�Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for �God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.� Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.� - I Peter 5:5-7.

This week a federal appeals court in the United States ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is an unconstitutional "endorsement of religion" because of the phrase "under God" that was added in 1954 by Congress. However, the court that made the ruling is already having second thoughts because of the tremendous outrage expressed by the American people, the President, legislators, and other officials. I liked what Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said and I hope it is true, "This decision is so much out of the mainstream of thinking of Americans and the culture and values that we hold in America, that any Congressman that voted to take it out would be putting his tenure in Congress in jeopardy at the next election."

�Under God.� Only two words but they obviously have tremendous meaning for millions of people. Not only should our nation be �under God� but also hopefully every Christian should consider themselves to be under God. To receive Jesus as our Savior we must humble ourselves to the point of realization and acknowledgement that we cannot save ourselves. We are therefore �under God� if we know Jesus as our personal Savior.

As Christians we should also be �under God� in every area of our lives. Each day we make many decisions, do we consider God�s will or do we exclude Him? Are those decisions �under God� or are they under our own personal desires. This thought can be extended to everything in our lives from our marriages to our careers.

Joshua addressed this very well bringing the people to a time of decision as he said, �And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).�

We too have a choice to make. Will we choose to serve the One True Living God humbling ourselves under His mighty hand or will we serve ourselves? But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

�So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.� - Psalm 63:2-3.

When David wrote the 63rd Psalm he was in the wilderness fleeing for his life. I am amazed at how David even in the most difficult circumstances continues to turn to God, continues to trust God, and continues to praise God. I also marvel at Christians today in the midst of their own trials, tribulations, and even persecutions who continue to praise and serve God. I receive emails nearly every day from people who are going through very difficult things in their lives but still they persist in praising and serving God.

The apostle Paul who also knew a little about serving under difficult conditions tells us in I Corinthians 15:57-58, �But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.� What a wonderful testimony of faith is given when those who from outward appearances have little reason to praise God but not only praise Him but continue to serve Him. Paul gives us the assurance that our �labor is not in vain in the lord.�

Why do Christians continue on in praising God and serving Him during difficult times? Because they have the witness of the Spirit within (I John 5:10a), and as Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:68)."

So today if you are under pressure from the world, and thinking about giving up, or giving in remember the great example we have of those who have gone before us. Keep on praising and serving God because as David says, �Your loving kindness is better than life.� Keep on praising and serving God because as Peter points out there is nowhere else to go because, �You (Jesus) have the words of eternal life.� Finally, keep on praising and serving God because as the apostle Paul says, �your labor is not in vain.� So my much beloved brothers and sisters in Christ continue to �be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.� �Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15).�

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." - Ephesians 6:10.

The Federal Aviation Administration publishes a monthly aviation safety newsletter written by Fred P. Harms. I stumbled onto their December 2001 newsletter entitled �Almost Stupid� in which Fred says, �In any given year fuel mistakes by pilot�s account for roughly 10% of the accidents by general aviation. There are usually two distinct types of errors leading to either fuel starvation or fuel exhaustion. Fuel starvation occurs when there is fuel aboard the aircraft, but it does not reach the engine, either because of mistakes in switching fuel flow controls, or because of contaminants in the fuel, or blockage in the supply lines. The second type is fuel exhaustion, when all usable fuel is expended.� Fred sums up his article by saying, �Pilots don�t intend to have accidents. When they occur they are usually the consequence of human factors, not stupidity. Running out of gas however is almost stupid.�

A frequent cause of the loss of spiritual power is not an empty fuel tank but some type of blockage. Blockages can come about through a variety of ways including: failing to treat our wife with honor (I Peter 3:7), grieving (Ephesians 4:30) or quenching (I Thessalonians 5:19) the Holy Spirit, failing to confess our trespasses or faults (James 5:16), and through being prideful (I Peter 5:5).

The classic reason for a lack of spiritual power is a lack of fuel. How do we fuel up spiritually? By praying (Luke 18:1), by having an intake of God�s Word (Matthew 4:4), by assembling with other believers (Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24-25).

