December 30, 2016December 30, 2016

DECEMBER 2016 DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL – DON MCDANIEL

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DEVOTION JOURNAL 2016 – DON MCDANIEL

BLOG: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com

DECEMBER 2016:
12/1/16 Cover Up to Hide Wonderfully Good News 1
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

12/2/16 Don’t Lose the Joy 2
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51 “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” COMMENTS: David is the author of this Psalm. This psalm is the prayer of repentance David prayed when his sin of adultery and murder was exposed to him by the prophet Nathan. David didn’t deny his sin, like king Saul before him, but ran to the temple and begged God for forgiveness. God granted him forgiveness but the son of his adultery still died. Sin does come at a cost but cost need not be our eternal soul. David did experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because his repentance was genuine. He once again experienced the joy of a personal relationship with God. He came very close to facing God’s judgment, like king Saul, but repentance brought an infinitely better and brighter result. David was true to his roots, being the great grandson of Ruth and Boaz. God honored his heart, not his sin, as a “man after God’s own heart”. God honored David by making Christ a decedent of his blood line. We would do well to read his prayer often and make it our prayer often to keep our hearts humble and our spirit’s seeking a deeper relationship with Him. Even if we’ve walked with Christ for many years, we still are living short of Christ’s example, in need of His forgiveness, in need of a deeper walk with Him, and in need of Him to clean in deeper darker corners of our souls. He is eager to do so, but will not do so uninvited. I’ve been a Christian for over 55 years, but I still find myself at times holding back from full surrender. It is then when I do seek Him, that He lovingly but firmly draws me to surrender again.

12/3/16 MORE GOSPEL GROWTH AND MORE OPPOSITION 3 Acts 14:1-7 “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.”

COMMENTS: We live in dangerous times, but that is not new even for Christians. Living in the USA, Christians don’t realize the risk and dangers with witnessing. But outside the US, Christians are facing ridicule, loss of income, abuse, beatings, and even death simply for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ’s love and sacrifice. But inspite of that, people are desperate to hear that good news and receive Christ’s redeeming gift of forgiveness and redemption. I am amazed how eager people are in many Muslim and Hindu countries to hear and receive Christ in spite of persecution they will face from family and community and government. Yet in USA and other more free countries, people tend to be more indifferent to the Gospel when risk to them of receiving are much less. Well, that is a mystery but I notice it every day. I also see that same contrast towards my devotional journals and blog posts as well. Truth is what costs us tends to be more precious to us and the more comfort and peace we feel and have results in less motivation to seek and receive from God. Those in persecuted countries are hungry for the Gospel because they are living harsher and painful lives so have a greater motivation to receive. Well, that has always been true. The Israelites walked or even ran back into sin and judgment during comfortable prosperous times but turned back to God during times of hardship and judgment and slavery – bondage. No, we shouldn’t want or pray for hard times, but we should pray for extra grace and help and protection from God when enjoying prosperous times and times of freedom from persecution. We should pray for courage for those in persecuted countries and they need to pray for God’s protection for those of us enjoying freedom and prosperity. Likewise, I believe God is calling us in USA to give up more of our things and comforts and reach out and aid Christians in empoverished countries to aid in spreading the Good News of Christ. Both have tremendous responsibilities and will be held accountable by God for their part. If Christ’s return is soon approaching, as I believe it is, then time is short and we will soon regret not taking advantage of the time we had sooner. I also believe God will listen to our prayers more intently if we are faithful is doing what He is calling us to do.

12/4/16 Taking the Way Out 4 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1Corinthians 10:1

SCRIPTURE: JAMES 1:13-15 “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” COMMENTS : Since we will never reach perfection, as Christ was perfect in all ways on earth, than how do we reconcile His command to be perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48) while also realizing no one but Christ every lived a perfect life, no matter how long or how close to God he lived or lives? To think we can is to limit our understanding of or realization of just how perfect God is. So do we have no hope reaching the goal God has given us or any hope of having victory over sin or the temptations that keep bombarding you and me? Well, the above verses are a sample to tell us Christ was tempted in very way we but without divine strength beyond what is available to us fro the Father. The only way at His disposal was by a close and continual relationship from the Father strengthening and encouraging and empowering Him. He stripped Himself of His power and strength so He would need to receive the same, as we do, from the Father. By giving us His Holy Spirit, we have all He had while on earth available to us. We continue to fail because we fail to be and stay in continual relationship as He did. Also, we have past habits and weaknesses we must also choose to turn from and seek His help to overcome. If we have ever received victory over a certain weakness or habit, we know He is willing to help us do so. But there is still a mountain of bad habits and weaknesses and continuing temptations we still need to gain victory over. Can we gain victory over all of them? YES! Will it take a lifetime to gain victory over all of them. Yes, but that is ok because God is working with us on each one at a time. Will we fail and need His mercy again and again. I John 2:1 “ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” Christ knows what we go through and even understands when we fail because He loves us like no other but also because He has experienced the power of temptation. He knows we are weak and are so prone to fail. Yet He knows our heart and is compassionate when we repent of our repeated sins. So we need not give up knowing we will prevail in time and He will forgive us as many times as we ask. No matter how long we live, Christ’s life will still be a goal for us to strive to achieve. We can look back and see progress towards that goal, but none the less, know we still have work to do and progress to make. That means as long as we are on this earth, we will continue to be in need of His Grace and help and still have a reason to continue to strive toward His example of perfection. As others see that progress, they will be encouraged to strive and follow His example. If we could achieve it while on earth, we could brag on such, so God’s plan and way is still better even if striving must be a life long endeavor. That way He gets all the credit for what is accomplished.

12/5/16 USING GOD’S POWER FOR PERSONAL ADVANTAGE 5 Acts 14:8-13 “ In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.”

COMMENTS : Paul and Barnabas had a problem. They had just escaped death threats at Iconium (Acts 14:5-7) and now were honored as gods for healing the lame man. It was easier to try to fit Paul and Barnabas into their pagan belief system than to believe what they were tells them. To believe in Christ would mean turning from the religion they had been taught all their lives and had believed. They would need convinced and even a miracle was not going to be enough even though it definitely got their attention. Yet, they remained faithful to their message and the Christ they honored. There were others who fell prey to satan’s temptation to take credit for successes they experienced and ended up missing any opportunity to be on Christ’s team. Satan has a sinister but effective way of tricking even those wanting to do good into doing evil and harming themselves and others. He does this by tempting us to take credit for what God is doing. He tempts us into believing our skills and gifts and abilities are what is bringing success instead of God blessing those who put their trust in Him. He tempt us into believing what we say and do is more important than His work in hearts directly. I’ve noticed that in way those in Kenya and Uganda and India particularly but also in Pakistan have responded to my devotional journals and blog posts as compared with response in the U.S., even in my own community. If power was only in what was written, then the response should be consistent. If power is God’s response to openness of those receiving and in preparing hearts to receive, than that work and work of Holy Spirit preparing hearts would be the greater work. Truth is, it is all about Him and not about you or me. But His passion and sacrifice is all about us. He moves impossible obstacles to reach the poorest and least significant of His children, and does so to reach you and me too. Does that mean it doesn’t matter what we do or don’t do in sharing His Good News? Will He accomplish His will in lives of others with or without us anyway? I recall a Christian song titled “If it takes 15 times to hear about Jesus to believe”, what if I’m number 15. We may be 7 or 8 and may be years in between. Song then goes on to ask “what if I am number 15?”. In God’s times frame, we may not see impact of our faithful witness. But if we are faithful, He will add our obedience to others to do His perfect work. If we refuse or misuse our calling, we may do harm to ourselves and others. We can freely choose to obey or reject Him. But how much better if we are faithful and both for us and for those we minister to. Far better to help than to fight God.

12/6/16 USING GOD’S POWER FOR PERSONAL ADVANTAGE 6 Acts 14:14-18 “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: he has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.”

COMMENTS : Today’s is a continuation of yesterday’s devotion. Paul and Barnabas’s reactions to way the people of Lystra wanted to honor them after healing the lame man was key. They may have been tempted to accept and enjoy their praise and popularity, but we are told they quickly tore their cloths and set them straight. They knew to allow, even briefly, such would be very dangerous and ruin their work and even put themselves at great risk. This example shows how quickly satan can do his mischief and how subtle his mischief can take root. How many times has harm come to a church body or individuals in the church because actions were misunderstood and emotions prevailed over sound thinking. How many good pastors or volunteer workers were harmed and lives ruined over false rumors or poorly chosen words that quickly ruined even genuine hard work. We too easily make individuals the villain instead of the real source and villain, satan. Yet it we reflect on ways satan tempts us, we should be able to respond wiser when others fall victim to satan’s deceptions and temptations. Yet angry words and intolerance can blow up bridges that may have taken years to build. I am reminded how popular “blow them up” movies are as are actors in them, while movies depicting stories of building and healing are ignored. So which is harder to do, build a bridge or blow it up? Which should we respect more, those who build bridges or those who blow them up? Should be a “no brainer”. Who do we honor more with our lives and our actions and our words? The Creator of everything (Our Lord and Savior) or the one who tries to blow everything up (satan)! God will not be mocked, intentional or unintentional, without restraint or intervention by Him. But He is long suffering and will restrain judgment for as long as He can. Satan sees His long suffering as opportunity to do evil. But He also gives us opportunity to choose. A choice, which if made when satan is doing all he is allowed to discourage us, is more significant to us and to God because it is a choice made because we trust and love Him above our own self and above satan’s lures. We are in a war that has been raging since Adam. Satan has had a long time to polish his skills of deception and tricks to win our allegiance. He knows we wouldn’t follow him if we saw him for who he is. With God’s help we can. That is why it is so important we get and stay in constant close relationship with Christ.

12/7/16 All Ears 7
…looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. Hebrews 12:15

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 5:44-48 “44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” COMMENTS : Know your enemy but even more important, know who your enemy is. We tend to put our anger and blame on people instead of satan, who is tricking them to do his bidding. Granted, we choose to do good or evil and are accountable for our choices and actions. But we, as Christians, are called to love our enemies – those who even choose to do us harm. But we are not called to love satan nor pray for him. His doom is certain, but evil he deceives others to do for him is not certain. But let’s face it, it is really hard to forgive those who treat us unfairly. But that is exactly what first century Christians demonstrated in the midst of horrible persecution. They knew who their enemy was and knew their persecutors were as much victims as they were. They did not condone nor justify the persecution but cared for their persecutors knowing their future without Christ. They knew they were just as lost before receiving Christ. I personally have known people I simply did not like and tended to avoid them because of how they treated me. Later, when I discovered their background, I felt more compassion toward them and discovered it easier to be a friend to them and eventually was rewarded with a genuine friendship and an open door to show Christ to some. I have to confess I have not always been successful in doing this but have at least worked hard to avoid conflict. I don’t know of anyone I still hold a grudge or conflict with but there are many I am closer to than others or am still not close to. But I realize God is not finished guiding me to improve some relationships in order to partner with Him in order for Him to be in closer relationship with them. He is not finished with you either. He will guide us to those He wants us to build relationships with us but also with Him. If we are going to be in close relationship with Him and each other in heaven, then it would make sense to work at those relationships here too. We are a “work in progress” and He is preparing us for our final destination if we let Him. That means removing the old decay parts and replacing with young healthy parts. Surgery is scary and painful but necessary and recovery takes work and following surgeon’s instructions. AMEN? AMEN!

