document.write("<table width=100% cellspacing=1 cellpadding=3 border=0><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2823&z=1\'><b>Serving from the Heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/03\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Repeatedly, the Bible says to \"serve the Lord with all your heart.\" God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don\'t enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.<br \/><br \/>How do you know when you\'re serving God from your heart? <br \/><br \/>The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you\'re doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you, or challenge you, or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don\'t need rewards, or applause, or to be paid, because you love serving in this way.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2823&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2822&z=1\'><b>When Serving God, Listen to Your Heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/03\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The Bible uses the term \"heart\" to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections that you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most. Even today, we still use the word in this way when we say, \"I love you with all my heart.\"<br \/><br \/>The Bible says what is in your heart is what you really are, not what others think you are, or what circumstances force you to be (Proverbs 27:19). Your heart is the real you. It determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2822&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2821&z=1\'><b>Spiritual Gifts for Serving God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/03\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>You can\'t earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them - that\'s why they are called gifts! They\'re an expression of God\'s grace to you: \"Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us\" (Ephesians 4:7 CEV).<br \/><br \/>Nor do you get to choose which gifts you\'d like to have. Paul explains that God determines that, \"It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have\" (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2821&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2820&z=1\'><b>Ministry: Shaped to Serve<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/03\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us is uniquely designed, or “shaped,” to do certain things.<br \/><br \/>Before architects design any new building they first ask, “What will be its purpose? How will it be used?” The intended function always determines the form of the building. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2820&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2819&z=1\'><b>Two Keys to Thinking Like Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/03\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The first half of this mental shift is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking.  Babies, by nature, are completely selfish. They think only of themselves. That is immature thinking: “Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life” (Romans 8:5 MSG).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2819&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2818&z=48\'><b>Discipleship: Renewing Your Mind<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>To change your life, you must change the way you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude. <br \/><br \/>God revealed this thousands of years before psychologists understood it: “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2818&z=48\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2817&z=48\'><b>Spiritual Growth Is a Collaborative Effort <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Once you decide to get serious about becoming like Christ, you must begin to act in new ways. You’ll need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way you think.<br \/><br \/>The verse above shows the two parts of spiritual growth: “work out” and “work in.” The “work out” is your responsibility and the “work in” is God’s role. Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit works with us, not just in us.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2817&z=48\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2816&z=1\'><b>Commitments Shape Your Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>You don’t have to understand all the implications of your decision when you choose to follow Jesus. You simply need to respond to his invitation, to make a commitment to follow Christ.<br \/><br \/>Your commitments shape you life more than anything else. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. <br \/><br \/>Tell me what you’re committed to and I’ll tell you what you’ll be in twenty years. We become whatever we’re committed to.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2816&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2815&z=1\'><b>Discipleship: How We Grow<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rickwarren<\/i><br \/>God wants you to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children . . .” (Ephesians 4:14 PH).<br \/><br \/>Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up.  <br \/><br \/>They’re stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is because they never intended to grow. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2815&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2814&z=1\'><b>The Practice of Surrender<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Paul’s moment of surrender occurred on the Damascus road after he was knocked down by blinding light. For others, less drastic methods are needed to get our attention. Regardless, surrendering is never just a one-time event. Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31 NASB). <br \/><br \/>There is a moment of surrender and there is the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong. The practice of surrender requires perseverance; you may have to re-surrender your life fifty times a day: “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives [daily] to follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NCV). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2814&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2813&z=1\'><b>Everybody Surrenders to Something <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Everybody surrenders to something or someone in life. If not to God, you’ll surrender to popular opinion, to money, to resentment or fear, or to your own pride, lust, and ego.  <br \/><br \/>We were designed to worship something, and when we fail to worship God, we create gods (idols) to surrender ourselves to. E. Stanley Jones said, “If you don’t surrender to Christ, you surrender to chaos.” You’re free to choose what you surrender to, but you’re not free from the consequences of that choice: “So give yourselves completely to God” (James 4:7 NCV). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2813&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2812&z=1\'><b>Surrender Strengthens You <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The paradox of surrender is that it produces power and victory.  Stubborn temptations and overwhelming problems can be defeated by Christ when handed over to him.<br \/><br \/>As Joshua approached the biggest battle of his life, he encountered God, fell in worship before him, and surrendered his plans. That surrender led to a stunning victory at Jericho.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2812&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2811&z=1\'><b>The Blessing of Surrender<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The Bible is very clear about how we benefit when we worship God through surrender: “Agree with him and you will have peace at last! His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong” (Job 22:21 LB). <br \/><br \/>In surrender, you begin to really live the life God intended: “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 LB). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2811&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2810&z=1\'><b>Surrender: Let Go and Let God Work <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Surrendering your life means:<br \/><br \/>•	Following God’s lead without knowing where he’s sending you;<br \/><br \/>•	Waiting for God’s timing without knowing when it will come;<br \/><br \/>•	Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide; <br \/><br \/>•	Trusting God’s purpose without understanding the circumstances.<br \/><br \/>You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2810&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2809&z=1\'><b>Worship: The Barrier of Pride<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Life is a struggle, but what most people don’t realize is that our struggle, like Jacob’s in Genesis 32:22-32, is really with God! We want to be God, and there’s no way we’re going to win that struggle, but we try anyway.<br \/><br \/>A.W. Tozer said, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and interfering with God’s work within us.” <br \/><br \/>We aren’t God, and we never will be. We’re humans, and the times when we try to be God are the times we end up most like Satan, who tried to be equal with God, too.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2809&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2808&z=1\'><b>Worship: Offering Yourself to God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about. <br \/> <br \/>This act of personal surrender is called many things: consecration, making Jesus Lord, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the Spirit. <br \/><br \/>What matters is that you do it, not what you call it. God wants your life, all of it – 95 percent is not enough.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2808&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2807&z=1\'><b>Surrender Is the Heart of Worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The heart of worship is surrender.<br \/><br \/>Surrender is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as the word submission. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser.  <br \/><br \/>Surrender evokes the unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context. Captured criminals surrender to the authorities.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2807&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2806&z=1\'><b>When the Future Seems Uncertain<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>No matter what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the next year, let alone the next few days or weeks. Our best forecasts are just educated guesses.<br \/><br \/>Change is not only increasing in speed and intensity, but also in unpredictability. How can anyone succeed when the future is so uncertain?<br \/><br \/>The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2806&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2805&z=1\'><b>Start with the Faith You Have <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Is it possible to be filled with faith and doubt at the same time? Yes!<br \/><br \/>You can have faith that God wants you to do something and still be scared to death. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is going ahead and doing what you’re called to do in spite of your fear. <br \/><br \/>You have to begin with the faith you already have: it may be just a little, but you start there. A beautiful example of this is the story of the man who brought his sick son to Jesus in Mark 9. Jesus looked at the man and said, “I can heal your son. If you will believe, I will heal him.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2805&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2804&z=1\'><b>Living in Light of Eternity<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many believers who’ve never publicly identified themselves as Jesus commanded – by being baptized. <br \/><br \/>Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to the world, “I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2804&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2803&z=1\'><b>Our Inheritance: Grace, Patience, Wisdom, and Power<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” As children in God’s family we get to share in the family fortune, that everything God has belongs to us (Galatians 4:7). The apostle Paul adds, “I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT). <br \/><br \/>What benefits do we inherit? <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2803&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2802&z=1\'><b>Fellowship: God’s Family Lasts Forever<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, by death. <br \/><br \/>The apostle Paul says, “When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth” (Ephesians 3:14-15 LB).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2802&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2801&z=1\'><b>Fellowship: God’s Own Family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become his children, other believers become our brothers and sisters, and the church becomes our spiritual family: “Jesus pointed to his disciples and said, ‘These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’” (Matthew 12:49-50 NLT).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2801&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2800&z=1\'><b>Fellowship: Formed for God’s Family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/02\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>You were formed for God’s family. <br \/><br \/>“God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory...” (Hebrews 2:10 NCV).<br \/><br \/>God wants a family, and he created you to be a part of it. This is one of God’s purposes for your life, which he planned before you were born. The entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love him, honor him, and reign with him forever.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2800&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2799&z=1\'><b>What Does God Know about You? (Part 3)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Over the last two days we have looked at God’s omniscience – that he knows everything, specifically everything about you and your life. We have been examining God’s presence in your life by breaking it down into five areas. Today we’ll look at the final two.<br \/><br \/>God knows your fears. God knows everything that gets you stressed out. For instance, many of us today are concerned about the economy, and so we have financial fears. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2799&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2798&z=1\'><b>What Does God Know about You? (Part 2)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God knows everything about your faults and failures, and your feelings and frustrations, and he also knows what your tomorrow holds.<br \/> <br \/>God knows your future. We’re all interested in the future. It’s interesting to me the things people will use to try to figure out what’s going to happen next: astrology, horoscopes, reading tea leaves, consulting with people, bio-rhythms.<br \/><br \/>But they’re going to the wrong source because the only one who knows what’s going to happen next is God.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2798&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2797&z=1\'><b>What Does God Know about You? (Part 1)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>One night I was standing in front of the refrigerator. I’d gotten out of bed to make a midnight refrigerator raid even though I was on a diet. And I stood there with the refrigerator door open, thinking, “Just one bite ….” <br \/><br \/>You know how it goes. You get into a debate with yourself: “Go ahead; it won’t hurt this one time.” “No, I’m on this diet.” <br \/><br \/>It’s in moments like these that Satan feeds us a devilish excuse, “No one will ever know.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2797&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2796&z=1\'><b>Why Does God Appear to Bless Evil People?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>A common question among believers is, “Why does God appear to bless evil people?” I’ve asked this question myself. <br \/><br \/>In Matthew 5, Jesus says God causes his blessing to be given to both the evil person and the good person – and that both those who are evil and those who are good go through difficulties. Whether someone is a believer or unbeliever, evil or good, we all face sickness in our families, natural disasters, and all sorts of other problems.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2796&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2794&z=1\'><b>We Know God’s Truth through God’s Commandments<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If I discover truth from the Bible, how do I know the Bible is true? There’s a world of objective evidence, both external and internal, that says the Bible is true. <br \/><br \/>External evidence proves the Bible is a historical book that you can rely on. There are 5,366 copies of the Bible dating from the time it was written to just 70 years afterwards. That fact dispels the urban legend that the Bible was changed as it passed through generations and languages.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2794&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2793&z=1\'><b>We Know God’s Truth through Careful Consideration<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When you tell God, “I want the truth more than anything else,” he will reveal his truth to you in a variety of ways, such as through creation or your conscience and also through careful consideration.<br \/><br \/>In other words, truth is knowable. You can test it; you can experiment with it; you can prove it. <br \/><br \/>If I want to go to San Francisco and I follow a map that takes me to San Francisco, and the next week I follow the same map to San Francisco again, eventually I figure out that the map is true.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2793&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2792&z=48\'><b>We Know God’s Truth through Conscience<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God leads us to discover his truth, not only through creation, but also through our conscience.<br \/><br \/>Some things are hardwired in us by God; we know they are always right or always wrong, no matter what anybody else says. Our conscience tells us this. The Bible says, “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right” (Romans 2:14-15 NLT). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2792&z=48\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2791&z=1\'><b>We Know God’s Truth through Creation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>About 35 years ago, I was at a camp in the mountains. Alone in a room, I prayed, “God, if there is a God, I’m open. If you’re real, I want to know you’re real. And, Jesus Christ, if you can change my life, if there is a purpose for my life, I want to know it.”<br \/><br \/>You know what happened? I didn’t get goose bumps. I didn’t cry. No bright lights shown down. Nothing like that.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2791&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2790&z=1\'><b>There Is a River<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>There is a river that flows from the throne of God, down the celestial main street and into the hearts of those who believe in the Lamb (Revelation 22); the river then flows like streams of living water through those who are one with Jesus (John 7).<br \/><br \/>We hear the river whisper, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37 NIV). We feel its moisture hanging cool in the air, and we stretch and then we stretch again to reach the river’s edge.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2790&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2789&z=1\'><b>Our God Does Not Grow on Trees<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>In 1980, Howard Cosell interrupted a “Monday Night Football” game with the announcement that John Lennon, of the Beatles, had been murdered outside his New York City apartment. <br \/><br \/>In an eerie moment, ABC Sports respectfully cut sound from the game just as a play broke on the field, leaving television viewers – numbed by the news – sitting in silence while fans at the game, unaware of Lennon’s death, cheered wildly.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2789&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2788&z=1\'><b>Hopefully in Love<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>We were singing when I noticed the typo. The lyrics to the praise tune were supposed to be, “I’m hopelessly in love with you.” But someone accidentally typed: “I’m hopefully in love with you.”  <br \/><br \/>The first suggests an abandonment to love: “God, I’m in this relationship head-to-toe, no matter where it leads.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2788&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2787&z=1\'><b>God Loving Us Perfectly<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Perfect love desires communion, the sharing of life together, and so it cannot be expressed from a distance. God so perfectly loved the world that he came up close in Christ, stepping into the brokenness of our lives (1 John 1:1-3): <br \/><br \/>• Into our emptiness, Jesus brings fullness and completion (Colossians 2:9-10).<br \/>• Into our deficit, Jesus brings supply (Philippians 4:19). <br \/>• Into our death, Jesus brings life (Ephesians 2:1, 5). <br \/>• Into our separation, Jesus brings reconciliation (Romans 5:10-11). <br \/>• Into our imperfect love, Jesus brings his perfect love (1 John 4:10).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2787&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2786&z=1\'><b>We Are Desperate for You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Lord, we’re desperate for you. We’re bunched up in confusion, moving by impulse and fear, flitting here and there like a frenzied flock caught in the wilderness of the far country.<br \/><br \/>We are here! We are here! And we know you hear. You’ve heard us before; you’ve swept in and saved us from our hopeless paralysis.<br \/><br \/>Do it again, O, Holy One; how long must we wait?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2786&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2785&z=1\'><b>Spiritual Growth Is Not a Private Matter<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Some of us hesitate to commit ourselves to developing an intentional plan of growth that requires accountability or relationship with others because we believe spiritual growth is a personal and private matter. We choose to believe each person develops in his or her own way at his or her own rate. <br \/><br \/>This is an aberration from the truth. The idolatry of individualism has influenced even the way we think about spiritual growth. So much of the teaching on spiritual formation is self-centered and self-focused without any reference to our relationship to other Christians.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2785&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2784&z=1\'><b>Spiritual Growth Must Be Intentional<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The truth is that growth in the human soul requires a commitment to grow. A person must want to grow, decide to grow, and make an effort to grow. <br \/><br \/>Spiritual growth begins with a decision. It doesn’t have to be a complex decision, but it does have to be sincere. When Jesus’ followers decided to choose his way, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply expressed a desire to follow him, and that was the beginning of an exciting journey of the soul. Jesus took that simple but sincere decision and built on it.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2784&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2783&z=1\'><b>Does Spiritual Growth Just Happen? <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Millions of Christians have grown older without ever growing up; they act as though spiritual growth is automatic. They may have a plan to save for retirement. They may have a plan for sending their kids to college. But they don’t have a strategy for enriching their souls. They leave the single most important facet of human existence to chance! <br \/><br \/>But a soul doesn’t automatically grow to maturity any more than a baby automatically grows to physical maturity. You need to have a plan for feeding, exercise, education – and especially potty training – if a child is going to grow up healthy, strong, and mature.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2783&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2782&z=1\'><b>Four Benefits of Putting Margin in Your Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Here are four immediate benefits you’ll receive by building margin into your life: <br \/><br \/>1. Peace of mind. When you’re not always hurrying and worrying, you have time to think, time to relax, time to enjoy life. We had a bird come into the building one evening before service. He started singing, and it was just like we’d been given an invitation: “Just relax. Everybody except those sitting directly under the bird, relax.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2782&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2781&z=1\'><b>Margin or Marginless?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Margin or Marginless?<\/i><br \/>God, listen to me shout, bend an ear to my prayer… You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all. Psalm 61:1, 3 (MSG)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>A lot of people are on overload and headed for a crash. Consider these statistics: <br \/><br \/>•	People now sleep 2½ fewer hours each night than people did a hundred years ago. <br \/><br \/>•	The average work week is longer now than it was in the 1960s. <br \/><br \/>•	The average office worker has 36 hours of work piled up on his or her desk. It takes us three hours a week just to sort through it and find what we need. <br \/><br \/>•	We spend eight months of our lives opening junk mail, two years of our lives playing phone tag with people, and five years waiting for people who are late for meetings.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2781&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2780&z=1\'><b>How to Be Thankful in Tough Times<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>1. Don’t worry about anything. Worrying doesn’t change anything. It’s stewing without doing. There’s no such thing as born worriers; worry is a learned response. You learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it from experience. That’s good news. The fact that worry is learned means it can also be unlearned. Jesus says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2780&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2779&z=1\'><b>A Resolution Worth Keeping<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2009\/01\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is from Jon Walker.<br \/><br \/>How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? You remember that list you made with optimistic enthusiasm but unrealistic expectations. <br \/><br \/>One of my friends started making New Year’s resolutions like, “I won’t lose ten pounds this year,” and “I commit to watching the Super Bowl this year.”<br \/><br \/>I suspect Paul only had one resolution on his list: “This year I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2779&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2778&z=1\'><b>Lessons in Contentment<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Here are four steps to develop contentment in your life.<br \/><br \/>1. Stop comparing yourself to others. When you compare your life with someone else’s, the only place it can lead is toward discontentment. There will always be people who appear to be better off than you, but you don’t know their real circumstances. <br \/><br \/>I recall counseling a husband many years ago, and he said he wished his wife could be more like so-and-so, and he named a woman in our congregation. What he didn’t know is that the woman was a functioning alcoholic causing incredible heartache and stress for her family and for her husband.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2778&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2777&z=1\'><b>The Captivity of Discontentment<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/30<\/i><br \/><i>The Captivity of Discontentment<\/i><br \/>Imagine a new reality show called, “Why is it in your closet?” The host, acting like your best friend, goes through your closet, asking why you own this outfit or those pair of shoes. <br \/><br \/>A condition of the show requires you to answer honestly how many items in your closet were bought because you just had to have the latest trend or because you felt just a teeny, tiny bit jealous about the way your co-worker always wears the latest styles at the office? Are there things in your closet you bought because you were bored with your wardrobe, or because the scent of discontent filled the air as you shuffled between hangers?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2777&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2776&z=1\'><b>Don’t Settle for Happiness; Aim for Joy<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>A man once told me that he’d broken up with his fiancé because she didn’t make him happy enough. Mind you, he was happy with her; she just didn’t make him as happy as he felt a future wife should.<br \/><br \/>What this man told me gives memorable insight into how some people view happiness: They believe happiness is dependent upon the people, the things, and the circumstances that surrounded them. <br \/><br \/>Yet, the Bible says don’t settle for happiness; aim for joy. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2776&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2775&z=1\'><b>What Kind of Peace Does Jesus Give?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>•	Peace with God (spiritual) – “Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 TEV).<br \/><br \/>•	Peace of God (emotional) – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). <br \/><br \/>•	Peace with each other (relational) – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 KJV).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2775&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2774&z=1\'><b>Christmas: Open Your Gift from God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>You’re not reading this by accident. No, God knew before you were born that you would be here in this moment. He planned to get your attention for just a few seconds so he could say this to you: “I’ve seen every hurt in your life, and I’ve never stopped loving you. You matter to me. I love you more than you will ever know. I made you to love you, and I’ve been waiting for you to love me back.”  <br \/><br \/>God is saying, “I want the rest of your life to be the best of your life. I’m with you, and I’m for you. I want to save you from your past. I want to save you for the purpose I made you for. And I want to save you by my grace. If you’ll let me do that, I will give you peace with me, peace of me, and peace with other people. But you’ve got to open the door and receive the Christmas gift.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2774&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2773&z=1\'><b>Christmas: Peace with Each Other<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Once you make peace with God and have the peace of God in your heart, you’re able to make peace with other people.  <br \/><br \/>God says, “I want you to be a peacemaker. I want you to be a reconciler.”  The Bible calls this “the ministry of reconciliation.”  <br \/><br \/>As I’ve traveled from country to country over the past few years, I’ve seen the same problem – conflict. Between husbands and wives, between generations, ethnic groups, religious groups, language groups – between nations. The greatest need in our world is reconciliation. “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2773&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2772&z=1\'><b>Christmas Brings the Peace of God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Once you make peace with God, that’s spiritual peace, then you get the peace of God in your heart and that’s emotional peace.  <br \/><br \/>This is the one you really need for daily living. The peace of God happens in your heart when you’ve made peace with God. All of a sudden, the stress in your life goes down. You’re not as angry as you used to be. Things don’t bother you as much. You’re a lot more patient. You’re filled with a lot more love and peace.  <br \/><br \/>Why? Because once you have peace with God, you have the peace of God in your heart.  <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2772&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2771&z=1\'><b>Christmas Means Peace with God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Do you realize that if you’re trying to live your life without God, you are at war with him? You are at war with God, and you need a peace treaty. You need reconciliation because your relationship with God has been broken.  Jesus Christ came to be that bridge, to be the reconciler between God and man.  <br \/><br \/>When you trust Jesus, he makes it all go away. He says, “I’m going to completely wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. You’re completely forgiven. Come on home!” <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2771&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2770&z=1\'><b>Christmas Brings Reconciliation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Peace on earth and good will toward men – that’s reconciliation.<br \/><br \/>What is reconciliation? It’s when a broken relationship is restored. When a boyfriend and girlfriend or a husband and wife get back together, there’s reconciliation. When a father and son restore peace between each other, there’s reconciliation.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2770&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2769&z=1\'><b>Christmas: God’s Grace at Work<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God says, “I will give you my grace.” What is grace? That’s when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Grace is when God says, “I’m going to take your problem and make it my problem.” Grace is God’s Riches given to you At Christ’s Expense.  <br \/><br \/>The Bible says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). In other words, you can’t earn your way to heaven. You can’t work your way in. It’s just a gift.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2769&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2768&z=1\'><b>Christmas: Saved for a Purpose<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The Bible also teaches that Jesus came to save you for something. God has a purpose and a plan for your life; he created you for a specific mission.<br \/><br \/>The Bible says: “He saved us and he called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9 TEV). You can live life at one of three levels: survival, success, or the highest level – significance.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2768&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2767&z=1\'><b>Christmas: God Changes Us<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Have you figured out yet that a lot of times you are your own worst enemy?  It’s your own reactions, your own fears, your own inadequacies that cause you to act in foolish ways. I know that’s true for me. <br \/><br \/>I need to be saved from myself because there are things I don’t like about me – things I wish I had done differently, things I’d like to change. But I can’t change them, not on my own power. I need an outside power source. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2767&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2766&z=1\'><b>Christmas: Saved from Our Sin<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The term sin is tossed around so often that, for many people, it’s lost any significant meaning. They think of sin as a list of things they shouldn’t do. And, since everybody has their own list of sins, what may seem bad to me might not be such a bad behavior for you.<br \/><br \/>The problem with thinking of sin in this way is that I will look at my list and think, “If I just don’t do these things, then I’m not a sinful person.” And, you’ll look at your list, and think the same thing. And, we’ll both look at each other’s list and think, “His list is all wrong! A really good person would follow my list, not his!”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2766&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2765&z=1\'><b>Christmas Is a Time of Salvation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Today in the town of David (that’s Bethlehem) a Savior (there’s the salvation part) has been born to you (for you – a savior for YOU); he is Christ the Lord. <br \/><br \/>No doubt you’ve heard the phrase, “He was saved” or “She was saved,” but maybe you’ve wondered what that really means?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2765&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2764&z=1\'><b>Christmas: God Is for You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You’ll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from heaven, ready to yell, “Gotcha!” anytime you mess up. <br \/><br \/>Instead, you’ll realize God loves you; God is with you; and God is for you! God is for your success in life; he created you for a purpose and he wants you to succeed. It is God, your Creator, who will measure your success in life, and no one else.<br \/><br \/>This is extremely good news! <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2764&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2763&z=1\'><b>Christmas: God Is with You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Have you ever been to a baby dedication where the child’s full name is announced to everyone, and the baby has three or four different names from first name to last name? Sometimes there may five or six names in the middle! <br \/><br \/>The baby Jesus was like that; God gave him several names to tell us about the character of Christ and the purpose of his life. One of Jesus’ names is “Emmanuel.” It means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23 NASB). He’s with you always and forever; he will never leave you, and he will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2763&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2762&z=1\'><b>Christmas: God Loves Us<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God loves you so much that he sent Jesus on a mission of love with a message of love. Christmas is a yearly reminder that God loves you. The Bible says God is love. It doesn’t say God has love; it says God is love. Love is his nature – God is love.  <br \/><br \/>And God created the entire universe; he created this planet; he created the human race; then, he created you because he loves you.<br \/><br \/>It could be said the reason you’re alive is because God created you as an object of his love. God made you so he could love you and so that you could love him. God’s love for you is the reason your heart’s beating right now; it’s the reason you’re breathing.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2762&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2761&z=1\'><b>Christmas: Celebration!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>This may come as a shock to you, but God really likes parties. God is into parties; God likes to party; God is constantly throwing parties. In fact, the Bible says that God’s angels throw a party every time a single person trusts Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his or her life. They party for joy whenever someone turns away from self-centeredness and turns toward Jesus.<br \/><br \/>Christmas is a party; it’s a birthday party for Jesus. It’s why we say “Merry Christmas.” Yet, we often leave the guest of honor out of our Christmas parties! Thinking about this irony, I started asking people, “What are you celebrating this Christmas?” This is what a few of them told me:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2761&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2760&z=1\'><b>Some Facts about Fruit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>One of my fondest memories of growing up is my father’s garden. It seemed my dad grew everything in his garden. In fact, he always grew enough to feed the entire neighborhood. Whenever people would stop by our home for a visit, they’d usually leave with a sack full of fresh vegetables and luscious fruit.<br \/><br \/>The kind of fruit my father grew is just one kind of fruit – natural fruit. There is also biological fruit, the offspring of animals and the children of people. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2760&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2759&z=1\'><b>Fruit Grows From Spiritual Seeds<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When you think about your walk with Jesus, some days you may wonder, “Why is this so hard? I’m still struggling with so many problems. When will I finally get it right?”<br \/><br \/>In my journey as a pastor, I’ve learned that spiritual growth is often like the growth we see in nature – the best fruit ripens slowly. In John 12:24, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2759&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2758&z=1\'><b>Whose Battle Is It?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In today’s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They’re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. <br \/><br \/>Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, “You will not have to fight in this battle.” Now, that’s the kind of battle I like! <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2758&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2757&z=1\'><b>Releasing Your Regrets<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>How often do you play the “if only” game?  <br \/><br \/>•	If only I had it to do over.<br \/><br \/>•	If only I had listened sooner.<br \/><br \/>•	If only I could erase the past.<br \/><br \/>•	 If only I could forgive myself.<br \/><br \/>Because no one is perfect, we all have regrets. We’ve all made bad choices, said foolish things, wasted time, and hurt ourselves and others. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2757&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2756&z=1\'><b>When a Friend Betrays<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/12\/1<\/i><br \/><i>When a Friend Betrays<\/i><br \/>Here are three steps toward learning to trust again when a friend betrays:<br \/><br \/>Reveal your hurt to God. Vent your frustrations to God. Tell him about the friend who betrayed your most intimate secret, the family member who broke a promise one too many times, or the co-worker who deliberately worked to make you look bad even while she pretended to be supporting you.<br \/><br \/>God will never be surprised or upset by your anger, your hurt, or your sense of loss over betrayal. You can tell him exactly how you feel, and trust him to understand.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2756&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2755&z=1\'><b>Love Is a Habit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If you only love on and off like a light switch, you do not love others like God wants you to love. Jesus said, “If you only love those who love you what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6:32 NIV). <br \/><br \/>His point is this: anybody can love those who love them. Becoming a master lover means you learn to love the unlovable. It’s when you love people who don’t love you, when you love people who irritate you, when you love people who stab you in the back or gossip about you. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2755&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2754&z=1\'><b>The Bible Says Love Is a Skill<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Love is a skill that can be learned. In other words, it’s something you can get good at and that means you get better at love by practicing love.<br \/><br \/>You may think you’re a good lover, but God wants you to become a great lover, a skilled lover, a master lover. Yet, most people never learn how to love. You can become an expert at relationships.  <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2754&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2753&z=1\'><b>Love Is an Action<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Love is something you do. Do you really love someone? Let’s see how you act toward that person. You show love by what you do, not just by what you feel.<br \/><br \/>Love is more than attraction and more than arousal. It’s also more than sentimentality, like so many of today’s songs suggest. By this standard, is love dead when the emotion is gone? No, not at all. Because love is an action; love is a behavior.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2753&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2752&z=1\'><b>Love Is a Choice<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Love is a choice and a commitment.  You choose to love or you choose not to love. <br \/><br \/>Today we’ve bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it’s something that just happens to us; it’s not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, “I fell in love,” as if love is some kind of a ditch. It’s like I’m walking along one day and bam! – I fell in love. I couldn’t help myself.  <br \/><br \/>But I have to tell you the truth – that’s not love. Love doesn’t just happen to you. Love is a choice and it represents a commitment. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2752&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2751&z=1\'><b>We Love Because God Loves Us<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him – to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God … because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV). <br \/><br \/>We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people; life is all about love.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2751&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2750&z=1\'><b>How to Deal with Conflict Quickly<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>How do you deal with conflict quickly? <br \/><br \/>I’ll tell you, but you’re not going to like it. The solution to resolving conflict is confrontation. <br \/><br \/>That’s right; if you’re going to resolve conflict, you must confront. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2750&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2749&z=1\'><b>Resolve Anger Quickly<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>It’s okay to be angry, but anger becomes wrong when it’s not resolved quickly. The apostle Paul teaches, if you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin and do not stay angry all day. <br \/><br \/>The Phillips translation says, “Never go to bed angry.” That would keep a few of us up all night! If you said, “In our marriage, we’ll never go to bed angry,” you might work toward resolving problems a lot faster. <br \/><br \/>When anger is not dealt with quickly, it can turn to resentment and, then into bitterness. Bitterness is always sin; resentment is always sin; those emotions are always wrong.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2749&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2748&z=1\'><b>Choices Control Your Calendar<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Your choices control your calendar and, as a result, your lifestyle. Your choices are far more powerful than your circumstances. You may not like how complicated your life has become yet, with very few exceptions, no one is forcing you to keep your life complicated. <br \/><br \/>You have the power to simplify your life.<br \/><br \/>The Bible teaches, “We are each responsible for our own conduct” (Galatians 6:5 NLT). To me, that means God expects us to assume responsibility for our lives and to carefully choose how we spend our time. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2748&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2747&z=1\'><b>Choosing a Simpler Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>You’d think that living in Southern California means I’m surrounded by people who live a laid-back lifestyle. The truth is just the opposite: Most of the people I know are trying to cram more and more into each day.<br \/><br \/>For instance, a couple of years ago, I was with a group of friends driving down the interstate. At one point, I looked around and realized most of us were engaged in some activity other than talking to each other. Two people were on their cell phones; another was working on his BlackBerry; and a fourth was focused on his laptop computer. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2747&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2746&z=1\'><b>Jesus Taught the Most Important Command Is to Love<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Tom Holladay<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is from Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.<br \/><br \/>One of the most noticeable things about Jesus’ interactions with others is how people love to ask him questions. Crowds press in with questions; Jesus’ disciples call him aside for questions; and those who disagree with Jesus try to trap him with questions.<br \/><br \/>It’s easy to dislike this third group, and it often seems as though Jesus is wasting his time when talking with them. Doesn’t he know that their questions are just thinly veiled attempts to trick him into saying something they can use to accuse him? Yet he patiently listens to their questions, and he answers them one by one.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2746&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2745&z=1\'><b>Jesus Placed the Highest Value on Relationships<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Tom Holladay<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is from Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.<br \/><br \/>I don’t remember the time or the place or the conference, but the question the moderator asked has stuck in my mind. What I recall most vividly is the answer that immediately flashed into my thoughts.<br \/><br \/>Here is the question: Suppose you’re in a rubber life raft with a friend. You’re approaching an island. The raft is leaking, and you are within sight of land. In the raft with you are a set of signal flares, a<br \/>week’s supply of canned food, and a five gallon container of<br \/>water. You must throw one of these items overboard if you’re<br \/>going to make it to the island. Which one do you choose?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2745&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2743&z=1\'><b>Jesus Taught Nothing Is More Important Than Relationships<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Tom Holladay<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is from Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.<br \/><br \/>Relationships are filled with both wonder and pain. When<br \/>I think of the pain of relationships, literally hundreds of<br \/>pictures flood into my mind from my thirty years as a pastor:<br \/><br \/>•	A couple on the verge of a divorce neither one wants yet both are choosing.<br \/>•	Parents who can’t get through to their child, no matter how much time, money, and heartache they invest.<br \/>•	A son whose dad has treated him with the cruel contempt of abuse.<br \/>•	A friend whose feeling of betrayal is so deep that she never wants to trust anyone again.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2743&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2742&z=1\'><b>Jesus Taught We’re to Love One Another<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Tom Holladay<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is from Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.<br \/><br \/>Relationships are painful. Relationships are wonderful. We all live in the drama that plays out between these two truths.<br \/><br \/>I think of Neal and Robin when I think of the drama of relationships. Married for only a few years, their life together had started strong. And then, with a suddenness that tore their world apart, Robin suffered a brain hemorrhage. <br \/><br \/>As I sat with Neal in the waiting room on the night it happened, we heard the doctor speak in hushed tones about high-risk surgery and low odds of success.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2742&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2741&z=1\'><b>Nurturing a Quiet Soul<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>My older sister, Lori Hensley, a very serious prayer warrior, once taught me to meditate on Psalm 131 to help me move toward God’s peace that passes all understanding:<br \/><br \/>We keep our hearts humble. This doesn’t mean we have a low opinion of ourselves. A humble heart means we know our position in Christ, and so we stop being responsible for the things of which we were never responsible. This frees us to live like God intended and allows us to make uncluttered choices that will move us closer to God.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2741&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2740&z=1\'><b>Who’s Advising You? <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>We all need mentors – people who personally coach us in our walk with God. <br \/><br \/>When I am with a mentor, I ask questions. Asking questions adds to the quality of your life: “Counsel in the heart of man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding draws it out” (Proverbs 20:5 AMP).<br \/><br \/>Every person has a reservoir of knowledge, skills, and experience to share and you’re wise if you learn to draw them out. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2740&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2739&z=1\'><b>The Witchcraft of Rebellion<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Most of us would be shocked and angered if we found out a believer in our congregation was actively using a form of witchcraft to control people, places, things, and circumstances. In spite of our fear, we’d fight back once we learned that the witchcraft was so powerful it had entrapped whole families and small groups of people within the church.<br \/><br \/>In truth, such a form of witchcraft is present among many believers; it’s the incantation of rebellion. Why does the prophet Samuel say rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft? <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2739&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2738&z=1\'><b>Centurion Humility<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Jesus noted the centurion in the Gospels was a man of extraordinary faith. The Roman officer’s servant was sick, and with Jesus on the way to his home, the centurion sent a message telling him there was no need to come. <br \/><br \/>He said, in essence, “I know all you have to do is give the word, and my servant will be healed.” His faith didn’t require the physical presence of Jesus, not to mention the bells and whistles of signs and wonders.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2738&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2737&z=1\'><b>Love That Sweats<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>When Jesus loves, he works up a sweat; he rolls up his sleeves, gets on his knees, and washes our feet with his blood, sweat, and tears.<br \/><br \/>He labors at love, though his love is never like labor. He’s a giver, not a taker, loving us into being with a gifted carpenter’s hands. And he’s no slacker, loving us until we can take no more; no more because we’re filled to overflowing, his love spilling and splashing through our pores into the cores of those we love with his love, a love’s labor not lost on a world that needs to be found.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2737&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2736&z=1\'><b>Jesus and the Brooklyn Dodgers<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>During World War II, a common practice among U.S. guards was to ask questions that, presumably, only someone from the U.S. would know (in the days before the Internet and worldwide television).<br \/><br \/>They’d ask a question like, “What league does the Chicago Cubs play in?” One legitimate U.S. general was held for several hours by security officers because he put the Cubbies in the American League instead of the National.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2736&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2735&z=1\'><b>Surviving Your Schedule<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Do you ever get to the end of your day and think “Did I accomplish anything today?” Where does all the time go?  <br \/><br \/>If you don’t master your schedule, it will master you. Here are three suggestions from the Bible for reducing the stress of your schedule:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2735&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2734&z=1\'><b>Breaking Through the Sound Barrier<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Poor communication is the most frequently mentioned problem in marriage counseling. To really communicate, you must give up three things.<br \/><br \/>You must give up your assumptions. We get into trouble when we start assuming we understand the meaning of what people say to us. The truth is everything you hear goes through a filter. Your filter is determined by your past experiences and your unique personality. <br \/><br \/>You may not be hearing what the other person is really saying. Therefore, it’s smart (and safe) to ask for clarification. There are six possible messages every time you speak:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2734&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2733&z=1\'><b>What’s Your Excuse?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>It’s rare to find people today who are willing to take complete responsibility for their actions. In the victimization that’s present in our culture, our problems are always someone else’s fault.  <br \/><br \/>You can blame whoever you want – the government, your parents, the school you went to, television, your boss, or the rest of society. There’s no need for you to feel bad; anywhere you look there are people to blame.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2733&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2732&z=1\'><b>Living the ‘Good Life’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>A few years ago the planned community of Mission Viejo, California launched an advertising campaign to attract home buyers. They used phrases like “Mission Viejo: the California Promise” and “The place to live the Good Life.” Although “the Good Life” is a well-worn phrase in our culture, I wonder how many people have ever stopped to define what exactly it is.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2732&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2731&z=1\'><b>Beware of Shortcuts<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>A few summers ago my family took a car vacation. We loaded up our van and headed out for an adventure. Our only goal was to see the western half of the United States. By the end of our two week trip, we’d put over 5,000 miles on the odometer. <br \/><br \/>For most of the trip we simply focused on enjoying the journey rather than rushing toward a destination. But in one of the states we traveled through (which will remain unnamed) we were so bored with the scenery that I got the bright idea of taking a shortcut to the next major town.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2731&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2730&z=1\'><b>Do It Now!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Procrastination does tremendous damage to ourselves and others at work. It causes unnecessary pressure and problems … and it wastes opportunities, time, and money.<br \/><br \/>The problem is: procrastination is addicting! The more you succumb to it, the harder it is to change. It becomes a way of life, causing you a lot of misery.<br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2730&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2729&z=1\'><b>The Time of Your Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Why is it that time drags when you want it to pass quickly and flies when you need more of it? It’s not very cooperative!<br \/><br \/>Time is the great equalizer.  We all have the same amount of it.  The difference between successful people and average people is this: Achievers manage their time wisely. Rather than wasting time or spending time, they invest time. They make the most out of each moment.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2729&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2728&z=1\'><b>Faith Is Active<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Is faith simply a frame of mind? Some see it that way … a passive attribute of a Christian waiting to see what God has in store for you: a promotion, cancer, depression, betrayal, blessing, wealth, or injustice. They might say, “I’ll just wait to see what God is going to do for me and go with the flow.” That’s crazy talk. <br \/><br \/>Faith is active. It’s not passive. It’s a commitment. Look at your lifestyle and see what kinds of actions follow as a result of it. If you’ve got the real stuff, faith can be demonstrated. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2728&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2727&z=1\'><b>Don’t Quit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Don’t Quit<\/i><br \/>If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come – yet – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer or that he’s forgotten you or that he doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet!”<br \/><br \/>Spiritual maturity is knowing the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2727&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2726&z=1\'><b>How to Resolve Conflict with Your Spouse (Part 3)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If you’re going to pull together when you’re pulled apart, you have to:  <br \/><br \/>Concentrate on reconciliation, not resolution. Reconciliation means to re-establish the relationship; resolution means to resolve every issue by coming to agreement on everything.  <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2726&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2725&z=1\'><b>How to Resolve Conflict with Your Spouse (Part 2)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If you’re going to pull together when you’re pulled apart, you have to:  <br \/><br \/>Convene a peace conference. Conflict does not resolve itself. It must be dealt with intentionally. Conflict gets worse when you leave it alone. Jesus says don’t ignore it. Deal with the issue while you can. If you’ve got something wrong with somebody or they’ve got something wrong with you, God says you go to them.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2725&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2724&z=1\'><b>How to Resolve Conflict with Your Spouse (Part 1)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Sometimes the biggest conflicts in marriage are over the most trivial issues. One of the silliest fights Kay and I ever had was over bath soap.  <br \/><br \/>If you’re going to pull together when you’re pulled apart, you have to:  <br \/><br \/>Call on God for help. Pray about it. Before you go to your spouse about the problem, discuss it with God. This may solve the problem right there. Practice what I call “ventilating vertically.” Many of you are very good at ventilating horizontally, but ventilating vertically is when you come to God and say, “Here’s how I feel,” and you just lay it out.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2724&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2723&z=1\'><b>How to Develop Self-Discipline<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God wants you to develop a self-discipline that pushes you to do things, even as others are giving up.<br \/><br \/>Over the years, I’ve observed six key expressions of self-discipline:<br \/><br \/>People with self-discipline master their moods. They live by their commitments, not their emotions. People who do the right thing even when they don’t feel like it accomplish most of what gets done in the world! “A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” (Proverbs 25:28 LB). <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2723&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2722&z=1\'><b>How to Overcome Discouragement<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Discouragement is curable. Whenever I get discouraged, I head straight to Nehemiah. This great leader of ancient Israel understood there were four reasons for discouragement.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2722&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2721&z=1\'><b>How to Fight Spiritual Warfare<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:<br \/><br \/>1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense. <br \/><br \/>If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil” (NLT).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2721&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2720&z=1\'><b>How to Have a Quiet Time (Part 4)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Follow a simple plan <br \/>Someone has said, “If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it!” To have a meaningful quiet time, you will need a plan or some kind of general outline to follow. <br \/><br \/>The main rule is this: Keep your plan simple. <br \/><br \/>You will need the following three items for your planned quiet times:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2720&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2719&z=1\'><b>How to Have a Quiet Time (Part 3)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Choose a special place<br \/>The location where you have your quiet time is also important. The Bible indicates that Abraham had a regular place where he met with God (Genesis 19:27). Jesus had a custom of praying in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him” (Luke 22:39).<br \/><br \/>Your place ought to be a secluded place. This is a place where you can be alone, where it’s quiet, and where you will not be disturbed or interrupted. In today’s noisy Western World, this may take some ingenuity, but it is necessary. It ought to be a place –<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2719&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2718&z=1\'><b>How to Have a Quiet Time (Part 2)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The specific time has to do with when you should have your quiet time and how long it should be. The general rule is this: The best time is when you are at your best! Give God the best part of your day, when you are the freshest and most alert. Don’t try to serve God with your leftover time. Remember, too, that your best time may be different from someone else’s.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2718&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2717&z=1\'><b>How to Have a Quiet Time (Part 1)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Once you’re convinced that a daily quiet time is necessary for spiritual growth, how do you go about having one? You may be motivated to do it but may not know how. <br \/><br \/>Start with the proper attitudes<br \/>In God’s eyes, why you do something is far more important than what you do.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2717&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2716&z=48\'><b>How To Start Over After Failure<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Here are four steps to take when starting over after a failure: <br \/><br \/>1. Accept responsibility for your own failure. If you’ve made a mistake, admit it. Welcome to the human race! Don’t blame others. To blame others is to “be lame.” Losers love to blame bad luck, the economy, the boss, their spouse, or even God for failure.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2716&z=48\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2714&z=1\'><b>Changing Your Behavior<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>One of the great psychological discoveries of the past century is that your thoughts control your actions. If you want to change the way you act, you must first change how you think. <br \/><br \/>Actually, thousands of years ago, Solomon pointed this out when he wrote, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT). <br \/><br \/>The Bible says our thoughts influence six areas of our lives:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2714&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2713&z=1\'><b>How to Face an Uncertain Future<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Do not boast about [what you’re going to do] tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1 (NIV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>The Bible offers three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future: <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2713&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2712&z=1\'><b>How to Pray Effectively<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/10\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Here are four secrets to answered prayer from the life of Nehemiah:<br \/><br \/>1. Base your request on God’s character. Pray like you know God will answer you: “I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!\" <br \/><br \/>2. Confess the sins of which you’re aware. After Nehemiah bases his prayer on who God is, he confesses his sins. He says, “We’ve sinned.” He says “I confess . . . myself . . . my father’s house . . . we have acted wickedly . . . we have not obeyed.” It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when it happened and he was most likely born in captivity. Yet, he’s including himself in the national sins. He says, “I’ve been a part of the problem.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2712&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2711&z=1\'><b>How to Handle Conflict<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>I’ll tell you how to deal with conflict quickly, but you’re not going to like it. The solution to conflict resolution is one word: confrontation.<br \/><br \/>If you’re going to resolve conflict, you must confront. But, you don’t have to confront in anger. In fact, you should try not to confront in anger. Lovingly go to the person and, then speaking the truth in love, deal with the problem immediately. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2711&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2710&z=1\'><b>How to Get Past Regrets<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>How often do you play the “If only” game?<br \/><br \/>•	If only I could do it over again.<br \/>•	If only I had listened sooner.<br \/>•	If only I could erase the past.<br \/>•	If only I could forgive myself.<br \/><br \/>The thing to remember is that no one is perfect. We all have regrets; we’ve all made bad choices, and said foolish things; we’ve all wasted time, and hurt ourselves and others. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2710&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2709&z=1\'><b>How to Balance Your Schedule<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>We all have the same amount of time – 168 hours a week. The only question is, “How am I investing it?” We want to learn to invest it wisely so that we won’t be like the man in Isaiah 49:4, who said, “I have used up my strength but have accomplished nothing” (GNT).<br \/><br \/>Ephesians 5:15-17 offers three steps to understanding how to manage your time better:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2709&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2708&z=1\'><b>How to Deal with Your Anger<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Conflict happens. There’s no avoiding it, and so there’s no avoiding anger in your life.<br \/><br \/>In fact, ignoring or denying your anger will simply make things worse. When conflict comes up, deal with it head on and quickly. Don’t let it fester. It’s a big mistake to think, “Let’s ignore it and hope it will go away.”<br \/><br \/>The Bible teaches, in Ephesians 4:26-27 (GNT), “If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Don\'t give the Devil a chance.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2708&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2707&z=1\'><b>How to Determine What Matters Most<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The most important lesson God wants you to learn on earth is how to love. Here are three simple truths about love:<br \/><br \/>1. Life without love is really worthless. We often act as if relationships are something to be squeezed into our schedule. We talk about finding time for our children or making time for people in our lives. That gives the impression that relationships are just a part of our lives along with many other tasks. But God says relationships are what life is all about...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2707&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2706&z=1\'><b>Servants Maintain a Low Profile<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they “put on the apron of humility, to serve one another” (1 Peter 5:5 TEV).<br \/><br \/>If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow notoriety to distract them from their work. Paul exposed a kind of service that appears to be spiritual but is really just a put-on, a show, an act to get attention. He called it “eyeservice,” serving in order to impress people with how spiritual we are (Ephesians 6:6 KJV; Colossians 3:22 KJV).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2706&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2705&z=1\'><b>Servants Finish Their Tasks<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone, and they don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.<br \/><br \/>Faithfulness has always been a rare quality (Psalm 12:1; Proverbs 20:6; Philippians 2:19–22).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2705&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2704&z=1\'><b>Servants Do Every Task with Equal Dedication <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants “do it with all their heart” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).<br \/><br \/>The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? <br \/><br \/>You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It’s a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody” (Galatians 6:3 NLT).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2704&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2703&z=1\'><b>Servants Serve with What They Have<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Real servants do their best with what they have. Servants don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never say, “One of these days” or “When the time is right.” They just do what needs to be done. <br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2703&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2702&z=1\'><b>Real Servants Pay Attention <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: “Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 GWT).<br \/><br \/>When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your “things to do” list.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2702&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2701&z=1\'><b>Servants Make Themselves Available<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. <br \/><br \/>Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty: “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4 NASB).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2701&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2700&z=1\'><b>We Serve God by Serving Others<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>We serve God by serving others. <br \/><br \/>The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.<br \/><br \/>Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2700&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2699&z=1\'><b>How Do You Develop Self-Control?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God does not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Successful people have one obvious trait in common: personal discipline. They are willing to do things that average people are unwilling to do. <br \/><br \/>It’s my observation that successful people express their self-discipline in six ways:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2699&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2698&z=1\'><b>When a Friend Betrays<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Years ago my friend Chris was betrayed by a very close friend. Chris spent over two years mentoring this man, and trusted him so much that the protégé even managed all of Chris’s finances.<br \/><br \/>Then, one night, the protégé inexplicitly left a banquet being held in Chris’s honor, and he laid a trap which led to Chris being arrested on false charges. As Chris was arrested, the protégé leaned close and kissed him on the cheek, saying, “How are you, my blessed teacher?”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2698&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2697&z=1\'><b>Love Needs No Because<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>The love of God needs no because. He does not give his love because of something that you’ve done. He does not give his love because of something he will gain. He does not give his love because it’s something you have earned.<br \/><br \/>He gives his love with no because.<br \/><br \/>We come at love with conditions: you can take it or leave it. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2697&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2696&z=1\'><b>True: God’s Love Fills Me<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>In faith, I know these things to be true:<br \/><br \/>•	God is full of love and grace, and he fills me with his love and grace. <br \/><br \/>•	God’s work within me is to clear a channel for his love and grace to flow through me into the lives of anyone and everyone I meet. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2696&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2695&z=1\'><b>Until We’re Fully Known<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>In relationships the failure to communicate can be extremely frustrating. But, the failure to commune leads us to despair. <br \/><br \/>Communication is usually about sharing information – at its most basic level, the transmitting and receiving of meanings. <br \/><br \/>Communion, however, is about sharing life. It’s about knowing and being known, caring and being cared for on a deep and personal basis.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2695&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2694&z=1\'><b>Lost on the Sin Trail<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>For years I wandered away from God and my image of that time is that of a traveler on a trail through the wilderness. <br \/><br \/>I left the trail and got lost.<br \/><br \/>Wandering in the wilderness, I lost even the memory that I was there because of my own sinful choices. Eventually, I lost the truth that I had any choice at all. It felt like I was held hostage by my choices and that I had no choice but to keep making the same choices. What other choice did I have?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2694&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2693&z=1\'><b>Never Say Amen<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Read this devotional as a prayer:<br \/><br \/>Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray (Matthew 26:40).<br \/><br \/>Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent, consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need your help.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2693&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2692&z=1\'><b>Do Your Best to Rest<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Most of us think of the Sabbath as a day of rest, originating from the day of rest God took after he created the universe, as recorded in Genesis. That view is correct; it’s the reason we should take a Sabbath, a day of rest, each week.<br \/><br \/>Yet the Sabbath has a larger sense: an invitation to rest in God’s healing grace, trusting in his power and his purpose for your life. We rest in our Father’s arms, knowing he goes before and behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). <br \/><br \/>God wants us to focus our efforts toward entering this Sabbath-trust in God, a restful, radiant certainty that God’s got a handle on it all, and that he’s got our best interests in mind.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2692&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2691&z=1\'><b>Jesus-Love Is Personal<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/09\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>My mother gave me a great gift and that is sensitivity about giving gifts. She taught me giving a gift is an opportunity to show you’ve thought about the person, taking time to discover likes and needs.<br \/><br \/>What this translates into is you don’t use a birthday to give a household item you were going to purchase anyway: “Gee, honey, thanks for the vacuum cleaner.” Or, you don’t give your eighty-year-old aunt a power drill (unless that’s what she really wants!). The fact that there are so many returns after Christmas and so many gift cards purchased (okay, I buy them too) shows we’re not taking the time to make gifts personal.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2691&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2690&z=1\'><b>When Tempted, Realize Your Vulnerability<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Don’t carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them. Proverbs 14:16 (TEV)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>When you’re tempted, keep your vulnerability in mind and work out ways to protect yourself. God warns us to never to get cocky and overconfident about our ability to handle temptation; that’s the recipe for disaster. <br \/><br \/>In fact, the prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV).<br \/><br \/>That means we’re good at fooling ourselves. Given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin. We must never let down our guard and think we’re beyond temptation: “Don’t carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them” (Proverbs 14:16 TEV).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2690&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2689&z=1\'><b>When Tempted, Seek Support<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When you’re tempted, reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group. You don’t have to broadcast it to the whole world, but you need at least one person you can honestly share your struggles with. <br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone . . . . If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 CEV).<br \/><br \/>Let me be clear: If you’re losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you’re stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention–failure–guilt, you will not get better on your own! You need the help of other people. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2689&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2688&z=1\'><b>Resist the Devil<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>After we’ve humbled ourselves and submitted to God, we’re then told to defy the Devil. We don’t passively resign ourselves to his attacks. We’re to fight back.<br \/><br \/>The New Testament often describes the Christian life as a spiritual battle against evil forces, using war terms such as fight, conquer, strive, and overcome. Christians are often compared to soldiers serving in enemy territory.<br \/><br \/>How can we resist the Devil? Paul tells us, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2688&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2687&z=1\'><b>We Move toward Our Focus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself?<br \/><br \/>That is the power of suggestion. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.<br \/><br \/>That is why repeating “I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting” is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It’s like announcing, “I’m never going to do what my mom did.” You are setting yourself up to repeat it.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2687&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2686&z=1\'><b>Defeating Temptation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>There is always a way out.<br \/><br \/>You may sometimes feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that’s a lie from Satan. God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome. However, you must do your part too by practicing biblical methods for defeating temptation.<br \/><br \/>First and foremost, you want to refocus your attention on something besides the temptation. It may surprise you that nowhere in the Bible are we told to “resist temptation.” We’re told to “resist the devil,” and that is very different (James 4:7).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2686&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2685&z=1\'><b>My Children Walk in Truth<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Being a pastor is one of the toughest jobs on the planet; but John, the disciple of love, says it can also be the most joyful: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4 NIV). <br \/><br \/>Spiritual leaders must correctly teach God’s Word, confront false teaching before it spreads, proclaim the gospel to non-believers, pray for all people (including you and your family), and train and appoint leaders; and they must do this all while serving as an example of what it looks like when you’re maturing as a Jesus-one (see 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus).<br \/><br \/>Accordingly, the Apostle Paul says we should respect our spiritual leaders, overwhelming them with appreciation: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV). <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2685&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2684&z=1\'><b>Offering Sympathy Meets Two Human Needs <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is not giving advice or offering quick, cosmetic help; sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others. <br \/><br \/>Sympathy says, “I understand what you’re going through, and what you feel is neither strange nor crazy.” Today, some call this “empathy” but the Bible word is “sympathy.” It says, “As holy people . . . be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient” (Colossians 3:12 GWT).<br \/><br \/>Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2684&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2683&z=1\'><b>Don’t Be Reluctant to Show Mercy<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. <br \/><br \/>We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other. <br \/><br \/>You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2683&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2682&z=1\'><b>A Mutual Dependency<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In authentic Christian fellowship people should experience a mutual dependency. This mutuality is the art of giving and receiving; it’s depending on each other. <br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part” (1 Corinthians 12:25 MSG).<br \/><br \/>Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other. Paul said, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (Romans 1:12 NCV).<br \/><br \/>All of us are more consistent in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us. The Bible commands mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2682&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2681&z=1\'><b>Authentic Friendships<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:7–8 (NCV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.<br \/><br \/>Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing. <br \/><br \/>It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2681&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2680&z=1\'><b>Life Together: A Shared Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience fellowship. <br \/><br \/>Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. Fellowship now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun. <br \/><br \/>The question, “Where do you fellowship?” means “Where do you attend church?” “Stay after for fellowship” usually means “Wait for refreshments.”<br \/><br \/>Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one another” commands found in the New Testament. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2680&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2679&z=1\'><b>Objective-in-Jesus: Respect<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Respect means we see one another through our Father’s eyes; as eternal beings, chosen by God “for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him” as “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:9 MSG; Romans 8:17 NIV). <br \/><br \/>Our objective-in-Jesus is to consistently remember we’ll be sharing heaven with those in our small groups and congregations, even those we have difficulty respecting now. And God, in his wisdom, “put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity” (1 Corinthians 12:24 NLT).<br \/><br \/>We often miss this, but one of the simplest ways to show respect is to simply listen. We offer our presence and open our ears, listening to the hidden hurts and heartaches, the deepest dreams and desires of one another. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2679&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2677&z=1\'><b>We Need Models and Mentors<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>For us to mature, we need models and mentors.<br \/><br \/>Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God’s Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow. <br \/><br \/>Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation.  There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you’ll never learn on your own. You’ll only learn them in community.<br \/><br \/>We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2677&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2676&z=1\'><b>Engineer at Work<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/11\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Praying on a rooftop in Caesarea, Peter, the apostle of stomp and snort, is hungry, and while he waits for his daily bread to be prepared, he seeks the everlasting bread of life (John 6:48). Deeply submerged in the presence of God, Peter sees a vision of food forbidden. <br \/><br \/>He recoils, saying, “Surely not, Lord! . . . I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14 NIV). A heavenly voice says, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15 NIV).<br \/><br \/>Peter’s perplexed, but at the same time, God is working his plan. Across town is a centurion seeking the one true God. He is a Gentile; he is, in a figurative sense, food forbidden. But God says to look for a man named Peter; and Peter, still wondering what the vision meant, sees three men from Cornelius approaching on the street below.