ARE YOU COMPASSIONATE?
(Col. 3:12).
Every time you see people with unnatural fear in their eyes, low self-esteem, or an apologetic posture, they're silently crying, "Carest Thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38). We can build churches on every corner and decorate them with the finest tapestry and artifacts, but if people can't find compassion among us, they'll pass through unchanged by our programmes, our politics and our pronouncements.

Do you have a compassionate attitude? Or are you like the pastor who returned from a preaching trip and one of his members met him at the railway station. The man said, "Pastor, a tornado wiped out our home." The pastor said, "I'm not surprised, given the way you've been living!" The man continued, "It also destroyed your house too, pastor." Stunned into silence the good reverend finally said, "Ah, the ways of the Lord are past human understanding!"

Don't wait until calamity touches you before you have compassion for others. Reach out with a strong hand and a soft heart and touch them with the love of God. Listen carefully to these words...(Col. 3:12-14).
[by Bob Gass]

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR PLACE
(Matt. 14:14).
Voltaire tells of a king whose favourite horse was lost, so he offered a great reward. Many wise men tried and failed, but a simpleton in his court found it and brought it back. "How did you do it?" asked the king. The man simply replied, "I thought, if I were a horse, where would I go? Putting myself in his place, I soon found him!"

Compassion is simply putting yourself in somebody else's place. It's asking God to help you discern what's really going on with them; hearing what they're not saying, as well as what they are; understanding that their anger is only masking their fear and they're crying out for help in the only way they know.

Before Peter denied the Lord, Jesus said to him...(Luke 22:32). When grace touches your life, you'll always reach back for others. Quit acting as if you made it on your own. It's only God's grace that brought you though.
Right?
Go ahead and reach out to others in love. If they reject you, they'll only push you closer to the crucified life. But if they accept you, tell them, "Whatever you need, God has it. In spite of your circumstances - it can be done!" The heart of the Gospel is that Jesus loved us enough to come to where we were, so that we would love others enough to go where they are.
[by Bob Gass]

HE'S WORTHY OF YOUR TRUST
(Isa. 50:10)
Trusting God with our successes is the easy part. The real test is trusting Him with our secrets, our failures and our fears. Intimacy must be based on honesty. Jesus told the fallen woman at the well...(John 4:23).

Don't be afraid; your honesty doesn't reveal a thing to Him that He doesn't already know. Listen...(Psa. 94:11). Once you understand that, all your attempts at secrecy are as ridiculous as Adam trying to hide from God behind a tree. God loves you just as you are - please let that sink in! The reason you can't comprehend that love is because you have nothing to compare it with.

God's standards never change, but neither does His compassion. He understands the things you can't even express. When you come to Him, He wipes your slate clean and begins to renew your mind day by day (II Cor. 4:16; Rom. 12:2).

Do you have flashbacks? Don't worry - the blood of Jesus can reach backward to your past, but still cover your ongoing struggles. The songwriter said, "What a fellowship, what a joy divine; leaning on the everlasting arms. What a blessedness, what a peace is mine; leaning on the everlasting arms." Turn your life over to Jesus today because He's worthy of your trust!
[by Bob Gass]

NEEDED - MOTHERS WHO ARE 'STRANGE'
(II Tim. 1:5).
The neighbours thought my mother was 'strange.' In reality, she just had a different focus. Growing up, I heard many sermons on prayer, but none of them convinced me like the answers she got to hers. Total strangers "angels unawares" (Heb. 13:2), arrived at our door with groceries and gifts. Once a letter came postmarked 'Africa,' with enough money to pay all our bills. I still don't know who God used, and five of those neighbours who called her 'strange' - she led to Christ. A few still come to hear me preach when I go back to Ireland.

Mother, nobody can take your place! Paul said to Timothy...(II Tim. 3:15). Where did he learn them? From his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois (II Tim. 1:5).

Tony Campolo's wife sometimes speaks at functions attended by educators and professionals. Tony's a professor and at that time she was a homemaker. Once when she was asked, "What do you do for a living?" she answered with a smile, "I'm socialising two homosapiens in the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order." Then she smiled and asked, "And what do you do for a living?"

Mother, you need God in your life - a God who is so real that your children can look at you and see Him clearly.
[by Bob Gass]

WANTING TO HEAR
(Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18).
Have you noticed any improvement lately in your listening abilities? I've had to work on mine. Often I've so much on my mind that it looks like I'm not listening; or else I finish your sentence before you, because you're not getting there fast enough. Sound familiar? I've heard it's just as rude to step on somebody's thoughts as it is to step on their toes. Ouch!

Here's a big problem for men: we want to solve the problem we're discussing, but women just want to share it. Sometimes Debby will say to me, "Thanks for listening. I feel so much better now." And I'm thinking, "Thanks for what? Nothing has changed!" Oh yes it has: in her world, everything is much better.

People talk for a lot of reasons: to receive comfort, to vent, to persuade, to inform, to criticise, to be understood or to relieve nervousness. In other words, they talk for reasons that don't necessarily match your expectations. That's why you need to pray, "God help me, not just to listen, but really to hear what they're saying."

Dale Carnegie says, "You can win more friends in two hours by being a good listener than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." He's right! David Swartz: "Big people monopolise the listening; small people monopolise the talking!" Is this an area you need to work on?
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH CHANGE?
(Isa. 43:18-19).
You'll miss what God's planning for you next if you worship the past and yearn for yesterday. If you've ever lost a loved one, you know what I'm talking about. Death takes from us those we'd cling to forever. We make peace with it only when we realise it's a door that enables our loved ones to move from a lesser to a greater realm (Phili. 1:21).

Parent, don't try to live your life a second time through your children! Keep you mind fresh by having expectations that go beyond the goals you have for them. Don't try to cling to a relationship that's changed, because you 'need to be needed.' When Samuel the prophet was born, his mother Hannah said...(I Sam. 1:11). It's easier to give them back when you understand they are not yours to keep. Be grateful. Then ask, "What's next?"

God doesn't change, but His methods of ministering to you will change over and over again. He may not bring you the same way twice, but "goodness and mercy" will follow you all the days of your life (Psa. 23:6). What more could you ask for?
[by Bob Gass]

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE WORK ETHIC
(Rom. 12:11).
Have you noticed that what parents work a lifetime to acquire, children want immediately? But what they get for nothing usually means nothing. Check the record: every Bible hero was a worker. Paul, who made tents to finance his ministry, wrote...(II Thes. 3:10). Solomon said...(Prov. 6:9-11). Think about that!

Sam Levinson discovered that if he wanted something, it might turn up if he went after it, saved up for it or worked for it, but never if he just waited for it. He said, "Of course you had to be lucky too. Although I discovered that the harder I worked, the luckier I seemed to get." Teach your children the principle of delayed gratification! It's called 'pay now - play later.

Did you hear about the marshmallow test? A researcher told some four-year-olds, "I'm leaving for a few minutes. You can have this marshmallow while I'm gone. But if you wait until I return, you can have two marshmallows." Twelve years later, they studied the same children and found that those who had grabbed the single marshmallow, unable to wait, tended to:
(a) be more trouble as adolescents and
(b) score an average of 200 points less in school.
The ability to delay gratification and develop a strong work ethic is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU GROWING SPIRITUALLY?
(Eph. 3:16).
One day a large man stepped on to a public scale, not knowing it was out of order. When he put in a coin, the indicator bounced up and stopped at 75 lb. Just then a little boy walked by, saw the indicator and shouted, "Look mum, he's hollow!" Materially you may have much, but if you're hollow on the inside, what's it all worth? And what will you do when the storms of life come?

Have you thought of the things that your money won't buy? Such as the love of your family or real peace or a year of good health. John writes...(III John 2). If you seek prosperity, but not maturity, you end up hollow.

Chuck Swindoll says, "There's an enormous difference between growing old in the Lord and growing up in the Lord. One is automatic and requires no effort at all - just ageing. But the other calls for personal discipline. Churches today are full of sleepy saints who are merely logging time in God's family."

That's why Paul writes to Timothy and says...(I Tim. 4:15). Child of God, get your priorities straight. Put God back in first place - then watch what happens!
[by Bob Gass]

THROW IT DOWN
(I Pet. 5:7).
When God decides to remove something from your life, don't resist Him! But you should say, "How can I let it go?"

First, choose how you want to live; next, decide what you're willing to pay; finally, pull the plug on anything that needs to die. Whatever you feed will live; whatever you starve will die. The Greek word for 'cast' means to throw it down. Stop nursing your past and giving strength to your enemy. Throw it down!

When you neuter something, you leave it impotent. It may still exist, but it's powerless to reproduce in your life. When Paul says...(Phili. 3:13), he isn't talking about developing selective amnesia. No, it's like removing the sting from the bee. It can still buzz, but it can't hurt you any more.

When Jesus cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30), the nails and the cross were as real as ever, but their power over Him had been broken. He had moved to another dimension! So can you! Throw it on your stack of learning experiences and move on. It's a new day and God's giving you another chance to pass the exam. This time, by His grace you will!
[by Bob Gass]

THE ART OF GENTLENESS
(Gal. 5:22-23).
Mr Myrick had to go to Chicago on business, so he persuaded his brother to take care of his cat while he was gone. Myrick's brother was not a cat lover, but he agreed to do it anyway. When Myrick returned, he called his brother from the airport and asked, "How's the cat?" His brother said in a cold, matter-of-fact voice, "Your cat's dead!"

For days Myrick was inconsolable. Then his grief turned to anger and he called his brother back and said, "It was cruel of you to do that." "What did you expect me to do?" demanded his brother. "You could have broken the news gradually," said Myrick. "First, you could say the cat was playing on the roof. Next you could say he fell off. The next morning you could say he had broken his leg. Then when I came to pick him up, you could say he passed away peacefully in the night. But being gentle was never your style! Now tell me, how's Mama?" After a long pause, a meek voice on the other end of the telephone replied, "She's playing on the roof" Myrick's insensitive brother had finally learned the art of gentleness.

Gentleness is a mixture of patience, sensitivity and concern for the feelings of others. It's a product of the Spirit, not the flesh. It's literally allowing God to work through you to bring healing and solutions. Ask Him today to give it to you!
[by Bob Gass]

SPIRIT-FILLED LIVING
(Gal. 5:25).
What do you mean when you say you're Spirit-filled or led by the Spirit? According to The Message here's what you should mean:

"It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied-wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalising everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on...

"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, in much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
(Gal. 5:16-26).
[by Bob Gass]

THE REFINER'S FIRE
(I Pet. 4:12).
It takes fire to purify gold and when God gets ready to refine us, He uses "fiery trials". Nothing brings lustre to your character and commitment to your heart like opposition. Whenever you see someone whose life reflects the character of Christ, you're looking at someone who's been through the fire.

The good news is that you may be in the fire today, but God has His hand on the thermostat. He knows the heat required to burn away the impurities that would hinder His purposes in your life. His hand fans the flames needed to teach you patience, prayer, forgiveness, faith and a lot of other character-building lessons. You need His correction - you don't enjoy it, but you need it. Listen...(Heb. 12:11).

No one invests without expecting a return, and God is a wise businessman. He'll do whatever it takes to protect His investment in you. We spend so much of our time talking about what we want from God when the real issue is what He wants from us and what He'll do to get it. John said...(Matt. 3:12). Maybe that will help you to understand some of things that are happening in your life lately.
[by Bob Gass]

THE CURE FOR PERFECTIONISM - THANKFULNESS
(I Thes. 5:18).
Have you ever met a perfectionist who was truly happy? I haven't! Whenever things must always be a certain way, life can make you pretty miserable because life constantly changes. Instead of being content and grateful for their blessings, perfectionists constantly focus on what's wrong and their need to fix it.

It could be a disorganised cupboard, a dent in their car, a job they did that was less than perfect or a few pounds they'd like to lose. It could be someone else's imperfections: the way they look the way they behave or the way they live their lives. The very fact that perfectionists constantly focus on this makes it impossible for them to be thankful - and gratitude is basic to all happiness.

