DON'T PRE-JUDGE
(James 2:1).
People are seldom as they first appear. Your first impressions are always limited, and possibly wrong. Only the immature make important decisions based on limited knowledge. Packaging can be so deceptive. Cereal boxes can make drab cereal look like the most exciting food on earth.

Jesus always thought the person was more important than the packaging. When He met the woman at the well, He looked beyond her failures and her reputation; and He saw her desire to be changed. He knew that with help, she could become the bridge over which He'd walk into the hearts of many others. Listen...(John 4:39).

On the other hand, people saw Absalom as a handsome articulate leader, when he was only a traitor and a liar. Samson thought Delilah was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, but she turned out to be the trap that destroyed him.

Neither include or eliminate people from your life based on their appearance. The Bible says...(Heb. 13:2). Imagine missing an encounter with an angel because of fear, insensitivity, busyness, or lack of discernment. Read James 2, then pray this prayer. "Father, I ask you for the maturity not to judge others by their appearance, but to focus on their heart, and how I can bless them. Give me compassion in all my dealings. Amen."
by Bob Gass]

IF YOU'RE THIRSTY
(John 7:37).
Have you pursued success with all it's trappings only to find there's still an aching void inside you? If so, come to Jesus. He's the only "thirst quencher" who can truly satisfy the longing of your soul. Listen...(John 4:14). You don't need more things, you just need a relationship with Him! Why don't you put your trust in Him today? You've trusted in others and been disappointed. You've loved others and been rejected. But this promise is from somebody who doesn't lie. Come to Him and He'll end the drought in your heart. He'll quench your thirst with living water.

You say, "Who are you talking about?" Jesus! His arms are open wide, His voice is calm, His wisdom is stable, and His counsel is sure. He's more than a weekly visitation to church. He's more than an historical perspective in a leather bound book we call the Bible. He's more than a piece of bread and a small cup of wine we call communion. He's not just living - He's loving; not just powerful, but personal. When He steps from the pages of His word into the emptiness of your life, nothing will ever be the same again. Your past will be a clean slate, and your future will be an open door that leads to "joy unspeakable." Why don't you come to Him today and see what He can do for you.
[by Bob Gass]

ACT ON WHAT YOU HEAR!
(James 1:22).
One day a book salesman approached an old farmer with great excitement and said, "This book will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about farming; when to sow, when to reap; all about the weather, and what to expect." The farmer said, "Son, that's not my problem, I already know what's in that book - my problem is doing it!" We all have that problem.

When are you going to get your theology off the drawing board, and build something with it? How many more sermons will it take, before you discipline yourself to rise earlier in order to spend time in the Word, and in prayer? The future begins now - not someday. If you're waiting until it's easy to tithe, you'll never give God His portion (Mal. 3:8). If you think you'll wake up one morning and suddenly "feel" like crucifying your flesh, or putting others first - let me know when it happens. I've been a Christian for 43 years, and it hasn't happened to me yet.

Listen carefully to James...(James 1:22). Now there's something to think and pray about today.
[by Bob Gass]

LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD
(Psa. 46:1).
When my children were young, we visited Disney World. I remember three places in particular.

First, Frontier World - How it used to be. But you can't live in the past! Thank God for wonderful memories, but if you only dwell on yesterday, you're not growing. Listen...(Prov. 4:18). God has new experiences for you, so keep moving forward!

Second, Future World - How, it's going to be. There we're told we'll live to be a hundred, and travel to the moon in an hour by ballistic rocket. Nice to dream about; but Jesus said...(Matt. 24:14). Jesus will return, and you will go to heaven, but until that happens we're told to "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13). We're an army of occupation. Our orders are to carry His Word to the ends of the earth - starting with the guy next door! Are you doing that?

Third, Fantasy World - How I wish it was! You have been called to live in the real world, and to bring real solutions, to real problems - in His name. God is not the great I was, or the great I will be - He's the great I am." Today He's saying, "I am your strength, I am your provider, I am your comforter, I am everything you need." In other words...(Psa. 46:1). Reach for Him today!
[by Bob Gass]

WHAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR
(Matt. 3:17).
Before Jesus began His ministry, His father declared publicly that He was "well pleased" with Him. Think about that! After observing His first thirty years, God was pleased with His character, His excellence in the workplace, His treatment of His parents, and His faithfulness in prayer and the study of God's word. Based on that - God knew He could count on Him. Can He count on you?

Some people want to have a powerful ministry, yet they can't say "no" to their own impulses, pay their bills on time, train their children properly, be faithful to their partner, mow the grass, or take out the trash. If you can't take care of your family, why would God trust you with His? (I Tim. 3:5). If You can't control your own flesh, forget about pulling down the demonic strongholds over your city. You won't be placed in authority in God's Kingdom, until you can put yourself in subjection to the Word and to the Holy Spirit. Listen...(Gal. 5:16).

God can find talent anywhere; what He's really after is character and commitment! Instead of looking for great doors to swing open, (or kicking them open), why don't you read the book of Timothy and Titus. Observe the qualities God seeks for in those He uses mightily; then you'll have a pattern by which to build. Your life's goal should be to have God say of you too...(Matt. 3:17).
[by Bob Gass]

LORD MAKE US ONE
(Psa. 133:1-3).
An army marching together in step sets up a rhythm so powerful that it can cause a bridge to collapse. That's the power of unity! Satan defeats us by separating us. He puts breaches in our relationships by getting us upset over things that don't really matter. Rick Godwin says, "He mimics the Holy Spirit in a voice you understand. If you're Pentecostal, he speaks "Pentecostal", and tells you not to talk to the Baptists. If you're Hispanic, he whispers in Hispanic slang, "Stay away from whitie over there." He comes in through your personality, your vocabulary, your race, and the religious notions that have always separated you from your brothers and sisters. It takes discernment to see what he's doing, and that kind of discernment only comes when you are walking in love toward others, and God's Word is working in your heart.

Listen...(Psa. 133:1-3). How would you like to be the devil trying to mess with somebody - when God himself is commanding blessings to come upon them? Imagine being part of a business, a ministry, a home, or a church where you walk around being blessed, even when nobody else is. You'll leave the devil scratching his head, wondering what's happening. But that's what God has promised, and the key is - unity. Jesus prayed for it, and it's time you started praying for it too.
[by Bob Gass]

TRUST MUST BE EARNED
(I Cor. 4:2).
You've got to earn people's trust, before you truly influence them! President Eisenhower said, "In order to be a leader, you must have followers, and to have followers, you must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionable integrity. Without that, no real success is possible. Whether you're part of a work crew, an army, or an office, if you lack integrity - you'll fail. Your actions must square with your words, therefore your first great need is integrity and high purpose." Think about that!

If you're serious about integrity do these three things. First, decide now! George Washington said, "Few men have the virtue to say no to the highest bidder." Jesus defeated the tempter in the wilderness because He already knew who He was, what He believed, and what He had been sent to do. Therefore, the tempter couldn't find one "soft spot" in His defences. You must decide now, if you're going to be ready then.

Next, be careful in little things. Whether you cross the line an inch or a mile, you're still "out of bounds." Honesty is a habit you ingrain by doing the right thing day after day, week after week, and year after year. Finally, live by your principles, not your impulses. A big part of integrity is following through consistently. Zig Ziglar says, "Do the things you have to do, when you have to do them, and the day will come when you'll be able to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them." Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE A BREAK
(Mark 6:31).
Too many of us feel "guilty" when we take a little time off. It was only after his son, his father, his sister, and his mother-in-law died, and he had to have emergency by-pass surgery - all within the span of 3 years - that my friend Sherman Owens decided he'd spent a lot of time on things that don't really matter, and missed out on things that do. Sound familiar?

Here's what he says he learned. "You should enjoy life more and strive less, for it's possible to be crushed under the weight of your own success. When you're under constant stress you're trampling on life, and your accomplishments are always at the expense of your joy. You can add years to your life by just taking time to stop and lighten up! Don't just put things on your plate, take the time to eat from the plate and enjoy it.

Jesus understood the importance of "getting away." He could have done anything - like writing a book, but He had someone else do that. He could have built temples, or walked through graveyards raising the dead, but instead He "drew aside." Why? Because the Father set His agenda, not the crowd! He said...(John 8:29). If your first goal is to please people, you'll burn yourself out. Love them; serve them; but only let God's expectations rule your life. Today He's saying to you to "take a break."
[by Bob Gass]

RUN TO THE STREAM
(Psa. 42:1).
Imagine a deer, pursued by hunters, wounded by hedges and exhausted by the chase. Suddenly he finds a clear mountain stream where his strength can be renewed, and his wounds can be healed. There his feet leave no more tracks to be followed; and above all, it's a place where his thirst will be satisfied. Can you see it? That's how David describes the presence of God.

In the book of Job we read...(Job 4:4). Paul said...(II Tim. 3:16). The Greek word for inspiration means "God-breathed." When you put the scriptures into your heart, you're actually allowing God to breathe His very life and strength into you. Think about that! Have you been wounded? Does your hurt go too deep for words? Listen...(Jer. 30:17).

One of the names given to Jesus at His birth is "Wonderful Counsellor" (Isa. 9:6). He can direct you, advise you, and even walk back with you into those dark corridors of shame and turn on the lights - if you'll only let Him. Gary Paxton wrote, "Of things I've had my fill, and yet I hunger still, empty and bare Lord hear my prayer, for more of You." You thought that new house, or that car, or that job, or that relationship would fill the emptiness, but it didn't, for in the deepest part of you, there's a God-shaped blank that nobody but He can fill. Why don't you run to the stream today, for it's there that you'll find everything, you need.
[by Bob Gass]

LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT
(Matt. 16:25).
If Michael Angelo had been looking for the easy way out, he'd have painted the floor of the Sistine Chapel instead of the ceiling - and his life's work would have been wiped out years ago. If Paul had been looking for the easy way out, he'd have dropped any mention of the name of Jesus from his preaching - and we wouldn't have half of the New Testament to read today.

Listen to something he wrote...(II Tim. 4:10). Have you ever heard of Demas? He was a travelling companion with Paul. What an opportunity! So why did he lay down his sword and leave the fight? Did he resent his "minority status"? Did he grow tired of the stigma that comes from standing for the truth? Did he "fold" under the threat of prisons and beatings? Whatever his reasons were, he's only remembered as Demas the Deserter. How tragic!

Jesus said...(Matt. 16:25). You'll only get one chance to do it right, so look up today and say with the songwriter, "All that I have, all that I am, all I shall ever be; cannot repay the love debt I owe; I surrender to Thee." Do it and see what happens.
[by Bob Gass]

RESPECTING OTHERS
(Rom. 12:10).
I heard about a woman who moved to a small town. After being there for a while, she complained to her neighbour about the poor service she'd received at the local drug store, hoping that her neighbour would repeat the criticism to the stores owner. The next time the newcomer went to the drug store, the manager greeted her with a big smile, and told her how happy he was to see her again. He took care of her order quickly and efficiently, and even offered to help her family in getting settled. Amazed, the woman reported the incredible change to her friend; "I suppose you told him how poor I thought his service was" she said. "Well, no," her friend said. "In fact - I hope you don't mind, but I told him you were very impressed at the way he'd built up this small town drug store, and that it was one of the best- run drug stores you'd ever seen."

People respond to kindness better than to complaints. In fact, most people will do nearly anything for you if you treat them with respect. That means making it clear to them that their feelings are important, their preferences are respected, and their opinions are valuable. It also means giving them the benefit of the doubt. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments." Read again the words, of Paul in Rom. 12:10. Now go out and put them into practice.
[by Bob Gass]

PROVE YOUR LOVE
(I Cor. 6:18).
When somebody tells you to prove your love by committing fornication with them, hand them this article by Abigail Vanburen.

