THE ORPHAN HEART
FEBRUARY 4
God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. (Romans 8:16 TM)
Do you have an orphan heart? It’s a heart that needs everybody to love it. Ten thousand people may, but that’s not enough – it will always focus on the one who doesn’t, and obsess over that. Have you ever held arguments in your mind with people who criticized you, or worse, snubbed you? That’s the orphan heart, and no amount of human love can ever satisfy it.
But there’s something that can: the Spirit of adoption, Listen “Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). The Message says, “God’s Spirit. . . confirms who we really are” (Romans 8:16). That’s what the Spirit of God wans to do for you; let you know who your really are. You’re God’s child! You’re an heir to all He owns You’re protected day and night by His love! You’re directed step-by-step by His Spirit! You’re given favor even in the midst of adversity! You’re His!
Adoption is an act of premeditated love. It says, “Before your saw Me, I saw you. I adopted you. I gave you My name, My nature, My family, and My inheritance. Now you can call me “Abba” which literally means “my daddy” How wonderful!
YOU CAN RUN TO HIM TODAY, CURL UP IN HIS ARMS AND SAY, “MY DADDY.”
From THE BEST OF THE WORD FOR TODAY
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. ”But why?” they asked, as they moved off. ”because,” he said. . .”I can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.”
THE REASON I NEVER WASH
FEBRUARY 1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. (Psalm 122:1)
Before you tell me why you never go to church, please read Ten Reasons Why I Never Wash!
I was forced to wash as a child. (2) People who wash are all hypocrites; they think they are cleaner than everybody else. (3) There are so many different kinds of soap; I just can’t decide which one is best for me. (4) 1 used to wash, but 1 got bored and stopped doing it. (5) I wash only on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. (6) None of my friends wash. (7) I’ll start washing when I get older and dirtier. (8) I don’t have time to wash. (9) The bathroom is never warm enough in winter or cool enough in summer. (10) The people who make soap are only after your money!
Are you getting the message?
There are principles you’ll hear in God’s house that you won’t hear anywhere else. Can you afford to live without knowing them? Everybody who was anybody in the Bible went to church. Why? Because that’s where you’ll find a family to belong to and insights to live by, that will make this life better-and eternity wonderful!
SEE YOU IN CHURCH THIS SUNDAY!
From the Best of the Word for Today
The judge asked the defendant, “Mr. Jones, do you understand that you have sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?””I do.””Now what do you say to defend yourself?””Your Honor, under those limitations … nothing.” …
A witness to an automobile accident was testifying in court. The following exchange took place between the lawyer and the witness: Lawyer: “Did you actually see the accident?” Witness: “Yes, sir.” Lawyer: “How far away were you when the accident happened?” Witness: “Thirty-one feet, six and one-quarter inches.” Lawyer (thinking he’d trap the witness): “Well, sir, will you tell the jury how you knew it was exactly that distance?”
Witness: “Because when the accident happened I took out a tape and measured it. I knew some sharp lawyer would ask me that question to entrap me.”
IT’S A DAILY WALK
JANUARY 31
Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
To walk with God means to be attentive to .His Word and yielded to His presence. Though we do not see Him, we know Him. We find our security not in people, places, or things-but in Him alone!
The name Noah means “rest.” Noah not only knew his mission in life but he also knew his source, and when you know that you don’t have to worry any more.
But knowing God deeply doesn’t happen quickly; it takes time. Time with Him on the mountaintop and in the valley; time spent with Him in joy and in adversity. Time will test the quality of any relationship! Prisons, shipwrecks, betrayals, beatings, hunger, and disappointment shake Paul’s confidence in God. Listen: “None of these things move me” (Acts 20:24).
Another man who walked with God was Enoch. Listen: “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Every day he rose and sought the Lord, walking with Him and seeking to please Him in all that he did. Their relationship was intimate. The Bible says, “He obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5 NAS). Imagine living in such a way that you have a “witness” in your spirit that God is truly pleased with you!