12/8/16 REFUSING TO GIVE UP 8 Acts 14:19-20 “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.” COMMENTS : The religious leaders in Pisidian, Antioch,, and Iconium had succeeded in getting Paul and Barnabas expelled from their cities (Acts 13:50; 14:2). But the apostles continued their missionary work in Lystra. However, word got back to Antioch and Iconium, so those religious leaders decided to incite crowds at Lystra to stone Paul. They came to Lystra and they stirred up a crowd to stone him to death. Their plan was almost successful and after Paul’s unconscious and limp body showed no more signs of life, they dragged him outside of the city gates. But God did not allow Paul to die until his work was done. Believers surrounded Paul’s body, prayed and he revived, stood up and walked back into the city. After some rest and nourishment that night, and having his wounds tended, Paul and Barnabas moved on some 30 miles to Derbe where they preached the gospel, a feat of unbelievable strength and courage after being stoned unconscious the previous day. Consider the level of faith, courage, endurance and the determination to do that. God had commissioned Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16-18) and no other authority could stop it. Consider impact such passion had in the lives of Christians, and future Christians, in those cities as well as impact the stories of witnesses had. No wonder the church experienced explosive growth in spite (or because) of great persecution. How often do we give up on the final lap of the race of challenges and never discover what could have been. We give up when life gets a little hard or when we get some resistance. We are not promised a life of ease or comfort, but we are promised to win if we don’t give up. To believe the “name it claim it” or prosperity gospel is to deny the examples the early church and Christ Himself showed and taught us. Our reward is not reserved in this world but in our permanent home. The impact and difference God wants to make in the lives of others through us is not necessary going to be realized in one day or even a lifetime, but is as sure as His promises are. Stop and of how many, including Abraham, who didn’t see the full fulfillment of God’s promises but they came just the same and beyond what could have been imagined. We must not give us but when discouragement comes, we need to grab onto Him even tighter. Then is not the time to give up or let go of Him, as so many have in error done in past, including you and me at times. Past failures need not be repeated, but can serve to point us to a better choice and point us to better choices made by Christians in the past to help guide us to those better choices. I dare say Paul was asked to sacrifice more and endure more hardship that we likely will need to. I hope so. But Paul was able to endure what God gave him to strength and courage to do. He will ask no more of us than He gives us ability and strength to endure either. I Cor 10: 13 “ There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”

12/9/16 “Life’s Opportunites are Brief” 9 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. Job 5:2 (NIV)

SCRIPTURE: II TIMOTHY 2:22-26 “22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” COMMENTS : “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (2 Timothy 2:23-24, NIV) Our emotions can get us into a lot of trouble if we let them control our thoughts and actions. We simply can’t trust them even if they serve us well now and again. When we are young our emotions are easily controlled by changes in our maturing bodies and can cause us to sin and make choices we will regret a long time, maybe a lifetime. As we get older, those emotions are less affected by body chemistry but can be more strongly affected by memories and old habits. But then again indifference and avoiding challenges become more a temptation because of failing body and lack of energy to stir interests. Every generation has experienced this and we are given council on scripture that applies to us just as much as it did in Timothy and Paul’s time or even in Solomon’s time. Paul gave young Timothy wisdom in avoidng youthful lusts stirred in his youthful body while also controlling anger and other passions also caused by energies strong in his youthful body. However, scripture encourages him to channel such energies to fuel and energize him in doing God’s work in ways he will not be able to sustain in his older years.

12/10/16 UNAFRAID TO GO BACK 10 Acts 14:21-22 “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.” COMMENTS : Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas was very dangerous for them but very effective too, resulting in a large number of salvations. Yet some followed them bent on stopped them. Despite all the opposition, the apostles were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52) and refused to give up proclaiming the message. They boldly preached the gospel (Romans 1:16) trusting the Lord to protect and provide. Having preached in Derbe, and seen the Lord save many people, Paul and Barnabas retraced their route to visit the new believers in Lystra, Iconuim and Antioch in Pisidia. It was dangerous to do so, but the Holy Spirit led them. The new churches in those cities had seen how badly Paul was treated, and so they would have been greatly encouraged that he wanted to go back to the places where he had been so shamefully treated. It was not enough for Paul and Barnabas to evangelize; they needed to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and so they were compelled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:22) to return to the danger zones so that the new believers might become more informed and firm in their faith. They were unafraid to go back to continue the work. Opposition is not a reason to stop trusting Jesus, Paul said. All sorts of trials will come to the believer but Paul’s example showed that problems should be the reason to strengthen faith rather than defeat it (1 Peter 4:12-14). Like Paul, James knew that opposition should be a cause of joy as, through it, God builds maturity into the believers (James 1:2-4). Jesus had said that hardships would come to His disciples just as hardship came upon Jesus (John 15:18-21 & Isaiah 53:5) . You and I shouldn’t expect to be exempt from hardship because of following Christ either. That isn’t something we need to look forward to but we need to draw close to Christ so we can take courage if hardship and persecution does come and we are judged worthy of so suffering. One thing we do need to keep in mind is to be meek as lambs but wise and strong as lions. Nothing is gained by “picking fights” or showing hostility or anger or causing needless conflict. But much is gained by being a peacemaker in midst of others causing conflict. Our character and actions and methods will demonstrate the Gospel’s power and genuineness, so we must be careful and always close to Christ so our shortcomings and own wisdom doesn’t spoil or cloud the message of hope the Gospel gives. I believe we are entering a more dangerous period for Christ followers because the enemy knows his time is short and is becoming bolder in his attacks. Soaking up scripture and spending more time in fellowship with Him and each other serves to equip us for deeper service. Being accessible to do His word and to others is key too. God’s economy may mean we may not know the good He does through us but that is ok. It is for His praise, not ours. The impact the disciples had after their deaths was and is far greater than what they did during their lives. They did enjoy seeing some fruit, but greater fruit was to be revealed in heaven. Ours will be too if we are faithful to Him. AMEN.

12/11/16 NEW CHURCHES, NEW LEADERS 11 Acts 14:23-25 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.” COMMENTS : Paul and Barnabas went back to cities they preached in on their first journey to encourage the new believers, disciple them and establish churches. These two missionaries could not stay in every city to supervise the churches, so they appointed elders. There was no time for lengthy theological preparation so they chose men who understood the Scriptures, and had the right character qualifications and were in relationship because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Titus 1:6-9). They may well have been leading lights in the synagogue previously but when they understood the gospel, their hearts were filled with the Holy Spirit of truth (Ephesians 1:13). The appointment of elders was not random. The apostles fasted and prayed to know whom God had chosen for the task of leading the churches. Then they commissioned them publically, committing them to the Lord and committing the church into their care as under-shepherds (1 Peter 5:2). Having given those elders the responsibility, under God, for the churches, the apostles travelled south-west to the port of Attalia on the coast. As they passed through other towns on the way, they continued to preach the gospel. Gospel growth involves ‘presence’ (to be in a place where there are people who do not know Jesus), ‘proclamation’ (to tell them who Jesus is, what He has done and how to come to repentance and faith), and ‘persuasion’ (to give the reasons why you believe and be prepared to counter arguments against Jesus). The Holy Spirit uses what we say to speak to people, convince them of their sin and of Christ’s effective sacrifice. New believers are like new-born infants – need encouragement and training in how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. To form a church the right leaders need to be appointed to guide and guard the flock. God has a wonderful way of putting dissimilar pieces and people together into a beautiful design and purpose. He led the disciples and Paul and many others to make wise and important decisions. They, nor we have any idea the impact our choices will have nor if they will ultimately be wise or foolish choices. Some we have a pretty good idea but ripple affect of those choice are still well beyond us. BUT THEY ARE NOT BEYOND GOD. HE ALREADY IS IN OUR FUTURE SEEING THOSE RIPPLES! That is a good reason, but not the only reason why it is vital we be in close relationship with Him and seek and wait for His council. All too often we don’t seek or ask because we know in our heart what His answer or council is and really don’t want to follow it. Consider how foolish that is. Foolish choices do have consequences, which are needless. God only has our good in mind and at heart, not harm. But our primary purpose and calling is not to satisfy our own passions but to win our family and neighbors to Christ. That is what Paul and millions of other Christians did at great sacrifice.

12/12/16 No Place for the Devil 12 Nor give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 4:13 “13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. “ PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 “ 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” COMMENTS : The above scripture from Philippians 2 expresses as great mystery. How could Jesus be God and yet empty Himself of His divine powers and insights but still have access to such through a close relationship with the Father. How could it be possible for Him to experience temptation, which means the possibility of sinning in same way we do. My reaction is “I don’t have a clue”. But that is because we can’t comprehend God, but we can realize if God is everywhere at the same time and in every time at the same time, not being limited by time or space or by any limitation we are, then we can at least accept He is able to still be in heaven and everywhere else while taking on human form with all the limitations of being human, but also with same ability to have a relationship with the Father we can have too. He emptied Himself to the point, as a human he could no longer be in more than one place at a time nor have ability to see in the future or discern future or past events any more than we can except what God the Father revealed to Him. But as such it is even more amazing He endured times of great temptation and still remain sinless because He chose to and did not waver in His relationship with the Father. Jesus has now been restored in all ways but scars of His human sufferings remain and always will. Satan thought, as a human, Jesus would be an easy target directly by being hit by temptations as well as targeted attempts to kill Him. Just as with Job, the Father would not permit satan to act beyond boundaries He set for Him. As such, satan hadn’t realized He was doomed to fail then. He is also doomed to fail in his attacks today on us as long as we keep our eyes on Him and our hand in His. Jesus’s example proves and shows us the power in doing just that. Is it possible for us to do that. YES! Is it possible for us to sustain that without fail. It is possible but no man has successfully done that without fail like Christ did. God knows that, which is why He has made provision for ongoing forgiveness and redemption and not just for initial justification at repentence. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). So we need not give up when we fail. But it does mean we need to strive and work harder to improve in becoming more Christlike and gaining victory over temptations. That means working at improving our relationship with Christ. That is where progress can be made…

12/13/16 REINFORCING RELATIONSHIPS 13 Acts 14:26-28 “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. “

