Daily Devotion

January 28, 2011The Blessed LifeRachel Olsen 

"For the Kingdom of God is ... living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 (NLT)         

Devotion:With each passing year I grow ever more convinced that the life of faith is a life characterized by peace and joy.

Sure it's a life of goodness as well, that's practically a no-brainer. Ask anyone what religion or Christianity specifically is about, and you're likely to hear, "Being good." But being good is not the sum total of it.

In fact, simply being good—doing what is morally right—absent of a peaceful trust in God and a joyful appreciation of Him can become legalism. And few things upset Jesus more than the legalism of the religious leaders of His day.

Legalism is living a life of rules with little room for the very thing Jesus affords us: grace. It's characterized by self-striving. In my book, "It's No Secret," I share how easily I can overlook the fact that no matter what rules we happen to keep - or fail to keep - God provides His people with grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace and joy.

Some may say that if I am experiencing more peace and joy it's because I'm being increasingly good. That it's because I'm being obedient and doing all the right things—praying more, trusting God more, walking in a manner worthy of my calling, and so forth. Well, yes. And, no.

I've come to realize that I have no real right to extra peace or happiness just because I pause to talk with God. I have no entitlement to contentment or joy just because I submit to His commands. I pray and obey simply because God is God, and I am not. He is the creator of my life. He holds the patent. And I'm created for His pleasure.

Yet in His gracious, extravagant kindness, He has made it so that when I pray rather than worry, I experience peace. When I gratefully accept what He has given me, and do not wish and whine for more, I find contentment. When I give away what I have, so often I get joy in return. And when I look steadily on Him all these blessings come into view.

Hannah Whitall Smith writes:

"This blessed life must not be looked upon in any sense as an attainment but as an obtainment. We cannot earn it; we cannot climb up to it; we cannot win it; we can do nothing but ask for it and receive it. It is the gift of God in Christ Jesus. And where a thing is a gift, the only course left for the receiver is to take it and thank the giver."

Simply because He is good, peace, contentment and joy are available to us regardless of our position, possessions, performance or circumstances. It's His loving kindness and the empowerment of His Spirit that makes living in the kingdom of God a life of goodness, peace and joy.

And that, my Yahweh Sister, is a blessed life -a gift. It's what life in the Kingdom looks like. Let's share that gift by introducing others to its Source.

Dear Lord, thank You for the grace afforded me. I so desperately need it, and I so deeply appreciate it. Please blanket me in the blessing of Your presence and guide me in Your will. Let me walk in goodness, peace and joy today, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

To learn more about living as a modern woman in the Kingdom of God, get a copy of Rachel's book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know

Visit Rachel's blog today for a chance to win a copy of her book It's No Secret.

Application Steps:  Pause and thank the Giver!

Allow your God-given blessings to come into view.

Reflections:  Would those who know me best use the words "goodness," "peace," or "joy" to describe my life?

What can I do to set my mind on peace and joy today?

Power Verses: Luke 17:20-21, "Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'" (NIV)

Isaiah 55:12, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (NIV)

Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (NIV)

How is Jesus Our Substitute?

John Barnett

On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe. Did you get that? God treated Him as if He committed, personally, every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe though the fact is He committed none of them. That’s the great doctrine of substitution. And that’s the first side of imputation. God imputed our sins to Him. He was guilty of none of them. God treated Him as if He committed all of them. And He just unloaded His fury for all the sins of all the people who would ever believe in Him in the history of the world. He unloaded all His fury against all their sins on Christ.

To borrow the language of Leviticus 16, Jesus became the “scapegoat.” The scapegoat was guilty of nothing. But the High Priest, as it were, laid all the sins of the people on the scapegoat and sent him away. He was without sin. But sin was credited to His account as if He had personally committed it and then God punished Him though the fact is He never committed any of it. That’s imputation.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “When Jesus came into the world why did He have to live all those years?” If I was planning the plan of redemption I’d have had Him come down on Friday, die, rise on Sunday and go back to Heaven Monday. Why 30 years? Why 30 silent years?

Jesus lived a full life was that He might live a complete life fully righteous. That He might live a complete life absolutely without sin, absolutely perfect, so that that perfect life could be credited to your account. That’s the backside of imputation. On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He lived your life so He could treat you as if you lived His life. That’s the Gospel. That’s substitution.