"Girls need to prove their love through 'illicit sexual relations, like a 'moose' needs a 'hatrack'. Why not prove your love by sticking your head in the oven and turning on the gas - or how about playing leap-frog on the motorway? It's about as safe. Clear the cob-webs out of your head. Anybody who asks you to prove your love, is trying to take you for the biggest, most gullible fool that ever walked. That 'proving-it' mouthful is one of the worst lines ever invented.

Does he love you? It doesn't sound like it. Someone who loves you wants whatever is best for you. Work it out for yourself - he wants you to: commit an immoral act; surrender your virtue; throw away your self-respect; risk the loss of your precious reputation; risk getting you pregnant; getting diseased; or getting you into trouble. That's the biggest laugh of the century.

He wants what pleases him! He wants a thrill he can brag about at your expense. Love? Who's kidding who? A guy who loves a girl would sooner cut off his right arm than hurt her. In my opinion, this guy has definitely proven that he doesn't love you. The predictable aftermath always finds 'Romeo' tiring of his sport. That's when he drops you - picks up his line; and goes casting elsewhere for a bigger, and equally foolish fish. If he loves you, let him prove his love - at the altar". Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

HELP ON THE HOME FRONT
(Psa. 101:2)
Here are some guidelines that will make your home a better place today.

1)	Seek to understand. Everybody longs to be understood, especially children. How many destinies were changed when Jesus took time to bless them? There are some chances you only get once - don't miss them.
2)	Pay attention to the little things. Nothing does more to build a relationship than remembering what everybody else overlooked. The best cards read, "For all the little things you do."
3)	Keep your commitments. Never break your word, for nothing erodes trust faster. We all make time for the things that matter, and a thousand excuses will not erase the message sent by a broken promise.
4)	Clarify your expectations. Explain the rules - then enforce them. If something brings a smile one day, and a slap the next, you're hurting your children. Be consistent, even when it's not comfortable or convenient and the future will reward you.
5)	Be available. The three things we usually say to our children are:
	a)	"I'm too tired."
	b)	"We don't have the money."
	c)	"Keep quiet." - Take the time to listen, for there are many dangerous influences out there just waiting to take your place.
6)	Apologise when you make a mistake. Children learn how to deal with their mistakes by watching how we deal with ours. Don't teach a double standard. Have enough humility, honesty, and love, to set a clear example.

That's enough for today! ,
[by Bob Gass]

LET GO AND MOVE ON
(I Sam. 16:1).
Are you still wrestling with people who have moved on; and events that don't deserve another minute of your time? The worst part is, you're investing all that emotional energy into things that are dead and can't reward you, and you've nothing left to give to those who love you and wait for you. It's like slow-dancing alone, or singing a harmony when there's no melody - something's missing! Stop the music! Life is a terrible thing to waste, and you'll account to God for the opportunities He's giving you daily, to live again.

The worst kind of depression comes when you spend precious hours trying to prove something to somebody who doesn't care any more. That "time-warp" will only drain the joy out of any new job, relationship, or ministry God gives you. People will enter your life, and people will leave, but the Bible says you're...(Deut. 28:6). Start acting like a blessed person. Stop and take inventory of God's goodness!

When King Saul died, Samuel the prophet thought Israel's best days were over. Sound familiar? But God said to him, "Dry your tears. If you think Saul was great, wait till you meet David! Your best days are not behind you, they're ahead of you." Guess what? The God who spoke those words to Samuel, is saying the same thing to you - can you receive it?
[by Bob Gass]

CHRISTIANS AND THE INTERNET
(Matt. 10:16).
Seven new people "log on" to the Internet every second! It's the cheapest and fastest way to reach anybody, anywhere on earth. But parent, beware! The FBI in America is currently tracking 12 major child paedophile rings, operating on the Internet. How do these predators find our children? In the "chat rooms." A child who would run from a stranger on the street, feels safe enough to spend hours with them in a chat room.

Here are two Internet stories. First, a woman whose workaholic husband was neglecting her so she met another lonely heart on the Internet. She fell in love with him, and told her husband she was going out of town to meet an old school friend. That weekend, she began an affair that ended in two divorces. The second story is of a man who fell in love with a woman from New York. After spending a year talking together on the Internet, he asked his pastor to marry them - even though they had never spent a day together. (Times are changing - but people are not!)

Because 35 million people visit a pornography site every day, should we abandon the Internet? No! Listen...(Matt. 10:16). Protect your family and your mind, but be quick to recognise one of the greatest tools for reaching the lost that the world has ever known. Here's an idea - become an Internet evangelist!
[by Bob Gass]

MAKE TIME FOR YOUR CHILDREN
(Eph. 6:4).
Did you hear about the police officer who saw a big truck and trailer moving erratically in the slow lane? Every few kilometres the driver would stop, jump out, run back to the trailer and beat the side of it with a big stick. Then, he would jump back into the cab and speed away. Finally, the police officer pulled him over and asked him what he was doing. "Well, officer," the man explained, "this is a one-tonne truck and I'm trying to carry two tonnes of canaries - so I have to keep half of them in the air at all times!"

Most of us live like that today - trying frantically to keep too many things in the air. The results can be seen at home. Before you die, you will probably live in several houses, drive several cars, and work at several jobs - but you will only have one opportunity to be the parent your child needs. Don't 'blow it!' Do not sacrifice your family on the altar of your career, or your materialistic needs.

Recently, a teenager wrote to me saying, "Before I got messed up on drugs, my dad hardly noticed I was around. But now that I'm in trouble, he's got all sorts of time for me - he wants to buy me things and take me places. He even tells me that he loves me. The trouble is, I don't know if he's doing it because he really cares, or if it's just because I've become his biggest problem." Your children spell love, T-I-M-E! Be there when they need you, and one day they'll be there when you need them. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

LIVING IN AN UNCHANGED BODY
(I Cor. 9:27).
Being a Christian means that one part of you wants to walk "...in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4), while another part wants to walk "...after the flesh" (Rom. 8:1). You would too, if it wasn't for God's Spirit that lives in your divided house and "groans" when you do certain things, challenging you each time with the Word (John 16:7-14). The truth is, your new heart is living in your old body.

When I came to Christ, I thought other Christians seemed to have mastered a level of holiness that eluded me. I thought they were examples of what I should be, and I attacked my carnality with passion. I did not realise that everything that's born, needs time to grow. I was expecting an immediate, all-inclusive metamorphosis that would make me the kind of person God could really love. Sound familiar? Now I realise God's love is not given- out on a "merit" system, e.g. if you do well today, He loves you; if you don't, He doesn't - what a roller coaster!

Get rid of this do-it-yourself righteousness. Listen...(Jude 24). Listen again...(Phili. 1:6). And one more verse...(Gal. 4:19). Only God knows the process it will take, for the Christ who saved you to be formed in you. We will all travel a different path, but the goal for each of us is the same - to bear a greater resemblance to our heavenly Father. Getting you there is God's job - let Him do it.
[by Bob Gass]

REAL RELATIONSHIPS!
(Prov. 18:24).
As you go through life, you need people who will "stick by you" - no matter what. Remember Jonathan who loved David even at the cost of his own life? Or Ruth who loved Naomi and helped her to find a reason to live again? God has people like that and you need them. He wouldn't say, "It's not good that man should be alone..." (Gen. 2:18), and then make you live in isolation. But, you need to be healed before you enter a new relationship and begin to make healthy choices again.

When you're ready, God will make all the necessary introductions. In the meantime, get to know Him better; for He's the source of all self-worth. If your last relationship stripped you of your identity and drained you spiritually, then use this precious time with Him to get back on your feet. You may never have this opportunity again!

Decide today, to love like God. He sees your imperfections and handles your rejection when you go your own way; yet He loves you anyway. That should help you not to throw away a good person, who happened to do a bad thing. Would you give up your car over a leaky radiator? If God forgave you, shouldn't you forgive others? Today, God is talking to you about real relationships. Make sure you listen.
[by Bob Gass]

RECOVERING FROM A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
(Psa. 147:3).
You can't heal a broken heart by trying to escape into mood-altering substances; "sweating it out" in a gym; or working an 18-hour-a-day schedule. I tried all three and they don't work. But, there is One that...(Psa. 147:3). He restores us; teaches us things we didn't know, and makes us better - not bitter.

One of the first lessons He teaches us is forgiveness. You can't hold a club over somebody else's head, and try to find healing for yourself. Forgiveness is just a word until you extend it. Your peace of mind (and your position before God), depend on your willingness to forgive (Mark 2:25).

The second lesson He teaches us is about relationships. Some of the relationships you need, will bring you more pain than pleasure. Jesus couldn't have reached the cross without Judas. Does that mean that anybody can come into your life and do as they please? No, their access to you is limited by the shield of divine purpose. But you need to know that certain people bring comfort, and others bring character. You need both!

The third lesson is about the "yes" zone. Listen...(Rev. 3:7). If God opens a door (or shuts it), learn to trust Him and to say "Yes," because only He has the best in mind for you. Isn't that wonderful?
[by Bob Gass]

ACCEPTED BECAUSE OF HIM
(Eph. 1:6).
Before God covered Adam's nakedness, He had to strip him of his facade. That's our greatest concern - isn't it? We think "What if others really knew me!" It's one thing to play that game with people who are similarly afflicted, but to play it with God; is ridiculous,

Adam discovered that you can be stripped before God; admit your sins, and still maintain your position as a son (Luke 3:38). It's only when you let God see you as you are, that His grace can make you what you should be. The truth is; when we strip away the layers, we're not so different. The gossip is just as lost as the drug dealer. Their symptoms may be different; but their cure is the same...(Heb. 9:22). Never forget the blood of Jesus; for without it, we have no good news.

TD. Jakes says, "To the survivors of wrecked ships and damaged homes; we hold out our arms. As we do; they will come - the halt; the lame; the deaf, and the dumb. They will need much of the Word before their marriages cease to tremble, and their self-images improve. They will have flash-backs and relapses, and require intensive care. Yet we swing wide the door of ministry, and admit that most of our doctors have at one time been patients, and that many of them are still being treated. Still; we say, 'Come; for we are not the medicine - it is Christ who is the cure!' To the overlooked and the castaway; to the downtrodden.and the wayfaring; we cry, "Come out of the cold. If nowhere else, and by no one else, you are accepted in the Beloved'!" How wonderful!
[by Bob Gass]

DO YOU WANT A DOUBLE PORTION?
(II Kings 2:9-10).
Look how far Elisha was willing to go to get "a double portion," and ask yourself, "am I willing to go that far?" You see, a double portion comes as the result of a journey; not a single event.

First, Elisha followed Elijah to Gilgal. That's where Israel was circumcised - which means "cutting of the flesh," What a picture! You'll either live by your own impulses, or by the dictates of the Holy Spirit.

Next, he followed Elijah to Bethel. That's where Jacob looked into heaven and saw a new dimension. Unless you have a vision for your life that's born of God, you'll make no difference.

Next, he followed Elijah to Jericho. That's where Joshua had a face-to-face encounter with the Lord, and received a plan that brought down the walls of Jericho. Get into God's presence today, and stay there until He reveals Himself to you!

Finally, he followed Elijah to Jordan. Jordan speaks of death. The Bible says...(Gal. 5:24). Be prepared to attend your own funeral - every day. Paul said...(Gal. 1:20). How badly do you want a double portion? How far are you willing to go to get it? Spend some time in prayer and consider these questions.
[by Bob Gass]

THE POWER OF PASSION
(Psa. 34:8).
Listen...(Heb. 12:2-3). That's the power of passion!

Have you ever noticed how often God transforms the worst of sinners, and makes them great ministers? That's because they're people of strong desire. He knew that when they were broken, harnessed, and directed, they'd be "winners" in His kingdom. Is that why Satan has tried so hard to destroy you? He knows that if you ever line up your passion with His purpose, there'll be no stopping you. Without passion we're as limp as wet noodles, and as bland as hospital food. Instead of trying to kill your passion, let God redirect it toward an eternal purpose.

