Charles Stanley - Lord The Provider!

n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0
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God s
Promi se
to
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PRESS ASSOCIATION
EVANGELICAL
DR. STANLEy PORTRAITS
By DAVID SMITh.
f e a t u r e s N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 0
6
12
32
Gods Promise
to Provide
b y c h a r l e s f . s t a n l e y
The Lord provides for our needs and even
cares about our desiresbut He wont bless
a disobedient spirit.
early liGht
This months devotions from
Dr. Stanleys sermons can help us
reflect on our indebtedness to God.
exceedinG
etiquette
b y t o n y a s t o n e m a n
Writing thank-you notes can be a tiring
process. But if you look beyond the chore,
you can find a hidden blessing.
d e p a r t m e n t s
by faith
Rethinking the American Dream
b y j o a n b a l l
She traded the stability of a life focused on
herself for the uncertainty of a life surrendered
to Jesus. Would you?
solving problems
Her Blessing
b y l a u r i e r u s s e l l
Jealousy made it onto Gods Thou Shalt Not
short list. Heres why.
18
22
family room
Daddys Shoes
b y b e t h f o r t u n e
When we grieve the loss of a loved one,
material things left behind often hold
special memories.
strong in spirit
Grateful for Gods Givers
b y a l l e n h a r r i s
Are we looking for supernatural wonders
but missing the miracles God performs for
us every day?
26
28
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for my sin debt. I believe He rose from the dead, and I trust
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A Publication of

to the Glory of God
Dr. Charles F. Stanley
PRE SI DE NT / PUBL I SHE R
C. Phillip Bowen
cHI E f E xE cUTI vE of f I cE R
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vI cE PRE SI DE NT
MARKETI NG AND DEvEL oPMENT
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E DI T oR
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DI RE cT oR
RE SoURcE S AND f UL f I L L ME NT
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PRoDUcTI oN MANAGER

the mission of
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e
It Is Good To Give Thanks
>> Thanksgiving Was an Important
Part of Israelite Culture
Every morning and evening, the Levites sacrificed
a thank offering to the Lord. This was to keep
the peoples focus on their true providerGod.
Psalm 92:1-2 tells us, It is good to give thanks
to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name,
O Most High; to

declare Your lovingkindness in
the morning and Your

faithfulness by night.
We would do well to imitate the Levites in this
way, giving thanks in the morning and evening.
When I think of what I am grateful for each day,
two things immediately come to mind: I am alive,
and I am saved. If I think of nothing else to be thankful for, I can always
praise God for these things.
But thanking the Lord goes far beyond appreciating what He gives us and
does for us. When we thank Him, we honor Him. A humble attitude of
gratefulness refocuses our attention on the
things that really matter in this life. When we
have this mindset, our gaze moves away from
self-centered anxiety to genuine contentment.
The apostle Paul knew this well. He writes,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And
the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7). Thanking the Lord each day
refreshes our relationship with Him and reinforces our faith.
So how do we express our thankfulness to God? By simply saying Thank
You. Prayers of appreciation are a blessing to our Father. He who offers the
sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I
shall show the salvation of God (Ps. 50:23). We can also demonstrate gratitude
by singing, praising Him in public, giving generously, and living a godly life.
Even if you never get anything in return, you can honor God through
actions in your everyday life that demonstrate thankfulness for His incredible
generosity to you. In doing so, you will experience closer intimacy with Him.
Its my prayer that you emulate the Levites in this wayand receive the
blessing that comes from a grateful heart.
When we thank
[God] . . . our
gaze moves away
from self-centered
anxiety to genuine
contentment.
a

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f
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C
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a
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t
a
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Thanksgiving is a special opportunity to express
our gratitude to God for His provisions and
blessing throughout the year. But let me ask you
a question. Are there any needs in your life that
have not yet been met? Maybe after months of
looking for a job, you are still unemployed. Or
could it be that you are facing a lingering health
issue that is still unresolved? Perhaps you are
longing for a spouse, but the Lord has not yet
led you to that special person.
I often meet Christians who tell me they have
prayed about a certain matter, asking God to
provide for their need, but He hasnt done it.
They are confused and wonder why the Lord
didnt answer their prayer. After all, doesnt He
say in Philippians 4:19, My God will supply all
your needs? If you find yourself in the same
situation, do you think the problem is with you
or with the Lord?
The Expectation
To gain some understanding of this dilemma, lets
consider the basis for our expectation that God
will supply every necessity. First of all, we have His
promise, but its validity depends upon His ability
to fulfill it. Does the Lord have the power to pro-
vide for you? Yes, He does. Everything in heaven
and on earth belongs to Him (Ps. 50:10-12).
Since He is able to keep His promise, then
we have to ask another question. Does He have
the integrity and willingness to do what He said?
Again, the answer is yes. He is always faithful
to His Word and wants to give us what we lack
(2 Cor. 9:10).
Therefore, since we have a God who is inter-
ested in every area of our lives and has the ability
God s Promi se to
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w w w . i n t o u c h . o r g

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God s Promi se to
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Understanding His Ways
and Priorities
B y C h A R L E S F . S T A N L E y
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n o V e m b e r 2 0 1 0 I n T o u c h
and willingness to fulfill His pledge, the
problem of our unmet needs must rest with
us. Lets consider some common mistakes
we make.
Our Mistakes
Sometimes we fail to distinguish between
needs and desires. First of all, I want to
clarify that having a desire is not necessar-
ily a sin; however, some things we want are
not really essential, and many times, they
may not be good for us. What gets us in
trouble is expecting God to supply things
we long for which are not necessities in
His eyes.
When I cant tell the difference, I
surrender my desire to the Lord, asking
Him to show me if its important. Because
I dont want anything outside of His will, I
ask Him to take away my longing if it is
not from Him. Whenever I do this, He
replaces it with something that is His will
for my life.
However, some things we yearn for do
line up with Gods plans for us. Whenever
we want something that will contribute to
the development of a Christlike character,
He delights in giving it to us. Thats what
Psalm 37:4 is all about. Delight yourself in
the Lord; and He will give you the desires
of your heart. Our goal should always be
to take such delight in our relationship
with the Lord and in His plans for us that
we want only what pleases Him.
A second mistake we make is isolating
a scripture from its context. Many people
will claim the Lords promise of provision
in Philippians 4:19 but fail to take into
account the context of that verse. This
guarantee was given to believers in Philippi
who were actively involved in supporting
Paul and his ministry: I am amply sup-
plied, having received from Epaphroditus
what you have sent, a fragrant aroma,
an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to
God. And my God will supply all your
needs according to His riches in glory
in Christ Jesus (vv. 18-19).
The principle of Gods faithfulness in
providing for those who give generously
is found throughout Scripture in both
the Old and New Testaments. And
according to verse 19, Hes going to meet
our needs according to His riches in
glory in Christ Jesus. We cannot afford
to overlook the context, because it gives
the background of the promise and reveals
that His resources come to us as a result
of our relationship with Christ.
Gods Conditions
Lets look at the requirements that the
Lord has established as boundaries around
His promise to supply all our needs.
Obey. We cannot live in sin and disobedi-
ence to almighty God and expect Him to
give us everything we request. Psalm 84:11
says, No good thing does He withhold
from those who walk uprightly. Those who
walk uprightly are not sinless or perfect, but
rather, their hearts are bent toward the Lord,
and they want to please Him.
God assumes full responsibility for
meeting the needs of those who obey Him,
but sin blocks His blessings. He will not
support the sinful lifestyles of His children,
because that is not in their best interest
and will not bring Him glory. Sometimes
for their own good, He lets them do with-
out in order to bring them back to Himself
(Luke 15:11-24).
Ask. Be willing to ask God to supply
what you lack. What is your first response
when an unexpected problem arises? Do
you immediately bring it to the Lord, or
do you resort to worrying, maneuver-
ing, or trying to figure out how to handle
it yourself? We are told repeatedly in
the Scriptures to come to God with our
requests (Phil. 4:6). Asking Him for help

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shows that our attitude is one of humble
dependence and not prideful self-reliance.
Even if we have the resources to take care
of ourselves, we should still recognize that
everything we have comes from Him.
Believe. Jesus often spoke about asking
with faith: Therefore I say to you, all
things for which you pray and ask, believe
that you have received them, and they will
be granted you (Mark 11:24). Christ wants
us to be so confident in the Fathers prom-
ise to meet our needs that we count it
as already accomplished before we even
see the answer.
However, I want to caution you about
trying to use this verse to get whatever you
desire from God by simply having enough
faith. Prayer must always be initiated with
pure motives, or it is worthless. James 4:3
says, You ask and do not receive, because
you ask with wrong motives, so that you
may spend it on your pleasures.
Also, the requests that we offer must
be in accordance with the Fathers will
(1 John 5:14-15). Remember what I said
about context. Never take one verse of
the Bible and try to make it say what you
want. Only by considering the whole
counsel of God can we gain an accurate
understanding of His promises. When
faith stands upon truth and works itself
out in obedience, then we have the full
assurance that He will grant our requests.
Participate. God is not going to do
anything for you that He has equipped
you to do. Suppose I decided to trust the
Lord to provide a sermon for next Sunday,
but I put in no effort during the week to
study and pray. Do you think the Lord
would just drop a message into my head
on the following Sunday morning? No. He
has work for me to accomplish, and He
expects me to do it.
Laziness does not merit any blessing
from God. If He has given you the capabil-
ity of earning a living, He expects you to
work. I am speaking not about those who
want to work and cant find a job, but
about those who expect the Lord to supply
their income while they make no effort to
support themselves.
Wait. God not only knows what we need;
He also knows when to give it. Some of
the things weve requested have already
been answered by the Lord and are simply
awaiting the ordained time for delivery. He
has every provision planned and settled in
heaven and is never late or early. He always
knows the best time to grant our petitions.
If you become impatient and try to rush
ahead of Him by doing things your own
way, youll miss all that He planned to give
you. According to Isaiah 64:4, He acts
in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
Although it may seem that Hes forgotten
you, if you keep trusting and waiting, He will
move heaven and earth to take care of you.
Accept. Gods way of meeting your needs
may not be what you envisioned or hoped.
Have you ever come to the Lord in prayer
with an urgent request and found yourself
telling Him exactly how He should inter-
DEliGHT yOUrsElf in
THE lOrD; anD HE Will
GivE yOU THE DEsirEs
Of yOUr HEarT.
vene? We must be open to whatever way He
chooses to provide. His path of intervention
may make no sense to us, but by trusting
in His omniscient perspective, we can often
look back with amazement at the wisdom
of His divine strategy (Isa. 55:8-9).
Prioritize. We must keep our eyes on the
Lord, not on our needs. The proper focus
is found in Matthew 6:33: But seek first
His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you. Our top
priority in life is spiritual in naturenot
material or physical. If our main concern
is what we need, then we are not seeking
the kingdom of God. In fact, we can reverse
this divine order by trying to use God to
get what we desire instead of placing all our
requests under His authority, acknowledg-
ing His right to give or withhold.
Since the Lords priority in our lives is
spiritual, we can know with certainty that
He is working in the unseen realm even
when we dont see anything changing
in our outward situation. Sometimes the
externals have to wait while He accom-
plishes internal work in us or others.
Although He is committed to meeting all
our needs, He always does so in a manner
that contributes to His ultimate goal of
transforming us into the image of His Son.
Remember, our greatest needs are not
the most obvious ones, but those that
have to do with the development of godly
character, selfless attitudes, renewed minds,
and surrendered wills. Thats what we
should be seeking and asking the Lord to
produce in us.
This Thanksgiving season, spend some
time thanking God for His less obvious
blessings in your life. For example, even
though He may not have given financial
prosperity, He might have produced trust
and contentment within you. Instead
of healing physically, perhaps He taught
you that His grace is sufficient in your
Trust God to provide.

