WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking, by a Child

A message every parent should read, because your children are watching and
doing as you do, not as you say.

"When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the
refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned
that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me
and I learned that little things can be the special things in life.

When you though I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there
is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a
friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of
each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to
help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something
should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt
loved and safe.

When you though I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and
everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your
responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would
have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I
learned that sometimes things hurt, but its all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be
everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I
need to know to be good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say,
'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'"

Each of us - parent, grandparent or friend - influence the life of a child.

-- Author Unknown

TIME MANAGEMENT

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business
students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students
will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered
overachiever s he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a
one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them,
one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more
rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes." The time management expert replied,
"Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He
dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work
themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the
group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of
sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the
spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the
question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a
pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the
brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this
illustration? "

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full
your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things
in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.

The truth this illustration teaches us is:

If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

What are the 'big rocks' in your life, time with your loved ones, your
faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring
others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them
in at all.

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story,
ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life?

Then, put those in your jar first.

-- Author Unknown

Focusing on God
Genesis 37:5-11

"Man is born for trouble" (Job 5:7). There is no way to avoid or escape this common condition of mankind. As we continue to look at Joseph's life, we get a glimpse of the anchor that held him steady while, one after another, the waves of affliction rolled over him.

When Joseph was a teenager, he was given two dreams about the Lord's future plans for his life. They revealed that he would one day be in a place of authority and honor, and his family would bow down to him. Scripture had not yet been written in those days, and the Lord would sometimes speak to men in their dreams.

Previously, God had spoken to Jacob in a dream and given him a promise (Gen. 28:10-16). And now his son was hearing from the Lord in the same way. Joseph followed his father's example of faith and believed the message.

The Lord knew that Joseph was going to need a promise to get him through the difficulty that would soon follow. God's Word to him was his anchor. During all the trials, Joseph kept on believing that the Lord would fulfill His promise. He focused on the faithfulness of the God, not on his circumstances.

When the Lord speaks to our hearts through Scripture, we can hold onto what He says as an anchor for our souls. He will keep His promises to us, just as He did for Joseph. When we focus on God and His Word, our fears will dwindle, our sense of need will diminish, and our doubts will be cleared away.

Through Times of Trial
Genesis 39:19-23

When the problems of life seem overwhelming, we need someone to come alongside and help us to see our difficulties through the eyes of our sovereign God. Joseph is just such a person. Although he lived thousands of years ago, his story still speaks to us with great insights into the Lord's purposes.

Joseph experienced a wide variety of trials--hatred, rejection, and betrayal by his brothers; loss of home, family, and freedom; false accusation and imprisonment; and the loneliness and disappointment of being forgotten. His life was a series of difficult and unfair situations, yet Scripture never records any bitterness or revenge in Joseph's responses to all these circumstances.

Though outwardly it may have seemed as if God had abandoned the young man, inwardly He was doing some awesome work in Joseph's heart. The Lord had some big plans for him, and He knew that these trials would be the most effective tools for preparing His servant for the work that lay ahead.

As Joseph responded to each situation with faith in God and diligence in every task assigned to him, one fact became obvious to all who knew him: the Lord was with Joseph (Gen. 41:38-39).

We need to remember this when we are going through hard times. The Lord is with us even when our circumstances shout that He has deserted us. We may have little control over the difficulties we face, but we each have a choice of how to respond. Joseph calls to us from a time long past, urging us to trust God.

Resurrection: Our New Body 
2 Corinthians 5:1-10

What a scene will occur at the sounding of the Lord's trumpet! The "dead in Christ" will emerge from their resting places all over the earth and soar into the sky; these saints' resurrected bodies will reunite with their spirits, which will have been residing in heaven with Jesus. Close behind them will follow believers who haven't yet departed this life--at that moment, they'll miraculously be changed as they are "caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

The description sounds extraordinary, but in fact, the plan is practical. We're going to need a body with which to enjoy the new heaven and new earth that Jesus is preparing for His followers. However, earthly flesh and bones will not do. They age, break, and succumb to sin. So God promised to transform our humble structures into glorious bodies like the one Christ had after His resurrection. Common temptations and limitations will be gone. In addition, our physical substance will be altered so that we are not restricted by time and space. Remember, Jesus didn't bother with doors (John 20:19)! Our new bodies will be suited for the environment where we are to dwell forever--an ageless eternity in which all of our needs are perfectly met.