God said to the Laodicean church...(Rev. 3:15). Who's He speaking about? Christians who live, marry, have children, buy cars, accumulate stocks, and do everything their living counterparts do - but without passion. They're just going through the motions. David said, "...taste and see..." (Psa. 34:8). Step up to the plate and take a swing at the ball! "But" you say, "what if I miss?" You'll miss for sure if you don't swing! Your desire to protect yourself will rob you of the only chance you'll ever have at life. If you're down, get back up! If you've failed, try again! Ask God to rekindle the flames of passion in your soul, and get going for Him.
[by Bob Gass]

SUPPER TIME IS OVER!
(John 13:2-5).
When you want to stay where you are, but you have to go where He calls - supper time is over. You've been fed long enough, now it's time for you to begin ministering to others. It's called, 'moving from supper time to service time," and sadly, many of us never make it! You see, real ministry begins when you're stripped down to your hearts desire, and you say, "Lord; I want my life to count, I want to accomplish something for you!"

As long as we're arguing over who's going to sit on the right or the left, we are still controlled by our own agendas. That's why God sometimes permits trials to realign us; and storms to shake us up. Some of us even awake in hospital with respirators, and monitors beeping in our ears; grateful for one thing only - the privilege of a second chance. Examine the lives of those who "made a difference" in this world, and each of them has a "laying it all aside" story.

You say: "How is such a life possible?" Listen...(John 13:3-5). There's the secret! Jesus knew who sent Him, sustained Him, and was going to reward Him. Only when you know that, are you really ready to serve. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

TODAY IS ALL YOU'VE GOT
(Eph. 5:15-16).
Imagine a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400, and every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use. What would you do? Draw out every cent and invest it of course! Well, every morning God credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night, He writes off as lost what you didn't invest. You can't borrow against tomorrow. You must live only on today's deposits. Are you getting the idea?

Make the most of today, for the clock is running. Before you know it, you'll make your last withdrawal and stand before God. David said...(Psa. 90:12).

To realise the value of a year, ask the student who failed a grade; the value of a month, ask the mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realise the value of an hour, ask the lovers who wait to be together; or the value of a minute, ask the person who just missed a train. To realise the value of a second, ask someone who just avoided an accident; or the value of a millisecond, ask the athlete who had to settle for second place at the Olympics.

Stop messing around! Get serious about your life and your goals. Treasure every moment you've got. Paul says...(Eph. 5:15-16). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

KINGS AND PRIESTS
(Rev. 1:5-6).
Charles Nieman points out that in the Bible priests provided the "vision," and kings provided the "provision". While one worked in God's house, the other went out to battle and brought back the "spoils" which finance the purposes of God. Note: Abraham was a business man, yet when he went into the "valley of the kings," they greeted him as one of them (Gen. 14:17). It's time we started "greeting" those among us who are gifted to prosper in business, and have a heart to bring it back into God's kingdom. For too long we've viewed them as a threat, a cash cow, or a compromiser.

One night a well-known architect came to hear Charles Neiman preaching on "Kings & Priests," and it changed his life. This.man (who had 250 architects working under him) later confessed, "When I was eight, my dad told me I could never be an architect. For me to please God, he said I had to be a preacher. So no matter how much I succeeded, I never felt important in God's kingdom. But now I know different, for I have been called to be a king." A few weeks later this man wrote a cheque for $1 million to an organisation where drug addicts and runaway kids are redeemed and rehabilitated. Don't bury your talent! Use it to excel, and to bless the work of God. Reach for the top in your chosen profession - just don't lose sight of His purpose for your life in the process.
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T LOSE YOUR ENTHUSIASM
(Prov. 4:23).
Look out for "the Committee!" - The joy stealers, the enthusiasm robbers, and the vision killers! These people have lost their joy and enthusiasm, and yours is a constant irritant to them.

Have you decided to quit? You wanted to make a difference but you ran head-long into "the Committee," adjusted your expectations to their limitations, and kept on smiling. Don't do it! God has too much for you to do. The safe zone is only for those who are exempt from pain, but denied pleasure; safe from failures, but constantly threatened with depression. Get up and get out of there while you still can. Listen...(Rev. 3:2). Start reading the Word of God. Go to church. Pray. It's your desire that determines your destiny.

Jesus suffered the loss of His disciples, His earthly ministry, His friends, and even His clothes (John 19:23-24). But they couldn't rob Him of "...the joy that was set before Him..." (Heb. 12:2). Even while He was dying, He continued to minister. Then He went through Hell and came out with the lock and keys. And He's your example! Listen again...(Prov. 4:23). Your greatest treasure isn't your savings, or your investments - it's your passion. Guard it carefully, for out of it comes the strength to keep on living and giving.
[by Bob Gass]

STOP WORRYING!
(Matt. 6:34).
If Christ lives in us, shouldn't the difference be obvious? For example: how can you say you trust God, yet worry about your health, your kids, your job, and your finances? Concern is one thing, but worry is an insult to a God who's never let you down. Listen...(Phili. 4:6-7).

Jesus said...(Matt. 6:34). Why? Because He knew that when you take thought, you take control, and when that happens your peace goes out the window.

Worry is like a snowball; it starts small, but as you keep rolling it forward, it gets big enough to bury you. All it takes to keep a stationary train from moving is two 6 inch blocks of wood. But, if that train leaves the station and gets up steam, it can crash through a 6 foot brick wall. Stop the worry train before it leaves your station!

God says...(II Cor. 12:9). He'll only give you what you need for today. That way, you must keep trusting Him for tomorrow. Listen again...(John 10:3-5). How wonderful! He's already gone ahead of you to arrange everything. Knowing that should help you to live with confidence.
[by Bob Gass]

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT
(James 1:2).
Pastor Bob Yandian says, "adversity presents us with seven opportunities";
1). For advancement. It's only when you stop running or hiding and accept the challenge, that you begin to advance.
2). For victory. Without a battle, there can be no victory. Listen...(II Cor. 2:14).
3). For growth. Maturity comes through struggles. We hate to see our children struggling, but it's the only way for them to grow emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
4). To glorify God. God is glorified when we demonstrate faith in the face of adversity. Listen to the testimony of Abraham...(Rom. 4:20). Are you doing that?
5). To develop patience. Listen again...(Rom. 5:3). The New Living translation says, "...problems ... are good for us - they help us to learn to endure." Think about that!
6). To develop character. The fruit of the Spirit is developed as we grow and mature in our relationship with Christ. We often believe God is anxious for us to come out of a trial, when in reality, He's more interested in developing our character during the trial.
7). For blessing. God can turn every type of crushing into a blessing, and every battle into a victory - if you let Him (Rom. 8:28).

If you're going through tests and trials today, start seeing them as opportunities for advancement. If your suffering is self-induced, allow God's Word to correct you. Otherwise stay strong in faith today, and watch God turn it around.
[by Bob Gass]

REAL PRAYER
(Matt. 6:6).
Away with superficial, plastic-coated, Sunday-go-to-meeting prayers! Real prayer is not made for human ears. Jesus said...(Matt. 6:6).

In real Prayer, the Holy Spirit brings to the surface things that you've carefully hidden from the eyes of others; even denied to yourself. It's a mirror that confronts you, demanding that you confess ".. .the hidden things of dishonesty" (II Cor. 4:2). Only when you've done that, can you leave God's presence cleansed and ready to do His will. Listen...(Isa. 52:11).

Nothing fuels real prayer like need. It causes the most gifted, and the most obscure among us to cry, "Without You, I can do nothing! Indeed, anything I could accomplish without You; would mean nothing."

This is the place of naked prayer. Hannah was in this place when she cried from her heart to God for a child. She was so passionate, that the high priest thought she was drunk (I Sam. 1:13). But, God heard her cry. That day, Samuel was conceived in her heart; and shortly after, was conceived in her womb. Don't leave the place of prayer until you conceive; until the vision is born, and the embryo of God's purpose starts to take form in you.

And one more thing, don't dictate to God which delivery system to use - just be there when the answer arrives!
[by Bob Gass]

HOW TO FIND PEACE
(Isa. 26:3).
Today I read about a mother with three children who complained to her doctor, "I just can't get the house cleaned the way I like it before everyone leaves in the morning." She was so stressed-out over it, that he put her on anti-depressants. It was as if she had a gun pointed at her head, and a voice inside was saying, "Every dish must be put away and every towel folded - or else!" Life had become one big emergency, and she could never manage to "catch up." The truth is, nobody but her had created the stress she was experiencing. Sound familiar?

Your issues may be different, but is your attitude the same? Have your goals become so "all consuming" that you have forgotten how to have fun along the way; or how to "cut yourself some slack?" Have you made your preferences a condition for your happiness? Do you beat yourself up when you can't meet your self-created deadlines?

The first step toward recovering your peace is to admit that you're creating your own emergencies. Life will go on wonderfully even if it doesn't go according to your plan. Don't wait until you lose a marriage, or have a heart attack before you decide to do something. Deal with your perfectionism - be it in your looks or your accomplishments. The cause of perfectionism is self-centredness; the cure for it - is service. When you live for others, it takes the focus off you, and the amazing thing is - you find real peace and happiness in the process. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

SITTING IN HIS PRESENCE
(Psa. 145:18).
The old man was very ill, so his family called the pastor. When the pastor came in, he noticed an empty chair beside the bed, and said, "I see I'm not your first visitor today." The old man looked puzzled, then realised that the pastor had noticed the chair by the bed. "Let me tell you about that chair," the old man said. "Years ago I found it difficult to pray. Then a friend told me not to worry about it. He said, 'When you pray, sit down and put a chair opposite you. Imagine Jesus sitting in the chair, and begin to talk with Him as you would to a friend'." Then the old man added with a smile, "I've been doing that for the last 50 years, and it's been wonderful; it really works."

Later, when the old man went to be with the Lord, his daughter called the pastor again. She said, "When I left him this morning, he was sleeping comfortably; but when I came back he was gone and I noticed something - his hand was on the empty chair beside the bed. Isn't that strange?" "No," the pastor replied, "The One in the chair just took him by the hand, and they left together." Friend, if it helps you, then pull up a chair today and spend some time talking to the Lord. Come to Him confidentially, for He couldn't love you more than He does at this moment - and that will never change (Heb. 4:16).
[by Bob Gass]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
(I Cor. 2:16).
You came to the Lord damaged, so He began a massive renovation program on your thoughts about life; about others, and about yourself. While outwardly you look nice, there's a constant hammering and sawing going on within you as God works to meet a deadline and to make you "...an instrument for noble purposes..." (II Tim. 2:21).

One of the tools God uses to get us ready is "the foolishness of preaching" (I Cor. 1:21). Whatever you do, never lose your appetite for preaching. Listen...(Rom. 10:17). It boggles the unregenerate mind to watch the preached Word transform the most dysfunctional people, into productive members of society.

Most of the time, God does this while maintaining a veil of secrecy that protects our reputations and public perceptions. Can you imagine how shocked people would be if they knew the shape we were really in when He found us? Only His power could have forced open the snare that had entrapped our minds, and allowed us to live again. David declared...(Psa. 107:20-21).

Note what did it - His Word! That's what gave you a road map to your destiny. Because of Him - you matter. Because of Him - you have nothing to fear. If anybody has a right to shout for joy today - it's you!
[Bob Gass]

MADE FOR A PURPOSE
(Psa. 8:6, 9).
David said we are "...fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa. 139:14). Look at your tongue; four hundred little taste buds, each capable of telling you the difference between cauliflower and coconut pie. And how about your intestinal system? 20 million little mouths that can digest almost anything. And your cooling system? Fisher & Paykel has nothing like it - 350,000 sweat glands per square inch, so that I can survive the summers in Georgia and keep writing this devotional. And your sensory system? 10 million nerves whose branches send and interpret messages, diagnosing and prescribing a response for each.

