Deaf Devotion 1/30/2010

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 KJV)

In His simple way Jesus is telling us to remember who we are, who created us, and who bought and paid for our salvation.

God wants to change us, but not only on the surface. God doesn’t want to change the way we look. He wants to change who we are. He wants to clean us up from the very core of our being. When we try to put on a mask we are interrupting His work because we are trying to look like we are changed. But it’s not real. Jesus calls us to influence the world toward become “conformed to the image of His Son.” We are called to be Christ-like in everything we do. Not part, not some things, not pick and choose, but to become Christ-like in EVERYTHING we are, say, and do. To do it we have to be authentic, have faith in Him that changes us from the inside out. Anything less is useless to Him.

Jesus is challenging us to make a focused effort to live in contact with people who need to know Him. We need to be involved with non-Christian people. In our context, it means we need to make the effort to cross paths with people who don’t know Jesus’ love and the hope He offers. When you are blessed enough to live in the light, make sure you don’t hide it. Be available enough to reflect it to others who are still living in the darkness. That’s the only way you will ever influence them.

It also means that we will come across some people who, on the outside, really believe they are living a Christian life but in their heart, they are hurting because of various reasons. They have shut the door to God. On the outside we see the smiling “How are you - I am fine” attitude. On the inside they may be just the opposite. May people today say they are Christian, but on the inside they are angry at God or have cut God out of their life because of a past hurt or offense. We cannot judge them. We are all sinners. All we can do is let our Christ-like attitude influence them in a way only God knows can be useful. And that is to lead them back to Jesus Christ. The rest after that is in God’s hands.

There are four verses near the beginning of Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Jesus called his followers to the highest standards of conduct. He challenged us to "turn the other cheek" when we are struck on the right one. He commanded us to love our enemy, to forgive people who do us wrong, and to be sure we act with the purest motives. He said there were two roads, a wide road that leads to destruction and a narrow one that leads to life, and he said we ought to choose the narrow, hard to follow path. Now Jesus is calling those who follow Him to choose to be a godly influence on the society in which we live.

Many people will say, “Easier said than done.” Nobody said it would be easy.

Everything we do in life becomes evidence of who we truly are. What does our life's evidence say about us? Does it say that we merely profess to be a follower of Christ or does it reveal our love and true devotion to Him? While our goal should not be a morally perfect life, we should strive to have a walk with the Lord that is consistently growing and changing to resemble the One whom we serve.

"A man's life is always more forcible than his speech. If his life and doctrine disagree, the mass of onlookers will accept his practice and reject his preaching."
C.H. Spurgeon

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 1/26/2010

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Romans 11:33 NLT)

We know God, but what do we know about God? The only things we know about God are what God has chosen to reveal to us through the scriptures. In Isaiah 55:8, God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.”

We must guard ourselves against lowering the standard of God’s Word to our level of understanding or political correctness. And we must guard ourselves against raising our local customs and rituals above the standard of His Word. God’s Word is not meant to be added as a part of our decisions. Our decisions are to be based on God’s Word.

We can argue with it, but why? We can pick up any other book and read the words that are put down, but God’s Word reads our heart. It pulsates with life and power. It cuts, burns, crushes, and wields mountain-moving power.

What difference does God’s Word make to us? Does God’s Word make a difference? More than anything, God’s Word can be a source of great hope and comfort. Only a God with perfect wisdom and understanding is truly worthy of our faith. After all, when we place our trust in someone, we want to be sure that they know what they’re doing. God knows.

God’s Word has a life of its own. It is the voice of God to us. We cannot refuse it, deny it, distort it, or dilute it. We can only bow before it.

If we place our trust in God’s Word, we don’t need to try to understand all the reasons for why the world is the way it is. We don’t need to try to understand why bad things happen to good people, or why good things happen to bad people. We don’t need to try to understand the specific purpose for everything and everyone that God allows into our life. We just have to know that God understands, and that His wisdom is perfect. That’s enough. And that confidence brings hope, and joy, and peace, even in the midst of difficulty and trial.

