God, Where Are You?

My grandfather used to tell me this joke when I was younger.  He said one day an elderly man was driving his wife to the store when they passed two teenage lovers in a sports car.  The boy was driving the car and the girl was practically sitting in his lap.  The elderly man's wife questioned, "Why don't we still drive like that?  The elderly gentleman responded, "I have never moved". 

During our hard times, we may ask, "Where is God?"  But if we are truthful with ourselves, we know that we should be asking, "Where am I?"  God promises He will never leave us in our most trying and difficult times.  He is always sitting right there beside us in the driver's seat.  Sometimes though, we get complacent and slowly inch away from Him. Then all of a sudden, a big bump in the road jars us awake and we look around and wonder where God has gone.  But it is not He who has drifted from us, but instead, it is we who have drifted from Him.  He is still right there, guiding us through the bumpy parts.  We have all lived long enough to know that bumps in the road are simply a part of life and are bound to happen when we least expect it.  Today, let's work on getting back to God, and let's practice on staying there with Him through thick and thin.  Isn't it an awesome feeling to know that no matter how far away we may drift from Jesus, that He never truly drifts from us, and that He is always just one short "help" away?  Call Him. 

Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never fail you nor abandon you."

Lord, thank-you for loving and caring for us so much that you will never leave us.  You are an amazing God...You are THE amazing God.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Need Your Prayers

We all know that money is tight right now. The coming year in the school system where I teach will see more cuts of teachers and programs than ever in the history of the State. Possible cuts include sports, ROTC, band, art, foreign languages, and scores more. It is reported that all the non-tenured teachers will be let go at the end of the school year. That is 30 teachers at just my school alone! The problem seems to be in the way education is funded in Alabama. Nobody here or there seems to know how to get more money into education without these drastic cuts. Many teachers will be unemployed in the next 2 months with very little prospects for a future job. The situation is bleak and very sad.

This is the exact situation where God seems to thrive. He knows how bad things are in our lives, but He has a plan. We may not see that plan today, but rest-assured, He will come through for us. I have 100% faith that God will intervene. I am asking for your prayers for all those whose jobs will be cut in May. There is strength in numbers. If we all say a prayer, God will surely listen. Please pray for us all. Please have faith that God will fix this problem. Look at all the miracles He has already performed. Our God is so much bigger than our problems, no matter how big those problems may be.

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Therefore let us come boldly unto the throne of the Lord, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need."

Father, bless those who are having to make the hard decisions about the future of education. Be with who are worried about their jobs. Remind us that You have the power to see us through these hard times. In Jesus name, Amen.

Waiting Around For Jesus

In the movie Twister, the scientists invented some electronic sensors that could record valuable information about tornadoes. The only problem was that those sensors had to be injected directly into the storm. The scientists would rush into the path of an on-coming twister, set out their instruments, and then hope the storm passed directly over so it could swoop up the gadgets. It was almost a one-in-a-million shot, and the danger to their lives was great. Most of the time they failed, but their belief was that all the failure would be worth just one success. The information that would be gathered could potentially save hundreds or even thousands of lives in the future.

We read in the Gospels that when the people heard Jesus might be coming their way, they would gather up all the sick and lame and wait for Him to come along, in hopes of His healing. Some had so much faith that they believed just touching Jesus' garment as he strolled by would heal them. One soldier even believed that Jesus could save someone from a distance; Jesus did not actually have to be there to heal. Today we have learned a lot more about the healing power of Christ. No, He does not have to physically touch us to change us. We don't even have to wait around and see if He will be coming our way. We can go to Him, and we can do it right this very minute. Do you need healing in your life? Is there a certain situation that you are facing that is driving you crazy? Is your heart broken because of a broken relationship? There is no reason to wait for Jesus to come by; He is already right here with you and me. All we have to do is ask for His help, and He will hear us immediately.

Psalm 55:17 says, "Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

Father, I thank you that we can come to You instantly, asking for Your perfect help. You are well-aware of the battle I have been facing. Lord, I ask you to heal me. I will never give up on You. In Jesus name, Amen.

