Handling Panic Attacks
âDo not be afraid of sudden fear.â  Pr 3:25 NAS
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In the Bible panic attacks are referred to as âsudden fear.â You canât breathe, your palms sweat, your chest gets tight, and you feel weak. If youâve ever experienced a panic attack, youâll recognize these symptoms. Doctors estimate that in our stress-filled world, about a third of us experience at least one panic attack a year. If you are one of them, here are some things you can do to help yourself:(1) Breathe deeply. Panic makes you breathe in short shallow bursts, whereas breathing deeply helps to calm and relax you. So when you start to feel overwhelmed, stop and breathe the name of Jesus. Try it; it works! (2) Talk to yourself. Say, âBy Godâs grace I can handle thisâ (See 2Co 12:9). If you respond with more panic youâll just end up in double trouble. Allowing yourself to feel panic without reacting to it may sound difficult at first, but it helps you break the cycle and take control of your thinking. (3) Do something calming. This may be the last thing you feel like doing, because panic attacks make you instinctively think thoughts that feed your fear. So take a minute and whisper a prayer, quote a Scripture, listen to inspirational music, or talk to a friend. And if your panic attacks continue, thereâs no shame in getting professional help. After all, itâs God who gives doctors the skills and abilities to intervene. Hereâs a Scripture you should write down and keep handy: âYou can go to bed without fearâŚand sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disasterâŚfor the Lord is your securityâ (Pr 3:24-26 NLT).
Seven Seconds (2)
âWho is wiseâŚamong you? Let him show it byâŚwisdom.â Jas 3:13 NIV
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In the first seven seconds people often decide if they do or do not want to hear what you have to say. It may not be fairâbut itâs a fact. In How to Talk So People Listen, communication expert Sonya Hamlin says when it comes to hearing and seeing, sight is the more important and powerful sense. She writes: âWe remember 85 to 90 percent of what we see, but less than 15 percent of what we hear. Countless numbers of people have lost sales opportunities, ruined job interviews, or been turned down for dates because their appearance didnât match someone elseâs expectations. If youâre wise youâll ask your family and friends if youâre inclined to display nonverbal cues that capture their attention and take the focus off what youâre trying to communicate.â One pastor says: âI never realized how many nonverbal mistakes I was making until I saw myself on video. Now itâs my regular practice to go back and watch myself to determine not only what I said, but also how I said it. The tape doesnât lie.â Great actors can tell a story without saying a word, simply by using facial expressions. And whether you are aware of it or not, you convey a message by the expression on your face. Even people who pride themselves on âplaying with a poker face,â and on their ability to not let other people know what theyâre really thinking, convey an unspoken message of detachment. And that makes meaningful connection with other people well-nigh impossible. If your face is going to âtalkââand it isâmake sure youâre communicating the right thing.
Dealing With Depression
âYour wordsâŚwere my joy and my heartâs delight.â       Jer 15:16 NIV
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People in Bible times dealt with depression too. Elijah said, âI have had enough, LordâŚTake my lifeâ (1Ki 19:4 NIV). Job said, âI loathe my very lifeâ (Job 10:1 NIV). David wrote, âMy soul is downcastâ (Ps 42:6 NIV). Now, when youâre clinically depressed you should seek professional help. But the kind of depression weâre talking about here is when your motivation is drained, your desire to pursue God is gone, your conversations have turned sour, youâre blind to your blessings, your enthusiasm is forced, and youâre in a daze regarding the future. Here are some possible causes: (1) Sin. Sin is like a stone in your shoe; youâll have no peace until you get it out. No vacation, job change, relationship change, or doctor will heal it. But the blood of Jesus will cleanse it (See 1Jn 1:7). (2) Greed. King Ahabâs obsession with owning Nabothâs vineyard made him miserable and affected his entire family (See 1Ki 21:4).(3) Comparisons. Constantly comparing yourself to others will depress you (See 2Co 10:12). (4) Speaking negatively. âThe tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequencesâ (Pr 18:21 NLT). (5) Fatigue. Jesus called His disciples aside to rest. Why? Because He recognized that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out (See Mk 6:31). (6) Unforgiveness. When you refuse to forgive someone, you carry them like an albatross around your neck. So whatâs the remedy for depression? Often it starts with prayer and Bible reading. Jeremiah, who battled depression, wrote, âWhen your words came, I ate themâŚthey were my joy and my heartâs delight.â
What Are Your Strengths?