Daily Devotion

January 27, 2011When the One You Doubt is YouT. Suzanne Eller

"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14:31 (NIV)

Devotion:I walked away discouraged. It was a disaster! The end of the world! I mentally listed all the ways I had messed up.

Things had not gone the way I had hoped. Later that night as I lay in bed, going over the events one more time, regret plopped right in the middle of my chest.

I wish that I could say that self-doubt was never a problem again after that day, but it has tried to spring up again from time to time. It's just that I handle it in a different way now. I finally recognized self-doubt for what it is. It's an unhealthful twist on humility. It appears to be self-assessment, or even meekness. Instead, it is distracting to my dreams and the direction that God is trying to lead me.

Self doubt can be paralyzing unless we learn to unpack it. Asking questions like:

Is there a valid reason I am doubting? Maybe there are gaps that need to be filled with education, with knowledge, with training, or good old-fashioned time alone with our Heavenly Father.

Is it due to a certain person or my past? My friend and Proverbs 31 Ministries sister Lysa TerKeurst describes twirling around as a child, her dress fanning out around her, to capture her father's attention.

How many times do we twirl, trying to fill that place where a father's words or a mother's hugs didn't? We keep on twirling hoping that someone might notice, and we come up empty if they don't, even when there is no way that anyone can see that need.

Is it the enemy? We have an enemy according to Scripture. An enemy that desires to steal, to take away, to wound by distracting us from God's grace, call, and leading. Do we so intently focus on the things we didn't do "right" or well, at least in our eyes, and fail to see the good that took place?

When I stopped to take an honest look at the event where the world was coming to an end, the reality is that it was a small hiccup. A perfect learning experience, allowing me to fill in a gap that needed to be filled.

Self-doubt can either riddle us, consuming our thoughts, or it can be an avenue to honestly assess why it's there, and what we can do about it—with God's help.

Dear Lord, help me to look at the doubt I carry and then move forward. Let me leave this useless emotion behind and replace it with action, with knowledge, and most importantly with You. You know me. You know what I need, and You so graciously give it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Suzie's blog where Suzie has a great giveaway.

The Woman I Am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller

The Mom I want to be: Rising above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future by T. Suzanne Eller 

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:

Unpack your most pressing doubt and ask the three questions in today's devotion.

After unpacking, what is the real issue?

What is one action step you can take today?

Reflections:

"What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."-- Mother Theresa.

Power Verses:

Luke 24:38, "And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" (ESV)

God Blocked Paul's Path?

Charles Stanley

Facing a "closed door" can be extremely frustrating. The apostle Paul knew exactly how that felt. On his second missionary journey to share the gospel in Asia, he repeatedly found the way blocked by the Holy Spirit. Eventually the apostle was stuck in Troas with the sea before him and closed doors behind.

How strange it must have seemed to Paul that God would prevent him from spreading the gospel. But he knew this wisdom from the book of Proverbs: The Lord will make a straight path for anyone who chooses to trust God rather than himself (vv. 3:5-6). Instead of getting angry or trying to force his way into new territory, Paul got on his knees.

The Bible does not record how long he and Timothy lingered in Troas, but we can be sure that the apostle did not move until the Lord revealed the entrance to a new mission field. Christians in a period of watchful waiting should view the situation as a chance to seek not only God's purpose but also His guidance. This is the time to ask the Lord why He has barred the way forward—perhaps the timing is wrong or we need to deal with unconfessed sin. Whatever the reason, we must be sensitive to the Spirit's leading. We want to be ready for the door that will open.

When an opportunity is blocked, God has a reason. And He is providing love and protection, even in your disappointment. The Lord is also keeping His promise to work everything for your good (Rom. 8:28). When one door has closed, a greater one is about to open. Be wise and watch for it.

Mickey Mouse Watch

This is my present to you my lou po for Valentine's Day. Hope you like it. : ) . Even though Valentine's Day is still quite far away, but I hope you don't mind. Love you lots lots lou po...mmuax

Orang Gila? @@

Is she a orang gila that ran away from Tanjung Rambutan? Wait, it's just my crazy leader. : )

Isaac Mang

Isaac Mang jamming.

My Crazy YWAM Ipoh Leader

Check out how crazy she laughs @@

MacBook Pro 13"

Can't wait to get my hands on a MacBook 13". It will be a great replacement for my dying Dell Inspiron 1420  laptop. Best of all, it has superb functions that allows me to edit photos,videos and music. 