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2676&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2673&z=1\'><b>The Benefits of Being in God’s Family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The moment you were spiritually born into God’s family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance!<br \/><br \/>The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” It tells us, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV). As children of God we get to share in the family fortune. Here on earth we are given the riches of his grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, power, and mercy. <br \/><br \/>But in eternity we will inherit even more. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2673&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2672&z=1\'><b>You Were Formed for God’s Family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God wants a family, and he created you to be a part of it. This is one of God’s purposes for your life, which he planned before you were born. <br \/><br \/>The entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love him, honor him, and reign with him forever. It says, “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5 NLT).<br \/><br \/>Because God is love, he treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and he identifies himself in family terms: Father, Son, and Spirit. The Trinity is God’s relationship to himself. It’s the perfect pattern for relational harmony, and we should study its implications.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2672&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2671&z=1\'><b>Compromising on Love?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>If our love for one another is not energized by Jesus, we’re doomed to slide from the promise of “All You Need Is Love” into the push and shove of “I, Me, Mine.” Our love can’t stop at “let’s just get along” because the deep and ancient God-love emerges, not from compromise, but from sacrifice.<br \/><br \/>And the first step of sacrifice is submission – not submission to one another, although that will often be required – but an uncompromising submission to the head of all us “one anothers”:  Jesus, our Lord, our brother, and our King.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2671&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2670&z=1\'><b>Do You Want to be Healed?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/08\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Long ago and far away I was diagnosed with clinical depression, and began the hard work of deep, lasting, in-Jesus recovery. <br \/><br \/>One day Jesus asked me, “Do you want to be healed?” <br \/><br \/>I was reading John’s book about Jesus, and he was telling me about the time he stopped with Jesus by the Sheep Gate in ancient Jerusalem. There was a pool there where people waited for a chance to be healed by one of God’s angels, but, as I read, Jesus looked over and into my eyes.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2670&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2669&z=1\'><b>Committing to Each Other<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Truth teaches that the quality of our friendships is more important than the quantity. We don’t need a lot of friends in this life, but we do need a few good ones. <br \/><br \/>By moving beyond superficial acquaintance with specific Jesus-ones, we become friends who are closer than family (Proverbs 18:24).<br \/><br \/>Although this describes what a family should be, it’s a stone, cold fact that many people find closer relationships among friends than their blood relatives. But there is a different type of blood relative, sisters and brothers who are grafted together through the blood of Jesus Christ. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2669&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2668&z=1\'><b>Jesus Prays for You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>During the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for himself and then he prayed for the disciples. And then, with the hour of his death approaching, he took time to pray for you. He prayed for all those who would believe through the ministry of the disciples, and that means you.<br \/> <br \/>This is what he told God:<br \/> <br \/>“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2668&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2667&z=1\'><b>God-Love Walks on Water<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>As God scrubs our insides with the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we pass from “death to life” (1 John 3:14). We are transformed from people who are selective in who and how we love into people energized by God’s spirit to love one another abundantly and unconditionally.<br \/><br \/>It takes faith to love another with the God-Love flowing into us. Like Peter, we step or swim when we keep our eyes on Jesus and not the stormy waves of human emotions. Human love fears the water; God-Love walks across the waves with such confidence and grace that the storm is quelled.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2667&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2666&z=1\'><b>A Better Place to Be<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Have you ever been somewhere you didn’t want to be? Maybe it was a job, a town, or a marriage. Maybe it was a stage in life, like singlehood, or a state in life, like a disability. It’s very possible that as you read this, you’re wishing you were somewhere else – anywhere else – living a different life, but you know it’s not likely that anything is going to change any time soon.<br \/><br \/>God has a word for you. It’s the same word he gave a group of people when they were stuck in another country, exiled from their homeland. They’d folded their arms and said, “We’re going to wait this thing out, and when we get home, we’ll start living our lives.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2666&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2665&z=1\'><b>Becoming Like Jesus Is a Slow Process<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life. <br \/><br \/>Referring to this process, Paul said, “This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV).<br \/><br \/>You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won’t be completed here on earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2665&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2664&z=1\'><b>Molded into Godly Character<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>As I mentioned yesterday, your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV).<br \/><br \/>God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God’s Word provides the truth we need to grow, God’s people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment to practice Christlikeness. <br \/><br \/>If you study and apply God’s Word, connect regularly with other believers, and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become more like Jesus.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2664&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2663&z=1\'><b>Cooperating with the Holy Spirit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 (CEV)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over: the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith. <br \/><br \/>When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.<br \/><br \/>God waits for you to act first. Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2663&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2662&z=1\'><b>God’s Spirit Is Working in You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>It is the Holy Spirit’s job to produce Christlike character in you. <br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2662&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2661&z=1\'><b>A God-Fashioned Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Many religions and New Age philosophies promote the old lie that we are divine or can become gods. Let me be absolutely clear: you will never become God, or even a god. <br \/><br \/>That prideful lie is Satan’s oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they followed his advice, “you shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5 KJV).<br \/><br \/>God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2661&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2660&z=1\'><b>Created to Become Like Christ<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In all of creation, only human beings are made in God’s image. This is a great privilege and it gives us dignity. We don’t know all this phrase covers, but we do know some of the aspects it includes: like God, we are spiritual beings – our spirits are immortal and will outlast our earthly bodies; we are intellectual – we can think, reason, and solve problems; we are relational – we can give and receive real love; and we have a moral consciousness – we can discern right from wrong, which makes us accountable to God.<br \/><br \/>But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.  <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2660&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2659&z=1\'><b>God Smiles When We Use Our Abilities <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do. Psalm 33:15 (MSG)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>After the flood, God gave Noah these simple instructions: ‘‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (Genesis 9:1, 3 NIV).<br \/><br \/>God said, “It’s time to get on with your life! Do the things I designed humans to do. Make love to your spouse. Have babies. Raise families. Plant crops and eat meals. Be humans! This is what I made you to be!”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2659&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2658&z=1\'><b>God Smiles When We Praise<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/><br \/>Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else. God loves it too. He smiles when we express our adoration and gratitude to him.<br \/><br \/>Noah’s life brought pleasure to God because he lived with a heart of praise and thanksgiving. Noah’s first act after surviving the flood was to express his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice (Genesis 8:20).<br \/><br \/>An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2658&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2657&z=1\'><b>God Smiles When We Obey<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/><br \/>Noah obeyed completely (no instruction was overlooked) and he obeyed exactly (in the way and time God wanted it done). That is wholeheartedness. It is no wonder God smiled on Noah.<br \/><br \/>If God asked you to build a giant boat, don’t you think you might have a few questions, objections, and reservations? Noah didn’t. He obeyed God wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. You don’t procrastinate and say, “I’ll pray about it.” You do it without delay. Every parent knows that delayed obedience is really disobedience. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2657&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2656&z=1\'><b>God Smiles When We Trust<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. . . . As a result, Noah became intimate with God. Hebrews 11:7 (MSG)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Imagine this scene: One day God comes to Noah and says, “I’m disappointed in human beings. In the entire world, no one but you thinks about me. But Noah, when I look at you, I start smiling. I’m pleased with your life, so I’m going to flood the world and start over with you and your family. I want you to build a giant ship that will save you and the animals.”<br \/><br \/>There were three problems that could have caused Noah to doubt:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2656&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2655&z=1\'><b>May God Smile on You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The smile of God is the goal of life.<br \/><br \/>Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible says, “Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it” (Ephesians 5:10 MSG).<br \/><br \/>Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God. The man’s name was Noah. <br \/><br \/>In Noah’s day, the entire world had become morally bankrupt. Everyone lived for their own pleasure, not God’s. God couldn’t find anyone on earth interested in pleasing him, so he was grieved and regretted making man. God became so disgusted with the human race that he considered wiping it out. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2655&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2654&z=1\'><b>God Spoke You into Existence<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Dear one, you were started as an idea in the mind of God! You exist because the God of the universe thought you up!<br \/> <br \/>The God who spoke the world into existence, the God who hung the moon and the stars, the God who set the sun in the sky – this creative Creator thought about you, was pleased by his thoughts, and so he spoke you into your mother’s womb in the same way that he spoke the world into existence. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2654&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2653&z=1\'><b>Patience with Imperfection<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Humorist Dave Barry says, “A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children.” <br \/><br \/>The same could be said of a perfect world or a perfect family; there’s only one way to mess things up: People! <br \/><br \/>Living with imperfect people requires patience, and you – now I say this as a friend – are one of the imperfect people who requires patience! Unfortunately, I’m an imperfect person too.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2653&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2652&z=1\'><b>With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –<br \/><br \/>Once upon a time my son came home from middle school and told me there’d been a Reward Day-type assembly, where they were giving away some really cool stuff.<br \/><br \/>At one point, a teacher put all the students’ names into a huge bucket in order to draw one name for the biggest prize of all!<br \/><br \/>“I know you’re only supposed to use special powers for good,” my son said, “But if I had special powers, I would’ve been tempted to stop time just before the teacher called out the winner. And I would have gone up and put my own name in her hand.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2652&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2651&z=1\'><b>Feelings Are Fickle – Faith Is Forever<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Faith is more than something you just feel. Many people confuse emotions and feelings with faith. They come to church and they are moved emotionally, they’re inspired, and they’re stimulated. They get a quiver in their liver and say, “Oh, man! I’m moved!”<br \/><br \/>In the book of James, we get a brief glimpse at hollow sentimentality. James minces no words. He’s saying, “You go out on the street and you see some homeless person who’s destitute and simply say, “Cheer up,” or “Don’t worry, be happy!” “Feel good!” “Put on a happy face.” “Smile, smile, smile!” For God’s sake, do something!<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2651&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2650&z=1\'><b>When the Bumper Sticker Doesn’t Match the Driver<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>A recent Gallup Poll says there are fifty million people in America who say, “I am a Christian.” But truth be told, not all of those fifty million can back it up with the lifestyle they live. Just because a person claims it, doesn’t mean they have it. <br \/><br \/>Typically, we label people “believers” today if they vaguely sound Christian. At the end of a World Series, a player may come on TV while the champagne is spraying, and say, “I just want to thank the good Lord.” We think, “Oh, he must be a Christian, he said ‘Lord.’” Well, not necessarily. Not everybody who has a Christian bumper sticker on their car is a Christian. Have you figured that one out? In Matthew 7:21 (NIV), Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” Not everybody who claims to be a believer really is a believer.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2650&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2649&z=1\'><b>Faith the Facts!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Is faith simply a frame of mind? A passive attribute of a Christian waiting to see what God has in store for you: a promotion, cancer, depression, betrayal, blessing, wealth, and injustice . . . some see it that way. They might say, “I’ll just wait to see what God is going to do for me and go with the flow.” That’s crazy talk. <br \/><br \/>Faith is active. It’s not passive. It’s a commitment. Look at your lifestyle and see what kind of actions follow as a result of it. If you’ve got the real stuff, faith can be demonstrated. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2649&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2648&z=1\'><b>We Need Each Other: To Witness With<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/07\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Each of us has a life message that God wants us to share with the world. Sharing the message is part of our life’s mission. When we share that message with other people, it’s called witnessing. <br \/><br \/>There is great power in group witness. Just like a soldier is never sent out by himself, God never meant for us to do our mission alone. He says we should go out together to witness. <br \/><br \/>In fact, God says that we witness best to people who don’t know God when we love others who are already in God’s family. In John 13, Jesus tells us that our love for each other proves to the world that we are his disciples. People are impressed when Christians genuinely love each other. It proves to the world that they are in the family of God.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2648&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2647&z=1\'><b>We Need Each Other: To Wait and Weep With <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>As a pastor, I see situations daily that nobody should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a problem pregnancy. Nobody should ever have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out. <br \/><br \/>Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable – each of us will face them. But we don’t need to go through them alone. We need God’s safety net to help hold us up through these difficult times.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2647&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2646&z=1\'><b>We Need Each Other: To Watch Out For<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Each one of us needs other people to watch out for us – to defend us, protect us, and help us stay on track. In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul tells us that we should look out for each other’s interests, not just our own. What a counterculture verse! In America today, it’s all about me – my needs, my interests, my wants, and my ambitions. But Paul teaches us to look out for others too.<br \/><br \/>Since September 11, 2001, Americans have been much more vigilant for each other as we are on the lookout for more terrorist attacks. But did you know you have an enemy far more destructive than terrorists? You have a personal enemy who wants to defeat you. His name is Satan. He wants to bring problems into your life, to ruin your relationships, and to hurt you as badly as he can.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2646&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2645&z=1\'><b>We Need Each Other: To Work With<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God put us on earth to do a certain work that only we can do. Ephesians says that God made us to do good works and that he planned in advance what we would live our lives doing. However, he didn’t plan for us to do that work alone. We need people to work with us.  <br \/><br \/>You know the feeling you get when you do too much work on your own. You get exhausted and burned out. Why? Because you’re trying to do your work alone, while God never meant for you to go through life working alone. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2645&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2644&z=1\'><b>We Need Each Other: To Walk With <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him. Colossians 2:6 (NIV\/NKJV)<br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>The Bible often compares life to a walk, because life is a journey; we’re not sitting still. Throughout the New Testament, we are told to walk in wisdom, love, light, and obedience. We’re told to walk as Jesus walked. We’re also told to walk alongside other people. Here are three reasons to walk with other people:<br \/><br \/>1. It’s safer. Have you ever walked alone at night through a dark alley or down a lonely country road? It’s a little scary. But if you have another person with you, you immediately feel safer...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2644&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2643&z=1\'><b>Risks in Faith: God Multiplies<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. <br \/>2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>If you give God your time, he multiplies it. If you give him your money or energy, he multiplies those too. It’s like planting seeds. Farmers know that seeds must be given away – sacrificed by being buried in the ground – to do any good. If you keep a seed in a sack, it does no good, but if you plant it, it multiplies. For example, when you plant just one watermelon seed, you get a bunch of watermelons with hundreds of seeds in them. In the same way, God multiplies whatever you give him.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2643&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2642&z=1\'><b>Risks in Faith: When God Delays<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If you ever find yourself in God’s waiting room – waiting for an answer, a change, or a miracle – you just need to stop and trust God. He’s never late or in a hurry, because his timing is perfect. <br \/><br \/>When I started Saddleback Church, I had no idea that it would take 15 years and 10,000 weekly attenders for us to have our own land and our own building. At Saddleback’s very first church service I said, “Someday we’re going to buy at least 50 acres. But we’re not going to do it for the first five years because we’re going to put all our money into people and programs.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2642&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2641&z=1\'><b>Risks in Faith: Where God Guides, God Provides <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/20\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If God tells you to do something, he will give you the energy, talent, resources – whatever you need – to do it. Where God guides, he provides. <br \/><br \/>In 1979, I was finishing seminary in Texas when God said, “I want you to go to the Saddleback Valley and start a church.” There were two problems with that: I had never been a senior pastor, and I didn’t know anything about the Saddleback Valley; I’d never been there, and I didn’t know a single person there. <br \/><br \/>But my wife, Kay, and I decided to take a risk and launch out in faith. We loaded a U-Haul truck and moved with our four-month-old daughter to the Saddleback Valley.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2641&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2640&z=1\'><b>Self-Control Is Christ’s Control<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>There’s nothing you can do as well without Christ as you can with him. Any struggle you’re facing will be easier to conquer with his help.<br \/><br \/>Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to clean up all your messes before you ask God for help. That’s like curing yourself of a disease before you drive down and see the doctor. Go to God first and get his help in all your battles.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2640&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2639&z=1\'><b>Self-Control Is Not an Option<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>As we discussed yesterday, self-control is not optional for Christians. The race we are running is for eternity, and so we’re to develop a strict discipline (1 Corinthians 9:25).<br \/><br \/>Here are some other steps to self-control –<br \/><br \/>Talk back to your feelings. Do you let your moods manipulate you? God doesn’t want you to be controlled by your feelings. He wants you to master your moods. With Christ as the Master of your life, you can learn to master your feelings. <br \/><br \/>Talk back to them. Learn to challenge your emotions: “For the grace of God … teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives …” (Titus 2:11-12 NIV).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2639&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2638&z=1\'><b>Developing Self-Control<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Self-control brings with it the good feeling of competency. Like a finely-tuned precision automobile, your life stays on course with the slightest touch of steering. The results of self-control are confidence and an inner sense of security. <br \/><br \/>Self-control and self-discipline are also key factors in any success you hope to have in this life. Without self-discipline, you are unlikely to achieve anything of lasting value.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2638&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2637&z=1\'><b>Just Getting Along?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The Bible doesn’t tell us “one anothers” to just get along with one another. Even the worst of enemies can bury their differences for a short time when it’s beneficial for meeting a mutual goal.<br \/><br \/>But God, sending a note through our big brother, Paul, calls us to a higher standard than just getting along: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV). <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2637&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2636&z=1\'><b>Resisting Discouragement<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2088\/06\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>There are many things that work to keep us from completing our life-missions. Over the years, I’ve debated whether the worst enemy is procrastination or discouragement. If Satan can’t get us to put off our life missions, then he’ll try to get us to quit altogether. <br \/><br \/>The apostle Paul teaches that we need to resist discouragement: “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up …” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). <br \/><br \/>Do you ever get tired of doing what’s right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2636&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2635&z=1\'><b>Help My Unbelief!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Recently, I’ve been thinking my life verse should be Mark 9:24: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”<br \/><br \/>I do believe, yet I have so much unbelief in my life. I walk in faith, yet my faith is often more in the things I see than the things I don’t see. I follow God, yet I repeatedly find myself stumbling down a path of my own choosing.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2635&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2634&z=1\'><b>How to Stay Motivated When You’re Fatigued<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>It’s not unusual for people to become disillusioned, discouraged, and fatigued about halfway into a difficult challenge. When I start to feel the fatigue, I look to Proverbs 25 and remember that my feelings are not a reliable measure of how things are going.<br \/><br \/>We’re to trust wholeheartedly in God and put no faith in our own perceptions (based on Proverbs 3:5 NJB).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2634&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2633&z=1\'><b>Resist Discouragement<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come – yet – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer, or that he’s forgotten you, or that he doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet!”<br \/><br \/>Spiritual maturity is knowing the difference between “No” and “Not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2633&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2632&z=1\'><b>Resist discouragement<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>As a pastor, I’m sure many of you are discouraged. <br \/><br \/>Some of you are discouraged over your children that their lives are not going well. Some of you are discouraged about your marriage; it’s not at all what you thought it would be. You feel deflated and disappointed. <br \/><br \/>Some of you are discouraged about your finances, or your health, or the economy, or an unanswered prayer.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2632&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2631&z=1\'><b>Resisting Discouragement<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>There are many things that work to keep us from completing our life-missions. Over the years, I’ve debated whether the worst enemy is procrastination or discouragement. If Satan can’t get us to put off our life missions, then he’ll try to get us to quit altogether. <br \/><br \/>The apostle Paul teaches that we need to resist discouragement: “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up …” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). <br \/><br \/>Do you ever get tired of doing what’s right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2631&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2630&z=1\'><b>Heaven Is Waiting for You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God says, “I’ve got this great life planned for you and surely goodness and mercy will follow you through it, BUT that’s not all of it! I’ve got something planned at the end!”<br \/><br \/>David explains how God connects yesterday and today with tomorrow, when he says, “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In effect, David ends his psalm by saying, “We’re going to heaven!” With God it just keeps getting better and better; the best is yet to come.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2630&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2629&z=1\'><b>Fear &amp; Grace<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God is watching over you.<br \/><br \/>When King David writes, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me,” he’s not saying, “Surely only good things will happen to me!”<br \/><br \/>The fact is bad things happen to good people. What David is teaching us is that God can take bad, evil, and difficult situations and bring something good out of them.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2629&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2628&z=1\'><b>The Loneliness of Transitions<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Few human emotions can be as painful as loneliness. An event, such as a holiday or family celebration, can be a time of great enjoyment for most; but for some people, it’s a painful time filled with painful memories, depression, and loneliness. <br \/><br \/>In 2 Timothy 4, Paul tells us he knows about loneliness. He was sitting in prison, knowing he was facing a huge transition – the end of his life.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2628&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2627&z=1\'><b>The Loneliness of Separation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/06\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Separation causes loneliness. In prison, awaiting execution, Paul feels isolated from those he loves. He asks his protégé Timothy to visit, “Do your best to come to me quickly” (2 Timothy 4:9, NIV). <br \/><br \/>Paul later mentions some of his friends, such as Priscilla, Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 4:19). They are among Paul’s his closest friends and he misses them. <br \/><br \/>He is feeling the loneliness of separation. Paul never went anywhere alone; he always had at least one traveling companion. Yet, here at the end of his life, he’s in prison in a foreign country and he can’t just pick up the phone and reach out and touch somebody.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2627&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2626&z=1\'><b>The Loneliness of Rejection<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Loneliness often comes from the feeling that you’ve been betrayed, deserted, or abandoned. Paul felt deserted when he first went on trial in Rome. He wrote, “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them” (2 Timothy 4:16 NIV).<br \/><br \/>Here’s one of the greatest Christians in history, but no one came to his support! He says, “But everyone deserted me.” He’s on trial for his life; no one comes to speak for his defense. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2626&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2625&z=1\'><b>The Loneliness of Opposition<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Opposition causes loneliness. When you’re attacked, when you’re ridiculed, when you’re criticized, you feel isolated and lonely.<br \/><br \/>One minute you’re a hero, the next, you’re the zero! That can be lonely. You might be lonely when you go through a painful experience that no one else seems to understand. Or, you might be lonely when you’re going through grief while every one else seems to be having fun. You might be lonely when you’re misunderstood, or embarrassed, or criticized. <br \/><br \/>How do you overcome this kind of loneliness?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2625&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2624&z=1\'><b>Generosity Strengthens Faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>There are more promises in the Bible about giving than any other kinds of promises. In fact, God talks more about giving than he does about heaven or hell. <br \/><br \/>Why? Because he wants us to become like him. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2624&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2623&z=1\'><b>Three Benefits of Good News<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>The good news is you’re able to enter into a relationship with God through an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ; not through religion, rules, regulations, or rituals. <br \/><br \/>When we trust our lives to Jesus Christ we’re given three incredible, fabulous, wonderful benefits. So, when we tell others about the good news, we can let them know: God forgives your past; he gives you purpose in the present; and, he offers you a future.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2623&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2622&z=1\'><b>Our Witness: God’s Good News<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Every Christian is called to share with others what we’ve been given from God. But, I’m often asked, what exactly are we supposed to share? <br \/><br \/>Here’s your message in two words: good news. <br \/><br \/>Mark says in our key verse today that we’re to tell the good news to everyone. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2622&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2621&z=1\'><b>The Great Commission: Starting Where You Are in Your Life Mission<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 (NIV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Everybody’s life mission is unique, and only you can fulfill your life mission. The moment you become a believer, the moment you step across the line and give your life to Jesus Christ, God has an assignment for you.  <br \/><br \/>Parts of your life mission are unique, but one part all believers have in common is this: God wants you to tell other people about what’s happened to you. He wants you to share your testimony, your lifestyle, and your witness.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2621&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2620&z=1\'><b>What Is Biblical Forgiveness?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Forgiveness is unconditional. We don’t earn it; we don’t deserve it; we can’t bargain for it. Forgiveness is not based on a promise to never do it again. We offer forgiveness to somebody, whether that person asks for it or not. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2620&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2619&z=1\'><b>How to Let Go of Past Hurts<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>First, relinquish your right to get even. Leave that up to God; he’ll take care of it (Romans 12:19). I’ve been married for thirty years and I’m ashamed to say, I’ve hurt my wife many times. But after thirty years, we’re still together and more in love than ever before. Why? Because it’s not hurt that destroys relationships, it’s an unwillingness to forgive. We’re human; we’re going to hurt each other. But the question is, will you give up your right to get even? And will you offer forgiveness? When you do, any hurt can be overcome.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2619&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2618&z=1\'><b>Why Must We Forgive?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>We have to forgive the people who’ve hurt us, and it has nothing to do with whether or not that person deserves forgiveness. They don’t deserve forgiveness, but then, we don’t deserve it either. <br \/><br \/>We forgive those who’ve hurt us because God forgives us for how we’ve hurt him. To be honest, the reason we often have a hard time forgiving others is because we don’t feel forgiven ourselves. <br \/><br \/>But when Jesus died on the cross he paid the penalty for every sin that you or I ever committed or will ever commit. And if we’re going to be forgiving people, we first need to accept God’s forgiveness that comes from Jesus Christ.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2618&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2617&z=1\'><b>Pleasing God – Practical Worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Why does God want your body? Why doesn’t he say, “Offer your spirit”?<br \/><br \/>It’s because without your body you can’t do anything on this planet. In eternity, you’re going to get a new, improved, upgraded body but while you’re here on earth God says, “Give me what you’ve got!” He’s just being practical about worship.<br \/><br \/>You’ve heard people say, “I can’t make it to the meeting tonight but I’ll be with you in spirit.” Do you know what that means? Nothing. It’s worthless! As long as you’re on Earth your spirit can only be where your body is! If your body isn’t there, neither are you!<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2617&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2616&z=1\'><b>Pleasing God – Authentic Worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When Jesus said, “Love God with all your heart and soul” (Luke 10:27) he meant that worship must be genuine and heartfelt. It is not just a matter of saying the right words; you must mean what you say. Heartless praise is not praise at all! It is an insult to God.<br \/><br \/>When we worship, God looks past our words to our hearts. The Bible says, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2616&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2615&z=1\'><b>Pleasing God – Accurate Worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>One of the ways we please God is when our worship is accurate. It’s easy to worship in an inaccurate way; for instance, some people say, “I like to think of God as ...” and then they share their idea of the kind of God they’d like to worship. <br \/><br \/>But we can’t just create our own comfortable or politically correct image of God and then worship it – that is called idolatry. Worship must not be based on our opinions about God but on the truth of Scripture.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2615&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2614&z=1\'><b>Pleasing God – Thoughtful Worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Jesus’ command to “love God with all your mind” is repeated four times in the New Testament. God is not pleased with the thoughtless singing of hymns, perfunctory praying of clichés, or careless exclamations of “Praise the Lord” uttered because we can’t think of anything else to say at that moment. <br \/><br \/>If worship is mindless, is it meaningless. You must engage your mind. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2614&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2613&z=1\'><b>Worship That Pleases God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God doesn’t want a part of your life. He asks for all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. He’s not interested in half-hearted commitment, partial obedience, and the leftovers of your time and money. He desires your full devotion.<br \/><br \/>A Samaritan woman once tried to debate Jesus on the best time, place, and style for worship. Jesus replied that these external issues are irrelevant. Where you worship is not as important as why you worship and how much of yourself you offer to God when you worship. <br \/><br \/>The Bible teaches worship that pleases God has four characteristics...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2613&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2612&z=1\'><b>Some Facts About Fruit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>One of my fondest memories of growing up is my father’s garden. It seemed my dad grew everything in his garden. In fact, he always grew enough to feed the entire neighborhood. Whenever people would stop by our home for a visit, they’d usually leave with a sack full of fresh vegetables and luscious fruit.<br \/><br \/>The kind of fruit my father grew is just one kind of fruit – natural fruit. There is also biological fruit, the offspring of animals and the children of people. <br \/><br \/>Then there is spiritual fruit, and that’s what God is talking about in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (NIV)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2612&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2611&z=1\'><b>Fruit Grows From Spiritual Seeds<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When you think about your walk with Jesus, some days you may wonder, “Why is this so hard? I’m still struggling with so many problems. When will I finally get it right?”<br \/><br \/>In my journey as a pastor, I’ve learned that spiritual growth is often like the growth we see in nature – the best fruit ripens slowly. In John 12:24, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (NIV) <br \/><br \/>The problem is we tend to get impatient, so we dig up the seed to check the progress of its growth, and that slows down our growth! If you’re not seeing as much fruit as you’d like, don’t despair. Growth takes time. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2611&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2610&z=1\'><b>How Do You Develop Self-Control?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** *** <br \/><br \/>Successful people have one obvious trait in common: personal discipline. They are willing to do things that average people are unwilling to do. <br \/><br \/>It’s my observation that successful people express their self-discipline in six ways...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2610&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2609&z=1\'><b>God’s Purpose In Suffering<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Did Jesus suffer? Was Jesus sometimes lonely? Was he tempted to be discouraged? Was he misunderstood, maligned, and criticized unjustly?<br \/><br \/>As you read through the Gospels, you’ll quickly see that the answer to all these questions is: YES. So, what makes any of us think we’ll be exempted from suffering or loneliness or discouragement or unjust criticism?<br \/><br \/>The truth is, God is developing within you the character of Christ, and in order to do this, he must take you through all of the circumstances in life that he took Christ through. This means God is more interested in your character than your comfort, and he’s more concerned about your holiness than your happiness. So, the question is not if you’ll go through dark times in life, rather it’s when you’ll go through them.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2609&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2608&z=1\'><b>Serving Your Generation in Your Time<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>My life verse is Acts 13:36, where we’re told David is purpose driven: “… After David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died….” (NLT)<br \/>Imagine having that statement inscribed on your tombstone: “He served God’s purpose in his own generation!” “She served God’s purpose in her own generation!” In my opinion, you could receive no greater honor than that.<br \/>So how do you do that?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2608&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2607&z=1\'><b>Seven Secrets of Stress Management<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Mark 6:31 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Jesus experienced enormous stress and pressure, yet it didn’t seem to disturb his peace of mind. In spite of opposition, constant demands, and little privacy, his life reflected a calm sense of balance. <br \/><br \/>What was his secret? <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2607&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2606&z=1\'><b>Let Other Believers Help You Walk with Christ<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/05\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>We all need mentors – other believers – to guide us in our walk with Christ. We need people to coach and train us in ministry. <br \/><br \/>Mentors can bring out the best in you and help you achieve God’s unique mission for your life. Mentors help you keep growing – in your roles, your goals, and your soul. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2606&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2605&z=1\'><b>Whose Battle Is It?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>In today’s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They’re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. <br \/><br \/>Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, “You will not have to fight in this battle.” Now, that’s the kind of battle I like! <br \/><br \/>What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: “The battle is not yours; it’s mine. You don’t have to fight in it.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2605&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2604&z=1\'><b>Learning to Laugh<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life. Proverbs 14:30 (LB) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>Did you know that people who laugh live longer? It’s true. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.” (LB) <br \/><br \/>Humor is an amazing thing. It’s a tension dissolver. It’s an antidote to anxiety. It’s just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side-effects. And it’s free! You don’t even need a prescription.<br \/><br \/>Laughter is life’s shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2604&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2603&z=1\'><b>How to Handle Failure<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>No one’s life is an unbroken chain of victories. We all experience setbacks, defeats, losses, and failures. Nobody bats a thousand. We all make mistakes.<br \/><br \/>Since failure is common to all of us, one of the most important life-skills you can learn is how to respond to it. Mature people know how to turn every failure into a learning experience, a stepping stone for future success.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2603&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2602&z=1\'><b>Loving Difficult People<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>When asked what he considered the most valuable skill in employees, the financier John D. Rockefeller replied, “The ability to get along with people!”<br \/><br \/>One of the most important skills we can develop as we walk with Christ is knowing how to love troublemakers. If you learn how to interact with difficult people, then you’ll be able to pour your energy into areas of ministry rather than constantly putting out fires of conflict.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2602&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2601&z=1\'><b>Releasing Your Regrets<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>How often do you play the “if only” game?  <br \/><br \/>• If only I had it to do over.<br \/><br \/>• If only I had listened sooner.<br \/><br \/>• If only I could erase the past.<br \/><br \/>• If only I could forgive myself.<br \/><br \/>Because no one is perfect, we all have regrets. We’ve all made bad choices, said foolish things, wasted time, and hurt ourselves and others. <br \/><br \/>How do you release those regrets?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2601&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2600&z=1\'><b>Little Faith + Big God = Huge Results<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Is it possible to be filled with faith and doubt at the same time? Yes!<br \/><br \/>You can have faith that God wants you to do something and still be scared to death. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is going ahead and doing what you’re called to do in spite of your fear. <br \/><br \/>You have to begin with the faith you already have: it may be just a little, but you start there. A beautiful example of this is the story of the man who brought his sick son to Jesus in Mark 9. Jesus looked at the man and said, “I can heal your son. If you will believe, I will heal him.” <br \/><br \/>The father then makes a classic statement: “Lord, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2600&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2599&z=1\'><b>Become a Quick Listener<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>The Bible says we should be quick to listen. There are three things that generally hinder our ability to hear what others are saying:<br \/><br \/>1)	Presumption – This is when we think we already know what the other person is going to say; yet, the Bible says, “He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame.” (Proverbs 18:13 NIV)<br \/><br \/>2)	Impatience – This is when you interrupt and jump to conclusions: “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” (Proverbs 29:20 NLT)...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2599&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2598&z=1\'><b>Empowered For Rebuilding Lives<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“This is what the LORD Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each other.” Zechariah 7:9-10 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>*** *** *** ***<br \/><br \/>You have the power, by God’s Spirit within you, to help people rebuild their lives, to give hope to people in despair, to offer others a fresh start when it seems they have nothing left.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2598&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2597&z=1\'><b>A Risky Obedience<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>In order to obey God, you need to take risks.<br \/><br \/>Risk is the substance of faith because it requires you to take Step 1 before you see Step 2. Risk compels you to action, even when there seems to be no guarantee of what will be on the other side of your choice.<br \/><br \/>But it’s those risks, large and small, that God uses to stretch you from living by sight into living by faith. By taking the risk of following God, you move from a life of independence and self-direction into a life of godly dependence and Holy Spirit direction.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2597&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2596&z=1\'><b>“It Is Finished”<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Jesus died on the cross, his work of redemption was complete. Matthew, Mark, and Luke say he gave out a loud cry as he died, but John adds the detail of what Jesus said in that moment: “It is finished.”<br \/><br \/>Jesus, a carpenter most likely familiar with buying and selling, used a business term that could be rendered, “Paid in Full.”<br \/><br \/>It is finished. It is paid in full.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2596&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2595&z=1\'><b>Jesus Cleanses And Calls<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>One of the most effective tools the enemy will use to keep you from serving God is to convince you that you’ve either messed up too much to serve God, or that you must clean up your life before you can even get God’s attention. When these thoughts pop into your head, sniff the air for the scent of sulfur – because they are lies straight from the fires of hell!<br \/><br \/>If you follow the sequence of Isaiah 6, you’ll see how God initiates the process that brings you into his holy presence and purifies you to remain in his presence, and that your new guilt-free, sin-atoned status will compel you – and prepare you – for the unique mission God sets before you.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2595&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2593&z=1\'><b>Developing Confidence By Losing Confidence<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The secret to living with confidence is to be confident in God’s compassion and power. He is the Almighty and everlasting God, and his power and compassion are unlimited. We gain confidence by developing confidence in God and letting go of confidence in ourselves.<br \/><br \/>When we think we have to do it on our own, or when we think we are doing it on our own, we stand on an uncertain foundation, like the man who built his house upon the sand. No matter how confident we are in ourselves, eventually the rains will come, washing away our self-confidence.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2593&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2592&z=1\'><b>Burned-Out On Religion?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus might have asked: “Aren’t you tired and burned-out on all that religious stuff? Look, come walk with me, and I’ll help you recover your life – your real purpose – and even though it will require some hard, very hard work, you’ll be energized by it because you’ll be living life to its fullest. You’ll be doing exactly what my Father created you to do, and more importantly, you’ll be exactly who I want you to be.”<br \/><br \/>In taking on the Jesus-yoke, he is asking us to join the school of Christ. In ancient times, when a student studied under a specific teacher, it would be said that the student took on the teacher’s yoke; the student was yoked to the master.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2592&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2591&z=1\'><b>Love Is Fruit, Not Root<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Our love for others is the fruit, not the root, of our relationship with God. The Apostle John taught that our love for others emerges from our relationship with God, that anyone who is born of God and knows God will love with the love of God. (1 John 4:7, NLT) <br \/><br \/>In a sense, you could say the process of sanctification – the movement toward becoming like Jesus – involves the Eternal One’s love cleaning the clutter you’ve stuffed into the cupboards hidden inside you. God strides confidently through the dust and the grime that builds up because of our sin, and he throws open the shades and wipes down the windows until we “shine like stars in the world.” (Philippians 2:15, HCSB)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2591&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2590&z=1\'><b>Neighborly Compassion<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>If you had to boil all of the commandments of God down to no more than a sentence, Jesus confirmed it would read something like this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and also love your neighbor as yourself. <br \/><br \/>Once again, we see the connection between our love for God and our love for others. We see the connection between the compassion we receive from God and the compassion we extend to our neighbors.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2590&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2589&z=1\'><b>Lavish Compassion<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Being a prodigal means you’re wastefully extravagant. Look up the word in the dictionary and you’re likely to see a picture of the prodigal son sitting in the mud sharing a meal with pigs – the four-legged kind. He’s dining with swine because he’s blown through his entire inheritance and only has some tattered clothes to show for it. <br \/><br \/>Yet, the older brother in the story argues that the father is the real prodigal. He complains that his father is being wastefully extravagant with his inconsiderate little brother.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2589&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2588&z=1\'><b>In Pursuit Of Fairness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>My kids are obsessed with fairness. They argue over who gets the biggest piece, who gets to play the computer game longest, who gets to sit next to the window. I suspect your children or the children you know are the same way. <br \/><br \/>One night during dinner, my kids were arguing over who would get the last slice of pizza and out popped the oft repeated phrase, “That’s not fair!”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2588&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2587&z=1\'><b>The Forgotten Gift<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>One day a disciple of Jesus receives one million dollars as a gift, designated to help the poor. The disciple is thankful for the gift and begins making plans for a ministry to those in need. <br \/><br \/>A year goes by, and the gift-giver returns, joyfully asking, “Tell me how you used the gift to serve God. Have people come to know Jesus through the ministry you were able to start with the money?”<br \/><br \/>Confused, the disciple of Jesus asks, “What gift?”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2587&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2586&z=1\'><b>The Captivity Of Discontent<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The Apostle Paul, who was blessed with great privileges – but also beaten and stripped of everything he had – taught that true contentment must be learned: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12, NIV) <br \/><br \/>He teaches that God gives us strength to be content. This is an important spiritual truth to learn because if wealth, good looks, or the seemingly perfect spouse brought lasting contentment, then Hollywood would be filled with some of the most content and happy people on earth. But it’s not.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2586&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2585&z=1\'><b>Jesus Prays For You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/04\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>During the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for himself, and then he prayed for the disciples. <br \/><br \/>And then, with the hour of his death approaching, he took the time to pray for you. He prayed for all those who would believe through the ministry of the disciples, and that means you.<br \/><br \/>Jesus prayed for you, and this is what he said to God:<br \/><br \/>“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2585&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2584&z=1\'><b>Leaving To Go Home<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus fed the 5,000, and then Jesus walked on water. He showed the disciples that, with a mustard-seed faith, they too could step onto, and not into, the water, like Peter taking baby steps toward Jesus.<br \/><br \/>But then Jesus said he was the Bread of Life – that his ministry wasn’t about giving the faithful a free lunch, all the food and miracles anyone could ever want. “Don’t come to me for what you can get,” Jesus explained. “Come to me because I am the One.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2584&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2583&z=1\'><b>A Toddler’s First Steps<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The disciples are over a mile from shore as a violent storm moves across the Sea of Galilee. All eyes are on a ghostly figure walking toward their boat. And then Jesus, walking on the water, says, “It is I.”<br \/><br \/>Bold and brash, Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, then command me to come to you on the water!”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2583&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2582&z=1\'><b>Jesus Or The Boat?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus needed time to refresh and so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the Sea of Galilee in one of their fishing boats. But storms sweep across this inland sea like tornados that emerge from nowhere.<br \/><br \/>And now the disciples were in a fight with the Goliath-like forces of nature. Some of the disciples were fishermen. They understood the danger, and so they fought the storm long and hard, but made little headway.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2582&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2581&z=1\'><b>Just Getting Along?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The Bible doesn’t tell us to just get along with other believers. Even the worst of enemies can bury their differences for a short time and be cordial toward one another for a mutual goal or benefit. <br \/><br \/>But God calls us to a higher standard: “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2 NLT)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2581&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2579&z=1\'><b>The “God-Chip” Empowerment<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God empowers you to successfully do everything he asks to do. He gives you abilities to use in service to others, and he transforms you inwardly with a growing desire to serve others. <br \/><br \/>The Holy Spirit within gives you the ability to tune into God, to hear him, to listen to him – and to talk with him. Please hear this: he didn’t create you for failure; he created you to succeed with the Holy Spirit energizing your abilities and empowering your efforts. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2579&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2578&z=1\'><b>A Mere Human View<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus says we should think like He thinks – with a heavenly perspective above and beyond mere human thinking.<br \/><br \/>This doesn’t mean we become mindless robots; rather, our thoughts should begin to match the thoughts of God as His Spirit works within us, helping us to look at people and circumstances from his perspective: “From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him like that.” (2 Corinthians 5:16, HCSB) <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2578&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2577&z=1\'><b>Trust Me, I’m A Reporter<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>There is an old joke among journalists about a beginning reporter sent to do a story about a town meeting. He comes back a few hours later with sooty smudges on his face, and he tells his editor that there’s nothing to report about the meeting.<br \/><br \/>The editor asks why, and the young reporter says the meeting never took place because the town hall burned to the ground. And wiping the soot from his face, he says, “Some of us barely got out with our lives!”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2577&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2576&z=1\'><b>Give Flowers Or A Life-Long Love?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>He cradled the roses in his left arm like a running back carries a football (U.S.). He debated with himself over which would be best: a solitary rose or a dozen roses wrapped with baby’s breath. He went for the dozen, thinking the more, the better when you’re trying to tip the scales back toward the “nice guy” side.<br \/><br \/>So he carried 12 deep-red roses just on the edge of a beautiful bloom. They’d cost him plenty, but that’s the price you have to pay when you let someone down. Today was their anniversary. There were dinner plans, a night of romance, whispered words, tender kisses...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2576&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2575&z=1\'><b>Wash And Rinse Faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Good afternoon, Mr. Watson, it’s so good to see you again. How is the washing machine working out for you? What’s that? Let me make sure I understand: You’re saying it isn’t working properly!<br \/><br \/>Okay, okay, no worries -- here at the Appliance and Bible Application Center, we pride ourselves on being able to support our customers. So, tell me what’s wrong. Ah, there’s the problem, Mr. Watson. Your expectations are too high!<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2575&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2574&z=1\'><b>Is Jesus Capable To Manage Your Life?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>It’s been my experience that whenever there is a change of leadership, people get nervous. It could be a new boss replacing another, bringing in a different set of procedures to replace the ones that are well-worn and familiar. <br \/><br \/>It could be a change of leadership in the government. Will the new people in power change things for the better or for worse?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2574&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2573&z=1\'><b>Polar Bear Theology<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy was a boy, he and his friends started the White Polar Bear Club. There was only one requirement for becoming a member – you had to sit on a stool in the corner and not think about a white polar bear for thirty minutes.<br \/><br \/>You can imagine the difficulty of meeting this entrance requirement, particularly if you sat there thinking, I must not think about a white polar bear; I must not think about a white polar bear. No matter what I do, I must not think about a white polar bear.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2573&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2572&z=1\'><b>In Sync With God’s Spirit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Your soul is who you are on the inside. When you become a believer, God’s Spirit breathes new life into your soul, making you a new creation in Christ. His Spirit becomes an anchor to your soul, a steadfast force working within you so that you’re no longer pushed about by events, circumstances, or even your feelings - instead your life is controlled by the Spirit of God within you.<br \/><br \/>The Holy Spirit helps you mature as a believer, prompting you to obey and trust God’s guidance. God wants your soul so in sync with His Spirit that you act as one with Him, serving others on His behalf.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2572&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2571&z=1\'><b>A Hedge Of Thorns<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>We run from God; He calls us back. We hide from God; He seeks us out. We chase false gods; He reminds us He is the One True God, and He guards us jealously.<br \/><br \/>In order to illustrate his faithfulness and patience with us, God chose a prostitute named Gomer. Many men came to see her, but then one came, not to use her, but to marry her. <br \/><br \/>He was a prophet from God; a holy man committed to pure and righteous living. He came saying God wanted him to marry her. You can imagine the shock, the laughter – and the mixed-up feelings. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2571&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2570&z=1\'><b>Blind Truth<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Jesus healed a man born blind, the Pharisees opened an investigation to determine exactly what had happened. Yet, it appears they decided ahead of time what the answer should be, so when the facts didn’t support their predetermined conclusion, they just kept searching until they found facts they liked.<br \/><br \/>The Apostle John shows us a sequence of snapshots related to the Pharisee’s investigation:<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2570&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2569&z=1\'><b>Jesus Sent, The Blind Man Went<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>And so Jesus came upon a man who’d been blind since birth. The man was begging on the streets of Jerusalem, just to survive until the next day. Although people were all around him, he sat in isolation. No one could truly understand his fears and his frustrations; People passed by, some even spoke to him, some even gave him money, but no one could really understand his situation.<br \/><br \/>Just then, a man knelt next to him and, perhaps, said quietly, “If you do exactly what I tell you to do, you’ll be able to see. I will heal you.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2569&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2568&z=1\'><b>Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>It was a frustrating situation, and I was looking for someone to blame: \"Maybe it was his fault, maybe it was her fault, maybe it was their fault.\" I even thought, \"Maybe it’s my fault,\" so I figuratively kicked myself a few times.<br \/><br \/>In one of my clearer moments, I told a friend, “I really want to find someone to blame in this situation, but there’s just no one to blame. It’s just one of those things that happen.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2568&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2567&z=1\'><b>Perfect Love Drives Out Fear <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>There you are, driving to the grocery store. You’re under the speed limit and following all the traffic laws, but then you notice a police car in your rearview mirror.<br \/><br \/>The policeman isn\'t flashing his lights; he’s not pursuing you; in a sense he\'s just like any other driver who might be following behind you down the road. <br \/><br \/>But he’s not just any driver. He’s a police officer, and so you tense up. You start thinking: Am I going too fast? Am I wearing my seatbelt? Did I signal properly when I changed lanes?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2567&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2565&z=1\'><b>The Suffering Of A Saint<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When we confess our belief in Jesus as the Holy One of God, we often assume our lives will become easier. It doesn’t help that some pulpits and small groups teach that.<br \/><br \/>Certainly Jesus taught that his yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30) and the apostle Paul spoke about the \"Sabbath rest\" of God (Hebrews 4:9), but both these examples teach the need to develop a deep trust in God, not that following Jesus is easy. We’re to step into the will of God and stay there, trusting he has our best interests at heart. (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2565&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2566&z=1\'><b>We Weren’t Made To Live Alone<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>If I were to ask you what you considered to be the most common emotional hurt in people, what would you say: Depression? Anxiety? Guilt? <br \/><br \/>How about loneliness? <br \/><br \/>After all the pastoral conversations I’ve had over the last 30 years, I’m certain loneliness is not only common to us all; it’s epidemic. I first noticed this when people who were married would come to me for pastoral care, saying they were lonely – extremely lonely.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2566&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2564&z=1\'><b>Designed To Benefit Others<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/03\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Generosity flows from the heart of God: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)<br \/><br \/>When God gives, he holds nothing back. He gives every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:3 NLT) There’s no obligation for him to give us so much.<br \/><br \/>He gives because he loves.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2564&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2563&z=1\'><b>Sarah Bore Abraham A Son<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Sarah and Abraham grew weary of the wait, and so they decided to step in and help God fulfill the promise he’d made. Sarah and Abraham thought, just like you and me, \"God doesn’t understand our circumstances; his commandments are good guidelines, but they simply don’t work well in the nitty gritty of life.\"<br \/><br \/>And so Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2563&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2562&z=1\'><b>The Waiting Is The Hardest Part <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Sarai waited and waited for God to provide their first descendant, but the baby didn’t come. She waited week after week, hopeful that God would answer her prayers, that God would make good on his promise. Every day, the tension and the frustration mounted. As the musician, Tom Petty, sings: “The waiting is the hardest part.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2562&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2561&z=1\'><b>Making Allowance For Each Other’s Faults<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The more we understand, the more patient we become.<br \/><br \/>When we see the hurt beneath the anger, or the reason behind the behavior, we’re more likely to “make allowance for each other’s faults.” <br \/><br \/>The ability to understand is a sign of patience. (Proverbs 14:29) The Bible teaches, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV) God’s wisdom teaches us that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), and that impatience is not love.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2561&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2560&z=1\'><b>Making Allowance For Each Other’s Faults<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The more we understand, the more patient we become.<br \/><br \/>When we see the hurt beneath the anger, or the reason behind the behavior, we’re more likely to “make allowance for each other’s faults.” <br \/><br \/>The ability to understand is a sign of patience. (Proverbs 14:29) The Bible teaches, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2560&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2559&z=1\'><b>R-E-S-P-E-C-T<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Respect begins with a godly perspective.<br \/><br \/>Respect means we see one another through our Father’s eyes as eternal beings (John 3:16) chosen by God “for the high calling of priestly work … God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him ….” (1 Peter 2:9, Msg). It also means seeing each other as “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17, NIV).<br \/><br \/>Respect means we consistently remember we’ll soon be sharing heaven with other believers whom we know from our churches, our neighborhoods, our places of work -- anywhere we meet other people. We give respect even to those whom we have difficulty respecting.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2559&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2558&z=1\'><b>God\'s Passion For Oneness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Jesus speaks of love, he allows no room for sentimental fantasy or momentary emotion. He sees love through the eyes of the Father, and from this point of view he deeply understands that true, eternal, godly love is bold and strong, but also painful, messy, and sacrificial. <br \/> <br \/>A love of this strength and magnitude can only take root in the soil of abandonment. We abandon our rights, our thoughts, and our schemes. It was this total and uncompromising abandonment to God that led Jesus to say and do only what the Father told him to do. (John 14:10) It was this uncompromising abandonment that led him to the cross.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2558&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2557&z=1\'><b>The Truth About Feelings<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Submitted now for your consideration: Pamela, a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a prayerful Christian. This morning, her husband, Richard, left a tender note on the bathroom mirror, inviting Pamela to join him for lunch at their favorite restaurant. <br \/><br \/>Pamela eyes the clock throughout the morning, anticipating meeting her life-long love at 1 p.m. She’s excited and feeling extraordinarily loved by her husband, so she leaves for the restaurant early in order to buy Richard a small gift. She splurges more, buying two balloons, which float up from the ribbon wrapped around the present...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2557&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2556&z=1\'><b>As Quiet As A Child<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Today’s devotional actually comes from my sister, a godly woman and serious prayer warrior. She e-mailed this morning, saying she’d been thinking the peace of God that passes all understanding.<br \/><br \/>She said she’d spent some time meditating on Psalm 131 –<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2556&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2555&z=1\'><b>Do Prayers Reflect Belief?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>What do your prayers reveal about your perceptions of God?  <br \/><br \/>I was thinking about this question the other day while reading a book by the great prayer warrior T. W. Hunt.  In Disciple’s Prayer Life, Hunt and co-author Catherine Walker teach that we learn about the attributes of God by analyzing the prayers of people in the Bible.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2555&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2554&z=1\'><b>We Love By His Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Jesus commands us to do something, he knows we cannot do it unless we are empowered by him – and so he joins his life with the Holy Spirit within us. Thus, “Christ lives in me.”<br \/><br \/>This new life within will take us where thoughts or feelings never will; it will enable us more than information or willpower ever can. We receive the love and life of Jesus, and he says, “Go and do the same.” As awesome and costly and everlasting as the Gospel is, it’s also this simple: We are transformed by the life of Christ released within us, and now we’re to show and tell others how Christ can live in them.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2554&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2553&z=1\'><b>The Truth About Feelings<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Submitted now for your consideration: Pamela, a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a prayerful Christian. This morning, her husband, Richard, left a tender note on the bathroom mirror, inviting Pamela to join him for lunch at their favorite restaurant. <br \/><br \/>Pamela eyes the clock throughout the morning, anticipating meeting her life-long love at 1 p.m. She’s excited and feeling extraordinarily loved by her husband, so she leaves for the restaurant early in order to buy Richard a small gift. She splurges more, buying two balloons, which float up from the ribbon wrapped around the present... <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2553&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2552&z=1\'><b>Love God With All Your Weakness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>No doubt it sounds strange, but in order to love God with all your strength, you have to admit you are weak. <br \/><br \/>By doing this, you acknowledge God is the true source of your strength, and that in your weakness, he is strong. You become strong as you become totally dependent upon him, allowing his strength to work through you.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2552&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2550&z=1\'><b>Be ‘Un-conformed’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Slowly read through this devotional as a prayer to God:<br \/><br \/>Lord, help me and guide me so I am no longer conformed to this age. Move me in such a way, Lord, that I can un-conform to anything that is not a part of you or pleasing to you.<br \/><br \/>Wash my mind with your spirit and wisdom. Renew my mind so I am transformed by your power – and not my limited ability to will it so. Develop my ability to discern your will, and energize me to do the things that will please you.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2550&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2549&z=1\'><b>Guided By One Spirit<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>In any argument, our objective should be to love – not win.<br \/><br \/>It’s much harder to love than it is to simply win, and the truth is, we do “win” when we let God’s love flow through us into any disagreement. Love always wins; God proves the point by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2549&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2548&z=1\'><b>God’s Grace Sets You Free<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Grace. If you carry away only one thing from these devotionals, my prayer is that it will be a mind-transforming, behavior-altering understanding of God’s infinite, indestructible, and immovable grace. <br \/><br \/>Not just a quick, yet correct sound-bite explanation – like the “unmerited favor of God” – but the deep, ancient meaning of grace that stretches across the depth and breadth and width and height of God’s character.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2548&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2547&z=1\'><b>Is Your Faith In Your Fear?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/02\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Across the breadth of the Bible, God consistently sends the message, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”<br \/><br \/>The Bible reveals that God knows we tend toward fear, particularly as we respond to uncertainty and change. Yet the Bible also reveals that God is the only unchanging certainty in this world – or out of it.<br \/><br \/>Yet, is it possible we have more faith in our fear than we do in God?<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2547&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2546&z=1\'><b>‘Help Me Not To Doubt’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>I do believe, yet I have so much unbelief in my life. I walk in faith, yet my faith is often more in the things I see than the things I don’t see. I follow God, yet I repeatedly find myself stumbling down a path of my own choosing.<br \/> <br \/>Paul teaches this is a common disorder among Christians, but he also says the cure for our unbelief is, quite simply, to believe God.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2546&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2544&z=1\'><b>Dear Friend, I Got Your Note<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Hi!  I got your note saying you didn’t think you could do what God is telling you to do.<br \/><br \/>You may be surprised to hear me say this, but I agree!  If God called you to do it, then you shouldn’t be able to do it without him. In fact, if you could do it without him, then it’s really not a God-thing.  <br \/><br \/>I know you’re feeling that God is asking you to do something that works against your strengths.  Honestly, friend, we both know there are other people we think could do it better, but what we think doesn’t really matter, does it? God’s mind on the matter – what he thinks – that’s the reality, the Gospel truth we live by. (Colossians 3:3)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2544&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2543&z=1\'><b>Give Life With Your Words<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>You have the power to kill or give life.<br \/><br \/>Yes, you, gentle reader – a follower of Christ – are capable of murder, and so am I. We can speak death with our words, or we can speak life.<br \/><br \/>Perhaps you’ve been on the other side of the killing kind of messages: “You’re not smart enough. You’re not thin enough. You’re not fast enough. You’re not good enough. A real Christian wouldn’t think such a thing.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2543&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2542&z=1\'><b>The Forgetful Servant<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Serving others requires forgetfulness on your part: You need to forget your own needs.<br \/><br \/>You cannot be self-centered and serve the real needs of another person. “Don’t be selfish ...,” Paul says in Philippians 2:3, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” (NLT)<br \/><br \/>Jesus gave his disciples an example of this humility when he stooped to wash their feet: “So during the meal...\"<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2542&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2541&z=1\'><b>Cooperating With A Smile<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/02\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Cooperation is doing with a smile what you have to do anyway.  You’ll never find that sentence in the Bible, but I think its spirit is implied throughout God\'s Word.  We are called to be obedient to God\'s commands, and part of that obedience is having a sensitive servant’s attitude.<br \/><br \/>I learned this lesson years ago when I was working for someone, who at the time, I didn’t respect.  I would do whatever he asked me to do – eventually – but I tended to drag my feet, complain, or point out how wrong he was.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2541&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2540&z=1\'><b>Identity In Christ<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God spoke you into your mother\'s womb at just the right time for you to be here now. It wasn’t by accident, nor was it a pleasant surprise to God; he designed you on purpose to be on mission with him for such a time as this.<br \/><br \/>Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ. What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop believing what others have said about you; you stop believing how others have labeled you; you stop accepting how others have defined you.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2540&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2539&z=1\'><b>God’s Great Idea<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God spoke my son, Jeremy, into my wife’s womb, just as God spoke you into your mother’s womb. Jeremy was “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and God ordained his days, just as he’s ordained yours. (Psalm 139:14, 16 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Jeremy was one of God’s great ideas. Like you, Jeremy was an expression of God’s blue-ribbon brilliance. He was a Matisse-like masterpiece, lovingly, deliberately, and carefully created by the One True God, the creative Creator of the universe.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2539&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2538&z=1\'><b>Loving Out The Fear <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God enables us to love the fear out of one another.<br \/><br \/>We drive fear from our families and friends by loving one another so supportively that every one feels safe inside the group. (1 John 4:18) This safety allows us to bring our humanity into the open, including all our pain and joy, our ups and downs, our victories and defeats. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2538&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2537&z=1\'><b>Jesus Stopped<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus stopped. He stopped when people needed his help, when they needed his comfort, when they needed his protection, when they needed an answer to a perplexing problem. <br \/><br \/>Jesus saw the interruptions in his life as divine opportunities to show God’s love to people in desperate need.<br \/><br \/>Jesus approached love from a show first, then tell perspective.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2537&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2536&z=1\'><b>Send Picture First<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Send picture first, then I’ll reply” – It’s a pretty common message in the personal ads, and in this age of alienation and e-community, it makes a lot of sense to exercise care and caution in any relationship with a new person. <br \/><br \/>But let me ask this question: When it comes to real love – real as opposed to some fantasy-romantic love – do you find yourself saying, “Send picture first?”<br \/><br \/>We may say it in different ways. For instance, we may say, think, or judge: “I have to see if you’re good enough.” “I’m not sure you’re worthy of my love.” “You need to act the way I expect before I’ll love you.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2536&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2535&z=1\'><b>Believing Your Uniqueness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God gave you a unique role to play in his Kingdom.<br \/><br \/>You’re the only person in the world who can live your particular life for the glory of God. There is no one else in the world with your unique mix of spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. God shaped you for a very specific ministry, and no one else can fulfill your mission.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2535&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2534&z=1\'><b>Believing Your Uniqueness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/01\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God gave you a unique role to play in his Kingdom.<br \/><br \/>You’re the only person in the world who can live your particular life for the glory of God. There is no one else in the world with your unique mix of spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. God shaped you for a very specific ministry, and no one else can fulfill your mission...<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2534&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2533&z=1\'><b>Life Is At Work In You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>We are jars of clay, chipped and blemished, fragile by God’s design in order to show the glorious light of God shining through our cracks and crevices. People should look at us and say, “What’s this? That plain jar of clay isn’t creating such a glorious light; it must be the light of heaven contained within. The peace and joy and love I see in that light must be from God.