This has nothing to do with striving for excellence; rather it has to do with fixating on what's wrong with life. Yes, there's always a better way to do something, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy life the way it is at the moment. Catch yourself before you fall into the habit of insisting that things should be different from the way they are. Gently remind yourself that life is good and that in the absence of your judgement - everything will be just fine. Why? Because God's in control!
[by Bob Gass]

GOD'S PROTECTION
(Psa. 91).
Now read that again and feel His arms around you; let His peace fill your heart!
[by Bob Gass]

GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!
(Gen. 8:1).
Noah had obeyed God completely. Now all he could do was stay in the ark and wait and wait! Is that where you are today? Wondering if God's forgotten you? All of us go through it! Those are the moments that feel like eternity; the silent coaches who give our patience a real workout. It's here that we learn that God synchronises His watch to accomplish His purposes, not ours.

Listen...(Heb. 6:10). God simply does not forget! Let that sink in.

When Noah had been in the ark long enough to accomplish what was necessary for his good, God sent the wind. How wonderful! The Holy Spirit comes to us as a sign from the control tower that we've been cleared for landing. When God begins to breathe afresh on you, it's an indication that your answer is at hand. There are changes coming and they're going to bless you!

Today, let the wind of God's presence blow away the spirit of fear and heaviness (II Tim. 1:7). Don't give up on what God has promised you! Judgment is past. The waters are receding. The door of your confinement is about to open and you'll step out into a new day. The future will be better by far than the past ever was - for the God who remembered Noah will remember you too.
[by Bob Gass]

STAND IN FAITH, BELIEVING!
(I John 5:4).
If you are in a "fiery trial" (I Pet. 4:12) today, be advised - it's your faith that's on trial! Faith is such a key issue in Christian living that the early disciples were actually called 'believers' because of their great faith. Here are a few important things you need to know about faith, if you're going to use yours effectively.

First, faith cannot alter purpose; it's only God's agent in fulfilling it! If God's plan requires that you face opposition to accomplish His will (and it usually does), then your faith is what enables you to endure. It's like the night-watchman that protects God's purpose in your life.

Second, it's wonderful when God prospers you, but don't make finances the barometer of your faith! In Heb. 11, we find two groups of people: those who demonstrated such faith that their very shadow healed the sick "and others" whose faith enabled them to bleed to death beneath a pile of stones for the cause of Christ. Note: both groups "obtained a good report through faith" (Heb. 11:39).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3) discovered that, when God is with you in the fire, three things happen:
1. The thing the enemy hopes will destroy you will actually break the fetters that bind you and set you free.
2. The heat that destroys others won't affect you because God's there with you.
3. When you come out of the fire, you'll have a testimony that will convince both friends and foes alike. The word for you today is - stand in faith, believing.
[by Bob Gas]

CUT IT LOOSE!
(Rom. 7:24).
What a picture: a corpse strapped to the back of its killer. Its weight drains him, its presence torments him and the sight of it drives others away. Eventually, it robs him of his life. That's how they treated murderers in Paul's day, and that's the picture he had in mind when he wrote, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Child of God, you can live with those dead things clinging to you no better than Paul could! Allow the power of God to cut the cord between you and your past. Whether it's past failure or past relationships, get rid of them. Don't walk around with them on your back or on your mind.

Nothing is heavier than bitterness. Here's what it will do to you:
1. It'll drag you down and turn living into merely existing.
2. You'll leave a bad smell wherever you go. Even those who love you will become exhausted and leave or confront you and say, "Get over it!"
3. It'll destroy every new relationship that God wants to bring into your life. Who wants a person who's having an affair with a corpse? You'd be using them only as an antidepressant to numb your pain.
4. It'll destroy your health and shorten your life, because you weren't built to handle it. Cut it loose! Cry if you need to, but when it's over, bury it and move on. Declare with David...(Psa. 118:17). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT
(Rev. 3:7).
Years ago, every door in my life seemed to slam shut. What a feeling! I battled against constant fear and depression. Looking back I realise that God was holding me safely in His arms even though I just wanted to have an all-out pity-party complete with candies and a cake. Then God said to me, "Stop banging on closed doors and begin to walk through the ones I've opened!" To me, open doors meant acceptance and success, so closed ones meant rejection and failure. Accepting closed doors is one of the hardest lessons you'll ever learn!

The same loving hand that opens doors closes them too! If it were just the enemy trying to slam the door on your dreams, prayer would take care of it. But if it's an all-wise God, then you must accept it! When certain assignments and associations are over, you have to let them go and start walking through the door of fresh purpose and new relationships.

Don't pout! A spoiled child is an insult to a training parent. It means you haven't yet discerned His hand or accepted His dealings. Abraham rejoiced when Isaac was born, but he threw a feast when he was weaned (Gen. 21:8). Why don't you start moving in that direction today? God wants to wean you from immaturity and self-centredness. Growing up is hard! But if only you could see what's waiting for you on the other side of the door, you'd release the past, rejoice in the present and start running toward the future.
[by Bob Gass]

HOW TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF
(Prov. 16:9).
You can change your life if you want to. Here are some steps you can take today:
1. Discern what success really is. When others feet good about you, you're popular; when you feel good about yourself, you're successful. Your life's highest calling is usually whatever creates the highest level of joy within you. That doesn't mean it'll be either easy or pain-free (Heb. 12:2). Every winner in the Bible paid a price and so will you!
2. Prayerfully set goals. Success is achieving the goals God has for you. It's not wrong to set goals; it's just wrong to worry about the future (Matt. 6:25-34). Solomon said...(Prov. 16:9).
3. Stop looking for somebody else to bring you happiness. Don't wait for flowers to arrive. God gave you seed; start growing your own. Listen...(Gal. 6:4). When you're less needy, you'll be more attractive.
4. Get over the past. We all have a past, some are just 'better advertised' than others. A friend of mine says he was praying one day, "Father, why does the devil keep reminding me of the same things over and over?" God replied, "Because he's running low on material!" What a great answer! God says He will not remember your sins (Isa. 43:25). So unless you're better than He is, do the same thing! Now, make these four things part of your life.
[by Bob Gass]

DEALING WITH FEAR
(Josh. 1:9).
Why would Joshua be afraid? Because Moses had died and people were thinking, "Imagine having to fill his shoes." Don't let fear trap you into trying to be someone rather than yourself. God has a plan for your life and, when you follow it, He promises you success.

When Jeremiah was called, he said to God...(Jer. 1:6). Wow! He's looking at himself instead of God! Are you doing that? So God said...(Jer. 1:7-8). When God says "you shall", don't say "I can't!"

When Peter was walking on the water. he discovered that the fastest way to sink was to take his eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30). Who are you looking to today? Who's the source of your confidence? If you think some people don't have to deal with fear, you're wrong! It's what we do in spite of the fear that spells the difference between victory and defeat!

Sometimes the fear of doing something is worse than actually doing it. The Bible says, "Fear hath torment" (I John 4:18). What's your greatest fear? Making somebody angry? Not having enough? Failing? In God's strength rise up and take back the ground you've given to fear! Step out in the knowledge that God is with you and do what He has called you to do.
[by Bob Gass

LADY - YOUR TIME HAS COME!
(Acts 2:18).
There's no difference in what God pours out on His sons and what He pours out on His daughters. He has an equal Bill of Rights for both. If you have the favour of your Father, nobody but you can stop you from being blessed! Don't suppress your gifts in order to live up to some negative stereotype that God's trying to shatter. Lady, you don't just have the right to succeed - you have the right to soar! Indeed, you'll have to give an account for the gifts He's given you (Matt. 25:14-30).

The Church is finally waiting up! No longer are Christian women content to have babies and bake pies while men run companies and buy yachts. God is raising up women who can be as effective in the boardroom as they are in the home. You can have a career and still be a good mother and a good wife. The virtuous woman in Prov. 31 owned property, produced and sold goods and cared for her family. Don't allow anybody to box you into their personal preferences. Beyond the submission outlined in scripture, tell them to stop playing God with your future!

Lady, if depression has robbed you of precious years, then hear this word: Don't spend another day wasted in regret, sleeping away His mercy and losing your chance to achieve. Get up and get busy! What your Father has willed to you is worth fighting for!
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT YOUR GIVING
(Mal. 3:10).
The three most common reasons that we don't sow more of our finances into God's work are these: First, because we've never been taught. The Bible says that the seed you sow today will never leave your life; it just moves ahead of you and, when you get there, it'll be the harvest you need (I Cor. 9:6-11). Increasing your seed is God's way of breaking through to the next level. Go ahead, sow a 'next-level seed' and see what happens!

Second, because of selfishness. God will never ask you to give what you don't have, but He'll always ask you to give something you'd like to keep. Why? Because giving proves you've conquered selfishness! Think about that! When God asks you to give Him the first part of your income (Prov. 3:9), He's teaching you what every good parent teaches their child - to share and to think of somebody other than yourself. In America the tip for a waiter is 10%. Can you imagine doing less for God?

Third, because we're afraid that we won't have enough left. But the opposite is true. Withholding doesn't conquer the fear of lack - giving does! Tithe faithfully for one year and if you're not better off at the end of that year, please let me know. God makes this promise to you when you tithe, that...(Mal. 3:10). Today, God wants to prove it to you - will you let Him?
[by Bob Gass]

USE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CREATIVITY!
(Jer. 33:3).
When Walt Disney was a child in school, his teacher asked him to colour a flower garden. When he handed back his paper, the teacher said, "Young man, that's not right. Flowers don't have faces!" Confidently he replied, "Mine do!" That's called creativity and it comes from God!

God knows things you don't know! Talk to Him and He'll share some of them with you. You've talked to everybody else; now give Him a chance. He'll show you how to make your business or your ministry grow! (Isa. 48:17).

"Keep-things-as-they-are people" will always tell you to follow the rules and not "make waves." They forget that if it weren't for "risk-takers," they probably wouldn't have a job today. Did you hear about the farmer whose chickens died every spring because his farm flooded? After several years he finally gave up and said, "I've had it! I can't afford to buy another place, and I can't sell this one. I don't know what to do." Calmly his wife suggested, "Buy ducks!" There it is - if you can't raise chickens, raise ducks. Don't squander your life on things that don't work, don't fulfill you, and don't bless others. Listen to what God's saying to you...(Jer. 33:3). Try it today!
[by Bob Gass]

YOUR CRISIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY
(Phili. 1:12).
You'll never succeed if you throw up your hands and quit every time something goes wrong. It was the trials of Job that made him a legend. It was the lion's den that made Daniel a governor. It was imprisonment that gave Paul an opportunity to write the Epistles.

One day Anthony DeMello saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he looked up and said, "God, how could you allow such suffering? Why don't you do something?" There was a long silence, and then DeMello heard these words, "I did - I made you!" (Matt. 25:40).

The problem that infuriates you the most is often the one you've been called to solve. Situations that unlock your compassion are the very places you'll often find your greatest fulfilment. God doesn't waste experience. He can take your past and make it serve your future. He can turn your misery into a ministry and enable you to reach people you couldn't understand before, much less minister to.

Listen...(Phili. 1:12). Look for God's purposes in the setbacks of your life, and you'll turn them into stepping stones to blessing. That's the word for you today!
[by Bob Gass]

HANDLING CONFRONTATION
(II Chron. 19:6).
If a confrontation is handled properly, it can actually strengthen a relationship. If not, it can end it. When you have to confront someone, follow these guidelines:

1.	Bring in the principal people involved. If you don't, the whole story will never be known accurately.
2.	Get the facts. Don't rely on 'hearsay' or general impressions or you will invite emotion-laden rebuttals and counter-attacks.
3.	Never reprimand while you're angry. If you need to, delay it until you've cooled down. In the meantime, ask yourself.
	(a)	Have I contributed to this problem?
	(b)	Are there any circumstances I'm overlooking?
4.	Be precise about the offence. Don't go 'humming and hawing' and refusing to reveal the details.
5.	Get the other person's side of the story. Give them a chance to explain, and don't interrupt. There may be circumstances you know nothing of, you may even be part of them.
6.	Be sure to keep comprehensive records. The better your documentation (how, when, who was involved, etc) the more even-tempered and productive the confrontation will be.
7.	Don't harbour a grudge. Once you've dealt with it, pray with them if possible, offer to help and let them know that you love them and that 'the book is closed.'