12/14/16 Why Do Doubts Arise in Your Mind? 14
Luke 24:25-40 “25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.Jesus Appears to the Disciples 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. “ COMMENTS : To know Christ was life changing. It is true life changes when we let Him into our hearts today were also true for those who followed Him before His crucifiction. But let’s face it, we are fickled. Our emotions and other influences can push us to follow Him some days and betray Him other days. Before the Holy Spirit came, the disciples were vulnerable to follow Him faithfully when near Him and weaken when not near Him. What the Holy Spirit enabled by abiding in our souls all the time is ability for us to sustain a faithful relationship with Him. We have early proof simply by reading scripture and discovering the transformation in Peter and other disciples after receiving the Holy Spirit. Their courage and consistent faithfulness and courage in character and in ministry is in sharp contrast to the denial and hiding Peter and other disciples demonstrated during and after Christ’s crucifixion. Proof is not limited to examples in scripture. The transforming power of Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is evident in every Christian who allows that transformation. Stop and think about such examples of those you know who received Christ’s redemption and changed dramatically. If you have received His redemption too, how has your life changed? Life involved making choices every day, some more significant than others. But all are choices that has impact on our lives and lives of others. We are designed to be in relationship with God and Christ’s sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s presence enables us to have and be in relationship with God each and every day without fail. If you haven’t experienced the power and council such a relationship provides, then it is hard to understand or embrace that relationship. But if you have, then you know being in that relationship and obedient to His council is far better than not. Let’s face it, we are not independent thinking. We are either following God’s council or satan’s temptations. There is no middle ground. Satan can trick us into thinking his tempations are our own idea and independent thinking. Stop and reflect and discover the reality of satan’s influence as well as infinite good God offered through a relationship with Him. Yet the power and influence of our own fickled personalities result in our need to be reminded during times of temptation or distraction or discouragement or attack. We have the promise not to be tempted or attacked beyond what we are able to endure with His abiding help and presence. But the possibility of failing because we are not faithful to that relationship is still a real possibility. So it is important to be diligent and to do our part in strengthening and developing growth in our relationship with God. He does the hard part but we still have a part to do. We still choose each day if and when we will pray and read scripture and fellowship with other Christians and choices to obey His nudges or refuse. As we share both our victories and failures, we empower others and encourage others to draw closer to Christ too. When we hide or deny our failures, we open doors of discouragement hindering God working in lives of others too.

12/15/16 Many Infallible Proofs 15
Acts 1:1-3 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” COMMENTS : Are you sure of your salvation? What evidence do you have that convinces you God is real, the Bible is true, and your salvation is genuine? Have you had doubts? Do you still have doubts? What generally brings doubts is circumstances or behavior falling short of our expectations. So, first of all, what proof do we have that God is real and all written in our Bible is true and stories recorded in the Bible are accurate? Here are a few: 1. No other ancient document has as many supporting manuscripts that all support each other as well. 2. No other ancient documents has as many supporting archeological discoveries. 3. No other ancient document has as many supporting eye witnesses, nor as many who have given their lives sharing what they saw and heard and experienced. Examples like Daniel and his 3 friends or thousands of first century Christians who martyred for preaching and sharing their faith and experiences of Chrsit. 4. Non-scriptural ancient writings like Josephus’s writings support scripture. 5. Our Bible was written over a 1500 year period by 40 different writers, but shows consistent God’s plan and character and commands and story. 6. Consistent accurate prophecies being fulfilled, including over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah that were fulfilled with Jesus Christ. Prophecies confirmed to have been written 500 years plus before Christ’s birth. 7. Experts and Scholars and Sceptics have tried to despute and dispute scripture over the centuries and have failed to do so. 8. Our most respected and beneficial leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln or George Washington have believed and followed the teachings of the Bible. 9. The Global positive impact generation after generation of the Bible on governments and people who followed the Bible’s teachings is profound and consistent. 10. But the greatest evidence is the proof of changed – transformed lives in every generation – lives changed because of believing and following the teachings in this book – the Bible. You and I need not look outside our own commuity and likely outside our own family to find such a transformed life. Maybe even within our own lives gives such proof. Truth is most will follow teaching and accept as fact things with far less evidence and proof of being true. But in spite of all this proof, you and I still must believe and accept Christ as our Savior based on trusting Him and believing His message and believing His sacrifice was sufficient to forgive our sins and gives us a do-over. We still tend to think we need to earn our way to heaven or earn our forgiveness. Christ teaches His sacrifice is sufficient but He asks our obedience as a response of love and not as a way of earning salvation. Doubts come from satan to hinder obedience and not from Him. The deeper we get into His word, the more time we spend in prayer, the more often we choose to follow Him, then the closer fellowship we enjoy with Him and the more real He becomes to us. Past experiences of those before us prove this to be true!

12/16/16 DEALING WITH FALSE TEACHING 16 Acts 15:1-4 “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.” COMMENTS : Satan always seems to be close by ready to ruin good work God does. He did that in Eden, he did that during time of testing for Job, he did that with Abraham and Sarah, and Abraham and lot. The list of examples is long in scripture and in every generation from Adam. It is a mystery why God allows him so much latitude and liberties to hurt and hinder faithful followers, but there is lots of evidence of that. But even more, there is consistent evidence God does draw a line in the sand and will not allow satan beyond that line. God does prevail and those faithful to Him, like Job, through those times of testing and trail and temptation will be rewarded with a closer relationship with God, a stronger spirit and other priceless blessings from God not attainable any other way. History has a wonderful way of giving us confidence God’s ways are best even those history also tells us satan’s ways are consistently evil and destructive. Such was also true for the first century church, affecting Paul’s and disciple’s ministry. Countless thousands, and maybe millions, of early Christians were persecuted – beaten – even killed because of their faith and ministry for Christ. But satan could not stop the Gospel message nor it’s impact in the world both then and now. God prevailed then and continues to prevail. His only limitation is our willingness to allow Him in our hearts and our own wills. Satan has a way of making us think we are doing right or God’s will when we are doing the opposite, like Paul before Christ confronted him on the Damascus road. Such examples should serve to warn us to be alert to satan’s deceptions so we too won’t fall prey to doing harm to ourselves or others even with good intentions. Our only safeguard is to be in closer relationship with Christ so we heard and see from His perspective and know His Will and plan. This especially is true related how we relate to our families, especially our children and spouses. It is so easy to hurt them with careless words or from neglect. That is why it is important to be in close relationship with Christ so we won’t be blind sighted by our own selfishness or distractions. Christ helps us see things from each other’s perspective but more important from His perspective. He understand us like none other, even better than we know ourselves. God’s ways are always best, we just have to stop and listen to Him and then do what He says and shows. No better time than now to start. AMEN.

12/18/16 LISTEN IN SILENCE TO DISCERN THE TRUTH 18 Acts 15:12-18 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. ‘Brothers,’ he said, ‘listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: ‘ “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things” – things known from long ago.’ “ COMMENTS: This was a critical time in church history. It was a time with Christian doctrine was being developed and written. A time when Christ’s teachings and the Holy Spirit’s influence would either be followed in detail or distorted and diluted by human interpretation(Acts 15:1; Ephesians 2:8-9). Peter had supported Paul and Barnabas by reflecting on his own gospel encounter with Cornelius, the Roman centurion.(Acts 15:7-11) The church in Jerusalem did well to listen in silence, and pray for discernment rather than to argue. The subject of their speech was their observation of what God had done. Although God had used them, they did not seek to glorify themselves, but the Lord. When they had finished, James (the half brother of Jesus – Galatians 1:19) spoke as the presiding elder to summarise the evidence, bring the Scripture to bear on the situation and give his opinion. Peter’s evidence was significant, and James believed that it was authenticated by Amos 9:11-12 (he quoted the words from the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek). The purpose of God’s self-revelation to Israel was not to exclude everybody else from salvation, but for God’s people to be a ‘light to the Gentiles’ (Isaiah 49:6). Simeon recognized that Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of that prophecy (Luke 2:32), as Jesus Himself confirmed in John 8:12. The purpose of all God has done through history is that whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16). They, like we, are prone to revert back to imposing rules that teach a belief we can earn our way into God’s grace and into heaven and, yes, to earn God’s forgiveness. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT CHRIST TAUGHT NOR WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED. The Good News was transforming gentile and Jew into Christians equal in God’s grace. The church was being formed and taught. Even the process is revealed in scripture for us to learn from and follow. That was no accident. God knew we would go through the same process and could benefit from their experience too. We do well to listen and be silent until the Holy Spriit teaches us the same lessons the early Christians learned so many centuries ago. Today is Sunday, Dec 18^th, one week before Christmas Day. A busy week preparing for all family and church and community activities of the season. But you and I must not forget nor be distracted from celebrating the birth of our Savior and Redeemer. Christ Jesus, who’s birthday we celebrate. By celebrating His birthday together, we honor Him instead of rewarding ourselves. That is the best way of celebrating Christmas. If we do that, we must might have the best and most memorable Christmas ever – one we will talk about fondly for years to come. I really don’t believe there are many Christmas Days left before He returns. Let’s start celebrating Christmas the way we should before it will be too late and we miss opportunity to share and reveal the right way of celebrating Christmas. This just might be our last Christmas to do so. For sure, after next Sunday, we will have one less than we do now. Be quick to sing those beloved Christmas Hymns we all know and enjoy and how about not being quick in January to stop singing them and enjoying them either.

12/19/16 Failing Toward Success 19
So Peter went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:62

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 21:15-19 “15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” COMMENTS : Failure is a part of life but giving up is a choice. Try as hard as we can, failure will continue to be in our lives now and again, but success has been and will continue to be as well if we don’t give us. Christ knew how badly Peter felt and how close to giving up he was. When we read this story, our first reaction is to wonder why Jesus asked him 3 times if he love Him. We might think Jesus was angry with him or wanted Peter to feel guilt a bit longer before forgiving him. But knowing Christ’s character from scripture, we should know that just wasn’t the case. Most bible scholars conclude that Jesus was showing Peter by asking him 3 times, He was showing Peter that His forgiveness and redemption covered all 3 times Peter had denied Him. I suspect there was even more to it than that, but that is quite enough to be awe inspiring for the disciples. Peter’s reaction with discouragement makes us suspect his initial reaction was much like our initial reaction. Peter was not ready to follow Jesus nor feed his sheep even yet. He would not be ready until the Holy Spirit came and dwelled with Him. Jesus knew that and was even then preparing Peter, and other other disciples, for what they would do. The rest, so to speak, is history. Peter did go on to evangelize and disciple countless new converts and was even crucified but still felt unworthy to die as Christ had so asked to be crucified upside down. That he was, which might have been even more painful than right side up because it would have been impossible to use his feet to lift himself up to breathe. But by doing so his death probably came quicker, which might have been a way of Christ showing him added mercy before excorting him to heaven.

