Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"A New Medicine"

The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7b
   

The records of any church more than a 100-years-old will tell you that influenza can be a nasty beast.

If you are a member at such a church, I encourage you to take a quick look at the official records. Beginning with the year 1910, look at the section marked DEATHS. Without sitting by your side, I can tell you what you will find. In 1910, people died from all kinds of diseases and accidents. The same was true in 1911, 1912, and 1913. But when you reach the year 1918, things will change. In the DEATHS column, you will see one word written over and over again. That word is influenza. In 1918, the world was brought low by an influenza strain of catastrophic potency. The death toll was somewhere between 30 and 60 million people.

Scientists say killing strains of flu like that of 1918 don’t happen often, but they do happen. When they do happen, brother, “Watch out!” “Watching out” is exactly what they’ve been doing toward the Bird-flu. If the bird flu mutates and becomes transferable between humans, we’re in big trouble. It will be 1918 all over again.

Maybe that explains why so many people were pleased last week when researchers said there is hope. They believe it is possible to stockpile Bird-flu antibodies. If they’re right, and the stockpiling works, millions of lives might be saved.

Of course, there is only one question, “Where will we get Bird-flu antibodies?” Science once again provides the answer. We can get those antibodies from the blood of people who caught the illness and survived. In short, others may live because of the blood of someone who has defeated death.

The idea of being saved by someone else’s blood isn’t a new idea. God said the same thing: when He inspired the Apostle John to write, “the blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin.” Saint Paul agreed when he said, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7a). Because of Jesus’ blood shed upon Calvary’s cross, we can be washed of our sins. Because Jesus defeated death with His resurrection on the third day, we are redeemed, and believers are saved.

I pray scientists will, someday, be able to save millions of lives by someone’s blood. But I am already giving thanks that Jesus, through the shedding of His blood, has made it possible for all to be saved.

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"Being God's Servant"

“May it be to me as You have said.” Luke 1:38
   

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Mary understood her role as the mother of Jesus. In faithful response, she accepted her role as “the Lord’s servant.”

THE JOURNEY—DAY 13
While Bill was certain that Chuck needed Jesus, he wondered if he had destroyed his opportunity to be an effective witness. He was questioning his role in this particular situation.

After dinner that evening, Bill began to talk about the situation with Julie. He expressed his concerns; she didn’t really know what to say either. She suggested, “Call Pastor Greer. Maybe he can offer some advice.”

Bill called. He shared with Pastor Greer the ways God had been working in his life. He explained the situation about Chuck. Pastor Greer responded, “Until Chuck closes a door in your face, you may be the only servant of God who has the opportunity to share Jesus with him. Come by my office tomorrow. We can discuss this some more.”

Chuck gained new resolve in his role in this matter. He prayed, “Lord, use me as You want in making Your love in Jesus known to Chuck.”

Then, as was their custom, he loaded up the family in the car to drive around town to look at the Christmas lights on the decorated homes and stores. They stopped for hot chocolate on the way back home.

REALITY JOURNEY
Is witnessing a role you accept willingly? Witnessing about our faith is a response of service to God in Christ Jesus. He said, “You will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:.

hi! Pastor Roger...I might as well do it with a cheerful attitude I don`t known anything else to do!

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hi! Pastor Roger...I might as well do it with a cheerful attitude I don`t known anything else to do!

Pastor Roger,good night,good night everyone I believe i will pray for you all tonight it a good though.the Lord is good His mercy endureth forever.love in Jesus.Def

[Soldier4Christ]

hi! Pastor Roger...I might as well do it with a cheerful attitude I don`t known anything else to do!

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We have all the reasons there are to have a cheerful attitude. After all we have Jesus.

Good night sister. Sleep well.

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Pastor Roger,good night,good night everyone I believe i will pray for you all tonight it a good though.the Lord is good His mercy endureth forever.love in Jesus.Def

please pray for me,thank you.

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please pray for me,thank you.

how come i got some stars under my name ,Jesus works fast!

[Soldier4Christ]

The stars show that you are a valued senior member.

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good morning you all,Have  a blessed day stay happy smile God is good, God is Love, and Jesus Christ is with us ,MARCH ON everyone,FISH ON,whatever,WE WIN..love,Def.praying for all in need .you are not alone Ok..
"this cat is laughfing at my dog again...grrr!!!

[def]

good morning you all,Have  a blessed day stay happy smile God is good, God is Love, and Jesus Christ is with us ,MARCH ON everyone,FISH ON,whatever,WE WIN..love,Def.praying for all in need .you are not alone Ok..
"this cat is laughfing at my dog again...grrr!!!

