CALLED ACCORDING TO...

" Called according to
His purpose . "
Ro 8: 28 NKJV
Nobody can give you
a vision for your life,
but here's how to
find yours: ( 1) Look
within you . What
moves you , what are
you excited about ?
Paul said, " I am
compelled to
preach" ( 1Co 9: 16
NIV ) . ( 2) Look behind
you . What has life
taught you ?
Experience provides
us with the wisdom
needed to fulfill our
destiny . What does
your past tell you
about your future?
( 3) Look around you .
God never calls us
alone. Moses needed
seventy elders . Jesus
picked twelve
disciples. Paul spoke
of those who worked
with him . Fulfilling
your destiny requires
having the right
people in your life .
( 4) Look ahead of
you . Helen Keller
said, "The only thing
that 's worse than
being blind, is having
sight but no vision ."
What do you see
through the eye of
faith? St. Augustine
said, "Faith is to
believe what we do
not see, and the
reward of faith is to
see what we
believe. " ( 5) Look
beside you . What
resources are
available to you , like
books, CD 's ,
conferences and
mentors ? If your
vision is not bigger
than you , it 's not of
God. And the greater
it is, the more
resources it will
require . ( 6 ) Look
above you . Jeremiah
writes, "They speak a
vision of their own
heart, not from the
mouth of the
Lord" ( Jer 23 : 16
NKJV ) . We are "called
according to His
purpose, " not
according to the
need, or the fact that
the door is open, or
that our talent will
be appreciated and
well rewarded . Your
vision must fulfill
your God- ordained
destiny , nothing else .
So , do you need to
recognize your vision,
or resurrect your
vision , or refocus on
your vision ?

YOU SHALL KNOW

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” Isaiah 1:18 & 19

Walk with me. I, the Lord, will teach you. Listen to me and I will speak. Continue to meet with me, in spite of all opposition and every obstacle, in spite of days when you may hear no voice, and there may come no intimate heart-to-heart words.

Persist in this journey with me, and make a life-habit of walking in my commands and statues as inspired from My Word. I will reveal my will to you in many marvelous ways. You shall come to know about the present and the future. That is a reward of coming and sitting at the table together.
My child life is a school. There are many teachers. Believe literally that the problems and difficulties of your lives can be explained by me more clearly and effectually than by any other.

Today my sons and daughters, let’s go to the table and talk. I miss you.

I CLEAR THE PATH

Wait on the Lord.
Psalms 27:14

I am your shield. Have no fear. You must know that "All is well." I can see the future. I can read men's hearts. I know better than you what you need. Trust me absolutely. You are not at the mercy of Fate, or buffeted about by others. You are being led in a very definite way, and others, who do not serve your purpose, are being moved out of your path by me.

Never fear, whatever may happen. You are being led. Do not try to figure my plan out. I have a plan for your life. You are the builder, not the Architect. Trust me. Your foundation must be on the Rock -- Christ, faith in him, and "being rooted and grounded in him," thru the word of God. You must learn of me by reading your Bible daily. Then you will know me, the Architect of your life.

Literally, my child, you have to depend on me for everything--everything. It was out of the depths of David's soul that he cried unto me. I, the Lord, heard his cry and answered him, "All is well."

Today my child hear your Father's voice, "All is well; I AM in control.

HE'S A GOD OF ABUNDANCE!

"My cup runs over."
Psalm 23:5 NKJV

Paul writes, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20 NKJV). Our God is a God of abundance!

In Scripture, the overflowing cup is a powerful symbol. As long as your cup was kept full you were welcome. But if it sat empty, the host was hinting that it was time to go. If he really enjoyed your company he kept filling it until it ran over the edge and down onto the table. Is your cup overflowing today? That means you're welcome at God's table, your seat is guaranteed, nobody can take your place, and your needs will be abundantly supplied.

F. B. Meyer wrote: "Whatever the blessing in your cup, it's sure to run over. With God the calf is always the fatted calf, the robe is always the best robe, the joy is unspeakable, the peace passeth understanding. God's way is always characterized by overflowing bounty." So the last thing on earth we need to worry about is "making ends meet." Our cup overflows. Take grace, for example: "The more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God's abounding grace forgiving us" (Ro 5:20 TLB). To abound is to have a surplus! The cup God gives overflows with mercy. Are you afraid it will run dry? That your warranty will expire? That your mistakes are too great? No way!

