Watch and Pray

Watch and Pray
Monday, May 28, 2007

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Mark 14:38 NIV

“Watch.” They don’t come any more practical than that. Watch. Stay alert. Keep your eyes open. When you see sin coming, duck. When you anticipate an awkward encounter, turn around. When you sense temptation, go the other way.

All Jesus is saying is, “Pay attention.” You know your weaknesses. You also know the situations in which your weaknesses are most vulnerable. Stay out of those situations. Back seats. Late hours. Movie theaters. Whatever it is that gives Satan a foothold in your life, stay away from it. Watch out!

“Pray.” Prayer isn’t telling God anything new. There is not a sinner nor a saint who would surprise him. What prayer does is invite God to walk the shadowy pathways of life with us. Prayer is asking God to watch ahead for falling trees and tumbling boulders and to bring up the rear, guarding our backside from the poison darts of the devil.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior

Perfect Love

Monday, May 28, 2007

“Perfect love casts our fear.”
I John 4:18 NKJV

Have you ever gone to the grocery store on an empty stomach? You’re a sitting duck. You buy everything you don’t need. Doesn’t matter if it’s good for you—you just want to fill your tummy. When you’re lonely, you do the same in life, pulling stuff off the shelf, not because you need it, but because you are hungry for love.

Why do we do it? Because we fear facing life alone. For fear of not fitting in, we take the drugs. For fear of standing out, we wear the clothes. For fear of appealing small, we go into debt and buy the house. For fear of going unnoticed, we dress to seduce or to impress. For fear of sleeping alone, we sleep with anyone. For fear of not being loved, we search for love in all the wrong places.

But all that changes when we discover God’s perfect love. And “perfect love casts our fear.”

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Traveling Light

Forgiveness Follows Failure

Forgiveness Follows Failure
Thursday, May 10, 2007

In the past God spoke... many times and in many different ways. But now... God has spoken to us through his Son.
Hebrews 1:1-2

God, motivated by love and directed by divinity, surprised everyone. He became a man. In an untouchable mystery, he disguised himself as a carpenter and lived in a dusty Judaean village. Determined to prove his love for his creation, he walked incognito through his own world. His callused hands touched wounds and his compassionate words touched hearts....

But as beautiful as this act of incarnation was, it was not the zenith. Like a master painter, God reserved his masterpiece until the end. All the earlier acts of love had been leading to this one. The angels hushed and the heavens paused to witness the finale. God unveils the canvas and the ultimate act of creative compassion is revealed.

God on a cross. The Creator being sacrificed for the creation. God convincing man once and for all that forgiveness still follows failure.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior

Gratitude for Ungrateful Days

Gratitude for Ungrateful Days
by Max Lucado
“Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus”
(I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NCV).

Look at the totality of those terms. Always be joyful. Pray continually. Give thanks whatever happens. Learn a lesson from Sidney Connell. When her brand-new bicycle was stolen, she called her dad with the bad news. He expected his daughter to be upset. But Sidney wasn’t crying. She was honored. “Dad,” she boasted, “out of all the bikes they could have taken, they took mine.”

Make gratitude your default emotion, and you’ll find yourself giving thanks for the problems of life. Need spice in your day? Thank God for every problem that comes down the pike. Is any situation so dire that gratitude is eliminated? Some of the ladies at the Women of Faith Conference thought it was. This great organization fills arenas with women, and women with hope. The president, Mary Graham, told me about one particular weekend in which a shortage of space tested everyone’s patience.

The floor had 150 fewer seats than needed. The arena staff tried to solve the problem by using narrow chairs. As a result, every woman had a place to sit, but everyone was crowded. Complaints contaminated like feedlot fragrance. Mary asked Joni Eareckson Tada, a speaker for the evening, if she could calm the crowd. Joni was perfectly qualified to do so. A childhood diving accident has left her wheelchair-bound. The attendants rolled her onto the platform, and Joni addressed the unhappy crowd. “I understand some of you don’t like the chair in which you are sitting. Neither do I. But I have about a thousand handicapped friends who would gladly trade places with you in an instant.”

The grumbling ceased.

Yours can too.

Impossible, you say? How do you know? How do you know until you give every day a chance?

From Every Day Deserves a Chance
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado

Saturated in Love

Saturated in Love
Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Where God's love is there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear.
1 John 4:15

We fear rejection, so we follow the crowd. We fear no fitting in, so we take the drugs. For fear of standing out, we wear what everyone else wears. For fear of blending in, we wear what no one else wears. For fear of sleeping alone, we sleep with anyone. For fear of not being loved, we search for love in all the wrong places.

