Written by TWFYT
Tuesday November 10

"My times are in thy hand." Psalms 31:15 KJV

How well and sometimes how quickly you transition depends on certain factors. Let's look at five of them: (1) How much do you trust God? You won't follow God if you don't trust Him. Many shifts—even shifts that bring increase and blessing into your life—can stretch you beyond your natural limits. They can take you out of your comfort zone. Trusting God means "we walk by faith, not by sight (2Co 5:7 NKJV). (2) Do you know the Word? "Faith cometh by hearing by the word of God" (Ro 10:17 KJV). If you want to build your faith, you need to meditate on God's Word day and night (see Jos 1:8). Knowing and acting on the Word will help you through difficult and uncomfortable times of transition. (3) Are you yielded to the Spirit? "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Ro 8:14 NKJV). Yielding to the Spirit of God will produce peace in the storms that often come in times of transition. (4) How's your prayer and fasting life? Prayer and fasting are a one-two punch against your own camel nature and against Satan's strategies in your life. (5) With whom are you aligned? "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold card is not quickly broken" (Ecc 4:12 NKJV). There's great strength in spiritual synergy. The Bible says that one man can chase a thousand, but two men can put ten thousand to flight (see Dt 32:30 NIV). Practicing these five principles will make your transition easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Written by TWFYT
Monday November 10

"I did not rush out to consult with any human being." Galatians 1:16 NLT

The apostle Paul never tried to emulate the other disciples who'd enjoyed an up-close relationship with Jesus. When God arrested his heart and called him to preach to the Gentiles, he didn't solicit any tips from the more experienced disciples who'd walked with Jesus on a daily basis. Consider his testimony: "It pleased [God] to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days" (vv. 15-18 NLT). Although Paul could not boast of an earthly relationship with Jesus, he did not feel he brought any less to the table—even in light of the fact that he had persecuted and killed many Christians. He would not allow his negative past to cause him to feel inadequate or unworthy of his divine assignment. He was even confident enough to rebuke Peter for his hypocrisy in eating and fellowshipping with Gentiles and then ignoring them when the Jews came around (see Gal 2). Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1Co 15:10 NKJV). So the word for you today is—be yourself; be who God made you to be, and He will bless you.

Written by TWFYT
Sunday November 7

"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." Acts 20:24 NCV

Some people are afraid to embrace their uniqueness. They would rather live according to the "heard instinct," so their actions or decisions are determined by the behavior of the group. They fear being rejected to being different. Not so with emotionally secure people. They feel no pressure to be carbon copies of the styles of others or any other aspects of their being. David said, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God" (Ps 139:14-17 NLT). Emotionally secure people not only have the courage to exercise their uniqueness, but they also support the right of their other individuals to be different. Yes, you need to strive for personal and spiritual growth. But you must have the courage to exercise your God-given gifts and uniqueness. Emotionally secure people do not require others to rubber stamp their ideas or opinions—especially as they relate to non-essential matters. If you struggle with letting someone have a different opinion from others, ask yourself this key question: "Will this person's stance on this matter negatively impact my life?" If not, respect it and keep moving. If the matter has eternal consequences—and most do not—pray that God will bring that person (or maybe you) into the light of truth.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday November 7

"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." Acts 20:24 NCV

On January 30, 1956, Time magazine devoted its cover to five American missionaries killed with spears on the banks of the Curaray River in Ecuador by members of the Huaorani people. As tragic as they martyrdom was, it was not in vain. Their deaths inspired a new generation of missionaries to devote their lives to the cause of Christ. One journal entry, belonging to Jim Elliot, one of the martyred missionaries, contained what became one of the most cited sentences of his generation: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." When we stand before Christ to be evaluated and rewarded for our service to Him, our singular regret will be whatever we didn't give back to God. Whatever we keep, we lose. Whatever we lose for His sake, we keep for eternity. C.T. Studd was one of the greatest cricket players in England. Fame and fortune were at his fingertips, but he chose to devote his life to missions instead. As one of the "Cambridge Seven," Studd spend a decade with China inland Mission, founded by Hudson Taylor. In 1913, he started the Heart of Africa Mission, now known as Worldwide Evangelism for Christ International. A century later, eighteen hundred WEC missionaries in fifty countries seek to make Christ known, loved, and worshipped among people who have yet to hear the gospel. A life well lived adds weight to C.T. Studd's famous words: "Only one life 'twill soon past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Written by TWFYT
Friday November 6

"Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed." John 14:27 AMPC

When worry comes knocking on your door, you've two choices: invite it in or send it away. Jesus said, "Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed." That means you have the power to say yes or no to worry. And if worry has already moved in and taken up residence, what should you do? "Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2Co 10:5 NKJV). "Set your minds and keep them set on what it above (the higher things)" (Col 3:2 AMPC). When doubts swarm your mind, turn your thoughts to God. He is above all this mess! He is "the Most High, over all the earth" (Ps 83:18 ESV). Moses announced, "Who among the gods is like you, Lord?" (Ex 15:11 NIV). The psalmist asked, "Who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?" (Ex 15:11 NIV). The psalmist asked, "Who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord?" (Ps 89:6 NAS). Isaiah wrote, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isa 6:3 KJV). God is not just holy; He is wholly unlike us. Pain does not plague Him. The economy does not faze Him. The weather does not disturb Him. Elections do not define Him. Diseases do not infect Him. Death cannot claim Him. He has resources we don't have and wisdom we've never imagined. And He is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20 KJV). The hymnist wrote: "Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible, and He will do what no other power can do."

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Thursday November 5

"I put on right living as if it were clothing; I wore fairness like a robe." Job 29:14 NCV

Adrian Thomas, the third-generation owner of Thomas Drugstore in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, realized he was tired of losing friends to cancer and heart disease. For ninety-six years, his family had sol tobacco products in the front of the store and health products in the back. As a matter of integrity and conscience, he just could not do both anymore. Therefore, Thomas, his employees, and family members loaded up thousands of dollars' worth of tobacco products into boxes and took them to a parking lot to be burned. To get the fire going, Thomas first set a match to his state license to sell tobacco. Then he used the burning document to set flame to the pile of boxes. As he watched the stash go up in smoke, Thomas told his family and employees that he could no longer put dollars and cents above the health of his patrons. Most of us talk about the importance of doing the right thing—even when it costs us. But Adrian Thomas is one of those rare individuals who "put his money where his mouth was." In other words, he put people ahead of profits. King Solomon said: "The integrity of the upright shall guide them" (Pr 11:3 KJV). And Job the patriarch said: "I put on right living as if it were clothing; I wore fairness like a robe." Prayer: "Lord, in my dealings with others, help me to always put principle above profit and popularity and to honor Your name in all that I do. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

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Wednesday November 4

"I don't mean to say that I have...reached perfection." Philippians 3:12 NLT

Nowhere does the Bible equate sinlessness with perfection. Paul said, "I don't mean to say that I have...reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." Our Lord knew that as fallible humans, we would occasionally fall short of His requirements. Therefore, He put a stopgap measure in place to deal with it. John said, "I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous" (1Jn 2:1 NLT). Jesus was the only person who walked in human flesh who could claim perfection; therefore, He is the only one who is "truly righteous." God is never surprised or shocked when we fall. He is all-knowing; He knows what we will do long before we do it. Neither is He disappointed by our action, because to be disappointed is to experience an unmet expectation. In spite of our deeds, God stands ready to forgive us the moment we repent (see Neh 9:17). Also, when we come to understand that failure can be a key tool in our spiritual and emotional development, we will stop self-flogging and guilt-tripping. Instead, we will embrace the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, ask and accept God's forgiveness, and move forward. Rather than asking, "How could this have happened to me?" or "Will I ever be fit for His service?" we need to stop and ask ourselves, "What lessons does God want me to learn from this?"