A Sad Devotion

It was the most terrible thing I have ever witnessed in my life! While announcing our high school football game tonight, I along with hundreds of spectators witnessed God calling Home the head referee. He was about to signal a penalty early in the first quarter, but then collapsed on the field. Within seconds, medical teams were administering CPR. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The entire stadium was in shock. God bless his family and all his friends.

Tonight was a sad reminder just how quickly life can end. If you know someone who is not saved, I urge you to tell them about Jesus Christ. We never know when we will take our last breath; we never know when our time will be up. I learned that the referee was a devoted Christian and is in the loving arms of Jesus right now. Praise God! It is so sad to hear of someone dying, let alone actually watching it happen right before your eyes. But it would be far worse to learn that the person was not a Christian. I am still pretty shaken about what I witnessed tonight. But I do find peace in knowing the referee is in heaven. Friends, now is the time to share Christ with everyone you love.

Exodus 33:14 says, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Father, please be with his family and also be with all those hundreds of people who watched his life come to an end. In Jesus name, Amen.

But We Won, Right?

This past Friday Night, Dothan High won their Jamboree game against Jeff Davis of Montgomery, 13-0. Being that we have only won a handful of games in the past 4 years, that's a really big deal, practice game or not. But coaches have a way of seeing things that the rest of us do not. Although we did win the game, and had moments of greatness, we also had moments where we looked totally awful! The coaches and players should not be satisfied with that win. Happy yes, but not satisfied. There were many things that the team must improve on before they tangle with powerhouse Eufaula this week. I can still remember a commercial on TV where a coach is screaming at his team in the locker room after a game. He is all but cussing them up one side and down the other. After his long outburst of yelling, a player finally asked, "But coach, didn't we win the game?"

Jesus died for us, and if we have accepted Him, then we are saved and heading to heaven; We have "won" the game. We certainly should be happy with that but not satisfied. If we take moral inventory of our lives, I am sure we will find many areas that need improving. We can never fix every area and live a perfect life. Nobody is able to do that. But we should not use that as an excuse not to try. Just as a team must strive to get better everyday, so do we. The only way we are able to get better is through the strength of Jesus. We probably will fail often. But God understands that human part of us. It is one thing to try and fail, it is something totally different to never even try at all. Will we stand before Him in heaven one day and plead, "But didn't we win?"

Revelation 21:7 says, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things."

Father, thank you for not requiring us to be perfect. But also, thank you for giving us strength to try. In Jesus name, Amen.

Buster's Ice Cream

A couple years ago while I was announcing a Northview High School football game, I really put my foot in my mouth. Early in the 4th quarter, I was reading an ad for an ice cream store here in Dothan. When I was done reading the ad, I felt the weight of many stares from people in the press box as well as in the stands. The official in the press box with me asked, "What was the name of that ice cream store?" My reply was, "Buster's." He then asked, "Don't you mean Brusters?" I quickly looked back at the copy and sure enough, he was right. I had misread Brusters as Busters. About that time, I received a text message from a friend of mine in the stands. The text read, "It's Brusters not Busters." I was about as red-faced as I had ever been in broadcasting. I had just turned 40-years old and I guess my eyesight decided to take a nose-dive. How in the world did I miss that "r" in Bruster's?

Just because our sight may start to slip, that's no reason our vision should too. As long as we keep Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, He will make sure our vision is sharper than ever. He leads our steps everyday. He healed many blind people in the Scriptures. He literally gave physical sight to those who could not see. But more importantly, He also gave them spiritual vision. As we grow older, our physical sight may start to fade. But that does not mean our vision has to as well. Put Jesus in charge of your vision. He will make it 20/20, even if your sight is way off.

Psalm 30:2 says, "O Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."

Father, thank you for leading my steps. I know I have an important job trying to lead our young people. But I can't do it with out your help. Thank you for giving me my vision. In Jesus name, Amen.

