The Bridal Gown

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  (James 2:14-26)

I am thankful that when we are saved, we are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  Our works alone cannot save us because we'll never do enough good to "cancel out" our sins.  But the Lord sees our faith and we're made right with Him by His grace.

How do others see our faith?  By our works.  James said, "I'll show you my faith by my works."  (James 2:18)  In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He said that a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit.  Good can't produce evil, and evil can't produce good.  By their fruits, you shall know them.  (See Matthew 7:17-20)

In the book of Revelation, I've read of a great marriage that is going to take place.  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”  (Revelation 19:7-9)  (The Lamb is Jesus and the church is every believer.)  Jesus tells of this great love and longing for relationship with us in John 17:23-26..."I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Revelation 9:8 tells of the fine linen the bride shall wear.  It is the righteousness of the saints, clean and white.  I wanted to dig deeper and get a clearer picture of what this righteousness is.  In this verse, the greek word for "righteousness" is "dikaioma" and it means "just deeds."  The gown that we shall wear before the Lord is made up of our good works.

"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."  (1 Corinthians 3:12-14)  What we do for God's glory is what will last and matter through eternity!

As a dressmaker sews a bride's gown, we're spending our lives making our gown that we'll wear before the Lamb.  So let's remind ourselves constantly of "the big day."  Let's draw nearer to God and get ourselves ready, staying faithful and pure.  Let's spread the news of Jesus Christ and "let our lights shine so everyone will see our good works and give glory to our Heavenly Father."  (Matthew 5:16)  When "the big day" arrives, I pray that we will all be dressed in the very best! 

-Eryn Eubanks (June 2006)

Abraham's Faith

"And God brought Abraham forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  And Abraham believed in the LORD; and God counted it to him for righteousness."  (Genesis 15:5-6)

Abraham's righteousness was through faith in God.  Through this faith, God was able to use Abraham and do a mighty work in his life.

What God did in Abraham's life did not depend on:

*him being perfect.

*him knowing how everything was going to happen.

*his circumstances.

*his understanding.

Let's take a closer look at these points...

Before God spoke to Abraham and even after the times he spent with God, we read about times when Abraham made mistakes.  There were times when he lied (see Genesis 20).  At one time, Abraham and Sarah's doubt caused them to take matters into their own hands so they could have a son.  Abraham had a son with Hagar, and jealously and strife was the effect of this action.  (For more details, see Genesis 16.)  Abraham was not perfect...He was very human.  And God still wanted to use him and fulfill His promises for Abraham!

Abraham and Sarah were both approaching 100-years-old when God told them that they would have a child for the first time in their lives.  How could this be?  They didn't understand how everything was going to happen.  They didn't know what the next step was going to be.  But they didn't have to know everything.  All they had to do was trust God.  The promise becoming a reality didn't depend on circumstances at all.  Faith was what it depended on.

And one happy day, God's promise of a son came to pass..."And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.  And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him."  (Genesis 21:1-5)

But a test of faith versus understanding was about to come Abraham's way.  "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."  (Genesis 22:1-2)  What was going on?  What was the Lord doing?  How was His promise of so many descendants go to come true?  Wasn't this wrong to do to Isaac?  What about this family's love and their feelings?  But Abraham was faithful and brave.  He believed God beyond what he could see or understand.

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'  So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!'  And he said, 'Here I am, my son.'  Then he said, 'Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?'  And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.' So the two of them went together.  Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!'  So he said, 'Here I am.'  And He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'  Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.  And Abraham called the name of the place, ‘YHWH Yireh;’ as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’”  (Genesis 22:3-14)

God knew what He was doing and He fulfilled His promise.  Abraham's people have always been large and in existence, and they always will be because of that promise made long ago.  That covenant rested on faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him...By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  (Hebrews 11:1, 6, 8-10)

God spoke to Abraham, Abraham believed Him and had faith in Him, and it was counted to Abraham for righteousness.  I believe God still speaks to us today, wanting to do great things in our lives.  All God needs us to do is to believe Him...Have enough faith in Him to surrender our lives and everything we have to His guidance, His plans, and His will.  When we stand before God with this kind of faith, we are righteous!

-Eryn Eubanks (June 2006)

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 5 of 5)

Now we see that Joseph, his father, his brothers, and all of their families are happily dwelling together in Egypt.  Near the close of Joseph's life story,  Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Joseph, and Joseph's brothers as he is on his deathbed.  As an act of faithfulness, Jacob requests to be buried with his ancestors in Canaan.  After this request, Jacob passes away and his last wish is fulfilled.

Genesis chapter 50, verses 15-21:  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."  So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’  Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.”  And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”  Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”  And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

In this final chapter of the book of Genesis, we find out that Joseph is indeed a blessed man, filling his life with 110 years and living to see his children's children.  Before he died, he told his people that God would visit them and bring them out of Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.  Out of faithfulness, he also requested to be buried with his fathers in Canaan.

We've learned a lot of great lessons from Joseph's life:

God is always in control.

Keep dreams alive because God can bring them to pass.

Hold on to hope because God is faithful.

Maintain a positive attitude because God still fills your life with blessings.

Flee from temptation!  (Remember Potiphar's wife?)

Life isn't always fair, but God takes care of His children.

God keeps His promises!

God cares enough to work in our everyday lives and in our lives everyday.

Forgiveness and mercy will forever be some of the finest, godliest qualities a person can possess.

