I guess no one reads this blog anymore. But since I’m so free, I shall help post some crap.

HAHAHA.

I LIKE THE SPAGHETTI ONE. HAHA

OHKAY I SHALL LEAVE.

GUESS WHO AM I

HAHAHA

XOXO,

AWESOME PERSON.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

A couple of years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of  apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. All but one.

He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one topping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.

As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?” She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.” As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister”. He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, “Are you Jesus?”

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?”

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world (shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us) that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

i’ve kinda fut together a logo using peining’s cartoon chipmunk. See if you like it.

Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Recently, I took my children to the mall for lunch. As we were eating, I noticed a little girl frantically looking for her dad. With tears welling up in her eyes, she called out: “Daddy! Daddy!”  There was no sign of him. Suddenly he appeared, and she was visibly relieved. I said to my children, “I’m glad she found her dad!” To which my youngest son replied, “She didn’t find him; he found her.”

Luke wrote about lost people, wandering aimlessly in their sins, who were found by Jesus. This was the case with the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus (Luke 19). He was viewed with disdain by the Jews because he was assisting Rome in burdening the Israelites with heavy taxes, and also because it was likely he had become wealthy by collecting more money than required.

When Jesus entered Jericho, Zacchaeus climbed up into a tree to get a better view of the Savior. Jesus called up to him and said that He must stay at his house (a divine necessity) (v.5). The other people muttered because Jesus was going to stay at the house of a notorious “sinner” (v.7). But Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and repented, and Jesus responded with a summary statement of His mission and purpose on earth: To bring salvation and the kingdom of God to those who are lost (vv.8-10).

God, through Jesus, came looking for us. He went to great lengths to save us, including taking our sins on Himself. He hung on the cross so that we could be dead to sin and live for what is right. He came “to seek and save” us! (v.10). This is good news!

People all around us are lost, and they think nobody cares about them. We have a responsibility to share the good news so that they too can be saved.

Reflection: For what lost person is the Holy Spirit prompting you to pray? How can you show your gratitude to God for His pursuit of you?

Day two: resizing ourselves

Reading: Psalm 19

I recently read an article that described how former US President Theodore Roosevelt would sometimes close a long day spent with diplomats. He would lead them outside of the White House, stand on the lawn, and gaze into the sky. As he scanned the stars and the vastness of the universe, his guests would follow his example. After a lengthy and silent pause, Mr. Roosevelt would say, “Gentlemen, I believe we are small enough now. Let’s go to bed.”

Many years ago when the psalmist wrote Psalm 19, it is conceivable that he was trying to evoke the same response from God’s people. He reminded his readers that God revealed His greatness in creation. What did David mean when he said the heavens are telling of His glory? (Psalm 19:1-6). He was saying that the universe is a revelation of God’s existence and power so great and beautiful that it should lead every human being on the face of the earth to seek out God. To thank Him for bringing him or her into existence. To worship Him.

Since we can’t fully know God’s purposes for our lives through creation, He revealed His purposes through the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us how to live in fellowship with God and in peace and justice with others. When we read God’s law, it will revive our souls, make us wise, bring joy to our heart, and give us insight for living (vv. 7-11).

Thinking about the greatness of God as revealed in creation and the purposes of God as revealed in Scripture should lead us to resize ourselves. We will then look to Him for forgiveness (19:12), protection from selfishness and pride (v.13), and guidance so that our thoughts and words are pleasing in His sight (v.14).

Day three: tending lives

Reading: Matthew 13: 18-23

Liberia’s civil war ended in 2003, but the scars still linger on the streets of its capital, Monrovia. That tangle of weeds and concrete used to be a fountain, that mound of rubble was once a radio station, and that pockmarked building was an office.

As my host pointed out one devastation after another, we felt like the Pevensie children returning to the ruins of Cair Paravel in Prince Caspian or Will Smith surveying what was left of the world in I Am Legend. The destruction was depressing, especially for those who remembered the way things were.

The upkeep of our belongings and homes requires constant attention. We must continually wash, weed, and repair our property. Take a month off, whether from inattention or war, and the entropy of nature begins to take over.

The same is true of our personal lives. Our bodies need exercise to stay fit, our minds need stimulating books and conversation to remain sharp, and our souls must cultivate the spiritual disciplines to keep in step with God. Just as it is harder to contact an old friend whose trail has grown cold, so it becomes more difficult to read the Bible and pray when we fail to practice faith-building disciplines.

Jesus said that His kingdom is like seed that fell on rocky, thorny, and good soil. Rocky people lack depth and so wilt under pressure, thorny people allow the “worries of this life and the lure of wealth” to choke out the gospel, while faithful Christians bear fruit—“thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted” (Matthew 13:22-23).

The difference lies not in the seed but in the soil. If the garden of your life is overgrown with weeds and littered with stones, don’t despair. Seek God’s strength and wisdom as you till the soil.

Reflection: What aspect of your physical, social, or spiritual life have you neglected? Name one thing that you will do today, and another by the end of the week, that will begin to revive this important part of who you are.

day four: come!

Reading: John 1:35-42

In an evangelism class in church, the instructor asked: “How would you introduce Jesus to an unbeliever?

Would you present Jesus as one who solves all our problems, or as one who gives us a healthy self-esteem and happiness?” Good questions!

When introducing Jesus to his two disciples, John the Baptist presents Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29, 36). John reminds us that our basic problem is sin, and our basic need is salvation. Jesus died for our sins.

The disciples immediately followed Jesus (v.37). Jesus then asked them a simple question: “What do you want?” (v.38). Would you have asked Jesus for good health? A better job? A happier marriage? More money?

The disciples asked a rather strange question: “Where are you staying?” (v.38). They weren’t asking for Jesus’ place of residence. What they were actually saying was: We want to spend time with You. They were not seeking something for themselves. They were seeking Jesus Himself. Come and see. The two disciples spent the day with Jesus (v.39). They modeled for us the demands and privilege of discipleship—spending time with Jesus.

Often we miss the opportunity to spend time with our Savior because we’re seeking something other than His presence. Do we desire the Giver more than the gifts? We need to pray like Richard of Chichester: “O most merciful Redeemer, may I know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly, day by day.”

We need to be spending time with Jesus because we want to know Him intimately. We can’t possibly tell others about Him if we don’t really know Him.

Reflection: Have you been spending time with Jesus this past week, talking with Him and listening to His Word?

Day six: most important?

Reading: Matthew 22: 34-40

If you’ve been a believer in Jesus for a while, you can probably easily answer the following question: “Which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (Matthew 22:36). The answer Jesus gave? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (v.37).

But is that commandment truly the most important to us? Let me paraphrase that question with two more: Which command most dictates the way we live? Which command most influences our behavior?

Many other “commandments” which—due to our upbringing or personal inclination—may rise as most important. The “law” of watch out for No.1 and the “rule” of self-advancement are two you’ve likely run into.

Imagine this scenario: Someone is spreading vicious rumors about you. What will you do? Immediately launch a counterattack to preserve your good name? Or will you consider what a loving God demands of you, “Never pay back evil with more evil”? (Romans 12:17).

How about when your work piles up, or when you’re feeling pressured to climb over people on your way up the corporate ladder—what is your greatest commandment then? Is it still to love God? To seek the kingdom of God above all else? (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus not only described “loving God” as the greatest commandment, He also said that it is the “first” (v.38). This word implies priority. Loving God must take the highest priority. It takes precedence over any human desires or drives. This commandment must be the first consideration in all our decisions. We must watch out for that No. 1 as we approach our work, relationships, and all of our life.

Simply put, loving God with our all is foremost! Is this commandment the greatest in your life?