Time For A Cool Change

I am starting my 15th year of teaching mathematics in Alabama's public school system. Teaching is my passion! It is a true Calling from God Himself. I always strive to make a difference in the lives of children. But I have a confession to make. Last year, I did the absolute worst job I have ever done as a teacher. Granted, the year was filled with personal tragedies, especially on the last Friday of November. I will never forget that horrible day. In fact, I am still haunted by it to this very second. Unfortunately, I allowed my personal life to interfere with my professional one. I did not mean for it to happen. But considering the severity of my tragedy, it was so incredibly difficult for me to prevent it from spilling over into all other areas of my life. Last night I had a powerful dream. In that dream, God reminded my why I began teaching in the first place: To make a difference in the lives of children!

We all know how hard it can be to move past difficult circumstances that arise in our lives. But with God's help, I have started to heal a little bit. Oh, I know I will never completely heal from what happened. But God has never stopped trying to help me move past it. This year, I am going to hit the ground running. Kids need good role models. I have asked the Lord to help me be the best role model that I have ever been. I have a very big heart for my students, even though it has not been beating as loudly lately as it has in the past. With God's help though, I am going to shift into high-gear and put every single one of my students at the top of my efforts. I truly love those kids, even when I want to pinch their heads off some days. But It is not fair to them to allow myself to be less than my best. God will help me! This school year will be the very best one yet! I know I still have tons of healing to do. But with His help, I am going to get back into my element: Making a difference in the lives of children! There is power in prayer. I ask that you stop for a moment and say a little prayer for me. And also pray for not only my students, but for every single student in our great country. They are indeed our future. And with God leading all of us, parents, teachers, and students, we can't miss!

3 John 1:4 says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Father, please help me to be the best teacher I have ever been. I know I can do nothing without You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Death By Chocolate

A friend of mine was telling me about a recent lunching she and a few coworkers went on. They had a nice meal and some friendly conversation. One of them decided to get dessert. After looking over the choices, she decided on a nice piece of chocolate cake. After a bit, the cake arrived. My friend said it was the biggest, thickest, and richest piece of chocolate cake she had ever seen. Every body's mouth started watering. She asked if any of her friends would like a bite. All at once, each woman picked up a fork and took a swipe at the chocolate heaven. As soon as my friend got a fork-sized piece of cake to her lips, it was apparent that something was wrong. Her big piece of chocolate heaven quickly turned to a piece of stale hell. Between the 5 of them, they could not stomach that one piece of cake.

Some of us are like that piece of cake. On the outside, we look awesome, like we got everything under control. But on the inside, we are not doing so well. We can mask our hurt from a lot of people, maybe even our closest friends. But God has X-ray vision, and He can see what is on the inside. It may be alright to try to hide our inner most feelings from people, but why would we try to hide those feelings from God? He wants to restore our inside. He wants to transform our inside to be even better than our outside appears. If you feel like that piece of chocolate cake, take your cares to the Lord. He is willing and able to fix the inside. He will mend our broken hearts and spirits and restore our "happy". Won't you let Him work on your inside today?

Psalm 30:2 says, "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."

Father, please taken my broken heart and spirit and mend it. My hope and faith is totally in Your hands. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus, How Can You Sleep At A Time Like This?

Well here we go again, round 8 of insomnia. Since last Monday, I would venture to say I have slept less than a total of 10 hours. I found myself today unable to concentrate, even on the simplest of tasks. Around lunch time, I had to get a sub to take over the rest of my classes. But when I came home, not only could I not sleep, I couldn't even rest. It is now after midnight, and although my entire body is totally exhausted, I just can not turn off my mind; It is racing ninety-to-nothing. My mind is jumbled and my heart is in a state of anxious turmoil. But I am confident that the Good Lord will "fix" my problem very soon!

Do you remember the story of how Jesus calmed the storm one night on the Sea of Galilee? As the story goes in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and His disciples were crossing to the other side of the lake when a huge storm blew up. The winds from this storm caused mad waves to fill up their boat. The disciples, who were obviously used to storms on the lake, were in a state of panic! Could this storm have been hurricane-strength? The Bible does not say. But it was bad enough to frighten these seasoned maritime veterans! They scrambled to find Jesus, who was peacefully asleep down below on a pillow. They woke Him, and He got up and stopped the storm instantly! We all know storms gradually die down, but not this one! Jesus simply said, "Peace, be still". While my personal storm rages about causing me insomnia, Jesus WILL rebuke it, too. I absolutely have no doubt that just any day now, He is going to stretch forth His loving hands over me and say, "Peace Allen, be still." And when He does, the very first thing I am going to do, as soon as I wake up, is jump on here and tell you what an amazing thing God has done for me! To be continued...