I think it would be a good thing for people to see Joseph in us, because people saw the Lord in Joseph.  Let that man's life inspire you.

And never forget the theme to his life:

"We know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28)

Let it be the theme for your life!

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 4 of 5)

From Genesis 42-44 we read about the famine that had struck the land.  Joseph's father, Jacob sent his other sons to Egypt for food.  The official they must go before is their brother, Jospeh.  Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they don't recognize him.  Through these chapters, He has them travel a few times between home and Egypt, he questions them (some questions were about their family), and he has them perform certain tasks.  Finally all of the emotion this event had brought into Joseph's life was displayed.

"Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, 'Make everyone go out from me!'  So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.  Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph; does my father still live?'  But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.  And Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come near to me.'  So they came near.  Then he said: 'I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.  Hurry and go up to my father, and tell him that God has made me lord of all Egypt, and tell him that I have said come down to me...do not tarry!'"  (Genesis 45:1-9)

What genuine, unspeakable forgiveness Joseph showed to his brothers!  In an even greater manner, Christ can truly and amazingly forgive us.  As His followers, we must be forgivers, too.

I pondered the subject of forgiveness, and this is what forgiveness is:

1. Demonstrating the love God has placed in our hearts.  Through forgiveness, we show that we love God and others.

2. Obeying God.

3. Trusting God to deal with the people who treat us badly or offend us.

4. Letting go of anger and grudges that are destructive.

5. Healing for us, others, and our relationships (including our relationship with God).

6. To be given at anytime freely and unlimitedly.

7. Required if we're to be forgiven by God (see Matthew 6:14-15).

8. Unhuman...It takes the Holy Spirit's help.

God wants us to forgive others, as well as ourselves.  He is always ready to help us do both.  He is also willing and wanting to forgive your sins.  He made a way for your forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only One Who can take your sins away and set you free.  Open yourself up to Him today.  Surrender!  And as you do, forgive yourself and everybody who has ever wronged you, too.  Whatever you need help with, the Lord will help you!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me.  But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later.  I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father.  So come into my heart.  I know I'm a sinner but  I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me to live for You from now on.  I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You.  By the help of the Holy Spirit, I also forgive myself and everybody who has ever offended me.  Thank You, Lord!  Thanks for what You've done and what You are going to do for me!  I trust in You to help me.  In Your Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 3 of 5)

Joseph ran into some discouraging times once again but his attitude remained positive and he kept his focus on God.

Starting at Genesis chapter 40, we see that Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer and chief baker offended him.  So Pharaoh threw them into the same prison Joseph was thrown into.  Joseph was responsible for them.  One day Joseph noticed that they were kind of down so he asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”  They told him, “We both had dreams but there isn’t anyone to interpret them.”  Joseph replied, “Interpretations belong to God.  Tell me your dreams.”  They did and Joseph told them the meaning of the dreams.  Joseph said to the cup bearer, “You will be restored to your position you had with Pharaoh.  When all goes well with you, remember me and mention me to Pharaoh so I can get out of this prison.”  Joseph had bad news for the baker.  Joseph told him that Pharaoh would hang him.  Both interpretations came true.  But the chief cup bearer forgot about Joseph.

Two years later Pharaoh had a dream and he was troubled because of it.  He sent for his magicians and wise men to interpret it but none of them could.  Then his cup bearer remembered Joseph.  So Pharaoh sent for him.  Joseph came before Pharaoh and Pharaoh said, “I’ve had a dream but nobody can interpret it.  I’ve heard that you can interpret any dream.”  With humility, honesty, and boldness, Joseph answered, “I can’t do it, but God will give you the answer He desires.”  So Pharaoh told him his dream and Joseph interpreted it.  Joseph said that Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance but seven years of famine would follow.  He said that Pharaoh should look for a wise man to put in charge of the land of Egypt.  He said that Pharaoh should find commissioners to store food for the years of famine.  Pharaoh liked the plan and he asked his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?”

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of his palace, people, and the land of Egypt.  Joseph was Pharaoh’s second-in-command.  Joseph was blessed.  He carried out the plans for the seven years of abundance and the seven years of famine.  When the whole world was going through a severe famine, Egypt still had food and all the nations came to Joseph to buy from the storehouses.

These things that happened in Joseph’s life are a testimony to the fact that God is in control of everything and He is faithful.  When life wasn’t the best for Joseph, he still did his best.  He used his God-given gift of interpreting dreams to help others.  Joseph kept faith in God and he obeyed God.  When that chief cup bearer forgot Joseph, God didn’t forget him.  God used Pharaoh’s circumstances to bring Joseph to a new level.  When Pharaoh told Joseph of all the great things he heard about him, Joseph gave the glory to God.  Pharaoh looked at Joseph with favor and God worked through Pharaoh to bless Joseph.  God made a way for Joseph when it looked like there wasn’t a way.  Joseph kept the confidence in God and God saw him through.  The Lord kept His promises...He always does!

No matter what comes your way, remember that God is in control and He wants what’s best for you.  If life isn’t at its best for you, make it a point to do your best anyway.  Use your skills for God’s glory.  Keep faith in the Lord and obey Him.  Come what may, glorify God.  Live boldly because He is with you.  God will never forget about you and He will make a way for you.  He won’t ever let you down.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for always being with me.  You see everything and You are in control.  No matter what unfair acts are done to me while I’m on this earth, remind of these truths.  Help me to live in boldness, peace, and Your will because of Your truth.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 2 of 5)

(Read Genesis 39)

Last time I wrote about Joseph, he was sold as a slave. Now we see how God had His hand even in this depressing situation.

Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. In this foreign land, God blessed Joseph with favor and success. Potiphar trusted Joseph with everything he had because it was evident that God was with Joseph. Things were going well and Joseph was obedient to God.

But trouble lurked in the house...

Potiphar's wife developed a crush on Joseph that turned into lust. Every time she saw him, she would plead with him to go to bed with her. Every time he said no.

One day, there was nobody in the house but Potiphar's wife. Joseph went to the house to do his work. She cornered him, caught him by his clothes, and pleaded one more time. In haste, he fled from her and that place, leaving his garment behind. Potiphar's wife was furious so she called together the men of the house and Potiphar. She lied about Joseph and said that he had tried to do something with her. Unfortunately, the lies were accepted as truth and Joseph was thrown into prison.

Joseph certainly didn't deserve to be slandered and imprisoned. Once again, he had every reason to be angry and discouraged. He did what was right in the Lord's sight. He had experienced great favor and success only to have it snatched away.

But Joseph did not complain. He did not give up on his dreams or on God. Joseph continued to serve God and God honored that. Near the end of Genesis 39, we read about Joseph finding favor in that prison. The guards liked him so much that they trusted all of the prisoners to him.

Sometimes in our lives, we do what is right and receive something bad. Sometimes it seems like our good efforts aren't paying off. But God sees everything and He will reward us for all the good we've done for His glory.

If circumstances are weighing you down with sorrow, take hope in God. Trust in Him and obey Him. He will bless you with mercy and favor. Trust in His timing.

PRAYER: Thank You, Father God, for being with us through the good times and the bad. It brings us peace to know that You see the good that we do and that You will reward us. Please encourage and bless us. Strengthen us so that we can keep on doing Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 1 of 5)

For a while I have wanted to write a series of lessons learned from the life of Joseph.  Whenever I read about Joseph's life, I am reminded of Romans 8:28. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to God's purpose."

Joseph was a godly man. He was called according to God's purpose. Joseph endured trails, temptations, and sufferings. But God let these things work together for Joseph's good. Every situation, good or bad, played a part in God's will being done in his life. Though Joseph endured hard times, he also enjoyed blessed times.

(READ GENESIS 37:3-4)

Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son, born to him in old age. Joseph was Rachel's firstborn son; and Rachel was Jacob's best-loved wife. I believe these might have been a few reasons why Joseph was Jacob's favorite son.

As we've read, Joseph's father gave him an ornamented coat, also known as the coat of many colors. This coat represented favoritism and honor with his father. Because of his father's partiality, Joseph's brothers hated him and were mean to him.

(READ GENESIS 37:5-11)

Joseph had dreams -- dreams God gave to him...dreams about his future. Maybe it wasn't the smartest thing for Joseph to share his dreams with the ones who hated him; but out of this event we see a great quality Joseph possessed: FAITH. He took his dreams seriously and had faith that God would help his dreams become reality. Even when circumstances seemed like they would stand in his way, Joseph believed in God. Even when others doubted, Joseph kept the faith this his dreams would come to pass.

(READ GENESIS 37:12-36)

Joseph's brothers tried to put an end to him. But God did not say that it was the end for Joseph. Everything that happened here; from Dothan to the pit, from the pit to the merchants, from the merchants to Potiphar; everything played a part in God's plan for Joseph.

Not once is it recorded in these Scriptures that Joseph complained to God or gave up on his dreams or his life. I don't believe Joseph gave up at all. He could have. He certainly had the circumstances that could've easily made him lose hope. But through all of this Joseph hoped in God. I believe he still kept the faith in God to bring his dreams to pass.

Do you have dreams that God has placed in your heart? If you do, be like Joseph. No matter how impossible it seems for your dreams to become reality, take them seriously and believe that they will. With God, nothing is impossible. No matter who doubts your dreams, don't let that cause you to doubt them or the power of God. Trust in God to let your dreams come to pass.

Joseph could have thought all was lost when he was sold by his brothers. What was to become of him? Are you in one of those situations where you're wondering what's going to become of you? If you are, follow Joseph's example. It is one of the hardest things in life to not know what your next step is going to be. But God knows. Trust in Him to lead and guide you. Don't lose your hope. God still has a purpose for you and that circumstance might play a part in that purpose being fulfilled in you.

Always have faith in God. His promise that all things work together for the good of them that love Him will never fail. Let that give you hope.

PRAYER: Dear Father God, thank You that no matter what comes my way in life You're always there to lead me. May I follow Your guidance. I'm trusting in You to let my dreams come to pass. I'm trusting in You to fulfill Your purpose in me no matter how many times Satan would try to put an end to me. My faith and hope is in You, Lord. Thank You for walking by my side. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Lesson from Elijah

Have you ever been faced with a huge problem? Did the problem seem so difficult that you longed to get away from it? Did the problem scare you? Elijah, a mighty man of God, could probably answer yes to these questions. At a certain time in his life, he was deeply troubled and needed rest. Let's take a look at his story in 1 Kings 19:1-15...

"Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.' Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said to him, 'Go and return on your way."

