November 17, 2010
Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?
I find myself relearning this lesson often. Even though I glimpse God's holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all.
It goes sort of like this...
Suppose you are an extra in an upcoming movie. You will probably scrutinize that one scene where hundreds of people are milling around, just waiting for that two-fifths of a second when you can see the back of your head. Maybe your mom and your closest friend get excited about that two-fifths of a second with you..maybe. But no one else will realize it is you. Even if you tell them, they won't care.
Let's take it a step further. What if you rent out the theater on opening night and invite all your friends and family to come see the new movie about you? People will say, "You're an idiot! How could you think this movie is about you?"...Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
October 8, 2010
by Mark Buchanan
Your God is too safe.
The safe god asks nothing of us, gives nothing to us. He never drives us to our knees in hungry, desperate praying and never sets us on our feet in fierce, fixed determination. He never makes us bold to dance. The safe god never whispers in our ears anything but greeting card slogans and certainly never asks that we embarrass ourselves by shouting out from the rooftop. He doesn't make us a kingdom of priests only a colony of Uzzahs.
A safe god inspires neither awe, nor worship, nor sacrifice.
A safe god woos us to borderland and keeps us stuck there. He helps us escape reality....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
August 19, 2010
by Mark Batterson
I think many people make a fundamental mistake in the way they view their relationship with God. They view it in win/lose terms. They see it as a zero-sum game. They focus on what they have to give up and fail to realize how much more they get back. A relationship with God is the ultimate win/win relationship.
Let me go out on a theological limb; I don't think there is any such thing as sacrifice when you're a follower of Christ.
Sure, we are called to "deny ourselves" and "take up our cross." We're called to "lose our lives so that we can find them." And we certainly experience temporary loss. But I don't think anyone has ever sacrificed anything for God. Why? Because we always get back more than we give up. And if you get back more than you gave up, have you really sacrificed anything at all?...Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
June 4, 2010
by Thom Ranier and Eric Geiger
Simple is in.
Complexity is out. Out of style at least.
Ironically people are hungry for simple because the world has become much more complex. The amount of information accessible to us is continually increasing. The ability to interact with the entire world is now possible. Technology is consistently advancing at a rapid pace.
The result is a complicated world with complex and busy lives. And, in the midst of complexity, people want to find simplicity. They long for it, seek it, pay for it, even dream of it. Simple is in. Simple works. People respond to simple.
The simple revolution has begun....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
May 19, 2010
Population The population of Selah is close to 7,000 with over 20,000 more living in the surrounding areas still considered part of the Selah Community. In the last 10 years, Selah has experienced a population growth of 13%. Males make up 49% of the population which means females make up 51%. The median resident age is 34 years. Selah residents claim most often, German (20.9%), Irish (12.5%), and English (9.9%) decent. The average household size is 2.7 people. The percentage of family households is 74% and percentage of single households is 5.8%....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
April 29, 2010
by Erwin Raphael McManus
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
March 10, 2010
by Max Lucado
What if, for one day, Jesus were to become you?
What if, for twenty-four hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, assumes your schedule? Your boss becomes his boss, your mother becomes his mother, your pains become his pains? With one exception, nothing about your life changes. Your health doesn't change. Your circumstances don't change. Your schedule isn't altered. Your problems aren't solved. Only one change occurs.
What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of Christ. His priorities govern your actions. His passions drive your decisions. His love directs your behavior.
What would you be like? Would people notice a change? Your family - would they see something new?...Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
January 8, 2010
Like me, maybe you’ve experienced some parched days in your relationship with God. Maybe you’ve known the sadness of falling in exhaustion and watching through weary eyes as your heart for something or someone begins to shrivel. Maybe you’ve had seasons when time with God was nonexistent and weekend worship was Black Sunday for sure – not because of where the pastor or the people were in their hearts but because of where you were in yours. Now hear this: times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (see Acts 3:20).
You – yes, YOU – can have a fresh downpour of God’s grace and mercy on your life. Your hands can feel a surge of energy to labor for our King. The eyes that see these words can gaze in renewed wonder and awe on the God who loves you. The heart that beats within your chest this moment can pulse with renewed joy given by God in response to choices you make and actions you take. Honest! God is not reluctant; He is ready and willing....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
December 22, 2009
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
November 6, 2009
by Andy Stanley
If I were to ask you to describe how you picture your life in ten years, chances are you could paint a fairly clear picture. No doubt you could outline a financial profile. You could describe what you hope to achieve relationally. You have some idea of where you want to be professionally. In other words, you would be able to look beyond what is and paint a picture of what could be - and in some cases what should be - true of your life. That's vision.
A clear vision, along with the courage to follow through, dramatically increase your chances of coming to the end of your life, looking back with a deep abiding satisfaction, and thinking, I did it. I succeeded. I finished well. My life counted.
Without a clear vision, odds are you will come to the end of your life and wonder. Wonder what you could have done - what you should have done. And like so many, you may wonder if your life really mattered at all....Keep Reading
Posted in: Weekly Devotionals
