him. This is the path we are to walk in relation to our fellow-believers. It is better to die like Abel with an unsuspecting heart than to live with a heart contaminated with suspicion. The one who suspects and judges others of being jealous or angry, is a busybody in the matters of others, and thereby proves that he himself does not have a broken and contrite heart any more then the one who is jealous and angry.

 

      If we have lowly thoughts about ourselves, like Abel had, then we will not even think that others could be jealous of us. We would then be so insignificant in our own estimation that we would not imagine that anyone could possibly be jealous of us.

 

      Abel rejoiced in God's acceptance of him. But that did not lift his heart up in pride against Cain. No. He would not compare himself with Cain neither would he be a busybody in Cain's life.

Bro. DGS Dinakaran has entered into god's glory

In Memory Of Bro.D.G.S. Dhinakaran
1st July 1935 – 20th February 2008

 

 

This memorial website was created in the memory of Dr.D.G.S (dgs) Dhinakaran, born on the 1st July 1935 and passed away on the 20th February 2008, 73 years of age.

 

 

 It is sorrowful that our beloved Brother D. G. S. Dhinakaran has passed away today. It is a big loss for us. We have lost a Godly man who prayed with tears for all of us.

 

   "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints" Psalms 116:15.

 

 

           

 

Chennai India, Feb. 20: Celebrated evangelist DGS Dinakaran has entered into god's glory this morning at 6.30hrs IST in chennai at the age of 73. He was suffering from heart and kidney aliments.

 

He was admitted to Appollo Hospital in chennai on January 29. Most of his family members were at his bedside when he breathed his last. His body was taken to his residence at Jesus Calls for public homage.

 

Dr.Dinakaran is the founder of the Jesus Calls Ministry.

 

He was Born on July 1, 1935 and had a very tough life being torn by the ailments of poverty and agony of unemployment. Unable to bear these problems, he decided to put an end to his life at his 20 years of age. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life.

 

Then he worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls ministry.

 

Later, he had a vision of the Lord Jesus appearing to him, asking him to train lay people like himself to reach the people of his nation and other parts of Asia with the good news of the Gospel through radio and television ministries. He also started other ministries related to Jesus Calls ministry, wrote books, and influenced many people in all walks of life for God.

 

He is also the founder of Karunya Institute of Technology in Coimbatore.

 

He is survived by his wife & son named Bro. Paul Dinakaran, who is also a well known Christian preacher & three grand children.

 

Critical Eyes

Bible Says: Mark 2:23-24 (ERV)

      On the Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through some grain fields. Jesus' followers were walking with him. The followers picked some grain {to eat}. The Pharisees saw this and said to Jesus, "Why are your followers doing that? It is against the {Jewish} law to do that on the Sabbath day." 

 

KEY THOUGHT:
      There are some who watch others who are committed to Christ only to find fault in them. Critical sniping at Jesus' followers --"nit-picky-ness" as I call it -- is not a virtue. Jesus condemns judging others' hearts on the basis of traditions and from a harsh spirit, looking to catch them in minor points of law. The way we judge others is then the standard of judgment used on us. As Christians, we
have been liberated from law keeping; let's also liberate ourselves from a harsh, judgmental, and nit-picky spirit. May the spirit that made some of the Pharisees so harsh not be found among us!

 

TODAY'S PRAYER:
      Holy God, forgive me and help me leave behind a critical, harsh spirit of judgment. Teach me to be gracious and never let my faith get lost in Pharisaism. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

For the Benefit of People

Bible Says:  Mark 2:25-27 (ERV)  

      Jesus answered, "You have read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry and needed food. It was during the time of Abiathar the high priest. David went into God's house and ate the bread that was offered to God. And the law {of Moses} says that only priests can eat that bread. David also gave some of the bread to those people with him." Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Sabbath day was made to help people. People were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day."

 

KEY THOUGHT:
      Did God need a day to be honored or did his human creations need a day to rest? Well, God doesn't "need" anything. It seems clear that the Sabbath was a day to remember and recognize the  lessings and providence God has placed into the Israelites' lives. At the same time, we human creatures need to rest. Without rest, we make ourselves vulnerable to temptation due to fatigue and exhaustion. Without rest, we can cause damage to our own physical health. Most of all, without rest, we are tempted to forget the one from whom we've received all of our many blessings. Then we feel that everything depends upon just us and this feeling puts more pressure on us to perform. God gave the Sabbath as a gift to his human creations. So God didn't make the Sabbath for himself, but for people to have a day to rest from labor, to remember that God provides them every good and perfect gift, and to renew their bodies and their spirits. While many don't keep the literal
Sabbath (the seventh day, or Saturday) as a religious observance, we would do well to remember this Sabbath principal as the rhythm of God's universe and take time to rest, remember, and refresh.

 

PRAYER:
      Forgive me, dear Father, for trying to cram too much into my short days. I confess that I am sometimes overly anxious to do too many things. I am honestly seeking your help so that I can live a  more balanced and holy life. Help me as I seek to find time of rest that you have created for me and my spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Lessons on Spiritual Decline (Series 4)

Written By Zac Poonen

God has a passion to have a pure testimony for His Name in every part of the world, in every generation. For this purpose, he raises up a godly man in a country, in a particular generation, to estore to the church in that country, the truth that the apostles preached, and thus to lead people to a godly life. A movement gradually starts around that man and a few wholehearted believers who are fed up with the unreality and hypocrisy of the Christendom of their generation gather around him. Very soon a pure testimony is established for the Lord. Such a group is always small in size at the eginning and intensely hated and persecuted by the older churches. The founder is hated most of all. And the hatred is usually most intense from the group that God had raised up in the previous generation - for the current leaders of that group, not realising that the Lord has left them, are jealous of the new group!! Satan too joins in the attack against this new group - and he does his work of accusation mostly through other "believers" - especially those from the older group.