Thomas Edison had thousands of failures before finding the right filament for his electric light bulb. So have thousands of other successful inventors. Failure is not final nor is success achieved without failure and setbacks. We have enough history and enough personal experience to more than prove that to us. So, like Peter, Christ is showing and telling us that His forgiveness and help and abiding presence is still available to us as much as it was when we first believed, whether we feel it or not. Whether we believe we can accept it or not. All we have to do is accept it with our hands open and reached out to Him. So easy but we make it so difficult.

12/20/16 DECIDING WHAT DOCTRINE IS RIGHT 20 Acts 15:22-24 “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.” COMMENTS : The Apostles with Paul and Barnabas then agreed on evangelization of gentiles, but they still battled with those teaching a false gospel of works. A Council was formed, the evidence was heard and Peter confirmed how the Holy Spirit had reshaped his own thinking about Gentile conversion (Acts 15:7-11). James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 1:19), summarized the council’s thinking – that Gentiles could become Christians without having to become Jews (Acts 15:27-28). However, everybody should keep away from the contentious issues for both Jews and Gentiles regarding food (Acts 15:29). So they wrote a letter to accompany two of the leaders from Jerusalem: Judas from a Jewish background and Silas, a converted Gentile. They started by saying that the activists were not authorized by the apostles, who recognized the concern and distress which had been caused. Even though the whole episode was not a major confrontation, it was an important opportunity to clear up this issue for them and maybe for us too. Otherwise it would have continued to trouble the church and divert attention from the gospel. That letter, and many others in the New Testament, are still God’s authoritative instruction to churches worldwide. God sometimes allows a problem to arise in the church, in order to deal with it. It is important not to let issues fester which disturb the fellowship and gospel outreach. Well handled, by biblically faithful leaders, the gospel is liberated once again (1 Timothy 4:1-5). All leaders are responsible before God as to how they use the opportunity. It may be necessary to have leaders meet together to decide how to advance the gospel and nurture the church – but it is foolish to be guided by contemporary wisdom or sentiment, instead of by God’s enduring Word. Such churches lose their privilege of shining God’s light in a dark world (Revelation 2:4-5). So pray that your leaders will be faithful to God’s Word.

12/21/16 As Bad as the Grave 21 Jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame.
Song of Solomon 8:

12/22/16 HONORING CHRIST’S SERVANTS AND GOSPEL 22 Acts 15:25-29 “So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” COMMENTS : God was having His way convincing the Church to support the Gospel and conversions of both Gentiles and Jews (Acts 15:1-2). The disciples and new Church Council at Jerusalem finally came to this decision. (Acts 21:25). So the Council wrote a letter, which was accompanied by Judas (a Jew) and Silas (a converted Gentile). The letter honored Paul and Barnabas because they had risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. As a result of their prayer and discussion, the Holy Spirit affirmed that the gospel must be shared and available to all (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Believers who were inclined to be legalistic needed to understand that salvation was by God’s grace and not through keeping religious rules. However, the implication of eating certain foods was becoming a contentious issue. Eating and fellowship were closely associated with fellowship, family ties and people’s consciences (as Peter had already experienced in Acts 10:10-15). It greatly offended the conscience of a Jew to eat non-kosher meat or for a believing Gentile to eat meat that had been offered in immoral ceremonies to idols in the pagan temples. The Council advised that it is best to avoid secondary issues, especially when they disturb other people’s consciences (1 Corinthians 8:9), and certainly to avoid immorality. When believers feel strongly about an issue, they need to take great care not to dishonor God’s servants or impede the church’s confidence in the gospel. None of the Lord’s messengers are perfect but they are His servants; and those who preach the gospel and call people to repentance should be honored, because they were obedient and suffer for their ministry. There are many secondary issues, which may evoke strong feeling, but the gospel has an urgent priority. Never forget that human passion is not necessarily the same as God’s will (Colossians 3:8). We may be motivated by many factors in our background, but we must choose to submit to God’s Word and His priorities, lest we wreck the reputations of faithful servants and prevent people responding to the gospel. Discerning those issues and battles God wants us to fight and leave dormant or be at peace with those issues of less concern to God is a struggle the Church and faithful Christians have struggled with over the centuries. So do we. With the Holy Spirit’s help and council we too can make wise choices, as did the early Church in today’s scripture references. We would do will to follow their council and example too.

12/23/16 A Sleepless Night 23
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20, ESV

SCRIPTURE: II Corinthians 9:6-15 “9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

COMMENTS : The story of “the Princess and the Pea” tells of a spoiled princess who could not sleep in spite of sleeping on 20 mattresses because of feeling the lump from a single pea under all those mattresses. How often do we dwell on one single misfortune or incident of disappointment while ignoring all the many blessings and provisions consistently provided and enjoyed. How about those times a loved one did something that disappointed us, and we dwelled on that one failure while ignoring or forgetting the many other times that person showered us with love and grace. Do we treat God the same way. Do we complain and turn from Him when things do not go as we wish while forgetting all the grace and mercy and provision He gives us each and every day. Look at how bountiful air and water is but also how much we depend on them. Christ is just as bountiful and all around us and available, but we depend on Him for life even more so. Maybe because He is so available, we are more vulnerable to take Him for granted. Likewise, trusting Him should be so much easier because He provides so faithfully for us, but how difficult trusting Him becomes when crisis or even disappointment comes our way. God gives us memory to help us trust Him through those disappointments and crisis because we can recall past times He brought us through such better and stronger. He is the same and His promises are still in force. The only difference is if we will choose to trust Him again and obey His leading or follow our own fears and doubts. The more we trust and obey, the more inclined we will be to trust Him and follow Him again. The more we let fear control and lead us, the easier it will be to follow that dangerous dead end path again. Look around and decide who you will follow. “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL FOLLOW THE LORD.” Joshua 24:15. Christmas is almost here and the hope and excitement of Christmas is unfolding and overtaking us. January will quickly be here with harsher weather. The decorations will be gone and presents will be opened and even forgotten. The bills from Christmas purchases will be flooding in on us and depression and worry and lonliness and so many other temptations will be pulling us back into a pit of despair all too many struggle with all year long. Christ is offering you and me a much better life than that, if we confess and repent of our sins draw closer to Him and follow His guiding hand. Putting our hand in His is a daily action as we pray.

12/24/16 Does He Even Care? 24 SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:11-17 “ 11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.” COMMENTS : Hardships and even tragedies confront every family and each of us at times. Yet some individuals seem to encounter more than others. Some seem to have “more than their share” while others seem to go through life with much fewer such challenges. It doesn’t seem to be related to how faithful or how good a life they live. However, there are consequences for sinful behavior and foolish choices that can and due cause needless hardships on many. Those spared of those consequences are by God’s Grace, but those who do not choose such a path of sin are naturally spared. But all too often we endure consequences from someone elses sins too. Well, we can and do asked ourselves and even ask God “Do You really care?”. Today is Christmas eve. We celebrate Christ’s birth as a human, when He gave us all His divine privilege and power and abilities to live a mortal frail life, endure all life’s pains and hardships and also endure life’s temptations so He could go to the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. When we wonder if He cares, we need to remind ourselves of Christmas and of Easter. Both answer that question with a resounding YES!! We should also remind ourselves if He didn’t spare Himself nor many of His faithful followers suffering in order to accomplish a much greater and more important purpose, we need to be prepared to suffer such as well. As we look on the lives of those who were called to suffer. Those like Daniel and Joseph and Esther and Stephen and Paul and Noami and Ruth and Job and…. The list goes on. We see in every case the character and trust of each during real suffering and persecution and hardship while not knowing length or end of suffering. Each took each day at a time and trusted God sufficiently to remain true while facing trials with courage and hope. They did so by keeping their hand in God’s and staying in constant fellowship with Him. However, in each case their came an end of trial and a wonderful promise of hope fulfilled. God promises not to allow us to be tempted and suffer more than we can bear with His help. He also promises to walk with us in the midst of suffering and guide us out to the other side. He also promises our suffering, as His, is not in vain but has a greater purpose to build strength and courage in us but also to use our example to build such in others. We only need to read the Bible to see countless examples of such. Not He doesn’t allow us to suffer needlessly, but when He does, we are being called into greater service for Him…

12/25/16 Double Blessings 25
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

COMMENTS : Today is Christmas Day. The day we identify and celebrate Christ’s human birthday. It is a great mystery what it means for Jesus to empty Himself of all His divine abilities and attributes and privileges and come as a mortal human to live and be tempted without additional capability to overcome than available to us. By that I mean His strength would come to Him by prayer and fellowship from the Father and not directly from within Himself. Yet He lived His life without sinning because He chose not to and because strength and will to refuse temptation came because He established and sustained a continual relationship with the Father. So He showed us by example living a sinless life is possible and also showed us He bore the guilt and penalty for our sins, required by the Father, totally undeserved by Himself. We indeed are double blessed: 1. Blessed by having a perfect example to follow and guide. 2. Blessed in having a Savior willing and faithful to being our sacrifice for our own sins. By doing so, He has the authority to forgive us and willingly does so because our redemption is the reason He paid such a heavy price. He paid that price so we won’t need to. As we enjoy this day with family and friends opening presents and sharing a meal and fellowship together, let’s include Christ, who made this special “Holy Day” possible, remembering it is His Birthday, not ours. Today is a unique Christmas day since it comes on Sunday, so morning worship service is still in force. We are combining worship in our 3 churches and are worshiping at 9AM. Our family will be enjoying opening presents first and having breakfast at our daughter’s home so we will have an early start. Then she will come to our home at 1PM for family Christmas meal. There is nothing like having family together. But even when alone, if we fellowship with Christ, we become part of a much larger family and fellowship – God’s family. I know you will be reading this after Christmas has become a memory. But as you remember and relive Christmas experiences, do so with Christ in your thoughts and on your mind and spend some time in prayer with Him. By doing so, you will find those memories much richer and the joy of Christmas something to look forward to each day and no something to just remember. January is a time when depresssion and loneliness begins gripping especially those who live alone. That needn’t be. You and I need to respond to those we know who may be facing such in January and February. By reaching out to others and sharing His Good News, we might just enjoy Christmas again in January and February and … AMEN!

