Something From Nothing

Enjoy this guest post from Cathy Bryant of Word Vessel Blog.

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11, NIV)

Sweat dripped from my brow as we finished the demolition of a dilapidated shed and cleared the area for the new metal storage building that would take its place. But as I viewed the amount of scrap wood left over from the old building, I realized we had a problem. What would we do with it? I immediately thought of Dad.

Dad could take what other people saw as junk and make it useful and functional again, sometimes with humorous results. Like the old tractor with a mason jar for a fuel pump and the old Buick whose dome light flashed on every time I stepped on the brakes. I gave him a quick phone call. He would take the wood.

In the year following, Dad made me a coffee table, butler’s table and jewelry box—all from the scrap wood. What we had considered worthless was transformed into useful and beautiful treasures.

It is the same with us.

God can take a life that seems beyond hope or help and turn it into something useful—even valuable. Our lives, once ruined by the stain of sin, were redeemed at a great cost and made clean by the blood of Christ. And God is still at work in our lives, refining us for His purpose and His kingdom.

So the next time you doubt that God can use you, remember the lesson of the old wooden shed. You have been carefully crafted by the Master Carpenter into a useful vessel for Him.

Dear Lord:

Thank You that our lives have purpose. That You can use us, even when we mess up. Thank You for Your grace and the blood of Jesus that makes it possible.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen

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Cathy Bryant loves to use her writing for God’s glory. You can visit her at http://WordVessel.blogspot.com where she gives away free Christian fiction every week.

Stay True

Our days are often filled with problems we just can't seem to solve. And we ask... What's going on? What do I do in this situation? Which way do I turn now?

Today, I've already had to deal with more problems than I had yesterday. They seem to pile up. Before I can get this one solved I have three more.

Does that sound like you?

I'm convinced that these trials will make us stronger if we just stay true to God and trust Him to work in every situation. Of course we say "Hurry Up, God!" but if He hurried, it wouldn't always be in our best interest.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, " No temptation has overtaken you except such is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (NKJV)

There's a story about David in the book of 1 Samuel. In verse 37, David gives the reason why he can fight the giant Goliath. "Moreover David said, 'The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.' " David expressed his faith that God would give him the strength he needed to overcome the giant. And God did.

Stay true and God will give you the strength you need as well. You can count on Him, He has the perfect solution to your problems already in the works. Have a blessed day!

Greg Bishop is a Nazarene minister and owner of Greg's Furniture Service in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Another Day... Another Week

Hope you had a wonderful Resurrection Day celebration! Sadly, we were sick here and plans didn't go as smoothly as we'd hoped. It seems that the enemy fights us when our expectations are high, don't you think?

But we're ready for another day, another week, another chance to serve Jesus and draw ever closer to Him!

Isn't it comforting to know that in the midst of our trials and tribulations, which are simply a part of this life, Jesus will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He's always there for us. I don't know about you, but that brings me tremendous joy - even when life brings me down!

Praying your week is blessed... and I want to encourage you to let me know if there is something you'd like to see here on the Christian Daily Blog. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Or a topic you'd like us to cover?

While we never want to take the place of your local pastor and church family, we know that sometimes the anonymity of the Internet allows for more open sharing, and we invite you to share as you need and as God leads you to do.

We're here for you...

A Death in the Desert

Studying for a Sunday school lesson I'll be teaching Palm Sunday, I was reading an article by Reuben Welch about the Apostle John. The article referenced a poem by Robert Browning titled, "A Death in the Desert."

I had never read or heard the poem before, but the few lines that were quoted touched my heart so deeply... I got what Greg calls "glory bumps" and still have them when I think of these words!

The poem, written in 1864, details the death of the Apostle, hidden in a cave and tended to by a few who loved him. In the poem, John speaks:

When [my ashes] scatter, there is left on earth
No one alive who knew (consider this!)
Saw with his eyes and handled with his hands
That which was from the first, the Word of Life.
How will it be when none more saith, “I saw”?

What an amazing responsibility to be the last one on earth who truly saw and touched the Lord Jesus, Himself! What a privilege! My heart is so full at the depth of what John had to have felt - the awe and amazement! It comes across so richly in this poem. (I encourage you to read the whole thing for yourself.)

In poem, John continues...

Since I, whom Christ’s mouth taught, was bidden teach,
I went, for many years, about the world,
Saying ‘It was so; so I heard and saw,'
Speaking as the case asked: and men believed.

