Discover what a genuine conversation with God looks like
Friday, August 31, 2012, Part 1
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
IDEA: We hallow God’s name when we set it apart in our prayers.
PURPOSE: To help listeners think about the requests they make when they pray.
Turnaround
Bill was a friend of mine in seminary who had come to Christ out of a blatantly sinful lifestyle. He described it this way: “I was driving down the street drinking a bottle of brandy with another man’s wife at my side. When I saw some Christians on the sidewalk witnessing to passersby about Christ, I drove by and shouted, ‘Fools!’ But only a few weeks later I found myself kneeling in a church and asking Christ to become my Savior and Lord.” Bill’s conversion resulted in his giving up his old ways and experiencing a new life in Christ. It was a life-changing turnaround.
You are here!
By Debra Ayis, Nigeria “I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your [...]
An encounter with Jesus can help us realign our priorities!
Thursday, August 30, 2012, Part 3
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
IDEA: We become holy as we make God’s name holy.
PURPOSE: To help listeners live in the reality that God turns our attention from ourselves to Him for a devout life.
Panning For Gold
While on vacation in Alaska, we visited the El Dorado Gold Mine near Fairbanks. After a tour and demonstrations of mining techniques during Gold Rush days, we got to do a little panning for gold. Each person was given a pan and a bag of dirt and stones. After pouring the contents into the pan, we added water from a trough and swirled it around to stir up the silt and allow the gold, which is heavy, to sink to the bottom. Even though we had watched experts, we made little progress. The reason? Concerned about discarding something of value, we were unwilling to throw away worthless stones.
God’s heart is to have one-on-one time with you
Wednesday, August 29, 2012, Part 2
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
IDEA: We become holy as we make God’s name holy.
PURPOSE: To help listeners live in the reality that God turns our attention from ourselves to Him for a devout life.
Until You Are Full
A friend who lives in Singapore told me about an old Chinese greeting. Instead of “How are you?” people would ask “Have you eaten until you are full?” The greeting likely originated during a time when food was scarce and many people did not know when they would have their next meal. When food was available, it was advisable to eat until they were full.
What about karma?
By Ian Gustafson, 19, Michigan USA What do you think about the idea of karma? Well, most Christians will dismiss it as not biblical. However it would seem that many people, non-Christians and Christians alike, live with the concept of being rewarded or punished based on one’s deeds—and preferably in this life. So let’s think [...]
Proof that prayer can be concise and meaningful
Tuesday, August 28, 2012, Part 1
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
IDEA: We become holy as we make God’s name holy.
PURPOSE: To help listeners live in the reality that God turns our attention from ourselves to Him for a devout life.
Serve Well With Joy
Nine years ago today a good friend went out for a lunchtime jog and never came back. Kurt De Haan, who was the managing editor of Our Daily Bread, died of a heart attack on that sunny Thursday. Some of us who worked with Kurt still keep mementos of him in our offices.
The significance of honoring God first and foremost
Monday, August 27, 2012, Part 3
“In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name’” (Matthew 6:9).
IDEA: “Hallowed be your name” is not a request that God be made holy, but that we will be able to reflect His holiness in the way we pray and the way we live.
PURPOSE: To help listeners pray this petition with meaning.
The New Normal
A pastor, who was trained in trauma and grief counseling, commented that the greatest challenge for people who are hurting is often not the immediate heartache of the loss. Instead, the biggest problem is adjusting to the different kind of life that follows. What once was normal may never be normal again. So the challenge for those offering help is to assist the sufferers as they establish the “new normal.” It may be a new normal that no longer includes robust health, a treasured relationship, or a satisfying job. Or it may be living without a loved one who has been taken in death. The gravity of such losses forces us to live a different kind of life—no matter how unwelcome it may be.
Christians should be like the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
By David Wong, 21, Singapore Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” —Matthew 9:15 nlt The Red Queen reigns; his queen deposed; her kingdom exiled; his life a fugitive. This is the setting [...]
Off-Limits
As a 12-year-old, I was curious about the Bible my dad was given when he retired from the paper mill. It came in a special cedar box marked The Holy Bible, and I assumed that “holy” meant it was off-limits to me. But still I peered inside. In the center of the Bible was a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross, along with the words of John 3:16. There was also a see-through red film covering the page, which I assumed meant He bled and died.
Sleepless In Heaven
One of the most dangerous aspects of flying is the landing. As the aircraft gets closer to land, the air traffic is more congested, the weather on the ground may be far worse than the weather at 30,000 feet, and the runways may not be clear of other planes. So pilots rely on the air-traffic controller to coordinate all the details so that every plane can arrive without incident. Without the air-traffic controller, chaos would be certain.