Harvest Haven Bible School

Just enrolled for their 1 month New Testament Bible School which begins on the 14th of February and ends on the 12th of March. Now all I'm waiting for is their confirmation letter and then I will be there. : ) . Can't wait to go and learn more and study more on the word of God.

Daily Devotion

January 26, 2011Abigail's ChoiceRachel Olsen

"Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor."

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT)         

Devotion:Marriages were often arranged in Abigail's era, and I wonder if this was true of hers. On paper her husband Nabal seemed like a "catch." He was wealthy, a good provider, and he liked to have fun and throw parties. But behind the scenes his self-control and integrity was seriously lacking, causing those closest to him to suffer.

Here is what we know about Abigail's husband Nabal from the Bible in 1 Samuel chapter 25:1-41:

*He is wealthy - that's partly due to David's protection of his land and flocks. (vs. 2,8)

*He's crude, and mean in all his dealings. (vs. 3)

*He sneers at guests who come in peace, and questions their character. (vs. 10-11)

*He shouts insults. (vs.14)

*He's stingy, not returning favors or repaying kindnesses showed him. (vs. 16, 21)

*He is so temperamental that people dread talking to him. (vs. 17)

*He thinks more highly of himself than he ought. (vs. 36)

*He drinks too much. (vs. 36-37)

Basically, Nabal was a self-centered, ill-mannered guy who didn't recognize God's provision or blessings in his life. And if you read his story, you'll see he was foolish enough to insult the most powerful man around (King David) but more importantly, he was foolish enough to insult the one true God.

God let Nabal face the ultimate consequence of his character - death (vs. 38-39).

Imagine yourself paired up in marriage to such a foolish, arrogant, sharp-tongued man as this. (I hope you have to imagine, and have not lived this.) How would you react towards him? What do you think living with him might do to your personality, or your character?

Might you grow depressed? Would you become withdrawn or timid? Would you nag him to do better? Would you grow bitter, angry and become argumentative back? Or, would you perhaps just "let yourself go" and decide not to care about anything?

Let's look at Nabal's wife Abigail, from that same passage in the Bible:

*She is smart and sensible. (vs. 3)

*People look to her for wisdom and leadership in times of trouble. (vs. 14, 17)

*She is decisive and wastes no time worrying, pitying her situation, or fussing at those who cause her trouble - instead she takes action to improve the situation. (vs. 18, 23)

*She is generous, (vs. 18, 27) even willing to lay down her life for others. (vs. 22, 24)

*She is humble (vs. 24, 41) and quick to ask forgiveness. (vs. 28)

*She speaks eloquently and tactfully - with a knowledge of God - as she gives one of the longest speeches by a woman recorded in the Bible. (vs. 24-31)

*She looks out for the well-being and reputation of others - even Nabal's. (vs. 25, 31)

*She trusts God, holds her tongue, and waits patiently for the right timing. (vs. 36-38)

Abigail has always been one of my favorite women in the Bible. She has it all - wisdom, character, courage, faith, eloquence, graciousness. She possesses both inner and outer beauty. But her life with this man Nabal was no picnic, and that's really why I admire her.

How many times did Nabal get drunk and say or do something demeaning to her? Yet she chose not to let her spirit die. How many times did she wish for revenge, though not seek it? How many times did he berate her, yet she wasn't paralyzed by his insults?

How many times did his foolishness cost her greatly, or those she cared about? Yet she chose not to count the costs to herself when she put her life on the line to spare his life and the other men's.

Abigail's praiseworthy character ran deep, which tells me her reverence of God did as well.

After Nabal's death, she married King David and they had a son. David would have seven other wives in his lifetime, but only Abigail earned his complete respect. Only she had a positive influence on him.

Abigail challenges me to choose differently - to be humble, wise and courageous. Her example teaches me that I can choose how I will allow my circumstances to shape my character. While Nabal's life clearly shows that haughtiness goes before destruction, Abigail's shows that choosing humility and wisdom allows God to shape my character and my circumstances. And it makes room for God to be glorified in both.

Dear Lord, today I humble myself before You. I confess my sins and ask You to help me develop and display the same wisdom and character as Abigail. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Rachel's blog for a chance to win a copy of her bookIt's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know

The One Year Women of the Bible: Then and Now Reflections on Women of the Bible and Women Today

It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen

Application Steps:  Open your Bible and read Abigail's story in 1 Samuel 25:1-42.