Lights on get up!

[Soldier4Christ]

Good morning, def. Another glorious morning.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Differences"

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” John 11:39
   

This devotion tells the stories of two men who died. The first man, whose story was carried last week by Reuters’ News Service, came from a small village in the state of Orissa, India. While searching for firewood, a snake bit the man, and he died. According to custom, his mourning family buried him the same day. Two days after the funeral, the man’s mother dreamt that her son could be brought back to life. With great anticipation, the family dug up the man’s body and hired a local witch doctor to raise their son from the dead.

Let me now leave the narrative of that man and tell you of another fellow who lived 2,000 years ago in the small Judean village of Bethany. Although I don’t know the illness that caused his death, I do know that the man was mourned by his sisters. They, along with friends, and according to custom, buried the man shortly after he passed away. I can also tell you that even before this man had died the family sent for Jesus hoping He would affect a cure.

The stories, up to this moment, are remarkably similar in their telling. The similarity stops here.

For two days, the family of the man from India sat and fanned his corpse. For two days, the witch doctor did his best to bring about a resurrection. Then, after two days, the grieving family reburied their son. This man’s story ends with his family standing before his filled grave.

There is a different outcome in the story of our second man. Scripture says by the time Jesus reached the home of his friend, the man had been dead for four days. When Jesus ordered the man’s tomb to be opened, his sisters objected. They knew their brother’s body would be advanced in its decomposition. Still, with Jesus’ assurances, the grave was opened, and the Savior called into the darkness this command: “Lazarus, come out.” This story ends when a living Lazarus, still wrapped in grave cloths, came shuffling out of the darkness.

I said this devotion was the tale of two men who died. That is not entirely true. For certain, this devotion does address the subjects of death and the faith of mourning families. But more than these things, this devotion encourages mourners to have faith in a God who has the ability and willingness to defeat death. This devotion speaks of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who lived, died and overcame death by His resurrection. He is the only Savior who can truthfully say, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mary Mallon"

A leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-3
   

Mary Mallon was a good cook and an excellent employee. Mary Mallon had only one small flaw. She killed the people she worked for. Don’t misunderstand. Mary wasn’t a monster. She never admitted to killing anyone. But, Mary was responsible for the sickness and death of many people with whom she came into contact. Now, I’m not surprised if the name Mary Mallon isn’t familiar to you, but I’m guessing you know her nickname: Typhoid Mary. Mary was a healthy carrier of typhoid fever who infected 47 people and killed three of them. As a public danger, Mary was kept in forcible quarantine until she died.

Andrew Speaker is a good lawyer and an excellent attorney. Andrew Speaker has only one small problem. He carries a drug resistant form of tuberculosis that can infect and kill others. Last week, Andrew Speaker made the headlines because he had managed to make it past border security and exposed an unknown number of people to his illness by taking his honeymoon in Italy, the Greek Isles, and other tourist destinations throughout Europe. Today, the government has forcibly quarantined Andrew Speaker.

Very few people reading this devotion would disagree when I say the government, in both of these cases, did the right and sensible thing. If that is what you believe, please take a look at how Jesus handled the leper who came and knelt before Him. Matthew tells us the Savior stretched out his hand and touched the infected man and healed him. It was hardly the sensible thing for the Savior to do. On the other hand, touching a leper to heal him was the Godly, gracious thing for Jesus to do.

In the same way, we must admit the Father’s sending of His Son to seek and save souls that are infected by sin is hardly sensible. You wouldn’t have done something like that. I wouldn’t either. But God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not ours, either. God’s grace and love is wonderfully, Divinely unique. Who else but our heavenly Father would send His Son to reach out and heal lepers, restore sight to the blind, mobility to the lame, hearing to the deaf, and salvation to the sinner?

Scripture is clear. Jesus came not to put us into quarantine, but to get us out of the quarantine and condemnation of sin. It may not have been the sensible thing for God to do, but I am glad He did it.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Serious Skeptics"

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7
   

A man once stood up at the Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park, making full use of the opportunity to mock the Lord. He said, "People tell me that God exists, but I can't see Him. People tell me that there is a life after death, but I can't see it. People tell me that there is a judgment to come, but I can't see it. People tell me that there is a heaven and a hell, but I can't see them." He stepped down while another man struggled up. The second man began, "People tell me that there is green grass all around, but I can't see it. People tell me that there is blue sky above, but I can't see it. People tell me that there are trees nearby, but I can't see them. But then, there is a reason. I am blind.”

