THE STATION
(Psa. 118:24).
In his great essay, "The Station," Robert Hastings writes, "Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long train trip that spans the continent. Out the windows we drink in the passing scenes - children waving, cattle grazing, rolling hillsides, city skylines, and village halls. But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, we'll pull into the station, bands will play, and flags will wave. Once we arrive, so many wonderful dreams will come true, and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle.

Restlessly we pace the aisles, despising the minutes ... waiting ... waiting ... waiting for the station. When we reach the station, 'That will be it', we cry! 'When I'm 18!' 'When I buy my first Mercedes.' 'When I get married.' 'When I put my last child through college.' 'When I've paid off the mortgage.' 'When I get that promotion.' 'When I reach retirement.' ... Waiting ... waiting ... waiting for the station. But sooner or later we realise that the true joy of life is not the destination - but the journey itself!"

Heaven will come soon enough; in the meantime David said...(Psa. 118:24). Stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles; life must be lived as you go along. The station will come soon enough!
[by Bob Gass]

SO YOU WANT TO BE A LEADER
(Neh. 6:15).
Jerusalem lay in ruins. That's where Nehemiah enters the picture. He rallied, motivated, and organised the people. Fifty-two days later, they washed off their trowels, stowed their gear, and walked away from a newly finished wall. How did he do it?

(1) He had passion! He could hardly sleep at night for picturing the problem and seeing himself solving it. That's what it takes!
(2) He could motivate others! What good is your leadership if you can't move other people to action?
(3) He had confidence in God! He may have doubted his own ability, but he never doubted God's. His book is hill of prayers - silent ones, short ones, specific ones.
(4) He refused to give up! From the time he started mixing the mortar until the day he hung the last gate, his critics never let up. But he took it - sarcasm, suspicion, gossip, threats, false accusations - you name it. Nothing could move him.
(5) He was realistic! He had some of the workers build the wall while others stood guard against attack. He acted without over-reacting; he was gracious but unbending. Good leaders may have their head in the heavens, but they've got their feet on the ground.
(6) He had the discipline to finish the job. Good leaders are finishers. When the job loses luster, they don't go somewhere else; they stay at it "in season and out." Still want to be a leader?
[by Bob Gass]

LEARNING TO ACCEPT GOD'S LOVE!
(I John 4:19).
We all know how frustrating it is to try and give a gift to someone who keeps refusing it. Insecurity and feelings of unworthiness keep many of us from being able to receive very well. We feel that we must always earn or deserve everything we get. Sometimes we even think, "Why would someone want to just give me something? What's their motive?"

Now if we feel that way, how much more does God feel that way, when He tries to give us His love, yet we refuse it because of a false sense of humility - or worse - because we doubt that He means it! When God reaches out to you in love, He's attempting to start a cycle that will not only bless you but others too. His plan is this: He wants you to receive his love; love yourself in a balanced and Godly way; love Him in return; and finally, love those He sends into your life!

But learning to accept God's love, to love yourself and then others takes time! As He did with the Israelites, God will help you to conquer your hang-ups "little by little" (Exo. 23:30). Change happens gradually, as you continue to read His Word and act on it (II Cor. 3:18). He is the author and finisher of your faith (Heb. 12:2). He has begun a good work in you, and He will complete it (Phili. 1:6). Look to Him today and say, "Lord, teach me to love."
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU IN A RUT?
(Psa. 51:12).
Henry Nouwen is a distinguished professor of theology with an impressive resume from Harvard and Yale. In his book, In the name of Jesus, he writes, "As I entered my 50s, I came face to face with this simple question: Did becoming older bring me closer to Jesus? After 25 years of ministry, I found myself praying poorly, isolated from other people, and very much preoccupied with burning issues. Something inside was telling me that my success was putting my own soul in danger. I woke up one day with the realisation that I was living in a very dark place and that the term 'burn out' was just a convenient psychological translation for spiritual death."

When Nouwen asked the Lord what He wanted him to do, he was told to go join the L'Arche Communities for mentally handicapped people. God said, "Go and live among the poor in spirit, and they will heal you." The lessons he learned there were painful, humbling and necessary.

First he experienced a deep spiritual change within his own being. Second, the master teacher learned to become a humble servant. Third, the self-confident individualist became a compassionate, caring friend. What a transformation!

God probably won't tell you to go live in a monastery, but He will challenge you about your coldness of heart, your callous attitudes, and your critical words. He'll let you know that you're "stale" and that you need something "fresh" in your life. Are you willing to listen to what He has to say, and then do something about it?
[by Bob Gass]

PLEASE - REMEMBER THE FORGOTTEN!
(Isa. 1:17).
Listen...(James 1:27). This could be the ministry you've been looking for! The only qualification you need is the memory of how it feels to be "left out" and the compassion to do something about it.

The following letter is from a lady whose husband died. She calls it, 'The Story of Widowhood.' "First numbness, then busyness. A million things to settle. Endless death certificates and things to sign. Friends are so considerate; caring support from relatives. You keep busy.

But at night you pound the empty side of the bed in grief. Finally you close your eyes, throw his toothbrush into the garbage, and toss out the old work shoes you brought home from the hospital in a plastic bag. You empty the closet and give all his things away. It's a heartache like you wouldn't believe. Every suit reminds you of a special place or time you shared together. A year has passed; you're still in one piece. Then the blow! Your friends celebrate a birthday - all couples. You're not included because you'd be a 'fifth wheel.' Some wives even consider you a threat. Please remember us. Don't treat us like excess baggage. We've been handed a rotten break and we need friends." Signed - Forgotten.

Think of the difference you could make today in somebody's life, if you were just willing to "remember the forgotten," and reach out to them!
[by Bob Gass]

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE - TAKE TIME!
(Mal. 4:5).
After trying to "get through" to a rebellious 15-year-old whose father had left 4 years earlier, a noted psychologist wrote these sobering words in Newsweek:

"Most adolescent boys can't make use of professional counselling...what they need and all too often don't have, is the fellowship of men - at least one man who pays attention to him who spends time with him and who admires him. A boy needs a man he can look up to. The great majority of youthful offenders are male, most without fathers involved in their lives. Many have never even met their fathers.

Where are the fathers of these boys? Well, I can tell you where they're not. They're not at PTA meetings or piano recitals. They're not teaching Sunday school. You won't find them in the pediatrician's office holding a sick child. Where are they? They're in diners and taverns, drinking, conversing and playing pool with other men. They're on golf courses, tennis courts or fishing on lakes and rivers. They're working from early morning till late at night. Some are home watching television, out mowing the lawn, or tuning up the car. In short, they're everywhere except in the company of their children!"

Sobering words, huh? Dad, do you have a free day or a few available hours? Are you tempted to fill them with projects or a trip to the links? Before you do, stop and ask yourself, "Why not spend some time with one of my children?" Go ahead, circle a few dates on your day-timer. Before it's too late, take time!
[by Bob Gass]

YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE
(I John 4:18).
God loves you unconditionally at all times. But you must believe that and receive His love. Only when you do that, can you begin to give that love back to God - and then bestow it on others. But you can't give away what you don't have!

Listen...(Rom. 5:5). When you commit your life to Christ, God's Spirit comes to live in your heart, and He brings with Him - love! The question is, what are you doing with that love? Are you rejecting it because you don't think you're good enough to be loved? Has it occurred to you that you have a relationship with yourself, that until you learn to love yourself, you'll never be able to love God or anybody else?

John says...(I John 4:18). I tried for years to walk in "perfect love," and I failed daily. I thought perfect love referred to my loving others perfectly. Then God showed me that only perfect love was His love for me. He is the only one that can love perfectly!

Once that became clear, I started confessing, "I can love what God can love. I don't love everything I do, but I love myself as I am, because God loves me that way. I know I need to change and I want to change. In fact, I believe God is changing me daily. But in the meanwhile, I will not reject what God accepts. I will accept myself as I am right now, knowing that I will not always remain this way." Make that your confession today!
[by Bob Gass]

IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEACE ABOUT IT - PRAY!
(Phili. 4:6-7).
God's peace is a wonderful thing to experience. People all around you are starving for it, but it comes only when you commit your life to Christ, and operate by His principles. When you "commit" something to God, you actually transfer all of it from you to Him. Listen...(I Pet. 5:7). What a privilege. Have you been using it lately?

You say, "How do I cast my cares on Him"? Through prayer! As soon as you become aware that you're starting to worry or lose your peace, take it to the Lord immediately, and leave it with Him. Don't give the enemy a few days to work you over! The longer you wait, the greater his hold on you will become (James 4:7).

But you say, "I can't help thinking about it. What can I do?" Two things:
(1) Give it to God, and then begin to focus on other things. That's a learned behaviour and you'll have to practice it. Paul writes...(Phili. 4:8).
(2) Find out what God says about it, and then line your thoughts, your words, and your actions up with Him. When you do this, the Bible says...(Phili. 4:7).
Now that you know what to do, start doing it!
[by Bob Gass]

STRESS-FRACTURES
(Matt. 11:28).
A recent Sports Illustrated article said, "Stress fractures begin when the shocks and strains of playing game after game create tiny cracks in the outer layers of bone. When those cracks become large enough to cause severe pain, they're known as 'stress fractures.'" What a picture!

If you've ever had a 'stress-fractured spirit' or an aching heart, then you know what I'm talking about. It's something that can eat at you all day and keep you awake all night. You can treat it with alcohol or drugs, have an affair, or adopt a hyperactive lifestyle but that just makes it worse!

So what do you do? Two things: First, change your focus! Jesus said...(Matt. 11:28-29; Isa. 40:29-31). Instead of struggling with the burden, spend time with the burden-bearer and let Him strengthen you!

Second, change your lifestyle! Lighten up! Stop making "a big deal" out of everything. Laugh more. Can you remember the last time you laughed? Accept your imperfections. Let some stuff go. Stop trying to be Wonder-Woman or Mr. Fix-it. Get away for some fun. Yes, Christians need fun too! Cancel some of your not-so-important meetings. If you want things to change, you'll have to change them! Talk to God today. He'll give you the strength to do it.
[by Bob Gass]

HAVE YOU PREPARED YOUR WILL YET?
(Prov. 13:22).
Most people (about 99 percent) hate to make a will, because they're afraid that as soon as they do, they'll "cash in their chips." That's nonsense! Long life is one of God's promises to you (Prov. 10:27). I pose this question to every person reading these words; "If you died tomorrow, would your money, your home, your furnishings, your clothing, your jewellery, and your valuables go to the people you want it to?" Are you sure?

The best way to be certain that your wishes are respected is to sit down now with a pencil and pad, and write down what you want to leave to whom. Think also of your liquid assets; do you want to leave a certain amount to your church, or a ministry, or a charity you believe in?

If you do, call a lawyer right away and have it put in a legal document. Don't leave "a mess" that will only mean more work for the courts, more taxes for the government, and a legacy of bitterness and confusion for your loved ones.

Your stewardship doesn't end at the grave (II Kings 20:1). If the parable of the talents means anything, then you'll be rewarded by one standard - what you did with what you had! Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

DIVINE PROVIDENCE
(Dan. 4:25).
There are three words you need to drop from your vocabulary right away: luck chance, and fate. Instead use the word "providence." It means, "to see in advance and to provide for."

You can't improve on the Westminster Confession written in the 17th century. Listen, "God the great Creator, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things from the greatest event to the least, by His most wise and holy providence." Aren't you glad He's still in charge?

But you say, "What about our human will? Can't we act independently?" R.C. Sproul writes, "God's sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out His will through the actions of human wills, without ever violating the freedom of those wills."

Look at Joseph. His brothers tried to destroy him, but their efforts only helped to fulfil the will of God. Later Joseph said...(Gen. 50:20). It was Judas's worst act of wickedness that helped bring about the best thing that ever happened: the atonement.