Its sometimes easy to
confuse a want with a
need. Dr. Stanleys
four-CD set explains
that the Lord always
supplies the believers
necessities according to his purposes.
weakness. And through loneliness, maybe
He gave you the comfort of a closer rela-
tionship with Him. By focusing on the
Lords spiritual provisions, you will gain a
new understanding of His ways, and your
gratitude will overflow.
Questions for
further study
Since the apostle Paul, through the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, wrote the promise recorded in
Philippians 4:19, lets examine his life and see if
he really believed the Lord would supply all his
needs. As you read, look for ways God provided
when it seemed as if He wasnt doing a very
good job of taking care of Paul.
1. Material Needs: Read Philippians 4:10-13.
What was Pauls attitude toward seasons of
deprivation? How did he cope? What valuable
spiritual provision helped him endure (v. 13)?
2. Physical Needs: Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Describe Pauls physical condition. Why
didnt God do what he asked? What spiritual
provisions did He give instead? What was
Pauls attitude about the Lords answer?
3. Emotional Needs: Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Describe Pauls emotional state. What impor-
tant spiritual lesson did he learn (v. 10)? How
did others help him during his difficulty?
4. Relational Needs: Read 2 Timothy 4:9-18.
List the various needs Paul experienced at
the end of his life. What did the Lord do for
him when others failed him? Where was his
hope placedon his present situation or
future blessings?
Our Unmet Needs
u
4-CD set | $14 (U.S.)
See order form or visit www.intouch.org. 10
|

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Removing Self from

Self-Righteousness
>> Unmasking the Invisible Sin
Self-righteousness is one of the most difficult sins to recognize within ourselves,
because it disguises itself as obedience to Scripture and firm convictions about
the truth. Thats why Christians are particularly prone to its deceptive lure; after
all, we know right from wrong and have a genuine desire to obey the Lord. This
invisible sin is overcome only through exposure and repentance.
The Pharisees were glaring examples of self-righteousness. By examining
their lives, we can glean an understanding of the inner workings of this mani-
festation of pride that still entraps many believers today. Lets strip off our
blinders and allow Gods Word to reveal any
false righteousness in us (Heb. 4:12-13).
characteristics:
u
The self-righteous are blind guides who lead
people astray. They are quick to point out
the sins of others but cant see their own
(Luke 6:39-42).
u
Their focus is on good behavior, not on a pure heart. They appear outwardly
righteous but are inwardly full of hypocrisy (Matt. 23:25-28).
Dangers:
u
They reject Gods purpose for their lives by refusing to repent (Matt. 3:1-11;
Luke 7:29-30).
u
Their hearts are far from
the Lord (Matt. 15:1-9).
u
They will be judged by their
own standard (Luke 6:36-38).
Remedy:
u
Ask the Lord to search
your heart and reveal any
hidden self-righteousness
(Ps. 139:23-24).
u
Confess your arrogance
(1 Cor. 8:1-3).
u
In repentance, humble
yourself (James 4:6-12).
u
Pursue an intimate relation-
ship with Christ, not your own
righteousness (Phil. 3:3-16).
u
Extend grace, not judgment, to others (Rom. 14:1-13).
self-righteousness
is overcome only
through exposure
and repentance.
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B
i
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s
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y
Questions for Reflection
1. Does your familiarity with Scripture or success
in obeying God lead you to compare yourself
with others who are less knowledgeable or who
struggle with certain sins? If so, why do you
think you do this?
2. Are you more prone to find fault with others or
to extend mercy and grace? What does christ
mean when He says that you will be judged by
the same measure that you use for others
(Luke 6:38)?
3. Are you reluctant to ask the Lord to examine
your heart? What do you fear He may find?
What are the benefits of bringing hidden areas
into the light?

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h
After that, I searched for ways to avoid
writing the dreaded notes. Wouldnt a
simple phone call suffice? I could call
my friends while driving to work in the
morning and leave messages on their voice
mail if they didnt pick up. Hey, Ruth.
Thanks for the . . . terrific gift. I really like
it. Okay, call you later. Bye. I could send
e-mail. Draft one message and fill in the
blank for each different benefactor. Risky,
though: offended hostesses might forward
it to everyone in the family instead of
merely embarrassing me in front of a few
people. I could just not say thanksa lot
of people do this. Its implied, isnt it? But
I remember my sister-in-law telling me
why she decided to withdraw her name
from the family Christmas gift swap
nobody ever thanked her for her presents.
My husband adheres to tradition, so
we buy thank-you cards whenever were
in a gift shop and keep a healthy supply
on hand. We send dozens of them out and
never know what their recipients make of
them. And I rarely receive any, even when
I spend a good amount on birthday gifts
for other peoples kids.
Still, I have come to appreciate the
importance of this tried-and-true display
of etiquette. I remember watching an
interview with Princess Diana in which she
said that, as a child, she sat down to write
thank-you notes immediately after opening
her Christmas presents. That inspired me
to pack the cards when we travel during
the holidays, or leave them out on the
breakfast table the night before Christmas.
I think what discourages us from send-
ing these notes is that most of us dont
know what to say. Thanks for the blue
and green sweater, Grandma, sounds so
trite. And theres the underlying feeling
of guiltmaybe we dont even like the
sweater to begin with. But the point is, it
doesnt really matter how eloquently you
state your gratitude. The simple act of
saying thanks is enough.
When we take a moment to express our
appreciation, we acknowledge the efforts
of other people who give generously when
they dont have to. And this is no small
thing. When we do it, we bless the giver
in return. And sometimes that blessing
comes back and blesses us twofold.
. , ... I had to write several hundred thank-
you notes. The endeavor took me nearly six months. A year after the
wedding, my husband and I visited family friends for dinner, and our
hostess retrieved one of those notes to share with everyone present. She
read the simple message: Thank you so much for the lovely . . . and
paused where I had left a blank space to insert the appropriate gift. At
some point in the grueling process, I had begun churning out the notes
en masse and had neglected to run hers through the second phase.
...,
v
o
A friend recently shared an example of
this with me. Shed read an article urging
readers not to wait for a eulogy to sing
praises of the deceased. The author pointed
out the advantage of expressing gratitude
while theres still time for the recipient to
hear your appreciation.
Miss Wetherell immediately came to
mind, my friend told me. My 12
th
grade
French teacher was old school figuratively
and literallyher style was traditional and
authoritative, and shed been teaching for
ages (my father had been her student). She
had high standards, both for her students
and for herself, and learn French we did!
Im sure she wouldnt have tolerated any
funny business in her classroom, but she
commanded so much respect that no one
ever even tried.
Motivated by the article, I looked her
up and made the pleasant discovery that
shed moved to the suburbs and lived
about three blocks from our new home.
My callthanking her for insisting on
and inspiring excellenceresulted in a
delightful visit, with many more to follow.
Over tea and her famous meringues, wed
reminisce, share stories about our families,
and discuss something we discovered we
had in common: a love of Scripture. She
took me on tours of her garden, her sisters
artwork, and her collection of antique and
international bells. And she invited me to
the senior center, where, at 90, she led an
exercise class in swinging Indian clubs.
When I moved out of state, visits were
replaced by the occasional phone call, and
Charlotte remained a sharp conversation-
alist right up until her death at 102. The
African cowbell she gave me reminds me
of that great ladyand how blessed I was
by saying Thanks.
Ive found the same thing to be true in
my life. About ten years ago a Bible study
leader encouraged our class to go beyond
the traditional thank-you notes for gifts
received and catalog our thankfulness
for everything. She gave each of us a
brown paper bag with the words Bag-o-
Blessings written on it. We were to keep
it for one year and then go through the
bag on Thanksgiving Day.
When the following year rolled around,
my family delved into the bag and was
positively regaled with blessings: Thank
You, God, for sparing us in our car acci-
dent. Thank You for a healthy baby. Thank
You for a new job. Thank You for money to
replace appliances. Thank You for friendly
neighbors. Thank You for a wonderful eve-
ning with good friends. Thank You for my
favorite song on the radio. Thank You for
allowing my son to score a goalhe needed
that today. On and on the list went. By the
time we finished, I had no more words. My
tears told God how truly thankful I was.
But our next challenge was to put the
pen to paper and begin actively thanking
the people who had made a difference
in our lives. In doing this, I discovered
a wonderful tradition called Boxing Day.
This public holiday is celebrated in the
United Kingdom and various other
countries on the day after Christmas.
It involves giving money or gifts to those
in service positions.
Have you ever left a present on your
garbage cans to thank the guy who takes
away your rubbish every week? Ever drop
by the police station and thank the cops
for keeping you safe on the highways and
patrolling your neighborhood at night?
What about the custodian who vacuums
your office and cleans up the bathrooms?
Have you ever stopped to thank them?
Do it, and see what happens.
In my years of writing these missives,
Ive learned to really enjoy the process.
And as time goes by, more people come
to mind. I currently need to thank my
high-school English teacher. She taught
me to love Shakespeare. I need to thank
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a man named Larry Mason.
He saved my dads life
in Vietnam. Without
his selfless act, I
wouldnt even
be here. I need
to thank the
woman who
taught my chil-
dren to sail. I
can already tell
this activity is
going to be a huge
part of their lives.
When I stop to think
about it, I owe thank-you
notes to a lot of people.
It has been said that actions
speak louder than words, but sometimes
words are necessary. The right words are
an action in and of themselves. We see
this often in the Bible.
Paul routinely let those around him
know how much he appreciated them. He
told Timothy, I thank God, whom I serve
with a clear conscience the way my fore-
fathers did, as I constantly remember you
in my prayers night and day (2 Tim. 1:3).
David wanted to express appreciation
to the men of Jabesh-gilead who had
buried Saul. So he sent messengers saying,
Now may the Lord show lovingkindness
and truth to you; and I also will show this
goodness to you, because you have done
this thing, (2 Sam. 2:6).
Boaz did not hesitate to thank Ruth
for working in his field: May the Lord
reward your work, and your wages be full
from the Lord, the God of Israel, under
whose wings you have come to seek refuge
(Ruth 2:12).
Daniel thanked the Lord for enabling
him to interpret the kings dream. To You,
O God of my fathers, I give thanks and
praise, for You have given me wisdom
and power (Dan. 2:23).
Even Jonah thanked the Lord from the
belly of the whale: But I will sacrifice to
You with the voice of thanksgiving. That
which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is
from the Lord (Jonah 2:9).
And Jesus certainly was not remiss in
thanking His Father: So they removed the
stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said,
Father, I thank You that You have heard
Me (John 11:41).
What we learn from these great stories
is that people did not merely thank the
Lord or others because it was polite or
socially expedient to do so. Gratitude
was an innate part of their lives. And we
see clearly in the Scriptures that humble
thankfulness yielded blessings. David
became a King. Boaz married a wife.
Daniel got promoted. Jonah was released
from the whale.
So how can we take a cue from our
biblical ancestors? Establish a daily prac-
tice noticing the gifts and grace that you
receive. Set aside time to recall those
moments and your appreciation of whoever
is responsible for them. And, by all means,
take the time to write thank-you notes.
f
Establish a daily practice
noticing the gifts and grace
. . ..

|
15
16
|

Theres always
a reason to
write a thank-
you note . . .

|
17
W
We are very grateful for all those who partner with In Touch to lead people
into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The ministry receives financial
support in a number of ways, one being the charitable bequest. This is
an estate gift, distributed after the death of the owner, to a charity by will,
trust, or beneficiary designation. The bequest may be for a specific amount,
a certain asset, or a percentage of the residual estate.
What are the benefits?
A bequest preserves flexibility by allowing an individual to maintain full
control and use of property during ones lifetime.
It can be altered or revoked if circumstances or
family needs change. And its a way to impact
future generations with the gospel.
In addition, a bequest to charity can bypass
taxes. Tax deferred accounts such as traditional
IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement plans are
subject to income tax when distributed to individ-
ual heirs. These assets may also incur estate taxes,
if applicable. The potential combined tax rate on tax deferred accounts
can approach 60 percent or higher for larger estates.
This high taxation may be avoided as retirement assets
can pass to charitable beneficiaries tax-free. A bequest
of all or a portion of ones retirement funds can be
accomplished by completing the plans beneficiary form.
With proper planning, this can be a cost-effective way
to provide significant support for ministry.
Getting started
A well-developed estate plan is part of wise steward-
ship. We offer a complimentary estate planning guide
to prepare you for meeting with a lawyer to complete
your will. Before setting up a charitable bequest, make
sure your family is well provided forthis is in line with
the teachings of the apostle Paul, who wrote, But if anyone does not provide
for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8).
Please let us know if we may assist you.
The Charitable Bequest
>> Opportunity for kingdom Impact
b
u
i
l
d
i
n
g

w
i
s
e
l
y
a bequest pre-
serves fexibility
and is a way to
impact future
generations with
the gospel.
B y W A y N E J O N E S , C F P
foundation@intouch.org
www.intouchfoundation.org
800-967-2200
This article is not intended to provide specific legal, tax, or financial advice. You
should seek the advice of qualified professionals in planning for your familys future.
18
|