You're one in 5 billion! Nobody else has your voice pattern, your finger prints, or your DNA. When you were born, heaven didn't just suddenly say, "What are we going to do with him?" No! You were bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20). Your steps are ordered by Him (Psa. 37:23).

That's why He's so interested in everything you do. You see, He wanted you before you existed. He loved you when you were unlovable. He chose you before you could do either right or wrong, so that you could never say your relationship with Him is based on anything "you've" done. That's why He has the right to say to you today; "I want your praise, your attention, and your obedience. I want you to spend time with me; I want you to read the letters I've written to you, and I don't want anybody or anything to come between us." The Word for you today is - you're His!
[by Bob Gass]

GUIDED, GUARDED AND GOVERN
(Psa. 23:6).
If you need guidance today, then listen...(Isa. 58:11). Listen again...(Psa. 73:24). His guidance has no cut-off point. Consider these words...(Deut. 32:10). What faithfulness! When you can't face tomorrow, check with yesterday. Has He ever failed you? No! - and He never will!

Hasn't He always guarded you? In World War I, the soldiers of the 91st Brigade, agreed to recite Psa. 91 every day...(Psa. 9l:1-2). The 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles in World War 1; Chateau Thierry, Belle Wood, and Argonne. While other units lost up to 90% of their men, amazingly, the 91st Brigade didn't suffer a single combat casualty! And I'll tell you something better than that - their God is your God!

And what about being governed? When your stubborn will would have led you away from God's will, away from His blessing, and, away from His protection, the Good Shepherd gave you - "Goodness and Mercy" to nudge you back to the safety of the fold. Oh why don't you just take a moment and begin to thank Him for the love that has guided, guarded, and governed you every step of the way.
[by Bob Gass]

GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER
(I Cor. 14:40).
Order brings productivity, and productivity is what brings you joy and rewards. If you don't like what's happening in your life, change what you're doing! Recently, I saw a cartoon where one Man was telling another, "I'm so far behind, I may never die!" Do you feel like that? The real question is - when are you going to stop talking, and start doing something? Getting started is the hardest part. Even if you've had a thousand false starts, get up, look in the mirror and announce: "Starting today, things around here are going to change!

However, don't announce: "We're all going to change." Work on yourself first; lead by example. Begin with some small victories. Before you take on the army, try handling a few soldiers. Renewal happens day by day. So if you "blow it" today, get up and start again tomorrow, for His mercies are "...new every morning" (Lam. 3:23).

Anything you do twice or more, becomes easier. Repetition is the key to success. Don't wait until you feel like it - just do it! Get out of bed at the same time each day; hang up your clothes; make your bed; read your Bible. Make a list of things-to-do, and tick them off one at a time. When you get to the bottom of your first list, you'll have a real sense of accomplishment. Listen to teaching tapes as you drive; hearing the truth repeatedly is what changes us. One idea - just one - could change your life. Try keeping "an idea notebook." Great ideas are either coming toward you - or passing you by. The bottom line is, if you want to change your life - start changing something you do daily! Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

ABOUT THIS TIME TOMORROW
(II Kings 7:1).
Take a moment and read this story. Samaria was in a famine. The population had been reduced to cannibalism. Suddenly, Elisha stood up and announced...(II Kings 7:1-2).

What a lesson! God has wonderful things in store for you in Samaria. But you must believe it, and embrace it! Do you remember the theme song from Annie? "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, you're only a day away." If what God has promised you hasn't happened yesterday or today, then get excited about tomorrow, for it's only a day away. Don't quit and don't run! If it hasn't happened yet, that means you not only have a past and a present - you have a future! Now there's something to think about.
[by Bob Gass]

GOD IS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS FOR YOU
(Matt. 9:28).
Recently I heard Michael Pitts say, "The time has come when God is going to solve your problems by removing four different elements from them. First, He'll remove time! What used to take years, will now only take a moment, for God says He will "finish the work, and cut it short..." (Rom. 9:28). He's going to speed up the natural process of your healing. He's going to accelerate your harvest, so that you'll be sowing with one hand and reaping with the other (Amos 9:13).

Next, He'll remove lack! Why did God tell Israel to borrow the treasures of Egypt when they left? Because He was opening the books on 400 years of unpaid wages - with interest. Think about that! The generation that will believe God to break the spirit of lack is the generation that will get back all that the enemy has stolen from previous generations. You have a right to claim back seven-fold of everything the thief has taken from you (Prov. 6:31).

Next, He'll remove the enemy! When God delivered Israel, He said...(Exo. 14:13). God will limit the enemy's power by increasing yours. Satan could take Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, but he couldn't push Him off. And he can't push you over the edge either! Look at your Goliath today and declare, "You're coming down!"

Finally, He'll remove doubt! If God can make a donkey talk, and a corpse come out of a grave after four days, then you don't have a problem He can't solve. The question is, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?"
[by Bob Gass]

THE PRAYER AND PRAISE STRATEGY
(Psa. 34:1).
When Israel went into battle, the tribe of Judah led the way - the name Judah means, "Praise the Lord!"

March into battle with the shout of praise on your lips, and God will go before you and deal with all your enemies. Rejoice, He's already arranged the outcome in your favour!

It was this prayer and praise strategy that brought down the walls of Jericho for Joshua, and caused Jehoshaphat's enemies to destroy each other before the battle began. It's a commitment to praise God every time you face an impossible situation - to put all your faith and your focus on the Lord. You may not be worthy, but He is! You may not be able, but He is! Nothing moves Him like His children marching into battle, praising Him for their victory, and declaring His promises. Jesus said...(Matt. 16:18).

Find somebody who'll join you in praise before the throne. Listen...(Acts 16:25-26). If you're standing before a closed door today, begin to praise God and see what happens.
[by Bob Gass]

THE CALL OF GOD!
(Gal. 1:15).
God usually calls busy people! Moses was tending sheep; Gideon was threshing wheat; Peter and John were mending nets - but each of them had something in their heart that responded to that call. Imagine Saul going out looking for donkeys, and coming back anointed to be Israel's first King. That means there's no telling what God can do with you! Just be faithful to what He's given you to do. Keep watering the dream He's put in your heart, and when the time's right, He'll find you and promote you.

The Bible says...(Psa. 37:4). If God has put something into your heart, He'll provide everything that's needed to bring it all to pass. Don't become impatient or manipulative. Listen...(John 6:63). Water your vision with the Word. Spend time in God's presence. If anyone seeks to come between you and God, tell them, "I've got to go; I'm already committed! My destiny is too important." Don't waste another day struggling with the call of God. Surrender to Him now. He didn't call you because of your flawless character, or your pedigree. His Word says...(Rom. 5:20) - that means - you're qualified!
[by Bob Gass]

PRAYER MEANS PEACE
(Phili. 4:6-7).
God's peace is a wonderful thing to experience; the world is starving for it. But it comes only when you commit your life to Christ, and operate by His principles. The prayer of commitment actually transfers all the burdens from you to Him. Listen...(I Pet. 5:7).

What a privilege! Yet many of us never use it. You say, "How do I cast all my anxiety on Him?" Through prayer! As soon as you become aware that you're starting to worry or lose your peace, take it to the Lord immediately, and leave it with Him. Don't give the enemy a few days to work you over, the longer you wait, the stronger his hold over you will become (James 4:7).

But you say, "I can't help thinking about it. What can I do?" Two things:
1). You must deal with it. Cast it on the Lord and think on other things. That's a learned behaviour and God will empower you to do it, if you'll work with Him. Listen...(Phili. 4:8).
2). Find out what God's Word says and line up your thoughts and your actions with it. Refuse to do anything different! (Phili. 4:7). That's His Word to you!
[by Bob Gass]

STANDING WITH OTHERS
(Isa. 35:3).
The first African-American to play major-league baseball was Jackie Robinson. He faced jeering crowds, racial slurs, even death threats, and loads of abuse in every stadium he played while breaking through baseball's colour barrier. one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an "error," and immediately his own fans turned on him, While the fans, he just stood there at second base humiliated. At that point, short-stop Pee Wee Reese ran over, stood next to him, and put his arm around him - together they faced the crowd. At that point the fans grew quiet. Years later when Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame, he said, "It was Reese's arm around my shoulder that saved my career."

Jesus told Peter...(Luke 22:32). If God has truly lifted you, you'll always reach back for others! Do you do that? Or are you afraid to get involved - afraid of what it might cost you?

Listen...(I Sam. 23:16). In prosperity, our friends know us; but in adversity, we know our friends - they're the ones who stand by you when you're in the woods. If you've been a "fair-weather friend" who runs when the pressure is on, ask God to deliver you from your weakness and give you the back-bone to stand up for those who need you. If you think you'll ever need such a friend - be one (starting today).
[by Bob Gass]

PURPOSE-DRIVEN PEOPLE
(Rom. 8:28).
Purpose-driven people leave their safety zone. Like Abraham they go where others won't go. Indeed, things that cause others to fall apart, only cause them to break through and break records. You'll only be remembered for two things: the problems you solved, or the ones you created.

Purpose-driven people walk alone because they see something others don't! Look at Elijah; one man against 850 prophets - but he prevailed! When David lolled Goliath everybody wanted to know him. But when he went out to face Goliath - he went alone. Recently I saw a wonderful sign which read, "Those who walk with God, always reach their destination. "

Purpose-driven people can say no to temptation! Joseph discovered there's more temptations in a palace than there are in a prison. It was when David left the battlefield that he saw Bathsheba. What's worse than sin? What you become when you yield to it!

Purpose-driven people "never arrive!" Be careful! Satisfaction is the greatest enemy to your success. To those who said "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;" God replied, "...I will spew thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:16-17). Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Never stop reaching. Purpose-driven people live longer, see further, fly higher and accomplish more than anybody else. Ask God today to make you one of them.
[by Bob Gass]

PURPOSE-DRIVEN PEOPLE
(Rom. 8:28).
Purpose-driven people always forgive. Why? Because bitterness chains you to the past, poisons the present, and keeps you from having a single-minded focus on the future. They refuse to allow old issues to absorb one ounce of their energy, or one hour of their time. While others wallow in self-pity, and assemble a chorus of wounded spirits, purpose-driven people wipe the slate clean and move on, all because life's too short to do otherwise (Phili. 3:13).

Purpose-driven people never waste experience! If you want to motivate people and give them hope, don't just tell them what you've accomplished, tell them what you went through to get there. Otherwise you'll always be beyond their reach. This is a "show-me" generation. Some of the things I thought I could never share, have actually become the things that cause others to stop, to listen, and to say, "If God could do that for you, then He can do it for me too!" The secret is, "don't live in the past" - learn from it, build on it, and use it to help others.

Purpose-driven people live for others! Joseph used his dream to feed the people of God through seven years of famine. His reward and his promotion only came afterwards. When you meet people's needs you'll always be rewarded. Jesus didn't tell Peter to go and get a crowd so that He would have someone to peach to. No, He said, "...Feed my sheep" (John 21:16). Pastor, if the pews are empty, stop blaming the people and ask yourself, "Is the food fresh, and is the service good?" As long as there's a spiritual hunger for the truth which nobody else is satisfying - you have a future. But the focus must be on their needs, not yours. Today, take a look at these three qualities and pray: "Lord help me to make them a part of my life."
[by Bob Gass]

THE PEACE STEALERS!
(Psa. 119:165).
Get to know what really bothers you, for that's what the enemy will use every time! Be smarter than him. List the "peace stealers" in your life, and protect yourself by sharing them with someone you trust. (Gal. 6:2), means we all have areas where we need support. If the enemy can get you upset, he has power over you and he knows it, so let your goal be to stay calm. Don't play into his hands by saying things that only add fuel to the fire!

