“As a fair exchange… open wide your hearts.” 2 Corinthians 6:13
My husband has used a single illustration to help parents teach the art of
communication to their children. It might be useful to our female readers, as
well, in explaining to their husbands how to talk to them. It goes like
this:
Give three tennis balls to your husband and ask him to throw them back one at
a time. Instead of returning the balls, however, simply hold them. He’ll be left
wondering what to do next. Obviously, it isn’t much of a game. Then explain your
point—good conversation is much like a game of catch. You “throw” an idea or
comment to your husband (How was work?), and he tosses it back (Great! I finally
finished that project for the boss). If your husband doesn’t return it (Work was
fine), the game ends. Both players feel awkward and wish they were somewhere
else.
Of course, husbands and wives should do more than toss superficial details to
each other. They should practice sharing dreams, feelings, marriage, spiritual
goals, etc. But it all starts with playing the conversation game.
- Shirley M Dobson
From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James
& Shirley Dobson
Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Friday, August 5, 2016
The Daily Readings for August 5, 2016
Judges 9:1-21
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, "Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." So his mother's kinsfolk spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the temple of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, for he hid himself. Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.' The olive tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my rich oil by which gods and mortals are honored, and go to sway over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.' But the fig tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?' Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.' But the vine said to them, 'Shall I stop producing my wine that cheers gods and mortals, and go to sway over the trees?' So all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.' And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his actions deserved-- for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian; but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your kinsman-- if, I say, you have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech." Then Jotham ran away and fled, going to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Acts 4:13-31
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, "What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old. After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
John 2:2-12
Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 88 Domine, Deus
1 O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
3 For I am full of trouble; my life is at the brink of the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I have become like one who has no strength;
5 Lost among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
6 Whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.
7 You have laid me in the depths of the Pit, in dark places, and in the abyss.
8 Your anger weighs upon me heavily, and all your great waves overwhelm me.
9 You have put my friends far from me; you have made me to be abhorred by them; I am in prison and cannot get free.
10 My sight has failed me because of trouble; LORD, I have called upon you daily; I have stretched out my hands to you.
11 Do you work wonders for the dead? will those who have died stand up and give you thanks?
12 Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
13 Will your wonders be known in the dark? or your righteousness in the country where all is forgotten?
14 But as for me, O LORD, I cry to you for help; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
15 LORD, why have you rejected me? why have you hidden your face from me?
16 Ever since my youth, I have been wretched and at the point of death; I have borne your terrors with a troubled mind.
17 Your blazing anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me;
18 They surround me all day long like a flood; they encompass me on every side.
19 My friend and my neighbor you have put away from me, and darkness is my only companion.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 91 Qui habitat
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust."
3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7 A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
Psalm 92 Bonum est confiteri
1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2 To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3 On the psaltery, and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp.
4 For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5 LORD, how great are your works! your thoughts are very deep.
6 The dullard does not know, nor does the fool understand, that though the wicked grow like weeds, and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
7 They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
8 For lo, your enemies, O LORD, lo, your enemies shall perish, and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
9 But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; I am anointed with fresh oil.
10 My eyes also gloat over my enemies, and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who rise up against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13 They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent;
14 That they may show how upright the LORD is, my Rock, in whom there is no fault.
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, "Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." So his mother's kinsfolk spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the temple of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, for he hid himself. Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.' The olive tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my rich oil by which gods and mortals are honored, and go to sway over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.' But the fig tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?' Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.' But the vine said to them, 'Shall I stop producing my wine that cheers gods and mortals, and go to sway over the trees?' So all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.' And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his actions deserved-- for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian; but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your kinsman-- if, I say, you have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech." Then Jotham ran away and fled, going to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Acts 4:13-31
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, "What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old. After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
John 2:2-12
Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 88 Domine, Deus
1 O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
3 For I am full of trouble; my life is at the brink of the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I have become like one who has no strength;