Reflections:  Do my words and actions typically reflect haughtiness or humility?

Who is my "Nabal"? A boss? A parent? My own sin-nature that combats my spirit?

In what current circumstance or relationship do I need to choose wisdom, humility and courage?

My circumstances do not control my character - I do.

Power Verses:Proverbs 31:26, "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." (NIV)

Proverbs 15:33, "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom; and humility comes before honor." (NIV)

Three Proofs that Jesus Really Existed?

Adrian Rogers

Jesus walked upon this earth. He was born and He died. How do we know this? We know it for three reasons.

The Personal Witness Of The Saints

Acts 10:39-41 says, "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead."

Over 500 people saw Jesus after His death and most of these died because of their belief. Let me say, a man may live for a lie, but would he die for one?

The Prophetic Witness Of The Scriptures

Acts 10:43 says, "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins." When the writer says "all the prophets," he is talking about the prophets from Genesis to Malachi (remember, the New Testament hadn't been written yet).

In Genesis 3, we read about the One who will bruise the head of the serpent. In Genesis 12, He is going to come from the seed of Abraham. In Genesis 22, we read about the sacrifice of Isaac on the very mountain where Jesus was later crucified! The entire book of Leviticus is filled with pictures of blood-atoning sacrifices for sin. You'll read about the prophetic crucifixion of Jesus in Psalm 22. In Micah 5:2, it is told clearly that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is: there is but one plan of salvation in all the Bible and that is through the blood-atoning sacrifice of the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

The Powerful Witness Of The Spirit

The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and says, "Amen. It is written. It is truth." I thank God that I don't have to try and talk you into believing Jesus. If there's anything I can talk you into, there's someone who can talk you right out of it!

1 John 5:9-11 says, "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

Rescue by Desperation Band

Even when everything seems to fall apart, even when you lose everything, even when you think that nobody cares, REMEMBER THAT JESUS CARES AND HE IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR US TO CALL UNTO HIS NAME AND HE WILL RESCUE US. : )

Cute Animal

Saw this Prairie Dog at a pet shop when we went out for lunch this afternoon. Such a cute little fella, I would love to have it as a pet but it cost a BOMB man. It's RM950 for 1. WOW @@

Malaysia Football Jersey

After 23 years of my life as a Malaysian, I finally got my hands on the home and away Malaysian Football jersey. MALAYSIA BOLEH!!! I'm even thinking of printing my own name on d back of the jerseys. : )

Photos taken while in Penang

Mickey Mouse watch

It's my plan to get it as a Valentine's Day gift for my baby.

The Trinity in Genesis?

John Gill

God's great and incommunicable name Jehovah is always in the singular and is never used plurally; the reason of which is because it is expressive of his essence, which is but one. It is the same with "I AM that I AM." But the first name of God we meet with in Scripture, and that in the first verse of it, is plural; "In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1), and therefore must design more than one, at least two, and yet not precisely two, or two only; then it would have been dual. But it is plural, and cannot design fewer than three.

Now Moses might have made use of other names of God in his account of the creation; as his name Jehovah, by which he made himself known to Moses and to the people of Israel; or Eloah, the singular of Elohim, which is used by him (Deut. 32:15, 16) and in the book of Job frequently. So, it was not a lack of singular names of God, nor the barrenness of the Hebrew language, which obliged him to use a plural word. It was no doubt of choice and with design; and which will be more evident when it is observed that one end of the writings of Moses is to root out the polytheism of the heathens and to prevent the people of Israel from going into it. Therefore, it may seem strange that he should begin his history with a plural name of God. He must have some design in it, which could not be to inculcate a plurality of gods, for that would be directly contrary to what he had in view in writing and to what he asserts (Deut. 6:4).

And then the historian goes on to make mention of the Persons of the Trinity, who, besides the Father, included in this name, are the Spirit of God, that moved upon the face of the waters, and the Word of God (Gen. 1:2), which said, "Let there be light, and there was light"; and which spoke that, and all things, out of nothing; see (John 1:1-3). And it may be further observed, that this plural wordElohim is, in this passage, in construction with a singular verb, bara, rendered "created"; which some have thought is designed to point out a plurality of persons and the unity of the divine essence: but if this is not judged sufficient to build it upon, let it be further observed, that the word Elohim is sometimes in construction with a plural verb, as in Gen. 20:13; Gen. 35:7; 2 Sam. 7:23, where Elohim is said to cause Abraham to wander from his father's house; to appear to Jacob; and to go forth to redeem Israel - all which are personal actions.