B
But how did you know it was God?
I paused for a moment, wondering how
it was possible that another person whod
been a Christian since childhood could be
asking me, a former atheist, about hearing
and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Well, I said, I knew and I didnt know . . .
This certainly wasnt the first time
Id found myself sitting in a coffee shop
describing the haphazard journey my
husband and I had embarked upon in the
years since my unanticipated conversion
to Christianity. Still, it was hard for me to
understand why so many Christians were
surprised and fascinated by our decision to
sell our home, leave our careers, and pur-
sue this uncertain path in the heart of our
prime earning years. Granted, our radical
change of lifestyle was out of step with
the arc of the American Dream wed been
successfully traveling, but when amazing
grace blew in unexpectedly, it rocked our
world and changed everything.
Despite my rather abrupt conversion to
Christianity in 2003 at the age of 37, the
change of life that followed didnt happen all
at once. Im not sure how eager I wouldve
been, had I known what taking one obedient
step after another would result in: a major
transition from the stability of a life lived
for myself to the uncertainty of a life sur-
rendered to Jesus. Thankfully, I was spared
knowing the end from the beginning, as God
laid out His plan in bite-sized piecesone
challenge or sacrifice at a time. And then,
we woke up seven years later with a new life
wed never dreamed of having.
Sometimes, the changes we were
prompted to make in the weeks, months,
and years that followed my conversion
appeared to make sense. Walking away
from a hard-earned 15-year career in public
relations (something I never thought Id do)
coincided with my teenage son developing
serious health issues. If God was really
behind such a huge lifestyle change, I could
see the wisdom in it; considering that He
was up to something important behind the
scenes made it easier to pull the trigger.
But there were other times, when fol-
lowing the Holy Spirit seemed to make
no practical sense. Like when I woke up
in the middle of the night and told my
husband that we were supposed to sell
our 4,000-square foot dream home with
no idea why (or where wed move). Only
Re t hi nki ng
AmErIcAn
drEAm
T hE
Wh a t i f l e t t i n g g o o f e v e r y t h i n g y o u w a n t e d
l e d t o d r e a m s y o u d i d n t k n o w y o u h a d ?
B y J O A N B A L L
byfaith

|
19
Wh a t i f l e t t i n g g o o f e v e r y t h i n g y o u w a n t e d
l e d t o d r e a m s y o u d i d n t k n o w y o u h a d ?
B y J O A N B A L L
20
|

byfaith
S
because Martin was so convinced that my
conversion of faith and these subsequent
promptings to make changes were real was
he willing to go with it. A few years later,
we were similarly compelled to open the
doors of our home and sell everything we
didnt truly need. We ran ads, posted flyers,
and watched while strangersfrom soon-
to-be-married couples to empty-nesters
snatched up and made offers on furniture,
art, jewelry, and other cherished treasures.
At the time, it just seemed nuts. Yet later,
we eventually saw that these experiences
were exercises in letting go and recognizing
that everything we owned was a gift rather
than a right.
Hence, my friends question in the cafe.
How did we know it was God? Why would
a reasonable, rational couple with three kids
choose to trade comfort for an unknown
futurewith nothing more to go on than
an intangible but firm sense that it was
what He wanted us to do?
I cant blame her or anyone else for
questioning our decisions. Before all this
happened, Id scoffed at the suggestion that
Jesus be my Lord and Savior, not to men-
tion that He was actually hearable. Sure, in
my early 30s, Id traded the rabid atheism
of my 20s for the possibility that there might
be something out there. Id even come
to believe that it might be to my benefit to
learn more about this something and its
potential to help me live a more sane life
in a program of recovery. But this power-
greater-than-myself certainly wasnt going
to have a hand in my pocketmuch less
decide where I lived! Yet then came my
unexpected, unsought, and supernatural
encounter with an unseen Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, which radically changed
my faith in an instant. I was not only ready
to listen; I was desperate to know what it
meant to truly follow Him.
Aside from the Ten Commandments,
Christmas, and Easter, I had no context
whatsoever in the early days of my
journey for what it meant to follow
Jesus. All I knew was that I felt absolutely
compelled to read the Bible. Perhaps
reading is too tame a word. I was like a
castaway bellied up to a sumptuous buffet
reading multiple translations side-by-side
and breaking down passages using dictionar-
ies to translate the original Hebrew, Greek,
and Aramaic text. I cut my spiritual teeth
on stories of ordinary men and women who
went beyond a Sunday-morning kind of
religious routine and put their lives on the
line to do whatever extraordinary thing they
were called to do on moments notice. Along
with Jesus Himself, these biblical heroes
were my first models for what it meant to
live a genuine life of faith, and their stories
prompted me to question everything. And
that included asking myself what success
might look like through the Saviors eyes. It
seemed clear that I should find out what
it would mean to offer my life as a living
sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) in suburban New York
in the 21
st
century.
So I was confounded when I discussed
these stories with Christians who told me
they felt a call on their lives but were wait-
ing for the time to be right, the money to
be there, or their kids to graduate from
college before theyd consider pursuing it.
That made no sense to me. If God was the
same yesterday, today, and forever
I was desperate to know
what it meant to truly
follow hIm.

|
21
S
(Heb. 13:8), why would He operate differ-
ently just because we had laptops and cell
phones? Why would the God who called
people out of the mundane and into the
extraordinary suddenly view our comfort
to be more important than building His
kingdom? It didnt add up.
I was eager to learn more, but when I
turned to the Christian community for help,
my questions multiplied. The more I con-
nected with spiritual leaders (I talked with
everyone I could) or read their writing, the
more I saw that following Jesus meant very
different things to different people within
the body of Christ. For some, social justice
and serving the poor were paramount.
Others stressed the importance of family
values and moral teachings. There were
those who felt it was about discovering ones
unique purpose and embracing a calling;
still others said it was a matter of practicing
spiritual gifts. I was fascinated to find that,
according to the Bible, each group was
right, at least in part.
So I kept reading, watching, and listening
to anything and everything I could get my
hands on. I was a sponge for any insight I
might glean from the faith experiences
of othersfrom the ancient patriarchs
to modern megachurch pastors. Digging
into Scripture, I prayed Proverbs 1:1-7,
asking God for prudence, knowledge, and
discretion; I requested that He help me
attain wisdom and discipline, equip me
to understand words of insight, and show
me how to discern what was right, just,
and fair.
Thats when the Holy Spirit began
nudging me with questions about my day-
to-day lifeand got deep into my business.
I began thinking about things like, How
much house is enough house? How much
money do I really need to spend on a car?
Are expensive music lessons for my child
top priority, or should I be factoring in the
family across town who badly needs food?
As I explored these questions, I could see
Id stumbled into a supernatural treasure
hunt. No ten-step to-do list for living the
Christian life, particularly through my own
power, could replace surrender to real
transformation in the hands of the living
God. My prayers shifted from help me,
give me to asking that I be changed from
the inside outthat every desire would
be conformed to His desire (Rom. 12:2).
Instead of praying around my desired out-
come for things, I prayed for doors to open
and close however He wanted. That Id feel
contentment only when I was pleasing Him
and be agitated when off-track. Slowly, I
began to welcome a no as much as a yes.
I began to understand and accept that He is
God and I am not, and that the fear of God
(which is the beginning of wisdom) is
about awe and worship, not fear of punish-
ment or condemnation. I prayed for faith
to trust that He would help me recognize
His answers to these prayersand for the
courage to follow with complete abandon.
And then I let go, choosing to follow the
Lord wherever He might take me.
Years later, I am living a different
American Dream. One in which who
Im becoming means more to me than
where Im living. One in which the people
Im impacting matter more than my title
or salary. One in which Im fulfilled and
content, even in the face of disappointment
or difficultyand know Im loved even
when circumstances say otherwise.
So, how did I know it was God? At the
time, I both knew and didnt know. But
now, I can say this: My life and my state of
mind are nothing like they once were. And
only God can take away our most prized
dreams for our lives and replace them with
a reality infinitely better.
Joan Ball is the author of the memoir Flirting
With Faith: My Journey from Atheism to a Faith-
Filled Life.
solvingproblems
God was using me in my work and min-
istry, but I wanted to be part of that kind
of blessing.
The battle of emotions tugged and tore
at me. I didnt like feeling this way. As
Tammys sister in Christ, I knew I should
be excited that God was using my friend
and happy to see His hand working in her
life. And I was . . . kind of.
I didnt want to appear unspiritual,
so I pretended to be happy for her, boasting
about her performance to my husband. But
beneath the faade, jealousy circulated
through me like poison, making its way to
my heart. I tried harder, praising her with
a fake smile that I hoped would neutralize
my emotions. Maybe if I faked it enough,
I could sincerely be happy for her.
.
IN AMAzEMENT, I looked from my seat.
Was that really Tammy? A few years ago,
while visiting my family back home, I
decided to attend my old church in the
city. Up on stage, leading worship in front
of thousands of people, was my old friend.
How did she get there?
When we were younger, Tammy and
I were part of a coffee group that met
together twice a month. Back then, she
dreamed of leading worship and signing
record deals. As I watched her sing, it was
obvious that God was using her to do both.
One part of me wanted to celebrate and
praise God for allowing her to fulfill her
dreams. But another part of me, a darker
part, was less than excited. I found myself
wondering, Why not me?
,
BLESSING
How j eal ous y can s t eal j oy
B y L A U R I E R U S S E L L
22
|

No such luck. The more I bragged about
her to my husband, the more I thought
about it. The more I thought about it, the
more it ate away at me. What was happen-
ing? Jealousy was destroying my joy.
JEaLouSy cravES StatuS
I wasnt jealous of Tammys stuff her
clothes, her house, or even her talent. My
battle wasnt a desire to be the one on the
stage leading worship. It was her blessing
I wanted.
I was living out a modern day version of
Jacob and Esau. God had blessed my sister
in Christ with an incredible ministry, and
I wanted it. I wanted to be the one chosen
by God. I craved a glamorous calling that
met all of my specifications. Why was God
fulfilling Tammys personal requests and
not mine?
After the service, I spoke with Tammy.
As we caught up with each other, I was
tempted to exaggerate what was going on
in my life and ministry. I felt the need to
one up her, to let her know I was doing
something special too.
Jealousy often seeks to self-gratify. And
in the process, someone else is diminished.
John the Baptist modeled how to respond
to this temptation. His ministry was to
prepare the way for Christ. For a season,
he drew the largest crowds. However, when
Jesus began His ministry, life changed for
John and his disciples.
In John 3:26, Johns disciples expressed