But God flushes those fears. Those saturated in God's love don't sell out to win the love of others. They don't even sell out to win the love of God.

Do you think you need to? Do you think, If I cuss less, pray more, drink less, study more... if I try harder, God will love me more? Sniff and smell Satan's stench behind those words. We all need improvement, but we don't need to wood God's love. We change because we already have God's love. God's perfect love.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Come Thirsty

Think of Home

Think of Home
Friday, April 27, 2007

“When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.”
James 1:2

God didn’t say, “If you have many kinds of troubles”...he said “When you have many kinds of troubles…” Troubles are part of the package. Betrayals are part of our troubles. Don’t be surprised when betrayals come. Don’t look for fairness here—look instead where Jesus looked.

While going through hell, Jesus kept his eyes on heaven. While surrounded by enemies he kept his mind on his father. While abandoned on earth, he kept his heart on home. “In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.” (Matt. 26:64)

When all of earth turns against you, all of heaven turns toward you. To keep your balance in a crooked world... think of home.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in And the Angels Were Silent

We Are Family

We Are Family
Monday, April 23, 2007

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Romans 12:10 NIV

Common belief identifies members of God’s family. And common affection unites them. Paul gives this relationship rule for the church: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” The apostle plays the wordsmith here, bookending the verse with fraternal-twin terms. He begins with philostorgos (philos means friendly; storgos mean family love) and concludes with philadelphia (phileo means tender affection; adelphia means brethren). An awkward but accurate translation of the verse might be “Have a friend/family devotion to each other in a friend/family sort of way.” If Paul doesn’t get us with the first adjective, he catches us with the second. In both he reminds us: the church is God’s family.

You didn’t pick me. I didn’t pick you. You may not like me. I may not like you. But since God picked and likes us both, we are family.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Cure for the Common Life

A Clear Vision of the Cross

A Clear Vision of the Cross
Friday, April 06, 2007

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
I Peter 3:18 NIV

One of the reference points of London is the Charing Cross. It is near the geographical center of the city and serves as a navigational tool for those confused by the streets.

A little girl was lost in the great city. A policeman found her. Between sobs and tears, she explained she didn’t know her way home. He asked her if she knew her address. She didn’t. He asked her phone number; she didn’t know that either. But when he asked her what she knew, suddenly her face lit up.

“I know the Cross,” she said. “Show me the Cross and I can find my way home from there.”

So can you. Keep a clear vision of the cross on your horizon and you can find your way home.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in And the Angels Were Silent

God's Name

God’s Name
Monday, April 02, 2007

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need." Psalm 23:1

“You want to know who God really is?” David asks. “Then read this.” And he writes the name Yahweh. “Yahweh is my shepherd.”

Though foreign to us, the name was rich to David. So rich, in fact, that David chose Yahweh over El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Elyon (God Most High), and El Olam (God the Everlasting). These and many other titles for God were at David’s disposal. But when he considered all the options, David chose Yahweh.

Why Yahweh? Because Yahweh is God’s name. You can call me preacher or writer or half-baked golfer- these are accurate descriptions, but these aren’t my names. I might call you dad, mom, doctor, or student, and those terms may describe you, but they aren’t your name. If you want to call me by my name, say Max. If I call you by your name, I say it. And if you want to call God by his name, say Yahweh.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Traveling Light

Cheesy Lucado... When God signed on...

“You Are Mine”

Saturday, March 31, 2007

“Our lives are in the True One and in his Son, Jesus Christ.” I John 5:20

God knows your entire story, from first word to final breath, and with clear assessment declares, “You are mine.”

My publisher made a similar decision with this book. Before agreeing to publish it, they read it—every single word. Multiple sets of editorial eyes scoured the manuscript, moaning at my bad jokes, grading my word crafting, suggesting a tune-up here and a tone-down there. We volleyed pages back and forth, writer to editor to writer, until finally we all agreed—this is it. It’s time to publish or pass. The publisher could pass, mind you. Sometimes they do. But in this case, obviously they didn’t. With perfect knowledge of this imperfect product, they signed on. What you read may surprise you, but not them.

What you do may stun you, but not God. With perfect knowledge of your imperfect life, God signed on.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Come Thirsty

Loved by God

Loved by God
Friday, March 30, 2007

“The LORD loves you.”
Deuteronomy 7:8 NLT

God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so.

He loves you when you don’t feel lovely.

He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.

This is his sentiment: “I’ll call the nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved” (Rom. 9:25 MSG).

This is his promise: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jer. 31:3 NLT).

Do you know what else that means? You have a deep aquifer of love from which to draw. When you find it hard to love, then you need a drink! Drink deeply! Drink daily!