It would have been an amazing thing to have been with Jesus when He walked the earth. But truly, the next best thing would have been to hear the witness of one of those fortunate ones like John who saw Him, and touched Him, and was taught by Him.

I pray God will help us to be faithful as John was faithful to "go about the world saying it was so, so I heard and saw." Isn't that what Jesus directed to do in Acts 1:8?

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (NKJV)

Has God’s Promise Changed?

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post by Sue Oneal, friend and pastor's wife at Sequatchie Valley Church of the Nazarene in Whitwell, Tennessee.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is 2 Chronicles 7:14:

then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. (The Living Bible)

When I read this passage in context I find that the temple had just been completed and the people had prayed and celebrated the wonderful presence of God. After several days King Solomon sent the people to their tents. The people were happy and joyful because God had been so good to them. Solomon was feeling very proud he had accomplished all he set out to do.

Solomon reminds me of the American people. God has been so good to us. We have fought wars in other lands, but America has been kept safe. We feel proud of our jobs, our security and our ability to take care of ourselves. We now have a generation of people who have been able to satisfy most of their wants and all of their needs.

Since things were so great, why would the people need to humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways? Verse 12 tells us that one night God appeared to Solomon.

God said the temple is really mine and a place for the people to worship me. But verse 13 takes an odd turn. God said...

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust swarms to eat up all of your crops, or if I send an epidemic among you… (TLB)

What?! The windows of heaven shut up?! Could this relate to our economic situation today?

As I listen to the news and talk with people I realize the pressures that we face as a Nation. The air seems to be filled with gloom and despair. Have we forgotten God’s promises? All through the Bible we find that God hears and answers prayer. As a child of God I choose to look to God, claim his promises, and remember that, come what may, God has the power to heal our land if his people will pray and trust Him.

I can’t close this note without stating that God is fair and just. He not only promised to care for his people if they would pray and seek his face, he gave a warning in verses 19-22 as to what would happen to the people who forgot God. Search out 2 Chronicles 7. It will challenge your heart.

Tough Times?

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post from my husband and fellow Pastor, Greg Bishop.

The economy looks bad. The cost of almost everything has absolutely soared. Morals in most circles have broken down. Our government doesn't seem to know what direction they're going in. The financial system has gone haywire. On and on it goes.

But if we think we have it bad, just consider this... there are people all over the world who would love to have just one pair of our shoes!

That idea doesn't take away from our struggles. But it should make us think and realize that we're in a country where we have the opportunity to work our way out of most tough situations.

Christians: The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11, "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." (NKJV)

And please remember when you get to thinking things are too tough that God is on our side. He gives us a promise that I have clung to for years, and maybe you'll want to claim it for yourself.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13)

What a wonderful God we serve!

Bend in the Road

When we feel we have nothing left to give
and we are sure that the song has ended.
When our day seems over
and the shadows fall
and the darkness of night has descended.
Where can we go to find the strength
to valiantly keep on trying
Where can we find the hand that will dry
the tears that the heart is crying.

There's but one place to go
and that is to God
and dropping all pretense and pride.
We can pour out our problems
without restraint
and gain strength with Him at our side.
And together we stand at life's crossroads
and view what we think is the end.

But God has a much bigger vision
and He tells us it's only a bend.
For the road goes on and is smoother
and the pause in the song is a rest.
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
is the sweetest and richest and best

So rest and relax and grow stronger
let go and let God share your load.
Your work is not finished or ended
you've just come to a bend in the road.

by Helen Steiner Rice

The Awareness of His Presence

David Wilkerson, in his daily email devotional, said today, "I have come to believe that my most important prayers are those quiet whispers of thanksgiving that I offer to him all through the day. This keeps me in the awareness of his presence."

Are you suffering with fear and anxiety over the economic crisis? Are you worried about losing your job, your home, your spouse? Have you faced the loss of a loved one recently or know because of critical illness that you will soon?

Whatever the trials of life you're dealing with now, know that you can have peace when you practice the awareness of the presence of Jesus!

It's not that Jesus isn't with us all the time. He is. God is omnipresent - everywhere all the time. It's just that at times we aren't aware of His presence. We don't sense it or feel it.

But by praying continually and focusing more on Him, we can be aware of His presence through every moment of every day. And what a blessing that is!

Seek out the Lord today. Praise Him for all the little things He has done and is doing in your life. And you'll be blessed by the awareness of the presence of the one and only God of the Universe. What could be better than that?