All the persecution and the schemings of men and demons however, do not hinder God from establishing a pure testimony for His Name in the new generation through the man He raised up. But what happens when this man dies? Then the movement begins to decline. Personal devotion to Christ disappears and is replaced by emphasis on the doctrines that the founder preached. Those doctrines become more important to the second generation than the Person of the Lord Himself. And a cloud comes between them and God - as it did between the disciples and the Lord on the mount of transfiguration (Matt.17:5).

No doctrine, however important or good, can ever take the place of devotion to Jesus Himself. The founder knows the Lord. The second generation knows only the doctrine. Chaos results and by the time the movement reaches the third generation, there is open division and strife.

One of the commonest things that happens to every movement is that by the time it reaches the second and third generation, it becomes rich and wealthy, with the members owning plenty of money, houses, lands and properties etc., And wealth has a way of being accompanied invariably by pride, self-sufficiency and complacency - for very few believers know how to handle wealth.

The first generation of a movement usually struggles in poverty and is close to God. The second and third generations are usually closer to the world, with all their wealth - and lose out spiritually. God then withdraws from that group, which has by then become a part of Babylon - and He raises up another man and starts a totally new work through him. But alas, the same story is repeated all over again - for no-one ever seems to learn from the mistakes of those who went before them!!

Those who are wise will therefore look around them to see where the anointing of God is resting currently - in their own generation - and associate fully with such a church. They will not care to see where the anointing had rested in previous generations. They will look to see where God is moving NOW and not where God moved a generation or two ago.

Scripture tells us very clearly that we must AVOID those who have the mere form of godliness (2 Tim.3:5) and seek to fellowship with "those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Tim.2:22). Those who have a pure heart are those who love the Lord with ALL their heart. Such believers have no place in their heart for money, for property, for anything of this world, for themselves, for their family members, or for their jobs. They love the Lord supremely and thus love their family members in a deeper way than they would have done otherwise. They are devoted to the Lord and not to any doctrine. We are told to seek fellowship with such believers at all times. Thus God's work proceeds from generation to generation, without ever failing - for all the machinations of men and Satan cannot hinder any of God's purposes. Hallelujah!!

Related Articles:

Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 1)

Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 2)

Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 3)

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http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/home_page.php

Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 3)

Written By Zac Poonen

Consider the history of the church at Ephesus. Paul stayed there for three years, preaching night and day (Acts 20:31). That means that the Ephesian Christians listened to many hundreds of sermons from Paul's lips. They had seen extraordinary miracles wrought by the Lord in their midst (Acts 19:11). From their midst, the word of God had spread to all the surrounding parts of Asia Minor during a short period of two years. They had experienced revival (Acts 19:10, 19). They were the most privileged of all the churches in apostolic times. They were also undoubtedly the most spiritual church in Asia Minor at that time. (We can see that from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, where he had to correct no error in their midst, unlike the way he had to, in the other churches to which he wrote.)

But when Paul was leaving Ephesus, he warned the elders there that things would take a turn for the worse in the next generation, under the new leadership of the church. He told them that savage wolves would come into their midst and that from among their own midst would arise men speaking perverse things, drawing people after themselves, instead of drawing people to the Lord (Acts 20:29,30). As long as Paul was there, no wolf had dared to enter the flock at Ephesus. Paul was a faithful doorkeeper (See Mark 13:34), who had spiritual authority from the Lord, because he was anointed, because he feared God and because he sought the Lord's interests and not his own. But he also had enough spiritual discernment to know that the spiritual condition of the elders in Ephesus was bad - and so he knew that things would deteriorate once they took over the leadership of the church.

Paul did not give the elders a prophecy of what would definitely happen at Ephesus. No. It was only a warning. It did not have to happen like he predicted - if the elders would only judge themselves and repent. Jonah once prophesied destruction on Nineveh. But it did not happen as he predicted, because the people of Nineveh repented. The church at Ephesus also could have escaped the fate that Paul predicted. But alas, the new generation of leaders in Ephesus never took Paul's warning seriously and drifted away from the Lord.

By the end of the first century, the third generation had come into power. And then things became really bad. Their doctrines were still correct and they were zealous in Christian activity. They probably still had their all-night prayer meetings and their other special meetings. But their spiritual state was so bad that the Lord was about to remove His recognition of them as a church. What was their crime? They had lost their devotion to the Lord (Rev.2:4,5).

What does the history of the church at Ephesus teach us? Just this - that no doctrine is as important as a fervent devotion to the Lord Himself. There is one- and only one mark of true spirituality - that the life of Jesus is manifested increasingly in our behaviour. and this in turn can come only by an increasing personal devotion to the Lord Himself.

Paul was a godly man - a fervent and faithful apostle who was devoted to the Lord Jesus until the very end of his life. And he warned believers everywhere that Satan would try every means possible to turn them away from "simple devotion to Christ" (2 Cor.11:3).