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday November 3

"Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18 NKJV

We've looked at priority giving, percentage giving, and progressive giving. Now let's look at prompted giving. From time to time, God will prompt you to make a special gift. God uses promptings to communicate that you are in a unique position to meet the needs of His kingdom. As you walk through this life, God constantly introduces you to people with needs. Sometimes it's a spiritual need; other times it's a physical need. Sometimes you are the one in need, and other times you provide what's needed. This is how the church works. As stewards, we have the privilege of interacting with our Heavenly Father and ministering to the needs of His children in the world. Without the element of prompting, your giving could become very cold and calculated. Promptings are the pulse in the church body. In 1 John 3:17, we read, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" (NIV). God uses the needs of others as opportunities to exhibit His love alive in us. And often those opportunities are revealed through special promptings that are above and beyond our regular giving. Perhaps you're thinking, "I can't afford to do that." Factor God into the equation! Not only can He use you to meet the needs of others, but He can also multiply the seed of generosity you sowed into the harvest you need. When that happens, your fear will have met its match, because "perfect love casts out fear."

Written by TWFYT
Monday November 2

"The Lord has laid in Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6 NKJV

You may have times when you're so disappointed in yourself that you wonder how God could still love you. That's when you need to remind yourself that God has deposited His righteousness into your account: "God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2Co 5:21 NIV). Every bad thing you have ever done (sins of commission) and every good thing you chose not to do (sins of omission), Christ paid for. He took on your sin so you could take on His righteousness. He took on Himself God's wrath that you deserved so you could receive God's grace that none of us deserves. Suppose you overextended yourself on your credit card and could not pay when the bill arrived. You opened the envelope, only to find out someone else had paid off your debt and even deposited an amount from which you could draw in the future. This is what happens when God responds to your faith in the finished work of Christ by imputing His own righteousness to your salvation account. We all owed a debt for our sins that we could not pay. Jesus, who never sinned went to the cross, took our sin in His mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Ro 10:9 NKJV). Are you worrying about your salvation? Stop worrying and start trusting!

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Sunday November 1

"Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Luke 24:32 KJV

Sometimes you'll get overwhelmed when you remember the shape you were in and the road you were on—then Jesus came. If you can't praise Him for what He saved you out of, maybe you could praise Him today for what He kept you from. Without Him, where would you be? On the Emmaus Road, and maybe that's where you are today. But suddenly Jesus came! Don't you love those words? They didn't know it was Him; they thought He was a stranger. On resurrection morning, Mary thought Jesus was the gardener; and in Galilee, the disciples thought He was a ghost. The Bible says, "Some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb 13:2 KJV). Keep your eyes and your heart open and before the day is through, you might be saying, "It's Him! It's His voice! He's here!" In that moment, you can reach out to touch Him and be made whole. You say, "How will I know it's Him?" Heartburn! Listen: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?" You'll know it's Him, all right. There's no voice like His, no touch like His, and no peace like His. As you open the pages of your Bible He'll open your understanding. When He does, your heart will burn and you'll feel the glow of His presence.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday October 31

"Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23 NIV

A quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village in the Alps was hired by a town to keep the pristine mountain springs, the source of the town's water supply, clear of pollution and debris. With faithfulness and regularity, the old man patrolled the hills, clearing away silt and removing leaves an branches from the springs. Over time, the village became prosperous. Mill wheels turned, farms were irrigated, and tourists came. Years passed. Then one day at a council meeting about the city budget, a member noticed the salary figure for the old man. He asked, "Who is he, and why do we keep him on the payroll? Has anybody seen him? For all we know, he might be dead." So the council voted to dispense with his services. For several weeks, nothing changed. Then the trees began to shed their leaves. One afternoon, a town citizen noticed a brown tint to the water. Within another week, a slick covered sections of the canals and a found odor was detected. Then sickness broke out. The town council called a special meeting and, reversing their error in judgment, rehired the old man. Renewed life soon returned to the village as the sparkling waters returned. The name of the keeper of the springs? Self-control! Plato said, "The first and best victory is to conquer self." Author John Foster said, "A man without a decision of character can never be said to belong to himself...He belongs to whatever can make captive of him." So here is the word for you today: "Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Written by TWFYT
Friday October 30