12/26/16 Know Love, No Fear 26
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 8:15-16 “15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” COMMENTS : Christmas season continues but Christmas Day 2016 is now history. Children looking forward for so long to Christmas now may still be enjoying Christmas presents but the excitement of Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning is now gone. Soon parents will be facing Christmas bills and going back to work. Children will have another week before facing school again but that will quickly come. This week Arlene and I will be making a few visits to shut-ins we have neglected too long. The afterglow of Christmas Even and Christmas morning worship, being with our daughter’s family as they opened presents, and enjoying the company of our daughter’s family and our son Donny and his wife Shaylyn are precious memories we will cherish too. All that happened in one brief 24 hour period of time. Yet we are still celebrating the birthday of Christ, who gave up so much to come and endure and experience living as a poor human but also sacrificing His life and purity in order to bear our sins so we don’t need to. Yes, we can face His judgment alone if we choose too, but we don’t need too face it at all if we simply accept His sacrifice as His gift to us. As with any gift, the gift can be offered but until it is accepted and opened, it still is unopened and unused. As noted above in I John 4:18, God’s judgment is certain and should be feared, but once we accept Christ’s gift of forgiveness and salvation, we need no longer fear judgment any longer. The fear that resided in our hearts can be replaced with joy and love for Him and for each other. We then can begin doing what we were designed to do – WORSHIP AND PRAISE HIM. That is what we are designed to do and what our greatest purpose is. To do good and be His witness to others is our calling and job but our purpose is to worship Him. Yet that is the one thing we all tend to neglect first and most often because it does require work, especially when circumstances and our fickled emotions do not motivate us to do. Life’s distractions so quickly distracts us from worship and satan is so effective in convincing us worship is less important and worthwhile than it is. He knows our very life depends on worship as does our relationship with God. Worship is that important. It is also vital in energizing and bringing joy into our lives and our relationship with God but also with each other. By taking time to worship and praise our Savior, we open our heart’s door for Him to fill us with His joy and His energy to live the life He has planned and designed us to live. But it does require discipline and work, as does all worthwhile endeavors.

12/27/16 Willing to Wound 27
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:6

SCRIPTURE: II TIMOTHY 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

COMMENTS: If we look at the depravity of the world in Noah’s day and in Sodom, we see lack of character and basic moral decency and integrity as describes in today’s scripture. But we are seeing such more and more today as well. Christian values and moral standards are not only not followed but are judged as evidence of prejudice and illegal intolerance. Lovers of pleasure and selfish appetites instead of lovers of God and His Laws. Contempt for good, as God judges good, and judging evil, as God judges evil, as good. History proves God will only tolerate and postpone judgment of those who demonstrate such behavior for a limited time before He reigns judgment on them. We are living in a time again when more and more are demonstrating godless behavior. You and I are in a difficult but critical place of showing those around us what God desires and even commands us to do and be. Risk of caving and tolerating sinful behavior and following it’s example is facing God’s judgment. Risk of following God’s call and command may bring rejection and persecution of others but an ultimate reward and continued fellowship from God.

Well, such has been all too common in past generations too. That is why Christ came, endured and experienced life as a mortal human and died paying the price God’s Law demanded so we didn’t have to. We must not take this truth for granted nor loose the sense of awe knowing what a blessing this precious gift is and what our punishment would be if we missed accepting this gift.

God is not trying to deprive us but spare us. Sin brings consequences far worse than any brief pleasures or enjoyments satan offered. God’s pleasures are satisfying and eternal. Satan’s pleasures are brief and leave a bitter taste and terrible consequences full of regrets. We are still celebrating Christ’s birthday in a time when satan is trying to convince us such is intolerant by call this holiday “Christmas”. He convinces many to demand we say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. But what is next? Since Holiday is really saying “Holy Day”, what will be “the acceptable name for Christmas or even holiday next year? No, we need to call Christmas – Christmas and recognize this season as Christ’s birthday and not a winter celebration. December 25 was a pagan day celebrating the shortest day in Roman society seeking return of their sun god. Satan would have us revert back to that if we let him. NOT ON OUR WATCH, AGREE? Loving and accepting others does not require approving sinful behavior. Such is not intolerance. Allowing others to continue a path to judgment without warning them is an act of hatred or indifference and not an act of love. Sharing Christ and celebrating His mercy shows tolerance and love far better than being quiet for fear of offending. By the way, have you noticed it is more acceptable to offend a Christian than it is to offend anyone who believes in any other god or religion? That is no accident and is motivated by satan himself. We offend Christ and His sacrifice by our silence…

12/28/16 TRAVELLING WITH GOD 28 Acts 16:11-13 “From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”

COMMENTS : Paul may not have known where his journey would end or if would have more than one journey, but God did reveal to him next destination along each journey. Paul was certain of his final destination and was certain of his calling and message. God gave him sufficient guidance and inspiration and insight and strength to do what God asked him to do. But God withheld just enough to require Paul to stretch and exercise his faith and trust in Christ. So Christ does and requires of you and me too. By reading and studying and reflecting on experiences and message of the apostles and even faithful followers in the old testament, we discover how God works in human lives and requires of us too. Their path was not easy nor comfortable but was incredible, rewarding, and filled with great joy. I often feel overwhelmed and unprepared when consider how God worked in the lives of his followers both then and now. As I consider the path Christians walk in Muslim dominated countries and in communist and other authoritarian countries especially, I realize how spared and pampered I have been and how unprepared such a comfortable live has lured me to become. Yet I believe God is asking us to let Him prepare us too and use us in life changing ways too. For me writing this journal and sharing His message in a blog and through facebook and email is something I can do and something He is willing to use, as imperfect and flawed I still am. I also realize living in a country where persecution of Christians is still by and large foreign, I still can not compare the modest ridicule and rejection I experience compared to the threat of prison, beatings, and even death faithful Christians face in much or even most of the world. Yet I know they pray even for me. Such realization motivates me to strive to pray for them with more passion and resolve and time. But even they express their unworthiness and their sacrifice compared with sacrifice Christ made and continues to make for us. Last evening a dear friend stop by to talk to Arlene and me. He is considering and praying about going to Philippines as a missionary and also to finish his studies there in seminary preparing for his life work as a missionary. He was discouraged and concerned at some negative comments and is seeking further confirmation. We prayed and talked and shared experiences. Arlene and I felt privileged he approached and confided in us, and are praying for him in a new and greater way as a result. His journey reminds us God still requires faith beyond known direction and support. The journey God calls us to make is not one we make along. He promises to always go with us – going ahead of and behind and on both sides of us along the way with our hand in His. AMEN!

12/29/16 Be Diligent 29
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

SCRIPTURE: TITUS 1:5-9 “5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

COMMENTS : 2016 is quickly coming to a close and 2017 is no longer a distant or even an immediate future. The week between Christmas Day and New Years Day is a good time to reflect, making note of events and influence Christ has made in past year. What has been most important? Successes or failures at work or in church or in family? What gains have been realized and what losses. A surface look may reveal increases or decreases in financial worth or in possessions or in status or position. Failing health becomes more of an issue as we get older and alert us to not take good health for granted and motivate us to care for our bodies better. This is also a time to make resolutions to stop some bad habits and create some new ones.

But this is also an important time to reflect on what is most important to us and what we would change if we could in 2016 and what we need to do both to not repeat those mistakes or sins but also to work repairing damage done by those mistakes and sins.

But I dare say what we find most precious and of greater value by far than anything mentioned above is relationships with family and with Christ. Our relationship with others, both family and church and all we cross paths with at work and play, is directly affected and influenced by our relationship with Christ. Our relationship with Him empowers us to a more Christ like relationship with others. 2017 needs to be a year of focus on our relationship with Christ and obedience to all He calls us to do and be, both in public but especially when no one else is looking or noticing. It is then when our love for Him is revealed because we are obeying Him out of love for Him instead of out of a desire to get favors or respect or pats on the back from others. Those will fade and bring no reward but Christ gives eternal rewards and blessings. He is noticing when no one else is noticing. Yet genuine motivation is not to get rewards but to praise and bless Christ who emptied Himself to receive all our diseased sinful actions and thoughts and cleans our souls completely. He continues to do that to greater depths as we grow deeper in our walk with Him. Will 2017 be a year of deeper fellowship and service with and for Him than was 2016. The choice is ours. He is waiting for us to decide and eager to guide us into that deeper walk of obedience if we only say yes to Him and reach out our hand to take His. He knows the path we will take because He has already walked it and wants to prepare us for it but also to walk it with us. AMEN!

12/30/16 Perseverance Is the Link 30 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. Romans 5:3

SCRIPTURE: I CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. “

COMMENTS : God has not promised to shield us from exposure to tribulation and hardship but to go through such with us helping us along the way. Our scripture reminds us tribulation develops perseverence. Muscles must be worked and exercised and stretched in order to become stronger. Muscles not used or worked become weaker and eventually will not work at all. You and I know of examples of those who have done that and consequence is handicaps and dependence on others to help them get around. Well, life has a way of passing so quickly and the time of our elderly years comes quickly on us, as I am finding. I am realizing a need to ask others for help to do things I was able to do in the past. So far has related to repairs on our home and on our church building. Yet learning to ask for help does two things. It shows others their part is important and needed to. It also reminds me I should not do what God wants others to do. But then again, how often do we plow ahead of God trying to do what He is planning to do, but I grow impatient not waiting for His timing. I have been guilty of that all too often and still find that temptation very strong at times. But I am learning and relearning the gift of waiting on Him. How about you? Is really hard when it comes to family and many others I care deeply about. To see their hardships and struggles, the temptation is to jump in and take care of the problem for them. But lessons God is working to teach and spiritual muscles He is exercising must be completed in His time and way. I have to rediscover the best way I can help is to be there and be ready to give council and encouragement but only when asked and only when He confirm the right time. I had such a time a few days ago with our daughter’s family and got a bit ahead of God again so had to stop and ask forgiveness and go back to patiently waiting or, when, anxiously waiting. Being a parent requires a lot of that at times, especially when our children become adults and even more so when they have families of their own. How a runner prepares for the race is critical to successfully completing the race and winning the race. Many hours of painful exercise and practice and stretching are all essential to develop discipline and focus and properly strengthened muscles. In order for us to successfully run the race of life, God must compel us to exercise our spiritual muscles and minds and souls if we are going to have the focus and stamina and strength and heart to win. We have a God who successfully trained, coached, and lead countless followers from every past generation and countless followers even from our own generation. We only need to follow His lead. 2017 will be a very good year to do so. We have one more day to get ready. AMEN!

12/31/16 TROUBLE BITES BACK 31 Acts 16:19-24 “When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, ‘These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practise.’ The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.” COMMENTS : There are consequence from sin but did you know there are consequences from being faithful to Christ too? In this case a miracle happened and life change for the demon possessed slave girl freed from that possession. Her life became infinitely better and she became a witness of life to others in the days and years that followed. How many other lives changed by this miracle we will have to wait til heaven to discover, but I imagine the ripple affect may be in the millions over the centuries that have followed. God has a wonderful way of using unlikely means to do eternal and wonderful work.