Do you ever get upset just before church? Joyce Meyer writes, "In our house on Sunday morning, things would get lost, spilled, and broken like no other day of the week. Our children get along well, but every Sunday morning they'd fight. The more commotion we had, the more I'd complain and get upset. Now my husband hates me complaining. He would tell me to stop, so I'd get mad at him and then the children would cry because we were arguing. In the middle of this, the dog would show up with somebody's shoe and I'd just start hollering, 'We're going to be late again'!" Sound familiar?

Listen...(James 3:18). Satan knows that the Holy Spirit works in an atmosphere of peace, so if he can get you upset and keep you from hearing the Word, he can rob you of a harvest of goodness. Don't let him! Look out for the peace stealers in your life today.
[by Bob Gass]

PURPOSE-DRIVEN PEOPLE
(Eph. 1:11).
Purpose-driven people survive changing seasons and overcome in every situation. The enemy may afflict you or limit you, but he can't keep you out of the presence of God, and he can't keep you from being blessed. Imagine his frustration! When you really know God has something for you, you have the grace, to handle things that others can't. All the water in the world won't sink you, as long as it doesn't get into your boat. It's what you let in that hurts you, so guard your heart, keep your vision alive, and it will keep you alive.

Purpose-driven people always pay the price! The reason others fail is because they trade what they want most; for what they want now. Babies require nine months, chickens take twenty-one days - what do you take? If you're willing to wait for it, and work for it, you can have it (Heb. 12:1-2).

The only thing the world owes you is the right to change, the right to grow, and the right to pay the price. Moses walked away from a palace, Elisha from a farm, and Luke from a medical practice. Jesus left heaven. It's what you're willing to walk away from, that determines what God will eventually trust you with. Keep turning the pages, keep pushing ahead. Tighten your grip on your God-given purpose. No matter what size the bottle is - the cream always makes it to the top. What you can't enjoy today, will be yours tomorrow if you'll just stay focused and remain faithful!
[by Bob Gass]

OVERCOMING FEAR!
(Psa. 56:4).
Fear, which is spelled F.E.A.R. stands for "False Evidence Appearing Real." Did you hear about the man approaching the farm house; who, every few yards noticed a big sign reading "Beware of Dog?" When he finally reached the house, there was the dog - a tiny chihuahua! He said to the farmer, "You mean that dog keeps people away?" The farmer smiled and said, "Nope, but the signs do!" Fear roars like a lion, but when you face it, it's only a chihuahua.

You can face your fears today because God says...(Isa. 41:13). Don't be intimidated by bad news. Keep your trust in God. He's going to cause all things to work for your good.

Today, take hold of these words...(Isa. 41:10; Rom. 8:28). Come on - serve your fears an eviction notice. Give them "the boot!" Stand on the promises. Trust in God, because He's going to bring you through victoriously.
[by Bob Gass]

THINGS YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR CHILDREN
(Psa. 112:1-2).
First, listen to your children! One boy said, "I'm just a comma. When I talk to my dad he'll say something, and then when I start to talk he makes a comma. He doesn't interrupt me, but when I'm finished talking, he starts right in where he left off. It's as if I didn't say anything." You will never really understand your children until you listen carefully to what they are saying.

Second, believe in them. As a child, the great Caruso was actually told by a music teacher, "You have no talent at all." Parent, make sure your voice is the loudest. Get there first; build their confidence; make them a "can-do" person; equip them to overcome every obstacle they face in life.

Third, connect with them! Find out what's in their heart. If you try to control them before you connect with them, you'll fail. What do you really know about them? Their music? Their heroes? Their friends? Their feelings? If your answer is, "I don't know" - start making some changes immediately.

Fourth, let them see God in you! Consider the story of three little boys discussing their fathers. One said, "My dad knows the Mayor." Another said, "My dad knows the Prime Minister." Confidently, the third said, "That's nothing - my dad knows God!" Parent, do you know God? If you don't, commit your life to Him today.
[by Bob Gass]

PAUL'S RULES FOR LIVING
(Rom. 12:9).
What kind of Christian are you? If you want to measure your spiritual growth, read these rules for living:
(Rom. 12:9-21). Maybe you should go back and read that again - and then talk to God about it.
[by Bob Gass]

WHAT KIND OF FRUIT ARE YOU BEARING TODAY?
(Rom. 12:10).
How good are you at letting others have the glory? Paul said...(Rom. 12:10). Next time somebody shares their accomplishments with you, notice your compulsive need to jump in and tell them something as good or better about yourself Every time you do that, you minimise their joy, create distance between you and them, and everybody loses. Bite your tongue! Instead, look at them and say, "That's wonderful - tell me more."

When you treat people this way, two great things happen:
a). The other person will enjoy your company because you are "there" for them (rather than sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for your turn to talk).
b). They won't feel like you're comparing or competing with them - just genuinely rejoicing in their blessings.

Something wonderful happens in a relationship when you no longer need to "grab the microphone," or hog all the attention and the glory. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

RELAX - ENJOY THE JOURNEY
(Phili. 4:6-7).
Richard Carlson says, 'We live our lives like our sole purpose is to somehow get everything done," (sound familiar)? We get up early, stay up late, avoid having fun, and keep our loved ones waiting. We convince ourselves that our "to do" list is only temporary and that once we get through it, we will have lots of time for our family and our dreams. The reality is, it never happens does it?

The nature of your "in-basket" is that it's meant to have items in it to be completed; it's not supposed to be empty! In fact, a full "in-basket" means your time is in demand. God wants you to be led - not driven; to have purpose; peace; and happiness, and to have time to enjoy the things that matter most. Stop and think about that!

In reality, almost everything can wait. Very little in our lives truly falls into the "emergency category". If you stay balanced, you will accomplish everything you need to. The purpose of the journey is not to "get it all done" before the clock runs out; it's to become all that God intends you to be. Remember, when you die there will still be things to do, and guess what? Somebody else will have to do it; so rejoice! Enjoy this day!
[by Bob Gass]

CLAIM WHAT'S YOURS!
(Num. 27:4).
Have you ever heard of the daughters of Zelophehad? Their society said women couldn't inherit wealth - only the men could. But they refused to accept it. They didn't wait for Moses, they went to him - and got results. Listen, (Num. 27:5-7). If you're a child of God, nobody but you can stop you from receiving your inheritance. Refuse to live in the prison of anybody else's ignorance or prejudice!

Because Rosa Parks refused to give her seat on the bus to a white man, injustice was challenged and segregation was defeated. When Caleb was 85, he claimed a mountain - and got it (Josh. 14:12-13). Who says you're too old to start again? (Psa. 92:14). Instead waiting for something to happen, rise up in God's strength and bring it to pass. If you have a goal, move toward it in faith and God will work with you.

Unless you take the initiative, and simply ask for what you need (Matt. 7:7) there are things that will never occur in your life. Too many of us think that God will do it all. No! If Hannah had not prayed for a child (faith) and then slept with Elkanah (works), there would never have been a Samuel (fruit) (I Sam. 1:20). Make your actions line up with your convictions or you'll live a fruitless life!
[by Bob Gass]

THE PARABLE OF THE BRICKLAYER
(Eccl. 4:10).
On his insurance form an injured brick layer wrote the following: "Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, which would have taken too long, I put them in a barrel and lowered them by a pulley, fastened to the top of the 10 storey building. I tied the rope securely at ground level, then went up to the 10th floor and swung the barrel of bricks out over the pavement. Then I ran down to the ground-floor, untied the rope, holding it securely, trying to guide the barrel down slowly. But since I weigh only 140 pounds, the 500-pound load jerked me from the ground so fast that I didn't have time to think of letting go of the rope. As I passed between the second and third floor, I met the barrel coming down. Hence the lacerations on my upper body. I held tightly to the rope until I reached the top, where my hand became jammed in the pulley. Hence my broken thumb. Suddenly, the barrel hit the pavement with a bang and the bottom fell out. With the weight of the bricks now gone, the barrel only weighed about 40 pounds; thus, my 140-pound body began a swift descent and I met the empty barrel coming up. Hence my broken ankle. Slowed only slightly, I continued my descent and landed on the pile of bricks. Hence my sprained back and broken collarbone. I then lost my presence of mind completely; let go of the rope, and the empty barrel came crashing down on me. Hence my head injuries.

The last question on the form 'What would I do if the same situation arose again?' Please be advised that I am finished trying to do the job all by myself."
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T HOLD A GRUDGE!
(Phili. 4:2).
You can't pray or worship God with bitterness in your heart. Even if the other person is wrong, let God use you as a paramedic of His mercy. Forgive them and tell them you want to see the relationship healed. It may take more than a U-turn to make up the distance between you, but one step in the right direction will make the gap shorter and, if you stay on course, you'll get to where you ought to be. Have you asked God to restore things? Well, this is part of it! Go ahead; your pride will rebel, your fear of rejection will try to stop you dead in your tracks, but do it anyway and see what happens.

Remember, forgiveness is not just for their benefit, it's for yours too. When you forgive, you position yourself beyond condemnation and doubt, then God can begin to bless you. Can you afford to live without His blessing? Euodia and Syntyche worked hand-in-hand with Paul to build the church, yet the only mention of them is that they held a grudge against each other. How sad! Jesus said that if you hold a grudge, you won't be forgiven. Can you afford to live without His forgiveness-? Listen...(Matt. 5:23-24). Now that you know what to do - do it!
[by Bob Gass]

OBSTACLES
(Heb. 12:1).
Here are some obstacles that can cost you the race.

1. An unteachable spirit. Solomon said...(Prov. 1:5). The future belongs to those who can lay aside things that have served their purpose and move on. If you're unhappy with yourself today, reach for new information and fresh truth. It's intolerance of your present that creates your future. Are you hungry to know more or are you satisfied and 'stuck'?

2. Unpaid vows. God is a God of integrity. He keeps His promises. And He expects you to do the same! Nothing will rob you of confidence before Him like broken promises. Listen...(Psa. 50:14-15). Take an inventory; what vows have you made to God - or others? Start fulfilling them and God will bless your life.

3. An unbridled tongue. Solomon said...(Prov. 18:1). What we hear, we think about and feel. What we feel, we respond to. What we respond to becomes a habit - and it's your habits that finally determine your destiny. Make a commitment today to speak life wherever you go. Dominate your turf with aggressive faith. Influence the conversation of those around you. Remember, every time you talk, you're programming yourself and others. Take some time to pray and deal with these obstacles in your life.
by Bob Gass]

THE 'WHAT IFS!'
(Psa. 55:22).
Either you carry the burden or you let the Lord carry it. The choice is yours! How does He sustain us? One day at a time. Remember the Israelites in the wilderness? God supernaturally fed them each day by sending manna from heaven. But like us, some of them wanted to make sure they had enough for tomorrow. Just in case God forgot or changed His mind! But God would allow them to collect only enough for each day. If they tried to collect more - the excess rotted (Exo. 16). Think about it; when you worry over the future, you're trying to store up manna for tomorrow and before you know it, you feel rotten - no pun intended! Your heavenly Father wants you to give tomorrow to Him because it's too big for you!

Are you being tormented by the 'What ifs'? What if the money doesn't come? What if I get hurt or seriously ill or lose my job? What if I'm lonely all my life? What if I'm not hearing from God and I make a big mistake? The Bible calls this "imaginations" (II Cor. 10:5). You are literally imagining the worst. Paul says to "cast it down," for if you don 't, you'll live in dread concerning things that haven't even happened and probably never will - unless you create them through fear (Job 3:25).

The Word for you today is - relax! What if you reason and reason and figure it all out - then God surprises you and does something different? All that time would be wasted! Haven't you already wasted enough time worrying? Here's an idea: what if you just relax and let God be God?
[by Bob Gass]

FIGHTING FAITH
(Num. 13:30).
My friend Ray just built a beautiful new church. You'd think the neighbours would be glad. No way! He ran into a brick wall of opposition. Note: Faith doesn't exempt you from attack, it just equips you to handle it. Every promised land has giants and strongholds. You can't compromise or coexist peacefully with them - you've got to kill them or they'll kill you!

