A Re-post From Dennis Fisher of Our Daily Bread

E-Mail Prayer

July 3, 2012 — by Dennis Fisher

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Read: Ephesians 1:15-23

[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. ­ —Ephesians 1:16

Bible in a Year:
Psalm 119

Not long ago, a friend of mine was facing surgery. Two disks in his back and a detached Achilles tendon were creating a lot of pain. After assuring him of my prayers, I was struck with the idea of sending him something in writing to further encourage him. So I sent the following e-mail:
“This is what I prayed for you today. ‘Living God, I thank You for Your sovereign control over life’s events. On behalf of Your dear servant, I ask that You would give him deep peace. I pray for the physicians as they apply their medical skills, that You would give them excellent results. May Your healing hand touch him and bring him back into full service for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ ”
The apostle Paul wrote prayers to encourage other believers (Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12; 2 Thess. 1:11-12). He wrote to the Ephesians: “[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (1:16-17).
Do you have friends or family members who need your prayers of encouragement right now? Besides letting them know that you’re praying for them, try sending a written prayer as well.

Lord, help us be encouragers
By praying for our friends in need;
And give us opportunities
To show them love in word and deed. —Sper

Praying for others is a privilege—and a responsibility.

A Re-post From Anne Cetas of Our Daily Bread

The Offering Plate

July 1, 2012 — by Anne Cetas

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Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

See that you abound in this grace also. —2 Corinthians 8:7

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 112-114

Ed Dobson, my former pastor, often said that he disliked preaching about financial giving to the church. He said his previous job required fundraising, so he didn’t like putting any unnecessary pressure on people. But when he was teaching through 2 Corinthians, and he came to chapters 8 and 9, he couldn’t avoid the topic of giving. What I remember most about his sermon was the illustration he used. He placed an offering plate on the floor, stepped into it, and stood there as he talked about the importance of giving our whole selves to the Lord, not just our wallets.
Those two chapters in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians give us a number of attitudes and actions that we are to display in our giving to the Lord:
• Give yourself to the Lord first (8:5).
• Give, remembering the example of the Lord Jesus (8:9).
• Give according to your means (8:11-12).
• Give enthusiastically because of God’s love (9:2).
• Give generously, not grudgingly or because of outside pressure (9:5-7).
Next time the offering plate comes around at church, imagine yourself stepping into it. It will help you to excel in the grace of giving (8:7).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving Yourself for me on
the cross. Because of Your love, I give all of me—
my heart, my time, my funds, my will—to You.
I love You.

When we give ourselves completely to the Lord, all lesser giving becomes easier.

Re-posted From Julie Ackerman Link of Our Daily Bread

Ignorance & Innocence

June 30, 2012 — by Julie Ackerman Link

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Read: Romans 5:12-21

As sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. —Romans 5:21

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 109-111

Some people avoid going to the doctor because they don’t want to find out that anything is wrong with them. Some people avoid going to church for the same reason. But ignorance of our sickness doesn’t make us healthy, and ignorance of our sin doesn’t make us innocent
Roman law is considered to be the source of the idea that ignorance of the law excuses no one. But the concept originated much earlier. When God gave the law to Israel, He established that even unintentional sin required a sacrifice for forgiveness (Lev. 4; Ezek. 45:18-20).
In his letter to Christians living in Rome, the apostle Paul addressed the issue of ignorance or lack of understanding. When people were ignorant of God’s righteousness, they made up their own (Rom. 10:3). When we live according to our own standards of right and wrong, we might feel good about ourselves, but that doesn’t make us spiritually healthy. Only when we are measured by God’s standard of righteousness (Jesus) do we know the condition of our spiritual health.
None of us can achieve the righteousness of Christ, but thankfully we don’t have to. He shares His righteousness with us (5:21). The good news about finding out what’s wrong with us is that the Great Physician can make us well.

Great Physician, You know my heart. I bow
before You now and ask that You show me
any attitude or action that doesn’t please You.
Make me clean; make me well.

God is the Measurer and Healer of our spiritual health.

A Re-post From Joe Stowell of Our Daily Bread

Help Is On The Way!

June 29, 2012 — by Joe Stowell

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Read: Revelation 2:12-17

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. —Revelation 2:13

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 106-108

When 33 miners were trapped in a Chilean mine deep under the earth’s surface, I wonder if they felt totally lost and doomed to a slow and painful death. Imagine how they must have been filled with joy when they got a message from above that the rescue team knew exactly where they were and that the process of getting them out had already begun!
There are times in all of our lives when we feel like we’re stuck in a really bad place. Anxious and alone, we despair that we are out of options and that no one understands where we really are in life. But in such moments we need to remember God’s comforting words to the early Christians who were stuck in a world where Satan’s presence dominated all that was around them: “I know . . . where you dwell” (Rev. 2:13). Their situation had not escaped the heavenly Father’s notice. And as they were faithful to Him, He would sustain them until He rescued them and brought them safely home (v.17).
The fact that God knows where you are and that He is very much aware of the difficult situation you are in provides the confidence and strength needed to live for His glory. So be encouraged. Remember God’s words of comfort. Help is on the way!
For further study read Where Can We Find Comfort?