So what were the consequences? She no long was valuable to the sinful men who were using her. She no longer was entertainment to them and their customers. Those customers could no longer feel any pleasure nor tranquilizing affect her satanic skills would offer through her. Those consequences resulted in hostile reactions from her slave owners and maybe even from some of their customers. Their lives would change to even though they weren’t ready or even want them to. They were not surrendering to Christ’s redemption but were forced to be affected by that redemption. We don’t know but can hope their souls softened over time and finally yielded to Christ before their life ended. I believe more were saved that day and in following days.

Today is New Year’s Eve. Today completes 2016 and closes any opportunity to make a difference for Christ in 2016. We can’t make a difference in 2017 until we enter that year. We won’t be able to change 2016 at the close of today either. I remember back on New Year’s Eve 1999 when the threat of disasters related to Y2K were being talked about bringing much concern and anxiety. I stayed up to see what would happen but soon discovered as China and Australia and Africa and Europe all hit midnight that nothing happened and we would likely be untouched as well. But as I stayed up and watched midnight happened in those countries, I realized it was as if they were living in my future and I was watching. Well, that isn’t exactly correct but does serve to reveal God is already living and working in my future and preparing it for me too. Concerns and worries about Y2K didn’t happen and we were so glad for that. But truth is God was on the job working long before January 2000 and still is today. He not only knows what will happen in 2017, but is already working hard in 2017 preparing it for us. You and I need to draw closer to Him so we will allow Him to prepare us for it. If we do, then 12/31/17 we will be able to look back and rejoice how God has worked and how we’ve grown in 2017 too. But then again, He may indeed return in 2017 and we will be with Him in heaven on 12/31/17. Even better!! AMEN? AMEN!!

God willing, our journey with this journal will continue in January 2017. I HOPE AND PRAY YOU WILL HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY 2017!

God’s blessing, I pray, to you and your family for a blessed 2017 filled with God’s provision and peace but mostly God’s abiding presence. Don McDaniel EMAIL: dmcdaniel12@verizon.net BLOG: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Don1951

DEVOTION JOURNAL 2016 – DON MCDANIEL

BLOG: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com

DECEMBER 2016:
12/1/16 Cover Up to Hide Wonderfully Good News 1
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

SCIRIPTURE: ISAIAH 1:19-20 “18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” COMMENTS :Why do so many try so hard to earn their way to heaven and earn their forgiveness? Yet Christianity is the only religion that doesn’t teach that. Well, why is that? Could it be that the author of every other religion is satan and he wants us to believe we can earn redemption? God tells us it is folly to think we can earn our salvation because the price is far higher than we can ever pay. Yet God has always provided a way to forgiveness through sacrifice. Old Testament way was through animal sacrifice. Yet even then sacrifice had to be a perfect sacrifice without flaw. The very poor could provide a low cost sacrifice but those who could afford it were required to provide a higher cost sacrifice. Even then repentance had to be genuine. But the need to provide a sacrifice was met when Christ became our sacrifice, our perfect sacrifice of great price. Only He could be our once and final sacrifice sufficient for our redemption but not just ours but all in all times willing to repent and accept His sacrifice. We are entering a wonderful season – Advent when preparing for and anticipating Christ’s birthday. Christmas lights and Christmas Carols become more common place. Too many businesses and people avoid real Christmas carols (hymns) and take on a more secular mode, but as Christians it is our job to put and keep Christ in Christmas. It is not our Holiday but His Holy Day, His Birthday so it is His birth we are to remember and Christ we are to honor. Don’t be timid or embarrassed by Him. He is not embarrassed of us. Do you know the first and second century Christians did not observe Christmas? They, of course, did observe Easter. The reason they did not observe Christmas was that was not a custom observed in Judaism but was in Roman culture and Christians did not want to take on Roman pagan customs. Likewise, December 25 was a pagan holiday observing honoring their sun god when days started to get longer again. When the Roman Emperor Constantine was converted, he decided to make December 25, an existing Roman holiday the date to observe Christ’s birthday since Christians were not observing his birth. It seems odd to us the date of Christ’s birth was not known but remember modest beginnings of Christ and Jewish customs. Truth is, even though Christ was born physically, He not only existed before then, but eternally existed as God before. Constantine’s mother then around 326 AD did much work in Jerusalem determining where Christ was crucified and buried and also did much good in rebuilding Jerusalem and helping poor in area. Many of the traditional holy sites tourists visit in Israel were a result of her research. Christian became the religion of the Roman Empire during Constantine’s rule. 12/2/16 Don’t Lose the Joy 2
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51 “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” COMMENTS: David is the author of this Psalm. This psalm is the prayer of repentance David prayed when his sin of adultery and murder was exposed to him by the prophet Nathan. David didn’t deny his sin, like king Saul before him, but ran to the temple and begged God for forgiveness. God granted him forgiveness but the son of his adultery still died. Sin does come at a cost but cost need not be our eternal soul. David did experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because his repentance was genuine. He once again experienced the joy of a personal relationship with God. He came very close to facing God’s judgment, like king Saul, but repentance brought an infinitely better and brighter result. David was true to his roots, being the great grandson of Ruth and Boaz. God honored his heart, not his sin, as a “man after God’s own heart”. God honored David by making Christ a decedent of his blood line. We would do well to read his prayer often and make it our prayer often to keep our hearts humble and our spirit’s seeking a deeper relationship with Him. Even if we’ve walked with Christ for many years, we still are living short of Christ’s example, in need of His forgiveness, in need of a deeper walk with Him, and in need of Him to clean in deeper darker corners of our souls. He is eager to do so, but will not do so uninvited. I’ve been a Christian for over 55 years, but I still find myself at times holding back from full surrender. It is then when I do seek Him, that He lovingly but firmly draws me to surrender again.

12/9/16 “Life’s Opportunites are Brief” 9 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. Job 5:2 (NIV)

When I was in my 20’s or even in my 40’s, I could physically work all day and sustain mental focus all day as well. I can write and reflect on scripture for a number of hours but are days I can not. Likewise, I am noticing even light work for a few hours results in my body demanding rest. Likewise, even sustaining conversation non-stop for an hour or so results in mental exhaustion. Some of that may be due to being 65 but I believe most of it is related to Parkinson’s disease. A few years ago if I noticed this in older friends, I sympathized but believed it would be a long time before I would experience such. Now, I see better how quickly time passes and how soon that time came, but wondering about the more severe limitations quickly coming. I am not saying this to drum up sympathy, but to remind me and you how precious life is and how important it is to develop and cherish those relationships God gives us both with Himself and with each other. Through relationships is how we effectively witness and minister to each other. Relationships is how we help and strengthen each other and discover opportunities to do His will. Reflecting on such gives me a whole new perspective as to how the Church grew and early Christians supported each other during that time of terrible persecution too. Let’s do some reflection and pray seeking God’s council in our lives today. AMEN… 12/10/16 UNAFRAID TO GO BACK 10 Acts 14:21-22 “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.” COMMENTS : Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas was very dangerous for them but very effective too, resulting in a large number of salvations. Yet some followed them bent on stopped them. Despite all the opposition, the apostles were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52) and refused to give up proclaiming the message. They boldly preached the gospel (Romans 1:16) trusting the Lord to protect and provide. Having preached in Derbe, and seen the Lord save many people, Paul and Barnabas retraced their route to visit the new believers in Lystra, Iconuim and Antioch in Pisidia. It was dangerous to do so, but the Holy Spirit led them. The new churches in those cities had seen how badly Paul was treated, and so they would have been greatly encouraged that he wanted to go back to the places where he had been so shamefully treated. It was not enough for Paul and Barnabas to evangelize; they needed to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and so they were compelled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:22) to return to the danger zones so that the new believers might become more informed and firm in their faith. They were unafraid to go back to continue the work. Opposition is not a reason to stop trusting Jesus, Paul said. All sorts of trials will come to the believer but Paul’s example showed that problems should be the reason to strengthen faith rather than defeat it (1 Peter 4:12-14). Like Paul, James knew that opposition should be a cause of joy as, through it, God builds maturity into the believers (James 1:2-4). Jesus had said that hardships would come to His disciples just as hardship came upon Jesus (John 15:18-21 & Isaiah 53:5) . You and I shouldn’t expect to be exempt from hardship because of following Christ either. That isn’t something we need to look forward to but we need to draw close to Christ so we can take courage if hardship and persecution does come and we are judged worthy of so suffering. One thing we do need to keep in mind is to be meek as lambs but wise and strong as lions. Nothing is gained by “picking fights” or showing hostility or anger or causing needless conflict. But much is gained by being a peacemaker in midst of others causing conflict. Our character and actions and methods will demonstrate the Gospel’s power and genuineness, so we must be careful and always close to Christ so our shortcomings and own wisdom doesn’t spoil or cloud the message of hope the Gospel gives. I believe we are entering a more dangerous period for Christ followers because the enemy knows his time is short and is becoming bolder in his attacks. Soaking up scripture and spending more time in fellowship with Him and each other serves to equip us for deeper service. Being accessible to do His word and to others is key too. God’s economy may mean we may not know the good He does through us but that is ok. It is for His praise, not ours. The impact the disciples had after their deaths was and is far greater than what they did during their lives. They did enjoy seeing some fruit, but greater fruit was to be revealed in heaven. Ours will be too if we are faithful to Him. AMEN.