God’s wisdom gives us wisdom

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5 KJV)

Paul talks about God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge. How deep is the ocean? Not deeper than God’s riches. How big is the Grand Canyon? Not bigger than the wisdom of God. How limitless is the Milky Way? There are no limits to God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge.

Do we want to get into God’s mind? Do we want to think like God? Good luck!

God’s ways cannot be tracked. Do we really think we should be the ones giving God advice on how to run this world, or our lives? Let God take care of the details.

We all need to catch a fresh vision of the glory of God and His Word. We need to let it transform us! Let’s do everything to his glory and for his glory and watch what happens!

Deaf Devotion 1/23/2010

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 NLT)

Haiti. There are estimates that upwards of 200,000 people have died. It sounds like a lot and it is a lot.

There are estimates that 1.5 million people are now homeless. It sounds like a big number as well, and it is.

But here’s another number: 50 million. That’s approximately how many have died in America since 1973 when the Supreme Court made the decision to make abortion legal. The Supreme Court of the United States of America placed our official stamp of approval as a nation upon the death of the innocent.

That’s a really big number.

Haitian life is of endless value to God, and should be to us as well. But as great as that tragedy is, the greatest one is right under our noses in our homeland, and is approved by the law of the land.

Many words are used to describe unborn life today; “fetus,” “tissue,” “embryo,” etc... All sound so cold and frankly inhuman. But God says "before I formed you I knew you." The word "before" here is very important. God is saying that before He began to create the person who would later come to be known as Jeremiah God knew exactly who He was, and what He planned for Jeremiah to do. In the mind of God, before Jeremiah was even conceived God considered him a person. Even before God spoke the universe into existence God considered Jeremiah a person. The point seems to be very clear. If God considers the unborn life to be a person before he even begins to create that life in the mother’s womb, we should certainly consider him or her a person after that creative process has begun. There are other Scriptural examples that testify to the fact that God considers the unborn child, a human, a person.

Is this not what David echoes in Psalm 139? "For you FORMED my inward parts. You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed...." Human life in the womb, regardless of the circumstances involved is a product of God’s creative work.

Unborn human life is set above the rest of God’s creation because it is made in the very "image of God" Himself. This is what makes the unborn more valuable than snail darters, and spotted owls, and seals.

This vessel that God is forming in the womb is so honorable because it is the only creation of God designed to house the very presence of God Himself. "What know ye not that your bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Unborn life is so valuable because it is the object of God’s love. Christ died for the unborn. He died for us before we were ever even a thought in the mind of any man. The same is true of any child yet to be born.

We do not have the ability to play God. Out of the millions of aborted children over the past thirty plus years who knows what great purposes of God, what great potential was snuffed out depriving mankind of great blessing. The unborn child has great God given purpose and potential.

We are called to love life and love others throughout the Scriptures. Therefore we must conclude that the taking of innocent life, within the womb as well as life beyond the womb is wrong and a sin against God, others, and the nation, is not a demonstration of love.

We are supposed to speak out, raise our voices, to protect the innocent!

Proverbs 31:8-9 (NLT) says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed (destroyed). Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

On Jan. 22, 1973, nine people in black robes said there are only 3 requirements in our country in order to have a legal abortion:

- The baby must still be inside the mother.
- The mother must give permission for the procedure.
- A licensed doctor must do the procedure.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed over 3500 people.
On September 12, 2001 4000 lives were extinguished and again on September 13 and 14 and 15. Every day in America there are over 4000 unborn babies whose lives have been taken in what is called pro-choice. 4000 each day, and 1.5 million each year.

On September 11, 2001 the outcry for justice was great, the cry of pain was heard throughout our Nation. Swift and accurate justice was rendered. There are 4000 unborn babies being aborted every day, but we see no weeping, no anger, and no outcry for justice and there seems to be nobody who cares.

