Heart of Faith

Trust
in
Him.
Psalm 37:5



The word "trust" is the heart of faith.
The word "faith" conveys more of an act
of the will, while the word "belief"
conveys an act of the mind or intellect,
but trust is the language of the heart.

Therefore, let us "trust in Him" through
all the delays, in spite of all the diffi-
culties, and in the face of all the re-
jection we encounter in life. And in spite
of our feelings and evidence to the contrary,
and even when we cannot understand our way or
our situation, may we still "trust also in Him;
[for] He shall bring it to pass".

~L. B. Cowman~
from: Streams in the Desert

Ordinary

And this is love: that we walk in
obedience to His commands.

2 John 1:6



The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that
He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He
often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly
insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love and
His power. We must learn to view success as God does.
God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with
obedience.

~Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Sunshine

As God's chosen people...clothe
yourselves with kindness.

Colossians 3:12


A pleasant word is a bright ray
of sunshine on a saddened heart.

~L. B. Cowman~
from: Streams in the Desert

Be devoted to one another in
brotherly love.

Romans 12:10

Able

God is able to make every grace overflow to you,
so that in every way, always having everything you
need, you may excel in every good work.

II Corinthians 9:8

I am freed to know that my God is huge and my
God is able. So I know if I don't get what I
asked from Him, if I'll cooperate, I'll get
something bigger. I'll know that a greater
"yes" in in progress.

~Beth Moore~
from: A Quick Word with Beth Moore

Be Honorable

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
Do things in such a way that everyone
can see you are honorable. Do your part
to live in peace with everyone, as much
as possible. Dear friends, never avenge
yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is
written:

"I will take vengeance;
I will repay those who deserve it;"
says the Lord.
Instead, do what the scriptures say:
"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink,
and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."

Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12: 17-21

Eternity

Photo
by
Donna
Downey




What you do today matters for eternity...
~unknown~

Surrender and Trust

God deals with impossibilities. If we have
experienced rebellion, unbelief, sin, and ruin
in our life, it is never too late for God to
deal triumphantly with these tragic things,
if they are brought to Him in complete surrender
and trust.

God "will repay you for the years the locusts have
eaten" (Joel 2:25), and He is trustworthy to do it
unreservedly. He does so not because of what we
are but because of who He is. God forgives and
heals and restores, for the is "the God of all
grace" (1 Peter 5:10).

Sunday School Times
Streams in the Desert

Truth

Sanctify them
in the truth;
Your Word is
truth.

John 17:17


We keep our hearts cleansed through the
Word of God. When the Word cleanses us,
it cleanses us from wrong thinking, wrong
doctrine, and wrong behavior.

~Kay Arthur~
from: Lord, I Give You This Day

Focus

Let us fix our eyes
on Jesus, the author
and perfecter of our
faith...

Hebrews 12:2




Never focus your eyes on the obstacle
or the difficulty. The obstacle will be
a matter of total indifference if you will
remember to stay focused on the Savior.

~Oswald Chambers~

Press On

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but, one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead.

Philippians 3:13

The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your
life is your past. Christians, on the other hand, live in
freedom because Christ has overcome our past. The "old things"
have been done away with and "new things" have come. (2 Cor. 5:17)
Christians do not forget the past, but we are not controlled or
motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope.
If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes
to the incredible future that awaits you and begin to press on
to what is ahead.

~Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Forgiveness

Photo
by
Donna
Downey


Forgiveness doesn't make the other
person right, it makes you free.

~ Stormie Omartian ~

Demonstrate Love

And this is love: that we walk in obedience
to His commands. As you have heard from the
beginning, His command is that you walk in
love.

2 John 1:6

The world tells us to demand our rights,
to look out for number one, to distance
ourselves when disagreements arise with
our neighbors, co-workers, family members.
Jesus, however, calls us to demonstrate
love. And love does not seek personal
justice. Love will give up it's rights
in order to demonstrate the character of
God. Why? Because love lives on a higher
plane. Our character is never to be altered
by the behavior of others. No matter what
anyone else does, we are to walk in love.
Love even loves its enemies and in compassion
prays for those who persecute it.