All confrontations should have two goals:
(a) to solve the problem, and
(b) to salvage the person.
[by Bob Gass

THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
(I Cor. 10:12).
Here are three important questions you need to answer today:
1. Is your personal walk with God up-to-date? If you're not spending time with Him each day, whatever you're spending it with has become more important to you. Before you know it, you won't have the strength to resist temptation. Sin will keep you from the Word or the Word will keep you from sin. David said...(Psa. 119:11). Do you treasure God's Word?
2. Are you keeping your priorities in order? They have a way of sneaking out of position when you don't pay attention! If success costs you your marriage, your health or your relationship with God, you're paying too much! When Billy Graham was asked what he'd do differently if he had his life to live over again, he replied, "I'd spend more time reading, praying and more time with my family" That should make all of us think!
3. Are you accountable to anyone? Paul says...(I Thes. 5:12). If your life suddenly fell apart and you had important decisions to make, who would you go to? Build that relationship now! No matter how gifted you are, you need the fellowship of others and the care of a shepherd.
Please take time to prayerfully consider these three questions.
[by Bob Gass]

USE WHAT YOU'VE GOT
(Rom. 12:6).
When the World Council of Churches lost their headquarters building in New York year ago, (their support dried up), a sign appeared on their door reading' Gone out of Business'. Someone came along and wrote underneath it 'PS: Forgot what our business was!'. Our business is to be 'salt' and 'light' and to touch a hurting world with the love of God (Matt. 5:13-14). Any time we forget that, we're on our way out of business. You ask, "How do I go about finding and using my gift for God?" Expose yourself to the hurts of others. That's what Jesus did! Listen, (Matt. 9:36).

Note the sequence: He went, He saw, He felt and He cared. You've got to go where people are in order to develop the compassion necessary to move you to action. You can't just sit at home and catch it by osmosis, gradually and subtly.

People all around you are hurting. They're like the man who said to his psychiatrist, "Every time I get my act together, the curtain falls." He needed more than concern; he needed help! When Charlie Brown was talking to his friend Linus about his problems, Linus said, "Charlie, you shouldn't worry about tomorrow; just think about today." Charlie Brown replied, "No, that's giving up. I'm still hoping that yesterday will get better." You may smile, but a lot of people you know are lost, confused, and looking for an answer. You have that answer and you have the mandate to share it with them today. Get going!
[by Bob Gass]

CONFIDENCE-MAKERS AND CONFIDENCE-SHAKERS
(Heb. 10:35).
There are only two kinds of people: confidence-makers, and confidence-shakers. Recently, I heard the story of a man who lived by a roadside and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio. He had eye trouble, so he didn't read the paper. But his hot dogs were great. He put up signs on the highway advertising them and people came from everywhere. Eventually he branched out, became prosperous and was able to send his son to college.

Unfortunately, his son came back with just enough education to make him dangerous. One day he said, "Dad, haven't you heard the radio or read the newspaper? There's a big recession. The stock market's down, unemployment's up, things in Europe are terrible, and it's getting worse every day." Whereupon the man thought, "Well, my son's been to college. He reads the papers and listens to the radio - he ought to know." So he cut down meat and bun orders, took down his signs and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway selling his hot dogs. Overnight his sales fell and within a month he was out business. "You're right, son," he told his boy, "We are in the middle of a big recession.

The words of confidence-shakers can become self-fulfilling prophecies if you buy into them. How do you overcome them? Read God's promises and build your faith (Rom. 10:17).
[by Bob Gass]

WHEN GOD SAYS, "NO"!
(Psa. 84:11).
If it was a good thing, God would not have said, "No!" Either the timing is wrong or He knows it would rob you of your greater destiny The issue is - do you trust Him?

Real praise comes when you realise what could have happened but didn't because God intervened on your behalf. Stop trying to break loose from the loving grip of the One who holds you for your own protection. Just submit; He won't fail you!

Peter calls Jesus "The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls" (I Pet. 2:25). A bishop is just an overseer. What a picture: God watching over you! He's like a lifeguard at the beach. To save you, He'll interrupt the festivities, embarrass you in front of your friends, and maybe even bruise a rib or two but He loves you too much to let you drown in the very thing you think is so good for you.

Billy Graham's wife, Ruth, says, "If God had said yes to all my prayer requests, I'd have married the wrong man, several times." Sound familiar? (Psa. 37:5). What you're bitter about today, you'll bless God for tomorrow.

Mark Twain said that when he was 14, his father seemed so ignorant he couldn't stand him. But when he was 21, he was amazed how much the old man had learned! The more you mature, the more you'll begin to see how loving and wise your Father is.
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE?
(Prov. 6:6-8).
Your income-producing years are limited, so move while you can! Too many Christians think that any mention of money is carnal and so end up ensnared by poor planning and misguided spirituality. Now, old age and lost income have left them saddled with medical bills they can't pay and children who can't take care of themselves, much less their ageing parents. Poverty is a silent prison that needs no walls and no chains; it locks us in without options and without hope.

Solomon says...(Prov. 13:22). Don't allow anybody to convince you that God minds you having money. He doesn't - He just minds money having you! He's a provider, and He expects you to be one too (I Tim. 5:8). Note: God can only bless your plan if you have a plan for Him to bless. Do you?

One illness or one accident can rob you of all you have. One long-term injury can change your life as you now know it. Jobs end and companies close; stocks fall and investments fail. That doesn't mean you should avoid investing, planning, or working. It just means that after you've done all that wisdom demands, trust in nothing but God! He's still your source, your protector, your sustainer and the giver of every good income-producing idea you'll ever have (Phili. 4:19).
[by Bob Gass]

A PRODUCTIVE LIFE
(Deut. 29:9).
David wanted to build the Temple, but God chose Solomon instead. Sometimes our desires differ from God's, so we need to consult Him constantly. Usually He'll reveal His plan to you, one step at a time. If the desire for something persists, that's a good indication that God's leading you (Phili. 2:13). Look for the signs, listen for the Spirit. Prayerfully evaluate everything. Cultivate an instant response to God. Reject all feedback that breeds doubt. Jesus gave more time to the woman at the well, than He did to the Pharisees, because she was hungry and they were sceptical.

Ask God for wisdom and expect it. Don't be selective about who you're willing to receive it from. God once spoke through a donkey (Num. 22:28-30) and changed history. His Word says...(James 1:5).

Wisdom is the ability to interpret things through God's eyes. What an advantage! It comes through the study of His Word. Listen...(Psa. 119:130). When God saves you, He renews your mind, because that's the drawing-board for your future. Mind management should be one of your top priorities. Listen...(Phili. 4:8).

Don't justify failure. Refuse to stay bogged down. Stop placing blame on others. Circle today's date on your calendar and declare that your best days are beginning right now!
[by Bob Gass]

LOVING ENOUGH TO LISTEN
(John 15:12).
Did you hear about the two psychiatrists? At the end of the day the older one looked fresh, but the younger one was frazzled. "How can you look so good after hearing patients all day?" the younger one asked. The older one replied, "It's easy. I never listen." Listening can be exhausting, but it's the glue that holds relationships together. Nobody was busier than Jesus, but He took time to listen to people; He even sensed and shared their pain, and He says to us...(John 15:12). In other words, love them enough to listen.

But before you can be a good listener, you've got to deal with your own emotional baggage. Freud said, "A man with a toothache cannot be in love." Why? Because the toothache won't allow him to notice anything but his pain. If you've never worked your way through your own 'stuff' you'll filter what others say through it and either react defensively or try to force your opinions on them. Don't do it! If you've an axe to grind, your words will be drowned out by the sound of your grindstone.

Here are some guidelines:
1. Listen for both content and feelings.
2. Listen with your eyes and your hearing will improve.
3. Listen for their interest, not just their position.
4. Listen to what they are not saying.
5. Listen with compassion.
6. Listen for the areas where they are afraid and hurting.
7. Listen as you would like to be listened to.
[by Bob Gass]

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT EASTER
(Rev. 1:18).
Simply this; His resurrection guarantees ours! With more time behind me than ahead of me, that really does interest me. How about you? If I'm going to trust anybody, I'll trust the person whose been through it - and lived to tell the tale. Jesus is the only man who ever made an appointment beyond the grave - and showed up to keep it. That makes Him "the ranking expert" on the subject.

What gives courage to the bereaved as they stand beside a fresh grave? What do you say to the parents of a brain-damaged child to keep them from living their entire lives exhausted and demoralised? What is the final answer to pain, mourning, senility, insanity, terminal disease, sudden calamity and fatal accidents? The ultimate answer is - the promise of the resurrection! (I Cor. 15). This is the mental glue that holds our shattered thoughts together.

More than once I've looked into the swollen eyes of despairing people and told them "there's a land that is fairer than day". John saw it and he said...(Rev. 21:4). Just imagine... the physically disabled will leap for joy. Those who have spent their entire lives in darkness will suddenly see their first face - the face of Jesus. No wonder we get excited at Easter. Listen...(I Thes. 5:10). Wow! That's enough to make anyone shout!
[by Bob Gass]

FOUR LAWS OF SUCCESS
(II Chron. 31:21).
Here are four scriptural laws that guarantee you success:
1. Define the specific goal you want to reach. How much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve it? Your answer will determine your future. Establish your priorities and refuse to let anything or anybody sidetrack you. Listen...(Phili. 3:13-14).
2. Chart a detailed course; establish deadlines. Plan your work and work your plan. List the things you need to do. Set up regular checkpoints. Be accountable to someone. Organise your day or somebody else will. The Bible says...(Eph. 5:15-16).
3. Visualise yourself attaining your goal. Start thinking now just as the person you expect to be then. (Rom. 4:17). See yourself as a winner then start acting and talking like one.
4. Stay informed. Don't be a typewriter in the age of computers. Switch off your television before your brain fossilises. Become a reader! Everything you need to know is in a book. Paul told Timothy...(I Tim. 4:13). The man who won't read is more to be pitied than the man who can't. Meditate constantly on God's laws of success and you will prosper in whatever you do. (Psa. 1:2-3). Make these four laws your lifestyle!
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT YOUR HABITS
(Psa. 139:23-24).
Any habit you keep feeding will strengthen its grip on your life. Ask any recovering alcoholic; they usually change only when they hit rock bottom. Prodigals don't come home until they lose everything (Luke 15:11-32). But the good news is that your Father is waiting to welcome you back and restore you to full sonship in the family. Come on, you're a child of the Most High. Captivity is unnatural for you! You'll never be free until you despise your chains. Whether you're bound by a substance, a relationship, or just a life that's out of order - your circumstances won't change until your mind is renewed by God's Word (Rom. 12:2).

It's time to institute some new habits, for what you do habitually, you'll become permanently. Begin the Bible-reading habit. Put it first on your daily 'to do' list or you'll never do it consistently. Read aloud and you won't get distracted so easily. Listen...(Prov. 4:22). Set a specific time to pray. If you don't, everything else will crowd it out. As you learn to wait in prayer, God will tell you how He feels about things. Attend church regularly. Support it with your tithes and develop godly relationships. There are things God will say to you in His house that He won't say to you anywhere else (Heb. 10:25). Your daily habits are carving out your future, for good or bad. Are you heading toward what you want?
[by Bob Gass]

TRANSFORMATION
(Rom. 12:2).
The word transformation simply means 'to move from one form to another.' You say, "How does this transformation take place?" In three ways:

1. Day by day! Listen...(II Cor. 3:18; II Cor. 4:16). When you're too busy to spend time with the Lord, your growth is put on hold. Isaiah says...(Isa. 50:4). The divine Teacher holds class every day - make sure you're present.