5 Lost among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
6 Whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.
7 You have laid me in the depths of the Pit, in dark places, and in the abyss.
8 Your anger weighs upon me heavily, and all your great waves overwhelm me.
9 You have put my friends far from me; you have made me to be abhorred by them; I am in prison and cannot get free.
10 My sight has failed me because of trouble; LORD, I have called upon you daily; I have stretched out my hands to you.
11 Do you work wonders for the dead? will those who have died stand up and give you thanks?
12 Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
13 Will your wonders be known in the dark? or your righteousness in the country where all is forgotten?
14 But as for me, O LORD, I cry to you for help; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
15 LORD, why have you rejected me? why have you hidden your face from me?
16 Ever since my youth, I have been wretched and at the point of death; I have borne your terrors with a troubled mind.
17 Your blazing anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me;
18 They surround me all day long like a flood; they encompass me on every side.
19 My friend and my neighbor you have put away from me, and darkness is my only companion.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 91 Qui habitat
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust."
3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7 A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
Psalm 92 Bonum est confiteri
1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2 To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3 On the psaltery, and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp.
4 For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5 LORD, how great are your works! your thoughts are very deep.
6 The dullard does not know, nor does the fool understand, that though the wicked grow like weeds, and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
7 They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
8 For lo, your enemies, O LORD, lo, your enemies shall perish, and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
9 But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; I am anointed with fresh oil.
10 My eyes also gloat over my enemies, and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who rise up against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13 They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent;
14 That they may show how upright the LORD is, my Rock, in whom there is no fault.
The Forward Day by Day Meditation for August 5, 2016
From Forward Day By Day
Psalm 88:1-2 (NRSV) O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you. Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
I always read Forward Day by Day in the early morning, but I know some folks prefer reading it before retiring for the night. During my evening quiet time, I often read Jim Cotter’s Prayer at Night’s Approaching, with its version of Compline that I find deeply stirring. He ends one of his nightly devotions with this blessing: “Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.”
Like many, I grew up singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The lyrics still inspire me. Sing along if you wish: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”
May we be blessed and kept by our friend this day and night, and always.
Join more than a half million readers worldwide who use Forward Day by Day as a resource for daily prayer and Bible study.
Psalm 88:1-2 (NRSV) O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you. Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
I always read Forward Day by Day in the early morning, but I know some folks prefer reading it before retiring for the night. During my evening quiet time, I often read Jim Cotter’s Prayer at Night’s Approaching, with its version of Compline that I find deeply stirring. He ends one of his nightly devotions with this blessing: “Friend and Lover, bless us and keep us; Light of the world, shine on our faces; Transfigured Yeshua, lift us to glory. May the darkness of night deepen and dazzle.”
Like many, I grew up singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The lyrics still inspire me. Sing along if you wish: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”
May we be blessed and kept by our friend this day and night, and always.
Join more than a half million readers worldwide who use Forward Day by Day as a resource for daily prayer and Bible study.
Girlfriends in God - The Mustard Seed of Faith
Today’s Truth
He (Jesus) replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustardseed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20, NIV).
Friend to Friend
I am not a quitter! What some might call stubbornness, I prefer to call perseverance – especially when it comes to growing flowers and plants.
We recently downsized and moved to a house with a small wooden deck in the back yard. I took one look at that deck and could almost hear it crying out for beautiful plants spilling over the edges of brightly colored ceramic planters. My stubbornness … uh, perseverance … kicked in, and I thought, “I can do this!”
I headed to the local nursery where they know me. And by “know me” I mean they understand that I can kill just about any living plant known to mankind.
Linda greeted me with a smile. Linda and I have become friends over the years as I have tried to grow various plants and flowers. She is well aware of my limitations in the world of plants, and is so sweet about it. When I explained what I wanted for the deck, Linda smiled and said, “Follow me."