Are you confused because of the things that are going on around you? That's because we can only use about 10 percent of our mental potential; because we only "...know in part" (I Cor. 13:9). Some day God will explain it all to us. Until then, trust Him and rejoice, because 'He's got the whole world in His hands." That includes you!
[by Bob Gass]

KNOWING THE FUTURE
(Lev. 19:31).
Guess who was nominated as 'The Most Admired Woman in the World' for three consecutive years? Need a hint? She's syndicated in 450 newspapers, and is a personal confidant to presidents and kings. She's the world's leading astrologer - Jeanne Dixon! Her logo reads, "Behold the revelation of your destiny." Can you believe it? What was once practiced behind closed doors is now a big-time business.

Look out! The enemy of your soul has "a field day" when you take the restraints off your curiosity and dabble in the so-called mystical world. Just substitute the word "demonic" for the word "mystical" and you won't be so tempted!

Two thousand years ago Paul met a girl who made a fortune for her owners by telling the future. He cast the evil spirit out of her, ended her career, and caused a riot in that town (Acts 16:18-21). He'd probably get the same response in your town too!

If God had wanted us to gaze into the future, His Word wouldn't say...(James 4:13-15). Everything you need to know can be found in God's Word or in His presence. Don't mess with anything else!
[by Bob Gass]

EVERY DAY IS SPECIAL
(II Cor. 6:2).
These words by Anne Wells should make all of us sit up and think! "My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a package. In it was an exquisite silk slip. The price tag was still attached. Jan had bought it the first time she went to New York about 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it; she said she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.

"He put the slip on the bed with the other clothes we were taking - to the funeral home. Suddenly he slammed the drawer shut, turned to me and said, 'Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you live is a special occasion!'

"Those words changed my life; I'm not saving anything anymore. Now we use our good china and crystal for every special occasion - like losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first camellia blossom. 'Some day' and 'One of these days' are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing, hearing, or doing, I want to do it now! I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter or lustre to our lives. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself - today is special."

Makes you think - doesn't it? Makes you want to drain the last ounce of joy out of every day and break free from the concrete of procrastination that whispers, "You can do it later." Wise up; forgive that offence! Tell that person you love them! Take that trip! Go back to school! Decide now to do the thing you've been putting off, for today is that special day you've been waiting for.
[by Bob Gass]

SUCCESS - AS GOD DEFINES IT!
(I Pet. 5:5-7).
Someone quipped, "The trouble with success is, the formula for it is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown!" You may smile, but the Bible addresses success in 3 areas: authority, attitude, and assurance.
Listen...(I Pet. 5:5-7) - Let's look at these 3 things:
(1) Submit yourself to those who are wise; listen to their counsel; be accountable; accept reproof, take suggestions; respect experience; and follow a worthy example.
(2) Humble yourself "under the mighty hand of God" (I Pet. 5:6). God's hand symbolises two things: His discipline and His deliverance. When you humble yourself before Him, you accept His discipline as being for your good, and you acknowledge His deliverance, by whatever means He chooses. In other words, you let God be God in your life.
(3) Throw yourself on the mercy and care of God. Trouble and disappointment will come, but when they do, throw them back on the Lord. The situation may be too big for you but it's not too big for Him!
Does this mean there's no place for planning or goal-setting or hard work in your life? No! It just means doing it God's way!
[by Bob Gass]

LOVE AND MARRIAGE
(Eccl. 9:9).
Anne Landers shares the following definition of love and marriage. It would be hard to improve on: "Love is friendship that has caught fire. It's quiet understanding ... mutual confidence ... sharing and forgiving. It's loyalty through good times and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness.

Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and refuses to brood over the past. It's the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working together toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things that you lack. If you don't, no matter what else there is - it's not enough."

Then she adds, "If you want to make your marriage work observe these five rules:
(1) Never both be angry at once, and never yell, unless the house is on fire.
(2) Yield to each other. If you have to choose between making yourself or your mate look good, choose your mate.
(3) Neglect the whole world rather than each other, and never let a day end without saying at least one complimentary thing to the one you love.
(4) Never meet without an affectionate welcome, and never go to bed mad.
(5) When you make a mistake, talk it out and ask for forgiveness." Since God thought up the whole idea of marriage, why don't you ask Him for help with yours today?
[by Bob Gass]

DO YOU KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR YOU?
(Eph. 1:9).
What a joy it is, when the will of God is no longer a mystery, for God has made it known to you! Suddenly your outlook is different, your attitude changes, and fear can no longer play games with your mind. Now you know, and knowledge is power! Daniel said...(Dan. 11:32).

There are times when you'll know things in your spirit that you can't figure out in your head. It can actually cause you to be misunderstood. You can carry the knowledge of a break-through or a blessing around in your spirit long before it ever happens. Listen...(I Cor. 2:10).

When God imparts His wisdom to you, it puts you "ahead of the pack." What separates the bank president from the janitor? It's what he knows! Both men may be equal in every other sense, but one has paid the price to know things that ultimately set him in a greater position, and bring him greater rewards.

God can suddenly make you know something that will change the rest of your life. He can show you something in the night that will change how you feel about yourself the next morning. In His presence you can find out things about yourself that give you purpose, hope, dignity, and the strength to get up and fight for what is yours. Why don't you get into His presence today, and stay there, until He shows you His will for your life?
[by Bob Gass]

HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS
(Heb. 10:24).
In the 18th century, a famous organist travelled around giving recitals. In each town he hired a boy to pump the organ bellows. After one concert, the boy followed him back to his hotel saying, "We sure had a great concert tonight, didn't we?" "What do you mean 'we'?" said the great performer. "I had a great concert; now go home!" The next night, half way through his magnificent fugue, the organ stopped dead and the great virtuoso looked stupefied. At that point the little organ grinder popped his head up, grinned, and said, "We ain't havin' a very good concert tonight, are we?"

Whether you pump the bellows, or play to the crowd, you can't make it alone, so don't even try. Open your life to others, for that's how you grow. There's "a reciprocity rule" in human behaviour which states that if I continue to hold a high opinion of you, eventually you'll come to feel the same way about me. That's what builds powerful relationships.

Anybody can build a wall. It takes skill to build a bridge. Use the "feel-felt-found" strategy to help you build better relationships. First, try to understand how they feel. Next, validate their feelings by telling them that you have felt the same way too. Then, tell them what you found that helped you work through those feelings. Once you find common ground, you'll be able to talk to anybody and meet them where they are. When you can do that, you'll never be without friends.
[by Bob Gass]

IT'S TIME FOR A CHECK-UP!
(Lam. 3:40).
When you pray, "Forgive my sins, Lord," which ones do you mean? When you say, "Make me a better person," in what specific areas do you want to improve? If you want to get real with God, answer these questions - carefully and prayerfully.

(1) Am I honest and above reproach in all my financial dealings? That includes giving God His portion.
(2) Do I put myself in sexually inappropriate situations, or do I expose myself to harmful material?
(3) Do I spend sufficient time with my family?
(4) Do I tell the truth, even when it brings me hurt or criticism?
(5) Do I find it easy to say, "I was wrong, I'm genuinely sorry" or do I hold grudges?
(6) Am I knowingly compromising any area of my life, or refusing to face the consequences of my actions?
(7) Have I formed habits detrimental to my health, my job, or my walk with Christ?
(8) Am I proud, selfish, or arrogant?
(9) Have I taken credit for things that others did and should have been rewarded for?
(10) Have I failed to confess something to someone who should know of my wrongdoing?
(11) Have I been abusive with my loved ones? If I have, what am I willing to do about it?
(12) Am I spending enough time in prayer and in the scripture?

Use these questions to give yourself "regular check-ups and maintenance."
[by Bob Gass]

LOVE IN ACTION
(I John 3:17).
Tim Hansel tells of a seminary professor who set up his preaching class in an unusual way. He scheduled his students to preach on The Good Samaritan. One by one they were to go from classroom to classroom, preaching love and compassion for others. Some students had 10 minutes between classes, but others had less time, which forced them to rush in order to meet the schedule. Each of the students had to walk down a certain corridor and pass by 'a beggar' who had been deliberately 'planted' there by the professor.

What happened was a powerful lesson! The number of would-be-preachers who stopped to help this man was extremely low, especially those who were under the pressure of time! Rushing to preach their sermon on The Good Samaritan, they all walked right past the beggar at the heart of the parable!

Today I read again these words: "I was hungry and you formed a humanities club to discuss it. I was imprisoned, but you just complained about the crime rate. I was naked, and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me about the shelter of God's love. You seem so holy and so close to God; but I'm still hungry, lonely, cold, and in pain. Does it matter?" (Matt. 25:35-46).
[by Bob Gass]

GET A LIFE!
(Gen. 2:24).
The following article, "Eight Ways In-laws Can Break Up a Marriage," should make every in-law think
(1) When your child decides to marry, show hostility toward the one they chose. After all, it means less love for you, so you have a right to resent it.
(2) Expect them to spend every Sunday or holiday with you. Act hurt if they don't.
(3) If they have problems with their mate, encourage them to come home. When they do, listen to their complaints and point out other faults they may have missed. Remember, one drop of water after another can wear away a rock.
(4) If they're having financial problems, rescue them. If you are, beg, borrow, or steal, but let them know that as long as you're around, they'll never have to go without.
(5) If they have a drinking problem, tell them their mate drove them to it. After all, everybody needs someone to blame.
(6) If they have an opportunity for advancement that requires them to move, tell them that family life is more important than money, and that God will punish them for not obeying the words, "Honour thy father and thy mother."
(7) If there are grandchildren, spoil them. If the parents object, tell them to keep out of it. After all, what are grandkids for anyway?
(8) If your child has an argument with their mate, fan the flame. Family loyalty is a beautiful thing; if you work at it, you can turn a minor argument into a major hassle and break up a marriage!"

Parent, get a life of your own!
[by Bob Gass]

HELP FOR PARENTS
(Psa. 127:1).
How would you describe your overall relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heart-breaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you and their home. Be warned - it might hurt!

Having a Christian home doesn't exempt you from problems. The old nature can still flare up. Habits set in concrete can lead to broken communication. Biblical principles can be ignored.

Three Bible stories immediately come to mind:
(1) Rebekah who loved her son Jacob more than his brother Esau, and actually used him to deceive their father Isaac and cause terrible division in the family (Gen. 27).
(2) Eli, the high priest who let his boys run wild, and was judged by God for it (I Sam. 3);
(3) David who preached one thing, but practiced another. Sadly, his children were influenced by what he did, more than by what he said (I Kings 11). Nobody is immune - not even you!

But evaluation is no good if it only leads to guilt. Do something! Take the time to get next to your children. Deal with the barriers between you and them. You can't change anything until you first confront it, and change must first begin in you. Does your attitude need to be changed? How about your priorities? What about the example you've been setting lately? Before you try to deal with your children, ask God to deal with you!
[by Bob Gass]

10 REASONS WHY I NEVER WASH!
(Psa. 122:1).
Before you tell me why you never go to church, please read 10 Reasons Why I Never Wash!
(1) I was forced to wash as a child.
(2) People who wash are all hypocrites. They think they are cleaner than everybody else.
(3) There are so many different kinds of soap. I just can't decide which one is best for me.
(4) I used to wash, but I got bored and stopped doing it.
(5) I wash only on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
(6) None of my friends wash.
(7) I'll start washing when I get older and dirtier.
(8) I don't have time to wash.
(9) The bathroom is never warm enough in winter or cool enough in summer.
(10) The people who make soap are only after your money! (Are you getting the message?)