âGod has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.â  Ro 12:6 TLB
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Paul writes: âJust as our bodies have many parts and eachâŚhas a special functionâŚWe are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each otherâŚGod has given us different gifts for doing certain things wellâ (vv. 4-6 NLT). Dr. John Maxwell recommends that you work where youâre strongest 80 percent of the time, where youâre learning 15 percent of the time, and where youâreweakest 5 percent of the time. So, what are your strengths? To find the answer to that question, you must: (1) Be secure. If you allow your insecurities to get the better of you, youâll become inflexible and resistant to change. And if you donât change you wonât grow. (2) Get to know yourself. Spend time exploring your gifts, ask for feedback and receive it, and be honest about your blind spots. (3) Trust your leader. If you canât trust the person youâre following, you should look for someone you can trust, or get on another team. (4) See the big picture.Your place on any team only makes sense in the context of the big picture. If your sole reason for finding your niche is personal gain, your wrong motives will rob you of the very joy, fulfillment, and success you desire. (5) Rely on your experience. The only way to know youâve discovered your niche is to try things, take risks, learn from your failures and successes, and discover what God has gifted you to do.
Sound Financial Advice (2)
âGatherâŚin the good yearsâŚOtherwise this famine will destroy the land.â      Ge 41:35, 36 NLT
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Joseph gave Pharaoh some sound financial advice that we would all do well to live by: âGather into the royal storehouses all the excess crops of the next seven yearsâŚthat way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come. Otherwise, disaster will surely strikeâ (vv. 35-36 TLB). And how did Pharaoh respond? âJosephâs suggestions were well received by Pharaohâ (v. 37 TLB). Your future financial security is guaranteed if you practice these three scriptural principles:(1) Tithe. âBring all of the tithes into the storehouseâŚIf you do, says the Lord of Heavenâs Armies, âI will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you wonât have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!ââ (Mal 3:10 NLT). (2) Save.Discipline yourself to invest a percentage of your income in savings. Donât worry that itâs a modest amount, just make it a priority! If you donât, youâll spend it on other things and never achieve your long-term goals for college, retirement, or helping the work of the Lord. (3) Get out of debt. After tithing to God and saving for the future, strive to pay off all your financial obligations. Stop paying the bare minimum on your credit cards. By not repaying them in full every month, you end up paying much more than you should. Put as much as you can toward retiring outstanding debt, even if you have to stretch yourself and do without a few things for a while. In the long run, youâll be way ahead.
Keep Pressing On
âStraining toward what is ahead, I press on.â        Php 3:13 NIV
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Developing your faith is like taking swimming lessons. Observe: (1) Fear is like water; if you let it, it will take you under. (2) You can only tread water for so long before you drown. (3) When you reach a certain point, thereâs no turning back. (4) Faith is like the air in your lungs; it will sustain you and keep you afloat if you just relax. Have you ever watched a seasoned swimmer? Stroke after stroke, he takes whatâs in front of him and pushes it behind him, letting it propel him toward his goal. He literally takes what stands between him and his goal, and uses it to get there. Sometimes we despair and say, âIâm just keeping my head above water,â and thatâs okay as long as you keep âstrokingâ and pressing on. Itâs when you feel backed into a corner with nowhere to turn, that youâve got to take hold of the faith God has placed within you and keep moving forward. Jesus said, âThe kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by forceâ (Mt 11:12). The word âviolenceâ suggests ferocity, passion, and intensity. You must be relentless and fight your way through, confident that God is on your sideâbecause He is (See Ps 56:9). The waters youâre in donât determine your destiny; they either carry you over or take you under. It takes faith to keep going. When you quit, God can do nothing more for you! So today whether youâre doing the breaststroke, the backstroke, or some other kind of stroke that nobodyâs ever heard ofâkeep pressing on.