Psalm 85:8 says, "I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints."

Father, How great thou art! Although I am in the midst of the worst storm of my life, I know that soon, You will bring me sweet peace. Thank You Lord! In Jesus name, Amen.

Mr. Sandman

Well this is the fourth day without sleep! Actually I think I slept about 2 hours last night. I occasionally have insomnia, but this is ridiculous! I know it is related to my personal matters. I can't take those sleep aids because they give me the "creepy crawlies" in my legs, and because they never seem to work until I am about to get up in the morning. Then I am dragging and drowsy the whole day. I know I must look cute today with these huge bags under my eyes. But through the sleeplessness all week, I have made it to work each day. Although I am extremely exhausted, I am still effective as a teacher, for I am still getting on their nerves as much as I always have. So that's normal, and a good thing.

Today's devotion is a piggyback of yesterday's. I am going through the most trying times of my life. I am getting beaten and battered right now, but I know God will not let me fall. My personal situations will turn back in my favor soon, I just know it. The biggest tragedy started about 6 months ago, but I still have hope that it will get better. And I can't go much longer without sleep. That, too, will soon get better. "They" say we should keep a positive attitude! Well, I am trying. "They" say I will be a stronger person one day because of my endurance. Well, we will see. Life is a series of mountain tops and valleys. This just happens to be a valley for me-a very low one! There are two people in this world who know exactly what it will take to catapult me instantly to the highest mountain top. But one of those people is just not ready yet. But I STILL have hope! I am learning that hope is one of the most powerful forces in the world!

Lamentations 3:26 says, "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait on the Lord."

Father, although I am struggling right now, thank you that I am alive! You know my heart's desire. I pray for Jackie, Lord. She is awesome! Please be with her, as she too struggles right now. Thank you for what You will accomplish in our lives if we just don't lose hope and faith in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Port In the Storm

Those that know me know how much I like lighthouses. My living room is full of lighthouses and lighthouse items. I've always been fascinated by them. Most have been around for a hundred years or longer. What amazes me so much is the strength of a lighthouse. Think about it. They are built to withstand not only heat, waves, rain, sleet, hail, snow, and wind, but they are also designed to hold up during the most fierce tropical storms, Nor'easters, and hurricanes. What's more, they are so strong that the Coast Guard never has to replace them due to structural damage from the elements. The lighthouses need to be repainted fairly often due to exposure, but that's just cosmetic! I have determined that if you are trapped on the coast during a hurricane, seek out a lighthouse and take cover.

When the storms of life come our way, as they often do, God transforms us from small huts to huge lighthouses! He promises to be there and to never leave us when we need Him most. When a hurricane approaches, the Coast Guard doesn't scramble to take down a lighthouse to protect it. Nor does God remove us from the storm. But through His strength, He enables us to withstand the storm. We may get beaten and battered, but He will not allow us to fall! So what storm are you facing right now? Maybe you have prayed and prayed and it doesn't seem that He is listening. Maybe your personal storm is raging about you and you feel like you are exposed to the elements. Well, in God's perfect wisdom, maybe we are exposed. But never forget He has changed us into sturdy lighthouses! We will not be torn down!

Nahum 1:7 says, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in Him. "

Father, we don't always understand why we have to suffer in some storms, but we trust that You will never allow us to fall. Please give us the strength to hold on. In Jesus name, Amen.

Cherokee Indian Tradition

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he never removed the blindfold." It was the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Psalm 145:20 says, "The Lord watches over all who love Him."

Lord, thank you for watching over us, even when we don't know You are there. In Jesus name, Amen.