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in A Love Worth Giving

Amazing Grace?

What Is Grace?
Monday, March 26, 2007

“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

What is grace? It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of his heart, not out of the perfection of ours. The story of grace is the good news that says that when we come, he gives. That’s what grace is…

Grace is something you did not expect. It is something you certainly could never earn. But grace is something you’d never turn down.

You know what happens when someone sees the grace of God? When someone really tastes the forgiving and liberating grace of God? Some one who tastes God’s grace is the hardest worker, the most morally pure individual, and the person most willing to forgive.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in The Inspirational Study Bible

www.maxlucado.com

God’s Family of Friends

God’s Family of Friends
Saturday, March 24, 2007


“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:5 NLT

God offers you a family of friends and friends who are family—his church. When you transfer your trust into Christ, he not only pardons you; he places you in his family of friends.

“Family” far and away outpaces any other biblical term to describe the church. “Brothers” or “brothers and sisters” appears a whopping 148 times between the book of Acts and the book of Revelation.

God heals his family through his family. In the church we use our gifts to love each other, honor one another, keep any eye on troublemakers, and carry each other’s burdens.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Cure for the Common Life

www.maxlucado.com

a little love please!

Love Makes the Difference
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

“The person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little.” Luke 7:47

We can replace the word forgiven with accepted and maintain the integrity of the passage. “He who is accepted little loves little.” If we think God is harsh and unfair, guess how we’ll treat people. Harshly and unfairly. But if we discover that God has doused us with unconditional love, would that make a difference?

The apostle Paul would say so! Talk about a turnaround. He went from bully to teddy bear. Paul B.C. (Before Christ) sizzled with anger. He “made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3 NKJV). Paul A.D. (After Discovery) brimmed with love…

His accusers beat him, stoned him, jailed him, mocked him. But can you find one occasion where he responded in kind? One temper tantrum? One angry outburst? This is a different man. His anger is gone. His passion in strong. His devotion is unquestioned. But rash outbursts of anger? A thing of the past.

What made the difference? He encountered Christ.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in A Love Worth Giving

www.maxlucado.com

God's Surprises

God Loves to Surprise Us
Wednesday, March 14, 2007


“People receive God’s promises by having faith. This happens so the promise can be a free gift.” Romans 4:16

Our problem is not so much that God doesn’t give us what we hope for as it is that we don’t know the right thing for which to hope. (You may want to read that sentence again.)

Hope is not what you expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming ending. It’s Abraham adjusting his bifocals so he can see not his grandson, but his son. It’s Moses standing in the promised land not with Aaron or Miriam at his side, but with Elijah and the transfigured Christ…

Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction.

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in God Came Near

Who has a Thirsty Heart?

FM103.2

Kingdom Values

John 4:28-35

"So the woman [to whom Jesus had been witnessing] left her waterpot and went into the city. Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about. My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."

God's work is more important than my work!

Jesus' life was a powerful example of this value. The disciples had no sense of urgency about God's work. "There is plenty of time to get busy with that in the future," they said. But Jesus said, "Look around you! Can't you see how many people need the work of God in their lives? Get busy with God's work!"

Putting God's work first doesn't mean that you quit your job or change your profession. It means that whatever you are doing, you are looking for ways to minister spiritually into the lives of the people around you.

God wants to reach into the lives of people you know today. Are you available for Him to use you in those people's lives?

Who like this woman is `sitting by the well' in your life? Who has a thirsty heart?

Written by John North of Ambassadors For Christ. You can hear John Weekday mornings at 6.05am on FM103.2 and in our Audio Lounge.

Come Thirsty

Team Presbaps!
A quick email to say... that yes, it is time... we have HOMEWORK!
WHAT? you say! (dont jump the gun team...):P

Its probably something that you have eagerly completed already...

We are prepping to read the first chapter of Come Thirsty... by Max Lucado (if you have no idea what im talking about, please come ask me! We still have some spare books that Annie is happy to flog to you for 3 for 2 price! Bargain!)

So come Prepared... to Chat... to cry... to laugh... to eat (no sweets for those that are fasting)... and be entertained and inspired by the first chapter's discussion of Come Thirsty next Tuesday!!

Think Samuel Haddon will be making a guest appearance instead of Max himself ...

So... Hope to see you there!

Keep praying for our sick and weary... (Esther!) and also for those that chose Westlife over time with JC... we need to talk Liz! (haha, jokes!-- thats great-- next time you have a spare ticket, i'll come! :P)...

Enjoy the rest of your week :D

xo Van

cgcremorne.blogspot.com