Before Paul became a Christian he went around persecuting, imprisoning and killing Christians. Yet he wrote, "Grace...was poured out on me abundantly" (1Ti 1:14 NIV). Whatever you need today, God has-in abundance. So ask, and believe Him for it!

FRESH OIL

"You anoint my head with oil."
Psalm 23:5 NKJV

The shepherd anoints his sheep with oil for two purposes: (a) To repel insects. If allowed to deposit their eggs into the soft membrane of a sheep's nose they can drive the sheep insane; the ewes stop giving milk and the lambs stop growing. So the shepherd anoints his sheep with an oil-like repellant that keeps the enemy at bay and the flock at peace. (b) To heal wounds. Most wounds result from living with the flock. So the shepherd regularly inspects his sheep because he doesn't want today's wound to become tomorrow's infection. Whether circumstances are driving you crazy, or you've just been wounded as a result of living with the flock:

First, go to the Shepherd. Before you go to anybody else, go to God because "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Ps 147:3 NIV). Second, bow before Him. In order to be anointed the sheep must lower their heads and let the shepherd apply the oil. Humble yourself, call on the Lord. "God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him...he will not be slow to answer them" (Lk 18:7 NCV). David writes, "I shall be anointed with fresh oil" (Ps 92:10). Yesterday's oil is quickly contaminated by the dirt and grime of the journey, so you must go to God daily and ask Him to empower you with His Spirit. A sheep doesn't understand how the oil works, but it doesn't have to. It's enough to know that something happens in the presence of its shepherd, that happens nowhere else.

VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

Psalm 23:5 NKJV

To protect his sheep the shepherd must constantly be on the lookout for a small, brown snake called the adder that can pop up out of its hole, bite the sheep and kill them. And that's what the Lord has done for us! He's dealt with Satan, the old serpent, and has prepared for us "a table in the presence of our enemies." He's done for us what He did for Peter after his infamous chapter of denial: invited us back into fellowship with Him. Three days after Jesus rose from the dead, the angel said, "Go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee" (Mk 16:7 NKJV).

The biggest failure was the only one Jesus singled out by name. When Peter reached the shore that morning beaten and weary, the fire was burning, the meal was prepared, and Jesus was saying, "Come and dine" (Jn 21:12). Have you failed badly? Jesus invites you to come, be fed, be healed and restored to fellowship with Him. But a word of caution: Peter didn't think he would fail, but he did. And so can you. St. Augustine said, "The Devil is like a mad dog that's chained up. He's powerless to harm us when we are outside his reach, but once we enter his circle we expose ourselves again to injury or harm." You're no match for the enemy! But God has given you a strategy for dealing with him: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas 4:7 NIV).

FACING DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me."
Ps 23:4 NKJV

One day Jesus will come and take each of us to His house. "How do we get there?" you ask. "Through the valley of the shadow of death." This verse is quoted at the graves of paupers and carved on the headstones of presidents, because:

(1) We must all face death. A group of senior citizens was lounging on the patio of their retirement community. One looked up as a large flock of birds flew overhead. He nudged his buddy who'd dozed off: "Frank, you'd better move around a little, those buzzards look like they're closing in on us." The Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die" (Heb 9:27). Sooner or later the buzzards will move in; will you be ready?
(2) We don't have to face it alone. Donna Spratt writes: "To begin a discussion on values, our youth pastor asked the teens this question: ‘What would you do if your doctor told you you had only twenty-four hours to live?' The teens' responses were typically, ‘Be with friends and family.' But the discussion came undone when Jason, our thirteen-year-old, said, ‘I'd get a second opinion.'" When it comes to opinions about death, only one counts: "Jesus said...‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (Jn 11:25-26 NIV).
Do you believe this?'" Rejoice, you won't have to make the journey alone. Furthermore, whatever you give up for Christ in this life will be nothing to what you inherit in the next.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM

"For his name's sake."
Psalm 23:3

Actor Kevin Bacon recalls when his six-year-old son saw the movie Footloose for the first time: "‘Hey, Dad, you know that part in the movie where you swing from the rafters? That's really cool, how did you do that?' I said, ‘Well, I didn't do that part...it was a stuntman.' ‘What's a stuntman?' he asked. ‘That's someone who dresses like me and does things I can't do.' ‘Oh,' he replied and walked out of the room looking a little confused. Later he said, ‘Hey, Dad, you know that part in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet? How did you do that?' I said, ‘Well, I didn't do that either. That was a gymnastics double.' ‘What's a gymnastics double?' he asked. ‘That's a guy who dresses in my clothes and does things I can't do.' Then his son asked, ‘Dad, what did you do?' ‘I got all the glory,' I sheepishly replied." The songwriter put it this way: "Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before Thy throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Ever ask, "How could God use someone like me?" The Psalmist answers, "For his name's sake"! Only one name counts-and it's not yours! With the same intensity that God hates pride, He loves humility. His Word says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (Jas 4:6 NIV). So here are a few tips on staying humble:

(1) Evaluate yourself honestly. Don't be like the beaver who told the rabbit as they stared up at the immense wall of Hoover Dam, "No, I didn't actually build it myself. But it was based on an idea of mine." The Bible says, "Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself...but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities"
(Rom 12:3-4 PHPS).
(2) Learn to celebrate others. Paul writes, "Don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves" (Php 2:3 NLT). Every goal scored in life is usually a team effort. Be like the little boy who came home from the tryouts for the school play and announced, "Mommy, I got the part. I've been chosen to sit in the audience and cheer." When you can do that, your head finally fits your hat size.
(3) Don't announce your success before it occurs. "One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off" (1Ki 20:11 NIV). When one of Charles Spurgeon's students proudly stepped up to preach, but came back down having failed miserably, Spurgeon supposedly said something like, "If you'd gone up the way you came down, you'd have come down the way you went up." God blesses our efforts only when they're done "for his name's sake."

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR PEACE OF MIND?

"He restoreth my soul [peace of mind]."
Psalm 23:3

When life overwhelms us we usually look for one of two things:
(1) Somebody with all the answers. The trouble is, when you look to someone for that which only God can provide, you set that person up to fail and yourself up to be disappointed.
(2) Somewhere with fewer problems. Paul Harvey wrote: "After Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida, Patricia Christy vowed she was going to leave on the first plane. She was determined to get as far away from the horror of hurricane damage as she possibly could and have a restful vacation." Harvey said, "I just heard from Patricia Christy. She was standing in line for fresh water on the Hawaiian Island Kauai, having just gone through Hurricane Iniki!"

Sheep get anxious when storms come, predators roar, or they're forced to move to unfamiliar territory. How do they handle such times? By moving closer to the shepherd! Have you lost your peace of mind today? Read the following Scriptures; they'll help you move closer to your Shepherd: "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them" (Ps 5:11 NKJV). "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Dt 33:27 NIV). "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isa 26:3 NKJV). "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him" (Na 1:7 NKJV). For, "The Lord remembers us and will bless us" (Ps 115:12 NIV).
This weekend, don't let anything keep you from the House of God.

GOD WILL BE "THERE" FOR YOU!

"The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.......He leadeth me beside the still waters."
Ps 23:1-2

Doug McKnight was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at thirty-two. Over the next sixteen years it would cost him his career, his mobility, and eventually his life. But he never lost his sense of gratitude. When his church friends asked him to compile a list of prayer requests, he responded by sending them eighteen blessings for which to be grateful and six concerns for which to be prayerful. His blessings were three times greater than his needs! Doug McKnight discovered that what he had in God was greater than whatever else he didn't have in life. Have you discovered that yet?

Philip Yancey says, "Faith means trusting in advance, what will only make sense in reverse." If you fear the future, look back and see how God took care of you in the past. "This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness...The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him" (La 3:21-25 NIV). You say, "I don't know what I'll do if my loved one dies." You will-when the time comes. You say, "I don't know how I'll pay these bills." Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides, will be there-when the time comes. You say, "I'm not qualified to handle this, there's too much I don't know." Maybe you want to know everything too soon. God will give you wisdom-when the time comes. The key is to meet today's problems with today's strength, and leave tomorrow in God's hands. During WWll, Arthur Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, found it hard to sleep or rid his mind of fear until he adopted these words from the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light": "I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me." And God isn't going to let you see the distant scene either. No, He promises a lamp for your feet, not a crystal ball for your future. "He leadeth me" and that's enough for today. And tomorrow? "We will find grace to help us when we need it" (Heb 4:16 NLT).

SURPRISE ASSIGNMENT

"Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross."

