In an interview with Lee Strobel, Peter Kreeft concludes that the answer to suffering is not an answer at all. “It’s the Answerer,” says Kreeft. “It’s Jesus himself. It’s not a bunch of words, it’s the Word. It’s not a tightly woven philosophical argument; it’s a person. The person.

The answer to suffering cannot just be an abstract idea, because this isn’t an abstract issue; it’s a personal issue. It requires a personal response. The answer must be someone, not just something, because the issue involves someone asking God, where are you?”

Be Jesus to someone today.  Michael

God wants people to know Him. If He preferred anonymity, He would not have orchestrated the writing of a multi-author book about Himself. But Bible reading is just a first step. Knowing about God is different than knowing God. Anyone can learn a few facts about Him, but only a dedicated believer takes the time and energy to be His friend.

First, we learn about the Lord from His Word. By reading the Bible, believers begin to accumulate facts about God’s character, principles, and ways of operating. Unfortunately, churches are full of men and women who stop at this step. They know a lot of religion but cannot share faith.

The second step is to meditate on Scripture. That means thinking about God’s words and allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret them.

Finally, we must apply what we learn. Suppose you read Psalm 46:1 which says, “God is a very present help in times of trouble.” Then, when trouble shows up, you rely on Him for help. When He answers—and He will answer, although not always as expected—you learn something: God helps you by responding to your trust and dependence with a custom-made solution to your problem.

God wants to know you.  Return the Favor.  Michael

As believers, we sometimes hear wrong information about temptation. For instance, many people believe that feeling tempted is sinful. But Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert. (Matthew 4:1) If the Lord remained righteous after being encouraged to do wrong, then temptation itself cannot be a sin. We must guard against false ideas that could disrupt our ability to stand strong.

The truth about temptation is that it’s an enticement to take our God-given desires beyond God-given limits. We all feel the pull of our natural, sinful selves to do and think things that are immoral. In this lifetime, we will never be so mature or spiritually minded that we can relax our vigilance. Satan will always try to capitalize on our weakness and selfish desires.

Trust that good desire in your heart.  Michael

Think back to the day that you received
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Would
you say that you have been growing spiritually
since then? Or do you perhaps find
yourself a little stagnant? Second Peter 3:18
instructs us to “grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior” because
the victorious Christian life depends upon
understanding God’s ways.
Most people are satisfied to know how
the Lord acts because they are interested
primarily in what He is going to do for
them. Of course we all delight in His blessings
of provision, healing, and deliverance.
But God didn’t create mankind just as
an audience to witness His awesome
power—He could have demonstrated it
to the angels, if that had been His purpose.
Instead, He created us to know Him as
a person and to develop a growing, intimate
relationship with Him. For this reason,
God desires to unveil His ways to us—
then we will understand why He acts as He
does and why He allows some situations
that cause suffering and heartache.

He is speaking in your life.  Are you listening?

Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may be able to determine what God's will is -- what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. - Rom. 12:2

When we fulfill the calling that has so clearly been placed on our lives by Jesus Christ Himself, we will see miracles. We will see the kingdom of God advance in power and in might. We will see things be made right again. We will see order come where there was confusion, we will see health where there was sickness. We will see freedom where there was bondage. We will see hope where there was despair. We will see life where there was death.

Don’t settle for less.  Live for the best.  Michael.

“As he thinks in his heart, so he is.”

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

To listen to our vocabulary you’d think we are the victims of our thoughts.  “Don’t talk to me,” we say.  “I’m in a bad mood.”  As if a mood were a place to which we were assigned (“I can’t call you.  I’m in Bosnia.”) rather than an emotion we permit.

Or we say, “Don’t mess with her.  She has a bad disposition.”  Is a disposition something we “have”?  Like a cold or the flu?  Are we the victims of the emotional bacteria of the season?  Or do we have a choice?

Paul says we do: “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage—“capture every thought,” “make it give up” and “obey Christ”?  You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies.  Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts.  The minute they appear…we go into action.  “This heart belongs to God,” we declare, “and you aren’t getting on board.”

Think twice today.  Michael

The bottom line of everything in our lives should be to glorify God. We should seek that glory constantly. 1 Cor. 10:31 (NRSV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

Creation itself is for God's glory: Psa. 19:1 (NIV) For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

We are to thank God, in order to glorify Him. 2 Cor. 4:15 (NRSV) Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

We are to be hospitable, to bring God glory. Rom 15:7 (NRSV) Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

The difficulties we face, are to be for the glory of God.