|
23
their concern for his drop in ratings. They
were upset that the people preferred to
be baptized by Jesus instead of John.
The faithful disciple could have fought
the shifting tide of popularity in order to
stay in the game. He could have yelled
louder or fasted from locusts to gain more
attention. But he understood his true pur-
pose. His job was to prepare the way for
the Messiah. He was not the Messiah, and
he knew when it was time to step back. So
to his fellow disciples, he replied, He must
increase; but I must decrease (John 3:30).
A covetous heart craves status and fights
to maintain it. Johns heart was committed
to promoting God rather than himself. So
when the time came for him to step down,
he was able to humbly do so.
JEaLouSy dIStortS rEaLIty
As Tammy led worship, I enjoyed the
music and sang along. However, I was
just going through the motions. Instead
of focusing on God and His greatness, my
attention was on Tammy and her success.
I thought about her upbringing, school-
ing, and support system. It angered me.
It felt as if everything had been handed
to her with ease while I had continually
worked and waited.
These thoughts snowballed, and before
I knew it, I was a victim of circumstanceor
at least thats how I perceived it. In reality,
none of this was true. Tammy worked hard
and gave her talent completely to the Lord,
and therefore He was able to use her.
James warns us, But if you harbor bitter
envy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such wisdom does not come down from
heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the
devil (3:14-15 niv).
This wisdom of being a victim does
not come from God. The Enemy uses this
subtle tactic to provoke us to shift our
focus from the Lord to self. Envy skews
our vision, preventing us from seeing the
truth. But when I am honest enough to
focus on God and get my heart right with
Him, I see clearly the numerous ways Hes
blessed me and used me.
JEaLouSy StEaLS Joy
The irony in this story is that, at time of
this incident, my husband and I were mis-
sionaries home on furlough. One of my
greatest joys as a missionary was watching
others follow Christ and serve Him with
their talent. This was Tammy. It baffled
me that seeing her ministering in this way
triggered jealousy instead of joy.
Jealousy is one of those intruders that
can begin as a random thought and within
minutes spread to infect our minds and
hearts. If we stop it before it takes up
residence, we can win the battle. If not,
evicting this no-good trespasser will be
very difficult. I know from experience.
Rather than delight in my friends success,
I harbored begrudging feelings, which grew
within me. What took only a moment to
begin required days to overcome.
I cringe as I write thisits not one of the
missionary stories I enjoy sharing with oth-
ers. However, its a struggle that continues to
re-emerge, so I must learn to how to fight it.
Proverbs 14:30 (niv) warns, A heart at
peace gives life to the body, but envy rots
the bones. And unfortunately, it doesnt
take much time for the rotting to begin.
To defeat the green-eyed monster, we
must go on the offensive and think positive,
praiseworthy thoughts. Philippians 4:8 (niv)
encourages us with this: Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, what-
ever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirableif anything
is excellent or praiseworthythink about
such things. Pauls prescription is the
perfect anti-venom.

24
|

j a n u a r y 2 0 0 9
gifts
bless
2010 In Touch Christmas Catalog
Life Principles Study Guides
Need a workbook for personal or small
group Bible study? In the Life Principles
Study Series, Dr. Stanley covers topics
ranging from eternal security to discov-
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Becoming Emotionally Whole
EWSGRV
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SHSGRV
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Experiencing Forgiveness | EFSGRV
Exploring the Depths of Gods Love
DGLSGRV
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STWSGRV
Leaving a Godly Legacy | GLSGRV
Listening to God | LGSGRV
Overcoming the Enemy | OESGRV
Practicing Basic Spiritual Disciplines
PSDSGRV
Preparing for Christs Return | CRSGRV
Protecting Your Family | PFSGRV
Relying on the Holy Spirit | RHSSGRV
Sharing the Gift of Encouragement
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Understanding Eternal Security | ESSGRV
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LIfe PrInCIPLes
. . . God loves
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2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
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Everygood . . .
and perfect
gift is
from above.
jAmES 1:17
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For more than 50 years, Dr. Stanley has been teaching
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Dr. Charles F. stanley has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of
atlanta since 1971. he is the founder and president of In touch Ministries and is known
internationally for his radio and television programIn touch with Dr. Charles stanley.
a newyork times best-selling author, Dr. stanley has written more than 35 books.
P.O. Box 7900 Atlanta, Georgia 30357
In Touch Ministries of Canada
Box 4900 Markham, Ontario L3R 6G9
800-789-1473 www.intouch.org
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In the Bible, God has given us the promises and precepts necessary to become mature
followers of Jesus Christ. Dr. Charles Stanley faithfully lives by 30 scriptural principles and has
taught them throughout his 50 years of ministry.
Now, in volume three of his Life Principles sermon series, Dr. Stanley offers in-depth teaching
on five more truths that will help you grow in love, knowledge, and service to the Lord.
MeSSaGe tItLeS INCLuDe:
the Key to Continuing Peace Listening to GodWalking With God
God Works on Our Behalf the unreasonable Will of God
When Plans turn to ashes Bonus CD
Do you want to know God better? Learn to walk in the center of the Fathers will as you
begin to understand the lessons in His Word better than you ever have before. embrace these
principles today and begin your journey to life at its best.
Dr. Charles F. stanley has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of
atlanta since 1971. he is the founder and president of In touch Ministries and is known
internationally for his radio and television programIn touch with Dr. Charles stanley.
a newyork times best-selling author, Dr. stanley has written more than 35 books.
LPCB3
LPDB3
Now, in volume three of his Life Principles sermon series, Dr. Stanley offers in-depth teaching
MeSSaGe tItLeS INCLuDe:
the Key to Continuing Peace Listening to GodWalking With God
God Works on Our Behalf the unreasonable Will of God
When Plans turn to ashes Bonus CD
begin to understand the lessons in His Word better than you ever have before. embrace these

DR. CHARLES F. STANLEY has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of
Atlanta since 1971. He is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries and is known
internationally for his radio and television programIn Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.
A NewYork Times best-selling author, Dr. Stanley has written more than 35 books.
LPCB4
LPDB4
Now, in volume four of his Life Principles sermon series, Dr. Stanley offers in-depth teaching
MESSAGE TITLES INCLUDE:
Standing Tall and Strong Through Prayer Victim or Victor?
The Principle of Sowing and Reaping Holding Too Tightly
Overcoming Discouragement Bonus CD
begin to understand the lessons in His Word better than you ever have before. Embrace these

DR. CHARLES F. STANLEY has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of
Atlanta since 1971. He is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries and is known
internationally for his radio and television programIn Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.
A NewYork Times best-selling author, Dr. Stanley has written more than 35 books.
LPCB4
LPDB4
Now, in volume four of his Life Principles sermon series, Dr. Stanley offers in-depth teaching
MESSAGE TITLES INCLUDE:
Standing Tall and Strong Through Prayer Victim or Victor?
The Principle of Sowing and Reaping Holding Too Tightly
Overcoming Discouragement Bonus CD
begin to understand the lessons in His Word better than you ever have before. Embrace these
2011 Small Calendar
Heres another great gift idea
this smaller calendar, featuring
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6 x 8
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Greece Note Cards
These note cards feature
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ITNOTE9 $12 (U.S.)
DaILy LIvIng
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|
25
A poem by Nicholas Samaras
This poem by Nicholas Samaras reminds us that nothing rises to the measure of Gods glory.
Not even pious speech or reverent silence can adequately express or contain the fullness of
Him who is wholly other. In His great mercy, the infinite Lord makes Himself known to us,
receiving the lowly offering of all we are, good and bad mingled together. How else can we
say thank You but with our very selves?
Offering the Vast and the Mere
My Father in Heaven,
and Lord Jesus Christ,
I have reviewed my whole life,

every moment, every praise,
every mistake, every willful ignorance,

every amnesiac forgetting.
All I can offer is the totality of

my longish life to You, in gratitude.
All I can offer is the totality of myself,

without the mereness of words,
to You who are

beyond words and beyond silence.
You are beyond summation,

further than description.
All language to You is mere.
I am every human language that fails to fully express.
All I can offer is my soul,

cleansed of myself in death,
cleansed of my willful ignorance

by Your breathless compassion and mercy.
All I can offermy breath
singing over my vocal chords.
All I can offermy breath and vision

upon this mere page.
Nicholas Samaras is the author of Hands of the Saddlemaker

winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. His individual
poems have appeared in numerous publications.

reading tip If reading poetry
feels foreign to you, heres a little
help: Try slowing down, read the
poem aloud a few times, and let
the words simply make impres-
sions on your heart and mind.
Eventually, as you reread, youll
find that layers of meaning you
didnt notice before start coming
into focus. And dont worrya good
poem never means just one thing.
modernpsalms
M
My dads side of the closet was
filled with shoes that reflected his love
of life. He had polished wingtips for walk-
ing the pavement of many cities, office
buildings, and textile plants at home and
around the world. The golf shoes came out
on weekends or any other day he could
sneak away to the course. If he wasnt
playing golf on a Saturday, he could be
found wearing his mud-caked brogans
while working in his showy flowerbeds
which were the envy of our neighborhood.
Docksiders were worn when the weather
was good for fishing, and hunting boots
were always dug out from under the pile
when deer season began. In his earlier
years, he also wore basketball high-tops,
cleats for baseball or softball, and boating
shoes for our many picnicking, skiing, and
tubing trips at the lake.
But then the call came. Daddy went
to the doctor today, and they have found
a spot on his lung. An awful weight bore
down upon me, and the room began to
spin. Everything around me felt different,
and I wondered if the earth had just rotated
off its axis.
In the months that followed, Dads side
of the closet stayed full and disheveled with
a dozen pairs of shoes, but some began to
collect dust. After his June diagnosis, the
effects of chemo kept him from going
on a much-anticipated hunting trip with his
buddies that fall, so the sportsman boots
were the first to fall into disuse. Although
he continued wearing his wingtips, they
no longer travelled pavements around the
world. As he grew weaker, they covered
only a small area of the parking lot where
he still workedespecially after a new sign
DaDDy s
shoes
mement os of l i f e, and a gl i mpse beyond
B y B E T h F O R T U N E
26
|

familyroom
DaDDy s
shoes
mement os of l i f e, and a gl i mpse beyond
B y B E T h F O R T U N E
was added near the entrance: Mr. Kings
Parking Spot. Forever the optimist, Daddy
put on his brogans and tried to keep the
weeds out of his once pristine flowerbeds.
He even carried his golf shoes to the course
in an effort to play. But those, too, soon
began collecting dust.
We eventually bought him a pair of slip-
pers to accommodate his new sedentary
lifestyle. He wore them as he shuffled
down the hall where, years before, he had
chased us as children.
And then, on a very ordinary day in
March, a hospital van drove through
our circular drive to deliver his new bed.
Daddy no longer wore any of the shoes
that had been his companions through the
years. Now only thick socks kept his feet
warm as they were gently placed on small
white pillows the hospice nurse brought
to the house for his comfort.
The week before Daddys death, I sat by
his bed, cradling his feet, and thought of
the scripture that reads, How beaut-
iful are the feet of those who bring good
news (Rom 10:15). I knew my fathers
feet were beautiful because whatever life
brought him, whether joy and happiness or
the pain and suffering he now endured, he
continued to share his testimony and
the good news of Jesus Christ
with family and friends.
My father had no need of
shoes the spring night he
died. He slipped peacefully
away from the voices
of his loved ones
whispering, Daddy,
we love you to
the sound of
Jesus saying, Well done, good and faith-
ful servant (Matt. 25:21). No shoes were
needed as his feeble cancer-ridden frame
was replaced with a new glorified body.
The dust-collecting array of shoes in
his closet bore testimony to an active and
vibrant man who lived his life well. As
I looked them over, a startling thought
occurred to me: They were just a temporal
covering for his journey here on earth. He
had reached his final destinationheaven.
And streets of gold require no shoes at all.
Daddy left behind his earthly possessions,
but more importantly, he left something I
can carry with me as I continue my journey.
He taught me as much in his dying as he
did in his livingespecially, how to trust
God in all circumstances, even difficult
ones like cancer (Prov. 3:5-6). He also dem-
onstrated that only God can give us peace
. . . which surpasses all comprehension
(Phil. 4:7). And he showed me in a tangible
way that to live is Christ and to die is gain
(Phil. 1:21). I look forward to the time when
I can walk hand in hand with him again. For
one day my shoes will also collect dust and
be left behind.
stronginspirit
GRATEFUL
FOR GOdS GIVERS
Paul cr af t s t he per f ect t hank- you not e.
B y A L L E N h A R R I S