God Uses Ordinary People (1)
âYou will be my witnesses.â Ac 1:8 NIV
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A witness is someone who sees and experiences an event, then testifies to it in court in a way that convinces others. And thatâs what you have been called to do! You say, âBut I donât feel qualified.â God doesnât call the qualified, He qualifies the called. And donât let Satan convince you otherwise, because he will try. He will tell you God has an IQ requirement, or an entry fee; that He employs only specialists, experts, and high-powered personalities. No, Jesus said to His disciples, âYou will be my witnessesâŚto the ends of the earth.â Youuneducated and simple folk. Youtemperamental net casters and tax collectors. âYou will be my witnesses.â The one thing the disciples had going for them was their willingness to take a step when Jesus said, âFollow me.â So if youâre more plumber than executive, or more blue jeans than blue blood, youâre qualified! âFew of you were wise in the worldâs eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerfulâ (1Co 1:26-27 NLT). So pray: âLord, Youâve called me into Your Kingdom to serve You in this specific place, at this specific time, and for this specific purpose. Despite my ordinariness I belong to Youâand You are anything but ordinary! Today help me to pour out Your grace and compassion upon others, that they too may experience the richness of Your love.â
A Promise To Praying Parents
âThey shall come back from the land of the enemy.â       Jer 31:16 NKJV
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Are you living under a cloud of guilt, feeling like a failure because your child has gone astray? Donât do it! The Bible teaches that sometimes children simply wonât listen to the counsel of their parents. Solomon was probably giving a word of personal testimony when he wrote, âA wise son heeds his fatherâs instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebukeâ (Pr 13:1 NKJV). Jesus didnât hold the father accountable for the fact that his prodigal son went astray (See Lk 15:11). And if you did your best, God doesnât hold you accountable either. The truth is that bad parents sometimes turn out good children, and good parents sometimes have children who go bad. Godâs first two children were placed in a perfect paradise, yet they rebelled. Ultimately, weâre all given the power to choose. There comes a time when every child is no longer a child, and has to take responsibility for his or her actions. So if youâve done your best as a parent, donât let the Devil put a guilt trip on you. And if youâve failed as a parent, itâs not the unpardonable sin. Not only will God forgive you, but you can also claim this wonderful promise: âRefrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your futureâŚthat your children shall come back to their own borderâ (Jer 31:16-17 NKJV). Donât give up on your children, because God hasnât. Keep praying and believingâand allow Him to work on them.
The Marriage Covenant (4)
âThe wife must respect her husband.â       Eph 5:33 NLT
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Paul writes, âThe wife must respect her husband.â Pay close attention to the word âmust.â This is a command from the Lord, not a suggestion or a topic thatâs open to debate. Notice, the Bible doesnât say a woman must âloveâ her husband, but it does say that she must ârespectâ him. And guys, before you take the throne and start handing out decrees, that means you must prove yourself worthy of respect! To respect your husband is to hold him in esteem and honor. What a woman needs from a man is located in her heart, and what a man needs from a woman is located in his head. Itâs called his ego. You say, âIâm not going to feed his ego!â That would be like your husband saying, âIâm not going to feed your heart.â Men long to have their egos fed. When you fail to feed your husbandâs ego, he may end up vulnerable to somebody else who feeds it for him! As a wife, you were created by God with the ability to feed your husbandâs ego in a healthy manner, by respecting and honoring him. Thereâs nothing more dangerous in a marriage relationship than disrespect. When a man doesnât feel respected, he will either rebel against you, remove himself, or become passive. God has given two simple rules for building a successful marriage. The first is for husbands to love their wives, and the second is for wives to respect their husbands. And when you operate by Godâs rules you get Godâs results. So if you want Godâs best, and His blessing at homeâstart doing things His way.
The Marriage Covenant (2)
âHusbands, love your wives.â        Eph 5:25 NLT
We throw the word âloveâ around loosely, leaving it to be defined in many different ways. People say things like, âI love chocolate cake,â or âI love football,â or âI love that television show.â What they really mean is they âlikeâ and âenjoyâ these things. The Bible definition of love goes much deeper than what entertains and excites us, and what makes us feel emotionally attached to one another. To love someone is to pursue their well-being and make it a priority. Loveâs first concern is always: âHow does this action contribute to my partnerâs well-being?â If it doesnâtâor if it does the oppositeâthen it isnât love. The Bible says, âHusbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for herâŚIn the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body butâŚcares for itâ (vv. 25, 28-29 NLT). As a husband, you can learn two things from these Scriptures:(1) We are all innately selfish. So your greatest challenge will always be to put your wifeâs interests ahead of your own, and be willing to sacrifice your own agenda to do it. (2) We must practice being sensitive. Think how sensitive you are to the aches and needs of your own body, and apply that same principle to caring for your wife. You say, âThatâs a tall order!â Yes, and the God who commands you to do it will give you the grace to do it day by day. So draw on His grace!
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How Much Do You Love Jesus?