The neighbours hired a legal Goliath before whom other lawyers trembled. After eighteen months of conflict and legal bills, Ray decided to fast and seek God. That's always a good move! How long will the enemy resist you? Until he knows you're not going to give up! Sometimes you have to "labour in prayer" to get results (Col. 4:12). God said to Ray, "They're hoping you'll think the battle is too expensive, get discouraged and quit. Tell them you won't!" When he told them, Goliath fell and his enemies scattered. What you say is so important. Never speak words that encourage the enemy - or he'll just keep up the attack.

Joshua's twelve spies all faced the same giants - but two saw them differently. One was Caleb. Listen...(Num. 13:30). Note what God said next...(Num. 14:24). God checks your spirit, not your resume! He has scheduled a date for your breakthrough, so don't 'throw in the towel' before it arrives. Ten thousand cars a day now drive by Ray's new church and it's a monument to fighting faith! Ask God to give you some today.
[by Bob Gass]

THE GRAPES OF BLESSING
(Deut. 32:14).
While ten of Joshua's spies were paralysed by the giants of fear, two were focused on the grapes of blessing. Only those two ever tasted them. If you want to taste them, consider this:

1. The grapes are for the hungry, not for the 'holy'. Sometimes we don't feel good enough to come to God. Listen...(Matt. 9:12). A woman with five failed marriages and a crooked businessman were both transformed by Jesus because they were hungry. Yet, the most religious people in town missed it all. You may have made a lot of mistakes, but you don't drown by falling into the water, you drown by staying there. Reach for Him today, for He's within touching distance.

2. The grapes are placed within your reach, not within your mouth. You won't just wake up 'successful' one morning. But you say, "If God wanted me healthy, I'd be healthy. If He wanted me prosperous, I'd be rich. He's in control." In control of what? He controls the laws of the universe, He doesn't control your decisions and that's what creates your circumstances. Stop blaming God. Pay the price for success! Use the mind He gave you to create better circumstances. Develop your God-given abilities. Obey His Word. It's only when your gifts are being used that you'll know and feel the value that God sees in you. There's no feeling like it! The grapes exist - but you must reach for them.
[by Bob Gass]

KNOWING WHAT YOU'VE GOT
(Phili. 4:13).
When Paul said, "I can do all things" - that was self-confidence. When he added, "through Christ which strengtheneth me" - that was God-confidence. Those two elements give you your secret edge in life! Take a moment and read Psa. 1:3, and then personalize it like this: "I shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; my leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever I do shall prosper" (Psa. 1:3). Go ahead; write it down, say it, believe it, then go out and live like it!

If you want to release the power of God that's already within you, take these 7 steps today:
1. Realise that material things must never be your first pursuit. (Matt. 6:33).
2. Realise that God cannot move where there is no faith (Heb. 11:6).
3. Understand that God will always use something that you already have.
4. Look within yourself, acknowledge what He's given you and make it available to Him.
5. Remember, He doesn't rain down money from heaven. He gives thoughts and creativity - what you do with them, is your gift back to Him (Deut. 8:18).
6. It's not enough to acknowledge your gifts; you must act on them to reach your goals.
7. Give God the Glory! When others praise you, take all the praise and pass it on to Him. Now that you know the steps - start walking!
[by Bob Gass]

CAITLIN
(Isa. 8:18).
My daughter just called today to tell me that I'm going to have my first granddaughter, Caitlin! Now I've got Alex, Austin and Caitlin, I never knew life could be this much fun. I pray for them daily, because the potential of a child is awesome. Sleeping in a crib down the hall may be a prime minister, a neurosurgeon or a missionary who'll proclaim Christ in a distant nation.

After years of missionary service in Africa, Robert Mofatt returned to Scotland to recruit workers. One winter night only a few women showed up. Mofatt was unhappy, because he'd geared his message to men, "Unto you, 0 men, I call" (Prov. 8:4). But unseen by him was a little boy who was there to pump the organ bellows. As he listened, he was deeply moved and that night he promised God he would follow in the great missionary's footsteps.

Years later that little fellow went to Africa and became the world's most famous missionary pioneer-David Livingstone.

Great oak trees grow from little acorns! Edison's teachers said he was too stupid to learn. Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, was told by an editor that she was incapable of writing. What did Edison and Alcott have in common? Parents who mirrored a positive image and moulded them into believing that they could do anything God put in their heart to do. Ask God to help you be that kind of parent for your children!
[by Bob Gass]

YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT SPOT?
(Psa. 129:2).
The Hebrew word for afflict means 'to cramp.' If you've ever been in cramped quarters with no room to manoeuvre and no way to be comfortable, then you'll know exactly what David is talking about. My friend Sarah Utterbach says, "From my early days, forces have come against me to try and prevent me from fulfilling God's plan for my life. Now, I may not be able to stop them from attacking, but because of a totally sold-out (or bought-in) commitment to God, they're powerless either to overcome me or afflict me beyond what I can endure" (I Cor. 10:13).

David said...(Psa. 46:1). The New American Standard Bible says in the marginal reference, God is "...abundantly available for help in tight places." Read that again! God is available when you're in a tight spot! When David's back was against the wall and he could see no way out, God said to him...(Psa. 46:10). Relax! God is at work in your life today completing what He's begun. Listen...(Eph. 1:11). God's already determined the outcome! As Sarah says, "Tell the enemy to take his best shot, for you're an overcomer and his mission will never be accomplished in your life." Go ahead, do it!
[by Bob Gass]

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU
(Psa. 138:8).
You wouldn't be so critical of yourself or so conscious of the opinions of others if you really knew how God feels about you! Read Psa. 139. He made up His mind about you before you ever sinned, so repent and then dismiss the guilt - for guilt is the offspring of unbelief and it insults God's mercy. Stop running from place to place, looking for love. Open your heart; God's speaking to you in the very circumstances you're trying to escape.

He's the One you need when life has wounded you and you've fallen. Only His hand can catch your failing soul and give you strength to fly again (Isa. 57:18).

The problem is we've never been loved by anyone the way God loves us, so we've nothing to compare it with. Some of us have never been secure in the love of our natural parents and it affects how we see our heavenly Father. Read God's Word until you believe it! It's a living love-letter to you. It's a statement of intent from a God who wants nothing but the best for you. You say, "I fall so far short." But nothing you've done has changed His mind about you. His love remains - it's unconditional.

No good parent would want their child to be insecure or question their love. That's why God disciplines us, delivers us and delights in us! The fact that He loves you even when you are wrong is what gives you the power to right the wrongs you've done. Why don't you come to Him today and experience His love afresh?
[by Bob Gass]

HE WILL FORGIVE YOU
(I John 1:9).
Your sin doesn't just break God's Law, it breaks His heart! He has a reason for asking you to give up things that compromise your character and your commitment to Him. He isn't saying "No" because He's hard-hearted; He's saying it because He wants something better for you (Psa. 84:11). If God's trying to wrench some little sin out of your hand today, it's because He knows it'll eventually destroy your self-esteem, your family and your destiny. What a price! Achan stole (Josh. 7:22-26), Ananias and his wife lied (Acts 5:1-11), and Ahab killed (I Kings 21), to get what they wanted. But their misguided desires finally cost them their lives. God's not being demanding, He's just being protective.

It's hard to confront your own weakness. I know; many times I've had to crawl up on His lap, weeping, repenting and asking Him to help me with myself. How about you? We have to be weaned from Satan's toys if we're going to be used by the Lord.

But what a blessing it is when the enemy's defeated and you can look beyond the test and see the triumph and the purpose. Whether it's an extramarital affair or just the temptation to be critical of others - every time you pass the test, God always rewards you with the best. So, get into His presence today; cry if you must, but talk to Him. Let Him cleanse you of your sin and purge you of your pride (I John 1:9).
[by Bob Gass]

WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE
(Eccl. 3:1).
Change will either bless you or run over you like a steamroller, but either way it's going to be part of your life. When you can accept that, you're unsinkable. Parents, love your children enough to let them go. Don't be afraid that you won't be valued when you're no longer needed in the same way. You'll always be needed; it's just that the areas of need will change. The days of the cocoon may have ended, but with every flap of their wings, our children pay tribute to those who nurtured them and gave them the grace to fly. Hats off to the past, coats off to the future!

Solomon says, there's a...(Eccl. 3:1). Find God's purpose for the season you're in, rediscover your assets and get moving. You haven't been laid off, you've just been promoted. Get up rejoicing, for this is a day that somebody else missed. While you were sleeping, they gasped a final sigh and slipped into eternity. But you are still here! Enjoy it, for there'll never be another moment like this one.

No two days are the same. Each one is an expression of a multifaceted God, too big to be defined in just one circumstance. Every day you'll see a new aspect of His wisdom and His grace (Eph. 3:10). Should you find yourself stuck at any point, just look up and pray, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." Now go out and have a wonderful day!
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T BE LED BY YOUR HEAD
(I Cor. 2:14).
In her great book, 'Why, God, Why?' Joyce Meyer says she was praying for greater discernment when God told her, "You'll never have real discernment until you lay aside reasoning." Reasoning is a product of your head and it opens the door to fear. Discernment is a product of your spirit and it opens the door to faith. Your head doesn't understand spiritual things! So if your spirit brings forth discernment but your head starts arguing about it, you'll never make progress. Why? Because "...the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit" (I Cor. 2:14).

Your spirit knows things your head doesn't know! Some of the things you've dismissed as a hunch or intuition were actually God's Spirit trying to convey the right information to you. But you kept rejecting it because you were operating in your head.

It takes faith to operate in this realm. Faith made Peter leave the security of the boat and risk walking on the water (Matt. 14). Faith made Abraham leave the security of his father's house and go out "not knowing whither he went" (Heb. 11:8). God doesn't argue with us. He leads us by a desire, an impression, "a still small voice" (I Kings 19:12) or a scripture that's illuminated to us. But when He gives you a word of discernment, it's like stepping out of the boat with Peter or walking into the unknown with Abraham. The question is - how far do you want to go with God?
[by Bob Gass]

A CALL TO HURTING PEOPLE
(Jer. 31:13).
There is a call in the Spirit today for those who are hurting. It doesn't matter who's rejected you, God says, "I want you. I've seen you bent over, unable to lift yourself up. I've seen you at your worst and I still want you. Allow My powerful love to touch the hurting places. I know the person you could have and would have been. Reach for Me now, let Me heal you and restore you. Forget how many times you've failed. Put aside those who've mistreated you. You can't change where you've been, but by My grace you can change where you're going."

Listen...(Luke 8:42-44). Don't allow anybody to keep you from getting to Jesus! Reach out and touch Him; allow the pain that's tormenting you to drive you into His arms. He's like no friend or counsellor you've ever known. He'll settle the old issues and set you free from your pain.

Forgetting isn't a memory lapse, it's memory release! Like carbon dioxide that the body can no longer use, exhale the past and let it go out of your spirit! Listen...(Isa. 51:11). That's God's promise to you! Instead of being overwhelmed by your circumstances, God will bring you to the place where you're overwhelmed by His joy instead! Spend some time with Him today.
[by Bob Gass]

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU
(Psa. 32:10).
If you need motivation, courage or comfort today, allow these words to fill your heart, "And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits - expectantly, looking and longing - to be gracious to you ... and show loving kindness to you; for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed [happy, fortunate, to be envied] are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy and His matchless, unbroken companionship]" (Isa. 30:18). What a promise! God actually looks for opportunities to be good to you." 'For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you" (Isa. 54:10).