There are principles you'll hear in God's house that will transform your business, your home, your life, and your future. God will say things to you there that you won't hear anywhere else. Can you afford to live without that information? Your body is temporal, but your soul is eternal. How smart is it to care for one, yet neglect the other? Everybody who was anybody in the Bible went to church. Why? Because that's where you'll find a family to belong to, and insights to live by that will make this life better - and eternity wonderful! See you in church this Sunday!
[by Bob Gass]

ACCIDENT OR DESIGN?
(Psa. 19:1).
Whether you look through a telescope or a microscope, God is an awesome designer. Take a look at these three things.
(1) Temperature! The sun is 15,000,000 degrees Celsius, and we are 150 million kilometers away from it - just the right distance. If the Earth's temperature was even 10 degrees hotter or colder, all life would cease. Why was the Earth not fixed twice as far away, or twice as close? Accident or design?
(2) Rotation! We rotate 365 times a year as we pass around the sun. Suppose we only rotated 36 times instead? Well, our days and nights would be ten times as long; we'd be terribly hot on one side and unbearably cold on the other, and life as we know it would begin to disappear. Accident or design?
(3) Air! Oxygen constitutes about 21 percent of our atmosphere; just the right amount. Why not 50 percent? Well, if it were 50 percent, the first time someone lit a match, we'd all be toast. Is it 21 percent by accident or by design?

Where there is a design there must be a designer! Would you like to know Him? In creation He shows you His hand, but at the cross He shows you His heart (John 3:16). Through Jesus Christ His Son, you can know the great Designer personally and receive eternal life. If you don't, you'll spend eternity in hell. Any chance that you may be an exception? No! The only people in heaven will be those who are there by design - not by accident. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

IS CHRIST LIVING IN YOU?
(Gal. 2:20).
If you could change through self-effort, you wouldn't need the Lord. Furthermore, any attempt on your part to earn or deserve His acceptance disqualifies you right away. Why? Because you're trying to be the source of your own salvation, your own significance, and your own strength. Talk about making God angry. That'll do it every time! So what's the answer? Die to "self," and allow Christ to live through you!

Listen to these challenging words, "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle, but never get around to exercising it in real life. If God Himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of Him."

Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed God won't know what we're talking about. But for you - in whom He dwells, even though you still experience all the limitations of sin - you yourself experience life on God's terms.

"It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He'll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to Himself?" (Rom. 8:5-11).

How can you tell when Christ is alive in you? That's simple - when others look at you, they'll see Him. When they listen to you, they'll hear Him. When they walk with you, they'll discover they're following Him. Is Christ living in you?
[by Bob Gass]

BROUGHT DOWN TO SIZE
(Job 22:21).
In an age when preachers prance like peacocks, athletes strut like deity, and one-up-manship has become an art form, we all need to be reminded "who's calling the shots." There's only one Alpha and Omega - and pardon my grammar - it ain't you or me!

There are two benefits to realising the greatness of God:
(1) You're no longer tempted to try and reduce Him down to manageable terms.
(2) You're no longer tempted to try and manipulate Him and His will, or defend Him and His ways. Think carefully about that!

How many times does God need to tell us that His ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:9), before we believe Him? How often must He prove to us that He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep, that He is the vine and we are the branches, before we bow and pray, "Have Thine own way, Lord"?

If the Son of God found it necessary to pray...(Matt. 26:39), wouldn't it be wise for us to pray those words often - like every day!

How long has it been, anyway, since you've taken some time out to just sit silently in His presence, and catch a fresh glimpse of the One who is awesome and incomprehensible? Job said...(Job 22:21). Do you know Him? If so, how well?
[by Bob Gass]

LEARN TO BE JOYFUL ABOUT YOUR PROGRESS!
(Rom. 12:2).
Change does not come through human effort without God, frustration, self-hatred, guilt or works of the flesh! It comes from having your mind renewed daily by the Word of God. If you're not a consistent Bible reader, you'll never change! As you agree with God and believe that what He says is true, you gradually begin to change! You begin to think differently, then talk differently, and then act differently.

Be patient! It's a process that develops in stages. Enjoy yourself while you are changing. Too many of us look like we're on a tightrope instead of a pathway. Enjoy where you are - on your way to where you're going! Don't waste all your "now time" trying to rush into the future. Jesus said that tomorrow will have challenges of its own (Matt. 6:34).

Perhaps you're thinking, "If only I didn't have this problem, I'd be happy." What are you wrestling with? An out-of-control appetite? A habit? Lust? Fearfulness? Maybe you're thinking, "If I could just get this under wraps, I'd be fine." Wrong! Just as Israel conquered the cities in the Promised Land one at a time, so you will overcome your weaknesses - one at a time.

Paul said...(Acts 20:24). He wanted to be all God wanted him to be, but he wanted to do it with joy. Learn to be joyful about your progress, not depressed about how far you still have to go!
[by Bob Gass]

THANK GOD FOR A BETTER WAY!
(Heb. 10:20).
In the Old Testament, you'll find more laws than anybody could ever keep. Every time someone failed, they had to offer an animal sacrifice to atone for it. The result was people trying and failing, feeling guilty and trying harder, failing again and making more sacrifices. It was a never-ending cycle! Then Jesus came and offered "a new way." His way included, mercy for failure, forgiveness for sin, and replacement of sacrifices with faith in Him. For many it was just "too good to be true," so they kept right on working trying to impress God with their goodness. Do you ever do that?

I lived that way for years. It meant having to do everything perfectly, otherwise I was in trouble with God. Since this was an impossible standard to keep, it stole all my peace and joy. While I was trying to walk in love, I was not a very loving or merciful person. I couldn't give others what I didn't know how to receive myself! I was not receiving God's mercy for my failures, therefore I couldn't give it to anybody else. I tried to follow all the rules; many that weren't even scriptural - just things to feel guilty about.

But thank God I don't have to live that way anymore. You neither! Now I'm not working to be saved. I'm working because I am saved! My salvation is not based on what I do. It's based solely on what Jesus has already done. When you understand that, your relationship with God is no longer a job - it's a joy! Do you have that joy?
[by Bob Gass]

DUCKS AND RABBITS!
(I Cor. 12:27).
Every creature God makes has a unique set of abilities capable of making it excel. On land, a duck waddles; in the water it glides. A rabbit runs with ease, but have you ever seen one swimming laps? Eagles are great in the air, but lousy in a foot race. There the rabbit will beat the eagle every time - unless, of course, the ease is hungry.

Whether you're a creature in the forest or a Christian in the family, God made you with special gifts. There are no big gifts and little ones. We say stuff like that. God doesn't!

I Cor. 12 is dedicated to getting each of us to identify our gifts and then develop them to the max. It teaches you that when you operate according to your gift, you excel. The whole body benefits, and you experience incredible satisfaction.

But when you compare, force, or entertain expectations beyond your reach, you just get frustrated, discouraged, and before long, you give up in defeat.

So if God made you a duck saint - swim like mad and don't get bent out of shape because you wobble when you run. Furthermore, if you're an eagle saint, stop expecting squirrels to soar, or rabbits to build the same kind of nest you do. Accept your Spiritual gift. Cultivate it. Stop comparing it to somebody else's, and start enjoying what God's called you to be! OK?
[by Bob Gass]

JUST LEAVE IT TO GOD
(Psa. 55:22).
There are days when the best thing you can do is just leave it to God. "But there's so much to be done" you say. "And what about all those 'go-getters' who get up before the sun, skip breakfast, and set new records while I'm just 'leaving it to God'?"

Look at Jesus. He didn't really get started until He was 30. All those wasted years? He just left them to God. He never hurried anywhere. He never worried about anything. And what did He do with those who heard and shrugged and walked away? He just left them to God. And those nit-picking Pharisees who gave Him so much grief? He just left them to God too.

In his book The Finishing Touch, Charles Swindoll tells of a time when he felt 'driven and drained' by the never-ending demands of ministry. He says, "If folks weren't changing, I felt responsible. If some drifted, somehow I was at fault. If there wasn't continual growth, I acted as if I needed to make it happen. If a sermon failed to ring with clarity and power, I struggled all of Monday and half of Tuesday. Talk about wasted energy. Time has helped; so has age. Virtually all of the things that once stole my joy and assaulted my motivation, I now just leave to God. Don't I care? Of course I care! But those cares are now placed in the hands of one who can handle them. What once bothered me, I have now learned to give over to Him who doesn't mind being bothered. Whereas criticism used to cripple me for days, I now do my best to sift, shift, and sail. I learn what I can; then turn the rest over to God."

Is God saying something to you through this?
[by Bob Gass]

GOSSIP - REMEMBER ME?
(Psa. 141:3).
Listen carefully to these words, "I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious, and I gather strength with age. The more I am quoted, the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless; they cannot protect themselves against me, because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more illusive I become. I am nobody's friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it's never the same. I topple governments. I wreck marriages. I make innocent people cry. Who am I? My name is gossip!"

Jesus said...(Matt. 12:36-37).

Do you really believe that? If you do, you won't break someone's heart by spreading their secrets, betraying their confidence, ruining their good name, or undermining their self-esteem with ridicule and innuendo. You just won't do it!

David prayed...(Psa. 141:3). That would be a good prayer for you today too!
[by Bob Gass]

DEAL WITH YOUR DOUBT
(Rom. 15:13).
How's your relationship with God? Do you doubt His love? His call on your life? Your ability to hear from Him? That He's pleased with you? For years I felt like I could never do enough, or be good enough to please Him. Then I discovered this verse...(Rom. 15:13). Note: when you stop trusting God and start trusting in your own efforts, the first things to go are your joy and peace. Have you lost yours today? If you want them back, get out of doubt and get back into faith!

How's your relationship with yourself? For years, the only relationship I had with myself was one of doubt. I doubted my decisions, my appearance, whether I was saying or doing the right thing, whether I was in any way pleasing God - or anybody else. I knew I wasn't pleased with myself, so how could anybody else be pleased with me?

Those years of misery are now behind me, because now I know that God's grace covers me like a blanket. I also know that it's through Jesus alone that I'm made righteous and acceptable before God (Col. 2:10). What a confidence!

I was so bound by legalistic religion, that I'll always have to "be on guard" against it. But now I can recognise its symptoms. Paul says...(Gal. 5:1). The word for you today is: evict your doubts, believe God, and get moving!
[by Bob Gass]

BLIND GUIDES
(Matt. 15:14).
There are plenty of good leaders around; don't be afraid to follow them. But what about these "blind guides" who lead you into a ditch? Here are some signs to help you identify them:
(1) Inflexibility! A true leader has a teachable spirit and a servant's heart. He rejoices in your growth and isn't threatened by your development. He won't try to keep you under his thumb when it's clear that you're ready to fly.
(2) Elitism! Look out for the "We-alone-are-right" types. When you can't acknowledge and fellowship with the members of God's larger family, there's something wrong. Exclusiveness usually comes from being paranoid or controlling.
(3) Money grubbing! Here's God's standard for leadership...(I Pet. 5:2). Paul says, good leaders are "worthy of double honour" (I Tim. 5:17). That means twice as much. But look out for the man who tells you to sow all your seed into his field, and nowhere else.
(4) Accountability! Beware of the untouchable, "I-am-God's-anointed" types. No matter how gifted we are, we all have blind spots and we all need to be counselled and confronted. Solomon said...(Eccl. 4:10).

When choosing a pastor, you don't need a blind prima donna, you just need a shepherd. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

ACCEPTING YOURSELF - AS YOU ARE!
(Gen. 1:31).
You can't deal with anything until you first accept it, as it is - that includes yourself! The dictionary defines acceptance in 3 ways:
(1) to accept willingly;
(2) to view as right;
(3) to agree with.
Let's look at each of them.

First, acceptance involves your will. You can choose or not choose - to accept yourself! It's up to you! Next, when something is accepted, it's viewed as being right. We reject ourselves because we only see what's wrong with us, never what's right! This unbalanced attitude was probably instilled by those who majored on our weaknesses instead of our strengths. Sadly we still carry their opinions with us today!