âWhen he had found one pearl of great priceâŚ[he] sold all that he had and bought it.â           Mt 13:46 NKJV
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In one of the most unique corporate take-overs ever, Stanley Tam legally transferred 51 percent of the shares of his company to God. He started United States Plastic Corporation with thirty-seven dollars in capital. When he gave his business back to God, annual revenues were less than two hundred thousand dollars. But Stanley believed God would bless his business, and he wanted to honor God from the get-go. At that point, most of us would have been patting ourselves on the back. Not Stanley. He felt convicted for keeping 49 percent to himself. After reading the parable of the merchant who sold everything to obtain the pearl of great price, he made a decision to divest himself of all his shares. He said, âA man can eat only one meal at a time, wear only one suit of clothes at a time, drive only one car at a time. All this I have. Isnât that enough?â So on January 15, 1955, every share of stock was transferred to God, and Stanley became a salaried employee of the company he started. Before he was through, Stanley gave away more than $120 million to the cause of Christ. If you want to measure the depth of your love for Christ, look at your calendar and your credit card statement. They donât lie. How you spend your time and money are the two best barometers of your true priorities. Is Christ your pearl of great price? He wants to be. He deserves to be.
Praise God Every Day
âYou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory.â Rev 4:11 NKJV
A Christian farmer taught his horse to start and stop, using words from the Bible. When he wanted the horse to go, he would shout, âPraise the Lord.â When he wanted the horse to stop, he would shout, âHallelujah.â All went well until one day a thunderbolt caused the horse to take off galloping at full speed. Realizing he had lost control, the farmer panicked and forgot the words he had trained the horse to respond to. Up ahead was a cliff, and they were headed toward it at full speed. Desperately he tried to recall every religious word heâd ever heard of. He shouted, âAmen! Jesus saves! Worthy! Holy!â Nothing worked. Just as the horse approached the precipice, he shouted, âHallelujah!â The horse stopped right there on the edge. Relieved, he wiped the sweat off his brow and said, âWhew, praise the Lord!â Seriously, praising the Lord is not a religious activity that belongs only in church on Sunday morning. âFrom the rising of the sun to its going down the Lordâs name is to be praisedâ (Ps 113:3 NKJV). That means let your first words in the morning and your last words at night, be praise to God. âWhy should I praise God every day?â you ask. Because He is worthy of your praise. âYou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.â And one more thought. Spoken words of love and appreciation draw people together and create intimacy. Do you want to get closer to God? Start praising Him more.
Blessed In âEveryâ Area Of Life
âGodâŚhas blessed us with every spiritual blessing.â Eph 1:3 NKJV
Farmer Brown lived during the Great Depression, and he was having trouble keeping up the mortgage payments on his farm. Eventually the bank gave him thirty days to catch up on his back payments or face foreclosure. Then something wonderful happened. A man from an oil company showed up on his doorstep, asking for a lease to drill for oil on his land. Since he was going to lose the farm anyway, Farmer Brown decided that it couldnât hurt. Well, that oil company drilled and hit a gusherâ82,000 barrels of oil a day. Immediately Farmer Brown became a millionaire many times over. Now, hereâs the questionâWhen did he become a millionaire? Was it when oil was discovered on his farm, or when he first bought the land? He was a millionaire the moment he purchased the farm, but he lived in poverty because he didnât know what was under his feet and within his reach. The Bible says God âhas blessed us with every spiritual blessing.â Some people think the only thing God will do for you is bless you with salvation, then He lets you struggle through the rest of life until you get to heaven. As long as you believe that, youâre living in your own spiritual version of the Great Depression. Youâre living spiritually poor, spiritually weak, and spiritually deprived because you donât know whatâs available to you in Christ or how to access it and appropriate it in your life. Refuse to live that way. Instead, read your Bible and begin to claim Godâs promises in every area of your life.
The Island Of Blessing
âYou are complete in Him.â Col 2:9 NKJV
In his book Outlive Your Life, author Max Lucado says the Greek word for âblessed,â makarios, was the name of an island off Greece. It was known as âthe blessed islandâ because it was self-contained. The residents didnât need to leave it in order to get their needs met. The natural resources of this island were so rich that everything needed to enjoy life was already there. Thereâs a lesson here for you. The moment you trust in Christ as your Savior, He becomes your king and you begin living in His kingdom. You donât have to leave it and go elsewhere to find what you need, because itâs all around you in the island of blessing. You donât have to strive for Godâs blessing; you simply have to âtune inâ and receive it. Itâs like your radio; there are no orchestras or newscasters inside it, itâs only a conduit and a point of contact. Even when your radio stops working, there are still signals in the air. All your radio does is receive the signal that comes from another source and deliver it to you. If you lose sight of that fact, youâll give the radio more credit than it deserves. One of the reasons we donât recognize the blessings of God in our lives is that we confuse the means of delivery with the source. If something doesnât miraculously fall into our lap, we think it didnât come from God. No, God will bless you at different times, through different people, in different ways. But you must always remember that they are only the carriers of blessing, while He is the source of it (See Ps 31:19).