|
29
heres an old story that goes some-
thing like this:
There was once a devout believer
whose home was endangered by
a flood. Lets call him Tom. Early that
morning, Tom heard a radio announcer
broadcast an urgent message instructing
all residents to abandon their homes
and seek safer ground. Tom replied with
quiet confidence, Leave? No, Im going
to stay. God will take care of me.
At noon the storm was raging, and
giant puddles had formed all over neighbor-
hood. The local sheriff drove his squad
car to Toms house, knocked on the door,
and offered to drive him to safety. Tom
replied, No, Im going to stay. God will
take care of me.
By 3:00 p.m., rainwater had completely
covered the ground, and a strong current
was raging down the street. A neighbor
paddled by on a boat and pleaded with Tom
to come with him. Tom replied, No, Im
going to stay. God will take care of me.
As of 6:00 p.m., Toms house was all but
submerged. He had retreated to his roof,
where he sat watching the water rise even
higher. A search and rescue pilot spotted
Tom from his helicopter and swooped down
to get him. Tom shouted back, No! Im
going to stay! God will take care of me!
At 8:00 p.m., Tom drowned. When
he came face to face with the Lord, Tom
was shocked and heartbroken. He said,
Lord, what happened? I lived in complete
confidence that You would take care of
me. Why didnt You help me?
The Lord replied, I gave you a warning
on the radio, a car, a boat, and a helicopter!
Didnt you recognize Me?
MAkING SENSE OF GOdS PROVISION
This imaginary story demonstrates an
issue many believers struggle with: how
and when to accept the help of others.
Oftentimes, we seem perfectly willing to
bother our neighbors with every tiny favor
we can think of, from borrowing a cup of
sugar to sharing babysitting; however, we
arent as willing to trust our neighbors with
bigger, more significant needs.
It is almost as though there is a dividing
line in our progression of needs. Well trust
a friend to make us dinner when were sick,
but if our car breaks down and needs a
$3,000 repair, that size request belongs to
God alone. No friends allowed!
The truth is, it sometimes seems as
though we simply dont know how to
view Gods provision coming through our
friends. He provides the cup of sugar; He
provides the $3,000 gift a friend may give
for a car repair; He provides the helicopter
to save us from a flooded rooftop. He
provides all these needs, big and small.
And He often chooses to meet those needs
through other people. Why dont we see
His hand in all of this provision? And, why
do we struggle to accept His help when
Hes using someone elses hands?
AN UNcOMFORTAbLE ExcHANGE
If that question stings you a bit, if you think
you may have trouble receiving Gods help
through human hands, then take heart
youre in good company. Some scholars
believe that even the apostle Paul struggled
with how to respond to Gods provision
when it is offered as human help.
What we find tucked away at the end
of Philippians is a surprising inner conflict
as the apostle tries to conclude his letter
to one of his favorite churches. What is the
problem? His friends have given him a gift,
and He is trying to say thanks. Why in
the world does he have such a hard time
with that?
Paul enjoys a special relationship with
the Philippian church. They have stuck
with him during good times and bad. As
Paul writes this letter, he is experiencing
some hard times. Hes been imprisoned
Paul cr af t s t he per f ect t hank- you not e.
B y A L L E N h A R R I S
30
|

during his missionary journey, and his
Philippian friends have responded by
sending him a generous gift through their
messenger, Epaphroditus. One of Pauls
chief reasons for writing this letter is to
thank them. However, he cant seem
to just say thanks.
If you read Philippians 4:1019 with
this in mind, youll notice something
surprising. Paul actually gets caught
in a loop of essentially saying, Thanks.
I dont need it. Thanks. I dont need it.
He goes back and forth four times! First, he
thanks them, but then he tries to explain
that Gods provision was enough for Him.
Even Paul struggled with God bringing
comfort through other people!
THANkS, bUT IM cONTENT
In verses 1013, Paul offers his first
attempt at thanks by saying, I rejoiced in
the Lord greatly, that now at last you have
revived your concern for me. Even here,
we can see Pauls primary concern: Hes
thankful that they have been led to give, not
necessarily for the gift they sent.
It may seem rude that Paul doesnt spe-
cifically thank them for whatever they sent,
but it represents a sensitive inner conflict
for the apostle. Throughout his life, he
refuses to accept payment for his ministry
work (although he believes churches have
a responsibility to pay ministers well). He
makes the decision for himself to earn
a living by a trademaking tentsand
provide his pastoral care at no expense.
Therefore, when presented with such a
large gift by the Philippians, it seems as
though he doesnt know how to thank
them without setting an expectation for
other churches to give him money.
So, Paul is quick to sidestep the
appearance of impropriety with a subtle
redirection: Not that I speak from want,
for I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstances I am. From there, Paul
presents one of the clearest, yet shortest,
lessons on contentment in the Bible.
For Paul, contentment is a way of life. It
is his declaration that he will never be mas-
tered by outward circumstances. Whether
he is in the loftiest palace or the lowliest
dungeon, Pauls contentment comes from
the Lord he serves. As such, no enemy can
steal itand no friend can add to it.
Like many disciplines, contentment is
a spiritual reality with social consequences.
He genuinely appreciates the gift, and
he doesnt want to be rude to his friends.
As such, Paul takes great care to express his
gratitude while still directing his real thanks
to God, thereby honoring his Philippian
partners and teaching them why his per-
sonal contentment never seems to ebb and
flow with outward circumstances.
THANkS, bUT ITS bETTER FOR YOU
With the issue of contentment resolved,
Paul again thanks his friends in verse 14:
Nevertheless, you have done well to share
with me in my affliction. He then makes
the bold claim that no other church has ever
cared for him as much as the Philippians.
But then again, starting in verse 17, Paul
interrupts his message of thanks with a
morality lesson: the gift of giving. Here, Paul
seems more concerned with the Philippians
heart of generosity than with the gift they
sent. He says, Not that I seek the gift itself,
but I seek for the profit which increases
to your account . . . [your gift is] a fragrant
aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing
to God (emphasis added).
And Paul finally concludes this unique
thank-you note with a reminder of the
source of all good gifts: And my God will
supply all your needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus (verse 19,
emphasis added).
Pauls emphasis is clearly not on the
physical gift. He instead seems overwhelm-
ingly motivated to communicate two truths.

|
31
First, he wants them to know that all
gifts come from God. Over and over, it
is the Lord who intercepts Pauls life with
everything he needs, from food to healing
to miraculous near-death escapes.
Sometimes these gifts are delivered
miraculously; sometimes theyre delivered
by human hands. However they arrive, Paul
is convinced that every blessing is directly
sent by the Lord to meet a specific need, and
he wants the Philippians to know that God
will meet their needs the same way.
Second, Paul emphasizes that the biggest
blessing in this transaction is not for himself,
but for the Philippians. The call to give is
an honor, and the willingness to give is the
mark of a mature, vibrant, and growing
faith. Paul is most touched by the fact that
the church members have gone out of their
way, even sending a messenger to hand-
deliver the gift, to support and encourage
him in his distress.
The prevailing theme throughout is love:
the love of God in providing, the love of the
Philippians in responding, and the love of
Paul in expressing gratitude and redirecting
the praise to God. In this touchingalbeit
awkwardclosing, Paul paints a picture of
Gods church at its very best.
AccEPTING GOdS HELPING HANdS
These nine verses had enormous personal
and relational potential for Paul and the
Philippians. If he thanked them personally
too much, it could damage his ministry
relationships by setting up false expecta-
tions for future gifts. If he failed to thank
them at all, he would no doubt come across
as rude and snobbish, snubbing his nose
at their generosity. So in the end, his
response had to be careful, measured,
and handled with great careand
prayer. The result is a masterpiece, a
balance of thanksgiving, contentment,
and encouragement.
What a fantastic testimony to those
of us who struggle with how to appropri-
ately and respectfully accept the help of
other people. We should never take and
take and take, all the while encouraging
others to give us even more. And certainly,
we should also never slap their hands
away, proclaiming, No! God will take
care of me! like old Tom, sitting on his
roof as the flood waters rose. Instead,
we have to strike that same balance Paul
demonstrates and stand alongside our
generous friends to thank God for His
giftand for His givers.
The truth is, it sometimes
seems as though we
simply dont know how
to view Gods provision
coming through our friends.
e a r l y l i g h t
S
tan bought his grandchildren a new toy.
After glancing at the directions, he set
the booklet aside to get busy building. A few
frustrating hours later, Stan humbly opened
the instructions again and followed the steps
to assemble the toy. Soon he was done, and
the grandkids were playing happily.
Stan knew that the manufacturer had
a plan for putting together the toy. But
hes a smart fellow, so he assumed he could
figure it out too. Many people take the same
approach to the Scriptures that Stan took
to those directions. Instead of treating
Gods Word like a manual to live by, they
glance at it occasionally when they arent
sure what to do next.
The Bible is like the Fathers diagram of
Himself. He teaches believers who He is,
what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing
the ways of the Lord ensures that we make
wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is also Gods instruction book
for living. I emphasize reading it every day
because believers cannot be spiritually
successful or victorious without it. In
todays passage, we read that if a person
wants to be righteous, his or her life must
comply with the principles of Scripture.
Of course, the only way to know what
those principles are is to read, study, and
meditate upon the Word.
Gods Word is our most valuable possession.
Casting it aside is as foolish as tossing away
a wallet full of money. Among the Bibles
riches are stories teaching us how to serve
the Lord and principles about pleasing Him.
And there is a wealth of instruction for
building a righteous and meaningful life.
read
|
Psalm 119: 9- 16
luke 23-24
Wandering from
the Word
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
True thanksgiving
involves awareness
that we are
indebted to God
for blessings
both large and
smallin our life.
m o n d a y
1 2
e a r l y l i g h t e a r l y l i g h t

|
33
T
he idea of applying biblical principles
is often misunderstood. It is not so
simple as hear, believe, applyas if one were
putting on a new doctrine like a borrowed
overcoat. Two steps are missing between
believe and apply: explore and discover.
To explore a biblical principle means
studying Scripture to understand 1) what
the surrounding context is, 2) what the
principle means for you, and 3) what it
reveals about God. Furthermore, we must
consider how this lone principle relates
to rest of the Bible. Digging in the Word
softens hearts and minds so that the new
doctrine gets planted deep.
As we plow further into Scripture to
explore, the new concept rises off the page
and becomes real to us. We discover how
the principle works and the way to apply
it properly in our life. In this way, the
rich truth becomes our own. It isnt simply
tacked onto our actions as an external
influence; rather, we take the truth into
our hearts and minds so that it impacts
us from the inside out.
Making Gods principles an integral
part of our lives is a delightful experience.
Instead of feeling a passing fancy for a new
concept, people who make an idea their
own rejoice in it. And they dig back into the
Word to learn more of the Lords statutes.
A believer who has little to say about Gods
work in his life is probably not applying
Scripture. Simply hearing and believing
doesnt make a concept yours. A principle
is yours when you explore the truth,
discover its place in your life, and apply
the concept so that God can make it work.
How to Apply
Biblical Principles
John 1-3
read
|
Psalm 119: 17- 24
t u e s d a y
O
n occasion, every one of us will go
through troubling times, and when
that happens, its easy to get disheartened.
But the Bible indicates that even during
periods of challenge and adversity, God
expects His children to respond correctly.
And His word equips us to do so.
What does a right response look like?
Todays passage teaches us to rejoice dur-
ing difficulty. Of course, this does not mean
that we must be glad about the hardship.
But we can be joyful because we know that
God is using the circumstances to prepare
and grow us. Even though having a positive
attitude during something so negative does
not seem logical, it actually makes sense for
several reasons.
First of all, through difficult experiences,
the Lord teaches us endurance. Our natural
reaction to pain is oftentimes to run in the
opposite directionand as fast as possible.
However, God wants us to hang in there
so that we can derive the full benefit of
whatever lesson He has for us.
Second, the heavenly Father uses trials
as a refining fire to purify His children and
bring them to greater spiritual maturity. He
has a plan for each believer, and hardship
is one of the tools necessary to prepare us
to do His will. In the process, we will find
that our faith has been strengthened.
As we realize God brings beneft from our
adversities, well begin to face challenging
times with confdence that He always has
our best interest in mind. Tis leads to joy,
because we know He is building our endur-
ance, purifying our hearts, and making us
people with unshakeable trust in Him.
3
How to Develop
Unwavering Faith
John 4-5
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1 Peter 1: 6- 7
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e a r l y l i g h t
J
ames 1:5 tells us that God offers wisdom
to anyone who asks. However, he goes on
to warn that if we doubt, our prayers will
not be answered. But at times, dont all of us
struggle with some degree of doubt?
Lets explore some reasons for our
disbelief. First, faith usually defies human
reasoning. For example, when we are in
financial difficulty, logic says to save every
penny, whereas God says He will bless the
generous giver. Second, feelings of fear,
inadequacy, or guilt can interfere with trust-
ing biblical truth. Third, we often focus on
the circumstance rather than our heavenly
Father. He is at work, yet we fail to notice
His hand. And finally, uncertainty about
Gods will can lead us to doubt Him.
Wavering faith has severe consequences:
missed blessings, lack of peace and joy, and
a heart that is easily thrown off course when
difficulty arises. How, then, can we avoid
faltering in our faith?
In Mark 9, a man pleaded with Jesus to
rebuke the spirit possessing his son. When
Christ replied that all things are possible
to him who believes, the father said, I do
believe; help my unbelief (vv. 23-24). And
Jesus granted his request. Like that man, we
can ask the Lord to increase our faith. But
we should also spend time reading Gods
Word and meditating on His promises.
From the story in Luke, we know that
doubt is commonand that God is patient
and understanding. Faith comes from Him.
So when you are at a crossroads and the
right response requires faith, or when you
pray and notice doubt, ask Him to help
you believe.
4
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mark 9: 17- 29
t h u r s d a y
John 6-7
When Faith Falters
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A
ccording to Scripture, work is to be
part of the believers life. We all have
daily tasks, and many Christians hold jobs
outside the home. Some people view these
as drudgery. Others wake up excited to face
the days challenges. What is your outlook?
There is an important biblical principle
to follow if you are going to enjoy your
work: View yourself as a servant. This might
be hard if you feel unappreciated or your
coworkers are difficult. But consider the
example that the Lord set for us. He was
rejected, tortured, and crucified. Yet Jesus
was willing to serve even His tormentors
with His attitude and, ultimately, with His
life. Colossians 3:23-24 states, Whatever
you do, do your work heartily, as for the
Lord rather than for men . . . It is the Lord
Christ whom you serve.
When I was in college, this proved to
be a valuable perspective. I worked in the
bleachery, which was the hottest and most
uncomfortable job at the local textile mill.
At first, I focused on how much I disliked
this position. But I decided to change
my attitude and look for opportunities to
serve Jesus through my work. For the first
time, the heat did not bother me. In fact,
I was eager to share my faith with those
around me. People listened and responded
because they noticed my demeanor.
No job is perfect; each position has
negative aspects. But we can fnd joy and
excitement even in the most menial task
when we decide to work for God. Choose
to serve Christ in all you do. After all, why
face each day with dread when you could
experience excitement and anticipation?
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matthew 20: 25- 28
f r i d a y
John 8-9
How to Get the Most
Out of Your Work
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N O V E M B E r 2 0 1 0 I n T o u c h
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35
O
ne of the greatest hindrances to the
gospels effectiveness is Christians who
act one way at church and another way
elsewhere. The way we live for God should
permeate all areas of life. The workplace is
no exception.
The way we act reflects our faith. So if
we claim to be Christians, our coworkers,
bosses, and employees will equate our
attitudes and actions with Jesus. Do those
around you at the office see a positive
reflection of God in your work ethic?
Lets look at a scriptural model for the
believer to follow. For one thing, we should
view ourselves as servants. Next, our true
boss is Christ; therefore, we work diligently
and with integrity, knowing that our reward
is from Him. Then, since all authority on
earth is God-given (John 19:11), we should
obey our superiors gladlyunless, of
course, our boss tells us to do something
that goes against Scripture. And finally,
all those we work with and for have worth
from the Creator, and we should treat
them with respect.
Think about how the golden ruleDo
unto others as youd have others do unto
youapplies here. Putting it a different
way, imagine yourself as the boss and ask,
How would I like employees to work, even
when I wasnt watching them?
Even when jobs or coworkers are hard to
like, we are to work as though God is our
boss. Tat means doing tasks with joy,
a servant attitude, respect for others, dili-
gence, and obedience to those in authority.
Imagine what the workplace could be if all
believers approached their jobs this way.
Christians in
the Workplace
John 10-12
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Phi li PPi ans 2: 5- 8
t h e w e e k e n d
C
hildren seem to have special hearing
when it comes to their parents voices.
They recognize when their mother or
father is talking, regardless of how many
other people are around.
In a similar way, Jesus assures us that
we will be able to distinguish His voice
among the insistent cries and conflicting
opinions of our world (John 10:27). He
promises we will be able to hear Him,
even though He doesnt speak in audible
wordsone reason is that He has given us
His Holy Spirit, who knows exactly what
Christ is saying and will provide us with
the wisdom to understand.
Have you ever noticed the way some
children pretend not to hear their parents
so they wont have to obey? Sometimes
we can be like thatwe might fail to
recognize the heavenly Fathers direction
because of our own self-centeredness.
We intently focus on what we want and
ignore any opposing instruction.
There is another obstacle to hearing
the Lord: impatience. Just like the culture
we live in, we want answers right now.
This tendency can cause us to listen to the
wrong speaker. Surrendering our personal
desires and fixing our attention on what
matters to God will make it easier for us
to discern His voice.
When Peter acted on his own ideas,
he encountered difculty. But when he
gave up his way and listened to Jesus,
he became a disciple to whom Christ
could entrust kingdom work (John 21:17).
Have you learned to distinguish the Lords
voice from the noise around you?
8
Recognizing
Gods Voice
John 13-15
read | John 10: 14- 16
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A
t times we may struggle with directions
we receive from the Lord. We question
whether they are from Him because they . . .
clash with our personal desires. The
mother of James and John asked that her
sons sit beside Jesus in heaven. The Lord
said no to her selfish ambition and called
her sons to a life of humble service to others
(Matt. 20:20-28).
conflict with our human reasoning.
Some of the disciples expected Jesus to rule
as the long-prophesied King. When He
told them He was going to be killed by the
religious leaders, His words didnt line up
with their thinking about the future.
challenge our faith. Christ told the
disciples that He would be resurrected on
the third day (Matt. 16:21). Peter and the
others had to accept Jesus words even
though many people of the dayincluding
some religious leadersdid not believe in
the resurrection of the body (Matt. 22:23).
Gods direction may call for courage
as well. We see this clearly in Joshuas life.
The Lord appointed him as the leader who
would take Israel into the Promised Land
(Josh. 1:1-6). Our heavenly Father may ask
us to become a leader in our local church,
to participate in a missions trip, or to serve
those who are hard to love. He wants us
to step forward bravely and obey.
Following God shouldnt involve guesswork.
Scripture is a good source for confrming
divine direction, as our Father wont give
any guidance that is contrary to biblical
principles. receiving godly counsel from a
pastor or mature believer can also reassure
us that weve heard correctly (Prov. 15:22).
9
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matthew 16: 21- 24
t u e s d a y
John 16-18
Instruction from
the Lord
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M
any of the people who call In Touch
have questions about their salvation.
They are frustrated to feel uncertainty about
such an important issue. Todays devotion
is a three-part salvation assessment. Answer
yes to every question, and you can be sure
that you are in Gods family and destined for
an eternity in His presence. Answer no, and
youll know exactly what issue to talk over
with your pastor or a spiritual mentor.
1. Do I trust Scripture? Salvation is a
simple process: Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Either
we trust that Jesus Christ died for the sins
of the world (including ours), or we dont
(John 3:16).
2. Do I accept the witness of the
holy Spirit? Anyone who believes in Jesus
has the witness dwelling within his or her
being. That is, the Spirit testifies to our iden-
tity as Gods children (rom. 8:16). Its not
about whether we feel saved; Gods Spirit
offers an abiding conviction that we are.
3. Do I walk like a follower of Jesus?
Those who are in Christ are a new creation
(2 Cor. 5:17). If we have been transformed,
there are going to be changes in our life.
Simply put, true believers are creatures who
seek the things of Godthey desire to read
and understand His Word, they want to
gather with His people, etc.
Confrmed Christ-followers still sin. Some
even backslide for a time. No matter how
crooked our walk of faith, the Holy Spirit
continues to convict. He cannot allow us
to be satisfed with wrongdoing. Tat tug of
guilt over sin is yet another assurance that
you have placed yourself in Gods grip.
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1 John 5: 10- 13
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John 19-21
Assurance
of Salvation
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11 10

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37
G
od sent His Son to take your punish-
ment by dying in your place. Unless
believers understand this provision, they
will doubt their salvation. We cant be good
enough to earn heaven. Man is born with a
corrupted nature; therefore, we will at times
sin, no matter how hard we try not to. The
Bible compares our attempts at righteous
deeds to filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).
On its own, mankind has but one option
with regard to sin: to die in it and spend
eternity separated from God. But the Father
so loved the world that He chose to punish
His Son in our place (John 3:16). It was a
severe price to pay. Holy God cannot look
upon the filth of sin, so when Jesus became
sin for all mankind, the Father had to turn
away (2 Cor. 5:21). The physical suffering
of crucifixion was terrible, but nothing
compared to Jesus wrenching horror when
the Father turned His back. The devastated
Messiah cried out, My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34).
Throughout eternity past, the Father
and Son had never been separated. Jesus
accepted this ultimate punishment so we
wouldnt have to. When Paul said that the
wages of sin was death, he was referring
to eternal separation from God (rom. 6:23).
We are saved and live forever with the Lord
because of what Jesus has done.
Te Savior took our place and accepted
humanitys punishment for sin. He and the
Father have done the hard work of salvation
so we can reap the benefts and rewards
of faith. If you believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God and He died for your sins,
then you are saved.
The Wages of Sin
acts 1-3
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romans 6: 21- 23
t h u r s d a y
E
very believer faces temptation. Take
a moment to recall a particularly
enticing situation involving something
that would displease God. Did you realize
you were involved in a satanic battle?
The Devil is real. Scripture reveals that
he leads an army of fallen angels and is
prideful enough to think he can gain victory
over God. By definition, a satanic attack is a
deliberate assault upon an individual, which
is designed to cause spiritual, physical,
material, or emotional harm. Satan desires
to thwart the Lords purpose in believers
lives, to rob them of joy and peace, and
ultimately to deny God the worship He
receives through yielded followers.
As in any war, knowing the enemys
plan helps us prepare for the attack. First,
be aware that the battlefield takes place
in our minds. To walk in a godly manner
with Christ, we must first be sure that our
thoughts are in submission to His Spirit.
This takes daily surrender and time
in Gods Word. Second, Satan tempts us
during vulnerable moments. Be cautious
when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or
tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T.
warning). Third, he is deceptive; we wont
recognize the trap as an evil scheme.
Instead, it will seem good, and well likely
wrestle with some sort of doubt.
As Christians, we should walk closely with
Jesus. Satan desires to lure us into destruc-
tive actions that rob us of Gods plan for a
good, full life. Stay connected to the Savior:
read the Word, pray, and fellowship with
other believers. Tese are weapons we use
against the Devil in spiritual war.
12
Enduring
Satanic Attacks
acts 4-6
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ePhesi ans 6: 10- 14
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e a r l y l i g h t
I
n our daily routine, it is easy to live with a
worldly mindset. When our thoughts turn
away from God, we can become danger-
ously self-dependent. In such situations,
there is a spiritual battle ensuing, with high
stakes. Victory demands more than floating
through each day. This war requires our
alert and purposeful reliance upon Christ.
First Peter 5:8 warns us, Be on the alert.
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like
a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The Enemy knows our nature and weak-
nesses. He whispers doubt and deception
in order to accomplish his goal.
We know that the ultimate victory is
Gods, but Satans traps still lead many
astray. How can we avoid giving in to the
temptation that leads away from Gods best
for our lives and causes devastation?
Jesus was tempted during His 40-day fast
in the wilderness. Consider how He stood
firm against the Enemy: He stayed con-
nected to His Father and submitted to Gods
will. We can likewise surrender daily to
the Fathers way, dying to our own desires
and plans. And notice that when our Lord
encountered a temptation, He resisted Satan
with Scripture. The best weapon for fighting
falsehood is truth. And we can emulate
Jesus, who knew He had authority over
Satan and commanded him to flee.
Dont let the world lull you into managing
life on your own. Teres a battle raging,
and you have an enemy whose goal is to
take your eyes of Christ, to destroy your
life, and to steal glory from God. Our King
has the victory, but we must remain alert
and connected to His truth.
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John 10: 7- 10
t h e w e e k e n d
acts 7-8
Standing Firm
with Jesus
One Year
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T
o the human mind, the word broken-
ness can mean something needs to
be fixed, is not as good as it was, or is no
longer usable. In Gods kingdom, the word
refers to a key element of the sanctification
processone that is beneficial for us.
At salvation, we received a new nature
that desires to please God, but we still
have our old selfish ways. These ingrained
habits, attitudes, and values are based on
a common themean inward desire to act
independently of the Lord.
To become effective servants for God,
we must let go of our self-righteousness
that says, I know what is right, our
self-will that claims, I know what is best
for me, and our self-centeredness that
declares, What I want is most important.
Brokenness is one of the Lords tools
for replacing self-serving attitudes with
Christlike ones. During this difficult but
vitally important process, the Holy Spirit
works to remove every obstacle that
prevents our complete surrender to
Christs lordship and obedience to Him.
Why do we resist letting go of our own
plan and embracing Gods? Sometimes
were wrapped up in worldly entanglements
and dont want to release them. At other
times we may fear what will happen if we
follow Gods way.
When we resist the Holy Spirits leading,
our relationship with the heavenly Father
will sufer, and our infuence and service will
be negatively afected. But if we cooperate
with the transformation process, well
discover that Gods power to change lives
will be visible in our brokenness.
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2 cori nthi ans 12: 7- 10
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Gods Pathway
of Brokenness
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16
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T
o make us useful servants for His
kingdom. God desires to break our
self-willour independent streak that puts
self first. He doesnt want to break us; He
just wants to transform those parts of us
that do not reflect Jesus Christ.
Our heavenly Father sees who we really
are, so He targets those areas in our life
that will hinder Christian growth. Attitudes
of pride, jealousy, anger, and unforgiveness
need to be dealt with so that His divine love
and truth will flow through us to others
(Eph. 4:31-32). To promote change, He will
bear down on us and maintain pressure
until we respond. The Lord desires what
is good for us and will do what is necessary
to bring transformation in our thought
life, attitudes, actions, and priorities.
I remember when our church staff were
few in number. We had two live television
programs to produce along with the rest
of the responsibilities, so we all worked very
hard. Eventually, great weariness forced
me to stop serving for three months. I
wondered what would happen in the
congregation during my absence. It turns
out the church grew in attendance, giving,
and serving without me. The Lord knew
that pride in my pastoral position would be
a hindrance to future service. So He took
steps to change me.
Trough that time of brokenness, the Lord
taught me a great lesson. Being yielded and
obedient to God is what makes my service
valuable to Him. Have you been cooperating
with His work in your life? Transformation
will take place when you surrender to the
Father and cooperate with His Spirit.
Surrendered to God
acts 11-13
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ePhesi ans 5: 15- 17
t u e s d a y
O
n lifes road, crucial decisions are like
intersections that call for a choice
of direction. If we barrel through without
seeking the mind of Christ, the road we
pick may lead to regret and heartache.
Although the Lord is ready and willing to
offer clear direction, He doesnt always
give it quickly. Knowing that He has very
good reasons for withholding immediate
instruction can help us wait patiently at
the intersection for His guidance.
At times God leaves us in our confusion
because He wants to get our attention.
When everything is running smoothly, we
tend to forget the Lord. But uncertainty
draws us back to Him like a magnet. By
aligning our steps with His and walking in
submission to the Spirit, we open our ears
to hear His voice.
Our waiting time is Gods preparation
time. In bringing about His sovereign
purposes, He may put us on hold while He
coordinates events to line up with His will.
Sometimes the Lord has work to accom-
plish in us before we are ready to handle
what He has planned for our future. If we
instantly received His direction, we would
never grow in faith. Spiritual maturity is
evidenced in the ability to wait in peaceful
confidence, trusting that in His time, we
will know what to do.
If impatience tempts you to jump ahead
of Gods timing at a crossroad of decision,
you risk stepping outside of His will and
missing His blessings. But by waiting until
He gives clear direction, you will walk in
His peace with certainty, instead of stum-
bling around in anxiety and confusion.
17
Why Wait?
acts 14-16
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Psalm 25: 4- 5
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16
e a r l y l i g h t
E
xhaustion is a by-product of overcom-
mitted schedules and never-ending
responsibilities. In an effort to accomplish
all that is expected, we often try to move
faster and cram in more by multitasking.
But in the process, we end up emotionally
and physically fatigued. The Lord offers
a radically different mode of living and
grants renewed strength and stamina.
Those who wait upon the Lord are
promised His supernatural energy. In fact,
Scripture says it will surpass the natural
strength and endurance of the young.
Access to this divine power is achieved
not by moving faster but by going slower
stopping to take time to focus on the
Father, seek His direction, and ask for His
strength to accomplish what He is calling
you to do.
Earlier in my life, I wore myself out by
impatiently pushing ahead, trying to do
ministry in my own way and time. Since
then, I have learned that when I pause and
humble myself, admitting that I have no
strength without Him, the Lord sustains
me with both emotional and spiritual
energy. There is no human explanation
for what God is willing and able to do in
a yielded human body. His Holy Spirit is
like the wind beneath our wings, enabling
us to soar like eagles.
Te next time you are at the point of
exhaustion, take some time out to focus
on the Lord. Are you walking in step with
Him, or have you gone ahead on your
own? Align your pace with His, and take
the energy He freely ofers to those who
walk obediently in His will.
18
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i sai ah 40: 28- 31
t h u r s d a y
acts 17-19
Strength Comes
with Waiting
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G
od is called by a variety of names in
the Bible, and each one sheds light
on an aspect of His nature. Jesus favorite
title for Him was Father. Surprisingly, this
name for God is used only 15 times in the
Old Testament, but in the New Testament,
its recorded 245 times!
Many of Gods names speak of His
majestic and lofty attributes that separate
Him from mankind, but Father conveys
intimacy. Jesus used this name not only
because He was Gods Son, but also to
help people realize that Jehovah isnt some
unapproachable Deity gazing down on
them from a distance. rather, He is their
loving heavenly Father, who cares about
them and wants to be involved in their
everyday lives.
Throughout His time on earth, Christ
revealed by example what this kind of
love relationship was like. He depended
completely on His Father for daily direc-
tion, power, and provision and obediently
carried out every instruction. He often
left the demands of ministry just to find
a secluded place to be alone with Jehovah.
We know Jesus successfully conveyed the
riches of this relationship to His disciples,
because in John 14:8, Philip said, Lord,
show us the Fatherhe wanted to know
Him the way Christ did.
Do you long for that kind of intimacy
with God? He wants to relate to you as a
Father to His child, and Hes given you the
privilege of drawing near to Him. In fact,
He chose you before the foundation of the
world and waits with open arms for you
to enter His loving embrace.
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John 5: 19- 20
f r i d a y
acts 20-22
The Ultimate Father-
Son Relationship
One Year
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19

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41
W
hen Christ taught His disciples to
pray, He told them to address God
as Our Father. They had previously heard
Jesus say, My Father, but now they, too,
shared in that privileged family relationship.
All of us who has been born again into the
household of God have this same right.
Since our concepts of God are shaped
by our earthly fathers, we all have different
perceptions of Him, but Jesus is the only one
who has a completely accurate understand-
ing of the heavenly Father. Consider some
of the ways He cares for His children:
Loves: Gods love is unconditional, since
its based on His nature rather than our
performance (1 John 4:16).
Listens: When we pray, He gives us His
full attention (Ps. 55:16-17).
Provides: The Father assumes responsi-
bility for meeting all our needs (Phil. 4:19).
Guides: He is the one who directs our
path when we trust in Him (Prov. 3:5-6).
Protects: The Lord shields us spiritually,
emotionally, and physically, sifting every
experience through His sovereign fingers.
(Ps. 121:1-8).
Stays: Hes not an absentee parent, since
Hell never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:8).
Disciplines: The Lord disciplines us
for our good, so that we may share in His
holiness (Heb. 12:5-11).
Tough experiences with our earthly dads
may have distorted our view of the heavenly
Father, we can learn to see Him as He truly
is. By viewing Him through the truth of
Scripture instead of our preconceptions, we
will see evidence of His loving care and dis-
cover a security weve never known before.
Our Heavenly Father
acts 23-25
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matthew 6: 8- 13
t h e w e e k e n d
T
odays passage offers a picture of what
happens when believers dont listen to
God. Eve knew the Lords instructions so
well that she repeated them almost verbatim
to the serpent. However, pride and fleshly
appetites got the better of her, and she was
deceived. Eve stopped listening to God and
opened her ears to the wrong voices.
Think about how many voices we hear
in a given day. Media, billboards, and even
friends and family bombard our minds with
ideas and philosophies. We hear vain and
ungodly messages wrapped up in pretty
language. Its easy to fall prey to deception
unless we keep scriptural principles always
before our eyes and heart.
Eve got into trouble simply by pausing
long enough to take in the serpents words.
Satan twisted Gods meaning sufficiently to
tempt her away from truth and into error.
He assured Eve that instead of falling over
dead, she would become like God: her eyes
would open, and she would know truth!
In one way, the Devils words were accu-
rate, but they werent true. Eves eyes were
opened; however, the knowledge wasnt as
wonderful as the serpent implied. She was
awakened to her own sinful nature and the
chasm that had developed between her and
God. Moreover, Eves physical body would
undergo death as a result of her sin.
Exercise caution when messages vie for
your attention. Satan, who is as crafty today
as he was in Eden, dresses up deception
so that it sounds like truth. But the Evil
One lies when he speaks (John 8:44). Tune
into God and the principles of His Word
instead. He speaks only what is right.
22
Failing to Listen
to God
acts 26-28
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genesi s 3: 1- 13
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e a r l y l i g h t
T
he Holy Spirit guides believers to make
wise and righteous decisions. But when
Christians fail to listen, they can make
choices that appeal to the flesh instead.
After the serpent spoke to Eve, she no
doubt took a long look at the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17; 3:3).
Whatever she might have thought about the
tree before, she now saw it with new eyes
flesh-focused eyes. Genesis 3 tells us that
the forbidden tree appealed to Eve in three
ways: 1) it was good for food, 2) it was a
delight to the eyes, and 3) it was desirable
to make one wise.
In other words, the tree could fulfill three
legitimate human appetites: the desire for
tasty meals, beauty, and wisdom. There is
nothing wrong with these God-given yearn-
ings. The Lord created a variety of food and
an earth packed with breathtaking sights
so that people could enjoy them. He also
offers the Holy Spirit as a source of His true
wisdom and knowledge. In fact, it is the
Spirit who teaches believers to keep fleshly
appetites under control and in balance.
Meanwhile, Satan works very hard at
corrupting healthy desires. He abhors see-
ing peoples appetites satisfied. What he
wants is to watch a person lusting after
a good thing until he or she is controlled
by the impulse to have it.
Te Devil is pleased when people make
themselves slaves to a desire thatin the
proper contextthe Lord intended to be
enjoyed freely. A believer walking in the
Holy Spirit rejects gluttony, preferring
desires that are within Gods boundaries
instead. Tats how we get His very best.
23
read
|
ePhesi ans 2: 1- 7
t u e s d a y
romans 1-3
Resisting Fleshly
Appetites
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is
valued above all.
Augustine
In ordinary life we hardly realize that we
receive a great deal more than we give,
and that it is only with gratitude that life
becomes rich.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It is the highest and holiest of the paradoxes
that the man who really knows he cannot
pay his debt will be forever paying it.
G. K. Chesterton
Thou hast given so much to me . . . Give
one more thinga grateful heart.
George Herbert
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
You say, If I had a little more, I should be
very satisfied. You make a mistake. If you
are not content with what you have, you
would not be satisfied if it were doubled.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Saying Thank You to God helps us recall
how loving, caring, and faithful He isas
a result, our intimacy with Him deepens.
And often, when others hear us express
gratitude to Him, they are reminded that
the Lord is their source for blessing as well.
Charles F. Stanley
From David learn to give thanks for every-
thingevery furrow in the Book of Psalms
is sown with the seeds of thanksgiving.
Jeremy Taylor

42
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24
thanks
o n g i v i n g

|
43
T
hink about the times when you have
felt truly satisfied. What caused you to
feel that way? For most people, a sense of
well-being comes when their environment
is just the way they want it, but that wasnt
the case with Paul. He learned to be content
in every circumstance, good or bad.
Wed do well to learn a few lessons from
him. After all, we cant avoid all difficult
situations, so we might as well discover how
to face them with a tranquil, settled spirit
rather than with frustration and anxiety.
contentment isnt governed by exter-
nal circumstances. Changing the situation
may bring temporary relief, but satisfaction
based on circumstances will always be
sporadic and fleeting. Its a matter of how
you think, not what you have.
contentment flows from an inward
attitude. The apostles inner calm came
from a mind set on Christ. Choosing to trust
the Savior no matter what, Paul allowed the
Holy Spirit within him to rule his emotions
and shape his responses.
contentment is learned experientially.
You cannot acquire it from a book or a
sermon because its a process that must
be lived out. Paul learned contentment on
the roadin persecution, suffering, and
prison. The Lord used every difficulty to
transform him.
Situations that cause frustration, anxiety,
and dissatisfaction are also the ones God
uses to produce contentment in us. When
you are fed up with your own grumbling,
disappointment, and dissatisfaction, then
you are ready to let the Lord teach you His
new way of livingin joyous trust!
Contentment in
All Circumstances
romans 4-6
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|
Phi li PPi ans 4: 10- 13
w e d n e s d a y
A
t Thanksgiving, we typically express
gratitude for Gods blessings. But did
you ever consider thanking Him for some-
thing that doesnt seem like a blessingsuch
as a trying circumstance you want Him to
remove or change? A grateful heart is most
precious to God when, humanly speaking,
our situations dont warrant giving thanks.
By making four foundational decisions, we
can begin to see the value of our adversities
and respond with appreciation.
Believe and trust the Lord. Only by
viewing life from a scriptural perspective
can we understand His purposes in our tri-
als and trust His wisdom in allowing them.
Accept the situation as coming from
Godeither directly sent or permissively
allowed. If we truly believe Hes working for
our good (rom 8:28-29), we can choose to
receive each difficulty as coming from His
loving hand. Then we can say Thank You.
Submit to God in the circumstance.
Although we may not like the situation,
knowing that God [is] good and does good
(v. 68) allows us to confidently place our
lives under His authority.
Draw from him the strength to endure.
No one has the ability within himself to
endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by
relying on the Lord can believers go through
adversity with an appreciative heart.
Now, think about that circumstance you
would like changed, and with a new mind-
set, ofer this prayer to God: Lord, I accept
this situation as coming from You. In faith
and trust, I place myself under Your loving
authority, and draw from You the strength
I need to endure with gratitude.
25
Gratitude
in Affliction
romans 7-9
read
|
Psalm 119: 65- 72
t h u r s d a y
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
24
thanks
e a r l y l i g h t
W
hen pain and adversity enter our
lives, its easy to conclude that God
has abandoned us. After all, we think, if He
were there, He would have done something
by now. However, todays passage says that
nothing can separate us from Christs love.
Lets consider the vast scope of this promise.
no events. Not a single distress can
remove us from divine love, but rather, we
can overwhelmingly conquer through Him
who love[s] us (rom. 8:35-37). Todays
verses also teach that our present sufferings
cannot be compared to the coming glory
(v. 18) and that Gods good purpose is our
transformation into Christs image (v. 29).
When we understand this, we gain a victo-
rious eternal perspective which produces
hope and perseverance (vv. 24-25).
no time. Nothing we have gone through
in the past, are dealing with at present, or
will encounter in the future can take us
away from Christ. He is with us every step
of the way (v. 38).
no power. The unseen powers of evil
that try to deceive and entrap us are no
match for the Lord, who holds us securely
in His omnipotent grasp (v. 39).
no created thing. Only our triune God
is self-existent, and if He calls you His own,
nothing and no onenot even youcan
break that relationship (v. 39).
Tis promise of security in Christ isnt a
license to sin without consequence. Instead,
it should motivate us to fall on our knees in
gratitude and praise. As we truly grasp the
greatness of this gift, our love for Christ will
increase and result in obedience and perse-
verance, no matter what difculty we face.
26
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|
romans 8: 18- 39
f r i d a y
romans 10-13
Inseparable
from Christ
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
e a r l y l i g h t
A
fter Pauls conversion, he disappeared
into the desert for three years, during
which time the Holy Spirit instructed him
in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to
communicate divine truth.
The Lord speaks to believers so that
they will comprehend the truth, conform
to the truth, and communicate the truth.
These same steps form a roadmap to
discipleship. What happened during Pauls
desert years was only the beginning of a
life-long processGod renewed his mind
and transformed him into the image of
Christ. For the apostle, that change began
with connecting his rich biblical knowledge
to the revelation that Jesus Christ was
the Son of God.
Paul knew Scripture thoroughly, but the
truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah
made him reconsider the foundation hed
been trusting. Everything he knew about
God had to be reevaluated in light of this
new information. Paul had a history of
wanting to please God, so the Holy Spirit
no doubt found him a willing pupil.
The apostles spirit had to be shaped
according to the Fathers will. And the Lord
kept working on him long after Paul left the
desert and began his ministry. Every person
who reads his letters is a witness to the work
of God in a submissive man.
Te Lords discipleship roadmap looks
similar for every believer. Like Paul, you
are the Holy Spirits student, and the
knowledge you reap from Scripture should
be changing your life. Be like the apostle in
this way too: become a disciple maker by
sharing what your learn with others.
read
|
galati ans 1: 11- 17
t h e w e e k e n d
romans 14-16
The Road of
Discipleship
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
44
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45
F
aith and works go hand in hand. A
Christian is one whom Christ uses to
carry out His work on earth. Therefore,
serving God is more than just something
we do; working for the Lord also defines
who we are.
After joining Gods family, believers are
recognizable by their fruit, which includes
the services they perform for Him and
for others. In fact, the Lord rescues people
from sin so that they can do the work
He has planned (Eph. 2:10). It has often
been said that we are Gods hands and feet
in this world.
The same Father who calls us to work
in His name also provides the necessary
resources. As Paul said, the Lord makes
grace abound to His children so that they
have an abundance for every good deed
(2 Cor. 9:8). Moreover, we are equipped by
His Word and strengthened and guided
by His Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17). From
these sources, Christians learn lessons
about relating to others so they can help,
encourage, and give to them.
Lets be clear that works have nothing
to do with salvation. We are saved by
grace alone through Jesus Christs sacrifice
on the cross. Period. After that happens,
a believer is motivated to do good in the
Lords name in order to please Him.
We are called to act out our faith every day.
God works through us to reach those who
may never otherwise open the Bible or
enter a church. Whats more, He borrows
our voice to tell His story and uses our life
to demonstrate His grace and glory. Good
deeds are a believers labor of love.
Our Labor of Love
1 cori nthi ans 1-4
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|
2 cori nthi ans 9: 8- 11
m o n d a y
G
od displays His children to the world
like a city on a hill (Matt. 5:14). The
light from a thriving metropolis can be
seen for miles. Likewise, believers are
to shine in such a way that others will
observe our good works and honor God.
A Christians faith light is evident
through his deeds. We want co-workers,
friends, and others in our sphere of influ-
ence to sit up and take notice of the way
that we live. The reason? Because once
they see were not simply out for number
one, theyll want to know why. And thats
when they will begin to connect the dots,
with thoughts like: He helps others even
when its difficult. . . . He says he does this
because hes a Christian . . . His God must
by worthy and good.
The more people see believers doing
good works, the more glory goes to God,
who is the Author of our service record.
To balance the command to shine,
however, the Lord did give an admonition
in Matthew 6:1: Beware of practicing your
righteousness before men to be noticed by
them. In other words, be mindful of the
motive. If were performing in order to get
a pat on the back or the attention of others,
we will lose out on a heavenly reward.
That fleeting bit of worldly appreciation
is all well get for our efforts.
Believers are here to point others to the
Lord whom they serve. We are a refection
of His light and glory. It is He who not only
gives opportunity to shine but also equips
us with the strength and gifts to work for
the kingdom. As bright as we may be, we
are nothing apart from the Lord.
30
A City on a Hill
1 cori nthi ans 5-8
read
|
matthew 5: 14- 16
t u e s d a y
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
One Year
t h e b i b l e i n
29
Give thanks
to the Lord,
for He
is good.
Psalm 136:1
My name is hannah, and I thank
God now for a healthy son.
I recently took my son to a local chil-
drens hospital for some routine blood
work for his 18-month checkup. I
chatted with a mom who had been
coming to that hospital for over ten
years because of her childs organ
transplant issues. I was overcome
with emotion as I walked out of my
quick appointment, thinking how
blessed I am to have such a healthy
son. Every parent hopes and prays
for a healthy child, but I do not think
I fully understood and appreciated
this until that moment. My husband
and I are expecting our second in
January. I pray with a little more
awareness now for the health of this
child. Ultimately, I know that God
will provide for and protect our family
in whatever way He sees fit.
My name is Kevin, and I thank
God now for removing fear.
I used to think it would be wonder-
ful to go to college, but I was afraid
because I had trouble keeping up
in school. Then I came across one of
Dr. Stanleys Life Principles that truly
touched my heart: God will move
heaven and earth to show you His will.
So I began to pray, Lord, move heaven
and earth to show me Your will!
It didnt take God long. His Spirit
spoke to my heart, urging me to go
back to school. A few weeks later,
I was taking classes to prepare for
technical college and an EMT pro-
gram. I realized I loved to learn and
didnt want to stop. So I moved on to
Firefighting Academy. The day of my
graduation was a great victory. The
seed of fear and doubt the Devil had
planted years ago was crushed.
Give thanks
to the Lord,
for He
is good.
Psalm 136:1
As we enter this season of thanksgiving, many of us face difficulties and
hardships. Nevertheless, the Lord can empower us with a spirit of joy
and gratitude. Here are a few people who have agreed to share their stories
of thankfulness to God, despite living in a world of great challenges.
Share your story at www.intouch.org/thankgodnow.
My name is Wayne, and I thank
God now for his peace.
One day last year, I woke up feeling
fine but soon sensed a brief tingling all
over my body. Concerned, my wife and
I went to see the doctor. After check-
ing my vital signs and EKG, the nurse
practitioner said, I know you dont
want to hear this, but youre having a
heart attack, and weve already called
911. The ambulance took me straight
to the Heart Lab, where an angioplasty
and three stents corrected blockages of
more than 90 percent in two arteries
and 80 percent in a third.
I really felt Gods peace throughout
the entire procedure. I knew my life
was completely in His hands. Since
then, I have been to the doctor twice
for checkups, and he is amazed at my
progress. I thank God every day for His
divine protection during that time.
My name is Kimberly, and I thank
God now for his perfect plan.
Eleven years ago, my perfect plan and
hearts desire came to an end. I went
through a painful divorce and experi-
enced a broken marriage. In my mind,
there was no hope or future.
However, it was through that
painful loss that I gained so much
more. After rededicating my life to
Jesus Christ and allowing Him to be
my husband and Lord over my life,
I found the greatest love a woman
could have and learned that His faith-
ful love was everlasting.
As I continued to surrender to Gods
plan, the Lord once again was faithful.
He gave me the desire of my heart: to
be married to a godly, faithful man. We
were two lives united in friendship, two
friends united in love, and on June 5,
became One love united in Christ.
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Charles Stanley - Lord The Provider!

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n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0

INC., P.O. Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357

Do you desire a personal relationship with the One who created

Trust God to provide.

Removing Self from

I have reviewed my whole life,

every mistake, every willful ignorance,

All I can offer is the totality of

All I can offer is the totality of myself,

to You who are

You are beyond summation,

All I can offer is my soul,

cleansed of my willful ignorance

All I can offermy breath and vision

Nicholas Samaras is the author of Hands of the Saddlemaker

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