tlc

Christ Lives in Me
By: Dr. Bill Bright

"I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)


After many years of working with thousands of Christians, I am convinced that a person cannot enjoy the supernatural life - which is a believer's heritage in Christ - apart from the proper balance between Bible study, prayer and sharing Christ with others out of the overflow of an obedient, Spirit-filled life.

We need to be able not only to experience this great adventure with Christ ourselves, but also to share this good news with others.

A word of caution and reminder is in order at this point. We become spiritual and experience power from God and become fruitful in our witness as a result of faithand faith alone.

The Bible clearly teaches that "the just shall live by faith" Romans 1:17. However, it is equally important to know that good works are the result of faith - "trusting in the Son of God" - and unless there are "good works" there is not faith, for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).

Many Christians are confused on this point. They think of works (Bible study, prayer and other spiritual disciplines) as the meansto, rather than the resultsof, the life of faith. They spend much time in these activities, seeking God's favor and blessing.

They may even attempt to witness for Christ and to obey the various commands of God, thinking that by these means they will achieve supernatural living. But they remain defeated, frustrated, powerless and fruitless.

As you are filled with the Holy Spirit - "Christ living in me" - and walk in His power by faith, the Bible becomes alive, prayer becomes vital, your witness becomes effective and obedience becomes a joy.

(0506)

Bible Reading:
Galatians 2:15-19

Today's Action Point:
I will seek to remember that Christ lives in me, in the person of His indwelling Holy Spirit, and thus I have all I need for supernatural living, for victory and joy and peace.

About the Author:


As the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, along with his wife, Vonette, Dr. Bright established one of the most successful evangelistic movements in the world - resulting in more than 4 billion exposures to the Gospel of Jesus Christ since 1951.

On July 19th, 2003 at the age of 81, Dr. Bill Bright went home to be with the Lord.

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

Boanerges

Amen- if you want ot know God's power step out in faith and reach out in love.

tlc

Doubtstorms
By: Max Lucado

"It's a ghost,' they said and cried out in fear" (Matthew 14:26).


On Sundays I stand before a church with a three-point outline in my hand, thirty minutes on the clock, and a prayer on my lips. I do my best to say something that will convince a stranger that an unseen God still hears.
And I sometimes wonder why so many hearts have to hurt.

Do you ever get doubtstorms? Some of you don't, I know. I've talked to you.
I think you are gifted. You are gifted with faith. You can see the rainbow before the clouds part. If you have this gift, then I won't say anything you need to hear.

But others of you wonder...
You wonder if it is a blessing or a curse to have a mind that never rests. But you would rather be a cynic than a hypocrite, so you continue to pray with one eye open and wonder:
- about starving children
- about the power of prayer
- about the depths of grace
- about Christians in cancer wards
- about who you are to ask such questions anyway.

Tough questions. Throw-in-the-towel questions. Questions the disciples must have asked in the storm.

The light came for the disciples. A figure came to them walking on the water. It wasn't what they expected. Perhaps they were looking for angels to descend or heaven to open. Maybe they were listening for a divine proclamation to still the storm. We don't know what they were looking for.

But one thing is for sure, they weren't looking for
Jesus to come walking on the water.

"?It's a ghost,' they said and cried out in fear" (Matt. 14:26).
And since Jesus came in a way they didn't expect, they almost missed seeing the answer to their prayers.

And unless we look and listen closely, we risk making the same mistake. God's lights in our dark nights are as numerous as the stars, if only we'll look for them.

When the disciples saw Jesus in the middle of their stormy night, they called him a ghost. A phantom. A hallucination. To them, the glow was anything but God.

When we see gentle lights on the horizon, we often have the same reaction. We dismiss occasional kindness as apparitions, accidents, or anomalies.

Anything but God.
"When Jesus comes," the disciples in the boat may have thought, "he'll split the sky. The sea will be calm. The clouds will disperse."

"When God comes," we doubters think, "all pain will flee. Life will be tranquil. No questions will remain."And because we look for the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we listen for the shout, we miss the whisper.

From In the Eye of the Storm
Copyright 1991, Max Lucado

Used with permission.

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

tlc

Thanks Boanerges.

To All,

These are emails I receive from a certain website for free. It is their way of spreading the Good Word.

God bless!

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

tlc

He Gives Attention
By: Dr. Bill Bright

"For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and He gives attention when they cry to Him" (Psalm 34:15)


A mother and her little 4-year-old daughter were preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the dark, and the mother, on this occasion alone with the child, also felt fearful.

After the light was turned out, the child glimpsed the moon outside the window.

"Mother," she asked, "is the moon God's light?"

"Yes," replied the mother.