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It only takes some seconds and will help us grow đ
Seven Seconds (3)
âI am the good shepherd.â  Jn 10:11
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You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Your message may be wonderful and much needed by the hearer, but the look on your face can turn people off before you open your mouth. Ever notice how many people have bad memories of growing up in church? They recall stern, severe, strange-looking people who passed condemnation on the world at large. What a disservice to God! A little girl once saw a mule looking over a fence. Patting him on the head, she said, âItâs okay; my aunt is religious too!â Jesus said, âI am the good shepherd.â The word âgoodâ comes from the Greek wordkelos, which means âwinsomeâ [attractive, pleasant, engaging]. Jesusâ attitude won people over every time!What we say accounts for 7 percent of what people believe. How we say it accounts for 38 percent. What they seeaccounts for 55 percent. Amazingly, more than 90 percent of the nonverbal cues we give off have nothing to do with what we actually say! So if you think communication is just about words, youâre missing the boat, and the chances are youâll have a hard time connecting with others. A member of his staff once asked Abraham Lincoln to give a friend of his a job. After interviewing the man, Lincoln turned him down. Asked why, he replied, âBecause I didnât like the look on his face.â The White House staffer protested, âThatâs not fair! Nobodyâs responsible for the look on their face.â Lincoln replied, âThatâs where youâre wrong. Everyone over forty is responsible for the look on their face.â SoâŚwhat does your facial expression say to others?
Seven Seconds (1)
âLet your lightâŚshine before men.â           Mt 5:16 NKJV
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Jesus said, âLet your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.â When youâre in darkness, you see the light before you see the carrier of the light, right? The old saying, âFirst impressions are lasting impressions,â is true. One communications expert says: âYouâve got just seven seconds to make the right first impression. As soon as you make your entrance, you broadcast verbal and nonverbal signals that determine how others see you. In business those crucial first seven seconds can decide whether you win that new account, or succeed in a tense negotiation. Are you confident? Comfortable? Sincere? Glad to be there? In that first seven seconds you shower your audience with subtle âclues.â And whether people realize it or not, they respond immediately to your facial expressions, gestures, stance, and energy. They react to your voiceâthe tone and pitch. Audiences, whether one or one hundred, instinctively size up your motives and attitudes.â Whether youâre speaking, selling, interviewing, or dating, your appearance, attitude, and approach make all the difference in the world. People can tell a lot in seven seconds. They may decide they donât want to hear anything you have to say, or they may be struck by how much theyâre drawn to you. Henry Ward Beecher said: âThere are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they do you good, whose coming into a room is like bringing a shining lamp there.â
The Importance Of Self-Discipline
âLearn to sense what is vitalâŚand of real value.â Php 1:10 AMPC
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To achieve greater self-discipline, you should: (1) Start your day by doing the hard things first. And when you get sidetracked, make yourself go back and complete them. For example, make your bed, pick up your clothes, and wash the dishes; donât make extra work for others. And donât start several projects at once; the feeling of âgetting something doneâ will help you grow in self-respect and self-discipline. (2) Make a commitment to be punctual. Tardiness is a hard habit to break. To conquer it you must be willing to call it what it often isâinconsiderate, selfish behavior. (3) Plan ahead. Everything takes longer than you think, so donât wait until the last minute and then rush around like a chicken with its head cut off. âLiving under the gunâ can give you ulcers, whereas allowing extra time is good for your health and peace of mind. (4) Accept correction from those who care about you, without sulking or retaliating. Until youâre willing to take correction, youâll never be qualified to give it. The Bible says, âWisdom is found in those who take adviceâ (Pr 13:10 NIV), so if youâre wise youâll welcome feedback and seek counsel. Gandhi once said, âThereâs always a limit to self-indulgence, but none to self-restraint.â Ask God to help you control your unruly thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors. Identify the unmanageable areas in your life, stop making excuses, face the truth even if it hurts, refuse to feel sorry for yourself, and set a few attainable goals. In other words: âLearn to sense what is vitalâŚand of real value.â
Sound Financial Advice (3)
âThe godly love to give!â    Pr 21:26 NLT
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The level of financial blessing God will entrust to you depends on three questions: (1) Are you mature enough to handle it? (2) Are you hoping to reap but unwilling to sow? (3) Are you a hoarder or a giver? God knows we canât all give the same amount. Jesus honored a widow for giving her last two cents, saying: âOthers gave what theyâll never missâŚshe gave her allâ (Mk 12:44 TM). On the other hand, businessman Barnabas âsold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostlesâ feetâ (Ac 4:37 NIV). The more God blesses you with, the more He holds you accountable for. Jesus said, âMuch is required from those to whom much is givenâ (Lk 12:48 TLB). At offering time, a pastor told his congregation to reach out and grab the wallet or purse of the person sitting in front of them. âNow,â he said, âOpen it up and give as much as youâve always wanted to give but felt you couldnât afford!â The truth is, weâre not all called to give equally but weâre all called to sacrifice equally. That levels the playing field. Isnât it interesting how you can go to dinner at the home of somebody who doesnât have a lot, and leave feeling like royalty because of their hospitality? Thatâs because the essence of generosity is self-sacrifice. God entrusts financial blessing to people who arenât controlled by the love of money. How can you tell when youâre controlled by the love of money? Because instead of giving when God tells you to, you withhold. Understand this: When God impresses on you to sow a seed, thereâs a harvest coming your way.