John 9:1-3 (NRSV) As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.

"Our" successes should bring God glory, also, for we could not accomplish them without Him. Exo 14:17 (NIV) I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The bottom line is: Our lives, our walk, should be glorifying God constantly.

5:6 While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

      Christ died because he would die; other men admitted to the dignity of martyrdom are willing to die, but they die by the torments of the executioners; they cannot bid their souls go out and say, “Now I will die.” And this was Christ’s case: It was not only, “I lay down my life for my sheep” [John 10:15], but he says also, “No man can take away my soul; and I have power to lay it down” [10:18]. And, de facto, he did lay it down — he did die before the torments could have extorted his soul from him.

Many crucified men lived many days on a cross. The thieves were alive long after Christ was dead, and therefore Pilate wondered that he was already dead (Mark 15:44). His soul did not leave his body by force, but because he would, and when he would, and how he would. . . . Christ did not die naturally, nor violently, as all others do, but only voluntarily.

In this life, our Lord chooses the right time for us as he did for himself.  Trust His timing.  Michael

Allen Johnson, a conservative evangelical Christian living in the mountains of West Virginia, is an environmental activist and cofounder of Christians for the Mountains, a group of people who have demonstrated against coal companies and participated in Rainbow Family gatherings.

Allen hopes that environmental stewardship will quickly become a unifying issue for Christians across the nation. “God has called all of us seriously,” he says, “and we should agree on one thing: to take care of his earth.”

Allen’s passion for environmentalism began in 1993 while visiting Haiti with a Christian Peacemaker team. He saw desperate farmers cutting down grapefruit trees to make a cash crop of charcoal. “I just started sobbing,” he says. “It really hit me that impoverishment is so closely tied to environmental destruction.”

Since that day, Johnson has been a pioneer in a growing movement called “Eco-Christianity.” His biggest challenge has been convincing other Christians to join him in the fight instead of labeling him a “New Age wing nut” or a liberal. “My identity is not as an environmentalist,” says Johnson. “It’s as a Christian. Because I am Christian, I should be involved with social justice — the poor, the needy. Environmentalism is one thing in my circle, but it’s not my center.”

Tending to this world is what He told us to do.  Let’s do it.   Michael

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." Luke 5:27-28

How we struggle to live our Christian lives! Some banter about the right doctrine or the right church. Others argue how we should worship or what version we read. But Jesus took a very simple approach to our discipleship. Just follow Him! Listen to His words. Consider His message and ways. Ask yourself always, "What would Jesus do?"

Christian faith is not complex just demanding. It is looking to Jesus each hour and chatting with Him along the way. It is completing the statement, "Jesus and I talked about that." Talk to Him. Often. Michael.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.    2 Corinthians 9:10

It is said that in this world we are just seven relationships from anyone else.  A telling concept for this verse that speaks of our seed or influence will grow under the capable provision of God.  If we are willing to sow liberally for God, He will bless that effort with more opportunity and ability.  What may escape us though is the harvest that God collects far beyond our recognition.  Our good words and deeds spawn new seed and new deeds in the lives of those touched by the bounty. 

We worship in churches built by the sacrifice and service of our forefathers and take it for granted.  We enjoy a freedom and prosperity that is not free.  We all enjoy the harvest of their work.  It is kind comfort to know that untold numbers will reap what was given to our hand by God.

Be a blessing today.  Michael

4:32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.

Acts 4:32

It is an amazing thing about Christians helping other Christians.  There seems to be little boundry between mine and yours.  You don't even have to ask.  They volunteer.  The generosity between believers is a fact of grace.  I hear stories every week of people going out of their way to help another.  What we don't realize is besides binding us together at the heart, such sharing joins us in our spirit.  We start to move and think alike in the cause of Christ.  We behave as a team or as Paul said, 'One body'.  Enjoy the day and join your church family in moving forward.

Michael

I once asked a deeply religious man if he considered himself a truly pious person. He responded that while he aspired to be one, he felt that he fell short in two areas. One was his not being happy enough.

He said unhappy Christians reflect poorly on their religion and on their Creator. He was right — unhappy religious people do pose a real challenge to faith. If their faith is so impressive, why aren’t they happy?

There are only two possible reasons: either they are not practicing their faith correctly, or they are practicing their faith correctly and the religion itself is not conducive to happiness. Most outsiders assume the latter reason.

Unhappy religious people should therefore think about how important being happy is — if not for themselves, then for the sake of their religion. Unhappy religious people provide more persuasive arguments for atheism and secularism than do all the arguments of atheists.

63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.

This is "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.'' This is a special psalm. It is an ointment that is poured out upon all kinds of sores. It is a bandage for bruises. It is a balm to put upon wounds to help them heal. It has been a marvelous psalm for the church. It speaks of the thirst for the Water of Life.

There in the desert, David was hungry and thirsty, but his deepest desires were spiritual, not physical. With his whole being, body and soul, he yearned for God's satisfying presence (v. 5; 42:1-2). Just as we have physical senses that are satisfied by God's creation, so we have spiritual senses (Heb. 5:14) that can be satisfied only by Christ. Those who hunger and thirst for spiritual food and drink shall be filled (Matt. 5:6). David could say with Jesus, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (John 4:32).  Do you?

“Thus says the Lord, Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16b

We hear it mentioned all the time.  The good old days and how it used to be.  The prophet is not calling us to reminisce here.  He is asking us to pause on the hectic roads of life and to consider where we are really headed.  There are many roads but not all lead to life or peace.  Is the road you travel one of eternal significance?  Walk on those roads and you will find rest for your souls.

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.

Lord, in your kindness fill our deepest being with your holy light, so that we may be steadfast in our devotion to you: for your wisdom created us and your providence guides us.  Amen.

In his book  Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less."

Practice honesty and integrity; rescue the man who has been wronged from the hands of his oppressor; do not exploit the stranger, the orphan, the widow; do no violence; shed no innocent blood in this place.

Our King and Redeemer, listen to your Church as she sings your praises at the start of the day: teach her to give unceasing glory to your greatness.

After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he'd let them use his name in their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich. 

Astounded, Lee straightened up, buttoned his gray coat, and shouted, "Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything except my name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don't get out of here, I'll break this crutch over year heads!"

Remember the helpless today and do the good thing.  Michael

You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts for ever and ever. Amen.

Bless the Lord, you heavens;
  all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens;
  all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
  all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew;
  all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat;
  cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost;
  ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow;
  day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness;
  lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, all the earth,
  praise and exalt him for ever.

Recently my wife and I sat charmed at an outdoor performance by young Suzuki violin students. After the concert, an instructor spoke briefly on how children as young as two, three and four years old are taught to play violin. The first thing the children learn, he said, is a proper stance. And the second thing the children learn--even before they pick up the violin--is how to take a bow. "If the children just play the violin and stop, people may forget to show their appreciation," the instructor said. "But when the children bow, the audience invariably applauds. And applause is the best motivator we've found to make children feel good about performing and want to do it well."

Adults love applause too. Being affirmed makes us feel wonderful. If you want to rekindle or keep the flame of love glowing in your marriage through the years, try showing and expressing your appreciation for your mate. Put some applause in your marriage and watch love grow. 
Dr. Ernest Mellor

Have a wonderful day. Stay cool.  Michael

With our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, we all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.

O God, at your only-begotten Son’s glorious transfiguration you confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the prophets of old, and you miraculously prefigured what would happen when your adopted children were brought to perfection.

I was in a store shopping for a sweater. The cost needed to be minimal, so I went to the clearance rack. As I flipped through the sweaters, one caught my eye. It was the right color and the right size, and, best of all, the price tag said $8. Without much more thought, I made my purchase.
At home I slipped on the sweater. Its texture was like silk. I had made my purchase so quickly that I hadn’t noticed how smooth and elegant the sweater was. Then I saw the original price tag: $124.
I gasped. I had never owned a sweater that expensive. I had come home with what I thought was a “cheap buy,” but the original price was much higher. And I had been oblivious to its value.
At times I have treated the power of Jesus’ blood like a cheap buy. God’s grace, though free to me, carried the highest price tag of all: the life of his own Son.                 Karen Morerod

You must give your brothers a fair hearing and see justice done between a man and his brother or the stranger who lives with him. You must be impartial in judgment and give an equal hearing to small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for the judgment is God’s.

Lord. We consecrate today as an offering to you: we promise to do nothing evil today, nor even attempt it.

If a child lives with criticism, HE learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, HE learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, HE learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, HE learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, HE learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, HE learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, HE learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, HE learns justice. If a child lives with security, HE learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, HE learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, HE learns to find love in the world.