"You are snared by the words of your mouth." Proverbs 6:2 NKJV

Do you realize how often you program yourself for stress by the words you use to describe simple activities that don't necessarily need to be done quickly? It's called "stress-speak"! Instead, begin to look for alternative ways to describe your actions so that you are not "snared by the words of your mouth" and end up in stress mode. Consider the following examples: Stress-oriented: "I have to run to the store." Alternative: "I'm going to the store."Stress-oriented: "Let's grab a bite to eat." Alternative: "Let's have lunch." Stress-oriented: "I'm going to jump in the shower." Alternative: "I'm going to take a shower." Stress-oriented: "I'll be back in a flash." Alternative: I'll be back shortly." Stress-oriented: "I'm going to zip through this part of the report." Alternative: "I'm going to cover this section briefly." All these stress-oriented phrases imply a sense of urgency, sending a message to your body to get the adrenaline pumping. Even if we do not initiate the rush vocabulary, we are still surrounded with rush messages from all forms of media. A popular television commercial exhorts customers to "run, don't walk!" to their upcoming sale. You may have other phrases in addition to those here that you are in the habit using. On your road to stressing less, why not become conscious of how you describe your activities? Catch yourself action and start reprogramming your vocabulary. If you are faced with deadlines and other pressures, stay solution oriented. Most importantly, ask God for His help and you'll get it. "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Pr 3:6 NKJV)

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Thursday October 29

"Approve the things that are excellent." Philippians 1:10 NKJV

A number of years ago, an insurance company ran an advertisement that said: "There was once a man who loved nature with such a deep and moving love that she told him one of her secrets. She gave him the power to create new plants. The man, whose name was Luther Burbank...saw every plant as a child. It had its own face, its own promise, its own unique touch of genius and character. And if that promise were tended and encouraged, the plant would grow more useful and beautiful each year. Luther Burbank made potatoes grow larger, wider, and more delicious than they had ever been. He taught the caucus of the desert to throw away its spines so that the cattle could fatten upon it, and made the blackberry shed its thorns so it would not cut the fingers of those who picked it to make jam pies. For him, the plum grew without pips, and strawberries ripened all year...He left the earth covered with flowers and fruits that no one had ever attempted to grow before. And all because he knew a secret. He knew that everything that lives has the power to become greater." Notice how Paul prayed for the Philippian believers: "This I pray, that your live may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent" (vv. 9-10 NKJV). Dr, John Maxwell says, "Passion is the first step to achievement...The stronger your firm the greater your desire—and the greater your potential." So the word for you today is—when it comes to your personal growth, your job, and your relationships, pursue excellence.

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Wednesday October 28

"We have known and believed the love that God has for us." 1 John 4:16 NKJV

In 1962, the Swiss theologian Dr, Karl Barth did a lecture tour of the United States. Barth is regarded by many within the Protestant tradition as the greatest theologian of the twentieth century. He also made his mark outside the church, hitting the cover of Time magazine on April 20, 1962. After Barth delivered his lecture at Rockefeller Chapel, a student asked him if he could summarize his whole life's work in a single sentence. That's not an easy question for someone as prolific as Barth, whose résumé included more than 600 works. His Church Dogmatics was written over a thirty-five-year span. The 8,000-page, 13-volume set is a library unto itself. Barth responded to the question by quoting the words of a song he learned at his mother's knee: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." When John Bruce, a federal judge appointed by Ulysses S. Grant, was on his deathbed, he instructed his daughter to "fetch the book." Like Barth, Bruce's life was defined by Jesus' love. Bruce told her to turn to the eighth chapter of Roman's and said, "Put my finger on these words," and quoted: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the words, John Bruce told her to hold his finger there. He passed away with his finger on that promise. What a way to enter heaven!