Twists and Turns

Back a couple years ago, one of my students taught me how to solve a Rubik's Cube. I was amazed at how quickly he could line up all the colors and get it solved. It never took him longer than 2 minutes! He would hand it to somebody and ask them to "mess it up" for him. The incredible thing was that regardless of how "messed up" they made it, he immediately went to work and solved it like it was nothing. I was absolutely amazed! I am proud to say that since he taught me, I can now solve it in under two minutes as well. And it does not matter how messed up it gets, I can get it back good as new!

Our life can be like a Rubik's Cube. It does not matter how much we twist and turn the cube, it will always be "messed up". The only way to get our life's pieces back together is to put them in the hand's of the Master! Jesus can "solve" our life's problem in a flash. Why do we continue to twist and turn on it when all we do is make it worse? There are 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 different ways to twist and turn the Cube, and there are probably many more ways than that to mess up our lives. But regardless of the number of ways to mess it up, or how messed up it may be right now, hand it over to the Master! Jesus is willing, able, and ready to "solve" your life's problems. Trust me, He can, and He will get it back together. But you have to turn it over to Him...

Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."

Father, I know there are many people out there with broken lives. Please encourage them to turn it all over to You. You are the Master! In Jesus name, Amen.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

How many times have we heard that expression, "God helps those who help themselves"? It is a very powerful, motivating statement that can help us to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get moving on with our lives. This statement can be misleading, however, because it also implies that unless you try to help yourself, God won't either. Which book of the Bible can this expression be found? None! It is not even in the Bible. This saying was made famous by Ben Franklin in 1736. He was a Deist, so he did not believe that God took an active role in our lives. In his point of view, if a man was unable to help himself, then he was simply hopeless. Thank God that is not the truth!

Let me provide a few Scriptures for you to look up: Romans 5: 6-8, Proverbs 28:26, and Jeremiah 17:5. These passages teach us that we can do nothing without God. God is the sole source of our strength. The expression made famous by Franklin can be a good one in that it can motivate us to get going. But if you happen to find yourself flat on your back and unable to get moving, call upon the name of Jesus! He will deliver you; His perfect Word guarantees it. So if you are low, and I mean real low, don't fret. For when we are so low that we can not even help ourselves, it is our faith in Jesus, and not our effort, that delivers us. What a great feeling. Even If I am unable to help myself, God still will help me.

Psalm 72:12 says, "God will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help."

Father, thank you for loving us. I ask you to help all those who can, and can not, help themselves. In Jesus name, Amen.

Safe And Sound

If you like adventure, I encourage you to read the 27th chapter of the book of Acts. The chapter begins with Paul and some other prisoners being shipped to Rome, Italy. There were a total of 276 people on the boat, which was scheduled to make several stops before reaching its final destination. The entire journey was plagued by difficulties, mainly due to typhoon-strength winds. The boat and its passengers also had to deal with two weeks of relentless storms, complete with not only strong winds, but also blinding rain. The crew and its passengers were in serious peril. God sent Paul an angel assuring him that not a single person on-board would perish, although they would become shipwrecked. Sure enough, on the 14th night of the storm, the ship broke apart and all 276 either swam or clung to pieces of the boat and washed ashore on the island of Malta. Just as the angel of God had promised, not a single soul was lost. While onshore, Paul was bitten by a deadly, poisonous snake. The people were amazed to see that he simply shook off the snake and was completely unharmed.

God is amazing! He had a plan for Paul. Paul was to preach in Rome. He survived weeks at sea, relentless storms, being shipwrecked, and even being bitten by a deadly snake. But through each adversity, Paul never once complained to God. He never once considered giving up. He had such a tremendous amount of faith in God, that nothing was going to derail him from fulfilling God's will. As a matter of fact, during all the trials, Paul spent his time helping and encouraging the others. Paul used obstacles as opportunities to serve others and share his faith. We all know, Paul did make it to Rome and did exactly what God had planned for him to do. What lessons can we draw from Paul's experience? First of all, I'm pretty sure Paul had more faith in God than you and I combined. But that did not exempt Paul from trials and tribulations, so we should expect that we too will have to go through some "storms" and difficult circumstances. Instead of complaining about it, we should use those tough circumstances to share our faith, too. The most important lesson we can draw on is the reliability of God. He brought Paul safely through those storms, and He will bring us through those storms as well. God has a plan for each one of us. It may be tough getting there, but we need to rest assured that as long as we keep faith in Christ, He will get us there, safe and sound.