Elijah was so weary and depressed that he longed for God to let him die. But God had a different plan for Elijah. When we're burdened down like Elijah, God still has a good plan for us, too. I believe when Elijah went to the wilderness he was looking for rest. During this resting period for Elijah, he was given food to strengthen him for the journey. All of us need to be strengthened for life's journeys. There are various ways that God gives us strength. One way is through the spiritual food of His Word found in our Bibles.

As Elijah rested, He also waited on God. (See 1 Kings 19:11-13.) Waiting on God gave Elijah strength; and in like manner, as we wait on God we shall be strengthened. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). As we wait on God, we must seek Him with all of our hearts. We must listen for His voice; and when He speaks, we must obey Him.

After Elijah was strengthened, after he had rested and sought God, God told Him, "Go and return on your way" (1 Kings 19:15). Sometimes God will say that to us, too, after our strength has been increased. Sometimes God sends us to tackle our problems. God wanted Elijah to keep on walking, and like Elijah, we must keep on walking. God had a mission for Elijah and God has a mission for us.

Wherever God wants us to be, we must go there. Sometimes it's simple to follow God's lead. At other times, though, it can be scary to obey Him because we don't know what's going to happen. But God has chosen us and not rejected us. We don't have to fear because He's with us. We don't have to be anxious because He's our God. He will strengthen us and help us. He will uphold us with His right hand. (See Isaiah 41:9-10.)

When the sea of doubt feels like it's going to drown you, remember that God makes a way in the sea. (See Isaiah 43:16.) When the troublesome fire and the high waters of fear seem like they're going to destroy you, remember that God is with you. (See Isaiah 43:2.)

I'd like to leave you with this truthful and hopeful challenge: We walk by faith, not by sight; so have faith in God and walk wherever He leads you.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that as we walk by faith in You, you lead us to the place that You want us to be...the place that is best for our relationship with You. God, may we seek You in prayer and worship, may we be inspired by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and may we feast on Your Word so that we'll receive the strength that only comes from you. May our fear be replaced with courage. May our doubts be replaced with faith. May our will for our lives be replaced with your good and perfect will for our lives. May our hope always be in You. As we walk in Your ways, may we always glorify You. We love you and thank You! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Keep The Dream

This month's devotional subject is about something very dear to me that takes a lot of faith...dreams. I have a lot of them, and the ones that I want to accomplish the most are huge.

We all have dreams. Sometimes it may seem like our dreams will never come true. But I have learned something from other people who've had their dreams come to pass, and what they've done is what the Bible tells us to do concerning our dreams and goals.

The Lord knows that we have desires for our dreams to become a reality. I believe that God places some of these desires in our hearts. Psalms 37:4-5 says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."

No matter how far-fetched our goals and dreams may seem, we must still try to accomplish them. We cannot let our hope of achieving them be stolen either. If we doubt that our dreams will come to pass, then they will never become a reality. "For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7). We also must not allow ourselves or anyone else to say negative things concerning our dreams because death and life are in the power of the tongue. (See Proverbs 18:21.)

We have to remember that "with God, nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). We must keep the faith in Him. We have hope in these words spoken by Jesus in John 14:13-14: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Jesus also said that when we pray, we should believe that we will receive the things that we desire. When we do this, He said that we will have what we desire (see Mark 11:24).

We want God's will to be done in our lives. Sometimes His plans for us are different than what we hope for. When we truly live for God to have His will done in our lives, then we know our dreams can't come to pass if He doesn't want them to. As the Bible says in Lamentations 3:37, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" We can pray about our dreams, and by seeking God, we'll see how He wants our lives to be as we let Him lead us. We'll see if our dreams line up with His will. Always remember this, though: either way it goes, God's way is the best!

"The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" (Proverbs 13:4, NIV). So as you work hard pursuing your dreams, remember and apply the words of Habakkuk 2:2-3 to your life. "And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

On a regular basis, envision your dreams coming to pass. Don't imagine or believe the opposite of that. Pray about your dreams. Always keep faith in God. Trust in His will for your life. Follow Him forever.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the dreams that I have. Help me to never doubt that they will be a reality one day. When I think about my dreams, may I see myself accomplishing them with Your help. No matter what comes my way, help me to never give up. I put my dreams, my heart, and my life in Your hands. I put my trust in You. May Your will be done and may You be glorified in my life. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.

PURE

James 4:4 says that friendship with the world is hatred towards God. This verse also states that anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. When you're a "friend of the world," you're really a slave to sin, and sin and God don't mix. At times, it's easy to be friend of the world.

Sometimes it seems as though temptation comes to us constantly. Often we find ourselves caught in sin. Still, in a world that is polluted with sin, God wants us to be pure (clean from sin). Being pure is the only way we can have fellowship with God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

So how do we become pure? By the blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all sin (see 1 John 1:7). If you're contaminated with sin, all you have to do is tell Jesus that you're sorry, ask Him to forgive you, and ask Him to cleanse you from your sin.

Now the challenge is to stay pure. The Bible speaks of many ways to do this. Here are two that help me the most:

1.) Drawing near to God through prayer, reading the Bible, and worshipping Him.

2.) Thinking on and seeking things that please Him.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

As long as we're on this earth, it will be a challenge to stay pure. But we don't face this challenge alone. God will help us! All we have to do is just ask Him to and He will work with us as we try to do good for Him. When you face the strong temptations, remember this Scripture:

"Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The New Living Translation.)