NOT ONLY IS SUCH A LIFE POSSIBLE. BUT IT CAN BE YOURS, STARTING TODAY.
From the Best of the Word for Today
Four surgeons were taking a coffee break and were discussing their work. The first one said, “I think accountants are the easiest to operate on. You open them up, and everything inside is numbered.” The second one said, “I think librarians are the easiest to operate on. You open them up, and everything inside is in alphabetical order.” The third one said, “I like to operate on electricians. You open them up, and everything inside is color coded.”
The fourth one said, “I like to operate on lawyers. They are heartless, spineless, and gutless, and their head and tail are interchangeable.”
THE CALL OF GOD
JANUARY 30
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; . . . and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)
Before Jeremiah was born, God already saw him ministering to nations.
That’s why discernment is so important. You don’t decide your calling, – you discern it. Have you discerned yours yet? If you haven’t, then get into God’s presence and stay there until He reveals it to you.
Listen to what Jeremiah told God: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot” (Jeremiah 1:6). Is that what you’ve been saying? “I cannot-I’m too young. I’m too poor. 1 don’t have the training. I’m the wrong nationality. I’m too old. I don’t have the right connections. “The first thing God did was to change what was coming out of Jeremiah’s mouth. But listen to God’s reply: “Say not I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:7) Do you hear that: “Say not”? If you keep contradicting what God says, you’re pulling the plug on everything He wants to do for you. “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee . . . I have put my words in thy mouth …. I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:8-9, 12).When God guides, He provides.
Don’t listen to the wrong voices.
TODAY, START LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD; RECEIVE IT BY FAITH; STEP OUT AND OBEY IT. FOR HIS
PROMISE TO YOU TODAY IS, “I AM WITH THEE.”
From the Best of the Word for Today
Doctors at a hospital in Brooklyn, New York have gone on strike.Hospital officials say they will find out what the doctors’ demands are as soon as they can get a pharmacist over there to read the picket signs!
Our favorite museum in town displays quilts from around the country.When I visited recently, I asked the woman at the front desk about a senior discount. It wasn’t to be. “Sir,” she said, “this is a quilt museum. We give discounts to teenagers. …
WHEN JESUS COMES
JANUARY 28
Then they went out … and found the man … sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. (Luke 8:35)
The man in the tombs was bound by evil spirits, filled with fear, and separated from his family. Society said he was hopeless. That’s when Jesus loves to step in! When human wisdom says, “It can’t be done, “Jesus comes! Look at this man now; he’s “clothed, and in his right mind.”
But the locals couldn’t handle it, so they asked Jesus to go back to where He came from. The world hasn’t changed much. When you meet Jesus, and they see you clothed and in your right mind, they won’t know what to do with you either. Have they noticed the difference yet? If none of your old friends are shaken up, then you’re not doing something right. Listen: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5: 17).
This man wanted to join Jesus and His disciples, but Jesus said no. Most of us are not called to full-time ministry, but we’ve all been called to do one thing: “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee” (Luke 8:39). The first place you need to start today is among the people you love and live with.Tell them how great Jesus is. Tell them what He’s done for you. Tell them what He can do for them.
DON’T PUT IF OFF UNTIL TOMORROW-DO IT TODAY.
From the Best of the Word for Today A old snake goes to see his doctor. “Doc, I need something for my eyes. Can’t see well these days.” The doc fixes him up with a pair of glasses and tells him to return in two weeks.The snake comes back two weeks later and tells the doctor he’s very depressed.Doc says, “What’s the problem — didn’t the glasses help you?” “The glasses are fine, Doc. I just discovered I’ve been living with a water hose the past two years!” …
WAITING FOR JESUS
JANUARY 29
When Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. (Luke 8:40)
That’s what your friends and loved ones are doing today – waiting for Jesus. Don’t leave Him in church or confine Him to your Sunday activities.