When we reached the section of plants and seeds labeled “Hardy” I could feel my confidence kick in. A beautiful display of plants, trees and packages of seeds greeted me. Linda began to explain what she thought would work best as she picked out several starter packs of Peonies and Daylilies, explaining that it is nearly impossible to kill either one. I was only half-listening. The display of seeds had caught my eye. Actually one packet of seeds grabbed my attention. It was the mustard seed. I began to read the information on the back of the packet. I didn’t actually want to plant the seeds, but I was fascinated by how small they were. They were tiny!
And then I remembered what Jesus said in the Bible about the mustard seed.
Matthew 13:31-32 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Wow! The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows … and keeps growing. It can become a plant or even a tree. It all depends on how much it is fed and watered. The same is true of our faith.
Scripture tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. When we hear those words, we assume the Bible is describing the kind of faith we read about in the lives of the disciples as they healed the sick, made the blind to see, and performed miracles in the name of Jesus. It is! But that faith began with a tiny seed – a seed as small as a mustard seed.
Jesus tells us that we don't need a lot of faith to produce great results. We just need to be sure where that faith is planted. And once planted, it will grow if we faithfully feed and water it.
Don’t miss this truth! When our faith rests in God alone, we can and should expect incredible results.
Hebrews 11:1 (ICB) “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it."
Faith is built upon trust. God wants us to trust Him in the ordinary moments of every day life and when the storms of life knock us to our knees.
God wants us to trust Him – to have faith in Him - even when we do not understand what is happening and life seems unfair. Even when nothing makes sense and the plan seems totally wrong.
God did not come to eliminate the storms of life. God came to fill each storm with His presence. It is easy to trust Him when the seas of life are calm and the skies are clear. The true strength of our faith is measured in the midst of a raging storm.
A crisis always reveals what is really inside. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Faith is a deliberate choice to believe God, to walk through our fear, knowing we can trust Him.
And all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed.
Let’s Pray
Father, I confess to You that my faith is weak. Forgive me for giving in to doubts and fears. I know Your plan for me is certainty and hope. Please help me face today with Your faith in my heart. Enable me to walk straight ahead through my fear, knowing You are with me. Today, I choose faith.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What storm are you facing today?
What step do you need to take to face that storm with faith instead of fear?
What is keeping you from trusting God and stepping out in faith?
More from the Girlfriends
A word from Mary: I have a weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. I am very excited about a new study beginning September 5, Taking Down the Giants in Your Life. Do you struggle with fear, stress, jealousy, anger, and depression … the roadblocks to happiness and joy? Let’s tackle each one and see what God has to say. Join now and get all of 2016 lessons plus bonus studies in the summer.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070
info@girlfriendsingod.com
http://www.girlfriendsingod.com
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070
info@girlfriendsingod.com
http://www.girlfriendsingod.com
Standing Strong Through the Storm - FOUR-STAGE PROCESS OF PERSECUTION
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all
who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Jesus’ basic communication theory in Matthew 12 is that people speak and act from the overflow of what is in their heart. Jeremiah and others remind us that the heart can be exceedingly wicked. One of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous statements is “The line of good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”
Christian persecution within a country or state rarely happens suddenly or in isolation. It is most often a process. Some years ago Rev. Dr. Johan Candelin, who headed the World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) Religious Liberties Commission recognized this and devised a three-stage process of what happens leading up to persecution becoming entrenched in any society. He labeled the three stages of downward spiral as disinformation, discrimination and persecution. Dr. Candelin later expanded it to a six-stage process with each of the three having a passive, then active, aspect.
Dr. Jim Cunningham and I included this process in the first edition of Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) and in our seminars.
Some academicians and wordsmiths found it problematic to label the third stage with the same word as that of the process. So we began to wrestle with this issue from a sociological, historical and biblical perspective. We found interesting academic parallels. For example, in 1996, Professor Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, proposed an excellent model of an eight stage process of genocide. There are interesting similarities between this downward spiral and what psychologist John Gottman has labeled as the four most likely predictors of divorce.