Sound Financial Advice (1)
âThe wise have wealthâŚbut fools spend whatever they get.â  Pr 21:20 NLT
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Itâs foolish to buy things you donât need and canât afford, especially when your bills are overdue and youâve nothing set aside for the future. Your financial security is determined by what you owe, not by what you earn! Having to work for years to repay debt severely limits your options. So determine your lifestyle by your actual income, not by what you wish it was or hope it will be. And when you get a raise, donât automatically spend more. The Bible says, âThere isâŚtreasureâŚin the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders itâ (Pr 21:20 NKJV). One of the wisest things you can do today is to start saving for the future, and sowing at least one-tenth of your income into Godâs Kingdom so that youâll have a harvest when you need it (See 2Co 9:6). Author John Kennedy writes: âPeddling Biblically-based financial advice has become a cottage industry. Itâs not that the counsel is new, or that people havenât heard it enough. The fact remainsâŚChristians have racked up debt with no plan for financial accountabilityâŚtheyâre tapped out keeping up with interest payments.â Is your philosophy in life, âWhy wait and save when a credit card will let me have what I want right now?â If youâre buying things you donât need with money you donât have, stop it! Before you purchase anything else, ask yourself if you really need it. And even if you think you do, ask yourself if you can live without it for a while; otherwise youâll become a slave to credit card debt. Hereâs some sound financial advice: Pray for Godâs guidance before you make any nonessential purchase.
God Uses Ordinary People (2)
âRememberâŚfew of you were wise in the worldâs eyesâŚwhen God called you.â    1Co 1:26 NLT
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Max Lucado writes: âEdith Hayes was a spry eighty-year-old with thinning white hair, a wiry five-foot frame, and an unquenchable compassion for South Floridaâs cancer patients. I was fresh out of seminary in 1979 and sitting in an office of unpacked boxes when she walked in and introduced herself. âMy name is Edith, and I help cancer patients.â She extended her hand. I offered a chair. She politely declined. âToo busy. Youâll see my team here at the church building every Tuesday morning. Youâre welcome to come, but if you do weâll put you to work.â Her team, I came to learn, included a hundred or so silver-haired women who occupied themselves with the unglamorous concern of sore-seepage. They made cancer wounds their mission, stitching together truckloads of disposable pads each Tuesday, and then delivering them to patients throughout the week. Edith rented an alley apartment, lived on her late husbandâs pension, wore glasses that magnified her pupils, and ducked applause like artillery fire.â Edithâs story does away with the excuse, âIâm too old to do something for God.â Noah was over six hundred years old when he came out of the ark and helped to start the human race all over again. If youâre older, think about it this way: Youâre a walking repository of decades of wisdom and knowledge. So before you leave this earth, endeavor to give to others what God has entrusted to you. Right now somebody, somewhere, needs something you have, and if you ask God, He will show you who they are. When He doesâget involved!
Trust God, And Act!
âPerhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.â    1Sa 14:6 NIV
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During the early days of Saulâs kingship, the Philistines controlled the western border of Israel, and battle lines were drawn at the pass called Michmash. Saul seemed content to sit on the sidelines, but Jonathan wanted to be on the front line. âCome, letâs go over to the Philistine outpost on the other sideâ (v. 1 NIV). There was only Jonathan and his armor bearer, so the odds didnât look good. But when you make a move that is motivated by Godâs glory, it moves the heart and hand of God. What it requires is a step of faith. And often itâs the longest, hardest, and scariest step youâve ever taken. Usually when Israelâs kings went into battle it was because they had received a word from the Lord assuring their victory. Jonathan had received no such word. He simply said, âPerhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.â Most people operate out of the opposite mentality: âPerhaps the Lord wonât act in our behalf.â They let fear dictate their decisions instead of faith. So they end up with Saul, sitting on the sidelines. And how did the battle turn out for Jonathan and his armor bearer? âSo the Lord rescued Israel that dayâ (v. 23 NIV). All it took was one daring decision! Thatâs all it ever takes. When you move, God will move on your behalf. And if you donât move, youâll always wonder âwhat if?â Our longest regrets are our inaction regretsâthe things we would have, could have, or should have done but did not do. So the word for you today is: Trust God, and act!