Errors in doctrinal matters such as "baptism in water" and "baptism in the Holy Spirit", are not at all as dangerous as losing one's personal devotion to Christ. Yet many believers never seem to realise this.

We see that even Paul could serve God's purpose only in his own generation. Those who lived with him like Timothy, imbibed his spirit and lived in selfless devotion to Christ (Phil.2:19-21). But otherwise, Paul could not transmit his spirituality even to the second generation of believers in the churches he had founded.

We see a similar pattern being repeated in every movement that God has raised up - in every generation, since the first century.

..............…To be continued

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Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 2)

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Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 2)

Written By Zac Poonen

The second watershed in Israel's history was when David became king of Israel.

Saul was the first king of Israel. He had started in great humility, but backslid so greatly that God removed the anointing from him. Saul's life is a picture of those movements that decline in the first generation itself - and there are many like that in Christendom too!

God told Saul through Samuel that He was now going to give the kingdom to "a man after God's own heart" (1 Sam.13:14). That was David. This made Saul extremely jealous of David. Saul hated David so much that he even wanted to kill him.

Those in Israel however, who recognised where God's anointing lay, joined David. Thus a small group gathered around David. But they were chased and persecuted and hunted by Saul all across the land and had to run for their lives. But God was with that small group.

Saul however continued to sit on the throne of Israel for many years - just like many Christian "leaders" rule their flock today, even though they have lost the anointing of God from their lives long, long ago.

But Saul still had a following of those who fawned on him - just like many Christian "leaders" have in their own groups. Such a following means nothing. Many dead denominations and even heathen religious leaders have a large following. But God is not with any of them.

The important question we need to ask ourselves always is this: "Do the grace and anointing of God rest upon me now?"

Church history has proved again and again that God has always done His greatest work in every generation through a small minority of His people who stand wholeheartedly for Him. As in Gideon's time, the victory in the battle with Satan is always won by a small group of a few wholehearted disciples (Judges 7).

Such a group (as in the case of David's group) is hated, misunderstood and persecuted by the established systems in Christendom, who have no understanding of what God is doing in their time.

But God took care of David and his little group. And the Bible records that "David served the purpose of God in his own generation and fell asleep" (Acts 13:36). Despite his faults, David was a man after God's own heart and gave Israel godly leadership during his lifetime. He was not perfect. But he was quick to humble himself and repent when even an ordinary prophet came to him and rebuked him for his sin (2 Sam.12).

But in spite of all of David's devotion to the Lord, and his humility and the anointing of God upon his life, he could yet serve God's purpose only in his own generation.

After his death, things began to decline very quickly. Solomon, his son, started well (1 Kings 3:3,5,10-14). The book of Proverbs shows us how wise Solomon was when he began. Proverbs is perhaps the finest book in the entire Old Testament. It is like a new-covenant book right in the middle of the Old Testament! And Solomon wrote it!!

But Solomon backslid very quickly and very badly - and ended disastrously. Initially, he had moved forward on the momentum he had received from his godly father. But he did not have enough of a passion after God, to continue for long in the same direction. He was led astray by wealth and by women (1 Kings 10:23; 11:1-9) - just like many Christian preachers in our time!

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam (the third generation) took over. Then things became really bad. The younger generation joined hands with Rehoboam and took over the leadership of Israel, and Rehoboam despised the advice of the wiser, older men (1 Kings 12:6-15). This brought chaos into Israel and the kingdom soon split into two. All that Rehoboam could boast of now was that David was his grandfather. But he did not have any of David's spirit.

…………To be continued

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Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 3)

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Lessons On Spiritual Decline (Series 1)

Written By Zac Poonen

The history of Israel is given us at such length in the Bible to show us good examples in their history that we can follow and the mistakes that men made there that we should avoid. There is a significant starting point in the history of Israel as a nation:when they began as a nation in Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. Joshua was a godly man who gave excellent leadership to Israel. He was determined to follow the Lord with his whole family, even if the rest of Israel decided to forsake the Lord (Josh.24:15).

Only such a man, who is willing to stand alone if necessary, can provide godly leadership to any church today. During Joshua's lifetime, Israel went forward from one victory to another. But then Joshua died. And there we can see in what followed, what happens when a man whom God has raised up at a particular time for a particular purpose in a particular country finishes his earthly course and passes on.

Joshua's fellow-elders took over the leadership of Israel (Josh.24:31). These elders belonged to the next generation after Joshua. Joshua died when he was 110 years old and the new leaders were in their 60's and their 70's - for Joshua's own generation (except for Caleb) had all perished in the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

During this time - when the second generation was in leadership - things were not as good as in Joshua's time. We read in Judges 1 that during this period, there were a few victories (v.1-21), but many defeats as well (v.22-36). A slow decline had started.

The second generation had no steam in themselves, but were surviving on the momentum that they had received from Joshua's leadership in the previous generation. Like a train-wagon that has been pushed by an engine, the second generation moved very fast initially, but gradually slowed down and finally came to a grinding halt!

By the time we come to Judges 2:11, things become really bad. Israel now does open evil in the sight of the Lord.

Thus we see how what started in a good way in one generation, gradually became evil by the time of the third generation.

…………To be continued

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Leaving it Behind

Bible Says:  Mark 2:13-14 (ERV)

      Jesus went to the lake again. Many people followed him there. So Jesus taught them. Jesus was walking beside the lake, and he saw a man named Levi, son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at his place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Then Levi stood up and followed Jesus.

                      
KEY THOUGHT:
      Two exciting things happen in these two short verses. First, Jesus shows that the call to follow him should be offered to all kinds of different people: many we may think wouldn't follow him are actually open to his call. Second, the call to follow Jesus means we are willing to leave all of our bases of security behind and follow him. Levi was willing, are we?

 

TODAY'S PRAYER:
      Father, please increase my courage and open the hidden places in my heart that I have not fully offered to the Lordship of your Son and my Savior. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Evidence of the crossing of the Red Sea

Evidence of the crossing of the Red Sea...
[shared by -- Sherley]

 

Pharaoh's drowned army

Confirmation of the actual Exodus route has come from divers finding coral-encrusted bones and chariot remains in the Gulf of Aqaba .

ONE of the most dramatic records of Divine intervention in history is the account of the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.

The subsequent drowning of the entire Egyptian army in the Red Sea was not an insignificant event, and confirmation of this event is compelling evidence that the Biblical narrative is truly authentic.  Over the years, many divers have searched the Gulf of Suez in vain for artifacts to verify the Biblical account.  But carefully following the Biblical and historical records of the Exodus brings you to Nuweiba, a large beach in the Gulf of Aqaba, as Ron Wyatt discovered in 1978.

Repeated dives in depths ranging from 60 to 200 feet deep (18m to 60m), over a stretch of almost 2.5 km, has shown that the chariot parts are scattered across the sea bed.  Artifacts found include wheels, chariot bodies, as well as human and horse bones.  Divers have located wreckage on the Saudi coastline opposite Nuweiba as well.

Since 1987, Ron Wyatt found three four-spoke gilded chariot wheels.  Coral does not grow on gold, hence the shape has remained very distinct, although the wood inside the gold veneer has disintegrated making them too fragile to move.

The hope for future expeditions is to explore the deeper waters with remote cameras or mini-subs. (ABOVE  GILDED CHARIOT WHEEL - Mute witness to the miracle of the crossing  of the Red Sea by the Hebrews 3,500 years ago .  Found with a metal detector .

 

 

 

 

Coral-encrusted chariot  wheel, filmed off the Saudi coastline, matches chariot wheels found  in Tutankhamen's tomb.
Mineralized bone, one of many found at the crossing site (above center).  This one tested by the Department of Osteology at Stockholm University, was found to be a human femur, from the right leg of a 165-170cm tall man.  It is essentially 'fossilized,' i.e., replaced by minerals and coral, hence cannot be dated by radiocarbon methods, although this specimen was obviously from antiquity.
Chariot wheel and axle covered with coral and up-ended.  Exodus 14:25 "And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily..."

 

Solomon's  memorial pillars

 

 

When Ron Wyatt first visited Nuweiba in 1978, he found a Phoenician style column lying in the water.  Unfortunately the inscriptions had been eroded away, hence the column's importance was not understood until 1984 when a second granite column was found on the Saudi coastline opposite -- identical to the first except on this one the inscription was still intact!

In Phoenician letters (Archaic Hebrew), it contained the words:  Mizraim (Egypt); Solomon; Edom; death; Pharaoh; Moses; and Yahweh, indicating that King Solomon had set up these columns as a memorial  to the miracle of the crossing of the sea.  Saudi Arabia does not admit tourists, and perhaps fearing unauthorized visitors, the Saudi Authorities have since removed this column, and replaced it with a flag marker where it once stood.

How deep is the water?

The Gulf of Aqaba is very deep, in places over a mile (1,600m) deep.  Even with the sea dried up, walking across would be difficult due to the steep grade down the sides.  But there is one spot where , if the water were removed, it would be an easy descent for people and animals. This is the line between Nuweiba and the opposite shore in Saudi Arabia.

Depth-sounding expeditions have revealed a smooth, gentle slope descending from Nuweiba out into the Gulf.  This shows up almost like a pathway on depth-recording equipment, confirming its Biblical description, "...a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters." (Isaiah 43:16)

The Bible writers frequently refer to the miracle of the Red Sea crossing, for it was an event which finds no equal in history.  The Hebrew prophets describe the sea at the crossing site as "...the waters of the grea! t deep.. .the depths of the sea..." (Isaiah 51:10)  Knowing the exact spot to which the Bible writers were referring, what is the depth there?  The distance between Nuweiba and where artifacts have been found on Saudi coast is about 18km (11 miles).

Along this line, the deepest point is about 800m (2,600 feet).  No wonder that   i nspired writers of the Bible described it as the mighty waters.  And no wonder that not a single Egyptian survived when the water collapsed in upon them.

above r ight NUWEIBA BEACH

-      the spot where  the crossing began)

 

 

( Right model of depths at crossing site)

 

( Left -  the Saudi side also has a beach area of a similar size see approximate path.)

( Below right - THE EXODUS ROUTE - With the correct crossing site in the Gulf of Aqaba)

 

 

When we Worship

      Ever wonder what we are supposed to do when we come to worship? Solomon has a suggestion.  

      "As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God." (Eccl. 5:1)

     "Keep your ears open and your mouth shut." Ouch! Sounds a little harsh, doesn't it? Particularly in our day of demanding our way in worship and demanding that we be allowed to express ourselves when we worship. Not very appealing to those who feel entitled to have things go and done our way . . . not only in worship but pretty much in
everything we do.