The fact is that most of us know that there are some things that we need to avoid spiritually, and to do spiritually. Fred Harms says, �One reason pilots run out of gas is that they don�t know how much (fuel) they have even when it is full.� That can be our problem as well. Losing power, using up our spiritual fuel occurs gradually and we may not even know we are sitting on empty until the crash comes.

What�s the solution for us? Don�t wait until you crash, fill up every day so you will know you have the spiritual fuel needed to face the challenges of each day. Remember Fred P. Harms says, �Running out of gas�is almost stupid.�

�Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. ...And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, �Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.�� - Acts 20:7,9-10.

It can be dangerous to fall asleep in church or even in a courtroom. Danielle Davidson found out about the hazards of sleeping in court when she dozed off after staying up late several nights studying for college exams. The judge found her sleeping to be disturbing because the people in the courtroom were laughing at her and he sentenced her to spend two days in jail. I�ve done my share of sleeping in church (Never in court - usually too much tension.) and I think it is because it is such a peaceful place. But some preachers especially in generations gone by were intolerant of people sleeping while they were preaching. At the church where I pastor a previous pastor one morning had just started his sermon and noticed some people were already asleep. He must have been a little upset because he stopped preaching and went home telling them if they were going to sleep they could just sleep. One of those who was there said that it was such a shock that he woke up after the preacher said that.

Eutychus and Paul had the ultimate sleeping in church experience. Can you imagine falling asleep during a sermon, dying and coming back to life with the apostle Paul lying on top, hugging you? And depending on whether you went to Heaven or Hell while you were dead it could be even a greater shock! You have to think that Eutychus resolved never ever to sleep in church again!

Of far greater consequence than falling asleep in church or even in a courtroom is that of falling asleep to the spiritual realities of life. The apostle Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5:6; 8, �Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. �But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.� We should be constantly aware that there is a spiritual side to all of life.

Our Father is at work and we should be constantly seeing if we might somehow join Him in that work. There are those who are going out into eternity without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We should be standing in the gap through prayer, through witnessing, through giving, and through service holding back the lost from perishing. ��watch and be sober� be ready for action, be ready to �warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thessalonians 5:14-18).�

Have you been asleep? Wake up! There is much to do!

�Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.� - Hebrews 4:7b.

Living in the country does have some drawbacks as we have been plagued by the invasion of tiny bugs and now that they have been beaten back we are now swarmed with countless grasshoppers. Soon it will be time for bagworms and wasps but we are spraying early for the bagworms this year. I sometimes have to almost laugh when I think how insignificant our little bug problems are compared to those of the Egyptians (Exodus 7-12). The Egyptians were plagued with frogs, lice, frogs and locusts (And also plagues of blood, cattle pestilence, boils, hail, darkness, and death of the first-born came upon them.).

Why did God send plagues upon the Egyptians? He was trying to get their attention and specifically the attention of their Pharaoh. God was also demonstrating in a very spectacular way His superiority over the false gods of the Egyptians. You would think that Pharaoh after the third or fourth plague would have gotten it that he would have understood that there is a real God and that he, Pharaoh, was just a man. But nothing is able to gain Pharaoh�s attention and eventually great disaster descends over the Egyptian people as a result of his denial of the spiritual realities and refusal to obey the demands of the One True God.

Pharaoh had a heart-hardening problem (Exodus 7:14) but people today still have the same kind of problem. How often do we know God would have us to do some thing or not have us do some thing and we do what we want even though we know it is wrong? We have hardened our heart when we do what we want instead of what God wants. Has God been speaking to you? Have you been ignoring Him? God in the past has spoken to people in a wide variety of ways including: a direct and audible voice, through another person, through plagues, visions, dreams, circumstances, prayer, His written Word, promptings of the Holy Spirit, and a donkey.

God defines hearing differently than we do. If we hear a voice audibly or even read something we would say that we have heard what someone is trying to say to us. However, just knowing what God says is not hearing. Hearing God means we do what He says (Matthew 7:21-27). Have you �heard� God lately or are you waiting for a plague?

�I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from Me.� - Hosea 13:8-9.