2. By spending time with God! In God's presence you'll discover what He thinks of you. Jesus asked Peter...(Matt. 16:15). Don't ask anybody else that question until you first ask it of God. Whoever defines you can control you.

The Bible says that God sets the times and the boundaries of our lives (Acts 17:26). Did you hear that? He determines your potential and says when things will take place in your life! That's why it's so important to spend time with Him.

3. Through His Word! Your deliverance will begin in your mind. As God's will becomes stronger, yours will become weaker. The Bible says we are cleansed by the "washing of water by the Word" (Eph. 5:26). Go ahead; ease your mind down into the cleansing river of His Word. Let it wash away every sin, every limitation and the residue of the past, until you are transformed into the person you were created to be.
[by Bob Gass]

GRACE BE WITH YOU
(Phili. 1:2).
Things that conquer others won't conquer you if you've been given the grace to handle them! How could Paul persevere through beatings, betrayals, shipwrecks and imprisonment? Listen...(II Cor. 12:9). Grace will enable you to pastor in a difficult area; care for an aged loved one who requires much time and patience; pray and never let go of a prodigal son or daughter and work with joy in a miserable environment.

When does grace come? When you need it most. Listen...(Heb. 4:16). God will not give you tomorrow's grace today, but when you wake up in the morning, it'll be there - Grace, equal to every need. One of the greatest mistakes you can make is to envy someone else or try to be like them. Why? Because you may have equal talent, but unless you are equally 'graced' - you won't succeed.

You ask, "How does grace come?" Listen again...(Acts 20:32). There it is: in the pages of God's Word you'll either find a solution to the problem or the grace to handle it, learn from it and come out stronger. The word for you today is "Grace be unto you."
[by Bob Gass]

KNOWING YOUR PLACE
(Phili. 2:13).
Mentoring is scriptural, but be careful lest you run amuck looking for somebody to pour themselves into you. Not all of us are mentored under the hand of others. Some like Moses and Paul are moulded in the wilderness of experience where we see God's workings and learn His wisdom. Regardless of which path you walk, never forget...(Phili. 2:13). What a comfort!

Listen...(Num. 11:16). You can ordain a man only to be what he already is! God ordains; we only recognise it. What we need is discernment as to who is among us, for heaven help someone who's placed in a slot they don't have the grace or gifting to handle.

After his wanderings and rebellion, the Bible says the prodigal son "came to himself" (Luke 15:17). Real success is 'coming to yourself'. I'm talking about certain jobs and ministries that just feel right, even if you've never done them before. It's a feeling of belonging and there's nothing like it. If you've been wandering in the wilderness, may God grant you the grace to find your way back to the place to which He has called you. Talk to Him about it today.
[by Bob Gass]

RELENTLESS
(Prov. 24:16).
The theme of Christianity is rising again! Allow the resurrecting power of Christ to operate in your life regardless of whether you have fallen into sin or discouragement. The Bible says "a just man" is successful because he continues to get up. God will enable you to stand in the midst of contrary winds and, when you stumble, to grasp the hand of His grace and get back up again. Listen...(I Sam. 2:4).

If you've a heart to accomplish anything for God, then you must be relentless. Paul says...(I Cor. 15:58). If you're the kind of person who gives up easily, there's no need to attempt anything for God. Relentless people refuse to take 'no' for an answer. They try things one way and, if that doesn't work they try them another. But they don't give up.

You who are about to break beneath the weight of your struggles, be relentless! Don't give up on your family! Don't give up on your business! Don't give up on yourself!

A terrible thing happens when you give up; it's called regret. It's the nagging thought that "If only I'd tried harder, I could have succeeded." The word for you today is - get up, for by God's grace you're going to make it!
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU CONFUSED?
(I Cor. 14:33).
Joyce Meyer says she asked God one day why so many people were struggling with confusion. He said to her, "Tell them to stop trying to figure everything out and they'll stop being confused!" What an answer! A lot of us need to be delivered from "trying to figure everything out." Does that include you?

Your mind is the battlefield where the war is either won or lost. Paul writes...(II Cor. 10:4-5). What are we to cast down? Imaginations. Why? Because when you don't have answers, your imagination will paint the worst possible picture and drive you crazy. What are we to take captive? Thoughts! Why? Because if you don't take control of your thoughts, they'll keep you in torment.

If God is not the author of confusion, then guess who is? Your enemy! He wants to rob you of your peace of mind and keep you constantly confused by trying to figure everything out. You ask, "What can I do?" Do this: when questions arise, it's OK to ponder them for a while, but the moment you feel confused, immediately begin to thank God that He has the answer and that you trust Him completely to show it to you when the time is right. Isaiah says...(Isa. 26:3). Sarah Utterbach says, "He can only be your peace when He is your constant focus."
[by Bob Gass]

HOW ARE YOUR CHILDREN DOING?
(Eph. 6:4).
Last April, two boys walked into a high school in Colorado and murdered 12 students and a teacher. They laughed as their victims died. These teenagers lived in a world their parents knew very little about! My mum used to say, 'An idle mind is the devils work shop, but I'm going to keep you so busy that he won't get anywhere near you." If you don't give your children direction, others will. Within two minutes on the Internet, your child can find pornography; join a hate group; learn how to make a bomb; or meet a paedofile. Have you heard of a video game called Doom? These teenage killers spent hours each day playing it - learning to blow heads and limbs off people in graphic scenes of gore. Have you heard of a musician called Marilyn Manson? Your kids have! He renamed himself after mass murderer Charles Manson, and his music promotes rape, drugs, Satanism and death - and he calls his music "an art form!"

While you're keeping up with "the Jones's", who are your children keeping up with? John Maxwell writes, "Before I had children of my own, I had two dozen theories on how to raise them. Now I have two children and no theories," Parent, if you want your child to turn out right, then plant them in God's house (Psa. 92:13). Water them with the Word, and discipline them when they need it (Prov. 29:15). Paul says...(Eph. 6:4). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO
(Prov. 22:6).
Every child has a particular bent; a set of characteristics created by God (Psa. 139:13). You'll see it in their temperament, their gifts, their interests, their physical qualities, and their talents. Resist the temptation to treat each of them the same. They're different! Cain was a farmer, but Abel was a shepherd. Jacob and Esau were twins, but they couldn't have been more different. And how about the prodigal son who went out and sowed his wild oats, while his older brother stayed home and acted responsibly.

Love your children unconditionally; but develop each of them differently. Discover the following things about them:
(a) Who they are;
(b) what they like;
(c) what they succeed at;
(d) how they handle change;
(e) how they behave when they're alone.

Stop talking long enough to listen, and you'll hear what they value, what they fear, and what they need. Make sure that they're anchored spiritually, and then expose them to life. Don't force them to go the way you wish you'd gone. Instead, help them to discover their own identity, and become their biggest backer.

Put your own dreams on hold and help them find and fulfil theirs - it's a sacrifice you'll never regret! Remember, they are your future. Your very essence lives on in them. So be sure to do a good job. The trees you plant today will determine the fruit you eat tomorrow, so ask God to help you do a good job with your children!
[by Bob Gass]

THE POWER OF HIS WORD
(Psa. 1:2).
When you meditate on what God says, you start thinking like Him! What a way to live! Peter was so addicted to the words of Jesus he said...(John 6:68). Job said...(Job 23:12). When's the last time you forfeited a meal, or something you enjoy just to read His Word?

As you meditate on God's Word, you develop a mentality that enables you to soar above your past. Listen...(Isa. 55:11). God's Word will accomplish God's purposes in your life. That's why you've had such a battle finding the time to read your Bible. The truth is, you won't find time - you'll have to make it. Set an appointment with God and show up! Listen again...(Isa. 50:4).

In a world devoid of commitment, isn't it wonderful to know that God says, "I won't give up on you. I'll keep working on you until you're clear in your perceptions, strong in your faith, and balanced in your lifestyle." As you meditate on God's precepts, your life will take on the direction of your clearest thoughts. When that happens, everything else in your life will begin to prosper (Psa. 1:3). That just about covers it all - doesn't it?
[by Bob Gass]

POUR YOURSELF INTO SOMEONE ELSE
(John 1:12).
The greatest investment you can make - is in people! That's what God did. He invested His Son in humanity, and empowered us to go out and demonstrate how His kingdom works. If you've achieved any level of success, pour it into somebody else. If you've outgrown your need for a father or mother, be one to some desperate young man or woman whose natural ties are broken. Plant in them the things you want to say to the next generation.

In 1924, the English artist "William Wolcott" visited the office of a friend in New York. Seeing a piece of paper on his desk Wolcott asked, "May I have that?" His friend answered, "But it's not sketching paper, it's just wrapping paper. "Not wanting to lose his inspiration, Wolcott took the wrapping paper and said, "Nothing is ordinary, if you know how to use it." On that ordinary paper, the famous artist made two simple sketches. Later that year one of them sold for $500, and the other for $1,000; a princely sum in 1924. People under the influence of an empowering person are like paper in the hands of a great artist; no matter what they're made of, they can become treasures. Now there's something to think about!
[by Bob Gass]

ENTERING THE NEW MILLENNIUM
(Rev. 3:8).
Today begins a new opportunity to put some things "in place" in your life. Don't carry the defeating patterns of your past into this new year. Here are 6 daily suggestions:
1. Pray - no matter how busy you are! If you do, God promises to "direct your paths" (Prov. 3:6). The difference between drifting and being directed, is in "acknowledging Him."
2. Read His Word. That's what produced new life in Sarah's dead womb, and calmed the storm on Galilee. Jesus said...(Matt. 4:4).
3. Tell your family you love them! If you feel awkward, read your Bible and see how often God says it to you, then take a leaf out of His book.
4. Open yourself to new relationships! God says...(Gen. 12:2). You are the carrier of somebody else's blessings. If you shut the door to blessings going out, you also shut it to blessings coming in.
5. Keep yourself in "top shape." When God needed someone to lead Saul of Tarsus to Christ, Ananias said, "I am here, Lord" (Acts 9:10). Can you say that? Be ready and available for what God wants you to do this year.
6. Maintain a positive attitude! Dominate your turf with faith. When the conversation turns negative, steer it back to "whatsoever things are of good report" (Phili. 4:8).
God says...(Rev. 3:8). Walk through that door, and make this the greatest year of your life!
[by Bob Gass]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DAILY LIVING
(Josh. 24:15).
Work on these four things:
1). Begin and maintain daily Bible reading. Could you run your car on empty? Or write cheques without making deposits? No! Make time daily for God's Word. Jesus said...(John 15:3). It's your protection!
2.) Set a specific prayer time each day! Mornings are best for me because I'm alone on my treadmill. If I wait until later, I usually don't pray. David said...(Psa. 63:1). Put prayer at the top of your list of priorities, and fight to keep it there.
3). Become a reader. I'm astounded at how many ministers don't like to read. Can you imagine a champion swimmer who doesn't like water? Readers are leaders. They stay current - otherwise they're out of touch. Solomon said...(Prov. 11:9).
4). Start speaking faith-filled words. Words create pictures in your mind. They breathe life into everything, so start saying what God says. The fact may be that things look impossible, but the truth is...(Matt. 19:26). But you say "I'm just being realistic." Who's reality? If God says it, that settles it - so stand on it! Work on these things and remember, God loves you and He's committed to your success.
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T FAIL YOUR CHILDREN
(Rom. 14:13).
It's not an easy thing to raise a child these days. John Maxwell says that he and his wife had one particularly strong-willed son who was their greatest challenge. On days when they felt like giving up on him, one of them would say to the other, "Be nice to him dear, and some day he'll invite you to Parliament."

