But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:24

Almost all of us have something about which we can brag; though, many of us probably have fewer things worthy of such boasting than we imagine.

For most of my years as a pastor, I was forced to listen to some of our adults bragging about their grandchildren, complete with the latest pictures. I could not imagine how anyone could have such excessive pride. But then when my wife and I were married a couple of years ago, I inherited seven grandchildren ranging in ages 3 to 18. Now I can brag with the best of them.

In our Christian life it also is easy to allow ourselves to be boastful about our accomplishments. But the Scripture teaches us that our boasting must be only in the Lord of heaven and what He has done for us. Apart from His boundless mercy, we are nothing.

Father, You are the Source of all the good things in my life. I glory in knowing You.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 1:16 PM CST

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But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Psalm 49:15

A dear friend of mine who lived several of his adult years in a communist country taught me a valuable lesson about trusting God.

I had the nerve to observe about his life one day that being a believer in a communist country really must have been difficult. Apparently shocked that I would have thought such a thing, he responded: "Oh, no. It was actually much easier to be a Christian in my homeland because there we understood we could not go on living without faith in God. Here, believers often go days and weeks without giving more than a passing thought to God."

We sometimes live our lives that way, often going through our days without conscious reliance on God. Though we may pray over our meals, we may seldom realize that but for the direct intervention of God we would have gone hungry.

God can do for us what riches cannot. We need to trust Him and thank Him for every provision of life.

Father, I am dependent on You in every area of my life.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 1:21 PM CST

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The verses recorded in my journal shouted a common theme.

"What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)

"Your boasting is not good." (1 Corinthians 5:6a)

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." (1 Corinthians 8:1b)

"[Love] does not boast" (1 Corinthians 13:4b)

Probably none of us would have a hard time explaining what boasting is, but the real question is: Why do I boast?

Is it an insecurity that makes it necessary to promote myself in order to convince others of my worth? Is it a belief that assumes credit for the things in my life -- my hard work, my education and my sacrifice are the reasons for the good things I have?

Boasting is self-centered, promotes self and disregards others. Thus it prevents us from loving, because love is selfless.

Only when we admit that boasting is sin, identify its source and acknowledge that boasting is in fact diametrically opposed to love, will we be able to move beyond boasting and begin to truly love.

And Jesus is our greatest example of love. Although He was God Himself, He became a human being to serve us and ultimately die for us because of His love.

Therefore we don't need to boast in order to boost our sense of worth. We are of great value to God; He loves us unconditionally!

Any boasting we do should be boasting in the Lord as He is at work in and through us and our acomplishments. (1 Cor. 1:31)

Nor should we be proud of our accomplishments. The Bible says that regardless of the good things I do, without love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2) and I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Therefore, let us leave boasting in the past and instead this year, focus on love.

~Gracious God, forgive my boasting and my pride. Help me instead to love, the way You love.

Why does true love not boast? What is the source of boasting in your life?

Suzanne Benner

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 11:15 AM CST

Updated: Friday, 29 February 2008 10:23 AM CST

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For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Psalm 49:10

My father was a sharecropper in north Mississippi when he and my mother began our family in the depths of the Depression. They always told us they hardly knew when the Depression hit because they still had nothing. But many people who did not live off the land were devastated, losing everything they had. Many who have the experience of losing it all believe they simply cannot go on with life.

Today, in contrast, it has even become acceptable to some believers to have as one of their life goals the amassing of wealth. We may call it by a more spiritual sounding name, but it is still the same. We become something like the foolish farmer Jesus spoke about who could think of nothing better to do with his God-given blessings than to hoard them to himself. How can believers ever think we can protect ourselves from all the rough edges of life with full wallets?

Father, no matter how many things I have, I know I still must put my trust only in You.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 6:13 PM CST

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What are the dreams of your future? 

As we begin a new year, we embrace a fresh start and determine not to repeat our mistakes. Yet, we can't move forward without examining the past with the illuminating power of God's Word in order to discover the wrong attitudes and actions in which we also have become entangled.

Thus, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he gave them a lesson from Israel's history. Although all the Israelites experienced God's protection in the desert; all were miraculously provided with manna and nourished not only physically, but also spiritually; Paul noted, "Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert." (1 Corinthians 10:5)

What does God not being pleased with them have to do with us? They lived and died thousands of years ago. What possible relevance could their lives have to ours? The next verse gives the reason.

"Now these things occurred as examples, to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." (1 Corinthians 10:6)

Too easily, we set our hearts on evil things.

Where have you set your heart? What thoughts occupy your thinking and where do you allow your mind to dwell? How are you spending your energy, your time, and your financial resources?

The Bible reminds us in Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This year let's set our hearts on seeking God.

~Holy God, may I set my heart on You alone. Wash away the sinful desires and misguided goals on which I have fixed my attention. Replace them with a passion to do Your will.

How do we set our hearts on seeking God? What are some lessons from your own (or your family's) history that you need to remember so as not to repeat them?

by S. Benner

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 1:50 PM CST

Updated: Friday, 29 February 2008 10:24 AM CST

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He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke 3:11

A World War II veteran had finally received the medals he so richly deserved. I was an invited guest to his reception because I had written a story about him in our local newspaper.