The word acceptance also means, "to agree with." If you're having a problem accepting yourself, then you need to get into agreement with God. Whatever He says about you, believe it and begin to say the same thing! Listen...(Amos 3:3). To walk with God you must agree with Him. God says He loves you and accepts you. Therefore, when you agree with Him, you must love and accept yourself.

When God made you, He said, "It was very good" (Gen. 1:31), and He hasn't changed His mind. He's not through with His creative work in your life yet, but He wants you to see yourself today as "good," and learn to love yourself while you're "under construction." Talk to Him about it!
[by Bob Gass]

PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S QUESTION
(I Thes. 4:17).
Billy Graham says: "A few days before John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, I was invited to join him for golf and afterwards to visit the Kennedy compound in Palm Beach, Florida. As we were driving back from the game, the President turned to me and asked, 'Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth again?' I was dumbfounded! I never dreamed that he would ask a question like that. I replied, 'Yes sir, I do!' 'Alright,' he said. 'Explain it to me.' So for the next several minutes I had the opportunity to talk to him about the Second Coming of Christ. I've often wondered why he asked that question."

I think part of the answer came 1,000 days later - when he was assassinated! Remarkably, at his funeral while millions around the world watched and listened, these words were read...(I Thes. 4:16-18). When Christ returns, some of us will be caught up - others will be caught out! Which group will you be in?
[by Bob Gass]

NO REPLAYS
(Matt. 6:34).
The great thing about television sports is "instant replay." If you missed it the first time, you get to experience it again. Don't you wish life were like that?

Erma Bomback wrote, "If I had my life to live over, I would have been angry less and listened more. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it, and realised that the wonder growing inside me was just a wonderful opportunity to assist God in a miracle. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life. There would have been more 'I love you's,' more 'I'm sorry's,' and more 'I'm listening'; but mostly given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it."

Sadly, life doesn't offer us "replays." You can't re-rear your children, or re-pastor your church. Initial impressions can't be re-made and cutting remarks can't be re-said.

You mean God won't forgive? You know better than that! God will forgive, and most people are amazingly understanding too. But our biggest task is usually forgiving ourselves. Right? The main message is clear: Think before you speak! Pause before you act! And make every minute count!
PS: Today is a memory in the making, a deposit in the bank of time - make it a good one!
[by Bob Gass]

THE PUPPET MASTER
(Eph. 1:11).
God takes advice from nobody but Himself, because He has no equal. He doesn't meet with any committee, or require a vote in order to bless you.

When I was a boy, before the days of videos, one of life's greatest joys was the puppet show. Remember them? They rolled back the curtain, and there was the puppet prostrate on the floor. Suddenly, when the time was right, he'd get up, move, dance, and even fight. We'd clap and shout with excitement for the puppet, but we didn't know that just above our heads, the puppet master was "working all things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph. 1:11).

It's the Puppet Master who opens the curtain and closes it. He's the one who sets the stage, and moves the props! Are you getting the idea? You don't have a thing God didn't give to you. Everything you'll ever need comes from Him. Until He moves in the heavens, you can do nothing of consequence in the earthly realm.

The next time God says, "Yes," and the devil tries to tell you "No," just look at him and say, "The Lord is getting ready to pull some strings for me! He's got a string on my finances. He's got a string on my circumstances. He's got a string on my future!"

Before you can really praise God you've first got to trust Him. If you're praising Him in church, but going home depressed, you're not trusting the God you're praising! Trust Him when the thing you need seems too high to reach, and too far away to grasp. Trust Him to work it out, and praise Him because you know it's going to happen!
[by Bob Gass]

THINK FIRST - TALK LESS - START TODAY!
(Psa. 39:1).
Will Noris, the American journalist, wrote, "If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care; to whom you speak of whom you speak and how... and when ... and where." Publius, the Greek sage, wrote "I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence." (Amen!)

King David put it bluntly...(Psa. 39:1). That's what it takes, friends - a muzzle. David is talking about a conscious commitment to watch what you say. If you want to accomplish this, here are three suggestions.

Think first! Before you speak, pause ten seconds and mentally preview your words. Are they accurate or exaggerated? Kind or cutting? Needless or necessary? Grateful or complaining? Remember, what you don't say you'll never have to explain! Talk less! You increase your chances of "blowing it" when you talk too much. Compulsive talkers find it hard to keep friends. Conserve your verbal energy. Make your words like good shampoo: concentrated and rich.

You have read enough already to help get your tongue under control. Fit that muzzle on your mouth now; you've put it off long enough. The word for you today is: Think first - talk less start today!
[by Bob Gass]

REAL INTIMACY!
(I Cor. 7:39).
The Bible teaches that the basis of a good marriage is not just sharing the same bed, but also the same values and the same goals! Without that, you'll be talking to each other in a foreign language. Furthermore, you'll never agree because each of you will be governed by a different set of rules. If you want to reach the same destination, follow the same road map! Right?

Sex alone is not enough. That might get you through the night, but it'll take genuine friendship and a shared faith to get you through the years. We're talking here about partners who can communicate without a word, because the same thing is in each of their hearts. Furthermore, when problems arise - and they will - they'll both seek solutions from the same source!

When life fell apart for Adam and Eve, they each came before the same God, because they each shared the same convictions. How can you correct a problem, if one of you doesn't even believe there is a problem?

Real intimacy occurs when the sex is over, but the commitment is stronger than ever. It allows you to be with someone without always needing to impress them. T.D. Jakes says, "When we know we are loved because of who we are, we become healthier in mind and more intimate in expression. Why? Because we are freed from the fear of rejection, and loosed from the anxiety of having to perform." Now there's something to think about!
[by Bob Gass]

HOW COULD 'THEY' DO IT?
(Rom. 5:8).
When I saw the movie, "Schindler's List," I walked away thinking, "How could they do it?" The showers. The ovens. The smokestacks belching out human ashes. The trains arriving every day with mothers, fathers, and little children - like cattle on their way to a slaughterhouse. And worst of all, the soldiers who did it without even a shrug of conscience. How could they do it? The answer is sin! And if you think Hitler and his henchmen had a corner on it, think again! David says...(Psa. 51:5).

Listen to this resume...(Rom. 3:9-17). If God did an autopsy on any one of us, that would be it! You have to understand that, in order to really appreciate this...(Rom. 5:8).

When you read those words, the question changes to "How could He do it?" We didn't get what we deserved, we got what we needed! The songwriter wrote, "O the love that drew salvation's plan, O the grace that brought it down to man. O the mighty gulf that God did span - at Calvary!" Today, take a moment and thank God for the grace that redeemed you. Where would you be without it?
[by Bob Gass]

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LAWYER!
(I John 2:1).
On the days when you wonder how God can stand you, much less love you, read these words, "We have an advocate." When your thoughts aren't fit to print, and your actions aren't much better, remember...(Heb. 7:25). It works like this: when righteousness declares you "guilty," grace steps in and says, "I've got him covered, because he's trusting in the shed blood of Jesus; no less will avail, no more is needed!"

In the Old Testament, the blood of the Lamb was poured daily on top of the mercy seat. The ark of the covenant, which contained the tablets (law) - the record of our guilt - was placed underneath it. Hence, the only way God could see our sins and failures was through the blood, and it's still the same today! Aren't you glad?

If you're wondering how God continues to love and accept you, it's because you have a lawyer. Look at Him:
(1) He's fully qualified to represent you. (Matt. 3:17).
(2) He's never lost a case. (Heb. 7:25).
(3) He offers His service to you freely, "without money and without price" (Isa. 55:1).
That's why the Bible says...(Heb. 4:16). Come confidently to Him today!
[by Bob Gass]

THE WINNING LIFE
(Job 22:21).
There are two forces vital to your happiness - your relationships and your achievements. God wants you to have success in both. In his brilliant book Wisdom For Winning, Dr. Mike Murdock says, "The Gospel has two forces: the person of Jesus, and the principles He taught; the Son of God, and the system of God; the life of God, and the laws of God. One is an experience with God, the other is the expertise of God. One is heart-related, the other is mind-related. Salvation is experienced instantaneously. Wisdom principles are learned progressively. Both forces are absolutely essential to your success and happiness" (Josh. 1:9; Psa. 1:3; John 10:10).

You may be an unbeliever and still experience tremendous success, because you've applied God-proven principles, but if you don't have a relationship with Him, you'll always have a deep void within. Job promotion, empire building, and social acceptance will only heighten that emptiness. God wouldn't create a world in which He wasn't needed! Think about that!

Before you go a step further, read and then pray a prayer of commitment. Go ahead! What have you got to lose except your fear, your guilt, and your emptiness? Do it today, and your life will begin anew. Then contact us and let us know, so that we can pray for you also. God bless you.
[by Bob Gass]

THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING AWAY
(Mark 6:31).
Vance Havner once wrote, "If you don't come apart ... you will come apart!" No one was busier than Jesus. Yet we read...(Mark 1:35). Jesus understood the importance of getting away. Do you?

One day, He noticed the "wear and tear" on His disciples, because they had been slugging it out in the trenches, preaching, counselling, ministering to the needs of others, and even skipping meals. Listen...(Mark 6:31-32). It wasn't planned, it wasn't requested, but it was absolutely necessary - so the Master called "time out."

David said...(Psa. 23:2). Note the words "He maketh" and "He leadeth." He has to, because most of us don't know how to do it for ourselves. Right?

If you keep giving out more than you take in, you'll end up spiritually and emotionally bankrupt! Don't let that happen to you! Get into His presence today and let Him strengthen and refresh you!
[by Bob Gass]

SEEKING GOD
(Matt. 7:7).
Are you having trouble understanding God's ways? All of us struggle with this. Even though we can look back and see that His hand has always been upon us, yet there are times when we still feel afraid and alone. When Jesus cried...(Matt. 27:46), He was saying, "I may not understand why, but I still know that You're my God!" What assurance!

Sometimes my little grandson Alex will say to me, "Papa, you're walking too fast." That's because he's afraid that he'll get lost or left behind. Is that how you feel - like you just can't "keep up" and things are moving too fast?

Listen to David...(Psa. 42:1). We don't long for something unless we value it and need it. Only "raw need" will cause us to turn away from every other visible means of support, and pursue God, because we know that without Him, we can't make it! The truth is, if we didn't need Him so desperately, we could easily become satisfied with lesser things.

Three things happen when you pursue God with all of your heart:
(1) You step into the spiritual realm where "all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
(2) You grow in character, for you become like the company you keep (II Cor. 3:18).
(3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are never received unless you seek God for them diligently (Heb. 11:6).
Are you tired of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? If so, shut yourself in with God and let Him speak to you today.
[by Bob Gass]

THE SECRETARY'S PRAYER
(II Cor. 12:9).
If you're a secretary, today is especially for you.

"Dear Lord, help me to do my work well: to have the memory of an elephant, and by some miracle to be able to do at least five things at once, like answer four telephones and still do a letter that 'must go out today.' And when the letter doesn't even get signed until tomorrow, please give me the strength to keep my mouth shut.

"Dear Lord, never let me lose my patience, even when the boss has me searching for hours for a report that he later discovers is lying on his desk. Give me the intelligence of a college professor, even though my education is limited to a high school diploma and some secretarial training.

"Lord, help me to read his mind (and his handwriting) and to carry out all his instructions - without explanation. Let me always know exactly where he is, and when he'll be back, even though he never tells me.

"And Lord, please give me the foresight not to throw out records that will be asked for in a couple of days, even though I'm emphatically told, 'Destroy these; they're cluttering up the place!' I ask all these blessings, dear Lord, on behalf of secretaries everywhere. Amen!"
[by Bob Gass]

THE DANGER OF PAST VICTORIES!
(I Cor. 10:12).
The time to be careful is when you reach your goals! There are three periods in every battle: the easiest period is usually the battle itself. The most difficult period is the period of indecision just before it - whether to fight or run away. But by far the most dangerous period is the aftermath. It's then, with all your resources spent and your guard down, that you have to watch out for discouragement or overconfidence; dulled reactions or faulty judgment.