So "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Remember to "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). With you trying your best and God helping you, you will stay pure in this wicked world.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I'm sorry for anything in my life that is impure. Please forgive me and cleanse me. Please help me to do my best to be pure. What needs changing in my life, Lord, help me to change it. Help me to please You all of my days. Thank You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Jehovah-Shammah + Jehovah-Jireh

"My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: Remembering my affliction..." (Lamentations 3:18-19). The author of these words had a reason to feel this way. In 586 BC, Jerusalem, his home, was destroyed by the people of Babylon and the Jews were taken captive. Reading further in Lamentations 3, we find that the author also felt trapped in the dark, broken, ignored, bitter, and distressed.

So have you ever felt the way he felt because of your affliction? Maybe you're going through trials and you feel that way now. It's easy to get doubtful and depressed when things don't go the way we wished they would have, when God seems like He's vanished, or when we feel like God doesn't care anymore.

But He promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and be near to us when we talk to Him (Psalms 145:18). When we look at God's words, it's obvious that He loves us and cares about what happens to us.

But maybe your doubt and depression still lingers and you're wondering what to do to get over this problem victoriously. The answer can be found in an event recorded in Matthew 14:22-32.

In these Scriptures, Jesus told His disciples to cross over to the other side of the sea in a ship while He sent the multitudes away. After this He went to a mountain to pray. But at that time the ship was in the middle of the sea and was being tossed with waves because of the wind blowing against it. So Jesus went to His disciples that night by walking on the sea. The disciples were scared to see Him because they thought He was a spirit, a ghost. But Jesus immediately comforted them and said, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." After this, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, if it's You, bid me to come to You on the water." Jesus said, "Come," so Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. But soon he started looking at the strong winds, he became scared, and he began to sink. Finally he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, caught him, and lovingly asked him why he doubted. Peter and Jesus went into the ship and the wind ceased.

Maybe you're caught in a storm. Stay focused on Jesus as Peter did at the beginning of his walk on the water and you will not sink...you will not be defeated. "For the Lord preserveth all them that love Him" (see Psalms 145:20).

Maybe you're in a storm and you've lost focus of God. You started off good like Peter, but then you started looking at the bad conditions around you and now you're sinking.

Or you may be in a storm and you've never even turned your eyes towards Jesus.

For either of these situations, all you have to do is call out to God like Peter did. Just cry out to Him a simple prayer: "Lord, save me!" The Lord will uphold the ones who fall (see Psalms 145:14), He will hear your cry and save you (see Psalms 145:19).

When you are depressed, make it a point to focus on God and trust Him. It may be hard to do, but He'll help you out. If you will come near to God, He will come near to you (see James 4:8). He can give you His peace which passes all understanding and it can keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

I believe the writer of Lamentations learned to focus on God during his hard times. Later on he said, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him...I called upon Thy Name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee: Thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life" (Lamentations 3:22-25,55-58).

So let's focus on God and draw near to Him. Let's do this in the good times and the bad times. Then we can also proclaim these victorious, joyful words!

PRAYER: Dear God, I thank You that You are with me always. Help me to trust in You in the good times and the hard times. Help me to be closer to You. May Thy peace and joy fill me, too. With love and thanks...In The Name Of Jesus. Amen.

*Jehovah-shammah means "The Lord is there." Jehovah-jireh means "The Lord will provide."

Star Struck

My family and I have been crazy about music ever since I can remember. We've been to many concerts and festivals. It's really interesting to meet some of my favorite musicians. Most of them that I have met have been very kind to me. I have some fond memories from my cool experiences with them. After meeting some of my favorites, I'm usually so happy that I have to tell my friends what happened and make sure I write all of the details in my diary.

I know it might sound silly to you, but be honest, most of you reading this article have felt the same way I've felt. It's natural. I think sometimes the Lord gives us good experiences with people we like to make us happy. He doesn't have to, but He does; and I thank Him for it.

It's great when important people are nice to us, but think about the most important One, Jesus. All power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth (see Matthew 28:18). By reading some passages in the book of Revelation we see that He is the star of Heaven.

"And the four beasts* had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is to come. And when those beasts* give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:8-11). (*beasts: Greek - living creatures.)

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts* and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts* said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:11-14).

Isn't it something?! The Lord is all powerful, holy, and eternal. He is the most important. One of the best things about Him is that He loves you...no matter what you've done, what you may do, His love remains and His willingness to forgive you never fades.

Others may be good to us but God is the best to all of us! He has and continues to do more for us than anybody ever could...more than we even realize. Thank Him and love Him in return. In the end, He's the One who deserves our praise the most.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank You that You are so awesome. Thank You that You still love me. I love You, too. But I'm sorry if I don't show it as much as I should. Please forgive me. Set me on fire for You. Help me to show my love for You by obeying You. Help my love to grow strong and be faithful. May we grow closer and may I always hold You as number one in my heart. I thank You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Nahum 1:7

Nahum 1:7 says that "the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." When I read this verse, I thought of all the times in the Bible God had been those things to His children.

One of the stories I recalled was about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In Daniel 3, I read of King Nebuchadnezzar's commandment given to all of the people of the land that they must worship his idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't worship this idol...even when given a second chance by the king. They confidently declared their faith in God. They were bound and thrown into the middle of a fiery furnace. They seemed doomed...even the men who threw them into the furnace had died from the heat and flames.