A city journalist was called to the microphone. He explained that he had received a prestigious award for his story about the man's experiences as a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

I secretly wished my work could have been considered for that award.

My thoughts were interrupted by the speaker who said "Terry, you are the one who lived the story I wrote about. You are the one who deserves this award. Please accept it with my congratulations."

I was shaken as I saw how unselfishly the writer had met the emotional needs of a forgotten hero.

Father, forgive me when I think selfish thoughts. Help me to provide for the human needs of others whether it be clothing, food, or emotional encouragement.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 4:10 PM CST

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Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Proverbs 23:4

Early in our marriage, my husband asked me not to buy anything until payday, three days away. We had to meet our house and car payments.

The next day I saw crystal beads I had longed for on sale. I told myself that I worked hard and deserved them and my husband would understand. After all, what was $3.99?

He asked me to take them back.

I cried on the way back to the store. I mumbled to the clerk that I had changed my mind. When I got home, I childishly slammed the money down on the kitchen counter. My husband held me and told me he had no choice.

On our 25th wedding anniversary he gave me luxurious Austrian-cut crystal beads. We smiled as our eyes met, for we each remembered.

God expects us to work for the right reasons. Family needs should come before selfish wants.

Father, help me to not covet riches. I thank You for all the gifts You give me each day through Your love.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:03 PM CST

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So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6

At my first office job in a medical clinic, a coworker took me aside as I reported to work. "The first thing you do every morning is help me arrange these tickets in alphabetical order," she announced.

I obediently followed the more experienced woman's instructions and then struggled through my own duties.

Within a few days I realized she had tricked me into doing some of her work. I planned to tell her I had no time to help her anymore. As we stood side by side she confided: "I didn't get much sleep last night. My husband isa  double amputee. He's in a lot of pain."

Tears filled her eyes, and then I knew. God needed me to be an enabler to my coworker. As we worked those few minutes together each morning, she talked and I listened. That was my job.

Father, help me to please You by working together honorably with others.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 9:44 PM CST

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"Joy to the world!" We hear the refrain every Christmas. The old, familiar song suggests that joy has come because the Lord has come. Joy! Think about it. Have you got it?

Most people I talk to these days answer my, "How are you?" question with, "Tired," Busy," "Getting by," "Surviving," "OK," or "Pretty good." Very few seem to exude this joy that we, as Christians, claim to have because the Lord has come.

The Bible actually gives us a blueprint of how to find joy. In  poetic language the book of Isaiah tells us why Jesus came to this earth.

"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning...(Isaiah 61:3).

Mourning occurs whenever there is a loss. The losses in our lives are the things that have disintegrated. We may have ashes in our lives from a lost relationship, the death of a loved one, loss of a job or finances... even loss of self-respect. Loss is different for all of us. Yet for all of us, loss represents a sadness in our souls...a lack of true joy...a place where the oil of healing needs to be applied. It is the place where God desires to bring beauty out of our ashes.

Oil is a healing agent, a soothing and smoothing agent. Even plain old vitamin E oil will heal a cut and reduce scar tissue. Jesus tells us He came to bring this kind of healing oil into our lives. His oil can heal our deep hurts and the resulting scars we carry.

Jesus came to this earth to bring that healing. He came to bring beauty out of the ashes in your life. How does it happen? It happens when you acknowledge your losses... the disappointments and sadness you carry in your heart. Ask His forgiveness for the times you have helped cause ashes. Invite Him to come into your life in a fresh way and begin His redeeming work. Opening the places of loss to Him enables Him to come in and bring His healing. As He does, a joy will surface in your soul that is truly a miracle! You can experience "Joy to the world" this Christmas season!

Gail Rodgers

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 4:44 PM CST

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I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Ephesians 4:1

The businessman ahead of me in the cafeteria line spoke loudly on his cell phone: "Well, tell them we'll make the deadline! I worked on that until 3 a.m., and we're not going to lose this contract!" He nervously reached for a cigarette and put it back, realizing he couldn't smoke right then.

Abruptly, he told the server behind the counter which salad he wanted. Glaring at him, she lazily slopped his serving in a bowl and thrust it toward him.

He snapped: "You don't like your job, do you? Well, don't worry about it. You won't have it very long!"

I had just seen the contract between the workaholic and one who had little interest in her work. I suspected that neither was pleasing in God's sight.

In contrast we, as Christians, are to honor God in our work whether it be in the home, church, or community.

Father, please help me to make my way of life balanced and pleasing in Your sight that I will be worthy of the work You have provided for me.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 9:33 AM CST

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Has life taught you to keep people a safe distance away?   If you put up barriers in your relationships we want to pray for you.

"Lift up the gates so the King of glory can come in" (Psalm 24:7)

Gates. We live in a world of gates. Gates to keep people out. Gates to keep people in. Gates to enter the driveway, gates into and out of parking lots. Gates to keep animals in, gates to keep them away.

And then there are gates to our hearts. We allow people and God into some of the rooms of our heart - but usually not all of them. There are some thoughts we don't want anyone to know, there are hurts we don't expose to anyone.