Remember David? He chose to "sleep in" rather than go to battle. Who knows why? Could it be that his impressive record of successes made him soft or careless - or arrogant? It was only a brief affair, but it changed everything. His peace vanished, his character was blasted, and his family life was destroyed.

Don't fall prey to the peril of past victories! Remember your H.A.L.T sign. When you're Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired, you're in a vulnerable place; do something about it!

Resting on your laurels is just a synonym for "flirting with disaster." Danger awaits the man or woman who dwells in the comfortable land of accomplished dreams. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

AN APB
(Jer. 29:13).
The search for God is an equal opportunity experience. Regardless of how successful you are, there'll be times in your life when you just need God - and nothing else will do! This is what the police call an APB - "All Points Bulletin." Every department is in search of the same thing; no priority is higher, and no distractions are permitted. What a picture!

Usually it takes a crisis to produce in us a unified effort - body, soul, and spirit - all points seeking the same thing. God has the answer! He has a blessing waiting for you! But it takes an APB to bring it into existence (Psa. 34:4) Great things happen when you go on an all-out God-hunt!

There is no "right way" or "only way" to seek Him but it must be personal and spontaneous - conceived out of the power of the moment. It can be waiting along a beach or kneeling in a cathedral, or just lying quietly in your bed. Your location and your posture are not half as important as the hunger and desire that's in your heart.

The songwriter wrote: "My faith looks up to thee, O Lamb of Calvary." Your faith looks up, because your eyes can't see! There's a healthy reaction that occurs when we're blind; our other senses become keener. Are you getting the idea?

When we press through in prayer, God allows us to look beyond the obvious and seek the actual; beyond the natural and into the supernatural. How long has it been since you've spent quality time with Him? Think about it, and then do something!
[by Bob Gass]

TAKE YOUR TIME!
(Ezra 6:3).
God is a builder of people. When He builds, He emphasises the foundation. He knows the weight-load you'll have to handle, and the storms you'll have to face, so He lays your foundation accordingly. Even Jesus...(Luke 2:52). Please, allow yourself time to grow!

Look at Moses, the great leader of the Old Testament. Who would have thought, looking at his church of goat-deacons and gnats for choir members, that he would one day lead the greatest movement in the history of the Old Testament? And what about Abraham? One moment he's sitting on the edge of the bed with an embarrassed look, and the next he's fathering nations! You can't tell what's in somebody just by looking at them!

God establishes patience, character, and focus while we're in the school of "nothing-seems-to-be-happening." Take the class. Get the credit. Let it work for your good! (Rom. 8:28). No matter what you're trying to build, whether it's a business, a ministry, or a relationship, give it time to grow! Some of the best friendships start out gradually. Some of the strongest Christians were once desperately in need of prayer themselves.

I'm amazed at what I'm becoming as I put my life daily into God's hands. He's changing me! Every day I see another flaw or area of immaturity in me. But, what a sharp contrast I am now - to what I was then! (Phili. 1:6). The word for you today is - take the time and let God work in you!
[by Bob Gass]

A WISHBONE, A BACKBONE, AND A FUNNY BONE!
(Phili. 1:12).
You need a wishbone to dream on, a backbone to get you through the rough times, and a funny bone to help you rejoice when the pressure is on!

Would you like a good illustration of this? Look at the apostle Paul. Even when he was facing imprisonment and a martyr's death, his wishbone was still in good shape. Listen...(Phili. 1:12-14). They could shackle him - but not his message. They could change his location - but not his attitude!

And how about his backbone? Listen to his resume...(II Cor. 11:23-25). And you're complaining! Listen to him...(Acts 20:24). That's what it takes!

And how about his funny bone? You say that doesn't sound very "spiritual" to me. Listen...(Prov. 17:22). A funny bone isn't an option - it's part of your survival gear. We're talking here about "the spirit of rejoicing" that opens doors, and gives you a song in the night! (Acts 16:25). Don't let anybody steal your wishbone, your backbone, or your funny bone. OK?
[by Bob Gass]

SHIFT GEARS AND SHARE THE LOAD!
(Exo. 18:17-18).
Do you feel like there's just not enough of you to go around? If so, you're probably doing stuff God never gave you to do! You see, when God shows you His purpose for your life, He also gives you His power to carry it out. Usually it's simple and remarkably sane. One of the surest ways of knowing you're walking with God is - you'll feel "led" not "driven."

Are you resting less and working more? Are you praying and reading your Bible less and worrying more? You sound like Moses; dashing from one appointment to another, eating on the run, meeting deadlines, and solving everybody's problems. But his father-in-law Jethro wasn't impressed. "What is this thing that you are doing?" he asked. Moses was defensive ('too-busy' people usually are). He attempts to justify his schedule, but Jethro wasn't buying it. He tells Moses...(Exo. 18:22-23). What was the answer? Shift gears and start sharing your load!

Since when did a bleeding ulcer become a sign of spirituality? Or a 70-hour work week the mark of efficiency? The truth may be that you're just too stubborn to slow down, too insecure to say "No," and too proud to ask for help. Think about it prayerfully!
[by Bob Gass]

THE "PHILIP STRATEGY"
(Acts 8:35).
In Acts 8, we read of a remarkable conversion. The new convert was Chancellor of the Exchequer (Secretary of the Treasury) for Ethiopia, and he was led to Christ by a deacon called Philip (Acts 8:26-40). Notice how it happened:

First, Philip was ready! When this man needed somebody to explain the things of God to him, Philip was there, ready to do it. Could you? If God had a job that needed to be done, would He even know where to find you? Peter says...(I Pet. 3:15).

Second, Philip was tactful! He didn't barge in and start preaching, or "corner" the guy with a loaded question. Notice two things about Philip:
(a) He was spirit-led (Acts 8:29).
(b) He waited for a proper opening (Acts 8:31). Good soul-winners are surgeons, not butchers.

Also notice Philip was specific! No vague dialogue here about religion. No! He spoke only of Jesus. That's what people need - a relationship with the Lord. They need to know that He's alive and that He loves them; that He's powerful enough to run the universe yet personal enough to forgive their sins, break their chains and remove their doubts. In other words, they just need an introduction - Jesus will do the rest. Do you want to win souls? Use the "Philip Strategy!"
[by Bob Gass]

STUMBLING BLOCKS
(Isa. 57:14).
Here are three stumbling blocks that you need to look out for if you're going to win the race:
1. An unforgiven offence. Jesus said...(Mark 11:26). Forgiving others isn't an option - it's an order! When the mere mention of someone stirs 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 - 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 your time to those who are not worthy of it, then don't complain. Become selective! Choose your friends from among those who contribute to your God-given purpose.
3. An uncommitted heart. David said...(Psa. 37:5). A committed heart is a decided heart; it's the result of a made-up mind! That explains the charisma that sets certain people apart from the crowd. Get involved today in something great! Give yourself to what you really believe in! Make a commitment to God - right now!
[by Bob Gass]

GOD HAS IT UNDER CONTROL!
(Matt. 6:34).
Fear is just a grown-up version of worry! If you let one in, the other comes with it. Stop and take inventory. Of the things you worried about last year (or even last month), how many of them came to pass? And how many did you change by worrying? And did worrying change them for the better or the worse? And what about the physical and emotional toll it took on you? And what does your worrying say to those around you who know that you're a Christian? And when are you going to face up to the fact that you worry so much - and do something about it?

You'll only stop worrying about tomorrow when you learn to trust the One who holds tomorrow. David said...(Psa. 37:5). That's the key! You've got to stop wasting today's grace on tomorrow's concerns! It's amazing how much more you accomplish when you learn to live - one day at a time (Matt. 6:34).

The truth is, when you go through a crisis, you discover things about God that you never knew before. Here's an idea: instead of worrying, begin to attack your anxieties with the promises of God. Bring your fears into His presence and watch them die. Paul says...(Phili. 4:6). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

COME ON - YOU CAN DO BETTER!
(Mal. 1:12).
William Johnston, owner of the Ritz-Carlton Hotels, has a wonderful saying: "Quality is a race with no finish line." What's "good enough" anyway?

Natalie Nabal writes, "If 99.9 percent was good enough, then every year the following tragedies would occur in the USA: Two million documents would be lost by the IRS. 12 babies would be given to the wrong parents each day. 291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly. 20,000 drug prescriptions would be wrongly written. 114,500 mismatched pairs of shoes would be shipped." That may not mean much to you - unless it was your baby or your pacemaker!

Why are Christians willing to accept a standard of work that wouldn't be accepted anywhere else? Just saying, "We're supposed to love everybody" doesn't excuse sloppiness. If we are Spirit-filled, shouldn't we be sharper than those we call "lost?" David said...(Psa. 8:1). Did you get that? God wants anything that's done in His name to be done - with excellence. To those who offered Him less He said...(Mal. 1:12). How would you feel if Jesus had just paid 99.9 percent of your sin debt?

Paul writes...(Phili. 3:12). The word for you today is - you can do better!
[by Bob Gass]

THE SPIRIT OF CALEB
(Num. 14:24).
If he were alive today, Caleb would be nominated for "Man of the Year!" Listen to his story in his own words...(Josh. 14:7-15).

Caleb's life can be summed up in four sentences:
(1) He had "a different spirit" from those around him.
(2) He believed that through God it could be done - even when others said it couldn't.
(3) He had a dream that neither time nor circumstance could diminish.
(4) Even in old age, he remained young at heart and totally committed to God!
Ask God today to give you the spirit of Caleb.
[by Bob Gass]

KEEP GROWING
(Isa. 54:2).
By the time most people are in their mid-thirties, they've stopped acquiring any new skills or new attitudes. Does that shock you? Stop and think. How long has it been since you acquired a new skill? How many new attitudes have you adopted lately - in your home? On your job? In your spiritual walk? How bound are you to mechanical performance? Do you feel compelled to approach a problem the same way every time? Does a new idea make you put up your guard or retreat into your shell? Are you addicted to predictability?

Solomon says...(Prov. 4:7). Want to know something? Living and learning go hand in hand - just like existing and expiring. The same hours and minutes that capture the wonder of a child, deepen the rut of an adult. To them, learning is natural; to some of us it's a nuisance. How tragic!

Remember Caleb? At 85 he was still growing, and grabbing the future (Josh. 14:12). When he should have been in comfortable retirement, he was out fighting giants and claiming mountains. While his friends were yawning - he was yearning. Every time the sun came up, it was a new adventure for him.

God says...(Isa. 54:2). That's you He's talking to!
[by Bob Gass]

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
(Psa. 91:11).
One night my wife, Debby, was driving alone on a dark Nevada highway when she ran out of gas. A woman alone in a small car, and nobody around. It had all the elements of danger. Suddenly a truck appeared, and an African-American driver stopped and asked her, "Can I help you?" When she and come with him in the truck to the next gas station. Quietly a voice within (a voice she'd learned to trust) whispered, "It's okay - go with him."

So she got into the cab and as they drove, together to the next gas station, he started talking to her - about Jesus. He even showed her pictures of his family. When they returned to her car, he poured a can of gas into her tank, said goodbye and left.

Then it happened! Just as she backed her car up and turned around to leave, the truck was nowhere to be seen. Just like that - a 40-foot truck, and its driver suddenly disappeared on a wide-open highway.

The Bible says...(Heb. 13:2). Debby is convinced, and so am I, that one of Gabriel's teammates showed up that night to help her and protect her.