When we accepted Jesus’ four verb definition of persecution in Luke 6:22, we then found four clear biblical steps in understanding the downward spiral in the process of persecution: opposition, disinformation, injustice and mistreatment. We will look at these four steps forming the acronym ODIM individually over the next four days.
Why is this important to you and me? Just today I read again the poignant words of German theologian Martin Niemoller written after he had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
And then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
RESPONSE: Today I will speak out for the rights of those who have no voice to speak for themselves.
PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be aware of the forces of evil that conspire against Your Kingdom.
Jesus’ basic communication theory in Matthew 12 is that people speak and act from the overflow of what is in their heart. Jeremiah and others remind us that the heart can be exceedingly wicked. One of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous statements is “The line of good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”
Christian persecution within a country or state rarely happens suddenly or in isolation. It is most often a process. Some years ago Rev. Dr. Johan Candelin, who headed the World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) Religious Liberties Commission recognized this and devised a three-stage process of what happens leading up to persecution becoming entrenched in any society. He labeled the three stages of downward spiral as disinformation, discrimination and persecution. Dr. Candelin later expanded it to a six-stage process with each of the three having a passive, then active, aspect.
Dr. Jim Cunningham and I included this process in the first edition of Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) and in our seminars.
Some academicians and wordsmiths found it problematic to label the third stage with the same word as that of the process. So we began to wrestle with this issue from a sociological, historical and biblical perspective. We found interesting academic parallels. For example, in 1996, Professor Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, proposed an excellent model of an eight stage process of genocide. There are interesting similarities between this downward spiral and what psychologist John Gottman has labeled as the four most likely predictors of divorce.
When we accepted Jesus’ four verb definition of persecution in Luke 6:22, we then found four clear biblical steps in understanding the downward spiral in the process of persecution: opposition, disinformation, injustice and mistreatment. We will look at these four steps forming the acronym ODIM individually over the next four days.
Why is this important to you and me? Just today I read again the poignant words of German theologian Martin Niemoller written after he had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
And then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
RESPONSE: Today I will speak out for the rights of those who have no voice to speak for themselves.
PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be aware of the forces of evil that conspire against Your Kingdom.
Men of the Bible - Job
His work: Job was a wealthy farmer, herdsman, and landowner.
His character: Next to Jesus Christ, no one in the Bible carries a more remarkable résumé. "This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…. He was the greatest man among all the peoples of the East."
His sorrow: Except for his own life and the life of his spouse, Job lost everything: cattle, camels, sheep, buildings, servants, and ten children. No one in all of Scripture—except Jesus—suffered more than he. Then to add to the physical devastation, Job had to endure the cross-examination and derision of three friends who clearly did not know what they were talking about.
His triumph: In the end, Job was vindicated by the Lord, and God blessed him with more wealth than he had before. The Lord also gave him ten more children.
Key Scriptures: Job 1; 2; 40
A Look at the Man
It all seems so unfair. God and Satan climbed into opposing grandstands and thrust the unsuspecting Job into the arena.
"There is no one on earth like him," God asserted. "He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
"Of course he's faithful," Satan sneered. "Job's no fool. Look at what you've given him. Who wouldn't be upright with all that prosperity? He's got a good thing going." God knew exactly where this conversation was headed. He wrote the script before the earth was formed. "But open your hand and let me strike everything he has," Satan scoffed. "If I do this, he will curse you to your face. Destroy his things, and then we'll see how upright he is."
"Very well," God replied. "His possessions are all yours."
In that moment Job walked into the arena alone. And in less than a single day, he lost everything—five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels. In just a few hours, nearly all of Job's servants were dead, and then, in a final devastating blow, his seven sons and three daughters were destroyed in a tornado.
Job was broken yet steadfast.
But Satan was not ready to concede. "Open your hand and let me strike his body," Satan chortled to God. "No one can deal with that kind of pain. He will surely curse you to your face."