There is a verse in Psalm 24 that says in essence, "Lift up the gates, so the King of Glory can come in. The Lord strong and mighty...the Lord Almighty."

When you stop and think about it, we are foolish when we don't completely lift the gates of our heart to God. The Lord Almighty wants to invade our whole life so He can be our Savior, friend and protector.

Several years ago, I heard a testimony given by a middle-aged gentleman. Many people would have called him a beach bum. One day while in a restaurant on the beach, he picked up a booklet and read through a gospel presentation. When he read the prayer to invite Jesus into his life, he decided he would go kneel on the beach and open the door of his heart as wide as he could. He wanted as much of the King of Glory as he could get. He was never the same again.

Have you ever opened the door of your life WIDE open to Jesus Christ? Today, right now, is the best time to open your heart's door as wide as you can and ask Him in. Allow Him to invade every room and corner of your life.

Lord, I open wide the door of every room in my heart. Please come in and invade every space with Your glory and Your might. Please let Your glory shine though me so others will see You in me. Amen

You are not the only one who has put up gates in your life at various times.  How is it that we get so hurt that we block God and those we love out of our lives?  What are some ways we can change those behaviours?

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 10:20 AM CST

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We have all sinned. There have been things in our lives that we have loved so much that we almost worship and can become like a God in our lives. Sports can be that way. Movies can be this way. Because it’s Jesus Christ who paid the debt.  It’s Jesus Christ who paid the penalty of sin.  And if you’re willing tonight to come to God and to confess to him and to say to him, I’m sorry.  Forgive me.  I am willing to receive Jesus Christ into my heart, into my life.  I want him to be my Lord.  I want him to be my master.  God will forgive you tonight. And tonight you can experience God’s cleansing.  You can experience his forgiveness.

Come to Jesus Christ through faith and you will be forgiven, forever. To begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call toll-free at 1-866-JESUS-CARES or visit billygraham.org.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 10:56 AM CST

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I heard about a king many centuries ago that asked a great chain maker to make the strongest chain he had ever made. And he made this chain and he brought it very proudly to the king, and he bowed before his majesty. And the king said to him, "Is that the strongest chain that you can build?" He said, "Yes, it's the strongest chain, I think, sir, that's ever been made." He turned to his guards and he said, "Bind him." And he bound that man with his own chain. And many of you tonight are forging links of a chain which will someday bind you. Is it worth gaining popularity and losing the smile of God? Is it worth being successful and losing your own soul?

Avoid losing your soul, and begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith today. Call toll-free at 1-866-JESUS-CARES or click billygraham.org.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 9:39 AM CST

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Jesus said, “You can serve me with your lips, but your heart is far from me.” You can stand in church on Sunday and sing, “O how I love Jesus.” You can teach a Sunday School class. You can give a sermon with your lips but your heart is far from God. You can come home. You can come home to God. Maybe you’ve wandered a long way from Him. You made a commitment years ago. You’ve tried to live the life but somehow it’s failed. But you can come home to God tonight.

Right now, you can respond to Mr. Graham's invitation to come home to God. To begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, call toll-free at 1-866-JESUS-CARES or visit billygraham.org.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 2:22 PM CST

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I have a friend who heads up an inner city ministry to homeless teenagers. Some are runaways, some have been kicked out of their homes, and others prefer homelessness to the abuse they experience at home. In a recent Christmas letter, he talked of stumbling onto a box of old photographs while doing some cleaning in his garage. "As the box emptied, forgotten memories instantly found their place on the walls and shelves in our home," he wrote. "The photographs had always been with us, just not seen, and the memories they prompted had always been with us, just not recalled."

Then he went on to tell of a unique gift from a professional photographer who was a supporter of their ministry. This man got the brilliant idea to volunteer a day of his time, bring his portrait studio equipment downtown and transform the ministry's coffee shop into a studio. There he offered free portraits for the street kids, many of whom took advantage of it. Knowing a little bit about this business and what that photographer could have received at market value for each of these portraits adds up to a very significant gift.

Some of us may not have money to give, but time and expertise wisely spent can be worth even more. In another similar instance, I know of a church that periodically offers free car tune-ups and oil changes in their parking lot for single moms on Saturday mornings. It was the brainchild of an auto mechanic in the church who wanted to share his expertise with someone in the community he knew needed it.

We need to be thinking not just of giving money to needy causes, but also of how we can serve with our time and our talents. Besides, services like this go way beyond their monetary value. Think of the value and self-worth that a good professional portrait must have bestowed upon these homeless kids. And then think of some of their estranged families who will receive a portrait full of memories in the mail - memories that might put that kid up on the shelf or wall of their home and maybe even help reunite a family.

In his conclusion, my friend wrote: "This season of joy as you get out your own camera, converting your living room into a portrait studio, cherish each person, remember them, and love them like you have never loved them before. And please, when you get the pictures back, take a moment and pray for our kids and for their families, who might be finding pictures stowed away in garages, that some day their lives could reconcile."

John Fischer

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 12:56 PM CST

Updated: Friday, 21 December 2007 11:18 AM CST

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