Many of us have such testimonies, yet we seldom share them. Perhaps that's because it's not until later we realise that we were "touched by an angel."
[by Bob Gass]

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?
(Num. 13:33).
It wasn't the giants that defeated God's people, it was their poor self-image. They saw others as giants, and themselves as grasshoppers. Sound familiar? Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who believed they could take the land. Listen...(Num. 13:30). That's the language of a giant-killer!

No matter what God has planned for you, you'll never experience it, unless you get into agreement with Him! (Amos 3:3) God does not have a bad attitude toward you, and you shouldn't have one toward yourself! Paul said...(Phili. 3:12).

When God uses people like you and me, it makes us realise that our source is not in ourselves - but in Him alone. Listen...(I Cor. 1:25).

You have a destiny, and there is no excuse for not fulfilling it. You can't use weakness, for God says His strength is made perfect in your weakness. (II Cor. 12:9). You can't use your past, for God says...(II Cor 5:17). How God sees you is not the problem. It's how you see yourself that keeps you from succeeding. Today, ask Him to give you a fresh revelation of how He sees you, and of who you really are!
[by Bob Gass]

CAN YOU KEEP A CONFIDENCE?
(Prov. 11:13).
Listen, "Whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession ... I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets." That's the physicians' Hippocratic Oath, and it ought to be binding on every one of us! How would you feel if your doctor, your counsellor, or your minister were to violate your confidence and broadcast your "holy secrets."

The longer I live, the more I realise that there's a severe shortage of people who can be trusted with a confidence. And the more I value them! If I were asked to define a person of integrity, "the ability to keep a confidence" would be close to the top of my list. How about you?

Solomon wrote some strong words concerning this. Listen...(Prov. 10:19; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 13:3).

Here are some ground rules for you to observe:
(1) Whatever you're told in confidence, don't repeat.
(2) Whenever you're tempted to, resist the temptation.
(3) Whoever you're talking about, don't gossip.
(4) Even when you disagree, don't slander.
Can you keep a secret? Prove it!
[by Bob Gass]

BE YOURSELF
(Rom. 12:6).
You can put so much effort into pleasing everybody else, that you finish up losing yourself! Do you feel like you just can't be everything that everybody wants you to be? Do you want to say "No," but the fear of displeasing others makes you say, "I'll try"; yet inside you're screaming "I just can't do it anymore"?

Insecure people say "Yes," when they really want to say "No." On the other hand those who succeed at being themselves don't allow others to control them; they are led by their heart, not their fear of rejection.

Don't get angry with people because they place demands on you. You are responsible for ordering your own life! That means always having a clear sense of your identity, your direction, your calling and your goals.

For years I lived under the pressure of everybody's expectations. I thought, "What if I let them down?" I thought they were pressuring me, but in reality it was my own fears and insecurities that were pressuring me.

But you say, "Don't you care what others think?" What others think is not my problem, unless I make it my problem. Pleasing God and being what He wants me to be, is my first concern. If I try to be anybody else, I'll forfeit God's blessing - for God can't bless an imitation! Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

YOU'RE HIS!
(Psa. 139:14).
Whether you know it or not, you're unique, one-of-a-kind, a genuine marvel! Look at your tongue: four hundred little taste buds, each capable of discerning the difference between asparagus and lemon meringue pie. And how about your intestinal system? Twenty million little mouths capable of digesting almost anything. And your cooling system? Frigidaire has nothing like it: 350,000 sweat glands per square inch. And your sensory system? A network of 10 million nerves whose branches send and interpret messages, prescribing a response for each.

You're one in 6 billion! Nobody else has your voice pattern, your fingerprints, or your DNA. When you were born, God didn't suddenly say, "What are We going to do with him or her?" No! You were given your Father's name (Isa. 43:1). You were bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20). You were made a member of His family (I John 3:2). Your steps are ordered by Him (Psa. 37:23). He's already planned your success (Jer. 29:11).

He loved you when you were unlovable, He chose you before you could do either right or wrong. That gives Him the right to say to you today: "I want your praise and your obedience. I want you to spend time with Me; I want you to read the letters I've written to you; and I don't want anybody or anything to come between us." The word for you today is - "You're His!"
[by Bob Gass]

BE WHAT GOD'S CALLED YOU TO BE!
(John 17:4).
Your goal should not be to try and please everybody, or to conform to their expectations. It should be to discover what God wants you to be, and succeed at being that! I've discovered that I enjoy doing what I'm good at doing. As long as I was trying to be good at doing what others were called to do, I kept failing. But when I accepted what God had for me, and started doing it, I began to succeed.

Furthermore, I've had great joy since making the decision to be satisfied with myself as I am, and not try to be something or someone I'm not. We all have limitations and we must accept them. That's not bad; it's just a fact.

It's wonderful to be "different" and not to feel like something's wrong with you; to be able to love and accept yourself without feeling pressured to compete or compare.

Secure people know that God loves them as they are, and that He has a plan for their lives. The abilities or accomplishments of others don't threaten them. They actually enjoy what other people can do, because they enjoy what they themselves can do.

Listen...(Gal. 5:26; Gal. 6:4). Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

GO AHEAD, CRY OUT FOR HELP!
(Psa. 18:6).
There comes a time, when you just need to took up and cry out to God from the depths of your distress; not to worry about "looking dignified," or having people think you have "no faith."

David said...(Psa. 18:6). Every parent knows that cry. It's different; it's not a temper tantrum, or a whining cry for attention. No, it's a cry of distress, and even though it comes in the dead of night, before you know it, your feet are on the floor and you're by their side holding them, changing them, feeding them, and comforting them with words of love. That's how God feels about you today!

Listen to David's testimony...(Psa. 18:16-19).

David also discovered that God could be his "high tower" (Psa. 18:2). When you are under attack a high tower is a place where the enemy can't reach you; where you're actually lifted above the threatening circumstances. From there, you can see into the distance and know that this present trial will soon be over. Go ahead, you're a child of God, so look up and cry out to Him - for He will respond to your cry!
[by Bob Gass]

BLINDED BY ANGER!
(I John 2:11).
Resentment feels like there's "a war" going on inside you. You're in a constant battle with others - or even yourself - but the harder you fight, the more you lose. Arguments only drain you, and leave you hurt and angry. You're in a "no-win" situation! You struggle with who's right and who's wrong; you spend so much time trying to out-do, out-shout, or out-manoeuvre others, that you almost go out of your mind.

End the war! Don't live this way another day! Surrender yourself to God right now, and let Him lead you to peace. Listen...(I Pet. 5:8). Don't be His next meal! Let the love of Jesus fill you so much that it overflows to others - including those who've upset you.

Do you really want to be like the person who hurt you? What would Jesus do? You know! He'd turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39). "But what about the injustice," you ask? What about it? It's not for you to judge! There's only one judge, let Him handle it (James 4:12).

Ask God to help you to release your anger today; to turn the other cheek and forgive the one who's done you wrong. Pray this prayer: "Lord, I'm angry, but help me to let it go. I choose to be merciful. Thank You for giving me the strength to forgive and to follow You. Amen."
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU ANXIOUS TODAY?
(Psa. 56:3).
Anxiety is sometimes like "a big wave" that washes over you and stops you dead in your tracks. It can paralyse you and take away everything good in your life. If you let it control you, you'll do nothing, say nothing, and end up feeling like nothing.

When you think about it, worry is silly! And it's dangerous. It means you're not trusting God to carry out the promises He has made to you. Yes, He has given you responsibilities, and it's important to treat them carefully; but He has commanded you to trust Him (Prov. 3:5).

Paul says...(Phili. 4:6-7).

You are special in the eyes of the Lord. Let that sink in! He loves you and cherishes you. What are you afraid of? Don't you know your Father is with you? Every step you take, He accompanies you! If you stumble, He'll catch you. If you fall, He'll lift you up. If you walk with Him, He guarantees that you'll reach your destination. Today rest in His love, feel His strengthening presence, and begin to move ahead without fear.
[by Bob Gass]

ONLY THE BEST
(Matt. 6:33).
A woman at work received a phone call saying her daughter was very ill. She left work immediately, and stopped at a pharmacy to get some medicine. When she returned to her car, she discovered that she had locked her keys inside and didn't know what to do.

When she called home, the babysitter told her that her daughter was getting worse, and suggested she find a coat hanger and try and open the car door. After looking around, she found a rusty old hanger, but she didn't know how to use it, so she bowed her head and said, "Lord, I'm Your child and I need You. Please send someone to help me."

Within five minutes a car pulled up and a dirty, bearded man stepped out wearing torn jeans and a greasy biker's skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "Lord, is this whom You sent?" The man asked if he could help and she said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick and I've got to get home, but I've locked my keys in the car."

He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the door was opened. In tears she hugged him and said, "Thank you, you're a very nice man." He replied, "Lady, I'm not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in for car theft!" Again she hugged him, but this time she shouted, "Thank You Lord, You sent me a professional!" God knows exactly what you need. Trust Him today!
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU FEELING EXPLOITED!
(I Pet. 4:8).
Do you feel used, abused, and thrown away like yesterday's news? You thought they liked you - even loved you - but now you find they were just "using" you for their own advantage. That's what happens when you put your life into the hands of mere mortals. They're not creators; they can't make anything out of you - they can only use you.

You snapped at the kids this morning. You yelled at somebody at work. You screamed at the driver who cut you off on the road. You fought with your mate again. Now you're pouring out all your frustration on the ones you love and anyone else who crosses your path. Perhaps your anger is just a by-product of the bitterness you've allowed to invade your soul.

The answer is not to take it out on those around you. The answer is to take it to the Lord in prayer, and let Him heal you. It's got to start on the inside before it shows on the outside. That means you've got to spend time with God and allow Him to forgive your resentments, remove your pain, and enable you to love - as He loves.

This is a job for God. Don't try it without Him! Why don't you pray this prayer, "Father, I want to act in love, and not react in anger. Instead of being short in temper, I choose to be long in patience. Let Your love rule my life today. Amen."
[by Bob Gass]

THE POWER OF ONE
(Eze. 22:30).
Most people are more capable and more important than me. Who am I, anyway, to think that I could make a difference?" Is that how you feel? If it is, just be glad that Henry Ford, Martin Luther King, Jr., Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and the apostle Paul didn't think like you!

How many did it take to rescue the man on the Jericho Road? One Good Samaritan. How many did it take to confront Pharaoh and lead the Exodus? One man - Moses. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. In 1776 one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment. In 1941, one vote gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi party!

Esther, a Jewish girl who was married to a pagan king, broke long-standing tradition, marched into her husband's throne room, spoke her mind, and rescued her nation from a holocaust. One woman - only one - saved the nation, because she was willing to get personally involved to the point of sacrifice. She said...(Esth. 4:16).

Before you say, "Somebody else should be doing this instead of me," read these words. "I am only one, but I'm still one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." Ask God today, "What can I do in this situation?"
[by Bob Gass]

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

Are you thinking of quitting? You believed you could make a difference until you met "the committee." Then you decided that it was better to adjust your expectations to their opinion, and just keep smiling. Don't do it. God has too much for you to do! The "safe zone" is only for those timid souls who are exempt from pain, but denied pleasure; safe from failure, but constantly threatened with depression. Get up and get out of there while you still can! Listen...(Rev. 3:2). Start reading the Word. Go to church. Pray. Rekindle your desire, for that's what determines your destiny.

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

IT'S ALL IN YOUR ATTITUDE!
(Matt. 9:29).
Jerry's the kind of guy who's always in a good mood. When you ask him how he's doing, he replies, "If I were any better, I'd be twins!" When you question him about his attitude he says, "Every morning I say to myself, 'Jerry, you've two choices today; you can be in a bad mood or a good one. I always choose the good one. When something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim, or I can choose to learn from it; I choose to learn. When somebody comes to me complaining, I can accept their complaint, or I can point out what's positive; I choose what's positive."