Each believer will still be him- or herself. Friends and family long separated will recognize one another; our personalities will be unchanged, except that we'll be absolutely sinless. At last, you and I will be the persons that God intends for us to be. And we'll be housed in a body fashioned like that of Christ--perfect, sinless, and complete.

The Good News about Death 
1 Corinthians 15:50-58

The Word of God teaches that physical death is the beginning of a new existence for believers. The Lord has prepared an eternal home where those who honor His name can rejoice forever. The condition for entry is simple: believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and receive His forgiveness.

Some people regard this prerequisite for admittance as narrow-minded. Hanging a "For Believers Only" sign on a place as special as heaven seems unfair to them. God set up that limitation for a reason. All the way back in the Garden of Eden, He laid down a law to protect His creation: Do not disobey Me. The penalty for breaking that command is death.

Of course, we all violate the law because we are flawed human beings. In order to save people from the consequence of their wrongdoing, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to shoulder all of our sin and die in our place. Our Savior fulfilled the law while taking our punishment. The good news is that He did not remain in the grave--Christ arose victoriously after three days!

God promised in His Word that those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior share in His resurrection. When a believer dies, the heavenly gate swings open, and he or she has the same triumph over death that Jesus did. This means that when we leave this world, we do not simply disappear into vapor. We continue serving the Lord in heaven.

Death is not the end. It's the moment we claim our ultimate victory over the lord of this world, Satan, by entering God's presence forever.

The Cross: Symbol of Supreme Love 
John 10:18

Countless people wear a cross because it symbolizes Christianity. But few fully grasp the depth of love that it represents.

The cross stands for what is arguably history's most painful method of execution. Crucifixion usually began with two soldiers flogging the criminal from the front and back. They used a strap with three leather cords, each containing a piece of embedded bone that tore flesh to ribbons. No wonder Jesus fell and struggled to carry His cross after such treatment.

The soldiers then hammered a long square nail into the hands or wrists; this shape would heighten the already excruciating pain. Another nail was driven through the ankles into the wood. Raising the cross, executioners would then drop it into a hole in the ground, the "thud" further tearing flesh. In order to breathe, the convicted man had to push up on his bloody ankles.

Jesus was God, but He was also fully man. So He experienced the physical agony any human would feel at such brutality. On top of that, He felt emotional and spiritual anguish because the nation rejected Him and His disciples denied Him. Worst of all, when He took our sin upon Himself, the Father turned away (Matt. 27:46; 2 Cor. 5:21). Yet Jesus didn't see Himself as a victim; He willingly offered His blood on our behalf and considered it a joy (Heb. 12:2). No greater love exists.

Take time to consider all that Jesus endured on the cross for your sake. As you begin to grasp the enormity of His sacrifice, thank Him for His boundless love. 

***

"On Love"

"Love is the fulfilment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest." 
--Augustine of Hippo

"If I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love." 
--Amy Carmichael

"But it is doubtless true, and evident from these Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in this divine affection, and an habitual disposition to it, and that light which is the foundation of it, and those things which are the fruits of it, consists the whole of religion." 
--Jonathan Edwards

"A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver." 
--Thomas à Kempis

"When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now." 
--C. S. Lewis

"Joy is love exalted; peace is love in repose; long-suffering is love enduring; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training." 
--D. L. Moody

"Love is the greatest thing that God can give us for Himself is love: and it is the greatest thing we can give to God." 
--Jeremy Taylor  

Sustaining Grace
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

God's grace is amazing. It not only takes care of our sin problem through the cross but also strengthens and sustains us every day of our lives. The Lord never wavers in His good purpose for us, nor is He ever thwarted. His sustaining grace is the answer to our . . .