Be âAwareâ Of God In Your Situation
âI was not aware of it.â          Ge 28:16 NIV
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One night Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder with angels on it extending all the way up to heaven, and God said to him, âI am with you and will watch over you wherever you goâ (v. 15 NIV). The next morning Jacob said, âThe Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.â When it comes to recognizing God at work in your life, you can be spiritually tuned in, or be like Jacob and not be âawareâ of Him. It was business as usual for Moses the day he noticed the burning bushânot an uncommon sight in a hot desert climate. Except this time the bush kept burning, and âwhenâŚhe turned aside to look, God called to himâ (Ex 3:4 NKJV). Youâll have some of your greatest encounters with God in the everyday experiences of life. But you have to be open and receptive, otherwise youâll miss Him. Author William Barry says: âWhether weâre aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence weâre encountering GodâŚwho is trying to catch our attentionâŚto draw us into a reciprocal conscious relationship.â And you never know where Heâll appear, or through whom Heâll speak. After the resurrection, Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was just the gardener. Paul writes, âWake upâŚsleeperâ (Eph 5:14 NIV). You can be awakened by a miraculous healing, a restored relationship, or even a great trial. Donât just look for God in your triumphs; look for Him in your troubles too. Theologian Frederick Buechner said, âThere is no event so commonplace but that God is present, leaving you room to recognize or not to recognize Him.â
The Marriage Covenant (3)
âBeing heirs together of the grace of life.â  1Pe 3:7 NKJV
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A good marriage is built on mutual sacrifice. Adam had to sacrifice something near and dear to him in order to get Eveâa rib. And your wife will know you love her when youâre willing to give up things that are important to you in order to meet her needs and promote her well-being. Too many men want to be married but still function as singles. They donât want to sacrifice any time, attention, or resources for the benefit of their wives. They donât want a wife; they want a maid. They want to marry someone so they can be served. Noâitâs the opposite! The Bible says you and your wife are âheirs together.â That means she is an equal partner. So her opinions, thoughts, and perspectives matter. Yes, as the leader of your home you may make the final decision, but when you donât get your wifeâs input and consider her viewpoint, holy wedlock can turn into unholy deadlock. Your wife will respond to you when she feels cherished and valued (See Eph 5:29). You say, âBut my wifeâs as cold as ice.â How did she get that way? Ice only stays icy in a cold environment. So instead of complaining, work at changing your environment. Husbands are thermostats and wives are thermometers. Husbands determine the climate and wives thrive or shrivel accordingly. Thereâs a reason your wife is coldâand thereâs a solution. When you begin to love, nurture, cherish, and protect her as Christ did the church, youâll have a whole new woman in your arms. Try it and see.
The Marriage Covenant (1)
âFor those who are married, I have a command that comesâŚfrom the Lord.â  1Co 7:10 NLT
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Having Godâs blessing on your marriage is contingent upon your operating according to His rules. To enjoy His protection, peace, and prosperity you must follow His instructions. For example, you can spend hours arguing and still not resolve the issue. If youâd just followed Godâs rules, the argument could have been over in a matter of minutes, and both parties would have been satisfied at the end of the process. When your car breaks down, you take it back to the dealership. Why? Because they sold it to you and they know how to fix it! God performed the first marriage. So when your relationship gets into trouble, if youâre wise youâll talk to Himabout it before talking to each other. Furthermore, when you get married with the attitude, âIf this doesnât work out I can always get a divorce,â youâre running in the opposite direction from the truth of Godâs Word. Paul writes: âFor those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wifeâ (vv. 10-11 NLT). Yes, there are some acceptable reasons for divorce, but they are the exception and not the rule! Recently a Hollywood celebrity spent millions of dollars on her wedding and then divorced her husband two months later on the grounds of âincompatibility.â When you say, âTill death us do part,â you say it before God and youâre supposed to mean it.