Mark 15:21, NKJV

Can you imagine Simon's surprise when the Roman soldiers yanked him out of the crowd to carry the cross of Jesus Christ? Scripture says Simon was just "passing by." Maybe he had followed the crowd to see what the commotion was about. It could be that he heard people talking about someone named "Jesus Christ" and was curious. For whatever reason, Simon was on the path that day because God placed him right where he needed to be for this special assignment. Simon never asked to be in the spotlight. He never dreamed he would carry Christ's cross . . . but God knew. The only one who was really surprised was Simon.

You see, as you work to achieve God's plan for your life, you may be faced with a surprise-maybe a trial, a trouble or a difficult assignment. You must be willing to follow God's leading no matter what the situation and carry the cross. Even though God may ask something of you that you never dreamed you would do, remember . . . He sees the big picture. If you face a difficult decision in your life, we would love to pray for you. Maybe you are seeking God's direction for a specific opportunity or challenge. Do you have an unexpected burden? Let us know and we will come alongside you in prayer, asking God to give you strength and wisdom. Just remember this: You don't decide your assignment....you discover it!

WHAT'S YOUR ACHILLES HEEL?

"The sin that so easily trips us up."
Heb 12:1 NLT

Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, was invulnerable, with one exception: his heel. Shoot him there and he'd go down. Guess what? He died from an arrow to the heel! We all have our Achilles' heel-the "sin that so easily trips us up." Here, blindness, indifference or denial sets us up for failure. So how do we overcome our Achilles' heel? Author John Piper offers us a solution in the form of an acronym: ANTHEM.

A-avoid sights and situations that arouse unfitting desires. Prevent what fuels your appetite for sin.
N-say No to every lustful thought within five seconds. In the first two seconds shout "No, get out of my head!" In the next two, cry out, "Oh God, in the name of Jesus, help me. Save me now. I am yours." Say it out loud. The Puritan writer John Owen said, "Be killing sin, or it will be killing you."
T-turn the mind forcefully towards Christ. Attack sin with the promises of Christ.
H-hold the promise and pleasure of Christ firmly in mind. For how long? Until it pushes other images out. Hold it. Don't let it go. Hold it until you win!
E-enjoy a superior satisfaction:  Pleasure in Christ. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph.
M-move into useful activity, away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Abound in the work of the Lord (1Co 15:58). Replace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.

Today, using this simple acronym, you can move from vulnerability to victory by drawing on the power of God's Spirit within you (Gal 5:25).

AN IDEAL DAY

Psalm 92:1-6

As we begin each day, we trust we'll still be around at the end of the
day. What happens in between depends on how we start in the morning and
how we end in the evening. Verses 1 and 2 describe an ideal day: "It is
good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most
High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness
every night."

That's how we ought to live each day. When you wake up in the morning,
remember His lovingkindness. Don't wake up grouchy, saying, "Oh my,
another day." Wake up saying, "Today the Lord loves me, and His
lovingkindness endures forever. God has my life in His hands. There's
nothing to be afraid of."

During the day offer praise and thanksgiving. "It is good to give thanks
to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High." Find every
reason you can to praise Him--even for little things like parking places,
phone calls that bring a blessing to you or perhaps news of a friend.

At the close of the day, remember God's faithfulness. In the morning we
look forward to lovingkindness. During the day we experience that
lovingkindness. And at the end of the day, we can look back and say, "God
has been faithful." No matter how difficult this day may be for you, when
you get to the end, you're going to be able to look back and say, "Great
is Thy faithfulness."

Each day has its own set of burdens, blessings and challenges. How you
begin and end a day determines what kind of day you will have. Begin your
day with lovingkindness. Praise God and thank Him during the day. In the
evening, remember His faithfulness during the day. What a great recipe for
living a day at a time!

ARE YOU STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, PART 2

Are You Struggling Financially? (2)


"God...will supply all your needs."
Php 4:19 NLT

Here are a few more steps you can take to deal effectively with debt:

(1) Start digging yourself out. It's disheartening to find bills piling up in your mailbox every day, but you need to know the bottom line. List your debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest. Try to pay as much as possible towards the highest and the minimum towards the rest. Make a start, no matter now long it takes; there's too much at stake not to. (2) Model sound financial principles for your children. Be open with them and explain that electricity, food, toys, and clothes cost money. And the reason you're not driving the latest car is because you can't afford it. Your kids are making money memories now, so "teach them diligently" (Dt 6:7 NKJV). (3) "Give, and it will be given to you" (Lk 6:38 NAS). Suze Orman says: "One day I was in a terrible funk. I turned on the TV and happened to catch a fundraiser. I picked up the phone and pledged as much as I could. Those people needed money more than me. Immediately I felt like a burden had been lifted. From then on whenever I felt down, I'd give...and I'd feel better. Amazingly in every instance the amount was showered back on me tenfold." The rewards of giving aren't always financial; sometimes it's the sense of freedom and purpose that comes from doing it. Plus, money should never be so important that you can't let it go. Remember, by helping others you're paving the way for God to "supply all your needs," and His shovel is much bigger than yours!