Listen, "Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? ... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't. (Rom. 8:35-39). Let God's love heal and restore you today, then rest assured that everything is going to be all right!
[by Bob Gass]

HABITS
(I Pet. 2:9).
Decide what God has called you to be, then ruthlessly eliminate any habit from your life that keeps you from it. Don't just remove bad habits; replace them with good ones. The first habit you need to deal with is procrastination. Aren't you tired of just talking about building a better relationship with your children? Getting involved in a ministry? Investing for the future? Going on a diet? Exercising? Giving up smoking? Using your gift? When my sister Ruth decided to go back to college, she said to me, "But I'll be 47 by the time I graduate." I replied, "And what age will you be then if you don't?" Do what's in your heart while you still have the opportunity.

Get serious about your habits! You can't correct what you won't confront. Stop justifying yourself. By God's help, you can change. Jesus said...(Luke 10:19). Listen...(Lam. 3:22-23). That means you can start your life over again any day you choose.

Great habits are the result of great purpose. Examine the habits of Bible champions. Daniel prayed three times daily (Dan. 6:10). David said...(Psa. 5:3). Jesus went to church regularly (Luke 4:16). If you want to know what your life will be like 25 years from now, write down your seven strongest habits. Multiply them by 365 days, then by 25 years - that's what your life will be like. Please do something about this!
[by Bob Gass]

GET RID OF YOUR IDOLS
(Eze. 36:25).
Whatever takes God's place in your life is an idol to you - and it's got to go! There's no negotiating on this point. That includes your generational idols. When Gideon tore down the altar his father had built to heathen gods, the men of the city wanted to kill him (Judg. 6:30). Why? "Because that's the way things have always been in our family." Sound familiar? If your family system excludes God, it's got to be changed, because it's an idol. When you don't acknowledge God, you play God!

The rich young ruler wasn't lost because he had money - he was lost because money had him (Luke 18:22-25). It gave him his security and his self-worth. Nobody but God should give you those things! And how about your relationships? God says...(II Cor. 6:14). You can't put an ox and an ass in the same yoke and get anything done. Their natures are too different! When God tells you to let someone go and you hold on to him or her - that's idolatry God is saying to you today, "I want to cleanse you from all your idols!" The weaning process is painful, because we all want what we want, when we want it. It takes real trust to know that you can give up what you have and get back something better! Whether it's a job, a relationship, a ministry or a poor career choice, your Father wants to wean you from the lesser in order to give you the greater. His plans are so much better than yours that whatever it costs - it's worth the pain to make the switch. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

CLICK YOUR HEELS
(Matt. 9:29).
God's too wise to let your deliverance be dependent on somebody else's actions. Jesus said...(Matt. 9:29). Do you remember 'The Wizard of Oz'? Dorothy is running up the Yellow Brick Road looking for someone to help her get home. She's shattered to find that the Wizard isn't who she thought he was. But she finally realises that she doesn't need anyone else; all she has to do is click her heels and she can go home any time she wants to.

Like Dorothy, you've had the power all the time, even if you didn't know it. It's the knowledge of your liberty that the enemy wants to steal. He can't take away your power to be free, so he tries to steal the knowledge of your freedom. He laughs when he sees you trapped behind an open door, crying and frustrated. The fact is that 2,000 years ago Jesus unlocked your door; now you can walk through it any moment you decide to.

No wonder the Bible says...(Rom. 10:15). Preaching doesn't set you free, it just announces that you're already free. It's a declaration of independence. It's God's Word showing you step by step how to click your heels and get away from the enemy. You have the power to overcome your past and get on with your life. Just when the enemy thinks he has you - click - and you're gone! Jesus said...(John 8:36). Click your heels, claim this promise today and get going!
[by Bob Gass]

DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?
(Phili. 4:19).
It takes maturity to understand that if God doesn't supply it - you don't need it. If it were a need, He'd give it to you (Psa. 84:11). You don't have to beg or plead, manipulate or pout. If God has promised it, His word is sure. When you're operating in faith and there's still a discrepancy between what you think you need and what's being supplied, remember that God knows best; trust Him!

Listen...(III John 2). If your soul is not prospering, that should be your primary concern, for every other supply is regulated by that. That's why you must maintain a heart for God and a sound mind.

What would it profit you anyway if you gained the whole world, and lost your soul? (Mark 8:36). Don't lose out or stress out over things. Put the Kingdom of God first, and all these things, whatever they are, will be yours anyway (Matt. 6:33). When you're in right-standing with God, He'll supply every need you've got. It may not come when you want it, but it will when you need it most.

How are things at the moment between you and your heavenly Father? Are you close? Do you have confidence to come and ask for what you need? If not, do something about it today.
[by Bob Gass]

SUCCESS LAWS
(Neh. 2:20).
Nehemiah discovered that if you have the right attitude, the right actions and the right associations, you can overcome anything. Here are four laws of success you need to put into practice today.

1. Create a climate of confidence! Speak about the success you expect, not the failures you've experienced, unless they made you stronger. Listen to Nehemiah...(Neh. 2:20). Talk as if God is your partner for He is!

2. Help others to be successful! God will always bless you if your goal is to bless other people. When Job forgot his own troubles and prayed for others, God healed him, restored his joy and gave him back twice as much (Job 42:10). Paul puts it clearly...(Eph. 6:8).

3. Expect opposition! Recognise that adversity has its advantages:
(a) it reveals the depths of your friendships;
(b) it forces you to dig for more accurate information;
(c) it helps you to decide what you really value. In other words, adversity is the breeding ground for success.

4. Protect your relationship with God. Recognise that God is always a plus factor. He is never a disadvantage to you, but always an asset! When you commit your life to Him, your superiority over every circumstance is established, because you're now His child. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

REJOICE IN WHO YOU ARE
(Eph. 2:10).
Avoid relationships with people who don't value themselves, for usually they won't value you either. Look for those who enhance you, not inhibit you; those who fertilise your mind and put wind beneath your wings. When you're with these people, you'll see your best qualities through their eyes and you'll grow from the wisdom that falls from their lips.

When you encounter someone who tries to tell you that you've nothing to offer, be sure to laugh. it's impolite to hear a joke and not laugh. When God made you, He said, "It was very good" (Gen. 1:31). You're full of such potential that the word 'possibility' is written all over you. By God's grace you can be anything He desires you to be (Jer. 29:11).

If you're regretting your past, remember that God's looking at your future. His love for you isn't based on your performance or your virtues. Listen...(Rom. 5:8). He's, a God of second chances and new horizons. Listen to Paul...(Phili. 1:6). Rejoice! He's brought you this far and He'll take you the rest of the way. That's a promise!
[by Bob Gass]

THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING
(Rom. 12:10).
Did you hear about the 89-year-old woman with hearing problems? Her doctor said, "We have a procedure that can correct your hearing. When would you like me to schedule it?" She said, "Forget it, I'm 89 and I've already heard enough." You may smile, but most of us need our hearing corrected. The biggest single problem in marriage today is communication. Not just talking - but listening! A funny thing happens when you don't listen to people - they look for someone who will! Here are three helpful hints for you today:

1. Don't over-value talking. If you ask six people how to improve your communication skills, most would say, "Become a better talker." Wrong! Paul Tillich says, "The first duty of love is to listen."

2. Learn to focus! This is very hard for high-energy, give-me-the-bottom-line-types. We can speak 180 words a minute, but we hear up to 500 words a minute. So we tend to daydream in the communication gap and miss some very important stuff. Learn to focus on the person you're with. Listen as you want to be listened to.

3. Don't be so preoccupied with yourself. Edgar Watson Howell once remarked, "No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know that it was his turn next." The real problem is selfishness. That's why Paul said...(Rom. 12:10). Put these principles into practice and every relationship in your life will improve. Try it!
[by Bob Gass]

UNDERSTANDING OTHERS
(I Cor. 13:4).
Most of our conflicts are not caused by differences of opinion but by lack of understanding. If we could reduce our misunderstandings, we could empty the courts, reduce crime, lower the divorce rate and our stress levels. So why aren't we more understanding? Here are a few reasons:

1. Fear. William Penn said, "Never despise what you don't understand." Yet when we don't understand something, we react fearfully. Either we open our minds to a new idea and grow or reject it and stay the same size. The trouble is we compare what we don't understand with what we think we do - like the brilliant folk who told Columbus that the earth was flat. Harry Truman said, "When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint and what he's trying to do, 9 times out of 10 he's just trying to do right." Think about that!

2. Self-centredness. Somebody remarked that there are two sides to every story as long as it doesn't concern us personally. It's human to think of our own interests first. Want an example? Play with a 2-year-old! They choose the best toys for themselves and insist on having their own way. When they grow up, their toys just cost more.

3. Failure to appreciate differences. It takes more than one colour to make a rainbow and more than one player to make a team. Learn to appreciate different people and you'll discover that we all share the same hopes and fears, joys and sorrows. Don't be like the teenager who said to her dad, "It's easy for you, dad; you've already had all your problems." You may smile, but the truth is that God measures us all by this one standard, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind." Ask God today to make you more understanding!
[by Bob Gass]

USERS, AVOIDERS, LOVERS
(Luke 10:37).
In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) we meet users, avoiders, and lovers. Today try to figure out which one you are.

First, the robbers: they saw the man as a victim to be exploited. They were users. Next, the priest and the Levite: they just walked by because they saw him as a problem. They were avoiders. Finally, the Good Samaritan: he reached out to this wounded man as he knew what it was like to be wounded because of his race or avoided because of a particular problem. Not only had he experienced the cure, but he understood that you can keep it only by giving it away. He was a lover. We read...(Luke 10:33-34). So what are you - a user, an avoider, or a lover?

To answer that question, you have to know two things:
(a) Everybody wants to be somebody! Even the least ambitious and the most unassuming amongst us long to be loved and highly regarded.
(b) Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care! You can't lead anybody unless you first love them. So what are you: a user, an avoider or a lover?
[by Bob Gass]

THE 'IF ONLYS'
(Phili. 3:13).
The folks in Alcoholics Anonymous have a great saying, "We have given up all hope for a better yesterday." There are only three things you can do with the past -
a) Obsess over it,
b) Allow it to rob you of the future; (The answer to old relationships is new ones. The answer to old pain is new purpose. The answer to old resentments is a new commitment to walk in love) or
c) Forgive it; wipe the state clean and move on!

Do you find yourself reliving past mistakes? Do you ever think, if only I hadn't said or done that; if only I had done such and such. Then you say, "Why did things turn out the way they did? I just don't understand. I have to figure this out. I just can't stand not to know. Oh, I'm so confused!" Does your thinking go like that? If it does, then may I be blunt? You're tormenting yourself! I spent years doing it. It does not work! I was making myself miserable. I was wasting all my todays trying to understand my yesterdays. But thank God, He finally got the message through to me that I needed to let go of what was behind and press on to what was ahead (Phili. 3:13-14).

Sometimes you can even live in yesterday's victories, trying to figure out what you did so you can do it again. Even that can keep you from going forward. Whether it's past victories or past defeats, the past is the past. It is gone - live in today! After each event, let the curtain drop at your heels, then go on to what God has for you next!
[by Bob Gass]

GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOU
(Rom. 8:28).
Do you have any idea how forceful you could be if only you were totally committed? The difference between the masterful and the mediocre is a focused effort. At fifty-six, I am convinced that my best work is still ahead of me. Furthermore, I'm committed to being all that I was predestined by God to be. How about you? When are you going up your sleeves and go to work?

There's a difference between talent and purpose. Listen...(Rom. 8:28). Did you hear that? You're called according to His purpose - not your talent!

If you're just talented, but not called, you'll be comfortable anywhere, for talent, like justice, is blind; it sees all opportunities as the same. But if you're conscious of your God-given purpose, then there are some things you won't do because they'd defeat God's purpose for your life. Being "called according to His purpose" enables you to focus on the development of your talent only as it relates to His purpose! Think about that!