Day seven: life’s cliffnotes

Reading: Genesis 50: 14-22

When I taught high school English, my students’ use of CliffsNotes was an ever-present reality. I encouraged them to use these study guides along with reading the novel or play. While it’s true that the literary interpretations found in the guides could help them understand difficult passages, nothing could replace a firsthand reading of the complete works. To read the CliffsNotes in lieu of reading a novel would be like reading a recipe for apple pie instead of tasting the real thing. Shortcuts leave us shortchanged.

The same is true in our spiritual walk. Trials are our classrooms for character development. When pressed by the Potter’s hand, however, we’re tempted to claim that life is unfair or to look for a way out (Jeremiah 18:6).

Well-acquainted with the pain of others’ choices, Joseph knew hard times. The most important lessons he learned, though, came from what he believed about God’s heart (Genesis 50:20). The question is not whether difficult times will come but what our response will be when they do.

Jesus said that rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). So the challenge is to seek the goodness of His hand in the midst of whatever trials we encounter. Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 emphasis added). In order for things to work together for our good . . .

• we must love God, demonstrating it by our obedience (John 14:23).

• we must want to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives (Romans 8:28)—to become like His Son (v.29) for His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As we do these things, like Joseph, we will know God’s goodness even during hard times.

 taken from our daily journal

Bible Reading: Colossians 4:2-6

Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone. Colossians 4:6

MICHAEL HAD finally talked Emma into going out with him-provided they made it a double date, she said. Michael brought his best buddy, Eric, and Emma dragged along her cousin Heather. While Michael, Emma, and Heather tried to talk about things like sports and school, Eric sat like a lump on his chair, uttering nothing. He acted as if he was bored and wished he wasn’t there. And Michael could see that the deadly silence was going to ruin his chance for a second date with Emma.

After the guys dropped off the girls, Michael slugged Eric hard in the arm-and Eric had no idea why. “Your conversation didn’t exactly sparkle,” Michael ex plained. “You looked like a corpse and made me look stupid. If bringing you was all the better I could do, Emma will never want to go out with me again.”

Guess what? Meaningful friendships take meaningful conversation. How close can you get to someone whose entire vocabulary consists of grunts?

Here’s how you start a good conversation and keep going: Ask questions. So look over the questions below and pick out four or five you really like. Memorize them. Practice using them tomorrow. And to help these stick in your brain, the first letters of the words from the various categories form the word FRIENDSHIP.

faith: How did you become a Christian? When?

Reasonable plan: What goals do you have? What do you want to do in life?

Involvements: What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

Experiences: How do you spend your summers?

Needs: How can I help you? What can I do for you?

Dreams: What kind of impact would you like to have on the world?

School: Which is your favorite class? Least favorite? Why?

Home: What do you like best about your parents?

Interests: What do you most like to do in your free time?

Prayer requests: How can I pray for you?

See it? If you can ask good questions, you don’t even need to do much talking. You just need to know how to listen.
REFLECT: What do you talk about when you meet strangers? How good are you at showing an interest in others by asking questions?

PRAY: Ask God to help you pay attention to others—not just to make friends, but to make a difference in their lives.

Day 2: When Prayer Needs a Voice 

Bible Reading: James 5:16-18

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. James 5:16

HERB STOOD BACK, thumbs hooked in his armpits, admiring his baby-room paint job. His wife Beatrice spread Winnie-the-Pooh stick-ons all over the wall. They set up the crib, acquired an arsenal of diaper-changing supplies, and filled the dresser with baby clothes. They waited for the baby they were adopting to arrive, staring at each other blankly when none showed up on their doorstep.

And then they remembered-they hadn’t called the adoption agency!

It works the same way with friends being reborn into God’s kingdom. Wishes aren’t prayer. You can think all you want about how fantastic it will be when your non-Christian friends trust Christ. But those wishes are ultimately as effective as waiting for Storks ‘R Us to deliver the baby you plan to adopt. Until you pray, you haven’t done the one thing that brings people to spiritual birth.

Prayer is more than a happy thought. It’s an action. It’s spilling your heart straight to God. And here are some ways you can become an active pray-er:

•   Pray regularly-start by thanking God and praising him for his greatness.

•   Pray alone over your personal list of non-Christian friends.

•   Pray for non-Christians with a small group of friends. Meet with friends at church or on campus to pray about your witness to non-Christians.

•   Pray with other Christians as you walk around your campus, but not in a showy parade of the holier-than-thou club. Just walk around the areas where kids clump and ask God to set your peers free to know him.

Prayer is the big gun, your ultimate spiritual weapon. And the biggest thing you can pray about for your non-Christian friends is that they hear and respond to the Good News. You can let God know you would like to be a part of that.

However, prayer is just your first job-it isn’t your only job. At some point your friends who don’t know Christ need to hear the truth about what it means to be a Christian and be challenged to trust Christ. They need to know what Christ has done to provide forgiveness for their sin. They need an invitation to accept God’s gift of salvation—ditching the thought that they can save themselves and admitting that only what Christ has done will get them close to God and into heaven.

You can pray for your friends until you’re hoarse-but you’ll eventually need your voice to share the Good News with them. To become Christians, the people you’re praying for must hear the Good News and respond to it by trusting Christ.

REFLECT: Why has God given you the privilege of praying for friends?

PRAY: Talk to God about your attitude about praying for non-Christians. Tell him if you are eager—or apathetic.

Day 3: Bringing Out the Big Gun

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:18

MAYBE YOU BELIEVE that helping non-Christian friends get right with God starts with sharing the good news about Christ. Actually, it begins with prayer. When you share truth, you march into enemy territory. You can’t do that without prayer any more than ground troops can take control of enemy territory without air support.

Prayer is simply talking to God in everyday language about your thoughts, feel ings, and concerns. And you can be totally confident that God hears you when you pray. In fact, God eagerly waits for you to come to him in prayer. You are his child, and he values every minute you spend with him.

Why is prayer so great? Some important answers:

1.    Prayer helps you focus on God. It helps you plug in to God’s strength (Psalm 105:4). When you take time to pray, you unplug your mind from TV and CDs and plug in to God.

2.    Prayer is intimacy with God. As you pray, God becomes a deep, personal friend. As you hang with God in prayer, you stay in tune with his heartbeat for you and the non-Christians he wants to reach through you.

3.    Prayer is a vital weapon in spiritual battle. Spiritual conflict is real. And prayer is the biggest evil-blasting bomb in your arsenal. In Ephesians 6:10-20, the apostle Paul lists the armor you are to use to fight the spiritual battle. He says to wear your faith as a shield against Satan’s flaming arrows, to put on salvation as your helmet, and to use God’s Word as your sword (verses 16-17). Then Paul tells how prayer works in spiritual warfare (verses 18-20):

•   Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.

•   Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for Christians everywhere.

•   Ask God to give you and other Christians the right words.

•   Pray that Christians will keep on speaking boldly for him, as we should.

When you pray, God acts! Your prayers for your non-Christian friends paralyze Satan as God works in their lives. God prepares your friends to receive the message— and he gives you strength to speak up.

God has his mind made up to do some astonishing things on your campus and in your community. When you pray, you get hold of God-and in sync with what he in tends to accomplish.

REFLECT: Are you taking advantage of the powerful weapon of prayer? How could your experience of prayer be improved?

PRAY: Ask God to deepen your prayer life.

Day 4: How Is Your Prayer Confidence?

Bible Reading: John 17:2-5

[God the Father has] given him [Christ the Son] authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. John 17:2

STUDENTS WHO PRAY with confidence for their schools are sure of this not-so-secret truth: God has a plan for reaching your friends at school.

God has some wild promises for you. Try this one: “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession” (Psalm 2:8). To hear God’s promise hit home even harder, put it like this: “Only ask, and I will give you your football team-or your Spanish class, your lab partners . . .”