But God knew that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted in Him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were living in a day of trouble but God was their strong hold, their refuge. God was good to them; He sent His Son to be there with them in the furnace. They weren't bound anymore; they were protected...even from the smell of smoke! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fiery furnace. More of God's goodness was poured out upon them when King Nebuchadnezzar blessed their God, commanded the people of the land to worship the One True God, and promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the providence of Babylon.

God is what Nahum 1:7 says He is: good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust in Him. This Scripture was a reality for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and It's a reality for us today!

PRAYER: Dear God, Help me to remember that You are a stronghold in the day of trouble and You are good. I thank You for that! I trust in You, God. Thank You that You know the ones who do trust in You. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

His Passion

The movie, "The Passion Of The Christ," has sparked a lot of interest and questions concerning Jesus and Christianity. I have seen this movie and it truly is awesome, life changing, and anointed by God. If you haven't already, I encourage you to go see it.

The first scene of "The Passion Of The Christ" shows Jesus praying to His Father, God, in the garden of Gethsemane. In this section of the movie, I see how Jesus was truly God and man. He was all powerful and infinite yet He still felt emotions that we mere humans experience today. I'm glad that I serve a God who knows what I feel like and truly understands what I go through because of His experience!

After the closing of His prayer He crushes a snake's head. Sounds kind of weird, huh? Actually, that was a symbol of a prophecy that He was about to fulfill. Remember early in the book of Genesis how Adam and Eve committed the first sin and God knew about it? After this God told Adam, Eve, and the serpent (who tempted Eve because he was possessed by Satan) the consequences of their sin. God said unto the serpent (Satan), "I will put my enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15). God's enmity was His active, mutual hatred toward Satan and the One who was going to crush Satan's head and defeat him was God's Son, Jesus Christ. This was this first prophecy ever given concerning Jesus and after hundreds of years, He was about to fulfill it.

As the movie goes on we see the physical suffering of Jesus. Stripes were on Him and blood poured from His body because of the beatings he had taken. I'm thankful that He willingly took the suffering upon Him for the good of everybody, every soul. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 - a prophecy of Jesus given hundreds of years before He came to earth). "The blood of Jesus Christ [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Since the days of old it took an innocent and perfect sacrifice to cover over sin. God finally sent His perfect, holy, innocent Son, Jesus, to be the ultimate, final sacrifice for everybody's sin. When Jesus went to the cross, He took our sin upon Him. He also suffered spiritually because God, His Father, had forsaken Him (see Matthew 27:46). (A holy God can not dwell with one who has sin.) Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. 1 Peter 2:24 says that Jesus' "own self [bore] our sins in His own body on the tree..."

Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin because "the wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23). When we should have died, He died for us. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) but Jesus and God loved us so much that they redeemed us! But the story doesn't end with Jesus dying on the cross. Out of His infinite power He defeated Satan, death, hell, and the grave; He rose from the dead three days later. Jesus is alive forevermore and because He lives we can live...spiritually and eternally. In this life, Jesus and God will be our faithful friends who will help us, guide us, and forgive us if we sin. The Holy Spirit (God - God's Spirit - The third person of the Trinity*) will also befriend us, live in us, and help us in every way while we're here on earth. When we die, we'll be safely and immediately carried home to Heaven, where Jesus has a place prepared for us (see John 14:2-3) and we'll live with Him forever and ever! Praise God!

Christianity may be classified as a religion, but it isn't religion...it's a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It's the same with the Bible...it isn't just a rule book; it's God personal words of love written straight to us.

God loves you and the only way you can have His richest blessings and forgiveness of sins is by accepting His Son, Jesus, into your heart.

Let them in your life right now -- right where you're at. They truly want you and your fellowship. If you feel like you have to clean yourself up, please don't. Just come as you are and let Jesus' blood cleanse you. Come now and experience the greatest love.

All you have to do to start walking with God is say this prayer:

Dear Jesus, I'm ready to truly start living. I'm ready to experience Your love. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me. But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later. I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father. So come into my heart. I know I'm a sinner but I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me. Help me to live for You from now on. I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You. Thank You, Lord, for what You've done and what You are going to do for me! In Your Name, Amen.

Good Scriptures To Remember:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17).

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

* The Trinity: The Father (God), The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit. They are three people yet they are one and they are the same God.

Love, Valentines, & God

Since it's that time of year again, I've had some people ask me, "So, Eryn, what are you doing for Valentine's Day?" I always say, "Nothing. Valentine's Day is a holiday for sweethearts." I've always viewed it as a day for boyfriends/girlfriends and husbands/wives. Today, though, my thoughts on Valentine's Day changed, thanks to the Lord and "Brio & Beyond Magazine" (Focus On The Family's magazine for teenage girls).

As I read a few articles from "Brio & Beyond," it dawned on me that Valentine's Day is a holiday for all of us. Now I'm looking forward to a fun and exciting time participating in the holiday. This year, Valentine's Day is going to be a time of thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for my family and friends who love me so much. I've decided to show them my appreciation by painting them a Valentine's card and telling them how I'm thankful for them and all that they do for me. They are always there for me and love me unconditionally.