Instead of asking God to bless what you are doing today, ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life. When you fulfill that, you're blessed because God's plan is already blessed! Have you discovered His purpose for you yet? If not, get into His presence and stay there until reveals it to you.
[by Bob Gass]

WHAT SHAPE ARE YOU IN?
(I Cor. 9:26-27).
Sixty per cent of America is overweight - including me. Twenty-three per cent are clinically obese - more than 50 pounds overweight. Furthermore, McDonalds just announced their 'Big Big Mac.' It has four beef patties! And the 'Super Fries' you will need a pick-up truck just to get them home! America is now the most out-of-shape nation in history. Recently, I myself moved from a 34 inch to a 36 inch waist and 38 is just round the corner.

The church I grew up in gave high marks to those who could 'clean their plate' two or three times and waddle away from the table. Gluttony was the only sin we didn't preach against. I wonder why? Look out! Prosperity without discipline can shorten your life!

I've given up toast, cheese and tea at bedtime. Debby has bought me a treadmill and I do 30 minutes of brisk walking each morning while listening to a tape; that way I don't get bored. Please live long enough to complete your assignment!

Change your eating habits before they change you. It's called the law of eventuality. What you sow in unhealthy habits you'll reap in sickness or premature death. A little boy riding in the car with his father asked this searching question, "Dad, where will we be when we get to where we're going?" If you keep going the way you are, where will you be?
[by Bob Gass]

GOD'S INVESTMENT IN YOU
(Eph. 1:18).
We need to be reminded constantly how much God has invested in us. No one but Him would have paid such a price. Therefore He has the right to expect a return on His investment. Paul says...(II Cor. 4:7). If there's anything excellent in you today, it was put there by God, to be presented back to Him - with interest. God has more than just a concern for you; He has a vested interest and He'll fight to protect it. That explains why you stayed afloat while others capsized and sank in the same storm.

Jesus said...(John 12:24). The outer casing has to die before the seed on the inside can spring to life and bear fruit. Are you getting the idea? You've got to die to self before you can come alive in Him! Thank God for His benefits and blessings, but what kind of return is He getting from His investment in you?

T.D. Jakes says, "We are fertile ground broken by troubles, enriched by failures and watered with tears. Yet there is a deposit within us that is valuable enough to place us on Satan's hit-list." There it is. The warfare over your life today is because of the deposit God has placed within you. It's time to get serious and commit your life completely to Him, for He will accept nothing less.
[by Bob Gass]

GO ALL THE WAY!
(Rev. 1:17).
While John was a prisoner on Patmos, far from his loved ones, surrounded by the cries of abused captives, he had a vision of Jesus. Imagine that! A revelation in the midst of chaos and pain! So often that's the way it works. The circumstances you're going through now can actually clear your perceptions and cause you to seek His face and find real answers. John's predicament proves that negative circumstances don't hide the Lord - they reveal Him, if you're in the right place.

Satan's attack will take you only to a new level. When he turns up the heat, it just stretches your faith. Now you can do him even more damage! Remember, Heb. 11 speaks about two things: the deeds of faith and the perseverance of faith.

There's a place in God where the fire consumes everything except the desire to know Him. That place may escape your grasp, but never let it escape your view! It was Paul's all-consuming goal...(Phili. 3:8-10). There it is: no reservations and no regrets; just a passion to know Him better and to go all the way with Him.
[by Bob Gass]

THINKING OF MARTHA
(Prov. 22:6).
I always give God ten per cent of my income, because my mother, Martha, practiced tithing even though her widow's pension was only $6 a week (Mal. 3:8-10). She believed that what you give to God may leave your hand, but it never leaves your life. The seed you sowed yesterday becomes the harvest you'll need tomorrow. She also honoured the ministry and sometimes kept missionaries in our home. More than once she gave her last penny to the hurting, even though we ourselves had needs just as great.

Today, both her sons are ministers and both work in Romania and Moldova's worst orphanages caring for thousands of hurting children. A coincidence? No way! Abraham Lincoln said, "There's only one way to bring up a child in the way that he should go and that's to travel that way yourself."

If your words say one thing and your actions another, your children will ultimately follow your actions.

Listen, "If your child lives with criticism, he'll learn to condemn. If he lives with hostility, he'll learn to be violent. If he lives with ridicule, he'll learn to be shy. If he lives with shame, he'll learn to feel guilty. But if he lives with encouragement, he'll learn confidence. If he lives with praise, he'll learn to appreciate others. If he lives with security, he'll learn to have faith. And if he lives with acceptance, he'll learn to love the world." Parent, for your children's sake, ask God today to make you all that you should be.
[by Bob Gass]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
(Col. 3:1).
Today, I was reading Col. 3 in The Message. My favourite modern translation. Listen to these instructions for life: "Your old life is dead, ...that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God... It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all done for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk."

"... You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it..."

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offence. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it" (Col. 3:3-14). Ask God to make it a reality in your life!
[by Bob Gass]

SCHOOL'S OUT!
(Col. 2:7).
Read these words from The Message and meditate on them: "Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other... None of this going off and doing your own thing...
Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honour the Master. Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them.
Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.
Parents, don't come down too hard on your children, or you'll crush their spirits.
Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance...
And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master - God in heaven.

Pray diligently. Stay alert... Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is bring out the best in others" (Col. 3:15-25; Col. 4:1-6). The word for you today is: School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it!"
[by Bob Gass]

HOW CAN WE LOSE?
(Rom. 8:37).
Some days we struggle, other days we soar, but there's not a day when we're not held securely in His everlasting arms. Read these wonderful words, because they're just for you, "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?

Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us - Who was raised to life for us - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not back-stabbing, not even the worst sins listed in scripture... None of this fazes us because Jesus us. (Rom. 8:31-39). Read these words again and allow them to strengthen you for whatever you're facing today.
[by Bob Gass]

GET BACK TO PRAYER!
(Matt. 26:41).
You'll learn more in an hour with God than you'll learn in a lifetime with anybody else. The enemy knows what your God-given potential is and he's out to stop you before you get there. Prayer puts a shield of divine protection over you! Don't live without it!

There are hands holding this book today that won't be here next year unless someone prays for them. There are people reading this page who thought that they of all people would never cheat on their taxes or their partner, but they did. Unless you acknowledge the propensity for sin that's within you, you won't pray against it and you'll always be vulnerable to the enemy's attack. Jesus said...(Matt. 26:41). Could language be clearer?

The most lethal weapon the enemy has against you is - you! That's right. Your old carnal sin nature must be taken daily to the cross and crucified. The place of prayer is where you do that. In God's presence you see yourself as He sees you. There, at the point of repentance, He reveals, He removes and He restores. When your prayer life goes, so does your protection. So get busy and do something about it!
[by Bob Gass]

FORGIVENESS
(Psa. 51:7-8).
Certain people may not want to give you a chance to change, but God's not one of them! Every morning when you open your eyes and fill your lungs with air, He gives you a fresh start. If you believe in His sovereignty as I do, then you know that He can make even a bad decision turn out good (Rom. 8:28).

But God's way is to tell it like it is! He doesn't put a bandage on an infected wound; the Great Physician insists that it must be lanced, drained, cleansed and given time to heal.

King David committed adultery, then had Bathsheba's husband killed to cover it up. What a mess! A child died, scandal rocked the throne, civil war broke out. Worst of all, he permitted "the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (II Sam. 12:14). Finally, he got honest and turned to God. (Psa. 32:5-6).

I challenge you today to kneel down and confess your sins! Don't ask God to fix others. Ask Him to fix you! It takes great courage to do that; but when you do, He'll repair the broken places. All He requires is that you reveal them to Him.

Real deliverance takes place when you let God take control of the thing that has had control of you. Even if others don't want to touch you, just lift your heart to Him today and He'll pick you up, cleanse you and restore you. Come to Him now.
[by Bob Gass]

FEEL THE FEAR - AND DO IT ANYWAY!
(Deut. 31:8).
The Greek word for fear means "to flee from danger." Think about that! When God says, "Fear not," He's saying, "You can shake and you can sweat, but you can't run!"

Elizabeth Elliott, wife of one of the five missionaries murdered in Ecuador years ago, says she was constantly controlled by fear. Every time she tried to step out to do something for God, fear stopped her. Sound familiar? Then one day a friend told her something that changed her life. She said, "Feel the fear - and do it anyway!" Those words set her free and they'll set you free too.

God doesn't say, "Don't feel afraid." No, He says, "Don't give in to it!" Any time you do something you've never done before, fear will rush in - that's normal. When it does, don't think you're unspiritual or weak. God said to Moses, "Fear not" because there was something to fear: Pharaoh and the Red Sea! But what was God's answer? Listen...(Exo. 14:13).

It's right to see the obstacles and feel the fear so long as you hear God saying, "I will be with you" (Josh. 1:5). What has God put in your heart to do? If you're tired of holding back, then dig in your heels, set your face like a flint (Isa. 50:7). Feel the fear and do it anyway and you'll have victory! Why? Because God is with you. What more do you need?
[by Bob Gass]

TRY TO BE MORE UNDERSTANDING
(I Cor. 13:4).
The ability to understand others is a choice and you have to make that choice every day. Here are a few tips to help you: First, try to see it their way! Author Mark McCormick tells of standing in a ticket queue where two children were fighting over an ice-cream cone. In front of them was a woman in an expensive mink coat; this was an accident just waiting to happen. As he wondered whether he should interfere, suddenly one child said, "If you don't stop, Charlie, you'll get hairs from that lady's coat on your ice-cream cone." When you're self-centred, your ice-cream cone will always be more important than somebody else's fur coat. But you can change. As sure as gravity is defeated every time a jet plane leaves the ground, so selfishness is defeated every time you decide to care for others at the expense of yourself (Rom. 8:2).

Second, have a positive attitude toward people. Paul says, "Love... always looks for the best" (I Cor. 13:7). You'll generally see what you're looking for, whether it's the best or the worst. Listen to this: "When the other fellow takes a long time, he's slow; when I do, I'm thorough. When he does something without being told, he's overstepping; when I do, it's initiative. When he overlooks the rules, he's rude; when I do, I'm just original. When he pleases his boss, he's 'an apple polisher;' when I do, I'm just being cooperative. When he gets ahead, he's lucky; when I do, it's well-earned!" Today, think of everybody you meet as the most important person in the world, because in God's eyes - they are!
[by Bob Gass]

FREE FROM THE PAST
(Job 11:16).
If you believe that your past disqualifies you from moving forward, you don't understand God's grace. God always has more for you today than you lost yesterday! But you say, "I've had a child out of wedlock; I've been divorced; I've been in prison; I've lost so much." God's not moved by our holiness, He's touched by "the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. 4:15). Can somebody with a past touch God in the present and their future be forever changed? Yes! Yes! Yes! The hymn writer wrote, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains." The record is expunged - eliminated. Hallelujah!

Listen...(Job 11:13-19).

Go ahead! Step into the river of God's mercy and let it flow over you, setting you free. Whether it's the guilt of something you've done or the pain of something that was done to you, let it go - let it rush on by! Today let God set you free from the past!
[by Bob Gass]

HANDLING FRUSTRATION
(Rom. 7:22-23).
Until we can be as open with our failures as we are with our successes, we'll keep doing two things:
1) Creating an environment of dishonesty and
2) presenting a false image that causes others to struggle needlessly.

I was 13 when I preached my first sermon. In those days, I wrestled with my sexual development, pleading with God to eradicate all my desires. I thought I wasn't supposed to have such struggles. When I discussed it with an older Christian, he looked uncomfortable and said, "Just pray about it!"

Paul said there's a war going on in our minds constantly. Today we have leaders dying in isolation because they feel obliged to maintain a spurious standard of perfection in order to get acceptance. Will somebody please blow the whistle and tell us the score?

T.D. Jakes says, "The best of us camouflage the very worst that's in us