      Though the instruction may be difficult for some to swallow, it is certainly worth pondering. What if this became our initial attitude when we enter into a time of worship? What if we walked into the assembly hall next Sunday with this attitude? "Today I am going to keep my ears open and my mouth shut. I don't want to make any mindless offerings to God." What would be different?

      Obviously the singing would be different. Perhaps that is part of what the wise man had in mind when he said, "It is evil to make mindless offerings to God." I wonder how many times I have sung the words, "I surrender all" or, "I am mine no more" or, "Lord, take control" as mindless offerings to God? If we collectively chose to commit to enter the house of God with our ears open and our mouths shut, it might cause us to change some of our song selections altogether.

      A commitment to "keep my ears open and my mouth shut" would certainly demand that the words I speak would change. There would surely fewer "Tom thinks" and fewer "My opinions." Instead there would be more "The Lord says . . . " and "The Word of God says . . . " and "God says." That would change my preaching. That would change the commentary I offer.

      A commitment to "keep my ears open and my mouth shut" might produce a more reflective mood. Listen more. Talk less. Ears open. Mouth closed. More of God; less of me. Maybe that's what the wise man had in mind when he said, "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." (Eccl. 5:7)

      Maybe that's what the prophet had in mind when he said, "But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him." (Hab. 2:20)

      Here's a challenge for this week. In your private devotions, "Keep your ears open and your mouth shut." In your small worship gatherings, "Keep your ears open and your mouth shut." In your assembly next week, "Keep your ears open and your mouth shut." In all these settings, "Stand in awe of God." That will probably make the first part easier.

 

By Tom

The Three Dimensional Supper

Bible Says: Luke 22:14-20 (ERV)

      The time came for them to eat the Passover meal. Jesus and the apostles were together at the table. Jesus said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God." Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, "Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will never drink wine again until God's kingdom comes." Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said, "This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me." In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This wine shows the new agreement from God to his people. This new agreement begins with my blood (death) that I am giving for you."

 

KEY THOUGHT:
      Jesus speaks of his anticipation to eat two special meals with his disciples. The first is the Passover meal he is sharing with his disciples as he utters these words. This is the beginning of his Passion his journey to the Cross in obedience with his Father's will. What lies ahead of him is a horrible ordeal involving great suffering, humiliating rejection, and the anguish of abandonment by his friends. However, this meal is Jesus' last with his earthly disciples before his passion -- the great suffering he endured in his betrayal, abandonment, arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Jesus wants to use this time to prepare his disciples for all that lies ahead. In addition, Jesus anticipates sharing in another meal with his disciples beyond his death at the fulfillment of the Kingdom. He gives a sense of hope for them to reflect back upon after the worst has come. For those of us who live on this side of Jesus' death and resurrection and celebrate the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives us the basis of our three-fold understanding of the Supper for us. We recognize our Savior's agony in offering his body and blood to save us. We celebrate his victory over death as we celebrate the Supper on the day of his resurrection -- Sunday, the first day of the week. We anticipate the glory of his return and our sharing in a victory supper with our Savior.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
      O holy and righteous Father, thank you! I praise you for your love in sending your Son to suffer and die so that I could be delivered from my sin. I praise you for the faith Jesus demonstrated as he stared death and suffering in the face. I praise you for the great supper that lies ahead when I get to share in the victory of Jesus' return. Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
>> available as a book.

Obeying God when He speaks

 

Must I really?

As Billy Graham once put it:

     "If Jesus says you MUST, then you MUST!"

The "must" even goes back to the Ten Commandments - (that's right, the "Ten Commandments", not the "Ten Suggestions").

However, when we come to what Jesus said about it, he summarised God's commands into two simple rules that really matter,

 

1. Love God

2. Love one another

 

      If you think about it, if you obey these two commands, the other commandments fall into place naturally. (See Matthew 22: 35-40). If you obey these two commands, the Ten Commandments become the Ten Promises: you won't want to steal; you won't want to covet; you won't want to commit adultery, and so on.

Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, But with the help of Jesus, and spending time with him in prayer, you begin to change.

 

How do we hear God?

      There's no shortcut here. You have to spend time in prayer with Jesus, with His Father, and with His Holy Spirit. That doesn't mean you have to talk to Him all the time; but you can begin that way if you want. Then allow time for your feelings and thoughts to "tune in" with God. I should stress here that we should always do this in Jesus' name, because evil spirits (Jesus also called them "demons") can whisper to us too, and we don't want to be misled or distracted.

Perhaps begin your prayer time with something like this:

      "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, in your name, I ask you to come and be with me as I spend this time with you. Holy Father, bless me with your grace. Holy Spirit, surround me and fill me.

      Lord Jesus, I commit myself to you again, and invite you into my life. Let your spirit dwell within me now and always."

 

      This is not a magic formula; vary the theme; make up your own words. But in my opinion, it covers the essentials.

      After you have spent a few minutes soaking in His presence, as Jesus to speak to you about anything you like; perhaps something that is on your mind. Then focus your thoughts on Him; try to clear your mind, and gently wait for His "still small voice". He may gently bring a thought into your mind in response to your question; or He may bring a picture of something. Some people "see" a picture of an outdoor scene, or of an object or a person, and often these have some relevance to the issue at hand.