COMMENTS : When Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to be missionaries, neither they nor the church in Antioch had any idea of the opportunities and challenges they would encounter. They traveled through Cyprus from east to west and then preached in at least five major cities in what is now central southern Turkey. They established at least four new churches as the Holy Spirit guided them and traveled more than 1200 miles. They then returned to their home church in Antioch. It was a great reunion with so many stories to tell of how God had kept them by His grace and brought many people to salvation. They followed Jesus’ model of sending his disciples. He had sent them out in twos to minister in His Name (Luke 9:10), so they also went out in pairs. This time, the report majored on how God had spoken to the Gentiles and many of them had been saved. It was the great encouragement and turning point for the church – the realization that Gentiles and Jews were equally welcome to benefit from Christ’s sacrifice and could equally become children of God through faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:14). Perhaps the sending church had not realized how much Paul’s commission would turn the church from being Israel-based to a world-wide family. The church is now found in every corner of the world. The church is not a building or a denomination but the group of believers – followers of Christ who have put their trust in Him. It includes people from every nationality, ethnic group, language group, religious background, gender, age, family lifestyle and occupation (Revelation 7:9). They are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Therefore there can be no discrimination about who can or cannot be saved, and join Christ’s church. So you too can be a cross-cultural missionary. Our calling, as theirs, was to share this good news by example and by word wherever we go and to whoever we encounter. 12/14/16 Why Do Doubts Arise in Your Mind? 14
Luke 24:25-40 “25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.Jesus Appears to the Disciples 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. “ COMMENTS : To know Christ was life changing. It is true life changes when we let Him into our hearts today were also true for those who followed Him before His crucifiction. But let’s face it, we are fickled. Our emotions and other influences can push us to follow Him some days and betray Him other days. Before the Holy Spirit came, the disciples were vulnerable to follow Him faithfully when near Him and weaken when not near Him. What the Holy Spirit enabled by abiding in our souls all the time is ability for us to sustain a faithful relationship with Him. We have early proof simply by reading scripture and discovering the transformation in Peter and other disciples after receiving the Holy Spirit. Their courage and consistent faithfulness and courage in character and in ministry is in sharp contrast to the denial and hiding Peter and other disciples demonstrated during and after Christ’s crucifixion. Proof is not limited to examples in scripture. The transforming power of Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is evident in every Christian who allows that transformation. Stop and think about such examples of those you know who received Christ’s redemption and changed dramatically. If you have received His redemption too, how has your life changed? Life involved making choices every day, some more significant than others. But all are choices that has impact on our lives and lives of others. We are designed to be in relationship with God and Christ’s sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s presence enables us to have and be in relationship with God each and every day without fail. If you haven’t experienced the power and council such a relationship provides, then it is hard to understand or embrace that relationship. But if you have, then you know being in that relationship and obedient to His council is far better than not. Let’s face it, we are not independent thinking. We are either following God’s council or satan’s temptations. There is no middle ground. Satan can trick us into thinking his tempations are our own idea and independent thinking. Stop and reflect and discover the reality of satan’s influence as well as infinite good God offered through a relationship with Him. Yet the power and influence of our own fickled personalities result in our need to be reminded during times of temptation or distraction or discouragement or attack. We have the promise not to be tempted or attacked beyond what we are able to endure with His abiding help and presence. But the possibility of failing because we are not faithful to that relationship is still a real possibility. So it is important to be diligent and to do our part in strengthening and developing growth in our relationship with God. He does the hard part but we still have a part to do. We still choose each day if and when we will pray and read scripture and fellowship with other Christians and choices to obey His nudges or refuse. As we share both our victories and failures, we empower others and encourage others to draw closer to Christ too. When we hide or deny our failures, we open doors of discouragement hindering God working in lives of others too. 12/15/16 Many Infallible Proofs 15
Acts 1:1-3 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” COMMENTS : Are you sure of your salvation? What evidence do you have that convinces you God is real, the Bible is true, and your salvation is genuine? Have you had doubts? Do you still have doubts? What generally brings doubts is circumstances or behavior falling short of our expectations. So, first of all, what proof do we have that God is real and all written in our Bible is true and stories recorded in the Bible are accurate? Here are a few: 1. No other ancient document has as many supporting manuscripts that all support each other as well. 2. No other ancient documents has as many supporting archeological discoveries. 3. No other ancient document has as many supporting eye witnesses, nor as many who have given their lives sharing what they saw and heard and experienced. Examples like Daniel and his 3 friends or thousands of first century Christians who martyred for preaching and sharing their faith and experiences of Chrsit. 4. Non-scriptural ancient writings like Josephus’s writings support scripture. 5. Our Bible was written over a 1500 year period by 40 different writers, but shows consistent God’s plan and character and commands and story. 6. Consistent accurate prophecies being fulfilled, including over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah that were fulfilled with Jesus Christ. Prophecies confirmed to have been written 500 years plus before Christ’s birth. 7. Experts and Scholars and Sceptics have tried to despute and dispute scripture over the centuries and have failed to do so. 8. Our most respected and beneficial leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln or George Washington have believed and followed the teachings of the Bible. 9. The Global positive impact generation after generation of the Bible on governments and people who followed the Bible’s teachings is profound and consistent. 10. But the greatest evidence is the proof of changed – transformed lives in every generation – lives changed because of believing and following the teachings in this book – the Bible. You and I need not look outside our own commuity and likely outside our own family to find such a transformed life. Maybe even within our own lives gives such proof. Truth is most will follow teaching and accept as fact things with far less evidence and proof of being true. But in spite of all this proof, you and I still must believe and accept Christ as our Savior based on trusting Him and believing His message and believing His sacrifice was sufficient to forgive our sins and gives us a do-over. We still tend to think we need to earn our way to heaven or earn our forgiveness. Christ teaches His sacrifice is sufficient but He asks our obedience as a response of love and not as a way of earning salvation. Doubts come from satan to hinder obedience and not from Him. The deeper we get into His word, the more time we spend in prayer, the more often we choose to follow Him, then the closer fellowship we enjoy with Him and the more real He becomes to us. Past experiences of those before us prove this to be true! 12/16/16 DEALING WITH FALSE TEACHING 16 Acts 15:1-4 “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.” COMMENTS : Satan always seems to be close by ready to ruin good work God does. He did that in Eden, he did that during time of testing for Job, he did that with Abraham and Sarah, and Abraham and lot. The list of examples is long in scripture and in every generation from Adam. It is a mystery why God allows him so much latitude and liberties to hurt and hinder faithful followers, but there is lots of evidence of that. But even more, there is consistent evidence God does draw a line in the sand and will not allow satan beyond that line. God does prevail and those faithful to Him, like Job, through those times of testing and trail and temptation will be rewarded with a closer relationship with God, a stronger spirit and other priceless blessings from God not attainable any other way. History has a wonderful way of giving us confidence God’s ways are best even those history also tells us satan’s ways are consistently evil and destructive. Such was also true for the first century church, affecting Paul’s and disciple’s ministry. Countless thousands, and maybe millions, of early Christians were persecuted – beaten – even killed because of their faith and ministry for Christ. But satan could not stop the Gospel message nor it’s impact in the world both then and now. God prevailed then and continues to prevail. His only limitation is our willingness to allow Him in our hearts and our own wills. Satan has a way of making us think we are doing right or God’s will when we are doing the opposite, like Paul before Christ confronted him on the Damascus road. Such examples should serve to warn us to be alert to satan’s deceptions so we too won’t fall prey to doing harm to ourselves or others even with good intentions. Our only safeguard is to be in closer relationship with Christ so we heard and see from His perspective and know His Will and plan. This especially is true related how we relate to our families, especially our children and spouses. It is so easy to hurt them with careless words or from neglect. That is why it is important to be in close relationship with Christ so we won’t be blind sighted by our own selfishness or distractions. Christ helps us see things from each other’s perspective but more important from His perspective. He understand us like none other, even better than we know ourselves. God’s ways are always best, we just have to stop and listen to Him and then do what He says and shows. No better time than now to start. AMEN.

12/17/16 GOD CHOOSES BUT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE 17 Acts 15:5-11 “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’ “” COMMENTS : Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey with much to share with church in Jerusalem. They shared how God had changed the hearts and lives of both Jews and Gentiles. Yet some “old school Jews” objected and demanded these new believers obey all the Jewish laws (Acts 15:1-2). Peter responded after seeing the transformation in Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, with approval and support for Paul and Barnabas (Acts 10:44-48). But Peter had also been criticized and the church needed to discuss whether or not it was God’s will for Gentiles to be saved and baptized in the Name of Jesus (Acts 11:1-3). Then the church had accepted that God had been at work, enabling Gentiles to repent and receive eternal life (Acts 11:17-18). But religious legalists were stubborn. They believed in Jesus but they were resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). Had they forgotten Peter’s experiences? Had they accepted that Gentiles could be saved but now they wanted to bind them with religious regulations, which Jesus had condemned (Matthew 23:13-33)? So Peter reminded them that the gospel is for everybody who is willing to believe the gospel and repent – such people are given the Holy Spirit, eternal life and the guarantee that they are included in the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Salvation is through grace and faith, not human ancestry. And the life of Christ cannot depend on law keeping, because we all fail, but on God’s grace. God welcomes every new believer as a chosen child. He does not discriminate according to ethnic background, colour, language, gender, employment status or wealth (Galatians 3:28; Revelation 5:9-10). So why do some Christians still want to place legalistic burdens on the backs of new believers (Matthew 23:4)? The desire to control, fear of freedom in Christ, bowing to legalistic leaders, replicating their own harsh upbringing … none of these were compatible with the grace of Christ. Cults behave like that, not churches that are alive in Christ. The Lord knows those who belong to Him, and we all have the responsibility to leave wickedness behind and help those who are burdened (2 Timothy 1:9; Galatians 6:2). They had much to learn and much to repent of, just as do we. So keeping our hearts and spiritual ears open is important for us, as it was for them to avoid falling prey to distortions of the gospel being spread today as they were in the first century church. 12/18/16 LISTEN IN SILENCE TO DISCERN THE TRUTH 18 Acts 15:12-18 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. ‘Brothers,’ he said, ‘listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: ‘ “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things” – things known from long ago.’ “ COMMENTS: This was a critical time in church history. It was a time with Christian doctrine was being developed and written. A time when Christ’s teachings and the Holy Spirit’s influence would either be followed in detail or distorted and diluted by human interpretation(Acts 15:1; Ephesians 2:8-9). Peter had supported Paul and Barnabas by reflecting on his own gospel encounter with Cornelius, the Roman centurion.(Acts 15:7-11) The church in Jerusalem did well to listen in silence, and pray for discernment rather than to argue. The subject of their speech was their observation of what God had done. Although God had used them, they did not seek to glorify themselves, but the Lord. When they had finished, James (the half brother of Jesus – Galatians 1:19) spoke as the presiding elder to summarise the evidence, bring the Scripture to bear on the situation and give his opinion. Peter’s evidence was significant, and James believed that it was authenticated by Amos 9:11-12 (he quoted the words from the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek). The purpose of God’s self-revelation to Israel was not to exclude everybody else from salvation, but for God’s people to be a ‘light to the Gentiles’ (Isaiah 49:6). Simeon recognized that Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of that prophecy (Luke 2:32), as Jesus Himself confirmed in John 8:12. The purpose of all God has done through history is that whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16). They, like we, are prone to revert back to imposing rules that teach a belief we can earn our way into God’s grace and into heaven and, yes, to earn God’s forgiveness. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT CHRIST TAUGHT NOR WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED. The Good News was transforming gentile and Jew into Christians equal in God’s grace. The church was being formed and taught. Even the process is revealed in scripture for us to learn from and follow. That was no accident. God knew we would go through the same process and could benefit from their experience too. We do well to listen and be silent until the Holy Spriit teaches us the same lessons the early Christians learned so many centuries ago. Today is Sunday, Dec 18^th, one week before Christmas Day. A busy week preparing for all family and church and community activities of the season. But you and I must not forget nor be distracted from celebrating the birth of our Savior and Redeemer. Christ Jesus, who’s birthday we celebrate. By celebrating His birthday together, we honor Him instead of rewarding ourselves. That is the best way of celebrating Christmas. If we do that, we must might have the best and most memorable Christmas ever – one we will talk about fondly for years to come. I really don’t believe there are many Christmas Days left before He returns. Let’s start celebrating Christmas the way we should before it will be too late and we miss opportunity to share and reveal the right way of celebrating Christmas. This just might be our last Christmas to do so. For sure, after next Sunday, we will have one less than we do now. Be quick to sing those beloved Christmas Hymns we all know and enjoy and how about not being quick in January to stop singing them and enjoying them either. 12/19/16 Failing Toward Success 19
So Peter went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:62