One day Jerry was robbed, shot, and seriously injured. This is how he tells what happened. "As I lay wounded on the floor, I knew I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die; I chose to live. The paramedics were great; they told me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expression on the doctor's face, I really got scared. That look said, 'He's a dead man!' So I knew I had to take action. When the nurse asked me if I was allergic to anything, I said, "Yes, bullets!" Over their laughter, I told the doctor - I choose to live. Operate as if I'm going to live, not die!"

Today Jerry lives and blesses people wherever he goes. Three things saved him: God's grace, modem medicine, and an attitude of faith. You may not get to choose your circumstances, but every day you get to choose your attitude. Make sure you choose the right one today!
[by Bob Gass]

MAKE IT BRING FORTH
(Isa. 55:10-11).
Prosperity just means "having enough to do the will of God" - whether that requires much or little. The Bible says that if you need a financial harvest, then sow a financial seed (II Cor. 9:6). But there's more; you need to water that seed regularly by praying and speaking God's Word over it. That's what will "make it bring forth" (Isa. 55:10).

The power to give life or death to anything is in your tongue (Prov. 18:21). Have you ever seen a dream killed by words? I have! Don't speak death over the seed you've sown! Listen...(Mal. 3:14-15). Have you ever said that? Look out! Grumbling was the sin that kept God's people out of the land of blessing.

Just because God promises you something doesn't guarantee you'll get it. No! There are two things you must do first:
(1) Refuse to be a complainer. Paul said of the Israelites, "discontent destroyed them" (I Cor. 10:10). Don't let that happen to you!
(2) Agree with God's Word. God...(Rom. 4:17). That's not being "flaky." It's just agreeing with God before it happens!

If you've been sowing, but not been reaping, this could be your key! Begin now to declare the scriptures over each seed you sow and believe God to "make it bring forth." (II Cor. 9:6; Isa. 48:17; Prov. 11:25). Try it!
[by Bob Gass]

FOOTPRINTS
(Isa. 40:11).
You are not alone! Listen to these words by Margaret Fishback Powers: "I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. In each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonged to me, and the other belonged to the Lord.

"When the last scene flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints and noticed that many times along the path, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life.

"This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. 'Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand. Why, when I needed You most, did You leave me?'

"The Lord replied, 'My child, I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, they were Mine - that's when I was carrying you!'"

Listen to this promise...(Isa. 46:4). What more do you need?
[by Bob Gass]

BE RELEVANT
(Rom. 1:16).
Are you answering questions nobody's asking? Martin Luther said, "If you preach the Gospel but do not address the issues of your time, you're not preaching the Gospel at all." Strong words!

Chuck Swindoll writes, "The Gospel is like a sword sharpened on the stone of scripture and tempered in the furnace of reality, relevance, and need. Of all the reactions a person may have to it, I can think of none worse than a yawn, a sleepy 'so what,' or a bored 'who cares?'" Jesus met people where they were. His words touched raw nerves. In His preaching, He was a lot more "here-and-now," than He was "there-and-then." He attacked hypocrisy and prejudice. He met people where they were, not where they ought to be. Angry young men, blind beggars, proud politicians, loose-living hookers, ignorant fishermen, naked victims of demonism, and grieving parents - He related to them all! His enemies misunderstood Him, but they couldn't ignore Him. They hated Him, but they were never bored around Him.

Do you want a new definition of failing the Lord? Here it is: using the Gospel to bore people! His Gospel is not some vague religious concept. It's an exciting relationship with God that works in everyday life. People need it, so go out and give it to them today!
[by Bob Gass]

THE DISCIPLINE THAT ENDURES
(Heb. 11:27).
V. Raymond Edman wrote, "To be torn unmercifully by external forces, yet still preserve one's inward integrity, is to know the discipline that endures." The life of Moses is described in two words, "He endured." He endured despite the contempt of Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch on earth. He endured despite the stubbornness of the Hebrews who grumbled, blamed, and rebelled. He endured despite the criticism of Miriam and Aaron, his own family. Their words cut deeply, but he refused to back off. He endured despite the negative report of the ten spies who came back saying, "The giants are too big, and we are too small."

Paul writes...(Eph. 6:13). Stand firm when your enemies seem to prosper and the wicked seem to be winning. Stand firm when big people act small, and little people demand what they don't deserve. Stand firm without compromise even when no one would ever know you compromised.

Where are you today? Feeling 'shaky' in areas where you once stood strong? Are you 'giving in' to the kids? Or to the opinions of others because you're tired of their disapproval?

Moses endured even when he was in his eighties. How? "Because he saw Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27). That's it! He continually reminded himself that his sole purpose in life was to please the Lord, to obey Him, to glorify Him, and to gain His approval at all cost. What more can be said?
[by Bob Gass]

WHERE THE SHOES YOU WANT FILLED!
(Deut. 6:6-7).
Two of the greatest outside influences in your child's life are music and television - and both of them constantly threaten your values. Many of us have no idea what our children watch or listen to. Do you?

God's Word clearly states that there are 5 things you owe your child.
(1) Instruct them (Deut. 6:6-7).
(2) Provide for them (II Cor. 12:14).
(3) Nurture them (Eph. 6:4).
(4) Discipline them (I Tim. 3:4).
(5) Love them (Titus 2:4).
What a challenge!

Abraham's nephew, Lot, made some mistakes that ultimately cost him his family (Gen. 13:10-13). Take a moment and learn from them.
(a) He had the wrong emphasis: he placed financial success above Spiritual priorities.
(b) He had the wrong environment: he thought his children could live in Sodom and not be affected by it.
(c) He had the wrong expectation: he thought he could change Sodom by compromising with it.
(d) He had the wrong example: he thought his children would follow his instructions, but instead, they followed his lifestyle.

If you believe that you can live by the world's rules and expect your children to follow God's, you're deceiving yourself. First wear the shoes you want them to fill! Ask God today to help you become the parent your child needs!
[by Bob Gass]

A HEALTHY ATTITUDE TOWARD YOURSELF
(I Pet. 5:8).
If you want to develop a healthy attitude toward yourself, you need to regularly confess these 12 things:
(1) I know God created me and that He loves me (Jer. 31:3).
(2) I have shortcomings and I want to change. I believe that God is working in my life each day. While He is, I can still accept and enjoy myself.
(3) Everyone has faults. I am not a failure, because I'm not perfect.
(4) I'm working with God to overcome my faults, but there'll always be something to work on. Therefore I won't be discouraged when He convicts me of areas that need improvement.
(5) I want people to like me, but my sense of worth is not dependent on them. Jesus has already demonstrated my worth by dying for me.
(6) 1 won't be controlled by what others think, say, or do. If they reject me I'll survive, for God has promised never to reject me as long as I keep believing.
(7) No matter how often I fail I won't give up, because God is with me. He has promised to strengthen and sustain me as long as I live (Heb. 13:5).
(8) I like myself, I don't like everything I do, and I want to change, but I refuse to put myself down.
(9) I am acceptable to God through the blood of Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9).
(10) God has a plan for my life and I'm going to fulfil it; I have God-given gifts and I intend to use them to glorify Him.
(11) In myself I am nothing, but in Christ I am everything I need to be.
(12) I can do whatever God calls me to do, through the power of Him who dwells in me (Phili. 4:13).
[by Bob Gass]

LOOK OUT FOR THE THORNS!
(Mark 4:19).
Jesus said four different types of ground received the seed (His Word), but only one produced any fruit. In the first, it was wasted, in the second it withered, in the third it was choked by thorns, and in the fourth it was fruitful. Which are you?

Are you the third type - you received the word and began to grow, but gradually your growth was choked by thorns? What are they? Three things:
(1) The worries of this life! The German word for worry is wurgen; it means "to strangle mentally." What a picture! Perfect peace strangled by constant stress, the fear of tomorrow, or the opinions of others. Surely God looks on and thinks, "How easily they forget."
(2) The deceitfulness of wealth. We rationalise this by saying money doesn't mean much to us. We're like heavy-weight champ Joe Lewis who smiled and said, "I don't like money actually, but it quiets my nerves." Yeah, sure Joe! Take another look at the things that money won't buy - like character, the love of your family, the respect of your peers, or the peace of God.
(3) The desire for other things? The mistake here is in thinking you'd be happy if only you had something "other" than what you've got - like another house, or another spouse! Life is not built on things, it's built on relationships and the first relationship you need is a relationship with God. How's yours today?
[by Bob Gass]

COME ON - GET WITH IT!
(Psa. 92:14).
Howard Hendricks writes, "Recently I lost one of my best friends, a woman 86 years young. She was the most exciting lay-teacher I've ever been exposed to. The last time I saw her on planet Earth was at one of those "Christian parties" where we all sit on eggshells and try to look pious.

"In she walked, looked at me, and said, 'Well, Hendricks, I haven't seen you for a long time. Tell me, what are the five best books you've read in the last year?' (That'll change the group dynamics in a hurry.) Her philosophy was, 'Let's not bore each other; let's get into a discussion. And if we can't find anything to discuss, then let's get into a good argument.'

"She was 83 on her last trip to the Holy Land. She went with a group of NFL football players. One of my most vivid memories of her is seeing her out in front yelling back to them, 'Come on men, get with it!'

"Recently she died in her sleep in her daughter's home in Dallas. Her daughter told me that just before she died, she had written out her goals for the next 10 years!" Wow! Whether you're 29 or 92, the word for you today is - make plans, walk with God, and live till your last breath!
[by Bob Gass]

LIVING BEYOND THE GRIND
(I Thes. 5:16-18).
The fact is, no matter who you are, "the grind" is just part of life. Think about it. The salesman has his quotas. The performer has his rehearsals. The therapist counsels one depressed soul after another. The pilot has to stay strapped in for hours. The preacher is never free of sermon preparation. Then, there's the mother with tiny children, facing 14 hours a day of making decisions, competing with strong wills, and trying to be "everything to everybody." And how about the driver who deals with the daily grind of traffic snarls, weather hazards, and monotonous miles?

The question is how do you live beyond the daily grind? Paul gives us the answer: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." Rejoice in the things that never change, can't fail, and won't let you down! (Like God's promises!) Furthermore, when you can't cope - pray. Better yet, live with a prayerful heart! Let each breath say, "I trust You, Lord; I turn it over to You, for I know You've got everything under control." And don't forget to give thanks! The poet said, "I grumbled that I had no shoes, till I met a man who had no feet." Look around and count your blessings!

Do you remember when you were "on the wrong side" of the Red Sea and it looked like you weren't going to make it? That's why the children of Israel declared that the Lord was their strength, their song, and their salvation (Exo. 15:2). Is that what He's been to you too? Then begin to exalt and praise Him today!
[by Bob Gass]

ONE SOLITARY LIFE
(Phili. 2:10-11).
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where He worked in a carpenter's shop until He was 30. For the next 3 years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to university. He never travelled more than 200 miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.

When He was 33, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to the cross between two thieves. When He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the kindness of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race, and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as this one solitary life.

Is He your Saviour? Is He Lord of your life? Is He directing your steps? If not, pray a prayer of commitment. Do it now - and you'll never be the same again.
[by Bob Gass]

DO YOU CARE?
(Psa. 142:4).
Nobody knew who he was. Nobody even seemed to care. They found him lying in a heap, with a deep gash in his throat. A doctor used black sewing thread to suture the wound, and then he was dumped into a paddy wagon and dropped off at Bellevue Hospital. There he languished until he died.

A friend seeking him went to the local morgue, and there among dozens of nameless corpses, they found him. His only possessions were a ragged coat that smelled of liquor, with 38 cents in one pocket and a scrap of paper in the other. On it was written, "Dear friends and gentle hearts." It almost sounded like the words of a song somebody was going to write.

