Break These Chains

We all have something in our lives that chain us down. Maybe it is an addiction of some kind. I don't necessarily mean drugs or alcohol, although those are some of the worst kinds of addictions. It could be pornography, swearing, lieing, working too much, losing our temper, or just about anything that is a negative aspect of our life. Those chains are so very hard to break. More than just bad habits, these "addictions" may bind us to the point to where we have no control. Maybe we have tried over and over again to break free, but we still find ourselves locked to our problems. There is good news! Although we can't break free under our own strength, there is One who certainly can!

In the 12th chapter of Acts, we learn that Peter had been placed in prison, awaiting a "trial". Not only was he locked inside, but he was also bound around the wrists by chains Further, 16 soldiers (four squads of four each) stood guard in and around the prison. But it wasn't too much for our Lord to handle. As Peter slept, an angel appeared. The angel told him to quickly get dressed and put on his sandals. Then, the part that I love the best, "the chains instantly fell off his wrists.". The angel led him out of the prison and into freedom. He was saved by our precious Lord. There is absolutely nothing God can't do! So what are the chains that bind you today? Have you all but given up hope? Don't! God is near and ready to free you. It could be only a matter of minutes before you hear those chains hit the floor. Amen!

Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Father, we have chains that bind our lives. Please hear our cries and help us to break those addictions. We can do all things through Your Son Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

Pacing Guide

It is a classic problem in education that every teacher has to attempt to solve. We all know that every child is different. They also learn at different levels and at different speeds. The problem that faces each classroom teacher is trying to decide when students have mastered a skill. Or maybe I should say when "enough" students have mastered a skill; Let's face it, for whatever reason, not all high school students are going to adequately learn every concept. So when should the teacher "move on" and when should the teacher reteach? My school system has developed a pacing guide that outlines what should be taught, how long it should take to teach the objective, and when it is time to move on to the next lesson. Obviously, in order to teach all the objectives in a particular course, a certain pace must be kept. But it is not as simple as just following the guide. We all know that not everything in our world works out the way it was designed. Maybe in a perfect world, but not in ours.

When it comes to following Christ, there is no pacing guide. It does not matter if we are as far along in our spiritual walk as Billy Graham, or if we have just started out like a thief on a Cross. In God's eyes, we are all equal. I sometimes get a little depressed when I meet someone who is farther along in their walk with the Lord than I am. But there is no reason for it to get me down. I should indeed use that person as an example for my life and allow them to motivate me to continue my walk. But I should not feel like they are any better than I am. We all walk at a different pace, and God completely understands that. He made us. There is absolutely nothing about us that He does not understand. The important thing is not how far along we are, but rather, that we are at least walking with Him. Through prayer and studying God's Word, He will bring us along at His perfect pace.

Psalm 17:5 says, "My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped."

Father, please help us to continue striving in our walk with You. Please show us the way. In Jesus name, Amen.

Dodge ball

I saw a group of kids doing something today that I have not seen in years: They were playing dodge ball. It sure brought back some memories of my elementary days in New Jersey. I still remember playing dodge ball almost everyday at P.E. Because of my small frame, I was not a very easy target back in those days. Oh Lord, I just got a funny thought: What if I played dodge ball today? Let's just say I won't be playing dodge ball today. My opponent would be able to peg me from 30 yards like a heat-seeking missile ripping through a slow-moving target. I played all kinds of sports growing up, but today I get winded just watching sports on TV. I can remember my days playing 3rd base. I can still see myself diving all over the place for the ball. But today, if the ball rolls 5 feet on either side of me...it's a home run!

You know, that dodge ball is kind of like trials and tribulations that all of us have to face sometimes. When we were younger, we seemed capable of dodging troubles a lot easier than we do as adults. Maybe the troubles are just bigger today, or we are just not as agile as we once were. If the trials I have suffered through this past year are dodge balls, I have certainly felt like the super-fat kid in the middle trying to avoid getting beamed. It has not been easy, and further, it is still very far from being over. But you know what? If God has brought me to it, He will certainly bring me through it. The Bible says we are to praise God during trials. Honestly, I can't say I have thanked Him for allowing me to be hit by those dodge balls, but I have certainly thanked Him that none of them have knocked me unconscious either. One good thing has come from all of it. With all this "exercise" I have been getting from trying to avoid being slammed by the ball, I have lost tons of weight and have gotten into much better shape spiritually. God is a lot of amazing things to me, including being an incredible trainer!