      These are known as "words of knowledge", or "words of wisdom", or even "words of prophecy"; and these are some of the Gifts of the Spirit spoken of in the Bible. You can look these up in a Bible in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

Did God really say...?

Well, when you "hear" something in your spirit, it may come to you as if words or pictures float into your mind.

Was it really God...?

How can we be sure that it is God speaking when we hear Him?

Let's run through some basic principles.

In my opinion, the whole Bible is based on the premise that God speaks, and that people hear Him, (and I'm not the only person who thinks so).

      God intends the best for us whatever we do, whether we obey Him or not. He loves each and every one of us - He cannot help it any more than you and I can help breathing,  because God is love. Therefore, if we obey Him, it will be for our own ultimate good.

      When we think we hear God, we need to test what we have received. Is it from God? Or is it from our own spirit? Or is it from contrary spirits - (what the bible refers to as "unclean spirits")?

 

So how do we test what we hear?

Is it "biblical"? Does it conform to the teachings of the Bible, and of Jesus in particular? Does what we hear, obey the word of God as we have it in our Bibles, or does it go against it?

If it contradicts the teachings in the Bible, particularly in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, then there is probably something dodgy about it - we need to pray into it more.

For example, if we think God is saying that our church should stop doing bible studies, and cut down on the amount of preaching and praying, then in my opinion, that goes against what the bible says in Acts 2:42 about the believers: "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer."

If it is not biblical, then we have to think and pray, long and hard, before we do it.

 

Obeying

     God gives us free will. We can do what we like. We can choose to go our own way, or we can choose to walk in the path of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God.

      If we go our own way, and turn our backs on God, then we have to bear the consequences of our actions.

      However, if we choose to follow Jesus, then He will begin to do a number of things within us. He will begin to work out His love in us, and to free us from our sins; He will begin to change our inner disposition, so that we gradually become like Him. 

 

      "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

From the Bible, book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.

GOD CLAIMS "YOU ARE MY PROPERTY"

Bible Says: Exodus 13:1,2

      "1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”

Make GOD your priority for he has made "YOU" HIS MOST WANTED.
you read the bible Exodus 13: 1-16

Sanctify ...
The first born time of the day to GOD
The first born desire of your mind to GOD
The first born sight of your eyes to GOD
The first born listening of your ears to GOD
The First born love of your heart to GOD
The first born activity of your hands to GOD
The first born walk of your feet to GOD

     My dear brother & sister, father, mother,you feel relationship is more important in this country you are right. But Today i ask one question do you have relation with god. or if you don't have relation with god i tel you onething those are reading this message please close your eyes one minute ask god i am a sinner person heal me and touch me and answer me my prayer. He definetly listen your prayer and his answer you prayer. Because you & me are his property.

Bible says Exodus 13: 17-22 
      God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea. In the same way God leads you & your family.

Scripture Study: Nehemiah 2:20, Ruth 4:6, Deuteronomy 24:4,7, Isaiah 44:24

Strength Made Perfect

Bible Says: II Corinthians 12:9
      "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

      When you run into an impossible situation, a situation you simply don't have the strength or the ability to handle, are you often tempted to simply give up and accept defeat? Don't! Instead shout, "Glory!" because the Word says God's strength is about to be made perfect in you. The word translated "strength" in this scripture is dunamis. It means "God's miracle-working power." Just think about that. When your human strength ends, God has promised that His miraculous power will bring you through!

      If you'll look in Acts 14, you can see that promise in action. The apostle Paul was stoned by a group of Jews, taken out of the city and left for dead. Paul's human strength had ended. He was absolutely powerless.

      But the disciples gathered around him and prayed, and the Lord raised him up and he went on his way. In other words, when Paul didn't have enough human strength to overcome, God's miracle-working power was sufficient for him. It enabled him to be an overcomer in spite of his weakness!

      So, if you are facing a crisis today. If you're sick and medicine has failed you. If your finances are out of control. If your family is falling apart. If bad habits have you hopelessly bound. If you've done absolutely all you know to do and you still haven't gotten results. Then rejoice! For when human strength ends, the power of God excels! Only believe! God's grace is sufficient for you!

Scripture Study: Acts 14:1-22

AMAZING DISCOVERY OF THE DIVINE NEUROLOGIST

      Recently a leading neuro-surgeon discovered that the speech centre in the brain hastotal control over all other nerves. Though it is a new discovery in neurology this factwas written in the Bible thousands of years ago.

      St. James, the "divine neurologist," says, "The tongue is a little member, and boastethgreat things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, aworld of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body,and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell… The tongue can noman tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:5-8). This amazing discovery made by James was but a supernatural revelation from God.

      It is estimated that every human being has about a hundred million neurons or nervecells in his body and that each neuron can contain about 5 billion (five thousandmillion) bits of information! Is it not wonderful (perhaps shocking to some of us) todiscover that our tongue virtually has total control over these hundred million neuronsin our body! Imagine having a hundred million faithful agents carry out the orders ofthe "big boss," Mr. Tongue all 24 hours of the day !

     

      Dear reader, if you will consider this blessed truth based on the Word of God, it canreally change your life. This truth ("a great discovery" for modern neurologists), isclearly stated even in the Old Testament; and mankind, as a whole, has been greatlybenefited by it. So be careful about the use of your tongue.

      If your tongue says, "I am very weak," immediately instruction from the Speech Centregoes to all the nerves: "Be prepared to be weak. We have orders from the Headquartersto become weak." Instantly your whole body feels a tendency to relax, to go to bed, etc.You don't seem to have energy to do any work.