You may smile, but every child has limitless potential. Their 3 pound mass of brain cells can store up 100 trillion bits of information, and handle fifteen thousand decisions per second. Their sense of touch can detect a projection, only one twenty-five thousandth of a centimetre high. They can taste one part quinine, in two million parts of water, and smell up to ten thousand different odours. Their body is a laboratory capable of producing every chemical property needed to heal themselves, and that doesn't even begin to address the potential of their soul.

Parent - work to unlock your child's potential, for there's no greater gift you can give them. Help them to become all that God created them to be (Gal. 1:15). You're their primary teacher. Nobody knows them better than you. There are principles they'll never be taught unless they're taught by you. Listen...(I Thes. 1:8). What a testimony! And without that kind of testimony your child may love you, but not respect you; enjoy your company, but question your character. Today, ask God to help you live before your children in such a way that they'll hunger for the God they see in you.
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE THE LIMIT OFF YOUR REQUESTS
(John 16:24).
Sarah Utterbach says, "I'm not shy about praying for anything I need - whether it's in my personal life, or to move a project to the next phase. There are only four possible responses I can get: Yes; no; maybe, or not now. Since I might hear 'yes,' I have nothing to lose by asking - but everything to lose if I don't. God knows what I need before I ask, yet He said to ask anyway." Think about that! Asking God for great things tells Him how big our view of Him is. Honour God! Take the limit off your requests to Him. We call ourselves "humble" when we pray with the mind-set of a pauper, yet God wants us to do great things for Him, and to ask in His name that our joy may be full.

Stop trying to finance the Kingdom of God with mere plans and programs. Nervous breakdowns, bum out, and fleecing the sheep, is not God's way of getting the job done. Ask Him for the right kind of help. Sow - and expect a harvest (II Cor. 9:6). Practice patience (Heb. 10:36). Remind God constantly that you've no agenda, therefore you're willing to do whatever He wants done - as He provides. Never quit anything He gives you to do; simply recognise seasons of beginnings and seasons of endings.

Now pray this prayer: "Heavenly Father, forgive me for limiting You by failing to ask. Today I claim everything needed to accomplish Your will. I believe You for the wisdom, discernment, and strength to do what is pleasing in Your sight ... In Jesus name. Amen."
[by Bob Gass]

HOW'S YOUR PEACE TODAY?
(John 14:27).
There was a time when I thought my faith would remove anything I didn't like. That included feelings I didn't want to feel, or people and situations I wanted to change. Later I discovered that while I was asking for God to change them, they were often praying that God would change me. Talk about frustrating! Satan didn't have to steal my peace - I was giving it away. Sound familiar?

Then one day I began reading such scriptures as...(II Cor. 5:7; I Tim. 6:12; Heb. 6:12). Faith won't always change the circumstances, or calm the storm, but it will enable you to go through it peacefully, and come out the other side with greater confidence in God. Remember, built into every experience is the wisdom to build a better future.

Jesus said...(John 14:27). That's you He's talking to! Stop and realise, that every time you get troubled you're doing it to yourself - all because you've got your eyes on the wrong things. God's peace will enable you to accept uncomfortable feelings and unchanging circumstances, because you know He's in control. That means you're not - so stop acting like it! Today, ask God for the grace (His ability) to live in peace, regardless of the circumstances. He'll do it, because He's promised it to you!
[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 to roll 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 talents! If you're talented but not called, you'll be comfortable anywhere - for talent (like justice) is blind; it sees all opportunities the same. But, if you're conscious of your God-given purpose, 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, ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life. When you fulfil that, you're blessed - because God's plan is already blessed! Have you discovered God's purpose for your life yet? If not, get into His presence and stay there until He reveals it to you.
[by Bob Gass]

IN OR OUT?
(Col. 3:15).
Just as the umpire decides who's in or out, so God's peace should decide what's in or out in your life. When you step out of God's will, the first thing you lose is - your peace! Right? When it first happens to you, you'll feet awful and even wonder if you're still saved. But as you walk with God, you'll learn to deal with it quickly, and get back on track again.

Just because something feels good to you, doesn't mean it is good for you. Listen...(Isa. 55:12). When you make a major purchase or commit to a relationship, or invest your life into something, you should know you're being led forth with peace. No matter how much you may want something, if you go against the leading of the Holy Spirit, you'll regret it.

Often God won't explain to you at the time why a thing's not right for you. He may later, or He may never explain it. But you can count on one thing - God's peace is the umpire that will let you know if something should be in or out of your life. I'm 56, and I'm still learning how to be led this way.

When peace comes, it's usually in "...a still small voice" (I Kings 19:12). If you're too busy to hear it, you'll end up in trouble and have to repent and back-track. The wrong road never becomes the right road, no matter how far you go on it. So save yourself a lot of heartache and learn, starting today, to be led by God's peace.
[by Bob Gass]

STAY IN YOUR GOD ORDAINED PURPOSE
(Heb. 10:32).
When you discover your God-ordained purpose - stay in it! Listen, after Jesus was baptized, "...heaven was opened ... and a voice from heaven said...(Matt. 3:16-17). Next we read...(Matt. 4:1). First the call; then the confrontation. After Paul was called he said that he was given...(II Cor. 12:7). When you discover your purpose, get ready for adversity for the enemy attacks what he fears - and he fears your future. When a player starts scoring, the other team doubles up on him because they know he's capable of winning!

Listen...(Heb. 10:32). Sherman Owens says, "Every advancement is made through warfare and won on a battle field." Before Jesus even began His ministry, Satan offered Him the whole world if He'd just submit to him. And he's got several propositions for you too. Be careful; the safest place to be, is in the middle of your God-given purpose. When Noah was building the ark, he could endure a hundred years of scorn. But when the job was done, he ended up drunk and disgraced. Gideon, Samson, Solomon, and a host of others all "blew it" in the last lap. If you want to finish strong, stay in your God-given purpose. That's the Word for you today!
[by Bob Gass]

ONE DAY AT A TIME
(Matt. 6:34).
The fastest way to lose your peace, is to worry about tomorrow. Fear is just a grown-up version of worry. Once you give in to one, other fears come in too. God has only promised you enough grace for today, because that's all you can handle.

Stop and take inventory of the things you worried about last year, or last month. How many of the things you worried about came to pass? How many did you change by worrying? Did worrying change them for the better or the worse? How much time, peace, joy and life did you sacrifice by worrying? How about the physical and emotional toll it took on you? What does your worrying say to those around you who hear that you're a Christian? When are you going to face the fact that you worry too much and do something about it?

You don't have to worry about tomorrow any more. Learn to trust in the One who holds tomorrow (Psa. 37:5). That's the key! Don't waste today's grace on tomorrow's concerns! It's amazing how much you accomplish when you learn to live one day at a time.

There's something about going through a crisis that let's you discover things about God that you never knew. Right? Instead of worrying, attack your anxieties with the promises of God. Bring your fears into His presence, and watch them die. Paul says...(Phili. 4:6).
[by Bob Gass]

PROTECT YOUR PEACE
(Psa. 29:11).
The next time you start getting upset, remind yourself that...(I Cor. 14:33). Then ask yourself, "What's the enemy trying to do here? If I give in to frustration, a critical spirit, or a negative outlook what will the results be?" You can be sure of one thing - they won't be in your best interest.

Satan times his attacks carefully. Listen...(Eph. 4:25-26). Have you ever spent a night in angry silence, lying beside the one you love? Then, when you get up the next morning, you feel like you haven't been to bed at all? Make an agreement now that you won't give Satan that kind of foothold in your home or in your life!

When you're upset you lose your joy - then you lose your strength, for...(Neh. 8:10). Suddenly your motivation's gone, you're depressed, and the enemy's gloating. Ponder these words carefully...(Isa. 30:15). Protect your environment. What God wants to do for you can only be accomplished in an atmosphere of quietness and confidence.

Don't let the criticism or rejection of others rob you of your peace either. Just do what Jesus said...(Matt. 10:14). The devil works in turmoil, but God works in peace - so live in peace today!
[by Bob Gass]

YOUR POSITION AND YOUR CONDITION!
(Rom. 5:1).
Until you know the truth about how God sees you, you'll always work for His approval, feel unworthy of His love, and fear that you'll never measure up. Your concept of God will determine your confidence before God. Read these verses! Get them into your spirit! Allow them to change your perspective!
(II Cor. 5:21).
Unworthiness is one of the greatest weapons Satan has against you - get rid of it! God has put a screen between you and Himself - the blood of Jesus. When He looks at you through that screen, you're acceptable, acquitted of all charges, and perfect. Isn't that wonderful? Listen...(Rom. 4:24). Did you hear that? It's already been credited to your account!

There's a difference between your position and your condition. When you "blow it," that affects your condition. But your fixed position is "in Christ" (Rom. 8:1). You may say, "What about my shortcomings?" That's your condition and the Holy Spirit is working on that continually. Change is a daily process, and while you're in that process, God sees you as righteous! In other words, being righteous is not a performance - it's a position, and God puts you into it by faith alone! Aren't you glad?
[by Bob Gass]

TURN THE WORD LOOSE ON YOUR FEARS!
(Psa. 56:4).
If you're anxious and afraid today, the Lord who created you says...(Isa. 43:1-3; Josh. 1:9; Psa. 33:18).
When I am tempted to have a fearful and hasty heart, I remember these words...(Isa. 35:4; Psa. 34:3-4; Psa. 27:1, 5-6). Now use these promises to confront and conquer every fear in your life.
[by Bob Gass]

SERVING OTHERS
(Eph. 6:7).
Country singer Vince Gil says, "When I'm in a big arena playing to ten thousand people, and somebody says, "Aren't you glad you don't have to play those little nightclubs any more?" I say, "What! Are you kidding? I'm still going to have to play those little places. I'll be playing them on my way back down - and you know what? If I still love the music, it won't matter!" What a lesson! If you love God, and you love people, it will not matter if you are ministering to one, or to a multitude. (Actually, if you can't do the first - God will never call you to do the second!)

When I started writing this devotional five years ago, our first edition was only 3,000 copies. Today, we publish over one million copies, in five different languages, (it takes me two full months to write each quarter). One day in prayer I asked God, "What do I say to that many people?" God seemed to whisper to me "Just talk to one - and let others read it."

Today you get to choose again between a life of service and a life of selfishness. Jesus said...(Mark 10:45). The bottom line is - if you love Him, you'll love others, and if you serve Him, you'll serve others. Ask God to help you live like that today.
[by Bob Gass]

LORD, HELP US TO LISTEN!
(Mark 4:9).
Studies show that we forget 50% of what we hear immediately; 80% within 24 hours, and 97% within a week. What's the solution? When you listen, make it your goal to understand; not just to remember the facts! Great learners are great listeners! How often have you told yourself you are going to spend more time listening to the people who matter to you the most? Show up for life's special moments or before you know it, there'll be none to show up for!

Those who listen to us tend to become the most important people in our lives. If you want to be one of them, do these three things:

1).	Look at the speaker. Don't belittle someone by catching up on other work shuffling paper, doing dishes, or watching television while they are talking. Make the time to focus on them.
2).	Don't interrupt. When you constantly interrupt it means;
	(a)	you do not place much value on what I say;
	(b)	you are trying to impress me with how much you know;
	(c)	you are too excited by the conversation to let me finish.
3).	Suspend your judgement. Wait to hear the whole story before you respond. If you don't, you may miss the most important thing I have to say.

Can you think of anyone you have not been listening to lately? Rejoice - it's never too late to become a good listener.
[by Bob Gass]

LOOKING AT THE CROSS
(Matt. 27:36).
Listen to these words...(Matt. 27:28-32).