Difficult circumstances. Being a Christian does not exempt us from painful trials or unpleasant situations. The apostle Paul knew this firsthand. When he presented the good news of the gospel, some believed but many opposed him. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, he wrote that he had been in danger everywhere he went. He experienced rejection, beatings, and arrest but did not give up. God's grace continually upheld and strengthened him.

Personal suffering. Paul also spoke about the thorn in his flesh, which caused him great torment. Three times he asked God to remove it but the Lord answered no. Why? Because the Lord said that His grace was sufficient. It would provide what he needed to succeed. Grace had already taken the apostle from condemned to forgiven and from outsider to beloved child. Because he experienced the undeserved love of God, this zealous persecutor of Jewish believers became a missionary spreading the good news about Jesus.

The apostle declared that he was content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, and persecutions because he had experienced the Lord's all-sufficient grace. He knew that God would continue to help him in every situation, and that regardless of his circumstances, living in the favor and love of God was enough. Is that true for you? 

God's Blessings
Psalm 81

Our heavenly Father delights in meeting His children's needs and fulfilling their desires. Yet many Christians walk through life with less than God's best. How can we avoid missing His blessings?

Psalm 81 provides insight. The writer refers to a time when the Israelites missed out on God's best for them. As we know from Exodus, the nation gratefully praised Him for their release from bondage. But they quickly forgot and worshiped other gods, complaining about their circumstances in the wilderness. This unhealthy pattern continued throughout the Old Testament, as the people would turn to Jehovah in time of need and then drift.

Verses 8-10 reveal God's perspective: "O Israel, if you would listen to Me! Let there be no strange god among you . . . I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it."

We, too, might have needs and desires that are unmet because of disobedience. Today, most people don't worship statues, as the wayward Israelites did. Our idols are less obvious--they might include a relationship, job, hobby, or anything else we put ahead of the Lord. Even making decisions based upon what others think can be idolatry; our choices should be based upon biblical principle and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Ask the Lord to reveal  anything that hinders your receiving His blessings. Listen carefully, and let Him help with the areas He brings to your attention. He is ready to guide you and bless you.

Times of Trouble
Psalm 46:2-11

During this life, hard times are inevitable. Some watch a loved one suffer and die; others are wrongly accused or mistreated. Then there are people who endure crippling ailments. The range of human pain is broad, but there's only one place of true comfort.

Today's passage speaks of great calamities, some due to natural causes and some caused by men (vv. 2, 6). We often feel bewildered during such trials, but verse 10 tells us where to turn: God's followers should be still and remember that He's the sovereign Lord of the universe. In our world of cell phones and deadlines, it's hard to stop for even a moment. But the key to dealing with difficulty lies in trusting the One in control of all things.

Instead of trying to manage the situation ourselves or pointing a finger in blame, we should actively wait, watching for God to move and trusting that He will act on our behalf (Isa. 64:4). This involves taking time to be alone with our Father--crying out to Him, meditating on His truth, and listening.

Human instinct urges us to take matters into our own hands; in contrast, the Lord requires that we patiently and expectantly wait upon Him. He also tells us to surrender what we think is right and instead submit to His plan. Unless our focus remains steady on Jesus, circumstances can overwhelm us. 

What is your response when trouble arises? You can choose to accept difficulty as a blessing by letting it deepen your relationship with Christ. Whether your current circumstances are good or painful, take time to be still before the Lord. 

Ed Dobson's walk with Jesus leads him to national stage

by Charles Honey | Grand Rapids Press Religion Editor

Friday January 09, 2009, 11:23 PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- When the Rev. Ed Dobson set out to live like Jesus for a year, he envisioned it as a private spiritual journey, not an avenue to national television.

But that's where the path took him.

The retired Calvary Church pastor appeared on "Good Morning America Weekend" on Sunday, recounting his year of living like Jesus. Program producers flew Dobson and his son, Daniel, to New York after reading a Press story about his experience on the USA Today Web site.

 

"It was over before I knew it," Dobson said of the 3:43-minute live interview with show co-anchor Bill Weir.

Dobson said he wasn't nervous, having appeared on TV often as an aide to the Rev. Jerry Falwell before coming to Calvary in 1987.

"It was always you were arguing about something," Dobson said of those appearances. "It was nice for the first time not to argue about anything."