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2533&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2532&z=1\'><b>Snatching The Situation From God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>It’s easy to look at this verse and assume Paul is talking about the sinful behavior that occurs before we become Christians. That is, we announce our dependence upon Jesus and we renounce the sinful methods we use to make it through each day.<br \/><br \/>Yet Paul is actually referring to the sinful behavior of a group of Christians who are slandering him...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2532&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2530&z=1\'><b>Your Weakness, God’s Glory<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>In the same way God spoke light into the darkness at creation, today he speaks light into the darkness of our hearts. He fills us with the light of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to see the face of Christ with greater clarity as he transforms us into the likeness of Christ. We carry God’s glory, and it shines from us so all the world can see that our God is an awesome God.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2530&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2531&z=1\'><b>Snatching The Situation From God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>It’s easy to look at this verse and assume Paul is talking about the sinful behavior that occurs before we become Christians. That is, we announce our dependence upon Jesus and we renounce the sinful methods we use to make it through each day.<br \/><br \/>Yet Paul is actually referring to the sinful behavior of a group of Christians who are slandering him while also manipulating…<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2531&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2527&z=1\'><b>You ‘Nervoused’ Me<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>My youngest son is exploring the English language and, like many of your sons and daughters, he sometimes uses the correct word but gets creative with his sentence structure.<br \/><br \/>My favorite example is when he said, “Dad, you nervoused me!” (Meaning, “You made me nervous!”)<br \/><br \/>I use this illustration to help you...<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2527&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2524&z=1\'><b>Sacrifice Is Part Of Service<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Serving others comes at a great price. <br \/><br \/>When you become a servant, you always give up something you could have kept for yourself – time, money, energy. But the greatest cost of all is yourself. <br \/><br \/>Serving others exacts a personal toll that cannot be measured in dollars and cents or hours and minutes. <br \/><br \/>In 2 Corinthians 6:8-10, Paul describes the price he paid for serving others: “We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” (NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2524&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2523&z=1\'><b>To Think Like Jesus Thinks<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>A hundred years ago, when I played golf, I thought I was doing pretty well just to get the ball somewhere on the putting green. The truth be told, my main goal was to reach the green without major-ly embarrassing myself, so I was satisfied even when my ball dribbled onto the fringes.<br \/> <br \/>One day, a local golf pro told me the key difference between average and excellent golf is this: The truly great players shoot for the hole, not somewhere near the hole or somewhere on the green. They aim directly for the hole.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2523&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2522&z=1\'><b>Radiant Certainty<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>There are some days when, frankly, I don’t feel much like worshiping God. There are probably more days like that than I’d care to admit. <br \/><br \/>But usually those are days when I’m staring at my circumstances and making faithless judgments about what I see around me. And I struggle with the God-truth that he is in the circumstances surrounding my life – all the circumstances.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2522&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2521&z=1\'><b>Your On Genesis Week<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form.<br \/> <br \/>This is a Genesis event (Psalm 51:10, MSG) – where God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating a fresh start for you. <br \/><br \/>God can create something from nothing; he can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and create a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful. God loves you and wants to pour his grace into your life. He wants to see you pure, and he wants to see you succeed – so much so that he takes an active role in creating your new heart and bringing order to the chaos of your life. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2521&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2518&z=1\'><b>Mundane<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Since it’s the New Year, you may be wondering why we’re meditating on another Christmas verse. I delayed this devotional until today for the simple reason that most of us are now returning to the routine of life after celebrating the birth of Jesus. We’re back in the office; we’re back at school; we’re back to whatever we normally do.<br \/><br \/>Notice that the shepherds did the same thing. God sent them a message through his heavenly host, and they found the baby Jesus in a manager, just as the angel said they would. They marveled at God and knew they’d been blessed to see the Messiah’s arrival.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2518&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2513&z=1\'><b>God Meant It For Good<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The life of Joseph was anything but peaceful. It was filled with youthful folly, broken dreams, and the mean-spirited actions of others. Yet he remained a man remarkable for his lack of bitterness or regret, always seeing God as the “Great Engineer” behind even the worst of circumstances.  <br \/><br \/>In a final confrontation with his brothers, he graciously noted, “You meant it for bad; God meant it for good.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2513&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2512&z=1\'><b>Your Own Genesis Week<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” (Psalm 51:10 MSG)  <br \/><br \/>“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2512&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2511&z=1\'><b>Tell God: Whatever It Takes, Anytime, Anywhere, Anyway.<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2008\/01\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Saddleback Church celebrated its 25th anniversary, Rick Warren called for a radical commitment from God\'s people — all over the world — to tackle the giant obstacles that keep people in spiritual darkness. <br \/><br \/>In this new year, we can “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV). We can, once again, affirm our commitment to the work of the Great Commission. My prayer is that we will view this declaration as a covenant with God, promising him that from now we will do whatever it takes: anytime, anywhere, anyway.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2511&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2510&z=1\'><b>A Resolution Worth Keeping<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>If the apostle Paul ever made a New Year’s resolution, I suspect it was similar to the one made here, where he resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified.<br \/><br \/>Paul’s message was radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone.  That means it’s not Christ plus your good behavior, not Christ plus the years you taught a Bible study, not Christ plus your tithe, not Christ plus the church you attend.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2510&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2509&z=1\'><b>‘Thy’ Salvation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Over the years, I’ve misread and misheard Psalm 51:12, thinking it said, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.”<br \/><br \/>Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of people mis-live the verse, too.<br \/><br \/>The difference between ‘my’ and ‘thy’ may seem like simple semantics, but the chasm between them is actually so vast that the only bridge capable of spanning the gap is the blood of Jesus Christ.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2509&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2507&z=1\'><b>‘Tis The Season To Enter God’s Rest<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God invites us to enter the rest of his healing grace, trusting in his power and purpose for our lives. We rest in our Father’s arms, knowing he goes before and goes behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil. (Jeremiah 29:11) <br \/><br \/>We enter this “let go and let God” rest through faith, where we cease to work and live independently of God (“… anyone who enters God\'s rest also rests from his own work …”). Instead, we’re to focus our efforts toward entering this Sabbath-trust in God, a restful certainty that God’s got a handle on it all, and that he’s got our best interests in mind.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2507&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2505&z=1\'><b>It\'s Not The HOW; It\'s The WOW!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Long ago and far away, there was a teacher who worked painstakingly to teach me how to play the guitar. Every week, we\'d climb up and down musical stairs crafted from the pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic, and octatonic scales. This emphasis upon technique frustrated me, and I grew to hate it so much that I abandoned the guitar – until playing it again became a positive part of my mid-life crisis.<br \/> <br \/>OK, OK ... yes, I would have been better guitar player today if I\'d practiced what my teacher told me (and, kids, eat your spinach too). But somehow I became so buried in the technique of making music that I lost the exhilarating pleasure of the music – with its power to make my heart soar toward the grace-filled face of God.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2505&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2503&z=1\'><b>The Lowly Baby Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Humility is such a slippery slope. The more conscious you are of being humble, the less likely you are to remain humble. It’s like the old joke about the humble man who received an award for his ever-present humility. The problem was, once he stepped forward to receive the award, they had to take it away from him. Ha!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2503&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2499&z=1\'><b>What Do You Mean, God?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>If we believe what we say we believe, then when God says it is so – it is so. Yet we often doubt.<br \/><br \/>The interaction between the angel and the shepherds in Luke 2 shows a simple, yet significant sequence: The angel says, “You will find a baby lying in a manger,” and when the shepherds got to Bethlehem “there was the baby, lying in a manger.”<br \/><br \/>God told them what they would find, and they found exactly what God told them they would find.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2499&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2497&z=1\'><b>The Time Came For Her Baby<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (Luke 2:6 NLT)<br \/> <br \/>We manage time; we waste time. We spend time, and we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly, and we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2497&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2496&z=1\'><b>God Knows Your Fears<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Have you ever noticed God is always telling us to not be afraid? For instance, in the Bible, whenever an angel showed up with a message from God, the first thing the angel said is: “Do not be afraid.”<br \/><br \/>There are all kinds of reasons we might be afraid to receive a message from God: We’re afraid of change, afraid of losing control, afraid of sacrifice, afraid of not being good enough, afraid to face the fact that we’re not good enough – and would prefer to live in our pretense.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2496&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2491&z=1\'><b>A Descendant of Joseph<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God uses your family to direct you toward his purpose. The family into which you were born was not the result of an accident; God spoke you, quite deliberately, into your mother’s womb. You are a unique blending of the DNA, heritage, and characteristics of your parents.<br \/><br \/>Jesus had a family too. We tend to think of Jesus in terms of his heavenly Father, or as the son of Mary, or the heir to David’s throne. But he had a flesh and blood family that God used to move Jesus toward his holy purpose.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2491&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2487&z=1\'><b>Augustus Decreed A Census <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Can you believe it\'s almost Christmas? Praise God for the gift of his Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who was born as a baby in Bethlehem!<br \/> <br \/>As we read about the birth of Christ, can you see how God used circumstances to guide his Holy plan and how he uses circumstances to speak to us even now? <br \/><br \/>Jesus was born in Bethlehem because God decreed it so. His birth in Bethlehem was foretold by the ancient prophets. But what would compel Joseph and Mary to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, especially late in a pregnancy? <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2487&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2486&z=1\'><b>Faith Weathers Every Storm<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Mark Kelly<\/i><br \/>“Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won\'t collapse, because it is built on rock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>A hurricane rages off the ocean onto land. Winds in excess of 150 mph and a powerful storm surge blast the village that sits on the beach, splintering bamboo huts and throwing the pieces in every direction. But in the midst of the destruction, one house weathers the storm intact. The difference? This house is solidly built with a foundation set down into the bedrock. The roof is gone, but not even a Category 5 storm is going to shake the foundation.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2486&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2479&z=1\'><b>A Holiday Outreach – Side By Side<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>This holiday season, make evangelism a team effort. Work together with other Christians (1 Corinthians 3:9) to accomplish more than you could alone. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)<br \/><br \/>For example, instead of trying to plan and prepare a holiday party meant for your neighbors, get together with some of your Christian fiends and collectively host a party for your collective neighbors. Like the four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus (Mark 2:1-12), you can draw strength and encouragement from one another as you bring our own friends into the presence of Jesus. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2479&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2475&z=1\'><b>A Simpler Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>At Christmas time, we often feel like we have to get it all done, and then we crash and burn when we can’t do it all. If you want to simplify this season, you need to understand that it’s all about making choices – and then sticking to those choices, no matter how tempting it is to add more to your holiday “to do” list. <br \/><br \/>It’s easy to forget this, but it’s true: You’re the only one who must assume responsibility for your time, and you’re the only one who can clarify what’s really important to you. The choices you make control your calendar and, as a result, your lifestyle. Your choices are far more powerful than your circumstances, and you have the power to simplify your life by making purpose-full choices.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2475&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2474&z=1\'><b>A Perfectly Reasonable Request<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/12\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>There are days when I think I’m doing pretty good in my pursuit of holiness. Other days, I find myself in the dirt, grit between my teeth, and the mud and crud of life all over my less-than-saintly face.<br \/><br \/>It makes me wonder if Peter engaged in wishful thinking when he restated God’s call from Leviticus, that we’re to be holy, just as our heavenly Father is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Yet, Ian Thomas, a sweet-spirited, obedient man of God, says this call to holiness is a perfectly reasonable request.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2474&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2473&z=1\'><b>The Great Engineer<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The God-adventure is a sweeping dance of redemption as he moves through history coordinating circumstances and events in order to bring as many people as possible home to heaven. <br \/><br \/>Oswald Chambers calls God “The Great Engineer,” the one who keeps all things moving toward a purpose, a climax in history (which is his story). God’s tale is a tear-filled romance where he chases after those he loves, regardless of whether they love him back. It’s a nail-biting drama where he launches a rescue mission for his children who are held in captivity, and he arrives in the perfectly planned nick of time.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2473&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2472&z=1\'><b>God’s Grace Sets You Free<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>In the recent devotional on “practical love,” I described how 25 years ago my sister offered to adopt a baby who was the product of sinful behavior on my part. A few readers thought I was describing a current event, and the responsibility for that confusion is mine. I should have told the story with greater clarity.<br \/><br \/>The woman who carried that baby is now my wife. On December 18 we will have been married 24 years. The crisis pregnancy is not one of my prouder moments, but as I’ve often taught, God used the circumstances to bring me back to him, and to bring my wife to Christ. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2472&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2470&z=1\'><b>Work Together for Christmas Evangelism<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>As we approach Christmas, let’s revisit the biblical truth that we are each created to perform a special role within a larger body of believers.<br \/><br \/>The Apostle Paul emphasized our interdependence with each other by comparing the church to a human body. He says each of us represents various parts of the body: Some serve as a hand, some as an eye – all are meant to serve in some capacity to make the body complete, with Christ as the Head.<br \/><br \/>This picture of the body ruins any argument that the Christian life can be lived in isolation, or that your mission on earth can be carried out independent of other believers. God created you to live and grow within a community of Christian companions. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2470&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2468&z=1\'><b>Getting Practical About Love<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/27<\/i><br \/>My big sister said, “Since the two babies are due almost at the same time, it would be like having twins. I’d love to have two babies at once.” <br \/><br \/>She was talking about adopting a baby in addition to the one she carried. She was talking about adopting my girlfriend’s baby. She was talking about helping us through a crisis pregnancy.<br \/><br \/>These are words of love from a sister, love she showed by action. Love is not a passive noun; it’s an active verb. It’s something you do more often than something you feel.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2468&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2463&z=1\'><b>Playing Second Fiddle<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Next time you bite into a hamburger, I want you to think about how your trip to the fast-food-burger-barn can become a ‘spiritual act of worship.’<br \/><br \/>The Apostle Paul calls us to be living sacrifices, alive in Christ -- moment-by-moment being conformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ. Our spiritual act of worship includes gratefully acknowledging that our heavenly Father is still on the throne of grace and that he has the right to guide us, lead us, and prompt us about any particular thing we do or any specific decision we make throughout the day, no matter how insignificant it may seem.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2463&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2462&z=1\'><b>God Meant It for Good<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The life of Joseph was anything but peaceful.  It was filled with youthful folly, broken dreams, and the mean-spirited actions of others.   Yet he remained a man remarkable for his lack of bitterness or regret, always seeing God as the “Great Engineer” behind even the worst of circumstances.  <br \/><br \/>In a final confrontation with his brothers, he graciously noted, “You meant it for bad; God meant it for good.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2462&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2460&z=1\'><b>The Middle of the Mess<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>One Thanksgiving I woke up in a strange hospital in a distant city. On holiday, I was moments away from carving into a turkey, but groggily realized I’d been the turkey carved that day as my gallbladder was removed during emergency surgery.<br \/><br \/>Lying in the hospital, I reflected on how rough the year had been.  In just short of 12 months, I had a kidney stone removed, a hernia repaired, an operation on my writing hand, my gallbladder sliced out (This is what happens when your mileage exceeds 40 and the warranty runs out on your original parts – Ha!).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2460&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2461&z=1\'><b>The Hard Work of Getting Along<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>If you have children, you’ll know exactly what I mean: Some days you look into their faces, and you see the attitudes of angels; on other days you want to scream, “Why can’t you just get along!” as they get into a cyclical argument about who moved a toy 1\/32nd of an inch. <br \/><br \/>Sometimes these opposite attitudes shift back and forth six times in five minutes!<br \/><br \/>But let me ask you this: Do you think God ever looks at us – we adults; believers in community together – and he sighs, saying, “Why can’t my children just get along?’”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2461&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2459&z=1\'><b>Settling Our Relationships<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>We just discussed this truth: When we’re hurt by someone, we have a choice to make; will we move toward retaliation or resolution? <br \/><br \/>The Bible says we’re to settle our relationships with each other, consistently forgiving others and receiving forgiveness from others. (2 Corinthians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 2:7)<br \/><br \/>The power of God – working within us – means we’re no longer slaves to unforgiveness or bitterness. We can ask God to help us release any offender and find the courage to ask for forgiveness.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2459&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2457&z=1\'><b>Fellowship Without Forgiveness: Impossible<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Fellowship without forgiveness is impossible.<br \/><br \/>As believers, we’re called “to settle our relationships with each other.” (2 Corinthians 5:18 MSG) We need to consistently forgive others and receive forgiveness from others, or we’ll “give up in despair.” (2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV)<br \/><br \/>Whenever we’re hurt by someone, we have a choice to make: Will we focus on retaliation or resolution? <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2457&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2456&z=1\'><b>A Family of God’s People <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>All believers “belong in God’s household with every other Christian” (Ephesians 2:19 LB). This means church is not something we go to – rather it’s something we belong to – a family of God’s people. It’s more than an organization, more than an institution, even more than a group of like-minded people.<br \/><br \/>We are a family forged in the fires of God’s love, and we are to “be devoted to each other like a loving family” (Romans 12:10a GW). We are to love one another like brothers and sisters. This sense of family togetherness allows us to create authentic Christian community – where we are accepted, supported, and challenged to fully live out the purposes of our lives. We belong, and we help others believe they belong.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2456&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2455&z=1\'><b>Accept One Another<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus was not afraid to be friends with non-believers, looking past the sin in their lives to see who God created them to be. (Luke 19:7) He understood that accepting the person is not the same thing as accepting their sins. As the old saying goes, “Love the sinner, not the sin.” <br \/><br \/>Jesus was ridiculed for being a friend to sinners. He accepted prostitutes, lepers, publicans, and the poor.  He believed the kingdom of heaven was available to any who would turn to him.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2455&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2453&z=1\'><b>We Serve God By Serving Others<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Many people have the misconception that being “called” by God is something only missionaries, pastors, nuns, and other church leaders experience. But the Bible says everyone is called to serve God by serving others. <br \/><br \/>We are not saved by serving, but we are saved for serving. The Apostle Paul gives three insights related to this:<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2453&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2452&z=1\'><b>Love As Long As Life Lasts<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God designed life for us to learn how to love one another like God loves us. For the moment, we are in the midst of some rather serious on-the-job-training. God is making use of all things — pain and suffering, joy and comfort, opposition and cooperation — to transform us into people who love fully and deeply.<br \/><br \/>We’re to spend our lives learning to love one another because God wants us to be like he is, and God is love: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV). God designed this life to sever our ties to self-centeredness so he can teach us to be other-centered — putting the needs of others over our own.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2452&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2451&z=1\'><b>God’s Right to Rule <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God becomes real in your life when you submit to his sovereignty.<br \/>Sovereignty simply means God is in control, and that he has the right to be in control – the right to rule. No matter what you’ve thought or believed – in the past or even now -- the truth be told, God has always been in control; he remains in control; and he will always be in control. God rules from his heavenly throne, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2451&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2450&z=1\'><b>As Quiet As A Child<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>I don\'t concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD— now and always. Psalms 131:1b-3 (NLT) <br \/><br \/>Today’s devotional actually comes from my sister, a godly woman and serious prayer warrior. She emailed this morning, saying she’d been thinking the peace of God that passes all understanding.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2450&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2449&z=1\'><b>Risking Your Life For Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus once told the story of a master who asked three servants to handle his money while he was away. He gave each of them a sum of money, and when he returned, the first servant told the master he’d doubled the money through investments, and the second servant said he’d made the master a 50-percent profit on the money. But the third servant said he’d been afraid the master would punish him for making mistakes -- so he hid the money in the cellar until the master’s return.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2449&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2448&z=1\'><b>A Significant Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. <br \/><br \/>He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. It doesn’t matter how long you live, but how you live.<br \/><br \/>Once I become a follower of Christ, what’s the most important priority for me? <br \/><br \/>To tell other people about Jesus!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2448&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2445&z=1\'><b>‘I can’t like it’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When my oldest son was two years old, he’d sometimes turn away from the food we’d places in front of him, making a face and saying, “I can’t like it.”  Of course, he was really trying to say that he didn’t like it, but he was just a beginner at the English language.<br \/><br \/>“I can’t like it” implied that my son didn’t have a choice, as if he’d been pre-programmed to not like something, no matter how hard he tried.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2445&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2443&z=1\'><b>God’s Word is at work<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/11\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>A centurion once asked Jesus to heal his servant, but instead of taking Jesus back to his house, the Roman officer said, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus was astonished at his faith and said, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” (Matthew 8:5-13 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Clearly, this event teaches us about faith, but I want to point out another truth: Jesus just says the word, and the servant is healed.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2443&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2439&z=1\'><b>The Devil Flees Your Humility Before God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian novelist, was a boy, he reportedly started the “White Polar Bear Club” with two of his friends. In order to become a member, you had to stand in the corner and for 30 consecutive minutes not think of a white polar bear.<br \/><br \/>Have you ever tried to intentionally not think about something? It’s almost impossible to keep it out of your mind!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2439&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2436&z=1\'><b>We Trust The Seasons, Why Not God?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>My favorite time of year is the fall. I’m energized by the cool weather, crisp air, colorful landscape, and the coming of SEC football. The season swells with holiday romance and the promise of peace on earth, good will toward man.<br \/><br \/>Ironically, fall also is the worst time of year for me, and I know I’m not alone in such sentiment. The promise of all good things violently collides with the reality of broken dreams and irretrievable relationships. Over the years, I’ve been to more family funerals and hospital waiting rooms between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1 than any other time of year. I feel relieved when the “ghost of Christmas” is truly past.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2436&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2435&z=1\'><b>How Do You Recover From Disaster?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>This past week, many of us have watched as the worst disaster in Southern California history has unfolded. It will take years to recover. You may live far away from California, but more than likely you’ll face some form of hardship in your life (you may even be facing one now). In this guest devotional, Pastor Rick Warren explains three biblical principles for recovering from any disaster:<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2435&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2433&z=1\'><b>Do Your Best to Rest<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Most of us think of the Sabbath as a day of rest, originating from the day of rest God took after he created the universe, as recorded in Genesis. And that view is correct; that is the basis for us taking a Sabbath, a day of rest, within our own week.<br \/><br \/>Yet there is a larger sense of God’s Sabbath: an invitation to rest in God’s healing grace, trusting in his power and his purpose for your life. We rest in our Father’s arms, knowing he goes before and he goes behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2433&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2432&z=1\'><b>The Faith of Works<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Dear brothers and sisters, what\'s the use of saying you have faith if you don\'t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can\'t save anyone. … So you see, it isn\'t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn\'t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.” (James 2:14,17 NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2432&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2431&z=1\'><b>The Conflict of Peace<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:7-9 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>Peace is not the absence of conflict. In fact, true peace is only possible with conflict. God showed us this when, in order to open the path to peace with him, he sent the Divine Peacemaker, Jesus, to die on a brutal cross for our sins. He initiated this peace plan, even though we were the ones in rebellion; he paid the price for our peace with him, even though we fought against it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2431&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2428&z=1\'><b>The Conflict of Peace<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:7-9 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>Peace is not the absence of conflict. In fact, true peace is only possible with conflict. God showed us this when, in order to open the path to peace with him, he sent the Divine Peacemaker, Jesus, to die on a brutal cross for our sins. He initiated this peace plan, even though we were the ones in rebellion; he paid the price for our peace with him, even though we fought against it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2428&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2425&z=1\'><b>It Starts in the Heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/19<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. (Matthew 15:19 NLT) <br \/><br \/><br \/>We tend to think that if we clean up our behavior, then we’ve got a good handle on being like Jesus. But Jesus says behavior starts in the heart, so we need to be cleaned from the inside out. And once our hearts are right, godly behavior follows.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2425&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2422&z=1\'><b>Anger Management<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man\'s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20 NLT) <br \/><br \/><br \/>The slammed door, the “looks could kill” stare, the menacing tone, the threatening language. The silence, the cold shoulder, the eyes that flash, the pointed finger, the blaming phrase.<br \/><br \/>These behaviors all emerge from our anger. They’re weapons of the flesh that we employ, faithless in the belief that God can and will handle the situations we face.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2422&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2421&z=1\'><b>The Holy Nudge<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>It’s a book I’d been searching to find, so when I located it on the library shelf, I was jazzed. But as I approached the front desk, I felt the Holy Spirit check me.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2421&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2420&z=1\'><b>‘Give Me A Head With Hair’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2420&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2419&z=1\'><b>No Small Dreams<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 NLT) <br \/><br \/>In 1631, due to a proofing error, the word ‘not’ was left out of a printing of the King James Bible, changing the seventh commandment to “Thou shalt commit adultery.” Not surprisingly, that printing of the King James became known as “The Wicked Bible.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2419&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2417&z=1\'><b>Iron Man<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Although I don’t recall anyone ever specifically teaching me this, somewhere along the way I embraced the idea that “You have to play hurt.” It’s the philosophy in sports that your commitment in competition is such that you don’t let the pain from injuries – even some of the major ones – keep you from playing, and playing to win.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2417&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2414&z=1\'><b>Making Points With God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“For no one can ever be made right in God\'s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God\'s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren\'t obeying it. But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight—not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.” (Romans 3:20-21 NLT) <br \/><br \/>Brett Favre, the lion-hearted quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, is one of my favorite players in the National Football League. He’s courageous and tough-minded, showing a rare grace under pressure, yet his boyish enthusiasm for the game is infectious as he celebrates each Packer success.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2414&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2413&z=1\'><b>Getting Practical With Love<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Little children, let us stop saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.” (1 John 3:18 LB) <br \/><br \/>The heart is the control center of all actions. How you act reflects what your heart trusts.  Dallas Willard says, “You can live opposite of what you profess, but you cannot live opposite of what you believe.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2413&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2412&z=1\'><b>Bursting At The Seams<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:22 NIV) <br \/>A few miles from my house, there’s a gas station\/convenience store that just went through a “make-over,” changing their utilitarian look into a warm and inviting neighborhood haven. The new look suggests something like a Star-coffee store with gas pumps.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2412&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2411&z=1\'><b>Worship On The Go<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/08<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>God doesn’t desire more of our time sometimes; he desires more of our attention all the time. <br \/><br \/>Ever feel frustrated because you hear messages about getting closer to God and you definitely desire this for yourself, but you are inundated with so much to do already that this only makes you feel guilty because you are too busy for God?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2411&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2410&z=1\'><b>Chasing Ambulances<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:24-25 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>A few months ago, I read about a state enacting a law requiring motorists to pull over to the side of the road when being passed by a lights-on, sirens-blaring emergency vehicle.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2410&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2409&z=1\'><b>Heroes<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. (2 Corinthians 10:8 NIV)<br \/><br \/><br \/>My son came home from middle school the other day and told me there’d been a reward-day-type assembly, where some neat stuff was given away. Then a teacher put all the student’s names into a bucket for a drawing to determine who would win the biggest prize of all!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2409&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2406&z=1\'><b>Support The Troops Within Your Heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)<br \/><br \/>If you lived in a frontier town constantly harassed by raiding parties from an enemy, one option for your military would be to send troops to actually live beside you. These troops would be ‘garrisoned’ to your town, and their presence would not only provide protection during an attack; they, hopefully, would dissuade the enemy from even launching any more attacks.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2406&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2405&z=1\'><b>Jesus Cleanses and Calls<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/02<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:4-8 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2405&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2403&z=1\'><b>No Conditions on Forgiveness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/10\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God\'s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV) <br \/><br \/>You don’t have to go too far to hear people talking about forgiveness. We bandy the word around without giving it much thought, and perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, but lately I’ve heard reporters asking questions like, “Should so-and-so be forgiven?” “Can such behavior be forgiven?” “Can you ever forgive _________?”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2403&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2401&z=1\'><b>Truth and Consequences<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7 NIV) <br \/><br \/>The other night, I was watching a round-table discussion about the fate of Michael Vick. If, somehow, you’ve been able to avoid all forms of media for the last few weeks, Vick, once the gifted quarterback for the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons, will be in jail for the next few years because of his part in a violent dog-fighting network.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2401&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2397&z=1\'><b>A Forgetful Faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I plan to keep on reminding you of these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth.” (2 Peter 1:12 NLT) <br \/><br \/>About nine months ago, my sense was that God wanted to deepen my faith, and so I stopped receiving a regular paycheck and started living, as we sometimes say, “on faith” – as if all of life isn’t lived on some sort of faith, even if misguided. (For example, I may think I’m guaranteed a paycheck from my employer over the next ten years, but who has promised me that?)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2397&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2396&z=1\'><b>Let God Run Wild<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/26<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“… God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV) <br \/><br \/>As my six-year-old tried to open a package, I sat patiently waiting for him to ask me for help. It was one of those protective, hard plastic packages that some manufacturers use – you know, the kind that are nearly impossible to open short of using a small explosive.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2396&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2394&z=1\'><b>We Love By His Life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NLT)<br \/><br \/>When Jesus commands us to do something, he knows we cannot do it unless we are empowered by him – and so he joins his life with the Holy Spirit within us. Thus, “Christ lives in me.”<br \/><br \/>This new life within will take us where thoughts or feelings never will; it will enable us more than information or willpower ever can. We receive the love and life of Jesus, and he says, “Go and do the same.” As awesome and costly and everlasting as the Gospel is, it’s also this simple: We are transformed by the life of Christ released within us, and now we’re to show and tell others how Christ can live in them.