What do you see when you look at the cross? Here's what you should see: His head is pierced with the thorns of every issue that would ever afflict your mind. His hands were nailed through for every vile thing your hands were ever used to do. His feet were nailed to the tree for every illicit, immoral place you ever walked! When He cried...(Mark 15:34), He was feeling the hell that separation from God would have brought you eternally. But, when He finally cried: "It is finished," He was writing "paid in full" across every unpaid debt your sin had accumulated. Though blind, Fanny Crosby, had a vision of the cross (the kind we all need), and wrote:

When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died;
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

The bottom line is this - if you had been the only person who had ever lived, it would have taken every drop of His blood to redeem you. So the question is: What are you going to do about it?
[by Bob Gass]

GUARD YOUR THOUGHTS
(Phili. 4:7).
Where do tormenting thoughts come from? Damaged emotions, painful events and vicious opinions are from Satan himself. Listen...(John 13:27). The enemy plants seeds of thought in your mind. if you don't abort them before they take root, they'll reproduce off-spring somewhere else in your life.

Don't allow what happened yesterday to determine who you are today. Stand up and declare, "I may have failed, but I'm not a failure." Don't allow the memory of a broken marriage, an unkept promise, or a personal calamity to consume you. Look out! Those negative impressions, armed with memories and flash-backs, will try to strengthen themselves by rehearsing the past over and over again in your head. Like bad television re-runs, you don't enjoy watching them - yet you find yourself "hooked" on them.

You don't have to watch that movie any more! That's right - hit the remote! You take control over your thoughts (Luke 10:18-19). If you're going to be healed in your mind, you must constantly reprogram yourself to think better thoughts. Listen...(Phili. 4:8-9). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

GUARD YOUR MIND
(Prov. 23:7).
Your thoughts can be previews of "coming attractions" unless you do something about them. When the enemy sets out to destroy you; he starts with a thought. Listen...(Matt. 5:27-28).

Evil thoughts aren't yours until you allow them to "move in" and rearrange the furniture. Left to rarnble through your mind, a thought will attach itself to an incident in your past and feed on it until it becomes a tumour inside you. Paul says...(II Cor. 10:5). Solomon says...(Prov. 4:23).

Don't give wrong or unclean thoughts any room inside your head. Evict them before they weaken your commitment and leave you crying in the valley of regret. Guard you heart instead of your hair-do!

When we clean our houses, we tend to focus only on what people would see if they inspected them. Can you imagine how much mental junk we collect because nobody sits in our heads, examining our thoughts? But somebody does! David said, "You know my every thought..." (Psa. 139:2). That knowledge should make you pray today...(Psa. 19:14).
[by Bob Gass]

IS GOD STIRRING UP YOUR NEST?
(Deut. 32:11-12).
Can you imagine how a tiny eagle feels when he's forced out of his nest and pushed over a cliff's edge? Imagine the questions as he realises it's his mother doing this to him.

Recently, I watched someone I love go through this. I knew that he was about to discover his wings and begin to soar, but my heart ached for him. Yet, there's no other way! Everybody who reaches their destiny must first discover their wings. My friend had reached the top of his chosen profession, only to discover that all his accomplishments had left him empty. He said to me, "I feel like my life makes no difference." The moment you decide you want God's will above all else, He initiates the circumstances required - and sometimes it can make you pretty miserable going through it.

Your education; your reputation; your material worth - it makes no difference when God starts stirring up your nest. You'll go through times of confusion, anxiety, and discomfort - plus a lot of stomach-in-your-throat free falls before you learn to fly. Listen...(Phili. 1:6). The Word for you today is - if God's pushing you out of your nest, trust Him, obey Him, and follow Him - for you're about to rise to new heights.
[by Bob Gass]

IF YOUR VISION IS OF GOD
(Acts 26:19).
If your vision is of God, there are three things you need to know. First, how to hold it! Every vision is connected to a time-frame. Listen...(Hab. 2:3). Some of us can conceive "vision," but we can't carry it to full term because we're not willing to put up with the stretching and discomfort that's required. Sometimes we rush ahead of God, and our vision is still-born, or too weak to survive. Jesus said...(John 3:6). Anything that's born of God's Spirit will be sustained by Him; but if it's born of the flesh - you're on your own!

Second, how to hide it! Don't share your vision with those who can't handle it. Joseph did, and landed in a pit. Don't expect everybody to celebrate your arrival - especially if your light shines brighter than theirs. Ask God for discernment; Judas may look good to you at the moment; but inevitably, he'll betray you.

Third, how to water it! Listen to these scriptures...(I Sam. 30:6; Jude 20). You've got to learn how to water your vision. The prophet Habakkuk said...(Hab. 2:2). Write down your vision on a small piece of card. Carry it with you. Pray over it. Beginning today - start acting like the person you expect to be when your vision becomes reality!
[by Bob Gass]

GENUINE REPENTANCE
(Rom. 2:4).
It may sound mushy and simplistic to some, but "it's the goodness of God that leads us to repentance"; not fear that God will hurt us, but genuine concern that we'll hurt the One who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20). Repentance does not come because of the threats and scare-tactics of some preacher who needs mercy himself. No, it comes because of the unfailing love of a God who cares for "earthen vessels" that should have been thrown on to the scrap heap of life.

When David committed adultery, he cried...(Psa. 5l:4). Nothing will put the brakes on your misguided passion, faster than realising that you're sinning against the One who loved you, lifted you; loosed you; and let you live again. You'll feel compelled to please Him when He stands beside you though all others have forsaken you. There's no way you can weather a storm in His loving arms, and not say, "I am thine oh Lord."

Accepting the rejected is not the weakness of the Gospel - it's the strength! We must not compromise with sin. There's a world of difference between the coldness of a rebellious heart, and the cry of a troubled heart that says: "God; save me from myself." One glimpse of His grace brings us all crashing to the floor on bended knees, confessing and forsaking, and...(II Cor. 10:5). The truth is, God's grace should not prevent godliness, it should produce it. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

LETTING OUR CHILDREN GO
(I Sam. 1:11).
Often we focus on others, because it's too painful to deal with ourselves. We become martyrs for our children, yet when they leave, we feel betrayed by the very growth and independence we cultivated in them. Parent, don't just prepare your child for change, prepare yourself! Mature love doesn't just survive the changing seasons - it thrives on them. If you bury yourself in the needs of others to escape the void in your own life, what will you do when there's nobody around to fix or to focus on?

The highest divorce rate today is between the seventeenth and twenty-fourth year of marriage. That's when the children leave home. Suddenly two people who focused all their attention on their children find themselves with nothing left to say to each other. They loved their kids obsessively, but they forgot to love each other as well. So now they drift apart or live without intimacy and joy.

Hannah was wise enough to love her child, but to cling only to God and her husband. Wake up! Life has a middle name, and it's called change. If you can flow and grow with it, you'll be blessed. But if you're inflexible - you'll be broken. Rekindle your love for your mate. When you're making your list of priorities - make sure you include yourself. When your role changes, don't lose your self-worth or your identity. Just gather up your assets, redefine your purpose, and live joyfully until your last breath. Think about it.
[by Bob Gass]

YOUR DAILY HABITS
(II Cor. 4:16).
Where are your present habits taking you? If you smoke three packs a day, what's the inevitable? If you constantly eat greasy foods, all your good intentions, and your passionate praying won't help you win "the battle of the bulge" or unclog your arteries. Wake up! Your habits are carving out an irreversible future for you.

Paul says...(Gal. 6:7). Turn your life over to God today, and He'll give you the power to break your bad habits, and the ability to develop good habits that will get you to your God-ordained destiny (Acts 1:8).

Nothing will ever dominate your life, until it happens daily. If you want to be a winner, hang around with great people. If a book is as close as you can get to them - read their biography. Develop the habit of giving God the first portion of every pay-cheque, so thy barns are filled with plenty (Prov. 3:9-10). Do nothing without first talking it over with the Lord (Prov. 3:6). Set a specific prayer time. Here's a suggestion - get a treadmill and pray while you walk. That way you can exercise your body and your spirit. You'll be amazed at the confidence you'll have during the day if you've kept your appointment with God (Psa. 5:3). Today, take a fresh look at your habits and do something about them!
[by Bob Gass]

PROTECT YOUR VISION
(Prov. 29:18).
The word "perish" literally means, "to decay like a rotten apple". What a picture! Suddenly the force has waned, and the fire has gone out. On what day does the passion leave a marriage or the worker lose interest in their job? Like air leaking silently out of a tyre, what was meant to bear your weight and power you toward your destiny, can now barely wobble. If that's how you feel then listen...(Isa. 40:29-31).

Each of us goes through it. Paul said...(Acts 14:15). We're all affected by the same stimuli and struggles. We all need His mercies newly bestowed on us every morning (Lam. 3:21-23).

So what should we do? First, stop isolating. Remember how God's family works...(Gal. 6:2). You've given to others in times past, now have the grace and humility to receive back. Listen again...(Mal. 3:16). Use your connections! Start reading. Put on a tape. Fill the house with praise. Watch your focus change, and your faith begin to rise. The Word for you today is - protect your vision.
[by Bob Gass]

SOMETHING TO HELP YOU SMILE
(Eccl. 9:10).
I hope you enjoy the following story. An engineer, an accountant, a pharmacist, and government worker were bragging about how smart their dogs were. First, the engineer called to his dog "T-Square! do your stuff!" T-Square trotted over to a desk took out some paper, and drew a circle, a square, and a triangle. Everyone was impressed. But the accountant said his dog could do better. So he shouted, "Spreadsheet! do your stuff!" Spreadsheet ran to the kitchen, and returned with a dozen biscuits divided them into four piles of three biscuits each. Everyone agreed that was good. Next, the pharmacist shouted to his dog, "Measure! do your stuff!" So Measure got a quart of milk, and poured exactly 50ml's into a 100ml glass without spilling a drop. Everybody was very impressed. Finally they all asked the government worker what his dog could do. So the government worker shouted, "Coffee Break! do your stuff!" Coffee Break jumped to his feet, ate the biscuits, drank the milk, messed on the floor, attacked the other three dogs, claimed he injured his back while doing so, filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions, put in for workers compensation, and went home for the rest of the day on sick leave. They all agreed that was brilliant. So what's the point? Whatever God has given you to do today - do well! Why? (Eccl. 9:10). Think about it, and make the most of this day!
[by Bob Gass]

STUMBLING BLOCKS
(Isa. 57:14).
Here are three stumbling blocks you need to remove if you're going to fulfil your destiny:
1). An unforgiven offence. Jesus said...(Mark 11:26). Forgiving others isn't an option! When the thought of someone creates resentment in you, pray for them immediately. Say, "Father, I forgive them as you have forgiven me. Whatever I ask for myself in blessing, I ask for them in double measure." Go ahead, do it! When you retaliate, you deny God the right to show mercy and deal with the situation His way. Quit playing God! You've received mercy - now pass it on.
2). An unwise relationship. Paul said...(I Cor. 15:33). Whoever doesn't increase you, will eventually decrease you. You choose the level of mentality you want to live on. If you give time to those who are unworthy of it, then don't complain. Become selective! Only choose people who respect your God-given purpose and who know how to build up your faith and confidence,
3). An uncommitted heart. David said...(Psa. 37:5). A committed heart is a decided heart. It is the result of a made-up mind. That explains the charisma that certain people have; it attracts favour and opportunity. Get involved in something great today. Give yourself to what you really believe in. Make a commitment to God right now!
[by Bob Gass]

THE BLOOD
(Heb. 9:22).
Take the blood out of your church, and overnight "the body" becomes a corpse. Take it out of your Bible; and it's only a book of good advice - not good news. Take it out of your preaching; and how do you deal with sin and guilt? Listen...(Heb. 9:22).

When Adam and Eve sinned, God covered them with the skins of an animal that was slain for that purpose (Gen. 3:21). Look what He did; then start doing it for others. He discovered him; He covered him, and He gave him a new beginning; wounded but wiser. That's what the blood does!