God’s promise is to give. Your responsibility is to ask in prayer. But you need to know how to ask confidently and take hold of what God has promised.

1.   Keep depending on Christ. Jesus said, “If you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7). What does it mean to “stay joined” to Christ? Try this: Remain in Christ by confessing sins God has pointed out to you and by inviting the Holy Spirit to fill your life. Allow Christ’s words to stick in you by reading God’s Word, studying it, memorizing it, discussing it, and doing what it says.

2.   Pray specifically. Write down the names of people God wants you to witness to—parents, friends, classmates, teammates, etc. Ask God for exactly what you want him to do. One idea: Select a Bible verse about salvation and claim it for the people on your list. You might use John 17:2, praying, “Thank you, Lord, that you have authority over my lab partner, Vicki. I ask you to break Satan’s grip on her. Get her ready to receive your Good News.”

3.   Pray according to God’s clear will. There’s no doubt about God’s will for your friends: He doesn’t want any of them to go up in smoke (see 2 Peter 3:9). When you pray that your friends will be saved and trust Christ, you can be sure you’re asking for something God has announced as his will.

4.   Expect God to answer your prayers. Jesus promised: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). As you pray for the non-Christians on your list, start to see them as people impacted by God through your prayers. Act on your belief by figuring out ahead of time how best to share the Good News with your friends. Expect that God is going to answer your prayers and liberate your friends-maybe through you.

REFLECT: How can your prayers better reflect God’s goals for your world?

PRAY: Lift some non-Christian friends up to God in prayer today.

Day 5: Up Close And Personal

REFLECT: How are you trying to get close to God? Does anything need to change?

PRAY: Celebrate the fact that God wants to be your incredibly close friend.

Day 6: This Machine Is Out Of Order

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:21-24

If our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. 1 John 3:21-22

“OKAY, GOD, I’m going to give you a chance to prove yourself.” Mark knelt beside his bed. He was nine years old and fiercely wanted to believe in God. So he bowed his head, folded his hands and kept praying.

“I really want to believe in you, God. So when I wake up in the morning, if there’s a billion dollars under my bed, I’ll know you’re real.”

Mark didn’t get the billion dollars. Maybe God turned him down because a bil lion dollars-he told God he wanted it in one-dollar bills-wouldn’t fit under the bed with the action figures, dirty clothes, and dust bunnies.

A more likely reason Mark didn’t get the money was his goofed-up idea about God. He imagined God was a heavenly vending machine: Deposit a prayer, push the right button, and you get your wish. He thought God was a sort of Santa Claus figure waiting to fulfill kids’ wish lists. If he only prayed and believed hard enough, God would plop down everything a nine-year-old heart desired.

It’s not a surprise when a kid thinks that way. Unfortunately, lots of adults also think of God as the Divine Vending Machine. They never get a better understanding of God than this “Santa Claus myth.”

God loves to answer prayer. He says, “Ask me and I will tell you some remark able secrets” (Jeremiah 33:3). He even promises, “While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24).

But prayer isn’t a coin to plunk into a vending machine, and faith isn’t a button you bang on. God doesn’t cave in to human whims and wishes. God thinks bigger than petty human wishes. He’s the Almighty, Love Incarnate, the God who longs for his children to return the love he has heaped on them. He wants us to lovehim, not stuff. He wants us to seek him, not answers to greedy prayers. He wants us to obey him, not because we hope it bags us a billion dollars, but because we love him and want to please him.

Here’s the huge irony: When you quit thinking of God as a heavenly vending machine, you can be confident you will receive what you ask from him. It won’t hap pen because you punch a button and expect God to produce, but because you obey his commands and do what pleases him (see 1 John 3:22).

REFLECT: How do your prayers sound? Do you treat God Like a vending machine?

PRAY: Spend a few moments sharing your Love with God. And in your prayer, don’t ask him for anything.

Day 7: Ask for Something Outrageous 

Bible Reading: John 14:12-14

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. John 14:13

DERRICK GLANCES across the cafeteria to where a girl sits with her friends. Dear God, he prays silently, let me go out with her and I’ll witness to her so much she’ll for sure want to become a Christian.

Natalie lays her hand on the exam paper she has just completed. Closing her eyes, she prays without moving her lips. God, I don’t expect a perfect paper. But please make enough answers right to get me a B.

What’s the most outrageous thing you have ever asked God for? That a twenty-pound sack of money would spill at your feet? That the pimple growing like a third eye in the middle of your forehead would disappear by morning? That your parents would slip you a Ferrari for graduation-or sooner?

Jesus said we can ask him for anything. That’s right, he said anything! John 14:13 says he had a good reason to extend this invitation. Jesus-our only way to the Father and our only way to know what the Father is like—also wants to teach us to show off God’s greatness. Here’s the formula:

Your prayer for anything in Christ’s name + Christ’s perfect answer to your prayer

= Glory to the Father.

When we pray in Christ’s name, we are asking for our requests to be fulfilled in Christ’s will. Since Jesus knows how to bring glory to God, he will answer our prayers in his best way so that God receives the glory he deserves.

So even though you might ask Jesus to miraculously change the answers on your exam, he knows you could grow more and bring greater glory to God by trust ing him as you study. The result? Your prayer helps you recognize that God will help you when you study!

Jesus himself asked his Father for something outrageous, wondering aloud if he could avoid going to the cross. But he quickly added to his request, “Yet I want your will, not mine” (Matthew 26:39). Skipping the cross was not the Father’s will, for he wanted salvation for us.

So go ahead—ask for anything. But ask in Christ’s name. If you don’t get the ex act anything you pray for, it’s because Christ knows a better way to give God glory.

REFLECT: Is there anything that stands in the way of your wanting to bring glory to God?

PRAY: God, it’s a privilege to ask for what I want—and to know you will answer my prayers in ways that change me for the better and give glory to you.

taken from Josh Mcdowells youth devotions

compiled by daniel wee!

Why did the chicken cross the road?: CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK: To boldly go where no chicken has gone before. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question. GRANDPA: In my day, we didn’t ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us. ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road. KARL MARX: It was a historical inevitability. SADDAM HUSSEIN: This was an unprovoked act of rebellion and we were quite justified in dropping 50 tons of nerve gas on it. RONALD REAGAN: What chicken? DR. SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes! The chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed, I’ve not been told! MACHIAVELLI: The point is that the chicken crossed the road. Who cares why? The end of crossing the road justifies whatever motive there was. FREUD: The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity. BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 98, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an inextricable part of eChicken. EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road or did the road move beneath the chicken? BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What do you mean by chicken? Could you define chicken please? IMMANUEL KANT: The chicken was acting out of a sense of duty to cross the road, as chickens have traditionally crossed roads throughout history. THE BIBLE: And God came down from the heavens, and He said unto the chicken, Thou shalt cross the road.” And the chicken crossed the road, and there was much rejoicing. RICHARD M. NIXON: The chicken did not cross the road. I repeat, the chicken did not cross the road. I don’t know any chickens. I have never known any chickens. Hahaha… Feel free to add more

Day two: The Image on the Card

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-28

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31, NIV

YOU’RE WALKING DOWN the street, minding your own business, when you hear a voice. “Psst!” the voice says. You stop and turn. A thin man in dark glasses leans against the side of a building.

“Hey, Slick,” the man says, casting furtive glances left and right. “You wanna make the smartest deal of your life?”

You start to turn and walk away, when the man hustles around in front of you and, after a quick glance up and down the sidewalk, opens one side of his coat. There, pinned to the inside of the fabric, is a row of… baseball cards.

“I got a 1953 Walt Zambrisky card for thirteen cents,” the man says.

You shake your head and try to walk around the baseball card hawker.