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday October 27

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10 NKJV

An English newspaper once posed this question to its readers: "Who are the happiest people on earth?" These were selected as four prizewinning answers: (1) A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done. (2) A child building sandcastles. (3) A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby. (4) A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation and saved a human life. Notice that none of these four were necessarily millionaires, leaders of nations, celebrities, or those who have achieved high rank. True fulfillment in life is found in the course of normal daily events that give a sense of accomplishment and meaning. As W. Beran Wolfe once said, "If you observe a really happy man, you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi Desert. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were...a goal in itself. He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living twenty-four crowded hours of the day." But there's one thing missing in Wolfe's list: the most important thing—Jesus!  He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means that you find forgiveness, peace, contentment, and fulfillment in this life. As for the next life, the one that is eternal and has no end? "In Your presence us fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps 16:11 NKJV).

Written by TWFYT
Monday October 26

"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:16 NKJV

One night, Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder reaching into heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. And God said to him: "The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants...You shall spread abroad to the west and the east shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.' Then Jacob awoke...and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did no now it...This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!'" (vv. 13-17 NKJV). The striking phrase in this story is Jacob's words: "I did not know it." That means it is possible for God to be present with you, yet you fail to recognize it or take advantage of it. What would cause this? (1) A mind besieged with stress and worry rather than being focused on the promises of God; (2). a heart that had grown cold and indifferent toward God; or (3) a schedule that leaves no room to meditate on God's Word and draw strength and guidance from Him in prayer. What God said to Jacob He is saying to you: "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." Today recognize His presence and respond to it!

Written by TWFYT
Sunday October 25

"I am with you and will keep you wherever you go." Genesis 28:15 NKJV

The most frequent promise God makes in the Bible is "I am with you." When it feels as if you are under attack, God says, "when you go out to battle against your enemies...do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you" (Dt 20:1 NKJV). When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you...Fear not, for I am with you" (Isa 43:2, 5 NKJV). And when the world as we know it ends, you can stand on this promise: "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God" (Rev 21:3 NKJV). God gave Israel symbols of His constant presence with them: he tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the pillar of fire that led by night and the cloud of smoke by day. These were Post-it notes saying, "Don't forget I am with you." When God cam to earth in the person of Jesus, He chose the name Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." Before Christ left His disciples to return to heaven, He said to them, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20 NKJV). Whatever you are facing today, know that God is with you. Lean on Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Draw strength from Him.

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Saturday October 24

"Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise." Psalms 90:12 NCV

Author Peter Senge tells of a time when he was leading a seminar at the World Bank, and an employee named Fred revealed that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Fred was given only a few months to live. So he did just that—he started living as if there was no tomorrow. Like anyone else who gets a devastating diagnosis, Fred went through a period of denial. "Then something amazing happened," Fred said, "I simply stopped doing everything that wasn't essential, that didn't matter." Important things became even more important, and unimportant things became even more unimportant. A few months has passed when a friend told Fred he should seek a second opinion. His new doctor told him that he had been misdiagnosed. Fred had a very rare but very curable disease. When the doctor delivered the news, Fred cried like a baby. Why? "Because I was afraid my life would go back to the way it used to be!" Of course, our "wake up call" doesn't necessarily have to come in the form of a tragedy. it can also be a midlife crises. When you hit your forties, you start counting down. But the ticktock of your body clock isn't a negative thing. David wrote: "Our lifetime is seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise" (Ps 90:10, 12 NCV). If you're wise, you will: (1) Make each day count. (2) Live like there is not tomorrow. (3) Do things that will live in after you go.

Written by TWFYT
Friday October 23

"You have rescued me, O God who keeps his promises." Psalms 31:5 TLB

When you find yourself in a crisis, you have to choose: faith or fear? God's purpose or random history? A God who knows and cares or a God who isn't there? If you're wise, you'll choose to trust God's promises. You'll believe that God is up to something good, even though all you see looks bad. You'll sing the hymn with confidence: "His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay." Nothing deserves your attentions more than God's covenants. No words written on paper will ever sustain you like the promises of God. To the bereaved: "Weeping may stay fro the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Ps 30:5 NIV). To the besieged: "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all" (Ps 34:19 NIV). To the sick: "TheLord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness" (Ps 41:3 NIV). To the lonely: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5 NKJV). To the dying: "In my Father's house are many rooms...I go to prepare a place for you" (Jn 14:2 ESV). To the sinner: "My grace is sufficient for you" (2Co 12:9 NIV). Press into God's promises. When fears surface, respond with the thought. "But God said..."When doubts arise, "But God said..." When guilt overwhelms you, "But God said..." Turn to God's spoken covenants. Search the Scripture like a miner digging for gold. Once you find a nugget, grasp it and trust it!

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Thursday October 22

"To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown." Job 6:14 NKJV

Doctor Pedro José Greer has become a legend in Miami, Florida. As an intern, he treated a homeless man with tuberculosis, a usually curable disease that had progressed to a fatal stage. Greer was appalled that someone in his own neighborhood could be so poor and ignorant that he failed to seek medical treatment. As the man lay dying, Greer spent four days searching the streets for the man's family, hoping he wouldn't have to die alone. But Greer did more than that. Rather than merely bemoan this one case, he took action. He set up a clinic in a shelter, beginning with only folding table. Then he went out and found other doctors who were willing to work with him Eventually, his Camillus Health Concern became one of the largest providers of medical care for the poor in South Florida, treating thousands of patients every year. Greer has won numerous awards for his humanitarian efforts, yet he has never forgotten the man who died alone. Between the three days each week he spends at the clinic and the time he spends in private practice, he searches Miami's worst streets looking for those who need medical care. His work costs him a lot, yet "Doctor Joe" sees himself as blessed: "I've had the privilege of treating the sick and and the honor of working with the poor." Biblical Job said: " I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was like a father to needy people, and I took the side of strangers who were in trouble" (Job 29:15-16 NCV). So look for opportunities to show kindness  to those hurting and in need.

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Wednesday October 21

"This far you ay come, but no farther." Job 38:11 NKJV

Just as God established boundaries for the oceans so that the tides come in only so far, you must set limits on how far you let people go interacting with you. When you fail to express your boundaries, people become unclear as to what behaviors will be accepted by you. They are left to decide based upon their own preferences, convenience, and whims. God has made you a Seward over three key areas of your life, where the lines of interaction will become fuzzy if you don't clearly define them: your time, your talent, and your treasure. It's important to set clear boundaries in these three areas. And as you become secure enough to establish your personal boundaries, you must also go a step further and express the consequences you are willing to implement when someone violates them. This may sound a little harsh, but boundaries without consequences are just wishes. Wishes won't change anybody's behavior toward you. It's sad to watch parents who constantly threaten to punish their children for wayward behavior, but never follow through. Some people who believe that mercy should endure forever deem it ungodly to set boundaries and impose consequences. But God does it! Here are two of them. (1) "If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name," says the Lord Almighty,  "I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings" (Mal 2:2 NIV). (2) "If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Mt 6:15 NIV). So the word for you today is—learn to set boundaries.

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday October 20

"The path of the just...shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18 NKJV

We've talked about priority giving and percentage giving; let's talk about progressive giving. As long as you're alive on this earth, God intends for your faith to be growing. "The path of the just...shines ever brighter." God's agenda is that you be gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ (see 2Co 3:18). That's the nature of faith. Its progress is steady, and its target is Christlikeness. Now, when it comes to your finances, you need to be growing in faith there also. But you can't grow as a giver if you don't also increase your giving. If you've been tithing for twenty years and you've never increased your percentage of giving, can you say you have really grown? Sure, you've been faithful, and that's great. But in order for your faith to grow, it needs to be stretched from time to time. And that means progressively increasing the percentage you entrust to God, who is the owner of your finances. When you first start tithing, it's such a spiritual experience. You can hardly believe you're voluntarily doing something with your money that flies in the face of normal economics. But the thrill of honoring God while also trusting Him to intervene on your behalf makes it irresistible. It's exciting because you encounter God through it all. After a while, it's easy to tithe. It becomes second nature, like a reflex you hardly notice anymore. But giving should always be an exciting, spiritual, close-encounter-with-God experience. So if it has become a mundane routine, maybe it's time to stretch your financial faith a little. That's what a growing faith is all about.

Written by TWFYT
Monday October 19

"When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." James 1:15 NKJV

The root of temptation is a sinful desire, the shoot is a sinful is a sinful decision, and the fruit is a sure and certain defeat. Let's look at each. (1) The root. The word desire means "a strong urge, a craving of the soul." When you begin to desire something that is outside of God's boundaries, conception takes place and sin takes root. Sin grows, and at some point, it bursts out into the open. If you don't uproot it immediately, that desire will, like a weed, eventually produce fruit in your life. That's why you should be quick to pray, "Lord, I renounce this wrong thought in Jesus' name and submit myself fully to You." And then reach for your Bible and feed God's Word. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might  not sin against you' (Ps 119:11 NLT). (2) The shoot. Left alone, the root of selfish desire will inevitably give way to the shoot of a sinful decision. "When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin." The Greek phrase suggests a child in the mother's womb before making its appearance in the world. The evil desire cannot stay hidden any more than a child can stay in the womb indefinitely. That desire will, for sure, "give birth." (3) The fruit. the Bible says that sin "brings forth death." Besides death and eternal separation from God, it can also mean the death of dreams, relationships, ambitions, reputations, opportunities, and so much else that is good. So resist temptation: the root, the shoot, and the fruit.

Written by TWFYT
Sunday October 18

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23 NLT

How does God lead us? One step at a time. How involved does God want to be in our lives?
'He delights in every detail." That means there is nothing too big or too small to trust Him with. The Christians life is a journey, and the Holy Spirit is our guide. He is always guiding us to what is best for our lives. The key to a  successful and enjoyable journey is to follow Him. Many times, wee get impatient and rush ahead of God. We think we know the best direction to take or get restless with His timing and make a wrong turn because it looks quicker. The bas news is, when to road we are on leads to a dead end, we have to go back to where we got off course. The good news is, God is there waiting to take the lead again and show us the right way to go. The Lord has each of our journeys perfectly planned. We need to fully understand that He loves us, that He is good, and that we can trust Him. "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble" (Na 1:7 NKJV). We can trust Him to lead us in the direction that is right for us, to correct us when we stray, and to guide us back to the right place. We just need to follow the Holy Spirit lead because He knows the way and He will always stay with us. Prayer: "Father, direct each step I take this day, and be present in every detail of my life."

Written by TWFYT
Saturday October 17

Romans 8:37 NIV

Maybe you're battling cancer, going through a divorce, or drowning in debt. Id so, hear this: When you experience a setback, you may take a step back, but God is already preparing your comeback. It was the setback on the cross that set up the greatest comeback in human history: the resurrection of Christ. It's no coincidence that the word testimony begins with the word test. Pass the test; get the testimony. There is no addiction so strong that God's power cannot deliver you, no failure so final that God's grace cannot forgive you, and no wound so deep that God's love cannot heal you. No matter how bad it is, His grace is sufficient (see 2Co 12:9). And no matter how good it is, the best it yet to come. Never have the odds been more stacked against someone than they were the day Christ was betrayed, arrested, flogged, and crucified. But Jesus overcame the odds, and because we are "in Christ," that makes us overcomer! And He will make us like a ring. "'On that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel...and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you'" (Hag 2:23 NIV). A signet ring was the king's official seal, symbolizing his royal authority. Once invoked, it could not be revoked. That's you. You are God's signet ring. To not think of yourself as "more than a conqueror" is false humility. Pride is believing something about yourself that is true. And here's the truth: you are more than a conqueror!