     

      Similarly, when you say, "Mr. A is a very bad fellow," straightaway all your nerve cells(remember, there are about a hundred million), accept it as a fact and adjustthemselves to that. Afterwards, if someone tells you that Mr. A is a very good man, allyour nerves immediately get irritated and upset. On the other hand, in case you hearsomeone say, "Mr. A is a very bad man," you feel very happy and may say, "Yes, yes, Iknow it very well. You are right; I quite agree with you." Perhaps you do not realizethat all your nerve cells are so obedient to your tongue, that, even if others see athousand good things in that person, YOU CANNOT FIND ANY GOOD THING IN HIM. The simple reason is that you have already instructed your 100 million nervesaccordingly!

     

      Dear reader, OUR WORDS CAN BETRAY US OR BLESS US. "Thou art snared with thewords of thy mouth" (Prov 6:2). "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt 12:36). It has been rightly said, "The greatest point of danger in the world is the tip of the tongue." One saint says, "Thetongue is a fire; that is why the all-wise God placed it in the water in the mouth."

 

Taken from MORNING MANNA - Thoughts for Daily Devotion

If Satan Can't Steal Your Joy

      Today the Lord has been speaking to me about joy. He said "If Satan can't steal your joy, he can't keep your goods." Does that sound familiar? I heard a message on this thirty something years ago by Dr Jerry Savelle of Crowley, Texas. It made a big impression on my life. I have given away many of His books by that title. I had not thought about it in a long time. Back when I first heard this message was a time when God was teaching me who I am in Him and the authority that He has given to me and to you and to all His kids.

      I fought a battle for years with depression. The Lord taught me how to choose His joy daily according to what the Word promises me and not what the circumstances tell me. Those days when I first battled with depression, I was to pick out several promises in the word of God and meditate on them continually. Read Phil 4:8, you'll see what I mean. It is what you allow your mind to dwell on that will create your actions. Make yourself dwell on the Word of God, and the Word of God will become your actions.

      If I have learned anything over the past 35 years, it would be that the devil is always TRYING to steal your joy so you will let go of your goods. Satan does not have any authority. Jesus bought it back when He spent three days in hell and became the victor over hell and the grave. We have the authority here on earth.

      In (Genesis 1:26) the Word says and God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. We are created in the image of God and he gave the earth to us with dominion over every thing. Satan lost his dominion when Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

      Our joy cannot be determined by what is going on all around us in the world. It has to be determined by the promises of God. I am not just happy on the days that something is manifested into my life and then unhappy all the other days. I am happy because of my relationship with the Father and because of His promises to me. I know that the things that are happening in the natural today are subject to change. They are temporal or temporary. The answer is already on the way. Didn't you ask God already? Stand on His promises. It is the only way.

      I may not have the money for a bill today, but I trust God. He will provide it according to His Word. He always has. I may not feel healed in my body, but I have joy because I know that it is promised to me. You take your joy from knowing that God is doing something according to His promises. You don't always know His timing, but it always comes.

      When you wake up in the morning, you decide whether you are going to be happy or not. It is your choice. It is a continual choice you have to make. When that wild driver runs up behind you, you have to choose your reaction. When that child disobeys you one more time, you have to choose your reaction. When the washing machine breaks down again, you have to choose your reaction. Give it to God. Ask Him for the need and leave it there. Thank Him for it. Take joy in knowing that it is on the way.

      (Deuteronomy 30:19) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live: (Nehemiah 8:10) for the joy of the LORD is your strength. The joy of the Lord brings strength into your life. If do not choose joy the lack of it weakens you. You become vulnerable.

      Did you know that a lack of joy will open the door for the enemy to keep whatever it is he is trying to talk you out of. Joy is your strength. No joy.No strength. So, don't let the devil steal your joy and he can't keep your goods. Whatever they are. Remember the story about binding the strongman. If a man hears a burglar one day and runs down to the basement to work out on the exercise equipment, he has it all wrong. He should already be working out on the exercise equipment. When the burglar shows up then, he will already have his muscles built up.

      We need to practice joy. When the challenges show up, you will already have your muscles built up.

 

Scripture study: I Timothy: 1:15

Care Under Fire

Bible Says:- Mark: 1:13
      Jesus was in the desert 40 days. He was there with the wild animals. While Jesus was in the desert, he was tempted by Satan (the devil). Then angels came and helped Jesus.

      When you feel alone, abandoned, and under attack, where do you turn for help? Jesus trusted in his relationship with his Father. He was being led by the Spirit. However, this passage reminds us of a truth we often forget: God does send his angels to help his faithful servants in timesof trial. Jesus faced Satan in the wilderness and among the wild animals, but he was not alone. Angels attended to him. Do you believe God will bless you with the same support?

TODAY'S PRAYER:

      Father, I thank you that as your child, I will never have to face mytimes of temptation and trial alone. I thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives in me. Although I may not see them, I thank you for the angles I trust are sent to assist me. Most of all, dear God, I reply upon your promise to never abandon me. Please give me the faith to believe that I am never alone or abandoned as your child. In Jesus'name I pray. Amen.

Scripture study:- Psalms: 3:14

Let the World Know

Bible Says: John 17: 20,22-23
      "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. ...that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me."

      Over the years the Church has come up with all kinds of elaborate ways to evangelize the world. We get together and map out plans and strategies and raise money for it. But through it all, we rarely mention the plan that Jesus gave us.
      Most believers don't even realize that He gave us the key to winning the world, but He did. He prayed about it right before He went to the Cross. He asked the Father to bring us into a place of such oneness with each other and with Him that the world would know that He had been sent from God.
      If you and I and all the rest of the Body of Christ would get together and start loving each other, we'd evangelize the world so fast it would make your head swim. It's true. But until recently, we've been too busy scrapping with one another and getting our feelings hurt to give it much thought.

      But, praise God, it's beginning to dawn on some folks now that we need to stop that stuff. We need to start treating Jesus' command that we love one another as a command instead of an alternative. We need to drop our silly arguments and be unified by the Spirit of God.
      Do you want to take a step toward evangelizing the world today? Then start praying for oneness. Make up your mind that you're going to start loving your fellow believers instead of criticizing, complaining, and talking ugly about them.

      Start confessing that the Church of God is going to rise up together in faith and love as one glorious Body driven by the power of Jesus Himself. We are, you know. Jesus prayed that it would happen, and the Holy Spirit is already bringing it to pass. Satan would like to stop it, but he can't. It's far more powerful than he is--and it's going to blast a hole in his operation that's big enough to drive a train through. It's going to let the whole world know that Jesus truly is Lord!

Scripture Study: John 17:9-26.

Jesus is led and guided by the Holy Spirit

Bible Says: Mark 1:12
"Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone"

 

      From the beginning God created everything with in six days and seventh day he take rest. All are well known in the Bible "Genisis first chapter". Bible words says In ancient day, God spoke directly to adam, abraham , Issac, and so on. 
      Today's Holy Spirit is doing all the miracle. Do you have holy spirit in your life, without spritual life is running that life is totally waste. Many families dont have spritual. Today you & your family think where we are standing now, If you not have spritual in your personal life or family. In this moment turn to god ask him god recover my life. One beautiful word is there when ever you are praying alone within four wall "God will hear your prayer when "TRANSPARENCY MIND, HEART" before you & God. Then only he gives Holy Spirit. After received the Holy spirit some good & bad monemts happen ur life. I give you some key points. 
      In both good times and bad times. Just as Jesus goes to face temptation in the wilderness immediately after his baptism, we too find ourselves in powerful temptation struggles after a major spiritual experience, a depened spiritual commitment, or a special time of devotion. This does not mean the Holy Spirit has abandoned us. Instead, it means that the Spiritgoes with us to lead us through this time of trial, testing, andtemptation. The Spirit takes what Satan intended for our harm and turnsit into something that can strengthen our faith and mature us in our discipleship.

TODAY'S PRAYER:

      Father, give me the courage to believe that your Holy Spirit leads andguides me. Help me believe that I am not alone -- not in the good timesor in the tough times when I feel abandoned. Use all the events in my life to mature me ever more into the character, compassion, andcommitment of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

God Promise: Haggai 2:19. From this day on I will Bless You.
Keep this verse in your mind and start a new life and see the diff before & after.

Where to find peace?

Where To find Peace? How to find peace?

Do u have problem in your family or work place. you are thinking like why am i live in this world. why all the problem comes me. Each and every persons life have same type of problem. Yor are also in the same manner. Don't worry my beloved Brother & sister one person heal you all your problem he will destroy you all your troubles, sorrow, disease. once he entered in your life what happen you know first he gives joy in your heart, peaceful mind, tremendous blessing and he give you whatever you lost in your life everything gives double the amount or double blessing. His name is jesus.

 

Bible Says: (John 16:33)

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

      We know that there is trouble in this world. We see it all around us.We hear of it all the time. We experience it in our own lives and inthe lives of those we love. There seems to be no place in this world where we can rest and be safe. Jesus said it, "In this world you willhave trouble." 
      Schools are filled with students and teachers who are having troubles with their families, with their jobs, with their schoolwork, and with each other. Children could once feel safe in school. Now, metaldetectors, security guards, and random searches give the impression ofsafety. Remember, Jesus said, "I have overcome the world." 
      Shopping centers have become places of caution. Ladies guard theirpurses. Children are always kept near. We regularly hear of purse-snatching, car-jacking, armed robberies, and senseless shootings inplaces where once we went about our business carefree and without reservation. Remember, Jesus said, "I have overcome the world." 
     Homes are troubled places. Husbands are restless and angry. Wives are discouraged and longing for attention. Husbands are tired and lonely. Wives have empty hearts and weary spirits. Children are longing forboundaries and love. Instead of being a safe haven from the world, ourhomes are often deadly battlegrounds. Remember, Jesus said, "I have overcome the world."

But, Jesus said ...   

      Churches are not immune. Battle lines are being drawn over tradition,style, technique, and opinion. Instead of places of refuge, churchesare too often places of turmoil and division while the lonely and weary come seeking peace and go away empty and disappointed. Remember, Jesus said, "I have overcome the world." War, Political conflict. Greed. Selfishness. Anger. Hatred. Rage. Lust.Death. Destruction. Sin. Remember, Jesus said, "I have overcome the world."

      There is trouble in the world. We know that. But, Jesus said, "I havetold you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this worldyou will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This is the good news of the season. This is good news for all seasons.

      Jesus said, "I have overcome the world." Take heart. God bless you.