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2394&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2395&z=1\'><b>The God of Hope<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5, NIV)<br \/><br \/>I’ve never met any chocolate I didn’t like, which is why I’ve struggled with weight most of my life. I’ve dropped it off and then put it back on. I’ve tried every form of diet, and even made up a few of my own.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2395&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2392&z=1\'><b>The Woman At The Coffee Bar<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus declared, \"Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” (John 4:21, NIV)<br \/><br \/>The sound system played a soft and obscure tune from several years back. Gregory Glaner couldn’t remember exactly what year it was from, but that’s one of the reasons he came to this coffee bar: The music challenged his memory and gave voice to his emotions.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2392&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2390&z=1\'><b>Don’t Waste the Grace<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“As God\'s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God\'s grace in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1, NIV) <br \/><br \/>Have you ever wanted to quit being a Christian? Or at least just get away from God’s commands for a while? If you have, you’re in good company – Jonah and Jeremiah come quickly to mind.<br \/><br \/>God gives us grace sufficient for our needs each day, and He gives us that grace every day. In 2 Corinthians 6:1, Paul, in effect, says, don’t waste the grace God has given you. He says don’t receive God’s grace “in vain” – rejecting it in order to nurture frustrations and disappointments.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2390&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2386&z=1\'><b>Go Where You Wanna Go<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7, NIV) <br \/><br \/>Back in the carefree Sixties, a group called The Mamas and the Papas sang: “You gotta go where you wanna go, do what you wanna do, with whoever you wanna do it with.” It would be easy to say those lines sum up the Sixties, but frankly I think they sum up the standard way of life for many of us even today.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2386&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2384&z=1\'><b>God Meant It For Good<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Joseph’s life was anything but peaceful.  It was complicated by youthful folly, broken dreams, and the mean-spirited actions of others.  Sold into slavery by jealous brothers. Thrown into prison on false charges. Yet he remained a man remarkable for his lack of bitterness or regret, always seeing God as the “Great Engineer” behind even the worst of circumstances.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2384&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2383&z=1\'><b>It\'s Not The How; It\'s The Wow!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\" (Matthew 28:20 NLT) <br \/> <br \/>Long ago and far away, there was a teacher who worked painstakingly to teach me how to play the guitar. Every week, we\'d climb up and down musical stairs crafted from the pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic, and octatonic scales. This emphasis upon technique frustrated me, and I grew to hate it so much that I abandoned the guitar – until playing it again became a positive part of my mid-life crisis.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2383&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2381&z=1\'><b>Only One You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/13<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Mister Rogers was right after all: There is only one you. But this information is much more important than to just be boosting your self-esteem. It is to help you better serve others by being more confident about your God-given role in life. <br \/><br \/>No one else fits your shape. No one else has your blend of gifts, talents, and natural abilities – making you very important in the whole scheme of things. “God made our bodies with many parts,” wrote Paul, “and he has put each part just where he wants it.” (1 Corinthians 12:18) And as it is with the human body, so it is with the Body of Christ – the corporate collection of all who believe. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2381&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2380&z=1\'><b>Thoughts Captive<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) <br \/> <br \/>Use today’s devotional as a prayer – <br \/><br \/>Father, teach me to wage spiritual war in your manner, and not according to the world. Guide me to live - and to fight, argue, conflict - with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2380&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2378&z=1\'><b>No Trivial Thing<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Lori Hensley<\/i><br \/>“He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.” (1 Kings 16:31 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Ahab thought it was trivial – no big deal – to marry Jezebel! If you just read through the history reported in 1 Kings, you can see the consequences of this action and see that is was no trivial matter.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2378&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2374&z=1\'><b>Doing What God Is Thinking<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"… For, \"Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?\" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.\" (1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT) <br \/> <br \/>In a land not so far away and a time not too distant, lived a mighty, yet gentle Master of the Manor. There was a servant who worked for the Master, and this servant was a man of excellent efficiency, incorruptible integrity, and joyful heart.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2374&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2371&z=1\'><b>Loving God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.” (Jeremiah 2:2, NKJV) <br \/><br \/>The word ‘kindness’ in the Scripture above is a translation of the Hebrew word kesed, which is often translated as “loving mercy.” Starting in Genesis, it shows up throughout the Old Testament as a description of God’s loving pursuit of his people. <br \/><br \/>It’s a reminder that God chases after us with such persistent grace that he refuses to let us get away. That’s a concept I can easily understand about God – this benevolent grace that insists upon capturing us.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2371&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2369&z=1\'><b>Radiant Certainty<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:20-22 NIV) <br \/><br \/>There are some days when, frankly, I don’t feel much like worshiping God. There are probably more days like that than I’d care to admit.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2369&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2368&z=1\'><b>Confident in God’s Truth<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/09\/05<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NAS)<br \/><br \/>God wants you confident in the truth that, through him, all things are possible.<br \/><br \/>Every day of your life, you have a choice – <br \/><br \/>• You can focus on the bigness of the giants that stand before you, or …<br \/>• You can focus on the bigness of the one, true God who is pouring his strength into you.<br \/><br \/>Your focus will determine your behavior, AND it will influence your faith.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2368&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2363&z=1\'><b>We Are Teachers of The Faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other.” (Colossians 3:16a NLT) <br \/><br \/>Discipleship – We are all teachers of the faith. <br \/><br \/>We may be good teachers or we may be bad teachers, but we all are teachers. Everyday, hopefully, we model biblical behaviors and respond with Christ-like attitudes.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2363&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2361&z=1\'><b>Too Big For Our Vocabulary?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: \"O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”  (2 Kings 19:15, NIV) <br \/><br \/>God becomes real in your life only when you submit to his sovereignty.<br \/> <br \/>Sovereignty simply means God is in control, and that he has the right to be in control. Regardless of what you believe, the truth remains – God has been and always will be in control. He rules from his heavenly throne, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2361&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2360&z=1\'><b>A Long, Thin Line<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen.  The things which are seen are temporal and the things which are not seen are eternal.” (1 Corinthians 4:18 NIV)<br \/><br \/>When life begins to squeeze us, what we truly believe is revealed through our attitudes and actions.  <br \/><br \/>And, if the truth be told, most of us live by sight more than by the hope and certainty of our faith.  It’s as if there were a long, thin line threaded throughout the realm of reality that divides the seen, the temporal, the things surrounding us, from the unseen and eternal. Shoved by our circumstances, we become distracted from the eternal and focus below the line – on those circumstances.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2360&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2359&z=1\'><b>Be ‘Un-conformed’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/28<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 HCSB) <br \/><br \/>Slowly read through this devotional as a prayer to God –<br \/><br \/>Lord, help me and guide me so I am no longer conformed to this age. Move me in such a way, Lord, that I can un-conform to anything that is not a part of you or pleasing to you.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2359&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2352&z=1\'><b>Faith Reaches Out<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/27<\/i><br \/><i>Mark Kelly<\/i><br \/>20 A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, \"If only I touch his cloak, I will get well.\" 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, \"Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well.\" At that very moment the woman became well.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2352&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2350&z=1\'><b>The ‘Risk’ of Obedience<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/24<\/i><br \/><i>Mark Kelly<\/i><br \/> “[Abraham] was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did – by his actions.” (James 2:22 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>To many Christians, “faith” means sincerely believing something is true when you don’t have any evidence. In fact, faith is acting on what you know full well is true: God is able to keep his promise and can be trusted to do it. Faith that is only theoretical conviction isn’t faith yet. Real faith – living faith, saving faith – does something about it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2350&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2346&z=1\'><b>Helping Each Other Through Change<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/23<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/> “I hope you will be patient with me ….” (2 Corinthians 11:1a, NLT) <br \/><br \/>(Today, Rick Warren supplies our devotional – jw)<br \/><br \/>In order to manage change, you must remember five things –<br \/><br \/>Love each other<br \/>The first mistake most people make during change is to focus on what they’ve lost, instead of what has been gained – and that creates fear. The antidote to fear is love: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ….” (1 John 4:18 NKJ)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2346&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2345&z=1\'><b>The ‘Risk’ of Obedience<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Mark Kelly<\/i><br \/>“[Abraham] was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did – by his actions.” (James 2:22 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>To many Christians, “faith” means sincerely believing something is true when you don’t have any evidence. In fact, faith is acting on what you know full well is true: God is able to keep his promise and can be trusted to do it. Faith that is only theoretical conviction isn’t faith yet. Real faith – living faith, saving faith – does something about it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2345&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2343&z=1\'><b>God Spoke You Into Existence<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/21<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I knew you before I formed you in your mother\'s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” (Jeremiah 1:5, NLT) <br \/><br \/>Dear one, you were started as an idea in the mind of God! Wow! You exist because the God of the universe thought you up.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2343&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2339&z=1\'><b>Sharing Your Life Message<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/20<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them.” (1 John 5:10a GW)<br \/><br \/>“Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word .... The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore – you’re the message!” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG)<br \/><br \/>When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, “We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17b NCV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2339&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2338&z=1\'><b>Sharing Your Life Message<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them.” (1 John 5:10a GW)<br \/><br \/>“Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word .... The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG)<br \/><br \/>God has given you a Life Message to share.<br \/><br \/>When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, “We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2338&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2335&z=1\'><b>One Step Beyond<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11 HCSB) <br \/><br \/>“Don\'t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me.” (Psalm 51:11 MSG) <br \/><br \/>Do you ever fear that God will banish you from his presence? That you’ve gone one step beyond God’s patience and grace?<br \/><br \/>The ancient king of Israel, David – a man after God’s own heart – expressed a similar concern, but he ran full-throttle into God’s grace, a grace rooted in a perfect love that casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2335&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2334&z=1\'><b>Your Own Genesis Week<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” (Psalm 51:10 MSG)  <br \/><br \/>“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2334&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2332&z=1\'><b>Fresh Heart, Fresh Start<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10 NIV) <br \/><br \/><br \/>God creates my pure heart, not me. It is his spirit within me that cleanses and “re-creates” my heart. It is his power, his grace, his hand, his works, his abilities, his strength that creates this pure heart. My heart becomes pure not because of what I can do, but because of what God has done through the blood of Jesus Christ – and what God can do in transforming my heart into what he wants it to be.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2332&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2326&z=1\'><b>A Pure Heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...<br \/><br \/>• A heart that won’t run with lust after physical pleasure,<br \/>• A heart that obediently refuses what you’ve rightly and wisely fenced away as sin,<br \/>• A heart of love that never insists on its own way (1 John 2:16).<br \/><br \/>Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2326&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2325&z=1\'><b>Pass It On<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/08<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“… The news of your faith in God is out. We don\'t even have to say anything anymore—you\'re the message!” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (MSG) <br \/><br \/>God expects you to intentionally work at reproducing the life of Christ in others. You have this Jesus-deposit in you, and so God wants you helping others to become more like Christ. <br \/><br \/>Consider this: The mission is so vast, and your role is so critical, that he really wants you to be in thousands of places at once. Now, you may be thinking that’s humanly impossible and that God isn’t likely to defy his laws of nature to somehow place you in several different places at once. But God’s strategy is so simple, we might call it common sense.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2325&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2324&z=1\'><b>Creative Missions<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/07<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“‘Don’t say that,’ the Lord replied, ‘for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you.’” (Jeremiah 1:7-8, NLT)<br \/><br \/>Rick Warren joins us again today. Tomorrow we start a devotional series by Jon Walker on developing a clean heart --<br \/><br \/>Maybe you believe you need a special missions “call” from God, and you’ve been waiting for some supernatural feeling or experience to get you started.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2324&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2323&z=1\'><b>Looking Beyond The ‘Here And Now’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/06<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)<br \/><br \/>Rick Warren joins us for the next few days --<br \/><br \/>As we’ve been discussing, history is his story – that is, God’s story. From the book of Revelation we know that God’s global mission will be accomplished, and someday the Great Commission will be the Great Completion. In heaven an enormous crowd of people from “every race, tribe, nation, and language” will one day stand before Jesus Christ to worship him.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2323&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2322&z=1\'><b>Great Commission Eyes<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/03<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“If you ask me, I will give you the nations; all the people on earth will be yours.”  Psalm 2:8, NCV<br \/><br \/>Rick Warren joins us for the next few days --<br \/><br \/>As we’ve been discussing, the opportunities for normal, everyday Christians to become involved in short-term international missions are now literally limitless. It’s never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world. The great barriers are no longer distance, cost, or transportation. The only barrier is the way we think. Your perspective and attitudes must shift – so that you develop Great Commission eyes --<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2322&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2321&z=1\'><b>God came down (but I didn’t!)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/02<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” (Philippians 2:3-7)<br \/><br \/>I have considered these verses before in these writings but just recently I saw something I had never seen before. This observation comes in the form of a confession that is almost too painful to record.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2321&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2319&z=1\'><b>Other-centered Thinking<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/08\/01<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Send us around the world with the news of  your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind.” (Psalm 67:2 LB)<br \/><br \/>As we discussed yesterday, God invites you to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse, and most significant cause in history – his kingdom. He’s building his family for eternity. Nothing matters more, and nothing will last as long. <br \/><br \/>As you develop into a world-class Christian, ready at any moment to serve God and his purpose, your perspective and attitudes must change. You’ll need to make some mental shifts.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2319&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2317&z=1\'><b>Your Commission<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/31<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“Jesus said to his followers, ‘Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.’” Mark 16:15 (NCV)<br \/><br \/><br \/>Rick Warren joins us for the next few days –<br \/><br \/><br \/>The Great Commission is your commission, and that means you have a critical choice to make: You will be either a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2317&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2312&z=1\'><b>When the Spirit of Truth comes<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>July 27, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Carolyn Baker<\/i><br \/>But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2312&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2310&z=1\'><b>Just A Little Bit Dead<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>July 19, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>If you are anything like me, you have probably caught yourself trying to make your own sin out to be something less than the big sins that everyone else commits. You know, the biggies that are in the Ten Commandments like murder, adultery, stealing, lying … stuff like that. Certainly I\'m not that kind of sinner. No, I\'m a minor sinner. When I sin, it\'s more like “sin lite.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2310&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2304&z=1\'><b>A Resolution Worth Keeping<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2  NIV)<br \/><br \/>How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? You remember – that list you made a little over six months ago with two scoops of optimistic enthusiasm, sprinkled with unrealistic expectations, and topped with the cherry of knowing the list isn’t serious anyway. <br \/><br \/>One of my friends has started making honest New Year’s lists: “I won’t lose ten pounds this year,” “I commit to watching the Super Bowl this year,” “I’ll listen to my iPod at least four days a week.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2304&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2303&z=1\'><b>Another Kind of Normal<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/17<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“Every time you forget that character is one of God’s purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances.” — Rick Warren<br \/>Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that we deserve to have a relatively easy life. We have a very false sense of what should be the norm. If someone asks you how things are going and you answer: “Fine,” that is thought of as normal – the way it should be. If there is anything wrong, and you answer that question with a qualifier (“Fine, but …”), then it is assumed that your life is not normal. If something is wrong, then your life is for some reason not what it is supposed to be.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2303&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2298&z=1\'><b>Sing Now: ‘We Are Fam-i-ly’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Love your brothers and sisters in God\'s family.” (1 Peter 2:17b NCV) <br \/><br \/>We long to belong.<br \/><br \/>The Bible tells us that all believers “belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19 TLB) This means church is not something we go to, rather it’s something we belong to – a family of God’s people. It’s more than an organization, more than an institution, even more than a group of like-minded people.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2298&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2296&z=1\'><b>‘Off-The-Clock’ Christians<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/13<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God\'s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you ….” (1 Peter 2:9 MSG) <br \/><br \/>Here’s the snapshot: As I write this, I’m sitting in a restaurant, pre-dawn, sipping on Southern sweet tea. (Who needs coffee when you can have the nectar of God? Ha!)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2296&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2291&z=1\'><b>Get Your Head In The Game<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/12<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But make sure that you don\'t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 MSG) <br \/><br \/>A few years ago, a movie called “Hoosiers” told the story of a small-town basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During an intense game, the team’s coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2291&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2292&z=1\'><b>Get Your Head In The Game<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>July 12, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But make sure that you don\'t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 MSG) <br \/><br \/>A few years ago, a movie called “Hoosiers” told the story of a small-town basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During an intense game, the team’s coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2292&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2290&z=1\'><b>Without You, The Body Is Incomplete<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“… so it is with Christ\'s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (Romans 12:5 NLT) <br \/><br \/>If you don’t live and work within the Body of Christ, other believers will miss out on a blessing from God. Your role is that significant.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2290&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2287&z=1\'><b>The Whole World Is Watching<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)<br \/><br \/>We prove our faith in Christ, not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. <br \/><br \/>Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Love me,” as proof of our discipleship. He said, “Love one another, and that will show the world you belong to me.” One of the best things we can do to reach our community for Christ is to love each other – that is, to love other believers.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2287&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2286&z=1\'><b>Faith In Your Fear<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But Jesus immediately said to them: \"Take courage! It is I. Don\'t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Across the breadth of the Bible, God consistently sends the message, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”<br \/><br \/>The Bible reveals that God knows we tend toward fear, particularly as we respond to uncertainty and change. Yet the Bible also reveals that God is the only thing in this world – or out of it – that is certain and unchanging.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2286&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2283&z=1\'><b>Free To Serve<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>July 6, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)<br \/>What will you use your freedom for?It’s an important question, since one of the greatest things about being born again is the freedom that comes from the Spirit of God. “And wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2283&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2282&z=1\'><b>It’s All About Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/05<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“When I came to you … I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NIV)<br \/>The Gospel message has gotten a little foggy these days with all the attention being paid to politics, family values, and culture wars, and a lot of folks have lost track of the fact that it’s all about Jesus. Ask the man on the street what a Christian is today and you’re likely to ask a long time until you hear anything about Jesus or the cross. Our message, from beginning to end, is Jesus – who he was, what he said, and what he did.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2282&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2281&z=1\'><b>Witnessing In A Postmodern Age<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/07\/04<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Effective witnessing in a postmodern age takes some knowledge of the culture and a good deal of respect both for the freedom of the individual to choose and for the business of God in the process. Without this, our words can carry the duress of merely one opinion over another. We become experts with an agenda instead of facilitators of change.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2281&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2279&z=1\'><b>A Battle of Wills<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/06\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NAS)<br \/><br \/><br \/>Do you respond to God’s direction, even when you don’t understand what’s going on?<br \/><br \/><br \/>Part of the strength God gives you to “do all things through him” is the ability to choose to do his will, even before you know the full implications of what that means. He will begin to change your “wanter,” developing within you more and more of a ‘want’ to do his will.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2279&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2278&z=1\'><b>A Risky Obedience<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 28, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“… Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of ….” (Luke 19:26 MSG) <br \/><br \/>In order to obey God, you need to take risks.<br \/><br \/>Risk is the substance of faith because it requires you to take Step 1 before you see Step 2. Risk compels you to action, even when there seems to be no guarantee of what will be on the other side of your choice.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2278&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2275&z=1\'><b>Interdependence<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 27, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)<br \/><br \/>God designed you to need others – and for others to need you.<br \/><br \/>Even though God shaped you uniquely for your mission, he never meant for you to go it alone. You will only succeed by remaining dependent on God and by becoming interdependent upon other believers, including those in your family or at your church.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2275&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2270&z=1\'><b>God\'s Holy Sentence<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 22, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God ….” (Genesis 45:8 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Today, in the story of your life, you are in the middle of a sentence, and you may find yourself paused in a painful place. But that’s not the end of your story. You may be paused on a holy “but God” moment that is leading you to the very purpose of God for your life.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2270&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2269&z=1\'><b>Playing Second Fiddle<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 21, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God\'s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Next time you bite into a hamburger, I want you to think about how your trip to the fast-food-burger-barn can become a “spiritual act of worship.”<br \/><br \/>Yes, really.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2269&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2268&z=1\'><b>Identity in Christ<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 20, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV)<br \/><br \/>God spoke you into your mother\'s womb at just the right time for you to be here now. It wasn’t by accident, nor was it a pleasant surprise to God. He designed you on purpose, to be on mission with him, “for such a time as this.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2268&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2267&z=1\'><b>The ‘Great Engineer’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 19, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) <br \/><br \/>The God-adventure is a sweeping dance of redemption as he moves through history, coordinating circumstances and events in order to bring as many people as possible home to heaven. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2267&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2264&z=1\'><b>A Woman\'s Aching Prayer Request<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/06\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting.” (Ephesians 5:25 MSG)<br \/><br \/>For a long time I carried in my wallet a deep, aching prayer request from a woman in my church. The request was anonymous, but it could have been made by any number of women across the country. In fact, it’s the number one complaint I hear from Christian women wherever and whenever I visit other congregations.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2264&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2263&z=1\'><b>In Our Humble Opinion<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 15, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“And being found in appearance as a man, [Jesus] humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Humility is such a slippery slope. The more conscious you are of being humble, the less likely you are to remain humble. It’s like the old joke about the humble man who received an award for his ever-present humility. The problem was, once he stepped forward to receive the award, they had to take it away from him. Ha!<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2263&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2258&z=1\'><b>Do prayers reflect belief?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 14, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: ‘Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You\'ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.’” (Matthew 11:25 MSG) <br \/><br \/>What do your prayers reveal about your perceptions of God?  <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2258&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2257&z=1\'><b>Loving Others As Yourself<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 13, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Love your neighbor as yourself ….” (Luke 10:27 NIV)<br \/><br \/>The Bible teaches that you should take deliberate action toward loving your neighbor – in the same way you want to be loved by your neighbor.<br \/><br \/>Yet God knows this is an impossible assignment unless you have his Spirit working within you, guiding and transforming you. It’s hard enough to love yourself, let along the contrary neighbor down the street (my polite Southern way of saying disagreeable).<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2257&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2252&z=1\'><b>The Truth About Feelings<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 08, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“… And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ ….” (Philippians 1:9-10 NIV) <br \/><br \/>Submitted now for your consideration is Pamela, a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a prayerful Christian. This morning her husband, Richard, left a tender note on the bathroom mirror, inviting Pamela to join him for lunch at their favorite restaurant. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2252&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2253&z=1\'><b>Love God with all your weakness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 11, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ….\'” (Luke 10:27 NIV)<br \/><br \/>No doubt it sounds strange, but in order to love God with all your strength, you have to admit that you are weak and that your strength is limited.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2253&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2248&z=1\'><b>Significant Reliability<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 06, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Rick Warren<\/i><br \/>“And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Let me ask you something: Can you be counted on? Are you a faithful person? <br \/><br \/>The word “faithfulness” is not one we hear very often these days. It’s one of those words we usually reserve for retirement party speeches. After 25 years of “faithful service,” you get a gold watch. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2248&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2246&z=1\'><b>Christ In You<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 05, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 HCS)<br \/><br \/>While moving through the line at a college cafeteria, one of my friends spotted a note stuck in a bowl of apples. It read, “Please take only one apple per student. Remember, God is watching!”<br \/><br \/>When my friend, one apple in hand, got to the end of the line, he spotted another note – this one hand-written – next to a bowl of cookies. It read, “Take all the cookies you want! God is watching the apples.”<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2246&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2245&z=1\'><b>Will God Help Me?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/06\/04<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"\'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind\' and \'Love your neighbor as yourself.\'\" (Luke 10:27 NIV)<br \/><br \/>You learn to trust God by obeying him in small ways.<br \/> <br \/>At this point in your faith-walk, you probably agree that God is the supreme ruler of the universe, powerful enough to overcome any problem or defeat any enemy. \"Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him.\" (Romans 11:36 MSG)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2245&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2243&z=1\'><b>Not By The Rules We Keep<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>June 1, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)<br \/><br \/>The whole world is watching how we love one another.<br \/><br \/>Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by how much we love other believers. We prove our faith in Christ, not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2243&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2241&z=1\'><b>A Young Indiana Jones<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>May 31, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)<br \/><br \/>I recall one Wednesday evening after church when I followed my two-year-old son as he wandered through the halls of the church building. To you and me, it would be a walk as mundane as dry toast, but to my young Indiana Jones, it was an adventure where every turn revealed a fresh and fascinating find.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2241&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2238&z=1\'><b>Believing Your Uniqueness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/30<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me — to tell people the Good News about God\'s grace.” (Acts 20:24 NCV)<br \/><br \/>God gave you a unique role to play in his Kingdom.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2238&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2231&z=1\'><b>Worshiping Together<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/5\/29<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“May God … help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God ….” (Romans 15:5-6 NLT)<br \/> <br \/>Entering God’s presence together requires careful preparation.<br \/> <br \/>Congregational worship isn’t as simple as walking through the doors of a church and singing a few songs. In worship we enter the presence of the living God and declare his praises. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2231&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2230&z=1\'><b>Jesus Answers Your Fears<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/5\/25<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Be friendly with everyone.  Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others.  Make friends with ordinary people.” (Romans 12:16 CEV)<br \/><br \/>When we’re in Christian community, we do a lot of things right, but we still have a lot to learn about being “friendly with everyone.” (Romans 12:16) Many of us, particularly the guys, are not very good at developing deep, deep friendships. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2230&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2222&z=1\'><b>Sacrifice Is Part of Service<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/22<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.” <br \/>(1 John 3:16 GW)<br \/><br \/>Serving others comes at a great price. <br \/><br \/>When you become a servant you always give up something you could have kept for yourself – time, money, energy. But the greatest cost of all is yourself.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2222&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2218&z=1\'><b>Set Apart and Appointed<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/18<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Of all my teachers in school, the most influential was Judy Black, my English teacher at Miami Killian High School.  Because of Judy, I can still recite the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet; I know the significance of Xanadu; and I know one of the things that attracted me to my wife is that she looked like she’d just stepped out of a Pre-Raphaelite painting.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2218&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2217&z=1\'><b>Jesus And The Jerks<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/17<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)<br \/><br \/><br \/>Jerk: A person regarded as disagreeable, contemptible, especially as the result of foolish or mean behavior.<br \/><br \/><br \/>One of the biggest jerks I ever knew was a 23-year-old college graduate whose anger and arrogance spilled into many of his relationships. His hypocrisy was astounding – one moment he claimed to be a Christian and the next he acted like a son of hell. If it had been my choice, I would have avoided him all together – but since that jerk was me, I was stuck being around him!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2217&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2215&z=1\'><b>The Forgetful Servant<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/16<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“All of you, serve each other in humility, for God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>Serving others requires forgetfulness on your part: You need to forget your own needs.<br \/><br \/><br \/>You cannot be self-centered and serve the real needs of another person. “Don’t be selfish ...,” Paul says in Philippians 2:3, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” (NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2215&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2214&z=1\'><b>Warning Each Other<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/15<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ <br \/>that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”<br \/>(Hebrews 3:13 ESV)<br \/><br \/>We need people in our lives who will love us enough to warn us when necessary. Just as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV), we’re to push each other toward Christ-like behavior and protect one another from failing in our faith.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2214&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2212&z=1\'><b>Sin And Self-Centeredness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/14<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers.” (1 John 3:14 GW)<br \/><br \/>Living for yourself is essentially the same thing as sin.<br \/><br \/>When we live for ourselves, we live as if we’re separated from God – and that’s when we, as believers, become mean and selfish, insensitive and manipulative. It’s exactly this kind of sinful, self-preserving behavior and attitudes that fill our paychecks with death (Romans 6:23).<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2212&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2209&z=1\'><b>Loving Out The Fear<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/11<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. (1 Peter 3:8 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>God enables us to love the fear out of one another.<br \/><br \/><br \/>We drive fear from our families and friends by loving one another so supportively that every one feels safe inside the group (1 John 4:18). This safety allows us to bring our humanity into the open, including all our pain and joy, our ups and downs, our victories and defeats.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2209&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2207&z=1\'><b>Patience with imperfection<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/10<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other\'s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)<br \/><br \/>Humorist Dave Barry says, “A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2207&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2206&z=1\'><b>That’s my boy!