Psalm 37:24 says, "Though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand."

Father, as I continue toward my destination, I know I can not avoid trials and storms. I put my trust in You and acknowledge that You will get me through my personal Storm safe and sound. While I am facing obstacles, please help me to use those as opportunities to share my faith in You with others. In Jesus name, Amen.

"Twenty Miles Of Terror"

Again, I have been reminded of just how selfish I can be. The past few days have been just awful! It started Monday at school. As you know, I am having a time with kidney stones. While I was in the ER, crying like a little baby from my pain, a little baby was brought it. I could hear that child crying from several rooms over. I learned that he was less than a year old, and somehow, had gotten his tiny fingers slammed in a car door. It completely cut 3 of his fingers off! Right after I learned what had happened to him, I continued to cry myself, although I am not sure if it was from my stones, my broken heart over that baby's tragedy, or if it was from the guilty feeling I felt. You see, I felt guilt because here I was, a grown man, and crying as much as a child with a real problem. All of a sudden, my stones didn't hurt quite as much.

Then I learned of the carnage left in Samson and Geneva. How could I be laying in an ER room crying over a few stones when some people were facing the most unthinkable tragedy? I have prayed for all the families who have been stung by what happened. I, just like you, wish I could do more for them. The Bible warns us just how evil mans' heart can be. As a Christian, I want to demand God give us a reason why He stood by and let this happen. How could He allow innocent people die at the hands of some mad man? We may never know the reason for it. But I do believe God is still in charge and as much as we hurt for those victims, I'm sure He hurts even more. After all, He also created the shooter too, and it breaks God's heart to see how Satan took over that man, and caused him to kill so many sweet, innocent people. After hearing of this kind of tragedy so close to home, what are our problems today? Do we really have any? Thanks for all your prayers for my stones, but I am ok now. Please direct all your prayers to those people who have witnessed the unthinkable. You know, what I keep playing over and over in my mind is the quote from the deputy who lost his wife and toddler to the shooter. He said, "It just seems like I should be coming home to my wife and having my little girl crawl all over me". My heart is so broken. God, be with them.

Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Father, how do we go on after such a tragedy? Forgive us for we are only human. Please forgive us for feeling anger toward You. The Bible tells us You can do all things and that You protect those who trust in You. But then something like this happens and we feel so hurt and confused. Please don't leave us now, for it is now we need You most. In Jesus name, Amen.

Upgrade

Everyone likes to receive an upgrade, especially if it's free. We like to get an upgrade to First Class, an upgrade to a better calling plan, an upgrade to a newer cell phone, and many others. Today, I want us to concentrate on an upgrade from a popular Christian saying, "With God, there is hope." It is true that there is hope in Him, but the word hope implies that we are not sure. Today, let's "upgrade" to, "With God, there is assurance!" As a teacher, I am going to give you an assignment today. That assignment is for you to ponder just how many things we can be sure of from Christ. I will get us started:

Through Christ, we are assured of Salvation and Eternal Life. Through Christ we are assured of being loved totally and unconditionally. Through Christ, we are assured that He always hears our prayers. Through Christ, we never have to face trouble alone. And finally, through Christ, we always have an absolute, 100% friend! How many assurances can you think of today? PLEASE Email me each time you think of a new one. In one week from today, I am going to re-write this devotion from your input. This is a chance for you to glorify God. Will you help me? I look forward to hearing from you...

Psalm 91:14 says, "Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name."

Father, thank you for your many assurances You give us everyday. Help us to re-write this devotion in one week. Remind us just how many things You do for us that we either don't see or take for granted. Forgive us. In Jesus name, Amen.