"Will God put out His light and go to sleep?"

"No, my child," the mother replied, "God never goes to sleep."

"Well," said the child, with the simplicity of childlike faith, "as long as God is awake, there is no sense in both of us staying awake."

God expects you and me - with that same kind of childlike faith - not only to live good lives but also to cry out to Him in our times of need, knowing that He watches intently and gives attention to our every cry.

Again we have that helpful imagery of guiding eyes, the eyes of Him who rules and reigns over all - who is concerned about each one of His children, and equally concerned about those who have not yet trusted in Him for He is not willing that any should perish.

(0508)

Bible Reading:
Psalm 34:16-22

Today's Action Point:
I shall not be afraid to cry out to the Lord when circumstances warrant a call to the Almighty. In the meantime I will devote special time today to worship, praise and thank Him for His goodness to me.

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

Boanerges

Amen again- I enjoyed the story and it reminds me of something a brother once told me' - "we need to be like the moon and relect the glory of the Son"!

tlc

New Testament Summary
By: Skip Moen, Ph.D

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit." (Ephesians 6:18).


Pray -- All of the ideas associated with prayer in the Old Testament are captured in the New Testament with a single word. That word is proseuchomai. It covers thanksgiving, confession, adoration, intercession and supplication. Notice that it is not the same as the word for "worship." Worship involves a mental and often physical attitude before a sovereign ruler. Prayer is the result of worship. Prayers without the right attitude are fairly useless. Jesus commented on such prayers when He pointed out the hypocrisy of the proud Pharisee's prayer. Worship brings humility, and in the New Testament, humility is the foundation of prayer.

Proseuchomai is not the only word used for asking in the New Testament, but it is the word that is used when the author wants to emphasize the fact that the request is made to God. Fundamentally, this Greek word means, "calling on God" no matter what the content of the prayer happens to be. You might think of it is the summary of all our conversation with God. If you talk with the Father, you would use the Greek word proseuchomai.

Notice that Paul exhorts us to converse with the Father at all times. You might be easily discouraged by such a command. After all, there are plenty of times in human experience when God is not uppermost in our minds. Of course, if we begin to practice His presence, we will discover that He is available for conversation in every moment. But we are so easily distracted. The day brings many circumstances when we lose focus on the Father's presence. Are we to be castigated because we don't spend every moment in divine conversation? No, we aren't. If we only knew that Paul uses the word kairos instead of chronos for "time" in this verse, we would realize that what he is saying is this:

"Every opportunity to experience the intervention of the divine into your ordinary, counting time is an opportunity to connect with the Father. Take it!"

Be on the look-out for kairos invasions. They can occur in any chronos moment. When they occur, call out to God. Prayer is God's triumphal entry into any and every human experience. Once you realize what is really happening, you are invited into a conversation with Him. Open your mouth and RSVP.

About the Author:

Skip Moen, author, speaker and consultant, provides clients with reflective insight into business practice assumptions and practical solutions to human resources issues. He has recently published a book on daily leadership. Skip resides in Florida,USA.

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

tlc

Stunned By His Grace
By: Max Lucado


I was mulling over a recent conversation I had with a disenchanted Christian brother. He was upset with me. So upset that he was considering rescinding his invitation for me to speak to his group. Seems he'd heard I was pretty open about who I have fellowship with. He'd read the words I wrote: "If God calls a person his child, shouldn't I call him my brother?" And, "If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn't we?"
He didn't like that. "Carrying it a bit too far," he told me. "Fences are necessary," he explained. "Scriptures are clear on such matters." He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.
"I don't give it," I assured. "I only spotlight where God already has."
Later I had a great thought. A why-didn't-I-think-to-say-that? insight.
If the subject resurfaces, I'll say it. But in case it doesn't, I'll say it to you. (It's too good to waste.)

Just one sentence:
I've never been surprised by God's judgment, but I'm still stunned by his grace.
Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.
Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.
You won't find it.
Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we'd ever imagine.
We could do the same.
I'm not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can't I call that same man Brother? If God doesn't make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?
And if we never agree, can't we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can't I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can't I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn't I extend the same grace to others?
One thing's for sure. When we get to heaven, we'll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.

From When God Whispers Your Name
Copyright 1994, Max Lucado

Used with permission.

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

tlc

Thanks brother!

__________________
http://thinklikeclark.blogspot.com

Boanerges

tlc that is an awesome word. God created the body and man constantly seeks to divide it. If one is born again he IS my brother and God will sort all the doctrinal differences- none of us can claim to be perfect in our doctrines and we all need to grow- so let us give grace to one another! As far as sinners if you have no contact or relationship with them how will you ever share God's truth and love with them?