Daily Devotion

January 25, 2011What's the Big Deal about Dwelling on the Past?Melanie Chitwood

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18,19a (NIV)  

Devotion:A young married woman unloaded her marriage frustrations on a radio call-in show. Her husband had forgotten what the word romance meant. He never thought to bring her a sweet card or to plan a date. He didn't thank her or even notice her hard work, like laundry and keeping the house clean, along with working full-time.

I suspected her thoughts were leading her to a dangerous place. Sure enough, the young wife confirmed this with her next statement: After two years of marriage, she wondered if she'd made the right decision about this marriage. Maybe she should have married the guy she dated right after college, the one she regretted letting slip away from her.

Her fantasies of what might have been were leading her to a dangerous place of dwelling on the past. Thoughts of the past, or as today's Scripture puts it, "former things," can bombard our marriage mindset in damaging ways. See if any of these thoughts ring a bell:

·         I wonder if I made the right decision about my marriage?

·         I wish my husband were romantic (attentive or understanding) the way he was when we were dating.

·         What happened to the great listener I used to have in my husband? Now all he wants to do is play sports or watch TV.

·         Even though it was years ago, I just can't forgive the way he hurt my feelings.

·         This isn't what I imagined marriage would be. What happened to all our dreams?

How can dwelling on the past damage our marriage? When we dwell on the past, we're robbed of the treasures of the present. We don't see the gifts God's given us right now in our husbands and marriage. Maybe he doesn't bring you flowers anymore, but he works hard every day to provide. He doesn't thank you for the clean laundry because he's busy with a house project he hopes will make you smile. He knows he made mistakes in the past, but he's trying hard to change.

The young wife on the radio found the world's answer to her marital frustrations. The radio hostess agreed that this husband was clueless and this young wife should question staying in this marriage.

I wanted to scream, Stop right there! You're going down a dangerous path! Maybe he wasn't a good husband. But I suspect he was just a human husband, one with flaws and shortcomings. Just like the husband had plenty to learn about marriage, so did this young wife.

God has a better answer for what to do when we find ourselves dwelling on the past in a detrimental way. He says, "See, I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:19) In other words, God asks us to redirect our focus to the good things He can and will do in our marriages. As we continue in Isaiah we come to a question we need to ask ourselves, "Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (43:19).

God's is asking, Do you see the good things I'm doing right now... in your life or marriage? Pay attention or you're going to miss out!

To redirect our focus on the new things God is doing in our marriages, we can pray about our marriage mindset, asking God to help us see the blessings, not the drawbacks. We can choose to think about how our marriage has gotten better, and look forward to the future we have together.

Reading this devotion may have triggered thoughts of some unresolved issues in your marriage. This isn't meant to minimize the bigger issues you might be wrestling with in your marriage. These issues may need to be resolved before you can move forward. Pray about it individually and as a couple, talk with your spouse, and seek godly counsel. These steps might be necessary before you can see God "making a way in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19). 

Dear Lord, You make all things new. Will You give me new eyes to see the good things I sometimes miss? Help me not to dwell on the past but to focus on the present and future. You are making a way, Lord, and I trust You with my heart, my husband and my marriage. Help us deal with any issues that are damaging our relationship, so we can appreciate the new things You're doing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Melanie's blog for more encouragement and a give-away that include her two marriage books.

What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

What a Wife Needs from Her Husband by Melanie Chitwood

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:Speak words of blessing to your husband such as, "Our marriage keeps getting better. Thank you for being an awesome husband."

·         Tell your husband something specific that makes you thankful for him. For example, "Thank you for playing with the kids last night while I took a walk. That was a great break."

·         Let your husband overhear you praising him to your kids or to friends.

·         Send him an email telling him you can't wait to have some private time with him later that night.

·         In your prayers tell God how thankful you are for your marriage.

Reflections: Have I gotten stuck in a damaging pattern of seeing what my marriage lacks instead of seeing the blessings? 

When I'm with my friends, do we criticize and complain about our husbands and marriage? Or do we help each other look for and see the "good things" we have?

Do I need to get counseling to help me move beyond unresolved past hurts?

Power Verses: Isaiah 43:18-21, ""Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' —the coyotes and the buzzards—Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me." (MSG)

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (NIV)