We Are Protected

As I prepared for today's devotion, I was reminded of just how weak my knowledge of the Bible really is. Granted, the Bible can be confusing to just about anybody. But I have a deep-rooted conviction about learning more of what the Bible means. My devotion today concerns Satan and 1/3 of the angelic population that was cast out of heaven by God. Exactly how and when this occurred, if at all, seems to be a common debate among Bible scholars. All I can do is read what the Bible actually says about it and pray that God reveals the true meaning to me. It is my belief from what I have read from Scripture that this casting-out was an actual event that took place some time in the past, and that today, 1/3 of all the angels are here on earth trying to keep us from living a Christ-centered life. But if that is true, then 2/3 of all the angels are also here to help us! That means for every angel that is trying to destroy us, there are 2 angels fighting for us! I like those odds!

It is clear that God wants us to live a peaceful, happy life. But because of sin, that is not always the case. But don't you find it comforting that He has placed twice as many helping angels around us as He has fallen angels? We all have our moments of joy and sadness, peace and turmoil, excitement and heartbreak. But as long as we keep Christ at the center of our life, I believe there will always be twice as much good as there will be bad while here on earth. But one Glorious Day, it will all be good! So until that day, keep this in mind: As we battle in our daily spiritual tug-of-war, we have twice as many on our side as "they" do on the other side. And as long as we keep Jesus as our "anchor", we can't lose!

Hebrews 1:14 says, "Angels are servants-spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation."

Father, thank you for sending Your angels when we are troubled. Remind us that no matter how bad things may get, much better things are only a moment away. In Jesus name, Amen.

Leave God A Message?

I read this story today on the Internet:

AMSTERDAM (Reuters Life!) – God is taking calls.
Dutch artist Johan van der Dong has set up a local telephone number in the Netherlands, where he urges people to leave messages for God on his answering machine.
Van der Dong said he set up the number to give people an opportunity to take pause and contemplate life.
"Like praying, leaving a voicemail message is a way to organize your thoughts," he said. "It's a perfect combination for some contemplation."
Callers dialing 06-4424-4901 (or +316-4424-4901 if calling from outside the Netherlands) from March 7 will hear.
"Hi, you are speaking to God. I'm not in right now so leave a message after the beep."

It sounds kinda cute, and I can see where it could be a good thing. It does get one to thinking about Jesus and corresponding with Him. But there is a little problem with it: The part about Jesus not being in. Thank God, He is always in for us. I'm sure there will be a lot of jobs in heaven but a secretary or answering machine will NOT be needed. God does not screen our calls nor does He ever need us to leave a message. He does not have a secretary to fill up His appointment schedule. As busy as God is, He is never too busy to hear us and to help us deal with our problems. Isn't it incredible to think that God Almighty loves you and me enough to be available to us 24/7? When we "call" Him, there are no numbers to punch in, there is not a recorded message at the other end, the line is never busy, and there is no chance of a dropped call. God "picks up our call" even before it rings! Isn't He absolutely amazing?

Matthew 6:8 says, "For your Father knows what things you have need of even before you ask."

Lord, thank you for always being there to help us. We love You, and we praise You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Where Am I?

I am planning a trip to New Orleans in the near-future, so I decided to get a GPS receiver. What a cool gadget! I am amazed at the accuracy of the information that it displays on the screen. It will allow you to type in any address, and then the system guides you right to the front door! Amazing! It even talks and tells you where to turn so you can keep your eyes on the road. There are over 6 million points of interest programmed in the system. Just for fun, I typed in Walmart. It gave me street-by-street directions to the nearest location. I will never be lost again!

God is like a GPS receiver. No matter how lost you may be or how far off the beaten path you may go, God can instantly guide you back to Him. Sometimes we feel like we are just too lost for Him to find us. Impossible! Sometimes we feel like we have gone so far out of the way that He doesn't even want to find us. Nonsense! God loves us and wants us to be in complete fellowship with Him. No matter where we are, God can track us down and guide us back "home". If you are lost today or if you have strayed far from Jesus, there is no reason to worry about it any longer. Call on Him! He will find you, and He will save you. GPS...God Personally Saves!

Chronicles 15:2 says, "The Lord is with you; If you seek Him, you will find Him."

Father, thank you for saving us. Thank you for loving us enough to always bring us back when we get lost. We praise Your Holy name! In Jesus name, Amen.