Prayer:
My human nature rebels against the thought of
allowing someone to take advantage of me. Help
me to remember, Father, that You are molding me
into the image of Your Son, who humbled Himself
in obedience, even to the point of death on the
cross. (Phil. 2:8)

~Kay Arthur~
from: Lord, I Give You This Day

Our Connection

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for
in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours. Mark 11:24


Prayer is the link that connects us with God.
It is the bridge that spans every gulf and
carries us safely over every chasm of danger
or need.

Do we truly know the power of our supernatural
weapon of prayer? Do we dare to use it with
the authority of a fath that not only asks but
also commands? God baptizes us with holy bold-
ness and divine confidence, for He is looking
not for great people but for people who will
dare to prove the greatness of their God.
(A. B. Simpson)

In your prayers, above everything else, beware of
limiting God, not only through unbelief but also
by thinking you know exactly what He can do. Learn
to expect the unexpected, beyond all that you think
or ask.

So each time you intercede through prayer, first be
quiet and worship God in His glory. Think of what He
can do, how He delights in Christ His Son, and of your
place in Him--then expect great things. (Andrew Murray)

L. B. Cowman
from: Streams in the Desert

Our prayers are God's opportunities.

Forgiveness

But if you do not forgive
men their sins, your Father
will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:15



Forgiveness goes against our God-given sense
of what is just. Yet, God calls us to forgive
those who don't deserve it. When we accepted
the Lord's forgiveness, we gave up all rights
to hold anything against anyone else. An un-
forgiving heart is miserable because it is far
from God, who is the source of all peace and joy.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

His Way

"I chose you..."

John 15:16




All of God's people are ordinary people who have
been made extraordinary by the purpose He has for
them. We are not workers for God by choice. It is
not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten
you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding and
doing exactly as He chooses. Let Him have His way.

~Oswald Chambers~
from: My Utmost for His Highest

The Wise

I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so,
Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight."

Luke 10:21

Believing we are wise tempts us to evaluate the shortcomings
of others, yet be unaware of how much growth is still required
in ourselves.

Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes the ones
least responsive to God's Word. Knowledge can easily lead to
pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.

~Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Teach Me

Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.

Psalm 119:33-37

Bless Others

For just as through the disobedience
of the one man the many were made sinners,
so also through the obedience of the one man
the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:19

Just as the obedience of one Christian
can bring blessing to others, the sin
of one Christian can bring harm to many
others. Your sin will have an impact
on others. Choosing to disobey God may
cost someone God's blessing. Diligently
seek to obey every word from God, for you
do not know how your disobedience could
affect those around you. Scripture promises
that if you will obey the Lord, your life
will be a channel of blessing to others.

~Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Never Too Busy

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

Luke 10:33

It's easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those
in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing
good things that you are of no help to the people around you.
God is at work in the lives of your friends, your neighbors,
your family members. He may ask you to interrupt your day
long enough to join Him as He ministers to them. Nothing on
your agenda, no matter how pressing, is reason enough to ignore
the voice of God when He tells you to stop and help. If you have
become too busy to minister to those around you, ask God to re-
establish your priorities so that you do not miss opportunities
to serve Him.

~Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

His Strength

I can do
all things
through
Christ who
strengthens
me.

Philippians 4:13



This is my favorite verse
and needs no explanation.

His Purpose

For everything there is
a season, and a time for
every purpose under heaven.
Ecc. 3:1



God has a purpose for everything that comes into
our life...even conversations. Nothing is trivial.
Be attentive because every day is an opportunity to
see Him at work.

~Charles Stanley~

Fear the Lord

The fear of
the LORD is
the beginning
of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:10


Photo by Donna Downey

To fear the Lord is to recognize God's attributes:
He is Holy, Almighty, Righteous, Pure, All-Knowing,
All-Powerful and All-Wise.