All of us are sometimes blind. The first of the orators felt quite smug in saying that our senses are the sum total of reality; he was blind to anything spiritual or godly. The second speaker may have been blind to the things of the material world, but he could clearly see the hand of God in his life.

It is my hope and prayer that you are among the many millions who have seen the grace of God in the face of His Son—our Savior—Jesus. If you are not, take the time to look closely into the manger of Bethlehem where Jesus was born, read the Scriptures and see Him walking the dusty paths of this world to bring hope and heaven to humankind. Let your eyes be opened to gaze with agonizing astonishment at His suffering and sacrifice upon Calvary’s cross. It is important that you allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to God’s love and grace. Christians who have been plagued by doubt need to see anew God’s love for them upon the cross. Serious skeptics need to see the Savior’s story of salvation.

One by one, the days of your life are being checked off. Not everyone who picks up this book will be around to read its sequel a year from now. That’s why, today, see the Holy Spirit calling you to faith in the Savior. He wants you, with eyes of faith, to see the reality of the Redeemer’s love.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Epiphany Is Serendipity"

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? Matthew 2:1-2
   

Have you ever started looking for one thing and wound up finding a better thing? If so, you have experienced serendipity. In 1827, John Walker spent the day mixing chemicals. Wishing to clean his floor, he scraped a mixing stick across the stones and the stick burst into flame. Matches were created … serendipity. In 1945, Percy Spencer was working around a magnetron and felt the chocolate bar he was carrying in his pocket melt. Bingo, the first microwave had been born. It was serendipity! Around 1945, George deMestral, a mountain-hiking botanist, stopped to pull some burrs off his socks. Intrigued at their sticking power, he looked at the burrs under his microscope and came up with Velcro. Looking for one thing and finding something better … that’s serendipity.

The greatest serendipity of all is when a sinful soul meets Jesus. Take a look in the New Testament; it is filled with examples. A Samaritan woman went to the town well looking for water, was found by Jesus and ended up with forgiveness. Matthew went to his booth looking to collect taxes and was found by Jesus who gave him a new life. Peter went out in his boat looking for fish, was found by Jesus and started to fish for souls. The widow of Nain began the day dreading the burial of her only son, was found by Jesus and ended the day with a living son as well as a Savior. Mary Magdalene sat before an open tomb looking for her teacher's body and, most wondrous serendipity of all, she was found by her resurrected, death-defeating Savior.

The serendipity which comes from knowing the Savior is not something confined to days long gone and lands far away. Even today, Jesus is still seeking out the sad, unsatisfied searchers of this world. To those who find themselves lonely even in the midst of a crowd, Jesus comes, offering true friendship. To those who are afraid, Jesus comes bringing peace, which passes human understanding. To those whose consciences continuously accuse them, Jesus comes and with hands of love holds out the forgiveness which He alone can give. To look for one thing—anything—and be found by Jesus … that’s true serendipity.

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Unveiling"

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
   

Years ago after completing high school, a Christian girl got her first job. The first day of work showed her she was hardly ready to deal with the lurid language, ungentle jokes, and cruel comments that shocked her. Shaken, she told her parents she wasn’t going back. Before she had finished sharing her lament her father interrupted and asked, “Honey, where do you put a light?"

She continued telling them about the stuff she had suffered, but Dad again asked, "Where do you put a light?" Exasperated, she replied, "Dad, what does that have to do with what I’m saying? You put light where it’s dark." "Good," said her dad and continued, “As a Christian you are to reflect the light of Jesus into a dark place. Go to work tomorrow and let His light be reflected to those folks in the darkness so they can see Jesus.”

Jesus was born into a world that loved and preferred the darkness. When the Christ confronted humanity with God's call to repentance, forgiveness, and hope, His world, like ours, didn't want what He was offering. The truth is, evil never likes to be exposed. Those around the Savior very clearly said, "If it's all the same to You, Jesus, we’ll remain living in the darkness." So intense was their hatred toward Jesus, they ended up nailing Him to a cross. With great confidence that the darkness had once again descended, they placed a stone and a guard before His grave. But death and darkness didn’t have the final say. Jesus' sacrifice for us was accepted, and on the third day He rose from the dead.

Because Jesus lives, His people no longer languish in the black prison of sin. Because Christ has risen, His light shines into the hearts of those who once were filled with darkness. In joy they say with Saint Paul, “The same God who brought light into the world at the time of creation, is now making His light shine in the hearts of humanity.” Christians who live in the light of the Lord are, like the young lady of our story, able to reflect Christ’s radiance with those who still are stumbling in the darkness of sin, death, and Satan. If you are among the stumblers please join us in the Light. It is ever so much better and brighter than where you are now.