Isaiah 40:29 says, "The Lord gives strength to the weary and increases power of the weak."

Father, thank you for helping me with all my personal trials. I know I am not alone, and that there are many others out there who are also dealing with trials. We thank you that you will never abandon us, and that you will supply us with the strength we need to endure all things. In Jesus name, Amen.

My God

I am proud to say that I serve an all-powerful, all-loving God. Not only did He love me enough to send His Son Jesus to save me, but God even loves me enough to take care of me every single minute, even when I don't deserve it. I am proud that God understands me, even if I don't understand myself. I'm proud that God will never abandon me, even when everybody else has. I love God with all my heart. And through my most difficult trials and circumstances, He loves me too. I will never, ever give up striving to please Him, even when I can please nobody else. We are all born to make mistakes, to do incredibly dumb things, and to make a mess of our lives. But God loves us anyway! I completely dedicate my life to Him, even though I make mistakes and will continue to make them. There is no circumstance too big for My God!!! Before you judge others, consider your own faults. God is also there for you, too.

Psalm 119:169 says, "Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord, give me understanding according to thy word."

Father, thank you for loving me. I pray for everyone who is troubled at this hour. Teach us that the only true peace is the peace we find in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Doing A Better Job

It was on this day, March 18, 1925 that the worst single tornado disaster occurred. Known simply as "The Tri-State Tornado", this one twister plowed through the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri killing 689 people, the most ever killed from a single tornado. This death toll is more than twice as high as the second worst tornado in American history (1840 Natchez, Miss.). I looked up the 25 worst tornadoes in history while researching for today's devotion. By "worst", I mean the most deaths caused by a single twister. The majority of those incidents occurred in the late 1800's and early 1900's, with the most modern twister on the list touching down in 1953. Due to such instruments as satellites, radar, TV, radio, and NOAA warning systems, far fewer people are killed today from single tornadoes. The time, effort, and money spent on research have undoubtedly led to technological advancements that have saved countless lives.

Let me ask you a very serious question. It is a question I am also asking myself. Are you making advances spiritually? From the time you first accepted Christ until now, have you grown to learn more about Him? Are you spending time each day in His Word? Are you studying the Scriptures and trying a little harder each day to put those Scriptures into practice? Are you spending more quality time with Jesus in prayer? For me, it seems to run in cycles. Some days I hit the spiritual trail running, trying to lead as many to Christ as I possibly can. But then other days, I find myself on somewhat of a spiritual "vacation", just barely getting through the day. Our Christian walk with God is just that, a walk. It is not a run or a sprint. Running and sprinting can tire us out much faster than an easy-paced walk. Maybe we should be more like the turtle and less like the hare. By making small advances spiritually everyday, after a while, those small advances can lead to huge increases...increases that just might enable us to lead more lives to Jesus. Think about just how many lives could be saved spiritually as a result of our personal Christian "advances".

James 1:22 says, "But be doers of the word and not hearers only."

Father, please help us to mature in Christ. Help equip us in ways that will allow You to use us to further Your Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You Up For The Challenge?

I overheard a couple of my students talking yesterday in class about trying to find a job. One of them said she went to an interview and was asked if she had any retail experience. When she acknowledged that she did not, she was told that she could not be hired without that experience. She then asked how she was supposed to get the experience if nobody would give her a job. That same paradox always frustrated me too when I was out looking for my first job. It just never seemed fair. I was willing and able, but nobody would give me a chance.

The Bible says that without faith, we can not please God. It is so very easy to have faith in God when everything is going our way. But what about when we hit a bump in the road? In the first chapter of James, God tells us that we should "rejoice" when faced with trials. Now rejoicing is the last thing I want to do when I am facing trouble. But James explains that it is through these trials that we get the opportunity to grow in our faith. I don't think He means rejoice in the same sense that we do. Perhaps he is suggesting that when we face a bad situation, we should attack it with the attitude that ultimately, God is going to get us through it, and in the process, our faith will grow and please Him. By testing our faith, He is helping us grow in our endurance. After all, how can we get that Christian experience (faith) without getting the job (trials)?

James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Father, please help us through our daily trials. We want to be faithful to You, but we can't even do that without Your help. In Jesus name, Amen.