SCRIPTURE: I Corinthians 13 “ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” COMMENTS : How do you view good fortune of others? When someone else wins a contest or gets a promotion you were striving to achieve, especially when you think you deserved it more. We’ve all been there and felt the disappointment and even jealousy. I can remember being overlooked for promotions and feeling jealousy towards others I felt less deserving than me. It hits harder home when someone much younger and less experienced is placed as your supervisor. That happened to me too. Yet I also felt that jealousy from others when I received recognition others wanted. But how we respond and deal with jealousy is vital if we are going to have meaningful relationships with others and, even more important, with God. Over the years what has impacted me most is my relationship with Christ and obedience to His leading. There were times when His guiding voice shouted in my heart and other times He spoke so softly I really had to listen to hear. As I look back, I now realize how short lived and unfruitful those promotions and raises were in satisfying my need for self worth and purpose and security I desired so much. The traps striving for such things pulls us into are so obvious to us looking back but invisible to us when upon us. I, like you, felt such temptations and fortunately discovered and repented before walking very far down into those pits. As I look back, I can see how Christ helped and guided me away from and back from such traps and pits that so many others fell prey to and sacrificed their families and even their souls striving after. I am thinking of one engineer who started his career when I did and gained promotions ahead of me and probably accumulated more wealth than me over the years. We both retired at the same time too and both enjoyed a full and respected career. But I would not trade paths nor a lost marriage he endured for his path. At the end of our lives, what I will value most will be what Christ thinks of me and how He judges my life and choices and impact the years He graced me with has had. How much money I earned or accumulated or things I built or bought or titles I achieved will be of no value. They are of no value now, for that matter. The truth is, I am now more fulfilled writing these journals and sharing what God puts on my heart with those who read and follow my blog gives me more fulfillment than the work and relationships I enjoyed during my nearly 40 year working career. But God did give me many rich relationships and opportunities to witness during my working career. Those relationships are what I remember and cherish most from those years. Being a good role model is what has become vital to me in my remaining years. The legacy I am still building and most important to me will not be those 42 years but what I am doing now. But those 42 years prepared me for what I am doing now because those life experiences and ways Christ guiding me during those years taught me volumes that still council me today and maybe you too. 12/22/16 HONORING CHRIST’S SERVANTS AND GOSPEL 22 Acts 15:25-29 “So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” COMMENTS : God was having His way convincing the Church to support the Gospel and conversions of both Gentiles and Jews (Acts 15:1-2). The disciples and new Church Council at Jerusalem finally came to this decision. (Acts 21:25). So the Council wrote a letter, which was accompanied by Judas (a Jew) and Silas (a converted Gentile). The letter honored Paul and Barnabas because they had risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. As a result of their prayer and discussion, the Holy Spirit affirmed that the gospel must be shared and available to all (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Believers who were inclined to be legalistic needed to understand that salvation was by God’s grace and not through keeping religious rules. However, the implication of eating certain foods was becoming a contentious issue. Eating and fellowship were closely associated with fellowship, family ties and people’s consciences (as Peter had already experienced in Acts 10:10-15). It greatly offended the conscience of a Jew to eat non-kosher meat or for a believing Gentile to eat meat that had been offered in immoral ceremonies to idols in the pagan temples. The Council advised that it is best to avoid secondary issues, especially when they disturb other people’s consciences (1 Corinthians 8:9), and certainly to avoid immorality. When believers feel strongly about an issue, they need to take great care not to dishonor God’s servants or impede the church’s confidence in the gospel. None of the Lord’s messengers are perfect but they are His servants; and those who preach the gospel and call people to repentance should be honored, because they were obedient and suffer for their ministry. There are many secondary issues, which may evoke strong feeling, but the gospel has an urgent priority. Never forget that human passion is not necessarily the same as God’s will (Colossians 3:8). We may be motivated by many factors in our background, but we must choose to submit to God’s Word and His priorities, lest we wreck the reputations of faithful servants and prevent people responding to the gospel. Discerning those issues and battles God wants us to fight and leave dormant or be at peace with those issues of less concern to God is a struggle the Church and faithful Christians have struggled with over the centuries. So do we. With the Holy Spirit’s help and council we too can make wise choices, as did the early Church in today’s scripture references. We would do will to follow their council and example too. 12/23/16 A Sleepless Night 23
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20, ESV

12/25/16 Double Blessings 25
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

12/26/16 Know Love, No Fear 26
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

12/27/16 Willing to Wound 27
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:6

12/30/16 Perseverance Is the Link 30 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. Romans 5:3

God willing, our journey with this journal will continue in January 2017. I HOPE AND PRAY YOU WILL HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY 2017!

God’s blessing, I pray, to you and your family for a blessed 2017 filled with God’s provision and peace but mostly God’s abiding presence.

Don McDaniel

EMAIL: dmcdaniel12@verizon.net

BLOG: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Don1951

Published by donsdevotions

Don McDaniel - Who am I? Hello everyone and welcome to my devotional journal blog. In order to get acquainted and help you get to know me a bit better before considering following my blog, let me give you some background. I am a 74-year-old male and a retired engineer. I worked for a major supplier of underground mining equipment for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2012. Arlene and I have been happily married since April 1978 and have two grown – married children, one granddaughter and 2 step grandsons. I joined the local United Methodist church at age 12 after accepting Christ as my Savior at age 10 during revival services in that same church in 1961, so I have been a “Born Again” Christian all my teen years and adult life. Christ has helped and guided me all that time. He guided me in choosing my wife and life’s career. My life journey has included regrets and failures, but God has picked me up and protected and spared me from life threatening consequences and dangers more times than I can recall or count. But many I do recall and encourage and motivate me to trust and follow Christ with more passion than ever. Christmas 2011 our daughter gave Arlene and I each a devotional journal. Journals were books with devotion for each day and space to give personal impressions and thoughts related to each devotion. Her desire was to have a lasting legacy she could refer back to and share with her children and grandchildren especially after we are gone. I was touched by that gesture. My parents and Arlene’s were devout Christians, so we would have greatly treasured having that from them, so we felt a sense of urgency to honor her request. I finished my journal first and returned it to our daughter the following Christmas. I’m glad I did it then because Parkinson’s has caused my hand writing to deteriorate since then. The exercise was such a blessing for me. Discipline of keeping journal helped me gain a deeper walk with Christ and greater discipline in honoring my time of prayer and devotion with Him each day. So, I decided to continue the practice but since I could not find a paper journal I liked, I decided to create my own. I had already been receiving electronic devotions by email every day from several sources, my favorite being “Turning Point” from Dr. David Jeremiah. What I decided to do was to include devotional scripture but add my own thoughts and comments only so there would be no issue of copyright infringement. Creating and maintaining journal by computer also addressed my deteriorating handwriting ability. I started an electronic devotion journal January 1, 2013 and have been faithful to that practice every day since. I prayed about method and level of distribution. My initial intent was to only share it with my two children by email, but quickly discovered others in my family, my church, and friends from work (both retired and still working) who knew me and wanted to be included in distribution when they learned what I was doing. I now distribute by email my daily journal at the beginning of each month to over 150 friends and relatives. God has richly blessed and encouraged me. I am concerned with the state of our church and nation, and world for that matter, believing we are living in the end times the prophets of old and Christ have talked about in scripture, so time is short. I desire to be true to my Savior and a witness to help others come to a saving knowledge of Him and equipped to share His Good News too. If my journal can encourage and help others, I believe God wants me to share it. I struggled, for a time at first, because I know many others keep similar journals but only for their own edification and do not want to share them because they are private. However, Christ has stirred my heart to share it as a witness tool. Our son and daughter have a long-time friend who grew up with them who we also befriended nearly 25 years ago. He had a lot of family problems, so would gravitate to our family as a refuge and eventually thought of us as his adopted parents and he as our adopted son. We lost contact with him for some time when he grew up and left home. He traveled around the U.S. and eventually ended up in Ukraine where he resided for next 10 years. He had to return to the US to renew his visa and took opportunity to recommend I begin a blog of my devotions and helped me set it up. He is also an active blogger and has been an email subscriber to my journal for several months, so he has been suggesting I expand my distribution by starting a blog to get broader exposure. After reflection and prayer, I concluded God was in this, so he is helping me set up my blog site. This brief autobiography is my first entry. He returned to Ukraine, then resided there until circumstanced made him decide to move back to US with his young son. This biography was my first post February 29, 2016 . I have published 600 posts from 2016-2023 automatically sent to all my Facebook friends, published on WordPress to be accessible to anyone curious or seeking a deeper walk with God. I decided to take a sebatical to prepare for a new chapter. In 2014 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease which affects patient ability to walk, drive, do physical work, and eventually talk. By mid 2023 it became evident our home for last 42 years (previously owned by my parents for previous 44 years and by my mother's grandparents for 39 years before that) would eventually not meet my needs so we decided to sell it and move into 1st floor of a duplex we also owned that was the town school from 1855-1913. Likewise, the property was requiring more maintenance that I was no longer able to keep up with. 2023 involved selling our home and moving into apartment next door and then in early 2025 an opportunity to move closer to our daughter and granddaughter in Kentucky which was completed in May 2025. For a number of months I have been seeking direction seeking God's direction and timing to return to blogging as my journey with Parkinson's continues to unfold with God's guiding hand in mine. I hope and pray my devotions will continue to be a blessing for you. God certainly has become closer and more real to me since started this blog in 2016. I have spent time with Him studying scripture and praying and listening and writing this journal. I will continue seeking God’s help and will welcome your input to make this site as meaningful as I can and true to God, who is motivating me to create and maintain it. I will also welcome input in order to make format more meaningful going forward. Don & Arlene McDaniel In His Service, Email: mcdanieldonald769@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Don1951 If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 600+ blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present (https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/link-to-dons-devotional-journal-entries-2013/ ) You may also access my Facebook page and request to be my friend and automatically receive my daily journal publications daily. My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Dondevotionals/ Many thanks to a pastor and dear brother in Christ in Nepal who set up the above Facebook page to help and encourage and give opportunity for more to explore and use my devotional blog materials. View all posts by donsdevotions

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Christian Devotional Journal – Ministry Resource Source

DECEMBER 2016 DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL – DON MCDANIEL

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