“OK, OK,” he says, as he backpedals up the sidewalk ahead of you. “I can tell you’re a smart customer.” He opens the coat again and points to a card. “A Bruno Gunderschmutz rookie card, mint condition, seventy-five cents.” He wags his eye­brows as if they were battery operated.

You make a move to pass him again, but he holds up both hands. “OK, OK,” he says. “You must want the good stuff.” He steals a glance over your shoulder. “My last offer. Mickey Mantle. Rookie card. One thousand smackaroonies.”

A thousand dollars? For a baseball card? Actually, yes. Some cards have sold for more than that. Sports cards have become a valuable commodity, an investment.

But what makes a Mickey Mantle rookie card worth a thousand dollars and a Bruno Gunderschmutz rookie card worth only seventy-five cents? After all, they’re both made of nothing but cardboard and ink. What’s the difference? Just one thing: the image on the card. A Mickey Mantle card bears the image of a New York Yankees slugger who broke Babe Ruth’s record for World Series home runs and was later elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s not what the card is made of that makes it valuable; it’s the image that appears on the card.

It’s sort of the same way with human life. Human life is valuable because of the image every person bears. No matter how tall or how old he or she is, no matter what color his or her skin or hair, no matter what language he or she speaks, every human being is unbelievably valuable because he or she is created in God’s image. That’s true of you. It’s true of your friends and family. And it’s true of people you’ve never met, and even people you don’t really like. Their lives are precious because they’re made in God’s image.

REFLECT: Do you act like you believe your life is unbelievably precious? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? Do you act like you believe the lives of others are unbelievably precious? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?

PRAY: “God, I thank you that all human life is in your image and is valuable to you.”

Day three: Reflecting His Image

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 And all of us . . . can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:18

LENNY GOT to spend the day at the bank with his father. They called it “Take Your Child to Work Day.”

As his father showed him around behind the tellers’ counter, he pointed out a neat machine that counted bills. The teller had just taken a wrapper off a stack of one-hundred-dollar bills and was putting them in the counting machine.

“Hey,” Lenny said. “That money looks funny!”

His father took a couple bills from the machine and showed them to Lenny.

“They’ve just come out with a new one-hundred-dollar bill to make it more difficult to make fake ones. See, the picture is larger, they’ve moved it off-center, they’ve used a special kind of paper … and if you hold it up to the light, you can see a strip with writing on it. While it might be possible to make a good copy of most of what you see on the bill, it’s supposed to be harder to copy everything.”

Lenny was confused. “You mean whenever you get a hundred-dollar bill, you have to hold it up to the light?”

Lenny’s father chuckled. “No,” he said. “Bank tellers are trained to recognize counterfeit money by handling nothing but the real thing. They sort and stack and shuffle real money all day long, hour after hour. The more they see and handle the real thing, the easier it is for them to recognize a fake because something about it just won’t feel right. When a counterfeit bill comes along, a teller’s familiarity with the real thing will help him or her notice something different about the counterfeit. That’s when he holds it up to the light or gets a magnifying glass or asks for the head teller to inspect it. But usually a teller is so familiar with real money, he can spot a fake pretty easily.”

“That’s neat,” Lenny said. He smiled at his dad. “Think you could give me a bunch to practice on?”

“Sure,” Dad said, “in your dreams.”

REFLECT: it’s easier to know whether something is real—or “right”—by being familiar with the original. When it comes to choices between right and wrong, God is the original. How well do you know God? Does your relationship with God help you make right choices? How can you know God even better? How can you “reflect his glory” even more?

PRAY: “Lord, make me willing to let your Spirit work within me so that I can become more like you and reflect your glory.”

Day four: The Positive Power of “No”

Bible Reading: John 10:7-10

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10, niv.

EVER FEEL LIKE your parents are always saying no to you? “Mom, can I go over to Carly’s house?”

“Dad, can I watch Blood, Guts, and Gore on the Movie Channel?”

“Can I have a computer for Christmas?”

“Can I stay home instead of going to Grandma’s house?”

“Can I sell my little sister to the gypsies?”

“Can I bungee jump off the roof of the house?”

It may seem like your parents never say anything but no! It may seem like they’re always saying, “Don’t do this,” and “You can’t do that.” Not only that, but it seems like God does the same thing (except that he says, “Thou shalt not do this,” and “Thou shouldst not do that”). It’s all so negative, right?

Well, no. It may sometimes seem like no is a negative word, but it can be positive. The things you say no to can make your life better, not worse.

For example, say your friends try to talk you into sneaking out your bedroom window tonight so you can go with them to spray-paint bad words on walls. You say no. Your friends get caught, and they have to spend every Saturday until they’re, like, eighty years old scrubbing graffiti off walls. Was saying no a negative thing? No, because the results—in the long run especially—were much better than if you’d said yes.

Or consider one more example. Your older brother asks you to tell your parents that he stayed home with you last night, when you know he was really out at a beer party. You don’t want to get your brother mad at you, but you say no to your brother and tell your parents the truth when they ask you. He does get mad because your parents ground him. But a week later, a carload of your brother’s friends get into a car accident on the way home from another beer party, and you realize your brother could have been hurt-or killed—if you hadn’t told the truth. Was saying no a negative thing? No, because the results-in the long run especially-were good.

Saying no can seem like such a negative thing. You might say no to something you or your friends really want to do. But saying no to wrong or unwise things is a positive thing, not a negative thing. That’s the positive power of no.

REFLECT: Does it seem that your parents always say no to the things you want to do? Have you said no to a wrong or unwise choice recently? Did that make your life worse or better? Why? The next time your parents say no to something you want to do, try to stop and ask yourself if that no might actually protect you or have another positive effect.

PRAY: “God, help me to trust your wisdom—and the wisdom of my parents— whenever I hear the word no.”

Day five: Tough Questions

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Isaiah 40:28, NIV

A YOUNG GIRL wanted to join the chess team at school. The teacher in charge of the team said, “I will ask you three questions. If you can answer at least two of them correctly, you will be on the team.”

The teacher asked the first question: “Two people are cleaning a chimney. When they come out of the chimney, one has a dirty face and the other has a clean face. Which of them will wash his face?”

The girl answered, “The one with the dirty face.”

“Not so,” the teacher patiently replied. “The one with the clean face will wash because he sees his companion’s face and assumes that his face is also dirty.” The girl looked disappointed but understood.

The teacher then repeated the first question word-for-word. The girl assumed the teacher was giving her a second chance and said, “The one with the clean face.”

“Not so,” the teacher said sadly. “The correct answer is both, for the man with the dirty face will ask why the other man is washing when his face is not dirty; then the first man will realize he needs to wash his own face.”

“I’ve already missed two questions,” the girl said, disappointment showing on her face. “I know I won’t be on the team, but what is the third question?”

The teacher said, “The third question is one you should have asked yourself: If two men came out of a chimney, why would only one have had a dirty face?” The teacher smiled. “Don’t miss the obvious, and you will be a successful player. Welcome to the team!”

Once that poor girl learned the answers to the teacher’s questions, they seemed obvious. Choosing between right and wrong can be like that. The right answer may seem obvious when we’re looking back, but that doesn’t help us when we face a puzzling or difficult choice.

That’s why it’s so important to trust God and commit yourself to following his way-because he does know the answers. “He knows the way that I take,” Job said (Job 23:10, niv); he knows which choices are right, which are wrong, and which way is the best one for each of us to follow. He knows infinitely more than we do-which is why we’re smart when we do what he commands.

REFLECT: Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer once said, “I would rather trust God’s wisdom than mine.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

ACT: Spring the three questions above on a friend or family member. After you share the correct answers, share also the importance of following God’s wisdom.

PRAY: “Help me to trust your wisdom by obeying your commands.”

Day six: Oops!