But even if I didn't have anybody on this earth that loved me, I could still celebrate this holiday with thanksgiving and joy. Here is the reason why: "In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). Jesus is the One who loves me the most no matter what, who is always there for me, who helps me, who protects me, who stays true to His promises, who always forgives me, who gives me eternal life, who saved me from sin, who has and will continue to do for me what no man can do! This is the greatest love and the love that I'm most thankful for. This love isn't just for me but for everybody.

I hope that this Valentine's Day you will join with me in praising God for His love and showing your love and appreciation for others. But let's not do this just on Valentine's Day...let's make it an everyday thing!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your love and those who love me. Help me to show my appreciation by bearing the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love...the love that is patient, kind, humble, pure, the kind that rejoices in truth, the kind that believes, hopes, and endures. I love You, Lord. May I remain Yours forever. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

A Gift That Makes You New

This holiday season was a wonderful time for my family and me. I hope the same for you. A new year is here and I hope to do better in everything. I want to play more music, write more, and paint more. Most of all I want to draw nearer to God and love others more. Deep down, I think we all long to do better.

So what are your goals for this new year? How are you going to accomplish what you want to do? What is going to make this year wonderful for you?

In the end, there's only One who will make your year - your life - wonderful. Do you know Him or did you forget to receive the best Christmas gift ever? If you've forgotten, it's not too late.

God wants to exchange gifts with you. Let me describe His gift to you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to set you free from sin and give you eternal life (see John 3:16-17). See how much Jesus loves you, too? Jesus wants to be your faithful friend (see Hebrews 13:5), He wants to carry your burdens for you (see 1 Peter 5:7), and He wants to fill your life with peace and joy. All you have to do to receive His gift is give Him the gift that delights Him the most...give Him your heart and life...just give Him yourself.

When you do this, your life will be better. No matter what happens you'll know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). It is also calming to realize that all you have to do is "trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As I write this devotional, 2004 is still new, but it won't be that way much longer. But no matter what time it is, it never ever is too late to begin life anew! Jesus' love covers over a multitude of sins. Right now, He's standing at your heart's door and His hand is gently knocking upon it. Do you hear Him calling you? He said that if You will hear His voice and open the door, He will come in (see Revelation 3:20). Open your heart to Him and let Him make you and your life new.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, come into my heart. I'm sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. Take me and my life, Lord, and make it new and beautiful. Walk with me as You said you would and help me to serve You from now on. Thanks You, Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come! I love You and I thank You for loving me, too. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

- Eryn Eubanks (January 2004)

Forgiveness

Forgiveness...a wonderful quality of God that can be so hard for humans to possess.

All of us have been wronged by other people. When such pain and anger is caused, it can be rather sickening to even think about forgiving the person who hurt us. But we must.

It says in God's Word to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is not saying that the horrible actions someone did toward us were right. Forgiveness is showing our obedience and love for God and our love for others; and if we don't love others, then we don't really love God. (See 1 John 4:20.)

Forgiveness is not one of those "it takes two to tango" deals. There have been some occasions where people have wronged me and they never came to me and said, "I'm sorry." But I forgave them anyway because I knew that's what God wanted me to do.

Forgiveness is not just a one time thing, either. The disciple Peter once came to Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" Jesus answered him saying, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22) Seventy times seven is a lot of times (490 to be exact) but when Jesus said, "Until seventy times seven," he didn't mean to stop forgiving after that number. When Jesus told Peter, "Until seventy times seven," he meant for him to forgive his brother (or anyone) however many times they needed to be forgiven. We then should do likewise.

Forgiveness is required of us if we are to be forgiven by God. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Forgiveness is not having amnesia and totally forgetting about the wrong that was done to you. The saying "forgive and forget" is not in the Bible. But when you forgive, you don't dwell on the past wrongs...you don't "dig them up again."

Finally forgiveness is not human. As I said before, it's of God, and when your forgive, you're trusting in Him to take care of you and work things out. When you do forgive, though, it sets you free...makes you feel clean...makes you feel new. It can be hard for us to forgive and it can take time for it to truly replace the pain and anger. But thank God that we don't have to forgive by ourselves. The Lord will help us, by His Holy Spirit, if we only ask Him to. And with His help, forgiveness will come to pass.

One thing that makes it easier for me to forgive others is thinking about how God forgave us. God is so good to us, so loving to us, yet everyday we sin against Him. We break His heart on a regular basis...sometimes by mistake...sometimes on purpose (knowing what's right but still doing what's wrong). But thanks be unto God, He still loves us, He still blesses us, and He still forgives us everytime we ask Him to. (See 1 John 1:9.) If He can forgive us sinners after the pain we've caused Him, if He wants us to forgive others, and if He wants to help us forgive them, then by all means I want to forgive others and please God. Don't you?

Prayer: Dear Father God, I'm sorry for all of the pain I've caused You. I'm sorry for not forgiving others. Please forgive me. Thank You. Lord, I don't understand how, but right now I forgive the ones who've wronged me. Help me by Thy Spirit to let them stay forgiven. Help me to love others. I love You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Enjoy!

Last Sunday night I enjoyed a wonderful bluegrass concert at the Imperial Theatre. My family, band, and I had been looking forward to it for over a month. That night, the theater was filled with people waiting to see the band walk on stage and fill the place with music. As I sat there, knowing that the show would begin any second, my guitar player said to me, "I wish they would go ahead and start." "Yeah," I replied, "but you should enjoy this moment. We've been waiting for a month to come to this concert. Pretty soon they'll start, the time will fly by, and it will all be over before you know it. Enjoy the moment before everything happens. You'll never live another moment exactly like this again."

After the concert, as I thought about the day's events, I recalled these words that I said. Then I realized that we, as Christians, should "enjoy the moment" all of the time. Of course I know that not every moment of our lives will be as exciting or as pleasing as being at a fantastic concert, but there is Somebody who can make even the dullest and toughest times of our lives better.

That Somebody is Jesus. You can enjoy life when you have His love in your heart. Being rich, famous, traveling the world, having tons of elite friends...I'm sure that it's probably fun, but having just that does not mean that you truly have a life of enjoyment. A life full of joy is found in Jesus. When you've given your heart and life to Him, you can experience true happiness because you realize that God - the God that created everything - loves you! (Just think about that for a moment and you'll find yourself in awe.) Another thing about having Him is that you can have peace because you know that He is with you always, wherever you go (see Matthew 28:20); He's going to make sure that things turn out good for you (see Romans 8:28). When you die He will take you safely to Heaven where He has a mansion prepared for you, where you will be with Him forever (see John 14:2-3)!

Although life at times isn't what we wish it could be, we have to remember this: many people in this world have it worse than we do. If you don't think so, go visit a hospital or a homeless shelter.

The Apostle Paul, a man who was horribly persecuted because of his faith, wrote a letter to the church in Philippi while he was in a Roman prison. In that letter he said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11) This man could have been angry and depressed because he was thrown in prison for being a Christian, but instead, he turned the problem over to God. He remembered what Jesus had done for him and he focused on the good things that Jesus was going to do for him. Doing this made his situation easier to bear and he was still able to enjoy his life.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain," isn't it? (1 Timothy 6:6) Well, I have good news for you...you can gain that. Whether life for you right now is exciting or dull, good or bad; draw near to God. Tell Him how you feel. Turn the problem over to Him. Trust in Him. Remember the great things that He has done for you, remember the wonderful things that He promises to do for you, and praise Him for that. Once you do these things, it's easier to enjoy life...anytime.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are always there for me. Whether things are wonderful or not, help me to enjoy the life that You have given me. May I always remember that I can enjoy my life because of Your love and blessings that are given to me everyday. Thank You for caring about me. Knowing that You do cheers me up even on the darkest days. When times are hard, help me to turn the problem over to You, help me to remember Your goodness, and help me to praise You for that. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (October 16th, 2003)

Royalty

This month I have discovered a life changing book for young girls called "For Such A Time As This." It's about applying Esther's godly character to our lives. This devotional book was written by Lisa Ryan, a former host of The 700 Club.

As I read from this book last week, a quote from chapter one grabbed me. It said, "You are a princess in God's court." Wow! This one sentence is an amazing truth for anyone who has Jesus in their life.

So how did this great thing come to be? It happened because of Jesus' love for us. He proved that love for us when He died for our sins on that cruel cross. But because He's God, He was raised from the dead and He defeated death, hell, and, the grave. He is the Lord of all lords, the King of all kings, and to all who believe in Him, He gives them the right to become children of God (see John 1:12).

We have the Bible to show us what to do to please God. It tells us our "duties" that we must fulfill as "princes/princesses of God." Here are four verses on the subject that I have found among the many:

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Jesus in Mark 12:30)

"If you love me, keep my commandments." (Jesus in John 14:15)

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (Jesus in John 15:12)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father [God] which is in Heaven." (Jesus in Matthew 5:16) (This verse means to show the love of God to everyone.)

So now that we know that we are royalty in God's court, let us walk as a person of His royalty...as an obedient child of God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love me so much that You have made me Your child. It's so awesome to know that I am a princess/prince in Your court...in Your kingdom that is eternal and the one that's the greatest! Lord, help me to show my love for You by obeying You always. When I do this, then I truly am royalty of God. Thank You for Your love that has caused this. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Your Gift

Whether we realize it or not, all of us have gifts that God gave us. He has given all of us a unique thing that we can do, something that others may not be able to do. He has chosen us to be here on this earth at this time to use that gift.

Maybe you have the gift of writing eloquent compositions or playing music. You might be a talented athlete or an anointed preacher. Then again, you might have a gift that can easily get unnoticed at times. You might have the gift of speaking encouraging words to a friend who feels awful. You might be a good cook or landscaper. Whatever your gift or talent is, God sees it and it is just as important as anyone else's.

Jesus said in John 15:5, "Without Me, you can do nothing." This is true whether you are a Christian or not. Without God, you wouldn't be here on this earth - nothing would be here. So anything that you have was given to you by God because He loves you. That also includes your talent, big or small.

God's Word says to "stir up the gift of God, which is in thee" (2 Timothy 1:6). To stir up your gift means to fan it into flames, practice it, use it.

There is a way to use it, and in the end, it is the only successful and satisfying way: use it for God's glory. "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17) When you use your gift for Him, you'll do better by far.

So find out what your gift or talent is. Take it seriously and use it for the Lord. He has a purpose for your life unlike anyone else's. For He has said, "I know the plans I have for you...They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 - New Living Translation)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for my life. Show me the gift that You have given me and help me to use it to glorify You always and minister to others. Thank You for that gift and the plans that You have for me. Thanks most of all for Your love. I love You, too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.