Government

Where there is moral rot within a nation,
its government topples easily. But with
wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is
stability. Proverbs 28:2 (NLT)

Father, how privileged I am to be able to
pray to You! You are God Most High, ruler
over the kingdoms of the world, infinitely
greater than all earthly authorities. What
a mighty God you are!

Bring about wise decisions in the government
and courts of our country. For the good of Your
people and for the spread of the gospel, overrule
bad decisions, mistakes, and evil plans. Do the
same for all city and state governments, for leaders
of other countries, and for the leadership of the
United Nations. Guide me to the current issues and
problems You want me to focus prayer on, both in
our country and in the world. Amen.

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Prayer

He determines the course of world events; He removes
kings and sets others on the throne. Daniel 2:21 (NLT)

Knowing God & His Word

Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your
stand against the devil's
schemes...take up the shield
of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows
of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:11 & 16


As you decide how to respond in the various
situations that will arise today, I urge you
to remember that you are in a war. Satan's
strategy is to beseige your mind until he
wears down your resistance and captures your
thoughts. From the beginning, Satan has cast
doubt on the Word of God. He wants you to
question, doubt, distort, alter, embellish,
discredit, or ignore the Word of God. Dis-
guised as an angel of light, he will do anything
and everything he can to undermine God's Word.

Know your God.
Know His Word.
And live accordingly.

~Kay Arthur~
from: Lord, I Give You This Day

Words are Powerful

Photo by Donna Downey


A good person produces good words from
a good heart, and an evil person produces
evil words from an evil heart. And I tell
you this, that you must give an account on
judgement day of every idle word you speak.
The words you say now reflect your fate then;
either you will be justified by them or you
will be condemned.

Matthew 12:35-37


What comes out of your mouth has to do with the
condition of your heart. Our words can justify
or condemn. They can bring joy to us or corrupt
and dishonor us. The words we say can either
build up or break down the soul of the person
we are speaking to. What you say and how you
say it reflects the person that you are and what
is in your heart.

Obey Me

If you love
Me, obey My
commandments.

John 14:15





God has many ways to deter us from sin. One is to
provide reminders for us so that we never take dis-
obedience to Him lightly. God is absolutely just.
He loves, and He forgives, but He does not compromise
His righteousness. God deals with us uniquely. He
draws upon our experiences to teach us about Himself.
God will forgive us of our sin, but He may provide
stark reminders of the ugliness of sin. Let us thank
God that He loves us enough to remind us of the des-
tructive consequences of sin in our lives.

~Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

All those who love Me will do what I say.
John 14:23

He who has My commandments and keeps them,
it is he who love Me.
John 14:21

My Father's World

The earth is
the Lord's,
and everything
in it.

1 Corinthians 10:16




This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

~Maltbie Babcock, 1901~

Prayer

Pray
without
ceasing.

1 Thes. 5:17


Photo by Donna Downey


Prayer does indeed change things...
and that thing is ourselves.

* * * * * * * * *

The power of prayer cannot be diminished by
distance; it is not limited by age, infirmity,
political changes or restrictions. The power of
prayer in the life of an obedient Christian can
only be undermined by neglect.

~David Bentley Taylor~

My Source

Photo by
Donna Downey








The strength that He gives is continuous,
for He is a source of power I cannot exhaust.

...but 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.

Isaiah 40:31

Work in Progress

God is faithful.
What He is doing in me
is more important than
what He is doing for me.

~Sheila Walsh~

Grace

Photo by
Donna Downey





"My grace is sufficient for you, for
My power is made perfect in weakness."

II Corinthians 12:9

Grace is not a license to sin.
It is the power to overcome it.

Our Hearts

Photo by
Donna Downey




I will give you a
new heart and put
a new spirit in you.

Ezekial 36:26

From our hearts come our response to God.
God's greatest desire is that His people
love Him with all their hearts. Jesus
said we are blessed if our hearts are pure.
Sin hardens the heart. The more sin we
allow to pass over our hearts and through
our lives, the more resistant we become to
a word from God. We cannot continue to
resist the promptings of the Holy Spirit
without becoming hardened against Him.
Exposing ourselves to evil and ungodly
influences desensitizes us to God and
His word.

~Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Superiority

Photo by
Donna Downey





Are we not all children of the same Father?
Are we not all created by the same God?

Malachi 2:10

Any time we allow feelings of superiority to take
residence in our hearts and minds we are falling
prey to pride. Pride is sin and sin separates us
from our Creator. Each person in the universe was
created by the same God we worship for a purpose
that only He knows. We would do well to keep that
in mind.

Instruments

photo by
Donna Downey




Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?
Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?
As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,
or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!

Isaiah 10:15

One of the dangers in the Christian life is to take credit
for what God does. It is sometimes easier to handle poverty
or weakness than wealth or strength. Poverty causes us to
recognize our need for God. Prosperity persuades us that we
no longer require Him. Be careful how you handle the success
God gives you. As you enjoy His blessings in your family,
your business, or your minisry, keep in mind that you are an
instrument in the hands of the Master.

~Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Sanctification

May the God of
peace Himself
sanctify you
completely.
1 Thes. 5:23


Are we willing to pay the cost of sanctification?
The cost will be a deep restriction of all our
earthly concerns and an extensive cultivation of
all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be
intensely focused on God's point of view. Sanctifica-
tion means being made one with Jesus so that the nature
that controlled Him will control us. The resounding
evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life is the
unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the
freedom from everything which is not like Him.

~Oswald Chamblers~
from: My Utmost For His Highest

Still

Be still and
know that I
am God.

Psalm 46:10

Whenever the sounds of the world subside in
our soul, we hear the whispering of God. He
continues to whisper to us, but we often do
not hear Him because of the noise and distrac-
tions cause by the hurried pace of our life.

~Frederick William Faber~
From: Streams in the Desert

Resting

My soul finds rest
in God alone; my
salvation comes
from Him.

Psalm 62:1


A believer must rest in God. When we fret about an issue
or something we consider necessary, we're neither
committing ourselves to the Lord nor trusting in Him.
Because of our limited human viewpoint, waiting
patiently is rarely easy. However, God knows when
circumstances and timing are perfectly aligned for
His will to be done.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

Our Value

How great is the love
the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be
called children of God!

1 John 3:1




Our value comes from God's love for
us, not from other's opinions of us.

Strength and Shield

The Lord is my
Strength and my Shield;
my heart trusts in Him,
and I am helped.

Psalm 28:7

Expectantly

But as for me, I will watch expectantly
for the LORD;I will wait for the God of
my salvation. My God will hear me.

Micah 7:7


Once you've experienced the awesomeness of
God, from then on you come to expect it.

-- Aaron Landry--

Conflict

Set a guard over my mouth,
O LORD; keep watch over the
door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

Our heavenly Father knows when people
verbally attack us, and He has promised
to protect us. Nothing can touch His
children apart from His permissive will.
He has the power to work painful times
into something beneficial. We can have
hope because His will cannot be thwarted,
even in bad circumstances. We do not have
to react to criticism with anger and self-
protectiveness, as the world does. God
has called us to represent Him in every
situation the same way Christ did--through
dependence on the heavenly Father.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

Wonderfully Made

God loves
each of us
as if there
were only
one of us.





For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother's
womb. I will give thanks to Thee,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; wonderful are Thy works, and
my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13-14

Thank You that You uniquely designed and created
me with the same care and precision You used in
creating the universe...that You formed me in
love exactly to Your specifications. I rejoice
that You have gifted me for the special purposes
You have in mind for my life. Your hands have made
and fashioned me. I am one of Your masterpieces!

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Praise

For Good

As for you, you meant evil against
me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20

In dark moments of disappointment, we may find
it challenging to keep our eyes on God rather
than on our circumstances--or those who may have
created them. An yet, only by focusing on our
faithful, Almighty God can we hope to see the
purpose He's bringing out of our difficulties.
God has a purpose.