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A Small Change Can Make A Big Difference
âDoes anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings?â Zec 4:10 TM
Imagine the temple lying in ruins, and having to be rebuilt from the ground up. Thatâs what things were like when Zechariah shared his vision with the people of Israel. Some thought it couldnât be done, and others thought that their particular contribution would make no difference. So Zechariah challenged them in these words: âDoes anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? Theyâll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!â In 1963, MIT meteorologist Edward Lorenz presented the hypothesis that became known as the butterfly effect. He theorized that a minor event, like the flapping of a butterflyâs wings in Brazil, could conceivably alter wind currents sufficiently to cause a tornado in Texas. Lorenz came to the simple yet profound conclusion: âMinuscule changes in input can make macroscopic differences in output.â That simple discovery has the power to change your life. It can radically alter your spiritual, emotional, relational, or financial forecast. It can change the atmosphere of your organization or your marriage. One decision. One change. One risk. One idea. Thatâs all it takes. You donât have to make one hundred changes. All that does is divide your energy by one hundred, and results in a 1 percent chance of success. You have to be 100 percent committed to one change. It will take an all-out effort. It will probably be the hardest thing youâve ever done. But that one change has the potential to make a 100 percent difference in your life.
Each Child Is Unique
âBefore you were born I set you apart.â Jer 1:5 NIV
Does a baby come into the world with a complex personality, or is that child a blank slate on which experience will write? In the past, behavioral scientists believed newborns had no temperamental or emotional characteristics upon arrival from the womb. Their little personalities were supposedly formed entirely by the experiences that came their way in ensuing years. But most parents knew better. Every mother of two or more children was convinced that each of her infants had a different personalityâa different feelâfrom the very first time they were held. Now, after years of research, numerous authorities in child development acknowledge that those mothers were right. One important study identified nine characteristics that varied in babiesâsuch as moodiness, level of activity, and responsiveness. They also found that the differences from child to child tended to persist into later life. Indeed, babies do differ in infinite ways that define our humanness and our individuality. If every snowflake that falls has its own design, and if every grain of sand at the seashore is unique, it makes no sense to suppose that children are assembly-line products stamped out by the same giant cookie cutter. Thereâs no denying the importance of environment and human experience in shaping who we are and how we think. But there can be no doubt that each person on earth is a one-of-a-kind creation from the earliest moments of life. As God told Jeremiah: âBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.â You need to know that about your children.
Donât Just Read It, Do It (2)
âThe Holy SpiritâŚwill teach youâŚand will remind you of everything I have said.â Jn 14:26 NIV
Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount with a striking story that addresses the gap between knowing and doing: âTherefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rockâ (Mt 7:24 NIV). The problem is, we find it easier to be smart than to be good. You donât need to know more about the Bible until you put into practice what you already know. John Ortberg says that when he taught tennis, unskilled novices would agonize over which racket to buyâwhether to use nylon or gut strings, whether to string them up at sixty-five or seventy pounds. The problem was, they couldnât even hit the ball. Instead of debating the minutiae, they simply needed to practice. But a word of caution here: You donât become a âdoer of the wordâ by drawing on your own strength and willpower. The Holy Spirit who dwells within you is referred to in Scripture as âthe paraclete.â The word means âone who comes alongside to help.â When you decide to do whatâs right, the Holy Spirit within you empowers you to do it. When a situation arises, He will prompt you as to what you should do. Jesus promised, âThe Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.â You ask, âBut what if I donât get it right?â He will work with you, giving you opportunities until you do get it right.
Donât Just Read It, Do It (1)
âBe doers of the wordâŚnot merely hearers.â Jas 1:22 NRS
A businessman known for his ruthlessness, arrogance, and religiosity told Mark Twain that before he died he intended to visit the Holy Land, climb Mount Sinai, and read the Ten Commandments aloud. âI have a better idea,â Twain replied. âJust stay here in Boston and keep them!â Weâd rather cogitate on what we donât know, than act on what we know we need to do. For example, a company knows it needs to improve its quality control so the executives discuss the problem, listen to presentations, read all kinds of books, look at state-of-the-art systemsâbut never actually get around to doing anything. Their problem isnât ignorance; itâs knowing too much but doing too little. Another everyday example: People would rather debate the merits of protein vs. carbs, French cooking vs. vegetarian, lifting weights vs. cardio, than change how they eat. The bottom line is simple: Expend more calories than you take in. Likewise, some Christians would rather debate doctrine than do what Jesus says. As the old ad for Nike sneakers saidâjust do it! Practice loving a difficult person; try forgiving someone; give some money away; stop and say thanks; worship God; encourage a friend; bless an enemy; when youâre in the wrong say, âIâm sorry.â Face it: You already know more than you need to. And nothing turns people off faster than somebody with a head full of knowledge, who lacks grace and character. Itâs the same today as it was when James wrote, âBe doers of the word, and not merely hearers.â