There's a terrible prejudice in the church today, that denies the cleansing power of the blood to it's "uncomely members" (I Cor. 12:23). If somebody fails in an area we relate to; we accept them. But if they struggle in an area we don't understand; we distance, and judge them. The spirit of Cain is loose among us! We have condemned our brother because his sin is different from ours. Have you been guilty of that? If so, repent before God, and restore to them an opportunity to experience the cleansing power of the blood. Whether they are black; white, rich; poor, homosexual; heterosexual, drug addict; or alcoholic, without the blood of Jesus to save us, and the Holy Spirit to empower us - none of us can make it! Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU ALONE?
(Gen. 32:24).
Whether it's through death or desertion, each of us will deal with loneliness. It's painful to discover how easily people clamour for us when we're successful, but forsake us when we're struggling. Yet, God uses this to strip us of our dependency on others and firstly to create in us "God-reliance" then "self-reliance".

If you're still feeling the pain, then something's still out of order. Talk to the Lord. Let Him guide you into the right attitudes, and the right actions. Your future depends on it. People come and go. You can survive the loss of even those who are closest to you - but you can't survive without God.

If you are still struggling with bitterness, it's a sign that the healing process is not over yet. Let God work on you. When you've gone "full-cycle" your circumstances will no longer produce pain - only peace. Listen...(Phili. 4:7).

As long as you keep the pain alive, grace can never be released. Grace teaches you to forgive because you have been forgiven. Accept life on life's terms and move on into wholeness - free to live, free to trust, and free to love again. Are you ready for that? Or do you still need to treat your friends to a history class? When God got through with Jacob, he had a new name, a new nature, a new walk and a new future, and Jacob's God is your God. Step with Him into the present. Today, let Him jump-start your heart and make you live again (Isa. 43:18-19; Phili. 3:13-14).
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR CHILDREN
(Deut. 6:6-7).
Today, the two greatest influences on your children are "music" and "television". Both of them constantly threaten your values, and they're all the more dangerous because most parents have no idea what their children are watching or listening to - do you? God's Word clearly states that there are six things you owe your children.
1. Teach them (Deut. 6:6-7).
2. Train them (Prov. 22:6).
3. Provide for them (II Cor. 12:14).
4. Nurture them (Eph. 6:4).
5. Control them (I Tim. 3:4), and
6. Love them (Titus 2:4).

Wear the shoes you want filled. Lot made some critical mistakes that not only hurt him, but ultimately destroyed his family (Gen. 19:1-25). Study his life. He had the wrong emphasis; he placed financial prosperity over spiritual principles. He had the wrong environment. He hoped his family could live in Sodom, and not be affected by it. He had the wrong expectation. He thought he could change Sodom by compromising with it. He had the wrong example. He thought his family would follow his instructions, instead of his lifestyle. Finally, he had the wrong relationships. He did not know how much the world had influenced him or his family, until it was too late. (Gen. 19:4). Parent, if you believe that you can live by the world's rules, but expect your children to follow God's rules, you are fooling yourself and condemning them. Ask God today to help you become the parent your child needs.
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T GET SIDE-TRACKED
(Prov. 4:26-27).
Are you becoming what you want to be? Before you answer, listen carefully to this: "I have not read the latest books; only the local newspaper. I have not heard the birds sing this year; only the ringing of telephones. I have not taken a walk anywhere; except from the carpark to my office. I have not shared a feeling in years; but my thoughts are known to all. I have not listened to my own needs; but what I want, I get. I have not shed a tear in years; but I have arrived. Is this where I was going?" Ponder those words carefully.

Solomon drank from every cup of human experience - wealth, wine, and women, and he labelled them all "...utterly meaningless" (Eccl. 1:2). After writing three o the greatest books in the Bible, Solomon, the wisest of men, died as the greatest of fools - an idol worshipper and far from God. Incredible!

Listen to what he wrote...(Prov. 4:23-25). Solomon continues on with...(Prov. 4:26-27). If it could happen to Solomon, it could happen to any of us, so guard your words and your ways. Listen to some more of his words...(Prov. 3:6). Now there's something to think about!
[by Bob Gass]

LOOKING FOR MR OR MRS RIGHT
(Eccl. 9:9).
Before Abraham died, he sent his servant back to the "old country," to find a wife for his son Isaac. He knew the importance of marrying someone who shares your values and your faith (Gen. 23). Do not end up like the woman who said to her husband, "I thought you were well-off before I married you." He replied, "I was!"

If you're shopping for a long-term relationship, go to a store that offers quality products and real guarantees. If you talk to a dozen different people, you will get at least a dozen different standards they used to choose their partner. One example is from a single woman who prayed, "Father in heaven hear my prayer; grant it if you can; I've hung a pair of trousers here, please fill them with a man."

Lois Wyse offers the following suggestions for picking a mate in Good Housekeeping Magazine:
1). Watch him drive in heavy traffic.
2). Play tennis with him.
3). Observe him talking to his mother when he does not know that you're listening.
4). See how he treats those who serve him (waiters, housekeepers).
5). Notice what he's willing to spend his money on, and
6). Look at his friends. If you still can't make up your mind, then look at his shoes; if he keeps those in good repair, he'll generally keep the rest of his life that way too."

Now listen to Paul...(I Cor. 13:4-8). That's God's formula for a great relationship - and you can't improve on that!
[by Bob Gass]

THE PEOPLE OF WAR!
(Josh. 8:1).
When trouble hits your life - reach for "the people of war!" They're trained for battle. They're not afraid to fight. They've developed strategies for winning, They have that "bulldog spirit," which rises above every circumstance and says...(Rom. 8:31).

The people of war are really the people of the Word. That's right; they know how to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and go after the enemy (Eph. 6:17). While some hang their swords as ornaments, and others hold them high in ceremonial parades, the people of war know how to march into the enemy's carnp, and take back everything he has stolen (I Sam. 30:8).

Anybody can walk with you in the sunshine, and worship with you on Sunday morning. But when you find somebody who can go to war with you; hold on to them! Solomon says...(Prov. 17:17). Did you hear that? They're born for it! They're not just strong in faith, they're even stronger in fight.

You won't find these people on elevated platforms, for they blow no trumpet, wave no banner, and demand no recognition. But they're a battering ram that breaks through the gates of bell, and procures the promises that belong to you and me. Listen...(Josh. 8:1). What more could you ask for?
[by Bob Gass]

DISCERNING PEOPLE
(I Kings 3:9).
In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:15), one man had five talents, another two, and another one. Learn to know each person's capacity, otherwise you'll be constantly frustrated. And remember, people respond better to love than to constant analysis!

In her book "Personality Plus," Florence Littauer describes four basic personality types:
(1) Sanguine: Out-going, witty, artistic, emotional, outspoken, and optimistic.
(2) Melancholy: Perfectionist; introverted, task-oriented, artistic, emotional, organised, and pessimistic.
(3) Phlegmatic: Desires peace: is introverted, unemotional, strong-willed, relationship oriented, pessimistic, and purpose-driven.
(4) Choleric: Controlling, decisive, goal oriented, organised, unemotional, out-going, out-spoken, and optimistic. I'm a "sanguine/choleric" what are you?

When you're dealing with a choleric, be strong. When you're dealing with a melancholic, be focused. When you're dealing with a phlegmatic, be reassuring. When you're dealing with a sanguine, be motivating.

Paul says...(I Thes. 5:12). That means know what they want, know what they need, and know what motivates them. This way, you can accomplish incredible things and have a great relationship too. Today, make Solomon's prayer your prayer...(I Kings 3:9).
[by Bob Gass]

YOUR TIME IS COMING!
(Psa. 40:1).
Are you having a hard time waiting? Has God promised you something but you see no way that it can ever come to pass? Listen...(Hab. 2:3). God does everything on schedule, and your appointment is still on His calendar. Be at peace. Be assured that nothing the enemy does can ever abort God's plan for your life!

When God speaks a particular word to you, it's like a seed. First it must fall into the soil of faith, and be given time to grow. Then it must be watered by prayer and the Word of God. It won't come to pass because you (or anybody else) push or manipulate it. No, it's...(Zech. 4:6). Be tenacious! If God has promised you something, stand on that promise - have faith!

At 12 years of age, I "knew" I was called to preach, but I had no idea how. That year my dad died, and left my mum to raise three of us on a pension of $9 a week. I had no opportunity to attend Bible School. The circumstances seemed impossible. Then, God moved and used Dr. Gordon Magee to bring me to America. Dr. Magee trained me in the ministry, and introduced me to other pastors - the rest is history! God can put it together for you too! He knows the right way, the right people, and the right time. Listen again...(Psa. 40:1). Your time is coming!
[by Bob Gass]

LET GOD RESTORE YOUR DESIRE!
(Psa. 119:2).
Listen to these verses...(Deut. 6:5; Prov. 3:5; Jer. 29:13). Please note the words "all your heart." Satan is out to break your focus, for when you lose that, your purpose and your power go with it. It's the burning effect of a "vision" that keeps us from getting lost in a wilderness of things that make no difference in the light of eternity.

Look at the birthing table. It's designed to hold the mother in position, in spite of the pain. Can you maintain your position - even when it means being exposed to great pain? That's what prayer and Bible reading will do for you; hold you in place when you would otherwise have stepped out of the will of God to avoid pain.

Have you decided that if you don't risk again, you can't be hurt again?' That also means you can't be fruitful again. Listen...(Gen. 3:16). God says that at the end of all the labour and pain, He'll recycle the relationship between the woman and the man, by restoring her desire. There's no cure for past pain like present desire. Whether you've been exhausted by your victories, or beaten down by your defeats, allow God to draw you to Himself today. Allow Him to restore your desire to be all that He wants you to be.
[by Bob Gass]

LOOK WHAT YOU GOT FOR CHRISTMAS
(Isa. 9:6).
Jesus was both God and man. As a child He was born; but as the Son of God, He could only be given because He always existed. He's the perfect solution because He understands both the claims of divinity, and the struggles of humanity.

Take a moment and examine this "unspeakable gift" called Jesus! (II Cor. 9:15).
(1) He's your "daysman!" Job said...(Job 9:33). "Daysman" is an old English word for a man who was more than just an umpire; he could actually join the game and bring both sides together. Friend, when you "mess up," there's a daysman who keeps one hand on you, and the other on God - so that the connection is never broken! How wonderful!

(2) He's your intercessor! Listen...(Heb. 7:25). If you had to remember and confess every sin of omission and commission you've committed, you'd never sleep or work - you'd live on your knees. But His death covers all the wrong you've done, and His life covers all the good you've left undone. So He's qualified to represent you day and night before the throne of God. What an arrangement! Jesus - God's gift to you this Christmas!
[by Bob Gass]

FORGET THE DATE: JUST GET ON WITH THE JOB!
(Matt. 24:36).
If you had a doctor whose diagnosis was wrong as often as the predictions of some of our "prophecy experts," would you trust him with your life? One Christian author sold 20 million books, in which he asserted that the "Rapture of the Church" would take place by 1988. Without apology or explanation, he has written a second one, pointing us to the year 2007.

Another popular television preacher has been offering "Rapture deadlines" since 1975, when he warned that the Soviet flag would probably fly over Independence Hall in Philadelphia by 1976. He then fixed the date of the "Rapture" at 1992. Undaunted, his latest book says it'll be around 2012. (Interestingly, he refers to Nostradamus, the 16th century occult seer, as "a great Bible student.")

Now we have Y2K! Ominous warnings that Russian missiles will be accidentally released; planes will fall out of the sky; banking systems will fail; and we'll all be forced to take "The Mark of the Beast" just to feed our families! Will it happen? I doubt it, but I can assure you that the authors will become very rich!