The miracles of Jesus and the apostles did were not done in church; they did them on their way to wherever they were going. With then: It wasn’t an event – it was a lifestyle. The very shadow of Peter touching the sicks he walked by would bring healing. (See Acts 5:15.)
Today we try to reproduce it in a controlled environment, and look at the results. If all our churches were filled tomorrow, they would hold less than 10 percent of the population. Somethings got to happen! We’ve got to start praying for boldness and compassion to take the Gospel to the neighborhood, instead of trying to bring the neighborhood to us.
They’ve been to church, and most of them didn’t like it because they didn’t see Jesus there. And they’re still waiting for Him!
INTRODUCE HIM TODAY TO SOMEBODY YOU LOVE. THEY’LL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.
From the Best of the Word for Today
A prospective juror in a Dallas District Court was surprised by the definition of voluntary manslaughter given to the panel: “An intentional killing that occurs while the defendant is under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause, such as when a spouse’s mate is found in a ‘compromising position.'”
“See, I have a problem with that passion business,” responded the jury candidate. “During my first marriage, I discovered that my husband was having an affair with my neighbor. All I did was divorce him. I had no idea that I could have shot him.”
She wasn’t selected for the jury.
DECISIONS
JANUARY 25
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. (Joshua 24:15 NIV)
What you are today was determined by the decisions you made yesterday. If you want to change your future, learn how to make better decisions today. Here are a few principles to guide you:
(1) Never make a permanent decision about a temporary situation. When the smoke clears, you’ll regret it.
(2) Never let your emotions blind you to reason. Weigh things prayerfully, and base your decisions
on mature judgment.
3) Surround yourself with wise people and draw on their gifts, without being intimidated by their expertise.
(4) Take the time to consider all options. What looks good today may
not look so good tomorrow.
(5) You can’t fight successfully on every front, so choose your battles carefully. Don’t go into a battle where there are no spoils.
(6) Get all the facts; conjecture leads to crisis.
(7) Consider the consequences of each option, and ask yourself, Am I ready to handle them right now?
(8) Make sure your expectations don’t exceed your potential and resources. Be realistic. If you can’t sing, don’t cut an album.
(9) Time is your most limited and valuable resource. Don’t waste it.
(10) Allow yourself a 10 percent risk of being wrong, a 50 percent likelihood of betrayal, and a 100 percent commitment to survive it all.
SO TODAY, WHOM WILL YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE?
My father always loved fast cars. Taking advantage of the empty roads one morning, he accelerated down a wide-open stretch. Unfortunately, a young police officer was waiting at the other end and Dad was flagged down. He greeted the officer with a cheery “Good morning.”
“And a good morning to you, Wing Commander,” replied the officer. “Having trouble taking off?”
Two medical residents were invited to a costume party after their shift ended. They stopped at the Army/Navy store to see if they could find costumes but only had enough money to buy one pair of fatigues. But that was okay. One wore the top half and one wore the bottom half … they went as an upper and lower GI. …
ARE YOU ANXIOUS TODAY?
JANUARY 24
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (Psalm 56:3)
Anxiety can be like a big wave that washes over you and stops you dead in your tracks. It can paralyze you and take away everything good in your life. If you let it take control, you’ll do nothing, say nothing, and end up feeling like nothing.
When you think about it, worry is silly! (And dangerous.) It means you’re not trusting God to carry out the promises He has made to you. Yes, He’s given you responsibilities, and it’s important to take them seriously; but He has commanded you to trust Him (see Proverbs 3:5).
Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds … ” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
You are special in the eyes of the Lord. Let that sink in! He loves you and cherishes you. What are you afraid of? Don’t you know your Father is with you? Every step you take He accompanies you! If you stumble, He’ll catch you. If you fall, He’ll lift you up. If you walk with Him, He guarantees that you’ll reach your destination.
TODAY, REST IN HIS LOVE, FEEL HIS STRENGTH, AND BEGIN TO MOVE AHEAD WITHOUT FEAR.
Billy and Bubba, two farmers from a small town outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, were walking home together after each had purchased a pig. Billy said to Bubba, “How are we going to tell them apart?”