ARE YOU STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, PART 1

"I have never seen the righteous forsaken." Ps 37:25 NIV

For many who've lost their jobs or who don't earn enough to live on, debt has become a harsh reality. So much so, that they're afraid to even think about their situation. But burying your head in the sand isn't the answer. With God's help and some common-sense suggestions you can start moving toward financial freedom. A respected financial consultant offers these suggestions:

(1) Be truthful. Before you can change anything you need to know where your money's going. There's nothing to be ashamed of; like an alcoholic entering recovery, the first step is admitting you have a problem. On a 5x7 card jot down every dollar you spend for thirty days. It adds up quickly, "all...those little foxes...ruin the vineyard" (SS 2:15 NLT). By looking at the big picture, you'll see areas you can cut back.
(2) Learn from your past experiences. If you don't learn from the past you'll keep repeating it. For example, if you didn't get a lot of Christmas gifts as a child, it can be tempting to overcompensate with your own kids and end up maxing out your credit cards. Or, growing up in an atmosphere of financial turmoil can make it difficult to talk about money with your spouse.
(3) Value yourself more than your paycheck. Jesus said the important things in life aren't "things" (See Mt 6:25 AMP). Beating yourself up won't help you earn more; it'll just blind you to the real blessings in life. Remember, no matter how tough it gets, God is faithful. David said, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging," and you won't either!

WALK IN PURITY

"He will purify...and refine them like gold."
Mal 3:3 NIV

When gold is refined over extreme heat the first thing to come to the surface is dross. The next thing to be separated from it is silver, a less precious metal that blends with the raw gold ore. There's an important lesson here. Most of us are unable to separate the good from the best, so Malachi writes, "He will purify...and refine them like gold." God does it, because we don't know how! After committing adultery with Bathsheba, David writes, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Ps 51:10 NKJV). David prays for two things: A clean heart and a steadfast desire to walk in purity.

Personal failure is usually the result of a slow, steady buildup, rather than a single act of disobedience. It happens when we focus on the wrong things and neglect our spiritual life. So God calls us to the place of solitude, a place with no distractions, in order to probe our deepest thoughts and open our eyes to certain issues that need attention. It's here He makes us aware of what we excuse, or try to hide from others. It's here the junk we've collected during the busy hours of our day gets filtered out. With the debris out of the way, we're able to see things more clearly and respond to God's nudgings. There's no way to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with God without the discipline James talks about: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands...and purify your hearts" (Jas 4:8 NKJV).

WHEN YOU KNOW, THEN YOU MUST!

"...Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business."
Luke 2:49, NKJV

I love the Luke 2 account of Jesus at 12 years old. His family had celebrated the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. On the trip home they discovered Jesus was missing. After three days of searching, Jesus' parents found Him in the temple among the teachers. As parents, Joseph and Mary were frightened, shocked and probably a little angry. But Jesus knew why he was there. He knew the "I must" of His life. "I must" deals with your purpose, your mission, your assignment from God. It gives you fire, passion and a reason for being on this earth! Too many people today live an "I" life, a life focused on personal comfort and pleasures rather than "who" God wants you to be.

Once you get a vision of who you are in Jesus Christ as a child of God, God has something incredible planned for you! Your "I am" determines your "I must." Not only did Jesus know who He was, but He knew what He must do. Let me share a few elements of an "I must" lifestyle:
1) "I must" moves you from being to doing. Living for your "I must" means you are actively working to accomplish God's purpose. 2) "I must" means your life has a purpose beyond yourself. You have a reason for living that is greater than your own needs and wants. 3) "I must" means you live out of conviction rather than convenience. 4) "I must" will include times of trial and turmoil, like unexpected crosses to bear. But each struggle prepares you to carry out His great purpose for your life.