"Very well," God repeated. "His body is yours, but you may not kill him."
Then, just as Job was burying his last child, painful sores broke out over his entire body. From the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, he was covered with horrible wounds.
His wife had seen enough. "Are you still holding on to your God? What's the use?" she mocked. "Curse him and die!"
But Job refused. "Should we accept good from God and not trouble?"
Then three of Job's friends appeared. For one week they sat quietly with their suffering friend. Not a single word was spoken. At first their kindness opened Job's heart. Then it opened his mouth. He began the slow and downward spiral of asking "why?" "Why?" he asked one friend, shaking his head in disbelief. "Why?" he asked another, clinging to his hands. "Why?" he screamed at the sky. He cursed the day of his birth and expressed his longing to die.
Then Job and his three friends entered into a dialogue that lasted for many days. The conversation was deeply philosophical, tedious, and depressing. The words of Job's friends were neither comforting nor helpful.
"How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?" Job finally lamented.
Then God spoke to Job. "Brace yourself like a man," the Almighty began. "I will question you, and you shall answer me."
Job had never heard anything like this.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?" the sovereign God asked. "Tell me, if you understand, who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!"
God's soliloquy continued uninterrupted. He exposed the greatness of his creation and the mystery and power of his being.
Job was stunned by God's words and overwhelmed by God's very presence amid his pain. "My ears had heard of you," Job finally said. "But now my eyes have seen you."
Reflect On: Job 40:1–7
Praise God: For this lesson graphically illustrated by his faithful servant.
Offer Thanks: For allowing us to draw closer to him no matter how painful our circumstances.
Confess: Our propensity to accuse God of unfairness when he allows suffering to come our way.
Ask God: To show you his perspective on your pain and your doubts and to grant you his peace—the peace that transcends understanding.
Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
His character: Next to Jesus Christ, no one in the Bible carries a more remarkable résumé. "This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…. He was the greatest man among all the peoples of the East."
His sorrow: Except for his own life and the life of his spouse, Job lost everything: cattle, camels, sheep, buildings, servants, and ten children. No one in all of Scripture—except Jesus—suffered more than he. Then to add to the physical devastation, Job had to endure the cross-examination and derision of three friends who clearly did not know what they were talking about.
His triumph: In the end, Job was vindicated by the Lord, and God blessed him with more wealth than he had before. The Lord also gave him ten more children.
Key Scriptures: Job 1; 2; 40
A Look at the Man
It all seems so unfair. God and Satan climbed into opposing grandstands and thrust the unsuspecting Job into the arena.
"There is no one on earth like him," God asserted. "He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
"Of course he's faithful," Satan sneered. "Job's no fool. Look at what you've given him. Who wouldn't be upright with all that prosperity? He's got a good thing going." God knew exactly where this conversation was headed. He wrote the script before the earth was formed. "But open your hand and let me strike everything he has," Satan scoffed. "If I do this, he will curse you to your face. Destroy his things, and then we'll see how upright he is."
"Very well," God replied. "His possessions are all yours."
In that moment Job walked into the arena alone. And in less than a single day, he lost everything—five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels. In just a few hours, nearly all of Job's servants were dead, and then, in a final devastating blow, his seven sons and three daughters were destroyed in a tornado.
Job was broken yet steadfast.
But Satan was not ready to concede. "Open your hand and let me strike his body," Satan chortled to God. "No one can deal with that kind of pain. He will surely curse you to your face."
"Very well," God repeated. "His body is yours, but you may not kill him."
Then, just as Job was burying his last child, painful sores broke out over his entire body. From the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, he was covered with horrible wounds.
His wife had seen enough. "Are you still holding on to your God? What's the use?" she mocked. "Curse him and die!"
But Job refused. "Should we accept good from God and not trouble?"