What can we do?
1. Be informed.
2. Pray for government officials. Pray for their decisions and their values.
3. Have compassion for the mother and father. God loves them too!
4. Speak out clearly and without apology.
5. Pray for God to have mercy on our country and to bring revival and repentance.

God desires that we would support the sacredness of Life. Even more, He wants to celebrate the life He created here on earth as well as life eternal in heaven. This can only happen as we enter into a close relationship with Him. Today praise God for life.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 1/19/2010

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:45 NLT

Throughout scripture God has given man a multitude of promises:
Promise of Love
Promise of Forgiveness
Promise of Salvation
Promise of the Holy Spirit
Promise of Everlasting Life
Promise of Peace
Promise of Joy
Promise of Freedom
Promise of Growth
Promise of Encouragement
Promise of Excellence
Promise of Strength
Promise to Make Us Holy
Promise to Bless Us
Promise to Guide Us
Promise to Protect Us
Promise to Care for Us
Promise to Correct Us
Promise to Come Again
Promise to Reward Us
God makes a promise to the guilty and dejected that earnestly seek reconciliation
God makes a promise to those that are in despair
God makes promises to those that are disappointed with the present
God makes promises to the depressed and persecuted
God makes promises when we are Anxious, Confused, Impatient, Tempted, Weak, Afraid
God makes promises when we suffer and grieve.
God makes promises to those that obey
God promises to take care of our needs
God promises to Answer Prayer and to be with us wherever we go

We have an almighty God that cares for us and desires that our hearts would act in obedience to His plan.

And so, He challenges us in the testing of our hearts and faith in Him so that we would grow in the understanding of His ways, learning to stand upon the solid rock of His unchanging and powerful promises.

God wants us to dwell in His Promises as well. He wants us to be aware of the promises He has made, watch how they come to pass and grow in faith through His Word.

When we are in tune to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives and follow through with the direction given, we ought to reflect and rejoice when victory takes place. We need to be dwelling in the magnificent ways God works and lifting our hands in praise.

Too often we’re quick to jump into the next best thing on our agenda. But God calls for us to stop, rejoice, and lift His name on high.

We need to recognize that everything good comes from Him and without Him our actions are futile.

Dwelling in the good things that God has done focuses our attention on Him and that’s exactly where it should be.

Consider that when one lost person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, all heaven stops to rejoice and praise God and the Name of Jesus Christ. So then, shouldn’t we do the same? Let us also rejoice at every point in time what God reveals to us as the movement of His mighty Hand in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Nothing God does is ordinary or boring. He deserves our sincere praise and gratitude.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

God’ Word is solid. God’s Word and the ever-working Holy Spirit in the lives of all believers encourages and reminds us of the beauty of God’s plan. We may become frustrated at times because God’s ways are not our ways and we want the promises fulfilled today. We should ultimately come to the conclusion that God’s Word is higher and mightier. We are no longer restless but at peace knowing that He is in control.

Deaf Devotion 1/15/2010

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Ephesians 6:15 KJV)

I am tired of shoveling snow. I know many people are tired of shoveling snow. Is it spring yet? Do we realize it has not yet been even one month since Christmas? I really think the thing I dislike most about shoveling snow is deciding what to put on my feet. I know I cannot wear my sandals or go barefoot. But at the same time boots can be a hassle. But boots are necessary.

Shoes serve an important role. We must accept the fact that the sole (ha ha) purpose for shoes is to protect our feet. I remember growing up and wearing things called “galoshes” to protect my feet from water. These were heavy black rubber boots that had these buckles on the front that never seemed to work. Snow boots guard our feet from frostbite and cold. Depending upon our jobs, there may be very specific footwear that we are required to wear to protect our feet while doing our job. At my job at the airport, I am required to wear steel-toe boots to protect my feet from injury if I drop something heavy.

While many unique situations call for a different type of shoe, there is a single pair that fits every believer.

The apostle Paul wrote that the feet of every Christian should be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Just as every other part of our body is to be clothed in armor from God—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit—so our feet are also to be “clothed.”

But what does it mean to have our feet “shod” with the Gospel of peace? Paul is playing off the words of Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” We see a description of a warrior who brings back news of a great victory in battle. The word that Paul uses In the Letter to the Ephesians is “ὑποδέω” or “hypodeō” in English. It means to cover one’s self with preparation. It means to tighten up those bootlaces in preparation to share the Gospel. Everywhere our feet take us, we are to proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our victory is a victory that brings us peace with God and will one day bring peace to the world.

Think about it. One of Satan’s biggest evil schemes is to do everything he can to make sure that believers do as little of sharing the Gospel as possible. Why does Satan do this?

• If the Gospel is not shared, not-yet-believers will not come to faith.
• If the Gospel is not shared, the overall ministry of the church becomes sidetracked.
• If the Gospel is not shared, enthusiasm for the important work of God weakened.

This is why this piece of our armor is so important. It is a call to stand firm “with our feet covered in preparation that comes from the Gospel of peace”. When it comes to our spiritual shoes one size fits all. We cannot be those who are fully equipped unless we have the Gospel. We will lack ministry focus unless we are willing to help people find peace with God and accepting the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Paul is inviting us to let God’s Word fit us with feet of readiness. Do we have what it takes?

• It is not asking, “Do you believe in Jesus?”
• It is not asking, “Are you saved?”
• It is not even asking, “Are you a member of a church?

It's not about asking. Its about telling. It is making sure everyone we know has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior.

Romans Chapter Ten says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. This is reconciliation. This is the Gospel of peace. But there is a process which needs to take place.

“How can they call?” There will be no cries of repentance and faith until we share the Gospel of God’s Grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

“How can they believe?” Believing involves knowing facts. Believing involves being involved in learning and understanding.

“How can they know?” How will the Gospel go out unless someone shares with another person? If we say we want to be Christ-like in all we do, we are to go and make disciples. This means sharing the Gospel wherever we go and with whomever we meet.

The peace that is in our heart should be a peace that transfers into readiness for action.

When was the last time we joyfully shared with someone that the victory has been won? Good news is meant for sharing. The Gospel, our Good News of Salvation and Eternal Life, is meant to be shared wherever we go and with whomever we speak.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 1/12/2010

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation. This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” (Exodus 19:4-6 NLT)

We are created for special relationship with God and all He has planned for us. A part of this relationship is trust and obedience. Without these there is no relationship.

God asked the new generation of Israelites to make a commitment to Him. By the way, at this point of time, the Hebrew people followed Moses for almost two months already. They have already spent nearly 50 days in the desert depending on God for their food and water.

They walked through the Red Sea and through the desert following a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night as God had guided them to this mountain.

Wasn’t that enough? Apparently not!

This was not a casual relationship God was asking of Israel. What God asked was a lifelong commitment. God said, “Now IF you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession….”

Commitment to trust and obedience is something that is completely up to us. God does not force us to commit our life to Him. The grace God freely gives and the cost He and Jesus paid for our salvation and His promise to bless us if we obey Him are not meant to pressure us to commit our life to Him. In fact, no matter what God has done, He is not going to twist, thwart, switch, undo, or overturn our decision and our choice with regards to our commitment of trust and obedience to Him.

The Bible says that God brought His people unto Himself on eagle’s wings. The meaning of commitment in our life is that God brings us unto Himself. This is what the Lord wants. He wants us to come unto Him.

The Lord explained to Moses that when He called him down to Egypt to lead God’s people out, He wanted Moses to understand that He was bringing them not to a land, but to a Person. God was bringing His people home to Himself. And He wanted their trust and their obedience.

The meaning of commitment in our life is to trust and obey what God says. Personally, how well do you know Him? May we come to know Jesus Christ in a way that we have never known Him before, more closely than we have ever known Him. Christ can do for us what no one else can do for us.

The meaning of commitment in our life is that when God brings us unto Himself we can trust in obedience that God wants only the best for us. Once we realize this, we should look for Christ in all things, every day, everywhere we go. The Lord wants us to meet Him every day, in everything He does. Look for Him because He is working in all these things to bring us unto Himself. The Bible says in Philippians 2:13, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

God is in the disturbances just as much as He is in the deliverances. Every one of us is exactly the way we are for one reason. We are content to be that way. Some are so content that they would just sit where they are and do no more until the Lord Jesus comes. We must realize that God wants to stir us up.

We wonder why things happen. We may wonder why we are having difficulty. We may wonder why things are not going smoothly for us. It is because God wants to do more with our life that He has ever done before. All we are asked to do in our special relationship with God is to trust and obey what He says.

Our worth and value are not based on the worlds value scale.
Instead it is based on the balanced scales of God almighty through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

The world will probably reject us, and reject the Gospel, but God accepts us and wants to show our worth to the World.

No matter what the world thinks.
We are special to God!
Just trust and obey.

Deaf Devotion 1/9/2010

“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NLT)

Life is filled choices. We must choose when to go to bed and when to get up. What to eat and what not to eat. What to wear and what not to wear. We choose what to do with our time. We choose where we’ll go to work and where we’ll go out to eat. Life is filled with choices.

Some choices are easy to make. Some are difficult.

You and I are who we are today because of the choices we made yesterday.

The choices we make today have an impact on the decisions we will be making tomorrow. They establish a pattern and a foundation for our life.

But some may say, “I haven’t always made the right choices!” But there is good news.

Who we are tomorrow, is determined by the choices we make today! Every choice we make today impacts our life tomorrow.

• Finances
• Eating
• Health
• Use of Time
• Relationships
• Spirituality – eternity

Pray about the choice to be made.
Jesus did.

Jesus sometimes prayed all night before he went ahead with something. Was He praying to know what to do? Was He praying for something to improve? Was He praying for the sake of praying?

When Jesus prayed he glorified God and then sought God’s will. Jesus’ decisions always were in line with what God decided for Him. God wants our decisions to be the things He has planned for us. Jesus said in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before He died for God to take away what He was facing. But He also prayed, “Not my will but yours.” God knows what He is doing.

Then Jesus left the results to God. We leave the results to God. God know what He is doing.

In the letter of James, we are called to have an attitude of prayer in all situations. Pray for God’s will in our decisions whatever that decision is. When we are confronted with a heavy decision, we are called to pray. When we are faced with a life-altering situation, we are called to pray. If the decision is whether to buy something or not, pray. If it is to confront a friend living outside God’s will and headed the wrong way, pray. If it is a choice between Tim Horton’s and Starbucks, really pray! Then trust God with the results. God knows what He is doing.

Choices we should make:

Choose Faith – Not Fear

Choose be a Servant not a Slave

Choose to be a slave to Jesus Christ and not a slave to sin.

Choose to Heal not to hurt

Choose to Worship not to Worry

All of us have things we choose to do each day based on our personal set of beliefs.

We must go to God with every decision we make. Every decision is a temptation. It is a temptation to make a decision to follow God’s will and plan for us. It is also a temptation to decide to follow our own plan and desires and do what we want to do.

If we do not seek God in our decisions every day--week after week, month after month--then it means that God does not have His place on the throne of our life and gets pushed lower on our list of priorities.

We need to be honest with ourselves and with God. We call ourselves Christians, but we sometimes fail to show Christ-like characteristics in our decisions and our life--prayer, service, acts of compassion, study of God's Word, and worship. God needs to have First Place in our lives.

If God is first in our lives we will not make a move or decision without first seeing if what we are going to do is a part of His plan for us. Will we make wrong choices? Yes. Will we be led to make wrong decisions? Yes. But our God is more than faithful. He is our closest friend.

Today, choose. Does God know better His plan for us or do we know better our plan? Do we want to follow God’s plan or do we want to follow the failed plan of the world? Do we want to live with God on the throne or us on the throne?

There can be one answer.

God knows what He is doing.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”