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

The result was to make you sorry as God would have had you sorry, and not to make you feel injured by what we said. The sorrow which God uses means a change of heart and leads to salvation without regret. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Phillips

RECENTLY, IN A big city the local police raided what they thought was a crack house. After searching for a few moments and finding nothing even remotely suspicious, the police realized they had the wrong house! The crack house was next door. By the time the police realized their mistake, the inhabitants of the real crack house had escaped, and the police had a lot of explaining to do.

In another town the local fire department scheduled a practice drill. Using a house they thought was scheduled for demolition, the fire department carefully set fire to it so they could practice their firefighting technique. Unfortunately, the condemned house was a block away! As you can imagine, the person who lived in the house was a little upset when he returned home to a pile of ashes.

Usually, our mistakes are a lot smaller than setting fire to the wrong house. But we all make mistakes. We can’t avoid them-they’re part of being human. The important thing is not whether we make mistakes, because everyone does; the important thing is how we respond when we make a mistake.

Now, sometimes our mistakes are sinful. Other times they’re just mistakes. But whether our mistakes involve a wrong choice or just a poor choice, the way to respond is pretty much the same.

The first thing you can do when you make a mistake is admit it. That may seem pretty obvious, but it’s surprising how many people have trouble doing that. The second part of a proper response to a mistake is to apologize to anyone your mistake hurt. (If your mistake was sinful, this would include God.) The third step is to try to correct the mistake. This isn’t always possible (you can’t “unburn” a house, for example), but you should do what you can to erase the effects of your mistake. Then, if your mistake was sinful, you should accept God’s forgiveness and try (with his help) to do better the next time. Oh, yeah, one more thing-always remember to check (and double-check) the address of any house you intend to assault.

REFLECT: What do you think is the difference between a mistake that’s sinful and a mistake that’s not sinful? Are there any recent mistakes you’ve made that you need to admit, apologize for, and try to make amends for? How will you do it? Do you think you’ll ever stop making mistakes? Do you think you can (with God’s help) make fewer wrong choices? Do you think you can (with God’s help) do a better job of admitting and correcting your mistakes?

PRAY: “Lord, I admit that I should (or shouldn’t) have_.

I apologize for my sins. Show me how to correct the things I’ve done wrong, and help me not to do them again.”

Day seven: Don’t Crow Too Loud

Bible Reading: Proverbs 21:2-4

Pride goes before destruction. Proverbs 16:18, niv

TWO ROOSTERS. One barnyard. Bad news.

The barnyard was deserted. The wooden door to the henhouse banged open and shut. Two roosters faced each other, their eyes cold and their beaks unsmiling.

“This coop ain’t big enough for the both of us,” snarled Rudy Rooster.

“You got that right, ya no-’count varmint,” Renaldo Rooster countered. “I want you on the first stage outta this here chicken coop.”

“The only rooster leavin’ here today’11 be you, Renaldo-in a KFC box!”

Suddenly, without warning, Rudy jumped Renaldo, and the battle began, the two roosters scratching and clawing and squawking like World War III had come to their little chicken coop. They rolled and flapped in the dirt until Renaldo broke free. He tucked his wings and ran for shelter under a broken-down wagon.

“Ha!” shouted Rudy. “I am the champion!” he crowed. He jumped to the roof of the henhouse and started crowing at the top of his lungs.

While Rudy boasted of his new superiority over the barnyard, an eagle heard his horrible singing. Fastening an eye on the boastful bantam, the eagle swooped down and carried Rudy off in his mighty talons.

Moments later Renaldo emerged from the shelter of the old wagon and cast an eye toward the heavens. The sky was clear, and the day was bright. Renaldo’s position was undisputed. He was the only rooster in the whole chicken coop.

Everybody is tempted at some time or another to get a little conceited. It’s a common temptation to want to brag about something good you’ve done. But being prideful is not only unattractive-it’s wrong. The Bible says, “Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin” (Proverbs 21:4).

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel good when you do a really good job. Nor does it mean that you shouldn’t feel comfortable with who you are. It does mean, however, that when you begin feeling and acting as if you’re better than others, you’re making a wrong choice. Confidence is good. Taking pleasure in your achievements is good. But haughty eyes and a proud heart are wrong.

So the next time you’re tempted to brag and swagger a little bit, remember Rudy and Renaldo, and pray that you won’t fall prey-to pride.

REFLECT: In Proverbs 21:4, what do you think the phrases “haughty eyes” and “a proud heart” mean? Do you ever take try to be “number one” no matter whom it hurts? Do you ever take too much credit for things? How can you avoid the sins today’s Scripture reading talks about?

PRAY (adapted from Psalm 131): “0 Lord, if my heart is proud, if my eyes are haughty, teach me to quiet my soul before you, and to humble myself in your sight and in the sight of others, especially when__.”

taken from Josh Mcdowells’ youth devotion

Reading: Genesis 1:24-28

My wife, Merryn, and I once visited a large market in Sydney. On that day a man was cutting out small silhouettes of people’s faces from black cardstock. He would complete one in two minutes for two dollars. We gave him the money and his shiny scissors went to work, his eyes darting between us and his handiwork. Within 2 minutes he handed us our silhouette.

Seeing our profiles was a strange experience. Mr. Scissorhands had certainly captured our characteristics, but some features weren’t quite right. My chin was a little pointy and my nose a bit too round—and so was Merryn’s. Our eyes lifted off the card and to our scissor-clutching friend’s face. Sure enough, that’s where we found in the flesh those false features. With pointy chin and rounded nose, the grinning artist had “snipped” us in his own image!

“Let Us make human beings in Our image, to be like Us,” the famous record of origins states (Genesis 1:26). We are the portraits, God is the original. Reason, emotions, creativity, speech, plus the responsibility to “reign over the fish . . . the birds . . . the livestock” (v.26) all originate from our being made in God’s likeness. This immense honor (Psalm 8:3-8) makes all humans worthy of dignity and respect. Even after the fall, when sin marred our image, it wasn’t completely lost (Genesis 9:6). This explains why murder is out of the question, and why even cursing another person is wrong (James 3:9-10).

Divine features are reflected in everyone you see. The image may be scarred through neglect, distorted by greed, and smeared by selfishness, but it is there. And one day, for those willing, it will be fully restored—transformed into the image of Jesus, the true and complete image of God (Colossians 1:15).

Day two: wonderfully made

Reading: Psalm 139: 7-16

quote in George MacDonald’s book David Elginbrod speaks to those who wonder, at times, why God has made them the way they are—and who wish they were someone else.

Lady Emily muses: “I wish I were you, Margaret.”

Margaret answers: “If I were you, my lady, I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of. For to have been thought about—born in God’s thoughts—and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, most precious thing in all thinking.”

MacDonald may have had Psalm 139:17 in mind: “How precious . . . are Your thoughts to me, O God!” In this psalm, David is thinking about his conception, and vividly describes God’s thoughts as He wove him together in his mother’s womb, creating a unique and special individual to be the object of His love.

It’s a comforting thought to know that we’re not a terrible mistake, but a very special creation, “born in God’s thoughts.” David could stand before a mirror and say in all honesty and humility: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works” (v.14).

You are a designer original! As such, you are dear, grand, and precious to God.

Of all creation’s treasures rare,
Not one compares in worth with man;
In God’s own image he was made
To fill a place in His great plan. —D. De Haan

You are one of a kind—designed to glorify God as only you can.

Day three: What are you worth?

Reading: Psalm 8:1-9

Sometimes an enemy of God’s truth becomes a truth-teller without intending to be.

Celsus, a 2nd-century Roman philosopher, sought to discredit biblical faith. He wrote in his book True Discourse, “The root of Christianity is its excessive valuation of the human soul, and the absurd idea that God takes an interest in man.”

Even though Celsus opposed Christianity, he was telling the truth! It does seem absurd to a God-denier that the Almighty Creator would take such a deep personal interest in mere mortals. Yet that is the very heart of the gospel. The Bible reveals that we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). And tied to every one of us is the price-tag of Calvary.

So when we look at it through Christ’s eyes, we see that He values us even though we are sinners. Why else would the Savior die for us? There is no room for human pride here—every bit of our worth comes from God. Yet Scripture assures us that God cares for you, me, and all the earth’s billions of people (Lk. 12:6-7; Jn. 3:16).

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “Christ . . . loved me and gave Himself for me.” His immeasurable sacrifice tells us that we are of great worth!

His hands and feet and heart, all three
Were pierced for me on Calvary,
And here and now, to Him I bring
My hands, feet, heart, an offering. —Allen

The death of Christ is the measure of God’s love for you.

Day four: Who are you?

Reading: Matthew 4: 18-25

If someone were to ask, “Who are you?” my guess is that you would tell a little about yourself and what you do—“I’m an electrician” or “I’m a nurse.” But that’s not really who you are—it’s what you do. Which leads to the question, If what you do is who you are, who will you be when you stop doing what you’re doing?!

Who you are is found in your relationship to Jesus. And this sense of identity will drive your behavior. Take Matthew, for example. As a tax collector during the reign of the Roman Empire, his life was driven by greed. But everything changed the day Jesus showed up and invited Matthew to follow Him (Matt. 9:9). Suddenly Matthew had a whole new identity as a follower of Christ! And he wasn’t the only one. We also read about four fishermen in Matthew 4:18-25, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who left their nets to follow Him.

Jesus is a compelling Person, and He is still looking for followers. He wants to make something of your life by giving you the identity of a follower of Jesus. It doesn’t mean giving up your career, but it does mean that you will do your work—and all of life—according to His will and ways.

So next time someone asks, “Who are you?” I hope you’ll answer, “I’m a follower of Jesus”!

Day five: send the light

Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

American businessman Mark Bent has spent $250,000 to develop and manufacture an affordable solar-powered flashlight. Thousands have been distributed free or at low cost to people living in African refugee camps. One daily solar charge provides 7 hours of life-giving illumination for people in homes, schools, and medical clinics where darkness had encouraged crime and violence.

The contrast between darkness and light is a prominent image in the Bible’s presentation of Jesus the Messiah. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isa. 9:2). “In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5).

It’s our privilege as followers of Jesus to be His light-bearers today. Paul urged the Christians in Philippi to become “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

Instead of being afraid or oppressed by the spiritual darkness around us, we can rely on the grace that God gives His children to shine for Him.

Lord, may I be a shining light
For all the world to see
Your goodness and Your love displayed
As You reach out through me. —Sper

Jesus came to give light to a dark world.

Day six: role models

Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

During a summer of international sports scandals involving gambling and substance abuse, two athletes were applauded for their character as much as their professional accomplishments. A record crowd of 75,000 cheered Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn during their 2007 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “Whether we like it or not,” Ripken said, “as big leaguers, we are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative?”

Gwynn echoed the sentiment: “There’s more than just playing the game of baseball. . . . You’re responsible, you’ve got to make good decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done.”

Every day, people are watching us. As followers of Christ, we are guided by Paul’s challenge to “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

Compromise causes others to become disillusioned, while character fosters hope. As the life of our Savior flows out from us, we can encourage others and point them to Him.

What kind of role model will we be for someone watching today?

Guard well your life, to the Savior be true;
Many are watching each deed that you do;
Hence if you stumble and fall in deep sin,
It will prove harder lost souls here to win. —Bosch

The best role models model Christ.

Day seven: the bus driver

Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

In the middle of carting 70 pieces of luggage, an electronic piano, and other equipment through airports and on and off a tour bus, it’s easy to wonder, “Why are we doing this?”

Taking 28 teenagers on an 11-day ministry trip to a land across the ocean is not easy. But at the end of the trip our bus driver, who had carted us all over England and Scotland, grabbed the bus microphone and in tears thanked the kids for how wonderful they had been. Then after we got home, he e-mailed us to say how much he appreciated the thank you cards the kids had written to him—many of which contained the gospel.

Although the students ministered to hundreds through song during the trip, perhaps it was the bus driver who most benefited from their Christlikeness. In Ephesians we are told to be imitators of God and to walk in love (Eph. 5:1-2). Others see God in us when we show love to one another (1 John 4:12). The bus driver saw Jesus in the students and told them that they might just convert him to faith in Christ. Maybe it was for this man that we took that trip.

Why do you do what you do? Whose life are you affecting? Sometimes it’s not our target audience that we impact most. Sometimes it’s the bus drivers of the world.

Lord, may I be a shining light
For all the world to see
Your goodness and Your love displayed
As You reach out through me. —Sper

Witnessing is not just something a Christian says, but what he is.

 taken from our daily journey and our daily bread.

Reading: Numbers 14:1-23

I laughed yesterday as I read Facebook comments written by a close friend and his wife. She updated her profile to read, “I am grumpy for no good reason.” Beneath it, alluding to Facebook’s “like” button, my friend wrote: “They need an ‘unlike button’ for these types of things.

Although the above exchange is humorous, Israel’s grumpy behavior in Numbers 14 was not funny in the eyes of God. As they whined and complained out of fear over false reports (Numbers 13:31-33), the Lord’s anger meter was rising. As the people were weeping, crying, and protesting, He was fuming (14:2,10-11; Deuteronomy 9:7). God was angry for at least two reasons:

• Lack of faith in Him. The Israelites showed no faith in their God who had miraculously led them out of bondage in Egypt. They showed no trust by grumbling greatly (James 5:9). It got so bad that God was ready to annihilate them (Numbers 14:12).

• Lack of liking His provision. God’s plans and provision should be received with joy and humility. The people, just like us at times, were rebellious and full of resentment instead of contentment (Numbers 11:6,21:5).

Fortunately, a fab four—Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb—revealed true trust in God and acceptance of where He was leading. These men showed the people, and us, what to do when we’ve caught a case of the grumpies: They bowed before God in repentance— seeking forgiveness (Numbers 14:5-6). They acknowledged His great love and His forgiving heart (Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18-19).

When we grumble and complain, we’re rebelling against God and choosing selfishness over His abundant provision. Let’s repent and follow Him with grateful hearts instead.

Day two: soul music

Reading: Psalm 103:1-22

Soul music is a term adopted to describe popular black music in the United States as it evolved from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s a style heavily influenced by gospel music. Soul music is known for its intimacy, passion, intensity, rhythmic sounds, and spiritual roots. In essence, it’s an expression of the soul. I believe this is what David had in mind when he wrote Psalm 103, a soulful ballad that took the people of God into the beautiful place of sincere expression of worship to the Lord.

David began this soulful song with “Let all that I am praise the Lord” (v.1). This phrase was an expression of the intimate relationship between David and Yahweh, the covenant-making and promise-keeping God of Israel. David’s soul music was an intimate expression of love and gratitude to the God who loved him first. David’s soul music was intense. He praised the Lord with his innermost being, which for him was a physical, emotional, and spiritual experience. He didn’t hold back anything in the worship and praise of his God. David’s soul music was intentional. It found its power and passion in constantly remembering God’s blessings. When David thought about God’s provision, he couldn’t keep from singing and giving Him praise.

Biblical soul music starts from within our hearts and expresses itself outward. If we want to experience the journey of intimate, intense, and intentional worship of God, we need to get close to Him. This happens as we spend time talking to Him and listening to Him. Don’t hold anything back. Relish how gracious, merciful, and loving God is as you offer up a sacrifice of praise.

Day three: ‘omg’

Reading: Psalm 29

With the advent of cell phones, texting, and online chat, an abbreviated form of language has emerged. Texters and chatters regularly communicate with shortcuts like “lol” (laugh out loud) or “idk” (I don’t know).

For the most part, these abbreviations are harmless. One popular shortcut, however, is truly offensive to believers in Jesus—“omg.” The most common meaning given to this abbreviation is the expression “Oh, my God.”

Should we be concerned by its use? Or are we making something out of nothing? Consider this: Although the Bible doesn’t legalistically regulate every single word that comes out of our mouths, it does plainly state that we are not to use God’s name in a way that regards it as trivial (Exodus 20:7). Even though blurting out “Oh, my God” or texting and e-mailing “omg” have become socially acceptable, they’re still examples of using God’s name wrongly.

It boils down to an issue of respect. To refer to the God of the universe in this manner, even as an expression of shock or surprise, is flippant and dishonoring. It treats “the name above all other names” (Philippians 2:9) as irrelevant, as if it carries little weight or special meaning.

To be fair, some may not intend to use “omg” in this way. They may believe that it is an innocent expression that—for them—means “Oh, my goodness.” Given how it’s most widely used and interpreted, however, it would be wise to use another abbreviation.

God’s name is to be revered, not to be misused or treated as meaningless. Whenever we refer to God, may we reflect the spirit of the psalmist who wrote, “Honor the Lord for the glory of His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness” (Psalm 29:2).

Day four: marvelous

Reading: job 9:9-10

Last year, the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics were spectacular. The 17 days of competition, full of world-record-shattering performances, were sensational. But were the 2008 Summer Games marvelous?

Before answering, first consider what the word marvelous means. The American Heritage Dictionary defines marvelous as: (1) Causing wonder or astonishment. (2) Miraculous; supernatural. Webster’s Dictionary says marvelous means: (1) Exciting wonder or surprise; astonishing; wonderful. (2) Partaking of the character of miracle, or supernatural, incredible. (3) That which exceeds natural power, or is preternatural, that which is wonderful—opposed to the probable.

Of the 12 times the word marvelous is used in Scripture (NLT version), not once does it describe a quality or accomplishment of man. In every instance, the adjective describes attributes and works of God:

• His deeds (2 Chronicles 26:15; Job 5:9, 9:10; Psalm 9:1; Revelation 15:1, 3).

• His grace (Galatians 1:15; Jude 1:4).

• His glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).

• His wisdom (Ezekiel 28:7).

• His workmanship (Psalm 139:14).

• His kindness (2 Corinthians 6:1).

Perhaps one of the most beautiful testimonies of this deeply descriptive word was when Job said, “He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles” (Job 5:9, 9:10).

When he made these statements, Job was covered in excruciatingly painful sores and had lost his family and his worldly possessions. Yet, nothing could stop him from marveling at God’s deeds and miracles. Meditate on the marvelous things that God is doing today

Day five: listening

Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Our youngest son, Seth, is 5, and about the only time I’ve seen him still for more than a minute or two is when he’s asleep. He’s constantly moving, spinning, jumping, running in circles, doing cartwheels and handstands, or diving off something. Last week, Seth sat on his pillow and flung himself down our stairs—riding the soft cushion like a rollercoaster— down to the first floor. Keeping his attention is nearly impossible. Most often, when I want him to hear me clearly, I have to hold his face in my hands and draw him close. “Listen,” I say.

In the account Luke provides of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary’s house (10:38-39), it seems that Jesus needed to hold Martha’s face in His hands and say, “Listen, please. Now! Stop and be quiet so you can hear Me and be with Me.”

Martha had invited Jesus and His followers into their home, and she began to prepare a meal for them. Preparing dinner for her guests was a good thing. The Hebrew tradition at that time had much to say about welcoming strangers into your home and offering them generous hospitality. However, even good things—at the inappropriate time—become hindrances. In this case, Martha’s myopic devotion to her work caused her to miss another opportunity . . . a better opportunity. “Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing,” Luke tells us (v.40).

Her distraction kept her from “the one thing worth being concerned about,” which was listening to Jesus (v.42). For all of us, the one central thing—whether we’re working or resting, filled with joy or burdened by sadness—is to hear what Jesus is saying to us. As John Ortberg says, “That one thing is the decision to live so continually in Jesus’ presence as to be always covered with the dust of the Rabbi.”

Day six: resizing ourselves

Reading: Psalm 19

I recently read an article that described how former US President Theodore Roosevelt would sometimes close a long day spent with diplomats. He would lead them outside of the White House, stand on the lawn, and gaze into the sky. As he scanned the stars and the vastness of the universe, his guests would follow his example. After a lengthy and silent pause, Mr. Roosevelt would say, “Gentlemen, I believe we are small enough now. Let’s go to bed.”

Many years ago when the psalmist wrote Psalm 19, it is conceivable that he was trying to evoke the same response from God’s people. He reminded his readers that God revealed His greatness in creation. What did David mean when he said the heavens are telling of His glory? (Psalm 19:1-6). He was saying that the universe is a revelation of God’s existence and power so great and beautiful that it should lead every human being on the face of the earth to seek out God. To thank Him for bringing him or her into existence. To worship Him.

Since we can’t fully know God’s purposes for our lives through creation, He revealed His purposes through the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us how to live in fellowship with God and in peace and justice with others. When we read God’s law, it will revive our souls, make us wise, bring joy to our heart, and give us insight for living (vv. 7-11).

Thinking about the greatness of God as revealed in creation and the purposes of God as revealed in Scripture should lead us to resize ourselves. We will then look to Him for forgiveness (19:12), protection from selfishness and pride (v.13), and guidance so that our thoughts and words are pleasing in His sight (v.14).

Day seven: before you enter

Reading: Psalm 15

Before many of us go to the grocery store, we make a list. Before we exercise, we follow the good practice of stretching. Before we travel, we pack according to the number of days we’ll be gone and our destination’s climate. Before a new baby is brought home, colorful mobiles and an ample supply of diapers and wipes are purchased. Almost everything we do requires some sort of preparation—even worshiping God. This is exactly the theme that David takes up in Psalm 15.

The psalm starts off with two soul-searching questions: “Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?” (v.1). His answer to these queries begs at least four more questions that help us prepare for worship:

• Is my character true? (v.2). David said “those who lead blameless lives,” that is, those whose character is not marked by moral and ethical blemishes—corruption and inconsistencies—are ready to worship.

• Are my relationships right? (v.3). A sign that relationships are strained is the use of words that are not restrained. The person who bad-mouths another’s name and character with vicious words and malicious gossip is not prepared to worship.

• Have I fulfilled all of my commitments? (v.4). A person is ready to worship, privately and publicly, when he consistently keeps his word.

• Do I earn and use money honorably? (v.5). God commanded His people not to take advantage of the marginalized in society. They were not to charge excessively high interest or take bribes at the expense of true justice. Think about it: Am I valuing money more than people?

Before you enter into private and public worship, let the Holy Spirit examine your character.

Reading: Ruth 2:1-22

So, when was the last time you heard someone being complimented for being virtuous? In Ecclesiastes 7:29, we read, “God created people to be virtuous.” So, what does this word mean? The Hebrew word for virtuous is chayil, which means “strength.” Throughout the Old Testament, we find that in the majority of cases this word refers to soldiers, to fighting men, to armies. When used to describe a woman, it means that she possesses noble character (Proverbs 31:10-31).

Ruth was described as a virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11). What did she do to earn that reputation? In chapter 1, Naomi knew that her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, would face a bleak future if they returned with her to Bethlehem. She released them from their obligation to her. But Ruth made the life-changing decision to stay with Naomi. Her incredible loyalty was seen in the price she paid. First, it meant leaving her family and homeland. Second, it meant, as far as Ruth knew, a life of widowhood and childlessness. Third, it meant going to an unknown land and living among people of different customs. Fourth, she made a commitment never to return home, not even after Naomi would die (v.17). And the most amazing commitment she made to Naomi was, “Your God will be my God” (v.16).

In Ruth 2, we read that the young widow was gleaning in the field. Not only was it backbreaking work where women were often abused, it was also uncertain work. Yet Ruth was out in the sun, trying her best to provide for Naomi.

Ruth embraced God in spite of her circumstances. And she did her best with a joyful disposition. From Ruth’s life, we see that a virtuous person is one committed to God and to doing what’s right. Let’s follow her example and pursue a virtuous life in Jesus!

Day two: How soon we forget

Reading: matthew 15: 29-39

he New Testament records the day Jesus fed 4,000- plus people with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. That’s some serious sushi! For 3 days, droves of people brought their sick and crippled to the Savior for healing (Matthew 15:29-31). When they ran out of food, Jesus pulled His disciples aside and pointed out the situation. He was concerned that the people would collapse if they tried to go home hungry (v.32). Not a problem for the Man from Galilee. He fed every last one of them, “as much as they wanted” (v.37).

One of the remarkable parts about this all-you-can-eat wilderness buffet was the disciples’ first reaction to the prospect of feeding all those people: “The disciples replied, ‘Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?’ ” (v.33). One thing was certain. It would take a miracle.

Apparently, however, the disciples forgot that Jesus already pulled off a nearly identical feat when He used less bread and fish to feed 5,000-plus hungry people (Matthew 14:13-21). One would think that it would have been a day to remember, but apparently it slipped their minds.

It could be just me, but I’m fairly certain that forgetting what God has done on our behalf is a problem we must all contend with. It’s the kind of foe that sneaks up on us and takes over without our even knowing it. That’s why the Bible tells us over and over again to “remember” (Exodus 13:3; Luke 22:19). It’s the reason Jesus instructed His followers to practice the sacrament of communion on a regular basis: “Do this to remember Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24,25).

If we don’t pause to remember, it’s only a matter of time before we forget what Jesus has done.

Day three: Childlike

Reading: Luke 10:1-24

Popular culture reveres pride. Celebrities bathe in their narcissism, only to gain even more fans. Kids on the playground imitate the self-promoting celebrations of their favorite athletes. Arrogance masquerades as “confidence,” while meekness becomes a dirty word.

But if personal pride is such a good thing, why is it that no one likes to live close to a proud person? Jesus showed us a radically different way. As He commissioned 72 disciples to do some advance work for Him, He pushed them out of their comfort zone. He hinted that they might face rejection (Luke 10:10). Yet they were to take nothing extra with them. Instead, they were to rely on the kindness of the people they visited (vv.3-7). Jesus left no room for self-sufficiency.

His followers enjoyed great success stating, “Even the demons obey us when we use Your name!” (v.17). But Jesus replied, “Don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven” (v.20).

Jesus is always taking us out of our comfort zone. As He does, it nurtures our complete reliance on Him. But when we find success, we naturally gravitate toward personal pride in “our” accomplishments. This is not the reaction Jesus wants. He desires our gratitude for belonging to the Lord of heaven and earth. “O Father,” He prayed, “thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike” (v.21). “The kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children,” said Jesus on another occasion (Mark 10:14). That’s a far cry from the “mature” pride our society esteems.

Pride is something we all need to work on giving up—for good.

Day four: Real success

Reading: 2 Chronicles 26:4-16

I’ve been thinking about success lately. As I write, one of my good friends is at the Cannes Film Festival with her husband. Their film is nominated for the prestigious Golden Camera award. Recently, I learned that another close friend is number 6 in the Top 10 Copywriters in the World as presented in “The Big Won” (a survey of the world’s best marketing communicators as measured by the quantity and quality of awards won). Wow!

Depending on the Bible version you use, the word success appears around 50 times in the Scriptures. Several Bible verses reveal that it isn’t wrong to ask God for success. For example, we read in Psalm 90:17, “May the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful.”

God wants us to take pleasure in our achievements. It’s a gift from Him, for His glory (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). However, we need to keep an eye on our ego. Just ask King Uzziah. In 2 Chronicles 26:6-15, we read of his impressive achievements. But the reason for his success is found in verse 5: “As long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.”

Uzziah forgot, however, that God was the One who had helped and blessed him all along. This led to his destruction. God’s Word puts it plainly: “But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall” (v.16).

Think about it: Who gave you the skills that have allowed you to experience success? Perhaps you’ve worked hard. But others have tried just as hard and didn’t make the grade. This leads to the realization that God deserves the credit for any success that comes our way. Let’s celebrate Him and remain humble when we taste success.

Day five: Giving thanks

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

During winter in my part of the world, we don’t often get warm, sunny days. God blessed us with one of those days earlier this season. As I left the office to go home, a man said, “What a wonderful day we’re having. This is a gift from God.” I replied, “Yeah, but there’s going to be a major snowstorm later this week.” Oops. What an ugly display of ingratitude. To change my ways, I’m on a quest to build a life and theology of thanksgiving. The apostle Paul, in his letters, is helping me get there.

Paul mentioned the subject of thanksgiving in his letters more often—line for line—than any other Greek author (pagan or Christian). Here are a few lessons he taught us about thanksgiving:

1. Thanksgiving should be primarily directed to God. People are created by God, and Paul gave thanks to Him for their growth, love, faith, risks, receiving and accepting the Word, and more (Romans 16:4; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2).

2. Thanksgiving should be given always—unceasingly. This meant that he regularly carved out time to make sure that thanksgiving played a prominent role in his prayer life (Colossians 3:15).

3. Thanksgiving flows from a heart changed by God. Grace, God’s favor and salvation through Jesus, leads to the response, “God, thank You” (vv.12-15).

4. Thanksgiving is given through Jesus, for everything (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15,17).

5. Thanksgiving is an important part of praise and worship (vv.16-17). 6. The ultimate goal of thanksgiving is to glorify God (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Let’s ask God to help us realize all He’s done for us, and respond with gratitude.

Day six: Trails

Reading: Philippians 1:6-11

During a trip to Israel, I stood in a field just outside of Bethlehem. Some movement to my left revealed a shepherd leading some sheep down a well- worn trail. The winding path was easy to see due to its constant use. As I think about that trail, a thought comes to mind. What trails am I consistently taking in life? There can be good ones—worshiping God, serving others. But there are also negative paths to follow—worshiping material things, living selfishly.

Paul prayed for the believers in Jesus in Philippi, that they would “understand what really matters” (Philippians 1:10). He wanted them to acquire a habit—a trail—that would lead them to a deeper relationship with God and others. What was this trail he wanted them to traverse? Love. “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding” (v.9).

Did you catch those two key words at the end of verse 9? Knowledge and understanding can be acquired only if we are pursuing paths that lead to Jesus and His love. With that in mind, it’s interesting that the word trail originally meant the train of a robe. As we follow our Shepherd—being found in the train of His robe—we will be found in His love (Ephesians 4:8).

The trail of God’s love leads to lives that are:

• Pure and blameless (Phil. 1:10). Revealing habits that are wholesome and choices that positively influence others for Jesus.

• Righteous (v.11). Containing fruit from the Holy Spirit’s work within us.

Do the terms pure, blameless, and righteous describe the well-worn trails of your life? If not, it’s time to grasp Jesus’ train and acquire knowledge and understanding about what real love is all about.

Day seven: Glory

The Olympic oath reads: “In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.” As believers in Jesus, our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catchism). We glorify Him by the way we live—what we say and do.

In Luke 17, Jesus—after healing the lepers—said, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” The one leper came back to Jesus shouting “Paise God!” and fell at His feet. How are we glorifying God today? What are we doing that shows praise and reverence for Him?

 -taken from our daily journey