You know the struggles that we face, Lord.
You know just what we need to endure them.
Give us the confidence to trust You because of Your
goodness and to walk by faith. Amen.

Our greatest hope here below is help from God above.

A Re-post From Dennis Fisher of Our Daily Bread

In Praise Of Sovereignty

June 28, 2012 — by Dennis Fisher

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Read: Psalm 103:15-22

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. —Psalm 103:19

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 103-105

In James Fenimore Cooper’s book The Last of the Mohicans, we become acquainted with a character named David Gamut. He is a devout Christian who delights in setting the Psalms to music and singing them no matter what circumstances life brings his way. Gamut believes that God can be trusted in crisis as well as in good times. He lives a life in praise of God’s sovereignty—His supreme power, authority, and control over the world.
The Bible tells us about another David, a flesh-and-blood person who was no stranger to unpredictable life circumstances and who loved to respond to God in praise: King David of Israel. He saw the giant Goliath fall by his sling, he was chased by the murderous King Saul, and he watched the nation of Israel rally under his own leadership. Yet in all these situations, David took time to write and sing psalms of praise to his sovereign God. For example, he wrote, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Ps. 103:19). David understood that in all circumstances we can worship and thank God for His care and control.
What are you experiencing today? A time of blessing or of testing? In any event, remember David’s example, and sing praises to God for His rule in our lives.

Lord, shape my life as only You can,
Guiding each day by Your loving plan;
Take what You need and give what You will;
My life is Yours to use and to fill. —Branon

Praise the Lord! Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! —Psalm 150:1-2

A Re-post From Jennifer Benson Schuldt of Our Daily Bread

Cornered

June 26, 2012 — by Jennifer Benson Schuldt

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Read: Luke 6:27-36

Pray for those who spitefully use you. —Luke 6:28

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 97-99

One Sunday morning, D. L. Moody entered a house in Chicago to escort some children to Sunday school. During his visit, three men backed him into a corner and threatened him. “Look here,” Moody said. “Give a fellow a chance to say his prayers, won’t you?” The men actually allowed him to call out to God, and Moody prayed for them so earnestly that they left the room.
Had I been in Moody’s situation, I might have called for help or looked for the back door. I’m not sure I would have acted on Jesus’ command to His followers: “Pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28 NIV).
Praying for the people who treat us with contempt is one way to “do good to those who hate [us]” (v.27). Jesus explained that Christians get no credit for swapping acts of kindness with other “nice” people. He said, “Even sinners do the same” (v.33). However, blessing our persecutors (Rom. 12:14) sets us apart from them and aligns us with the Most High, because God is kind even to wicked people (Luke 6:35).
Today, if you feel “cornered” by someone, seek safety if the situation calls for it, and follow Jesus’ teaching: Pray for that person (Luke 23:34). Prayer is your best defense.

We want to know Your heart, Lord, and have Your
wisdom to know how to handle opposition.
Give us patience to show kindness.
Guide us, we pray.

Returning good for good is human; returning good for evil is divine.

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A Re-post From David H. Roper of Our Daily Bread

Any Distance, Any Time

June 24, 2012 — by David H. Roper

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Read: Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching [and] preaching the gospel. —Matthew 9:35

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 91-93

For several years, I’ve corresponded with a pastor in Nepal who often travels with his church members to distant communities in the Himalayas to preach and plant churches. Recently he sent me his itinerary for the following week and asked me to pray.
His busy schedule revealed that over the course of a week he planned to travel by motorcycle about 160 kilometers (100 miles) to several cities to preach and hand out gospel tracts.
I wondered at the great distances my friend would cover over mountainous terrain, and I wrote to ask how he was holding up. He replied, “We had a wonderful time of marching in the mountains with our church members. All do not have motorcycles . . . so we all walked. It was a blessed time. Still more places to go.” And then I was reminded of how “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 9:35).
I thought of my reluctance to drive across town in the snow to visit a lonely widower; to walk across the street to help a neighbor; to answer a knock on the door from a needy friend when I’m busy; to go any time, any place, any distance for the sake of love. And I thought of our Lord, for whom no distance was too great.

Christ traveled to the earth below
And left behind His throne above;
No distance was too great for Him
Because He was compelled by love. —Sper

What God gave to us, He wants us to share.