His year-long beard finally trimmed, the pastor talked of eating kosher, keeping the Jewish Sabbath and other challenges of emulating Jesus.

Blessing those who persecute you was one of the greatest, he said. He spoke of attending the funeral of a friend of Daniel who was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb and feeling anger toward those who planted it.

"I finally realized I had to pray for them and bless them, which is very, very hard to do," he said on the show.

Dobson also said he has drawn heat for voting for Barack Obama as the candidate he felt best represented Jesus' teachings. He has been criticized for that on the ABC and USA Today Web sites.

"I understand, to some degree, their reaction," Dobson said this week. "I wish I had been able to say that I don't have a lot of faith in any politician, no matter the party, and I really wrestled with voting for Mr. Obama, given that he is pro-choice. But I concluded that wasn't the only issue that was important, that I wanted to be pro-life from conception to the grave."

Dobson emphasized he is not saying everyone should have voted for Obama -- or that Jesus would have.

"I would encourage people, whether you've ever read the Bible or not, begin reading the Bible," Dobson told Weir, "and just listen to what God has to say."

10 RESOLUTIONS FOR 2009

This coming year, I have decided that with God's help, I shall:-

1) Give up complaining . . . focus on gratitude.

2) Give up harsh judgments . . . think kind thoughts.

3) Give up worry . . . trust divine providence.

4) Give up discouragement . . . be full of hope.

5) Give up bitterness . . . turn to forgiveness.

6) Give up hatred . . . return good for evil.

7) Give up anger . . . practice patience.

8) Give up pettiness . . . put on maturity.

9) Give up gloom. . . enjoy the beauty that is around me.

10) Give up gossiping . . . control my tongue.

-- Author Unknown

SAILING INTO THE NEW YEAR

God built and launched this year for you;

Upon the bridge you stand;

It's your ship, aye, your own ship,

And you are in command.

Just what the twelve months? trip will do

Rests wholly, solely, friend, with you.

Your logbook kept from day to day

My friend, what will it show?

Have you on your appointed way

Made progress, yes or no?

The log will tell, like guiding star,

The sort of captain that you are.

For weal or woe this year is yours;

Your ship is on life's sea

Your acts, as captain, must decide

Whichever it shall be;

So now in starting on your trip,

Ask God to help you sail your ship.

-- Author Unknown

My prayer for you in 2009 is that you will:

* Accept the shortcomings in others and realize it is not your
responsibility to correct them, it is God's to perfect them

* Understand your own shortcomings and allow God to perfect them, in His
own time

* Reach out to help those whom you can help

* Accept help from those who wish to help you

* Understand that God loves you

* Understand that God wants you to love others

May you have bountiful blessings in 2009

Come to a H.A.L.T.
Psalm 51

How many people have lamented, If I had it do over again, I'd do it differently?  "It" refers to decisions, actions, and conversations we'd like to take back. As King David mourned the sinful choices that made him an adulterer and a murderer, he probably thought about the righteous alternatives. Like David, we tend to make wrong decisions when we are ruled by our appetites rather than godly discernment (2 Sam. 11:4).

Foolishness of some kind often results when people give in to stress placed on body and mind. These "earthly vessels" are more vulnerable than we think. That's why Christians shouldn't make snap judgments when feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.). In those states, we are particularly at risk of making bad decisions with no lasting gain.

Craving immediate gratification makes for poor decision making. We need time to weigh a situation's merits and drawbacks. And we must consider potential long-term outcomes, particularly if there might be an eternal impact. Sometimes that process takes a few minutes, but in other cases, we might have to deliberate and seek God's guidance for weeks or months.

Satan is always on the lookout for a gap in the Christian soldier's spiritual armor, but physical, mental, and emotional vulnerabilities prove handy for his cause as well. Do not give the Evil One a toehold! Keep yourself fed, rational, in good company, and rested. Then you are prepared to make godly judgments on the spot rather than thinking of them in retrospect. 

Just a thought

By Power for Life Bible

"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." – Psalm 33:6

New beginnings

By Sheila Schuller Coleman

"Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." – Ephesians 4:24