Do you know your "I must?" Declare the vision God has given you for your life by sharing it.

TIME OUT

"Cast your burden on the Lord."
Ps 55:22 NKJV

A hiker with two heavy duffle bags was walking down a road in 90-degree heat. A truck driver stopped and told him to hop on. Later when the driver looked in his rearview mirror, the hiker was standing in the truck-bed still holding his bags! We smile, but as Jon Walker points out, many of us "stand in the truck of faith carrying our burdens, thinking they're independent of the ride we're taking. We think God can carry us but not our burdens...The Psalmist said, ‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you.' Rest in His power and grace...confident He's looking out for your best interests. Rest requires dependence, and one sign that you're not resting in God...is worry...the need to control...Next time you feel overwhelmed...settle into a chair, ‘Be still, and know that [He is] God' (Ps 46:10)."

In this instance, the command to "be still" comes from the word rapha which means..."to let go...release...and give up." You've struggled long enough; give your burden to the Burden Bearer. Set it down! In order to do that you must do two things: (1) Practice saying no. If you're constantly available you'll end up stretched so thin you'll be no good to anybody. Jesus didn't try to please everybody. He prayed, got God's agenda and stuck to it. God will give you the grace to do only what He has commanded, not what you think or what others would like. (2) Value solitude. Turn off your PDA, pager and cell phone. The sign of a well-ordered mind is the ability to sit quietly in one place and linger in your own company.

MAKE ALLOWANCE, PART 2

"Make allowance for each other's faults."
Col 3:13 NLT

C. S. Lewis said, "Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive." Author Mac Anderson writes: "A few times in my life I've been wronged. My first reaction...was anger and resentment. I...felt my stomach tie up in knots, my appetite wane, and the joy slip out of my life...like I'd played the first half of a basketball game in steel shoes. In the locker room the coach said, ‘Try these new Nikes in the second half.' Multiply that by ten and you'll understand how it feels to unload your emotional baggage through the power of forgiveness." Jesus debunked the myth that love is based on feelings. It's an act of your will, and if you love God you'll keep His commandments. It's that simple. If you're struggling to forgive someone who's hurt you, here are some scriptural guidelines to help you:

Don't seek retribution. Instead, "Overcome evil with good" (Ro 12:21). God said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay" (Ro 12:19). Don't rush to judgment. That's not always easy when you're the injured party, but the ultimate Judge said, "With what judgment you judge, you will be judged" (Mt 7:2 NKJV). Make things right. Jesus said, "Be reconciled to your brother" (Mt 5:24 NIV). Don't wait for the other person to make the first move, you do it. Paul says, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men" (Heb 12:14 NIV). Pray for the offender. As much as it goes against your grain, when you "pray for those who mistreat you" (Lk 6:28 NIV), God gives you the grace to forgive and see them through His eyes.

MAKE ALLOWANCE, PART 1

"Make allowance for each other's faults."
Col 3:13 NLT

When it comes to forgiving, you can't say it better than Tim Stafford did: "I would rather be cheated a hundred times, than develop a heart of stone." The Bible says, "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you." You don't get to choose who you'll forgive. Love is a command, forgiveness is an act of obedience. "He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1Jn 4:21 NIV). You can't be closer to God than you are to the people you love least. God sets the bar high because grudges are like cancer, and forgiveness is the laser that removes them. Bitterness chains us to the past, destroys families, divides churches and sours relationships. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the handcuffs of hate. Take your hurt feelings to God and say, "Point out anything...that offends you" (Psalm 139:24 NLT). It takes courage, but that's the kind of prayer He answers. It gets easier as you grow in Christ; in the meantime you have to work at it. As a child of God His Spirit lives inside you. You're no longer a slave to sin (See Ro 6:14). God knows it's hard to forgive deep-seated hurts, but He will give you grace to do it.

To "make allowance" means to take a charitable view and consider extenuating circumstances. People change and grow over time, so don't insist on clinging to a limited, outdated view of them. Try to see them as they are today. Most folks are doing their best based on the knowledge and understanding they have now, so give them a break!

WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED

"I am...discouraged, but I will remember you."
Psalm 42:6 NLT

Max Lucado says, "When God doesn't do what we want it's not easy; it never has been, and it never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us...and he'll get us through. Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations...and it's cured by revamped expectations...Don't panic...don't give up...be patient...God's in control. It ain't over till it's over."