The Bible tells us to avoid "foolish ... arguments" (II Tim. 2:23). Why? Because they discredit us before the world! Who's going to listen to a church that repeatedly sets the wrong date, when Jesus said it shouldn't be setting any dates at all. God didn't give Noah a date - He gave him a job! Nothing happened until the job was done! Are you getting the idea? Our job is not yet done, so let's forget the "date setting," roll up our sleeves, and go to work!
[by Bob Gass]

ALONE - AND THRIVING!
(Matt. 6:32-33).
When you know how God feels about you, your memories will begin to heal, your self-worth will be restored, and you'll stop trading with a devalued self-image. Get rid of the idea that anybody's company is preferable to your own. In a recent survey of thousands of "supposedly" happy couples - 52% of them confided that they wouldn't marry the same person again. Think about that!

The answer to loneliness is not people; it's purpose. John was alone on Patmos when God revealed to him the glories of heaven. Paul was alone in prison, when he wrote the epistles. God did His best work when there was no one around to applaud His accomplishments; so He praised Himself saying, "... it is very good" (Gen. 1:31). Can you do that? When others say nice things about you, it only reflects their opinion of you. But when you can speak well of yourself, it reflects your own opinion of yourself - and that's the one you live with every day!

Three cheers for the people whose departure taught us how to be alone and enjoy it. Somewhere beyond loneliness there's a contentment born of necessity. It's when your options are limited in the earthly realm, that doors swing open in the spiritual realm. Pursue a relationship with God and you'll have more peace and joy than you ever dreamed possible - and in the process you'll develop the very qualities that make you more attractive to others. That's the word for you today!
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE THIS JOB AND LOVE IT!
(Prov. 13:4).
Did you hear about the man who dreamed that he inherited a million dollars? In his dream he awoke and tried to take a shower; but the shower wouldn't work. He tried to shave but the shaver wouldn't shave. He tried to get some breakfast, but the coffee wouldn't perk and the toaster wouldn't toast. He went to get a newspaper, but the newspaper machine was empty. He went to catch a bus but the bus didn't come. Finally, after waiting for an hour, he asked somebody, "What's going on here?" They replied, "Haven't you heard? Everybody has inherited a million dollars, and nobody's working any more!

Suddenly, he woke up and discovered it was only a dream. So he went and had a tremendous shower, and a tremendous shave, and a tremendous cup of coffee, and a tremendous piece of toast while he was reading his tremendous newspaper. Finally, he caught a tremendous bus to his tremendous job!

Today, thank God for what He has given you to do, and do it with all your heart. You may never be called to "the ministry," but if your job gives you the privilege of being a solution to somebody else's problem, and offers you the dignity of "making a difference" in this world, then be grateful! Imagine what your life would be like without it! Consider these words...(Prov. 13:4).
[by Bob Gass]

DOING WHAT IT TAKES
(Phili. 3:9).
Before you find real purpose, you'll usually go through a series of adversities that cause you to let go of the temporal, and cling to the eternal. For Paul it meant the loss of everything (Phili. 3:8). For some it means the heat of battle in a divorce court, when the one person you thought was everything, walks away and leaves you. Suddenly, you're stripped down to what you had before. Look at Job; his home is a shambles, his marriage a joke, and his children are dead. He discovered that you can be stripped of the temporal, but not the eternal. You can lose wealth, friends, and fame, without loosing character, or Christ - they survive the strippings of life!

Listen...(Job 1:20). Worship is born when real sacrifice occurs. When you lay upon the altar something you thought you had to have (because you realised it was God's all the time) - that's worship. Take a look at Abraham's altar. God didn't want the slain body of Isaac (Abraham's son). He only wanted to know, "Is there anything you love more than Me?" That's always the question. The laying aside of our desires, our ambitions, and our personal agendas requires us to say, "Lord, here is my unforgiveness and my grudges. Here's my need to impress. Here's my time and my over-time. Here's anything I'm wrapped up in that hinders me from being completely Yours. You'll never have to take these things from me, for I gladly give You all it takes to be who You want me to be." When you can pray that prayer and mean it - you're really starting to get somewhere with the Lord.
[by Bob Gass]

DON'T LOSE YOUR MORAL AUTHORITY
(Rom. 14:16).
Parent, live for God! Stop messing around! You're doing damage to your children! Jesus said...(Matt. 18:6). The force of your teaching doesn't come from your head knowledge, it comes from your experience and your example. That's called your "moral authority." How strong is yours? As your children grow older, they become less inclined to listen to what you say, and more inclined to imitate what you do. Consider well the story of Abraham and Lot.

They both shared the same family, the same faith, and the same opportunities. Yet when it came to child-raising, Abraham grew roses and Lot grew weeds. What was the difference? Abraham walked with God, but Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom (the world) - (Gen. 13:12). Eventually, Sodom caused Lot to lose his influence, his moral authority, and finally his family. It happened to David too; even though he was forgiven and permitted to remain on the throne, look what happened to his children. One of them raped his daughter; another stole his throne and disgraced his name. Also, Solomon had so many problems with women that he turned his back on God. How tragic. Listen to the words the prophet Nathan spoke to David after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba...(II Sam. 12:11).
[by Bob Gass]

ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
(I Cor. 1:8).
Recently, when I spoke in a church, and gave the invitation for salvation, several choir members and deacons came forward for salvation. Later, the pastor said, "I need to change what I'm preaching. I know those people are saved; the trouble is - they don't seem to." When I was a boy, I used to get "saved" every night. Sound familiar? Then one day I discovered that God saw me through the blood of Jesus; acquitted of all charges, and totally acceptable before Him. Listen...(Rom. 5:9). How wonderful!

I was afraid that if I preached this, people would use it as a license to go out and sin. I was wrong! If you're just looking for an excuse to live as you please, I doubt if you've even committed your life to Christ' Check your credentials! Grace doesn't prevent godliness, it produces it! Listen...(Titus 2:11-12).

When you really understand how God sees you, you'll be sure of your salvation, and you'll have confidence to claim His promises. Begin to confess, "I may not be where I need to be, but thank God, I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way!" The changes occurring in your life today, are a manifestation of the position that God has already given you through faith. Aren't you glad?
[by Bob Gass]

SAVED BY THE GRACE WE PREACH TO OTHERS
(I Cor. 1:23).
Even the best among us need God's saving grace! The ground is level at the foot of the cross. Jesus told of a pharisee who prayed "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are...(Luke 18:11). He's unworthy, yet he thinks he's the best dressed man in town. He's pathetic! He's like the lady who told her pastor after each service, "You sure told them today!" One night a storm blew in, and only she and the pastor showed up; so the pastor really let her have it. After the service she told him, "That was great! If only they had have been here tonight, you sure would have told them."

People listen to our one-sided testimonies of success without failure; and become discouraged. They think "they" struggle, while "we" have it all together. They're discouraged because we've falsified the records, and failed to tell the truth. God help us! Our message should be: we "were" saved by grace; we "are being" saved by grace; and we "will" be saved by grace!

It was after David failed that grace enabled him to write his greatest Psalms - the ones we all take comfort in. It was because Paul had filled jails (and graves) with believers that he cried, "I owe a great debt..." (Rom. 1:14), and carried his cross all the way to martyrdom. Preacher, don't quit because someone's discovered that you're like "...a treasure in earthen vessels..." (II Cor 4:7). There's a cry from the Jericho Road that nobody but you can hear. Some dying thief will listen and be saved; if only you'll keep preaching through your pain. The message that saves others, is the same one that saves us too. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM!
(Eph. 6:13).
Jesus said...(John 15:7). The abiding position is the place of power! When you're in the middle of a trial, do what God leads you to do, then stand firmly in your place and watch Him work on your behalf (Exo. 13:14).

It's okay to enjoy your life while God works on your problems. Don't be one of those people who think "The least I can do is worry and be miserable!" Joyce Meyer says that when she and her husband Dave were going through difficulties, he'd still enjoy himself - but she'd be miserable and actually get mad at him for not being miserable with her. If it was financial difficulty, Dave would say, "We've tithed and given offerings, and God says that He would meet all our needs. So why should I worry?" But Joyce would say, "I know, but how can you just do nothing?" Then Dave would say, "OK, what do you want me to do?" She'd say, "Pray!" He'd say, "I did! I asked God to take care of the problem and show me if there was anything He wanted me to do. Well, He hasn't shown me anything, so I see no point being miserable." For years, every time they had a problem, Dave would pray and stay in peace; and Joyce would pray and be miserable. Sound familiar?

In her book on peace, Joyce writes: "I finally realised that I was making myself miserable and prolonging the answer God wanted to give me. So now I abide in Him, and enjoy peace in the midst of the storm (Mark 4:37-40). Think about it carefully.
[by Bob Gass]

MAKE ME REAL!
(I Pet. 1:22).
Today everybody asks "How are you?" But they never seem to stay around to hear the answer. In' the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite cared more for their religious agenda, than they did for people who were hurting. It's a preacher's disease; finding something each week to say to others - even if it's not working in our own lives. David prayed...(Psa. 51:10). That's because he knew how easily our motives get mixed, and our attitudes become hardened.

I heard about a new college graduate with a degree in psychology who was asked to speak to senior citizens. For an hour he lectured on how to live successfully in your twilight years. When he was through, one of the senior citizens told him, "Son, your speech was wonderful, but there's something you'll only understand as you get older - right now you don't know what you're talking about!" Head reaches head, but only heart reaches heart. You don't have to have all the answers, but you can still win if you truly care for others and show it.

In 1842, Abraham Lincoln addressed the members of the Washington Temperance Society saying; "If you want to win a man to your cause, first convince him that you're his friend. If you try to dictate to his morals, control his actions, or mark him as one to be shunned, he'll retreat within himself and you'll no more be able to get to him than you could penetrate the hard shell of a tortoise with a rye straw." Today, ask God to take you back to the time when you spoke from your heart and cared deeply. Pray: "God whatever it takes, make me real!"
[by Bob Gass]

NOT WHO - BUT WHOSE!
(Isa. 43:1).
Peter had no idea who he was until he met Jesus. Listen to this fascinating interview...(Matt. 16:16-17).

How wonderful! When you discover who Jesus is and what He's done for you, you'll also discover who you are, and what He's called you to be. There's more to your life than working 40 hours a week, for 40 years, taking home a gold watch, drawing a pension, and playing with your grandchildren. No! As sure as your DNA is different from every person on earth, so is your individual destiny (John 3:5). But to see it, and to fulfil it, you've got to be born again (John 3:3). Jesus said at the grave of Lazarus...(John 11:25). The One who raised Lazarus from the dead wants to bring you to life spiritually too - will you let Him?
[by Bob Gass]

HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT YOU
(I John 4:19).
Sometimes our biggest problem is projection! When we don't like ourselves, we project that opinion on to others - including God. But that's wrong! Listen...(I John 4:19). I used to think that only if I was good enough would God love me in return. Then I discovered that I could do nothing to deserve God's love - and nothing to forfeit it.
Listen to these verses...(Psa. 36:7; Psa. 139:1-7; Isa. 30:18; Psa. 103:8-17). God loves you - commit your ways to Him today!
[by Bob Gass]

DO YOU HAVE "CLASS"?
(III John 12).
When others speak well of you, you've got acceptance; but when the truth speaks well of you, you've got class! Demetrius had it. Do you? Before you answer, listen to Paul's words to Timothy...(I Tim. 4:12-15).

That's class! Consider these words carefully. Class is just confidence dressed in humility. It keeps its word, its temper, and its friends. It has a steady eye, a steady nerve, a steady tongue, and steady habits. It's silent when it has nothing to say, thoughtful when it judges, and is always first to make amends when it's wrong. Class doesn't run scared. It's sure-footed, committed, and handles whatever comes along. Class has a sense of humour. It knows that a good laugh is often the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its bumps, learns from its mistakes, and becomes wiser. Class knows that courtesy and good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices. It bespeaks an aristocracy that is not dependent on ancestors or money. Class can walk with kings, yet still keep its virtue; talk with crowds, yet still maintain the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with a person who has class - because they are comfortable with themselves! Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

GET JONAH OFF YOUR BOAT
(Jonah 1:12).
Jonah