Which would have been correct - for once upon a time this man had written songs that made the whole world sing. Songs like "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Oh! Suzanna," and 200 more that are deeply rooted in America's heritage. His name was Stephen Collins Foster.

So many people around you today are hurting. Some of them are hard to spot because they wear the mask of success. Others are clearly down and out.

How do you change the world around you? One life at a time! But you've got to care. Care enough to love, to restore, to rekindle the flame that life has snuffed out. Think about it carefully, and then go out today and touch one person - just one - with God's love!
[by Bob Gass]

"A WORD" WE ALL NEED!
(Acts 6:4).
One day a friend dropped by Chuck Swindoll's office with "a word" for him. He said, "I'm concerned that as you get busier, your time with God and the study of the scriptures will become less and less important. Don't let that happen!" That's a word we all need!

As the early church grew, the demand on the apostles became greater. Realising that the urgent was about to overtake the important, they said...(Acts 6:3-4).

After reading this, I made a few promises to myself. Here they are:
(1) I promise to work hard, study, and try to stay fresh; those who read this devotional deserve no less.
(2) I promise to maintain a heart for God; to pray fervently and frequently, and stay devoted to my Lord and to my calling.
(3) I promise to be accountable. I've learned that living the life of a lone-ranger is too dangerous.
(4) I promise to stay faithful to my family. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren deserve my time and my undivided affection.
(5) I promise to be who I am - just me; to keep comforting the afflicted, and afflicting the comfortable. Finally,
(6) I promise to accept each day as a gift, live it to the max, and become all that God intended me to be! In other words, I plan to keep trying to put first things first! How about you?
[by Bob Gass]

HOW WELL DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM
(Prov. 27:6).
I get lots of letters from our readers, thank God. Some of them even "take me to task." But I'm glad they write. I'd rather be criticised than ignored! Some of the letters are "spot on" and I try to learn from them. In other cases, I know I've just touched a raw nerve. Sometimes you've got to feel worse before you feel better. Right?

The truth is, if you ever do anything worth while you'll take some "flak"! Jesus did, and He said...(John 15:20). Remember that the next time somebody shoots at you.

Take a moment and consider these words by Theodore Roosevelt, "It's not the critic who counts nor the man who points out where the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds could have done better. No! The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood - who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. Far better is it to dare mighty things than to rank with those poor souls who neither enjoy nor suffer, because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Perhaps you need to read that again, especially if you've been criticised lately. Ultimately it's not what others say about you that matters. What really counts is what you say to yourself after they get through talking. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

JUST BE YOURSELF!
(John 3:27).
Has it dawned on you how much "they" control your life? How often have you said, "Well, you know what they say?" "They" set the standard and we wear it, drive it, or do it! Now that may be OK in some areas, but not when it comes to your life's direction. Jesus said...(John 8:36). That means
(1) free from the pressures others try to put on you;
(2) free to be who God has called you to be;
(3) free to look to Him for your own answers instead of always running to other people.

Listen...(John 3:27). Think about that! Because of my background, I really struggled with insecurity. I was competitive. I kept comparing myself with others. I was jealous of their possessions, their abilities, and their accomplishments. I was always trying to keep up with certain people, or be like them! As a result, I was constantly frustrated, because I was operating outside of what God had called me to be. In other words, I wasn't being myself!

When I finally realised that I could only be what God has ordained me to be, I rose up and began to say, "I am what I am. I can't be anything other than what God has called me to be. So I'm just going to concentrate on being the best me that I can be." You need to say that too!
[by Bob Gass]

CAN YOU ACCEPT HIS CORRECTION?
(Heb. 12:6).
You say you want to change? Well, real change can't even begin until you first believe that God loves you as you are. Otherwise you'll just keep trying to change yourself in a vain attempt to earn His love and approval. The problem with that is, you already have it. You just don't know it!

Most of us are afraid that if we accept ourselves as we are, we're excusing what's wrong in us. Not so! You can't receive God's correction properly until you have a revelation of His love for you. Otherwise you'll only see His disapproval of your actions as disapproval of you.

To grow up in God, you must first believe that He loves you, for often He'll deal with you correctively, and lead you in ways that you don't understand. During those times you must have a firm grip on His love for you! The apostle Paul was convinced that nothing could ever separate him from God's love (Rom. 8:38-39). Are you convinced of that?

Listen...(Rev. 3:19). The strongest evidence of God's love and approval of you is the fact that He convicts you and corrects you. If you're going through that process right now, rejoice. It means that He loves you, and has wonderful things in store for you!
[by Bob Gass]

DEVELOPING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD YOURSELF
(II Pet. 3:18).
Here are 10 principles to help you develop and maintain a healthy self-image. Read them slowly. Meditate on them regularly.

(1) Hate your sin, but never hate yourself.
(2) Be quick to repent.
(3) When God gives you light, walk in it.
(4) Stop saying negative things about yourself. God loves you as you are, and it's wrong to hate what He loves. He has great plans for you. Therefore you're in conflict with Him when you speak negatively about your future.
(5) Never be afraid to admit that you've made a mistake, and don't always assume that when things go wrong, "It must be my fault."
(6) Don't meditate excessively on what you've done right or wrong. Both of these activities keep your mind on you! Centre your thoughts on Christ. Listen...(Isa. 26:3).
(7) Take good care of yourself physically. Make the best of what God gave you to work with, but don't be obsessed with your appearance.
(8) Never stop learning; but don't allow your education to become a point of pride. God doesn't use you because of what's in your head. He uses you because of what's in your heart.
(9) Realise that your talents are a gift, not something you have manufactured yourself, and never look down on people who can't do what you do.
(10) Don't despise your weaknesses. They keep you dependent on God. Now there's something to think about!
[by Bob Gass]

THAT'S A BIG "TEN-FOUR!"
(Jer. 23:29).
Have you ever tried to break a rock with a hammer? Usually it won't yield to the first or even the second blow. You've got to hit it again, and again, and again. How are most people won to Christ? By hearing the Word of God over, and over, and over again.

My friend Perry Atkinson, manager of K-DOV, a Christian radio station in Medford, Oregon, shared a great illustration of this with me. He said, "One day a long-haul truck driver called me and said he'd been tuning to our station each time he drove through our listening area. He would listen to such speakers as Dr. James Dobson, with Focus on the Family, and Chuck Swindoll, with Insight for Living. One day he was so moved by what he heard, that he pulled off the freeway at the Peachtree Truck Stop, and called the station. I answered the phone, and he recognised my voice and name from being on the air. Suddenly he asked me, 'How do I accept this Jesus into my life, that the guy on the radio is talking about?' I asked who he was and where he was calling from. When he told me, I got into my car, drove to the truck stop and met him. Standing outside the phone booth, I led him in the prayer of salvation, encouraged him, gave him his first Bible, and sent him on his way."

What a great story! Let me make two observations about it:
(1) Keep shining your light, sowing your seed, and sharing the Word, and when they are ready, God will bring them.
(2) When you support a ministry that wins souls, you become part of every life that's changed - for it takes a team. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL!
(Prov. 4:7).
Jimmy's Mother said, "Get up. It's time for school." He didn't answer. Again she said, "Get up. It's time to go to school!" He said, "I am not going anymore. There are 1,500 kids in that school, and they all hate me." Sharply she replied, "You've got to go to school!" "I can't," he said, "even the teachers hate me. Give me one good reason why I should have to go through that misery?" Looking him in the eyes, his Mother said, "I'll give you two. First, you are 42 years of age, and second, you're the principal!"

You may smile, but life is a school. It's a never-ending education. When he was 85, Pablo Casals, the great cellist, was asked why he still practised five hours a day. He replied, "Because I think I'm getting better." Wow! What an attitude! Peter said...(II Pet. 3:18). The toughest decision you'll ever make is accepting responsibility for what you are, and what you can be!

Your mistakes are not the issue. What you learn from them is. Built into every painful experience is the wisdom to build a better future. All you need is the right teacher and the right textbook. When God found Gideon, he was hiding in a cave thinking, "There's nothing anybody can do." But God showed him that he wasn't a captive to the Midianites; he was a captive to his own inferiority, his own fear, and the opinions of those around him. God had the power. He even had the plan. All He needed was Gideon to open his heart, and the rest is history. God has things He wants to teach you. The question is, will you let Him?
[by Bob Gass]

ARE YOU IN THE FIRE TODAY?
(I Pet. 4:12).
If you could talk to the three Hebrew children about the fiery furnace, perhaps they'd describe their experience with the Lord this way: "The fire was all over us. Our robes were ablaze, but amazingly, our skin was unaffected. We had no idea what was going on. Then something moved over in the ashes. We were not alone! Suddenly out of the smoke came a shining, gleaming ... We never got His name ... He never said it. He never said anything, but just knowing He was there brought comfort. His presence created protection in the midst of the crisis. Now, we don't mean that the fire went out. No, it still burned, but the brightness of the flames was eclipsed by the brilliance of His presence. We, never saw Him again. He showed up when we needed Him most! But one thing is sure - looking back, we're glad they dragged us from the presence of the wicked one into the presence of the righteous one! For in His presence we learned that...(Isa. 54:17).

Are you walking through the fire today? If you are, remember you're not alone. He's with you! Take courage! When He brings you out, you'll know Him much better, trust Him much more, and have something to say that's really worth listening to.
[by Bob Gass]

GOD, I NEED TO FIND YOU!
(Jer. 29:13).
More and more I find myself searching for the assurance of His presence, rather than for the answer to my problem. After all, what's a problem if He's there? He doesn't have to do anything but just be there - and all is well!

If you're searching for God today, you may be closer than you think. Here's a clue. Job said...(Job 23:8-9). Wow! Job just told you where to find God!

If you were looking for someone, and you knew where they "worked," you wouldn't have to look too far would you? Job says, He works on "the left hand."

We always look on the right hand, for that symbolises the place of power and authority. But the left hand is where His strength is made perfect in our weakness (II Cor. 12:9), and His grace can be seen working in the ashes of our disappointment and failure.

Perhaps you think God is only at work when the blessing comes. No! It's when the blessing is delayed that He's working on your faith and your character. His blessing is the reward that comes after you learn obedience through the things you've experienced (Heb. 5:8).

I wouldn't exchange anything for what I've learned during the hard times, for it was then that God had my complete attention. How about you?
[by Bob Gass]

LEFT-HANDED BLESSINGS!
(Job 23:8-9).
Yesterday we talked about God working on the left hand - in the storm, in the fire, in the difficult experiences of our lives. And there will be more of them, for He's not finished with us yet! Listen...(Phili. 1:6). Between every step of faith and every new dimension of blessing, there will always be another level of struggle - always!

After you've been through this process a few times, you begin to realise that the valley is only a sign that within a few more steps you'll be at the mountain again! Thus, if the left hand is where God works, and it is; if the left hand is where He teaches us, and it is; then at the end of each class and each test, there's always a promotion. So just hold on!

At first it's difficult to understand when God works on the left hand. He makes such definite moves on the right hand (the place of power). When He works on the left hand, you might feel like He's forgotten you. Don't worry. He hasn't! It's just that sometimes He moves openly - right-handed blessings. Other times He tiptoes around in the invisible, working in the shadows - left-handed blessings.

You say, "What's He doing?" He's bringing you to the place where you can trust Him with either hand. Think about it!
[by Bob Gass]

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
(Job 23:10).
Stop measuring yourself against other people. God has a plan for you that's both unique and personal. His methods may sometimes seem cruel and His teachings laborious - but His results are always worth waiting for. Without scams and games, He accomplishes His purpose in our lives, and all He asks us to do is "trust and obey." Just that simple!

Job said, "He knows the way that I take." The path you're on right now is the one He chose for you. Even when you don't know where He is, He always knows where you are, because He never takes His eye off you. How comforting! Listen...(Job 23:10). The word "when" means God has a set time for testing you and a set time for bringing you out. A