Then three of Job's friends appeared. For one week they sat quietly with their suffering friend. Not a single word was spoken. At first their kindness opened Job's heart. Then it opened his mouth. He began the slow and downward spiral of asking "why?" "Why?" he asked one friend, shaking his head in disbelief. "Why?" he asked another, clinging to his hands. "Why?" he screamed at the sky. He cursed the day of his birth and expressed his longing to die.
Then Job and his three friends entered into a dialogue that lasted for many days. The conversation was deeply philosophical, tedious, and depressing. The words of Job's friends were neither comforting nor helpful.
"How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?" Job finally lamented.
Then God spoke to Job. "Brace yourself like a man," the Almighty began. "I will question you, and you shall answer me."
Job had never heard anything like this.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?" the sovereign God asked. "Tell me, if you understand, who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!"
God's soliloquy continued uninterrupted. He exposed the greatness of his creation and the mystery and power of his being.
Job was stunned by God's words and overwhelmed by God's very presence amid his pain. "My ears had heard of you," Job finally said. "But now my eyes have seen you."
Reflect On: Job 40:1–7
Praise God: For this lesson graphically illustrated by his faithful servant.
Offer Thanks: For allowing us to draw closer to him no matter how painful our circumstances.
Confess: Our propensity to accuse God of unfairness when he allows suffering to come our way.
Ask God: To show you his perspective on your pain and your doubts and to grant you his peace—the peace that transcends understanding.
Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
His Princess Every Day - Open Your Gifts
Devotionals for Women - Inspirational author and speaker Sheri Rose
Shepherd imagines what a letter written from God to you would look like.
My beloved,
I have placed a gift inside your soul that will bring you great joy and purpose. It’s hidden behind dreams waiting to be pursued. Don't let it be swallowed up by daily distractions and drowned by disappointment. When you are ready to open your heart to me, I will unwrap those hopes and dreams and reveal the real you! I am the giver of every good and perfect gift, so don’t be afraid to believe what I say--the gift I offer you is everlasting and priceless.
Love,
Your Gift-giving Prince
Each of you has been blessed with one of God's wonderful gifts, so use it well. - 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
Prayer to my Prince
My Lord,
Here I am, your bride, waiting and ready to let you unwrap the gift you placed inside of me. I want to use whatever gift you have given me to further your kingdom. I love knowing that my prince has reached down from heaven and handed me a present. May I never return what you have given, and may I fufill my destiny as I wait for your return.
Love
Your Princess who wants to be a gift
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
Your love, O LORD, endures forever--
Do not abandon the works of your hands. -Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
This devotional is written by Sheri Rose Shepherd. All content copyright Sheri Rose Shepherd 2015. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Visit HisPrincess.com for devotionals, books, videos, and more from Sheri Rose Shepherd.
My beloved,
I have placed a gift inside your soul that will bring you great joy and purpose. It’s hidden behind dreams waiting to be pursued. Don't let it be swallowed up by daily distractions and drowned by disappointment. When you are ready to open your heart to me, I will unwrap those hopes and dreams and reveal the real you! I am the giver of every good and perfect gift, so don’t be afraid to believe what I say--the gift I offer you is everlasting and priceless.
Love,
Your Gift-giving Prince
Each of you has been blessed with one of God's wonderful gifts, so use it well. - 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
Prayer to my Prince
My Lord,
Here I am, your bride, waiting and ready to let you unwrap the gift you placed inside of me. I want to use whatever gift you have given me to further your kingdom. I love knowing that my prince has reached down from heaven and handed me a present. May I never return what you have given, and may I fufill my destiny as I wait for your return.
Love
Your Princess who wants to be a gift
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
Your love, O LORD, endures forever--
Do not abandon the works of your hands. -Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
This devotional is written by Sheri Rose Shepherd. All content copyright Sheri Rose Shepherd 2015. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Visit HisPrincess.com for devotionals, books, videos, and more from Sheri Rose Shepherd.
Verse of the Day - August 05, 2016
Psalm 119:130 (NIV) The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Read all of Psalm 119
Read all of Psalm 119
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