So, when you're disappointed: (a) Look inward. David asked, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?" (Ps 42:5 NLT). Admit how you feel. You can't deal with what you don't acknowledge. Ask God to show you the root of the problem. Is it pent-up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical and mental fatigue? Be open to what He reveals. (b) "chin-up", Look upward. David said, "I will...hope in God! I will praise him" (v. 5). Instead of focusing on your discouragement, focus on the One who knows the way out. (c) Remember God's past faithfulness. David said, "I am...discouraged, but I will remember you." Through every trial Joseph clung to the assurance that God still controlled his destiny. Recalling God's faithfulness builds your confidence that He'll continue to provide. (d) Remember, you don't have to understand. Just because you can't figure out what God's doing right now, doesn't mean it won't make sense later. He "causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him]" (Ro 8:28 NAS). (e) Don't give in to bitterness. When your hopes are dashed, resentment can set in. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Ro 8:31 NKJV). Regardless of how deep the pit may seem, God is on your side!

YOU HAVE WHAT'S REQUIRED!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Php 4:13 NKJV

When David first arrived at King Saul's palace he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive résumé! And God, in essence, said, "I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching when you didn't realize it." Solomon wrote, "A man's gift maketh room for him" (Pr 18:16). David's gift may have been only a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel's king. So even though what you've got doesn't seem like much-give it to God and watch what He can do with it. You say, "But I'm not formally trained." All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available. When you give God what you've got, He gives you what He's got; that makes your odds unbeatable. "But I don't have the right credentials," you say. So what? Benjamin Franklin had less than two years of formal schooling. Yet at twenty-five he founded America's first library, at thirty-one he started its first fire department, at thirty-six he designed a heating stove that's still in use today, at forty he harnessed the power of electricity, at forty-five he founded the nation's first university, and at seventy-nine he invented bifocals. He was an economist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor, educator, publisher, and linguist who spoke and wrote in five languages.

Chances are, you already have more education than he had when he was your age. Add to that these two promises, "The Lord is my helper" (Heb 13:6 NKJV), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and you have what's required!

SECRETS

"You're after...truth from the inside out."
Psalm 51:6 TM

Lisa Whittle says: "Pornography...excessive shopping...eating disorders develop in isolation...What we watch...think...how we spend our time are the ‘secret places' Satan uses. It's not that we don't want to be honest...but fear of being discovered keeps us...[trapped]...If Satan can get us to...bury our secret[s]...we can't be effective for God...our private sins will eat away at us, making us feel fraudulent and unworthy...The truth is we're the ones who don't love and accept ourselves, not God! ‘What is hidden he brings to light' (Job 28:11 NKJV) because He's ‘after...truth from the inside out.'" So: Practice honesty.

When you catch yourself in a lie, stop, admit it and apologize. It's embarrassing, but you'll think twice next time! Develop a strong faith. Make authenticity a top priority. Strengthen your walk with God through daily prayer and Bible-reading. Consider your motivation. Make sure the improvements you're working on in your life aren't just to impress others. Appreciate your God-given attributes. Make a list, stop and look at it when you feel "less-than." Value your own judgment. Consider what you've already accomplished and the good decisions you've made in the past.

Dr. Edwin Locke says, "Think independently...be mindful of what's suitable for you regardless of what the rest of the world says." Stop trying to be perfect or look super spiritual. Openness means living without pretense and giving others permission to be transparent. Remember, seemingly "together people" have their not-so-together moments, and falling apart is sometimes how you get put back together. Live with a genuineness others will want to emulate. Honesty facilitates honesty. When you're real, people can tell.

WHO ARE YOU?

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."

John 10:14-15, NKJV

I find it so comforting that Jesus knew exactly who He was and what He was on earth to do. Some of the most miserable people in the world are those who really don't know who they are. You've met them . . . the kind of people who spend the first half of their adult life trying to "find themselves." Then, they spend the last half regretting what they found. As Christians, you and I have the opportunity to know, really know, who we are in Jesus Christ. In our verse today, Jesus knew who He was and He knew the Father. "I am" is a statement of identity. It refers to "who you are" in Jesus Christ-born again and on your way to Heaven!

When you understand who you are in Christ, you've answered the "I am" question and you can move forward with confidence and peace. I encourage you today to ask yourself this question-Is Jesus Christ Lord of my life? If so, you know who you are! We would love to know who you are, too! Please leave a comment below sharing your testimony with us.