Bubba answered, “We’ll cut the left ear off of your pig.” And so they did.
After a while, the pigs got into a fight and they had bitten off each others ears. Billy asked, “Now what are we going to do?”
“Well, how about if we cut the tail off of my pig?” Bubba replied.
“That sounds like a good plan to me,” Billy agreed.
A little while later, the pigs got into another fight, and when it was over, they were both missing their tails.
“What will we do now?” Bubba asked Billy.
After giving it some thought, Billy replied, “Well, we could cut the leg off of yours.”
“That’s not humane!” Bubba cried.
So after some more thought, Billy said, “Well, let’s do this. We’ll just call the white one yours and the black one mine.”
A HABIT OF LYING
JANUARY 23
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. (Colossians 3:9)
Rick Pitino says, “Lying makes a problem part of the future; truth makes it a part of the past. “You see, when you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said; no one has a good enough memory to be a successful liar!
A lie may seem to be the easy way out. But even if it solves your present problem, it creates future ones that blur your vision, cause you to lose confidence before God in prayer, and eventually cost you the respect of others. Even worse-your present lies can only be defended by future lies.
The Ninth Commandment summarized says, “Thou shalt not lie” (see Exodus 20:16), and it is often the most difficult to keep. Have you ever told a lie to spare someone’s feelings, avoid confrontation, or make yourself look better?
One writer says it this way: “Hope built on a lie is always the beginning of loss. Never attempt to build anything on a foundation of lies and half-truths. It will not stand. “If you want to walk with confidence toward God, ask Him to give you the courage to always walk in truth.
REMEMBER, ANYTHING LESS DISTORTS GOD’S PLAN AND LEADS YOU INTO PLACES WHERE HE NEVER MEANT YOU TO BE.
The wise old Mother Superior from County Tipperary was dying. The nuns gathered around her bed trying to make her comfortable. They gave her some warm milk to drink, but she refused it. Then one nun took the glass back to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of Irish whiskey they had received as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened and poured a generous amount into the warm milk. When she walked back to Mother Superior’s bed, she held the glass to her lips. Mother drank a little, then a little more. Before they knew it, she had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop. “Mother,” the nuns asked with earnest, “Please give us some wisdom before you die.”
She raised herself up in bed with a pious look on her face and said, “Don’t sell that cow.”
HUNGRY FOR GOD
JANUARY 22
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee. (Psalm 63:1)
Talk about lifestyles of the rich and famous! David had the world’s most beautiful women, but sex could not fill the void. If fame could satisfy, he was in a class of his own. If looks could do it, he was an Old Testament version of Sean Connery. But you can eat lobster every night, own resort homes in paradise, and yet still have an emptiness in your heart as big as the Grand Canyon. You see, there’s a God-shaped blank inside cf you. He made you that way.
Ever since Adam walked with God, there has been a longing-akin to a primal scream-for God’s presence in our lives. David speaks for all of us: “My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). He’s saying, “I’ve seen man’s best-and it’s fleeting.” It’s a seat on the board, a trophy from the field of athletics, or a crowd applauding. Then it’s all gone and the emptiness remains.
There’s only one place to go, and that’s to Him. Listen to the rest of the psalm: “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live” (Psalm 63:3-4).
TODAY, LET YOUR HUNGER LEAD YOU INTO HIS PRESENCE
A pastor goes to the dentist for a set of false teeth.
The first Sunday after he gets his teeth, he talks for only eight minutes. The second Sunday, he talks for only ten minutes. The following Sunday, he talks for 2 hours and 48 minutes.
The congregation has to mob him to get him down from the pulpit, and they ask him what happened.
The pastor explains the first Sunday his gums hurt so bad he couldn’t talk for more than 8 minutes.
The second Sunday his gums hurt too much to talk for more than 10 minutes.
But, the third Sunday, by mistake he put his wife’s teeth in and couldn’t stop talking.