A Re-post From C. P. Hia of Our Daily Bread

Eye In The Sky

November 17, 2012 — by C. P. Hia

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Read: Psalm 139:1-10

The Lord will guide you continually. —Isaiah 58:11

Bible in a Year:
Acts 25-26

Creating a system by which an “eye in the sky” can help guide cars and planes and boats all the time is complicated. For instance, the Global Positioning System (GPS) that most people are familiar with works because there are always 24 to 32 satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 12,500 miles. These satellites must maintain a constant speed and altitude if the guidance they provide is to be accurate.
Today’s complicated GPS is just a tiny analogy of what God can do. God promised the nation of Israel: “The Lord will guide you continually” (Isa. 58:11). The psalmist was aware that there was no place he could go without God knowing where he was (Ps. 139:7-8). Long before GPS, God sat “above the circle of the earth” (Isa. 40:22) and saw everything.
The knowledge that there is someone who tracks you wherever you are can bring fear to those who are trying to get away. But for the Christian, this brings great joy and assurance. No matter where he was, the psalmist was confident that God’s hand would lead him (Ps. 139:10).
God has promised to guide and lead you today. He’s the best Guide you could have, and He wants to lead you along the right paths.

We need God’s guidance from above;
And as we trust Him for direction,
His daily leading and His love,
He’ll give to us His full protection. —Fitzhugh

To avoid going wrong, follow God’s leading.

A Re-post From David C. McCasland of Our Daily Bread

Each Day

November 16, 2012 — by David C. McCasland

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Read: Matthew 6:5-15

Give us this day our daily bread. —Matthew 6:11

Bible in a Year:
Acts 22-24

In 1924, a boy named Johnny, who loved to play basketball, completed the eighth grade in a small rural school. His father, rich in love but short on money for a graduation gift, gave Johnny a card on which he had written his own 7-point creed, which he encouraged his son to start following daily. Three of the points were: Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make each day your masterpiece. Pray for guidance, and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Jesus, in what we often call the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), taught us to approach our heavenly Father each day; it’s not something to be said once and forgotten. Through it we offer God praise (v.9); seek His kingdom and His will (v.10); trust His provision (v.11); and ask for His forgiveness, power, and deliverance (vv.12-13).
Throughout his life, Johnny sought the Lord’s strength to live each day for Him. He became a three-time All- American basketball player at Purdue University and one of the greatest college coaches of all time. When Coach John Wooden died at the age of 99, he was honored most of all for his character, his faith, and the many lives he touched.
By God’s grace, may we make each day our masterpiece for Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing and
privilege of being able to drink deeply from Your Word.
Give me guidance as I seek You. I want to know You
and to have my life bring a smile to Your face.

Commitment to Christ is a daily calling.

A Re-post From Cindy Hess Kasper of Our Daily Bread

Did You Say No?

November 13, 2012 — by Cindy Hess Kasper

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Read: Genesis 3:1-7

Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. —Genesis 2:17

Bible in a Year:
Acts 15-16

“Okay, here are the rules,” Marty said. “You can do whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want until someone tells you no.”
Those were our instructions on our first visit to our friends’ lake house. Marty and his wife, Lynn, who enjoy entertaining, give their guests lots of freedom to enjoy themselves. When we noticed the sailboat next to the paddleboat next to the pontoon boat, we knew we were in for a fun afternoon.
Marty told us no only once—when he saw that we were about to feed the swans that swam up next to us. He knew that if the birds were fed once, they would become aggressive if they didn’t get fed the next time.
Adam and Eve lived in the most beautiful locale, and they too had lots of freedom. However, when God said no, they resisted (Gen. 3). He told them not to eat from a certain tree, but they thought they knew better.
Adam and Eve would have kept good company with a lot of us. Sometimes we can’t understand why our heavenly Father says no. When that happens, He can help us to adjust our thinking. We need to realize that even as He denies us, He’s saying to our hearts, “You can trust Me. I know what is best.”

I may not always understand
The way that You may lead,
But, Lord, in faith I’ll clasp Your hand
And trust You for each need. —Dean

God may deny our request,
but He will never disappoint our trust.

A Re-post From Bill Crowder of Our Daily Bread

Faithful Unto Death

November 11, 2012 — by Bill Crowder

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Read: Revelation 2:8-11

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. . . . Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. —Revelation 2:10

Bible in a Year:
Acts 10-12

The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England, has a painting of a Roman soldier faithfully standing guard in ancient Pompeii. The painting was inspired by an archaeological discovery in Pompeii of an ashen-encased Roman soldier in full military gear. The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ad 79 covered that city in lava, capturing the people and their culture in a moment of time. The painting Faithful Unto Death is a testimony to the sentinel’s continuing vigil even as his world was being engulfed in fiery death.
The church at Smyrna—a first-century congregation that suffered persecution for Christ—was challenged to be faithful unto death. Their spiritual commitment had not gone unnoticed by the Master (Rev. 2:9). And for the suffering that was to come, Jesus offered this encouragement: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested . . . . Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (v.10).
The Lord understands what we are going through now and what we will face in the future. Though there’s suffering in this world, He promises eternal life to His children. In His strength we can be faithful unto death (Phil. 4:12-13).

Though the stress and strain of life
My thread of faith may break,
The cable of God’s faithfulness
No storm can ever shake. —Anon.

Our faith may be tested so that we may trust His faithfulness.