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2007\/05\/09<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“As bad as you are … you\'re at least decent to your own children. So don\'t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:11 MSG)<br \/><br \/>It was one of my son’s first public performances (if you don’t count the times he charmed visitors to our home). His Mother’s Day Out class was set to perform songs for all the parents. My wife had been practicing the songs with him for two weeks; my job was to videotape the event for posterity.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2206&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2202&z=1\'><b>Form letters to God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>May 4, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>There’s an amusing story of a business executive who, at the end of a long day of travel, climbs into bed at a hotel.  As he begins to nod off, he feels something crawling up his legs.<br \/><br \/>Leaping up and fumbling with the light, he throws back the sheets to discover the bed is full of bugs.<br \/><br \/>Changing rooms was not enough to satisfy the man’s disgust.  When he got home, he wrote a letter of complaint to the hotel’s corporate headquarters.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2202&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2198&z=1\'><b>God’s grace sets you free<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>May 3, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Grace. If you carry away only one thing from these devotionals, my prayer is that it will be a mind-transforming, behavior-altering understanding of God’s infinite, indestructible, and immovable grace. <br \/><br \/>Not just a quick, yet correct sound-bite explanation – like the “unmerited favor of God” – but the deep, ancient meaning of grace that stretches across the depth and breadth and width and height of  God’s character.<br \/><br \/>This is on my mind because these devotionals present some high standards for Christian discipleship. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2198&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2196&z=1\'><b>Send picture first<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>May 2, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now!” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT) <br \/><br \/>“Send picture first, then I’ll reply” – This is a pretty common message among the personal ads, and in this age of alienation and e-community, it makes a lot of sense to approach any unknown relationship with care and caution. <br \/><br \/>But let me ask this question: When it comes to real love – real as opposed to some fantasy-romantic love – do you find yourself saying, “Send picture first?”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2196&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2195&z=1\'><b>The hard work of getting along<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>May 1, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Let us agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other.” (Romans 14:19a MSG)<br \/><br \/>If you have children, you’ll know exactly what I mean: Some days you look into their faces, and you see the attitudes of angels; on other days you want to scream, “Why can’t you just get along!” as they get into a ridiculous argument about who moved a toy 1\/32nd of an inch. <br \/><br \/>Sometimes these opposite attitudes shift back and forth six times in five minutes!<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2195&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2194&z=1\'><b>God meant it for good<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 30, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)<br \/><br \/>Joseph’s life was anything but peaceful.  It was complicated by youthful folly, broken dreams, and the mean-spirited actions of others.  Sold into slavery by jealous brothers. Thrown into prison on false charges. Yet he remained a man remarkable for his lack of bitterness or regret, always seeing God as the “Great Engineer” behind even the worst of circumstances.  <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2194&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2192&z=1\'><b>God’s great idea<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 27, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:15-16 NIV) <br \/><br \/>God spoke my son, Jeremy, into my wife’s womb, just as God spoke you into your mother’s womb. Jeremy was “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and God ordained his days, just as he’s ordained yours. (Psalm 139:14,16 NIV),<br \/><br \/>Jeremy was one of God’s great ideas. Like you, Jeremy was an expression of God’s blue-ribbon brilliance, He was a Matisse-like masterpiece, <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2192&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2191&z=1\'><b>Wanted: Friends who don’t believe<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 26, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Be friendly with everyone. Don\'t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.” (Romans 12:16 CEV)<br \/><br \/>In The Message paraphrase, 2 Corinthians 5:20b is rendered: “Become friends with God; he\'s already a friend with you.” That’s the message we’re to take to the world, yet often we limit our influence by seeking and maintaining friendships exclusively among other believers.<br \/><br \/>Jesus, on the other hand, sought out the lost, deliberately becoming friends with those who needed a friend in God. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2191&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2190&z=1\'><b>A long, thin line<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 25, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When life begins to squeeze us, what we truly believe is revealed through our attitudes and actions.  <br \/><br \/>And, if the truth be told, most of us live by sight more than by the hope and certainty of our faith.  It’s as if there were a long, thin line threaded throughout the realm of reality that divides the seen, the temporal, the things surrounding us, from the unseen and eternal. Shoved by our circumstances, we become distracted from the eternal and focus below the line – on those circumstances.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2190&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2189&z=1\'><b>How to win by losing<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 24, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>In any argument, your goal should be to love, not win.<br \/><br \/>It’s much harder to love someone than it is to merely beat them in an argument. In fact, no one ever really wins an argument. The truth is that Love – and only Love – wins. <br \/><br \/>We see God’s strategy in the Resurrection, where it appears that all is lost, but then the Almighty snatches victory from defeat, not by winning arguments, but by loving those who wage war against him – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2189&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2187&z=1\'><b>Love is an act of your will<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 23, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Love is an act of your will.<br \/><br \/>That may fly in the face of falling in love, or your notions of romance in the moonlight. Now, don’t get me wrong – there’s plenty of room for romance in God’s world, but it pales in comparison to how the Great Lover sacrificed to bring you into oneness with him.<br \/><br \/>That Great Lover, God Almighty, says we must choose to love one another. We’re to love other believers regardless of how we feel about them or how unlovable they may appear. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2187&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2186&z=1\'><b>Maintaining a clean heart<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 20, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Have you ever carried on a debate with some one – for hours? Perhaps the debate lasted for days, an intense debate, where you made every point brilliantly, proving your position was right and justified. <br \/><br \/>And even though you win the debate, it still keeps going because the debate is all in your head – you against a phantom opponent who represents someone who hurt you in the reality of life. You go over the hurt again and again – in your mind.<br \/><br \/>Jesus knows about the human tendency to have these extended conversations in our mind – how we’ll go over a situation again and again, creating an ever-deeper rut of hurt and anger. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2186&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2184&z=1\'><b>Cooperating with a smile<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 19, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Cooperation is doing with a smile what you have to do anyway.  You’ll never find that sentence in the Bible, but I think its spirit is implied throughout God\'s Word.  We are called to be obedient to God\'s commands, and part of that obedience is having a sensitive servant’s attitude.<br \/><br \/>I learned this lesson years ago when I was working for someone, who at the time, I didn’t respect.  I would do whatever he asked me to do – eventually – but I tended to drag my feet, complain, or point out how wrong he was.  <br \/><br \/>But God used that relationship to teach me godly obedience.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2184&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2183&z=1\'><b>A Hopeful Future<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 18, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>When you hear about the sickening shootings at Virginia Tech, it’s only human to wonder if God is fully engaged in the events of this world. <br \/><br \/>Why, God, do you allow these things to happen?<br \/><br \/>Over the years, as I’ve shouted this question to God, grappling to understand the explosion of evil into the lives of good people, I’ve encountered what seemed to be an unsettling silence from God. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2183&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2180&z=1\'><b>Opening up to others<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 17, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Giggling as he played on the floor with his Aunt Merilee, my young son’s eyes danced with pleasure. Christopher’s laughter was so captivating that Merilee leaned into his face and said with a grin, “I’m going to steal your giggles!”<br \/><br \/>Without warning, Christopher grabbed Merilee in a baby bear hug and planted a playful kiss on her cheek.  Merilee fell back and – guess what – she giggled.  <br \/><br \/>And then she giggled some more.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2180&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2179&z=1\'><b>Teaching by living<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 16, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Every day you teach people about God. You may teach Truth or you may teach mythology; either way you teach. You teach others that God is faithful or that he can’t be trusted, and you do that by reflecting faith in God, or by behaving as if he can’t be trusted.<br \/><br \/>As if.<br \/><br \/>Some of us carry a myth in our minds that the only people who can teach are the gifted or the professional, yet the Apostle Paul says, “I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.” (Romans 15:14b NCV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2179&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2177&z=1\'><b>The power to kill or give life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 13, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>You have the power to kill or give life.<br \/><br \/>Yes, you, gentle reader – a follower of Christ – are capable of murder, and so am I. We can speak death with our words, or we can speak life.<br \/><br \/>Perhaps you’ve been on the other side of the messages of the killing kind: “You’re not smart enough. You’re not thin enough. You’re not fast enough. You’re not good enough. A real Christian wouldn’t think such a thing.” <br \/><br \/>The Bible says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” (Proverbs 18:21 MSG)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2177&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2172&z=1\'><b>Being honest with each other<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 12, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Honesty deepens our relationships, allowing us to be transparent with one another. (Proverbs 24:26) It keeps our fellowship open and authentic, freeing us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) as we practice remarkable integrity. (Titus 2:7) It keeps us sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance (John 16:13) and helps us battle deceptions that corrupt our lives in Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)<br \/><br \/>Being honest with each other requires us to say what we mean and mean what we say. (Matthew 5:37) It means we show the same honesty in public as we do in private. (Acts 20:20) It calls us to remain committed to the One Truth – God’s truth. (John 14:6)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2172&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2166&z=1\'><b>Hopelessly in love<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 10, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>We were singing praise choruses during a worship service when I noticed the typo.  The lyrics for the song were supposed to be, “I\'m hopelessly in love with you.”  <br \/><br \/>But someone had accidentally typed: “I\'m hopefully in love with you.”  It was just a one-word typo, but it carried a message equal in power to a sermon containing thousands of words.<br \/><br \/>Think about it: What’s the difference between being hopefully in love with God as opposed to being hopelessly in love with him?  <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2166&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2162&z=1\'><b>Jesus stopped<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 6, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Jesus stopped. He stopped when people needed his help; when they needed his comfort; when they needed his protection; when they needed an answer to a perplexing problem. <br \/><br \/>Jesus saw the interruptions in his life as divine opportunities to show God’s love to people in desperate need.<br \/><br \/>Jesus approached love from a show first, then tell perspective. <br \/><br \/>He defined love as meeting needs, and when he touched people, they realized “… they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful – and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, ‘God is back, looking to the needs of his people!’” (Luke 7:16 MSG)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2162&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2161&z=1\'><b>The anchor of our hope<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 5, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>God tells us in the Book of James that we can count it all joy when we go through trials and tribulations.  <br \/><br \/>He isn’t saying we have to be happy when we suffer a loss.  Rather, we can be confident that a just and loving and merciful Father is working everything out for the good of his perfect will (Romans 8:28) – and we can rejoice because God uses moments of crisis to reveal where we have anchored our hope.  <br \/><br \/>Have you anchored your hope in your circumstances?  Or have you anchored your hope “on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2161&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2160&z=1\'><b>Somewhere else<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 4, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Have you ever been somewhere you didn’t want to be?  Maybe it was a job, a town, or a marriage.  Maybe it was a stage in life, like singlehood, or a state in life, like a disability.  It’s very possible that as you read this, you’re wishing you were somewhere else – anywhere else – living a different life, but you know it’s not likely that anything is going to change any time soon.<br \/><br \/>God has a word for you.  It’s the same word he gave a group of people when they were stuck in another country, exiled from their homeland.  They’d folded their arms and said, “We’re going to wait this thing out, and when we get home, we’ll start living our lives.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2160&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2157&z=1\'><b>The Holy One of Blessing<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>April 2, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Last night I read the book, “Night,” by Elie Wiesel. The narrative was so compelling that I could not put it down. Wiesel described the unholy madness he faced during World War II as a prisoner in the German killing-camp Auschwitz and then as one of the few survivors of a death march to the concentration camp at Buchenwald.<br \/><br \/>Wiesel, an orthodox Jew, lost his faith in God and in humanity as, day by day, he fought to survive in a catastrophic pit of hell where, as one prisoner told him, “… There are no fathers, no brothers, no friends. Everyone lives and dies for himself alone.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2157&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2155&z=1\'><b>The ministry of acceptance<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 30, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified. (Romans 15:7 NLT) <br \/>Ministry\/Mission — When I was growing up, I considered my older brother the embodiment of cool. Cole was funny, handsome, athletic, and popular. He married the homecoming queen and then became an Air Force pilot, where he exhibited courage and grace at war in Vietnam. <br \/>He’d quite literally been all around the world, and he always returned with fascinating stories about the places he’d been and the people he’d met. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2155&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2154&z=1\'><b>The armor of God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 29, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>As you engage in ministry for God, you will be attacked by God’s enemy, Satan. God knows this, and so he has provided you with the tools you need to stand your ground in ministry.<br \/><br \/>Father, today, in Jesus’ name, I put on the girdle of truth.  I thank you, for I know who I am and that I have the power of the Holy Spirit within me.  God is in control of my life.<br \/><br \/>Thank you that I can put on the breastplate of righteousness.  In all situations, help me to respond from the truth and not from my emotions.  I can refuse to receive lies from the enemy. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2154&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2153&z=1\'><b>A loving and lasting legacy<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 28, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/> “… A righteous man will be remembered forever.”<br \/>(Psalms 112:6 -- NIV) <br \/><br \/>Discipleship — Look into the future and think about the day you finally reach the end. I don’t mean the day you die, but perhaps the day your youngest child graduates, or the day your daughter gets married, or the day you retire. Or, praise, Jesus, the day you can drop the “rush” from “rush hour”!<br \/><br \/>On that day, would it seem worth it all if you received a letter like this:<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2153&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2151&z=1\'><b>Radiant Certainty<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 27, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Worship\/Fellowship — There are some days when, frankly, I don’t feel much like worshiping God. There are probably more days like that than I’d care to admit. <br \/><br \/>But usually those are days are when I’m staring at my circumstances and making faithless judgments about what I see around me. And I struggle with the God-truth that he is in the circumstances that surround my life – all the circumstances.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2151&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2147&z=1\'><b>It\'s not the How; it\'s the Wow!<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 23, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\" (Matthew 28:20 NLT) <br \/> <br \/>Mission — Long ago and far away, there was a teacher who worked painstakingly to teach me how to play the guitar. Every week, we\'d climb up and down musical stairs crafted from the pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic, and octatonic scales. This emphasis upon technique frustrated me, and I grew to hate it so much that I abandoned the guitar – until playing it became a positive part of my mid-life crisis.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2147&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2146&z=1\'><b>Enjoy the ‘happy cake’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 22, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>And he said: \"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt hew 18:3 - NIV)<br \/><br \/>Ministry\/Service — Today is my 11th annual 39th birthday. It never occurred to me, when I was singing, “We Love You, Beatles” with my sister and her friends, there’d be a day that “When I’m 64” was just a few rest stops down the road.<br \/><br \/>Henri Nouwen says, “To celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: ‘Thank you for being you.’  …  On a birthday we do not say, ‘Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.’  No, we say: ‘Thank you for being born and being among us.’” <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2146&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2145&z=1\'><b>To think like Jesus thinks<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 21, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>A hundred years ago, when I played golf, I thought I was doing pretty well just to get the ball somewhere on the putting green. The truth be told, my main goal was to reach the green without major-ly embarrassing myself, so I was satisfied even when my ball limply landed on the fringes.<br \/> <br \/>One day a local golf pro told me the key difference between average and excellent in golf is this: The truly great players shoot for the hole. They don\'t aim for somewhere near the hole, or somewhere on the green; they aim directly for the hole.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2145&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2144&z=1\'><b>\'Abraham believed God …\'<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 20, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>Fellowship — Recently, I\'ve been thinking that my life verse should be Mark 9:24: \"… I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!\" (NIV)<br \/> <br \/>I do believe, yet I have so much unbelief in my life. I walk in faith, yet I have so little faith. I follow God, yet I repeatedly find myself stumbling on a path of my own choosing.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2144&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2142&z=1\'><b>Dishwasher ‘dialogue’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 19, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.\" (Romans 12:1 HCSB) <br \/> <br \/>Worship – My wife is a dishwasher organizer. The dishes are placed according to size, and the silverware is positioned to receive the most efficient cleaning. <br \/> <br \/>The other day, she showed me some drop-down attachments meant to hold cups in place. I\'d never noticed them before – perhaps because I take the free-form approach to dishwasher loading, that is, if it\'s in the machine somewhere, somehow, then surely (hopefully) it will get clean.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2142&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2138&z=1\'><b>A mission of drudgery<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 16, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.\" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - HCSB) <br \/> <br \/>Mission – A friend of mine in a difficult marriage once told me that he and his wife had not been physically intimate for several years. They went to a marriage counselor, and as they worked on the troublesome issues of their relationship, his wife agreed to do what my grandmother might have called “her wifely duties.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2138&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2136&z=1\'><b>Doing what God is thinking<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 15, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>\"… For, \"Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?\" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.\" (1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT) <br \/> <br \/>Ministry\/Service – In a land not so far away and a time not too distant, lived a mighty, yet gentle Master of the Manor. There was a servant who worked for the Master, and this servant was a man of excellent efficiency, incorruptible integrity, and joyful heart.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2136&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2133&z=1\'><b>We are teachers of the faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 14, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other.” (Colossians 3:16a NLT) <br \/><br \/>Discipleship – We are all teachers of the faith. <br \/><br \/>We may be good teachers or we may be bad teachers, but we all are teachers. Everyday, hopefully, we model biblical behaviors and respond with Christ-like attitudes.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2133&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2132&z=1\'><b>\'I can\'t; God can\'<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 13, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“I can do nothing on My own …\" John 5:30 (HCSB) <br \/> <br \/>Fellowship--A common misconception of Christian fellowship is that it simply means spending time with fellow believers: coffee and donuts, a pot-luck supper, a day at the lake. This form of fellowship is a significant part of Christ-like fellowship because God shaped us to need one another.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2132&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2130&z=1\'><b>God\'s passion for oneness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 12, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>Jon Walker<\/i><br \/>“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.\" (John 14:15 HCSB) <br \/> <br \/>Worship — When Jesus speaks of love, he allows no room for sentimental fantasy or momentary emotion. He sees love through the eyes of the Father, and from this point of view, he deeply understands that true, eternal, godly love is bold and strong, but also painful, messy and sacrificial. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=2130&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1253&z=1\'><b>Better than who?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 9, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>One of the more damaging fallacies Christians can fall into is the thought that because they are a Christian, they are better than most people out there who are not. For example, they are a better mom, a better husband, a better child, a better teacher, a better coach, or they have a better marriage, a better family, etc. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1253&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1263&z=1\'><b>Thinking something different<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 8, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” — Roger von Oech<br \/><br \/>I love this quote. I found it in the sign-off of an e-mail from a friend and it has provided a good deal of reflection, some of which I offer to you today.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1263&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1356&z=1\'><b>The mission is you<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 7, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>You have a mission in life and this is it: you. Your mission is not only your story, though that is part of it, it is you, because Christ is in you. You were made to be a vessel to carry him and reflect him through your personality as he lives his life through yours. You are the temple, the dwelling place of the most high. You are a carrier of Christ; he lives again in you. Jesus died, rose again, and went to heaven in his new body, but he lives on through his Spirit in us. You could say he never really left; he just took up residence in us.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1356&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1285&z=1\'><b>No shortage of sinners<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 6, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Eugene Debs, who ran for president of the United States as a third party candidate in 1912, had this to say while campaigning:<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>“As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.<br \/><br \/>As long as there is a criminal element, I\'m of it.<br \/><br \/>As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free.”<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>Obviously he didn’t get elected since none of us has ever heard of him, but I believe there is a lot of truth in thinking this way about our place in the world.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1285&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1190&z=1\'><b>Because of you<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 5, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Your mission is to live your life. <br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul addresses believers who are married to unbelievers, and outlines a general rule that if the unbelieving spouse chooses to stay in the marriage, it would be good for the believer to stay, too. He gives two reasons for this: First, the children will have a godly influence through the believing parent, and second, the unbeliever may be converted “because of you.” (1 Corinthians 7:16) (Exceptions to this rule would of course be situations of abuse and endangerment of a spouse or child.)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1190&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1171&z=1\'><b>The power of a changed life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 2, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35 NIV)<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>It would appear that Christ’s first convert, other than the disciples he called, was the Samaritan woman he met at the well of Jacob. Up until this time, Jesus had performed some miracles and healed a few people, but this is the story of a woman who was not sick or demon-possessed; she was just an ordinary sinner like any one of us. This is our story as much as it is anyone’s.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1171&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1221&z=1\'><b>It’s not about being a good Christian<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>March 1, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Here’s one of the greatest things about being a Christian: You can accept yourself for who you are. <br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>Here’s one of the most tragic things about being a Christian: You can be one for a long time without knowing this.<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>I was. I was what you might call a model Christian. I filled the bill. Any church or Christian school would have seen me as a poster child Christian. There was only one problem: I thought I was, too – when all the while I knew I wasn’t. I knew it was all pretty much a game.  <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1221&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1134&z=1\'><b>Friend or vacuum salesman?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 28, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>We’ve all heard the story before, or perhaps it even happened to you. <br \/><br \/>You receive a visit from a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. You are overjoyed at the reunion and honored that your friend would see the relationship worth cultivating and would actually seek you out. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1134&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1166&z=1\'><b>Someone else’s problems<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 27, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Evangelicals often put being saved and going to heaven in the same sentence, as if heaven were the only goal of our salvation. But the truth is, we are saved to serve. Heaven is important, but heaven can wait. God saves us because he has a job for us to do in his Kingdom here on earth. If heaven is the whole point of our salvation, then what do we do while we wait? Change the channel on our Christian entertainment?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1166&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1193&z=1\'><b>Under new ownership<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 26, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>What does it mean to not belong to myself? I can think of a few things.<br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1193&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=145&z=1\'><b>Different parts and different hearts<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 23, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Why do we all have different passions? So everything that’s supposed to get done will get done.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=145&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1158&z=1\'><b>The fine print<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2\/22\/2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1158&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1131&z=1\'><b>Communication breakdown<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>2\/21\/2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Lord Jesus, are we talking? <br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>It seems like it’s been a while. My voice to you feels weak. There’s no doubt about my belief, but I guess believing doesn’t count as communication. (I think I’ve assumed that it does without really thinking about it.) I can believe in my wife and not talk to her for a week. <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1131&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1165&z=1\'><b>Get up and get out<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 20, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Your mission today (should you choose to accept it) is to get yourself up out of bed and throw yourself out into the world. That’s right: Get up and get out. <br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>My, how daring we are! Well, yes, when you consider how dangerous a place the world is, and how inadequate we feel when we try to make a difference in it. But just read this:<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1165&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1108&z=1\'><b>Days of our lives<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 19,2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16)<br \/><br \/><br \/>These are the kinds of verses that keep theologians up at night. If God had already recorded every moment of David’s life before he ever lived it, what does that say for his choices? <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1108&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1104&z=1\'><b>What’s normal?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 16, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>“Grace must wound before it can heal.” — Flannery O’Conner<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/>There are two schools of thought when it comes to the problem of pain. One says: “Sometimes the going will get tough, and in those times you need to remember that your faith will get you through <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1104&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1100&z=1\'><b>An eye-opening encounter<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 15, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to tell anyone who’s interested how you came to know Jesus. It’s all about a personal encounter. Once you know Christ, you introduce him to others through your own story. This notion that so many Christians and non-Christians have that our mission is to dazzle folks with how much better we are is not only ineffective, it is untrue.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1100&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=108&z=1\'><b>Only one you<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 14, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Mister Rogers was right after all: There is only one you. But this information is much more important than just boosting your self-esteem. It should help you better serve others by being more confident about your God-given role in life.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=108&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1079&z=1\'><b>The greatest among you<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 13, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Leaders who don’t lord it over, but serve those they lead, will change the world through the people they serve.<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>Our democratic, capitalistic society has always rewarded those who rise to the top with money, power, glory, and independence. But the big question is what they do when they get there. Do they drive big cars, have lots of servants, push people around and live to read about it in the paper the next day? This image is so prevalent that we have come to expect it from star athletes, entertainment celebrities, CEOs, and your average everyday lottery winner. We know what to expect.<br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1079&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=115&z=1\'><b>Not alone<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 12, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>There is hardly a human need stronger than the need to belong. We were created this way. Every one of us came out of a womb screaming for warmth, companionship, and someone else’s heartbeat. We were rudely ripped out of that idyllic existence and thrust into a cold, impersonal, lonely world.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=115&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1051&z=1\'><b>“God, please don’t send me to Africa”<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 9, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>What do you love to do? Chances are that love can be tapped into as service for the Lord. This kind of thinking may seem obvious, but it is radical at least to my Christian upbringing. I grew up with a kind of warped Christianity that taught that if I was passionate about something, it was probably wrong. God was the great killjoy in the sky. Virtue was painful. The good usually felt bad<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1051&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1620&z=1\'><b>Hungry for God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 8, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Our ministry is to serve the needs of believers; our mission is to serve the needs of those who are not presently Christians. The latter can present a problem. You can’t really serve someone if you don’t know them, but being in relationship with those who aren’t Christians can be dangerous. Old habits and old ways of life can come back to haunt us when we are around people who don’t share our desire to follow Christ. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1620&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=986&z=1\'><b>Blood<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 7, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Jesus says in John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one …”<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/>What does it mean to be “family”? <br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>First of all, it means blood. Blood relatives trump all other relationships. You don’t get to choose your family; you don’t select your mother or your father, your siblings or your kids. What you have is what you got, and like it or not, it’s your blood. You will not be a healthy person unless you embrace this. Deny your family and you deny yourself in some way. <br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=986&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=940&z=1\'><b>What takes our breath away<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 5, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers – wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families – more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.”<br \/><br \/> <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=940&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=260&z=1\'><b>Looking out for number 44*<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 2, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” (Mark 9:35 NLT)<br \/><br \/> <br \/><br \/>How hard is this? Plenty hard to do actually, especially when we live in a society in which we are constantly bombarded with messages about <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=260&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=258&z=1\'><b>Two by two<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>February 1, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Could there be any stronger statement about the value Jesus places on fellowship than when he sent his disciples out two by two? We don’t know for sure exactly how long these trips took but the bond that developed between these pairs in ministry must have been very strong. Here they were going<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=258&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=256&z=1\'><b>God came down (but I didn’t!)<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 31, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=256&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=247&z=1\'><b>Friends first<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 30, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The Great Commission is all about making friends. Now I know Jesus said, “Therefore, go and make disciples …” (Matthew 28:19 NLT), but Jesus himself showed that you can’t make a disciple until you first make a friend. “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=247&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=243&z=1\'><b>How low can you go?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 29, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>If you’ve ever wondered how far God would go to show his love, look in the mirror and wonder no more. We need not look any further than ourselves to find the most shocking and amazing displays of God’s grace. If we think otherwise, it is only because we have not seen ourselves as we truly are. <br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=243&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=242&z=1\'><b>The protection of praise <\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 26, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” (Proverbs 11:27 NLT) <br \/><br \/><br \/>Praise is a valuable weapon against the enemy. War cries, frontal assaults, or special words of exorcism can’t drive back the forces of evil. Neither can the brandishing of the sword or the charge of the brigade. What keeps the powers of darkness at bay is the simple and true praise of the Savior from a heart set free.<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=242&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=240&z=1\'><b>\'The Three\'<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 25, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>How would you like to have friends like this?<br \/><br \/><br \/>“These are the names of David’s mightiest men. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was commander of the Three – the three greatest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill eight hundred enemy warriors in a single battle.<br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=240&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=234&z=1\'><b>Something to offer<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 24, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“You can’t take it with you,” is a popular phrase that implies that when we die, we leave everything behind. It assumes we will be walking into heaven empty-handed. This is not true, at least not for all of us. According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, some will be empty-handed, but others will be hauling in some pretty valuable stuff.