~Kay Arthur~
from: Lord, I Give You This Day

Righteousness

They exchanged the truth
of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served the
creature rather than the
Creator.

Romans 1:25



There's much debate today about what is right and
what is wrong. As a society, we have passed from
morality to immorality to amorality. We have ad-
justed our standards to cover our unrighteousness.

What is righteousness: It's doing what God says is
right. How do we know what God says is right? The
Bible tells us what God says is right and wrong.
Heed its words carefully.

~Kay Arthur~
from: Lord, I Give You This Day

Others

Bear one another's
burdens, and so
fulfill the law
of Christ.
Galatians 6:2





When God places people in your life who are
in need, He is aware of what they lack, and
He knows He has given you the resources to
meet those needs. God does nothing by accident.
Allow God to help you see beyond the obvious
needs of others to the things He wants to
accomplish in their lives.

~Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

His Heart

Even when we can't see
God's hand, we can trust
His heart.

Building Faith

Consequently, faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard
through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17





Faith is like a muscle, which must
be exercised in order to become
strong. Christians are to believe
God, not only for salvation, but
for everything. Faith is actually
a process that involves increasing
degrees of trust throughout life.
The Lord may not do every miraculous
thing you ask of Him, but He does
some extraordinary work in and through
each person who is obedient and willing
to trust Him. He not only works through
people of faith; He transforms them.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

Double-Minded

Those who cling
to worthless
idols forfeit
the grace that
could be theirs.
Jonah 2:8

What we depend on--or give priority to--
anything besides the Lord, it becomes our god.

He gives us relationships, possessions, and
meaningful work, but we are constantly tempted
to cherish the gifts more than the Giver.
An accurate measure of priorities is the use of
our time. Do you reserve a part of each day
for God, or is every minute consumed by the
demands of life?

On what or whom do you depend? The Lord gives
us His strength and provision, but so often we
choose to rely on ourselves, others, or even
money. The tendency to worry or control is a
sign of self-reliance rather than dependence
on God.

Double-minded service will not work. We must
make up our minds and follow through with actions.
If we really believe that the God of the Bible is
the only true God, we ought to give Him our whole
life, follow Him faithfully, and serve Him with all
our gifts and abilities.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

The Thief

The thief does not come
except to steal, and to
kill and to destroy.
I have come that they
may have life, and that
they may have it more
abundantly.

John 10:10

Jesus warns us to be on guard for thieves who
will try to rob us of what God has for us. The
world seeks to convince you that you will find
fulfillment if you adopt its standard of morality
for your marriage, raising your children, advancing
your career, or pursuing pleasure. If you believe
this, you will never experience the blessings God
intended for you.

Jesus wants you to live your life with security,
knowing that you are a beloved child of God. If
you are not experiencing love, joy and peace, you
have settled for less than what God intends for you.
If you have been making excuses for why you are not
experiencing an abundant and joyful life, determine
today to settle for nothing less than God's best for
your life. Stop following the world's way of finding
satisfaction. Instead, listen to the Savior's voice,
and you will find true fulfillment.

~Henry T. and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

Our Choice

Set your minds
on things above,
not on earthly
things.

Colossians 3:2


We choose what we let ourselves be filled
with and God respects our choice.

How easy it is to let the world squeeze me
into its mold, into its ways of thinking.
Enable me, Lord, to fully commit my mind
to You in all that I think and in all that
I expose it to. Give me grace to be careful
what I listen to and think about, knowing
that my life is shaped by my thoughts.

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Power

Christlikeness

being confident of this,
that he who began a good
work in you will carry it
on to completion until the
day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6



As God leads you in your Christian growth,
He will allow challenges that match your
character and relationship to Him. God
will not totally change your character at
once when you become a Christian. Rather,
He will lead you through a process to become
more like His Son. He will keep working in
an area of your life until it is controlled
by the Holy Spirit. God will not take short-
cuts in His process of making you like Christ.
He sees your life from eternity and will take
as long as necessary to produce lasting spiritual
growth in you.

~Henry T. and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day