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A note from Pastor Mike: Please forgive me for not having daily devotionals for you last week- it was extraordinarily busy week. I pray that the devotions I have done and the future ones will be a daily encouragement to you. Thank you and may God bless you.

May 5, 2008
God Promises Wisdom

James 1:5 "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."

How do we get wisdom? According to James 1:5 we must pray for it... God promises to give wisdom to us in abundance. It is essential however, that we ask for it.

But praying is just one part of the process in gaining wisdom. Getting wisdom is the result of mutual effort. It's a matter of working together with God in pulling off a wise lifestyle. God doesn't deliver wisdom at our door like a morning paper. Wisdom doesn't come in a neat package, like a carton of cool milk that's waiting to be opened. It's the result of a cooperative effort.

Wisdom doesn't come easily. It may start with prayer, but there's so much more. To get wisdom, we must roll up our sleeves... We must apply the wisdom that we have already received, and search the scriptures daily. It's like trying to find hidden treasure; it takes rugged labor. God will do His part if we'll only do ours. It's a mutual process.

Challenge:
First of all ask yourself what area's do you need God's wisdom for your everyday life.
Can you remember a time (hopefully many) when you got the wisdom from God that you needed to make a right choice or decision?
Pray - Apply- Search- Pray- Apply- Search... get it?

Tuesday May 6, 2008
Sacred Serendipity

Isaiah 29:14a "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder."

Seren-dip-ity---the dip of the serene into the common responsibilities of life. Serendipity occurs when something beautiful breaks into the monotonous and mundane. A serendipity life is marked by "surprisability" and spontaneity. When we lose our capacity for either, we settle into life's ruts. We expect little and we're seldom disappointed.

Though I have walked with God for several decades, I must confess I still find much about Him incomprehensible and mysterious. But this much I know: He delights in surprising us. He dots our pilgrimage from earth to heaven with amazing serendipities.

Challenge:
Your situation may be as hot and barren as a desert or as forlorn and meaningless as a wasteland… But all I ask is that you be on the lookout. God may very well be planning serendipity in your life.

Wednesday May 7, 2008
Wisdom In The Wilderness

Proverbs 4:11 "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths."

The Hebrew word for "desert" is "midbaar", meaning "to speak". Let me draw from that root term and suggest that the desert is a place where God speaks, where He communicates some of His most important messages to us.

Your desert experience might involve caring for an ailing family member or an elderly parent over an extended time, with no help at hand and no relief in sight. Your sojourn in th4e dry lands might be a stubborn physical condition that keeps you confined. It could be that deep soul-ache that comes with an unfaithful spouse, or a rebellious teenager.

Does God know? Does He understand? He understands very well, my friend. After all, He's the One who put you there in the midst of that situation--- He is schooling in the School of the Desert. That is where He gets out attention.

Challenge:
Stop complaining and start looking to the One that has you right where He wants you.
You can graduate from your trials when you look to Him and trust Him.
The degree from the desert school is without compare.

Thursday May 8, 2008
Stop Living By Christian Principles

2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

God never called you to live by Christian principles. He calls you to live in relationship with the living God, Jesus Christ. One of the weaknesses of the Church today is that we teach people principles without the relationship.

The western church is big on ten step programs, "how-to" methods and acrostics to illustrate memorable ideas. There is a place for establishing principles to change negative behavior. However, we are not called to have a relationship with principles, but a living God.

Living by principles is the equivalent to living by the law in the Old Testament. It is rooted in the Greek system of learning and is dependent upon our strength instead of being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Principle-based living is powerless living. This makes our Christian experience a religion instead of a relationship. "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law" (Gal 5:18).

We read about principle-based followers in the book of Acts, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)" (Acts 5:12-14). There was a group of followers who liked being taught but never entered the game.

The prophet Jeremiah tells us about the nature of God and His desire for every believer.

This is what the LORD says: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise. (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Challenge:
Friend, have you been guilty of living a life based on principles instead of knowing the One who authored the principles? Invite Jesus to be Lord over your life and begin to spend time with Him every day. Ask God's Spirit to lead and guide you through every moment of your day.

Friday May 9, 2008
Godly Forefathers

Zechariah 3:6-7 "And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by."

On September 17th, 1796, George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." In His Prayer At Valley Forge, he entreated God: "Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me Thy servant, who humbly prostrates myself before Thee."

On another occasion he said, "To the distinguished character of a patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian."

America was founded as a Christian nation. The founding fathers had a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Today, there is a movement designed to remove God from our history and our foundations. When we do this, America will no longer be good. And when America ceases to be good, we will cease to be great.

England also had a great Christian statesman in its early years. A man named William Wilberforce grew to prominence at an early age. At age 28 he came to faith in Christ and almost chose to give up politics to go into "the ministry." John Newton, author of Amazing Grace, convinced him to stay in politics. He would be credited with 69 world-changing initiatives, not the least of which was the abolishment of slavery after 50 years of work.

Challenge:
Pray that this generation might acknowledge and embrace their godly heritage and God will raise up other leaders who lead from a godly foundation.