Awesome Kids

This month is Child Abuse Prevention month, and we at Dothan High School have been collecting money for the cause. As a motivator, the class that collects the most money wins a pizza party. Because of this friendly competition, these kids have more than amazed me! Today is the final day, so I will have to give you the totals that we collected next week. But listen to this: My class has already collected over $600! And the second-place class has almost that much. As of yesterday, Dothan High students had collected almost $1700! As a teacher for 16 years, I can tell you that not all is bad in public education. We have some of the most loving and giving kids I have ever seen. Don't you know God has to be smiling down on them today?

If our kids can give spare change, so can we adults. Ask God to lay on your heart, a charity that may need your help. Has God blessed you? I know He has certainly blessed me. And giving doesn't have to only mean money; Perhaps we can donate some time to a charitable organization. There sure are many out there that need our help. Let's say a special prayer today, asking the Lord what He would have us do. And if you know any students from my school, thank them for being such a great reflection of what God wants us all to become.

Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and it shall be given unto you."

Father, thank-you for allowing me to have the most rewarding career in the entire world! Bless our students, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Why?

Perhaps it is one of the hardest questions to answer in the universe. Why does God allow death and destruction to come to innocent people? Take this weekend's deadly tornadoes, for example. Children died! What in the world did those kids do to deserve death in such a violent manner, and worse, how are their parents supposed to cope with such incredible loss? It is not fair. We see "bad" people thriving in society, while other very "good" people have to suffer. How could a God, who is supposed to be so loving, allow such unfair sadness to happen? I am not a Bible scholar, so I don't have a satisfactory answer to that question. Perhaps, nobody does. I know it says in Genesis that because of sin, man will be plagued with hardships and heartaches. But that still doesn't seem right.

This is where the most critical aspect of our Christian life must kick in: faith. No, these things don't seem fair, and it can feel like either there is no God, or He is just not interested in helping us. But we are promised in so many places in God's Word that he is with us and that He does love us more than we could ever imagine. I know it does not always feel like that, but we must continue to believe it and have faith that God has a purpose for everything that happens, even things that are unthinkable. The Bible promises us that God will come to us in our darkest moments. Like you, I have suffered a few tragedies in my life. And I will be the first to admit that trying to stay focused on God during those times can be very difficult. But don't allow Satan to steal from your heart what you truly believe and know deep down in your heart. God cares, and He is with us, maybe even carrying us at this very minute. Pray for God to increase your faith. After all, the Bible reminds us that we can not please Him without it.

Ephesians 6:16 says, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked."

Father, please forgive us when we question you in times of tragedy. You did not make us robots. You gave us feelings. And sometimes those feelings overcome our brains. Help us to keep faith in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

How Much More Can He Take?

The Bible tells us of God's incredible amount of patience and Grace. But it also warns us that there is a day coming when His patience will end, and He will pour out His wrath upon this earth like never before in history. I certainly believe it, because as a storm researcher, I get to see the evidence of just how bad tornadoes and hurricanes have become over the past 20 years. Earthquakes are now striking in every part of the world with greater frequency and intensity just as the Bible predicted) . And worst of all, these earthquakes are generating huge tsunamis all over the world. Death and destruction have become a regular part of our daily newscasts. Unfortunately, this increase in rogue weather is only the beginning of what is still to come!

We have always believed that God has blessed this great nation. But how much longer will He bless it? Our crime rate is through the roof, marriages are ending almost before they even start, tolerance has allowed the gay lifestyle to become a normality (just last week, Action Comics introduced their first gay character), and it has become taboo to even mention the name of Jesus anywhere in public. How much longer will God bless this great country? Around the globe, we are considered a "Christian nation", but our actions imply the opposite. As we look around at how bad things have become in America, do we also see how bad things have become in our own lives? Do we live each day for God? We may not be able to stop the rest of our nation from sliding away from God, but we certainly don't need to use that as an excuse for us to slide away too. Today, let's renew our walk with Christ. Although the outlook for this world is bleak, if we have accepted Christ, I believe he will spare us from His wrath. Do you believe that?

I Thessalonians 5:9 says, "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

Father, Thank you for Jesus. I pray for our country. I know that all can be better if we just put You first. In Jesus name, Amen.

That Will Be $3500, Please

I have to take a moment and praise Jesus. Late last week, my air conditioning unit started acting up. It was blowing air, but it just wasn't blowing cool air. Those of you who know me know how hot-natured I am. I have to have cool air! When the repair man got there, I was hoping it just needed freon or something like that. Not! I had to buy an entire new system! I got a system that was a little bigger than the one I had, and it cost me $3500. I didn't have $3500. I started to panic but decided to at least pray for help. I want you to know God answered that prayer almost immediately, and now I have a brand-new, high-efficiency system that is blowing arctic air. Praise the Lord!