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=234&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=222&z=1\'><b>Lost and found<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 23, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The world is not wrong as much as it is lost, and “lost” is the operative word here. <br \/><br \/>For some time now, it seems to have been very important to many people<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=222&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=217&z=1\'><b>Your stand-in<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 22, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=217&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=216&z=1\'><b>Getting close to God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 19, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.” (James 4:8 NLT)<br \/><br \/><br \/>It’s been this way since time began. God set it up so we would seek him, and he would respond to us when we did. Is he playing hard to get? <br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=216&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=210&z=1\'><b>\'O Beautiful Affliction\'<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 18, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>‘O Beautiful Affliction’<br \/>Merciful pain<br \/>This mortal wounding bringing me to life again<br \/>In suffering there’s healing<br \/><br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=210&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=214&z=1\'><b>Witnessing in a postmodern age<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 17, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Effective witnessing in a postmodern age takes some knowledge of the culture and a good deal of respect both for the freedom of the individual to choose and for the business of God in the process. Without this, our words can carry the duress of merely one opinion over another. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=214&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=209&z=1\'><b>March of time<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 15, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Everyone wants to be significant. We want our lives to mean something in a wider context. Some try to buy significance through their accomplishments or their wealth and possessions. They may succeed in this but only for a short while. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=209&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=208&z=1\'><b>It’s all about Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 12, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“When I came to you … I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=208&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=206&z=1\'><b>Jesus saves<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 11, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Having a mission in life is what being purpose driven is all about. Being someone’s mission in life is something else entirely. It’s an important distinction.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=206&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1563&z=1\'><b>‘I thirst’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 10, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>We worship a God who became a vulnerable human being. Superman took kryptonite. Samson let his hair be cut. Jack Frost relinquished his wintry powers to become the town tailor. Jesus got thirsty. It’s a story that is played out not only in history, but in fantasy, legend, and mythology – someone with supernatural powers gives up those powers to become human and it is always done for one reason: love.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1563&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=204&z=1\'><b>Finding good<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 9, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” (Proverbs 11:27)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=204&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=201&z=1\'><b>Made for his pleasure<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 8, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children – this was his pleasure and purpose.” (Ephesians 1:5 NEV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=201&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=200&z=1\'><b>‘Reality’ life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 5, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10-11 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=200&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=196&z=1\'><b>Learning from the experts<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 4, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>My son has a friend who exemplifies a heart of serving in everything she does. He credits her with getting him through college – from helping him on assignments to cooking some of his meals. Periodically, she would drop by his house and cook for him and his roommates and leave. Nothing was ever asked in return. It was in her heart to do this.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=196&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=192&z=1\'><b>Welcome mat<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 3, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father …’” (Luke 15:17-18)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=192&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=190&z=1\'><b>New running duds<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 2, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The new year always begins with a certain amount of optimism based on new resolutions and the desire to change. But right on the heels of those determinations is usually a pessimistic voice as well that taunts us: “What if we can’t? What if we don’t?” We’ve been here before and seen so little lasting change based on questions like this.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=190&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=42&z=1\'><b>A privilege and an adventure<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>January 1, 2007<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Ever wonder why – with countless numbers of angels to do his bidding, and his own omnipotence (all-powerful nature), and omnipresence (ability to be everywhere at once) – God chooses to involve us in his work in the world? I cannot help but think that it is entirely his pleasure to do so.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=42&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=188&z=1\'><b>24-hour faith<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 29, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Christians believe there is an unseen world that in some ways is more real than the one we see. Not that the one we see isn’t real, but the unseen world sometimes is thought of as being more important because of its permanence.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=188&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1504&z=1\'><b>Our help and our hope<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 28, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>This is the time of year when we focus on God and thank him for getting us through another year. Remember Y2K? We were wondering if we’d survive the turnover to a new century. Hard to believe how long ago that was.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1504&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1340&z=1\'><b>Family portrait<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 27, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>I have a friend who heads up an inner city ministry to homeless teenagers. Some are runaways, some have been kicked out of their homes, and others prefer homelessness to the abuse they experience at home.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1340&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=184&z=1\'><b>The work of peace<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 26, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Blessed are those who work for peace, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=184&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=180&z=1\'><b>Holy invasion<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 25, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Jesus had a purpose when he came to earth. He was a man on a mission. He knew where he came from, where he was going, and what he came here to do. He never doubted it once, except when he was in the garden, and even then, he didn’t doubt his mission, he only struggled with the reality of completing it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=180&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=179&z=1\'><b>Against the storm<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 22, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>When my children were younger, we lived in a small Massachusetts town where we developed an unusual family tradition around the Christmas Eve service at our church. Since the church was only two blocks away, we would always walk to and from this service, regardless of the weather. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=179&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=45&z=1\'><b>Just like Jesus<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 21, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=45&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=30&z=1\'><b>The whole truth<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 20, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Author Phillip Yancey tells a story of a man in his church that can’t help comparing being late for church to being late for his regular Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. When he’s late for church, he says that he has the distinct feeling from everyone around him that he’s not as responsible or he would get to church on time.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=30&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=178&z=1\'><b>Mary and Joseph<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 19, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>There is a quiet miracle growing inside all who believe. Christ has been reborn in us by faith. Trust in the miracle. Draw on his presence today. And like Mary, believe it in spite of the fact that not everyone receives the same information.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=178&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1483&z=1\'><b>Obedient unto death<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 18, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Three gifts the wise men brought. The idea that there were three of them comes from the gifts, not the number of kings. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1483&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1477&z=1\'><b>Christians in Babylon<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 15, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>One of the most well-known Bible stories – right up there with David and Goliath and Jonah and the whale – is the story of Daniel in the lion\'s den.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1477&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1451&z=1\'><b>OK, let\'s all get out our cell phones and call each other<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 14, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>New technology has a way of altering our lifestyle before we have a chance to fully assess its consequences. This one sprang up so fast that we can find ourselves talking on our cell phones about how rude cell phones are.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1451&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1490&z=1\'><b>&quot;A Soalin’&quot;<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 13, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Most of our giving at Christmas involves an even exchange of gifts – something appropriate to the friendship or the family connection. We sometimes base our gifts on what we received the year before. But the Bible talks about giving as well to those who can’t give anything back.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1490&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1456&z=1\'><b>Gold amidst the glitter<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 12, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>In the little town of Bethlehem, the most important birth in all of human history took place on what we now consider the first Christmas.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1456&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1461&z=1\'><b>Words of the Father<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 11, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer <\/i><br \/>Words. We do so much in words. We hear sermons and read books and attend seminars and get all excited when someone says something in a way we haven’t heard before. And we get upset when someone says it in a way we think is wrong.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=1461&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=176&z=1\'><b>Priceless gift<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 8, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Christmas is all about gift giving – making lists of gifts, purchasing gifts, wrapping gifts, giving gifts, and opening gifts (and probably returning some). All of this is because of one priceless gift given to the human race 2,000 years ago – the gift of God’s Son.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=176&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=175&z=1\'><b>Wise men still seek him<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 7, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” (Proverbs 25:2 NIV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=175&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=174&z=1\'><b>God\'s-eye view<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 6, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“For now we see through a glass, darkly …” (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=174&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=173&z=1\'><b>Small group fellowship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 5, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>It occurs to me that the first fellowship group around Christ is probably represented somewhere in your house right now. It has some common shepherds in peasant’s clothes, three princes in royal robes, a man and a woman holding a newborn baby, and a random assortment of farm animals seeking shelter in a run-down barn.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=173&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=172&z=1\'><b>O come all ye faithful ...<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 4, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Have you ever come to Christmas, caught yourself singing, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and wondered: “Who’s that? Who can say they have been totally faithful to Christ?” <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=172&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=171&z=1\'><b>Our mission is to worship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>December 1, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Now wherever we go, he [God] uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=171&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=168&z=1\'><b>A season (a life) of giving<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 30, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The holidays are here and gift giving once again moves to center stage. It’s easy to become cynical about this because of the over-commercialization of Christmas, but, as always, there is truth hidden in the bright lights, the colorful boxes, and the rush of shoppers bringing home their treasures. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=168&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=163&z=1\'><b>Spiritual equation<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 29, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Comfort equals confusion; calamity equals clarity. How’s that for an insight into spiritual contradiction? No, this isn’t Scripture, but I have found it true of many principles in Scripture and true to how growing in Christ works out in our real day-to-day experiences. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=163&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=162&z=1\'><b>It\'s all in the relationship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 28, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=162&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=161&z=1\'><b>Secret service<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 27, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>As purpose driven people, we should always be looking for opportunities to serve. Most of these opportunities come as we spontaneously respond to the needs of those around us.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=161&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=160&z=1\'><b>Getting the right God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 22, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Jesus said that those who worship God worship him is spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) The truth he’s referring to here would mean getting the right God.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=160&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=159&z=1\'><b>First family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 21, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>How important is family?So important that God had one before he had us. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=159&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=157&z=1\'><b>Stepping out<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 20, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Harrison Ford goes after the Holy Grail, there is a final test where he has to take a step of faith to get to the Grail. He has to cross a chasm over what appears to be a bottomless pit in order to claim the cup so he can use it to heal his father (Sean Connery) from a fatal wound.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=157&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=151&z=1\'><b>True fellowship<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 17, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Isn’t it great to belong? To be somebody in a group? To be missed when you’re not there and welcomed when you are?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=151&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=150&z=1\'><b>The big itch<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 16, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The wise King Solomon once wrote: “He [God] has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people can’t see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT) In other words, it seems God has purposely frustrated us.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=150&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=148&z=1\'><b>Planet earth: Late but still great<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 15, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The Lord is coming back. Christ’s return is imminent. Every generation believes theirs will be the one to see it. I certainly did, having been a young adult during the Jesus movement in the early 1970s. We were sure the return of Christ was right around the corner. We wrote songs about it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=148&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=146&z=1\'><b>Who can know what the Lord is thinking?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 14, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=146&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=144&z=1\'><b>Pool mom<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 10, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I met a man once who served on the missions committee at his church. He told me how he was most proud of a certain former member of the committee – a woman who had put a promising career aside when she and her husband decided to adopt three children from Lithuania.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=144&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=143&z=1\'><b>Opposites attract<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 9, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>How do you become like Christ? Interestingly enough, God is more committed to this than we are. And it’s a good thing, because if it all depended on us, we would never get very far in this process. We would probably be too easy on ourselves.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=143&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=142&z=1\'><b>Yearbook<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 8, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>A couple of years ago, I found a number of my high school classmates. I stumbled onto an online service that connects classmates via the Internet. Not everyone in my class had found it and signed up, but a significant number of names were there that I still recognized. Suddenly, I had an unexplainable desire to find out about these people.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=142&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=141&z=1\'><b>Listening for the silent scream<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 7, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>In counseling session, I inadvertently lean on a pillow that emits a faint electronic warble. I only hear it subconsciously, as I am deeply engaged in the conversation. Then it happens again and I look down and discover my pillow is screaming at me. An electronic chip inside is responding to the pressure of my elbow. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=141&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=140&z=1\'><b>Gifted for a reason<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 6, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>God made us to fit into his family and gave each of us gifts that will help define our place in that family. That gift is a special ability to meet other people’s needs.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=140&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=139&z=1\'><b>Another kind of normal<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 3, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Every time you forget that character is one of God’s purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances.” — Rick Warren<br \/><br \/>Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that we deserve to have a relatively easy life. We have a very false sense of what should be the norm.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=139&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=138&z=1\'><b>The heart of the matter<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 2, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I\'ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter,<br \/>But my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter –<br \/>But I think it\'s about forgiveness, forgiveness –<br \/>Even if –even if –you don\'t love me anymore.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=138&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=137&z=1\'><b>Worship on the go<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>November 1, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>God doesn’t desire more of our time sometimes; he desires more of our attention all the time. <br \/><br \/>Ever feel frustrated because you hear messages about getting closer to God and you definitely desire this for yourself, but you are inundated with so much to do already that this only makes you feel guilty because you are too busy for God?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=137&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=136&z=1\'><b>Jesus\' blood never fails<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 31, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>There is a quirky piece of music written and recorded by the British composer Gavin Bryars that features a continuous running tape loop of a homeless man recorded on the streets of London singing an old Gospel song, “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=136&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=135&z=1\'><b>Two-penny offering<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 30, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Jesus went over to the collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=135&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=134&z=1\'><b>No prayer overdrive<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 27, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“If someone approached you and repeated, ‘I praise you!’ 10 times, you would probably think: For what?” – Rick Warren<br \/><br \/>The Psalms are full of praise to God, and almost every time there is a “Praise the Lord …” “Bless the Lord …” or “Give thanks …” there is something specific for which the honor is due.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=134&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=133&z=1\'><b>One big happy (dysfunctional) family<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 26, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The family that thrives is the one that can absorb conflict and failure and still exhibit love and acceptance at the end of the day. The family that fears its conflict and buries its unseemliness under a cloak of good impressions is the one that creates highly dysfunctional people who lug around suitcases of unresolved baggage and never get down to the real thing.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=133&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=132&z=1\'><b>Respect for the journey<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 25, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Everyone knows some truth. Everyone is right about something. Even the most evil of people get something right. Traditionally, members of the mafia have great family values. They are loyal. They will kill for their loyalty, but they are loyal, nonetheless.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=132&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=131&z=1\'><b>Surrender<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 24, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The Purpose Driven Life devotes a chapter to the study of surrender as the heart of worship. “Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.” (Romans 6:13 NLT) I wonder how much I really know about true surrender. I grew up singing I Surrender All, but do I know what it really means?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=131&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=130&z=1\'><b>But Lord ...<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 23, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“What do you have there in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2 NLT)<br \/><br \/>Anyone familiar with the calling of Moses by God to be the one to free his people from Egypt knows that calling took place amidst a long litany of excuses and objections on Moses’ part. It is such a human story full of insecurity, fear, and trepidation. <br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=130&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=129&z=1\'><b>Our story and ‘The Story’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 20, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Whatever God has done in your life is not just for you. What he’s done in your life so far is to create a story for you to tell others. It’s not about you, remember? Even your salvation is for others, since it puts you in a position to tell others about Jesus through the reality of your own experience of Christ and his forgiveness.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=129&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=128&z=1\'><b>In front of heaven<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 19, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing with joy.” (Psalm 100:1-2)<br \/><br \/>A business associate of mine once shared with a number of colleagues how these verses and the rest of this familiar Psalm had helped him turn what seemed like a wasted day into a memorable event.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=128&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=127&z=1\'><b>24-hour brothers<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 18, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Many years ago when I was single and in training for the ministry, one of my former roommates and a close brother in the Lord was in trouble – 650 miles away. One of the pastors of the church I was training in and I got the news, and both of us got the idea at the same time. Let’s go get him.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=127&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=125&z=1\'><b>Whom can I serve?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 17, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Whose needs can I meet?<br \/>Where can I serve?<br \/>What can I give you?<br \/>Why are you doing that all by yourself?<br \/>Who needs something that I can give?<br \/>When do you need me?<br \/>Are you OK?<br \/>Can I get you something?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=125&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=126&z=1\'><b>God waves<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 16, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)<br \/><br \/>Wow.That’s a lot of noise.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=126&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=123&z=1\'><b>Adopted<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 12, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5)<br \/><br \/>I know something about this feeling.We have an adopted son, and the pleasure he has brought us has been unequaled.And I thought I was doing him a favor.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=123&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=122&z=1\'><b>What\'s God up to?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 11, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Bono, lead singer for the rock group U2 and an outspoken and somewhat controversial Christian philanthropist, once went on a tour of evangelical institutions to enlist Christian support for the AIDS crisis in Africa.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=122&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=121&z=1\'><b>Called and sent<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 10, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>You are where you are for a reason. Your vocation, your neighbors, your community, and your many associations are a world you inhabit to which you were sent. Every one of us has a sphere of influence that touches many lives and that involvement makes our relationships eternally significant.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=121&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=118&z=1\'><b>Johnny on the spot<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 9, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5)<br \/><br \/>This should come as welcome news to those who have exhausted themselves trying to do good things.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=118&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=114&z=1\'><b>Friend of God<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 5, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Worshiping God involves counting on him as your friend. This may be a new thought to some who are used to thinking of God as more aloof and distant when it comes to a personal relationship with any of us. It is much more common to think of God as high and lifted up than to think of him as a companion.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=114&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=113&z=1\'><b>The buck stops here<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 4, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>There is a time for the buck to stop here and a time for it not to. The buck stops here when it relates to responsibility, but it stops somewhere else when it relates to gifts. With gifts, the buck just keeps on going. Things that are given are meant to be passed on. “Freely you have received,” said Jesus, “freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) This is the one time it’s OK to “pass the buck.”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=113&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=111&z=1\'><b>Marbles and toes<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 3, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>My daughter broke her ankle five hours after arriving on her university campus to begin her final year of college. This is after being out of school for a year and a half and signing up for a massive load of difficult courses in order to finish by June.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=111&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=112&z=1\'><b>On parade<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>October 2, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Did you know that one of the most significant aspects of our mission in the world is simply being there? Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=112&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=110&z=1\'><b>A rock feels no pain<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 29, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>The popular singing duo, Simon and Garfunkel, had a song early in their career that defiantly asserted individuality and an exaggerated aversion for relationships. In this song, the singer talks about being a fortress unto himself, distaining love and laughter, and having no need for friendship.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=110&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=109&z=1\'><b>‘One more day to do my job’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 28, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I’m an Angels fan – God’s Angels as well as Anaheim’s. Now you immediately want to know what a partisan baseball comment like that is doing in a devotional. Well, it’s because I am an Angels fan that I read an article in the Los Angeles Times once about Anaheim’s star young relief pitcher, Francisco Rodriguez, and in that article, he revealed why he points and looks skyward every time he leaves the field.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=109&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=107&z=1\'><b>The shoeshine man<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 26, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>When it comes to serving one another, think of yourself as the shoeshine man.<br \/><br \/>We’ve all seen these guys in airports, train stations, and downtown next to the newsstand. Their workplaces usually consist of two or three elevated chairs on a platform so they can work at a comfortable level.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=107&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=106&z=1\'><b>Why worship?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 25, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I will worship God today, because it is good and right to do so.<br \/><br \/>I will worship God today, not because of what it will do for me, or because it is popular, or because it is Sunday, or because I like the worship music, but for the simple reason that I was made to do this.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=106&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=105&z=1\'><b>Flunking witnessing<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 22, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I heard a story once about a girl who flunked witnessing. Though this was an actual course she failed at a Bible college, I think we can all identify on some level with flunking witnessing as not a course, but a reality in our daily lives.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=105&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=104&z=1\'><b>Purpose driven heaven<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 21, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>How could it possibly be that God would give us a purpose driven life on earth only to get us into a purposeless life in heaven? And yet if your training is anything like mine, this is the way heaven is often presented. What if we took the five great purposes for the Church and looked at them in terms of our life together in eternity?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=104&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=103&z=1\'><b>Fellowship among foes<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 20, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>God expects unity, not uniformity. We often confuse the two. We think in order to have fellowship we all have to be fellows in the same ship. Fellowship does not mean we think alike on everything.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=103&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=102&z=1\'><b>What Jesus would do<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 19, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.” (John 13:3-5 NLT)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=102&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=100&z=1\'><b>Spiritual soul food<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 18, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=100&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=99&z=1\'><b>When worship is a ‘10’<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 15, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>How many different ways are there to worship God? Probably as many ways as there are people who worship him, because worship is primarily a relationship shaped by who we are. Worship is the shape of your life lived in awareness of God.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=99&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=98&z=1\'><b>Sabotaging a witness<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 14, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>A lot of Christians stay relatively quiet about their faith when in the company of those who don’t know Christ. There are probably lots of reasons for this, but the one I hear most frequently is the feeling of not being good enough.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=98&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=76&z=1\'><b>Growing through regret<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 13, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Where does character come from? For one thing, it comes from hardship. “We can rejoice, too,” said Paul, “when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=76&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=97&z=1\'><b>Restoration<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 12, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Restoring relationships is an important part of having them. As imperfect people, you can count on the fact that we will let each other down. That’s why truthfulness and forgiveness are an essential part of our life together.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=97&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=94&z=1\'><b>God of no accidents<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 11, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken.”(2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT)<br \/><br \/>Today is a day of infamy that has now joined a handful of other days where you can ask the question, “Where were you when you first heard about …”<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=94&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=96&z=1\'><b>Thirty second rule<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 8, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>There’s nothing like a memorial service for a believer. One of the greatest things about being in Heaven is that we will be able to sing praises to God and cry at the same time. OK, I’m guessing here, but I figure we will be able to do most anything, and not being able to cry and sing at the same time is a kind of limiting frustration that I bear in this human body, since the one thing that happens to me when I get overwhelmed with God is that I cry uncontrollably.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=96&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=92&z=1\'><b>In the company of sinners<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 7, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>In The Purpose Driven Life, ministry has been described as serving the needs of believers; mission has been described as serving the needs of those who are not presently Christians. The latter may present a problem for some. You can’t really serve someone if you don’t know them, but being a in relationship with those who aren’t Christians can be dangerous.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=92&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=91&z=1\'><b>Why worry when you can meditate?<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 6, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=91&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=89&z=1\'><b>Guilty as charged<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 5, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Jesus once set a guilty woman free from her accusers by showing that the people who were judging her were just as guilty of sin as she was. “All right, stone her,” he said to the religious leaders who were ready, with stones in hand, to deliver the judgment she indeed deserved.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=89&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=88&z=1\'><b>Servant material<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 4, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>One of the prerequisites for being a servant of God is to think like a servant. This would be fine if it wasn’t so hard. We are all naturally wired to think only of ourselves.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=88&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=87&z=1\'><b>The ultimate do-over<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>September 1, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>God worked his way into your life by faith; now he wants to work his way out through your life by making you into the person he had in mind for you to be all along – a person who can be used for God and his purposes in the world.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=87&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=77&z=1\'><b>The power of who you are<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>August 31, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>I sat next to a Jewish woman once at a PTA function and when she found out I was a Christian, she had a question all ready for me.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=77&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=78&z=1\'><b>Giving the most out of life<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>August 30, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>You were put here on earth to make a contribution. God did not create us in his image to do nothing but sit around on clouds and play harps. He’s not doing that, so why would we ever think of this as a fitting conclusion for us? He created us to share in the ongoing creating and nurturing of his world. We were made in his image to share in his work.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=78&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=86&z=1\'><b>In your shape<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>August 29, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>You are a child of God. You bring God pleasure. You are so important to him that he made a way to pay for your sins so you could be welcomed into his Heaven and live with him for eternity. God put a lot of thought into you.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=86&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=84&z=1\'><b>Big deal<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>August 25, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Job argued with God. Moses bargained with him. Jacob wrestled with him. Nehemiah changed his mind. What do these amazing stories tell us about God if it isn’t that he wants a relationship with us probably more than we want one with him? What does it tell us about God if he is willing to be persuaded, cajoled, bargained with, and wrestled?<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=84&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=83&z=1\'><b>The witnessing power of a Fender guitar T-shirt<\/b><\/a><br \/><i>August 24, 2006<\/i><br \/><i>John Fischer<\/i><br \/>Who would have thought that a Fender guitar T-shirt would give someone a chance to tell to somebody about Jesus? A young man I met once told me about how he purchased a witnessing T-shirt with a blatant Christian message thinking that someone would notice his shirt and ask him about it.<br \/><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=83&z=1\'>Read More<\/a><\/font><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=100% valign=top ><div align=left><font face=\'\' size=\'0\' color=\'\'><a href=\'\/en-US\/FreeTools\/devotional\/todaysDevo\/Devotional.htm?a=82&z=1\'><b>Family ties<\/b><\