Growing up on a farm one thing I learned quickly was that you do not want to appear to be a threat to a cow�s calf. Very docile cows that previously have let you pet them will become out of control monsters trying to destroy you if they believe you are trying to harm in any way their calf. Motherhood at times will also make a cow unreasonable and angry for no apparent reason. As dangerous as a cow may be when her calf is threatened a bear is much more dangerous. God describes Himself as being just as dangerous to Israel.

God had repeatedly demonstrated His love and forgiveness for Israel but the people repeatedly shunned His love by their evil actions. Eventually God disciplined Israel while at the same time reminding them (Hosea 13:4-6; 14:1-2) of His great love for them. We must not think that we are better than Israel. We are told in Hebrews 12:5-8, �My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.�

We should learn from what happened to Israel. Israel had many loves (Hosea 13:1-2) and God was not at the top of the list. We tend to move toward that which we desire and love the most. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, �But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.� God must be at the top of our love list. When we have God in the proper place in our lives then everything else will fall into place, as it should be. When God is in the proper place in our lives then we will have no reason to fear the bear.

Where is God at on your love list?

�And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, �God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:13-14.

�If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.� - I John 1:9.

It is always necessary for us to confess to God our sins, if we have sin in our lives, before further growth can occur. But before that confession can occur in a meaningful way we must understand and agree that we have sinned. If you remember King David�s sin with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11-12) you will also remember that God did confront him with his sin through the prophet Nathan. As a result of that confrontation and David finally comprehending that he had sinned we have his Psalm of confession, Psalm 51. David pleads, �Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight�(Psalm 51:1-4).�

A friend of mine once came to me concerned about whether or not he had salvation. My friend had been in church all of his life and said that he had given his heart to Jesus long ago. However, it seemed for several years that at times he would doubt his salvation. As we talked and prayed together I suggested that he should search his heart over the next few days to see if there might possibly be some unconfessed sin hiding in his heart. A few days later George came to me and said that it had been revealed to him. It seems that years before when he was working for a company that he would use their tools after hours when he would have an opportunity to work for himself. He told me he had sent a check to his former employer, which he believed would be the cost of rental on the tools. His former employer unknown to George then gave the same amount as a donation to George�s church.

George no longer doubts his salvation and has moved forward with His Lord growing more and more conformed to His image. If you have stopped growing and your growth as a Christian has become stunted I would encourage you to examine your heart asking God to search your heart and reveal to you any unconfessed sin. If you find sin that you need to confess and repent of I would encourage you to follow the examples of King David and my friend George. Confession and repentance is not easy but oh how much better we feel when everything is right between us and the Lord. How much easier it is to pray, read His Word and be around other believers when all is well in our hearts.

�Jesus said to him, �If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.� Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, �Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!�� - Mark 9:23-24.

This man brought his son to Jesus for help. Why? There was nowhere else for him to turn for help. From childhood his son had suffered and no one had been able to help and even the disciples had been unable to help. But still the man comes to Jesus to seek His help. You probably have been there at some point in your life or you may be there now. You are at the end of your rope and your fingers are losing their grip. You�re just not sure how much longer you can hold on and you call out to the only One who has the power to help.

The man who brought his son to Jesus was blessed with the miraculous healing of his child. However, if you look closely at the story you see in verse 26 at first everyone thought he had died. But then Jesus lifted him up and �he arose.� The man who had prayed for Jesus� help for his unbelief received help. No doubt his faith was strengthened far beyond what he could have ever dared to hope. Also the faith of others was strengthened including onlookers and that of the disciples. When you grow through a crisis others will grow as well.

It seems I have had many crisis situations in my life in which I turned toward God and not away from Him. The first one occurred early in our marriage and early in my life as a Christian. I was far from God and my wife told me she was leaving me. I prayed for the first time in a long time and she came home at the end of the week. My prayer life was strengthened incredibly. The second time I was in a crisis with temptation. I prayed and God delivered me and I grew so much closer to Him. The third time I was in a crisis when my son was born with Downs Syndrome. I prayed for him to be healed and to be made �normal� but God answered my prayer by saying He would be with me and He has been with me. My son has been one of God�s greatest blessings in my life. Not an easy blessing sometimes but still a blessing that continues to draw me nearer and nearer to my Lord.

I could tell you of more recent crises but I think you can get the picture. I know of many including friends who during times of crisis have turned away from God and the result has been a lack of growth in their lives. If, however, during our times of crisis and despair we turn to God we will grow and He will use it to bring about good in our lives and the lives of others. Allow God to �help� your �unbelief�.

�Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, �Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.� Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work (Acts 13:13). Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.� - Acts 15:36-40.

Last year (2001) the Edmonds, Washington city council decided to throw out a donated a 60-year-old totem pole that they thought was cheap in appearance. On the way to the landfill the totem pole took a detour to the home of Sydney Locke a demolition company employee. Sydney saw the totem pole in the trash bin liked what he saw, got it out and took it home. For some unknown reason city officials were upset by Locke�s actions, and filed a lawsuit to reclaim the totem pole as the legal owners. The council did not suddenly find an attraction or use for the totem pole they just want to make sure it gets to the landfill and stays there.

I�m not sure how the conflict between Sydney and the city of Edmonds has worked out but one thing is sure and that is that there will always be conflict of one kind or another. Conflict is not only encountered in the world but also in the church. The apostle Paul and Barnabas had a severe conflict over whether or not to take John Mark on the second missionary journey with them and as a result they parted company. Paul took Silas with him and Barnabas took John Mark.

With the conflict of Paul and Barnabas we can see that good and growth can come from it (Romans 8:28-29). First, we see that God was able to use this bad thing to double the number of missionary teams and the area covered. Second, we see that growth came to the life of John Mark. No one is sure why John Mark deserted during the first missionary journey. Some think it was the encounter of persecution that frightened him. Some think it was disease (Paul�s eye problem which some believe was his thorn in the flesh could have been caused by an infectious disease. Acts 23:2-5; Galatians 4:15; 6:11) that the team encountered that made him leave. Others think he was simply homesick and tired or it may have been some other unknown reason. The great thing we see about this conflict is that Mark was not driven away from God. Instead we see that Mark grew from this conflict and most likely everyone involved including Paul grew as well. We know how the story ended and it is recorded in II Timothy 4:11 where Paul writes, �Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.�

God can bring growth out of conflict if we allow Him to. First, we must resolve to always treat others involved according to the way Jesus would have treated them. Second, we must resolve to seek God�s will and purpose to be fulfilled. Third, we must seek to draw closer to God. Fourth, sometimes it is necessary to give yourself and others second chances. Barnabas was willing to give Mark another chance but Mark had to be willing to try again. Finally we see that the apostle Paul as a result of the actions of Barnabas and Mark was willing to give Mark another opportunity for ministry.

Are you involved in some kind of conflict? If you are try the things listed above and most likely your conflict will be resolved or neutralized and you find that you have grown as a child of God being more conformed (Romans 8:29) to the image of Christ.

�Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.� - I Corinthians 9:23-27.�

It is amazing what pain people will put themselves through in order to approve their appearance from botox injections to major cosmetic surgery. The most shocking and painful thing I have heard of lately is called the Ilizarov procedure. The procedure is used to hopefully add a few inches to a person�s height by breaking the bones in the thighs or shins. Special leg braces, which must be adjusted four times per day, are placed on the legs to pull the bones apart. This painful process is continued over a six-month period and then there is still three months of recovery that are necessary. The procedure is very popular with younger Chinese men and women who hope to improve their professional and social situation. One woman said that after the procedure is completed, "I'll have a better job, a better boyfriend, and eventually a better husband. It's a long-term investment."

For us to grow as Christians it is necessary that we too endure some pain. We must be just as dedicated and steadfast as a marathon runner. We must persistently continue on with the Christian disciplines that we know are so very necessary to our growth. A daily intake of God�s Word is essential (Matthew 4:4) and some things may have to be sacrificed to bring that about. It may be necessary to wait until the evening to read the morning newspaper. It may be necessary leave the television off until after we have completed our morning Bible study. It may be necessary to wait until later to think about some things at work so that we will have time for prayer. It may be necessary to give up some time at the lake fishing or swimming so that we will not forsake the assembling with other believers.

There is some pain involve in the Christian life if we want to be �temperate in all things� as Paul says. Being temperate is to have temperance, which is a fruit of the Spirit and means self-control (Galatians 5:23). In order to resist temptation and control our earthly lusts and desires bringing our bodies under subjection we must experience the pain of discipline. We can run the race and win the prize but not without the pain of discipline.

The apostle Paul had a greater fear of disqualification than he did of the pain of discipline and we should too. The pain of discipline in the Christian life is the greatest long-term investment that anyone can make. How large is your investment?

�In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.� - Psalm 77:2-6.

�But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.� - Psalm 77:10-12.

Shaquille O�Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers says that he uses meditation to relax himself and to help think more positively. He says: "Actually, when I'm meditating, I'm not thinking about basketball, I'm thinking about family. I'm not thinking about the game, I'm thinking about my two daughters, my two sons�.� Phil Jackson the Lakers� coach has times set aside for his players to meditate several times a week. However, Jackson is hesitant to share details of the meditation sessions. He says the meditation promotes clearer thinking.

What is meditation? The dictionary defines the word �meditate� in this way: to reflect on or muse over, contemplate; intend, purpose; and to engage in contemplation or reflection. The dictionary says to meditate implies a definite focusing of one�s thoughts on something so as to understand it more deeply. The word �muse� is said to suggest a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance. The word �ponder� is the synonym for �meditate� and implies a careful weighing of a problem. It can also mean to think or consider quietly, soberly, and deeply. All of the definitions the dictionary gives, which I have shared above, can be involved in Biblical meditation.

Biblical mediation is different from that of the world. The world may imagine itself in a peaceful setting or contemplate the family as Shaquille does. There is nothing wrong with doing that and it may even provide some health benefits. But Biblical meditation is more than that and provides much greater benefits to every area of your life. As with any type of meditation to meditate Biblically requires planning, purpose, intent of the heart and mind. Meditation involves your thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us that we should only think about the good things and Paul provides a list which its context indicates that such thinking will help to provide us with joy and peace.

In Joshua 1:8 we are told that the Book of the Law should not depart from our mouths and that we should meditate in it day and night. The result will be that we will living according to it and have success in life. Psalm One tells us that blessed will be the person that delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates in it day and night. The result will be that �He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.�

The Word of God should be constantly in our hearts and minds. We should make a conscious effort to read the Word of God each day. We should have verses of Scripture memorized that we may run through our mind, contemplate, and savor as we live each day. We should consciously remember the great blessings of God in our lives giving thanks for them. Biblical meditation should be a constant ongoing devotion, which we live out before our God. Let us meditate!

(A special thanks to Denise �onedenise36� who wants to grow, be strong in the Lord and wanted to know more about meditation.)

�For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.� - Luke 19:10.

�Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.� - Luke 12:6-7.

Some people may feel more lost and forgotten than others. In the District of Columbia the Department of Corrections apparently forgot about a homeless man for five months. After charges against the man were dropped the DOC held him in custody for five months claiming computer records had not been updated allowing for his release. In Japan immigration authorities had a similar problem forgetting about one individual they held in custody for almost two months after release should have occurred. Immigration authorities said that the expiration of the detention period �had been forgotten.�

The word �languish� is somewhat of a forgotten word, which means: to be or become feeble, or weak; to be or live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality; or to become dispirited. While we may not be languishing forgotten in a prison or jail cell somewhere we may feel forgotten by God and we may be �languishing� in this state of existence. The psalmist experienced this and says: �I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel (Psalm 31:12).�

The good news is that God has not forgotten you and He knows exactly where you are. God knows everything about you including how many hairs you have or don�t have on your head. God has not forgotten even about the sparrows and you are of so much more value than they are to Him. You were the reason Jesus came down from the glories of Heaven and suffered and died on the cross. He came to find and save you.

How do we escape from our languishing and of feeling forgotten and lost? We must through faith put our trust in the Lord. The Psalmist says �The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:9-10).� We must do even in the face of our feeling forgotten, abandoned, and languishing what David did. We must seek the refuge of the Lord we must commit ourselves, our lives, everything that we are and hope to be into the hands of God. David says even though he is feeling forgotten and abandoned, �Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth (Psalm 30:5).

As Jesus was dying on the cross (Luke 23:46) He quoted Psalm 30:5, �Into Your hand I commit my spirit.� As great men and women down through the centuries have been martyred for their faith it has been recorded that many of them also quoted the same words as Jesus. Let us not wait until death to place our lives into His hands. Let us do so now.

�Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man�s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the Natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.� - I Corinthians 2:12-14.

If you ever go to Greece please do not do any �plane spotting� and under no circumstances let anyone see you writing down the airplane numbers. Eight tourists from the United Kingdom found that out the hard way. After these English tourists were caught spotting planes and writing down numbers they were arrested. Not only were they arrested but they also have been sentenced to three years in prison. Very strange isn�t it but the authorities in Greece will not believe that someone could innocently write down airplane numbers. The Greek officials will not budge from their belief that anyone who writes down airplane numbers has to be a spy. The officials refuse to see the truth of the tourists� innocent activity.

If you have ever tried to witness to a lost person you may know what it is like to talk to someone who refuses to see the truth. To those of us who are Christians we easily accept the truth of the Word of God through faith. The Spirit of God within us reveals this truth. However, those who are not Christians do not have the Holy Spirit living within them. Because of this they will misinterpret the Scriptures and non-believers will warp the meaning of the Scriptures if they are involved in a discussion. The natural man, the non-believer cannot understand the things of God.

So if the non-believer refuses to see the truth how can they ever come to know God? God is working in their lives to draw them, the non-believers to Him. Jesus says, �No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44).� It is God�s will that all would be able to know, understand, and receive the Truth. Jesus says, �And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40).�

What should be our response to the refusal of the non-believer to see the truth? Our response should be one of love and understanding of the spiritual situation. We should pray that God will continue to move and work in the person�s life and if possible let the non-believer know that we are praying for them on a daily basis. At the same time we must live out our faith before them demonstrating the love of God. Pray that God will remove their spiritual blindness so that they will come to know, love, and serve the One True God.

�To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.� - Titus 1:15.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico Amadeo Salguero was arrested for the carjacking of an Acura at the point of a gun from three people. The Acura had an excellent stereo system which most likely was what Salguero was after. Salguero was having difficulty operating the system and so he called one of his victims and asked, �I don't want there to be hard feelings, but, hey, how do you hook up your amp?" The call was traced to Salguero�s cell phone who lived just across the street from where the carjacking occurred.

One translation of Titus 1:15 instead of �defiled� says �corrupted� and both words could be used. With Amadeo Salguero we see a corruption of his conscience. His conscience is so corrupted that he sees little wrong with robbing someone at gunpoint. I�m sure he was quite shocked when the police arrived to arrest him after his call for help about operating the stereo system.

Recently I visited with a deputy sheriff after our church was broken into and he said that the people they were dealing with now are the children of those they were arresting ten to fifteen years ago. Hard to believe but corruption is being taught by the example and words of some parents. Of course the world itself is corrupted and constantly bombards the minds of all of us with its evil message. We should fear having a conscience that is not able to provide a moral guide and that does not know right from wrong or sees everything not as black and white but in shades of gray. Robert J. Little says, � A seared conscience is one whose warning voice has been suppressed and perverted habitually, so that eventually instead of serving as a guide, it only confirms the person in his premeditatedly evil course.�

The solution for uncorrupting a corrupted conscience is found in Hebrews 9:14 which says, �How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?� Once our conscience has been cleansed we should strive to keep it that way as we see in the example of the apostle Paul who says, �I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward and men (Acts 24:16).� In other words Paul strived always to keep his conscience clear or pure. We must do the same!

�A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.� - Luke 6:45.

The Fire Department in Denver, Colorado received a strange emergency call from the nearby city of Montbello. The woman who called claimed to be trapped in her home by tumbleweeds that had filled up her yard jamming against the house. Not only did they fill up her yard they had risen to a height of 16 feet. A spokesman for the Fire Department said there were �thousands� in the woman�s yard.

We have to wonder at what point did the woman in Montbello decide to call for help. Most likely the tumbleweeds piled up over a period of several hours or even days. She apparently waited until the situation was completely out of control. But the important thing to note is that she did finally ask for help.

When the weeds of bad thoughts, evil thoughts, impure thoughts are piling up in our heart at what point do we ask for help? At what point do we decide that instead of constantly imputing thoughts that are damaging we instead store up thoughts that are good? Do we wait until they have piled up to such a point that we are trapped? Do we wait until out of our mouths are coming hateful evil relationship damaging words? Do we wait until we are unable to make a good decision because our hearts are so polluted with evil?

We must be aggressive in controlling those weeds of evil thoughts or they will quickly overrun and ruin our lives. In Proverbs 4:23 we are told to �keep� our hearts or �guard� our hearts. We must filter or bring into subjection every thought, everything that enters our lives. The Bible tells us how to do that in II Corinthians 10:4-5, �For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strong holds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.� In the Name of Jesus we must take captive, take control of every thought, everything that enters our lives. If those thoughts are evil we must take them captive in the Name of Jesus protecting out hearts from those evil weeds.

Not only must we guard our hearts and avoid the pollution of our lives from evil we should at the same time fill our lives with good. The Bible tells us how to do that in Philippians 4:8-9, �Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.�

We must not wait until we are trapped and even destroyed by the weeds of the world. Guard your heart, take captive the evil in the Name of Jesus, and fill your heart with all the good things of God.

(Today�s devotional was written by my son, Clark Wrather. Clark is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma - fbcbb@pine-net.com.)

�For we are God�s fellow workers; you are God�s field, you are God�s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.� - I Corinthians 3:9-10.

Not too long ago, after getting home from work, I put some time into the yard. Fire ants were invading again, weeds needed to be sprayed, shrubs and trees needed to be trimmed, stuff needed to be burned, and the yard needed to be mowed. My son, Madison, wanted to help me do all of these things.

Most of the time while I was mowing, he pushed his plastic mower right along beside mine. We mowed the front yard together. He helped me gather sticks to burn, watched me sprinkle the pellets of death around the fire ants, and helped drag off the things I had trimmed.

He was able to help me with all of these things, but when I sprayed the yard for weeds, I made him go inside. He didn�t like it. Libby said that he threw a fit and wanted to be back outside where his Daddy was. I think his fit was one of his better performances from the way Libby described it.

After she told me about it, I started thinking about how great it is to have a son that loves you. He worked right along beside me and most of the things we did were not that much fun. Even when it was for his own good to be inside, he still wanted to be right where his Father was.

Our relationship with our Father in Heaven should be similar. We should have a desire to be right there beside Him, working with Him to accomplish something, even if it is not the most pleasurable thing we have ever done. What makes us happy should be intimacy with the Father, instead of doing things that please us and avoiding things that we may not like all that much.

There are also times when we cannot work alongside our Father, because it is not in our best interests. It is painful to be unable to serve God as you desire, but sometimes we are unable to do so, because it is for our own good.

Do you have a desire to be wherever the Father is? Then find some place to serve Him.

�And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.� - Philippians 4:19.

Moses was provided with a supernatural resource from God to use in confronting the Egyptian Pharaoh and leading the people of Israel to freedom. The supernatural resource provided to Moses was his shepherd�s staff. The staff or rod cast on the ground became a snake and when picked up by the tail again became a rod. The rod was stretched out over the river and the water turned to blood. The rod was stretched out again over the water and frogs covered the land of Egypt. When the rod was stretched out or used the plagues came over the land of Egypt.

When the people of Israel were between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army Moses cried out to God to help them. God�s response? �Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:15).�

What would have happened if Moses had refused to use the supernatural resource that God had given him? He would have failed. If we refuse to use the supernatural resources God has provided for us we will also fail. What resources has God provided for us? Prayer (Luke 18:1), the Bible (Matthew 4:4), and the Church (Hebrews 10:24-25) are supernatural resources provided to all of the children of God.

How many times have we come to God in times of crisis and cried out to Him for help? How often do we act like Moses at the Red Sea having the Rod of God but not using it until God says, �Why do you cry to Me? ... But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.� Is your prayer time an hour of prayer or a moment of prayer? Do you have a daily Bible reading time or a monthly Bible reading time? If you are physically able do you assemble with other believers or you have a �better� use for your time?

If we refuse to use the supernatural resources provided by God we will live in spiritual defeat.

�The woman said to Him, �Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come there to draw.� Jesus said to her, �Go, call your husband, and come here.� The woman answered and said, �I have no husband.� Jesus said to her, �You have well said, I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.� The woman said to Him, �Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.�� - John 4:15-19.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:1 that we should �judge not, that you be not judged.� We have taken that to mean that we must not be critical or confrontational of those who are living in sin. However, Jesus gives us the example of the value of confronting someone with truth. If what you were involved in was sin and you did not know it would you want to know? Or, would you want to continue on in blissful ignorance? King David committed adultery and ordered the murder of Uriah to cover up his sin. Then, David married Uriah�s wife and blissfully went about his life for a year without any concern for the terrible thing that he had done. However, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him with his sin.

The woman at the well and King David received the truth in the way it should be received. The truth was life changing for them. However, for many people when they are confronted with the truth it just makes them angry. They certainly would not think that you were a prophet for openly confronting them with the truth. They will however tell you that you ought to get the speck out of your eye before you judge them.

Why was Jesus confronting the woman at the well with truth? Because He loved her and knew that through her many others would come to know the truth as well. Why did God send Nathan the prophet to confront King David with the truth? God confronted David with the truth because God loved him and had great plans for David�s life and for the lives of his descendants.

Why would we want to risk telling someone the truth about sin in their lives? Because we know God loves them and has great plans for them. Of course, confronting someone with the truth is not to be done lightly. Confronting someone with the truth is not to be done in a judgmental way. Confronting someone with the truth should not be done hypocritically. But sometimes it simply must be done if we are to be obedient to our Lord.

�My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.� - I John 3:18.

City Councilman Angel Ortiz of Philadelphia has a little problem. For the past 25 years he has been driving without a license. 17 of those years he was either a council member or municipal employee. Ortiz in response said, �I kept trying to make time to get a new license, and it seemed that something pressing always took precedence.� Not long after the driving without a license problem Ortiz was found to have 53 parking tickets that were outstanding. Of course Ortiz denied knowing anything about any tickets.

We are astounded to know that people like Angel Oritz actually exist! However, if we take a close look at our own lives how many times have we said or indicated we would do something but have not? For example we know as Christians we ought to reach out to those around us and we speak of the need to do so but how often have we actually spoken to others about their need of the Savior? As disciples of Christ we know of the disciplines of the faith and by assuming the identity of a Christian we seek to indicate that we are involved in Christian activities. But are we really?

Is our love for others simply words? We are to follow the example of our Lord in demonstrating our love. The love Jesus had for us was more than words. His love was demonstrated by His actions as He died for us on the cross.

What is it that you have been saying you are going to do as a Christian but have never gotten around to it? How many years have passed without love being more than a word? Maybe it is time we stopped talking about love and did something that demonstrates our love? What do you think?

�Now the Lord had said to Abram: �Get out of your country, from your family and from your father�s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.� So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Har�an.� - Genesis 12:1-4.

Five people in the United Kingdom have agreed to allow interested Internet surfers to determine the decisions they make over the next 15 days. These five will submit one decision each day to those on the Internet to decide for them what they should do. You can help them make their decisions by visiting www.liveyourlife.msn.co.uk Can you imagine being willing to do whatever the majority of random visitors to the �live your life� website votes for you to do?

Perhaps an even harder thing for some people to do would be to allow God to determine the decisions they make each day. What if you were 75-years-old and God wanted you to move to another country, leave most of your family behind, and start a new life? That is what God called upon Abram to do. The most surprising thing about that is that Abram actually did it! Abram did what the Lord God wanted and it changed his life and the life of all his descendants.

Why should we choose to be more obedient to God than millions of random people who visit an Internet Website? Because God will �bless� you and God desires the very best things for you. In contrast other people have their own backgrounds and personal opinions as the basis for their guidance of your life. God, however, always wants the best for you.

What decisions would God have you to make today? If you are not sure about what God wants then ask Him. Are you willing to do what God says for you to do? Are you willing? If you are not willing to do what God wants then pray and ask God to help you to become willing to be obedient to Him.