The Bible tells us that God will always help us when we ask Him. I am sure you have discovered like I have that He doesn't always help us in the way we would like. But last week, God chose to bless me just the way I truly needed it. I can't help but to jump on here and sing His praises! Thank-you Jesus!

Psalm 104:33 says, "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."

Father, thank-you for helping me with my air situation. Forgive me for failing to thank you for all the other blessings you have given me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Smart Board

I finally got a new toy at Dothan High. Most teachers already had the interactive Smart Boards installed in their classrooms, but I just got mine late last week. I would describe it to you as a state-of-the-art, interactive white board with tons of special features and effects. It is a very nice, modern way to help teach this techno-crazed generation of high school kids. I am still learning all the bells and whistles of the Smart Board, but so far I like it...and more importantly, I think my students have clued in to it and are learning more efficiently. The display is a huge white screen about 6 feet long and 4 feet tall. The software will allow the teacher to write on the Board with a special pen. What I like about it is that it will allow the teacher to also erase on the screen without messing up the screen or leaving "eraser" marks. Unlike paper which may leave residue from an eraser, the Smart Board looks brand new no matter how many times one writes and erases on it.

As I was erasing something on the Smart Board today, a passage from the book of Acts popped into my head. The passage says that Jesus' Resurrection from the grave has the power to "blot" out our sins. In other words, Jesus does not just partially forgive us of our our sins. Rather, He completely wipes away our sins. It is like me writing the word SIN in big, bold letters on my Smart Board, and then using the special eraser tool to "blot" it out. Once I have done that, the Board still looks as white as snow, and there is absolutely nothing left behind to indicate that there was ever the word SIN on the Board. When God forgives us through the blood of Jesus Christ, that sin is gone forever, never to be brought up again! Don't we serve an absolutely incredible Lord?

Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Father, thank-you for loving me enough to forgive my sins and for remembering them no more. Help me to use that as an example when dealing with those whom have sinned against me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Enough Is Enough

I wish I could count how many times I have lost weight, and then gained it back. I bet many of us have done that at least a few times. But enough is enough! If you know me personally and have seen me lately, you know exactly what I am talking about. I have become very unhealthy. I don't just not eat right, I eat very wrong. I don't exercise. My blood pressure is more out of control right now than it has ever been before. I find myself so tired when I get home after work, that all I want to do is lay down. So today, with the help of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am going to start making some changes for the better. I know I need to start out slowly so maybe this time I will stick with it. But I know I must do it this time. It is not fair to my daughter for me to be unhealthy. She has enough to worry about with school and "boys" ( Lord, help me). So this morning, I took the first step to getting healthy. I ate a nice breakfast, and I walked around the block. Granted, it was only one lap, but it was a start! So let's see...if I lose 3 pounds per week...times 7 weeks..that is... 21 pounds by this summer! I knew my Math Degree would come in handy...and my calculator!

Matthew 19:26 says, "...with God, ALL things are possible."

Father, help me to Glorify You by losing some weight, getting some exercise, and lowering my blood pressure. I know I can do it with Your help. In Jesus name, Amen.

Believe It Or Not

I got a reply on one of my recent devotions from a man who wrote that I was wrong for believing that a person is a fool just for simply believing there is no God. I don't generally respond to replies since they are just another person's opinion, and we all have opinions. But in that devotion, I did not write my opinion, I quoted the Bible. Psalm 14:1 says, "Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God'" The bottom line of the Bible is this: Do you accept Christ as Your savior? Just believing in God is not enough (actually, just believing in Jesus is not enough either). The Bible makes it clear in several passages that in order to be saved from Sin and to receive Eternal Life, one must make Jesus Christ Lord of their life. If somebody doesn't believe this, then what good is the Bible? I mean, if we are "allowed" to pick and choose what we accept as truth in the bible, then God's Word loses all validity. Whether we like it or not, we must accept the Truth, the WHOLE Truth, and nothing but the Truth. Jesus is the Truth! We can't break the Bible up into parts that we accept and parts that we don't. If we do that, then it simply becomes a guessing game. And I don't know about you, but I am a terrible guesser! Jesus is the Way, the whole Way, and nothing but the Way! Do you believe this?

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me".

Father, I accept You as my Personal Savior. Remind me not to judge those who don't accept You, but please use me to help change their mind...and heart. In Jesus name, Amen.

Habitual Sin

Oh God, this sin habit. How I hate it! It propels me into misery. I am not right with You.
Oh what can I do? It is like a dragon eating my soul, as I fall again & again in sin.
The help I seek is the power of Jesus, Oh I know it's a battle. But I want to win? Now if I do what I will, not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Yes, it is habitual sin said the Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans. Oh! my soul grieves. Through Jesus' power, not my own power, can victory be obtained. Be Heaven bound again. It takes a greater passion to overcome another passion. We need to want a relationship with God more than with sin. When that day comes, I will ask God to shove the killing arrow into the dragon. Yes, the dragon of my sin. Am I ready to kill the dragon of habitual sin that is robbing me of Heaven ? I say no to sin! I call on Jesus' power. In prayer I ask Jesus to help, avoid the circumstances of sin and return to the peace of God.

By Frank E Henrich March 25, 2010

The Day After

As millions stood in churches around the world yesterday celebrating Jesus' victory over death, it was kind of like New Years Day in that many "resolutions" were made. On Easter Sunday, we feel so close to Christ that many rededicate themselves to following Him. We decided that we are going to show more love and tolerance for others, we are going to study God's Word harder, and we are going to allow Christ to shine through us more so the whole world can see our Savior. But like resolutions, our goals soon slip away from us, and we find ourselves back to our old ways. This year, let's ask God to help us keep up the hard work for Christ. Let's ask Him to help us feel as close to Him all year as we did yesterday. Let's ask God to help us bring others to church like we did yesterday, so they, too, can learn all about His amazing Grace and perfect love. Easter comes once a year on the calendar. But with some serious praying, we can keep Easter in our hearts year-round.

John 15:9 says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue in my love."

Father, help us to keep Easter in our hearts every day of the year. In Jesus name, Amen.

Good Friday

I have often wondered why it is called "Good" Friday if it is the day our Lord and Savior was flogged, tortured, humiliated, and Crucified on a Cross. The Bible is silent on the subject of "Good Friday". I checked on the Internet and found a few "possible" reasons why it is called "Good". The reason I say "possible" is because there are so many explanations that it is hard to know which one is the truth, if any of them. The explanation that I saw the most is that it has to do with the interpretation of the word "Good". Apparently, it is only here that we call it Good Friday. Most likely, the word "Good" meant "Holy". Most Christians around the world refer to the Friday of Jesus' death as Holy Friday. But there was one explanation that I came across that I liked the most.

It was all part of God's plan that Jesus would be born of a Virgin, be Crucified, and be Raised from the grave. The whole process is what separates Christians from all others in the world. We accept that Christ was the Messiah and that His sacrifice was sufficient to save us from the death of Sin. The fact that Jesus suffered and died on this day in His Story (history) was not a good thing in of itself. But we know that not all things in the world are good, however, God promises that all things will work together for good. Perhaps we can look at it like this: Had Jesus not been killed, He could not have been Resurrected. And if He had not been resurrected, we could not have been Saved. So in the grand scheme of things, His death was a good thing, that is, a good thing for us! It is hard to think about just how much Jesus had to endure for us. But He did it all for just one thing: To save me and to save you. And that makes for a GREAT Friday!

Isaiah 25:8 says, "He will swallow up death in victory..."

Father, thank-you for this Good Friday. Please help us to never forget the incredible Sacrifice You made on our behalf. Remind us that You didn't just die for Americans, but You died for every single person in the entire world! In Jesus name, Amen.

Atheist Holiday

Since the Bible claims that anyone who says there is no God is a fool in his own heart, then today must be the atheist's holiday! Since this is April Fool's Day, I wanted to write about what all the Bible calls foolish. Unfortunately, I think I fit into some of these categories. Proverbs is the Book that talks the most about fools. According to Proverbs, a fool gives full vent to his spirit, hates knowledge, despises wisdom and instruction, quarrels, rages, deceives his neighbor, despises his mother, is a grief to his father, trusts in his own mind, devours precious treasure, feeds on folly, and believes everything. Of course there are many more things in the Bible about fools. It is obvious that God does not want us to be a fool or to do foolish things.

On this April Fool's Day, let's ask God to help us to not be as foolish but instead, be more wise. God promises wisdom for everyone who asks of Him. Instead of us judging others as being fools, maybe we should consider our own foolish ways. I'm sure in the eyes of the Lord, we all look like fools. But with God's help, we can look less like a fool and more like a child of the Most High. In the end, it is not going to matter who we are, but Who's we are! I am proud that I have accepted Jesus and became a child of God. Today, I pray for all the foolish people, myself included.

Luke 10:20 says, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Father, please forgive my foolish ways and help me to learn wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen.