Q is for Quenching the Thirst

Q is for Quenching the Thirst

Picture Credit Anish Thankachen U S A

People who live in the city sometimes forget that God is the God of creation and nature.  In the United States alone, more than 2700 acres of pavement are laid each day.  Before long, God’s creation might be completely covered by concrete and asphalt.  We need to pause and get reacquainted with the God of creation.  “You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever, You covered it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.  At Your rebuke they fled: at the voice of Your thunder they hastened away… You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they may not return to cover the earth” (vv. 5-7, 9).  The psalmist refers to the Flood in Noah’s day.  I was God’s judgment.  But the next judgment He sends will be by fire, not water.

Water also is a blessing. “He send the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills” (v.10).  This is beautiful picture of the rivers and springs and hills, all of which enable animals to have food and drink.  “They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst” (v.11).  The birds of the heavens nest in the trees by these rivers.   I like the phrase in verse 12—“they sing among the branches.”  God waters the earth.  The crops grow, and man and beast are able to live.  And as an extra blessing.  He puts the birds in the branches to sing.  All of creation is satisfied.  “The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works” (v.13).

The God or creation also is the God of salvation, and He can satisfy your thirsty soul today.

As you observe nature, you are reminded of God’s physical provision.  He also provides fro the spiritual needs of His people.  Do you have a need today?  Ask God to flood your soul with His blessings!

                                                                                             —Warren W. Wiersbe 

Source:

Back to the Bible

Confident Living Magazine

Picture Credit: Anish Thankachen, U S A

P is for PILATE - Character

P is for PILATE

Character

New Testament scholar Brooke Foss Westcott observed; “Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes of men.  Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or we grow weak, and at last some crisis shows us what we have become.”  Nowhere is this more evident than in the life of Pontius Pilate.

NAME: “Armed with a Dart”

DATE: 1^st Century AD

IDENTIFICATION: 5^th Roman procurator of Judea; ordered Jesus’ crucifixion

STORY LINE: Pilate knew Jesus was innocent; ordered Hi death anyway

READ IT IN THE BIBLE: Mathew 27: 11-26; John 18:28-19:16

Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Samaria from AD 26-36.   His lack of character is well attested by Tacitus, Josephus, Eusebius, and Philo.  But nowhere is there a clearer picture of the kind of man Pilate was than in the Gospels.

Because the Jewish authorities could not execute a person without Rome’s approval, they brought Jesus to Pilate for sentencing.  Pilate questioned the Savior and concluded.  “I find no fault in Him at all” (John18: 38).  But the mob wanted blood so Pilate scourged Jesus, the soldiers mercilessly beat Him, and Pilate again presented Him to the mob saying,  “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him”  19:4).  When the mob yelled “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”  Pilate responded again, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him” (196).  Finally, Pilate washed his hand and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person” (Matthew 27:24).

Pilate knew what was right but didn’t have the backbone to do it.  Reputation is precious, but character is priceless.  How much character will your family and friends see in you today?  Ask God to give you the strength to do what you know is right.  Everyone will appreciate it.

                                                          —Dr. Woodrow Kroll

O is for Onesiphorus - Commitment

O is for Onesiphorus

Commitment

Commitment has fallen on hard times.  Researcher George Barna wrote, “Commitment is viewed negatively because it limits our ability to feel independent… and to focus upon self gratification rather than helping others .”  But commitment was not always this weak and self-centered. 

Paul was in prison for the final time.  The last letter he ever wrote was to young Timothy, and in it he praised the commitment of a man you and I know virtually nothing about— Onesiphorus.

NAME: “What Brings Profits”

DATE: 1^st Century AD

IDENTIFICATION:  Christian from Ephesus who ministered to Paul in prison

STORY LINE: Onesiphorus eagerly searched for Paul and found him

READ IT IN THE BIBLE: 2 Timothy 1:8-18

Think of what Paul highlights about Onesiphorus ‘commitment in 2 Timothy 1:16-18.  This obscure man proves that true commitment demands consistency. Onesiphorus “often refreshed” the apostle Paul, first in Ephesus and now in Rome.  Whatever that means, Onesiphorus did it consistently.

True commitment demands initiative.  Onesiphorus came to Rome to find Paul.  “He sought me out,” Paul says.  Commitment always begins with the subject, not the object.  If the object (your spouse, your church, your Savior) is worthy of commitment, they will be worthy whether you are committed to them or not.

True commitment demands determination. Paul’s friend sought him out very zealously until he “found” him. Onesiphorus could easily have given up, but he wasn’t going to be content to hear the Savior say, “Well tried, good and faithful servant.” He wanted “Well done!”

What are you committed to today?  Does your commitment exhibit qualities of Onesiphorus?  If not, reexamine the quality of your commitment and do whatever the Spirit of God tells you.  Just because commitment has fallen on hard times doesn’t mean it can’t flourish in you.

N For Nehemiah - Successfully Facing Opposition

N For Nehemiah - Successfully Facing Opposition 

Pic. Credit. letterslearning.com

You try to spend some quite time with God, but the guy next door plays his music so loud you can’t concentrate.  You express your belief in a Creator, but everybody in your science class laughs at you.  You attempt to witness to a co-worker, but she doesn't want to hear any of that religious stuff.  Do you feel like you're always facing opposition?  You're not alone.

NAME: “Comfort of Jehovah”

DATE: 5^th Century BC

IDENTIFICATION:  ‘Artaxerxes’ cupbearer who was appointed government of Judah

STORY LINE: Nehemiah overcame all forms of opposition to be successful

READ IT IN THE BIBLE: Nehemiah 1:1-2:10

Nehemiah faced multiple forms of opposition, too.

He was a descendant of the Jews carried off to Babylon in 587 BC.  In 539 BC Cyrus the Persian permitted the exiles to return to Jerusalem, but nearly a century later Nehemiah was still living in Persia.  In 445 BC he received permission from King Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.

Hardly had Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab began harassing him.  Their tactics included ridicule (Nehemiah 2:19), conspiracy (4:9), discouragement (4:10), death threats (4:11), opportunism (5:4) diversion (6:2), Slander (6:6), and more.  But God sustained Nehemiah, and the wall was finished in fifty-two days.

Why was Nehemiah so successful in overcoming opposition?  First, the people had a mind to work—it’s hard to defeat determined people.  Second, Nehemiah prayed that God would strengthen him for the task—it’s hard to defeat strengthened people.  And finally, everyone recognized that God was working through them—it’s hard to defeat encouraged people.

You can successfully face your opposition if you do what Nehemiah did—be determined, ask God to strengthen you, and to work through you.  God will do it.  He will always be there for you.  That’s what He promised. CL

                                       —Dr. Woodrow Kroll 

(Former President and Bible Teacher, Back to the Bible Int.)

NOTE:

This post is posted as part of  A to Z Blog Challenge 2014 

Source: 

Back to the Bible Intl.

Confident Living Magazine

Pic. Credit: www.heyuguys.co.uk, Back to the Bible Intl.

The People Behind the curtain of  A to Z Challenge [2014]

Arlee Bird -The Founder: Tossing it Out

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian

The M-Word: Masturbation: A biblical perspective

This one’s about masturbation. You’ve been warned.

Is there a more awkward subject in all Christendom? Controversial, sure–but mostly it’s just not fun to talk about. Of all the sex issues, it’s the squirmiest.

And if we’re talking about getting God’s perspective on it, there’s just not much to go on. In the past, people have tried to translate certain verses–including, notoriously, the sin of Onan in Genesis 38:6-9–to refer to masturbation, but it’s quite a stretch. There’s no rule to scribble on a post-it note and slap on the bathroom mirror. I dig deeper. I engage the Bible.

- See more at: http://pvariel.com/the-m-word-masturbation-a-biblical-perspective/#sthash.of1cK944.dpuf

To Read More Please Click on the below link:


The M-Word: Masturbation: A biblical perspective

Many Are Looking For A Little Bit Of Love

Many Are Looking For A Little Bit Of Love

Two letters moved our hearts.

One was from a woman who said she moved to a new neighborhood and had an urgent need in her family, so she contacted a Protestant church nearby and requested that someone visit them.

No one came, so she made a second request.  Still no one came.

However, one of her new neighbors learned of her problem and came to her help.  It happened the neighbor was involved in a false cult.  Because of the kindness shown to her the newcomer was drawn into the same cult.  She said years went by before she realized the error she was in and found deliverance through Christ.

The other letter was from a prison inmate. He said that one bitterly cold night he went to a rescue mission and asked for a place to sleep.  He was a “traveling man” (a wanderer) and had no home.  But because he had been drinking and had no I.D., he was refused a bed and turned out into the street.

Later he was sent to prison.  Since that time he has been saved, but he hasn't forgotten the bitterness he felt when the administrator denied him a bed that freezing night.

We don’t know what justifying circumstances there may have been to cause Christian people to act as they did in these two situations, but we do know there are many needy people around us who are looking for a little bit of love.

How is it with us?   Are we touched with the needs of others, or don’t we care?

If we don’t love men and women whom we can see, how can we say we love God whom we can’t see? (1 John 4:20).

It seems there are more lonely people in the world today than ever before.  Some are in hospitals or nursing homes.  Others live down the street.  They may be people we talk to in stores and offices, or work beside every day.  We may even find them in church.

Some churches display the sign, “The end of your search for a friendly church.”  This draws people, for they are looking for friendliness.  They don’t want to attend a church where no one notices them, no one shakes their hands, and no one invites them back.

A preacher visiting a city hospital was asked by one of the nurse to say a word to a sick man who was lying very still.

“With pleasure, Nurse,” he replied, “but he is asleep.”

“No, he is awake,” she said “but he is dying.”

The preacher read the card attached to the bed:  “Robert Browning—age 71—no friends.”

The preacher said, “Nurse, what does this mean?”

She answered, “Just what it says.  If he dies tonight, there’s no one to notify.  Do speak to him.”

So the preacher bent over the bed and quietly quoted, “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear.”

The closed eyes opened, and the man whispered very faintly, “Yes.  Jesus is my Savior my Friend.”

No one is friendless if he knows Jesus; but if Christians were more friendly, more people would know Him.

We are representatives of the best Friend a sinner ever had.  We may have the privilege of introducing people to that Friend by being a friend.

Let’s ask ourselves, 

“Do we really care?

Does God’s love really dwell in our hearts, or

do we only love in word, not in deed and in truth?”

                                                                  —R. C. Cunningham

NOTE:

From the archives of Confident Living Magazine 

Source:

Confident Living Magazine

Back to the Bible

R C CUnningham

The People Behind the curtain of  A to Z Challenge [2014]

Arlee Bird -The Founder: Tossing it Out

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian

The M-Word: Masturbation: A biblical Perspective

Pic. Credit: new.exchristian.net

This one’s about masturbation. You’ve been warned.

Is there a more awkward subject in all Christendom? Controversial, sure–but mostly it’s just not fun to talk about. Of all the sex issues, it’s the squirmiest.

And if we’re talking about getting God’s perspective on it, there’s just not much to go on. In the past, people have tried to translate certain verses–including, notoriously, the sin of Onan in Genesis 38:6-9–to refer to masturbation, but it’s quite a stretch. There’s no rule to scribble on a post-it note and slap on the bathroom mirror. I dig deeper. I engage the Bible.

- See more at: 
The M-Word: Masturbation: A biblical perspective

Source:
Philipscom

L for Laban

L for Laban

(Cheating)

www.heyuguys.co.uk

When I was a teenager our high school math teacher bought the farm next to ours. He didn't know much about farming, but he know a lot about dishonesty.  He hired me to help him get his hay in one year, promising me a fair wage.  But when the job was finished, he told me had no money.  I had been cheated.

NAME: “White”

DATE:  20^th  Century BC

IDENTIFICATIONS: Son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, father of Leah and Rachel

STORY LINE: Laban schemed to get more years of service from Jacob

READ IT IN THE BIBLE:  Genesis 29:1-30

Jacob must have felt the same way.  When he fled to Haran to escape the hatred of his brother, Esau, he hired on with Laban, his uncle.  His part—seven years of hard labor.
The payback—the hand of Rachel, Laban's daughter, in marriage.  Jacob was so in love with Rachel it seemed like a good deal.

But when it came time to pay up, Laban switched his older daughter, Leah, as Jacob's wife.  Jacob was outraged.  He had been cheated.  He had to work another seven years for Rachel.  In all, Jacob worked twenty years for Laban and finally decided he had had enough.  He took his family and headed home to Canaan.  But Laban soon overtook Jacob. After some words, Jacob and Laban erected a small heap of stones as mutual testimony they would never again have any dealings with each other.  They repeated the Mizpeh benediction:  "May the Lord watches between you and me when we are absent one from another" (Genesis 31:49).  Usually a bond between friends, this became a pact between adversaries.

If your boss or brother-in-law or anybody else is cheating you today, ask God to give you strength to be honest with them, even if they aren't honest with you.  After all, God keeps good payroll records.

                                                                                 —Dr. Woodrow Kroll 

NOTE:

This post is posted as part of  A to Z Blog Challenge 2014 

Source: 

Back to the Bible Intl.

Confident Living Magazine

Pic. Credit: www.heyuguys.co.uk, Back to the Bible Intl.

The People Behind the curtain of  A to Z Challenge [2014]

Arlee Bird -The Founder: Tossing it Out

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian

K is for Kings: What Do Kings Need?

What Do Kings Need?

Pic. Credit: A to Z Blog Challenge 14 

Kings have everything.

If you were a king, what would you rejoice in the most?

In what did David rejoice?

Psalm 21 tells us what it means to be a king—not just for a day but for a lifetime.

We are kings because we are God’s children.  Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests because He loves us and washed away our sins in His blood.  Today, God wants us to reign in life.  We are on the throne with the Lord Jesus.  “The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord” (v.1).  David is rejoicing in the strength that God gave him—strength to walk and strength to war; strength to build and strength to battle; strength to carry the burdens of life.  Are you rejoicing today as God’s king because He give you strength?

David continues, “And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” (v.1). He rejoices in God’s salvation. We need to do the same.  One day Jesus told His disciples, “Don’t rejoice because the demons are subject to you.  Rejoice because your names are written down in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

David also rejoices in satisfaction. “You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips.  For You meet him with the blessings of goodness” (vv. 2, 3).  If we look back, we will find goodness and mercy following us (23:6), and if we look ahead, God is meeting us with His goodness (v.3).  Don’t be afraid of today, and don’t be afraid of the future.  God will meet you with His goodness. 

In verse 7 David rejoices in stability:  “For the king trust in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.”  I like this blessings we can rejoice in—God’s strength, salvation, satisfaction and stability.  All of this is for God’s glory.  “His glory is greater in Your salvation (v.5). 

Warren W.  Wiersbe

Many Christians fail to see themselves as kings.  But god wants us to reign in life and has provided several blessings that enable us to live as kings.  Are you enjoying the blessings of kingship?  If not, claim His blessings and start living a life of victory.  

—Warren W. Wiersbe
(Former General Director and Bible Teacher for Back to the Bible)


This post is posted as part of  A to Z Blog Challenge 2014 

Source: 

Back to the Bible Intl.

Confident Living Magazine

Pic. Credit: A to Z Blog Challenge 2014, Back to the Bible Intl.

The People Behind the curtain of  A to Z Challenge [2014]

Arlee Bird -The Founder: Tossing it Out

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian

J for James (Staying at Home) Dr. Kroll Writes......

James

Staying at Home 

Pic. Credit. A to Z Blog challenge 14

Dr. Woodrow Kroll

I grew up in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania.  Nearby lived a simple, godly family named Hershey with five children.  One by one they left home to go to the mission field.  All but one, who stayed home to serve the Lord.

  

NAME: “Supplanter” ("Jacob” in Hebrew)

DATE: 1st Century AD

IDENTIFICATIONS: Oldest son of Mary and Joseph, author of the Book of James

STORY LINE: James was the oldest of Jesus' four younger brothers

READ IT IN THE BIBLE:  Matthew 13:53-58; Acts 15:1-21

Not all of God's servants are called to leave home in answer to God's call.  When Isaiah said, "Here am I! Send me," God sent him to his own people in his own land (Isaiah 6:8-9).  And when the demoniac of Gadara wanted to go with Jesus after the Savior healed him, Christ told him to go home and tell his friends what the Lord had done for him (Mark 5:19).

  

While Thomas was going to India, Philip to Asia Minor, and Paul to the rest of the Roman world, someone had to remain behind in Jerusalem to faithfully lead the flock there.  That someone as James, the younger brother of the Lord Jesus.

Like the rest of Jesus' brothers, James did not come to faith in Jesus until after His crucifixion.  But in the Book of Acts James emerged as a leader of Jerusalem church.  His younger brothers also became believers and traveled to foreign places (1 Corinthians 9:5), but James knew the home front was his mission field (Galatians 2:9).

If you long for a passport filled with stamps from foreign countries, but instead you just have a class of junior high boys, be encouraged by James.  It was his junior high boys who were the next generation of those sent out to capture the world for Christ.  Your home job is important.  Be proud of it. CL

This post is posted as part of  A to Z Blog Challenge 2014 

Source: 

Back to the Bible Intl.

Confident Living Magazine

Pic. Credit: A to Z Blog Page/ Back to the Bible Int.

The People Behind the curtain of  A to Z Challenge [2014]

Arlee Bird -The Founder: Tossing it Out

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian